《I am Hollywood》


 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Hollywood 1988

    Chapter 1: Hollywood 1988

    ?

    [Note: As per the poll created in patreon, this novel got the highest votes. This is apleted novel started in 2014 and finished in 2018. I will try to make this novel up to date.]

    [Chapter 1: Hollywood 1988]

    "Hey, Eric, steak for table nine."

    "Oh, right," Eric replied, somewhat clumsily bringing two tes of steak to a couple seated by the window. Once he finished, he returned to his original spot, leaning against the counter and lost in thought.

    It was July 13, 1988, three days into his new life, at an Italian restaurant in North Hollywood. Eric turned to gaze at the faint reflection in the ss window nearby -- a figure about six feet tall, with a chiseled jaw, a prominent nose, and short, curly blonde hair. This was him now.

    Just a few days before, Eric had been working as an advertising director. He graduated at 24 from a prestigious film school, having dreamed of bing an internationally renowned director. After ten years of climbing that uphill battle, he learned the hard truth of reality. With his solid yet unrecognized talents, he had managed to gain some fame as an advertising director. At 35, he got married, and a yearter, his son was born. He finally settled down, trading his dreams for diaper money. Yearster, after a reunion with long-lost ssmates, he wound up drinking too much and ultimately dozed off, lost in nostalgia.

    Like the start of any thrill or not-so-thrill story, he woke up only to find everything changed. He discovered he had returned to the past, transformed into a high school graduate named Eric Williams.

    "Eric, you alright?" A chubby handnded on Eric''s shoulder, giving it a gentle pat. He turned to see Jeff Jones, the restaurant owner.

    "Sorry, Jeff. I zoned out again."

    "No problem," Jeff rubbed his hands, contemting his words, then continued, "I''m really sorry about Ralph, but life goes on, doesn''t it? Hang in there, Eric."

    Ralph Williams, Eric''s father, was a brilliant Italian chef who had worked in this restaurant for many years. Despite his culinary talent, Ralph had a nasty habit -- he was an alcoholic. ording to the memories left by Eric''s predecessor, Ralph''s drinking problem was likely tied to a mother he never met; in modern terms, he was a man with a story. A month prior, Ralph had sumbed to acute alcohol poisoning after an overdose.

    "Thanks, Jeff. I wouldn''t know how to get through this without your help." Eric spoke, turmoil enveloping him after Ralph''s death. He had recently applied to the University of California, but now his hopes of attending college vanished, as even public universities charged around twenty grand a year for tuition, not to mention other expenses. Being Ralph''s boss and friend, Jeff sat down with Eric for a chat, which led Eric to start working as a waiter at the restaurant. After all, as Jeff had said, life had to continue.

    "Ralph worked here so many years; it''s the least I could do. But I can only do so much, the rest is up to you."

    Eric nodded with gratitude as he watched Jeff walk away, mulling over his words. Somewhere in the back of his mind, if some mischievous deity sent him back to over thirty years ago in Hollywood, he couldn''t settle for being a nameless restaurant server; that would surely infuriate that deity.

    Three days after realizing his predicament, Eric initially felt excitement, but soon that excitement faded into confusion. In his past life, he had been a standout student at film school but had never realized his dreams, ultimately surrendering to reality. Now, without a diploma or connections, even applying for the most basic job at a film studio wouldn''t guarantee sess.

    ...

    After a busy day, Eric drove away from the Italian restaurant in a Ford sedan left behind by his dad. Following Ralph''s death, he considered selling the car to help with expenses. However, afternding the waiter job, he opted to keep it -- after all, this was a country on wheels and life was much easier with a car.

    As he passed by a movie theater, Eric noticed a poster for Rambo III, showcasing Sylvester Stallone in his prime, muscles rippling in a tank top against a snowy mountain and helicopter backdrop. On a whim, Eric parked nearby, inquiring about showtimes. With luck, a film was about to start, so he bought a ticket and headed inside.

    Since it wasn''t during peak hours, only about thirty to forty people filled the two hundred- seat auditorium, and Eric took his seat.

    Soon, the lights dimmed, and the film began. Colonel Trautman invited Rambo, living in self- imposed exile in Thand, to take on a mission in Afghanistan, but Rambo declined. After Trautman was captured, Rambo armed himself once more to rescue his friend...

    In his previous life, Eric had watched all of Stallone''s movies, often more than once. He purchased the ticket partly because he recalled Stallone''s journey and his own past. During those ten grueling years, whenever he felt like giving up, he''d draw inspiration from motivational stories, including Stallone''s legendary acting career.

    As the story unfolded, Eric collected his scattered thoughts and focused on the movie. Gradually, he sat up straighter, realizing that due to having seen this film before, he instinctively thought about what would happen next. To his surprise, he found each subsequent scene ying out clearly in his mind. He remembered every shot, every line, even every piece of score in the film.

    As excitement bubbled inside him, he closed his eyes and whimsically picked a favorite, Titanic, directed by Cameron, and found the same remarkable rity -- he recalled every second. He tried to conjure memories of films he had only heard of but never seen, but nothing came to him; he realized he could only remember things he had already watched, yet that alone was more than enough.

    When he first transmigrated in this reality, Eric had thought of iming some future films as his own. However, as a professional director, he knew how impossible that would be; he could write simr scripts at best. But now, realizing he held a treasure trove of memories from his past life, Eric understood the implications -- it meant he could almost perfectly recreate all the ssics he had seen, provided he had the means.

    His heart raced with exhration as he walked out of the theater, the anticipation of reaching the pinnacle of his career inspiring him. At that moment, he knew with such vast resources stored in his mind, failing just like his past life would be uneptable; it would be better to drown himself in straight-up water than to let this opportunity slip away.

    *****

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 Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Inspiration from Argument

    Chapter 2: Inspiration from Argument

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    [Chapter 2: Inspiration from Argument]

    Eric gently set the somewhat clunky secondhand typewriter on his desk, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and felt a deep nostalgia for the sleekptop he once had. It was the second day since he discovered his peculiar memory bank, and after a day of reflection, Eric had started to sketch out a preliminary n for his future.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He had deliberately taken the day off from Jeff, spending most of it browsing around and purchasing this typewriter, which was essential to realizing his vision.

    After handling Ralph''s affairs, Eric found himself with only a few hundred dors in cash left. Thankfully, since Eric had already paid off the mortgage on this house, he felt relieved; otherwise, unable to manage the payments, he might have found himself homeless. He ended up using a month''s advance on his paycheck from Jeff to afford the typewriter.

    To achieve his aspirations, Eric knew he needed to break into Hollywood. Directing was out of the question for now, and acting wasn''t a suitable path for him. After considering his options, he concluded that screenwriting was the way to go. While many imed that screenwriters had a low status in Hollywood, the truth was different. Considering that Michael Crichton''s novel, clocking in at just over a hundred thousand words, had been published in 1990, it was unlikely that Crichton had started writing it yet. Eric felt justified in iming it as his own -- after all, if one didn''t take a risk, they''d miss out on opportunity.

    He chuckled at the thought of Crichton, who had an almost fantastical life experience. Without the likes of Jurassic Park, there wouldn''t even be a concept of "Jurassic" anything.

    As he reminisced, a slight smile crept onto Eric''s face while he tapped on the keyboard. He wasn''t drafting the screeny for Jurassic Park; he was writing a novel. Having watched the film out of curiosity, he sought out the book to read it thoroughly. He figured it would not be that difficult to write this novel.

    The reason he refrained from writing the screeny directly was twofold. First, if he submitted a screeny to a movie studio, it would likely end up in the trash, as Hollywood studios received scripts in bulk every day. Second, Eric aimed to retain control over the film rights to the series. Even if he wrote the screeny and some perceptive studio took notice, they would inevitably reap the most significant profits, while Eric would merely receive a handful of script royalties.

    Publishing the novel would allow Eric to keep the film rights firmly in his grasp, ready to sell at the right moment and maximize his potential earnings.

    ...

    Time always flew by when engrossed in work. As darkness fell and he could no longer see the letters on the keyboard, Eric realized he had been writing for four or five hours straight, and his stomach began to grumble.

    Standing up, Eric looked at the thick stack of manuscript on his desk, satisfied as he stretched his arms overhead. At this rate, he estimated he could finish the manuscript in about a week, especially since he still needed to work at Jeff''s restaurant, or else he would starve.

    Making his way to the kitchen, Eric prepared himself a simple dinner with scrambled eggs. The remaining bread and peanut butter in the fridge usually served as his snacks these days.

    After his simple dinner, Eric stepped onto the balcony on the second floor, leaning against the railing while taking in the night scenery.

    His apartment upied a small yard of under two hundred square feet or twenty square meters, with a two-story house that randomly hosted some unknown flowers and nts. Without a woman in the house, Eric''s father, Ralph, had never disyed much attention to detail, leading to a rugged lifestyle for the two of them.

    In his memories, they had moved from London to Los Angeles when he was around seven or eight. Eric couldn''t quite recall why Ralph chose to do so -- his young age had left him oblivious, and the clues remaining in his current memory didn''t offer rity, so he dropped the matter.

    Once in Los Angeles, Ralph dragged young Eric around for only two days before buying this chaotic little abode through a real estate agent.

    After spending some time on the balcony, just as he was about to return to his study to continue working on Jurassic Park, he heard a sudden crash, the sound of ss shattering. He turned his gaze towards his neighbors to the west -- the Ronkels. They were in their forties, with three children: the eldest in college, a daughter at a boarding school, and a seven-year- old son.

    The couple had been arguing a lottely, perhaps a sign of midlife crisis. Though he had a good rapport with the Ronkels, Eric didn''t n to get involved; they were generally quite reserved and had never resorted to physical altercations. Rushing in would only create an awkward situation for everyone.

    After a flurry of rapid, muffled shouting and the sound of things breaking, the Ronkels'' front door swung open. Charles Ronkel, dressed in a shirt with tousled hair, stormed out and turned back to shout inside, "Enough! I''ve had it with you, damn it! If I hadn''t moved to Los Angeles to marry you, I''d probably be a top executive at General Motors by now! Look at you now, for crying out loud!"

    "Go to hell," replied Mrs. Ronkel, usually calm, now sounding sharp and high-pitched. "Out of the three guys who pursued me when you did, one''s a California senator and another is making millions selling oil in the Middle East! Do you have any idea how much a shipload of oil is worth? It''s worth more than your sry in a lifetime! I''m the one who should be regretting things! Now, sleep in your ''General Motors high-rise,'' dear!"

    With that, Mrs. Ronkel flung a ck coat out onto the stoop and mmed the door shut. Charles picked up the coat, dusted it off, and then noticed Eric standing on the balcony. "Sorry to bother you, Eric," Charles said sheepishly, offering a nervous smile.

    "No problem, Charles. Do you want to...e over for a bit?" Eric offered.

    Charles shook his head. "No, thanks. I... I think I''ll hit a bar for a while. Maybe by the time I return, Mary will have cooled off."

    After a nod at Eric, Charles got in his car and drove off into the distance.

    Back inside, Eric reflected on the Ronkels'' fiery argument. A sudden thought struck him, and he sat at his desk, inserted a nk sheet into the typewriter, and the idea began to take shape in his mind.

    For the past few days, Eric had been mulling over what his first screeny should involve. Now, he finally had his answer. The script felt like it was custom-made for him. Sure, given the era''s differences, many details would need revisions, but that posed no real challenge. The real selling point wouldn''t hinge on those minute specifics.

    *****

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 Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Thankfully, Not Michael Clayton

    Chapter 3: Thankfully, Not Michael yton

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    [Chapter 3: Thankfully, Not Michael yton]

    Jeff, the owner of the Italian restaurant, noticed that Eric seemed like apletely different person these days. He no longer daydreamed as often, and his whole demeanor radiated energy. During his interactions with customers, he no longer appeared awkward; instead, he asionally cracked harmless jokes. Once, Jeff even caught Eric skillfully flirting with a morous single woman in her thirties, using aid-back, slightly hip vibe that was endearingly charming. At the end of the meal, the woman had tipped him three times the standard gratuity and shed an unabashed wink.

    "Eric, have you run into some good luck? You seem... differenttely," Jeff finally couldn''t help but ask during a break, genuinely concerned about the young man, who was like a son to him.

    "Is it that obvious?" Eric paused, somewhat surprised.

    Jeff chuckled. "Of course! It''s practically written all over your face."

    "Maybe it''s because I finally found something to strive for. You know, when someone has a dream, it changes everything."

    "Oh? What''s your dream? Care to share?"

    "Definitely," Eric replied with excitement. "I''ve decided that I want to be a director. In fact, I''ve been working on my very first screeny. I''ll finish it in a couple of days!"

    "Director...?" Jeff raised an eyebrow, initially tempted to caution Eric not to aim too high. But then he remembered how Eric had just starteding out of the grief over his father''s death. The kid finding a goal was encouraging enough, so he held back his words.

    Just a subtle change in his expression made Eric realize what Jeff was about to say. Still, Eric chuckled it off; after all, they were in Hollywood, where thousands arrived each year to chase their movie dreams but only a fortunate few seeded. It made sense that Jeff had those

    concerns.

    "Well, once you finish that script, I''d love to take a look. You know, I once had dreams of bing an actor. Don''t let this beer belly fool you," Jeff patted his ample stomach, adding, "I was quite the looker back in the day. Believe it or not, I even auditioned for a small part in The Godfather. Time sure flies!"

    Eric was taken aback, unaware of this side of Jeff''s past, but he quickly epted it. This was Hollywood, the world''srgest film industry, and anything was possible. After all, Sylvester Stallone had even starred as The Italian Stallion in The Party at Kitty and Stud''s.

    "Sure thing! Your feedback coulde in handy," Eric responded, knowing he could use Jeff''s input to spot any ws in his script.

    Although Eric had tried his best to eliminate anything that referenced events or cultural elements from after 1988, he couldn''t guarantee there wouldn''t be any slip-ups. As someone from the outside, Jeff could easily spot any anachronisms.

    They shared a few moreughs before some guests walked into the restaurant, prompting Eric to rush over to greet them.

    ...

    The day flew by, and after a hasty dinner at home, Eric dove into work on the novel and screeny for Jurassic Park.

    The novel was practically finished; he was just in the final proofreading stages. Eric nned to make copies and submit it to a few publishers the next day. As for the screeny, he had only drafted a basic outline and noted areas needing revisions. With his vivid impressions of the movie in mind, he figuredpleting the script would only take him two evenings.

    The next morning, Eric left home shortly after seven, intending to make copies of Jurassic Park and mail them out. He had already prepared addresses for several well-known publishers in North America. Even if the bigger publishers turned down his manuscript, he wouldn''t be crushed. After all, there were thousands of publishers out there, and surely one would be willing to print his novel. Despite Jurassic Park once reaching the top of the New York Times bestseller list, Eric wasn''t focused on the royalties but was more keen to retain the movie rights once the book got published.

    "Hello! How can I help you today?" As he stepped into a print shop, a slightly slender ck woman greeted him warmly.

    "I''d like to make a few copies of this manuscript," Eric replied, pulling out the pages from his bag.

    Her eyes lit up as she looked at the thick manuscript, beaming brightly. "Sir, may I take a look?"

    "Of course," Eric handed it over.

    Without delving into the content, she quickly counted the pages and said, "Looks like about three hundred. Let''s say three hundred pages. It''ll be thirty dors per copy. How many would you like?"

    Thirty bucks! Eric''s lips twitched. That was a steep price! He had only a few hundred dors left in cash, and that included his pre-drawn sry for the month.

    After some bargaining, they settled on a deal of four copies for a hundred dors. After paying, the woman politely poured Eric a cup of coffee while she started the copying process. Bored, Eric sipped his coffee while watching her work the machine. He calcted it would take about half an hour to finish, which wouldn''t interfere with his restaurant job. Even though the restaurant didn''t see a rush until after ten, he knew that with Jeff''s personality, he wouldn''t dock his pay for beingte. Still, he understood that maintaining their friendship meant showing up on time.

    About ten minutester, the print shop door darkened slightly. Eric looked up to see a brown- haired white man in his forties walk in carrying a leather bag. The man was around five-foot- seven, stocky, with stubble along his chin, a pronounced nose, and gold-rimmed sses. He exuded a cultured and gentle presence.

    "Wee, sir! Would you mind waiting a moment?"

    The brown-haired man nodded politely, greeting Eric as he sat down beside him. The ck woman paused her work briefly and quickly poured him a cup of coffee. "Sir, it should be ready in about ten minutes. Please enjoy your coffee in the meantime."

    "Thank you," the man said, eyeing the thick stack of papers on Eric''s table, intrigued by the manuscript. With only the three of them in the shop, he couldn''t help but ask, "May I inquire if that''s your manuscript?"

    "Yes," Eric nodded. "It''s a novel I just finished writing. I''m nning to make a few copies to submit."

    "You look like a high school student; that''s impressive! I couldn''t do things like that at your

    age."

    "Thanks! This is actually my first novel, so I don''t have much confidence."

    "No, you need to believe in yourself. Can I take a look at your novel?" the brown-haired man said, reaching into his pocket for a business card. "I happen to run a small publishing house." Eric took a nce at the card: Michael Krauss, Manager of Nightshade Press. His eyebrows raised slightly, relieved that it wasn''t Michael yton. Eric couldn''t help butugh inwardly at theck of imagination some people had when naming children. He recalled his high school ss had two Jakes and two Jessicas, and when you broadened it to the entire school, the number only increased. Even when a kid was born, parents might just name him Jr. instead of being creative!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Since ncing wouldn''t cause harm, Eric casually handed over the freshly copied manuscript to Michael Krauss. The man took it, briefly scanned the title, andmented, "Jurassic Park,

    interesting title."

    Eric smiled slightly but didn''t respond. Michael Krauss didn''t press further, flipping through the pages instead. As he delved deeper into the text, his nonchnt demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. Initially, he had praised Eric, but deep down, he doubted whether someone Eric''s age couldpose anything remarkable. In his experience, bestselling authors were typically individuals with rich life experiences and knowledge.

    After reading the manuscript carefully yet quickly, Michael meticulously sorted the somewhat disorganized pages and lifted his gaze to Eric, his eyes brimming with surprise, excitement, and a touch of ambition.

    "May I know your name, young man?"

    "Eric Williams," Eric replied inly. Given his extensive past experiences, he could easily detect the implications behind Michael''s expression. Although he didn''t n to hand Jurassic Park over to a small publisher just yet, meeting Michael Krauss could prove beneficial. If the notable publishers really turned him down, this could be a back-up n.

    *****

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 Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Heartfelt

    Chapter 4: Heartfelt

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    N?v(el)B\\jnn

    [Chapter 4: Heartfelt]

    "It''s like this, Eric. Would you be able to hand this book over to my publishingpany for some work?" Michael Krauss didn''t hide his intentions and spoke directly.

    Eric nced over at the young ck girl who was binding the printed copies and then replied to Michael Krauss, "I appreciate your recognition, but I''d like to try my luck with some bigger publishers. It''s like every parent wishing their child could get into an Ivy League school, don''t you think?"

    Michael didn''t seem offended at all and smiled back, "Eric, have you done your homework on those big publishers? Maybe we can find a ce to talk. I know a cafe just around the corner; my treat. How does that sound?"

    Eric took the bound manuscript from the ck girl and packed away the draft into his bag, firmly turning Michael down. "Sorry, Michael, but I''m going to bete for work. If those publishers reject the manuscript in the future, I''ll definitely get in touch with you."

    With that, Eric picked up his backpack, Michael Krauss''s contact card and left the print shop, driving his car toward the Italian restaurant. Michael hesitated for just a moment before rushing out after him, getting into his own car and following suit. He had a gut feeling that if he missed this chance, he might regret it for the rest of his life. Three parts of that instinct were about the novel titled Jurassic Park, and seven parts were truly about this young man, Eric.

    Although Michael had only read the first half of the book, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that Eric had seamlessly woven in many high-tech themes that teenagers of his age might not have heard of, like gic engineering, chaos theory, and nanotechnology, without losing the novel''s fun and engaging plot.

    He had seen plenty of examples where high-tech elements were awkwardly integrated into stories, often turning what should have been novels into dry science exnations, which rarely appealed to any type of reader.

    ...

    Eric parked his car and turned around to find a ck sedan had pulled up not far behind him; it was Michael Krauss, clearly following him. This gave Eric a minute spike of vanity and unexpectedly, he started to feel a bit of warmth toward Michael.

    "Hey, Eric." Michael waved at Eric, about to say something else, but Eric pointed to his watch and said, "Uh, Michael, look, it''s almost nine. I work as a waiter at this Italian restaurant. Perhaps you wouldn''t mind ordering another breakfast? The ce is pretty slow before ten, so we''d have an hour."

    Michael nodded in understanding and followed Eric into the restaurant.

    After changing clothes, Eric came out to find Michael already seated by the window, a te of breakfast in front of him, which he had nearly finished.

    "I exined everything to Mr. Jones, but you have to hurry," Eric said as he took a seat across from Michael. "I might be young, but I''m not that easily swayed."

    Michaelughed, "I believe once you hear my exnation, you will hand over that book to me. I just mentioned that you might not know much about those big publishers, and as it happens, I spent eleven years at Simon & Schuster, starting from the most basic editorial position, until I left to start Nightshade Publishing after thepetition for department manager failed."

    "What does that have to do with what we''re discussing now?" Eric interjected, feeling weary at hearing another ''struggle story'' from someone who would only wind up as a loser in his past life.

    "Just hold on, young man. I''m telling you this to reassure you that what I''m going to say next is true and credible," Michael replied. "Did you know, when I first started as an editor, I reviewed tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of words every day? While there were many terrible manuscripts, I umted quite a number of publishable ones. At one point, the number of book types I published in a single year reached two thousand. Just imagine, as a neer, how much marketing resources could you leverage from those thousands of publications?"

    Michael paused to take a sip of water, giving Eric some time to think. Eric acknowledged Michael''s words internally but didn''t say anything, simply gesturing with his eyes for Michael to continue.

    Michael slightly raised his hand, as if delivering a speech. "Though my publishing house is small, I have extensive experience in book marketing. Our focus over the past few years has been publishing science fiction, adventure, and thriller novels. We publish about a dozen titles each year, but we''ve already gained a solid reputation in the industry. If you hand Jurassic Park over to me, I will guarantee to use all my resources to promote this book and make sure it gains significant recognition in the shortest time possible. With my experience, there''s a good chance it could make it onto the bestseller list."

    Michaelid out all his cards, then quietly waited for Eric''s decision.

    Initially, Eric had found Michael''s grandstanding distracting; a small or even micro- publishing house had limited resources, so how impactful could it really be?

    Deep down, Eric felt like a middle-aged man, having seen a range of bizarre scenarios in hisplicated former life. There was no way he would change his mind based on a few enticing words from Michael Krauss like some naive youngster. However, one of Michael''s statements struck a chord within Eric: making Jurassic Park famous in a short period.

    No matter the era, fame was an intangible yet potent resource. Eric needed to realize his ns, and his biggest drawback was his age; younger individuals often triggered a sense of distrust.

    But if he gained sufficient fame, that w could be obscured. An eighteen-year-old high school kid directing a film would get critiqued for being overreaching, while the same age genius writer making a film would surely be viewed differently; sure, criticism would stille, but more people would likely say: "Oh, what amazing stunt has that genius kid pulled now?"

    Eric tested the waters, "I have to admit, Michael, your terms are indeed tempting. But these are just your words; I don''t know anything about your publishing house."

    "That can easily be verified," Michael replied calmly. "On thetest New York Times bestseller list, there''s a book from my publishing house, though it''s at the bottom, it has already been optioned by Twentieth Century Fox for a movie, and could possibly be produced in the

    coming years."

    Eric believed Michael''s words. He had no reason to lie about such an easily debunked im. "Well, how about we find time to discuss the specifics of the partnership?"

    Michael blinked, surprised. "You... you agree?"

    "Yes," Eric nodded with a smile. "To be honest, I can''t wait to see my novel published."

    "How about tonight? I think you might need to work now," Michael pointed to the

    restaurant, which was gradually filling up with more guests.

    After agreeing on a meeting spot, Michael left the restaurant, satisfied.

    ...

    "Hey, Eric, what were you talking about with that guy? You look pretty happy," Jeff asked, curious because Eric had only mentioned talking business with a friend.

    Eric handed over the menu that a customer had just requested to a colleague in the kitchen and replied to Jeff, who was working as a substitute waiter, "Good news, Jeff. That guy just happens to be the owner of a publishing house, and I''m about to publish my novel!"

    Jeff looked puzzled and a bit skeptical. "A novel? I thought you said yesterday you were writing a script. Are you giving up your directing dream already and nning to be a writer?" "Not at all! My goals will not change easily. Directing and writing novels aren''t mutually exclusive, right? Oh, my novel is in my backpack in the changing room; you can check it out and give me some feedback."

    Jeff turned toward the changing room, feeling confused. He thought Eric''s novel was just a short story of a few thousand words, but when he saw the thick stack of manuscript pages, his eyes nearly popped out. It had to be over a hundred thousand words; he had never written that

    much in his life.

    ...

    After the lunch rush, the restaurant saw a brief lull in activity. The staff noticed that the boss had seemingly disappeared for several hours -- unusually rare for the man who loved to wander around unting his presence.

    As the employees debated whether they should look for the boss, Jeff emerged from the changing room and patted Eric''s shoulder. "This is quite the novel! I can now assure you that you''ll be quitting your job soon." With that, Jeff left confidently.

    As soon as the boss''s figure was gone, a crowd gathered around, asking Eric what had

    happened.

    Thus, throughout the afternoon, servers and even kitchen staff took turns sneaking into the changing room to read Eric''s manuscript. Even at closing time, a pretty waitress sweetly

    asked if she could take a copy home to read.

    Though the waitress''s flirting made Eric''s heart flutter, he had to politely decline. While he had no use for the copied manuscripts anymore, he didn''t want anything to go wrong before his work got published. He had lived through enough situations where someone''s work was imed as their own, and he certainly didn''t want to experience that again.

    *****

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 Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Conditions

    Chapter 5: Conditions

    ?

    [Chapter 5: Conditions]

    In a cafe located in North Hollywood, Eric and Michael discussed the details of their coboration on Jurassic Park.

    Eric didn''t get hung up on the royalty split and settled for the standard 7% that was generally offered to neers. Their negotiation mainly revolved around the film rights for the novel. With Michael''s seasoned eye from over a decade in the industry, he recognized the immense potential this novel had for adaptation. Since Eric raised no objections about the royalty distribution, Michael felt that Eric was young and easy to persuade. He proposed that Nightshade Press and Eric share the film rights, handing overplete control of the rights to Nightshade Press for representation.

    After patiently listening to Michael''s proposal, Eric firmly rejected it, stating, "That''s not going to happen, Mr. Krauss."

    Michael Krauss blinked in surprise, slightly thrown off by Eric''s decisiveness. Adjusting his demeanor, Michael continued, "Eric, let me exin. You know I just sold one of our novels to 20th Century Fox for over a million in adaptation fees. If that author had negotiated on their own, they wouldn''t have even seen half that amount. That''s the advantage of going through a publisher..."

    The two talked for another ten minutes, with Michael Krauss eloquently trying to convince Eric to ept his terms and even offering to reduce the publisher''s cut on the film rights.

    Ultimately, Michael was disappointed to realize that this young man was no naive neer. Instead, he was like a seasoned veteran himself, able to discern the subtle implications hidden within seemingly generous conditions. What surprised Michael even more was how Eric disyed none of the impulsiveness typical of someone his age. Even when he recognized a trap, he didn''t directly call it out or walk away in a huff; rather, he subtly hinted that he understood the game.

    Finally, with a rueful smile, Michael abandoned his ns to meddle in the film rights for Jurassic Park.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After that, the negotiations proceeded smoothly, and they quickly signed a cooperation agreement.

    ...

    "Pleasure working with you, Eric. I''m sure you won''t regret giving me the reins for Jurassic Park," Michael said after signing the contract, re-emerging as the affable elder figure, seemingly shaking off the shrewdness that had been evident during the negotiations.

    "Likewise, Michael. I hope that''s true," Eric replied, shaking his hand. They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Eric casually asked, "Michael, do you have connections in those movie studios?"

    Michael raised an eyebrow. "Of course! How else could I have rmended my publisher''s novel to 20th Century Fox? I actually know people in several other studios too. When I was at Simon & Schuster, I handled book rights coborations with filmpanies for some time. So Eric, if you hand over the film rights to Jurassic Park to Nightshade Press, I can directly pitch the novel to producers at the big six studios."

    Eric shook his head. "Let''s not talk about that anymore, Michael. I''m not giving up a single inch of Jurassic Park''s film rights. However, I am in the process ofpleting a screeny, and I hope you might help me rmend it."

    Michael''s flickering hope went out again upon hearing about Eric''s screeny. He wasn''t particrly interested but, out of politeness, he asked, "Could you share the rough outline of the script?"

    "It''s like this," Eric began, rifying his thoughts. "Eighteen years ago, seventeen-year-old Mike O''Donnell was about to participate in a crucial basketball game that could secure him admission to an Ivy League school,plete with a hefty schrship. However, right before the game, his girlfriend suddenly revealed that she was pregnant. In the middle of the game, Mike dropped the basketball and walked off the court, choosing to take on his responsibilities. Eighteen yearster, he looks back on lost glory, a failed career, and faces a crumbling marriage with his wife, Scarlett..."

    Eric didn''t dive into too many details, simply giving an overview of the story. After hearing the arguments between the Ronkels, he quickly thought of 17 Again; this film could be exactly what he needed for his ns. A seventeen-year-old with the soul of a middle-aged man was just tailor-made for Eric.

    Michael''s eyes brightened as he listened. He had high hopes for Eric, and now, having just received Jurassic Park, he was surprised by yet another gem from Eric.

    Films involving time travel or transformation were just starting to gain traction at that time, not yet saturated as they would beter on. So long as the film was of good quality, it typically performed well at the box office.

    Let''s not forget the 1985 box office champion Back to the Future; just this year alone, two simr films had performed admirably. One was Beetlejuice from April, and another, which had just released two weeks prior, was Big, already breaking even and likely heading to gross over a hundred million, making Penny Marshall the first female director in North American history to exceed that mark.

    "That''s a solid script, Eric. But don''t you think there have been too many time travel filmstely? Plus, you''re just an unknown rookie," Michael pointed out, trying to regain some control after feeling defeated in their previous discussions about Jurassic Park''s film rights. Eric smiled slightly, clearly sensing Michael''s posturing. He simply held up five fingers. "Fifty percentmission!"

    "What?" Michael eximed, struggling to believe his ears. Had this guy suddenly be so generous?

    Eric reinforced, "Michael, you heard me right. If the script sells, I''ll give you fifty percent of the script''s fee as yourmission! But I have one condition."

    Of course, nothinges for free, and with thatstment, Michael felt a slight relief, as things seemed to be back on their original track; Eric remained that astute young man.

    "Let''s hear it."

    "I want to be the male lead in this movie, that is, young Mike O''Donnell."

    "That''s not going to happen," Michael said instinctively. "Even directors may not have the power to decide on the roles, let alone a rookie screenwriter like you."

    "There is a saying -- ''Man ns, Godughs,"" Eric replied. "How would you know it''s impossible if you don''t try? Besides, with Big hitting theaters, the possibilities have

    increased."

    Michael Krauss found himself a bit perplexed. "What does Big have to do with this?"

    Casually stirring his freshly poured hot coffee with a spoon, Eric said, "I think this movie has a good chance of hitting over a hundred million at the box office. If that happens, a simrly themed, quality script might get someone to consider my terms."

    Though Michael hadn''t seen Big, he believed what Eric said. "Alright, Eric. I can give it a shot, but about themission..."

    "Michael, you''re being too greedy. You really think you should take more than the original author?"

    Michael couldn''t help but rub his nose with his finger, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It''s not as serious as you say, and if yound that lead role, you''d likely make around five hundred thousand, while the script might only earn twenty thousand tops."

    Even so, Michael didn''t raise the topic ofmission again. As they parted ways outside the cafe, he suddenly said, "Honestly, Eric, I have this feeling that you really do fit the role of that character in your script. Because during the contract negotiations, I felt like I was dealing with a peer, not an eighteen-year-old high school kid."

    Eric chuckled, "Don''t sweat the details, Michael. I''ll get the script to you in a couple of days. I

    hope you bring good news."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Good News

    Chapter 6: Good News

    ?

    [Chapter 6: Good News]

    After securing the publication of Jurassic Park, Eric poured all his spare time into writing and revising the script for 17 Again. This film primarily explored themes of familial love, romance, friendship, and life''s choices. Therefore, relocating it to this era posed no problems. However, the various geek elements and the culture that had filled the previous iteration had to be adjusted after all, the brick-sized mobile phones hadn''t even hit the market yet, and personalputers were still in their early transistor days.

    Eric decided to reshape Ned''s character into a sessful entrepreneur and a hardcore film buff who enjoyed collecting movie props. Naturally, this pertained only to films that had already been released. Dialogue from the movie The Lord of the Rings had to be altered to reference other films, which was an effortless task for Eric, whose mind was packed with countless movies.

    ...

    Once he finished the script, Eric handed it over to Jeff, as per their agreement. After reading Eric''s Jurassic Park, Jeff no longer underestimated the legacy left by his friend. He read through the script several times, and sure enough, he spotted some details that needed correcting, such as the protagonist returning to school in a Kevin Federline hippie T-shirt. Curiously, Jeff asked, "Who''s Kevin Federline?" Eric searched his memory and realized that this young pop star and former husband of Britney Spears was still just a ten-year-old kid at the time.

    After making the necessary changes that Jeff identified, Eric nned to swiftly pass the script on to Michael Krauss.

    ...

    Following thepletion of a novel and a script, Eric didn''t rush to start on a third project; instead, he began practicing basketball. He had to focus on performing shy basketball moves for the movie, but he had no foundation to build upon, so he had to start from scratch. There were many basketball scenes in the film. Although Zac Efron''s performance in the past hadn''t been remarkable, some of his basketball scenes were still notable -- especially the segment in the cafeteria where he showed off his skills to tease the bad boy Stan, which left asting impression.

    A weekter, after two hours of practicing fancy basketball moves at themunity court, Eric entered his house, only to hear the urgent ringing of the phone. Over the past few days, he had received several calls from Michael, mostly updating him on the publication status of Jurassic Park and matters concerning the 17 Again script. The publication of Jurassic Park was progressing smoothly, and soon Eric would be able to see the sample book, but 17 Again wasn''t so lucky.

    Despite several filmpanies expressing interest in the script after reading it, most of them dropped out upon hearing that the screeny''s writer insisted on ying the lead role. This was pretty standard; nobody would risk investing tens of millions of dors lightly. Eric even suggested to Michael that he could look beyond the big six film studios and try some of the independent productionpanies.

    "Hello, this is the Williams residence." Eric picked up the phone, adjusting his slightly breathless voice from his workout.

    "Hi, Eric, it''s Michael."

    Eric calmly replied with a chuckle, "Michael, it''s almost ten at night. You must have good news calling at this hour, huh?"

    Michael''s frustration came through as heined on the other end, "Don''t remind me! I''ve been trying to get ahold of you since eight, and you never picked up!"

    "Oh, I''m sorry, Michael. I was out ying basketball."

    "Basketball? Wow, Eric, sounds like you''re determined. I remember that there are quite a few basketball scenes in the script."

    "Of course! Just remember, fate favors the prepared. I''m not just working on my basketball; I also practice my acting for an hour in front of the mirror every morning."

    "Eric, I have to admire you. It''s rare for someone to prepare so thoroughly when nothing is set in stone. How about taking a day off tomorrow? We have a meeting lined up."

    Eric''s hand trembled slightly, and the basketball he had been spinning on his right finger dropped to the floor with a thud: "Is this... good news?"

    "Absolutely, lucky guy! I received a call today from Mr. James Brooks at 20th Century Fox. They are very optimistic about the script and haven''t outright rejected your terms, but you need to audition."

    "That''s... thank you so much, Michael."

    "Don''t mention it," Michaelughed on the other end. "Just understand, them agreeing to an audition is basically an indirect eptance of your terms. But if you perform poorly during the audition, well, that''s unfortunate."

    "That won''t happen; I''m fully prepared."

    ...

    Eric felt ecstatic all night long, and the next morning, he hurriedly drove to the agreed meeting ce with Michael Krauss.

    "Is this the 20th Century Fox filming lot?" Eric gazed at the massive warehouse-like sound stages surrounded by high walls, filled with admiration.

    Michael closed the car door and walked over, standing alongside Eric, looking up at the sound stages, "Yeah, it''s impressive, isn''t it? Though Warner''s lot is even more magnificent. I''m sure you''ve seen it; you should visit it someday."

    Eric nodded, picturing the iconic opening from Warner-produced films. "I will."

    The two followed a staff member to the front of an office door. The guide knocked and exchanged a few words before inviting both of them inside.

    Upon entering, they were greeted by two middle-aged individuals, a man and a woman, who stood up from a discussion at the table.

    Michael Krauss shook hands with the two and introduced them, "James, Penny, this is Eric Williams. Eric, this is producer Mr. James Brooks and director Penny Marshall."

    After introductions, Michael smiled and remarked to Penny, "You may not know this, but a week ago, Eric said you might be the first female director in Hollywood history to break the $100 million box office mark."

    Eric first shook hands with James Brooks, who merely offered a light grip thatsted barely a second before pulling his hand back.

    Eric quickly sensed that this well-known producer wasn''t particrly fond of him, and he realized why -- self-nominating himself for the lead role might not sit well with a producer who typically wielded full control in the filmmaking process.

    Maintainingposure, Eric turned to Penny Marshall. She was a plump, blonde woman in her forties, who worked as a director while also taking on acting roles, though her characters were usually minor ones that were hard to find on the credits list.

    "Hi, Ms. Marshall, I really enjoyed Big."

    "Thank you for thepliment, Eric." Penny''s demeanor was hardly affected. With Big continuing its sessful run, everyone knew it was destined to surpass the $100 million mark. In fact, in the past week, its weekly earnings hadn''t just stabilized; they had seen an increase. This was noteworthy considering it was the fourth week of its release, as many films at this point often faced forced removal due to dwindling attendance.

    Once the introductions wrapped up, Eric noticed that James Brooks and Penny Marshall were scrutinizing him closely. Clearly, if their coboration went well, James Brooks and Penny Marshall would be the producer and director of 17 Again, respectively. However, Eric felt no anxiety, merely wearing a confident smile as he took a seat on the couch alongside Michael

    Krauss.

    A stunning female assistant came in with a few cups of coffee and then exited the office. James Brooks didn''t touch his coffee, instead cing it crosswise on the table and stating, "Eric... your screeny is indeed impressive, but I have to say, your conditions seem a bit harsh. We learned from Michael that you are just a high school student with no acting experience. So initially, we nned to turn it down. However, Mr. Barry Diller happened to see your script, and he was quite fond of the ideas it presented, so he personally approved your requests. Of course, you''ll need to audition first. If you qualify, you''ll also have to undergo short-term acting training."

    Eric nodded in agreement, feeling surprised that his script had reached Barry Diller''s attention. He certainly knew who Barry Diller was -- once a powerful figure behind Paramount andter at 20th Century Fox, along with other industry leaders.

    Barry Diller had dominated Hollywood for over thirty years. From the rise of Paramount to

    the glory days of 20th Century Fox, he left indelible marks on the global film industry,

    televisionworks in America, and the rise of online media.

    Lost in thought for a few moments until Michael Krauss gently nudged him, Eric abruptly

    realized he was in James Brooks'' office, where Brooks was showing subtle signs of

    dissatisfaction.

    From the start, he had resisted Eric. In Hollywood, producers usually held enormous power, controlling everything from casting to editing. Eric''s insistence on wanting to y the lead role undoubtedly deprived him of some of his authority.

    "Sorry, everyone, I zoned out for a moment," Eric quickly apologized.

    "No problem, young man," James emphasized the word "young man" lightly, then continued, "Alright, before we discuss anything else, let''s move on to the audition."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Audition

    Chapter 7: Audition

    ?

    [Chapter 7: Audition]

    Eric followed James and a few others into a small temporary soundstage. As he looked around at the familiar surroundings, he felt a flutter of excitement. He silently vowed to all the movie equipment, "Just wait, beauties, this time I''m going to be the movie legend everyone admires. I want future generations to remember Hollywood the same way they recall Barry Diller''s biography. When they mention Eric Williams, they''ll say: he is Hollywood!"

    As the scriptwriter, he skipped all the questions about understanding the character during the audition and went straight into the performance.

    In his previous life, besides being a director, Eric had also struggled as an actor, appearing in various movies and TV shows for minor roles. After all, in that circle, whenever someone he knew had an actor in their crew that looked like him, a quick phone call couldnd him a minor role, earning a few thousand dors, helping him build connections for future opportunities. Penny Marshall casually picked a few scenes for Eric to perform. The first few were quite simple, and since he had practiced privately for some days and had a clear image of the original movie in his mind, Eric performed effortlessly.

    Brooks and Penny Marshall, who were watching, found themselves surprised. Eric''s performance was nothing like that of aplete novice -- if he maintained this level of quality during actual filming, he wouldn''t even need the short-term training; they could jump straight into movie preparations.

    "Next up, Eric, give this scene a shot," Penny smiled as she handed him a script. From her expression, Eric felt he had passed this round, easing his nerves as he had been afraid of making mistakes.

    Looking at the script, this scene was one where Mikeforts his daughter after she breaks up with her boyfriend on a school stage. It included Mike''s favorite and most iconic lines from the film.

    "Ms. Penny, I need a female actress to perform this scene with me."

    "Of course," Penny said, turning to a female crew member nearby. "Teresa,e on over and act with Eric."

    The scenested over two minutes, so Eric and the girl named Teresa took a few minutes to prepare. Teresa only needed to get the lines down since she was just a "prop." Eric, however, was deeply immersing himself in the emotions portrayed in the scene -- feeling the concern when his daughter cried, the fury upon hearing that his daughter might sleep with Stan, and clumsy as he attempted tofort her when she came to him for support.

    Once ready, a crew member shouted, "Action!" and the performance began.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Maggie sat on a prop box, pretending to cry.

    Mike walked closer, concern etched on his face. "Hey, Maggie, what''s wrong?"

    "Go away," Maggie mumbled, tucking her hands into her sleeves and continuing to cry.

    "Hey, what happened?" Mike sat beside her.

    "What do you want? To pet my head and say, ''Didn''t I tell you?""

    "No, no, no, I wouldn''t do that," Mike hurriedly exined, "I just want to know what''s going on."

    "Stan dumped me."

    "Stan dumped you!" Mike raised an eyebrow, surprise shing across his face before melting into anger and disbelief.

    A father would naturally be happy to learn that his daughter broke up with a jerk. But then realizing that the jerk had actually dumped his daughter sparked his outrage. In a father''s eyes, his daughter, being so wonderful, should have been the one to walk away -- what right did that jerk have to dump her!

    ...

    Watching Eric''s performance, James Brooks and Penny Marshall exchanged astonished looks. If Eric''s earlier performance could be rated a sixty, this change in expression alone elevated it to a ny. James began to respect Eric; someone at his level wouldn''t be someone who was rigid in their views and unable to change their opinions once negative feelings emerged.

    The scene continued unfolding.

    ...

    Upon hearing that his daughter might sleep with Stan, Mike went into a frenzy. Once confirming that a terrible oue hadn''t urred, he embraced his daughter while awkwardly scratching his head, struggling to find the right words tofort her.

    "When you''re young, a little thing feels like the end of the world, but it''s not. This is just the beginning. You might run into a few jerks, but one day, you''ll find a boy who treats you like a treasure, spinning around you like the sun, up and down."

    "Really?"

    "Of course."

    "You''re so sweet," Maggie said, and as she leaped into Mike''s arms, he noticed her strange emotional state and clumsily pulled back, grabbing his backpack and standing up, inviting her to join his party while fending off her advances.

    ...

    p--p--p--

    As soon as they finished performing, James Brooks and Penny Marshall couldn''t help but apud. With their professional eyes, they could clearly see just how exceptional Eric''s performance was. The crew members nearby, noticing the director and producer''s reactions, joined in with their own apuse.

    Michael Krauss stood by, grinning and pping his hands. While he also thought Eric''s performance was impressive, he knew he wasn''t a professional. Yet, from the actions of James and Penny, he understood that Eric had passed the audition, meaning the script for 17 Again had sessfully sold, and he would earn at least a hundred thousand dors inmission. Though he ran a small publishing house with decent performance, his total assets amounted to only around four to five million, mostly in real estate. Landing a single payment of a hundred thousand was a significant sum for him.

    Having passed the critical audition, everything began to fall into ce.

    Eric sold the script for $250,000 and signed an actor''s contract for $150,000. The script''s price was $50,000 more than anticipated, which Michael fought for since half of that belonged to him. As for the actor''s fee, although Eric excelled, he was still a neer, making $150,000 reasonable.

    [T/N: Originally it was 500K but it didn''t feel realistic for a newbie. So, I changed it to 150K.]

    In no time, Eric found himself worth over $275,000. Though actor payments would only be made after filming concluded, it still gave him a surreal feeling. If only he had that amount of money in his previous life, he surely would have produced a film himself. Unfortunately, amid all his hardworking peers in the industry, only a handful ever managed to be movie directors.

    ...

    After signing the contracts, Eric left Fox Studios with a check in hand. The next order of business was preparing for the film. He wanted to get involved and gain experience, but having just earned the goodwill of the producer and director, he didn''t want to give them the impression he would overstep his role.

    As for the nned acting sses, they were canceled. In Penny Marshall''s words, Eric''s performance was perfect, and there was no need to waste time in beginner sses. Any minor ws could be corrected during filming.

    Eric went to the bank with Michael Krauss, cashed the check, and paid Michael $125,000. He didn''t mind this expense too much; while Michael hadn''t done much, getting the script in front of the right people was enough. If it had just been up to him, without contacts, who knows when he would have sold the script, not to mention the conditions attached. Soon, he resigned from the restaurant as Jeff expected. After a month together, Eric invited his coworkers over for a small party at his ce. Jeff and a few senior colleagues did not

    attend. After a night of revelry, Eric drunkenly passed out, deeply asleep.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Referee Becomes the Basketball

    Chapter 8: The Referee Bes the Basketball

    ?

    [Chapter 8: The Referee Bes the Basketball]

    The moment Eric woke up, it felt like a stone had been stuffed into his head. He shook it vigorously a few times, then instinctively reached for his phone beside the pillow. It didn''t take long for him to realize his situation. With a faint smile, he sat up; it was already past nine in the morning.

    This was Eric''s bedroom on the second floor of the Williams house. The summer sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling ss doors of the south-facing balcony, unabashedly flooding the room with light. It was August already, and even before noon, one could already feel the stifling heat of Los Angeles.

    Having been reborn for almost two months, Eric had been busy with various matters, his heart floating aimlessly. He hadn''t even had the time to take in this brand-new world. Now, everything seemed to have a good start, and his heart finally settled.

    The bedroom was spacious, over thirty square meters. Despite the presence of arge bed, wardrobe, desk, bookshelves, and other odds and ends, it still felt rather empty.

    Eric remembered that Ralph had once thought about dividing the bedroom into two rooms. However, he never went through with it, as there were only the two of them in the house, and there were plenty of rooms. It didn''t seem necessary to create another room for no purpose, a thought that had made Ralph gloomy for many days. Yet, he never took any action to find a wife before he passed away.

    Was it true that every alcoholic man had heart-wrenching stories behind them?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Aftering down from the second floor, it took Eric half an hour to tidy up the chaotic living room from the party. Once he finished breakfast, he got into his car and left the house.

    ...

    He spent a few hours, first heading to the specialty store to order a Strauss piano. After leaving the delivery address for the deliveryman, Eric went to the bookstore to select a hefty stack of books on music arrangement.

    Eric wasn''t just whimsically wanting to be a singer; he was preparing for future film scoring. With so many ssic films in his mind, to perfectly recreate them, he needed to understand some basic arrangement knowledge. At the very least, he should be able to write the melodies already ying in his head into sheet music; otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to hum them in front of the professional film scorers. That was out of the question!

    In Hollywood, music was a crucialponent of films. Thus, the production had to be refined to perfection. Not to mention the background music; just the theme songs alone produced countless ssics. Many iconic movie soundtracks were globally recognized, such as "Unchained Melody" from Ghost, "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic, "New Divide" from Transformers, "Young and Beautiful" from The Great Gatsby, "Let It Go" from Frozen, and the delightful tracks from Juno could easily fill an album.

    ...

    When he returned home with the books, the deliveryman soon brought in the piano. Eric directed them to ce it in the study on the west side of the living room. Though he called it a study, it didn''t even have a bookshelf -- just arge desk and various odds and ends. All of Eric''s books were upstairs in his own bedroom, and Ralph had never been one for reading

    anyway.

    Once the piano was set up, it was customary to test the sound. Eric sat down confidently, cing his hands on the keys. Then, to the horrified and disdainful looks of the deliverymen, he proceeded to y a slightly off-key version of "Happy Birthday." He shot a sidelong nce at the stunned deliverymen and thought, "Did I scare them or what?" With skills like his, one could barely call him a prodigy in the circles he hade from in his past life.

    To punish the deliverymen for their disdain, Eric decided to half the tip he intended to give. However, the deliverymen seemed oblivious to this. Until they got into their truck, one tall,nky driver muttered something about Strauss, the specialized piano costing over twenty thousand dors, with a tone that implied one might as well marry a twenty-eight-year-old maiden off to an eighty-two-year-old man. Eric felt a twinge of embarrassment but also a little helpless.

    ...

    "What, an audition?" Eric asked, puzzled. "Penny, I thought my role was already secured?" He had been holed up at home for a few days, spending each day learning music, practicing basketball, and working on his acting. He thought this situation mightst until filming began, yet in just three days, he received a call from director Penny Marshall.

    "Of course, Eric. I meant you to participate in auditions for other roles. You are the screenwriter and can provide input on the casting choices, right?"

    Eric inwardly sighed, realizing he would probably only be able to contribute a few suggestions, with no real authority in decision-making. However, he cheerfully agreed to Penny. He had intended to be involved in the movie''s production to gain some experience. He drove to the Fox Studios lot and met with Penny Marshall and James Brooks. Casting for a movie was a significant matter, so both the director and producer had to be present. It was the same room where he had auditioned just days before, with several other staffers present, but Eric was the only young person there.

    With over ten minutes until the auditions started, Penny Marshall initiated a conversation about the preparation for 17 Again.

    "The sess of Big has given 20th Century Fox a lot of faith in our project, allocating a budget of twenty million dors. However, they want us to finish the production quickly to release it around Thanksgiving. Therefore, we need to wrap up preparations within two weeks and film the school scenes before summer ends."

    Eric epted the audition actor list from a staff member and thanked them, responding to Penny Marshall, "As long as the shoot goes smoothly, three months should be enough for this film. There are only a few simple special effects shots; post-production won''t take too long." Penny nodded, "That''s true, but we also have to allocate time for promotion."

    "By the way, Penny, which roles are we auditioning for today?" Eric asked.

    "We''re looking at adult Mike O''Donnell and Scarlett O''Donnell. We''ve already invited Dan Aykroyd and Susan Sarandon to those roles. For Ned''s adult character, James rmended a friend of his, and today we''re primarily auditioning Mike''s children and other young actors in the film, so I thought you should take a look."

    Although Eric knew he had no real say as the screenwriter in the casting decisions, hearing that several actors had already been predetermined without his knowledge still made him a bit glum. Fortunately, the two actors Penny mentioned matched Eric''s expectations, and as for Ned''s role, James Brooks wouldn''t take a twenty million dor investment lightly, so the actor for that part wouldn''t be too shabby either.

    Still, Eric couldn''t shake off the feeling of dissatisfaction. He inwardly vowed to secure a stronger voice in future projects; this sidelined feeling was truly unpleasant. Feeling dejected, Eric didn''t have the heart to chat more with Penny. She, on the other hand, didn''t notice Eric''s unusual mood and turned to whisper something to James Brook. Bored, Eric started flipping through the audition actor list. The initial entries were all male actors showcasing their youthful vigor in their photographs. After examining seven or eight pages, he finally found a familiar name: Brad Pitt. Interestingly, the role he was auditioning for was Alex. In the original film, Alex had been portrayed as a weak character, which Eric felt had been exaggerated. It seemed rather incongruous to see such a frail figure acing it on a basketball court.

    Based on his analysis, the reason for choosing that skinny guy over a slightly taller, more attractive male was likely due to storytelling needs, and the director must have feared that the supporting character would overshadow the lead, Zac Efron, who stood at just 5''9" -- quite short, especially among actors. Those who watched the film in his past life could certainly sense that disparity.

    Looking at the photo of Pitt, who was already twenty-five but still looked like a high school student, Eric thought that casting Pitt as a tall and robust character who struggled at first but excelled on the basketball court in the end could work well. Moreover, Eric hadplete confidence that his performance wouldn''t be overshadowed by Brad Pitt. After Pitt became famous, it would be quite amusing for people to discover he had once yed Eric Williams''s

    son.

    With a slight smirk, Eric continued flipping through the list, but didn''t find any more familiar male actors from his past life.

    What followed were stacks of female actors'' dossiers. When Eric saw the first audition material for a female artist, his jaw almost dropped -- Angelina Jolie! Today, it looked like her whole family had arrived. Reflecting back, he realized Jolie should have just graduated from acting school, ready to enter high school, preparing for her modeling career next year. He wondered why she appeared on Maggie''s audition list.

    In the photograph, thirteen-year-old Jolie already stood tall with her striking blonde hair and blue eyes, her signature seductive lips emanating a hint of wildness. Eric wasn''t optimistic about her audition results, thinking that her presence might be a result of her Oscar-winning

    father''s influence.

    As he continued browsing, he found another intriguing girl.

    "Hey, Penny," Eric called out, holding up the dossier, "What''s the deal with Drew Barrymore? The awful things she''s done in the past two years... You know, maybe she''s not quite suitable

    for our campusedy, right?"

    Penny Marshall took a nce and chuckled helplessly, "That was a rmendation from Steven. That woman was relentless in begging him, and he was so annoyed he finally passed

    her along. But Steven also hinted that we shouldn''t consider his opinion, so you know what to

    do."

    "Steven Spielberg?" Penny nodded, "Yes. You know, Steven is Drew''s godfather."

    Eric raised his eyebrows, realizing that the woman Penny was repulsed by must be Drew''s

    greedy mother.

    Just as he was about to continue looking through the list, Penny Marshall patted Eric on the shoulder. "Alright, Eric, settle down. The auditions are starting."

    Eric reluctantly organized the actor sheets in order, preparing for the uing auditions.

    He had expected to simply be a spectator in the process, contributing ament or two at best, only to find that after the first young male actor entered and answered a few questions, the performance phase began. Penny Marshall smiled at Eric and said, "Eric, why don''t you go up and do a scene with Mr. Wolson?"

    Eric shrugged, nced at the script, and walked up.

    ...

    As the fifth actor exited the audition room, Eric returned to his seat and jokinglyined, "Penny, I thought you called me in to officiate but ended up making me the basketball on the

    court!"

    "Ha! That''s a clever metaphor. Stopining, Eric. It was James''s idea. He wasn''t thrilled

    that I canceled your acting ss, and we came up with this method to help you hone your

    skills."

    Eric pretended to re at the nonchnt James Brooks,menting, "Why didn''t you just say

    that from the start?"

    "Well, don''t you know now?" Penny smiled at him.

    "Fine." Eric threw up his hands in resignation.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Lead Actress Auditions

    Chapter 9: Lead Actress Auditions

    ?

    [Chapter 9: Lead Actress Auditions]

    "Does this Brad Pitt seem a bit taller than Eric and a little older?" Thest audition ended with Brad Pitt stepping out of the room, and with a pause in the auditions, James Brooks began discussing with a few of the heads in charge.

    Penny Marshallmented, "Yeah, ke Quinn from audition number seven was pretty good."

    A few other heads chimed in with their opinions.

    Eric nced over ke''s materials -- he was a seventeen-year-old blond kid, standing five foot seven and a bit frail, which indeed matched the image of Alex from Eric''s previous life, but he wasn''t what Eric wanted.

    Unable to hold back, Eric spoke up, "Penny, I feel like ke Quinn looks too weak. While he fits that bullied high school student vibe early on, by the end of the movie, having such a frail kid shine on the basketball court would feel jarring, giving the audience a false impression. I just graduated high school, and I know for sure a guy like that wouldn''t make it on a high school basketball team, much less get scouted."

    James Brooks nodded in agreement with Eric''s analysis. "You''re right, Eric. Who do you think would be a better choice?"

    "How about Brad Pitt?"

    Penny Marshall responded, "But Brad Pitt is even a bit taller than you."

    Eric shrugged. "Height isn''t an issue; it''smon for kids to be taller than their parents. Plus, his image could make Alex''s transformation feel less jarring."

    James asked, "How so?"

    "First off, we know that Brad Pitt can act. Although he hasn''t starred in any films yet, he''s done quite a bit of television, and his audition was solid. He can absolutely portray Alex''s insecure and timid nature early in the film. Thenter, with Mike''s encouragement and training, he can confidently showcase himself and pursue the girl he likes. You see, he already has that potential; once it''s unleashed, the audience won''t feel it''s fake. They''ll think, ''Oh, that''s exactly how Alex is!""

    The others around nodded in agreement with Eric''s viewpoint. Eric could tell that James Brooks was a bit interested, but he didn''t decide immediately. Instead, he said, "Alright, let''s revisit this issueter. Now, let''s start the auditions for the actresses."

    The first audition featured Angelina Jolie. The girl presented herself with confidence while answering questions, but when it came to acting, she didn''t quite deliver. Her performance was filled with the exaggeration typical of stage acting, almost dragging Eric down with her. If he had total casting power, he might have given Jolie a minor role just for the fun of collecting future stars in his film. s, he didn''t hold much sway at the moment.

    After a few more girls had their turns, Drew Barrymore entered.

    With her signature sweet doll-like face, she wore a white crop top, with the ck straps of her bra subtly showing with her movements. Her lower half unted a knee-length white pleated skirt, revealing a glimpse of her fair calves and d in ck ankle boots. If someone only looked at her appearance, they would see a slightly precocious teen beauty, never associating her with words like alcoholism or drug abuse.

    As Drew took a seat opposite the casting directors, she yed with her bangs and noticed the young Eric sitting near middle-aged men and women. The stark contrast made Eric''s youthful face appear exceptionally handsome to her. Drew''s red lips curled into a flirtatious smile as she tossed a wink at Eric, an allure that felt far beyond her years, making Eric''s heart flutter unexpectedly.

    James and the others exchanged nces, frowning at Eric. He gazed back innocently, thinking, ''Hey, why are you ring at me? I''m just being propositioned here!''

    Finally, James broke the silence. "Alright, Drew, let''s keep it together. Let''s begin."

    "Of course, Mr. Brooks," Drew replied sweetly, transforming into the innocent girl-next- door once more.

    ...

    "Stop it, Maggie, I''m not that kind of guy." The scene shifted to Ned''s bedroom, where Maggie and Mike were in another scene together. Mike kept dodging his daughter''s attempts to pounce on him.

    "No, you are."

    "No, I''m not!"

    "You''re a good person; you''re different from them."

    "I am very different from them. I''m fundamentally different!" Mike fumbled his words.

    A once frisky little lion suddenly realized something, sitting on the bed with a disappointed expression. "Oh, I... I get it now."

    "What do you understand?"

    "Your hair looks so tidy, and yet you want to make it more noticeable."

    "What do you mean?" Mike asked, puzzled.

    "I mean... dude, those jeans are way too tight!"

    Mike nced down at his jeans, suddenly blurting out, "No, I''m not gay! I was dating a girl when I was seventeen!"

    Relieved, Maggie jumped up and quickly asked, "Is she from our school? Do I know her? What''s her name? I want to know her name!"

    "Okay," Maggie leaned closer to Mike, just like her mother, yfully pinching his cheek. "You''d better tell your girlfriend to keep a close eye on you. Ooh, ooh!"

    ...

    In the room, everyone was engrossed in how deeply the two were performing together. Had it been in the right scenario, their acting could''ve been directly included in the movie.

    Some couldn''t help but think how unfair it was for God to gift these two such exceptional acting talent. The people in charge of casting had been in the industry for many years, witnessing numerous performances that still received harsh critiques as if cursed by the Razzies. Meanwhile, the talent of these young performers seemed innate and effortless. They were unaware that Drew''s talent was genuinely natural, while Mike was riding a wave of previous experience and vivid memories as if they were ying simultaneously in his mind. If he didn''t perform well, it would be time for an IQ test.

    "Eric, your performance was outstanding. I heard you''re the screenwriter for this movie; that''s incredible!" Once the scene concluded, Drew looked at Eric with curiosity.

    Eric nodded. "Thanks, but you were even more impressive, Miss Barrymore."

    "Thank you for thepliment," Drew readily extended her hand.

    Eric reciprocated with a handshake, noticing her fingers lightly grazing his palm. He smiled faintly, not allowing himself to feel any special significance from it, thinking perhaps Drew just felt he had some say in casting and wanted to gently nudge him towards her when it came

    time for role selection.

    But she didn''t know he was only there to practice his acting.

    After Drew Barrymore left, the heads felt a bit silent. They all knew how Drew''s audition opportunity came about; initially wanting to test the waters, they had thought they''d eliminate her easily. Surprisingly, she had turned out to be the best performer so far.

    As the next auditions continued, including Eric, everyone seemed a bit distracted. Nearly an hourter, as noon grew closer, Eric finally realized there was only one audition sheet left in his hand. He casually peered at the name: Jennifer Aniston. Wow, within a second, Eric''s mind sprang into action, eximing silently, "The American sweetheart!"

    ...

    James Brooks spoke up, "Miss Aniston, could you introduce yourself, please?"

    Jennifer Aniston sensed that the only young person across from her had a rather intense gaze

    -- one that carried a hint of excitement -- making her feel slightly pleased yet a little shy. After introducing herself, the director asked the boy to perform a few scenes with her before wrapping up the audition.

    It was clear that those overseeing the auditions were somewhat distracted; perhaps they had already decided on their choices. Aniston felt a wave of disappointment; both her parents were in the industry, keeping her more informed than outsiders. Still, shepleted her performance, hoping tond one of the smaller roles.

    ...

    Once Jennifer Aniston exited the audition room, Eric reluctantly pulled his gaze away. As the files indicated from his previous life, Aniston did indeed look a bit fuller at the time but not necessarily overweight. Standing at five foot six and wearing heels, she still presented herselfN?v(el)B\\jnn

    as a graceful young woman.

    However, due to on-screen weight perception, the cameras magnified this w significantly.

    "What''s up, Eric? Do you like that girl? I must say, her smile is quite sweet," Penny Marshall teased, her voice cutting through Eric''s thoughts. The others noticed his moment of distraction and chuckled.

    Eric snapped back to reality, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratching his head. "Penny, don''t

    tease me! I''m just... just..."

    James Brooks, sorting through his materials,ughed, "Oh, it''s not teasing, Eric! If you like her, maybe you should run after her and walk her home. Look, auditions are over, but if you want to stick around and have lunch with us old-timers, I won''t stop you."

    "I think... I''ll pass," Eric felt that acting on those thoughts would be a tad over the top, and he wouldn''t want toe off as too eager to Aniston.

    "Hey Eric, be bold!" James Brooks encouraged. "In a sea of faces, good girls don''te around often. Although she might be a little fuller on-screen, that sweet smile can make up

    for it. So if you go after her now, I could arrange a small role for her -- perhaps one of Maggie''s three best friends? That would give you a chance to spend more time with her." "Really? That would be amazing, James! I''ll... I''ll just head out then!" Eric had intended to request James give Aniston a shot, but he hadn''t figured out how to approach it; now, Brooks had offered it himself.

    Once Eric wrapped up, he quickly gathered his backpack and dashed out the door amidst the

    encouragingughter of the others.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Flirting Takes Skill

    Chapter 10: Flirting Takes Skill

    ?

    [Chapter 10: Flirting Takes Skill]

    Jennifer Aniston stood by the roadside, somewhat distracted as she waited for a cab. She hadn''t felt overly disappointed about this audition since she never held high hopes anyway. After graduating from acting school the previous year, she hadnded a few roles in stage ys. By chance, she had heard about an open call for actresses for a movie and decided to send in her resume, surprised to get an audition opportunity.

    Just as she raised her hand to hail a taxi, she heard someone shout her name from behind. Turning around, she saw the boy from the audition room who had been staring at her intently.

    "Hi, you''re the one...," Jennifer Aniston waved her hand a couple of times instinctively, realizing she didn''t even know his name.

    Eric extended his hand, saying, "Miss Aniston, hello, I''m Eric, Eric Williams."

    Jennifer reached out her hand politely and smiled, "Hello, Mr. Williams..."

    Eric gazed at Aniston''s sweet smile, slightly mesmerized, holding onto her hand without realizing he hadn''t let go.

    "Mr. Williams, you..." Aniston lightly tugged her hand, feeling the warmth of hisrge hand and slightly embarrassed, shot him a yful re.

    "Oh, sorry, just call me Eric. Can I call you Jenny?" Eric retracted his hand awkwardly, scratching his head, thinking how he didn''t turn into a bumbling teenager, even though he had some dating experience in his past life. Surely, it must be the hormones acting up in this body, he reasoned.

    Aniston raised an eyebrow with mild suspicion, "Okay, Eric, but we don''t seem to know each other, do we?"

    Eric smiled, shaking off the previous thoughts. "Well, not yet. All friends were strangers once, right? Jenny, it''s already noon. Can I take you out for lunch?"

    "That''s a bit sudden, Eric. We''ve only exchanged a few words," Aniston declined.

    "Then how about I give you a ride home?" Eric suggested, giving in.

    "Um... alright," Aniston hesitated for a moment. She had already turned him down once, and not good at rejecting others, she instinctively epted his offer. In truth, Eric had only employed a social tactic. Had he asked to take her home right away, getting rejected would have been a real blow; persistence wouldn''t work in his favor.

    ...

    They both got into Eric''s car, cleared up the address, and Eric drove off toward the destination.

    Unable to contain her curiosity, Aniston asked first, "Eric, are you part of the crew for 17 Again?"

    Eric nodded while gripping the steering wheel, "Yeah, I''m the writer and the lead actor of the movie."

    "Wow, that''s amazing! You should be about my age, right? I''ve only yed minor roles in a few stage ys."

    Eric chuckled, "It''s just luck, really. By the way, you mentioned you''re acting in a stage y?" "Oh, yes!" Talking about something she was interested in, Aniston opened up and began chatting away, while Eric chimed in asionally, making her giggle.

    A neen-year-old girl who had hardly stepped into the real world didn''t stand a chance against Eric, who had the soul of an older man hidden deep inside. Under Eric''s subtle guidance, the conversation flowed, and Aniston gradually opened up about her life in Los Angeles.

    "Even though working at a convenience store is tiring, standing at least eight hours a day, I feel really fulfilled. I still get to perform in stage ys and go on auditions. I believe that even without my irresponsible father''s help, I''ll seed one day."

    Eric knew that in his previous life, Aniston eventually entered the television industry through her father''s connections, that would happen two yearster.

    He remembered Jennifer Aniston from his past life had some resentment towards her father for abandoning her and her mother when she was little. For over two years, she had refused his help and squandered precious time in Hollywood. It was only after her father, John Aniston, made some attempts to mend their rtionship that the stubborn Jennifer epted his assistance. By the time she got the role in Friends, Jennifer was already twenty-five, and in Hollywood, if a female actress wasn''t sessful by thirty, opportunities would significantly dwindle. It had to be said, Jennifer had been fortunate.

    Listening to Aniston, Eric encouraged, "I believe that too. You did a fantastic job at the audition. Your performance didn''t seem stagey at all; it felt very natural. You know, some girl who auditioned before you brought so much stagey ir that I almost got pulled into it."

    Suddenly, Aniston turned a bit silent when he brought up the audition, and after a moment, she quietly asked, "Eric, was the role of Maggie already cast before my audition?"

    "Can''t deny it, Jenny, you certainly have a keen eye."

    "I noticed you all seemed distracted; maybe it was just a formality."

    Eric didn''t beat around the bush and replied directly, "If nothing changes, Drew Barrymore will likely y Maggie. She performed exceptionally well during her audition."

    "Drew Barrymore, the adorable little girl from E.T.? She should be about thirteen now, right? Isn''t Maggie supposed to be a high school senior getting ready for college?"

    Eric asked curiously, "What? Jenny, didn''t you see Drew while waiting for your audition? She''s all grown up now, though... well, yes, she''s still only thirteen."

    Aniston looked a bit embarrassed, "Um, for today''s audition, I switched shifts with a coworker and worked until midnightst night, so I arrived a bitte."

    "No worries, actually, I''m not sure if I should tell you..."

    Aniston looked up, curious. "What''s that?"

    "After you left, they all noticed I... liked you."

    Aniston''s mouth dropped open, surprised by Eric''s straightforwardness, and stammered, "And... then what?"

    "James, the producer of this film, told me that in a sea of faces, if you miss out on good girls, you might never find them again. So, he encouraged me to chase after you. He also said if I pursued you, he''d give you a role which would create more opportunities for us to spend time together." Eric revealed James Brooks'' advice, silently apologizing to him in his mind, thinking dating wasn''t an easy task.

    "Uh, well... I... I..." Faced with Eric''s almost confession-like words, Aniston appeared flustered, but a hint of sweetness bubbled up inside her heart.

    Seeing her fluster, Eric quickly reassured her, "No, you don''t need to feel any pressure, Jenny. We''re friends now, right? It''s normal for friends to help each other. Honestly, that role isn''t a big deal; it''s just one of Maggie''s three friends with a few minutes of screen time. But if you ept, it would give you a credential for future auditions. I genuinely believe this movie will

    do well."

    "Thank you, Eric. I really don''t know what to say," Aniston replied gratefully.

    After another ten minutes on the road, once they reached a neighborhood in Burbank, Aniston pointed to an intersection. "Eric, we''ve arrived. You can park over there."

    The car came to a stop at a narrow alley, and both of them simultaneously fell silent for a few seconds. Aniston didn''t make any move to get out, and Eric wasn''t going to suggest it either. After sitting in quiet for a moment, the atmosphere in the car began to shift toward something more intimate.

    Finally, Aniston gathered her courage to speak, "How about I take you out for lunch, Eric? There''s a little cafe up ahead where I often eat."

    "No way, Jenny. It''s not proper for a girl to pay. I''ll treat you. Let''s go; just lead the way," Eric

    replied with relief.

    ...

    Ultimately, Aniston epted the role, and during the following weeks of preparation for the film, the two of them ended up talking on the phone almost daily. Their conversations were pretty scattered: about someone stealing in Aniston''s convenience store, almost beingte due to oversleeping in the morning, and discovering a few cockroaches in her closet.

    Eric asionally shared snippets of his life too,forting the lonely girl in a strange city. Although Aniston interacted with many people, she didn''t have anyone she felt she could confide in. In a short span of time, Eric had already be her emotional anchor. He realized that if he just confessed, Aniston would undoubtedly agree to be his girlfriend, as she had

    even begun to flirt on the phone.

    However, Eric wasn''t in any rush. He didn''t want Aniston to associate her role in the film with their budding rtionship. He decided that he would wait until after 17 Again wrapped filming. After all, the girl wouldn''t be able to escape his grasp anyway in her current state. Eric just needed to wait until everything fell into ce naturally.

    ...

    During this time, another development took shape: the publication of Jurassic Park. About a month and a half after signing with Michael Krauss, Eric finally received a sample copy of Jurassic Park. The cover featured a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex chasing a speeding SUV -- what a sci-fi concept! This idea stemmed from his recollection of the Jurassic Park movie, and Michael Krauss thought it was fantastic. Thebination of ancient dinosaurs and modern SUVS set an enormous suspenseful tone right from the cover.

    Eric thoughtfully asked for an extra copy to gift to Aniston. He had unknowingly crafted an image of a thoughtful boyfriend in Aniston''s mind over the days they had spent together, a significant impact for someone who hadcked the love of a father figure in her life. When she received Jurassic Park, her admiration for Eric''s writing and acting talent grew, and her eyes sparkled with a hint of admiration. Naturally, she subconsciouslybeled him as a

    gifted artist in her heart.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The preparations for 17 Again continued intensely, and during that period, Eric participated in a few more preparatory meetings with the crew and encountered other actors involved in the project. Regarding Mike''s son, the production team didn''t choose Brad Pitt; they didn''t opt for the skinny kid named ke Quinn either. Instead, they selected a slightly sturdier eighteen-year-old boy.

    Eric didn''t hold any grudges about this since he subsequently met Aniston. Out of some principles, he found himself losing interest in Pitt for abandoning Aniston in his past life. In fact, he whimsically considered that if he ever became a big director, he might cast both Pitt and Jolie in a minor role in his movie, with Aniston as the lead, of course!

    Everything proceeded smoothly. On August 16, 1988, the first movie Eric had fantasized about

    throughout both lives officially started filming.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 11: Chapter 11: All Riled Up

    Chapter 11: All Riled Up

    ?

    [Chapter 11: All Riled Up]

    "Cut! Great job, Eric. Why don''t you take a break and get ready for the next scene?" Penny Marshall pped her hands, urging the crew to prepare quickly for the uing shot. At that moment, Eric stood in his oversized suit, performing a scene where he asked a janitor about the whereabouts of an old man in the school hallway.

    It was the first day of filming, and they were at a private high school in Beverly Hills. After reviewing the script, the school board readily agreed to allow the crew to use their campus for free, provided they changed the name of the fictional Hyde High to theirs. It was a win-win situation; the crew saved a budget on location costs, while the school got some publicity from the film. After some brief discussion, the crew consented to the board''s request.

    In the morning, they shot some simple scenes, which turned out well, so they began filming the part where Mike turned into his school persona and searched for the old janitor in the afternoon.

    "Eric, that outfit looks ridiculous. You look like one of those filthy homeless people

    downtown," Drew Barrymore quipped casually, perched with her legs crossed and a haughty attitude.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric shrugged off the jibe. "Hey, Maggie, that''s not something a daughter should say," he shot back.

    With an exaggerated pout, Drew replied, "Hmph, as an eighteen-year-old virgin, you really know how to talk big."

    Just then, Jennifer Aniston walked by holding a towel, and upon hearing Drew poke fun at her crush, she immediately retorted, "At least he is not like those bad girls who do drugs and drink themselves silly!"

    Drew nced up and down at Aniston in a dismissive manner, then raised her eyebrows in a mocking smile, deliberately twisting her slim waist in her chair.

    It was effective; Aniston, self-conscious about her curvaceous figure, felt like a cat whose fur stood on end. She dropped the towel and lunged at Drew, not that her sweet face would have given away that she could pack a punch. Living alone in Los Angeles required a tough attitude to look after oneself.

    Seeing a catfight on the verge of breaking out, Eric quickly intervened, grabbing Aniston''s hand to pull her back to sit beside him. He leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Aniston pulled her neck in, feeling his breath, before erupting in giggles and lightly punching Eric on the shoulder. "Eric, you''re so bad! How could you say that?"

    Drew pretended not to care, but she strained to catch what Eric had just said, scrunching her nose in feigned indifference before turning away.

    "Eric, get ready for the next scene."

    "Alright, Penny," Eric said, patting Aniston''s small hand before standing up to head toward the shooting spot.

    ...

    As for why Drew targeted Eric, it stemmed from the morning''s earlier dynamics. Since it was a school film, both Drew and Aniston had jumped into the scene. Even though Eric and Aniston hadn''t rified their rtionship, everyone could see Aniston''s infatuation with Eric. Some teased, some envied, and others disapproved, like Drew.

    For reasons unknown, just seeing the two close together, even without any overtly affectionate gestures, sparked an unusual difort in Drew, especially when Aniston shed her blissful, girly demeanor. Thus, Drew found herself unable to restrain her snarkyments towards Eric, and by midday, the whole crew knew about the tension between them. However, when they were filming together, they maintained their professionalism with minimal flubs. Since it didn''t impact the shoot, Penny only hinted to Eric that he should perhaps tolerate Drew a bit more, having observed Eric''s remarkable maturitypared to his peers over the past half month.

    "Hey, fatty, what did that guy just say to you?" Drew couldn''t help but ask, trying to sound nonchnt.

    "Listen, crybaby, if you call me ''fatty'' one more time, I''ll squeeze your little tatas!" Thanks to Eric''s encouragement, Aniston''s reaction was no longer as heated, but without him around, her words turned boldly spicy.

    "Crybaby? Me?" Drew''s heart skipped a beat, though she masked her surprise with an incredulous expression directed at Aniston.

    "Uh-huh." Aniston tilted her chin up defiantly, asserting herself.

    "Ah-ha! How ridiculous. I''m one of the leads, and you''re just a minor character with two minutes of screen time. Who are you to call me a crybaby?"

    Aniston shot back, "So what? Even if you''re the lead, you''re merely a tool for your mother to make money off of. I''m different -- though I''m just a small role now, I have the freedom, dreams, and a talented, sweet boyfriend who, at just eighteen, has written a screeny and is starring in it. Meanwhile, your father ignores your existence, and your mother sees you as cash flow. You''re bitter and helpless, wallowing in self-destruction -- drinking, doing drugs, even screw-ups that you foolishly believe are acts of rebellion. Seeing me with Eric makes you jealous, because fundamentally, you''re just a pathetic, unloved crybaby trapped in this cycle!"

    Boom--

    It felt like an atomic bomb had gone off in Drew''s mind, leaving her exposed, stripped bare in the middle of a bustling street, feeling utterly vulnerable.

    Despite her mature physical demeanor, Drew was still a thirteen-year-old girl. Most girls at that age had just begun middle school, wide-eyed and curious about the new world, filled with anticipation for their first romance. Aniston''s gut-punching revtion tore into the fragile facade that Drew had carefully hidden beneathyers of bravado.

    Seeing Drew suddenly go silent, Aniston wore a smug smile, feeling victorious. Eric would''ve surely stepped in to halt Aniston from uttering words harsh enough for a thirteen-year-old to bear.

    ...

    Afterpleting a few more shots, Eric returned to the break area, surprised to find Drew curled up in silence, her little head buried in her arms. Curious, he asked Aniston, "Hey, Jenny, what''s wrong? Why are you two so quiet?"

    Aniston beamed with pride, "Well, she''s speechless after I put her in her ce."

    "Oh, Jenny, you''re impressive; that little smart mouth of Drew''s isn''t easy to contend with. Alright, we should go; it''s your turn now. Impress the director!"

    "I will!"

    They walked hand in hand toward the filming area, and the little squabble seemed to fade away quietly. But was it really so simple?

    ...

    During the next scenes, Drew didn''t disy any signs of abnormality, only speaking less and refraining from targeting Eric. Thoughpletely focused on the filming and Aniston, Eric didn''t pick up on Drew''s peculiar shifts.

    "Incredible! This shoot has gone so smoothly," Penny Marshall said as she wrapped the final shot of the day. Holding the shooting schedule with pen in hand, she drew lines on it and remarked to Eric, "Initially, we nned to wrap the school scenes in ten days, but at this rate, we might finish within a week! I know I said it many times during auditions, but I must say, Eric, your performance has exceeded everyone''s expectations. You truly have no previous acting experience?"

    Eric chuckled, "Not at all, Penny. Actually, I lied. I acted in lots of films in a past life -- though not as the lead, I still gathered a lot of experience. Fortunately, I didn''t forget it in this life." "Wow, past life?!" Penny assumed Eric''s straightforwardment was a joke. "Alright, your little girlfriend is getting impatient. Go on now, and remember, don''t bete tomorrow."

    "See you tomorrow, Penny."

    "See you tomorrow!"

    As Eric started his car and drove away with Aniston, no one noticed Drew Barrymore, standing alone outside the crowd, peering at the departing vehicle. Filled with resentment, she muttered under her breath, "Just wait, Jennifer Aniston, you little brat. You hurt me like this, and I''ll make you pay. You''ll regret every word you said today."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Youre Really Shameless

    Chapter 12: You''re Really Shameless

    ?

    [Chapter 12: You''re Really Shameless]

    "Eric, do you think I should... should I lose some weight?" Aniston, sitting in the passenger seat, blushed slightly as she faced the window, seemingly contemting the stream of cars passing by. She casually tossed the question out there.

    Eric pursed his lips and gathered his thoughts before responding, "Jenny, in my eyes, you''ll always be the most beautiful no matter what. But if you want to make it bigger in Hollywood, you should at least aim for around 100 pounds."

    "Hmph! You''re such a two-faced jerk! You couldn''t help but say it, could you? You think I''m fat!" Aniston huffed lightly, her tonecking real anger and instead carrying a hint of yfulness.

    Eric felt speechless -- she was the one who asked, after all.

    "Alright, I apologize. To make it up to you, how about we grab some Italian food?" he offered.

    Aniston hesitated for a moment and then softly suggested, "Why don''t we just go to my ce? I just learned a couple of new dishes, and you can help me taste them."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Without a second thought, Eric replied, "I''d be honored!"

    ...

    This was his first visit to Aniston''s cozy little apartment, a charming one-bedroom adorned with warm decor and stuffed animals that made the space feel weing, filled with the subtle fragrance unique to a girl''s ce. Eric intended to help out, but Aniston shooed him out of the kitchen, leaving him to idly flip through her fashion magazines in the living room.

    An hourter, Aniston emerged with thest pot of soup, cing it on the dining table and proudly pping her hands. "So, what do you think?"

    Eric sniffed the air and praised, "It''s fantastic! It smells so good; I can''t wait to dig in!" "Hey, thanks, Eric!"

    They skipped the formalities and settled down to enjoy the meal. Eric had to admit, Aniston really had a knack for cooking. Midway through, she suddenly stood up and said, "Oh, Eric, I saw something about you when I went downstairs to buy some spices. Let me show you!"

    Excitedly, Aniston stood up, retrieved a newspaper from her carry bag, and returned to the table, spreading it out in front of her.

    Eric was just curious about what Aniston was doing with the newspaper when she began reading with a hint of self-satisfaction. "Eric Williams in Jurassic Park creatively showcased a highly operational concept for reviving dinosaurs based on gic engineering and embryonic theories. Through the hand of Dr. Hammond, a shocking Jurassic dinosaur park was established on I Nur. However, this is just the beginning. The arrival of chaos theorist Malcolm brings us into another realm of possibilities..."

    Once she reached that part, Aniston skipped over much of the review, jumping straight to the end: "Even more surprisingly, the author of the novel, Mr. Eric Williams, is only eighteen years old this year. ording to our sources, this genius boy has had quite a troubled background..."

    Eric barely suppressed the urge to cover his face. No doubt, the next part was the great American dream, of course, he had added a ssic segment from reality TV that involved the strongest sob story. He pulled the newspaper from in front of Aniston and said, "Alright, Jenny, that''s enough."

    Aniston frowned and waved her tiny hands, trying to reim the newspaper. "Hey, hey, we''re getting to the good part! They''re praising you! Wait, why does your face look so strange?" "Actually," Eric crumpled the newspaper into a ball and tossed it into the trash bin beside the table. "If you want to hear it, I can recite it for you."

    "Oh," Aniston''s mouth dropped open as she nced at the newspaper in the bin. "So, you''ve already read it, huh? But I haven''t! Eric, you''re terrible!"

    "It''s not like that; actually, I wrote the article."

    Aniston was shocked. "Wow!"

    Eric felt a bit sheepish. "The novel has been released, and for promotion, publishers usually hire someone to write reviews for the papers. A few days ago, Michael approached me and said no one knows my novel better than I do, so he asked me to write a few reviews to be published. Coincidentally, the article you just saw is one of them."

    "Wow!"

    Eric shrugged and boldly added, "It''s really not a big deal, Jenny. It''s just a regr marketing tactic. Everyone does it."

    "Eric..."

    "Yeah?"

    "You''re just... so shameless." After saying that, Aniston finally couldn''t hold back and burst intoughter, disregarding her image as she sprawled out on the dining table.

    As expected, there wasn''t any lingering ambiguity. Citing her pure heart being sullied by Eric''s shamelessness, Aniston promptly kicked him out of her ce after they finished eating. Well, it wasn''t entirely a loss for Eric; at his insistence, Aniston shyly nted a quick kiss on his lips before swiftly shutting the door behind her.

    ...

    Three dayster, Aniston wrapped up her scenes at school, leaving only a couple of party scenes to shoot, which had to wait until the school filming wasplete. So, she temporarily returned to her job at the convenience store.

    Meanwhile, Eric noticed that Aniston seemed a bit out of ittely. After he asked, he found out that she had started dieting and her tiredness was due to hunger. Eric advised her not to be so hasty as it could harm her health, but it didn''t seem to help.

    Additionally, Drew had been giving Eric these lingering looks on set, resembling a hungry little kitten that might pounce on him at any moment; it was a ssic scene straight out of a horror film that left Eric feeling unsettled.

    Moreover, when Aniston wasn''t paying attention, Drew would subtly flirt with him. Although she fancied she was being discreet, had Eric really been an eighteen-year-old boy, he might''ve been hooked already. Unfortunately, at his core, he was basically an older guy. While older guys might find young girls attractive, Drew didn''t look like one regardless of the angle you viewed her from. When Drew mocked Eric''s performance on their first shooting day, he simplyughed it off; even if she continued that way, it didn''t bother him.

    But observing Drew''s current demeanor made Eric wish he could ask, "What sort of twist is this,dy? Can we skip to the knife-twist already?"

    The day after Aniston left the set, it was time to film.

    "Hey, Eric, do you want some water? I can grab you a bottle!" Drew sweetly asked during a

    break.

    Eric instinctively declined, "Ah, no thanks, Drew. I''m not thirsty."

    Drew didn''t press the issue. She turned and swayed away, only to return shortly after with two bottles of water, tossing one to Eric. "Here, take it."

    With no choice, Eric epted it. Drew sat down on the chair next to him and subtly nudged her seat closer to him, practically leaning against him.

    "Uh, Drew, maybe we need to talk," Eric said, wanting to know what was going on. "You know

    I have a girlfriend." Actually, these words were merely an excuse for Eric; the main reason was

    Drew''s age and her chaotic lifestyle did nothing to pique his interest.

    "It''s simple -- I like you!" Drew leaned in close and dered.

    Eric sprayed water from his mouth at the surprising directness of her confession.

    "But I... but I..." If he said he felt nothing upon being confessed to by a beautiful girl, that would have been overly dramatic. Eric found himself at a loss for words.

    Now that the cat was out of the bag, Drew felt free toy it all on the line. With Aniston gone from the set, Drew could boldly make her move.

    Directly pressing her soft body against Eric, she rubbed her gentle curves against his arm.

    Drew whispered, "Eric, can I be your girlfriend? Actually, I''ve only had one boyfriend before,

    and it wasn''t as... terrible as everyone says."

    "Drew, don''t do this," Eric was trying to figure out a way to turn her down when suddenly, the melodious voice of Penny Marshall interjected, "Hey, you two little ones, stop with the flirting! Get ready for the next scene!"

    Eric quickly responded and pulled away from Drew, heading towards the filming area. Watching him go, Drew''s flirtatious demeanor evaporated, reced with a subtle bitterness on her face. "Aniston, just you wait. I''ll make you watch me take away the one thing you cherish most. Call me a pity case, and we''ll see who ends up being the real pity case."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Advice

    Chapter 13: Advice

    ?

    [Chapter 13: The Great Sage Took In This Little Goblin]

    A weekter, the school scenes werepletely finished, and the crew moved on to shoot other locations.

    ...

    "Wow, wow," Susan Sarandon approached Eric, yfully pinching his cheeks with both hands. "You really look like my husband, don''t you?"

    "Uh-huh!" Eric managed a grunt as Susan yfully mauled him.

    "That''s my ex-husband, it''s just so strange," she added.

    "Definitely strange," Eric agreed.

    "What''s going on here?" Susan continued.

    ...

    At that moment, Penny Marshall, who was monitoring the shots, shouted, "Cut! Eric, you cracked up again! This is the fifth time! Can''t you hold it together?"

    Typically, directors had a reputation for having bad tempers, which was pretty standard. Facing repeated flubs from actors that wasted the crew''s time and money, even the most patient folk could get driven to the edge.

    In response to her frustrations, Eric could only apologize repeatedly, "I''m sorry, Penny. I promise, I''ll try not tough next time."

    Penny rolled her eyes dramatically, quite clearly exasperated with Eric''s repeated promises. "Everyone, take your ces! Let''s do it again."

    Susan Sarandon chimed in beside Eric, "Eric, when I''m pinching your cheeks again, try to look distracted and keep your focus off me."

    "Sure thing, Ms. Sarandon, I''ll give it a shot," he replied.

    Honestly, the humor in that scene wasn''t particrly high, but Eric couldn''t help but crack

    up.

    As they began filming again, Eric diligently followed Susan''s advice, narrowly managing to hold back hisughter. After six attempts, they finally got the take they needed.

    ...

    During the break, Eric approached Susan again. "Ms. Sarandon, thanks a lot for your help just now."

    "No problem, Eric, just call me Susan. Honestly, you have talent. I''ve never seen anyone debut with such outstanding performances like yours," she replied.

    "Oh, thanks. Um, Susan, can I ask you a question?"

    "Of course, shoot."

    "I was wondering, Susan, how do you keep such an amazing figure?" he inquired.

    "Wow, Eric, can I take that as apliment?" Susan raised an eyebrow, a yful smile crossing her face.

    Noticing her meaningful smile, Eric suddenly recalled that this gorgeous woman was a well- known figure in Hollywood, famous for dating younger men -- many over a decade younger than herself -- and even nning to marry a guy thirty-two years her junior, despite already being in her sixties.

    "No, Susan, it''s actually about my... girlfriend. She''s been trying to lose weight, and I wondered if you had any tips."

    "Oh, I see," she replied. "Losing weight is no easy feat. I actually know a great fitness consultant who opened a women''s gym in Beverly Hills. She''s also an excellent nutritionist. You should take your girlfriend to her for some advice; she can draw up a sensible weight-loss n for her."

    "Could you give me her address, Susan?"

    "Absolutely," Susan asked her assistant for paper and pen, quickly scribbled a note, and handed it to Eric. He tucked it away and thanked her before turning to leave.

    ...

    Just as he settled back into his resting spot, Drew sprinted over, her chair sliding to a halt beside him, eager to pry. "Hey, Eric, what did Susan just write you? A date address?"

    Eric pushed Drew''s face away, teasing her. "Of course, you see it. I like older women, so don''t waste your time thinking you have a chance."

    "Ha!" Drew chuckled lightly. She had only been joking, and Eric''s easy admission deted the notion. "I heard that kids without mothers tend to have motherplexes when they grow up. Is that true?"

    Drew clearly seemed to have done some digging into Eric''s background.

    "Hey, Drew, that''s not a good topic," he replied sternly.

    Thinking Eric was upset about the talk of his mother, Drew yfully stuck her tongue out.

    "Eric, how about you take me out for dinner after work?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric shook his head. "No can do; if you''re asking, bring Jenny along."

    "Jenny? That fat girl? You''re not trying to turn her into a T-Rex, are you?"

    Curiously, Eric wondered if people were already using dinosaurparisons for heavy girls back then.

    "T-Rex? Drew, don''t you think saying that about my girlfriend in front of me is quite inappropriate? If you were a guy, I might just have to punch you."

    "Hmph, don''t think I don''t know. You two aren''t actually dating. I heard about her audition; her role was given to her because James put in a good word for you. With that proud attitude of hers, she wouldn''t be your girlfriend now -- at least not until filming wraps. Seems pretty hypocritical to me."

    "Drew," Eric said, serious now. "If you keep talking like that, I won''t talk to you anymore."

    "Okay, okay," Drew raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "How about I take you out to eat, then? Once we''re done, we can chat about your book, Jurassic Park. It was absolutely brilliant! I dere myself officially a fan of Eric Williams."

    "Get real, Drew. You think your mom will approve of your antics?"

    "That woman," Drew scowled. "As long as it''s not about signing checks, she couldn''t care less about me!"

    It seemed Drew had deep-seated grievances about her mother, which exined why she severed ties with her family so thoroughly by sixteen.

    ...

    Today''s filming had a lot of shots focusing on Eric, and even his young body started to feel the strain. After wrapping up, he tiredly made his way to the parking lot. Shortly after, he noticed Drew trailing behind him like a shadow.

    "Hey, Eric! You promised to take me out to dinner. You can''t just run away!"

    Eric paused, "Drew, please don''t be unreasonable. When did I promise you? You should head

    back now."

    "No way," Drewtched onto Eric''s arm, her brusque demeanor swiftly turning pitiful. "I sent my assistant away. You''re not going to let me, a little girl, go home alone, are you? What if something happens? What if someone drags me into an alley?"

    Eric had grown quite immune to Drew''s exaggerated antics and remained unfazed. "No way! I trust you to get home alone. Just go; I''m tired and ready to rest."

    Seeing her sad act not working, Drew switched tactics. She tousled her hair into a messy mop, pulled at the straps of her tank top, gently scratched at her delicate skin on her chest, red marks soon appearing. Raising her eyes to Eric, her big doe eyes filled with tears, she said, "If you still refuse me, I''ll just sit right here and scream. I''m sure the cops in L.A. wouldn''t take kindly to a creep harassing a little girl."

    Eric rubbed his forehead, trying to soothe his pounding temples.

    Bang!

    Frustrated, Eric mmed the car door shut, inserted the key, and started the engine, looking

    at Drew seated beside him in the passenger seat. "Alright, you win, Drew. Where to?"

    "To Mastro''s! I want a steak!"

    "As you wish, my queen. By the way, where is Mastro''s located?"

    Drew initially shot him a disdainful look but then perked up, "How about I drive?"

    "Not a chance! I don''t want to attract any police attention. Just tell me the address, or I''ll pick

    any ce!"

    Drew pouted and finally relented, providing him with the restaurant''s location. Eric drove

    them toward their destination.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 14: Chapter 14: What are the Odds?

    Chapter 14: What are the Odds?

    ?

    [Chapter 14: What are the Odds?]

    "Come on, eat up. Once you''re done, I''ll take you home. I''ve noticed you yawning several times you must be tired," Eric said.

    Drew took a sip of her juice, casting a yful nce at Eric. "You could just take me home, you know. Whatever works for you!"

    "Cough..." Eric choked for a moment, hurriedly covering his mouth with a napkin as he shot Drew an intense re. This girl truly had no boundaries.

    Slowly, Eric noticed that Drew was eating more slowly, speaking less, and even her hands gripping the knife and fork were slightly trembling.

    Just as he started to ask Drew if she was feeling unwell, he suddenly recalled certain people he''d seen in their circles and Drew''s current state, quickly confirming a dreadful realization: Drew''s drug addiction had likely red up.

    It couldn''t be this coincidental, he thought bitterly, watching Drew struggle to hold herself together. He quickly called out to the waiter, "Excuse me, could we get the check?"

    At that moment, Eric just wanted to escape. The fact that many people were aware of Drew''s addiction -- even if it had made the papers -- did little to ease his mind. After all, without proof, there couldn''t be a scandal. Most people still remembered Drew from E.T. as that sweet little girl kissed by an alien. If anyone were to catch a glimpse of her struggling with her addiction in a public ce, and worse, snap a photo, it would devastate her image.

    Having paid swiftly, Eric turned to the now slightly dazed Drew and said, "Drew, let''s go. I''ll take you home."

    As they walked out of the restaurant with Eric supporting her, he could feel her petite frame trembling against him, evoking a sense of sympathy.

    Once in the car, Drew curled up in the passenger seat, shivering uncontrobly. Turning to Eric, she managed, "Eric, can you... can you help me get... get some..."

    "No," Eric said firmly. "Drew, just hang in there. I''ll take you home. Can you tell me your address?"

    "No," Drew shook her head quickly, suddenly breaking out into hysterics. "I don''t want to go home! I don''t want to go home! That woman will see me like this and just send me off to rehab! I''m not going back! Not going back!"

    Eric hurriedly reassured her, "Okay, okay, we won''t go back." He paused, then started the car, steering it toward his own home.

    ...

    After parking in his garage, Eric picked Drew up, who hadpletely lost herself in chaos, and carried her into his bedroom.

    "Eric, Eric, I''m begging you... please, do you want me? Just give me some! Anything you want, I''ll do it -- please!" Drew sobbed, clutching onto Eric''s cor desperately.

    "No, Drew, I can''t do that. It would only make things worse," he replied, cing her gently on the bed. Just as he was going to grab a damp cloth to cool down her overheated forehead, Drew''s body jerked unnaturally.

    "Ugh--"

    No matter how beautiful a girl might be, she would never look good while vomiting. Drew''s recently eaten steaknded messily on Eric''s bed, with some sttering onto him, filling the room with an unpleasant odor.

    Eric frowned slightly, but mostly felt pity for the girl whoy there helplessly amid the mess. He quickly pulled off the soiled sheets, cleaned up as best he could, and then found a towel. Gently lifting Drew, he began wiping away the remnants of her sickness.

    Feeling the cool cloth against her forehead, Drew gradually returned to her senses and grabbed Eric tightly, mumbling through her shaking breaths, "If you don''t help me get some... I''ll sue you for assault... you... you know I''m only thirteen... you know the consequences..."

    Eric hugged her tightly, "Drew, just hold on. That stuff will only make things worse for you. You have to be strong; you''re the girl who was kissed by an alien, remember?"

    "I... don''t want to be... the lucky girl. I want..." Drew''s cold frame pressed against Eric''s warm chest instinctively soughtfort, clinging tightly to him, still muttering incoherently.

    Eric had no idea how to help someone in the throes of addiction. Although he had encountered many addicts in his past circles, he had never witnessed anything quite like Drew in this state. Realizing that his warmth might offer her some sce, he enveloped her in his arms and gently rubbed her back, hoping to ease her difort.

    For over an hour, regardless of Drew''s thrashing, pleading, threatening, or cursing, Eric kept her securely in his embrace, patiently offeringfort. Finally, he noticed that at some point, she had fallen asleep in his arms. He shifted slightly, feeling stiff from holding the same position for too long.

    As he attempted toy her down, the moment he released her, Drew twisted like a fish out of water, anxiously iling her limbs as if reaching for something.

    Sighing softly, Eric adjusted himself, pulling her back tightly against him. Drew nestled her head against his chest, and soon, her breathing became calm again.

    ...

    Holding the girl close, Eric suddenly thought of his own family in another parallel life. His son was only five, and his wife worked a modest job. Since their marriage, she had devoted herself to being a full-time homemaker. He had been the sole provider, and he wondered how they were faring now, unmoored by his sudden absence. He hoped they were well.

    ...

    Drew dreamt that she hadnded another movie role, portraying a lost fairy in a dark forest, wild and confused. Then a prince appeared, rescuing her from her wicked stepmother, the queen of poisoned apples. Together, they fought against the Snow Queen''s oppression, and for her sake, the prince turned away Snow White from the dwarfs'' forest.

    The two celebrated their love in a grand wedding held in a pce built of candy and cake, with the prince carrying Drew into their sumptuous chamber, cing her atop a bed lined withyers of fluffy nkets. Drew smiled blissfully, resting her head on the prince''s chest, feeling as happy as a blooming flower.

    And then she awakened.

    Finding herself nestled in the warm embrace of a man, resting on his arm, she felt his waist snugly held by her hands. After a moment of brief confusion, Drew recalled the events of the previous night, fragmented as they were.

    Gazing adoringly at Eric''s chiseled face, with his tousled blond hair and the subtle masculine scent he emanated with each breath, stirred something in her.

    Everyone believed Drew was God''s favorite, a star who rose to fame while still young. But to Drew, happiness had always been elusive. Her father''s indifference and her mother''s harshness and greed suffocated her, much like a bird trapped in a cage longing for freedom. It had led her down a dark path of expressing her discontent through drinking and drugs. Yet, her mother didn''t care; she worried more about how Drew''s troubles might hurt her finances from missed film opportunities and unceremoniously shoved her into a merciless rehab

    facility.

    Every young girl yearned for her prince, right? He had to be sweet, caring, tall, and handsome. He should be talented, kind, and always patient with her whims. When it was hot, he would fan her; when it was cold, embrace her. He would care for her when she fell ill andfort her in hardships. Even if she sank into hell, he would ride in on a dragon, rescuing her from the clutches of the underworld...

    Such a person had indeed appeared, though perhaps not in the way she had envisioned. He might not love her, but in that moment, it hardly mattered.

    Drew initially intended to steal Eric from Jennifer Aniston, seeking revenge for the hurtful words she had received that day, only to suddenly realize she had truly fallen for Eric.

    ...

    Perhaps sensing an intense gaze, Eric opened his eyes, meeting Drew''s adoring stare. He smiled gently, "Drew, you''re awake. Are you hungry? I''ll make breakfast; you shouldn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    probably take a shower. You look pretty rough right now."

    "Hey, Eric, why are you being so nice to me?"

    "Hmm?" Eric paused, a bit taken aback, and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Well, we''re

    friends, right?"

    Just as Drew sat up, she unexpectedly grabbed Eric and, like a wild cat in heat, pressed her lips

    against his.

    "Hey, hey! Drew, your breath smells!" Ericughed, protesting.

    Drew released her hold on his neck, seeming to ignore his protest as if dering ownership.

    "Eric, I love you."

    "But I don''t love you," he said, freeing himself from her grip and drawing back the curtains to

    let the sunlight flood in.

    Drew watched Eric''s back, puffing out her lips as she stubbornly replied, "You just need to

    know that I love you."

    "Alright, I got it," Eric said teasingly, pinching her cheek.

    "Hey, Eric, I just realized something!"

    "Hmm?" "You slept all night with this little beauty in your arms, and there was no reaction down there.

    Isn''t that a bit strange? I could check for you, for free!"

    "You''re quite generous, Dr. Barrymore, but let''s hurry and take a shower. We''re going to be

    late."

    "Want to wash with me? I could help you scrub your back!"

    "No thanks, I''ll shower downstairs."

    "That''s not right, Eric! We should conserve water. Wasting is shameful. Think about those

    refugees in Africa dying of thirst!"

    "You''ve got a point. I''ll start being more prudent tomorrow; today can be myst splurge."

    "Hey, hey..."

    One summer day in 1988, a little girl wandering in confusion through darkness stumbled upon

    a glimmer of warmth in her life, gripping onto it with unyielding resolve, like a drowning

    child clinging to every straw within reach.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Pretending to Run Away from Home

    Chapter 15: Pretending to Run Away from Home

    ?

    [Chapter 15: Pretending to Run Away from Home]

    "Eric, this is so amazing!" Drew eximed from the passenger seat, yfully fiddling with the T-shirt dress she had fashioned for herself, her surprise evident.

    Drew''s clothes had gotten dirty from the vomiting the night before, and since they were in a hurry to get to the set, Eric had a sh of inspiration. He remembered how his ex-wife used to turn her oversized men''s T-shirts into dresses; fortunately, it wasn''t a difficult task.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    So, there she was in her sky-blue T-shirt-turned-dress, cinched at the waist with a brown leather belt Eric had that measured three fingers wide. This outfit seemed quite fresh and avant-garde for that time, and as they stepped off the car at the set, many people couldn''t help but stare at Drew.

    Of course, there was an underlying meaning in those nces, because Drew had arrived with Eric.

    "Hey, Eric, have you already moved on? After seeing how sweet you were to Jenny just a few days ago, I thought you were really a good man!" Penny Marshall said this while going over the shooting schedule with Eric in the downtime. However, her tone didn''t carry much surprise; such things were all toomon in the industry.

    "Penny, I still like Jenny. As for Drew, it''s just a coincidence," Eric replied.

    Penny teased, "Is her outfit also a coincidence? Anyway, Eric, I really don''t want to get involved in your young people''s affairs, but you should be careful; after all, Drew is only thirteen. You get where I''m going."

    "Thanks for the reminder, Penny," Eric said helplessly, realizing that Penny had already made up her mind about the situation, so he just wanted to put an end to that topic.

    The following month passed without any notable events. Filming for 17 Again proceeded quickly and orderly, and Drew, who initially yed coy with Eric, had turned outright into the pursuer. When Jennifer Aniston showed up on set, she also noticed the change immediately.

    So, when the two girls were at the set at the same time, their subtle rivalry over Eric became a source of lighthearted amusement for all the crew members amidst the tense shooting schedule. The men couldn''t help but envy Eric; even the young actor ying the bad boy Stan sought him out for dating advice. Eric entertained him with some wild stories, leaving the kid dumbfounded.

    However, Eric soon found himself in an unexpected situation: the other young people on set began spreading the bogus dating tips he had jokingly rattled off. Somehow, those tips found their way to Drew''s ears, and during a break in filming, she clung to Eric, half-teasing and half-mournful, saying, "So this is how you managed to get me! You little heartbreaker! What''s worse is that you steal a girl''s heart and don''t want to be responsible for it! Give me back my heart!"

    ...

    Meanwhile, Jennifer was still grappling with her rough dieting n, but having suffered so much, her results were not very significant; she had only lost less than five pounds in a month. Eric worried even more about this; he wanted to wait until filming wrapped before addressing the matter.

    Things often took unexpected turns, and eventually, during a shoot, Jennifer fainted from low blood sugar caused by hunger. Eric stayed with her as she hung on to an IV for the night. The next day, he didn''t have any scenes to shoot, so he took her to the fitness consultant Susan Sarandon had rmended.

    They walked into a high-end gym mainly serving Hollywood actresses and coincidentally encountered Sigourney Weaver, who had just stepped out of the gym. Eric found himself nervously asking for her autograph while Jennifer eyed her with a hint of envy, considering Sigourney was one of the goddesses of Eric''s past.

    The fitness consultant was a timeless-looking Russian woman with a long name; they just called her Natasha. Upon first meeting Natasha, Eric noticed how deeply Jennifer envied Natasha''s amazing physique. He gently squeezed her little hand and whispered to her, "Don''t worry, babe. One day, your body will be even better than hers."

    After getting to know Jennifer''s situation, Natasha patiently exined the dangers of her recent dieting methods. She took her through some tests and spent the entire morning crafting a weight loss n that stretched over ten pages.

    As they left, they fully grasped what it truly meant to go to an upscale gym: it was expensive! When it came time to pay, Jennifer insisted on covering the bill, only to find her card charged to the limit. Thankfully, she would soon receive her paycheck for 17 Again, though it wasn''t much, it would help her out of her financial bind.

    ...

    By the end of October, the filming of 17 Again finally approached its conclusion, with post- production and promotional activities already underway. Eric happened upon some tabloid gossip about 17 Again in the papers. After finishing her scenes, Drew unexpectedly asked to enter rehab to conquer her addiction. A troubled girl seeking redemption -- what a story to promote!

    So, under the direction of Fox''s publicity department, Drew''s transformation was wholly credited to 17 Again. The papers stated that she had be lost after her rise to fame, but while filming 17 Again, she began to reflect on her life and find her direction again, leading her to resolve to make a change. The articles were written as if the reporter had witnessed everything firsthand; if Eric didn''t know the truth of the matter, he might have believed it!

    Another promotional angle emphasized him being the eighteen-year-old screenwriter and lead actor. The papers illustrated the challenging journey Eric took from submitting the script to Fox recognizing his talent and putting it into production, painting him as the quintessential young man who never gave up on his dreams.

    Of course, controversy arose as well; some papers quickly questioned Eric''s writing skills, specting that 17 Again was nothing more than a hasty, crude follow-up to the sessful Back to the Future. A $20 million budget might just be a total loss.

    This skepticism wasn''t unfounded. After Universal''s 1985 sci-fiedy Back to the Future brought in over $200 million, otherpanies followed suit with several simr offerings, all of which bombed -- something clearly illustrated in the 1986 box office rankings.

    As long as the controversies remained manageable within their own control, Fox didn''t mind the mixed reviews. A movie riddled with only praise or solely negative reviews would yield poor results; appropriate controversies would only serve to pique audience interest.

    ...

    Simultaneously, Eric''s novel Jurassic Park benefited from this promotional wave. Initially, after the novel hit the market, Michael Krauss put his all into marketing it as he had promised; within the first week, it sold over twenty thousand copies, a solid showing for a neer. In the following weeks, with further promotions and the book''s growing positive reputation, sales gradually increased --though not spectacrly, it aligned adequately with Eric''s

    expectations.

    Once the promotional n for 17 Again kicked off, Jurassic Park naturally became an important feature in the campaign. This made Michael Krauss ecstatic; the impact of even a fraction of a media group''s promotional resources would far exceed what his tiny publishing house could manage, having fewer than ten staff members.

    Consequently, Jurassic Park experienced a significant sales boost, driven by the growing exposure from 17 Again. The public grew increasingly curious about Eric, the young man who seemed to achieve feats beyond his peers'' capabilities.

    Unfortunately, all that had been revealed were some stills and gossip about 17 Again. Although the public could guess at some of the movie''s plot from its title, it remained conjecture. Naturally, curiosity about the film transferred entirely to the novel Jurassic Park.

    By the first week of October, the novel surpassed one hundred thousand copies sold, exceeding the total of the previous weeksbined. It smoothly broke into the eighth spot on The New York Times bestsellers list. Although this rank wasn''t particrly high, if youpared it, people would notice that Jurassic Park stood amongst well-known authors on the list. It was the only debut by a neer in the top ten.

    ...

    Since there were several night scenes that evening, Eric didn''t return home until after ten.

    As he drove close to home, he spotted Stuart Ronkel, the youngest of the neighbors. The little boy appeared from his yard, closed the gate behind him, and wandered over to a nearby streetlight, spinning in boredom.

    "Hey, Stu, sneaking out of the house isn''t what a good kid should do," Eric said, curious

    about why Stuart had ventured out sote.

    "Oh,e on, Eric, do you really think it''s right for parents to argue in front of a seven-year-

    old?" Stuart replied, pointing his chin toward his house.

    Eric was taken aback; the little guy argued back with such rity. He honestly didn''t recall Stuart being this sharp. He could hear the Ronkels arguing inside the house.

    "So, what are you doing out here?" Eric refocused and asked.

    Stuart crossed his arms, leaning against the streemp, looking like a mini adult. "I''m

    pretending to run away from home."

    "Pretending?"

    "Yeah. That way, when they realize I''m missing, they''ll stop fighting."

    Eric agreed that arguing in front of a child was really unfair. "How about this, little buddy?

    Why don''t youe hang out at my ce for a bit? It''s not safe for you to be out here alone at

    night."

    "Okay, thanks, Eric," Stuart said.

    Eric parked the car and opened the door, leading the little guy into the living room.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 16: Chapter 16: A Bold Idea

    Chapter 16: A Bold Idea

    ?

    [Chapter 16: A Bold Idea]

    "Want something to eat? I''ve got some... uh, chocte and some apples?" Eric asked as he opened a somewhat empty fridge.

    Stuart Ronkel shook his head from his perch on the couch. "No thanks, it''s not a good habit to eatte at night. If you have some milk, though, I''d like a ss; it helps me sleep."

    Eric raised an eyebrow and poured a ss of milk, handing it over. "Who told you that?"

    "A book told me, Eric. Don''t think I''m just some clueless little kid; I''m already seven years old."

    Eric chuckled and nodded. "Alright, big boy. So what did your mom and dad argue about today?"

    "Dad quit his job, saying he wanted to start his ownpany. Mom got into a fight with him. Ugh, women can be so troublesome. When Dad was still working, Mom always nagged him about how hispany was too small and had no future. Now that Dad finally mustered the courage to quit, Mom immediately turned on him, saying abandoning a stable job was irresponsible to the family."

    Eric reclined on the couch. He wasn''t too interested in the Ronkels'' family matters, munching on an apple as heughed. "I think you''re hearing and seeing a lot of things that aren''t quite meant for a kid your age."

    Stuart grinned, as if he''d received apliment. His eyes darted around before he hopped off the couch and sat beside Eric. "Eric, are you making a movie right now?"

    Eric nodded. "Yeah, almost done. I could get your mom to take you to see it when it''s finished."

    "Then, Eric, do you think I could be in a movie?"

    "Hmm? Stuart, where''s thising from all of a sudden?"

    Beaming with hope, Stuart replied, "I heard movie stars make a lot of money. If I became a movie star, I could earn loads for my family, and then Mom and Dad wouldn''t argue anymore."

    If the Ronkels were there to hear that, they might have felt ashamed.

    Eric thought it over and finally responded, "But you''re too young right now. You may not know this, but kids are one of the hardest things to manage in movies. Many films try to limit child roles. Even during shoots, directors are always on edge because if those kids start crying, the whole crewes to a standstill. Plus, there arews like the ''Child Protection Act'' that make it tricky. The contracts signed by productionpanies don''t enforce any strict rules for kids. So, I think it''s better to wait until you''re older -- at least until you''re eighteen, like me." "Hey, Eric, I''m not one of those silly little kids. I''ll be really obedient. I heard you''re a writer; could you write a role for me? I''d really appreciate it." Stuart looked up at Eric with wide eyes. For a kid his age, he was surprisingly sharp, but he was still only seven, naively thinking that if Eric, the writer, penned a role for him, he could just jump right into the movies.

    Eric''s heart skipped a beat as he sat up straight, closely eyeing the little boy. He suddenly thought of someone: Macay Culkin. The mega child star who skyrocketed to fame with Home Alone.

    In that moment, a wildly bold idea popped into Eric''s head. Though it wasn''t fully formed yet, he knew that if this n seeded, he could easily shatter the toughest barriers of age, funding, and qualifications to realize his dream. Sure, it was a tall order for him, who had nothing to his name at that point, but how would he know without giving it a shot? Life didn''t hand out many chances!

    And besides, looking at little Stuart, who clearly had a maturity beyond his seven years, that biggest uncertainty in the film equation vanished.

    "So, Stuart, to be honest, I actually have a role that would fit you perfectly -- and it''s the lead!"

    Stuart''s eyes lit up in surprise as he leaned on Eric''sp, tilting his little head up. "Eric, what''s a lead?"

    "Well, the lead is... the one who gets paid the most in the film."

    "I want to act! I want to act!"

    Eric continued, "But we''ll need your parents'' okay first. Let''s get you home, and I can talk to them."

    Just as they stepped out of Eric''s house, they heard the sounds of the Ronkel couple next door.

    ...

    "I''m telling you, Charlison Ronkel, if something happens to Stuart, I''ll divorce you!" Mary Ronkel''s voice was stern.

    The normally submissive Charlison suddenly yelled, "Shut up, you bitch! If you hadn''t stirred up this fight, would Stuart have run away? Go check the basement and see if he''s hiding there!"

    Mary froze at her husband''s outburst, momentarily dazed. Knowing she was at fault, she timidly followed behind him to search. Just then, Eric''s voice called from next door.

    "Hey, Mr. Ronkel, don''t worry -- Stuart''s right here." Eric lifted Stuart up, and upon seeing their son in Eric''s arms, the couple released a sigh of relief.

    After returning Stuart to the Ronkel house, when they heard Eric''s general ount of the day''s events, both parents felt a pang of regret and promised they wouldn''t argue in front of Stuart again.

    "Actually, Mr. Ronkel, there''s something else. Stuart just said he wanted to act in a movie, and it just so happens that I have a script that would be perfect for him. With Stuart''s smarts, I think he''d have no problem ying that role."

    The couple exchanged surprised nces. If they hadn''t been aware of Eric''s recent endeavors, they might have brushed his words off as a joke. But now, with Eric''s name appearing even in the newspapers, they felt both surprised and a flicker of hope.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Their lives weren''t going great; otherwise, they wouldn''t be experiencing a midlife crisis. If their son became a movie star, it was easy to see what that could imply.

    "Eric, can you share a bit about what kind of movie this is?"

    "Of course! It''s aedy about a little boy who gets forgotten at home by his careless parents..."

    After about five minutes, Eric summarized the plot and then added, "I just spoke with Stuart for a bit and realized that his intelligence seems to surpass the boy in the movie, so if you''re okay with it, he could definitely give it a shot."

    They all nced at Stuart, who sat beside them looking obedient or at least pretending to be. "Dad, Mom, I think I can do it; this story is awesome!"

    "He''s still too young; I think..." Charles started to protest but was discreetly elbowed by Mrs.

    Ronkel.

    "Eric, could you give us some time to think it over?"

    "Sure," Eric nodded, adding a little zest, "But you have to get back to me quickly. This film is set to release around Christmas, and if it does well, there''s a chance for a series. If you agree, Stuart will most likely be the star of that too."

    A film series? Even ordinary folks understood that the leading role woulde with a heftier

    paycheck.

    At the same time, Eric cleverly didn''t mention to the Ronkels that he nned to direct the film himself. Everything was still up in the air, and Eric couldn''t be sure if the n woulde to fruition. He didn''t want to hand the script for Home Alone over to Twentieth Century Fox or any other studio; he wanted to fully produce it himself. Given that he was only partially entrenched in the industry, it was clear that the challenges ahead could be substantial.

    ...

    Back at home, Eric, buzzing with excitement, found it hard to sleep. He sat at his typewriter, rapidly pounding out the script for Home Alone while thinking through the specifics of how to

    execute his ns.

    First came financing. Regarding casting, aside from Stuart, he also needed two bumbling burrs, but Eric wasn''t nning on inviting Joe Pesci or Daniel Stern from his past life. They were both already pretty well-known actors now, with Pesci even earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He knew he couldn''t afford to pay either of their fees.

    Eric decided to aim for two TVedy actors; at this time, television actors didn''t hold a candle to movie stars and often felt awkward admitting they worked in television, which meant their fees were significantly lower.

    The shooting location definitely had to be Canada; Los Angeles had just entered autumn, while many parts of Northern Canada had already seen snow.

    And there were other randomplications...

    The light in his bedroom shone throughout the night, and as sunlight streamed in, Eric got up

    and stretched.

    Having considered everything overnight, he recalled that the cost of the original Home Alone was about $18 million; from Eric''s professional perspective, that amount seemed to be just the shooting and promotional costsbined. The pure filming expenses were probably around a few million, most of which went to actors and directors.

    But now, with aplete movie version of Home Alone in his mind, all Eric had to do was transfer that vision onto film, saving on unnecessary expenses.

    As for publicity, Eric had some ns in ce too. But no matter how he managed the budget, he knew that without a million dors, he wouldn''t be able to make the film.

    A million dors! 17 Again would wrap up in a few days, and Eric would make about $150,000 from it, plus around $90,000 left over from his original script fee. That brought him to just

    under $250,000.

    Hmm, considering how well Jurassic Park was doing, he thought he could chat with Michael Krauss about possibly getting another $500,000; he''d still be left with more than $200,000

    gap.

    With a mindset of "let''s cross that bridge when wee to it," Eric decided to start trying to

    gather funds first.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Assembling the Crew

    Chapter 17: Assembling the Crew

    ?

    [Chapter 17: Assembling the Crew]

    On the set of 17 Again, Eric experienced several mistakes during filming as he grappled with thoughts of Home Alone. However, since the end of the shoot was in sight, Penny Marshall demonstrated an unusually good temper, patiently correcting Eric''s blunders.

    Eric even contemted asking Penny Marshall for help, but quickly dismissed the idea. If Penny Marshall knew, it would be just as if 20th Century Fox knew. With all the professionals at 20th Century Fox, they would certainly recognize the potential of this low-budget Christmasedy and would look for ways to get involved. That was not what Eric wanted to

    see.

    Eventually, Eric thought of a certain faux-loli who was recovering in rehab. Despite her notorious reputation, Drew had managed to make aeback, sessfully breaking free from the child star curse, bing a well-known actress, director, and producer. Aside from talent, connections were an important aspect.

    Despite being only thirteen, with her savvy personality, Drew''s connections were not to be underestimated. At the very least, it would be no problem to ask her to help assemble a small

    crew.

    On October 9th, filming for 17 Again finally wrapped up, and Eric happily received a $150,000 paycheck. Thus began the whirlwind of preparations for his next project.

    ...

    "Eric, where are we headed?" Aniston asked curiously from the passenger seat.

    Eric pulled out the script for Home Alone, saying, "Take a look at this."

    Aniston nced at the title, eximing, "Wow, Home Alone! Is this your new script?" "Yep," Eric nodded, starting the car. "I n to direct it myself."

    "What? Eric, you must be joking! Do you even know where the camera''s power button is?" "Of course I do. By the way, I''m directing, not cinematography." Having been around the industry for years, Eric had experience in just about every film-rted role, and he had done quite well in all of them. If he had the ability to clone himself, he could run the whole crew solo, except for acting.

    "Well, okay, but where are we really going?"

    Eric hesitated for a moment and finally said, "We''re going to rehab to see Drew."

    "Hmph!"

    "Jenny, I brought you along to avoid any misunderstandings."

    "Hmph!"

    "I want to ask Drew to help find some professionals to put a crew together. Even though she''s young, she knows quite a few people."

    "Hmph!"

    With a sigh, Eric pulled over to the side of the road, unbuckled his seatbelt, and said, "Looks like I first need to convince a jealous little girl."

    "Hmph... What are you doing? No, uhm..."

    Eric lunged forward, pinning Aniston against the passenger seat and giving her a passionate kiss.

    Aniston instinctively struggled for a moment, but as Eric''s kisses deepened and his hands wandered, she quickly softened. Once Eric''s tongue found its way past her lips, she finally surrendered resistance, her own tongue responding shyly.

    The two of them shared a kiss for a few minutes, during which Aniston felt Eric''s hand growing bolder, slipping beneath her shirt and inching toward her chest.

    "No, please, Eric," she finally said, her cheeks flushed. "We''re in public..."

    Realizing he had crossed a line, Eric let go of Aniston, gently tucking her hair behind her ear and gazing at her blushing, beautiful face. "So, it''s okay as long as we''re not on the street?" "You... that still doesn''t work."

    "Alright, are you done being jealous? Let''s get going."

    Eric buckled his seatbelt and restarted the car.

    "Hey, Eric, you could also ask Penny or James for help. Why do you have to look for that... that girl?" To maintain herdy-like image in front of Eric, Aniston held back from calling Drew any harsher names.

    Ericid out his concerns, and Aniston, sitting in the passenger seat, clenched her little fist but remained silent.

    ...

    At a well-known rehab facility in Los Angeles, the two were searched to ensure that visitors wouldn''t bring drugs inside. With a staff member leading the way, Eric quickly found Drew.

    Upon seeing Drew, she was lounging in a sundress by an outdoor pool, soaking up the sun while holding an illustrated edition of Jurassic Park.

    "Hey, Drew?" Eric called out.

    "Eric! If you don''te see me soon, I might just escape and find you!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As soon as Eric''s voice rang out, Drew, who had spotted him, leaped up from her lounge chair and bounded toward him like a ko, wrapping herself around him and aiming for his lips.

    In a flurry, Eric raised his hands to shield his face, but Drew kissed the palm of his hand and started licking it without a care, sending a surprising jolt through Eric.

    "Gross, like a frisky puppy!" Aniston said darkly, ring at Drew, who hadpletely ignored her.

    Though Aniston felt a strong urge to pull Drew off Eric, many eyes were on them, and she wasn''t as brazen as Drew.

    After some yful antics, Eric finally pried Drew off himself. As she settled into the moment, she suddenly looked at Aniston and said, "Hey, fat girl, I heard you copsed from hunger on set while trying to lose weight. How sad! But it looks like you didn''t lose much, huh?"

    Just as Aniston opened her mouth to retaliate, Eric lightly tapped Drew on the head and said, "Alright, Drew, no mocking Aniston. You should keep an eye on yourself."

    Drew pouted, on the verge of tears, "Eric, you really are biased."

    Eric ignored Drew''s faux-pity face and said, "It''s crowded here. Let''s check out where you live."

    ...

    Drew''s residence was akin to a hotel suite,plete with a kitchen. They made their way to the living room, where Drew poured two sses of juice for Eric and Aniston, then took a seat on the couch with her own drink, asking, "So, Eric, what brings you here?"

    "Uh, can''t it just be to see you?" Eric replied somewhat awkwardly.

    Drew pursed her lips, "Did you bring the fat girl here to annoy me? You know I don''t like her."

    With no one else around, Aniston exploded with the jealousy she had been holding back, "I''ve had enough! You little brat, I don''t like you either!"

    Drew snapped her fingers, "The truthes out, huh? Eric, look, fat girl here isn''t really ady; she''s just pretending. You''ve got a lot to look forward to."

    "You..."

    Eric rubbed his temples in distress, silently deciding that he needed to keep the two of them apart in the future. "Alright, let''s all settle down. If you keep this up, I''m going to get angry."

    "Eric..." Aniston looked at him, her face a picture of discontent.

    "Jenny, why don''t you wait for me in the car? I promise I won''t be long."

    Drew perked up upon hearing that, but quickly feigned indifference as she sipped her juice. However, the female sixth sense was strong, and Aniston caught Drew''s brief moment of

    delight.

    "I''m not going," Aniston pouted defiantly.

    Got no choice, Eric offered a few words offort and handed Drew the script, saying, "So,

    Drew, here''s a script. Can you help me connect with some professionals? I want to put

    together a temporary crew."

    Drew took the script and looked it over, bursting intoughter. "Haha, this is hrious! It''s a great script. So... Eric, you mean..."

    "Yes," Eric nodded. "I want to independently produce this movie. I''ve done some budgeting; I''ll need around a million dors, which I can probably manage. But with just that million, I need some professionals who are both reliable and inexpensive."

    In truth, the number of filmmakers in Los Angeles was overwhelming. Even without Drew''s help, Eric could piece together a crew. But he knew that would waste a lot of unnecessary time, and the people he found might not be dependable. If something went wrong during filming, he would be left wishing he had taken a different path.

    While Eric was distracted, Drew shot a smug nce at Aniston and nodded, "Sure, I know a lot

    of people. Who do you need?"

    Aniston fumed at the smug look Drew shot her way but could only re stubbornly at Eric.

    "Cinematographer, gaffer, sound technician... In short," Eric pretended not to notice Aniston''s displeasure and shrugged his shoulders, "I have nothing right now."

    Drew thought for a moment and said, "I happen to know a small filmpany that recently

    went under. They have a filming crew, but the owner used thepany as coteral to take out a loan. He ended up making a movie that lost money, and now they''re probably up for bankruptcy. The team is good though; I''ve guest-starred in one of their films. If they haven''t fallen apart by now, you could take them all on. Compared to being unemployed, I imagine

    they''ll be eager to work on your film."

    "That sounds amazing!" Eric replied excitedly.

    Drew stood up with a smile. "I''ll give them a call and hope it''s not toote."

    After making the call, Drew returned with good news: thepany waspletely done, but the team members were still in Los Angeles, and the former boss was happy to introduce

    them to Eric.

    Once they agreed on a time and ce to meet the formerpany owner, Eric wasted no time

    getting ready to leave.

    He guiltlessly stole a kiss from Drew as they parted, which had her reluctant to let him go.

    On the drive back, Aniston remained sullen, and Eric could do nothing but offerfort.

    "Jenny, I''m sorry. I had no choice; Drew was the only one who could help, and from here on out, I have to find actors on my own."

    Aniston, looking a bit unsure, gazed at Eric and asked, "It''s fine, Eric. I understand... do you... will you always love me?"

    "Of course," Eric responded without hesitation.

    "I love you too, Eric."

    "Jenny?"

    "Yeah?"

    "Will you be my girlfriend?"

    Aniston''s face turned beet red, and she floundered, "Oh, Eric, I feel like I..."

    "No, silly, don''t overthink it. Just say ''yes'' or ''no.""

    "Yes, I do." And thusmenced the wild journey that would lead them through the unpredictable world

    of Hollywood.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Crossing the Rubicon

    Chapter 18: Crossing the Rubicon

    ?

    [Chapter 18: Crossing the Rubicon]

    [Note: The phrase "Crossing the Rubicon" originates from a historical event in 49 B.C. when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in Italy with his army, an act of defiance against the Roman Senate. This decision led to a civil war, and there was no turning back from the consequences.]

    In the following days, Aniston didn''t join Eric. After he dropped her off at home, he headed out to meet the owner of the bankrupt filmpany alone.

    As she got out of the car, Aniston suddenly said, "Eric, can you leave a copy of the script for Home Alone with me? I can take a look and maybe... offer some feedback."

    Eric nodded, "Of course, no problem. I just made a few copies."

    Aniston took the script and got out, waving goodbye as Eric drove off. She seemed to resolve something within herself as she turned and walked into her apartment.

    At a cafe in Burbank, Eric met with Jeffrey Hansen, the owner of a small filmpany called Firefly, whom Drew had introduced him to. Jeffrey was a white man in his fifties with a weary look about him; the bankruptcy of hispany had clearly taken a toll, and he seemed rather dejected. Eric knew that in such circumstances, a person needed to vent, so he didn''t rush into discussing the project. Instead, he patiently listened as this man shared some of his past.

    "My wife, Selina, was a top student at USC''s film school, did you know? She was ssmates with Francis Ford Copp, but you see, she was just a farm girl from Marnd, without the kind of background the Copps had. Otherwise, she surely would have achieved more than Francis. The short films she made back in school won a bunch of awards.

    I majored in finance back then, and people called me a nerd. I don''t know why a young, beautiful, talented woman like her would fall for me. She said she wanted to be a director, so I stayed in L.A. to support her, starting from the ground up. We did that for about nine years. I still remember the joy on Selina''s face when she got her first investment for her screeny; that smile was brighter than the day I slipped the ring on her finger when we got married. Later, we started Firefly Films; she directed, and I produced. We worked on several movies, all of which made a profit for our investors and even snagged a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.

    But a year ago, Selina had an ident while driving back to Marnd to visit her parents..." As Jeffrey spoke, his voice started to choke, and it was clear he had a deep bond with his wife. Eric, sitting across from him, handed him a tissue and quietly waited for Jeffrey to continue. "After she passed, I felt I should carry on her dream. She always wanted to grow Firefly into something substantial, aiming to be an Oscar-recognized director. I figured after years of being a producer, I could surely manage directing. So, I mortgaged thepany to raise funds for my first movie in her memory, but unfortunately, it didn''t work out so well..."

    "That''s alright, Jeffrey. It''s just a failure; what Hollywood director hasn''t faced failure at some point?"

    Jeffrey wiped his eyes, "Thank you, Eric. I feel much better after talking to you. After the bankruptcy, my son nearly cut ties with me. He didn''t agree with my decision to direct, believing I ruined the legacy his mother worked so hard to build. I don''t me him; I just regret everything. Well, let''s leave it at that. Drew mentioned you needed help producing a film?"

    Eric nodded, "Yes, but it''s just a small-budget movie, about a million dors."

    Jeffrey shook his head, "No, a million is quite a lot. My wife''s first film only cost a little over seventy grand. By the way, can I ask your age?"

    "Of course, I''m eighteen now. Jeffrey, you don''t think I''m too young or too eager, do you?"

    "No, I just needed to confirm that you''re of legal age, fully capable of entering into contracts. After all, a million bucks isn''t chump change."

    "Oh?"

    Jeffrey replied, "Don''t feel that way, young man. I think you''re the one whocks confidence. I hold no prejudice against youth; many directors have made their finest films when they were younger. The longer they''re in the game, the more mediocre their work tends to be. Youth is full of creativity; filmmaking is all about creating dreams. Plus, I believe my team could help you pull off this film wonderfully -- they''re the very crew Selina nurtured, very professional and in sync. It''s a shame they''ll be out of work because of me, but if they could join yours, it could be a good opportunity. Can I see your script?"

    "Sure," Eric pulled out the script and handed it to Jeffrey, waiting patiently for him to read through it.

    About ten minutester, Jeffrey closed the script and returned it to Eric, "This is a decentedy script. It''s not tooplicated to shoot, making it perfect for practice. I must say, it was wise of you to pick this script."

    Eric put the script back in his bag and asked, "So, Jeffrey, would you be willing to be the producer for this film?"

    Jeffrey looked puzzled, "Are you sure, Eric? Mypany just went under because of me."

    Eric replied, "Jeffrey, maybe directing isn''t your calling, but from what you''ve shared, I believe you''d make an excellent producer. If this film does well, I''ll start my own productionpany, and then you could help run it. Furthermore, I can take on the crew your wife left behind, so they won''t have to be unemployed."

    Jeffrey''s interest was clearly piqued. Previously, he had been quite dejected, thinking of returning to the farm to live out his days. However, hearing Eric''s n, he began to reconsider. The crew had been friends through years of coboration, and he felt guilty about their unemployment due to his own mistakes.

    After only a moment''s thought, Jeffrey nodded, "Alright, Eric, I ept your offer."

    "Great, here''s to a fruitful coboration." Eric cheerfully raised his coffee cup, and the two clinked mugs, officially sealing their partnership.

    They then dove into discussing the preparations for Home Alone.

    ...

    During the conversation, Jeffrey learned all about Eric''s recent endeavors and couldn''t help but be impressed. Now that their coboration was confirmed, Eric shared his vision for the

    project.

    "I n to finish this movie in about a month and then ride the wave of influence from Jurassic Park and 17 Again to have Home Alone released during Christmas. I believe to give the 17 Again writer and leads a director''s sheen for greater box office benefits, Fox won''t hesitate to distribute Home Alone. So, as long as we create a solid film, this family-friendly Christmasedy should bring in some good profits."

    Eric remembered the Home Alone box office figures that hit the Guinness World Records in his past life and felt a surge of hope; even half of those earnings would realize his dreams.

    The two men discussed until evening set in, settling a variety of details before exchanging contact information and Eric drove home.

    ...

    Upon arriving, he received another piece of good news: the Ronkels had agreed to let Stuart y Kevin. Eric discussed the details briefly with the couple, who epted his offer of fifty grand in sry plus one percent of the box office.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Though that sry was lesspared to Eric''s from 17 Again, if the box office turned out to be as impressive as before, even that one percent could make the couple quite happy. Eric didn''t mind; this movie needed Stuart Ronkel to lead the cast.

    The next day, Eric had Jeffrey Hansen meet with the Ronkels to finalize the contract. The couple learned Eric would be directing, and seeing the fifty-thousand-dor check he had prepared, they promptly signed the document.

    ...

    Next up was securing funding. Eric originally had $240,000. After negotiating with Michael Krauss, Michael readily agreed to front about $500,000 in royalties within ten days. The owner of the piano store, after much deliberation, reluctantly agreed to a return but deducted $2,000 as depreciation.

    With about $250,000 still needed, Eric gritted his teeth and quickly mortgaging his house for

    $250,000 to the bank.

    Looking at the check in his hand, Eric sighed; he truly felt like he had crossed a point of no return. If this failed, he wondered if Aniston would take him in.

    He then thought of Drew. With the experience of a forty-year-old man living in Eric''s body, it was impossible not to recognize how deeply Drew had feelings for him. If possible, after filming 17 Again, Eric preferred to avoid any further entanglements with Drew. His feelings for her leaned more toward parental than romantic.

    Perhaps, over time, her feelings would fade, but for the sake of Home Alone, he had to seek

    Drew''s help, tying them back together.

    ...

    Once all the filming funds were ready, Eric and Jeffrey rushed to cast the roles. Eric''s n was to choose the bumbling thieves, Harry and Marv, from TVedy actors, but unfortunately, those he approached were either unavable or felt the fees were too low.

    After a few days of running around, Eric suddenly received a call from Aniston.

    "What? You said your dad wants to take me to dinner?"

    Aniston''s voice was filled with excitement over the phone. "Yeah! Didn''t you say you were

    struggling to find the cast for Home Alone? I told my dad about your situation, and he agreed to help connect you with someedians."

    Aniston''s tone sounded nonchnt, but Eric knew it wasn''t that simple and felt a wave of gratitude. Aniston had a distant rtionship with her father, John Aniston, whose career- driven choices had left her feeling abandoned by him. In his past life, it took much effort for John to gain his stubborn daughter''s forgiveness. So, Aniston approaching her father for his help on Eric''s behalf was no light undertaking.

    Eric sincerely replied into the phone, "Thank you, Jenny. I''ll be there on time."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Director Williams

    Chapter 19: Director Williams

    ?

    [Chapter 19: Director Williams]

    "I don''t like you, Mr. Williams." John Aniston, sitting across from Eric, said with a tense expression while his daughter stepped out to the bathroom.

    Eric found himself at a loss for words and could only shrug, "May I ask why, John?"

    John Aniston replied, "For all these years, Jenny has secretly resented me, and I''ve felt guilty about what happened back then. I''ve always hoped she could forgive me. You know, she called mest night. It was the first time she initiated a call, and I was thrilled -- almost jumped out of my seat! But the reason for her call was to ask for help for her boyfriend, the guy who might take my daughter away from me."

    Well, that was a powerful reason. The saying that a daughter was a father''s lover in a past life wasn''t just a saying. Usually, the rtionship between a father-inw and a son-inw wasn''t the smoothest.

    Eric shrugged again, and the two men fell into an awkward silence.

    Jenny quickly returned from the bathroom, smiling as she sat next to Eric, her affectionate demeanor only making John Aniston more displeased. However, considering how difficult it had been for his daughter to show kindness, he wouldn''t be foolish enough to explode over it. Thanks to Aniston''s mediation, the meal went rtively smoothly on the surface. Just as John Aniston had taken on the position of a senior by chiding Eric about aiming too high, Jenny shot him a disapproving look,pelling John Aniston to agree to help connect Eric with actors.

    ...

    With John Aniston''s extensive connections around television, Eric soon found actors for most of the roles. Since John negotiated on behalf of Eric, the sries weren''t too high, which was quite a relief for Eric.

    However, Eric hesitated regarding the casting of the bumbling thieves, especially Marvin. It wasn''t until Aniston brought her ssmate and friend to meet Eric that he made his decision. Upon seeing the naturally grumpy face of the guy, Eric barely had to audition him before he decided to cast Matthew Perry, who would famously be one of the six friends in Friends in his past life.

    Following that, Eric and Jeffrey Hansen took several trips to Canada, eventually locating the filming site for Kevin''s home in a small town. The hectic schedule caused Eric to lose several pounds in just a week, much to the worry and envy of Aniston.

    ....

    On October 17, Eric''s directorial debut officially began filming in Los Angeles. The crew sent several members to the chosen Canadian town to set up Kevin''s home, while the majority stayed in Los Angeles to shoot scenes that didn''t require snow, like at the airport and police station. After all, it was the world''srgest film hub, where filming was a lot more convenient.

    The entire crew, from the lighting technicians to the actors, basically agreed to participate in the film due to the money involved and the influence of Jeffrey Hansen and John Aniston. While they had many reservations about Eric, deep down, they held some hope. After all, using Eric''s former words: "What if it identally bes a hit?"

    They had all read the script of Home Alone and felt relieved that this young, somewhat overzealous director wasn''t making deep, artsy films like other young directors. They believed the chances of Home Alone being sessful were decent. With a one-million-dor budget and the buzz around Eric from 17 Again and Jurassic Park, it might even turn a profit. Eric also promised everyone that if the film did make money, there would be bonuses.

    ...

    Jeffrey Hansen wanted to support the crew he had left behind for his wife, so after the filming began, he showed up on set every day. Originally, he intended to offer some assistance to Eric, the ''rookie,'' based on his many years of experience. But after just one day, Jeffrey began questioning life itself. It seemed so unfair!

    From the moment filmingmenced, Eric exhibited none of the typical nervousness expected of a first-time director. He operated like a seasoned director, methodically discussing set piece cements with the set designer and using professional terminology while talking through the next shots with the cinematographer. He directed the lighting technicians to achieve the desired effects and patiently guided the actress ying Kevin''s mother, who was over a decade older than him...

    Of course, when a few shots repeatedly flopped, he disyed the unique talent that directed scripture came with: the director''s roar!

    "Ms. Leslie, I want a look of confusion! Confusion, not curiosity! From what I''ve observed, you definitely have a bit of OCD, so this expression should be easy for you. Imagine lying in bed at night, thinking you forgot to lock the door or that the kitchen faucet might be dripping, but you can''t pinpoint what''s wrong. Get into that conflicting emotional mindset. Picture that. Oh hell, we''ve only rented this ne for three hours! Three hours! Okay, everyone ready, let''s go again. Nicole, do you want to see the clouds through the titanium alloy ceiling of the ne? Give me something serious, for crying out loud!"

    Thanks to Eric''s prior excellent performances, everyone on set quickly recognized his directorial standing. So when Leslie, the actress ying Kevin''s mother, forgot about those earlier scenes on the ne where Kevin was left home alone, Eric''s anxiety about the filming schedule disrupted by repeated mistakes made him yell out. Everyone momentarily forgot Eric''s age and froze in silence.

    Nicole Frank, a cinematographer in her thirties,pletely forgot that the young man before her was just an eighteen-year-old kid. Out of reflex, she apologized, "Sorry, Director Williams, I''ll pay more attention."

    Many yearster, after winning an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Nicole stood at the Kodak Theatre''s podium and recalled this moment. "At that moment, my subconsciouspletely regarded Eric as a seasoned director, not an eighteen-year-old. It was as though he had been born to lead the entire crew."

    After another take that failed, the shot finally passed, and Eric breathed a sigh of relief. He soon regretted his earlier outburst and apologized to Leslie, saying, "I''m sorry, Leslie. I might have been a bit harsh just now."

    "It''s okay, Director Williams. It was indeed my fault. I should be the one apologizing. You know, the way you got mad was actually quite charming," she replied.

    "Uh..." Eric wanted to remind her that this was the beginning of Stockholm Syndrome, and she might want to seek treatment.

    ...

    Over the next few days, Eric noticed that the crew members who had initially called him Eric were now unconsciously referring to him as ''Director Williams.'' Even Jeffrey Hansen joined in. He understood this meant that the crew had fully recognized him as their director. He became more assertive in guiding the crew; in just four days, they finished filming all the scenes in Los Angeles and moved to the Canadian town.

    The crew had already sent a few workers to set up Kevin''s home, and although he had guided them only over the phone, Eric was very pleased with the apartment''syout. At the same time, he resolved to win over Jeffrey''s wife''s crew.

    This little town in northern Canada had never seen a film shoot before, so the residents were extremely friendly and curious. Even before Eric arrived, many had asked the crew if they could audition for small roles. With the filming involving Christmas scenes that required cheer, all the townspeople decorated their homes, making it feel like a festive holiday was

    happening early.

    In response, Eric generously invited several local kids to appear in the movie as extras. The film focused mainly on young Kevin''s life and the antics involving the two bumbling thieves. As a pure Christmasedy, it didn''t require any underlying themes -- just lots ofughs. Plus, Stuart''s performance outshone even Macay Culkin from his past life, resulting in a filming pace that could only be described as rapid. Eric confidently believed they could wrap all the shots within a 2 weeks.

    ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Meanwhile, another incident unfolded. While Penny Marshall was intensely focused on post- production for 17 Again in Los Angeles, she needed Eric to record some voiceovers for various shots. Suddenly, they couldn''t locate Eric. He wasn''t answering his phone, and even showing up at Eric''s house resulted in locked doors. Just as Penny began to think the worst and almost called the cops, she finally learned of Eric''s whereabouts through Aniston.

    On the phone, Penny vented her frustrations, insisting that Eric return to Los Angeles within a week. In addition to the voiceover, Eric''s involvement in promoting 17 Again was essential. Naturally, news about Eric filming Home Alone came to light during this call. Penny, adopting a more parental tone, admonished him for trying to reach too high, but she didn''t take Eric''s film too seriously. Unlike the crew who was invested in Eric''s project, she somewhat believed it was just a young man''s nonsensical venture.

    Caught up in work, Eric was essentially two different people in reality. Although he got along well with everyone on set, that was all there was to it. Matthew Perry, the friend introduced by Aniston, would sometimes strike up chats with Eric. Eric found Matthew intriguing, but his priority waspleting Home Alone, so he had little chance to connect deeply with Matthew.

    A weekter, they finished filming in the small town. Thanks to Jeffrey Hansen and Eric''s careful nning, they had only spent about $600,000, leaving more than $300,000 for post-

    production.

    Thus, Eric generously threw a party in the town, inviting the entire crew and locals to

    celebrate all night long. The next morning, while many were still nursing their hangovers,

    Eric boarded a flight back to Los Angeles with thepleted film reels.

    ...

    After spending half a daypleting the voiceovers for 17 Again, Eric dove into the post- production studio Jeffrey suggested and began a whirlwind of work.

    In the days that followed, Eric worked over sixteen hours a day andpleted the film''s post- production in an astonishingly quick five days. Since everything in his mind was practically ready, he was able to wrap things up so swiftly. The editing went so smoothly that the editor had nothing but admiration in their eyes for Eric.

    On the fifth morning, a small screening room with only five or six seats was packed with over

    ten people, most of whom were from the Home Alone crew. Aniston even made a special trip to watch Eric''s directorial debut.

    As the faint buzzing of the projector filled the room, the film began, starting from a blue

    silhouette of a house under the hazy moonlight...

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Screening

    Chapter 20: The Screening

    ?

    [Chapter 20: The Screening]

    Even though everyone in the screening room, including Jennifer Aniston who wasn''t part of the film, knew the plot of Home Alone inside and out, theughter kept rolling in waves as the story progressed -- especially during Kevin''s pranks on the two bumbling robbers. Even someone like Jeffrey Hansen, a fifty-something old-timer, couldn''t help but burst into heartyughs.

    As the hour and forty-minute film wrapped up, the final credits rolled, and everyone stood up together, apuding enthusiastically.

    "I have to say, this movie is outstanding. Eric, I think I should congratte you ahead of time," Jeffrey Hansen said, patting Eric on the shoulder serious-like.

    "Thanks, Jeffrey, and thanks to everyone. I couldn''t have pulled off Home Alone in this short time without your help," Eric replied gratefully.

    After a bit of chatter and back-patting, people began to filter out, each with their own agendas. They had nned a small celebration, but seeing Eric''s tired, unshaven face made everyone reconsider. They all knew he had exhausted himself over the past two weeks and needed a real rest.

    ...

    Next up was securing the film''s distribution. Coincidentally, tomorrow was the screening of 17 Again, and Eric figured it might be a chance to pitch Home Alone to 20th Century Fox for distribution. He believed that once the higher-ups at 20th Century Fox saw the film, they would back his distribution n, even if it meant giving up a bit of the profit. After all, he didn''t have much of a foundation yet.

    Perhaps after 17 Again made its premiere, it would be easier to sell Home Alone, but by then, the New Year would havee and gone. As a Christmasedy, releasing it at any other time of year just wouldn''t work. He couldn''t wait until the next year; having already put in so much effort, sess was so close, and he didn''t want to dy things for another year.

    ...

    With only a temporary license, Aniston drove Eric''s car back to his house. Eric put the film copies away, gave Aniston a quick shout, and then dove into bed, unwilling to open his eyes again.

    Aniston had nned to suggest that Eric take a shower before sleeping, but seeing him

    already deep in sleep with clear signs of exhaustion, she could only sighpassionately. She took off his clothes and shoes, carefully tucked him in with a nket, and then turned to leave the bedroom.

    Eric''s house was swamped with dust after not being cleaned for over two weeks. Aniston rolled up her sleeves and started tidying up. In Friends, Rachel was a spoiled girl who wouldn''t know how to doundry even if a washing machine was right in front of her, but in reality, Aniston had quickly learned to fend for herself.

    At the desk in the study, Aniston picked up a thick book on music theory and wiped the dust off the surface. Suddenly, a document slipped out from within the pages of the book. Curious, she picked it up and discovered it was a mortgage agreement.

    ...

    Without knowing how much time had passed, he felt like Aniston asked if he wanted to eat around noon, but Eric, in a daze, turned her down, dozing off again. When he woke up, the room was pitch ck.

    He reached for the bedsidemp and turned it on, ncing at his watch -- it was past nine in the evening.

    Aniston should''ve left by now, Eric thought as he dressed and walked out of the bedroom, vaguely hearing the sound of the televisioning from the living room.

    As he walked down the stairs, he saw Aniston curled up on the sofa, hugging a throw pillow while watching TV.

    "Hey, Jenny, good evening," Eric said as he approached her, leaning down to give her cheek a light kiss.

    "You''re awake, Eric! Go take a shower; I''ll whip up something to eat for you," Aniston replied. Eric didn''t notice the peculiar look on Aniston''s face. After responding to her, he turned toward the bathroom, taking half an hour to wash up and shave off the stubble. When he emerged, he found Aniston back on the sofa, where a dinner she had prepared sat in front of her.

    "Oh, Jenny, I''m impressed! You actually made fried rice. Mmm, it smells great," Eric said, taking a bite and praising it.

    "You mentioned you liked it, so I learned how to make it," Aniston said with a smile, watching him devour the food patiently until she finally asked, "Eric, did you... mortgage your house?"

    As Eric was about to return the dishes to the kitchen, he paused at Aniston''s words, his head tilting in confusion. He hadn''t told anyone about that -- how did she know?

    "I found it while cleaning up your room; it fell out of a book," Aniston said, retrieving the document from under the coffee table, meeting Eric''s puzzled gaze.

    Realizing he had no choice, Eric set down the dishes and nced at the document, nodding as he exined, "I still needed two hundred fifty thousand for funding Home Alone. So, I had to mortgage the house."

    "That also includes the piano in your study, doesn''t it?" Aniston asked, recalling how much he adored that Strauss grand piano from her visits to Eric''s house.

    Eric nodded again.

    Aniston frowned slightly, "Eric, I think you''re being rash. Even though everyone loved what they saw of Home Alone today, what if it flops? You could go bankrupt at any moment." Eric moved to sit beside Aniston, wrapping his arms around her. "Don''t worry, Jenny. Look, just a few months ago, I was nothing but a broke high school kid, and now I''ve published my own novel, written a script, starred as the lead, and now I''m producing a movie. How many people my age can say that? Even if it fails, I believe I can bounce back easily with my skills. We''re still young; we have to give it our all, whether we seed or fail. At least we''ll haveughter and tears along the way. Otherwise, when we''re old with graying hair, looking back at our lives with nothing but dullness and monotony -- like a shooting star that never leaves a bright trail -- it will be a regretful way to live."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Oh, Eric, when you say things like that, you''re just too... charming. I feel like you''re trying to seduce me, you rascal." Aniston couldn''t help but tilt her face up towards Eric, leaning in to

    kiss his lips.

    Wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, Eric kissed her back passionately.

    Aniston felt the fervor in his touch and didn''t stop him this time as she had in the car. Instead, she embraced him tightly, her cheeks flushing while her eyes squinted with delight.

    ...

    The morning sun streamed across Aniston''s face, and she instinctively turned away from the intrusive light. However, the motion identally snagged at a sore spot, causing her to blink

    awake in pain.

    For a few moments, she felt confused until she recalled the events of the previous night, her cheeks turning slightly red as she thought about the guy who had made her feel so worn out. Turning her head to look around, she saw that she was alone in bed, which saddened her. What girl wouldn''t want to wake up in the arms of a caring boyfriend?

    Just as her feelings of mncholy started fermenting, Eric walked in, holding a tray. Seeing Aniston awake brought a smile to his face. "Hey, babe. Good morning."

    Aniston pouted. "Not good at all, you jerk."

    "Okay, I apologize. To make up for it, I spent an hour making you some delicious rib soup,"

    he said, grinning.

    "No way, I''m on a diet."

    "Today''s special circumstances mean you should forget about the diet for now. Come on, try

    it and see how it tastes!"

    "Mmm, I haven''t even brushed my teeth yet..."

    Eric ced the tray on the nightstand, then tossed aside the covers, scooping Aniston up in his arms. "Her Highness is surely having a hard time moving; I''ll carry you."

    "Stop it," Aniston said yfully, only in Eric''s oversized shirt. She pouted and allowed him to

    lift her from the bed.

    ...

    After a cozy breakfast, because of her limited mobility, Aniston had to ask the convenience store owner for another day off. The owner had gotten used to such requests, knowing many starry-eyed young workers in Los Angeles often took time off to chase their dreams in film. He understood Aniston was one of those dreamers, so when she epted the job, they had

    come to a mutual understanding.

    After lounging around for a bit, Eric had to leave the house. Today was the screening of 17 Again, and he wanted to see if he could simultaneously secure distribution for Home Alone. Around ten in the morning, the luxurious screening room of 20th Century Fox was filled with dozens of people, including staff from the distribution and publicity departments, as well as representatives from various filmpanies. James Brooks, the producer of 17 Again, and director Penny Marshall were in attendance, along with several unannounced lead actors.

    Before the movie began, Eric approached James Brooks and Penny Marshall, hoping to get an introduction to the head of the distribution department at 20th Century Fox.

    "Eric, you mean to tell me you want your low-budget film to be released during the Christmas season?" James Brooks said, surprised. He had heard from others that Eric had quicklypleted his film after finishing 17 Again, but this was quicker than he anticipated. "Yes, James, it''s a really fun Christmasedy. It''s best shown during the holiday season; any other time just wouldn''t work," Eric exined.

    James Brooks felt a bit dismissive. Although Eric had surprised him on multiple asions since they met, he didn''t believe that this neer could make anything worthwhile in aedy film. He could argue that Eric was talented as a writer and actor, but directing required years of experience, not just raw talent. Out of courtesy, he agreed to help with the

    introduction.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Flurry of Events

    Chapter 21: The Flurry of Events

    ?

    [Chapter 21: The Flurry of Events]

    The screening of 17 Again was a big sess. Both the executives at 20th Century Fox and the theater representatives were excited about thising-of-ageedy. During the Thanksgiving season, if Eric hadn''t shown up, 20th Century Fox would have only released aedy featuring Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver called Working Girl during the Christmas window on December 23rd.

    Now with 17 Again in the mix, the originally empty Thanksgiving slot in November was perfectly filled. After some discussions, 17 Again was set to debut on November 18th. Eric was quite satisfied with this release date as he noticed from the movie schedule that there weren''t any box office hits in November, which seemed tailor-made for the quiet debut of 17 Again. In December, there were only three movies that squeezed into the top ten at the North American box office for 1988: Rain Man, Twins, and Beverly Hills Cop.

    ...

    Close to noon, James Brooks finally led Eric to a middle-aged man in his forties who wore sses. This was Carlin Hunt, the head of the distribution department at 20th Century Fox. After a brief introduction, Brooks left the space for the two of them. Although he had a good impression of Eric, they weren''t rted, so he wouldn''t waste his goodwill promoting Eric''s low-budget film.

    "Hello, Mr. Hunt," Eric greeted Carlin, who politelyplimented Eric''s acting in 17 Again. However, after Eric exined his intentions, Carlin Hunt immediately rejected him without a second thought: "I''m sorry, Eric, but thepany''s distribution n is already full for this year. There''s no way we can squeeze in a low-budget film at thiste stage, so I''m afraid I have to apologize."

    Such an excuse felt flimsy. If Spielberg had rmended Eric''s movie, Carlin Hunt would probably have been begging for it.

    Though Carlin Hunt rejected him firmly, Eric still pushed back: "Mr. Hunt, could we at least watch my movie? I just so happen to have a copy right here; it will only take you a little over an hour to watch, and I swear it''s a fantastic film."

    Carlin Hunt shook his head again. Many smallpanies pitched their films to him with the same rhetoric, especially recently, with the busy season approaching. Many filmpanies without their own distribution channels scrambled to promote their projects to him. He had graciously watched a few of them out of obligation, but most had poormercial potential, so he certainly wouldn''t waste time on a low-budgetedy from an eighteen-year-old: "Eric, you know I''m busy right now. I have to arrange the distribution for 17 Again and then go to a meeting at headquarters this afternoon, so I must apologize again."

    Eric wasn''t one to give up easily. He stubbornly pressed for a few more moments before Carlin Hunt finally grew impatient and found an excuse to leave.

    ...

    "So, Eric, how did it go?" Penny Marshall asked him upon his return to the group of familiar faces.

    Eric smiled wryly and shook his head. Penny Marshallforted him with a pat on the shoulder: "Don''t be disheartened, Eric. Distributing filmses with its own costs, and the promotional expenses can sometimes exceed production costs. If the box office doesn''t perform well, the person in charge has to bear the responsibility. So, you should understand Carlin Hunt''s position. You must have spent quite a bit of money making your film. Once this busy period passes, I can introduce you to a video distributionpany. After 17 Again is released, with your name, the video release should at least recover some funds. And I think you should focus more on screenwriting and acting. You''ve got talent, Eric. If you stay grounded, you will get your breakthrough eventually."

    "Thanks, Penny," Eric replied, but inside he felt a pang of bitterness; it seemed like everyone considered Home Alone as nothing more than a trial film for a rookie. He wanted to force the people there to sit down and watch Home Alone in its entirety. Unfortunately, he would need divine intervention for such a maneuver.

    ...

    Feeling somewhat down, Eric returned home. Since there was no chance left with 20th Century Fox, he resolved to try other filmpanies.

    Jennifer Aniston was curled up like a kitten on the living room sofa, watching a BBC soap opera with boredom. When she saw Eric walk in, she poked her head up and asked, "Eric, how did it go?"

    Eric approached and held Jennifer in his arms, stroking her back as he replied, "20th Century Fox passed, but it''s alright. I''ll try other filmpanies."

    Jennifer sensed Eric''s hint of disappointment and hugged him tighter, raising her pretty face tofort him: "It''s okay, Eric. With how great Home Alone is, their passing is definitely their loss. I''m sure they will regret their decision once it releases."

    "Oh baby, your words are so heartwarming," Eric squeezed Jennifer''s cheek affectionately.

    The two leaned in for a kiss, but just then, the phone rang. After several rings, Eric reluctantly let go of the girl after a little pushing from Jennifer.

    "Hello, this is the Williams residence."

    "Jeffrey, hey, what''s happening?"

    "..."

    Eric listened to what was said over the phone and suddenly raised his eyebrows in surprise. Jennifer knew this was a sign Eric was excited and curiously leaned in, but she couldn''t catch what Jeffrey Hansen was saying on the other end.

    Eric nodded a few times in agreement before hanging up and pulling Jennifer into a spin. "Ha ha, Eric, I''m feeling a bit dizzy. Put me down! What''s the good news?"

    Eric ced Jennifer back on the couch and said, "Jeffrey ran into a friend from Columbia Pictures this morning. They talked about Home Alone, and his friend seems to be very interested in the film. Jeffrey said if I hadn''t signed an agreement with 20th Century Fox, I could pitch it to them."

    "Columbia Pictures? The one that..." Jennifer posed as the Statue of Liberty.

    "Exactly that one," Eric nodded.

    ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Amy is a close friend of my wife. She''s extraordinarily capable and has already reached a high level at Columbia before hitting thirty. My wife''s made two films with her help in securing investment and distribution. I ran into her yesterday and mentioned you. She seemed to know you, and I told her about Home Alone," Jeffrey Hansen recounted in a coffee shop. Sitting opposite, Eric asked curiously, "Amy? You mean it''s a woman?"

    "Of course!"

    Eric thought, could this be a coincidence? Connecting the dots with Columbia Pictures, he couldn''t help but ask, "What''s Amy''s full name?"

    "Amy Pascal."

    It was her. Perhaps in the 1990s, Sherry Lansing would get more exposure as the first female head of Paramount bringing it back from the brink, but Amy Pascal''s achievements weren''t far behind. This powerhouse ruled Columbia for longer than Sherry Lansing.

    Eric chatted a bit more with Jeffrey and set a time for their meeting. Just two minutes to spare, Amy Pascal arrived hurriedly. At about five foot six, dressed in a ck suit, her long brown hair framed her exquisitely delicate features, radiating charisma.

    After exchanging pleasantries, the three of them sat down together.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Buyout

    Chapter 22: Buyout

    ?

    [Chapter 22: Buyout]

    Amy Pascal had made her interest in Eric clear: "Oh, Eric, you look younger than I imagined. When I was your age, I had just started college."

    "You look quite young yourself, Ms. Pascal," Ericplimented.

    Amy smiled and said, "Thank you, Eric. Just call me Amy. By the way, do you still hold the rights to the novel you wrote?"

    Eric raised an eyebrow, "Of course."

    With his growing fame, Eric had been approached by several studios about the movie rights, but he had turned them all down. Until he was strong enough to negotiate a fair deal, he had no ns to sell the adaptation rights.

    "Well, would you be willing to sell the rights to Columbia? We could offer a very decent price," she proposed.

    Eric replied, "Amy, that''s not the topic we''re discussing today. Besides, the special effects technology isn''t quite there yet, so I''m not looking to sell the rights at this time."

    "That''s a shame; well, let''s talk about something else. Jeffrey really appreciates this film, and as I know Jeffrey, he has a good eye for talent. By the way, I heard you originally intended for 20th Century Fox to distribute the film. What happened with that?"

    Eric shrugged and said truthfully, "Mr. Carlin Hunt from 20th Century Fox didn''t even watch the film and turned it down."

    "Carlin Hunt, I know him. Quite a pompous guy," Amyughed. "Well, let''s check out your film now."

    ...

    Eric nodded, and Amy led him and Jeffrey to a theater at Columbia Pictures'' headquarters, handing a copy to an usher as they took their seats in the leather chairs.

    "Eric, you don''t seem very excited," Amy teased as she caught his expression before the screening began.

    Ericughed lightly, "Amy, you know I produced this film from start to finish. Every shot exists in my mind, and I''ve watched it many times. But I believe you won''t be disappointed."

    As the lights dimmed, Amy nodded, pulling her gaze away as a sense of desperation crept in. While it was true Columbia was in need of good projects, how had shee to rely on even a high school student''s film? With those thoughts, Amy sighed softly in the dark.

    As a senior executive at Columbia, Amy was very much aware of thepany''s situation. Thepany had struggled in recent years, and if not for the revenue from a solid library of films umted over the years, they would be facing immense losses.

    Compared to the rising Disney and 20th Century Fox, or even the still-thriving Paramount after the Barry Diller era, Columbia felt like an aging man with little ambition. After cing second in North American box office in 1984, it had been three years since Columbia had a film in the top ten, and it looked like they wouldn''t this year either. For an established film giant, it was a disgrace.

    Columbia''s parentpany, Coca-C, had suffered massive losses duringst year''s stock market crash. If Columbia failed to provide profits, it risked being sold off; in fact, Sony was already signaling interest in acquiring Columbia Pictures.

    Amy had done her homework on Eric. The kid had just graduated high school, had a sci-fi script picked up by 20th Century Fox, and hadnded a lead role in the film, which had astonished everyone. Without those des, Amy might have dismissed Eric''s movie like Carlin Hunt had.

    Columbia had indeed received the script; several producers were interested, but Eric''s condition of starring in it was a deal-breaker for the cautious Columbia. In the end, they had to pass.

    It was said that Barry Diller himself had personally approved the project, which made Amy sigh again when considering the mediocre Cohen Blount now running Columbia. Thepany''s current struggles were linked to that president''s timidity and conservative nature.

    As the film yed on, the delightful plot and Stuart Ronkel''s standout performance quickly drew Amy''s scattered thoughts back to the screen.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After the screening, Amy was left with nothing but astonishment. She couldn''t believe this brilliantedy had been helmed by the eighteen-year-old sitting before her.

    With excitement, Amy stood up and said to Eric, "Eric, could you wait here for a moment? I need to make a phone call."

    From Amy''s expression, Eric knew that things were leaning in his favor.

    Half an hourter, a group of six or seven Columbia executives, including president Cohen Blount, gathered in the screening room to watch the film again.

    In a lively atmosphere, they watched the film once more as the clock neared quitting time, but no one seemed eager to leave. During thetter half of the movie, the executives began to whisper among themselves.

    In the office of the president of Columbia Pictures, Eric sat with Jeffrey across from the sixty- something Cohen Blount. After his assistant brought in coffee, Cohen leisurely sipped before beginning, "Eric, to be honest, we see great potential in this film. We want to offer ten million dors for all the rights. What do you think?"

    Upon hearing the ten million dor price tag, Jeffrey Hansen''s excitement was palpable. A budget of one million could instantly balloon tenfold; were he in Eric''s position, he would have likely nodded in agreement immediately.

    Cohen Blount noted Jeffrey''s reaction and smiled in satisfaction. The estimated box office for the film hovered around fifty million dors, and a sequel looked easily attainable. The potential for merchandise rights was substantial, so after discussion, they decided to set a buyout price that seemed high to them, with a ceiling of twelve million dors firmly established.

    Thinking that they could buy out the film for ten million made Eric inwardly scoff. Business dealings often meant raising the stakes and haggling.

    "Mr. Blount, I''m sure you have a rough estimate of the box office value for this film. May I know that figure?"

    Eric didn''t immediately agree, disappointing Cohen somewhat, but he responded, "Of course, we believe that with proper promotion, the North American box office should be around thirty million dors. Traditionally, as the producer, you''ll receive about twenty percent of the profit. Therefore, Eric, the ten million buyout offer is very reasonable. Your production costs shouldn''t exceed two million, right? So, Eric, what are you hesitating for? Just say yes, and you''ll be the youngest millionaire overnight."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Crazy or Foolish

    Chapter 23: Crazy or Foolish

    ?

    [Chapter 23: Crazy or Foolish]

    Sitting nearby, Jeffrey Hansen felt that he should step in to negotiate, but before he could say anything, Eric had already spoken up: "Sorry, Mr. Blount, but I''m not nning to sell Home Alone outright; let''s discuss a profit-sharing agreement instead."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Cohen Blount furrowed his brow in displeasure and replied, "Eric, if we''re talking about profit-sharing, I can only offer you eighteen percent."

    "Mr. Blount, didn''t you just say twenty percent?" Jeffrey interjected.

    Cohen Blount responded nonchntly, "What I just mentioned was under normal circumstances. If we were to distribute Home Alone, the promotional costs would far exceed the production costs. Eighteen percent is already quite reasonable."

    Jeffrey was about to argue, but Eric cut him off, sensing his friend"s impulsiveness: "Alright, Mr. Blount, but I have another proposal. How about we sign a wager agreement instead?" Although wager agreements weremon in the film industry, Cohen Blount couldn''t help but scoff inwardly, thinking, what kind of leverage did this kid have to negotiate with Columbia? However, he signaled for Eric to continue, curious to hear what terms this young man could propose.

    Eric, seemingly oblivious to the derisive look on Cohen Blount''s face, smiled and said, "A fifty million dor floor; under the condition that Columbia guarantees promotional effort and theater slots. If Home Alone''s box office falls below fifty million dors, I will transfer all rights of Home Alone to Columbia Pictures for free."

    After these words, even the seasoned Cohen Blount felt a twinge of emotion. Their projections for Home Alone''s box office were around fifty million dors. If they signed the wager agreement, it would be a simple task to keep the movie''s earnings below that number with a little maneuvering. While Cohen Blount considered Eric foolish, he couldn''t help but admire the young man''s boldness.

    Suddenly, Jeffrey Hansen jumped to his feet, incredulous as he spoke to Eric in grave tones, "Eric, are you out of your mind?"

    Eric stood up and patted Jeffrey on the shoulder, signaling him to sit down. He continued, "If the box office falls between fifty million and one hundred million, I want twenty percent; and if it exceeds one hundred million, I get an additional one percent for every ten million over that."

    After Eric finished, he remained quiet, calmly sipping coffee. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Hansen anxiously darted his eyes back and forth between the two, worried that Cohen Blount would agree to this outrageous deal, leaving their ten million dor buyout fee in the dust. Ten million dors! How many people went their entire lives without seeing that much money? Regrettably, Cohen Blount proved to be a hesitant decision-maker, taking a full five minutes before finally saying, "Eric, I need to discuss this with the team. I''ll get back to you tomorrow, okay?"

    Eric nodded and simply stood up to bid farewell to Cohen Blount.

    ...

    In the parking lot, Jeffrey didn''t retrieve his own car but climbed into the passenger seat of Eric''s.

    "Eric, you really were too impulsive. Ten million dors just like that! Look at howedy films have done reasonably well over the years, but dark horses are few and far between. Let''s just go for a buyout agreement tomorrow. We could negotiate a better price. Trust me on this; sometimes people only get one or two opportunities in life. Miss one, and it may nevere again. With ten million dors, you could continue making movies and do so much more." However, Eric was lost in the exhration of digging a pit for Columbia Pictures, his adrenaline pumping. He was convinced that the box office for Home Alone, which had even gotten into the Guinness records, would do just fine replicating its past sess. He outright refused to believe that Columbia''s old-school distribution abilities would fall short of history, so initially, he hadn''t even considered how to leverage his position for the most benefit.

    In a standard profit-sharing negotiation, his low-budget film would probably him a maximum of twenty percent. When Cohen Blount had been stingy enough to drop it to eighteen percent, a light bulb had gone off in Eric''s head, reminding him of how he could make the profit share variable - with a wager.

    In the film industry, wager agreements on box office figures were rather standard. Usually, they represented a win-win for both parties, allowing them to hedge their risks while maximizing their benefits.

    If they projected Home Alone''s final North American box office at 280 million dors likest time, signing the wager would mean Eric could secure thirty-eight percent instead of the thirty-five percent that might go to more established producers. Judging by Cohen Blount''s reaction to his proposal, it seemed likely Columbia Pictures was leaning towards falling into the trap.

    "Hey, Eric, I''ve said so much. Are you actually listening to me?" Jeffrey Hansen realized he was drying out from his own words while Eric sat lost in thought. A couple of light taps on Eric''s shoulder finally got his attention.

    "Alright, Jeffrey, I know your intentions are good, but think about it. Just months ago, I had nothing. What have I got to lose? Let me share something with you -- I''ve got a gut feeling that Home Alone''s box office could potentially break two hundred million. Can you imagine how much I''d make with that wager agreement?"

    Jeffrey looked at Eric as if he were a delusional patient.

    Unfazed, Ericughed, "Jeffrey, can you have a little faith in me? If this really works out, as the nominal producer, I''ll definitely give you a generous cut. You could buy back Firefly Films from the bank, so why not help me out a little?"

    Jeffrey had dreamed of reiming thepany he had built with his wife, yet he didn''t take Eric''s words seriously. Realizing that he wouldn''t be able to change Eric''s mind no matter how hard he tried, he asked, "Alright, Eric. What do you need me to do?"

    "Help me reach out to aw firm and an ounting office. Once Columbia epts my proposal, I''ll need someone to oversee and audit the execution of the agreement. If a dispute arises, I''ll also need someone to handle the litigation."

    Jeffrey replied, "That all sounds doable, but Eric, do you still have any cash? Even hiring two teams like that would cost a fortune."

    "Of course I do," Eric said, popping open the glovepartment and pulling out a copy of the Jurassic Park novel. "I''m using the future royalties and film rights to Jurassic Park as coteral. Given its current sales, that could easily ount for a million dors. If the wager flops, they can take Jurassic Park on as payment; I''m sure those firms wouldn''t refuse."

    "Eric, you really are... out of your mind!"

    "Every great genius carries a bit of madness to them."

    Jeffrey threw his hands up, "Fine. You''re not just crazy; you''re cocky. Not even Aristotle could

    put a stop to you."

    "Aristotle is too busy. That line was actually from Stendhal."

    ...

    Jeffrey eventually agreed to help contact the firms, while back in Columbia Pictures'' conference room, several executives were discussing the wager terms Eric had proposed. "Alright, that basically sums it up. Let''s hear everyone''s thoughts," Cohen Blount recapped Eric''s wager conditions, looking at the executives seated down the table, waiting for their

    input.

    After Cohen Blount finished speaking, most of the high-level executives in the room expressed disbelief. Should theybel the boy as crazy or foolish?

    Finally, Lester Reed from the distribution department chimed in first: "Mr. Blount, this is a great opportunity; let''s go for it. ording to our estimates, the highest box office potential for this movie is about fifty million. After signing the wager, it''s easy to manipte the

    earnings to stay under fifty million, and we wouldn''t even have to pay that ten-million-

    dor buyout fee."

    After Lester Reed spoke, others echoed their agreement.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Jumping into the Pit

    Chapter 24: Jumping into the Pit

    ?

    [Chapter 24: Jumping into the Pit]

    Sitting at the end of the conference table, Amy Pascal felt that this matter was not as simple as it seemed. Although she had only interacted with Eric for a few short hours, she sensed that the boy possessed a level ofposure that was hard for others his age to match. A person with such a temperament would not be impulsive enough to propose a wager agreement with such a low probability of sess. Hence, this wager agreement was most likely something that Eric Williams had considered deeply.

    Ignoring the unanimous support from others for the wager agreement, Amy Pascal pondered for a long time before saying, "Mr. Blount, I think it would be better to proceed with caution; there''s no such thing as a free lunch. We could raise the buyout price a bit and negotiate again with Eric Williams. If that doesn''t work, we could at least sign a revenue-sharing agreement. With the box office potential of this film, we''re bound to make a profit."

    "Amy, I think you''re being too conservative, even more so than that kid," Lester Reed interjected. "Do you know the potential of this film? If wepletely acquire the rights to this movie, apart from box office sharing, in terms of video rights, TV y, and various peripheral licenses, we could easily make tens of millions of dors more. Plus, we could shoot sequels. If we choose the revenue-sharing agreement, the rights will still be in that boy''s hands, and we would have to give him a substantial share again in the following operations."

    Amy Pascal replied, "We could bump the buyout price a bit -- maybe $15 million -- I''m sure that boy would agree."

    "Based on the potential of simr low-budgetedies, typically speaking, a $50 million gross would already be considered a box office dark horse. Most high-quality films could only pull in about $20 million at the box office. So, with over an 80% chance of getting the entire rights to this film for free, why should we pay over $10 million? That boy proposed such a crazy wager even with less than a 20% sess rate; don''t tell me weck the courage to take such a bet?"

    "But..." Amy Pascal observed her colleagues'' greed and fervor. A woman''s unique intuition made her feel that something was off about this whole deal.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Alright, Amy," Cohen Blount interrupted her. "While Jeffrey Hansen and that Eric Williams might be your friends, you must understand that you are now an employee of Columbia Pictures and should consider thepany''s interests."

    Cohen Blount''sments left Amy Pascal momentarily dumbfounded. While she did consider Jeffrey Hansen a friend, as a professional manager, she had always adhered to professional ethics.

    Now, expressing her opinion out of caution led to being suspected of colluding with outsiders for personal gains. The intense humiliation made Amy Pascal''s right hand gripping the pen tremble slightly. Finally, she stood up abruptly and coldly said, "Mr. Blount, since myments led you to this conclusion, I believe I am no longer suited to participate in this project. I will take my leave. Goodbye."

    With that, Amy Pascal pursed her lips, hurriedly organized the documents in front of her, and silently turned to leave the office.

    A brief silence fell over the entire office.

    "Women!"

    It was impossible to tell who sighed first. Amy Pascal, as a high-ranking woman in a patriarchal society, surely faced all sorts of discrimination, but it was unclear what emotionsy behind that sigh.

    Cohen Blount felt a twinge of regret for his earlier words. Amy Pascal''s work ethic and professional integrity were well-known; otherwise, she wouldn''t be sitting in that office as a woman. However, whilecking decisiveness in managing thepany, Cohen Blount was quite obstinate, thinking that Amy Pascal leaving the conference room was a provocation to his authority, so he naturally attributed all the me to her.

    After about ten seconds of silence, Cohen Blount spoke up again, "Alright, since everyone agrees to this wager agreement, let''s wrap it up for today. Lester, starting tomorrow, you''ll take full responsibility for the Home Alone project."

    Amidst the envious gazes of everyone, Lester Reed excitedly agreed. If he won the wager, the credit would definitely fall to him, and a promotion and raise would be inevitable.

    "No problem, Mr. Blount. I will do my best to carry this out."

    ...

    The next day, Eric received notification from Columbia that they had epted the wager agreement. At the same time, Jeffrey contacted thew firm that Eric needed. After both firms assessed the value of Jurassic Park, they agreed to send a team to assist Eric in drafting and overseeing the implementation of the wager agreement.

    On October 31, though very interested, Eric still could not attend his first Halloween parade since being reborn. Instead, he spent time in a dreary conference room at Columbia headquarters with a bunch of dull middle-aged men and women drafting the specifics of the wager agreement.

    Building on the conditions Eric proposed, the specifics of the agreement gradually took shape. To ensure that Columbia would maximize its efforts to promote and distribute Home Alone, the agreement even detailed how many promotional articles needed to be published in different newspapers, the required audience turnout, which would necessitate either an increase or decrease in screening time and number of shows in theaters, and so on. Furthermore, should Columbia vite any aspect of the agreement, theyid out varying penalties based on the degree of vition.

    The final dozens of pages of the contract left even Eric dumbfounded, and he couldn''t help but admire the professionalism of the ounting and legal teams that Jeffrey Hansen

    brought in.

    On Columbia''s side, Lester Reed, in charge of the Home Alone project, believed it was essentially already in Columbia''s pocket, and thus he didn''t pay much heed to the lengthy contract. Instead, he mocked Eric for making a fuss over nothing; the two teams he hired likely racked up fees of several hundred thousand dors, which seemed like a waste. Lester Reed thought that no matter how detailed the contract was, the box office potential of Home Alone was evident. Columbia''s upper management''s most daring expectations for the film''s box office didn''t even exceed that of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which, being a perfect blend of animation and live action, only earned $150 million at the North American box office. Originally, Columbia nned to release Home Alone during the Christmas season in December; Eric strongly opposed it. No one understood the fiercepetition of high- grossing films in December better than he did; within one month, three of the year''s top ten box office films would be screening. Moreover, Home Alone had achieved astonishing box office results in his past life through a lengthy release period starting in November, spanning over two months.

    In the end, Columbiapromised and decided to set the release date for November 18, the same day as 17 Again, which was Eric''s suggestion. Both movies rted to him opened simultaneously, and due to the difference in themes and target audiences, they wouldn''t eat into each other''s box office; instead, they could help promote each other. To amodate this, Columbia even postponed the nned release of the drama Fresh Horses, originally ted for November 18, to December, freeing up around 1,000 screens for Home Alone.

    The sheer number of screens reflected Columbia''s ambivalence. Typically, only films with high box office predictions receive over 1,000 theater screenings, signaling that Columbia was optimistic about Home Alone''s prospects. However, also due to the wager agreement, Columbia did not want Home Alone to exceed $50 million, as this would allow them to keep all box office shares and retain all film rights, including sequels, leading to a limitation of

    screens.

    Eric didn''t harbor any resentment; the mindset of Columbia''s upper management was perfectly normal. Besides, the extensive wager agreement clearly stated that reaching certain box office numbers would necessitate an increase in the number of screens. If Columbia refused to implement this, they could expect a legal battle. Eric believed that a film''s revenue wasn''t sufficient for a giant like Columbia to risk itsmercial reputation.

    After signing the wager agreement, since neither party concealed the intentions of the agreement, but rather, preferred it to spread, the content of the agreement quickly circted

    throughout Hollywood.

    With the efforts of Columbia''s publicity department, the next day, the Los Angeles Times''

    entertainment section headlined an article about the wager.

    "Genius Boy Bets Against Columbia: Madness or Foolishness?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Push for Promotion

    Chapter 25: The Push for Promotion

    ?

    [Chapter 25: The Push for Promotion]

    Yesterday, a shocking bet agreement was signed at the headquarters of Columbia Pictures, involving Eric Williams, a talented young man who had recently found fame through Jurassic Park and 17 Again, and Columbia-TriStar Pictures.

    It was reported that after wrapping up 17 Again, Eric Williams used his earnings from the film and some advanced royalties from Jurassic Park to write and direct a low-budgetedy, Home Alone, whichsted over a hundred minutes and waspleted in just twenty days. Regardless of the film''s quality, for Eric, at only 18 years old, to aplish such a feat was undeniably genius.

    Home Alone eventually caught the eye of Columbia''s higher-ups after some back-and-forth. Sources indicated that Columbia''s president, Cohen Blount, had offered ten million dors to secure the rights to Home Alone. However, Eric Williams refused this tempting offer that would have made him Hollywood''s youngest millionaire and instead proposed a bet agreement that was both crazy and foolish.

    The article went on to detail the contents of the bet and then analyzed the probability of Eric winning this wager. The author, clearly someone inside the industry, listed various box office data from simredy films along with clues provided by Home Alone and pessimistically concluded that Eric Williams had an over 80% chance of losing the bet.

    Since Home Alone neither featured box office draws nor had a massive budget, typicaledies of this kind, when well-received, could only usually pull in a mere two or three million dors at best. Therefore, the chances of Home Alone surpassing fifty million dors at the box office were slim. The author concluded with a conspiracy theory suggesting that Columbia would not ''allow'' Home Alone''s box office to exceed fifty million.

    ...

    What did the people love to discuss? There were two kinds: extraordinary geniuses who inspired jealousy, and tragic heroes, not to mention conspiracy theories.

    The Los Angeles Times article blended these three factors, stirring public sentiment. Initially, due to Fox''s prior promotion for 17 Again, the public had developed an interest in Eric, as evidenced by Jurassic Park''s steadily rising sales.

    Now, with the explosive public interest stirred by Home Alone, the attention on Eric peaked. Public fascination tranted into sales and ratings, and soon Eric received over ten interview requests in just a few days. Then Jeff Jones, who hadn''t been in touch for a while, suddenly called, stating that people had called their restaurant to inquire about him. Eric sensed that the paparazzi had begun to take an interest in him.

    Following the publication of the Los Angeles Times article, Fox and Columbia surprisingly synced their promotional efforts for both 17 Again and Home Alone.

    Carlin Hunt, the head of Fox''s distribution department, though regretting having hastily rejected Eric''s Home Alone without seeing it, quickly forgot his annoyance as a professional manager. After negotiations with Columbia''s higher-ups, he revised the promotional strategy for 17 Again. Coboratively, the two giants produced significant results.

    ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Jenny, how is it? Can I go home now?" Eric asked as he saw Jennifer Anistoning in at her apartment, having hidden away for a week.

    Aniston shook her head, cing a shopping bag on the coffee table. "I drove past your ce and saw at least seven or eight paparazzi still hanging around. Luckily they didn''t know I was in your car, or they would''ve chased after me. It''s terrifying."

    Ericmented the madness of the paparazzi. Thanks to the two studio''s intense promotional efforts for Home Alone and 17 Again, he had unexpectedly be a hot topic across North America within just a week. News of Eric even surfaced across the Antic in the UK. Having been part of the industry, Eric quickly sensed trouble after Jeff Jones''s call and sought refuge at Jennifer''s ce. The promotional push from the two studios was already sufficient; it was now up to the film''s quality. Eric also wasn''t keen on stepping out and giving paparazzi something to talk about, especially since they could spin wild stories.

    Although Eric had hidden away, he had bepletely visible to the public. Unable to interview him in person, the paparazzi dug through every detail of his life: his immigrant background, his high school grades, and his time working at Jeff''s Italian restaurant. Jennifer listened intently andmented from time to time.

    Dayster, a gossip tabloid surfaced with a story about a love triangle involving him, child star Drew Barrymore, and an unknown actress. The author clearly had insider tips from the 17 Again crew, as the paper painted a colorful story, almost like it had been witnessed firsthand, even making suggestions that Drew Barrymore had turned to sobriety for Eric. Following this article, the "unknown actress" was said to have made Eric sleep on the couch for two whole days due to jealousy.

    ...

    Michael Krauss was on cloud nely because the vigorous promotions from the two studios for Home Alone and 17 Again had sent the sales of Jurassic Park -- already exceeding one hundred thousand copies a week -- soaring even higher. In the second week of November, Jurassic Park finally topped the New York Times'' North American bestseller list with sales of 250,000 copies, and based on current trends, hitting a million by year''s end seemed certain. After multiple unsessful attempts to reach Eric, Michael Krauss learned of Eric''s whereabouts through Penny Marshall and headed straight to Jennifer Aniston''s apartment. "Hey, Michael, how did you find this ce?" Eric asked as he let him in, curious.

    "I was about to call the cops if I couldn''t find you. Hiding here... uh..." Michael paused when he saw Jennifer walking out in her revealing pajamas, surprised into silence.

    "Michael, this is my girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston. Jenny, this is Mr. Michael Krauss, the manager of my book publisher."

    Michael exchanged greetings with Jennifer, who walked off towards the bathroom.

    "Hey, Eric, is this the little actress? I still prefer Drew; she was such a sweetheart in E.T." As soon as Jennifer left, Michael couldn''t resist poking fun.

    Eric poured Michael a coffee and quietly said, "Michael, if you want to be kicked out by Jenny, keep this conversation going. I don''t even dare to mention Drew''s name right now." Michael Krauss could clearly see that Eric was serious and quickly changed the subject, "So, Eric, with Jurassic Park selling so well, don''t you think you ought to write a sequel?"

    Eric shook his head without hesitation. He had already secured the film rights to Jurassic Park, and while they were mortgaged to the firms overseeing the bet agreement, he wasn''t worried. He also didn''t want to waste any more time writing a sequel.

    "The novel''s story is alreadyplete; I don''t see much to write about, Michael."

    Not discouraged, Michael continued, "So, do you have any other projects at the moment?"

    Eric shook his head again, having been too busytely finallypleting Home Alone and signing the bet agreement with Columbia. He decided to take a break. But the break wouldn''tst long; just a week before the movie''s release, he would be expected to promote it non- stop with the crew. Fortunately, the twopanies had already established a cooperative agreement, so the promotion schedule would align, allowing Eric to avoid splitting himself between the East Coast and the West Coast.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Screening Reviews

    Chapter 26: Screening Reviews

    ?

    [Chapter 26: Potential Crisis]

    Michael Krauss watched as Eric Williams shook his head repeatedly, finally resorting to a touch of desperation. "Eric,e on, just write anything! You can''t leave me high and dry after I came all this way, can you? I''ve been swamped with work for Jurassic Parktely; even my wife is starting toin about how much time I''m spending on it. Plus, when you wanted to advance your royalties for your movie, I happily gave you $500,000. Don''t you feel the slightest bit appreciative?"

    A short, stout middle-aged man was trying to y the sympathy card in front of Eric, and Eric couldn''t help but feel a chill run down his spine. After a moment, he finally spoke up, "Alright, Michael, I do have an interesting idea. It''s in the sci-fi genre, but it''s just a rough concept with no detailed outline yet. The story is inspired by George Romero''s Zombie series and centers around a virus leak at a biotechpany that turns humans into the living dead..."

    Eric briefly recounted the plot of Resident Evil. In his previous life, he had watched the Resident Evil series - he wasn''t a huge fan, but thanks to his reborn memory, he was able to recount the story in its entirety.

    In his previous life, the Resident Evil series became one of the most profitable movie adaptations with rtively low production costs, grossing over a billion dors in total. Since Michael Krauss was so insistent on him writing something, he figured it was best to stake a im on this idea.

    However, Michael Krauss seemed somewhat dissatisfied. "Eric, is this story too niche? While there are plenty of fans of zombie culture, the audience is still rtively small. How about we brainstorm something else?"

    Eric shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, giving the impression that he was indifferent. Michael Krauss had no choice but to relent, saying, "Alright, just write it up as soon as you can. With your current fame, sales won''t be an issue. Oh, and feel free to add some adult elements to it; it has to be a bit spicy. You''re an adult now, and no one will fault you for it..."

    As he continued to ramble on with his suggestions, Michael Krauss suddenly caught sight of an unnatural expression on Eric''s face. He instinctively turned around and found Jennifer Aniston standing right behind him, hands on her hips, pouting in a way that seemed to say, ''Well, go on.''

    "Um, Eric, I just remembered I have some errands to run. So, uh, I''ll see youter." Caught up in encouraging Eric to write an adult novel, Michael quickly grabbed his bag and attempted to make a swift exit, but not before turning back to say with a hint of awkwardness, "Make sure you write it quickly!"

    After Michael Krauss left, Aniston questioned, "Eric, you''re not actually going to write what that guy suggested, are you?"

    Eric smiled, wrapping his arm around Aniston''s waist and caressing her slim figure, which had be quite delicate after over two months of dieting. "Of course not. I''m currently being promoted by Columbia and Fox as a role model for American teenagers. Why would I

    jeopardize my shining image for a little pocket change?"

    "Heh, a role model? You''re just a big flirt. Oh, no, please!"

    After a light struggle, Aniston found herself pushed back onto the couch by Eric.

    ...

    After a while of promotion for Home Alone and 17 Again, they finally reached a crucial moment: the film screenings.

    On November 11, both films held simultaneous screenings for critics. In those days before the inte hype, movie promotion primarily happened through newspapers. Audience decisionsrgely depended on film reviews published in those papers.

    Therefore, critics represented an unavoidable hurdle in the movie promotion process. Of course, the critics at these screenings would generally avoid harsh criticisms unless the movie was utterly unbearable. After all, critics needed movies, while movies didn''t necessarily need critics; going too far could only lead to being cklisted by studios.

    The day after the screenings, various newspapers and magazines began publishing the eagerly awaited reviews of Home Alone and 17 Again.

    "Home Alone created an entirely new narrative model for pureedy, filled with innocence and heartwarming moments of growth. The antics between the quirky young protagonist and the bumbling burrs appealed to audiences of all ages. One must say, Stuart Ronkel, the seven-year-old actor, delivered a performance that could be described as astounding. Simrly, neer Matthew Perry''s portrayal of Marvin was noteworthy; hisedic face would make anyone burst outughing upon appearing on screen..." - The Los Angeles Times. "A genius director and a genius young actor presented audiences with a holiday feast ofughter. I advise viewers not to eat popcorn while watching, lest they risk spraying it on the necks of those in front of them..." - The Chicago Tribune.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "17 Again marked a transformation for Drew Barrymore. Shepletely shed the adorable little girl image from E.T. and instead yed a rebellious daughter about to graduate high school. Drew''s emotional outbursts throughout the film showcased acting skills that were truly impressive. The performances of superstar Dan Aykroyd and Susan Sarandon remained outstanding. And Eric Williams, who wrote and starred in the film, exhibited a performance that was nothing like that of a rookie without any acting experience. He held his own against Drew Barrymore during their scenes, and he''s also the director of Home Alone that hit theaters at the same time. One could say he''s a genius blessed by the heavens; it''s hard to exin why Eric Williams excelled like this..." - Variety.

    "Many people constantlyin about the dissatisfaction of reality, but after watching 17 Again, you will realize that you aren''t truly unhappy; rather, various negative emotions havepletely overshadowed the happiness you possess. However, only the protagonist in the film managed to escape his original shell and view himself from a different perspective..." - The Washington Post.

    Numerous papers praised both films, though some criticisms were inevitable. After all, no matter how powerful the two media conglomerates were, they couldn''t control all opinions, especially since the other four major studios wouldn''t allow Columbia and Fox too much satisfaction.

    The Chicago Sun-Times directly criticized Home Alone as apletely unrealistic farce, arguing that the plotcked logic and that the pranks on the two clueless burrs could never happen in real life, potentially leading to misguided influences on young audiences.

    Another publication, The Hollywood Reporter, took an even sharper stance, making a big deal out of the scene where Kevin held a toy gun in Home Alone and calling for the rating agency to reassess the film''s ssification. This news even captured the attention of a local television station in Los Angeles.

    ...

    When Eric learned of this situation, he felt a little concerned. In his impression, although gun violence was rampant in America, there were strict regtions regarding underage people holding firearms in films.

    Anxiously, he called Lester Reed, the producer of Home Alone, to inquire about the matter. Lester nonchntly reassured him, hinting at hidden details. The owner of The Hollywood Reporter was a shareholder in Universal Studios, which was about to release a children''s animated film called The Land Before Time on November 18, making this sort of behavior quite normal as it was apetitor to Home Alone. Columbia would counter such actions

    ordingly.

    Hanging up the phone, Eric sighed. He had already fallen into a web of deception so soon. This little incident sparked a feeling of crisis within him. Compared to those cinematic giants, he was still a negligible figure, posing no real threat. But if Home Alone achieved massive sess as it did in his previous life, his existence would certainly attract the giants'' attention, especially Columbia, who was about to face a significant challenge.

    If, at that point, hecked sufficient strength and didn''t want to relinquish arge portion of his profits, then he could expect intense oppression from the power brokers.

    In his previous life, Tom Cruise served as an example. As Tom starred in one hit movie after another, his demands for power and profit-sharing escted. Eventually, when he began earning more than the studio, Paramount Pictures, everyone at Paramount, led by Summer Redstone, publicly severed ties with Tom Cruise in the newspapers. The media under Vi then mired Tom Cruise in a smear campaign that ruined his career.

    "Hey, darling, what are you thinking about? You look so glum," Jennifer noticed Eric staring nkly after his phone call. She gently tugged at his shirt.

    "Oh, it''s nothing."

    Even though Eric always acted self-assured, Aniston sensed that he was worried about the box office for the two films. After all, he only had the car his father left him, and he had put everything else up for coteral. If he lost the bet on Home Alone, he would go bankrupt. Wrapping her arms around Eric from behind, resting her cheek against his back, Aniston softly said, "Darling, if you have something on your mind, why not talk to me about it? I may not be able to help much, but I can be a good listener."

    "I just suddenly feel..." Eric turned around and pulled Aniston into aforting embrace. "The road ahead might be a bit rough. Aniston, will you stay with me on this journey?"

    "Of course, I will." Aniston didn''t fully grasp the deeper meaning behind Eric''s words, but she decisively chose to respond affirmatively.

    "Thank you, Jenny. So, you really won''te with me to New York? It''s just a matter of a

    ne ticket after I speak with James about it."

    As the release dates for Home Alone and 17 Again grew closer, both crews needed to head to the East Coast, to New York, for promotion. However, being merely a supporting character in 17 Again, Aniston was not included in the lineup of actors who would promote the film.

    Not wanting to burden her boyfriend over such trivial matters, Aniston shook her head,

    saying, "No need. I lived in New York for many years, so it''s not really fresh to me." After a brief moment of warmth shared between them, Aniston gently pushed Eric away,

    turning to pack his travel bag.

    *****

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 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: A Shocking Scene

    Chapter 27: A Shocking Scene

    ?

    [Chapter 27: A Shocking Scene]

    On November 18th, the day after Eric flew to New York, Home Alone and 17 Again officially premiered. Home Alone opened with 1,000 screens, while 17 Again had 1,279 screens, surpassing Home Alone by more than 250. Fox had no worries about any wager agreements, so they threw everything into the promotion right from the start.

    Also opening at the same time were Universal Pictures'' animated film The Land Before Time with 1,395 screens, and Disney''s Buena Vista International distributing the animated film Oliver & Company with 952 screens.

    With three children''s films premiering at the same time, the media thought Eric had a lower chance of winning the wager, but Eric wasn''t too worried. While the two animated films might cause some box office pressure on Home Alone initially, in the long run, they wouldn''t hold a candle to Home Alone. In its previous iteration, Home Alone had pulled in over $10 million for ten consecutive weeks.

    After attending two premiere events, Eric and the crew returned to the hotel around eleven at night. At that time, there wasn''t the advanced box office reporting system we have today, so they would have to wait until the following week to get the box office numbers for Home Alone and 17 Again.

    ...

    Back in his room, Eric had a shower and was about to go to bed when the phone suddenly rang. The only one who would call at this hour was Aniston.

    "Hey, Eric, are you asleep?" Aniston asked, her tone tinged with excitement.

    Eric sat up on the bed, towel-drying his damp hair. "Not yet, just got out of the shower. What''s got you so excited, Jenny?"

    "Guess what?"

    Eric joked, "Oh, I know! You''re pregnant! Don''t worry, I''ll take responsibility."

    "Ugh, you big perv, is that all you think about?" Aniston spat into the receiver, "I just got out of Home Alone and saw something really amusing."

    Eric smiled, "What happened?"

    "So, I came out of the theater and saw this five or six-year-old boy yelling to see Kevin. His parents wouldn''t let him because they just watched it, and the kid threw himself on the ground crying. People thought the parents were kidnappers and started beating them up. They even called the cops, and multiple squad cars showed up. It was hrious, haha!"

    Aniston merely shared this as a fun anecdote from her movie outing, but Eric saw deeper implications in the story. After chatting with Aniston a bit longer, he hung up andy back in bed, feeling a bit giddy.

    Because things were unfolding exactly as they had back in the day. The reason Home Alone achieved such astonishing box office sess back then was due to a wave of rowdy kids who kept watching it over and over, eager to imitate Kevin''s every move, ultimately driving its incredible box office performance.

    ...

    As Eric suspected, on the first day of release, Home Alone and the two animated films had simr box office figures, but as positive word-of-mouth spread remarkably fast among children, the next day, Home Alone''s daily gross doubled, with a significant increase again on the third day, prompting lines outside some popr theaters.

    After all, animated films can be watched anytime, but the clever and mischievous Kevin is a character kids can''t encounter every day. Most kids fantasized about growing up quickly to do things they couldn''t do now. Home Alone presented a perspective where kids could experience what they imagined but couldn''t dare or achieve in real life.

    A wave of imitation swept through North America''s children. A San Francisco newspaper even reported on a real-life Home Alone incident, where a nine-year-old boy, after watching Home Alone, locked himself in his room while his family prepared to go on vacation to Hawaii. Astoundingly, the parents of six children didn''t realize this until they reached Hawaii, where they discovered the boy wasn''t with them. They had to abort their vacation and fly back to San Francisco, only to find a messy home and a boy waiting for "dumb burrs." Unfortunately, he was met by his frantic parents instead.

    ...

    A weekter, the box office results for the first week rolled in. Although the previously apparent signs of sess had prepared everyone somewhat, Home Alone''s jaw-dropping $27.55 million opening week box office still astonished everyone.

    While over $20 million couldn''tpare to the hundred-million-dor opening weekends of films inter years, in that era, this achievement overshadowed all recent high-grossing movies. Even Spielberg''s E.T. hadn''t reached such an impressive start. The only franchise surpassing Home Alone was George Lucas''s Star Wars, but that series had a budget well over a tens of times that of Home Alone.

    Meanwhile, 17 Again also performed well, securing second ce with $13.12 million. Thepeting animated films, The Land Before Time and Oliver & Company only garnered $7.12 million and $3.98 million respectively, far below what both studios had expected. Undoubtedly, Home Alone crushed the box office for the two animations, leaving both Universal and Disney executivesmenting the dominance of Home Alone while envying Columbia''s good fortune.

    ...

    Columbia did have a stroke of luck, but upon seeing the first week box office results, Columbia''s president Cohen Blount was not in a good mood. He even found himself breaking his teacup several times out of frustration.

    ording to the first week box office data, Columbia reassessed and determined that Home Alone''s North American box office would definitely exceed $200 million, and it might even surpass $300 million. Cohen Blount was filled with regret, wishing he had insisted on acquiring the Home Alone rights instead of signing some ridiculous wager agreement. If he had, Columbia would be raking in hundreds of millions from this movie this year.

    Now, due to the wager agreement, if Home Alone hits $300 million, Columbia would pay $120 million in shares to Eric, leaving them with only $45 million, and after subtracting distribution costs, Columbia''s profit might barely a fraction of Eric''s $120 million share. Cohen Blount had entertained the idea of tearing up the agreement multiple times, but that wager agreement was nowmon knowledge across the nation. If he tore it up, Columbia would likely lose thewsuit, and he would be aughingstock, with him as president sure to be scapegoated and ousted.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "No, I need to find a way to recover losses, I must..." Cohen Blount mumbled to himself when his assistant knocked and entered, saying, "Mr. Blount, everyone has arrived; we can start the

    meeting now."

    Cohen rubbed his temples, stood up, and headed to the conference room.

    Once seated, Cohen directly questioned Lester Reed, responsible for the Home Alone project, "Lester, how''s the data analysising along?"

    Lester Reed was supposed to return with the Home Alone crew on ate-night flight, but an urgent call from headquarters had him returning to Los Angeles half a day earlier. Upon arriving at Columbia headquarters and learning about Home Alone''s first-week box office results, Lester felt instinctively uneasy.

    ncing nervously at Cohen''s stoic face, it was Cohen Blount who had rashly agreed to the wager agreement in the first ce. Given Cohen''s stubborn nature, it was likely he would take

    his frustrations out on Lester.

    "Mr. Blount, ording to the analysis from our data department, based on the wager agreement, we can expect to receive around $50 million in shares, with the peak share value being approximately $225 million. Here''s the data curve."

    Cohen took the analysis document, ncing at the red parabolic line representing Columbia''s profits and the green line indicating Eric''s share, causing his temples to throb again.

    Bang--

    Another teacup shattered against the redwood floor with a muffled thud, causing everyone in the conference room to flinch and lower their heads in silence.

    In general, a $50 million box office share would make many film executives smile in their

    sleep; even among the six major studios, this decade saw yearly box office profits top out at around one or two hundred million.

    However,paring that with the potentially over a hundred million that Eric might earn, all

    of Cohen''s excitement vanished in an instant.

    "So, you were responsible for signing the wager agreement. What now?" Cohen coldly surveyed everyone in the room, his gaze finallynding on Lester Reed.

    *****

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 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Strategy

    Chapter 28: Strategy

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 28: Strategy]

    Lester Reedmented inwardly as the anger clearly turned toward himself. In such a situation, he did not dare to argue back; after all, he knew he would be kicked out for sure.

    "Mr. Blount, perhaps we can try... try negotiating with Eric Williams to re-sign the revenue- sharing agreement," he suggested hesitantly.

    "Is that the best you coulde up with?" Cohen Blount scoffed, "If you were Eric Williams, would you agree to re-sign the agreement?"

    Lester Reed pressed on, despite the weight of Cohen''s gaze: "Eric Williams should realize that based on current box office trends, it is unfair to Columbia, which has invested far more than he has, so..."

    Before Lester could finish, Cohen Blount mmed his hand on the table and shouted, "Enough! Fairness? When have you ever seen fairness in this world? What I want is a strategy, a strategy that can secure more benefits for Columbia, not a pipe dream."

    Lester Reed fell silent, lowering his head. Cohen Blount nced around the room, his gaze settling on Amy Pascal, who was seated at the end of the conference table. She had been the only one in the room opposing Eric Williams'' betting agreement, which gave him a flicker of hope.

    Shifting his tone, Cohen Blount said to Amy Pascal, "Amy, do you have any good ideas?"

    Even though Cohen had been fiercely assertive in the meeting, Amy Pascal seemed somewhat distracted. She felt thoroughly disappointed in him -- conservative,cking boldness, full of suspicion, never calm in the face of issues, and certainly not exhibiting the demeanor of someone in charge. She couldn''t understand how Coca-C had chosen this mediocre CEO. Amy even thought it might be time for her to look for another job.

    However, when Cohen Blount asked her opinion, Amy Pascal gathered her thoughts and replied, "Mr. Blount, I have no solution regarding that betting agreement. Even if we were to force the film out of theaters right now, we wouldn''t be able to get the rights for Home Alone for free; instead, we would face a im from Eric Williams for over a hundred million dors."

    Here, Amy Pascal paused to allow everyone to think. Before Cohen Blount could speak again, she continued, "So, what we should do now is try to win over Eric Williams and sincerely execute that betting agreement to show Columbia''s good faith. There''s no doubt that Home Alone would surpass 50 million dors in box office, meaning that the overseas and other peripheral rights would go back to Eric. Moreover, a sequel to Home Alone is sure to be made, and by maintaining a good cooperating stance this time, I believe, with Eric''s shrewdness, he would continue to work with us. I think that''s the only way for Columbia to secure more benefits."

    After Amy finished speaking, several executives couldn''t help but nod in agreement, though Cohen Blount, while somewhat in agreement with her views, was once again reminded of Amy''s potential friendship with Jeffrey Hansen and Eric Williams. His suspicious nature made him doubt that Amy''s advice was impartial.

    Thus, Cohen Blount couldn''t help but interject again, "Amy, you are an employee of Columbia and should think of thepany first, not just outsiders. If you cane up with a way to overturn that betting agreement to secure more benefits for us, I would promote you on the spot."

    It felt just like a few weeks ago when she worked hard, doing her utmost to bring quality film projects to thepany and diligently offering strategies. And what happened? She was first kicked off the Home Alone project team. She felt she needed to keep a distance and bore no ill will. Then she was demanded to speak again as the only opposing voice to a poor decision and offered her reasonable advice, only to be questioned once more.

    This left Amy Pascal feeling cold, a surge of intense grievance rising; her nose felt a bit tender, and tears threatened to spill.

    Suddenly standing up, her chair fell backward with a loud crash.

    "Mr. Blount, I resign!"

    The cold voice rang out in the conference room. Having said that, Amy Pascal did not linger to organize the documents in front of her but turned and left the office immediately.

    "This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous! Who does she think she is?" Cohen Blount fumed, This tempers ring after already being on edge due to the Home Alone situation. Without a moment''s pause, he mmed the table again and turned to his assistant saying, "Notify security to immediately throw that bitch out of here; I don''t want to see her at Columbia HQ again."

    "Understood, Mr. Blount," the assistant replied in a tight voice, cautiously rising to leave the meeting room.

    Taking a sip of coffee to steady himself, Cohen Blount coldly stated, "Alright, let''s continue. Everyone better stay sharp, or I won''t hesitate to sign more termination papers today." Although many executives felt that Amy Pascal''s recent suggestion was the most valid -- after all, everyone in that meeting room was apetent professional -- Cohen Blount had fallen into a hysterical state. No one wanted to risk their job to back Amy''s proposal.

    Therefore, the executives reluctantly began to discuss. After several hours of discussions, they finally came up with a strategy.

    As the meeting ended, Cohen Blount eagerly told his assistant, "Get in touch with Disney''s Michael Eisner for me. I want to invite him to dinner tonight; tell him we have important matters to discuss regarding Home Alone."

    "Yes, Mr. Blount," the assistant felt relieved as the tension from Cohen seemed to have evaporated after the meeting and stood a little less nervously.

    ...

    The next morning, the $27.55 million opening weekend box office for Home Alone made headlines, thrusting Eric back into the spotlight as a topic of public interest. If before the film''s release, much of the news regarding Eric came from the two major studios promoting their film, now the media had taken it up independently.

    With Eric having just returned to Los Angeles in the middle of the night, he woke up to find his home -- previously free of paparazzi -- now swarming with reporters. There was no other word to describe the crowd; they were indeed piled up in front of his door, mics and cameras in hand.

    Due to Columbia''s intentional omittance of information, Eric did not receive any immediate news about Home Alone''s box office. But upon seeing the reporters, he knew that Home Alone

    had hit big.

    Even though he appreciated the press for ''informing'' him in their way, Eric still had no interest in engaging with them. After breakfast, he headed straight to the garage, nning to drive through the throng of reporters to the Columbia headquarters to get the scoop on the

    situation.

    However, Eric clearly had never encountered such ''morous'' moments before. Thus, when he pulled out of the driveway, he miscalcted how to handle it; he was instantly surrounded by a horde of reporters as the car barely left the house. Some journalists even climbed onto the hood of his car, loudly demanding answers and indiscreetly banging on the window at him. Questions flew from every direction: "Mr. Williams, what do you think about Home Alone''s $27.55 million opening weekend?"

    "Mr. Williams, do you think Home Alone will surpass E.T.?"

    "Eric, ording to the bet agreement, you are about to be Hollywood''s youngest multi- millionaire; what will you do once you have that money?"

    "Mr. Williams, I''m a reporter from the Los Angeles Times; can I interview you?"

    "Eric..."

    "....."

    It felt like thousands of geese were quacking in his ear. Though Eric found the $27.55 million opening weekend somewhat thrilling, he was mostly consumed with anxiety and nervousness. There were simply too many reporters surrounding his car, and he hesitated to press the gas pedal hard. A chunky white reporter in front of the car seemed eager for a collision, his expression one of desperate anticipation.

    *****

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 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Awkward Compensation Agreement

    Chapter 29: The Awkward Compensation Agreement

    ?

    [Chapter 29: The Awkward Compensation Agreement]

    As Eric scanned the crowded area, he noticed that the Ronkel family''s residence to the west had be deserted. Just three days after the release of Home Alone, the Ronkel couple had hurriedly taken Stuart away from the promotional team, reportedly because someone had offered a hefty sum for Stuart to star in amercial.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    While Eric was out of town, the news about this family had already started making headlines. Home Alone had be a massive hit, and in just a few days, Stuart had earned millions through various endorsements andmercials. Reports also imed that the entire family had moved into a mansion in Beverly Hills.

    Even though Eric hoped that the Ronkel couple would not be as money-hungry as Macay Culkin''s parents of the past, the circumstances suggested that they were not very different from that couple. Eric could only wish that Stuart wouldn''t follow Macay''s path; after all, the sequel to Home Alone still needed this bright kid. In the previous third installment of Home Alone, the box office had plummeted from $170 million in the second film to just $30 million after Macay''s departure.

    Lost in thought as reporters crowded around him, someone eventually noticed Eric''s plight and called the police, who then rescued him from the throng.

    Driving to Columbia Pictures'' headquarters with a crowd of followers, Eric''s presence was quickly recognized by two receptionists. They were unaware of theplex emotions among Columbia''s higher-ups regarding Home Alone''s box office sess; they only knew that Eric was on the verge of bing Hollywood''s youngest billionaire. After notifying the president''s office, the two girls eagerly tried to engage in conversation with Eric, hoping to catch the attention of this wealthy young man.

    Eric happily flirted with the two attractive receptionists, even telling a few risque jokes that made them giggle uncontrobly.

    Just as Eric chatted with the receptionists, he heard Cohen Blount''s voice nearby. Turning around, he saw Cohen with his arms outstretched, and Eric warmly walked up to hug him.

    "Mr. Blount, I didn''t expect you toe down personally, you could have just sent someone to fetch me."

    Cohen Blount chuckled, "What? Did you think this old man was going to interrupt your flirtation with thedies?"

    "Of course not," Eric quickly denied.

    Cohen continued, "With Home Alone achieving such impressive box office figures, it''s only right Ie to meet you. Let''s take care of business first before you start dating. A young person must prioritize their career."

    Eric nodded in agreement, waving the pink perfumed contat cards in his hand at the receptionists as he followed Cohen Blount into the elevator.

    ...

    As they entered the VIP elevator, a petite receptionist turned to her friend and asked, "Milia, do you think Eric will ask me out?"

    Tall and blonde Milia leaned in closer and whispered, "Who knows? Maybe Eric will ask us both out at the same time; would you go for that?"

    "What? No way... That''s impossible!" The petite girl blushed as she imagined certain scenarios.

    Milia suddenlyughed and said, "Alright, Lisa, stop dreaming. From Eric Williams'' banter just now, it''s clear he''s a yboy. Together, we would just be left as scraps."

    "How could that be? He''s only eighteen!" Although Lisa just experienced Eric''s flirtation, she still held a good impression of him. That''s how the world works; if an average guy had teased them, security would have kicked him out, but a young, wealthy hunk instead made them feel charmed.

    "To be precise, he''s an eighteen-year-old about to be a multi-millionaire. Achieving such enormous sess at such a young age is something neither of us could attain. And did you notice? When Mr. Blount left just now, he gave us a stern look, clearly a warning. So, Lisa, let''s be realistic. Come to the club with me tonight; I''ll introduce you to two handsome guys."

    Disappointed, Lisa nodded but couldn''t resist ncing towards the VIP elevator onest

    time.

    ...

    In the Columbia Pictures president''s office, Cohen Blount warmly invited Eric to sit on the sofa and personally retrieved a bottle of wine from the cab. "Eric, let''s have a little toast to celebrate. Once Home Alone finishes its run, I will definitely throw you a grand celebration party. This bottle of white winees from my vineyard in Burgundy, and it''s thest one I have."

    Eric expertly raised his ss and took a whiff. The amber liquid exuded a fresh pineapple

    aroma.

    Cohen Blount knew Eric''s background and assumed he had never encountered such top-notch wine before. Curious, he inquired, "What are your thoughts?"

    Eric nodded and praised, "It''s an excellent wine; it''s not easy to create a pineapple fragrance from Burgundy grapes."

    Cohen was somewhat surprised, "I didn''t expect you had such knowledge about wine."

    "I heard about it once," Eric replied honestly.

    Cohen didn''t press further. He raised his ss and said, "Then here''s to the sess of Home Alone; cheers."

    "Cheers."

    After drinking, Cohen instructed his assistant to clear away the sses, returning to his seat. "Eric, let''s discuss business. Here are the box office numbers fromst week for Home Alone. Take a look."

    Eric took the document and opened it. The sheet included not just Home Alone''s box office data but also figures for all the films currently in theaters. Home Alone topped the chart with $27.55 million, while the second-ce film, 17 Again, had only $13.12 million. Although that figure was impressive, it barelypared in light of Home Alone''s sess.

    "Eric, what I need to tell you next is somewhat awkward," Cohen said, straightening up, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "There''s something about this week''s screening count for Home Alone that requires your understanding."

    Seeing Cohen''s expression, Eric felt a bit uneasy but nodded for him to continue.

    "ording to our betting agreement, Columbia was supposed to increase the screening count to 2,000 this week. Unfortunately, because Home Alone''s box office had far exceeded Columbia''s expectations, we weren''t prepared sufficiently, resulting in only an increase of 500 screens this week."

    Though Cohen''s reasoning seemed valid, Eric sensed something was off.

    "So, Mr. Blount, what does Columbia n to do?" Eric asked calmly.

    "Eric, Columbia found our agreement to be of significant value. But this matter caught everyone off guard. Theater chains can''t just leave screens empty to amodate our deal, so we''ve put together apensation agreement," Cohen exined.

    A small warning siren shed in Eric''s mind. "Apensation agreement?"

    "Yes, Eric, please don''t worry. The original betting agreement will remain unchanged. Additionally, due to our underestimation causing loss, we will add an extra 100 screens starting next week, continuing until the film finishes its run. I believe this shows Columbia''s sincerity," Cohen smiled.

    Eric instinctively nodded. If that was the case, thispensation agreement could indeed be eptable, yet he still felt something was amiss.

    Seeing Eric nod, Cohen produced the preparedpensation agreement and pushed it across the table to him. "This is thepensation agreement, Eric. You can check it over, and if everything looks eptable, just sign it."

    Eric picked up the agreement and examined it. The agreement was brief, with only a few uses, thenguage straightforward and seemingly free of contractual traps. However, Eric remained cautious. "Mr. Blount, may I show this to mywyer first? If everything checks out, I

    will return it signed."

    "Of course, no problem," Cohen readily agreed. "Now, let''s discuss the overseas distribution of Home Alone. Given the film''s current explosive poprity, the sooner it gets released overseas, the better the box office. If we miss the holiday season, we could see at least a 50% drop in overseas revenue. Therefore, we propose to secure Home Alone at $16 million or 8% of the overseas box office share. What do you think?"

    "Mr. Blount, 8% seems a bit low," Eric replied.

    Cohen shook his head. "It''s not low, Eric. After deducting local theater shares and high film

    taxes, we would only about 20%. You wouldn''t be paying anything and yet would get 8% of the box office; that''s quite reasonable."

    Eric scoffed internally. What did he mean by "not paying anything"? Without Home Alone,

    Columbia wouldn''t have made $50 million in profits from North American box office alone across any films in a year, and during all of 1988, fewer than 10 films would achieve a $50 million profit solely from North American box office. With just Home Alone, Columbia''s performance among the six studios would leap from the bottom to the top three. It was clear that Columbia stood to benefit significantly.

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Blount. I need to think it over." Eric shook his head, rejecting the proposal. He wouldn''t forfeit his rightful gains simply due to the lucrative betting agreement. In his view, what was rightfully his was his, and there was no room for discussion.

    Seemingly anticipating Eric''s answer, Cohen nodded. "Alright, Eric; take your time to

    consider. But please get back to me soon."

    ...

    As Eric left Cohen''s office, he ran into Lester Reed, who was in charge of the Home Alone

    project.

    "Hey, Lester, good morning."

    Lester hadn''t expected to run into Eric and looked a bit ufortable. "Hi, Eric,

    congrattions on the sess of Home Alone.

    "Thanks! You"re a part of it too, Lester. Since you oversaw the project, I imagine you''ll

    receive quite a hefty year-end bonus?"

    He would be lucky to get a scolding, Lester mused silently, though his face betrayed none of

    his thoughts, and he managed an awkward smile.

    "By the way, Lester, could you tell me where Ms. Pascal''s office is? If it weren''t for her rmending me, Home Alone wouldn''t have achieved such sess so easily. I want to thank

    her in person."

    *****

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 Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Michael Eisners Invitation

    Chapter 30: Michael Eisner''s Invitation

    ?

    [Chapter 30: Michael Eisner''s Invitation]

    Lester hadn''t expected Eric to suddenly bring up Amy Pascal. "Pascal... Ms. Pascal has resigned," he responded.

    Eric was baffled. "Resigned? Why?"

    Lester''s mind raced for a few seconds before he said, "I''m not entirely sure. Maybe she was upset that thepany didn''t involve her in the Home Alone project and decided to quit."

    From the flicker in Lester''s eyes, Eric sensed he was lying but chose not to call him out. He let out a disappointed sigh, "That''s quite unfortunate. In that case, I''ll take my leave."

    ...

    Once Eric stepped into the elevator, Lester knocked and entered Cohen Blount''s office.

    Cohen Blount no longer wore that warm smile he had during Eric''s visit; instead, he wore a frown as he held a document, though his focus was clearly elsewhere.

    "Mr. Blount, here''s what you asked for," Lester said as he ced the folder on Cohen Blount''s desk. Hesitating, he added, "I just ran into Eric Williams outside. He asked about Amy Pascal."

    Cohen abruptly raised his head and fixed a sharp gaze on Lester. "What did you say?"

    Lester instinctively wanted to step back under Cohen''s intense stare but steadied himself. "I told him Amy resigned because she was unhappy with thepany not involving her in the Home Alone project."

    Cohen remained silent, staring at Lester. Lester then continued, "I believe Eric Williams and Amy Pascal aren''t well acquainted. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have asked me where her office was. He would undoubtedly thank her privately, so he probably wouldn''t go looking to verify what I said."

    "You think so?" Cohen asked, his expression showing no signs of easing.

    Lester felt a pang of anxiety and cursed his bad luck for encountering such a situation. "Mr. Blount, even if the truth came out, it might not matter. Eric could end up dissatisfied with us, which might help in implementing our ns. If he is unhappy with us, it bes easier for him to ept Disney''s conditions."

    Cohen took a moment to consider and finally rxed a bit, waving his hand. "Alright, you can go now."

    ...

    Driving along Hollywood Boulevard, Eric contemted everything he had encountered at Columbia that day. He was certain that Columbia was not content with the profits they had gained from the bet agreement and had already begun some actions. He now had two leads; one was thepensation document in his hands, and the other was Amy Pascal.

    After parking far from home, Eric slipped in through the back door and went to the second floor to nce outside. The reporters still lingered by the front door.

    The moment the reporters spotted Eric at the second-floor window, they lifted their cameras to snap pictures. Eric thought it was time to move house,ughing sardonically to himself. With the Ronkels moving to Beverly Hills, he realized he only had a few hundred dors scattered around. Talk about being broke.

    Lost in thought, his phone rang suddenly behind him.

    He picked up the receiver. "Williams residence, how may I help you?"

    "Is this Mr. Eric Williams? I am Michael Eisner''s assistant. Mr. Eisner would like to invite you to lunch. Does Mr. Williams have time?"

    Eric wasn''t surprised that Eisner knew his contact information, but he was curious about the reason for the call.

    "May I ask what this is about?"

    The assistant replied, "It''s regarding your Home Alone project. Disney is interested in the overseas rights."

    Since Columbia''s terms were disappointing, Eric didn''t mind coborating with anotherpany. "Sure, where shall we meet?"

    "We will send someone to pick you up shortly," came the response.

    ...

    After hanging up, Eric pondered for a moment before picking up the phone again to call Jeffrey Hansen. "Jeffrey, it''s Eric."

    Jeffrey''s tone was enthusiastic. "Hey, Eric, the opening weekend box office for Home Alone was incredible! I called you this morning to congratte you, but no one answered."

    "Oh, sorry about that. I was at Columbia discussing a few matters."

    "No worries, Eric. What can I do for you?"

    Eric replied, "When I visited Columbia today to discuss the uing release of Home Alone with Cohen Blount, I noticed some oddities. I suspect Columbia might be scheming something. Also, I heard from Lester Reed that Amy suddenly resigned. Can you contact her...?"

    Jeffrey hesitated before saying, "Eric, I don''t think reaching out to Amy will be of any help. Even if she resigned, she wouldn''t leak Columbia''s trade secrets. Can you share what unusual things you noticed? I''ve been in Hollywood for over twenty years; maybe I can help you out." Realizing he couldn''t rely on Amy Pascal, Eric recounted the events of the morning in detail. Jeffrey pondered for two minutes before saying, "Have awyer check thatpensation agreement. I suspect the issues might stem from there. If there isn''t anything there, I can''t think of any other problems for now. Eric, can you recall any other details?"

    "Other details?" Eric repeated, thinking back to the recent phone call. "Oh, just before I called you, Michael Eisner from Disney suddenly invited me to lunch, stating he was interested in the overseas rights to Home Alone."

    "Michael Eisner..." Jeffrey echoed the name, raising his voice slightly before adding, "Eisner and Cohen Blount are friends. Eric, be cautious. Don''t agree to anything Eisner offers. Columbia''s terms for the overseas rights to Home Alone are very low, and now Eisner reaches out to you because of that? It''s hard to believe the two aren''t connected." Listening to Jeffrey''s warning, Eric''s peripheral vision caught sight of a silver car pulling up outside his house, so he said, "Jeffrey, the car sent by Michael Eisner is here."

    "Well, go on then, Eric. Remember, no matter how tempting their offers may sound, don''t agree to anything."

    Eric nodded, hung up, and went downstairs. After confirming his identity, the chauffeur and another man cleared a path through the reporters, helping Eric into the car.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Half an hourter, Eric met Michael Eisner at the Hilton Hotel. Eisner, still in his forties and in his prime, exuded a certain liveliness that came from running one of the six major studios. He was not yet the tyrant Disney wouldter be, disying a friendly demeanor.

    "I can''t help but envy you, Eric. When I was eighteen, I was still just proud of getting into Denison University, while you have achieved what many dream of," Eisner said, enjoying a casual chat before diving into business.

    "I actually intended to apply to UCLA, Mr. Eisner, but due to some family changes, I had to carve my own path. Luckily, I''ve had some sess," Eric replied.

    Eisner shook his head. "No, it wasn''t merely luck, Eric. Even though this is our first meeting, I''ve learned about your aplishments. If someonecked talent, not even the goddess of fortune could help them achieve such remarkable heights. You''re one of the most outstanding young people I''ve encountered."

    "Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Eisner. You''re also someone I deeply respect, considering not many people head a film giant at your age," Eric replied.

    Eisner clearly relished Eric''s praises and smiled. "Since I''m one of them, may I ask who you

    admire the most?"

    After a moment of thought, Eric answered, "I''d say Howard Hughes is my greatest admiration."

    "Oh," Eisner nodded, "he was indeed a legendary figure. If I may say, Eric, you share some simrities with him. Perhaps you''re even a bit more remarkable; most of his sess was due to inheriting a vast fortune from his father, while you''ve achieved so much without relying on anyone. You''re on your way to bing the youngest multi-millionaire!"

    Eric felt bashful at Eisner''spliments, chuckling slightly. If it weren''t for his rebirth, he might have been in a modest studio shooting infomercials for some health product.

    Ignoring Eisner''s authoritative traits, he was indeed a person of significant charisma. During their lunch, both engaged in friendly conversation, and the atmosphere felt quite pleasant. If he hadn''t phoned Jeffrey Hansen beforehand, who had put him on guard, Eric might have forged a genuine friendship with Eisner.

    As the server cleared the tes, Eisner said, "Alright, Eric, let''s get down to business."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Statement

    Chapter 31: Statement

    ?

    [Chapter 31: Statement]

    Eric straightened slightly in his seat and said, "Mr. Eisner, please go ahead."

    Michael Eisner, preparing to speak, hesitated for a moment. During their recent conversation, Eric had made a strong impression on him; simrly, Eisner felt that he was not talking to an inexperienced youth but rather to a peer.

    Recalling Eric''s astounding aplishments in such a short time, Eisner began to doubt whether epting Columbia''s terms and attempting to undermine Eric was really such a good idea. At only eighteen, Eric''s future seemed limitless. If this situation led to animosity between them, the chances of future coboration would undoubtedly be slim.

    As a rising executive, Eisner was known for making decisive choices. Considering the demands made by Cohen Blount, he reinforced his resolve.

    ''The sess of Home Alone was quite exceptional,'' he thought. ''Whether this young man can achieve such dazzling sess again remains to be seen.'' Even if he continues to excel, Eisner believed that when significant profits were at stake, cooperation was still very likely. After all, many previous rivals had reconciled; and the real antagonist in undermining Eric was still Columbia.

    "Eric, Disney is very interested in the overseas distribution rights for Home Alone. Disney''s market focus is on teen movies, and we have more advantages than otherpanies in distributing films of this genre. If you hand Home Alone''s distribution over to Disney, I believe it could perform even better abroad than it has in North America."

    Eric calmly inquired, "Mr. Eisner, may I know Disney''s offer?"

    "12% of the overseas box office. What do you think about that?"

    Eric''s expression shifted slightly as he responded, "Isn''t Disney interested in a buyout?"

    Eisner shook his head, smiling as he said, "Eric, you''d rather sign a bet agreement with Columbia than ept a buyout. So I won''t waste time on that."

    Eric nodded, stating, "If that''s the case, the offer is indeed quite reasonable. Columbia has only proposed an 8% overseas share."

    "So, you see, Disney is keen to coborate and hopes we can work together in the future," Eisner continued, smiling. "Now, Eric, if you agree, I''d like to sign the authorization agreement as soon as possible. Overseas releases are not as straightforward as they are in North America; once we sign the agreement, it could take at least a week to get the film in theaters abroad. Given how hot Home Alone is right now, dying a single day could cost millions in total revenue."

    Listening quietly to Eisner''s persuasion, Eric quickly processed the series of clues in his mind. A knowing smile suddenly crossed his lips. He grew increasingly aware of Columbia''s tricks; though not particrly sophisticated, they were quite effective, and one could easily fall into the trap if not careful.

    Having figured these things out, Eric finally rxed. He picked up his coffee cup and gently caressed the fine ceramic before looking up at Eisner and asking, "Mr. Eisner, if I agree, when can we sign the contract?"

    Although Eisner noticed Eric''s shifted demeanor, he still felt a rush of relief upon hearing Eric''s question. "Of course, the sooner, the better. I''ll have someone draft the agreement as quickly as possible. We could sign it this afternoon," he replied.

    Setting down the coffee cup, Eric fixed his gaze on Eisner and said, "So, Mr. Eisner, would you say the situation is this way?"

    "Hmm?" Eisner looked perplexed.

    Eric exined, "Columbia, unwilling to let go of the bet agreement, approached you with certain terms you couldn''t refuse. Perhaps it was due to financial incentives, or maybe it was because you and Cohen Blount are good friends, which led you to agree. However, uncertain how to persuade me, Columbia has reduced the number of screens for the next week''s release to 1,500, even agreeing to pay an extra 100 screens for the subsequent release period."

    Eisner began to process Eric''s words, initially stunned, then letting out a wry smile; he had indeed underestimated the young man before him.

    Satisfied with Eisner''s reaction, Eric continued, "The reason Columbia is willing to pay such a price is to dy the box office reaching $50 million for Home Alone, buying you more time for persuasion. Because in our bet contract, if the final revenue is below $50 million, all rights to Home Alone revert to Columbia. The current box office is still shy of that $50 million mark. The other rights associated with Home Alone still fall under the betting terms. If I rashly sign the authorization agreement with Disney, it would mean I would be the first to breach the contract. Columbia could then justifiably use my breach as grounds to invalidate the bet agreement. Would you agree with my assessment?"

    If the entire matter had not concerned him, Eisner, with his disposition, would surely have apuded Eric''s brilliant analysis. But now, he could only muster a somewhat awkward smile.

    Eric stood up. "I think we don''t need to discuss this further, do we, Mr. Eisner?"

    Eisner rose as well. "Indeed, there''s no need, Eric. But I still want to say I enjoyed our conversation earlier. I hope we can have a chance to coborate in the future."

    "Perhaps," Eric nodded, deciding that since Eisner hadn''t outmaneuvered him, he wouldn''t confront a movie giant face-to-face. "Mr. Eisner, could you tell me what terms Columbia proposed to you?"

    Eisner shook his head, responding, "Eric, that''s a business secret."

    Eric, not disputing this, remarked, "Then, Mr. Eisner, could you have the driver take me back?"

    "Of course, no problem," Eisner signaled to his assistant nearby and exchanged a few brief words.

    ...

    As Eric stepped out of the Hilton, a pack of reporters quickly encircled him. They had learned through various channels that Eric had just met with Disney president Michael Eisner and were eager to capture the details of their meeting.

    Upon seeing the reporters rush over, the Hilton''s security swiftly moved to protect Eric, while Eisner''s driver prepared to escort him toward the parking lot. But Eric suddenly stopped.

    Kept at bay by security, the reporters initially felt disappointed, thinking Eric would slip away silently again. Instead, Eric halted in his tracks, prompting the reporters to quickly raise their cameras and microphones.

    "Eric, can you tell us what you discussed with Mr. Michael Eisner?"

    "Was it about Home Alone?"

    "Eric, both of your current films target a young audience, aligning well with Disney''s business strategy. Are you nning to join Disney?"

    "Eric..."

    Eric held up his hands for silence, saying, "Can I have a moment to speak, everyone?"

    Since Eric had voluntarily stepped forward, the reporters quickly quieted down. "Mr. Eisner just treated me to a meal, and we did discuss some matters. As for the specifics, it''s not convenient for me to disclose that here. However, we had a pleasant discussion and

    perhaps there is a possibility of future coboration."

    Seeing the reporters weren''t satisfied, bing restless again, Eric quickly added, "Everyone, please don''t rush. Actually, I want to take this opportunity to make a statement."

    The reporters showed confusion, but a few perceptive ones sensed that Eric was about to deliver a significant piece of news and quickly readied their recording devices. "First, I want to thank Columbia Pictures for helping to distribute my film Home Alone. However..."

    Eric''s expression turned serious. "I want to say that due to the previous bet contract, my expected share will far exceed what Columbia is receiving. That is what I am rightfully entitled to, and I have a clear conscience. Moreover, should the agreement be honored properly, Columbia would still earn nearly $50 million from the North American box office. This aplishment, which represents half of Columbia''s annual box office profits, is enviable to many. So I must sternly warn certain individuals to rein in your greed and refrain from using petty tactics to attempt to tear up the bet agreement. Please continue to distribute Home Alone as per the contract. If Columbia vites the bet agreement again, I wouldn''t hesitate to see you all in court. Though you may see me as small and weak, I believe we are equal in the eyes of federalw. If you think the sesses of Home Alone and 17 Again aren''t proof enough, then we shall see what our next film brings. You''ve been warned."

    As soon as Eric finished speaking, the surrounding reporters erupted in a frenzy.

    "Eric, could you be a bit more specific?"

    "Eric, do you already have ns for your next film? Can you share the theme?"

    "Eric, was your meeting with Mr. Michael Eisner rted to Columbia''s attempt to breach the

    agreement?"

    "Eric..."

    "....."

    After saying this, Eric silently moved through the crowd with the security''s escort directly to

    the parking lot, getting into the car.

    *****n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Turmoil

    Chapter 32: Turmoil

    ?

    [Chapter 32: Turmoil]

    Back at home, Eric noticed a growing number of reporters outside his door. He had no choice but to call hiswyer to discuss thepensation agreement, even though he was already aware of Columbia''s tricks; being cautious seemed wise.

    Once that was settled, Eric finally remembered he needed to call Aniston. He dialed her number several times, but no one answered. At this hour, Aniston should have been at home. Worried, Eric was about to redial when the phone suddenly rang.

    "Williams residence?" he answered.

    "Eric, it''s me," came Aniston''s voice through the receiver.

    Eric responded with relief, "Jenny, are you alright? I called your apartment multiple times, but no one picked up."

    "I moved in with my dad, Eric. Didn''t you know? The paparazzi found out about us and started following me everywhere. They even pretended to be delivery people and knocked on my apartment door. It scared me to death," Aniston admitted, her voice tinged with lingering fear.

    Eric eximed, "Jenny, are you okay? When did this happen? I called you right before I boarded the ne yesterday, and everything seemed fine."

    "I''m fine, Eric. It happened this morning. I don''t know how the paparazzi found out. It was already in the papers by then, and they... they said..." Aniston''s tone grew increasingly upset, and Eric thought it must be something discouraging. He quickly tried to soothe her, "Alright, Jenny, as long as you''re safe. Just stay at your dad''s ce for a while. You can quit that convenience store job too."

    Anistonined unhappily, "Eric, it won''t stay like this forever, right? How am I supposed to live?"

    "Of course, it won''t be like this forever. Things will calm down eventually. My house is surrounded by reporters too. Give me your dad''s address, and I''lle visit when I can." Aniston provided the address, and after Eric reassured her a bit more, they hung up.

    ...

    In a Beverly Hills vi, Aniston moodily put down the phone. She nced at the crumpled newspapers scattered across the floor and picked up a pillow from the couch, hitting it a few times in frustration. The papers portrayed her romance with Eric as the Hollywood version of Cindere and Prince Charming, praising Eric while belittling her. Most of the articles painted a bleak picture for their future, and some evenpared her unfavorably to Drew, suggesting she was less suited to be Eric''s girlfriend.

    As she read on, Aniston''s feelings of self-doubt and unease grew. To her, Eric was extraordinary, while she felt so ordinary. Now, he was about to be Hollywood''s youngest multi-millionaire, while she was the "convenience store clerk" the papers mentioned. The gap between them had never felt wider.

    ...

    Unbeknownst to Aniston, Eric was clueless about her inner turmoil. After waiting for half an hour, Edward Lewis, thewyer handling the wager agreement, finally arrived.

    "Hello, Mr. Edward, thanks foring personally," Eric greeted Edward Lewis and his assistant as they stepped inside.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Edward quickly extended his hand to shake Eric''s, saying respectfully, "Eric, I couldn''t believe how huge Home Alone became! Congrattions! This is my assistant, Carter."

    The three sat down on the sofa, and Eric pulled out thepensation agreement from Columbia. He recounted the entire situation.

    Edward listened quietly to Eric''s exnation and then examined thepensation agreement closely. After a few minutes, he stated, "Eric, there''s nothing wrong with this agreement. You can sign it without worries."

    "That''s great," Eric nodded in relief and took out his pen to sign the document.

    Edward hesitated for a moment, looking at Eric. "Eric, I think you might need a full-time legal team to handle your ongoing legal affairs."

    "Huh?" Eric caught on to Edward''s pitch, smiling as he looked up.

    Edward met Eric''s smile directly, stating, "I believe my firm has the capability to handle this, Eric. Based on your ount, if you hadn''t been so vignt, you might have faced a situation where the wager agreement could have been torn up. Therefore, I think our team could be your representatives, fully managing your dealings with Columbia. If Columbia defaults again, we can fight for you in court to ensure your rights."

    Eric had seen Edward and his legal team''s professionalism when they first drafted the wager agreement. He acknowledged he truly needed a dedicated legal team. After a bit of discussion, they quickly came to an agreement. Edward pulled out a prepared power of attorney agreement, and Eric immediately signed it.

    "Alright then, I''ll leave the rest in your hands, Edward. Please forward thispensation agreement to Columbia; I really don''t want to deal with them anymore."

    "Okay, Eric. If there''s nothing else, we''ll take our leave."

    After seeing Edward and his assistant out, Eric finally breathed a sigh of relief. He could now focus on his love for filmmaking. He trusted Edward''s firm; after all, they were merely his representatives and held no authority to make decisions on his behalf. If they decided to collude with Columbia against him, once exposed, that would ruin their entire firm''s careers. Columbia wouldn''t pay to support a whole team for a lifetime either.

    ...

    While Eric felt assured, Columbia found itself caught in a media storm due to Eric''s statement. Many newspapers, which had already gone to print, scrambled to revise theiryouts because the news was too explosive. That evening, articles detailing Eric''s usations against Columbia appeared on the front pages. Various analyses and spections quickly filled the media, as many papers sought to fan the mes and increase sales. After reprinting Eric''s statement verbatim, the papers began dissecting every word. It was surprising how robust sensationalism could be. Some newspapers somehow linked Eric''s deration to Michael Eisner. Eric had indeed subtly undermined Eisner in his statement, mentioning their pleasant conversation and potential coboration, which led the papers to specte that Eisner yed a key role in exposing Columbia''s "underhanded tactics."

    ...

    Eisner had been mulling over how to inform his old friend that Eric had seen through their shared tricks. After seeing the news, he promptly called Cohen Blunt to exin, but sadly, Cohen seemed unconvinced.

    With a bitter smile, Eisner realized he understimated Cohen''s suspicious nature and sighed at how this friendship might reach its end. Strangely, he felt little animosity toward Eric; instead, he found himself appreciating him more.

    Several newspapers quickly discovered that Home Alone had only hit about 1,500 screens that week, even less than 17 Again, which had bumped their screen count up to 1,600. This revtion spurred the media to viciously criticize Columbia while also questioning thepany''s integrity.

    Thepeting studios, already envious of Columbia monopolizing the Home Alone sess, jumped on the bandwagon to condemn them, even calling on fans in some tabloids to boycott

    Columbia films.

    Once the news broke, Columbia''s public hotline became inundated with outraged citizens, leading to a few female staff members receiving enough abuse to cry, with two of them submitting their resignation letters the following morning.

    Columbia''s president, Cohen Blunt, in a fit of frustration, smashed everything in his office and then reluctantly called a meeting with his public rtions executives to discuss a

    response strategy.

    That night, the TV stations controlled by Columbia issued a statement justifying the screen count for Home Alone and announced the terms of thepensation agreement while suggesting that Eric''s ims about Columbia intending to tear up the treaty were baseless, attributing them to a misunderstanding over screen counts.

    However, without Eric stepping up to corroborate this, the media and public overwhelmingly

    dismissed Columbia''s exnation.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Taking Initiative

    Chapter 33: Taking Initiative

    ?

    [Chapter 33: Taking Initiative]

    The next day, the fallout from the incident continued to escte. Most newspapers condemned Columbia Pictures, and for some reason, they redirected their anger toward Columbia''s parentpany, Coca-C, starting to criticize its management strategies for Columbia. After all, the past few years had seen Columbia''s performances hit rock bottom. Initially, Coca-C shrugged off this "minor issue."

    To everyone''s surprise, after the stock market opened that day, Coca-C''s stock, which had always been stable, plummeted by 1.7%. While this might seem negligible, multiplying it by thepany''s tens of billions in market value made it a significant concern.

    Coca-C''s COO, Donald Keough, unleashed a tirade against Cohen Blount over the phone, demanding that Cohen quickly resolve the issue, or else he''d be ousted as president of Columbia.

    Under the pressure from Coca-C''s headquarters, at ten in the morning, Cohen personally called a press conference at Columbia, where he offered a subtle apology to Eric and promised to take the contractual agreement seriously moving forward.

    ...

    Naturally, upon hearing the news, Eric was keen to avoid making things worse. He immediately had his personalwyer, Edward Lewis, publish a statement of understanding in the Los Angeles Times. Just as this storm began to brew, it quickly died down.

    Perhaps because of this breach of contract incident, Home Alone, which would typically experience a decline in its second week, shockingly saw its box office numbers rise instead, pulling in $28.76 million and surpassing the $50 million mark within just two weeks.

    Meanwhile, 17 Again, with its $14.73 million at the box office, remained in the second ce on the charts. The two films associated with Eric hadbined earnings that exceeded 50% of North America''s total box office for the week, leaving quite an impression on some.

    Even with such impressive earnings, the media''s interest in Eric started to wane. After several fruitless days of trying to hunt down useful news, the reporters near Eric''s home began to leave one by one.

    ...

    During that week, Eric mostly stayed at home, focused on writing the long-awaited adaptation of Resident Evil, a project promised to Michael Krauss. In his previous life, Resident Evil had two versions: one was the storyline from Ca''s video game, and the other featured Alice as the central character in the film version. Unfortunately, Eric had only yed the fourth and sixth installments of the game, leaving him a bit out of touch with the storylines from the game.

    The movie adaptation had minimal content to draw from, mainly following Mi Jovovich''s over-the-top character as she showcased her skills,pletely bypassing deeper storytelling elements.

    Consequently, writing the Resident Evil novel was not as easy as crafting Jurassic Park. It took Eric three days to outline a story revolving around Leon, from his joining the police force to the team''s struggle to escape the outbreak in Roon City.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric ingeniously incorporated former protagonists Chris, Jill, and Wesker into his novel. Of course, he couldn''t forget the beloved Ada Wong, whom many gaming fans adored. In a yful turn, Eric wrote the ambiguous rtionship between Ada and Leon as that of a pet boy and his queen.

    This was not a wholly original concept; fans online had long spected on the nature of their rtionship.

    In the game, the elegant and enigmatic Ada would often save Leon from peril while cheerfully teasing him, leaving behind a rocketuncher stamped with a lipstick print as she floated away.

    Every time yers reached these moments, they couldn''t help but think of some rather cheeky scenarios: "Come here, little darling... (ruffles hair)... That''s it, you''re all set now; off you go."

    ...

    Emerging from the kitchen with a steaming cup of water, Eric approached James Brooks, who was lounging on the couch, reading a draft of Resident Evil.

    "James, what do you think?" Eric asked as he handed the coffee to him, then took a seat across from him.

    "It''s incredibly vivid, makes you feel like you''re in the scene -- just like watching a movie; very exciting," said James.

    Eric nodded, appreciating James''s honest feedback. Due to his previous career, Eric had unintentionally woven a significant amount of montage techniques into his writing, a style that created a strong visual impression.

    "What if it turned into a movie?" Eric asked again.

    James set the manuscript aside and replied thoughtfully, "I don''t think this novel would be suitable for a film adaptation right now. There are plenty of zombie fans, but their numbers aren''t vast enough. A small or medium budget wouldn''t cut it for an effective film treatment; if it were to be a true adaptation with all the necessary effects, the budget would have to be higher. It would be best if the tech advanced and became more affordable over the next few years."

    No wonder he was a top-tier producer; with just a few words, James sketched out the limitations and potential of Resident Evil''s adaptation. Fans oftenined about theck of investment in the Resident Evil film series -- the inadequate special effects, and the recurring theme of Mi without a strong supporting cast -- but they didn''t understand that if they followed the fans'' desires, the filmpanies would ultimately face significant financial losses due to ratings and audience demographics.

    After chit-chatting about Resident Evil, Eric finally inquired about James''s reason for visiting. "Is it an invitation to the Fox party?" Initially, Eric thought James was there regarding the overseas rights to Home Alone, but it turned out to be about something else entirely.

    In recent days, Eric had already received several calls and offers rted to Home Alone -- even Michael Eisner, who had initially nned to team up with Columbia to undermine him, reached out personally. Eric had turned them all down, having made up his mind.

    Noticing Eric''s look of surprise, Jamesughed. "Of course, you thought I was here for Home Alone, right? A lot of people have extended olive branches to youtely, but I hear you''ve turned them down. Perhaps you''re waiting on Fox to make the first move, huh?"

    The surprise in Eric''s eyes quickly faded. He had indeed been waiting for Fox to take the initiative, allowing him to seize the upper hand. Given that James Brooks, a prominent producer, was extending the invitation, Eric felt it would be petty to deny it.

    With a shrug and a smile, Eric replied, "You''re right, James. I was hoping for that, considering our coboration was rather pleasant."

    James said sincerely, "That''s why I''m here today. In fact, Mr. Barry Diller wants to meet with you to discuss Home Alone, Jurassic Park, and your... next project."

    "Oh, Fox sure is ambitious, aren''t they?" Eric remarked.

    James chuckled, "It''s not about greed, Eric; it''s business. If Fox doesn''t step in, otherpanies will show interest in these projects. Of course, Fox won''t be as short-sighted as Columbia; we want a partnership based on equality and mutual benefit."

    Eric knew better than to fall for those words. This was all just talk because Fox hadn''t secured the distribution rights to Home Alone. If they had managed that, they could very well have pulled some shenanigans over the contractual agreement. The leaked scandals from his past life were just the tip of the iceberg regarding the dirty dealings these industry giants engaged in behind closed doors.

    However, Eric also realized he had to hitch his wagon to a giant to fend off external threats and protect himself while quietly building up his strength. After careful consideration, he decided to align himself with Fox.

    Over theing years, under Barry Diller''s leadership, Fox aimed to establish the Fox Broadcasting Company, which would likely divert some of their focus from films. This shift provided Eric, a small yer in the industry, with a golden opportunity to garner resources in

    their nest.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Crying Poverty

    Chapter 34: Crying Poverty

    ?

    [Chapter 34: Crying Poverty]

    "Hey, babe, dress up a bit more tonight; we''re heading to a party... huh?" Eric frowned slightly. "Meeting some TV producer, Jenny? Didn''t I mention that if you wanted, I could write you a script for a TV show? I know you want to make it on your own, but what about tonight? James specifically asked for a date, and if you don''t go... No way, I only have eyes for you... All right, it''s settled. Talk to youter."

    Once he hung up the phone, Eric sighed in disappointment. Ever since the sess of Home Alone, his rtionship with Jennifer Aniston had subtly shifted. The once spoiled girl who loved to be pampered had be much more reserved around him.

    With his life experience, Eric easily figured out that this change hade from Jennifer reading tabloid gossip about their rtionship, which made her feel insecure and inadequate. Even though Eric had tried to reassure her a few times, it hadn''t alleviated her concerns much.

    Jennifer was also working hard to break free from this state of mind. In just a week, she attended several auditions for different productions, both for TV series and movies, thanks to her father''s connections.

    Her motivation was simple: she wanted to be famous quickly. If she made a name for herself, those tabloids wouldn''t view her as ''Cindere'' anymore.

    ...

    At their home in Beverly Hills, after hanging up the phone, Jennifer sighed in disappointment as well. Deep down, she wanted to attend the party with Eric and dreamt of being the leadingdy in his films. However, she knew that if she went, the public wouldbel her as someone who relied on her boyfriend for sess. Thatbel would stick with her forever. Some women might not care or even wee such abel, but for strong-willed Jennifer, it was hard to ept.

    Sitting nearby, John Aniston pretended to read the newspaper but couldn''t help noticing his daughter''s distracted demeanor. "Jennifer, how about I go meet with Costner today? I''m sure Uncle Costner wouldn''t mind."

    Jennifer shook her head. "No, Dad, even though Uncle Costner wouldn''t mind, it would be rude for me not to show up. After all, he put in a lot of effort to help mend that role."

    "Jen, Eric is a good kid. He''s more mature than most young men his age. I don''t think he''d mind certain things," John suggested.

    "But I do, Dad," Jennifer replied, a bit frustrated. "Look at what the tabloids are saying. Goodness, I didn''t even realize I was seen as that kind of woman."

    "Jennifer, if you keep caring about what others think, you''ll never be happy," John counseled. "Eric has achieved so much at such a young age. He''ll always be surrounded by various forms of attention. As his girlfriend, you won''t escape it unless..."

    John stopped short, realizing he might inadvertently nt a seed of doubt in Jennifer''s mind about her future with Eric. Although his impression of Eric had improved, he still didn''t hold much hope for their future together due to Jennifer''s driven nature.

    ...

    With Jennifer opting not to apany him, Eric lost interest in the party too. As evening approached, he finally pulled out his father''s old suit from the closet and drove over to the Hilton, where the party was being held.

    As soon as he entered the ballroom, the sharp-eyed James Brooks immediately approached him. But noticing Eric''s attire, James frowned slightly and pulled him aside, saying, "Eric, your status has changed now. You might want to pay a bit more attention to your wardrobe, at least wear a well-fitting suit, right?"

    Eric looked down at the slightly baggy suit, a leftover from his father. He shrugged helplessly, pulling out his wallet and waving it in front of James with a wry smile. "James, aside from the car parked outside, this is all I have on me. A grand total of... well, five hundred twenty-one dors and seventy-five cents. To make Home Alone, I even mortgaged the deed to my house, so I can''t afford new clothes."

    Hearing a recently celebrated young multi-millionairementing about being broke felt entirely out of ce, and James'' mouth twitched slightly. "All right, Eric, Barry Diller is waiting for you. Let''s go.''

    The party had begun; the hall was brightly lit as a band yed soft music and waiters weaved through the crowd bncing drinks. Many stars, whom Eric had only ever seen on screen, mingled in small groups chatting away.

    When the golden producer James Brooks was seen leading a young man through the crowd, people started to get curious about his identity. Although Eric''s pictures had appeared in numerous tabloids, many still didn''t recognize him.

    When a friend nearby revealed Eric''s identity, various gazes turned toward him, making Eric feel a bit ufortable.

    As he neared the edge of the crowd, he finally spotted a familiar face. Sitting at a long table in the corner, Penny Marshall was chatting with Tom Hanks, dressed in a ck gown. Their eyes met, and they both smiled and nodded at each other. Unable to resist, Eric took a look at Tom Hanks next to her. Even at thirty-two, Tom was still handsome and fit, showing no signs of future weight gain.

    Reaching a room door, James said to Eric, "Go on in; Barry Diller is waiting inside. I''ll be going now."

    ...

    Eric knocked on the door and opened it after receiving a response. Inside, a man and woman sat on a sofa, deep in conversation. Upon seeing Eric enter, the exquisitely attractive woman, probably around thirty, leaned close to the big-nosed middle-aged man to whisper something, then picked up her handbag and left the room. The big-nosed man was obviously Barry Diller, a media mogul Eric had seen many times in the tabloids before.

    "Hello, Eric," Barry greeted as he stood up and extended his hand.

    Eric pretended not to notice the woman''s slight blush as she left. "Hello, Mr. Diller. It''s great to meet you."

    They shook hands and took seats on the sofa across from each other.

    "Did you know, Eric? A lot of people feel a sense of defeat when they see you," Barry stated casually.

    Eric raised an eyebrow, unable to help but ask, "What about you, Mr. Diller?"

    Barry chuckled, unfazed by Eric''s somewhat cheeky question. "Not me. I don''t believe in luck

    or shortcuts; I only trust in my own abilities. I climbed the ranks from being a mailroom clerk

    at the William Morris Agency to where I am now. I might envy your sess, but I''m still proud of my own journey."

    "Mr. Diller, do you think the sess of Home Alone was purely a coincidence?" Eric

    questioned.

    Barry nodded. "I had someone do a thorough analysis, and there were indeed several coincidences behind the movie''s sess. So, I''m curious, Eric, why did you dare sign that bet deal with Columbia? You know the odds were 80% that you wouldn''t see a cent."

    "I had nothing to lose. If I lost, I lost. I could always start over," Eric replied.

    Barry sensed Eric''s words didn''t quite reflect his true feelings but chose not to dwell on it. "So, Eric, I''m representing Fox and I''d like to invite you to join us. What do you think?"

    Eric didn''t want to tie himself down to onepany. Once he epted, he''d likely be signing away several years of his life.

    Shaking his head, Eric said, "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Diller, but I don''t like being restricted. I n to start my own independent filmpany and produce a few low-budget

    films to hone my skills first."

    Barry didn''t press further after Eric declined the offer. Since Eric had risen to prominence, several agencies had thoroughly analyzed his background and personality. Barry had seen those reports and knew the young man had a decisiveness that was rare among his peers. Once he made a decision, it wasn''t likely to change.

    At the same time, Barry wasn''t concerned about Eric starting his own filmpany. Many directors, after achieving fame, sought independence, wanting more profit and control, and often left major studios to go it alone.

    It was usually those who struggled without the support of the major studios who ultimately realized that going solo was nearly impossible. Even the most positioned studio, DreamWorks, failed in its efforts, as the terrain was harsh and littered with difficult lessons.

    Investing in films was essentially like gambling; no one knew if a film would be sessful before its release. The downfall of DreamWorks wasn''t just due to losing connections; the primary issue stemmed from multiple failed projects, leading to massive financial losses and a quiet exit from the industry.

    However, this gambling risk didn''t affect Eric. As someone who had traveled through time, he already knew the oues of most bets, giving him the confidence to carve out his own niche

    in the industry.

    Perhaps the industry giants would join forces to suppress him to maintain their monopoly, but Eric wasn''t afraid. If his films consistently seeded, nobody would turn against money

    in this profit-driven world.

    Just like in his past life, media tycoon Summer Redstone, who had directly shed with Tom Cruise, had no choice but to share meals with him in the years that followed for the sake of profit,ughing and chatting like old friends. Even Tom had made a satire of Redstone''s opportunistic nature in one of his films, which Paramount distributed.

    After a casual chat, the topic returned to Home Alone, which was currently the only chip Eric had to catch the attention of the giants. Even Jurassic Park hadn''t yet garnered sufficient

    notice.

    "Eric, let''s talk about Home Alone," Barry suggested. "I have an idea: how about selling the overseas and merchandising rights, as well as the sequel rights to Fox? We''d offer a very

    reasonable price."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Selling Overseas Rights

    Chapter 35: Selling Overseas Rights

    ?

    [Chapter 35: I''ll Show You Affection Another Day]

    Eric was just about to speak when Barry Diller continued, "Eric, hold on a second before you decline. Maybe you don''t know, but Stuart Ronkel, the lead from Home Alone, has signed with CAA. They''ve been expanding rapidlytely and their appetite is getting bigger and bigger. Just the other day, Michael Ovitz barged into MGM headquarters, having a heated argument with the CEO over the distribution of a film, and MGM had no choice but to make concessions. You can imagine that if you decide to independently produce Home Alone again in the future, CAA will certainlye asking for a big cut."

    Although Barry Diller made a valid point, Eric still directly refused. Home Alone might need Stuart Ronkel, but Stuart Ronkel also needed Home Alone to stabilize his fame. In Eric''s past life, Macay Culkin had only that one standout film to his name; his other movies had all performed mediocre at best. Eric didn''t believe that things would be any different this time around. If CAA truly didn''t see the situation correctly and came demanding more than they should, well, they could just wait and see who had the patience. Eric wasn''t nning to stake his entire career on just one film.

    "Mr. Diller, if we keep this conversation going, it''s going to end badly. So let mey my cards on the table: I can sell the overseas rights for Home Alone to Fox for $25 million, but next year, I intend to make three films, including a sequel to Home Alone. I need Fox to sign a package distribution agreement with me, and I want 35% of the North American shares and 10% of the overseas shares."

    The reason Eric chose to sell the overseas rights outright rather than opt for a share was that he suddenly realized he needed a quick influx of cash, and $25 million was certainly a better deal than trying to rely on future earnings.

    Barry Diller listened patiently to Eric''s proposal but frowned. "Eric, the $25 million is definitely within Fox''s reach, but like you mentioned, your films have only been low-budget productions. That being said, your percentage offers are too high; only big-budget films could secure such a split. If it were just the sequel to Home Alone, Fox might consider it, but the other two films..."

    Seeing Barry Diller shake his head, Eric smiled slightly and confidently replied, "I believe my films are worth that price. How about this, Mr. Diller, why don''t we draft up a wager agreement?"

    "Uh..."

    Barry Diller nearly choked at the suggestion. Given the fallout from a simr wager agreement at Columbia, where President Cohen Blount''s position had be shaky and he could very well be ousted, Barry Diller wasn''t about to follow in those footsteps.

    "Perhaps I should leak my terms to others; I''m sure a few other studios would be quite interested. Michael Eisner has called me more than once trying to recruit me."

    Barry Diller chuckled, "Eric, you can''t fool me on that one. I know why Michael is reaching out to you."

    Eric shook his head. "No, Mr. Diller, I''m not trying to deceive you. I''m saying that after that meeting, Mr. Eisner has contacted me again."

    Having once been Barry''s assistant, He knew Michael Eisner all too well; he was quite a cocky guy. So Barry found it surprising that Eisner would be considering a second chance. Little did he know that Eric''s impressive performance during theirst meeting had left asting impression on Eisner.

    Diller didn''t believe Eric would lie about something so easily disproven and, in the process, felt an increasing respect for Eric. He still trusted the eye of his former assistant. Unlike Cohen Blount, Barry Diller wasn''t one to dither. After a brief pause to weigh the pros and cons, he made his decision. "Alright, Eric. I''ll agree to your terms."

    "Then here''s to a fruitful partnership," Eric raised his right hand.

    Barry Diller smiled and raised his hand, giving Eric a light p on the hand. The two of them had basically reached an agreement, and the uing signings felt like a formality.

    ...

    "Hey, Eric! I missed you so much!" Eric returned to the reception hall when a light green figure floated over and jumped into his arms.

    The girl''s excited voice drew the attention of many people in the room.

    Eric quickly stopped Drew Barrymore from getting any more affectionate. After all, she was only thirteen. A bit of closeness in private was one thing, but showing it off in front of so many people could lead to misunderstandings.

    Drew realized the situation was a bit off and stuck out her tongue. She let go of Eric''s waist and quickly shifted to link arms with him instead, carelessly brushing her little chest against his arm.

    "Drew, how did you get out? Is your treatment over?" Eric asked as he walked toward Penny Marshall''s group, momentarily ncing down at Drew, coincidentally peeking through the slightly loose neckline of her light green dress, noticing that she was without a bra.

    Drew keenly caught Eric''s gaze, shing a mischievous smile while puffing her little chest to tease him, she coyly said, "I was supposed to be discharged tomorrow, but when I heard you wereing to this party tonight, I just had to sneak out early."

    "Drew, you just got out of rehab. You really shouldn''t be drinking."

    "Of course not! The waiters here won''t serve me any alcohol; I''m only thirteen." Regardless of private drinking habits, at least on the surface, the rules had to be respected, especially in a well-known venue like the Hilton, which would be extra careful with these details to avoid scrutiny.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    "Hey, Eric! We haven''t seen each other in a week! What have you been up to? I haven''t heard a peep from you. Are you nning on retiring early?" Penny Marshall remarked with a teasing tone as she approached Eric and Drew.

    Eric casually grabbed a ss of red wine from a tray held by a waiter and stepped closer to Penny Marshall. "Retirement? No way! I''m only eighteen, not eighty; no ns to retire yet, just wrapping up a novel."

    "A new novel? I want to read it! I want to read it!" Before Penny could chime in, Drew eagerly pulled at Eric''s arm.

    Penny Marshall teased, "Hey, Drew! Try to be a bit moredylike. Eric likes girls who are a bit

    quieter."

    "That''s not true!" Drew pouted in defiance. "Jennifer Aniston isn''t ady at all! By the way, where''s that fat girl? Haha, Eric, did you break up?"

    Eric gave Drew a yful knock on the head. "Alright, Drew, Jennifer just happened to have other things to do tonight. How could we possibly break up?"

    "Ugh, Eric, that was really hurtful," Drew whined, rubbing the spot Eric had knocked.

    ...

    "This way," Penny Marshall guided Eric and Drew to a long table, introducing, "This is Miss Elizabeth Perkins, the star of Big. And you definitely know this one; Mr. Tom Hanks."

    "Hello, I''m Eric Williams," Eric greeted both of them, "Mr. Hanks, I really enjoyed Big; you portrayed that kid perfectly. How did you do it?"

    Tom Hanks, smiling warmly, replied, "Just call me Tom, Eric. As for how I did it, you''d have

    to ask Penny."

    Upon hearing this, Penny Marshall couldn''t help but show a bit of pride as she exined, "Well, during filming, I had David Moscow, who yed young Josh, act it out ording to the script while Tom followed along in character. That rascal David even tricked Tom at one point. Speaking of which, if David were just a few years younger, he could''ve easily yed Kevin in Home Alone. By the way, Eric, do you have ns for your next film?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Pretty Woman

    Chapter 36: Pretty Woman

    ?

    [Chapter 36: Pretty Woman]

    Everyone was engrossed in Penny Marshall''s exnation when they noticed thest question directed at Eric. At that moment, Eric''s fame soared above that of many seasoned directors. People were saying that even if he released a lousy film, his star power alone would guarantee profits for any investors. That was, in fact, the exact reasoning behind Barry Diller''s recent agreement to package three films for Eric.

    "There are several good scripts, but I haven''t decided which one to shoot yet," Eric stated honestly. He had initially intended to make a film solely to propel Jennifer Aniston into the spotlight, but unfortunately, the girl had declined. Now, he had to consider other projects first.

    A few people froze at those words. The industry was flooded with scripts; there was no shortage in the Writers Guild''s archives. However, truly impressive scripts had dwindled down to a rare few. Many directors had waited years for a quality script, sometimes failing to release even one film, but here he was -- almost crazily iming to have several good scripts, unsure of which to make. That was rather disheartening.

    "Wow, several scripts, Eric? How about selling me one?" Penny Marshall teased, part envy and part jest.

    Eric noticed the expressions on their faces and felt he had overstated things. Although the scripts in his mind truly held merit, saying so made him appear arrogant. "Forget it, Penny. Once 17 Again wraps up, you might just be a mega director with two consecutive hits over a hundred million dors each. Then you won''t need any scripts!"

    Eric spoke the truth; in those days, films surpassing one hundred million in box office receipts in a year never exceeded ten. If Penny Marshall managed to pull off two, she''d be the target of several film studios vying for her talent.

    Not taking offense at Eric''s response, Penny quickly shifted the topic. They chatted for a bit longer until the band in the hall began to y dance music. Penny smiled, "Alright, Eric, we won''t monopolize your time. Just look around; those girls are itching to invite you to dance." Eric nced around and indeed saw a few lovelydies gazing at him eagerly, ready for the next move, while he also felt Drew tighten her grip around his arm.

    "Let''s leave it at that. Oh, Tom, could I get your contact info? Perhaps we could work together sometime?"

    Tom Hanks was about to leave when he heard Eric''s request. He pulled out a business card and smiled, "Of course! My contact details are right there. Eric, could I get a sneak peek at the script''s content?"

    Others, curious about Eric''s response to Tom, slowed their exit, eager to hear what he would say next.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric epted the business card and tucked it away, noticing the eager looks from everyone around. He shrugged and replied, "Sorry, Tom. I can only say that you''ll y a cop, and I can''t promise this movie will be a hit, so it won''t be my second film. Maybe the third or perhaps eventer."

    "You really know how to keep us guessing, Eric," Pennyined, disappointed. Tom nodded, epting the situation, then turned to leave.

    ...

    "Mr. Williams, may I have this dance?" Just as everyone began to scatter, a blonde walked up confidently to invite him. She appeared in her twenties, her features soft and refined. She stood only about 5''4", but her well-endowed figure was quite eye-catching, and with every slight movement, it seemed as if she might spill out of her top, exuding allure.

    With a mind full of movie memories, Eric instantly recognized the beautiful woman. Oddly enough, his strongest impression of her wasn''t from the more revealing scenes she often appeared in, but rather of a moment in the movie The Hot Spot when she sensually licks an envelope and taunts Don Johnson''s character, Harry Madox, telling him to "Beg for mercy." That image could stir a man''s desires more than if she had stripped downpletely, and right after, Dan lost all self-control.

    Eric momentarily lost his train of thought and hadn''t spoken yet when Drew chimed in, unable to contain herself, "Virginia, you don''t see me?"

    Seeing Drew''s slightly indignant expression, Virginia puffed her chest teasingly. "Hey, little Drew, the tighter you hold on to a man, the more likely he is to run away. You can''t do that."

    "That''s my business, not yours." Though she said this, Drew instinctively loosened her hold on Eric''s arm, which Virginia noticed, causing her to chuckle.

    "Alright, Drew, don''t be rude. Go take a spin, and I''ll dance with Miss Madsen," Eric said as he gently pulled away from Drew''s embrace.

    "Eric, I can dance too!" Drew protested weakly, but Eric shot her a look that said to stop fooling around, causing her to stomp her foot in frustration and reluctantly turn away.

    "Drew can be a bit much, Miss Madsen. I hope you don''t mind," Eric said, turning his attention back to the awaiting blonde.

    "Of course not, Eric. Just call me Virginia," she replied, extending her hand. Eric took her hand and led her onto the dance floor.

    As he gently wrapped his arms around Virginia''s soft waist, Eric inhaled the faint scent of her hair while openly admiring her delicate features. From above, he noticed her longshes fluttering slightly, her pointed chin making her naturally pretty face appear even more vivid. Suddenly, he understood why so many beautiful girls online angled their selfies from above. Feeling Eric''s scrutinizing gaze, Virginia had the strange impression she was being eyed by a worldly older man. When she attempted to lock eyes with him, her gaze faltered, only holding for less than a second before she looked away.

    Having debuted as an actress in the early 80s, Virginia Madsen, despite looking more stunning now at twenty-seven than at the outset of her career, had still only yed minor roles in nearly ten films. Though she gained some recognition, it was merely modest. In total, the box office of all her filmsbined didn''te close to the two-week tally of Eric''s current blockbuster, Home Alone.

    If it was just about box office numbers, that would have been one thing. However, critics consistently overlooked the effort she put into her performances, sidelining her as just another pretty face relying on her looks. With her thirtieth birthday approaching, if her career didn''t make a significant shift soon, her life could end up spent in small films ying forgettable roles.

    At the party, the moment Virginia learned of Eric''s identity from a friend, she considered that this might be a great opportunity. She originally thought captivating this eighteen-year-old would be a walk in the park, charming him into her orbit with her beauty. If he could really advance her career, she wouldn''t mind putting her body on the line.

    Yet, they hadn''t shared much dialogue at that point. Just a nce from him hinted that her n wouldn''t unfold as smoothly as she''d hoped. The young man before her seemed anything but naive; he resembled more of a yboy than a greenhorn.

    "Eric, don''t you think it''s rude to stare at ady like this?"

    Eric countered, "Not at all. If beauty goes unappreciated, that is the greatest tragedy in the world. As a gentleman, I absolutely refuse to allow such a tragedy to happen." Virginia felt a touch of pride from Eric''s subtlepliment. "So then, Eric, do you think I have any chance ofnding the lead in your film?" As she spoke, her petite frame leaned slightly forward, almost pressing against Eric, her curves brushing lightly against his chest. Now that was forward! Such tant teasing elicited a natural response from the young Eric, who quickly pushed Virginia''s enticing figure back slightly to avoid any embarrassment. "Actually, Virginia, seeing you brings two words to my mind: pretty woman."

    Virginia thought Eric was changing the subject and felt a bit deted. "Thanks for thepliment, Eric."

    "No," Eric shook his head. "It''s not just apliment. It''s the title of my next film."

    "Next film?" Virginia''srge, beautiful eyes brightened up.

    Eric nodded. "Yes, I was uncertain about my next project, but after seeing you, a script suddenly popped into my mind. It''s called Pretty Woman."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Drunk

    Chapter 37: Drunk

    ?

    [Chapter 37: The Free Meal]

    Virginia felt a rush of excitement. From the title, it was clear that this was a movie centered around a female lead. With Eric''s current fame, if she couldnd the leading role, she would certainly attract a tremendous amount of attention, regardless of whether the film turned out good or bad.

    "Eric, are you saying... I... I..."

    The hopeful look in her eyes made Eric feel a pang of guilt. "I''m really sorry, Virginia. Your charm just doesn''t fit this role. You''re too alluring. The leadingdy I envision should have a more pure essence with a touch of sensuality."

    It was as if Virginia didn''t hear Eric''s words. She leaned closer, pressing her soft body against him, raising her alluring face slightly and softly suggesting, "Eric, maybe we could find a room to discuss that script properly. I believe I have what it takes to y the role you described."

    As she breathed softly, her hand gradually crept down to his most sensitive area, giving it a light squeeze. For a moment, Eric felt tempted to agree with Virginia''s proposition. However, he was at heart a mature man with strong self-control.

    He understood that if he agreed to Virginia''s suggestion of "discussing" in a room, he would have to let her y the lead. Though affairs like that were not umon in their circle, he was not that kind of man. Besides, he was still rtively new in the industry; if he changed his mindter, he knew it would create a mess for him.

    Taking a deep breath, he gently pushed Virginia away and said, "Virginia, I''m really sorry. Even though both Home Alone and 17 Again had seen sess, many still question my abilities. I can''t risk another failure. If a suitable rolees along in the future, I promise to consider you first."

    Thatst promise felt a bit empty. Virginia saw that despiteying her cards on the table, Eric remained unmoved. Though she respected his self-control, she decided not to press further. After their dance concluded and they parted ways, Virginia left him with her business card.

    ...

    "What''s the matter? Feeling a bit reluctant, are we?" Drew suddenly appeared, winding her arm around Eric''s as she teased.

    "Of course! I''m just a normal man," Eric chuckled.

    "Then why not go for it? I''m sure Virginia wouldn''t mind spending the night with you."

    Eric shrugged, "But thates at a cost. Currently, I''m broke, with just five hundred twenty- one dors and seventy-five cents to my name. I can''t even afford a luxury suite at a hotel."

    Drew licked his lips, rubbing up against him like a yful imp. "Eric, there''s something avable here that doesn''t cost a thing, and it can even be delivered to your door."

    Unable to resist, Eric yfully tapped Drew on the head. "You are just a little mischief-maker with a wild imagination. Not interested; no returns!"

    Drew winced, rubbing his head. "Eric, I strongly protest your constant head tapping. If this keeps up, I might just bite you. I''m serious."

    ...

    As they were joking around, James Brooks approached with a ss of red wine in hand.

    "Hey, Eric. How did your talk with Mr. Barry Diller go?"

    "Pretty well. We''ve reached a preliminary agreement -- most of the films I produce in the next year will be distributed by Fox."

    James lifted his ss. "Then congrattions, Eric! I believe your coboration with Fox will bring you great joy."

    Taking a ss of wine, Eric raised it in response. "I hope so too."

    After taking a small sip, James continued, "Eric,e with me. I''d like to introduce you to some folks in the industry who''d love to meet you."

    "It''s my honor," Eric happily followed James into the crowd.

    Just then, Drew seemed to have an idea, her big eyes darting around as she quickly followed them.

    ...

    "This is Mr. Richard Zanuck, he was the producer of Spielberg''s Jaws," James introduced. Eric raised his ss. "Hello, Mr. Zanuck."

    In his fifties, Richard Zanuck was lean and had a somewhat stern face, but now he wore a warm smile. "Hello, Eric. It''s great to meet you. Oh, and little Drew! You''re bing quite the youngdy -- no more mischief, you should learn from Eric."

    Drew, full of innocent charm, replied, "I will, Mr. Zanuck. Can I offer you a drink?"

    "Of course," he replied.

    Drew raised her ss, but it was just juice. As if realizing something, she blushed and said, "Oh, I forgot I can''t drink yet. Eric, could you take my ce and drink this for me?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric smiled and nodded, clinking sses with Richard Zanuck and finishing the remaining wine in his ss.

    ...

    After a bit of light chatter, James took Eric to meet others in the room. Being in the presence of potential contacts, Eric focused on maintaining conversations, unaware that Drew was slyly finding ways to encourage him to drink more.

    After weaving around halfway through the crowd, Eric finally realized he had had too much to drink. He dashed to the restroom to throw up, and when he emerged, he felt unsteady on his feet, his head spinning.

    Seeing his state, James decided to forgo further introductions. "Eric, you''re drunk. Let''s call it a night. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future; I''ll have someone take you home."

    "Mr. James, let me take Eric home," Drew quickly volunteered.

    Having spent the entire evening with Eric, James instinctively thought Drew was his girlfriend and didn''t suspect anything amiss. He nodded, "Alright, Drew. Just make sure Eric drinks lots of water when you get back."

    Drew agreed and found a server to help steady Eric as they made their way to the parking lot. "Ms. Drew, would you like me to drive you both back?" the server politely asked.

    Drew nodded, handing over the keys as she opened the back door. Eric had already slumped into the back seat, lost in slumber.

    Drew squeezed into the back seat, lifting Eric''s heavy head onto herp. After giving the server Eric''s address, he nodded and started the car.

    ...

    [T/N: Sensitive content, read with caution.]

    After tipping the server and watching him leave, Drew let out a joyful squeal before hurrying back to the bedroom.

    Kicking off her high heels, she climbed onto Eric''srge bed, lying on her side to gaze at his peaceful face. She couldn''t resist reaching out and touching him, murmuring, "You can''t run away now. You''re mine."

    Snuggling up against Eric, she looked around the room, filled with her warmest memories since she had learned to make sense of life. Remembering how Eric had taken such good care of her during herst bout with addiction, she felt a strong urge to do something in return.

    With effort, she started to strip Eric of his clothes, leaving him in only his undershorts. A drunk person felt heavy and unresponsive, and after finishing, she was slightly out of breath. Once she covered him with a nket, she headed to the bathroom for a towel, turning on warm water and awkwardly washing it out before returning to wipe his face.

    As Eric quietly slept, allowing Drew to tend to him, she knelt on the bed, looking around. She suddenly wished she could stay by his side forever. She had worked hard to kick her addiction for him. If he ever asked, she''d change anything for him.

    Yet deep down, astute Drew knew that Eric was different from the men she had encountered - - polite on the surface but harboring unsavory thoughts beneath. He truly saw her as more of

    a daughter than anything else.

    While that feeling was warm andforting, and she didn''t mind his asional fatherly scolds, it wasn''t what she wanted. She didn''t want to be his "daughter." Well... if he wanted to y a little, she might consider it. But she wanted to be his woman. She loved him. Thinking this, Drew felt a surge of excitement and tossed the wet towel onto the bedside table. In just a few swift motions, she stripped downpletely, nced at her curvaceous figure with satisfaction, and swiftly dove under the covers, snuggling into Eric''s embrace.

    [T/N: Sensitive content.]

    Under the dimmp by the bed, amidst the warm nkets, a busy little bee was hard at work. Ultimately, disappointment surfaced as she poked her head out from beneath the covers, blushing and slightly out of breath. With a frown, she red at the still-sleeping Eric, wishing she could pounce on him for a bite.

    Didn''t it say that men''s primal instincts kicked in when they were drunk? So why was it not working out with this one?

    Drew had initially nned to force a free meal, pushing certain things to be a reality so that Eric wouldn''t treat her like a daughter any longer. But after all her efforts, while there was a reaction, it just didn''t reach the level of orgasm.

    Maybe next time she should prepare some stimting aids. Feeling a bit tired and dejected, she turned her thoughts around, draping her arm over one of Eric''s, adopting a morefortable position as she rested her head against his chest and, before she knew it, fell into

    a deep sleep.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Heart-Wrenching Talent

    Chapter 38: A Heart-Wrenching Talent

    ?

    [Chapter 38: A Heart-Wrenching Talent]

    Aniston woke up early, humming a tune she couldn''t quite ce, happily bustling around the kitchen. After meeting her father''s producer friendst night, she finally secured a role as the second lead in a hit NBC TV series. While it wasn''t the leading role, it was a significant opportunity for her as a neer, and it would definitely help boost her fame, which was what Aniston desperately needed right now.

    "Morning, Jen," her half-brother, Alex Aniston, mumbled as he stumbled sleepily past the kitchen door, scratching his head.

    Aniston turned around, holding a packed breakfast and said, "Hey, Alex, breakfast is ready. We can eat as soon as Dad and the others wake up, but I have to run out for a bit."

    With that, without waiting for Alex to respond, Aniston rushed out the door.

    Declining an invitation to Eric''s party had made Aniston a bit anxious. Although the tabloids'' portrayal of her rtionship with Eric frustrated her, her feelings for him made her care about his emotions. She could tell Eric was upset from their phone call the night before, so she woke up early to make him a heartfelt breakfast, hoping to soothe his discontent while eagerly sharing with him the news of her role.

    About ten minutester, Aniston got out of a cab in front of Eric''s house, pulling out the key he had made just for her to open the door and walk into the yard.

    ...

    Unbeknownst to her, about ten meters away, an inconspicuous gray Buick was parked, and a previously sleepy white guy instantly perked up, his face lighting up with excitement. He quickly grabbed a camera, snapping a photo, while kicking his snoozingpanion awake. "Hey, Dave, wake up! There''s a great show to watch!"

    The ck man with the wide-brimmed hat who had been snoring suddenly felt a jolt, and instinctively pulled off his hat, sitting bolt upright, his bloodshot eyes staring out the car window. "Wayne, did Drew Barrymore and Eric Williams juste out? Where are they?"

    "Better than that! Eric''s convenience store clerk girlfriend just walked in," Wayne said, barely able to contain his glee. "This is going to be wild."

    David looked again but didn''t see Aniston''s figure. He reached to grab Wayne''s camera, but Wayne quickly stopped him. "What are you doing? Be careful with the film, or our whole night will be wasted. Don''t worry, I already got a shot."

    "Good, good," David rubbed his plump hands together, grinning. "I thought catching Eric with Drew would score big, but this is even better. How much do you think we should ask for?"

    "At least three thousand bucks. If that old goat Santos tries to lowball us again, we''ll just take it to another paper. This story is gonna sell like hotcakes."

    ...

    In a daze fromst night''s drinking, Eric felt something soft in his hand,fortable to the touch. He instinctively squeezed it, and as the girl gasped in pain, he opened his eyes, startled to find a warm body leaning against him.

    Still groggy from the hangover, Eric mistook the girl for Aniston and, without thinking, pinched the little cherry at the top of the softness in his palm. "Morning, babe."

    The girl moaned softly, leaning in to kiss Eric. "Good morning, Eric."

    "Whoa... ah!" Just then, the familiar yet unexpected face appeared, and Eric jerked back, surprised, avoiding the girl''s red lips.

    The sudden movement caused his head to spin. Rubbing his temples, Eric stuttered, "Drew... why are you here?"

    Drew seemed just as taken aback, rolling away and pulling up the nket to cover her pale chest, gazing at Eric with a look of innocent concern. "Eric, you brought me homest night, and then... well, you don''t have to worry; I''m okay. I... I''m happy."

    I do worry, Eric thought, sighing helplessly as he reached for his clothes, catching a glint of mischief in Drew''s eyes.

    Suddenly intrigued, he swiftly lifted the nket to take a look. The sheets were clean, and no scent lingered in the air. He let out a sigh of relief and shot Drew a re. "We didn''t do anythingst night, did we?"

    "We did!" Drew pouted. "Eric, how could you say that? You can''t just deny it!"

    "Then why is the bed so clean?" Eric asked, pulling on his shirt casually.

    Drew''s face twisted in more concern. "You... you forced that thing in my mouth and made me swallow. Then you wanted me to clean up afterward, you jerk! You can''t do something so gross and then pretend it didn''t happen. You''re such a disappointment!"

    Feeling overwhelmed, Eric felt like a million horses were galloping through his mind. Where did she learn that?

    "Enough, Drew, stop messing around and get dressed!"

    Seeing Eric''s disbelief, Drew quickly jumped out of bed, bare as the day she was born, and leaped onto him. "Eric, if you don''t believe me, just let me kiss you. I still have the taste in my

    mouth!"

    As she opened her mouth to kiss him, Eric''s face turned horrified. If what she said was true, that was just too disgusting.

    "Don''t... ah... don''t do that, Drew! I believe you! Just stop already!"

    "Don''t you dare duck away! Eric, you''re such a coward!"

    As they tussled around, the bedroom door suddenly creaked open.

    Aniston stood frozen in the doorway, holding a grocery bag.

    Silence filled the space, as if God had pressed the pause button on reality.

    After what felt like an eternity, the distant sound of a car horn outside snapped the three of them back to reality.

    Confusion, hurt, anger, sadness, disappointment... a whirlwind of emotions surged within Aniston, and she inexplicably felt a pulse of relief. Was this how things were meant to be? "E-Eric, I-I brought you breakfast," Aniston''s voice came out fragile, almost like a whisper carried away by a breeze.

    She bent down to set the grocery bag on the floor and turned to leave, her footsteps unwittingly growing faster, her high heels ttering sharply against the floor, echoing in the vacant house.

    As the tears began to fall, Aniston bolted from Eric''s yard, desperate to keep her tears hidden from him; she knew he''d revel in her sadness.

    The sound of her heels jolted Eric from his daze.

    "Jenny, let me exin..." he hurriedly pushed Drew off him, scrambling to pull on his pants as

    he rushed after her.

    ...

    In his haste, he almost tripped down the stairs, but thankfully he caught hold of the railing and stumbled out of the yard, only to see a yellow cab speeding away, Aniston''s silhouette just barely visible inside.

    Returning to grab his car keys, Eric felt like crying. How many times had this happened now?

    Caught in the act again.

    Why did he even say "again"?

    There he was, watching sis like Friends where Rachel caught her boyfriend cheating, while in real life, she was tossed into a simr mess with Peter and Jolie, and here he found himself facing it all over again.

    This heart-wrenching talent was too much -- would it be easier to give it up?

    By the time he hit the road in his car, the cab was long gone, leaving only the vague outline of Aniston''s figure in his rearview mirror as he drove straight to John Aniston''s ce.

    Minutester, adjusting his clothes, Eric rang the doorbell at John Aniston''s home.

    ...

    "Hi, um, Eric. You here to see Jen?" Alex Aniston opened the door, recognizing Eric.

    "Alex, where''s your sister?" Eric asked urgently.

    Alex looked puzzled. "She left early this morning. Didn''t she go to see you?"

    Seeing Alex''s expression didn''t suggest he was lying, Eric said goodbye and rushed away. If

    Aniston wasn''t home, she had to be at her Burbank apartment.

    Arriving at Aniston''s little ce, he knocked, but no one answered. Scanning the area and

    seeing no one around, he retrieved a spare key from a flowerpot and unlocked the apartment

    door.

    As he stepped inside, Eric sensed unmistakably that Aniston had been there; her unique scent

    hung in the air.

    Searching around, he eventually found a note on the coffee table: Eric, let''s break up.

    ...

    Sighing, he hurried back to John Aniston''s home, where he found Alex again at the door.

    "Alex, you--"

    Before Eric could finish, Alex interrupted, "Eric, just go. Jen said she left for New York early,

    and we shouldn''t tell you."

    "Uh..."

    Sometimes being a little slow on the uptake was a blessing.

    "Is that Eric? Come in." Just as Eric was about to respond, John Aniston''s voice sounded from

    inside.

    Hearing his father''s voice, Alex begrudgingly stepped aside, letting Eric in.

    "Follow me," John Aniston said, his expression devoid of emotion as he nced at Eric,

    heading deeper into the house.

    Eric nodded at John''s current wife, then followed him to the study.

    "Have a seat, Eric. Can I get you something to drink?"

    "No thank you, Mr. Aniston. Can you tell me which airport Jen went to? I need to rify some

    things."

    John Aniston gave Eric a nce at his somewhat disheveled clothes and asked, "Eric, did you

    go to a partyst night?"

    "Uh, yes."

    "After the party, did you end up with another woman?"

    "John, it''s a misunderstanding. I--"

    John waved his hand. "You don''t need to exin. I just think you both should split. You might

    not know this, but Jen has been feeling a lot of pressuretely; she''s been rather anxious and

    on edge."

    "Why?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    John Aniston replied, "You''ve been together for a while; don''t you understand her personality yet? Jen is a strong-willed girl. You''ve achieved such dazzling sess, and she''s still struggling in the shadows. With everything the tabloids are saying, it''s understandable that

    she''s feeling this way."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 39: Chapter 39: A Waitress Named Julia

    Chapter 39: A Waitress Named Julia

    ?

    N?v(el)B\\jnn

    [Chapter 39: I''ve Wanted to Tame You for A Long Time]

    It took over an hour for Eric to leave John Aniston''s house. Reluctantly, he drove around Los Angeles International Airport, hoping to catch a glimpse of Aniston, but it seemed like she had already boarded her flight to New York.

    Through his conversation with John Aniston, Eric learned about the pressure Jennifer had been feelingtely and realized he had underestimated her determination. Jennifer''s personality mirrored what he remembered; in his past life, once Aniston discovered Brad''s infidelity and saw no hope of reconciliation, she had moved on quickly and decisively with the divorce. Unlike some other women who tried to bleed their ex-husbands dry during a split, Jennifer didn''t even bother demanding any alimony from Brad.

    "Maybe I should just let her be for a while," he thought as he drove home, only to feel a headacheing on from the morning''s debacle with Drew -- an exnation that would be tough to articte now.

    Despite this, Eric had no intention of giving up on Jennifer. She was the first woman he had feelings for since his rebirth. He would do whatever it took to win back that stubborn girl.

    Upon arriving home, he found Drew sitting nervously on the living room couch, already dressed up and looking anxious. Eric scratched his head -- what was he supposed to do about this girl who had attached herself to him without any persuasion?

    He knew he couldn''t show her any kindness; otherwise, she would tear the roof off. So, with a stoic expression, he took a seat on another couch and picked up a newspaper, trying to read while pretending he was alone.

    Drew remained silent, her expression tense, as if she didn''t exist. This sort of quiet treatment was new to her and made her even more uneasy. Although she had wanted to win Eric back from Jennifer, she never imagined it would lead to such misunderstandings. Being a smart girl, she knew this tactic wouldn''t help her im him; it might even drive him away instead.

    Even though the morning''s incident had been unintentional, Drew recognized that the me rested mainly on her shoulders. Eric''s current demeanor clearly indicated he was upset with her.

    Trying to break the awkward silence, Drew stood up and hurried to the kitchen to heat up the breakfast Jennifer had brought that morning. She returned with the te, looking hopeful as she ced it in front of Eric.

    Eric ignored her and continued reading his newspaper.

    "Eric, Mr. Carlin Hunt from Fox called; he wants you to discuss contract matters," Drew said tentatively.

    "Uh-huh..." Eric grunted in acknowledgment.

    "Eric..." Drew took a few cautious steps closer to him.

    With a loud rustle, Eric deliberately flipped the page of his newspaper, causing Drew to jump back, like a startled kitten, retreating hastily.

    Noticing that Eric didn''t react further, Drew inched closer again. When she was about a meter away, she knelt on the floor and crawled to his feet, delicately tugging at his pant legs. Her cheek brushed against his knee, and her voice trembled as she said, "Eric, I''m sorry. I... I didn''t mean to. I can... I can exin to Jennifer."

    Seeing the panic in Drew''s tone, Eric sighed. He had intended to teach her a lesson, but at that moment, his heart softened. Just as he was about to speak, Drewy down across the coffee table, raising her rounded backside. "Eric, why don''t you just hit me? Just don''t hate me, okay?"

    Eric set down the newspaper and looked at Drew lying on the table. Her water-green dress hugged her well-developed figure, entuating her slim waist which naturally curved down to her perfectly rounded backside. Her white little feet were bare, exuding an alluring charm from every angle.

    Eric''s breath quickened, and sensing the shift behind her, Drew, who was expecting Eric''s punishment, turned her head. She caught Eric gazing at her with lustful eyes, and instinctively, she shifted her body, presenting a more enticing pose.

    With a sharp crack, Eric finally couldn''t hold back any longer and brought his hand down with force.

    "You little minx, I''ve wanted to teach you a lesson for ages."

    After disciplining the spirited girl, Eric couldn''t help but soothe her as she rubbed her sore backside with a tear-streaked face. He escorted her out of his ce before heading to the Fox headquarters in Century City with hiswyer, Edward Lewis.

    ...

    Although he had initially agreed on terms with Barry Diller, they spent several more hours negotiating various details. It was only after three in the afternoon that they finalized the contract. As Eric left Fox headquarters, he not only took the contract but also a check for twenty-five million dors.

    "Jeffrey, can you reach out to Nicole and the others tonight? I''d like to throw a party at my ce to celebrate. And I want everyone who worked on Home Alone to be invited... Great, let''s do that," he said before hanging up the phone. He decided to stock up on supplies at the supermarket, then drove over to Jeff''s Italian restaurant, hoping to enlist a chef for the party. As soon as he entered the busy restaurant, the ever-cheerful Jeff Jones spotted him and rushed over, joyfully wrapping Eric in a hug. "Hey, Eric! Long time no see! You''ve been making quite the ssh recently. I saw both of your movies -- they were great!"

    They exchangedughs and took a seat at an open table. "Julia! Two coffees, please!" Jeff called out to a waitress as they settled in.

    "Sure thing, Mr. Jones," a female voice replied from behind the counter.

    "Julia?" Eric raised an eyebrow, curious since he had worked there for a few months and knew no one named Julia was on staff. It seemed Jeff had hired someone new after he left.

    Turning to sneak a nce, Eric saw a tall woman with curly brown hair busy by the coffee machine, her back facing them.

    Jeff followed Eric''s gaze and smiled. "Julia is new since you left. She''s an actress too -- she had a movie released in October."

    "Acting must pay pretty well; why is she waitressing?" Eric asked, quite intrigued.

    Jeff shrugged. "It''s a tough life. Thousands of guys and galse to L.A. chasing the Hollywood dream, and only a lucky few actually make it. That movie she''s in was filmedst year, but it''s only getting released now because it''s an independent project. She''s been living off this job for almost a year now."

    Eric shrugged it off, knowing that independent films came at a dime a dozen in Hollywood. Many never even made it to video releases but got tucked away in storage instead.

    Hearing about the struggles behind the scenes made Eric want to find those wealthy producers spending hundreds of millions on failed movies and cozy up to them, jokingly asking, "Would you like to be friends?"

    "Jeff, and to this gentleman, here''s your coffee," the waitress named Julia approached, carrying the cups.

    "Thanks," Eric said as he reached out for a cup, identally ncing at her. The sudden look made Eric''s hand tremble, causing hot coffee to spill all over him.

    He gasped and bit back the pain, quickly setting the cup down and pulling out napkins to dab

    at his burned skin.

    "I''m so sorry... so sorry," Julia blurted out upon seeing his reddened skin and rushed to

    apologize.

    "Eric, wash that off with cold water in the back!" Jeff snapped, shooting Julia an annoyed

    nce.

    Eric nodded and headed to the kitchen, where other staff rushed over to see him, eager to help him. The girl stood awkwardly on the sidelines with a wet towel, worried about whether Jeff would reprimand her for the ident.

    "I''m fine, really. Just get back to your work, or Jeff will be on my case," Eric said, keeping the

    atmosphere casual.

    Jeff pretended to be upset. "Eric, am I really that petty?"

    Laughter broke out among the crowd, and everyone returned to their tasks.

    As Eric followed Jeff back into the dining area and settled down, he noticed the girl had tagged

    along, wearing a worried expression.

    "I''m so sorry, Mr. Williams. I didn''t mean to -- really," she stammered, aware of him

    through the others'' calls.

    "It''s okay; it was my mistake too. What''s your name?" he said, putting on a facade of being a

    stranger even though he recognized her from her distinctive features.

    "I''m Julia Roberts," she said brightly, surprising Eric.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Leading Lady in his Heart

    Chapter 40: The Leading Lady in his Heart

    ?

    [Chapter 40: The Leading Lady in his Heart]

    Eric nodded and turned to Jeff. "Jeff, I''m having a party at my ce tonight and I thought I''d need a chef... and a server to help out. So I figured I''de to you."

    Hiring out chefs and waitstaff for parties had proven to be quite the lucrative business. After hearing Eric''s request, Jeff replied happily, "No problem. I''ll have Vanessa and Cindy go."

    "Vanessa can handle the cooking just fine. As for the server, let''s get this youngdy. Miss Julia, does that work for you?"

    Julia Roberts nced hesitantly at Jeff before giving a slight nod.

    With the details settled, Eric casually chatted with Jeff while jotting down the menu for the evening. Since he worked as a server at the restaurant, listing off a series of dish names came naturally to him.

    Once he finished the menu, Jeff took a look and stood up to address Julia Roberts, who still stood beside him. "Julia, can youe over here and help me for a sec? Eric, just a moment, this won''t take long."

    Eric nodded.

    Once in the kitchen, Julia noticed that Jeff handed the paperwork to a chef without intending for her to assist. Out of curiosity, she asked, "Mr. Jeff, what do you need me to do?"

    Jeff looked Julia up and down, noting that besides herrge smile and good figure, there wasn''t anything that distinguished her too much. He became even more curious. "Julia, don''t you know who Eric is?"

    Julia stared nkly. "Mr. Jones, I''m certain I''ve never met him. I just moved to LA a few months ago."

    Jeff wasn''t in the mood for beating around the bush. "You must have heard of Home Alone, right? He''s the young director behind that movie."

    Julia''s eyes widened at the mention, and she remembered seeing a picture of the young director in a newspaper recently. "You mean... that... that one."

    During this time, in all of North America, if someone hadn''t heard of Home Alone or that miraculous young director, well, they must have just returned from Mars or traveled to another dimension.

    "Yep, that''s him. When we were chatting, I casually mentioned you were an actress. At first, Eric just wanted to hire a chef, but then he decided to add a server and specified you."

    Hearing this from Jeff, Julia covered her mouth, excitement bubbling up inside her. After nearly a year of auditioning, she faced countless rejections. No one understood better than she did how important just one opportunity was.

    "So," Jeff patted her on the shoulder, "make the most of this, girl. I hear Eric is prepping to shoot his new film soon, and you might snag a role."

    "Thank you for the heads-up, Mr. Jones."

    Jeff waved dismissively, though he felt a bit selfish in his eagerness. Since Eric became famous, the tabloids had outed the fact he used to work in Jeff''s restaurant. This made the ce quite popr, boosting business significantly. If a well-known actress emerged from here, the restaurant''s sess could only skyrocket further.

    ...

    "Mr. Williams, can I ride with you in your car?" Julia asked just as Eric pulled out his keys to start the engine, expecting her to hop into the chef''s van instead.

    "Of course, Miss Julia, be my guest."

    He casually nced at the young woman slipping into the passenger seat, buckling her seatbelt. Julia had exchanged her restaurant uniform for a deep red jacket and light blue jeans, which hugged her legs perfectly, showcasing her long figure. At just 21 years old, while not conventionally stunning, she radiated a vibrant youthful energy.

    "So you know who I am now?" Eric casually asked while gripping the steering wheel.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Caught off guard while she thought of how to break the ice, Julia instinctively nodded. "Yeah, Mr. Jones told me."

    "That exins it." Eric chuckled lightly.

    Julia curiously inquired, "Mr. Williams, exins what?"

    "Miss Roberts, I''m paying you ten dors an hour, yet your outfit looks like you''re heading to a party, not to serve."

    "Oh," she said, ncing at her attire. Upon hearing Jeff''s words, she aimed to leave a good impression on the director, hastily changing outfits. "I... I''m sorry, Mr. Williams. I can go back and change."

    Eric shook his head with a smile. "No need, you look just fine. I heard you have a movie which came out in October?"

    Nervously, Julia replied, "Yes, it''s called Mystic Pizza. It''s about three girls who work in a bakery and their love stories with their boyfriends. It''s already grossed over ten million dors."

    Even as Julia beamed slightly about the film''s box office sess, she couldn''t help but be dampened by Eric''s aplishments. Though ten million was decent for a low-budget film like Mystic Pizza, it couldn''t hold a candle to the blockbuster that was Home Alone.

    "Ten million sounds good," Eric responded, showing little interest in the film. He merely knew it marked Matt Damon''s debut. "Jeff mentioned you hadn''tnded a role in a year. After this sess, I''m sure someone would be wise to notice you."

    Speaking of this issue stirred frustration in Julia. Ever since Mystic Pizza performed well, her previously indifferent agent had suddenly wanted to capitalize on her newfound potential, pushing for auditions. Yet Julia had kicked that same agent to the curb -- one who hadn''t fought for her tond a single role in an entire year.

    "Mr. Williams, I''ve heard... I''ve heard you''re about to shoot your next film?"

    "Right now, it''s just a thought. No actors attached, no script yet."

    Ericughed lightly, pondering the coincidence that the leadingdy of his former life showed up right before he aimed to start shooting Pretty Woman.

    Whether or not to cast her was the dilemma.

    His preferred leadingdy was Sophie Marceau, a star who perfectly blended innocence and sensuality. At that moment, Eric couldn''t conjure up another name that fit the bill.

    But even though this French rose hadn''t yet made her mark on the prestigious European film scene, and didn''t boast much fame in North America, he had to at least try to make the offer. In the meantime, his reason for hiring Julia as a server was that he wanted an angle to bring her under his management. After all, she was the first female star to enter Hollywood''s twenty million club, solidifying her status as a leadingdy whose talent was undeniable. With these thoughts in mind, Eric asked, "Julia, are you with any agency right now?" Julia''s heart leaped when she heard Eric''s question. "No, I recently fired my agent. Currently, I''m managing my own affairs."

    "That works out perfectly," Eric said. "How about joining my agency, Julia?"

    After learning that Stuart Ronkel had signed with CAA from Barry Diller, Eric began entertaining the notion of starting his own agency. He didn''t want the stars he helped rise to fame to end up benefiting someone else instead.

    She assumed Eric was about to invite her to audition for the film; if that were the case, Julia would have jumped at the chance without hesitation.

    However, it turned out he was inviting her to join his agency instead, making Julia a little wary. She was cautious not to join the wrong management and risk wasting another year or

    longer.

    "Mr. Williams, I''m not really considering that right now. Myst agency didn''t bring me any work for a whole year, forcing me to work in a restaurant just to make ends meet."

    Eric reassured her. "You can trust me, Julia. I can guarantee you''ll have at least two film roles arranged thising year; we can even write it into the contract."

    It seemed that the very film that might earn Julia an Oscar nomination, Steel Magnolia, was set to be shot by Columbia next year. Although his issue with Cohen Blount over contract disputes had soured rtions a bit, rmending a female actress was still usible. Columbia wasn''t entirely monolithic; it was just about the exchange of interests. When it came to

    bargaining chips, Eric had plenty.

    Julia hesitated before answering, "Can I think it over, Mr. Williams?"

    "Of course, take your time." Eric casually replied, then added, "Actually, the leadingdy I''d like to invite for my next film is Sophie Marceau. If she declines, you''d still have a shot."

    Julia clenched her hands that rested on herp, pursing her lips tightly, clearly torn inside. With both her parents and brother in the industry, Julia understood exactly whatnding the lead in Eric''s next movie meant. The boy from Home Alone was now riding high. However, knowing her parents were in the business also meant she was all too aware of the deception that could gue the industry. Eric''s previous words seemed more like a lure than a

    solid promise.

    If she let her excitement make her say yes, and Eric discarded that assurance, she''d be left regretting the decision without any way to turn back.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 41: No More Collisions

    Chapter 41: No More Collisions

    ?

    [Chapter 41: No More Collisions]

    After six in the evening, the crew members of Home Alone gradually arrived at Eric''s house. By the time the sun had fully set, Eric returned to the living room after a brief discussion in the kitchen with the chef, Vanessa. He looked around in surprise to find not only the cast from Home Alone but also about ten beautiful girls in colorful gowns.

    "Jeffrey, what''s with all these girls?" Eric asked curiously when he found Jeffrey Hansen.

    Jeffrey chuckled and replied, "It''s Nicole and the others. After finishing Home Alone, theynded another gig for a campusedy, and those girls are from that project. I don''t know how, but somehow they caught wind that the director of Home Alone was throwing a party, so they came along with Nicole. I suppose I don''t need to exin why."

    Ericughed; it was clear those girls were there for him. But he didn''t mind; the Home Alone crew had only two or three women, and the rest were all men. A party full of old boys would definitely be a drag.

    ...

    He walked to the center of the living room and pped his hands to get everyone''s attention. "Everyone, may I have your attention for a moment?"

    The chatter in the room quickly faded as all eyes turned to Eric.

    "First of all, I hope everyone has a wonderful evening. Tonight''s party is a celebration of Home Alone''s sess, and this sess does not belong to me alone. Without your help, I could never havepleted the filming of Home Alone in such a short time. So, once again, thank you all."

    As Eric spoke, he gave a slight bow, and the guests responded by apuding.

    Eric gestured for silence and continued, "Of course, mere words of gratitude aren''t enough. Home Alone has achieved such stunning box office sess thanks to each one of your efforts. So, I''ve prepared a bonus for everyone, and I hope we''ll have a chance to coborate again."

    After saying this, Eric took out a stack of envelopes filled with checks and, alongside Jeffrey Hansen, distributed them to the guests. He had already written the names on the envelopes, so there was no chance of any mix-up.

    The amounts on the checks ranged from $200,000 to $500,000, depending on each person''s position. Although that seemed insignificant rtive to Home Alone''s box office, it represented several years'' worth of pay for these crew members. After all, they had only been scraping by in the low-budget independent film scene, where annual earnings only reached a few thousand dors.

    Naturally, Eric didn''t forget the other actors who participated in Home Alone. Their bonuses would undoubtedly be more significant, so Eric nned to pay out after receiving his share from Columbia.

    Some might wonder why, now that the film wasplete and all ounts settled, he would distribute suchrge sums after the movie had made a fortune. But every circle has its own rules, and those who broke the rules would find it hard to get by. Rewarding participants after a movie''s sess was just one of the industry''s conventions.

    In his past life, James Cameron had openly dered he would forfeit any entitled proceeds due to budget overruns on Titanic, yet when the film broke box office records, Fox still awarded him a huge cut, even after their rtionship had sunk to such lows that they pushed each other to the brink.

    ...

    After handing out the checks, Eric dered the party officially opened and then led Jeffrey Hansen upstairs.

    "Jeffrey, this is for you. Enough to buy back Firefly," Eric said as they reached the balcony of his bedroom on the second floor, handing Jeffrey an envelope containing a check worth three million dors. Eric felt no regret; without Jeffrey Hansen''s experience as a producer, Home Alone wouldn''t havee together so smoothly.

    Jeffrey took the envelope, stroked it for a moment, and then immediately handed it back to Eric without hesitation.

    "Hmm?" Eric looked puzzled at Jeffrey''s action.

    "Eric, I thought about it. Even if I bought back Firefly, without Selina, I still couldn''t grow it. So... I have a request."

    Eric chuckled, "Jeffrey, do we really need to use the term ''request'' between us? Just speak your mind."

    "Eric, you said you would start a filmpany. Can I work at your filmpany? You know, I''m not great at directing, but I do have some experience as a producer."

    Eric raised his eyebrows in surprise; he had also considered this idea before, even thinking about fully taking over the crew that his wife had left behind. However, he sensed Jeffrey''s strong attachment to the Firefly filmpany they founded together, coupled with his newfound confidence inunching a new crew after the sess of Home Alone. So he hadn''t pursued the idea of stealing him away.

    Now that Jeffrey had brought it up, Eric couldn''t turn him down.

    "Jeffrey, honestly, I once thought about having you at my filmpany; I just felt you''d be reluctant to leave Firefly, so I hesitated to bring it up."

    Hearing Eric''s words, Jeffrey didn''t rx; rather, he looked somewhat anxious. "Eric, actually, that''s not my main request. I hope... I hope your new filmpany can also be called Firefly. After all, the original Firefly no longer exists. I know this might be a bit much to ask, but... I can work for you as a producer without taking a single dor in profit, just a sry would be fine. I hope you''ll consider it..."

    Eric finally understood that Jeffrey''s feelings about the Firefly filmpany he established with his wife hadn''t faded; instead, he wanted to continue that legacy through Eric.

    Feeling touched by this, Eric quickly made up his mind. He wasn''t too concerned about the name of the filmpany. Initially, he had thought of just calling it Williams Film Company, simr to Disney, Warner, and Fox.

    Now, having a name that was both pleasant and filled with emotional significance seemed right.

    "Jeffrey, it''s settled then. The newpany will be called Firefly Film Company. I actually quite like the sound of it."

    Jeffrey slightly raised his hand, seemingly still trying to think of how to convince Eric, yet paused when he heard the words. "Eric, did you just say... No, I couldn''t have heard that

    right?"

    "Of course, I agreed."

    "Wow... Thank you so much, Eric. I will definitely work hard for you, I..." Jeffrey didn''t know how to express his gratitude, so he opened his arms and tightly hugged Eric.

    When Jeffrey finally let go, Eric handed the check-filled envelope back to him. "Alright, Jeffrey, it''s just a name. If you''d brought it up sooner, I would''ve agreed right away. Now, take this; you''ve earned it."

    Jeffrey started to decline again, but Eric stuffed the envelope into his suit pocket. "Jeffrey, even though there''s quite an age gap between us, we''re still good friends, right? So, regarding the filmpany name, it was just a request between friends. But this? This is your rightful reward for your hard work. Forget about all that nonsense of not taking shares; I expect you to wholeheartedly help me create the next miracle."

    Ultimately, Jeffrey epted the check, persuaded by Eric. The two discussed the establishment of the filmpany and the preparation for Eric''s next movie, then returned downstairs to the party. Upon announcing the formation of the new Firefly Film Company, the originally distracted crew members erupted in excitement.

    After sneaking a nce at the amounts Eric had provided, the team that Jeffrey''ste wife had built began to stir uneasily. They knew of Jeffrey''s wish to buy back Firefly, and many were torn between sticking with him in the independent film circle or aligning with Eric.

    With Eric and Jeffrey''s mutually beneficial decision, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the party atmosphere grew even more festive.

    ...

    After sharing a fewughs with photographer Nicole Frank, Eric was holding a wine ss and turning around when a girl in a red high-slit gown seemed to trip over something, about to

    crash right into him.

    "Stop--" Eric quickly called out with a wry smile, lifting his left hand in front of him to halt

    the girl''s advance.

    The girl, with beautifully styled golden hair and a pointed face, instinctively stopped mere inches from Eric. Holding her wine ss, she awkwardly waved her hand, spilling a little wine and revealing an embarrassed expression as if she''d been caught.

    "Miss, if you want to flirt, just say hello to me directly. No more collisions; I''ve already changed outfits twice, and if it keeps happening, I might just have to show up shirtless, which I''m sure you wouldn''t care to see."

    The formerly awkward girlughed at Eric''s somewhat teasing words. "Mr. Williams, you sure know how to joke!"

    "Of course! I specially practiced to catch the attention of beautiful girls," Eric joked. "So, this

    lovelydy..."

    "You can call me Lucine, Mr. Williams."

    "Lucine, what a lovely name. Why don''t we chat over there?" Eric said, pointing to a nearby

    open space. He wisely chose a temporarypanion to evade the seething attention from

    eager girls in the party.

    He internally sighed, wishing Aniston were there; with her, he wouldn''t be mired in such

    troubles. He couldn''t help but wonder what that stubborn girl was up to at that moment in New York. ording to the time difference between the East and West coasts, it was probably

    already past midnight there.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Heaven or Mundane

    Chapter 42: Heaven or Mundane

    ?

    [Chapter 42: A Thought of Heaven, A Thought of the Mundane]

    After 11 PM, guests began to leave the party one by one. Eric had just sent off thest of them, Jeffrey Hanson, and returned to the living room, where he found Julia Roberts curiously flipping through a stack of photos left behind by a group of girls who had attended the party. These girls hade well-prepared; each photo had a detailed personal profile on the back, including some intimate measurements. Eric, who had struggled at the bottom of the entertainment industry in his past life, understood the ambition these girls had to make it big. So when they nervously handed him the photos, he didn''t decline but politely said he would reach out if he saw a need.

    "Mr. Williams, I''m so sorry. I didn''t mean to pry into those," Julia said quickly as she noticed him.

    He waved it off, settling onto the sofa and began enjoying the photos one by one.

    "You know, Julia? Thousands of young men and women came to Los Angeles each year chasing their dream of stardom. Even among those who managed to snag temp roles in some productions, hardly one in a hundred ever made it. And the chance of bing a globally recognized movie star? It''s slimmer than that."

    As he spoke, he gazed thoughtfully at Julia and continued, "Most people waste a few years, finallying to terms with reality, pack their bags, and return home to their original lives. That''s the best oue. Those who stubbornly cling to the morous life of the entertainment industry often find themselves lost and struggling in the maze of greater Los Angeles. Some even give up their dreams and slowly descend into bing drifters, sex workers, thieves, drug dealers, con artists, pimps, or adult film actors..."

    Julia wasn''t thickheaded; she gradually picked up on his indirect lesson about the significance of opportunity for actors. This young man seemed to have a lot of determination. She wondered why Eric jumped to such conclusions about her after just one encounter.

    She didn''t believe in love or hate that appeared out of nowhere, and she certainly didn''t think too highly of herself to believe Eric was after her body. Several other girls at the party were much prettier, actively throwing flirtatious nces his way, yet none had seeded in spending the night with him.

    Finally, Julia couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Williams, why me?"

    Eric put down the photos and stood, walking over to Julia. He pulled her into an embrace, wrapping one arm around her slim waist, and his right index finger gently traced her youthful face, finally hovering over her luscious lips.

    Julia was taken by surprise by Eric''s sudden boldness, instinctively cing her hands protectively over her chest. Her mind went nk, and she forgot to protest. As she looked up into Eric''s eyes, filled with a mix of admiration and yful interest, her lips quivered.

    "Because I want to!" His confident and assertive voice echoed in her ear, and she finally started to grasp the situation.

    "Please... don''t do this," Julia whispered softly in protest, though her feeble pushing against Erked any real strength.

    The yfulness in Eric''s eyes deepened. He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her deeply on her soft lips.

    "Mmm..." Julia let out a muffled sound, struggling for a moment before getting lost in Eric''s skilled kiss. Her body gradually softened until she leaned against him weakly.

    "Cough, cough..."

    A sudden voice broke through the moment, startling the two into separating. Eric savored Julia''s delicate taste when he spotted the plump figure of Vanessa standing at the kitchen door. He frowned. "Hey, Vanessa, why haven''t you left yet?"

    The chubby chef, holding a box of kitchenware, jested, "Sorry, Eric. I didn''t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to ask if Julia needed a ride home. It''ste."

    "Sure..." Julia started to reply, but Eric interrupted, "No need, Vanessa. You can go ahead. I''ll take Julia home."

    Vanessa seemed oblivious to the discontent in Julia''s gaze as she knowingly blinked and jauntily left the room, her ample figure wiggling out the door.

    "Now we won''t be interrupted. Let''s continue," Eric said with a cheeky smile aimed at Julia.

    The interruption snapped Julia back to reality, and she realized she had just shared a passionate kiss with this boy, whom she had met for the first time. Throughout, her emotions had been tightly controlled by him. Julia, who had ventured out into the world at a young age, prided herself on being independent. The inexplicable sense of dependence she felt during their earlier kiss made her resentful; she didn''t want to be anyone''s ything.

    With a slight lift of her chin, Julia tightened her expression, forcing her voice toe across as cold and assertive. "Mr. Williams, shouldn''t you apologize for your inappropriate behavior? We''ve only just met, and you...you..."

    "If you want, I can apologize, Miss Roberts. Then, shall we continue?"

    Hearing his insincere words only fueled Julia''s anger as she swatted away Eric''s hand reaching for her again. "Not a chance. It''ste, and I want to go home. Please... just take me back." "Alright, before I take you home, I have a proposal," Eric said, wiping the yful smile from his face and taking on a serious tone. "I''ve thought it over -- I will quickly acquire a talent agency, after which I will offer you a generous management contract. I''ll personally arrange your future, and I will make you someone every actress in Hollywood looks up to. What do you think, Julia?"

    All those talent scouts must have used the same pitch when wooing bright-eyed neers, thought Julia. Listening to Eric''s arrogant ims, she crossed her arms and scoffed, "If it were really that easy to elevate a girl to the status of Audrey Hepburn, Hollywood stars wouldn''t be worth much. Do you think you''re Steven Spielberg or George Lucas?"

    "Of course not. I''m not anyone else; I''m Eric Williams," he said, casually pulling a photo from the stack and ncing at the details on the back. "I think this ''Julia Roberts'' looks promising. What do you think?"

    Julia involuntarily took the photo from him. The girl resembled her, yet was undeniably prettier, tall, with flowing blonde hair, light blue eyes, and equally striking lips that didn''t appear overdone.

    Julia flipped to the back and noticed the girl was only 19, a graduate of the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles, and had already yed supporting roles in three films. She seemed to outshine Julia in every aspect, making a wave of self-doubt creep in. Eric didn''t give her much time to process her feelings. "Now, Julia, soaring in paradise or falling into the mundane -- are you willing to take a chance?"

    Looking at Eric''s infuriating expression, for a moment, Julia thought about throwing the photo at him and walking out. But the desire deep within her stifled that thought. While Eric''s bright portrayal of her "substitute" seemedughable, seeing the young star from Home Alone nowmanding attention in Hollywood made Julia hesitate.

    What aspiring actor or actress didn''t yearn for money, fame, and the feeling of being adored

    by the masses?

    "D-do you promise?" Julia clutched the photo tightly, paused in silence, then raised her gaze to Eric''s, but a momentter, she looked away.

    A smug smile flickered at the corner of Eric''s mouth. He pulled Julia closer. "I promise." With that, he again leaned in to kiss her sensually.

    Having already made her choice, Julia surrendered to his advances, letting the man savor her

    lips.

    A minuteter, Eric grew restless, pulling her shirt out from her jeans and slipping his handsn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    inside.

    The two finally broke apart, Eric lightly pressing on her shoulder. Julia understood what he wanted her to do, her flushed cheeks betraying her desires. The little resistance she had melted under the weight of hispelling gaze, forcing her to yield to him.

    In the hazy night, the dim lights outside seemed tinged with a soft pink hue of intimacy.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Scandal

    Chapter 43: Scandal

    ?

    [Chapter 43: It Was a Spell]

    The bedroom felt a bit dim due to the heavy curtains. Julia Roberts, who usually maintained a pretty regr schedule, woke up groggy. She rolled over, exposing her wless body from under the thin nket. She raised her arm to check her wristwatch, instinctively thinking she was going to bete for work, and suddenly sat up. But just a few secondster, she sighed, rxing her body as she leaned back against the pillows.

    ncing to her side, she noted that the man who had worn her out the night before was no longer beside her. If not for the unfamiliarity of the room, Julia would have surely thought everything from the previous night had been a dream -- a nightmare where she was lured into the abyss by that demon-like man.

    Lost in her thoughts for a bit, Julia finally got up from the bed, her bare skin gliding through the cool air of the dim room as she searched for her scattered clothes. The search only fueled her anger. Aside from her sturdy jeans, her shirt, bra, and even her underwear had been ripped apart. It was clear how intensest night''s activities had been.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With no choice, she reluctantly slipped into the jeans and, ncing around, grabbed a white shirt from the man''s clothes rack to put on. Pulling back the curtains, she stepped out onto the balcony, greeted by the relentless, bright Los Angeles sunshine -- bright enough to be annoying.

    Taking a few deep breaths of the cool morning air, Julia turned and headed downstairs.

    ...

    In the kitchen, she heard the clinking of pots and pans. Turning, she spied a casually dressed man busy at work, the faint smell of oatmeal wafting through the air.

    Eric soon noticed Julia''s presence. "Good morning, Julia."

    "Morning," she replied, somewhat reluctantly. Despite her politeness, a wave of indignation rose in her. This man had thoroughly worn her outst night, yet he wouldn''t even throw a simple term of endearment her way -- heartless!

    "You''re already rich and you still make your own breakfast?" Julia leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms with a sly tone.

    Eric raised an eyebrow at herment. "Seems like I didn''t teach you a lessonst night if you''re still brave enough to talk to me like that."

    "You... don''t think just because we reached some... some agreement, you can do whatever you want to me. Worst-case scenario, we just..."

    Eric, appearing unfazed by her rising indignation, casually lifted the pot lid, checked the contents, then switched off the burner. "What''s the worst that could happen? A clean break? You''d be the one at a loss."

    Julia found herself momentarily speechless, ring at Eric, as if she wished to kill him with her eyes.

    "Okay, enough with the re. I just heard the paper delivery pass by; can you fetch today''s paper for me?"

    Julia stomped her foot like a little girl and turned to head toward the door.

    In the kitchen, Eric peeked at Julia''s alluring silhouette, allowing a slight smile to escape him. The reason he had treated Julia so intenselyst night was to nt a seed of submission in her subconscious. It seemed to have worked; although she still argued, her behavior and attitude confirmed the effects of his ''teaching.'' Since he had decided to elevate Julia to new heights than in her past life, he couldn''t let herpletely break free from his control.

    Despite being a woman, Julia had a stronger-willed personality than many men after she became famous. Eric didn''t want her to soar too high and then go off-script in a chaotic manner. Given Julia''s character, that possibility loomedrge if he didn''t take precautions.

    ...

    After gathering a stack of newspapers, Julia avoided appearing before Eric, choosing instead to sit in the living room and leaf through them alone. She flipped through several issues, finding nothing of interest until one caught her eye: the Los Angeles Daily News.

    The headline made her burst into a wicked smile: "Home Alone Director Spotted Returning with Drew Barrymore Late at Night; Convenience Store Clerk Girlfriend Leads Heartbroken Departure."

    Below the lengthy title was a scandalous article apanied by clear photos.

    "What''re you looking at? Not pretty to begin with, and now you''re making that face?" Eric entered with breakfast in hand, cing it on the coffee table.

    Julia shot him a re, knowing that this jerk was about to face a significant problem but was blissfully unaware of it. She handed over the newspaper, rising to stride toward the kitchen. "You should worry about yourself first. I can''t believe you hurt such a beautiful girlfriend." Eric nced at the paper, his insides simmering with irritation. Those paparazzi truly were persistent -- the picture indicated they''d likely been camped outside his door for at least a day.

    As he read through the piece --ced with half-truths and exaggerations -- he contemted the potential fallout. The detailed recounting of how Drew spent the night at his ce, leading to being caught in bed by her girlfriend, felt as if the reporter had been lurking nearby, capturing the whole scene.

    Finishing quickly, Eric tossed the paper onto the coffee table, thoughtfully munching on his breakfast while figuring out the mess it could bring.

    Julia returned to the living room, a bowl of oatmeal and a te of bread in her hands, noticing Eric''s stoic expression. Curious, she asked, "Aren''t you the least bit worried?"

    Eric didn''t bother looking up. "It''s just tabloid gossip. If I got worked up every time, I wouldn''t be able to live normally. Once you enter this world, you have to be ready to bear its consequences."

    "I know that, but don''t you see how the reporters are purposely dragging Drew''s age into this? She''s only thirteen! ording to Californiaw," Julia raised three fingers, "that''s at least three years, even if the girl willingly participated."

    Eric recognized the tabloid''s intentions, these sensationalist outlets always aiming to stir the pot. But he wasn''t worried about them; another issue loomedrger on his mind.

    With such a juicy piece of gossip now circling,bined with December being the prime movie season, it was clear that the studios suffering from the box office hits of Home Alone and 17 Again would seize this opportunity to undermine those films'' earnings.

    Noticing Eric''s silence, Julia mistakenly assumed he was feeling guilty, which made her feel smug for a moment.

    "Alright, enough gloating. It''s not like my misfortune is going to boost your standing. After breakfast, do the dishes; I''ve got matters to attend." Eric hastily finished up, grabbing his coat, and added, "By the way, if I were you, I''d quit the restaurant job for now. Just stay home

    quietly for a few days."

    Julia protested, "Why? You can''t restrict my freedom!"

    Eric pointed at the paper on the table. "Because tomorrow, you''ll likely end up in there too."

    "Ah!" Julia found herself momentarily at a loss for words.

    ...

    "Good morning, Eric."

    At the pre-arranged real estate agency in Burbank, Eric just got out of the car when he spotted

    Jeffrey Hanson waiting for him.

    "Morning, Jeffrey. Shall we go in?"

    Jeffrey, however, stopped him. "Hold on, Eric. I need to talk to you about something."

    "Hmm?"

    Jeffrey pulled Eric aside, taking out a copy of the Los Angeles Daily News. "Eric, you''ve been a

    bit reckless. Though I''ve only met Jenny a few times, I think she''s a good girl. You shouldn''t hurt her. More importantly, even if you''re looking for a girlfriend, it shouldn''t be Drew -- she''s just a thirteen-year-old girl! If the wrong person exploits this, you could be ruined. Think about Roman Pnski; after that incident eleven years ago, it''s been nearly impossible for him to return to the States."

    Eric knew Jeffrey genuinely cared and patiently listened to his lecture. When Jeffrey finally finished, Eric patted his shoulder. "Don''t worry, Jeffrey. It''s just a misunderstanding. Although Drew stayed at my ce, nothing inappropriate happened."

    "In any case," Jeffrey still looked uneasy. "You should be careful, Eric. You''ve risen too

    quickly, drawing attention that may not be entirely positive."

    Jeffrey realized he was rambling too much and quickly changed the subject, "Alright, let''s head in. The real estate agent I scheduled is already waiting for us."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Buying Real Estate

    Chapter 44: Buying Real Estate

    ?

    [Chapter 44: Price Cut]

    "Gentlemen, this is a selection of office spaces tailored to your needs. Here''s the list for the Burbank area, the next for Santa Monica, and this one''s near Hollywood, which is rtively pricier."

    In the reception area of the real estate agency, a realtor named Raymond presented a stack of documents to Eric and Jeffrey. Deciding to establish a new filmpany, Firefly Films, they were on a mission to find an office.

    As they listened to Raymond''s exnations and perused the documents, Eric couldn''t shake the feeling that Raymond had a peculiar, eager look in his eyes.

    Finally, during a lull in the conversation, Raymond couldn''t contain himself any longer. "Mr. Williams, are you the young director from that film?"

    Raising an eyebrow, Eric wondered if this middle-aged man might be a fan. He nodded, "Raymond, that''s me. What''s your question?"

    Raymond confirmed his suspicion. "So, Mr. Williams, I''m curious if you''re interested in a Beverly Hills mansion. We have a stunning property atop Beverly Hills, approximately 6,500 square feet, close to Sunset Boulevard with great ess, and importantly... very private."

    At the mention of "private," Raymond''s expression seemed a bit awkward. Clearly, he had read today''s gossip and thought to pitch the mansion.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    His timing was spot on; Eric was indeed troubled by the relentless paparazzi, making the realtor''s proposal appealing.

    "Eric," Jeffrey chimed in, "I think moving would be a smart idea. With your current wealth, living alone in North Hollywood isn''t exactly safe."

    Eric nodded along. "Raymond, if I''m interested, when can we schedule a visit?"

    Raymond''s spirits were lifted. "We can go right now! The owner has entrusted us with the property, and we have the keys."

    Without much thought to his office selection, Eric left a check for Jeffrey to handle as he drove with Raymond over to Beverly Hills.

    ...

    Following Raymond''s directions, they arrived at the mansion after a thirty-minute drive, standing before a nearly two-meter-high wall, dense greenery peeking over.

    "See, Mr. Williams," Raymond pointed out, "this mansion boasts excellent privacy. The high walls,bined with the thick bushes inside,pletely eliminate the risk of paparazzi. Plus, there are no streetlights around, and it has tworge gates, making it perfect for someone like you."

    Pleased, Eric nodded. "Let''s take a look inside?"

    "Of course," Raymond quickly fished out the keys, unlocking the grand entrance and stepping aside for Eric to enter first.

    "Wee, Mr. Williams. This modern-style main vi was designed by Edwards Niles and features four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and two kitchens. The garage can hold up to ten cars, and there''s an outdoor pool and a miniature basketball court. From the second floor balcony, you can admire the entire Los Angeles skyline, which is stunning at night..."

    Eric patiently listened, strolling through the roughly 600-square-meter mansion. "Raymond, how much is this mansion?" he inquired.

    Taken aback for a moment, Raymond quickly felt a thrill. Unlike the other buyers who bombarded him with endless trivial questions, Eric went straight to the price. It was a promising sign for closing this deal.

    The owner had to sell the mansion due to losses fromst year''s stock market crash, but they were still not in dire straits. The listed price was between high and reasonable, which was why the property had been stuck in Raymond''s listings for nearly half a year.

    Suppressing his joy, Raymond responded nonchntly, "Two million dors, Mr. Williams."

    Eric''s first instinct was that it was inexpensive, but he quickly recalled it was 1988, not the twenty-first century when prices were soaring. Even Michael Jackson''s sprawling Nevend a year ago only cost him $19.5 million. Clearly, this mansion''s price seemed steep.

    Even though Eric had plenty of money, he wasn''t one to be taken advantage of. He fixed his gaze on the realtor, "Raymond, you know I''m serious about buying it, so how about giving me a realistic quote? Two million obviously isn''t going to work."

    Raymond made a pained expression, "Well, then, how about $1.95 million? That''s as low as I can go."

    "One million," Eric stated matter-of-factly.

    Raymond nearly leaped out of his skin. "That''s impossible!"

    This was apparently the first time Raymond encountered this drastic bargaining tactic -- cutting the offer in half.

    Feeling profoundly insulted, Raymond shot back defiantly, "Mr. Williams, if you''re going to bid like that, we might as well call it a day."

    Seeing that Raymond was genuinely upset, Eric quickly lightened the mood. "Alright, alright, Raymond, I was just joking. But you really don''t seem to be bargaining in good faith. A discount of just $50,000 is hardly generous."

    Although a bit irked, Raymond recognized Eric as a big client. If he sold this mansion, he would rake in a heftymission, so he quicklyposed himself. "Mr. Williams, the homeowner doesn''tck money, and feel free to have the entire suite of custom furnishings and decor appraised. It was easily worth over $500,000, which is why the price is set high. Originally, they were adamant about $2 million, but after some persuasion, they agreed to a $100,000 discount. So, $1.90 million is the best price."

    Once that was said, Raymond stood there expectantly, clearly indicating there was no room for negotiation.

    Eric pondered for a moment; he genuinely liked the mansion. He finally nodded, "Raymond, if I decide to buy, how soon can I move in?"

    "If you pay in cash, we can expedite the paperwork; you could be in within three days. But if you need to get a bank loan, that would take a bit longer."

    ...

    In the end, Eric chose to pay in full. They returned to Raymond''s agency, where Eric made a call to Edward Lewis''s office, arranging for awyer familiar with real estate toe handle the deal. He merely signed a check, leaving most of the process to his private attorney. Jeffrey also found an office building in Burbank as the new headquarters for Firefly Films, and approvingly, Eric deemed it a done deal.

    After a busy day, Eric returned home in the evening and immediately noticed more paparazzi lurking nearby. They were undoubtedly riled up by that morning''s gossip, eager to squeeze some valuable news from him.

    For these pests, Eric could only pretend he hadn''t seen them.

    After dinner and a shower, Eric slipped into hisfortable home wear and considered starting on his script. As for the novel that Michael Krauss had prodded him on multiple times, Eric opted to continue procrastinating. After all, Michael was ustomed by now to his habit of dragging his feet.

    In the days that followed, Eric busied himself establishing the filmpany during the day, while at night he diligently wrote his script. He had assumed the scandal involving Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston would fizzle out eventually, just as other celebrity gossip did. But this matter continued to escte, creating a palpable sense of impending storm.

    *****

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 Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Farce

    Chapter 45: The Farce

    ?

    [Chapter 45: The Farce]

    First, just as Eric had suspected, the Los Angeles Daily News exposed new photos of Julia leaving Eric''s house. They specifically mentioned the wild party Eric had hosted at home, but they only glossed over the involvement of the Home Alone cast, instead focusing ambiguously on a group of young, beautiful women.

    Following that, several newspapers jumped on the bandwagon. They dug up dubious gossip from seemingly nowhere, criticizing Eric''s personal character. Slowly but surely, he transitioned from an aspiring young man into a notorious yboy who abandoned his girlfriend, allegedly engaged with underage girls, and indulged in a decadent party lifestyle. "... Perhaps Eric Williams was indeed a somewhat talented young man, but after acquiring vast wealth so easily, he evidently began to fall from grace at an iprehensible speed..." "... Having just dumped his low-profile girlfriend to spend time with Drew Barrymore, Eric Williams instantly moved on to a new woman. ording to reports, the blonde beauty in the photo is the star of the currently released Mystic Pizza..."

    "... It''s hard to believe that Eric Williams would so shamelessly pursue the 13-year-old Drew Barrymore. Personally, I think there must be some hidden details here. Regardless, Eric''s actions have definitely crossed Californiaws. I can almost see a second Roman Pnski -- a talented director whomitted equally unforgivable crimes. To prevent Eric from slipping away like Pnski to evade legal responsibility, I believe the LAPD should take swift measures against him..."

    Even some low-brow tabloids,cking any solid information, began to fabricate stories out of thin air. All of a sudden, the good public image Eric had built started to crumble.

    ...

    When Fox noticed that the uproar was escting, they jumped into action. Their film, 17 Again, was still doing well in theaters, and they had just purchased the overseas distribution rights for Home Alone. If Eric''s image -- as both the leading man and director -- were to suffer, it was clear they would incur direct financial losses.

    As for Columbia Pictures, they took a mostly indifferent stance, adhering to the promotional contract but remaining a bystander. Some employees in Columbia''s publicity department suggested that they should support Eric, but the proposals were never approved. Cohen Blount had recently been left red-faced due to Eric, and the higher-ups in the department even spected about whether these scandals had Cohen''s encouragement behind them, making them reluctant to take any risks in backing Eric.

    News Corporation, originally known for their print media, had yed the dirty publicity game before, using character assassination to boost sales. Hence, when it came time for them to deal with public rtions crises, they handled it easily.

    Before long, negotiations between Fox and Eric led to a rapid counterattack. In an attempt to rehabilitate Eric''s image through various media outlets, Fox expertly picked a few recently released movies featuring less than squeaky-clean actors and directors to exploit, diverting the public''s attention away from Eric.

    The public also began to sense something unusual amidst the flood of gossip. While the media was adept at manipting public sentiment, they learned that if they treated the public like fools, they would only end up fooling themselves.

    ...

    Soon, a lesser-known publication, Hollywood Informer, published a specialmentary article that fully exposed the undercurrents behind the drama.

    The Christmas Farce: It''s All About the Box Office

    "With the annual Christmas movie season arriving, studios that usually pulled out all stops to promote their films have resorted to a series of despicable smear tactics against theirpetitors this year. It all began with the miraculous rise of a young man named Eric Williams.

    After thetest week''s box office results rolled in, two films associated with Eric Williams had collectively surpassed $100 million, especially the low-budgetedy Home Alone, which, despite facing a slight drop, continued to perform with only a 20% decrease in its third week, raking in $23.15 million and bringing its total to nearly $80 million,nding it in the sixth position on the annual box office chart. Its miraculous momentum was unstoppable.

    It''s well-known that the total box office take and the number of moviegoers during the Christmas season are finite, and major studios were set to withdraw their annual blockbusters. Thus, it was no surprise that Eric Williams found himself under attack from various scandals aspetitors vied for market share.

    Regardless of Eric''s true character, or whether we discuss the recent alleged misdeeds of various stars, we simply call for studios to maintainposure and return to a standard of fairpetition. Resorting to underhanded tactics to undermine opponents will ultimately backfire."

    ...

    This unique article from Hollywood Informer seemed to send a signal. As major newspapers began to reprint it, the influential figures orchestrating the smear campaign against Eric had no choice but to back off, realizing Eric was no longer alone. The rapid, fierce counterattack from News Corporation clearly indicated that Eric Williams had formed a solid alliance with Fox.

    Though some tabloids clung to the story, most influential publications quietly ceased attacks on theirpetitor.

    It appeared that the uproar had passed.

    ...

    A few dayster, after being hounded by paparazzi to the brink of insanity, Eric finally moved into a mansion at the top of Beverly Hills. He firmly shut the door, no longer having to look out from his North Hollywood apartment and see a line of paparazzi cars parked outside.

    Jeffrey Hansen nced at the towering walls surrounding the mansion and, feeling a bit envious, pressed the doorbell. After a few minutes, Eric opened the door and weed Jeffrey inside.

    After parking in front of the vi, Jeffrey asked, "Eric, what have you been doing at home? You haven''t stepped out in days, have you?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Mentioning that really depressed Eric. After the paperwork at Firefly Films was wrapped up, he had very few things that required his personal appearance. Additionally, with the paparazzi chasing him down every time he went out, Eric had practically been housebound. Compared to the happy lives of homebodies in his previous life, this time without the inte and smartphones felt maddening.

    "I''ve been writing novels, scripts, watching TV... Just really bored. At this point, I''m afraid to step outside. Thest time I just dropped by a convenience store for a drink, the next day there were headlines about me trying to make a move on the cashier girl."

    Hearing this, Jeffrey couldn''t help butugh at Eric''s plight.

    Eric led Jeffrey to the study on the second floor of the vi. As soon as they entered, Jeffrey noticed arge wooden board on one wall covered with an assortment of newspaper clippings and scrawled notes pinned to it.

    "What''s this for?" Jeffrey asked curiously as he stepped closer.

    "Not much," Eric replied as he pulled off a clipping and chuckled. "I got bored at home, so I figured I''d try to analyze who was behind all this from the gossip papers. Once I''m big, I''ll

    settle the scoreter."

    Jeffrey teased, "You think you''re Sherlock Holmes? If those clippings could really show you the truth, the veterans in this business would be out of work."

    Eric shrugged. In fact, he still considered himself somewhat lucky because of the temporary alliance with Fox that had pulled him back from the edge of disaster. Compared to Michael Jackson in his previous life, who disturbed too many powerful interests and ended up alone and tormented, Eric dared not hope for anything more.

    Setting those thoughts aside, Eric asked, "By the way, Jeffrey, how are thingsing along?"

    Hearing this, Jeffrey pulled out a thick stack of documents from his briefcase with slight resentment. "You have it easy as a boss, passing everything off to me. I''m already renovating thepany''s office building; that should take about half a month. Also, these are the materials for the talent agency you asked me to find. Eric, are you really nning to buy a

    talent agency?"

    Eric epted the materials and replied, "Of course. You saw what happened with Stuart Ronkel. CAA is tightly holding onto him, waiting to squeeze me for a big deal. I can''t keep grooming stars for others."

    "But the federal antitrustws prohibit filmpanies from owning talent agencies." Eric flipped through the documents and replied, "I''m well aware of that. I don''t n to merge the twopanies. In my vision, the filmpany and the talent agency will operatepletely independently. Legally, there''s no issue."

    "Well, suit yourself. By the way, have you finished that new script you talked about?"

    Eric found a stack of scripts buried under the piles of newspaper on his desk and handed them

    to Jeffrey. "It''s finished; take a look."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Jennys Call

    Chapter 46: Jenny''s Call

    ?

    [Chapter 46: Anne''s Call]

    After reading through the script for Pretty Woman, Jeffrey expressed his doubts. "Eric, I still feel that this story is too perfect. It seems just like a fairytale of a prince and Cindere. Do you think audiences will really enjoy a fairytale about a hooker? Even famous works like The Lipstick Murders and The Lady of the Camellias all ended in tragedy."

    Eric thought to himself that he intended to write a perfect fairytale.

    The original script for Pretty Woman was actually a dark drama called 3000, reflecting the survival struggles of Los Angeles''s sex workers through a $3,000 transaction between the male and female leads. However, during filming, due to a generous budget, both the director and producer made numerous revisions, and it ultimately transformed into a romanticedy. Surprisingly, this heavily altered film ended up grossing $170 million in North America, leading many stars who had previously declined the role due to the dark nature of the original script to regret their decisions. It alsounched Julia Roberts into stardom.

    The film retained an early scene where a hooker was murdered in a seedy alley, taken directly from the original script. So, when audiences watched the entire movie, that scene stood out as jarringly out of ce amidst the film''s romantic tone.

    "Jeffrey, putting everything else aside, how do you feel about Vivian''s character in the script?"

    Since it was just a written description and hadn''t been portrayed visually yet, Jeffrey hesitated for a moment before responding, "She''s honest, cheerful, a bit rough around the edges, but it feels genuine. Even though she falls from grace, she still has her own little principles..."

    Eric listened patiently to Jeffrey''s lengthy musings before interjecting, "Jeffrey, perhaps you didn''t notice, but when you described Vivian just now, the corners of your mouth were upturned, indicating that you don''t actually dislike this fallen girl. In fact, you might even like her a little."

    Jeffrey had unconsciously expressed his feelings for Vivian and hadn''t noticed the detail Eric pointed out. "Did I really?"

    Eric nodded in affirmation. "Of course! So, since you don''t dislike Vivian, it stands to reason that audiences will definitely take a liking to her too."

    Jeffrey nodded, but soon raised an eyebrow in dissatisfaction. "What do you mean ''not even I dislike her''? Do you think I am a very harsh person?"

    Eric quickly denied it, "Not at all! You just tend to ramble a bit."

    "''...''

    Eric chuckled and patted Jeffrey on the shoulder. "Don''t be so down. People tend to ramble a bit as they age, so don''t take it to heart."

    Jeffrey shot a displeased nce at Eric. "Fine, you''re the boss, and facts do prove that your judgment is superior to mine. Since you''ve made the decision, when do we start preparations?"

    "As soon as possible! It would be best to finish preparations and casting before Christmas. We''ll start filming right after the New Year. This movie is perfect for a Valentine''s Day release."

    Jeffrey looked down, calcting the timeline. "A Valentine''s Day release does fit this movie quite well. But, Eric, isn''t that a bit rushed? By then, Home Alone might still be in theaters?"

    Eric shook his head. "Jeffrey, you''ve seen how fast I worked on Home Alone, so a little over a month is more than enough for Pretty Woman. We can coordinate with Fox and start promotional work during post-production."

    "When do we start casting? Do you have a n in mind?"

    Eric said, "I''ve decided to cast Richard Gere as the male lead. For the female lead, my first choice is Sophie Marceau. Jeffrey, you''ll need to help me find her contact information and send her an invitation. If she declines, we''ll go with Julia Roberts. As for the supporting roles, we''ll figure that out after acquiring the talent agency. Some of the supporting roles are significant and shouldn''t be given to just anyone."

    "Eric, Sophie Marceau -- spelled that way, right? She''s that French actress, isn''t she?" "Exactly! She yed in The Kiss, and her image fits Vivian perfectly. The question is whether she''ll ept the invitation. You''ve likely heard some of the stories surrounding her."

    "Alright, I''ll send the invite out promptly. If she turns it down, Eric, I think Meg Ryan would be a good option too. About Julia Roberts, isn''t she the waitress who showed up at your ce that night? She doesn''t exactly fit the bill, does she?"

    In his memory, Meg Ryan had been a generation''s ''America''s Sweetheart'' before Jennifer Aniston. Eric recalled Meg''s notable films, like the famous Sleepless in Seattle, and agreed she had a great image. But since he had already chosen to promote Julia Roberts, influenced by the past, Eric wouldn''t pass this opportunity to someone else.

    "Trust me, Jeffrey, it''s settled. I have my reasons for choosing Julia Roberts. And by the way, make sure to contact Kepler Hyde, the owner of the Hyde Talent Agency, as soon as possible."

    Taking the sheet of information Eric handed him, Jeffrey nced over it. "Eric, Kepler Hyde is indeed quite capable. I heard that over thest couple of years, he managed several A-list projects for CAA. It''s just that he had a fallout with Michael Ovitz, which is why he was ousted from CAA. They are quite powerful in the industry right now, so it might be best not to intentionally anger Michael Ovitz."

    Eric smirked to himself; he had long been annoyed by how quickly CAA signed Stuart Ronkel. Though Michael Ovitz was being hailed as the most powerful man in Hollywood by some media outlets, Eric spected that CAA''s reign of power wouldn''tst more than five or six more years. By thetter half of the 1990s, while CAA would still dominate many star resources, it wouldn''t hold the same sway against the emerging media conglomerates. Besides, Eric felt thatpared to CAA, he was still a ''small fry,'' so stoking conflict wasn''t a concern. CAA might dominate numerous A-list stars, but Eric was confident in his ability to create a star.

    "Let''s go with this decision, Jeffrey. We''re still a small operation, and CAA wouldn''t bother with us."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    With a resigned shrug, Jeffrey replied, "Alright, as you wish."

    ...

    After persuading Jeffrey to join him for lunch, Eric nned to head to his study to work on Resident Evil when the phone in the living room suddenly rang.

    "Hello, this is the Williams residence," Eric answered, slightly distancing the receiver from his ear. He had received several harassing calls in recent days, including one instance where a guyunched into a tirade as soon as the call connected, leaving Eric''s eardrum ringing. He had even contemted changing his phone number after that experience.

    There was silence on the other end for a while. Eric was about to hang up on thinking yet another harassing call when a voice finally broke through. "Hello, Eric."

    Hearing that familiar voice, Eric felt a rush of excitement as he sank into the couch. "Hi, Jenny! I''ve been wanting to exin what happened that morning. Drew and I weren''t involved at all. I waspletely tanked that night; she was just messing around!"

    "W-wait, that has nothing to do with me. We... we already broke up?"

    In a Manhattan apartment, Jennifer Aniston listened to Eric''s anxious exnation, her voice trembling. She clearly struggled with her feelings and harbored some resentment towards the oblivious guy on the other end of the line.

    On her third day in New York, Drew Barrymore had somehow managed to find her contact info and exined the situation. Meanwhile, the infuriating guy had yet to seek her out or even reach out since that day. If it weren''t for a special, important matter that day, Jennifer swore she wouldn''t have contacted that jerk for anything.

    If Eric had known what Jennifer was thinking, he would have felt wronged. Ever since that day, a whirlwind of events had been wearing him down, leaving him afraid to go out. He couldn''t afford to deal with this mess.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 47: Chapter 47: I Wore That Shirt Too

    Chapter 47: I Wore That Shirt Too

    ?

    [Chapter 47: I Wore That Shirt Too]

    Eric spoke with determination, "Jenny, I''m not breaking up with you. Can you tell me your address in New York? I''lle see you for Christmas."

    "Not a chance," Aniston replied with a pouting face, while her mind wandered, wondering why he couldn''t just figure it out himself. Even that Drew Barrymore girl could be found. "Aren''t you... aren''t you seeing someone new? That... big mouth girl?"

    "You''re talking about Julia. She''s got some potential. I''m thinking of starting a managementpany and want to sign her."

    Aniston shot a displeased nce at the tabloid still spread out on the table nearby. "Do all the actresses in your agency have to sleep with you? I''ve worn that shirt too... you jerk!"

    After a few seconds of hesitation, Eric softly said, "I''m sorry, Jenny. Can you forgive me? I promise it won''t happen again."

    Hearing Eric''s rare tone of weakness, Aniston softened her voice a bit, "Eric, I think we''re just too far apart. The longer I''m with you, the more I realize you''re just a wanderer. I don''t want to live with that kind of insecurity all the time."

    "Jenny, I just bought a vi up in Beverly Hills..."

    "But you don''t have a home in your heart, Eric. Maybe it''s just my illusion, but I feel like you''re just a guest who suddenly crashed into my world. Sometimes when I''m with you, I can''t help but worry that you might just vanish."

    The two fell into a brief silence.

    "Eric, I called you today just to tell you that I received an anonymous letter this morning, asking to meet and talk about you. The address was in a public ce in Central Park, so I figured it was safe enough to check it out. The stranger asked about you and me, then... he asked about what happened that morning. I didn''t say anything, but he might have picked up on something and probed to see if I was willing to testify against you for your rtions with Drew. He even said if this worked, he could offer me some money. I turned him down."

    Eric listened quietly to Aniston''s ount, his lips pressed tightly together. Once she finished, he casually responded, "Jenny, thanks for telling me all this. You still love me, don''t you?" "You..." Aniston''s heart raced, and her voice rose considerably. "How can you still be worried about this? Didn''t you hear? Someone wants to send you to prison. I looked up Roman Pnski; the evidence was solid when he had his affair with that girl. But some people wanted to nail him, hoping to put him away for life, which is why he had to flee the country."

    "Jenny, I understand. Don''t worry, I''ll handle it."

    ...

    After hanging up the phone, Eric sat quietly on the couch, deep in thought. Sure, Home Alone had squashed many moviepanies'' box office returns, but that was just normal business. While many people might hate him, the most aggressive tactics had only just involved some media smear campaigns to hurt his film''s earnings.

    Moreover, Fox was fighting back hard. Once the opposing side saw the futility of it all, they quickly backed off.

    When it came to hating him enough to want to send him to prison, Eric could only think of one person: Cohen Blount. After the betting scandal, Cohen Blount had to publicly apologize to Eric. For someone who had lived high on the hog for so long, swallowing his pride in front of someone practically his grandson''s age was a disgrace, and considering Blount''s narrow- mindedness, he was the prime suspect.

    But there were other possibilities. Everyone knew that human nature was the hardest thing to read. It was entirely possible that someone had taken a disliking to Eric, someone who happened to have the means to make trouble.

    Though not overly worried, Eric dialed Edward Lewis''s number, and after more than half an hour, his personal attorney arrived at Eric''s house.

    Eric recounted what Aniston had told him, and they discussed it for quite a while. Edward made notes as he asked a multitude of detailed questions.

    After more than two hours, Edward Lewis closed his notebook, his expression serious as he asked, "Eric, I want to confirm onest time -- can you guarantee that you did not have any rtions with Miss Drew Barrymore that day? You must understand, having or not having evidence requires twopletely different strategies. If... if you''re not being truthful, we could be caught off guard."

    Eric recalled the situation with utmost care and affirmed, "Absolutely not. Sure, we woke up in the same bed, but the sheets were clean, no signs of any post-coital evidence. Besides, Drew also explicitly confirmed that we didn''t do anything like that."

    "Then I have no further questions. Eric, don''t worry, I''ll prepare a response strategy when I get back. You don''t need to be concerned about this. Although public opinion is still against you, without any facts to support the ims, it''s unlikely anyone could sessfully frame

    you."

    ...

    Atst, Eric felt a sense of relief as he saw off Edward Lewis. Suddenly, he recalled that when themotion first started, Drew had been calling him now and then, even though she couldn''te by his ce. Buttely, there had been no word from her.

    After several unsessful calls to Drew''s house, a nagging sense of unease crept up. He wasn''t worried that Drew would join forces with anyone to put him in a bind; it was her greedy and not-so-bright mother he feared.

    On the second floor of an apartment building in Culver City, Drew sat bored, locked in her room watching TV, when the ringing of the telephone in the living room started to get on her nerves. Although Eric had never contacted her before, her sixth sense told her it was probably

    him calling.

    Over thest few days, her mother, Jaid Barrymore, who typically paid her no mind, had suddenly turned into a responsible mother. Using the media frenzy as an excuse, she had confined Drew to her room, forbidding her from going out or even making phone calls.

    Drew refused to ept this. After an argument where they almost came to blows, the petite Drew ultimately could not overpower Jaid and found herself locked away.

    Moreover, she sensed her mother was plotting something. Latest night, Drew had overheard her quietly chatting on the phone in the living room for ages. Generally, Jaid Barrymore didn''t bother to cover up her calls, even while flirting with men.

    "This can''t be good..."

    Drew switched off the TV, muttering to herself as she anxiously paced her room. ncing at the clock, she figured her mother would be back soon. She decided she could no longer wait. After rummaging through her closet for some sheets, she tied them together to make a makeshift rope about ten feet long, secured it to the bed leg, and tested its strength. Then, opening the window, she carefully climbed down the rope.

    Just as she was nearing the ground, the knot suddenly snapped, and Drew fell from the height of about three feet. Wincing in pain, she couldn''t pay attention to the bruises on her knees as she limped out of the yard, hailed a cab, and headed for Eric''s ce.

    *****

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 Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Abduction

    Chapter 48: The Abduction

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 48: The Abduction]

    The taxi pulled up in front of Eric''s vi, and Drew paid the fare before getting out. The ck driver, who bore a resemnce to Michael Jordan, noticed the bruise on Drew''s knee peeking out from beneath her short skirt and couldn''t help but ask, "Miss Barrymore, do you need help?"

    Drew shook her head. "Thanks, but I''m fine."

    With that, she limped toward the front door and rang the bell. The driver nced at the tall surrounding walls, remembering the recent frenzy of tabloid gossip and the presence of a few parked paparazzi cars nearby. He quickly pieced together that this was Eric Williams'' home, but as a taxi driver, he figured it wasn''t his concern. He shrugged and drove away.

    Upon hearing a familiar voice from the inte, Drew felt a wave of pain in her knee and fought back tears. Only in front of Eric could she let her guard down and act like a vulnerable little girl, because only he would care.

    "Eric, it''s me," Drew said into the inte.

    "Drew, wait a moment; I''ll be right there."

    After a short while, the gate opened. Eric saw Drew, looking a bit disheveled, and immediately ushered her inside before shutting the door. He asked with concern, "Drew, what happened? How did you hurt your leg like that?"

    Drew, sounding a bit petnt, replied, "My mom went crazy and locked me in the house, saying I couldn''t go out. I had to climb down from the second floor, and the bedsheet wasn''t tied tight enough..."

    Eric quickly grasped that Drew''s mother had truly lost her mind but chose not to voice that thought just yet. He crouched down to examine her, finding no serious injury, just some bruises and a few scrapes. "Come on, let''s get inside; I''ll help you clean up."

    Drew nodded quietly, instinctively grabbing Eric''s sleeve and limping along with him for a couple of steps.

    Seeing the girl like that, Eric sighed softly, scooped her up into his arms, and carried her toward the vi.

    In the living room, Eric retrieved a first aid kit, cleaning Drew''s wounds as he chatted casually. "You really shouldn''t do things like this again; it''s dangerous. Luckily, this time it''s just minor injuries. Your mom, even though..." At this point, he hesitated, unsure how to express his thoughts about Drew''s mother and decided to leave it vague. "But she wouldn''t really hurt you."

    Drew extended her pale little leg, letting Eric tend to her. After a moment, she suddenly asked, "Eric, is something going on?"

    Eric paused his wrapping of the bandage. "You noticed?"

    Drew nodded. "I''ve felt something was off with my mom thesest few days; she''s been sneaking around making phone calls and locking me in the house for my own good. The papers have reported on my issues with drugs and alcohol before, but she never acted like this."

    Finishing with a knot on the bandage, Eric organized the gauze and antiseptic back into the first aid kit. "Honestly, I''m not sure how to talk to you about this."

    Drew fell silent, looking at Eric anxiously, waiting for him to continue, clearly realizing that this situation stemmed from her actions.

    "This afternoon, Jenny called me from New York and said someone wanted her to testify against me... about our rtionship."

    With her sharp mind, Drew connected the dots in an instant.

    She jumped to her feet, her face a mixture of sorrow and rage, her voice rising almost hysterically. "It''s her! It has to be! I knew she was acting shadytely, locking me up for my own good. When has she ever really cared about me? I want to sever all ties with her... that bitch..."

    "Drew, don''t say that," Eric said quickly, stopping her from saying anything worse. "Kid, no matter what others say about your mother, you can''t speak like that. She may not be perfect, but she is still your mom."

    Seeing the seriousness in Eric''s eyes, Drew realized that she couldn''t continue her outburst without him getting upset. At home, during arguments with her mother, they could hurl insults at each other, but if Eric felt it was wrong, then it was wrong. "I''m sorry, Eric," she replied softly.

    "It''s okay, Drew," Eric gently hugged her. "There''s definitely someone else behind all this; otherwise, your mom wouldn''t react this way. Sending me to jail wouldn''t benefit her in any way."

    "I''m sorry, Eric. She must have taken money -- she spent my paycheck from 17 Again a while ago. Is there anything I can do to help?"

    "You don''t need to apologize, Drew. This isn''t your fault. I''ve had Edward prepare some things; you shouldn''t get mixed up in this any further -- you''re still young."

    After chatting a little more, Eric nced outside to see the sunset casting a red glow across the sky. "Drew, why don''t you rest for a bit? I''ll make dinner. What do you want?"

    "Pizza, steak, Italian..." Drew showed no signs of holding back.

    Before she could say more, Eric yfully tapped her forehead. "I can''t make all that! I''ll just order in. And by the way, don''t you worry about bing a little chubby eating all that?"

    "Not at all! Don''t you like chubby girls?" Drew giggled.

    Just as Eric picked up the phone, the doorbell rang. He handed the receiver to Drew. "You call the restaurant; I''ll go check."

    Drew agreed and took the receiver, flipping through the thick phone book beside her to look up takeout numbers.

    ...

    Eric moved to the front door and asked into the inte. A male voice responded, "Mr. Williams, this is the Los Angeles Police."

    When he opened the door, a rotund white police officer stood with a woman in her thirties beside him. A quick nce at her appearance made Eric realize she was most likely rted to Drew, as she bore a striking resemnce to her.

    The officer, clearly reluctant, faced the young man, knowing Eric''s recent troubles. He didn''t want to get entangled in this nonsense, but he had no choice due to the woman''s insistence or risk beingined about.

    "Hello, Mr. Williams, I''m Officer Matt Bryson." The officer extended his hand, shaking Eric''s. "Thisdy, Jaid Barrymore, ims that you abducted her daughter..."

    Eric frowned, narrowing his eyes at Jaid Barrymore. The woman noticed his gaze, trying to appear haughty, but her confidence faltered under Eric''s somewhat overpowering presence. She seemed uncertain whether Drew was really with him, which diminished her assertiveness. "Drew is here with me, but I did not abduct her; she came here voluntarily. Ms. Barrymore, I think we need to have a conversation."

    Upon hearing Eric ept the premise, Jaid''s energy deted like a popped balloon. "What''s there to talk about? Just hand my daughter over! I want to take her back right now, you

    rapist!"

    Eric''s expression grew serious. "Ms. Barrymore, please choose your words carefully. There is a police officer present. With that statement, I could sue you for defamation, and I have

    abundant proof!"

    "You..." Jaid recoiled slightly, ncing at the police officer beside her, seeking help.

    But Eric turned to the police officer first. "Officer Bryson, could you please take a moment? The situation isn''t as grave as Ms. Barrymore suggested. Drew is my good friend; she came to y at my house this afternoon. That''s perfectly normal, isn''t it? Perhaps Ms. Barrymore is just overreacting. If there''s nothing else, you''re free to go; we can handle it privately." Matt Bryson seemed just as uninterested in the woman''s drama and quickly agreed, "Alright, Mr. Williams, Ms. Barrymore, I''ll take my leave now."

    "Officer Bryson, you can''t do this! He..." Jaid Barrymore didn''t want to face Eric alone and grabbed the officer''s arm, trying to continue her protest.

    Matt Bryson shook off her grip. "Ms. Barrymore, it''s clear as day; your daughter simply came over to Mr. Williams'' house to hang out. If you keep pushing this, I''ll have to charge you with obstructing justice!"

    As Matt Bryson drove away in his patrol car, Jaid Barrymore lost her biggest ally and found herself feeling minuscule against Eric. Despite being a young adult, he exuded a pressure due to his wealth and status that was palpable. Jaid, having had a child star for a daughter, found herself overshadowed when standing in front of a rising filmmaker like Eric.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Some Things You Just Couldnt Avoid

    Chapter 49: Some Things You Just Couldn''t Avoid

    ?

    [Chapter 49: Some Things You Just Couldn''t Avoid]

    "Come in, Ms. Barrymore," Eric said tly as he let Jaid Barrymore inside and closed the door, then he headed straight for the vi.

    Jaid quickened her pace to follow Eric, her eyes darting around at everything in the luxurious mansion. When she caught sight of the opulent modern vi, envy washed over her.

    Although Drew had a big name, the film industry had started to forget her due to her age, and there weren''t many suitable roles avable. Since starring in E.T., she had only managed tond a few more parts, and the pay wasn''t great. The money she earned barely allowed Jaid to splurge, let alone buy such avish house.

    In thest couple of years, Drew''s sense of independence had grown stronger, and their rtionship had soured significantly. Jaid knew relying on Drew tond movie roles and make money was bing increasingly tough. Thus, when someone suggested she sue Eric, Jaid only took a moment to consider and ultimately agreed. The other party promised that if she signed her name on thewsuit as Drew''s guardian, she could get a sum of money without even appearing in court; everything would be handled by awyer. To Jaid, this opportunity, almost like a windfall, was too tempting to pass up.

    ...

    As she stepped into the vi''s living room, Drew turned in response to the noise on the sofa. The moment she saw her mother, the smile on her face melted away like snow in the sun. Her expression shifted through emotions rapidly. Unable to suppress her anger, Drew jumped up, grabbed a throw pillow, and hurled it at Jaid, yelling, "What are you doing here?"

    The throw pillownded off target, but Eric quickly caught it and shot Drew a warning look. "Drew, no more messing around."

    While Jaid didn''t dare show off in front of Eric, she felt bold confronting her daughter. "You little brat! How dare you throw things at me? Do you see what you''ve be? I''m your mother, of course I''m here to take you home!"

    "Isn''t it ironic?" Drew retorted, waving her hand at Jaid. "I was outte so many times before, and once I was so drunk that the cops picked me up and brought me home in the middle of the night. You never came looking for me then. But now, you think you''re my mother? Ha, what a joke!"

    Jaid shot back, "Isn''t it your disobedience that caused all of that? If you had just stayed home like a good girl, those things wouldn''t have happened! And what happened at home? Do you even realize how many bed sheets you ruined? Those cost money! Come home with me, and we''ll settle this."

    As she said this, Jaid stepped forward to grab Drew.

    Eric frowned slightly upon hearing Jaid''s words. The white bandage on Drew''s knee was clearly visible, yet Jaid overlooked it to worry only about a few bed sheets. That made Eric feel a deep sense of disgust.

    Drew ducked around the couch to avoid her mother''s grasp, shouting, "You can''t make me! I know exactly what you n to do. I love Eric, and you want to frame him for money! I will never forgive you. I''m cutting off ties with you!"

    "You... what nonsense are you spouting?" Jaid eximed, momentarily shocked by the revtion. She nced nervously at Eric, feeling at a loss.

    Drew noticed her mother''s sudden stillness and sneered, "What, have I struck a nerve? Let''s not even say Eric and I have done anything. Even if we did, I''d still deny it. If you dare sue him, I''ll testify against you, and you can just wait to see yourself in prison."

    Seeing that Drew was on the verge of saying something even worse, Eric interjected, "That''s enough, Drew. Go upstairs for now; I need to talk to your mother alone."

    Drew red at Jaid and huffed as she turned to head for the stairs.

    ...

    "Please have a seat, Ms. Marco. Let''s talk," Eric said as he set the pillow back on the sofa and took a seat himself.

    Jaid lowered her head slightly while sitting across from Eric, suddenly realizing that the money might not be so easy to secure after all. Initially, she had thought Drew''s rtionship with Eric would be just like those of Drew''s previous wild friends. She assumed that with a little persuasion and the lure of cash, Drew would agree to testify against Eric.

    But Drew''s intense reaction made Jaid understand that her daughter had genuinely fallen for this man and was deeply attached. In the past, whenever they fought, Drew had never said such harsh words about cutting off their mother-daughter rtionship.

    More importantly, even if Jaid sued Eric and lost, she felt her loss would be minimal. But now that Drew said she''d testify against her for framing Eric, that could carry serious weight. With this young man''s wealth and status, would he let her off easily?

    With these thoughts racing through her mind, Jaid couldn''t help but shudder. Watching Jaid wrestle with her thoughts, Eric smirked and asked, "So, Ms. Barrymore, you heard what Drew just said. Are you still determined to go through with your original n?"

    Jaid fell silent.

    "Well, let me put it this way: You might have been offered some money, but I''m not so easy to manipte. As Drew said, this is nder, and I can just as easily send you to prison for it. And the people who are pushing you to do this will surely toss you aside when it gets tough. Furthermore, once Drew turns 18 and out of spite decides to cut ties with you, do you know what that means?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Jaid instinctively nodded, then quickly shook her head.

    Eric continued, "It means your most important source of ie would bepletely severed. From what I understand, you don''t have any other means of supporting yourself. You could very well spend the rest of your life in poverty, even ending up in a Los Angeles ghetto." The thought of such a grim scenario sent another shiver down Jaid''s spine. She weakly protested, "No, that''s impossible. She can''t do that to me. I raised her!"

    "And so what? Over the years, how much money has Drew made for you? She owes you nothing. Even if you brought this to the media, based on your actions, not many would sympathize with you."

    Jaid found herself speechless once more. Eric allowed her a moment to process before asking, "Have you epted any money from those people?"

    Jaid shook her head in defeat. "They said they''d only pay me once I signed thewsuit." Eric nodded, satisfied. "That''s good; everything can still be salvaged. So now, I''m giving you another option: immediately refuse those people. I''ll give you an upfront sum, but you have to agree never to disturb Drew again. I''ll arrange for an agent to take care of her affairs. Once Drew turns 18, I''ll convince her to give you a sum for support every year, enough to keep you livingfortably as a middle-ss person."

    After saying this, Eric took out a checkbook, filled in the amount, and slid it across to Jaid.

    Jaid nced at the figure on the check, her eyes gleaming with greed. She extended her hand slightly but pulled back quickly and argued, "Mr. Williams, isn''t a million a bit low?"

    Eric scoffed, "It is a little low; perhaps I should just write a check for five hundred thousand

    instead."

    Jaid swiftly snatched the check and tucked it away.

    "Alright, since you''ve made your choice, I have a few conditions toy out. First, you can''t profit off Drew''s name in any way, meaning no disclosing her private life to reporters, no TV appearances, and no books about her. I''ll have my personalwyer draft a legally binding contract. If you break any of these agreements, then everything I''ve said today will be off the table, and you''ll have to give back every cent you receive."

    Jaid quickly weighed the pros and cons. What Ericid out as prohibitions didn''t seem to offer her much, and soon she nodded in agreement.

    "Then, Ms. Barrymore, you may leave now. I''ll have thewyer prepare the contract

    promptly."

    Jaid forced a smile and offered a few parting words, not caring about Drew anymore as she

    hurried out.

    ...

    Once Jaid was gone, Drew came downstairs. Spotting Eric, she rushed over, practically buzzing with excitement. "Eric, you were so generous! A million! Now I''m yours!"

    Eric ruffled Drew''s hair, chuckling, "You''re not a doll, you''re still yourself. But remember, littledy, you owe me a million bucks, and you''ll need to pay it back someday."

    Drew pouted yfully, "I''m not paying! I''ve decided to be coteral! I wouldn''t mind being a

    doll!"

    Eric lightly tapped her on the forehead. "Stop joking. Did you order takeout earlier?" "Yes, I did," Drew replied. "But why did you say I should give that money to... her? I don''t want to deal with her. I want her to be broke!"

    With a sigh, Eric patted her head, recognizing that Drew, only thirteen or fourteen, had some skewed ideas. She didn''t understand that life operates by certain rules and can''t just be dictated by one''s whims. In Drew''s past, even when she had clearly cut ties with her father, she still sent him a yearly support payment, a sign of her maturity at that point. "You''ll understand one day, Drew. This is a... fate. In life, some things you just couldn''t

    avoid."

    Drew nodded, somewhat begrudgingly, then her mood shifted back into excitement. "Eric, can I move into your ce?"

    Eric shook his head, "Drew, you need to head back to school. I n to enroll you in a boarding school. With everything that''s happened, how long has it been since you went to ss?" "No way! Eric, I get a headache just looking at books! Can''t I just keep making movies?"

    "No," Eric replied firmly. "You need to finish high school at the very least. Whether you like it or not, this is an experience you''ll need. Plus, you''re at an awkward age, and not many films are suitable for you right now."

    "Alright, I''ll do what you say," Drew conceded quickly, though her mind was already spinning

    with thoughts of skipping ss adventures.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 50: Chapter 50: I Cant Help but Want to Kill You

    Chapter 50: I Can''t Help but Want to Kill You

    ?

    [Chapter 50: I Can''t Help but Want to Kill You]

    The takeout delivery came promptly, and after the two of them finished dinner, it waspletely dark. They leaned back on the couch and watched a bit of television before Eric took Drew upstairs to prepare a bedroom for her.

    "Eric, I want to sleep with you," Drew pouted, hugging the nket that Eric had pulled out from the closet.

    He took out a pillow and patted it lightly, casually responding, "Cut it out, Drew. You don''t want me to get into more trouble, do you?"

    "But this is your house -- who would know?"

    "You''ve forgotten what happenedst time so quickly? If it hadn''t been for your antics, all that chaos wouldn''t have happened. Now,e on with me."

    Drew reluctantly followed Eric to an empty bedroom.

    "This will do. The bathroom has hot water, oh, I forgot you can''t take a bath. Just this for now -- get to sleep early."

    After giving her instructions, Eric left Drew''s room and headed toward his study.

    He wrote a few pages of his Resident Evil novel, stretched, then rummaged through a drawer for a pack of cigarettes. He stepped out onto the balcony and looked out at the dazzling lights of Los Angeles.

    He sat down in a lounge chair, lit a cigarette, and leaned back, suddenly recalling something Aniston had said on the phone that afternoon -- did he really seem like just a passerby?

    A soft sound came from behind him. He turned to see Drew tiptoeing silently, wearing one of his oversize T-shirts since she didn''t have pajamas. When she noticed Eric, she yfully stuck out her tongue.

    "Eric, I can''t sleep," Drew said as she scooted closer to him, nudging him towards the other side of the chair before lying down beside him, resting her head on his arm.

    She snatched the cigarette from his hand, took a drag effortlessly, blew out a bubble of smoke, then furrowed her brow before handing the cigarette back to Eric.

    "Doesn''t it taste better than that stuff?" Eric flicked the ash off the cigarette and smiled. "Of course," Drew replied with certainty.

    "Then promise me you won''t touch that stuff again," Eric said, patting her shoulder.

    "Okay..."

    The nights in Los Angeles were quite chilly during this season. While Eric didn''t mind, Drew wore only a T-shirt, leaving her long, pale legs bare. He took two quick puffs from the cigarette, extinguished it in a nearby wastebasket, then slightly shifted and pulled a nket from the side to cover them both.

    "Eric, what were you just thinking about?" Drew asked, tilting her head curiously.

    Eric adjusted the nket around her attentively and whispered, "I was thinking about Jenny. I wonder where she is in New York right now?"

    "Actually..." Drew hesitated before continuing, "I know."

    "Hmm?"

    "I promised I''d exin what happened that day, right? So, I asked some people and got her contact info. She''s living in Manhattan now. I didn''t remember the exact address, but I wrote it down. I''ll give it to you tomorrow."

    Eric smiled, "What made you decide to give it to me?"

    "I just wanted to make you happy."

    "Such a sweet girl."

    Drew took advantage of the moment, asking cheekily, "Is there a reward? At least a kiss, right?" She leaned in, presenting her doll-like face.

    Eric gently kissed her cheek, and Drew closed her eyes with a satisfied hum. She kissed him back and yfully licked his cheek with her little tongue, bursting into giggles afterward. "Eric, can you sing? Would you sing me a song?" Drew pleaded.

    Eric didn''t refuse, gave her shoulder a gentle pat, and began, "Warm kitty, Soft kittyLittle ball of fur..."

    "Hah, I don''t want to hear a nursery rhyme," Drewughed, scratching his side yfully. Suddenly, she remembered something and ducked under the nket, heading into the room. When she returned, she held a wooden guitar.

    "This was hanging on the wall in my room. Eric, can you y guitar?"

    Eric took it, plucked a few strings aimlessly, and said, "Not really. It was the leftover from the previous owner."

    "Come on, give it a try! I want to hear," Drew pouted as she snuggled back under the nket. Reluctantly, Eric sat up, ced the guitar on hisp, and tried strumming a few chords. He nced at the twinkling lights below in Beverly Hills, thought for a few seconds, and softly began to sing:

    I saw your weeping eyes reflected in the window of a Boeing 727.

    You looked down at the city, saw it slowly growing tiny,

    As the sunset turned Hell''s Kitchen into heaven.

    You turned your face to me, and I tucked your hair behind your ears,

    Said, nothing can go wrong,

    So long as we are together, so long as we are, so long,

    So long as we are together, so long as we are, so long.

    [T/N: So Long (As We Are Together) by Tim Minchin.]

    ...

    Most of the guitar skills he learned in college had already faded, so Eric picked notes based purely on feel. His slightly husky voice drifted into the night breeze, conjuring up some

    unexpected emotions.

    When he finished the song, Drew closed her eyes and savored the moment for a while before asking, "Eric, will we always be together?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Setting the guitar aside, Ericy back, once again reflecting on Jenny''s words, remembering how he had stumbled into this world under the influence: "Who knows? Maybe when I wake up, I won''t even be here anymore."

    Drew snuggled closer, resting her head on his arm, gently rubbing against him, "If you died, I would go with you."

    Eric chuckled, "That would be quite romantic. ording to tradition, maybe our story would be turned into a tragic love tale, staged as something like Eric and Drew, performed year after

    year in theaters."

    "Haha," Drew giggled, "Hearing you say that makes me want to kill you, then kill myself. That way, our story will be famous."

    Eric yfully tapped her forehead, "If you really did that, our tale would more likely end up as a bizarre murder case in the police archive."

    Drew rubbed her head in protest, and they both quietly cuddled for a moment before she looked for something to talk about again.

    "Eric, what''s your dream?"

    "Why the sudden question?"

    "I''m just curious. Tell me."

    Eric straightened up and changed positions. "I don''t like calling it a dream. I prefer ''ideal.'' Dreams are always so limitless, but ideals need to be grounded."

    "And what''s your ideal?"

    "My ideal..." Eric pondered for a moment, rather humorlessly, "To date a bunch of starlets and have a bunch of little child stars to be legends in the film world -- does that count?"

    Drew raised her head and gently bumped the back of her head against Eric''s arm,ughing,

    "How vulgar!"

    "Alright, it''ste now. Let''s sleep."

    "Can I sleep here?"

    "You''ll catch a cold."

    "Then carry me back," Drew raised her hands and wrapped them around Eric''s neck, pouting.

    Eric sighed, stood up, and scooped up Drew. Just as he straightened up, he suddenly seemed

    to lose strength, sinking down and eximing, "Oh man, you''re heavy -- I''m getting old and

    can''t carry you anymore!"

    "You''re so mean!" A shocked Drewughed and yfully hit him but clung tightly to his neck. Unable to do anything else, Eric carried the girl toward her room.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 51: Chapter 51: To Promote or Decline

    Chapter 51: To Promote or Decline

    ?

    [Chapter 51: To Promote or Decline]

    "What? That woman turned us down? Didn''t you tell me it was all set?" In his Malibu vi, Cohen Blount had just rolled out of bed when an assistant rushed in with some bad news.

    "Mr. Blount, we did have an agreement at first, but when we contacted herst night, she suddenly changed her mind."

    His good mood shattered, Cohen furrowed his brow. "Is it because she thinks we''re offering too little? We can add a bit more."

    The assistant shook his head. "No, I tested the waters, and she was quite definite in her refusal. I suspect she made another deal privately with Eric Williams."

    As the assistant spoke, he pulled out a newspaper and handed it to Cohen. Cohen nced at it, seeing photos of Drew Barrymore and her mother, Jaid Barrymore, appearing at the gates of Eric''s mansion. There was no need to read the article; he was reluctant to bother himself with the tabloids'' nonsense, tossing the paper onto the table. After a moment of thought, he asked, "You weren''t recognized during your dealings with her, were you?"

    If Drew''s mother had made a deal with Eric, that woman might leak who had pushed her into it. Cohen knew he wasn''t the most forgiving person, but he also understood that Eric Williams was equally difficult to deal with. If his scheming were uncovered, he couldn''t guess what kind of trouble might ensue. He sure wasn''t going to treat Eric like just another kid.

    The assistant quickly shook his head. "Absolutely not, Mr. Blount. I never had direct contact with her, and the people I approached are good at keeping their mouths shut. They''ll never leak our information."

    "Good," Cohen said, hesitating for a moment. "Let''s put this on hold for now."

    The assistant, bending forward a bit, tentatively suggested, "Mr. Blount, actually, we could explore other ways. We don''t necessarily have to go through Drew Barrymore''s mother..."

    Cohen Blount waved his hand. "Enough, I said to leave it for now."

    Noticing Cohen Blount''s displeasure, the assistant immediately quieted down.

    In the past, Cohen Blount wouldn''t have settled so easily. Eric had made him look foolish, and without some kind of retaliation, he would remain frustrated. But these days, something much more significant loomed over him.

    Recently, after Sony had sessfully acquired CBS Records, they started to make moves on the Coca-C board, aiming to take over Columbia Pictures-TriStar. After a tumultuous period trying to stabilize the situation, Cohen Blount couldn''t sit still. If Coca-C remained the owner of Columbia, with the connections he had built up over the years, he might have stayed in his position for several more years, even up to retirement.

    But if Columbia were taken over by the Japanese, it would be a whole different story -- he wouldn''t have any favors to fall back on. Cohen was obstinate but also aware enough to understand that the Japanese would run him out if they seeded.

    So, Cohen had to muster his energies once more, uniting forces opposed to the sale of Columbia, using every trick in the book to stop the Coca-C board from moving forward with their decision. Even that card he had been hesitant to y -- the box office sess of Home Alone -- he had to hold his nose and bring it out. After all, despite the lost profits from the gambling agreement, Home Alone had been Columbia''s only solid hit in years.

    Rubbing his temples, Cohen Blount looked up at his assistant. "By the way, I have lunch with Mr. Trevor from Coca-C''s board. I remember he likes Latin beauties. Get a few Latin actresses to keep himpany, make sure they''re gorgeous."

    The assistant, obviously used to such tasks, nodded eagerly. "Got it, Mr. Blount. I''ll take care of it right away."

    ...

    "Eric, why are youte? Kepler Hyde has been waiting for half an hour." As soon as Eric arrived, Jeffrey Hansen couldn''t help butin.

    "I''m really sorry, Jeffrey; I hit some traffic on the way."

    "Let''s not dwell on that. We should get inside."

    Because the filmpany''s offices were still under renovation, Eric had to meet with Kepler Hyde at a cafe to discuss acquiring his managementpany.

    Kepler Hyde was a tall white man in his forties, at least six feet three, balding with a bushy beard.

    Eric approached him and extended his hand. "I apologize for beingte, Mr. Hyde."

    Kepler Hyde didn''t show any sign of annoyance. Even if he felt a bit irked about Eric''s tardiness, he greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Eric. I hope you don''t mind if I call you that." "Not at all, Kepler. Please, have a seat." Eric took the liberty of addressing him more casually. "Eric, I''ve heard about your aplishments -- from publishing Jurassic Park, selling the script for 17 Again, to filming Home Alone and that final gambling agreement. When you think it through, it''s quite a strategic progression. So you''re clearly a smart and rational man. Why did you choose me among all the agencies? I was nning to sell my agency and head to Europe, but Jeffrey said you wanted me to stay. You probably know my situation -- my conflicts with Michael Ovitz have made it tough for me in this business."

    Eric replied earnestly, "I''m not afraid of CAA. While other studios have to bow to CAA''s roster of stars for box office reasons, I don''t have to worry about that. CAA has the stars, but I can create them. What I need is someone who can manage star power, like you -- not those

    second-rate agencies."

    Kepler listened to Eric and shook his head with a smile. "Eric, your confidence surprises me even more."

    "If I didn''t have enough confidence, I wouldn''t be where I am now."

    Thinking of that genius agreement, Kepler nodded, albeit resigned. "Eric, creating stars isn''t that simple. From my years at CAA, I know these Hollywood icons require a top-notch team and lots of hard work behind them..."

    Eric interrupted. "Do you think Stuart Ronkel qualifies as a star now?"

    Kepler clearly knew the young actor from Home Alone. "Absolutely, he''s probably the best child star in Hollywood -- there''s no second to him."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Then," Eric asked, "if I were to make another hit like Home Alone and handed the lead role over to you, do you think you could turn him into a Hollywood superstar?"

    "Sure, no problem. But Eric, this hypothetical situation doesn''t really hold water. The sess of Home Alone is tough to replicate -- it''s pure luck."

    "Why not find out by giving it a try?" With that, Eric raised his arms and sped his hands together on the table, somewhat perplexed. "Kepler, I can''t help but feel... something''s off. As a seller, shouldn''t you be trying to promote your agency? But you seem more like you''re

    declining?"

    Kepler shrugged. "Eric, I''m an agent, not a hustler. I''d like to keep things transparent between us, and I simply want to sell my agency to provide a better home for those who still stick around. I have no ns to stay."

    "Are you this forting in negotiations with clients as well?"

    Kepler shook his head quickly. "Of course not! I would do everything in my power to secure better deals for my clients. Eric, that''s a different matter altogether."

    "Then I have no problem with that. Kepler, my condition for acquiring your agency is that you must stay onboard. Otherwise, those leftover second-rate agents won''t mean much to me."

    "It seems I have no choice?"

    Eric nodded firmly.

    Kepler took a sip of coffee, pondering for a moment before finally agreeing. He felt a hint of excitement; perhaps this young man, who had already created miracles, might just keep on

    doing so.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Ill Be the Bad Guy

    Chapter 52: I''ll Be the Bad Guy

    ?

    [Chapter 52: I''ll Be the Bad Guy]

    Kepler Hyde agreed to the terms, and the discussions about the acquisition began. To Eric, the only real asset of Hyde''s agency was Kepler Hyde himself.

    Kepler, while not one of the five founding partners at CAA, was hardlycking in talent. The remaining agents and the twenty or so underachieving actors in his firm had little to no value -- at least, that was the case before Eric''s acquisition.

    Hyde''s agency had once weed top-tier actors, but thanks to Michael Ovitz''s influence, several well-known names were forced to leave after a short time. Those who remained did so mainly because they couldn''t find better opportunities; after all, Kepler was quite capable. The actors he managed might have struggled under CAA''s shadow, but they still managed tond roles in a few independent films and television shows.

    "Eric, one million dors is hard for me to ept..." Kepler expressed his discontent with Eric''s offer, as his sry at CAA had been far above a million.

    Eric calmly replied, "Kepler, the value of your agency lies only in those twenty-some actors'' contracts, and frankly, they don''t mean much to me. If I wanted to, I could find hundreds of actors at that level any day."

    Kepler countered, "Eric, they''re all outstanding talents. With my years of experience as an agent, I assure you my judgment is sound -- they justck opportunities."

    "All the struggling actors in Hollywoodck opportunities, Kepler. That million is purely my offer to you personally, and I am even leaving you with a 10% equity share. Trust me, in a few years, you''ll realize it was quite a bargain for you. As for them, the only thing I can give is the chance they''ve been dreaming of."

    Kepler knew Eric spoke the truth and sighed, slightly nodding his head in agreement.

    With the negotiations resolved, the two quickly signed a contract, transferring ownership of the agency. Naturally, the name needed to change, and Eric rather mischievously named it "United Talent Agency," abbreviated as UTA. In the future, UTA would stand alongside CAA and WMA as one of Hollywood''s big five agencies, though in reality, UTA wouldn''t be founded until 1991.

    ...

    After wrapping up these business matters, it was already lunchtime. After a meal, Eric followed Kepler Hyde to the agency''s office in Burbank, where Kepler only rented a few modest spaces that appeared rather shabby.

    However, the office was packed with people, all aware that it was a special day for the agency.

    As Eric took in the eager expressions of the agents and actors, he thought of a question and nodded to everyone, beckoning Jeffrey and Kepler into a private office. "Kepler, what''s the currentmission for your agency?"

    "Six percent, I believe."

    "Isn''t that a bit low?" Eric asked, surprised. "Wasn''t it ten percent?"

    Jeffrey chimed in, "Eric, that was a long time ago."

    Kepler exined, "Ever since CAA broke that norm in pursuit ofpetition,missions have dropped significantly. Especially for small agencies like ours, it''s essentially impossible to maintain a ten percent cut. Only CAA and WMA have the leverage to charge that much. Since CAA rose to power, they''ve even reinstated the ten percent split for those second-tier and third-tier stars."

    After thinking for a moment, Eric said, "Let''s change the agreement to raise themission to ten percent."

    "Eric, isn''t that a bit unreasonable?" Kepler hesitated, but Jeffrey couldn''t contain his disagreement.

    Eric continued, "If we don''t change it now, the impact will be much greater once the agency grows. So... who will announce this?"

    Jeffrey and Kepler exchanged nces, both inevitably turning their eyes toward Eric.

    "Uh, alright, I''ll be the bad guy."

    ...

    "I don''t think I need an introduction; you all know who I am. I am officially announcing myself as the new owner of this agency, now renamed UTA. My next film will begin shooting after the New Year, and as long as you fit the image and pass the audition, you will be prioritized for roles in the film. As you all know, Stuart Ronkel and Matthew Perry were once unknowns, but thanks to their involvement in Home Alone, they have now be hotmodities. Even some who could onlynd supporting roles in television have transitioned to the big screen because of it."

    Seeing the unmasked joy in the crowd, Eric knew he had set the stage well. He shifted gears and said, "However, I am a businessman, not a phnthropist. While I''m offering you hard- toe-by opportunities, I expect returns. Therefore, the contracts for the agency''s actors need to be revised to reflect a ten percentmission. If anyone finds this uneptable, they are free to leave."

    After making his statement, Eric turned and returned to the office to give everyone time to think. He believed that as long as these folks had any sense about them, they wouldn''t choose to leave at this moment.

    ...

    In the office, Jeffrey and Kepler were already discussing preparations for Pretty Woman.

    "Eric, Jeffrey mentioned you wanted to invite Sophie Marceau for the leadingdy?" Kepler inquired.

    Eric nodded, "Yeah, is there a problem?"

    Kepler replied, "If you want to start filming right after New Year, I advise you to consider someone else. Sophie Marceau is currently filming for Andre Zo''s new project, and knowing Andre''s pace, it''s doubtful she''ll finish in time for your Pretty Woman."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric recalled that Sophie was likely busy with a project some viewers had dubbed an avant- garde film, My Nights Are Better Than Your Days -- beautiful name, but the content was indeed a bit out there, consistent with Zo''s usual style.

    "Then let''s go with Julia Roberts. Kepler, I hope you''ll personally represent Julia."

    Jeffrey urged again, "Eric, you must know that your film cannot afford to fail. A lot of people are watching closely, waiting for you to stumble, so..."

    "Jeffrey, I get your point. But," Eric chuckled, "didn''t you read that gossip in the papers? With the reputation I''ve built from my first two films, even if this next one ends up being terrible, it''ll still make money. So, as long as the film is decent, failure is nearly impossible. Why not seize this opportunity to put a star of our own on the map?"

    "What if Julia Roberts doesn''t perform well?"

    Eric smiled, his expression carrying a hint of mischief. "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure to personally groom her."

    ...

    As Eric had expected, none of the actors at the agency chose to leave. They all epted the new contract proposals.

    After wrapping up these matters, Eric was about to drive home when Jeffrey joined him in the passenger seat, saying, "Eric, my car is in the shop for maintenance. Mind giving me a lift?"

    "Not a problem."

    As they hit the road, Jeffrey asked with concern, "Eric, what''s the deal with Drew? I saw in the papers that she came to see you yesterday, and apparently her mother, Jaid Barrymore, was at your house too?"

    Eric didn''t hide anything from Jeffrey; he recounted the events of the previous day in detail.

    "That''s... okay, but Drew is a talented young actress. Are you nning to have her live with you indefinitely? You have no blood rtion to her. Continuing like this, especially with the media swirling around, even if Drew''s mother doesn''t cause trouble, Child Protective Services might intervene. After all, Drew is just thirteen."

    "Don''t worry, I''m aware of that. I''ve already made ns to send Drew to a boarding school."

    "That''s good to hear." Jeffrey nodded. "Eric, you''re not seriously harboring any sort of... Lolitaplex, are you?"

    Just then, the car, which was cruising steadily, suddenly slowed down. A Chevrolet that had been closely following nearly rear-ended them. The driver, a overweight white guy, stuck his head out the window and began yelling.

    Eric steadied himself and maneuvered the steering wheel to shake off the Chevy. "Jeffrey, you tell me, where does Drew resemble a Lolita?"

    "Just be mindful of your boundaries," Jeffrey retorted, apparently convinced of Eric''s

    supposed inclinations.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Hopefully Youll Have the Guts to Keep Refusing

    Chapter 53: Hopefully You''ll Have the Guts to Keep Refusing

    ?

    [Chapter 53: Hopefully You''ll Have the Guts to Keep Refusing]

    After the news broke that Drew spent the night at Eric''s ce, many tabloids that hyped up the story saw a spike in sales. During this time, Eric couldn''t seem to shake off the paparazzi following him. The day after he purchased the talent agency, reports about it hit the

    newsstands quickly.

    The Los Angeles Daily News analyzed the matter directly, stating, "It''s hard to understand why Eric Williams would choose to acquire Kepler Hyde''s agency. While Kepler Hyde is a very capable manager, he was forced out of CAA due to a conflict with Michael Ovitz, making it difficult for him to navigate the Hollywood agent scene. Rumor has it that Hyde nned to sell his agency and head off to Europe, but Eric Williams'' stubbornness kept him here. It seems our young miracle director has been swept off his feet by sess and is unaware of the serious ramifications of angering a giant like CAA."

    Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter focused more on how Eric had raised themission at the agency: "ording to a signed actor from what''s now called the United Talent Agency, Eric Williams announced right away upon taking over that he was raising themission for agents to the federal legal maximum of ten percent. It''s certain that Eric will prioritize his agency''s actors when filming in the future. If his movies can maintain the quality of 17 Again or Home Alone, even bumping themission to twenty percent would attract many aspiring actors. But that assumption is quite unlikely; filmmaking is like gambling, and no director wins all the time. So, I can confidently say that Eric Williams'' new agency will struggle to survive even a year."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Other newspapers soon echoed doubts about Eric''s acquisition. To stoke the fire of this story''s poprity, some journalists even sent interview requests to Michael Ovitz.

    In a twist, Ovitz did not decline as he usually did. Although he stayed out of the public eye, he had his assistant issue a statement expressing confidence in the potential of young director Eric Williams, hoping for a possibility of coboration between them.

    To many, that statement seemed innocuous, but the media spun it with a contrasting angle: it was Ovitz''s coy warning to Eric; as long as Eric remained connected to Kepler Hyde, the chance of teamwork was slim.

    Of course, that was merely spective.

    Next, Eric''s second film, Pretty Woman, was announced through the media, and the ever- present paparazzi quickly uncovered that Eric was trying tond Richard Gere for the leading role.

    This revtion excited many in the press, as Gere was a contracted actor at CAA and was presently in a career slump. Under normal circumstances, he would likely ept Eric''s offer. Thus, if Eric''s coboration with Gere fell through, it would likely confirm spection of CAA cklisting Eric.

    ...

    In a newly renovated conference room at Firefly Pictures, Horner Willy sat casually drinking coffee. He was one of CAA''s top agents and, notably, Richard Gere''s agent, which exined his presence there.

    The meeting room door swung open, and an impably dressed Eric walked in, smiling as he extended his hand to Horner, saying, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Willy."

    "It''s no problem," Horner Willy replied, arrogance creeping into his tone. He stood slightly to shake Eric''s hand but quickly resumed his seat.

    Eric subtly frowned and took a seat across from Horner, casting a puzzled nce around the room. "Mr. Willy, may I ask why Mr. Gere isn''t here today? He''s supposed to be the star of our discussions, right?"

    Horner Willy shook his head. "Richard''s tied up with other matters. He''s delegated this to me."

    Already sensing something off, Eric asked politely, "I assume Richard read over the script outline I sent him. What did you both think?"

    Horner Willy responded, "Mr. Williams, Richard is quite pleased with your script; however, your offer of five hundred thousand dors is a tough sell. Keep in mind, Richard''s flick An Officer and a Gentleman brought in over one hundred million dors at the North American box office."

    Eric suppressed a smirk, thinking to himself about how self-important some folks could be. "Mr. Willy, I''m quite young and unfamiliar with An Officer and a Gentleman. What year did that filme out? I''ll be sure to track down a tape and watch it."

    "1982," Horner Willy responded instantly, only realizing toote that Eric had yed him. In Hollywood, an actor''s pay was not strictly tied to their highest-grossing film. It depended on their recent work, box office performance, awards, and visibility. Since An Officer and a Gentleman was seven years old and reflected little on Richard''s current market value, it was a flimsy reference point.

    Before sending the offer, Eric had thoroughly researched Richard''s recent career. Over the past three years, Richard''s films had bombed. His best action thriller, No Mercy, pulled in just twelve million dors. A recent cameo role had even grossed a paltry eighteen thousand dors -- not a typo, eighteen thousand -- and it seemed the studio hadn''t even recouped his appearance fee.

    Given all this, Eric''s five hundred thousand dor offer seemed generous.

    "Alright, Mr. Willy, since you think that''s insufficient, why don''t you tell me your terms?" Horner Willy quickly regained hisposure, stating, "Mr. Williams, while we could ept the five hundred thousand, you should really recognize the crux of the issue. Mr. Ovitz isn''t a tightwad; if Kepler Hyde leaves the States, Ovitz won''t target him anymore. This deal was almost sealed, but you insisted on keeping him around, which has put Ovitz in an ufortable position, so..."

    Eric interjected with a coldugh, "So you''re trying to pressure me into getting rid of Kepler for a partnership, right? What a joke -- forcing someone to leave their own country and still iming to act with dignity."

    "Mr. Williams," Horner Willy cooled his expression, "Though you''ve achieved some sess, don''t overestimate yourself. In front of a giant like CAA, you''re still an ant. I hope you''re smart enough not to act rashly."

    "And what if I insist on doing just that?"

    "Then we regret to inform you, Mr. Williams, not to forget that Stuart Ronkel, the star of Home Alone, is also part of CAA. If you oppose CAA, good luck getting Home Alone 2 off the

    ground smoothly."

    "Looks like CAA has grown so big that they''ve forgotten their ce," Eric retorted, still smirking. "Don''t forget, you''re an agency; your actions should always prioritize the interests of your clients, or you won''tst long in this business."

    Horner Willy countered, "You don''t need to remind us of that, Mr. Williams. We''ve always done just that. Even if we can''t reach an agreement, Richard willnd another starring role aspensation. CAA has no shortage of quality film projects."

    "I just hope that after Pretty Woman premieres, Richard Gere will still feel adequatelypensated," Eric said, his toneced with unspoken significance. He stood up and continued, "Mr. Willy, our conversation ends here. Please pass along to Michael Ovitz that while nobody in Hollywood is irreceable, I will continue to extend offers to actors I have my eye on at CAA, and I won''t ept any bundling conditions from you. Hopefully, you''ll have the guts to keep refusing."

    Horner Willy shot Eric a cold look. "I too hope you don''t regret today''s decision." With that, he walked out, leaving no further room for discussion.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Product Placement

    Chapter 54: Product cement

    ?

    [Chapter 54: Product cement]

    The conference room door swung open again, and Jeffrey Hansen along with Kepler Hyde walked in. They both took one look at Eric''s dark expression and knew that things had fallen apart.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Kepler realized that he must have had a hand in this; otherwise, the nearly washed-up Richard Gere wouldn''t have turned down a flick from such a hot director as Eric. "Eric, why don''t I just resign? I could head to Europe; even though their movie scene is in a slump, I could easily find work given my skills."

    Eric rubbed his somewhat stiff cheek and said, "No, I won''t make anypromises. Kepler, you just need to handle your own things. By the way, have you signed the contract agency with Julia yet? What do you think of her?"

    "I went and saw Miss Julia Roberts in Mystic Pizza and I just spoke to her again," Kepler replied, hesitating. "To be honest, Eric, I''m not too optimistic about her potential. She''s only had short-term acting training, her performance is mediocre, and she doesn''t have a standout appearance..."

    Kepler''s voice grew slower as he nced at Eric''s face, remembering that Julia Roberts was someone Eric had specifically rmended, coupled with the tabloid rumors about their rtionship. He worried that being so blunt might upset Eric.

    However, after Kepler finished speaking, Eric nodded in agreement, "Actually, I feel the same way."

    "Then why did you cast her as the lead?" Jeffrey interjected, always hoping Eric would pick a

    more famous actress for the role.

    "Because I have a feeling that Julia is destined to take America by storm, make a ssh at the Oscars, and gain worldwide fame..." Eric started to say but halted when he saw both Jeffrey and Kepler exchanging looks as if to say, "You''ve got to be kidding."

    Chuckling, Eric changed his tune: "Alright, I was joking. Actually, while Pretty Woman has a lovely title for a beautiful woman, we can''t cast someone too striking for the role. To me, Julia''s image fits just right. If the lead is too beautiful, audiences might only focus on her looks and overlook the film''s deeper themes. If, after watching Pretty Woman, viewers can only recall a pretty face, that would mean we failed."

    Having already perused the script for Pretty Woman, Jeffrey and Kepler listened to Eric''s insights, and once they connected it with the content, they ultimately agreed with him.

    "Now, what we need most is a leading man." Eric looked at the two men in front of him. "While Richard Gere is still my top choice, since he declined, we have to consider other options. Do you have any good suggestions?"

    "How about Michael Dous?" Jeffrey suggested. "He yed a stock magnate in Wall Streetst year, which aligns closely with Edward''s character in Pretty Woman."

    As Eric recalled Wall Street, Kepler quietly reminded him, "Eric, Michael Dous''s agency is also CAA."

    All three men fell silent for a moment before Eric replied, "Kepler, you''re the expert here. Why don''t you handle this? Quickly create a list of suitable actors for Edward and set up auditions. We''re on a tight schedule."

    Kepler nodded, "No problem. If there''s nothing else, I''ll get started on it right away." After Eric confirmed, Kepler hurried out of the conference room.

    Watching Kepler leave, Jeffrey sighed softly, "Eric, do you really think this is worth it?"

    "You''re referring to the tension with CAA due to Kepler?" Eric inquired.

    Jeffrey nodded.

    "Whether it''s worth it or not is a secondary concern, Jeffrey. My circumstances are different from others; you''ll understand in time. Other studios might fear burning bridges with a giant like CAA, but I have no such worries."

    "I just don''t get where you''re getting all this confidence from," Jeffrey shook his head. "Eric, you mentioned before about seeking sponsorships for cars in the film. I contacted the higher- ups from Ferrari in Los Angeles. Initially, they agreed to provide us cars for free, but after hearing about the plot and that the lead character is a prostitute, they hesitated. I think we should reach out to other car brands."

    "No problem," Eric replied. Even though he favored Ferrari, he didn''t want to force them into a promotional deal. Reflecting on Jeffrey''s words, Eric suddenly had a thought, "Jeffrey, did

    you say they initially agreed to provide cars for film support for free?"

    Jeffrey didn''t grasp what Eric meant until he nodded after considering it.

    "You didn''t mention anything about payment?"

    Jeffrey said, "Eric, with your current name, getting a car brand to sponsor a movie for free shouldn''t be difficult. We wouldn''t have to pay them anything."

    "I meant..." Eric felt a bit frustrated and absentmindedly waved his right hand. "What if they paid us?"

    Jeffrey was taken aback. "How could that even be possible?"

    Product cement had already been amon practice, but from Jeffrey''s reaction, Eric realized that increasing movie revenue through such concepts hadn''t sunk in yet. Back in his previous reality, the global advertising industry for product cements had surpassed $20 billion annually.

    "Jeffrey, just imagine. ording to the script, that car would appear in the first twenty minutes, and the lead character even has a scene where she introduces the car''s features. That ends up being like a twenty-minutemercial. If I achieve $100 million in North American box office, that means 10 million people will have seen that segment. Add in the global viewership and those who rent the VHSter, and the numbers will balloon evenrger. Even ten or twenty years down the line, every time someone watches the film, they''ll be reminded of this ''carmercial.'' Can you understand the scale of the advertising impact?"

    Jeffrey nodded thoughtfully.

    "So, put together what I just exined, and pitch it to those car brand higher-ups. Just remember, any sponsorship less than $1 million is off the table."

    "Eric, isn''t a million a bit steep? Besides, what you just said was all hypothetical. What if the box office does poorly..."

    Eric cut him off. "This can be easily worked out; we could set a box office threshold. If it doesn''t hit the expected number, we return a portion of the sponsorship fee."

    Jeffrey was persistent. "But what if it exceeds our expectations?"

    Dealing with this nagging old man made Eric slightly exasperated, "Jeffrey, those finer details are what you, as the producer, need to work out. I have far too much on my te; can you really expect me to worry about that?"

    Just then, a staff member knocked on the door to the office. "Mr. Williams, the outfits based on your sketches have arrived; would you like to take a look?"

    "Sure, I''ll be right there. Have Julia try it on first," Eric replied, chatting briefly with Jeffrey before adding, "Let''s go see the look I designed for Julia."

    ...

    Stepping out of the soundproof conference room, they heard faint hammering; workers were still busy doing renovations in some of the offices.

    Entering a thirty-square-meter audition room, Julia had already changed into the iconic tank dress and long boots for Pretty Woman, topped off with a red jacket. Eric merely nced and frowned, "Where''s the wig? I specifically requested it earlier."

    "It''s in the dressing room. Should I put it on now?" Julia asked.

    Eric waved his hand, "Quickly go change into it. We still have to shoot the fitting photos."

    Julia obediently walked into the dressing room, and her newly assigned assistant, Allison,

    followed in to help.

    Before long, Julia emerged again, donning a golden wig and topped with a small ck hat. As soon as she appeared, everyone''s eyes in the audition room lit up a little. The wig entuated her face, giving her a hint of stunning beauty. If Julia''s looks were originally only a six, now

    they were at least an eight.

    Seeing Julia''s appearance, Eric still sensed something was off but simply instructed the photographer beside him to snap some photos of her.

    Once they finished, Eric said, "You all can step out. I need to speak with Julia for a moment."

    The crew gradually left, and Jeffrey rose to take his leave as well.

    When they were alone in the audition room, Julia nervously fiddled with her clothing and asked, "Eric, is there a problem? I noticed you''ve been... frowning the whole time?" Julia Roberts felt that her recent experiences were surreal -- first, Eric had surprisingly seduced her, leaving her with an uncertain promise. The week that followed saw no contact from him; just when she was disappointed, thinking his earlier words amounted to nothing but games, he abruptly called her. After hastily signing a management contract, Eric threw a script in front of her, saying, "The lead is yours. Don''t let me down."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 55: Chapter 55: How Could You Expect Me to Refuse Such a Thing?

    Chapter 55: How Could You Expect Me to Refuse Such a Thing?

    ?

    [Chapter 55: How Could You Expect Me to Refuse Such a Thing?]

    Eric did not immediately respond as he remained on the couch, intently observing Julia for quite some time.

    "Julia, put your arms across your chest and act indifferent," Eric finally spoke after a few moments.

    Julia breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure Eric exuded, while he was deep in thought, made her feel somewhat breathless. Gathering herposure, sheplied with his request, folding her arms and letting her gaze drop to the floor in a nonchnt manner.

    "Take a few steps back and forth," Eric gestured with his finger to the space in front of him, and Julia followed his instructions.

    "All right, stop," Eric said, his toneden with displeasure. "Julia, have you actually read the script?"

    Julia quickly nodded, "Of course, I''ve memorized most of my lines."

    "Now you are Vivian; think of me as Edward. Keep in mind, you are a hooker, so try to seduce me," he said, his tone almost yful.

    Julia couldn''t help but recall the rumors about the infamous casting couch as she watched Eric slouchfortably in his seat, having just sent everyone else out of the room. She almost blurted out a refusal but stifled a sigh, reminding herself this wasn''t the first time she''d been in a situation like this...

    After slipping off her red jacket and cing it aside, Julia knelt down in front of Eric, took a deep breath, and reached for his belt. Eric raised an eyebrow, confusion evident on his face, but it wasn''t until she touched him that he realized she had misunderstood his intentions.

    All he could do was let out afortable groan, reclining back on the sofa. Momentster, Julia hurried towards the nearby restroom, covering her mouth.

    Eric pulled out a few tissues to clean himself up and fastened his belt again. After a while, Julia re-emerged from the bathroom, towel in hand to dry off, her eyes slightly red but her chin held high. "Mr. Williams, are you satisfied now?"

    "Of course," Eric smiled at her, noting her faux pride. "But Julia, you clearly missed my point. I was genuinely asking you to try to seduce me with your words and actions, not..."

    Caught off guard by Eric''s words, Julia stood frozen, her cheeks ring with a mix of

    embarrassment and anger as she swiftly tossed the towel at him. "Then why didn''t you stop me just now?"

    Ericughed, dodging the flying towel. "Come on, I''m a normal guy. How could I refuse something like that?"

    "You... jerk!" Julia snapped, an overwhelming wave of humiliation crashing over her as she sank to the floor, burying her face in her arms and starting to cry softly.

    Wiping his smile away, Eric sighed and moved beside her, gently patting her shoulder. "Julia, don''t cry. It was my fault."

    "Do you think I''m trash now?" Julia asked through her tears, her voice trembling.

    "Not at all," Eric sat beside her, pulling her into aforting embrace. "You''re just a bit insecure. It''s likely you''ve picked up on Jeffrey and Kepler not having much faith in you, which must have created a trigger of self-doubt. Look, I''m giving you the lead role because I truly believe in you. Remember, everyone is waiting for my next film to tank at the box office."

    "Thank you, Eric."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Giving it your all in this film would be the best way to thank me. Now, let''s talk about your issues."

    They both stood up, and Julia quickly touched up her makeup before sitting across from Eric. "Julia, let me tell you where your biggest w lies. In the script, Vivian is a hooker, a very ethical one at that. So before Edward reshapes her, everything she does, every look, every word, must fit the character of a hooker. Yet, from what I''ve observed, while this outfit makes you look pretty, youck the charm and allure Vivian is supposed to have. You still remind me of that waitress I met before."

    Julia processed Eric''s words, waiting until he finished before asking, "Eric, should I try again?"

    Eric shook his head. "No need. I''m assigning you a task. Starting tonight, you''ll go to the streets where hookers hang out and observe them, trying to mimic their behaviors. I''m heading to New York for Christmas, and when I return, I''ll be conducting a test. You''ll stand on a busy street in this outfit, and if less than ten men approach you in an hour, we''ll consider it a failure."

    Julia hesitated, "Eric, ten... is that too many?"

    "That''s the rule," Eric firmly stated, not giving her a chance to negotiate. "If your

    performance is subpar, I won''t hesitate to find someone else."

    Julia simply nodded. After thinking for a moment, Eric added, "While doing this, don''t

    venture into quiet streets. Bring your assistant for safety."

    Feeling a sense of warmth, Julia said, "Thank you, Eric."

    ...

    News about Richard Gere rejecting the role in Eric''s new film quickly got out, leading to a surge of headlines specting about Eric being cklisted by CAA.

    Under relentless inquiry from paparazzi, both CAA and Eric''s team consistently argued that the failure to work together was due to disagreements over sry and scheduling. No one made any indication of wanting the media to sensationalize the story, as it wasn''t time for anyone to go for each other''s throats just yet.

    Meanwhile, MGM''s United Artists seized the opportunity to announce their own project, with Richard Gere set to star in a new drama called Road House.

    Originally, United Artists had nned for a May release, so there were no immediate filming ns. However, after CAA suggested Gere for the lead, MGM and United Artists'' executives swiftly realized it was a prime chance to ride the wave of Eric''s film''s publicity and decided to expedite the movie''s production. They scheduled it for the Easter period, clearly intending to go head-to-head with Eric''s project.

    ...

    As the newspapers erupted with chatter, Barry Diller couldn''t help but call personally, voicing his concerns to Eric over the situation. Though Fox had some hopes for Eric''s film, they were more fixated on the sequel to Home Alone. If CAA really did cklist Eric''s productionpany, filming for the sequel would surely suffer major setbacks.

    "...Don''t worry, Mr. Diller. If this does happen by the end of the year, I''ll consider handing off the Home Alone sequel to Fox... I apologize, but I''ve been incredibly busy and might not have time... All right, that''s it, goodbye."

    Hanging up the phone, Eric nced at the hefty stack of actor profiles in front of him. He noticed Kepler Hyde''s bloodshot eyes across the table and encouraged him, "Kepler, you really don''t need to push yourself so hard. Remember, healthes first."

    In just over a day, Kepler had managed to gather detailed profiles of dozens of male actors fitting Eric''s criteria, which genuinely touched Eric and confirmed he hadn''t misjudged

    Kepler.

    "Thanks for your concern, Eric. I once stayed up for two days straight working on a film

    project."

    Nodding in understanding, Eric opened the file and began to sift through it.

    Most of the actors came from William Morris and International Creative Management, with a few from smaller agencies, and some even had family members acting as their agents.

    As Eric flipped through, pulling candidates he favored for auditions, he unexpectedly stumbled upon someone intriguing. "Kepler, the profile for Al Pacino shows he currently has no agent. What''s going on with that?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Sponsorship

    Chapter 56: Sponsorship

    ?

    [Chapter 56: I Might Get Stupid from All This]

    Kepler nced over and said, "It was around 1985, I think. Al Pacino starred in a big Warner Bros. production that cost nearly $30 million, and it only brought in just over $300,000 at the box office. The pressure was too much, so he chose to take a break from acting. I heard recently that Al is looking to make aeback, which is why I included him on the list."

    Eric recalled the character from Scent of a Woman: a delicate yet fierce blind colonel whose immense presence epitomized male charisma, and couldn''t help but ask, "Kepler, is there a chance we could sign Al to UTA?"

    Kepler hesitated. "I''ll try my best. Al Pacino is one of the four great talents who emerged in the 1970s. Though that movie flopped in ''85, his performance was wless. He''s been nominated four times for Best Actor at the Oscars. Given that he''s signaled he wants toe back, I''m sure many agencies will be vying for him. We don''t have much of an advantage."

    Eric knew Kepler was speaking the truth and replied, "Regardless, we need to make the effort. By the way, send out the invitation to the male lead for Pretty Woman as soon as possible. If we can, I''d really like Al Pacino to y Edward."

    "Sure," Kepler responded, pointing to the list of actors Eric had provided. "So, Eric, do you want to invite these folks to audition as well?"

    "Not for now. Focus on contacting Al Pacino first. If he declines, we''ll reach out to the others."

    ...

    Over the next few days, Eric tirelessly held auditions for supporting roles, scouted filming locations, and managed shooting schedules, often working until the wee hours of the night sketching storyboards. He also took time to reach out to a girls'' boarding school in Los Angeles, dropping quite a sponsorship fee. With less than ten days until Christmas break, he sent the pesky little girl lounging in the mansion off to school. That girl, with her chaotic imagination and newfound knack for sneaking around at night, could create serious trouble if allowed to linger.

    ...

    "Eric, good news and bad news -- what do you want first?" As the new day began, Jeffrey barreled into the office without knocking after just sitting down with some budget reports.

    Seeing the mostly joyful look on Jeffrey''s face, Eric smiled and said, "Let''s hear the good first, just to calm any nerves."

    Jeffrey pulled a contract from his briefcase and handed it to Eric. "Lamborghini agreed to our sponsorship proposal. They''re about tounch the new Lamborghini Countach. After I exined your earlier pitch, they promptly said yes. Look at this -- $1 million! Once this news gets out, the envy from ourpetitors will be off the charts. So many films struggle to even earn a million by the end."

    Eric scanned the contract. Lamborghini had indeed agreed to the $1 million advertising fee, but only if Pretty Woman grossed $100 million in North America. Should the box office fall short, a proportional refund of the advertising money would be expected. Of course, if the film exceeded $100 million, Lamborghini would cover the extra.

    While product cement wasmonce in the future, Eric felt little excitement and joked with Jeffrey, "You''re getting excited too soon, Jeffrey. If our film doesn''t hit the mark, we''ll be refunding that advertising fee."

    Jeffrey sobered a bit, contemting the possibility. "That shouldn''t... happen, right? Eric, haven''t you always had confidence in this film?"

    Eric waved him off. "Okay, enough joking. What''s the bad news?"

    "The bad news is that I reached out to some top jewelrypanies, but none were willing to sponsor Vivian''s jewelry. Only one jeweler reluctantly agreed to provide a set for filming."

    Of course, Eric thought with a chuckle, "Jeffrey, while I appreciate your enthusiasm, you might have forgotten that Vivian''s character is a prostitute. Just getting a jeweler to agree is a win."

    "Fair point. I didn''t consider that," Jeffrey acknowledged quickly, then tentatively suggested, "Eric, why not change Vivian''s character to a white-cor worker? I could definitely..."

    "Don''t even think about it, Jeffrey. Changing the script for sponsorship is foolish. Just stick to being a producer; don''t think I''ll take any suggestions about the film''s content."

    "Alright, alright. I know I have a history..." Jeffrey chuckled awkwardly. "By the way, have there been any updates from Al Pacino? I heard you wanted to invite him to y the lead role?"

    "Kepler is reaching out. Butst night, he called to say Al Pacino is in New York right now. Apparently, he wants to do some theater in Broadway first."

    "Then you need to decide quickly," Jeffrey advised. "Christmas break ising up. If the lead isn''t locked in by then, our ns to start shooting right after the holiday will surely fall through."

    Eric nodded confidently. "Don''t worry, I''ll handle it."

    In those days, the dor remained strong. A $1 million sponsorship was a big deal -- just twenty yearster, what would have once cost several million dors in Beverly Hills was now just at the million-dor mark. The new Lamborghini sports car was only priced at $240,000. With such a hefty investment, Lamborghini wasted no time in publicizing their sponsorship deal.

    In no time, countless envious and critical opinions flooded the papers.

    ...

    The Los Angeles Times quipped, "Sources say Eric Williams'' new film had a production budget of only $7 million. With just Lamborghini''s sponsorship, he recouped one-seventh of his investment. It seems our young miracle director is not just a film genius, but a business prodigy as well."

    The Hollywood Reporter raised eyebrows, questioning, "With a $1 million sponsorship fee, is Eric Williams nning to create a carmercialsting over 100 minutes? The title Pretty Woman doesn''t quite connect with Lamborghini. I''m beginning to doubt the quality of Eric Williams'' new film."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    That was still on the milder side. Thetest issue of Film Comment harshly criticized, "Eric Williamses across as a troublemaker in Hollywood. A $1 million advertising sponsorship is a desecration of the art of film. If his product cement seeds here, it won''t be long before greedy producers flood films with ads just to reap more profits. Therefore, we urge all cinema lovers to stay away from Eric Williams'' new film."

    Sadly, Film Comment''s highbrow tone didn''t capture mainstream attention. Though Americans loved films, they didn''t quite care for such lofty movie magazines. This outcry may have stirred minor stirrings among the traditionalists in the industry, but it hardly made a

    ripple.

    ...

    The external noise didn''t affect Eric; he kept methodically preparing for Pretty Woman. Besides the now-uncertain lead role, everything else was nearingpletion. The few remaining minor details hardly required his presence; Jeffrey managed those.

    "Eric, if you''re set on inviting Al Pacino, you might need to head to New York." Kepler sat across from Eric, looking somewhat fatigued.

    Eric stood up and made Kepler a cup of coffee. "Can you exin?"

    "Al''s unclear about your script and wants to discuss it face to face. But he''s currentlymitted to performing Richard III in a theater on Broadway," Kepler exined.

    Eric considered this. He had already nned to go to New York during Christmas to see Aniston. If he didn''t show up to stake his im, the little girl could very well end up in someone else''s arms.

    "Not a problem. I''ll be heading to New York anyway. Kepler, would you like toe along? Maybe we can talk Al into joining us at UTA?"

    Kepler nodded. "I was thinking the same. Al only has a personal manager, not an agency. I

    need to make the effort."

    "Sounds good. Let''s book those tickets ASAP -- either tonight or tomorrow would work. If we can''t make a deal, I need toe back and start contacting other actors for auditions."

    ...

    After discussing this matter, Eric drove away from the office toward a girls'' school in northern Los Angeles near the Rose Bowl, where Drew had just been sent a few days earlier.

    As soon as he met with her, the girl began whining, "Eric, please, change my school! Or I

    might start believing in Scientology or Satanism! This Catholic school is so boring, and it''s all

    girls here. I''m gonna be dumbed down!"

    Eric chuckled, giving her a light tap on the head. He had sent Drew there based on Jeffrey''s suggestion. The Catholic boarding school was known for its strict environment, which would hopefully temper Drew''s wild and reckless nature.

    "Alright, Drew, transferring isn''t happening. I paid a hefty sponsorship fee. I wanted to let you know that I''ll be heading to New York for a few days. If things go well, I probably won''t be back until after Christmas. You have the keys to my ce. If you don''t want to go home during the break, feel free to stay there. Just call Jeffrey if you need anything; he''ll help you."

    Upon hearing Eric, Drew''s demeanor dipped. "Are you going to see Aniston?"

    Eric didn''t deny it, nodding in acknowledgement. He offered a few more words before quickly leaving, feeling her sulking eyes follow him as he drove away.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Out of Control

    Chapter 57: Out of Control

    ?

    [Chapter 57: Out of Control]

    Workaholics oftencked any sense of bnce, neglecting food and sleep. Eric and Kepler happened to fit this mold, and as a result, their situation turned into a tragedy.

    They bought ne tickets to New York, hurriedly packed only the essentials, and boarded the flight. By the time they touched down in New York, it was already 7 p.m. on the East Coast. The moment they arrived, the chilly air hit them, a stark contrast to the spring warmth of Los Angeles, causing both men, dressed in only light jackets, to shiver simultaneously.

    "It looks like we both need a personal assistant," Eric sighed, having just stepped out of a clothing store, now wrapped in a heavy coat.

    Kepler yfully made a teasing remark, "That''s you. UTA is still too small for me to hire any personal assistant."

    "Don''t worry, things will pick up soon."

    Kepler merelyughed and asked, "Are youing to the hotel with me, or are you going to find... your girlfriend?"

    "It''s been days since Ist saw Jen. I n to go to her ce first. I''ve already given you the number to her apartment on the ne. You should contact Al Pacino to set up a meeting time as soon as you can."

    "Alright," Kepler shrugged, "I hope you don''t get kicked out. From what you said on the flight, I feel like, given her personality, that''s a real possibility."

    "Ha! No need for you to worry about that."

    ...

    Following the address Drew had given him, Eric took a taxi and circled Manhattan for quite a while until he finally found the apartment where Aniston lived. Standing in front of the door, he fiddled with the bouquet of roses in his hand, straightened his clothes, then knocked. After waiting for a moment without response, he knocked a few more times, finally concluding that Aniston wasn''t home yet.

    Turning to nce at arge flowerpot beside the door, Eric couldn''t help but smile. It appeared Aniston hadn''t changed that little habit of hers. She always liked to keep a spare key outside her door. Eric had once seriously exined to her that it reflected ack of security within her, but the strong-willed girl always refused to admit it, rattling off a list of reasons to counter his view.

    Fishing the key out from the flowerpot, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. Flipping on the lights, he noticed the warm decor style, and the familiar scent of her perfume wafted through the air. Taking a deep breath, his mild longing quickly transformed into a rich stew of emotion. He wished desperately that the girl would appear before him so he could pull her into an embrace and squeeze her fiercely.

    Having gone five or six hours without food, Eric opened the fridge and decided to whip up ate-night snack for both himself and Aniston. Donning an apron, he began bustling around the kitchen.

    About twenty minutester, as Eric was preparing thest dish, he heard the soft sound of a key turning in the lock. He dashed into the living room, grabbing the roses while hiding behind the door.

    When the door swung open, Eric smiled, ready to speak, but all three of them froze in ce. Yes, there were three people: Eric, Aniston, and... Brad Pitt.

    "Eric, what are you... doing here?" Aniston finally broke the eerie silence after a few seconds, her mind screaming in panic: This is it; Eric is definitely going to misunderstand.

    Eric shoved the roses into Aniston''s hands and turned to Brad Pitt, forcing out a weak smile, though his eyes reflected bitterness.

    "Hello, Mr. Pitt. Nice to see you again."

    "Hello, Mr. Williams..." Brad Pitt extended his hand but quickly withdrew it as Eric showed no intention of shaking it, leaving him awkwardly hanging.

    They had only met once during the audition for 17 Again, but Eric''s meteoric rise to fame made it hard for Brad to forget the young man.

    After their greetings, Eric didn''t step aside to let him enter. Instead, he continued, "Mr. Pitt, thank you for bringing my girlfriend home. If there''s nothing else, you can leave now."

    That rude dismissal turned Brad''s face a bit red. He nced at Aniston, who had been dating Eric for several months, fully aware of the simmering anger emanating from him. Yet, Aniston somehow stood tall against the pressure and shot back, "Eric, you can''t do this. Brad is my guest."

    That casual "Brad" ignited Eric''s fury. He suddenly raised his voice, shooting a re at Aniston, "Shut up and go inside!"

    This was the first time Aniston had seen Eric so enraged, and she instinctively recoiled. Feeling guilty for bringing a man home when Eric caught them, her previously built-up courage evaporated under his fierce shout. Lowering her head, she muttered, "What''s with the temper?" but still obediently stepped inside.

    Bang--

    Without paying Brad Pitt any more mind, Eric mmed the door behind him.

    "So, what''s going on?" Eric tossed himself onto the couch, irritably pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag before speaking.

    If it had been any other man, Eric might have taken a breath and calmly figured out the truth. But since it was Brad Pitt, and given their past, he simply couldn''t keep hisposure.

    In the past, Eric would have risked a request to smoke in his own home, and Aniston would have long since gone crazy over it. This time, however, she only opened her mouth but refrained from stopping him.

    "He''s going to appear in the next few episodes of Tattingers; he just joined the cast two days ago. We only met a couple of days ago, and there''s nothing serious," Aniston weakly

    exined.

    [T/N: Original was called, Mary in Action. I didn''t find any rted series, so I changed it to Tattingers.]

    "You brought someone home after just two days of knowing him?" Eric scoffed.

    "I finished workte today. He said it wasn''t safe for me to go home alone and offered to give me a ride, and I... I don''t have to exin myself to you," Aniston said, quickly realizing what she was saying, ring at Eric, "We already broke up. It''s fine for you to fool around with women, but I can''t see someone else? You... ah!"

    Eric crushed the cigarette and yanked Aniston into his arms, kissing her aggressively despite her struggles.

    "Ugh... you can''t do this; it''s... it''s harassment... ugh... I want... I''m going to sue you for rape... stop touching me there..."

    After a passionate struggle, the little wildcat eventually rxed, her body softening as shey draped over the sofa, wrapping her arms around Eric''s neck, her eyes squinting in pleasure

    from his kisses.

    Smack--

    Suddenly releasing Aniston, Eric delivered a yful smack on her pert behind, saying, "Alright, go take a shower. I''ve prepared dinner, and we can clean up afterwards!"

    "Ow..." Aniston rubbed her rear, shooting Eric a mischievous re, but she dutifully rose and headed for the bathroom.

    ...

    Testing the water temperature, Aniston stood beneath the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her as shethered herself with soap. She couldn''t help but feel conflicted, questioning how she had found herself in this situation again. Hadn''t she decided to break up with that jerk? Why had she lost herself so easily so soon after?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Though she had acted out in anger and written that breakup note after finding Drew with Eric in bed, now that she was alone in New York, her mind continuously wandered back to her memories with him, akin to an addiction -- like a bird that incessantly circled around her thoughts, chirping "Eric, Eric, Eric..."

    At the same time, she unconsciously developed a habit of seeking out news about Eric in newspapers and on TV.

    When someone criticized him, she felt angry; when someone praised him, she acted like a giddy schoolgirl; if someone plotted against him, she quickly forgot her anger and made a phone call to inform him immediately. Whenever rumors emerged of Eric with other women, jealousy would bubble up in her, causing her to angrily maul anything within reach -- so much so that the favorite plush bear she received for her tenth birthday ended up with a bald spot because she had unconsciously yanked at it in frustration, ming it all on that guy. "Forget it, I''ll just... forgive you one more time," Aniston finally convinced herself as she wiped her snowy-white skin dry. Maybe she had already persuaded herself deep down. After making that decision, she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders and noticed how rxed she felt. Twirling in front of the mirror, she admired her slender waist. After months of dedicated dieting, Aniston had transformed into a graceful beauty, and no one would ever associate the word "fat" with her again.

    After slipping into a bathrobe and emerging from the bathroom, she found Eric on the phone.

    "...Thanks, James. I''ll take you out to dinner when we get back to LA... Of course, I know one

    meal isn''t enough... Haha, see youter."

    "Eric, who are you talking to?"

    Eric hung up the phone casually, saying, "James. I needed his help with something. Alright,

    let''s eat quickly; the food is getting cold."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Complicated Prince

    Chapter 58: The Complicated Prince

    ?

    [Chapter 58: The Complicated Prince]

    "Eric, have you moved Drew into your ce?" After an exciting moment, Anistony on Eric''s chest, gently scratching his pecs while she asked.

    Eric nodded and recounted everything to Aniston, just as it had happened.

    Aniston skeptically replied, "But... you''re not rted, so why spend so much on her? A million dors? You''ve never spent that much on me. Hmph, there must be some kind of ulterior motive."

    Eric yfully swatted the girl''s smooth derriere under the sheets and said, "I just see Drew as a sister. You, however, are my girlfriend. If you want, I''d dly spend ten million, even a hundred million on you."

    Hearing sincerity in Eric''s voice warmed Aniston''s heart, yet she pouted, "I don''t want to spend your money." Though she said that, her little hand began to explore under the covers, soon rekindling Eric''s interest.

    "You brought this on yourself, little girl." With a chuckle, Eric pinned Aniston beneath him.

    "Ah... not there, it hurts..." Aniston cried out, squirming as Eric''s strong hands held her firmly, but to no avail.

    After a brief tussle that yielded no sess, Eric reluctantly gave up on his wicked ns. The voice said sweetly, "Eric..."

    "Don''t even think about it," Eric joked.

    Even knowing he was just teasing, Aniston still shivered nervously.

    "Al Pacino, in the Godfather series, he was so manly. Too bad he hadn''t made a movie in years."

    After a fulfilling night, Aniston''s face glowed as she carefully tied Eric''s tie. Noticing Eric''s slightly jealous expression from her praising another man, she quickly tiptoed and kissed his cheek, "Alright, fine, my Eric is the most handsome. Al Pacino is just an old man now."

    "I had nned to invite you to see Al''s y on Broadway tonight, but after hearing that, I think I''ll skip it."

    Anistonughed and declined, "Even if you were serious about that, I genuinely don''t have the time. Christmas break is approaching, and the director has been pushing to finish filming. Speaking of, Eric, are you staying in New York for Christmas?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m not sure. If Al Pacino epts the invitation, I could stay for Christmas. Otherwise, I''d have to rush back to Los Angeles for auditions."

    "Oh," Aniston spoke, her tone a bit forlorn.

    "Jenny, why don''t youe back to Los Angeles with me? Your family is there, right?"

    Aniston shook her head, "No, I don''t want to go back. They... all have their own families now. I feel like a third wheel."

    "That''s not true; they still love you."

    "You wouldn''t understand, Eric," Aniston sighed sadly, tugging on her boyfriend''s cor, "Alright, Eric, let''s go."

    ...

    "Hello, Mr. Pacino." While Eric had seen Al Pacino''s countless film personas, he still felt a rush of excitement meeting the real deal.

    "Hi there, Eric. Just call me Al."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Introduced by Kepler, they shook hands and sat down.

    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Al Pacino asked, "Eric, I''ve seen the outline for the script of Pretty Woman. You may already know that because of that incident back in ''85, I haven''t acted in a movie for four years. Although I appreciate your invitation when others were hesitant, I still feel that this script isn''t quite right for me."

    Eric inquired, "Al, could you borate on that?"

    Al Pacino exined, "This script revolves around a female lead, and I previously asked Kepler about casting a neer named Julia Roberts for the role of Vivian. I specifically watched her film, Mystic Pizza, and honestly, her acting was rather average. If the script remains unchanged, my portrayal of Edward would overshadow the female lead, Vivian. In such an unequal dynamic, the film woulde off as unbnced."

    Pausing briefly, Al Pacino locked eyes with Eric and confidently stated, "Eric, this isn''t arrogance. I''ve received five Oscar nominations, and while I''ve never won due to the Academy''s bias against neers, that doesn''t diminish my talent."

    After thinking for a moment, a smile crept onto Eric''s face as he understood Al Pacino''s intentions; this seasoned actor still desired the role, but he was displeased with the female- centric script. Al was likely trying to persuade Eric to modify it during their meeting.

    Curious about his thoughts, Eric asked, "Al, if you took on the role of Edward, what changes would you propose for the script?"

    Al Pacino''s eyes lit up as he gathered his thoughts to share his ideas: "Firstly, we need to expand Edward''s screen time, making that character much richer. I also think Edward''s personality needs to be more pronounced..."

    Al talked for over ten minutes until he hadpletely voiced his opinions. As a veteran actor, many of his suggestions sparked fresh insights for Eric. Without his background as a reborn individual, if this script had originally been his idea, Eric would have almost nodded along in agreement.

    But now, there was no way that could happen. "Al, you really want to be in this movie, don''t you?"

    Taken aback, Al Pacino stared at Eric''s understanding expression, then rxed his shoulders and smiled, "Yes, I truly want to take this role because it''s the first script I''ve seen since my little breakout years ago, and other studios are still hesitating to invite me for films. I don''t know how long this hesitation willst, so I have to seize this chance."

    "Al, your suggestions were very insightful, and I''m even tempted. However, the script cannot be altered. Pretty Woman is a ssic fairy tale about a prince and Cindere. Following your suggestions would create a distinct ''prince'' character, but it wouldplicate and ground the fairy tale too much. The essence of fairy tales lies in their departure from reality, offering people a wonderful fantasy."

    Al Pacino nodded, slightly disappointed, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something

    further.

    Before he could, Eric jumped in, "Al, have you heard about Home Alone?"

    "Of course, Eric. Even though I haven''t starred in filmstely, I''m still up to date with Hollywood news."

    "Then you must know because of a bet with Columbia, I''ll be earning a substantial amount in the future. So, if you take on Pretty Woman, I can promise you that after this film, I''ll specifically invest in another project starring you, and I can assure you''ll be satisfied with the

    role."

    Al Pacino hesitated, "Can you give me any hints about this other movie?"

    "Absolutely," Eric nodded. "I recently viewed an Italian film called Scent of a Woman and intended to buy its adaptation rights. In my envisioned script adaptation, you would y a blind colonel who, having lost interest in life due to his blindness, ns to indulge onest time before taking his life. He hires a high school student as his guide and embarks on a journey of indulgence -- touring, womanizing, racing, and so on. Ultimately, the student helps the colonel find direction again. This role is quiteplex, providing you with ample space for creativity..."

    As Eric borated on the concept, Al Pacino''s excitement grew, his imagination already racing on how to portray the blind colonel.

    Once Eric finished, Al Pacino remained absorbed in the Scent of a Woman script, lost in thought for five minutes before suddenly lifting his head and eagerly saying, "Eric, I''ll take this script. I''d even perform for free."

    "But, Al, I must finish Pretty Woman before considering any other projects."

    "No problem, I''ll take it on. During filming, I''ll follow your lead. I''ll... I''ll do my best to tone down my performance so it doesn''t overshadow Miss Roberts."

    Sensing a prime opportunity, Eric tested the waters, "Al, I heard you don''t have an agency at the moment. How abouting to UTA? Kepler is an excellent agent..."

    Al Pacino hesitated just a bit, "Is this a bundled condition?"

    Eric quickly shook his head, "Not at all; this is a genuine invitation. Even if you decline, I

    would still want you in those two films."

    After thinking it over, Al agreed, "Alright, but I know you have some friction with CAA. If my future projects get affected because of that, I''d like to retain the freedom to leave."

    Eric only wanted to secure this phenomenal actor for now; as for the future, he was confident his mind was filled with outstanding movies, and keeping Al Pacino at UTA wouldn''t be an issue at all. "Of course, I''ll have Kepler draft a very flexible contract. You can leave UTA

    anytime."

    "Okay, I agree." Al Pacino nodded swiftly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Apology

    Chapter 59: Apology

    ?

    [Chapter 59: Apology]

    A petite brown-haired white woman in her thirties walked out of the film set, her high heels cking loudly against the concrete, the sharp sounds echoing the frustration brewing within her.

    Following her was the tall and handsome Brad Pitt, who looked utterly defeated.

    They both got into a car, and the woman mmed the door shut with a thud, casting a disappointed nce at Brad. "Alright, Pitt, now tell me what really happened. Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get you that role? Just two days in, and you''ve already been kicked off the set. I just spoke to Henry, and he hinted that the problem came from you. The producer personally intervened."

    Brad shook his head. "Sheryl, I gave it my all. The director praised my performance just yesterday. And didn''t we sign a contract with the crew? They''re in breach; we can..."

    "Shut up! Do you think you''re Tom Cruise? If you were a big star, they wouldn''t dare breach a contract, but you''re just an unknown actor."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Brad clenched his fists and lowered his gaze. He and Tom Cruise were about the same age, both came from simr backgrounds, and he felt that in terms of acting skills and looks, he was not far behind Cruise. But fate had a cruel sense of humor; Tom was now the hottest star, while he remained a nobody.

    "Pitt, did you do something to anger the director or the producer? Don''t think about hiding anything from me. I''m your agent. If you''re not being honest with me, I might have to consider dropping you."

    Brad looked up, anxiety creeping in. He had struggled in Hollywood for years and understood just how crucial it was to have a solid agent with connections. Having signed with Sheryl Cody less than a year ago, he had alreadynded several roles. Herst words made him anxious.

    His mind raced, recalling the events of the past couple of days, and he hesitantly said, "It shouldn''t... be about that, right?"

    "What thing? Hurry up and tell me."

    Brad replied, "You know Jennifer Aniston, right? Yesterday, the shoot wrapped up quitete, so I... I offered to drive her home, and then her boyfriend caught us. He didn''t seem too happy."

    Sheryl, being an astute agent, was well-informed. "You mean Eric Williams, the young director from Home Alone?"

    Brad nodded.

    Sheryl frowned and held her forehead in frustration. "Pitt, how do I even address this with you? A few months back, if Tyson hadn''t held back, you might have just walked away with a shattered bone or two, lying in a hospital for months. I can''t believe you didn''t learn your lesson and went after Eric Williams'' girl."

    "But didn''t the papers say they broke up? And anyway, sure, Home Alone made a killing at the box office, but he''s just a neer director, right? How could he have that much pull?"

    Sheryl sighed, growing weary of exining to someone like him. "Hollywood may seem small, but theworking is intricately linked. There are countless ties between filmpanies and broadcastworks. Eric Williams is a young and promising director. Many people would want to be on his good side. If it''s just to deal with a no-name actor like you, making a few calls would be easy for them. Plenty would dly do anyone a favor."

    Brad sat in silence for a moment. "So... what do we do now?"

    After some thought, Sheryl replied, "Don''t you know where Eric Williams lives? You''d best go apologize in person and be sincere about it."

    "Why should I apologize when I didn''t do anything wrong?" Brad felt resistant.

    "It doesn''t matter if you did anything or not. What counts is that he''s taken offense." "If I apologize, will I get my role back?"

    Sheryl shook her head. "Of course not. The crew already found an excuse to kick you out; they''re not about to go back on that. I just hope that once you apologize, he won''t hold a grudge against you. If you n to stay in this low-tier acting world, it might not matter much. But if you aspire to move up, you can''t afford to not humble yourself this time. If not, you might lose future opportunities over just one word from him."

    Brad lowered his gaze in silence for a moment and finally said, "Fine, I... I''ll go apologize."

    ...

    "Hey, Jen, are you free?" After waiting outside the set for over an hour, Brad and Sheryl finally spotted Aniston walking out.

    "Hello, Mr. Pitt, Ms. Cody," Aniston responded, instinctively stepping back as Brad approached.

    Although they had only interacted for two days, Aniston had developed a slight fondness for Brad. He had a way with women that wasn''t as pushy as Eric''s, and both of them were struggling actors, creating a sense of ease between them. That''s why she agreed to let Brad drive her home the night before.

    But Eric''s unexpected appearance had extinguished those budding feelings towards Brad, dousing them with cold water. Aniston instinctively kept her distance from Brad after seeing her boyfriend''s uncontroble emotions the previous night.

    "Pitt, I''m really sorry about what happened with the crew, but I need to go now. Eric''s waiting for me at home."

    Seeing Aniston''s closed-off demeanor, Brad cursed inwardly but maintained a charming smile. "Jenny, here''s the thing. Mr. Williams might have misunderstood me yesterday, so I wanted to invite you both to dinner and to apologize in person."

    Aniston''s mind raced, quickly recalling snippets from the conversation she overheard after showering, connecting Eric''s phone call to Brad''s dismissal from the crew.

    Just as she pondered how to respond, a taxi pulled up, and Eric stepped out, dressed in a ck trench coat and walking toward them.

    Upon seeing Brad, Eric instantly frowned. He had just received a call from James Brooks, confirming that everything had gone as nned. Shouldn''t Brad be packing up to leave by

    now?

    He strode over to Aniston, concerned. "Jen, what''s going on?"

    Aniston nced at her boyfriend, aplicated expression on her face. Before she could speak, Sheryl smiled and extended her hand. "Hello, Mr. Williams. I''m Peter''s agent, Sheryl

    Cody."

    "Hello," Eric replied, shaking her hand. "Ms. Cody, why are you blocking my girlfriend?"

    "Well, Mr. Williams," Sheryl unfazed by Eric''s chill demeanor, kept her smile, "Brad''s behaviorst night was a bit forward, so we were hoping you both would join us for dinner to express our apologies."

    Eric nced back and forth between Sheryl and Brad. Although Brad was forcing a smile, his resentment was evident, while Sheryl maintained an unyieldingposure.

    Eric didn''t care about Brad''s feelings. In another life, he had been a notorious Hollywood womanizer. Many men envied his long list of conquests, and even the two actresses from Friends weren''t safe from his charms.

    At that moment, Aniston seemed rather naive about love. If Eric hadn''t shown up, she might have been easily swayed by Brad''s charming words. And once that happened, given Aniston''s stubborn nature, it would be hard for her to walk back from it.

    To keep them apart, Eric made a decisive move to oust Brad from the crew, even if it meant owing a big favor to James Brooks.

    "No need for dinner. I ept Mr. Pitt''s apology as long as he avoids my girlfriend from here on out. I won''t pursue this further." Eric said, wrapping his arm around Aniston as he turned to leave, but then he added, "Ms. Cody, you''re quite an impressive agent. Brad Pitt is lucky to have you. If you''re interested, you''re wee toe to L.A.; I''d be more than happy to have

    you join UTA."

    Sheryl breathed a sigh of relief at Eric''s willingness to let Brad off the hook but quickly put on a shocked expression. "Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Williams. I will consider it."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 60: Chapter 60: The Photo

    Chapter 60: The Photo

    ?

    [Chapter 60: The Photo]

    After Sheryl Cody and Brad Pitt parted ways, they took their time returning home. Aniston looped her arm through Eric''s as they strolled along the bustling streets of New York City at night.

    After chatting about some aimless topics, Aniston couldn''t help but say, "Eric, I think what you did was a bit excessive."

    "Huh?"

    "Brad Pitt finallynded that role, and it hasn''t been easy for him."

    Eric yfully pinched Aniston''s cheek, prompting the girl to protest, "Looks like Brad Pitt has spun quite the inspirational tale. You''ve developed a soft spot for him, haven''t you? That means I should push him out of the crew even more."

    "I just think he''s a decent guy." Aniston puffed out her cheeks and shot Eric an annoyed look, bravely expressing her true feelings with an attitude that said, "What are you going to do about it?"

    "Do you know Mike Tyson?"

    The shift in topics seemed abrupt, but Aniston nodded, "Yeah, his messy divorce from Robin Givens has been all over the newstely."

    "You probably didn''t know one thing, though. Not long ago, Brad Pitt was caught cheating with Robin Givens and Tyson caught them red-handed in the house. Tyson decided to divorce Robin because, after marrying him, she still kept a connection with Brad Pitt."

    Aniston''s eyes widened in disbelief. "No way! Why didn''t I hear about this? You must be pulling my leg."

    "Do I really need to trick you about something like this?" Eric shrugged.

    Curious, Aniston asked, "How do you even know about this?"

    "It''s been all over the industry. But Brad Pitt is just too low-profilepared to Tyson. Even the gossip magazines couldn''t bother to verify his name, just referring to an unnamed actor instead."

    Yearster, the scandal of Brad Pitt getting caught in the act would bemon knowledge, after he faced a series of controversies, bankruptcy, and even prison time. Tyson had eventually confessed on an interview, no longer caring about his reputation.

    Eric suddenly thought of something amusing -- clearly Aniston and Brad Pitt had a diametrically opposing fate. One always ended up getting caught, while the other had a knack for catching those unfaithful. He remembered how Pitt had been caught by Tyson and Aniston, and right before he was about to marry Jolie, he was sadly caught with an assistant, which dyed his wedding.

    "So," Eric gently patted Aniston on the head, taking on a serious tone, "you really ought to stay away from people like that. You never know what''s beneath the surface."

    Aniston nodded thoughtfully and then looked up at Eric with a hint of longing. "Yeah, you can know someone''s face but not their heart. Who knows how many women you''ve attracted on the sly? That party you threw with a bunch of actresses? It made the papers! And what about that shirt..." She wagged a finger at him as if ordering him to stop defending himself.

    "Alright, alright, Jenny," Eric quickly wrapped her in his arms. "I''m guilty. I repent."

    "You jerk!" Aniston yfully hit his chest a few times.

    Eric eagerly agreed, "Yes, yes, yes."

    After she finished pouting, she settled down, resting her cheek against Eric''s chest and listening to his heartbeat. They held each other close, creating a warm scene amidst the busy streets filled with people.

    ...

    A passing photographer found the image heartwarming and couldn''t resist snapping the shot, capturing this moment on film. Neither Eric nor Aniston noticed this little detail.

    As Christmas approached, the photographer developed the photograph, which showcased the girl in a white short coat, quietly hugging her boyfriend''s waist, their foreheads touching; the boy in a ck coat held her tightly, resting his chin on her soft golden hair. ck and white, cold and warm, among the blurred crowd, the two seemed like they were on a serene little ind, their love story framed beautifully against the illuminated city background.

    Satisfied, the photographer sent the photo to a New York newspaper. Soon, the two were recognized by the editorial team, with a particrly sharp editor promptly passing the photograph on to the editor-in-chief''s office.

    ...

    The following day, a photo of the young miracle director, Eric Williams, embracing his girlfriend in New York City graced the front page of the newspaper. However, the article that apanied the photo was pure gossip, filling up more than half a page with dramatic storytelling. It imed Eric had abandoned his movie project to rush to New York and miraculously reunited with his girlfriend on the streets.

    Anyone with a bit of smarts realized the photo was real, but the story was just made-up nonsense. Still, the reporter had a knack for writing, and most readers found it entertaining, causing the newspaper''s sales to increase slightly.

    During this chaotic time filled with news swirling around him, Eric suddenly vanished from Los Angeles, appearing in New York, capturing the attention of gossip columnists again. They didn''t buy that Eric hade to New York for true love, making him a target of their obsession once more.

    ...

    Arranging for Al Pacino to y the lead role had been finalized. To escape the relentless pursuit of paparazzi, Eric mostly stayed at Aniston''s Manhattan apartment, avoiding the outside world. The paparazzi seemed to be in it for the long haul, patiently waiting outside the apartment building for Eric to show up.

    Aniston, of course, became another target of their chase. To avoid drawing unnecessary trouble, under Eric''s insistence, she ditched public transport and bought a used car, not letting Eric spend a single dime.

    After several days of intense shooting, Aniston''s TV crew finally weed a two-week Christmas and New Year break.

    At home, Aniston picked up the newspaper yet again, having read the article countless times, her expression a mix of yfulness and annoyance. "It''s all your fault! Now every time we go out, we have a whole pack of paparazzi trailing us. Otherwise, I could have taken you around New York properly."

    After typing out a line, Eric turned around with a smile. "Why do I get the feeling there''s a twinkle of joy in your eyes? That reporter truly is a genius, weaving an entire New York love

    story from a single photograph."

    "Eric, have you contacted that newspaper yet?"

    He nodded. "The photo was taken by an amateur photographer who happened to be out on the street. He initially intended to enter it into a contest, but the editor quickly recognized us." He took out an envelope and handed it to Aniston. "This is the original film, bought for a thousand bucks, but totally worth it. The shot is just beautiful and has great collectible value."

    Aniston carefully took the envelope, gently pulled out the film to inspect, and then carefully ced it back.

    "One more thing, Jenny. Even though the article is all made up, it inspired me to think of a great script. How about a film based on our ''true events''? You as the leadingdy?" Aniston tucked the film neatly away in an album before walking over to Eric, taking the draft of the script he had handed her. After reading it, she wrinkled her nose slightly and said, "Other than the coincidental meeting at the end, there''s really nothing of ours in there." Eric shrugged in defense. "Art is all about manyyers of refinement. So, what do you say? Are

    you in?"

    Aniston hesitated, then shook her head. "The lead character is older than I am, plus I don''t want to star in a movie directed by you."

    Eric didn''t press any further; he was beginning to ept her little stubbornness as part of her.

    ...

    Christmas came swiftly.

    Kepler had already returned to Los Angeles, and Al Pacino was busy with his life. After that day, Eric hadn''t seen Al again, but they spoke daily over the phone to discuss the script for Pretty Woman. So, this Christmas, it was just him and Aniston spending time together. They happily decorated the room, selected a Christmas tree, prepared the turkey, and quietly spent Christmas Eve watching tapes on the sofate into the night.

    After Christmas, Eric had to return to Los Angeles. Pretty Woman was set to start filming after the holidays, but as a director, he required a head start on numerous preparations. Though reluctant, Aniston drove Eric to the airport, gazing after the ne until it vanished into the sky before reluctantly heading back to the apartment.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Party

    Chapter 61: The Party

    ?

    [Chapter 61: The Party]

    "Didn''t the Ronkels make it?" Jeffrey casually asked as he held a ss of red wine in one corner of the party.

    It was the day after returning to Los Angeles, and to thank everyone for their support over the past six months, Eric decided to throw a private gathering at his Beverly Hills mansion. He had invited several people he had crossed paths with in that time, including James Brooks, Penny Marshall, Jeffrey Hanson, Michael Krauss, Edward Lewis, among others, as well as some actor friends he got to know while filming Home Alone and 17 Again.

    With the guests'' partners included, there were almost forty to fifty people in attendance, and luckily, Eric had changed venues, avoiding the crowding that had marred hisst party.

    Hearing Jeffrey''s question, Eric shrugged unconcernedly. "I personally called to invite them, but Charles declined."

    Jeffrey looked worried as he said, "I heard that Stuart Ronkel has signed on for three movie deals through CAA, and his schedule is booked until next year. What''s your n, Eric?"

    Eric reassured him, "Don''t worry, Jeffrey. CAA thinks they can control us with a sequel to Home Alone, but that''s just wishful thinking. Once those movies Stuart''s working one out, you''ll see what I mean."

    In his memories, Eric recalled how Macay Culkin had shot to fame with Home Alone, but after that, his subsequent films had not fared well at the box office -- some even lost money due to his high sry and overexposure.

    "You mean to say that Stuart''s other films won''t do too well?" Jeffrey mused.

    Eric nodded, "Everyone knows Home Alone is an outlier. I''m not denying that. Stuart is just a kid; no matter how famous he is, he can''t draw in audiences the way adult stars can. By next year, to maintain Stuart''s fame, even if it means severing ties with CAA, the Ronkels will choose to work with us again. That couple..."

    Eric trailed off, his expression turning glum as he recalled his cold conversation with Charles Ronkel when inviting them -- he had sensed some arrogance in Charles''s demeanor.

    Eric surmised that Charles probably believed that without his son, there wouldn''t have been such sess with Home Alone.

    Some folks always exaggerated their own importance.

    "But what if Stuart ends up starring in a blockbuster?" Jeffrey pressed.

    "Let''s not get ahead of ourselves. Even if that happens, we can negotiate then. Once Pretty Womanes out, you''ll understand that I''m not just living off Home Alone," Eric replied confidently.

    Just then, he caught a glimpse of Drew Barrymore in a little red dress casually pouring herself a ss of red wine from a server''s tray. Eric shot her an annoyed look, and Drew, realizing she had been caught, quickly put the ss back, stuck out her tongue, and dashed back to a group of younger guests.

    Noticing Eric''s reaction, Jeffrey teased, "You''re such a softie with her. Even at eighteen, you treat Drew like she''s your daughter. If you ever have kids, you''ll definitely be a good dad."

    "Let''s not rush into that -- I''m only eighteen, and I''m not in a hurry to tie the knot or start a family," Eric chuckled.

    ...

    As they were talking, James Brooks and a few other guests came over to greet them.

    "James, thanks for that favor," Eric said as he raised his ss.

    James grinned, "No big deal. I saw that photo of you two in the Los Angeles Daily News the other day. You really look good together."

    Jeffrey joined in theughter, "Eric, are you sure that photo wasn''t staged? It''s hard to believe that snapped by an amateur photographer!"

    "But that''s how it happened! I even spent a grand to buy the negatives. It inspired me for a new script," Eric said.

    Now intrigued, James asked, "Can you share what it''s about?"

    "Of course," Eric replied. "The story unfolds between a single father and a journalist engaged to someone else..."

    Eric took a few minutes to share the story outline for Sleepless in Seattle.

    James remarked, "Sounds like the inspiration came from An Affair to Remember."

    Eric didn''t deny it. "In the script, the female lead loves An Affair to Remember. If we end up filming it, I might even pay homage using the theme from that movie."

    At first, James entertained the thought of producing Eric''s script himself, perhaps partnering with Firefly Films, but after hearing Eric''s description, he reconsidered.

    Eric hadn''t detailed much about Sleepless in Seattle, so James viewed it merely as another romantic story. Though romantic films made up a significant portion of Hollywood, few seeded at the box office during this era, where action, sci-fi, and even thrillers tended to far outpace romances in revenue.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    James''sck of excitement about the script actually relieved Eric. If James had shown interest, he wouldn''t have known how to turn him down. After all, Sleepless in Seattle was expected to be a blockbuster, and the thought of owing James a favor in giving it away was hard to swallow. Soon, the conversation shifted to other topics, and the discussion of Sleepless in Seattle faded into the background -- untilter, when the movie grossed over two hundred million worldwide, and James Brooks would be regretting the missed opportunity.

    "Eric, I heard Pretty Woman is set to release around Valentine''s Day. I think it''s a risky move. You''ve only got five weeks after the New Year to start filming, and with the review process, the actual production and post production time could be less than four weeks."

    Eric was confident as he responded, "Actually, we started prepping the film two weeks ago. It''s just over a week until we begin shooting, which gives me plenty of time to iron out all the details, so four weeks is more than enough. Pretty Woman doesn''t have many main scenes; filming should be a breeze."

    In Eric''s past life, unforeseen dys had taken twelve weeks during which they switched productionpanies and revised the script.

    Typically,rge film shoots amassed dozens of hours of film footage; major productions sometimes even exceeded hundred-plus hours, which consumed a massive amount of time. But with aplete film already in mind, Eric surely wouldn''t waste that much time. If it weren''t for the necessity of actors putting in the work to bond with the material emotionally, he could have filmed those memories directly.

    Even so, as long as the actors hit their marks, Eric remained confident that he couldpress the footage to under ten hours. With that, the four weeks for shooting and post-production

    would be more than sufficient.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Roxette

    Chapter 62: Roxette

    ?

    [Chapter 62: Roxette]

    "Hey, Penny, how''s it going?" After chatting with Jeffrey and James for a while, Eric started mingling with the other guests.

    Penny Marshall signaled to the two guests beside her, who quickly took the hint and left. "Same old, same old. I''ve been flooded with script offers, but none of them excited me, so I decided to take a break. Not everyone can jump from one movie to the next like you."

    Eric chuckled, "I don''t have much choice. There are so many people waiting to see me stumble, so I gotta give them something to keep them thinking. I heard that the box office for 17 Again hit $70 million, right? It seems like breaking $100 million is only a matter of time. You''re going to be hard to beat as a female director with two $100 million hits in a single year."

    Penny smiled appreciatively at Eric''spliment but replied, "That doesn''t evene close to your sess. Home Alone raked in over $24 million against week."

    "Alright, enough with the mutual ttery. I''m starting to feel queasy," James Brooks suddenly interrupted. "Eric, I need to discuss something with Penny..."

    "Of course," Eric nodded and turned to walk over to others.

    ...

    As the party drew to a close, Eric caught up with Kepler, who was about to leave. "Kepler, can youe here for a minute? I need to talk to you about something."

    Kepler nodded and followed Eric to the study on the second floor. The room looked somewhat messy; one wall that used to be covered with clippings was now stered with Eric''s hand- drawn storyboards for Pretty Woman. In the window, the returned piano had once again found its way back thanks to Eric.

    Kepler seemed surprised by the stark contrast of the messy room to the rest of the tidy vi. Anyone who stumbled in here would definitely feel out of ce.

    Eric shoved a couple of folders off the desk into the bookshelves, exining, "This is my creative space, and I don''t allow cleaning staff in here, so it tends to get a bit chaotic."

    "Doesn''t Drew live here?"

    Eric pulled out a chair for Kepler. "She doesn''t really keep it tidy; I''m the one who asionally cleans things up."

    "You can''t spoil her too much," Kepler suggested with a smile.

    Eric shrugged, not answering, as he slipped a tape into the recorder and hit y. "Kepler, let''s listen to this first."

    Kepler knew Eric wouldn''t waste his time, so he listened along.

    A lively rhythm started, followed by a captivating voice.

    Must have been loveBut it''s over nowLay a whisper on my pillowLeave the winter on the groundi wake up lonely, this air of silenceIn the bedroom and all around

    ...

    A few minutester, as the song wrapped up, Eric asked, "What did you think, Kepler?" Kepler answered honestly, "I don''t know much about this stuff, but the song is really powerful, and the singer has an explosive voice. Eric, why are we listening to this?"

    "I''m considering using this song for Pretty Woman''s soundtrack. But that''s not the main point. Kepler, have you thought about UTA''s future?"

    Kepler nodded, "Of course, we''ve signed Al Pacino, and if your Pretty Woman seeds, with Julia Roberts too, those two stars could really establish our agency in the industry. UTA is still pretty small; we can''t rush into things."

    Eric continued, "Haven''t you thought about expanding into other areas?"

    "What do you mean..." Kepler nced at the tape recorder. "Singers?"

    Eric nodded, "The acting talent pool in film and television has mostly been taken by various agencies, big and small. If we want to grow in that sector, we''ll have to slowly recruit and develop talent. But the music industry is still a pristine territory -- CAA and those big yers don''t pay much attention to it right now, giving us a great opportunity."

    The 1990s proved to be the golden age of the recording industry. While preparing for Pretty Woman''s soundtrack, Eric had a tough time finding the famous song It Must Have Been Love in the film, only to discover that the Swedish band Roxette hadn''t yet made a ssh in the U.S.

    Having remained active for over a decade, Roxette''s first single after debuting in North America swept through in 24 countries'' music charts. Eric couldn''t let such a potential breakout slip through his fingers.

    "Kepler, that song we just heard? The performers are the up-anding band Roxette from Sweden. This is a Billboard-worthy song that hardly anyone has heard yet, so it''s our chance. Do you understand?"

    Kepler replied, "Looks like I need to make a trip to Sweden myself."

    "Definitely, the sooner the better. If I found this song, other recordpanies will notice soon, and they have much better eyes for this than I do. We don''t have much time."

    "Are you thinking of starting a recordbel?"

    Eric shook his head, "It''s too early for that; my focus remains on film for now. After securing the management contract with Roxette, you''ll need to figure out the specifics yourself."

    Kepler nodded in agreement, and they discussed some details before Kepler took his leave.

    ...

    Once Kepler was gone, Michael Krauss quickly approached Eric. "Eric, it''s been ages! Is Resident Evil still not finished? Aren''t you always a quick shooter?"

    Thest part was overheard by a waitress who instinctively nced at Eric and stifled augh, her face contorting cutely as she hurried to the kitchen, tray in hand.

    Eric sighed, "Michael, can you be a little more careful? If that girl identally lets your slip of ament out, I can''t even imagine how those gossip rags would have a field day with it." Michael Krauss gave an insincere apology as he continued prying for updates on Resident Evil. "Alright, here." Eric pulled out the manuscript and handed it to Michael. "The contract is still the same; you get it done like before, and just bring it over for my signature."

    Just then, Drew suddenly popped out, seeing Michael look through the manuscript, and shouted, "Hey, Eric! I haven''t finished reading that yet!"

    Michael blocked Drew''s reaching hands several times, pushing her tiny hands away while stuffing the manuscript into his bag, ignoring Drew''s protests. "Eric, I''m out. See youter!" With that, Michael grabbed his bag and dashed away as if pursued by a little gremlin. "Alright, no more games." Eric tapped Drew''s forehead. "We still need to have a chat about your skipping school, especially since you deleted the voicemail from the principal I got!" Drew instantly lost her defiant edge, turning into apliant little girl, though mischief still sparkled in her eyes. "Sorry, Eric, I won''t do it again."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric, with a serious look, asked, "Drew, have you been getting into trouble again?"

    Drew quickly shook her head, "No, I promise! I just took a few ssmates to the Rose Bowl to watch a game. Eric, I swear, I won''t touch that stuff ever again."

    Letting out a sigh of relief, Eric hugged her, surprised by herment, and couldn''t help but chuckle while giving her a yful smack on the rear. "No wonder the principal sounded a bit worked up when he called me. Not only do you not take your studies seriously, but now you''re corrupting the good girls in your school."

    Drew squeaked yfully and wriggled in Eric''s embrace, lifting her face to say, "Eric, my girl ssmates are all really pretty! Want me to introduce you? They''re all still innocent; I

    checked!"

    "Uh..."

    Certain images popped into Eric''s mind, leaving him utterly flustered. "That''s too much mischief for one day; get to bed. No going out before school starts." "Hmph, so bossy! You better watch out, or I''ll report you for imprisoning a girl!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 63: Chapter 63: The Test

    Chapter 63: The Test

    ?

    [Chapter 63: The Test]

    In the ''80s, Hollywood had not yet conquered the world, and the Walk of Fame was not as famous as it would be inter years.

    As night fell, the Walk of Fame looked no different from other streets in Los Angeles, filled with bustling shops, pedestrians weaving in and out, and small groups of scantily d women on the corners.

    An unremarkable car parked on the side of the street, and in the passenger seat, Eric watched with interest as Julia Roberts, often approached by few passerby.

    At that moment, Julia sported heavy makeup. Even those who knew her well would struggle to recognize her. She leaned against a streetlight, exuding a blend of casual charm and allure, her eyes dancing as she yed coy. Eric had designed her look based on his memory of Vivian, which highlighted her exquisite, youthful face and showcased Julia''s enviable figure.

    Within half an hour, the number of men trying to chat with Julia had already exceeded Eric''s expectations. Just as he contemted whether to continue, he noticed three or four oddly dressed young men surround Julia. He quickly turned to the sturdy driver in the front seat, saying, "Tony, drive. Time to intervene."

    "Sure thing, boss," Tony replied as he started the car, pulling up beside Julia. She wore a strained smile, managing a polite exchange with the group, but upon seeing Eric''s car approach, she peeled away from one young man''s probing hand. "Hey, fes, my main guy is here to pick me up. I told you I was waiting for someone special -- someone willing to shell out the big bucks."

    The young men nced at the inconspicuous vehicle and scoffed, continuing to hound her. "C''mon, babe, what do you think a clunker like that can throw down? How about $200 for the night? The other girls on this street don''t charge more than $70."

    At nearly six and a half feet tall, Tony stepped out of the car, his massive frame looming over the young men. His fierce re made them pause for a moment, realizing they might be outmatched by even one of his arms. They exchanged nervous nces, chuckled awkwardly, and scurried away.

    "Miss Roberts, please get in," Tony said, dropping his intimidating act as he opened the back door for Julia.

    "Thanks," Julia said as she climbed inside. Her assistant, Allison Green, quickly draped a jacket over her shoulders; the nights in Los Angeles could still be quite chilly this time of year. "Eric, how did I do?" Julia anxiously asked from the backseat once settled in.

    "I was quite satisfied," Eric replied. "If I hadn''t called Tony in, things might have gotten a little dicey tonight."

    "Boss, it''s all part of the job," Tony responded with a friendly grin as he started the car. Tony was a security guard hired by Firefly Films. This gentle giant, who stood a towering two meters tall, imed he had never gotten into a fight in his life. Working as an escort was genuinely a dangerous line of work; there had been cases where women were abducted andter found dead in dumpsters. To mitigate risk on this particr night, Eric had made sure to call Tony to keep an eye on matters.

    "Tony, you live around here, right? Pull over up ahead, you can head home. I''ll take Miss Roberts back."

    Tony nodded, stopped the car where they agreed, and bid them farewell.

    Julia''s assistant, Allison Green, opened the door and chimed in, "Mr. Williams, there''s a busing right now that goes to my ce. I''ll be getting off here too. See youter!"

    Soon, only Eric and Julia remained in the car. Eric started the engine, while Julia curled up in the back seat, both of them falling into a contemtive silence.

    ...

    Half an hourter, the car stopped outside Julia''s apartment. The actress looked down as she stepped out, but after waiting a moment, Eric didn''t follow. Instead, he leaned out of the window and called, "Julia, do try to find a new ce as soon as possible, preferably in Beverly Hills. Once filming starts, the news about your starring role is going to leak, and the paparazzi will be quite a headache. I''ll make sure Jeffery advances you some of your sry." "Okay, Eric. Don''t you wannae in for a bit?" Julia asked softly, her gaze a bit unfocused. With a yful wink, Eric replied, "Not tonight. While I took some precautions, I can''t be sure we gave the paparazzi the slippletely."

    Julia felt a mix of happiness and disappointment, mumbling a couple of deliberate sounds before giving him a small wave and turning to head inside her apartment.

    Eric watched her disappear into the building before rolling up the window and driving off.

    ...

    On New Year''s Day, Al Pacino flew from New York to Los Angeles and settled into his vi in Beverly Hills. Soon, he threw himself into the preparation for Pretty Woman.

    Because of this, the film held its first meeting with the main cast, allowing everyone to chat for the entire morning and gain a bit more familiarity with one another. Eric took advantage of the asion to discuss and revise the script with a few of the stars. After all, the male lead had changed to Al Pacino, whose acting style differed significantly from Richard Gere''s; Eric couldn''t simply recreate Richard''s character from memory.

    Seizing the moment, Eric invited both Al and Julia to perform a few scenes together. Al Pacino, to support the somewhat inexperienced Julia, toned down his acting. However, during the performance, he still unintentionally overshadowed her.

    Since Al measured around 5''7", and Julia in her heels stood close to 5''11", Eric had initially nned to have Julia switch to ts and suggest Al wear lifts if height discrepancies arose in

    the audition.

    However, after the tryout, Eric discarded that idea; Julia''s height was her only advantage, and if he diminished that, it would be hard for her to shine amid Al Pacino''s brilliance.

    ...

    Having sponsored Pretty Woman with a million-dor investment, Lamborghini and its parentpany Chrysler took this coboration quite seriously.

    On the grounds of a driving school in Los Angeles, two small container trucks stood by while

    staff carefully unloaded two sleek Lamborghinis.

    "Wow, what a cool sports car!" Drew eximed, standing beside Eric, gazing at the shiny silver and purple Lamborghinis, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She took a step forward, only to have Eric gently pull her back.

    "Eric, I want the purple one; it''s so beautiful."

    Eric yfully pinched Drew''s nose,ughing, "It''s not a doll, you can''t just im it."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Nearby, Ian Blister, a Lamborghini staff member, saw Drew''s reaction and smiled, proudly exining, "Miss Drew, you truly have an eye for detail; purple represents nobility and mystery, a color often favored by women. But this is a concept car specifically built for Mr. Williams'' film shoot, so it isn''t avable for purchase yet."

    As they chatted, staff led Julia and Al to the cars, carefully exining the controls. Although both had driver''s licenses, neither had driven a Lamborghini before -- especially Julia, who had never even touched a sports car.

    In Pretty Woman, the Lamborghini would make several appearances in the first twenty minutes, and during the filming, both would need to drive extensively. ording to Lamborghini''s representatives, thetest model would include some innovative maneuvers.

    To ensure there were no mishaps during shooting, Eric arranged a three-day training period for Julia and Al. Lamborghini was more than happy to oblige, dispatching a technician named Ian Blister to assist throughout.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Dont Get Caught

    Chapter 64: Don''t Get Caught

    ?

    [Chapter 64: Don''t Get Caught]

    Most guys loved fast cars, and Eric was no different. However, he only made an appearance on the first day of Julia and Al''s training, where he tried his hand behind the wheel for a bit before getting too busy to show up again.

    In a rented vi on the hills of Beverly Hills, Eric and Jeffrey directed the crew as they set up the scene, which would mark the start of Pretty Woman.

    Al Pacino was a ssic method actor, and judging by the rumors about how Julia always got too wrapped up in her roles, she seemed to fit the mold as well. This style of acting required actors to immerse themselves in their characters and present them authentically. If the shooting schedule went out of order, it could certainly throw off the performance. To perfectly portray the transformation of the two lead characters, Eric decided to film in chronological order.

    In the original film, the first scene took ce at a party at Philip Stuckey''s house, where Edward mingled with various characters, introducing his identity and personality. After discussing it with Jeffrey, they ultimately decided to shoot that scene first; they could actually throw a party as a kickoff celebration for Pretty Woman. They even considered skipping hiring extras, opting instead for crew members and their families to fill in. Since this scene required only a few shots, Eric felt confident that nothing would go wrong.

    "Yesterday I swung by Century City. Fox still had doubts about releasing our movie on Valentine''s Day. I talked with Carlin for an hour before he finally agreed to guarantee there wouldn''t be a dy, promising to ramp up the promotions two weeks before Valentine''s. Eric, two weeks won''t be enough for an optimal promotional impact. United Artists only dared to schedule Richard Gere''s Road House for Easter in March," Jeffrey said.

    Eric scribbled notes in his folder while pondering Jeffrey''s words. "Don''t worry, Jeffrey. Right now, all of America''s media is buzzing about my movie. You could say Pretty Woman is on everyone''s lips. Plus, there should be another big announcement dropping soon."

    Jeffrey raised an eyebrow, curious. "What?"

    With a slight grin of confidence, Eric replied, "Just think about it. Based on the box office numbers for Home Alone, how much do you think it''ll reach by then?"

    Jeffrey quickly calcted. Home Alone should''ve been out for about 12 weeks by then, likely raking in around two hundred million dors.

    Seeing Jeffrey rxing a bit, Eric asked, "You get it now?"

    Jeffrey nodded. "By then, Home Alone''s box office could easily exceed two hundred million. It''s been three years since a movie in North America cracked that mark. Not long ago, Variety even ran an article predicting the decline of the domestic market. If Home Alone breaks two hundred million, the media will definitely be buzzing again."

    "So, as long as the quality of my film holds up, I don''t need to worry about losing box office due to promotional issues. On the other hand, United Artists wisely pushed Road House a month after Pretty Woman, and they won''t catch much of its momentum," Eric replied, brushing off any concern over a film he hardly remembered -- Road House.

    Richard Gere had missed his chance with Pretty Woman, and it seemed unlikely he would bounce back, especially considering he had never even received an Oscar nomination by the time Eric had arrived from the future.

    "Oh, and Eric, when I was at Fox''s headquarters yesterday, Carlin brought up the Jurassic Park adaptation again. He mentioned your recent release, Resident Evil. Fox was really interested, but I managed to change the subject," Jeffrey said.

    Thanks to Michael Krauss''s efforts, Resident Evil had sessfully hit the shelves a few days earlier, igniting quite a bit of controversy. Most newspapers criticized it, with some reviewers even questioning if Eric had employed a ghostwriter, since the styles of the two novels differed drastically.

    Eric chose not to respond to such doubts, knowing very well that with his current fame and fortune, he wouldn''t need to hire a ghostwriter for a few royalties.

    Michael Krauss called him after the book''s release to share that sales were strong, with readers showing interest in this unique zombie-themed sci-fi novel. A number of them even wrote in, hoping for a movie adaptation of Resident Evil.

    "Jeffrey, the next time someone approaches us about adapting a novel into a film, just turn them down. I won''t let either of these two novels go unless they can offer me a deal I find satisfying," Eric instructed.

    Jeffrey nodded, suddenly remembering something, and said with a chuckle, "The Golden Globes really gave us a nod, didn''t they? Home Alone actually scored a nomination for Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy."

    Eric chuckled as well. "Whether it''s the Golden Globes or the Oscars, they''ll bow to box office sess. Just wait and see -- no matter how reluctant the Oscarmittee is, they''ll have to begrudgingly give Home Alone a few nominations."

    Jeffrey tentatively remarked, "You''ve packed the shooting schedule so tight; I''m afraid we won''t have time to attend the Golden Globe dinner."

    "Don''t worry," Eric said as he packed up his folder, tucking a pencil behind his ear. "With the Golden Globes treating us this well, even if we have to pause filming, we''ll definitely be attending. If we''re in Los Angeles and skip the dinner for filming, we could end up making enemies without even realizing it."

    Thinking of Leonardo DiCaprio, Eric knew he wouldn''t make a mistake like that. Though many imed he lost Best Actor because he turned every role into a reflection of himself, and that his refusal to attend the Oscars after Titanic missed a nomination wasn''t a factor, once such opinions reach the public, they usually held weight. He was able to get the golden man only at the fourth nomination.

    As they chatted while setting up the filming site and shared lunch nearby, Eric checked his watch and said to Jeffrey, "You handle the afternoon''s arrangements; I need to step out." Jeffrey was curious what could possibly draw Eric away from movie preparations at this crucial moment.

    Eric stated with a hint of exasperation, "Drew starts school this afternoon, and I have to take her. Thest time she caused a ruckus at school, the principal called me personally."

    Jeffrey paused for a moment, then shook his head andughed, "You really are treating that girl like your own daughter, huh?"

    Eric shrugged. "I signed that contract with Jaid, putting Drew''s guardianship in my hands, and if I don''t take care of her, who will? I guess I''m sort of asking for it, right?"

    "I even saw someone praising you in a newspaper, saying you freed Drew from her greedy mother''s grasp and sent her to boarding school as an act of love," Jeffrey added.

    Eric didn''t hold anything back as he donned the jacket draped over his chair. "That was a paid piece. I needed people to understand my good intentions and to deter any troublemakers from using Drew''s age against me."

    As Jeffrey sipped his coffee, he choked, unable to contain hisughter. "You truly are..."

    ...

    The principal at the girls'' school Drew attended was a kind-looking white woman in her fifties, with a warm and friendly demeanor. Eric sat alone across from her, listening to her

    ramble.

    "Mr. Williams, we don''t want to give up on any child. It''s just that Ms. Barrymore is incredibly mischievous. The girls heree from wealthy families and are usually very well-behaved. If their parents find out their daughters are skipping ss, they''ll certainly question our school''s environment. We can''t take forceful measures to stop Ms. Barrymore. Should another incident ur, we''d have no choice but to ask her to transfer," she said.

    "Mrs. Greeley, I''ve had a serious talk with Drew already," Eric replied.

    "Good to hear," she nodded, and after more lengthy discussion, she finally let Eric go.

    Stepping out of the office, Eric saw Drew, now dressed in her beautiful uniform. He said, "Alright, I''ve taken the heat for you. You don''t want to make me look bad again, do you?" The girl smiled brightly, linking her arm with Eric''s. "Don''t worry; I absolutely won''t." "That sounded pretty insincere," Eric pouted, feeling rather helpless; the girl was like a sponge that soaked up trouble, and even a good smack might just make her smile wider. Opening the car door, he sighed and nced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then whispered, "Don''t get into any more trouble. I''ll be pretty busy. If you want to skip ss, just

    don''t get caught."

    "Ha! I knew you cared for me the most," Drew said as she quickly tiptoed and kissed him on

    the cheek.

    Ericughed as he ruffled her hair, turned, got into the car, waved, and drove away, leavingn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Drew looking a bit forlorn.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 65: Chapter 65: The Transformation of Two People

    Chapter 65: The Transformation of Two People

    ?

    [Chapter 65: The Transformation of Two People]

    On January 7, filming officially began for Pretty Woman at a vi in Beverly Hills. In keeping with the idea of keeping things in the family, many of the supporting actors for Pretty Woman were chosen from UTA. Kepler hadn''t been wrong when he said that these actors had talent but simplycked opportunities.

    Evennding a minor role with just a few lines in the director of Home Alone''s new film had these young actors feeling pretty satisfied. Eric hadn''t promised anyone anything, but once Pretty Woman hit theaters, the UTA signed talent would realize just how fortunate they had been. In the past, the movie''s runaway sess had turned even minor characters, like an elevator operator who only appeared briefly, into hotshotedic actors with multiple offers rolling in.

    However, Edward''s cutthroatwyer, Philip Stuckey, was a character for whom UTA didn''t have a fitting actor. Eric arranged for the original performer, Jason Alexander, to be contacted.

    At that time, Jason Alexander was just an ordinary Broadway actor. Although his acting skills were impressive, he didn''t have the looks deemed ideal for Hollywood. He had only appeared in a handful of films and television shows in minor roles. Upon hearing he couldnd a substantial role in Eric''s new film, he promptly jumped ship from his former agency to join

    UTA.

    Hollywood was ruthless that way. If Jason Alexander became sessfulter on, no one would dare malign him for switching agencies; they would only envy his good fortune.

    Inside the vi, all the actors had taken their ces, and Eric, sitting behind the monitor, gestured an "okay" to his assistant, signaling that filming was about to start.

    "Pretty Woman, scene one, take one, action!" The sound of the pboard echoed as everyone on set sprang into motion.

    In the frame, a magician hired from a circus started performing a coin trick while delivering his lines. "No matter what they say, the topic always circles back to money..."

    The camera quickly panned up as the magician produced a gold coin from Edward''s ex- girlfriend''s ear. Jason, ying Philip Stuckey, appeared with a smile, casually asking a male guest about Edward''s whereabouts.

    This nearly minute-long shot was quite challenging, as it tested the actors'' abilities to perform. They had rehearsed this scene many times in advance.

    Jason Alexander did not disappoint Eric. As the camera moved, Jason maintained a smile throughout, delivering his lines effortlessly while weaving through the guests with rich and natural bodynguage.

    After Jason kissed a female guest on the cheek, Eric called out, "Cut!"

    Jason Alexander set his champagne ss down, smiling as he approached Eric. "Director Williams, how was that shot? Should we do it again?"

    Eric couldn''t help but give a thumbs-up, praising him, "Not at all, that was perfect! This is a solid start."

    Several crew members gathered around, and Eric reyed the scene. Everyone nodded in agreement, appreciating Jason Alexander''s performance.

    After confirming there was no need for a retake, Eric pped his hands. "Okay, crew, let''s get ready for the second scene."

    Everyone dispersed, and Jason Alexander walked into the vi to prepare for the next shot with Al Pacino and the rest of the cast.

    ...

    Upstairs, a room had been converted into a meeting space where Al Pacino was going through stack after stack of materials he had already reviewed numerous times.

    To give Al a deeper understanding of his character, Eric had arranged for a detailed dossier on two fictionalpanies, Louis Corp and Moses Corp. Even though thesepanies didn''t exist, the information was meticulously designed by professionals based on real firms in the industry.

    The second scene was centered around a meeting discussing the acquisition of Moses Corp. Although the room had been initially prepped, arranging the camera setup and other details still took a good half an hour.

    Once shooting started, Ericrgely focused on Al Pacino, who had very few lines in this scene, relying mostly on expressions and bodynguage to convey character -- something Al excelled at.

    Al''s portrayal of Edward differed significantly from the character Richard Gere originally yed; he brought a more intelligent, cold, and aloof demeanor while retaining a certain suave charm. This new portrayal aligned better with the script that depicted Edward as a heartless businessman with machine-like precision in executing his ns.

    Eric quickly embraced the new image Al presented.

    "Cut." After a few shots, Eric suddenly yelled "Cut" right as another shot began. He frowned, standing up.

    "Eric, is there a problem?" Al Pacino asked, puzzled by the earlier smooth shoot. He wasn''t aware of any mistakes in his performance.

    Eric shook his head, saying, "Al, it''s not your problem." He then sat down behind a blonde woman at the conference table, her name was Dolly, who promptly stood up.

    With a straight face, Eric picked up a notepad where Dolly had been scribbling. "Dolly, do you realize that because of your oversight, we now have to reshoot?"

    Dolly nervously apologized, "I''m sorry, director. Can I ask what went wrong?"

    "Your character is a meeting note-taker, but in the earlier shots, you lookedpletely distracted. Do you understand? If this were a realpany meeting, you''d be fired! Look at what you wrote: ''Can Ipare you to summer, but you are gentler than summer''? Is this a poem?"

    Dolly''s pale cheeks flushed slightly, and she softly exined, "It''s... it''s Shakespeare''s So."

    "Alright, artsy Miss, now sit properly." Eric had Dolly sit down again, gently correcting her posture while cing the notepad in front of her. "Next, remember, don''t write poetry. Just jot down everything Al and the others say quickly, got it?"

    Dolly nodded, "I understand, Director Williams."

    Returning to his director''s chair, Eric signaled for everyone to resume filming. The reason he let Dolly off so easily was that he too had missed the marks.

    He had concentrated too much on Al and the others'' performances and hadn''t caught Dolly''s mistake until she appeared front and center. If he had interjected earlier, they wouldn''t have wasted so many shots.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    However, as a director, to maintain his authority on set, he certainly wouldn''t admit to such small blunders.

    Although the party scene inside the vi only appeared briefly in the film, it took the whole afternoon to shoot. By the time they wrapped thest shot, it featured Edward conversing with his ex-girlfriend, Susan, after he had brutally broken up with his current girlfriend, Jessica, over the phone and was about to leave the vi.

    As Edward walked downstairs, he unexpectedly ran into his ex, kicking off a brief

    conversation.

    ...

    "Susan, can I ask you something?" Edward eyed Susan intently.

    "What is it?" Susan replied, puzzled.

    Edward raised his hand slightly, pausing to consider his words before asking, "When we were

    dating, did you talk to my secretary more than to me?"

    Susan''s tone carried a hint of sadness as she recalled their past together, "Your secretary

    ended up being my maid of honor."

    Edward froze for a moment, awkwardlyughing as he bid Susan goodbye.

    ...

    This exchange appeared ordinary, but in actuality, it marked one of Edward''s character''s

    pivotal turning points.

    Pretty Woman became a box office hit and was featured on almost every list of romantic films for a reason. Many fans might dismiss it as merely a whimsical rags-to-riches fairy tale, iming it could never happen in real life.

    That criticism wasn''t entirely unfounded, but the plot was woven with far moreplexity than it seemed. Perhaps the director originally made these thoughtfully-crafted decisions instinctively, yet it in no way negated their brilliance.

    When it came to illogic, one had only to look at Julia''ster film, Notting Hill, which really took the cake. The lead characters barely exchanged a few words before diving into passionate kisses in the male lead''s apartment. Eric had been startled by the jarring nature of that scene when he first viewed the film.

    In contrast, Pretty Woman depicted the evolution of its two lead characters in a structured and believable manner, with Vivian and Edward undergoing at least three transformations

    throughout the story.

    ...

    Vivian''s first change took ce early in the film when she encountered a prostitute who had met a violent end in a trash can; the close-up on Vivian''s face revealed raw fear, prompting her to ask her friend, Kate, "Don''t you want to escape this life?"

    The second shift urred when Vivian, wanting to apany Edward to an event, went shopping alone and was kicked out of a boutique. As she wrapped her coat tightly around herself on the street, she felt a bitter humiliation that renewed her resolve to flee her previous

    life.

    The final transformation arose after Edward chose to abandon the acquisition of Moses Corp. An enraged Philip Stuckeyid me at Vivian''s feet, harshly stating in a hotel room, "Don''t forget your ce, Miss Vivian. You aren''t ady; you''re just a prostitute!"

    That statement jolted Vivian awake from the fairy-tale illusion Edward had created for her. So

    when Edward offered to keep her, she ran to the balcony, unable to meet his gaze, murmuring about her childhood dreams. She told him he could either give her a fairy tale or let her go. Ultimately, she chose to leave, though that wasn''t necessarily the end of their story.

    ...

    Edward''s character transformation began in the vi during his exchange with Susan. He posed a personal question to her, and Susan''s response about her secretary bing her maid of honor starkly highlighted how neglected and disregarded he had been toward her, forcing his girlfriend to turn to his secretary forpanionship. Although this was a small detail, it set Edward on a path for self-reflection.

    Edward''s second transformation unfolded after dining with Moses Corp''s owner. Upon returning to his hotel, he found himself alone on a balcony gazing out at the night sky over Los Angeles. The conversations during dinner had evoked memories of his recently deceased father, reminding him of his drive to prove himself and the lingering bitterness from his childhood. His first official act after forming thepany had been acquiring his father''s business and subsequently breaking it apart.

    However, with his father gone, fourteen years of resentment dissipated, leaving him feeling a

    measure of fatigue. When one felt weary, their resolve faltered, and at that moment, a woman appeared before him, offering sce and entering his heart unannounced.

    At the piano in the restaurant, a previously exhausted Edward experienced an outpouring of

    emotion for the first time.

    The final transformation came one evening when Vivian insisted they y chess. Edward

    propped his chin on his hands and said, "Why not wait until tomorrow? I still have work to

    do."

    Vivian countered, "Why work at all? Take a day off!"

    Edward had a moment of realization, "You''re right; after all, I am the boss!"

    And so, Edward fully ''fell'' for Vivian; they strolled about as if they were a couple,ying on

    thewn together reading, and talking aimlessly at snack stands...

    Ultimately, he realized he couldn''t live without Vivian.

    On that mncholic rainy day before they parted ways, beneath the song It Must Have Been Love, Edward made up his mind to give Vivian a fairy tale ending. He transformed into a

    knight, holding a sword (an umbre) in one hand and flowers in the other as he scaled the

    castle walls dders) to retrieve his princess.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Fragrance of Flowers

    Chapter 66: The Fragrance of Flowers

    ?

    [Chapter 66: The Fragrance of Flowers]

    After wrapping up the scene where Al Pacino pretended to be a novice while driving a Lamborghini Diablo away from the party, the filming schedule for the day came to a close. The crew had put in nearly eight hours of work.

    As long as they could maintain this pace, Eric believed they could wrap up filming within the week. So, even though he still had plenty of energy, he didn''t push the crew for overtime.

    In Europe and America, overtime was a serious matter. Getting Europeans to work extra hours was practically impossible. Some countries even imposed hefty taxes to discouragepanies from making employees work beyond their hours. Americans, on the other hand, would only consider it if they received generouspensation and a suitable time-off n, not to mention dealing with the scrutiny and inquiries from unions that could arise.

    The vi was designed as a party setting, and ording to Eric''s initial n, it would transition into a proper wrap party after filming was done.

    ...

    Amid the soothing background music, Eric turned down the advances of several bold beautiful women and positioned himself on a sofa in the corner to discuss uing shooting ns with Jeffrey. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Julia and Al Pacino, who were cozied up together on the dance floor, his gaze lingering momentarily on them.

    Julia had long quit her job as a waitress at Jeff''s restaurant and had received a portion of her sry in advance. Following Eric''s instructions, she had rented an apartment in Beverly Hills and moved in.

    Even though she didn''t have a scene today, Julia still showed up on set, pitching in when she could and even taking time to rehearse a few lines with Al Pacino.

    Eric was quite pleased with Julia''s attitude. Aside from the female assistant provided by the agency, Julia didn''t receive any special treatment on set. In fact, Al Pacino didn''t get any special privileges either; he arrived in his own car and headed home after finishing his work. To save on budget, the crew had only rented a trailer for the actors to do their makeup and change clothes. Eric believed that this kind of situation would be a rarity. He was certain that the duo''s next film would not see such "ck" treatment.

    Jeffrey quickly followed Eric''s gaze and found the source of his attention.

    "What''s the matter, Eric? You''re not getting jealous, are you?" Jeffrey leaned in teasingly, fully aware of the happenings between Eric and Julia.

    Eric shook his head nonchntly, but it was impossible for him not to feel a twinge of envy seeing Julia and Al in such a flirtatious disy on the dance floor, especially considering their past intimacy.

    Yet, Eric had no desire to im Julia for himself; the voluptuous beauty wasn''t his type. As a long-time member of the looks club, Julia hadn''t quite reached his standard of beauty.

    "I''m just observing how Julia and Al are interacting," Eric casually made an excuse. "From what I can see, after working together, they''re really getting into character. Don''t you think they seem prettypatible?"

    Hearing Eric''s remark, Jeffrey turned to look as well. On the dance floor, Julia and Al Pacino whispered back and forth, locking eyes asionally, creating a moment that felt almost romantic.

    "It does seem that way. Do you think after this movie wraps up, Julia might fall for Al?" "There''s a strong possibility," Eric replied, recalling Julia''s sentimental nature. "But Al definitely wouldn''t return her feelings; his girlfriend is already pregnant."

    Al Pacino was indeed a well-known womanizer, skillful in effortlessly moving among several women, some of whom bore him children. In the past, Al might have pursued a romance with Julia. However, with his girlfriend''s pregnancy, such a fling seemed highly unlikely now. If rumors of a rtionship with Julia emerged, it would greatly tarnish his image to ditch a pregnant girlfriend during a critical phase of his career.

    Eric''s casual observations about Julia likely went unnoticed by her, but now that both he and Jeffrey were watching intently,menting on the scene, Julia would have to be blind not to catch on. Al Pacino also caught sight of Eric and Jeffrey''s gaze, shing them a charming smile in return.

    However, being cradled by Al, Julia felt an inexplicable unease; once her tranquility was disrupted, it rarely resumed. After exchanging a few quiet words with Al, she stepped away from the dance floor and walked toward Eric.

    "Julia, why aren''t you dancing anymore?" Eric asked with curiosity as she took a seat beside

    him.

    "I''m just a bit tired," Julia replied, grabbing a ss of champagne and settlingfortably on the sofa, leaning slightly toward Eric. "What were you two just chatting about?"

    Jeffrey beat Eric to the punch, chuckling as he answered, "I was just betting with Eric on whether you''ll fall for Al after filming wraps."

    "Oh, you two... how could you?" Julia feigned annoyance, though a fleeting look of disappointment passed through her eyes.

    Eric quickly interjected to halt Jeffrey''s antics. "Julia, don''t listen to Jeffrey''s nonsense. We''re not that bored. We were merely noting how well you and Al danced; it seems like the rest of the shooting should go smoothly since it looks like you two have really embraced your roles."

    Julia responded with an "oh," sipping her champagne before asking, "Eric, do you... want to dance?"

    Eric nced at his watch, lifting his cuff with a shake of his head. "No, I''m about to head out." "Why not enjoy a bit longer? You won''t have the chance to rx like this for a while," Jeffrey urged.

    Standing up, Eric smiled. "Today is the first day of Jenny''s show airing. She called all the way from New York to remind me not to miss it; it''s almost time."

    Jeffrey couldn''t help but tease Eric on that note, but soon he got up as well. A few observant partygoers caught wind that Eric might be leaving and approached him.

    At the vi''s entrance, Eric addressed Jeffrey and the others who were seeing him off. "You all head back now. Jeffrey, don''t let them party toote; we''ve got a shoot tomorrow."

    "Don''t worry, I''ll keep an eye on them."

    ...

    Eric waved as he walked toward the parking lot. Julia hesitated momentarily in the crowd but decided to follow.

    "Julia, is there something you need?" Eric asked as he opened the car door and spotted her approaching.

    "Eric, I haven''t had a chance to buy a car yet. Could you give me a ride?"

    Eric smiled amiably. "Of course, no problem."

    The car cruised smoothly down the street as Eric casually broached a subject. "So, Julia, what

    do you think of Al?"

    Julia lowered her gaze slightly, ncing at Eric, carefully choosing her words. "Mr. Pacino is quite charming and very talkative. He can''t help but make a good impression. However, I don''t have those kinds of feelings for him; he''s over twenty years older than I am."

    Eric chuckled, "Al would probably be heartbroken to hear that. You don''t like older men, and

    Al has a preference for young, beautifuldies."

    "Do you think I''m pretty?"

    Without hesitation, Eric nodded. "You''re a ssic beauty."

    Although Julia found hispliment somewhat strange, it brought a smile to her face.

    After a moment''s pause, Julia gathered her courage and asked, "Eric, your girlfriend, is she

    that Jennifer Aniston?"

    "Yeah, we met while filming 17 Again," Eric recalled, a smile creeping onto his face as he remembered something. "Jenny knows you."

    "That can''t be! I''ve only ever seen her in the papers, especially after that...," Julia trailed off, feeling strangely embarrassed about that wild night.

    However, Eric shrugged it off, "She met you that night too. Speaking of which..." recalling Aniston''s frustrated mood during the incident, Eric smiled. "She wore that shirt too; by the way, do you still have it? Maybe you could return it to meter?"

    "No problem," Julia nodded reflexively.

    The car rolled to a stop in front of Julia''s newly rented apartment. As she stepped out and nced around the empty street, she hesitantly asked, "Eric, do you want toe in for a coffee? There are no paparazzi around this time."

    Eric leaned out the car window, refusing politely, "Nah, I should get going. Just wait here for

    a bit." "Alright then," Julia said, pulling out her keys to unlock the door. She turned around once more to see that Eric still wasn''t getting out, sighing to herself and heading inside.

    In her bedroom, Julia opened the closet and pulled out the freshlyundered white shirt, instinctively smelling it before folding it quietly. As she walked toward the door, she recalled Eric''s earlierment. Her steps grew more hesitant; she couldn''t suppress her little pang of jealousy anymore. She turned back, ced the shirt back in the closet, and covered it with a couple of her own clothes. Taking a deep breath, she exited the room.

    "Eric, I''m sorry! I forgot where I put that shirt. Can I return itter when I find it?"

    Eric stared at her for a couple of seconds before letting out a sigh. "Fine, just let it go if you

    can''t find it."

    Just as he was about to roll up the window and leave, he reconsidered and leaned out again. "Julia, I can guarantee that once Pretty Woman is released, you''ll be the talk of Hollywood, the new star everyone adores. Countless men will see you as their dream girl, and many great guys will pursue you. So..." he hesitated before softening his words, "give it your all and don''t let

    me down."

    Julia bit her lip, blinking rapidly before forcing a smile. "Don''t worry, Director Williams! I''ll

    do my very best."

    "Well then... see you tomorrow."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "See you tomorrow," Julia waved as she watched Eric drive off, disappearing down the street.

    As he nced in the rearview mirror and caught a glimpse of Julia standing there, Eric let out

    a soft sigh, tapping his fingers gently on the steering wheel, murmuring a line of a forgotten

    tune.

    Wandering the world, my elegance is hard to hide.

    Not for love, but for a deep appreciation of beauty.

    The fragrance of flowers draws me in, as the wind stirs beneath them.

    Flowers bloom and fade, a reminder of impermanence.

    I leave gracefully, without leaving a trace...

    He trailed off before finishing thest line, shaking his head in self-mockery with a smile,

    "How could that be?"

    [T/N: I created the lyrics based on the original''s text.]

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Super Bowl Trailer

    Chapter 67: Super Bowl Trailer

    ?

    [Chapter 67: Super Bowl Trailer]

    After that vague rejection, Julia seemed to put any feelings she had for Eric behind her and threw herself into filming. Whether in public or private, Julia changed her reference for Eric to "Director Williams."

    Of course, Eric didn''t have time to feel down about Julia''s distance. As they shot more scenes, the editing began to ramp up too. Eric found himself workingte into the night almost every day with the editor, sometimes sote that he opted to sleep in the office to save on rest time.

    Jeffrey expressed some concerns about Eric''s approach. Most films underwent post- production only after wrapping up filming. Even though the shoot for hisst film, Home Alone, was short, it still followed the standard process. But now, Eric waspletely upending that order.

    However, once Jeffrey saw the edited clips Eric had put together, he rxedpletely, only advising Eric to take care of himself and not to overwork.

    Jeffrey had asked Eric why he was pushing so hard. With his current sess, the profits from Home Alone would havefortably supported him for a decade.

    Eric just smiled and didn''t exin, burying himself in work. How could Jeffrey know about the ambition stirring within him? When he first stepped into that audition room at Fox, the seed of ambition he nted had taken root deep in his heart, and a series of sesses had nurtured it to grow even stronger.

    Eric wanted to see just how far he could go.

    The crew for Pretty Woman moved in smoothly after three days of adjustments, and they officially set up at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel to film some of the most critical scenes.

    "Cut!" Eric popped his head out from behind the monitor during a scene where Vivian and Edward had breakfast the morning after a night together. "Make Julia''s lip gloss a bit less shy, but not too dull."

    It was a minor change, so Julia didn''t need to avoid the spotlight. The makeup artist quickly made the adjustment.

    After a moment, the makeup artist turned back to Eric and asked, "Director, is this okay?" Eric looked at Julia and shook his head. "It''s still too light. Make it a bit brighter."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After fiddling with it some more, the makeup artist finally achieved a look Eric was satisfied with. He turned to his assistant, n Feissman, and said, "n, note this down and remind meter. Julia''s lip color should gradually transition from bright red to pink to soft red throughout the film. After the scene where she is nearly assaulted by Philip Stuckey, she should drop the gloss and wear her natural shade."

    Though n felt uncertain, he quickly jotted down Eric''s notes.

    Eric didn''t exin his reasoning to the others; this was merely a subtle detail he wanted to use to hint at Vivian''s transformation. Vivian''s friend, Kate, on the other hand, wore an attention-grabbing bright red the entire time.

    ...

    Around noon, Jeffrey rushed over to the set.

    "Eric, I spoke with Carlin Hunt all morning, and Fox still hasn''t agreed to your n to air a trailer during the Super Bowl."

    Eric set down his lunch, wiping his hands with a napkin. "What did they say?"

    "A 60-second spot during the Super Bowl costs around $1.2 million. Fox thinks that''s a waste of money. They believe a concentrated publicity push two weeks before the release is sufficient for your film," Jeffrey replied. "In the end, they just don''t have enough faith in your new project. Everyone knows the reason behind signing you for three movie deals was solely for Home Alone 2."

    Eric squeezed the napkin in his hands, pondering for a moment. "Keep negotiating with Fox; getting them to agree to anything would be a start. The important thing is to secure that 60- second slot with NBC. If pushes to shove, I can cover the cost myself."

    "Eric, our film budget is only $7 million. If you insist on airing a trailer during the Super Bowl, I think 30 seconds should suffice."

    Eric patiently rified, "Jeffrey, for a special effects blockbuster like Star Wars, 30 seconds could work, as long as we edited some jaw-dropping shots. But Pretty Woman is a narrative film, and I intend to include ourpany''s logo. In that case, 30 seconds wouldn''t convey anything."

    "Alright, if you''re determined," Jeffrey relented, aware that Eric often proved right. Yet again, he found himself reluctantly supporting Eric''s decision.

    At that time, Hollywood movie marketing was still rtively conservative. The idea of airing movie trailers during the Super Bowl wouldn''t catch on for another ten years, and only the major studios could afford to do so.

    The Super Bowl had maintained the top spot for television ratings in North America since its inception, attracting over 100 million viewers. Majorworks took turns broadcasting it, and this year, it was NBC''s turn.

    Not long ago, while watching Jennifer Aniston''s show on NBC, Eric had first encountered the Super Bowl promo, sparking his idea to feature the trailer for Pretty Woman during the event.

    In the years before his rebirth, the concept of Super Bowl trailers had be deeply ingrained, and Hollywood''s six major studios would send in trailers for their leading films almost every year.

    But now, Eric''s notion felt a bit ahead of its time. Typically, major Hollywood productions only aired their trailers on television about a month in advance. Although airing just a month after the Super Bowl could align with the Easter release slot, big-budget films tended to aim for summer or holiday periods, leaving no one to air ads during the Super Bowl.

    The advertising costs for the Super Bowl were significant. Eric had previously inquired, and the cost had risen to $670,000 for a mere 30-second slot. While that amount seemed like a lot, it could also cover a continuous two-week advertising campaign on NBC during prime time, making 30 seconds of airtime during the Super Bowl feel fleeting.

    Yet despite this, Eric quickly decided to go ahead with a 60-second trailer for Pretty Woman during the Super Bowl, knowing how vital box office performance was for his second film as a director.

    Even though Eric held strong confidence in the film''s potential sess, he still harbored quiet concerns over the butterfly effect that could arise from this decision.

    Therefore, he wouldn''t pass up this incredible promotional opportunity. If everything went smoothly, Pretty Woman would be the first film trailer to debut during the Super Bowl.

    With over a hundred million viewers,bined with the novelty of being the first Super Bowl trailer, the buzz surrounding Pretty Woman could be enormous. Given that, paying $1.2 million

    feltpletely justified.

    Moreover, Eric was convinced that the media hype would carry on right up to the film''s

    release twenty dayster.

    With that settled, Eric remembered another matter. "Jeffrey, how''s ourpany logoing

    along?"

    After founding Firefly Productions, Eric had coborated with Jeffrey to brainstorm ideas,

    and they had ultimately chosen a 3D version.

    Once filming for Pretty Woman kicked off, Eric had handed over the task of managing the

    logo''s creation to Jeffrey.

    "I''ve followed up with Pixar several times, and they assured me it would be ready this week. It

    won''t dy the trailer, so don''t worry," Jeffrey said.

    Just as Eric was nodding, he suddenly gasped, "You''re talking about... Pixar?"

    Confused, Jeffrey asked, "Yeah, what''s the problem?"

    "Is this the same Pixar that belongs to Jobs?"

    Jeffrey nodded. "Yes, that''s right, it''s Jobs'' Pixar," he said, a mischievous smile creeping onto

    his face.

    "Funny enough, Jobs has had a rough few years. First, he got kicked out of Apple. He ambitiously bought Pixar, intending to create specialized graphicsputers, but after the product flopped, he found himself only able to take on animation contracts to keep thepany afloat. However, Pixar''s animation technology is truly outstanding. After watching their short film, Tin Toy, I decided to hand over the logo project to them."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Pixar

    Chapter 68: Pixar

    ?

    [Chapter 68: The Ugly Duckling of Pixar]

    Eric quickly gathered the scattered memories of Pixar from his past life. As the leader in 3D animation in Hollywood, Pixar produced the globally renowned Toy Story series of animated films. However, before 1995, Disney''s 2D animated films had still dominated the animation market, and no one had any faith in the future of 3D animation.

    Even Steve Jobscked confidence in 3D animation. Before Toy Story was released, he had wanted to sell Pixar, and he had even reached out to his old rival, Microsoft, while holding his nose. During his discussions with Microsoft executives, he ced a Windowsptop on his desk to appease Nathan Myhrvold, thepany''s Senior Vice President.

    Unfortunately, the price Microsoft offered was far from satisfactory, and with Jobs feeling stuck in a muddy pit that he couldn''t climb out of, he had to grit his teeth and hang on until the dawn of sess arrived. After Toy Story''s debut, it shattered box office records, earning $192 million domestically and nearly $360 million worldwide, with a production cost of only $30 million.

    After that, the value of Pixar, once pegged at $50 million, skyrocketed to twenty times that amount. By the time Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, its valuation had reached $7.4 billion. Considering the timeline, Eric realized Jobs should have already begun trying to sell Pixar, the "money-losing venture." Just as Eric contemted the prospect of buying Pixar, he reluctantly shook his head.

    Jobs might not be able to demand the $50 million price tag like he had in his previous life, but even if he offered half, at $25 million, Eric couldn''t manage it. He had hardly any money left; given how long Home Alone had been out, Columbia Pictures must have started sharing the profits with the theaters.

    However, in the best-case scenario, Eric would have to wait until Home Alone finished its run before he could receive his share. Directors and actors frequently found themselves in court with filmpanies over their unpaid shares. Even just sitting on over $100 million, the daily interest rued would be quite substantial. Even with clear agreements in ce, Columbia would find ways to dy payments.

    Eric even imagined what tricks Columbia might use to postpone payments: perhaps monthster, when Home Alone''s box office potential was clearly exhausted, Columbia would leave a few screens running just to prevent the film from being pulled from theaters, leaving Eric feeling powerless. The way Columbia had previously worked with him had left a bad taste, and they likely wouldn''t be eager to coborate again soon. There was no need to question the rtionship; Columbia''s executives, particrly Cohen Blount, had no qualms about using underhanded tactics to benefit themselves.

    After contemting, Eric decided thatpleting Pretty Woman should be his main focus. Regardless of any changes to history, there were still six years until Toy Story premiered, giving Eric ample time to try to acquire Pixar.

    ...

    Before shooting Pretty Woman started, the preparations were already well underway, and the crew didn''t require Jeffrey, the producer, to be present at all times; several executive producers had everything well in hand. Jeffrey discussed ns with Eric for an hour and then hurriedly left the set to fly to New York to discuss advertising with NBC.

    The bidding for Super Bowl ads had started six months earlier, and NBC had already sold 80% of this year''s ad slots. Jeffrey was trying to secure one of the remaining 20%, but the time slots weren''t ideal; any good slots were long gone, snatched up at prices far above average.

    Three dayster, Eric had barely gotten out of bed when he received a call from Jeffrey, announcing he had secured a 59-second ad slot -- Super Bowl ads priced by the second, ranging from 15 seconds to 90 seconds.

    "What? $1.5 million? Didn''t we say it would be $1.2 million?" Eric asked, wedging the cordless phone between his neck while squeezing toothpaste onto his brush.

    With an air of resignation, Jeffrey replied, "If no one had bid, then sure, we could''ve done it for $1.2 million. But when the bidding opened, a fashionpany from New York showed up topete for the spot. You insisted I secure it for you, so I had to raise the price to $1.5 million. I even suspect thatpany was put up to it by NBC, but that''s just my guess with no evidence."

    Staring at the unexpected expense of an additional $300,000, Eric lost his patience for leisurely dental hygiene. He rushed to rinse and returned to the living room.

    "Well, fine, $1.5 million it is," he said, pouring himself a ss of water. "Let''s get the contract signed as soon as possible. Oh, Jeffrey, the Golden Globe Awards are tomorrow -- are you going to make it back in time?"

    "I''ll see how it goes, but I probably won''t make it," Jeffrey replied, regret coloring his voice. "Honestly, the most exciting part is you, the miracle director, being there. It doesn''t really matter if I am."

    "Ha, don''t worry; even if you miss this one, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

    "I believe that too," Jeffrey chuckled, sounding more at ease. "Unless you have anything else to discuss, I''ll hang up. You just woke up, and it''s only 7 a.m. in LA. But I had to let you know about the $300,000 overage as soon as I could."

    "Not a problem; I actually got to bed earlyst night," Eric replied.

    After exchanging goodbyes, Eric hung up the phone. Leaning back on the couch gently tapping his knee, he calcted his finances.

    He had originally gotten a check for $25 million from Fox.

    He had spent $1.9 million on a Beverly Hills mansion, $1 million paid to Drew''s mother, $1 million acquiring UTA, and about $3 million on leasing and renovating the Fireflypany as well as those expensive professional audio and editing equipment. Pretty Woman''s production budget was $7 million, and the Super Bowl ad was $1.5 million, which added up to a total of $15.4 million.

    He wasn''t particrly extravagant, but over thest period, he''d managed to spend at least several tens of thousands of dors. Then there are taxes. Given his ie, he knew he had to pay a whopping 35% personal ie tax, amounting to nearly $10 million.

    Cursing the wretched taxes, Eric sadly realized that before tax day on April 15, he most likely wouldn''t be earning anything else.

    "I can''t believe I might even need a loan just to cover my taxes," Eric groaned, rubbing his forehead....

    After pushing that thought aside, Eric had breakfast and then drove to the set. Perhaps because he dered a fixed day off for the crew the following day, the team was in high spirits. They managed to shoot five or six extra scenes in a single day.

    After ten days of filming, Pretty Woman hadpleted 60% of its shots. At this pace, it would likely wrap up within a week following the Golden Globe ceremony. The smooth progress of filming wasrgely thanks to Julia''s outstanding performance. Eric hadn''t worried at all about Al Pacino''s part -- after all, someone with so many Oscar nominations wouldn''t have trouble in a role that didn''t require much performance, and if anything, he needed to tone it down. On the other hand, as a neer, Julia was different. Initially, while filming her individual shots, she hadn''t encountered major issues -- just a few NGS (no good takes). But when she started acting alongside Al Pacino, her mistakes began to rise sharply. Eric sensed her acting was still in its infancypared to Al''s. However, after a few days of adjustments and a few outbursts from Eric, Julia gradually closed the gap with Al. In some scenes, she even managed to steal the spotlight from him, which was no small feat given Al Pacino''s own restraint.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Okay, that''s it for today," Eric called out after thest shot, and the crew cheered, quickly packing up and heading in different directions.

    He stopped Al Pacino before he could head off to remove his makeup and asked, "Al, how''s that piano soloing along?"

    In the original film, Edward''s piano solo in the restaurant wasposed and performed by Richard Gere. Eric had coborated with thepany''sposer to recreate that under- forty-second piece from memory and given it to Al.

    Al''s piano skills were only slightly better than Eric''s, but he insisted on ying it himself, forcing Eric to postpone that scene''s filming.

    "Eric, can you give me three... no, two more days? I think I need to practice a bit more."

    "No problem," Eric replied, still impressed by Al''s dedication. "But we can''t dy too much, since the timeline is moving quickly. The more time goes on, the more your character''s emotional shifts will be vital, and even if you y it perfectlyter on, it won''t capture the essence of the previous scenes."

    Al Pacino paused, realizing Eric had a point. When he understood that his personal insistence wouldn''t significantly improve the quality of the film, he reluctantly nodded in agreement, "Fine, Eric, let''s push that scene back two days. If absolutely necessary, we can do voiceover

    in post-production."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 69: Chapter 69: A Deal

    Chapter 69: A Deal

    ?

    [Chapter 69: Can''t You Have Some Intentions Towards Me?]

    After everyone else had left, Eric went on his usual; he returned to the headquarters of Firefly Films to work with the editor on the footage from that day. With the Golden Globe Awards the following day, Eric didn''t cut any of the footage but instead marked and sorted the clips with the editor.

    These tasks didn''t require much energy, but they were terribly time-consuming, as the two of them had to watch all the footage in its entirety. In the dimly lit editing room, Eric nced at his watch and said to the editor, "Patrick, let''s call it a day."

    "Sure thing, Director." The editor, Patrick McKinley, who knew Eric had the Golden Globes to attend the next day, looked at him with envy and said, "Good luck tomorrow, Mr. Williams." The Golden Globes didn''t have a professional voting body and didn''t award technical categories like Best Editing or Best Cinematography. So even though Patrick edited Home Alone, he hadn''t received an invitation to the Golden Globe dinner.

    ...

    After driving back to his home in Beverly Hills, Eric noticed the lights were on as soon as he entered the house. Besides him, the only ones with a key were Drew and Aniston. Although Aniston had epted Eric''s key, she had never been here, as she was busy shooting the NBC series Tattingers in New York and wouldn''t be able to leave the set. There was no doubt that Drew had returned again.

    After parking, Eric pushed open the door to the living room, and Drew, all curled up on the sofa and half-asleep, raised her head when she heard the noise.

    "Hey, Eric," Drew called out drowsily and sat up on the sofa to see Eric sitting beside her. Like a little caterpir, she wiggled her soft body and nestled into Eric''s arms.

    Eric smiled and pinched her chubby cheeks, saying, "Alright, what was it this time? Tomorrow isn''t a weekend, is it?"

    "But tomorrow is the Golden Globe Awards!" Drew perked up a bit, resting her head on Eric''s thigh and looking up at him with a defiant expression. "I''m not skipping school this time! I got an invitation to the Golden Globe dinner, and I''m going to be your date tomorrow." Eric didn''t particrly care about the Golden Globes. The awards were overly subjective and didn''t hold much weight. A month prior, when the nominations for the Golden Globes were announced, Eric had taken a nce and moved on. Compared to the original version of 17 Again, which had left empty-handed at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes, this version, benefitting from Fox''s public rtions, received nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Score.

    As for Home Alone, although no public rtions efforts had gone into it, the Golden Globemittee couldn''t have ignored its astounding box office sess. Therefore, it had received the same nominations as before: Best Motion Picture in the Musical or Comedy category and Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.

    "I remember the Best Supporting Actress nomination for 17 Again went to Susan Sarandon, not you, right?" Eric said, somewhat confused. Drew''s performance in 17 Again had certainly been outstanding; maybe he was mistaken.

    "Non-nominated people can still attend the award ceremony," Drew''s eyes darted as, under Eric''s gaze, she finally confessed, "I had Kepler pull some strings for me. I''m his hottest client right now; it was just an invitation, that''s all. Kepler contacted Fox, and it was all sorted out quickly."

    Eric sighed, "I get it. You''re doing everything you can to avoid being in school."

    "Hey, hey." Drew rubbed against Eric''s thigh and grinned, "Eric, are you hungry? I still have some pizza in the kitchen that I haven''t finished."

    "I ate at the office." Eric stood up. "Don''t keep watching TV; you need to get some rest. We have to pick out a tuxedo tomorrow morning; we should dress up a bit for the awards."

    Drew also stood up and followed Eric. "Kepler already set that up for us. Versace is sponsoring our custom tuxedos! I''ve picked out a few, and they''re sending them over for us to try on tomorrow morning."

    Eric recalled that Kepler had mentioned this over the phone, and he had agreed then. By now, Kepler had transferred all other actor contracts over to his agents, only handling Al Pacino, Julia Roberts, Drew, and Eric himself.

    Some days ago, at Eric''s suggestion, Kepler had taken a trip to Sweden to try and sign Roxette, but they were already signed under EMI''s European branch. Despite Kepler''s charm, the two members of Roxette weren''t willing to give up EMI, a giganticbel, for the rather unknown UTA. However, they did agree to sign a licensing agreement for their song It Must Have Been

    Love.

    Eric had thought that with Drew in school and both himself and Al and Julia filming Pretty Woman, Kepler would have a leisurely time. Yet from just a few words from Drew, he realized this former CAA superstar agent had unwittingly handled a lot of work, practically taking on the roles of both agent and manager. This realization made Eric very satisfied; it was obviously a wise decision to buy out Kepler''s managementpany despite pressure from CAA.

    "Goodnight," Eric said, kissing Drew on the forehead, before heading back to his bedroom, casually shutting the door behind him as he entered the bathroom.

    After showering, Eric got into bed and picked up a magazine from the nightstand, reading for a while until his hair dried. He then turned off the light and fell asleep.

    ...

    He didn''t know how much time had passed when the bedroom door clicked softly, and a delicate figure silently slipped inside, making her way to the bed and crawling under the covers beside Eric.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Click--

    The bedmp flipped on.

    Eric rubbed his forehead in frustration; he had forgotten to lock the door again.

    Feeling the bare skin snuggling against him and having not been intimate with a woman in weeks, mes ignited within Eric. For a moment, he nearly lost sight of his resolve.

    "Hey, what''s going on? Don''t! I can go back myself, you know?" As Eric shifted, Drew quickly

    became enveloped in a sheet, leaving only her little head peeking out.

    Eric scooped up the wrapped-up girl and headed towards her bedroom.

    "Eric, can''t you have a little interest in me? You''ve always treated me so well and yet you don''t do anything, which makes me so anxious," Drew protested, trapped in Eric''s arms but still vocalizing her concerns.

    Ericid Drew on her bed and firmly said, "Enough of that. No more of this."

    "That''s not fair! You''ve been with Aniston, and you''ve been with Julia Roberts, so why do you remain indifferent towards me? It''s not fair!" Drew finally freed one hand from the sheets and protested while tugging at Eric.

    "Because they''re both adults, and you''re not," Eric exined. "You wouldn''t want me to be sentenced to prison, right?"

    "But..." Drew pushed back, "If neither of us says anything, no one will know, right?"

    Eric covered Drew with the nket, neatly folding up the sheet. He looked sternly at her and said, "Sweetheart, you need to understand that everyone has their limits, and this is mine. You''re so cute that I can''t help but feel attracted to you. But even if it were to happen, it''d have to wait until you''re of legal age."

    "But in some European countries, I''m already old enough!"

    "Well, this is California, not Europe."

    Drew, holding onto the sheet with her small hands and bright eyes, asked, "Eric, after you

    finish this film, can we go travel in Europe?"

    Eric felt the tension still simmering within him. Hearing Drew''s words, he instinctively

    swallowed.

    "No, you have to wait until you''re 18."

    "Wow, 18? By then, I''ll be old! I found a book at school that said a long time ago, humans would die by 20. How about 14?"

    Eric felt a bead of sweat form on his forehead. How was this girl bargaining? Just as he was

    about to get up and return to his room, ignoring her wild chatter, Drew clung tightly to his arm. With Drewpletely uncovered, her bare skin wasid bare, her little bunny ears blushing red and yfully entangling him. "Okay, how about 15? Will 15 work?"

    Eric''s eyes darted to her creamy skin, and he found himself saying, "That won''t work, at least

    16."

    "Deal!" The girl quickly released his arm and dived under the covers, her innocent expression locking onto Eric''s. "No take-backs!"

    Oh boy, he fell for it, but somehow he felt a flicker of anticipation.

    ...

    The next morning at 9 a.m., the staff from Versace arrived at Eric''s house with the custom tuxedos for him and Drew to choose from.

    The Golden Globes was indeed a big deal, and Kepler arrived almost simultaneously to exin some important points regarding the awards. He would apany Eric and Drew to the Golden Globes that day but didn''t have the credentials to enter; his job was just to drop off his employer at the Hilton Hotel''s awards hall, and that would count aspleting his duties.

    This wasn''t an insignificant task. A lot of stars had their agents present in simr situations. If something unexpected happened, the agent could deal with it promptly to prevent the situation from escting.

    While Drew was trying on her gowns, Eric took the chance to ask Kepler about the specifics of the sponsorship from Versace. It turned out that these high-end custom tuxedos weren''t free but on loan -- they needed to be returned after wearing. Of course, if they liked them, they could also buy them at a decent discount that Versace offered to clients like Eric. Eric deemed it necessary to invest in such a suit; after all, being a man, he didn''t have to wear

    a different tuxedo for every award ceremony, and he could reuse one suit. However, after asking about the general price range, he quickly dismissed that idea; he was nearly at the point of needing a loan just to pay taxes.

    One high-end tuxedo cost $100,000, which was still a little surreal for Eric at that point. The most he''d ever spent on a suit before was a little over $800, which his wife had insisted on, leaving him feeling quite the pinch.

    After selecting their outfits in the morning, Kepler arranged for makeup artists to get both of them ready in the afternoon. With everything wrapped up, it was already nearly 4 p.m. when the group made their way to the Hilton Hotel, the venue for this year''s Golden Globe Awards.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Can You Spit?

    Chapter 70: Can You Spit?

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 70: Can You Spit?]

    Kepler timed his arrival perfectly, reaching the Hilton at 4:20 p.m. With twenty minutes left before the guests were set to enter, the Golden Globe Awards ceremony was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

    The guest waiting area was packed, with clusters of people chatting animatedly. Eric took a casual nce around and spotted Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, and Sigourney Weaver -- big names he had once only dreamed of seeing up close.

    As the young hotshot of Hollywood over the past six months, there were few in the room who didn''t recognize Eric. It didn''t matter whether they had met before; once their eyes met, they would nod amicably in acknowledgment.

    Making his way through the crowd, he quickly found himself at the waiting area for Home Alone. Perhaps it was a deliberate arrangement by the event organizers, but the crews for Home Alone and 17 Again were right next to each other.

    Eric thought it best to head over to the 17 Again team first, where he greeted Penny Marshall, Susan Sarandon, and others. Drew understood that Eric had some mingling to do next and willingly stepped back, staying with the 17 Again crew.

    Compared to other groups, the Home Alone crew seemed a bit sparse. Jeffrey was in New York, and the two actors ying the bumbling robbers were off filming. Since neither of them was nominated, they didn''t rush back to Los Angeles.

    By the way, Matthew Perry had been signed by WMA ahead of time. Though young, Matthew managed social situations far better than the Ronkels. During Christmas, Eric hosted a party at his home, and Matthew made a special trip back just to attend, even expressing his willingness to reprise his role as Marvin the robber, saying he was open to negotiating the

    pay.

    In contrast, the Ronkels'' performance had left Eric feeling disappointed.

    ...

    "Hi, Charlie, Mary, good afternoon," he said, turning to the Home Alone table, where he smiled and shook hands with the Ronkel couple. They looked radiant, basking in the media attention that had recently focused on their son. This was the first time the couple had stepped into the spotlight themselves.

    "Hello, Eric," they chimed, shaking his hand with smiles, but their eyes betrayed a mix of emotions. Lately, there had been whispers that had soured their perception of Eric.

    Eric didn''t let that bother him. He bent down to greet the beaming Stuart Ronkel, who stood beside his parents, when an abrupt voice cut in. "Mr. Williams, we meet again."

    Eric turned to see the middle-aged man who had been standing beside the Ronkel couple -- Horner Wylie, the CAA''s top agent, with whom he had crossed paths before.

    Remembering how CAA operated, Eric figured Horner was here as one of Stuart''s agents. However, he frowned slightly; their previous meeting had not ended on friendly terms, and Horner had clearlye to assert his presence.

    ncing coldly at Horner''s outstretched hand, Eric replied tly, "Hello, Mr. Wylie. I''m d to see you."

    Despite his words, there was little warmth in his tone. Horner was pleased by Eric''s reaction, grinning as he withdrew his hand, showing no signs of awkwardness.

    This was the kind of situation that didn''t typically require an agent of his caliber to intervene, but he made a personal appearance nheless. Eric''s previous dismissal had embarrassed him, and he just wanted to make the young man aware that Stuart Ronkel was now a CAA client. To get involved in Home Alone 2, he''d have to bow to CAA.

    However, Horner mistook Eric''s annoyance for insecurity, stepping forward as Eric gathered Stuart in his arms. "Mr. Williams, Stuart is my client now. If you need anything, you should speak with me. Cozying up to a child won''t get you anywhere."

    Eric looked Horner up and down -- his meticulous hairstyle, neat clothes -- and chuckled softly to Stuart, "Stu, you don''t like him either, right? Can you spit?"

    Stuart''s clever, bright eyes darted around before he quickly turned to Horner Wylie and, with a swift motion, spat.

    "Ugh--"

    "Aah!" Horner shrieked, ring furiously at Eric and Stuart, incredulity shing across his face as he looked down at the saliva now adorning his suit. He quickly pulled out a handkerchief but stared in horror at his chest, unsure of what to do next.

    Charlie Ronkel hurriedly approached, trying to wipe it off for Horner, "I''m so sorry, Mr. Wylie."

    Mary Ronkel shot a displeased look at Eric but didn''t dare reprimand him, instead urging Stuart, "Stuart, say sorry to Mr. Wylie."

    Held in Eric''s arms, Stuart appeared emboldened, ignoring his mother and turning his head away, pouting.

    "Alright, Stu, want to meet some big stars? I''ll take you to meet Mr. Tom Hanks."

    Eric chose to ignore the three behind him, carrying Stuart toward the Big team.

    Stuart, with a hint of pride in his voice, said, "Eric, I''m a big star now too."

    "What''s it feel like to be a big star?" Eric asked,ughing.

    Stuart''s expression fell, shaking his head, "Not good at all. I thought if I made a lot of money, my mom and dad would get back together, but they fight more than ever. My dad even found another woman."

    Eric stopped, looking at the astute seven-year-old in his arms. "Stuart, how do you know all this? Didn''t your parents hide it from you?"

    Stuart shook his head, "If it weren''t for me, they would''ve divorced long ago. The only reason they''re still together is because neither of them believes they could win custody over me."

    "Stu, do you know what those terms really mean?" Eric asked carefully.

    "I figured it out after hearing it a few times. Eric, my dad took me to get tested for my IQ recently," Stuart leaned in and whispered, "I scored 177. Dad was excited -- he wanted to tell the press. But Horner Wylie said to keep it under wraps so there wouldn''t be any news. So, Dad didn''t say anything."

    Eric sighed quietly, realizing he was holding an exceptionally gifted child while silently mocking Horner Wylie for trying to manipte the situation. He knew Wylie only wanted to keep any buzz from Home Alone going strong to boost ticket sales. But at this point, the film''s poprity meant such antics were unnecessary.

    Arriving at the Big team, Eric set Stuart down and shared a hug with Tom Hanks.

    Tom nced at Horner, who was hurrying away. With a smirk, he said, "Eric, that was pretty ruthless. Horner has a serious phobia about germs; that little spit of Stuart''s might haunt him

    for a week."

    Eric chuckled to himself; he had figured Horner''s sensitive side would provoke such a reaction. It was a bit juvenile but certainly satisfying. Horner would likely be restless over the next few days, possibly even carrying some mental scar from this encounter.

    "Tom, do you know Horner Wylie?"

    Tom nodded, "Of course, Eric. I''m also with CAA. But a lot of people aren''t fond of him. He used to be alright, but since CAA has grown so much in recent years..." Tom trailed off,

    shaking his head.

    "Oh, right, I almost forgot. Tom, my rtionship with CAA isn''t great right now. If I invite you for my next movie, you wouldn''t refuse, would you?"

    Tomughed, "Of course not, as long as the script is good enough."

    Eric understood well that someone of Tom''s stature didn''t have much leverage to control what he could choose to do. His previousment was just a yful jab.

    After chatting for a bit, Eric noticed Stuart innocently tugging at his hand, pulling out a small notebook to ask for autographs from the stars he recognized.

    Even though many had seen Stuart''s earlier stunt, no one seemed to care; outwardly, at least.

    When it came to star power, though Stuart was the youngest by far, he easily overshadowed at least eighty percent of the stars present. Thus, with smiles all around, everyone eagerly

    signed Stuart''s little book.

    Several overly maternal actresses even picked up the boy and showered him with kisses, leaving bright red lipstick marks on his cheeks.

    After a round of introductions, a staff member reminded the guests that it was time to enter. Eric handed Stuart back to the Ronkel couple and found Drew, eagerly awaiting the staff''s announcement to head into the awards hall.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Golden Globe Awards

    Chapter 71: Golden Globe Awards

    ?

    [Chapter 71: A Special Golden Globe Awards]

    The live broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards was handled by ABC, and the entrance time for the Home Alone crew was scheduled right after the group for the highly anticipated Rain Man. After receiving the cue, Eric linked arms with Drew and walked toward the red carpet.

    Since some media outlets had yfully dubbed it the most business-savvy award ceremony, the Golden Globe''s red carpet felt rathercking, stretching only about ten meterspared to the over 200 meters of the Oscar''s red carpet -- there was really noparison.

    When they reached the media photo area, Drew, who had initially only lightly grasped Eric''s arm, changed her pose, leaning against him as if she were a little bird. She let the reporters snap away. The carefully chosen Versace gown made them look every bit like a couple.

    The journalists in the media area appeared excited, with the frequency of shes increasing significantly. If they hadn''t been at the Golden Globes, they probably would have started probing about the nature of the couple''s rtionship. Eric was already quite numb to Drew''s mischievous antics; the girl always managed to seize every opportunity to stir things up without ever crossing his lines.

    After the photos, the two intended to head straight into the venue but were stopped by an ABC reporter for a rather nd interview, inquiring about how it felt to attend the Golden Globes for the first time, among other light topics.

    Once the interview wrapped up and they entered the venue, Eric casually nced back and saw the Ronkel couple lingering in the media area, having been reminded by staff to leave because they were running over time. Eric couldn''t help but feel a flicker of disdain; the couple seemed destined not to make much of an impact. He resolved to find time to chat with Stuart. Stuart''s maturity far exceeded that of the former Macay Culkin in Eric''s past life, and he was hopeful that the boy might take his advice and avoid falling into a trap set by his parents.

    ...

    The Golden Globe Awards followed a formal banquet style; the Home Alone crew was seated at a table in the second row near the stage.

    "Stuart,e sit by me," Eric called to Stuart after seated.

    The boy looked at his mother before getting up and moving to Eric''s side. The Ronkel couple disyed faint looks of displeasure, realizing their son''s departure meant they wouldn''t get the close-up shot anymore.

    At precisely five o''clock, the awards ceremony officially kicked off. Host Morgan Fairchild took the stage.

    "Good evening, you poor souls spun around by a seven-year-old!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Her opening line jokingly jabbed at Home Alone, promptingughter from the audience. The live camera quickly shifted to Eric''s table, where he smiled and waved at the lens, while Stuart stared innocently with wide eyes, curiously looking at the camera. This expression seemed to ''irk'' Morgan: "Hey, little Stu! Look at my pathetic little dress! I prepared three long gowns, but the first got buttered, the second turned ck, and thest one was covered in feathers. Don''t you want to say something about that?"

    Moreughter erupted, with some faces in the crowd expressing a feeling of camaraderie; many celebrity parents were indeed victims of Home Alone. In every region where the movie screened, children imitating Kevin''s pranks had be a trend.

    Morgan quickly moved on from waiting for Stuart''s reply and shifted gears: "Okay, just a joke! Let''s see which stars made it out tonight..."

    For the next five minutes, Morgan humorously critiqued each of the nominated films but barely mentioned any television shows. Even though the Golden Globes had begun awarding TV categories since 1956, actors of the time certainly didn''t possess the same confidence as their counterparts wouldter, who would loudly proim "we are better!" at the ceremony. They were even seated in corners where the cameras rarely panned.

    As with many award shows, the Golden Globes began with less significant categories. Yet, Eric paid little attention to the stage, only adjusting his smile and posture when the camera turned in his direction. Most of the time, he conversed quietly with Stuart.

    Stuart was someone he had discovered himself; the boy''s fate had already be intertwined with the glitzy chaos of Hollywood.

    Eric hoped this smart boy would carve out a healthier career in the industry, unlike Drew or the former Macay Culkin, who had found themselves on undesirable paths.

    Thus, he patiently exined the ins and outs of the entertainment world to Stuart. Although the boy asionally disyed a look of confusion, he listened earnestly. With his intelligence, understanding might take time, but remembering was something he could certainly do.

    ...

    As time marched on, Eric finally heard a nomination rted to a movie he had worked on, stopping his conversation to focus on the stage.

    Susan Sarandon received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 17 Again,peting against Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl, Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Barbara Hershey in The Last Temptation of Christ, and Diane Venora in Bird.

    Eric recalled that in his past life, Sigourney Weaver had won this very award. He remembered it well because the 46th Golden Globe Awards had been particrly remarkable. It not only resulted in three Best Actress winners simultaneously but also made Sigourney the first actress in Golden Globe history to win both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

    As the presenter introduced the nominees, the audience sat in eager anticipation as they opened the envelope: "And the winner is Sigourney Weaver, Working Girl."

    Apuse erupted as Sigourney stood up excitedly, embracing her fellow cast members before making her way to the podium. Nearby, Susan Sarandon showed signs of disappointment, yet she wore a smile as she epted theforting words of others.

    Eric had already anticipated this oue. While 17 Again and Working Girl were both distributed by Fox, 17 Again had been out for nearly two months, while Working Girl had only premiered three weeks prior. For box office reasons, Fox surely would prioritize the publicity for Working Girl''s nomination.

    As for Sigourney Weaver''s performance, who cared, right?

    During Eric''s visit to New York, Working Girl had just premiered, and he and Jennifer Aniston had specifically gone to see it. It was a standard chick flick, quite simr to the future movie The Devil Wears Prada, revolving around a neer navigating her entry into the workforce under a demanding female boss, progressing through a journey of self-discovery and transformation.

    Compared to Meryl Streep''s brilliant portrayal of the harsh, arrogant Miranda, editor-in- chief of Runway magazine in The Devil Wears Prada, Sigourney''s boss in Working Girl was hardly memorable. If anything, viewers likely only thought of her as "the Alien Queen."

    With this rity, Eric grew less hopeful for the nominations tied to Home Alone. It was evident that the oues at the Golden Globes were heavily influenced by public rtions efforts. The fact that supporting roles in masterpieces like The Last Temptation of Christ and Bird couldn''t outshine amercial film was nothing short of ironic.

    Plus, Eric hadn''t done any publicity for Home Alone. On one hand, hecked the right connections, and Columbia and CAA weren''t likely to jump at the chance to help. On the other hand, even if a considerable effort was made to snag an award, it would have little impact on Home Alone''s box office. Seven or eight-year-old kids didn''t care about awards when they went to the movies; it was mainly adults who were swayed by des to check out a film.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The Real Winner

    Chapter 72: The Real Winner

    ?

    [Chapter 72: The Real Winner]

    The awards ceremony continued and aside from the influx of a few more nominations for the two films associated with him, the list of winners didn''t change at all.

    As in the original timeline, the Best Actress in a Drama category still presented a three-way tie. Michael Dous, the guest responsible for delivering the award, hesitated for more than ten seconds before announcing the winner after gazing at the envelope. He thought there might have been a mix-up and that the nominees'' list had identally made it into the envelope.

    It wasn''t until Dous received a discreet nudge from the event staff that he confidently announced, "The Best Actress in a Drama is: Jodie Foster for The used."

    Only a smattering of apuse broke out from the audience, prompting Michael to quicken his pace: "Also Sigourney Weaver for Goris in the Mist and Shirley MacLaine for Madame Sousatzka."

    With the exception of Eric, who had already anticipated the oue, everyone else seemed momentarily struck dumb. There was a brief pause before someone started pping, leading to a thunderous ovation that echoed throughout the International Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel.

    As the apuse rolled on, the three hesitant leadingdies approached the podium, where they all verified the list in Michael Dous''s hand before they finally felt at ease.

    After receiving the trophy, Jodie Foster and Sigourney Weaver graciously allowed the eldest among them, Shirley MacLaine, to take the lead in giving an eptance speech.

    Shirley MacLaine, a perennial figure in Hollywood, was fifty-five years old. She made her debut in the 1950s and reached her peak in the 60s and 70s, having already secured Oscars, Golden Globes, and top honors from both the Venice Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival. The fact that she had never snagged the Best Actress award at Cannes remained a significant regret for her. Curiously, despite a string of nominations and wins at other events, MacLaine had never been nominated for Cannes.

    With a smile, she stepped up to the microphone holding her trophy, eloquently starting her remarks: "This really is an unexpected result..."

    Following the Best Actress category, the winners for Best Actor and Best Picture came as no surprise to most. Rain Man undoubtedly took home the two most significant awards in the drama category. This film, which had banked on both des and discussions about autism, was likely to see a box office rebound soon.

    Unlike the original timeline, however, Rain Man had only garnered just over $40 million after five weeks of release, particrly in the lucrative Christmas-to-New Year window.

    Rain Man, despite never dazzling at the box office, managed to capture the weekly box office crown only once during its long twenty-five-week run, spending much of the time scraping by.

    Fortunately, during the lengthy "harvest," Rain Man didn''t find itself up against any blockbusterpetitors or unexpected sess stories. The star power of Tom Cruise, along with his continual collection of minor awards around the globe, ultimately saw Rain Man topping $170 million at the box office.

    Now, however, that scenario wasn''t likely to repeat. Rain Man faced fiercepetition from the still-strong Home Alone and 17 Again from the get-go, leading to lower ticket sales. Achieving a six-month run was improbable under these circumstances, especially with Eric''s Pretty Woman looming on the horizon.

    Likewise, other films released during the holiday season were expected to see a significant drop in box office numberspared to 1988''s top ten. Titles like Twins and Midnight Run, along with the Best Comedy winner of the night, Working Girl, were all set to fall short.

    After all, there were only so many ticket buyers to go around. The holiday gross for thest two months of 1988 amounted to around $600 million, with Home Alone and 17 Again taking over $200 million -- over one-third of the total. The outlook for other films'' box office results was quite grim.

    Once Barry Levinson, the director of Rain Man, stepped up to ept the award for Best Drama, the three-hour live broadcast of the Golden Globes formally concluded. All the stars present let out a collective sigh of relief, stretching their stiff bodies from sitting too long as they began to exit the auditorium. Of course, they weren''t headed straight home. Numerous parties hosted by major film studios awaited them in other banquet halls at the Hilton.

    ...

    As Eric and Drew prepared to leave, Penny Marshall approached them. "Hey, Eric! Fox is having a party on the third floor. Are youing?"

    "Thanks for the invite, Penny, but I''m afraid I can''t make it," Eric replied, shaking his head.

    Penny Marshall studied Eric''s expression and noted, "Eric, you''re not bummed out because you didn''t win, are you? You''re only eighteen! There will be plenty more opportunities. Look at me; I''m leaving empty-handed tonight too."

    Eric certainly didn''t feel disheartened; the ultimate goal of these awards events was financial gain. One nce at the Best Picture nominees confirmed that both films were still in theaters. Truth be told, Home Alone was the biggest winner that year at the box office.

    "Not at all, Penny. It''s just that I have to get up early tomorrow. Pretty Woman''s releasen/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    schedule is tight, and I need to make the most of my time."

    Penny resignedly hugged Eric goodbye. "We''ll catch upter. You''re so young -- why are you working so hard? I heard you''ve been burning the midnight oiltely."

    Eric returned her hug. "If I don''t push myself while I''m young, when am I supposed to?"

    "Wow, you sound just like a middle-aged person who''s been through the wringer. Where do you get all those feelings from?"

    Eric smiled without responding, saying his goodbyes to Tom Hanks and the others before leaving the Hilton with a reluctant Drew.

    ...

    Once they hit the road, Eric nced at the sulking Drew in the passenger seat and said cheerily, "Alright, kiddo, no pouting! You didn''t pack an extra outfit. If you get your dress dirty at the party, we''ll have to pay full price for a recement."

    Drew scrunched her little nose in yful annoyance and mimicked Penny Marshall''s tone, "Wow, you sound just like a tight-fisted middle-aged man! I wonder what you''re doing with all that money you''re making."

    "Now that you mention it," Eric said, raising an eyebrow, "I received the bill for that credit card I gave you the other day. I didn''t realize you could spend so much. Looks like I''ll have to ask Kepler to take you for a drug test tomorrow. If you let me down..."

    Drew showed no sign of concern as she leaned closer, her eyes shining with mischief. "Eric, what are you going to do? Lock me in the basement without clothes or food? With whips, dripping wax, a wooden horse...? Wow, I didn''t know you were so wicked, and I''m not even an

    adult yet."

    ""

    "Okay, okay, I''ll confess! Before Christmas, when you were gone, I invited a few ssmates over for a party, and I may have gone a bit overboard with my spending."

    Eric slightly rxed his expression but still asked, "Do you really need that much for one

    party?"

    "That''s all your fault," she replied with a newfound assertiveness. "You and Aniston had that beautiful street shoot that got me jealous, so I impulsively had a case of ''53 Petrus sent over."

    Petrus from ''53 -- a whole case of it!

    Eric felt the urge to give this irresponsible girl a proper tongueshing just like she had

    suggested earlier.

    He unconsciously licked his dry lips. "Did you... finish it all?"

    Drew blinked her striking green eyes and nodded. "Uh-huh."

    "At least it wasn''t... the money was not for... drugs," Eric took a deep breath and finally found some point of ''relief.'' "Good news, good news."

    ...

    Wilshire Hotel Restaurant.

    The scene featuring Edward ying the piano in the restaurant unfoldedte at night. After negotiations between the crew and the hotel, they temporarily reced the thick curtains that blocked out all light, allowing the lighting technician to create a true night-time

    ambiance.

    "Actors in position, action."

    ...

    In a wide shot, several disinterested waitstaff loitered in the restaurant, organizing their things, smoking, and whispering among themselves.

    Edward paid no mind to whether they listened to his ying. He leaned heavily over the piano, his lips pursed, emanating a strong sense of weariness and disillusionment.

    The rapid notes echoed the turmoil in Edward''s heart.

    ...

    Eric watched Al''s performance intently through the monitor. His own music education was novice at best, so he couldn''t assess Al Pacino''s skill level, but he sensed that Al''s solo was smooth, with the camera effectively capturing the emotion.

    He nced at his musical supervisor, Howard Norton, who was called in specifically to guide this shoot. If Al''s ying fell short, Howard would handle the scoring. Judging by Howard''s frequent nods, it seemed Al''s piano solo satisfied him.

    As time progressed, Vivian, dressed in a bathrobe, quietly approached Edward from behind, just as Edward''s piano piece was reaching its conclusion. Vivian wore a smile, listening intently with her arms crossed.

    "Cut! Very well done!" Eric called out, unable to resist bursting into apuse, which was then echoed by a few scattered ps throughout the room.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 73: Chapter 73: An Unexpected Disaster

    Chapter 73: An Unexpected Disaster

    ?

    [Chapter 73: An Unexpected Disaster]

    Despite hearing Eric''s praise, Al merely nodded slightly, still lost in his earlier emotions, and had no intention ofing out of it. Just as well, Eric didn''t say anything more and quickly directed the crew to prepare for the next shot.

    ...

    Once the music ended, Edward thanked the audience, and Vivian stepped forward. As a high school dropout, she certainly couldn''t pick up on theplex emotions woven into Edward''s piano ying. Leaning over the piano, Vivian eximed, "I didn''t know you could y the piano!"

    Edward smiled, gazing at Vivian, "I only y for strangers."

    Vivian hesitated for a moment, not probing further into the reason, then moved closer to Edward, "I''ve been a bit lonely up in the room by myself."

    Edward blinked rapidly, gently sniffled, and turned to send the others away, all while expressing his thanks. He always remained polite, even when issuingmands.

    Vivian couldn''t resist teasing Edward about his behavior, "Does everyone always seem eager to follow your orders?"

    Edward didn''t respond. He pulled the young woman closer, tiredly resting his head against her shoulder. It was Vivian''s first experience of this man''s vulnerability, leaving her momentarily unsure of how to respond. She instinctively began stroking Edward''s hair, tracing the lines of his jacket with her fingers.

    In silence, Edward untied the sash of the young woman''s robe and lifted Vivian onto the piano''s lid. She submitted to his kisses and caresses, transforming into a gentle stream, silently invading Edward''s parched emotionalndscape.

    ...

    The camera slowly pulled away until it waspletely obscured by some prearranged props. Yet, Al Pacino and Julia didn''t stop their performance; the two remained intimately entwined. Photographer Nicole Frank nced at Eric, received a subtle nod, and wisely turned off the camera. All the crew members present looked silently at Eric, inquiring about what to do next.

    Eric knew he couldn''t let the scene unfold any further and gently pped his hands, raising his voice to call out, "Cut!"

    Julia, resting atop the piano lid, heard the call and was the first to break free from the daze, shyly ncing at Eric before pushing Al away and adjusting her disheveled gown, wrapping her robe around herself again. Al also snapped back to reality, seeing the peculiar looks from the crew, and could only smile awkwardly.

    To ease the tension, Eric hastily sent everyone off to prepare for the next scene.

    "I''m sorry, Eric. I lost my cool just now," Julia admitted.

    Eric approached Al, smiling, "No, Al, your performance was outstanding. This was a perfect showcase of an actor''s craft. Oh, and Julia''s performance was impressive too." He made sure topliment the young woman beside him.

    However, Julia didn''t seem thrilled by the praise. Avoiding Eric''s gaze, she muttered, "I... I''m going to retouch my makeup."

    With that, she hurried away, leaving Al looking puzzled. "What''s wrong with her?"

    Eric shrugged, "She might be a bit shy. It''s strange, though; she didn''t act this way during the more intimate scenes we shot previously. Women''s emotions are like the depths of the ocean; who knows?"

    ...

    During the following scenes, Julia noticeably made several errors that shouldn''t have urred. Still, Eric was content with today''s significant scene, which he managed to nail in one take, saving a considerable amount of time. Thus, his demeanor became less impatient.

    By five in the afternoon, the crew wrapped up again. Al approached Julia, who was removing her makeup in the trailer. "Miss Roberts, would you be free tonight? A new French restaurant just opened on Schenectady Avenue, and I''d like to invite you to dinner."

    Julia hesitated, her makeup artist and assistant starting to step away discreetly. She stopped them, asking Al, "Mr. Pacino, could you wait a moment?"

    "Of course, I''ll be waiting outside," Al replied as he stepped down from the trailer.

    A few minutester, Julia emerged from the makeup trailer, nodded at Al, who was waving at her, only to walk directly over to Eric, who was discussing something with his assistant, Allen Fisman.

    "Let''s n for 50 extras for this scene and find appropriate horsemen. We''re almost done, and the budget is still solid..." Eric was speaking when he caught sight of Julia approaching. He gave her a slight nod, then turned back to the papers in front of him.

    "Eric, Al invited me to dinner," Julia''s voice was low.

    Allen raised an eyebrow; he sensed the probing nature behind her words. Eric had been focused, rying instructions to Allen, but upon hearing Julia, he blurted out without thinking, "Go ahead. Don''t dy tomorrow''s shoot."

    Julia stood frozen for a moment, staring at Eric, seeing that he still had little reaction. Suddenly, she got angry, and that rage made her act recklessly. She took a few steps forward, and in Allen''s surprised gaze, kicked Eric hard in the shin.

    Eric yelped in pain and fell over.

    Allen, who had witnessed everything, was so shocked that he forgot to help Eric up. His mouth twitched, and his leg muscles tensed instantly. That kick must have hurt; those were high heels!

    Had that woman lost her mind?

    Hearing Eric''s cry, everyone who remained on set rushed over. After the kick, Julia immediately regretted her actions, but since she had already gone this far, she felt an emotional release and, pursing her lips, turned to leave. Julia''s assistant, Allison Green, looked worriedly at the now upright Eric, but followed Julia nheless.

    Allison drove Julia back to her apartment in silence.

    Once inside, Julia sat nkly on the couch while Allison carefully poured her a ss of water and asked with concern, "Julia, are we going to get fired?"

    Thinking about the man''s domineering nature, Julia wasn''t sure how it would all turn out. Holding the ss, she whispered, "I''m sorry, Allison. I might have caused trouble for you."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "It''s alright. Worst-case scenario, we''ll just find another job," Allison said breezily. Switching jobs meant she''d still only ever be an assistant, so she didn''t get too anxious. "But why did you kick Mr. Williams?"

    Julia gulped some water nervously and didn''t reply.

    Allison prodded gently, "Was it because he was stopping you from dating Mr. Pacino? Is that why you kicked him?"

    Julia remained silent, which Allison took as a confirmation and passionately dered, "That''s really too much! You''ve only had a couple of flings! You aren''t tied to him; he can''t dictate

    your love life!"

    Julia scratched her head. "Allison, stop. Can... can I just have a moment of quiet?"

    "Oh, do you want me to leave? Call me if you need anything. Julia, cheer up! You''re not an unknown actress anymore; even if you leave that jerk, you can still get movie roles."

    "Allison..."

    "Alright, alright, I won''t say any more. I''m heading out now."

    ...

    Back on set, Ericy in a recliner chair, surrounded by people. His pants rolled up as the

    private doctor pressed on his leg, drawing in breaths from the pain.

    "Mr. Williams, there are no broken bones. Just apply some medication for bruising, but you''ll

    be somewhat ufortable for the next few days."

    "Thank you foring out here, Dr. Grant," Eric replied.

    "Not at all. Just call me if anythinges up. I''ll take my leave now." Dr. Grant left a bottle of medicine behind and walked out with his bag.

    "Alright, everyone, you can head home. I''ll rest for a bit."

    As the crew members gradually dispersed, only Allen Fisman and Al Pacino remained. Al felt that the earlier incident was likely connected to him, so he decided to stay and rify things.

    He originally thought Eric and Julia didn''t have anything going on. Coupled with the resonance he felt with Julia during the scene, this old dog must have gotten the itch. He never expected it would lead to this.

    "Allen, did I really do anything that outrageous?" Eric asked.

    Allen looked at Eric''s bruise and quickly shook his head.

    "So how did this happen?"

    Allen had only joined the crew after it was formed and had only partial knowledge of Eric and

    Julia''s situation.

    "Director, I''m not sure. Miss Roberts asked you a question, and you casually answered. That''s

    when she..."

    Eric rubbed his temples in frustration, "What did she just ask? I was looking at the shooting schedule and didn''t catch it."

    Allen nced at Al Pacino, unsure whether he should speak in front of him.

    Eric followed Allen''s gaze and remembered that Julia had actually mentioned Al earlier.

    "Eric, I sincerely apologize. I was nning to invite Miss Roberts to dinner, but I didn''t expect it to cause friction between the two of you." Al exined the situation. "I assumed you two weren''t... that close, so I thought... I might have overstepped."

    "Oh, now I remember," Eric said, realizing, "Julia did indeed ask me that. Allen, how did I

    respond?"

    Allen nced at Al and then Eric and honestly said, "You told Miss Roberts: ''Go ahead. Don''t

    dy tomorrow''s shoot.""

    "Nothing else?"

    Allen shook his head emphatically. "Nothing else."

    The three men exchanged strange nces directed toward Eric''s leg.

    Eric sighed with a bittersweet smile, "What an unexpected disaster."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Opening Logo

    Chapter 74: Opening Logo

    ?

    [Chapter 74: Opening Logo]

    The next day, Eric made his way to the set bright and early. After a night''s rest, he finally walked without a limp. Everyone in the crew had a silent understanding not to mention the previous day''s event, but most of them couldn''t hide their curiosity and spection.

    "Nickel, has Julia arrived yet?" Eric leaned over to Nickel Frank, who had his head down, pretending to be adjusting the camera.

    Nickel looked up and pointed toward the trailer, giving Eric a sly smile. "Miss Roberts has been here for a while, she''s in the trailer."

    Eric patted Nickel on the shoulder and headed toward the trailer, while those who had pretended to be busy couldn''t help but nce at Eric''s departing figure.

    ...

    "Do you think the director will go off on her?" a crew member whispered to apanion.

    "Who knows. But don''t worry, they''re almost done shooting. They''re definitely not going to rece the lead actressst minute. By the way, why do you think Miss Roberts kicked the director yesterday? Those high heels must have hurt."

    "Who should I ask? But you know how things go between directors and actresses. Honestly, I kind of like a tough girl like Julia Roberts; she''s got some real fire."

    "Fire, huh? You should have seen Julia Roberts when she came in this morning, looking all lost and bewildered. She probably spent all night regretting it."

    ...

    Amidst the hushed whispers behind him, Eric entered the trailer. Julia was sitting in front of the makeup mirror, absentmindedly letting Allison apply her foundation. She caught sight of Eric in the mirror and tensed up.

    "Allison, can you step outside for a minute?" Eric gestured to Allison at the door.

    Allison put down her makeup tools, casting a worried nce at Julia before leaving the trailer. Eric locked the door behind her, moved to Julia''s side, and brushed aside some of the cosmetics on the vanity, leaning in closer to look her in the eye.

    Julia appeared somewhat haggard, with her head lowered and her eyes flickering, unable to meet Eric''s gaze. Her hands rested on her knees as she nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.

    "Don''t you have anything to say? Like, maybe an apology?" Noticing how timid she was, Eric sighed and took the initiative to speak.

    Julia lowered her head even more, her hands forming tiny fists as she stubbornly bit her lip, remaining silent.

    Eric reached out and lifted her chin, forcing Julia''s eyes to meet his, his toneced with impatience. "Look at me and say something."

    In that moment, their eyes locked, and Julia clearly trembled at the intensity of Eric''s gaze. She was reminded of that night, how this infuriating guy had treated her. For some reason, her stubborn resistance melted away, reced by an inexplicable sense of anticipation.

    Eric withdrew his hand, but Julia still held her gaze upward, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes misting with emotion.

    After a few seconds of eye contact, Eric''s mind drifted back to that hazy night, and he found himself reaching out again, gently tracing Julia''s cheek with his finger, sliding down to her rosy lips.

    Julia let out a silent moan: yes, yes... just like that.

    This time, she didn''t stay passive; instead, she parted her lips slightly, wrapping her mouth around his finger, looking up at Eric with sultry eyes, her tongue yfully dancing around it as if indulging in something precious.

    After a while, Eric couldn''t help but slip his thumb into her mouth, squeezing her nimble tongue yfully. But then, amidst her soft sounds of pleasure, he suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling embarrassed over his own loss of control. He pulled out a tissue to wipe his damp fingers, ncing nervously at Julia, who looked at him with hopeful, dreamy eyes. "Alright, I guess... I understand where the problem lies."

    Julia leaned forward, resting her head against Eric''s abdomen, her small hand sliding down toward his belt. Just as she was about to do something, Eric reached out to stop her. "Julia, this isn''t the ce. There are dozens of people outside waiting for us."

    "I... I don''t care," she breathed softly, continuing her movements.

    Eric raised his hand, intending to shake her awake, but then remembered that in this situation, she wouldn''t just wake up; it would likely deepen her submissive mood. After a moment''s thought, Eric walked to the trailer door, yanking it open, letting bright light and the chatter of crew members flood into the trailer.

    He turned back and saw that Julia''s expression had regained some rity. Thankfully, her innate sense of shame seemed to be keeping herpliance in check, which was a good sign - - she wasn''t too far gone.

    "Alright, Julia, let''s just forget what happened yesterday. We''ll talk about it after we finish the film. I... I apologize for this, but you might need some therapy."

    Though Julia was already twenty-two, she didn''t really understand thest part of Eric''s statement. She had only finished high school andcked the broader insights Eric had umted over decades.

    Nevertheless, remnants of her previouspliance prompted her to nod obediently. At the mention of therapy, she realized her recent actions indicated some issues on her part. "Can you tell me what exactly is going on?" Julia asked, straightening her disheveled clothes.

    Eric returned to Julia''s side and noticed a strand of hair falling over her forehead. He instinctively reached up to tuck it behind her ear, then abruptly drew back his hand. "Sorry, Julia, you might be experiencing mild Stockholm syndrome."

    Julia looked perplexed; she only knew Stockholm was the capital of Sweden. However, seeing the guilty and awkward expression on Eric''s face kept her from pressing for more

    information.

    Some crew members watched in disappointment as Eric quickly exited the trailer. The rented trailer wasn''trge, and if a man and a woman were inside engaging in certain activities, it would definitely rock a bit. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort had urred, leaving those hoping for gossip sorely disappointed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    "Get it together, everyone! Let''s get ready to work," Eric, already feeling guilty, felt his embarrassment re up under the gaze of those mischievous characters. "Allison, it''s you I''m talking to -- stop hiding. And whoever else is around, hurry up and get Julia made up. Nicole, why haven''t youid down the camera tracks yet? Do you not want to work? Allen, bring me my directing script..."

    With Eric''s roar, the entire crew sprang into action, and a bustling day of shooting officially began.

    ...

    That afternoon, Jeffrey returned from New York, informing Eric that the Pixar-created Firefly Films opening logo had beenpleted. After a full day of shooting, Eric found himself at the Firefly headquarters meeting with Pixar representatives.

    "Eric, this is John Lasseter, Pixar''s Creative Executive Vice President. John, meet Eric," Jeffrey introduced as the two shook hands.

    "Lasseter, I''m really sorry to have kept you waiting," Eric expressed his apologies. John had arrived at Firefly headquarters at four in the afternoon but hadn''t met Eric until seven. Still, John couldn''tin too much; each business deal was crucial for Pixar''s survival.

    "No worries, Mr. Williams. I think we should take a look at the opening logo youmissioned," John replied.

    "Of course," Eric nodded. The three of them walked to the Firefly screening room, where John personally loaded thepleted tape into the projector.

    On screen, a little girl in a red hooded sweatshirt held a ss jar, standing in a field under the

    night sky. The girl opened the jar, and a firefly inside flitted about for a moment, quickly flying out to create a swirling light pattern in the air, gliding away until it became the brightest star in the vast dark sky.

    Theplete opening logosted around thirty seconds and reyed a few times before Eric furrowed his brow and voiced his thoughts. "Mr. Lasseter, don''t you think the little girl''s

    movements seem a bit stiff?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 75: Chapter 75: A Message for Jobs

    Chapter 75: A Message for Jobs

    ?

    [Chapter 75: A Message for Jobs]

    John Lasseter exined, "Mr. Williams, the girl''s movements seemed a bit rigid. Before production, I had already cautioned Mr. Hansen about this issue, but it was Mr. Hansen who insisted we create it to see how it turned out."

    Eric nced over at Jeffrey, who gave a slight nod.

    "Isn''t there a way to make it flow better? Mr. Lasseter, money isn''t an issue. This logo might be used for many years, and of course, we want it to be perfect."

    John Lasseter shook his head. "Mr. Williams, I assure you, this is currently the pinnacle of 3D animation. Pixar only began experimenting with human motion modelingst year. Compared to the baby in our previous short, Tin Toy, the little girl in red here moves much more fluidly. Other studios aren''t even achieving this level."

    When Eric heard the title Tin Toy, a fleeting thought crossed his mind but he couldn''t quite grasp it; his focus remained on the firefly''s opening sequence.

    Knowing changes couldn''t be made, Eric started a quiet conversation with Jeffrey.

    In the thirty-second opening sequence, aside from the girl''s somewhat wed motion when she opened the bottle to release the fireflies, everything else was perfect. After editing, the opening logo usuallysted around fifteen seconds. Shorter clips, like the ones to be aired during the Super Bowl, might only include a fleeting five seconds of the firefly shing the words "Firefly Films." Thus, thirty seconds of footage was more than enough to craft an even better logo.

    With this in mind, Eric didn''t press Pixar for a rework, which made things much simpler. He signed the documents and made the final payment to John Lasseter.

    ...

    As everything wrapped up, John declined Eric''s dinner invitation and was about to leave when Eric suddenly stopped him again.

    "Mr. Lasseter, I believe you just mentioned Tin Toy?"

    John Lasseter nodded. "Yes, Mr. Williams, we started producing that short filmst February. It runs about five minutes and has been submitted for this year''s Oscar for Best Short Film."

    Upon hearing Oscar mentioned, Eric felt a sense of certainty.

    "John, I hope you don''t mind if I call you that; you can call me Eric. If you don''t have anything urgent, do you mind sticking around for a bit? I''m very interested in 3D animation."

    John Lasseter took a careful look at Eric''s expression. He suddenly recalled that Eric was on the verge of bing Hollywood''s youngest multi-millionaire thanks to the box office sess of Home Alone. Meanwhile, Pixar found itself in dire straits and could dissolve at any moment. Perhaps this young man could save Pixar.

    As these thoughts raced through his mind, John''s enthusiasm began to spark. "Of course, I''d be happy to," he replied.

    In the firefly''s conference room, John Lasseter exined, "The idea for Tin Toy came from my little nephew. Last Christmas, I saw him crawling around in a pile of toys, making a mess of everything I''d organized. That led to the concept for this animated short. Eric, if you''re interested, I can call my assistant and have the tape sent over."

    Eric noticed the eagerness in John Lasseter''s eyes and confirmed this was the perfect opportunity to secure Pixar. If memory served correctly, it was Tin Toy''s winning of the Oscar for Best Animated Short that had caught Disney''s attention and ultimately resulted in a contract for three 3D animated films.

    Originally, Eric had thought it would take five or six years to secure Pixar; now he realized that if Pixar signed a deal with Disney as it did in his previous life, any chance he had of acquiring Pixar would drastically change.

    To show John Lasseter his genuine interest in 3D animation, Eric agreed to his suggestion. "If it''s convenient, then please ask your assistant to make the trip."

    ..

    John Lasseter made a quick phone call, and half an hourter, Eric and the others returned to the screening room.

    The new toy soldier curiously took in everything in the room when a bumbling baby crawled in. The soldier was filled with anticipation for its new owner. However, the baby''s rough handling of the toys forced the soldier to try and escape the baby''s grasp. Yet the instruments it was carrying jingled as it moved, drawing the baby''s attention. Thus began aical chase between the mismatched sizes.

    John Lasseter sat on Eric''s right as the animation yed, quietly exining some of the technical challenges hidden within what seemed like simple scenes.

    Eric listened intently, nodding asionally to show his understanding. The animation finished quickly, and Eric made sure to praise the short outright.

    ...

    After the animation ended, Eric and the others didn''t leave the screening room; instead, they continued their discussion about 3D animation. While John Lasseter still had reservations about the technology, Eric spoke confidently about its future prospects and eventually couldn''t help but share a little about the concept behind Toy Story.

    "Eric, you must have been inspired by Tin Toy toe up with this idea. I''ve entertained thoughts of making a full-length 3D animated film too, but, you know, given Pixar''s current state, it seems entirely unfeasible."

    Finally getting to the crux of the matter, Eric shifted to a more serious demeanor and quietly asked, "John, isn''t it true that Jobs is about to fold?"

    This wasn''t a secret in the industry; anyone who cared could uncover it. John Lasseter didn''t hide the truth. "Jobs just sold Pixar''s hardware department; we''re only left with the software animation division now. Unless a miracle happens," he nced expectantly at Eric before continuing, "Pixar will either dissolve or be sold, though not many are willing to take it on." "Why wouldn''t anyone want to take it on? Pixar must have some of the most advanced technology in the industry, right?"

    John Lasseter hesitated for a moment, looking at Eric -- the potential investor -- and wrestled with his thoughts for a few seconds. But ultimately, he was a passionate tech person, not a greedy businessman. He decided to speak candidly. "Because 3D animation is incredibly costly, and there''s not much return. Unless a buyer can integrate it with other parts of their business, like a giant like Microsoft, or a film effectspany, no one would be interested in taking on such a money-consuming studio."

    Eric was pleased with John Lasseter''s honesty. After pretending to think for a moment to build suspense, he said, "John, I''m very interested in 3D animation. After Home Alone''s sess, I have a substantial amount of money I need to invest, so if possible, I''m willing to buy Pixar and invest $30 million into producing a full-length animated film. That toy idea we just discussed sounds great."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    John Lasseter had expected that after Eric heard his exnation, he''d lose interest. He was taken aback by Eric''s words, not knowing how to respond.

    They had been enjoying a pleasant conversation, and John liked this young man. Instinctively, he didn''t want Eric to end up in the same predicament as Jobs, who had reached a dead end after constantly funding Pixar without corresponding economic returns.

    On the other hand, John genuinely loved the 3D animation technology, which was why he had repeatedly turned down offers from his former employer Disney to stick with Pixar, a studio many viewed with skepticism.

    After some thought, John Lasseter proposed apromise: "Eric, I don''t think you need to buy Pixar outright. If you''re interested in 3D animation, you could invest in a single 3D animated project with us. This way, it wouldn''t require too much capital, and if it... fails, you could step back gracefully."

    Eric was a bit surprised that John''s own perspective yielded such a sensible suggestion instead of trying to drag him into an investment.

    But if he followed John''s advice, it would mean ying the role of a benefactor, essentially dressing Jobs'' wounds while he walked away. After Toy Story''s sess, Pixar''s stock soared, lifting Jobs directly from the brink of bankruptcy into billionaire status.

    Adopting the tone of a wealthy, carefree young man, Eric responded, "No, John. Please convey to Mr. Jobs that I''m willing to buy Pixar for $20 million. If this deal goes through, I''ll invest an additional $30 million into producing an animated film."

    "Eric, I''m afraid that $20 million isn''t something Jobs would agree to. Over the years, he''s invested no less than that amount into Pixar," John replied.

    Eric retorted, "John, in business, sometimes you gain and sometimes you lose. If you''ve invested a certain amount, you need to recover even more -- that''s no longer business. Just ry my message to Mr. Jobs; it''s $20 million, not a penny more. I''m busy, and I don''t have time to haggle over the price. If Mr. Jobs isn''t satisfied with this offer, then there''s no need for

    him to contact me. I trust he''ll make a wise decision."

    "Very well, I''ll deliver your message to Jobs exactly as you stated."

    After John Lasseter left, Eric turned to Jeffrey, who had been holding back, and asked,

    "Jeffrey, howe you didn''t try to talk me out of it this time?"

    Jeffrey shrugged. "Why say anything when I knew it wouldn''t make a difference? Still, since

    you asked, I have to say, buying Pixar isn''t a wise choice."

    Eric chuckled and teased, "I was going to make a bet with you, but it seems you don''t have

    anything I''d be interested in, so forget it."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Super Bowl Sunday

    Chapter 76: Super Bowl Sunday

    ?

    [Chapter 76: Super Bowl Sunday]

    After asking John Lasseter to deliver a message to Jobs, Eric set aside his work with Pixar. Given Jobs'' current situation, Eric felt confident that the odds of him epting their offer were over ny percent. Even if Jobs stubbornly clung to Pixar, surely Silicon Valley wasn''tcking in skilled 3D animators.

    On January 21, Pretty Woman officially wrapped filming. What was originally nned to be three weeks of shooting was actuallypleted in just over two weeks, further solidifying Eric''s reputation as a "quick shooter" among the crew. During this time, Eric also stayed upte to edit a 59-second preview for the Super Bowl, and on the morning of the wrap party, Jeffrey headed back to New York with the trailer.

    Despite having the energy of youth on his side, after over two weeks of intense work, Eric felt deeply fatigued. There was no wrap party, no emotional farewell scene; everyone lived in Los Angeles, and once the work was done, they packed up and went their separate ways.

    ...

    Tomorrow was the annual Super Bowl Sunday, and even Eric, who had no interest in the Super Bowl, could sense the crew''s excitement about the day. Photographer Nicole Frank and several other members, ignoring their exhaustion, raced to the airport as soon as Eric shouted that filming was done, heading to Miami.

    Uncertain how long he had slept, Eric awoke to find it was already the afternoon of the next day. Stretching, he felt his bones crack, then got dressed, washed up, and headed downstairs, feelingpletely refreshed.

    In the living room, a petite figure darted around busily. The coffee table was piled high with snacks, and a new television had reced the old one. When Eric walked in, Drew grabbed at- shirt and headed straight for him.

    "Hey, hey, hey! What do you think you''re doing?" Ericughed as he dodged Drew''s yful advances.

    "Get your mind out of the gutter, you dirty man!" Drew pouted, then continued to yank the t- shirt off Eric and slipped a bright red jersey over him.

    "What''s this supposed to mean?" Eric tugged at the snug jersey, feeling quite ufortable. "It means it''s Super Bowl night! I hereby dere you a fan of the San Francisco 49ers!" Eric weakly asked, "Can I say no?"

    "No way!" Drew replied, brushing off his protests and returning to her flurry of activity. Eric shrugged, grabbed a bucket of chicken wings and some juice bottles, and headed upstairs to his study, letting Drew frolic around in the living room.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Hourster, as the game was about to start, Drew dragged Eric back to the living room. This year''s championship match pitted the Cincinnati Bengals against the San Francisco 49ers.

    Finally, as the second quarter wrapped up and following a Chevrolet ad, the screen flickered to reveal the carefully edited five-second Firefly Films logo. With over a hundred million viewers in North America tuned in, when they saw the logo sh, most thought it looked beautiful and pondered, What''s this Firefly Films?

    There had never been movie trailers shown during a Super Bowl broadcast before, so ny- nine percent of the viewers had no idea what they were witnessing.

    The five-second intro shed by, and then the camera zoomed in on a stunning blonde who softly spoke, "Are you ready?" No one responded, as the sound of a revving engine crescendoed, and a sleek silver Lamborghini peeled away.

    "Cool!" Many at home felt their hearts resonate in time with the roar of the engine. They mistakenly assumed it was a carmercial.

    However, they soon realized they werepletely wrong. Eric had edited that part to harness the Lamborghini''s engine noise to grab the audience''s attention. Then, the Pretty Woman song yed,unching into a montage of clips from the film.

    Though itsted just over fifty seconds, Eric had put significant thought into editing this trailer. The footage was divided into four parts, focusing on Edward and Vivian''s first meeting, their time together, their deepening rtionship, and their eventual separation. Their first encounter on Hollywood Boulevard, their moments at the hotel, the budding romance over time, and the divide created by their differing social statuses.

    While the forty seconds in between contained no dialogue, most viewers grasped that this was a love story -- a ssic tale of a prince and his Cindere. Of course, Eric didn''ty it all out in and simple; many shots suggested a sense of ambiguity, as if saying, If you want to know more, head to the theater.

    The 59-second ad came to a close with thest shot lingering on Julia, her voice filled with determination and hope, stating, "I want a fairytale!"

    The screen faded to ck, leaving Julia''s final words ringing in the viewers'' ears: Would she get her fairytale?

    Finally, text appeared on the screen: "From the director of Home Alone, Eric Williams,es Pretty Woman, hitting theaters across North America on February 10. Stay tuned!"

    ...

    In countless homes, viewers momentarily lost interest in the uingmercials and game, buzzing in discussion.

    "Whoever thought to air a movie trailer during the Super Bowl is a genius. Aren''t Super Bowl ads pricey?"

    "Definitely expensive. A spot that long costs over a million bucks!"

    "That''s extravagant enough to fund a whole new movie! But I think the trailer looks fun; maybe I''ll check it out when ites out."

    "The lead actress is gorgeous!"

    "I like Al Pacino better. I heard he''s making aeback -- turns out it''s for this movie. I must have watched The Godfather series five or six times!"

    "Eric Williams has another new movie? Isn''t that fast? Who''s he going to mess with this time?

    A couple, maybe?"

    ..

    "Mom, I recognize those words -- Home Alone! Can we go see Kevin again tomorrow?"

    "No, sweetie. You must be mistaken."

    "Mom, you''re lying! Those two words are what you taught me."

    ...

    "I''ve heard that song -- Roy Orbison''s Oh, Pretty Woman. That''s an old record."

    "Really? Is that from the same record?"

    "Probably can''t find it anymore. That album was bought by your grandpa. Who knows where

    it went?"

    "That''s a shame, but the soundtrack will definitelye out once the movie is released. We can just buy a copy then."

    ...

    "Karl, let''s go see that movie on Valentine''s Day, okay?"

    "Um...Margaret, didn''t we agree on seeing Tom Hanks in The Burbs?"

    "I think this one sounds more interesting..."

    "Alright, let''s do it your way."

    ...

    "Hey, that girl said she wants a fairytale. Do you think she''ll get it?"

    "Darling, it''s a Valentine''s Day movie; the ending will surely be happily ever after."

    "But I think a lot of shots imply the leads are going to part ways. Many directors prefer to use

    sad endings to tug at the audience''s heartstrings."

    "Alright, no need to overthink it. We''ll find out together when we go see it."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Premiere

    Chapter 77: Premiere

    ?

    [Chapter 77: A Knock at the Door]

    After Super Bowl night, the hottest topic of discussion wasn''t the San Francisco 49ers

    winning the championship, but rather the premiere of the trailer for Pretty Woman during the live Super Bowl broadcast.

    This year''s Super Bowl pulled in a staggering 150 million viewers, capturing half of North America''s poption. With the buzz created by word of mouth, within just a day, everyone in America knew about Eric Williams'' new film, directed by the same guy behind Home Alone. The major film studios immediately recognized the tremendous impact of the Super Bowl trailers and allocated vast resources to meticulously analyze the data rted to Pretty Woman''s trailer release. As for the results, they would likely only see something concrete during the ad bidding for the next year''s Super Bowl.

    In the previous timeline, the very first trailer aired during the Super Bowl was for Independence Day in 1996, when Fox risked a fortune bidding for Super Bowl ad slots. That disaster of a sci-fi film eventually grossed a towering $300 million in North America. This marked the beginning of a fiercepetition among film trailers at the Super Bowl.

    Eric believed that the effect of the Pretty Woman trailer couldn''t be far behind that of Independence Day. Next year, being able to secure amercial spot would no longer just be a matter of budget; they would need a solid rtionship with theworks airing the Super Bowl.

    While the Super Bowl boasted over sixty ads, every type of advertisement faced strict proportional limits for optimal effectiveness, making it impossible to use all slots for trailers. This reality led to the monopolization of Super Bowl slots by a few big studios. Even though the soaring costs of filmmaking made the million-dor Super Bowl ad price manageable for many productionpanies, those without enough clout would find that money alone wouldn''t guarantee them space.

    ...

    In the following days, keen media outlets began reporting on this phenomenon. The New York Times even dered that the Pretty Woman trailer was the biggest winner of that year''s Super Bowl.

    The most immediate effect was that box office revenues for Home Alone saw another uptick. By its ninth week, initial estimates had projected around $12 million for the week, but it ended up raking in $18 million after a week, climbing the total earnings to $198 million.

    Even calcting Eric''s current profit share, that extra $6 million practically recouped the $1.5 million spent on the Super Bowl trailer.

    "Thank goodness," Eric sighed in relief as he looked over the new week''s box office report for Home Alone in the Firefly office.

    Jeffrey, sitting across from him, chuckled and said, "Yeah, it''s a relief it hit $198 million. If it broke $200 million this week, we would have wasted a perfectly good talking point."

    They spoke this way because the week following the Super Bowl trailer saw attention peak for Pretty Woman. If Home Alone crossed the $200 million mark, it would only serve as an added bonus. Dying to the next week meant the excitement around the Super Bowl trailer would have slightly waned.

    If box office numbers passed $200 million that week, it would make Home Alone the first film in three years to reach that milestone again, thus creating new buzz. Combined with the regr publicity, it would almost guarantee good results for Pretty Woman upon its release.

    "Eric, are you really not nning on personally participating in the promotion for Pretty Woman?" Jeffrey inquired.

    Eric shook his head, saying, "Al and Julia have already teamed up with Fox for enough promotion. I have another matter to attend to, but I will definitely show up for the premiere." The additional matter Eric referred to involved Pixar. The day after the Super Bowl, he received a call from Jobs. After introductions, Jobs warmly expressed a desire to discuss matters with Eric. When Eric casually asked if it pertained to the Pixar valuation, getting a confirmation prompted him to hang up on Jobs.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    With a clear sense of Jobs'' intentions, Eric wasted little time. Using the contract from Home Alone as coteral, he applied for a $50 million loan from the bank.

    He applied directly for the hefty $50 million loan, which would cover his tax situation, Pixar and investments for the next film as well.

    In thete 1980s, a $50 million loan was indeed a massive sum. If Jobs approached the bank now, they would likely tell him to hit the road. However, when Eric proposed the $50 million, the bank even probed about whether he might want to borrow more.

    Considering that a week had passed, Eric expected another call from Jobs. While Jobs was notoriously erratic and arrogant, he was also someone who could be quite flexible. From Eric''s research, he soon figured out that Jobs'' Next Computer and Pixar Studio were on the verge of a financial copse.

    The $20 million Eric offered was significantly less than Jobs'' investment in Pixar, yet it would squarely resolve Jobs'' crisis with Next Computer. Jobs would still have his ambitions predominantly focused on personalputing.

    Eric didn''t doubt that Jobs would seize this golden opportunity to unload the burden of Pixar. Of course, Jobs might attempt to probe Microsoft, just like in the original timeline, but Eric was confident that under these circumstances, Microsoft would offer him an even lower price.

    ...

    After more than a week of intense post-production, Pretty Woman was finallypleted. By early February, as the loan had already hit Eric''s ount, he continued waiting without any new call from Jobs. He found himself admiring Jobs'' patience but remained nonchnt about the situation, knowing that a high-intellect genius like Jobs would easily catch any slip-up.

    With a week to go before Pretty Woman hit theaters, Fox hosted a critics'' screening in Los Angeles.

    Soon after, newspaper articles guiding people''s long-anticipated reviews on Pretty Woman emerged. Whether it stemmed from Eric''s out-of-pocket payment for the Super Bowl trailer or Fox''s growing confidence in the film, the advertising push reached blockbuster-level intensity. Correspondingly, their public rtions for the critics also seemed spot-on, leading to overwhelmingly positive reviews appearing in newspapers, naturally reflecting the film''s high quality.

    If Pretty Woman had turned out poorly, no amount of financial incentive could convince film critics to praise a lousy movie.

    ...

    On February 9, at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, Pretty Woman officially held its

    premiere.

    With Fox''s orchestration, alongside the film''s crew members, over a dozen celebrities came out to support the event, turning the brief red carpet into a spectacle of star power.

    Following a brief introduction, the film quickly rolled into y.

    Eric returned to his seat, quietly absorbing his own creation, Pretty Woman. Originally, the seat beside him was upied by Fox executive Carlin Hunt, but at some point, it shifted to another man in his thirties. Due to the dim lighting, Eric didn''t pay much attention.

    But after a while, the stranger initiated conversation.

    "Mr. Williams, hello. I''m Steve Jobs."

    Eric turned in surprise; Jobs was only thirty-three years old then, at the prime of his life, sporting a full head of hair and a certain boyish charm. Yet, Eric understood that beneath this handsome facadey arrogance and vtility.

    Since Jobs had approached him, Eric smiled and extended his hand, saying, "Hello, Mr. Jobs."

    With that, they greeted each other before both returned their focus to the film, neither willing to break the silence again.

    It wasn''t until the movie concluded over an hourter that Jobs spoke up, saying, "Mr.

    Williams, can we talk?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Opening Day Box Office

    Chapter 78: Opening Day Box Office

    ?

    [Chapter 78: Opening Day Box Office]

    Eric nodded, said goodbye to Jeffrey and the others, and walked with Jobs to a nearby cafe.

    "Standing by the Ganges, I was struck by a profound sense of stillness. There I was, half a world away from Silicon Valley, realizing that technology should empower people -- not control them. That experience taught me about simplicity, about peeling away the unnecessary to find the essence, something I saw in Zen Buddhism.

    It wasn''t unlike how Edison thought, creating for humanity, inventing things that mattered. Edison didn''t just invent to invent; he changed lives. I wanted Apple to be like that -- to make products that empowered, connected, and uplifted people in the same way he''d lighted up their lives.

    After returning to California, I chose the electronics industry as my lifelong goal. A yearter, I started Apple with a few friends in an abandoned garage..."

    Inside the cafe, Eric gently stirred his coffee, patiently listening to Jobs'' eloquent talk. Such an opportunity didn''te around often. Though Eric wasn''t fond of Jobs'' personality, he greatly admired his talent.

    After a good ten minutes, Eric couldn''t hold back any longer. "Steve, have you ever reflected on yourself?"

    Jobs'' annoyance at being interrupted shed across his face before he shot back, "Reflect? Why should I reflect?"

    "For instance, why were you pushed out of Apple?"

    Jobs responded seriously, "No, Eric, I wasn''t pushed out. I voluntarily left Apple."

    Eric shrugged. "See, that''s your character w. You refuse topromise. That''s why both you and Apple have hit a dead end. If a few years ago you had made the rightpromises with the board, you might still be at Apple. Given your abilities, reiming leadership would have been a cinch."

    Jobs countered, "Once I made onepromise, they would force me into a second, a third, and so on."

    Eric chuckled softly and shook his head, recognizing that convincing an arrogant young genius was impossible. With Pixar now in his hands, he wasn''t sure if Jobs would ever return to Apple.

    In his past life, Jobs achieved such dazzling sesses not only due to his talent and determination but also a hefty slice of luck. If he had sold Pixar earlier, there would have been no Toy Story and its subsequent brilliance, and it was more likely he would have been mocked instead of celebrated. In that scenario, a struggling Apple might have preferred bankruptcy to calling Jobs back.

    Eric wasn''t trying to convince Jobs. He decided to shift the conversation to the reason for their meeting. "Let''s talk about Pixar, Steve. Since you sought me out, you''ve epted my offer, right?"

    Jobs hesitated. The reason he arranged this meeting was to see if he could persuade Eric to raise his offer during face-to-face negotiations. He was quite confident in his oratory skills.

    Unfortunately, after speaking so much, this young man either kept interrupting him or showed no signs of being swayed. Ultimately, he knew that if he mentioned a price increase, Eric would walk away just like during theirst phone call.

    "Eric, I''ll ept the $20 million offer, but it has to be paid in full."

    "Not a problem," Eric said, setting down his coffee cup and snapping his fingers cheerfully. Jobs regarded Eric, who had appearedposed the whole time but was suddenly disying excitement. In that moment, he wondered if he had unknowingly made a huge mistake.

    But having made a decision, Jobs wouldn''t back down. He was someone who rarely had regrets. So he immediately asked, "Eric, are you interested in personalputers?"

    Eric raised an eyebrow, quickly grasping Jobs'' intent. "You want me to invest in your Nextputerpany?"

    "Exactly. Personalputers are a highly promising electronic product. Just look at the development figures of IBM''s personalputer business over the past few years. Justst year..."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Hold on, Steve, I''m not interested in those professional statistics. I''ll only ask this: if I invest in Next, will you ept my suggestions regardingpany operations?"

    "Ah... Eric, you only need to invest $50... no, $30 million, plus the $20 million for Pixar, and I''ll have enough funds to implement a really excellent idea I had in mind. I''m certain it will yield substantial profits for you."

    "So, I''d only be in charge of investing and sharing in the profits, without any say in managing theputerpany?"

    Jobs nodded. After the Apple incident, he wouldn''t forfeit his absolute leadership again. "Eric, you''re an excellent director, but I believe I understand electronics far better than you ever could."

    Initially, Eric was tempted. However, after Jobsid it all out, he could only shake his head. "Then, I have to decline!"

    "Uh, Eric, I have a project proposal here. Maybe you could take a look -- it''s actually..."

    "No need," Eric interrupted, waving away Jobs'' words. "Steve, I know you''re imaginative, and I believe in your talent. But I won''t pour my money into something I can''t control at all. Just as you stubbornly believe in your ideas, I''m stubborn too. When our philosophies don''t align, conflicts like those at Apple from a few years ago might resurface."

    Jobs stopped reaching into his bag for documents. He had thought persuading an eighteen- year-old would be a piece of cake with his silver tongue. Unfortunately, Eric wasn''t buying it, which sparked a fraction of anger in the proud Jobs.

    "Well, that''s quite unfortunate," Jobs replied calmly, holding back his frustration. "Do you need to visit Pixar first? I hope we can finalize our deal soon."

    Eric pondered for a moment. "I can''t tomorrow; Pretty Woman just premiered, and I have to fly to New York the day after for my girlfriend''s birthday..."

    In Jobs'' mind, a movie premiere stood as a significant event, but a girlfriend''s birthday seemed less pressing when it came to the Pixar deal. "Eric, maybe you could just send a gift to your girlfriend. After all, it seems you don''t just have one girlfriend."

    Eric looked at Jobs with disbelief. "Well, perhaps I might..."

    But Jobs immediately tapped the table lightly to cut Eric off. "Fine then, let''s do the day after. A girlfriend''s birthday is quite important!"

    ...

    While he imed to have things to do the next day, the truth was Eric had nothing pressing to tend to. Yet, every director wrestled with the anxiety that came with a film''s release, and at that moment, Eric couldn''t shift his focus to Pixar.

    Fox had arranged everything perfectly. Since the premiere was farrger than the critics'' screenings, the reviews for Pretty Woman started to prize the next morning.

    Apart from his usual newspaper subscriptions, Eric picked up over a dozen papers first thing and read every review about Pretty Woman. Out of the seventeen total reviews, there were nine praises, five mixed with both praise and criticism, and the remaining three were brutally

    critical.

    Calcting in his head, Eric determined that the favorable review rate was about 75. In the realm of movie review websites in his past life, this score could be considered quite high.

    With the positive reviews maintaining, Eric finally eased his worries. After breakfast, he drove to Fox''s headquarters in Century City. Because it wasn''t the busy movie season, Fox easily secured 1900 screens for Pretty Woman, a number considered blockbuster status in those days.

    ...

    For his previous two films, Eric had only received box office data a weekter. Now, he had reached the point where he could get daily box office figures from inside Fox. Starting at dawn, Eric, Jeffrey, and several high-level executives gathered anxiously in a meeting room, even Fox''s president Barry Diller stayed against the odds. Though the room wasrge and the windows were wide open, the air was thick with cigar smoke. Meanwhile, seven or eight staff members busily made calls outside, taking notes on box office numbers. After an hour, the day''s box office finally came in. The statistician handed the data to the executives, and they all crowded around to see.

    Carlin Hunt, sitting at the outer edge, was the first to glimpse the numbers. "Whoa, $4.36 million! Another Home Alone!"

    Upon seeing the figure of $4.36 million on the report, Eric finally breathed a sigh of relief and let the tension ease.

    Cheers erupted in the meeting room, and everyone shook off their drowsiness entirely.

    Jeffrey noted, "With this, tomorrow''s box office should be even higher, maybe reaching $5 million. The weekend could pull in $15 million, and next Tuesday is Valentine''s Day; the box office could really surge then. On weekday''s we might also rack up $10 million." Carlin smilingly countered, "Jeffrey, you''re being a bit conservative in your calctions. Valentine''s Day box office will overshadow the weekend. I believe the first week''s box office

    will easily surpass Home Alone."

    Seeing everyone so overly excited with their sights set on Home Alone, Eric knew that was impossible. Perhaps due to the massive promotional push, the first week''s box office would indeed be high, but there was no way it could sustain itself the following week.

    Thinking of this, Eric couldn''t help but bring them back to reality. "The key is that the box office drop next week will be substantial; after all, this isn''t the holiday season. So let''s notpare ourselves with Home Alone. That one had six consecutive weeks grossing over $20

    million."

    Everyone present were professionals, well aware that Eric was speaking the truth.

    Barry Diller said, "Eric, just focus on preparing your next film. Fox will fully support you if

    you need anything."

    Feigning ignorance of Fox''s intention to involve itself in his next film, Eric smiled. "If

    possible, let Fox handle the celebratory banquet."

    Barry Diller didn''t mind Eric''s act and replied, "Haha, Fox is happy to cover that expense.

    We''ll set it up for next week at the Beverly Hilton."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 79: Chapter 79: She

    Chapter 79: She

    ?

    [Chapter 79: She]

    Her birthday marked her 20th year, and after today, her teenage days were truly over. It happened to be a weekend, and as she strolled alone through the streets, she felt like a stray

    cat.

    She spent the morning wandering along Broadway, passing a small theater where she noticed a poster advertising an amateur production of La Traviata by students from a New York drama school. Intrigued, she decided to pop in and watch the performance. It turned out to be pretty good, and she even shed a few tears. By the time she exited, it was already lunchtime. She treated herself to a slice of chocte cream cheesecake and sat on a bench in Central Park, taking small bites.

    Since her sessful weight loss, she had mostly stayed away from high-calorie foods. But it was her birthday, so she thought, why not indulge a little?

    After carefully finishing her lunch, she tossed the empty box into the nearby trash can and checked her beloved trench coat to make sure no crumbs hadnded on it. Satisfied, she wiped her hands with a tissue, grabbed her handbag, and continued her aimless wandering.

    Passing through Hell''s Kitchen and veering into the Garment District, she caught a distant glimpse of the Empire State Building before turning back. Before she knew it, she found herself on Fifth Avenue. She looked up at some luxury boutiques, browsing and debating, but in the end, she didn''t buy anything. Despite that, the staff was quite friendly and weed her toe back. Not that she would, everything there was just so overpriced!

    The Chanel trench coat she wore was a gift from him, a white one that had made for a stunning street-style photo. Later, she learned just how expensive it was -- worth as much as several paychecksbined. If she had known the price in advance, she never would have epted it.

    After a while, a charming salesgirl with a smooth tongue managed to persuade her, and she couldn''t resist spending over two thousand dors on a bottle of Dior perfume. It seemed he liked that scent.

    Sighing, she couldn''t help but think of that... jerk.

    It was her 20th birthday; her parents and a few close friends had called, sending her gifts through the mail. Matthew Perry even sent her an extravagant diamond bracelet and made it clear during their call that he had no ulterior motives, just wanted to wish her a happy birthday. He was simply returning a favor to her -- a lucky dog, indeed.

    But him? He hadn''t called her in four and a half days.

    In past birthdays, even without her parents around, she would gather a few friends for a meal, celebrating with a flurry of gifts. Unfortunately, this time, she hadn''t made any new friends on set. Tattingers was aedy drama series, and she was considered one of the main support characters.

    Some of the girls seemed to think that their breakthrough woulde through this highly touted NBC series. It was all about stealing scenes, backstabbing, bribing writers, and even sleeping with the producers. She had heard stories about some of the sordid happenings on

    set.

    Out of the group, she was the prettiest, even more so than the leadingdy. So, it was no surprise she was often harassed. One of the episode directors even shamelessly suggested that he could write her in more if she apanied him to dinner one night. She tly refused. Then one day, the new handsome actor Brad Pitt got kicked off the show. In this industry, word spread like wildfire. After that, no one dared to bother her, not even the show''s producer, who was quite courteous and evenplimented her on having a good boyfriend. As a result, she became more isted on set. The other actresses privately called her a schemer. She couldn''t be bothered to defend herself against a bunch of jealous brats. Perhaps they just hadn''t found the right audience, because the well-promoted series tanked in the ratings, averaging less than six million viewers per episode, set to be canceled after the first season. The attention she gained from the show didn''te close to what being that guy''s girlfriend had given her.

    Tabloids frequently featured bits about her,beling her as "Eric Williams'' current girlfriend","ex-girlfriend," and "rumored girlfriend," painting a narrative of her being dumped every few days. Eventually, she couldn''t bear to read those papers anymore; they didn''t even bother to call her "the supporting actresss of Tattingers." It was all just disheartening, and that jerk was to me.

    Before she knew it, night had fallen, and she still didn''t want to go home. She had grown ustomed to making breakfast alone, watching TV solo, doingundry by herself, aimlessly wandering, and going to bed all by her lonesome...

    On her 20th birthday, a special day, she suddenly realized that being alone didn''t feel lonely, but missing someone did.

    Across the street, a line formed outside a theater. Curious, she walked over and saw the poster for Pretty Woman hanging prominently, featuring the two leads smiling back-to-back. The tall actress looked stunningly sexy, and it irritated her. She thought to herself, "She only got that chance because she was in bed with that jerk. What''s so impressive about that?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Click--

    Click--

    The familiar sound of a camera shutter caught her attention, and she turned to see a paparazzo casually turning away. It was clear that her recent pouting expression aimed at the poster had just been snapped. Should she leave right away?

    What would the headline read: "Ex-girlfriend scoffs at Eric Williams'' new project"?

    Frustrated, she unexpectedly found herself standing in line to buy a ticket. "Just doing this to support you, jerk. See how much I''m thinking of you?"

    Minutester, clutching her movie ticket, she walked into the theater.

    For a solid two hours, she lost herself in the leadingdy''s role, imagining how it would feel if she were the one performing.

    The story continued, and she was surprised to find a risque scene. In the flickering darkness, she instinctively covered her ample chest.

    If it were her ying that part, knowing how that jerk operated, he would definitely have cut that scene. Exactly. It seemed he wasn''t too concerned about Julia Roberts after all.

    As these thoughts crossed her mind, she felt like she had just snagged a scene or won a game of chess, reminiscing about those childhood wings during a chicken wing eating contest. It was that kind of feeling.

    But then she watched the leadingdy get her fairytale ending, and she pondered, where was

    hers?

    Feeling empty inside, she walked out of the theater with a sense of loss.

    It was after nine now, and she reminded herself that she shouldn''t wander about at night alone. She had always been obedient about that.

    After a day of walking, she hadn''t felt much, but after two hours in the theater, her calves began to ache. She didn''t want to move another step, so she gged down a taxi.

    She trudged up the stairs and finally reached her apartment door.

    There was a light shining through the peephole, and inexplicably, anticipation washed over

    her.

    Shakily, she took out her key and unlocked the door, finally spotting the familiar busy figure in her living room.

    In an instant, all her energy drained away. Who said women could shop endlessly? That was pure nonsense; she was exhausted.

    She leaned against the wall of the hallway and stared dreamily at his silhouette.

    Busy with prepared decorations, the man looked up, spotted her, and broke into a smile. "I''m really sorry, Jenny. I just arrived in the afternoon. I stayed uptest night waiting on box office numbers, up ''til past two. I couldn''t get a flight, so I borrowed Mr. Diller''s private jet. By the time I got here, it was already around three, and you weren''t home, so I had to set everything up myself. I''m not familiar with New York, and I almost got lost while shopping. I might not have prepared as well as I hoped."

    As he rambled on, warmth filled her heart.

    He continued talking, striking a match and lighting the candles on the cake, before finally saying, "Happy birthday!"

    She tossed her handbag aside and leaned up against the wall, lifting her arms to him in an awkward gesture for a hug, her voice tinged with a hint ofint, "Eric, my legs hurt..."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Opening Week

    Chapter 80: Opening Week

    ?

    [Chapter 80: Two Gifts]

    The birthday dinner moved along slowly, with Eric allowing Aniston tozily lean against him, asionally whispering sweet nothings. Their rendition of the birthday song wasn''t exactly lively, but it felt warm and intimate. After they finished singing, they cut the cake, and each barely had a slice, while the bottle of red wine disappeared quickly.

    "Not going to eat anymore?" Eric asked, noticing the girl''s flushed cheeks with concern.

    "Uh-huh," she nodded, wrapping her arms around him. "I''m so tired. Carry me to the shower; I don''t want to move."

    "Not a problem, my little princess," Eric smiled before getting up and retrieving two beautifully wrapped gift boxes from his luggage. "Here''s one for your birthday and another for Valentine''s Day."

    Seeing the two boxes made Aniston''s expression drop, and she took them only to toss them on the table as she snuggled deeper into Eric''s embrace.

    "Aren''t you going to open them first?" he asked.

    "I don''t feel like it. I''m not happy," she replied.

    Gently stroking her blonde hair, Eric felt guilty. "I''m sorry, Jenny. I had a priormitment, so I''ve got to leave early tomorrow."

    "Eh..."

    "Jenny, let''s go back to Los Angeles. I want you to be by my side."

    "I''m tired; shower..."

    "Alright, alright," Eric said, lifting her up and carrying her into the bathroom. He filled the tub with warm water and carefully began to unfasten her clothes. She obediently raised her arms, allowing Eric to undress her.

    It had been a while, and Aniston appeared a bit shy, her eyes downcast, longshes fluttering. She gently tugged at Eric''s jacket. "Together?"

    Eric nodded, taking off his clothes.

    "It''s so itchy," Aniston remarked, pushing Eric''s hands away with an expectant look. "Girls who scold it in person often end up paying for it," Eric joked as he stepped into the bathtub. "Jenny, you should eat more; I like you with a little meat on your bones."

    "Hmph, I''m not going to please you," she retorted, feeling the strong presence behind her. When she tried to inch away, Eric held her tightly, keeping her in ce.

    "Eric, let''s keep it quick? The tub is going to fill up."

    "Shh... but I think this adds some fun, don''t you?" he said, teasing her sensitive earlobe, which made her whole body weaken.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric grew silent, his hands sliding down softly.

    The night passed in chaos.

    ...

    The next morning, Eric woke upte, a smile on his face. He nted a soft kiss on Aniston''s lips before quietly dressing. He prepared a simple breakfast, but Aniston still hadn''t stirred, so he nced at his watch and decided to set aside her portion while he ate.

    "Jenny, I''m leaving," he said after finishing breakfast, entering the bedroom and leaning over her pillow, gently brushing the messy hair away from her face.

    "Ugh... don''t disturb me; I want to sleep," she mumbled, groggily protesting, pulling the nket over her head.

    "Okay, I''ll call you when I get to Los Angeles," he said again, but receiving no response from the sleepyhead, he thought for a moment, found some paper and a pen, wrote her a note, and ced it where she could see it before reluctantly taking his luggage and leaving her apartment.

    As he climbed into a taxi, Eric nced up at Aniston''s window, which appeared dark due to the backlighting. Behind it, Aniston was wrapped in her nket, tightly clutching the note as she watched the taxi pull away, letting out a sigh before moving back to bed, tossing and turning in frustration. She grabbed a nearby pillow and beat it a few times.

    "Go on, jerk, jerk! You can''t even linger for a little longer even while pretending to be asleep. How utterly awful!"

    ...

    Shortly afternding, Eric barely paused to connect with his privatewyer before leaving Los Angeles again with Jobs, heading to Richmond in the San Francisco Bay area of California. As funds grew tight, Jobs moved Pixar''s headquarters into a small corner of Richmond.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Pretty Woman was almost visibly raking in box office revenue across North America. After a booming three-day weekend, the excitement didn''t die down during the workweek. In fact, on Valentine''s Day, many theaters screening Pretty Woman werepletely sold out.

    Amidst the envy and jealousy of other filmpanies, a weekter, the box office figures for Pretty Woman were officially released. It garnered 16.05 million over the weekend and totaled 29.07 million for its opening week. Although it fell short of the coveted 30 million mark, it still surpassed Eric''s previous film Home Alone''s opening week revenue.

    In its second week, amidst many holding their breath in anticipation, Pretty Woman''s earnings dropped to 17 million, a 43% decrease. This number relieved many, as it wasn''t another Home Alone, which would have seemed quite insane.

    Fortunately, during the following weeks, the box office for Pretty Woman didn''t experience another sharp decline like in its second week. A monthter, it umted over 75 million in North America, and surpassing the 100 million mark was no longer in doubt. ording to some statistical agencies, unless a surprise hit popped up, the film''s earnings could very likely break the 200 million barrier.

    Thanks to Fox''s efforts, Pretty Woman started rolling out in overseas markets. Although many regions missed Valentine''s Day, the film''s strong reputation in North America led to overseas earnings exceeding its domestic sess, crossing the 100 million mark within four weeks.

    ...

    In less than a year, with two films that shattered box office records, Eric found himself back in the media spotlight. The Los Angeles Times directly reported on him with a headline reading "The Magical Kid Breaking into Hollywood," detailing his achievements in just under a year.

    Numerous well-known media outlets and magazines, unable to reach Eric directly, turned to Jeffrey and Kepler, hoping to secure an exclusive interview with him, but each request was promptly rebuffed.

    Though Eric hadn''t yet reached the heights of Barry Diller or Michael Eisner, he believed that day woulde soon enough. Who ever saw these power-wielding moguls flit about in the media all day? Eric''s ultimate goal was to remain a shadowy puppeteer, pulling all the strings behind the scenes.

    With no hope of interviewing Eric, the media had no choice but to redirect their focus to

    others.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Sincerity

    Chapter 81: Sincerity

    ?

    [Chapter 81: Sincerity]

    Without a doubt, the actor who benefitted the most was Julia Roberts. As Pretty Woman

    continued its run, Julia felt as if she had stepped into an entirely new world. In this new realm, everyone treated her with such respect and kindness; they practically treated her like a

    princess.

    While recording a talk show for ABC, the entire production team revolved around her. The show''s director carefully considered every little detail, regrly asking for her opinions during the recording process.

    At the same time, she received lucrative movie deals, advertising contracts, endorsements, and various other offers pouring in. Her paycheck skyrocketed to $5 million after the weekend box office came in, a figure that left many male stars in the dust.

    Al Pacino had alsopletely shed the shadow of his failures from four years prior and appeared rejuvenated. Friends from the industry, whom he hadn''t spoken to in a long time, suddenly reappeared, and parties were being thrown one after the other.

    Of course, where there was celebration, there was also disappointment. Richard Gere, who began promoting his new film, Road House, undoubtedly found himself as the most disheartened. His agent had previously boasted about the project, while trash-talking Eric''s new film. Though Richard understood the reasoning behind what his agent did, he still felt that declining Eric''s offer was a way to do Michael Ovitz a favor. Thus, he opted for Road House.

    If Pretty Woman had not achieved such colossal sess -- if it had merely broken even -- Richard would not have felt so strongly about his decision. Unfortunately for him, Pretty Woman soared, collecting box office earnings in the first week that rivaled the total gross of many films. Watching all of this unfold, Richard found it increasingly difficult to remain calm. This agitation led him to forget that choosing to walk away from Pretty Woman was primarily his choice. If an actor was determined to pursue a film project, even if CAA ced obstacles in their way, they could not outright prevent the actor from pursuing it. However, Richard naturally ced all the me on CAA, feeling like a pawn in Michael Ovitz''s game of personal power.

    ...

    At Coca-C''s Anta headquarters, a crucial meeting was underway regarding Columbia Pictures. At that moment, Coca-C President Bob Paddock stood with materials about Home Alone and Pretty Woman, challenging Columbia''s president, Cohen Blount, seated at the other end of the table.

    "The bet agreement -- this was your first mistake," Bob dered. "However, thanks to Home Alone, Columbia''s stock price rose from $12 to $14, so we can call this mistake a wash."

    Once Bob finished that statement, he moved on to another document. "But next, your blunders directly led to Eric Williams jumping ship to Fox. Estimates suggest that Pretty Woman might gross $200 million in North America, and its overseas earnings could surpass 50% of the North American total. Just from box office revenue, Fox could gain at least $80 million -- a sum that Columbia should have seen."

    Cohen Blount did not dare to dispute anything, sitting quietly while awaiting the final decision from the Coca-C board. In truth, he had already known his fate. The high-ranking executives in filmpanies often appeared glorious, but few understood the immense pressure behind the scenes.

    Investments could run into the tens of millions, and the oue of each film could cause significant shifts within thepany. Some individuals faced dismissal due to massive losses, never to recover, while others enjoyed promotions following sesses, reveling in newfound power and benefits, all while juggling the anxiety of uing projects.

    Cohen Blount understood that the criticism he faced was just an excuse, with Eric Williams merely a trigger. His real issue was his opposition to Coca-C selling Columbia to the Japanese.

    Rumors had circted that Coca-C''s board had officially decided to negotiate a sale to Sony. Under those circumstances, it didn''t matter whether Blunt stayed or left -- he would be going soon, regardless.

    To secure his position, he had reached out to many people to form a coalition against the sale. Naturally, such efforts hadn''t gone unnoticed by Coca-C''s upper management. If he seeded, no one wouldin. But if he failed, he would face the dire consequences.

    "... Therefore, I now officially announce the board''s decision: effective immediately, Cohen Blount is relieved of his duties as president of Columbia TriStar Group," Bob Paddock said, reading the board resolution. They discussed a few other matters before adjourning the meeting. As for Cohen Blount, he exited with a semnce of dignity and wasn''t escorted back to the Columbia headquarters by security.

    ...

    Looking quite downcast, Blunt Cohen left, but Bob Paddock did not. He made his way to another meeting room.

    "Hello, Mr. Paddock," a woman standing up from the sofa greeted him warmly.

    Bob shook her hand with a smile, saying, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Amy."

    "It''s no trouble. I just arrived myself."

    Amy Pascal had recently left Columbia in displeasure.

    "My assistant already shared my thoughts with you, Amy. What do you think?"

    Amy observed, "Mr. Paddock, I feel I have no need to return to Columbia now. Although I''ve resigned, I''ve heard that Columbia is about to be sold to Sony. What would be the point of going back, just to risk beingid off again in a few months?"

    "Of course not, Amy. You''re an incredibly talented executive. Even if the Japanese take over Columbia, they wouldn''t dare make drastic changes to management. I''ve reviewed your departure from Columbia. If Cohen Blount had listened to your advice, he wouldn''t have signed that bet agreement that cost Columbia millions. And then Eric Williams wouldn''t have wandered off to Fox."

    Amy responded, "Mr. Paddock, it''s pointless to discuss the past now. I''m more interested in why you want me back at Columbia."

    Bob looked at her and asked, "Amy, you know Eric Williams, right?"

    That confirmed her suspicions. Amy nodded, "Yes, but we''ve only met a few times. He probably wouldn''t remember me now."

    "Come on, how could he forget? Without your help, how would Home Alone have achieved its box office miracle?"

    Although Amy had gained no benefit from her previous involvement -- and even lost her job because of it hearing Bob bring it up still filled her with a sense of pride.

    "Mr. Paddock, if you expect me to persuade Eric Williams to return to Columbia, that seems unlikely. Everyone knows he already signed three film contracts with Fox this year. By next year, Columbia will be under Sony''s ownership."

    Bob shook his head. "It''s not as clear-cut as that. I''ve had people look into that contract, and it''s not very tight. Fox only wants the distribution rights for the sequel to Home Alone, so there''s no use preventing Eric from working with other studios during his time there. Once we start negotiations with Sony, Columbia will need some good news to boost stock prices --

    like... a blockbuster film."

    "But..."

    "Don''t worry, Amy. I understand your concerns. To ensure a smooth coboration with Eric Williams, the board has already relieved Cohen Blount of his presidency at Columbia."

    Amy was taken aback. "Really?"

    Bob nodded. "Absolutely. Otherwise, with Cohen Blount''s connections, the board wouldn''t want to cause a fuss, especially since he wouldn''tst much longer in his position anyway. When you meet with Eric, you can mention this to show our sincerity."

    Amy pondered a moment before raising another issue. "But Eric works at a fast pace. Completing three films in a year is already quite a stretch for him. How can we guarantee the quality if he does more?"

    "We will schedule his new movie for the summer, and given his current poprity, as long as the film isn''t atrocious, hitting $100 million at the box office during the summer won''t be an issue. Additionally..." Bob lowered his voice slightly, "I''ll ensure there''s enough budget for the second Fox film. We could even hire someone else to direct it, allowing him to focus solely on the movie he makes for us."

    After a brief hesitation, Amy nodded. "I''ll do my best to give it a shot."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Pixar Changes Hands

    Chapter 82: Pixar Changes Hands

    ?

    [Chapter 82: Pixar Changes Hands]

    In Richmond, California, Eric had been on the scene for three days. During this time, he had hired a specialized team from Silicon Valley to conduct a thorough appraisal of Pixar''s assets. Steve Jobs, eager to finalize the deal, expressed his dissatisfaction with Eric''s "needless investigations," but there wasn''t much he could do. Eric wasn''t concerned about Jobs'' feelings.

    Although Jobs'' talent was undeniably impressive, his character left much to be desired. This was a man who had publicly imed impotence just to dodge child support for an out-of- wedlock daughter. Therefore, Eric felt it was essential to evaluate Pixar in detail rather than rush through the deal.

    Three dayster, in Pixar''s single-floor office in Richmond, Eric ced a thick stack of appraisal documents on the conference table. He lightly tapped his fingers on the surface and said to Jobs, who sat across from him, "Steve, I had every intention of buying Pixar, but unfortunately, I haven''t seen your sincerity."

    Jobs remained unfazed by Eric''s tone, wearing an expression that conveyed the frustration of someone knowledgeable dealing with an amateur. "Eric, if you have any doubts, feel free to share them. I will respond earnestly. using me of insincerity is quite severe."

    Eric felt a mix of admiration and annoyance at Jobs'' unppable demeanor. Despite whatever inner thoughts he grappled with, Jobs showed no signs of difort -- an impressive calmness that even someone with Eric''s experience found difficult to muster.

    Not wanting to engage in psychological games with Jobs, Eric got straight to the point. "Alright, Steve, let me be direct. The reason I want to acquire Pixar is primarily for its 3D animation technology, so your sale of the hardware department doesn''t bother me."

    As Eric flipped through the documents, he continued, "However, my research indicates that three core software ownership rights from Pixar''s graphics rendering software package were recently transferred to your Nextputerpany. Moreover, while the core animation production system remains intact, one essential coloring software''s ownership has changed hands. This software is crucial for Pixar''s contracts with Disney for 2D animation projects, as it significantly reduces the time needed for coloring. I need you to exin that."

    Jobs was certainly no naive yer; he was trying to pull a fast one on Eric, hoping to mislead this neer. If sessful, he could sell those software rights for millions. Some might wonder how much those software programs were really worth, but one could simply look at Microsoft''s empire to answer that.

    What Jobs didn''t realize was that Eric might be inexperienced, but he knew to leave matters to the experts. He had specifically hired a professional evaluation team from Silicon Valley, a hub full of tech geniuses and cunning entrepreneurs, who quickly caught wind of Jobs'' little

    maneuvers.

    After Eric made his demands, Jobs had already lost much of his optimism. But with his bravado, he wouldn''t easily back down even when confronted with the truth.

    "Eric, in the four years since I took over Pixar, I invested at least $50 million into thepany, and I only sold the hardware department for $16 million. Your offer of $20 million is little more than enough to cover what I still retain at Pixar," Jobs stated.

    Eric responded with a mocking smile, shutting the folder with a thud. Leaning on the table, he locked eyes with Jobs and said, "Steve, it seems you''re still reluctant to ept your failures. Let me make this clear: You have failed in this deal to acquire Pixar from Lucas, and a failure must ept loss. To save your Nextputerpany, you''ll have to sell me Pixar''s software department at a fair price. So, return that software and then we can discuss the rest." Jobs'' expression flickered between shock and anger. As someone who thrived on pride, it had to sting to be chastised for failure by someone over a decade younger. Watching from outside, John Lasseter and others pretended to be busy while secretly enjoying the heated exchange.

    Jobs had never been a friendly boss. Whenever he visited Pixar, he would scrutinize every creator''s work, tearing apart their efforts, only to dangle the prospect of regaining managerial stock as a hollow reward when he presented a check.

    Over the years, those tactics had turned Pixar into Jobs'' personal property, stripping the management team of everyst share. Finally seeing Jobs on the receiving end of criticism lightened the mood for his would-be employees -- no longer would they be under the thumb of such an arrogant figure.

    In the conference room, Jobs held a firm expression and said, "Mr. Williams, your desire to acquire Pixar must be to produce animated films, right? Given your recent string of sesses, many people are likely watching your actions. If I let slip that you were interested in Pixar, it could attract other buyers, perhaps even higher bids. Don''t you think?"

    Eric''s ring finger twitched slightly -- a detail that Jobs failed to notice. Shaking off his worries, Eric replied with a cold chuckle, "Mr. Jobs, that remark of yours is worth $1 million. I dislike being manipted, so I''m lowering my offer to $19 million. Pixar is like a camera; under my direction, it can produce hits like Home Alone or Pretty Woman, but with other directors, who knows what mighte out? So, $19 million for theplete Pixar software department. If you''ve thought it over, call me before I leave Richmond."

    With that, Eric gathered his belongings and left the Pixar office. His private attorney, Edward, quickly followed. It took a long while before Jobs finally exited the conference room, casting a cold nce at the employees either working or pretending to work, unusually silent as he left Pixar headquarters.

    ...

    The following morning, Eric and Jobs met once more in the conference room.

    Many business negotiations yed out in a simr fashion, often requiring multiple rounds of debate. Even if they had nearlye to blows thest time, they still had to put their differences aside for another round of discussions and strategies.

    Today, Jobs appeared with noticeable dark circles under his eyes. "Eric, what I did previously wasn''t wrong. Everyone strives for their own interests. I agree to return the software, but the price must remain at $20 million. We''re rational adults; we can''t lower the figure by a million just because of ament -- that''s child''s y."

    Eric didn''t want to push Jobs too far; if things copsed, he could conceivably invest in building a separate animation studio. However, developing the necessary software and umting sufficient technical expertise would take years and a significant amount of money. Despite Eric''s wealth, hecked the time to build such a technical foundation. Everyone knew that 3D animated films and their anciry businesses could yield massive profits, yet only a few well-known animation studios in Hollywood had emerged. This was due to their technological advancements that outpaced theirpetition by years, thereby securing their market position.

    For others trying to catch up, the stakes were daunting. You may reach apetent level after years of effort, but your rivals would have been advancing even as you started. The pattern meant that neers constantly found it hard to keep pace with established giants.

    In the conference room, the two men sparred for another half-hour. Eric couldn''t just retract all he had said previously. Eventually, both parties made small concessions and settled on a price of $19.5 million.

    Once the terms were confirmed, Eric readily signed the contract for the software rights. Jobs put away the check, nced over at the employees who had worked under him for years, and, without anything more to say, nodded and turned to leave Pixar headquarters.

    *****n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 83: Chapter 83: What Do You Need From Me?

    Chapter 83: What Do You Need From Me?

    ?

    [Chapter 83: What Do You Need From Me?]

    "I''m not exactly gifted with public speaking, and I''m not one for those inspirational speeches. But I promise you this: within three years, as long as you all do your part, Pixar won''t face anyyoffs."

    After Steve Jobs left, Eric addressed all the employees in the open office. This had been their biggest concern. Over the past year, due to financial constraints, Pixar had alreadyid off several batches of employees.

    As soon as Eric made his promise, many breathed a sigh of relief. They all knew who Eric was; the young man in front of them was flush with cash, and once he made such a promise, it was unlikely he would go back on it.

    "Alright, let''s get back to work, and all management, please head to the conference room for a meeting."

    After a briefmotion, the core team of Pixar, led by John Lasseter, gathered in the meetingn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    room.

    "Everyone knows me by now, and I got a good grasp of things about you in my earlier briefings, so we can skip the introductions for now."

    Low chuckles echoed in the room as Eric smiled and paused for a moment, then continued, "Pixar was in bad shape before, but that''s going to change. You might be curious why I bought Pixar. I mentioned it to John -- I have an interest in 3D animated films, and since I had the funds to invest, I jumped at the chance. You wouldn''t doubt my eye for film, considering Pixar''s previous short Tin Toy, which inspired me to think of a great long story idea...

    A little boy had a room full of toys, and his favorite was a cowboy named Woody, who was clearly the leader among all the toys. But one day, the boy brought home a new toy, Buzz Lightyear. With his unique look and advanced features, the boy couldn''t get enough of him. Woody felt threatened, as Buzz''s presence put his leadership at risk. So Woody started devising ways to get rid of Buzz. In a twist of fate, the two toys ended up getting thrown out of the room and into the hands of a neighbor kid who treated toys a bit too roughly..."

    After spending a few minutes sketching out the story of Toy Story, Eric added, "Last time I met with John, I mentioned I''d invest $30 million into this 3D animated film. Of course, the budget could be increased; I just need you all to make this animation the best it can be. For me, one failure wouldn''t be the end of the world, but Pixar really could not afford another one."

    A serious expression washed over the executives at Pixar''s faces. Having been in the red for a while, if the 3D animation route didn''t pan out, it would be tough for Pixar to stay afloat. Eric was pleased with their reactions. He knew 3D animation would be a mainstream format soon, but he understood that they wouldn''t buy into his optimism immediately. Instead, he opted to apply a little pressure.

    "I know that producing animated films takes a long time. I''m giving you three years to create this movie. Within these three years, there won''t be any changes at Pixar, and you won''t need to take on ad projects to keep operations going. You can focus all your energy on Toy Story. That''s all I have to say. Now, what are your thoughts?"

    The lingering pressure from Jobs still made Pixar''s higher-ups cautious. After tentatively asking a few questions, they finally realized that Eric and Jobs were two entirely different people; they began to rx and share their thoughts openly.

    Caught up in the discussion, they lost track of lunchtime until the sun set, and the less-than- ideal conference room dimmed. It took them a moment before they realized it was dark outside.

    To ensure that Toy Story wouldn''t diverge too much from his original vision, Eric remained in Richmond for three full days. During that time, he wrote theplete script for Toy Story by hand and sketched designs for Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toy characters, handing them over to Pixar''s production team.

    It wasn''t until Barry Diller, the president of Fox, personally called to remind Eric to attend the celebration for Pretty Woman after having disappeared for nearly a week that he was finallypelled to leave Richmond.

    Eric had considered moving Pixar to Los Angeles. He casually mentioned it to John Lasseter, but received a response suggesting the idea wasn''t practical.

    Most of Pixar''s technical staff settled in the San Francisco Bay Area; they were ustomed to their surroundings, and many had made homes there. Plus, the environment in Los Angeles wasn''t suitable for an animation studio like Pixar. Richmond, on the other hand, was close to Silicon Valley, where many high-techpanies were clustered, making it a better fit for Pixar''s survival.

    After hearing John Lasseter''s exnation, Eric dropped the idea. Anyway, San Francisco was only about 300 miles from L.A. -- a one-hour flight made travel easy, so he didn''t push it further.

    ...

    After a week in a hotel, he finally returned home, enjoyed a nice shower, and with still several hours until the evening party, he didn''t feel like preparing much. He slipped into some loose, casual clothes, plopped onto the living room sofa, andzily turned on the TV with the remote.

    Just as he was dozing off, the doorbell rang.

    He opened the door to find a sneaky-looking woman in a wig and sunsses, dressed in nondescript clothes, anxiously waiting on the porch while ncing around.

    "Why did it take you so long to answer? What if the paparazzi saw me?"

    Eric appraised Julia''s outfit, stepped aside, and let her in. "What''s with the disguise? Oh... you kinda look like Allison?"

    "I had Allison dress up like me to throw off the paparazzi. It worked like a charm," Julia replied, her tone a little smug.

    "Want something to drink?" Eric asked as he walked toward the fridge.

    "Coffee, no sugar, and not too hot."

    "Oh," he replied, pouring her a ss of juice.

    With a roll of her eyes, she epted the juice. "You''re always so infuriating."

    Eric sank back into the sofa, amused, and looked at Julia. "You''ve really changed! The way you''re sitting, that tone -- it screams top Hollywood star! I might just have to ask for your

    autograph."

    "Sure, where should I sign?" Julia said, theatrically pulling a pen from her pocket.

    Eric pretended to gaze thoughtfully at the ceiling as if contemting something, then suddenly tugged at his pants waistband and peeked inside, shaking his head. "Nope, not feeling it. Can''t sign this."

    "Ugh--" Julia''s cheeks flushed slightly as she shot him an annoyed nce and hastily lifted the juice to her lips, taking a sip.

    A momentter, Julia set down her ss. "I heard you bought an animation studio?" "Yeah, making live-action films is exhausting; I thought I''d switch gears and direct animated films."

    Julia shot him a disapproving look. "You should be serious about this."

    "We''re this close now; who should I be serious for?" Eric retorted before straightening up. "Alright, what did you need from me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Lost in L.A.

    Chapter 84: Lost in L.A.

    ?

    [Chapter 84: Lost in L.A.]

    "I want to know why you let Kepler turn down those offers. If it hadn''t been for some people slipping the scripts directly into my hands, I wouldn''t have even known I''d received those invitations."

    Julia grew more and more agitated as she spoke, ultimately pointing a finger at Eric''s nose toy into him. "Disney offered six million dors for Lost in L.A., and you didn''t even bother to ask for my opinion before turning it down. Six million dors! How could you be so unreasonable? I''m not your puppet, so please show me some respect..."

    Eric leaned back against the sofa, allowing thedy to vent her frustrations like an enraged little cat. He couldn''t help but chuckle when he thought about Disney''s Lost in L.A., as the screenwriter, J.F. Lawton, was the very same guy who had penned the original script for Pretty Woman in his former life.

    During his time in Richmond, many studios had tantly ignored CAA''s block against UTA and sent offers directly to Julia and Al, as well as a few other stars from Pretty Woman. If UTA had been stuck with only a bunch of low-tier actors, Hollywood studios might have shied away from using UTA''s performers out of concern for Michael Ovitz''s influence. They''d think it was easier to avoid trouble than to deal with him.

    But now, thanks to the runaway sess of Pretty Woman, UTA had Julia and Al as its main attractions, while supporting actors like Jason Alexander had gained some recognition too. The lure of profits made many studios overlook their concerns regarding CAA, especially the six major studios that both loathed and felt helpless against them. Eric even maliciously spected that the six studios might have sent a series of offers to UTA actors purely to spite Michael Ovitz.

    Al Pacino patiently waited for the project Eric promised him, Scent of a Woman, so he''d turned down other offers without hesitation. Al had no objections.

    Julia, however, couldn''t afford to be so cavalier. Kepler had sifted through the scripts and eliminated those with low offers or that looked like duds. The remaining scripts were discussed over the phone with Eric.

    Thus, Eric naturally learned about the script for Lost in L.A. When he heard the writer''s name, curiosity got the best of him, and he had Kepler fax the script over to him.

    Once he read it, he couldn''t stop smiling. J.F. Lawton had clearly reworked his previous script, turning it into a love story centered around the male protagonist. It had already been established that in the original timeline, the initial script for Pretty Woman was a dark story called 3000, which depicted the reality of life for sex workers in Los Angeles, only toter be transformed into a romanticedy during filming.

    Lost in L.A. followed the story of a businessman who, while on a work trip to Los Angeles, ended up lost and had all his luggage stolen. The character, sessful in his career but a fool in his personal life, was taken in temporarily by a kind-hearted woman of the night, and after a series of escapades, the prince and Cindere found their happiness together.

    Eric immediately recognized that this story was a spiritual sessor to Pretty Woman, but he couldn''t use them of giarism since the narrative had been cleverly revised. A film giant like Disney could hardly be caught with a smoking gun.

    In Eric''s view, if this story, simr to Pretty Woman, were made with Julia as the lead again, it surely wouldn''t end up losing money, especially since the film''s budget wasn''t high. But recapturing the box office magic of Pretty Woman was unlikely -- it was like someone who had just eaten waspletely full. An apple or a ss of juice might still go down, but if you served up another serving...

    "Hey, are you even listening to me? You''re able to smile through this?"

    Julia''s voice snapped him from his thoughts. He looked over to see her leaning in, a hint of anger on her face.

    "Have you finished?" Eric asked, locking eyes with her earnestly.

    "Yeah," Julia nodded. As their gazes held, she suddenly realized her earlier outburst and quickly sat back down, chastened.

    After days of hearing nothing but ttery and praise, it was easy to feel a bit inted. But the serious expression on Eric''s face reminded her that he wasn''t someone she needed to impress; rather, it was she...

    Thinking along those lines, Julia unconsciously crossed her arms and rubbed her elbows, casting a wary nce at Eric.

    "During my time in Richmond, I''ve spoken with Kepler regrly over the phone. Al already signed on for his next movie, so we discussed your offers. As for Lost in L.A., I even had Kepler fax me the script to read."

    Hearing Eric had been so thoughtful about her, Julia felt a flicker of guilt for having snapped at him just moments before.

    "I''m sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Eric waved it off, "I''m not trying to take credit here. I just wanted to let you know that I haven''t forgotten the promise I made that night. I told you I would elevate a girl named Julia Roberts to the heights of Hollywood legends like Vivien Leigh and Audrey Hepburn."

    "I''m sorry," she repeated.

    "But I''m feeling a bit disappointed right now. This is just the first sess, and you''ve already be so impatient. What are you aiming for?"

    Eric''s previously calm tone began to blend with a reprimanding edge, prompting Julia to almost reflexively defend herself. "I..."

    He cut her off. "Now that you''ve got some fame, just as you said, Disney offered you six million dors. There aren''t many actresses in Hollywood who can im that level. If money is tight, you can always take out a loan; banks are quite generous to Hollywood stars. What you need to do now is carefully solidify your position. If you want to go far, being cautious isn''t just beneficial -- it''s critical."

    "I understand."

    "No, you don''t fully grasp it yet. You seem to look a bit put out. Take Lost in L.A., for instance; six million is indeed a hefty price. Tom Hanks only received two million forst year''s hit, Big. But if you take on this film, you would be diminishing the box office draw you built with Pretty Woman. It''s not as simple as one plus one equaling two; it''s more like subtraction. Have you ever seen a starnd two simr roles in close session and have both turn out sessful? It''s just like those blockbuster franchises in Hollywood; sequels wait several years for the audience''s anticipation to reach a peak before moving ahead with filming."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Crying

    Chapter 85: Crying

    ?

    [Chapter 85: Crying]

    After a moment of pause, Eric felt a bit thirsty. He got up, headed to the fridge, grabbed a can of beer, took a few swigs, and returned to the sofa, ready to continue. However, when he nced at the woman across from him, he suddenly shut his mouth.

    She was crying...

    With no other option, he reached under the coffee table, pulled out a box of tissues, and pushed it toward her.

    "Alright, don''t cry. I won''t say anything more."

    But that backfired. Julia grabbed a few tissues, covered her face, and her tears fell more freely, apanied by soft sobs.

    Under normal circumstances, at this moment, a woman would typically need a shoulder to cry on, a few tender words whispered, and then off to some little room for a quick roll in the hay.

    However, it seemed Julia had worked herself into this state. Eric thought he probably didn''t have the right to be the reason for her tears, did he?

    Thus, the atmosphere grew a bit tense. One sat there helplessly staring, while the other sobbed heartily.

    It was perfectly normal for a woman to feel foolish and humiliated, feeling enraged and building walls of tears around herself. "You jerk, just give a little support and say somethingforting. I would''ve calmed down and everything would be fine."

    But why did it suddenly feel so awkward?

    Minutester, the young woman had to take the initiative to stop crying, wiped her face, and crumpled the tissues into a ball, hurling them at Eric. "You''re really a jerk."

    With that, she stood up, somewhat flustered, making her way to the bathroom. Her makeup was likely a mess, oh, how ugly.

    ...

    After fixing her makeup and fidgeting in the bathroom for a bit, she finally emerged, taking her ce back on the sofa. Not brave enough to scold him now, huh? Hmph!

    "I''ll... keep an eye out for a script that fits you. Don''t rush it. If you''re feeling bored, maybe take some easy sses; that''ll help shape your image. The public generally likes ambitious actresses. Of course, it wouldn''t hurt to take on some variety show appearances either. You''ll need to check with Kepler about that; he''s the professional agent, not me."

    "Hmm," Julia nodded obediently.

    "By the way, have you seen a therapist about that thing?"

    Julia shook her head and shot Eric a resentful re. It was all this jerk''s fault.

    After the movie had premiered, she found herself with some spare time. She took a moment to look up information and learned all about Stockholm Syndrome. The examples listed in the books seemed absurd to her, yet when she connected them to her own erratic behavior, she had to acknowledge the truth of it all.

    At the same time, the release of Pretty Woman turned her from a small-time actress into a big star; she felt even more wary about seeking therapy. What if a therapist identally disclosed her condition? Her burgeoning career coulde crashing down. How could the public ept a star who might turn into a sexual ve at any moment? Thus, even her closest ones remained in the dark about this secret, with only Eric knowing.

    Eric quickly grasped Julia''s concerns; this was indeed a delicate matter. Once word got out, a scandal would be unavoidable.

    "This kind of issue should have a lot to do with self-confidence, right? I thought you looked great when you first came to my house, all fiery and fierce. Keep that up, and maybe it''ll all fade away."

    "You... nonsense! I checked the material; this is all your fault. If you hadn''t treated me the way you did that night, none of this would have happened."

    Eric raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, it''s all my fault."

    "Exactly, it is your fault."

    Seeing the awkward expression on Eric''s face, Julia felt a sense of satisfaction. "By the way, where''s Drew Barrymore? Isn''t it the weekend?"

    "She''s at boarding school. They don''t have toe home on weekends. She might not even know I''m back today. The girl loves to y; while I''m away, she rarely stays at home alone."

    Julia''s tone turned a bit sour, "You''re really nice to her."

    Ericughed, "You''re not the first to say that. The girl owes me a million. In this day and age, those in debt are the boss, so I gotta take care of her."

    "Hah..."

    "Are you going to the Fox party at the Hilton tonight?"

    "Of course," Julia nodded, ncing at her watch. "It''s gettingte; I need to head back."

    Eric helped her with her disguise again, seeing Julia out the door before returning to the vi.

    ...

    After some aimless TV watching, as the sun set, Eric went upstairs to change clothes and drove over to the Hilton.

    A celebration party for a movie like Pretty Woman, with its blockbuster sess, was definitely a hot target for paparazzi. Eric didn''t much fancy dealing with them and had nned to take the parking garage elevator directly to the banquet hall, but it suddenly dawned on him that he''d forgotten to check which floor the party was on.

    Looking around, he saw there were no other people in the parking garage. He couldn''t very well ask the overhead cameras for help. Reluctantly, he chose to wait a bit, hoping to run into someone else attending the party. Unfortunately, luck wasn''t on his side; he waited several minutes without seeing a single soul. If he continued this way, he might attract unwanted attention from the security cameras, and they''d think he was some sort of car thief. Resigned, he left the parking lot, only to be immediately swarmed by a pack of paparazzi. The Hilton security were fairly diligent and rushed over to help Eric, blocking the crowd. The paparazzi mored, firing off a stream of chaotic questions.

    "Director Williams, you''ve been missing for a week; were you preparing for your next film?" "Eric, did Julia Roberts get her role in Pretty Woman because she slept with you?" "Lamborghini announced that theirtest model has 153 pre-orders in just a week; Eric, will your next movie feature product cements again?"

    "Eric, howe Drew Barrymore didn''te with you? Isn''t she living with you now?"

    ||||

    Well-meaning, malicious, and loaded questions buzzed around him, making it difficult for Eric to respond appropriately. Not wanting to say too much, he silently trudged forward, guided by the security, until they finally got into the Hilton hallway, where the paparazzi

    ceased their pursuit.

    The Hilton manager greeted him with a smile.

    "Mr. Williams, wee. The celebration for Pretty Woman is on the fourth floor. Do you need

    me to escort you?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric quickly shook his head. "No need; I can find my own way."

    Once inside the elevator, he pressed the button and noticed the manager still smiling at him.

    What on earth was going on?

    Actually, it was quite simple: the manager had also seen Pretty Woman and was fond of Eric for his portrayal of the cool hotel manager, Bernie Thompson.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Barry Diller

    Chapter 86: Barry Diller

    ?

    [Chapter 86: The First Flirter]

    Once the champagne was popped, the party officially kicked off. As a film project that, along with its rted video tape revenues, could lead to over a hundred million dors in profits for Fox, even Barry Diller, the president of Fox at the time, had to personally attend the celebration.

    In addition to the cast of Pretty Woman, Fox had also invited dozens of stars, both big and small, to attend the event, making the party a dazzling affair. With so many important figures present, the banquet hall, filled with over a hundred guests, maintained a sense of order as groups of three or four gathered to chat on various topics.

    "Eric, about the Super Bowl trailer, the marketing department really yed it too safe. I assure you, when ites time for your next film release, Fox will back you all the way," Diller said.

    "Why wait for next time? This one can count too, just get me reimbursed," Eric thought silently while smiling on the outside. "Mr. Diller, let''s not dwell on that. The $1.5 million Super Bowl ad fee was indeed a hefty expense, so Fox''s conservative approach was understandable."

    Barry Diller chuckled, clearly not wanting to bring it up again.

    That old fox!

    The conversation shifted back to Eric''s next film. Although there were no concrete ns for his follow-up to Pretty Woman, Fox had already ted it for the summer blockbuster season.

    This summer was shaping up to be packed with major releases like Warner''s Batman,

    Paramount''s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Columbia''s Ghostbusters 2 -- these were all sure to be box office hits.

    Fox, having diverted so much attention to the development of its TVwork, had only produced a handful of films that year, rankingst among the six major studios.

    In order not to fall behind in movie performance, Fox undoubtedly had to fully support Eric''s project, especially after the tremendous sess of Pretty Woman.

    With summer box officepetition fierce, it wouldn''t be easy to rake in high earnings. Eric wasn''t about to go head-to-head with these blockbusters by trying topete with a sequel to Home Alone, which had already made a name. After a lot of contemtion, he settled on an idea he had previously toyed with.

    "I already have a preliminary storyline for my next film. I n to invite Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise. It will be a film about two male characters shing," he announced.

    Barry Diller''s eyes narrowed slightly. If it worked, just the star power of the two Tomsbined with Eric''s box office draw ensured the film would easily break the $100 million mark. Plus, with the year-end release of Home Alone 2, Fox would have three major hits in a single year, making their film performance beyond reproach. He could then focus on developing the TVwork without concerns.

    "Eric, if you''re bringing in both Toms, theirbined fee is going to be no less than $10 million, right? What''s your budget looking like?"

    Eric thought it over. "It shouldn''t exceed $30 million. This is a drama without any big special effects or action sequences; it will rely entirely on the performances of the two leads. So a $30 million budget is already quite generous, and it''s likely we may not even spend it all."

    "I heard you just spent a fortune acquiring that studio from Jobs?"

    Although Barry Diller''s question seemed a bit out of context, Eric quickly grasped his implication. Fox still wanted to have a stake in the film investment.

    "Yeah, I had Pixar make a logo for my filmpany and was really pleased with it. I heard they were in trouble and looking to sell, and since I had a growing interest in animated films, I seized the opportunity to buy it. But animation takes a long time, and with 3D still in its infancy, I don''t know when we''ll be able to produce the first animated film."

    Eric ignored the faint resignation on Barry Diller''s face. After all, if he circled around, he could still enjoy the ride.

    Listening to the little fox ramble on, Diller finally got to the point. "Eric, I mean, if your next film needs some financial support, Fox could take a part in investing. It could also mitigate risks. And rest assured, Fox won''t tie the investment funds to marketing costs; our previous revenue-sharing agreement stays unchanged."

    Barry Dillerid it all out clearly, and Eric had no grounds to outright refuse it; but he also wouldn''t willingly give away his own interests. Eric knew exactly what Diller was getting at. If they seeded in getting both Toms, they wouldn''t be able to fail.

    In the end, Eric could only say, "No problem, Mr. Diller. If I need outside investment, Fox will definitely be my first choice."

    Diller sensed Eric''s insincerity, realizing that the possibility of Fox investing was practically zero. But he wouldn''t resort to any desperate measures like Columbia had, as both parties were still in their honeymoon phase of cooperation. Although ording to their previous tiered agreement Eric earned slightly more than Fox, the studio still reaped substantial profits that others envied.

    They discussed a few more topics before parting ways to mingle with others. Just as Diller walked away, Eric felt a multitude of eyes hone in on him.

    ...

    ''Alright,dies, throw yourselves at me. Whoever makes the first move today gets a role in my next movie,'' Eric slyly entertained a somewhat ridiculous thought while relishing the attention. At the end of the day, he was still a regr guy; if he didn''t have a bit of vanity, what was all this fuss about?

    Before long, he found himself face-to-face with the first person.

    A bald, bald, 5''8" tall, with a broad back and a broad waist, and a smile on face that looked obscene no matter how you looked at it. The kicker? it was a man.

    ...

    "Eric, you finally made it back! I want to know what you''re thinking. I felt several of Julia''s film offers were pretty solid, but you turned them all down?"

    Finally deciding to let loose for a change, Eric found himself being pulled aside by Kepler.

    "Kepler, don''t you get the feeling of being stabbed in the heart by a thousand arrows?"

    "Huh?"

    "Look around you."

    Kepler shot a puzzled nce around, noticing a few striking girls eyeing him with a distinct sense of hostility.

    Despite being a workaholic, Kepler was savvy when it came to social cues; otherwise, he wouldn''t have made it as a manager. He shrugged, "Sorry, Eric. I''ll let you hunt for thediester. But you gotta make it clear to me here or I can''t rest easy."

    Eric wanted desperately to clear things up with him. Most of Julia''s sessful films had been romanticedies, and after just wrapping Pretty Woman, it wouldn''t be appropriate to dive into another rom. Hence, he couldn''t bring up any movies from her future just yet. He figured the best fit for Julia would be Steel Magnolias, which had garnered her a Golden Globe nomination and became a box office sess with rave reviews.

    Unfortunately, when he checked, it seemed TriStar Pictures wasn''t working on that project; it might''ve been lost to the butterfly effect, or they hadn''t even started development yet.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He certainly couldn''t write the script again. For the previous three films, he had only feltfortable borrowing material when he was 100% certain that the original had either not been made yet or had little connection to his films. That wasn''t the case this time.

    "Kepler, just wait a few days. I n to check in at the Writers Guild to see if there are any registered scripts that would suit Julia," he said.

    Kepler winced, "Eric, do you have any idea how many scripts are registered at the Writers Guild? Thousands! It''s like saying I''m off to San Francisco to dig up some gold -- it''s

    unrealistic!"

    If he knew where the gold was buried, digging it up would be easy. Eric merely wanted to see

    if the script for Steel Magnolias was registered or not.

    "Trust me, Kepler, just be patient; I''ll have an answer for you soon."

    Eric had set his mind that if he couldn''t find Steel Magnolias, he would sift through his memory for films that had performed well at the box office and find one suitable for Julia. Given her rising fame, as long as the role suited her and she showed interest in acting, no production team would turn her down. Eric believed many productionpanies would be willing to

    increase their budget to amodate her.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 87: Chapter 87: But Im Not an Angel

    Chapter 87: But I''m Not an Angel

    ?

    [Chapter 87: But I''m Not an Angel]

    After ushering Kepler away, Jeffrey arrived next, followed by a few executives from Fox who came over to say hello. After a long hour of navigating the social scene, James Brooks rushed over saying that a few producers wanted to meet him.

    "Not a problem, let''s keep it going!"

    After an exhausting hour of greetings and farewells, Eric felt his smile beginning to stiffen. He had enough and decided to take a breather, plopping down on a sofa in a corner.

    "Mr. Williams, may I have the honor of a dance?"

    He instinctively forced a stiff smile. The girl opposite him looked excited until she saw Eric shake his head.

    "Sorry, Miss, I''m too tired."

    "Oh, my bad." She turned away, disappointed.

    He turned down two more bold actresses making advances when he thought he''d finally have some peace, only for a striking blond-haired, blue-eyed guy to approach him with a soft demeanor.

    "Mr. Williams, my name is..."

    Eric suppressed the urge to put up his defenses.

    "I really don''t care what your name is; I just want to be a normal handsome man without distractions. Is that too much to ask?"

    "Sorry, could I just have a moment alone?"

    "Oh, I''m sorry~"

    Couldn''t he have a less mncholic tone? Eric rubbed his forehead, rolling his eyes internally.

    ...

    In the brief silence that followed, a voice chimed in again.

    "Eric, do you want some juice? It helps with the alcohol."

    He looked up to see yet another pretty face, carrying two sses of orange juice.

    "Sure, thanks, Miss Madsen," Eric replied as he took the juice.

    Virginia settled next to him, subtly leaning in his direction, her soft curves brushing against his arm. With a hint of longing in her voice, she said, "I''m really d you remembered me; can you call me Virginia?"

    "Alright, Virginia, um... can I call you Vicki?"

    "Whatever you''d like," she smiled. "By the way, how did Gerald end up next to you? Are you..."

    Eric instinctively raised his voice in denial. "Absolutely not."

    "Geez, why the strong reaction? Don''t worry; I don''t discriminate against gay people. I''ve seen plenty of directors like that; I think gay men often have a finer touch."

    "Vicki, can we change the subject?"

    She took a moment to scrutinize Eric''s expression, then nodded. "So you really aren''t? What was that earlier about?"

    "Didn''t you see?"

    Virginia shook her head. "I just went to the restroom, and when I came out, Gerald was leaving your side."

    "I was exhausted and turned down several girls for dances. That might''ve given him the wrong idea."

    "Heh, good thing I didn''t ask you to dance, or you would have definitely turned me away." Eric didn''t want to keep discussing this. Rejecting several women was quite rude, after all. "So, what movie are you filmingtely?"

    Virginia''s expression shifted to one of disappointment at this question. Each time she thought back to their first meeting, she held on to the hope that Eric had been inspired to create Pretty Woman based on her.

    Unfortunately, she hadn''tnded the leading role, all the while witnessing Julia Roberts flit through the crowd like a princess. A little jealousy wed through her heart.

    Julia wasn''t yet as famous back when, but now that lucky girl had blossomed into a worldwide star. If only she had been a bit bolder that night, perhaps she would have been the one basking inpliments today. Virginia resolved that she had to make her move with Eric tonight.

    "I just wrapped up a film where I yed a wealthy man''s wife who ends up driving a car into a river, resulting in her death."

    "Wow... I''m sorry."

    Eric felt awkward; it wasn''t really his fault, was it? It wasn''t like she actually died; it felt like he was the viin in that story.

    "Things will get better," he suggested after a moment of thought.

    "It''s hard to see hope. I''m fading fast; I won''t be able to y a pretty girl much longer. Give it two years, and I might just be cast as a housewife," shemented.

    At the mention of "pretty girl," Eric chuckled, realizing that Virginia had certainly held onto what he''d said months ago during a party, where he had merelyplimented her beauty while dancing.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    He wasn''t bothered by her hints. Hollywood had always been a patriarchal world, and women without power or backing had to y their cards right to seed; what else could they do?

    Remembering his former life, he realized it had taken him ten years to barely scratch the surface, only able to circle around the sidelines, peeking through the gaps at the high-rises, the parties, the mour, and the intoxicating lives others led.

    "Vicki, would you like an opportunity?"

    Virginia''s eyes lit up. "Of course, I would!"

    Eric shamelessly scrutinized her voluptuous form wrapped in a ck gown. "But I''m not an angel. What can you offer?"

    "Everything!"

    ...

    The party had dragged on for several hours, and couples began to leave in pairs. Each could''ve just felt a spark -- a simple one-night affair, or perhaps, struck a deal that suited them both. In a Hollywood party like this, genuine love at first sight was hard toe by; plenty of tales of someone getting conned or taken advantage of surfaced every now and then. They rode the elevator down to the underground parking lot, where the temperature in Los Angeles at night hovered around ten degrees Celsius. The cool night breeze made Virginia, dressed in her thin gown, a bit more coherent, and she regretted having been so quick to agree to Eric''s proposition.

    She felt she should have teased this young director a little longer before sealing any deal. Now it seemed like a gamble without any promises -- what if this little man flipped outter and pretended nothing had happened? She could end up being used.

    A coat was gently draped over her shoulders, and Virginia smiled at Eric, tugging at the cor. ''Alright, let''s consider this a one-night stand. At least he''s quite thoughtful.''

    They quietly agreed to head to Virginia''s ce in Malibu. Eric had been surrounded by paparazzi when he arrived, and those guys would surely be on high alert watching as he left with a woman that night. Beverly Hills'' mansions had to be staked out already. Bringing Virginia home would only feed the tabloids.

    It took them nearly an hour to drive from the Hilton to Malibu without traffic. Fortunately, both were conversationalists, and the ride remained filled with chatter, avoiding any

    awkward silence.

    Following her into a little vi north of the coastal highway, far enough from the beach that even from the second-floor balcony, a view of the ocean was hard to catch, Eric casually asked, "So why do you live here?"

    Virginia hung Eric''s coat on the rack and replied nonchntly, "Getting a little vi in Malibu isn''t bad at all. You wouldn''t think just because I''ve done a few films that I''d be able to afford a mansion in Beverly Hills, would you?"

    Eric shrugged, realizing he''d asked a pretty naive question. Thinking back, after her debut in David Lynch''s Dune, Virginia hadn''t had too many noteworthy roles either before the ''90s, and afterward, her film count dwindled further as she shifted to television.

    With a star of her level, she had some recognition, butcked real box office pull, meaning she mostlynded low-budget independent films that paid a few thousand dors.

    After tonight, yet another woman''s fate would be altered by his presence.

    After all, now that he was here, Hollywood''s timeline seemed destined to take a turn for the chaotic; he might as well indulge his whims. What was the point of living again if he couldn''t

    do as he pleased?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 88: Chapter 88: 10880 Malibu

    Chapter 88: 10880 Malibu

    ?

    [Chapter 88: 10880 Malibu]

    Eric walked over to the living room couch and sat down. Thedy hung up her coat and followed him, and their eyes locked, creating an intimate atmosphere. Unable to resist, Eric wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Take off your high heels," he instructed.

    Virginia obediently kicked off her heels, feeling his strong hands roam over her waist and hips. With a husky whisper, she asked, "Eric, can I take a shower first?"

    He didn''t answer her question. After Virginia removed her high heels, she became a bit shorter, yet Eric remained unsatisfied. He applied a little more pressure with his hands, causing her eyes to sh briefly before shepliantly knelt on the carpet.

    Noticing the glint of satisfaction in Eric''s eyes from his vantage point above her, Virginia propped herself up on his thigh, tilting her alluring face upward, her eyes hazy as she half teased, half questioned, "Do all men enjoy their women groveling at their feet?"

    Eric caressed her smooth cheek and replied matter-of-factly, "Sure, but unfortunately, mostck the ability to make a woman submitpletely. What''s up with your hair? I don''t remember it looking like thisst time."

    Puzzled, Virginia ran her fingers through her light golden curls, resembling the iconic Marilyn Monroe hairstyle. "Is there a problem?" she asked.

    "That color isn''t appealing. Change it tomorrow," he directed.

    Hismanding tone made her slightly resistant. "But my stylist said this color

    complements my eyes perfectly."

    "I prefer a golden brown," he insisted.

    Virginia shot him a betrayed look. "Fine."

    Eric slid down the straps of her gown, pulling off her small nipple covers, and audaciously toyed with her chest. "Do you have a managementpany now?"

    Virginia shook her head, breathless, "I just have an independent agent; he..."

    Eric interrupted, "Your career hasn''t gone anywhere in years. That guy''s no good; fire him and go to UTA to find Kepler. I''ll have him take you on personally."

    "Kepler Hyde?" Virginia''s eyes lit up. She knew exactly who he was. Kepler only had three clients: the ambiguously connected Drew Barrymore, Al Pacino, who was staging hiseback thanks to Pretty Woman, and the media''s newly dubbed ''Hollywood Cindere,'' Julia Roberts.

    Virginia couldn''t believe she could be his fourth. Just moments ago, she panicked over whether Eric would turn on her after their night together or just cast her aside for a minor role. "Eric, thank you."

    He grinned and scooped her up in his arms. "Now your job is to please me, where''s the bedroom?"

    Guided by Virginia, Eric carried her up to the second-floor bedroom, tossing her petite frame onto the big bed. Their clothes quickly became a flurry around the room as Eric positioned himself above her, cing himself between her generous chest.

    As he toyed with her, he looked down and asked with a smirk, "Can you handle it?"

    She gave him a flirtatious nod while yfully gripping him, asionally leaning down to tease him with soft kisses.

    ...

    Eric awoke to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, sunlight streaming through the curtain slits. He nced at the woman curled in his arms. Though the view stirred his desires, he didn''t want to disturb Virginia from her peaceful slumber -- it was more about self- control.

    The previous night had been a bit excessive; he had kept her quite busy. He''d explored nearly every move he''d seen in adult films, and experience had shown him that ripe peaches could indeed handle much more than the harder vibe of someone like Jennifer Aniston. Virginia''s yful disposition had truly satisfied him.

    After dressing, he stepped onto the balcony and discovered the view was far better than he''d perceived the night before. He could see the ocean in the distance as the sun peered over the horizon, painting the water an exaggerated orange.

    An unsightly jut appeared in the southwest corner of his view, disrupting the picture-perfect white sands. Squinting to see more clearly, he remembered what that ce was. Waking up after a night of passion always amplified a man''s ambitions.

    With thoughts swirling, he returned to Virginia''s bedroom, finding a stack of A4 paper on her bedside table, seemingly a script. Eric was too disinterested to read it; any script that reached Virginia''s hands wasn''t likely worth much. Next to it sat a pen. He picked it up, grabbed a chair, and sat on the balcony,ying the stack of papers on his knee.

    He carefully examined the terrain of the juttingnd and began sketching on the nk side of the paper. The pen wasn''t asfortable as a pencil but served its purpose.

    The scratching of pen on paper filled the air for over half an hour before Virginia awoke, noticing herpanion had vanished. She felt a brief pang of panic before spotting his

    serious figure on the balcony, immersed in his drawing.

    Throwing off the covers, she slipped out of bed barefoot, draping a sheer robe around herself

    as she approached him and affectionately wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

    "Good morning, Eric."

    "Morning, Vicky. Do you still have any use for this script?"

    Virginia shook her head. "Go ahead and draw; it''s useless. I worked really hard on it, but I

    didn''t get the part."

    Eric nodded, returning to his drawing.

    "What are you crafting there, Eric?" she asked.

    He casually ripped off a bird''s-eye view sketch and handed it to her, pointing at the southwest

    jut.

    Virginia took a look and eximed, "This is... a design?"

    "Yeah, a blueprint for a mansion. I n to buy that piece ofnd and build a house like this,"

    he replied.

    Virginia chuckled as she returned the blueprint. "But that''s a park!"

    "Not like Central Park in New York. If we think it through, we can definitely make it happen. I intend to buy up that nearly one-hectare plot ofnd. I bet the Los Angeles County government would be thrilled to bring in that extra ie," he dered.

    One hectare? She clumsily estimated the size: a hectare was just over 100,000 square feet, while her little vi barely broke a thousand square feet.

    Goodness, a mansion 100 times the size of hers was already beyond Virginia''s wildest dreams. If only this man belonged to her... No, even being his lover and spending time in that dream mansion would be simply divine.

    "Eric, the ground conditions there seem unsuitable for a mansion. Otherwise, wealthy folks would have jumped at the chance to buy it by now," she suggested, her voice nearly sultry as she began brainstorming ideas. "I think it''s better to choose a piece ofnd with a private beach. Why does it have to be there?"

    With a smirk, Eric sketched another image from his mind onto the white paper. "Because that''s 10880 Malibu," he paused, then added, "My 10880 Malibu!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 89: Chapter 89: High Luck Attribute

    Chapter 89: High Luck Attribute

    ?

    [Chapter 89: High Luck Attribute]

    Virginiapletely failed to grasp what Eric was talking about and curiously replied, "Malibu 10880?"

    Eric nodded but didn''t bother to offer any detailed exnation; it would have been impossible to rify things for her anyway. In his past life, he had been struck by Tony Stark''s Malibu mansion in Iron Man 3. Like many film buffs, he had searched for information about that house online, only to discover that it was a fully CGI model created by the filmpany based on the Malibu site.

    There wereter ims that a real house existed, but it turned out to be in San Diego, California, and the owner had listed it for sale. However, savvy inte users quickly debunked it as a publicity stunt; while the San Diego property was indeed a lovely oceanfront vi, it was nothingpared to the cinematic grandeur of the movie house.

    As for the shier Stark Tower in New York, that seemed unlikely to happen -- New York was already filled to the brim with its own set of problems. But Eric felt the Malibu mansion was within his reach. It was really just a matter of money, and for Eric, that was hardly an issue anymore. With expectations that his film, Pretty Woman, would rake in over a hundred million dors, building a hundred vis in Malibu wouldn''t pose any challenge at all.

    Turning to nce at the lovely girl still nestled on his shoulder, Eric smiled, running his hand over Virginia''s soft curves, feeling the smooth warmth beneath his palm. "Vicki, why don''t you whip up some breakfast? I was busy all night, and now I''m starving."

    Virginia shot him a yful nce. "With me around, do you even need breakfast?"

    "Come on, prepare some toast and eggs. And don''t forget to bnce an apple on your head while you''re at it. I''ll be there to ''dine'' on youter."

    "As you wish, Your Highness." Virginia giggled, leaning in to nt a kiss at the corner of Eric''s mouth. But just as she moved in, Eric suddenly thought of something and jerked to the side. "No!"

    With a thud, he tipped over, chair and all, sending a pile of papers held together by a paperclip scattering everywhere.

    Virginia quickly helped Eric back up, brushing the dust from his clothes. "What''s got you all worked up?"

    Eric pointed at Virginia''s lips. "You swallowedst night, and you haven''t brushed your teeth, right?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Realization dawned on her, and she gave Eric an annoyed look. "You horrible man! You made me swallow such disgusting stuff, and now you''re being picky?"

    Eric chuckled as he and Virginia bent down together to pick up the scattered papers, reattaching them with the paperclip. After giving her a gentle nudge to get started on breakfast, Eric settled back into his seat.

    The order of the ten pages of script was clearly out of whack, and as Eric fiddled with it, he inadvertently nced at a page that boldly disyed the words Steel Magnolias.

    Steel Magnolias!

    Eric quickly rearranged the script and started reading from the first page. Although it was just an audition segment and not the full script, itcked any information on the writers or directors. Still, he recognized these scenes as exactly what he had been looking for -- those of the timid hairstylist Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto.

    "Man, my luck attribute is really high. Maybe I should try my luck in Las Vegas!" Eric mused with a grin. Since the script appeared in Virginia''s bedroom, the audition must''ve been a recent urrence, and he hoped the role hadn''t been finalized yet.

    ...

    Walking downstairs with the script in hand, he found Virginia in a fresh set offy clothes, tied up in an apron, busy in the kitchen.

    Upon noticing Eric standing behind her, Virginia turned to smile. "Eric, it''ll be ready soon." Eric raised the script and asked, "Vicki, when did you audition for this movie?"

    Virginia flipped the sizzling eggs in the pan, ncing back quickly. "Are you talking about Steel Magnolias? I auditioned Friday, just two days ago."

    "Can you tell me more about this film? What do you know?"

    Virginia ted the eggs, turned off the stove, and replied, "Sure, Eric. Let''s chat over breakfast in the dining room."

    Nodding, Eric helped her carry breakfast into the dining area. Virginia poured him a ss of milk and said, "My agent rmended me this script. It''s directed by Herbert Ross. I heard that originally, Tristar intended to invest, but with Sony form Japanunching negotiations to acquire them, they are afraid that the film''s poor box office performance might negatively impact their stock -- so a lot of Columbia TriStar''s less favorable projects got shelved. Herbert Ross ended up having to pull together some investors to produce it independently, which meant the budget wasn''trge. That''s how I got my audition chance."

    Thanks to Eric''s reassurances from the previous night, Virginia no longer felt upset about notnding Annelle''s role. Her voice was casual, as if she were just having a chat. "Unfortunately, Herbert Ross thought I, um, was too old for that part, so I didn''t get to audition sessfully."

    The mention of her age immediately sparked a hint of worry in Virginia as she looked at Eric; she was almost thirty, and time wasn''t on her side anymore.

    Across the table, Eric''s eating slowed considerably as he mentally calcted that since TriStar had pulled out, perhaps he could snag the project. Firefly couldn''t just keep making films for Eric alone; investing in more projects was essential, and Steel Magnolias might be an excellent

    opportunity.

    Of course, Firefly would eventually need to establish its distribution channel. In his past life, DreamWorks struggled because itcked a solid distribution n and had to hand films over to the Big Six, resulting in most profits being siphoned away by the studios. Even when DreamWorks released massive hits, the bottom line reflected losses, ultimately leading to its sale to Vi.

    In reality, DreamWorks had some distribution capabilities, but many of Spielberg''s films wererge investments with major productions. Their minimal promotion could often yield only a fraction of the revenue on films that might otherwise gross two hundred million worldwide. That was why Eric hadn''t yet considered distributing his own films.

    He willingly turned almost half of his profits over to Fox because only a major yer like Fox had the promotional power to fully unleash the potential of a highly seble film. If he tried to distribute on his own, even with the same number of screens as Fox, he wouldn''t see the same box office sess. So many variables were at y that it was hard to summarize.

    Gradually, Eric began to solidify his vision for Firefly''s path: producing films to gather funding from the studios while also investing heavily in small-budget films with budgets in the millions, using those films to gain resources and experience. Once they reached a certain level of sess, distributing his own films would make perfect sense.

    It seemed that the Weinstein brothers had sessfully taken the small-budget route; while DreamWorks fluctuated with highs and lows, the Weinsteins thrived, even after losing Miramax, and their new venture, The Weinstein Company, still held a ce of prestige in

    Hollywood.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Gotta Make a Few Dreams Come True

    Chapter 90: Gotta Make a Few Dreams Come True

    ?

    [Chapter 90: Gotta Make a Few Dreams Come True]

    After hanging up the phone, Eric turned to thedy and said, "Alright, go ahead and find Kepler at UTA. He''ll know what to do."

    Virginia had changed into a rose-colored suit that added a touch of sophistication. With a small handbag in hand, she asked, "Aren''t youing back to the city with me?"

    "Not this time. I''m waiting for mywyer toe by. Besides, it wouldn''t look too good if the paparazzi caught us together."

    Virginia pulled out a keychain and handed it to Eric. "This is a spare key to the vi. If you want, you can... stop by anytime."

    Eric smiled as he took the key and slipped it into his pocket. "Don''t worry, I''ll be around often." He couldn''t resist giving her a yful pinch on her pointed chin and added, "You look really sexy in that outfit. Next time, wear it to bed for me."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Virginia shot him a flirtatious nce. "It''s barely after eight; I could head outter if you wanted."

    Eric yfully gave her a p on the rear that was snugly wrapped in her suit and said, "Don''t get carried away. Be careful, or I might keep you from leaving for three days. Now go on."

    "Oh no, you wrinkled it!" Virginia swatted Eric''s hand away and smoothed her skirt. "I should head out now."

    ...

    Not long after Virginia left, a ck Mercedes pulled up at the vi. Eric''s personalwyer carefully checked the address on a notepad before curiously pressing the doorbell. "Eric, did you buy another ce here?" Edward Lewis asked when Eric opened the door. "No, it''s a friend''s house," Eric exined as Edward followed him into the living room. Without having to look at the feminine decor, the faint fragrance in the air confirmed to Edward that this was clearly a woman''s home. He felt a twinge of envy for Eric''s good fortune.

    Leading hiswyer up to the balcony on the second floor, Eric pointed toward a corner ofnd in the distance and asked, "Edward, what would I need to do to buy that piece ofnd?"

    Edward put on his sses, squinted at it, and shook his head. "Eric, that''s too far away. Why don''t we go take a look? It''s hard to say much from here."

    "Sure thing," Eric said, grabbing a script that had sketches on it, and they headed out together.

    Standing at the edge of the cliff on the corner piece ofnd, they looked down at the bare brown rocks below, surrounded by overgrown weeds, but aheady a breathtaking blue ocean.

    Edward held a sketch in his hand. Even though it was just pen drawings, thanks to Eric''s solid skills in sketching, the building on the paper looked strikingly vivid.

    Edward couldn''t help but admire the grandeur and luxury of the building fabric. If it were actually constructed, it would surely be andmark in Malibu. "Eric, are you sure you want to build a mansion like this?"

    "Why wouldn''t I?" Eric replied.

    Edward nodded, "But both sides are private vis. While I''m not an expert in construction, I can guess that this area was turned into a park because it wasn''t suitable for building. Otherwise, no one would leave this acreage unused."

    "As long as I can get thatnd, that''s what matters," Eric dered. "No matter how much it costs, I will build it. If the ground isn''t stable, we''ll reinforce it with concrete; if it needs soil, we''ll bring it in from elsewhere; and if excavation is a problem, we''ll use dynamite."

    Edward chuckled and shook his head.

    Eric, realizing his earlier enthusiasm sounded a bit too extravagant,ughed and said, "Edward, you''re not thinking ''damn rich people'' are you?"

    "Of course not, I just think it''s unnecessary, Eric. Look at those," Edward pointed at the vis nearby, "living in those would be prettyfortable. Here, besides rocks and weeds, there''s nothing."

    After saying that, Edward looked at Eric, curiosity sparking his gaze. He wanted to know what prompted Eric to have such a wild idea about building a mansion here.

    "I guess it''s a dream of mine," Eric answered, understanding the curiosity of hiswyer. He concocted a half-true excuse, "When I first moved from Ennd to LA as a kid, my dad brought me here once for a visit. In my youthful imagination, I suddenly thought about wanting to build a big house on this verynd. I gradually forgot about it until this morning when I saw it again. It brought back distant memories, and now that I have the financial means, why not make it a reality?"

    Afterward, Eric plucked a de of grass and chewed on it. "Over the years, I''ve had countless thoughts, and I''ve let many go. I''ve got to make a fewe true so I won''t have regretster. Edward, did you ever have any unusual ideas in your past?"

    Edward seemed to reminisce at Eric''s words. "In high school, I wanted to be a rock star. I even ditched ss to learn how to y, but my dad caught me and grounded me for a month. When I got out, I dutifully enrolled at Yale Law School."

    Ericughed heartily, taking a moment to size up Edward, who had a more schrly demeanor now. "You sure don''t look like someone who once rocked out."

    Edward sighed, "Of course not; it''s been almost thirty years. Back then, The Beatles had just formed, Elvis was at the height of his fame, and now those legends have faded."

    Elvis and The Beatles were a bit far off for Eric, yet he caught the nostalgia and sentimentality in Edward''s voice as he fished around in his pockets.

    Noticing Eric''s motions, Edward dug into his own pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Looking for these?"

    Eric grabbed a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. "I thought you didn''t smoke." Edward instinctively looked around before lighting one up himself. "I asionally do. I had a severe smoking habit in high school. My dad caught me once and gave me a beating with a rattan switch -- it hurt a lot and left a psychological scar. Even after he stopped caring, I still have a habit of sneaking cigarettes. A lot of people think I don''t smoke at all."

    So, the two middle-aged men, both in their forties, one physically and the other mentally, smoked and chatted, letting the ocean breeze envelop them for half an hour. After Edward extinguished his cigarette, he tossed both butts into an empty pack and tucked it into his pocket. "Haven''t felt this rxed in a long time."

    "Then you shoulde by more often."

    "Too busy," Edward shook his head, then added, "Eric, get ready with a check. I''ll do my best to help you secure that piece ofnd."

    "Thanks."

    "Anytime. Though, I do expect amission," Edward joked. "But, Eric, you really should find a financial manager. This sort of thing is technically beyond my scope."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Amys Invitation

    Chapter 91: Amy''s Invitation

    ?

    [Chapter 91: Amy''s Invitation]

    Eric had nned to find a manager, but it wasn''t an easy task. Although he hadn''t yet received a cut from any movie, nobody could deny that his worth had already surpassed one hundred million dors.

    And only Eric knew that with the rights to Jurassic Park in his hands, along with Pixar and his future ns to secure more ''gold mines,'' his wealth would easily soar past the one billion dor mark. Given this situation, he couldn''t possibly hand over his assets to be managed by someone else. Professional ethics only came into y when one hadn''t faced enough temptation.

    It wasn''t umon in Hollywood for stars to be swindled by their financial managers. The infamous bankruptcy of Nics Cage, while partly due to Cage''s own love of extravagance, wouldn''t have happened without some shenanigans from his financial manager.

    The more chaotic the employer''s finances, the easier it was for someone to muddy the waters. And when the ounts were tidy and wealth was growing, it belonged to the employer -- the financial manager was only entitled to theirmission.

    After hitching a ride with Edward back to Los Angeles, Eric went to the Hilton Hotel parking lot to retrieve his car and then drove straight to Firefly''s headquarters. While Eric was out of Los Angeles, Jeffrey had already secured the rights to adapt Scent of a Woman, and Eric hadn''t even had a chance to write the script for it yet. Jeffrey also raised another issue: the financial situation at Firefly.

    The production of Pretty Woman had drained all the funds Eric had invested in thepany, and as per usual, he would have to wait until the film left theaters to see any profits. Despite his good rtionship with Fox, Eric knew that if he approached Barry Diller to talk about this, he would only want to discuss business.

    The fifty million dor loan Eric had secured, backed by his contract for Home Alone, had allowed him to use twenty million to purchase Pixar and keep ten million for the pre- production of Toy Story, leaving him with just twenty million dors.

    This amount wasn''t even enough for his next movie investment, let alone his other projects. He handed a two million dor check to thepany''s financial manager, then told Jeffrey, "Let''s start preparing Scent of a Woman. I''ll finish the script in the next few days."

    "What about your other movies?" Jeffrey asked.

    Eric shrugged, "I''ll just have to keep borrowing."

    Once you had borrowed once, you eventually grew ustomed to it. For now, he wouldn''t allow any other studios to interfere with his projects.

    "By the way, Jeffrey, I came across a script by coincidence. The director is Herbert Ross, and it''s still in the casting phase. I heard the budget isn''t very generous. Can you contact him to see if we can secure the project? Firefly would be willing to co-produce, and maybe you could persuade Julia Roberts to join."

    Jeffrey looked at the script Eric handed him, read a few sections, but didn''t see anything particrly special. He didn''t voice any objections, having long since stopped doubting Eric''s vision for films. As Eric had pointed out, he was better suited to the role of producer, leaving the content decisions to Eric.

    "Sure thing, I''ll reach out to Herbert Ross as soon as I can."

    ...

    After handling a few matters that required his personal attention in the morning, Eric was about to head home when Jeffrey knocked and entered his office. "Eric, remember Amy Pascal?"

    "Of course. Without her, Home Alone wouldn''t have been such a smooth release. I still haven''t gotten the chance to thank her in person."

    "She just called," Jeffrey said, pulling Eric up. "She''s still on the line, looking for you."

    Eric quickly stood up and followed Jeffrey to his office.

    "Amy?... Long time no see! I''ve been meaning to thank you, but you left so suddenlyst time... Sure, no problem... See you soon!"

    After hanging up, Eric exchanged nces with Jeffrey.

    Jeffrey was the first to share what he knew. "Amy went back to Columbia, and she''s currently serving as Vice President. Cohen Blount has left -- heard he retired early and moved to France."

    "She just told you?"

    Jeffrey nodded. "I chatted with her for a bit before, but what did she want?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "She said she wanted to take me out for dinner."

    The two chatted for a moment, but didn''te to any conclusions. Eric nced at his watch and said, "I should head out for that. Jeffrey, you take care of Scent of a Woman and Steel Magnolias. I''ll be at home working on the script for the next few days, so don''t expect me at the office. Call me if anythinges up."

    "Got it," Jeffrey replied as they walked out of the office side by side.

    ...

    When Eric arrived at the restaurant they agreed on, he found Amy Pascal already waiting. She wore a ck business suit, and her shoulder-length blonde hair was styled in waves, said to reflect her mood. Eric couldn''t quite read what that hairstyle indicated.

    They exchanged a light hug, and Eric said, "Sorry, Amy, traffic held me up. I didn''t mean to keep you waiting."

    "No worries," Amy Pascal smiled. "You weren''tte; I just got here too early."

    They sat together at the table, and Amy handed the menu to Eric, asking, "What do you want to eat?"

    Eric took it, chuckled, and said, "This feels so strange. It should have been me asking that first."

    "Oh,e on, big guy. I promised I''d treat you tonight, so let''s skip the traditional male bravado."

    Eric shrugged and didn''t argue. Given that Amy hadn''t interacted with him much, it made sense she didn''t see his more mature side and addressed him as she would a younger man. After casually ordering lunch, Eric handed the menu back to Amy. She didn''t even look at it; instead, she confidently articted her request and passed the menu to the waiter.

    "Do youe here often?" he asked.

    "Yeah, the food''s pretty good here."

    Amy didn''t rush to exin her reason for inviting Eric, and he didn''t push for it either. They

    chatted casually about the weather and current events while enjoying their meal. Once they switched to coffee after lunch, Amy finally revealed her purpose.

    *****

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 Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Too Good to Be True

    Chapter 92: Too Good to Be True

    ?

    [Chapter 92: The Sweet Deal Was Too Good to Be True]

    After hearing Amy Pascal ry the conditions set by Coca-C CEO Donald Keough, Eric found it hard not to be intrigued. He even wondered if there was some sort of catch waiting to trap him, because how often did such a golden opportunity just fall into one''sp?

    The offer was astounding: a generous budget without any interference in the film''s production. They would even provide a team to help him produce another movie to meet his contractual obligations with Fox, and afterward, he would still get thirty percent of the domestic gross and ten percent of the international earnings.

    Such an offer seemed downright outrageous -- Spielberg himself wouldn''t get terms this good.

    "Amy, it feels unreal for Columbia to throw such conditions my way. You know, myst coboration with Columbia wasn''t exactly pleasant, so it''s hard for me to believe there isn''t some... trick involved here."

    Amy responded earnestly, "Eric, trust me. To make this deal happen and to prevent any interference, the board specifically removed the former president, Cohen Blount, from his position. That shows Columbia''s sincerity."

    Eric still shook his head. While he was happy Cohen was gone, it didn''t convince him that Columbia did this just for him. "I need a real reason that can convince me."

    Amy paused for a moment and exined in detail, "Columbia is in acquisition talks with Sony of Japan. They need a blockbuster to boost their stock prices, and you are the safest bet right now. The three films you''ve been involved with have generated incredible box office returns. With the continued sess at the box office, audiences have formed a strong tendency to show up for your next film. If your uing movie maintains the same standard, reaching over a hundred million at the box office is practically guaranteed."

    As Eric began to look less skeptical, Amy continued, "So don''t think Columbia would make a losing deal. This is a win-win partnership. Eric, the sess of Home Alone has already pushed Columbia''s stock from twelve dors to fourteen. Their market value rose from 2.2 billion to 2.56 billion."

    Eric did the math in his head, realizing that because of Home Alone''s sess, Columbia had gained 360 million in market value.

    Under normal circumstances, such a rise would be cause for celebration, but shareholders typically wouldn''t sell off stocks just because the price went up two dors. After all, they cared more about long-term benefits, which mainly came from annual profit dividends. Also, if a film investment failed, the stock price could drop again.

    However, after Sony decided to acquire Columbia, everything changed; every penny of stock growth was equivalent to real cash. Columbia''s shareholders wouldn''t worry about assets when dealing with the Japanese. If they wanted to buy, the price set was what they''d pay, with some added premium for good measure.

    Eric recalled how, in his past life, Sony acquired Columbia for nearly five billion, which proved to be a colossal misstep since Columbia''s actual assets were worth less than two billion. Just a year after the acquisition waspleted, Columbia''s stock dropped back to normal levels, erasing 2.7 billion in market value, leaving the Sony board in anguish.

    "Amy, if that''s the case, I''d be more than happy to coborate with Columbia again. However, I already signed a deal with Fox for three films. As for your suggestion that Columbia could provide a crew to fulfill my obligations to Fox, I can''t agree to that. It concerns my reputation, and there are already many who doubt my ability to produce quality films at my age."

    Upon hearing Eric soften, Amy asked, "Eric, do you have a n in mind?"

    Eric smiled slightly. "I''d bet you guys have already seen the details of that contract. That''s probably why you offered those terms. Even though the domestic split is five percent less than with Fox, considering what Columbia was willing to sacrifice, the deal still makes sense." Amy felt a bit embarrassed; while the specific terms with Fox weren''t ssified, they hadn''t been publicly disclosed either -- clearly, some corporate espionage was at y.

    Eric had no interest in gossiping about this and continued, "Since Columbia already knows the contract details, you should understand that Fox primarily wants the distribution rights for the Home Alone sequel, which is why they made specific uses about that film. But they didn''t ce as much importance on the other two projects, which means..."

    Amy Pascal excitedly interjected, "So, your next film doesn''t necessarily need to go to Fox for distribution as long as you deliver the three films to them by the end of the year, right?"

    Eric nodded but shook his head at the same time. "While that wouldn''t technically breach the agreement, Fox wouldn''t be easy to negotiate with. They already scheduled my next film for the summer release, and since Fox has few filmsing out this year, if I dropped out, it would mean they''d lose their chance in the summer box office battle -- a potential loss of at least tens of millions to over a hundred million dors."

    Amy Pascal frowned in frustration. Although the major studiospeted against one another, Columbia couldn''t possibly offer enough leverage for Fox to give up such significant profits.

    Eric shrugged helplessly. He couldn''t think of a solution, and the summer film te was already crowded, especially among major productions. While Eric could indeed take a shot and direct one more film for Fox -- something others might struggle with -- he certainly didn''t want a situation where he found himselfpeting against his own film with another. Yet, he was also reluctant to give up those sweet terms from Columbia. Even if he projected a two hundred million box office for his next film, he would only earn ten million less than with Fox, but Columbia was willing to cover the production costs of thirty million.

    Moreover, he didn''t feel overwhelmingly confident about his next film. Even inviting Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks along with his previous box office pull would surely yield considerable earnings, but the exact potential return was uncertain.

    "Amy, give me a few days. I need to speak with Mr. Barry Diller first. It would be best if I could gain Fox''s understanding. If we can''t reach an agreement, I still wouldn''t be viting the contract."

    "Does Columbia need to do anything?" Amy Pascal asked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric shrugged, "What could Columbia do? Should you walk into Barry Diller''s office and say, ''Hey, we''re negotiating with the Japanese and need some leverage. How about letting us take Williams'' next film?""

    Amyughed and shook her head. "Alright, I''ll wait for your good news. If you need help, feel free to reach out."

    After exchanging contact information, they parted ways. Once Eric got home, he immediately called Barry Diller''s office, only to be told by the assistant that Diller was on a business trip in Europe and wouldn''t be back for four days. Although the assistant provided Diller''s temporary contact number, Eric decided against calling him directly and instead set up a meeting for four dayster.

    After all, discussing this matter over the phone would be challenging; the distance between them made it crucial to ensure clearmunication. If the conversation went poorly, it could

    turn into a costly blunder.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Its All in Your Hands

    Chapter 93: It''s All in Your Hands

    ?

    [Chapter 93: It''s All in Your Hands]

    "I can''t believe it! You knocked out the whole script in just four days?" Jeffrey eximed as he picked up the top copy of Scent of a Woman, his eyes wide with astonishment.

    "It''s just a first draft. There will definitely be some changes made during filming depending on how things unfold," Eric replied, taking a few steps back tofortably sink into the sofa. "Did you hear back from Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise about the script outline I faxed you? I was hoping to get them on board."

    Jeffrey flipped through his notes. "Yeah, they both responded. I sent Andy''s invite to Tom Hanks, but Hanks wants to y the role of Sean. He thinks the character has that moral ambiguity and a lot of room for interpretation. As for Tom Cruise, he expressed strong interest in the script but concerned about how dsiguising as a woman might affect his image with fans."

    Eric''s next project was set to be Running Out of Time. He renamed the characters to have the names of the original actors Andy and Sean from the movie.

    If he had to pick two actors to rece the originals, could there be anyone better suited than Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise? One was a heartthrob and the other a powerhouse actor.

    "Jeffrey, they probably don''t know each other received invitations. Why don''t you spill the beans and see if we can arrange a meeting?" Eric suggested.

    "Okay, I''ll reach out to them," Jeffrey replied. "By the way, Herbert Ross agreed to have Firefly produce Steel Magnolia, but Kepler is adamant that Julia''s fee is $5 million. That would push the production costs to at least $13 million. Ross only managed to secure $4 million in investments, so Firefly needs to fork over another $9 million. Do you want to have a chat with Kepler to see if he can negotiate Julia''s sry down a notch? After all, it''s an ensemble film, and Julia''s role isn''t that significant. I think $3 million would be fair; any higher, and it wouldn''t be worth it."

    "I''ll give Kepler a call," Eric nodded. "Oh, and make a copy of the Scent of a Woman script and give it to Al so he can start prepping. Also, for thatst script, send the outline to Wes Craven, William Friedkin, and Jonathan Demme to check if they''re interested in directing."

    Jeffrey jotted that down and nced at thest script, "The Others?"

    Eric nodded. Among those directors, Wes Craven had made a name for himself with the A Nightmare on Elm Street series andter the Scream franchise. William Friedkin directed The Exorcist in 1973, which had once been dubbed Hollywood''s scariest film -- until Japanese horror films started toe onto the scene and chipped away at that title. As for Jonathan Demme, at this point, he was still an up-anding director, but he would soon be famous for directing The Silence of the Lambs in just two years. Eric saw no harm in including a less known director like Demme alongside these established masters; it was for Virginia''s benefit.

    Eric had no doubts that Craven and Friedkin would recognize the potential of a twist-filled horror film like The Others, but he couldn''t be sure they would approve of Virginia as the lead. That was non-negotiable for him, and Demme didn''t have the leverage to push back on that. "Should we send out the invites individually or at the same time?" Jeffrey asked.

    "Send them out simultaneously. Make sure to note that the leading role is filled; that''s not up for discussion."

    Jeffrey shed a sly smile, "So, Eric, who''s the luckydy this time?"

    "Virginia Madsen."

    Jeffrey recalled seeing Eric leave the wrap party for a film with that voluptuous actress.

    "Eric, I have to remind you," Jeffrey said, taking on a mentor-like tone rarely used, "Investing in films is something you have to be incredibly cautious about. You can''t just promise a leading role because of one fling. That is just not worth it, even if you throw a hefty check in the mix. If a film flops because of the lead actress, you could be looking at losses in the millions, even tens of millions. That''s a big chunk of change, and you could easily hire a thousand high-ss escorts for the same amount."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric had never been one tosh out or ignore those offering well-intentioned advice. He listened patiently as Jeffreyid out his concerns and then reassured him, "Don''t worry, Jeffrey. I know what I''m doing. I''ve already had Kepler secure Virginia. If she didn''t have potential, I wouldn''t have moved forward. Remember when you and Kepler had doubts about Julia? Look how that turned out."

    "As long as you know what you''re doing," Jeffrey replied.

    "Then it''s all in your hands, Jeffrey," Eric said as he rose to his feet. "I mentioned on the phone that Amy wanted to talk to me, and I have a meeting today with Barry Diller."

    "You seem to have gotten used to saying ''It''s all in your hands'' -- I''m considering asking for a raise," Jeffrey joked, though he truly enjoyed his busy and fulfilling life these days. Compared to their first meeting when he had looked somewhat downcast, he now appeared much younger andpletely vibrant.

    Eric knew Jeffrey was joking. As the president of Firefly and someone managing the profits from Eric''s films, while he hadn''t yet gained shares in Firefly, his ie already ced him among Hollywood''s elite. "If you''re adamant about it, I''ll bump it up a dor."

    After sharing a few chuckles, Jeffrey escorted Eric to the door, reminding him, "Don''t burn bridges with Fox; try to keep things mellow."

    Eric shrugged, "When millions of dors are on the line, no amount of diplomacy matters. After all, Fox dropped the ball on the contract specifics. I''m not in the wrong here. I''m not letting this chance with Columbia slip by. Even if Barry Diller were in my shoes, I''m sure he''d make the same choices I do."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Contract Issues

    Chapter 94: Contract Issues

    ?

    [Chapter 94: Turns Out It Was My Own Cocoon]

    All the way there, Eric racked his brain on how to exin things to Barry Diller. At the celebration party for Pretty Woman, they had already discussed the next film, which had almost confirmed that Fox would release it during the summer schedule.

    Now, suddenly changing course, it was hard to predict how Fox would react. If possible, Eric didn''t want to make enemies with any film moguls; he simply didn''t have enough strength yet, and facing any bacsh could seriously damage him. Not to mention, Fox held the distribution rights for three of his films, which involved hundreds of millions in profits. Caught in his turmoil, Eric even identally ran a red light but was fortunate that nothing happened.

    Finally reaching Fox''s headquarters, Eric stated his identity and was swiftly guided to Barry Diller''s office door.

    "Mr. Williams, please wait a moment. Mr. Diller is in a meeting," Barry Diller''s secretary led Eric into the waiting area, carefully bringing him a cup of coffee.

    Curious, Eric nced at the door to Barry Diller''s office. The soundproofing was excellent, and he couldn''t hear a thing. The young and pretty secretary noticed Eric''s curiosity, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Fox Television''s manager."

    Eric raised an eyebrow, throwing a grateful nce at the young woman, who had managed to share valuable insight without really saying much at all. Moreover, as she leaned down, whether intentionally or not, her name badge caught Eric''s eye, making it hard for him to forget.

    After patiently waiting for seven or eight minutes, a middle-aged man walked out of the office, looking utterly dejected. Spotting Eric sitting on the sofa in the waiting area, he quickly hid his disappointment, nodded politely to Eric, and left in a hurry.

    "Mr. Williams, you can go in now."

    ...

    Eric walked into the office, and a faint smell of smoke wafted through the air; Barry Diller''s ashtray was piled with several cigarette butts.

    "Eric, sorry to keep you waiting," Barry Diller had already masked his earlier emotions upon Eric''s entrance, but Eric could still detect traces of anger on Diller''s face.

    "It was only a few minutes." As Eric spoke, he moved to take a seat on the opposite sofa at Barry Diller''s invitation.

    Barry Diller didn''t exin anything, but connecting the dots on the guy who had just left, Eric guessed the reason for Diller''s outburst -- Fox''s television ratings hadn''t been great. For years, ABC, NBC, and CBS had dominated the North American broadcast market, and it wasn''t likely that a neer would easily shake their status.

    In this regard, Barry Diller indeed was a media genius; under pressure from the big threeworks, he managed to develop Fox Broadcasting into the fourthrgestwork in North America.

    After some small talk, Barry Diller finally inquired about Eric''s business.

    Not havinge up with any soft-spoken approach, Ericid it out bluntly: "Mr. Diller, I''m afraid my next film can''t be released by Fox."

    Barry Diller double-checked that he heard correctly, furrowing his brow and squinting his eyes. He had just received some bad news from the manager of Fox Television, and now here was another blow.

    "Eric, are you trying to breach the contract? Have you thought about the consequences of doing so?"

    Now that the mattery on the table, Eric gazed steadily into Barry Diller''s eyes and answered, "Mr. Diller, I''m not looking to breach the contract. The agreement doesn''t prohibit me from coborating with other filmpanies, nor does it specify definite release dates for the three films, so as long as I deliver the three films to Fox by the end of the year, I will have fulfilled my obligations."

    Barry Diller momentarily froze, a hint of regret surfacing.

    He personally had overseen that contract being signed. The oversight allowing Eric to coborate with otherpanies was indeed a mistake on Fox''s part. Most of the attention during the drafting phase had been focused on the details of Home Alone. Furthermore, Eric had agreed to three films, and few directors in Hollywood managed to churn out three a year. Those who could consistently deliver one film a year were considered prolific. Who would have thought that this young man had such abundant energy?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    However, theck of a specified release date had been a deliberate oversight by Barry Diller. When drafting the contract, Fox had not been enthusiastic about the other two films Eric wanted to bundle, so although Eric had pressed the issue of scheduling, hoping to allocate all three films to prime holiday slots, Fox had ultimately rejected him for various reasons.

    Fox had its own ns. If Eric''s first two films flopped, they couldfortably ce them in slower seasons like spring or fall, which wouldn''t strain their resources too much while still honoring the contract.

    Who could have foreseen that the following film, Pretty Woman, would be a smashing sess, rendering any arguments down to luck or anything simr irrelevant? Many movie fans now eagerly anticipated his next film.

    In the currently tense atmosphere of the office, after Eric''s deration, Barry Diller realized he had foolishly thought himself clever for denying Eric''s release date requests, now confined to a tight spot of his own making.

    "Eric, can''t you be satisfied with a thirty-five percent cut? The budget for Pretty Woman was only $7 million. If you deduct the $1 million for Lamborghini''s ad sponsorship, the actual cost of the film was just $6 million. Yet, Fox has spent over $15 million on promotion, two and a half times your film''s budget, two and a half times! And we''re only taking twenty percent of the profits. What else could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"

    By the end, Barry Diller spoke with a voice nearly bordering on a roar, exuding an imposing demeanor. He had just returned from Europe the night before, exhausted from days of travel, and had barely got any sleep. Early that morning, he had also heard news about one of Fox''s new shows being brutally attacked by the big threeworks, crashing in ratings. Having just scolded the manager of Fox Television and booted him from the office, he found himself facing yet another piece of bad news. The anger he had just managed to suppress

    erupted again.

    However, Eric wasn''t intimidated by Barry Diller''s demeanor; he calmly rebutted, "Mr. Diller, while Fox has put in $15 million, it made over $80 million. Therefore, I don''t owe you anything. Honestly, I''ve been quite anxious abouting here. I don''t want to have a falling out with Fox; I just want to have a good discussion."

    Seeing that the young man opposite him wasn''t scared off and didn''t respond with youthful bravado, but rather handled him calmly with a well-structured argument, Barry Diller quickly regained hisposure and realized that his ability to control his emotions wasckingpared to that of a not-yet twenty-year-old. After some introspection, Barry Diller settled back into his chair, took a few deep breaths, still locking his eyes on Eric. "Alright, Eric, do you have any new conditions? Let''s hear them."

    Eric realized then that Barry Diller hadn''t fully grasped his meaning and rified, "Mr. Diller, I''m not looking to revise the contract. What I just said isn''t an attempt to leverage more benefits from Fox. Someone has made me an offer that I could not refuse, seeking the distribution rights for my next film."

    Barry Diller, having navigated Hollywood for many years, quickly considered the possibility

    as he calmed down and asked, "Columbia?"

    Eric nodded.

    Barry Diller bowed his head in silence, lighting a cigarette. Since Columbia had managed to

    sway Eric, it signaled that their offer was something Fox simply couldn''t match. Right now, Columbia was doing everything they could to boost their stock price and extract more profit from the Japanese. During such a time, it wouldn''t be surprising if the other side offered wildly enticing conditions to secure Eric''s next film.

    *****

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 Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Television Series

    Chapter 95: Television Series

    ?

    [Chapter 95: Television Series]

    After just a few puffs, Barry Diller irritably stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "It seems you aren''t nning to change your mind, are you?"

    "Mr. Diller, I could havepleted the contract by simply putting together a movie without anymunication with Fox if I didn''t care about quality. I could churn out a film in ten days if I wanted."

    Barry Diller recognized that the young man before him had made up his mind and wasn''t going to budge. Though a thought crossed his mind to teach this know-it-all a lesson, he quickly dismissed it. If he did that, it would likely result in a split like how Eric had left Columbia after their coboration.

    He had also heard recently about the sudden ousting of Columbia''s president, Cohen Blount. He had been puzzled as to why Coca-C would go to such lengths to sell Columbia. Now it became clear; they were merely clearing obstacles to reestablish a partnership with the young man in front of him.

    If he made any rash moves now and the rtionship soured, it seemed likely that this young man would depart from Fox uponpleting his contract, resulting in a lose-lose situation. In such a dire scenario, Barry Diller quickly contemted how to secure some additional benefits to offset the potential loss. "Eric, you must understand that what you''re doing essentially pulls Fox out of the summer box office battle. Although your actions don''t vite the contract, it could still harm the rtionship between both parties. To appease Fox''s shareholders, perhaps it''s time to revise the original agreement?"

    After hearing Barry Diller''s words, Eric promptly countered, "Mr. Diller, the contract will remain unchanged. I won''t make any concessions regarding the profit share. Like I said before, I owe Fox nothing. I''m only here discussing this with you to prevent our rtionship from souring. We can only discuss a win-winpensation n that doesn''t harm either side''s interests; that way, our partnership can endure."

    "Alright, I assume you''ve got a n in mind?"

    Eric nodded, saying, "Yes, my Firefly Films recently outlined ns for three additional films, from which Fox can select one for distribution."

    Barry Diller almost burst outughing at what he deemed a mere tokenpensation. If Fox wanted to distribute a film, all they had to do was give a call, and those independent filmpanies woulde streaming in. Suddenly recalling the Fox TV manager he had just dismissed, he had another idea. "Eric, are you interested in television series?"

    The moment Eric heard the term "television series," he pictured that stubborn little girl struggling in New York with a floundering workce si. Friends had raked in a whopping four billion dors in profits for Warner over a decade, and Eric certainly had no intention of letting that slip away. Although he hadn''t seen all ten seasons, he had, by sheer luck, caught the first two seasons. With the advantages of his second chance, those episodes were etched clearly in his mind. If they could sessfully establish the first season''s poprity, finding a writer to continue the story would be simple.

    "Mr. Diller, I had actually already conceived some ideas for television series. Perhaps I didn''t rify, but the three movies produced by Firefly, while not directed by me, include two scripts of mine. I would serve as a producer and retain final cut rights, which is practically no different from directing it myself. And for the third film, I n to have Julia star in the lead role. No one can doubt Julia''s box office appeal, right?"

    After hearing Eric''s words, Barry Diller quickly concluded, "No problem, Eric. Fox will handle the other three films from Firefly, and we can produce the television series concurrently. You just need to write the scripts."

    Although Barry Diller feigned a generous demeanor, Eric could perceive a hint of excitement in his tone. It was clear that Diller recognized the potential value in those three films.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric hadn''t intended to distribute all three films through a singlepany, let alone give them all to Fox. He understood the principle of giving too much to one party could lead to resentment when you chose not to giveter.

    In fact, Barry Diller had already begun to show signs of this. Eric''s actions hadn''t vited the contract, yet Diller felt Fox had badly lost out.

    Shaking his head, Eric raised one finger. "Mr. Diller, it can only be one television series or one movie aspensation. One television series or one movie."

    "Eric..."

    |||||

    The two argued in the office for quite some time. In the end, driven by his ambition for broadcastingworks, Barry Diller chose the television series. If it hadn''t been for his desire to develop thework, he wouldn''t have left Paramount, so Eric wasn''t surprised by the choice.

    However, Diller wasn''t about to let Eric off easily. He insisted Eric personally direct the first two episodes of the series.

    Eric hadn''t expected Barry Diller to conjure such a forward-thinking idea. Over a decadeter, inviting well-known Hollywood directors to helm the initial episodes had be a popr trend in American television, leading many Hollywood directors to take on television work themselves.

    In truth, Barry Diller wasn''t as visionary as Eric thought. He believed it a rather absurd idea to have a distinguished Hollywood filmmaker direct a television series. After all, in that era, it was seen as a step down for movie directors to venture into television; it was almost always the other way around, with television directors transitioning to film.

    The reason for proposing that Eric direct the first two episodes was entirely due to not securing the film distribution rights -- it was a means to tease Eric into a predicament. Diller thought Eric would tly refuse, but he was taken aback when, after a moment''s consideration, the young man nodded in agreement. Considering the prevailing attitude of Hollywood directors at the time, if word got out about Eric directing a TV series, there would surely be some purists criticizing him for selling out.

    Barry Diller didn''t realize that his thoughtless and impudently unrealistic request would create such a buzz, inadvertently ushering in the trend of big-name directors helming American television shows.

    ...

    After reaching an understanding with Fox, Eric finally set aside his concerns, and an agreement with Columbia was rapidly secured. Given how generous they had been, Eric promptly raised the production budget to forty million dors. If future promotional costs were figured at twenty million, based on a twenty-five percent profit share for Columbia, North American box office receipts would need to hit 240 million dors for Columbia to break even. Of course, if overseas box office receipts were considered, that figure might only need to reach two hundred million dors.

    Eric estimated that Columbia hadn''t even intended to break even; they just wanted the box office to soar and give investors a rosy outlook, causing their stock price to rise. For every dor the stock price climbed, Columbia''s market value would increase by a staggering 180 million. Sony, weren''t you financially buoyant? Dig deep!

    In this context, Eric still pinch-pennied enough to keep the rights to Running Out of Time from Columbia, opting instead to share them with Firefly since they had invested so much. It would have been cruel to give nothing. Though the film resulted in the death of a major character, if it seeded, they could easily swap in a new lead for a sequel and rake in another hefty profit.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Meeting of the Two Toms

    Chapter 96: The Meeting of the Two Toms

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 96: The Meeting of the Two Toms]

    A nondescript ck van pulled up outside the Firefly office building. A tall man with wild ck curls and sunsses stepped out with his agent, quickly ducking his head as they headed inside. Across the street, Johnny, the convenience store owner, was just passing the time when he caught a glimpse through the ss. He immediately recognized the man -- Tom Hanks.

    Johnny considered himself a bit of a movie buff; he made it a point to catch one or two popr films every week. Even though he was nearing forty and had moved past the age of obsessive fandom, he had a good handle on Hollywood stars, big and small. With just a pair of

    sunsses on, he had no trouble spotting Hanks.

    In Burbank, where countless film productionpanies dotted thendscape, it was prettymon to run into a few big names. Johnny didn''t think much of it; he knew the owner of that particr filmpany was a rising star himself, Eric Williams. He figured Hanks must have been in for something rted to that miracle kid director''s new project.

    After serving a couple of customers, a few minutester, Johnny noticed another van pulling up across the street. Curious, he stared at the door as it opened. Down stepped a man and a woman. The man was still hiding behind sunsses. Although he was a little shorter than Hanks, his stardom in Hollywood was greater. It was none other than the hotshot idol himself, Tom Cruise.

    "Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise," Johnny pondered, rubbing his chin. Suddenly, he thought that the paparazzi might find this juicy tidbit interesting.

    One celebrity showing up wouldn''t usually be newsworthy. While the paparazzi kept tabs on theings and goings of the big stars, they paid little attention to everyday activities. Only those celebrities who had recently turned the spotlight on themselves -- due to a box office hit, a scandal, a divorce, or a drug bust -- tended to attract the paparazzi''s scrutiny. For instance, when Home Alone first hit theaters, Eric had been chased by paparazzi for a while since everyone was curious about the young miracle director.

    But today, having two of Hollywood''s hottest male stars appearing at Firefly Entertainment was something worth covering, especially since they both shared the name Tom. Given their close ages, they were considered rivals in the industry. This was definitely a piece of news fit for the entertainment section.

    Feeling a rush of excitement, Johnny dug out a gossip tabloid and called their news hotline. Many papers offered bounties for tips on hot stories. Johnny knew better than to go to The Los Angeles Times or simr big-name outlets; they didn''t need the news and wouldn''t pay out well.

    "Hello, is this Hollywood Insider? ... Yeah, I''ve got a hot story for you..."

    A few minutester, Johnny hung up with a grin, havingnded a surprising $700 for the tip. The Hollywood Insider recognized the story''s potential and was willing to pay generously -- under the condition that he wouldn''t sell it to anyone else. For a small convenience store owner like Johnny, it was unexpected windfall.

    Within twenty minutes, a few paparazzi from Hollywood Insider arrived quickly. After confirming with Johnny that neither Tom Hanks nor Tom Cruise had left, they happily paid him the tip fee. Then they patiently set up camp outside Firefly''s headquarters.

    ...

    After securing a deal with Columbia, Eric got down to business securing the two leading roles. Having sessfully directed three films, Hollywood no longer discriminated against Eric''s age; no big star would directly refuse his invitation, not even the likes of Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks.

    Moreover, after reviewing the screeny outline, both Hollywood giants recognized the story''s brilliance, leaving no reason to turn it down.

    Previously, neither had known the other was also considering the role. However, when Hanks expressed his wish to y a gangster and Cruise suggested numerous modifications, Eric decided to share the information with them to arrange a face-to-face meeting.

    Both Toms sensed that with their star powerbined, if they could sessfully coborate, the box office potential would be staggering. Plus, with Running Out of Time being such a captivating story, it could very well create another blockbuster miracle like Eric''s previous films.

    Everyone had a desire to be part of a miracle, which brought them all to this meeting.

    Inside the Firefly conference room, only Eric, Hanks, and Cruise remained; Jeffrey and the two agents waited outside. Even though both Cruise and Hanks were signed under CAA, at their level, CAA''s influence had all but evaporated. Thus, the agents could only dutifully handle their roles without interfering.

    Of course, once they finalized their coboration, it would be up to the agents to negotiate sries. Both agents had received directives from higher-ups: bleed them dry!

    In front of Cruise and Hanks was aplete script; previously, they had only seen an outline. After spending half an hour reading through and understanding it, Hanks rubbed his face and chuckled, "Eric, I''ve just realized I''m not suited for Andy. My looks would make it really tough to pull off a woman''s role."

    [T/N: Assume that Eric has read the script aloud for Cruise''s sake.]

    Ericughed along, but Cruise seemed to miss Hanks'' joke entirely, frowning slightly instead. "Eric, I still think it would be better to revise that plot point. Since Andy is a makeup expert, disguising as another man could be a solid option. Don''t you think?"

    Hanks, seated across from Cruise, raised an eyebrow. He thought Cruise was being overly cautious; ying a woman wasn''t such a heavy lift, and as an actor, he would take on any reasonable request -- even if that meant ying a dog.

    Plus, he''d just analyzed the script a bit; the disguise made sense. Andy posed as a woman to lower the viin''s guard. The script mentioned that the viin sent Andy in disguise to retrieve the ransom, clearly supporting this. If it had been another hulk of a man, Hanks figured the viin might have pulled the trigger in a panic. The idea of two men showing up for a hand-off would seem odd, wouldn''t it?

    *****

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 Chapter 97: Chapter 97: An Irresistible Hurdle

    Chapter 97: An Irresistible Hurdle

    ?

    [Chapter 97: An Irresistible Hurdle]

    However, Hanks understood the reason behind Cruise''s caution. The guy had always taken the idol route, and to put it inly, he relied on his looks. If he suddenly decided to appear on screen in a woman''s role, it would likely upset some of his fans.

    Eric didn''t answer Tom Cruise''s request right away; instead, he shot back, "Cruise, if I''m not mistaken, you''re twenty-seven now, right?"

    Tom Cruise nodded, his tone dripping with bragging rights. "I started making movies at sixteen. Back then, I was even younger than you are now. It''s been nearly ten years."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As a young man who had climbed out of a struggling single-parent household with no background to help him, Cruise had every reason to boast, having made a name for himself in Hollywood through sheer hard work.

    "Well, Cruise," Eric continued, "every actor needs to evolve, especially those on the idol path. Hollywood male actors tend to have a longer shelf life than their female counterparts. They don''t necessarily need to rush to diversify their roles past thirty. But eventually, that day wille. So, I think this opportunity could be your shot at trying something new."

    Cruise shot back, "Eric, there are plenty of ways to try new things. I don''t have to y a woman. In fact, the issue you just mentioned has crossed my mind. My agent has rmended some alternative roles to me."

    Eric calmly shook his head. "That''s not much of a change, Cruise. Many of the films you''ve done leaned more towards the artistic side, yet the Academy hasn''t nominated you once. The reason is that, while those films are excellent, your screen persona hasn''t evolved significantly. Think about it: you''ve been in the industry for ten years now, and you still have empty hands at the Oscars. Don''t you want to earn some recognition from the Academy? I believe if you nail this role, plus the little sacrifice of cross-dressing, the Academy would at least give you a nod for Best Actor."

    The Oscars were an inevitable hurdle for any member of Hollywood. Whoever you were in the industry, you couldn''t afford to overlook their significance. Especially for actors, the lengths they would go to gain recognition were remarkable. From shedding their image to truly self- destructive roles, everything was on the table if it meant snagging a statue. Renowned beauty Charlize Theron had gone so far as to gain weight, strip down, and shave her eyebrows to win that coveted acting award. Poor Leo even staged a ''you-fat, I-fat!'' scene that shattered the pristine image fans had of him from Titanic.

    Sure enough, after Eric finished speaking, Cruise finally ceased his outright rejections and fell into a brief silence. He knew perfectly well where the issuey but was simply unwilling to admit it or make the necessary changes.

    A character who rose from humble beginnings feared failure more than those fromvish backgrounds. No one wanted to go back to that kind of life. This fear of falling back into obscurity had almost made Cruise forget that, considering his current status in Hollywood, he had indeed earned the right to handle failure.

    But the allure of the Oscars was too great. After ten years in Hollywood, if he couldn''t grasp what the Oscars represented, there was no way he could have achieved what he had so far.

    Eric keenly sensed Cruise''s wavering resolve and seized the moment to press on. "Cruise, I see the character of Andy as someone even more tragic than the Count of Monte Cristo. He had only a few weeks left to live and, in a bid for revenge against his father''s enemy, engaged in a high-stakes game with Sean that could end in utter disaster at any moment. In this situation, the audience would focus significantly on Andy''s ultimate fate. The cross-dressing I arranged is meant to drive the story forward, not to mock the actors like in some tackyedy forughs. It''s a serious performance. I believe that true fans of yours will understand."

    After a full two minutes of silence, perhaps Eric''s words had taken hold, or the temptation of the Oscars had outweighed his doubts. Finally, Cruise gave a slight nod.

    With that resolved, the atmosphere in the conference room lightened considerably.

    ...

    Cruise and Hanks began sharing their thoughts on certain details in the script. Hanks mentioned that he felt Sean''s character seemed a bit murky and questioned why he, who supposedly was liked by the female international police chief, didn''t date or hit the clubs. "Even a workaholic needs to settle down, right? And why is a full-fledged police elite relegated to a tiny precinct?"

    Due to time constraints, Eric pushed out the script for Running Out of Time in just a day, primarily based on his memory of the story with minimal modifications. He had considered some of the bugs Cruise and Hanks pointed out but hadn''t had the time to fix them yet. Despite Cruise often adopting a condescending tone as if he were instructing younger actors, and Hanks digging deep into details that left Eric speechless, Eric patiently engaged the two actors. After all, having these two seasoned stars, both of whom had sessfully starred in numerous blockbuster hits, involved in refining the script saved him a lot of effort.

    ...

    "Hey, Johnny, you couldn''t have been mistaken, right? It''s been almost four hours and we still haven''t seen Tom Cruise or Tom Hankse out?"

    After lurking outside the Firefly office building for close to four hours, Kent, a reporter from Hollywood Insider, finally couldn''t hold back. He approached a convenience store, a hint of skepticism in his voice. Though reporters could stake out a star''s home for days on end, they usually did so with clear intent.

    Presently, with no sight of the two megastars, and unable to fathom why Cruise and Hanks would spend an entire morning in Firefly, questioning their absence seemed entirely reasonable.

    "No, no, Mr. Reporter, I assure you I didn''t make a mistake. You see those two vans over there? The one on the left belongs to Tom Cruise, and the one on the right is Tom Hanks''s. It''s almost noon; they must be about toe out for lunch."

    "Alright," Kent fiddled with the camera hanging around his neck, "I sure hope you''re right, or else it''s going to be a disappointment for everyone involved. Otherwise, you''ll have to give back that seven hundred bucks."

    Johnny instinctively covered his pocket, swearing a deration of his innocence.

    "I guess I''ll wait a bit longer. Do you have any soda? I''d like a bottle."

    "Yeah," Johnny nodded, just about to go and fetch something for Kent when he suddenly noticed three other paparazzi stand up, bolting towards the Firefly office entrance.

    "Reporter, are they finallying out? Look at your fellow colleagues!"

    Kent turned around just in time to see some of his coworkers racing across the street, cursing under their breath as they rushed out the door. Though they were all affiliated with the same

    tabloid, the editor always picked the best pictures to publish. The photographer whose shot made the cut was the one who earned themission.

    *****

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 Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Tease

    Chapter 98: Tease

    ?

    [Chapter 98: Tease]

    "Eric Williams'' Secret Meeting with the Two Toms Likely Discussing a New Film," read the headline on the front page of the Hollywood Reporter the next day, apanied by a photo of Eric, Cruise, and Hanks walking out of Firefly Productions side by side.

    In the photo, Eric wore a gray tracksuit, looking every bit like a high school student, which suited his age perfectly. Cruise donned a ck casual jacket, unbuttoned, revealing a white T- shirt underneath, while Hanks was the only one dressed formally in a ck suit and tie, looking the part of a businessman. After discussing the script for the better part of the morning, both stars had let their guard down and left without sunsses, so their expressions were quite clear as they bantered andughed on their way to the exit -- a snapshot captured by a fortunate paparazzo.

    "Yesterday morning around eight o''clock, someone spotted the two stars, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, arriving consecutively at the headquarters of the up-anding director Eric Williams at Firefly Productions. Our reporter received the tip and rushed to the scene, waiting for four hours until Eric Williams finally emerged with the two stars, surrounded by a crowd. Judging by their expressions in the photo, the meeting appeared to be quite enjoyable. Although the trio did not stop to give interviews and hurriedly left in cars, insider sources indicated that the meeting was rted to Eric Williams'' uing film project.

    Since making his debut as an actor and writer with the film 17 Again, Eric had seen meteoric sess in Hollywood, with his first low-budgetedy, Home Alone, propelling him directly into the $100 million box office club. While many attributed the young man''s sess to mere luck, just four monthster, his second romanticedy, Pretty Woman, premiered, raking in nearly $30 million in its opening week and solidifying his reputation as a capable director. In Home Alone, Eric managed to create a remarkable box office hit using a cast of television actors and a neighborhood boy. His next film starred Al Pacino, who, despite multiple Oscar nominations, had been out of the game for four years andcked box office clout. Julia Roberts had only yed minor roles in low-budgetedies before -- but Eric elevated both to the ranks of A-list Hollywood actors.

    This time, the young director had chosen two of the hottest A-listers in Hollywood. There was no doubt that this next film would break box office records once again.

    But even though the photos suggested a friendly coboration, it was worth noting that Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks were both represented by the CAA agency, and it was well-known that Eric Williams had angered CAA''s higher-ups earlier this year by acquiring a prominent Hollywood agent''s agency. Rumors swirled that one executive was particrly frustrated with Eric, having previously attempted to block actor Richard Gere''s coboration with Eric during the casting of Pretty Woman, even going so far as topensate Gere with a big- budget MGM film to keep him from working with Eric.

    In light of this situation, it seemed unimaginable that Eric would have a smooth coboration with the two Toms. Of course, both Cruise and Hanks had enough clout to ignore CAA''s interference; after all, they were A-list Hollywood superstars, and even without CAA''s backing, their careers would likely remain unscathed.

    Furthermore, given the influence of Eric''s first two films, it seemed very likely that his next project would take both stars'' careers to new heights. Surely, in Hollywood, no actor would resist such temptation. The real question was whether CAA''s executive would muster the courage to actively block this coboration.

    The previous incident had cost Richard Gere his chance at reiming A-list status. Based on the poor critical reception of his recent film, Road House, its box office prospects didn''t look good, and it was hardly enough to pensate'' Gere for passing on the lead role in Pretty Woman. How Cruise and Hanks would decide to proceed, and how CAA''s executives would handle Eric''s invitation, remained to be seen.

    ...

    Eric chuckled ruefully as he tossed the paper onto his desk, fantasizing about taking out the editor who had written that article. With the current state of affairs, Michael Ovitz would only raise the offers for the two stars to express mild dissatisfaction, rather than aggressively block their coboration likest time.

    After all, UTA''s rise to power had be unstoppable. No matter what kind of petty moves Michael Ovitz attempted, they would only backfire on him, and if word got out, he would be perceived as narrow-minded. The narrower someone''s perspective, the more fearful and resentful they became of others'' judgments.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Once contracts were signed and casting announced, hinting at it to a few media outlets would create a perception of reconciled rtionships, no matter what backchannel squabbles still transpired -- it would benefit both CAA''s and Eric''s public images.

    But now that the tabloids stirred the pot, if this coboration went through sessfully, Michael Ovitz''s newly imed title of "Hollywood''s Most Powerful Person" would soon be aughingstock.

    ...

    As expected, the day after the Hollywood Reporter published that article, Eric received disheartening news.

    "It''s outrageous! A $6 million offer is reasonable, but they''re asking for 20% of the North American profits after the film''s release! I''ve been in Hollywood for years, and I''ve never heard of any actor making such outrageous demands. Eric, do you really have to work with Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks? Other agencies have top-tier actors as well! If ites to it, you could y a role yourself -- direct, write, and act; that would create even more buzz!" Jeffrey stormed into Eric''s office, clearly outraged after speaking with Cruise and Hanks''s agents.

    While Eric had braced for this, the conditions proposed by the two stars still caught him off guard. The trend of Hollywood stars demanding profit shares began with Tom Cruise. Eventually, the payment model of a sry plus profit share emerged,nding in the 10% to 20% range.

    Profit shares, unlike box office splits, involved the productionpany taking their expected share and deducting production costs to calcte gross profit, then multiplying that by the actor''s requested percentage. These shares could eithere from global box office revenue or specifically North American revenue.

    Although Cruise and Hanks''s agents hadn''t yet lost their minds by requesting global profit shares, asking for twenty percent of North American grosses was still exceptionally tough to secure even many years down the line. Only actors with immense box office draw, like Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean, Robert Downey Jr. for Iron Man role achieved the highest shares, or those willing to forgo their sry in exchange for arger split.

    Yet this payment trend had only recently emerged. Cruise himself had proposed this inspired idea while filming Rain Man the previous year. Because of Cruise''s incredible box office appeal and the film''s rtively low production costs, the studio felt that having Cruise onboard would ensure profitability, so they agreed to his outrageous demand, but only after he reduced his sry, epting a mere 10% profit share instead.

    *****

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 Chapter 99: Chapter 99: What I Wanted Was a Work of Art

    Chapter 99: What I Wanted Was a Work of Art

    ?

    [Chapter 99: What I Wanted Was a Work of Art]

    Looking at Jeffrey, who was visibly upset and still grumbling about the situation, Eric could only stand up to pour him a ss of water. Once Jeffrey gulped it down, Eric suggested, "Alright, Jeffrey, don''t you see? This is just a tactic by CAA to save dignity. If the other party insists on a 20% profit share, there''s no need to continue the negotiation. But think about it calmly for a moment; CAA more likely wants to buy some time."

    "Buy time? Why would they want to buy time?" Jeffrey clearly hadn''t calmed down yet, pouring himself another ss of water before directly asking.

    Eric shrugged. "Dignity. Just recently a magazine published a list ranking the ''Most Powerful People in Hollywood,'' with Michael Ovitz taking the top spot, while heavyweights like Barry Diller and Michael Eisner were left behind. If he just earned that title and soon after saw two of his stars coborating with former outcasts, wouldn''t that p him in the face as Hollywood''s ''most powerful person''?"

    Jeffrey let out a sigh of relief. "That''s good to know. I thought they were really going to demand a profit share; that would have been chaotic."

    "That''s not so chaotic," Eric countered bluntly. "Jeffrey, you might have to ept that stars are demanding profit shares in addition to their sries. Cruise tried this model in hisst movie and raked in a hefty profit, so other Hollywood stars are bound to follow suit."

    "Forty percent profit share between two people? Do they really think they can earn more than us? We will only have 60% left, and we still have to pay various other expenses."

    Eric was actually pondering this issue as well. He felt this might be an opportunity. Sooner orter, he would be joining the ranks of Hollywood producers, which meant he would have to side against the actors for his own benefit. Cruise''s experiment offered a new model for actors to receivepensation, and this negotiation could set a precedent for many top Hollywood stars asking for profit-sharing in the future. So, it was crucial to minimize that share as much as possible.

    If the percentage could be brought down to between 5% and 10%, it would eventually umte into astronomical savings down the line. Although Eric wasn''t sure if it would work, he had to at least try.

    "Jeffrey, don''t rush this. Just take your time negotiating with them. Forget about that 20% profit share; the sry muste down from $6 million too. They want profit sharing but don''t want to lower the sry? When has anything that good evere along?"

    Jeffrey still wasn''t satisfied. "Eric, why don''t we bypass Cruise and Hanks''s agents and talk directly to those two? You seemed to get along well the other day, right?"

    Eric chuckled and waved yesterday''s document in front of Jeffrey. "They''re both CAA clients. I don''t have any special rapport with them. The fact that they might agree to star in the film is already a huge concession to Michael Ovitz. You can''t expect them to push the envelope too far. Besides, they wouldn''t want to oppose CAA in getting themselves a better deal, right?"

    Jeffrey didn''t counter this point but pressed further, "Eric, just tell me what you''re really thinking. This is a first for me. While I could drag this negotiation on, as the boss, you''re the one who needs to give the final say. I need a bottom line reference to keep my bearings during negotiations."

    Eric stroked his chin and considered, "Stick to the fact that no actor in Hollywood gets profit shares, and force them to lower their sries if they insist on the profit share. I''ve heard that Cruise could negotiate his profit share because he voluntarily lowered his sry. As for the bottom line, given Cruise and Hanks'' current fame, their sries should not exceed $5 million, and the profit share should stay between 5% and 10%, definitely not over 10%." "Alright, that gives me a clearer idea," Jeffrey noted down Eric''s words.

    Noticing Jeffrey still wore a grim look, Eric patted him on the shoulder reassuringly and smiled, "Come on, Jeffrey, stop being so worried about it. While we might lose some profits due to this new sry model, we can recoup from other avenues, and we wouldn''t even need to share those profits with the actors. We could even drive a harder bargain under the actors'' names."

    "You mean... product cement?"

    "Bingo!" Eric snapped his fingers. "Ours is an urban film, and those types are very suitable for product cements. I read in the paper that Lamborghini''s product cement this year could triple their sports car sales. The new model hasn''t even hit the market, yet they''ve received hundreds of orders already."

    "That truly is a great idea," Jeffrey finally managed a faint smile, instinctively searching for the script to see where he could fit in some ads. Eric, however, quickly produced a piece of paper and handed it to Jeffrey. "Don''t bother looking. I''ve already prepared it."

    Jeffrey nced over the lengthy list with his mouth agape.

    Handheld phones, walkie-talkies, sports cars, packaged snacks, sunsses, cameras, nes,ic books...

    "Eric, isn''t this a bit... excessive?"

    Eric felt that he was showing remarkable restraintpared to the extravagant ads of his past life. At least he hadn''t blown $200 million to create a three-hour special effects ad. He was cleverly incorporating ads into the storyline rather than altering the plot for the sake of

    advertising.

    "Jeffrey, these are just some ideas off the top of my head. The film would feature quite a bit of footage of walkie-talkies and handheld phones, so we could package the ad for both to amunicationspany like Motor. I heard Motor is about tounch a small handheld phone that fits in the palm of your hand. With Lamborghini as a precedent, plus the star power of Cruise and Hanks, Motor would happily shell out a few million for themercials. If their offer was too low, we could reach out to their rival, Ericsson. And when ites to sports cars, I''ll continue to liaise with Lamborghini; they wouldn''t say no."

    Jeffrey pointed at the list. "And what''s with the packaged snacks?"

    Eric exined, "Didn''t you read the script? In the film, Andy set up fake bombs multiple times, and those bombs were made from snack boxes. The movie will feature close-ups of those boxes, plus rted dialogue, so it counts as a critical product cement. As for sunsses and cameras, they''lle up in the film too, so you might as well seek out sponsorship; even the smallest amounts can add up."

    "Eric, are you not worried that inserting too many ads might turn off the audience?"

    "Nope," Eric replied confidently. "None of these ads were inserted with intentions that could make the audience ufortable. Of course, we would need to coordinate closely with sponsors this time because of the high volume of cements needed; we can''t have a repeat of what happened with Lamborghini where we disclosed sponsorship before the movie even aired."

    Jeffrey noticed something amiss and questioned, "If product cements aren''t supposed to stand out and don''t allow for promotion, as a sponsor, I wouldn''t want to invest in that."

    "It''s not about not letting them promote," Eric patiently rified. "What I meant was that before the film''s release, we can''t promote this. Otherwise, even if I didn''t insert these ads with the intention to, audiences would see it that way. That preconceived notion could lead to a subconscious aversion to the movie. But once the film has been released and reviews are confirming its quality, we can promote the ads afterward -- it''ll not only create buzz but also pull in those curious about the advertising scenes back to theaters, which could boost box

    office sales."

    Jeffrey smiled knowingly. "Eric, you''re like a merchant from Venice sitting before me."

    "Is that a jab?"

    "Yes, but Iyered it with a lot of praise and respect." Jeffreyughed heartily.

    "Oh, Mr. Jeffrey, you''re so generous," Eric replied with a theatrical tone, joining in on the

    laughter.

    After the jesting, Eric nced at his watch, "I actually have a date, so..."

    Before Eric could finish, Jeffrey quickly interjected, "I''ll take care of it from here, right?"

    "Clever, who''d have thought you''d jump in?" Eric chuckled again.

    Jeffrey didn''t quite grasp the punchline in Eric''s statement and remained puzzled, tilting his head curiously. "A date, with a woman?"

    "No, with a man -- Frank Gehry, a well-known architectural designer in the industry. I''ve seen his design for Larry Ellison''s Malibu house, so I figured I''d ask him for advice too." "Is this rted to that $5 million you mistakenly spent on that parcel ofnd?" "Not mistakenly," Eric countered. "Once I sessfully build my Malibu 10880, I''m sure someone would pay $50 million for it."

    "Suit yourself. To be honest, your reckless spending eases my mind; it means you''re finally doing something a young man your age should do. Otherwise, I''d always subconsciously consider you my peer. Eric, why do you call it Malibu 10880?"

    Eric blinked innocently. "That''s a secret."

    "Come on, I promise I won''t tell anyone else." Jeffrey leaned in with curiosity.

    "If it''s a secret, I can''t tell anyone but myself, and you definitely count as one of ''others.""

    Eric couldn''t exin to Jeffrey and left the office.

    ...

    Michael Jackson''s Nevend Ranch spanned 11 square kilometers and cost $19.5 million with buildings. Comparatively, this little parcel in Malibu of only about one hectare costing $5 million was indeed a steep price. However, even so, it was the result of some extra "public rtions fees" that hiswyer had persuaded for him since thisnd was technically a small park and was conventionally not for sale.

    "Mr. Williams, while your architectural design is quite imaginative, there are just too many unreasonable elements, and the building would be incredibly difficult, especially being on the cliff''s edge," Frank Gehry assessed Eric''s sketches with his professional eye.

    At this moment, the two men stood together at the tip of Malibu, apanied by Frank Gehry''s assistant, and Eric was not alone -- Virginia happened to be home and was recruited by Eric for temporary secretarial duty.

    This area belonged to Eric as personal territory, and he had obtained building permits to freely make changes on thend. As long as the activities did not disturb the neighbors or drawints, no one would intervene.

    "Mr. Gehry, are you saying that the construction difficulty is too great, but it can still be

    built?"

    Frank Gehry nodded. "But it would require a substantial amount of money, and I don''t think it''s necessary. If you insist on building this mansion here, I suggest moving it at least ten meters to the north; that way, you''ll significantly reduce the construction difficulty and save at least 30% of building costs. Moreover, various piping will be easier to install." Eric estimated that moving it ten meters would mean the ocean view would have a rather unsightly rocky terrain blocking it. Would that still be considered an ocean-view mansion? Shaking his head, Eric declined Frank''s suggestion. "Mr. Gehry, if I insisted, how much would

    it roughly cost?"

    "At this moment, I can''t give you a precise figure because I haven''t done detailed surveying yet. If you stick to your original design, it would require extensive geological assessment of the cliffside to determine if it could support the building''s weight. If it can''t, reinforcements would be necessary,plicating matters further. However, I think $5 million is the bare minimum." "Only $5 million?" Eric raised an eyebrow, given that he''d already spent that on thend.

    "Mr. Williams, as far as I know, the most expensive mansions in Malibu are around that

    price." "Sorry, Mr. Gehry, I''m not very informed about these things. I''d like to ask bluntly; if I offered $10 million, or even $20 million, what kind of oue might I expect?"

    In this era, even Bill Gates from Microsoft wouldn''t be pulling out $10 or $20 million in cash

    just like that; his wealth was more reflected in stock prices. But things were different in the film industry; as long as a movie did well at the box office, it could churn out millions or even hundreds of millions of dors within a rtively short period.

    Frank Gehry looked surprised and regarded the young man in front of him. After some thought, he replied, "In that case, I would create a work of art for you. Mr. Williams, are youn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    sure about this?"

    "I''m sure, Mr. Gehry, what I wanted was exactly that -- a work of art." Eric answered

    decisively.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 100: Chapter 100: The Goal for Two Lives

    Chapter 100: The Goal for Two Lives

    ?

    [Chapter 100: The Goal for Two Lives]

    After the on-site inspection, Frank Gehry suggested finding a ce to discuss more details, so Eric led him directly to Virginia''s nearby vacation home. Virginia showed no displeasure at Eric''s apparent ownership of the situation; instead, she quietly and attentively hosted Frank and his intern assistant.

    Frank believed Virginia to be Eric''s lover, but he kept his thoughts to himself, merely marveling at how the young, miraculous director truly knew how to enjoy life. Virginia, with her top-notch appearance and figure, was not only beautiful but also remarkably sweet and sensible such a partner was bound to bring no trivial troubles to a man.

    As a renowned architect, he often mingled with the wealthy elite who invited him to design their homes, and over time, he had seen his share of bizarre secrets from high society, so he had grown ustomed to it. He had even witnessed a wealthy mogul keeping female ves in his estate not just hired housemaids, but true, literal ves who had been conditioned to the point of losing their identities, obedient like pets.

    Meanwhile, Frank''s intern assistant asionally cast curious nces between Eric and Virginia. It took several stern looks from Frank to finally keep the assistant in line, who then dutifully took notes with his head bowed.

    The plot ofnd Eric bought exceeded one hectare, tranting to over 10,000 square feet. However, the Iron Man Malibu mansion he had sketched out from memory, together with the helipad and other facilities, upied less than 2,000 square feet. Therefore, aside from the main building, all the other design elements were handed over to Frank''s architectural firm. Frank Gehry was known as a deconstructivist architect, and many of his designs were quite entric, earning him quite a bit of criticism, but also a great deal of admiration. After Eric assured him there would be no budget constraints, Frank became even bolder in his proposals, suggesting a construction n that featured granite, special ss, and low-alloy high-strength steel as the main materials. This alone drove the cost to the tens of millions of dors.

    From Frank''s exnations, Eric learned that such expensive materials were typically reserved forndmark public buildings in cities. Eric''s initial vision was to make this mansion an iconic structure in Malibu, and it was a perfect fit. As for the money, it was not an issue for Eric; after all, he earned so much to be able to do whatever he wanted.

    They continued their discussions until evening, at which point Frank Gehry promised to produce severalplete design proposals for Eric to choose from and politely declined dinner, leaving with his assistant.

    ...

    Once in the car, Frank earnestly advised the young intern driving, "Scott, you''re going to encounter various wealthy elite in your future work. It''s inevitable that you''ll see and hear things, but remember, if you want to avoid trouble, it''s best to keep your mouth shut." Scott was already quite familiar with Eric and coincidentally knew Virginia, the not-so- famous actress. He couldn''t believe that the eighteen-year-old director was having an affair with Virginia, who was ten years his senior. If this got out, it would definitely create a bombshell of a story.

    Scott had actually nned to brag about this scoop to a few friends that night, but after hearing his mentor''s stern warning, he thought better of it. Selling the story to the tabloids wouldn''t yield much money, and it could cost him his bright future.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I got it, Mr. Gehry," Scott replied.

    Frank patted him on the shoulder and chose not to say more.

    ...

    Back at Virginia''s small vi, after seeing Frank off, she started tidying up the teacups and casually asked the young man sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine, "Eric, aren''t you worried that bringing those two to my house might get out?"

    Without looking up, Eric responded, "Don''t worry, it won''t."

    "That''s not certain," Virginia countered, washing the teacups in the kitchen. "Frank''s assistant seemed to recognize me. I saw him casting nces between us more than once." Eric turned his head to ask, "Are you worried our rtionship might be exposed?" Virginia shed a flirtatious smile at Eric. "Of course not! I would love for a scandal to break out about us. That way, I could finally be famous instead of just another unknown actress."

    "Then what''s there to worry about? You should be praying that assistant sells the story to the tabloids," Eric chuckled, turning his attention back to the magazine.

    Virginia finished washing the cups, dried her hands, and returned to the living room, sitting alluringly next to Eric. "I''m just looking out for you. Don''t you have a formal girlfriend? You even have a little girl at home, and now you want to flirt with me. Aren''t you worried the media willbel you a yboy?"

    "Being a yboy has been my goal in life for two lifetimes; it''s something I''ve longed for," he quipped.

    "Oh, don''t look at that -- it''s so sleazy for a man to read women''s magazines." Virginia snatched the magazine from Eric and tossed it aside. "You seem very sure that Frank won''t spill the beans?"

    Eric picked the magazine back up, flipped to the page he had been on, intrigued by an article on women''s fashion and personality. Blocking her reaching hand, he said, "Don''t mess around; let me tell you. Mr. Gehry is a very stable person; he won''t go broadcasting this matter. As for his assistant, did you notice how loose his suit was? It clearly didn''t fit him." "Hmm?" Virginia curled up against Eric''s arm, her eyes wide with curiosity. The expression on her face, so cuteing from a mature woman, was hard to resist.

    Eric couldn''t help but gaze at her for a few seconds longer, then continued, "The ill-fitting suit is probably borrowed. No one would wear borrowed clothes to work long-term; it''s more likely from his father''s wardrobe. I''ve been in a simr situation myself, which indicates his family isn''t very well off, and he would sure want to hold onto this job. Frank has also undoubtedly noticed that assistant''s behavior observing us and will certainly warn him not to b. If a personnds a position as an architect''s assistant, their intelligence is pretty much unquestionable; as long as Frank gives him a gentle nudge, he''ll know what to do."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Stepping Out of Line

    Chapter 101: Stepping Out of Line

    ?

    [Chapter 101: Stepping Out of Line]

    "Eric, you''re really something else. I noticed that assistant''s suit didn''t fit well, but I never imagined all that you just mentioned," Virginiamented, leaning closer.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Oh, it''s nothing," Eric replied casually. "It''s just a matter of cultivating the habit of observation and thought. Besides, I''ve always liked reading Sherlock Holmes novels."

    "Then," Virginia said, tilting her chin up with a teasing smile, "Mr. Holmes, have you noticed any changes in me?"

    "I noticed right away. The hair color looks fantastic; I really like it," Eric remarked, running his fingers through her newly dyed golden-brown hair.

    "That''s not very sincere! You sound like you''re forcing it. I spent hours getting my hair done!" she pouted a little.

    Eric leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Alright, we won''t talk about that anymore. How''s the script you''ve been working on?"

    "I''ve been really focused on it these days, but Mr. Kepler doesn''t have much faith in me. He thinks the role might be wasted on me. If they cast an Oscar-level actress, like Meryl Streep or Jodie Foster, perhaps they could breathe more life into the story. I''m a bit worried about whether I can do this role justice. Eric, aren''t you preparing a new film? How about I try for a role in that?" Virginia asked, gazing at him with eager eyes.

    "Alright, let''s skip this other project," Eric said with a subtle smile. "I actually have a part for a female Interpol agent that would be perfect for you."

    Virginia had only been testing the waters, not expecting such a quick agreement from him. She asked in disbelief, "Really?"

    Eric nodded. "Of course, but I need to make it clear that my next film is a heavily male-centric piece. The two women in it are barely considered supporting roles, and they''ll only have a few shots."

    "Ah..." Virginia''s mouth fell open, momentarily speechless.

    What a leap! For actresses in Hollywood, still struggling at the bottom, even a few seconds of screen time in Eric''s new film was worth fighting for, especially since they''d get to work alongside major stars like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. Just half a month ago, if Virginia could havended Eric''s recent offer, she would have been over the moon.

    But things had changed. She had a better opportunity lined up: ying the lead in an exciting script, and yet she was choosing to give that up for a role that only featured a couple of throwaway shots. Suddenly, Virginia felt as if she might burst into tears.

    What to do now? Should she confess to Eric that she regretted her earlier decision and wanted to take that horror film? Given his sharp and domineering nature, he might just turn on her.

    Smack--

    A sharp sound brought Virginia back from her worries, igniting a stinging pain in her behind. She looked up to find Eric sporting a teasing grin. In that moment, she realized that her little schemes had not escaped his notice. But the good news was, he didn''t seem angry.

    "Regretting it now?" he asked.

    "Eric, I''m sorry, I was wrong. I promise I won''t do it again," Virginia quickly blurted as she slid down off the couch, kneeling on the carpet beside him. She tilted her head up, offering her prettiest smile. She knew Eric loved when women put themselves in this position, so she didn''t hesitate.

    Eric yfully squeezed her smooth cheek. "If you''re not too bright, it''s better to be straightforward and grounded. Don''t be greedy; otherwise, you''ll face dire consequences. And don''t think of me as some young punk to charm; you might have ten years on me in physical age, but I''m at least a decade ahead of you mentally. Even Jeffrey and Kepler think I''m their contemporary."

    "Uh-huh," Virginia nodded like a chick pecking for grain.

    "Since we''re on the subject, it''s better toy things out inly to avoid you making foolish choices," Eric continued. "There''s no future for us. If you''re willing to be my woman, I''ll support your career as much as I can. But if you ever grow tired of it and want to settle down, just let me know, and I''ll set you free. Until then, if I find out you''ve been unfaithful to me, that would be considered a serious betrayal. So please, don''t go there."

    Eric didn''t explicitly mention what would happen if she broke that promise, but Virginia caught a fleeting chill in his eyes. She stumbled for words, clumsily assuring him, "Eric, I would never do that!"

    "Just remember to respect the boundaries," Eric said, pulling her onto hisp. He leaned in, inhaling her captivating scent, and whispered softly in her ear, "Prepare well for the script. With your acting, a little effort might make this story really shine. If you hit it big, a few nominations aren''t out of the realm of possibility."

    "Hmm..." she hummed a sultry note in response.

    Gradually, the two fell silent. Virginia, familiar with Eric''s personality, passively allowed him to take the reins.

    He shifted the coffee table away slightly to create enough space before guiding her to lean over it.

    They hadn''t touched their dinner, instead spending hours wrestling together deep into the night. Eventually, Eric dozed off first; men always wore out more easily than women did. Under the faint light of the bedsidemp, Virginiay on her side, wide awake, gazing at the little man beside her. She hesitated, extending a finger to trace along his prominent nose, but then retracted it. Waking him up might lead to more trouble.

    "What kind of person are you?" she finally sighed after a long moment, then a sly smile crept onto her face as a thought struck her. "And to think you say you''re not a young punk. Hmph."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The Award Presenter

    Chapter 102: The Award Presenter

    ?

    [Chapter 102: The Award Presenter]

    As March rolled around, the 61st Academy Awards approached closer and closer. With the increasing influence of Hollywood films worldwide, more eyes turned toward the Oscars.

    Despite Eric''sck of direct ties to this year''s awards, no one could overlook the meteoric rise of this eighteen-year-old who had hardly been on the scene for six months. Among the films he was associated with, 17 Again had already entered its fifteenth week of release since November 18 of the previous year, showing strong momentum. After four months in theaters, it had grossed over $107 million, bing the sixth film of 1988 to surpass the $100 million mark.

    Standing on its own merits, that number was impressive. However, the box office potential for had already been nearly tapped out, with weekly earnings of just $200,000 to $300,000 on fewer than 300 screens, and a pull from the theaters was imminent.

    In contrast, the other one Home Alone had already approached $240 million, still earning about $5 million a week on over 1,200 screens in North America.

    In those days, a $200 million domestic box office was considered a blockbuster; only George Lucas''s franchise could reach such heights, and even Steven Spielberg''s creationscked that kind of assurance. A $300 million domestic haul was only a legend -- thest and only time it had urred was in 1982 with Spielberg''s film. Now, six yearster, another film was on the verge of touching that legendary threshold.

    Under these circumstances, Columbia Pictures, which had begun acquisition talks with Sony, no longer focused on how much they could reap from the profit-sharing agreements, but on how to push the film''s North American box office past that elusive $300 million mark. Everyone knew that once they crossed that milestone, it would trigger another round of stock price surges for Columbia.

    ...

    "What? You want me to be the presenter for Best Supporting Actress?" Eric eximed, taken aback by Amy Pascal''s unexpected visit. "Is that something Columbia can decide?"

    "We spoke with the producer of this year''s Oscars, n Carr," Amy assured him. "With your current stature, you are more than qualified. Eric, as long as you give us the thumbs up, you''ll soon receive the invitation."

    Eric hesitated. He had already been in the spotlight enough, and his private life had been under constant scrutiny from the press. But he understood Columbia''s reasoning; featuring him at a ceremony that drew viewership of 40 to 50 million would greatly benefit the still-in- theaters film.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Since Cohen Blount had left and acquisition talks with Sony began, Columbia had done aplete 180 regarding its attitude toward Eric, aggressively promoting him. Unfortunately, the most strategic opportunity, the Golden Globes, was already missed, and the Oscar nominations had been announced. They had only received a ratherckluster nomination for Best Original Score. Everyone recognized this as the Academy''s attempt to draw public attention, deservedly so due to the film''s impressive box office.

    If Columbia had been proactive from the start, they might have snagged a few more nominations, and perhaps even walked away with a little golden statuette. But now it seemed toote; with less than two weeks until Oscar votingmenced, any further publicity seemed futile. Given the caliber of films like this one, it would be a stretch for audiences to be surprised if they received a little golden man.

    At the end of the day, it was just a children''sedy -- a film without any artistic merit. After a moment''s thought, Eric nodded in agreement. While Columbia''s initiatives were ultimately self-serving, he could reap substantial rewards from it too. As long as he cooperated with them, his chances of crossing the $300 million threshold looked promising. Hitting that goal would mean his share would reach a staggering $120 million.

    Amy had also ryed promises from Columbia''s upper management to Eric, indicating that once the film left theaters, they would pay him the full amount of his cut within a month. That would alleviate his financial pressure significantly, especially considering just recently he had taken out a $50 million loan from the bank for the smooth production of the film and the construction of his Malibu mansion. He was carrying $100 million in debt at this point, making him the most financially encumbered individual in Hollywood.

    "Since you agreed, I''ll inform n Carr right away to send you the invitation," Amy said, satisfied, as she took a sip of her coffee. Then she inquired, "Eric, I heard that your negotiations with Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks have hit a snag. Do you need Columbia to step

    in?"

    Eric shook his head. He had anticipated this stalemate and was confident it would notst more than a month.

    Richard Gere stepped away from the lead in Pretty Woman to participate in that action drama, Road House, set to release during Easter. His mind drew a nk on that film, and he had to ask around for information. He was informed that even the most optimistic internal forecasts from the studio projected box office earnings of only around $30 million.

    With Richard Gere as a cautionary tale, there was no way Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, both A- list Hollywood stars, would make the foolish decision of turning down the chance to join Eric''s new project.

    The bigger the star, the more cautious they were with their role selections; one wrong turn could mean significant harm to their reputation. Just four years earlier, Al Pacino had suffered a major setback when a $30 million disaster from Warner Bros. flopped,pelling him to take a four-year hiatus amid public outcry. Before that, he was a five-time Oscar nominee and an uncontestable A-lister.

    Given Eric''s films'' track record of three consecutive massive sesses, they were undoubtedly solid in box office and critical acim. Plus, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks had both recognized its box office potential after reading the script.

    The reason both men allowed the CAA agents and Firefly to remain deadlocked was not only to give Michael Ovitz, "Hollywood''s most powerful figure," a little courtesy, but also because they wanted to secure higher sries and profit-sharing.

    Eric believed that once CAA exhibited any intention to purposely break off negotiations, both stars would immediately step in to stop it. He knew from their script discussions that they were steadfast in wanting to partake in this film, as their conversation hadsted four hours.

    "It''s unnecessary, Amy. CAA will relent within a month," Eric replied, not wanting to owe Columbia a favor. "I can use this time to finalize preparations for the film. Compared to the less than month-long production cycles of thest two movies, there''s plenty of time for this one. We still have over four months until its July release."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 103: Chapter 103: A Visitor

    Chapter 103: A Visitor

    ?

    [Chapter 103: A Visitor]

    Amy Pascal knew quite a bit about the stalled negotiations but didn''t press the matter. Since the purpose of the visit had been achieved, she stood up and said, "Well then, I''ll be on my way."

    "I''ll drive you," Eric replied, getting up as well. "Amy, it seems you didn''te by car?"

    "My car is in for maintenance today, so I took a taxi to get here," Amy exined.

    "That''ll make things easier. I can take you back; it''s tough to get a taxi around here," Eric offered eagerly.

    Understanding that Eric had a point and considering her destination wasn''t too far, Amy agreed.

    As they walked out of the vi, Eric opened the garage door and drove out an old Ford sedan that he still kept. Standing at the garage door, Amy listened to the muffled sound of the old Ford''s engine, ncing curiously into the garage. It was empty save for the Ford and a stylish purple sports car parked in the corner, which could amodate ten cars.

    "Eric, with your wealth now, you could definitely get a better car," Amy said with a smile, gesturing towards the Ford and then looking at the purple sports car with curiosity.

    "Are you talking about that Lamborghini?" Eric asked as he carefully opened the passenger door for her.

    Amy nodded, climbed into the front seat, fastened her seatbelt, and said, "Yeah, that car is pretty gorgeous! Why don''t you drive it? I remember that Al drove one, but his was silver."

    Eric replied, "That Lamborghini was a gift from thepany a few days ago. I''m not really good at driving it, though; I''d prefer to take it on the highway rather than around the neighborhoods in Los Angeles."

    "Lamborghini is quite generous; that car must cost over two hundred grand," Amy remarked. Eric chuckled without responding. The car wasn''t a standard model heading to market but a specially customized four-wheel-drive concept car worth no less than three hundred thousand dors, despite the mantle of the Lamborghini brand. Meanwhile, the base model of the standard sports car was priced at two hundred forty grand, and the initial model was only two-wheel drive.

    The generosity from Lamborghini was more about continuing their partnership with Eric. Though they had given away a luxury car valued over three hundred thousand dors, thepany stood to gain as their sales would surely multiply this year to at least three times its usual figures. In light of their profit margins, that concept car hardly amounted to a loss.

    Just days after news leaked that his uing film would feature Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, Lamborghini reached out to Eric, presenting the concept car and proposing a long-term coboration deal.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He epted the car without hesitation, but a long-term contract was a different matter. The rumors of advertising cements within films were already circting in the industry, and this model of product integration was bound to take off years ahead. Given those circumstances, locking into a long contract seemed less than wise.

    ...

    As they drove away from the mansion, Eric was about to get out to close the gate when a middle-aged man in his forties ran up and tapped on the Ford''s window gently.

    "Mr. Williams, Mr. Williams?"

    The suddenness of the encounter caught Eric off guard. Not wanting to open the door without rity, he paused and looked out. The man had a square face framed by a short beard, and his eyes showed eagerness and a sense of seeking approval.

    Cautiously, Eric cracked the window open a bit and asked, "Can I help you?"

    The middle-aged man noticed Eric''s hesitation and quickly pushed a business card through the gap. "Mr. Williams, please don''t misunderstand me! I mean no harm. I''m Jonathan Demme; you must know who I am."

    Eric took the card and peered at it before scrutinizing the man''s face further. Once he confirmed the resemnce to his past knowledge, his guard lowered.

    The man was one of the three shortlisted directors who had been invited. However, after handing the matter over to Jeffrey, Eric hadn''t followed up since he was focused on other pressing engagements.

    First, there was the matter of Kepler initially insisting on Julia''s fee being five million dors. After Eric had a heart-to-heart with Kepler, he managed to convince him to ept three million.

    The exchange hadn''t been pleasant; Kepler had whined about it for ages, fearing the fee would diminish Julia''s value. If the film turned out to be a blockbuster, her reduced fee would make it seem like a ttering gesture; but if it flopped, she might be waiting a long time before any higher offers came her way.

    Conversely, Julia epted Eric''s arrangements without objections, and he noted her subtle intentions. She wasn''t entirely happy with the price but went along with it, returning his hospitality in her own manner. During their several exchanges of nces, he could ascertain she felt like settling her debt to him.

    At the end of the day, even though Julia had cried after theirst encounter at his home, she deeply desired to break free from Eric''s shadow. She perhaps thought lowering her fee was a way of repaying him, believing that in her next film she could confidently reject his influences.

    Eric was not displeased; knowing Julia''s career trajectory all too well made it simple for him to guide her. If he wished to teach the stubborn girl a lesson, making her star in a flop would suffice. He even found humor in the situation, curious about how she would flounder.

    Things wereing together.

    Al Pacino had personally put forward a name for the director: Martin Brest, the original director.

    Al had ended up chatting with him at a party, and somehow their ideas aligned, leading Al to rmend him to Eric.

    With him being the original director, Eric had little in the way of worries. After discussing ideas, he feltpletelyfortable passing the reins of directing to Martin, who was now busy in preparations, with Eric asionally helping out.

    However, amidst all this, Eric hadn''t prioritized the director search. He wasn''t particrly anxious, with both his films and Herbert Ross''s ted for a year-end release, giving him

    ample time.

    Thus it came as a surprise that Jonathan Demme, one of the potential directors, showed up unexpectedly today.

    Since he couldn''t linger in the car much longer, Eric opened the door and greeted the middle- aged man. "Mr. Demme, what brings you here?"

    "Well," Jonathan began, "I received an invitation to direct this script not long ago. I had no idea it was personally written by you, Mr. Williams; it''s simply brilliant! I responded to Mr. Jeffrey immediately, expressing my eagerness to direct the film. However, Mr. Jeffrey informed me that there were three candidates, and you would be deciding. I know my qualifications may not measure up to the other two masters, but I don''t want to lose this opportunity. Could you spare me some time? I''d like to explore my vision for the film -- just half an hour would suffice."

    Eric nced back at Amy Pascal inside the car, feeling regretful. "I''m sorry, Mr. Demme, but unfortunately, I need to take thisdy home right now, so..."

    "I can wait, Mr. Williams; it''s no problem. I can wait right here until you return," Jonathan

    insisted.

    Feeling a bit touched by Jonathan''s persistence, Eric hesitated but said, "Why don''t you get in the car, Mr. Demme? After I drop thisdy off, we can find a ce to talk properly."

    "Is that appropriate?" Jonathan hesitated, ncing at Amy, uncertain of their rtionship. He worried that it might seem awkward and leave a bad impression on Eric. However, Amy had overheard their conversation and quickly interjected, "Mr. Demme, get in the car. I''m not too far away; it''ll just take about ten minutes."

    Eric chimed in to encourage him.

    "Then... I guess I''ll impose," Jonathan said before carefully opening the back door of the Ford

    and taking a seat with his bag.

    Eric locked the gates behind him and returned to the car, starting the engine before leaving. With Jonathan Demme now in the car, the three of them maintained a quiet atmosphere throughout the drive, thankfully, as Amy''s destination was rtively close, keeping things

    from bing awkward.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Director of The Others

    Chapter 104: Director of ''The Others''

    ?

    [Chapter 104: Director Selection]

    After dropping Amy Pascal at home, Eric took Jonathan Demme for a casual coffee at a nearby cafe. After ordering two cups of coffee and some snacks, Eric spoke first, "Jonathan, why don''t you start by sharing your understanding of this script?"

    Jonathan Demme, like a student preparing for an exam, gathered his thoughts and said, "Compared to those horror films that rely on excessive violence, gimmicky sound effects, or grotesque makeup to create fear, this script undoubtedly aims to establish a brand-new psychological thriller genre. It is filled with Hitchcockian suspense elements; though the plot isn''t overlyplex, it consistently captures the audience''s curiosity. The twist at the end, where the truth is revealed in a dramatic reversal of fate, will take viewers by surprise. Eric, many folks believe your current sess is due to divine favor. But if they read this script you wrote, I''m sure no one would hold that view; your talent is simply remarkable."

    As he talked, Jonathan couldn''t help but offerpliments. Eric sensed that Jonathan was genuinely praising him rather than just trying to curry favor, and he smiled, replying, "Thank you for the kind words, Jonathan. Your understanding of the script is spot-on. However, it''s not enough for me to hand over the film to you. I haven''t had the chance to see responses from the other two director candidates yet, but I believe they''ll also be very interested in this film. What do you think your strengths arepared to horror masters Wes Craven and William Friedkin?"

    "Adaptability," Jonathan answered without hesitation. "Eric, I believe I''m more adaptable than they are."

    Eric looked at the man in front of him, now in his forties, and questioned, "Adaptability?" Jonathan calmly exined, "Yes, Eric. The fact that I have never made a horror film is actually my greatest advantage. I''ve been in the industry for nearly twenty years, and I believe my skill set as a director is solid. I can absolutely direct the film based on your psychological thriller concepts. But if I assign this project to those two established horror masters, they''ll undoubtedly bring their personal filming styles to the movie. While it may not be their intention, the power of habit is quite strong. They might revert to traditional horror film tropes, which would create great scares but risk diluting the impact of the script''s climax twist."

    After Jonathan finished speaking, he noticed Eric''s expression shifting and quickly reached into his bag to pull out a thick stack of prepared materials. However, he didn''t shove everything at Eric right away, knowing that would likely bore him. Instead, he selectively handed over the most important pages.

    "Eric, take a look at this; it''s my approach to the filming, along with a few storyboards I envisioned. I think the film should emphasize building suspense and introducing one intriguing mystery after another to keep the audience engaged, masking any weaknesses in the setting and plot, while avoiding a sense of monotony. Atmospherically, we should focus more on psychological tension rather than on sensory stimtion."

    Eric took his time reading through Jonathan''s detailed list of filming ideas and closely examined several of the storyboard designs, unconsciously tapping his fingers on the table. Jonathan knew the crucial moment was approaching and clenched his hand into a fist beneath the table. In contrast to Eric''s seemingly effortless directing career, Jonathan had encountered many bumps along the road in Hollywood. He had shown a strong interest in film from a young age. Although he studied veterinary medicine in college, he never pursued that path and instead threw himself into the once-thriving United Artists, starting from the ground up as a gopher.

    By the age of thirty, he finally had a chance to partake in some low-budget B-movie productions. In 1977, Jonathan secured his first opportunity to direct a film, a satirical look at life in amunity radio station that, despite critical acim, flopped spectacrly at the box office.

    To be precise, it earned no box office revenue at all. To get more people to see his work, Jonathan had to pay out of pocket to have a theater in New York show the film for free, yet still, audiences were few and far between.

    That experience left Jonathan in silence for three long years until his next film picked up two Oscars in 1980, giving his career a much-needed boost. However, to this day, his film projects barely made wavesmercially, with most only pulling in a few million dors; the best- performing film just barely cracked the ten million mark.

    In Hollywood, a director couldn''t earn recognition without a box-office hit. While researching Eric''s personal history, Jonathan noted that themon thread behind Eric''s three blockbuster films was that he wrote the screenys for all of them.

    Although Jonathan didn''t understand why Eric Williams would extend a directing invite to him, that didn''t stop him from wanting to seize the opportunity. After receiving the invitation, Jonathan pulled an all-nighter, reading the script repeatedly, marveling at Eric''s intricate twist design. The next morning, he responded to Jeffrey Hansen, expressing his eagerness to direct the film.

    Thinking that the call-back woulde quickly to discuss a contract, he patiently waited a few days, but nothing happened. Feeling anxious, Jonathan rushed to the Firefly Films headquarters to find Jeffrey. Once he learned what was going on, it dawned on Jonathan thatpared to the two other seasoned horror directors, he, with no horror film-making experience, appeared to be the leastpetitive candidate.

    However, Jonathan didn''t give up. Though his personal directing projects were underwhelming, he had an eye for potential and sensed that this film could perform well in both box office and awards. This realization made him even more desperate to secure the opportunity.

    After several days, he finally crafted a persuasive pitch to convince Eric. He also conducted a deeper analysis and prepared meticulously. To save time and prevent the director''s role from being finalized without him, Jonathan had barely slept more than three hours each day for a week.

    Despite the exhaustion, he maintained an eager demeanor while sitting across from Eric, conversing animatedly, likely fueled by sheer adrenaline.

    Eric didn''t notice Jonathan''s tension and thought for a moment before saying, "Jonathan, could you hold on a moment? I need to make a phone call."

    "Of course, no problem," Jonathan replied, not quite understanding Eric''s intent but taking hopeful note that Eric hadn''t made an immediate decision.

    Eric got up and walked over to the coffee shop counter, chatting briefly with the server before picking up the phone and dialing Jeffrey''s office number.

    "Jeffrey, it''s me... There''s something I forgot to ask, regarding the director... Yes, have Wes Craven and William Friedkin responded?... Uh-huh... Uh-huh... Alright, I understand... Actually, Jonathan Demme came by to see me, and I think his ideas were good; he''s very enthusiastic about the film. I believe we should give him a shot... Okay, decline the others, then. I''ll hang up... Yeah, yeah, I know what I''m doing."

    After hanging up, Eric returned to his seat.

    Jonathan sensed the critical moment was about to arrive, instinctively sitting up straighter as

    he looked at Eric, full of hope.

    "Jonathan, when I invited you to this project, I mentioned that the lead actress was already decided. Do you have any objections to that?"

    Jonathan''s face lit up with barely concealed joy, knowing Eric''s question was likely a way of offering him the film. "No, I have no objections. Cast choices are the producer''s prerogative." After a moment''s hesitation, he couldn''t help but ask, "Eric, the lead actress is... is she your

    girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston?"

    Eric shook his head. "No."

    Jonathan asked out of lingering concern, but after hearing the denial, he quickly closed his mouth. As long as it wasn''t Jennifer Aniston, Jonathan felt relieved; he worried initially that Eric might intentionally mention such a condition to promote his girlfriend. However, the girl was far too young to portray the single mother role of Grace; just the

    makeup for that part would be challenging enough.

    As for the true lead actress''s rtionship with Eric, Jonathan realized that wasn''t a concern he

    needed to address.

    "Well then, Eric, does that mean..."

    Eric nodded, "Yes, Jonathan, you have the opportunity to direct this film. William Friedkin

    coincidentally chose to direct another one, so he naturally declined the offer. Wes Craven also expressed strong interest in this script but had reservations about the chosen lead actress. Plus, what you just said to me made quite a bit of sense, so I had Jeffrey decline Wes."

    *****n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 105: Chapter 105: The Circle

    Chapter 105: The Circle

    ?

    [Chapter 105: The Circle]

    Jonathan was about to leap for joy, but he managed to keep his excitement inside, not wanting to let it show on the surface.

    "Eric, thank you so much for giving me this directing opportunity. I promise I will make something you''ll be happy with," he said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

    Seeing the middle-aged man barely containing his excitement, Eric smiled back. "Jonathan, you can go over the details of the directing contract with Jeffrey tomorrow at Firefly. For now, you should really get a good night''s sleep."

    "Uh?" Jonathan was a bit taken aback by Eric''s suggestion. He had indeed gotten very little sleep in the past few days, but now, having secured the directing opportunity, every cell in his body was buzzing with excitement, and he felt no fatigue at all. "Eric, I''m not tired. Maybe we could discuss the movie further? I have a ton of ideas."

    He patted a thick stack of materials in front of him.

    Eric shook his head firmly. "Jonathan, I understand the effort you put in to get this opportunity. You probably haven''t looked in the mirror in days, have you?"

    Jonathan rubbed his stubbly face. "Sorry, Eric, I just washed my face beforeing out and didn''t have time to shave."

    "No," Eric replied. "It''s not about that. It''s your eyes. They''re bloodshot from staying up toote. So listen to me, go home and rest. Your healthes first."

    Eventually, under Eric''s insistence, Jonathan Demme had to get up and head home, while Eric drove away from the cafe.

    ...

    The next day, Jonathan signed a directing deal with Firefly for a t fee of $500,000 with no profit-sharing. He didn''t even think twice before signing. This opportunity meant everything to him; if sessful, he could break free from the B-movie circuit and step into a brand new world.

    On the surface, Hollywood seemed like the ce where the American dream happened most frequently. Unknown little actors and directors could suddenly rise to be A-list stars due to one sessful film, gaining the admiration of studios and the public alike.

    But in reality, the barriers in Hollywood were even more severe. Independent films had their own circles, B-movies had their own, and low-budget productions had theirs too. Even adult films operated within their own realm. While these circles might intersect, once you were in one, jumping to another was fraught with obstacles. Slowly, many gave up trying and settled resignedly within their own circles.

    But there were lucky ones; asionally someone would leap from a lower circle to a higher one and suddenly shine in the spotlight, bing the embodiment of the American dream.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After Jonathan signed his contract, Eric finalized the directors for several films he nned to make this year. The casting for three movies was underway. Although some major roles had already been decided, there were still many hotly contested parts left. For the first two films Eric was working on, even supporting roles elevated careers. So when Firefly announced the audition notices, the second and third-tier actors in Hollywood nearly erupted with excitement. Many top-tier actors took a chance and inquired about auditioning.

    For obvious reasons, the casting for the three films leaned heavily towards actors represented by United Talent Agency (UTA). Within just a few days, thousands of applications piled up in front of Kepler, manying from agents wanting to collectively pitch their clients to join UTA.

    After a lengthy discussion, Kepler and Eric concluded that this was not the best time for UTA to expand aggressively. Blindly erging the agency without providing sufficient opportunities would only tarnish UTA''s reputation. Thus, nearly all coborative applications were rejected. In response to the continual stream of proposals, Kepler had to publicly issue a statement, which temporarily eased the situation.

    ...

    Among the most sought-after audition lists for supporting roles, intriguingly, were not for Eric''s films or starring Al Pacino, but rather for what seemed like the most inconspicuous project. This particr film''s audition list included two ten-year-old child actors.

    Although the director and lead actress had little fame, and beyond the title, there were no further details about the plot, the credit for the script went to Eric himself.

    People naturally connected this casting to the once-unknown Stuart Ronkel, formerly just a precocious boy from Eric''s neighborhood. Who could have guessed he would soar to fame globally now?

    Consequently, while other films received only a few hundred audition applications, the candidate list for the two child roles expanded to 5,000 and kept growing. As the word spread about the auditions, Firefly began receiving applications from young actors from Europe and Australia as well.

    "I''m really sorry, Charles, it''s not that I don''t want to use Stu, it''s just that this film doesn''t call for a kid like him... It''s not about the money. I know, I know, the little boy just doesn''t have that much screen time... No problem. You''re always wee to drop by my ce... Alright, goodbye."

    After hanging up, Eric rubbed his throbbing temples. Ever since Firefly released the audition list, he had been inundated with phone calls, whether at home or at the office, from people trying to rmend actors through connections.

    The call he had just received was from Charles Ronkel, Stuart''s father, who he hadn''t spoken to in ages, seeking to secure the role for his son.

    From the outside, Stuart seemed to be doing wonderfully, but within the industry, people knew he was somewhat "overvalued." His fees had soared to astronomical heights, but few were bold enough to invite him for projects. Much of his ie came frommercials and endorsements. Perhaps Charles knew it was crucial to maintain Stuart''s fame, which is why he reluctantly reached out to Eric, even offering a lowball price of $3 million. To put this in perspective, CAA had quoted Stuart''s fee at $8 million.

    Unbeknownst to him, Eric found that while he didn''t mingle much, his social circle had surprisingly expanded. Perhaps this was the saying, "When you''re poor in a bustling city, no one asks about you; when you''re rich in the mountains, far-off rtives visit."

    Even someone he had merely met once or chatted with briefly would now engage with Eric in a friendly manner, discussing the weather and casually rmending various actors.

    ...

    A fragrant breeze wafted through as a pair of creamy white arms snaked around Eric''s neck from behind the sofa, a little face rubbing against his cheek in a yful manner. "Hey, alright, alright, stop it," Eric said, pulling away the little arms wrapped around his neck. He couldn''t help but marvel at how this girl, despite years of battles with alcohol and drugs, still had skin as smooth as silk.

    Drewughed as Eric tugged her away, then leapt over the back of the sofa and into his arms.

    "You''re almost a big girl now, and still so mischievous," Eric couldn''t resist giving her a yful smack on her chubby little backside.

    "Ow... that hurt..." she whimpered, instantly flooded with tears, yet her big sparkling eyes seemed to say, "Do it again, do it again."

    Eric had long grown ustomed to Drew''s yful provocation. "Alright, spit it out. Why did you suddenly run back here?"

    "Can''t I just miss you?" Drew replied, pouting.

    "Is that a new ent? Sounds funny, who taught you that?" Eric asked, chuckling. "Well, forget it. Hurry up, tell me why you came back."

    "Honestly, I just missed you, Eric! I saw the Lamborghini in the garage and couldn''t believe

    when I mentioned I liked that car, you actually remembered. That made me so happy!" "You misunderstood; I was actually nning to gift it to Jenny."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Connections

    Chapter 106: Connections

    ?

    [Chapter 106: Connections]

    "A man who says one thing and means another," Drew casually scratched Eric''s chest a couple of times. "I''ll forgive you for that."

    Eric habitually tapped her on the forehead. "So should I thank you for your generosity?"

    "No need for that," Drew replied, resting her head against Eric''s chest to prop herself up. She arched her soft body a bit, reached into the back pocket of her denim jeans, and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. "Here, it''s all right here."

    Eric took it, ncing at the list of names and audition roles, chuckling lightly. "I didn''t expect you to be so busy with work."

    "Well..." Drew sighed, expressing her resignation to the whims of life. "I''ve turned down everything I could. It''s not like I''m directly asking you for a role; it''s just an audition opportunity."

    "Okay, I''ll make arrangements," Eric said, not wanting to say much. He had a feeling her sudden return today had something to do with recent casting calls.

    Eric had a general idea about Drew''s future ns being simr to her past life''s, and she even had a name in mind for her future filmpany, still going with Flower Films. With her sharp and capable personality, she was bound to be a great asset in the future. Helping her build a bit more of awork couldn''t hurt.

    As Drew said, it was just an audition opportunity. Ultimately, whether she seeded or not was still up to him. Plus, he could earn a favor for her out of it; why not?

    Reading through the list carefully, Eric did notice quite a few names of familiar Hollywood stars ofter years, including Steven Spielberg''s goddaughter, Gwh Paltrow, who should have only been around seventeen or eighteen that year. The role she wanted to audition for was that of the girl Andy met on the bus in the movie Infernal Affairs.

    Recalling Gwh''s appearance, Eric mentally marked her off as a candidate. It wasn''t that she wasn''t pretty -- she was a ssic beauty -- but Eric wasn''t drawn to the high cheekbones, straight noses, and deep-set eyes. He preferred softer facial features. Women like Jennifer Aniston, Drew barrymore, and Virginia Madsen all fit that type; even Julia didn''t count as a high-cheekbone beauty.

    Thinking of this, Eric couldn''t help but pull Drew closer, who was adjusting the TV channels with the remote, cupping her little face and scrutinizing it. Remembering the risk she could grow into someone less appealing, he sighed involuntarily.

    Drew, initially feeling a bit nervous with anticipation -- was he going to kiss her? -- immediately red up at his sigh, baring her teeth in a threatening manner. "Eric, if you breathe like that at my face again, I swear I''ll scratch you!"

    "What''s the rush?" Eric patted Drew''s head. "I was just reminiscing about that cute little girl with the alien from four years ago. It''s hard to believe how much you''ve grown."

    Rolling her eyes dramatically, she pushed him down onto the sofa. "You perverted loli-lover! I''m reporting you to the LAPD for chemical castration and then let''s see how you find yourself hanging out with that big-breasted woman all night long!"

    Eric was momentarily surprised; he thought there wouldn''t be many people who knew about his business with Virginia, right?

    "Uh... is this whole thingmon knowledge in Los Angeles now?"

    "Yes, indeed! The word is out all over North America about how a third-rate actress snagged the lead role in a script written by Williams himself. Do you think everyone else is foolish? So you better be careful not to get caught by the paparazzi; otherwise, people will definitely say you''ve got some Oedipal issues -- she''s ten years older than you."

    "I absolutely do not have any such tendencies," Eric protested, raising his hand.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Of course, I can prove it," Drew said, perched triumphantly on Eric''s waist, lifting her chin in

    a teasing manner while squinting at him. "Because you''re a loli-lover!"

    "Alright, I''m a loli-lover; I''m guilty," Ericughed, giving in theatrically. "Can you get off me now?"

    Drew''s big eyes widened as she slid her long legs down Eric''s waist. Eric caught on to her intentions and promptly wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up and cing her to the side. "Cut it out, it''s broad daylight."

    "Then I''lle to your room tonight?"

    "I''ve decided to stay out tonight; after all, everyone in North America already knows."

    She promptly sped his arm. "No, Eric, you can''t just give in like that. You should learn from Drew Barrymore."

    Eric pulled away from Drew, heading upstairs while he remarked, "Learn your truancy skills? Al told me yesterday that he saw a certain yful little girl at a partyst Wednesday."

    Eric had long given up hope of Drew being able to behave well in school. He didn''t expect Drew to go to college either; he originally hoped she would stay in school until she was sixteen and then return to Hollywood. But given the current situation, that seemed unlikely. She couldn''t sit still in ss, and the only relief Eric found was that, somehow, Drew had managed to get their principal to stop calling him to report her "misdeeds" like corrupting the good girls at school.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Drew leaped up, shaking her small fist in frustration. "Al Pacino! I want to cut ties with him; I specifically told him not to tell you!"

    "Then he must have misunderstood you," Eric replied with augh, not turning back. "But it pleases me to hear that he said you didn''t drink. By the way, when did you get acquainted with Al?"

    "After the movie premiered, I coincidentally saw him once."

    Drew seemed to be hiding something, but Eric quickly grasped the implications in her words. "So, it looks like you did quite a few ''bad things'' in my name. I''ll need to interrogate you thoroughly sometime."

    "Please, Eric, don''t! I''m afraid of pain. If you kiss me, I''ll confess everything."

    Drew followed Eric into the study, watching him gather a few documents to put them into a messenger bag before heading downstairs. "Eric, are you going out? It is the weekend!"

    Eric picked up the bag and went down. "This is all because of you. Auditions start officially next week, and the staff will notify the actors who made it past the first round in the next few days. I need to add the names you gave me to my list."

    Drew pouted. "But I want you to take me to Malibu to check out our new house address!"

    "What''s there to see? It''s still just emptynd, and it''ll take at least a year to get built. Just stay at home and watch TV. If your conscience moves you, make me dinner or something." Drew batted her big green eyes. "If my conscience moves me, how about I just order you

    takeout?"

    "Then I''d rather go to that third-rate star''s house for a homemade, loving dinner."

    "Don''t, Eric! That''s a transaction. A loveless dinner doesn''t bring warmth. At worst, I''ll order takeout and heat it up myself."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 107: Chapter 107: The Thoughtful Girl

    Chapter 107: The Thoughtful Girl

    ?

    [Chapter 107: The Thoughtful Girl]

    "I just mentioned it casually; you don''t have to keep following me, do you?" Eric said while driving, ncing helplessly at Drew, who lounged in the passenger seat.

    Drew let out a light grunt, chewing her gum vigorously as she continued to focus on her handheld game device, the beeping sounds echoing in the car.

    "Jenny ising back to Los Angeles at the end of the month, and she might just move in with us."

    "Uh-huh," Drew replied, her voice slightly louder, though she didn''t really mind thement.

    From the beginning, Drew never thought Eric and Jennifer Aniston would work out. Eric had a domineering nature that, while often appearing approachable, would not tolerate anyone defying his will when he chose to be stubborn. And Jennifer was such a headstrong girl, with a blend of confidence and a slight inferiorityplex; they might get along at first, but over time, their mutual concessions would wear thin, especially with Eric''s notorious wandering eye. It was hard to see how Jennifer could put up with that.

    Drew often fantasized that she might be the one best suited for Eric. She could handle his strong will, his infidelity, everything about him. To better understand him, Drew had even tackled a few books on personality psychology despite getting dizzy just from reading. She loved him enough to give everything, but she knew that, in the end, he wouldn''t belong to her. The thought alone felt sorrowful.

    The reason she clung to him that day wasn''t merely out of jealousy -- okay, maybe a little. But mostly she was trying to assert her presence. She knew he understood her perfectly; he was so smart, how could he not? All she wanted was just a little more from him, and that didn''t feel greedy at all.

    ...

    It was Drew''s first time at the Firefly Films headquarters. Although she grew up in front of the camera, she didn''t know much about the inner workings of a filmpany. Filled with curiosity, she had dragged a female employee, who was working overtime that weekend, to show her around. They checked out the dubbing and editing rooms, and Drew even tinkered with some equipment. However, Firefly wasn''t a veryrge filmpany, so after about ten minutes touring the facilities, she settled into a small screening room to watch a tape, leaving Eric alone.

    ...

    Once he had instructed someone to add the names Drew submitted to the audition list, Eric began to sift through the roster of actors who had already passed the first round of selections. After flipping through a few pages, the actors reflected the criteria he hadid out. It was obvious there would be some vestiges of favoritism -- he had already slipped a few inside favors into the mix himself, let alone what others at thepany might do.

    He was confident that during auditions, even the order in which the characters would see the other actors could be manipted, but as long as there weren''t any significant mishaps, it was all good. Would it be unfair to those talented actors whocked connections? Sorry, but fairness had never been a thing in that world.

    As thepany expanded and tasks multiplied, Eric could no longer hold on to every bit of power. The casting rights for minor roles would gradually be handed to others. Those responsible for casting wouldn''t mess with their careers -- if they selected actors who didn''t meet the requirements and it impacted filming, they would most likely get fired. Therefore, actresses who thought they could get roles by sleeping with the casting assistant would often find themselves empty-handed if they couldn''t perform.

    After reviewing parts of the audition list, Eric didn''t rush to leave. Since he was there, he looked over detailed budget sheets for three movies. Because Columbia Pictures handled the investment, the budget was set at $40 million, a steep cost for a non-special effects film. But Eric had no intention of cutting Columbia a break; if the money wasn''t spent, they wouldn''t forward any leftovers to him.

    Instead, Eric shifted his spending focus to the cast. For the female character in the Interpol division, he directly sent a guest role invitation to Sigourney Weaver. She epted, of course, but her guest fee was substantial; no problem, he wasn''t spending his own money.

    As for that scene-stealer detective, Eric had his eyes on Joe Pesci, who yed the role of the bumbling thief Harry in the original. When preparing Home Alone, Eric had thought of inviting him, but the budget didn''t allow for it at the time, and they had to settle for a TV actor instead. Unfortunately, that actor was outshined by neer Matthew Perry, who turned the original character''s role on its head.

    At this time, Joe Pesci got offered a role in another blockbuster, which came from Warner Bros., a series that had already produced four movies and a TV series in the future, Lethal Weapon. Before he made the decision, he received Firefly''s offer, and that cleared up his indecision. Of course, Eric had him audition specifically, and it turned out well; Joe Pesci''sedic voice and natural talent made him a perfect fit. The only concern was whether Tom Hanks, who was equally talented, would overshadow him during filming.

    As for other supporting roles that didn''t have actors selected yet, Eric maintained a standard of at least second-tier actors; if someone didn''t have a couple of film credits and connections, they were automatically out of the running without even an audition.

    Eric''s budget for personal investments was much smaller, set at $10 million. Al was gearing up to shoot the film Scent of a Woman, aiming for an Academy Award, and took only $3 million as pay. The overall film budget for The Others was only $5 million, with Jonathan Demme''s directing fee at $500,000. Virginia''s pay was the same as Julia''s, at $300,000. Since all scenes were set in an English manor, the remaining funds were more than sufficient for production. After reading through the lengthy budget sheets for the three films, Eric stretched, ncing at the clock -- it was already six in the evening. He got up to leave and asked the staff left behind if Drew had already left early. The little girl was quite perceptive; Eric felt it would be rude not toe back home that evening. He called Virginia to inform her he wouldn''t being over and then drove back to his Beverly Hills mansion.

    ...

    Drew obviously brightened up when he returned, but they still dined on takeout that night. Having been busy all afternoon, Eric was toozy to cook, and Drew didn''t have any talent in the kitchen. Though she could manage a few things, she certainly wasn''t inept enough to mix up salt and sugar or confuse vinegar and soy sauce; her cooking was just nearly inedible. "Eric, why don''t we hire a chef?" Drew proposed on a whim at the dining table, clearly tired of pizza delivery.

    Eric popped a slice of pizza into his mouth and nodded. "It''d be best to hire a few maids too. I prefer Japanese maid outfits; how about you?"

    "I like..." Drew started to say, but then shut her mouth and shot Eric an annoyed re. "You''re such a domineering male, even if your territory is empty, you won''t allow any male to intrude."

    "Wow," Eric said, curiously sizing her up. "I never expected you toe up with something so insightful. I really underestimated you."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Drew pouted, returning to her dinner and ignoring Eric from then on.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?

    Chapter 108: Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?

    ?

    [Chapter 108: Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?]

    "Motor agreed to pay $3 million for sponsorship, but their one stiption was that the lead actor must be one of those two names previously mentioned: Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks. Lamborghini''s sponsorship offer this time was a one-time payment of $800,000. They were smart this time and wouldn''t ept fluctuating sponsorship fees based on box office performance.

    As for the others, Ray-Ban sunsses opened at $500,000, requesting over five seconds of close-up shots featuring the Ray-Ban logo, while the Hershey Chocte Company also bid $500,000, looking to secure the product cement for that box-shaped bomb..."

    In the conference room, Jeffrey read off the various sponsorship bids with excitement in his voice.

    Eric had a simr document in hand, but Jeffery couldn''t help but read them out loud; he was just thrilled. If all the figures on the document were finalized, that would mean that even before shooting had started, Firefly Films would already have made over $6 million in profit. In those days, Hollywood released over 500 films each year, but even counting profits fromter video rights and other revenue, only about 50 films would clear $6 million in profit. Eric reviewed the bids and jotted down his thoughts next to each, then closed the folder and handed it to Jeffrey. "Alright, Jeffrey, you''re overjoyed at just $6 million in sponsorship?" "Just $6 million?" Jeffrey looked up, dissatisfied, and repeated Eric''s words, countering, "Eric, why don''t you find me another film that can get $6 million in sponsorship?"

    "Just because there''s none now doesn''t mean there won''t be in the future," Eric shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe in another ten or twenty years, films could recoup most of their costs just from product cements."

    "You don''t even have to wait that long," Jeffrey noted wistfully. "If we had gotten this much in sponsorship for thest film, we would''ve already made back our costs."

    "That assumption is absolutely valid," Eric suddenly remembered something important. "Did you let the sponsors know about keeping everything confidential until the film is released?"

    "Of course I didn''t forget," Jeffrey responded. "I exined the stakes to them clearly; they won''t say a word until the film hits theaters."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    With that, Eric felt reassured and stood up, asking, "Good, then. The auditions are about to start. Do you want to join?"

    "Forget it, it''s too torturous. I won''t go," Jeffrey hurriedly declined. He had initially enjoyed the power of being a producer, having control over the actors, but sitting through auditions for several days, repeatedly asking questions and watching the actors perform over and over, gradually washed away that feeling of superiority until only boredom and fatigue remained. The auditions had made Eric dizzy as well, mainly due to the sheer number of candidates. For each role, there were hundreds of actors vying for a chance, even after massive screening processes. Additionally, many of those who didn''t make the cut were continuously looking for ways to secure a second audition, adding to the chaos.

    Eric decided to hand over the auditioning for both films to directors Jonathan Demme and Martin Brest. He nned to have them narrow down the list to ten potential candidates each, before conducting a final round of auditions himself. That approach would definitely be much easier.

    The only audition that was a bit better than the chaotic viin roles from the previous days was today''s audition for Yoyo, the girl Andy met on the bus. She was the one that friends jokinglybeled as the interloper, who disrupted the pure, beautiful feelings between Andy and Sean.

    Eric had previously set the criteria for this role as a beautiful woman aged between 18 and 30, with a professional charm. So, today''s audition was sure to be a visual treat.

    ...

    A girl walked out of the audition room, gently pulling the door shut. Once she turned around, her expression quickly closed off, ignoring the curious nces from the others in the corridor. She grabbed her bag and walked toward her waiting agent a short distance away, murmuring a few words to him before they left together.

    The staff came out and called the next name; another girl was hurriedly summoned inside. Gwh Paltrow pulled out apact mirror from her bag, checking her makeup once more.

    She was born in 1972, making her just 17 this year. By Eric''s standards, Gwh shouldn''t have even gotten an audition opportunity. However, she wasn''t daunted because she knew Drew, who had a close connection to Eric. Steven Spielberg was godfather to both of them.

    That little brat, it was said that Eric Williams was supporting her -- it was really getting out of hand.

    Gwh''s father was a producer, and her mother was a well-known actress, making her background a hundred times better than Drew''s. She had always looked down on Drew, who was riding on her pretty face to act cute. Even at Spielberg''s gatherings, Gwh seldom acknowledged Drew, preferring to hang out with peers from simrly affluent families, as that would better serve her future prospects.

    However, when she learned about the opportunity to coborate with Eric Williams, Tom Cruise, and Tom Hanks, Gwh felt her heart race.

    If she couldnd this role, her career start in Hollywood would surpass that of many struggling actors. Without hesitation, she contacted Drew, hoping she would help her secure an audition slot.

    Even though her rtionship with Drew hadn''t been close, they didn''t have any grudges either. A few ttering words were enough to charm that little brat; it was no wonder she was

    now resorting to being supported. Gwh thought disdainfully.

    Less than five minutester, the girl who had gone in before her emerged looking disheartened.

    All the waiting actresses perked up; one lesspetitor.

    "Next, Miss Gwh Paltrow."

    Gwh quickly stood up, took a deep breath to steady herself, and walked into the audition room with a faint smile. She took a seat and confidently locked eyes with the blonde young man sitting in the center, who had his head down writing something. It was Eric Williams --

    seriously handsome.

    Gwh felt her heart quicken a little more, unable to help but fantasize whether he would invite her to dinner. Maybe she should reject him first to show some modesty; men who get things too easily never treasure them. She held a great deal of confidence in her looks.

    After more than ten seconds, the young man across from her raised his head, smiling. "Hello, Miss Paltrow, please start by introducing yourself."

    In the brief exchange of nces, Gwh sensed that Eric Williams likely recognized her, which excited her; it seemed that little brat had made an impact, at least he didn''t treat her

    like a stranger.

    "Hi everyone, my name is Gwh Paltrow, I''m 17 years old, and I graduated from..." After a short self-introduction, Eric asked, "Miss Paltrow, the records show that you have had no previous film experience. What makes you think you can nail this role?"

    With a smile still on her face, Gwh answered without hesitation, "Because Ie from a family of performers. My mother is an actress, and when I was very young, I began helping her with her lines. Growing up in such an environment, I''ve always had a strong interest in acting. I was a key member of my school drama club since middle school and performed in many famous stage ys, umting a wealth of experience."

    After Gwh finished, she saw the judges nodding in agreement.

    "Miss Paltrow, do you believe in love at first sight?" one of the judges posed another

    question.

    Gwh was taken aback, not quite understanding the intent behind the question. As

    someone familiar with the sparks of attraction, she did believe in love at first sight to some extent. However, she worried that just giving an affirmative answer would make her seem

    frivolous.

    The panel didn''t rush her, and after thinking for about a minute, she replied, "No, I don''t believe in love at first sight. I prefer sincere feelings that develop over a long period of time."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Perks

    Chapter 109: Perks

    ?

    [Chapter 109: Welfare]

    Eric listened to her but didn''t show any reaction as he hunched over to jot down some notes. This made Gwh a bit anxious; she thought her answer should''ve been appropriate. However, the person across from her didn''t give her much thought time and immediately went on with a few more questions before starting the performance.

    The staff rolled in a bench that could seat two people. An assistant exined, "Miss Paltrow, the scene you''re going to perform goes like this: You''re on a bus when a handsome stranger suddenly sits beside you, someone who, at first nce, makes a woman''s heart flutter. But then you see a gun tucked in the open cor of his shirt. The man takes you hostage and forces you to pretend to be his girlfriend to throw off the police''s suspicion. You can''t resist, so you have to go along with it. Miss Paltrow, you won''t have any lines; you''ll have to convey your emotions solely through expressions and bodynguage. You have one minute to prepare." Not a single line? This... is way too hard, Gwh thought to herself. Still, she knew she had no choice but to quickly adjust her mindset to get ready for the performance.

    One minuteter, Gwh sat on the bench, indicating she was ready. The assistant reminded her, "Music stops, performance ends," and pped the te.

    ...

    At the same time, another staff member hit the y button, and a light piano piece began to y.

    The music was the same instrumental piece that recurred during the bus encounter in the original version, Greekposer Vangelis''s 1995 instrumental work.

    Gwh sat there quietly until a staff member sat next to her. She slightly furrowed her brow and turned to take a closer look at the man beside her, her gazending on the open cor where a gun was tucked away. Instantly, fear registered on her face, and she visibly recoiled.

    From behind the audition table, Eric frowned slightly; Gwh''s expression was overly exaggerated, but he didn''t say anything to intervene.

    The two yers continued. The temporary actor, ying the kidnapper, wrapped his arm around Gwh''s shoulders in time with the music and said, "Just don''t make a sound, and you''ll be fine."

    Gwh stiffened for a moment, staring straight ahead. From Eric''s view, he could see her hands resting on herp trembling lightly. The actor removed his sses and put them on Gwh, but she remained unresponsive, like a puppet.

    There was supposed to be a gesture of taking out headphones, but it got skipped over due to the impromptu nature of the performance.

    "Lean closer," the actor continued, and Gwh, looking forlorn, leaned against his shoulder.

    Momentster, Eric made a hand gesture, and immediately the music stopped.

    ...

    Gwh knew the performance had ended, quickly straightening up and smiling as she returned the sunsses.

    "Miss Paltrow, thank you for your audition. You may leave now; we will let you know the results as soon as possible."

    "Uh, it''s just... over?" Gwh couldn''t help but ask.

    Eric nodded and gestured her out, so she picked up her handbag and walked out of the audition room. Once the door was closed, she immediately masked her expression and walked coolly past the group of people waiting for their auditions.

    Inside the audition room, a few people quickly began to discuss.

    Allen Fisman, sitting next to Eric, asked, "Eric, what do you think?"

    Eric drew an X next to Gwh''s name. He had never been attracted to that type of beauty, and, frankly, her acting left a lot to be desired. He casually exined, "Not good; her emotions were t, her expressions superficial, very forced. Kurt, get ready to call the next one."

    Nicole Frank intervened, stopping Kurt from calling out. "Eric, let me go next?"

    "Hey, I only just had three, okay? We agreed on ten to rotate," Roy, the temporary actor, protested immediately.

    Nicole, pained, said, "Roy, you should really stop acting. You''re so disruptive; all three of those girls were thrown off their game because of you. It''s practically a career killer for them."

    "If it was Audrey Hepburn auditioning, even with a gori sitting next to her, she would still pull it off."

    "Roy, you finally admit that even a gori looks better than you."

    Despite having a bit of a rugged appearance, Roy wasn''t ugly in the least and snapped back, "Nicole, keep that up and you''ll regret it when I spill the beans about that night at Brady''s Bar."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "You wouldn''t dare!"

    Eric, irked, tapped the table to stop their bickering. Nicole was Eric''s photographer, and Roy held the position of assistant director. They were both part of Jeffrey''s wife''s crew and were close friends. Their little squabbles happened frequently, so Eric wasn''t really worried they''de to blows. But the noise was giving him a headache.

    The arguments stemmed from the auditions they were doing, which were all for beautiful women today. Instead of hiring temporary actors, Eric had roped all the men present into ying the kidnapper role, giving the crew some perks after their monotonous work for days on end.

    He hadn''t anticipated the level of testosterone-fueled chaos that ensued. There had been a particrly stunning Latina girl who walked in, every curve perfectly entuated. Then, when it was supposed to be Allen''s turn, Nicole swooped in, and with someone present, Allen could only watch helplessly.

    "Enough! My head is spinning. Roy, continue. No changes to the rules. If this keeps up, I''ll just hire temporary actors and nobody will perform," Ericmanded, and his authority worked; Roy and Nicole promptly shut up, exchanging middle fingers instead. After getting a nod from Eric, Kurt stepped out to call the next auditionee.

    ...

    It wasn''t until Gwh exited the Firefly Films office building that she suddenly had a realization.

    "Ah! I should''ve seen iting!" Gwh threw her hands up in frustration and kicked a nearby trash can, it nked loudly against the wall.

    She finally figured out the reason Eric had asked her that question about love at first sight. Pairing it with the performance she had just done, it clearly depicted a scene where two strangers fell for each other upon meeting.

    She had been foolish to im she didn''t believe in love at first sight. How naive! Plus, during her audition, she had been so focused on expressing fear that she hadn''t hinted at the emotion of falling in love at first nce at all.

    Oh, right! The staff had mentioned that the stranger was very handsome, one look at him could make a woman''s heart skip a beat.

    It was all that temporary actor''s fault. He looked so unattractive and yet insisted on ying the handsome guy. If Eric Williams had been sitting next to her, she definitely would have felt

    something.

    Gwh clenched her teeth, inexplicably directing her disappointment and anger at Drew, ming that little brat for living in Eric Williams''s house. She was bound to have seen the script. She had even specially asked Drew about the script''s contents, and if that brat had leaked even a bit of it, she wouldn''t have been caught unprepared. Gwh let out her frustrations as she walked past a phone booth.

    Right! Maybe she could reach out to Drew Barrymore to see if she could help her get another audition opportunity. Next time... next time she would surely be well-prepared and wouldn''t

    perform so poorly as before.

    Gwhpletely disregarded what time it was now. Typically, Drew would be in ss at this hour. She rummaged through her bag for her contacts, dropped a quarter into the payphone, and dialed Drew''s dorm room number.

    It rang a few times before connecting.

    "Hello..." A sleepy girl''s voice came through, clearly just waking up.

    Gwh instantly changed her tone to warm and friendly, "Hey, Drew, it''s me, Gwh...

    Haha, it''s already ten! You''re still asleep? I''m so jealous of you... Anyway, I auditioned today, but I feel like I didn''t really show my true potential. Could you help put in a word with Mr. Williams and see if I could get another chance to audition?...Great... Alright then, I''ll be waiting for your good news. Let''s do dinner this weekend; I know a fantastic Italian ce on Sunset Boulevard... Okay, sounds good... Alright, bye for now."

    She smiled until she heard the busy signal on the line after Drew hung up, then she snapped the receiver back into ce, her voice tinged with a hint of disdain and jealousy, "Sleeping all day? You must have been out partyingst night! Hope you get caught in bed with Eric Williams someday, dragged off to work in some African mine and see if that baby face of

    yours can still charm anyone."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 110: Chapter 110: She is Mine

    Chapter 110: She is Mine

    ?

    [Chapter 110: She is Mine]

    In the audition room of Firefly Films, after a morning of auditions, there were indeed a few actresses who left a good impression, but none sparked an immediate interest in Eric. The selected actresses could only remain as backups; if no more suitable candidates emerged, he would conduct a third round of auditions for them.

    Originally, the film did not belong to Hollywood, so there were no references regarding the actors. Eric could only draw upon his own imagination to make selections. Aside from the roles of Cruise, Hanks, and Joe Pesci, the character that mattered most to him was that of the girl next door. Therefore, he decided to start auditioning for this role after most of the main and supporting roles were confirmed, allowing him to make a deliberate choice.

    This role attracted the most applicants during the open auditions. Even though the screen time was minimal, it was a lead role. As a result, several A-list actresses expressed interest, and some even agreed to perform for no pay, just to boost their visibility in this highly anticipated film.

    Unfortunately, after reviewing the materials on a few of them, Eric turned them down, as none of them matched his vision. The current lineup of actors was already quite strong, and he didn''t feel the need topromise on the character''s image for the sake of bringing in big

    names.

    He believed that the girl next door had to make a striking impression, so that in her brief appearance, she would leave asting mark on the audience. The actress from his past life had failed to achieve this; viewers remembered her for the warm bus encounter, but not her.

    ...

    The afternoon auditions carried on without much excitement, though a few more names joined the backup list. After a busy day, Eric returned to his mansion in Beverly Hills. The spacious vi felt empty, and the television in the living room yed the news program monotonously. After spending a bit of time in the kitchen preparing a simple dinner, he took it to the living room to enjoy slowly.

    Eric did not like solitude; he had always been a social person in his past life. However, ever since arriving in this world, he oddly found sce in being alone. This state helped him to calm his heart, allowing him to reflect on many things and affirm that everything happening around him was not a dream but very real. That was why he had turned down Drew''s suggestion of inviting a few servantsst time. Perhaps there was also a primal territory instinct deep within his character.

    While he was cleaning up after dinner, the phone rang in the living room. He picked it up, but on the other end, there was no immediate response from the caller; instead, he heard the giggles of several girls. He faintly caught Drew''s voice among them and smiled, patiently waiting for a moment.

    ...

    In the girls'' dormitory, Drew was brimming with energy. Typical of a night owl, she wore her pajamas since she didn''t have ns to go out that night. Upon learning she was calling Eric, her dormmates gathered curiously around her, intrigued by Drew''s rtionship with Eric.

    After yfully shooing away her gossiping friends and locking the dorm room door, Drew returned to the phone: "Eric, it''s me. I wanted to ask how Gwh Paltrow''s audition went today."

    Eric answered honestly, "It wasn''t good, Drew. Did Gwh put you up to this?"

    "Yeah," the girl on the other end remained unfazed by his assessment. "No wonder she rushed to call me right after her audition, wanting me to ask for another shot."

    "I think another try would yield the same result, and her image doesn''t fit the character''s description at all. Otherwise, I could have given her another chance, but that role doesn''t demand much acting skill. Drew, do you have a good rtionship with Gwh? If so, I can keep an eye out for roles in my future films, though I won''t promise anything for this one." "No, no, no, of course not," Drew quickly refused. "My rtionship with her is pretty casual." Eric responded with curiosity, "Aren''t you both Spielberg''s goddaughters?"

    "That''s our only shared point," Drew''s tone turned somewhat t. "Gwh''s dad is a movie producer, and her mom is a big star. She''s lived a carefree life, seeing me only a few times when I used to visit the Godfather''s house. Gwh acted like a princess, surrounded by little kids. I, on the other hand, was taken by my mom to film ads to help support the family when I was just a few months old. To be honest, Gwh looks down on me. If it weren''t for needing my help this time, she''d never reach out."

    Drew''s ordinary remarks struck a chord, sounding somewhat bittersweet to Eric. Leaning against the sofa while holding the receiver, he sighed and advised, "Girl, things aren''t the same as they used to be; you don''t need to amodate anyone anymore. You are a true princess now. Next time you encounter someone unpleasant, just roll your eyes at them. Don''t worry; I''ll have your back."

    Drew giggled and hopped around on her bed, clutching the phone until the line almost got yanked out: "Eric, that''s the sweetest thing I''ve heard. I love you."

    ||||

    "Okay, okay, I know you don''t love me; you don''t need to throw that in my face." Drew chimed in again, "Has that girl role been chosen yet?"

    "Not yet. There''s still a day and a half until we go through all the auditionees again, and if we

    still don''t have a choice, we''ll conduct a third round of auditions."

    "Oh, well, if there''s a third round, let''s give Gwh another chance then."

    Eric frowned, "Didn''t I just say..."

    Drew interrupted him with a cheeky grin, "I just want Gwh to owe me a favor. Although with her self-absorbed nature, I doubt she''ll ever repay it, but I can still relish in feeling like a

    creditor."

    Eric chuckled, "Fine. If there''s a third round, I''ll let her know."

    ...

    "Ms. Lopez, thank you for your audition; we''ll get back to you as soon as we have results." After another round of standard responses, once the actress left, Eric put a red mark next ton/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    her name again.

    Nicole leaned over to look at the red mark Eric had drawn andmented, "Eric, I thought she was pretty good, especially... especially..."

    Eric shot Nicole a sideways nce, "You don''t have a thing for rear ends, do you? Is that why you lit up upon seeing a woman like that?"

    Laughter erupted in the audition room, and Nicole shot a yful re around at her snickering colleagues, retorting, "I''m a photographer -- a professional at appreciating and capturing beauty!"

    Roy, the assistant director who had been teased by Nicole just yesterday, seized the opportunity to make a quip: "Admiring butts is more like it! You wouldn''t believe what happened that night at Brady''s Bar. Nicole..."

    "Roy, shut up; I''ll kill you." Nicole rushed over to cover Royce''s mouth, and they wrestled together until Nicole almost had him gasping for breath, at which point they were pulled apart by the others.

    Eric smiled and pped his hands, "Alright, let''s hurry and bring in the next auditionee. The sooner we finish these auditions, the sooner we can prepare for the rest of our work."

    After saying that, Eric flipped open the next actress''s information. Before he could even look at her name, a girl walked in, apanied by staff. Eric could clearly sense that all the men around him collectively inhaled sharply and lifted their gazes.

    Stunning!

    That was Eric''s first thought.

    She is mine!

    That was his second thought.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 111: Chapter 111: The Trigger

    Chapter 111: The Trigger

    ?

    [Chapter 111: The Trigger]

    The young woman had a delicate and wless appearance, as if crafted by a skilled artist. Her long, glossy ck hair framed a pale face and a high nose. To fit the audition mood, she wore a business suit typical of an office girl and held a white handbag. Sitting across from Eric, she radiated an aura of serene beauty.

    Deborah was just a thirteen-year-old girl then, but yearster, the woman who finally broke free from her awkward career no longer possessed the stunning charm of her youth; only a bit of maturity and intellect remained from the passage of time. For her, her twenties were truly her most breathtaking moments.

    Eric didn''t need to nce at his notes; he effortlessly said, "Ms. Connolly, why don''t you introduce yourself?"

    "Hello, everyone. My name is Jennifer Lynn Connolly. I''m neen years old and currently studying English literature at Yale..."

    Her voice carried a slight rasp, hinting at allure. During the questioning phase, Jennifer Connolly remained calm andposed until it was time to perform. Although she had already appeared in several films, she had never received professional acting training, leaving her skills still rather naive, even slightly wooden.

    But that was okay; nobody was born ready for the spotlight. There was room for improvement. The important thing was that Eric was certain Jennifer Connolly could bring something fresh to the audience. When she showed vulnerability during her scenes where she was held hostage by the robber Andy, her performance could evoke tremendous sympathy, powerful enough to captivate everyone.

    Once all the auditions werepleted, Eric marked a check next to Jennifer Connolly''s name and looked up, asking, "Ms. Connolly, would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"

    All the staff in the audition room froze, taken aback by his directness. It felt a bit inappropriate, considering he was suggesting this in front of everyone. ''You could at least keep that to yourself and spare us the awkwardness,'' they might have thought.

    Jennifer Connolly was momentarily stunned as well. Her expression changed several times. She had specially returned from Italy for this audition and managed to wrap up all her scenes just in time, though she had a slight disagreement with the director.

    But if she couldnd this role, she was prepared to overlook everything else. Filming an art film in Europe seemed like a good opportunity, especially when many actresses in Hollywood encountered career stagnation. During this era, European cinema hadn''tpletely declined, so many actors hoped to earn des at European film festivals. If they won awards and returned home, it could provide a solid foundation for their careers.

    If this invitation was made in private, Jennifer Connolly might not have hesitated much. But in front of everyone, her pride made it difficult for her to let go of her reservations. She found herself in a tricky position.

    "I''m sorry, that was abrupt of me, Ms. Connolly. Thank you for your audition. We''ll let you know the results soon, and you''re free to go now."

    Eric immediately regretted his invitation; the intention was to ease her difort, but Jennifer Connolly misunderstood him as taking her hesitation as a rejection, which would surely mean she wouldn''t get the role.

    Standing still, she hesitated before finally whispering, "Mr. Williams, I... I''m willing."

    "What?" Eric raised his head again, his focus broken; he hadn''t clearly heard her soft response.

    Jennifer Connolly felt her cheeks flush at his reiteration. She didn''t want to repeat it in front of so many people.

    Nicole couldn''t resist chiming in, "Hey, Eric, don''t be too much. The girl said yes."

    Eric finally realized and nodded quickly. "That''s wonderful, Ms. Connolly." He promptly scribbled a series of numbers on a piece of paper and handed it to her, saying, "I hope you''ll get in touch with me at seven tonight. I''lle to pick you up. We''ve got auditions to continue, and there are plenty of girls still waiting."

    Jennifer Connolly lowered her head and hurriedly folded the note and ced it in her handbag before leaving the audition room in a bit of a fluster.

    "Hey, Eric, is that a done deal?" Nicole asked curiously.

    Eric nodded, "Barring any surprises, she''s the one."

    "Do we really need to continue the auditions then?"

    "Of course," Eric replied, pulling out the next set of actor profiles. "There are still so many waiting, and who knows, we might discover someone even better, so let''s keep going. Next!"

    Everyone in the audition room realized that Eric had already made up his mind, and the remaining auditions felt less enthusiastic. By five in the afternoon, after thest girl finished her audition, the crew couldn''t leave fast enough.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After returning to his office and tidying up, Eric was preparing to head out when Jeffrey knocked and walked in.

    He handed Eric a document and said, "Eric, here are thetest negotiation results. CAA has made some concessions. Cruise and Hanks have the same terms: five million for the fee plus a 12% profit share."

    Eric nced through the document and considered, "Never mind, Jeffrey. Let''s hold off on negotiations for a few days. Let''s wait until next week. The film Road House is set to premiere Friday, and I bet there will be quite a spectacle to witness by then."

    "I came to tell you just that," Jeffrey chuckled. "The critics'' early screenings didn''t go too well, and since then, they''ve gradually premiered across North America. The feedback has been divided, with praise and criticism evenly split. Although United Artists is trying to drum up interest, it hasn''t had the desired effect. Many people seem to be waiting to see how it all ys out."

    Eric shrugged. "Who cares? As long as it works in our favor. I suspect, after the box office flops, CAA won''t have the confidence to keep dragging things out. Otherwise, Cruise and Hanks wouldn''t agree to anything."

    "Shouldn''t we consider contacting WMA and other agencies for some of their actors to create the illusion of a cast change?" Jeffrey suggested.

    Eric shook his head, declining. "No need, at least not for now. It''s not at that point yet. Let''s see how things develop."

    The two of them didn''t discuss much more and soon parted ways. They didn''t realize that the stir they were creating was far beyond anything Eric had anticipated, like a lit fuse waiting to

    ignite.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Forceful Kiss

    Chapter 112: The Forceful Kiss

    ?

    [Chapter 112: The Forceful Kiss]

    A purple Lamborghini pulled up in front of the hotel, and Eric got out of the car. His eyes immediatelynded on Jennifer Connelly, who was standing at the hotel''s entrance alongside a middle-aged man in his thirties.

    Eric approached them, and the two quickly noticed him and walked over. Jennifer had changed into a light blue dress and managed a forced smile at Eric. The middle-aged man next to her stepped forward enthusiastically, extending his hand for an introduction. "Mr. Williams, hello, I''m Miss Connelly''s agent, Jim Lister."

    "Hello, Mr. Lister," Eric politely shook his hand, then turned to Jennifer Connelly. "Miss Connelly, let''s go. I''ve made a reservation at the restaurant."

    Jennifer cast a desperate nce toward her agent. Eric''s gaze and tone were so aggressive that it felt as if he considered her his personal property.

    Having debuted at thirteen, she''d faced more than her fair share of unwanted attention due to her stunning beauty. However, nothingpared to the overwhelming possessiveness Eric seemed to exude. She believed that if she allowed him to have her alone, all the strategies she''d developed for dealing with men would be useless.

    Eric followed her gaze to Jim Lister, who stood by. "Mr. Lister, are you joining us?"

    Lister, unable to meet Jennifer''s pleading look, smiled nervously at Eric and shook his head. "Of course not, Mr. Williams. I wouldn''t dream of intruding on your date." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Mr. Williams, could you share how today''s audition for Jen went?"

    Hearing Lister refer to Jennifer Connelly as "Jen" felt strange to Eric, so he cut to the chase: "If all goes well, that role is Miss Connelly''s."

    Jennifer, wary of Eric but unable to contain her surprise, looked up at him, while Lister was practically beaming with excitement.

    As a sharp and adaptable agent, Lister quickly understood from Eric''s fierce determination in his gaze that he intended to heavily promote Jennifer. With Eric Williams'' reputation, anyone he considered would likely end up at his personal agency. As a third-tier actor''s agent, Lister realized this was an opportunity he couldn''t let slip away; who knew when he would encounter something like this again?

    "Well, Mr. Williams, I believe UTA is a highly promising agency, and I''d like to bring my artists over. What do you think?"

    Jennifer cast a surprised nce at her agent. Lister hadn''t mentioned this to her, which left her displeased with his unteral decision. But she refrained from voicing her concerns in front of Eric.

    Worriedly looking at the young man before her, she realized that UTA was Eric''s personal enterprise; if he agreed, she would have no choice but to ept. Deep down, though, she was reluctant to join UTA, not because she doubted thepany, but because it felt akin to walking into a lion''s den.

    Eric noticed Jennifer''s surprised and worried expression, taking a thoughtful look at the somewhat short and stocky middle-aged man before him. "Mr. Lister, you''re a smart man, quick to seize opportunities, and you''ve made a good choice," Eric eventually replied.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He did indeed n to bring Jennifer Connelly into UTA and have Kepler personally mentor her. However, since her agent raised the idea of switching agencies, Eric felt relieved. If Lister wished to continue working with her, that was fine; after all, Eric couldn''t have all promising talent under Kepler alone. No matter how energetic Kepler was, he couldn''t handle it all. If Lister failed to prove his worth in the future, he would still face consequences.

    "By the way, how many artists do you currently represent?" Eric asked, recalling Lister''s earlierments.

    "Four, including Jen," Lister immediately replied. He seemed eager to introduce the other three, but Eric waved him off. "Forget the other three; bring Miss Connelly to UTA by yourself. I only have my eye on Miss Connelly; I don''t need any additional baggage."

    A flicker of struggle passed over Lister''s face. He had decent rtionships with his other actors, one of whom was the brother of a friend who had asked him to help. However, thinking of his future, Lister decided in mere seconds. "No problem, Mr. Williams."

    After finalizing the agreement, Lister smartly excused himself, leaving Jennifer Connelly by Eric''s side.

    ...

    Once in the car, Eric nced at Jennifer, who sat dazed in the passenger seat, and leaned over suddenly.

    Jennifer noticed Eric''s movement and immediately raised both hands defensively. "What... what are you going to do?"

    "You''re adorable when you''re scared," Eric remarked, rolling his eyes and reaching for the seatbelt beside her. "I''m not skilled at driving this car, so it''s safer if you buckle up."

    "I can buckle it myself," she replied, reaching to grab the seatbelt but identally gripping Eric''s hand instead, drawing back instantly as if shocked.

    After he secured his seatbelt, Eric sat back up straight but didn''t start the car right away. Instead, he turned his head to observe the nervous woman next to him.

    "Are you afraid of me?" he eventually asked.

    Jennifer instinctively nodded, realized it was inappropriate, then quickly shook her head. "Mr. Williams, I... I didn''t mean that."

    "You can call me Eric."

    She hurriedly turned to look out the window, murmuring a soft "uh-huh."

    "Come on, look at me." Eric''s tone softened a bit, and Jennifer found herself turning her head to face him, curiosity in her eyes.

    Eric reached back behind her, grasped the back of her neck, and suddenly leaned forward, kissing her luscious red lips.

    Caught off guard, Jennifer''s eyes widened, pupils dting, hands instinctively pushing against Eric''s chest as she froze, forgetting to escape. As she felt Eric assertively kissing her, his tongue teasingly probing for entry, hershes fluttered rapidly, and herrge eyes quickly filled with tears as Eric finally released her lips.

    "How could you do that!" Her first instinct was to p Eric and jump out of the car, but she realized she was firmly strapped in the seat.

    While she was frantically unbuckling her seatbelt, Eric pressed down on the elerator, sending the Lamborghini onto the road. "Mr. Williams, please pull over! I want to get out!"

    she shouted.

    "Calm down and buckle up."

    "You... I want to get out!" she insisted defiantly.

    Before Eric could respond, a convertible Mercedes sped toward them, the punk-haired driver clearly crossing the center line to overtake. Eric swore and jerked the steering wheel to barely avoid a collision, but they still scraped past the other car closely. The punk youth in the car must have caught a glimpse of the beautiful woman in the passenger seat, who let out loud cheers and catcalls as they passed.

    Once the Mercedes disappeared from the rearview mirror, Eric realized he was sweating profusely. He cast a nce at the equally startled woman next to him before adopting a more serious tone. "Buckle up."

    This time, Jennifer didn''t resist. She didn''t want to gamble with her life, so she obediently buckled up. However, she stubbornly turned her head away from him.

    ...

    Arriving at a famous Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, the doorman rushed over upon seeing the shy purple Lamborghini. Eric exited the car, handed over the keys along with a tip, and turned back to Jennifer. She had calmed down and didn''t walk away in a huff after exiting the vehicle. Reluctantly, she linked her arm with Eric''s and followed him into the restaurant. "Is a sd enough? Why not order something else?" Eric suggested as they sat at the table. Jennifer nced at the waiter standing nearby and mumbled, "I''m on a diet."

    Eric didn''t press further, ordering his own dinner and a bottle of red wine. Once he handed the menu back to the waiter and they had left, he said, "Alright, girl, how about giving me a

    smile? You''re making me feel guilty."

    "You feel guilty?" she shot back, ring at him. "And don''t talk to me in that condescending

    tone. You''re only a few months older than I am."

    "Well, isn''t that a finepliment? I''m surprised you''ve even figured out my birthday. That''ll be quite helpful for our future interactions. I also remember your birthday: December

    12th. Quite a fascinating date, isn''t it?"

    His words made Jennifer uneasy. "How do you know my birthday?"

    "File records," Eric replied, smiling casually as he charmed her. "I know much more about you. Ever since you hit the screen in 1984, I couldn''t forget that angelically beautiful girl, and I never imagined she would one day appear right in front of me."

    What woman doesn''t enjoy suchpliments? Particrly from a rising young director, Jennifer found herself unable to meet Eric''s smitten gaze, but her cheeks flushed in a soft pink. Even the prior offense from Eric didn''t seem so severe anymore; she convinced herself

    he acted that way because he liked her.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 113: Chapter 113: The Paparazzi Stunt

    Chapter 113: The Paparazzi Stunt

    ?

    [Chapter 113: The Paparazzi Stunt]

    Eric continued, "Then there was Sarah. I bought the tape just to catch a few more glimpses of that angelic girl, but unfortunately, I''ve lost it now. Oh, and I also really liked your recent film."

    Seeing Eric''s ambiguous smile as he mentioned thetest movie made Jennifer Connelly a bit bashful. That had been her first experience with edgier content, leading to a fair bit of criticism from conservative folks.

    The cause was the box office flop that had left her without opportunities for quite some time. Jennifer even tried her luck in Japan, where she shot a fewmercials and released two records, but none of it really helped her career. After returning to the States, she eventually relented to her agent''s persuasion to star in that teen sexedy in order to stay afloat in Hollywood.

    With Eric''s smooth talk easing her reservations, she gradually opened up, and they began chatting, their demeanor bing increasingly intimate.

    ...

    After dinner, the two strolled arm in arm back to the parking lot. Sitting in the Lamborghini again, she felt butterflies. Would he really take her home? What would she do then? Should she refuse him?

    Perhaps, but...

    She absently scratched her handbag, stealing quick nces at Eric as he started the car. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she quickly looked away.

    Eric chuckled and said, "How about we catch a movie first?"

    Feeling like a death-row inmate who just received a stay of execution, Jennifer exaggeratedly nodded, suddenly realizing her reaction was a bit much and awkwardlyughed it off.

    "You should smile more; I love seeing you smile," Eric remarked, igniting a sweet moment. He drove them around Beverly Hills, eventually finding an upscale theater. After checking the schedule, he discovered that a film that had just premiered on Friday was screening, probably a promotional preview by the studio. He asked the ticket clerk, and as luck would have it, they still had tickets avable, so he bought two.

    "What is it?" Jennifer inquired, leaning over to peek at the ticket in Eric''s hand. "I know! I know! It''s the one starring Richard Gere; I saw it in the paper..."

    She suddenly mped her mouth shut mid-sentence.

    Eric, smiling as he took her hand, prompted, "What else were you going to say?"

    "Um, uh..."

    "Come on, what were you going to say?"

    "Your conflict with CAA and that Richard Gere has taken this movie instead of Pretty Woman..." "Ha, what gossip magazine are you reading?" Eric scoffed lightly. "Looks like United Artists is pulling out all the stops for this film."

    "But I think that paper had some valid points," she replied quietly.

    "Oh, tell me about their analysister; I''m pretty curious," he encouraged as they wandered together, grabbing sodas and popcorn before heading to the ticket counter. Theypletely missed the short, skinny white guy not far behind them, furiously clicking away with his camera. As they approached the theater, it seemed like he couldn''t contain his excitement, his finger on the shutter bing quite adept.

    ...

    After Eric and Jennifer slipped through the ticket gate, the skinny guy, Vic, reluctantly lowered his camera. He had been working extra hours at a fashion magazine in Los Angeles, focusing on the fashion section, which meant he came across plenty of celebrities. So, when he stumbled upon valuable gossip, he didn''t mind turning into a paparazzo for a quick buck. His encounter with Eric and Jennifer Connelly was pure chance. He had spotted Eric''s shy purple Lamborghini while driving home. Being a fashion magazine editor and having seen the film, he recognized the car immediately. Knowing it wouldn''t be on the market for months, he figured if he could snap a few shots and write an article, he''d make easy cash.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Due to the film''s poprity, the Lamborghini had be one of the hottest sports cars globally, eclipsing even Ferrari in buzz.

    Carefully tailing the eye-catching car, it finally stopped outside a movie theater. Vic nned to take pictures after the subjects exited but was a little disappointed to see that it was Eric Williams who stepped out first.

    That didn''t thrill Vic too much; everyone knew about Eric''s impressive ad coboration with Lamborghini from hisst film, so he wouldn''t find anything remarkable about Eric getting ess to the car before its release.

    If it had just been Eric getting out, Vic had even resolved to not mention Eric in his write-up and instead create an air of mystery about the car''s owner; such an approach would tend to draw more readers. But once the spotlight turned to the rtionship between the Lamborghini and Eric, readers would likely shrug it off as expected, losing their interest. Then, from the passenger seat, a girl emerged, jolting Vic to attention. It wasn''t the likely Drew Barrymore or the "Hollywood Cindere" Julia Roberts, nor was it Eric''s official girlfriend Jennifer Aniston. Instead, it was another stunning woman, Jennifer Connelly, someone Vic happened to recognize even though she wasn''t a huge name in Hollywood.

    Eric Williams''s personal life had always intrigued paparazzi, but after he rose to fame, he stayed far from nightclubs and bars, avoiding any scandals that could be exploited. Even the rumored drama with Jennifer Aniston had blown over quickly. They soon reconciled, and the only time he had been spotted with another female in the spotlight was indeed with Aniston. Because of that restraint, even as curiosity around his personal life grew, paparazzi found themselves in a tricky situation -- hungry for news but without a viable lead. Eventually, people stopped chasing Eric; there were just too many other celebs who generated better headlines.

    So, that day''s juicy scoop fell right into Vic''s hands. By now, he had reced the film in his camera, waiting patiently outside the theater, mulling over whether the angle of this story should focus on Eric and his new girlfriend Jennifer Connelly or the film itself, or perhaps split the gossip into two different stories?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 114: Chapter 114: The Pseudo Protagonist

    Chapter 114: The Pseudo Protagonist

    ?

    [Chapter 114: The Pseudo Protagonist]

    Once Eric settled into the screening room, he exchanged a few words with Connelly about some tabloids that had gone overboard with their sensational articles. Just as the lights dimmed and the film began, his anticipation faded quickly.

    Richard Gere yed James Dalton, a bar bouncer who had sessfully tossed a troublemaker out of a bar. As a result, Frank Tilghman, the owner of a bar in a small town outside Kansas City, took notice of him and invited James to help clean up the increasingly chaotic Double Deuce Bar.

    The first twenty minutes of the movie offered nothing captivating -- just bar fights and women striking sultry poses everywhere. From the moment he appeared on screen, Richard Gere wore a stoic expression, navigating through the crowd as if to say, "I''m awesome and you''re all insignificant." As an action film, wouldn''t it make sense to kick things off with an explosive fight to grab the audience''s attention? However, the pretentious writer evidently scoffed at such ideas, opting instead to show the protagonist getting grazed on the arm by a thug''s knife only to stitch himself up to portray his uniqueness.

    Unfortunately, this scene didn''t resonate with the audience. Gere''sposure was so steady that it seemed like he was simply sewing fabric rather than stitching a wound. Couldn''t he at least muster a grimace of grit? Sadly, there was nothing of the sort. Even as things got bloody, Eric could still hear someone behind him crunching popcorn.

    Then, after arriving at the Double Deuce Bar in that small Kansas town, the protagonist still didn''t disy any skills. After assessing the chaos in the bar, he merely held a small staff meeting to dismiss a few disobedient employees, and just like that, the bar began to flourish. Seriously, even if you''re the chosen one, does everything have to go so smoothly?

    Finally, the raging business of the Double Deuce Bar caught the attention of the town''s bully, Brad Wesley. He sent his goons to lure the protagonist out for a chat, wanting to take over the bar, but of course, James Dalton tly rejected him.

    Then, after eighty minutes of dullness, the film finally hit a climax -- or rather, the director finally remembered this was supposed to be an action flick. After being turned down by James Dalton, Brad Wesley stormed into the Double Deuce Bar with his men, leading to a showdown. Although the director awkwardly infused a few karate shots into this action scene, the overall fighting style was a hodgepodge of brawling. It was only then that Gere finally showcased a "special" move, though admittedly, it wasn''t nearly as crisp as the secondary viin. Yet, he managed toy out the bad guys.

    When the bully, Brad Wesley, failed at first, he started wreaking havoc across the town to assert his status as the local tyrant, forcing the protagonist''s hand. He first burned down a convenience store belonging to a shopkeeper who dared to oppose him, then ttened a Ford dealership with his powerful four-wheeler, and ultimately turned his attention to James Dalton''s mentor and friend. In the final ten minutes, after taking all the abuse he could stand, the hero single-handedly took down Brad Wesley''s goons and made his way to Wesley''sir, where he wrestled with Wesley, pinning him down on a sofa.

    Just when everyone assumed James Dalton would decisively finish Brad Wesley off, bringing the movie to a close, he surprisingly showed mercy! Seriously, the guy ruined your ce and killed your closest friend, and you soften up?

    What a messy conflict!

    Just as the pseudo-protagonist Richard Gere was about to let Brad Wesley go, as if moved by divine intervention, Wesley, of course, took advantage of the mercy and picked up a revolver.

    Gunshots rang out!

    Is this how it ends?

    Was this a tragedy?

    No way!

    Just when the pseudo-protagonist found himself in a precarious position, the real protagonists -- a group of small-town residents long oppressed by the bully -- arrived just in time. Armed with shotguns, they took out the viinous Brad Wesley and saved the pseudo-protagonist.

    Thus, the two-hour long "action movie" finally wrapped up.

    ...

    As the lights in the screening room still hadn''t brightened, Eric caught snippets of the audience''s chatter.

    "That muscle car was so badass! Hey, Vi, what do you think about us getting one?"

    "But we''re in Los Angeles, cops wouldn''t allow a car like that on the road unless we went back to our farm in Texas."

    "Forget it then! I wouldn''t go back there for anything. After the old man kicks the bucket, I''ll sell the farm and we can get a nice ce in Santa Monica."

    "If Dad hears you say that, he''d flip out!"

    "Hey, Victor, how many songs did you catch?"

    "Well, during that blond girl''s dance scene, it featured Hoochie Coochie Man -- but we don''t even need to remember these; this movie will definitely release a soundtrack soon."

    "I just can''t wait! The score was wonderful; I n to buy a bunch of rted albums when I get home."

    As the lights came up, the noise level in the screening room increased, and Eric could only catch bits and pieces of thements.

    "What a load of crap! I got duped by the paper''s hype; I''m canceling my subscription. I shouldn''t havee to see it."

    "I can''t believe Richard Gere would sign on for this trash; he must''ve lost his mind."

    "The fight scenes were like some wannabe street brawl, and he''s over here trying to imitate Bruce Lee! Lee could kick a two-meter light bulb into smithereens, whereas Gere couldn''t even pull off a decent high kick. That side character was way better!"

    "Sure, Gere''s performance didn''t shine, but I thought the movie was alright. The girls were pretty and the music was solid."

    "After seeing all those gorgeousdies, being so critical just isn''t right."

    ...

    "Hey, Eric, let''s go," said Jennifer Connelly, seated next to Eric. She noticed he was eavesdropping on the audience discussions.

    "Uh, right," Eric snapped back to reality, stood up, and asked, "What''d you think of the

    movie?"

    Jennifer shook her head in disappointment, naturally linking her arm with Eric''s while delivering her two-word review: "Too loud."

    They whispered to each other as they made their way out of the screening room.

    ...

    Vic, the photographer who was hanging around, waited outside, oblivious to the running time. After more than ny minutes, he stared at the exit, afraid he might miss Eric and

    Jennifer Connelly after the film suddenly wrapped.

    Finally, as the film neared the two-hour mark, more audience members spilled out of the theater. Vic hoisted his camera, waited a couple of minutes but didn''t spot Eric.

    "It can''t be that I missed them, right?" Vitt muttered in confusion, just as he caught a glimpse

    of Eric and Jennifer walking out side by side.

    In his pursuit of the best shot, Vic couldn''t care less and turned on his camera''s sh,

    snapping away.

    Click--click--click--

    The bright sh went off several times in the theater lobby. Eric, sensing trouble, raised his hand to shield his face, but it was already toote.

    Under normal circumstances, the theater''s security wouldn''t bother a journalist loitering in the lobby; interviews could generate publicity for the cinema. But once he shed his camera, it might disturb the moviegoers, so as soon as Vic snapped a few photos, two security guards charged at him and escorted him out.

    ...

    Eric gave a puzzled Jennifer Connelly a reassuring nce while scanning the surroundings, then headed toward the reception desk.

    "Hello, sir. May I help you? Wait, you''re... Wow, it''s you -- Eric Williams! I didn''t expect you''de to our theater! I''m Linda, Linda Kraut." The receptionist, Linda, lit up, her freckles on her nose glowing as she offered her hand eagerly to Eric.

    Eric pulled his hand back and replied, "Sure, Linda. You probably noticed I ran into some trouble just now. Can you help us slip out through another exit?"

    "Of course, Mr. Williams, right this way." Linda nodded vigorously, leading Eric to the backn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    door while chattering away with questions.

    "Mr. Williams, is that youngdy your new girlfriend? She''s beautiful!"

    Jennifer Connelly perked up at the question, her expression reflecting both eagerness and

    concern as she nced at Eric.

    Understanding that there was only one eptable answer to keep from making Jennifer ufortable, Eric nodded without hesitation, saying, "Yes."

    "Mr. Williams, when do you start filming? I''m such a fan and will definitelye support you

    in theaters!" "That hasn''t been locked in yet, but it will be in the summer release window."

    "Mr. Williams, which movie are you here to see?"

    If not for her obvious job, Eric would have thought this girl was a paparazzi. From the lobby to

    the back, in less than two minutes, Linda sted him with over ten questions. Since Eric needed her help, he tried to respond appropriately to her barrage.

    "Here we are," Linda pointed at the security door, sensing they were about to part ways. With newfound courage, she asked, "Mr. Williams, could I get an autograph?"

    "Of course," Eric nodded, "but I don''t have a pen."

    "I do!" Linda pulled out a pen from her chest pocket but then rummaged through her other

    pockets without finding paper, finally raising her arm and saying, "Mr. Williams, please sign

    my sleeve!"

    "Uh, sure." Eric steadied her arm and quickly signed his name on the fabric of her shirt before

    pushing open the back door to exit the theater.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 115: Chapter 115: The Number

    Chapter 115: The Number

    ?

    [Chapter 115: The Number]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    It was a secluded alley, and just a few steps to the left was the street. Eric had just stepped out with the girl when a thin figure darted over.

    After being ushered out of the lobby by security, Vic noticed that Eric hadn''te out yet. He decisively ran towards the back door. Eric and Jennifer were both rookies when it came to handling paparazzi; they thought they had devised a good strategy by heading for the back door, but they vastly underestimated the savvy of the paparazzi.

    Vic paid little attention to Eric''s exit through the back. He didn''t take any pictures this time, having umted enough intimate snapshots of the couple. Holding a recorder up to Eric''s face, he asked, "Eric, is it true that Jennifer Connelly is your new girlfriend?"

    Eric didn''t respond and quickly pulled Jennifer Connelly towards the parking lot. However, the girl was wearing high heels, which meant they wouldn''t be moving fast.

    Vic kept pace beside Eric, relentlessly asking questions: "Eric, are you interested in the box office of your film?"

    "How soon will filming start? Are Cruise and Hanks facing strong opposition from CAA like Richard Gere did back then?"

    Even though Eric was a rookie at handling paparazzi, he remembered the most useful piece of advice: when sudden questions from paparazzi arose, no matter how provocative they were, it was best to say nothing. Because whatever you said, they would twist it to fit their narrative. Seeing he was getting nothing out of Eric, Vic quickly shifted his focus to Jennifer: "Jennifer, when did you start dating Eric? Don''t you mind that Eric has another girlfriend named Jennifer?"

    "Jennifer, will you be ying the lead role?"

    "Jennifer, are you going to move into Eric''s mansion in Beverly Hills?"

    Faced with Vic''s relentless questioning, Jennifer''s expression slowly turned impatient. Just as she was about to say something, Eric had already pulled her over to the Lamborghini, opened the door, and promptly shoved her inside.

    "Hey, Eric, treating Miss Connelly so rudely suggests you two aren''t in a romantic rtionship. What exactly is your rtionship? Is it some sort of arrangement? Eric, Eric..."

    The Lamborghini''s scissor doors closed, and Vic could only p the tinted windows, raising his voice to ask more questions. Unfortunately for him, he was destined to receive no answers. The sports car slowly started up, disappearing into the flow of traffic.

    ...

    Throughout the ride, Jennifer Connelly kept her head down, silent, and Eric, neither a gentleman nor particrly patient, had been nning to make a move on the girl that night. However, after the earlier situation, the questions Vic posed hinted at some sort of transaction between the actress and the male director. Considering Jennifer''s feelings, Eric decided to back off -- at least, for the time being.

    Eric had thought about possibly buying off Vic''s film negatives to keep him quiet, especially since he was just one paparazzo. But given the fact he was still recording, there hadn''t been an opportunity for him to speak up. Plus, such deals came with risks; if the negotiation failed and the price couldn''t be settled, what had started as a simple movie outing could escte into something muchrger.

    The Lamborghini stopped in front of the hotel where Jennifer was staying. The girl remained quietly seated, not in a hurry to push the door open, as if she was hesitating. Eric didn''t rush her, his fingers drumming the steering wheel, thinking she was still shaken and needed a moment to collect herself.

    "Mr. Williams," after a while, Jennifer Connelly finally lifted her head, mustering the courage to meet Eric''s gaze, although her voice held a certain distance: "You haven''t broken up with that girl named Jennifer Aniston, right?"

    Eric''s drumming fingers on the steering wheel suddenly halted. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded: "Yes."

    Although she hadn''t expected much, a somber expression crossed Jennifer Connelly''s face: "Then, Mr. Williams, I think I might not be right for the role. You should consider someone else."

    "If it''s because of what the paparazzi said earlier, Jennifer, I won''t bother you again," Eric assured her aimlessly, nning to keep her calm for the moment.

    As expected, a look of struggle appeared on Jennifer''s face, and ultimately her pride overcame her desire for fame: "I''m sorry, Eric. Even if nothing happens between us in the future, those newspapers will still say whatever they want. I don''t want to be seen as... that kind of woman."

    Eric stared at her for a long moment before he said, "Alright, as you wish."

    Though he was assertive, he wasn''t a bully, and since Jennifer Connelly was so resolute, he opted to let it go.

    Yet, upon hearing Eric''s words, Jennifer Connelly didn''t show any signs of happiness. She realized what her decision meant -- likely, her career would now experience a downturn for quite some time.

    Just as she was about to push the car door open and leave, Eric suddenly called out to her: "Jennifer, wait a second."

    Reluctantly, Jennifer sat back down, looking at Eric in confusion. He rummaged through his pockets but couldn''t find a business card or anything simr. Finally, he reached over for her handbag and pulled out a lipstick, forcibly taking her somewhat reluctant hand to quickly write down a string of numbers: "This is my home phone number. If you ever need my help, feel free to call me."

    Jennifer nced at the numbers on her palm, and after a moment, she nodded and thanked him before stepping out of the car. She walked into the hotel lobby, only daring to look back once she was inside, discovering that the Lamborghini was still parked in the same ce, which prompted her to quickly turn away.

    ...

    Back in her hotel room, she felt a wave of fatigue wash over her. After cing her handbag on the coffee table, she unzipped her long dress and changed into a shorter outfit, then walked into the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, she stared nkly at the number he had written on her hand, reaching out several times but hesitating to wash it away.

    Finally, she sighed, went back to the living room, found her phonebook, and wrote down the number before returning to finish her shower.

    Twenty minutester, wrapped in a bathrobe and towel-drying her wet hair, she returned to the living room just in time to hear a knock on the door.

    "Jennifer, I just heard a staff member say you were back. Why are you home?" Her agent, Lester, was filled with a sense of foreboding as he asked, his tone anxious.

    "I''m sorry, Jim. I just turned down that role."

    "You..." The premonition turned into reality, and Lester''s lips trembled momentarily before he sighed in dismay, "Jennifer, you''re being impulsive. Do you know how many girls want this role from Firefly Films? Over 2,800, but only around 200 even get auditions. I heard Eric Williams turned down a few A-list Hollywood actresses. If you see these numbers, you should understand how lucky you are."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Out of Balance

    Chapter 116: Out of Bnce

    ?

    [Chapter 116: Mental Imbnce]

    The girl listened to Lester and found herself momentarily speechless. Deep down, she realized her own recklessness and stubbornness, but she wasn''t too remorseful about it.

    Lester asked, "Jenny, Eric Williams merely invited you to dinner. Even if he makes some outrageous requests afterward, just politely refuse if you''re not interested. He may be young, but he''s already a significant yer in Hollywood and wouldn''t do anything too outrageous. Why are you turning down the role?"

    "It''s not about that," the girl exined, somewhat irritated. "It''s just... when I got back, the paparazzi snapped a picture of us." She borated, "I don''t want to be seen as the kind of woman who uses her body to get ahead. I can always wait a few more years."

    Lester followed Jennifer into the room, taking a seat on the sofa as he earnestly exined, "Jenny, Hollywood only remembers the winners. Once you be a top star, no one will concern themselves with what you did in the past. You won''t even need to say anything; there will be many who willingly help cover up your past. That''s the reality. Moreover, there are plenty of women in Hollywood willing to put up with even the oldest, ugliest geezers for a chance. Compared to them, Eric Williams is young and handsome. Wouldn''t it be easier to ept that something might happen with him?"

    Jennifer Connelly pouted, "But he has a serious girlfriend."

    "Then take him away," Lester waved dismissively. "Don''t you have confidence in your looks? I know Williams has a serious girlfriend, but so what? They aren''t engaged, and they''re long- distance. That kind of rtionship is the least stable, and you have a good chance of winning him over."

    "But I..." the girlmented, tugging at her hair. She didn''t want to admit to her manager that she didn''t even have the courage to meet Eric''s gaze, let alone take him from another woman. How could she confront such amanding man when being in his presence made her feel so timid?

    "Ugh!" The more Jennifer thought about it, the more tangled she felt, and she suddenly flopped onto the couch, grabbing a cushion to cover her head. She mumbled, "Jim, stop pressuring me."

    "Okay, okay," Lester noted that she had made up her mind and wouldn''t turn back. As Jennifer''s manager for so many years, he understood her temperament well. He sighed, saying, "Then you should personally call Peter tomorrow and apologize. Since the audition is rushed, many scenes might have been hurriedly finished. If we need to shoot more footage, we can head back to Rome."

    "I got it," came the muffled response from under the cushion.

    "Don''t answer so perfunctorily, Jenny," Lester admonished seriously. "Since you''ve chosen to give up this opportunity, you may not get another chance in Hollywood for a long time. You need to maintain good rtionships in Europe to ensure you won''t face an embarrassingck of roles."

    "Yeah," the girl replied a bit more firmly.

    Lester wanted to add more, but seeing the girl''s persistent avoidance made him feel somewhat disheartened. He got up, patted Jennifer on the shoulder, and said, "Well, get some rest. I''m heading back to my room."

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    After closing the door to the girl''s room, Lester couldn''t help but shake his head. What a great opportunity it had been! If she could climb up onto the rising star Eric Williams, it would be like hitting the jackpot.

    At eighteen, the girl was still just a child, clinging to some inexplicable pride in her heart and ultimately didn''t fully understand what she had lost.

    Most of Lester''s energy had originally been spent on Connelly. After a box office flop, the then fifteen-year-old Connelly struggled to get roles. Lester had been running around to develop her career in Japan and then Europe to find opportunities.

    To help this exceptionally beautiful girl escape the "pretty face" typecasting, he orchestrated a path for her as an intellectual, going so far as to arrange for her to study English Literature at Yale. After all, the public was generally easier to fool, and not too many would differentiate between "studying" and being a formal student. As long as she had that sheen of prestige, it didn''t matter.

    But now, he felt that perhaps he should invest more effort into nurturing some of the other actors under his wing. That kid named Sean was pretty good -- he acted well, looked handsome, and more importantly, was quite intelligent for his age. As for Connelly, he thought it was best to let her be.

    ...

    Rejected by a girl, Eric sat in his Lamborghini, contemting his frustration, watching Connelly head into the hotel before looking away. Despite facing some bumps since being reborn, things had generally gone smoothly for him. With his confidence slightly inted, Eric had almost forgotten what failure felt like.

    Irritated, he nced at the street sign and saw Jeffrey''s house was nearby. He drove straight to this old man''s ce.

    He banged on the door, and Jeffrey appeared in pajamas,plete with a ridiculous pointed sleeping hat. Seeing Eric''s glum face, Jeffrey quickly stepped aside to let him in, asking in surprise, "Eric, what brings you here sote? Is everything okay?"

    Eric shook his head. "It''s nothing. I got rejected halfway through a date and just realized your ce was pretty close, so I figured I''de chat."

    Just as Jeffrey was about to pour a ss of water for Eric, he froze, turning in disbelief. "Is that all?"

    "Um..."

    Jeffrey set his tea cup down and used, "You little jerk, get out! Can''t you see it''s almost eleven? I''m exhausted from running thepany for you all day, and youe here to hassle me at night?"

    Eric scratched his head and protested, "Come on, don''t be so angry! I''m feeling pretty fragile right now and need somefort."

    "Get lost!" Jeffrey bluntly marched to the sofa, grabbing Eric by the cor and pulling him up.

    "Hey, Jeffrey, don''t tug! This suit cost over two grand!" Eric wriggled free, tossing the keys to his Lamborghini on the coffee table. "I am leaving this car with you, let me take yours for a spin."

    Jeffrey eyed the keychain and replied, "You''re giving me that freakin'' beast they gifted you? Why would you want to trade it for my beat-up car?"

    Eric replied gloomily, "Don''t bring it up. I drove it out once, and the paparazzi took a bunch of pictures. It''s sure to be in the papers soon; there''s only one purple Diablo in all of Los Angeles. Am I supposed to dare drive it around now?"

    "Fine, follow me," Jeffrey sighed as he led Eric to his garage, handing him a car key. "Drive my Buick instead."

    Eric noticed a nearly brand-new Mercedes next to the Buick, pointed to it, and said, "That one! Let me take that; I''ll trade the Lamborghini for it."

    "Not a chance," Jeffrey shot Eric a re. He stepped up to gently stroke the Mercedes''s hood, his tone shifting to tenderness. "That''s Solina''s."

    "Alright," Eric nodded at Jeffrey''s exnation, immediately closing his mouth and shrugging as he humbly took the Buick key from Jeffrey.

    Jeffrey treated everything left by histe wife as if it were valuable. All the producer shares he earned from Eric went not into a mansion or investments but into acquiring the rights to the films Solina had made. Supposedly, he had also been taken for a ride a few times for it. Faced with such a devoted soul, if Eric wanted to drive away in the Mercedes, it could be described with amon movie line: he''d have to step over the old man''s dead body first.

    ...

    Driving the Buick all the way to Malibu, Eric pulled up in front of Virginia''s cozy vi, knocked on her door, and, without hesitation, scooped the petite woman into his arms and rushed into

    the bedroom.

    Having been pressed firmly onto the bed by the man, Virginia had shaken off her groggy confusion and was now fully awake, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glistening with dreamy

    excitement.

    Pushing against Eric''s chest, she gently asked, "Hey, Eric, what''s wrong? You look so down."

    "Uh..." Eric didn''t respond, swiftly undressing the girl like she was a littlemb. Just as he was about to proceed with some following actions, Virginia suddenly covered herself with her hands, rejecting Eric''s assertive advance.

    "Let me guess, you smell like another woman. That mix of gardenia, jasmine, and violet is a scent only young girls in their teens or twenties use. Did you go on a date with a pretty little

    girl tonight?"

    Eric mumbled in affirmation, and the girl arched an eyebrow before continuing, "Then... did you get turned down?"

    Eric slumped onto the girl''s delicate form, burying his face between her ample breasts.

    Virginia yfully pped him on his back,ughing, "Ha, you little rascal! Rejected by another girl, and then you came here to bother me. Come on, stop rubbing; it tickles." She pushed Eric aside and crawled out from under him, lying on her side and propping up her head, asking curiously, "Now tell me, what kind of girl rejected the forever-sessful Eric

    Williams? I''m genuinely curious."

    "Vicky, can we not talk about this?"

    "Okay, then tonight, you''ll just have to hold on tight. No way will I let you use me to vent," she said, yfully ''standing firm'' for once, but it was more teasing than anything. If Eric truly resorted to ''taking what he wanted,'' she wouldn''t really refuse him anyway.

    After going through this back and forth, Eric gradually calmed down, realizing his mindset

    was out of bnce. He rubbed his face hard, reflecting for a moment. It struck him that perhaps it was the youthful energy still lingering in his body that was causing trouble. If he were entirely himself, he wouldn''t feel this chaotic sense of frustration from being turned down by a girl; only those who had lived sheltered lives and had everythinge easily to them would feel this way.

    Inheriting the body and some memories of the original owner, although his soul had taken over, he couldn''t help but be influenced by the younger man''s personality and habits to some extent. Unlike him, the other had never been through much hardship. Eric didn''t know if this was a good or bad thing for himself.

    "Hey, Eric, are you alright?" Virginia moved closer, noticing him rubbing his face and

    frowning, worriedly asking.

    "I''m fine, Vicky." Eric wrapped his arms around Virginia and began to exin, "Actually, it''s

    like this..."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 117: Chapter 117: King of Hollywood

    Chapter 117: King of Hollywood

    ?

    [Chapter 117: I Am the Man Who Will Be the King of Hollywood]

    "Jennifer Connelly, that girl sure was lucky to get cast in Sergio Leone''s film at just thirteen. A little naivety and pride are only to be expected. But once she hits thirty and still hasn''t made it in Hollywood, she won''t have any persistence left," Virginia said thoughtfully as she leaned closer to Eric, clearly reminded of her own experiences after listening to him recount the situation.

    Eric could onlyfort her with a hug while thinking about something else. Jennifer Connelly''s pride wouldn''tst until she turned thirty; at twenty, she had rushed into the limelight, choosing to expose herself to achieve career breakthroughs. That was a major risk for a star who had always adhered to a pure image, and many actresses had met their downfall taking simr chances.

    Nheless, that gamble did lead to some turning points in her career, and before long, shended a leading role at Disney. Unfortunately, that film ended up flopping. Since then, every big project she had joined had failed at the box office. Though those failures weren''t primarily her fault, Hollywood producers were notoriously superstitious, leading to Jennifer Connelly disappearing from the public eye for the next five years.

    Virginia looked up at Eric and suggested, "Eric, getting her attention really shouldn''t be that hard for you."

    "Hmm?" Eric turned to the woman in his arms.

    Virginia continued, "You have your own filmpany now. Whenever you have a new movie project, just dangle an offer in front of her as bait. For a girl eager to make it in Hollywood, just a few temptations and she''lle running."

    "Wow, who knew I was holding a beautiful snake that escaped from Eden," Eric said with a sly grin, giving her a yful p on her rounded bottom. "Looks like I should teach her a lesson."

    "Mmm, you''re not frustrated, are you?" Virginia snuggled deeper into his embrace, her thigh gently lifting and brushing against his excitement.

    "Of course not," Eric flipped her onto her back and spread her legs apart; he entered her. "I''m the man who will be the king of Hollywood. What''s a little setback? I''m aiming to reach heights even beyond those of Howard Hughes in his prime. Whenever I express interest in a woman, someone will clean her up and bring her right to my bed."

    Virginia gasped under the vigorous thrusts, crying out but refusing to yield. "It''s not the golden age of films anymore; no one can fully control Hollywood. And calling yourself the king is just ridiculous."

    "It''s simple," Eric said as he flipped her over again, putting her in his favorite position. "All I have to do is bring Hollywood back to the golden age."

    "You... you''re so arrogant!" she eximed, hugging a pillow and lying there, snorting in sarcasm. "When you achieve that day, don''t forget to have someone bring me a message from heaven."

    Eric shed a mischievous smile and slipped out to open her soft cheeks apart, shifting higher. "I''ll send you straight to heaven right now."

    "Ah, no! That hurts! You little rascal, don''t go in any deeper. Ugh... this isn''t heaven; it''s more like hell!"

    ...

    Despite staying upte the previous night, Eric woke up early. A man who wanted to get ahead needed a good routine.

    He kissed the cheek of the woman sleeping beside him and dressed before heading downstairs. After doing some light stretches in the yard, he prepared breakfast for two. The woman upstairs still showed no signs of waking, so Eric didn''t call out to her. Instead, he stepped outside to check the mailbox and found today''s newspaper. He read while eating.

    Virginia didn''t subscribe to many papers, but Eric still found news about himself in the well- known entertainment section. Although it wasn''t the headline, it upied a prominently featured spot.

    "Eric Williams Seen with Girlfriend; Box Office Impact in Question - Last night, young director Eric Williams was spotted in Beverly Hills on Wilshire Boulevard, driving a purple Lamborghini and appearing intimate with former child star Jennifer Connelly.

    At just thirteen, Connelly had the fortune of starring in a ssic film, but her journey hasn''t been smooth. She''s struggled to find any notable projects in recent years. With her seen with Eric Williams, does this suggest the rise of another ''Hollywood Cindere''? Coincidentally, Williams is currently selecting a lead actress for his new film. ording to reliable sources, Jennifer Connelly also auditioned for this role, raising spections that she might have been chosen already, likely disappointing the hundreds of hopefuls who auditioned.

    The two of them exited the Lamborghini but did not shop; instead, they headed directly to a cinema to watch Richard Gere''stest film. Upon leaving the screening, Eric Williams appeared somber. After spotting the press, he hurriedly took Jennifer Connelly out through the back exit, without saying a word throughout.

    It seems the pressure is weighing heavily on Eric. Richard Gere had praised the script of Road House and was eager to work.

    This movie, directed by rising action filmmaker Rowdy Herrington and starring Richard Gere, boasted a whopping $20 million budget, promising a thrilling blend of fight scenes, car chases, guny, and explosions. Following its screening, critics and audiences delivered unanimous praise, promising to deliver a pulse-pounding visual feast this Easter."

    It looked like the executives at United Artists put a lot of effort into promoting this film. Getting a write-up like this was no small feat. Even if the film''s investment didn''t hit $20 million, it likely came close, meaning they faced significant pressure to recover costs.

    Eric didn''t mind too much about the second half of the article taking advantage of him to promote the film''s quality. After watching it the night before, he had heard audience reactions that either fixated on petty details or expressed outright criticism; the article would surely end up like a p in the face.

    However, the references to him and Jennifer Connelly in the first half made Eric frown. While the wording was vague, everyone could see it hinted at some unfair dealings in the selection for the lead actress in his new film.

    In Hollywood, it wasn''t umon for actresses to sleep their way to roles, trading favors with producers or directors. Everyone knew it, and it was epted as a mutually agreed

    transaction.

    But such matters were supposed to remain private; once the media caught wind, involved parties would find themselves facing public scrutiny and ridicule, damaging their

    reputations.

    To turn the tide, the simplest method would be to publicly dere their rtionship, as many directors in Hollywood announce their romances with leadingdies when filming. This could earn them a reputation as a yboy but wouldn''t usually lead to scandalous associations. However, Eric didn''t n to do that, and the girl who turned him downst night wouldn''t cooperate.

    After some thought, Eric decided to let things run their course. Speaking out against such spection would only make it worse. Besides, Connelly had already declined the role, and once the cast list was finalized, the rumors would take care of themselves.

    He wasn''t like the stars who depended on their fame and public image to make a living. Many top directors in Hollywood had less-than-ster public images, yet they still went on to win awards and generate box office sess.

    He would just take note of this slight against himself for future reference, remembering ton/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    settle the scoreter.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 118: Chapter 118: The Tango Girl

    Chapter 118: The Tango Girl

    ?

    [Chapter 118: The Tango Girl]

    Eric knew all too well that behind that report, United Artists was likely to be the culprit, trying to suppress and discredit theirpetition for their own interests. This tactic had been worn thin across all industries, but it still managed to be effective every time.

    After breakfast, he ced Virginia''s portion in the fridge and bid farewell to the woman who was still resting in bed. He then drove to Firefly Films, where several actresses needed to audition today.

    As soon as he arrived at thepany, Jeffrey pulled him into the office. Without needing to ask, Eric could tell from the curious looks of the other employees that something was off. As Los Angeles''s most renowned newspaper, in an era devoid of the inte where information was primarily disseminated through print media and television, the subscription rates in the Greater Los Angeles area remained impressively high. Therefore, Eric knew for a fact that everyone in thepany had most likely heard about the news from the paper.

    Facing Jeffrey''s concerned gaze, before he could even speak, Eric hurriedly exined, "Jeffrey, I know this was indeed my oversight. But Jennifer Connelly has already turned down the role, so once the official casting list is released, this rumor will die down on its own."

    Jeffrey sighed and said, "Alright, Eric, I hope you know what you''re doing. Do we need to contact Kepler for some PR?"

    Eric shook his head. "No need for that. Addressing this might only make it seem like we''re trying to cover something up. Ignoring it is the best way to handle it."

    Jeffrey nodded and handed Eric a document. "This is the final offer I discussed with those sponsors based on your suggestions. Everyone except Motor has agreed, totaling $3.4 million. If you have no objections, I''ll have these contracts signed today."

    Eric took the document and nced through it. Aside from the $3 million deal with Motor that had to wait for the final confirmations with Cruise and Hanks, everything else was settled. The highest bid was from Lamborghini at $800,000, while the lowest was from Marvel Comics, which offered $100,000. In the film, when the thief Andy robbed the financialpany, he briefly held a folder containingics for just a fleeting shot, and $100,000 wasn''t exactly chump change. Eric had previously been uncertain about whether that advertisement could even be sold.

    Seeing the name Marvel Comics, Eric instinctively rubbed his chin. This could be a gold mine, and he needed to secure it before they started wildly selling character licenses to ease their financial pressures.

    While they were talking, Allen Fisman knocked on the office door. "Mr. Hansen, Eric, it''s time for auditions."

    "I''ll be right there," Eric replied, and Allen nodded as he exited.

    "I''m off to host the auditions now, Jeffrey. Just go ahead and sign the contracts as per the terms above. Make sure to rest well over the weekend; next week''s location scouting will surely keep us busy."

    "I know," Jeffrey nodded but then wore a slightly reproachful look. "As long as you don''te bothering me in the middle of the night again."

    Eric smirked, muttering under his breath before waving goodbye and exiting the office.

    Perhaps due to the recent news about the cast being nearly finalized, several actresses that followed seemed aloof during their auditions.

    Eric didn''t bother to remind anyone about anything -- dreaming of a lucky break could lead to missed opportunities, and if they did, they could only me themselves. "Next up, Miss Gabrielle Anwar."

    A petitedy around eighteen walked in wearing ck heels, but her height was still under five-seven.

    "Hello everyone, I''m Gabrielle Anwar."

    Eric took a careful look at the girl who was about his age. With a sharp nose and full lips, she showed some hints of Indian heritage; she must have been a mixed-race beauty. Not following the usual script to have her introduce herself, he asked, "Miss Anwar, did youe all the way from Ennd for this?"

    She nodded, a charming smile lighting up her thick lips. "I was born in Derbyshire, but I grew up in London."

    Eric smiled, knowing she was trying to make a connection; he, too, had grown up in London until he was eight before moving to Los Angeles, and he retained his British nationality. The Williams name was one of the five major surnames in Britain, whether he liked it or not, he''d always be part of the Hollywood Anglo sphere.

    "So, Miss Anwar, your profile mentions that you attended a drama and dance school. Do you know how to tango?"

    The girl hesitated before shaking her head. "I don''t, but I''ve spent ten years studying ballet. If needed, I can learn the tango in the shortest time possible."

    Eric wore an appreciative expression. "Miss Anwar, I admire your honesty. However, I feel that you''re not quite suitable for this role, so there''s no need for an audition."

    When she heard Eric''s earlierpliment, she was ted, but then disappointment quickly washed over her as she realized he wouldn''t give her even the chance to perform. For a moment, she sat there, wide-eyed as moisture gathered in them. The scenario felt overwhelmingly unfair. She had sent in her materials to Firefly after seeing the casting call for Eric Williams''s new film, rather expecting it to be a long shot. The joy of receiving an audition invitation had made her ecstatic, but the crushing denial had her almost in tears.

    "Oh no," Eric initially looked down to jot something down but quickly waved his hand. "Miss Anwar, don''t be like that. I''m not done speaking yet."

    Her eyes were on the verge of tears as she quickly dabbed at her eyes, reluctant to look up. Seeing her reaction, Eric shot a nce at his assistant, who promptly handed some tissues to

    Gabrielle.

    Carefully wiping the corners of her eyes, Gabrielle pulled out apact mirror to check her face before finally lifting her gaze. "I''m so sorry, Mr. Williams. I lost myposure."

    "It''s my fault," Eric, concerned about women in tears, quickly took the me. "I didn''t rify earlier. I understand that you''re only eighteen anding all the way from Ennd for an audition is no easy task."

    "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Williams."

    "The reason I asked you about the tango is that you are perfect for another role in a film I''m working on. It stars Al Pacino. Are you familiar with Al Pacino?"

    Gabrielle nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, I''ve seen the film you directed many times where Pacino ys the charming Edward. He''s so captivating."

    "That''s good. Al''s next film needs a tango girl for the lead female role, and you caught my eye immediately. If you can bring that role to life, I believe it will undoubtedly help your career even more than being the leadingdy in my film."

    Gabrielle had initiallye to the audition with a lottery ticket mentality. Having only a few television roles to her credit back in Ennd, she hadn''t held out much hope. The reason she had broken down was entirely because of Eric''s unsettling rejection. Now, hearing this sudden twist of fate, she felt as if she were in a dream again. Al was poised to be a global superstar again, and just appearing in his film, no matter how small the role, would send her over the moon, let alone being the lead.

    "Mr. Williams, I can''t even begin to thank you enough." The girl sped her hands to her chest, her face alight with excitement.

    Eric finished what he had intended to write and handed it to her through his assistant with a smile. "Miss Anwar, don''t be too quick to celebrate. While I do have the authority to decide on the roles for that film, I still need to consider Al and director Martin Brest''s opinions. You have about a week to prepare, and if your performance isn''t up to par, I''ll have to say sorry." "I''ll do my best," Gabrielle said, epting the note and noticing a line of numbers and a few messages on it. "Mr. Williams, what''s this?"

    "UTA. Oh, that''s the phone number of Mr. Kepler Hyde, the CEO of United Talent Agency. You''ll need to call him to arrange for a temporary agent to help you find a dance instructor for

    a week of tango lessons. If your performance meets Al and Martin''s approval, we''ll need you to join UTA. Miss Anwar, are you willing?"

    Being able to stay in Hollywood was a dream for many foreign actors, and Gabrielle nodded eagerly. "Of course, I''m willing."

    Gabrielle Anwar was a pure coincidence. Eric harbored no ulterior motives towards the girl of his age; she just happened to be the tango girl in the role he had envisioned. Anwar and Al

    Pacino''s tango would be the icing on the cake.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Since she could appear here several years earlier than expected, it was fate, and Eric decided to

    go with the flow, convinced the girl would not disappoint.

    After sending Gabrielle off, Eric opened the next folder: Brooke Shields.

    Ah, another Hollywood legendary beauty.

    Compared to Jennifer Connelly''s innocence, when Brooke Shields walked into the audition

    room, she seemed to possess a sharper allure in Eric''s eyes. However, he understood from the interested nces of his colleagues that Brooke Shields, rumored to have noble blood from four countries, clearly conformed the nickname ''the Eighth Wonder of the World.''

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 119: Chapter 119: The Crying Eigth Wonder

    Chapter 119: The Crying Eigth Wonder

    ?

    [Chapter 119: The Leading Lady Confirmed]

    At twenty-four, Brooke Shields took everyone''s breath away with her beauty, and although she had appeared in several films since making her debut at the tender age of twelve, Eric didn''t feel inclined to beplimentary about her impressive yet somewhat notorious track record. She had the dubious honor of being named the Worst Actress at the very first Golden Raspberries, and had popped up as a contender for that title at the second, fifth, and tenth ceremonies as well. On top of that, she had also been nominated for the Golden Raspberries'' Worst Actress of the Decade and Worst Actress of the Century. If one had to find a Hollywood star with aparable reputation, it could only be Madonna, who was known for her perseverance despite a string of misfires.

    If it hadn''t been for the fact that the audition didn''t require much in the way of acting skills, Eric might not have even had the desire to evaluate the beauty sitting before him. He wasn''t at the point of gambling on a big-budget film merely for looks.

    Since the casting call was for the role of a working girl, most auditionees had taken the time to dress in outfits befitting an office environment, and Brooke Shields was no exception. Consequently, Eric missed the chance to appreciate the way her jeans hugged her long legs. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Eric finally asked, "Miss Shields, we''re looking for someone with a softer, more girl-next-door vibe, but your demeanor is a bit too sharp for that. If you were tond the role, would you mind if our makeup team made some necessary adjustments to your look?"

    Brooke Shields tilted her head, "Mr. Williams, could you be more specific?"

    Eric scrutinized her for a moment before saying, "For instance, your eyebrows are a bit thick. If they were thinned out a bit, it would lend you a more gentle appearance. Of course, that''s just my personal opinion; the final makeup suggestions wille from the professionals."

    At Eric''s exnation, she nodded without hesitation, "No problem. If I can secure the role, I''m open to the makeup team''s suggestions for some necessary changes."

    "Oh," Eric replied, feeling somewhat disinterested, mumbling to himself, ''The publicity is all lies.''

    Despite Eric lowering his head to jot something on the file, Brooke Shields picked up on the subtle shift in Eric''s expression. She felt uncertain about where she had faltered, but it was clear that the young director wasn''t pleased with her previous answer.

    Momentster, Eric raised his head again and said, "Alright, Miss Shields, let''s try a few takes."

    "Sure," Brooke Shields said with urgency but then realized no crew member handed her a script. Unperturbed by her brief moment of confusion, Eric slowly stated, "Miss Shields, pay attention. You are ying a... uh," he paused for a moment and quickly fabricated a backstory for the character, "a junior employee at an architecture firm."

    As he spoke, Eric suddenly stopped and turned to his assistant, Allen Fisman. "Allen, make a note of that," and once he saw Allen grab a pen, he continued, "She is a junior architect, leading a monotonous nine-to-five life. But one day, she falls for a mysterious man she met on the bus. After meeting him a few times, he vanishes without a trace, yet she remains infatuated, riding that same bus over and over in hopes of encountering him again."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Havingid out the premise, Eric nced at the bewildered Brooke Shields and asked, "Miss Shields, did you understand what I just said?"

    Brooke Shields nodded eagerly.

    Eric pointed to a small door next to the audition room, which led to a makeshift changing area. "Miss Shields, the shot you''re going to perform is this: thedy, after a long day, takes that bus home again but still doesn''t see the mysterious man. Imagine stepping off the bus -- convey the feelings she has as she disembarks."

    Brooke Shields hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Mr. Williams, could you exin that a bit more clearly?" Her pleading expression was something no man could resist, causing Eric''s steady heart to skip a beat. Not wishing to put her in a tough spot any longer, he borated, "Alright, you need to show the fatigue of a long day, the disappointment of not meeting him again, and the solitude felt amidst the bustling street -- it''s essentially those emotions."

    Keeping quiet, Brooke Shields stepped into the changing room. Momentster, the door opened slightly, and she emerged, keeping her head down and walking slowly. It was evident that she hadn''t quite found her rhythm; each careful step she took felt like walking a tightrope, and her strained expression could only convey difort.

    From the small door to the wall across was a distance of about seven or eight feet, and she crossed it quickly but knew full well that her performance wascking. She finally said, "Mr. Williams, can I try again?"

    "Of course," Eric nodded, waving his hand casually.

    Brooke Shields rushed back, taking a full minute this time before stepping out again.

    Although her movements were more rxed, she still fell short of expectations.

    Naturally, she looked to Eric once more.

    "Let''s go again," Eric said.

    ...

    "Don''t worry. Rx and try again."

    ...

    "That was alright. Let''s go again."

    ...

    "Good, you''re getting some feeling there; let your expression rx a bit and try it again."

    ...

    "It started off well, but why are you fixing your hair? After a full day of work, do you really care how you look? Let''s go again!"

    ...

    "Tone down the arm movements a tad, carry your bag in your hand instead of slinging it over your shoulder. Again!"

    ...

    At first, it was Brooke Shields who requested a repeat, but after several tries, Eric had seemingly slipped into director mode, rising from his seat and waving around a paper tube, barking orders at her without mercy,manding her to do it over and over again.

    Brooke Shields waspletely taken aback by Eric''s fervor, nearly forgetting that she had the option to refuse. After the tenth attempt, her eyes were glistening as she performed just as

    Eric instructed.

    They wound up going through nearly twenty takes before Eric saw her with her head bowed, a strand of hair hanging over her brow, making her look deste as she walked out through the small door. Her expression was devoid of pretense as she took each step, almost ethereal, radiating a tinge of loneliness and mncholy. Where Brooke Shields'' previous performance might have evoked desire, her current state would tug at the heartstrings of any man. "Cut! That was fantastic! Everyone, pay attention, prepare for the next shot!" Eric''s signature catchphrase flowed out almost instinctively.

    Brooke Shields stood stunned, and the others in the audition room shared the same look of astonishment. As if on cue, Eric was also taken aback!

    After a brief silence, someone finally broke the ice with a snicker, and soon everyone erupted inughter. Brooke Shields, standing against the wall, let out a soft chuckle, covering her mouth, while the tears she''d been holding back due to Eric''s critiques streamed down her face

    unimpeded.

    Feeling embarrassed, Eric rxed his posture and sat down. He was unsure of what had just happened; perhaps it was simply the stark contrast between Brooke Shields'' poor acting and hispulsive urge to correct it -- like some with serious OCD might couldn''t help but straighten the fruit on a tter until it was just right.

    "Well, that''ll do for now, Miss Shields."

    "You can just call me Brooke, Mr. Williams," she said, taking her seat again and leaning

    forward slightly, taking the initiative.

    Eric raised an eyebrow, "Alright, Brooke. That''ll be all. I think you have potential. Perhaps you didn''t shine in those other films simply because those directors didn''t want to overwork

    you."

    "So, Eric, do I have a chance ofnding this role?" she asked, picking up on his thread and leaning closer, her eyes sparkling as she grinned yfully, "I hope you''ll give me a good

    ''workout'' in it."

    Everyone around, including the crew, turned their gaze to Eric, who, unbeknownst to them, had already made up his mind to not cast Jennifer Connelly in the lead role the previous night. They were curious how he would respond to Brooke Shields'' flirtation.

    Eric picked up a pen next to him, twirled it a couple of times, and nodded slightly, "You can head home now, Brooke. Someone will reach out to you with good news soon. But do keep in mind that even if your role isn''trge, my standards will still be pretty high. I hope you won''t shed any more tears like earlier; if your crazy fans find out I made ''the eighth wonder of the world'' cry, they might kill me."

    "Of course, I won''t," she assured him cheerfully as she stood up and exited the audition room.

    ...

    "Hey, Eric, what about that young beauty from yesterday?" Once Brooke Shields left, Nicole, the ever-curious gossip, slid closer.

    Eric shrugged without offering an exnation. "Alright, let''s continue the auditions and call

    in the next one."

    The auditions that followed didn''t offer any surprises, and ultimately Eric confirmed Brooke Shields for the role of the love-struck girl. After wrapping up the day''s work, it marked the

    end of their workweek.

    Coincidentally, it was also March 17, the first weekend of the Easter release period, with many new films hitting the theaters that day. Among them was a much-publicized film from United Artists, which had garnered 1,927 screens, an increase of several from the month prior''s release. Havingcked major releases initially, United Artists had skillfully steered media

    commentary on the film, with most impressions being positive. However, following its opening day, the film faced a wave of harsh criticism on the very next day.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Interview with Richard Gere

    Chapter 120: Interview with Richard Gere

    ?

    [Chapter 120: Interview with Richard Gere]

    "The setup for the lead character was quite bizarre; he had a PhD and was skilled in some martial arts, yet he was content to work as a gofer in a bar. Then, the director awkwardly transformed him into a paranoid avenger who, while capable of killing offckeys without a second thought, was surprisingly soft when it came to the main viin, almost getting killed himself in the end. All in all, it was a movie with a painfully awkward and convoluted plot."

    "The film was filled with anarchisticw enforcement, reckless destruction, and unrestrained violence; it was practically a farce."

    "I only saw thugs brawling, shattered beer bottles, a group of busty women, and sttering blood. The story was pallid and unconvincing. Richard Gere''s intentionally sculpted muscles for the film didn''t spark any interest either; his actions in the film didn''t even match the neatness of the supporting viin."

    "Aughable and noisy fable of fists."

    "This was essentially a movie that could have done without the lead character, and everything would still unfold as per the plot: the Double Deuce bar got raided, inciting the antogonist''s greed, followed by a series of violence, arson, and murder, until the fed-up townsfolk rose up to kill the viin. I wonder if Richard Gere regretted passing up Eric Williams''s film, keeping him awake at nights."

    "Aside from the rock soundtrack, this movie had nothing going for it."

    Thanks to United Artists'' vigorous early promotions, the opening day attendance in over 1,900 theaters reached over 70%, but following the avnche of negative reviews after its release, attendance plummeted.

    ...

    Three dayster, the Easter weekend box office was released.

    It came as no surprise that a box office reversal urred in its sixth week, garnering over $2.4 million more than the previous weekend with a total of $11.27 million, Pretty Woman imed the top spot for the weekend. The six-week cumtive box office reached nearly $97.69 million. Having another film reach over $100 million seemed imminent for Eric. Considering Eric still had several months until his neenth birthday, this achievement was bound to attract another media frenzy.

    Although the film Road House opened on nearly 2,000 screens, the sharp drop in attendance over the weekend resulted in a mere $5.25 million in its first weekend, which ced it second with less than half the earnings.

    Due to Columbia''s increased support and the holiday weekend, the film Home Alone quietly raked in over $4 million in its eighteenth week, steadily approaching the $300 million mark. This underdog had dominated the box office for twelve consecutive weeks and remained in the top five for over four months; everyone was kind of numb to it now.

    Perhaps someday, when the gross suddenly crossed the $300 million threshold, the public would once again raise their eyebrows and exim something like "Wow."

    ...

    In the new week, Eric wrapped up auditions and briefed two directors before running around the Greater Los Angeles area scouting locations.

    Though the required scenes were few, numerous shots needed road closures, and finding suitable locations was anything but easy. At the same time, Eric realized the limitations of his own strength. As Hollywood''s stronghold, Los Angeles offered significant policy support for filmmaking, but this didn''t mean film crews could run rampant; many scenes required approval from various municipal departments. Although the flexibility was substantial, the process was extremelyplicated.

    Moreover, relevant connections were indispensable. Even though Eric was quite famous, he couldn''tpare himself to seasoned directors or top-notch producers. Sometimes what took others just a phone call he had to negotiate face-to-face repeatedly.

    Fortunately, Columbia attached great importance to the film and sent an experienced producer to assist Eric with preparations, which greatly elerated the initial setup time. While Eric was scouting locations, another incident quietly unfolded.

    ...

    The whole stir began with Richard Gere. The former superstar, approaching 40, grew increasingly obsessed with losing the lead role after the first weekend''s box office results came out. He knew he had squandered a rare chance to return as an A-list star, especially with the recent box office failure filling him with more frustration and regret.

    Desperate to secure another movie deal to turn things around, Richard felt CAA had a responsibility to help him since they owed him that. If it weren''t for Michael Ovitz''s personal grudges, he wouldn''t have forsaken the lead role.

    To that end, Richard attempted to arrange a face-to-face with Michael Ovitz multiple times, but Ovitz was busy facilitating a deal between Sony Pictures and Coca-C, so he passed the matter over to Richard''s agent, Horner Weely, the one with a significant obsessive-pulsive personality who had been customarily revolting to Eric and Stuart Ronkel at one point.

    Horner Weely, considering Richard''s situation, suggested he take the lead in a low-budget horror film. Naturally, Richard was unhappy with this. He had set his sights on a mid-level production that Universal was developing that CAA was managing. It wasn''t an unreasonable request. However, Horner refused outright to fight for that role, arguing that Universal wouldn''t hire an actor who had just embarrassed himself in a big production and fallen to the lower ranks.

    Horner Weely was one of the early agents at CAA and was now a top-tier agent. Even many A- list actors treated him with deference, which had slowly fueled his ego. Richard, meanwhile,pletely med the loss of this opportunity on CAA, his resentment having built up over time. After Horner''s refusal to help him get that role, an anger at being duped erupted.

    The two ended up in a heated argument in Horner''s office; had other staff not rushed in to separate them, they might have ended up in a physical altercation.

    Following this incident, Richard left CAA that same day and, three dayster, switched over to another major agency, William Morris Agency (WMA), through a friend''s introduction.

    This would typically be just another actor''s resignation, amon urrence among major talent agencies in Hollywood. Even CAA, which had established a system to mitigate betrayal costs, couldn''tpletely avoid them, even though such events happened less often. CAA''s "betrayal cost" system mainly sought to prevent agents from branching off on their own, as the founders of CAA originally came from another major agency. But for big-name stars, leaving was rtively easy. Second and third-tier stars could also easily walk away if they were willing to pay the breach fees. However, CAA''s extensive resources in the film industry dissuaded most stars from leaving its shade.

    Moreover, CAA swiftly issued a tight non-disclosure order regarding the conflict between Horner Weely and Richard Gere, hoping it would fade quietly. However, they overlooked the fact that Richard was one of the main parties involved.

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Richard''s shift soon caught some media attention. During an interview with reporters, harboring deep-seated bitterness, Richard painted himself as a ''victim,'' maliciously defaming CAA. The next day, an article titled "Exclusive Interview with Richard Gere: The Inside Scoop on Losing the Lead Role in Pretty Woman" surfaced.

    "Recently, the renowned actor Richard Gere, who was once considered for the lead role in Eric Williams''s box office sess, abruptly left his long-time agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA). In an exclusive interview, Richard finally revealed the specifics of what forced him to reject the lead role offer.

    Here are Richard Gere''s own words: When I initially read the script, I thought it would be a fantastic story, well-suited to my persona, and I even prepared for the character. Though Eric Williams was quite young, I recognized his talent through his earlier work. However, when I was about to ept the offer, my former agent, Horner Weely, indicated that I should refuse. I was puzzled, and then Horner told me that Eric Williams had just signed Kepler Hyde, and Michael Ovitz had deep-seated issues with him. He didn''t want his clients coborating with Eric Williams; to put it bluntly, Michael Ovitz wanted to ckball Eric.

    But I didn''t want to give up that opportunity, so I discussed it with Horner. What followed

    was a veiled threat; if I coborated with Eric Williams, then CAA would freeze me out. I was already in a slump in my career, and out of fear of CAA''s threats, I feltpelled to turn down

    the offer.

    Then CAA, under the guise offort, offered me the lead role in an action film from United Artists. When I saw the script, I told Horner, ''No, this character doesn''t suit me. I''ve acted in action films before, but this role is way too violent; they should find a muscle-bound actor for

    it.''

    But Horner insisted I had no other choices, and soon I found myself epting the role at a much lower sry. To fit the character better, I engaged in intense training for a while. Yet,

    the film ended up failing.

    I''m disclosing all this now because I believe CAA has lost sight of its purpose. After monopolizing too many resources, they have be reckless. Certain individuals, out of personal grudges and a desire to exert their power, can jeopardize an actor''s career and toy with films that have received multimillion-dor investments from otherpanies. That''s reprehensible.

    Talent agencies should serve actors, prioritizing their clients'' interests to ensure long-term survival. Instead, CAA has begun to treat actors like mere pawns, and they''ll eventually face

    the consequences."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Cruises Departure

    Chapter 121: Cruise''s Departure

    ?

    [Chapter 121: Cruise''s Departure]

    If there was a spark to ignite the fire, then Richard Gere''s interview published in the media became that very spark.

    On the day that interview hit the stands, a spokesperson for CAA adamantly refuted Gere''s statements, dering them to be nothing but fabrications thatpletely disregarded the facts. They asserted that if he continued to make such irresponsiblements, CAA would take legal action to set the record straight.

    While many people recognized that Gere had positioned himself as a "victim" in his anger- fueled statements, and that any professional with a bit of industry knowledge could easily poke holes in his ims, this didn''t stop the media from digging deeper into certain facts he mentioned.

    The power of gossip was tremendous. The very next day, articles began surfacing that dissected the long-standing tensions between Michael Ovitz and Kepler Hyde. It came to light that after leaving CAA, Kepler Hyde struggled in Hollywood, almost being forced to relocate to Europe.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Although CAA had grown into a towering presence, it wasn''t without its blemishes. Coupled with its strategy of bundling sales, it was likely to result in some film failures, and naturally, those failures were brought to the media''s attention.

    From "From Best Buds to Archrivals: The Untold Stories of Two Ace Agents" to "The Hidden Hand Driving Soaring Costs in the Film Industry: A Decade-Long Comparison of Hollywood Movie Expenses"...

    As more articles aimed at tarnishing CAA''s reputation began appearing, an anti-CAA movement slowly took shape.

    ...

    In the years leading up to this, CAA''s growth had heavily squeezed the operating space of other Hollywood talent agencies, and Ovitz''s bundling sales strategy had left many filmpanies in distress. Not only had CAA pushed star sries up significantly, but the bundling tactics also forced film studios to shell out massive costs far beyond their budgets. The six major film studios put up a better fight against CAA, managing to maintain some negotiating power during their skirmishes. However, for the countless mid-tier studios and independent filmmakers, CAA''s bundling approach left them without a means to defend themselves. They didn''t possess the same fame and leverage as Eric, whose every film was a blockbuster, so they had no choice but to ept CAA''s terms.

    With many talent agencies, arge number of filmpanies, countless independent filmmakers, and even a few voices from the television media unhappy with CAA''s bundling of TV projects, any one of these factions could inflict serious damage on CAA''s reputation. The situation was exacerbated as they all instinctively rallied against CAA without any prior coordination.

    Of course, some individuals also spoke in support of CAA. Several actors under its wing gave interviews where, even if somewhat reluctantly, they expressed positive sentiments about CAA. After all, CAA had raised production costs for filmpanies, and these actors were among the primary beneficiaries. Yet, these supportive voices made little impact,rgely because the opposition groups worked to deliberately downy the actors'' supportive remarks.

    Though CAA possessed a strong PR machine, during thistest storm, its efforts felt more reactive than proactive,nding it in a position where it was simply taking the hits.

    Then, with their recent box office disaster weighing heavily on their shoulders, the top executives at United Artists suddenly came out using CAA of being responsible for their film''s failure, citing Gere''s interview as evidence, and they even threatened to sue for damages. Of course, such a im was futile; United Artists merely needed a scapegoat for their tens of millions of dors of lost investments, and CAA fit the bill perfectly. This only led to another round of verbal sparring.

    ...

    Meanwhile, other talent agencies in Hollywood were in harmonious sync, collectively taking up their metaphorical shovels against CAA. Within a week, more than twenty mid-tier actors had opted to leave CAA. If that didn''t inflict any harm on CAA, the subsequent events would certainly spell trouble internally.

    The catalyst? Tom Cruise announced he was leaving CAA!

    Who was Tom Cruise?

    He was the most popr young star in Hollywood. Since his debut, he had delivered blockbuster hits almost without exception, with his films consistently returning massive profits for their studios. In 1986, he made a film with a budget of just over $10 million that raked in $350 million globally. His most recent film not only achieved high box office sess but also garnered several Oscar nominations, and he ranked high on magazine lists of Hollywood''s most powerful figures, standing shoulder to shoulder with top executives, renowned directors, and elite producers.

    The departure of such an A-list star inevitably sent ripples through the industry. And indeed, Cruise''s exit was closely tied to the growing controversy.

    As the narrative surrounding CAA''s vilification unfolded, media outlets sympathetic to Richard Gere soon shifted their focus to the negotiations concerning the male leads in Eric''stest film. In no time, with the media''s digging and some cunning maniption, the sry conditions CAA proposed for the two stars were leaked.

    "$6 million plus 20% of the profits? This robbery-like offer was typical of a ''bigpany'' like CAA to present, clearly indicating they wanted Eric Williams to back down. It seems that despite everything, Mr. Ovitz was still clinging to the ludicrous idea of ''cklisting'' Eric Williams. By proposing such unrealistic figures, he hoped to sabotage Eric''s coboration with superstars Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. Mr. Gere''s recentment that CAA was already treating actors like pawns was not unfounded."

    In truth, CAA had been steadily backing off in the negotiations with Cruise and Hanks over their sries. Before the film''s release, the profit-sharing ratio requested by CAA had already been reduced to 12%. When the media exposed CAA''s initial offer, it dropped further to 10%. Although CAA quickly rified after the exposure that the current offers for the two stars were not so high, the media seized on the story, repeatedly making news out of it. Analysts expressed concerns in newspapers that if CAA''s profit-sharing model gained traction, it would further inte production costs for movie studios while sharplypressing profit margins, making it even harder to turn a profit. This situation would undoubtedly dampen Hollywood filmmakers'' enthusiasm for making movies, posing a critical threat to the rapidly recovering American film industry.

    Some media even began calling for federal investigations into CAA''s market disruption behaviors. Under the influence of certain factions, a California state legitor, during a media interview, made murky statements hinting that there might be investigations regarding CAA''s sry offers and allegations of monopoly behavior. Although this legitor quickly retracted theirments, it still bore significant pressure on CAA.

    What industry giants fear most in America isn''t the IRS; it''s antitrust inquiries. Just looking at other industries, the ''Paramount Decree'' once led to years of stagnation for the film industry.

    ...

    Now, having distanced himself from Sony and Columbia and returning to power at CAA, Michael Ovitz sought to stabilize the situation. He personally met with Hanks and Cruise in separate meetings, hoping they would reconsider the profit-sharing model and instead

    ept t fees to help CAA weather this crisis.

    Hanks proved more agreeable, having never previously taken profit shares. He hadn''t even cracked $500,000 in sry until the film Big grossed over $100 million, for which he was paid just $2 million. Since he valued his coboration with Eric, he readily epted. However, Tom Cruise expressed a desire to consider the proposal. The next day, his "consideration" led to him, along with his agent Pa Wagner, announcing their departure from CAA and re-opening negotiations with Firefly Films as independent entities.

    Cruise had always been an ambitious individual, and the recent storm of public opinion certainly made him feel like a pawn being manipted by CAA. This perception was hard for a

    vivacious, power-hungry, and highly capable superstar to swallow.

    Moreover, having tasted sess, Cruise sensed an opportunity to work directly with filmpanies, allowing for a profit-sharing structure that would yield more benefits while also providing him more control in film production.

    To achieve this without the constraints of a talent agency, leaving CAA became the first step he needed to take. However, to depart from CAA at this critical moment was akin to stabbing

    it in the back.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 122: Chapter 122: The CAA Revelation

    Chapter 122: The CAA Revtion

    ?

    [Chapter 122: The CAA Revtion]

    Because of Michael Ovitz''s insistence on CAA''s private partnership strategy, CAA had grown into an industry giant by thete 1980s but remained unlisted. As a result, while this crisis was quite severe, it would only minorly affect CAA''s business for a while if handled properly. Despite the turmoil, losing a few second or third-tier artists to other agencies did not pose any real threat to CAA. Even though the number of their artists had not yet reached the scale of over six thousand that it would twenty yearster, they still boasted a roster of over a thousand, so losing a few high-profile names wasn''t a significant issue.

    However, the departure of a major star, particrly at the level of Tom Cruise, would send ripples throughout Hollywood. Cruise had considerable influence among actors in the industry, and his exit would undoubtedly send a misleading signal to other A-listers. Ovitz reacted swiftly. On the same day Cruise left, every partner agent and signed artist at CAA received a letter personally penned by Ovitz. He rified the reasons behind Cruise''s departure and earnestly recounted CAA''s impressive achievements over the years and the positive changes they had brought to actors, urging everyone not to be swayed by public opinion. He reassured them that CAA''s future would be even brighter.

    Yet, this letter did little to stem the tide. Within three days of Cruise''s departure, several more A and B-list stars exited CAA for various reasons. These stars had initially joined CAA because Ovitz had implemented a series of bundled arrangements that significantly boosted their earnings. But as movie star sries began to rise across Hollywood, they found they could secure simrly high paychecks at other agencies. Coupled with the panic instigated by Cruise''s sudden departure and the emergence of lowermission offers frompetitors, it became logical for these stars to leave.

    Michael Ovitz found himself in a frantic situation, cursing Cruise while having to take a step down and personally persuade those big-name actors wanting to jump ship, something he hadn''t had to do in years.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Eric was fully aware of the situation, seeing it as a golden opportunity to prevent CAA from continuing its unchecked dominance in Hollywood for the next decade.

    "Eric, what''s up? I want to make it clear that I already have four people working under me. That''s really my limit, don''t think about sending anyone my way," Kepler stated, breezing into Eric''s office at Firefly Films, clearly a mix of excitement and frustration due to CAA''s recent troubles. His freshly shaven head had a newfound gleam.

    Eric leaned back in his chair, smiling, "What if it''s Tom Hanks?"

    "Who?" Kepler perked up, leaning in slightly.

    "Tom Hanks," Eric repeated.

    Kepler shot him a knowing smirk, "Eric, if it''s him, I''d be hard-pressed to say no. I''d have to take on the extra burden."

    "Hard-pressed? You''re probably stoked," Eric teased back.

    Ignoring Eric''s jibe, Kepler pressed on, "Eric, are you really confident you can lure Hanks over?"

    Eric shook his head, "Not really, but I''m going to try. I have dinner scheduled with Hanks tonight, and he agreed."

    Kepler had faith in Eric; the young man had already delivered plenty of surprises. "Eric, maybe you should also try to bring Cruise closer to UTA. He doesn''t have an agency now either."

    "Don''t even think about that. Mr. Cruise has big ambitions right now -- he wants to go the producer route. He''ll probably start his own productionpany soon."

    Eric hadn''t expected that his appearance in this timeline would lead Cruise to take up a path that he wouldn''t have pursued for another seven years. The sess of Eric''s recent blockbuster films must have spurred Cruise on.

    After leaving CAA, Cruise immediately had his agent, Pa Wagner, reach out to Firefly Films, initiating new sry negotiations.

    The terms he proposed weren''t as outrageous as CAA''s had been: a $5 million sry plus 10% of the profits. For Eric, who was already used to negotiating $20 million sries and 10% to 20% profit shares in his previous life, this seemed quite reasonable. Still, the profit-sharing model was just emerging; CAA''s earlier offers had been downright ludicrous. With Cruise setting the terms this way, there was plenty of room for negotiation. Eric was determined to push that share down to 5%.

    He felt confident about this negotiation because he had just heard that Tom Hanks had agreed to forego profit sharing in favor of just a standard sry.

    While Cruise held greater fame, the gap wasn''t too wide. Once Hanks''s sry terms came out, Cruise would likely hesitate to demand a hefty profit share. This was a characteristic limitation of the era. Although Cruise had experienced the benefits of profit sharing, during a time when it was umon among actors, his previous deal felt more like an anomaly.

    And it was precisely Hanks''s willingness to abandon profit sharing that made Eric want to recruit him. He figured that now was the best time to go after Hanks since CAA had just vowed to negotiate profit sharing for him but had suddenly left him hanging. Eric suspected that Hanks wouldn''t be indifferent to that change. Though others might not have realized it, Eric understood Hanks''s potential. The following decade would be Hanks''s breakout period, raking in billions at the box office and, after over fifty years, bing only the second actor to win consecutive Oscars.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Although Eric imed he had little confidence innding Hanks, he felt he had a better than 90% chance of signing him. Compared to CAA, he believed he held the more appealing offer.

    "Alright, let''s not talk about Cruise anymore," Eric said. "Kepler, I actually called you in for another reason." He retrieved a lengthy document he had spent several nights crafting and handed it to Kepler. "Let me know what you think of my summary."

    Kepler nced at the title and opened the document. As he slowly read through it, his expression grew more serious. By the time he finished, he looked up at Eric with a scrutinizing

    gaze.

    The document was extensive,prising over ten pages that detailed how CAA''s five-person team transitioned from WMA, leveraging television to attract stars and gradually developing a bundled sales system, creating a unique business concept in just fifteen years. Kepler was shocked because the concepts Eric outlined were ones he -- the former top agent at CAA -- could easilyprehend. However, hecked the capability to systematically organize these insights into aprehensive operating theory for a talent agency.

    He was also genuinely curious how Eric had acquired all this knowledge.

    CAA''s persistence in remaining private was not just a reflection of Ovitz''s personal business philosophy but also aimed at preventing its strategies from leaking. If CAA ever went public, they would have to disclose a wealth of sensitive details to investors, making their operational advantages easily replicable bypetitors.

    Apany''s business methods couldn''t be patented; if other agencies imitated them, CAA''s edge would rapidly diminish.

    Swallowing hard, Kepler carefully raised the manuscript. "Eric, did you write this?"

    "Yeah, I just wanted to see if there are any mistakes. By the way, Kepler, you wouldn''t oppose me sending this out, would you?"

    Kepler quickly shook his head and chuckled, "If I had the ability to put something like this together, I would''ve done it a long time ago. Eric, I''m starting to lose track of you. I understand all the theories you mentioned, but asking me to wrap it up, I have no idea how to

    go about it."

    Eric just smiled and didn''t exin. In this era, CAA''s business strategies seemed shrouded in mystery to otherpanies. Even when rival agencies poached agents from CAA, they could barely glean fragmented insights.

    But for Eric,ing from an information-saturated future, CAA''s strategies were not all that enigmatic. He recalled that around 1996, when CAA had solidified its status as an untouchable behemoth, a reporter had spent over a year gathering information topletely unveil CAA''s secrets, exining why Ovitz had been regarded as the most powerful figure in Hollywood.

    By that time, CAA had be a massive monster, and even Ovitz, who had built it, found himself at a loss to challenge it.

    The agents at CAA were mere cogs in this vast machine. They could help keep CAA running smoothly, but asking any of them to articte how the machine operated would yield confusion. Only Ovitz himself could fully elucidate the operational theory, though now there

    was also Eric.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Five Movies Grossing Over One Hundred Million in Ten Years

    Chapter 123: Five Movies Grossing Over One Hundred Million in Ten Years

    ?

    [Chapter 123: Five Movies Grossing Over One Hundred Million in Ten Years]

    Setting aside the earlier period, CAA had bundled more than 150 films in just over four years since 1985, capturing over a third of the market. During this time, much of the discontent stemmed from squeezedpetitors and productionpanies, who were clearly bitter yet knew they couldn''t significantly impact the soon-to-be public CAA. Still, they couldn''t help but spit some spite.

    In Eric''s eyes, CAA''s secret weapon was its unique business model. Thus, even after Michael Ovitz departed from CAA, it continued to thrive. Although many in the media attempted to uncover the reasons behind CAA''s rise, most analyses seemed vague, missing the mark entirely.

    With that in mind, Eric felt it was a prime opportunity to strike -- if it hadn''t been for CAA, he could have produced Pretty Woman with the original team. While Eric hadplete confidence in Al Pacino''s performance, he worried that recing Richard Gere might impact the film''s box office, but thankfully the oue turned out alright. Next, when it came to inviting Cruise and Hanks, CAA stirred up a series ofplications, leaving the two leading roles unresolved even while supporting roles had already been confirmed and preparations were almostplete.

    "Since you have no objections, shall I have Allen contact the papers for publication?" Eric asked.

    "Uh-huh," Kepler nodded but suddenly added, "Wait, let me get a copy first. I''d like to study it a bit. Maybe I can optimize UTA''s business model based on this."

    "Suit yourself," Eric replied, nodding. He stood up, walked to the office copier, and while making the copies said, "Honestly, Kepler, I don''t n on expanding UTA too much in the next few years because my resources aren''t sufficient yet. You wouldn''t believe it, but the other day while I was scouting locations, I realized how thin my foundation truly was. I had my eye on the National Bank Building, wanting to shoot a few scenes on the rooftop, but when I reached out, the management outright rejected me, saying they didn''t want to disturb the normal operations inside the building, not even giving me a chance to lobby. But when Columbia sent their producer over, he made a few calls and met with their supervisor, and it was all wrapped up. I was getting all cocky about the achievements of my previous films, but now the whole thing just strikes me asughable; I''m still just a little minnow."

    Kepler encouraged him, "Eric, you don''t need to feel this way. You''re doing great. Think about your age; you''re not even neen, right? How many people your age can build a fortune with their own hands?"

    "Ha, that sounds just like what Jeffrey said to me," Eric chuckled as he handed Kepler the copied document. "Take it. By the way, the Oscars areing up in a few days. Can you help me get ready? I''m really stretched thin right now. I also have to go to a rehearsal; I shouldn''t have agreed to be a presenter."

    "I don''t even know what to say to you. Those little stars would do anything for a chance to show their face at the Oscars, while you find being a presenter a bother," Keplerughed. "Have you confirmed your date yet?"

    "I was nning to bring Jenny out, but she said she wouldn''t be back in LA until the end of the month. I heard from herst night, and now it''s possible she won''t make it back until early April. Whatever, if that doesn''t work, I''ll just take Drew like at the Golden Globes."

    Kepler noted, "By the way, I received another offer to have Drew star in a film. I think the script is good. Should I keep pushing for it?"

    "Push it away. I don''t n on letting Drew take any films for the next couple of years." Kepler nodded, thought for a moment and then said, "If that''s the case, I suggest you don''t bring Drew to the Oscars either. It''s a good promotional opportunity; you could take Ms. Madsen or that British beauty you likedst week. She''s been approved by Al and Martin. Oh, and there''s also Brooke Shields; for the sake of your film investment''s promotion, I suggest you take one of those three."

    "Then..."

    Eric contemted for a while; Virginia could really use the opportunity. She needed to stand out and making an appearance on the Oscar red carpet would be beneficial for her. Having Cruise and Hanks along with himself made it irrelevant whether Brooke was there or not.

    "Let''s go with Vicki then; you notify her to prepare."

    Kepler raised an eyebrow and then said seriously, "Sure, I''ll assist her. But Eric, in front of others, it''s best if you avoid using too familiar a term with Ms. Madsen."

    "Uh..." Noting that while Kepler sounded all businesslike, his eyes held a glint of mischief, Eric awkwardly cleared his throat and said, "Got it; I''ll be careful."

    After Kepler left, Eric handed the document to Allen to contact the newspaper and continued working until quitting time, when he drove off to meet Hanks.

    ...

    At a fancy restaurant in Beverly Hills, after meeting with Hanks, Eric didn''t rush to bring up negotiations but rather chatted about other topics. Although Hanks sensed Eric had ulterior motives for seeking him out, he didn''t think switching to UTA was the best idea, enjoying the conversation on a subject he found more intriguing.

    Because of CAA''s non-revenue-sharing offer, Hanks would soon finalize a contract with Firefly Films, making his involvement a done deal.

    "Honestly, I had nned to set up Sean as a cop who had to leave the SWAT team after getting injured and turned to a desk job, but wasn''t content with that. However, I thought if that was directly revealed in the film, audiences would likely struggle to ept it. So, I decided to keep that aspect vague to give viewers some room for imagination."

    Hanks set down his utensils, wiped his mouth, curious, "Didn''t we discuss this in ourst meeting, ande up with a whole new backstory for Sean? You didn''t mention this detailst time."

    "Because it was a bit... sinister. Haven''t you read the script? Sean''s reluctance to date or visit nightclubs and settle down is rted to his injury; he doesn''t want to hold other women back."

    Hanks paused, quickly understanding, and chuckled, "That backstory is indeed... hard to ept. If it were me, I''d prefer to keep Sean''s background fuzzier."

    The two chatted, taking over half an hour to finish dinner. Eric signaled for the waiter to clear the table and bring coffee before saying, "Tom, the reason I invited you over for dinner tonight is because..."

    This time, a slightlyid-back Hanks interrupted, "Eric, I think CAA is working well for me right now, so I''m not considering switching agencies at the moment." "Don''t you want to hear my terms first?" Eric maintained hisposure, smiling.

    "It''s probably just about loweringmissions. CAA''s cut isn''t too high for me, Eric. If I switch agencies, who knows how long it might take to adjust to a new environment? And frankly, while I know Kepler is a highly capable agent, UTA is too small. Al Pacino and Julia Roberts already take up most of the resources, and I doubt UTA can devote enough energy to me."

    Eric was surprised by Hanks'' clear reasoning but then recalled that although Hanks seemed like a simpleton, the actor had achieved great sess in Hollywood; it was impossible for him

    not to be smart.

    "Just hear me out; my terms are not about loweringmissions -- that''s a basic trick." Ericughed, extending his right hand and waving his fingers. "If you switch to UTA, in the next ten years, I can guarantee you at least five movies grossing over one hundred million." Hanks''s eyes widened in astonishment. Five movies grossing over one hundred million in ten years? What did that even mean? Tom Cruise, from the onset of his career in ''81, had only one movie grossing over one hundred million; the film Eric was referring to hadn''t even crossed 80 million yet, and whether it would get there depended on further box office results after then/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Oscars.

    "Are you talking domestic box office?" Hanks asked instinctively.

    "Of course! In the next ten years, at least five films with North American grosses over a hundred million," Eric added, pondering before supplementing, "and all starring you as the

    leading man."

    "But..." Hanks didn''t let Eric''s promises cloud his judgment. "How can I trust that this is real? Just because your previous films grossed over a hundred million doesn''t guarantee the same

    in the future."

    "We can sign a confidential contract. If within ten years, I can''t arrange at least five films grossing over a hundred million for you, I''ll pay you arge sum," Eric said without hesitation. "Of course, you also need tomit to a certain number of films. If you sign the contract and just sit back to collect money, I''m not about to pay any penalties." Hanks chuckled at Eric''sst remark, "I wouldn''t do that. I love acting; if I can''t continue as an actor, I don''t know how I''d live. You''ve got to understand, when someone is used to something, stopping abruptly would be dreadfully boring."

    "So, will you agree?"

    Hanks still shook his head, "Eric, even though your offer is tempting, I''m not going to jump at

    the first whim. If I switch and you can''t keep your promise, how muchpensation will I get ten years down the line? Ten million, or twenty million? That''s practically negligiblepared to my career losses. Alright, if there''s nothing else, I should head out. This dinner was enjoyable, Eric. I''ll invite you next time."

    "One hundred million!" Eric sat still, staring at Hanks resolutely. "One hundred million, Tom! If I can''t fulfill my promise, I will pay you that amount. We''ll sign a contract and get a notary involved. I can even set up a fund and deposit the one hundred million in advance. Even if your sry bumps up to ten million, you''d still need to make at least one film a year to hit one hundred million. Isn''t that enough proof of my sincerity?"

    Hanks hesitated, his movements of putting on his jacket slowing down: "Eric, are you

    serious?"

    "Of course! You know I cane up with that kind of money."

    "Then, I need to think about it." Hanks still didn''t nod.

    "Okay, I''ll wait for your good news." Though a bit disappointed, Eric managed to keep a smile on his face while signaling to wrap things up.

    Hanks put on his coat and gave Eric a peculiar look before heading out of the restaurant.

    Eric sat motionless for a moment, feeling let down as he took a sip of his coffee, about to settle the bill, when Hanks''s figure suddenly appeared back before him.

    "Eric, since you''re willing to bet a hundred million, I can''t understand why I''m hesitating," Hanks said, sitting down across from Eric, waving his hand with a bit of bravado. "I''ll take

    this bet!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 124: Chapter 124: The Oscars

    Chapter 124: The Oscars

    ?

    [Chapter 124: The Oscars]

    The next day, the article had taken up a whole four pages, and Eric neither cared for the $1,800 in payment nor desired the fleeting recognition it brought him. More importantly, he found himself unable to exin the sources of the detailed information contained within the article, so he submitted it anonymously to the newspaper.

    The publication instantly caused a stir in Hollywood, overshadowing the uing 61st Academy Awards that were just days away. If most of the power yers had previously reveled in discrediting CAA, they suddenly quieted down and turned their attention to this article. Over the following days, the entire American media buzzed with excitement, reprinting this highly specialized piece, which led to a flurry of papers researching the article further.

    Executives from other talent agencies in Hollywood read the article and realized why they were unable to stop CAA''s rise. Film studios also grasped why their production costs kept skyrocketing and why there seemed to be no way to avoid this trend. Michael Ovitz saw the article almost immediately upon its publication and spent half an hour reading it, his brow furrowed. Even he couldn''t help but apud; the article''s examination of agents'' business radius aligned almost perfectly with his recent thoughts, and even pushed the envelope. It was precisely this realization that had led him to attempt to get involved in Sony''s acquisition of Columbia a little while back.

    But right after he had apuded the article, Ovitz became furiously angry, to the point of wanting tomit murder. Because this articleid bare the strategies that CAA relied upon, putting them directly before all theirpetitors. CAA''s rivals had previously only been able to vaguely imitate CAA''s bundling strategies,cking rity on the intricate operations involved. Now, with this article as a reference, any rival with even a modicum of ambition would be bound to reform their own practices. Even if they could not entirely replicate the CAA model, they would no longer be powerless against CAA''s expansion.

    Unfortunately, despite a deliberate announcement on the front page seeking the article''s author, no one responded.

    ...

    Two dayster, the CEO of WMA publicly stated that if the author of the article was willing, WMA would offer 5% of its shares in exchange for the author joining WMA as a vice president. Although WMA had been surpassed by CAA in scale, they were still a well-established agency with a century of history, and their scale was not vastly different from CAA''s; 5% of their shares also amounted to several million dors. On that same day, someone came forward with the "manuscript" to WMA, leading to an uproar.

    Amid this turbulence, CAA faced another upheaval as Tom Hanks, following Tom Cruise and a few other A-list stars, chose to make a switch again. This time, however, he was not joining WMA or anotherrge agency like ICM, but instead, he opted for UTA, the rtively low- profile agency owned by Eric.

    Furthermore, Hanks was not going solo; he somehow managed to convince his long-time, top agent from CAA to join him in this switch.

    This sparked a flurry of spection within the industry. Top agents at CAA were not easy toe by; most began as lowly mail clerks, working their way up over a span of years, sometimes even over a decade, proving their skills and umting enough experience to be the million-dor agents they aspired to be. Hanks'' agent''s departure meant relinquishing all those years of umted qualifications. Even if he were to return to CAA in the future, he''d have to start again from the bottom, despite having equal capabilities to any top agent.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    In a meeting with Hanks himself, his agent Simon Wilson, and a staff member from a prominent notary office in Los Angeles, Eric and Hanks secretly signed the contract Eric had promised. Of course, Hanks graciously did not demand a $100 million bet fund regarding his departure.

    What CAA could do in response was to request a nominal breach of contract fee from Hanks, as well as a percentage of his earnings. After Hanks signed on with Firefly Films, word got out about hispensation terms, just as Eric had anticipated, and there was a significant concession made on the profit-sharing side. Ultimately, just the day before the Oscars, the two sides swiftly signed a deal for a $5 million fee along with a 5% share of North American profits, which fully met Eric''s expectations. They also confirmed that April 5 would be the official start date.

    ...

    On March 29, after more than a month of preparation, the 61st Academy Awards were officially held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

    Eric was set to serve as the presenter for Best Supporting Actress. Initially, the organizers wanted to invite Mnie Griffith and Don Johnson, a newlywed couple; while Johnson may not have been a household name, this year Griffith had rocketed to A-list status with a recent hit. Unfortunately, Griffith was unable topete with Eric when Columbia''s representatives contacted the Oscars, and quickly withdrew in favor of the more prominent Eric.

    "Eric, can you check if everything is okay?" Virginia nervously asked as their Lincoln drove slowly toward the Oscar red carpet. She couldn''t believe she was so quickly walking the red carpet; her cheeks were slightly flushed with excitement.

    He patted her small hand. "You''re beautiful, Vicki. Just rx."

    Still feeling unsure, Virginia nervously touched her styled hair and asked, "Um... Eric, if we win, you really let me go up to ept the award, right?"

    "Of course," Eric nodded. "I don''t want my first award on stage to be for Best Animated Short Film."

    John Lasseter was supposed to attend the ceremony, but after receiving Eric''s investment and freedom to create, he had be a workaholic, practically living at Pixar''s office. Had it not been for the Oscar invitation arriving in Richmond, Lasseter would have almost forgotten about his nominated short. Once he received the invitation, he immediately called Eric to say he was too busy to attend and would like Eric to ept the award if they won. Eric didn''t feel the need to persuade him further. Pixar was practically the king of Oscar- winning animation, and this time wasn''t crucial. When Pixar submitted for the award, they mostly hoped that winning would bring in more business. Additionally, Eric would rather not have his first Oscar trophy be for Best Animated Short Film, so he happily let Virginia take this opportunity to be in the spotlight.

    ...

    As they chatted, the Lincoln stopped at the entrance of the Oscar red carpet, and they could already hear fans calling out from a distance.

    Eric stepped out of the car first, crossed to the other side, and gantly offered his arm for Virginia to link with his. With staff directing them, they slowly approached the red carpet. Perhaps female stars were born for the red carpet; Virginia, who had been so nervous in the car, quickly loosened up once they arrived, gently linking her arm with Eric''s and walking closely beside him while asionally waving and shing her charming smile.

    Only seven or eight meters from the fan area, someone spotted Eric, and the crowd erupted with cheers, including several girls shouting, "Eric, I love you!" Compared to the predominantly thirty-something stars on the red carpet, Eric''s youth and good looks undoubtedly gave him a significant advantage.

    Moreover, his film 17 Again had only recentlye out of theaters, yet he had already amassed

    arge following among teenagers. If not for the staff maintaining order, there might have been fans rushing the red carpet, a situation that had happened before. Eric slowed his steps, smiling and nodding towards the crowd of fans, which instantly elicited another round of

    shrieks from the girls.

    He couldn''t believe he already had fans, Eric mused to himself, continuing to link arms with Virginia. However, the woman felt a tinge of disappointment, realizing that no one was shouting her name; she even noticed some hostility in the eyes of female fans in the audience. This emotion only subsided once they reached the media area.

    "Eric, look here!"

    "Over here, here!"

    "Eric, Virginia, can youe bit closer, please?"

    Unlike fans who were focused on their favorite stars, the reporters in the media area quickly recognized Virginia. They had already heard that Virginia was about to star in a film backed by Firefly, for which Eric had personally written the screeny.

    Hollywood had evolved to a point where many things were understood. If an unknown but beautiful actress or a handsome actor suddenlynded a significant role in a movie, many would instinctively ask, "Who did they sleep with?" These pretty actresses or handsome actors didn''tnd opportunities without reason; they had to pay a price, and for them, aside from their looks, they often had little else to offer. Most people would envy rather than scorn

    these individuals.

    Journalists'' eyes sparkled with insatiable gossip, pushing Eric and Virginia to appear more intimate while crazily clicking their cameras.

    Once they passed the media area, seizing the moment when an ABC reporter caught Michelle Pfeiffer for an interview, Eric took Virginia straight to the star waiting lounge.

    ...

    "Hi, Mr. Williams, I''m Robert Downey Jr."

    "Hello, Mr. Downey," Eric replied with a smile, reaching out for a handshake. He wanted topliment his work but realized he couldn''t recall the young star''s major achievements from his somewhat rocky career, so he gestured toward Virginia. "This is Virginia Madsen."

    Young Robert Downey Jr. politely shook hands with Virginia. He just wanted to be recognized and hoped for future coboration opportunities, so the conversation was brief before he chatted with Eric for a few moments and soon departed. Eric took the initiative to greet

    others.

    He mingled with Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Mnie Griffith, Patrick Swayze, Geena Davis, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, Cher, Jane Fonda, Jodie Foster, Sigourney

    Weaver...

    It felt like a different world as he chatted with these stars, who were still young. After a few minutes, they were prompted by staff to begin heading inside.

    ...

    It was curious that this year''s Oscars had no designated host. Upon entering the auditorium and finding their seats for the crew, Eric immediately walked to

    the back stage. He was set to present the Best Supporting Actress award first. There were no strict rules for the order of award presentations, and often, to captivate the audience, the organizers would hand out significant awards like Best Supporting Actor or Best Supporting

    Actress first.

    "Hello, Eric, I''m Tom Selleck." As he stepped backstage, a tall, rugged man approached him. "I''ll be introducing you on stage."

    Eric shook his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Selleck. I really enjoyed your work Three Men and a Baby;

    I hear this film is getting a sequel?"

    That was the box office champion of 1987, and the warmedy''s sess was mostly due to good fortune, as there hadn''t been any standout films that year.

    As for Tom Selleck, Eric had seen some performances but his strongest memory was of Selleck''s character as Monica''s boyfriend in Friends.

    After the ceremony, Eric was nning to shoot the series for Fox. Although he remembered Selleck''s character vividly, he knew he had to choose a neer. Selleck''s career was still at its peak and asking him to star in a series would likely not go over well. When Selleck heard Eric mention his proudest work, heughed heartily. "Of course, but it won''t release until next year. To be honest, I don''t want to sh with your film."

    Around ten minutes after a lively opening performance, Eric received the envelope with the list of winners from the staff. Guided by Selleck, he walked onto the stage.

    All speeches were pre-written by the screenwriters, so the audience watching on TV did not

    see the stars'' natural verbal skills.

    "Wow," as Eric reached the center of the stage, he adjusted the microphone, eximing, "Actually, after I received my invitation, I asked Allen Carr, ''Why is it that every presenter gets to bring a date, but I have to go solo? That''s not fair!'' Allen stared at me for a long time before saying: ''Because you''re too young!""

    As he said this, Eric made a yful wink at the audience, pulling an innocent face. There was a moment of silence in the audience before they erupted intoughter, followed by

    apuse. In the past six months, although Eric had achieved a series of astonishing feats in Hollywood, people oftenmented on his age, as if achieving so much at eighteen had be a "stain" on his life. While people admired brilliance, they also tended to push back

    against it. After sharing a few more lighthearted jokes that had the audienceughing, Eric redirected the conversation. "In every movie, while the leading actors showcase their skills, they are alwaysplemented by the supporting characters. A good supporting role enhances the entire film. So, let''s take a look at the films nominated for Best Supporting Actress." After concluding that, Eric made a gesture, and on the big screen, clips from the nominated

    films appeared, featuring Sigourney Weaver, Joan Cusack, Geena Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Frances McDormand.

    Personally, Eric thought the least likely contender was Sigourney Weaver, as she had won her

    previous Golden Globe based on less merit. He preferred Michelle Pfeiffer and Geena Davis and believed the winner should be one of those two.

    Once all the nominated films had been introduced, Eric leisurely opened the envelope and nced at the name, just as he had expected.

    "The Oscar for Best Supporting Actress goes to Geena Davis for The idental Tourist." Amid apuse, a towering redhead excitabley stood up, covering her mouth, and hugged her fellow nominees before walking to the stage. She didn''t rush to take the Oscar but instead excitedly embraced Eric, prompting him to smile and pat her back. Given that Davis was already over six feet and wearing heels, Eric looked particrly small beside her, which drew

    a softugh from the audience below.

    "Hey, Ms. Davis, could you let go of me? Are you sure you''re not trying to eat me?" Eric

    yfully patted her several times, seeing she still held onto him, he leaned in to whisper in

    her ear.

    "You impatient little rascal," Geena Davis remarked softly, quickly letting go of Eric and

    taking the Oscar to begin her speech.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 125: Chapter 125: At the Party

    Chapter 125: At the Party

    ?

    [Chapter 125: At the Party]

    After patiently waiting for Geena Davis to excitedly deliver her eptance speech, Eric finally made his way off the stage with her and returned to his seat.

    What followed were three long hours of ackluster ceremony, where the nomination for Best Score was easily overlooked. Eric merely chuckled along with the not-so-funny jokes from the guests on stage.

    As a young man who had just burst onto the Hollywood scene and achieved such great sess within six months, Eric found himself the target of various jabs from the presenters. The camera often panned to him, and he faced the odd close-up, leaving him no opportunity to lose his focus. Yet, he didn''t find it tedious. In fact, he relishedparing the Oscars then to what he would observe over decadester.

    After a few hours, Eric''s main takeaway was that the Oscars of that era hadn''t fully embraced the extreme art-house direction. Most of the awarded films were moremercial in nature. However, he knew that in over a decade, the Oscars would transform into a tform for politically correct mainstream films and extreme independent projects. Any actor aiming for awards would either portray great leaders or the afflicted.

    As two hours passed, most of the major awards had already been presented. After the Best Cinematography award, the moment for the Best Animated Short Film arrived. Everyone was aware that a big-name award wasing up next: Best Actor. With that anticipation, attendees were eager for the Short Film award to be swiftly wrapped up.

    Perhaps sensing the audience''s impatience, the award presenter Carrie Fisher, who had previously participated in the event, quickly introduced the next award and opened the envelope, revealing, "The Oscar for Best Animated Short Film goes to John Lasseter, Tin Toy." Amid the apuse, Virginia nced at Eric once more, and upon receiving a reassuring nod from him, she rose and headed to the stage.

    The name on the award was unmistakably male, but the recipient stepping up was a stunning woman in a cobalt blue strapless gown, leaving viewers at home questioning, "Who is that?"What a beautifuldy!"Is it really a woman named John? How strange!"

    The organizers had clearly nned this moment, shifting the camera directly onto Eric, giving him a dramatic close-up. Eric internally grumbled, left with no choice but to sit stiffly. He stared ahead with a nk expression, pretending not to notice the camera focusing on him.

    However, his pretentious disinterest didn''t fly under the radar, especially with the surrounding guests eyeing him with smirks once Virginia took the stage, further entangling him in the situation. Viewers at home who followed a little gossip quickly recalled Virginia''s identity as the leadingdy in a movie that Eric had personally written.

    ...

    In her Manhattan apartment, Jennifer Aniston nestled into her couch, clutching a teddy bear, staring at the television set all night. She hoped to catch another glimpse of her boyfriend, even wishing some presenters would poke fun at him further. But each time she spotted Eric, her attention split,nding on Virginia sitting beside him, causing her teddy bear to take a tumble as she fidgeted.

    When she watched Virginia epting the award, Jennifer couldn''t help but mutter, "Bitch," twisting her lips in displeasure as though she was tearing someone else''s hair, all while her poor teddy bear shed fur.

    "I can''t stand this. I''m going back tomorrow," Jennifer vented, losing interest in the uing awards. She energetically dashed to her bedroom to pack, reflecting on her father''s words about love. If it mattered, she should stay by his side -- no sincere rtionship could withstand erosion from distance. If she felt she couldn''t hold on, she should step away early to avoid more pain.

    "I refuse to give up! Why should I lose him because of some other bitches?" She mumbled under her breath as she zipped through her belongings. Finally, she found the key to Eric''s mansion, stuffed it into her bag, and dialed the airline''s reservation line.

    ...

    Almost simultaneously, in a hotel in Rome, Italy, Jennifer Connelly caught the same moment on cable TV. After she had declined Eric the other night, she had to return to Europe to shoot some additional footage on her own ord. As her agent suggested, she couldn''t afford to sever her ties in Europe, especially since her early work with the renowned Italian director Sergio Leone had gained her recognition in the Italian film industry. Now, that was her only viablework.

    Connelly also sensed her agent''s growing indifference. Lestor had begun to focus on his other clients, and she was receiving less attention from him. This trip to Rome had even seen him absent.

    Every time she recalled her recent decision,yers of regret umted. When Eric''s rigid close-up appeared on screen, she grabbed her bag and pulled out the notepad with his number.

    "Would it even matter to call him now?" she pondered, staring nkly at the contact list, doubts creeping in.

    Though far away in Rome, Connelly gleaned from the sporadic news that the roles had all been filled. While the lead actors had been announced, the rest of the cast remained a mystery. She knew she wouldn''t be a part of it. Calling Eric wouldn''t change anything; she recognized he wasn''t a film mogul with endless projects up his sleeve, so her call would bear no fruit.

    ...

    Virginia relished the mere chance to step on that Oscar stage and had no intentions of surprising anyone. She simply epted the little gold man, read the eptance speech Eric had prepared for her, and walked off the stage with the presenter.

    As expected, the Best Actor award went to Dustin Hoffman for his brilliant performance, followed by two technical awards. When it came to the Best Director announcement, Virginia finally returned to her seat with the little golden statue in hand, her face flushed and radiating that mature allure, causing several surrounding men to cast envious nces at her and secretly admire Eric''s luck.

    Though it wasn''t the time for chatting, Virginia still shot Eric a warm nce, gratitude evident in her expression.

    ...

    With the Best Picture award going to Rain Man as anticipated, the lengthy three-hour ceremony was finally at its end, paving the way for party time. While the extravagant Oscar parties would emerge in a few years, that didn''t mean the stars went their separate ways immediately after the Oscars. A myriad of celebration parties awaited, and most guests could easily find somewhere to go if they wished.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Of course, the Ronkel couple, who had not won a single award, wouldn''t be participating in a celebratory party. After exiting, they hoped to take their son Stuart to mix and mingle at a few parties, but the little guy had already grown tired from sitting in the award hall for three hours and was now dozing off in their arms. Disappointed, they had no choice but to take him

    home.

    With so many people around, Virginia didn''t link arms with Eric. After he finished greeting acquaintances, she leaned in to ask, "Eric, where shall we go next?"

    Eric took the little golden statue from Virginia''s careful grasp and toyed with it. "What do you think? I just got a few party invitations. We have invites from the crew, plus Warner Bros. and Disney are hosting events. Oh, and Amy mentioned Columbia''s throwing a party too."

    Virginia contemted, uncertain. "How about Rain Man...?"

    Eric snapped his fingers. "I was thinking the same. The crew''s party is at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Beverly Hills. We can go to that and then head home without the long trek like at the

    Hilton."

    After reaching a decision, they found their agent Kepler Hyde and drove over to the Sunset Tower Hotel together.

    ...

    As the big winner of this year''s Oscars, Rain Man crew''s celebration was undoubtedly the grandest. Eric received a warm wee from Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, and a bevy of directors and producers upon arrival.

    He mingled through the crowd, catching up with familiar and unfamiliar faces, when suddenly, Cruise pulled Eric aside, turning to Virginia, who hadtched onto his arm, "Ms. Madsen, I need to speak with Eric privately."

    Having clung to Eric this entire time, Virginia''s heart twinged with unease. She was the one who had snagged Eric at a party, and she wasn''t keen on seeing other women follow suit. Now, with Cruise directly asking for her to leave, she felt frustrated but merely nodded and

    stepped away.

    "Eric, about the project, I''ve been thinking about it more. What if we shot it this way..." Without a hint of self-consciousness, Cruise dismissed Virginia and dove into his new ideas

    for the storyline.

    Eric listened intently to Cruise''s long monologue, waiting patiently for him to finish before summarizing everything into one summary statement: "Add more drama!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Spielberg

    Chapter 126: Spielberg

    ?

    [Chapter 126: Spielberg]

    Eric shook his head slightly and exined, "Tom, the reason it is called rivalry is that its core revolves around the two main characters'' rival performances. If the bnce is off, the movie''s excitement will really take a hit. Besides, I think this is where you can shine the most; Hanks has to share scenes with Joe Pesci and others, while your role is a one-man show -- no need to add anything more."

    Hearing Eric''s refusal, Cruise, while knowing deep down that Eric was right, still showed a hint of displeasure on his face.

    Originally, Eric didn''t think much of Cruise''s personal qualities, nor did he care about the various rumors. Everyone had their own way of living, and Hollywood was full of just that. At least Cruise was a dedicated and hardworking individual, which was why Eric had initially wanted to coborate with him.

    But now, Eric began to regret it a bit, as Cruise''s desire for control was quite strong, and Eric too was a person who liked to be in charge. It seemed inevitable that there would be conflicts during the filming. After some thought, Eric felt that it mainly stemmed from his own inexperience, which likely made Cruise feel a sense of superiority.

    "Well, Eric, about the waitress, is Brooke Shields... too tall?" Cruise asked, as he often felt insecure about his height, just over five foot seven. After just being turned down, he let the remark slip in a moment of impulse, immediately regretting it. "I''m just hitting myself in the face here."

    Recalling the information about Brooke Shields'' height being six feet, Eric struggled not tough. If she wore heels, she would be nearly as tall as Gina Davis, who had just hugged him at the awards ceremony.

    Eric managed to stifle hisughter and said, "Tom, you really don''t need to worry about that. The scenes you two share in the bus or the restaurant, you''ll be sitting down, so there won''t be any walking side by side."

    "Okay," Cruise nodded awkwardly, taking a sip of red wine to mask his embarrassment, and quickly walked away.

    ...

    Just as Eric turned to go back to the crowd, Virginia popped up from nowhere and wrapped her arm around Eric''s.

    "Gee, you''re looking too closely." Eric teased with a chuckle, seeing right through Virginia''s sensitive nature.

    She immediately gave him a hurt look and withdrew her arm. "If you like some other beauty, just go for her."

    "Never mind, let''s head back," Eric said, ncing at his watch. "No need for you to be all nervous as if I''m about to fly away."

    "Uh-huh," Virginia joyfully clung to Eric''s arm again. "Can Ie over to your ce tonight?"

    "Sure, but you''ve drawn attention tonight; there are bound to be paparazzi waiting outside."

    Virginia had alreadye up with a n. "We can just take the elevator to the parking lot, drive Mr. Hyde''s car out, and if we''re careful, we''ll be fine."

    If it weren''t in a crowded ce, Eric would have loved to pinch Virginia''s cheek andpliment her.

    Just as they were about to leave, amotion appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall. Eric thought he heard someone call out "Mr. Spielberg" or something simr, and sure enough, arge crowd gathered around a middle-aged man with round sses as he entered the banquet hall.

    "So it''s Steven Spielberg; what''s he doing here?" Virginia asked curiously.

    "Who knows," Eric shrugged, then said, "Let''s go say hello before we leave, or it mighte off as rude."

    "Yep," Virginia seemed eager to go too.

    ...

    As they were getting ready to approach, Spielberg made his way over to Eric.

    To everyone''s surprise, Spielberg extended his hand and said, "Eric, I thought you would be at the Hilton. I only found out you were here when I arrived there; you really are hard to find."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Well... not sure how to put this, Mr. Spielberg, but if you want to meet with me, you could contact my agent to arrange it," Eric replied, shaking his hand in confusion.

    "Everyone is busy, and today is a special asion, which is why I could find some time," Spielberg exined. "Eric, I had someone reserve a room downstairs; let''s go there. Oh, this...dy can join us too."

    "Sounds good," Eric nodded, pulling Virginia along to follow Spielberg out, all while the crowd whispered, guessing about the situation. Although they missed a chance to connect with Spielberg, none of them felt particrly entitled to it. Meanwhile, Cruise kept watching as Spielberg and Eric disappeared through the door, feeling more disappointed. He originally thought Spielberg was heading towards the crew or even himself, but that turned out not to be the case.

    As for working with Spielberg, Cruise didn''t feel a pressing need; he simply wished to make connections with Spielberg, who represented the Jewish elite in Hollywood. As long as he maintained a good rtionship with Spielberg, he would be well-integrated into the Jewish circles of Tinseltown.

    Hollywood was truly a realm dominated by Jews. Barry Diller and Michael Eisner were among many studio executives who were Jewish, while prominent directors and stars like Spielberg and Harrison Ford were also part of thatmunity. Having recently parted ways with CAA, Cruise aspired to step beyond the mere status of an actor and into that of a producer, making rtionships within Hollywood''s Jewishmunity essential.

    ...

    In a downstairs room at the banquet hall, the four of them settled in after a server brought in coffee and then left the room.

    "Eric, how''s Drew? Haven''t seen her visit in a long time," Spielberg casually started the conversation without rushing into business.

    Eric wasn''t in a hurry either, but noticed Virginia sitting stiffly next to him, which embarrassed her. "She is a bit carefree," Eric chuckled. "She happens to be home today, so I''ll give her a good talking to about how long it''s been since shest visited you."

    "I heard Drew''s rtionship with you is pretty unique, almost like father and daughter. At first, I didn''t really believe it, but hearing how you spoke just now, I started to think it might actually be true. But her being with you is a good choice; her parents... well, let''s not get into that. Eric, treat her well."

    "I will," Eric nodded, not probing into how Spielberg knew that information; his connections in Hollywood were far beyond what Eric could ever rival.

    Spielbergzily took a sip of coffee and said, "Actually, I came to talk to you about the rights to your book. I had someone reach out to you a few times, but they were turned down, so I''vee here myself today. Eric, how about selling the film rights to me?"

    Eric didn''t respond immediately, contemting with his coffee cup in hand. In truth, he was very troubled; selling the film rights to Spielberg was out of the question. Even in his previous life, he wouldn''t have agreed to let Spielberg direct this film. He still remembered some projected figures.

    In his past life, the film grossed over $900 million globally, with $350 million in North America and $600 million overseas. Based on an average revenue split of 55% domestic and 20% international, the film ultimatelyted about $310 million in takings, and Universal Pictures'' investment was roughly $70 million. After subtracting the costs, the film would yield a huge profit of $240 million, a number that would have sent anyone into a frenzy. After all, even in 1993, no studio would see yearly profits that could match that figure.

    But as with any story, a divine twist awaited.

    Spielberg, known as the shrewdest businessman in film, managed to negotiate a high- revenue sharing agreement with Universal, as a director. The ultimate result was that Spielberg personally walked away with about $250 million from the project!

    Yes, that was $10 million more than the total revenue, and in 1993, when DVD yers hadn''t yet arrived, the home video market, ounting for only 30% to 40% of movie earnings, generated significantly less in anciry revenue. Essentially, most of the profits ended up in Spielberg''s pocket, leading to the grand establishment of DreamWorks in 1994. Had it not been for its rted merchandise and theme park revenues, Universal''s higher-ups would certainly have felt like burying their heads in shame.

    As for the rumors about Spielberg''s discontent due to Universal''s bundled investments leading him to establish DreamWorks independently, that theory held no water.

    No investment, yet walking away with $250 million, and he still felt disgruntled? Where''s the

    logic in that?

    What troubled Eric now was how to refuse Spielberg subtly without ruining the rtionship with this influential Jewish director in Hollywood.

    "Mr. Spielberg, actually... I originally intended to direct my own adaptation of this book, so..." Eric stammered, trying to find the right words, "So... I didn''t n on selling the film

    rights."

    Spielberg smiled warmly like a mentor and analyzed, "Eric, I''ve seen a few of your films, and I believe your strengths lie more in low-budgetedies or dramas. This particr sci-fi novel might be beyond your capacity for quite a while. I don''t mean to belittle you, but you are still quite young andck experience. I was in the same boat; I made my first short in ''59, but it took me sixteen years to be able to create a sci-fi film like that. Your talent, while it surpasses mine by a good margin, may still need about ten years of umtion. By then, many people might forget this novel, and reshooting it could be very risky; it''s easy to lose

    money if one isn''t cautious."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 127: Chapter 127: The Situation

    Chapter 127: The Situation

    ?

    [Chapter 127: The Situation]

    "So, you still turned him down?" In a parking lot, Kepler sat in the driver''s seat with a resigned expression, looking at Eric in the passenger seat.

    Remembering the earlier encounter, Eric sighed and nodded. Despite Steven Spielberg leaving without showing any displeasure, merely expressing regret and saying he could be contacted if Eric changed his mind, Eric knew he had offended the renowned director. He could tell by the dismissive look from Spielberg''s assistant.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    In the past, if Spielberg had expressed a desire to purchase the rights through someone else, Eric could have declined without much consequence. But this time it was different; Spielberg himself had reached out, a clear sign of sincerity, basically handing him a favor on a silver tter. If this deal went through, Eric wouldn''t just a hefty sum from the rights transfer, but he might also earn Spielberg''s goodwill -- a connection that could prove invaluable in the future.

    Yet, he couldn''t just hand over a significant piece that was crucial to his career for the sake of a favor.

    But this was an worth hundreds of millions. Eric had never thought of monopolizing it, but he at least wanted to ensure he got the best slice of the pie. Once he sold the rights, he would lose all control over the project, and at best, he would only get the scraps after others made big profits.

    "Eric, want to hear my suggestion?" Kepler asked.

    "I know what you''re going to say. I should contact Spielberg immediately and sell him the film rights, right? Kepler, there''s no room for negotiation here; I''m not selling."

    Kepler rubbed his bald head in frustration. "Eric, have you thought about your situation? You''repletely going solo. It may seem like you''re close with the higher-ups at those filmpanies, but that''s all based on pure profit. The reason they''re being so nice to you now is that yourst few films were huge sesses and brought them a lot of money. But nobody maintains sess forever, and once you hit a rough patch, that''s when they''ll turn on you."

    Eric countered confidently, "I think I''ll be fine for quite a while. I have confidence in my films."

    "There are many factors that can lead to failure, and some could even be manufactured," Kepler continued. "Think about it,pared to your talent, you''re getting too much of a cut. At first, they might think you''re just a lucky guy with a hit or two, but if it keeps happening, those big shots are going to do whatever it takes to bring you down, even ruin you. Just like lions on the savannah, they''ll allow the hyenas to pick at their leftovers, but they certainly won''t let a weak hyena get more than the pride."

    Eric opened his mouth to respond but couldn''te up with anything to counter that. He understood Kepler''s intention: he wanted him to find some strong allies. In the future, if he faced bacsh, he wouldn''t be left entirely alone.

    Spielberg wanting to acquire the film rights was a perfect opportunity to build a rtionship. If he sold the rights, the screenwriter would surely be tied to him, and Spielberg had hinted that Firefly Films could get involved financially. These were conditions that would allow him to connect and establish a good personal rtionship with Spielberg. But Eric still felt reluctant.

    Kepler noticed Eric''s struggle and hesitation and pressed on, "Eric, do you know which Hollywoodpany your Firefly resembles the most?"

    Curiously, Eric lifted his head, and Kepler didn''t hold back, "The one it resembles most is United Artists. Back when Charlie Chaplin and a few other famous directors founded United Artists, it was purely a productionpany focused on providing excellent films to the big yers, much like Firefly, which currently has no distribution channels. And look where United Artists is now -- it''s a subsidiary of MGM, while thosepanies with solid distribution have survived, aside from the unlucky Columbia."

    Eric heard Kepler''sparison and instantly thought of DreamWorks; history did seem to repeat itself.

    He often came across the phrase "distribution is king" in economic articlester on, which was indeed a profound truth. In his memories from the past, many sessful mid-tierpanies like Lionsgate and Miramax started as distributors. Spielberg''s DreamWorks, both past and present, could only drift within the realms of the giants like Universal, Paramount, and Disney, often fighting over minuscule cuts.

    "And right now, your Firefly is even weaker than United Artists without any distribution abilities. Those major studios with most of the distribution channels could squash you with ease. So, you desperately need some allies who can genuinely support you at crucial times, so that when bad timese, there will be someone to cheer for you and bridge connections, instead of you beingpletely isted. Hyenas can''t be friends with lions, but there''s no barrier between hyenas. In this situation, with Spielberg offering a hand, pushing him away would be incredibly unwise."

    If Eric were a local denizen of this era, Kepler''s mix of persuasion through ttery and intimidation would have probably convinced him toply. Unfortunately, he wasn''t.

    "Alright, Kepler, I get it," Eric nodded, appearing to take his advice.

    Kepler eagerly passed his big Motor phone to Eric. "Then hurry and call Spielberg. Don''t worry about him thinking you''re wishy-washy; Eric, you''re young and have that privilege. Spielberg won''t mind."

    Eric took the heavy phone and fidgeted with it. "Kepler, I only said I understood the importance of distribution channels for Firefly. I didn''t say I was selling the rights to Spielberg."

    Kepler blinked in disbelief, staring at Eric, finally disheartened as he reimed his phone. "Suit yourself. I''ve said my piece. Jeffrey wasn''t wrong; you really are a stubborn young man.

    "Don''t worry, Kepler. I have my own ns. Just think about it; I''m British-American. I still hold British citizenship. So even if I do get friendly with Spielberg, I probably won''t break into any Jewish circles."

    Eric had indeed considered all this. Among Firefly''s films this year, he had already secured three projects -- one for Columbia and two based on previous contracts with Fox.

    While the other three films did not yet have determined distributors, he had received plenty of interest from the big six for distribution deals; he could sign contracts whenever he

    wanted.

    If all these films ended up being as sessful as he remembered, he could umte a substantial nest egg. Even if one or two flopped due to unforeseen issues, it wouldn''t harm him much; at most, he''d lose a bit. After all, other than Columbia, which threw down 40 million dors, the investments for the others were all under 10 million. Even if just one of them exploded like in his past life, he''d recover all investments and profit.

    After this year, just as Kepler warned, the giants would likely notice he was taking too much and would do everything to suppress him, squeezing out his rightful benefits. But by then, he would have amassed enough capital to fend for himself.

    Not to mention whether the big six would truly unite against him. If something that unlikely ever happened, he''d just bide his time and build strength. Plus, Eric didn''t believe that as long as he could bring massive profits to the giants, they would maintain a united front against him for long. When too many people were involved, conflicts would arise.

    "Kepler, let''s call it a night; lend me your car. You can take mine," Eric decided. Kepler nced at thedy in the back seat and shook his head. "No way, Eric; you can''t just borrow cars. Especially since you''ve been drinking. I''ll drop you off at home." "Kepler, don''t be so serious. Just because you shaved your head doesn''t mean you''re a bulb now," Eric teased, causing Virginia, sitting in the back, to lower her head in embarrassment. Keplerughed. "You misunderstood; I wasn''t offering to be a bulb, I meant to say I''d drive you both home. I only had a few sips of champagne, and more importantly, I''m very experienced in dodging paparazzi. Inded my first employer thanks to this skill, and I don''t want to have to deal with the press over you two''s scandals tomorrow morning. Eric, Beverly

    Hills or Malibu?"

    "Let''s go to my house; Malibu''s too far."

    "Okay, then you sit in the back. The front may get photographed."

    Eric reluctantly moved to the back seat as Kepler pulled out of the parking garage. As they got onto the highway, several cars noticeably began to follow. A littleter, Kepler nced in the rearview mirror and chuckled, "Three cars are tailing us. Luckily, there were plenty of targets at the party; otherwise, we could have ended up with a string of cars behind us."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 128: Chapter 128: The Second Time

    Chapter 128: The Second Time

    ?

    [Chapter 128: The Second Time]

    Eric curiously turned his head to look back for a moment. "There''s only two cars, huh? That silver Honda and a ck one -- must be a Chrysler, right?"

    "Heh, so if you had driven my car away just now, you guys would be waiting for tomorrow''s newspaper," Kepler replied as he studied the cars more closely.

    "You mean..." Eric peered back again, finally spotting a sporadically appearing ck sedan. "That ck Mercedes? A paparazzo driving a Benz? That''s a bit too extravagant, isn''t it?"

    "That''s the one," Keplerughed, then curiously asked, "Is a Mercedes really that fancy? I mean, I thought that car was only, like, thirty grand?"

    "Uh, I might''ve been mistaken," Eric admitted somewhat sheepishly. He had instinctively linked seeing a Mercedes to those extravagant luxury cars that cost over a hundred grand, a big deal considering he could only afford a Volkswagen in his previous life.

    Kepler didn''t press further, skillfully turning onto Sunset Boulevard, weaving through the still-bustling streets of Los Angeles at midnight. The detours nearly gave Eric a headache, but when he finally got his bearings, the car was back on Sunset Boulevard.

    "All done. Now let''s hope there aren''t any paparazzi waiting at your doorstep," Kepler said.

    "Kepler, I have a back entrance," Eric replied.

    Kepler nced at Eric through the rearview mirror, not hiding his disdain, and in Virginia''s lightughter, Eric raised his hand. "Alright, I won''t say anything."

    The car stopped in front of Eric''s mansion, and throughout the ride, neither he nor Virginia showed their faces. Kepler took Eric''s key and opened the door, driving straight into the yard. "There are paparazzi cars parked on both sides of your door, Eric. You might want to be careful when Virginia leaves tomorrow. Try not to get photographed," Kepler warned.

    "Don''t worry, I know how to handle it." Eric took Virginia''s small hand. "Kepler, want toe in for a bit?"

    Kepler shrugged. "As much as I''d hate to be a third wheel, I need to stick around for at least ten minutes before I can leave. Otherwise, I shouldn''t have driven in."

    "Got it, let''s grab a coffee then." The three of them walked toward the vi, and the lights in the living room were on. Eric exined, "Drew''s been home these days."

    ...

    She had taken time off for the Oscars, thinking Eric would take her down the red carpet, but since it turned out to be Virginia, she had been throwing little tantrums here and there these past few days.

    They pushed open the door to the living room and saw the TV on but turned low. A petite figure curled up on the sofa. Eric approached and gently nudged Drew, who was hugging a cushion. "Drew, wake up, time to head upstairs."

    After nudging her a few times, she finally stirred, sleepily mumbling, "Ugh... Eric, don''t mess with me, I''m so sleepy!"

    Uh...

    Feeling somewhat guilty, Eric nced back at the two, who had gone stiff in surprise. "I swear, I absolutely didn''t do anything out of line!"

    That exnation sounded weak and unconvincing, as both Kepler and Virginia clearly didn''t buy it.

    "Too hasty, huh..." Virginia muttered.

    "Don''t forget about safety measures..." Kepler maintained his role as a professional, always thinking about his client.

    Facing the skeptical nces from both, Eric let his shoulders drop, feeling defeated. "Alright, I won''t exin myself anymore. Why should I? Vicky, the coffee''s in the kitchen; can you entertain Kepler for a bit? I''ll take Drew to her room."

    After saying that, Eric pulled the cushion from Drew''s grip, scooped up the girl, and carried her towards the stairs. He ced her gently on the big bed in her room, tucked her in carefully, and then closed the door behind him.

    As soon as the door clicked shut, Drew''s eyes flew open. She peeked at the door, silently cheering, then kicked off her thin covering and started rolling around on the bed. "Haha, that''s what you get for not taking me to the Oscars!"

    Suddenly--

    The bedroom door swung open, and Eric leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "I knew it, you little rascal! You''re not scared I''d end up in jail and you''d be out on the

    streets?"

    Drew froze for a second but quickly dashed to the edge of the bed to pull up the nket that had fallen to the floor, wrapping it around herself with a muffled, "This time I''m really going to sleep."

    "Drew, Virginia''s going to stay over tonight. Don''t cause any trouble."

    She peeked out from beneath the nket, her bright eyes showing. "Can I watch?"

    "NC-17, not for anyone under 18."

    "I can sneak a peek."

    Eric raised his voice a notch. "Drew, I''m serious."

    "Fine, fine, I won''t watch," she said, pulling the nket over her head. She turned away from Eric, dramatically like a wife throwing a fit at her husband.

    Eric watched her amusing antics in silence, and after a moment, he walked away, closing the bedroom door behind him.

    ...

    Kepler left after finishing a cup of coffee, and after a round of affectionate kisses, Eric carried Virginia into his own room, cing her on the bed. Under Virginia''s puzzled gaze, Eric thoroughly checked every corner of the bedroom to feel assured before locking the door and turning off the lights.

    In the dark, Virginia said in a hesitant tone, "Should we... take a shower first?"

    Eric groaned heavily, his hands never stopping. "It''ste; we can take a shower afterward."

    ...

    After flopping around for an unknown amount of time, Drew''s bedroom door was quietly opened, and the girl tiptoed barefoot through the dark hallway, pressing her ear against Eric''s bedroom door.

    After eavesdropping for a full five minutes, she boredly stood up, pouting in dissatisfaction as she retreated to her own room, muttering, "How loud can they be? Really getting wild."

    Back on her big bed, she rolled around, feeling more spirited as the night deepened. The thoughts of what she overheard echoed in her mind, and before she realized it, the hem of her pink nightgown had slipped off, and shortly after that, a pair of white panties floated out from under the covers, creating irregr movements beneath the lightweight nket.

    ...

    For some reason, today she woke up especially early -- well, not that early, it was already nine o''clock. But for Drew, who often slept until noon, this was truly early.

    Dressed and brushing her teeth, she nced at the mirror.

    Oh no, dark circles! Ugh... all because of those two annoying fools. She brushed her teeth begrudgingly and stepped out of her room. The vi was remarkably quiet. The other two clearly hadn''t gotten up; perhaps they had indeed partied tootest night.

    Drew grumbled internally about the couple.

    She felt a strong urge to barge into Eric''s room and wake them up but thought better of it. Rarely did she get to sleep in; she couldn''t waste the opportunity.

    Slipping on her fluffy slippers, she went downstairs and made herself a small pot of milk and cereal. She poured a spoonful, blew on it, tasted it, and thought, "Hmm, a bit sweet, but not

    bad."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After pouring herself a small bowl, she took out some bread from the toaster and walked towards the dining room.

    While munching on some toasted bread smeared with jam, her cheeks stuffed, she sipped the cereal and heard a noiseing from the living room.

    Oh? A sound!

    Almost forgetting her bowl, Drew hurried out of the dining room holding it close.

    Aniston, looking exhausted and dragging a red suitcase, was surveying her surroundings. When she spotted Drew at the dining room entrance, her initially curious expression quickly

    faded.

    "Where''s Eric?" the young woman asked with what felt like entitlement, her tone like that of a mistress inquiring a maid. Normally, Drew would''ve snapped back, but not now... Holding her bowl to hide her face, Drew peered at Aniston with her bright eyes and dramatically pointed upstairs. "Upstairs, take a left, second room on the south side." Aniston noticed something was off and gave Drew a suspicious nce but ultimately set down her suitcase and headed upstairs.

    Drew held her bowl to cover her almost-splitting grin, her eyes following Aniston''s figure until she vanished around the corner of the stairs, at which point she couldn''t help but bounce

    a little and pirouette on her toes.

    "Eric, you can''t me me for this!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 129: Chapter 129: The Injury

    Chapter 129: The Injury

    ?

    [Chapter 129: The Injury]

    The girl hurried back to the dining room, grabbed a piece of bread, and prepared to eat

    breakfast while watching the show. After thinking it over, she chose a safer spot - right at the entrance of the dining room.

    In less than a minute, while Drew had her neck craned in anticipation, a series of quick, sharp shouts erupted from upstairs.

    "Eric Williams, I will never forgive you! You jerk, you absolute jerk!"

    Amidst the shouting, Aniston stomped down the stairs, ring fiercely at Drew who was watching the scene unfold, and yanked her suitcase to leave.

    "Jenny, wait! Don''t be rash!"

    Eric''s voice rang out, and soon enough, his figure, d only in pajama pants, emerged at the V-shaped corner of the staircase. Seeing Aniston pulling her suitcase to leave, Eric, in a panic, lost his footing and tumbled down the stairs with a series of thuds.

    "Whoa," Drew gasped, not too worried about Eric rolling down the stairway; in fact, she found it a bit amusing since the height of the stairs was less than six feet.

    Aniston witnessed the scene unfold and couldn''t help but let out a satisfied, "Serves you right."

    Unfortunately, things went unexpectedly awry. Eric rolled down andnded t on his back with a thud, and soon blood began to trickle from his forehead, leaving himpletely still. The atmosphere felt suspended for a moment before a porcin bowl holding cereal crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. The girl rushed over, her face pale with fear.

    "Eric, are you okay? Hey! Speak to me, don''t scare me like this!" Drew cried out as she knelt beside Eric, frantically trying to wipe the blood from his forehead, realizing she only smeared it, making it worse and staining her pajama sleeves red. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a one-inch gash on his forehead, blood gushing from the wound, and Ericy unconscious.

    Aniston, who had initially been furious and determined to leave, hesitated at the sight, reluctantly putting down her suitcase and walking over. She skirted around Drew''s body and was rmed by the blood pouring from Eric''s forehead.

    "What... how did this happen?"

    Drew helplessly cradled Eric''s head in her arms, unfamiliar with the situation as she pressed down on his forehead, staining her pajama top with blood. Her eyes reddened like a rabbit''s as she shouted at Aniston, "Call for an ambnce, now! If anything happens to Eric, I swear I will kill you!"

    Aniston shivered at Drew''s hysterical threat and rushed to the phone, fumbling as she dialed 911. Just then, Virginia, hastily dressed, came rushing down to see the chaos.

    "Drew, let me handle this!" she insisted.

    "Get away! You''re all to me for this! If it weren''t for you all, Eric wouldn''t have been hurt!" Drew shouted, hurling insults.

    Although Virginia felt hurt by Drew''s words, she was a sensible woman and knew now wasn''t the time to argue. "Drew, we need to stop the bleeding. Is there a first aid kit? Tell me where it is!"

    "The bedroom, on the closet shelf," Drew replied without hesitation, and Virginia dashed upstairs.

    "Should we...y him t on the ground?" Aniston suggested, approaching cautiously after her call.

    Drew cast a cold nce at Aniston before pressing down carefully on Eric''s wound andid him t on the floor. After a moment, she removed one of her cartoon slippers and ced it under Eric''s head.

    Aniston watched Drew''s frantic manner and felt a pang of sadness; after all, she was Eric''s official girlfriend, yet in this moment it felt as though she was the third wheel. Looking at Drew, who was behaving like a crazed mother bear, Aniston felt a chill. She sensed that the closer she was, the more she''d be torn apart by a wild beast.

    Virginia returned quickly with the first aid kit. "Drew, let me take over. I''ve learned some first aid."

    Drew silently backed away, watching as Virginia expertly tended to Eric''s injuries, feeling a bit relieved as she nced at Aniston standing off to the side. "You said you were leaving? Now you can go and nevere back to look for Eric again."

    "Me?" Aniston finally raised her voice, anger bubbling up. "I''m Eric''s girlfriend! Who do you think you are to give me orders? You''re just a pet he keeps!"

    Drew smirked derisively. "What''s wrong with being a pet? At least I''m not a stuck-up,

    clueless woman like you, who always throws petty tantrums in front of him."

    "You''re the clueless one!" Aniston shot back, pointing at Virginia. "I am his girlfriend, shouldn''t I be upset about this?"

    "What''s wrong with a great guy dating several women?" Drew countered.

    "You..." Aniston was at a loss for words against Drew''s strong logic.

    Virginia had finished bandaging Eric''s forehead and ced her hand on his chest to feel for his heartbeat. Just then, the doorbell rang.

    "The ambnce is here," Aniston said softly, immediately drawing Drew''s attention away from their argument as she ran to open the door.

    Virginia had wanted to slip upstairs to avoid recognition until Eric''s condition stabilized, considering that her rtionship with Eric was less than public. As Aniston noticed Virginia''s movement, she thought of hiding upstairs as well but paused, seeing Drew gesturing excitedly to the paramedics approaching.

    The medics made quick work of assessing Eric, stabilizing him before carefully cing the still-unconscious man onto a stretcher and into the ambnce. Aniston followed Drew onto the ambnce, not wanting to be left behind. The ambnce sped off from Eric''s mansion, heading straight for the nearest hospital.

    ...

    A group of paparazzi stationed outside Eric''s house saw the scene and went wild, sensing something major had happened, and quickly jumped into their vehicles to follow along.

    In under an hour, news of Eric''s injury and hospitalization spread like wildfire among the Los Angeles media.

    "This is a brief report: This morning, young director Eric Williams identally fell down the stairs and has been in aa since. Our reporters at the Beverly Hills Comil Surgical Hospital are on the scene," a voice on television dered, cutting to a live shot outside a hospital, where dozens of reporters crowded the entrance trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. The camera panned to Al Pacino stepping out of a business vehicle, his face serious behind sunsses and surrounded immediately by a swarm of journalists.

    A young blonde reporter stood before the camera, microphone in hand, reporting, "Eric has now beenatose for three hours. Based on the information released, he has sustained various degrees of bruising on his back, elbows, and knees, with the most serious being a severe head injury resulting in substantial blood loss. We cannot confirm at this moment if this injury will have more serious consequences. As we all know, brain injuries are the hardest

    to predict."

    ...

    Inside the hospital, Jeffrey and Kapler had arrived first, followed by Al Pacino, Tom Hanks, and other close acquaintances of Eric. After several exams, Eric was sent to a patient room while everyone gathered in the office to hear the attending physician''s updates.

    "CT and MRI results indicate that Mr. Williams suffered no skull fractures or internal

    bleeding, thus we do not need to worry excessively at this time."

    "Doctor Duncan, when will he wake up?" Drew asked anxiously, standing right at the front of

    the group.

    "Within eight hours, I expect he ought to wake up," Dr. Duncan replied cautiously.

    "''Expect''? Doctor, can''t you be sure?"

    Dr. Duncan nodded, looking concerned.

    "How could this be? You''re a doctor! You should be sure about these things; aren''t you the best here?" Drew said breathlessly, practically trying to pounce at him, only to be restrained by Jeffrey: "Drew, calm down."

    Dr. Duncan regarded Drew, who was barefoot and her pajamas stained with blood, and didn''t seem perturbed by her rudeness; instead, he patiently exined, "Miss Barrymore, the degree of injury Eric has sustained typically would have restored consciousness by now, yet he hasn''t done so. Therefore, I cannot offer you an urate answer, we just need to observe and

    wait."

    Drew waved her hand restlessly, "No! I want him transferred to the best hospital in Los

    Angeles, I..."

    "Drew, don''t cause a scene. This is already the best neuro hospital in Los Angeles," Jeffrey reassured her, holding her shoulder gently.

    Dr. Duncan added, "Perhaps we can try talking to him; it might help to rouse him." Upon hearing this suggestion, Drew turned on her heel and ran towards Eric''s room. Once Drew disappeared, Jeffrey posed a question to the doctor, "Doctor, does that really work?" Dr. Duncan chuckled lightly, "I just wanted to give Barrymore something to upy her mind; her emotions are too unstable and she is on the verge of a breakdown."

    A heavy silence filled the air, with everyone not knowing what else to say. The crowd dispersed from the office to stand outside Eric''s room, and they saw Drew leaning anxiously over Eric, whispering nervously in his ear, not daring to approach closer themselves. Several passersby noticed the likes of Al Pacino and Tom Hanks and wanted to approach but hesitated at their stern demeanor and retreated.

    Jeffrey, the oldest among them, finally suggested, "Maybe it''s best if everyone heads home for now. Sticking around here isn''t doing anything good. Kepler and I can stay here." After he spoke, everyone soon began to leave, and only Jeffrey, Kepler, and a stubborn Aniston remained, who also longed to be at Eric''s bedside but was frightened by Drew''s erratic state. Eight hours passed, and Eric still had not awakened. By evening, there was still no sign he might wake up, which caused Drew to spiral once again, redirecting her anxiety-fueled anger towards Aniston. Aniston''s neck bore two scratches from Drew''s frenzy before Jeffrey and Kepler finally managed to pull her away. Aniston began to regret having stayed in the first ce, even forgetting to resist as Drew lunged at her once more.

    ...

    As night fell, many grew restless. Barry Diller from Fox and Amy Pascal from Columbia arrived sequentially, met with excitement from reporters attempting to encircle them for interviews. However, their formidable bodyguards pushed the eager crowd back.

    They checked on Eric first before again turning to the attending physician, seemingly devoid

    of options. "Doctor, you don''t think there''s a risk of a vegetative state, do you?" Barry Diller posed,

    voicing what everyone was thinking but afraid to ask after hearing Dr. Duncan''s assessment.

    Dr. Duncan rubbed the pen in his fingers, hesitating before speaking. "The chances of that happening are very slim, but... it''s not impossible."

    Fortunately, Drew was still keeping vigil at Eric''s bedside; hearing those words might have

    sent her into another episode.

    Everyone exchanged nces, not sure what to say next. The grim expression deepened on Diller''s and Pascal''s faces, not out of concern for Eric, but for the studios they represented. Bothpanies had substantial deals tied to Eric''s films, and if they fell through due to his

    condition...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    With no conclusions reached, an hourter, Barry Diller and Amy Pascal reluctantly departed.

    ...

    Perhaps everyone felt a wave of relief at the mere possibility that Eric''s crisis could cause a mere scare. By 4 AM the following morning, after nearly fifteen hours of beingatose, Eric finally awakened. After a brief examination, Drew, her eyes red and unkempt, grasped Eric''srge hand, tenderly stroking his face before copsing at the edge of the bed, finally falling

    asleep.

    Jeffrey and Kepler, exhausted from the all-nighter, felt a weight lift as they sat by Eric''s bedside, watching Drew''s reaction. Kepler finally stood. "Eric, should I take Drew to the next room to rest?"

    "Not necessary, she can stay here," Eric said, pulling Drew up to rest beside him, then turning to Aniston, who was positioned against the door with her arms crossed, "Jenny,e here." Aniston obediently walked over. "Eric, since... since you''re awake, I''m going to leave."

    Eric reached out, gripping Aniston''s arm, "Don''t go, please, Jenny." Kepler and Jeffrey took the hint and excused themselves, "We''ll call everyone else to let them know you''re awake. They''ll feel much better to hear it from us."

    ...

    Once the door shut, Aniston rxed slightly and seated herself beside Eric''s bed.

    Eric looked puzzled as he touched the red marks on Aniston''s neck. "What happened to..."

    Aniston nced at Drew next to him, her expressionplicated, "You jerk... if you hadn''t woken up, Drew would have killed me."

    "Come on, she wouldn''t have," Eric reassured her, caressing Aniston''s face.

    "Oh yes, she would. I honestly think... breaking up might be best. Maybe... maybe Drew is a

    better fit for you."

    "I only see Drew as... a sister."

    Aniston didn''t linger on the topic and instead remarked, "But I can''t handle your wandering

    heart, Eric. When I saw all those headlines about you in New York, I could convince myself they were just magazine fabrications. But seeing you yesterday morning changed everything. I can''t deceive myself anymore, and it''s tearing me up inside. So, why don''t you let me go?"

    Eric tightened his grip on Aniston''s small hand. "All right, Jenny. Let''s not discuss this for

    now. I n to produce a TV series soon; would you like to star as the lead? I promise it will make you even more famous than those movie stars." Aniston pulled her hand back, "I don''t--"

    "I really can''t think of anyone who''d fit better than you," he countered. "You wouldn''t want

    me to hold auditions again, right? That''d lead to a lot of girls around me, and you know my

    willpower isn''t the strongest."

    "You..."

    "All right, it''s settled then."

    "Wait!"

    Aniston was stubborn, but Eric was even more so, and in a moment of whimsical persistence,

    she unwittingly agreed, only to realize toote that she had been pulled onto Eric''s other side.

    Like Drew, she too was sleep-deprived, and soon fell asleep beside him.

    ...

    While Eric''s awakening was celebrated, news cycles had already gone to print.

    The next morning, headlines read, "Eric Williams Injured Unexpectedly; Filming ns

    Dyed, Columbia Faces Major Negotiation Setback."

    "Sources say that Williams remains in a longstinga, raising risks of a vegetative state.

    If this urs, multiple film contracts with Columbia and 20th Century Fox could be at risk for cancetion. Meanwhile, Firefly Films faces uncertain prospects."

    Such reports proliferated, but after Fox News quickly rified that Eric had woken up, these

    sensational stories quickly lost their weight, leading to a temporary fluctuation in stock prices for Columbia and Fox before stabilizing. Simultaneously, another angle began to gain traction and drew significant attention, as tabloids reported: "It''s well-known that Eric Williams has no living rtives. Although former child star Drew Barrymore has a close rtionship with Williams, they share no gic ties, nor any legal connections. Reportedly, Eric has not left a will; should anything happen to him, his multimillion-dor estate may go unimed and could be seized by the

    federal government."

    ....

    In the hospital, despite feeling fully recovered, Eric waspelled to stay for a few more days

    under the doctor''s advice.

    Reading about the unfolding saga, Eric chuckled, addressing Drew beside him, "Maybe I

    ought to write a will after all. How much do you want?"

    "Of course, it should all be mine," Drew replied nonchntly while flipping through a

    magazine, ncing at Eric. "Did you forget what our rtionship is?"

    "I thought you might say I wouldn''t need a dime, just your well-being. But to want all my

    fortune? That genuinely hurts."

    "Harumph!"

    As Eric continued to contemte drafting a will during his stay in the hospital, far across the

    ocean, British paparazzi uncovered another intriguing tidbit. Eric''s publicized father had

    indeed passed, but his mother remained an enigma. This discovery excited many reporters; finding Eric''s mother would be nothing short of explosive news.

    As a first-introduced venue for paparazzi, the British were skilled at digging deep. They

    quickly discovered Eric''s childhood home in London and knocked on doors in the area, eventually uncovering some clues. "She was a woman of great poise..."

    "She always wore a veil when she went out -- I never saw her true face..."

    "She was probably a wealthy heiress, but after giving birth, she just vanished. Ralph really hit

    the jackpot..." After considerable effort, the tabloids garnered the only snippets avable, confirming no one could recall what Eric Williams''s mother looked like. This uncertainty only provided fertile ground for spection, prompting consensus that this could be a tale of love between a princess and a stable boy. While the ending wasn''t great, it produced an outstanding son.

    These fabrications soon reached the United States, and unsurprisingly, Eric saw these headlines, yet he felt relief. It was better if his mother remained out of reach; he genuinely

    didn''t know how to deal with a mother he had never met. It was best if that riddle stayed unsolved.

    After April Fool''s Day, following another thorough examination, Eric was discharged from the hospital, putting the ordeal behind him. Preparations were all set for his uing film, and in the remaining days, he began coborating with Cruise and Hanks, eagerly awaiting

    the official start of filming on April 5.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Smugness

    Chapter 130: Smugness

    ?

    [Chapter 130: Smugness]

    Johnnie To was one of the few Hong Kong filmmakers that Eric held in high regard. His movies integrated elements of coolness, violence, destiny, and profound sadness within a unique ck philosophy.

    This film of To''s was one of the few that had a bittersweet yet carefree vibe. If ordinary viewers were to critique this film, the mostmon word would surely be "cool!" This was the main reason why Eric chose to produce this particr film.

    Moreover, this was a bold attempt by Eric. He wanted to see whether a film like Running Out of Time, which had no counterpart in Hollywood history, could seed.

    In Eric''s memory, many blockbuster films would eventually be owned by major yers within the next decade, and he aimed to snatch a piece from those giants. This was no small feat, particrly once they knew he had his eye on a certain film. There were not manymercial sesses without clear copyright ownership, and if he followed this pace of production, perhaps within two or three years, they could wrap filming.

    Of course, it was also a very calcted try. Firstly, the story waspelling and had gained the endorsement of big names like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, which indicated that the narrative didn''t struggle with the differing tastes of Eastern and Western audiences.

    Secondly, both male leads were now bankable stars. Tom Cruise had just seen an upsurge in poprity due to recent sesses, while Tom Hanks had recently received an Oscar nomination for his previous year''s performance. Coupled with Eric''s own previous box office sesses and a script that exuded coolness, Columbia''s data department analyzed that earning over a hundred million at the summer box office would be an effortless task.

    ...

    On April 5th, in arge soundstage at Columbia Pictures, they officiallymenced shooting, starting with a series of indoor scenes. This time, Eric didn''t n to shoot in chronological order as he had previously.

    Both lead characters were well-defined, showing no notable changes from scene to scene -- one sharp and efficient, the other cunning and wise. As long as they were able to immerse themselves into their roles, beginning from any scene would pose no significant issues. Thus, Eric decided on a process that grew from simple toplex and from the inside out.

    ...

    In the hospital room, Cruise''s character Andy, after learning of his worsening condition, calmly got out of bed and began to dress himself deliberately.

    "How long do I have?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Four weeks. If you have internal bleeding, you could die at any time," the sprightly doctor, sitting behind his desk, hoarsely responded.

    Andy''s motions did not falter upon hearing such dreadful news; after fastening his belt, he handed a wad of cash to the doctor. "No problem. Just give me four weeks'' worth of painkillers."

    Taking the painkillers, Andy slipped on his jacket as he prepared to leave. The doctor, seemingly a bit sentimental,mented, "I don''t think we''ll meet again."

    "Just in this life," Andy replied calmly.

    "Cut!"

    ...

    Once the shot wasplete, Eric called for a pause, not saying ''good'' or ''no-good'' while sitting behind the monitor, slightly frowning as if lost in thought. Although he had been discharged from the hospital, Eric still wore a bandage around his head, asionally suffering from headaches; yet after several tests, there had been no issues found, which eased Eric''s nerves.

    Cruise''s performance was unremarkable, easily aplished with his talent. This particr shot wouldter be edited together with scenes of Andy on the rooftop using montage techniques, incorporating both fast and slow-motion shots, with the two distinct effects urring twice within just two shots.

    The reasoning behind this was that the tense sound of the ticking second hand blended with the background was intended to subtly suggest the passage of time to the audience; Andy only had four weeks left to live. This brief sequence would evoke a sense of urgency and curiosity among viewers -- what would Andy do with his remaining four weeks?

    The crew present consisted of many familiar faces who had worked with Eric before, hence they had seen him lost in thought on multiple asions during filming. They understood what to do -- silently tidying equipment while patiently waiting for Eric toe back to reality.

    But after a minute, Cruise finally grew a bit impatient. He felt that there was nothing wrong with his earlier performance, so he approached Eric. "Hey, Eric, how was thatst take? Do we need to redo it?"

    Eric noted the shadow cast over him as Cruise stepped in front, blocking arge light with his presence because all the lighting in the studio was artificial. As Eric looked up, he caught a glimpse of Cruise''s expression and exined, "Sorry, Tom. I got sidetracked thinking about some issues."

    "It''s fine," Cruise replied, his smile gracious. "How was thatst shot? Do we need to do it again?"

    "I''m afraid we''ll have to do it once more," Eric replied. "Can we hold on a second?"

    Cruise shrugged and stepped back as Eric signaled to the lighting technician, issuing some instructions. Gradually, the lights started to dim, departing from the bright simted sunlight they had before. Eric focused intently on the monitor, waiting until the lighting felt just right before signaling the technician to stop.

    "Okay, everyone ready? Let''s take thatst shot again," Eric instructed loudly.

    After a brief moment, the script supervisor stepped forward, pping the te, and filming began anew.

    Eric carefully observed the images of Andy and the doctor on the screen, silentlyparing this shot to the rooftop scene he had envisioned in his mind.

    This shot aimed to convey Andy''s current state and was reminiscent of Andy''s reflections on the rooftop. Viewers might interpret this segment as suggesting that Andy was contemting suicide, thinking this could be a reverse chronology film, where Andy spent four weeks fulfilling his wishes and then, devoid of hope, leapt from the rooftop. Since this shot was meant to illustrate and evoke memories, Eric felt that the original''s lighting had been overly bright and mirrored Andy''s sunny rooftop setting, failing to provide the audience with a sense of contrast, which severelypromised the expressive quality. Having resolved the lighting issue, Eric shifted his focus back to Cruise''s performance. This small scene offered little room for flourish, and Eric had no intention of nitpicking. If Cruise could offer a delightful surprise with his acting, he would be happy; if not, it wouldn''t disappoint him as long as he met his own standards.

    Eric knew he had already given Cruise the opportunity; whether Cruise could earn a nomination or even win an award hinged on his performance alone. Eric''s primary concern was, still, the film''s box office potential.

    As for the earlier pitch to persuade Cruise to ept a cross-dressing role by referencing potential Oscar prospects... Well, weren''t all directors and producers this way when trying to coax actors into their projects? Eric felt no guilt whatsoever; his focus remained on profitability. After all, he was still young enough that his desire for an Oscar wasn''t overwhelmingly intense -- the bottom line was far more pertinent.

    The film''s premise was undeniably novel, but whether it would win the favor of the Academy

    was anyone''s guess.

    ...

    Only after a couple of takes did this scene pass. The crew began to move to another room within the soundstage, a process that took over half an hour. Actual filming time was limited, as most of the day was consumed with the extensive setup of various scenes.

    For thest couple of days, most shots featured Cruise solo, where he explored Hanks''s

    character Sean in his private quarters, creating disguises and choking on blood while portraying Andy''s father, Peter, in confrontations against the viins.

    Though Eric had the original film in mind, he designed additional scenes to ensure ample material for post-production -- as this was an entirely new Hollywood film, and he couldn''t recycle it to match his memories precisely.

    The shooting schedule indicated that this process would take three days, with group scenes

    involving Hanks and others on the fourth day, followed by the indoor scenes between Cruise and Hanks that Eric anticipated eagerly. It was a regret that in his former life, the two major stars had never shared the screen.

    ...

    Due to the ample shooting timeline, the crew wrapped up promptly after eight hours. Eric ordered the assistant director to send the footage to editing, and he hurriedly departed. He had more on his te than just the movie. Post-production wouldn''t begin until after the film

    officially wrapped.

    Casting for the initial roles had beenpleted, but Eric needed to make the final calls on some actors, while also keeping an eye on his other project shooting in Louisiana.

    That project had been underway for a month, but under the meticulous direction of the seasoned Herbert Ross, the filming progress had barely reached the halfway mark. At least another month would be required to finish, followed by a month or more of post-production.

    Furthermore, this project seemed to be at risk of going over budget. Eric weed this possibility; he knew that Firefly was not the only investor involved, having previously secured

    an additional three million dors from Herbert Ross.

    Thus, Eric didn''t mind the prospect of pouring another couple of million into the film to enhance Firefly''s share, and he awaited Ross''s request for funds.

    ...

    "Hi, Eric! How''s your head?"

    Upon returning to Firefly''s office, Eric encountered Jonathan Demme, who appeared tired but

    spoke with a strong voice.

    "Thanks for asking, Jonathan. It''s getting better. Did you bring the materials?"

    "Right here. I filtered through dozens of potential actors as you requested. It nearly wore me

    out," Jonathan replied with a smile.

    Indeed, the burden weighed heavily upon him in recent days. The script called for two child

    actors, and spurred by Stuart Ronkel''s influence, Firefly had received over five thousand

    submissions for young actors.

    Many of these submissions came from children without any acting experience, as parents dreamed of striking it rich like the Ronkels and sent in their kids'' files.

    There were also fraudulent submissions, where unscrupulous parents falsely imed their child had made cameo appearances in films or TV shows, forcing the staff to invest significant time verifying these documents'' authenticity. In such conditions, identifying promising

    young talent posed a monumental challenge.

    Eric had contemted directly seeking out those kids with potential based on his memories, but that would have been a far moreplex operation than sifting through five thousand

    submissions.

    While Eric''s recollections closely mirrored his past life, certain new pieces of information still eluded him. If he mentioned the name of a famous Hollywood star from the future, the staff could identify a hundred kids with the same name -- creativity in naming among people was notoriouslycking.

    As he epted the thick stack of files Jonathan handed over, which included a shortlist of the

    two child actors alongside three other roles -- like Victor and Grace''s husband, among others

    -- he recognized that he had already delegated some of the minor supporting roles to Jonathan. However, he still needed to personally review them.

    The first documents he flipped open pertained to the crucial two child actors. ncing over

    the list of ten boys, he was surprised to see Macay Culkin''s name, while he didn''t recognize

    any of the others.

    Turning to Culkin''s file, although it had been omitted, the boy still boasted two film credits,

    exining why he appeared on this list. Eric pulled out Culkin''s file, and Jonathan peered

    curiously at it. "Eric, are you interested in this boy?"

    Eric shook his head. "No, he''s out."

    "I think this Macay Culkin boy is the sharpest of the bunch..." Jonathan began.

    But Eric did not wish for Culkin to achieve the same level of stardom he had in his previous life; therefore, the less notoriety, the better.

    He believed that keeping Culkin in a position where he only asionally appeared in one or

    twockluster films would be the best route, allowing the boy freedom to choose his future path as an adult.

    If they promoted him now, that peculiar pair of parents would undoubtedly create a series of odd situations to ruin the poor boy''s chances, just as they had before. "Jonathan, remember the boy, Nichs? His character is rather dull. Looking at this boy''s pictures with those big, bright eyes makes him seem far too clever, so that''s a no-go." Jonathan, following Eric''s logic, took a few more nces and realized, "Okay, I did overlook

    that."

    Eric continued to peruse the remaining nine boys'' profiles. Suddenly, he looked up, fixing his gaze on Jonathan Demme across the table. "Jonathan, do you recognize any of these kids?" Jonathan''s eyes darted, his cheeks reddening slightly as he finally nodded, standing up to produce one boy''s profile. "This Brian Baker is the son of an actor friend I previously worked with. Sorry, Eric; I shouldn''t have done this, but I swear I only added him after a thorough consideration during auditions."

    As Jonathan spoke, he was about to crumple up the boy''s profile to toss it into the wastebasket, but Eric intervened, examining the materials carefully. Eric nodded with satisfaction. "Jonathan, let''s go with him."

    "Uh, really sorry... wait, what did you say?" Jonathan snapped back to reality, looking at Eric

    incredulously.

    Eric smiled. "I said, let''s go with him. You know I don''t have time for auditions now. Plus, I

    trust you won''t mess around with the film, right?"

    "Of course," Jonathan affirmed vigorously -- the movie was critical for his future in

    Hollywood, hinging on this very opportunity.

    "Are there any others?" Eric inquired.

    This time, Jonathan shook his head firmly. "Absolutely none, Eric. The rest of the candidates

    have no connection to me."

    Eric had initially proposed this as a favor to Jonathan. While he had already offered a substantial opportunity, he didn''t mind giving a little more without needing to sacrifice anything. Jonathan Demme was a promising talent, and Eric had decided to bring him under

    his wing, especially knowing that Hanks''s first Oscar-winning film would be directed by

    Jonathan. With the boy secured, Eric saw no need to continue reviewing the rest, so he moved on to the

    folder with the potential actresses.

    It seemed the saying that Hollywood was a small ce had some truth to it, as this time there

    were two familiar names in the mix -- Kirsten Dunst and Sarah Michelle Ger.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Twelve-Year-Old Lolitas Shelf Life

    Chapter 131: Twelve-Year-Old Lolita''s Shelf Life

    ?

    [Chapter 131: Twelve-Year-Old Lolita''s Shelf Life]

    In the photo, the seven-year-old Kirsten was as delicate as a doll, with golden hair and a round face, dressed in a princess dress and wearing a cutece sun hat, with a lovely golden fringe falling down her forehead.

    Unfortunately, Eric knew that this star would grow increasingly in as she aged, and once she became an adult, she would entirely lose the exquisite look she possessed at that moment.

    Perhaps, she might not seem too wed, but from his perspective, there were hardly any beautiful features to speak of. If he had topliment her, he could only say that she had a certain temperament, but even that didn''t seem like much of apliment for a woman.

    Regarding this twelve-year-old Lolita, Eric chose to pass; the girl didn''t appear to have much potential. If she hadn''t been lucky enough to be Mary Jane in Spider-Man, perhaps this child star would fade into obscurity long before the end of 2000s.

    After the Spider-Man trilogy finished, Kirsten Dunst''s career plummeted, and she almost vanished from the public eye.

    He pulled out another girl''s profile: Sarah Michelle Ger. Compared to the Sarah in his memories, this girl''s face was round, and although she was nearly twelve, she still looked quite petite. ying a character around ten years old would pose no problem, which was likely why Sarah made the cut.

    While Kirsten had only one credit to her name, Sarah''s resume had a string of film titles -- none of which were particrly notable. In fact, with the many films he had seen, Eric hadn''t watched a single one.

    "Jonathan, what do you think of this girl?" Eric handed Sarah''s profile to Jonathan Demme.

    Jonathan took a quick look and swiftly recalled Sarah''s audition scene: "This kid started acting in films at four. Everything on her resume checks out. During her audition, she had great on-camera presence -- very confident, not shy at all. I chatted with her, and she was quite smart and mature. Even though she looks fragile, she''s already twelve and a bit precocious, mentally at least fourteen. Working with her would be easierpared to those truly ten-year-old kids."

    Eric took back the profile and decided, "Let''s go with her. You know the drill -- reach out to her and make sure we sign her with UTA."

    Even though Eric had mentioned to Kepler that he wasn''t looking to expand UTA in theing years, the actors cultivated through his film projects certainly couldn''t be allowed to join other agencies. Recently, after Eric''s article stirred up some change, many agencies had begun overhauling their systems. While they couldn''tpletely mimic CAA''s model, now that Eric had exposed CAA''s detailed operation method, they could no longer maintain their superiority and would soon facepetition from otherpanies. Therefore, UTA could proceed with stable growth, without worrying about CAA having the monopoly.

    Watching Eric flip through profiles of other actors, seemingly just skimming them before making quick decisions, Jonathan felt a bit disoriented: "Eric, don''t you think we need to schedule another round of auditions? Doesn''t this feel a bit...?"

    "Do you think I''m being hasty?" Eric chuckled, lifting his gaze.

    Jonathan scratched his head. "At least, you should take a look at their audition tapes, right?" Eric circled thest actor''s name on the list with a pen. "No need, Jonathan. I trust you''ve vetted these people meticulously. Any one of them would be more than capable of fulfilling their roles, so there''s no need for extra steps. Besides, I''m strapped for time and need to start shooting soon. The Cannes and Berlin film festivals are out of the question, but I hope to be ready for the Venice Film Festival in September."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Alright, I''ll inform them as soon as possible," Jonathan nodded and seemed to understand. Perhaps Eric''s approach was entirely to assert his control over the project. Despite being young, this boy had a stronger desire for control than those kings who feared losing their thrones.

    It was unfortunate for those actors who had made it to the final list but weren''t selected. They might still be excitedly preparing for their third round of auditions, only to face disappointment. While it seemed unfair, Hollywood was like that; odd urrences happened constantly, and fairness was a rare concept.

    After organizing the pile of profiles with Jonathan, Eric asked, "Have we settled on a filming location?"

    "I asked a friend in Ennd to scout a few estates on some inds in the English Channel, but I think it''s essential for me to go in person to assess whether they''re suitable. I also need to speak directly with the owners of those estates; you know, many of those historic mansions belong to British nobility. Though they may be down-and-out now, they still possess an inexplicable air of arrogance, so I must visit personally. Once they feel respected, things tend to go much more smoothly."

    Eric inexplicably recalled some events from a past life and smiled knowingly.

    Jonathan suddenly remarked, "Actually, Eric, if you can make the trip, things would go even more smoothly. You''re British, after all. Many UK media outlets now view you as one of their prides. If you show up, those little nobles will definitely treat you like a guest of honor, and perhaps we won''t even have to spend money to use some of the estates."

    Eric waved his hand, "Forget it. After all these years, I''ve even forgotten my British ent. Besides, I can''t possibly leave the set right now; by the time I got there, filming would already be well underway."

    ...

    The following days of shooting went smoothly, considering they were filming in a studio, which had fewer restrictions than outdoor locations. Tom Cruise also disyed his top-notch professionalism; if not for his asional attempts to undermine Eric''s authority, frequently calling shots during the filming process, Eric would have been happy to continue coborating with him.

    However, the chances of their future coborations seemed slim, given Tom Cruise''s personality. Only directors of Spielberg''s caliber would be able to work with him without losing control. In Eric''s past life, many of Cruise''s films had been tightly controlled by him, even if he wasn''t the director, and even major movie moguls weren''t allowed to interfere. Eric and Tom Cruise were simr in that regard, so their chances of future coboration were looking bleak.

    "Brooke, your expression was still off. When you saw Andy spitting blood, you needed to convey panic and confusion, not disgust. This meant wide eyes and slightly parted lips -- definitely no frowning involved," Eric said, frowning as he nced at his watch on his wrist. "If we still can''t get it right after a couple more tries, we''re going to have to push this to the afternoon. I''m sure you wouldn''t want to waste everyone''s time, would you?"

    Brooke Shields now stood in front of Eric with her eyelids lowered like a little girl caught doing something wrong. Whether it was an act or not was uncertain, but it consistently dulled the anger of men, and after five or six takes, Eric couldn''t help but reprimand her.

    "Sorry, Eric. I think... I''m starting to feel it."

    Eric sighed, "Then let''s try again. All crew, prepare."

    Brooke Shields returned to her mark; this was the scene after Andy and Yoyo had their second meeting, sitting together in a quaint diner. Eric had once again chosen to shoot in the studio - - not to save on the $40 million budget, which didn''t require scrimping; he simply wanted to finish these scattered interior scenes quickly -- the outdoor scenes would be more challenging. Thanks to Columbia''s expansive soundstages, they could easily recreate conditions for outside nighttime scenes, even though it was midday.

    "Miss Shields, don''t rush; just take your time. We''ve got plenty of time. I don''t think it''s entirely your fault; Eric is still too young," Tom Cruise chatted eagerly with Brooke Shields

    during a break.

    Had she performed so poorly in a Cruise-led project, he would likely have exploded with rage. But now it seemed Tom Cruise was enjoying watching Eric flounder while he yed the gentleman, charmingly engaging with the stunning woman.

    "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Cruise," Brooke Shields smiled back.

    "So, do you have ns for tonight, Miss Shields? It would be an honor to have dinner with

    you."

    Brooke Shields raised her finely arched eyebrows slightly and subconsciously darted a nce at Eric, not too far away. If possible, she would much prefer to be inviting Eric Williams rather than this married man.

    However, that young director, five or six years her junior, was an enigma; she could tell Eric was interested in her, and her intuition as a beautiful woman told her he often looked at her with undisguised eagerness -- like an eager young man of seventeen or eighteen, but most of the time, he behaved like a savvy middle-aged man, unashamedly admiring her beauty and figure with the practiced gaze of someone who had seen it all.

    "Mr. Cruise, can I get back to you this afternoon? I''m not sure if I have other ns for the evening," Brooke Shields replied, slightly deferring, but not closing the door entirely.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Behind the Scenes

    Chapter 132: Behind the Scenes

    ?

    [Chapter 132: Behind the Scenes]

    Between Eric Williams and Tom Cruise, Brooke Shields had always leaned more towards the former. She figured if Eric didn''t make any move after work today, she wouldn''t mind having dinner with Tom Cruise to get closer. Although she had started acting at the tender age of twelve, she still hadn''t fully broken into the Hollywood scene and found herself spinning in circles at the periphery. Sure, part of it was due to herck of acting chops, but more critically, Brooke Shields didn''t have much of awork in the industry.

    After turning twenty-four and realizing her dreams of marrying the megastar Michael Jackson were dashed, Brooke Shields had to start nning for her future. Unlike Jackson, who seemed childlike and disinterested in marriage, Brooke Shields had matured and became more realistic about her prospects. She knew what her strongest asset was.

    When Tom Cruise heard Brooke Shields''s response, he maintained his charming demeanor and said, "No problem, I hope to hear good news." The two had barely exchanged a few words when they received the cue to get ready. Eric went to sit in front of the monitor, signaling to the script supervisor to start.

    ...

    On screen, Yoyo smiled and asked, "What''s your name?"

    Not getting a response didn''t faze her one bit, as she readily introduced herself, "I''m Yoyo."

    ...

    "Cut!" a harsh voice interrupted, forcing Eric to stand up. He pointed at Brooke Shields and eximed, "Curious, curious! I''ve said it a few times now; you''re really curious about Andy, so open those beautiful eyes of yours wide and try again!"

    Everyone in the room could feel Eric was on the edge of a breakdown, and they hesitantly restarted the scene, watching Brooke Shields anxiously, hoping this gorgeous girl wouldn''t flub her lines again.

    ...

    "What''s your name?... I''m Yoyo."

    "Knowing who I am won''t be good for you."

    "The other day I read in the paper what you did."

    "Thank you."

    "You''re wee."

    "Too bad I don''t have time," Andy said glumly, lifting the water cup in front of him only to start coughing violently.

    "What''s it matter if you had time or not?" Just as Andy said that, blood spurted from his mouth, staining the cup red. Yoyo instinctively recoiled, her eyes widened, and her red lips parted slightly. This time, Brooke Shields managed to hold back her frown.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Cut! That was great, we''re almost there. But Brooke, your shocked expression still needs to look more natural. We have time to do this again." Eric''s expression rxed slightly, and the crew also breathed a sigh of relief.

    The next take didn''t go well either, as Brooke Shields instinctively furrowed her brows again at thest minute. Such natural human reactions were hard to ovee, and Eric could only gloomily announce a break, saying they''d try again after lunch.

    ...

    As he stood up, ready to grab a bite, Allen approached him. "Eric, Miss Roberts has been waiting outside for you. She doesn''t have a pass, so she can''t get in."

    "Roberts?" Eric asked, puzzled. "Julia Roberts?"

    "Yes," Allen replied.

    "Isn''t she in Louisiana?" Eric wondered aloud as he walked outside.

    Allen exined, "Maybe she came back because you were hurt."

    Eric shrugged, ignoring his assistant''s teasing.

    As he stepped out of the studio, he immediately spotted a business car parked across the street. Just as he appeared at the door, the car door opened, and a stylishly dressed Julia emerged wearing sunsses, followed by her assistant and two men who looked like bodyguards.

    At the same time, several paparazzi waiting nearby sprang into action, snapping pictures of Julia.

    "Hey, big star!" Eric called out teasingly as he approached, seeing the scene around him. "Hey, big director!" Julia shot back, not to be outdone.

    They exchanged a light hug, which only incited a flurry of clicks from the cameras. Once the paparazzi finished taking photos, they quickly surged forward holding microphones, bombarding Julia with questions about her return to Los Angeles and her new film''s progress, and of course, they didn''t forget to ask about Eric.

    With the bodyguards and assistants keeping them safe, they climbed into Julia''s business car without saying a word before driving off. A pack of paparazzi quickly hopped into their cars and motorcycles to follow suit.

    Right outside the studio door, Brooke Shields, who had just stepped out to head across the street for lunch, caught sight of the scene and felt a pang of jealousy. After being famous for so long, she had never enjoyed such a ''bodyguard'' treatment by the paparazzi, while Julia Roberts, who had only recently risen to fame, was already attracting such attention so easily. Looking around in disappointment, she noticed that the few paparazzi who were hoping to catch some filming news had all followed Julia and Eric out. This stunning beauty stood there, and not a single person approached her for a photo or an interview. The security guard in the booth next to her was staring at her long legs in a creepy way, which only heightened Brooke Shields''s irritation and disgust. Remembering Julia Roberts'' ascent to fame re-ignited Brooke Shields''s determination.

    "Maybe I should be patient and wait," Brooke Shields murmured quietly, making up her mind to turn down Tom Cruise''s dinner invitation. Comparing the opportunity for fame that Eric could provide versus Cruise, who, despite being big name, was still just an actor. Moreover, any rumor or publicity about them would be futile since Cruise was already married, which would only have detrimental effects. If after all the filming, Eric Williams remained uninterested, Brooke Shields ideally decided she would approach him then. Until then, she needed to wait patiently; the benefits from being proactive and reactive were vastly different.

    ...

    "These two are Hunter and Chris," Julia introduced her bodyguard-drivers to Eric with a hint of pride in her tone. Before Eric could respond, her long-time assistant, the freckled Allison Green, couldn''t help but chuckle softly.

    Julia yfully tapped her assistant on the forehead, saying, "Allison, watch it or I''ll dock your

    pay."

    Eric raised his hand to raise the soundproof barrier between the driver''s seat and the back, thenughed, "Alright, I get it! You''re a world-famous star now. Where are we going?"

    "Not far. I''ve booked a restaurant; we''ll be there in about five or six minutes. Don''t worry; I won''t keep you from your afternoon shoot."

    As Julia spoke, she pointed at Eric''s bandaged forehead. "What happened to you? I was shocked when I heard the news."

    "I can vouch for it, it was when Julia... um..." Allison began but was quickly silenced by Julia, who gave her a fierce look. "Allison, I''m really going to dock your pay."

    After catching Allison''s pleading gaze, Julia released her grip. Eric joked, "Allison, you can''t reveal Julia''s secrets in front of outsiders; the consequences could be severe." Allison rubbed her cheek and responded, "Of course not! But Mr. Williams isn''t an outsider!"

    She knew all too well about the dynamics between Eric and Julia and secretly hoped for them to get together, hence her slip about the time Julia had so dramatically reacted when she saw

    Eric hurt and unconscious.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Lunch

    Chapter 133: Lunch

    ?

    [Chapter 133: Lunch]

    In an elegant restaurant, Eric ced his order and watched with a smile as Julia expertlymunicated with the waiter, her grace evident as she adeptly maneuvered her utensils. "What are you looking at?" Julia quickly noticed Eric''s gaze and asked curiously.

    Eric shook his head. "Nothing, just suddenly thinking about the first time I ran into you at Jeff''s restaurant. You seem so different now."

    Julia visibly didn''t want Eric to bring up that rough patch of her life and shot him a yful re. "Are you trying to take credit for something?"

    "Of course not," Ericughed. "I just think it''s... interesting. Cindere transformed into a high-and-mighty princess in the blink of an eye."

    "Please don''t bring up the ''Hollywood Cindere'' stuff in front of me. I''m about ready to scream from that title," Julia rolled her eyes. While thebel came with a hint of admiration from the media and public, it was alsoced with mockery.

    "Alright then, why did you suddenlye back?"

    "I picked up amercial endorsement and rushed back to shoot the ad, and... well, I wanted to check on you," Julia admitted, stuttering a bit at the end.

    Truth be told, her primary reason was to see Eric. The ad was more of an excuse; if she wanted, she could have filmed it in Louisiana without issue. After all, she was already part of a

    production with plenty of equipment and personnel on hand.

    But considering Eric had been unconscious for over ten hours, and though everything turned out fine, the incident had created quite a stir in Hollywood. He had helped her rise from a nobody to a Hollywood superstar, and if she didn''t show up during his recovery, some media outlets mightbel her as ungrateful.

    So, waiting for Eric outside the studio instead of visiting him privately was a little tactic of Julia''s, not for anything else but to create some buzz. She had been out of the media spotlight for a month, and even though her film was still going strong, the remote Louisiana town made it tough for reporters to find her. Director Herbert Ross was keen on keeping the filming location under wraps, so even if some nosy paparazzi found their way there, they had little chance of getting real news.

    At the same time, Julia felt a bit apprehensive about visiting Eric privately. She recalled the harsh reprimand he gave her during that sneaky visit before, which brought tears to her eyes. She couldn''t help but feel a mix of resentment towards that unttering man.

    "Thanks for your concern, Julia," Eric responded seriously, then curiously asked, "By the way, what kind of ad are you shooting?"

    "For Lae perfume," Julia said, proudly lifting a few fingers to show him, "A whole year, mind you."

    "Wow, that''s... quite a sum," Eric casually noted, feeling a bit weary of her small vanity. While he didn''t object to her wanting to brag, he wondered if this was really the right audience for it.

    "Okay, I know you think it''s not a big deal. No need to make that face," Julia said, pursing her red lips. Remembering how it made her appear, she quickly tightened her smile. "I''m no match for you. You get a scrape and suddenly all of America is watching; you even stole some of the Oscar''s spotlight."

    "I should say I acted as a shield for this year''s Oscars. If I hadn''t gotten hurt, they would''ve received a lot more bacsh," Eric shrugged. "The Academy should really be thanking me." "Well, I''m not so sure about that. All I saw in Louisiana was that the Oscars'' director, n Carr, dered he would never ept such an invitation again, but it can''t be as bad as you say, right?"

    "It''s much worse than you can imagine, but I can''t go into detail. I''ve signed a confidentiality agreement with many other presenters and performers, guaranteeing that we won''t mention anything about this year''s Oscars for twenty years. Plus, Disney''s been stirring the pot, threatening to sue the award show for using Snow White''s likeness without permission. It''s I a mess. Without my injury attracting half the media''s attention, the Academy would''ve had to issue a public apology to quell the outrage."

    Julia listened with wide eyes, but she couldn''t fully grasp the situation as she hadn''t participated in this year''s Oscars. In fact, on that night, she had been busy trying to shoot some scenes and hadn''t managed to catch the ceremony. The topic then shifted to Eric''s injury, which Julia was most interested in.

    "Hey, it wasn''t convenient in the car to ask, but can we talk about your forehead injury now? I don''t believe you just simply fell down the stairs."

    Eric helplessly shrugged. "But that''s how it happened."

    "Definitely not," Julia said with a sly smile. "I read the newspapers the other day, and it said you were taken to the hospital by Drew and your girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston."

    "And then?"

    Julia leaned in a little, lowering her voice. "I bet your girlfriend Aniston suddenly showed up at your ce that morning, saw you in bed with Drew, and went nuts, probably threw something at you, right?"

    Eric''s expression shifted in surprise for a fraction of a second. While Julia''s guess was way off the mark, there was a kernel of truth in it; he had been hit hard by Aniston''s emotional skills. Fortunately, Virginia was smart enough to stay away during the whole ordeal and only showed up to visit him once his condition was stable.

    Julia picked up on Eric''s fleeting expression and, with her lips slightly parted, looked surprised. "No way, did I guess right?"

    "Absolutely not. I swear on the light," Eric pointed his finger at the chandelier above. "It was just an idental fall. My medical report got featured in a bunch of newspapers; you surely saw it. I had bruises all over my body. You can''t seriously think Aniston is capable of causing such widespread damage, right?"

    "Maybe," she retorted, eyeing him with skepticism, as if contemting how she would inflict simr injuries herself.

    "Never mind, let''s drop the unpleasant topic. I only spoke with Herbert Ross a few times over the phone, and now that you''re here, how''s it going?"

    Julia honestly shook her head; even now, she wasn''t sure why Eric even selected this film and pressured her to lower herpensation to participate. To Julia, it seemed like a disjointed, mundane story about housewives living ordinary lives and the various ups and downs, from celebrations to loss, the trivialities of life.

    "I still think the story is too ordinary, without... without any standout moments."

    Just then, the waiter brought their food and poured them some red wine before stepping aside. Once the waiter had finished, Eric began to arrange the food on the table and asked, "So what do you think makes a movie stand out?"

    After taking a sip of her wine, Julia put down her ss and thought for a moment, waving her hand, "At the very least..."

    "At least there should be a heart-wrenching love story, where the leads are utterly devoted to one another, or some big spectacle -- car chases, explosions, fiery res, whatever?" Eric

    said, raising an eyebrow.

    Julia nodded eagerly. "Right! At least we should have those things, right?"

    "In public, I won''t criticize you," Eric replied with a teasing smile. "If you want to know the reasons,e to my ce tonight, and I''ll detail the elements of a sessful film for you." "Um... I think I''ll pass," Julia responded, instinctively leaning back as if his gaze had pricked her. She quickly refused, knowing that if she went, she''d probably get scolded again, and this insufferable man might try to drag her into bed.

    Eric merely intended to flirt a little, but he quickly sobered up and exined, "The sess or failure of a film primarily hinges on whether the director''s story resonates with audiences. I''ve studied the script carefully -- it''s a good story that embeds warmth in the ordinary chaos. It evokes familiarity in the viewers while subtly drawing out emotion."

    Julia looked at him with an "I see" expression, nodding earnestly. She then asked her most pressing question, "So... how do you think the movie will perform at the box office?"

    "What do you think?" Eric countered.

    Julia hesitated for a moment, held up two fingers, and then felt it was too low. She added two more but hesitated and pulled one back. She thought thirty million would be a respectable box office, and given the film''s budget, Firefly Films could still make a decent profit. Truthfully, she believed that if she continued to star in romanticedies, even simr- themed ones, they would easily reach the fifty to sixty million mark. But, for this family- centered film, she couldn''t muster any confidence.

    "Is that really all the faith you have in me?"

    "I''m just... just not confident about this film," Julia replied candidly.

    Eric calmly wiped his mouth with a napkin, smiling. "How about we make a bet? I bet this film

    won''t gross less than fifty million."

    "What''s the wager?" Julia asked, intrigued.

    Eric shed a mischievous smile. "If you lose, you have toe to my ce for a week as my maid. If I lose, I''ll be your driver for a week."

    If Eric hadn''t looked so wicked when he said the word "maid," Julia might have agreed immediately. She figured her chances of winning were above seventy percent, and even if she fail, being maid was fine. But noticing Eric''s smirk, Julia quickly caught on that something wasn''t right and firmly rejected, "No way, I''m not betting with you."

    "How about sixty million?" he pressed.

    Julia was not only unmoved but became even more resolute in saying, "Not a chance."

    Since Eric had filmingmitmentster in the day, their lunch wrapped up in half an hour but provided plenty of material for the paparazzi; surely, headlines about Eric and Julia''s rendezvous would pop up in the papers the next day.

    After lunch, Julia dropped Eric back at the set.

    "When are you returning to the crew?" Eric asked as they parted at the studio door.

    "My flight''s at four," Julia replied, not getting out of the car. "By the way, Eric, the production budget seems to be running short. We might need to add at least two million

    bucks."

    "Did Ross have you say that?"

    Julia nodded. Herbert Ross had no idea Eric was already aware of the budget issues and had even prepared a budget increase. Considering Julia''s close rtionship with Eric, Ross asked her to gauge Eric''s response when she returned.

    After all, this was a low-budget film; adding two million would bring the total cost to ten million, meaning the box office needed to hit over thirty-three million to break even. Although Julia''s presence was a boost, Herbert Ross wasn''t certain that a family dramackingedic elements would pull in that kind of revenue.

    "That''s no problem," Eric nodded. "Pass the message to Ross; he can just ask Jeffrey for the

    money."

    "Well, thank you on behalf of Mr. Ross," Julia smiled as she bid Eric farewell before driving

    off.

    ...

    The afternoon began with filming the scene between Andie and Yoyo at a small diner. For reasons unknown, after sharing a meal, Brooke Shields reverted to that unprepared state once again. The scene was shot several times with continual flubs, and despite her repeated apologies with a woeful expression, Eric couldn''t help but lose his temper, mentally marking Brooke off his list.

    He didn''t want to work with her any longer; this pretty trophy was just too much trouble. All those times she was nominated for a Razzie hadn''t been unjustified; maybe she should head back to those independent films to cause trouble for others instead.

    Eric also dismissed any thoughts of having a close friendship with Brooke; after all, Hollywood was vast, and there were plenty of beautiful women around.

    After half an hour of this, they finally wrapped up the diner scenes.

    ...

    "Eric, I''m really sorry for not performing well," Brooke said after shepleted her scene,

    which also marked the end of the day''s work. She tidied her things and, after changing outfits, approached Eric again just as he was about to leave.

    At that moment, she sported a pair of tight, high-waisted blue jeans with her shirt tucked in,

    the outline of her figure unmistakably clear.

    Almost all the male crew members cast curious nces her way, recalling Brooke''s iconic

    jeansmercial. Many even found themselves wondering if there was nothing between her and the jeans anymore.

    Though Eric had dismissed some thoughts, he didn''t mind indulging in the view offered by Brooke''s well-defined curve and stunning beauty. His expression softened slightly as he said, "It''s alright, Brooke. I hope once you go back, you can fully appreciate your remaining scenes. Those are all exterior shots, and wasting too much time like this will undoubtedly affect filming progress and deplete budget unnecessarily."

    "I will do my best," Brooke nodded, looking earnestly at Eric. She shifted her high heels,

    swaying her long legs into a slightly flirtatious pose, but waited a few seconds only to find

    Eric had already shifted his attention away, showing no signs of inviting her to dinner or anything more.

    Brooke hesitated to be too forward; if she was that obvious and he rejected her, the crew

    would mock her, especially Tom Cruise, whom she had turned down before. With a hint of disappointment, she finally said, "Well, goodbye then, Eric."

    "Goodbye. Someone will let you know about your next scenes," Eric nodded, lifting his chin in

    acknowledgment while marking a few points in the script, then turned to instruct his

    assistant.

    Brooke lingered for a moment longer, feeling deted as she left. She had hinted so clearly,

    but Eric remained unmoved, leaving her feeling somewhat defeated.

    ...

    "How long until Hanks arrives?" Eric asked, not paying much mind to Brooke''s departure. He

    had noticed her hints, but having made his decision, he wouldn''t waver. In Hollywood, givingn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    in to temptation could lead to disastrous results.

    "Ten more minutes," Allen replied. "Alright, let''s wrap things up here and move to another scene," Eric said, ncing at his

    watch, deep in thought.

    With Cruise finishing his solo scenes, Eric nned to shoot some interactions between Cruise

    and Hanks in a small bar. Today would mark the first on-screen encounter between the two stars. Remembering how these two icons'' trajectories had paralleled in their careers, Eric felt a thrill of anticipation about the sparks that would fly when they performed together.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 134: Chapter 134: The Duel Scene

    Chapter 134: The Duel Scene

    ?

    [Chapter 134: The Duel Scene]

    "Hey, Tom," as Hanks stepped onto the set, Eric greeted him warmly. Compared to the polite demeanor he maintained with Cruise, he preferred the easy-going nature of Hanks.

    "Hey, Eric, I''m notte, am I?" Hanks said, moving in for a quick embrace.

    "Not at all," Eric replied, nodding toward Hanks''s assistant before turning back to Tom. "We need about fifteen more minutes to set up the scene, so you''ve got time to get your makeup done."

    The two walked side by side to the makeup room, with Hanks enthusiastically greeting crew members along the way. Curious, he leaned in and whispered, "Where''s Cruise?"

    "Probably fixing his makeup," Eric replied tly. Hanks nodded, not saying anything more. After a few previous encounters, Hanks hadn''t formed a great impression of the actor who shared his name; Cruise came off as arrogant, as even his politeness felt like condescension.

    ...

    The crew had already finished their makeup process, so Hanks didn''t need long. Once the breakfast scene was set, the cinematographer, Nicole, approached Eric, who was rehearsing with Hanks and Cruise. "Eric, you might want to take a look over here."

    Apologizing to the two stars, Eric followed Nicole to a corner of the restaurant where a camera was positioned.

    "Eric, look here, we''re going to do a quick sweeping shot, but I can only operate the camera from this position," Nicole awkwardly demonstrated. "See, it''s a bit tricky -- awkward, and the movement is hard to control."

    Though Eric wasn''t as skilled as Nicole, he understood enough about shooting techniques. He stepped up to give the camera arm a try. It indeed felt awkward, but the best position was blocked by the wall behind it.

    "What are you suggesting, Nicole?" Eric asked as he let go of the camera.

    "I can only attempt it a few times. This angle is the best, but if it doesn''t work and you want the best result..." Nicole pointed at the wall behind Eric, "we might have to tear it down."

    "Let''s try a few times first," Eric said. He didn''t mind demolishing the wall since this was a soundstage, not an outdoor shoot; Columbia would definitely cooperate. However, that would waste another hour.

    "Alright," Nicole nodded. "Let''s get started."

    ...

    The breakfast scene had three acts. In the first act, the two characters wereplete strangers having breakfast. ording to the script, Andy had started to notice Sean, but Sean was entirely unaware. The second act included a brief moment where Andy left a teacup coaster marked with the number 13 for Sean, and the third act, the longest, showcased Andy convincing Sean to help the police capture the viin.

    "All personnel, we''re rolling on Scene 1, Take 12!"

    ...

    Sean was intently focused on a newspaper while enjoying a slice of cake when he heard the sound of the restaurant door opening. He nced up only briefly before his gaze returned to the paper.

    ...

    "Good!" Eric gave a thumbs-up to Hanks. Next was a shot of Cruise''s character, Andy, eating while staring nkly at the television overhead. Eric fairly gave Cruise a thumbs-up as well; that shot posed no challenge for him.

    In the original scene, there were three animated clips that Andy apparently loved. Unfortunately, with only four weeks to live, every time Andy saw that familiar sight, it reminded him of how little time he had left, making his character feel mncholic. That was why Andy often zoned out during that moment.

    Here, Eric didn''t n to just throw in any random cartoon; he had specific clips in mind. Though this was only in Eric''s ns for the time being, once production got in the swing of things, Jeffrey would start to prepare it. It was only April; as long as Eric could finalize the six main characters, he had ample time to shoot some ssic moments to weave into the film.

    The new movie would feature a television scene directed by Eric Williams himself, making for great promotional material, and it also served to showcase his work -- another win-win situation.

    ...

    After wrapping the first two shots, they moved to the most challenging sweeping shot. Once the pperboard cked, Eric stared intensely at the monitor as Nicole operated the camera, initially focusing on Hanks''s face for a second before pivoting it quickly. Eric could clearly feel the clunkiness and inconsistency of the camera movement.

    Although the shot eventuallynded where it should on Cruise''s profile, Eric still had to call cut.

    Nicole went on to try six more times, all ending in failure. Eric understood the ws in the shot, so he remained patient, having Nicole try again and again. After the tenth failed attempt, Cruise started to grow impatient. He had already eaten several slices of cake and could not understand why they had to keep trying this seemingly simple shot. While the crew adjusted the camera back to position, Cruise stood up, casting a condescending nce at Nicole, who was sweating profusely. He turned to Eric and said, "Eric, maybe I can rmend a better cameraman for you."

    Cruise made no effort to lower his voice, directly making thement in front of everyone, leading to an awkward silence on set.

    Nicole, feeling sore from the awkward positioning and frustrated after so many tries, was taken aback by Cruise''s remarks. She wanted to shoot him a re but feared it would furtherplicate matters for Eric, so she simply stood there, feeling defeated.

    Many in the crew quietly shared their displeasure over Cruise''s disrespectful words; they had worked with Nicole for years and knew her capabilities very well. Even after numerous failed tries, they could all see the rational reasons behind Nicole''s struggles and patiently supported her through each attempt.

    Faced with everyone''s stares, Eric knew he had to handle the situation carefully to avoid straining rtions between the cast and crew while also keeping Cruise''s mood in check without upsetting the staff. It was quite a bncing act.

    After thinking it over, Eric decided to approach Cruise privately next to the camera, patiently exining why this particr shot was proving so difficult.

    Upon hearing Eric''s rationale, Cruise realized he had unjustly med Nicole and shrugged with a faint smile at the cameraman. "I''m really sorry about that. Let''s keep going."

    With that, Cruise returned to his seat.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric reassuringly patted Nicole on the shoulder and softly said, "Let''s give it two or three more tries. If that doesn''t work, we''ll tear down the wall."

    Nicole recognized Eric''s effort to reason with Cruise as a good gesture on her behalf and didn''t take offense at Cruise''s half-hearted apology. Instead, she gratefully nodded to Eric.

    "I''ll give it my best."

    While the tension seemed to dissipate, it left an impression on many crew members. The respect they had previously held for Cruise due to his films began to wane.

    Fortuitously or perhaps due to other reasons, on the next attempt, the shot finally seeded. When Eric called out "good," the crew couldn''t help but apud, and Nicole exhaled in relief,

    shaking out her sore arms.

    ...

    Next up was the easier shot where the two characters brushed past each other, which went smoothly, leading to the first face-off between Cruise and Hanks.

    ...

    "Wow, here so early, detective?" the waitress greeted Sean as he entered through the door.

    "Yeah, meeting a friend," Sean replied as he headed to the bar.

    Andy, already munching on pastries, chuckled at Sean''s response, feeling proud. After all, he had been tugging Sean, the once great police elite, around like a puppet; it was certainly reason enough to feel smug.

    With a straight face, Sean approached Andy, pping the coaster marked with the number 13

    onto the bar.

    "Have a seat," Andy said, putting down his cup of water.

    Sean pulled a photo from his suit pocket. "You got it right on the nose, Andy."

    "You found something?" Andy turned his head.

    "You stole the gem, avenged your old man, and you still wanted to involve me?"

    "I told you, this game runs for three days."

    Sean pointed to the pocket of his suit where he usually kept his badge. "You''re not in charge

    here; I''m the cop."

    "Clean out the warehouse, change the light bulbs..."

    ...

    As soon as Cruise delivered that line, Eric called for a stop. "Cruise, your smile needs toe off a bit more sarcastic," Eric said as he stepped in front of Cruise, sharing his thoughts while attempting to demonstrate a smile himself, only to realize hecked the innate ability to instruct actors with confidence. Disappointed, he continued, "Uh, let''s take a two-minute break. Think it over."

    After finishing that with Cruise, Eric turned to Hanks. "Hanks, you''re reacting too awkwardly

    to Andy''s teasing. While you''re feeling awkward inside, you have some self-esteem as well, so along with that awkwardness, you need to do some bodynguage to mask your difort, like a nod or something."

    "Yeah, Eric, I''ll think about it," Hanks nodded.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The D-Lister

    Chapter 135: The D-Lister

    ?

    [Chapter 135: The D-Lister]

    Eric returned to his spot, and two minutester, shooting resumed.

    This scene, which featured the main characters,sted over three minutes, but it was impossible to film in one go. Eric divided the three minutes into seven shots, eachsting less than thirty seconds, and he aimed for perfection with each shot. As a result, the number of takes far exceeded those of the other scenes filmed in recent days.

    Cruise and Hanks gradually seemed to realize something, holding themselves to increasingly high standards. By the end, it was clear they werepeting with each other. Sometimes, when Eric felt a take was good enough, Cruise or Hanks would point out ws in their performances, insisting on redoing the shots.

    Eric weed this situation. Who knew when these two superstars would coborate again? Perhaps this would be theirst chance. Therefore, Eric wanted to capture a perfect scene between them for this movie.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Cut..."

    After another take that didn''t work, Eric nced at his watch. From thest shot to now, over hour had passed, and they had onlypleted five of the seven crucial three-minutes'' scenes. Thest two, particrly the important minute-long persuasion from Andy, had not yet been filmed.

    However, it was time to wrap up. Watching Cruise and Hanks still sparking with energy, along with Joe Pesci, who had been waiting to y the detective, Eric reminded them, "It''s quitting time, fes."

    When Eric spoke, he looked at Cruise and Hanks with anticipation. Deep down, he had no aversion to overtime; he hoped the two would voluntarily propose to stick around and finish those scenes.

    But upon hearing his words, the previously eager Cruise and Hanks immediately broke character, stood up, shook hands with each other, their expressions revealing a sense of camaraderie, then greeted Eric before they began packing up to leave, with no thoughts of overtime in mind.

    Eric sighed in frustration and shrugged his shoulders, dering the end of the day''s shooting.

    ...

    Finally, Eric found a moment to walk over to Joe Pesci. "Sorry, Joe, for making you wait for an hour."

    Joe shook his head dismissively in his distinctive voice. "No problem, Eric. I just watched an hour of absolutely amazing performances. Now I''m a bit worried my performance might not measure up."

    "You really don''t need to worry about that. If anything, I''d say it''s Tom Hanks who should be worried about. I imagine he might be upstaged by the character you y. Your lines and physicaledy are just too funny."

    "That''s true, but I''ve never starred in aedy before. You know, the roles I did before, including my recent one, weren''tedies."

    "Joe, I honestly think you''d be perfect foredy. Maybe after this film, you''ll realize you have a knack for it. To be honest, when I was shooting Home Aloen, I thought the older, bumbling thief Harry was meant for you."

    Joe blinked in surprise. He suspected Eric had no reason to mislead him; after all, this was shaping up to be a box office hit, likely crossing the $300 million mark.

    "Well, why not...?" Joe expressed his disappointment with a vague gesture, fully aware of what missing out meant.

    Eric understood; he raised his hands in a helpless shrug. "Because at that time, I couldn''t afford you. The budget was too tight."

    "Well, maybe... you could have tried to invite me anyway," Joe said.

    "You know that wasn''t possible. If I''d offered you $20,000 for the role, you''d have turned it down without a second thought."

    Joe recognized the truth in Eric''s words. He was not an exceptionally well-known actor, but he had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Unless he had been able to foresee the future, epting $20,000 would have been a stretch. He shook his head and said, "That''s... really unfortunate."

    "Alright, enough about that. We already have a chance to work together now," Eric reassured him.

    "Honestly, Eric, bringing this up makes it hard for me to sleep tonight. I can''t believe I missed such a great opportunity."

    "Everyone misses thousands of opportunities in life, so it''s not a big deal. Go home, wash your face, brush your teeth, take a bath, and maybe have a drink or two. Get some sleep, and you''ll forget about it." Eric patted Joe Pesci on the shoulder infort.

    "How could I forget?" Joe rolled his eyes yfully at Eric before shaking his head again. "Forget it, I''ll head back. This is just...."

    Seeing Joe Pesci leave with a disappointed expression, Eric began to regret mentioning the news to him. He had only wanted to bond a bit with Joe.

    Hopefully, Joe wouldn''t turn into a broken record over the next few days, repeatedlymenting "I can''t believe I missed that."

    ...

    After making sure everything was in order, Eric was ready to leave when he spotted director Martin Brest at the studio entrance, nked by an assistant carrying a thick stack of file

    folders.

    Eric took one look and knew what was inside. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked, "Martin, weren''t you supposed to finalize the shortlist the day after tomorrow? Howe

    it''s ready so quickly?"

    "Sorry, Eric. We had nned for the day after tomorrow, but due to various reasons, we finalized it two days early. Al wanted to start the shoot as soon as possible, so I had to wait for

    you here."

    "Where''s Al?" Eric asked curiously.

    Martin exined, "Al has already started getting into character. He''s been adjusting to the lifestyle of a blind person and specifically asked me not to disturb him."

    Eric nodded in understanding and then pointed to a Passat parked not far from Martin. "Is

    that your car?"

    Martin nodded.

    "Let''s talk in the car, then. I need to head to Malibu; could you drop me off?"

    "Of course, no problem."

    They all climbed into the car, and Eric announced the address. Martin''s assistant started the engine.

    In the back seat, Eric opened the vital shortlist for one of the main roles, the teenage Charlie

    Simmons.

    Martin exined, "Eric, these are all young talent chosen through two rounds of auditions. Since there are many teenage roles, we have a total of thirty candidates. Once you select the actor for Charlie Simmons, we can find a series of ssmates from the remaining candidates." "Sure," Eric said, pulling out the thick stack of materials before casually asking, "By the way, how''s that Gabrielle Anwar I introduced?"

    Martin, sensing a potential connection between Eric and the petite girl, gave a detailed exnation. "Once her role was confirmed, she returned to Ennd for a bit but came back quickly and is currently staying at a hotel on Wilshire Boulevard. By the way, she visited you while you were unconscious that day. Do you need the address of her hotel?"

    "No, that''s alright," Eric said, just making casual conversation as he scanned the list, noticing it was arranged alphabetically byst names. He immediately spotted two Hollywood A- listers whose names both started with the letter D.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 136: Chapter 136: What Right Do They Have to Refuse

    Chapter 136: What Right Do They Have to Refuse

    ?

    [Chapter 136: What Right Do They Have to Refuse]

    Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio.

    A whole slew of movie titles shed through Eric''s mind, and he shook his head, pushing those fleeting images aside as he continued scanning. Aside from these two former stars, he didn''t see any other familiar faces. Of course, the original Chris O''Donnell was also swept away by the fluttering wings of butterflies.

    Even if Chris showed up, Eric wouldn''t consider giving him the role, as his presence in the original was just too weak. While Al Pacino''s performance certainly overshadowed him, theck of standout moments in Chris''s own acting was a key reason as well.

    After quickly reviewing thirty audition profiles, Eric borrowed a pen from Martin Brest, checked off Matt Damon''s and Leo''s names, and after a moment''s hesitation, he finally decided on Matt Damon. At eighteen, Matt had a bright, handsome appearance that perfectly matched Charlie''s character. In contrast, Leo''s image at that point had a rough edge to it.

    He circled Matt Damon''s name and said to Martin Brest, who had been watching his every move, "Martin, let''s give the role of Charlie Simmons to Matt Damon. As for Leonardo DiCaprio, we should hand him the role of Charlie''s ssmate, George. And I don''t care if they have agents or not; if they want the roles, they need to join UTA."

    "Eric, what if the two of them refuse to join UTA?"

    Eric looked at Martin with a puzzled expression. "What right do they have to refuse?"

    Martin was taken aback by Eric''s assumption, recalled Matt Damon''s and Leo''s profiles, and chuckled. "You''re right; those two rookies don''t have a leg to stand on."

    And just like that, in those few exchanges, the two roles were set. Both Scent of a Woman and The Others were projects under Flower Films, and since there was interaction between the two crews, Martin Brest already knew the process Eric followed in confirming roles. He felt that Eric merely wanted to assert his authority over the film by holding onto the final decision.

    Although Martin thought Eric''s method was a bit rash and childish, he didn''t counter his decision. To nearly forty-year-old Martin, Eric indeed still seemed like a kid, so it was understandable for him to act this way. What he and Al could do was carefully select suitable candidates, ensuring that whoever Eric picked would bepetent in their roles.

    Eric didn''t feel the need to justify himself; the reasons for his actions were as Martin had suspected. If he were in his forties, perhaps he could have disyed some benevolence by delegating authority, which might earn him some admiration. But at just eighteen, doing that would only lead people to think he was naive and easily manipted, so he had no choice but to assert his strength -- both in filmmaking and with women.

    It took forty minutes to get from Columbia''s studio to Malibu, and Eric quickly finalized the cast list, some of which were based on Martin''s advice while others were guided by his recollections of certain actors.

    At an intersection along the Pacific Coast Highway, Martin''s car came to a stop. Eric put on sunsses and a baseball cap as he stepped out. "Thanks for the ride, Martin. See youter."

    "See you," Martin said as he rolled down the car window, shed a yful smile at Eric, waved, and told his assistant to drive away.

    ...

    After Martin''s Passat turned the corner, Eric walked toward a nearby vi. Arriving at Virginia''s house, he took out a key and unlocked the door, stepping inside.

    It was already evening, and the lights were on in the vi. Just as Eric approached the door, it swung open from the inside, revealing Virginia in casual home attire, carrying tworge bags.

    "Ah!" Virginia was taken aback by Eric''s sudden appearance, causing the bags in her hands to drop to the floor with a thud.

    "Eric, what... what are you doing here?" she stammered, hurriedly picking up the fallen bags and putting them aside to allow him inside.

    Eric chuckled and hugged her fragrant figure, giving her a light peck on the cheek. "Why are you so tense? You''re not hiding a man in here, are you?"

    "I just didn''t expect you toe by these days." Virginia rolled her eyes lightly. "Even if I were hiding a man, what could you do about it?"

    Eric pinched Virginia''s cheek yfully and said, "Well, let me see. There are plenty of ways to punish a cheating woman. In some Middle Eastern countries, they stone women to death. Everyonees together to throw stones until she dies."

    "Ha! How could people be so barbaric?" Virginia shivered slightly. "You''re only eighteen; where did you learn all this nonsense?"

    "Can''t help it, I''m just naturally well-read," Eric shrugged candidly.

    "Alright, oh learned one, do you have any ideas for punishing cheating boyfriends? Tell me the most brutal one you can think of."

    Eric cleared his throat and answered, "Uh... actually, I don''t have any."

    "Tch," Virginia rolled her eyes and wriggled free from Eric''s embrace. "Quit talking nonsense. You go inside; I''ll throw these bags away."

    "I''ll do it; they look pretty heavy." Eric grabbed a stic bag, unsure of what was inside but recognizing its weight.

    "Just toss it in the garbage bin by the door," Virginia said, noticing Eric had already picked it up and gestured towards the entrance.

    After tossing away the trash and returning inside, Eric spotted Virginia busily working in the kitchen. He walked in and wrapped his arms around her from behind, peeking to see her adding sugar and cream to a coffee cup. "Actually, I''m not a big fan of coffee. I''d rather drink in water. They say drinking in water is the secret to longevity."

    Virginiaughed as she continued to add coffee powder. "You''re so young! Why are you thinking about longevity? Are you afraid to die?"

    "Of course not. I''m not afraid of death; I''m just afraid of regrets."

    "Regrets? What regrets?"

    What indeed?

    Eric rested his chin on Virginia''s shoulder, thinking. In his past life, his biggest regret was not being able to see his children grow up, and the fact that he never managed to make a movie of his own. Although he was nearing forty, he still hadn''tpletely given up hope. He had even discussed with a few friends that maybe he could spend a few years writing a good script and leverage the connections he had made over the years to secure some funding to produce his own film.

    Unfortunately, before he could enact that n, he found himself in this strange timeline. Even though it had been less than a year since his rebirth, the achievements he had made already marked him as a major sess in his past life, making any talk of regrets seem overly

    dramatic.

    "Why did you suddenly go quiet?" Virginia asked carefully, pouring hot water into the coffee cup and turning to assess Eric''s expression.

    "Oh, nothing; just thinking that if I were to suddenly drop dead right now, what regrets I

    might have."

    Virginia set down the kettle, turning to look at Eric seriously. "Eric, if you''ve been thinking a lot about deathtely, I suggest you see a psychologist. Are you under too much stress?"

    "Not at all," Eric said, detecting the deep concern in her eyes as he hurried to deny it. He wanted to exin but didn''t know where to start.

    "Let''s talk in the living room," Virginia suggested, handing Eric a cup of coffee while she took one for herself, and they both moved toward the living room.

    Once seated on the sofa, Virginia asked, "What brought you to my ce today? Aren''t you

    living with Aniston?"

    Eric chuckled bitterly. "You wouldn''t believe what happened; Jenny wasn''t about to put up with my nonsense. She moved into her own apartment in Burbank."

    If it weren''t for that idental tumble down the stairs, he wouldn''t be so desperate to coax

    his girl back into his life.

    ...

    That morning when he woke up from a faint, he exploited Jenny''s worry and weariness to get her on his actor list. But then, he made another huge mistake; he had ced Jenny and Drew on either side of his hospital bed for some rest.

    By lunchtime, after dining with Jeffrey and Kepler, he returned to find both girls awake and causing chaos, pillows and nkets strewn everywhere, and an IV stand pushed aside. The two girls, like wild cats, were tumbled together on the bed, clothes disheveled, exchanging sharp words while jostling each other as if Eric himself were the object of their tussle. After a lot of coaxing, he finally managed to separate them. Jenny was in tears, using him of favoritism, while Drew''s sharp tongue was urging her to break up with him -- better a quick heartbreak than a slow one. Her words only fueled Jenny''s rebellious spirit, and she swore she wouldn''t give Drew the satisfaction.

    Seeing the determination in Jenny''s vow made Eric smirk just a little, but afterwards, he watched as she didn''t stay at the vi but rather rented a ce in Burbank. While she never mentioned breaking up, they had entered a cold war. As filmingmenced, Eric was swamped with work and had barely any time to tend to his girl, relegating himself to sporadic

    harassing phone calls to assert his presence.

    ...

    Hearing Eric''s exnation, Virginia''s face turned a shade red. "You should spend more time with her. All she needs is some reassurance. Don''t always be so domineering." "Okay, enough of that headache-inducing topic. Aren''t you heading off to Ennd the day after tomorrow? I had toe see you. I spoke with Jonathan, and as long as you wrap up production before September without dying the Venice Film Festival, he ns to perfect everything during filming. So, it looks like you''re going to be in Ennd for a long time." Virginia sipped her coffee, blinking. "Are you going to visit the set? Will youe?" Eric shook his head. "I''m not sure. The schedule is in July, and if everything goes smoothly and we wrap shooting by mid-May, I might swing by Ennd. If there are dys, I might not

    make it."

    "Oh," Virginia nodded nomittally.

    After a few more casual exchanges, Eric patted his stomach. "So, Virginia, I''m hungry."

    She jumped up quickly. "What do you want to eat? I could drive to the supermarket nearby."

    Eric stopped her in her tracks. "No need to go through all that trouble; just whip up somethingn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    simple."

    "Alright, I have some spaghetti at home," she said as she made her way toward the kitchen.

    ...

    Once Virginia was busy tying on an apron and prepping in the kitchen, Eric stood up and went upstairs. On the balcony, the sun had fully set, and darkness fell. He leaned over the railing, gazing at the Malibu point nearby, only able to see the dim silhouettes due to the fading light. Construction had begun there, anticipated to bepleted by the year''s end.

    Along with the luxurious seaside mansion under construction, the estate would feature several other vis on the property to amodate guests and to host events.

    Eric had reviewed theplete designs for the estate. The additional vis, being tter in

    terrain, would cost significantly less than the seaside mansion. However, Frank Gehry''s designs blended seamlessly, along with the estate''s greenery, tennis courts, and helipads, creating an effortlessly integrated aesthetic.

    Of course, this extravagant development exceeded twenty million dors, but since a dedicated ounting firm monitored the project''s financials, they could afford to bevish as long as the funds weren''t misappropriated or there were no hidden surprises. After all,

    making money was about spending too.

    ...

    After dinner, even though Eric was tired, he still patiently lounged on the sofa with Virginia,

    watching a soap opera for a while.

    "Eric, I heard Flower Films ns film a TV show?"

    "That''s right," Eric''s big hand moved across Virginia''s chest. "By the way, it''s a si that

    will require many big stars for guest spots. Want to join?"

    Virginia breathed lightly, her eyes zing over slightly as she responded, "If you ask me to

    go, I''ll go."

    Eric added, "Jenny is one of the main characters."

    Virginia chuckled lightly, pressing Eric''s hand on her chest. "Hey, if I go, you''d better handle

    everything. It''s all your fault for stirring this up. I want to see if your girlfriend bullies me in public, whether you''ll step in or not."

    "I won''t," Ericughed. "ording to noble tradition, you''re merely a mistress who''d naturally be lower than the main wife. Of course, if you can manage to turn the tables, I''d be

    all for it."

    Virginia, understaning his teasing, lightly bit his arm, leaving a trail of faint teeth marks.

    "You jerk."

    Having had his fill of teasing, Eric withdrew his hand and lifted her up. "Alright, let''s stop watching and head upstairs to do something fun."

    Virginia found herself swept off her feet, waving her little hands. "Wait... don''t rush. We

    should turn off the TV first!"

    Eric snatched up the remote and switched off the television, yfully smacking her behind

    before heading upstairs.

    ...

    After a night of passion, Eric awoke the next morning at seven, feeling refreshed. He hurried through breakfast and had Virginia drive him to the set.

    Though a night had passed, once the on-screen rivalry resumed from where they had left off yesterday, Cruise and Hanks quickly got back into character, wrapping up the remaining shots in half an hour. Joe Pesci, who had heard the bad news of missing Home Alone, also made a

    ster appearance, and when he freed Andy, his excited, shaking head resembled the image Eric remembered. Moreover, Pesci''s voice was even moreedic than what had been portrayed before, causing the crew to burst intoughter and making Hanks appear worried

    he might be upstaged.

    The filming progressed ording to their n, and a few dayster, the crew of The Others

    departed for Ennd. Aside from the actors, most of the crew had been organized solely by Jonathan Demme. Eric didn''t involve himself; Jonathan had been in Hollywood for over ten years and had a greaterwork than Eric.

    Eric didn''t take time to see them off. Instead, Jeffrey, as one of the producers, went along with

    the crew, returning only after several days.

    By mid-April, after more than ten days of shooting, they had wrapped all the indoor scenes and began the more challenging outdoor ones. Even though Eric had the entire setup in his

    mind, actual filming proved more difficult than expected.

    *****

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 Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Get Out

    Chapter 137: Get Out

    ?

    [Chapter 137: Get Out]

    In downtown Los Angeles, where skyscrapers stood tall, a block of about five hundred meters near the Santa Monica Freeway had been closed off, prohibiting outside vehicles from entering. Since eight in the morning, arge amount of filming equipment had been unloaded from trucks.

    The local residents had be ustomed to the presence of film crews since this was Los Angeles, where countless movie productions started every day. This street wasn''t particrly bustling, but it was nestled between high-rises, making it a popr spot for various crews to shoot.

    This time, however, crowds gathered in noticeablyrger numbers, not only because the film featured two well-known superstars, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, but also because of the young director, Eric, who had achieved remarkable sess even before turning neen. It was no wonder that people were intensely curious about him.

    Among the crowd were many paparazzi, eagerly hoping to snap valuable photos. Even if they couldn''t catch the crew in some sensational mishap, a few close-ups of the lead actors would still make the wait worthwhile.

    "Are the extras in ce?" Eric asked his assistant as he stood next to three yellow cabs, watching the crew install cameras on the front hood.

    "We''ve got fifty people, all ounted for. Roy asked me to check if we should start preparations," his assistant replied.

    "Let the extras get familiar with their positions ording to the n. We''ll film a few street scenes first."

    "Oh, by the way," Allen continued, "we must open the street for an hour around noon because they anticipate a high volume of foot traffic."

    Eric rubbed his forehead in frustration. This was simply nitpicking -- after all, noon wasn''t exactly rush hour. But he didn''t want to deal with those bureaucratic hassle too much. The crew would need to eat anyway: "Tell them it''s fine. We''ll stop shooting from noon to one o''clock to clear the street."

    Once Allen left, Eric shifted his attention back to the cabs. The three cabs had identical license tes, a tactic to avoid any continuity errors on camera. Once filming wasplete, they''d swap the tes back to their originals.

    One of the cabs remained untouched, with the cinematographer set to shoot from the passenger seat. The other two had cameras mounted on the hoods and on the rear-side windows.

    Today''s scene focused on Sean''s first time driving as he attempted to take Andy to the police station. Though the script called for this sequence to be less than two minutes, Eric calcted that the total footage might be close to an hour, making it essential to wrap this up smoothly within the day.

    Once everything was set up on the cabs, Eric grabbed the walkie-talkie and began issuing orders to the entire crew. It was only then that Cruise and Hanks emerged from the trailer, prompting frenzied shutter clicks from the waiting paparazzi. The two looked quite casual: Cruise dressed in ck leisurewear while Hanks sported a delivery boy look,plete with a cap and in white coveralls.

    After a brief recap from Eric, the two got into the first cab without any modifications, and filming began with an exterior shot of the cab driving down the street.

    Eric approached the monitor, ncing at the nearly seven-inch screen to ensure the lighting was right. He then confirmed with the assistant, "Allen, have the crowd moved out of the shot?"

    "All clear. All we have in front of the cameras are our actors," Allen''s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie.

    Eric needed to double-check. If even one unauthorized face slipped into the film after production, it would create a stir. Extras might be costly, but Eric still couldn''t afford the risk of having real bystanders in the footage. After all, if a regr citizen identally appeared on screen, they would more likely seek legal action instead of reveling in the fame of making a movie.

    So, while he confirmed onest time, Eric ensured a thorough review of the footageter to filter out any strays that weren''t part of the crew.

    ...

    As the filming progressed, Andrew slowly pulled down his jacket zipper, taking out a gun with casual curiosity. "Where to?" he asked.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "To the nearest police station," Sean replied, ncing in the rearview mirror, his gaze calm as he watched Andy attach a suppressor.

    "Just you?" Andy smiled at the window.

    "Enough," Sean shrugged.

    "No gun on you? Not afraid I''ll kill you?"

    "Go ahead, shoot me," Sean said, looking at him. "The car will flip."

    "Yeah, sounds dangerous," Andy replied breezily, rolling down the window. "If you can take me to the police station, I''ll consider you the winner."

    With a suppressor-equipped gun aimed out the window, Andy pulled the trigger without hesitation.

    ...

    At this point, Eric called for a cut, signaling to halt the cab. Cruise and Hanks exited simultaneously, while Nicole popped out from the passenger seat with a camera.

    Once they cleared the cab, crew members quickly moved to return it to its original position, with props and vehicles turning around in an orderly fashion to prepare for the next shot.

    Eric then briefed the trio on the ws noticed during filming and reminded them of what to keep in mind for the next take. Once everything was reset, Cruise and Hanks climbed back into the cab, followed closely by Nicole with her camera.

    Before long, another take kicked off.

    This film didn''t carry much depth -- a cop versus a thief showdown over seventy-two hours. The promotion would certainly utilize phrases like "twists and turns," which, to ordinary viewers, would hold true.

    But for Eric,pared to those mentally taxing blockbusters he remembered, this movie didn''t demand much brainpower. It was just a coolmercial flick, meaning the acting demands on the two leads weren''t too rigorous. Especially for exterior scenes, the strength of Cruise and Hanks could carry it with ease.

    ...

    From mid-April to mid-May, the crew roamed the streets of downtown LA, sometimes stuck on one block for two or three days and other times wrapping up all their shots in half a day. Overall, the experience could only be described as monotonous.

    Jeffrey followed the The Others crew for a few days in Ennd before returning to LA and promptly flew to the Scent of a Woman crew in New York. Meanwhile, the Firefly Films staff, except for security and a few clerks handling everyday business at headquarters, had been working closely with Eric''s crew. Barring the immense profits from Firefly''s films, the productionpany bore much resemnce to many smaller independent filmpanies in Los Angeles.

    ...

    Exterior shoots had gone rather smoothly thus far, and the filming schedule aligned well with the originally nned timeline, aiming for wrap-up around May fifteenth. Columbia had already begun preliminary small-scale promotions, with scattered news about the film

    appearing in media outlets.

    Columbia''s market value had skyrocketed to $3.5 billion recently due to negotiations with the financially robust Sony conglomerate. The Japanese executives could only watch as Columbia''s stock price climbed day by day, realizing it would take a year and a half, if not

    longer, toplete such a massive merger involving billions of dors. Reports spected that if everything went smoothly, contracts wouldn''t be signed before September, and even if they ultimately secured an acquisition deal, the subsequent handovers would take several

    years.

    As a result, summer box office sess would provide Columbia with onest chance to leverage their stock prices.

    Warner had originally nned to release two major productions, Batman and Lethal Weapon 2, but due to scheduling conflicts, they had to push back Lethal Weapon 2 ted for July until the end of the year. Following the first film''s box office sess of over $60 million in 1987, the budget for this sequel doubled. To recoup those costs, box office receipts had to hit $100 million. Under such pressure, Warner''s upper management had no intention topete with Eric, Cruise, and Hanks, opting instead to voluntarily postpone their release to the end of the

    year.

    Thus, Columbia emerged as the only major studio scheduled to release two blockbusters that summer. The otherrge-scale project was a long-awaited sequel to Ghostbusters II, with the first film having debuted in 1984, making it five years since then. The reasons behind Columbia kick-starting this project earlier in the year were evident, especially since it was

    their only notable franchise.

    ...

    "Eric, do we need to bring on more people?"

    Byte April, Jeffrey returned to Los Angeles after overseeing two productions. It was the first time the two men had met in half a month, and they convened in Firefly''s conference room at eight in the evening. Eric had been too busy toe into the office during the day.

    At the moment, Eric looked at the documents Jeffrey had brought back, not looking up as he replied, "No need. Once we wrap, I''ll have Jonathan and Martin rmend some crew members to join Firefly."

    "Alright then, but what about the TV series? The timeline is getting tighter, and executives from Fox have reached out, hoping you could provide a script. They''re willing to help with

    early preparations."

    Eric chuckled lightly. He had previously made it clear to Barry Diller that Firefly would handle the independent production. Fox still hadn''t given up on their desire to get involved, which was understandable. After all, this was a si with very low production costs. If they could secure joint copyright ownership with Firefly, and if the show did well, Fox could prevent Eric from using it as leverage against them. Even if it failed, a few million dors would be a

    minor hit for Fox.

    "Turn them down. They came to you, not me, which shows Fox is aware of my character," Eric

    advised.

    Jeffrey hesitated before speaking again. "Eric, you... you''re being a bit too independent."

    Eric finally looked up. "Hmm?"

    "You never allow anyone to be involved -- neither in film nor in TV. This isn''t how Hollywood works. Nowadays, even many low-budget movies have several investors to share risks and profits. This is the traditional survival rule in Hollywood. Even the major studios, whilepetitive, tend to have interlocking shareholder situations."

    "I understand what you''re saying," Eric replied, scratching his head. "But... it might not be

    the right time yet. In the future, of course, I''ll share. But while I can still handle this on my

    own, I''m going to reap the benefits until others can''t stand it any longer. At that point, I might share some with them."

    Jeffrey put on a resigned face. "Okay, so when do we start preparing?"

    "Tomorrow," Eric replied. "I called you here to discuss this. We need to kick off this project as

    soon as possible; I intend to shoot some scenes."

    "Scenes?" Jeffrey asked, a little confused. "Are you referring to product cements? Even if Columbia agrees, it might not be worth it and could even annoy the audience." "Not product cements," Eric denied,ying out scene he envisioned to Jeffrey. "That''s a good idea," Jeffrey nodded before questioning, "But with less than two months to

    go and you previously promised Fox you''d personally direct the first two episodes. Do you think you can manage all that?"

    Eric shook his head. "No, I don''t need to finish the script. Every concept is already in my head. We just need to finalize the cast, set up the scenes, and film a few interesting snippets." Jeffrey felt the n had great feasibility, and he could see that if sessful, it would create unexpected promotional effects.

    "But, Eric, I have no experience in TV production. You might need someone with that kind of

    expertise."

    "I already said I wouldn''t let Fox get involved in this," Eric stated, raising his hands. "So, Jeffrey, you''ll just have to work a bit harder."

    Jeffrey gave a somewhat enigmatic smile, tinged with teasing and ambiguity. "Actually, one of the people you know has experience as a TV producer."

    Eric''s mind whirled for a moment, then the stubborn face of stubborn Jenny and his future

    father-inw, John Aniston, shed into his mind.

    "He... John should be with NBC, and he mainly focuses on acting," Eric immediately objected,

    feeling resistance. Directors and their inws were natural opposites.

    "But he has far more experience than I do. I''m clueless about TV production. If we had ample

    time, I''d slowly figure it out. But with your timeline being so tight..."

    Eric rubbed the paper documents in front of him, considering before reluctantly nodding. "Fine, I''ll contact him quickly and see how it goes. If not, you''ll still need to step in."

    Jeffrey nodded. "So, what about the cast?"

    "The role for Jenny is already set," Eric said. "We still need five more parts. I''ll write up character descriptions tonight and hand them to you tomorrow so we can expedite the casting process. Let''s keep the pool manageable this time; otherwise, casting will be a hassle. We want actors with some experience -- this way, I think fewer will apply than for the previous

    films."

    "True enough," Jeffrey remarked with augh. "TV series aren''t nearly as enticing as movies."

    After discussing matters until nine o''clock that evening, Eric left the Firefly office. To invite

    John Aniston to take on the producer role, Eric figured he''d best reach out through Jennifer

    Aniston. So he drove over to her apartment.

    ...

    Arriving at Jenny''s front door, Eric didn''t knock but instead retrieved a spare key from the

    flowerpot beside the door. However, after twisting it in the lock, he discovered it had been

    deadbolted from the inside.

    "Isn''t this deliberate?" Eric thought with a wry smile as he slid the key back into the flowerpot and knocked on the door.

    "Who is it?" he faintly heard a girl''s voice respond. Momentster, the door cracked open, but

    just as he was about to push it fully open, he noticed a security chain pulled tightly across the gap. The shiny chain was clearly new.

    "This is definitely aimed at me," Eric thought to himself.

    Seizing the moment, he positioned himself at the door frame, striking what he thought was a

    cool pose. He leaned in and, in a yful tone, called, "Hey, babe! It''s a long night, and I''m

    sure you could use a strong man to alleviate your lonely heart!"

    "Get out!" Jennifer Aniston shot back, ring at Eric before shutting the door with a loud

    bang.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 138: Chapter 138: I Swear to the Light [NSFW]

    Chapter 138: I Swear to the Light [NSFW]

    ?

    [Chapter 138: I Swear to the Light]

    After Eric was turned away, Aniston leaned against the door with a smug expression, contemting how to mock him if he knocked again. She decided that tonight, she wouldn''t give him any favors. Whether he stayed overnight depended on his performance.

    As the minutes ticked by with no sound from outside, Aniston''s confidence began to waver. "Humph, he must be up to something. Don''t think I''ll fall for it."

    Despite her mutterings, curiosity got the better of her. She leaned over to peek through the peephole. The corridor lights were off, and it was pitch ck outside.

    "Damn it, he must be lurking in the dark, waiting for me to open the door," she thought, unease creeping in. After five minutes of silence, she cracked the door open, activating the voice-activated lights in the hallway with a stomp. However, the anti-theft chain restricted her view, revealing only an empty corridor shrouded in silence.

    Pulling out the pin of the security chain, Aniston opened the door wider and stepped out.

    A familiarugh rang from her right, followed by two strong arms lifting her off the ground. "Ah!" she squealed, realizing who it was, yet she still struggled against Eric''s hold.

    "You jerk! Help me!"

    Eric tightened his grip and carried her into the apartment. He shut the door behind them and yfully pped her on the butt.

    "Snap!" The sting sent a mix of shame and anger through Aniston, and she twisted in his hold. "That hurt! You bastard, put me down!"

    He delivered another p, lighter this time, but his hand lingered there, kneading her yfully. "Baby, stop screaming, or the neighbors will call the cops."

    Aniston smacked his back a few times. "Who let you in? You''re breaking and entering!"

    "Wow, such a serious usation! You''re not going to shoot me, are you?" he grinned, plopping her onto the sofa in the living room. Freed, Aniston grabbed a pillow, sat cross- legged, and red at him.

    Eric strolled to the fridge, opened it, and pulled out a can of beer, shaking it toward her. "Look what I found!"

    She turned her head away defiantly. "It''s not for you! I bought it for myself!"

    "Tsk tsk," Eric sat across from her, cracking open the can and taking a few gulps. "Well, this beer tastes great."

    "Whatever, the beer''s finished. You can leave now; I need to sleep." Just then, a knock echoed from the door, apanied by a man''s voice. "Ms. Aniston, are you okay?"

    Both froze, and Aniston quickly replied, "We disturbed the neighbors."

    "You''re the one yelling," Eric countered, rubbing his nose.

    "That''s your fault too," she shot back, getting up to answer the door with Eric following. Outside stood a middle-aged couple; the man brandished a baseball bat while the woman held a shotgun, looking apprehensive.

    "Ms. Aniston, we heard you screaming," the man said, eyeing Eric with suspicion.

    With a smile, Aniston exined, "Sorry, Mr. Bateman. I disturbed you. My boyfriend just yed a prank on me."

    "Hello, Mr. Bateman. I''m Eric, sorry for the inconvenience." Eric shook hands with the couple.

    "It''s okay," Mr. Bateman replied, exchanging pleasantries before declining their invitation for coffee and leaving with his wife.

    ...

    As soon as the door shut, Aniston released Eric''s arm and returned to the sofa. Eric sat beside her, wrapping her in his embrace. She resisted momentarily before leaning against him.

    "Jenny, have you been in touch with your fathertely?"

    "Yeah, why do you ask?" she replied, lifting her head slightly.

    "What''s John been up to?" he inquired.

    "I''m not sure," Aniston said, fidgeting. "I just know he''s been busy acting the past few years."

    "Could you ask him if he''d be interested in producing a TV series?" Eric suggested.

    "TV series?" Aniston echoed, confused.

    "It''s the show we discussed before, the one you''re supposed to be in," he rified.

    "You mean you want my dad as the producer?" she asked, surprised.

    Eric nodded. "Jeffrey isn''t reliable for this, and we can''t find anyone trustworthy. I want to keep Fox out of it, so I thought of your dad."

    Aniston felt a twinge of irritation. So, he hadn''te just to see her. That was frustrating. Breaking free from his embrace, she huffed, "You came here tonight just for that?"

    "Of course not! I missed you!" Eric eximed, kissing her before she could react. "Um... don''t do that, I haven''t..." she mumbled, but her words faded as Eric''s tongue slipped into her mouth. His hands slid beneath her pajama hem, and touched her chest along her smooth skin.

    His palm quickly covered the soft breast flesh, and with a few skillful touches, Aniston''s body trembled slightly, and soon copsed. Eric took the opportunity to push the girl down on the sofa.

    After an intense kiss, Eric nced at her dazed expression, his smile annoying her further. She pinched his leg in retaliation.

    "Ouch! You''re cruel! Just wait and see how I handle you!" Eric chuckled, gripping her hands and pinning them over her head. He lifted her pajamas off, exposing her to him.

    With a soft gasp, Aniston curled up instinctively, trying to shield herself. "Eric, can we go to the bedroom instead?"

    "No way! I''m angry and want to punish you right here." He stepped back, stripped herpletely, revealing her bare form.

    Shivering in the cool air, Aniston curled up like a cat, protesting, "I should be the one angry! You owe me an apology for that day! And you put me in a TV series while letting that woman star in a movie. How unfair!"

    Ignoring herints, Eric began to undress.

    Momentster, Aniston felt his warm body pressing against her cold skin, urging her closer. When she looked up, she saw his excitement, causing her to roll her eyes yfully.

    Eric knelt on the sofa, lifting her legs and caressing them. He spread them apart, leaning in. "It feels... a little dry," he murmured, then pushed inside her. Surprised, Aniston''s eyes widened, and she quickly retracted one leg, kicking at his chest. "Asshole, stop!"

    After a moment, she whimpered, "It''s cold in here, I can''t feel anything. I told you to go to the bedroom."

    "It''s fine. You''ll warm up soon," Eric said, thrusting deeply. Aniston instinctively arched her back, weing him, though she pleaded, "Please don''t go in any further."

    "Don''t worry, I know my limits," he assured her, lifting her waist and moving with urgency. Breathless, Anistonined, "You''re so selfish, only thinking of yourself!"

    Time slipped by, and eventually, the intensity subsided. Anistony back, glistening with sweat, her body weak yet unable to resist his movements. Her legs rested softly on his

    shoulders.

    "I''ll die if you do that again," she gasped, looking up at Eric, who was equally breathless.

    The night air drifted through the balcony, chilling her skin. Noticing her shivers, Eric paused, lifting her up and carrying her to the bathroom. He ran warm water in the tub, settling them

    inside together.

    Rxed against his chest, Aniston savored the warmth, narrowing her eyes in bliss. If only he wasn''t pressing against her from behind.

    Eric applied shower gel, teasing her with his touch. "You''re done, but I''m not," he said with a

    grin.

    "Whatever, take care of it yourself," she replied, toofortable to even open her eyes.

    He continued to caress her body, reminding her, "Didn''t anyone teach you to finish what you

    started?"

    "Not really, but I heard a story about Washington and the cherry tree - about honesty. Then some jerk told me it was all a lie and that there was no cherry tree in Washington''s backyard,"

    she recounted.

    "Interesting," Ericughed, "but the textbook has good intentions."

    "It''s so ironic to educate others by deceiving others. Later, I lost interest in studying. I don''t want to look back after I grow up and find that the education I received was all fake. There is

    no cherry tree, Edison did not save his mother, and Newton was not hit by an apple..."

    "I see," Eric nodded.

    Aniston lifted her chin defiantly. "What do you mean by that?"

    Eric gently twisted the nipples in his hand and said with a smile: "I see you''re trying to change

    the subject. But don''t worry, you can''t escape tonight."

    "I''m going to bed," she dered, attempting to stand, but Eric pulled her back.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "You think you can run? Not a chance," he said, grinning.

    "It''s too much! I can''t take it anymore!" she protested, iling to escape his grip.

    Eric felt the slippery buttocks in the water rubbing against his little brother and smiled wickedly: "It just so happens that there is water here for lubrication."

    "Hmm, ah?" Before Aniston could react, Eric pressed her to the edge. She immediately protested, "It''s swollen, this... this position won''t work, it''s too deep."

    "It''ll be no problem," Eric grinned wickedly. He pressed the girl''s waist with a little force, aimed his wet erection at the right position, and before Aniston could react, he broke through

    and went straight in.

    "Woooa..."

    ...

    "Jenny?"

    "Get off!"

    "Baby..."

    "Don''t touch me."

    "I''ll... apply some medicine."

    "Ugh, why don''t you just kill me, you bastard."

    "I didn''t know it would be like this. It was fine before."

    "Go away and y with that busty woman''s ass, you pervert. I''m breaking up with you.''

    "Just let me take care of you first. I''ll leave afterward."

    ."

    In the dimly lit bedroom, Anistony beneath a quilt, seemingly bare beneath the covers. Eric sat beside her, holding a medicine box, his voice low and soothing as he tried to persuade her.

    Finally, the girl fell silent and shifted slightly. Eric interpreted her movement as consent. He unscrewed the ointment, carefully lifted the sheet from her back, and noticed her bury her face deeper into the pillows.

    After applying the medicine, he gently pulled a thin nket over her and headed to the

    bathroom to wash his hands. When he returned, the clock on the bedside table read past one in

    the morning. He quietlyy down beside Aniston, pulling the quilt around himself as he

    settled in.

    ...

    In the darkness, a long silence enveloped them before Aniston''s soft voice broke through:

    "Eric, don''t do this again."

    "I promise I won''t."

    After a brief moment, there was more rustling, and Aniston turned towards him, shifting

    closer.

    "Jenny, you... you''d better sleep on your stomach tonight."

    "Hmm..." she murmured, continuing to wiggle until she nestled against him. Suddenly, she

    bit his chest yfully and said, "I want to sleep on you."

    "Of course," Eric replied with a smile, wrapping his arms around her smooth waist, feeling

    the warmth of her body against him.

    After a moment, Aniston''s breath brushed against his chest as she asked, "Eric?"

    "Yeah?"

    There was a hint of embarrassment in her tone, mixed with curiosity. "Are youfortable

    like this?"

    "Well," he hesitated, unsure how to respond. He really didn''t want to delve into this topic.

    After a pause, he said, "I guess so. It''s... a very different feeling."

    Aniston pressed on, "Do they... can they handle it?"

    Eric gently stroked her back and replied earnestly, "There''s no one else like this. There''s only

    you."

    She lightly hit him, skeptical. "I don''t believe you."

    In the darkness, Eric raised his hands defensively. "I swear to the lights!"

    "But the lights are off now."

    "Okay, sleep tight. I have to get up early tomorrow. The crew starts filming at eight."

    "What about me? Are you just going to leave me here?" she asked, biting him again.

    "It''s not a serious injury; you''ll be fine by morning."

    Her bite was sharper this time, and he wondered if it had drawn blood. Rubbing his chest, he pondered for a moment before suggesting, "What if I find someone to look after you?" Aniston shook her head vigorously. "That''s too embarrassing! If anyone finds out, I''ll break

    up with you."

    Reluctantly, Eric abandoned the idea. After a moment''s thought, he offered, "Alright, I''ll do my best to prepare your meals and try toe by at noon. But Jenny, if filming gets dyed

    for even a day, it''ll cost the crew over a hundred thousand dors. I can''t afford to let that

    happen."

    "Okay," she replied, finally content. She adjusted her position, finding a morefortable

    spot against him, and soon drifted off to sleep.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 139: Chapter 139: This Was Obvious

    Chapter 139: This Was Obvious

    ?

    [Chapter 139: This Was Obvious]

    After learning about Eric''s invitation, John Aniston agreed almost without a second thought. Among soap opera actors and television producers, very few would willingly choose the former. In Hollywood, whether it was screenwriters, actors, or even the upper-echelon directors, once their careers reached a certain level, they always tended to move towards producing.

    To make this happen, John Aniston also resigned from his position at NBC and significantly reduced his role in the soap opera. Though he was already over fifty, about the same age as Jeffrey, his ambition was no less than when he was younger.

    ...

    Even though the box office profits from the two movies hadn''te back at all, thanks to Eric''s two hefty loans, Firefly Films wasn''tcking in money. The budget for each episode of the series was around $200,000, and the total investment for the production was only $5 million, which was just a fraction of what had been invested in the films.

    With John Aniston''s involvement, the project quickly got underway in early May. The crew rented two massive soundstages at 20th Century Fox for basic setups, which were mostly done at the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles.

    Although Eric didn''t want Fox involved in the television series, it would have seemed too deliberate to seek out Warner or Columbia just for soundstage rentals. During one meeting, Eric had suggested building a dedicated soundstage, but he faced joint opposition from Jeffrey and John, both of whom believed that this was too costly and not worth it, so Eric had to drop the idea for the time being.

    On the casting side, Eric fantasized about gathering the original six actors; it would have been perfect since they were reuniting five years earlier thanst time. By that timeline, the oldest actor, Lisa Kudrow, would only be twenty-six, and the others ranged from twenty to twenty- four. Starting the filming now meant that ten years down the line, they wouldn''t noticeably show their age on camera.

    The reason the show ended at the tenth season in his past life, although actor sries yed a part, was mostly because the actors'' ages no longer fit the ssic roles. By the tenth season, Lisa Kudrow was already forty-one and had begun to take on mother roles in movies, so trying to y a goofy character like a younger person would seem incongruous.

    Of course, gathering the original six was destined to be nothing more than a dream. Matthew Perry, who through Aniston had yed a young, dim-witted thief in Home Alone, was now a leading film star. Getting a Hollywood A-lister to do a si was nothing short of absurd.

    As for the others, Eric did have some of their movies stored in his memory, but before this year, he could only recall Courteney Cox from her minor role in a film. The rest were virtually ghosts of the past, making it nearly impossible to find them, so Eric had to patiently begin selecting recements among the auditioning actors for those five beloved friends.

    ...

    On Sunday, May 10th, the filming came to a close, and if no major idents urred in the following week, they would sessfully wrap up production. That was why Eric was able to take time today for the final auditions, thest round of selection. Due to Eric''s insistence, the crew''s first task was actor auditions, so in just ten days, the sets in the two rented Fox stages were still only in initial build-out even as they moved into the final round of casting.

    Eric nned to insert ssic shots from mid-May to mid-June into the movie, while the actual filming for the television series wouldn''t begin until at least July after its premiere. ording to Fox''s schedule, the series premiere was set for early September, just as the summer movie block ended and the fall television season began.

    Additionally, Eric estimated he would only spend two weeks personally shooting the first two episodes of the series. After that, he would have to hustle on the pre-production of two more films for the second half of the year and take care of distribution for three more films, making it nearly impossible for him to find any downtime.

    ...

    At eight in the morning, Eric walked into the office and saw a number of men and women waiting in the hallway. These people clearly knew Eric; after he appeared, they all greeted him. Several young women even unabashedly threw meaningful nces his way. Eric nodded in acknowledgment but continued into the audition room.

    Until then, he hadn''t seen the final round of the casting list, and due to everyone''s uncertainty, Eric had to conduct the interviews personally instead of just making simple selections as he did during the casting process.

    "Jeffrey, John, good morning," he said as he entered the audition room and spotted Jeffrey and John Aniston talking amongst themselves. They stood up to greet Eric upon his arrival.

    "Good morning, Eric."

    "Hey, Eric."

    Eric took a seat behind a long table, and a blonde assistant approached him, cing a stack of materials in front of him. Leaning in, she introduced, "Mr. Williams, this is theplete list of actors auditioning today, already marked in order."

    As she spoke, whether intentionally or unintentionally, her unbuttoned white shirt gave Eric a view he couldn''t ignore. He mentally remarked, ''Wow, nice. Can''t even wrap a hand around that.'' ncing sideways, he noticed John Aniston visibly displeased with the situation.

    The production crew was assembled through John''s connections in the TV industry, and the blonde assistant was someone he brought on board due to her experience. With her flirting in front of Jenny''s boyfriend, it didn''t seem like John would be too pleased, and Eric thought that she likely wouldn''t stay long in the crew.

    However, perhaps the assistant wasn''t fully aware of the rtionship dynamics between John Aniston and Eric, or didn''t care much, which exined her boldness in flirting with Eric in front of John. With Eric''s youth and burgeoning wealth, aspiring actresses in Hollywood would often make their move.

    "All right, I got it," Eric said, nodding after the assistant finished her introduction, having sufficiently taken in the offer served to him on a tter.

    "By the way, I''m Linda Grant. Mr. Williams, you can just call me Linda," she said, standing straight and unconsciously showcasing her curves wrapped in professional attire.

    "Thank you, Miss Grant," Eric said with a smile.

    Finally, John Aniston broke in, "Linda, let''s get the young folks outside ready for their auditions; we''re about to start."

    "Right away, Mr. Aniston." Linda nodded and sashayed out of the audition room, striking a pose in her fitted skirt.

    "Erm, Eric, just so you know, Linda... is already married. Her husband is the sound technician for the crew," John quietly remarked when Linda was out of earshot.

    Eric shrugged innocently, "John, I didn''t do anything."

    "Eric, while ying the field in Hollywood ismon, you''d better be careful not to hurt Jenny; she''s actually quite naive."

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment, "Don''t worry, John; I''ll be mindful."

    John shook his head, "I honestly wish you''d break it off with Jenny on your own."

    Eric quickly rejected the notion, "Unless Jenny wants to leave me, I won''t break up with her."

    As he spoke, Eric secretly added in his mind that even if she wanted to leave, he would find a way to bring her back. But he dared not say this out loud; otherwise, John Aniston would likely

    have a fit.

    John Aniston couldn''t possibly guess Eric''s thoughts. After patting Eric on the shoulder, the audition process finally began. Eric got the chance to look down at the list of auditioners.

    ...

    At a nce, he noticed there were no recognizable names among the list of future stars. Considering he hadn''t watched many sis in his past life, it was understandable that he wouldn''t recognize anyone from the current crop of actors. After all, the twenty-somethings now had very few who would stand a chance at sess; by the time the sis became more refined and began to challenge films for status, these actors would be in their thirties or forties, often relegated to minor roles.

    Flipping through several long pages of audition lists, he didn''t find a familiar name. Haphazardly flipping to thest page, which listed actresses auditioning for the role of Phoebe Buffay, it was only then that he found a name he recognized, one he was quite familiar with: Nicole Kidman. This astonished Eric; how did Nicole Kidman end up auditioning for a

    television series?

    He double-checked the spelling and confirmed it was the correct name, then waved over to Linda, who had just walked back in. The blonde assistant hurried over, "Mr. Williams, is there

    something you need?"

    "Where''s the detailed information on the actors? I want to see the materials for the afternoon

    auditions."

    "Please hold on," she replied, stepping out and returning a momentter carrying several folders, "Mr. Williams, here you go."

    "Thank you. Just call me Eric," he said while trying to ignore Jeffrey and John''s intrigued looks. He quickly searched through the files until he found Nicole Kidman''s profile.

    Just a quick nce revealed the actress in the photo had brown wavy hair, a round face, striking blue eyes, a prominent sexy nose, and thin lips.

    Upon skimming through, he noted that her resume was anchored around an Australian

    television series, and she''d also featured in a few other TV shows and films. This meant the project thatunched Nicole Kidman into Hollywood must have fallen through; could this be the butterfly effect from his own actions?

    Pondering on the feeling of the paper, Eric had to admit it was undoubtedly true that since he made headlines entering Hollywoodst year, everything had changed in this world. It brought to mind what he''d seen about dominoes -- a single domino tipped over could set off a cascade, illustrating the butterfly effect in vivid detail.

    In his memory, Nicole Kidman should have already been in Hollywood by now, having quickly

    hooked up with Tom Cruise and disrupting his family life to be Mrs. Cruise. Thus, she transitioned from an unknown actress to one of Hollywood''s top stars, going on to win Oscar for Best Actress over a decadeter.

    Considering all these fragmented details, Eric concluded that this woman was undeniably formidable. Among Tom Cruise''s former partners, only she had thrived; even after her divorce from Cruise, her career not only showed no decline but rose spectacrly. She made it into the $20 million pay club and eventually snagged an Oscar for Best Actress.

    Throughout the morning auditions, Eric found himself increasingly intrigued by this woman.

    ...

    During the lunch break, he caught Linda''s eye and gestured to her, leading her out to the stairs at the end of the hallway.

    "Eric, what''s up?" Linda asked, both curious and a little nervous, as she felt unprepared forn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    anything more.

    "Here''s the deal, Linda," Eric said, pulling out a piece of paper, "This Nicole Kidman, after

    she finishes her audition this afternoon, please bring her to my office; I''d like to have a word

    with her alone."

    Linda took the paper, ncing at Nicole Kidman''s photo, feeling slightly deted since this

    woman was even prettier than her. Nheless, she nodded, "Sure, Eric, I''ll let her know. Do you... need anything else?"

    Eric shook his head honestly, "Nope, that''s all."

    "Oh," Linda lowered her head, her high heels scraping against the concrete floor. Just as she

    gathered the courage to say something, she realized Eric had already turned and left.

    "That dense guy, he''s so... infuriating," she muttered, stamping her foot in disappointment

    before heading back.

    ...

    By the conclusion of a long afternoon of auditions, the remaining five roles were tentatively filled, and Eric met Nicole Kidman, who auditioned around four in the afternoon. Her performance was wless -- yet whenpared to Lisa Kudrow''s character, Nicole appeared

    strikingly stunning.

    The role of Monica Geller had already been assigned to a dark-haired beauty who resembled

    Courteney Cox slightly. If Pheobe Buffay also got cast as a great beauty, the si would absolutely feel disjointed. So Eric and John, among others, unanimously chose to pass over Nicole Kidman in favor of a more ordinary-looking girl.

    ...

    At five o''clock, auditions wrapped up, and Eric, John Aniston, and others remained in the conference room discussing shooting ns until around seven in the evening when they adjourned.

    Eric''s mind was swirling with random thoughts when he nearly forgot about the earlier conversation with his assistant. Stepping out of the office building, he suddenly remembered and turned around. It was now dark outside, and he wasn''t sure if Nicole Kidman would leave

    early; but considering this woman''s intelligence, it seemed unlikely she''d do that. She would likely be waiting in his office regardless of whether he showed up this evening.

    Opening the office door, he found a woman resting on the sofa. The office was dimly lit by the

    deskmp, but Eric recognized her immediately. As he stepped inside, she rose to her feet. "Hello, Miss Kidman," he said as he shut the door and turned on the lights.

    "Hello, Mr. Williams," she replied with a soft smile, stepping forward to shake his hand. Eric noticed she was barefoot, her high heels set aside.

    What a considerate woman to notice such a detail about height. Eric was just over six feet, and

    perhaps Nicole was around that height as well. She must have thought that by removing her heels, it would prevent him from feeling ufortable.

    Eric mused silently as he took his ce, "I''m sorry, Miss Kidman, for keeping you waiting; I

    was in a meeting."

    "Not a problem at all, Mr. Williams; you can call me Nicole."

    "Sure, Nicole, and you can call me Eric." As he settled into his leather chair, he fell silent and

    regarded this woman before him keenly.

    Nicole didn''t seem in any hurry to ask why Eric had asked her to wait. Perhaps she felt it was

    self-evident, wasn''t it?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 140: Chapter 140: I Need a Maid

    Chapter 140: I Need a Maid

    ?

    [Chapter 140: I Need a Maid]

    In the bright office, Eric admired the pretty, slightly baby-faced woman for a moment, his gaze gradually bing unfocused. He couldn''t help but recall his past life, specifically the divorce case around 2001. Back then, Eric hadn''t paid much attention to the entertainment gossip, but Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were simply too famous. Being in the business, it was impossible for him not to overhear discussions about them.

    However, until the couple officially filed for divorce, the specific reasons remained under wraps, and a multitude of wild spections abounded. Among the theories Eric heard, the most intriguing one suggested that their divorce stemmed from a Stanley Kubrick film where Kubrick forced Nicole Kidman to perform intimate scenes with male model Gary Cuban, who was cast as a Navy officer. It was rumored that she even underwent ovarian surgery after the intense filming. Given Kubrick''s personality, Eric thought this theory held some weight. Yet, while Kubrick was indeed a jerk, he wasn''t insane; he wouldn''t have shared such details with Tom, and that information only surfaced after their divorce.

    Two years prior to their split, a maid from the Cruise household identally leaked to the media that the couple''s atmosphere at home was cold and that they barely spoke to each other. After winning thewsuit against the maid, the couple went on to publicly disy affection for a time, but then two yearster, they inexplicably divorced.

    At that time, the media listed various spective reasons behind the divorce, with the most prominent being that Nicole had been unfaithful, iming she was three months pregnant with a child that wasn''t Tom''s. Eric personally found this rumor the most usible, as Nicole nearly walked away with nothing. If it weren''t for a significant moral failing on her part, a woman simply wouldn''t agree to sign a divorce settlement days before their ten-year anniversary, especially given how George Lucas had lost half his fortune in his divorce and even had to sell Pixar. Later, billionaire Sumner Redstone faced turmoil when his wife sought a divorce from him. Californiaw stipted that without a prenuptial agreement, all marital property was divided equally after ten years. In 2001, Tom Cruise was reported to have amassed over $360 million in wealth, while Nicole allegedly walked away with only a piece of artwork after the divorce.

    ...

    At this moment in the office, Nicole Kidman noticed Eric staring off into space and felt a tinge of dissatisfaction. Did sheck that much allure? This man, three years younger than her, had gotten lost in thought.

    The silence stretched on for several minutes before Nicole finally broke the tension. "Mr. Williams?"

    "Uh, sorry, Nicole, I just remembered something," Eric said,ing back to reality, offering her an apologetic smile. "Nicole, the file says you''ve been doing well in Australia. What brought you to Hollywood?"

    "Every actor dreams of proving themselves in Hollywood, and I''m no exception. I hope to build a better career here," she responded.

    "That''s no easy feat. You haven''t even starred in a Hollywood movie yet, and if you want to prove yourself here, you shouldn''t be auditioning for television roles."

    "It''s just... I haven''t found the right role," she said, searching for an excuse. "I thought this TV series might be a good fit, so I wanted to give it a try."

    Of course, she wanted to act in movies, but in this timeline, her luck wasn''t as good as in his previous life. She hade to Hollywood earlier that year, just like all the ambitious actors, filled with unrealistic hopes. Months passed, and though she attended many auditions, she only snagged a minor part in a film, barely worthy of the term "supporting role." Eventually, she had to shift her focus to television, as many Hollywood stars rose from the small screen to film stardom.

    Curiosity struck Eric, prompting him to ask, "Nicole, did youe to Hollywood alone?" "Yes," she replied, a bit perplexed.

    Eric simply nodded without furtherment.

    The office fell silent again, and Nicole couldn''t resist asking her most pressing question. "So, Mr. Director, did I get the role of Phoebe Buffay?"

    "Sorry, no. The role was already offered to someone else," Eric said, shaking his head honestly.

    Nicole was taken aback. What did that mean? If he had said "still under consideration" or something simr, she''d know how to proceed. But instead, he outright told her someone was already cast.

    "Can you tell me why?" Nicole asked, her thoughts swirling.

    Eric shifted to a morefortable position and exined, "Myself and a few other producers unanimously agreed that you, uh, were too beautiful."

    "Uh?" Nicole was left speechless.

    "It''s like this," Eric straightened up to rify, "the character Phoebe has a very tragic backstory. She was abandoned by her biological parents, and when her stepmothermitted suicide, this fourteen-year-old girl ended up homeless on the streets of New York, struggling at the bottom until she finally became a massage therapist."

    "What does that have to do with looks?"

    "A lot," Eric replied. "Do you think a stunning fourteen-year-old girl wandering the streets of New York would just live a normal life until her twenties, making loads of friends?" Certainly not! While Nicole came from a well-off middle-ss family, she was not blind to society''s dark sides. If Phoebe were beautiful, she might happen upon a decent man to marry and settle down, as beauty isn''t scarce anywhere. However, if luck ran out, the oue could

    be tragic.

    "Eric, if that''s the case, why did you ask me toe here and wait?"

    "Because... I was curious. I wanted to talk to you."

    "That''s it?" Nicole said incredulously, finding his reasoning rather flimsy.

    "Yep, that''s it," Eric shrugged, standing up. "I just wanted to chat for a bit. It''ste, Nicole. Sorry for making you wait. Let me take you to dinner."

    "Fine," Nicole said, disappointed, as she stood up, slipping into her high heels and walking alongside Eric out of the office, the security guard casting them a smirk as they descended the stairs together.

    ...

    At a nearby restaurant, the tall Nicole Kidman looked troubled, lost in her thoughts, while Eric happily munched away, chatting with her easily.

    After dinner, Eric climbed into his car, and as Nicole watched him prepare to say goodbye, she couldn''t hold back and opened the door to the passenger seat, sitting beside him. She knew if she let this chance slip away, she might just have to return to Australia in disgrace.

    In her few months in Hollywood, Nicole had witnessed the cutthroatpetition. The highest-profile person she''d interacted with was an unknown independent director, and though she''d won several small awards in Australia, they meant nothing here.

    "Nicole..." Eric nced curiously at the woman who had just entered his car, aware that her own vehicle was parked nearby.

    "Alright, Mr. Williams, what do I need to do tond the role? Please just tell me directly," she said, her breath quickening as her blue eyes fixed intensely on him, carrying a sense of

    determination.

    "The character has already been cast," Eric replied seriously.

    "Then why go through all this needless effort, giving me hope only to crush it so quickly?

    Don''t you think that''s... a bit harsh?"

    "Okay, I apologize. I really wanted to talk to you... out of curiosity."

    "Just to make a woman wait in the office for hours and then talk about nonsense? It''s absurd;

    do you think anyone would believe that?"

    "Well, what else was I supposed to do?" Eric replied, somewhat impatiently.

    Nicole hesitated for a moment, reaching out to take Eric''s arm, pressing it against her thigh.

    "Mr. Williams, I''m well aware of your reputation -- Hollywood''s most promising young director. I''ve heard about Julia Roberts, so please, give me a chance."

    Eric nced at her hand resting on his thigh. Despite the fabric of his pants, he felt an

    unexpected warmth.

    "Actually, there''s a film you can audition for, a romanticedy," Eric finally mentioned.

    Nicole squeezed Eric''s hand a little tighter, a spark of excitement lighting up her face.

    "You know, I''ve been pretty busytely. The film won''t start shooting until July or August,

    maybe eventer," he warned her.

    "No problem, I can wait," Nicole replied without hesitation.

    Eric shook his head. "Not like that. I mean, I''m busy at home and need a maid."

    "Uh," Nicole said, her mouth slightly agape in surprise.

    Eric grinned mischievously. "I need someone to help me with meals; I''m usually not home for

    lunch, so just two meals a day would do. I don''t want a cleaner bothering me either, especially

    since I need someone to tidy up. If you''re willing, you cane be my maid from May to

    September."

    "Uh!" Nicole''s mind took a moment to wrap around this unexpected proposition. After a moment, she tentatively asked, "Am I... am I the leadingdy?"

    Eric wore a satisfied smile. "Of course! If you perform well, you might shot to A-list status like Julia in just one movie. Such an opportunity rarelyes by for most actresses

    throughout their careers."

    "I need to think it over," Nicole said as she lifted her head.

    "Of course! When you''ve made your decision, get back to me ASAP. Oh, and if you agree, you''ll

    be staying at my mansion for the next few months."

    "Why?" Nicole asked, feeling a bit frightened, conjuring up embarrassing thoughts.

    "I have a serious girlfriend, so I prefer not having a young, beautiful womaning and going from my vi. Plus, you wouldn''t want those tales to surface about how younded this

    role once you hit it big, right?"

    "I understand," Nicole nodded, processing everything.

    After a few more exchanges, they parted ways. By the time Eric got home, he felt a thrill over his mischievous idea. He was sure Nicole wouldn''t refuse such an offer. In fact, he thought perhaps this "arrangement" could continue indefinitely. This way, he wouldn''t need to hire any strange cleaners, and he could finally stop worrying about meals. More importantly, what could be more satisfying than having a former A-list star as his maid?

    ...

    A new week kicked off with final shooting preparations. Therger scenes had been wrapped

    up, leaving just a few odds and ends for location shoots. Five dayster, on a street in downtown Los Angeles, the crew kicked off thest scene, all members sporting rxed smiles despite the previous month and a half of hard work.

    On a bus, Sean tucked a newspaper under his arm, clutching a bucket of popcorn as he sat

    down, catching a glimpse of the sapphire ne hanging from a woman behind him. Hesitating, he turned back to her, staring at the ne for several seconds. When the woman raised an eyebrow in suspicion, he spoke up. "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else." "No problem," Yoyo replied, her tone casual as she absentmindedly gazed out of the window. "That''s a beautiful ne; where did you get it?" Sean couldn''t resist asking.

    "A friend gave it to me. It''s fake; very cheap," Yoyo lifted her spirits slightly when he

    mentioned the ne.

    Sean chuckled. "Boyfriend?"

    Yoyo shook her head. "Haven''t seen him in ages."

    "Hold on to it," he said, turning slightly. "He might just show up one day and surprise you."

    Yoyo smiled expectantly, perhaps aware that such hope was scant, yet she stubbornly took the bus daily, wishing to see Andy again.

    ...

    As the bus gradually came to a stop, Eric satisfiedly called, "Cut! This shot''s in the bag! Just one left, everyone prepare! Yoyo--uh, I mean Brooke, we''re up for the scene I had you perform in the audition room. Even with several hours to go, I''m eager for you to nail this. We

    have the wrap party tonight.''

    "I''ll do my best, Eric," Brooke Shields smiled in reply.

    The final shot began, and though a day passed without Yoyo encountering Andy, she

    disembarked from the bus with disappointment, while multiple cameras trained on Brooke Shields from across the street captured this moment.

    Even after many practice runs in the audition room, she only managed toplete the shot

    after a few NGS. As Eric called "good!" with satisfaction, apuse erupted from everyone

    around.

    Eric lifted a megaphone, announcing, "I dere the shoot officially wrapped! Everybody tidy up; we''re meeting at the Hilton tonight. Everyone must be there, no exceptions!"

    Cheers erupted, with many crew members tossing their hats into the air.

    ...

    After concluding his instructions with a smile, Eric headed toward an armored transport

    vehicle. Four brawny bodyguards stood guard beside it, while a middle-aged man in his forties loaded the sapphire ne used in Brooke Shields'' shoot into a safe.

    "Mr. Derek, thank you for your generous sponsorship," Eric said warmly as the man handed over the secure diamondden safe into the truck.

    "Oh, it''s my pleasure, Mr. Williams. It''s a mutually beneficial situation," the man named

    Derek said courteously, shaking Eric''s hand. "Now, I must be off; I can''t have the ne lingering outside for even a minute without feeling uneasy."

    "No worries, I understand," Eric smiled, aware that along with the sponsorship brands, an important prop -- the sapphire seized by the bald monk -- was also involved.

    Some had suggested using a stand-in prop for the shoot, merely needing to source a fake blue

    crystal worth a few hundred dors. But Eric decided to film with the actual ne. Lacking connections, he reached out to Columbia, and after consulting with Amy Pascal, they quickly secured a $10 million blue diamond from a British collector, who had nned to auction it through Christie''s the following autumn. Luckily, the higher-ups at Columbia had a decent rapport with the collector, so after much negotiation, he reluctantly agreed to let the ne

    be loaned.

    However, making this arrangement wasn''t easy; whenever the diamond was filmed, four armed bodyguards were stationed five meters away, making everyone on set rather jumpy. Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch throughout the filming.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 141: Chapter 141: High Concept Films

    Chapter 141: High Concept Films

    ?

    [Chapter 141: High Concept Films]

    After a month and a half of intense and demanding shooting, particrly the outdoor filming in thest month, the cast was hanging in there, but the dozens of crew members werepletely worn out. Therefore, the celebration after wrapping up turned into a wild affair, as everyone suddenly let loose after the long periods of pressure. The party hall was loud, and asionally someone would let out a high-pitched scream.

    Eric merely smiled at the chaos; after all, everyone had been cooped up for a month, so it was understandable that they were a bit out of control. Most of the cast received party invitations, and several lead actors showed up.

    However, after witnessing the disorderly scene, Tom Cruise, maintaining his status, could only stand it for about twenty minutes before making his exit. Although he came from humble beginnings, he had already self-identified with the top tier of the pyramid and certainly could not frolic with the crew members. Some of the older crew members and actors also gradually took their leave. At Eric''s psychological age, he couldn''t truly enjoy this kind of raucous party, but as the director, he had to stick around.

    In the entire hall, Eric was the youngest. While he projected an oppressive air when sternly reprimanding others on set, in other situations he still came off as a harmless young man. Given that the crew members knew Eric''s personality and understood he was someone who could take a joke, it was only natural that he became the target of their teasing.

    After being peer-pressured into downing a few bottles of beer for various reasons, Eric finally made his escape under the guise of needing to use the bathroom, heading down the corridor. As he exited, whether by coincidence or not, he happened to see Brooke Shields emerging from the restroom across the way, drying her hands with a paper towel.

    "Hey, Brooke," Eric called out with a smile, "Having fun?"

    Brooke Shields returned a sweet smile, saying, "It''s okay, a bit noisy though." As the prettiest woman at the party, it was only natural for Brooke Shields to draw everyone''s attention, and she reveled in the affection, though Eric maintained a somewhat indifferent attitude toward her.

    Seeing Eric greet her and then turn to leave, Brooke quickly tossed the paper towel into the trash and hurried over, grabbing his arm.

    "Brooke, is there something you need?" he asked as he turned back.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Brooke Shields hesitated for a moment before saying, "I just wanted to thank you, Eric. Thank you for giving me the role of Yoyo."

    Her gratitude held no trace of politeness; ever since she was announced as the leadingdy, despite various media outlets hinting at scandals and dismissing her chances as merely a beautiful face, her poprity surged. The media interest in her skyrocketed, and it had been years since she''d had paparazzi trailing her, thest time being when her closeness with Michael Jackson had caused quite the stir. More importantly, this buzz was generating real economic benefits for her, as she received several endorsement offers during this time.

    "It was nothing, Brooke," Eric replied. "You did a great job in the role. I''m sure once the film hits theaters, you''ll leave asting impression on the audience."

    "Well then," Brooke Shields said, her face lighting up with expectation, "Eric, will we have the chance to work together again?"

    "Um..." Eric hesitated, surprised by her frankness. The truth would likely be a no, but he knew better than to hurt her feelings directly: "Brooke, you have to understand, it depends on finding the right opportunity."

    Brooke Shields'' expression dimmed instantly, her disheartened look could easily tug at any man''s heartstrings; she was practically enchanting.

    Eric noticed her expression and felt a faint sense of guilt. After giving it some thought, he tentatively suggested, "Brooke, I think you should focus on independent films right now. Select a few excellent scripts to hone your acting skills."

    Since starting her film career at the age of twelve, Brooke Shields had spent over a decade navigating the indie scene. She understood that if she wanted to stand out, outstanding acting was key, followed by securing significant film awards, which could then pave the way to mainstream cinema.

    However, that path seemed impossible for her; her beauty overshadowed any talent she possessed. If she returned to indie films, she''d likely justnd trophy roles with no real way to break through.

    Brooke Shields also understood that if she was going to be a trophy, it should be in big- budget films, as even a supporting role in a major production would gain her more recognition than a lead role in a low-budget flop. Sadly, while Brooke Shields had some fame, she was still just seen as a pretty star, not noteworthy enough to catch the interest of Hollywood''s mainstream film industry. Many actresses were equally beautiful and talented, and few major productions would take the risk on someone repeatedly nominated for a Razzie. Eric happened to be the first director in years willing to take a gamble like that. "Eric, I know my abilities. If I go back to the independent scene, I''ll never make it. Do you... do you have time tomorrow? Perhaps I could take you out for dinner to show my appreciation." "No need, Brooke," Eric declined, noticing her awkward expression. He quickly added, "To be honest, I believe once the film is released, your role will surely bring you several offers. Just be careful choosing your scripts, even if you take on a few supporting roles in films that do well; if they seed, you''ll definitely rise among the A-list actresses. There''s no need to ce your hopes on me."

    Originally, Brooke Shields felt quite dejected by Eric''s refusal, but after his final words, she felt a sense of rity wash over her. Um, while she might not be the brightest, she could understand that if she wanted to reach the top, there was no need to go back to the low- budget films.

    "Then, Eric, still, thank you," Brooke Shields said, her expression finally brightening with satisfaction, as if her earlier sadness had never existed. After producing that statement, she fluttered her beautiful eyes, suddenly stepping forward to rest her hand on Eric''s shoulder and gently kiss the corner of his mouth. Seeing the surprise on Eric''s face from her unexpected move, Brooke Shields shed a dazzling smile before turning and heading back to the party hall.

    Eric touched his mouth in disbelief and shook his head, amused, as he walked back into the

    hall.

    ...

    "Eric, you''ve been gone so long, did you have a fling?" As Eric re-entered, Tom Hanks approached him, handing Eric a ss of champagne and teasingly gesturing at Brooke Shields, who was chatting nearby.

    Eric took a sip of champagne, giving Tom a knowing smile.

    Hanks smirked back, exchanging yful nces, but then he toned down his expression, realizing that if they kept joking, it could be misinterpreted: "Eric, have you figured out anything for my next film? I''ve been waiting!"

    As he said this, Hanks wiggled his fingers in front of Eric, seemingly reminding him of their deal about five films that made over a hundred million dors, noting that Eric hadn''t included this recent project in that count.

    "I already have the script," Eric said, "Once the post-production voiceovers areplete, you can start getting ready."

    Hanks was a workaholic, especially in recent years, cranking out two to three films every year. This was considered impressive in the actor circle. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Hanks perked up: "Can you tell me about the plot?"

    "Let''s go over there," Eric suggested, pointing to a corner sofa that just became avable as a couple got up and walked to the dance floor. Hanks nodded, and they moved over.

    "It''s a romanticedy titled Sleepless in Seattle, a script I came up with during my trip to New

    York."

    "A romanticedy?" Hanks said hesitantly, touching his face. A few years back, he had some charm, but after turning thirty, he no longer fit that description.

    "Eric, do you think my image suits that kind of film?"

    "Don''t worry, this isn''t just another ordinary romanticedy," Eric reassured him. "You''ll

    be ying a single dad in the film."

    "A single dad?"

    "Hold on, don''t interrupt, Tom. Let me finish the storyline, okay?"

    "Okay!" Hanks raised his hand in acknowledgement.

    Eric continued: "The story goes that after his wife unexpectedly passes away, heartbroken Sam struggles to let go of her memory, deciding to leave Chicago with his eight-year-old son Jonah and move to Seattle. A yearter, on Christmas, Jonah calls into a show called Love Connection, hoping to find a new wife for his father who''s still grieving. Coincidentally, this hotline connects Sam''s family with a woman named Jenny in New York. Though Jenny is engaged, she is touched by Sam''s devotion and can''t help but write him a letter. This letter falls into Jonah''s hands, and seeing the connection, he takes it upon himself to arrange for his father and Jenny to meet at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine''s Day."

    "Wait?" After hearing Eric''s recounting, Hanks blurted the question.

    Eric nodded: "This film will pay homage to quite a few ssics." "Eric, based on what you told me, does the story seem a little too simplistic?"

    Eric smiled, shrugging his shoulders: "Tom, I''m just giving you a rough overview of the story. This is a standard high concept film. Simplicity and straightforwardness, even a bit cliched, are core traits of high concept films. For a movie to be sessful, it primarily needs a clear and simple storyline. The rest depends on the directorial and acting chops."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 142: Chapter 142: The Doorstep Surprise

    Chapter 142: The Doorstep Surprise

    ?

    [Chapter 142: The Doorstep Surprise]

    "Yeah, I get it. So when is the movie expected to start filming?"

    "I''m not sure," Eric exined, taking a sip of champagne. "You see, next up I''ve got post- production to handle. After the moviees out in July, I still need to produce a TV series for Fox; Barry Diller asked me to direct the first two episodes myself. So, I''m not quite sure when we can start filming the movie. Tom, didn''t you just film two movies this year? It might be a good time for you to take a break. Being an actor is exhausting. What''s the point of making all that money if you can''t enjoy life?"

    "Ha, ording to you, you''re going to shoot four movies this year. I heard you''re also producing three others. Isn''t a guy making seven movies in a year a bit jaded?"

    "No, it''s not the same," Eric calmly shook his head, repeating, "I''m nothing like you guys." Hanks couldn''t help but roll his eyes, teasing, "Are you an alien or something?"

    "Yeah, my mission is the stars and the sea!"

    The twoughed, and the party continued until midnight. Although Eric started off with a few beers, he hadn''t drunk much after that. He refused a ride home and slowly drove back himself.

    ...

    To avoid paparazzi, there were no street lights in front of many Hollywood celebrities'' mansions in Beverly Hills, and Eric''s house was no different. So when he got out of the car and opened the door, the sound of a woman''s voice nearby startled him.

    The woman called out his name and then stepped into the light from the car. Eric recognized the tall figure as Nicole Kidman, who had been out of touch for several days. After he had proposed that rather risque condition, he had put the matter out of his mind and didn''t expect her to show up here so suddenly.

    "Nicole, what are you doing here?" Eric instinctively asked, eyeing her outfit. At that moment, Nicole was wearing a fitted ck long coat and ck thigh-high heels, entuating her tall figure. If one overlooked the messy curls that Eric thought looked rather dated, she did have a certain icy queen vibe reminiscent of a bygone era.

    Under Eric''s scrutiny, the woman stepped back a bit, stammering, "I... I''ve figured it out; I... I''m willing."

    "Willing for what, to marry me?" Eric couldn''t help but tease, noticing that even in the dim light, her pale face flushed quickly. He stopped joking and took out his keys to open the door, saying, "Alright then, let''s go inside."

    Nicole stepped back to where she had been standing, pulled out a small suitcase, and ducked into Eric''s car.

    After parking, Eric took Nicole to the vi, pointing to the sofa, "Nicole, you can sit here."

    Nicole ced her suitcase beside the couch, took off her coat, hung it on a rack, and sat down a bit awkwardly. As Eric turned to head into the kitchen, she rxed a little, surveying the room. Although the vi was designed with a modern minimalist style, it exuded elegance everywhere. Despiteing from a decent middle-ss background, Nicole couldn''t help but envy the luxurious Beverly Hills homes she had always heard of. Perhaps, if what this man promised was true, she could buy a vi like this in a few years. With that thought, her initial anxiety lessened and was reced with anticipation.

    Eric quickly returned from the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee. Nicole stood up hastily, wanting to approach him.

    "Sit down; you''re still a guest," Eric said, pushing a cup of coffee toward her.

    Nicole sat back down, picked up the coffee, felt its scorching heat, and set it back on the coffee table. She gently rubbed her fingers against her knee and then looked up, meeting Eric''s gaze. "Mr. Williams..."

    "Call me Eric."

    "Sure, Eric. Can we first... uh, confirm something? I don''t want to..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Her fingers twisted nervously on her knee. She was afraid that appearing too eager might annoy him, but she also hoped to hear some solid promises from Eric. Thest thing Nicole wanted was to spend months ying maid and toy to end up being dismissed without anything to show for it. She didn''t believe Eric''s previous im about just being a servant, which was part of the reason for her hesitation over the past few days. However, her yearning for fame and fortune eventually led her to give in and approach him.

    Eric took an interest in watching her awkwardness for a moment before getting up. "Give me a second," he said, heading toward the stairs.

    Nicole watched as his figure disappeared around the corner of the staircase and then instinctively nced at the coat hanging on a nearby rack. Eric soon returned, and she quickly pretended to be calm, taking a small sip of the coffee.

    Eric came in front of the couch andid a few printed documents before Nicole. "Here''s the script, and the two papers underneath are the actor contracts. After you read them and sign, keep one for yourself and give one back to me."

    Nicole hadn''t expected things to be this straightforward. She picked up the top script, feeling a rush of excitement as she looked at the title.

    As she flipped through the pages, Eric exined while holding his coffee, "The lead actor has already been cast, with Tom Hanks starring. If you followed entertainment news a little, you''d know who Hanks is. The female lead was originally going to go to Julia Roberts, but she has another movieing out at the end of the year, which would make her too big for a romanticedy right now. I hadn''t had the chance to invite other actresses when you showed up. I have to say, Nicole, you''re quite lucky."

    Nicole listened intently to Eric''s exnation, but her eyes didn''t leave the script. She quickly flipped through it once more and then returned it, her mind spinning. "Eric, is this... really for me?"

    "Of course, but your qualifications from Australia won''t carry weight in Hollywood, so you''ll just be considered a neer. Your pay is the same as Julia''s when she first took the role: thirty thousand dors, no royalties."

    After hearing Eric''s ount, Nicole reached for the two contracts again, but he stopped her. "It''s toote; we should get some rest. You have plenty of time. Take your time reading it, and once you''re done, just sign one and give it back to me."

    Nicole lowered her head slightly at Eric''s words. "Okay, fine."

    "Follow me," Eric said, standing up. She clutched the documents, took her coat and suitcase, and followed Eric up the stairs.

    Eric took her to the second floor and opened an empty bedroom. "This will be your room. The bedding is in the closet, all new. Just manage for tonight; if it''s not to your liking, you can change it tomorrow."

    "Thanks," Nicole murmured quietly, and Eric quickly went over the room''s basics before saying, "You should get some rest. I''m heading back to my room."

    He turned to leave, closing the bedroom door behind him. As soon as Nicole was about to move, the door swung open again. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest but soon let them drop, biting her lip and anxiously awaiting something to happen. Eric saw her sitting there like amb to the ughter and chuckled as he waved a hand in the air. "Nicole, I just forgot one important thing to remind you. Starting tomorrow, you''ll need to start fulfilling your responsibilities. I usually wake up at seven, so I''d prefer you not to be upter than that. Breakfast needs to be ready by eight. I''m not picky; use whatever ingredients you find in the kitchen to make whatever you do best for both breakfast and dinner. Cleaning the vi and surrounding areas is part of your duties too. You can decide how to clean as long as it stays tidy."

    The young woman nodded nervously. "Eric, I understand."

    "Alright then, good night. Get some sleep," Eric said, pulling the door shut once again.

    ...

    When Nicole heard the click of the door lock, she copsed onto the big bed behind her, breathing heavily for a few moments, staring nkly at the door. After a few minutes, convinced he wouldn''te back in, she pulled her ck coat from the bed, took out the recorder from her pocket, pressed the stop button, and shifted her gaze to the documents on the bedside table. The corner of her mouth quirked as if she wanted to smile but couldn''t gather the strength to do so.

    After giving it some thought, Nicole rewound the tape, lowered the volume, and pressed y. The recorder transmitted sounds that weren''t loud but clear enough to make out every word.

    Click--

    The door was suddenly pushed open again, and Eric appeared holding a pillow. "Sorry, I think you might need this..."

    With a thud, the recorder fell to the floor, bouncing a few times but stubbornly continuing to

    y.

    "...with Tom Hanks starring. If you''ve followed entertainment news a little, you''d know who Hanks is. The female lead was originally going to go to Julia Roberts..."

    Eric''s soft but distinct voice echoed in the silent bedroom at midnight. He stared at the tiny

    recorder in shock while Nicole sat there, frozen, unsure how to respond. Her limbs felt cold while her body shook slightly, and an expression of despair and fear filled her eyes.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Maid Outfit

    Chapter 143: Maid Outfit

    ?

    [Chapter 143: Maid Outfit]

    Seeing Nicole Kidman looking utterly shocked, as if she might faint, Eric walked in, threw the pillow he held onto the big bed, and picked up the recorder from the floor to silence it. "Silly girl, you don''t even know to lock the door when doing something like this?"

    "I forgot, next time... next time..." she stammered.

    Ericughed at her misfortune. "You still want a next time, huh?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Collecting herself, the girl quickly shook her head. "No... I''m sorry, I''ll never do it again."

    Eric stepped closer, lifting her chin and delicately touching her pretty, slightly innocent- looking face, as if he were stroking a fragile piece of porcin. "You realize this does absolutely no good, right? Even if I end up not keeping my promise, giving the recording to the media won''t affect me much. It''s your acting career that would be finished. No film would hire a foolish woman."

    "I didn''t think like that, I just wanted to protect myself," Nicole weakly defended herself.

    "I can understand that, but I''m still quite unhappy. What do you intend to do about it?" Eric asked.

    The girl trembled slightly and automatically reached for the buttons of her blouse, but Eric stopped her. "Forget it; you look so unappealing like this, just get some rest. Don''t forget what I told you earlier."

    After saying this, Eric tossed the radio onto the bed and left the bedroom.

    ...

    Nicole sat there for quite a while before finally getting up to lock the bedroom door. Mechanically, she got out some bedding from the closet and made the bed. Lying down, she found it impossible to sleep, her mind a jumble of thoughts: her life in Australia, experiences in the entertainment circle, the warnings from family and friends whening to Hollywood, the tough times she faced during her few months there, encounters with Eric, and dreams for the future...

    Lost in this aimless thinking, she didn''t notice the light outside starting to brighten. Checking her watch, it was six-thirty. Though she was now feeling sleepy, she forced herself to get up, hung her simple outfits from her suitcase in the closet, and walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth, wash her face, and do her makeup. After preparing herself nicely, she changed into a white shirt and jeans, then slipped on a pair of ck ts before heading out.

    Not knowing where Eric''s bedroom was -- and even if she did, she wouldn''t dare call him to wake up -- she quietly made her way down the stairs, opened the door, and stepped outside the vi. The high walls and lush trees shrouded the ce in quiet. Standing by the now- empty swimming pool at the front of the vi, she took a few deep breaths of the cool morning air. The fatigue from a sleepless night dissipated somewhat. After familiarizing herself with the surroundings for a bit, she went back into the vi and headed for the kitchen.

    ...

    Eric rose at seven o''clock and went downstairs. Upon entering the kitchen, he greeted the tall figure there before heading toward the gym to start his workout for the day. Half an hourter, after showering and changing clothes, he came out, grabbed the newspaper for the day, and sat in the living room reading until past eight. Finally realizing the girl seemed to be busy, he curiously walked into the kitchen.

    The kitchen table was already filled with several dishes: sandwiches, sweet soup, steak, and sd. It seemed she was still busy making fried eggs.

    "Nicole, that''s enough; we can''t possibly finish all this," Eric said after taking a bite of a sandwich.

    She turned off the gas, ted the eggs, and exined, "I didn''t know what you liked, so I made a bit of everything."

    "I told you to be casual. I''m not picky about these things."

    They carried breakfast together to the dining room. Nicole hesitated, standing next to Eric, seemingly quite "into character" as a maid. Eric couldn''t help but chuckle, "Sit down and eat with me. I didn''t n on paying you, so no need to be so professional about it."

    "Okay, thank you," Nicole replied, and obediently sat down across from Eric at the table.

    ...

    And so, this somewhat odd life officially began at that breakfast. After finishing, Nicole watched Eric drive away before heading back to her bedroom to carefully review the documents from the night before, especially the actor''s contract. She read through it multiple times but found nothing wrong.

    Even though Eric had instructed her to avoid leaving the mansion to prevent being photographed by paparazzi and causing a scandal, she still sneakily went out that morning to find aw firm and, for several hundred dors, had a professionalwyer review whether the contract was legally sound. Only when thewyer confirmed there were no issues did she finally rx her mind.

    ...

    When Eric returned home in the afternoon, he noticed Nicole seemed like apletely different person. The anxiety she had earlier was now gone, reced by a pleasing smile, and the vi appeared spotless.

    Nicole eagerly took the several bags from Eric''s hands and asked, "Eric, should I put them in your bedroom?"

    Eric shook his head. "No, that''s for you. Go upstairs and pick out an outfit for me to see." "For me?" she asked, opening one of the bags to peek inside, discovering a ck and whitece outfit. "Is this pajamas?"

    "No, you''ll find out once you put it on."

    "Oh," she obediently nodded, taking the bags and heading upstairs.

    Eric sat down on the sofa, picked up the remote, and turned on the TV. After waiting half an hour, he heard the sound of boots cking on the stairs, the steps filled with uncertainty. Turning to look, he first saw a long, white leg in a pair of ck ankle boots stepping into view, followed by the unmistakable maid''s dress. As he raised his gaze, the fitted bodice entuated her curves, and a delicate whitece neckpiece adorned her corbone. While Eric had initially wanted to choose a choker, he thought better of it -- this was already pushing it a bit -- though thece neckpiece looked lovely.

    When Nicole finally emerged fully, Eric instantly dropped his head into his hands, eximing, "Oh my God, how could I forget about this?"

    ...

    Initially displeased, Nicole took half an hour to change.

    Had it been a typical maid outfit, she might not have felt so much resistance. After all, she had seen maid outfits before. But this particr outfit was quite different; not only was it a sexy low-cut design exposing arge portion of her skin, but it was also adorned withce and ribbons, making it look very fancy. This was nothing like the in styles she had known -- more crucially, whether intentional or not, this outfit was clearly one size too small.

    Seeing Eric''s pained gesture only intensified her apprehension. Lowing her gaze to inspect her outfit for mistakes, she saw nothing wrong and couldn''t resist asking, "Eric, is... is there a

    problem?"

    Eric continued to avert his gaze and waved his hand dismissively at her. "Go and change back. We''ll go outter and help you pick something else."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Trapped

    Chapter 144: Trapped

    ?

    [Chapter 144: Trapped]

    A little over two hourster, in a Beverly Hills hair salon, Nicole looked at her new appearance in the mirror and finally understood why Eric had been dissatisfied with her. The woman in the mirror waspletely transformedpared to before; if her previous look had been that of a cute girl with some charm, now she resembled a morous modern woman.

    Thedy in the mirror had dyed her hair a beautiful golden-brown, and her formerly frizzy curls were now sleek and straight, with a side-swept bang that added a touch of sophistication and maturity to her look.

    "Miss,pared to your previous hairstyle, this one really makes you look so much more elegant. Your boyfriend has great taste," the stylist said, standing behind Nicole and making the final touches.

    "He''s not..." Nicole started to defend herself quietly, ncing over at the familiar figure in sunsses reading a magazine in the waiting area, but she held back her words. She wished he truly was her boyfriend. Yet now, looking at herself, she felt more like a Barbie doll, made to suit that annoying guy''s preferences. Although she looked beautiful, Nicole didn''t feel particrly excited about it.

    "Sir, what do you think?" After everything was done, thedy walked over to Eric, the stylist following her, looking at the man in sunsses who seemed somewhat familiar.

    Eric nced up and assessed Nicole, nodding at the stylist. The hairstyle was inspired by the character Nicole Kidman yed in the movie The Interpreter; in Eric''s memory of all those films, the look he loved the most was the one where she appeared sophisticated yet stunning, strong yet vulnerable.

    He vividly recalled a scene from that movie where the character Silvia Broome, portrayed by Nicole, had a scar on her cheek from shrapnel after a brutal explosion, walking down the stairs in a business suit with a bag slung over her shoulder. If her demeanor in that scene hadn''t reminded Eric of Meg Ryan staring into Tom Hanks'' eyes from across the street, he wouldn''t have considered her for the lead role.

    Thinking of Silvia, Eric couldn''t help but reach out, gently touching the left side of Nicole''s cheek, even though there were no scars there. Many iconic characters were etched deeply in the hearts of viewers without them even realizing it.

    The stylist misinterpreted Eric''s action as a show of affection, and with a little giggle, she stepped back discreetly.

    "Eric, are you... touching me?" Nicole asked, almost instinctively, her sensitivity picking up on things.

    Eric withdrew his hand, chuckling, "Of course, what did you think?"

    "But I feel..." Nicole raised her hand to gesture, uncertain of how to describe what she had just felt.

    "You''re not wrong about your feelings," Eric said, appraising Nicole from head to toe, "You could be Nicole Kidman, or Silvia Broome, or Grace Stewart, Gillian Owen, Alice Halford, Ida Monroe, Virginia Woolf."

    "I don''t understand," thedy shook her head in confusion.

    "Alright, let''s go," Eric said, not bothering to exin further. He called for the waiter and handed over his credit card before they left. Nicole wanted to pay but Eric stopped her.

    After finding a restaurant to have dinner, Eric drove them back home.

    ...

    On the way, Nicole remained somewhat silent. Once they arrived and stepped back into the living room of the vi, she quietly asked, "Eric, do you want me to... try it on again for you?"

    Eric settled onto the couch and asked, "No need, we have plenty of time. You must have read the contract today, have you made a decision?"

    Nicole nodded, a bit sheepish, and ran upstairs to bring down the two signed contracts. Eric simply nced at her signature before taking out a pen to sign as well. He handed one of the copies back to her, stating, "Use this time to prepare the script well."

    ...

    After saying that, Eric didn''t delve into further conversation with her and headed upstairs to the study. He needed to hurry up with writing the script for Friends. Although Jeffrey and John Aniston had suggested forming a writing team solely for the task, Eric wanted to ensure the originality of this show. So, he decided to write all the scripts for the first season personally. After all, even the best screenwriter couldn''t fully grasp Eric''s intentions. Only Eric, with the entire vision stored in his mind, had the ability to replicate everything urately. Additionally, he nned to modify the first season based on some iconic scenes he remembered, aiming to make it even better. His recollection told him that the second season had the highest viewership ratings. Besides the asional celebrity guest stars, the key was that the script for season two was exceptional. Since he had seen theplete first two seasons, he resolved to merge the best elements from both, creating something entirely new that still captured the essence of the original show. ording to the trends in American television, if the first season seeded, future ratings would be a lot more promising.

    This series was a crucial attempt for both Eric and Firefly Films. If it could get off the ground, Firefly would have no trouble selling any future shows. The market for American television was actually not that much smaller than for movies, but it felt muted because of how closed- off it was. Breaking into this arena would allow Eric to turn his cherished memories of ssics into real wealth.

    The typewriter in the study had been reced with thetest IBM personalputer. Although the word processing software was still quite primitivepared to what it would be, the functionality was far more convenient than typing. Eric rediscovered the feeling of working at aptop from his past life.

    The rhythmic clicks of the keyboard filled the study as Eric focused intently on his writing. Each time he penned a segment, he would pause to think; merging the two seasons'' content was no easy task. He often found himself tempted to merely copy the original first season directly. The human tendency toward inertia made it all the more challenging.

    ...

    Nicole tapped the tray against the study door. Upon getting permission to enter, she brought in a coffee pot and cups, carefully cing them on the table. Noticing Eric deeply absorbed in his screen, she started to survey the spacious room curiously.

    During the day, she had considered checking the room herself, purely out of curiosity, but this space was closed off unlike the others, even Drew''s bedroom wasn''t locked down. Nicole had even caught a glimpse of a photo of Drew and Eric on the nightstand.

    Still, this room was an exception; only Eric likely had ess to its key.

    The most striking feature in the study remained therge writing board and the ck piano that seemed out of ce with the room''s aesthetic. The board was filled with A4 sheets, some containing rough storyboards, others snippets of text, and some jumbled lines that made

    little sense.

    Nicole couldn''t help but nce back at Eric, who was still rapidly typing away. He was such a mysterious man; she''d heard he was not yet neen but already knew so much. He was a director, an actor, a screenwriter, and he''d even published two best-selling novels.

    Moreover, in this study, she sensed he was likely also skilled in art and music. To describe him as talented would not be an exaggeration. More importantly, he was incredibly wealthy, rumored to be worth several hundred million already.

    Women had always had an instinctive admiration for strong figures, a trait ingrained deeply within their genes through millennia of evolution. As thoughts of all this filled Nicole''s mind, she unknowingly fell into an emotional sway, finding every movement of Eric''s increasingly

    pleasing to her eye.

    If Eric had turned his head to see Nicole''s expression at that moment, his experiences would have prompted him to tease, "What''s got you daydreaming, girl?"

    But he didn''t notice anything amiss; he was fully immersed in his scriptwriting process, neglecting even the cup of coffee Nicole had brought in.

    After a while, Nicole snapped back to reality, suddenly aware of her own unusual feelings as a hint of color rose to her cheeks. She stepped lightly toward the ck piano in the corner. Her delicate fingers glided across the glossy surface, and she picked up a handwritten scoren/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    resting on top to nce at.

    "Could he have written this himself?" she wondered as she stared at the notes, iprehensible but striking, making her feel somewhat impressed. Without realizing it, her fingers found their way to the ck-and-white keys, pressing down unconsciously.

    Ding, ding, dong...

    The initially quiet study was filled with a series of clear, ringing sounds, startling Eric from

    his contemtions about the script.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Fire That Maid

    Chapter 145: Fire That Maid

    ?

    [Chapter 145: Buy]

    "What are you still doing here?" Eric turned his head, surprised to see the girl leaning against the piano, looking a bit flustered.

    "I, uh, I''m sorry, I''ll step out now," Nicole carefully ced the sheet music back in its ce and walked toward the door, but Eric stopped her: "Nicole."

    "Yeah?" The girl paused at the doorway, one hand grasping the doorknob, turning her body around with a questioning look in her eyes.

    Eric swiveled in his office chair, gesturing around the study: "This area isn''t part of your cleaning responsibilities. It might be a bit messy, but I''ve gotten used to where I keep my files, you know?"

    "Yes, I understand. I won''te in without your permission," she nodded, remaining at the door, seemingly filled with a kind of anticipation. "Eric, is there anything else?"

    He shook his head. "Nothing more. You should get some rest. Good night."

    "Good night," Nicole replied, watching Eric turn back to his screen. Feeling a little deted, she left the study and gently closed the door behind her.

    ...

    In the following days, the girl''s life felt quite calm. Every morning she woke up, made breakfast for Eric, sent him off, then spent hours cleaning. If not for her clothes that constantly reminded her of her identity, she might have started feeling like a housewife.

    This new sensation was actually quite nice. At least it wasn''t like what she had imagined at first -- spending months as Eric''s ything, enduring various forms of mistreatment and conditioning. Although she was mentally prepared for that, none of it ever happened. After dressing her up ording to his ideal, Eric rarely paid attention to her. This led her to question her femininity, and one day, she even sneakily stuffed twoyers of padding into her top, unting herself in front of him. Eric merely chuckled with interest but didn''t engage, making her feel embarrassed. After that, she didn''t dare try such things again, ying the role of a good maid instead.

    Besides her designated chores, she had plenty of free time. When bored, she would read newspapers, watch TV, and reread the script. She even asked Eric to get her lots of magazines, never sneaking out again. Since reality was so much better than she had expected, she didn''t mind being apliant little canary.

    She knew Eric had been busy with the post-production of a movie called Running Out of Time, and he wasn''t home every day. Sometimes, he would spend the night at his girlfriend''s ce, a lucky girl indeed. She had seen photos of Jennifer Aniston and envied her fortune. Byte May, Eric even made a trip to Ennd, leaving her all alone in the vi, supposedly to visit the set, but he hurried back after just two days.

    At the end of May, she saw in the newspapers that the North American box office of Home Alone had surpassed $300 million and was officially winding down. This news dominated the newspapers for the following week, with various critiques praising Eric to the heavens. The stock for Columbia Pictures saw a significant rise as a result.

    What captivated her even more was that Eric was set to earn a whopping $120 million share. To Nicole, $120 million sounded like astronomical figures. She hade to Hollywood yearning for wealth and fame, dreaming of bing a top Hollywood star like Julia Roberts. But ording to what Eric had previously told her about Julia Roberts'' $6 million fee, she would need to star in 20 films to make that much money. Even a star staying at peak poprity, making two films a year, would take a decade to reach that, and everyone knew that wasn''t feasible. Most stars only maintained their prime for about a decade, during which their pay fluctuated ording to the sess of their films.

    Thinking of all this, her previously calmed heart began to stir. If she could be the mistress of this mansion, she would have direct ess to everything she desired. Nicole even came up with a few alluring ns that she thought could work, but unfortunately, those schemes never saw the light of day.

    Because summer approached, the little imp returned.

    ...

    It was a little after 4 PM when Nicole was in the yard trimming the grass and heard the gate open. She knew Eric usually wouldn''t be back at this time, so she went to check, only to see Drew Barrymore bustling in with her luggage, closing the gate behind her.

    Nicole approached cheerfully to greet her and attempted to help carry the bags, as befriending Drew was an important part of her n.

    But surprisingly, upon seeing her, the girl''s eyes widened, her expression one of disbelief, and she circled around her several times before finally asking the devastating question: "Did he -- you?"

    Seeing Nicole frozen in confusion, Drew wore a satisfied yet rxed smile: "Certainly not, huh? But I can see why. With a chest like yours," she quipped, reaching out suddenly to grab Nicole''s chest. She wrinkled her nose, "How pitiful; you didn''t even reach A+."

    "You..." After the surprise attack, Nicole finally reacted, shielding herself and blocking Drew''s possible advances, unable to resist retorting, "Yours isn''t that great either."

    "I''m only fourteen, so I have plenty of time to develop. You''re what, thirty this year?" "I can''t be bothered with you," Nicole noticed Drew''s hostility and gave up on the idea of getting along with this little girl, turning back to herwnmower to continue her work. Drew recalled Eric mentioning that he liked Japanese maid outfits and thought he was joking. She never expected to see a tall, sexy girl in a maid outfit suddenly appearing in the vi, which instinctively ignited her resistance and hostility. She didn''t want Eric to have another woman around; she hadn''t even gotten rid of Aniston yet, and now here was another one. What an exhausting job it would be to boot them all outter!

    "Hey, you, help me with my bags, will you?" Even though she was well aware of Eric''s "unwholesome intentions," Drew still genuinely thought of Nicole as his hired maid.

    "Sorry, Ms. Barrymore, I''m not your servant, so I''m under no obligation to do that," Nicole coldly pressed on thewnmower, not even turning around.

    The girl exploded with rage: "I... I''ll tell Eric to fire you today!"

    Now realizing Drew had taken her for an actual maid, Nicole indifferently tossed out, "Do as you please."

    Fuming, Drew stomped her foot and carried her bags one by one back to the vi. After finishing thewn, Nicole returned inside to start preparing dinner.

    Drew watched Nicole''s silhouette, increasingly infuriated. After contemting for a moment, she grabbed the cordless phone and dialed Eric''s number.

    It rang several times before someone answered.

    The girl flopped onto the sofa in the living room, hugging a cushion, her voice shifting to a feigned softness: "Eric, I love you."

    ...

    In the Fox Studios, the main scenes of one of the sets were already prepared, and today they needed to film a few interspersed shots. Eric walked into a quiet corner, answering Drew''s call while holding the Motor that had been gifted as part of an advertisement deal. He was perplexed: "Drew, isn''t today a day off? Are you home now?"

    "Eric, I love you," came the soft voice from the other end.

    "Alright, stop fooling around. If you need something, get to the point. I''m busy," Eric said, wedging the mobile between his neck and shoulder and ncing at his watch. "It''s not even five yet. I''ll probably be home around six."

    "Eric, I love you," the girlish voice repeated, sounding needy.

    Eric paused a beat before responding: "Just buy whatever you want -- just say it outright!"

    "Uh, Eric, you''re so mean," Drew huffed, tossing her head back in frustration. "I said I love

    you countless times, and you don''t even respond."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "If you don''t get to the point, I''m hanging up," Eric threatened.

    "Alright, alright, Eric, can we fire that maid?" Drew raised her voice, causing Nicole, who was

    slicing tomatoes in the kitchen, to roll her eyes.

    "You mean Nicole? She''s not my employee; she''s just here to help."

    "But I don''t like her."

    "Nicole cooks really well. You''ll like her once you try it tonight. Just behave yourself; I''m hanging up now." Eric finished and cut the call.

    ...

    In the vi, Drew fumed, waving her petite hand, wanting to throw the phone down. When she looked up, she saw Nicole smugly leaning against the kitchen doorway, holding a ss bowl and stirring eggs, a slightly triumphant smile on her face. "So, how''s it going, little

    one?"

    "Don''t call me ''little one,'' you t-chested girl!"

    Though feeling a bit insecure, Nicole shrugged disparagingly in response to Drew''s provocation. "Maybe someone likes this type."

    "He doesn''t," the girl shot back, unable to resist.

    "People''s tastes can change," Nicole casually remarked, turning to return to the kitchen,

    leaving an enraged Drew behind.

    "Hmph, I absolutely positively won''t let you seed!" the girl dered, shaking her little fist

    as she vowed.

    ...

    On May 24, with Spielberg''s blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade hitting theaters, signaling the start of the summer movie season, Eric was busy with intense post-production work, but he remained very focused on the film. The film earned $30 million in its opening weekend across over 2,300 screens. In the second and third weeks, the box office decline remained within 20% to 30%. By mid-June, it had surpassed $100 million in its first three

    weeks.

    The post-production work wrapped up in mid-June. Although Eric was willing to spend

    money in many areas, the production budget only totaled $34 million -- after all, the crew''s finances were handled by Columbia. The movie didn''t require excessive spending on grand sets or any special effects. After the higher-ups at Columbia viewed the finished product, they readily agreed to invest the remaining $6 million budget into marketing the film. Simultaneously, the first major summer blockbuster Columbia was pinning hopes on, Ghostbusters II, alsounched sessfully across 2,400 screens.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

    Chapter 146: Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard ce

    ?

    [Chapter 146: Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard ce]

    Compared to blockbuster franchises that had a global box office appeal, Ghostbusters II had no real advantages. Being aedy, it wasn''t easy to build a loyal fan base, as audiences tended to chuckle and then forget it all.

    Moreover, there was a five-year gap between the two films in the series, which made it harder for aedy to maintain its poprity. If it weren''t for Columbia Pictures struggling to find other franchise movies to maintain this crucial summer schedule, this project likely would not have even gotten off the ground.

    However, Columbia''s relentless marketing efforts mostly offset the disadvantages. While it didn''t quite reach the levels of outrageous promotion seen with other films,pared to the summer blockbusters from rival studios, Columbia''s marketing was fixated on box office numbers rather than making a profit -- money wasn''t the goal; they aimed to secure ticket sales.

    Negotiations with Sony for a merger had reached the final stages, and the Japanese were determined to make themselves appealing to investors. Under these circumstances, Columbia''s business operations aimed solely at boosting stock prices -- box office numbers being one of the primary factors influencing those prices for a publicly traded filmpany. The film was set to release on June 16. After its first week, a box office total of $45 million sent Columbia executives into a frenzy of excitement. This indicated an anticipated total of nearly $200 million in North America, ording to the evaluators.

    But that excitementsted just a week. In the second week, the box office sank significantly, dropping 55% and raking in just over $19 million.

    Box office evaluators quickly revised their projections, shing the expected $200 million total down to $110 million. Although Columbia''s stock didn''t backslide on the news, its upward momentum slowed considerably. After all, a $100 million gross for a summer blokbuster film from one of the big six studios was hardly noteworthy.

    This situation arose not just because the film was less well-received than the first but also due to particrly bad timing.

    ...

    Since its debut in 1939, this North Americanic book character, the first superhero without superpowers, had not garnered much confidence from Warner Bros. regarding starting this series -- reflecting their skepticism in the film''s modest production budget.

    While they pumped almost $50 million into big-budget films, Warner only allocated $35 million for this project, barely reaching blockbuster scale. Columbia, on the other hand, proposed a budget of $40 million for Running Out of Time right off the bat, while Warner''s budget for this movie was the same.

    Due to Warner''sck of faith, Columbia didn''t take it seriously either, leading to the film''s release just a week before.

    However, everyone drastically underestimated the impact of aic book hero that had been serialized for fifty years on the hearts of American audiences. Released on June 24, just a weekter, Batman dominated the box office, drawing in an unmatched $68 million, iming 45% of the week''s total gross and leavingpetitors in shambles.

    ...

    Thepany most affected was Columbia. After suffering a 55% drop in ticket sales, their dreams of $200 million evaporated. After such a steep decline, a rebound seemed almost impossible.

    Columbia now had to ce their hopes on Eric''s film, which, following internal test screenings and critic evaluations, had received positive feedback.

    However, after Batman''s second week''s numbers came in, a cloud of disappointment loomed over those who had high expectations. The second week showed only a slight 23% drop, still earning $52 million -- a figure significantly higher than many blockbusters'' opening weekends.

    Though the total weekly box office hovered around $150 million during the summer season, that amount divided among more than ten films didn''t leave much for any single one. The films that actually got a run during the summer were either cannon fodder or those that audiences hoped would be outstanding, with thetter outnumbering the former. Thus, if one movie maintained a third of the market share and didn''t experience any considerable fall in the next week, the pressure on Columbia''s film would be palpable.

    ...

    In the boardroom at Columbia Headquarters, executives nervously discussed potential strategies, with a vice president from Coca-C sitting in to listen. Eric sat beside Amy Pascal, patiently hearing the discussions unfold.

    Though he directed the film, Eric had little sway over its release. His presence there was merely because he was its director. While Columbia had given him freedom during production, they hadn''t involved him much in the marketing decisions. He had submitted a document detailing his marketing strategy but had received no feedback from Columbia.

    "I think we should consider dying the release at least by a week. The momentum behind the other film is just too strong. Sticking to a July 7 release date is not wise. We''ve already lost significant box office due to thispetition while trying to boost our stock price with our two major releases," voiced one executive from Columbia''s marketing department.

    As soon as he finished, another executive interjected, "Bob, what about the agreements signed with theaters ording to your n?"

    "Coordinate with them, and appropriatelypensate theater losses. We can fill the void with a few selections from ourpleted productions. Our priority is ensuring we secure box office revenue above all else."

    A manager from the data analysis department chimed in, "The box office has already crossed $100 million. That kind of momentum is unlikely to continue, and the critics'' reviews for this film aren''t too hot either. I expect the third-week box office to see a normal drop of over

    40%."

    "By your logic, that means this film should have experienced a normal drop in the second week, yet it only saw a 23% minor dip," someone challenged.

    "The media is starting to ridicule us over our scheduling for the two films. If we don''t stick to our existing schedule, it''ll send a signal that weck confidence in the film''s quality. That''s a dangerous game because if fans perceive it as a subpar flick, that blow to the film''s prestige would be fatal. It''s much safer to stick with our original schedule; it''s not that we don''t want to dy; it''s that we absolutely must avoid it in this situation."

    "I agree with Rhett. It''s not that we don''t want to dy; it''s that we can''t. If we dy, it suggests we don''t believe in the film as much as we imed in our promotions."

    "But if we see just a 20% dip in the third week, that could still result in around $40 million in revenue. Can you imagine the pressure that puts on the box office under those scenarios?" The group debated for an hour, with the visiting Coca-C vice president remaining silent throughout. Once the chatter died down, he straightened up and turned to Eric, who had quietly listened like everyone else, "Mr. Williams, I noticed you haven''t spoken. Why notn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    share your thoughts?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Going in a Different Direction

    Chapter 147: Going in a Different Direction

    ?

    [Chapter 147: Going in a Different Direction]

    Eric had initially kept his head down, flipping through the documents in front of him, but his mind had wandered a bit. He reflected on how sessful things were going, yet he couldn''t shake the memory of Warner Bros. embarking on their long journey with the Batman series.

    Over the next decade, Warner continued to produce several Batman sequels, each with investments averaging over a hundred million dors. However, the North American box office grossed only about a hundred million, and even when considering global earnings and merchandise, Warner could only break even. For a blockbuster with a budget exceeding one hundred million, merely breaking even, or making a small profit, was in reality a loss. After all, that kind of cash in a bank could yield a hefty interest over a few years, and investing in other projects could potentially double it.

    It wasn''t until Amy lightly poked his arm with a pen that Eric noticed he had be the focal point of everyone''s attention in the conference room, with many nces tinged with apparent dissatisfaction.

    ...

    While this project cost Columbia a significant amount to acquire from Fox, it didn''t mean that Eric was liked or weed by Columbia''s executives. In fact, there weren''t many in the office who had a good opinion of him, not even Amy Pascal, who had previously maintained a decent rtionship with Eric; her feelings towards him had be somewhatplicated. This sentiment was primarily because the box office numbers of Home Alone had started rolling in, and it was well-known that Eric would receive approximately $120 million from the film''s earnings, while Columbia would only a little over $40 million in profit. Additionally, Fox had seized the overseas distribution rights for various reasons. Consequently, Eric taking most of the profits meant that the year-end bonuses for all the executives present would see a significant cut.

    Moreover, due to the profit-sharing agreement, regardless of the film''s box office

    performance, Eric was actually the biggest winner. He had invested not a penny in the current project, yet the other side would see a high percentage of box office proceeds. Thus, it was natural that many of the executives would feel disgruntled. Although many shareholders stood to benefit from the stock price increase of Columbia, most of the executives in the room didn''t possess any Columbia stock.

    Given thisplex emotional backdrop, it was understandable that the executives deliberately or inadvertently ignored Eric''s presence during the meeting.

    ...

    Eric had already anticipated this kind of situation since he hadn''t received any response to a promotional proposal he submitted earlier. Although he had prepared a few remarks beforehand, the cold shoulder he received during the conference made him reluctant to jump in and draw more negative attention.

    Under the signed agreement, Eric was set to be the biggest beneficiary regardless of the film''s oue; it was simply a matter of whether he would earn more or less. For someone like him, who hadn''t invested a cent, there wasn''t any risk of a loss. Initially, Eric was somewhat concerned about the film''s box office prospects, considering it was apletely new project that hadn''t existed in Hollywood. However, after a series of internal screenings and positive reviews from critics, Eric started to feel at ease.

    Internal screenings could generally determine a film''smercial value. Although mistakes could sometimes happen, the insights of seasoned professionals who had spent decades in Hollywood tended to be reliable, and the oues of critics'' screenings indicated how well a movie would be received by audiences. Before the digital age, a film''s reputation wasrgely established through various media reviews, and many fans decided whether to watch a film based on what they read in newspapers.

    With both elements now assured, Eric no longer worried that this movie might turn out to be his Waterloo; if disaster struck, it would simply be a matter of bad luck, not a failure of his making.

    When Amy Pascal noticed Eric''s slightly bewildered expression after he lifted his eyes, she leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear.

    "Sorry, everyone, I just zoned out for a moment." After Amy''s reminder, Eric apologized before continuing, "Actually, I already forwarded my promotional ideas to Columbia''s distribution department via a written document. Perhaps it''s due to my inexperience in this area, but none of the strategies I saw reflected what I submitted."

    A buzz of discussion arose in the conference room; most of the attendees hadn''t even realized Eric had submitted such a document, and the head of the marketing department shifted ufortably. He had been promoted by Cohen Blount, who had since left thepany, yet he maintained a cordial rtionship with Blount.

    Because of his past association with Cohen Blount, he had no fondness for Eric. Upon receiving Eric''s document, he had scoffed and tossed it aside without reading it. He didn''t want Eric to interfere with the marketing and didn''t think Eric could propose anything innovative.

    Faced with everyone''s scrutinizing gazes, the department head stammered a defense: "I... I thought Mr. Williams'' proposal wasn''t... wasn''t anything out of the ordinary, so I didn''t pay much heed, I just..."

    "Enough, you don''t need to borate," Columbia''s current president interjected, waving a hand to cut him off. Everyone could already see he was lying, and continuing to argue would only make him look foolish. "Eric, since everyone is here, why don''t you briefly outline your... um, proposal?"

    "Sure, it goes like this," Eric said, standing up and moving to the whiteboard at the front of the conference room. He picked up a ck marker and wrote down one word: "I call my proposal ''topic marketing.'' Of course, this is just a fitting term I came up with on the spot. If this concept doesn''t exist in formal marketing theory, I hope you won''t hold it against me." The concept of topic marketing, as Eric remembered, had only begun to mature with the rise of online blogs; before that, while there were simr promotional tactics revolving around gossip, Eric wasn''t sure when the concept had formally emerged.

    "The previous promotional efforts had already reached their peak, so we couldn''t push further with traditional advertising strategies. To break new ground, we could choose a topic that seems tangentially rted to the film for marketing. In fact, I believe some movies that spark interest among fans through rumors of a romantic rtionship between the leads fall under my definition of topic marketing."

    After gauging the crowd''s reaction, Eric continued, "The earlier discussions mainly revolved around whether to dy the release by a week. I believe my n perfectly addresses this dilemma -- there''s no need to postpone the movie. If executed well, the second week''s box office could yield unexpected results,pensating for the losses incurred during the first week due topetition."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With curiosity evident in the attendees'' expressions, Eric wrote two more lines on the whiteboard: "product cement" and "TV series."

    "As you all know, there are a lot of product cements in films, which has led to some minor disputes between us," Eric said with a smile, pointing to ''product cement.'' The executives exchanged forced chuckles; after all, Eric had previously made $6 million from product cements in this film, and Columbia had wanted a piece of it since $6 million was no small sum -- it could fund an entire film. However, through specific contracts, Eric had converted that advertisement ie into personal profit rather than revenue for the film, leaving Columbia with nothing.

    Once theughter died down, Eric added, "My strategy revolves around the topics rted to product cement and the TV series I''m about to produce. I''m confident the product cements will be cleverly integrated, as even those critics who participated in the previews didn''t recognize any discrepancies. They also failed to notice the three instances throughout the film when the TV series was shown, and if those critics didn''t catch that, then the audience certainly wouldn''t. They would likely be engrossed in the film''s story. When I refer to topic marketing, I mean after the film''s release, we artificially generate topics to draw viewers'' attention. If we sessfully pique the fans'' curiosity about how many ads are in the movie and the fleeting portrayal of the TV series, that could lead to a substantial number of returning viewers in the second week."

    At this point, one executive interjected, "Eric, the topic of your TV series might be worth trying, but I recall you specifically instructed us not to mention any product cement during promotion. Wasn''t that to avoid annoying the fans?"

    Eric exined, "Of course, that was the intention; what I just mentioned would only be revealed after the movie premiered. By the time of the three-day opening weekend, the film''s reputation would indeed be established. I trust that everyone has confidence in this film''s reception. Since fans already recognize it as an outstanding movie, revealing this afterward won''t provokeints; they will see it as an intriguing aspect. Just like how we are generally forgiving of the minor faults of exceptionally talented people; no one criticizes Napoleon''s height, Einstein''s aloofness, or Madame Curie''s... ahem, well, this will need media guidance. We must ensure that most media attitudes towards this be yful rather than critical. The detailed proposal is already in that document I submitted -- of course, it will require adjustments from professionals since I''m just an amateur at this." Once he finished, Eric walked back to his seat. The president of Columbia turned to the marketing executive: "Ryan, is Eric''s document still around?"

    Ryan rubbed his knees under the table, unsure, "Maybe... I''ll have my assistant look for it."

    "You go and find it yourself; make sure to get several copies for distribution, and hurry."

    "Sure, I''ll go right now." He stood up and rushed out of the conference room, leaving the meeting in a temporary standstill as everyone discussed what Eric had just said, and Eric was no longer met with hostility. A group of people gathered around him, discussing his ideas

    animatedly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 148: Chapter 148: The Premiere

    Chapter 148: The Premiere

    ?

    [Chapter 148: The Premiere]

    Columbia ultimately decided to go all in and release the film as scheduled. Most of the executives believed that dying the movie would pose a greater risk than the potential bacsh, and of course, the alternative promotional n Eric had provided yed a significant role in this decision.

    In the Beverly Hills mansion, Eric stood before the dressing mirror, tilting his head slightly. Nicole, dressed in a casual outfit, bent down carefully to help him with his tie. Meanwhile, on the big bed, Drewy sprawled out, dressed in a white tank top and a denim mini skirt that entuated her well-developed figure. The tank top revealed a glimpse of her slim waist while her pale legs dangledzily, her toes painted with ck nail polish peeking out. The girl propped her chin in her hand, watching Nicole tie Eric''s tie with a hint of envy. Although she wanted to be the one doing it, unfortunately... she just didn''t know how.

    "Eric, can I walk the red carpet with youter?" After Nicole finished tying the tie, Eric was putting on his suit when Drew cut in with a slightly whiny tone.

    "No way. It''s already been arranged. You''ll just walk in with Nicole," he replied.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Hmm, but what if I don''t want to go with her?" Drew unabashedly voiced her feelings in front of Nicole. Ever since summer vacation started, Drew had seemed to change her demeanor. Instead of running around wildly, she had surprisingly stayed at home every day. It took Eric quite a while to realize that she was trying to keep Nicole from trying to steal him away. Just like now, since Eric needed to change clothes for the premiere, Nicole came over to help, and Drew made her timely appearance beside them.

    Hearing Drew''s words, Nicole couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow, but Drew caught the shift in her expression right away. "Eric, Eric, look, she raised her eyebrow! She''s up to something. Shouldn''t we just send her away?"

    Nicole finally couldn''t hold back, "Drew, are you saying this to me right to my face? I don''t even have the right to express my displeasure?"

    "Don''t call me Drew. As the maid, you should refer to me as Miss Barrymore," she retorted. "Alright, Miss Barrymore," Nicole replied, sounding as if she was at her wit''s end. If Eric weren''t there, her tone would have been much more biting. Drew had truly thrown a wrench into her ns. After spending over a month together, her rtionship with Eric hadn''t made any significant progress. Though she kept everything in the mansion organized and took care of Eric''s life meticulously, the two hadn''t had much time to be alone together since Drew''s summer break. This left her with no chance to take initiative.

    "You seem awfully reluctant. You don''t even look like a maid; Eric, we should kick her out!" After getting dressed, Eric yfully tapped Drew on the forehead and said with a smile, "Stop causing trouble. If you keep this up, I might just send you away. Now go change clothes."

    Drew exaggeratedly cried out, covering her forehead as she reluctantly left the room.

    ...

    As Eric got out of the car, the front of the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard was already packed with people. Alongside reporters, fans crowded both sides of the red carpet.

    Eric noticed many girls holding up posters, calling out Cruise''s name, which didn''t surprise him at all.

    Among the cast and crew, Eric''s role was that of a director. Although he had gained some fame as an actor, he hadpletely set aside his acting career afterward, causing his notoriety to fade. Furthermore, his filmscked a unified style, and he intentionally maintained a low profile, making it difficult to umte a loyal following.

    Hanks, who didn''t have the looks but was a well-respected actor, was still on the rise, and hadn''t achieved the level of influence he would in the future.

    Cruise, on the other hand, was in a different league. For the past decade, he had maintained an idol persona that sessfully ingrained him as a favorite in the public eye. Until his divorce from Nicole Kidman, Cruise''s public image had remained impably polished.

    Eric didn''t mind the fans'' reactions in the slightest; his personal goals were crystal clear. He never aspired to be a public idol, but rather aimed to be a significant force behind the scenes in Hollywood. As the premiere started, a few minor stars began walking the red carpet. ording to usual red carpet protocol, the more prominent figures typically appeared midway through, so Eric made his way towards the waiting area, where quite a gathering had formed.

    ...

    "Eric, congrattions!" Hanks remarked with a strange smile upon seeing him. When Eric looked confused, Hanks continued, "I heard Pretty Woman achieved over $210 million in North America and $530 million worldwide at the box office before it was pulled from theaters. It really shocked a lot of people! With the global total, your personal aggregate box office earnings have now exceeded $1 billion. There are only a handful of people in Hollywood who have crossed that milestone. Shouldn''t we celebrate?"

    "Isn''t that a bit overrated?" Eric chuckled, pointing at Cruise next to him. "Cruise''s movies have already crossed a billion globally."

    However, Cruise didn''t show his usual smugness upon hearing Eric''sment. He awkwardly chuckled, disying rare humility. "Eric, how could Ipare myself to you?" He had indeed starred in films that grossed over a billion, butpared to the immense revenue, the profits he personally received were pitiful. As of now, Cruise''s personal wealth was a mere few tens of millions, while Eric was set to receive over $200 million from just two films. Seeing Eric''s name in the papers filled Cruise with jealousy, which further strengthened his resolve to transition into producing. During this time, Cruise had already begun selecting scripts for the productionpany he had founded.

    As the event''s host had arranged for him, when Brooke Shields came over after Eric''s arrival, she naturally moved closer to him. Hearing the conversation of a few men, the woman, who had previously given up hope after Eric had subtly rejected her, found herself intrigued again. Her gaze turned intense. Having grown up with aplex background, Brooke Shields had a peculiar admiration and obsession with wealth. If she had enough money back then, stemming from her noble blood, she might have lived the life of a genuine aristocrat instead of having to shoot nude photos at the age of ten for a few hundred dors or appearing in R- rated films at twelve -- she definitely could have avoided those suggestive jeansmercials.

    When the staff indicated that the creators could step onto the red carpet, Brooke Shields instinctively moved closer to Eric and excitedly linked arms with him. She immediately regretted wearing high heels that made her a bit taller than Eric, which didn''t seem like a good match.

    Eric didn''t mind this at all; feeling the softness of her form against his arm wasfortable, yet he had to remind her, "Brooke, you''re holding on too tightly. Can you loosen up a bit?" "Oh, sorry, Eric. I''m a little nervous," she replied, justifying herself and loosening her grip somewhat.

    Eric chuckled, finding her thoughts a bit strange. After all, she had grown up in front of the cameras, how could she be nervous? However, he didn''t delve into it further as they stepped out onto the red carpet together.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Playthings

    Chapter 149: ythings

    ?

    [Chapter 149: ythings]

    Amid the cheers of fans, Eric made his way through the crowd, smiling as he hurriedly signed a few autographs on posters held out by fans along the red carpet. He then waved to Brooke Shields, who was also signing autographs, and the two headed to the media interview area. "Mr. Williams, are you confident about the box office?" one reporter asked.

    "Ms. Shields, you seem quite close to Mr. Williams. Is there something going on there?" another inquired.

    "Mr. Williams, over here! Look this way!"

    "Mr. Williams, what do you think about the forecast for box office performance?"

    |||||

    Surrounded by frantic shes, Eric wrapped his arm around Brooke Shields'' waist, smiling for the cameras but had no intention of answering any questions.

    Once he opened his mouth, the reporters would undoubtedly throw sensitive questions his way. Having learned from past experiences, Eric realized that no matter how he answered, it wouldn''t go well. If he disyed too much confidence and the box office ended up falling short, he would face relentless mockery. Conversely, if he showed any hint of doubt, it would only amplify themotion; a directorcking faith in his own work wouldn''t inspire any favorable press. Even if he provided a neutral, diplomatic response, crafty reporters could twist his words. Therefore, the best strategy was simply to remain silent.

    Hearing the even louder cheers behind him, Eric knew that Cruise and Hanks had just hit the red carpet together. This had all been arranged in advance. ncing back, he saw the two actors smiling as they slowly navigated through the adoring crowd. Eric knew it was time for him to make space for the two stars, so he gestured to Brooke Shields, who once again linked arms with him, and they entered the theater together.

    ...

    Outside, amidst the uproar of excited fans, Nicole and Drew had just stepped out of the car, taking in the scene not far from them.

    Drew, sporting pink heart-shaped sunsses and chewing gum with her hands shoved in the pockets of her little jacket, casually stared at the frenzied fans and the ceremony unfolding with Cruise and Hanks.

    This outfit was something the girl had picked up after watching Kubrick''s films. She firmly believed that Eric harbored the soul of a man with a Lolitaplex, so she decided to dress up this way and suddenly appeared before him. Eric had indeed been charmed by her yful appearance, and with Drew''s doll-like face coupled with a ssic Lolita look, it was impossible for him not to feel a spark. Ever since that encounter, Drew had taken a liking to this outfit, knowing that Eric appreciated this yful style.

    Casting a sidelong nce at Nicole standing next to her, Drew, though not fond of the woman, had followed Eric''s orders to drive her to the event. Observing the admiration in Nicole''s eyes as she gazed at Cruise and Hanks basking in the fans'' euphoria, the girl scoffed, "Hey, you really envy them, don''t you?"

    Nicole was momentarily taken aback before realizing Drew was talking to her. A bit surprised, she replied, "Of course! If it weren''t for this, what would be the point ofing to Hollywood? Don''t you yearn for that?"

    "What''s there to yearn for? After your film''s release, you''ll be receiving the same kind of adoration," Drew dismissed casually.

    "Oh," Nicole was even more surprised now as she looked down at the girl beside her. "That doesn''t sound like something one would expect from your sharp tongue. I never thought you''dpliment me."

    "Ha," Drew sneered slightly, "Which ear did you hear mepliment you? I''m just confident in Eric''s script. Just get any beautiful woman from Hollywood, and if shends the lead in one of Eric''s movies, she can be a big star, just like Julia Roberts -- he picked her up from a little diner. You''re just another fortunate woman he chose."

    "Oh, what about you?" Nicole replied, her tone slightly sarcastic.

    Drew didn''t mind raising her chin proudly and responded, "I''m Eric''s."

    "Wow," Nicole didn''t know how to react, letting out a vague sound.

    "I am Eric''s," Drew reemphasized. "Eric knows I belong to him. So, his feelings towards me are different from his feelings for you women. Not even Jennifer Aniston could block my position in his heart."

    "But it sounds to me like you''re more like..." Nicole began, ncing at Drew, hesitating. Despite Drew often meddling in her ns, she didn''t want topletely alienate her, knowing Drew was very close to Eric.

    Drew interjected carefree, "A pet, right? Ha, how ridiculous! I can''t believe you''d conjure up thoughts simr to that little fool Aniston. And even if I were a pet, do you know what you women are?"

    Nicole, though aware Drew wouldn''t offer any sweet words, couldn''t help but disy an inquisitive expression.

    "ythings," Drew quickly shot back. "Want to know why I asked that question when we first met? Because if the answer were yes, then Eric might have some feelings for you, and you could possibly be his mistress. But since the answer is no, it means Eric doesn''t see you that way. He regards you as a ything -- just a pretty doll dressed up to sit in his mansion because it amuses him."

    Nicole''s face darkened as she trembled, replying, "That''s impossible! It can''t be like that. He... he gave me the lead in a movie."

    "Pfft -- just a lead in a movie! You''re way too full of yourself. Don''t think I don''t know what you''re thinking. You''ve been trying every way to seduce him these days, haven''t you? You want to be Mrs. Williams, right? How ridiculous! He doesn''t even have the interest to sleep with you, let alone marry you!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Nicole abruptly raised her head, ring at Drew with daggers. "I get it! You want to push me away with those words. Little girl, you think I''ll back down? If what you said were true, why would you keep trying to stop me?"

    Drew shrugged. "I just don''t want to put Eric in a difficult position. His views are a bit different from others, and if you actually climbed into his bed, plus with a woman like you being so cunning, it could be hard for him to shake you offter. So, before you leave my ce, I''ll keep a close eye on you, Nicole Kidman. You''d better give up this idea sooner thanter."

    "Let''s wait and see, Miss Barrymore," Nicole said with a mocking tone as she walked toward the theater entrance.

    Drew adjusted her sunsses and followed her. After Cruise and Hanks exited the red carpet, yet another celebrity guest took to the stage. Unable to contain herself, Drew leaned in to Nicole, "Look, those actresses getting even wilder screams from the fans -- if Eric wanted, he could just wave his hand, and most of them would happily shed their clothes to climb into his bed, willingly sticking up their butts. So, while those starlets might earn more screams than Eric did just a moment ago, he''s the one who truly wielded the power in Hollywood." Though Nicole pretended to be unfazed by Drew''s words, deep down, she had to acknowledge that the girl spoke the truth. For just one role, she had willingly gone to Eric''s house, donned a seductive maid outfit to please him, and considering the status Eric umted from his string of sessful films, there weren''t many starlets in Hollywood who would turn down

    any of his requests.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 150: Chapter 150: The Opening

    Chapter 150: The Opening

    ?

    [Chapter 150: The Opening]

    As soon as they entered the screening room, Drew dashed away from Nicole and ran toward the front row where the crew members were seated. Nicole noticed Drew muttering a few words to Tom Hanks, who was sitting next to Eric. Hanks smiled, stood up, and offered his seat to her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    While Nicole felt a pang of jealousy, she knew she didn''t even have the right to sit in the front row, let alone ask anyone there to give up their seat for her. Though a bit reluctant, she settled for a seat in the middle of the theater.

    As more people filed into the screening room, she unexpectedly found herself next to a man in his thirties, wearing sses and looking rather dapper. He seemed to casually nce at her, his eyes widening just enough to show his surprise at her presence. He initiated a conversation: "Hi there."

    Although his tone was casual, Nicole, who was used to these kinds of encounters, quickly realized he was trying to flirt. While she felt some annoyance, she couldn''t ignore him since he had greeted her so politely. She replied in a neutral tone, "Hello."

    The man seemed unfazed by Nicole''s cool demeanor. A seasoned charmer, he figured if he let a little initial coldness deter him, he''d never stand a chance with women: "I apologize for my abruptness, miss, but you are simply stunning, especially your hairstylebined with your facial features, giving you an air of ssic beauty. You know, many girls these days are into puffy waves, which look terrible, like a bird''s nest. A girl with your taste is such a rarity." As she heard hispliments, Nicole showed no signs of pleasure; instead, a slight awkwardness crept onto her face as she replied, "Thank you for your kind words, sir."

    "Not at all," he smiled back, introducing himself, "I''m George Norse, a film critic for a magazine."

    "You can call me Nicole."

    "Nicole, is that n-i-c-o-l-e? Wow, I just realized that name seems like it was meant for you. In Greek, ''Nicole'' describes a physically beautiful yet delicate young woman who is strong and independent inside," he added.

    Before George could continue, the lights in the screening room dimmed. For some reason, reflecting on Eric''s recent coldness toward her made Nicole feel a bit annoyed with her attentive suitor, so she gently reminded him, "The movie is starting, Mr. Norse."

    "Of course, I understand." George realized he had been too eager, straightened up in his seat, and turned his focus back to the screen.

    ...

    After the Columbia Pictures logo faded, a little girl in a red hoodie released fireflies, drawing a beautiful pattern in the sky, only to be the brightest star among the cosmos. Then, the screen fell briefly into darkness with the sound of footsteps echoing, but the visuals did not appear right away. Instead, the names of the cast and crew rolled up the screen.

    As the audience awaited in curiosity, the imagery finally brightened to reveal Tom Cruise, wearing sunsses, expressionlessly climbing a staircase, while a mysterious and sorrowful male voice began to chant.

    Nicole was engrossed in the screen when she overheard two girls behind her whispering. They were clearly fans of Cruise.

    "Oh my God, I just realized that little Tommy walks so handsomely! Michi, I''m losing it," one girl eximed.

    "Me too, Erika! After this, we have to rush up and get Tommy''s autograph," the other replied. Nicole felt a simr excitement, although she couldn''t quite understand why.

    Fortunately, George Norse, being a professional critic, caught their enthusiasm and leaned closer to Nicole to softly exin, "That''s the result of the atmosphere that''s been created -- the echo of footsteps, the mysterious chanting, the cold shot, and the silent protagonist craft an incredibly infectious scene. It''s no wonder they feel that way. Eric Williams is truly a genius; with just a few simple shots, he established a style that ispletely different from his previous films. If the lighting were normal, the music and echoes changed, and even if they used different music, the impact of those shots wouldn''t be the same. While it may look straightforward, perfectly blending these elements to create an irresistible impact requires a high level of artistic skill."

    While discussing other men in front of a woman might not be the wisest move when trying to impress her, George Norse treated Nicole like a typical movie fan. He didn''t think she had any connection with Eric, so he freely praised him, subtly showcasing his own expertise in film appreciation.

    ...

    After reaching the rooftop, the music turned heavier as the camera followed the leading man to the edge. The scene began shifting between memory and reality through the dialogue between Andy, yed by Cruise, and a doctor, revealing that Andy had only four weeks to live. "Uh, Tommy wouldn''t jump off, would he?" came the worried voice of one of the girls, echoing the concern of many fans in the theater.

    "Of course not, Erika! Look at Tommy -- he''s got a backpack. He must have other things to do. Who jumps off a building carrying a bag?" the other tried to reassure her.

    "Michi, do you think Tommy will die?"

    "Definitely not! I''ve heard stories about many terminal cancer patients surviving, and this is a movie -- miracles happen in movies. Tommy never dies in his films; he can''t die!"

    "Let''s hope so." Erika sped her hands over her chest, praying, eager to see what Cruise''s next move would be at the edge.

    ...

    But the film didn''t immediately reveal the answer. After the title card, the scene shifted to a restaurant where Hanks, ying Sean, leisurely read the newspaper while having breakfast. The camera quickly swung to the bar where Andy was calmly eating, also looking at a si on TV with a hint of longing in his eyes.

    When the two main characters appeared simultaneously, the audience assumed they''d face off in the restaurant, but the scene quickly cut to different imagery.

    "I bet this scene with Cruise will reappear. It''s a time cue set by the director. Nicole, did you notice Cruise''s expression? He has only four weeks left, which is why he''s so focused and nostalgic while eating, drinking, and watching TV. It seems he wants to imprint the beauty of this world into his soul during his remaining time. I can confidently say Cruise will die by the end," George Norse couldn''t resist showcasing his knowledge again.

    Nicole merely nodded to acknowledge his words, keeping her eyes fixed on the screen as she gradually immersed herself in the narrative.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Blame

    Chapter 151: me

    ?

    [Chapter 151: Transformation of Temperament]

    "It looks like Cruise really broke out with this character," George Norsemented, his voice low enough for Nicole to hear. However, catching a nce at the indifferent girl next to him, he realized she wasn''t interested in this topic, leading him to halt his analysis.

    On the bus, Andy encountered a police checkpoint. Calmly, he sat down next to a girl in the front right seat.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The entrance of Brooke Shields was still dazzling, but under Eric''s suggestion, thanks to the makeup artist''s meticulous work, the actress''s slightly thick eyebrows had been trimmed down, and her lips were devoid of any gloss. Her long hair fell smoothly, and her face wore only a hint of lightweight makeup.

    This transformation greatly altered her demeanor. Many who had seen Brooke before would naturally associate her with terms like "goddess." However, in this moment, her character gave off a softer vibe, shedding that intimidating goddess aura for a more approachable and endearing presence.

    In the front row of the theater, Brooke saw herself on screen, her nerves suddenly rising. She was still somewhat concerned about this change in her image. Sneaking a nce back, thanks to the screen''s brightness, she could clearly see the expressions on the faces of the audience in the back rows. Many male viewers stared intently at the big screen, some wore expressions of infatuation, mouths slightly agape, clearly bewitched by her entrance. Upon seeing this, Brooke felt a sense of relief wash over her.

    As long as the audience reacted positively, that was all that mattered. Regarding critics, after experiencing a few Razzie Awards, she harbored no illusions of being recognized for her acting. As long as she could gain poprity among the viewers, that was sufficient -- after all, Hollywood had numerous big stars who had high poprity but poor acting skills.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Plot

    Chapter 152: Plot

    ?

    [Chapter 152: Half a Caterpir]

    [T/N: I decided to forego the movie viewing andmentary. For those who didn''t know this movie, below is brief summary, thanks to Wikipedia and ChatGPT.]

    Andy, diagnosed withte-stage cancer and given four weeks to live, stages a series of events to engage with Sean, a skilled police negotiator. Andy orchestrates a robbery to get Sean''s attention and proposes a three-day game, where Andy shoots a finance manager, leads Sean on a wild chase, and escapes with a fake bomb. The manager is revealed to be unharmed. Throughout the game, Andy and Sean develop a mutual respect, with Andy revealing he''s been impersonating histe father, Peter, to avenge him. Andy also crosses paths with a woman, Yoyo, a recurring love interest, who seems to y an intriguing role in his life. She is seen interacting with Andy multiple times, notably when they meet on a bus andter at a restaurant. Though their rtionship remains ambiguous, she seems to serve as both a source offort and a reminder of Andy''s impending death.

    Andy and Sean work together to escape the antogonist, a criminal with stolen diamonds, but Andy ultimately escapes with both the diamond and money. Despite Andy''s apparent death from his illness, he tricks Sean and escapes again, leaving a final twist.

    In the end, Andy donates the stolen money to a children''s cancer foundation, and Sean is left with a bittersweet parting. Andy''s love interest reappears, wearing the diamond, symbolizing hisplex legacy of crime, love, and redemption.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Blame

    Chapter 153: me

    ?

    [Chapter 153: me]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the final credits rolled, the lights in the theater brightened. Amid the nervous anticipation of the film''s creators, apuse erupted, continuing until Eric, joined by stars like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, made his way to the stage. He smiled and gestured for the audience to settle down, slowly hush falling over the room.

    After expressing gratitude to the fans and enjoying a brief interaction, Eric and the others made their way backstage amidst the growing excitement of the audience. Although the fans were reluctant to leave, they did so with a sense of order.

    ...

    "The use of repetitive techniques was just brilliant. You know, Nicole, many directors bring their own unique style to their films. It''s not just the auteur filmmakers who possess strong styles; even those who focus on box office sess tend to have a signature approach that they unknowingly reuse in many of their films. Yet, oddly enough, this trait doesn''t seem to manifest in Eric Williams. Each of his films has a totally different style, which is just bizarre, since the inertia of one''s tendencies is usually quite strong, and habits oftene out without one realizing it."

    As magazine critic George Norse walked side by side with Nicole out of the theater, he animatedly exined his thoughts. He noticed that whenever he brought up Eric, Nicole exhibited a hint of interest, unlike her rather indifferent reactions to other topics. So, he decisively shifted the conversation away from Cruise, Hanks, or Brooke Shields, catering instead to Eric.

    Once they reached the parking lot, George tentatively spoke up, "Nicole, there''s a nice cafe not far from here; perhaps we could sit for a while? It''s still early, and there''s nothing for us to do back home, right?"

    Nicole coldly replied, "I''m sorry, Mr. Norse, but I''m heading back now."

    Though she said this, Nicole paused by her car, ncing back toward the theater. George, having been turned down, saw that she did not immediately get in her car and grew even more determined. A cold and beautiful woman like Nicole was a challenge he hadn''t yet conquered, and her lukewarm attitude fueled his desire to win her over.

    "Nicole, do you really like Eric Williams?" George quickly pivoted to another topic.

    Nicole nced at him, answering honestly, "Not particrly."

    George gave a knowing smile, "Come on, don''t deny it. I''ve noticed you seem to be more interested in discussions about Eric Williams. Would you like to meet him in person?"

    Nicole raised an eyebrow, growing increasingly impatient with his persistence. Unfortunately, George didn''t pick up on her subtle changes in expression due to the lighting in the parking lot and continued with his assumptions. "You know, Eric Williams has been doing a lot of interviews promoting his movietely. Given his influence now, if we sent him an interview request, he''d likely ept."

    "That has nothing to do with me," Nicole replied coldly.

    "I have a good rtionship with the editor; if he agrees, I can snag this assignment. Then..." George said with a hint of smugness, "if you''re willing, you could pretend to be my assistant, giving you the chance to meet Eric Williams face-to-face. Who knows, we might even end up having dinner together."

    "Oh," Nicole let out a nonchnt sound, a sarcastic smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Just as she was about to clearly reject this presumptuous guy, a sharply dressed young man approached the parking lot, heading straight for her.

    Seeing the young man, George''s expression went wary. Nicole was on alert too - she didn''t know him, and with George still lingering nearby, she didn''t want another clingy situation.

    "Excuse me, are you Miss Nicole Kidman?" the young man asked upon reaching her, taking a second to assess her outfit.

    Nicole nodded, and George breathed a sigh of relief, noticing the two were unfamiliar with each other.

    Once the young man confirmed her identity, he warmly said, "Hello, Miss Kidman. I''m Allen, Allen Fisman." Upon seeing her puzzled look, he quickly added, "I''m Mr. Williams''s assistant."

    "Oh, hello, Allen. Just call me Nicole," she replied with a smile, shaking his hand while casting a knowing nce at George Norse, who now appeared somewhat uneasy. "This is magazine critic Mr. George Norse."

    "Hello, Mr. Norse," Allen greeted him, though his tone was neutral. People in film usually harbored disdain for critics; in those days, critics wielded immense power over a film''s reputation, but very few maintained a fair perspective. Therefore, studios often had to shell out hefty public rtions fees before each release to guarantee positive reviews.

    After acknowledging George, Allen turned back to Nicole. "So, Nicole, Ms. Barrymore asked me to pass along that she will be attending the uing party with Mr. Williams, so you don''t need to wait for her."

    "Thank you, Allen. I understand," Nicole nodded.

    Not saying much else, Allen nodded at both of them and walked back toward the theater.

    "Excuse me, Mr. Norse, could you move aside?" Nicole said as she prepared to open her car door to leave, only to find George frozen, blocking her path.

    "Oh, sorry!" George stammered, hastily stepping aside, watching as Nicole opened the car door. He forced a smile, but it felt stiff, as if his facial muscles were frozen.

    Had Allen only mentioned "Mr. Williams," George might have deceived himself, pretending not to understand. After all, the surname Williams was far toomon. However, with the mention of "Ms. Barrymore," all pretense evaporated.

    Eric''s peculiar rtionship with Drew was a hot topic in the industry, and George clearly couldn''t have missed it. So, it was easy to deduce that Nicole must know both Eric and Drew

    well.

    Realizing his earlierments now fell t, a deep sense of embarrassment washed over George. Nicole clearly had a connection with Eric, and how could he use an interview as bait? She must haveughed at him internally a hundred times over.

    Watching Nicole drive off like it was nothing, George trudged to his own car feeling like a clown. When faced with such situations, if one refuses to reflect on their mistakes, they often misdirect their frustrations elsewhere.

    So, Georgepletely disregarded his own rude persistence and instead felt as if he''d been yed by Nicole.

    Finding an excuse for himself, George kicked his car tire angrily, his face twisted in rage as he spat, "Bitch, we''ll see about this!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Hired Gun?

    Chapter 154: Hired Gun?

    ?

    [Chapter 154: Just Afraid of the Cultural Thing]

    "The ups and downs of the plot, the heart-shaking score, the sharp and varied editing, and the excellent performances of several actors; after the warmth of Eric Williams'' previous work, he brought us a distinctly stylized ck symphony."

    "From the mysterious chanting at the opening to the tragic symphony at the end, the beautiful score ran through the entire film without ever feeling overwhelming. The tightly packed plot was full of tension, with not a single redundant shot. This two-hour visual feast instead left viewers feeling an internal peace."

    "Sex and blood have always been two elements that can evoke adrenaline in the audience, but many films often resort to sensationalism, putting sex for the sake of sex and blood for the sake of blood. In this film, however, the use of blood feltpletely unforced. Every time Tom Cruise appeared on screen coughing up blood, I could hear the gasps of heartbreak from female fans around me, mixed with a thrilling excitement. A handsome, gentle, and somewhat mysterious man had already stolen the hearts of most women at first sight. Eric Williams was not content with that; he added a thrilling blood-spitting trait to the protagonist. I''m certain that the character Andy, as portrayed by Cruise, would inspire a lot of filmmakers to imitate in the future."

    "The brilliant performances of the two leads did not overshadow the shine of the supporting cast. Joe Pesci''s raised eyebrows and sarcastic expressions were just hrious, while the return of Brooke Shields, after several years of absence, was truly refreshing. Perhaps it was due to her years at Princeton, but Shields'' acting was no longer superficial; it gained a depth and restraint. Though her appearance was brief, it made asting impact, and I believe this time, even if Shields didn''t win any major performance awards, the Razzie judges certainly wouldn''t consider her as a nominee. I am eagerly looking forward to her performance in future films."

    The next morning, with the gentle sound of pages turning, Eric sat in the restaurant chair, engrossed in the fresh reviews from that day''s newspaper. Meanwhile, Nicole buzzed around, asionally bringing finished breakfast to the dining table.

    Soon, Drew, looking bleary-eyed and wearing slippers, floated into the restaurant and pulled out a chair at the dining table. She rested her chin on her hand, squinting at Eric as he flipped through the newspaper.

    "Why aren''t you sleeping more?" Eric asked without looking up.

    "I''m hungry," Drew said as she reached for a small basket of bagels ced in the center of the table, but Eric''s rolled-up newspaper halted her attempt. "Did you brush your teeth?"

    "After I eat?" She blinked and pouted.

    "Brush first, eatter," Eric shot her a stern nce, indicating he wouldn''t give in, swatting the air with his newspaper, ready to do so again.

    "Fine, fine, honestly, you sound like an old crank," Drew sighed, getting up softly and drifting away. She had a bit too much fun at the partyst night and didn''t eat much, making her look rather wilted.

    ...

    Nicole stood by the kitchen counter, listening to their exchange and feeling a twinge of envy. Although they didn''t share any intimate words or actions, their mundane conversation exuded a warm familiarity that felt exclusive to family. In contrast, even though Eric always treated her with politeness, he never truly regarded her as one of his own. She had made efforts in that regard, but to little effect.

    As she brought the prepared oatmeal into the dining room, she started serving breakfast. She ced a bowl of cereal lightly in front of Eric, casually looking up, only to see him frowning slightly at a piece of newspaper.

    "What''s wrong?" She asked softly as she took a seat.

    Eric shook his head lightly. "Nothing, just a review."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Nicole nced at the newspaper in Eric''s hands and asked quietly, "Is someone criticizing?" "Yeah," Eric nodded. "It feels bizarre. It''s like this person has it out for me, and I don''t even remember provoking them." He then shifted his gaze down, hoping to find some information about the author. Some newspapers often attached the credentials of well-known critics at the end of their reviews to enhance the perceived authority.

    "Ah, just a magazine''s dedicated film critic, graduated from Columbia University''s journalism program," Eric muttered. Hearing the name made Nicole''s heart race. "Eric, can I take a look?"

    Eric handed over the paper, and Nicole ncing at the author''s name felt a surge of anxiety. It boldly read George Norse.

    "...an imusible storyline, chaotic and pretentious music, and numerous repetitive meaningless shots cobbled together into a two-hour film. I feel that this film is simply wasting viewers'' time and money..."

    She barely skimmed one excerpt before hastily returning the newspaper. Her eyes flickered as she understood that this article had to be linked to her; after all, George Norse had initially viewed Eric favorably. Perhaps the coincidental events of the previous night left the critic feeling embarrassed, resulting in this vicious review.

    If only she had made it clear to him to back off when he tried to chat her up, this wouldn''t have happened.

    Thinking this way only made her more anxious, and she cautiously asked, "Eric, you don''t think this review will affect the box office, right?"

    "It won''t," Eric replied. "Most reviews have been positive for this film. An asional negative one doesn''t really matter, as long as the overall word-of-mouth remains good."

    "Oh," Nicole sighed in relief.

    Eric scrutinized her expression carefully. "Nicole, you seem to be worried about something?" "No, not at all," she quickly shook her head in denial.

    Eric didn''t press further, hastily flipping through the remaining bits of the newspaper before starting his breakfast.

    ...

    But George Norse wasn''t ready to let up after just one critical review. On the second and third days, more articles appeared in various newspapers, each more aggressive than thest. Eventually, he even began questioning whether the film was truly directed by Eric. Norse first listed seeminglymon characteristics from Eric''s previous films, noting their heartwarming styles. Then he suddenly shifted gears, providing a detailed contrast with the dark, stark style of other films, leaving readers with a feeling that there was no rtionship to Eric''s earlier works.

    Following that, Norse startedmenting on simrities found in the works of many film masters, consistently instilling the notion that if a few movies were directed by the same person, even masters known for diverse styles could showmon elements.

    But they didn''t. Thus, George Norse boldly insinuated that this film was actually not directed by Eric, but rather by a hired gun chosen by Columbia. It was nothing but a cash grab masquerading under the genius director Eric Williams'' name, fooling the fans.

    ...

    Upon reading this piece, Eric couldn''t help but shake his head in resignation, fully grasping the saying that "an educated rogue is the scariest kind." The scrutiny of this article was astoundingly detailed, and the professional level so high that Eric found himself at a loss for words. No wonder he was an Ivy League graduate; Eric had to admit that the other''s analysis

    waspelling.

    Due to the influence of the newspaper that published George Norse''s article, the "hired gun" theory surprisingly gained traction among the public.

    With the summer box officepetition being fierce, once the opportunity to undermine a

    competitor arose, other filmpanies jumped at the chance to amplify such doubt. Within just a few days, the media''s questioning grew louder, forcing Columbia to take the situation seriously and urgently contact Eric for a strategy discussion.

    "Perhaps we could sue that critic named George Norse for libel," one executive suggested in the conference room.

    The legal department manager shook his head in counter-argument. "We''ve considered that method, but it''s tough to pursue. Federal courts probably wouldn''t even ept ourwsuit request. George Norse is far too clever; his article reads more like a schrly paper. He never outright states that Eric didn''t direct it; he only implies it in a very persuasive manner. Honestly, if I hadn''t happened to see part of the filming process, I would probably have

    believed him myself."

    "Right now, it''s critical we rify this. We can''t let this theory fester."

    "This sounds simple, but it isn''t easy in practice. How do we rify things for Eric? Are we going to have the TVwork broadcast Eric directing something live? We''ve found some behind-the-scenes photos, but sadly, there are plenty of pictures of Cruise, Hanks, and even Brooke Shields, but very few of Eric. None of them carry much weight."

    Just then, Eric pushed the door open and walked into the conference room, a cardboard box in his arms after being dyed by a few issues.

    "Sorry, everyone. I got held up preparing these," Eric apologized, finding a seat.

    Everyone''s eyes instinctively shifted to the small box Eric ced on the conference table.

    Noticing the curious looks, Eric borated, "Oh, these are videotapes that Drew gathered during her visits to the set. She had been fiddling around with a camera while shooting."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Speaking Nonsense Seriously

    Chapter 155: Speaking Nonsense Seriously

    ?

    [Chapter 155: Speaking Nonsense Seriously]

    On July 10, the first-week box office results for the film officially came out. Although George Norse''s article stirred up a wave of public skepticism, the film''s reputation remainedrgely unscathed, with over seventy percent of critics offering positive reviews. As a result, the pressure remained high, and the film raked in over twenty-seven million dors during its opening three days. Columbia Pictures had mixed feelings about this figure.

    On the bright side, weekday sales during the summer box office often ounted for thirty to forty percent of the weekly total, so there was still a chance to reach the forty-million-dor mark over the first week. Despite the opening, just hitting that forty-million mark would give Columbia executives some peace of mind after weeks of worrying about box office numbers. If the film reached forty million during its first week, it could potentially surpass two hundred million overall.

    However, Columbia was anxious because of the situation of Ghostbusters II, concerned it might simrly experience a week-to-week drop of over fifty percent. Although they didn''t expect the box office to follow a wild roller coaster trend anymore, it was understandable for Columbia to worry; making a movie felt a lot like gambling -- nobody knew what would happen next.

    Thus, when the stir from George Norse''s article began, Columbia quickly summoned all its executives to discuss strategies. The fallout from such situations was unpredictable; maybe people would read it, chuckle, and quickly forget. But Columbia noticed there seemed to be a lot of voices out there that didn''t want the article''s sentiments to be easily overlooked. In just a few days, several media outlets began to amplify the issue.

    They absolutely wouldn''t allow their originally promising film to be affected by this wave of skepticism. Moreover, Columbia had already confirmed Eric''s suggestion for "topic marketing," aiming to use product cements and clips from Eric''s TV show to boost the second-week box office. But for this n to seed, they needed to clear up the current wave of doubts; otherwise, the topic marketing might backfire, amplifying issues instead of resolving them.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the executives wracked their brains over how to dispel the rumors, a small box of videotapes that Eric brought into the meeting room opened everyone''s eyes. After ying a few tapes, they quickly devised their strategy.

    ...

    In an office building of CBS in Los Angeles, Eric was making the final preparations with a host named Sophia Temple for a show called It''s Showtime. If they wanted to clear up doubts swiftly, what could be more convincing than ying footage from the set live in front of millions of viewers on a talk show?

    When a senior executive suggested this, Eric immediately thought of the famous Oprah Winfrey Show because it was just too iconic. Unfortunately, that idea was dismissed quickly since the show ran from September each year to May the next, and they happened to be in the off-season. Even if the Oprah show weren''t in its off-season, arranging for a slot in just a few days seemed improbable.

    As a second choice, Columbia quickly arranged for another show It''s Showtime, clearly borrowing from the format of other talk shows, but Eric had never heard of it in his previous life.

    Sophia Temple was an elegant white woman, wearing a smart burgundy business suit, with dark hair and blue eyes, and a delicate nose. Eric thought she bore some resemnce to Courteney Cox, just with a more studious air about her.

    After chatting, Eric understood why this talk show remainedrgely unnoticed; it probably wouldn''t exist much longer. Sophia''s personality was quite reserved; her polished speech suggested she came from a wealthy family and had received an elite education. Although she was talented, she tended to be conservative. Therefore, Eric felt she was better suited for a serious talk program, interviewing business leaders, scientists, or government officials, rather than an interactive talk show.

    In contrast, Oprah came from humble beginnings and resorted to various stunts to promote her show, sharing personal stories like childhood trauma or expressing deep emotions on-air. Eric was certain that the reserved Sophia would not be able to pull off such antics.

    "Ms. Temple, Mr. Williams, everything is ready for the recording; you can start now," a staff member announced as he entered the green room where Eric and Sophia were finalizing details.

    ...

    Eric and Sophia left the green room together, heading to the studio.

    "When people think of directors, they often picture those bearded, wild-haired, entric old men. As ofst year, however, a new face emerged in Hollywood. Not only is he young and handsome, but he''s also outrageously talented. It surprised many that this young man consistently delivered jaw-dropping box office sesses with his films. I''m sure you all know who he is, so let''s wee today''s guest, Eric Williams."

    After a well-rehearsed intro, Sophia motioned for Eric to bring in the small box as the audience cheered. The show''s crew had suggested bringing the box full of videotapes directly onto the set, but Eric declined. Since the purpose of this appearance was to rify the rumors, leaving a deeper impression on the audience was essential.

    With the audience''s cheers echoing, Eric waved to the cameras and took a seat next to Sophia. "Eric, is this your gift for everyone? Should I help you hand it out?" Sophia asked, pointing at the box with a smile.

    Before Eric could respond, the audience erupted again, with several girls unable to contain their excitement, standing up to get a look at the box''s contents.

    Feeling slightly embarrassed, Eric raised his hands to calm the crowd before exining, "Sorry, everyone. I came here in such a rush that I didn''t prepare any gifts. These are just some videotapes. As for the content, I''ll keep that a surprise for now."

    Although many in the audience sighed in disappointment, they settled down.

    Next, Sophia and Eric began the standard talk show process, easing into the conversation. Most questions had been pre-discussed, and Sophia was indeed as reserved as Eric had anticipated. On the asions she asked a few spontaneous questions, Eric found them easy to handle.

    After chatting about Eric''s past for over ten minutes, they shifted the conversation to the interview''s focal point.

    "Eric, many people say yourtest film diverges significantly from your earlier works. What do you think about these opinions?"

    Eric fixed his gaze on Sophia''s attractive face and began to speak earnestly, "Honestly, the sess of my earlier films involved a lot of luck. At that time, my father suddenly passed away, and I had to drop out of school to work in a small restaurant, which was definitely not the life I wanted. I''ve always had a fascination with movies, which led to the creation of my first film project; the idea for Home Alone movie came from a casual chat with Stu, I mean, Stuart Ronkel. One night, while he was visiting, I was working on a shoot, and he asked if he could make a movie too. That conversation was the catalyst for my screeny. So, thistest film was truly the one I wanted to make from the heart. I had the notion for it long before the actual filming began and even invited Tom Hanks to join before we started shooting." "Oh, so you''re saying your earlier films were just test runs? If many Hollywood directors heard this, they''d be heartbroken," Sophia teased, promptingughter from the audience. If Eric had easily churned out blockbusters, a lot of struggling directors would be frustrated. Eric quicklyughed it off, "Of course not! I put a lot of effort into each of my films. I believe it''s essential to do your best, even if you''re not particrly fond of something." Sophia nodded thoughtfully. "Eric, even though you''re still young, with your aplishments, it shouldn''t be too hard for you to avoid constraints when making films. Does this mean your future films will follow a simr style?"

    "Not at all. I enjoy trying new things, so my future films will definitely be diverse. I don''t want to be pigeonholed as just one type of director at such a young age." "However, I''ve recently heard a viewpoint suggesting that even the best filmmakers tend to have recurring elements in their works. Some newspapers are suggesting that your new film shows no simrities to your previous ones, almost as if two different people directed them," Sophia pressed, bringing up a sharper topic.

    The audience immediately hushed, many of them having already guessed why Eric was on the show and were curious to hear how he would defend himself.

    *****

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 Chapter 156: Chapter 156: The Tapes

    Chapter 156: The Tapes

    ?

    [Chapter 156: The Tapes]

    "Actually, I''m rather helpless when ites to such doubts," Eric Williams spoke candidly. "My age really is a hard barrier, as there are hardly any directors under thirty in Hollywood, let alone someone who''s not even twenty yet." He continued, "I originally didn''t need to respond to such skepticism; after all, reality is the best weapon against it. But as this belief has grown, I feel that even if I ignore the irresponsible media throwing around wild usations, I should at least give an exnation to the fans who have always supported my films. Fortunately, due to some idental factors, some footage from the filming process was preserved -- these tapes right here."

    As Eric spoke, he pulled out over a dozen tapes from a small box and stacked them between himself and Sophia.

    "Wow, are these... behind-the-scenes clips?" Sophia asked.

    Eric shook his head. "No, if they were behind-the-scenes, I definitely wouldn''t show up on camera. These are just some snippets I recorded with an extra camera while on set."

    "So, you mean a documentary filmed from a third-party perspective? Is that allowed during the filmmaking process?" Sophia inquired.

    Eric chuckled, "Generally, that''s not allowed, as the contents of a film need to remain absolutely confidential. But the person who filmed these tapes had a unique identity; I believe she wouldn''t leak the material, which is why I allowed it. It''s precisely because of my leniency back then that I now have the chance to prove my innocence."

    As Eric finished speaking, the audience leaned forward, eyes wide. Several fans even whispered, urging Eric and Sophia to y the contents of the tapes quickly.

    "Alright then, I know everyone is eager, so let''s take a look," Sophia said, not wanting to prolong the suspense. She casually picked one of the tapes and inserted it into the projector.

    ...

    Suddenly, therge screen behind them flickered to life with a somewhat shaky image, as if the person operating the camera were quite inexperienced. After some time, the picture gradually stabilized, and a slightly bossy girl''s voice rang out off-screen: "Allen, keep the audio steady! If Ie out with no sound, you''ll be in trouble."

    Another voice, tinged with mild exasperation, replied, "Alright, Princess."

    The audience burst intoughter, many recognizing that the girl''s voice belonged to Drew Barrymore, closely associated with Eric. Remembering what Eric had said just moments before, they could understand that only someone like her could behave so freely on a film set; anyone else would surely be kicked out for such antics.

    On the screen, the footage began to move, and many recognized it as arge soundstage. As they viewed the scale model of streets and buildings shown, soft gasps escaped the audience. After all, this was years before the inte became widespread; many had never seen such detailed model sets in person. Although people often watched movies, their understanding of the actual filmmaking process remained limited. Thus, the sight brought considerable surprise.

    Amid some background noise, the camera operator walked into a room, revealing Eric wearing a green director''s vest, demonstrating something animatedly to Tom Hanks. As the camera drew closer, Eric paused his conversation with Hanks, smiling as he reached over the camera, seemingly tapping someone on the forehead, eliciting a pained squeal from the girl andughter from those nearby.

    "Hey, kid, this Sony professional camera costs $128,000. If you break it, I''ll have no choice but to turn you over to Columbia for repayment," Eric remarked after tapping Drew''s forehead.

    The camera wobbled briefly, and Drew''s frustrated voice came on: "Ugh, that''s so annoying! I''ve told you countless times not to tap my head!"

    Waving his hand dismissively like he was shooing a cat or dog, Eric said to the camera, "Go, go, get back. We''re about to start shooting."

    As the camera pulled back, Eric''smand for the crew to begin shooting rang out, and many crew members sprang into action. Hanks and some other actors took their ces, and a script supervisor stepped forward, seemingly to p the te.

    ...

    At that point, Sophia neatly pressed the stop button and exined to the audience, "Sorry, but the following footage will involve the movie''s content, so we have to pause." Although it was just a couple of minutes, the audience was engaged and expressed regret as Sophia halted the yback.

    "Eric, I''ve be more curious about one question, and I''m sure the viewers at home are as well," Sophia asked, tapping into the public''s interest. "Though it was only a brief clip, it was clear you have a special fondness for Miss Barrymore. You let her handle a camera worth over hundred grand like it was a toy! What exactly is your rtionship with Drew?"

    Eric hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts before he said, "How should I put this? I met Drew while filming, and I quickly grew fond of this little girl."

    Seeing some audience members getting ready to tease, Eric waved his hands to stop them. "Don''t get the wrong idea; it''s definitely not what you''re thinking! I mostly see her as my little sister. At the time, Drew had picked up some bad... habits. Although she had gone to rehab a few times, it really didn''t help much. Her mother was at her wits'' end. I couldn''t bear to see such a talented girl slip away, so I impulsively discussed it with her mom to let her move in with me. Maybe I could help her kick those habits. After some consideration, Mrs. Barrymore agreed, so here we are. I suppose Drew and I just clicked; she tends to listen to me well. Now, she haspletely turned her life around, attending an all-girls school. I hope she graduates from high school sessfully and, when she turns eighteen, chooses her own path freely."

    Eric felt no pressure as he spun this tale. Being in the industry, he understood that such interviews were mere performances; as long as they served his purpose, that was all that mattered. He had seen countless stars be involved in messy breakup dramas after disying their "loving" rtionships on air; it would be foolish to take such interviews seriously and react with zeal or tears to their inspirational tales or romantic stories. While Eric internally scoffed, he still yed the role convincingly, his expression sincere and stirring, as if he were an angel sent by God to rescue wayward youths.

    Sophia also disyed a moved expression, though whether it was genuine, Eric couldn''t say.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "So, let''s look forward to Miss Barrymore gracing the big screen once again, bringing us remarkable works. Now, let''s check out what some of the other tapes have in store," Sophia stated as she selected another pre-chosen tape to y.

    ...

    The shaky image resumed, this time revealing a blocked-off street surrounded by police cars and numerous camera cranes and tracks. The crew in the background seemed rxed, chatting, drinking, or fanning themselves with clipboards -- indicating a temporary break.

    A voice echoed in the background: "Hello everyone, I''m Drew Barrymore from ABC News. I heard there''s been a bank robbery here. Let''s interview the on-sitemander, Mr. Eric Williams."

    The camera zoomed in on Eric, wearing sunsses and a baseball cap. It seemed the girl said something, then an oversized fluffy microphone reluctantly came into the frame, inching its way toward Eric and identally poking his nose, creating aical scene. A boyish voice off-screenmented, "Director, I was forced into this, don''t me me."

    Seeing this moment made both Eric and Sophia chuckle, while the audience erupted in

    laughter.

    Onscreen, Eric removed his sunsses, looking somewhat resigned as he gazed into the camera, as if asking, "What now?"

    "Mr. Williams, it''s been reported there was a bank robbery here. How''s the situation? Could you share some updates with us?" the girl asked earnestly.

    "Alright," Eric replied, pushing the microphone slightly away, almostzily. "We''ve got the situation under control. Reporter, over there, those two gentlemen robbers are ying poker with the SWAT team; it''s all very peaceful and harmonious. Negotiator Hanks isn''t genuinely chatting with that undercover officer; he''s actually probing around. We discovered the undercover is a mole, so we n to make an arrest soon. Police Chief Joe Pesci stepped out for an urgent matter and won''t return for an hour. I can assure you that by then, the hostages will

    still be alive..."

    Eric''s humorous remarks again prompted fits ofughter from the audience. After this segment, Sophia smiled and selected a few more tapes for brief showings, mixed in with conversations between the two and interactions with the live audience. Before they knew it, due to the need to reshoot several scenes, the forty-minute talk show had taken over two

    hours toplete.

    *****

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 Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Storm Fades Away

    Chapter 157: The Storm Fades Away

    ?

    [Chapter 157: The Storm Fades Away]

    On Wednesday, a special edition aired on CBS, featuring the young director Eric Williams instead of the famous football yer originally scheduled as a guest. Many football fans, eagerly waiting for their idol to appear on their screens, were shocked by the switch, leading some die-hard fans to call the station in frustration.

    However, the majority of viewers were pleasantly surprised, as Eric''s influence far surpasses that of any football star.

    ...

    "Wow, I had no idea gunfight scenes were filmed like that, that was so cool!"

    ...

    "Eric Williams'' dark humor was hrious! The robbers ying poker with the SWAT team, haha..."

    ...

    "Why hasn''t Drew Barrymore shown uptely? Since 17 Again, there hasn''t been any news about her in the media."

    ...

    "Eric looks so scary when he''s angry; he doesn''te off as that kind of person at all."

    "That''s no surprise. He''s so young; if he wants those older staff to listen, he has to be a little tough."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Various discussions sprang up in households across the nation. With summer break in full swing, more teens crowded around the TV, and Eric''s appeal among them likely exceeded that of typical celebrity icons. After all, as a peer, if you outperformed someone by a hundred meters, it might lead to envy and jealousy. But if you outshined them by a thousand meters, the response is usually adoration. Therefore, many young people, witnessing Eric''s rare appearance on TV, eagerly shared the news with ssmates, urging them to tune in.

    The impact of this show was nowhere near that of Oprah Winfrey Show, which, although having been around for only a few years, averaged over 11 million viewers per episode. In contrast, this garnered about 4 million.

    Initially, this episode had only 4.2 million viewers, but as it progressed, the ratings surged, and by the end of the forty-minute show, viewership climbed to 7.5 million, nearly doubling. After the show concluded, the CBS hotline was bombarded with calls.

    "If we had promoted it a week earlier, the ratings would have surely surpassed 10 million,"mented an executive at CBS upon seeing the numbers.

    Over 70% of the calls from viewers requested CBS to rerun the show, while the remaining 30% were filled with various random requests. Some wanted the entire cast to appear together, others wanted to see Drew and Eric on screen, and many inquired if the footage Eric held would ever be releasedmercially.

    CBSpiled the audience feedback and passed it on to Columbia and Firefly Films, also extending invites to Eric, Drew, and several main cast members, acknowledging the potential for another promotional boost for the movie. However, despite Columbia''s enthusiasm, Eric and the others turned down the offers.

    If it weren''t for Eric''s desire to clear up rumors, he would have opted out of the talk show appearance altogether; with that in mind, Drew was guaranteed to follow suit.

    Agents for both Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks felt the showcked the clout befitting their high-profile stars. However, Brooke Shields was intrigued; it could serve as a significant turning point in her career. But being rejected by Eric and both Toms, CBS lost interest. With so many key yers not participating, inviting just one actress wouldn''t generate much buzz, especially since Brooke Shields only had a few minutes of screen time. Nevertheless, CBS was still a nationalwork and hadn''t sunk to a point where they had to ept any guest.

    ...

    Though the invitation had been declined, CBS quickly devised a way to maximize their benefits. They had over two hours of footage from Eric''s recording, while the talk show only had a forty-minute runtime.

    CBS edited the two-hour material into two episodes that aired over the next two days. Thanks to brief promotional efforts during prime time, the re-edited first part reached 9 million viewers, and when the second part aired that Friday, viewership soared past 10 million, peaking at 12 million.

    For a daytime show to hit such viewership levels was remarkable. To maintain their momentum, CBS dropped previously scheduled episodes and spent big to secure other high- profile guests in hopes of rivaling other talk shows. Yet, they ultimately ended up disappointed. Eric had predicted that the show''s primary issuey with the host, Sophia Temple. It wasn''t a matter of her talent; simply put, her personality wasn''t suited for talk show hosting.

    Following the second week, despite the inclusion of more prominent guests, the ratings continued to slide. Eventually, CBS had to concede defeat. The episodes featuring Eric became an insurmountable peak for the talk show, and after the series was canceled, with Sophia Temple moving behind the scenes, the ratings never reached that height again.

    Of course, those were all matters for the future.

    ...

    The controversy over the director soon faded after the CBS talk show aired, especially since the episodes exhibited over twenty minutes of behind-the-scenes footage -- showing Eric setting up scenes, rehearsing with actors, and detailing the entire filming process. Large scenes like street blockades demonstrated that the tapes were not tampered with. Anyone who continued to raise doubts was merely testing the intelligence of the audience. George Norse stopped making noise after the show aired, as Columbia Pictures pressurized the magazine into firing him. After all, due to George Norse''s article, Columbia nearly faced immeasurable losses; doing nothing would have made them look like easy targets.

    Although other major studios discreetly cheerled for George Norse''s article turning the spotlight on Columbia, they didn''t want to risk facing a simr situation in the future. Consequently, due to his critique, George Norse ended up on the cklist of all six major filmpanies.

    *****

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 Chapter 158: Chapter 158: The Unforeseen Decline

    Chapter 158: The Unforeseen Decline

    ?

    [Chapter 158: The Unforeseen Decline]

    During this time, film critics primarily earned their ie from two sources: publicity fees from filmpanies and payment for published reviews in newspapers and magazines. Of course, top-tier critics often had additional revenue streams, like book deals or television appearances.

    However, George Norse clearly did not belong to the top tier. If he had, a magazine wouldn''t have so readily fired him under pressure from Columbia. Because of the cklist, whenever a new film was about to release, George Norse would not only fail to receive a dime in publicity fees; he would also miss out on invitations to film screenings or premieres. Without ess to exclusive previews, he couldn''t provide insights about films ahead of regr audiences. Newspapers and magazines weren''t very enthusiastic about reviewing movies already released, which massively reduced his writing ie. Overall, his earnings plummeted by over eighty percent.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Being cklisted by the six major filmpanies meant George Norse could no longer remain in the critic circle; the reputation he built over many years evaporated into thin air. As a veteran of the game with years in the industry, he had known the rules well. There were certain lines you just couldn''t cross, and he had never done anything too outrageous in his career. After years of hard work, he had garnered a respectable reputation, even pulling in a coveted six-figure ie annually.

    Perhaps it was this prolonged sess that led George Norse to be a bit arrogant, forgetting his ce. He published several scathing articles, initially fueled by feeling ridiculed by Nicole; he meant to get even in a small way. Little did he realize how far-reaching that well-researched piece''s ''influence'' would be. By the time he understood how badly he''d miscalcted, it was toote, and he had effectively ended his career.

    ...

    After the first week wrapped up, perhaps due to the turmoil, or maybe because of Eric''s boost from the publicity, the movie grossed over sixteen million during the first four workdays, amassing over forty-three million in the first week -- three million more than Columbia had anticipated. This number filled Columbia with confidence.

    Meanwhile, as they rified the issues surrounding the paid reviews, the pre-discussed ''topic marketing'' campaign kicked off, starting with several entertainment newspapers vehemently criticizing the product cement in the film.

    One headline read, "The Ad Spectacle: We''re not watching ''Running Out of Time,'' but ''Running Out of Ads''!"

    This series of eye-catching headlines pushed the topic into the limelight. Following the questioning surrounding the criticisms, the media''s tone shifted to a more humorous stance. Columbia seized the opportunity, directing the majority of mediamentary toward a more mocking attitude before theirpetitors could react.

    Shortly after, they released a survey report about audience reactions. Columbia had prepared this ahead of time, targeting audiences just exiting the theaters, asking for their opinions on the product cements.

    Among a random sample of 1,000 viewers, 76% did not notice the product cements; 15% sensed their presence but didn''t care; 7% paid some attention, while only a mere 2% said they strongly disliked the ads.

    To ensure credibility, they published an entire stack of the survey report visuals in the papers. This piece effectively set the tone regarding the product cement controversy.

    Whenever this topic arose, many people noted that most hadn''t even realized ads existed within the film -- it wasn''t such a big deal. Coupled with other yful articles from Columbia''s critics, the public''s mindset quickly shifted.

    Then Columbia stepped up to rify, stating there were indeed ads in the film, but they weren''t as exaggerated as those "irresponsible" media outlets imed. They pointed to the recent controversy, asserting it was mere character assassination frompetitors.

    ...

    As the media maniption continued, more people grew curious about the advertisements in the film. Just as the survey indicated, arge number had initially been oblivious to their existence.

    By the time Columbia''spetitors noticed and began trying to steer public sentiment against the product cements, Columbia dropped another bombshell.

    On the second weekend of the movie''s release -- early Saturday morning -- several newspapers jointly published a statement from Columbia.

    "While the survey showed that advertisements did not affect the viewing experience for fans, to thank our supporters, after discussions with the production and distribution teams, we''ve decided to refund the $2 million received from product cements back to the fans. Starting from the day of this announcement, audience members can send in their guesses for all twelve product cements to the following address. We will randomly select 200 lucky viewers who guess correctly on a live television show, awarding each $10,000 in cash." Attached to the statement were details about where to send letters, the deadline, and rules such as one entry per ID, making multiple entries void.

    ...

    In an instant, the entire U.S. media buzzed again. Even many viewers couldn''t help but notice this tant publicity stunt.

    Yet, even with that realization, it couldn''t dampen the enthusiasm of the audience. After all, in thete ''80s, $10,000 was a significant amount for American families. Most people already had a habit of going to the movies during holidays, so if they could just mail in their guesses post-viewing for a chance at ten grand, why not? Additionally, with 200 winners, the odds seemed pretty favorable.

    The day after the statement was released, many theaters were packed to the brim,ting $13 million on that day alone. Sunday brought in another $11 million, and with over $8 million on Friday, the second weekend grossed a miraculous $32 million -- a nearly 20% increase during a fiercelypetitive summer release period and the only movie to experience a revenue spike during that summer.

    ...

    By the end of the second week, it earned over $49 million, bringing the cumtive total to $92 million. In contrast, another Columbia movie, Ghostbusters II, had been out for five weeks was already showing signs of fatigue, barely surpassing $90 million.

    The wave of interest caused Batman''s fourth-week earnings to drop 44%, only bringing in $16 million. Although the cumtive box office reached $148 million, if subsequent weeks saw a simr 40% drop, its box office would likely stay in the ten-million range. Given the current trend, it seemed likely to maintain more than ten millions for another three to four weeks, leaving the summer box office champion''s fate uncertain.

    This oue left many filmpanies stunned, with even Columbia''s executives feeling a sense of bewilderment over how quickly sess hade. Columbia''s stock quickly surged, exceeding a market value of $4.5 billion within weeks. Sony, which had nearly concluded a merger agreement, grew anxious, originally aiming to finalize by the end of September. Yet, Sony''s executives repeatedly asked to sign the final agreement in August, aware that securing the summer box office crown would keep the stock soaring.

    ...

    As the third week added a modest 26% drop, earning over $38 million, puzzled reporters attributed the trend to the public''s insatiable desire for unexpected windfalls.

    Though many filmpanies yearned to replicate Columbia''s promotional lottery model, the summer film season had already peaked. The current releases were essentially thest major productions trying to rake in profits, and using a simr promotional strategy on earlier films had little value.

    The films released afterward were predominantly regarded as lower-tier offerings rushing in forte summer money, so nopany dared to put up $2 million for a simr initiative -- much less $1 million. The risk was too great; even if a film grossed $100 million, after theater cuts and taxes, the profits often dwindled to the low millions. Eric''s sess was a rare exception in the industry; even the most profitable franchises, like Lucas''s, rarely brought home such substantial profits.

    Columbia''s strategy of using controversy to turn around the box office became a ssic marketing case for filmpanies to analyze.

    Eric wasn''t concerned about others mimicking this approach, as this operation was a calcted risk. One or two times, it could be seen as innovative, but if overused, audiences would quickly think, "I came to see a movie, not to count ads," leading to bacsh. Over

    time, it would be counterproductive.

    *****

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 Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Let Me Think

    Chapter 159: Let Me Think

    ?

    [Chapter 159: Let Me Think]

    "Eric, do you think I''m right?" In the study, Drew curled up in arge armchair, scribbling in her notebook filled with advertisement names as she leaned close to Eric.

    Eric took his eyes off the monitor, turned to look at her, and shook his head. "Nope. Why are you writing this? Do you want to enter the raffle too?"

    "Is that not allowed? It''s ten thousand dors!" Drew pulled back her notebook, propping her chin on her pen while pondering for a moment, then looked down and made another guess. "What about this time?"

    "Uh, still not right," Eric nced again, then helplessly rummaged through the stack of papers on his desk, finding a few printed sheets and handing them to her. "Here, take these and stop bugging me."

    "No way! I want to guess them all by myself," Drew shot back, her little legs dragging against the floor as she pulled her swivel chair a bit further away, as if the papers were too close would tarnish her pride.

    Eric shrugged and returned his gaze to the text on the screen, typing away on the keyboard. "But can you not ask me, the insider? That doesn''t really count as your skills, does it?"

    "Of course it counts! You''re part of my skills," Drew said, making a few more corrections. Eric couldn''t help but point out a ring mistake. "Look, television shots don''t count as product cement. Just swap it for a Canon camera."

    "Wow, how could you do that? I wanted to guess a few more times!" She pouted, angrily poking Eric before reluctantly correcting the mistake she hadn''t noticed. She had always thought that shot should count as product cement, and actually, many people had the same thoughts.

    Since it was also part of the marketing, many fans naturally considered it as product cement like Drew did. Columbia hadn''t made an official statement to rify, leaving the public to specte.

    After a brief moment of quiet, a small, soft body leaned onto Eric again. The warmth of her small frame and the faint scent of the girl made Eric slightly distracted.

    "Drew, stop messing around. If you''re not going to sit in the office chair, let me have it. The stool is really ufortable." Eric shrugged his shoulders, trying to dislodge her.

    Drew, however, clung tightly to Eric''s neck like a sticky candy. "Eric, I just thought of a great way to make money."

    "Why are you suddenly so interested in making money again?" Eric pulled her down from his back by her arm.

    "I got jealous," Drew said, slipping off Eric''s back while turning to sit on hisp, unabashedly stating her feelings.

    "Um, what''s there to be jealous about?" Eric gently wrapped his arm around the girl''s waist as a way tofort her, understanding that she was inspired by his earnings from two movies.

    ...

    But the reality wasn''t as morous as the media imed Eric had two hundred million in cash. Though the shares from Home Alone hadnded in his ount by early July, after repaying his two loans of fifty million each to the bank, Eric was left with only twenty million. That money needed to be shared with the actors as promised in their contracts, and just with Stuart Ronkel alone, he had to give away three million. He couldn''t be stingy with the other actors either, so Eric likely wouldn''t be left with much.

    Columbia wrapped up their payments within a month to woo Eric for the current project. However, there was no such agreement with Fox, meaning everything had to follow the rules. Eric would receive a share of up to 105 million due to the North American 35% and overseas 10% split. Given Eric''s current standing, while Fox wouldn''t deliberately dy payment, getting it settled within three months would already be good, and even though the movie, Pretty Woman, had been out for almost a month, Eric hadn''t seen a single paycheck.

    ...

    Now, watching the girl who seemed a bit down, Eric hadn''t expected the usually carefree girl to have such emotions -- it felt rather fresh.

    Drew fiddled with her pen, murmuring, "That''s over two hundred million... I don''t even know if I can make two hundred million in my life."

    "Let''s not talk about that. Didn''t you say you had a great idea to make money? Tell me, and I''ll help you strategize."

    Drew perked up immediately, gesturing with her fingers, "Alright, Eric. After that show, a lot of viewers called wanting those tapes to be released for sale. I think it''s a great opportunity! I heard that some videos sell for tens of millions of copies. If we sell even a hundred thousand, at thirty bucks each, that''s three million! After costs, we''d make a huge profit, right?"

    Eric didn''t rush to burst the girl''s bubble but asked, "Well then, I''d like to know whose money it is if we make it?"

    "Obviously it''s mine! I filmed the tapes with my hard work," Drew said, feeling slightly shy now, she stuck out her tongue yfully. "At worst, I''ll just give Columbia some of it. You wouldn''t want anything, right?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "That won''t work," Eric replied, feeling a bit ufortable. He let go of her, kicked the stool aside, pulled over afy leather swivel chair to sit down, then casually guided her back to exin, "You forgot the most important part: the content of the tapes."

    "Huh?" The girl blinked, confused.

    Eric seriously exined, "The content of the tapes, I won''t even mention that you included stars like Cruise and Hanks, plus a lot of extra actors and crew members, none of whom got paid for appearing. If you just want to keep them or show them for promotional purposes on talk shows, that''s fine, but if you n to profit, you''ll have to get everyone''s consent for the content in the tapes. Otherwise, you''ll just be waiting to get sued -- no matter if you could make a billion, it wouldn''t cover your legal fees. And getting permission from all those people is moreplicated than filming a big-budget movie."

    "Wow, that''s reallyplicated. Never mind then," Drew sighed and rested her head against Eric''s chest.

    Eric gently patted her back, "Alright, don''t be down. Making money is mainly a man''s job, you just need to dress up beautifully, okay? It''s gettingte, so head back to sleep. I need some quiet time to finish this script."

    "But I want to make money! The summer vacation is so long, it''s boring, Eric. How about letting me get a movie role? If I keep hesitating, I''ll turn into an idiot," Drew leaned against Eric, her little paw scratching his chest yfully.

    "Alright, alright. Let me think, think..." Eric rubbed his temples, ncing at the screeny on the desk, suddenly recalling something.

    *****

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 Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Golden Pair

    Chapter 160: Golden Pair

    ?

    [Chapter 160: Golden Alliance]

    It seemed to Eric that there had been a casual chat with a friend in a past life during the time when they were watching Sleepless in Seattle. They had talked about the film in passing and ended up tracing back through various inspirations for other movies, discovering that many films had drawn from the ssic performances of Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in that famous movie, An Affair to Remember.

    Of course, that wasn''t the main point. Eric recalled his friend mentioned something about An Affair to Remember''s video tape had be a massive seller, flying off the shelves with 2 million copies sold in no time at all. For the copyright-holding filmpany, that was practically a windfall.

    That movie had already been around for forty years. Although both leads had been Hollywood superstars at the time, so much time had passed, and since it wasn''t like the James Bond franchise that could keep churning out sequels indefinitely, itsmercial value had significantly diminished. Perhaps for one or two million, one could buy out all the copyrights to that film. Furthermore, Eric thought about the licenses he might need to negotiate in the future, and he figured the copyright holders would see this as leverage to raise their prices. It made more sense to buy up all the rights now.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Noticing Eric''s slightly excited expression, Drew Barrymore couldn''t contain her curiosity any longer. She scratched at Eric''s chest and hurriedly asked, "Eric, is there a good movie that suits me? Spit it out!"

    "Not a movie, but if you want to make some money, there''s a solid opportunity," Eric replied, picking up a pen and writing down the name of the movie. "Have you heard of this one?"

    Drew''s nced at the paper and honestly shook her head. "Nope."

    Eric patiently exined, "Well, you remember me telling you about my next film, right?" The girl pointed her lips toward Nicole''s room, which was outside the study. "Of course." "In that movie''s setup, the lead character, Annie, loved to watch the film. After my movie is released, the sales of the video tapes would definitely spike. So, if you''re looking to make some money, you might as well use some holiday time to find a way to buy all the rights to this old film. It''s been out for forty years; if the price is right, the studio will surely be willing to sell."

    Drew had a blind trust in Eric. If he had said the same thing to anyone else, they would''ve been full of doubts, but she wasn''t skeptical at all. Instead, she asked, "But if I buy it, where would I release the videotapes?"

    "Firefly Films is nning to establish their distribution channels soon, including video tape distribution," Eric answered while recalling the three-movie deal with Fox and feeling a tinge of regret.

    Back then, he was inexperienced and not too thorough in his considerations. So when signing agreements, he let Fox handle the video tape and TV broadcast rights, which meant Firefly was stuck waiting for their share. While it didn''t seem bad since many independent filmpanies didn''t even have a stake and were usually offered a one-time buyout, ultimately handing those rights over to Fox equated to losing a significant amount of ie. After all, the film''s buzz and reputation would be established by its release. If he could have his own video tape distribution, even if it wasn''t asprehensive as a bigpany, the profits would still be greater than what he would receive after those big corporations took their cut. Moreover, from what he had learned recently, smallerpanies with distribution capabilities often wouldn''t transfer the rights to anciry products like video tapes, even if they handed their movie''s distribution rights to the big studios. As the profits from these anciry rights grewpared to the total revenue, they could be a key funding source for medium-sized filmpanies. If apany had a decent film library, the extra ie from these rights could sustain its daily operations without needing to keep taking funds from box office receipts or investors. They could survive as long as they didn''t incur massive investment losses.

    Thus, Eric was eager to establish his own distribution channel soon, and he knew he wouldn''t allow any anciry rights for his next three movies to slip away.

    "But, Eric, I don''t have any money," Drew said with her big eyes, looking at him with a cute, pleading expression.

    Eric couldn''t help but pinch her soft, fair cheek. "You''ve got a card, just swipe it. If you make money, it''s your little stash; if it loses, it''s on me."

    "Well then, I''m going to do it!" Drew said as she nudged her cheek against Eric''s face. She leaned in to peck his lips but was blocked by a big hand. Unfazed, she stuck her little tongue out and licked his palm.

    "You were definitely a cat in your past life, loving to lick people''s palms," Eric said as he nudged the girl off hisp. "Alright, now that you''ve got work to do and money to make, it''s time for bed, right?"

    "Eric, it''s been ages since you held me to sleep," Drew said with a hint of mncholy.

    "I''m aw-abiding citizen," Eric replied with a mock ''disgusted'' look and pushed her toward the door. "And there are others around."

    When Drew heard ''others,'' she seemed delighted, rushing over to nt a kiss on Eric''s cheek before leaving.

    Eric chuckled, shaking his head at the closed door to the study, then turned his attention to the monitor to finish up the script. Barry Diller had personally called to remind him to keep an eye on the filming schedule. Even though American television shows aired while being filmed, they were nearing August, and with the show set to premiere in September, Eric only had a month left.

    ---

    "Eric, here''s the paper for today," Nicole said the next morning as Eric finished his workout, came back from his shower, and found her kindly cing the newspaper on the coffee table. "Thank you, Nicole." Eric took a moment to appreciate the new pink maid outfit she wore, then picked up the newspaper to nce through it while Nicole went back into the kitchen. A momentter, Eric spotted When Harry Met Sally... in the paper. Coincidentally, it was also released by Columbia, and surprisingly it had performed quite well. To his amazement, the star was Billy Crystal, who had hosted the Oscars several times, alongside Meg Ryan, who had initially yed the lead.

    Eric really liked this sweet-smiled star. However, it seemed her career had been quite rocky. It could be said she had poor taste in choosing scripts. It appeared that her two sessful movies had been with Tom Hanks -- one was Sleepless in Seattle, and the other came a few yearster; aside from those, she hadn''t had any standout films.

    The reason he thought of her choice of work as poor was that she had passed up a series of mega-hit movies, which seemed oddly miraculous. Starting from the 1990s, she had turned down roles, including one that would catapult a then-unknown Sharon Stone to stardom, simply because she refused to take off her clothes. Ironically, this sweet star had decided to go daring at the start of the new century to reinvent herself, trying to emte that sess by acting in a simrly themed movie like that and ending up flopping terribly.

    Looking at the box office numbers in the paper, it probably meant this sweet star would get a little spark of fame, though thanks to Eric, Hollywood''s history had shifted significantly. It was unclear how her luck would unfold in this reality.

    "Nicole, can youe here for a moment?" Eric called out, his mind wandering back to her

    appearance in the papers.

    "What''s up?" Nicole quickly came out, still holding a little spat.

    "Um, never mind, you can get back to what you were doing. We can chat after breakfast."

    "Oh," she mumbled, seemingly confused, as she turned and walked back.

    At the dining table, Drew scarfed down her breakfast, grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, and swiftly got up, eager to rush outside.

    "Come back, sit down, and finish your milk," Eric said, ring at her half-full ss of milk. "Are you trying to catch a flight to Mars? Why are you in such a hurry?"

    Reluctantly, the girl sat back down in her chair. "I need to buy the movie rights, you know." "Finish your breakfast properly first," Eric repeated, ignoring her excuse.

    "Hmph," Drew puffed her little nose, lifting her ss to gulp down the milk. "Is this good

    enough?"

    "Alright, go have fun."

    "Ugh, you''re the worst," Drew said, grabbing another napkin to wipe her mouth before

    heading out. Once at the door, she suddenly turned around to re at Nicole and then back at Eric. "While I''m not home, you two better not mess around, okay?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Flower Films

    Chapter 161: Flower Films

    ?

    [Chapter 161: Flower Films]

    "Eric, were you about to say something to me?" Nicole asked as she returned to the living room after washing the dishes. She noticed that Eric wasn''t heading to the office like usual but was instead sitting in the living room reading the newspaper. The smart woman realized he was waiting for her.

    Eric gestured for her to take a seat across from him before saying, "We''re expecting to start filming in early September, and I happen to have a little downtime right now, so I thought we should discuss the movie."

    Nicole simply nodded, looking at Eric while waiting for him to continue.

    "It''s been two months, and I''m sure you''ve memorized the script inside and out by now. Let''s hear your thoughts on the lead female character," Eric said, putting the newspaper down on the coffee table, propping his legs upfortably, and asking a question often posed during auditions.

    In the past two months, Nicole had indeed memorized her lines thoroughly. After a brief moment of thought, she replied smoothly, "I believe Annie''s biggest trait is that she is an extremely emotional woman. That''s also the main reason why this story unfolds. She hears about the male lead''s story on the radio and is willing to fly to Seattle alone just to meet Sam. She even breaks up with her fiance, all because of a beautiful fantasy sparked by a movie." "Sounds like you''re not exactly fond of this character, huh?" Eric asked with a smile. Nicole pursed her lips. As a savvy and rational woman, she would scoff at someone like Annie Reed in real life, but she cleverly avoided answering Eric''s question directly. Instead, she replied more delicately, "That doesn''t mean I won''t be able to portray the character well." Eric shrugged and pushed the newspaper he had seen earlier toward her. "Take a look at this. I found another actress who seems more suited for the role. Her name is Meg Ryan."

    Nicole''s hands, which had been resting on her apron, trembled slightly. She raised her eyes to gauge Eric''s expression but couldn''t find anything useful. Feeling anxious, she picked up the newspaper and quickly skimmed through the promotional material.

    Eric exined, "This movie''s been doing well, so Meg Ryan''s box office appeal is bound to increase significantly. If we could get her for the lead role, it would set us up nicely for a New Year release, which would be a huge boost for the box office."

    "I... I already signed a contract," Nicole weakly protested.

    "Of course, I didn''t say I wanted to rece you. I''m just pointing out a possibility," Eric said. "If your performance doesn''t meet my expectations, the contract clearly states that I have the right to rece the lead actress at any point. But I believe in your potential -- that''s why I''m giving you this chance."

    From his memory, Nicole had indeed yed a sweet, naive character in Bewitched back in 2005, coincidentally also written and directed by Nora Ephron. The sweet witch Isabel she portrayed was a sess,pletely overturning her previous sultry and chilly screen image. Unfortunately, that movie had too many plot holes andcked any highlights, ultimately leading to its failure. The male lead Will Ferrell had also been overshadowed by her performance, often upstaged by his agent character, who bore a striking resemnce to Tom Cruise. Many thought that character had been intentionally included by the producers to stir up conversations -- after all, Cruise did y an agent in that film, albeit a sports agent. "...Thank you," Nicole said, feeling a bit relieved after Eric''s finalment.

    "Alright, one more thing. You''ve been living in my house for over two months now; it''s time for you to move out."

    "Ah, but... isn''t it still a month until we start filming?" Nicole raised her head. Although her expression had no signs of reluctance, she felt a bit anxious. She knew that what she had to do tond this role was serve as Eric''s little maid for a while. With over a month still to go, his request for her to leave created a sense of unease, akin to buying something at a convenience store without paying enough -- the owner had the right to demand it back.

    Eric didn''t really understand why she felt anxious and patiently exined, "Once next month starts, we''ll begin official preparations. Some details will gradually be released to the public, like the male and female leads. The media will be curious to know who you are, so for promotional purposes, you''ll need to make appearances now and then. It wouldn''t be appropriate to keep living here."

    Nicole nodded. "I understand. So should I... move out today?"

    "No need to rush. I''ll have someone find you an apartment first. Another important thing: once you move out, make sure to watch that film a few more times. I want you to study Meg Ryan''s acting style. The Annie I envision would be quite simr to her character in that movie."

    "Should I mimic her?" Nicole asked, leaning slightly forward to rify.

    Eric gestured as he spoke. "No, not mimic. You wouldn''t be able to; your styles are fundamentally different. Meg Ryan is that quintessential sweet girl star, and her roles will limit her for quite a while. If you end up mimicking her too closely, you''ll likely bebeled as just another sweet girl star, which won''t help your future career. What I want you to study is that kind of charming clumsiness and little details in her mannerisms."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    If she could sessfully break into Hollywood, Nicole wouldn''t mind whatbel she wore; after all, being a sweetheart was far better than being just eye candy in the industry. Still, she could tell Eric was considering her future, so she nodded obediently.

    After discussing a little more, Eric stood up and put on his jacket. "Alright, take some time to pack your things. Once you find a good ce, move right in. I''m heading to the office now."

    Nicole quickly stood up, smiling at Eric as she wanted to see him off.

    Seeing her rarely disyed smile, Eric couldn''t help but pause. "Nicole, smile for me again." Nicole looked a bit confused butplied, showing a smile that was slightly more exaggerated than before, revealing her two little front teeth.

    Eric shook his head in disappointment. "Forget it. Don''t smile like that. You look like you''re plotting something bad. A smile like earlier was just fine -- practice that more."

    "I will," Nicole said as she apanied Eric to the door.

    After he left, she returned to the vi and habitually cleaned up a bit. Two hourster, finishing everything, she sat on the living room sofa, staring nkly at her surroundings.

    ...

    "Eric, here''s the information for New Line Cinema and Miramax," Allen, Eric''s assistant, said as he set two envelopes in front of Eric at the Firefly office.

    "Just put them here for now. Contact Robert Shaye from New Line and the Weinstein brothers from Miramax. Find out when they''re avable. I want to have dinner with each of them, and there''s no need to hide the purpose -- just give them a hint," Eric instructed while writing something down.

    Allen jotted down Eric''s instructions in his memo before looking up. "Eric, is there anything else?"

    "Yeah, wait a second," Eric continued writing, then handed a note to Allen. "There are also two more things. First, find a rental apartment in Beverly Hills. It shouldn''t be too expensive -- under $5,000 a month. Second, register a shell filmpany under my name ording to

    the name on this note. I have my reasons."

    Allen read the note aloud, "Flower Films?"

    "Uh-huh," Eric nodded without further exnation. "Go take care of it. I''d like the apartment sorted out quickly -- ideally, it should be rented out in the next couple of days."

    "I will keep an eye out, but will the apartment coste from thepany''s ount?"

    "No, it should be personal. Just get a good rental in order, and have the realtor prepare the contract," Eric replied.

    Allen attached the note to his memo book and confirmed a couple of details with Eric before

    leaving his office.

    ...

    As soon as the office door closed, Eric opened the materials on the twopanies. Although his primary goal was to create a distribution channel for Firefly, he had no intention of starting from scratch. Time was of the essence, and acquiring apany with a distributionwork was the most efficient route.

    In his mind, the two promisingpanies he could think of for this purpose were New Line

    and Miramax. As for Lionsgate, which would soon emerge as a film giant, it hadn''t even hit the scene yet. Companies like Orion, Columbia, and Tristar had already tightly aligned with the major six studios, leaving no room for acquisition. Even if he offered hefty sums, the major studios wouldn''t easily let go once they realized he was aiming to establish an

    independent footing.

    While there were other second-tierpanies that wereparable to New Line and Miramax, Eric hadn''t heard of them in his previous life. Thosepanies had either been absorbed and lost their independence with no brand left, or they had gone bankrupt due to poor management or unsessful investments.

    *****

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 Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Missed Opportunity

    Chapter 162: Missed Opportunity

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 162: Missed Opportunity]

    After seriously reviewing the information on twopanies, Eric realized that perhaps due to having been established for over a decade, New Line had far more power than Miramax. The simplest evidence was in their distribution capabilities; as a second-tier filmpany, New Line could open nearly 1,500 screens for a movie, whereas Miramax was still in its infancy, managing to muster only four or five hundred screens at most for its releases. Furthermore, New Line had already begun its independent production business when Miramax was founded and now owned very profitable series rights, while Miramax was still in the phase of buying and releasing films worldwide.

    Reading this made Eric lightly tap the table, suddenly remembering something he had missed regarding Steven Soderbergh''s film, which had made him the youngest Palme d''Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival a few months prior.

    Eric had even reminded himself at the time to secure the North American rights to this film, but he had be so wrapped up in the hectic filming schedule that he had inadvertently forgotten.

    If history had not deviated, that film would certainly have been picked up by the Weinstein brothers. In Eric''s memory, Miramax had risen to prominence thanks to this film, making a nice profit and gaining enough capital to enter the independent production realm, slowly forging its own path to sess.

    By July, Eric only knew that the film had won the Palm d''Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May, but he had yet to see any news in newspapers or magazines about its North American release. If Miramax had indeed secured the distribution rights to this film, it would be best for Eric to reach an acquisition agreement before the movie debuted. Otherwise, once it garnered a good box office, even if the Weinstein brothers agreed to the acquisition afterward, Eric would definitely have to pay a higher price. The rules of the industry were such that one film could significantly increase apany''s market value, much like how Pixar, which had originally been worth $50 million, saw its value soar twenty times due to its sess with Toy Story. In Eric''s vision, securing bothpanies simultaneously would be ideal, allowing them to develop along bothmercial and art film lines. With the ssic Oscar-winning films he recalled, even if Miramax returned to focusing on art films, it surely wouldn''t earn less than apanymitted tomercial filmmaking.

    ording to the data, New Line''s estimated market value was around $150 million, being a well-establishedpany with a substantial film library and valuable series rights. These series had been producing low-budget horror films annually since 1984, consistently turning a profit, and while the box office returns were not extremely high, they proved to be enduring. Though Miramax still found itself in a third-tier position, its estimated market value was around $20 million, thanks to the Weinstein brothers actively acquiring plenty of film resources over the years. Eric understood well that Miramax''s true value didn''t lie in itsbel or the films in its library, but rather in the Weinstein brothers themselves. In his past life, once the brothers abandoned Miramax in 2005, thepany quickly fell from grace, eventually being sold off to Disney for a bargain.

    Now, Eric knew that while he had just over $100 millioning in and could take out loans again, trying to acquire bothpanies was more than just a matter of simple cash -- it would inevitably involve negotiations over equity swaps. He believed that with Robert Shaye and the Weinstein brothers'' sharp minds, even if he managed to secure enough funding through loans with the intention of a full acquisition, those three wouldn''t agree. There was more value in exchanging equity for a potentially thriving filmpany than a straightforward buyout.

    As he pondered these matters with a furrowed brow, Jeffrey knocked and walked in.

    ...

    "News from Venice just came in; the film sessfully entered the mainpetition. Also, Jonathan Demme revised the movie again per your suggestions. Eric, do you want to take another look?"

    "Yeah, I''ll head to the screening room now," Eric nodded, temporarily setting aside the thought of acquiring bothpanies as he followed Jeffrey out of the office.

    "What were you just thinking so deeply about?" Jeffrey asked casually as they walked side by side.

    "New Line and Miramax''s information, you know how it is," Eric replied. "I want to take bothpanies at once, but I don''t want to give away too much equity."

    Jeffrey fell silent; he understood that as thepany expanded, he might not have the capability to support the entire operation. Just previously, he had only been responsible for a few films that Eric produced and financed, and he didn''t even have to worry about distribution. However, after acquiring newpanies, Firefly would have to venture into distribution, an area where Jeffrey had no prior experience, and he would certainly have to relinquish the CEO position.

    Yet after a brief moment of uncertainty, Jeffrey soon felt at ease. As long as Firefly remained Firefly, he had always aimed to build it into arge filmpany. Now that there was momentum, what was his positionpared to that ambition? Ever since his earlier stubborn choices led to the original Firefly''s bankruptcy due to his own directorial efforts impacting his wife, Jeffrey had be more self-aware. Although he would asionally grumble and offer small suggestions regarding Eric''s film production, he never interfered with content creation because he knew he didn''t have that talent.

    Thinking through this, Jeffrey pped Eric on the shoulder. "If it doesn''t work out, take your time. I''ve looked over the materials for bothpanies and, honestly, I lean more towards New Line. Even if it means swapping some shares, it''d be worth it. Miramax feels too small; I can''t see what you find appealing about thatpany."

    Ericughed slightly, "You''ll understand in time."

    As they spoke, they entered Firefly''s screening room, where Jonathan Demme likely pulled another all-nighter, evidenced by the dark circles under his eyes, showcasing how much he valued this film.

    *****

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 Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Unpleasant Factors

    Chapter 163: Unpleasant Factors

    ?

    [Chapter 163: Unpleasant Factors]

    In a foggy mansion on a small ind off the coast of Ennd, thedy of the house, Grace, woke once again from a nightmare. She wiped her eyes and mustered her strength to start yet another busy day. With her husband away, she had to be strong.

    For some unknown reason, the household staff had mysteriously disappeared a while back. So, Grace had put up an ad seeking new help, and today three people came for the job. There was an elderly gardener with white hair, a sprightly old woman, and a timid mute girl. The peculiar trio looked quite odd, but with no other applicants after such a long time, Grace epted them and introduced the various rules of the mansion.

    It seemed that the arrival of the three was linked to the strange urrences that began happening around the house. Her daughter Anne imed she saw a little boy, and Grace herself started hearing odd noises. Additionally, she noticed that the three new servants were often muttering to each other, as if plotting something, which made Grace increasingly uneasy.

    One day, however, her husband, who had been off fighting in a war, returned home. ted, Grace believed that with him back, life would get back on track. But her husbandcked the joy of reunion, instead growing sorrowful at the sight of Grace and the children. After a few days at home, he suddenly left again.

    The strange happenings persisted, and coupled with her husband''s departure, Grace''s mental state continued to fray. One day, she discovered that all of the mansion''s curtains had been removed. She had repeatedly emphasized that her sick children should not see sunlight, and in her fury, she med the three servants and chased them away.

    One evening, the yful kids climbed out of their bedroom window and made their way into the backyard garden. When little Anne spotted three gravestones, she was horrified to discover the names inscribed were those of the new servants who had recently arrived in their home. At that moment, the three servants emerged from the shadows once more. Anne called for her brother and they ran towards the front door. Coincidentally, Grace, having uncovered the ''truth,'' dashed out with a revolver, shielding her children as they returned to the mansion, blocking the three ghosts outside.

    As Grace pleaded for the spirits to let her family be, the children upstairs suddenly screamed. Grace prayed as she climbed the staircase, pushing open a door. Through a seance conducted by a medium, she finally saw the reality: she and her two children were already dead.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Holding her children helplessly, the distraught mistress was forced to recall the sorrowful past. Amid the murmurs of Grace and her two children, the movie came to a close. The credits had yet to be made, so the lights in the screening room came on directly.

    ...

    "How did it go, Eric?" Jonathan Demme asked,cking confidence. Despite making

    substantial edits based on Eric''s suggestions, Jonathan still felt uncertain whether Eric would be satisfied.

    They wrapped filming in mid-June, and some post-production was done back in the UK because they asionally needed to reshoot some scenes. The entire crew stayed in Ennd until July before returning to the States.

    After the wrap, Eric had visited the UK shooting set to check on the production and reviewed some footage Jonathan had shot. He was very pleased with Jonathan''s results. Perhaps buoyed by Eric''s earlier affirmation, Jonathan confidently presented his edited version -- the so- called director''s cut -- believing it would be well-received by Eric.

    However, reality hit Jonathan hard when Eric, frowning as he reviewed his cut, indicated for the staff to start the film over. He took notes at a rapid pace, and by the time the film finished screening again, Eric had already written over twenty notes detailing necessary changes, covering everything from shots to music to editing, basically dismissing Jonathan''s entire cut.

    While Jonathan was frustrated, he had to yield because he did not possess final cut rights, and ended up making significant modifications ording to Eric''s notes.

    After implementing Eric''s suggestions, Jonathan watched the final cut and recognized that this version indeed excelled over his original edit. Not only was the story far more tightly woven, but the suspense and psychological environment were far better established, which left Jonathan awed by this young man, who was over twenty years his junior.

    Though Jonathan had prepared extensively for the director''s position and proposed concepts that aligned with Eric''s vision, many of his techniques still fell into the cliche of old- fashioned horror films. It wasn''t a matter of Jonathan not wanting to adapt; many habitual elements weren''t easily changed. Innovation was always easier said than done in any field. When Jonathan asked Eric again, Eric didn''t rush to answer. He leaned back in his seat, meticulouslyparing the original film in his mind with the one he had just seen, determining the discrepancies and simrities. Eric had high hopes for the box office potential of this movie among the three films funded by Firefly Films. Thus, he was particrly invested in it.

    The other film Steel Magnolias was under Herbert Ross''s full control, and Eric wasn''t involved in the editing of it at all. While Eric held final editing rights, he would be very respectful of Al Pacino''s opinions when it came to post-production of Scent of a Woman. Compared to those, the production of this film seemed somewhat ''stubborn.'' He knewpletely dismissing Jonathan''s director''s cut would be damaging, but for the sess of the film at the box office, it was a necessary step.

    Eric''s ability to list so many revisions after viewing Jonathan''s cut wasn''t merely due to talent; it was informed by the reference of the original film that yed in his mind.

    For any film, even with the same script and materials, the differences in editing by different people could be significant. Eric had heard of cases where someone edited a ssic serious historical film into a ridiculousedy, changing nothing but the order of shots. Thus, he did not require a perfect replica of what he remembered; after all, the previous version also had ws -- like the scene of Grace''s husband returning, whichcked the tension appropriate for a horror film. Eric had made some revisions in this version to enhance that aspect. After spending about ten minutesparing carefully, Eric nodded slightly. "Not bad, it''s basically ready. Just a couple of small detail tweaks, and for the premiere... Jeffrey, notify the heads of the other four major filmpanies about the internal screening, but don''t contact Fox and Columbia. Let''s see if they''re interested."

    Jonathan let out a sigh of relief at Eric''s affirmative words, while Jeffrey hesitated. "Eric, is it really wise to omit Fox and Columbia? After all, our coboration with them has been the

    closest?"

    Eric shrugged, exining, "Given the current situation, Columbia is experiencing significant personnel changes after being acquired by the Japanese. How they''ll manage Columbia is still uncertain, and I''m worried about our share -- whether we''ll receive them on time. So for now, we should avoid coborating with them. As for Fox, they already hold the distribution rights for my next two films. Involving them further will only have uspete with ourselves for our own resources."

    Jeffrey suggested, "How about we traditionally invite folks from Fox and Columbia? If they decide against coboration, it''s ultimately still our call. Not inviting them coulde off as

    rude."

    Eric thought it over and nodded. "Alright, we''ll do it your way. Also, let''s have them screen together. For Al, let''s just put it aside for now. He can take his time with it; as long as it gets a small-scale screening by the end of the year, that''ll be fine. After all, it''s his movie aiming for

    the Oscars."

    Once they wrapped up their discussion on the film''s release, Jonathan Demme finally had a chance to interject. "Eric, are you going to the Venice Film Festival in September?"

    "Yeah, I''ll at least make it to the opening or the awards ceremony," Eric replied.

    It had been an entire year since his rebirth, and Eric had been busy to the point of never having a moment to just rx. Perhaps this trip to Venice could serve as a mini-vacation. As for winning awards, his expectations weren''t particrly high. While the plot of this film was innovative, it was both amercial and a horror film -- two categories often looked down upon by festival judges. The fact that it managed to be shortlisted for the mainpetition at Venice was already quite a remarkable oue.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Real Loss

    Chapter 164: The Real Loss

    ?

    [Chapter 164: The Real Loss]

    "I found an apartment in Beverly Hills for $4,000 a month. You can call this number tomorrow and mention Allen Fisman''s name, and a real estate agent wille to meet with you to sign the contract." That night, Eric returned home, and after dinner, he took out a business card to hand to Nicole. Before she could even reach for it, a small hand swiftly snatched the card away.

    "Wow, wow," Drew eximed, waving the business card around with a triumphant smile at Nicole. "So, you''re finally moving out?"

    Nicole shrugged helplessly, sitting back elegantly on the couch without any intention of arguing or answering Drew''s question.

    During this time, she figured out a way to deal with Drew, who seemed to be just a little brat. Even though she often felt like running to the kitchen to grab a knife to scratch that annoying doll face, Nicole always maintained an air of grace, pretending that she wouldn''t stoop to a petty fight with her.

    She even spected about Drew''s reasons for bothering her. This seemingly carefree girl, although only fourteen, was as sharp as a little imp. Nicole thought that Drew''s childish antics didn''te from an innocent desire to bully others; rather, she just wanted to create chaos and provoke a reaction, hoping Nicole would lose herposure and fight back.

    If things escted to a breaking point, one of them would surely have to leave the mansion, and Nicole knew that even if she stood on the moral high ground, she would be the one shown the door at the end. Nicole didn''t mind a falling out with Drew, but she was terrified of losing her chance at being a leadingdy, and the thought filled her with fear.

    Through this time of interaction, she increasingly understood the value of being Eric''s leadingdy, and thus grew even more respectful in his presence. Compared to this opportunity, spending a couple of months as a maid in the mansion felt like nothing. If she could secure the oue, she wouldn''t mind wearing a sexy little uniform for a year. Many women often struggled for a decade in Hollywood without finding such an opportunity, making a few months, or even a year, seem trivial.

    Amid various media reports, not to mention the flourishing Julia Roberts, even that actress who only appeared for a few minutes, Brooke Shields, recently snagged a major lead role in a Warner Bros. film, with newspapers specting her pay would approach three million dors -- almost the same as many top actresses. Before participating in the project, Brooke Shields, while beautiful and morous, had only been regarded as a third-rate star, and her acting had consistently faced criticism from the media, with her box office appeal being nonexistent.

    Although Eric had made a series of promises and there was a contract involved, she still maintained a careful attitude until thest moment.

    "Alright, Drew, give the business card back to Nicole. If you don''t want her to leave, I wouldn''t mind letting her stay a little longer," Eric said, shooting a re at Drew, who was waving the card.

    Knowing that Eric was just joking, the girl yfully stuck out her tongue and with a mischievous grin rolled up the business card. She leaned in close to Nicole and stuffed it down the neckline of her maid''s outfit, adding with a smirk, "So sad; there''s nothing to hold on to, it just fell out."

    Nicole shot a nce at Eric, knowing she wouldn''t receive a response, wearing a hurt expression. Normally, patrons at strip clubs would stuff bills down dancers'' outfits to encourage them to disrobe, and if someone did that to an ordinary woman, she would likely p them across the face.

    Seeing Eric maintain his detached demeanor as he watched the children y, Nicole could only reach down to cover the business card that had fallen to her abdomen and stood up to head to the restroom to retrieve it.

    ...

    Once Nicole ducked into the restroom, the little troublemaker jumped into Eric''s arms, "What''s wrong? Feeling sorry for her?"

    "It wasn''t easy for Nicole," Eric chuckled. "She''s been bullied by you for over a month without saying a word. If it were me, I would''ve just sshed some acid on your face by now." He gently pinched Drew''s youthful cheek as he spoke.

    "She wouldn''t do that," Drew huffed lightly, her body moving as she settledfortably against Eric''s thigh. She reached up to scratch at the stubble on his chin. "It''s only brainless girls like Aniston who would act like that, and this woman, she wouldn''t do anything unless it benefits her."

    "Ha, next time I see Jenny, I''ll definitely pass along your opinion."

    Drew waved her hand, her expression nonchnt. "Whatever, let that little fat girl face reality quickly; the world is dangerous. She should just dig a hole and bury herself."

    Eric couldn''t help but smile, "I think if Jenny digs a hole, she will definitely bury you first."

    "Ha, she doesn''t have that ability," Drewughed before her expression turned serious. Lowering her voice slightly, she said, "Eric, I don''t care how you y with dumb girls, just don''t engage with that woman in the restroom. It could lead to trouble."

    "Yeah, ever since a certain little imptched onto me, I haven''t dared to mess with the same type of women anymore."

    "I mean it," Drew insisted as she yfully swatted Eric''s chin. "It''s also your fault. Others can y around with girls, but you always end up entangled with them afterward."

    Eric realized Drew was referring to Virginia and helplessly turned his head to evade her yful swats. "Alright, I get it."

    The sound of clicking heels approached, and both paused the conversation. Nicole returned to the sofa, her expression neutral as she resumed chatting with Eric, but in the back of her mind, she recalled Drew''s earlierment and considered the little girl''s fierce guarding against her. Suddenly, it dawned on her that she might have missed a better opportunity. Initially, Nicole had felt a little proud of snagging this role without having to sacrifice anything physically. Now, she realized that not paying those dues was the real loss.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Borrowing Money

    Chapter 165: Borrowing Money

    ?

    [Chapter 165: Borrowing Money]

    Late at night, in Nicole''s bedroom on the second floor of the vi, she looked at the packed suitcase and suddenly felt as though her experiences over the past two months were like a dream.

    Seven years earlier, she received her first opportunity to act in a music video, and it was that experience that made her realize her life could be more dazzling. Ambitious women often seek more. So she quickly dropped out of a girls'' high school, searching for opportunities while studying at a drama academy. Over the years, shended supporting roles in several films and television shows and even won an award for Best Actress from the Australian Film Institute. However, that was far from enough to satisfy her; her gaze had never settled in the small pond of the Australian entertainment industry. She longed for Hollywood.

    Earlier in the year, she auditioned for a Hollywood film in Australia. Although she had gone in with confidence, she ultimately did notnd a role. She realized she was already 22 and couldn''t afford to wait any longer. So she packed her bags and ventured alone to Los Angeles. Soon after arriving, she quickly faced the harsh reality: her experience and awards in Australia didn''t help her much in her career. She was essentially a neer and could only manage to snag small parts in some unknown films or TV shows. Then, two months ago, her career finally took a significant turn. A rising young director in Hollywood, Eric Williams, had his eye on her. He offered her a chance to work as his maid for a few months, after which she could y the lead in his new film.

    "How could anything be this good?"

    As she walked out of that office, the voice echoed in her mind. Over the next few days, she struggled with her emotions; she desperately craved the opportunity, yet she feared that agreeing would lead her into a hellish existence, possibly turning into a lifelong nightmare. She wasn''t an inexperienced girl; she had heard plenty of stories about women being toyed with and abused.

    A few dayster, she ultimately sumbed to temptation and made the move. However, the horrifying scenarios she''d imagined did not materialize. She wasn''t stripped and locked in a basement, nor did she suffer any form of abuse. Instead, he simply dressed her up beautifully and had her doundry, cook, and make the bed for him every day. His life was healthy and orderly, with no bad habits, and even without the frivolity that often followed fame. At just eighteen, he was asposed as a middle-aged man who had seen it all.

    He was young, wealthy, talented, and handsome. Most women would have deemed him the total package, possessing nearly every admirable quality in a man. Even though she rationally told herself that this situation was unlikely to lead anywhere profound, she found herself developing a mild crush on this younger man.

    In the early days, she even attempted to flirt with him, but to her disappointment, it only led to awkward situations. He found her attempts amusing and treated them like a performance, watching her with great enjoyment. If she hadn''t known he had a girlfriend and a mistress, and that he kept a little minx at home who sometimes spent the night out, she might have wondered if he was gay, considering how high the percentage of gay men seemed to be in Hollywood.

    Lost in her thoughts, Nicole changed into her pajamas, neatly hanging her sexy maid outfit in the closet. After closing the wardrobe, she climbed into bed, turned off the bedsidemp, and tossed and turned in the darkness for a while.

    "Perhaps, just one more try."

    Thinking back to the conversation she had overheard between Eric and Drew after dinner, she couldn''t shake the idea. While being unable to be this man''s girlfriend or wife wouldn''t save her ten years of striving, at least she could make asting impression. From what she gathered from their discussion, she figured this could only help her career.

    After some time, she finally devised a decent excuse. It wasn''t so much an excuse; she had intended to bring it up that evening, but that little minx Drew had been there, and she didn''t want to be mocked. So she decided to wait until tomorrow to mention it, and now the perfect opportunity hade.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    She fumbled to turn on the bedsidemp, sat up, thought for a moment, then opened her suitcase, pulled out a bottle of perfume, and sprayed it on herself a few times. She rarely used this particr scenttely, as after trying it once, Eric had said it was too strong for his liking, prompting her to stop using it to please him.

    But perhaps it would have some effect this time. The perfume was rose musk, known for its supposed aphrodisiac qualities. Checking her watch, she sat on the bed for a bit, and when the hands pointed to midnight, she quietly opened the door and carefully made her way down the hall to Eric''s room.

    She lightly knocked a few times and took a deep breath, patiently waiting. She knew he could hear her; he typically worked in his study until after eleven and surely wasn''t asleep yet.

    After a moment, the door opened, revealing Eric in his pajamas, looking puzzled at Nicole, his eyes subtly flickering. "Nicole, it''ste. What''s up?" he asked.

    "Eric, this is a bit awkward to bring up, but I don''t know many people here in Los Angeles, and I don''t have anyone who can really help..." Nicole initially appeared calm, but her demeanor turned anxious.

    "Yes?" Eric still hadn''t moved aside to let her in.

    "I''m saying... could I borrow some money? Didn''t you mention the rent for that apartment is... is four thousand dors a month? But I don''t have much left." Her voice wavered slightly; it wasn''t an act. She had stuttered as a child, and even though she had ovee it while growing up, she still stumbled over her words when she was nervous.

    Eric leaned against the doorframe and nodded. "I see. Wait here for a moment while I grab my checkbook." He turned, and just as he realized he ought to remind her of something, she followed him into the bedroom. He had no choice but to let her; thankfully, he had forced that little minx into the closet or it could have turned into a real hassle.

    "Will one hundred thousand be enough?" Eric asked as he found his checkbook and looked up

    at her.

    Nicole quickly nodded. "That''s plenty! I... I''ll pay you back as soon as I receive my paycheck." "No need to rush. Just pay me back whenever you have the money. I believe you''ll be rolling in it once your first movie hits theaters. Remember, Julia was still renting a ce earlier this year, and now she''s bought herself a mansion in Beverly Hills and hired a bunch of assistants and bodyguards. She''s bigger than I am," Eric casually mentioned Julia''s rise, focusing on filling in the check.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Go to the Closet [NSFW]

    Chapter 166: Go to the Closet [NSFW]

    ?

    [T/N: Because of NSFW, I had to manually edit the MTL version os this chapter. Quality of the chapter may be down from the usual.]

    [Chapter 166: Go to the Closet]

    After filling out the check, Eric tore it off and handed it to Nicole. However, he noticed that after taking the check, the woman had no intention of leaving. Moreover, while he was writing with his head down just now, the woman had unknowingly moved in front of him.

    Uh, this is...

    Before any words could be spoken, the woman had already thrown herself into his arms, her warm breath kissing his face gently. The softness of her chest, separated by twoyers of nightgown, rubbed lightly against Eric''s chest, and he could even feel the slight hardness of her protruding nipples.

    "Eric, please don''t reject me," the woman said, squinting her eyes, wrapping her arms around Eric''s shoulders, licking his ear like a cat, and speaking in a dreamy manner.

    Smelling the perfume emanating from the woman, which was different from her usual fragrance, Eric inexplicably felt a stir of emotion and couldn''t help but want to wrap his arms around her waist for a little indulgence. However, the wardrobe behind Nicole suddenly opened slightly. Drew poked her head out, warning Eric with a bared tooth, and then quickly retreated.

    Eric could only gently push the woman who was clinging to him away and say, "Sorry, Nicole, you should go back."

    The woman, unwilling to give up, leaned in and quickly grabbed Eric''s little brother with one hand: "Eric, you clearly want it too."

    "Wanting doesn''t necessarily mean doing it, this..." Eric hadn''t finished speaking when the woman had already crouched down. Eric immediately felt his raging little brother being pulled out by a small hand, followed by two wet, soft lips wrapping around him tightly, pulling him inward, into the abyss.

    "Wow..." The unprecedentedfort made Eric unable to help but exim, and he no longer felt any resistance. Hisrge hand also rested on the woman''s head, gently guiding her movements to making it more pleasurable.

    The closet across the room opened again, and the little girl, unable to endure any longer, jumped out barefoot. Eric quickly ced his hands on Nicole''s head to prevent the busy woman from suddenly looking back.

    "Eric, we agreed on this," looking at Nicole kneeling in front of Eric, her face showing strong displeasure, Drew silently mouthed words to Eric with her small hand gestures.

    "Be good, quickly get into the cab. It won''t be good if you''re discovered," Eric silently mouthed back.

    Drew frantically scratched her head, impulsively wanting to rush over, grab Nicole''s hair, and drag this bitch out of the house. But she knew that if she did that, it would also reveal to the other person that she had been in Eric''s bedroom. Although she had done nothing with Eric, just sleeping next to him, no one would believe that.

    She didn''t want that woman, Nicole, to find anything that could potentially damage Eric''s reputation, so she could only helplessly wave her hand again, point to the door, and return to the cab.

    Eric made a knowing expression, and after Drew returned to the closet, Eric firmly held the woman''s head and started moving vigorously.

    "Uh... cough..." Nicole was caught off guard by the sudden attack and was in a very awkward position. She could only look up at Eric, pleading for him to be gentler, not realizing that such a gaze would only further provoke his primal instincts. After a few minutes, Eric finally tooka quick step back andmanded the woman, "Use your hands!"

    The disheveled-haired woman was breathing heavily, her brainpletely stopped functioning, and she obediently reached out with both hands to grasp his little brother in front of her. Soon, Eric fixed her head again, and she stared wide-eyed as he began to ejacte, leaving her face and hair covered in a mess.

    Eric let out a deep breath, finished, and then cleaned up a bit in the girl''s mouth before pulling up his shorts. Feeling somewhat exhausted, he retreated to therge bed behind him andy down. Meanwhile, Nicole, without needing any instructions, turned and hurried to the bathroom.

    ...

    As the bathroom door closed, the faint sound of a woman''s dry heaving could be heard. Drew finally jumped out of the closet, her face flushed and breathing heavily. Peeking cautiously to confirm that the bathroom door was closed, she quickly bared her teeth and lunged onto the big bed, directly straddling Eric''s waist. She scratched at the man''s chest and said, "You bastard, although it feels satisfying to me to watch her degraded, it''s just too disgusting. I never thought you could be so perverted."

    "Stop messing around, get out quickly, it won''t be good if we get caught," Eric said softly, blocking the two little paws'' attack, showing no sign of remorse. Doing this for the first time was indeed very enjoyable, especially since that face belonged to an Oscar-winning actress in a past life, a goddess adored by thousands. Thinking of this, the desire Eric had just released showed signs of reigniting.

    Drew also understood the gravity of the situation, venting a bit of dissatisfaction before jumping off the bed and walking towards the door. Because Eric was lying in bed, he didn''t notice the girl''s unusual walking posture, let alone realize that her little pants under the nightgown were already soaked.

    Drew was not a conventional girl, or rather, the concept of rules had nothing to do with her. She had seen simr scenes in some adult films, but the blurry footage on a TV screen from that era could neverpare to the impact of a live performance. The little girl who saw this scene through the crack in the wardrobe door almost copsed directly into the wardrobe.

    ...

    The woman''s retching in the bathroom soon stopped, followed by the sound of the shower. More than ten minutester, the shower sound also ceased. Eric looked up at the bathroom door; the woman still hadn''te out.

    You wouldn''t be thinking of doing something irrational, would you?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric had this thought, and although he knew it was impossible given Nicole''s personality, he still got up and walked towards the bathroom.

    Under the bright fluorescent lights, Eric saw the bathtub filled with clear water, the slender, naked bodypletely immersed in it. She walked to the edge of the bathtub, crouched down, and looked into the water. The woman quickly spotted Eric. She poked her head out of the bathtub, instinctively covered her chest, then subtly let go and forced a faint smile at Eric. "Eric, can I... take a break first? We can continueter..."

    "Of course," Eric nodded, "do you mind if I join you?"

    Thedy hesitated for a moment, then gently shook her head.

    Eric took off his shorts and stepped into the bathtub, pulling the woman into his arms. He gently caressed Nicole''s lower lips, and after a while, he softly spread her long legs apart, fiddled around for a moment, found the right position, and inserted himself. The tightness and fullness made them both gasp at the same time, and he started moving.

    ...

    "Eric, do you need me to stay here a few more days?" After another round of fun, it was alreadyte at night. On the big bed, Nicole leaned against Eric and asked this.

    "No need," Eric shook his head, stroking the woman''s smooth back, slowly sliding down to her firm, rounded buttocks, gently kneading them. The woman was very slender, her chestcking any substantial curves, but this area felt quite nice to the touch.

    Nicole rubbed up against him, making it easier for the man''srge hands to knead her, and nodded, saying, "I''ll do as you say. If you want me, you cane find me."

    Eric didn''t answer immediately. After a moment, he said, "It seems you don''t have a car yet. When you leave tomorrow, you can pick one from the garage. It''s really inconvenient to be without a car in Los Angeles. Just return it when you have the money to buy your own." Because of the incident where the Lamborghini was spotted by paparazzi, Eric subsequently bought several different models of new cars and stored them in a warehouse for backup. This way, he wouldn''t have to worry about being easily recognized for always driving the same car. The treatment is indeed different, the woman thought to herself. She could tell that Eric lent her the car out of concern, not as a transaction or anything like that. But the girl would not waste the good impression she had worked so hard to earn on something as trivial as a car: "No, thanks. I will be going to New York to shoot a movie in a month anyway. I will just take a

    taxi."

    "Whatever, just call me if anything happens."

    "Mm," Nicole''s lips curled into a smug smile, and she immediately felt a pat on her perky bottom. Eric''s voice came through, "Let''s do it again, this time you''re on top."

    The woman reached down and then obediently straddled the man, her slender waist soon

    swaying back and forth.

    "Eric, do you want to hear me moan?" The woman asked, her hands pressed against Eric''s chest, her eyes sultry. In the previous two instances, she had been very passive, cautiously satisfying the man''s desires, showing no intention of taking the initiative. However, sensing the subtle change in Eric''s emotions, the woman grew bolder and began to tease him. Anyway, Drew already knows, so Eric has no reservations. He caressed the woman''s slender waist and said, "Go ahead, but don''t make it too loud, or you''ll attract the wild cats nearby." "Heh... not a chance." The woman replied with a smile, and then her lips began to emit

    enticing moans.

    ...

    At breakfast time, Drew, sporting faint panda eyes, red fiercely at Nicole, her bread turning

    to crumbs in her unconscious grip.

    Nicole, however, had a radiant look of someone who had just been pampered,pletely

    unfazed by her murderous re. She wasn''t the type of woman who liked to unt her advantages; she thought that was very unwise. So even though she had clearlye out on top in the end, thedy had no intention of showing off in front of Drew. Because she was leaving today, the woman changed back into her regr clothes. The pure white shirt and cream-colored casual pants made her look very intellectual, and with a pair of sses, she could easily pass for a school teacher.

    "I''m full," the little girl said, watching the two people in front of her flirting each other from time to time, or at least that''s how it seemed to her. She directly dropped the spoon in her hand, gulped down some oatmeal, wiped her lips, and walked out, her little leather boots

    making a loud ttering sound on the floor.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Hi

    Chapter 167: Hi

    ?

    [Chapter 167: Hi]

    Despite the intimate rtionship they shared, Nicole did not linger at Eric''s mansion for even a day. That very day, she obediently moved into the apartment Eric had arranged for her.

    As August rolled around, Running Out of Time that had been in theaters for four weeks still boasted box office figures exceeding $26 million -- a remarkable feat -- bringing its total gross to over $150 million. While it would take a stroke of luck to surpass that in theing weeks, the film''s North American total had already marked to clear the $200 million mark without any doubt.

    Moreover, its overseas performance was even better than in North America. Even though most foreign countries hadter release dates and several had not screened it yet, in the territories where it had, it had swiftly imed twelve opening weekend box office crowns. Given this context, it was clear the international box office would far exceed that of the domestic.

    Columbia had originally entered this project with the intention of boosting their stock price without expecting to turn a profit, but the reality was that they could not only break even but also make a tidy profit from ticket sales alone. The subsequent revenue from home video sales was also bound to contribute significantly to Columbia''s coffers. Although the payback period for video sales was lengthy, over the next few years, this revenue could easily add up to over $100 million in profits for Columbia Pictures.

    As for Eric, this project was now part of the past. All he needed to do was sit back and wait for his share.

    With such a hit on their hands, Hollywood would typically rush to produce sequels. However, Eric was determined not to get involved in the making of a sequel. He knew that the ssic nature of the first film was tough to surpass, and the sequels from his past life hadn''t stoodn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    -out.

    If a strong sequel script surfaced in the future, Eric intended only to involve Firefly in a limited investment. If the Columbia came back with a tempting offer, Eric might even consider selling them half the rights that belonged to Firefly. After all, with Tom Cruise''s character dead, and with only Tom Hanks remaining, a sequel would struggle to replicate the magic of the first film. Following the investment patterns in film, increasing costs for the sequel made profitability a daunting challenge.

    ...

    With the previous project behind him, Eric dove into an intense work schedule for thetter half of the year.

    First on his list was the two-episodes of Friends he needed to direct personally. Fox had already started drumming up interest in this project due to the product cements involved, generating significant public anticipation. Although Fox had high hopes, this project wouldn''t consume much of Eric''s energy, especially since he nned to stick to the second season''s script from his past life, which would simplify production considerably.

    As for his movie, even in the early stages of preparation, the promotional work had already kicked off, and the leads were soon announced. Many actors in Hollywood who had hoped to work with Eric felt disappointed once the leading male and female names were revealed. Tom Hanks faced minimal scrutiny over his role as the male lead. However, the sudden emergence of Nicole Kidman became a media frenzy. With the stars'' names in the open, paparazzi quickly stripped Nicole''s background down to the bare essentials in just a few days.

    An Australian actress, a recipient of acting awards, had debuted at sixteen with no Hollywood experience...

    Once her details came to light, she quickly became a hot topic of controversy. The disdain Hollywood often held for foreign actors seemed to have shifted to the media as well. Beyond the PR arranged by UTA, Nicole received scant praise and instead faced prevalent criticism. Most outlets deemed her unworthy of a leading role in Eric''s new film. From the title, the media spected that Eric was likely to return to lighthearted romanticedies.

    Thus, Hollywood reporters overlooked Nicole''s current image and gleefully uncovered her less polished roles in Australian films and television, ripping her to shreds.

    This criticism wasn''t without bacsh, with the Australian media being the most vocal. Eric, despite only having a handful of projects under his belt and a short rise to fame, had already garnered significant renown in Australia, rivaling that of big-name directors. Consequently, Australian outlets took great pride in one of their actressesnding a role in Eric''s new film,unching extensive counterattacks against the American press regarding their critiques of Nicole.

    Amidst this storm, Nicole felt no pressure at all. She understood that the more ruckus the media created, the bigger the spotlight would shine on her.

    ...

    On August 2nd, a massive soundstage at Fox''s lot quietly began filming. Among the six leads, only Jennifer Aniston possessed notable fame. The other young actors had previously been rtively unknown, but Eric selected them as they not only showcased solid talent but also bore simr style to the lead actors from his memories. Additionally, as neers, their sries were remarkably low at just $5,000 per episode.

    Eric initially wanted to capitalize on this and offer Aniston a higher pay rate; the information was kept confidential, ensuring that the other cast members would have no clue. Even if they did find out, they wouldn''t darein -- after all, Aniston was not just more famous, but she was also the producer''s daughter and the director''s girlfriend. Comparing themselves to her would be ratherughable.

    However, this kindhearted proposal from Eric was firmly turned down by the spirited young woman; she chose to take the same $5,000 per episode as the others. Unable to persuade her otherwise, Eric allowed this information to slip out, and unsurprisingly, it yielded positive results. Before long, just like in his former life, Aniston bonded with the other five leads, forming genuine friendships. This oue greatly benefited the filming process, as their real-life camaraderie would contribute to on-screen chemistry.

    "All set, Scene 1, Take 5!"

    With the sound of the first assistant director''s voice, the castmenced their dialogue at a cafe in Central Park.

    The scene depicted Ross, having divorced his wife Susan, appearing in the cafe with a gloomy expression and an umbre in hand. In the original version, David Schwimmer''s portrayal of Ross Geller made a striking entrance that left many viewers "in awe," simply with a casual "Hi." Instantly, audiences remembered the tall,nky character dressed in an oversized coat.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Freddys House

    Chapter 168: Freddy''s House

    ?

    [Chapter 168: Freddy''s House]

    While Chandler and the others were chatting, Ross suddenly appeared like a ghost behind the sofa in the cafe, holding an umbre, and shyly looking down while fiddling with his fingers. He weakly greeted them, saying, "Hi..."

    The previously cheerful atmosphere rapidly dissipated, and Chandler and the others'' expressions sank immediately.

    "Oh man, the moment he opens his mouth, I get this urge to off myself," Chandler quipped from his adjacent chair, just as the director called for a cut.

    ...

    "No, Ross, that little action you did was great, but the emotion in the lines just isn''t there yet. You need to be more wilted -- really let it simmer. I told you before how crucial this shot is for you; I want the audience tough as soon as they hear your first line, and I want them to remember you," Eric patiently exined to the actor portraying Ross, even addressing him by his character''s name.

    Nobody found it odd; they quietly watched Eric as he demonstrated, and even Jennifer

    Aniston, who was waiting nearby in her wedding dress, gazed up at her serious boyfriend with a look of admiration. Though young, Eric had already grossed over a billion at the box office as a director, so everyone present showed him great respect.

    "All right, everyone ready? Let''s do it again," Eric concluded, waving to everyone before settling back into the director''s chair.

    Due to the stringent requirements for Ross''s entrance, this little scene had been shot over ten times, and by the end, the actor ying Ross seemed noticeably anxious. But finally, they managed to get it right.

    "Jen, it''s your turn now," Eric said after a few more setups, turning to Aniston, who had been waiting patiently by the sidelines. The young woman quickly lifted her wedding dress and headed outside the Central Perk cafe.

    ...

    Since it was the first day of filming, the crew hadn''t shot many scenes, mainly focusing on getting the actors in sync. Although there were no cannedughter tracks in the studio, the atmosphere overall was remarkably pleasant. At first, most of the crew was on edge because Eric was personally directing, but as time went on and they got to know him better, they eased up, even sharing light-hearted jokes with him.

    After days of practice, the shooting pace picked up, and Eric had allocated a generous two weeks to prepare the first two episodes he directed. That was quite rxed, considering that after that, they would be shooting and airing simultaneously, which meant the crew would need to produce two episodes each week.

    ...

    "Eric, how about we go out for dinner tonight?" Aniston asked sweetly, snuggling up to Eric''s arm after a long day of filming. Since everyone around knew about their rtionship, the young woman had no intention of hiding it.

    "I actually have ns with someone, but if you don''t mind, you cane along." Eric replied as he scribbled on a document.

    Aniston raised her eyebrows slightly but couldn''t help asking, "Is it a guy or a girl?"

    "Um... definitely a guy."

    "I knew it," she pouted. "If it were a girl, you wouldn''t bring me along."

    "Besides you, I don''t think I''ve ever gone out to dinner with any other woman," Eric said, capping his pen and cing it in his folder, then gently pinching her cheek.

    Aniston shrugged off Eric''s hand. "I don''t believe you. Who knows what you''ve done behind my back? What''s up with Nicole Kidman?"

    "What''s up with her?" Eric feigned misunderstanding.

    You could tell Aniston wanted to directly ask if he had slept with her, but she swallowed the question. What could it change? Even if they hadn''t, she felt that it was possible for Eric to end up in bed with her in the future. And if they had, what could she do about it? Break up with him?

    After quickly finishing another document, Eric signed it and handed it to his assistant, Allen, before wrapping his arm around Aniston''s waist. "Okay, let''s go. We should head back and get ready. I''m meeting them at seven, which is in two hours. How about we stop by my ce? Drew has missed you."

    "Hum, I''ve missed her too," Aniston replied, immediately brightening at the mention of Drew''s name. Thest time the two girls had shed over Eric''s hospital bed, they hadn''t seen each other since. Aniston hadn''t been to Eric''s house in months; meanwhile, he usually spent the night at her ce. Because of that, she had remained oblivious to the situation with Nicole. It wasn''t until the newspapers reported that Nicole was cast as the lead in Eric''s new film that Aniston even learned of her existence.

    ...

    After saying goodbye to the crew, Eric drove Aniston back to his Beverly Hills mansion. Though he said all that, he felt a sigh of relief seeing Drew still absent from home. After the incident with Nicole, the girl had only given him the cold shoulder for a day; once Nicole left, she was back to snuggling up to Eric at night.

    Although this was Aniston''s second time visiting Eric''s mansion, her first experience had been slightly terrible, and she hardly remembered what his home looked like. Discovering that Drew wasn''t home, Aniston took on the role of hostess, exploring the spacious house inside and out, even flopping onto Eric''s big bed for a moment.

    "Hey, what are youughing at?" In Eric''s bedroom, while hugging a pillow, Aniston looked

    up when she caught Eric staring at her with an amused expression.

    Eric shook his head. "Nothing, I''m just curious if you''re marking your territory or

    something."

    "Hum," Aniston seemed slighted by his teasing and turned her back to Eric.

    Shrugging, Eric walked into the closet to pick out some clothes. Since Aniston was wearing a long dress that resembled an elegant gown, she could easily go to dinner without needing to

    change.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "All right, let''s go," Eric said after changing his clothes, turning to Aniston, who was still lounging on the bed.

    "Hmm," Aniston replied and didn''t get up right away; instead, she tilted on the bed and

    waved a long strand of hair at Eric, looking like she wanted an exnation.

    Eric shrugged. "That must have been one of yours that fell out just now."

    "..." Aniston struck, throwing the hair at Eric, clearly annoyed, and then buried her head in the pillow whileying face down.

    Eric approached her and yfully pped her on her raised backside. "Come on, don''t be sulking. We need to go."

    "Hmm..." Aniston wiggled a bit but didn''t budge. Eric smirked mischievously and suddenly said, "Jen, there might be Drew''s drool on that pillow."

    "Ugh... Ew, that''s gross." Hearing Eric''s words, Aniston sprang up like a spring, and the pillow flew at Eric as she dashed into the bathroom.

    ...

    "All right, don''t be mad," Eric said after getting out of the car, handing his keys to the valet while walking with the girl linked to his arm. "I told you, there''s absolutely nothing going on. That''s my pillow; even if there was, it would just be my drool."

    "Hum, your drool is worse," Aniston couldn''t resist touching her lips, rolling her eyes as she

    said that.

    They entered the restaurant and were led to a table nearby where a middle-aged man was already waiting. Upon seeing Eric, the man smiled, stood, and stepped forward to shake Eric''s

    hand.

    "Hello, Mr. Shea," Eric said as he shook hands with him, then introduced, "This is my

    girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston."

    Aniston politely shook hands with him before sitting quietly beside Eric.

    "Just call me Robert," the man said as he took his seat.

    Eric didn''t see much in the man''s expression nor did he care. He understood that this dinner wouldn''t seal any deals; it was merely a test on both sides, and they likely wouldn''t reach any consensus. After ordering, Eric started to chat casually with Robert Shea.

    "It''s definitely a ssic in the horror genre; the concept of dream killing is quite innovative, and as a master of horror, Wes Craven has a unique understanding of building that frightful atmosphere. To be honest, Firefly just finished shooting a horror film recently, and I considered Mr. Craven during the directorial selection. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, we could not coborate."

    As they chatted, the conversation flowed naturally to New Line''s ssic series, noting that

    while thepany had begun independent production back in 1979, it wasn''t until 1984 that they had their first sessful hit, allowing New Line''s status to rise significantly. Because of that, the series became of utmost importance to New Line, even earning it the nickname ''Freddy''s House,'' referring to the film''s main character.

    Hearing Eric''s light praise, Robert Shea couldn''t help but beam with pride. "Still, it can''tpare that to your film. Production cost of only a million made five hundred million at the box office, returning profits over 500 times the cost. That kind of return on investment may never be matched by any film again."

    "There will definitely be others," Eric said with a smile, recalling a certain film from the past that achieved great sess by sheer chance. Still, the undeniable miracle it created lingered

    fresh in his mind.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Circling

    Chapter 169: Circling

    ?

    [Chapter 169: Circling]

    Sitting quietly beside Eric, Aniston began feeling a bit dazed. When she came in, Eric had not hidden the purpose of inviting Robert Shay from her. However, as dinner progressed and they devoured most of their meal, they hadn''t touched on the subject of the filmpany acquisition at all.

    Instead, they meandered through various industry tidbits -- talking about MGM''s colossal losses, the box office miracle when Robert Shay was born in 1939, the meteoric rise of Disney, and the truth behind the bankruptcy of RKO Pictures. There was aplete absence of any discussion rting to the filmpany acquisition. At least, the not-so-bright young girl had not noticed any signs of that nature.

    At first, Aniston listened with keen interest, but as time went on, her enthusiasm faded. Still not wanting to seem rude or embarrass her boyfriend, she sat up straight and pretended to listen attentively, even though her mind had already drifted far away.

    It wasn''t until the waiter cleared away the tes and brought coffee for the group that Eric and Robert Shay''s ''casual chat'' still hadn''t ended.

    "... A recent magazine article published some figures suggesting that from next year onward, revenue from video tape sales and television broadcasting rights will surpass box office earnings, and the development of various peripheral rights for films has be increasingly diversified. Therefore, the role of distribution in the film industry chain is going to be more important. In the future, it will be tough for movie content providers to survive without effective distribution channels."

    "That''s somewhat one-sided. Without quality productions, there''s nothing to discuss about expanding distribution. Hollywood has cultivated its overseas market with one high-quality film after another. If our films behave like European films andck ambition, with only a few good movies, we''d surely be confined to a small circle of self-entertainment.

    Highways are certainly important, but without cars, highways serve no purpose. Moreover, the sries of Hollywood movie stars have increased more than tenfoldpared to a decade ago; they are even starting to share in the profits from films, which is the most direct reflection of content''s importance in the film market," Eric said.

    After finishing his statement, he calmly sipped his coffee and nced at Robert Shay. Not long after dinner started, they exchanged a few pleasantries, and without realizing it, they began an under-the-table battle. Though neither had mentioned anything aboutpany buyouts, they had been embroiled in a debate over whether film content or distribution held more weight.

    The discussion on this topic had been initiated by Robert Shay. From that moment on, he was already at a disadvantage. By bringing up the subject, Eric understood that Robert Shay was particrly interested in the acquisition of New Line by Firefly. If Shay had no intention of selling New Line, he wouldn''t have wanted to bring it up at all.

    ...

    Sitting opposite, Robert Shay felt somewhat bitter. He noticed he had underestimated the perspective and insight of the young man sitting across from him.

    Having been in Hollywood for more than twenty years, he certainly understood that once a topic like that was introduced, it could easily lead the other party to see through his intentions. Robert originally thought that since Eric was only neen, he might have some talent in film production but would likely know little about other aspects of the industry.

    Having more than thirty years of experience, Robert felt confident in his ability to keep Eric in check. If he could nt the seed of "distribution channels are key" in Eric''s mind, he couldter hold the upper hand in negotiations.

    Eric had already produced a string of films that had achieved box office miracles. Thus, after Eric sent out invitations and hinted at some information, Robert Shay''s mind sparked to life. The acquisition of New Line by Firefly felt certain.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Robert Shay didn''t even consider the possibility of a reversal of roles; although he was already fifty, he still brimmed with ambition. He didn''t care much about the vast amounts of capital from Firefly''s purchase of New Line; his goal was to merge bothpanies and secure as much equity as possible in the new firm.

    New Line had developed to a bottleneck stage. Among the secondary filmpanies, it had emerged as a leader, boasting solid franchises and a good distributionwork within the U.S. market. Internationally, it had stable partners, and even more notably, New Line had managed to thrive without attaching itself to any major studio, maintaining apletely independent operation.

    However,pared to the six major studios, New Line still faced a considerable gap. The most significant disparityy in theck of blockbuster films, or more precisely, the absence of any such titles. As of now, New Line''s best-performing series had topped out at only over forty million, while a true blockbuster in North America needed to approach the hundred million mark.

    The 80/20 rule was particrly evident in the Hollywood box office market, with twenty percent of films iming over eighty percent of box office revenue each year. The box office hit list''s top ten films had always been the monopoly of the six major studios, which meant that over eighty percent of box office earnings belonged to them.

    In fact, during these years, the six majors'' share had slightly declined due to the rapid growth of various distribution channels, granting independent filmpanies substantial room for development. Therefore, each year, the six major studios captured only about eighty-five percent of the box office total, leaving fifteen percent for other Hollywoodpanies. Although this percentage seemed small, it was significantlyrgerpared to over a decade ago when the six majors scooped up nearly all box office sales, leaving a pitiful one percent for smallerpanies.

    If New Line wanted to break into the ranks of the giants to share in that over eighty percent of profits, before encountering Eric, it had only two paths.

    One was to pool resources and take a gamble on a high-investment film, which could potentially yield blockbuster sess, but this came with immense risk; failure would inevitably lead to New Line''s bankruptcy.

    The other option involved a slow and steady approach, hoping for the day when some small film they invested in suddenly achieved unexpected blockbuster sess, rapidly assembling a significant financial foundation. Ifbined with wise leadership, subsequent films could also seed, creating a virtuous cycle that might elevate them into the ranks of thergerpanies.

    In an alternate timeline, Lionsgate had managed to ascend through luck, starting in 1997. Despite being far inferior to veteran secondarypanies like New Line or Miramax in terms of experience and strength, it achieved remarkable sess when a low-budget documentary it released in 2004, under intense political pressure, inadvertently grossed $224 million globally, quickly amassing sufficient capital. Following that, they developed a series of super sessful films, momentarily outpacing Universal and Paramount, falling just behind Warner, Disney, Columbia, and Fox in box office rankings,ter exceeding them also

    temporarily.

    After Eric threw out the suggestion of an acquisition, Robert Shay saw another broad avenue; one that required no risky gambles or waiting for luck to shine but rather allowed for a steady entry into the ranks of the movie giants. Eric''s early films all being box office hits proved he had the ability to do this. With the emergence of MGM-UA as a colossal entity among the six, another partnership like New Line-Firefly would surely arise. Well, let''s call it Firefly-New

    Line.

    ...

    After a cup or two of coffee, Robert Shay could hardly tolerate dying the conversation with Eric any longer. The young man''s patience was truly remarkable. Even though he didn''t want to admit it, Robert had to face the fact that he had already lost this round. If he didn''t bring up the main topic soon, Eric might genuinely perceive this meeting as mere casual chat and stand up to bid farewell. Their next meeting might only be at the negotiation table. "Eric, I heard that Firefly is nning to expand its distribution channels?" Robert Shay casually stirred his coffee, asking as if it were a normal question.

    A smile crept across Eric''s face; it seemed Robert couldn''t hold back any longer. Dinner had nearly spanned two hours, and Eric was losing patience with Robert Shay. The young girl had sent several nces his way, hinting she wanted to leave. He decided that if Robert didn''t bring it up after finishing his coffee, he would head back to bed with Aniston, leaving the rest to Firefly to formally express its intention to acquire New Line.

    The reason for this dinner was that Eric wanted to gauge Robert Shay''s willingness to sell New Line. From memory, he recalled that Robert has a strong desire for control. In the previous life, though New Line had been taken under Warner''s wing, Robert had still held tightly to its reins. It seemed that it wasn''t until nearly two decadester, after massive losses, that he was begrudgingly forced to step down under immense pressure.

    Robert Shay had initially started discussions on topics and argued with Eric for long enough that his stance had be clear. Therefore, continuing the dialogue didn''t hold much

    necessity.

    Regardless, even if they reached a preliminary intention, specific terms would require long

    negotiations. Sony had taken over Columbia after more than six months of nning, which

    combined to take at least a year. While the Firefly-New Line acquisition wouldn''t be nearly soplicated, it certainly wouldn''t bepleted in under a month or two.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Bottom Line

    Chapter 170: Bottom Line

    ?

    [Chapter 170: Bottom Line]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Yes, Robert, that''s actually why I invited you here today, isn''t it?" Since Robert opened the discussion, Eric took the opportunity to dive into the topic.

    Robert Shea chuckled awkwardly, trying to mask the embarrassment on his face. He had secretly decided to concede, but with Eric''sment, he felt as though he was losing ground again. After sipping some bitter coffee to steady his mood, Robert said, "Alright, Eric, I''m actually quite interested in our potential coboration. Can you share your terms first?"

    "You know, Robert, what I value most is New Line''s distribution channels. So, I n to acquire New Line fully at an initial offer of $150 million. Of course, we can negotiate that price. Plus, afterpleting the acquisition, I can position you as CEO of Firefly once we consolidate. You''re only fifty; you wouldn''t want to retire, right?"

    "I''ve been in this game for over twenty years, and suddenly being reduced to an employee, even as CEO, isn''t exactly appealing," Robertughed, holding up his hands in a shrug. "Maybe we could merge instead, like MGM-UA did. New Line has the distribution, and Firefly has top-notch movie content. If we merged, we could create another Hollywood giant called Firefly-New Line. What do you think?"

    "What do you think the equity split should look like after the merger?" Eric asked, amused by the idea of Firefly-New Line. However, he wasn''t keen on dragging along New Line''sbel; it would remain but only as a subsidiary of Firefly.

    At the question, Robert nced at Eric, then lifted his coffee cup thoughtfully. In truth, he had been considering this issue since he received the dinner invitation from Eric. Firefly, only a little over six months old, had zero distribution capability and an almost negligible film library, which meant it wasn''t worth much. But the reality was that Firefly''s profitability was incredibly impressive.

    Even if Firefly''s projects didn''t yet count towards their reputation, one film had pulled in over $100 million in profits. If the domestic box office reached $200 million and the overseas earned the same, Firefly would at least $80 million in box office split.

    Furthermore, Robert had learned that Eric was set to coborate with Fox on two films and had three more in production, including one to be directed by Eric with Tom Hanks on board, which would surely be a hit. The other three were reportedly low-budget in the $10 million range, which Eric''s star power would likely ensure would yield a profit.

    All in all, if Firefly''s box office for this year was merely calcted based on profits, it could rival at least thebined profits of two major studios, reaching a stunning $400 million.

    Typically, apany''s market value was around ten times its annual profit. For example, the major studios could earn around $200 million in a good year, pushing their market value to approximately $2 billion. As for Columbia''s soaring market value, it had been inted; before news of Sony''s acquisition, Columbia''s value had also been around $2 billion.

    For New Line,st year it produced six films, with only one making a profit of over $10 million. The othersbined earned just a few hundred thousand, and considering home video and other peripheral earnings, New Line''s profit forst year was about $30 million. This meant New Line''s market value hovered around $300 million.

    Of course, these calctions merely provided an approximate impression for outsiders. In truth, apany''s market value couldn''t be simplified like that. New Line''s $30 million profit was a result of a banner year, while the second and third films barely grossed just over $20 million. After costs were deducted, they hardly earned anything. Therefore, Eric had seen that a reputable financial auditing firm had appraised New Line at $150 million, including its film library, franchise rights, and distribution channels as assets. The very vtile annual profit was only a small reference.

    However, Firefly''s valuation was a different beast altogether. Eric had barely spent $10 million in total for office rent and equipment, and with half the rights of various films, one could argue it was worth either $100 million or even $1 billion.

    When Eric asked Robert how much equity he was looking for post-merger, Robert found himself stumped, despite having mulled over it for several days.

    After five minutes of contemtion, Robert finally lifted his coffee cup to his lips with his left hand while raising three fingers with his right hand on the table, showing a hint of uncertainty.

    "Three percent?" Eric leaned in, curiosity evident in his voice.

    Pff--

    Robert Shea couldn''t help but spit out his coffee, thankfully turning just in time to avoid soaking the table and the still unsuspecting Eric across from him. However, since he turned away, a few droplets sshed onto Jennifer Aniston''s elegant dress.

    The young woman, already somewhat distracted, hadn''t expected this. She didn''t even have time to dodge, and only realized something was amiss when she felt a dampness on her chest. She eximed and grabbed a napkin to wipe the wet spot, casting a disapproving re at Eric. She didn''t understand what exactly had happened; all she knew was that Eric had said something about "three percent," and then her dress had met an unfortunate fate.

    The restaurant staff was quite responsive. Seeing the scene unfold, a waiter promptly brought over some napkins, helping to clean the table and floor in the process. Once everything was tidied up, the waiter quietly stepped back.

    "I''m truly sorry," Robert Shea apologetically wiped his mouth and the damp area of his outfit while addressing Aniston. He then turned to Eric with an expression of clear displeasure. "Eric, did you just say my twenty years of hard work is worth only three percent equity? If that''s the case, what is there to discuss?"

    "Alright, I get it. You mean... 30%?" Eric confirmed once more.

    Robert Shea nodded. "I''ve built up a bit of wealth over the years, so I''m not inclined towards a cash acquisition. I want the twopanies to merge, and I want 30% equity. That''s my bottom line."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 171: Chapter 171: We dont have much time left

    Chapter 171: We don''t have much time left

    ?

    [Chapter 171: We don''t have much time left]

    "I can assure you that thirty percent is out of the question," Eric leaned slightly forward, gazing at Robert Shea and shaking his head gently. Before Robert could rebut, Eric continued, "If I had to give away thirty percent of my shares just to acquire a distributionpany, then I wouldn''t even consider it.

    That wouldn''t be worth it for Firefly. I could easily use that stake to partner with several major studios. With Firefly''s current momentum, I''m confident that none of the seven major studios would turn me down. I could even exchange that thirty percent for ten percent of MGM''s shares, the weakest among the big seven."

    Once Eric finished, Robert Shea immediately shot back, "But, Eric, you won''t actually do that. Once Firefly bes a subsidiary of a film giant, it''ll lose any chance at developing into a truepetitor. These bigpanies are notorious for controlling second and third-tier firms through acquisitions to prevent them from growingrge enough to threaten their positions. I''ve seen it too many times in Hollywood over my twenty-plus years."

    "I wouldn''t do that, of course. I was merely suggesting a possibility. If I had to give up thirty percent, I''d rather do a cross-share exchange with the giants. So, I have my limits, Robert. The most I can offer you is ten percent of my shares, which is already a tough concession for me. I believe it''s quite substantial, considering Firefly will surely bring in more coborators in the future," Eric stated.

    "Ten percent is far too low," Robert Shea responded. "New Line has developed under my leadership for over twenty years; I regard it like my own child. If it merges with your Firefly, thirty percent is still modest. I won''t settle for less."

    Eric almost chuckled out loud, "RKO was established even earlier and has since faded away. United Artists also got off to a great start, only to end up as a subsidiary of MGM. Robert, time doesn''t say much. In 1981, United Artists was absorbed by MGM due to massive losses. Hollywood was left with only six major studios: Warner, Universal, Paramount, MGM, and Fox. But look at us now; since Michael Eisner took over Disney in 1984, the big six have be seven in just five years."

    Robert Shea''s face flushed slightly, as Eric had subtlypared him to Michael Eisner. Though he recognized that Eisner was more skilled, hearing it from someone thirty years younger stung a bit. In a moment of frustration, he retorted, "Whatever you say, Eric. I''m insisting on thirty percent."

    Seeing that Robert was getting anxious, Eric quickly reassured him, "How about this, Robert? Since we''re both showing interest, let''s discuss this in more detail moving forward."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "No need," Robert Shea refused. "If you don''t agree to my terms, there''s no point in discussing any specifics."

    Eric felt a flicker of irritation. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, but the tablecloth muffled the usual sound. "You need to understand, Robert, that we don''t have much time left."

    Robert was puzzled by Eric''s seemingly strangement. Out of fear of losing respect, he resisted asking for rification. Eric didn''t beat around the bush and continued, "Thanks to the rapid growth of video tapes and cable TV, movies have stepped out of the limited profit circle of just box office revenue, bing increasingly significant in the media industry. I believe that during the next decade, most Hollywood giants will be acquired by media conglomerates, bing part of a massive industrial chain.

    Once this trend sets in, studios with media backing will no longer need to worry about bankruptcy from failed investments. They will solidify their positions through vast media resources. At that point, if a second or third-tier studiocks extraordinary luck, it won''t be able to shake the dominance of media-backed giants. Their fate will either be acquisition, just like you mentioned,pletely losing their opportunity to be one of the big yers, or scraping by from the leftovers after the big studios take their share."

    Robert Shea fought to suppress his surprise, not revealing his astonishment on his face, and began to counter, "Even if you have a point... it''s going to take years. I believe New Line still has opportunities, as long as..."

    "No, you don''t have opportunities," Eric interjected firmly. "Actually, the trend began a few years ago when News Corp acquired 20th Century Fox. This year, Sony acquired Columbia, reducing the big seven to six. Moreover, I''ve seen in the papers that Warner ns to team up with Turner Broadcasting to form a media group. If that bes a reality, we''re looking at seven bing three. How long do you think the remaining four studios can hold out?"

    Robert Shea fell silent. Eric pressed on, unrelenting, "Robert, this is our final opportunity. The clock is ticking -- less than ten years, perhaps only five. If we miss this window and the industryndscape is finalized, even if you could turn New Line into a first-ss studio by sheer luck and years of hard work, you''d still be stuck in the second tier. The giants will be so intertwined with their media partners that no standalone filmpany couldpete with them."

    At this point, Eric recalled Lionsgate. Although it had surpassed two old-school studios in profitability with just a couple of franchises, the other six studios had already mixed with media giants, making it nearly impossible for Lionsgate to match theparison. "What you''re saying... it''s all hypothetical, isn''t it?" Robert Shea couldn''t help but add in.

    Eric could see that Robert was starting to soften, his tone growing milder. "Robert, even if it''s hypothetical, with your twenty years of experience in Hollywood, you can surely discern the usibility of such hypotheticals, right?"

    Robert looked down at his nearly-empty coffee cup. "But ten percent is still too little..."

    "Michael Eisner holds less than ten percent of Disney shares and doesn''t have much more wealth than you. Yet he ranks in the top three in Hollywood power, admired and envied by over ny percent of the industry. Robert, you''ve also stated that money isn''t our biggest lure anymore. Just think about it: after Firefly acquires New Line, you could be CEO of Firefly. You surely won''t doubt the profitability of the films I produce. In a few years, we could make it to the ranks of movie giants. By that time, your ten percent could be worth over a billion. If you keep managing New Line independently, how long will it take to reach a billion-dor valuation?"

    "Twenty percent, Eric; I''ll go with twenty percent, and it can''t be less," Robert Shea said, moved by Eric''s vision.

    A subtle smile of triumph appeared on Eric''s face. Since Robert Shea had finally let go of his rigid insistence on thirty percent, they could continue negotiations. He snapped his fingers to summon the waiter, slid his credit card to settle the bill, and then turned to Robert. "Robert, we can''t make any decisions right now, and it''s gettingte. Let''s discuss all this in a more

    formal setting."

    The moment Robert said "twenty percent," he regretted it. He realized he had been swayed by this young man while feeling foolish for momentarily losing hisposure. He considered reprimanding himself for that, but it would have been inappropriate at the moment. It seemed like he''d already made several mistakes tonight, which made Robert think twice about underestimating Eric. He resolved that during formal negotiations, he would definitely not confront Eric directly; perhaps hiring a skilled negotiator would be wise. Noticing that Eric didn''t push further to lower his offer, Robert quickly nodded. "Alright, it iste, and I should head back."

    As they said goodbye at the restaurant entrance, Jennifer Aniston suddenly wrapped her arms around Eric''s as she stood on tiptoes, grinning, "Wow, Eric, you were amazing just now! You totally had Robert spaced out."

    Eric reached out with his other hand to brush some hair away from her face, chuckling. "What about you? Did you suddenly feel like bowing down and kissing my shoes?"

    *****

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 Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Its Just So Unfair

    Chapter 172: It''s Just So Unfair

    ?

    [Chapter 172: It''s Just So Unfair]

    Eric had been fixing her hair, and for a moment, it felt warm and cozy. But when she heard hisment, she immediately pouted. "Pfft! That''s not true. I think you''re just babbling

    nonsense and trying to fool me. I didn''t understand much of anything -- what''s with all this resource and merger stuff? It''s just a bunch of rubbish."

    Eric put on a sad face and clutched his chest. "You really hurt my pride! I guess I''ll have to teach you a lessonter."

    "Um..." Jennifer Aniston lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed. Suddenly, she snapped her head up. "Don''t you dare do that again! Otherwise, I''ll have a bone to pick with you."

    "Huh? What do you mean, that?" Eric felt a bit confused.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "You... you did it on purpose," she stomped her foot. She thought Eric was just pretending to be clueless, and in a huff, she let go of his arm and took a few steps ahead.

    Seeing her swaying form, enveloped in her long dress, Eric finally realized what he had done. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he swiftly caught up with her, giving her a yful p on her perky backside. "Alright, don''t be mad. I really just forgot."

    "Ah..." The little girl squealed in surprise, jumping back like a startled rabbit. She quickly looked around and, upon realizing there were no passersby, sighed with relief and shot Eric an angry re. "You... pervert!"

    Eric chuckled as he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a pinch on her soft midriff. He then leaned in to nt a firm kiss on her cheek before whispering in her ear, "There''s going to be even more of thatter."

    "Hmph!" She tried again to wriggle out of his embrace, but after a few yful jabs from him, she lost her resistance and let Eric hold her.

    ...

    Before long, the doorman drove up with Eric''s car, and after tipping him, Eric and Jennifer climbed in.

    "Are we going to my ce?" she asked softly after Eric started the engine.

    "Of course," he replied, steering the car onto the road. Remembering the scene from a few months back, he couldn''t help butugh. "Drew must have gone back home by now. Unless you want toe over to duel with her again?"

    "Hmph!" Jennifer turned away in anger but then suddenly had a thought. "Eric, how''s the construction on your Malibu houseing along?"

    "With the renovations, we should still need another two or three months. But if everything goes smoothly, we''ll be able to move in by the end of the year. Maybe for Christmas, we could throw a party at the seaside vi." Eric nced at the road ahead and spoke.

    The Malibu mansion, inspired by the Iron Man''s extravagant seaside estate in his memories, had been under construction for over six months. Unfortunately, construction efficiency was notoriously slow. In the beginning, he had actively followed up on the progress with Frank Gehry, but after a couple of months, he found himself losing interest, only tuning in to the scheduled updates from Gehry''s office. Deep down, he could only reassure himself with the saying, "Good thingse to those who wait."

    Hearing Eric''s response, Jennifer quietly asked, "So... will Drew still move in when the timees?"

    Eric tapped the steering wheel a couple of times before responding, "You know, Jennifer, Drew is still only fourteen, just a kid. Legally and morally, I can''t let her live by herself right now. She''ll have to wait until she''s at least sixteen to move out."

    Jennifer scrunched her little nose and grumbled, "She doesn''t look like a little girl at all!"

    "Yeah, that''s true, but a lot of things are like that. Drew is a public figure; those so-called child protection organizations always keep a close eye on her. If I let her move out now, it would certainly stir up some trouble with them."

    "Hmph! Why didn''t that little girl just happen to be born in a slum? Then nobody would care about her!"

    "Exactly," Eric sighed. "The world is so unfair. It''s predominantly an elite game, and the educational system favors the elite. This country only guarantees the excellence of the top tier, while the children at the bottom level, who cares about them? Even if they drop out from school by eleven or twelve and start having kids at thirteen or fourteen, very few people would take notice.

    Drew is different; she''s already climbed up thedder of this social pyramid, destined to enjoy the benefits thate with being among the elite. And being under the watch of child protection organizations is one of those benefits."

    With one hand resting on the car window, Jennifer tossed her head back and pouted at Eric. "Well, congrattions! You sessfully managed to change the topic again. You always have a million ways to divert the conversation. Hmph! Don''t think I didn''t notice. I just couldn''t be bothered to argue with you."

    "This time, you changed the topic first," Eric chuckled.

    "Not true! It was you!"

    "Okay, it was me," Eric didn''t want to argue with her, continuing, "The Malibu house is quite big. You could move in when the timees."

    "With me, there''s no her, and with her, there''s no me. You do what you want!"

    Eric lightly tapped the steering wheel. "Alright, let''s drop it then."

    "Ugh... You jerk! You''re always so biased!" Jennifer''s eyes widened, ring at Eric. Her gaze darted around, seemingly searching for a ce to bite.

    Eric caught her expression and quickly warned, "Hey, don''t go teasing me; I''m trying to drive."

    Just then, Eric suddenly felt his Motor cellphone ringing and promptly pulled over to the side of the road. He picked it up, and Drew''s excited voice boomed through the receiver. He nced at Jennifer, quickly stepped out of the car, and walked over to the streetlight to continue the conversation.

    Watching Eric''s cautious demeanor, Jennifer felt both angry and... well, he still cared about her feelings, sheforted herself.

    Momentster, Eric returned to the car, closed the door, and started the engine.

    "What was that about?" After a little while, Jennifer couldn''t help but ask.

    Eric shook his head. "I don''t know. The little girl was being all mysterious, insisting Ie back because she had news to share. Let''s forget about it for now and head to your ce first."

    "Um..." Jennifer fidgeted with her skirt hem, then hesitated before saying, "How about... you go back and check? Maybe it''s something important?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 173: Chapter 173: A Small Matter

    Chapter 173: A Small Matter

    ?

    [Chapter 173: A Small Matter]

    Eric pushed the door open as he walked into the living room. Hearing the noise, Drew instantly jumped up from the couch, her face lighting up with excitement as she rushed into Eric''s arms. But after sniffing a couple of times, her cheerful expression soured. As Eric awkwardly tried to dodge her, the little girl huffed a breath onto his left cheek with a look of disdain, wiped it with her sleeve, and then gave him a smooch.

    Eric couldn''t help butugh at her antics. He took a couple of steps forward, pulled the girl down from his waist, and tossed her onto the couch before sitting down himself. He then asked, "Alright, you called me back in such a hurry for what reason?" As he spoke, he noticed the conspicuous ck folder on the coffee table and picked it up to flip it open, revealing a copyright transfer agreement.

    "Wow, your moves are pretty swift! I thought you wouldn''tnd the copyright until after summer break," he remarked.

    Drew, grinning as she leaned against Eric, rested her chin on his shoulder and said, "This is Hollywood, you know? Things get a lot easier when there''s money involved."

    "How much did it cost?" Eric casually inquired, detaching the contract from the metal clip in the folder.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Three and a half million," she said, not very confidently, but quickly added, "That''s for all the rights, you know? Permanently, even the original music rights are ours now."

    Eric nodded. If Drew''s words were true, then the price was eptable. Even if it merely enriched the Firefly Films library, who knows, once it became popr, they might even invest in remaking the movie.

    Although his original intention was to have Drew acquire the rights for five years, it was easy to imagine that thepany holding the rights would take every opportunity to squeeze out as much as they could from a potential interested party for a thirty-year-old film.

    Five years? Not happening; if they were willing to buy it, they''d have to take everything, albeit at a steep price.

    Seeing Eric nod, Drew let out a sigh of relief and began to chatter excitedly, "This film was originally produced by an investor named Jerry Wald who started his ownpany. But he wasn''t very lucky; he actually made a few decent films, but a few yearster, he died of a heart attack. The copyrights to his films were sold by his widow to anotherpany, but thatpany went bankrupt after a while. It changed hands a few times before finally ending up with Fox."

    "Whoa," Eric eximed when he saw 20th Century Fox''s name in the documents. He was nearly on his feet.

    Drew, caught up in her exnation, jumped a bit at Eric''s sudden interruption, her eyes wide as she asked, "What... what''s wrong? Is something not right?"

    "Are you saying... we bought this film from 20th Century Fox?" Eric asked, holding onto a glimmer of hope, repeating the question.

    The girl blinked innocently and nodded, "Yeah?"

    Eric forced a smile, "That''s bad news; Fox is definitely going to hate us now."

    That night, being pestered by the little girl, Eric spontaneously decided to find her a "summer job," without considering the copyright issues. If it had been with Warner, Universal, or Paramount --panies with whom he had no coborations -- he could have just let it slide. Movies were a business, after all; if they made money, they should celebrate, and if they got burned, well, that was just part of the game.

    However, he never expected that the movie An Affair to Remember would be under 20th Century Fox''s ownership. He was still on good terms with Fox and didn''t want to ruin that rtionship. That''s why when Columbia came knocking, he exined things to Barry Diller face-to-face and offered topensate with a TV series. Yet, reality often had a way of messing with people''s ns. It was as if the universe itself was determined to disrupt their good standing with Fox.

    If the video of An Affair to Remember was sold like that friend from his past had said and sold 2 million copies, that would mean $60 million in sales, practically equivalent to a blockbuster film''s earnings. Though moviepanies always imed that video sales yielded less than 20% profit -- with over 80% going to costs -- a little understanding revealed this to be nonsense; video profits easily exceeded 50%, even outpacing box office percentages. Therefore, based on the video sales, Eric could expect to see at least $30 million from this venture.

    Eric could already envision how some people would freak out over such a windfall. Drew noticed the changing expressions on Eric''s face and curiously asked, "How could that be? We paid $3.5 million; Fox made money, so how could they hate us?"

    "Sure, we spent over $3 million, but if within a year we make $30 million from this movie, how do you think Fox would feel about that?"

    The girl gasped, covering her mouth in shock. When Eric had initially suggested acquiring the film''s rights, he said there could be a profit, and Drew thought that even a couple of million would be decent. Hence, when she mentioned the $3.5 million price, she had felt a little nervous, not anticipating that it could truly yield $30 million...

    "However... it seems... Eric, Fox doesn''t know it''s us buying it. I purposely hired an agent to handle the purchase so that they wouldn''t directly link it to you. Once he got the rights, he transferred them to me. All this time, Fox has no idea we were the ones who wanted to buy the film''s copyright..." Drew''s voice lowered as she realized this; she quickly thought that if the film made a huge profit in the future, as long as Fox had half a brain, they would surely connect the dots back to Eric.

    Thinking of this, the girl stuck out her tongue, "So, Eric, what do we do now?"

    Eric rubbed his temples, contemting. If created a sales miracle, that was certainly a story for next year. By then, his contract with Fox would already beplete, and he wouldn''t have to worry about them hindering the film''s release. At most, when it came to profit sharingter, Fox might pull some antics to dy things, but Eric wasn''t too concerned.

    The detailed uses fromst year''s contract meant that if Fox breached it, they wouldn''t stand a chance in court. He wasn''t like those other filmmakers who, after a massive box office hit, discovered their share agreement was vague and ended up in a years-long dispute.

    "Let''s just go with it. We can''t spit out the meat that''s already in our mouths. Besides, it was Fox that willingly sold it, and we did offer such a high price."

    "Hehe," the little girl beamed, snuggling closer to Eric in a yful manner, "But Eric, there''s still one more small thing..."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Unexpected Gains

    Chapter 174: Unexpected Gains

    ?

    [Chapter 174: Unexpected Gains]

    "A little... thing?" Eric pulled the girl onto hisp, giving her chubby cheeks a gentle pinch. "Did you get yourself into some trouble?"

    "How could I? I never get into trouble!" Drew quickly denied. "Here''s the thing: I hired an agent to buy the rights to this movie."

    "Oh," Eric suddenly understood. "You promised the agent some benefits but couldn''t deliver, and this has got to rte to me, right?"

    "You''re so smart, Eric!" The girl snuggled into Eric''s embrace, looking up at him with admiration.

    "Alright, stop stalling and spill the beans!" Eric couldn''t help but tap her forehead lightly, which earned him some yful squirms and protests.

    "Well, it''s nothing much," the girl prepared Eric for the news. "While I was looking for an agent, a guy named Lawrence bumped into me at a party with some friends, holding a script. He wanted me to pass it on to you, as they hoped you could invest in it."

    "They couldn''t reach me, so they came to you. That makes sense. But why would they want me to invest? There are so many moviepanies; they should have targeted the big seven, or at least some established ones, right?"

    Drew shrugged, wrapping her arms around Eric''s neck. "Because you have money! It''s all over the papers that you got a several hundred million dor payout."

    Eric shrugged. "You should know that even if I got that payout, to buy a studio and set up distribution channels, it''d be gone in no time. Plus, I need to save for next year''s taxes. I''m facing a 35% ie tax! When I do the math, I realize I haven''t saved a dime this past year. Man, what a waste of time."

    The girl yfully pped his shoulder. "Don''t worry; if you''re short on cash, I''ll take care of you."

    "If only a woman had said that to me in my past life," Eric mused with a smile. "Alright, back to your story. What was that guy''s name again?"

    "Lawrence Bender. I think he wants you to invest because both he and his friend are too young. Even if the script is good, thosepanies wouldn''t want to hand over a movie to them for production. Realistically, even the smallest investment in a legitimate film is in the hundreds of thousands, right? So, you see?"

    "And then you agreed, letting him be your agent... But is he capable?" Eric had another question.

    "Yeah, he''s smart, and he started a productionpany with his friend. You know, one of those shellpanies that only paid a registration fee; they don''t actually produce anything. There are tons of those in Hollywood. But a couple of years ago, they made a really low- budget film. Lawrence produced it, while his friend directed and wrote it. But after they wrapped, a fire destroyed the film, and they lost a fortune."

    "That''s a bummer. Lawrence Bender, you say... Wait a minute, Lawrence Bender?" Eric raised his voice suddenly.

    "Uh-huh?" Drew nodded, clearly confused.

    "Can you spell his name for me?" Eric set her down and pointed to the coffee table.

    Though slightly puzzled, Drewplied and walked over to the coffee table. She dipped her hand in her cup a bit hesitantly and wrote two words down: "It should... be spelled like this?" After finishing, she turned back to Eric, uncertain.

    Eric covered his forehead and corrected the ''a'' in ''Bander'' to an ''e'' to make it ''Bender,'' then gently tapped the girl''s forehead. "I really want to know what you do in school. How is it that you can''t even spell such a simple name? Oh, speaking of which, I spent a fortune sending you to boarding school, and I''ve never even seen your report card. Bring it to me next time."

    "Hey, I think we can skip that!" The girl smiled sheepishly, leaning her arms on the table, looking like she was ready to flee at any moment.

    Eric didn''t press further, looking at the name on the table which perfectly matched his memory. The reason he didn''t react earlier was mostly due to him not realizing sooner coupled with Drew''s ent being entirely different from what Eric had learned, which led him to not immediately connect it to the name he had in mind.

    "Drew, what''s the name of Lawrence Bender''s friend?" Eric asked once more.

    The girl scratched her head, tilting it as she thought for a moment. "I think... maybe... it''s Quentin Tarantino." After saying this, Drew noticed Eric''s expression change, and she asked, "Eric, do you know them?"

    Eric steadied himself, not letting Drew see any further surprise. He quickly thought up an excuse and nodded. "I''ve heard of them. I thought when you said their names, they sounded familiar, like I had heard it in a conversation as a funny story. It''s these two guys who shot a movie, but the film burned after they finished shooting."

    Eric didn''t specify whom he talked with, keeping it vague so there was no chance Drew would seek confirmation elsewhere. However, Drew seemed to have no doubts, believing Eric''s exnation immediately.

    "So, you''re saying they wanted me to invest in their film, and they left the script with you?" Eric asked.

    Drew shook her head. "No, I didn''t ask for it. I wanted to mention it to you first; if you weren''t interested, I would have sent them away."

    "That wouldn''t be right. Once you promised, you can''t just brush them off. We''ll definitely want to expand our production business in the future. Even though they''re still a couple of nobodies, if word gets around that you dismissed them, it''ll make an impact," Eric replied as he sat back down on the sofa, thinking it through. "Let''s do it tomorrow. Bring them to the set at noon. There''ll be an hour break for lunch during filming. Let them bring the script so I can

    take a look."

    "Eric, isn''t that a hassle? Why do you need to meet them? I think it''s a waste of time. That... Quentin Tarantino is only in his twenties; what good script could he possibly write? All the famous screenwriters in Hollywood are in their thirties or forties. If it''s that urgent, I could get the script from them for you to read. Is there really a need to meet them?"

    Eric chuckled, "Did you forget? I''m also not even twenty yet."

    "Ha ha, I think you look at least forty!" Drew said, moving closer to Eric.

    That intuition... was spot on!

    Eric patted the girl''s hair but quickly shrugged it off. Given her sharp nature, it made sense that she''d notice his mental age after spending so much time together; many others had

    noticed too.

    "Alright, that''s settled. Bring them over tomorrow, but don''t bete. You know I''m busy."

    "Yeah," Drew replied and then snuggled up to Eric yfully. "So, Eric, if I get this done, do I get a reward?"

    Eric patted her back. "You got it! I set up a productionpany for you, but since you''re still a minor, I''ll keep it under my name until you turn eighteen. As for the rights you bought, they''ll be under thispany''s name."

    "Wow, tell me, what''s the name?" The girl''s eyes sparkled with excitement as she asked.

    "Flower Films."

    Drew paused for a moment and then pouted. "Flower Films... that name''s so cheesy. Can we

    change it?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Cheesy?

    Eric stared at the girl''s adorable face, knowing she was the one who came up with it in hisst life. "How could that be cheesy? Give me an alternative."

    Drew leaned her forehead against Eric''s chest and thought for a bit but looked disappointed when she finally lifted her head, realizing she had little talent for naming things. "Fine... let''s stick with Flower Films for now."

    Eric chuckled and ruffled the girl''s hair. "Alright, it''ste. Time for bed."

    The girl pulled on Eric''s arm, stopping him from standing up. "No, no, no! Don''t rush! Eric, summer vacation still has a month left. Can''t you give me a few more tasks, like acquiring some movie rights or something?"

    "Hmmm... Let me think. I''ll make a list for you tomorrow. Now go sleep," Eric said.

    "No cking off! I want it tomorrow!" Drew insisted.

    "No problem. I''ll make sure to get it for you," Eric said as he stood up and headed towards the

    staircase. He didn''t go straight to the bedroom but went into the study instead. Seeing Drew trailing behind, he told her, "Don''t disturb me; go to bed. If you keep staying upte, you''ll turn into an ugly monster by thirty."

    "Hmph!" she pouted, reluctantly turning toward the bedroom.

    ...

    Eric settled at his desk, opening a notebook, and grabbed a pen. He thought about what had just happened and smiled at the realization that the renowned ''genius'' director Quentin Tarantino was so eager toe around. Though Lawrence Bender didn''t have Quentin''s fame, they were actually close coborators, with Lawrence producing many of Quentin''s

    iconic films.

    However, now that the ripple from his actions had brought over two individuals who

    wouldn''t have been known for another two years, Eric couldn''t help but wonder who else from his past life might show up. After all, the ripple effect was quite powerful; perhaps it was just a minor change that led Quentin to miss the opportunity to create those two famous films. At the same time, Eric was deeply curious about what script Quentin would present

    tomorrow.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Why Black?

    Chapter 175: Why ck?

    ?

    [Chapter 175: Why ck?]

    At the gates of the Fox studio lot, a tall ck security guard nced over at two men standing not far from the entrance.

    The pair, both taller than six feet, were hiding in the shade. Although they dressed formally, the younger man, with a prominent forehead, a strong jaw, and a furrowed brow, gave off an untrustworthy vibe. Only the older-looking man carried a backpack, while neither had a camera, making them seem unrted to the paparazzi.

    This made the guard slightly more vignt, prompting him to inform his partner to keep an eye on the two in case they tried to sneak in. This kind of thing rarely happened, but it had urred before. Celebrities often filmed on site, and if anyone disrupted them -- even unintentionally -- the security team would likely be out of a job.

    Despite their appearance, the two men behaved themselves, showing no signs of wrongdoing. Hence, the guard had no reason to ask them to leave. They arrived before ten and remained there until nearly noon, asionally ncing at the studio entrance and the adjacent road, as if waiting for someone.

    Around 11:50, a yellow taxi pulled up near the studio gates. The door opened, and a petite girl stepped out, dressed in a pink t-shirt and denim shorts. With her fair skin and heart-shaped sunsses, she looked adorable. She carried a small canvas bag and held an umbre. The two men quickly moved toward her, and during their conversation, the older-looking man eagerly took the umbre to shield her from the sun. Together, they walked toward the gate.

    As the girl approached, the guard thought she looked familiar. It wasn''t until she reached the pedestrian entrance that he stopped them: "Excuse me,dies and gentlemen, may I see your passes?"

    Both men turned to the girl, who removed her sunsses. "I''m here to see Eric Williams. Can I go right in?"

    "You... you''re Drew Barrymore," the guard recognized her instantly, rxing his demeanor. He smiled politely, revealing a bright smile. "Of course, you can enter. However, per regtions, I''ll need to inform the studio that you''re here. Can you wait a moment while I call Mr. Williams'' crew so they cane and escort you?"

    "Thank you, Mr. Kirk," Drew said, eyeing his name badge.

    The midday Los Angeles sun zed down, with temperatures rising above thirty degrees Celsius. The guard led Drew and herpanions into a nearby lounge before making the call.

    Drew walked over to an empty chair and sat down casually while she dug through her bag for some chewing gum, popping it into her mouth. She then took out apact mirror to fix her hair. "Lawrence, did you wait long?" she asked with a smile, noticing the two men beside her. "Not at all, Drew. We only arrived half an hour earlier," Lawrence Bender replied with a grin. The guard, overhearing Lawrence, merely nced at him but chose not toment.

    Drew noticed the sheen of sweat on the two men''s shirts and didn''t press further. They had agreed to arrive after eleven, but they seemed to havee quite early, possibly worried about traffic or other dys. Either way, she didn''t concern herself with their choices. Quentin Tarantino, standing next to Lawrence, remained quiet -- not out of shyness, as he was actually more talkative than Lawrence. However, he couldn''t help ncing at the little feet peeking out from Drew''s sandals. He felt a stir of difort; her delicate, pale feet looked like fine art. But why did she paint her toenails ck? That thought tugged at him, creating a strange urge to clean them off. Of course, he knew he couldn''t act on such impulsive feelings.

    After a brief chat with Lawrence, Drew turned toward Quentin, and, by chance, caught him staring at her feet. Instead of being annoyed, she shot him a yful smile, as if saying she caught him red-handed.

    Quentin quickly looked away, covering his mouth to suppress a cough, trying to ease the awkwardness.

    Drew, however, wasn''t about to let him off the hook. She lifted her foot and asked directly, "Quentin, is there something wrong with my feet?"

    "Uh... cough, no! Of course not, Miss Barrymore. Your feet are very... very beautiful," he stammered, quickly realizing he had offended his friends. "No, I meant..."

    "Ha ha..." Seeing him flustered made Drew burst intoughter.

    Lawrence shot a disapproving look at Quentin, thinking to himself that if Drew were a bit less gracious, their hard-earned opportunity might slip away.

    Fortunately, staff members arrived to greet Drew''s party, relieving Quentin of his embarrassment. They all took an electric cart to the studio.

    As they entered, Drew headed straight for Eric. Lawrence and Quentin hurried after her, quickly spotting Drew hugging a young man in a blue t-shirt. Eric embraced Drew, allowing her to rub her cheek against his face before releasing her and stepping forward to greet Lawrence and Quentin.

    "Hello, Mr. Tarantino, Mr. Bender," Eric greeted them, shaking their hands. Quentin expected Eric to acknowledge Lawrence first, as he appeared to be the leader of the pack, but Eric approached Quentin, leaving him pleasantly surprised. Despite Quentin''s usual self- confidence, he felt a wave of inadequacy in the presence of a director who had already grossed over $1 billion at the box office.

    *****n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 176: Chapter 176: The Seven-Colored Criminals

    Chapter 176: The Seven-Colored Criminals

    ?

    [Chapter 176: The Seven-Colored Bandit]

    "Hello, Mr. Williams. I really liked your film Running Out of Time. The plot was great, and the soundtrack was outstanding, especially that piece during the bus encounter. I heard youposed that piece yourself; that''s amazing," Quentin said, his friendly demeanor allowing him to chat easily about Eric''s film that was still in theaters. While he admired Eric''s sess in the industry, he didn''t have much of an opinion on Eric''s earlier works, aside from this recent one that had a unique style.

    Eric smiled modestly and replied, "Actually, theposer put in a lot of effort. I just provided some inspiration."

    "No, you can''t say that! Inspiration is the most important thing when ites to music," Quentin immediately countered.

    Lawrence Bender, sitting nearby, felt a bit anxious. He knew their meeting was limited to just one hour, and observing the crew around them, he realized work could begin at any moment. While discussing music was a nice way to get close, they couldn''t waste too much time. Nevertheless, he didn''t dare interrupt their conversation and could only discreetly gesture to Quentin.

    Noticing Lawrence''s urgency, Eric decided not to prolong the chat. He said, "Let''s go talk in the lounge and grab a working lunch. I noticed you guys haven''t eaten yet."

    "Of course, thanks, Mr. Williams," Quentin replied.

    "Just call me Eric," he said, ncing over at Drew and Jennifer. It seemed like the two girls were about to start something again; if they got into a fight here, it would turn into a big deal.

    ...

    "Hey, Drew, Jen, what are you talking about?" he asked as he approached, seeing the two girls ring at each other, ready for confrontation.

    Upon seeing Eric, Drew immediately abandoned her standoff with Jennifer and ran over, hugging Eric''s arm as sheined, "She started it, Eric! I just said hi, and then she got all mad. So petty!"

    "It''s you..." Jennifer eximed, her face showing a mix of indignation and anger as she red at Eric instead of Drew. This left Eric confused, prompting him to ask, "What did you say to

    Jen?"

    Drew seemed oblivious to Jennifer''s irritation and shrugged it off. "Nothing much! She came out of her room, and I just patted her on the butt and said, ''Hey, big girl, your butt looks rounder!'' Then she red up."

    Eric''s mouth twitched at Drew''s remark. He could easily understand why Jennifer was upset without needing to see the little fire in her eyes. Drew''sment was likely meant to tease about Jennifer''s weight gain and had inadvertently touched on a sensitive topic for her. Jennifer probably thought Drew had been informed about her embarrassment.

    Realizing this, Eric released Drew and pulled Jennifer into a hug, whispering, "Okay, Jen, Drew didn''t mean anything by it. Don''t take it to heart."

    "Are you sure?" Jennifer blinked back her irritation.

    Eric gently patted her back. "I swear! I mean, how could that possibly be? Right?"

    "Hmm..." Once Jennifer recognized that it was simply a misunderstanding, she pushed Eric away. "Those two guests are still waiting. You go deal with them. I''m off to eat."

    "I''m going to eat too. I wonder what the lunch is like here," Drew said, her big eyes rolling around before she turned to leave.

    "Remember, this is a film set. You two better behave," Eric cautioned, feeling uneasy. "Hmph!"

    "Didn''t need your advice!" The two girls said as they walked away from him, not looking back.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ...

    As Eric watched them go in different directions, he felt relieved and led Lawrence and Quentin towards the lounge while telling his assistant to bring three lunches.

    "Drew has already filled me in on everything, so can I see the script now?" Once settled at a simple table, Eric began.

    "Sure thing," Lawrence Bender said, pulling a thick script from his bag and sliding it over to Eric.

    Eric nced at the title, not recognizing it initially, but the name intrigued him. That said, it matched a concept from his past life about a group of robbers with color-based codenames. He understood that many writers had ideas floating in their minds for years before they wrote them down. Despite time passing, the essence of the story could remain simr.

    Most people wouldn''t appreciate such nuances, but as someone who''d lived through different timelines, Eric found it fascinating.

    His assistant quickly delivered three boxes of lunch and a few bottles of water.

    "Quentin, Lawrence, you two go ahead and eat. Don''t worry about me," he said, watching the two men eagerly gaze at him.

    "Thanks," they both replied, hastily grabbing their utensils and opening their boxes. However, neither had much appetite, resembling anxious students awaiting test results. As Eric buried himself back into the script, their eating slowed down.

    Noticing their hesitance, Eric didn''t encourage them further and simply turned another page.

    The plot seemed to follow closely what he remembered -- a crime boss gathered a group of strangers to rob a jewelry store, only to be ambushed by the police. However, where there were six robbers before, now there were seven.

    From the start, Quentin''s trademark verbose style shone through in this script. Soon enough, they detailed the botched robbery, with two robbers making a desperate escape.

    Thanks to his familiarity with the original material, Eric finished reading almost a hundred pages of the script in just over twenty minutes.

    Setting the script down, he nced at the two anxious men. "Not bad; let''s eat."

    Both Quentin and Lawrence breathed a sigh of relief. Eric''s approval increased the likelihood that this film would get made. To bolster their chances, Lawrence had included a budget outline at the end of the script -- approximately one million dors.

    They believed this uniquely styled movie would interest Eric. Moreover, with a budget of just one million dors, investing in this film was a no-brainer for someone with Eric''s financial standing. Truthfully, if it hadn''t been for wanting to direct the film themselves, they might not have pursued Eric so earnestly.

    With this in mind, Quentin and Lawrence rxed and began to eat. After waiting around for two hours outside the Fox lot, they were quite hungry.

    Once they finished lunch, Eric picked up the script again. "Drew mentioned you two were nning to produce this film yourselves?"

    "Yes, Eric. We... we both have experience from making one film before, so we figured we could handle this one," Quentin exined.

    Eric nodded, nomittally, flipping through a few pages. "So you have your own film

    company, right?"

    They exchanged puzzled nces, unsure why Eric suddenly inquired. Lawrence then nodded, "Yes, it''s called A Band Apart, a name Quentin came up with. It was inspired by the early film

    of Godard."

    Eric recognized that Godard had made some famous films, but he didn''t delve into understanding the meaning behind theirpany''s name.

    "Well, Lawrence, Quentin, would you be interested in joining Firefly Films?"

    "Hmm?"

    "Ah?" They both replied in confusion.

    Eric rified, "I meant, yourpany is just a shell at this point. Would you be interested in merging with my Firefly Films? You know mypany is growing."

    Quentin and Lawrence exchanged nces. They had some knowledge of Firefly Films; even though it was Eric''s personalpany and most of the films were his projects, its strength was undeniable. Joining would be a great opportunity. However, they couldn''t understand why Eric would extend an olive branch to two unknowns like themselves.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Renaming

    Chapter 177: Renaming

    ?

    [Chapter 177: Renaming]

    Eric didn''t consider how the two felt about it. Quentin and Lawrence didn''t immediately agree, so he dropped the topic. He figured as long as the cooperation went well, Firefly Films would definitely be Quentin and Lawrence''s first choice for future projects.

    Checking his watch, Eric continued, "Let''s put that aside for now. We don''t have much time left, so let''s discuss the script. I can invest in this movie, and the budget doesn''t have to be limited to a million bucks. You two can shoot freely."

    Quentin and Lawrence had hesitated when Eric first invited them to join Firefly, but seeing him so easily brush over that topic made them both feel lost, sensing they''d missed a rare opportunity and regretting not jumping on it right away. This emotion left them momentarily speechless. It wasn''t until Eric finished speaking and fixed his gaze on them that Lawrence responded first, his face lighting up as he confirmed, "Eric, are you serious?"

    Quentin also caught on at this moment, his face equally filled with surprise while looking at Eric.

    Eric nodded again. "Of course it''s serious, but I have a few conditions."

    Immediate looks passed over both their faces that confirmed their suspicions, apanied by a sigh of relief. They thought if Eric came out of the gate just to solicit and promise funding without any strings attached, that would be troubling. They hoped Eric wouldn''t interfere too much with the movie''s production.

    "First, all the actors must be selected from UTA. You know UTA, right?" By the time he mentioned UTA, Eric sounded a bit uncertain. He hadn''t been keeping up with UTA''s operationstely, only asionally chatting over the phone with Kepler Hyde. He vaguely knew the agency was doing well, but beyond that, he wasn''t too sure. His rising fame had made him hesitant to meddle too much with UTA''s management. The media had taken shots at UTA''s dominance, but nothing had stirred much of a fuss.

    Actually, North American antitrustws weren''t as stringent as people thought. Take the Paramount Decree of decades ago, which prohibited filmpanies from owning movie theaters outright. That rule was nearly ineffective now when it came to major filmpanies. Although notpletely ignored, it only constrained the big studios a little. On paper, major filmpanies owned more than ten percent of all theater screens, usually the best locations. The theaters chosen by the big studios were often top-notch, and the estimates showed that those few theaters represented the creme de creme of North America''s cinemandscape. Behind the scenes, the scale dwarfed even more.

    Hearing Eric''s question, Lawrence Band immediately nodded, "Of course, we know UTA." After a nce shared with his buddy, he added, "That condition is fine."

    "Another thing -- the script needs some adjustments..." As Eric finished speaking, Quentin''s displeasure surfaced almost immediately, although he didn''t let it show too overtly. Eric simply smiled slightly. "Don''t worry; I''m satisfied with the content. The name just sounds a bit silly. I thought of a much better title."

    Quentin let out a sigh of relief, and Lawrence rxed even further. If Eric had intended to overhaul the script drastically, Lawrence worried his friend might jump in to oppose it and make a mess of their coboration. But since Eric was merely suggesting a title change, that was perfectly eptable.

    Bending down, Eric picked up a pen and jotted down two words on the script before handing it

    over.

    Quentin and Lawrence leaned in together, reading aloud in unison, "Reservoir Dogs?" "Yes," Eric said, a slightly mischievous smile on his face. "I think this title fits the story perfectly. All the characters in the story, as I see it, are drowing dogs, aren''t they?" Lawrence Band nced at Quentin this time. Quentin scratched his forehead for a moment, looking a bit torn, before reluctantly nodding. "Alright, let''s go with that." He thought the new title certainly sounded better than the original The Dog Eat Dog, but as the script''s author, it was a bit frustrating to have the title changed by this young guy across the table.

    "One more thing -- I think seven robbers are a bit too many. Six is just fine. I looked at the script, and three of them die right off the bat, which leads to a few unnecessary dialogues. Of course, I''m just throwing out a suggestion. It''s up to you whether you want to modify it," Eric added. This little suggestion was something he came up with on the fly, purely to align this ssic B-movie more with his version, which he found amusing. If Quentin didn''t want to change it, that was also fine; the script''s highlighty in its non-linear narrative structure.

    If it were all streamlined, the plot coulde off as painfully dull: A mob boss gathers a crew of robbers with color-coded names, robs a jewel store, only to be betrayed by an undercover cop. They end up surrounded and die off in a shootout; the survivors escape to a warehouse and engage in a series of conflicts, ultimately resulting in a final showdown where they all perish.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    That would be the gist of it.

    The movie''s strengthy in its ability to present a ridiculously average story in various entertaining ways.

    "I''ll consider it," Quentin nodded when he saw that Eric was genuinely only making a suggestion. While his first instinct was to stick to the original, he didn''t outright reject it. He decided to discuss it with his buddyter.

    "Then I don''t have any more issues from my side." Eric leaned backfortably in his chair, looking at the two. "Do you guys have any questions?"

    Pulling the script towards him, Quentin finally asked, "Eric, about... about the film''s director?"

    Ericughed and shrugged. "Since I agreed to invest, it basically means I epted your previous conditions. I won''t interfere with the content of the movie at all; you can do your thing. You''ll also retain the final cut." He didn''t have any expectations at the box office for this film. He remembered that it gained significant fame but didn''t exactly break any box office records. However, it brought a few good actors into the limelight, and that was exactly what Eric valued. As long as all the actors came from UTA, even if it led only to some fame and didn''t recover costs, it would still be worth it for Eric.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Alienation

    Chapter 178: Alienation

    ?

    [Chapter 178: Alienation]

    Thinking of actors, Eric suddenly remembered that Michael Madsen, who yed Mr. Kim in his previous life, was Virginia''s brother. Although he had known Virginia for more than half a year, he had never met her brother. He had only learned through his conversations with Virginia that she was very close to her brother.

    Eric recalled Michael as a rugged type -- someone who seemed born to y viins. However, from Virginia''s ounts, he knew that Michael Madsen was a very versatile individual. He had been a magician, loved photography, and was passionate about writing poetry. Compared to that, acting seemed more like a side job to make ends meet.

    Though they had never crossed paths, Eric considered Michael part of his inner circle now that Virginia was his woman. He firmly believed that good things should not be shared with outsiders.

    After confirming some details with Quentin about the script, Eric said, "Hey, Quentin, I happen to have a great suggestion for the role of Mr. Kim. I''m sure you''ll be pleased." Quentin Tarantino noted Eric''s smile; even if he wasn''t entirely satisfied, he knew he had to ept it. Still, Eric''s previous agreement not to meddle in the film''s content already delighted Quentin. Bringing someone into the mix was something he could live with. ording to protocol, Eric, as an investor, could pick all the actors without any issues.

    "No problem, Eric. I trust your rmendation will be solid," Quentin replied with a smile. As they were about to continue their conversation, a staff member knocked on the door. "Director Williams, it''s time."

    Eric nced at his watch and stood up. "Well then, that''s it for now."

    Quentin and Lawrence quickly stood and shook Eric''s hand again. After that, they seemed a little lost; what was next?

    As Eric was about to leave, he caught sight of the two''s expressions and chuckled, patting his forehead. "Sorry, I''ve been so busytely that I''ve been a bit forgetful. Follow me."

    He called over his assistant, Allen, and briefed him about the two men. Then he turned back to them, saying, "This is Allen, my assistant. He will take you to meet Mr. Jeffrey Hansen. You can discuss the specifics with him."

    ...

    After seeing the two off, Eric nned to return to work when a certain girl unexpectedly approached him.

    Surprised, Eric asked, "What are you still doing here?"

    Drew seemed to be in a funk already and retaliated, hands on her hips, "Why should I go? I''m not going anywhere!"

    Shrugging, Eric figured the girl had been pretty well-behaved when she had visited the set a few days earlier. "Fine, suit yourself. Just don''t cause any trouble."

    "Eric, I feel like nobody really likes me here," the little girlmented as she hugged his arm, leading him into the work area of the studio. She leaned in closer and whispered in his ear. Back on Running Out of Time set, she was treated like a princess; everyone catered to her every whim. Here, however, the staff hardly knew her, and while they were polite, they maintained an aloof distance.

    Eric called for the crew to start preparing before he gently ruffled Drew''s hair,ughing as he exined, "Don''t you get it? Jennie''s father is the producer of this TV series. Everyone here is hired by John. Jenny is the princess here. If she doesn''t like you, then everyone else will naturally keep their distance."

    "Ugh, that''s so snobby!" Drew pouted.

    "It''s just a natural reaction for people to avoid danger and seek benefit. It''s not even office politics. If they get too close to you, they might face some unfounded bacsh," Eric joked as he settled into the director''s chair, taking the shooting log from his assistant.

    The real reason Drew felt alienated was that Aniston had be exceptionally popr on set. Though she had her favorites, the little girl was excellent at making friends, getting along well with her fellow co-stars and captivating most of the crew. There was also the fact that her father was the producer, adding to the distance the crew maintained from Drew, who was seen as Aniston''s potential rival.

    In contrast, while Drew was also socially adept, she had a quirkiness to her character. Before Eric showed up, she was self-aware enough to grasp that she didn''t quite fit in. But now, with Eric backing her, she seemed unleashed, acting like a spoiled little princess. She could waltz around the set with a camera worth six figures while the crew didn''t dare send her packing. But Eric didn''t worry that this attention would lead Drew to misbehave. He knew she understood what she was doing. The little girl hadcked proper affection growing up, and once she started receiving love from Eric, it made her somewhat ''greedy'' -- wanting to soak up as much as she could while she could still indulge.

    "Forget it, I''ll just go back," Drew said, using Eric for support as she stood. Since she wasn''t wee, she didn''t want to expend energy trying to change that. "Eric, did youplete what you promised mest night?"

    "What promise?" Aniston chimed in, walking over with a script in hand. Hearing Drew''s words, she gave Eric an annoyed frown.

    "Check the table in my study. I got inspired and wrote a ton. Just pick whichever one you like to try out," Eric replied, giving the little girl a look that signaled he''d exinter. Drew smiled sweetly; then, as if to tease Aniston, she suddenly leaned over and gave Eric a kiss on the cheek, leaving a bright lipstick mark, before she sashayed away. "Dressed like that, she looks like a streetwalker," Aniston remarked with a hint of jealousy as she watched Drew leave. At just over five foot tall, the little girl had a slender figure and porcin skin that many women envied. In this regard, Aniston, with a slightly darkerplexion, felt a pang of jealousy.

    As if sensing something, Drew suddenly turned around at the door of the studio, opened her little sun umbre, put on heart-shaped sunsses, and pirouetted in an extravagant fashion, then blew a yful raspberry at Aniston before walking backward with a cheeky grin. This scene not only irked Aniston but left many crew members momentarily stunned. Everyone present was part of the industry and had seen films directed by Kubrick; several had seen Drew''s yful disy. Dressed in a tee and hot pants, revealing her delicate arms and fair legs, along with her ck nail polish, she effortlessly blended youthful yfulness with feminine charm -- causing a stir among all the men who were still at a normal hormonal

    state.

    "This is ridiculous," Aniston eximed, her face scrunching up with discontent as she turned to Eric. "Are you sure she''s going to that Catholic school and not somewhere else?"

    Ericughed and held Aniston''s hand lightly, saying, "Alright, Jenny, don''t be upset. Drew''s just like that; you''ve seen it before. By the way, what did you need from me?" Aniston pointed at Eric''s cheek, saying, "First, wipe off that lipstick mark from your face."

    Eric felt a bit awkward as he found a napkin and rubbed at his cheek until Aniston was satisfied before she begrudgingly said they could discuss the script. She had some ideas she thought were pretty solid.

    ...

    In the days that followed, filming progressed steadily. Meanwhile, Eric had lunch with the Weinstein brothers from Miramax, discussing acquisition matters. However, given that the brothers had just sessfully released a film that Steven Soderbergh directed and won the Palme d''Or at Cannes, they had set a price that greatly exceeded Eric''s expectations. Adding to theplexity was the fact that Firefly Films had already begun discussions with Robert Shay about acquiring deals, which caused Eric to temporarily abandon his ambitions of swallowing Miramax. The reason Miramax had thrived in the independent film scene in his previous life, ultimately catching Disney''s eye, wasrgely due to Soderbergh''s fame and, more crucially, the acim for Quentin''s films. Thetter proved even more significant; unexpectedly, Quentin''s sess propelled independent filmmaking into the spotlight, leading to Miramax''s impressive growth.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Now, with Quentin on Eric''s team, there was no chance he would push Quentin away. Without Quentin, however, the future of Miramax looked uncertain; though they still had Soderbergh, his shine had dimmed after his meteoric rise. He had spent the subsequent decade in silence, failing to produce noteworthy works, and only began to find sess again in the new millennium. Given this scenario, it was unlikely that Miramax could rise along its original

    trajectory.

    Eric''s initial desire to acquire New Line alongside Miramax stemmed from his appreciation for the Weinstein brothers'' talent in awards promotion. In his previous life, they earned a reputation as pushers of Oscar winners, which made him eager to have them under his wing. Fortunately, Eric had an edge in selecting projects since he had a wealth of ssic films stored in his mind from his past.

    Not having acquired Miramax did not concern Eric.

    History had already shifted, and perhaps with the talents of the Weinsteins, they might still thrive within the independent film scene. But shining as brightly as they once did was no longer feasible because of Eric''s presence. Their growth trajectory might mirror New Line''s, gradually building up. Thus, even if Miramax prospered for another decade, Eric saw a chance to eventually reel them in to help enhance his own Oscar campaigning efforts.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 179: Chapter 179: The Impossible Reality

    Chapter 179: The Impossible Reality

    ?

    [Chapter 179: The Impossible Reality]

    "Vicki, is it the Sunset Tower Hotel across from the Andaz?" The rugged-looking white man in the driver''s seat, appearing to be around thirty, asked as he focused on the road ahead.

    "Of course, are there two Sunset Tower Hotels on Sunset Boulevard?" Virginia replied from the passenger seat. She pulled out a small mirror from her purse, checked her makeup, and carefully applied a bit of lipstick. This action somehow made the man in the driver''s seat a bit displeased. "Vicki, I just don''t get it. Why do you want to get involved with that kid? You two have a ten-year age gap."

    "I already said, my personal matters are none of your concern," Virginia blurted out but quickly realized she shouldn''t talk to her brother that way and softened her tone. "Mike, I''m enjoying my time with him. He may be young, but he''s very considerate."

    Michael Madsen frowned even more. "That guy isn''t going to give you any promises, is he? He''s not going to marry you."

    Hearing that, Virginia''s eyes dimmed a bit, and she replied softly, "Honestly, I never expected him to marry me."

    "But you''re already twenty-eight. I want you to find a reliable man to marry, not just end up with a kid like that as your lover." Michael sounded a bit agitated, and as he spoke, he couldn''t help but p his hand on the steering wheel, turning to look at his sister. "I just want you to be happy, Vicki."

    "Will getting married make you happy?" Virginia asked, putting her lipstick and mirror back into her purse. "Our mom and dad certainly aren''t happy, and you''ve been divorced once already."

    Michael Madsen continued trying to persuade her. "Because of that, I want you to find a good man. There are definitely still good men in this world. Even if one doesn''t work out, try again. Look, even though I''ve been divorced, I''m happy with Jeannine. In six months, you might have a little nephew or niece."

    "Okay, I got it, Mike. Can we not talk about this today?" Virginia, feeling much like any older single woman pressured about marriage, began to dodge the topic. She had been raised by this brother, who was four years older, as their parents were busy with work after the divorce, so even her parents'' opinions could easily be ignored, but her rtionship with her brother mattered greatly.

    "Alright, if you don''t want to talk about it, then I won''t," Michael Madsen said helplessly, looking back at the road ahead.

    Michael stopping the topic relieved Virginia, and they both sat quietly for a moment, looking out the window. They could tell they were getting close to the Sunset Tower Hotel. Virginia then added, "Mike, I know you don''t like him, but please don''t be rude. I really hope you can get that role he mentioned."

    Michael Madsen replied, "Of course I won''t be rude, but I''m only here to see your new movie. Don''t expect me to brown-nose just for a role."

    Virginia felt a bit resigned. She knew her brother very well; he was indifferent to fame and fortune, and he initially wanted to be an actor more for a living than for stardom. That still held true.

    As they talked, they quickly arrived at the Sunset Tower Hotel. Virginia noticed a swarm of paparazzi waiting outside with cameras hanging from their necks. She rushed to put on her sunsses, but that still didn''t stop the sharp-eyed paparazzi from spotting her. A crowd rushed over, snapping photos at the car window. Seeing these news-hungry folks, Michael had no choice but to slow down, which only excited the paparazzi more, making them hammer on the car windows and shout at Virginia inside.

    However, no matter how loudly the paparazzi called out, they didn''t receive any replies. The siblings drove straight into the underground parking lot and took the elevator up to the hotel.

    ...

    "Another one? Julia Roberts just arrived. I wonder what Firefly is up to?" A group of paparazzi was blocked by security and had no choice but to continue waiting outside the hotel, hoping the next guest would give them some juicy details.

    "You just got here less than ten minutes ago, right, Jake? Several big Hollywood names went in during thest half-hour."

    "Oh, Kane, who else has been here?" The paparazzo named Jake asked.

    Kane leaned closer to Jake and whispered, "The CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner, a VP of distribution from Warner Bros., and Paramount''s president, Ned Tanen, along with the VP of Columbia, Amy Pascal. Four of the seven major studios have already sent representatives. Just wait; I''m sure the other three will send someone too."

    Jake''s imagination ran wild at Kane''s revtion, and he couldn''t help but gasp. "No way, could something big be happening in Hollywood?"

    Kane shook his head. "I''m not sure, but it definitely has to do with Firefly. I heard from an insider at the hotel that there''s another party tonight."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Tonight?" Jake checked his watch. "It''s only 1:35 now. Are you sure about that? If there''s a party tonight, why are all these bigwigs arriving now?"

    "I can''t be wrong about this. My insider works in the kitchen, and they''ve been tasked with preparing food for the party tonight."

    Jake asked, "Kane, what do you think is going on?"

    "Maybe... well, this is too unusual for me to figure out, but didn''t we hear that Firefly was nning to acquire New Line Cinema? I wonder if this is rted. New Line is a top-tier second-string studio. If they merge with Firefly, given Eric Williams'' track record with hits and New Line''s distribution ability, we might see a new giant in Hollywood in just a few years."

    Jake spected, "Didn''t you say this was initiated by Firefly? Could it be that they need to pick a distributor for their uing films, and that''s why the top brass from the majors are gathering here?"

    As soon as he said that, Kane and the other paparazzi listening were stunned for a moment before bursting intoughter. One of the photographers sneered, "No way, you''re overestimating Firefly''s pull. If it were Eric Williams directing, maybe the top execs would rush over. He''s proven his talent. But everyone knows that the rights to Eric''s next two films already belong to Fox."

    Jake thought his theory sounded a bit far-fetched too, scratching his head and quietly countering, "Didn''t we hear that Eric Williams wrote the screeny himself?"

    However, hisment didn''t receive much attention from the other paparazzi, who resumed discussing the reasons behind the gathering and eagerly awaited more arrivals.

    ...

    Often, seemingly absurd spections turn out to be true.

    This event was indeed just an internal screening hosted by Firefly.

    When the invitations were sent out, Eric had thought that the major studios would only send one or two ordinary execs. However, he quickly received the news that Disney''s Michael Eisner, for reasons unknown, had his assistant contact Firefly to confirm his personal attendance. Just that response prompted Eric to move the screening from Firefly''s small screening room to the luxury screening hall at the Sunset Tower Hotel. After all, given Michael Eisner''s stature, holding the event in Firefly''s smaller venue would have been seen as

    quite disrespectful.

    Next, other major studios likely caught on to the fact that Eisner would be attending and began sending other important executives.

    However, of the seven majors, only Michael Eisner showed up as the CEO. Paramount sent a president, Columbia sent in Amy Pascal, who had a good rtionship with Eric, and the other studios sent either vice presidents or significant executives. Still, the lineup was impressive: top executives from the seven major studios gathered together, all for the distribution rights of just one or two movies-- something that probably hadn''t happened in thest decade.

    ...

    Upon arriving on the floor for the screening, Virginia and her brother stepped off the elevator to find Eric''s assistant, Allen Fisman, waiting nearby.

    "Hello, Allen. Where''s Eric?" Virginia asked as she approached.

    "Mr. Williams is busy and can''te out to greet you. Miss Madsen, please follow me; I''ll

    take you to the lounge," Allen said politely.

    Virginia nodded in disappointment. Michael Madsen, seeing this, didn''t know the specifics and assumed Eric was somewhat disrespecting his sister, which made him quite upset.

    However, he held back his feelings as they followed Allen into a lounge.

    Once they entered the lounge, Virginia saw a number of people had already gathered: director Herbert Ross and stars Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirely MacLaine, and others were present. But only Jonathan Demme was there from their crew, making the atmosphere a bit lonely. This was understandable as the two young actors weren''t suitable for attending the afternoon screening, and the other actors present weren''t prominent enough to gain entry to this event. The Steel Magnolias crew was different; while Herbert Ross needed no introduction, both Sally Field and Shirely MacLaine were seasoned talents with multiple Oscars under their belts, their prominence even surpassing that of Julia Roberts, the rising star. The remaining actresses were also long-established names.

    Upon seeing Virginia enter, Jonathan Demme was the first to light up and stood up to greet her. The rest of the The Others crew also rose to acknowledge her presence.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Miss Murdoch

    Chapter 180: Miss Murdoch

    ?

    [Chapter 180: Miss Murdoch]

    In another room near the two productionpany lounges, Eric was chatting with the big shots who had already arrived.

    Even though these executives were each with their respectivepanies, many of them were quite familiar with one another. There was no sense of awkwardness in their conversation because the movement among the upper echelons of the major film studios was quite frequent.

    For instance, Barry Diller, who wasn''t present, had been running Paramount before 1984 and was now the CEO of Fox. Former Paramount executives Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg had both been Barry Diller''s right-hand men, and now one was the CEO of Disney while the other was Disney''s president. If history held, a few yearster, Jeffrey Katzenberg would be the CEO of DreamWorks. Amy Pascal from Columbia, before taking her position, was also an executive at Fox. These interlinked rtionships among the major studios allowed them topete while still maintaining a level of cooperation.

    "Eric, how much box office do you think these two films will rake in? Tell us so we can have a reference for our bids," Michael Eisner asked in front of the others. He maintained a casual demeanor, but there was an underlying anticipation in his eyes.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric ced his coffee cup down and smiled, "Mr. Eisner, to be honest, I can only guarantee the quality of these two films will be excellent. As for how much box office they''ll pull in, it

    depends on the audience and market response."

    "That won''t do," said Paramount''s president, Ned Tanen. The old man, nearly sixty, with a head full of white hair, shed a friendly smile, making hisment sound like encouragement from a mentor to a younger mentee, naturally creating a sense of warmth. Eric smiled and put on a face of humble receptiveness but thought to himself that these old- timers were all rather slick. If he really listened to their advice, he would end up getting burned and counting their money.

    Since Barry Diller, Michael Eisner, and others had gradually left with a host of executives, Paramount''s health had drastically declined. Their film performance was a mess, and this year they only produced one film, from the acimed George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. The two were savvy businessmen, and Paramount would likely only see a small cut from distribution fees, with most profits going to Lucas and Spielberg.

    In his earlier analysis, Eric suspected that Paramount might make the highest offer in bidding. The screening approach would be confidential, allowing everyone to propose their terms after watching the film, and Firefly Films would decide which studio to partner with based on the offers. However, Michael Eisner''s presence turned the potentially predictable oue into a mystery. His seriousness could ignitepetition among the other studios, especially since he had turned Disney''s fortunes around in just five years. Now, his standing in Hollywood even subtly threatened to outshine his former boss, Barry Diller.

    Allen Fisman quietly pushed open the door and tiptoed over to Eric''s side, making an effort not to draw attention to himself. He leaned in and whispered, "Mr. Williams, the Fox representatives have arrived."

    Eric nodded and smiled at Michael Eisner and the others, saying, "Excuse me, folks, just a moment. I need to greet someone."

    Stepping out of the room, Eric headed toward the elevator with n, assuming their guests would arrive soon. Allen added, "The receptionist, Mike, said two people from Fox showed up. Besides Carlin Hunt, there''s a woman too."

    Eric paused, then asked, "Did he say who she was?"

    n shook his head. "No idea. Mike mentioned she looked about twenty, very young, but Carlin Hunt seemed quite respectful towards her."

    Carlin Hunt was a vice president overseeing Fox''s film distribution. The only people who couldmand his respect would be a few, like Barry Diller, so it was odd for a twenty-year- old girl to have that sort of regard from him.

    Not dwelling on it, Eric arrived at the elevator just as it pinged open, revealing a man and

    woman.

    "Hello, Carlin," Eric greeted as he stepped forward, wrapping his arms in a light embrace with Carlin Hunt. He then nced at the blonde girl standing beside him, who was observing him with keen interest. She appeared to be in her twenties, about five foot seven, with hair just grazing her ears -- an attractive appearance, with a finely shaped face and slender eyes. She wore a ck and white checked shirt and soft yellow casual pants, paired with ck ts. She seemed like a quintessential career woman, Eric thought, as she reminded him of Amy Pascal, who was sitting back in the lounge.

    After acknowledging Carlin Hunt, as he was about to help make an introduction, the woman stepped forward and extended her hand, "Hello, Mr. Williams. I''m Elisabeth Murdoch."

    Eric raised an eyebrow slightly; a Murdoch. Given Carlin''s respectful behavior toward her, he suspected she was a direct rtive of Rupert Murdoch.

    "Hello, Miss Murdoch. You can call me Eric."

    She released his hand and responded with a serious tone, "Then why don''t you just call me Elisabeth?"

    What a bold woman, Eric thought, remaining calm as he replied, "Because we just met, and without permission, it''s inappropriate to call a youngdy by her first name."

    Elisabeth Murdoch slightly raised her chin, meeting Eric''s gaze. "Alright then, Eric, I''ll allow you to call me Elisabeth."

    "Uh..."

    Noticing Eric''s awkward expression, Carlin Hunt quickly interjected, "Eric, Elisabeth is Mr. Rupert Murdoch''s second daughter. She''s interning at Fox and is quite interested in... your films, so she wanted toe see them. I hope you don''t mind."

    "Of course not," Eric said with a smile. "Let''s head to the lounge. The screening will start at two, so we still have a bit of a wait."

    The group walked together down the hallway toward the lounge, with Elisabeth Murdoch choosing to walk closely beside Eric while Allen smartly fell back to follow them.

    *****

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 Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Hes a Jerk

    Chapter 181: He''s a Jerk

    ?

    [Chapter 181: He''s a Jerk]

    "Hey, Eric, I''ve watched all your movies, except for Pretty Woman, I thought the rest were just okay," a young woman said.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Elisabeth," Eric replied.

    "I wasn''t reallyplimenting you," she retorted, a bit annoyed. "I''m just curious why those few movies of yours made such amazing box office numbers. It''s a really interesting topic, and I n to use it for my thesis."

    "You''re studying... media?" Eric asked, suspecting based on her background.

    "Of course, I''m at Vassar in New York, graduating next year."

    Eric simply nodded, not offering any opinion.

    Elisabeth frowned at Eric''s dismissive response. "You''ve never heard of Vassar?"

    Eric shrugged, "Elisabeth, I only graduated high school. I can''t even name all the Ivy League schools, so..."

    "Alright," she said with a resigned shrug, now intrigued by Eric. It was strange that a young man who hadn''t graduated from college could achieve so much in such a short time.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    The executives from Universal and MGM arrived right at two o''clock. Once everyone gathered, the staff led them to a luxurious screening room at the Sunset Hotel. Eric nodded to Virginia and the others before taking a seat in the front row. nking him were Michael Eisner and Paramount''s president, Ned Tanen. The first row had just enough space for the eight top executives.

    Elisabeth Murdoch, uninvited, didn''t cause any trouble for the staff. She proactively sat among the crew in the back row, inching over to Julia''s side.

    Julia nced at the unfamiliar woman beside her, feeling a bit odd. She had no idea who this woman was, but thinking about Eric''s flirtatious nature, she instinctively categorized Elisabeth as someone simr to Virginia, leading to a subtle animosity toward Elisabeth Murdoch.

    Though Julia had resolved not to get too emotionally or physically involved with Eric anymore, he had already left a deep imprint in her mind. It had be a benchmark, making it hard for her to engage with other men withoutparing them to Eric, and as a result, things often ended before they really began.

    During filming, Dilur McDermott, who yed Julia''s husband, had pursued her. He was tall, handsome, a graduate of Fordham University''s drama school, talented, gentle, and unlike Eric in many ways. Julia had tried to see if they could have something, but in the end, the shadow of Eric lingered in her heart, blocking any sparks from forming; everything ended quietly.

    This led to Julia harboring resentment against Eric for impacting her private life. To avoid deepening that influence, although she was in Los Angeles after filming, she hadn''t met with Eric even once.

    ...

    As the staff prepared for the screening, Elisabeth Murdoch greeted Julia. After receiving a reply, she casually asked, "Julia, what kind of person do you think Eric Williams is?"

    "He''s a jerk!" Julia blurted out without thinking, caught in a swirling emotion due to Elisabeth''s proximity.

    Elisabeth was left speechless, looking at Julia with a mix of confusion and surprise.

    Julia''s voice was low, and with the other attendees softly chatting, only a few around her heard her words. Sitting next to Julia, Sally Field couldn''t help but chuckle. As someone who had heard certain rumors about Julia and Eric, she recognized the underlying bitterness in Julia''s statement, which hinted at feelings of unfulfilled desires.

    Realizing what she had just said, Julia turned beet red, feeling embarrassed and almost wanting to bolt, but just then the lights in the screening room dimmed, giving her a moment of relief.

    Elisabeth Murdoch straightened up and couldn''t help but sneak a few nces at Julia before she shifted her focus back to the screen.

    ...

    The first attraction, Steel Magnolias, was directed by Herbert Ross. Its plot seemed quite fragmented, mainly focusing on the daily lives of six women, centering around significant events like weddings, Easter, Christmas, New Year''s, and funerals. Even though Herbert Ross included someedic elements, it ultimately remained a drama.

    The film began with Julia''s character Shelby Eaton''s wedding, tying together various facets of life over the next several minutes, introducing the six distinct lead characters to the audience.

    After Shelby''s wedding, New Year''s arrived. The previously shy and insecure hairdresser Annelle gradually opened up, meeting the waiter at Shelby''s wedding. The two fell in love and quickly decided to live together. Annelle, feeling that her happiness was hard-earned, became somewhat absorbed in Christianity, constantly praying.

    Shelby battled high insulin levels, the opposite of a diabetking insulin. This condition led to severe hypoglycemia, which caused her to faint when her sugar dropped. Following her doctor''s advice, Shelby was advised against having children.

    However, after marriage, Shelby was unable to adopt due to her medical diagnosis. She hid her condition from her parents and insisted on getting pregnant.

    Days of life passed slowly, and Shelby gave birth to her child, but then came the terrible news that rocked the entire family: Shelby suffered severe kidney damage due to the childbirth.

    In a shocking turn, her usually strict mother secretly stepped in, donating one of her kidneys to Shelby.

    The surgery was sessful, and Shelby appeared to return to her normal life. Yet, life often does notply with our hopes. As her son grew, Shelby continued pursuing her career. Then, one day, while caring for her child, Shelby copsed on the floor.

    By the time she reached the hospital, the poor woman could only rely on a life support machine to sustain her vital signs. Her mother sat by her side day and night, but despite her vigil, she couldn''t wake her daughter. Ultimately, her husband, with tears in his eyes, signed certain documents, and the hospital turned off the life support.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Various Thoughts

    Chapter 182: Various Thoughts

    ?

    [Chapter 182: Various Thoughts]

    After the sorrowful funeral, life went on. Shelby''s son, little Jackson, grew up surrounded by love, while the pregnant Annelle feltpelled to share with Shelby''s mother, Maureen, her desire for her unborn child to be named "Shelby," regardless of gender, to honor the resolute yet short-lived woman. Maureen, with tears in her eyes, agreed.

    Another Easter arrived, and in the vibrant spring countryside during a joyful pic, Annelle suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain. Everyone rushed to help her into an SUV, which weaved through the crowd, past the town square, and over bridges. The melody of a harmonica yed softly as the scene captured a lush green river nked by trees.

    The subtitles slowly appeared...

    ...

    "Tomorrow is another day," Elisabeth Murdoch, sitting next to Julia in the back seat, found herself uttering as she reflected on the lives of the women around her, which paled inparison to Scarlett O''Hara''s tumultuous, heart-wrenching experiences over the decades. The emotions of these women hardly ever erupted dramatically; their strongest feelings were expressed through silent tears. Yet, the subtleties of their lives conveyed emotions that were just as profound as what Scarlett faced in her turbulent world. The Jeep, gradually fading away, symbolized hope -- hope for the future.

    The lights came up. Without anyone leading the way, everyone in the screening room began to p spontaneously.

    "Julia, this movie was absolutely fantastic! I believe Shelby''s character might even be morepelling than Vivian''s," Elisabeth eximed, apuding while leaning in to speak earnestly to Julia.

    "Thank you, miss," Julia replied softly, pping her hands, taking a moment to nce at the striking woman beside her.

    Elisabeth suddenly remembered she had yet to introduce herself and quickly extended a small hand, "Sorry, Julia, I''m Elisabeth Murdoch, but you can call me Liz."

    "Hello, Liz," Julia politely shook her hand, her expression showing little change. Clearly, she was unaware of the significance of the Murdoch surname.

    Elisabeth didn''t mind and quietly asked, "Julia, why did you say Eric Williams was a jerk earlier?"

    "Oh! I... what I said wasn''t really aimed at Mr. Williams," Julia stammered, trying to stayposed, even though her sparkling eyes betrayed her. "It was merely a coincidence. Mr. Williams is a good man. Without him, I''d still be an unknown actress."

    A faintly amused smile appeared at the corner of Elisabeth''s mouth, and she chose not to press the awkward topic any further. "Julia, could you tell me about Eric Williams? I want to base my graduation thesis on the sess of a few of his films."

    "Liz, you might want to ask him directly; I don''t know much," Julia said, recognizing that this girl didn''t seem very familiar with Eric while also feeling increasingly at ease with Elisabeth''s friendly demeanor.

    "It''s fine; just share what you know..." Elisabeth noted the subtle shift in Julia''s attitude towards her and pressed on with her inquiries about the subject that piqued her interest.

    ...

    Meanwhile, the executives from the major film studios who had just watched the film each held their own thoughts.

    Michael Eisner, although he expressed his praise for Eric right after the screening, mainly did so out of courtesy; he didn''t exactly feel enthusiastic. The film struck him as rather nd. Though it had its bright spots, its plotcked any significant twists or turns, which didn''t appeal to his tastes.

    Having been an ally of Barry Diller, the proponent of "high-concept film" theory during Diller''s time at Paramount, Eisner had learned to appreciate films guided by this concept. That contribution was part of the reason Disney flourished under his leadership.

    The movie, in contrast, had little inmon with high-concept films. If high-concept films were likened to entertaining novels, this one resembled an eloquent essay. Herbert Ross, an aplished director with over twenty years of film experience, certainly excelled in essay- like films, but such topics were destined for limited market appeal.

    Despite his skepticism, Eisner remained determined to acquire the rights to distribute this film. After all, he recognized that this was a project Eric Williams believed in. Given Williams'' past sesses, that conviction alone was sufficient for Eisner.

    ...

    Sitting next to Eric, Paramount''s president, Ned Tanen, shared simr sentiments about the film. However, during the intermission after the movie, the old-timer relentlessly tried to pry specific box office expectations from Eric to prepare Paramount''s share proposal urately. After Barry Diller''s departure five years earlier, Paramount''s performance was already showing significant decline. While Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade had raked in $200 million in North America and over $400 million worldwide,petitive pressures from Lucasfilm and Steven Spielberg meant that Paramount''s share was less than what Columbia received, which had also been impacted by a bad bet.

    Paramount valued Eric''stest projects highly, especially since its current CEO, Frank Mancuso, could not attend due to his schedule -- if he could, he would have been there instead of Ned Tanen.

    Despite the doubts surrounding the film''s prospects, the fact remained that it was one Eric Williams had faith in. Eric''s track record indicated that none of his films had grossed under $100 million.

    Post-screening, Ned Tanen leveraged his career experience to give a quick box office estimate of $30 to $50 million, considering the drawing power of Julia, Sally Field, and Shirley MacLaine, among others, as well as timing concerns. Although Julia had be a strong global box office draw, Ned Tanen didn''t hold high expectations for overseas revenues, reasoning that the film''s indigenous American vor might limit global takings to just $30 million -- a small miracle, indeed.

    If the estimates proved urate, the film would yield a mere $10 million in profit after production and distribution costs -- minusculepared to Eric''s other films. Ned Tanen sensed Eric wouldn''t be overly excited about this profit margin. Yet, despite his subtle probing, Eric remained elusive, giving the kind of vague, nomittal responses that suggested they would have to make their own judgments.

    ...

    Eric was not disclosing his insights primarily out of caution. He was optimistic about the film but couldn''t guarantee the box office estimates. He roughly estimated that North American revenues would hover around $100 million, especially since this movie had previously garnered over $80 million, and with Julia in the mix now, he figured she might boost it by another $20 million.

    However, he understood that he could not make such statements openly. If the future box office returns failed to meet his estimates, it would tarnish his reputation. By keeping his predictions close to the chest, if the film didn''t hit the big leagues, it would not reflect poorly on him. After all, he was merely an investor this time -- beyond casting Julia, he hadn''t been involved in the filmmaking.

    ...

    Amy Pascal, sitting a seat away from Eric, could be considered the biggest supporter of the film among the attendees. A staunch feminist, Amy had always championed female-led films and previously backed a series of them. Her emotional nature had herpletely captivated by the film''s narrative of women''s joys and sorrows, even giving her the urge to take a vacation in a quaint Southern town for a peaceful, simple life.

    But, Amy knew that both she and Fox''s representative, Carlin Hunt, were merely passing through today. Fox already secured distribution rights for Eric''s two films set for year-end release. For marketing resource reasons, Firefly Films was unlikely to partner with Fox for any further projects. Additionally, Columbia was about to finalize an agreement with a Japanesepany, making future strategies unpredictable. To mitigate risk, Firefly wouldn''t let Columbia handle distribution either.

    ...

    Among the seven major studios, Warner Bros. disyed the calmest demeanor. The studio was doing exceptionally well this year. Although Warner wouldn''t shy away from potential profits, it would only propose an equitable sharing arrangement. If theynded the rights, all the better, but they wouldn''t be too disappointed otherwise.

    Universal faced turbulence, with leadership squabbling and no interest in distribution rights. MGM had already been thoroughly undermined by casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian, who only paid attention to thepany''s performance when preparing to sell it off for a tidy profit. Consequently, the upper management at MGM found themselves focusing on other matters, with one representative sitting in front passionately chatting with an executive from Warner,n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    seemingly preparing for a job change.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Exchange

    Chapter 183: Exchange

    ?

    [Chapter 183: Exchange]

    After a brief break, everyone perked up as the second film, The Others, screening was about to begin. Although its star-studded cast -- four out of the six leadingdies had already won Oscars seemed overshadowed whenpared to the first film, the mere presence of Eric''s name on the screeny made it all worthwhile. Before the box office miracles happened, even that star cast hadn''t meant much.

    As the opening credits rolled, Grace''s storytelling voice resonated over aic background. Slowly, the sound faded, and eerie scenes appeared in a scribbled manner -- wide-eyed frightened girls, dark shadows reaching for children, and puppets with broken necks...

    On the bed, Grace suddenly opened her tear-filled eyes, gasping for breath like a fish out of water, her body trembling violently.

    Everyone knew she was having a nightmare. If they were clever enough, they might realize that the openingic scenes mirrored the heroine''s dreams.

    In this version, Virginia didn''t scream like the original Nicole Kidman had, but the fear conveyed in her tear-filled big eyes was hardly weaker. The silent terror and despairplimenting the dimly lit bedroom created a chilling sensation for the audience.

    This was Eric''s first change to the script. In his previous life, the only emotion he felt through Nicole Kidman''s piercing scream was surprise; nothing more.

    Filming wasn''t easy either. Virginia genuinely looked terrified, her expression showing no signs of pretense. Next to the camera, there were a bunch of cute little creatures like Gizmo, and the cockroaches that proved a distraction. Although she had some "props" to help, Eric believed Virginia''s performance surpassed Nicole''s by a significant margin. It rang true to the saying that in Hollywood, no one was irreceable; most merelycked opportunities.

    Unbeknownst to them, everyone in the screening room became absorbed in Grace''s and the children''s bizarre behavior. Aside from Eric and a few others in the know, everyone else puzzled over the happenings in the house, wondering where the strange sounds and shadows wereing from.

    If this were a horror movie, why hadn''t any ghosts appeared despite the lengthy start? Why did Grace''s husband suddenlye and then leave again?

    Though the mystery remained unresolved, the suspenseful storyline entranced even the representatives from the seven major studios, who had seen countless films. Even theposed Michael Eisner couldn''t hold back his questions to Eric about his doubts, but Eric just smiled and declined to answer, citing he couldn''t spoil the plot.

    Finally, after over eighty minutes, as Grace''s two children discovered the gravestones, the identities of the three "ghost" servants were unveiled.

    Yet, instead of looking enlightened, the audience was left with even more questions: why had the three ghost servants appeared, and what were their intentions? From previous dialogue, it was clear that the spirits meant no harm to Grace''s family.

    The story now reached its climax. When Grace pushed open the door to the living room upstairs, the appearance of another family and the psychic olddy finally resolved all the audience''s doubts.

    ...

    "With twists and turns, perfectly executed!" At this point, Michael Eisner didn''t hold back a rarepliment. Ned Tanen, the president of Paramount sitting beside Eric, quietly clenched his fists, filled with determination to secure the film''s distribution rights. Other executives, who didn''t have the will or ability to snag those rights, wore looks of regret. Even the usually calm Warner representative couldn''t maintain hisposure.

    As the symbolic thick fog lifted with the revtion of the truth, the lights flicked on, and apuse erupted, loud and enthusiastic,sting for several minutes.

    ...

    In the back row, Jonathan Demme witnessed the scene, his lips twitching. Finally, he couldn''t contain himself and broke out into a grin, showing his white teeth. He knew he had seeded. Michael Madsen gently patted his sister''s hand, his eyes filled with congrattions.

    ...

    As the apuse subsided, everyone in the screening room, guided by the attendants, headed toward the banquet hall below. Eric, who walked at the front, found himself nked by Michael Eisner and Ned Tanen. The Warner representative, who had been somewhat standoffish, approached, warmly greeting Eric once more.

    The representatives from Fox and MGM, who were destined to miss out on the distribution rights, followed behind.

    ...

    Elisabeth Murdoch leaned toward Carlin Hunt and whispered, "Carlin, why didn''t you go up and negotiate a little?"

    Carlin Hunt lightly shook his head and replied, "It''s futile. Eric''s next two films are already with Fox, and they won''t give us distribution rights anymore."

    After a moment''s thought, Elisabeth responded, "Why can''t we do it this way? We''re focused on Eric''s sequel by the end of the year. Let''s give up the rights to the other film in exchange for this one. I think this horror film is special; it could create a box office miracle, just like that."

    Carlin Hunt couldn''t help but gaze at the girl beside him, genuinely surprised. Initially, he assumed Elisabeth was just a bossy, spoiled youngdy. After all, it was quite self-willed of her to insist on attending this screening.

    However, due to Elisabeth''s status, Carlin Hunt reluctantly agreed, relieved that he and Eric were familiar; this knowledge made him inclined to let Elisabeth in.

    But to his astonishment, after the screening, she promptly formted a highly feasible solution in such a short time.

    Though Elisabeth imed to be interning under the guise of a holiday at Fox, she hadn''t really spent any substantial days in her assigned position nor could she grasp the ins and outs of Fox''s coboration with Firefly Films. Given her piecemeal understanding, to propose something so valid amazed Carlin Hunt. Not long ago, he''d had a simr inkling about securing the film but couldn''te up with a solid n.

    "Alright, Miss Murdoch, I''ll put this proposal in writing for Mr. Barry Diller. However, I must say, Fox hasn''t seen the screeny for Eric''s other film due at the end of the year, so we don''t know if we can make a decision before anotherpany snaps it up. After all, it''s expected that there will be opposition within Fox to your suggestion. Eric has directed films that have already proven to be box office hits; even though this one is his screeny and undoubtedly excellent, many might be hesitant to take that risk."

    "Such a hassle! If I were in charge of Fox, I would just seize it," Elisabeth pouted, revealing her spoiled side anew.

    This time, Carlin Hunt held no contempt toward her; instead, he patiently exined the nuances, "Miss Murdoch, this involves too many interests. It''s not just a matter of us casually swapping films. Even if we wanted to, would Eric Williams agree? Would the otherpaniesn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    consent? You saw how Michael Eisner and Ned Tanen were present today; their regard for Eric Williams was clear. We hold no real advantage in thispetition."

    *****

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 Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Anti-War

    Chapter 184: Anti-War

    ?

    [Chapter 184: Anti-War]

    As more and more people filled the party, Michael Eisner, who had only stayed for a little over ten minutes, stood up first to excuse himself, saying he had matters to attend to. Eric naturally offered to see him off personally.

    "Eric, I hear you got nominated for the mainpetition at Venice?" Michael Eisner asked suddenly as they waited for the elevator.

    Eric nodded. "Yes, but since it''s a horror film, the chances of winning are pretty slim. Sending it to Venice is just to raise its profile, which could help with the release in Europe."

    "I actually think this movie has a good chance of winning, as long as the promotional direction is right," Michael said as the elevator doors opened, and they both stepped inside. "Promotional direction?" Eric pressed the elevator button while wondering aloud.

    "Well," Michael exined, "even though it''s a horror film, I think there are deeper themes to explore, like a person''s attachment to life and fear of death, and a mother''s sincere love for her two children.

    Most importantly, the film is set in the aftermath of World War II, so you can use an anti-war angle in the promotion. You can direct this horror film toward the human cost of war -- the shadow of conflict has long oppressed the heroine''s psyche, leading Grace tomit the desperate act of suffocating her children.

    Given the current instability in Europe, any misstep could trigger another conflict. If this anti-war message resonates deeply, the Venice Film Festival jury would surely want to make a statement and wouldn''t let the film walk away empty-handed. You know, movies and politics have always gone hand in hand."

    Eric couldn''t help but admire Michael''s wisdom. He had been stuck in the mindset that horror films werergely disfavored by the festival judges, failing to consider other perspectives. "Thanks for the insight, Mr. Eisner. I''ll get someone started on that right away."

    Just being nominated versus actually winning could lead to vastly different receptions from fans. Take the Oscars, for example; everyone paid special attention to the winning films. As for the nominees, while their quality was often close, they rarely garnered as much attention. As they reached the basement parking lot, the two men walked toward Michael Eisner''s car, where his assistant and driver were waiting.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Michael climbed in but didn''t leave right away. Instead, he waved for Eric to join him.

    After Eric settled into the seat beside him, Michael Eisner said, "Eric, how about teaming up with Disney next year?"

    Eric was taken aback; he thought Michael was going to talk about the two films from that day, but he had jumped straight to ns for the next year.

    "Mr. Eisner, I can''t give you an answer right away. My partnership with Fox has been quite pleasant," Eric replied, shaking his head slightly.

    Michael noticed that Eric sounded somewhat disingenuous. Working rtionships between the twopanies had always been driven by profit. Mixing personal sentiments would only lead to a fractured rtionship. After several interactions, Michael felt confident that Eric wasn''t an emotional person.

    "There''s no rush, Eric. Take your time to think it over. The revenue share offer from Disney regarding today''s two films will reflect our sincerity," Michael paused before adding, "I also heard that Firefly intends to acquire New Line to establish their own distribution channel. But, you know, I''ve met Robert Shea a few times. He''s very controlling without the matching talent, and his management style is too subjective and irrational. Relying on him to manage thepany wouldn''t be a wise choice."

    ...

    Watching the Bentley roll away, Eric contemted Michael''s words and connected them to his own memories of New Line. He concluded that Michael''s assessment of Robert Shea was quite valid.

    In his previous life, New Line, buoyed by the sess of its franchises, had been reckless under Robert Shea''s leadership, pushing forward projects that resulted in massive losses and causing New Line to lose its independence, eventually merging into its parentpany,

    Warner Bros.

    But Eric wasn''t worried about that right now. If he could sessfully acquire New Line, he''d keep Robert Shea in charge of distribution while firmly holding onto the power of filmmaking for himself, ensuring Robert wouldn''t overstep.

    ...

    One by one, representatives from other major filmpanies departed. There were certainly some individual exchanges during that time. Yet, despite the ttery and charm exuded by executives interested in the two films, Eric made no promises.

    After sending off Amy Pascal, he returned to the banquet hall, which had turned into a gathering of familiar faces. The actors from the two crews who had missed the screenings were now at the party. Additionally, others closely associated with Firefly were present, including Drew Barrymore, who had always been a party fixture. Although she had loved hitting the nightlife scene, since getting involved with Eric, she had seemingly kicked that ''bad habit'' to the curb, but she still managed to attend various parties.

    Spotting Drew in her fuchsia dress, Eric yfully tapped her on the forehead, warning her not to drink. He then walked over to Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender.

    ...

    "Eric, good evening," the two greeted him as he approached.

    Eric smiled back, "How''s the preparation going?"

    Quentin''s voice held some excitement as he responded, "Pretty smooth. Mr. Hansen has made things much easier for us; we''ve locked down most of the roles, and if all goes well, we''ll start filming in September."

    "Great, thene with me. I''ll introduce you to Mr. Blonde," Eric said, gesturing towards another area.

    ...

    "Eric," Virginia stepped forward as he approached but quickly halted, remembering they were in a public space. Even though everyone knew of their rtionship, she felt it wasn''t appropriate to act too familiar.

    Eric smiled at Virginia''s cautious demeanor and embraced her, nting a gentle kiss on her cheek. It wasn''t until she shyly pushed him away that he let go and turned to the tall man

    beside her.

    "Hi, Michael," Eric reached out to Michael Madsen.

    "Hello, Eric," Michael replied coolly, harboring some personal dislike for Eric. His aloof response made Virginia anxious; if Eric weren''t there, she would have pinched her brother for being rude. However, Eric didn''t mind Michael''s reaction at all and cheerfully introduced him to Quentin and Lawrence.

    "This is Michael Madsen. I think he''s perfect to y Mr. Blonde. Michael, these two are Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender. You can discuss specifics with them."

    Both Quentin and Lawrence greeted Michael warmly, knowing that Eric had rmended him, hoping to build a good rapport that would benefit their coborationter on.

    Watching the three engage in conversation, Eric took Virginia away.

    ...

    "Vicki, I heard you''ve been receiving some offers?" Eric took a ss of wine from a server and settled onto a sofa in a corner.

    Virginia sat beside him, "Yes, Kepler rmended a few scripts that look pretty good, but I haven''t made any decisions yet. I initially nned to ask for your opinion first."

    Eric waved his hand dismissively, "Pass on those for now. We should wait until after the film releases to decide. Any movie you sign up for now will likely premiere at the end of the year. If it flops, it could hurt your reputation, and of course, the pay won''t be significant." "Alright, I''ll take your advice," she nodded obediently. "Eric, Michael''s attitude toward you isn''t great. I hope you won''t take it personally."

    "Of course not," Eric chuckled. "If someone was monopolizing my little sister, I wouldn''t

    have nice feelings towards him either."

    "Ha..." She lightlyughed and automatically defended her brother. "You''re not

    monopolizing me."

    "Of course I am, Vicki. You''ve been mine since the beginning."

    "Fine," she said, a slight blush rising to her cheeks as she looked down. "Eric, are youing

    over to my ce tonight? You haven''t been there in a while."

    "Sure," he smirked. "Why don''t we leave now?"

    She quickly shook her head, "Eric, you should mingle with the others. Don''t just stay by my

    side."

    "No rush. I just sent a group off; I''m tired and need to rest for a bit."

    ...

    On the other side of the party, Elisabeth held a ss of red wine and was chatting with Julia, noticing that Julia appeared somewhat distracted. Until Julia couldn''t help but sneak another nce in one direction, Elisabeth followed her gaze and caught sight of the rxed figure slouching on the sofa, apanied by a woman in a ck strapless evening gown--indeed,

    the leadingdy of the film.

    "Julia, do you like him?" Elisabeth leaned in close to Julia, whispering.

    "Uh, not really..." Julia flustered, realizing who Elisabeth meant. Her first instinct was to deny

    it, but perhaps due to the pent-up emotions and Elisabeth''s skilled social tactics, Julia had begun to treat her like a close friend. After a brief moment of panic, Julia finally admitted, "Actually, I... don''t even know what I feel about him. He''s a veryplex person." "Come on, let''s go chat with Mr. Williams," Elisabeth saw the turmoil in Julia and quickly grabbed her arm, heading toward Eric despite Julia''s protests.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Seed

    Chapter 185: Seed

    ?

    [Chapter 185: Seed]

    "Hey, Eric," Elisabeth pulled the awkward Julia over to Eric''s side. Virginia nced at the sudden arrivals and decided it was best to excuse herself. Elisabeth unapologetically shoved Julia onto the sofa and sat down beside her.

    "Liz, why haven''t you left?" Eric asked, puzzled.

    Elisabeth shot him an annoyed re. "Why should I leave? Are you not weing me?"

    "Of course not," Eric quickly denied, "But I figured you''d find this little gathering beneath you, given that you''re the daughter of Rupert Murdoch."

    Daughter of Rupert Murdoch?

    Julia, overhearing Eric, looked at Elisabeth with renewed curiosity. Eric noticed Julia''s bewildered expression and took it upon himself to introduce. "Julia, didn''t Liz tell you? She''s the daughter of Rupert Murdoch, owner of 20th Century Fox and News Corp."

    "Hey, Eric, are you trying to stir trouble between Julia and me? Julia''s right; you really are a jerk," Elisabeth said angrily as she yfully punched Eric on the shoulder. Julia felt a mix of embarrassment and surprise at learning Elisabeth''s prestigious background and wanted to hide her face.

    ''Oh gosh, how could she say that?''

    Eric paused, then burst intoughter. "Julia finally speaks her mind."

    "No, Eric, I didn''t mean..." Julia stuttered, her face turning crimson as she waved her hands, trying to rify. But nothing coherent came out.

    As the words slipped out, Elisabeth too felt she had misspoken and shot Julia an apologetic look. She discreetly tried to change the subject. "So, Eric, was that woman your girlfriend?"

    "Yeah," Eric nodded.

    "Uh... you really are bold about it," Elisabeth responded, momentarily taken aback. "What about Julia?"

    At that moment, Julia wanted to stop the girl from being so blunt. However, since the question had been thrown out there, she knew it was toote to intervene. Instead, she anxiously looked at Eric, uncertain how he would respond.

    "What does that have to do with Julia?" Eric asked, surprised.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "I... I don''t want to hear your nonsense anymore." Upon hearing Eric''s response, Julia felt a mix of relief and a stronger sense of disappointment. She blurted out a quick farewell and bolted from the scene like a rabbit chased by hounds.

    Watching Julia scurry away, Elisabeth rolled her eyes at Eric. "You really are clueless, Mr. Williams."

    Eric shrugged, not bothered by the change in how she addressed him. "Liz, there are things you don''t understand, so it''s better to withhold judgment."

    "Oh, I''m getting more and more curious about you, Eric. How about treating me to dinner sometime? I''d like to chat more with you."

    "Not interested." Eric finished the dregs of his drink, stood up, and nned to mingle with others.

    "Hey, wait. You can''t just do that," Elisabeth said, pulling at Eric''s shirt. "Fine, I''ll treat you to dinner."

    Since he wasn''t aware of her previous conversation with Carlin, and he had no prior information about her, Eric hadbeled Elisabeth as a self-centered socialite based on their brief interaction. Even though she had an impressive background, Eric, given his current standing, saw no reason to cater to an indulgent princess.

    He tugged a few times to finally wrest his shirt from her grip. Examining the wrinkled hem that had been grasped, Eric sighed and noticed her disgruntled expression. He suddenly grinned mischievously, leaning toward her. "Liz, there''s one thing I need to remind you..."

    Elisabeth met his aggressive gaze and instinctively leaned back, crossing her arms defensively, stuttering, "Wh... what?"

    As she recoiled, Eric moved closer, inhaling the faint scent of her perfume, wiggling a finger in front of her. "I need to caution you, never, ever show too much interest in a man. Otherwise, you''ll easily find yourself falling for him."

    "Ah..." Elisabeth let out a sound, and as Eric dropped that line, he turned and walked away. Coming back to her senses from her fluster, she stomped her foot in frustration. "Ugh, who would ever fall for you, jerk! Pervert, egotist..." A stream of insults poured out of her mouth. After releasing her anger, she nced around to see if anyone had noticed, heaving a sigh of relief, and straightened her clothes, lifting her chin back into a proud demeanor. With a ss of red wine, she strode back into the crowd.

    There were originally no roads in the world, but when many people walked, paths formed. This can extend to many things; for example, some events might not have urred, but a certain inconsiderate guy inadvertently nted a seed of suggestion, and over time, it grew into reality.

    ...

    "Mr. Williams, may I propose a toast?" As Eric wove through the crowd, chatting with others, a little girl, guided by her mother, approached him with a cup of juice, wide-eyed and

    expectant.

    "Of course, Sara," Eric smiled, bending down to gently clink his ss with hers before downing the remaining wine.

    The little girl followed suit and took a big sip of her juice, watching him finish his drink. "Mr. Williams, thank you for giving me the role of Jenny Stewart."

    "It''s nothing. You performed wonderfully," Eric replied. He noticed the little girl, Sarah Michelle Ger, who was only 12 but was noticeably smaller than her peer, Drew. Perhaps due to family circumstances, he recalled it wasn''t the best living situation for Sarah and her mother, which exined her shorter stature at around five feet. She had a round, cute baby face.

    "Then, Mr. Williams, can I work in the film you''re directing?" The little girl suddenly asked, her tone filled with youthful innocence and expectation in her big eyes.

    Eric assessed Sarah''s mother and the girl again, momentarily unsure if this was something taught to her or just an innocent question. For the character of Jessica in Sleepless in Seattle, Jonah''s friend, Sarah could have been perfect. However, since the girl already had a part in The Others, they couldn''t give her another role, as it would create confusion for viewers seeing the same girl in two distinctly different films at the same time.

    "I hope there will be an opportunity," was Eric''s diplomatic reply, as he found it hard to turn down the hopeful little girl.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Drunk

    Chapter 186: Drunk

    ?

    [Chapter 186: Drunk]

    "It''s hard to figure out what kind of person he really is. Gentle, domineering, cautious, frivolous, indulgent, fickle, aggressive, cynical, incredibly talented, with a wicked sense of humor... In short, he possessed so many qualities. After spending some time with him, I realized no matter what I did, it was nearly impossible to find any confidence from him. When I first debuted, I thought, ''Ah, I made it! I''m a Hollywood star! I really seeded, didn''t I, Liz...''" Julia squinted her eyes, looking at the woman next to her with a hint of uncertainty. "Of course, Julia, you definitely seeded," Elisabeth responded, seamlessly taking the ss from Julia''s hand while subtly signaling a passing waiter to rece it with a ss of juice, which she then ced in Julia''s hands.

    Even though Julia''s true identity had just been revealed by Eric, Elisabeth sincerely apologized to her. Any tension that had developed between them quickly melted away. Julia was feeling quite unhappy due to Eric''s words, so she unconsciously drank a bit more, resulting in her tipsy state. Perhaps it was the alcohol; Julia''s defenses weakened, and she began to chatter away to Elisabeth about her various past experiences with Eric.

    Drowsily epting the ss Elisabeth handed her, Julia took a hearty sip of the liquid, seeming unaware that it was juice instead of wine. With her semi-drunken slur, she continued, "I... I thought I seeded, you know. Then I started getting all these offers for films, each one worth millions. Millions, Liz! I couldn''t even dream of that before. But then that... that awful jerk canceled them all without even talking to me about it. I stormed over to confront him. And he immediately scolded me harshly, until... until I cried in front of him before he finally stopped. Ugh, I always wanted to act a bit prouder in front of him, act a little more... confident, but he has this way of saying just one line... Even just one look from him can leave youpletely unable to hold your head up. Now he''s making it so that I can''t even date anymore. Whenever I think about going out with a boy, he just jumps into my mind, pointing at the boy and knocking him down, finding fault with everything."

    Julia took another swig of juice with hazy eyes, suddenly bursting into self-mockingughter. "But then, he actually said, ''What does this have to do with Julia?'' Hah, what a jerk! What does it have to do with me? What does it have to do with me..."

    "Alright, Julia, you''re drunk. Maybe I should take you home," Elisabeth gently urged, noting the signs of Julia''s drunkenness. Generally, it was best to act amodating with someone who had been drinking so that they would listen.

    "Yeah, home. I want to go home; I don''t ever want to see that jerk again." Julia jumped up suddenly, only to feel dizzy and flop back onto the sofa. Elisabeth quickly supported her until Julia regained herposure before helping her stand again.

    ...

    Allen found Eric chatting with Herbert Ross and whispered a few words in his ear. Eric nced toward the entrance of the banquet hall, apologized to Herbert, and moved in that direction. "What happened, Julia? Why did you drink so much?" Eric looked disapprovingly at theatose Julia that Elisabeth was supporting and surveyed the area. "Where''s Allison?" Allison was Julia''s petite assistant, who sported a sprinkling of freckles across her face.

    "Y-you don''t need to worry about it. I can drink as much as I want!" Julia eximed dramatically, waving her arms in exaggeration as she raised her voice, "Why do you think you can tell me what to do?"

    "Shut up. Do you want the news spreading tomorrow that you got smashed and made a scene?" Eric shot a re at Julia, aware that their conversation had drawn attention. He quickly gestured to Elisabeth to help Julia out of the banquet hall. They breathed easier once they were in an empty corridor.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Where''s Allison? I''ll have her take you home," Eric asked again.

    Julia lowered her head, pouting out her lips. Right after Eric''s scolding stare had startled her, or perhaps she was regaining some rationality, she replied, "Allison is on vacation. She stayed with me in a small town down south for a few months and... And she got sick from the climate."

    Eric sighed and turned to his assistant, saying, "Allen, can you take Julia home?"

    Allen was about to respond when Elisabeth interjected, "Let me handle it. This gentleman is a man, and it''s a bit inconvenient. Julia''s had too much to drink. She''ll need someone to take care of her."

    Eric looked at Elisabeth in puzzlement, then nced at Julia.

    "I want... I want Liz to take me. Not him... Stinky man! You all are stinky men!" Julia seemed to drift further off, tightly hugging Elisabeth''s arm as she leaned against her.

    Allen shrugged awkwardly, and since Eric saw Julia in such a state, he had no choice but to say, "Alright, then. Sorry about this, Liz. Do you know Julia''s apartment address?"

    "I know, I know. It''s at 11070 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills," Julia, leaning against Elisabeth, reflexively raised a hand, speaking as if she were an eager student wanting to answer a question, her voice infused with a hint of childishness.

    Eric shrugged and smiled at Elisabeth. "Alright, now you know. I''ll send you two down."

    As the elevator descended slowly, Eric kept ncing at the two women next to him, feeling a bit odd. Though their contact had been brief, he sensed an interesting ''tomboy'' vibe from Elisabeth. Could she be a lesbian? If so, would Julia end up...

    Eric''s thoughts twisted into something sinister, and a mischievous grin crept onto his face.

    Fortunately, Elisabeth remained focused on helping Julia, not noticing Eric''s strange expression. If she knew what was on Eric''s mind, she probably would have kicked him straight in the shins.

    "My car''s over there. Hey, can''t you be a gentleman and help me out a bit?" Elisabeth said, stepping out of the elevator and pointing toward a red sports car in the parking lot. Noticing Julia''s wavering stance, she added, annoyed at Eric, "It''s clear Julia''s had a little too much, and she''ll need someone to look after her."

    "Oh, sorry, I thought you''d be fine," Ericughed as he stepped up to offer his other arm to Julia, joining Elisabeth in supporting her as they led her to the car. After propping Julia against him, Elisabeth had the chance to dig out her car keys and unlock the door.

    As she opened the back door of the sports car, Elisabeth turned to indicate to Eric that he should help Julia inside. Instead, she found Julia entangled around Eric like a soft vine, her eyes zed as she nuzzled her face against Eric''s cheek, murmuring incoherently, "Eric, um... I dreamt about you again. Are you going to hit me? You always spank me, it hurts, you know. And I always wake up with my underwear messed up. So embarrassing. Can''t you be a little nicer to me? Please give me a kiss..."

    Seeing Elisabeth''s stunned expression, Eric innocently raised his hands, letting Julia cling to him while she yfully licked his cheek, weakly defending himself, "Um... you know how it is,

    she''s drunk."

    Elisabeth quickly snapped back to herself, silently pulling Julia off Eric and stuffing her into the back seat of the car. With a loud m of the door, she hopped into the driver''s seat, started the engine, and as she began to pull away, she couldn''t resist poking her head out the window, shouting at Eric, who had raised a hand to say goodbye, "Mr. Williams, Julia''s right; you really are a jerk!"

    As Eric watched the sports car drive away with the raised middle finger, he could only chuckle

    to himself.

    I didn''t actually hit her, right?

    Did I hit her?

    No, I didn''t, right?

    Could it be that I''m getting old, and my memory is slipping?

    ...

    Awakening from a hazy dream, Julia felt like her head had been stuffed with a giant stone. She reflexively raised her hand to her temple and looked around.

    Thankfully, it was her own bedroom.

    She felt a mix of relief and disappointment; it seemed she had overindulgedst night and

    dreamt about that guy again, rambling on incoherently. Thank goodness it was just a dream. Otherwise, that would be so embarrassing.

    Propping herself up, the thin nket slipped away, exposing her pale, soft legs to the air. The cool breeze from the air conditioning made her instinctively cover her chest. Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly threw back the nket.

    Oh my God, did that guy do something to me again?

    The sound of the bedroom door unlocking made Julia scramble to pull up the nket to cover herself, her eyes widening as she stared at the entrance.

    A girl appeared at the door, wearing only an oversized button-down shirt and revealing her two long, pale legs. Seeing Julia sitting up, the girl smiled and said, "Hi, Julia! You finally woke up! I was about to have to interrupt your beauty sleep."

    "You..." Julia gradually recalled some events fromst night, remembering the girl''s identity, and managed to force a smile, "Liz, good morning! Did you... did you take me home?" "Sure did! You were quite a handfulst night, throwing up a couple of times and getting both of us wet, so I had to borrow a shirt from your closet. I hope you don''t mind?" Elisabeth tugged at the shirt she was wearing, inadvertently revealing the white edges of her panties. "Of course, I don''t mind! I should thank you!" Julia quickly recognized the shirt as one she had secretly kept from Eric long ago. But Elisabeth didn''t seem to realize it was a man''s shirt, and Julia had no intention of pointing it out.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 187: Chapter 187: I Understood

    Chapter 187: I Understood

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 187: I Understood]

    "Come on, get up! I made some porridge, and I hope you like it," Elisabeth said with a faint smile before turning and leaving the room.

    Julia peeked through the slightly ajar door, but she didn''t see the girl anywhere. Wrapping herself in a nket, she timidly made her way to the bathroom. She didn''t have Elisabeth''s carefree nature and wasn''tfortable exposing herself in front of someone she had only just met, even if that person was a woman.

    Twenty minutester, Julia appeared in the dining room wearing a loose, light green house dress. Elisabeth had already set out breakfast. When she saw Julia walk in, she merely nodded in acknowledgment, continuing to read her newspaper casually while eating,pletely at

    ease.

    Julia didn''t mind and took a seat at the table. She picked up a piece of toast, spread some peanut butter on it, and took a few bites before trying a spoonful of the in porridge. "Did you sleep wellst night?" the girl across from her suddenly asked.

    "Ah, of course," Julia quickly replied, feeling inexplicably guilty, though she couldn''t pinpoint why. Her memories of the night before had already blurred into a tangled mess.

    "Honestly, I rmend that you avoid having a repeat performance," Elisabeth remarked meaningfully.

    "A repeat of what?" Julia blinked at the girl across from her.

    "Getting drunk; don''t drink so much next time."

    Julia seemed to realize something: "Did I... did I do something embarrassingst night?"

    Elisabeth nodded without hesitation: "Yes."

    "Oh no." Julia pped her forehead in shock. "This is really bad; what if it gets out?"

    "Don''t worry, it won''t," Elisabeth said, still not looking up from her newspaper as she flipped to another page.

    "Hmm?"

    "I think that idiot wouldn''t let it slip," Elisabethmented nonchntly.

    Julia''s eyes widened. "That idiot... you mean... Eric?"

    "Bingo!"

    Julia''s heart raced, and she stammered, "So... Liz. What exactly... what did I do?"

    "It wasn''t too outrageous. You justtched onto that idiot and cried, begging him to kiss you."

    "Oh my God!" Julia groaned in utter distress, burying her head on the table. She thudded it a few times against the solid wood surface.

    Seeing her reaction, Elisabeth couldn''t help but chuckle. "Careful, don''t break the wood -- no one''s going to mourn for that."

    After a while, Julia lifted her head and poured herself a ss of cold water from the ss pitcher in the middle of the table, gulping it down. She took a few deep breaths before summoning the courage to ask, "Uh, Liz. Can you tell me what happenedst night in detail?"

    "Are you sure you want to hear?" Elisabeth asked in response.

    Suppressing her urge to backtrack, Julia nodded.

    Elisabeth had an excellent memory, and she hadn''t been drunkst night. So she began recounting the events, starting from when Juliained about Eric, adding in vivid details.

    "I... I said even my dreams out loud?" Julia looked like she was about to break down, gazing at Elisabeth with a pleading expression, as if hoping for a denial.

    "Uh-huh," Elisabeth replied, lifting her bowl of porridge to her lips. She nodded absentmindedly to Julia''s question.

    Julia banged her head against the table once more. "It''s over. I can''t show my face in public again."

    Elisabeth finished thest mouthful of porridge and wiped her mouth, curiosity shining in her eyes as she asked, "Julia, does Eric Williams really have that twisted preference? Does he like hitting women?"

    "No," Julia mumbled against the table.

    Elisabeth seemed relieved. "So those were your sexual fantasies. I thought he was truly a creep, which would have been revolting. I was somewhat interested in him."

    "Liz, let''s not talk about this anymore, okay? I feel like dying right now."

    "It''s nothing. Who said women can''t have sexual fantasies? But yours are particrly... interesting. You actually wished for him to hit you."

    "That was just in a dream," Julia weakly defended herself.

    "Dreams are a convenient and quick way for human desires to manifest. They''re essentially the same as fantasies during waking hours, except fantasies are controble while dreams are not. If those thoughts weren''t in your heart, you wouldn''t have dreamt that way." "Hmm..." Julia sniffled a few times, looking like she might cry if the topic continued. Elisabeth dropped it and switched topics. "Julia, are you in love with him?"

    Julia shot up suddenly, visibly more sensitive to this topic. "No, of course not! I hate him!" "Oh," Elisabeth said nomittally, wisely choosing not to press further, knowing that she might provoke a furious response. Inwardly, she mused that Julia''s reaction surely reflected an extreme case of ''hate.''

    Julia stared at Elisabeth, fingers pressing down slightly on the edge of the table as if she wanted to do something. After a moment of waiting, she realized Elisabeth wasn''t continuing and let out a sigh, faltering, "I just... actually..."

    "Forget it, Julia. Let''s have breakfast. I think your life is a bit too dull, which is why you overthink things. How about we go shopping after breakfast? I can borrow a private jet, and we can fly directly to Manhattan. Fifth Avenue is a shopping paradise! In the evening, I''ll take you to some parties to meet some young people. They might not be as great as Eric Williams, but their families are surely wealthier."

    "I''vee across quite a few of those types at various parties. Either they''re too old or just full of themselves, living off their families'' wealth. Sometimes I wonder if they''ll even be able to afford the inheritance taxes when the timees. I heard many rich kids had to donate substantial parts of their inheritances because they couldn''t pay the exorbitant estate tax." "Ha, you''re talking about a rare few," Elisabethughed. "As long as you think ahead, those billionaires have countless ways to smoothly pass on their assets to the next generation." Unknowingly, the conversation shifted away fromst night''s embarrassing moments, and the two began chatting animatedly.

    "Liz, what do you think of this shirt? Don''t you think the one you''re wearing is a bit big?" After breakfast, the two girls dove into Julia''s wardrobe to pick out clothes. They had simr figures and heights, so size wasn''t an issue.

    "Well, I like clothes that are a bit looser. This one''s nice," Elisabeth said, making no effort to change. She stood there in her underwear, her fair legs exposed while rummaging through another closet for long pants.

    Julia bit her lip, quickly thinking of how to have Elisabeth unknowingly take off the shirt.

    "Hmm, these pants are nice; I''ll take them," Elisabeth said, pulling out a pair of khaki casual trousers and trying them on.

    "Very nice! Looks great," Julia observed. "But I think khaki pants go better with a light blue top or even pink. White can be a bit odd," she said, quickly grabbing a couple of small shirts

    from a rack and holding them up. "Look!"

    Elisabeth blinked at the two small shirts, then nced at the one she was wearing. Suddenly,

    she lifted the hem of her oversized white shirt and pulled it off, leaving her in nothing but white panties, eximing, "Wow, wow, how disgusting! I get it now -- this must be Eric Williams'' shirt! So gross, yuck, yuck, yuck!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Vigilance

    Chapter 188: Vignce

    ?

    [Chapter 188: Vignce]

    "Liz, does it really have to be like this? Maybe... I can just give the shirt back to him." Julia stood in the small yard of her home, gazing at the metal barrel meant for burning trash, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.

    Elisabeth firmly tugged the shirt Julia had in her hands, slowly pulling it out and stuffing it into the barrel. She struck a match and tossed it in. The mes red briefly; the pure cotton fabric quickly turned to ashes, leaving only a few stubborn stic buttons flickering with small embers.

    She patted Julia on the shoulder, who stared nkly at the little fire. "Alright, Julia, if you want topletely get that guy out of your life, you have to go through this process. Hurry and pack your bags. I already arranged for a private jet. We''ll go to New York first, and if you''re not done having fun, we can fly to London or Paris."

    "I think I should talk to my agent first. I remember I have some engagementsing up..."

    "Hey, you''re a top star in Hollywood now, Julia, not one of those struggling actors who barely have any freedom because they''re held tight by their agents."

    "But..."

    Elisabeth interrupted her. "No buts! Where''s your passport? If you don''t want to pack a bag, just grab your passport and credit card, and let''s take a spontaneous trip."

    An hourter, a private Boeing took off from Los Angeles International Airport.

    ...

    Also taking flight was director Jonathan Demme. Following Michael Eisner''s advice, Ericmunicated with Jonathan, and the next morning, Jonathan headed off to Venice, Italy. He was preparing for an anti-war advocacy campaign. Although the Venice Film Festival was still more than two weeks away, Jonathan didn''t know many people in Italy, so he had to navigate everything on his own. Naturally, the sooner he got started, the better.

    ...

    A few dayster, Eric happened to reconnect with Kepler and learned through theints that Julia had been swept away by the Murdoch family''s kid. Aside from some mental images that sparked a bit of jealousy, Eric didn''t connect this situation to himself. He actually thought it might be good for Julia to take a breather; her reaction after that drunken night had left quite an impression on him.

    ...

    By mid-August, the first two episodes Eric had been responsible for were wrapped up smoothly.

    Thanks to his hands-on coaching, the six main stars had stepped fully into their roles, saving the next directing team, led by Kevin Bright, a lot of trouble.

    ...

    After the test screening, various studios -- Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros. -- quickly made their bids, showing keen interest. Michael Eisner was indeed eager, with Disney submitting their offer just a day after the screening, for 35% of the North American box office and 10% of the overseas box office. Upon seeing those numbers, Eric instantly felt like he had seen it before.

    Jeffrey t-out revealed that Disney''s proposal was essentially the same as what he had experienced with Fox when he had directed films there. Moreover, the offer was clearly pegged to the standards of movies that grossed over $100 million domestically; otherwise, Disney would hardly see any profit.

    If one were to calcte carefully, the terms actually surpassed what Fox had originally offered, since Fox had also secured the video rights and merchandising rights for Eric''s earlier films, allowing them to reap substantial profits. This time, Firefly Films had explicitly stated they wouldn''t be releasing those other movies'' video rights and merchandise, offering only North American and overseas distribution rights.

    After Disney, Paramount quickly followed with their bid for distribution rights, cing second. Warner Bros. and a couple of others were right behind, while Columbia didn''t even bother to make an offer.

    What genuinely surprised Eric was Fox. On the day after the screening, they sent a representative to grab the script outline, and a few dayster, Carlin Hunt from Fox personally approached Eric with suggestions, without even addressing the previous offer.

    It was apparent that Elisabeth''sst-minute n had caught the sharp eye of Barry Diller. And after assessing the project, Fox clearly saw more potential in it, which led to this unusual twist.

    Eric didn''t know what other happenings had transpired, but he had no intention of epting Fox''s suggestions. Altering contracts required extensive negotiations, and the uncertainties that could arise were unpredictable. Since Disney had already made their bid, Eric had no reason to invite trouble upon himself.

    With nopetition in sight, Firefly quickly signed distribution contracts with Disney for the two films.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    "Eric, I heard you acquired Pixar?" Michael Eisner asked at the post-signing party.

    Eric casually swirled the red wine in his ss. "Yeah, I''ve always had an interest in animated films, so I acquired it for fun."

    "Really... young people," Michael murmured, shaking his head, as if remembering something. "So, it was you who initiated the cut-off in cooperation between Pixar and Disney regarding 2D animation rendering?"

    "Disney is a major yer; would it really worry about a smallpany like Pixar? If Disney made the call, I can''t imagine how many animationpanies would rush to partner with

    you."

    Michael forced a smile. Though Disney had its roots in animation, after taking over, Michael Eisner''s focus shifted more to live-action films, which drew some opposition from board members. However, as Disney prospered, those dissenting voices gradually faded.

    Still, it wasn''t that Michael undervalued Disney''s animated films in Hollywood; his focus was just different rtive to his predecessors. With Eric steadily rising in prominence, Eisner''s attention had turned toward Eric''s recent acquisition of Pixar, especially having heard about Pixar''s innovative approach toward 3D animation -- something that certainly piqued his

    interest.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Another Film Snatched Away

    Chapter 189: Another Film Snatched Away

    ?

    [Chapter 189: Another Film Snatched Away]

    Eric''s sudden rise in Hollywood was undoubtedly a unique anomaly in the history of the industry, which spanned over half a century. This wasn''t to say that Eric''s films were exceptionally brilliant. In fact, several of them, upon closer examination, didn''t have much artistic merit, nor did they present any groundbreaking innovations.

    However, after Eric''s string of films scored incredible box office sess, aside from the media that excitedly dissected why Eric''s films weremercially sessful -- capturing attention to boost sales or ratings -- several major studios had convened experts to conduct detailed analyses of Eric''s work. Many conclusions from these analyses were likely to begin reflecting in the Hollywood market over the next two years. For instance, live-action films targeted at kids would undoubtedly increase, the number of Cindere-style romance films would rise, and there would be a surge in clever cop versus criminal narratives.

    Disney was certainly not an exception in analyzing Eric''s films. After Michael Eisner reviewed various reports on Eric''s work, he quickly understood that the miraculous box office sess of Eric''s films was not merely due to their alignment with the demands of the children''s market or the aspirations of young women for fairy-tale romances. The most crucial factor was Eric himself.

    This conclusion stemmed from the fact that all of Eric''s movie projectscked anymon thematic elements. There seemed to be no patterns whatsoever; his films ranged from familyedies to police thrillers. These seemingly unrted projects had all achieved sess, leading to the obvious conclusion that Eric was indeed the most significantmon thread among them.

    All these projects were orchestrated by him, primarily under Fox''s banner. If it was brought up now, no one would attribute the sess to James Brooks or Penny Marshall; Eric Williams was the key figure behind the films that grossed over a hundred million.

    After arriving at this understanding, Michael Eisner became increasingly attentive to Eric and everything involving Firefly Films, always on the lookout to win him over. If he could pull Eric into Disney''s fold, that would be even better.

    Eisner was an ambitious man, and as Disney continued to grow, so did his ambitions. However, he hadn''t yet be the headstrong "Disney Tyrant" who would be ousted in disgrace, as he had aplished remarkable feats in these past few years, earning unparalleled respect within Disney.

    It was well-known that Disney had built its reputation on animation. Although Michael Eisner emphasized developing live-action films after taking charge, he also understood that animated films were Disney''s greatest strength. It was crucial to maintain Disney''s dominance in animation in Hollywood. Therefore, while developing live-action movies, Eisner worked on expanding Disney''s animated film business, coordinating numerous ssic Disney video releases and licensing agreements for merchandise. He achieved outstanding results.

    When Eric grew increasingly prominent, and after he privately acquired a 3D animation studio, Michael Eisner started to keep a watchful eye on it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    For many, the concept of 3D films was entirely new. Just a short while ago, Michael Eisner was scarcely informed about 3D movies. However, due to historical precedents where sound films reced silent ones and color films overshadowed ck and white, he knew he had to pay more attention to this trend. He had a gut feeling that 3D movies could herald a transformative shift in the industry.

    To this end, he sought out Pixar, which had just won an Oscar for Best Animated Short, coborating with executives from Disney''s animation department to review and analyze it. Despite the infant character''s crude execution making Disney''s veteran animators scoff, theputer graphics experts brought in from Silicon Valley exined a series of technical points and difficulties to Disney executives. They stated that with ample financial backing, Pixar''s technology could absolutely produce a 90-minute-plus 3D animated feature, and its quality would rival traditional 2D hand-drawn animation.

    As Michael Eisner recalled theputer expert''s words, he noted Eric''s sly demeanor and realized that Disney''s ns to intervene with Pixar would be futile. Establishing their 3D animation division would not be a swift endeavor either.

    "Eric, how about this -- Pixar is currently working on an animated feature. Would you be open to letting Disney distribute it once it''s done?" Unable to work directly with Pixar, Michael Eisner pivoted to seize the distribution rights for the first 3D animated feature, believing this would keep developments within Disney''s controble range.

    Eric chuckled, "Mr. Eisner, why rush? Pixar''s first animated feature won''t be finished for at least two years. Signing a contract now would carry substantial risk for both of us."

    Michael Eisner led Eric over to a nearby couch and continued gently, "Eric, you''ve been in Hollywood for a short time. Many things may not be clear to you. Most big-budget films secure their distributors before filming begins to ensure a swift recovery of funds. A feature- length animated film costs at least thirty million dors, and I suspect a 3D film will cost even more. That''s a hefty investment, and if proper arrangements aren''t made ahead of time, the risks increase significantly."

    There were unspoken considerations, such as the potential for the animated film to be a flop, resulting in nobody willing to distribute it and risking millions down the drain. Securing a distribution deal in advance could mitigate this risk, allowing for some recovery even if the film flopped. Yet, he didn''t believe Eric would produce a bad film under his oversight.

    Eric casually swirled his wine ss before feigning deep thought for a moment, then looked up, "Mr. Eisner, I can only say that when the timees for animation distribution, Disney will certainly be my first choice."

    This amounted to no realmitment; "first choice" was just a possibility. In Hollywood, the first choice often didn''t end up being the final choice.

    As Michael Eisner felt disappointment and a hint of anger, he realized that as Disney''s captain, it had been a while since anyone so openly and continuously rejected him. While he didn''t lose hisposure, his tone grew noticeably colder. "Eric, you should know that I faced considerable internal pressure at Disney to propose such a revenue-sharing deal. You need to give me an exnation for the board. Your distribution partner for next year''s film remains undecided, doesn''t it?"

    Eric sensed Eisner''s chilly tone and discontent. He hadn''t nned on negotiating with another partner; discussions with New Line were nearingpletion, and next year, he would certainly focus on hispany''s growth. However, he knew that if Firefly wanted to rise, it would face pressure from all sides. Eliminating even one adversary was a win. After contemting for a moment, Eric reluctantly extended a finger. "One film, Mr. Eisner. You should know the direction Firefly is heading, so I can only offer Disney distribution rights for one film, excluding video and merchandise rights."

    "Is it a film you''ll direct personally?" Michael Eisner''s expression brightened ever so slightly

    but still sought rification.

    "Of course," Eric nodded.

    Michael Eisner finally smiled, raising his ss of wine, "Then here''s to a sessful

    partnership!"

    "To a sessful partnership," Eric replied, clinking sses with him. He recognized that their coboration was essentially settled. In Hollywood, oftentimes remarks could be as flimsy as air. Trusting them could lead to busted dreams. But sometimes, what was said meant more than a contract. Now that he made a promise, backing outter would mean creating enmity with Disney.

    Having secured the advantage, Michael Eisner no longer pressed Eric further. After offering a few parting words, he drifted away to mingle with other guests.

    ...

    Eric watched as Eisner''s figure disappeared into the crowd, letting out a light sigh as he took a hefty swig of wine, unsure of the taste.

    "Eric, there you are! I''ve been looking everywhere for you," Jeffrey rushed over, his hand

    pressing a handkerchief to his forehead, wiping off beads of sweat.

    Eric shifted to make room for Jeffrey to sit down and asked, "Didn''t you say you were meeting

    with Robert Shea about the acquisition? Why are you here?"

    "I finished the talks, but there''s really nothing to discuss," Jeffrey shook his head, and upon seeing Eric''s still-present disappointment, added, "What''s wrong? Isn''t Disney''s high revenue share a cause for celebration?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Talk About Bad Judgment

    Chapter 190: Talk About Bad Judgment

    ?

    [Chapter 190: Talk About Bad Judgment]

    "How could I be happy? I just got tangled up with Michael Eisner trying to extort a movie out of me," Eric sighed.

    Though Eric didn''t explicitly say it, Jeffrey quickly grasped what he meant. "So, what conditions did Disney offer?"

    "Nothing''s been negotiated yet," Eric shook his head. "I only made a verbal promise to Michael Eisner."

    Jeffrey let out a sigh of relief. "That''s good. It''s just a movie, after all. You crank out films like a henys eggs. But, I heard some news a couple of days ago. Disney ns to terminate its overseas distribution partnership with Warner Bros. and hand everything over to its subsidiary, Buena Vista International."

    "What does that have to do with me?" Eric dismissed Jeffrey''s teasing, too uninterested to think it through after that.

    "It has everything to do with you. After cutting ties with Warner, Disney is surely going to face a chaotic time in overseas distribution. I estimate it will take Buena Vista at least six months to get things sorted. If you agree to have your movie scheduled for early next year, it''s likely Buena Vista would use it as cannon fodder to prate the overseas market. Waiting untilter in the year would be much better."

    Eric frowned, "It''s hard to believe Disney would sacrifice my film like that. Don''t they want to make money?"

    Jeffrey tucked his handkerchief into his pocket and signaled to a waiter for a ss of red wine. "Disney doesn''t just look at the box office profits of one or two films. They care more about expanding their distribution channels. The influence you''ve built from your earlier movies is a perfect tool for channel expansion. Disney could leverage your film''s name while sharing some profits with overseas distributors. This would make many things work out smoothly. Who knows? After releasing one film, Disney might establish brand new distribution channels in several countries. Inparison, a film''s short-term profit doesn''t matter so much next to those longsting, profit-generating channels."

    Realizing this, Eric nodded slowly. If Disney used his film to break into new markets, they would likely lose a significant overseas box office due to inefficiencies in their channels. Even if Disney managed to expand its reach, both he and Firefly Films wouldn''t see any significant benefits. Although the split of overseas box office receipts wasn''trge, given the scale of his earlier films, it still amounted to tens of millions of dors. He wouldn''t sacrifice his own gains for Disney''s sake unless theypensated him for his losses upfront.

    Having thought it through, Eric then asked, "Jeffrey, I remember you mentioned there''s nothing more to discuss with Robert Shea. What did you mean?"

    "There''s just no discussion left," Jeffrey replied. "Robert Shea is adamant about a 15% share and an additional $60 million in cash. He won''t budge, which is why I rushed over to you. This decision requires your input as Chairman."

    Eric pondered for a moment before asking, "Are you sure that''s his final offer?"

    Jeffrey nodded. "Absolutely. Robert has made it clear that it''s his final bottom line, and he won''t retreat another step. Furthermore..." At this, Jeffrey shed a strange smile. "He told me, unless you agree to this price, he won''t ept any future meeting invitations from you." "Uh... that''s... puzzling," Eric said, scratching his head.

    Jeffrey didn''t allow Eric to be confused for long,ughing as he exined, "When you had dinner with him the first time, you must have left quite the impression. He''s afraid that if he gets into another debate with you, he might just back off again. I sensed that''s what happened, even though I wasn''t there. It sounded like by the end, Robert was quite stirred up by your words and backed down quite a bit, right?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "That''s not called stirring the pot; I was just stating facts," Eric retorted with a smile.

    "Anyway, that''s where we stand. Honestly, I think the price isn''t unreasonable. New Line is a twenty-year-oldpany. I need to focus more on preparations now, so I''ll leave the acquisition of New Line in your hands. I''ve sorted all the necessary paperwork, and I''ll have my secretary deliver it to your office tomorrow."

    "Got it," Eric nodded, looking at Jeffrey with some concern. "Jeffrey, you do realize, if the acquisition seeds, you might..."

    Jeffrey pped Eric on the shoulder, giving him a strong gaze. "I''ve thought that through. I''ll let Robert take the CEO position; I can just be the president in charge of production, even a vice president is fine."

    "Thank you, Jeffrey," Eric said gratefully, looking at the heavyset man who''d supported him unwaveringly from the start.

    "Do we need to express thanks between us?" Jeffrey lifted his ss of red wine, clinking it with Eric''s. Then he remembered something and asked, "By the way, do you think Jonathan Demme will manage fine on his own in Venice? Should I go with him? Ideally, I''d prefer if Kepler went instead; he has better connections in Europe. Too bad he''s just an agent and doesn''t n on switching careers."

    "Before you got here, Michael Eisner discussed this with me. He''ll use some Disney resources to help with this project, aiming for a win at the Venice Film Festival. John Landis is on this year''s nine-member jury, so that''s a huge plus."

    Jeffrey frowned in thought. "John Landis? The director of that box office hit, Coming to America, fromst year?"

    "Yeah, actually John Landis is better known for his horror films. So you get the picture; the genre coupled with that Hollywoodbel is bound to score major points with him. Disney will reach out to him too," Eric borated.

    "When are you heading to Venice?"

    "During the opening days, probably. The award ceremony doesn''t happen until mid- September. I definitely can''t stay there for too long; I''m not going to the award ceremony either. I just discovered my schedule for the rest of the year is too packed. I need to finish everything by September, then October, and maybe just the first half of November. I''ll be juggling the New Line business too and have to oversee Al''s post-production. When I break it all down, I won''t even have a single free day," Ericined rapidly.

    "Who told you to take on so much at once? Most directors would be lucky to helm two movies in a year. You''ve lined up four projects while also producing two," Jeffrey chuckled. "Next year, you surely won''t be that busy!"

    "Not on your life. Next year I need a proper break; I haven''t really enjoyed life at all so far!"

    "Yeah, you''ve managed to do neen years," Jeffrey teased back, a hint of envy in his tone as he looked around, then patted Eric''s shoulder. "If you''re tired, go home early. I see some acquaintances over there; I want to say hello."

    "Alright," Eric replied but made no move to get up. Jeffrey didn''t mind and took his wine with him as he left.

    ...

    Eric sat sipping the remaining wine in his ss. After finishing it, he nned to head home to rest. But soon, a tall woman in a silver fish-scale strapless evening gown appeared in front of

    him.

    "Eric, I''ve been wanting toe over and say hello, but there''s always someone by your side," Brooke Shields said, sitting down next to him with ease.

    "You look beautiful tonight, Brooke," Eric smiled, raising his ss of wine toward her.

    "Thank you! But it seems some people still look down on me," the actress revealed a hint of mncholy, perhaps still affected by Eric''s repeated rejections.

    Eric chuckled softly without answering. Brooke Shields was always skilled at teasing a man''s emotions; perhaps she previously wanted to get closer to him, but, now, with the amazing role of the bus-encounter girl, she no longer needs to rely on giving her body to get the role. As he took in her beauty, Eric thought it would be nice if she stood up in front of him and did a little spin so he could appreciate her properly. "I heard you recentlynded a big production with Warner Bros.? What was it again? It wouldn''t happen to be a sequel that''s doomed to flop, right? Though in this era, just appearing in a film with a budget of over a hundred million is good enough to boost your reputation."

    Brooke Shields shook her head, a smile creeping onto her lips. "No, I actually fell through with Warner. I chose to coborate with Disney instead, which is why I''m here tonight."

    "Oh, well, that''s... not too bad. What Disney project, if you don''t mind me asking?" Eric

    queried, intrigued.

    Brooke Shields nodded. "I can''t reveal much, but the name is tentatively set as The Rocketeer for now; it may changeter."

    "The Rocketeer," Eric nearly spat his wine out, recalling this movie was scheduled for a 1991 release, which meant filming wouldn''t start until next year at the earliest. Eric knew that because of his involvement in Hollywood, many films were still in production, but filming and release schedules had be chaotic. However, that wasn''t the key point; the real issue was that he distinctly remembered this film as the one that led Jennifer Connelly to five years of cinematic oblivion!

    Eric sized Brooke Shields up, noting she still maintained a softer image that obviously suited her better in Hollywood than her more forceful fatality in the past.

    However, Eric shook his head inwardly, thinking how could a girl like that stumble right into

    such a massive pitfall?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Splash

    Chapter 191: Ssh

    ?

    [Chapter 191: Ssh]

    He vaguely remembered that in his past life, Jennifer Connelly garnered more attention in Hollywood after boldly taking on a daring role in a thriller when she hit adulthood. It came at quite a cost, but it helped her transition from the innocent girl next door to a sultry leadingdy, scoring the main role in a Disney flick. Unfortunately, that film flopped, leaving Jennifer Connelly without a single movie offer for the next five years. When she finally reappeared on screen, she carried an air of nostalgia and change.

    "Eric?" As Brooke Shields noticed Eric''s distraction, she lightly tapped his shoulder. It was quite irritating that he could zone out in front of someone as stunning as herself -- how terribly frustrating.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Oh, sorry," Eric snapped out of his thoughts and sheepishly replied, "Did you just mention a sci-fi movie that took ce in 1930s Los Angeles?"

    Brooke Shields'' red lips parted in surprise, and seeing her expression made Ericpletely certain.

    "How did you know that, Eric? This... it should have been confidential, right?"

    "Because if I''m not mistaken, that movie is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Dave Stevens. I happened to have read it," Eric shrugged. He had seen the film, but he neverid eyes on Stevens'' novel; some truths were best kept under wraps in front of ady.

    "Well, Eric, what do you think about the story being adapted into a movie?" Brooke Shields asked, her cleverness shining through as she seized upon an important question.

    "I honestly don''t know. The story in the novel is pretty captivating, but it really depends on how Disney decides to adapt it," Eric shook his head without a second thought.

    He had no intention of warning her against this film; perhaps she had already signed a contract with Disney. It didn''t matter what he said at that point. Moreover, the film had advanced its release by a year, so the storyline would definitely differ from what he had known. Even a change of just one day could keep a writer''s creative flow shifting, let alone an entire year. Who knows, the movie in this timeline might catch fire for reasonspletely unexpected. If he bluntly advised her against epting this role and it turned out to be a massive hit, it would be him blocking her path. Ultimately, he''d have to pay for that mistake himself. It was best to remain silent and just observe.

    Sipping his wine, Eric was lost in thoughts again. He couldn''t help but think of Jennifer Connelly. He wondered where she was now. The taste of her soft red lips was a distant memory he craved to revisit.

    "It seems like I should stop interrupting you. Eric, you always seem so lost in thought," Brooke Shields said with mild annoyance, rising to her feet and shooting him a look of reproach before gracefully turning away.

    As he watched the curves of her body wrapped in her shimmering silver gown disappear, Eric suddenly imagined her as a mermaid. He envisioned her stripped bare, d only in a mermaid tail, tossed into a swimming pool. Ssh, ssh...

    How wicked of him.

    Eric shook his head, trying to dismiss those thoughts. He made a decision to head over to Jennifer Aniston''s ce for some fun instead.

    ...

    Ssh, ssh.

    In a dimly lit bedroom, the bed gently rocked. Two bare bodies intertwined, with the girl beneath letting out lilting sounds of protest that often morphed into moans of pleasure with each passionate thrust.

    Time stretched on; they lost track of how long their "battle"sted until it finally quieted down.

    "Ugh, you jerk! You just keep pushing your way in. Don''t you ever think of me? If I get pregnant, I swear I''ll bite you!" Aniston emerged from the bathroom, soft and fresh,nding on Eric and yfully thumping his shoulder.

    "If you get pregnant, then just have the baby. It''s no big deal," Eric said, holding her waist and pulling her close, letting her delicate form rest on him as they savored the contact.

    Aniston leaned her head against his chest, "But I''m only twenty! I don''t want to be tied down with a kid so early!"

    "I wasn''t scared at neen. What do you have to fear at twenty?" Eric chuckled, giving her rear a yful smack.

    "No way! I don''t want a kid this early. I''d like to wait until I''m at least thirty. And..." At this point, her voice took on a serious tone as she looked up into his eyes. "And if I did get pregnant, would you marry me right away?"

    Eric''s heart raced. He hesitated for a moment, and just as he prepared to respond, she teased him by squeezing his waist gently. "Look at how scared you are! Your heart''s about to leap out. I knew it..."

    Eric''s hand roamed along her smooth back as he spoke softly, "Jen, I''m always going to take care of you."

    "But that''s not all I want," she murmured, rubbing her cheeks against his chest. "I want you to be good to only me."

    11

    "I know that''s impossible, but I want to leave you, yet you won''t let me," she said, her tone turning spiteful. "How can a jerk like you even exist in this world?"

    Ericughed as he cupped her soft curves, lifting her just a bit to lean in and press his lips against hers, savoring the sweetness before responding, "Listen, littledy, you need to remember that all men are jerks. So it doesn''t matter which one you''re with, so just stop struggling against it."

    "Oh, that sounds so reasonable," Aniston rolled her eyes dramatically. "Here you go again, feeding me your bizarre philosophy of life. You''re just like an evil cult leader."

    "Only a cultist can live freely. Their beliefs often reflect their desires..."

    "Ugh, I''m not listening! You''re trying to brainwash me again..." she said, shaking her head and yfully covering his mouth to silence him.

    Amused, Eric caught her small hand and yed with it, noting how his own hand had be slightly calloused from a year of hard work. "Alright, I won''t say another word."

    Even though she didn''t look up, her fingers mischievously tickled his palm. "Eric, are you going to Venice in September?"

    "Yeah, the film festival opens on September 4th. I''ll probably be there for a few days but won''t make it to the awards ceremony in the middle of the month."

    "September 4th," Aniston suddenly perked up. Initially, she just wanted to gripe about Eric spending time with Virginia in Venice, but upon hearing the date, she eximed while straddling his waist, "That means you''ll miss the premiere of the TV show on September

    3rd!"

    "Whether I see it or not, it''s the same. After all, I filmed it; how could I not know the plot?"

    Eric replied, puzzled.

    Aniston''s tone grew more animated, "It''s different! This is our first coborative TV show. I wanted you to watch the premiere with me!"

    "How about I join you for the second season instead?"

    Disappointed, she yfully hit him, turning her head away. "Who knows if your ''dumb'' TV show will even have a second season? Hmph!"

    "Alright, alright, tomorrow I''ll call the Venice people and ask them to dy the opening by two days. I need to be there for my girlfriend''s TV show premiere. Let everyone else wait." Aniston paused, then burst intoughter. "You jerk! Do you think you''re God?" After sheughed, she realized this was indeed an impossible dilemma. The things Eric needed to do were undoubtedly more important. "Fine, I won''t bother you about it anymore, but remember to bring me a gift when you get back."

    "No problem! How about a handcrafted gond?"

    "Ha! You''re so full of it. If you buy that, where are we going to row it? I want a mask!"

    Eric recalled seeing a friend bring back one of those masks from Venice in his past life. It was adorned in various patterns with feather decorations, appearing both extravagant and eerie - - at least, that''s how he remembered it.

    "What kind do you want?" he asked, recalling the details of Vian masks.

    "Just pick something! Let''s see if you know my tastes," she teased,ughing.

    "Ok," he nodded, yfully smacking her thigh. "Babe, look behind you." Confused, she nced behind, only to spit out an exasperated, "Ugh, why is it up again?"

    "There was a warm, wet little petal brushing against my waist. How could it not be?" Eric

    grinned.

    "Ah!" she squeaked, jumping away from him as they both looked at his waist. Instead of noticing his abs, their attention was drawn to a faint wet mark.

    "Uh... I just showered earlier. That was water! Yes, it''s definitely water!" Aniston stammered,

    trying to defend herself.

    Eric nodded seriously, pretending to believe her. When he saw her flustered expression, she jumped at him, biting his shoulder lightly.

    "Ouch!" Eric yelled dramatically, his tone mockingly pitiful. "Don''t bite! It''s water, water,

    water! Oh God, when have I ever said it wasn''t water?"

    ...

    "Why are you here?" Bright and early, Eric felt refreshingly cheerful as he left Aniston''s apartment and arrived at the office. Walking in, he found Drew sitting at his desk, idly fiddling

    with theputer before her.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 192: Chapter 192: I Have a Big Plan

    Chapter 192: I Have a Big n

    ?

    [Chapter 192: I Have a Big n]

    When Eric heard Drew''s words, he noticed a glint of concern in her eyes. "Staying outte, turning off your cell phone; who knows if you got lost? People worry about you."

    Eric pretended not to notice Drew''s sudden change in mood. He walked over, picked her up, and tossed her aside before sitting down in his big chair. "Alright, spill it!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Drew, undeterred by being shoved to the side, casually moved around the desk and pulled out a chair to sit down. Eric couldn''t help but notice that she had changed into a more conservative light purple long-sleeve shirt. It seemed she was also wearing white casual pants and some little leather shoes instead of her usual sandals with exposed ck toenails. This prim and proper look was oddly out of character for her.

    Could it be... she was turning over a new leaf?

    As Eric pondered Drew''s unusual appearance, she suddenly dered, "Eric, I have a big n..."

    Drew''s rare seriousness threw him off, and he couldn''t resist cracking a joke, "Did you find yourself a wild man to help you wrestle my fortune from me?"

    "You''re awful! I''m trying to talk about something important here."

    Drew immediately lost her temper, grabbing a random file and hurling it at him.

    Eric fumbled to catch the folder and set it down beside him. "Alright, alright. Let''s hear about your ''big n.""

    After giving him a re to ensure he was done being silly, Drew retrieved a small backpack from the corner of Eric''s desk. She pulled out two printed documents and handed one to Eric while keeping one for herself. "Wasn''t it you who wrote up a copyright acquisition list a while back, Eric? I''m nning to put together a team to acquire all of those. Here''s the proposal. What do you think?"

    Copyright acquisition list?

    Eric blinked as he pieced it together. That day Drew secured the copyright and insisted he help with something else. Out of boredom, he had jotted down a list from memory of famous Hollywood films and their original novels or adapted television series, including many ssic blockbusters. He even noted a handful that wouldn''t be feasible to start filming until a decadeter. There were over twenty titles in total. He had thought Drew would only want to pick one to pursue, but here she was wanting to take them all on.

    Raising an eyebrow, Eric opened the thin brochure Drew had prepared and began to read. "Drew, you spelled ''redemption'' wrong. You''re missing an ''e.'' Here, let me teach you..."

    "Eric, if you keep this up, I''ll get sad," she pouted, looking like she might cry.

    Eric quickly stopped joking, closing the file. "So, what exactly are you thinking?"

    "I just want to do something. Plus, I''m really interested in this," Drew said with a pleading look. "Please, Eric?"

    As Eric considered the papers, he mentally calcted, "At an average of two million dors per copyright, we''re looking at at least fifty million dors to secure all of these..."

    Drew, thinking he was about to refuse, eximed anxiously, "You cane up with that money! You''ll clear several hundred million this year. And I''m not asking for fifty million all at once."

    "Hold on," Eric raised a hand to quiet her. "Sure, I cane up with fifty million, but have you thought this through? Making a huge move to buy adaptation rights will definitely attract attention from other Hollywood studios. Once they see you, they''ll think of me. You know the situation with each film I''m producing. If I''m interested, they''ll surely try to go for it too. Even if no onepetes, just knowing I''m the buyer will drive the price up. We might end up spending an unexpected fortune."

    Drew''s head drooped at Eric''s analysis as she started picking at her fingers in disappointment. Seeing her look so down, Eric quickly thought of apromise. "Alright, Drew, don''t be upset. Here''s what we''ll do: finding arge team won''t work, but you can hire two or three people, put them under Flower Films, and proceed with private acquisitions. Doing it one by one will keep things low-key and won''t raise rms. This should keep you busy until you turn sixteen, and then you can do even more things when you''re an adult."

    Drew perked up at Eric''s suggestion, "But do three people really suffice?"

    Eric held up his fingers to count, exining, "One assistant to handle your day-to-day tasks, onewyer who knows the legal side, and one negotiator for dealing with the copyright holders. Three people are perfect; anything more would just be unnecessary."

    "Guess I''ll have to make do with that," Drew replied, still sounding a little glum.

    Eric added, "I can have Edward rmend awyer. An assistant is easy to find, but the negotiator might be tough."

    "I''ll find that person myself," Drew replied eagerly.

    Eric assessed her decision, recalling thest contact she had -- Lawrence Bender -- so he didn''t object. "Alright, you handle that. And don''t go making promises using my name."

    Drew pouted. "Am I that foolish?"

    "It''s the smart ones who get reckless that are more dangerous," Eric chuckled.

    Not one to back down easily, Drew huffed lightly before standing up and organizing her bag. "Well, I''m off then."

    Just as Eric was about to nod, he remembered something. "Oh, one more thing. Since you want to secure all the copyrights on the list, I''ll make some annotations regarding the adaptation rights. You''ll need to negotiate ording to those when the timees."

    "What annotations?" Drew plopped back down in her seat.

    "Some novels require at least twenty years of adaptation rights; others need to be permanent. Some TV shows need both broadcast and adaptation rights, while others only require a one- time adaptation right." Eric briefly exined as he flipped to thest page of the n Drew had just given him. He hadpiled a list of his own notes. "I''ll annotate it tonight and give it to you."

    "You''re actually going home tonight?" Drew raised an eyebrow, not hiding her usual annoyance, but she quickly stood up again. "Well, I''ll head back now."

    "Be careful on your way," Eric called after her as she walked out.

    "Yeah, yeah, old man!" she replied.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Leverage

    Chapter 193: Leverage

    ?

    [Chapter 193: Leverage]

    "Hopefully, we can have a great coboration moving forward, Eric," Robert Shea said with a warm smile as he stood up after signing the thick contract.

    Eric stood as well and shook Robert Shea''s outstretched hand. "That''s a sure thing, Robert." On thest day of August, after nearly a month of negotiations between both parties, Eric''s Firefly Films finally acquired the venerable New Line Cinema for 15% equity and $60 million in cash. The twopanies were far smaller than the Sony behemoth that had sought to buy Columbia Pictures, and unlike Columbia, they were not involved in as many aspects of interest andpetition. With both sides eager to cooperate, things fell into ce easily once the price was settled.

    As a sudden upstart in Hollywood teaming up with an established second-tier filmpany, the merger between Firefly and New Line attracted considerable media attention. After the signing ceremony, both sides held a brief press conference in response to media demands, followed by the inevitable celebration party.

    Although Eric preferred to stay quietly at home, he knew that parties were always

    unavoidable. If he hadn''t declined countless invites, he would have been invited to some kind of party nearly every day by now, given his current status.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Eric, I heard that the script you worked on for that test screening was quite popr, right?" Robert Shea asked.

    "Yeah. But you probably know that I already signed a distribution deal with Disney for two films. They offered a great revenue share, which was hard to turn down." Eric nodded and briefly exined the situation to Robert.

    Thinking Robert Shea was interested in the distribution rights, Eric took his time exining. Since they had signed the contract, Robert Shea was basically on his team now. He would serve as the CEO of the new Firefly Films, alongside Jeffrey, who was taking on the role of president. They were set for aprehensive integration of bothpanies'' operations over the next few months.

    "No, I think you misunderstood my point," Robert Shea shook his head. "I''m not asking for the distribution rights. What I mean is, since that test screening was so well-received, you must be good at writing horror scripts. I was wondering if you could personally take the helm on the next script for A Nightmare on Elm Street. What do you think?"

    Upon hearing Robert''s request, Eric recalled some information about New Line that he had observed earlier. As a crucial horror franchise for New Line, he remembered that Firefly had gathered a lot more detailed data during the negotiations than the muddled memories he had retained. The first film had grossed only $25 million, but due to its very low production costs, New Line had evidently made a substantial profit. The next three films had gradually increased production and distribution costs, yet each had still turned a profit.

    However, thetest installment was not looking good. Released on August 11, it had pulled in just over $16 million in its first three weeks and was projected to close around $22 million. After taking into ount about $10 million in production and distribution costs, New Line hardly made any money.

    After careful contemtion, Eric replied, "Robert, the horror style has already been set, and I doubt I coulde up with anything new. Based on the box office numbers from thetest film, I think it would be prudent to pause this series for now. If audiences are tired of Freddy Krueger''s nightmares, forcing a sequel would be counterproductive. Instead, waiting a few years for a new generation of young audiences to grow up, while the old audience gets nostalgic, would be the best approach to runch this series."

    Robert Shea''s expression shifted slightly upon hearing Eric''s words. Despite understanding the logic behind Eric''s reasoning, he still felt ufortable. Just after signing with Firefly, Eric was already talking about axing the sequel. It reminded him of kings from ages past wiping out influences from newly acquired territory, erasing any trace of what once was. Since Eric had lived two lives, when he sensed the flicker in Robert Shea''s demeanor, he quickly grasped the man''s thoughts. He certainly didn''t want this low-budget horror flick to sow discord in their new partnership. Thus, he quickly added, "But, Robert, those are just my personal insights. You know I''m still a neer in Hollywood, and I''m sure I haven''t considered all angles. So if you think it''s necessary, the sequel could still go ahead. From what I know, the third and fourth installments earned over $40 million, so this may just be an isted misstep."

    Robert Shea''s expression softened slightly, realizing that Eric was making a concession. Given that the other man had budged, he wouldn''t press the issue: "Well then, Eric, let''s go with your suggestion. However, I think wrapping it up immediately might not be ideal. Let''s create onest installment next year... um, let''s just call it a conclusion to this series for now. I believe the idea of a finale could generate good box office returns."

    "That''s indeed a good idea," Eric admitted, slightly impressed by Robert Shea''s cleverness. He then casually made a small promise: "Perhaps I could lend a hand in brainstorming thest script."

    "Really?" Robert Shea couldn''t contain his surprise. He thought Eric''s previous words had implied a t refusal, especially since Eric''s scripts were highly regarded in Hollywood.

    "Of course!"

    Eric nodded decisively, adding in his mind that he wouldn''t want to be credited for it. He didn''t care about the superficial des or profits associated with being credited as a writer. If the final chapter didn''t receive good reviews, he knew he would suffer the bacsh. Among a group of creators, even if he was just a writer, he would certainly be the most visible target for fans'' criticism.

    Though it was said that those who often stood near the river would inevitably get wet, Eric didn''t wish to be entangled with flop movies so soon after just stepping into the industry. Having a sessful box office rate was his sharpest leverage at the moment. If he allowed its weight to diminish due to one or two films that had little connection to him, it would surely be a losing bargain.

    This was also the reason Eric only opted to replicate the ssics in his mind rather than shootingpletely original films of his own design. Perhaps in a few years, once everything settled down, and his status in Hollywood became unshakeable, he would be able to produce several scripts that he found personally intriguing, ones that had never existed in his past life.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Hey

    Chapter 194: Hey

    ?

    [Chapter 194: Hey]

    "Eric, didn''t Firefly have a movie this year without a distributor?" After chatting about a few other things, Robert Shea unknowingly shifted the conversation back to Firefly Films.

    Eric looked around. Finally, they had finished shooting this month and had entered post- production. He had just spotted Al Pacino, but since he was chatting with Robert, Al merely nodded at him from a distance.

    Despite seeing several familiar faces who greeted him, he couldn''t find the crew, so he quickly directed his attention back to Robert and said, "Yeah, it''s just an art film aiming for the Oscars. If we win an award, the box office will surely do well, but if we don''t win, it''ll be tough. I''ve seen the rough cut, and Al''s performance is stunning, but there''s no guarantee Oscars will award based on quality alone; thepetition is fierce."

    Robert Shea sensed Eric''s distrust in his public rtionswork. "Eric, I admit I don''t have the connections of the major studios, but that doesn''t mean they''ll win any awards. They can leverage their advantages for a few nominations, which may help at the box office and in subsequent video sales. Likest year, you remember how that movie got a slew of nominations but ended up empty-handed? That was Fox''s PR work. True awards have to be earned on merit. Publicity is essential, but it doesn''t win you everything. Think about it, Eric. If we hand it to a big studio, they''ll juggle multiple projects and won''t focus solely on our film. I, on the other hand, can dedicate all resources and connections to this movie."

    Eric fell into a brief hesitation.

    Robert Shea recognized Eric was wavering and quickly added, "Eric, haven''t you noticed? This year is a typical ''small Oscars'' year."

    "Hmm?" Eric looked puzzled. He vaguely remembered something about that but had only a half-hearted understanding.

    Robert patiently exined, "Think about it --st year we had Dustin Hoffman, and there was a series of hot Oscar contenders. The Golden Globes even had a historic moment with three best actress winners. That was a standard ''big Oscars'' year. But this year is different; two-thirds of the year has already passed, and I haven''t seen a single Oscar contender on the horizon. You might say films wille out at the end of the year, but I''ve been keeping an eye on things. As far as I can remember, there aren''t any major directors or actors set to release new films. So I''m confident this year''s Oscars will be a small one. If, as you mentioned, Al Pacino''s performance is as exceptional as everyone thinks, then considering he''s been nominated for Best Actor multiple times before, the oue is fairly easy to imagine."

    Eric fell into deep thought. He didn''t even care that Robert was overlooking the potential for Oscar nominations for him. He knew that, being under twenty and with a conservative film Academy reputation, he wouldn''t be winning any awards -- getting a few nominations would be a good oue.

    He was considering Robert Shea''sments about the small Oscars year. As Robert spoke, memories of past Oscars and their ups and downs flooded back. He recalled only one win for Best Actor, but who won the Best Picture remained unknown to him. However, if this was indeed a small Oscars year, there might be a chance to contend for Best Picture.

    "Eric?" Robert Shea waited for a response, but seeing Eric lost in thought, he couldn''t help but remind him.

    Hearing his name snapped Eric back to reality, nearly spilling his wine as he quickly apologized, "Oh, sorry, Robert, I got a little distracted."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Robert Shea asked, "So, what do you think?"

    "Hmm?" Eric was momentarily unable to respond after all of Robert''s lengthy exposition.

    "About distribution?" Robert Shea gently reminded him.

    Eric felt conflicted. If this year was indeed a small Oscars year, handing this to one of the seven major studios would be the safer bet.

    Before the Weinstein brothers had established themselves as Oscar heavyweights, big studios still held a huge advantage in award campaigning. Yet, as Robert had pointed out, none of the studios would give it their all unless he relinquished most of the profits, but wasn''t winning an award about reaping those benefits?

    Eric was about to agree when Al Pacino unexpectedly appeared from somewhere,ing his way. It reminded Eric of the promise he had made to Al -- this film was crafted to help him win Best Actor. If he took Robert Shea''s advice and let Firefly partner with New Line for distribution, then that would certainly carry some risks in the award campaigning. Though the odds were slim, what if a butterfly effect caused Al to just barely miss another Best Actor nod?

    Eric valued his coboration with Al Pacino. The ''90s would be a peak period in Al''s career, so maintaining a good working rtionship could yield benefits for Firefly in terms of both box office sess and potential awards.

    With this in mind, he decided to pass the decision onto Al. While it was highly probable that Al would be influenced by Robert''s pitch, in the event of an unlikely scenario, he wouldn''t likely me Firefly.

    "Robert, regarding this matter, I personally agree," Eric began, but before Robert could show any signs of happiness, he added, "However, since this decision is fresh, and while Al has gained more recognition now, I can''t overlook that original promise. So, if you want to retain the distribution rights, you''ll need to persuade Al. Oh, look, here hees."

    Eric casually ced his wine ss on a passing waiter''s tray and approached Al Pacino. "Al, long time no see."

    Al Pacino warmly embraced Eric. "Good to see you, Eric. You look more mature and handsome. You''re going to attract all thedies. Don''t forget to leave some for us washed-up guys."

    "Ha ha, with your charm, finding women shouldn''t be a problem," Eric joked back before introducing, "Al, this is Robert Shea. Robert, this is Al."

    "You don''t have to introduce us; we already know each other," Al responded, shaking Robert Shea''s hand. "Nice to meet you, Robert. I believe working with Eric will be a very wise

    choice."

    Robert Shea smiled slightly, "I hope so too."

    "By the way, we were just discussing your project, so you gentlemen carry on. I''ll step out for a second," Eric indicated toward a nearby hallway. Al wanted to chat a bit more, but seeing where Eric pointed, he simply nodded.

    ...

    As Eric casually greeted guests, he strolled toward the banquet hall entrance. After walking through the crowd, just as he stepped into the hallway, a petite girl in red collided with him, letting out a gasp as she fell backward. Eric rushed to catch her, holding her close.

    "It''s you... um, Gab...," Eric instantly recognized her face but couldn''t recall her name right away. Although he had inexplicably retained his past life''s memories, this body didn''t have the talent for names.

    "Gabrielle Anwar," the young woman softly replied. Initially pleased to discover it was Eric holding her, her delight faded upon realizing he didn''t recognize her, and she was left feeling a bit let down. She pressed her small hands against Eric''s chest, momentarily forgetting to ask

    him to let go.

    Then it clicked for Eric -- this was the girl he had encountered during the auditions, who hade alone from Ennd to Los Angeles, and she was also the leadingdy from that stunning tango dance in his memory.

    A middle-aged man approached, peeking into the hallway, casting a strange nce at the couple. Hearing the noise, Eric turned to see the man instantly recognized him, chuckled awkwardly, then quickly retreated. Eric recognized him as a Firefly employee. Although the reaction seemed a bit exaggerated, he could imagine that seeing the boss in such apromising position with a woman who wasn''t his official partner would warrant that kind

    of reaction.

    "Sorry about earlier, running into you like that, Miss Anwar," Eric said, breaking the awkward moment and gently letting go of the petite actress while subconsciously brushing some hair

    from her forehead.

    "No, it''s alright," Gabrielle shook her head, her cheeks slightly flushed from Eric''s touch.

    However, Gabrielle soon realized, this clueless man offered an apology and was already moving on without her.

    With a slight stomp of her foot, she called out, "Hey!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 195: Chapter 195: A Guest Appearance

    Chapter 195: A Guest Appearance

    ?

    [Chapter 195: A Guest Appearance]

    Eric stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Is there something else, Miss Anwar?"

    Gabrielle regretted speaking up as soon as she did. She felt she hade off as too eager. However, since she had called out to him, she mustered her courage and said, "Mr. Williams, would you like to dance with meter?"

    Eric looked at the petite figure of the girl in her deep red V-neck dress,plemented by her delicate legs in low-heeled shoes. He naturally recalled that stunning tango scene and smiled slightly as he asked, "Are you asking for a tango?"

    Gabrielle nodded, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "If that''s what you want."

    "Okay, just give me a moment," Eric said, pointing toward the end of the hallway.

    Gabrielle understood and nodded. She watched as Eric turned and left until his figure disappeared behind a door. Then she quickly clutched her chest, taking a couple of deep breaths, while her mind raced with ideas on how to capture this man''s attention.

    Fortunately, afternding the role of the tango dancer, Gabrielle had spent several months in the U.S. The deeper her understanding of Hollywood grew, the more determined she became to stay.

    The tango scene, though only a few minutes long, took over a week to shoot at a hotel in New York, as Al Pacino was very particr about his work. During that time, the girl stayed glued to the set, and she marveled at the respectful demeanor of everyone, from the director down to the production assistants. Despite being a neer who made her share of mistakes -- some of themughably basic -- the director Martin Brest and Al Pacino never lost their temper with her. At most, they furrowed their brows in displeasure but quickly returned to patiently guiding her through the nuances of the performance.

    Initially, Gabrielle assumed that both men had naturally calm dispositions. However, on the third day of shooting, a background actor had spaced out in front of the camera, necessitating several retakes for aplicated shot. Al Pacino, visibly irritated, smashed something in anger and unleashed some harsh words that left the temporary actor in tears, prompting him to shamefully exit the set. It was then that Gabrielle realized Martin Brest was no softie either, which left her curious about why she was afforded special treatment.

    A small incident rified the entire situation for her.

    A young man named Matt Damon, after spending several days on set with her, developed a crush and attempted to strike up a conversation. However, Al Pacino caught wind of it. Gabrielle witnessed firsthand as Al summoned the naive kid into a room for a serious talk, and afterward, Matt never approached her again.

    With this revtion, Gabrielle began to put the pieces together. She understood that her favorable treatment stemmed from being rmended by Eric Williams. Even more importantly, they seemingly viewed her as Eric''s lover, which exined the unexpected kindness she received. Interestingly, being a neer to the industry, she encountered none of the typical harassment that often gued aspiring actresses. It almost felt like a miracle. Even back in Ennd, despite her parents being television personalities, she still faced unwanted advances when acting in a television series.

    Thanks to this misunderstanding, she gained considerable advantages. Consequently, she had no intention of rifying anything and would casually drop Eric''s name in conversations, leaving people with certain implications.

    Now, most of those who knew her, including her agent and even the general manager of her agency, Kepler Hyde, categorized her as Eric''s romantic interest. They didn''t look down on her for that; after all, there was a chance she could be his official girlfriend or even his wife someday.

    However, Gabrielle knew that she and Eric didn''t share any real rtionship. They had spoken only a few times and met just once.

    As time passed, she worried about what would happen if the truth came out and those who felt deceived found out, especially her agent, who had been asking whether she had been on any dates with Eric in recent days, sometimes deliberately, sometimes not.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    "Hey, what are you thinking about?" a voice suddenly interrupted Gabrielle''s thoughts. She looked up to see Eric standing before her and quickly shook her head. "Nothing." "Shall we head in?" Eric said nonchntly.

    "Sure," she replied, boldly stepping forward to loop her arm through his.

    Eric noticed the girl''s sudden intimacy with intrigue. Gabrielle, avoiding Eric''s perceptive gaze, looked down, but stubbornly held onto his arm.

    Eric chuckled softly, not addressing her subtle intentions, feeling momentarily disappointed that his armcked the soft touch he was used to. If Nicole had two barely graspable bulges on her chest when she was lying prone, the girl who was hugging him at this moment hadpletely t breasts.

    ...

    "Eric, I''ve decided to let Firefly Films handle the distribution. I think what Robert suggested made a lot of sense," Al Pacino said, spotting Eric from across the room with a genuine smile. He approached, ncing at Gabrielle leaning against Eric and yfully exchanging nces with him.

    Eric had anticipated this oue. If Robert Shea could persuade him, Al Pacino would be no different. The more eager Al was for an award, the more likely he''d heed Robert''s suggestions.

    "I believe that''s a solid choice," Eric nodded and smiled. "By the way, Al, do you have ns for your next film?"

    Al shook his head. "I n to take a break. Kepler suggested it too. After filming two movies this year, Kepler said it''s best I wait until after the next Oscars before diving into my next project." He paused, gauging Eric''s reaction, then added, "But Eric, if it''s a film you''re producing, I''m always avable."

    "No, Al, I don''t have anything suitable for you right now," Eric rified. "Actually, you probably heard I''m working on a television show..."

    Al''s face lit up. "Of course, I''ve heard! I even know you directed a couple of episodes yourself. Eric, your ideas are... distinct. Most directors I know only take on TV projects when they can''tnd film roles. So what''s this about?"

    Eric exined, "I''m producing a si and would like to invite you for a guest appearance."

    "Uh... that..."

    Al hesitated. The idea of guesting on a show wasn''t unusual, but he worried about the show''s reputation. If the ratings tanked, appearing would feel like being in a flop film -- he still had nightmares about a bomb he starred in years ago. Now, he was more cautious.

    Eric read his reluctance and added, "Al, this series is airing as we shoot. The premiere is on September 3rd on Fox. I understand your concerns. Here''s a deal: if the average ratings are below fifteen million, we can pretend this conversation never happened. If it exceeds that, I hope you''ll consider it."

    "Then I''m game," Al replied immediately upon hearing Eric''s conditions. He had enough knowledge to know that a show gathering over fifteen million was a hit. Guesting would also

    boost his profile.

    "Great! You can take a look at the show whenever you have time."

    Al chuckled, "You directed the first two episodes, so I''ll definitely tune in! By the way, can you give me a hint about what role I''ll be ying?"

    "Sure, I want you to y yourself."

    "Myself?"

    "Exactly," Eric exined. "The gist of the plot is one of our six main characters is a temp

    actor who gets hired to be your body double..."

    Although in the previous version, Joey portrayed Al Pacino''s rear end, it never featured Al himself. Now, with Eric''s connection to Al, it was a prime opportunity to get him on screen. "Whoa," Alughed at Eric''s pitch. "You know, if necessary, I wouldn''t mind appearing

    nude."

    Eric shrugged. "Well, you understand, it''s for the story."

    "Of course! This sounds like it will be a lot of fun. So, Ms. Anwar must be getting impatient.

    Sorry I took up so much of Eric''s time. You guys are off to dance, right? By the way, Eric, Ms.

    Anwar is quite skilled at tango."

    "Thanks for thepliment, Mr. Pacino." Gabrielle hadn''t shown any impatience; she

    respected his presence greatly.

    "Enjoy the party! I''m going to chat with some others. See youter."

    "Catch youter," Eric nodded, leading the girl toward the dance floor.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Do you have any hobbies? [NSFW]

    Chapter 196: Do you have any hobbies? [NSFW]

    ?

    [Chapter 196: Do you have any hobbies?]

    "What have you been doing since the filming for Scent of a Woman ended?" On the dance floor, Eric swayed gently with his arms around her waist. Although he said he was going to dance tango, they didn''t actually do it because the music and atmosphere on the scene were not suitable, and Eric was not that enthusiastic about it.

    Gabrielle had her arms on Eric''s shoulders as she looked up at him and said, "Kepler rmended that I y the second lead in a romanticedy. I passed the audition and will begin filming my scenes soon. The film is likely to be released on Valentine''s Day next year."

    "Oh, not bad," Eric replied with a smile. Through her words, he became even more certain that Gabrielle had obtained the role using his name. As a result, hisrge hands that were originally on her waist slid gently along her smooth dress before finally resting on her full, round buttocks. He gently squeezed and said, "So, what''s my reward?"

    "Huh, I... I don''t know what you are talking about," she stiffened a little and replied softly while quickly blinking her eyes.

    But how could she not know what he was talking about.

    If it weren''t for his name, how could she, a British girl who came to Hollywood alone, with no connections or background, and whose acting skills were not that good, get two important roles in just half a year? In fact, UTA must have taken special care of her because they misunderstood her identity, and got her the role of the supporting actress in the romanticedy.

    Feeling Eric''s unscrupulous hands on her body, she began to look around worriedly. There were still many people on the dance floor. Although the lights were dim, it did not affect visibility much. With a little attention, anyone could see Eric''s hands.

    ''He... how can he do this? Even if he wants to, he shouldn''t do this here?'' Gabrielle anxiously thought, but she could only bury her head on Eric''s chest as if she were an ostrich.

    Fortunately, Eric didn''t go too far. After briefly fondling her butt, he quickly moved his hands back up to her waist.

    However, Gabrielle secretly looked around and was able to see the meaningful and ambiguous gazes of the surrounding people.

    There were quite a few actresses who were aware of Eric''s identity. Seeing the intimacy between Eric and the nameless girl, they felt unconceble envy towards Gabrielle. If they had the chance, they certainly wouldn''t mind being the woman in Eric''s arms.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''That damn little bitch! She looked so reluctant, what a bitch!'' a nameless actress on the dance floor saw Gabrielle slightly panting while in Eric''s arms and cursed bitterly in her heart.

    After the party had started, she had tried to talk to Eric, but unfortunately Eric didn''t care to speak more than a few more words to her.

    Eric did not mind the ambiguous nces since his reputation as a yboy was already cemented. He retracted one of his hands from Gabrielle''s waist and gently lifted her sharp chin as he said, "Come on, look at me, I like this expression on your face."

    Gabrielle didn''t dare resist, raised her head obediently and stared at Eric with her slender, watery eyes with her pouty little mouth opened slightly as she continued panting gently.

    Eric nodded in satisfaction upon seeing her appearance. He gently squeezed her tiny chin as he continued to dance sensually with her lithe body.

    "Actually, this is not bad," Eric said again after a while.

    "Huh?" Gabrielle looked puzzled in response.

    Eric said casually, "It''s not easy for a young girl such as you toe to Hollywood alone, so if someone asks if there''s something between us, I won''t deny it. It can serve as a kind of protection for you. After all, if it wasn''t for me, you wouldn''t have stayed in Hollywood till now."

    "Mr. Williams, thank you," Gabrielle replied with a grateful expression as her delicate hands held him tighter.

    "Call me Eric," Eric said casually before his tone changed and he solemnly said, "But, it''s limited to this. Remember to act responsibly. I best not hear that you are doing things that you shouldn''t do in my name."

    Gabrielle quickly replied, "No, I definitely won''t."

    "That''s good," Eric smiled and said, "Also, don''t be so nervous."

    "Hmm..." Leaning on Eric, Gabrielle gently agreed.

    "By the way, do you have any hobbies?" Eric asked nonchntly.

    Gabrielle didn''t know why Eric would ask about her hobbies, so she hesitated for a few seconds before truthfully replying, "Reading, dancing, and maybe... sleeping."

    "That won''t do. Then nt some flowers. That way I cane and give you some advice from time to time."

    Gabrielle blinked her eyes for a few seconds before sheughed and said in a slightly teasing tone, "I have a cactus in my house, is that enough?"

    Eric alsoughed. In fact, he wanted to go to her house, so he wanted to find an excuse. Still, Eric replied seriously, "Raising cactus also requires skill. How about we go and see now?"

    "No problem," Gabrielle nodded as she naughtily winked at him.

    ...

    "...I know, I know, you just need to put it in my study... Ha!"

    Eric, who was leaning on therge bed, couldn''t help moaning, and quickly reached out and held the woman''s head down and patted her as a warning before he suddenly felt rxed and replied, "It''s nothing, I identally hit my foot on the coffee table... Okay, I know, I will get back tomorrow. You go to bed early... Stop kissing and go to bed early!"

    After speaking, he hung up Drew''s call in a hurry.

    This is an apartment in West Hollywood. Gabrielle could only afford to rent this ce. However, despite being small, the one-bedroom apartment was decorated very exquisitely with a hint of feminine touch behind every decoration.

    At this moment, Gabrielle was lying in a heap of messy clothes between Eric''s legs with her tiny mouth around his member as her flexible tongue brought him wave after wave of

    pleasure.

    After enjoying the sight of a beauty actress on her knees and the pleasure her skilled fetio brought him for a few minutes, Eric patted the bed beside him, "Come on, lie down here."

    Gabrielle raised her head, unconsciously stretched out her tongue, licked the corner of her mouth, and obediently crawled towards Eric, at the same time reaching behind to take off her now-wrinkled dress.

    "No need to take it off," Eric patted the girl''s butt to stop her, pulled her to himself, lifted the hem of her little dress and pulled down her tiny panties that covered the vital parts as admired

    briefly.

    Hisrge hand subconsciously stretched out to her breast, but after fondling it for a few seconds, he retracted it, filled with disappointment.

    Gabrielle seemed to feel Eric''s disappointment as she pulled Eric''s retreating hand, opened her tiny mouth, put his fingers inside and began licking them gently.

    "Oooh," the sudden stimtion made Eric moan as he used his free hand to turn her on her stomach and pushed into her from behind. He began thrusting quickly while his fingers remained in her mouth, allowing her to y with them, and from time to time he fiddled with

    her slippery little tongue.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 197: Chapter 197: A Temporary Loss of Power

    Chapter 197: A Temporary Loss of Power

    ?

    [Chapter 197: A Temporary Loss of Power]

    The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom as Eric stepped out, drying himself off.

    The sunlight streaming through the curtains signaled a bright morning in September, and Los Angeles had a pleasant temperature of about 72 degrees -- just right for humanfort.

    He quietly slipped on his clothes while stealing nces at the lovely woman sprawled out on the bed, still fast asleep. Due to the nket being thrown to the side, her bare body wasid out before him without reservation. With her Indo-Austrian heritage, her delicate frame seemed petite, and her skin appeared smoother and softer than that of many women. The gentle curve of her back tapered down, forming a slender arc at her waist, which then swept up into two small, enticing hills at her hips, exuding feminine allure. Her round thighsy slightly together, yet couldn''t conceal the tempting view between them.

    Eric finished tying his tie and putting on his jacket, with no sign of the woman waking up. He watched her adorable state, thumb in her mouth like a baby, and couldn''t help but feel a surge of yfulness. He gently sat on the bed, tugging at the finger she had been sucking, and reced it with his own, gently offering his index finger to her.

    In an instant, he felt her warm lips wrap around his fingertip instinctively. As he explored gently, he felt her small teeth nibble at him, as if testing this unexpected visitor. It seemed her tongue began to push against his finger, perhaps trying to shoo away this intruder.

    Unfortunately for her, her little tongue could not rival Eric''s strength. After a yful exchange, she suddenly opened her eyes wide.

    "Ah!"

    She shot up, pulling the nket around herself. As Gabrielle recognized Eric''s smiling face, memories ofst night flooded back, and she sighed in relief.

    "G-good morning, Eric," she said, a hint of embarrassment creeping into her voice as she smiled and greeted him.

    "Morning," Eric replied, waving his moist fingertip yfully. "I didn''t expect you to look so cute while sleeping."

    "Did I... really?" Gabrielle asked shyly, lowering her gaze. As soon as her eyes opened, she noticed Eric''s finger and recalled some images from the previous night.

    Eric nodded with a smile, "Absolutely. You''re the first girl I''ve seen who likes sucking her thumb while sleeping."

    "I didn''t even know," Gabrielle mumbled, still casting her eyes downward, ncing around as if looking for something.

    Understanding her unspoken need, Eric gathered a few pieces of clothing and handed them to her. "No worries. Actually, many people don''t even realize they snore when they sleep. Some even deny it when they wake up.

    ||

    As she was about to sneak on her underwear, Gabrielle looked up in shock, "I-I didn''t snore, did I?"

    "Of course not," Eric quickly shook his head. "I was just using it as an example."

    "Oh," she replied, visibly relieved.

    Once Gabrielle slipped on her underwear and a little tank top, she padded over to the wardrobe barefoot. Eric said, "Baby, I think I need to get going."

    As she paused, contemting what to wear more beautifully, Gabrielle turned back, "Can''t we have breakfast first?"

    Eric nced at his watch, "It''s almost 8:30. There might be traffic. I''m not sure if I can reach the office by 9. I have a flight to Venice at 2 this afternoon, so I need to handle some urgent matters. At 10, I need to meet with Robert and Jeffrey about the merger between Firefly Films and New Line. My schedule for the new movie has alsoe in, and I need to review it. I have a lot to take care of in the next five hours."

    Seeing Gabrielle, who looked a bit dejected, fiddling with her fingers while listening, Eric softened his tone, feeling a hint of guilt for being so insensitive. He waved dismissively, "Is there a breakfast ce nearby? Maybe we could grab a quick bite together. What''s a few extra minutes?"

    "Of course! I can wash my face first, right?" Gabrielle asked, her face lighting up.

    Since they were alreadymitted, Eric rxed about the timeline. "You might as well take a shower, but make it quick."

    "Just wait for me!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Excitedly, she chose a few outfits and dashed into the bathroom on her tiptoes. In less than fifteen minutes, she emerged, wearing a light blue one-shoulder mini dress that hugged her curves, the ck stockings entuating her long legs. Her hair was gathered into a small bun, and she picked out a high heel from the nearby shoe rack, standing up to Eric. "Okay, let''s go! The restaurant is just across the street, about fifty steps away."

    ...

    "Eric, it''s almost 9:30! What happened? Your cell phone was off, don''t you know how tight the schedule is today?" Jeffrey asked urgently as Eric arrived at the office.

    Feeling slightly embarrassed in front of Jeffrey''s flustered demeanor, Eric exined, "I''m sorry, Jeffrey, there was... traffic."

    "That''s impossible! There''s no traffic from where you live to here; I know that route well." "Actually, I came from West Hollywood," Eric admitted, raising his hands in honesty. "Uh..." Jeffrey paused, quickly piecing things together. Realizing he might have overstepped, he acknowledged that Eric was technically his boss. Though Eric always respected him, there was a limit to how often one could chastise without fanning resentment.

    "Alright, there are a few documents that need your signature. I had Allen sort them out on your desk; you have half an hour to take care of them. Robert is on his way with his team; I''ll go prepare for the meeting."

    "I''ll handle it right now," Eric nodded and quickly walked to his office, while Jeffrey went off

    to prepare.

    Even though they had already signed the merger agreement, merging the twopanies involved multiple logistical issues like aligning business, organizational design, structural adjustments, and personnel consolidation. In reality, it could take several months for the twopanies to fully integrate, and both would continue parallel operations for a period.

    After hastily signing a few documents, Eric''s assistant knocked on the door, and he hurriedly set the binder down to head to the meeting room.

    ...

    Inside the meeting room, New Line had Robert Shea and six or seven mid-level managers present, while Firefly only had Eric and Jeffrey -- ignoring the clerical staff focusing on minutes. This stark contrast showcased how much weaker Firefly''s foundation was.

    Even though New Line''s profitability didn''te close to Firefly''s, it had well-rounded operations with departments for production, rights, promotions, and distribution. In contrast, Firefly felt more like a small workshop despite its impressive profit margins. Jeffrey managed operations and served as a producer for Eric''s films; while he might asionally be overwhelmed, he mostly had enough capacity to manage it alone.

    The two-hour meeting didn''t yield substantial results, as they swiftly reached a consensus about relocating to a shared office space, but the debate over production power intensified.

    Eric naturally wanted Robert Shea to relinquish that area to focus on distribution. If their distribution capabilities strengthened, coupled with his keen vision for films, Firefly had the potential to be a leading yer in just a few years.

    However, Robert immediately refused that suggestion, which wasn''t surprising. After all, it would be a joke for apany head tock production authority.

    Eric offered that Robert could helm some low-budget horror films, considering that was his

    ''specialty.''

    To his surprise, Robert rejected that too. He wasn''t satisfied merely handling smaller productions; he wanted to manage some big-budget films in the future. With the expected revenue from Eric''s uing projects, Firefly would soon have substantial cash flow. Previously, Robert hesitated to y big at New Line due to the risks involved; losing money on a major project could devastate thepany. Yet now, backed by Firefly''s resources, Robert''s ambitions soared. Hollywood had few sess stories for low-budget films; that was precisely why Eric''s achievements felt so extraordinary. To secure consistent high returns, big investments in major productions were essential.

    Eric could not immediately agree to Robert''s vision. While Firefly had some funds to y with, this was not a game. Plus, Erked confidence in Robert''s acumen. A look back at New Line''s failures suggested a lot of luck yed into Robert''s productions.

    However, faced with Robert''s insistence, Eric had to make a temporary concession. He understood that controlling the distribution channels was paramount; hence, fully integrating New Line was the first priority, making a temporary loss of authority unavoidable.

    Finally, after a round of arguments with Robert, Eric reluctantly agreed to provide New Line with two major productions over the next year, each with a total budget under $50 million, cingplete control in Robert''s hands.

    After two hours of the meeting, Robert and his team left satisfied. Eric munched on a simple lunch while flipping through documents, needing to wrap up thest of the sign-offs before

    heading directly to the airport.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Plans

    Chapter 198: ns

    ?

    [Chapter 198: ns]

    Jeffrey did not leave; instead, he sat next to Eric on the sofa in his office, eating lunch while discussing a few issues.

    "Eric, apart from the budget for Running Out of Time, none of our films have gone over $25 million. Are you really going to give Robert Shea a $50 million budget for two films? Doesn''t that seem a bit excessive?"

    Upon hearing this question, Eric''s expression tightened. He quickly finished his lunch from the takeout container, pushed it aside, and pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth. "I wish it were different, but if I want Robert to perform at his best, I have to give him some incentives. It''s just $50 million, and while I said I would leave everything to him, if Robert picks a bad film, you can bet I won''t sign off on the project."

    Jeffrey had no doubt about Eric''s judgment in films and felt relieved to hear him say that. "But, Eric, giving Robert too much power can''t be good either."

    "There''s no need to worry," Eric replied, signing a document before moving on to the next one while he perused it carefully. "Once we consolidate New Line''s resources andpletely integrate it with Firefly Films, the rest will be much simpler."

    Jeffrey''s heart raced as he thought about how shrewd Eric was; he was already plotting to get rid of Robert Shea. However, Eric certainly had that kind of power. After all, Robert only held 15% of the shares, while Eric had absolute control. To remove Robert from his position, he wouldn''t even need a meeting -- just a signature on a document.

    "Are you worried I might kick Robert out once I''ve used him up?" Eric asked with augh, looking up at Jeffrey.

    Jeffrey awkwardly chuckled but admitted, "It does feel a bit like that."

    "You know me, Jeffrey. I''m not that cold-hearted. If Robert sticks to his role and does his best in his capacity, I wouldn''t dream of doing something like that. The problem is, he has big ambitions. You must have noticed that he brought all those people today. It''s a show of force, trying to prove how important he is to Firefly."

    "I suddenly have my worries too," Jeffrey said. "Look, those people are all Robert''s right- hand men. If you end up firing him in the future, would they leave with him?"

    Eric shook his head, looking rxed. "Do you really think if Firefly does well, those guys will quit their six-figure sries and bonuses to follow him into the unknown? Or that other major studios have that many positions waiting for them? It''s unlikely. If Robert leaves, I''ll just find another CEO to manage the established distribution channels."

    "But..."

    Eric interrupted, speaking patiently. "Jeffrey, you really don''t need to stress about this. I mentioned I might let Robert go, but that doesn''t have to be the case. Maybe in a year or two, he''ll realize where his talents lie and focus solely on distribution without meddling in production, and I won''t have to worry about this at all. His skills in film distribution are undeniable."

    "I get it," Jeffrey nodded resignedly and went back to his lunch.

    ...

    There were several knocks at the door before it opened without permission. Drew burst in wearing a T-shirt and shorts, jumping onto Eric with her happy chatter and immediately asking aboutst night''s events.

    Standing at the door, Allen patiently smiled as he watched the girl and Eric joke around. When Eric finally shifted his attention to him, Allen said, "Eric, the luggage and car are ready to go. I think it''s best we leave now to avoid any traffic."

    "Let''s head out then," Eric said, pulling Drew off hisp. "While I''m away these few days, you know where to find Jeffrey if you need anything. Don''t cause any trouble."

    "Come on, I''m not a kid," she protested, scratching his arm yfully. Then she added sweetly, "Eric, I want to go to Venice too."

    "Forget it. You wouldn''t handle it," Eric said, ruffling her fluffy hair. She''d recently cut her hair into an adorable bob, making him unable to resist touching it more often. "The flight from Los Angeles to Venice takes about 17 hours, and it hasyovers."

    Drew really wouldn''t be able to stand being idle for 17 hours on a ne. He figured she''d end up causing some trouble, so she didn''t press the issue. Hooking her arm through Eric''s, she said, "Eric, let''s just buy a private jet. Then, even if the flight''s long, we won''t get bored." "Now''s not the time for that," Eric shook his head. "Maybe in a year or two."

    "Okay," Drew nodded. They all made their way downstairs, and she was the first to hop into the van. "I''ll drive you to the airport."

    "Eric, I won''t go this time. I have some things to take care of," Jeffrey pped Eric on the shoulder. "Have a safe trip."

    "See youter, Jeffrey," Eric waved as he climbed in, and Allen took the passenger seat. Once he saw Eric and Drew settled in the back, he instructed the driver to hit the road.

    He intended to go with Eric to Venice and had nned to find a trantor since the locals spoke Italian. But conveniently, Allen''s mother was Italian, and he grew up in both English and Italian environments, so he had no trouble speaking Italian. This saved them the hassle of finding a trantor.

    ...

    They were fortunate, as the drive from Burbank to Los Angeles International Airport only took an hour and ten minutes. They arrived with half an hour to spare before boarding,

    allowing Eric and Allen to handle the check-in smoothly.

    "Allen, what are you looking through?" Eric asked curiously when he noticed Allen meticulously checking his backpack while they waited to board.

    "A book. I brought a collection of Stephen King novels to read on the ne. Did you bring one, Eric?"

    Eric shrugged. He had never been on such a long flight in his previous life. Moreover, Drew had packed his things the day before, and with her personality, it was unlikely she remembered to throw in a book.

    "There are a few minutes left; maybe we can buy one. There''s a superstore outside the

    lobby," Allen suggested.

    "I''ll go," Drew said, already racing out. "You guys wait here, and if I don''t make it back in time, just board without me."

    Eric was about to say it wasn''t necessary, but the girl had already dashed out.

    ...

    Just as Drew burst out of the terminal, the announcement for boarding came on, and Eric and Allen exchanged nces.

    "Let''s go. We might just make it," Eric urged, and Allen did not argue. They grabbed their luggage and headed toward the boarding gate.

    Ten minutester, only Eric and Allen remained at the gate, as all the other passengers had boarded. The staff nearby started nudging them to enter. Eric turned to look behind him for onest time when he saw Drewing in a hurry. She ran up and shoved a thick hardcover book into Eric''s hands without saying much, bent over panting, and waved a hand, signaling for them to go on.

    Knowing he didn''t need to be polite, Eric stuffed the book into his bag, said goodbye, and pulled his luggage through the gate.

    The massive Boeing aircraft roared to life, leaving the ground before finally leveling out after

    a while.

    ...

    In first ss, Eric unbuckled his seatbelt, and Allen pulled out a schedule, introducing it to

    Eric.

    "After ayover in London, we''ll arrive in Venice on September 2nd at 3 PM local time. Mr. Damiani and Miss Madsen said they''d meet us at Marco Polo Airport. We have a meeting with director John Landis that evening, and there''s nothing scheduled for the 3rd, so you can take a day to rest and adjust to the time difference. The film festival''s opening ceremony is on the 4th, and themittee has invited you to the party afterwards. We have an afternoon flight back to Los Angeles on the 5th, which gets us back at 5 AM Eastern time on the 6th. Eric, is there anything else that needs to be noted?"

    After patiently listening, Eric shook his head. "No, that sounds good."

    If possible, he had already nned not to attend the Venice Film Festival. Although he initially intended to go, as the schedule tightened, he considered ditching it. However, after the festival learned of his potential appearance, they sent him an invitation, hoping he would join the opening ceremony.

    Eric had no real aspirations for any awards for The Others; it was more about publicity when Michael Eisner proposed a promotional strategy aimed at giving the film a chance. Under those circumstances, Eric could no longer reject the invitation. Since it was personally signed by the head of this year''s jury, Andrei Yermilov, the sincerity was evident. If Eric didn''t show respect, it could leave a bad impression.

    In contrast to the Oscar jury''s scale of thousands, the Venice jury only had nine members who discussed awards in a more intimate setting.

    Thus, to avoid The Others walking away empty-handed due to his personal decisions, Eric

    steeled himself for the trip.

    With a weary sigh, he pushed those annoying thoughts aside and grabbed the book that Drew

    had bought for him.

    Taking a nce at the cover, he couldn''t help butugh.

    Walden.

    What kind of book did this girl buy? Who is reading essays on a ne?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Oh well, he mused, it''ll just have to serve as a sleep aid.

    As he unwrapped the stic covering from the book, he mulled this over.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Award Selection

    Chapter 199: Award Selection

    ?

    [Chapter 199: Award Selection]

    After changing nes in London and flying for over two hours, Eric and hispanion finally arrived at Marco Polo Airport in Venice.

    Waiting for them were Jonathan Demme and Virginia Madsen, along with a middle-aged man named Bill Garrett, plus two assistants. After introductions, Eric learned that Bill Garrett was the manager of Disney''s European branch. Because Disney had acquired the distribution rights, he was sent to assist Jonathan Demme with the film''s publicity and promotion.

    After some light chit-chat, Eric and his group boarded a yacht. Instead of heading to the main ind of Venice, they went straight to Lido Ind to check into a boutique hotel. This hotel had an interesting history, as it was said that the Venice Film Festival was originally established to address the fall tourist shortage at boutique hotels. Now, during the festival, these hotels had be a status symbol; only film crews participating in the mainpetition or those specially invited could stay there.

    As one of the heavyweight guests at the festival, Eric certainly had the right to stay there, and his room was a luxurious suite with an ocean view.

    ...

    "Ah, bed!" After Jonathan and Bill left, Eric sighed, flopping onto therge bed in the bedroom, rolling around for a moment.

    Virginia, carefully organizing Eric''s belongings, chuckled softly. "Tired from the flight?"

    "Not really tired, just felt terrible. We hit turbulence over the Antic," Eric replied, kicking off his shoes and leaning backfortably against the bed, ncing over at the woman as she hung his clothes in the closet.

    Virginia wore a sleeveless white blouse withce trim and form-fitting white trousers. From the side, the outfit highlighted her perfect curves, making Eric''s fingers twitch with excitement.

    Unable to resist, Eric jumped off the bed and approached Virginia from behind, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, his hands resting on the skin exposed between her blouse and trousers. He leaned over to kiss her right cheek, just below her ruby-studded earlobes.

    Startled by Eric''s sudden intimacy, Virginia shivered and dropped a jacket she had been holding. cing her small hand on Eric''s arm, her voice came out a bit breathless. "Eric, don''t do this. They''re waiting for us in the restaurant downstairs."

    Eric captured her soft lips with his, savoring the moment before whispering, "Come to my room tonight."

    "That... that''s not possible," Virginia almost gasped, feeling the pressure of Eric against her backside. "What if someone sees? Let''s wait until we''re back in Los Angeles, then... then we can talk, okay?"

    "Fine," Eric felt a bit disappointed but quickly understood that since the hotel was full of crew members and festival judges, being caught with Virginia would have unpredictable consequences. He reluctantly lifted his hand to gently squeeze her bosom and muttered, "You look really good in that outfit."

    Virginia turned to face him, tilting her chin up to nt a kiss on Eric''s cheek,ughing, "Then I''ll wear it for you more often."

    "Actually," Eric leaned in, lowering his voice for effect. "You look even better without clothes."

    Virginia thought he might have something important to say, only to realize he was teasing her again. Rolling her eyes, she lightly tapped his shoulder. "You little rascal."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Ericughed heartily and yfully pped her backside, picking up the jacket she had dropped. "Let me help you tidy up so they don''t get anxious waiting."

    ...

    "Eric, here''s the information on John Landis. You''d best take a look before the meeting tonight," Bill Garrett from Disney handed him a packet while they sat around a table in the hotel restaurant.

    Eric had already gathered some background on John Landis, but he knew Disney''s dossier would be more detailed. He opened it in front of everyone and casually asked, "What''s the general situation looking like?"

    Jonathan Demme and Bill Garrett exchanged nces before Bill spoke up. "We''ve made ample preparations and even connected with some of the judges for this year''s festival. While we haven''t received any promises, several judges seemed to have a good impression of the film. We''ve also contacted local media, who will assist with press coverage once the festival starts."

    "Good to hear," Eric nodded in satisfaction. For a festival like Venice, aplishing that much in public rtions was already significant. After thinking for a moment, he then asked, "What about the awards?"

    Bill replied, "The Golden Lion is out of reach; it''s practically predetermined. Our best chances are the Silver Lion and Best Screeny."

    Once Bill finished, Jonathan Demme and the others nced at Eric, who was set to meet with one of this year''s judges, John Landis, that night. They knew this topic would undoubtedlye up. John Landis had already indicated he would help lobby for their film, since, after all, he was American and not one of those die-hard art purists; he was always amercial director.

    Eric wasn''t sure who first suggested the meeting; maybe it was Landis who was interested, or perhaps it was Jonathan Demme or Bill Garrett that fueled the fire. Regardless, since it could be beneficial, Eric didn''t dig deeper and straightforwardly epted.

    When they met, Eric''s approach meant that Landis would likely lend support to the film''s theme during award deliberations. Even with the anti-war angle, they could expect to secure only one award, so they had to prioritize.

    Deep down, Eric hoped to win Best Screeny for himself, but for the film''s box office potential, he recognized they should focus on securing the Silver Lion, which carried more

    weight.

    "Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing," Eric assured the eager faces around him.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Chills

    Chapter 200: Chills

    ?

    [Chapter 200: Chills]

    Everyone seemed to let out a sigh of relief. There was some concern that Eric might stubbornly pursue the Best Screeny Award. After all, Eric had achieved a level of box office sess that most people only dreamed of in their lifetimes. This aplishment likely intensified his desire for personal des in film. Winning the Silver Lion would belong to the entire team, but taking home the Best Screeny would be entirely Eric''s own.

    "Eric, it''s really no big deal. I think the Oscars are where you truly belong," Bill Garrett said, seemingly trying tofort Eric. Jonathan Demme nodded in agreement.

    Eric shrugged nomittally. "Thanks, Bill. I just wish those stubborn old men over at the Academy felt the same way."

    They allughed, sharing a bit more conversation before parting ways. Eric returned to his room with the materials on John Landis, consciously avoiding any appearance issues -- Virginia hadn''t followed him, and Allen was staying in another suite downstairs.

    ...

    The night in Venice still had a few hours to unfold, while it was still morning on the East Coast of the U.S. Despite spending over ten hours on a ne, Eric didn''t feel tired at all, thanks to his long-established biological clock.

    He stayed in his room reading up on John Landis until seven in the evening, when he finally changed clothes and headed out alone. The agreed-upon location was at a restaurant near the boutique hotel. Eric didn''t need any guidance; he wasn''t apanied by a date either. Virginia was the leadingdy, so having dinner with a judge wouldn''t look good if someone saw them together. In this setting, Eric had less of a worry about being recognized; not too many people would know him here.

    John Landis, in his early forties, wore ck-framed sses, had a prominent nose, and a full beard he looked every bit the quintessential Jewish filmmaker.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Another Jewish character!

    Eric mused internally. The materials indicated that John Landis was good friends with Steven Spielberg. Both had cameo roles in each other''s films over the years. Interestingly, Landis nearly rose to fame around the same time as Spielberg; while Spielberg set the industry on fire in 1975, Landis directed a film that grossed over a hundred million just three yearster. They both found sess at the age of 28.

    However, Eric noted that by the 1990s, Landis''s directing career began to fade, which might exin Eric''sck of familiarity with him in his past life.

    ...

    In the restaurant, after John had ordered, he eagerly watched as Eric chatted with a blonde waitress who happened to speak English. Once the girl left with the menu, John spoke up. "Eric, you''re quite familiar with Italian cuisine, I see."

    Eric smiled and exined, "My dad used to be an Italian chef."

    "Oh," John nodded, his expression indicating he knew about Eric''s father''s passing without needing to discuss it further.

    As they waited for their food, Eric and John struck up a conversation, the focus shifting to films.

    "What surprises me isn''t your changing style but the fact that several of your distinctly different movies have all been box office hits. That''s what''s truly puzzling. I mean, I''ve attempted various styles, but the few that did well were all satire. Even Steven has been trying to break new ground for years, but his biggest sesses remain within sci-fi and alike."

    Eric replied, "That doesn''t mean much, John. I might just be lucky. I''ve only directed a handful of films, and when I''ve done a few more, I''ll inevitably hit some failures. Only then will I truly understand what I excel at."

    Listening to Eric, John pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "No, it''s different. You feel very different to me, Eric. Can you share where you learned to make films? I''d love to know, really. With your age, even making a straightforward film isn''t easy. It took me years of experience before I could direct my first movie."

    Eric couldn''t mention his past life and settled for, "Honestly, it''s just been luck. I wrote a script, and fortunate for me, I found a fantastic team. I''d just express the effects I wanted, and they''d make it happen for me. Without them, I probably wouldn''t even have anything to show for it."

    John epted Eric''s exnation without skepticism. Indeed, Eric''s personal experiences could easily be attributed to good luck.

    "I''ve watched that kid -- what''s his name again? Stuart Ronkel. He''s really something. If I had the chance... never mind, let''s skip that."

    Eric recognized why John brought that up. Seven years ago, John had been involved in an incident during film production that resulted in the deaths of several actors, including two underage performers. If not for the minors, it would have simply been a tragic ident on set, as such things happened frequently in Hollywood. But because of those two kids, John was dragged through legal battles for six years, finally emerging fromwsuits justst year. It was understandable why John was cautious about young actors.

    "John, don''t dwell on it too much. That''s all in the past, right? I mean, it was just a heartbreaking ident."

    Taking a sip of red wine, John solemnly added, "But they insisted on charging me with involuntary manughter. It felt just a bit much. I was only the producer; I wasn''t even present when the ident happened. I apologized publicly and made ample amends, but some people clung to that incident. It took me six years to wriggle free. There were times I felt so overwhelmed I wanted to escape like Roman Pnski, just disappear abroad. I didn''t want to go to jail."

    Eric recalled the mention in the materials and sensed an undercurrent of something more in John''s tone.

    Whether or not Pnski was framed, he certainly had iting for being caught in the act of assaulting a minor.

    But John''s situation felt tainted with more intrigue and conspiracy -- perhaps someone wanted to take him down, clearing out apetitor to protect box office shares. After all, while John might not have had Spielberg''s fame, he had two films gross over a hundred million and several others that were also quite sessful.

    With that thought, Eric involuntarily felt a chill. John was a Jewish man in Hollywood with a wholemunity that would back him up; if someone could pull strings to ensnare him in a six-yearwsuit, imagine what they could do to him. He was quite alone in Hollywood. If anyone tried to take him down, it would spell disaster.

    Shaking the worries from his mind, Eric reminded himself this wasn''t the time for paranoia. He smiled at John. "Let it go, John. It''s all behind you, isn''t it? Look, your sessst year was the most directeback, really."

    John smiled at the mention of his recent triumph. "Indeed, once it hit theaters, that whole affair came to a close. But if it hadn''t seeded... who knows how long I would have been mired in it?"

    As their conversation shifted, John grew warmer towards Eric. "Eric, I''ve watched your film several times -- both the suspense and the twists at the end had me apuding. In May, Cannes just awarded the youngest Best Director. I believe the Venice Film Festival won''t hold back either."

    Hearing John''sments, Eric understood he might be leaning toward advocating for him

    for the Best Screeny award. He quickly shook his head. "John, I''m only neen. I haven''t thought much about honors, honestly. If I receive recognition too soon, it might diminish my drive for the future, don''t you think?"

    John paused, then realization dawned on him, and he chuckled. "I see."

    Eric smiled back, raising his ss towards John in a gesture of thanks. John raised his own

    ss in reply, softly saying, "Don''t worry, I''ll do my best."

    Eric remained silent, finishing his wine in one go.

    As he set down his ss and was about to delve back into conversation with John, he suddenly heard a somewhat familiar female voice not far behind him, cutting through the restaurant ambiance with a few snippets of conversation.

    "Ha, that fat guy was hrious, saying I look like... haha, and iming he''s a director... but

    you... that''s savage."

    Raising an eyebrow, Eric nced in the direction of the voice. The sight of a girl with a head full of curly brown hair appeared in his view, and a smile crept onto his face. He couldn''t believe Julia had shown up in Venice! The woman sitting across from her, obscured from view, had to be Elisabeth Murdoch, the younger daughter of the Murdoch family. "What''s this? Running into familiar faces?" John followed Eric''s gaze but didn''t recognize Elisabeth. If he saw her face-to-face, he might recall Julia, but from just a profile, he couldn''t

    ce it.

    Eric nodded. "Two acquaintances, though they might prefer I don''t say hello. I''ll leave them

    be."

    John nced at the two girls in the distance and chuckled ambiguously. "You''ve got to make the move when pursuing women. Sitting here passively won''t bring any cuties to your

    doorstep."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Just Keep Flattering

    Chapter 201: Just Keep ttering

    ?

    [Chapter 201: Just Keep ttering]

    After dinner, John Landis nned to sit down with Eric and chat over coffee about various topics. However, noticing twodies sitting not far behind Eric, John "understood" and made his exit. As he left, he winked at Eric and made a thumbs-up gesture, which left Eric both amused and exasperated. He realized that John had definitely misunderstood the situation, but there was no way to exin it without making things worse.

    Once John was gone, Eric signaled to the waiter, settled the bill, and nced over at Julia and Elisabeth. He realized that leaving would require him to pass by the twodies, making it nearly impossible to go unnoticed. Remembering Julia''s drunken ramblings from that night, Eric felt a twinge of helplessness. He could hardly differentiate Julia''s feelings -- was she truly interested in him, or was it a case of Stockholm syndrome?

    One thing was certain: Julia clearly wanted to rid herself of those emotions. As for Eric, he didn''tck for female attention. Though he would go to great lengths to keep women he liked close, Julia wasn''t his typical type, and he didn''t want anyplications with her.

    The waiter brought him his change and receipt. After leaving a tip, Eric stood up and walked over to Julia''s table.

    "Since I can''t avoid this, might as well say hello," he thought.

    ...

    As Eric approached, Elisabeth was the first to notice him. She paused for a moment, then casually lifted her coffee to hide the surprise on her face. Julia, engrossed, didn''t notice Elisabeth''s reaction and continued to chatter excitedly.

    Julia was three years older than Eric, but when she was around him, she often acted shy and usually didn''t talk so much. This piqued Eric''s curiosity about what she was saying. He made a shushing gesture at Elisabeth and tiptoed behind Julia.

    "...that producer told me, Julia, we''ll shoot everything in studio, even for location scenes, I could use a stunt double. It''ll be a breeze to wrap up the film. Plus, if I''m not satisfied with the script, I can personally make changes! I was thrilled! They came all the way to this little Southern town to seek me out, offering $5 million! I felt so important! So, I agreed to let them send over the script, but when I saw the female lead''s name, I lost it. Can you imagine, Liz? They named her Vivian! My God, the trend-chasing is just too obvious! I suggested the producer change the name, but he insisted that while the plot could be modified, the name had to stay, giving me all sorts of reasons why. I remembered what he had said about following trends..."

    Listening to Julia''s rapid-fire monologue, Eric couldn''t help but smile. Across from her, Elisabeth intercepted the girl''s thoughts purposefully, asking, "Julia, who is this ''he'' you''re talking about?"

    Julia seemed to need a sip of her juice to keep going. "Oh, you know who! That jerk! But I have to admit, he made some valid points."

    "Oh..." Elisabeth tilted her chin slightly and nced at Eric, who was standing behind the girls with his hands shoved in his pockets. "So, you''vepletely shaken off his shadow?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Of course," Julia waved her hand without hesitation, her voice a little louder, "I''ve yanked that jerk''s shadow out of my head, crumpled it up, and flushed it down the toilet."

    At that, Elisabeth couldn''t hold it in anymore. She doubled over, trying to stifle herughter, her shoulders shaking.

    Nearby diners turned their attention toward the ruckus, some even ncing at Eric standing behind Julia. If Julia hadn''t noticed the change in atmosphere, that would''ve been a bit silly on her part. Eric saw Julia straighten up, as if she might turn around, but her neck seemed stuck, frozen in ce.

    "Listening to you, it''s quite sad," Eric shrugged and joked as he approached and took a seat in the empty spot between the twodies.

    Julia''s face rapidly changed colors when she heard Eric''s voice. As he sat next to her, her brief fantasy faded, and her eyes widened on Eric''s face for a few seconds before she recoiled and slouched, as if trying to hide in her chair. Stammering, she said, "E-Eric, I-I didn''t mean... that..."

    Seeing her embarrassment, Eric nned to tease Julia a little more, but she suddenly shot up from her seat, eximing, "I-I have to go!"

    With that, she dashed from the restaurant.

    Eric stared at her retreating figure in disbelief. Was he really that intimidating?

    ...

    He lightly patted Elisabeth, who was still bent over the table, "Hey, Liz, stopughing, or you''ll cramp."

    Elisabeth looked up, her face flushed and dimples still showing. After ncing across the table, she asked, "Where did Julia go?"

    "Looks like you scared her off," Eric replied, slightly pouting.

    Elisabeth shot Eric an annoyed re. "How can you me me? You were the one who signaled me to keep quiet."

    "I was just curious! I wanted to hear what Julia was saying, and you''re the one who pushed her into this!"

    Elisabeth turned to look at the door, not finding Julia''s voice, and finally conceded, "Alright, I''ll apologizeter. But hey, this is all your fault. I took her halfway around the world, and just when she was starting to forget you, you had to pop up."

    Dealing with a woman who''s all over the ce was frustrating for Eric, who finally shifted the topic. "Aren''t you still in school? It''s already September; school should be starting up again, right?"

    "I finished all my required courses. This final year is just about writing my thesis and some practical work," Elisabeth exined briefly. "I previously mentioned that I''m analyzing your movies for my thesis. What do you say, big director? Can you help provide some ''insider'' info?"

    Eric didn''t agree right away, instead asking, "You should have gotten plenty of material from Julia by now, right?"

    Elisabeth rolled her eyes. "I seriously wonder what happened between you two. Julia ispletely infatuated and seemingly lost. Though she''d like to bite your head off, she''s only saying nice things, which feels unreal."

    "Maybe that''s just how it is with me," Eric chuckled.

    "Not a chance," Elisabeth firmly shook her head.

    Confused, Eric asked, "Hey, Liz, are you studying me, or my movies?"

    "Both!" Elisabeth replied openly. "I''m interested in everything about you."

    "I remember warning you..."

    Before Eric could finish, Elisabeth interrupted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her pretty eyes ring, "Ugh, pervert!"

    "Alright, alright," Eric threw up his hands in exasperation, "I''ve said my hello. If there''s

    nothing else, I''ll take off. Just remember to bring Julia back to L.A. soon; Kepler has been

    pulling his hair out because of her."

    Elisabeth rolled her eyes. "What nonsense! As if I don''t know that Julia''s agent is bald and half

    gray already..."

    "I was just making an analogy. Just keep that in mind," Eric shrugged, standing up. Seeing Eric about to leave, Elisabeth pulled at his jacket. "Hey, wait! Why are you in such a hurry? Since we''ve run into each other, why not sit down and talk about your movies?" Eric nced at her as she gripped his jacket too tightly, so he reluctantly sat back down. "Liz, let me teach you something. What you should be doing is a reverse analysis of known results. It''s simple. Just shower the movie withpliments, just like the newspapers do, listing the film''s numerous virtues and ttery. That''ll guarantee you an A."

    After saying that, Eric recalled those treasure appraisal shows he''d seen in the past. The experts easily identified the value of antiques, building up excitement before revealing the truth. Often, true items received such praise, while fakes were quickly denigrated. Most of the time, they were just fooling the audience for show.

    Listening to Eric''s dismissive remarks, Elisabeth rolled her eyes in irritation. "Hey, do you think I''m that shallow?"

    Raising an eyebrow, Eric shot her a ''Isn''t that the case?'' look, which almost made her want to m her hand on the table.

    "I warn you! If you don''t help me, I''ll take Julia to an Australian ranch so that you can''t reach

    her for a movie!"

    Hearing her somewhat childish statement, Eric couldn''t help butugh, "Go ahead! As long as Julia is willing, that''s all that matters."

    Not wanting to get hung up on that with Elisabeth, Eric simply stood up and moved toward the restaurant exit. Elisabeth immediately waved to the waiter to settle the bill and hurried

    out after him.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Has She Mutated?

    Chapter 202: Has She Mutated?

    ?

    [Chapter 202: Has She Mutated?]

    After rushing out of the restaurant, Elisabeth discovered that Eric had vanished without a trace. Disappointed, she returned to her hotel.

    "Julia, what are you doing?"

    Back in her hotel room, Elisabeth saw a suitcase lying in the middle of the bedroom -- Julia was packing her clothes. Julia folded a small T-shirt and stuffed it into the case, then looked up to exin, "I... I''m leaving. I think it''s time for me to head back to Los Angeles."

    Elisabeth stamped her foot in frustration and pulled the flustered girl down into a chair. "Look at you! You look like a little creature that''s been chased by its predator, desperate to escape!"

    Julia''s eyes darted around in panic, and she eventually mustered the courage toin to Elisabeth, "It''s your fault! You saw him behind me and didn''t warn me. Now that I said those things, that guy is definitely going toe after me."

    Elisabeth couldn''t help butugh. "Ha! How is he going toe after you? Spank you? Come on, Julia, that''s all in your head!"

    Julia shivered and retreated slightly. "You... you don''t understand, Liz. That guy is really bad news."

    Elisabeth couldn''t make sense of Julia''s behavior. After a moment of contemtion, she finally pulled the girl upright. "Come on, follow me."

    "Where to?" Julia asked as she stood up, still following Elisabeth''s lead.

    "We''re going to find Eric Williams. Since you''re worried, I''ll speak to him directly and make sure he doesn''t bother you anymore."

    Upon hearing Elisabeth''s words, Julia slumped back onto the chair, refusing to get up. She clung tightly to the armrests and protested, "He''s... he''s never bothered me!"

    "Then tell me, what''s really going on with you?"

    "I... I''m not quite sure either. I mean, I feel a bit uneasy around him. And after that time I got drunk and now this... I just don''t want to face him, Liz. Can we please just drop it?"

    Julia hesitated, even though she and Elisabeth were already close friends. She still hadn''t confided her deepest secret, which only she and Eric knew. And she wasn''t certain if her emotions stemmed from some sort of Stockholm syndrome; she had casually read a few books on the topic, but the symptoms seemed... different somehow.

    Had she mutated?

    Elisabeth paced a few times on the empty bedroom floor in distress, then suddenly pped her hands. "Julia, what if you''re looking at this all wrong?"

    Curious, Julia nced up at her. Elisabeth continued, "Maybe it''s just that you haven''t had many interactions with him, and during the few times you did, he seemed overly dominant, which left you with that impression?"

    "Or... or maybe," Julia nodded, contemting. It was true. She hadn''t really been alone with Eric all that often. Even from the very beginning, they had only slept together once. Although that encounter was particrly memorable, it was still just that one time.

    Then there were the other impressions...

    That first night they met, he had looked down at her and said he could take her to the top of Hollywood...

    While filming, she had given him hints, and he''d said, "Forget it. I need to get back..."

    During Al''s invitation, she had tested him. He had casually remarked, "Go ahead, but don''t hold up tomorrow''s shoot..."

    In the trailer, he had raised his hand, and she actually felt a surge of anticipation. Then he had swung the door open...

    After their sess together, she had strutted over to confront him, and he had scolded her, saying she was too impatient, asking what she was trying to do...

    Thepany had assigned her a driver and bodyguard, and she found it thrilling. She had run over to show off, and he had merely scoffed at her.

    It felt like from the very beginning, she had always been beneath him, gazing up in awe while he seemed like a god, unreachable and blocking out the sunlight, casting her in his shadow.

    Elisabeth noticed Julia lost in thought and snapped her fingers in her ear.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Huh?" Julia blinked back to reality, looking puzzled.

    "Julia, don''t you want to change your current situation?"

    "How... how could I change it?"

    "It''s simple," Elisabeth said confidently. "Spend more time with him. I think Eric Williams isn''t as scary as you think. He''s in Venice right now and isn''t busy with filming. You can hang out with him more, get to know him, and maybe you won''t be so intimidated anymore."

    With a flicker of apprehension mixed with hope, Julia finally lifted her head. "Can that really work?"

    "If you don''t try, how would you know?" Elisabeth noted Julia''s wavering resolve and quickly took her hand. "Let''s go find him now."

    "Wait! I think I should change my clothes," Julia insisted.

    Elisabeth looked at Julia''s oversized pink sleeveless T-shirt and jeans and shook her head. "That''s fine just as it is. Besides, it''s already past nine, and if you dress up nicely, you''ll just have to take it off again. Why make it soplicated?" With that, Elisabeth tugged Julia out the door.

    ...

    Eric had just finished showering and changed into somefortable clothes. He switched on the TV and flipped through the channels a few times. While the hotel had cable from the major North Americanworks, there wasn''t anything interesting. He couldn''t understand the local programming either, so he turned it off and picked up the book Drew had given him before getting on the ne.

    As a middle-aged man with a psyche beyond forty, tangled in life''splexities, Eric found it increasingly difficult to engage with such a light collection of essays. He had skimmed it on the ne, but ultimately dosed off to sleep. Now, looking back at it, it seemed pointless, and The quickly felt drowsy once again.

    Just as he was about to doze off, the phone rang. It was the hotel front desk saying that someone was looking for him.

    ...

    "Come in! What brings you here sote?" Eric said, weing the two women into his suite. Ignoring Julia, who appeared a little nervous behind her, Elisabeth confidently paced the spacious living room, ncing at the book Eric had left on the coffee table. She looked back up and said, "Wow, I didn''t expect you would be into this book!" Pouring juice for bothdies, Eric casually replied, "Not really."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Low-Budget Tactics

    Chapter 203: Low-Budget Tactics

    ?

    [Chapter 203: Low-Budget...]

    When Elisabeth heard Eric''s response, she shot him a disapproving nce. "You... you really have no ss."

    "What does ss have to do with this?" Eric opened a can of beer and settled back on the couch. "Should I just agree with you, say I love this book, and then we can have a deep conversation about the life philosophies it conveys, happily bonding as if it were fate?" "Shouldn''t it usually be like that?" Elisabeth countered, tilting her head with an air of innocence.

    Eric smiled slightly. "You must have encountered that a lot in school, right?"

    Elisabeth nodded honestly.

    Meanwhile, Julia, initially shy as she clutched her juice, couldn''t help but chuckle lightly. Having graduated high school and stepped into the workforce, she didn''t have the high IQ or impressive degrees of Elisabeth. However, Julia''s social experience far surpassed that of Elisabeth, who had been somewhat sheltered. With a moment''s thought, Julia grasped the underlying meaning of their conversation.

    Eric joined herughter, and when he noticed Elisabeth''s puzzled expression, he exined, "Given your status as the Murdoch family''s second daughter, any man who wants to get close to you can''t rely on material matters -- it''s all about the emotional connection. So, dumb girl, when you experience situations like this, it''s usually because a guy is trying to get a date with you."

    This was a revtion for Elisabeth. She had indeed felt butterflies in simr circumstances, and she couldn''t help but look shocked, her mouth slightly agape.

    Eric took a sip of his beer and leaned back, reminiscing, "You know, I used to use simr low- budget tactics to get dates back in my day."

    "Ugh... gross!" Although Elisabeth understood that Eric''s words likely contained truth, she couldn''t help but retort defensively, "You think all men are as sleazy as you?"

    "For most men, bing a Murdoch son-inw means avoiding thirty years of hard work. What''s wrong with being a bit sleazy in that context?"

    Elisabeth shot back indignantly, "That''s merely your assumption."

    "You''ll find out if it''s an assumption soon enough," Eric replied, clearly not interested in an argument. "By the way, what brings you here at such ate hour?"

    Upon hearing this, Julia straightened her back slightly, a nervous habit of hers. But Elisabeth boldly dered, "Since you''re in Venice, we should explore together! How about tomorrow?"

    After considering his schedule for a moment, Eric nodded. "Sounds good, I''m free tomorrow."

    Elisabeth thought it would take more persuasion to convince Eric to join them, so she was surprised when he agreed so readily. It was nowte at night in Venice, and it felt inappropriate for two women to linger in a man''s hotel room too long. After chatting for a bit, she decided to leave with Julia, who had mostly remained quiet.

    ...

    The following morning, Andre Smirnov, the chair of the judges, invited Eric to breakfast early on. Although they needed a trantor tomunicate, they still enjoyed each other''spany. It was after they chatted in the hotel''s restaurant until after nine that Smirnov reluctantly left for work.

    ...

    Upon arriving at the designated dock with Allen, Eric noticed that Julia and Elisabeth had been waiting for quite a while.

    As soon as he appeared, Elisabeth expressed her irritation. "Hey, Eric! You''re reallyte -- two girls had to wait for you this long?"

    "I had things to take care of, alright? Not everyone has the carefree schedule you two do," Eric defended himself before sending Allen off to rent a boat. They were headed to the main ind of Venice.

    After finding a speedboat, Elisabeth dragged Julia onto the cabin but insisted she could speak Italian well enough, so she dismissed Allen, who was supposed to trante. Once they reached the principal ind, they switched to a gond and began to float along the Grand Canal.

    The warm morning sun gentle bathed them as Eric, dressed casually, leaned back in the gond, taking in the beautiful architecture and snapping photos with his camera. Sitting across from him, Elisabeth conversed enthusiastically in Italian with the gondolier named Loviso, theirughter ringing out.

    "Hey, Julia, why are you so quiet? Not feeling well?" Eric asked after he snapped a picture of a nearby arch bridge, realizing that Julia had been unusually silent.

    The gond had only one seat, so the three of them were squeezed together. Eric sat on the right, Elisabeth imed the left, while Julia was sandwiched in the middle. With two slender women and Eric not being overweight, they managed without feeling cramped.

    Julia looked up at Eric''s concerned gaze and quickly responded, "No, I''m fine."

    "Oh," Eric pondered for a moment, unsure of what to say next. Just as he was about to raise his camera again, Julia spoke softly, "Eric, when are you returning to Los Angeles?"

    "September 5th, the day after tomorrow."

    Julia raised her gaze and met Eric''s eyes curiously as she asked, "Why the rush? Aren''t you nning to stay in Venice longer?"

    Eric raised his camera again, capturing the silhouette of a seabird gliding over the water. "I wish I could rest longer, but I still have two films to work on in the next couple of months.

    Time is tight."

    Julia nodded lightly, her head lowering a bit.

    "By the way, Julia, when do you n to head back?"

    After a brief hesitation, Julia replied, "Liz originally said she wanted to take me to Australia to see some of their family''s many ranches, but I''ve decided not to go."

    "You should head back. Steel Magnolias is scheduled for November, and you''ll need to start promotional work soon. Plus, you also need to look for scripts for next year''s project." Julia gave Eric aplex look, pondering for a moment before saying one word: "You..."

    Eric looked down to store the finished film canister from his camera, reced it with a new roll, then raised his gaze to Julia, quickly understanding what she was hinting at. Heughed, "I won''t interfere with your movie choices next year. You should try choosing for yourself. Of course, it''d be wise to consider Kepler''s opinion too."

    This year, Eric had chosen two blockbuster films for her that thrust Julia to new heights. While he could continue guiding her through such sess, he thought it best to allow her to experience some ups and downs, especially considering her current impulsive character. Moreover, he wouldn''t be working as frantically next year as he had this year; if he kept up this relentless pace, driven by all his hits, there would certainly be powerful industry yers who could see him as a threat and might do something drastic.

    While Eric had always been a little controlling over her choices, now that Julia heard he wouldn''t be interfering, she felt a twinge of emptiness inside her.

    "Hey, look! The Bridge of Sighs!" Elisabeth suddenly shouted from the opposite side, breaking the moment of introspection.

    Eric looked in the direction Elisabeth pointed, seeing a narrow waterway leading to an enclosed white stone arch bridge looming ahead. The gondolier Loviso smiled as he skillfully

    maneuvered the gond into the narrow channel.

    "The Bridge of Sighs, such a beautiful name. Julia, do you know the legend behind it?"

    Elisabeth mused dramatically before turning to Julia for an answer.

    Julia shook her head, genuinely unsure. Nowadays, with technology at their fingertips, people could easily look up information online, but back then, it wasn''t so simple.

    Seeing Julia''s cluelessness, Elisabeth waved her hand boastfully, exining, "Look, this arch bridge connects two buildings. That''s the Doge''s Pce, and over there is the prison for serious offenders. They say that those brought here after being judged rarely made it out alive, so the prisoners crossing this bridge often sighed in regret, hence the name Bridge of

    Sighs."

    Eric snapped a few more pictures, thenid his camera down, chuckling, "You know, saying it like that makes me feel this bridge would suit the name ''Gateway to Hell'' even better. If this bridge had a heart, filled with the sighs of so many condemned prisoners, it would surely pulse with all sorts of violent emotions -- a perfect setting for a ssic viin who believes the world has wronged him at every turn."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Elisabeth paused momentarily, pondering Eric''s point, and while she found his perspective somewhat valid, she quickly rolled her eyes at him, "Hey, don''t be such a buzzkill!"

    "I''m just speaking the truth here."

    Annoyed, Elisabeth turned away, clearly nning to ignore this irritating guy. She linked

    arms with Julia and began whispering to her.

    As the gond glided gently beneath the Bridge of Sighs, the gondolier at the rear raised his voice slightly, speaking to the three of them in Italian.

    Eric and Julia exchanged puzzled looks, and Elisabeth, with a hint of pride, tranted, "Mr.

    Loviso says if a couple kisses beneath the Bridge of Sighs, they will enjoy evesting love."

    Julia, hearing this, cast a side-eye at Eric, but as soon as their eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze, feeling shy. But Elisabeth couldn''t resist and stood up slightly, ncing between Eric and Julia, clearly eager to see if anything might happen there.

    Seeing Elisabeth''s yful impulse, Eric mockingly crossed his arms, stating firmly, "No way. I am absolutely not kissing you."

    "Please! I wouldn''t kiss you even if this bridge were to copse, you creep!" Elisabeth shot back defiantly with her hands on her hips. Suddenly, her big eyes glinted mischievously. Before Eric could respond, she threw her arms around a defenseless Julia and leaned down to

    nt a kiss squarely on her lips.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Impossible

    Chapter 204: Impossible

    ?

    [Chapter 204: Impossible]

    Standing at the back of the boat, the ferryman named Laviso was over fifty, gray-haired and bearded. It was evident that he was witnessing a scene of two women kissing under the Bridge of Sighs for the first time. After a moment of stunned silence, he burst intoughter, giving a thumbs-up to Elisabeth and Julia. He mischievously winked at Eric and shouted something in Italian.

    Though Eric couldn''t understand the words, he could guess that the old man was mocking him, probably thinking that he was trying to court one of thedies, only to be thwarted by the other. Eric could only smile awkwardly, unable to exin due to thenguage barrier. However, the image of the twodies kissing under the bridge was quite beautiful. Afterughing, Eric instinctively lifted his camera and snapped a few pictures to capture the moment.

    Julia widened her eyes, feeling Elisabeth''s arms around her waist, and her soft, red lips brushing against her own. She was dazed for over half a minute. Hearing the click of Eric''s camera shutter snapped her back to reality. Flustered, she pushed away thedy holding her and stumbled through her protest, "Liz, you... how can you do that!"

    Elisabeth, seeing Julia''s flushed face, couldn''t help but pull her closer and nted a yful kiss on her cheek. Then she raised her head, yfully domineering, and said to Eric, "Eric, from now on, Julia belongs to me. You''re not allowed to bully her anymore."

    "Liz, what nonsense are you talking about?"

    Julia finally grew anxious upon hearing Elisabeth''s words and pinched Elisabeth''s waist. Elisabeth screamed and retaliated. For a moment, they created a ruckus, causing their small gond to sway. The startled ferryman, Laviso, quickly shouted for them to stop. Atst, Julia and Elisabeth ceased their antics.

    ...

    The three of them spent the entire morning wandering along the Grand Canal. After lunch, Eric inquired with a local guide and then headed straight to a well-known Vian mask shop via a water bus.

    "I don''t like these things," Elisabeth said as they entered the shop, eyeing the walls lined with an array of masks ranging from simple to ornate.

    "Why not?" Eric asked, lifting a golden mask without a mouth and admiring it.

    "I read that these masks were originally worn by cheating nobles and fugitives, symbolizing disguise and pretense," Elisabeth replied, walking alongside Eric.

    "Oh, so you think that people don''t wear masks when they interact with each other?" Eric casually responded, putting down the simple mask and picking up a white ghost mask decorated with golden patterns, yfully cing it over Julia''s face and observing her. Elisabeth pondered Eric''s words for a moment but couldn''t help but retort, "There''s definitely a facade, but at least it''s not so tantly obvious."

    "You''re just tangled up in the argument of what''s real and what''s not, and it''s not easy to articte. Look, I''m not wearing a mask, but in a way, I am. To avoid being seen through, I wouldn''t reveal whether I''m truly masked or not. However, if someone is genuinely wearing a mask, you can spot it instantly. Those who put a mask over their face are often more honest about it, while those who hide behind smiles can be more hypocritical."

    Elisabeth carefully considered Eric''s words and, while she had to concede to his reasoning once more, she stubbornly replied, "You... you''re just ying with semantics."

    "Think what you want," Eric waved a hand to the shopkeeper waiting at the side. "Excuse me, do you speak English?"

    "Of course," the shopkeeper, a man in his forties with a small mustache, nodded and smoothly asked in English, "Sir, which one do you have your eye on?"

    Eric looked around before saying, "I want the whole set; that includes a hat and cape, but it seems they are not here."

    "Follow me," the shopkeeper replied, leading Eric to a separate room. "Here, feel free."

    Without overly promoting the items, the shopkeeper left the room and returned to behind the counter. Eric didn''t mind at all; he preferred the freedom to select products on his own. He chose a hat, a cape, and other small items, yfully dressing Julia as if she were a model.

    "Hey, how rude of you! Did you even ask Julia if she wants you to dress her up?" Elisabeth chimed in, visibly displeased.

    Wearing the mask, Julia quickly shook her head, "No... it''s fine."

    Eric smugly lifted his chin at Elisabeth, who stomped her foot in frustration and red at Julia, thinking, "You deserve to be picked on."

    After a while, with Eric''s ir, Julia waspletely adorned with the mask and cape. The wide-brimmed white hat was decorated with a purple feather, while the purple cloak was embellished with exquisite golden patterns. She had a light purple scarf around her neck, and in her hands, she held a purple silk fan, wearing ck, long-sleeved gloves. "What do you think?" Eric asked, bringing Julia in front of a full-length mirror. "It''s... it''s beautiful," Julia nodded, gazing at her reflection through the mask. Elisabeth leaned closer, her eyes betraying her intrigue, but she asked, "Why purple?" "Purple represents mystery. Don''t you think it matches the style of the mask?" Eric replied. "I still think white is prettier," Elisabeth pointed to a white cloak hanging on a rack.

    "Then we''ll get a white setter," Eric promised, instructing Julia to take off the current outfit and have the shopkeeper wrap it up. He then spent another hour gathering different styles of costumes.

    Elisabeth helped Eric take down a hat and handed it to him. "What do you need all these for?" "I''m giving them as gifts. When youe to Venice, you have to bring back something," Eric

    exined.

    A teasing smirk crept across Elisabeth''s face. "Gifts for women, right?"

    Eric just smiled nomittally. Seeing Eric''s silent admission made Elisabeth hesitate for a moment before she scornfully muttered, "What a yboy."

    Meanwhile, Julia, who was caught in the middle under the mask, could feel her earlier

    excitement slightly dimming as she caught Eric''s awkward expression.

    After gathering five sets, Eric finally approached the counter to pay.

    Inquiring about the currency, the shopkeeper calcted for a moment and cheerfully smiled, "That''ll be $2,200, but I can give you a deal at $2,000."

    Eric, wallet in hand, looked puzzled. The shopkeeper continued, "I really liked what you said about the masks when you walked in, so I''m giving you a discount."

    "Thanks a lot," Eric replied with a smile as he left the store carrying several bags.

    He passed one bag to Julia and double-checked another before handing it to Elisabeth.

    "I''m not carrying your stuff," Elisabeth quickly shoved her hands into her jeans pocket, raising her chin in a haughty manner.

    "You liked that white set, right? This is for you. If you don''t want it, I''ll just give it to Julia

    instead."

    "Hmph! If it''s free, I''ll take it," Elisabeth quickly snatched it away.

    Eric had already started toward the water bus station carrying three remaining bags, with Elisabeth following closely behind. She leaned towards Julia and asked, "What did you get?" Though Eric hadn''t mentioned it, Julia already knew the set she held was a gift from him. She opened it and hugged it close, saying to Elisabeth, "It''s the purple set we saw first." Elisabeth wrinkled her nose. "Why are you holding it so tightly? I''m not going to snatch it

    away from you."

    Julia sprinted a few steps to catch up with Eric, ignoring Elisabeth''s teasing, which made Elisabeth quicken her pace to keep up.

    "Eric, are you free to hang out again tomorrow?" Elisabeth asked as they settled on the boat.

    Julia also turned her gaze toward Eric with anticipation.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric shook his head. "I have the opening ceremony tomorrow; I probably won''t have time."

    "When can you spare some time to talk to me about your movie?"

    "I make tens of thousands a minute..." Eric feigned a troubled expression when suddenly, a yful pinch on his arm interrupted him.

    After Elisabeth pinched him, both Eric and Julia were momentarily stunned as they simultaneously looked at Eric''s arm. Wearing only a sleeveless ck T-shirt, there were faint marks left by Elisabeth''s pinch. Seeing the expressions on both of their faces, she huffed in annoyance, "What''s the big deal? If I pinch him, it''s his fault for thinking about money all the time. He''s such a superficial guy." After saying that, she turned her head to the side,

    pretending to ignore Eric.

    ...

    "Oh man, my legs are so sore," Elisabeth eximed as they returned to the Lido Ind hotel.

    She dropped Eric''s gift bag and flopped onto the sofa. She turned to Julia, who had just entered, and said, "Julia, can you rub my legs? I''ll help you after; otherwise, my calves are

    going to hurt tomorrow."

    "Sure," Julia agreed, sitting on the other end of the sofa. She lifted Elisabeth''s legs onto her

    lap and began to massage them gently.

    Elisabeth let out quiet sounds offort for a few moments before mumbling, "No way, I

    need to think of a way to get him to carve out some time for me. I''m not going to half-

    heartedly throw my paper together."

    While massaging Elisabeth''s calves, Julia contemted before saying, "Liz, you''ve been arguing with Eric all day. Have you considered one possibility?"

    "Hmm?" Elisabeth replied, not turning around, still sounding puzzled.

    Juliaughed, "If you watch movies or TV shows often, you''d recognize a type of couple with

    ''love-hate-rtionship.""

    Elisabeth, not grasping the depth of this connection, suddenly leaped up from the sofa, standing on it with her arms iling dramatically, "No--way--this--can''t--be!

    Impossible!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Morning Television

    Chapter 205: Morning Television

    ?

    [Chapter 205: Morning Television]

    In a sleepy haze, Julia thought she heard some noiseing from the living room. She hugged her pillow and rolled over, wanting to drift back to sleep. But after the turn, the sound seemed clearer. After a long moment, she reluctantly opened her eyes. The curtains cast a faint glow, and when she turned on the bedsidemp to check her watch, she saw it was just past five in the morning.

    She threw off the nket, got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and tousled her hair as she made her way to the living room. It was only then that she took in the situation.

    The living room lights were off, and the curtains leading to the balcony were drawn tight. The only light came from the flickering television, emitting a soft sound. Elisabeth sat cross- legged on the couch, cradling a throw pillow in her arms,pletely absorbed by the screen. She munched on a bag of chips, the crunching sound filling the dim-lit room and making her resemble a little mouse sneaking around for a midnight snack.

    "Liz, what''s up? Why are you awake so early?" Julia asked as she settled down next to Elisabeth, pulling a nket over herself.

    Elisabeth swallowed her snack before whispering, "I... I just couldn''t sleep. I had insomnia." Julia leaned closer, puzzled. "Insomnia? Why?" After she asked, she suddenly remembered, "It''s not because of what I saidst night, is it? I was just kidding around, and you took me seriously?"

    After a few stammers, Elisabeth leaned closer and whispered into Julia''s ear, "Julia, do you think that jerk has been trying to seduce me covertly?"

    Hearing Elisabeth''s words, Julia blinked quickly before bursting intoughter. "Liz, you''ve been up all night worrying about this... this nonsense?"

    In the dim light, Elisabeth''s cheeks flushed red from Julia''sughter. She yfully scratched Julia in discontent and said, "How can youugh? I was seriously asking you about this!"

    After Julia calmed down, she was about to respond, but seeing the seriousness on Elisabeth''s face made her smile again. "Hey, hey, hey! I''m angry!" Elisabeth pretend to jump up, but Julia quickly held her down, shaking her head. "No way! You don''t even know that guy."

    Once Elisabeth saw Julia wasn''tughing anymore, she steadied herself but felt dissatisfied with Julia''s reply. "Oh, and you do know him?"

    "I don''t really know much about him either," Julia said as she shook her head again. "But I do know one thing."

    "Hmm?" Elisabeth grasped Julia''s arm eagerly. "Spill it, don''t keep me in suspense."

    As Julia looked at Elisabeth''s lively face framed by her golden hair, she couldn''t help but think that even after a night without sleep, Elisabeth looked remarkably fresh.

    "When ites to women, he has always been very ruthless. If he wants a woman, he wouldn''t bother with any subtlety. He''d more likely drag you into a room and throw you on the bed," Julia said, remembering that night and the imposing jerk who had toyed with her, a slight heat creeping into her thoughts.

    Elisabeth opened her mouth slightly, then responded, "He wouldn''t dare do that to me; if he did, my dad would make sure he pays for it."

    "Maybe," Julia said softly in the dark.

    However, deep down, Julia was somewhat skeptical of Elisabeth''s confidence. With Eric''s wealth and status, if he did manage to get this girl into bed, Rupert Murdoch might actually endorse it. For a newspaper group still developing its foothold in the TV and movie industry, Eric would be a perfect match.

    Elisabeth didn''t catch the underlying tone in Julia''s voice and continued, "So, you''re saying he really isn''t interested in me, right?"

    "Of course!" Julia nodded with a smile.

    Elisabeth let out a sigh of relief, as if she had finally put her worries to rest after a restless night. But momentster, she suddenly pouted, "How could he not be interested in me? Am I not pretty enough?"

    "Hahaha..." Juliaughed out loud again.

    Realizing her faux pas, Elisabeth quickly became flustered and reached out yfully at Julia. "Hey, stop, quit it!" Julia begged, catching her breath. "I just remembered something that guy once said to me: he said women are veryplicated creatures. When you''re near them, they tease and insult you, but when you''re away from them, theyin. That line fits you perfectly, haha."

    Seeing Elisabeth''s exasperated look, Julia quickly stifled herughter and said, "Okay, okay, stop it, Liz. Let''s try to get some sleep before the sunes up. Otherwise, you''ll be exhausted all day. Um... I''m going back to sleep now."

    "Wait, you can''t leave me all alone!" Elisabeth eximed, grabbing Julia as she tried to get up.

    Julia plopped back on the couch, exasperated. "So what do you want to do then?"

    "Why don''t we go for a run? It''s already light outside!"

    Julia shook her head immediately. "It''s too early! There aren''t many people out, and who knows what the safety is like here? Italy is the birthce of the Mafia. Who knows, you could be running along when a bag is thrown over you. It wouldn''t end well."

    Though Julia joked, Elisabeth still felt a bit scared by the thought. "Then... let''s watch TV! I cannot sleep anyway," she said, eagerly handing Julia the remote.

    "Alright, alright. You''re just like a child," Julia said, taking the remote with a resigned expression. As she turned on the television, it was an Italian soap opera, which she couldn''t understand, so she switched channels.

    After flipping through several channels, she finally stopped when the cheerful canned

    laughter came through the speakers.

    Elisabeth heard some dialogue and eximed, "It''s my family''s TV station! It''s a si; this

    is it! You can understand this one!"

    Julia also recognized the logo of Fox Television, so she set the remote down.

    ...

    On screen was a cafe where the main characters discussed the odd situation regarding Ross''s wife. After a few humorous lines, both Julia and Elisabeth were drawn into the storyline. They burst intoughter when the character Phoebe made a funny gesture at the downcast Ross.

    "Wow, this is so funny! How did I not know there was another si?" Elisabeth said as she pped her thigh.

    Juliaughed too, but she quickly remembered, "This should be prime time on the East Coast, around eight o''clock. It must be a new show; otherwise, we would have heard of such a funny

    si by now."

    Elisabeth nodded, "Yeah, let''s write down the name to follow itter."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    They were talking when Ross said to his sister Monica, "I don''t want to be single, okay? I just want to be married again!" Just then, there was a loud tter, and a drenched bride burst into the cafe, shocking everyone as they exchanged bewildered looks between Ross and the bride.

    Right after that, Chandler excitedly waved his arms towards the door, dering loudly, "And I just want a million dors!"

    This time, of course, his ''wish'' didn''te true. Chandler awkwardly waved his hands again and stuck out his tongue.

    ...

    "Hahaha, that was just... it was so funny," Elisabeth nearly doubled over inughter after seeing that scene. When she looked up again, she caught Julia''s dazed expression.

    "Hey, Julia, what''s the matter with you?" Elisabeth teased, poking Julia in the side.

    Julia pointed at the TV screen, "Look, that... that bride in the wedding dress is Jennifer Aniston!"

    Elisabeth didn''t quite register it at first, but she followed Julia''s finger, nodded, "She''s a pretty girl, what about it?"

    "Don''t you remember, Liz?" Julia continued, "That''s Jennifer Aniston. She''s that guy''s girlfriend, meaning this show is the one he directed that the media has been promoting

    lately."

    Elisabeth''s mouth dropped open as she recalled some scenes, indeed recognizing a setting that matched the cafe on-screen.

    Julia nodded slightly, as she kept up with news about Eric, which was why she knew the show''s title from its promotion.

    The two girls exchanged nces, leading Elisabeth to pout in frustration, "Why is he

    everywhere?"

    Julia chuckled, recalling, "Seems like it really is the premiere today."

    Despite their mixed feelings, theyughed at the jokes that popped up, although it didn''t reach the same level of merriment as before. Their attention never left the TV screen, even

    while ads interrupted the show.

    Finally, when the second episode ended, Elisabeth eximed, "That girl is such a jerk; I don''t like her," as Rachel, yed by Aniston, called her maid of honor, wishing for her ex-fiance''s

    child to inherit his ugly features.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 206: Chapter 206: A Major Shift

    Chapter 206: A Major Shift

    ?

    [Chapter 206: A Major Shift]

    Julia didn''t know how to respond to Elisabeth''sment. Although the girl''s tone was casual, as if she was simply evaluating the characters in the show, Julia could detect a hint of jealousy in her voice.

    In truth, Julia felt a tinge of jealousy herself. Although she had only seen two episodes, she could tell that, based on the quality disyed, this series was bound to be a hit. Jennifer Aniston''s charming portrayal of Rachel would definitely make her the most beloved character among the six friends. The impact of this show would surely surpass that of even a blockbuster movie.

    Eric was truly wonderful to her, Julia thought to herself.

    The television had already started airingmercials, and the two of them finally realized that daybreak had arrived.

    Julia stood up, stretched, and hurriedly washed up before exiting the bathroom. "Liz, do you want to go have breakfast at the restaurant downstairs?"

    Elisabeth shook her head. "I''m a little tired and don''t want to go out. Julia, could you bring me back a fruit sd?"

    ...

    Julia nodded, got dressed, and stepped out of the hotel room. Inside, Elisabeth stared nkly at the TV screen for a moment before remembering something and picking up the phone. She quickly dialed a series of numbers from memory.

    ...

    A few minutester, Julia returned with two take-out breakfasts in hand. Seeing that Elisabeth had just hung up the phone, she casually asked, "Who were you calling?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "New York," Elisabeth replied. Noticing Julia''s apparentck of interest, she walked over to the couch and continued, "I just got off the line with the Foxwork headquarters in New York. They''ve tallied the ratings."

    Julia opened the two containers of sd, handed one to Elisabeth, and then stood up to grab two cartons of milk from the fridge. Hearing Elisabeth''s announcement, Julia shrugged and said, "Why do you care about that? Eric wrote the script himself. The ratings are bound to be high. Maybe they''ve topped twenty million viewers already."

    "Thirty-one point seven million!" Elisabeth said softly. Her voice sounded hoarse, as if something was caught in her throat. As a media studies major, she understood the significance of that number more than ayperson might.

    "Oh..." Julia poured milk into a ss, absentmindedly responding before suddenly realizing what Elisabeth had said. She jerked her head up, her eyes wide. "Did you just say how much?"

    Elisabeth numbly pulled the fruit sd closer, lowering her head. "The average rating for the first two episodes was thirty-one point seven million. The highest peaked at thirty-five million. It''s just... unbelievable."

    "Oh my God," Julia eximed, taking a few hearty gulps of milk to suppress her shock. "This can''t be right!"

    "How could it be wrong? Thework is going crazy," Elisabeth replied.

    And they truly were.

    After Foxpiled the ratings for the first two episodes, even though it waste at night, the news spread like wildfire throughout the industry within just an hour. Countless newspapers began to rewrite andyout their stories, and phones rang off the hook. Many people who had already gone to bed were awakened by the calls.

    In that era, the main sources of entertainment for the public were movies and television, so ratings exceeding thirty million were not unheard of. However, achieving those numbers typically required either a major award ceremony, a significant sports event, or a long- running drama series experiencing a major plot twist or finale.

    To have a show achieve such astonishing ratings right out of the gate was unprecedented. More importantly, Fox was a station that had been in operation for less than ten years. Although it was ranked fourth in North America, it stillgged far behind the top three majorworks. Achieving such ratings was no small feat. Previously, the highest ratings for Fox had been for a documentary featuring Michael Jackson, and even that had only pulled in a mere neen million viewers. This new show eclipsed Fox''s previous record by over ten million.

    ...

    As the key figure behind all of this, Eric was abruptly awakened early in the morning by the incessant ringing of the phone, before seven o''clock.

    The first call came from Barry Diller himself. He congratted Eric on the record-breaking ratings and expressed his excitement, adding that Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp, would soon be arriving in Los Angeles and wanted to meet with Eric personally. They chatted for over ten minutes, and after urging Eric to return to Los Angeles as soon as possible, Barry reluctantly hung up.

    Eric put the receiver down and hadn''t even processed what Barry Diller had said when the phone rang again.

    The second call was from Jeffrey, followed by a third, fourth, and fifth...

    For the next two-plus hours, Eric found himself fielding call after call, both ears slightly itchy from the stimtion. It wasn''t until past nine o''clock that he could take it no longer and yanked the phone line out of the wall, bringing blessed silence. Most of the important figures had already called, so he didn''t mind missing anyone else.

    Additionally, many of the callers had ulterior motives. Besides Aniston, who called excitedly to congratte him, most others were seeking broadcast rights.

    Initially, in a bid for caution, Fox onlymissioned the first season of the show, which was hardly a secret. Now, achieving such remarkable ratings right out of the gate meant that even if the ratings fluctuated moving forward, the established base of over thirty million would ensure future numbers couldn''t drop too drastically. If the other three majorworks in North America remained unresponsive, thosework heads might as well resign. These yers were indeed influential, managing to express their intentions to Eric through representatives within just a few hours. NBC even enlisted John Aniston, James Brooks, and Robert Shea to lobby on their behalf. Aside from John Aniston, who had originally worked at NBC, Eric found it puzzling how the other two had connected with thework, considering James Brooks was a well-known producer who maintained close ties with Fox. Didn''t he fear being found out? Robert Shea''s involvement only added to Eric''s confusion.

    Eric had his own expectations for the ratings, knowing that the show had just premiered. The teaser clips released prior had sparked significant public curiosity, coupled with the buzz surrounding Eric''s direct involvement as both writer and director of the first two episodes, and Fox''s relentless promotion. He had initially predicted the premiere ratings would sit within the twenty-million range; anything less would have discredited the hype surrounding the show.

    Yet, the reality of surpassing thirty million was a staggering surprise for Eric.

    In terms of ratings data for American television, moving from ten million to twenty million was a rtively easy leap, as any popr show could reach the twenty-million mark through its story arcs. However, jumping from twenty million to thirty million represented a genuine challenge, only achieved by a select few well-loved shows over several years of poprity. Starting off with such a miracle was enough to secure a ce in television history.

    Thus, the ripple effect caused by this news throughout the North American entertainment industry was sure to be significant.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Ratings Miracle

    Chapter 207: Ratings Miracle

    ?

    [Chapter 207: A Wind Rising]

    The next morning, major newspapers across North America prominently featured headlines like "Friends," "30 Million Viewership," and "Television Miracle" in bold print. A wave of various opinions flooded the public''s attention.

    "The spoiled and opinionless Rachel Green, the assertive and neat Monica Geller, the entric and quirky Phoebe Buffay, the penny-pinching Ross Geller, the witty Chandler Bing, and the lovable but dimwitted Joey Tribbiani... After only airing two episodes, Eric Williams had already crafted six distinct characters for the screen. Viewers quickly found themselves attracted to these six fictional personalities within just one hour.

    The rtable and humorous plot drew the audience in even more, evidenced by the 31.7 million premiere ratings. When viewers watched the everyday lives of the six protagonists living in their New York apartment, it was as if they saw reflections of their own lives. This connection might just be the primary reason for the si''s sess, reminiscent of how ABC''s still-popr series captivated audiences. Eric Williams undeniably possessed a genius that allowed him to weave everyday details into engaging dialogues that kept viewers glued to their screens.

    The amusing exchanges among the main characters would undoubtedly be popr catchphrases among young people for a long time toe. Having only aired two episodes, the characters'' personalities were already fully fleshed out, and I found myself eagerly anticipating the next developments. I had no doubt that Eric Williams, who personally wrote the series, would deliver even more surprises in the storyline. After all, he was Eric Williams."

    ...

    Amidst countless praises, dissenting opinions were also present. Following a brief survey where random audience interviews were conducted, it turned out that fewer than 60% of viewers were very satisfied with the plot. Over 20% expressed that it did not meet their expectations, while the remaining 20% thought the quality was average.

    Therefore, thementators concluded that the astonishing viewership of over 30 million was primarily the result of prior hype. The survey results indicated that the quality of the show fell short of what many hopeful fans of Eric Williams had anticipated. A significant drop in ratings was almost certain to follow.

    This skepticism about future ratings was echoed by multiple news outlets. However, such ims typically existed to sensationalize and mislead the general public; those with even a bit of professional knowledge understood that while the miraculous ratings benefitted from the hype, a show could not achieve an average of 31.7 million viewers without solid content. Having already aired just two episodes proved its poprity potential.

    With a viewership base surpassing 30 million, even if significant declines urredter, ratings would likely still exceed 20 million. For a television series, over 20 million viewers was considered a massive hit.

    ...

    The traditional powerhouses of North American television, ABC, NBC, and CBS, had generally disregarded Fox Network. ABC, the youngest of the three, had been around for half a century, while NBC and CBS had even longer histories.

    Over the years, numerous media groups had attempted to challenge the dominance of the big three, but all had met with failure. Even when Barry Diller, known as a rising star in the media industry, was brought in by News Corporation to oversee their televisionwork operations, Fox remained seen as a neer in the North American televisionndscape.

    Despite Fox''s rapid growth, they did not have any standout television programs to show for their expansion. Previously, Fox''s highest rating never exceeded 20 million viewers, whereas the big three, who rotated the broadcasting rights for the Super Bowl, boasted ratings exceeding over 100 million for their top programs. On average, they could effortlessly produce several shows with ratings over 20 million.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Thus, while News Corporation made waves in North America and Rupert Murdoch sought American citizenship to gain the authority to establish a televisionwork, the big three maintained a skeptical stance towards this "upstart" from Australia, waiting for him to fail like all past challengers.

    The emergence of over 30 million viewers startled the upper echelons of the big threeworks. They realized that, unbeknownst to them, the Fox Network -- a mere few years old -- had over a hundred affiliate stations, covering more than 90% of the United States. Their immediate reaction was to ensure they would not allow Fox to continue its growth. After all, the domestic television market was finite; if Fox rose, it would mean a significant reduction in the market shares of the big threeworks.

    In a rare move, executives from the big three held an emergency meeting. After hours of discussion, they devised a primary strategy: at all costs, they needed to wrest the broadcasting rights for future seasons away from Fox, even potentially taking the remaining episodes of the first season. They were willing to pay hefty penalties to Eric Williams. Without this, Fox''s expansion would surely slow down, giving the big three ample time to deal with the encroaching "outsider."

    What the big three executives considered, so did Barry Diller of Fox and Rupert Murdoch of the News Corporation. Although Eric''s films had brought immense profits to Fox, Murdoch had not previously invested much focus on Eric, seeing him merely as a fresh director partnered with Fox. However, this time was different. Murdoch''s newspaper group had reached a zenith and his primary ambition was in television, finding Eric''s rapid expansion of thework a pivotal opportunity. Plus, with the big three poised to act, it seemed necessary for Murdoch to personally appeal to Eric.

    Thus, on the evening of September 4th, when Eric attended the opening ceremony of the 46th Venice Film Festival, a private Boeing ne, enormous in size,nded at Venice Marco Polo Airport.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Back to L.A.

    Chapter 208: Back to L.A.

    ?

    [Chapter 208: Here]

    "Thanks," the slender blonde flight attendant smiled as she handed a perfectly mixed cocktail to Eric, who quietly expressed his gratitude while sitting beside the small bar.

    At that moment, he was on a private jet belonging to the Murdoch family. Before this, Eric had never anticipated that Murdoch would be so eager as to personally send a private ne to Venice to fetch him. However, despite the ulterior motives behind it, Eric was more than happy to take advantage of the luxury. After all, a private jet, with all its amenities, was far morefortable than even first ss on amercial flight.

    After attending the opening ceremony of the Venice Film Festivalst night, and sitting through a premiere that morning, Eric had handed over the rest of his obligations to Jonathan Demme and others. He rushed onto the massive Boeing private jet to head back to Los Angeles. Having achieved such impressive results, it would have been a lie to say he wasn''t anxious to get back to Los Angeles.

    Besides his assistant, there was a vice president from Fox Television apanying him, along with two young women quietly chatting on a nearby sofa -- Julia and Elisabeth. Allen and the manager wisely stayed in another lounge.

    "What are you chatting about, Julia? You look so happy?" Eric casually asked, leaning against the bar, making small talk.

    Julia was about to respond when Elisabeth shot her a re: "What''s it to you?"

    Ever since they learned of the ratings miracle, Elisabeth''s attitude toward Eric had be even more ''hostile,'' though he wasn''t sure why.

    "If the topic involves me, then it surely concerns me," Ericughed, raising his ss as he stood and walked over to the sofa, casually sitting next to Julia.

    Seeing Eric sit beside her, Julia lifted her body slightly as if to move away but quickly rxed. Elisabeth persisted: "Hey, who invited you to sit here?"

    "Liz, I''m a guest. You can''t be this rude," Eric replied.

    "Being a guest means you should act like one," Elisabeth countered sharply.

    "You''re really not very hospitable, Liz. It seems that when we get back to Los Angeles, I''ll have to mention this to Mr. Murdoch; maybe you should sign up for ady-like etiquette ss or something." As Eric spoke, he unintentionally adopted a tone akin to that of an elder, which only fueled the already smoldering irritation within Elisabeth.

    After ring at Eric for a moment and struggling to find a sharp retort, Elisabeth suddenly stood up: "I''m going to rest; feel free to do whatever you like, Mr. Guest." With that, the young woman clicked her heels and headed toward the bedroom.

    At some point, both flight attendants had quietly left, leaving just Eric and Julia alone in the cabin.

    Julia nced at Eric, who wasfortably resting with his eyes closed. She straightened up but chose not to leave, instead sitting quietly next to him, subconsciously beginning to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.

    During their few days in Venice, it had been the longest stretch of time Julia had spent with Eric outside of a work setting. She noticed thatpared to the demanding and controlling man he could be while working, Eric was generallyid-back in private. Even though Elisabeth always engaged him in verbal sparring, Eric had never lost his temper. In fact, it was usually Elisabeth who found herself at a loss for words after a few light remarks from him. Those few days together significantly altered Julia''s perception of Eric. He was no longer the imposing figure she once thought him to be.

    Time slipped by, and Eric showed no signs of moving. Julia took the opportunity to discreetly observe the man beside her. After days of travel and the toll of jetg, Eric''s youthful face disyed clear signs of fatigue, and stubble had begun to appear on his chin.

    Yet, this slightly aged and rugged look stirred something in Julia; she felt an urge to reach out and touch his face. However, she didn''t take that step. Instead, she gently sighed and picked up the empty ss that Eric had set down, cing it aside before sitting back next to him, her mind drifting back to thements Elisabeth had made after hearing about the miraculous ratings.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    She knew Eric was immensely talented; his films had consistently achieved remarkable box office sess, and when he had ventured into television, he easily created a ratings sensation. But just how impressive were his achievements? It wasn''t until Elisabeth, who was more knowledgeable in the industry, had exined it all to her that Julia could begin toprehend the heights Eric had reached.

    Eric shifted slightly, seemingly ufortable in his sleeping position. He leaned onto the sofa, his head resting on Julia''sp, one arm casually wrapping around her slender waist.

    Startled by this gesture, Julia initially thought Eric had woken up, but when she saw that he had simply found afortable spot, sighing softly before drifting off again, she rxed. Stifling a quietugh, she finally mustered the courage to lightly touch his chiseled face with her fingertip.

    Just then, the blonde flight attendant who had mixed Eric''s drink earlier returned to the cabin, seemingly to check if the guests needed anything. Upon seeing the intimate scene on the sofa, her eyes widened slightly. As a young person herself, she definitely recognized Julia and Eric and often followed the gossip of Hollywood. Still, witnessing the renowned young director sleeping on thep of one of Hollywood''s top actresses was hard to believe.

    Noticing the attendant''s surprise, Julia felt her cheeks flush slightly but signaled for silence. This gesture brought the dazed flight attendant back to reality. She hastily broke into a professional smile, intending to leave.

    However, Julia stopped her with a wave and motioned for her to grab a nket, which the flight attendant quickly did, gently covering Eric with it.

    Once the attendant left, Julia finally rxed, gazing down at Eric''s sleeping face, her thoughts swirling.

    Eventually, she thought to herself, He''s resting on denim -- I hope this rough fabric isn''t bothering him.

    ...

    Because Venice was nine hours behind Los Angeles, after a lengthy flight of over ten hours, they arrived in Los Angeles, and it was still not even 8 PM local time. The summer evening had only recently begun to darken.

    Many people awaited Eric''s arrival at the airport, having learned of the time he wasnding. Fortunately, since he had flown back on a private jet, his return was rtively discreet. Had he followed the original n to take amercial flight, he would have surely been swarmed by a horde of press anticipating hisnding.

    As soon as Eric stepped off the ne, he was approached by several groups waiting outside the airport. These individuals had initially been strangers to one another but quickly understood each other''s intentions upon witnessing the chaos and hurriedly moved closer.

    "Mr. Williams, I''m Mr. Murdoch''s assistant..."

    "Mr. Williams, Mr. Eisner sent me to wait for you..."

    "Eric, we met during recording; I''m the manager of CBS Los Angeles..."

    Eric smiled as he shook hands with each of those moring to introduce themselves. Once there was a moment of rtive quiet, he finally said, "I''m truly sorry; I just arrived back in Los Angeles and am still adjusting to the time difference. Can we discuss everything tomorrow?"

    Of course, the crowds were not about to disperse at Eric''s mere suggestion. They pressed on, continuing to speak until Eric began to walk away, not wanting to engage too deeply.

    Eric had anticipated this scenario but hadn''t expected so many people to try to catch him as he exited the airport. He hurried into a ck car that Jeffrey had sent, and once Allen had stowed the luggage and joined him in the backseat, Eric bid farewell to the crowd outside, consciously waving to Julia and Elisabeth, who stood a bit farther away.

    ...

    Watching as Eric''s car drove off, the onlookers felt a wave of disappointment as they dispersed to their own vehicles.

    While the others left without much issue, Elisabeth certainly didn''t mind. Yet, noticing that the assistant sent by her father seemed ready to leave without acknowledging her, Elisabeth felt a spark of indignation. She crossed her arms and called out, "Hey, Vincent, am I invisible

    or something?"

    "Apologies, Miss," Vincent, the assistant, had focused entirely on Eric and truly hadn''t registered Elisabeth''s presence. He hustled over, "I''m sorry, Miss, I didn''t realize you were here. I couldn''t catch Mr. Williams before he left, and I''m not sure how to exin this to Mr.

    Murdoch."

    Elisabeth dragged Julia toward a luxurious Bentley, fuming, "I don''t care how you exin it; just take us back to Beverly Hills."

    "However," Vincent hesitated, trying to keep up with them. "Miss, I really need to report back to Mr. Murdoch soon; he''s waiting at Century City Headquarters."

    "Thiste at night, you expect us two girls to catch a cab back? What if something happens to us?" Elisabeth stated, forcefully handing Vincent their luggage as she whisked Julia into the Bentley and closed the door with a decisive thud.

    Vincent sighed, shaking his head in resignation. He had no choice but to converse for a

    moment with the Fox vice president who had been sent to fetch Eric, quickly stowing the

    suitcases in the trunk before taking a seat in the front passenger side, instructing the driver to proceed while reaching for his mobile phone to dial a number.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Each with Their Own Thoughts

    Chapter 209: Each with Their Own Thoughts

    ?

    [Chapter 209: Each with Their Own Thoughts]

    As the car sped down the road, Eric reflected on the recent events and remarked, "I never imagined that besides a few majorworks, even cable channels like HBO would be involved. But what''s the deal with Michael Eisner sending someone over?"

    Having achieved impressive results, and riding the high from having recently escaped a crowd, Allen, Eric''s assistant, felt a rush of excitement. He thought for a moment and replied, "I think Mr. Eisner must be representing ABC."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric immediately recalled Disney''s acquisition of ABC from his past life. While he couldn''t remember exactly when that had happened, it was clear that it happened many years after this moment. Why would Michael Eisner be representing ABC now?

    Noticing Eric''s puzzled expression in the rearview mirror, Allen offered an exnation. "Disney and ABC have always had a close rtionship. I grew up watching Disney cartoons on ABC."

    Eric''s confusion cleared a bit, and he said, "Allen, over the next couple of days, pleasepile some information on the rtionship between Disney and ABC." After a brief pause, he added, "Also, get me a rundown on how the other majorworks rte to the Big Six of Hollywood."

    "Sure thing, but that could take about a week," Allen replied, turning his head.

    "Take your time. The most important thing is for it to be urate," Eric reassured him.

    "I understand, Eric. Where are we headed now?" Allen asked. When in public, he referred to Eric as Mr. Williams, but privately, he was instructed to call him by his first name. Despite being nearly ten years older than Eric''s current form, he felt it would be awkward to maintain an overly formal address.

    Without hesitation, Eric said, "Home. It''s evening now, and there''s no rush; we don''t need to disturb anyone at this hour. I''ll just call Jeffrey and the others when I get back."

    ...

    Upon arriving at the Beverly Hills mansion, Allen and the driver helped Eric bring in his luggage. A young girl, who had eagerly awaited Eric''s return, rushed toward the pile of bags to search for gifts. Eric fondly tapped her on the forehead a few times before sending Allen and the driver on their way.

    "Regarding the arrangements for the next few days, if it''s an invitation from Fox, find an excuse to turn it down. If otherworks reach out, schedule some time to meet," Eric instructed Allen by the car at the mansion''s entrance.

    Allen understood well; Eric was ying hard to get among the majorworks. However, he couldn''t help but ask, "What if Murdoch personallyes knocking?"

    "He won''t," Eric replied confidently. "Those little stunts he pulled -- sending a private jet to Venice to pick me up -- were just Fox trying to express their sincerity for the negotiations. It really came off a bit desperate. If old Murdoch can''t contain himself and shows up in person, I won''t hold back from giving him a slice of reality."

    "Eric, are you considering switchingworks?" Allen asked with a smile, immediately regretting the sensitive nature of the question.

    Eric certainly wouldn''t reveal his intentions to Allen. Although Allen was diligent, there was always the chance he might leak information, tempted by potential benefits. To keep someone loyal, the key was not to give them enough leverage to betray you. If thepetition learned about Eric''s ns through Allen, it would be difficult for him to maximize his gains.

    Still, he sensed that Allen hadn''t meant to pry. With a smile, he replied, "That all depends on the offers. We will definitely choose the highest one."

    Allen nodded, choosing not to press further, and soon took his leave.

    ...

    Back at the mansion, Eric found the phone already ringing, and Drew had picked it up. So, he had to make a round of calls for the next couple of hours, just like that morning when the viewership numbers hade out. This time, Rupert Murdoch himself called, inviting Eric to lunch the next day. Eric casually found a few excuses to decline.

    He wanted to schmooze with the otherworks first to create a sense of urgency for Fox before discussing any deals to maximize profits. Despite the eagerness shown by the otherworks, Eric hadn''t nned on switching at all.

    Compared to the "young" Fox, the other majorworks felt like elderly men with graying hair. Even though they might drop their pretenses to coborate with Eric, they would still likely unt their age. Fox, on the other hand, had grown into a North American media giant alongside the big three in just over a decade. But besides Eric, there was no way even Murdoch could understand that trajectory or have confidence in Fox''s prospects. This made Eric''s position with Fox uniquely significant.

    ...

    The following day, Eric''s first order of business was to visit the film set. At noon, facilitated by Michael Eisner, he had lunch with an ABC vice president who hade specially to Los Angeles. That evening, he met with a senior executive from NBC, thanks to Robert Shea. On the morning of September 7, he was taken by the CBS Los Angeles branch manager for a round of golf.

    It was worth noting that the offers from the big threeworks were quite generous. They didn''t even suggest outright buying out the series; rather, they proposed a split of advertising revenue. From what Eric gathered, the split percentages they offered were considerably high. Each of theworks also hinted at wanting to outmaneuver Fox to secure the uing series.

    Through these meetings, Eric realized that the three majorworks had likely formed some sort of consensus, perhaps even a loose alliance. However, this "alliance" was as fragile as a puff of wind passing through. Theworks had fiercepeting interests, and while they might cooperate, they weren''t inclined to let each other touch their crown jewels.

    Thus, even though the big three had superficially aligned, their distinct approaches allowed Eric to pursue his ns with minimal pressure. If all threeworks had simultaneously put the heat on him, he would certainly have to consider the ramifications of upsetting all of them

    at once.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Why Not Play the Player?

    Chapter 210: Why Not y the yer?

    ?

    [Chapter 210: Why Not y the yer?]

    Although most of his thoughts were focused on other things, Eric still didn''t let go of his ownpany and movie projects. On the third day after returning to Los Angeles, Eric, along with Jeffrey and Robert, went to the new location they had picked out for Firefly Films.

    "Eric, what do you think of this ce?" After stepping out of an SUV, Robert Shea pointed at a seven-story building near the highway.

    Eric looked up to examine the structure. The office building had a silver appearance with a metallic feel. Outside of downtown Los Angeles, there weren''t many tall buildings, so this seven-story office in Burbank somewhat matched Eric''s expectations. After a moment, he pointed to the bustling traffic on the highway behind him and asked, "Robert, will it be too noisy being so close to the highway?"

    "No," Robert Shea shook his head. "Jeffrey and I checked every floor before. The soundproofing inside is excellent. If we close the windows, you won''t hear any traffic noise from outside at all. Plus, look over there, thend to the north of this building, we could acquire that too. It''s about 10,000 square feet. If we need more space in the future, we could build a few more office buildings further inside, so noise won''t be an issue."

    Looking at the map his assistant handed him, he noted it was rectangr, roughly 400 meters long north to south and less than 300 meters wide east to west.

    "Well then, why didn''t they build the office further from the highway at the beginning?" Eric asked after surveying the map.

    "The real estatepany that originally had thisnd nned to build a small business area here. But sadly, after the stock market crash two years ago, their funding chain broke. They only managed to construct this building before going under. So, Eric, if we take it over now, I think it''s a solid investment for Firefly."

    Hearing this, Eric felt a spark of interest. Buying this ce would mean Firefly would have its first piece of real estate. More importantly, real estate had always been a lucrative investment up. Even though the market had experienced some turmoil, like the subprime mortgage crisis, it still generally trended upward.

    "How much would it cost to take the whole thing?" Eric finally asked.

    "Twenty million dors," Robert Shea replied, seemingly worried Eric would find it too expensive. He added, "Eric, this price is definitely eptable. Look around. You won''t find a plot of this size in Burbank. Plus, the transportation is so developed, with the highway right next to it."

    Eric smiled and turned to Jeffrey beside him. "What''s your opinion, Jeffrey?"

    "I agree with Robert. I suggest we acquire thisnd entirely. It''s definitely perfect for Firefly''s new headquarters. Robert and I have thoroughly checked everything. Within five kilometers, we have Disney''s headquarters, Warner Bros. Studios, Universal Pictures, and several other studios. And there''s even a small park nearby," Jeffrey pointed to the hills to the south and added, "Look there, over that hill is the Hollywood sign."

    Eric followed Jeffrey''s gaze, but he didn''t see the famous Hollywood sign due to the hill blocking his view.

    "It''s probably obstructed by the hillside, but it''s right there," Jeffrey exined. "I heard the previous owner of that hill was the famously ambitious Howard Hughes. Now, I''m not sure which real estatepany ended up with it."

    Eric gazed dreamily at the hillside again.

    Seeing Eric somewhat entranced, Jeffrey and Robert stood on either side of him, also gazing at the hill. Howard Hughes, after all, was a man with some ambition in Hollywood; perhaps all aspiring men in the industry dreamed of being the next Howard Hughes.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "All right, let''s go for it," Eric finally returned to reality and decisively stated, "Let''s go check it out."

    Robert Shea looked pleased as he followed Eric. Thisnd had been introduced to him by a friend. While Robert wouldn''t make anymissions from the deal, it would earn him a favor from the New York real estate investor. Of course, the price of twenty million dors was fair, and being a shareholder in Firefly, Robert wouldn''t let himself get shortchanged. In fact, this property, boasting such a prime location, would have plenty of buyers, and it might even fetch a higher price. However, no one else could pay off the entire amount upfront like Firefly could, and the seller was urgently in need of cash to resolve a financial crisis.

    After the group explored the area, they sat down on a bench by a patch of grass to rest. Jeffrey then asked, "Eric, are you really not nning to attend the celebration dinner tonight?"

    Robert Shea looked over with curiosity as well.

    Eric shook his head, then nodded. Seeing their puzzled expressions, he quickly added with a smile, "I''ll go. If I dy any further, Murdoch is sure to notice something."

    Jeffrey chuckled, "Haha, you''ve been avoiding everyone for a few days. I bet the Fox crew is scared stiff. They probably heard the majorworks are looking to snag the uing series."

    Eric looked up at the clear blue sky of Los Angeles and replied casually, "If they were a bit calmer, they wouldn''t be so worried. But given the current situation, I suspect even Rupert Murdoch can''t stayposed."

    "Why''s that?" Robert Shea inquired curiously, while Jeffrey wore a confused expression.

    Eric exined, "If the three majorworks want to swoop in, Fox definitely wouldn''t stand for it, leading to a legal battle. During which, they won''t be able to air anything. Suchwsuits usually drag on for a year and a half. The three majorworks could use that time to calmly handle Fox and hinder its momentum. But in the end, we would also suffer from not being able to air episodes. When thewsuit is over and the dust settles, who knows if the majorworks will even keep their initial promises to us."

    After hearing this, Robert Shea suggested, "Then let''s hold off on the first season and give the airing rights to otherworks. I had someone estimate it; with the scale of the three majorworks, the ad revenue share could be at least increased by over 10%."

    Eric turned to Robert Shea and said, "Robert, why don''t we look a bit further down the line? Even if we get a higher cut, we will still be ying a pawn position. So since this opportunity is so good, why not strive to be the yer instead?"

    Robert Shea stared, and then a bitter smile appeared on his face, a thought springing in his mind: Am I getting old, or is this kid''s ambition just that grand?

    ...

    On the coastal highway, a purple Lamborghini Gardo was clearly being moderated in speed as it weaved through traffic. Sitting in the passenger seat, wearing a fitted white gown, Aniston frequently took out apact mirror to check her makeup.

    "Eric, can you help me check if my makeup looks okay?" she asked, adjusting her side-swept bangs before turning to Eric.

    Eric nced at her, and then quickly turned away, "You look great. But, Jenny, did you choose that dress yourself?"

    "Yeah, isn''t it beautiful?" If they weren''t in the car, Aniston would''ve surely stood up to show

    off to Eric.

    Eric held back for a moment before saying, "I''ll call Kepler tomorrow and have him find you a good stylist. You''re a big star now; you need to learn how to dress yourself well." "Uh-huh," Aniston perked up at the mention of being a big star, but she wasn''t naive. Quickly catching on, she asked somewhat uncertainly, "Are you saying... my outfit has issues?"

    Eric gently nodded and used as soft a tone as possible to respond. "Well, it''s not that there''s a huge problem. It''s just that this gown is more suited for an awards ceremony red carpet than a

    party."

    "Wow... You''re right, that might be true. No, Eric, you need to turn around. I have to go back and change," looking down at her sweeping train, Aniston scrambled to pull on Eric''s arm.

    "Hey, hey, hey, not so fast! I''m driving here."

    Aniston quickly retracted her hand and insisted, "Turn around. I''ve got to change this outfit. This is my first party with you, and I don''t want to beughed at."

    Eric checked his watch, "There''s no time. If we go back now, we''ll definitely bete."

    "Ugh..." Aniston pouted, then red at Eric, "You noticed the problem right away, didn''t

    you? Why didn''t you say anything on the way here?"

    "I didn''t realize right away; I just thought you looked beautiful."

    "Hmph, what do we do now?"

    Eric looked at the road signs outside and said, "Well, there''s a way. We''re pretty close to Virginia''s vi. If you want, we could go see if she has a suitable gown. I have keys to her

    ce."

    "No, I''d rather beughed at." Aniston immediately turned her head away.

    Eric shrugged in defeat, "Then forget it. Just be careful at the party, and don''t trip over that

    gown."

    The celebration party didn''t take ce at any hotel but was hosted in Rupert Murdoch''s estate located in Malibu.

    As they arrived at the estate, Eric handed the keys to the valet and walked in with Aniston.

    Upon learning Eric had arrived, Rupert Murdoch and Barry Diller, who had arrived early, both

    came out to greet him.

    To Eric''s surprise, he saw Elisabeth, whom he hadn''t seen in just a few days, walking in alongside old Murdoch. Although thedy wore a verydylike smile, Eric could see a hint of

    reluctance on Elisabeth''s face.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 211: Chapter 211: A Miscalculation

    Chapter 211: A Miscalction

    ?

    [Chapter 211: A Miscalction]

    Eric subtly scrutinized Rupert Murdoch, who was just shy of sixty, and the first impression that struck him about the media mogul undeniably stemmed from the sensational phone- tapping scandal from his past life. Perhaps due to the scandal, Eric recalled only the unttering photos of Murdoch from the media, yet at that moment, the mogul appeared vibrant, his thinning hair neatlybed, sporting rimless sses, and a warm smile gracing his lips.

    While Eric took in Murdoch, the older tycoon assessed the young man before him, who was barely twenty. This moment did notst long, and both men stretched out their hands at the same time.

    "Hello, Mr. Murdoch, I''m Eric Williams," Eric introduced himself, even though Murdoch had surely seen his face in photos. Out of courtesy for their first meeting, he felt the need to introduce himself.

    "Eric, it''s great to meet you," Murdoch responded, shaking Eric''s hand before turning to Jennifer Aniston. "You must be the lovely Miss Jennifer Aniston. Your performance was truly outstanding."

    Being praised in front of her boyfriend was a new experience for Aniston. She blushed slightly and replied, "Thank you, Mr. Murdoch."

    As Eric and Aniston greeted Barry Diller, Murdoch discreetly exchanged a nce with his daughter.

    Elisabeth observed the camaraderie between the two young adults and felt a pang of jealousy. Realizing her feelings, she became increasingly ufortable. But soon, she rationalized her emotions by thinking she was merely defending Julia. Just a few days ago on a flight, she had witnessed Ericfortably sleeping on Julia''sp. After waking up with numb legs, Julia had taken quite a while to recover while sitting on the couch. Julia had always been kind to him, but since returning to Los Angeles, he had not reached out to her even once and now flirted with another woman. Unbelievable.

    "Hey, Liz, you look beautiful tonight," Eric said after his greetings with Barry Diller and then turned to Elisabeth.

    "Hello, Mr. Williams," Elisabeth replied, shaking Eric''s hand delicately, giving off an air of someone wanting to keep their distance. Soon, though, she brightened with a dazzling smile and pulled Aniston close. "Miss Aniston, nice to meet you! I''m Elisabeth. Wow, that dress is stunning! Come on, let me take you inside."

    As Elisabeth spoke, she took Aniston by the hand and led her away. The young woman nced back at Eric, who sensed Elisabeth''s ulterior motive in herpliment about Aniston''s dress. Still, in such a social situation, Eric was sure Elisabeth wouldn''t be overly rude, so he merely nodded to Aniston, who then obediently followed Elisabeth inside.

    ...

    Elisabeth''s behavior contradicted what her father had asked of her, leaving Rupert Murdoch feeling both angry and helpless at the same time.

    Though busy with his empire, Murdoch was still attentive to his children. At nearly sixty, he needed to consider a sessor for his media empire, especially since his eldest daughtercked interest in business, and his two younger sons were hardly ready. Elisabeth, however, undoubtedly stood out for her capabilities; in school, she had sessfully founded a small local cable station. Yet, her stubborn and prideful nature often shed with her father''s wishes.

    Watching his daughter casually greet Eric and drag along his girlfriend, Murdoch could only apologize to Eric, saying, "Sorry, Eric, Liz is still a bit immature. Let''s go inside."

    "Of course, no problem at all, Mr. Murdoch. I actually quite like your daughter''s straightforwardness," Eric replied courteously, as the three made their way into the vi hosting the party.

    Once inside, around twenty guests had already arrived, and more continued to trickle in. Besides actors and crew members, Fox had extended invitations to several Hollywood stars for support.

    Even though Murdoch had felt anxious over Eric''s urgency, he knew he could not pull the young man aside for serious discussions right away. After casually chatting with Eric for a few moments and reminding him to enjoy the party, Murdoch and Barry Diller seamlessly mingled with other guests.

    ...

    Finally having some free time, Eric scanned the crowd and quickly spotted Aniston, drawing in a sharp breath. Elisabeth was definitely being intentional; just look at the group of women gathered together, seemingly in good spirits: Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields, Gabrielle, and even Nicole Kidman were present.

    Upon closer inspection, Eric was shocked to see Drew too. Wasn''t she supposed to be away at boarding school?

    Seeing this scene unfold, Eric instinctively turned to leave, wanting to keep his distance, but was caught by Nicole, who had spotted him.

    A momentter, the woman in a ck pencil skirt and high heels approached Eric, standing less than a foot away from him.

    "Good evening, Eric," she said, leaning into him, casually lifting her ss of red wine. ording to social norms, a personal space within forty-five centimeters usually signified a close rtionship; anything beyond that indicated mere friendship. Not realizing this theory, she nheless positioned herself very close to Eric, causing several people nearby to nce over at them.

    Eric, unaware of the theory either, instinctively felt uneasy and took a small step back before asking, "Nicole, what are you doing here?"

    Noticing Eric''s retreat, she wore a somewhat sulky expression but didn''t move closer. "I''m Australian too."

    Eric quickly recalled the Hollywood Australian connection, known for being a tight-knit group. However, seeing as it was still thete eighties, they hadn''t yet made waves; the likes of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Cate nchett, and Nicole herself were still rtively unknown. Therefore, he was sure Nicole''s presence had nothing to do with their shared nationality.

    Though she didn''t express it directly, Eric suspected there was more to the story. He thought about Gabrielle, who had managed to swim through Hollywood on the wings of a few rumors,nding a role as the second lead despite being a neer. With Nicole as the lead in his uing film and with her far more cunning demeanor inparison to Gabrielle, it was certain that she had been adjusting quite well in Hollywood even if she hadn''t made a big

    ssh yet.

    Having concluded this, Eric chose not to dig deeper; as long as Nicole remained tactful in his presence, that was all he cared about.

    "Nicole, what were you just talking about?" he inquired, gesturing toward the group of

    women.

    She chuckled lightly, a teasing glimmer in her eyes. "Don''t worry, Eric, nobody was discussing Miss Aniston''s dress. We chatted about... well, let''s just say it was the theme for tonight. Also, you -- you''ve caught the interest of Murdoch''s daughter."

    At herstment, Nicole winked yfully.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric couldn''t help but take a sip of red wine to mask his awkwardness, prompting him to ask, "Anything else?"

    "Nothing of importance," she shook her head, then added with a flirtatious whisper, "But, Eric, you definitely won''t be climbing into someone''s bed tonight. What about joining me?"

    "You really are up to no good," Eric squinted at her yfully. Aniston usually adopted an ostrich approach to his flirty rumors, but with so many women he had connections to around her tonight, she''d surely be feeling anxious. If he dared to leave her for another woman, a storm was certain to follow.

    "Seriously, do I seem like that bad girl to you?" Nicole shot Eric a mildly indignant look. Had it not been for the flicker of mischief in her eyes, Eric might have believed her.

    "Do me a favor, Nicole," Eric said after considering his request carefully.

    Seeing her interest piqued, he continued, "Keep an eye on Jenny. She''s rather innocent, and

    I''m sure you can easily make her happy."

    "Ah!" Nicole gasped, her eyes widening in protest. "Not a chance."

    Eric shot her a serious look, "No refusing. And one more thing, keep tabs on Drew -- don''t let

    the two of them get into a fight."

    Thinking back to the hectic moments when the two girls shed was enough to make Eric uneasy; when they fought, their behavior resembled a kind of regression to more primal instincts. In simpler terms, that meant they liked to scratch, and if one of them happened to w at a face, it would be disastrous.

    Having spent enough time at Eric''s vi, Nicole was too familiar with Drew''s capricious nature. That little girl was as sharp-witted as anyone; if she started tussling with Aniston, stopping it would be next to impossible. As these thoughts crossed her mind, she shook her head again, a pained expression surfacing with a hint of pleading in her voice, "That''s way too difficult, Eric."

    Eric casually took another sip of his wine and replied in a tone that brooked no argument, "Just go. If those two start causing trouble tonight, you can forget about being in the movie."

    Hearing Eric''s serious tone made her sigh internally, feeling somewhat unfairly treated. However, seeing no room for negotiation, she turned and quickly walked away in her little

    heels.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Trap

    Chapter 212: Trap

    ?

    [Chapter 212: It''s Settled]

    "Mr. Williams, you really are something else," Elisabeth''s voice chimed in next to Eric as Nicole just walked away.

    Eric turned to look at Elisabeth''s delicate face and shrugged. "It''s just a little punishment for women who like to y games. So, Liz, this story tells us that honesty is the best policy. I was really hurt when you spoke to me so coldly right from the start today. Have you forgotten the wonderful time we had together in Venice?"

    Elisabeth''s face flushed slightly as if she recalled something, but she forced augh and, with a hint of provocation in her tone, retorted, "Ha, are you going to punish me for that, Mr. Williams?"

    Eric stroked his chin as if deep in thought before saying, "Perhaps I can increase the terms of engagement for the deal and explicitly tell Mr. Murdoch that this is a punishment for Miss Elisabeth''s coldness toward me."

    Elisabeth''s expression instantly soured as she red at Eric, recalling her father''s warning that if she continued to act stubbornly, he would cut off her credit card. Angrily stomping her foot, she thought that if Eric actually said something like that, it would be more serious than just freezing her credit card.

    The more she thought about it, the more wronged and furious she felt, finally grit her teeth and spat out, "Eric Williams, you are such a jerk."

    Eric had only meant it as a joke, but he was surprised by her strong reaction. Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes made him quickly exin, "Liz, don''t be upset. I was just kidding."

    She looked like she wanted to turn and walk away, yet her feet felt glued to the floor, her expression still frosty despite Eric''s attempts to smooth things over. Coldly, she said, "Mr. Williams, my father asked me to invite you to talk. I don''t know if you have time?"

    "Of course, will you take me there?"

    Elisabeth nodded slightly and turned to head for the stairs, with Eric hurrying to follow.

    ...

    When they arrived at a room on the second floor, Elisabeth knocked on the door and, without waiting for a response, walked right in, gesturing Eric to enter after her.

    Stepping inside, Eric scanned the room. It was a simple meeting space, with a row of bookshelves, a few sofas, and a coffee table in the center. Only old Murdoch upied the space, with even Barry Diller absent.

    "Eric,e in, have a seat," Murdoch smiled as he stood up and motioned for Eric to sit on the sofa across from him. "Liz, make Eric a cup of coffee."

    Elisabeth nodded at Murdoch before walking away to prepare the coffee, her demeanor calm and collected.

    Eric noticed Murdoch smiling warmly at his daughter''s back while she made coffee, admiring how the red one-shoulder dress entuated Elisabeth''s figure perfectly.

    "Eric, you''re 19 this year, right?" Murdoch unexpectedly asked.

    Eric nodded. His birthday was on May 16, and he had celebrated it while busy shooting, with no parties -- just a simple dinner with a few close friends instead.

    "Well, Liz is only two years older than you. I still remember how she looked as a kid, but I''ve been so busy that I haven''t had much of a chance to connect with my children. It feels like just a moment ago she was this shy little one and now she''s grown into a youngdy, though her personality still seems childlike."

    "Dad, I''m not a child anymore," Elisabeth finally chimed in, dissatisfied. She handed cups of coffee to Eric and old Murdoch before sitting down beside him. She considered leaving, but Murdoch had already sternly warned her, and while she often enjoyed opposing her father, she was cautious when he truly got angry.

    Murdoch chuckled a few times and then said to Eric, "See, look how easily she gets worked up and still ims she''s not a child."

    Eric chuckled awkwardly, realizing what Murdoch''s intentions were. He had no ns to marry this ''princess'' as it would ruin any chance of having a good life ahead.

    Just as he thought Murdoch would change the subject, Murdoch said, "So, Eric, when are you starting the shoot?"

    That was a good topic. Eric felt relieved and quickly answered, "Yes, thetest start date won''t exceed a week from now. It''s already September, and I need toplete two movies simultaneously, which is a tight schedule that might require ovepping shooting and post- production."

    Murdoch sighed dreamily, "I have some understanding of film production, but it''s rare to see someone shooting so quickly. I''m very curious about how you make films."

    Even if it was ttery, Eric found it quite gratifying. He responded easily, "Haha, if possible, I wee Mr. Murdoch to visit the set."

    "That''s definitely not going to happen," Murdoch replied regretfully. "I''m quite busy as well, but Eric, what do you think of Liz?"

    "Um... ah?" Eric said, puzzled as the topic suddenly shifted to Elisabeth.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Murdoch, unfazed, continued, "Well, Liz just finished all her university courses and needs an internship. You certainly know Liz''s major, right? So, how about having her as your assistant on set? It would be a good opportunity for her to learn from someone as talented as you."

    In a sh, Eric felt a strong urge to curse. So this was the trap set for him. He nced at Elisabeth beside Murdoch; she was shyly fiddling with her fingers, embodying the image of apliant daughter who let her father decide for her.

    "Mr. Murdoch, the team is going to be running all over New York, Seattle, and Chicago. Being my... assistant would certainly be both tedious and boring; Elisabeth would surely struggle with that."

    To his surprise, Elisabeth, perhaps driven by apetitive streak, shot back, her eyes wide, "Why would you assume I couldn''t handle it? Do you look down on women?"

    "Um..."

    Murdoch burst intoughter at Eric''s suddenly speechless expression, saying, "Haha, I told you, Eric, it''s settled then."

    "What can I say?" Eric thought as he wanted to argue again. But Murdoch didn''t give him the chance to refuse and pped Elisabeth on the shoulder. "Liz, you can step out. I have some things to discuss with Eric alone."

    Elisabeth nodded, shing a warning re at Eric before turning to leave.

    *****

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 Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Nobody Owes Anyone Anything

    Chapter 213: Nobody Owes Anyone Anything

    ?

    [Chapter 213: Nobody Owes Anyone Anything]

    Once Elisabeth closed the door, Murdoch leisurely poured himself another cup of coffee and made a casual gesture toward Eric.

    Eric shook his head gently. "It''s not a good habit to drink too much coffee at night."

    Murdoch chuckled. "You young folks don''t know. When you reach my age, you''ll have to drink more coffee just to stay alert."

    "There are much healthier ways to maintain your energy, you know."

    Murdoch didn''t want to continue down that path. Instead, he said, "Eric, speaking of which, your first movie 17 Again was in coboration with Fox. Our partnership has always been quite pleasant, hasn''t it?"

    "Of course, I never expected it to gross over a hundred million."

    Eric shrugged, subtly indicating to Murdoch that his emotional appeal wouldn''t work on him.

    He indeed owed his entry into Hollywood to the opportunities given by Fox. However, he didn''t owe them anything. He had generated more than a hundred million in ticket sales for them. When considering the subsequent revenues from video rentals and television broadcasting rights, the profit would surely surpass one hundred million dors. Yet, he had only pocketed less than one million for himself. In that sense, he figured Fox had been rather stingy; after the film had finished its run, he didn''t even receive a bonus for its box office sess. Eric thought this might stem from Fox''s own miscalctions; although they had initially declined to benefit from the blockbuster, they would likely take their frustration out on him. It was the same old story. When someone made a mistake they couldn''t bear, they oftenshed out at others instead of reflecting on their own actions.

    As Murdoch tried to get close to Eric, he was quickly rebuffed. Even his usuallyposed face showed a hint of embarrassment.

    "Eric, I heard that otherworks have been in contact with you?"

    The news about the three majorworks reaching out to Eric had made the papers, and even the big names wrote analysis pieces. Most articles expressed skepticism about whether Fox could hold onto the broadcasting rights for the next season.

    "Yes, their offers were quite tempting."

    Murdoch took a sip of his coffee, feeling somewhat irritated. He realized that the young man sitting in front of him was not so easy to deal with. If he continued with this idle chat, this little guy would surely drag it out with no end in sight.

    Putting down his coffee cup, Murdoch decided to get straight to the point. "Eric, how about this: Fox will raise the advertising split for Firefly to 70% in exchange for first-run rights for the next four seasons?"

    As long as he secured the rights for the first five seasons, Murdoch believed Fox could solidify its footing in North America over the next five years, thanks to the impact of the hit series. After five seasons, Fox would have the leverage to renegotiate the split based on viewership ratings.

    Eric lifted his head to stare at Murdoch. "Mr. Murdoch, is this really the extent of Fox''s sincerity?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Doesn''t this reflect Fox''s sincerity?" Murdoch shot back.

    Eric quickly shook his head. Under normal circumstances, that split would indeed have been quite generous.

    The television industry was different from the film sector. Televisionworks were not constrained by any antitrustws, allowing them to produce programming in-house. Consequently,works typically held a strong position regarding the independent production of TV shows. Most of the time,works bought broadcasting rights with a fixed payment, and even major yers like Warner would only get advertising split shares that topped out at around 40%, often resting around 30%.

    But this time was entirely different. For the nascent Foxwork, the soaring viewership was merely a starting point; the crucial factor was its potential to rapidly enhance its poprity and cultivate a viewing audience.

    "Mr. Murdoch, previously, Fox''s average viewership was only a few million, less than one- tenth of the fixed TV audience in North America. Even considering the chance to bring in over 20 million views during broadcasts, finishing this season alone would at least raise Fox''s average figures to over 10 million. Given all that, doesn''t your opening offer seem rather insincere?"

    Murdoch''s gaze intensified as he replied, "Eric, you must know that the offer I just made is nearly double what other producers get as splits."

    Under the scrutinizing gaze of the media mogul, Eric showed no sign of backing down. Instead, he lightly chuckled. "Mr. Murdoch, I''m sure you''ve done your research, so you should know that the offers from the three majorworks to poach me aren''t significantly lower than yours. Someone even calcted that if I aired on a few veteran broadcastworks, the advertising revenue could increase by over 10%. With that 10% boost factored in, it would be roughly equivalent to what Fox is offering. Compared to Fox, coborating with those establishedworks would yield far greater benefits."

    After finishing his point, Eric once again cupped his coffee, averting his eyes from Murdoch''s reaction. He believed that the supposed 70% advertising split was merely a test from Murdoch.

    "Eric, let''s talk about your terms. What must Fox do to secure the first-run rights for the series?"

    *****

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 Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Share Swap?

    Chapter 214: Share Swap?

    ?

    [Chapter 214: The Trap]

    Eric gently set down his coffee cup and looked up. "Mr. Murdoch, I''m sure you know a bit about me. I''m a very stubborn person. If you let me speak, the conditions Iy out will have no room for negotiation. If Fox can''t ept them, then things will surely get quite unpleasant between us. So, why don''t you go first? If Fox''s terms can satisfy me, I promise I''m not an unreasonable person."

    Murdoch silently cursed under his breath at this slick operator. This wasn''t greed, but after a moment''s contemtion, Murdoch spoke up. "Eric, the coboration between Fox and Firefly has always been quite pleasant. So how about this: I offer you 5% ownership in Fox Film Company in exchange for a proportional share in Firefly. You know Fox''s market value; Firefly stands to gain quite a lot. This can further tighten the cooperation between our twopanies. With this offer, I hope to secure the premiere rights for the uing four seasons, and the proposed 70% advertising revenue split would remain unchanged. How does that sound?"

    At first, Eric felt some interest from Murdoch''s proposal, but after a few seconds, that feeling vanished. He clearly understood that Murdoch was offering Fox Film Company shares in return for an equivalent stake in Firefly, not Fox Network shares.

    Many people might assume these twopanies were one and the same, but Eric understood the significant differences. Although both were under Barry Diller''s control, Fox Film Company and Fox Network were entirely separate entities. As of now, Fox Film Company had a market value of around $2 billion; thus, 5% of its shares would be worth about $100 million, whereas 5% of Firefly was practically worth nothing. Based on the merger with New Line''s pricing, Firefly''s market value stood around $600 million. That meant if Firefly agreed to this equity swap with Fox, they would beting a profit of $70 million.

    However, the reality was far moreplicated.

    After the merger between Firefly and New Line, every major Hollywood studio recognized the potential development of Firefly. If Eric''s films continued to rake in box office hits, in just a few years, Firefly could rival the top seven studios. Correspondingly, Firefly''s market value would skyrocket, possibly surpassing Fox.

    Eric was very confident; if everything went smoothly, he believed it wouldn''t even take five years. He had recently spent 15% of the shares and a significant amount of cash on New Line, which he felt was a worthy sacrifice as it would help offset Firefly''s distribution weaknesses, dramatically elerating its rise.

    Owning 5% of the shares would allow him some say in the boardroom. However, by swapping shares with Fox, Eric wouldn''t benefit much; in fact, he would be hindered.

    Moreover...

    Eric slightly curled his lip, leaning forward, and asked Murdoch, "Mr. Murdoch, how much profit do you think Fox Film Company will make this year?"

    Murdoch''s heart skipped a beat, thinking, has this little guy figured it out? Yet, Murdoch still held onto a glimmer of hope and shook his head. "I don''t really know. We won''t have a clear picture until the year-end financial report is out."

    Eric almost let out a coldugh. "Mr. Murdoch, I can do a bit of math for Fox. Because Mr. Diller focuses on developing Fox Network, thepany hasn''t released many films. In fact, there aren''t any big blockbuster filmsing from Fox this year. Fox''s te is centered around my three films. Pretty Woman already locked in at $210 million in North America and $530 million worldwide. After subtracting distribution costs, Fox should at least $70 million in profits. Furthermore, I personally believe that the profits from the next two films could be at least $100 million. If you consider the ie from other films Fox distributes and video sales, ha, it''s looking like a great year. There''s a chance we could see $300 million in annual profits this year, almost double the usual amount."

    Hearing Eric''s breakdown, Murdoch couldn''t help but feel a rush of excitement. If that were true, those results would certainly ce Fox at the top of the seven major filmpanies. Even Warner, which was raking in profits this year, might not reach that height. Once the year-end financial report came out, Fox''s market value would surely surge.

    However, after that initial excitement, some of Murdoch''s hopes crumbled away as he dryly replied, "Eric, isn''t that quite the good news?"

    "Of course, it is," Eric replied. "So, let''s calcte what Firefly''s profits will be this year." Eric raised his fingers to tally. "Based on the current box office trend, Running Out of Time''s global earnings could still reach around $500 million. Firefly''s share would be approximately $100 million, and by year''s end, after costs, Firefly should also around $100 million with Sleepless in Seattle and Home Alone 2, just like Fox. Don''t forget, I have another three filmsing out by the end of the year, and I''m optimistic about all of them. Even if those three films, whenbined, could only earn $100 million, Firefly will still make $400 million this year. If both of ourpanies give dividends, ording to the 5% of equity exchanged, Fox will get $20 million, but Firefly will only get $15 million."

    At this point, Eric lowered his arm, feeling an overwhelming rage. Initially, he had been tempted by the $70 million equity gap that Murdoch had proposed. But after mulling it over, he realized he had walked right into a huge trap set by the old man across the table.

    Exchanging shares and Fox acquiring broadcasting rights for the next five seasons were twopletely different matters. Murdoch had skillfully intertwined these two issues, giving Eric the false impression that Fox was being sincere. However, if Eric truly epted the offer for those 5% shares, in the end, he might not see a single benefit. Instead, due to the profit disparity, he could end up giving Fox a share of dividends every year. Furthermore, that equity likely came with a long lock-up period, and by the time it could be sold, Firefly''s market value might equal that of Fox.

    Furthermore, Fox would surely maintain the right of first refusal on those shares. So, even if Eric were to sell the shares back, the final oue would mean Fox would have a stake in Firefly and could meddle in Firefly''s affairs, while Firefly would have no say in Fox whatsoever. Plus, after the equity swap, the interests of Firefly and Fox would be tied together. Even if he was reluctant, Eric would have no choice but to prioritize coboration with Fox in future dealings. It seemed this was Murdoch''s main reason for wanting to exchange shares with Firefly.

    If Eric still held the naive, somewhat timid spirit of a young man, he would likely have been so enraged at this realization that he would have pped the table, shouting, "This is outrageous! I won''t partner with you!"

    To be honest, Eric might have felt that surge of youthful impulsiveness due to the lingering thoughts of the original soul.

    Yet, the soul that upied this body now belonged to a more grounded man in his forties. Given the unique experience of reincarnation, Eric had grown indifferent to many things; losing his temper over money simply wouldn''t happen.

    Of course, Eric still felt incredibly angry. "Mr. Murdoch, it seems Fox doesn''t really intend to showcase any good faith, so..."

    Murdoch offered a faint, weary smile. "Eric, hear me out, how about we..."

    "No," Eric immediately interrupted Murdoch, uncertain if the old man would have yet another trap waiting in his next proposal. If he didn''t catch on, things could turn sour. "Let me talk. I have no interest in the shares of Fox Film Company, but since today''s discussion is about that, let''s talk about Fox Network instead. I want shares in Fox Network. If Fox wants to secure the uing seasons'' premiere rights, they must transfer 10% of shares to me at 80% of the Fox Network''s market value before Friends aired."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Murdoch was taken aback by Eric''s audacious opening. While he was known as a media tycoon, he held only just over 30% of News Corporation''s shares, which owned about 80% of Fox Network. In effect, his family''s stake in Fox Network was only 24%. If he agreed to Eric''s conditions, Firefly would be the secondrgest shareholder of Fox Network, with supporting influence trailing only behind the Murdoch family. If future conflicts arose, Eric could potentially seize control of Fox Network with backing from other shareholders.

    Fox Network was Murdoch''s most crucial gambit in breaking into the North American market; he would never agree to such terms.

    To be truthful, Eric didn''t originally have such lofty ambitions; he nned only to take 5% of the Fox Network shares.

    From the data he collected, Fox Network''s current value was below $1 billion, which paled inparison to the $4-$5 billion value of the three majorworks.

    But Eric knew that a decadeter, Fox Network would rival these giants, reaching over $30 billion in value. By investing less than $50 million, those 5% shares could be a treasure worth over $1.5 billion, andpared to filmpanies, televisionworks provided steadier profits. He could sit back and draw substantial dividends from those billions in yearly

    profits without lifting a finger.

    *****

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 Chapter 215: Chapter 215: One Minute

    Chapter 215: One Minute

    ?

    [Chapter 215: One Minute]

    Murdoch fixed his gaze on Eric with an expression that conveyed the gravity of the situation, saying in a low tone, "Eric, you should know that 10% of the shares is simply out of the question. Even if I were to agree, the board would never allow it."

    Eric seemed unfazed by the pressure evident in Murdoch''s expression and replied casually, "Mr. Murdoch, while you don''t hold absolute control, the whole world knows that News Corp is Rupert Murdoch''s News Corp. I believe you definitely have the power to make this decision, so please don''t use the board as an excuse to brush me off."

    Murdoch returned coldly, "Let me make this clear, Eric, there''s no room for negotiation on this matter. You shoulde back with a different offer."

    Eric maintained his rxed demeanor, even propping his leg up, but his tone turned resolute: "Mr. Murdoch, I''ve mentioned before that I''m a stubborn person. Once I make a statement, I won''t change it."

    With those words, the atmosphere in the meeting room became tense, as the two men stared each other down. But after a moment, Eric was the first to break eye contact, not out of guilt, but because he realized that it was pointless. Pressuring someone didn''t matter when the essence of negotiation was who held the real leverage.

    And right now, the most important leverage was firmly in Eric''s hands.

    Finishing off the remains of his coffee, and setting the cup back on the table, Eric lifted his gaze to Murdoch.

    "Eric, let''s put a pin in this for today. Perhaps we both need to take a step back."

    The moment Murdoch spoke, Eric sharply sensed that he had gained an undeniable upper hand in this standoff. In light of that, how could he not strike while the iron was hot?

    "Mr. Murdoch, my schedule is very tight. If I miss today, I doubt I can find time in the next two months. The three majorworks are waiting for my response," Eric stated. Feeling the need to fortify his point, he added, "Oh, by the way, ABC has been bleeding money, and they''re offering the highest bid. Moreover, they previously mentioned they were willing to pay a penalty to acquire the remaining episodes of this season. To be honest, I''m quite tempted. After all, in the first season, I only received 40% of the ad revenue from Fox. If I were to switch to anotherwork, ABC''s offer would be... Sorry, that''s trade secret."

    This was already a tant threat, and Murdoch felt an urge to hurl everything on his desk at Eric.

    Of course, that''s all he could do -- think about it.

    Murdoch retorted coldly, "If you decide to breach the contract, then prepare to meet in federal court. I assure you, you won''t get a single penny in the end."

    "Mr. Murdoch, do you really believe that News Corp can go toe-to-toe with the big threeworks and their backing in North America? You must know deep down that if thiswsuit goes through, Fox will undoubtedly lose. By the time the trial is over, we might not see a return to airing until next year. Firefly would probably suffer significant losses, but undoubtedly, Fox would lose even more. Without that, any hopes Fox has of rising quickly would be nothing more than a pipe dream, while the threeworks -- now fully aware of the threat could easily work together to push Fox Network out."

    "If they really did that, Firefly would gain absolutely nothing. Eric, don''t forget that in the major English-speaking countries like the UK, Australia, New Zend, and even home turf in the US, News Corp wields significant media control through its newspapers and TV stations. Even the British government has to tread lightly to maintain a good rtionship with News Corp for the sake of their media image. If you go through with this, I could ensure that films produced by Firefly would receive terrible reviews worldwide, ruining your personal image globally. You know how much we''ve suppressed reports about you and those actresses, right? Some of those were handled by me personally. A reporter has been interested in you for six months, tracking you for two months, capturing every detail of your private life on camera. Initially intending to write a feature on you, discussing your connections with Virginia Madsen, your current girlfriend, Julia Roberts, and oh, I almost forgot about Miss Drew Barrymore. She''s only 14, isn''t she?"

    Once Murdoch finished his monologue, he smugly lifted his coffee to take a sip, but Eric, who had been keeping his head down, raised his face. It was then that Murdoch noticed Eric''s eyes were cold, and though his face appeared slightly pale, there was an unusual flush to it.

    Oh no!

    Murdoch thought quickly as it struck him that the young man before him was only 19, a rising star in his prime. Thebination of those factors meant Eric was more prone to act impulsively when faced with threats.

    If this hot-headed kid were to act impulsively and breach the contract just to take what he wanted, then even if Murdoch seeded in using the media to destroy this kid''s public image, News Corp wouldn''t gain a single iota of benefit, which obviously ran counter to the Company''s interests.

    Eric seemed oblivious to the change in Murdoch''s demeanor, ncing at his watch before looking back at Murdoch.

    "Mr. Murdoch, you have one minute to consider. Agree to my conditions, or we part ways and see who ends up with a greater loss. I''ll start the timer now." With that, Eric lowered his head

    again.

    Murdoch panicked; it seemed the kid had indeed lost some of his rationality.

    "Eric, please don''t do this. You are an adult now," Murdoch said helplessly, a trace of reproach in his tone.

    Yet Eric appeared to ignore Murdoch and continued counting down to himself, "55... 54... 53..."

    Seeing that Eric was not responding, Murdoch leaned back on the sofa, slightly squinting as if assessing whether Eric would actually count down to the end. He had seen Eric''s profile before and knew this young man possessed a maturity and steadiness well beyond his years. He was gambling, hoping Eric might impulsively react over the words he had just spoken, but a minute countdown could give this clever young man the chance to calm down.

    "36... 35... 34..."

    The countdown pressed on relentlessly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

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 Chapter 216: Chapter 216: A Tangled Mess

    Chapter 216: A Tangled Mess

    ?

    [Chapter 216: A Tangled Mess]

    For Rupert Murdoch, that fleeting minute felt unusually long.

    Murdoch had initially hoped that the young man before him could manage to calm himself down. However, as the numbers rapidly spilled from Eric''s lips, Murdoch found himself struggling to remainposed.

    He began to calcte the stakes quickly. Eric was right; if Fox Television missed this opportunity, it would lose what might have been its best and only chance at a breakout. If they failed, and Fox managed to settle quietly and build up again, that wouldn''t be much of an issue. However, after their miraculous ratings, the three majorworks were keenly aware of the threat that Fox posed to their standing, and they wouldn''t allow the once-falteringwork to flourish quietly.

    Having navigated the treacherous waters of the media industry for decades, Murdoch was no stranger to deceitful tactics and brutalpetition. Back when he left Australia to expand his business in the UK, he faced the fiercest opposition frompetitors who resorted to any means necessary to undermine him as an outsider. There was even an instance where a group of kidnappers mistakenly abducted the wife of a News Corp manager, thinking she was his own, and when they realized their mistake, the poor woman was killed.

    Now, he found himself in America, and Murdoch was certain that thepetitivendscape in North America was just as ruthless as it had been in the UK, if not more.

    In less than thirty seconds, countless thoughts raced through Murdoch''s mind. Across from him, Eric continued to watch his watch, unfazed, counting down methodically.

    "9...8...7...6..."

    In those final seconds, Murdoch sighed deeply and waved a hand, saying, "Eric, stop counting. I''ll agree to you."

    ...

    Upon hearing Murdoch''s words, Eric paused for a moment and, as if out of habit, slowly finished counting the remaining digits before lifting his gaze. His seemingck of urgency belied a maturity that contradicted his youthful appearance. Though Murdoch''s threats loomed greater than the mere distraction of the deal''s stakes, he wasn''t about to act recklessly.

    He was gambling, betting that there was over a seventy percent chance that Murdoch would agree, simply because Fox needed it so desperately.

    Of course, Eric had also considered what might happen if Murdoch refused. Even if the negotiations copsed, he could be sure that once that countdown finished, he could simply walk away. Murdoch would certainlye back to him because he couldn''t genuinely cut off ties with Fox Television. After Fox''s overtures, Murdoch would inevitablye back to the table for renegotiation.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    However, if that happened, it would give Fox insight into his bottom line. At that point, the chance to obtain a ten percent stake in Fox would be lost forever.

    But based on Murdoch''s response after Ericid out his proposal, Eric believed he had no real chance to secure that ten percent.

    Then again, when Murdoch heard about the potential transfer to ABC, he had made a veiled threat using his "women," which gave Eric a reason to push the limits.

    "It''s understandable for a young man who has tasted sess to act a little hot-headed," Eric thought. Given that the chances of securing the ten percent stake were already slim, he decided to take a gamble.

    Murdoch ultimately didn''t dare take that risk. He feared that Eric might leave in a huff, cutting off all chances of working with Fox Television and transferring the opportunity to ABC. If the worst came to pass, there would be no turning back.

    Thus, he won the gamble.

    Even though Murdoch nodded in agreement, Eric didn''t show any signs of delight. He simply picked up the coffee pot in front of him and poured himself another cup, savoring it as he waited for Murdoch to speak first.

    ...

    Murdoch, with his keen instincts, quickly realized that he might have just been

    outmaneuvered.

    Change of heart!

    That was Murdoch''s first thought.

    If earlier, Eric had been pretending to be angry to exert pressure on him, then if he immediately reversed course now, Eric might really walk out.

    After battling in the mediandscape for over thirty years, losing to a punk was not something Murdoch would ept.

    Since he couldn''t afford to turn against Eric immediately, Murdoch would need to try to salvage the situation.

    "Eric, I can give you a ten percent stake in Fox Television, but you should know that if you take this TV series and try to negotiate the same deal with the big threeworks, they might throw you out of their offices. So, one show is far from enough. You need to... hmm..." Murdoch paused, then continued, "You need to provide two more excellent shows for Fox. Of course, I''m aware that achieving such a level is tough, so as long as those two shows average a rating of 15 million viewers, I will agree to transfer the shares to you."

    Upon hearing this condition, Eric nearly burst outughing.

    If Murdoch had proposed something else, it might have been a challenge, but when it came to high-rated dramas, Eric could not only deliver two shows; he could easily sum up twenty. However, Eric also picked up on another issue buried in Murdoch''s words. Murdoch had clearly stated that he wouldn''t transfer the shares until Eric provided two high-rated shows for Fox.

    That was impossible. He was sure that if he delivered three shows to Fox, and upon seeing great ratingse in, Murdoch would be less inclined to give him any stake, not wanting to tarnish his own reputation. By then, with the shows aired and achieving high ratings, Fox would have built a ready audience, and the next steps were clear: discard the weak links.

    "Mr. Murdoch, I can bring Fox two more shows, and I am confident about exceeding 15 million views as I have several excellent ideas. However, I don''t engage in these word games. Today is the 8th, and the 10th is the re-air date. If Fox has not demonstrated a willingness to transfer equity before the evening of the 10th, I cannot guarantee what will happen," Eric said, preparing to rise.

    If Eric had just stated thetter part of his argument, Murdoch might have let him leave. But hearing Eric mention he had several good ideas again stirred something in Murdoch. His mention of those two shows surpassing a 15 million rating seemed aimed at sabotaging his

    earlier promises.

    An average rating exceeding 15 million for any new American drama was an uphill battle. Thebined output of all the North Americanworks rarely topped a few shows that aplished that each year, most of which were sequels of established hits. For a brand new drama to achieve that would be nothing short of miraculous, which made the news of a first- season premiere that drew over 30 million viewers all the more astounding.

    So, upon seeing Eric prepare to leave, Murdoch hastily waved to stop him: "Wait, Eric, how could I y these word games with you? You have to believe that if I agreed to your condition, I would never back out. So, let''s sit down and discuss your... ideas?"

    "Oh please," Eric thought bitterly. He was already tired of the conversation and found confronting Murdoch to drain. With a false step, he could so easily fall into one of Murdoch''s traps. Yet, hearing Murdoch''s question, Eric found himself unable to leave.

    "Actually, here''s what I''m thinking, Mr. Murdoch. I can deliver two TV dramas; however, boosting awork''s influence requires more than just dramas. Along with providing another drama of different type for Fox, I n to create a variety show for Fox that I assure you can average ratings of over 20 million if executed well."

    Murdoch''s heart skipped a beat as he asked, "Eric, could you share your vision for that variety

    show?"

    Eric smiled and shook his head: "Mr. Murdoch, I already mentioned, I want to see Fox''s preliminary proposal for share transfer by the 10th. Until then, there is no need to discuss

    anything further."

    "But if you refuse to reveal anything, how am I supposed to know you''re being truthful?" Murdoch pressed.

    Eric rubbed his palms together, feeling a bit anxious, and reminded him: "Mr. Murdoch, don''t forget, you agreed to transfer shares in Fox entirely to keep up this conversation, which is independent of any details regarding the other two shows, so you must choose to trust me."

    "How about this, Eric? I can transfer the shares to you initially for a year, with the condition being that if you can''t achieve that average of over 15 million ratings for both shows within that year, for every show that falls short, you would have to return 5% of your shares back to me. What do you think?"

    Eric snorted: "Mr. Murdoch, inting ratings is a hundred times easier than faking movie box office numbers. So the oue could easily be whatever Fox says it is. Do you really think I

    would agree to that?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 217: Chapter 217: The Decision

    Chapter 217: The Decision

    ?

    [Chapter 217: The Decision]

    Murdoch smiled sincerely and said, "Eric, everyone knows that ratings are calcted by Nielsen."

    "Nielsen is amercial market researchpany, and its primary goal is to make money, isn''t it?" Eric retorted without hesitation. If it was amercial entity, it wouldn''t be hard to manipte the data for the right price, especially in those days when television ratings were still measured in fairly primitive ways. This meant there was plenty of room for tampering. "Mr. Murdoch, since you just agreed to my terms, why not be more straightforward? This way, we can enjoy a more pleasant coboration in the future."

    Murdoch cursed under his breath. This matter could potentially affect the future dominance of Fox Broadcasting, so how could he be casual about it? If it hadn''t been for Eric''s earlier pressure, he never would have even considered this. But now, Murdoch realized that after having lost the upper hand in their initial confrontation and having Eric see through his subsequent little schemes to counteract him, he might have to concede that 10 percent stake. He still had no clue about Eric''s bottom line. He couldn''t be sure whether Eric would risk breaching his contract to hand over his shares to anotherwork, nor did he know the specific terms the other majorworks had offered Eric. On the flip side, Eric had figured out Murdoch''s intentions; from the moment Murdoch nodded in agreement, Eric had realized that he wouldn''t allow Fox to lose its standing, even if it meant bringing in a major investor. Knowing there was no turning back, Murdoch intended to negotiate for as much benefit as possible. After all, as someone with a controlling nature who didn''t belong to Eric''s camp, he still viewed Fox as his personal domain, even if Eric''s Firefly Films was set to be the secondrgest shareholder.

    Recalling the time when Fox had been denied the opportunity to produce, Murdoch understood that if Eric''s two proposed shows ended up being ratings hits, it meant that the rights to Fox''s signature programs would be under the control of Firefly. This essentially ced Firefly in a position of power over Fox, and with the additional 10 percent stake, if he and Eric ever fell into an irreconcble disagreement, the investors motivated by profit would obviously favor whichever side could secure the hit shows.

    After some hesitation, Murdoch finally spoke, "Alright, Eric. I... agree. We can discuss the specific detailster. But regarding those two programs you mentioned, since Firefly is about to be a stakeholder in Fox, I hope you can provide the concepts and allow them to be produced by Fox."

    Eric could tell Murdoch was genuinely conceding this time, and he felt a surge of excitement. Not to mention how much that stake might be worth down the line, having a stake in Fox meant expanding his business territory into an entirely new arena. Of course, with Murdoch giving him such a positive response, he knew he had to express his own sincerity as well.

    Murdoch''s earlierments weren''t entirely mistaken; wanting 10 percent of Fox''s shares with just one project was far from enough.

    Although he was somewhat reluctant, Eric replied, "Mr. Murdoch, handing over the whole production to Fox just isn''t feasible, but I can promise that these two programs can be co- produced by Fox and Firefly, sharing the investment and splitting the rights."

    Murdoch didn''t expect Eric to generously surrender full control. His aim was to involve himself in the production and rights, so Eric''s proposal was very much in line with what he had hoped for. Therefore, he didn''t press for further negotiations.

    During this brief exchange, Eric had exerted quite a bit of effort, and Murdoch was equally exhausted.

    "Then let''s call it a sessful coboration." While there were bottles of wine in the cab nearby, Murdoch had lost the energy to retrieve any and instead raised his coffee towards Eric. "Here''s to a fruitful partnership." Eric lifted his coffee in response.

    The older and younger of them shared a subtle smile, resembling close friends despite the previous arguments, threats, and confrontations that seemed to fade into memory.

    After discussing a few more matters, they exited the meeting room, and nearly an hour had passed.

    ...

    As the cool breeze wafted down the hallway, Eric felt a refreshing chill, taking a few deep breaths of the slightly salty air before turning to the staircase and making his way back to the party on the first floor.

    It was already after nine in the evening, and the party was in full swing. Countless men and women moved to and fro, and the hall was filled with a lively buzz of conversation that was hardly disruptive. To the sounds of the band, couples swayed together on the dance floor.

    As Eric intended to look for Jennifer Aniston, Robert Shea and Jeffrey Hansen, who had anxiously waited for an hour at the staircase, pulled him aside.

    "Eric, how did your meeting go?" Robert asked first. Although there was a significant gap in shares, he had be the secondrgest shareholder of Firefly, so whatever happened directly affected his interests. Jeffrey, although equally concerned, wasn''t as eager as Robert.

    Eric wore a rather serious expression and said to Robert, "I have some not-so-good news for you."

    "Ah," Robert said, opening his mouth. Eric had previously shared some of his ns, so hearing this made him feel a bit disappointed, but he still pressed, "Didn''t it work out?"

    Eric shook his head and, seeing the puzzled looks on both Robert and Jeffrey, stated, "What I meant is, Robert, the box office sharing we were expecting recently was supposed to cover that $60 million for New Line. However, it seems that money will have to go elsewhere now." In an instant, Robert and Jeffrey understood that Eric was just teasing them, meaning the deal had definitely gone through.

    Pretending to be annoyed, Robert yfully punched Eric''s chest and said, "You little brat, stop beating around the bush and just tell us the truth."

    Eric spread his right hand, opening all five fingers in front of them, and replied, "Murdoch agreed to give us 10 percent of Fox Broadcasting for 80 percent of the preunch price."

    Both middle-aged men widened their eyes in disbelief. Robert swallowed hard, both desiring this to be true and instinctively doubting it. How could he believe that they were to secure a 10 percent stake in the fourth-rankedwork in North America, especially one showing signs of growth? "Eric, this isn''t funny. How much stock does the Murdoch family even have?"

    Jeffrey, having known Eric for a while and witnessing several miracles unfold thanks to him, needed only a brief moment of surprise to almost fully believe it. "Eric, you''re not joking, are

    you?"

    Eric grabbed a champagne ss from a passing server and lifted it toward them. "Absolutely, gentlemen. We''re about to be significant shareholders in Fox Broadcasting."

    At this point, neither Robert nor Jeffrey doubted him anymore. They both lit up with joy, and Robert excitedly downed his ss of red wine.

    Even though he only held 15 percent of that 10 percent stake, as CEO of Firefly, this meant he would wield the influence granted by 10 percent of Fox''s shares. He had never thought he''d find himself in such a position. Since bing a millionaire, Robert''s thirst for money had waned; he was now more focused on power. His ambition was to be a leading figure in Hollywood like Michael Eisner. Michael Eisner didn''t own much stock in Disney either, yet he stillmanded significant authority within thepany.

    However, there was something Robert Shea failed to realize or chose to ignore.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    That was the fact that while Firefly had Eric, Disney did not.

    After the brief thrill of excitement, Eric picked up the earlier topic again. "So, Robert, while it''s possible for Firefly to scrape together $60 million to pay you, it''d certainly stretch our financial resources. So, I was wondering if we could defer that payment until the end of the year. Don''t worry, for the time dy beyond the contractual payment deadline, I''ll pay you interest at the bank loan rate."

    Robertughed heartily and patted Eric on the shoulder. "Of course, no problem. We''re family now, so why even bother with such formality? From the reports I''ve seen, Firefly won''t have much cash to spare by the end of the year anyway. After all, the remaining films are all ted for release at year-end, and the profits won''te in until mid-next year. So, paying me back

    then is fine."

    After finishing his statement, Robert casually added, "Actually, Eric, you could skip the repayment altogether, and we could just convert that amount into Firefly stock instead."

    Eric chuckled, pretending not to notice Robert''stterments. He smoothly changed the subject, chatting for a bit before Robert, satisfied, left with his wine.

    However, Jeffrey, who had picked up on Eric''s hints, was a step behind and lingered.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Producer Shares

    Chapter 218: Producer Shares

    ?

    [Chapter 218: Ah... Ha!]

    After Robert Shea walked away, Eric turned to Jeffrey and said, "Jeffrey, you can see that because of this, Firefly Films is facing an additional ouy of nearly $80 million this year. Funds are going to be very tight, so how about we convert your producer''s share for the year intopany stock at the end of the year?"

    Jeffrey paused for a moment, then smiled, "That''s something I would dly ept. But Eric, are you really nning to dilute Robert''s stake so soon?"

    "Of course not," Eric chuckled. "If I did that, Robert would probably be ready to kill me. I''ll be transferring part of my shares to you. I hope you won''t mind if it''s not much."

    "Not at all. Whatever you give me is fine," Jeffrey replied casually. "If I wasn''t eager to see Firefly rise to the top, I''d have retired by now. By the way, I bought a farm in Marnd a little while back, about 2,000 acres. It''s the same ce my wife grew up. I''ve got someone else managing it now. When the dayes that Firefly no longer needs me, I''ll be heading there to grow some corn, do a bit of hunting, and enjoy my golden years."

    Eric felt a twinge of emotion. Without Jeffrey and the excellent team cultivated by him and his legendary wife, it was hard to say where Eric would be right now. However, once Jeffrey finished talking, Eric put on a mock disapproving expression and said, "Alright, alright, Jeffrey. You''re not Romeo of Juliet or the Prince of the Little Mermaid. You''re just a middle- aged bald guy -- cut out the melodrama, will ya?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Jeffrey knew Eric wasn''t genuinelyining. This clever young man just didn''t want to wallow in the past. So, he joked, "Well, I''m certainly not those people. I''m Jeffrey of Solina."

    "Wow. If you keep talking like that, I''m going to puke."

    Jeffreyughed and shook his head. "But, Eric, if I do leave in the future, don''t forget toe visit me on the farm now and then. You know, I don''t have many... family members left."

    Eric cautiously asked, "You... still haven''t made up with your son?"

    At that question, Jeffrey seemed a bit downcast. "Well, I can''t say we haven''t reconciled, but it''s not exactly a warm rtionship. Chris is very busy. We hardly see each other all year, so it''s not surprising our rtionship has grown a bit distant."

    Eric showed curiosity, "Speaking of which, I''ve never met your son. You just mentioned he''s Chris. What does he do?"

    "He works on Wall Street."

    Wall Street sounded much more prestigious than Hollywood, Eric thought to himself, and he followed up with another question, "Which firm on Wall Street?"

    "Morgan Stanley."

    "Wow!" Eric couldn''t help but exim. Although he didn''t pay much attention to that area, he still knew that Morgan Stanley was among the big four investment banks, alongside Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup. Many famous financial crises had those giants behind them.

    "I was thinking, if possible, I might ask him to work at Firefly. But now that he''s with famous Morgan Stanley, that''s probably off the table."

    As Eric spoke, there was a hint of pride on Jeffrey''s face. Even if their father-son rtionship was somewhat strained, no father would fail to take pride in his son''s aplishments.

    "Eric, if you ever want to do some investing in the future, you can give him a call. While I''m not too clear on what he specifically does, Chris is certainly very qualified. He had a full schrship at the University of Pennsylvania, and I never had to pay a dime of tuition." Hearing Jeffrey''s words, a lot of ideas shed through Eric''s mind. However, he quickly suppressed those immature thoughts. He hadn''t even met Chris Hansen yet, so he certainly couldn''t make any decisions based on a few of Jeffrey''s remarks. Still, in the back of his mind, Eric quietly noted the name Chris Hansen.

    ...

    As Eric and Jeffrey were talking, Barry Diller approached.

    Besides Robert and Jeffrey from Firefly, Barry Diller, as the head of Fox Broadcasting, was also one of the most concerned about the situation. He noticed Eric as soon as he came down. However, he initially wanted to wait for Murdoch toe down so he could directly ask him about the oue.

    But for some unknown reason, even after Eric had been down for a while, Murdoch still hadn''t shown up, and Barry Diller couldn''t wait any longer. He walked over.

    "Mr. Hansen, Eric, hello," Barry Diller greeted Eric and Jeffrey with a smile.

    After nodding to Diller, Jeffrey recognized that Diller wasn''t interested in him. He wisely said, "Eric, you two catch up. I''ll step over to say hi to an old friend."

    Watching Jeffrey walk away, Barry Diller didn''t get straight to the point. Instead, with a knowing look, he quietly asked, "Eric, you were the one who had the rights purchased, right?"

    Knowing he couldn''t hide anything from someone as astute as Barry Diller, Eric smiled and nodded.

    "I initially didn''t pay the sale of rights any mind. It wasn''t until I read the script that I connected the dots," Barry Diller continued, feigning a look of discontent. "Eric, this waspletely unnecessary. Our coboration has been pleasant, right? If you had brought this up yourself, Fox might have sold you the rights for $1 million. Even I think the $3.5 million price is too high."

    Eric could only manage a dryugh in response, thinking ahead to the sales figures in the millions...

    Alright, he couldn''t even imagine Barry Diller''s expression, but the manager who made the decision to sell those rights was certainly going to have a rough time.

    Barry Diller, of course, couldn''t see through Eric''s current thoughts. He interpreted Eric''s expression as awkwardness and patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. "Forget it, it''s all in the past. Just remember, if you ever need help in the future, make sure to reach out to me, alright?"

    "Of course, I will," Eric replied earnestly, nodding in agreement. He pretended to raise his ss in gratitude, clinking it with Barry Diller''s. Meanwhile, Eric made a mental note to remind the youngdy that she needed to secure all copyrights rted to Fox in that agreement he had offered by the end of the year.

    Once this year passed, it would be nearly impossible to negotiate anything out of Fox again.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Pursuits of Life

    Chapter 219: Pursuits of Life

    ?

    [Chapter 219: Maybe It Will Produce an Idiot]

    After some small talk, Barry Diller finally inquired about the recent discussions between Eric and Murdoch. Eric didn''t hold back and revealed the details about Firefly Films acquiring a stake in Fox Television Network.

    Barry''s reaction upon hearing the news mirrored that of Jeffrey and Robert. After confirming the facts with Eric multiple times, Barry''s expression shifted several times, and eventually, he silently patted Eric''s shoulder before walking away with a look of disappointment.

    Eric understood how Barry felt. Fox Television Network had been in development since 1986, and in just four short years, it had be the fourthrgestmercial broadcaster in North America,rgely thanks to Barry''s efforts.

    However, despite all that, Barry held less than 5% of management stock in Fox, while Eric, simply due to one television series, could potentially acquire 10% of Fox Television Network. No wonder Barry felt a sting. Yet, Eric had no sympathy for Barry. The world was never fair; often, those who contributed the most didn''t get the most in return.

    ...

    As Eric navigated through the crowd, after dealing with greetings and a few pick-up lines from others, he finally spotted Jennifer Aniston. The young actress was chatting enthusiastically with Nicole Kidman.

    "Hey, Jen, what''s got you so happy?" Eric asked, giving Nicole a nod before wrapping his arm around Aniston''s waist and nting a gentle kiss on her cheek.

    In public, Eric''s affectionate gesture made Aniston pull back a bit, slightly bashful, as she teased, "We''re just talking about girl stuff. Why do you want to know?"

    "Come on! I''m really interested in girl talk. Tell me about it," Eric jokingly replied, yfully squeezing Aniston''s waist through her light dress, which elicited another delightful protest from her.

    Nicole watched the affectionate exchange with a smile but felt a twinge of jealousy. At that moment, Eric turned his head and noticed Nicole looking a bit aimless. "Hey, Nicole, I''m feeling a bit hungry. Would you mind grabbing me some food?"

    Perhaps due to her time as Eric''s housekeeper, Nicole instinctively nodded. After a moment''s hesitation, she smiled and headed toward the nearby buffet.

    Seeing Eric treat Nicole like a servant struck Aniston as "rude." She swiftly freed herself from Eric''s embrace. "Eric, you can''t treat her like that! Hey, Nicole! Wait for me, don''t listen to this guy. Let him starve!"

    Aniston called out as she hurried after Nicole.

    Eric stood dumbfounded for a moment. Just an hour had passed since they met... Hadn''t she always disliked the leadingdies in his films?

    ...

    "Clueless girls can be so naive. Eric, you should cut ties quickly. If things keep going like this, even with your high IQ as a foundation, her genes might bnce you out and produce an idiot!"

    Eric turned toward the familiar voice and yfully ruffled Drew''s short hair. "Hard at work in school, huh? Even using sophisticated words like ''genes''?"

    Drew yelped a few times, tilting her head to avoid Eric''s teasing. "It''s nighttime! I''m not skipping school!" she protested.

    Eric gently tugged at the girl''s ear. "From that girls'' school in Northeast Pasadena to Malibu, you''d have to cross the entire city. It''s over fifty kilometers. Given L.A. traffic, it can take two hours to get here. Tell me, without skipping school, what time did you start your journey?"

    Drew''s head tilted as Eric pulled her ear, but her mouth stubbornly replied, "Who would be dumb enough to drive through the city? Don''t you know about freeways? I could take the 101 and switch to Mulhond. It wouldn''t even take an hour. Ouch!"

    As Eric tightened his grip slightly, she instantly mmed up, her eyes watering as she looked at him pleadingly.

    By now, onlookers watched curiously. Some who didn''t grasp the situation asked theirpanions questions, their looks toward Eric mingled with a hint of innuendo.

    ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Meanwhile, Aniston and Nicole, each holding a small te of food, were approaching. Upon seeing Eric tugging at Drew''s ear, Aniston snorted and pulled Nicole along. "Come on, Nicole! Let him starve!"

    Nicole hesitated but nced at Eric, who noticed the helpless look on her face before she turned with Aniston to leave.

    Just as Eric was getting ready to continue his lighthearted scolding, someone intervened on behalf of the girl.

    "Hey, Eric! You can''t treat a girl that way!" Elisabeth, who hade along with Julia Roberts, raised her eyebrows and pulled Drew toward her.

    Hiding behind Elisabeth, Drew stuck out her tongue at Eric in a yful defiance.

    Eric found himself puzzled by whether Elisabeth genuinely didn''t understand the situation or was just acting naive. Regardless, he didn''t want to continue the scolding now that someone had stepped in.

    "Liz, is something up?" he asked.

    Elisabeth had expected Eric to defend himself and was taken aback when he asked so directly. "Julia is leaving; aren''t you going to say goodbye?"

    Surprised by Elisabeth''sment, Julia quickly tugged at Elisabeth''s dress.

    Eric nced at Julia, noticing her evasive gaze. He understood it was Elisabeth''s initiative,

    but he found himself nodding. "Alright, let''s go," he said, catching Drew who was trying to slip away. "Hold on;e with me."

    "Julia, it''s still not even ten. Why are you leaving so early?" Eric casually asked as they headed toward the parking lot.

    Julia hesitated, opening her mouth. "I..."

    "She isn''t feeling well; why do you need so much detail?" Elisabeth quickly chimed in,

    picking up on Julia''s difort.

    Eric nodded knowingly, and the response made Julia blush slightly.

    Once they reached the parking lot, Eric asked, "Julia, can you do me a favor?"

    "Huh?" Julia replied, looking puzzled.

    Eric pulled Drew closer, who had been busying herself ying with her fingers. "Could you let Drew stay at your ce for the night, and help me take her to school tomorrow. Is that okay?"

    "No way! I''m not going!" Drew immediately protested but eventually nodded reluctantly when she met Eric''s determined gaze. She realized Eric likely wanted to take Aniston home and knew better than to get in the way.

    Watching the girl hop into Julia''s car, Eric feltpelled to remind Julia a few things before letting the pair leave.

    ...

    As Julia drove away with Drew from the estate, Eric opted to sit on a nearby bench in the small garden rather than heading back to the vi.

    Elisabeth hesitated before sitting beside Eric. When she saw him pull out a pack of cigarettes and light one up, her mouth opened slightly, but realizing that they were outside, she didn''t

    stop him.

    After taking a deep drag and exhaling a thin stream of smoke, Eric turned to ask, "Liz, is

    something bothering you?"

    "Are you feeling troubled?" Elisabeth countered instead of answering.

    Seeing Eric''s puzzled expression, she added with a teasing smile, "Juggling so many women

    must be overwhelming. Are you hiding away here to smoke?"

    Eric chuckled lightly, "How could I? I don''t have that many women. Besides, movies and women have been my two great pursuits in life. I''m having too much fun to be troubled by it."

    Elisabeth had never heard such a straightforward opinion before and rolled her eyes. "Your pursuits are incredibly... tacky."

    Eric ignored her criticism, leisurely enjoying the cool ocean breeze under the dim streetlight as he nned to sit quietly for a while. Initially, he thought Elisabeth would leave once she grew tired of the solitude, but after finishing one cigarette, she remainedfortably seated beside him. This unexpected presence left Eric feeling somewhat uneasy, making him wonder

    what she wanted.

    After pondering for a moment, he tentatively asked, "Liz, your dad must have pressured you into being my assistant, right? If you want, I can tell Mr. Murdoch to let it go?"

    "Do you really dislike me that much?" Elisabeth replied earnestly.

    Eric shook his head. "I''ve never disliked beautiful women."

    Upon hearing this, Elisabeth''s heart inexplicably raced a bit, yet her tongue continued its

    yful confrontation. "You''re always so slick with words. A true yboy." Hearing that, Ericzily leaned back against the bench, unabashedly taking in the sight of Elisabeth''s figure d in the elegant dress. He offered a roguish grin. "Then why don''t you hurry up and run far away?"

    Elisabeth nearly instinctively wanted to protect herself from Eric''s assertive gaze but ultimately repressed that impulse. She defiantly responded, "You narcissist! Why would I run

    away from you?"

    Eric shot a nce at her feet -- once rxed and crossed, now firmly nted on the ground-

    - choosing to stay silent again as he reached for another cigarette, lost in thoughts of the night''s events while scanning the surroundings dispassionately.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Can You Sell Me a Script?

    Chapter 220: Can You Sell Me a Script?

    ?

    [Chapter 220: I''ll Keep an Eye on You]

    Eric noticed Elisabeth''s nervous little movements, revealing her inner turmoil. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she seemed to treat this confrontation like a battle. With herpetitive spirit, she stubbornly stayed put as if standing up would mean losing something. However, when she saw Ericpletely uninterested in her looks, she snapped back, "Hey, what are you thinking over there?"

    Eric didn''t even nce at her, casually pointing to a stylishmp on thewn nearby. "Thatmp looks nice. I was just thinking that once you can''t resist leaving, I might take a few and stash them in the car."

    Elisabeth couldn''t help but chuckle but quickly schooled her face into a stern look, ring at Eric. "Don''t even think about it. I''ll keep an eye on you."

    "That''s too bad," Eric replied, feigning regret without a hint of it in his tone.

    "Seriously, can you be a little more serious?" Elisabeth finally showed a hint of exasperation.

    Eric stubbed out his cigarette and tossed it into the trash can beside him before saying, "Alright, Liz, what''s the deal? Just tell me directly."

    "I..." Elisabeth hesitated before continuing, "I wanted to remind you not to forget my paycheck."

    Eric felt baffled. "Huh?"

    "For being your assistant director. Even though my dad pushed me into this, don''t think I''ll work for free. I want to achieve financial independence as soon as possible. Then, my old man won''t be able to threaten me with freezing my credit card anymore."

    Ericughed lightly. "You really want to be an assistant director, Liz? We both know what your dad''s intentions are. But neither of us is interested in that. So can we drop it? You don''t have many sses left, but I think you should go back to school and enjoy yourst year. Once it''s gone, you can never get that feeling back."

    "My future is none of your business!" she shot back, sounding displeased. Then she added, "I''ve got a n for where I want to go. I want to be a film producer, so of course, I need to get familiar with the industry."

    "Oh? What about News Corp? Didn''t you major in media to take over your father''s business?"

    Hearing Eric''s question made Elisabeth a bit mncholy. "He... even though Dad never said it outright, I know he hopes my brother will take over."

    "Your dad seems pretty... traditional."

    Eric hadn''t expected Murdoch to have a preference for sons, which strangely made him feel a bit... connected.

    "Stubborn is more like it," Elisabeth muttered, then said to Eric, "Actually, there''s something else."

    Eric realized this time she was talking about something serious. He nodded lightly, encouraging her to continue.

    "I talked to Julia. Maybe next year, once I gain some experience, I want to try producing my first film. She agreed to be the lead."

    "And then?"

    "So I was thinking... would you be willing to sell us a script?"

    Eric didn''t respond right away; instead, he pulled out his cigarette pack. This time, Elisabeth couldn''t take it, snatching the cigarette from his hand and tossing it into the trash. "Hey, don''t you realize that smoking in front of ady is very rude?"

    "Alright, alright, I won''t smoke," Eric lifted his right hand in surrender, then asked, "But let''s not talk about the script for now. If you''re making a movie, where''s your fundinging from? Didn''t you just say you wanted financial independence? With your experience level, even with Julia as the star, it''d be tough to get any investors, right?"

    "This is different. I''ve thought it through. I''ll borrow ten million from my dad to start a filmpany. That should be enough to cover one movie, and Julia agreed to take her sry as shares, with profits being divided ordingly."

    Elisabeth stated this matter-of-factly, as if it were amon urrence. Eric pondered for a moment and grasped her point.

    This was amon method rich tycoons used to pass down their wealth while avoiding hefty estate taxes -- loaning money to their children to help them establish and grow their ownpanies. Once thepanies reached a certain size, the wealthy could buy back shares at a high price, allowing them to pass on their fortunes at minimal cost. Of course, this strategy required their children to have a certain level of capability; if the next generation was incapable, it wouldn''t work well.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Though Murdoch didn''t intend for Elisabeth to take over, if she asked about inheriting wealth, he wouldn''t likely refuse.

    As Eric contemted this, Elisabeth abruptly interrupted his thoughts, asking, "Eric, what are you thinking? Are you going to agree or not?"

    "Agree to what?" Eric instinctively replied, then a look of curiosity crossed his face as he smiled, asking, "The script? So, how much do you n to pay me for a script?"

    This question stumped Elisabeth.

    The scripts Eric had been personally writing had earned at least one hundred million dors each at the box office, with each bringing in no less than fifty million in profits for the investors. By that standard, even the rates for Hollywood''s top screenwriters wouldn''t be enough.

    "See, you haven''t thought everything through yet. How about we talk after you''ve figured it -out?"

    After saying that, Eric stood up, and he was sure Elisabeth would understand he was declining her offer.

    This wasn''t just about the money. Eric had countless ideas for scripts swirling in his head. Even if he handed one over to Elisabeth, it wouldn''t matter much. But right now, he couldn''t do that. Though he had seen several films seed at the box office, his position in Hollywood stillcked stability. If he gave a script to her and couldn''t maintain oversight of the film''s quality, it could ruin his undefeated reputation built over multiple sessful films. Clearly, while Elisabeth had convinced Julia, it still wasn''t enough to make Eric believe that the two of them could seed.

    "Hey, Eric, wait a minute," Elisabeth hurriedly stopped him from getting up. While she didn''t know the worries that were consuming Eric''s mind, after thinking for a moment, she decided to abandon the idea of getting a script from him. She realized she simply couldn''t afford that price. But being quite clever, she quickly thought of another idea. "Eric, how about this? Instead of getting a script from you, Julia and I will pick one ourselves. But when we do, can you help us ensure it has blockbuster potential? Is that alright?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Sharp High Heels

    Chapter 221: Sharp High Heels

    ?

    [Chapter 221: The Chair Tap]

    Eric immediately rejected without a second thought, "That''s even less likely, Liz. Even with the same script, different directors present those stories inpletely different styles. So I said there''s potential, but the director you''re looking at just doesn''t have the chops. If it flops, my reputation is the one at stake."

    Elisabeth grabbed Eric''s shirt, insisting, "What if we co-produce it? You could be the producer, right? That way, you can personally oversee the quality of the film."

    "If I announce that I''m co-producing a movie, not just the second and third-tierpanies, even the big studios wille rushing in, and their offers will be much better than yours. So, give me a reason to coborate with you."

    "You..." Elisabeth fell speechless for a moment, ring at Eric before she clenched her teeth and said, "You uncouth jerk."

    "Wow, someone''s upset," Eric chuckled as he stood up, then leaned over the bench toward her. Noticing her instinctively retreating, he said softly, "So, littledy, since your dad doesn''t want you to take over the family business, why don''t you enjoy the life of a wealthy heiress instead? Just find a good man to marry. It sounds perfect."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Having spent some time together, Elisabeth had already developed feelings for Eric. As he suddenly moved so close to her, she caught a whiff of his light, faintly pleasant smoke scent. Unprepared for this closeness, her thoughts spiraled, and she felt her cheeks warm with a flush.

    Bathed in the soft glow of the manor''s streetlights, Elisabeth looked even more radiant. The atmosphere between them shifted to something more intoxicating.

    Perhaps it was the charged atmosphere that drove Eric, who had no prior intentions, to lean in closer once more. He caught the alluring scent that surrounded her and softly pressed his lips against hers.

    Elisabeth''s eyes widened in shock at Eric''s sudden boldness. She wanted to push him away, but instead, a jolt of electricity coursed through her, leaving her weak, unable to lift even a finger.

    Feeling her lips tremble like the wings of a startled butterfly, Eric finally became aware of his own audacity. But since he had already crossed that line, he pressed his lips against hers a bit more before he pulled away. Noticing the moisture linger at the corner of her mouth, he reached out with his index finger to wipe it away and said, "Sorry, Liz, I didn''t mean to."

    In those few seconds, Elisabeth felt as if she had floated away to another realm, her vision consumed entirely by Eric''s face as she felt his lips on hers and his rough fingertips brushing against her.

    This feeling... well, it was undeniably nice.

    Then he spoke. What was it? Oh, he said he didn''t mean it!

    Didn''t mean it!!!

    Realizing this, her eyes blinked rapidly, confirming she hadn''t misheard.

    How could he say that? It was so shameless.

    In an instant, a spark ignited in her heart, dissipating hermon sense.

    While Eric still lingered closely, Elisabeth nced around, searching for something --

    anything -- to defend herself. Finding nothing, she instinctively raised her leg and kicked Eric with her sharp high heel.

    "Ah!"

    Amidst the cries of pain, Elisabeth turned on her heel, storming away without ncing back.

    ...

    When two security guards from the manor arrived, all they saw was Eric sitting on a bench, rolling up his pant leg to rub at his calf.

    Recognizing him quickly, they rxed and slid their nightsticks back into their belts, asking, "Mr. Williams, what just happened?"

    Eric chuckled awkwardly, shaking his head. "Nothing, just a little ident."

    One guard caught sight of the distinct bruise on Eric''s leg and asked with concern, "Mr. Williams, do you need help getting inside to rest?"

    "No, no, I''m fine. I just need a moment; I can walk back myself."

    The older guard sensed Eric didn''t want to disclose his embarrassing situation, but noticing the injury on his leg, he added, "Mr. Williams, we have a first-aid kit in our break room. Would you like to use it?"

    "Oh, thank you," Eric nodded appreciatively, a smile on his face.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Elisabeth didn''t return to the party hall. Instead, she went back to her bedroom, took off her evening gown, and jumped into the bathroom for a shower. Even aftering out, she couldn''t settle her restless mind. Although she kicked Eric in the garden, by the time she reached her bedroom, her anger had almost faded, leaving her in a state of mixed feelings. After pacing around irritatedly, throwing a few cushions, and taking numerous deep breaths without relief, she flopped onto the bed, covers her head with a pillow, and vented with muffled cries. After a moment of silence, she snatched the phone from the bedside table, hugging it close and dialing a series of numbers.

    ...

    Just having entered the downtown area, Julia heard her mobile ringing. She pulled over and answered it, cing the phone to her ear.

    Immediately, she heard a small, whining voice on the other end: "Julia, he kissed me."

    Julia didn''t need to think twice to know who Elisabeth meant by "he."

    Despite feeling like an inhibited little quail around Eric since the drunken truth-telling incident, Julia''s personality hadn''t changed. Upon hearing Elisabeth''s words, she raised an eyebrow, surprisingly not jealous, and teased, "Liz, that was just to discuss the script, right? You''re really going for it! So, did he kiss you? Did he agree?"

    Elisabeth replied in a deted tone, "No." Then she recounted the events, leaving out many details.

    Julia listened patiently as Elisabeth poured her heart out, offering lightfort before hanging up. As she started the car and got back on the road, she nced at Drew, who had been listening intently, a curious expression on her face. Julia pouted in annoyance, "That little daddy of yours is terrible. He kissed Liz but won''t even hand over the script."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 222: Chapter 222: The Girl with Big Ambitions

    Chapter 222: The Girl with Big Ambitions

    ?

    [Chapter 222: The Girl with Big Ambitions]

    Drew could tell that when Julia referred to Eric as her ''little daddy,'' it was just out of envy for

    how he spoiled her. But suddenly, some wicked thoughts shed through her mind.

    Maybe I could use this in some way, and see if he would lose control at all.

    Thinking this, Drew asked, "What do you need the script from Eric for?"

    Julia brushed it off and mentioned Elisabeth''s ns.

    This piqued the girl''s interest, and she sat up a little straighter. "Why not ask me?"

    Julia looked skeptically at Drew. "Ask you? Seriously?"

    The girl replied proudly, "Of course! Let me tell you, Eric loves to write and doodle in his study, so he has a few script outlines that he thinks are pretty good."

    Julia gasped in surprise. "You''re not suggesting stealing... are you?"

    "Of course not," the girl instinctively retorted, and then chuckled a bit. "Honestly, if I were to casually take an outline, Eric wouldn''t even notice."

    But Julia immediately shook her head. "No way. Even if Eric didn''t know at first, once he sees the movie productionter, he''s bound to find out."

    "Well then forget it," Drew shrugged her shoulders nonchntly, not believing for a second that Julia wouldn''t be tempted. She leaned back in her chair, pretending to be bored as she used a small file to groom her nails, waiting for Julia to speak again.

    Sure enough, after a few moments of the car driving along the highway, Julia finally couldn''t hold back and said, "Drew, are you saying Eric has a lot of spare... script outlines?"

    The girl nodded slightly, trying to mask her triumph with a smile.

    "Eric spoils you so much. Why don''t you just talk to him? Can''t he just sell one to us? I mean, he has so many..."

    Since Elisabeth had focused more on Eric''s strong kiss during their recent conversation, she hadn''t exined in detail why he had refused, so Julia thought maybe she could give it another shot through the girl.

    But Drew immediately shattered Julia''s fantasy. "Since Eric already rejected Miss Murdoch, he must have his reasons, so even if I ask, he won''t change his mind."

    Julia fell silent again.

    She didn''t want to stop Drew from stealing Eric''s scripts, but the thought of what Eric would do if he found out terrified her. She couldn''t imagine the reaction he would have, but she was sure it wouldn''t be just augh.

    "Actually, there''s more than just Eric in this world who can write scripts, right?" After a moment, Drew chimed in again.

    Julia stopped at a red light and turned to ask, "What do you mean?"

    "I mean, we can look for scripts ourselves! Then I can show them to Eric and see if they have potential." Drew quickly said, with some of her ideas actually aligning with Elisabeth''s.

    But this time, Julia picked up on something else in the girl''s words. Confused, she asked, "Did you just say... ''we''?"

    "Yes," Drew didn''t hide her intentions anymore. "Julia, look, since Elisabeth is nning to start a filmpany, why don''t we invest in it? Then the three of us can be producers together -- I''ll handle the scripts, you can be the star, and Elisabeth can take care of distribution. How does that sound?"

    Upon hearing this suggestion, Julia felt intrigued yet surprised. She looked again at the girl, who appeared seventeen or eighteen but was actually just fourteen. Among the few women who were somewhat close to Eric, Julia had connected the least with Drew, so she didn''t know much about her.

    Hearing the honking of the car behind, Julia realized the light had turned green. She quickly pressed down on the elerator while asking, "Do you really think Eric would agree to this?"

    "We just won''t tell him," Drew replied matter-of-factly.

    "Then... what about money? Where are you getting the money to invest in the filmpany?"

    Drew immediately fished a VIP card from her bag and waved it in front of Julia. "This card has over ten million on it!"

    Julia felt a wave of disbelief wash over her as she realized Drew''sments about Eric funding her, and she thought it was beyondprehension that Eric could give such arge sum to this girl. Even though she had be a top star in Hollywood thanks to Pretty Woman, her assets were still under ten million because she had achieved fame so recently.

    This shocked Julia greatly, and the girl had achieved her aim.

    Once the credit card was safely back in her possession, Drew continued, "For my share, I won''t ask for too much -- just 30%. The rest you two can discuss between yourselves. Don''t think it''s a lot, though. Just think -- I can get Eric to help us pick the right scripts, which is worth at least 30%. If you choose the wrong script, it''s like starting off on the wrong foot; no matter how hard you tryter, you''ll never seed. Plus, Elisabeth''s family has ties with 20th Century Fox, so distribution won''t be a problem. But during production, we''ll definitely run into issues, and if Eric knows I own a stake in this by then, he''ll feel obligated to help out, right?"

    Seeing Julia nodding one moment, shaking her head the next, and then looking contemtive, Drew quickly realized that this was probably entirely driven by Elisabeth. Julia was likely just going with the flow. Realizing this, the girl decided not to waste more breath, proposing, "Julia, how about we call Elisabeth Murdoch and discuss this together?"

    Julia lifted her hand to check her watch. "Isn''t it toote?"

    "Hey, girl, time is money!" Drew said, taking Julia''s phone from the dashboard without waiting for permission. "Just give me her number, and I''ll call her."

    With a sigh, Julia pointed ahead, "The phone book is over there."

    Drew grabbed the phone book from the front and started flipping through the pages.

    ...

    An hourter, Elisabeth indeed arrived at Julia''s apartment.

    One was focused on surpassing Eric, while the other aimed to surprise him. After a round of discussion, Elisabeth and Drew struck a chord. The ambitious young woman and the not-so- young girl gathered around a small coffee table in Julia''s living room, plotting their ns to establish a filmpany. As for Julia, she hadpletely downgraded to the role of making tea and pouring drinks.

    ...

    Eric, of course, was unaware of any of this. After the security guards brought him a first-aid kit, he treated his wounds and rested for a while before carefully returning to the party.

    The pain in his legs made him not want to stay any longer, and with Friends still in production, many people started leaving to avoid dying tomorrow''s work. Eric found Aniston and nned to head back to Beverly Hills together.

    "I''m going to Nicole''s," the girl said, staying close to the tall woman next to her. "Plus, I don''t want to keep bothering my dad, so I''m nning to move out tomorrow. Nicole has agreed to roommate with me."

    Eric was momentarily stunned, making sure he hadn''t heard incorrectly as he looked at Nicole standing innocently beside Aniston. He thought to himself about whether this was what they called being caught in one''s own trap?

    Since Friends had be a huge hit, Aniston had once again be a target for paparazzi, so she couldn''t live in her small apartment in Burbank anymore. She didn''t want to move in with Eric and Drew either, so until she found a new, safer ce to stay, she nned to temporarily

    stay with her father.

    "What am I supposed to do?" Eric asked, raising his hands helplessly.

    The girl paused for a moment, seemingly feeling a bit ''conscientious,'' but she quickly raised her chin and said, "I don''t care about you. I have shooting tomorrow, so I''m going back with Nicole. You can go back to Beverly Hills yourself."

    Even after Aniston and Nicole disappeared, Eric was still a bit confused. He had just asked Nicole to calm the girl down to prevent her from shing with Drew, and he hadn''t expected

    it to end this way.

    He couldn''t believe this was Nicole''s doing, as it seemed to benefit her nothing.

    But he also firmly didn''t believe Aniston was some simple-minded little girl. After a while, he finally understood the cause of the unexpected friendship between the two women. It can only be said that this happened because the status of Jennifer and Nicole are too far apart. Nicole was wholeheartedly trying to please Aniston to secure her role, which ultimately broke down the girl''s defenses and made her start to open up.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    However, Eric was sure that Nicole wouldn''t do anything to harm the girl, so he decided to let

    it pass.

    After experiencing so much that night, Eric felt tired and didn''t even have the energy to drive home. Instead, he went right to Virginia''s vi to rest for the night.

    ...

    The next morning, Julia groggily got up, grabbed her hair, and stumbled into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. But as she filled her mouth with foam, she suddenly remembered that there should be two other people in the house, right?

    After quickly tidying herself up, Julia walked into the living room.

    At that moment, the living room was aplete mess. The A4 papers she had bought to print

    scripts were scattered all over, covered in all sorts of scribbles and drawings. Elisabeth and Drew were still huddled together, excitedly discussing something.

    Julia picked up an A4 paper and looked at it but couldn''t understand the jumbled drawings.

    She casually asked, "Did you two stay up all night?"

    The voice finally made the two slightly dazed girls look up. Drew shook her head and

    eximed, "Oh wow, it''s already bright outside!"

    Julia rolled her eyes -- it was pretty obvious.

    The girl let out a huge yawn and said to Elisabeth, "Liz, this is enough for now; I''m going to

    sleep."

    After saying that, she unceremoniously dove into Julia''s bedroom, clearly heading for Julia''s

    big bed. Julia didn''t have any cleanliness issues and just asked, "Drew, Eric said I should take

    you to school."

    From the bedroom came a few muffled sounds, and it seemed the girl had covered her head with something.

    Julia turned to Elisabeth in bewilderment. "What did she... say?"

    Elisabeth, holding a pen, quickly scribbled something on a piece of paper. She casually replied, "She said it''s not needed; she has already taken a leave of absence."

    Julia nced towards the bedroom, then looked back at Elisabeth, surprised. "Wow, how did

    you understand that?"

    "I couldn''t understand either; I just guessed."

    11

    Just when Julia felt a bit speechless, Elisabeth held up a paper, gesturing to her. "Julia, look,

    how do you like the name of our filmpany?"

    "This is... what?" Julia stared at the two ambiguous letters on the paper: "TG Film

    Company?"

    "TG stands for Three Girls," Elisabeth answered.

    "You two stayed up all night and came up with just that name?"

    "Of course not, we discussed a lot of things. By the way, Drew proposed 30% of the shares for

    herself, and the rest give you 30%, and I''ll take 40%. What do you think?"

    Though in her past life, Julia had been among the first Hollywood stars to establish personal productionpanies, she had only be famous for a little over half a year now, and her thoughts were stillrgely focused on film. So as soon as Elisabeth mentioned it, Julia agreed by nodding. "Alright, you all decide. Do you want breakfast? I''ll make some?"

    "No thanks, I''m going to sleep as well." Elisabeth said, standing up and swaying slightly as

    she floated back into the bedroom. Seeing this scene, Julia felt a bit uneasy and followed her

    into the bedroom, finding Elisabeth and Drew upying either side of the big bed, already fast asleep.

    After pulling the curtains and kindly covering the two with a nket, Julia began tidying the messy living room.

    Amidst the chaotic morning, in a half-awake state, the now-famous TG Film Company was

    born.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Impact

    Chapter 223: Impact

    ?

    [Chapter 223: The Wave Begins]

    The day after the Friends'' ratings celebration party, Rupert Murdoch eagerly took to News Corp''s media outlets to announce that Firefly Films would be taking a stake in Fox Television, while also confirming that Friends would continue airing on Fox. Furthermore, he indicated that bothpanies would engage in closer coboration.

    As soon as the news broke, most media outlets, which were previously pessimistic about Fox''s ability to retain Friends amidst thepetition among the three major televisionworks, quickly changed their tune, expressing optimism about Fox''s future prospects. Aside from Murdoch''s revtion about Firefly''s closer cooperation with Fox, the retention of the hit series Friends alone was a strong indicator that Fox could solidify its fourth-ce standing in North American television. If Fox seized this opportunity to produce higher quality programming to build a loyal viewer base, surpassing the original three majorworks over the following years was not out of the question. Thanks to this positive news, Fox''s market value, which had been under a billion dors, began to soar.

    The transfer of stock within a televisionwork was not something that could bepleted overnight. After Fox''s announcement, instead of conceding defeat in their pursuit of Friends, the three majorworks stepped up their attempts to engage with Eric Williams more frequently.

    Amidst their ongoing struggles, ABC, which had endured several years of losses following its 1985 merger with Metromedia Broadcasting, made a desperate bid to turn things around. ABC''s CEO, Tom Murphy, even offered a stake in exchange for coboration. However, he only received authorization from the board for a 3% stake transfer. Although this 3% stake was valued at over twice that of Fox''s 10% stake, Eric waspletely unfazed. Based on ABC''s downward trajectory that led to its eventual acquisition by Disney, it was clear that for the next several years, there would be no dividends for ABC from those shares; rather, it would drain a significant amount of Firefly''s resources. Moreover, this 3% stake would not offer Eric much influence at the table. Thus, in choosing between the thriving Fox and the struggling ABC, anyone with a modicum of sense knew what the right choice was.

    ...

    On the evening of September 10th, amid theughter of Friends'' audience and the close watch of other televisionpanies, the show entered its second week of airing. Two hourster, Nielsen promptly released its ratings statistics. The average viewership for episodes three and four of Friends was 24.6 million, with the highest rating still reaching 29 million.

    Upon seeing these numbers, the three majorworks began analyzing the factors behind Friends'' sess. They ultimately discovered that beyond the show''s witty humor and clever dialogue, the key reason for its blockbuster premiere ratings was that Eric himself directed the first two episodes.

    While it wasn''t unheard of for film directors to transition to television, it had primarily been those whose film careers had stagnated. In the midst of flourishing sess, no esteemed film director would willingly "sink" to direct a television series.

    Thus, the fact that Eric, who had achieved significant film sesses, personally directed the show piqued viewers'' curiosity about what kind of series this box office miracle worker would create.

    When Friends lived up to audience expectations, it culminated in the show''s tremendous poprity.

    Understanding this, the three majorworks almost simultaneously made their moves. In a flurry, heavyweights like Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Copp, Martin Scorsese, and Tim Burton received high-paying offers as theworks sought to secure Hollywood''s biggest directors for their shows. They even offered up to a million dors to any director willing to lend their name to a series.

    Despite the massive financial incentives, most directors, citing various concerns, turned down the offers. However, some took the plunge, resulting inmendable viewership for shows branded with the names of Hollywood''s elite.

    Over the next several years, it quickly became a trend to invite well-known film directors to helm the first episodes of new series. If a new series premiered without the presence of a famous Hollywood director in its promotional material, viewers instinctively perceived it as low-quality, resulting in subpar ratings.

    Of course, all of this would unfoldter.

    ...

    By the time Friends aired its second week, it became apparent that discussions surrounding the show had nearly vanished from television programs outside of Fox, even on entertainment talk shows that typically enjoyed poking fun at current events -- hosts seemedpletely unaware of Friends.

    It was clear this "ckout" was a response from the three majorworks to Eric''s consistent rejections of their attempts to recruit him. However, this "ban" had no impact on Friends, especially with Fox''s backing from News Corp, which was poised forprehensive promotion of the series across print and television media.

    Despite the three majorworks controlling most of North American television, they remained independentworks with limited forays into magazines and newspapers. In this era, the word-of-mouth about a series heavily relied on newspapers, which yed a vital role.

    Though Fox''spetitors tried to publish some disparaging remarks about Friends in the publications they could influence -- criticizing it for having adult themes unsuitable for public television -- these ims failed to gain traction. Most respected newspapersuded Friends.

    ...

    In his office, Eric was engrossed in an article about Friends published by the Los Angeles Times. "ording to Nielsen analysts, Friends'' second-week ratings have eliminated around 70% of unstable viewers. The series'' final average viewership will likely hover around 22 million, making it undoubtedly the top-rated television show of the year.

    Reports indicated that Friends was raking in approximately $3 million per episode in advertising revenue, meaning the show would generate over $70 million in total. While we don''t know the specifics of the revenue-sharing arrangement between Firefly and Fox, based on Eric Williams''s formidable negotiation style, the ad revenue share for Friends would surely be one of the highest industry standards. Thus, just from the initial airing, Friends could bring nearly $30 million in revenue to Firefly.

    What''s even more astonishing is that Firefly holds exclusive rights to Friends. This means that the subsequent distribution rights and video releases could reap ie over three times that of the initial advertising revenue. However, the total production budget for Friends was under $5 million. Eric Williams, the ''renegade'' stirring up trouble in Hollywood, was proving he could shine not just in films but excel adeptly in television too.

    As I contemted writing this article, I began to wonder if Eric Williams would soon extend his reach into the music industry. After all, the soundtracks of several films he directed prominently featured his name. The score of a particr moment in the film Running Out of Time--where the protagonists meet on a bus -- captivated countless fans. The iconic scene of Tom Cruise and Brroke Shields snuggling against each other was entuated by this score, which the media hailed as the year''s most beautiful film moment. With the three struggling majorworks in mind, why wouldn''t the CEOs of recordpanies reach out to Eric Williams before anyone else?"

    ...

    After finishing the article from the Los Angeles Times, Eric pondered for a moment. While working on Pretty Woman, he was inspired by a hit song from the popr band Roxette, which had sparked his interest in developing a music career for a singer. The 1990s were thest golden era for the global record industry; as long as recordpanies had a few major artists, their profits rivaled those of film studios or televisionworks. Even as the rise of the inte eventually led to the decline of the record industry, the copyright of songs held by recordpanies remained a substantial source of long-term revenue in the rigorously protected intellectual propertyws.

    Jotting down some thoughts on a nearby notepad, Eric was just about to turn to another newspaper when there was a knock on the office door. "Mr. Williams, Ms. Murdoch is here." Eric casually replied, and in walked Elisabeth Murdoch, dressed in a light blue checkered shirt and dark jeans, carrying a dark blue handbag. She boldly took a seat across from Eric, exuding the same carefree demeanor that made it clear the strong kiss they had shared was far from

    fresh in her mind.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Removing her handbag and cing it on herp, Elisabeth nced at Eric''s copy of the Los Angeles Times and smirked, "I can''t believe you''re so vain, sneaking off to your office to read

    ttering articles about yourself."

    Eric brushed off her sarcastic tone. If he were merely a film director, it would be easy to ignore everything else and focus solely on making films. But he also held the position of chairman of a filmpany, necessitating enough awareness of industry trends. Given how busy things had be during this time, Eric had to rely on his assistant topile the most important news stories so he could skim them quickly each day before managing other responsibilities.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 224: Chapter 224: The X-Files

    Chapter 224: The X-Files

    ?

    [Chapter 224: The Treasure of the Town]

    After clearing a pile of newspapers aside, Eric crossed his arms and sized up the woman across from him. It seemed that women in both TV and real life during this era loved to wear shirts. Of course, Eric was a big fan of this style too. It gave women an aura of capability and sophistication. At least, he thought it looked much better than what those women inter years wore, wrapping themselves in chaotic lengths of fabric.

    In Eric''s opinion, a shirt was also a form of seductive uniform, especially when a woman was wearing a loose men''s shirt. Two long bare legs were the cherry on top...

    Elisabeth noticed Eric''s intense gaze and, initially carefree demeanor quickly shifted. She crossed her arms over her chest as she red at Eric and said, "Hey, what are you staring at, perv?"

    "I wasn''t staring at anything. I was just wondering if you nned to wear that to work," he replied. Although she looked decent, it clearly wasn''t the attire of a woman who was about to start working.

    "Of course! I''m your assistant, not some office bimbo. Are you expecting me to wear a suit and high heels while running around the set?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric caught a glimpse of the way she slightly raised her chin and realized that arguing further would be pointless. He shook his head lightly, deciding not to push it. After all, he didn''t expect her to be much help. As long as she could hand things to him during filming and not cause any trouble, that was good enough.

    "Suit yourself," Eric said, as he lowered his head to rummage through a nearby drawer. Elisabeth seemed to feel a slight victory from this, letting out a prolonged, nasal hum. Eric found a document and pushed it along with a pen toward Elisabeth. "This is the contract. Sign it, and you''ll be a member of the Sleepless in Seattle crew."

    Elisabeth picked it up but didn''t rush to sign. Instead, she started reading it carefully. Eric nced at his watch but didn''t pay much attention and went back to reading a newspaper. After a moment, he heard Elisabeth say, "Eric, I finished signing. What''s next?"

    Eric took the signed copy she offered and filed it away. "You can go home now. Someone will notify you when the crew leaves for Seattle in a few days."

    "Ah..." Elisabeth''s mouth opened slightly, quickly realizing Eric didn''t take her seriously. She shot back, "You can''t do this! I protest! If you won''t assign me work, I''m not leaving your office today!"

    Eric cursed under his breath, regretting ever agreeing to Murdoch.

    While he was pondering how to deal with this spoiled girl, the office door knocked yet again. Allen peeked in and said, "Mr. Williams, the writers are all here waiting in the conference room."

    "Okay, I''ll be right there." After Allen left, Eric turned to Elisabeth and said, "Liz, you really won''t be needed here, so it''s best if you go home. Someone will call you when the timees."

    "I''m not leaving! Since I signed the contract, you should assign me work!"

    Eric felt irritation rise. He quickly rubbed his thumb against the side of his index finger and pointed to the coffee machine nearby. "If you want to work, then make me a cup of coffee."

    She immediately objected, "I''m not your servant!"

    "This is part of a director''s assistant duties. If you don''t want to, then go home and wait for the crew to notify you."

    "You..." Elisabeth shot him an unwilling re. After a moment, she reluctantly straightened her face and carefully brought him a cup of coffee.

    Eric didn''t even feel like drinking it. Seeing Elisabeth''s defiant expression, he picked up the phone and dialed a few numbers.

    "Allen, print out two copies of the confidentiality agreement you signed and bring them in." Elisabeth''s expression shifted subtly, trying to hide a gleam of mischief in her eyes as she lowered her head, standing obediently to the side. A whileter, Allen delivered the two confidentiality agreements.

    "This is the confidentiality agreement Allen signed initially. You don''t need to read the whole thing, but being Murdoch''s daughter, you probably have an idea of what it entails. If vited, you''ll not only face hefty penalties but could evennd in jail. Once signed, you can follow me around as a secretary assistant during the shooting of Sleepless in Seattle."

    This time, Elisabeth didn''t stall. In less than a minute, she flipped through the ten pages of the contract and signed it without hesitation.

    "Alright, follow me. And at least for the next few days in Los Angeles, don''t wear that outfit again. Dress more formally."

    "I got it." This time, she didn''t argue and happily followed Eric into the conference room.

    ...

    Inside the conference room, eight people sat -- six men and two women, all around their twenties or thirties. This was the talented writing team Eric had specially recruited for his next TV series.

    Fox had recently signed a preliminary equity transfer agreement with Firefly Films, and the specific transaction would bepleted within a month. Therefore, before Eric finished hisst two movies of the year, he needed to prepare for Murdoch''s promised TV series and a variety show.

    The n was for the variety show to air in the spring, but since its nning was rtively simple, Eric wasn''t in a rush to produce it. Another series was set to premiere in the fall of the following year. Even with Eric at the helm, Fox suggested a "shoot and air" model, considering that the average production cost for this show could reach $2 million per episode. However, Eric disagreed. He was confident about the series and felt that a hurried production wouldpromise quality, given the subject matter.

    Neither side wanted to budge initially. Eric even dered that if Fox didn''t want to take the risk, Firefly could pursue independent financing, but they couldn''t expect to split the rights. This proposal had Barry Diller hesitating to agree -- who could guarantee that this series wouldn''t blow up like Friends?

    After a few days of stalemate, Murdoch personally made the call. Since Eric was so confident, the well-established Fox wouldn''t shy away from this risk. Even if the series performed poorly, they would only be losing about twenty million dors.

    Even with Fox receiving Friends unexpectedly this year, their end-of-year report would still show a loss of tens of millions.

    What Eric was set to produce was the Foxwork''s gem from the ''90s, The X-Files. In Eric''s memory, this was almost the only standout series thework had to showcase in the entire

    decade.

    However, the ratings for the first few seasons weren''t great. Without the loyal fanbase supporting it, it likely would have been canceled after its first season if not for the

    enthusiastic response online that boosted the show''s ratings upon rebroadcast.

    Though The X-Files had a unique style in its early seasons, it was the ratings of the fourth and fifth seasons, after a change in approach, that truly soared.

    Eric believed the initialck of ratings was primarily because the storycked a main plot line. While each episode presented a novel monster or supernatural event, this disjointed format made it tough for viewers to stay engaged. It wasn''t until the fourth season that the creator, Chris Carter, began weaving together the chaotic threads from the earlier seasons into a cohesive sci-fi narrative.

    The sci-fi series was initially underestimated by Fox since North Americanworks had tried producing such dramas but had seen just a handful of sesses. Eric figured the father of The X-Files, Chris Carter, may not have even had a solid main plot in mind when he began, likely

    evolving as time went on.

    Before deciding to make this series, Eric had reached out to Chris Carter, hoping to have him lead the writing. After all, many brilliant ideas hade from him. But when Eric''s contact met Chris, Carter expressed a disinterest in sci-fi TV shows, thus he turned down the offer. This illustrated the remarkable power of the butterfly effect. The original creator of The X- Files had no interest in a sci-fi series -- it was truly... fascinating.

    ...

    In the conference room, Eric pointed to an empty seat at the end of the table for Elisabeth to sit down, while he took his ce at the head. Once everyone greeted each other andpleted their introductions, Eric stood up and walked toward the wall with the whiteboard.

    He took a ck marker and quickly wrote: The X-Files.

    "Everyone here is skilled in the sci-fi genre, so you undoubtedly realize that the series I''m about to produce is also a sci-fi drama. This show will be called The X-Files."

    As the room''s curiosity bubbled, Eric set the ck marker down and gently pped his hands. "Now, let me give you a brief introduction to the background I envision for this sci-fi series. The story nearly begins with the origins of life, as the universe is vast -- greater than we can imagine. Thus, within this limitless expanse exist infinite possibilities. Among countless stars, there must be others that can harbor intelligent life, and the Brett is the

    center of this entire tale."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Puzzle

    Chapter 225: Puzzle

    ?

    [Chapter 225: Match]

    "Mr. Williams, could you tell me what ''Brett'' means?" Eric had barely finished speaking when Elisabeth, sitting at the end of the desk, raised her little hand and asked, her eyes shing

    with a mischievous glint.

    Eric shot her a re. "Liz, why don''t you tell me what Coruscant from Star Wars or Cybertron from Transformers means?"

    "How should I know!" Elisabeth rolled her eyes as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

    "Then keep quiet," Eric had no intention of giving this spoiled princess any leeway. Casual jokes may have been fine privately, but this was work, and she had crossed a line. "If you interrupt again, I''ll have you thrown out."

    Elisabeth almost retorted with "You dare?" However, seeing the serious expression on Eric''s face, she ultimately stayed silent and just lowered her head, sticking out her tongue softly. Clearing his throat, Eric drew the attention back to himself and away from the curious looks exchanged among the screenwriters: "Alright, let''s continue."

    "In the vast universe, there existed a named Brett, inhabited by intelligent beings known as the Brettians. After billions of years of technological advancement, the Brettians had mastered space travel, bing a formidable force within the cosmos. However, as time passed, not only was their habitable nearing destruction, but the Brettians themselves were also on the brink of extinction due to prolonged natural evolution..."

    Just as Eric was about to borate, he noticed Elisabeth again raising her hand. This time, she was shrewd enough not to speak directly but instead fixated her curious eyes on him.

    The narrative was interrupted once more. Eric furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before hissing out a single word through gritted teeth: "Speak!"

    He mentally vowed that if Elisabeth caused another disruption, he would kick her out without hesitation.

    "Mr. Williams, ording to Darwin''s theory of evolution, isn''t life supposed to be an advancement to higher forms? Why do you say the Brettians are nearing extinction due to natural evolution?"

    Eric collected his thoughts and replied, "Darwin''s theory only covered a brief period in the evolution of life. What I''m referring to is the gene-level development trends of species. Birth, growth, prosperity, decline -- this is an unresistable cosmic rule. From gxies to atoms, nothing can escape it. If you read more, you would discover that the evolution of a species'' genes doesn''t always trend positively. At certain development stages, the gene sequences can also regress and copse. There''s currently a theory that humanity''s Y chromosome has begun to degrade. Perhaps, millions of years from now, there may only be women left on Earth... if humanity still exists by then."

    Amid the chuckles from the others, Eric gave a serious warning. "Alright, Liz, this is thest time. From now on, if you have any questions, you either endure them or step outside."

    After a reluctant nod from the young woman, Eric continued. "Returning to what I was saying, in the face of extinction, the Brettians devised a monumental alien colonization n, grand in both time and space. Utilizing their advanced technology, they created highly sophisticated spacecraft andpressed their life force into a conscious ck liquid."

    Eric quickly wrote a key term on the chalkboard: "This ck liquid, which contained the life force of the Brettians, was called ''ck Oil.'' The spacecraft carried the remaining Brettians and the ck Oil on their journey through the boundless universe. Upon encounterings suitable for life, they wouldnd and utilize the gic blueprint contained in the ck Oil to guide the emergence and evolution of life on thoses. Eventually, when the suitable species appeared, the ck Oil would activate, infecting the new species and, through a series of gic modifications, erasing the original species, giving way to a new one -- theplete form of the Brettians. In this way, the Brettians achieved their species'' continuation in the universe."

    As Eric exined, the list of keywords on the board grew longer, gradually forming a tree diagram. The screenwriters in the office were engrossed in Eric''s imaginative and grand sci-fi background, even the restless Elisabeth was now attentively listening.

    "... So, we fast forward to 3.7 billion years ago. The Brettians'' spaceship finally reached Earth, and they set about guiding the evolution and transformation of species on our. To create new species suitable for colonization, the Brettians did not hesitate to periodically annihte existing species. Four hundred forty million years ago, 85% of species went extinct; one hundred ny-five million years ago, 76% of marine life vanished; and sixty- five million years ago, the age of dinosaurs ended... These were merely the extinction events of species that humanity has managed toprehend scientifically. Following the most recent dinosaur extinction, mammals began to thrive, and after a long wait of 3.7 billion years, the Brettians finally discovered a species suitable for colonization through the ck Oil -- humans!

    However, the original humans did not possess advantages for survival in nature. To ensure that humanity could prosper, the Brettians began to catalyze the progress of human civilization. Consequently, humans learned to use tools, learnednguage, and acquired various skills. The emergence of diverse religions was also guided by the Brettians. The Brettians set the final date for their colonization using ck Oil as December 21, 2012, a day when the lurking ck Oil would initiate an invasion, annihte humanity, and rece it with the form of Brettians on Earth -- Greys."

    Eric maically attached a ssic alien image to the board. "During World War II, due to the rise of air power, humanity realized we were not alone in this universe. In 1945, towards the end of the war, American forces identally shot down a spaceship over the Pacific near Japan. During the secret recovery process, ck Oil was discovered. Then came the famous Roswell incident in 1947. The federal government not only recovered the alien spaceship but also obtained alien corpses. By conducting a series of studies on the data from the alien spaceship, the potential for alien colonization was revealed. To thwart the Brettians'' colonization, the government secretly established an organization aimed at developing countermeasures against Brettian colonization. However, the scientists within this organization soon despairingly found that the colonization by ck Oil was unstoppable. Thus, to ensure their survival, along with their families after December 21, 2012, most members of this secret organization betrayed humanity, siding with the aliens. They forced the aliens to agree to their conditions through nuclear annihtion. After colonization, they intended to continue their existence as hybrid beings of aliens and humans. This organization is referred to as ''The Syndicate.""

    After writing ''The Syndicate'' at the end of the tree diagram, Eric turned around. "Now, the story of our sci-fi series officially begins. Our protagonist, Fox Mulder''s father, William Mulder, was originally a member of The Syndicate. However, he left when he vehemently opposed siding with the aliens. Despite this, the aliens kidnapped William Mulder''s daughter, Samantha Mulder. Young Fox Mulder happened to witness this scene. Yearster, through deep hypnosis, he recalled the event. Thus, Fox Mulder developed a keen curiosity about supernatural phenomena, never giving up on finding his sister. After graduating from Oxford''s psychology department, Fox Mulder joined the FBI and soon transferred to a specialized unit for studying supernatural phenomena: The X-Files. However, for a while, he was the only investigator, until several yearster, when his partner, Dana Scully, appeared, and together they embarked on their own adventure."

    One of the screenwriters who had been listening finally asked, "Mr. Williams, are you suggesting we write a story about the main characters, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, discovering The Syndicate''s betrayal and thwarting the Brettians'' colonization plot to save humanity?"

    So it turned out that even in this era, American screenwriters were already pondering how to save humanity. Eric inwardly rolled his eyes and asked, "You''re Peter Crix, right?"

    The thirty-something white man who had just spoken nodded, saying, "Yes, Mr. Williams. I once worked on the writing team for Star Trek."

    Eric didn''t elevate his status just because this guy had been part of the famous Star Trek series. While both were sci-fi, Star Trek and The X-Files hadpletely different styles. "Peter, if it''s just what you described, then I could write the script myself. You wouldn''t need to be here."

    Peter Crix chuckled awkwardly at Eric''s remark, not arguing. Given Eric''s stature, he indeed had the clout to say something like that.

    "Since this TV series is called The X-Files, the story must revolve around the protagonists investigating a series of supernatural urrences, with a tone of horror and suspense. Therefore, I n for the first season to feature twenty-four episodes involving twenty-four supernatural events."

    Peter Crix then asked, "If that''s the case, won''t this sci-fi series turn into a sci-fi detective story? What about the vast background you justid out about the Brettians?" "That''s why I asked you here. What you need to do is connect these isted supernatural events with the Brettian colonization and The Syndicate''s conspiracy, weaving together a seemingly disjointed yet deeply interrtedplete story."

    Once Eric finished speaking, he turned around and jotted down a word on the board, continuing, "Based on this thread, I''vee up with a subtitle for the first phase of this TV series: Puzzle. This phase mayst about three seasons. Through the adventures in three seasons, the protagonists will collect and integrate a series of clues, sketching out the background story I just mentioned, before embarking on the next phase of the narrative."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 226: Chapter 226: No More Bullying This Young Lady

    Chapter 226: No More Bullying This Young Lady

    ?

    [Chapter 226: No More Bullying This Young Lady]

    Seeing that everyone still looked a bit confused, Eric added, "Actually, I''ve already had quite a few ideas for this story. After the meeting, I''ll have someone provide you with reference materials. Also, let me give you a hint: Mulder''s ultimate goal is to find clues about his missing sister, and eventually track her down. Through deep hypnotic memories, he realizes her disappearance is rted to alien abductions. He will document and categorize the supernatural phenomena he encounters. With his professional instincts, he''ll sift through possibly useful information -- it''ll be like piecing together a puzzle, ultimately leading to aplete clue pointing toward the Brettian alien colonization conspiracy. You can incorporate him taking notes into each episode."

    The idea of the subtitle, "Puzzle," had popped into Eric''s mind on the spot. Originally, it was Dana Scully who often recorded the supernatural phenomena in the original version, but Eric hadn''t noticed any particr significance to Scully taking notes in the episodes he had watched. With that in mind, Eric figured it was best to put this idea onto the male lead. Plus, the "puzzle" concept could spark fan spection and curiosity -- this type of suspense had always been a surefire way to draw in viewers for American TV shows.

    Once Eric finished speaking, the screenwriters raised no further concerns. After all, they were the cream of the crop sci-fi writers brought in jointly by Fox and Firefly Films. Eric not only provided a general background but also offered his own plot ideas for reference, if these eight gifted writers couldn''t craft a script, they wouldn''t deserve their reputation.

    After another half hour of discussing details, Eric summarized, "So, you all have two months toe up with a script that satisfies me. By the end of the year, Firefly and Fox will co- produce the pilot episode. I hope you all won''t disappoint the audience. If there are no other questions, let''s wrap this up."

    ...

    Everyone began to leave, while Eric and Allen discussed matters quietly, swiftly organizing the materials before them. When Eric looked up, he noticed Elisabeth still sitting at the end of the long desk, her chin resting on her right hand, staring at him with curiosity.

    "I''m heading to the CAA headquarters next. Want toe?" Eric asked tentatively.

    "Huh?" Elisabeth came to her senses, ncing at her watch. "It''s almost eleven; we''re due for lunch soon."

    "We''ll grab lunch over there. If you''re not going, you can head home."

    "I''ll go!" she replied reflexively, mentally muttering that he couldn''t shake her off.

    She trailed after Eric as they got into the car. Elisabeth sat beside him in the backseat, continuing to steal nces at him, her eyes betraying her curiosity. Eric, initially focused on reviewing documents, was puzzled by her gaze and couldn''t help but ask, "What are you really trying to say?"

    "I''m just curious about how you came up with those ideas -- Brett aliens, syndicates, all that?"

    Eric closed the binder and ced it on hisp, turning to gaze into her eyes with a hint of mystery in his voice. "Actually, I''m a time traveler from the future, back from after December 21, 2012."

    "Hmm?" Elisabeth blinked a few times, not catching on.

    Eric leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Everything about the Brett aliens is true. After December 21, 2012, the ck Oilunched an invasion, and ny-nine percent of humanity was infected. The remaining humans formed a resistance. I was one of them, but our fighting force was too weak tobat the Brettians. Just when they were on the verge of wiping us out, we used their technology to invent a time machine. Myrades sent me to this era, hoping I could sabotage their ns before they initiated colonization. But now, I''m all alone and can only subtly reveal the truth to the public through The X-Files."

    "The Brett aliens must have sent a robot named T-800 after you, right?" Elisabeth shot him an unimpressed look and pushed him away. "Don''t think I haven''t watched The Terminator." Amid the lightughter of the driver and Allen, Eric shrugged. "See, I tell you the truth and you don''t believe me. So, stop asking so many questions."

    Elisabeth was not satisfied with Eric''s vague attitude. "You''re just talking nonsense."

    Shaking his head, Eric intended to focus on the documents again, but Elisabeth couldn''t hold back and asked, "Hey, what are we going to CAA for?"

    "You''ll find out when we get there. Don''t interrupt; let me finish this." Eric waved his hand, dismissing further questions.

    Elisabeth huffed in annoyance but didn''t press the issue, turning her head the other way.

    ...

    As they entered a meeting lounge at CAA, a small figure ran up to Eric.

    Eric picked up Stuart Ronkel, spun him around, and set him down, ruffling the little guy''s hair with a smile. "You''ve grown quite a bit!"

    "You are still the same as ever," Stuart said, looking up at Eric and sizing him up. "Eric, it seems you''re done growing."

    Eric chuckled and ruffled the little guy''s hair again. "Don''t act like a little adult. An eight- year-old should behave like an eight-year-old!"

    "What''s an eight-year-old supposed to be like?" Stuart asked with an exaggerated expression. Spotting Elisabeth next to Eric, the little guy''s eyes lit up, and he eagerly

    approached her with a childlike grin. "Hi, there!"

    Elisabeth had thought the little guy looked somewhat familiar and finally registered who he was. Overwhelmed by maternal instincts, she squatted down to pet Stuart''s head, her face lighting up with surprise. "You''re Kevin, from Home Alone!"

    "I''m Stuart Ronkel, but you can call me Stu," he introduced himself, and then he feigned innocence, asking, "Miss, you''re really pretty. Can I hug you?"

    "Of course!" Elisabeth said without thinking, smiling as she moved in to hug the little boy.

    After saying hello to Stuart''s parents and his new agent, Brian Kuzman, Eric turned and caught the end of the little guy''s innocent request for a hug. He couldn''t help but smile ruefully as he extended a hand to lift Stuart back up.

    "Stu, no hugging the girls! It''s only been six months since Ist saw you, and you''ve turned into a little wolf!"

    The boy squirmed a little, escaping Eric''s grasp. "Come on, Eric! I''m just a kid! Even if she''s your girl, a hug won''t cost you anything!"

    "All that stuff can wait until you''re eighteen. For now, do what you''re supposed to do at your

    age!"

    Stuart was about to retort when Mrs. Ronkel stepped in, worried about her son aggravating Eric. She quickly moved to pull Stuart away with a nervous smile.

    But having heard their brief exchange, Elisabeth was already caught in thought. Was this really an eight-year-old kid?

    ...

    The lounge was quiet as Eric led Allen, Charlie Ronkel, and Stuart''s new agent into a small meeting room next door. This left only Elisabeth and the Ronkel mother-and-son duo in the

    lounge.

    The atmosphere was tranquil. Stuart seemed oblivious to what was happening around him and climbed onto the sofa, pulling out a Rubik''s Cube from his backpack and engrossing

    himself in it.

    Feeling a bit bored, Elisabeth moved over to the sofa, sitting down and casually flipping through a magazine taken from the coffee table, while Stuart''s mother stood by the door of the small meeting room, listening for a bit before contemting entering, too timid to push the door open even after multiple attempts, and instead pacing outside it.

    While Elisabeth leafed through the magazine, Stuart''s childish voice chimed in again.

    "What''s your name?"

    Looking up, Elisabeth saw the boy frantically twisting the cube, which was much bigger than

    his small hands. "Were you asking me? You can call me... Liz."

    "I''m not that familiar with you, so I''ll stick with calling you Elisabeth," the little guy repliedn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    with wide innocent eyes. "Miss Elisabeth, are you Eric''s woman?"

    "No," she instinctively felt she shouldn''t continue this conversation but found herself

    answering. "I''m just his assistant."

    But as soon as she finished, she heard a clearly disdainful "Tch."

    "What does that mean, little guy?" Elisabeth couldn''t help but put down the magazine and fix

    her gaze on him.

    Stuart replied honestly, "I just think you''re a bit hypocritical."

    "I... hypocritical?" Elisabeth incredulously pointed at her own nose. "What makes you think

    I''m hypocritical?"

    The boy shrugged. "Eric didn''t let you go inside just now, which means you''re an unimportant assistant. Your sry can''t be high. If you''re not Eric''s woman, how can you afford such expensive things? Just your Chanel bag costs more than you can afford on your sry!" "My family is ten times richer than that jerk!" Elisabethpletely forgot Stuart''s age and quarreled back like a provoked kitten, raising her voice.

    "Oh," the little boy dragged out the vowel, nodding. "I see."

    Elisabeth sat back down on the couch, flipping through the magazine vigorously, deciding to

    ignore the little pest.

    But Stuart didn''t let her be. "You like Eric, so you gave up being a rich girl toe work as his

    assistant, right?"

    Hearing that, Elisabeth immediately dismissed her earlier decision. "I don''t like that jerk!"

    Sighing heavily, the little guy dered, "Ah, a woman who says one thing but means another

    -- so deceitful even little kids can''t escape her lies."

    "You..."

    Just as he was about to tease her further, Mrs. Ronkel finally spoke up, her voice slightly sharp, "Stu, be quiet and don''t bully this youngdy anymore."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 227: Chapter 227: The Poor Team Player

    Chapter 227: The Poor Team yer

    ?

    [Chapter 227: The Poor Team yer]

    Hearing his mother''s scolding, Stuart made a face at Elisabeth and turned to y with the Rubik''s Cube in his hands.

    After calming down a bit, Elisabeth realized that she had been toyed with by this little rascal. Moreover, she couldn''t very well blow up at an eight-year-old kid, could she? Staring angrily at the magazine in her hands for a moment, Elisabeth suddenly turned her gaze towards the closed door of the small conference room.

    "It''s all that jerk''s fault!" she muttered silently, venting her frustration onto Eric.

    ...

    Inside the conference room, Eric remained unaware that he had been targeted out of the blue again. At that moment, he wore a nk expression while watching Brian Kuzman and Charlie Ronkel seated across from him.

    "Ten million dors and 10% of the North American box office gross. Charlie, is that your position, too?" After a moment of silence, Eric finally asked. It seemed CAA hadpletely failed to learn from past mistakes and was once again asking for a sky-high figure. In their earlier negotiations, CAA had solely aimed for a high percentage of profits, and while box office splits and profit shares were just a matter of wording, the difference in oue reached the tens of millions of dors.

    Charlie Ronkel stole a nervous nce at Eric, unsure of how to respond. Brian Kuzman quickly jumped in. "Mr. Williams, Mr. Ronkel has handed full responsibility for this negotiation over to me; he''s just here as a listener. If you have any questions, you can direct them to me." "Oh, that''s just dandy," Eric replied with a cold smirk. "If this negotiation falls through, Mr. Kuzman, are you prepared to take responsibility for that?"

    As soon as the words left his lips, Charlie Ronkel instinctively nced toward his agent, his expressionced with concern and suspicion.

    Clearly, even Ronkel understood that the conditions being proposed were somewhat unrealistic by Hollywood standards when it came to a star''s sry. Yet, he felt conflicted; on one hand, he certainly wanted such a lucrative deal, but on the other hand, he knew that insisting on thispensation might lead to a total copse in negotiations.

    Seeing Ronkel''s expression, Eric felt a wave of reassurance wash over him. As long as the other party hadn''t fully handed the reins of negotiation over to this unfamiliar new agent, he would be fine.

    Eric puzzled over why CAA had reced the original agent, Horner Willy; perhaps it had something to do with the upheaval from earlier that year.

    But none of that was Eric''s concern. He knew Charlie Ronkel''s character well enough; he was an ordinary, indecisive middle-aged man who often tried to grasp matters beyond his control while also worrying incessantly.

    So, Eric understood that the main breakthrough in this negotiationy with Charlie. As for Brian Kuzman, who appeared to be sharper and more capable than the original Horner Willy, there was that saying: even the strongest warriors couldn''t withstand the burden of a poor teammate.

    At that moment, Brian Kuzman silently cursed Ronkel for being more of a liability than an asset. He had already discussed everything thoroughly with this middle-aged man, assuring him that if Charlie didn''t interfere, he could secure an incredibly generous deal for Stuart. Naturally, Kuzman would also benefit from a highermission. Unfortunately, this couple was still reluctant to fully hand over their negotiating power to him.

    Right then, Eric was merely testing the waters, and this ipetent middle-aged man had unwittingly revealed their hand.

    Kuzman realized that if Charlie Ronkel stayed put, their negotiations with Eric would continue to worsen.

    "Mr. Ronkel, if you trust my judgment, maybe you could step out for a bit," Kuzman said, smiling at Charlie Ronkel in order to not let him disrupt his ns.

    Eric seemed to ignore what Brian said to Charlie; he made no effort to intervene with words or gestures. Since he had already nted a seed of distrust in Charlie Ronkel''s mind, it would be strange for him to leave now.

    Sure enough, when Charlie heard Brian''s suggestion, he wriggled in his seat without standing up and said, "Brian, I think I''ll stay right here. You all talk, and I promise not to interject." Brian Kuzman''s fingers clenched around the top of his desk instinctively, but he maintained a smile on his face and turned back to Eric. "Mr. Williams, we all know you''ve signed a distribution agreement with Fox that includes the rights to distribute Home Alone 2. I imagine even if you wanted to, Fox wouldn''t let this negotiation copse, would they?"

    "Well, you should also know that the box office for Running Out of TIme has surpassed $200 million, and that was originally distributed by Fox but ultimately taken by Columbia. So it''s not a big deal; I could always shoot another film for Fox," Eric said casually while toying with his pen.

    Upon hearing Eric''s remark, Brian Kuzman hesitated for a moment before replying, "Fox won''t easily agree to you switching films because it''s unlikely you can present another project with the same level of fame as Home Alone."

    Eric felt a weight lift off his shoulders with Kuzman''s tone. Clearly, CAA didn''t know the specifics of his agreement with Fox.

    It''s worth noting that the initial distribution deal for Fox''s three films had indeed been for the sequel to Home Alone. Therefore, while agreeing to Eric''s demands for high profit-sharing terms, they also enacted a series of strict conditions, one of which was ensuring that Stuart Ronkel continued as the male lead in the sequel.

    Given that CAA was entirely clueless about this, Eric felt emboldened. "Even if Fox doesn''t agree to switch films, I could always change the lead actor. I''m sure countless families would willingly let their children star in Home Alone 2 for just a few thousand dors, wouldn''t you agree?"

    Immediately after saying that, Eric looked at Charlie Ronkel, believing that the Ronkels would surely resonate with his words.

    Although Stuart''s pay and profit share in the original Home Alone weren''t particrly high, the film had brought him worldwide fame. Within a year, Stuart hadnded a series of high- paying endorsements, raking in tens of millions of dors for the couple. "Charlie, I imagine most of the endorsement contracts Stuart signed were for a year, right? If the advertisers found out that Stuart wouldn''t be reprising his role in Home Alone 2, do you think you''d still see several million dors in endorsement fees from them next year?"

    "Mr. Williams, you keep talking about us, but what about you? If Home Alone 2 doesn''t get made, Firefly Films might lose over $100 million, right? Compared to that, our offer seems quite reasonable because after all, Stuart is the only male lead in this film; he''s irreceable."

    Eric shook his head. "If you persist in pushing for such a nonsensical offer, Firefly Films would only have 25% of the earnings left for Stuart''s payment after everything is said and done. When you then deduct the production budget for the sequel, which is likely to exceed $25 million, our profits might not even match what Stuart would get. Don''t mention any losses over $100 million either. And you''re mistaken, Brian -- nobody in Hollywood is irreceable. I can assure you that Firefly already has a backup n. If your sry offering is too high, we intend to immediately hold open auditions for the lead in Home Alone 2. An open audition could rekindle the buzz around Home Alone, and the final production budget might only be a fraction of that $25 million."

    Just as Brian Kuzman was about to retort, Charlie Ronkel sitting next to him couldn''t help but interject, "Eric, it seems you haven''t mentioned how much Firefly ns to pay Stuart, have

    you?"

    Damn it!

    Brian cursed under his breath, feeling a strong impulse tond a punch on Ronkel''s chubbyn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    face.

    "Eight million dors."

    Eric stated a figure and quickly added, "Charlie, you shouldn''t be solely focused on this piddling amount. Try to think long-term. Many can see that Stuart''s biggest potential lies in endorsements. As long as he can maintain enough fame thanks to Home Alone, you both could still rake in millions in endorsement fees next year. Just based on that, Stuart could be one of the highest-paid stars in Hollywood. I mean, Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, or Julia Roberts -- they won''t be getting paid anywhere close to $8 million, and they certainly can''t score a series of high-paying endorsements like Stuart can since they face stiffpetition from many peers their age."

    "Mr. Williams..." Brian Kuzman knocked on the table, attempting to interject.

    However, Ericpletely ignored him, keeping his focus on Charlie Ronkel. "Therefore, if

    Firefly pursues that backup n I just mentioned, next year there''s no doubt Stuart''s fame would take a significant hit. While changing the cast might present certain risks for Home Alone''s sequel, the hope for sess remains high. Once sessful, you tell me -- would the advertisers prefer to pick the new lead for Home Alone as their spokesperson, or choose Stuart? The answer seems obvious, right? Think about it, Charlie -- you risked missing out on tens of millions, perhaps even over a hundred million in revenue, all to stick to your unrealistic sry demands. Home Alone 2 will likely be made over several installments, either with Stuart as the lead or Firefly will keep the audition n going, bringing in a newpetitor for Stuart each

    year."

    As Eric finished his argument in one breath, sweat beads appeared on Charlie Ronkel''s forehead, while Brian Kuzman slumped back in his chair, knowing that their negotiation hadpletely failed. Because Charlie Ronkel had been utterly swayed by Eric''s words, it would be nearly impossible for him to regain the upper hand now.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 228: Chapter 228: A Typical Woman

    Chapter 228: A Typical Woman

    ?

    [Chapter 228: A Typical Woman]

    The conference room door swung open, and Mrs. Ronkel peered in, her gazending on Charlie Ronkel, who had just stepped out behind Eric. After receiving a slight nod from Mr. Ronkel, Mrs. Ronkel disyed a pleased smile.

    "Mr. Williams, you''re a remarkable person. I hope we have the chance to work together in the future." Now that everything was settled, Brian Kuzman no longer regarded Eric as a negotiating rival. He extended his hand toward Eric with a calm demeanor mixed with a hint of respect.

    "I think we will," Eric replied with a smile as they shook hands. Kuzman''s decorum was genuinely admirable; had it been anyone else facing Charlie Ronkel''s antics, they probably would have stormed out in anger.

    But Brian Kuzman didn''t linger too long. After exchanging a few polite words with the Ronkels, he made an excuse to take his leave.

    Eric thought that while Stu could bring a hefty ie for this agent, Brian Kuzman would inevitably give up his position representing young Stu as working with a nearly uncooperative and ipetent client is intolerable for any capable agent.

    ...

    Checking his watch, he realized that after more than half an hour of negotiation, it was just past noon.

    "Charlie, how about we grab lunch together?" Eric hesitantly suggested to the whispering Ronkel couple standing nearby.

    Charlie Ronkel looked up, seeing Eric still wearing a friendly expression. It faintly reminded him of that high school neighbor he once knew, but Charlie could never view Eric as that young boy again. He figured it would take a long time to shake off the memory of Eric''smanding presence from their earlier meeting.

    "No, thank you, Eric. We have other matters to attend to," Charlie responded politely.

    "No, I want to go." Hearing his father refuse, the young boy immediately protested, wanting to rush over to Eric. However, Mrs. Ronkel pulled him back tightly, giving him several warning res.

    Eric understood that the rift between them, born from conflicting interests, would be hard to mend. Therefore, he didn''t press the point further. He reassured the boy for a moment before leaving with Elisabeth and the others.

    ...

    At a restaurant near Century City, Allen and the driver sensibly took a seat at another table, leaving Eric and Elisabeth sitting across from one another. After ordering, Elisabeth eagerly inquired, "So, Eric, did you finalize everything that quickly?"

    "How long did you think it would take?" Eric countered.

    Elisabeth pondered a moment and replied, "I remember that Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman''s Rain Man took over six months to negotiate, and it nearly fell through. And then there was Running Out of Time. You guys were at a standstill with CAA for quite a while, right?"

    Eric chuckled slightly, "This situation is different. If I were negotiating with an agent from CAA, it might take some time. But I spoke directly with Charlie Ronkel."

    The youngdy nodded, a little uncertain, and then asked, "How much is that youngd getting paid?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Eight million plus three percent of the North American box office."

    "That''s quite high, isn''t it? It''s too generous to that little creep," Elisabeth said half- jokingly.

    Eric mused that during his negotiation with the Ronkels, the girl must have been bullied by the little guy: "It''s not too high, and Stu is worth that amount. If it were with CAA, the final price would certainly have been even higher. Unfortunately, that couple aren''t clever enough and don''t trust others, so ultimately, they''ll be the ones losing out."

    "You really have nopassion. Didn''t they used to be your neighbors?" Elisabeth immediately shifted her stance upon hearing that.

    While Eric liked the clever little guy, he held no fondness for the Ronkels. He didn''t feel like taking credit, so he remained quiet when the waiter brought their lunch and focused on eating.

    ...

    "Do you really stay this busy every day?" Elisabeth asked as the clock hit six in the evening. After a hectic day, Eric returned to his office. He still needed to review a few documents regarding the merger between New Line and Firefly Films. By that time, the office at Firefly was mostly empty. Unlike others, Elisabeth chose to stay in Eric''s office, restlessly picking things up and looking around.

    "Not really; it''s just that things have been particrly hectictely," Eric responded without looking up.

    "Oh," Elisabeth replied, opening a file cab and casually pulling out a document to browse through.

    When seven rolled around, after organizing the documents in front of him, Eric noticed Elisabeth still curled up on the office couch.

    "Everyone else has left. Why aren''t you going?"

    Seeing that Eric appeared to have finished his work, the girl quickly stood up and put her book back on the shelf: "There''s nothing to go home to. Besides, doing things should be about

    seeing them through to the end, right?"

    Eric wanted to tease her, but seeing that she had followed him all day and had been reasonably obedient made him hold back the words. However, the girl clearly was not letting it slide: "You were definitely nning to insult me just now, weren''t you?"

    "Not at all," Eric denied, "Let''s head out." With that, he stepped outside first.

    The girl quickly followed and insisted, "You just wanted to mock me. Something about azy rich girl, right?"

    "Fine, I did think that," Eric admitted helplessly, greeting the security guard as they walked towards the stairs.

    She wore a knowing expression: "I''ve worked an entire day, and I didn''t even ask you for overtime pay. You better apologize."

    "Sorry." Eric didn''t feel like arguing with her.

    The girl pouted: "You''re not sincere at all. You have to take me out for dinner since I''ve been

    with you this long, right?"

    Eric was just looking for a ce to grab dinner, so he nodded reluctantly: "Alright."

    Elisabeth suddenly appeared skeptical: "You agreed that easily. What are your motives?"

    "You''re a real typical woman," Eric sighed in exasperation.

    Knowing that if he pressed, Eric certainly wouldn''t provide any positive remarks, Elisabeth could not help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"

    "Too far and you resent, too close and you lose respect," Eric replied, as they arrived at the parking lot. He looked around and asked, "Where''s your car?"

    "I didn''t drive today," the girl shrugged her shoulders.

    Eric reluctantly opened his car door: "Then hop in."

    ...

    After having dinner, they walked out of the restaurant just past eight. Eric nced back at Elisabeth, who was still trailing him, and asked, "How are you getting home? Should I call

    your driver to pick you up?"

    Elisabeth looked at Eric incredously and said, "How can you be so rude? In this situation, shouldn''t you be the one to drive me home?"

    "Come on, Princess. Your house is in Malibu. It takes two hours round trip. This isn''t the way to make someone go through all that."

    "Then I''ll just take a taxi home," the girl shrugged nonchntly, tucking her hands into her jeans, taking a few steps along the curb while watching the traffic flow on the street. She

    added glumly, "But there have been several taxi murders in Los Angelestely, and I heard the victims are always young women. But don''t worry, if something happens to me, my dad

    won''t me you."

    "Get in the car!" Eric ground out through clenched teeth.

    The girl responded with augh, agile as a cat, as she opened the door and hopped into the

    passenger seat. Seeing Eric join her, a look of vexation on his face as he buckled his seatbelt, she chuckled, "Alright, I was just kidding! I''ve been staying at Julia''s for a few days. It''s not directly on your way, but it won''t take much longer."

    Eric snorted, pressing down on the gas.

    ...

    They had barely driven a block when Elisabeth pointed ahead and said, "Hey, there''s a movie

    theater! Why don''t we catch a movie before going back? It''s still early, and I haven''t seen a

    film in ages."

    Eric stopped the car at the curb, not taking out the key or getting out, cing his hands on the steering wheel as he turned to ask, "Liz, what do you really want?"

    Seeing Eric''s impatient expression, she hesitated, then waved her hand dismissively: "Forget

    it, I was just suggesting, you are always soplicated. If you don''t want to, that''s fine. Just

    drive me home."

    Eric smacked the steering wheel: "Come on, it''s just a movie!"

    Not just to watch a movie but also to see what trouble this girl could stir up tonight. "That''s more like a gentleman," she replied cheerfully, unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping

    out of the car.

    Eric parked in the lot and, together with Elisabeth, walked into the nearby theater.

    "I''ll treat. What do we watch?" In the ticket lobby, she generously pulled out her small wallet.

    Eric nced at the promotional posters stered around the cinema, pointing at one: "Let''s

    go with that one."

    "When Harry Met Sally...?" Elisabeth peeked at the poster''s tagline, "''Can two friends sleep together and still love each other in the morning?'' This looks interesting; let''s go with it."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 229: Chapter 229: When Harry Met Sally...

    Chapter 229: When Harry Met Sally...

    ?

    [Chapter 229: How about this?]

    After finding a seat, Elisabeth looked around andined, "It''s all your fault for picking this movie. We have to wait for several minutes."

    Eric handed the popcorn and soda he was holding to thedy, saying, "You wanted to see this on a whim, after all. Waiting a few minutes is much better than walking in halfway through, and besides, this movie is pretty good."

    "You''ve seen it?" thedy asked upon hearing Eric''sment.

    Eric nodded. "Sort of."

    Thedy shot him a re. "What do you mean, sort of? It''s either yes or no."

    Eric ignored her retort; he couldn''t exactly say he saw it in thest life, could he? He remembered, back when this movie released, he had even told Nicole to check it out and study Meg Ryan''s acting style.

    While sitting there, idly pondering a few minutes before the film began, Eric noticed something interesting.

    The screeny for When Harry Met Sally... was written by Nora Ephron. Although this woman, who was both a screenwriter and director, had produced a number of highly sessful works, her fame was surprisingly low. For most movie fans, when mentioning her work, they often thought of the filmmakers who starred in the films, without realizing the contributions of this director and screenwriter.

    Of course, that wasn''t the interesting part. What Eric observed was that at least in the Nora Ephron films he had seen, the female leads shared a verymon trait -- sweetness.

    Meg Ryan earned the title of America''s Sweetheartrgely because of Nora Ephron''s When Harry Met Sally.... Furthermore, in Ephron''s other works, the female leads were also endowed with a ''sweet'' attribute. Aside from Meg Ryan, the poised Nicole Kidman became sweet in the film Bewitched, and the ordinary-looking Lisa Kudrow transformed into a charming character in Lucky Numbers. Even Meryl Streep showcased her sweet side in one of Ephron''s early works, Heartburn.

    One could say that this screenwriter, deep down, was likely a romantic at heart, granting this same characteristic to various actresses who hadpletely different styles.

    ...

    As the lights dimmed in the screening room and the silent subtitles rolled, the film opened with a striking scene: a gray-haired elderly couple recalling how they came together many years ago.

    Though the elderly couple were actors, their stories were based on real interviews Nora Ephron conducted with couples in real life. Eric was engrossed, while Elisabeth beside him seemed perplexed. "Eric, what''s going on?"

    "Just hang tight and watch," he replied.

    As he spoke, the scene had already shifted to the campus of the University of Chicago, where the young male and female leads were meeting for the first time before heading out into the world. Carpooling to New York, they stubbornly clung to their beliefs, arguing back and forth without any one of them being able to convince the other, each disying theirst ounce of youthful arrogance until they parted ways ungracefully.

    Five yearster, they crossed paths again. The female lead had found love, and the male lead was about to marry. Perhaps feeling at peace with their futures, they decided to explore a friendship.

    Another five years passed, and the male lead was divorced, while the female lead had broken up. Fate, with its twists, brought them together once more, and they forged a true friendship, at least in their eyes.

    This time, time didn''t rush away; it slowed down. As they spent more time together, they forged a bond as best friends, introducing each other to their closest friends in hopes of arranging romantic matches. They seeded, at least partly; their friends became a couple, fell in love, and were on the verge of getting married. While offering their congrattions, the stubborn pair clung to their beliefs, thinking that since they had started as friends, they ought not to disrupt that rtionship.

    By coincidence or maybe due to the inevitable chemistry, they found themselves in bed together. The next morning, they woke up panicked, full of hesitation, starting to avoid each other. On a lonely New Year''s Eve, the male lead finally confessed his feelings, and they shared a passionate kiss through tears.

    The camera lingered on a ssic-style sofa, no longer upied by the gray-haired elderly couple but now by the married couple, chattering away, naturally with arguments included. Twelve years and three months, beautiful youth burned out, and it was time for a new partner. The lights came on, signaling the end of the movie.

    ...

    The crowd clustered together like conjoined twins, whispering to each other as they exited the theater, while some couples remained in their seats, kissing as if no one was watching. Elisabeth, holding a bucket of popcorn she had barely touched, got bumped by people passing by. Finally, she joined Eric and broke the silence, "That movie was really good."

    "Yeah, the director shot some fantastic scenes, especially the seasonal imagery. The one with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in the woods is beautiful; the falling maple leaves symbolize life''s grand finale. Oh, and their eyes -- who knows if this was deliberate? -- they always had such clear, expressive eyes. After all, the saying ''the eyes are the windows to the soul'' isn''t just a cliche. The camera could unknowinglymunicate a lot of emotions to the audience. Maybe I''ll use that in my films someday..."

    As they left the theater, Elisabeth, for some unknown reason, suddenly became furious. She dumped arge portion of her popcorn into the trash can with a loud tter, gaining the attention of those around them, cutting off Eric''s analysis mid-sentence.

    "Uh..." Seeing her action, Eric shrugged, choosing not to continue his pointless chatter.

    ...

    After getting into the car, he noticed Elisabeth silently fastening her seatbelt. "You going to Julia''s ce?" he confirmed.

    "Yeah," Elisabeth nodded, then added, "It''s still a bit far from Julia''s. Why don''t we swing by your ce first? After you get out, I can drive back myself. You probably have more than one car, right? You can just use another one for work tomorrow."

    "No problem," Eric calcted the travel time. It seemed most convenient, so he agreed and started the car.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    By the time they reached the entrance of Eric''s mansion, after over thirty minutes on the road, the usually talkative Elisabeth remained uncharacteristically silent.

    "Well, see you tomorrow?" Eric asked as he stopped the car and unbuckled his seatbelt.

    "Hmm..." Elisabeth huffed, ring at Eric as if she were trying to burn him with her gaze.

    The tension hung in the air for a few seconds. Eric turned off the engine and all the car lights, reaching out to gently pinch Elisabeth''s pointed chin in the dark. "Okay, how about this?"

    *****

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 Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Even if you bite it off, you cant eat it [NSFW]

    Chapter 230: Even if you bite it off, you can''t eat it [NSFW]

    ?

    [Chapter 230: Even if you bite it off, you can''t eat it]

    The sudden darkness frightened Elisabeth to scream, but Eric''s next move caused her scream to be cut off halfway.

    "Hey... you can''t... mmm..." In the dark, Elisabeth briefly managed to free her lips from Eric''s, but before she could say much, her pouty little mouth was blocked again.

    At the beginning there was a loud sound of fabric rubbing against each other, but in less than

    a minute, the rustling sound became very faint and was soon covered up by the sucking sound of lips and tongues.

    After an unknown amount of time, Eric finally released Elisabeth''s lips and sat back in his seat.

    He asked softly, "Should I turn on the lights?"

    "It''s a free country," replied a slightly panting voice.

    Elisabeth''s face had reddened and she was still breathing heavily, but she still refused to quit her quips.

    Eric smirked and moved his hand to lightly pinch her chest, causing her to squirm and let out a tender moan.

    "You... bastard! Let go..." said Elisabeth, but Eric felt her soft hand gently press his hand as if indicating him to continue. He smiled and slowly increased the strength between his fingers.

    After a while, Eric heard some muffled moans and asked in a husky voice, "Do you want me to continue?"

    Elisabeth asked as she lightly gasped, "Why...? Are you... scared?"

    "Wow, so you''re provoking me," said Eric as he pushed back both his and Elisabeth''s seat before he pushed her down. Pressing her soft body underneath him, Eric ripped off her shirt and threw it aside.

    Although the car was dark and locked, they were still outdoors. Elisabeth, who suddenly felt her back touch the leather seat, asked, "Hey, you bastard, you''re not going to... do it here, right?"

    "Don''t forget, you asked for this," said Eric before he unhooked Elisabeth''s bra, and began to grope her breasts with his cold hands. Feeling the breasts directly was definitely much better than feeling them through ayer of clothing.

    As she felt Eric''srge, cold hands groping her breasts, Elisabeth''s breath quickened, but, soon, she noticed that one of his hands was moving towards her lower belly. She quickly grabbed his hands and said, anxiously, "No, absolutely not! We''re on the streets; anyone passing by could see us!"

    "Such a tease," quipped Eric before he quickly pulled back his seat and drove the car inside his mansion''spound.

    After he parked the car, Elisabeth quickly turned off the lights. Eric smiled as he went back to licking her breasts while he moved his hands down her lower belly.

    "Men really only want one thing,"ined Elisabeth, but, after feeling that Eric had unbuttoned her jeans, she willingly raised her hips to allow him to pull her jeans off.

    "I... I think... we should go inside," whispered Elisabeth as she twisted her body a few times after her bare butt touched the cold leather seat.

    Although doing this in the car was very exciting, Eric also felt a bit ufortable going further here, so he quickly walked out, picked up Elisabeth, who was almost naked, spare her panties, from the other side and put her on his shoulder before he rushed to his mansion.

    "Hey, I don''t want to be carried off like this. Only robbers would carry a woman like this,"ined Elisabeth as she hammered her fists on his back.

    Ericughed and thought that she was really worried about the wrong thing. Under normal circumstances, even though it waste at night, any woman who was naked would first ask for her clothes to cover herself up, but she was worried about how she was being held.

    He chuckled as he yfully pped her soft hips and asked, "Then, how do you want to be carried?"

    "Princess hug! I want a princess hug!" yelled Elisabeth as she shook Eric''s back.

    Eric stopped and changed the position to hold Elisabeth in his arms, lowered his head and kissed her lips before he began walking again.

    Because of his familiarity with theyout of his mansion, Eric managed to reach his bedroom with Elisabeth in his arms without needing to turn on the light before he unceremoniously threw her on therge bed.

    He started taking his clothes off as he feasted his eyes on her graceful body, sight of her face, flushed red with arousal, big, round breasts with hard, pink nipples, heaving up and down with heavy breaths, t stomach, slim waist, wide hips and round thighs making blood rush to his crotch as he threw his underwear away and pounced on her.

    ...

    His eyes opened slightly after Eric felt some movement. Through his squinted eyes, he saw that the woman in his arms had carefully slipped out and moved to the bedside. He opened his eyes wider and managed to see Elisabeth''s lithe naked back as she slowly moved her hand towards the phone at the bedside.

    Eric wondered what she was doing as he continued to quietly and secretly watch her.

    After a series of beeping dials, Elisabeth put the phone on her ear.

    After a while...

    Elisabeth spoke in a low, but anxious voice, "Hey, Julia, what should I do? I slept with him!"

    When Eric heard this, he grabbed his forehead as he wryly smiled. Does this silly girl really think that he would continue to sleep even after she made so much noise?

    Elisabeth, whose back was facing Eric, still didn''t know that he had woken up, so she continued, "What, that... it felt pretty good. Hmph, do you think I don''t know? You also slept with him, so what are you asking me for?"

    "''Where am I?""'' she repeated the question before she nced back at Eric who quickly closed his eyes. Assured that he was still asleep, she lied, "Of course I escaped... I know it''s still early, but I can''t wait for him to wake up before I leave, right? So embarrassing... Um... Hey, I knew it would be useless to call you, so I''m hanging up... No no no, no need to pick me up... That''s it, I''m hanging up."

    After she hung up the phone, Elisabeth was about to quietly walk towards the bathroom when a pair ofrge hands grabbed her from behind.

    As she screamed, Eric smirked and said, "Liz, I don''t know if I should call this cute or silly? Do you talk about this kind of thing with your girlfriend? Shouldn''t you keep my reputation in

    mind?"

    Elisabeth stuttered as she asked in a panic while her hands were on Eric''s hands, "Ah, you...wh-when did you wake up?"

    "Just around the time when you said that ''it felt pretty good''."

    Elisabeth turned beet red as she shyly covered her face. Eric pulled her into his arms and said, "There''s no need to be embarrassed. Lovemaking between a man and a woman is supposed to feel good. To be honest, I am quite happy that it felt good for you."

    "You, you..."

    Suddenly Elisabeth opened her mouth and bit down hard on Eric''s shoulder.

    Eric took a few breaths of cold air in pain, patted the girl''s back and soothed her, "Hey, Liz, just grind your teeth to let out the air. Don''t be so hard. You can''t eat it even if you bite it off."

    Puff--n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The girlughed out loud at Eric''sst words, pinched Eric a few times, then broke free from the man''s arms and quickly fled into the bathroom.

    *****

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 Chapter 231: Chapter 231: You Have to Marry Me

    Chapter 231: You Have to Marry Me

    ?

    [Chapter 231: You Have to Marry Me]

    Eric leaned against the headboard, watching as Elisabeth escaped to the bathroom like a naked mermaid. He had nned to join her for a romantic bath and maybe some morning exercise. But before he could move, Elisabeth re-emerged from the bathroom, tightly wrapped in a towel.

    "Eric, I''ve thought it over. Although we haven''t known each other long, I feel you''re really quite a decent guy," Elisabeth said, nervously grasping the cor of her bathrobe, her body swaying slightly, yet her beautiful, elongated eyes were fixed on Eric.

    Hearing Elisabeth say that made Eric feel a wave of dread wash over him. Before he could react, she mustered up the courage to continue.

    "Plus, we slept togetherst night. I''m not that kind of loose woman, so..."

    Elisabeth hesitated for a few seconds, then finally articted: "So, you have to marry me!"

    After saying this, it seemed as if all the strength left her body, and she shrank back a little. But her eyes remained sharp as she stared at Eric, waiting for a response.

    Eric sat frozen on the bed for a few seconds, finally sputtering out a few words: "What the fuck!"

    ...

    Then...

    In Julia''s apartment, Elisabeth sat on the couch, dejectedly recounting what had happened. Julia sat next to her, listening with rapt attention. But when Elisabeth stopped talking about pressuring Eric into marriage, Julia couldn''t help but prod her: "Why did you stop? What happened next?"

    Elisabeth shook her head, tugging at the white bathrobe tie she still wore, and then stumbled over her words: "Then he... he ran away."

    Julia realized she might have misunderstood and instinctively asked, "What do you mean he ran away?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Elisabeth gestured with her right hand: "He just got dressed super fast and ran out the door. When I realized what was happening, I went downstairs and circled around his ce but didn''t find him anywhere."

    After she finished speaking, the two women exchanged nces. Elisabeth bit her lip, seemingly at a loss about what to do. But Julia puffed up her cheeks and after a moment burst intoughter, pping the couch: "Hahaha, Eric is such a jerk, hahaha! He ran away, that''s just too much!"

    "Hey! Noughing!" Elisabeth, blushing from embarrassment, grabbed a throw pillow from the couch and threw it at Julia. "What kind of friend are you? Stopughing, or I swear I''ll cut ties with you!"

    Julia took a deep breath, finally managing to calm down and abruptly remembered something else: "So when you called me in the morning saying you had left Eric''s ce, that was a lie?" "I... I didn''t want to tell you, but, this really was... Ugh, don''t get hung up on the details!"

    Seeing Elisabeth nearly lose it, Julia quickly reassured her: "Alright, alright, I won''t ask. So, what next?"

    "What next?" Elisabeth asked.

    "Didn''t you think about breaking something valuable of his to let off some steam, like a watch or some electonics or something?" Julia believed that a pampered girl like Elisabeth would inevitably do something impulsive given how Eric treated her.

    "How could I be that childish!" Elisabeth immediately shot back. But seeing Julia''s questioning expression, Elisabeth lowered her head slightly and confessed, "Fine, at first, I was really angry! I mean, even if he didn''t want to, he should have said something instead of just running off without a word. So in my impulsivity, I thought about burning down his vi."

    Julia gasped and covered her mouth: "That''s a bit much, don''t you think?"

    Ignoring Julia''s surprise, Elisabeth continued, "I found a bucket of gasoline in the storage room and poured it all over his living room. Then I looked around but couldn''t find anything to set it on fire with. After a while, I calmed down and just came here."

    Although Elisabeth never set the fire, Julia felt a shiver run down her spine as she listened. To be honest, Julia sometimes felt some lingering resentment towards Eric and had toyed with the idea of teaching him a lesson, but even in her worst fantasies, she never imagined taking things that far.

    Noticing Julia''s reaction, Elisabeth chuckled nervously: "So, what do we do now?"

    Julia thought for a moment and replied, "Now''s actually a great opportunity. If you ask him for that screeny again, there''s no way he can refuse now."

    "If that''s the case, what does that make me?" Elisabeth countered.

    Julia knew this proud girl would never agree to that, so she shrugged. "Then let''s just pretend nothing happened and carry on as usual."

    "But I wouldn''t know how to face that jerk again."

    "Then don''t work as his assistant; that way, you won''t have to see him for a while. Remember, you already applied for our TG Filmspany license, right? We could just spend

    a million or so to make a low-budget film for fun."

    "Making something means making it the best it can be; we can''t just ''y'' at it!" Elisabeth objected....

    Just then, Drew walked in with a pink crossbody bag, greeting the two women on the couch: "Good morning! Hey, Liz, why are you in a bathrobe?"

    "I just took a shower," Elisabeth responded calmly. Women had a talent for lying naturally.

    "Oh," Drew replied, barely acknowledging it. She was too preupied to care; otherwise, if she looked closely, she would definitely recognize the bathrobe''s origin, since Eric''s household goods had all been provided by her.

    Sitting down on the couch, Drew opened her bag, pulled out a script, and handed it to Julia and Elisabeth: "What do you think of this script?"

    The two women grabbed the script and looked at the title, with Julia asking, "The Silence of the Lambs, what does that mean?"

    "I feel like I''ve heard of it somewhere before, seems like it''s a novel," Elisabeth replied. Due to having only one copy of the script, both women leaned in together to read.

    As Julia and Elisabeth read through the script, Drew poured herself a ss of juice and returned to the couch: "This script is adapted from the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. Last year, Gene Hackman, who starred in the best picture-nominated Mississippi Burning, bought the rights to this script intending to direct it himself. But that poor guy developed severe manic depression while filming Mississippi Burning, and his psychiatrist advised him to avoid violent subjects, so he ended up having to sell it. I happened to be acquiring scriptstely and thought this story was really thrilling and not too expensive, so I

    bought it."

    After skimming through half of it, Julia looked up tentatively: "Drew, the main character in this script is a woman, you''re not thinking..."

    "Hey, Julia, don''t you want to stretch your acting chops by ying theplex lead role of

    rice?"

    Julia quickly shook her head. She felt that the character she yed in Steel Magnolias was already challenging enough. "No way! I just read part of the story, and it was terrifying! Who knows, after performing in this, I might end up with some kind of psychological trauma..."

    As she spoke, she seemed to think of something, her face turning slightly red as she lowered her head discreetly.

    At that moment, after skimming through the story, Elisabeth also looked up: "Drew, I also think this isn''t a good idea. This is definitely a script that''ll get an R rating; perhaps it''ll spark some controversy once filmed. That way, it could seriously affect the image of our filmpany. After all, TG Films is run by the three of us girls!"

    "My thoughts are the opposite, Liz," Drew immediately countered after hearing Elisabeth. "Exactly because TG is ourpany, I think we should attempt some more unconventional film genres, so people won''t think we''re just ying around."

    Hearing this, Elisabeth and Julia exchanged nces, with Julia immediately retracting her

    neck: "I''m not acting! And my agent would definitely disagree; my image is mainly in romanticedies."

    "I heard the screenwriter who adapted this script wants Jodie Foster to y rice. Julia, don''t you want topete with Jodie Foster?"

    "Compete in what?" Julia blinked, a hint of smugness in her tone: "If we''re talking about

    sry, even though Jodie''s won an Oscar, her entire filmography doesn''te close to the

    box office of my Pretty Woman."

    "But as an actress, don''t you want Oscar validation?"

    "Not really," Julia replied, lifting her chin slightly. She had barely been famous for a year, so she hadn''t experienced the Oscar buzz yet, and her words were genuine.

    Though Drew was a half-cycle younger than Julia, her experience in Hollywood surpassed that of the actress. Hearing what Julia said, she wore a frustrated expression: "If Eric heard you say that, he would regret letting you star in Pretty Woman; you''re just disappointing him

    so much."

    "Why should I care about that jerk''s disappointment?" Julia replied airily.

    Drew threatened, "Would you dare say what you just said in front of Eric?" Julia then turned her head away, adopting a "I''m not going to argue with a child" expression.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Of Course, Its Different

    Chapter 232: Of Course, It''s Different

    ?

    [Chapter 232: Of Course, It''s Different]

    "Alright, stop arguing," Elisabeth said after a moment of thought. "I think we should give it a shot."

    The little girl chimed in immediately, "This is the script selected by a Best Picture nominee for thest Oscars! It has to be good, and if you all agree, I''ll ask Eric to take a look at it."

    When Julia heard Drew say that, she quickly suggested, "Drew, didn''t Eric help you acquire a bunch of adaptation rights? Why not pick one from there? Those were all his choices, so they have to be better than this one, right?"

    "No way," the little girl shook her head. "Those rights belong to my Flower Films."

    "Don''t you also have stake in TG?" Julia asked, feeling discontent.

    Drew replied, "Of course, it''s different! Flower Films was given to me by Eric."

    Julia paused, feeling a bit envious, but she didn''t know how to counter that.

    "Alright, Julia, I think we''ve made our decision. Let''s go ahead and make our debut film The Silence of Lambs."

    Julia grabbed a cushion and hugged it to herself, curling up on the couch. "Anyway, I''m not ying the lead."

    Elisabeth and Drew exchanged nces, silentlymunicating. Elisabeth then said, "In that case, let''s vote. Who agrees that Julia should y the lead?"

    The little girl and Elisabeth immediately raised their right hands in a theatrical manner.

    "You guys..." Julia rolled her eyes in exasperation.

    Elisabeth looked at Julia''s stubborn expression and, with a gleam in her eye, suggested, "By the way, if you disagree, Drew and I will find someone else to convince you."

    Julia immediately thought of Eric''s annoying face. She jumped up, tossing the cushion aside in anger. "You... How can you bully me like this?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "So, does that mean you agree?" Elisabeth said with a victorious grin.

    Julia sulked, "I have to ask my agent first."

    Elisabeth reassured her, "The rice character isn''t a viin or a fool. I''m sure Mr. Hyde will agree. Besides, don''t think we don''t know; in Hollywood, once you reach your level, agents can only suggest. They can no longer control your script choices. You''re obviously trying to dodge the issue; why bother asking your agent? I''d say that guy has better taste. We could consult him."

    "Fine, fine, I agree! Is that enough?" Julia finally relented.

    "Then I''ll have Eric take a look at the script for us tonight," Drew said, shing a triumphant smile. Just as she was about to tuck the script away, Elisabeth suddenly put her hand on top of it. "Let me do it. I''ll be filming Sleepless in Seattle soon, so I''ll have more time for him to help us out."

    "You?" Drew looked at Elisabeth curiously. Did she see a hint of hesitation? "Didn''t you say Eric didn''t want to help you choose scripts?"

    Elisabeth quickly replied, "Haven''t we already decided? Plus, Julia is definitely getting a piece of the film''s profits based on her sry, so the investment for this movie isn''t that high. Even if it flops, it won''t matter. I''m just going to ask him for advice. I don''t think Eric would be stingy with that. Besides, if you take it to him, you''ll need another excuse. If you''re not careful, he might just discover you''re involved in our filmpany!"

    Drew contemted that and then nodded, "That works too. It''ll save me from going back, only for Eric toin about me skipping out."

    Elisabeth sighed with relief. If the little girl returned to find the vi filled with gasoline and any clues linking her to it, that would be disastrous. She wasn''t really worried about how Drew would react; she simply didn''t want this embarrassing situation to be public. If it weren''t for the fact that she had been out all night, Elisabeth wouldn''t have shared any details with Julia.

    With that settled, the little girl nced at Elisabeth''s robe, suddenly inspired. She stood up, took off her T-shirt, and puffed out her little chest, saying, "Since we''re doing this, I''ll also take a shower. If only I could rent a ce of my own! The dorms are just ufortable. Julia, why not get a bigger vi? You can afford it!"

    "No way! A bigger ce would feel too empty. You guys wouldn''t stay long-term, so this size is just right," Julia immediately refused.

    The little girl shrugged and didn''t say more as she walked away.

    Once the bathroom door closed, Julia quietly asked, "Hey, Liz, are you still going to see Eric?"

    "What else am I supposed to do?" Elisabeth shook the script. "I can''t let Drew go back and find the vi filled with gasoline, can I? Besides, if anyone should feel guilty, it should be that jerk. Isn''t he the one trying to run away? I''m going to stick close to him and make sure he can''t rx."

    Julia couldn''t help but envision Eric''s frazzled state when faced with Elisabeth, and she teased, "Liz, you''re so wicked."

    Elisabeth tossed her hair over her shoulder without a hint of shame, "Of course!"

    ...

    Even so, it wasn''t until the next afternoon that Elisabeth finally made her way to Firefly Films'' office. The staff there all knew she was Eric''s new assistant, and her rtionship with him was more than casual. So, Elisabeth had no trouble reaching Eric''s office. After hesitating for a moment, she raised her hand to knock but then reconsidered. Instead, she gently turned the door knob and tiptoed inside.

    "Jeffrey, I''ve reviewed the set photos. The indoor scenes are fine, but there''s one thing missing in Jonah''s room - a pod chair. Just tell the props master the name, and that''ll do... Alright. I''ll sketch something and fax it over shortly. The indoor setup is no problem. However, the exterior of the cabin feels a bit empty. Just cing a single set of chairs underneath the eaves makes it look lonely. Let''s add a couple ofrge flower pots there, wooden ones, to..." Eric was deep in conversation when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye, and instinctively looked up to find Elisabeth standing there. He dropped the microphone in shock, which ttered to the floor.

    Feeling a mix of nerves, Elisabeth saw Eric''s stunned expression as he regarded the microphone he''d just dropped, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She pulled up a chair and gracefully seated herself in front of Eric, noticing him nce around nervously. With a smirk, she asked, "What happened? Are you nning to escape through the window this time? It''s not like this building is too high, but a fall could still crush some bones, right?"

    Eric managed a weak smile, bending down to pick up the mic and hold it to his ear. "...Jeffrey, it''s nothing. I just dropped the microphone... Yeah, I have something urgent to handle, so I''ll call you backter, alright? Let''s just leave it at that."

    After hanging up, Eric found himself at a loss for words. What had happened the night before was supposed to be just a one-night stand, but now the girl was on the verge of marriage? The thought horrified him.

    Even if he had gone through everything in his previous life, he was still under twenty in this life. There was no way he should be getting tied down in marriage this early on.

    Even though the culture was quite open before marriage, both the societal climate and public opinion demanded strict fidelity from married couples.

    If he were single, maintaining rtionships with multiple women would only earn him some teasing, but no one could really do anything about it. However, if he were married and did the same, he would be hit with public scorn.

    As someone hoping to live the life of a yboy, Eric certainly didn''t want to go against public opinion. That would be utterly foolish; thus he had no thoughts of getting married any time soon. Which is why he had fled that morning. While it was a bit cruel, he had no other way to deal with a woman fixated on a certain idea.

    "Why is it so quiet?" Elisabeth eyed Eric, her confidence rising.

    "What should I say?" Eric chuckled awkwardly. "I can''t exactly thank you for not burning down my vi yesterday, can I?"

    Elisabeth huffed, "Hmph, I just didn''t find the lighter. You got lucky this time."

    "Uh..."

    While Elisabeth cornered Eric, she had no intentions of pressing too hard. After all, she didn''t want to linger on that topic herself. "What were you doing just now?" Noticing her attempt to change the subject, Eric quickly replied, "Nothing. I was discussing the set for Sleepless in Seattle with Jeffrey. I have so many things on my mind that I had to leave these details to him. He''s currently making the final arrangements in Seattle."

    "Oh," Elisabeth nodded.

    "Hey, do you still want to continue being my assistant?" Eric tentatively asked.

    "Why not?" Elisabeth''s tone immediately brightened. "And also, you can forget about any of

    that... stuff."

    "Of course," Eric nodded vigorously. He''d rather be a hermit his whole life than engage with a woman trying to trap him into marriage.

    "I came here today for something else, too," Elisabeth said, pulling the script for The Silence

    of Lambs from her bag. "Here, give me your thoughts. I''ve decided to make this movie next year, so you don''t need to evaluate its box office potential or take responsibility for profits and losses. Just give me some guidance."

    Eric took the script, but just as he was about to tell her he would review it when he had the chance, he caught sight of the name on the cover and was immediately taken aback.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Sharing Benefits

    Chapter 233: Sharing Benefits

    ?

    [Chapter 233: Not All Benefits Are For One]

    "What''s up? Is something wrong?" Seeing Eric''s surprised expression, Elisabeth leaned over to check the cover but didn''t notice anything unusual, so she asked again, "What''s going on?"

    "Uh, it''s nothing," Eric shook his head and opened the script, quickly flipping through the pages.

    After about ten minutes, Eric finished reading the script and looked up to ask, "Where did you get this script?"

    Of course, Elisabeth wouldn''t tell Eric that Drew had sourced it. Instead, she ryed Drew''s statement to Eric. The girl had insisted that she and Julia keep things under wraps, wanting to achieve something on her own and surprise Ericter on.

    Hearing how Elisabeth had ''casually'' acquired the script, Eric could only shake his head in disbelief. If he had known that Drew had dug up this gem, he would''ve given her a piece of his mind. How could she share something this valuable with others, and in such quantity?

    "You''ve read it too. What do you think?" Elisabeth asked nervously. While she had already decided to produce the film, it was natural for her to want some reassurance from Eric. Eric fondled the cover of the script and momentarily entertained the idea of involving Elisabeth in the investment. After all, this wasn''t just a potential blockbuster; it was one of the rare films that had swept the four major Oscar categories. However, that thought was quickly suppressed. He figured there was no need to take all the benefits for himself, leaving others with no way forward. Especially since this youngdy had just stepped into a deeper friendship with him.

    Havinge to this realization, Eric said lightly, "The story isn''t particrly unique, but as a film, it could deliver a different experience. So, I think the casting for this movie is vital. Do you have anyone in mind for the lead roles?"

    "I n to have Julia y rice Starling, and she has agreed. I haven''t thought about the other roles yet; after all, this is my debut as a producer. I want to take my time with it," Elisabeth replied.

    Eric immediately shook his head. "No, Julia isn''t right for rice. rice is a veryplex character, and Julia doesn''t possess the range to pull it off."

    "Then who do you think is suitable?" the young woman asked, probing for suggestions.

    Without hesitation, Eric blurted out, "Jodie Foster."

    "Ah... interesting. I just happened to hear that the writer adapting this script also suggested Jodie Foster for rice," Elisabeth eximed in surprise, then continued in a tone she considered professional, "But, Eric, this is just a horror film. Audiences watch horror for the thrills and chills. So, I don''t think the lead actress needs to be overly skilled. Horror films aren''t aiming for Oscars. I haven''t heard of many horror films winning Academy Awards." "Just because it hasn''t happened in the past doesn''t mean it won''t happen in the future," Eric noted. "Of course, it''s just a suggestion; whether you take it is up to you."

    Since this film wasn''t his responsibility, Eric didn''t want to interfere. Hollywood''s history had already changedpletely with his entry. Even without The Silence of the Lambs as a ssic, there were bound to be other great films surfacing.

    "Then I''ll think about it some more," Elisabeth cautiously nodded, adding, "Is there anyone else?"

    "For Hannibal Lecter, you could try Anthony Hopkins."

    "Anthony Hob... Hopkins?" Elisabeth repeated the name, and it was no wonder she hadn''t heard of Anthony Hopkins. Although this famed Hannibal had been around since the ''60s, he only reached his peak after the sess of The Silence of the Lambs. By then, he was already over fifty and had yet to have a standout role.

    Eric had no idea how to exin his knowledge of the actor to her, so he just vaguely replied, "He''s an old pro in Hollywood, known for many art-house films, so his acting skills are definitely solid. I can''t remember where I saw himst, but his image fits Hannibal perfectly. If you ask around, you''ll definitely find him."

    "Got it. I''ll make a note," Elisabeth nodded, pulling out a notepad from her bag and carefully jotting down the name.

    Watching the girl''s focus as she wrote, Eric finally spoke again, "You know Jonathan Demme, right? After The Others, he will surely gain substantial fame, so let''s have him direct The Silence of the Lambs. Although he''s currently in Venice, when he returns, I''ll introduce you."

    Elisabeth''s hand paused mid-write, and she looked up at Eric, saying, "I don''t need you topensate me!"

    Eric was taken aback and then realized something, chuckling, "You''re too sensitive. I wasn''t thinking aboutpensating you. You can consider this... a business deal. Jonathan Demme signed a contract with UTA, so UTA will take a cut of his directing fee, and I just happen to be a major shareholder at UTA."

    Elisabeth pouted and then said, "I''ll handle the discussion with Jonathan Demme myself. No need for you to interject, and I will pay him his worth, no less."

    Eric shrugged. "Sure, it''s up to you."

    Once they wrapped up that discussion, Elisabeth tucked the script into her bag and looked up to ask, "Do I have any work to do now?"

    Eric gathered some papers on his desk and handed her a few files. "Take these out and shred them, then toss them. Also, the top sheet is the shooting schedule for Sleepless in Seattle. Familiarize yourself with it, so you aren''tpletely in the dark when filming starts. There''s an office desk in that outer lounge area; you can use that. I''ll call for you if there''s something."

    "Okay," Elisabeth nodded, pleased that Eric finally let her do something productive. She stood up with the files but paused to ask, "Eric, it seems you only have Allen as an assistant and no secretary or anything?"

    "Because I used to be away from the office a lot, I didn''t need one. However, after this year, there will definitely be more things that require my direct attention at thepany. So, I''ll be looking for a lovely face to handle the misceneous tasks," Eric said, winking suggestively at her. "So, do you have someone in mind to rmend or maybe yourself?"

    "Hmph, you can''t afford to hire me, and I''m definitely not a pretty trophy!" Elisabeth huffed, turning around and heading for the door.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 234: Chapter 234: The Send-Off

    Chapter 234: The Send-Off

    ?

    [Chapter 234: The Send-Off]

    On September 15, the 46th Venice Film Festival wrapped up sessfully.

    Although the Venice Film Festival consistently touted its artistic nature to differentiate itself from the increasinglymercial Cannes Film Festival and the politically-oriented Berlin Film Festival, the anti-war film The Others ultimately snagged the Silver Lion at Venice amidst the tumultuous global climate, thanks to a wave of promotional efforts by the media.

    Once the award results were announced, Disney''s relentless marketing ensured that The Others overshadowed A City of Sadness, this year''s Golden Lion winner.

    The Others, which won the Silver Lion, would undoubtedly be recognized by international distributors as amercial film. They could tell that it was a story with strong potential for box office hit. Thus, after The Others added the Silver Lion to its des, it quickly attracted a slew of distributors from around the world who were already in discussions with Disney about releasing the film.

    On the day the results were made public, Disney sessfully sold the distribution rights for the film to twelve countries. Numerous others were also still in negotiations.

    Of course, Disney had not forgotten to promote the film domestically. The influence of European films had diminished significantly in North America with the rise of Hollywood, yet it was still a point of pride for Americans when a Hollywood film won awards abroad. Following a media blitz, The Others rapidly became quickly popr.

    Soon after, Disney announced the release date for the film: November 1, Halloween. While this wasn''t the most popr release period -- some even suggested it could be held off until the next summer -- after discussions with Eric, Michael Eisner determined to stick with this date that many doubted.

    Eric''s reasoning behind his suggestion revolved around the film''s focus. The Others wasn''t one of those traditional horror films that drew audiences in with blood and violence; instead, it relied on psychological suspense and plot twists. The PG-13 rating also meant that families couldfortably go to see it together during the holiday period, making a release around this time wholly appropriate.

    Moreover, who said that horror films couldn''t have a New Year''s release? Eric clearly remembered that famous Scream, which had released during Christmas and made over $100 million on a budget of just over $10 million. That film was truly an R-rated horror film that thrived on violence and gore; sadly, a certain someone didn''tst very long in that flick...

    ...

    In early September, most of the crew members for Sleepless in Seattle had already headed to Seattle ahead of the film''s pre-production efforts. It wasn''t until September 16 that Eric wrapped up some pressing business for Firefly Films and prepared to head to Seattle to start filming.

    Sleepless in Seattle and Home Alone 2 were to be filmed back-to-back, so after finishing up Tom Hanks''s scenes in Seattle, Eric would head to New York to shoot Nicole''s major parts. After that, Sleepeless in Seattle would be finished, followed immediately by Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

    Given that this sequel had also been quite sessful, Eric had no intention of changing the script.

    Though time was tight, Eric, ustomed to this shooting rhythm, felt little pressure. Instead, he felt somewhat awkward while waiting in the Los Angeles airport terminal. Besides the staff joining him for the trip to Seattle, several women had gathered around him: Drew, Elisabeth, and Julia on one side, while Jennifer Aniston and Nicole stood on the other.

    shes from cameras went off nearby. Besides those persistent paparazzi who had repeatedly been stopped by airport security, even casual tourists raised their cameras to get a shot.

    After all, among these women, four were renowned stars, excluding Elisabeth. Although Eric had been trying to keep a low profile, aiming for a quieter behind-the-scenes role, the attention around him only increased, making it impossible for travelers at the airport not to recognize him.

    One could easily imagine that tomorrow''s papers would run headlines like "yboy Crew Departs, Five Beauties Send Off Sweetly,"den with insinuation.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    However, sweetness was definitely absent from the scene. If looks had physical form, he might as well be skewered and ready for the barbecue right now.

    Look at those women. Though all were dressed beautifully, their expressions told a different story. The mischievous glint Drew''s eyes indicated trouble, Jennifer looked full of mncholy, Nicole''s teasing demeanor had spilled over, while Elisabeth was acting indifferent but still stepped on toes,pletely unaware of her high heels. And Julia -- what was with that expression? One moment looking resigned, the next moment filled with despair, then back to a carefree attitude, only to show a flicker of sadness -- was she trying to prove that she had the best acting chops among this group?

    Though they came to send him off, it felt like the women had agreed to leave him hanging. They split into two groups to chat amongst themselves.

    Eric could grasp why Aniston and Nicole were getting along so well; the tabloids had been all over their friendship. They were spotted shopping, dining together, and even had numerous photos snapped when Nicole visited the set of Friends.

    Several newspapers credited Nicole''s lead role in Sleepless in Seattle to Aniston''s rmendation to her boyfriend. Nicole cleverly refrained from denying it. Naturally, Eric saw this as a plus since out of his current film leads, he found himself feeling the most "innocent" with Nicole due to their time together in the past.

    It seemed that was why Aniston had be friends with Nicole. Eric even suspected the young starlet may have had ulterior motives in keeping her close, possibly out of fear of him

    straying.

    As for the other three women, Eric found himself puzzled. They seemed quite familiar with each other. He knew Elisabeth and Julia well enough, but what was the deal with Drew?

    After the agonizing wait of half an hour, the airport announcer''s melodious voice finally dered that boarding had begun.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Seattle

    Chapter 235: Seattle

    ?

    [Chapter 235: Seattle]

    After saying a hasty goodbye to Jennifer Aniston and the others, Eric led Nicole and Elisabeth along with several other crew members toward the boarding gate. The massive Boeing jet slid down the long runway, leaping into the clouds. Once the ne stabilized, Eric unbuckled his seatbelt and finally let out a sigh of relief.

    Elisabeth, who always seemed to nce over at Eric, scoffed, "This is what happens to greedy men, huh."

    Eric wasn''t in the mood to discuss this with Elisabeth. She clearly had some jealousy issues, and anything he said would only make her tease more. So, he opted for silence instead.

    After four hours of flying, they arrived at Seattle-Ta International Airport. Through the ne window, the runway appeared moist, and the sky was overcast, indicating that it had recently rained.

    In stark contrast to Los Angeles, which basked in sunshine over three hundred days a year, Seattle''s weather represented apletely different extreme. Due to its temperate maritime climate, Seattle remained perpetually damp throughout the year; even when it wasn''t raining, there was always a lingering feeling of humidity. It was rumored that the line about "Seattle being rainy for nine months of the year" in the original script was actually aint from director Nora Ephron, stemming from frequent dys due to unexpected downpours during filming.

    With a gentle reminder from the flight attendant, Eric and the others put on extrayers before stepping off the ne. However, once they exited the airport, a chilly breeze greeted them.

    In Los Angeles, temperatures in September could still reach thirty degrees. But Seattle already had the refreshing chill of autumn, with temperatures around fifteen degrees.

    ...

    "Hey, Eric," Jeffrey greeted as he approached and shared a brief hug with Eric.

    After a quick nod, Eric released Jeffrey and asked, "How''s Seattle treated you recently?"

    "Awful. I really hate the weather here," Jeffrey shook his head.

    Eric chuckled reassuringly, "Just hang tight for a few days. Once I get things rolling, you can head to New York."

    "I know. Let''s go, the car''s outside," Jeffrey said, greeting the others as they exited the airport and piled into a few vans.

    After half an hour of travel, they finally arrived at the film''s shooting location in Seattle -- the Alki Beach. This beachy on the southwestern side of the city, about twenty kilometers from downtown. Being somewhat remote, the crew''s living conditions were rather modest.

    Elisabeth stood in her room, eyes wide with horror at the simple bed, basic furniture, and the vintage boxy TV that resembled a small container. Sheined to Eric, who had been forcefully dragged along, "Eric, is the budget so tight that the crew has to stay in a ce like this?"

    "Of course not," Eric chuckled at her expressive face and joked, "But we''re not at the level of building a five-star hotel just for the crew either."

    "But, I..." Elisabeth grimaced as she gestured around the room.

    "Liz, you need to understand. We''re here to make a movie, not to enjoy a vacation. To save time, we had to choose amodations nearby. We can''t have dozens of peoplemuting from downtown every day just for a morefortable stay, can we? This area is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, and you can imagine the congestion caused by people driving to work downtown--it would waste so much time."

    Elisabeth frowned, "But it looks... so dirty here."

    "If you can''t handle it, then feel free to book a hotel downtown. There are other inns, but this one''s considered the best in the area. Besides, look--there''s a TV," Ericughed, pointing at the antiquated wooden TV, secretly contemting whether he should toss it; after all, anything that old could be a quirky antique and enhance the room''s postmodern, artistic vibe.

    Elisabeth rolled her eyes at Eric as if to say, "Are you kidding me?"

    After joking around, Eric gave her shoulder aforting pat and said, "Liz, aren''t you aiming to be a producer? If you can''t handle this little bit, I suggest you rethink your choices. When you make movies in the future, you''ll likely face far worse conditions than here. Camping out in the wild will be inevitable; what will you do then?"

    "I..." she bit her lip but couldn''t help asking, "Um, does everyone in the crew stay in ces like this?"

    "Of course," Eric replied, "I''m just diagonally across from you, and Nicole''s facing you. And we can''t amodate everyone in one inn, so like I said, this is the best one we found. The crew''s production assistants and props team are in a ce across the street; their conditions are even worse."

    Elisabeth paused for a moment, and finally turned silently to drag in her suitcase.

    ...

    After lunch, Eric spent the afternoon reviewing previous location choices with Jeffrey and the others before the crew held a simple kickoff party that evening. The next day, filming for Sleepless in Seattle officially began.

    "Hey, Victor, how''s it been hanging out with Uncle Hanks?" Eric asked as the crew set up the camera tracks.

    The little boy named Victor Morris looked up at his mother standing nearby. After receiving her encouraging nod, he said, "Uncle Hanks is a really nice guy. He bought me lots of gifts!" Victor then pulled out a small Transformer toy resembling Optimus Prime from his pocket and waved it at Eric.

    Eric smiled, "Well, if you perform wellter, I''ll get you a gift too. How about the whole set of Transformers?"

    The boy nced at his mother and then shook his head. "No thank you, Mr. Director. Mom said you''ve already paid me, so even without gifts, I''ll do a great job."

    Eric patted the boy''s head and chatted with him for a bit before standing and turning to Tom Hanks. "What do you think?"

    "Victor''s very obedient. He''s smart too, but I wonder if he can capture that cleverness you need. To be honest, I think there''s another boy who''s perfect for the character Jonah."

    Eric knew Hanks was referring to Stuart Ronkel. However, that seemed unlikely; even as a supporting actor, Stuart''s pay was in the million-dor range, while this little boy was only making a hundred thousand. Firefly Films certainly had plenty of cash, but they wouldn''t waste it unnecessarily. While the character of Jonah held potential, he was ultimately a supporting role. The leads would always be Sam and Jenny.

    "Just give him more tries. The reason I chose this kid is because he was very cooperative. The shooting schedule for Sleepless in Seattle is tight, and if we end up with a disobedient young actor, it could really dy filming, and that would be a disaster for the crew."

    "Got it," Tom Hanks chuckled.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Before long, the tracks were ready, and after a brief discussion with Eric, Tom Hanks led the little boy toward the beach for their first scene.

    The first shoot was simple; it mainly showed Sam and Jonah rowing a boat and ying by the shore. Since the shots were all wide angle, and didn''t require much acting, Eric felt free to let them improvise. He briefed the cinematographer and assistant director to capture as much footage as possible and then headed toward a nearby trailer.

    ...

    With the trailer door open, Eric walked inside where a makeup artist was touching up Nicole. Once Hanks and the boy finished their yful scenes, Nicole would begin her first shoot -- watching the two y from afar, which would also mark Jenny and Sam''s first interaction. Even though the main characters didn''t speak until an hour into the movie, Eric decided to shoot this scene right away.

    "Mr. Williams," the two female makeup artists quickly greeted him upon noticing his

    presence.

    "Continue," Eric assured them, calming Nicole, who was about to rise. He stepped behind her, gazing at the beautiful woman in the makeup mirror.

    After a moment, the makeup artist expertly touched up Nicole''s face and asked, "Mr.

    Williams, how does this look?"

    Nicole stood up, showcasing her look and spinning around yfully in front of Eric.

    At that moment, she wore a white zer and pencil skirt, coupled with white high heels, topped with an oversized gray hooded coat -- looks reminiscent of Meg Ryan''s style in Eric''s memory. Though both were beautiful, they exudedpletely different vibes, while Eric needed a sweet and naive protagonist.

    "Nicole, imagine you''re Annie Reed and give me a smile," Eric leaned against a table,

    instructing her.

    Nicole hesitated for a moment, then tilted her head and cracked a goofy smile while gazing at

    Eric dreamily. In an instant, a refreshingly silly yet somewhat sweet aura enveloped the room.

    Eric was momentarily taken aback and snapped his fingers in approval: "Perfect. Just like

    that." Once Eric acknowledged her, Nicole quickly settled back into her poised demeanor, turning back into the stylish and cool Nicole Kidman, waiting for Eric''s nextmand.

    Eric didn''t mind her shifting expressions; he was just d Nicole could transition quickly

    during performance.

    "By the way, you''ve practiced how Annie walks, right?"

    "Of course," Nicole nodded, ncing around before casually slinging a handbag over her

    shoulder as if it might fall at any moment and then strutted outside the trailer in a distinctlyzy gait quite different from her norm.

    "That''s fantastic," Eric praised again. Nicole''s performance was exceeding his expectations.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Boosting Confidence

    Chapter 236: Boosting Confidence

    ?

    [Chapter 236: Lying on the Ground and Shot]

    Initially, when Eric considered casting Nicole for the lead role in Sleepless in Seattle, he held an audition for her. Although Nicole met his requirements that time, her performance was

    nowhere near what it was now. This time, she had transformed herself into a different person -- a perfect embodiment of Annie Reed from the script.

    It seemed that during this period, Nicole hadn''t been indulging in the mour that came withnding the lead role in Sleepless in Seattle. Behind the scenes, she must have put in significant effort to understand her character. In Hollywood, an actor ultimately had to rely on their craft. Unlike many beautiful stars who were lost in their superficial allure, Nicole clearly grasped this early on.

    When Ericplimented her, Nicole beamed with delight and then cautiously asked, "Eric, can I tone down the lip color a bit?"

    Eric nced at her bold, bright red lipstick and then turned to the two makeup artists. He momentarily couldn''t recall how it all went.

    The older makeup artist quickly rified, "Mr. Williams, this is the look we created for Ms. Kidman based on the original fitting photos. I had suggested lightening Ms. Kidman''s lip color as well, but it seems you personally rejected that idea."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric thought for a moment before recalling, "Oh, right! This is perfect as it is. No need to change."

    "But it looks very unnatural like this," the younger makeup artist weakly chimed in.

    "This is the effect we want," Eric exined. "If we fix even this w, Nicole woulde across as too perfect. Don''t forget, Annie Reed is a somewhat carefree, easygoing woman. How could someone like her look immacte? A few imperfections suit her character much better."

    Hearing Eric''s words, both makeup artists nodded thoughtfully.

    Eric continued, "I know you all are professional makeup artists, but remember that you are crafting the look for an actor. Your job isn''t to make them wless but to shape their appearance in line with the director''s vision, regardless of beauty or ws."

    "Thank you for your rification, Mr. Williams; we understand," the older makeup artist quickly affirmed.

    ...

    Thanks to her thorough preparation, Nicole''s scenes had almost no NGS, so the initial meeting between Sam and Annie at Alki Beach waspleted swiftly. With a few more airport shots scheduled for the next days, Nicole would be able to leave the set for a while if she wished.

    As was customary, the first day of filming didn''t involveplex shots. Aside from Sam and Annie''s first encounter, the footage primarily consisted of scenes with Sam ying with his

    son.

    To establish a father-son dynamic effectively with young actor Victor Morris, Tom Hanks had started spending time with the little guy a week earlier. By the time they started shooting, there was no barrier between them. After just one day of rehearsal, the ''father'' and ''son'' had already slipped into their roles. Time didn''t allow the crew to advance gradually, so the next day, they began filming more difficult scenes. Of course, challenges arose.

    ...

    The background story of the scene involved Jonah revealing their home address to the radio, prompting Sam to receive love letters from all across America. A pile of mail was spread out on the living room dining table. Jonah casually picked one up, opened it, and read aloud, "Dear Sleepless in Seattle, you are the most fascinating man I have ever heard of, ha..." The little guy let out a smallugh, tossed aside the letter, and reached for another. Before Tom Hanks could deliver his lines, Eric called "Cut!" again, noticing that the boy wascking the yful expression expected. Instead, he appeared anxious, his eyes darting around.

    Making a gesture to the others, Eric said, "Alright, let''s take a break. Victor,e over, okay? Let''s talk."

    "Mr. Director, did I not do well again?" the little boy asked as he hopped down from his chair and approached Eric, visibly nervous.

    Even though they had only had five NGS, the boy had begun to withdraw starting from the third one. Seeing this situation, Eric decisively halted the filming. He understood that pressing on would likely ce greater psychological pressure on the boy, potentially causing him to lose confidence in continuing.

    Once he heard Victor''s words, Eric quickly shook his head. "No, no, you did really well! You just haven''t done your best yet. Do you want to be the best version of yourself?"

    Victor nodded vigorously. "Of course! When I grow up, I want to win an Oscar."

    "Well, that''s quite an ambition! But winning an Oscar is no easy feat. Only the best stand on that stage to ept the little golden statue."

    "What should I do?" Victor asked hopefully. Under Eric''s gentle guidance, the boy seemed to rx and took a seat beside him at Eric''s gesture.

    The crew understood that Eric was teaching the little guy about acting in his own way. To not disturb the two, most crew members subtly left the room, with just a few staff remaining, and they tiptoed around quietly.

    Tom Hanks also pulled up another chair, sitting down with a smile next to the little guy. This gesture provided Victor with more reassurance since he felt safer with Hanks, who he had been around for over a week.

    Eric ruffled the boy''s hair and said, "It''s quite simple. When you face failure, you mustn''t be discouraged. Just like what happened in the recent filming. Since it didn''t go well this time, let''s give it a few more tries. But if you lose your confidence because of a mishap or two, then you''ll never improve."

    The boy nodded slowly, his expression indicating he was beginning to understand. However, he then quietly mumbled while fiddling with his fingers, "But I worry about all these uncles and aunts wasting time because of me. It makes me anxious thinking they might be upset."

    "No, you''re mistaken," Eric reassured him. "You''re getting paid for your acting, and they are getting paid too. Unlike you, their wages are calcted by the hour. The longer you take to film, the more they earn. So, they''re actually quite happy."

    As Eric spoke, he pointed casually at Nicole, who was wearing a faint smile and changing film for the camera. "Nicole, aren''t you happy right now?"

    Nicole released her suppressedugh, nodding and responding, "Of course, kiddo! You can try as much as you like. The more takes we get, the happier we are. But of course, don''t intentionally mess up the scenes. If you do, the director will definitely notice, and then we

    won''t get our pay."

    Eric shot Nicole a look to prevent her from babbling any further. Then he turned back to Victor and inquired, "Now, let''s talk about your performance, Victor. Have you seen Home Alone?" "Of course! Kevin and those two silly thieves. It''s a pity I only got to see it once, and then Mom wouldn''t take me again. Mr. Director, Mom said you directed that movie. Will our movie be as fun as Home Alone?"

    "That''s a given. So, if you perform well, all the kids across America will idolize you just like

    they did with Kevin."

    The boy''s eyes lit up with admiration. Although he didn''t totally grasp the meaning of idolization, as he hadn''t learned that word yet, he instinctively felt that being idolized by all the kids in America was indeed something impressive.

    To steer the boy away from digressing, Eric continued, "Since you''ve seen Home Alone, you surely remember what Kevin was like. The character you''re ying, Jonah, is pretty simr to Kevin. What you did just now wasn''t quite right. When you read the letter, you should be a bit more yful, make faces, widen your eyes. Oh wait, can you make silly faces?" "Wow--"The boy instantly curled his lips and rolled his eyes to make a silly face.

    Eric patted the boy on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Great job! Now remember to do it

    like this..."

    ...

    Ten minutester, filming resumed.

    Once again facing that pile of letters, the little guy opened one and began reading, "Dear Mr. Sleepless in Seattle, you are the most fascinating man I''ve ever heard of, ha..."

    "Cut!" Eric called out instinctively, only to realize it was the wrong timing.

    He had just built the boy''s confidence, wanting to at least let Victorplete the scene before addressing anything else. But upon seeing the boy''s expression was still off, Eric reacted reflexively. By the time he tried to revert, it was toote.

    With bright yet anxious eyes, the boy looked back at Eric. Thinking fast, Eric grabbed a nearby baseball cap and tossed it at Nicole, identally hitting an unsuspecting camerawoman in the face: "Nicole, you fool! A shot like this goes to waste because of your camera shake!"

    As Eric ''roared,'' he winked at Nicole. Even though the poor camerawoman was the target of Eric''s teasing, she had no choice but to smile and respond apologetically, "Sorry, Director! That was an ident. I''ll be more careful next time. Please forgive me."

    "I''ll let you off this time. If you do it again..." Eric gritted his teeth, then turned back to the boy with a friendly, warm expression. "Victor, this time it''s not your fault. It was Nicole who messed it up. See? Adults can make mistakes too. So don''t be nervous. Shall we continue?"

    "Um, yes, Mr. Director," the little guy nodded vigorously. Perhaps encouraged by the notion that even adults could stumble, they proceeded, though there were still a few more NGS. Eventually, they sessfullypleted that shot. Having discovered this method could boost the boy''s confidence, Eric quickly pointed out a few other ''fools.'' Even Tom Hanks yfully joined in, and as a result, the boy''s performance

    improved rapidly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Sony Columbia

    Chapter 237: Sony Columbia

    ?

    [Chapter 237: Isn''t That Too Exhausting?]

    "I didn''t expect you to be so resourceful. But I have one question: why is it that everyone else is being foolish while you remain so brilliant and majestic?" Elisabeth asked as she sat at a small wooden table in Eric''s room, watching him brush his teeth in the bathroom.

    "I''m the director, the one who controls the entire cast, like the alpha wolf in a pack," Eric rinsed his mouth and wiped the foam from his lips. "If I mess up, then everyone else messes up too."

    "Hmph, you really know how to argue," Elisabeth said with a discontented pout. She pointed to the breakfast tray in front of her. "Here, this is for you."

    Eric didn''t hesitate and pulled the tray closer, starting to eat quickly. He knew Elisabeth had already eaten. ording to her, she was on a diet and was only having an apple and a ss of milk for breakfast these days. However, Eric thought it was more likely that she could not stand the hygiene conditions there and couldn''t find a ce to cook, so she settled for the bare minimum. Elisabeth also ate very little for her other meals.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Watching Eric devour his food, Elisabeth reluctantly picked up the documents on the table and read through the shooting schedule and other matters he needed to be reminded of that day. This was supposed to be Allen''s job, but since Elisabeth was so eager to be involved, Eric naturally assigned this part of the work to her. Plus, it gave him a chance to enjoy the view every morning. Although she realized his ''sordid'' intentions, Elisabeth didn''t refuse.

    "By the way, I think you definitely need to take a look at this newspaper."

    "What?" Eric set down his ss and took the newspaper from her.

    It was a copy of the Seattle Times, thergest newspaper in Washington State.

    Of course, that wasn''t what concerned Eric. He was focused on the headline.

    "Sony Acquires Columbia Pictures for $5.5 Billion."

    Although he had known for a while that Sony was likely toplete the acquisition in September and had worried about the revenue share from Running Out of Time after the Japanese takeover, Eric couldn''t keep his mind on it constantly.

    After reading the article thoroughly, Eric sighed in relief and set the newspaper aside to continue his breakfast. He noted from the article that the Japanese, under public pressure, had issued a statement dering that Sony would not be involved in the management of Columbia Pictures, allowing the US management team to continue running thepany while Sony would only act as an investor. Since nothing would change, he expected that the revenue share from Running Out of Time would be smooth sailing.

    Elisabeth stared at Eric for a while before she couldn''t help but ask, "Aren''t you feeling quite proud right now?"

    Eric swallowed his food, looked up in confusion, and asked, "What do I have to be proud of?"

    "Ha, I didn''t expect you to be so modest," she smirked, "or maybe you''re just not paying attention. The analysis in the fourth paragraph points out that due to Home Alone and Running Out of Time pushing Columbia''s stock price up, the Japanese had to pay at least an additional $700 million. Isn''t that worth a little pride?"

    Eric shrugged. "I''m certainly proud, but it''s not enough to make me jump for joy. After all, the Japanese didn''t deposit that $700 million into my ount."

    "And what about Running Out of Time? I heard about the contract details; Firefly Films didn''t invest a dime, yet they got over half of the box office profits."

    "Why are you looking at me as if I got the better end of the deal? Sure, I''m taking a big slice of the profits, but Columbia is making money too," Eric pretended to be angry. "And don''t forget, you mentioned that the Japanese paid an extra $700 million. All things considered, I''m losing out here! On average, I made Columbia''s shareholders an additional $350 million per film, and they won''t share a cent with me."

    Elisabeth gaped at Eric''s twisted logic, finally managing to say, "You''re unbelievable..."

    "Alright, none of this is what you should be worrying about right now," Eric finished his breakfast and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "The most important thing is that we get this movie made."

    "Now that you mention it, I remember something," she looked up, watching Eric as he walked over to grab his clothes. "I''ve been going over the script, and I find this movie quite... strange."

    "Strange?" Eric turned his head to look at her.

    Elisabeth nodded. "Yes, don''t you think it''s a stretch that two strangers, one who hasn''t even seen the other, start to worry so much about each other? And the moment they see each other, one acts as if they''re reuniting after a long time? It all seems so forced."

    "I don''t feel that way," Eric said as he put on his coat. "Liz, have you ever heard of... fate?"

    "Predestined rtionship?" Elisabeth repeated after thinking for a moment, shaking her head. "I think that''s impossible. How could there be such a thing as destiny in a rtionship?"

    "Everything that has happened cannot be changed; it''s all predetermined, including so- called fate. Just like with you and me, me and Jenny, me and Drew, me and Vicky..."

    Elisabeth rolled her eyes dramatically. "Hearing you say that makes me want to punch you. And please, don''tpare me to other women!"

    Ericughed, "Alright, just kidding." Eric nced at his watch. "Everyone has probably left by now. Let''s get going."

    The small inn was less than a kilometer from the beach house used for filming, so everyone in the crew walked there.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Bond Girl

    Chapter 238: Bond Girl

    ?

    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 238: Bond Girl]

    While going to the set, Elisabeth continued the previous discussion, "What does fate has to do with Sleepless in Seattle?"

    "How could it not rte? Sleepless in Seattle tells a story about fate, about a couple separated by a thousand miles who romanticallye together through a radio show. Isn''t that fate?" Elisabeth countered, "But I think that story could never happen in reality."

    "You''re being too absolute. This world has billions of people, and any bizarre coincidence could happen. Moreover, if things were that easy, then why even make a movie?" Eric shrugged. "It''s precisely because there are so many impossibilities and disappointments in reality that stories are crafted in various forms, like films. They''re meant to provide some spiritualpensation andfort, which is the beauty of storytelling."

    "Alright, you always have so many reasons." Elisabeth realized she was no match for Eric''s arguments and decided to drop it.

    ...

    New Year''s Eve. The father and son continued to spend a lonely evening in a darkened house without turning on the lights.

    After Jonah fell asleep, Sam carried his son into the bedroom and then, feeling all alone, came out to the deck. Watching the fireworks light up the distance, his loneliness weighed heavier on his heart. Panicking, he hurried back into the living room, sprawled on the sofa, and after drinking some beer, he finally dozed off.

    Unconsciously, he saw his wife, Maggie, appear again -- the woman with short hair, dressed in a white dress, tall and exquisitely beautiful.

    "Can I have half your beer?" Maggie picked up a half-drunk beer Sam had and sat at his feet, leaning against the sofa back, gazing lovingly at him with a charming smile gracing her lips. Sam could only stare dumbfounded at her.

    Maggie continued, "What did I used to say? Here''s looking at you? Here''s mud in your eye?"

    "Here''s to us. You used to say here''s to us." Sam replied looking at her with his eyes welling with tears.

    "Oh babe. I miss you so much it hurts," He reached out for her but she''s already gone.

    ...

    "Cut, good!" Eric called out, satisfied. As the surrounding crew got moving again, the woman sitting on the sofa stood up and walked over to Eric with a charming smile, asking, "Director Williams, did I do okay?"

    "Of course, you were outstanding, Ms. Lowell," Eric replied to the tall actress.

    The woman''s name was Carey Lowell, thetest Bond girl from this year''s film License to Kill, and in the alternate timeline of Sleepless in Seattle, she had a cameo as Sam''s wife. Given that her fame was slightly higher now than it would be in a few years, Eric had sent her an invitation.

    Carey Lowell quickly responded, expressing her eagerness to do a cameo in Eric''s movie. It made sense; despite being thetest Bond girl, License to Kill had only grossed just over 30 million at the box office during the summer release. While 30 million isn''t bad for other movies, for a James Bond film, that kind of performance was something to be embarrassed about, especially considering the film''s promotion costs far exceeded that amount.

    Through international distribution, MGM managed to recoup their costs and even make a small profit.

    However, a domestic gross of 30 million directly led to a six-year pause in the Bond series, and when it was restarted, all the creatives had been reced.

    Because of the poor performance, Carey Lowell didn''t gain the corresponding fame from it. To be frank, Bond girls never really achieved significant fame. People remembered former 007 actors like Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, but not many could name more than a few Bond girls.

    "Do you want me to do it again, or is this how it''s going to end?" After hearing Eric say that, Carey Lowell inquired. Her screen time was limited; aside from appearing in Sam''s dreams, there were only a few seconds of her showing up while the family was out shopping. In total, her scenes didn''t add up to more than a minute in the entire film.

    Being a Bond girl meant she undoubtedly had a desirable appearance, but like Virginia, Carey Lowell was born in 1961 and was now 28. If her acting career didn''t take off significantly, her prospects after 30 would likely dwindle. So, recognizing this opportunity to work with Eric, she was determined to fight for more screen time for herself.

    When she agreed to do the cameo, Carey Lowell didn''t even ask for a penny in pay. Her intentions were clear. Though it was just a cameo, no one would belittle this role besides Eric, who knew the particrs.

    Many had rmended others to Eric, but he refused and instead specifically mentioned Carey Lowell''s name. The actress greatly valued this, knowing that despite You know, although Brooke Shields is the nominal heroine in Running Out of TIme, her appearance time is almost the same as a cameo.. So, Carey Lowell hoped Sleepless in Seattle would yield simr effects for her career as Brooke Shields'' role in that movie did.

    But Eric shook his head, "No need, Ms. Lowell, it''s getting a bitte, so you can head back downtown now. I''m sure you understand, the living conditions for the crew here aren''t great."

    "It''s fine. I can wait a little while. We''re almost done shooting anyway, and who knows if you might need me for something else."

    "Alright," Eric nodded, and the actress discreetly walked aside.

    The camera started rolling again, with the scene still on the sofa. Sam opened his eyes, only to realize everything had been a dream. Rubbing his eyes, he surveyed his surroundings; the lighting was dim, silent, reflecting his lonely feelings.

    "Alright, Hanks, that''s a wrap for today''s scene," Eric said, gesturing to the crew. "Everyone, clean up, and let''s wrap it up so we can rest. Tomorrow, we''ll be shooting at Seattle Airport."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Saving the Flowers

    Chapter 239: Saving the Flowers

    ?

    [Chapter 239: Saving the Flowers]

    Back at the hotel where the film crew was staying, Eric was lying in bed after taking a shower, chatting on the phone with Jennifer Aniston, who was far away in Los Angeles, when a loud knock echoed through the room.

    Eric responded quickly and said to Aniston, "Honey, someone''s at the door, so I''ll have to hang up... No way, it''s probably someone from the crew wanting to discuss something with me... Ohe on, don''t think I don''t know, you had Nicole keep an eye on me, didn''t you?... Haha, she''s living right next door, and this crummy hotel has paper-thin walls, I can''t even... Okay, okay, love you, bye."

    After hanging up the phone, Eric slipped into his slippers, got out of bed, opened the door, and found Carey Lowell standing there in a khaki trench coat.

    The actress''s wless face, meticulously made up, looked even more striking than when she had portrayed Sam''s wife, Maggie, just hours before on set. With one button of her high-neck coat undone, an enticing glimpse of white was visible, provoking a desire to unravel her ensemble. The knee-length coat revealed a slender leg d in ck stockings, and her ck ankle boots added a touch of youthful vitality.

    Carey held a blue folder and, noticing Eric''s momentary awe, her eyes sparkled with pride. "Mr. Williams, may Ie in?"

    "Oh, of course," Eric finally regained his senses. He smiled and weed Carey inside, shutting the door behind her.

    "The conditions here are limited -- there''s just milk and orange juice. Miss Lowell, which would you like?" he asked casually while walking toward a cab that housed an old television, opening a smallpartment.

    Carey took a seat at the round table and ced the blue folder on top before responding to Eric''s inquiry, "If it''s alright, I''d love a ss of milk."

    Without a second thought, Eric poured her a ss of milk and brought it to her, taking a seat across from her at the small round table.

    "Thank you," Carey said softly, lifting the ss as if casually bringing it to her lips while her striking blue eyes fixed on Eric, shimmering with allure. After taking a small sip, she leisurely licked the milk off her lips, creating a suggestive contrast to her innocent action.

    In the quiet room, observing Carey''s flirtatious gestures, Eric couldn''t help but touch his nose and asked, "Miss Lowell, shouldn''t you have returned to the city? You have no more scenes here."

    Carey looked at Eric with a hint of sorrow and replied, "Do you want me to leave? It''s sote, and even if I went to the city, I wouldn''t find a hotel. Besides, I''m a woman not wanting to roam about at this hour."

    This was clearly a flimsy excuse; Eric had seen the assistant who had apanied her. Nevertheless, he didn''t call her out on it. From the moment he firstid eyes on Carey, he had a good idea of her intentions.

    "Well then, what do you want?" Eric asked directly.

    Carey opened the blue folder and said, "Actually, Mr. Williams, I wanted to discuss my role with you."

    Eric epted the neatly stapled A4 pages she handed him, scanning through them. He quickly realized they contained her understanding and concepts for the character of Maggie -- a level of analysis many actors undertook afternding a role. Yet, he hadn''t anticipated her going to such lengths for a small part.

    After reading a bit, Eric found that Carey''s interpretation of Maggie was even more profound than his own, with some details he hadn''t considered. Surprised, he looked up and asked, "Miss Lowell, did youe up with this on your own?"

    Carey hesitated before admitting, "It was my manager and... I who came up with this, Eric. What do you think?"

    "Your manager seems quite good," Eric joked, noting the slight flicker of embarrassment in Carey''s eyes; he decided not to linger on the issue. Instead, he continued, "The analysis of Maggie is spot-on. To be honest, there are details I hadn''t even thought about. Maggie truly is the spark for the entire story. Without her, the narrative foundation wouldn''t exist."

    "Then," Carey leaned forward, encouraged by Eric''s approval, "Mr. Williams, don''t you think Maggie''s role is a bit too small? Since this character is so essential, wouldn''t it make sense to add a few more scenes?"

    "Miss Lowell, you need to understand that the focus of this story is on Sam and Annie. I want audiences to deeply resonate with the enchanting connection between the lead characters once the film is released. Only then can this movie truly seed."

    Carey didn''t show any signs of disappointment upon hearing Eric''s words. Her ethereal blue eyes shone brightly as she leaned forward even more, softly saying, "Mr. Williams, I''m not trying to steal the thunder of the leadingdy. With your talent, you''ll never let that happen, right? I merely wish for you to add a few more scenes for Maggie."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    A gentle smile curled at the corners of Eric''s mouth. He spread his legs beneath the table just enough to trap her fidgeting leg, preventing her from squirming around. Despite the fabric between them, he felt the softness of her limb clearly.

    Feeling the shift, Carey stiffened for a moment but soon regained her seductive demeanor, believing Eric''s action was an implicit agreement to her request.

    "So, Mr. Williams, does this mean you agree?" Carey asked, her eyes sparkling.

    Eric nced at her alluring lips that continuously fluttered as she spoke, teasingly replying, "Agree to what?"

    Carey blinked in surprise for a fleeting second, quickly suppressing her impatience. "To add more scenes for Maggie''s character! It doesn''t need to be too much -- just enough to ensure audiences remember... remember Maggie. You can definitely manage that, right?"

    "Of course, that''s easy -- like the role of Brooke Shields in Running Out of Time," Eric acknowledged, and before the joy could appear on her face, he decisively shook his head again, asserting, "However, I cannot do that. If Sam and Maggie''s rtionship is portrayed as too perfect, it''ll detract from the audience''s attention. It might even persuade viewers to think of Sam as perpetually single and create a dislike for the bond between Sam and Annie, which would spell disaster for the film."

    Carey watched Eric, who remained steadfast through her plea. Disappointed, she tried to retract her trapped leg. After struggling a few times and feeling the vice grip of his hold, she hesitated, blushing as she said, "Mr. Williams, since... since that''s the case, can you please let

    me go?"

    "Why should I let you go? I find this quitefortable," Eric teased.

    Carey''s cheeks flushed deeper, and sensing the assertive glint in Eric''s eyes, she looked down, bracing her hands on the edge of the round table. She exerted a bit more pressure to free herself, but to no avail. Not wanting to attract attention or anger Eric, she weakly pleaded, "Mr. Williams, please... don''t do this. I should be heading back."

    Lowering his voice coaxingly, Eric urged, "What''s the rush? And might I remind you, this little inn has mice -- quite bold little creatures that dare to climb into beds at night." Carey shivered at the mention of mice but immediately asserted, "I''m not afraid of mice, Mr.

    Williams."

    "So you''re afraid of me? That''s rather disheartening," Eric feigned disappointment.

    "No, it''s not," she quickly shook her head, then seemed to think of something and added, "By the way, I... I have a boyfriend, so we can''t do this, Mr. Williams."

    Eric clutched his chest, "Wow, that''s such a shame -- another beautifuldy already taken. I bet every man who knows you feels heartbroken. Can I know who the lucky guy is?" "He''s Griffin Dunne; he''s also an actor, and... he''s already proposed to me," Carey replied.

    Eric recalled Griffin Dunne from memory -- a man resembling Robin Williams, though considerably shorter. He had yed supporting roles in various films and directed a few but had never gained much fame.

    After a moment, Eric inquired, "Have you epted?"

    Carey shook her head, "I''m still considering. He... he has considerable connections in

    Hollywood."

    Eric understood she meant marrying Griffin could bring her more opportunities in her career.

    Looking at the striking woman standing at about five foot seven and picturing that five foot, awkward guy, Eric felt an impulse to rescue this flower from a grim fate, eximing, "He

    can''t help you."

    Carey looked flustered. "Mr. Williams, I don''t understand what you mean."

    "You know exactly what I mean," Eric said with a knowing smile. "And I can tell you, he can''t

    help you."

    Feeling cornered, Carey raised her brows and asked, "On what grounds do you say that?"

    On what grounds? On the grounds of his memories, Eric mused internally. In his memory, Carey Lowell had only made a notable appearance in the 16th Bond film and didn''t have any

    standout works afterward.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 240: Chapter 240: How Should I Tell Jenny?

    Chapter 240: How Should I Tell Jenny?

    ?

    [Chapter 240: How Should I Tell Jenny?]

    Of course, Eric couldn''t tell the girl the truth. Even if he did, she wouldn''t believe him. He had to analyze the facts instead. "I''ve heard of Griffin Dunne. He seems like a pretty nice guy, but when ites down to it, he doesn''t really have any power to decide on casting. All he can do is rmend you, giving you a few more audition opportunities than you''d get at an agency. However, I happened to catch that 007 movie this summer. Honestly, Ms. Lowey, your acting won''t help you snag those opportunities. So I''d say he can''t really help you."

    Kelly Lowey bowed her head, going silent for a moment, her expression showing a bit of struggle, even forgetting that Eric had been pinching her calf. After a while, she seemed toe to some realization and raised her eyes to Eric, boldly asking, "So, Mr. Williams, can you help me?"

    Without a second thought, Eric simply shook his head, "I can''t either."

    Kelly Lowey was the same age as Virginia, but while Virginia had acted in several films and even earned a Golden Globe nomination, her acting skills weren''t in question; she justcked opportunities. But Kelly Loweycked genuine acting ability. Besides ying a pretty face in 007, she would find it hard to handle other roles. If she were ten years younger, Eric might have put in the effort to train her himself, but now, he decided against it.

    "Then what about...?" The girl suddenly seemed to remember her situation and tugged at Eric''s grip on her calf, "Mr. Williams, please. Let me go, okay?"

    As soon as Kelly finished speaking, she felt the man across from her loosen his grip. She quickly pulled her leg back and, having gained her freedom, hesitated instead of rushing to escape the room.

    Eric smirked mischievously and pushed the ss of milk toward her, saying, "Why not drink this? It''ll help you sleep."

    "Oh," Kelly Lowey nodded instinctively, as if mesmerized, and obediently picked up the ss.

    Under Eric''s intense gaze, the girl hurriedly drank the milk and put down the empty ss. "I think I''ll head back to my room now."

    "Mhm," Eric showed no signs of stopping her and nodded as he sat in his chair.

    Kelly stood up and took a few steps to the door, but her hand hesitated on the doorknob, standing still for several seconds without opening it.

    Eric had quietly moved to stand behind her and coaxed, "Why not stay for another ss of milk? I''ve got plenty here."

    "I think... well, no... I think I''ll pass." The girl felt Eric''s hot breath on her neck, a pair ofrge hands wrapping around her waist. She found her words stumbling.

    Eric ignored her refusal and leaned in, kissing her long-awaited red lips. She pushed back gently a couple of times but soon sumbed to the kiss. Eric confidently slipped his tongue past her teeth and moved in deeper.

    After a breathless make-out session, Eric picked Kelly Lowey up and walked over to the round table, tossing aside the empty cup before cing her on top.

    Kelly gazed around the table in confusion, twisting and turning with mild reluctance, "This... isn''t right!" But she received no reply, only feeling the buttons of his trench coat being unfastened. Then that infuriating man leaned close to her ear, grinning wickedly as he whispered, "I''ll feed you some milkter."

    ...

    The morning sun streamed through the wooden blinds and lit up a corner of the room. Eric awoke, nced at his watch, and stretched luxuriously. He looked at the other side of the small single bed, where a pillowy, but Kelly Lowey was nowhere to be found. Assuming she had already gotten up, Eric paid no mind, dressing and heading out to his own room.

    While washing up, Elisabeth walked in again, but her expression looked downcast. She didn''t greet Eric or sit down as she usually did.

    When Eric stepped out, Elisabeth threw today''s memo onto the small round table. "Here, take a look."

    "Uh..." Eric blinked in surprise, then quickly realized something. Not bothered, he asked, "So, where''s my breakfast?"

    "I saw a few stray cats outside looking pretty pitiful, so I fed them," she said proudly, raising her chin and stomping out in her little boots.

    Eric shook his head with a chuckle and picked up the day''s agenda to review, intending to head out soon to grab some breakfast.

    The door swung open again, revealing Nicole, who walked in and sat beside Eric, cing a bag in front of him. "I thought you might need this today."

    Eric caught the faint smell of food wafting from the bag and grinned at her. "You''re the best, Nicole."

    Nicole crossed her legs, resting her hands on her knees, and looked at Eric with interest. "So, how should I tell Jenny?"

    "Say what?" Eric asked, finishing up the schedule and pulling out food from the bag.

    Nicole raised an eyebrow, "What do you think?"

    Eric quickly disyed an ''aha!'' expression. "Wow, I didn''t know you had a habit of eavesdropping. What did you hearst night?"

    The girl blushed but replied, "Not much. Just something about drinking milk. Oh, and there was a big rat running around the hallway in the middle of the night."

    "None of that matters. Just tell Jenny the truth. Lots of people drink milk before bed," Eric replied nonchntly.

    Nicole was just joking around with Eric. She wouldn''t dare use this to manipte him. Hearing Eric''s opinions, she could only giggle along.

    "By the way, have you seen Ms. Kelly Lowey?" Eric popped a piece of breakfast into his mouth

    and suddenly asked.

    Nicole seemed to recall something amusing. "Oh yeah! But I think she didn''t want to get caught by anyone teasing her afterward. She rushed off early this morning. Seriously, what did you promise her? You two had a wild timest night!"

    Eric shrugged, "Nothing at all. It was just a mutual thing, a regr casual encounter."

    Nicoleughed in surprise, quickly adding, "In that case, I think that poor woman must bepletely dazed by you."

    Eric shot her a look, chewing his food as he mumbled, "You''re ndering me. Watch out for defamation charges!"

    ...

    At Jonah''s girlfriend''s house.

    Jessica is sitting defiantly in a chair in the middle of the living room. There''s a clock on the

    mantel. Sam is in the room with Jessica''s mother and father.

    Her mother walked up to her. "Jessica, this is not eptable."

    Then her father stepped up, arms crossed, trying to assert his authority. "If you don''t tell us right now, right this minute, I''m going to kill you."

    The girl rolled her eyes, ignoring her parents. Looking at the clock on the matntel, seeing the time is 8:30, she felt it was time to speak up. In her usual style, she blurted out, "He''s on his

    way to NY."

    "What''s that?" Sam quickly asked.

    "No way! It means impossible!" Jessica''s dad answered.

    "That''s NW," Sam corrected, feeling hopeless.

    All three adults looked at the little girl.

    "New York! He went to New York," she continued.

    "What!"

    "How did he get there?"

    The three adults expressed surprise.

    "On the flight United 597," Jessica provided, naming the flight number.

    Sam rushed to ask, "When did it leave?"

    "Eight-thirty," Jessica''s dad interjected, and all three turned to the clock behind the girl, just

    as the eight-thirty chime rang out.

    ...

    "Okay, great! Alice, your performance was fantastic!" Eric eximed happily, noticing the

    girl stand up from her stool.

    Excitement filled the air as everyone apuded -- not because the girl had acted so brilliantly, but because this marked thest shot for the crew in Seattle, on September 24 in

    the morning, on the eighth day of shooting. Initially scheduled for ten days, they wrapped up early as Victor Morris, ying Jonah, had improved rapidly under Eric''s special guidance, saving them two and a half days of filming. While that might not seem like much, to a crew spending tens of thousands of dors every day, those two and a half days could save over a

    million in budget.

    Checking the time, it was still before ten o''clock, so Eric lifted the bullhorn and addressed the crew, "Take a day off! You can explore Seattle, but don''t miss tomorrow morning''s flight. If anyone misses that, you''ll have to fly to New York on your own."

    "Haha..." Amid theughter, most people began packing up to leave, except for those

    necessary to stay and clean up.

    ...

    On the side of the road, Eric thoroughly briefed a few crew members responsible for transporting the developed film back to Los Angeles for initial processing and editing. Watching them board the van, he finally felt relieved and returned to his motel. Back in his room, Eric took off his director''s vest, changed into a ck trench coat, thought about the weather, and grabbed an umbre before stepping outside again. "Hey, where are you headed?" Elisabeth called out curiously when she saw Eric preparing to

    leave. Though she had a fiery temper, she also had a terrible memory. After a couple of days, she no longer fixated on Eric''s escapade with Kelly Lowey, and their rtionship returned to normal -- at least on the surface.

    Eric didn''t answer her and threw back, "Do you have somewhere to be?"

    Elisabeth took a couple of steps forward. "Not really. I was just curious where you''re going.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Can Ie along?"

    "If you''d like," Eric nodded.

    "Then wait for me! I''ll change first," Elisabeth replied without a second thought, turning

    back to her room.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Bruce Lees Grave

    Chapter 241: Bruce Lee''s Grave

    ?

    [Chapter 241: Just Come to Check It Out]

    Soon, Elisabeth stepped out of the room, donning a bright pink trench coat, with a folding umbre in hand. "Eric, let''s go."

    Eric shook his head. "That coat won''t do. I remember you had a dark blue wool trench coat. Go change into that."

    Elisabeth gave him a puzzled look and defended, "It''s not too cold today. That one is a bit thick."

    "Then you can just stay here," Eric said, shaking his head as he moved toward the door. Elisabeth quickly grabbed his arm. "Alright, alright, I''ll go change," she conceded.

    Since he wasn''t familiar with the roads, Eric nced at the map. Driving a rented car, he bumped along for an hour and a half before finally reaching their destination.

    Elisabeth looked out the car window and then leaned over to check the map. Confused, she asked, "Eric, this is Volunteer Park. What are we doing here?"

    Eric shook his head. "Take a closer look; the park is to the south."

    After a few careful nces outside, the girl''s eyes widened as she shrank back. "This is a cemetery! Ugh, if I had known, I wouldn''t havee with you."

    "You can wait here," Eric replied, not pressing her as he stepped out of the car.

    Watching Eric''s retreating figure with a strange expression, Elisabeth hesitated for a moment before finally getting out to follow him.

    ...

    Eric bought a bouquet from a flower shop near the cemetery. After asking the owner a few questions, who clearly wasn''t new to these inquiries, he handed Eric a small map of the cemetery and pointed out some directions enthusiastically.

    Elisabeth caught the name Bruce Lee in their conversation and followed Eric into the cemetery. After walking for a while, she suddenly eximed, "Oh, I remember now. That... that Bruce Lee."

    Turning back to her, Eric shot her a warning re. "Quiet down. Don''t forget where we are."

    Elisabeth immediately covered her mouth, looked around, and caught her breath, speeding up to keep pace with him.

    After making a few turns from the entrance toward the west, Eric quickly spotted a deep red tombstone. Confirming it was the same one the shop owner had mentioned, he moved closer.

    Elisabeth followed and spotted the photo on the tombstone. She tugged on Eric''s arm. "What are we doing here?"

    "Just looking," Eric replied softly. He stepped closer and squatted by the ck book stone sculpture, cing the bouquet beside the tombstone.

    Since he was in Seattle, Eric wanted toe pay his respects. Though he wasn''t an utterly devoted fan, he held a purer sentiment toward Bruce Lee''s filmspared to those who imed to be die-hard admirers.

    Regardless of past lives, Bruce Lee had already passed away when Eric was born.

    When Eric had first watched Bruce Lee''s films, he was just a clueless little kid, back in the mid-80s. One of his friends bought a VCR, bringing the gang over after school to watch videos. It was during this time that Eric first saw Fist of Fury, which was the favored movie among their limited collection of tapes, watched more than any other.

    Each time they finished watching, the kids would run around the streets imitating the various moves from the movie, making simple nunchakus with sticks and ropes, and often engaging in that era''s role-ying games over who could best portray Bruce Lee.

    Even after so many years and his unexpected reincarnation, Eric could still remember every detail of Fist of Fury, imbued with emotion that triggered smiles rather than the cold, hard memories like aputer hard drive.

    After squatting for a while in front of the tombstone, Eric stood up and took a couple of steps back, bowing slightly to the tombstone. Seeing Elisabeth reluctantly mimicking his actions, he finally smiled gently. "Alright, let''s go."

    "Hmm." Elisabeth nodded, still casting curious nces at Eric as they walked back toward the sidewalk. She puffed her cheeks, took a deep breath, and stepped closer, wrapping her arm around his. In a hushed tone, she said, "You were walking too fast; I couldn''t keep up." There seemed to be something unusual in her tone.

    "Oh, I''ll slow down, then," Eric replied, still lost in his thoughts, unaware of her underlying meaning. He simply nodded and let her lean against him.

    Even after leaving the cemetery and getting back into the car, Elisabeth hadn''t mustered the courage to voice her concerns. Eric certainly wouldn''t offer any exnations.

    ...

    "Are you hungry? I''ll take you to grab something to eat." Eric nced at the light drizzle outside and asked Elisabeth in the passenger seat.

    She rolled her eyes. "I haven''t been full for days."

    "Then I''ll take you out for a big meal to make up for it," Eric said with a smile as he started the car. "After lunch, where do you want to go?"

    Elisabeth thought for a moment before shaking her head. Eric tentatively suggested, "How about we go to the University of Washington? It seems like it''s not too far from here."

    "The University of Washington is better in spring when you can see the cherry blossoms. Right now, there''s not much to see."

    "How about the Space Needle?" Eric asked. He genuinely didn''t know much about Seattle''s attractions beyond Bruce Lee''s resting ce and the Space Needle.

    "No way. My home is in Manhattan. I''m tired of climbing the Empire State Building."

    Eric shrugged. "Alright, after lunch, we''ll head back. I actually have some things to take caren/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    of."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 242: Chapter 242: True Freedom

    Chapter 242: True Freedom

    ?

    [Chapter 242: True Freedom]

    After a brief half-day break, the crew chartered a flight to New York the next day. Once again, it was Jeffrey who hade to pick them up at the airport. There was also a team from Firefly Films present, responsible for the pre-production work on Sleepless in Seattle and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

    Compared to their time in Seattle, most of the scenes primarily focused on Nicole Kidman. Shooting in New York would be much moreplicated. The scenes for Sleepless in Seattle in New York included not just Annie''s family, but also her friends, colleagues, and so on.

    Eric thought that this plot design likely aimed to diminish the presence of Annie''s boyfriend, Walter. It resembled the way Sam''ste wife, Maggie, received only a few brief glimpses on screen. While it indeed created a very romantic love story for Sam and Annie, it was heartbreaking for Walter, who had already gotten engaged to Annie. To be dumped on Valentine''s Day for a rather "mysterious" reason felt especially cruel.

    Eric remembered seeing some film reviews from his past life thatmented on this, generally criticizing Annie''s disloyalty and expressing sympathy for Walter. However it seemed that most people were not too concerned about these aspects. To put it bluntly, whether it was in politics or love, people pursued freedom.

    Eric recalled something he had oncee across, a saying that true freedom was not about doing whatever one wanted, but rather not doing what one did not want to do. Though the phrase sounded a bit pretentious, it fit Annie in Sleepless in Seattle quite well. Even though she was engaged, the moment she realized Walter wasn''t her destined partner, she refused him without hesitation.

    "How did the discussions go about the Empire State Building and Twin Towers?" After getting off the ne and sitting in a business vehicle with Jeffrey, Eric''s first question focused on those two topics he cared about most. These were rted to Sleepless in Seattle and Home Alone 2. Jonah and Kevin would each shoot at one of New York''s tallest buildings, but as of the start of filming Sleepless in Seattle, those arrangements had yet to be settled.

    "All sorted out," Jeffrey assured Eric with a reassuring look. He continued, "However, the time allotted by both building managements isn''t very generous."

    "No problem, anyway, there won''t be too many shots. The major focus is the Empire State Building, and for the Twin Towers, we only need a few aerial shots," Eric nodded with satisfaction.

    Jeffrey added, "There''s one more thing concerning the snow. I checked in with the weather department, and the earliest first snowfall in New York won''t be until November. It mighte in the first week of November, but that''s not certain. You know how weather forecasts can be. If we''re lucky, maybe it will snow by the end of October; if not, it might not snow at all until after Home Alone 2 is released in New York. Either way, you need to be prepared for that."

    Eric nodded, "That''s fine. Just prepare the artificial snow, and I''ll try to schedule the outdoor scenes for Home Alone 2 at the end. However, even if it gets pushed back further, we won''t dy by much time, so I think there''s a 90% chance we''ll have to use the artificial snow."

    "I''ve already estimated based on your script. Although we won''t need to cover the entire scene, to achieve a convincing effect with the artificial snow, the budget will increase by about $1.5 million," Jeffrey said, revealing a hint of pain in his tone.

    Eric could tell that Jeffrey felt the pinch. He patted him on the shoulder, noting that although Firefly Films was growingrger, Jeffrey still had that frugal personality he remembered from the first time they met. But that kind of character was what made him a great producer.

    "Jeffrey, things are different fromst year. When we made the first Home Alone, we had to be extremely frugal, even running off to a remote northern town in Canada to save money. But our budget for this film is very generous, so there''s no need to cut corners."

    "I know, I just instinctively think that if we swapped the release dates for Sleepless in Seattle and Home Alone 2, maybe we could save that $1.5 million," Jeffrey remarked.

    Eric chuckled, "If we end up getting natural snowfall, we could indeed save that $1.5 million. But by moving the release of Home Alone 2 to Christmas, we might lose tens of millions at the box office. You know, based on the box office performance of the first Home Alone, this film is perfect for a long run. We really need to maximize its exposure during the holiday season, andte November marks the beginning of the peak Christmas box office period."

    "Then why not schedule Sleepless in Seattle forte November too? Even if it doesn''t directlypete with Home Alone 2, I think a week''s dy would be fine," Jeffrey asked.

    "Because Sleepless in Seattle is not just aiming for the Christmas slot; it''s also targeting that February Valentine''s Day date. It''s a romanticedy. If we push it back a month, by February, the buzz for the film would likely die down. But if we release it around December 24, after two months in theaters, it could rebound in the box office when Valentine''s Day hits. You know how my films pull off significant box office runs, usuallysting over eight weeks. Just likest year''s Home Alone, which maintained the number one spot for ten weeks. Other films like Pretty Woman and Running Out of Time followed the same pattern."

    Jeffreyughed, "I really have no idea where you learned all this. I initially wanted to discuss the release date for The Others with you. You persuaded Michael Eisner to release it on November 1. I find that very unwise. Halloween is indeed a fitting season for horror films, but those are usually small productions with little box office ambition. Though The Others is also a smaller production, we certainly have high hopes for its box office. It seems you have your own thoughts on this now."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric nodded and didn''t borate further, and Jeffrey didn''t press him for more details. In fact, the concept of film release schedules had matured in America by then, butpared to twenty yearster, it was still rather primitive.

    And Eric, who had yet to direct a feature film or work in distribution, had absorbed enough through the information explosion of that era to naturally understand some of the

    distribution patterns in Hollywood.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Quite a Hustle

    Chapter 243: Quite a Hustle

    ?

    [Chapter 243: Quite a Hustle]

    Although the main character Annie worked in Baltimore, aside from a few exterior shots taken outside the Baltimore Sun building and in other locations around the city, all of Annie''s

    scenes were filmed in Manhattan, New York.

    Eric did this to simultaneously manage the preparations for Home Alone 2, which had most of its scenes set near Central Park in Manhattan.

    In a renovated apartment, Eric called for another take and said to a plump thirty-something white woman, "Ms. O''Donnell, when you say those lines about the character''s ex-husband, try to sound a bit more bitter. Remember, you need to feel that resentment; it''s all your ex''s fault, and none of it has anything to do with you."

    Rosie O''Donnell, who was ying Annie''s roommate, shrugged. "You know, director, I''mpletely numb to this sort of thing, so I might need more tries."

    The crew chuckled lightly at this. Rosie O''Donnell said this because the thirty-six-year-old rapper and actress was not only an extreme feminist but also openly gay. More importantly, she never concealed this fact like some other public figures; she had a steady same-sex partner, and they had been living together.

    Even though things got chaotic once they arrived in New York, with more shots needed than in Seattle, the filming schedule remained on track. Eric felt no urgency and chuckled at Rosie''s remark. "No rush, we''ll take our time. I believe you''ll get the hang of it after a few more tries."

    Rosie nodded, and Eric signaled to start the shoot once more.

    This particr scene required lengthy takes, which put high demands on Nicole and Rosie''s performances. They had already called for several takes without sess.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the pperboard pped crisply, Rosie''s character, Becky, began her lines. Following the dialogue from An Affair to Remember, she prompted Annie to write a letter.

    Annie furiously typed on the typewriter, realizing she had lost her mind, brainstorming about meeting another man at the top of the Empire State Building for Valentine''s Day, knowing full well that day was supposed to be a big date with her fiance Walter.

    Then she takes the piece of paper out of the typewriter, smashes it into a ball and tosses it up in the air and into Becky''sp.

    Becky picked up the crumpled paper and nced at it. Then, with a look of exasperation, she said, "You want to hear about destiny? If my husband hadn''t gone on a diet, which caused me to leave him, I would never have been on that flight to Miami, and met Rick, and ended up having sex in the bathroom of a 727 with that nob you slide that says ''vacant-upied."

    When Becky said this, her tone showed no self-reflection, instead, it was filled with hatred. Eric nodded slightly behind the monitor but thought Rosie''s expression was a bit over the top. However, he did not call for a cut and allowed their dialogue to continue.

    Annie joined Becky with a bowl of popcorn, and upon hearing her friend''sint, curiously asked, "You never told me you left your husband because he went on a diet."

    Becky nods, and replied after a beat, "He lost all the weight... there."

    Annie pressed on, "That''s impossible. A guy can''t..."

    "Can too."

    "No."

    "Yes."

    "And then you left him? He lost weight there and you left him?"

    "Plus he fell in love with a temp." After saying that, Becky showed a brief panic, then quickly changed the subject, directing Annie''s attention to the television showing An Affair to Remember.

    Soon enough, Annie and Becky began reciting the ssic lines from the film, bing so moved that they cried together, disregarding their appearance. Their expressions, however, appeared exaggerated, making it hard to feel sadness or emotion, instead, it became quite humorous.

    Eric heard a stifledugh and, from his position peering at the monitor, quickly scanned the area for the source of the chuckle, ring at the lighting technician who made the sound. The technician quickly apologized with a sheepish look.

    Initially, Eric thought the scene of the two women acting foolishly in front of a romanticedy could be edited into the film, but thatugh ruined it.

    After calling for a cut, Eric rubbed his forehead and said, "Alright, I know two women crying over a romanticedy might seem hrious to many men, but remember, you''re at work. If anyone can''t hold it in, just step out, and if I catch you messing around again, regardless of whether you meant it or not, I won''t let it slide. Everyone ready? Let''s go again!"

    ...

    After several more tries, they finally got the scene right, and it was time for lunch.

    As Eric announced a break in filming and was about to grab lunch, Elisabeth rushed in. "Eric, Donald Trump has been waiting outside for you for two hours. I didn''t inform you earlier because you were busy filming. Do you want to meet him?"

    Eric asked, puzzled, "Donald Trump? Do you know him well?"

    Elisabeth exined, "Not too well, just acquainted. He''s a real estate mogul in New York and has buildings named after him all over the country, a pretty big deal. I''ve only seen him a few

    times at parties."

    Though he knew of this future president, Eric had little interest in meeting Donald Trump since he was a filmmaker, and Trump was in real estate. Eric asked, "What does Donald Trump want with me? We don''t know each other."

    Elisabeth shrugged, "Who knows? I just wanted to let you know. If you don''t want to meet

    him, I can tell him you''re busy."

    Eric nced at his watch. "Since Mr. Trump has waited two hours, I might as well meet him; it''s lunchtime anyway."

    "Then follow me," Elisabeth said, leading Eric out of the set.

    ...

    Soon, Eric met a man in his forties wearing a gray wool coat, stepping out of a luxurious car. "Hello, Mr. Williams," upon seeing Eric, the middle-aged man hurriedly stepped out of the car, warmly shaking Eric''s hand.

    Feeling taken aback by his familiarity, Eric responded politely, "Hello, Mr. Trump. How can I help you?"

    Donald Trump seemed to appreciate Eric''s directness and smiled, "I figured it was about time for lunch. I had Miss Murdoch pass a message along. Eric, I hope you don''t mind if I call you

    that. There''s a nice restaurant nearby, and I''ve reserved a table. Would you like to join me for

    lunch?"

    Eric wasn''t overly concerned with titles and nodded but shook his head in refusal. "Mr. Trump, I only have an hour, so I''m afraid..."

    "I promise I won''t take up your work time; the restaurant is just around the corner," Trump gestured towards a nearby street.

    Faced with Donald Trump''s enthusiastic invitation, Eric was momentarily unsure how to

    decline. He nced back at Elisabeth, hoping she woulde up with an excuse. But Trump misunderstood and added, "Miss Murdoch can join us, too."

    Elisabeth, who was ready to find a reason to help Eric, immediately shook her head. "No,

    thank you, Mr. Trump. I have other matters."

    "That''s unfortunate," Trump said, shaking his head, then kindly opened the door to his

    luxury car. "Eric, let''s go."

    ''I don''t think I ever agreed,'' Eric thought to himself, but seeing Trump''s insistence made it feel impolite to refuse him again. He climbed into the car, with Trump following and instructing the driver to head to their destination.

    ...

    Upon reaching the restaurant, Eric and Donald were led by the waiter to a quiet corner table.

    As they sat down, Trump immediately ordered the waiter to start bringing the food, and once the waiter walked away, he took a moment to size up Eric.

    The two had really been frompletely different worlds, but Trump''s sudden personal invitation had to do with his current circumstances.

    Having entered the real estate game in the mid-seventies, Trump had built an impressive fortune of $1.7 billion in just over a decade, thanks to his talent and assistance from the

    previous generation.

    But starting in 1987, the stock market crash also impacted the real estate industry, leading to

    a severe downturn in the property market.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Quite Idle

    Chapter 244: Quite Idle

    ?

    [Chapter 244: Quite Idle]

    Under the impact of the Great Recession, Donald Trump''s assets rapidly dwindled. In just a little over two years, his fortune had copsed from a peak of $1.7 billion to a mere $500 million.

    If it were just that, it wouldn''t have been too troubling, especially since many real estatepanies were experiencing significant losses during this time.

    However, before the recession began, Donald was at the height of his career, brimming with confidence and expanding his real estate empire to unprecedented levels. Consequently, he had borrowed hundreds of millions from major banks and financial institutions. After the Great Recession hit, his property business faced substantial losses, bringing his financial stability to the brink of copse and leaving him on the verge of bankruptcy.

    Although Donald managed to persuade a few banks to defer the high interest payments on his loans through his connections, he couldn''t secure a penny from any institution. Without funds, his real estatepany couldn''t operate normally and remained in a state of limbo. A few days earlier, Donald stumbled upon an article about Eric in a newspaper. The piece marvelously detailed Eric''s incredible rise and predicted that with the films released by Firefly Films that year, he could conservatively make a profit of $400 million.

    After reading the article several times, Donald began to plot. He knew that evenrge conglomerates worth hundreds of billions generally didn''t have $200 million in cash. If he could get some of that from Firefly, even half would be enough to steer him clear of bankruptcy.

    Donald Trump possessed a traitmon among shrewd businessmen -- he excelled at seizing every opportunity. He never pondered the likelihood of sess; in his mind, there were only two oues: sess and failure. If he didn''t try, failure was the only certainty. After solidifying his decision, he immediately contacted a detective agency to gather extensive information about Eric. In his research, he discovered Eric''s acquisition of Pixar, which had always been a thorn in Steve Jobs''s side. The studio had constantly lost money since its purchase. Earlier that year, however, Eric acquired it for $20 million. His gathered information indicated that Pixar''s losses were anticipated to exceed $10 million that year, and the evaluations of Eric''s purchase were quite low, evenbeling it "foolish."

    But this was exactly what Donald wanted to see. He felt that although this young man was extraordinarily talented in film, he probablycked business acumen, or at least seemed to outside the realm of movies. If that was the case, it was perfect for Donald.

    Initially, Donald nned to head directly to Seattle, but then he learned that Eric had taken the crew to New York, his stronghold. Since it would be challenging to contact an intermediary for an introduction and Eric was busy with filming, Donald decided to take the initiative to approach him directly. He had even analyzed Eric''s character, thinking that, given his early fame, Eric surely possessed the pride and vanitymon among young people. To cater to this mindset, Donald arrived two hours early and made sure the crew knew he was in town.

    At that moment, watching the 19-year-old with a hint of stubble still looking somewhat youthful, he felt a pang of envy. Investment firms had already estimated that after merging with New Line, the valuation of Firefly Films had surpassed $1 billion. Based on percentages, this young man''s worth was already twice his current amount, and he achieved all this in just one year.

    But it wasn''t a time for reflection. Donald quickly organized the points he had nned to address in his mind and was just about to speak when Eric chimed in first.

    ...

    "Mr. Trump, are you a fan of mine?"

    Donald Trump paused, instinctively wanting to nod, but then decided to be honest. "No, I''m not, but I truly enjoyed your film, Running Out of Time. When the videotapees out, I''ll definitely buy a copy to keep."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Oh, thank you," Eric replied politely, nodding slightly. He didn''t say anything more as he watched the waiter bring their lunch and pour wine for the two of them, yet he quietly pondered Donald''s unexpected visit. Eric could tell that there must be a reason behind it, but he couldn''t wrap his head around what Donald wanted.

    Could it be that he wanted to do a cameo in one of Eric''s films? Remembering Donald''s propensity to blend into the entertainment industry, Eric couldn''t help but find it usible. However, he certainly knew that there was no room for that in Sleepless in Seattle. Did he want a role in Home Alone 2?

    Just as Eric attempted to dismiss that "ridiculous" thought, he suddenly looked up and scrutinized Donald a little more closely.

    What the heck!

    Eric muttered silently, wondering if it could be this coincidental. Just as he had the thought, memory kicked in and he recalled that Donald indeed made a cameo in that family-friendly film.

    Around the twenty-minute mark, when Kevin inadvertently arrived in New York and checked into the za Hotel near Central Park, Donald had yed a fleeting role as a passerby who give the little guy directions, with a line and a brief shot on screen.

    Eric had known there was a character like that, but during the past hectic weeks, he hadn''t paid any attention to those minor roles, leaving it all to the casting director. Roles like the one Donald yed often didn''t even require the actor to be pre-identified; usually, they just grabbed an extra on set or picked someone from the crew.

    So Eric had never thought of the identity of that character; if it weren''t for the fact that Donald Trump was sitting right in front of him, he''d probably never have recalled it.

    After thinking for a few moments, Eric decided that a cameo as a nameless character with a single line held no significance whatsoever. He could only say that this New York real estate mogul sure had a lot of time on his hands.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 245: Chapter 245: What Do You Think of Me

    Chapter 245: What Do You Think of Me

    ?

    [Chapter 245: What Do You Think of Me]

    Just when Eric was about to speak, he was suddenly interrupted by Donald Trump. After the waiter finished serving the food, Donald noticed that Eric looked rather strange. He worried that the young man might bring up something he wouldn''t understand, so Donald hurriedly opened the conversation, "Eric, have you been to New York before?"

    Eric nodded slightly. "I''ve been a few times."

    "And what do you think of it here?" Donald asked, pointing outside.

    Eric smiled and spoke frankly, "Honestly, I haven''t really had much of a feeling about it. The times I came were quite rushed, and I was just dealing with business."

    Donald nodded, then added, "You should explore more. A bustling metropolis like New York is a paradise for people like us. By the way, have you considered purchasing property in New York? You should know that the prices are quite low right now. Perhaps in a year or two, they will surge again."

    Eric cast a wary nce at Donald Trump. The real estate magnate had reached out to him personally -- was he trying to sell him property? It seemed far-fetched. Eric raised his wrist to check his watch and then said, "Mr. Trump, you know I don''t have much time, so if there''s something you want to say, just say it."

    Donald Trump had intended to take a few minutes to ease into the conversation, but Eric''s straightforwardness would not let him. The traditionally bold and decisive developer let his utensils drop and shifted his posture before saying, "Eric, are you interested in real estate?"

    Eric felt he was beginning to understand, yet he was still a bit confused. He could only continue asking, "What do you mean?"

    Donald spoke with an enticing tone, "I mean, would you like to invest in real estate? You need to know, this is a golden opportunity to buy into the North American property market. Miss this chance, and you might have to wait at least twenty years."

    Eric didn''t know whether this real estate mogul was being deliberate or casual, but he found himself mentally calcting the time until the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 -- well, that was twenty years away, wasn''t it?

    Setting aside his somewhat random thoughts, Eric asked calmly, "Why me, Mr. Trump? If, as you say, now is a great opportunity, there must be many others wanting to buy in?"

    Donald Trump replied without hesitation, "Of course, there are many trying to buy in, but they don''t have your advantages."

    Eric smiled slightly and asked, "Are you referring to my... funds?"

    Donald Trump nodded earnestly, "Eric, I happened to read some news about you in the newspaper, which was why I couldn''t help but reach out for a visit. But this is also a huge opportunity for you. Your Firefly Films is going to generate significant profits this year, right? If you invest that in real estate, I can assure you that in a few years, it will double in value. That''s a lot less risky than investing in movies."

    Eric asked with interest, "Mr. Trump, if I were to invest in real estate, what advice would you have for me?"

    Donald Trump was momentarily surprised, not expecting such a direct response from the young man. But noticing the mischievous glint in Eric''s eyes, a hint of embarrassment crossed his face.

    However, he quickly remembered his purpose in this conversation and pushed those feelings aside. "My real estatepany needs financing right now, but you should also have heard about some of our country''s recent economic conditions. Therefore, borrowing from the bank isn''t very easy. I just happened to see some information about you in the paper, Eric. What do you think?"

    Eric shook his head. "Mr. Trump, I actually don''t have much money to spare. If you knew me even a little, you''d realize I''ve spent almost all I earned this year."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Don''t you still have... a few filmsing out at the end of the year?" Donald Trump immediately countered. "Eric, yourpany has five films releasing this year, and they are all highly anticipated by distributors. They should bring in at least a hundred million dors in profit, right?"

    "Sorry, Mr. Trump, but I''m not interested in investing in real estate," Eric directly stated. Although his previous knowledge led him to believe real estate was profitable, Eric knew nothing about the industry; he felt that investing a hundred million or two would likely be a loss. Honestly, he preferred investing in movies -- after all, he was well-versed with the box office hits of the years. Even if he ended up with excess money, he would invest it in an industry he knew well, not in the unfamiliar world of real estate.

    Donald Trump, unfazed by Eric''s refusal, didn''t press the issue further. He understood that as long as the young man exercised some rationality, no matter how much he talked, Eric wouldn''t agree immediately. The most important thing now was to establish a longersting connection with Eric. He believed that with his charm, despite the age difference, he could easily be friends with him.

    Thus, Donald Trump rxed and casually said, "Eric, I heard recently that your Home Alone 2 crew was in talks with a hotel for on-location shooting. What do you think of the Hyatt on 42nd Street? That''s my property. I could let your crew use it for free."

    Eric declined, "No need, we''ve already made arrangements with the za Hotel near Central Park, and they agreed to let us use it for free."

    Donald Trump was well aware of the za''s standard and asked incredulously, "Free?"

    Eric nodded, a bit smug. Getting a five-star hotel to let the crew use it for free, even with staff willing to do cameos, wasn''t something easily achieved before.

    This situation was made possible thanks to Pretty Woman. The Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles served as a filming location, and once the film became a hit, the hotel gained significant poprity, even bing a tourist attraction in Beverly Hills. Many visitors would specifically stop by the Wilshire Hotel when in Los Angeles, with some even choosing to stay there if they could.

    While Donald Trump''s Hyatt was of good quality, it didn''t quite match the luxury of the za. Thus, hearing Eric''s statement, Donald Trump didn''t push it further. After thinking for a moment, he again said, "So, Eric, what do you think of me?"

    "What?"

    "I mean, do you think I could make a cameo in your movie?"

    Eric raised an eyebrow, recalling a background character from Home Alone 2. "Are you sure?"

    Seeing an opportunity, Donald Trump quickly replied, "Of course! I''ve done cameo roles in a few TV shows before; I figure movies would be about the same, right?"

    Donald Trump was not so much interested in the cameo itself, but more eager to maintain contact with Eric and continue persuading him.

    Since the opportunity hade to him, Eric nodded in agreement, a smile with a hint of mischief on his face as he said, "If you''re willing, then of course it''s fine."

    The lunch went quite pleasantly. Afterward, Donald Trump quickly escorted Eric back to the

    set.

    ...

    "Everyone! Everyone pay attention, it''s time to work! Allen, where are you?" Eric called out as

    The entered the set, grabbing a megaphone.

    The crew, who had been resting, immediately gathered and got busy with their respective

    tasks.

    "Mr. Williams, did you call for me?" Allen popped up from somewhere, asking.

    Eric nodded. "You don''t need to be here this afternoon. Help me collect some info on Donald

    Trump''spany."

    "Donald Trump? Who''s that?" Allen asked, puzzled.

    Not wanting to exin, Eric pointed at Elisabeth, who was approaching. "You can ask Liz, and

    then bring the info to me tonight."

    "Oh," Allen nodded and headed toward Elisabeth.

    Eric then began directing the crew to prepare for the scenes to be shot that afternoon.

    ...

    At the hotel where the crew was staying, the amodations were infinitely better than those in Seattle.

    After a while, the sound of running water in the bathroom stopped. Momentster, Eric emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist.

    Nicole, who had been lying on therge bed in a light blue nightgown, reading a magazine, sat up upon hearing noise. She held up a document that had been ced on the nightstand. "Allen just came by and delivered this."

    Eric raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You opened the door?"

    The woman innocently nodded. "I called for you, but you didn''t hear me, so I had to..."

    Eric looked at her for a moment, exhaling deeply. "Alright."

    Seeing Eric not pursuing the matter further, Nicole secretly sighed in relief. Very few knew

    about her rtionship with Eric, not even Aniston. That silly girl still believed Eric had cast her through legitimate audition processes.

    However, while Nicole didn''t want outsiders to know about her rtionship with Eric, those who needed to know, like Jeffrey or Eric''s assistant, or some other important people around

    Eric, still needed to be informed.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Annoying Little Thoughts

    Chapter 246: Annoying Little Thoughts

    ?

    [Chapter 246: Annoying Little Thoughts]

    Nicole realized that being Eric''s girlfriend offered her many advantages. Just like Jennifer Aniston, within the Friends cast, Nicole had a status akin to a princess. Although the other five main stars matched Aniston''s fame, the special treatment Aniston received on the Friends set far surpassed that of the others. UTA leaned heavily in Aniston''s favor in terms of resources, a situation partly due to her father being a producer on Friends. However, everyone understood that the root of this privilege was mostly because of Eric.

    Of course, Nicole wanted to bask in such "treatment" herself. She didn''t care whether others whispered behind her back. What mattered was that they knew she was Eric''s woman, and that meant they had to treat her delicately.

    Yet, despite her efforts, Eric had never actively introduced their rtionship to others. Nicole had to navigate this situation alone, subtly creating little incidents and hints. In no time, nearly everyone who was supposed to know about her connection with Eric did, while those who weren''t supposed to know remained oblivious.

    Eric was well aware of Nicole''s little schemes, but she had treaded carefully and never crossed any lines with him. What could he do? He couldn''t exin their rtionship to each person who found out.

    Silently, he walked to therge bed and propped up two pillows at the headboard. Picking up the documents Allen had sent, he absentmindedly patted the surface beside him. Nicole quickly shed a seductive smile, slid off her sheer nightgown, and climbed onto the bed in her exquisite ckce lingerie. She slinked into Eric''s arms like a docile cat, teasing and rubbing against him with her soft, warm body. Her little hands even attempted to tug at the towel around his waist.

    Pating her on her restless backside, Eric said, "Cut it out, I need to finish these documents first."

    Nicole leaned in closer and asked, "What are you looking at?"

    Eric''srge hand glided down her silky skin to her chest, gently kneading one of her soft curves beneath thece and replied, "The information on the real estate mogul who invited me to lunch today."

    "Oh," she nodded, feigning disinterest. Leaning against Eric''s chest while he fondled her, she let out little sighs and asionally nibbled on his chest.

    Ignoring her antics, Eric frequently pulled his hand back from her chest to flip through the pages of the documents. Allen had hastily gathered some information, which was limited but enough for Eric to understand Donald Trump.

    As he read, Eric noted that much of what Trump said during lunch was half-truths. Perhaps Trump realized that if Eric were genuinely interested, he wouldter gather relevant information. Therefore, he didn''t dare fabricate any outright lies. However, some concepts were definitely switched around, with certain details left intentionally vague.

    For example, Trump had mentioned that his real estatepany needed financing, which was indeed true. Hispany was on the brink of financial copse. Yet, the reason banks were reluctant to lend was not solely due to the overall economic situation. Rather, it was because of Trump''s overambitious expansions, leaving hispany particrly vulnerable amidst the real estate downturn that began this year. Banks found themselves in a difficult position; if Trump''spany went bankrupt, the loss would hit them the hardest. Despite some efforts to help him, they refused to lend him another cent.

    Feeling Eric''s hand on her chest growing lighter to the point of stopping altogether, Nicole''s eyes flickered. She rubbed her thighs against him and softly asked, "Eric, what do you think about me getting breast surgery?"

    Eric looked up from the documents, lifting her littlece bra to peek. "Sounds good. What kind of surgery?"

    Nicole pulled down her bra, pushing her chest toward him, "Don''t you think it''s too small?" "Oh, do whatever you want; if you want to get it done, go ahead," Eric replied nonchntly, returning his gaze to the documents.

    Nicole bit her lip, and even though Eric said it didn''t bother him, she sensed a hint of displeasure in his eyes, which instantly cooled her previous thoughts.

    Flipping to the next pages, Eric discovered that Allen had also collected articles analyzing the North American real estate market. It struck him as odd that Trump suggested it was a great time to invest in real estate, while the experts indicated that this downturn was just beginning. ording to historical patterns, it couldst another two or three years, and how long the market sat at this low point would depend on future economic conditions. In other words, investing in real estate in North America wasn''t wise for at least the next five years. The final graph illustrating North American housing prices solidified Eric''s initial hesitation. From the 1950s to the 1990s, housing prices didn''t consistently rise as Trump had nonchntly imed at lunch. While there were fluctuations, it stayed within a rtively stable range. Over forty years, intion existed for currency, but housing prices had not seen significant changes. North America''s housing prices are closely linked to the economic climate, whereas political factors had minimal effect.

    As Eric shook off those thoughts, he tossed the documents aside, removed the towel from his waist, and nudged Nicole''s shoulder. "Go take care of it; I''ll teach you a little lessonter."

    "You''re such a jerk," Nicole rolled her eyes at him but obediently started to climb down.

    Eric let out a long,fortable sigh.

    *****N?v(el)B\\jnn

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Coming and Going

    Chapter 247: Coming and Going

    ?

    [Chapter 247: Coming and Going]

    After nearly 20 intense days of filming, Sleepless in Seattle finally wrapped up. However, Eric didn''t have a moment to savor his time off, as the demands of filming Home Alone 2 were just about to ramp up. Although the narrative structure of the sequel mirrored that of the first film, it also introduced quite a few new elements. Most noteworthy was that, while the first film primarily took ce in Kevin''s family home, the sequel offered a richer storyline involving the za Hotel and Central Park, among other plotlines where Kevin yed tricks on two bumbling thieves.

    "Are you really leaving so early?" Early that morning, as Eric stepped out of his hotel room, he spotted Elisabeth with a simple backpack, heading toward the hotel exit.

    Upon hearing Eric''s voice, Elisabeth paused and turned around, winking at him. "Do you want me to stay?"

    Eric was momentarily at a loss for words. Initially, he had resisted Elisabeth joining the cast of Sleepless in Seattle, fearing that this youngdy might lead to trouble. However, after spending a few weeks together -- despite their constant bickering -- Elisabeth had proven to be highlypetent at her job. Although it hadn''t even been a month, they had already developed a certain level of understanding.

    After a brief silence, Eric shook his head and said, "Forget it. Even if I agreed, your father wouldn''t let you stick around me."

    A look of disappointment flickered in Elisabeth''s eyes. She bit her lip and softly countered, "My dad doesn''t control me."

    Eric chuckled uneasily and asked, "So, are you nning to head back to Los Angeles?" "You''ve got to be kidding. I live in Manhattan! Do you really think everyone in the world should live in Los Angeles?" Elisabeth teased Eric instinctively. Noticing Eric''s mild embarrassment, she opened her mouth as if to say more, then quickly added, "I... I''m going back to school. Also, thanks for the material you provided me during this time."

    "It was nothing, really. I just..." Eric started, but he quickly stopped short, realizing he was about to give too much away. What they referred to was actually Elisabeth''s graduation thesis, which involved analyzing Eric''s sessful films. Eric simply ryed some retrospective analysis pieces he had stumbled upon in his past life, alongside some of his own thoughts and details from shooting.

    Elisabeth waited a moment, sensing Eric had cut himself off, and she didn''t press further. "I n to finish my thesis before the end of the year and then start working on my first movie in early next year, aiming for a summer release. Will you have a filming out then?"

    Eric nodded. Although his pace wouldn''t be quite as frantic next year, he had no intention of missing the summer slot.

    "Let''spare box office numbers then," Elisabeth said, herpetitive spirit causing her to blurt it out without thinking.

    Eric instinctively wanted to say he''d let her win, but then he remembered that Elisabeth was making the highly acimed film The Silence of the Lambs, which had achieved enormous fame in his past life and undoubtedly had box office potential beyond $100 million.

    Once Elisabeth voiced her challenge, she quickly realized it might have been too ambitious. She nervously adjusted her backpack strap and said, "Forget it, I''m sure I can''tpete with you. So... goodbye."

    Eric replied, "Goodbye. Um... how about I help you with your luggage?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "No need, the bellboy already took it down. The taxi is waiting downstairs."

    "Then I''ll walk you down," Eric said as he followed Elisabeth to the elevator.

    ...

    After watching a yellow cab drive away, Eric returned to the hotel and headed for the restaurant, where he crossed paths with Nicole, who was dressed in a fitted jacket and jeans.

    "Eric, good morning."

    "Good morning," Eric nodded at her. "Breakfast?"

    "Yeah," Nicole said as she walked alongside Eric toward the restaurant.

    They ordered breakfast and sat down at a table. Eric asked, "By the way, when are you leaving?"

    Nicole feigned mild reproach. "You looked so reluctant when you saw off Murdoch''s daughter, but now you''re rushing me to leave?"

    "Cut it out," Eric lightly scolded her. "You know that''s not how I meant it."

    Noticing Eric''s less-than-enthusiastic mood, Nicole dropped the joking tone. "I haven''t been back to Sydney in over six months. I n to take this opportunity to go home and spend time with my family. When I''ll return depends on the promo schedule for Sleepless in Seattle."

    Eric suggested, "How about this: I''ll ask them to let youe back after Thanksgiving?" Nicoleughed and shook her head. "No need. Have you forgotten? Australia doesn''t celebrate Thanksgiving. Plus, it''s summer there, so even though Christmas is bustling, itcks that festive aura. So it''s no big deal if I miss it. I''ll return on time ording to the promotional schedule."

    As they chatted over breakfast, Nicole quickly finished her simple meal. She wiped her mouth with a napkin, nced around, leaned closer to Eric, and whispered, "I''ve got a flight tomorrow, and I''ll be gone for a while. Can Ie to your room tonight?"

    Nicole''s voice wasn''t loud, but if anyone happened to be listening, they might overhear. Eric shot her a warning look, finally responding with a nod. "Be careful. Don''t let anyone catch

    you."

    Nicole smiled, mirroring Annie''s sweet smile from Sleepless in Seattle. She had a good read on Eric''s personality; although he was strong-willed, he wasn''t harsh. Sometimes, she even enjoyed watching him look frustrated and helpless when he clearly knew she was teasing him.

    ...

    During thest few days of filming Sleepless in Seattle, an assistant director began shooting some straightforward scenes for Home Alone 2, like aerial shots of Kevin ascending the Twin Towers or scenes of a taxi crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.

    Thus, after Sleepless in Seattle wrapped the previous day, the crew had a day of rest. Despite that, Eric couldn''t afford to rx even for a moment. He had to manage remote editing for Sleepless in Seattle while also checking and approving the footage shot for Home Alone 2 to determine what was usable and what needed reshoots.

    The next day, Eric personally kicked off the filming of Home Alone 2, starting with the easier scenes in the za Hotel.

    "Stu, wait a sec. Walk from here directly to that spot, then stop this gentleman to ask for directions before continuing. Remember, don''t walk too fast, got it?"

    "Of course, Eric. Do you think I''m an idiot? This is so simple you have to keep reminding me," the young boy rolled his eyes, dressed in thick clothes, wearing a knit hat, and carrying a brown backpack as he stood next to Eric.

    Seeing Eric''s exasperated expression at the boy''sments, Donald Trump, who hade by to make a cameo,ughed and remarked to Stu, "What a funny little guy!" "Alright, just remember that and head to the entrance. Let''s get started," Eric instructed, then walked over to the monitor while using his radio to cue the extras scattered around the hallway to take their ces.

    This extended shot would be a piece of cake for Stu. With his acting skills, walking from the door down the hallway to the lobby would be no problem at all.

    The real challengey with the cameraman and sound engineer.

    This was a lengthy shot of over half a minute, and with no possibility ofying track, the cameraman, Nicole, had to carry the heavy camera, bending down to follow the boy''s pace. Thus, despite it being just a simple walking scene, it required the coordination of at least five people: alongside the sound engineer and cameraman, several assistants had to work together to manage the cables connected to the microphone and camera.

    "Nicole, are you ready?" Eric made his way to the hotel lobby, where the director''s monitor was ced, continuing to confirm details with everyone via radio, receiving responses like "okay" in return.

    ...

    As Eric approached the monitor, he caught a glimmer of golden hair peeking from behind it. He hurried closer to discover a little girl dressed in a pink children''s raincoat, who was peering curiously at the director''s monitor and various equipment.

    The little girl looked about ten years old, slightly taller than Stu, with a beautiful pink cartoon hairpin in her golden hair. She had a lovely fringe, and her big eyes with longshes blinked asionally. Her delicate chin hinted at the makings of a future beauty.

    Noticing Eric looking at her, the little girl merely nced his way, continuing to fiddle with the equipment, while several surrounding crew members ignored her presence altogether. What was going on? Had an unknown little girl inadvertently taken over his spot? "Hey there, kiddo, who are you?" Eric took a couple of steps forward, blocking the little girl from reaching for a button on the monitor, while unable to resist the urge to pinch her chubby

    cheeks.

    "Who are you?" she quickly dodged Eric''s grasp, eyeing him suspiciously.

    Eric chuckled and pointed to the seat behind her. "I''m supposed to be sitting there."

    The little girl peered back at the seat, pouting dismissively. "Hmph, why not just say you''re the director? Adults always like to beat around the bush."

    "Alright, I''m Eric Williams. Can you tell me your name, littledy?" Eric extended his hand

    toward the girl.

    She immediately took a step back, scrunching her face as if she had no intention of shaking

    hands, and pointed her chin up, clearly stating, "My name is Ivanka."

    Eric raised his eyebrows. "Ivanka? Ivanka Trump?"

    "Yep," the little girl nodded.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Im Not Acting Anymore

    Chapter 248: I''m Not Acting Anymore

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Chapter 248: I''m Not Acting Anymore]

    Eric soon understood why the little girl was present. She was definitely brought by Donald Trump. However, the staff around her werepletely neglectful; even if they allowed her to stay here, they shouldn''t have let her touch the film equipment.

    He was just about to scold the staff who seemed so unconcerned when the radio crackled to life: "Eric, is everything ready? Can we start?"

    "Oh, of course," Eric replied, temporarily putting aside the issue as he hurriedly put on his headset and made his way to the monitor.

    The camera started rolling. Kevin walked into the hotel lobby, looked around, and began walking down the corridor toward the lobby, with the camera smoothly following the boy''s movements, retreating slowly behind him.

    ...

    "Cut! Nicole, what''s going on over there? Didn''t you notice the camera was a bit too high? Do it again!" Eric called out immediately as Kevin had barely taken a few steps.

    Nicole''s apologies crackled through the radio, and after two minutes, everyone, including the extras, took their positions again, and filming resumed.

    ...

    "Cut! Roy, the segment you were responsible for -- the guy in the blue knit jacket -- tell him to focus a little more. I can''t believe someone would actually look up at the camera lens. If it happens again, just kick him off the set and we''ll start over!"

    ...

    "Cut,..."

    "Cut, ..."

    After who knows how many times they had to stop, Eric pointed out yet another mistake and was about to continue when Nicole''s voice came through the radio: "Eric, I can''t do it anymore. I''m almost out of strength."

    Eric froze for a moment. It then dawned on him that this time there wasn''t a camera on a track, but rather Nicole was carrying a heavy handheld camera.

    With a sigh, he took off his headset and said to a crew member beside him, "Pass the word down, everyone take a ten-minute break."

    ...

    "You''re really something, you can''t get this shot right after so many tries," Ivankamented just as Eric settled into his director''s chair, taking a cup of water from his assistant. She had been peeking over his shoulder all along.

    The mouthful of water Eric had just taken nearly sputtered out as Ivanka spoke, startling the little girl next to him into an "ah!"

    "Cough, cough, cough..." Eric patted his chest a few times before responding, "Ivanka, Don''t you see? This is hardly my fault."

    The little girl stuck her hands in her pockets, raising her chin as sheined, "Excuse me, sir, please call me Miss Trump."

    Eric felt a twitch on his forehead as he suddenly recalled the famous line "Call me queen." Just as he was about to reply, Nicole, Stuart, and some other key crew members approached.

    ...

    "Daddy," Ivanka called, seeing her father and walking toward him, grabbing Donald''s hand. "Ivanka, what were you just discussing with Eric?" Donald asked with curiosity, having already noticed Eric talking to his daughter.

    "Oh, nothing. I just said how great he is. But I''ve been watching for a while, and he can''t even get a simple walking shot right. He''s miles behind the directors you''ve taken me to meet before."

    Before Eric could respond, Nicole''s embarrassment was evident, as much of the me for the mistake hadnded on her, the cinematographer.

    "Eric, I''m really sorry," Nicole said apologetically.

    "It''s okay, everyone knows this shot isn''t exactly easy." Eric reassuringly patted Nicole on the shoulder. "You should take a break for a bit. Find someone to massage your arm, and in ten minutes, we''ll try again. If it doesn''t work, we''ll shoot other scenes first."

    Nicole nodded and turned to leave.

    "Are you Kevin?" Eric then heard the little girl''s voice again.

    "Actually, I''m Stuart Ronkel," he introduced himself as he noticed a peer in the crew.

    "I heard you''re also eight years old, howe you''re so much shorter than me?" the little girl teased, stepping closer to Stuart and patting the top of his head, which only came up to her

    nose.

    Stuart, having a bit of an early awakening to his ego, responded defensively, "I''m definitely going to grow taller than you in the future."

    "You''re not even taller than me now. What are you talking about for the future?"

    Everyone erupted intoughter. Donald, though amused, pulled his daughter back. "Ivanka, that''s really rude. Actually, Stuart is impressive too. He shot a moviest year."

    "What''s so impressive about that? Just walking back and forth like that? I can do that," Ivanka retorted indignantly.

    "Then show us!" Stuart immediately seized the opportunity. Although he was only eight, he understood that acting wasn''t that easy.

    "I..." Ivanka looked around, then her gaze fixed on Eric. "Mr. Williams, can I try that shot we just did?" With a request, the little girl dropped her formalities.

    Eric shrugged. "I''m really sorry, Miss Trump, but our cinematographer is resting."

    "And you? Aren''t you the director? Why don''t you do it?"

    "Me?" Eric asked in confusion.

    "Yeah! You can''t be telling me that besides directing, you can''t do anything else, right?"

    Ivanka said in her signature sarcastic tone.

    Can''t do anything else besides directing...

    Those words from the little girl stung.

    Although crew members who had been with Eric for al time knew he was a versatile director, hearing Ivanka''sment made them all burst intoughter, egging him on.

    "Eric, show her what you''ve got!"

    "Mr. Williams, you can''t let this littledy underestimate you!"

    "Director, if you join in, I''ll help you pull the cables."

    Amidst the buzzing uproar, Eric pped his hands in annoyance. "Quiet! Everyone quiet

    down! Don''t forget where we are!"

    As the crowd died down, Eric turned to the little girl and asked, "Miss Trump, do you really

    want to give it a try?"

    Ivanka tilted her chin up. "Of course."

    "Okay then," Eric said. "You must have just seen Stuart''s performance on the monitor, so you

    know what to do, right?"

    "Uh-huh," the little girl nodded, then recited, "Ie in through the big door, ask my dad for directions at the second corridor, and then walk straight to here."

    "Great! Let''s do it," Eric replied.

    Since it was just a casual break shoot, the extras didn''t need to move. However, Donald Trump seemed quite satisfied with his daughter''s performance and asked to assist with this shot, even requesting Eric to keep this footage on tape as a keepsake.

    ...

    In the entrance hall, Ivanka noticed Eric carrying the camera behind him, surrounded by a group of people watching her. Though she tried to remain calm, her flickering eyes gave away

    the girl''s inner turmoil.

    "Miss Trump, Scene One, Take One, action!" the script supervisor announced, yfully flipping the pperboard before quickly moving aside.

    The little girl blinked rapidly a few times, looking at the camera lens and the crowd watching

    her. For some reason, she felt a tingling in her limbs. But still, she defiantly lifted her feet and began to walk, ncing around like Stuart had done just moments before. Yet after only a few strides, Ivanka felt overwhelmed and quickened her pace.

    She walked all the way to the second corridor, spotting her father on the outside, looking at her encouragingly. At that moment, her dad was her only source offort. Without a second thought, the little girl darted away from the camera, tearfully racing toward her father, her

    tone trembling, "Dad, I''m not acting anymore."

    ...

    "Nicole, how about this? Let''s separate the scene from the first and second corridors. That way, we increase the chances of sess and minimize the hassle." Though Ivanka had bolted midway, Eric took the camera to film an empty shot, realizing how difficult it was to walk through that scene, plus the editing that would follow. So it made sense to split it into two parts. When Nicole returned from her break, Eric didn''t start filming right away but started discussing with the cinematographer.

    Before themy a simple floor n of the za Hotel.

    Eric pointed with a pencil, saying, "From here to here will be the first part of the shot, and the next shot will start from here until the lobby."

    Nicole pondered Eric''s words and replied, "So, we''ll need to have the extras ced for two

    parts?"

    "Yeah, that''s not an issue. We can arrange that in ten minutes, and Stuart is no problem

    either. What about you? How are you feeling?"

    "I''m fine," Nicole shook her hands. "If we split it into two parts, I''m good to go."

    "Alright, that''s settled then," Eric concluded, raising his head to the surrounding crew. "You all heard that. Let''s get ready, ten minutes!"

    After everyone dispersed, Eric returned to his director''s chair. At that moment, little Ivanka sat nearby, clutching an unprocessed box of film, looking like a drenched little bird with a dejected expression, far from the fierce little girl they had just met. Donald Trump sat beside

    her, softly offering words offort.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Not So Pure Intentions

    Chapter 249: Not So Pure Intentions

    ?

    [Chapter 249: Not So Pure Intentions]

    "Eric..." Donald Trump called out softly to Eric while leaning toward his daughter.

    Ivanka seemed really down after her recent performance failure. Although Donald had a knack for charming his way through conversations, he attempted tofort, encourage, and even lecture her in his usual style for quite a while. However, nothing seemed to work, so he turned to Eric for help.

    Even though it was the little girl who initiated the issue, had Eric not agreed earlier, things might not have escted to this point. Reluctantly epting responsibility, Eric pulled up a chair and sat beside Ivanka.

    The little girl shot Eric a sidelong nce while inching closer to her father.

    "Ivanka, this must have been your first performance, right?" Eric thought carefully about his wording, softening his tone.

    After a moment, Ivanka meekly nodded.

    "I remember when I was in school, there was a music ss where a ssmate was asked to go to the front and sing a song. That poor kid got so nervous that he stumbled through a few lines and ultimately fainted right there on stage. That was also his first performance, so I''d say you did just great. Youpleted over half the shots!"

    Eric had made aparison to help ease any emotional shadows for the little girl. Listening to his words, Ivanka seemed to rx a bit but still whispered, "But, I''ve sung for everyone at school before, and nothing like... what you said happened."

    "Then you must have gone up on stage often, right?"

    "Yeah," Ivanka nodded again.

    "See? That''s the crux of the matter. Performing is just like singing. Everyone gets nervous their first time. The more you try, the more you''ll adjust to it."

    "Then..." Ivanka finally looked up and blinked her beautiful eyes, asking, "Mr. Williams, why was I nervous just now? I told myself it was an easy thing."

    "Um..." Eric hesitated. This touched on the issue of inherent openness. Naturally,

    performance should have been easy for an eight-year-old, as that openness is about allowing adult actors to return to a carefree childhood state.

    But nothing is absolute. Looking at Ivanka, she had already lost that state. On the other hand, Stuart seemed to have retained it, allowing him to perform with ease as Eric requested. Yet Ivanka remained tense.

    "Ivanka, this issue is a bitplex, so I can''t exin it to you just yet. You wouldn''t understand even if I did."

    Ivanka quietly epted that, showing a slight improvement in her mood.

    "Mr. Trump, it''s time to get into your positions," a crew member approached.

    Donald nodded and hugged his daughter again, saying, "Ivanka, I''ll be back very soon. Be a good girl and wait here, okay?"

    "Okay," the little girl replied, managing a small smile as she nodded at her father.

    Filming resumed, and this time, the little girl quietly sat to the side, asking nothing, her curious gaze still fixed on Eric as he directed the crew from behind the inte, her bright eyes sparkling.

    ...

    Once Eric had split the shot in the hallway into two parts, the filming progressed much smoother. After a few NGS, they finallypleted the shot after twenty minutes.

    Donald Trump prepared to leave with his daughter. Since he was so busy when he arrived, Eric hadn''t had a chance to greet them personally, nor did he even know he was supposed to expect them. Now, as they were leaving, Eric certainly couldn''t afford to be dismissive, especially since Donald, a real estate mogul, hade to make a cameo without charging a single dime. Even if there were underlying motives in mind, it still reflected well on his character.

    "Mr. Trump, thank you for making the time toe here," Eric said as he shook hands with Donald at the za Hotel entrance.

    "It''s my pleasure," Donald replied with a smile, then turned to his daughter and said, "Ivanka, say goodbye to Eric."

    The little girl stepped forward and extended her small hand, saying, "Goodbye, Mr. Williams."

    "Goodbye, Miss Trump." Eric took her tiny hand and shook it gently.

    Ivanka withdrew her hand, her big eyes still sparkling as she looked up at Eric and asked, "Mr. Williams, can we consider ourselves friends now?"

    Eric blinked in surprise and then nodded with a smile, "Of course."

    "Then you can call me Ivanka. Or you can call me ''Innie'' like Dad, Mom, and my brother do. And I''ll call you Eric, alright?"

    "Absolutely no problem." Eric nodded again.

    "Eric, maybe..." Ivanka stuttered slightly before ncing at her father, "Dad, can I invite Eric to our house as a guest?"

    Donald wanted to lift his daughter and give her a big kiss; she was such a thoughtful little sweetheart. After all, the whole reason he had been through all this fuss today was to build rapport with Eric. He wasn''t quite sure how to broach the subject, nning to wait a bit and host some parties at home. Unexpectedly, his daughter had solved the dilemma for him. Though overjoyed inwardly, Donald kept hisposure and simply told his daughter, "Of course, you can. You''re a part of our family and have the right to invite guests."

    "Then, Eric, pleasee to my house when you have time," the little girl said, gazing expectantly at Eric.

    "I will," Eric said politely, not taking it to heart. He assumed the little girl''s invitation was just innocent chatter and figured she would probably forget about it in a few days. Watching the father and daughter leave, he returned to the set.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ...

    "Mr. Williams, this is the initial draft of the first five episodes from The X-Files writers'' group. Also, Fox has been pressing again. They hope you can quickly cut the trailer for Home Alone 2. They n to air it on television before October 17th. Additionally, Mr. Robert Shea mentioned that a few documents would be sent over tonight..."

    Eric flipped through the script of The X-Files while listening to Allen recite the memo.

    "It''s just that. Oh, by the way," Allen finally closed the memo, saying, "Roy called from Central Park before, mentioning that the crew encountered some troubles while preparing for outdoor scenes over there."

    Eric immediately sat up straighter. Home Alone 2 was the current priority. "What happened?" "Well, a conservation group in New York is not allowing us to userge amounts of artificial snow and even organized some people to supervise. Roy mentioned that these individuals even had a minor conflict with our crew."

    Eric was confused about how artificial snow could have anything to do with a conservation

    group.

    "Do you know what''s going on?" Eric asked. Although such matters should typically concern the producers, Eric, as one of the directors, also wore the producer hat. Ultimately, he held the most authority on the set, so when major issues arose, it fell on him to handle.

    Since a conflict had already erupted, it seemed unlikely to resolve easily. Therefore, Eric took the matter seriously, already standing up to grab his coat, intending to go see the situation

    for himself.

    Allen hurried after him, concerned, "Eric, you''ve finally got a morning free to rest. I''m sure Mr. Hansen will handle it well; you should take it easy."

    "It''s fine. I need to see it for myself; I just can''t feel at ease otherwise," Eric shook his head. Reluctantly, Allen joined Eric in the car, heading to Central Park.

    ...

    On the way, Allen exined to Eric, "There are two types of artificial snow. One is made by snow machines that create real snowkes, but that''s too costly and requires very specific environmental conditions. We can''t achieve those this time of year. So, we''re using another method that involves substituting with materials that look like snow. This artificial snow is made of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. Magnesium sulfate is harmless; it can even be used as fertilizer for many nts. However, that conservation group doesn''t believe our assurances about thorough cleanup afterward, so they keep trying to restrict our use of it. The crew member I mentioned got into it with them because he felt they were nitpicking and let his youthful temper get the best of him."

    Eric, leaning back and patiently listening, asked with a sh in his eyes, "Was it serious?"

    "No, they were pulled apart pretty quickly," Allen replied, shaking his head.

    Eric breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "What about the media?"

    "What?"

    Eric repeated, "I mean, has any media caught wind of this?"

    Allen could quickly sense the seriousness in Eric''s tone but hesitated to respond, "I''m not too

    sure. I thought it was just a purely... purely conservation issue, especially since many crews

    deal with simr entanglements."

    Eric took a deep breath and told the driver up front, "Tony, step on it."

    ...

    Upon arriving at Central Park and passing through the cordoned-off crew area, Eric spotted several men and women lying on the ground, wearing masks and dressed very lightly, their exposed skin painted with various environmental slogans. Several familiar crew members stood helplessly outside the scene, while Jeffrey was animatedly arguing with a woman dressed like the youth sprawled on the ground, seemingly in her thirties.

    "Ms. Schneider, I''ve told you countless times we have toy down this fake snow because it''s

    a crucial shot; we can''t do this without snow. We''ve already made plenty ofpromises --

    what more do you want?"

    "Absolutely not, Mr. Hansen. If those chemicals areid directly on the vegetation here, it can

    be lethal to them."

    "I''ve assured you repeatedly that we''ll clean everything thoroughly after filming. We even bought a special vacuum. Isn''t that enough?"

    The woman, Ms. Schneider, firmly shook her head, "No way. Central Park is the lung of Manhattan. If your lung deteriorates even a bit, Mr. Hansen, how would you feel?"

    "How can I get you to agree?"

    "We will never agree! There shall be no fake snowid on thiswn, absolutely not!" Ms.

    Schneider seemed to be getting worked up as well.

    As the two debated fiercely, Eric approached.

    Jeffrey, who had just turned to Eric, was unaware of the situation, but Ms. Schneider immediately recognized Eric, her expression bing serious as she walked over. "Mr. Williams, I''m Sherry Schneider from the New York Green Conservation Organization. I strongly protest your crew''s actions inying chemicals on thiswn, and you must alter this

    n."

    "Sorry, Eric," Jeffrey chimed in, standing next to him. "It seems our afternoon scenes here may need dys."

    "No problem," Eric pped Jeffrey on the shoulder before turning back to Ms. Schneider, "Ms. Schneider, right? I caught part of your disagreement earlier. First, I''d like to ask, do you know theposition of the artificial snow we''re using?"

    Sherry Schneider smirked coldly, "Of course, I do. Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate."

    "And what else?" Eric pressed.

    She paused, surprised, "What else?"

    "Don''t you know? Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is not only harmless to nts, but it''s

    actually a fertilizer! Therefore,ying down fake snow will not only cause no damage but might even help."

    Her expression faltered for a moment before she quickly responded, "What you''re saying, I

    don''t fully understand yet. I''ll gather more materials when I get back. But even as fertilizer, putting it down in such thickyers is definitely overdoing it. I know that anything in excess brings about adverse effects."

    "I''ve said many times that once filming isplete, we will ensure thorough cleaning,"

    Jeffrey interjected.

    "I don''t trust any of you! You greedy capitalists! Who knows if you''ll say one thing and do

    another? So, if you''re going toy it, why don''t you do it right here?" She waved toward the young folk sprawled all over thewn.

    Eric nced at the people sprawled on the grass, and a thought quickly popped into his head.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Two Things

    Chapter 250: Two Things

    ?

    [Chapter 250: Two Things]

    "Ms. Schneider, is it enough if we just don''ty the fake snow directly on thewn?"

    Sherry Schneider noticed Eric seemed toe up with an idea, his confidence was noticeable, but a flicker of hesitation crossed her face before she finally said, "Yes, you cany it along the roadside, but absolutely not on thewn. And once the fake snow is finished being filmed on the sides of the road, it must be properly cleaned up."

    As Eric spoke, he kept his gaze fixed on the woman in front of him. He sensed her internal struggle, which only deepened his suspicions. If she was genuinely concerned for the environment, she wouldn''t have hesitated like that to his proposed solution.

    Even though he had started piecing things together, Eric maintained a tone of negotiation, "Alright then, what if weid down a stic sheet on thewn first, and then put the fake snow over that? That should work, right?"

    Sherry appeared taken aback but reluctantly nodded, "I suppose... maybe... that could work." "Then let''s do that," Eric replied and turned away from her. He signaled to Jeffrey, and they moved a bit further away.

    ...

    Once they were out of earshot, Eric told Jeffrey, "Jeffrey, stop the shoot in Central Park for now. Get everyone ready for the next scene. My next shot involves Kevin escaping from the za Hotel, only to get caught in the alley by two bumbling thieves. Have someone set up that scene. We can''t afford to halt our afternoon shooting."

    Jeffrey had also noticed something unusual in Sherry''s demeanor and said to Eric, "Eric, News Corporation''s headquarters is right here in New York. They must have deep connections in town. Should we reach out to Murdoch?"

    "If we go to Murdoch over a minor issue like this, how do you think that''ll look? And besides, Murdoch isn''t a phnthropist," Eric shook his head. "Also, Home Alone 2 involves Fox''s interests; if we can''t solve this, Fox will jump in on their own. We don''t need to go handing out favors."

    Jeffrey chuckled, "You''re thinking ahead as usual. I''ll get someone to buy the stic sheeting. But I doubt we''ll need much time, we won''t even need to change locations."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Pointing at the sprawled-out individuals on thewn, Eric remarked, "As long as those people are here, we can forget about shooting properly. I''m concerned they may intentionally stir up conflict, just like that incident that happened when I wasn''t around. If something goes wrong, it''ll be a bigger mess to fix. So let''s temporarily switch scenes. By the way, did any media reporterse around recently?"

    Jeffrey hadn''t expected Eric to ask that, thought for a moment and replied, "A few, I think. But they just took some photos from a distance, and after being escorted away by our staff, they left peacefully."

    "Looks like the trouble''s just beginning," Eric muttered, turning to Jeffrey. "Get things arranged, thene back to the hotel with me. I think you''ve got more important business to deal with this afternoon."

    "Alright," Jeffrey nodded and hurried off to carry out Eric''s instructions.

    ...

    After Jeffrey left, Eric asked a staff member for a camera and took some pictures of the protesters lying on thewn. He instructed Allen to have them developed immediately. Almost an hourter, Jeffrey returned to the hotel where the crew was staying, and Eric handed him a stack of photos.

    "What''s this for?" Jeffrey asked, confused as he flipped through them.

    "In case things go south," Eric exined. "Haven''t you noticed? The sudden appearance of this so-called environmental group isn''t coincidental. We filmed scenes in areas with vegetation before without seeing these people. Yet the moment we start shooting in Central Park during this final week, they show up?"

    Jeffrey quickly understood Eric''s point. It was clear someone was trying to dy the filming of Home Alone 2. The timing was particrly troublesome as this was the most critical moment. Central Park held immense importance in the minds of New Yorkers, so if the crew''s shoot today sparked any public outcry, manipted by some ulterior motives into exaggerating the hazards of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate to the park''s foliage, then filming there would meet enormous resistance. The city government might have to intervene to quell public concerns before letting the crew proceed with a reasonable n.

    The filming schedule for Home Alone 2 was already tight, and any interruption could push back nned events. Even if they decided to cut the Central Park scenes from the script, that wouldn''t work either -- everything connected in terms of storytelling, especially Kevin running out from the park. Changing that meant wasting much of the previously shot footage, and reshoots would push the release back to Christmas.

    The more Jeffrey contemted, the more anxious he became. Clutching the photos in hand, he asked, "So, who do you think is behind this mess?"

    Eric picked up a recently bought Film Guide, pointing to the movie release schedule inside. "Home Alone 2 is set for November 17th. If we dy release due to trouble, all those other films benefitting from our misfortune make it hard to pinpoint the culprits behind this interference."

    Jeffrey raised the newspaper and saw that seven or eight films were set to release on the very same day, like Warner''s Lethal Weapon 2, which dodgedpetition from Running Out of Time, along with Paramount''s Christmasedy starring Eddie Murphy, Harlem Nights, and Universal''s Back to the Future Part II just days after.

    Eric''s tone grew more somber, "Do you see that? The major studios all have films releasing around that time. During Thanksgiving, the weekly box office averages around a hundred million dors. So, if Home Alone 2 gets dyed, other films will snag at least $30 million in box office revenue that initially belonged to us. Naturally, the bigger studios will take the lion''s share, so they are the most suspect. But we simply don''t have the time or energy to get tangled in this. Even if we found out who it was, it wouldn''t help us. All we can do is do whatever it takes to finish the film on time."

    Jeffrey set the newspaper down, realizing their adversary was likely a giant yer like Warner or Universal, leaving Firefly Films with limited means to fight against that. He hesitated, finally asking, "So, Eric, are we really not going to inform Fox?"

    After reflecting for a moment, Eric shook his head again, "No need for now. Let''s see how things y out tomorrow. I''m betting there will definitely be a report about us using fake snow harming Central Park''s environment."

    "What should I do now?" Jeffrey inquired, having never faced a situation like this in the past.

    "Two things," Eric had evidently thought ahead, raising three fingers, "First, Central Park is currently managed by the Central Park Conservancy. You''ll be making a donation in the name of Firefly Films, say... $500,000. This will maximize the chances that, should any public uproar ur, they''ll speak in our favor."

    After saying that, Eric handed the photos over to Jeffrey, then added, "Second, you should reach out to as many local newspapers as possible to get the news about today''s protest out there. Ask them to cover our efforts to preserve Central Park''s environment. We also need to find a couple of professionals to exin how magnesium sulfate heptahydrate does not harm vegetation and is even a form of fertilizer."

    "Eric, isn''t five hundred thousand too much?" Jeffrey asked hesitantly, still unable to part with that amount of money so easily.

    Eric rubbed his forehead, getting serious, "Jeffrey, you must understand the situation. If things take a turn, and Home Alone 2 doesn''t get finished on time, it won''t just be a loss of $500,000. The budget for the film is $25 million, and there will likely be some leftover from that. So this $500,000 is essentially already part of the production costs."

    After some contemtion, Jeffrey finally nodded, "Alright, I understand. Also, because we''re changing the shooting n, the afternoon''s filming might be dyed by an hour since we need tomunicate with the relevant streets."

    "I got it. I''ll handle things on set, just focus on your tasks," Eric responded.

    Jeffrey grabbed the photos Eric had taken, hurrying off.

    Perhaps as a considered protest, members of that environmental group indeed showed up again during the afternoon shoot. Although they continued to criticize the crew forying down fake snow, and asionally shouted provocations, they were no longer as disruptive, refraining from lying down on the ground to block filming as they had done in Central Park.

    Around noon, Eric had issued a stern warning to his crew: no matter how the protesters provoked them, they were to avoid any conflict, as engaging would y right into the

    protesters'' hands.

    *****

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 Chapter 251: Chapter 251: The Model Who Beat Up the Thugs

    Chapter 251: The Model Who Beat Up the Thugs

    ?

    [Chapter 251: Awesome]

    Jeffrey was busy until after eight o''clock at night, finally taking care of everything Eric had asked him to do. Yet, with nagging worries in his mind, he tossed and turned all night, not getting much sleep. The next morning, just as daylight broke, Jeffrey crawled out of bed, sporting faint dark circles under his eyes. After a hasty wash-up, he headed out to buy a stack of newspapers, eagerly diving into reading them right by the newsstand.

    As Eric had foreseen, a well-ced photo of the environmental organization''s members sprawled across the grass appeared prominently in the Manhattan Post. The quality of the image clearly didn''t match the clear shots Eric had taken, obviously snapped by the reporters who were sent away by the crew yesterday. Even more troubling for Jeffrey was that the tabloid included a photo of a crew member in a scuffle with the environmentalists. The paparazzi had captured it rather cleverly, showing a crew member raising his foot as if to kick an environmentalist, who appeared to be backing away in rm.

    "Yesterday, during the intense filming of the sequel to Home Alone in Central Park, the crew faced opposition from the famous environmental group, New York Green Conservation Organization..."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As soon as he read the first sentence, Jeffrey couldn''t help but curse. He had spent so long negotiating with that so-called environmental organization yesterday, and he didn''t even know what they were called. Yet, the first sentence of this tabloid revealed their identity. It was clearly nned.

    Though angry, Jeffrey continued reading: "...It is said that since the sequel to Home Alone still takes ce during Christmas, the crew intended to cover the park''s vegetation with a chemical substance known as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, which is simr to snow. This substance could significantly harm the nts in Central Park.

    In an effort to halt these inappropriate actions by the Home Alone 2 crew, members of New York Green Conservation Organization engaged in lengthy negotiations with producers and even faced physical aggression from crew members, forcing them to lie down on thewn in protest.

    Reporters covering the story also encountered the rude expulsion from the Home Alone 2 crew. NYGCO members revealed to us that they feel isted in their efforts. Although the Home Alone 2 crew temporarily paused filming due to their strong objections, it was clear the crew wouldn''t back down easily.

    Central Park is referred to as ''Manhattan''s Lungs.'' The reason Manhattan residents enjoy fresher airpared to other areas in New York is closely linked to the park''s vegetation and its purifying effects. Therefore, we call upon the citizens of Manhattan to stay informed about this matter and strongly urge the Manhattan District Government to intervene and stop the Home Alone 2 crew from recklessly damaging the environment."

    After finishing the article, a chill ran through Jeffrey''s body. The final paragraph was clearly inciting all of Manhattan''s residents to unite against the crew''s filming in Central Park. If the Manhattan District Government couldn''t withstand the pressure of public opinion, then Home Alone 2 might really have to wait for a genuine snowfall in New York to resume, and God only knew when that would be. Without snow, the scenes shot in Central Park would sh with the already filmed snowy shots from other locations.

    Having read the article, Jeffrey lost interest in the other newspapers and went straight for the few he had dealt with the day before.

    Fortunately, papers like the New York Daily, the New York Post, and the New York News were all reporting as he had arranged, thanks to the public rtions fees paid to the reporters, so their wording leaned more favorably towards the crew. The New York Post even included an interview with a chemistry professor from New York University, which Jeffrey had also set up. The professor detailed the use of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate as artificial snow, stating that as long as it was not used excessively, it wouldn''t harm the nts and might even promote growth.

    Rushing through the newspapers, Jeffrey hurried to the hotel.

    ...

    Knock, knock, knock--

    He hastily knocked on Eric''s door a few times. After a moment, the door opened slightly, revealing a blonde beauty in a bathrobe.

    Jeffrey was taken aback; he didn''t recognize the woman. He thought, surely Eric wouldn''t be so reckless as to bring in a call girl just because Nicole left the crew.

    The blonde, seeing Jeffrey, quickly opened the door wider. "Mr. Hansen, please...e in. Eric is in the shower."

    Hearing the blonde woman call his name eased Jeffrey''s tension; at least she wasn''t a call girl, which was more eptable.

    The blonde soon noticed Jeffrey''s puzzled expression and introduced herself, "Mr. Hansen, I''m Leigh Zimmerman. I y a minor role in the film, but perhaps you didn''t notice me."

    Jeffrey nodded, opening his mouth to say something but ultimately just pointed to her cor. Leigh nced down, letting out a startled gasp as she noticed her neck was covered in red hickeys, ringly obvious against her fair skin.

    Leigh hurriedly adjusted her cor, unsure of what to say. Just then, the bathroom door swung open, and Eric emerged, wearing a white bathrobe, drying his hair with a towel. Spotting Jeffrey on the couch, Eric paused for a moment before smiling and greeting, "Hey, Jeffrey, you''re... here early."

    "Yes, it is... a bit early," Jeffrey responded, ncing at the awkwardly standing blonde, hinting with his words.

    Eric, unfazed, walked over with a smile and wrapped his arm around Leigh''s waist, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I take it you two are acquainted now?"

    The two exchanged slightly awkward nods. Sensing that Eric and Jeffrey had business to discuss, Leigh thoughtfully chimed, "Eric, may I use the bathroom?"

    Though still grasping her cor, Eric spotted her neck''s red marks and yfully pped her pert backside before saying, "Of course, go ahead."

    Leigh shot Eric an affectionate re, her eyes full of charm that certainly contrasted with her fierce demeanor when beating up the two burrs on set.

    ...

    Much like the cameo Donald Trump yed as a passerby in The za, the fashionable woman who had given Marvin a p and pummeled the two burrs was another temporary casting

    from New York.

    The crew had contacted a renowned top modeling agency. Even though it was a minor role, this was still part of the Home Alone franchise. While the main audience was kids, there were also plenty of adults apanying children to the theater. Therefore, this role presented an excellent opportunity for those models not just to gain fame but also to potentially step into Hollywood. Everyone knew that top-tier stars made far more annually than even the most prominent supermodels.

    Thus, this minor role sparked a wild scramble. The casting assistant director looked at the impressive list of 46 candidates sent his way and felt overwhelmed when some models even approached him personally. Despite holding the casting power, he found himself swayed by certain hints from lesser-known models, and it was clear he couldn''t dare choose an unknown whenpeting against established supermodels. So, he wisely pushed the decision to Eric. Eric looked over the list but didn''t recognize anyone. Amused, he began to flip through a thick portfolio that apanied the list. Among countless stunning photos, he soon settled on Leigh Zimmerman. Although she wasn''t the most famous or the prettiest, it turned out she was exactly the actress from his past life.

    Eric had chosen Leigh purely for the sake of staying true to the ''original'' version, not harboring any other motives. However, during the filming yesterday, he suddenly felt a connection to the woman wearing a ck outfit and ck leather gloves on camera. The sight of her swinging punches at the two burrs struck him as incredibly cool.

    A few teasing remarks and subtle hintster, Leigh didn''t hesitate toe closer. The

    previous night, Eric even asked her to put on those ck leather gloves while they were getting intimate in bed. The sight of her fair, naked body adorned only with gloves as she graciously responded was simply amazing.

    ...

    The bathroom door clicked shut, and Jeffrey pointed in that direction, asking, "Eric, what''s

    going on here?"

    "Didn''t you read the script? She''s the one who taught the burrs a lesson twice."

    Jeffrey remembered and nodded, opening his mouth to advise Eric to tone it down a bit. After all, Eric not only had a girlfriend but also two steady lovers (thanks to Nicole''s cleverness, Jeffrey considered Nicole one of Eric''s lovers, the other being Virginia). However, he quickly dismissed that thought. Eric was young and brimming with vigor. As long as he didn''t get lost in distractions and kept up with his work, a little flirtation wouldn''t hurt; after all, with his standing, even if Eric were to rein it in, countless women would still

    flock to him.

    "Forget it, let''s just look through these," Jeffrey said, sliding a stack of newspapers in front of Eric. "The top stack is from the papers I contacted yesterday, and the bottom has those critical

    of us."

    Eric pulled out the bottom pile and began to skim through it rapidly.

    *****

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 Chapter 252: Chapter 252: I am Hollywood

    Chapter 252: I am Hollywood

    ?

    [Chapter 252: The Scapegoat]

    By the time Leigh Zimmerman finished her shower and got dressed in the bathroom, Eric had just finished reading through a stack of newspapers. He nced at the woman who looked a bit bewildered and said, "Leigh, could you go downstairs and help Jeffrey pack two breakfast orders for me? Anything will do."

    "Oh, um," Leigh Zimmerman quickly nodded, grabbed her handbag, and left the room. She sighed in relief; at least Eric hadn''t outright told her to leave.

    "You seem a little reluctant, huh?" Jeffrey teased.

    Eric didn''t mind Jeffrey''s tone and smiled, "Of course,st night was quite wonderful."

    "Alright, cut to the chase. What do you think about these reports?" Jeffrey pointed to the mess of newspapers Eric had been shuffling through.

    Eric shifted from his nonchnt demeanor and said, "If I hadn''t had you do this yesterday, we would have been entirely reactive today. Regr folks tend to form preconceived notions, making it much harder for us to argue our caseter. Right now, at least, we''ve stirred the waters a bit. Public opinion wouldn''t be solely against us, so as long as we manage the PR well, we should be fine. By the way, I called Robertst night. He''ll be flying in this morning to help us out -- he certainly has more experience than you in this."

    "Actually, I was going to mention that," Jeffrey said, hesitating. "But I think you might..."

    Eric chuckled, "Might what? You didn''t think I viewed Robert as an outsider, did you?"

    "Isn''t that the case?"

    Eric denied it, saying, "Not at all! While I am a bit miffed about the 15% shares he took from me, now that the twopanies have merged, I''ll treat him like family. As long as Robert doesn''t stir up any internal conflict first, I assure you I won''t initiate any either."

    Jeffrey, who was quite familiar with Eric, surprisingly shot him a disdainful look. "That''s hardly convincing."

    "No, I''m speaking the truth," Eric countered. "Jeffrey, my ambitions are much bigger than you realize. If I start arguing over interests now, it''ll be difficult to make progress."

    "What exactly is your goal?"

    "Hollywood!"

    Jeffrey blinked, not fully understanding, and asked, "What?"

    "Hollywood," Eric repeated, his youthful bravado evident as he said, "One day, when people mention the word ''Hollywood,'' I want them to think of me first -- not Los Angeles, not the big studios, and not any stars on the Walk of Fame, but me, Eric Williams. Hollywood is me; I am Hollywood!"

    Eric''s heartfelt words sounded quite infectious. Jeffrey''s eyes widened as he tried to muster some words to knock Eric down, but they came out as a blessing instead. "Well, I hope you seed."

    "I will," Eric solemnly nodded. "So, Jeffrey, do you think I would ever stop to fight with someone who could help me get there quicker over trivialities?"

    Jeffrey shook his head, smiling reluctantly. "I get it."

    They discussed a few strategies briefly before Leigh Zimmerman came in, carrying some breakfast orders.

    "I think I''ll just head back to my room," Jeffrey remarked, ncing at the couple snuggled up on the opposite sofa, clearly unable to stand it. Without waiting for Eric to respond, he picked up his portion and left.

    "Don''t mind him; let''s eat," Eric said, observing Leigh''s expression.

    "I hope I''m not interrupting you two," Leigh asked.

    "Not at all; we''ve said all that needs to be said. By the way, you mentioned you were performing in a Broadway y in addition to modeling?"

    Leigh nodded, excitedly responding, "Yeah, I love performing. Eric, I have a show next month on Broadway; will youe watch?"

    Though she looked eagerly at Eric, he had to shake his head. "Sorry, Leigh, but after wrapping up Home Alone 2, I have to rush back to Los Angeles."

    Leigh''s face fell as she murmured an "oh" and began fiddling with the sd in front of her. Although she wanted to seek some opportunities, she understood the industry rules well enough to know that directly asking Eric could only lead to empty promises.

    So, she knew it would have to be Eric who initiated such discussions. If the other party didn''t bring it up, there was nothing toin about; she could simply treat this as just another fling.

    After all, Leigh heard it was Eric who picked her, an unknown, from a group of supermodels. Whenever she recalled her former roommate''s expression, who was also a model from a leading agency, when she learned Leigh got the role, she couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride.

    As a neer in the industry for less than a year, she never intended topete for this opportunity because she believed she had no chance against all those famed supermodels. It was her roommate who nudged her into submitting her resume, and somehow Leigh ended up getting picked.

    However, due to the jealousy that followed her good fortune, Leigh and her roommate became estranged quickly. After receiving several barbedments from the roommate, Leigh decided to stop talking to her and nned to move out soon. Compared to this opportunity, a not-so-strong friendship didn''t matter much, especially since that roommate never truly considered her as a friend anyway, always using her early industry entry as a means to elevate herself.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    As theypeted for what few opportunities there were, true friendships among models were hard toe by -- except for... lesbian rtionships.

    Savoring the faint scent of perfume Leigh wore, Eric asked, "Are you looking to transition

    into acting?"

    Leigh beamed at the question, nodding quickly.

    "Perfect, I have an opportunity for you," Eric said. "You know Friends, right?"

    "Of course. I know you were the writer for that si. I watch it religiously every week." Maybe because she heard something she recognized, Leigh excitedly said, "I love Ross! I think he''s such a goofy perfectionist, much less annoying than his sister''s obsessive perfectionism, and Phoebe..."

    Leigh rambled on for a bit before realizing her enthusiasm might have been too much. She quickly silenced herself, ncing at Eric with a hint of embarrassment.

    Eric chuckled and said, "Thank you for liking the show. Here''s the thing. In one episode of Friends, there''s a ckout in New York, and Chandler ends up stuck in an ATM vestibule with a famous model. It would fit nicely for about an entire episode. I can rmend you for it." ording to the original script, this episode was supposed to be in season one, episode seven, with Chandler stuck in the ATM vestibule with a Victoria''s Secret lingerie model. However, since Victoria''s Secret wasn''t well-known yet, Eric swapped Leigh''s identity to that of a renowned model, and the script was revised. The plot was pushed to episode 20, which likely had not begun shooting yet.

    Leigh couldn''t help but confirm, "Really? Eric, do you really think I... can pull it off?"

    Eric nodded again. In the future projects he was preparing, there would undoubtedly be many simr roles. Rather than let some unscrupulous casting director exploit a young starlet, it would be better to do favors himself. The current influence of Friends was much stronger than in its first season in real life, so being featured in an episode would be like getting recognized in front of over 20 million viewers nationwide; that was far better than just appearing on a

    few magazine covers.

    Of course, that was all he could offer Leigh.

    After appearing in both a hit TV show and a blockbuster film, it would surely be easy for her tond more roles, leaving her future advancement up to her efforts and luck.

    Seeing Eric''s approving expression, Leigh immediately jumped up and nted several kisses

    on his cheek.

    "Alright, alright," Eric said, quickly pushing her away while touching the spot where she kissed him. "Enough, let me finish my breakfast."

    ...

    After they ate, Allen came by to discuss Eric''s schedule. Once Allen finished with the news, Eric pointed to Leigh. "Allen, contact the L.A. office. I remember there is a model role in episode 20 of Friends, which I''m assigning to Ms. Zimmerman."

    Allen quickly noted it down in his memo. After ncing at Eric''spanion hesitantly, he said, "Eric, should I talk directly to John Aniston?"

    Eric nearly forgot about that. Besides him, the most powerful person on the Friends set was the producer, John Aniston. If he pushed Leigh forward without due consideration, John wouldn''t just deny her the role but would also likely call Eric to chew him out.

    After a moment of thought, Eric beckoned Allen closer and whispered, "Say it was a rmendation from Jeffrey. He''s been single for a long time, and at his age, it''s hard for him to date. Maybe John will put in some extra effort."

    Allen''s mouth twitched, but he still inquired, "Eric, should I let Hansen know?"

    "Don''t worry about that; I''ll tell him."

    Allen thought to himself that with such a big mess on his hands, it would be a miracle if Eric informed him, but he just nodded helplessly and hurriedly left.

    "Eric, I never expected you to be so shady," Leigh pouted after Allen left, giving Eric a yful re. Although Eric had whispered to Allen, he hadn''t been quiet enough for her not to hear. "It''s just a guest role, and I wouldn''t be so bold as to sh with your little girlfriend over it."

    Eric smiled, "If I didn''t say it, you wouldn''t even get the role." Leigh, confused, asked, "Why? Isn''t Friends one of your productions?"

    "It is, but the producer of Friends is my little girlfriend''s dad."

    ...

    Thanks to Eric''s prior arrangements, public opinion did not overwhelmingly condemn the Home Alone 2 crew''s ''egregious actions'' for damaging Central Park''s ecology. However, the incident still stirred a significant impact. Although some rational individuals believed Jeffrey''sments in the newspapers, many others sided with differing opinions shown in

    other publications.

    Thus, the following two days saw a huge debate arise over whether the Home Alone 2 crew

    should continue filming in Central Park using artificial snow, rapidly bing a national hot

    topic.

    The $500,000 donation to the Central Park Conservancy that Eric had arranged through Jeffrey also yed a considerable role. When reporters interviewed Tim Frick, the chair of the Conservancy, about whether the Home Alone 2 crew''s shooting impacted the environment, Mr. Frick spoke favorably of the crew, celebrating the measures they had taken, calling them a

    very responsible crew.

    Of course, themittee''s eptance of the crew''s $500,000 donation wasn''t hidden from

    the media -- doing so would have caused even greater trouble. However, instead of iming that this waspensation for the potential damage artificial snow might create in the park, Mr. Frick said that the crew had noticed the park''s outdated public facilities and donated to

    help rece them.

    Since Tim Frick''s interview aired during prime time, many people watched it, andbined with the array of PR efforts from the Home Alone 2 crew, the narrative began to shift in their

    favor.

    Eventually, the Manhattan district government issued a statement announcing they would send a supervisory team to monitor the crew''s use of artificial snow during filming in Central Park ording to their prior promises. This supervisory team would also select several volunteers from themunity to ensure its impartiality.

    Following that deration, the Home Alone 2 crew quickly released their own statement, agreeing to cooperate with the supervisory team and expressing their willingness to cover any

    expenses outside the Manhattan district government''s budget.

    After some back-and-forth goodwill, coupled with the news media''s supportive push, the matter was eventually resolved smoothly.

    The so-called environmental group, NYGCO, subsequently ceased all efforts to obstruct the

    filming.

    ...

    Byte October, Home Alone 2 wrapped sessfully. Aside from rushing back to Los Angeles to finish post-production on two films, the release date for The Others also approached. This was a criticalunch for Firefly Films during the Thanksgiving-Christmas season. If it could start strong, it would positively influence the box office for the subsequent films, which made Eric regard this project with utmost seriousness.

    *****

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 Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Stupid Things

    Chapter 253: Stupid Things

    ?

    [Chapter 253: Stupid Things]

    The second-hand Ford coughed a few times and then suddenly stalled. Even though George Norse fastened his seatbelt, the abrupt stop left him gasping for air, as if he had been punched in the chest.

    He unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and lifted the slightly smoking hood for a quick look. George cursed "Fuck" a few times, checked his surroundings, and realized he was less than a mile from the premiere theater for The Others. He had no choice but to muster all his strength to push the car over to a parking spot, then grabbed his bag containing a camera and recorder and walked briskly towards the premiere.

    At this moment, George Norse had long lost the polished gentleman look he had worn six months ago. He wore a poorly zipped dark gray jacket and somewhat loose jeans, with unshaven stubble giving him a disheveled appearance.

    After the July controversy surrounding his critique of Running Out of Time escted, George, who had once had a modestly sessful career as a film critic, found himself cklisted by most moviepanies in Hollywood, losing what had been a lucrative job.

    Previously, George had earned over one hundred thousand dors a year, but like many, he had lived beyond his means. This led to his financial ruin after losing his job and ie. Within months, he lost his Beverly Hills apartment to the bank and had to sell his sports car to pay off debts.

    Initially, Premiere magazine had let him go under pressure from Columbia Pictures, leaving George unable to find work with other Hollywood publications.

    To make ends meet, George had taken a job at a small tabloid called Hollywood Online. While its name sounded ssy, it was no match for notable publications like The Hollywood Reporter or The Hollywood Observer. Now, George found himself working as a journalist, or to put it inly, a paparazzi.

    Although he earned over three thousand dors a month from Hollywood Online, including asional frence reviews, this paled inparison to the ie he had once made with ease from publishing a few reviews.

    Each time George felt overwhelmed by the disparity in his lifestyle, he couldn''t help but think of Nicole Kidman''s pretty face.

    If it hadn''t been for that awful woman, he mused, he could still be living a rtivelyfortable and easy life. Instead, he had sunk to renting a small apartment in Burbank, spent his days chasing little stars all around Los Angeles, and often returned home after a long day with nothing to show for it, only to be berated by that fat pig editor.

    Whenever he recalled Nicole Kidman, George couldn''t help but think of Eric. Shortly after their incident, Nicole became the star of Eric''s new film. While many papersuded Nicole as talented and fortunate, some even detailed how Eric had chosen her from a multitude of auditioning actresses.

    Yet, George remembered that night clearly. Nicole seemed to know Drew Barrymore, which meant she definitely knew Eric Williams.

    He found himself wanting to expose the truth to the media -- it wasn''t what everyone thought. That woman surely had some dirty secret with Eric Williams. Her getting cast in Sleepless in Seattle must have involved some shady exchange with Eric.

    However, he had no evidence, and he''d only recently been cklisted for attacking Eric''s film, so any im he made would likely be dismissed. Even if a gossip rag picked it up, they''d just think he was venting because of his own predicament, and he could risk facing awsuit. So, George buried the thought deep inside.

    Reflecting on everything that had transpired over the past few months, George made his way to the luxurious cinema on Sunset Boulevard, where the premiere of The Others would take ce that evening. Of course, he no longer enjoyed the privilege offortably watching films like those invited critics often did, nor could he expect a public rtions check afterward.

    Now, he didn''t even have the right to attend the film''s post-screening press conference and could only squeeze in with other paparazzi waiting near the red carpet for the film''s director and stars to arrive, hoping for a lucky scoop.

    If he had a choice, George wouldn''t have attended the premiere, burdened as he was by a deep resentment towards Nicole, which also colored his opinion of Eric. That was why he had foolishly channeled his anger about Nicole''s "teasing" into a critique of Eric''s Running Out of Time. But today was October 30, and he still had interviews toplete. If he didn''t turn in his pieces tomorrow, that strict editor would dock his pay, so George had no choice but to suppress his disdain and show up.

    By six that evening, the red carpet outside the cinema was packed with an enthusiastic crowd. Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Kim Basinger, Mnie Griffith, Julia Roberts...

    One by one, these big Hollywood stars graced the carpet, eliciting shrieks from fans.

    George, trapped behind the barrier along with other blocked paparazzi, yelled at the stars strolling down the carpet, hoping to catch them off guard with some questions. But,

    predictably, he received no response.

    After exhausting a whole roll of film without a single worthwhile shot, he felt an undeniable frustration and switched to a new roll. He spotted Demi Moore, d in a strapless gown, cozying up to Bruce Willis as they walked past the carpet. He wished the star would trip and fall on her face as she climbed the steps, perhaps even tear her gown in the process, which would give him a solid topic for an article and allow him to leave without enduring the chaos. Unfortunately, this "wonderful" fantasy was never realized, and Demi and her husband soon disappeared into the theater.

    Momentster, cheers erupted from the other end of the red carpet, and George could distinctly hear Eric Williams'' name among the cacophony. A strong aversion welled up inside him, but the past few months had drained any remaining arrogance he had. Quickly, he snapped back into action, hoping to snag Eric for a few questions.

    ...

    Round the corner came Eric Williams, sharply dressed in a ck tuxedo, his face adorned with

    a gentle smile as he waved at the enthusiastic fans. Walking alongside him was the petite but

    voluptuous Virginia Madsen, the leadingdy of The Others.

    Even at a distance of seven or eight meters, the paparazzi roared for Eric.

    "Eric, can you stop for a picture?"

    "Eric, look this way!"

    "..."

    Eric, with Virginia at his side, stepped into the press area, pausing just long enough for the cameras to capture them together to promote Virginia''s publicity.

    "Eric, would you mind taking a picture with Ms. Madsen?"

    "Eric..."

    The paparazzi pressed once more, unsatisfied.

    Eric smiled and shook his head. Despite the industry''s awareness of his rtionship with Virginia, and even as some gossip rags ran wild with fabricated stories about them, Eric refused to provide any more fodder.

    The clicking of shutters continued as savvy paparazzi sensed Eric might soon leave, so they hurriedly raised their recording devices to hurl questions at him. Still, Eric acted as if he hadn''t heard, graciously wrapping his arm around Virginia as they started toward the theater. Seeing his chance slipping away again, George shouted out, "Mr. Williams, don''t you think it''s incredibly foolish to release The Others on November 1st?"

    With the force of his shout, George''s voice rang out above the rest, momentarily silencing the

    crowd.

    Eric paused, turned to look for the voice, and quickly zeroed in on George Norse.

    Though aware of the name attached to the critical review of Running Out of Time, Eric hadn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    never seen him before, and now, interest flickered in his eyes.

    As Eric stopped, the paparazzi behind the barrier went wild again, cameras clicking

    frantically.

    Eric approached George, loosening his hold on Virginia. "Was that you speaking just now?"

    "Yes," George nodded slightly. Eric, though young, exuded the confidence of a sessful man, causing George to feel a twinge of insecurity, reminders of his past confrontation still

    fresh in his mind.

    *****

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 Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Maybe Its Time to Do Something

    Chapter 254: Maybe It''s Time to Do Something

    ?

    [Chapter 254: Maybe It''s Time to Do Something]

    "What is your name and which newspaper do you represent?"

    "My name is George Nor... Lind. I''m a reporter for Hollywood Online," George Norse quickly fabricated a false identity.

    Eric didn''t realize George was lying. He nodded and asked, "You just said that scheduling The Others for November 1st was a foolish choice. What''s your reasoning?"

    George answered confidently, "It''s simple. Even though November 1st is Halloween and many horror films are released around that time, it isn''t really a prime release period. The box office totals for these few weeks areparable to the off-season. Since Disney and Firefly Films have high hopes for this movie, releasing it on November 1st is foolish. Alternatively, are you actuallycking confidence in The Others, which is why you are tossing it into a dead period like this?"

    After hearing George''s words, Eric couldn''t help but take another look at him. This middle- aged man dressed like a tabloid reporter was far better than those who only chased after celebrity gossip. "If you can speak so artictely, then you should know that every year, a few films make it into the top ten at the box office despite their release dates not being during the summer or Christmas. They still break into the rankings thanks to their quality."

    "Mr. Williams, I understand what you''re saying. It''s like the film Look Who''s Talking, which just premiered a few weeks ago. TriStar Pictures had little faith in it, releasing it in the quiet month of October. But now, with a mere few million in expenses, the film is close to raking in sixty million at the box office. It could even be apetitor to The Others. But, Mr. Williams, you didn''t answer my question -- those sleeper hits were released during off- seasons because they weren''t expected to perform well beforehand. But The Others is clearly a film that Disney and Firefly Films have high hopes for, awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival."

    Eric smiled slightly and confidently replied, "I already answered your question. As long as the film''s quality is solid, sometimes it can ignore release dates."

    Ignore release dates?! George was stunned, his eyes widening, and some of the more professional journalists in the crowd shared in his shock.

    It was a bold statement for anyone in Hollywood to make. No director or producer had so confidently stated such a thing. Most people fought tooth and nail tond their films in summer or holiday slots, knowing that quality release periods meant higher box office returns. Yet here was Eric, not only acting contrary but also dering that his films could "ignore release dates."

    Several paparazzi quickly sensed the explosive nature of his im, instinctively pushing forward with their recorders stretched out towards Eric.

    George knew this would be a controversial topic. He even had a rough draft in mind and believed that tomorrow many would see Eric Williams''s hubris. If The Others didn''t perform unexpectedly well, Eric would face a huge blow to his reputation, not to mention it could affect his other films'' box office during the holiday season.

    However, despite these thoughts, George still innocently brought his recorder closer to Eric, asking, "Mr. Williams, are you really suggesting that The Others canpletely ignore the constraints of the release date and achieve high box office returns?"

    Eric shrugged and nodded. "Since I''ve scheduled the movie for November 1st, I clearly have that confidence."

    The crowd of reporters erupted into hushed murmurs again.

    After saying this, Eric ignored everyone and led Virginia into the theater.

    "Hey, Mr. Williams, can you exin further?"

    "Mr. Williams, why do you have such confidence in this film?"

    "Mr. Williams..."

    Despite the reporters'' frantic shouts behind them, Eric and Virginia ascended the theater staircase without looking back.

    ...

    The premiere was set to start at seven o''clock, so the two didn''t head straight to the screening room but were guided by staff to a prepared lounge where celebrity guests were waiting.

    As they walked through the VIP corridor, Virginia quietly asked, "Eric, do you think what you just said was a bit inappropriate?"

    "Do youck faith in me too?" Eric smiled, asking.

    Virginia quickly shook her head. "No, I definitely have faith in you. But anything can go wrong, and if it does... you''ll be the one they ridicule."

    Eric gently squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Don''t worry, nothing will go wrong."

    Virginia opened her mouth, wanting to say more, but Eric pulled her into the lounge.

    After greeting many of the celebrities present, about ten minutes passed before Disney''s CEO, Michael Eisner, arrived on the scene.

    "Eric, I heard what you said on the red carpet just now." Upon meeting, Michael Eisner said to Eric.

    Eric raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Eisner, do you think what I said was inappropriate?"

    Michael shook his head. "I just think it''s a risky statement. Even I''m curious as to why you insisted on the November 1st release. Now that I''ve followed through with your suggestion, you should at least tell me the reason."

    "Let''s talk over there," Eric said, pointing to a sofa against the wall.

    Michael nodded and followed Eric over. Although everyone in the lounge wanted to strike up conversations with him and Michael, they respected their discussion and kept their distance. "Actually, I had this idea even before Running Out of Time was released," Eric said, ncing at Michael. "Back then, I thought that since there were five films rted to meing out by the end of the year, why not create a beautiful grand m during this period?" "Grand m? Miracle?" Michael repeated those two key phrases from Eric''s words, but he couldn''t quite understand how "grand m" rted to filmmaking; it wasn''t a sports event. Eric didn''t tease him and quickly exined, "Mr. Eisner, The Others is set for November 1st, and after our strong promotional efforts, achieving two weeks of box office dominance should be no problem. Following that, Home Alone 2 will release on November 17th, andst year''s film had ten consecutive weeks at the top.

    I''ve seen the films releasing around the same time, and only Lethal Weapon 2 and Back to the Future 2 stand a chance ofpeting with Home Alone 2. But those films simply won''t draw in the audience Home Alone 2 will. Even if the sequel has a drop in box office, it''s guaranteed to dominate for five weeks.

    Lastly, this Christmas, Sleepless in Seattle will continue the box office champion title. After reviewing the te, I noticed there won''t be any major blockbusters this Christmas, so I should still maintain that title unless a strongpetitor emerges. Perhaps I could sustain that momentum into February. Plus, once we market this angle, the films in this ''ry race'' will attract more attention, which will in turn boost their box office numbers." Michael Eisner was utterly amazed by Eric''s n. This young man was clearly aiming to monopolize the entire holiday season! A film that imed the top spot could secure at least 30% of the following week''s ticket sales, plus the earnings from all other films that didn''t make the top. This number would easily rise to 40%. Estimating a total year-end box office of six hundred million, these films would together earn approximately 240 million. At first nce, that didn''t seem like much -- less than the first Home Alone''s total box office -- but one had to remember that these films would also have an additional one to three months of box office collection post-New Year, meaning the final total would likely exceed 240 million

    significantly.

    On average, that meant each of the five films would make at least 100 million at the box office.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    If that happened, Firefly would im at least five positions in the top ten for the year, which would be disgraceful for the other major studios.

    Even though Disney would be the beneficiary in this scenario, Michael Eisner felt no

    excitement about it as he thought about it.

    Perhaps it was time to consider doing something.

    Michael Eisner suddenly had that thought in his mind while watching the determined young man beside him. He bit his lip, patted Eric''s shoulder encouragingly, and then stood up and left.

    Eric remained seated on the sofa for a moment. It felt like he''d caught a glimpse of something unusual in Michael Eisner''s eyes, but he couldn''t quite figure out what it was. After sharing his ambitious n with him, Eric felt quite thrilled himself and didn''t analyze too deeply into

    the fleeting expression on Eisner''s face.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Shut Up

    Chapter 255: Shut Up

    ?

    [Chapter 255: Shut Up]

    The premiere started promptly at seven o''clock. After interacting with the fans, the official showing of the film, The Others,menced.

    As usual, it began with Virginia''s slightly hoarse storytelling voice. As the plot unfolded, the fog gradually lifted. When Virginia''s character, Grace, pushed open the door that revealed all the truths, Eric heard a clear gasp from the audience.

    The credits slowly came up, and as the lights turned on, the cinema was filled with the sound of sporadic apuse, reminiscent of sparks igniting a haystack. Within five seconds, it erupted into a thunderous apuse thatsted over a minute.

    ...

    "This was definitely one of the best horror stories I had seen in years. Though the plot was straightforward andcked the shy Hollywood effects, the eerie atmosphere lingered in my mind throughout. Eric Williams, after conquering entirely different audiences with Home Alone, Pretty Woman, and Running Out of Time, extended his ''magic touch'' into the world of horror films, which was truly astonishing."

    "It had a breathtaking conclusion, allowing viewers to escape reality for over an hour, only to be jolted back to stark reality with an unexpected twist that sent chills down our spines." "It''s an incredible film. In an era where we usually relied on excessive blood and nauseating special effects to build horror, The Others undoubtedly stood out as a smart horror film. It didn''t use those conventional techniques but still managed to evoke screams."

    "It was a supernatural thriller that relied on an unnerving tension throughout the plot, rather than blood and violence. Virginia Madsen''s performance was striking. This beautiful actress, whounched her career in David Fincher''s Dune, seemed to finally find her ce in Hollywood after years of searching. I hope she continues to bring us even better films. Well, I admit it''s tough to surpass The Others, but as long as she delivers simrly excellent movies, I believe audiences will be satisfied."

    "Thoroughly immersed in tension and a sense of foreboding is almost a cliche in horror films. Yet this movie had neither peculiar masked killers nor abrupt kitchen-cutting violence, nor bloody, brutal confrontations. But it kept viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. No one knew what was happening, but everyone was eager to find out. When that final door swung open, it finally brought rity to us all who had broken out in a cold sweat."

    The day after the premiere, various newspapers such as the New York Post, Newsweek, New York Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and the Chicago Tribune published positive reviews of The Others. Many noted that the most frequently used word among critics was ''creepy.''

    Audience members, especially horror film enthusiasts, eagerly anticipated the release on November 1st.

    ...

    Simultaneously, Eric''s remarks on the red carpet understandably stirred up quite a controversy. Hollywood Online published a piece by George Norse overnight.

    "... Perhaps after a few sessful films, Eric Williams has be so inted that he forgets he is merely human, not a deity. To boast in front of numerous fans that The Others was exceptional enough to disregard any release schedule is arrogance that even Steven Spielberg or George Lucas wouldn''t dare speak lightly.

    Coming from a youth still under twenty, it was an incredibly oundish statement. Furthermore, while I wasn''t present to view the film, sources from the screening revealed that The Others was far from being as excellent as Eric imed; in fact, it was miles apart from the quality of his previous films.

    The sets were crude and simplistic, and the movie kept misleading the audience. The plot crawled along, and after an hour of dragging on, the unexpected conclusion hardly brought any surprise for an audience that was already drowsy.

    I would like to see Eric Williams personallye forward to exin how a film that was so painfully drawn out could im to ''disregard scheduling.''"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    While many papers refrained from openly criticizing The Others out of respect for Disney''s influence, they still ridiculed Eric''sment about ''disregarding scheduling.'' In just two or three days, ''disregarding scheduling'' turned into a popr joke.

    ...

    The three major televisionworks, which had a rocky rtionship with Eric due to Friends, seized every opportunity to mock him regarding this topic.

    On a daytime talk show on NBC, forty-something host Bonnie Goldwyn did not sitfortably behind his desk as usual. Instead, he made the audience wait a few seconds before slowly descending into his chair on a wire,ically adorned with a pair of quirky miniature angel wings. When asked about his unusual entrance, he humorously attributed it to his newfound ''gravity-defying'' ability, poking fun at Eric''s so-called theory of ''disregarding scheduling.''

    ...

    Despite the uproar, and even with Jeffrey''s advice for Eric to rify his statements, Eric turned a deaf ear to it.

    On November 1, Wednesday, The Others officially premiered in 1,700 theaters.

    With all eyes on it, the next day the box office results came in, showing only $3.1 million for its opening day. Media outlets wasted no time celebrating, pointing out that since Eric Williams had failed to ''disregard weekdays,'' iming to disregard scheduling was nothing short of wishful thinking.

    However, following rough estimates, the film brought in $3.9 million on Thursday. Over the weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, The Othersted $6.3 million, $7.1 million, and $6.4 million respectively. By the end of five days of detailed ounting, the total box office reached $27.19 million, silencing all doubters.

    A first-week box office of over $27 million was an impressive achievement, even during anypetitive release period.

    *****

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 Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Because of the Suspense

    Chapter 256: Because of the Suspense

    ?

    [Chapter 256: Because of the Suspense]

    But everything was far from over. As the second week began, box office statistics showed that the ticket sales for The Others showed no signs of declining. In fact, there was even a slight increase in revenue during the first few workdays.

    "It''s simple, because of the suspense!" Eric said in the banquet hall of the Sunset Tower Hotel, responding to Jonathan Demme''s curious inquiry. "In The Others, I set up enough suspense, like the fog in Grace''s house, the dream that Grace had at the very beginning, and the deeper meanings hidden in many of the lines.

    The most important thing is the surprising twist at the end where the living and the dead switch ces. These elements have drawn curious filmgoers who want to get to the bottom of it back to the theater repeatedly.

    Remember, humanity is the most curious of animals. On top of that, I intentionally suggested to Disney to stoke these curiosities through newspapers or television programs to maximize fan interest, leading to the current situation."

    Jonathan Demme asked, "So, if enough analysis of the film''s plot appears in newspapers and gradually solves all the suspense, doesn''t that mean the film''s box office potential would be capped as well?"

    Eric shook his head, sporting a sly smile. "Critics will inevitably begin to analyze, but don''t worry, what you mentioned won''t happen. Many questions will remain open to debate. Just like why Grace would kill her two children; even in the three-hour cut shown at the Venice Film Festival, there''s no clear answer, just some vague hints in the characters'' dialogues. Based on those hints, some might think it''s because Nazi soldiers upied the ind, and to avoid enemy capture, Grace kept her children quiet and ended up identally killing them. Others might argue, ording to the hints, that Grace likely killed her children after the war, suggesting she went mad or had some other reason. In short, it''s hard to find a unified answer, which means that in their quest for more evidence to convince each other, some will choose to watch it again."

    Jonathan Demme seemed to understand something, nodding his head. He then asked, "Eric, I pretty much memorized the script while shooting this movie, but I''ll admit I couldn''t find out why Grace killed her two children. You must know, right? What''s the deal?"

    "I don''t know either," Eric replied.

    Jonathan Demme looked at Eric in disbelief, raising his voice in amazement. "You... you don''t know?"

    "Yep. Because I never really thought about it. From the start, I didn''t consider why Grace would kill her two children. I just wrote the story. In the story, Grace killed her two children, and everything else in the mansion unfolded from there."

    Jonathan Demme burst outughing, as though everything suddenly made sense. "No wonder you weren''t worried at all; I guess for not just this matter, but perhaps many of the suspense elements, you don''t even have the right answers, do you?"

    "Bingo!" Eric smiled and snapped his fingers.

    They exchanged a few knowingughs, and then Jonathan Demme said, "By the way, Eric, Miss Murdoch got in touch with me about that Silence of the Lambs script. I heard that you endorsed it, so I agreed to it."

    Eric paused for a moment, thinking that Jonathan Demme wouldn''t just casually bring this up. He asked, "Is there a problem?"

    "Yes," Jonathan Demme nodded. "Miss Murdoch mentioned that you suggested Jodie Foster for the lead role. But after reading the script a few times, I feel like Michelle Pfeiffer might be a better fit."

    Eric recalled quickly and remembered some details about the actress. Though Michelle Pfeiffer had decent acting skills, with a few Oscar nominations under her belt, she hadn''t really had a standout role. Plus, her blonde beauty didn''t quite resemble Jodie Foster''s rice from The Silence of the Lambs in his memory.

    Deep down, Eric really hoped Jodie Foster would y the lead. However, if Jonathan Demme was set on this, he wouldn''t intervene too much. After all, Eric still felt that the film didn''t have much to do with him. Due to the girl''s deliberate secrecy, Eric had noticed a bit of spending when he saw the credit card information during thatst transaction for the adaptation rights. But he never considered that the girl would hide $3 million from him; if he had discovered it, he probably would''ve just given her a good scolding. Thus, he was still unaware of Drew''s 30% stake in TG Films.

    "Why do you think Michelle Pfeiffer is suitable?" After pondering for a while without rity, Eric tossed the question back to Jonathan Demme.

    "I''ve seen Michelle Pfeiffer in several films, especiallyst year''s Dangerous Liaisons which got her an Oscar nomination, and also The Witches of Eastwick with Jack Nicholson, Cher, and Susan Sarandon. Michelle Pfeiffer has an aplished acting range and has yed various roles. I believe she could bring rice to life in a remarkable way."

    Eric nodded in agreement. With the sess of The Others, Jonathan Demme had be a top-tier director. Though he knew that if he expressed his opinion, the grateful Jonathan would likelypromise, he also realized he wasn''t the producer; intervening would likely be frowned upon. Furthermore, it would be interesting to see if Michelle Pfeiffer in the lead role would yield the same impact, a thought that was quite intriguing, wasn''t it? "Then just go with your own instincts. I''m confident you can make a great film as long as you can persuade Liz to cast whoever you want for the lead role," Eric encouraged. Jonathan Demme nodded confidently, exchanged a few more words, and they parted ways. As Eric moved through the crowd at the party, he identally overheard several people huddled around a table discussing something that seemed rted to The Others. Curious, he inched closer to listen in.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    *****

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 Chapter 257: Chapter 257 What to Do

    Chapter 257 What to Do

    ?

    [Chapter 257 What to Do]

    "Mr. Jaffee, since The Others proved sessful with its ghost perspective, I believe a romantic film featuring a ghost as the main character could definitely have potential..."

    The middle-aged man, who looked to be in his forties and wore sses, had not finished his sentence when the person he addressed, Mr. Jaffee, interrupted him. "Alright, Bruce, I know you''ve been pushing that script of yours, but I''m really not interested. I''m currently preparing for another film."

    The others standing by the dining table chimed in, "Bruce, give it a rest. Don''t you think a love story with a ghost at the center sounds ridiculous? And it''s a tragedy, no less."

    "Many memorable stories are tragedies," Bruce countered.

    "What good is being memorable?" a man with curly brown hair followed up. "I''ve heard about your script; it relies heavily on special effects, and the budget won''t be under twenty million dors. That''s quite the investment for a productionpany, which makes it a huge risk. Bruce, if you''re so interested in ghosts or supernatural phenomena, you should put some effort into writing horror scripts, like The Others, instead of wasting your time on some ridiculous ghost love story."

    As Eric approached, he caught the tail end of what the brown-haired man said, and something clicked in his mind. "Ghost love story, Bruce -- just these two keywords led Eric to suspect that the screenwriter of that heart-wrenching movie, Ghost, was indeed Bruce Joel Rubin. And considering the timeline, without his presence, this film might have already been in production.

    While Jonathan Demme directed The Others, there was no doubt that Eric was the one garnering the most attention at the party. As he drew near the buffet table, the group, already in conversation, immediately surrounded him, enthusiastically introducing themselves.

    As Eric collected their business cards and politely handed out his own, he feigned disinterest and asked, "I think I just heard someone mention ghosts. What are you all talking about?"

    The crowd hesitated, not knowing what to say to Eric. The middle-aged man called Bruce, whom they referred to as Mr. Jaffee, replied promptly. "It''s a script about a bank clerk who was murdered and became a ghost to protect his girlfriend from evil men."

    Eric recalled this middle-aged man named Charles Jaffee had just introduced himself as a vice president at Paramount. He figured that Jaffee must have been molded by Barry Diller''s high- concept film philosophy; he sinctly encapsted the plot of Ghost in a single sentence.

    At the same time, Eric became even more convinced of his earlier guess. The bespectacled middle-aged man, now on the outskirts of the crowd, was surely Bruce Joel Rubin, the screenwriter of Ghost.

    After entering Hollywood, Eric had reviewed and reminisced about the notable films from the past few years, hoping to secure filming rights for some. But after some investigation, he found that many movie rights were already held by the major studios, and some were simply impossible to trace.

    Ghost was one of those scripts he couldn''t track down. Before this film, Bruce Joel Rubin had no name in Hollywood, and despite his efforts, Eric couldn''t even locate the man.

    Ultimately, Eric resolved to take things step by step. Ghost was set to be released in the summer of 1990, and by the general production timeline in a parallel universe, this film should have already begun preparations this year; the script was likely avable even earlier, perhaps before Eric made his entrance into this time. Thus, it would have been impossible for him to just copy and use it.

    Eric didn''t immediately show any interest in the script. He casually nced at Bruce Joel Rubin before shifting his attention back to idle chatter with the group around him.

    Though these executives from bigpanies and renowned producers seemed warm and weing now, from his experiences with his hit films, if he dared to show interest in the Ghost script, those same people would undoubtedly turn on him and dive into a frenzy to grab the script for themselves.

    After some small talk, Eric finally disengaged from the group. Throughout the entire process, he hadn''t exchanged a single word with Bruce Joel Rubin. Since the man was now present, it would be easy to find himter.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ...

    However, many situations caught him off guard. Just as he moved away, Bruce Joel Rubin quickly pursued him, saying, "Mr. Williams..."

    Behind Eric, the red-haired middle-aged man who had just criticized Bruce watched with a smile, turning to Charles Jaffee, and remarked, "Looks like Bruce isn''t ready to give up. He''s still fixated on Williams."

    Charles Jaffee gazed thoughtfully at the middle-aged man who was pursuing Eric. "Brian, do you think Williams will take a shine to that script?"

    "Who knows? But given Eric Williams''s taste, if he liked that script..." Brian paused, locking eyes with Charles, and then they both casually parted ways.

    They were mere acquaintances, and since Charles was a vice president at Paramount while Brian worked at Warner, if Eric identified the potential in that script, it would certainly make them rivals inpetition. Hearing Charles and Brian''s conversation, others nearby directed their attention toward Eric.

    Eric felt an immense headacheing on. Bruce Joel Rubin had already started to outline the plot of Ghost, and he was at a loss for what to do.

    Should he ignore itpletely, pretending not to care? After the party, he could still expect Bruce to approach him warmly, but Rubin wasn''t naive, which could cause even more trouble. Should he harshly criticize the script? That might eliminate any chances of coboration altogether.

    Neither of the first two options were viable. And what if he outright showed interest in the script right there?

    This thought crossed Eric''s mind, causing him to nce around. Many people were now watching them, particrly those he had just conversed with.

    These were all sharp individuals; if he revealed any hint of his thoughts, the inevitablepetition would turn into a frenzy, where a firefly would seem no more than a weak hyena amidst a pack of predatory wolves.

    *****

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 Chapter 258: Chapter 258: No One Is a Fool

    Chapter 258: No One Is a Fool

    ?

    [Chapter 258: No One Is a Fool]

    "...Carl unexpectedly died from a piece of falling ss that pierced his heart, and his soul was dragged into hell by the Grim Reaper. After saying goodbye to Sam, Molly, and Odie, he

    fulfilled his wish and slowly walked into the gates of heaven. Mr. Williams, what do you think of this story?"

    Bruce Joel Rubin noticed right away that Eric seemed a bit distracted. So, he quickly summarized the story, not expecting much in return. He asked his final question while waiting for Eric to give a negative answer, hoping to excuse himself from the conversation.

    As soon as Bruce finished, Eric snapped back to attention.

    "Mr. Rubin, it seems like Charles and the others weren''t too optimistic about this story, right?"

    When Bruce heard Eric''sment, he thought he was being rejected, and a look of disappointment crossed his face. "Well then, sorry for bothering you, Mr. Williams."

    Just as Bruce was about to leave, Eric quickly called out, "Mr. Rubin, actually, I think your concept is pretty good."

    Bruce stopped in his tracks and turned around, checking to see if he had misheard. "Mr. Williams, did I just hear you correctly?"

    "Of course you did," Eric smiled, adding, "I think your concept is good, but when I listened to your summary of the story, I didn''t hear anything that really stood out. Do you have aplete script?"

    "Of course I do, Mr. Williams. I..." Bruce Joel Rubin rubbed his hands nervously. He had sneaked into the party with a friend, so he obviously hadn''t brought a script. Yet, having finallye across someone interested, especially one of Hollywood''s hottest young directors, Bruce was eager to seize the opportunity. "Mr. Williams, how about I go get the script now?"

    Eric shook his head. "There''s no need to rush. It''s alreadyte." He then pulled out a business card and handed it to Bruce. "How about you bring the script to Firefly headquarters tomorrow at nine? We can talk in detail then."

    Bruce excitedly epted the business card. "Mr. Williams, I''ll be there on time."

    Eric nodded and didn''t say anything more as he nced at a few eager guests around, casually leaving the conversation.

    ...

    "Eric, what are you thinking about?" Virginia, pressed against Eric on the dance floor, looked up and asked.

    Eric nced at Bruce, who was being engaged by various guests, saying, "I''ve set my sights on a script, and I suspect many people are eager to get it."

    Virginia followed Eric''s gaze. "Is it that guy? I just saw you chatting with him for a bit. If you like it, why not buy it right away?"

    "Right away? In the middle of the night?" Eric stroked the woman''s waist and replied, "No one''s a fool; if I act too eager, the person with the script will hesitate to sell it. Plus, with other studios wanting the script, it could ultimately cost more to acquire it."

    Virginia tightened her embrace around Eric''s waist, nuzzling her face against his chest. "I don''t quite understand; I guess I''m a fool after all."

    Taking advantage of no one watching, Eric lightly pped Virginia''s wrapped rear end, his tone yful. "I like fools."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Virginia protested by giving Eric a light punch, and then she looked up, her big eyes blinking innocently as she asked, "Eric, tonight?"

    Eric shook his head helplessly. "You have a whole line of photographers following you everywhere. Do you think I daree to your ce?"

    Virginia felt resigned at his words. Ever since the release of The Others, she had not only gained immense fame, rocketing from a third-rate actress to a leading star, but her private life had also attracted intense scrutiny from the tabloids. Eric knew they were not only targeting Virginia but also himself.

    Every time he recalled the night he negotiated with Murdoch and the old man mentioned that a New York Post reporter had been secretly following him for months, Eric felt uneasy. Frankly, that issue had yet to be resolved. Eric had been wise enough not to approach Murdoch for the photos, as even a fool would know he wouldn''t hand over all the backup copies.

    Since that incident, Eric had be even more cautious.

    Though he didn''t care about being in the media spotlight with those actresses, he had to consider Jennifer Aniston''s feelings. If rumors about him and other actresses kept popping up, even if she tried to pretend they didn''t matter, the pressure would likely force her to break it off.

    Although visiting Virginia wasn''t an option, going elsewhere was not an issue.

    ...

    In the bedroom, Anistony like a fish out of water, gasping for breath before copsing, her body twitching. Eric alsoy down on the smooth skin of her back, brushing aside strands of hair to nt kisses on her cheek.

    He gently stirred, quickly sliding into her slick warmth.

    "Ugh... stop, I''m dying here." Aniston objected, arching her rounded backside as if she wanted to push Eric away, but instead, it only heightened his pleasure.

    "Let me do mouth-to-mouth," Eric teased, kissing her petite lips as his tongue invaded, dancing with her soft one hidden inside.

    With soft protests, Aniston tried her best to re at the man pressing down on her after Eric finally let go. After a moment of yful intimacy, she finally managed to say, "Eric, can I go wash up? I don''t want to dirty the sheets."

    Eric shed a mischievous grin, kissing her cheek and leaning close to whisper, "Don''t worry, let me just rest a moment, and I''ll fix that for you."

    Upon hearing this, Aniston immediately started to squirm under Eric''s weight, eximing, "No more, no more! I''ll die if you keep this up!"

    Unfortunately, she failed to realize that her writhing only intensified Eric''s desires, and the previously yielded member was soon at attention once more.

    Eric quickly flipped Aniston back over, lifting her long legs to rest on her chest, and pressed down once again.

    ...

    As the morning light streamed in, Eric woke up, feeling refreshed. He pulled the covers over the restless Aniston before getting dressed and stepping into the bathroom.

    As he opened the door to the living room, he heard a soft tter from the kitchen.

    "Good morning," Nicole called out, turning her head to greet Eric while preparing breakfast.

    "Morning," Eric nodded, catching the mouth-watering scent wafting through the air. "Is

    there enough for me?"

    Nicole shot him an eye roll. "What do you think?"

    "Of course there is," Eric responded as he approached, wrapping his arms around her slender waist while peering into the little pot on the stove.

    Nicole was caught off guard by Eric''s sudden action but soon rxed as she felt him pressed against her. "After what you didst night, you''re still not satisfied?"

    "Were you eavesdropping?" Eric teased, blowing softly against her sensitive earlobe. Nicole''s cheeks flushed, and she denied it, "Do I need to eavesdrop? You were loud enough; if

    it weren''t for the vi''s decent soundproofing, the neighbors would''ve probably called the

    -cops."

    "What about you?" Eric asked, his tone yful as one hand slipped around her waist.

    "Eric, you''re such a jerk! Aren''t you worried about Jenny finding out?" Nicole wriggled, not certain if she was resisting or encouraging him.

    "She probably won''t wake up for a while," Eric replied, withdrawing his drenched fingers from her clothes and bringing them to her lips.

    Nicole shot Eric an annoyed look but obediently opened her mouth, taking his finger inside.

    After a moment, Eric pulled his finger back, giving her a yful p on her rear. "All done. I''m going to wake Jenny. You finish making breakfast."

    "Jerk." As Eric released her suddenly, Nicole nearly copsed, hastily supporting herself on the counter, muttering aint at his retreating figure toward the door.

    ...

    After breakfast, as Eric left the apartment he shared with Jennifer and Nicole, he spotted

    Bruce Joel Rubin waiting outside the office building.

    "Mr. Rubin, didn''t we agree on nine o''clock?" Eric checked his watch.

    Bruce replied, "That''s right, Mr. Williams. I was afraid of traffic, so I arrived early."

    "Oh, let''s head to the office then," Eric said, leading Bruce into the Firefly office building.

    This was the office Robert Shea had rmended a few months ago, now belonging to Firefly. The former New Line and Firefly employees had moved in at the beginning of the

    month.

    Initially, Eric had thought to move UTA in as well, but that suggestion met resistance from Jeffrey and Robert, and even Kepler didn''t agree. After a lengthy exnation, Eric understood it was a matter of avoiding conflict of interest. After all, productionpanies couldn''t own talent agencies at the same time. Eric originally only flirted with the idea, but moving UTA in with Firefly would only cause problems.

    Once inside the office, Eric had coffee delivered for both of them and sat across from Bruce

    Joel Rubin. "So, Mr. Rubin, did you bring the script?"

    "Of course," Bruce pulled a manuscript from his bag and handed it to Eric.

    Eric didn''t say a word; he opened the script and began reading.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 259: Chapter 259: An Unreasonable Ask

    Chapter 259: An Unreasonable Ask

    ?

    [Chapter 259: An Unreasonable Ask]

    After reading the script, Eric discovered that there were quite a few differences in detailspared to his recollection of the film. However, the main storyline remained unchanged. Therefore, whenever he got around to shooting it, he figured he could easily make those adjustments.

    Most importantly, Eric couldn''t find the song Unchained Melody in the script. In his previous life, the reason Ghost became a ssic was closely tied to that famous tune. It was almost as if the song took the entire story to new heights. If any other song had been used instead, Ghost surely wouldn''t be seen as such a ssic today.

    Due to the butterfly effect, Eric waspletely certain that if he wasn''t directing this script himself, Unchained Melody probably wouldn''t appear at all. Without that song and with all the other differences, it would be a miracle if the film managed to achieve even half the sess of its predecessors.

    "Mr. Rubin, I''ve finished reading the script. While there are many areas that need revision, overall it''s not bad. How much are you nning to sell it for?" Eric closed the script and looked up to ask.

    There was a glint of slyness in Bruce''s eyes behind his sses. Instead of answering Eric''s question, he asked, "Mr. Williams, what areas do you think need to be revised?"

    Eric gazed at Bruce and shook his head, saying, "That depends on the specifics of the shoot."

    Since Eric had said that, Bruce didn''t press the matter further. He even thought, deep down, that Eric only made that statement to lead him into lowering the price. He was confident that the script, which he had meticulously revised several times, may not be perfect, but it didn''t require as many changes as Eric imed.

    "Actually, Mr. Williams," Bruce said, "I rmended my script to a few people atst night''s party, and quite a few expressed interest. Mr. Charles Jaffe at Paramount even promised that if I sold the script to Paramount, he would personally produce the film and fully support its production. He also offered me a co-producer title to share in the film''s profits."

    Eric smirked internally and asked nonchntly, "Mr. Rubin, how much will Paramount offer you in terms of profit share?"

    After a moment''s hesitation, Bruce hesitated to extend several fingers but thought better of it. He responded honestly, "Aside from the $300,000 payment for the script, Mr. Jaffe promised me a 1% share of the North American profits."

    "And how much do you think this script would earn at the box office once made into a film?" Bruce disyed a proud smile. "Mr. Williams, since you see potential in this script, I believe it could earn at least $100 million at the box office. Maybe even more."

    Eric replied, "You see, even if you gave it to another director to make, the box office would still reach $100 million. Based on a production budget of $20 million and a marketing cost of $10 million, you''d end up with just $250,000 in profit -- less than your basic payment."

    "I certainly understand that," Bruce shrugged. "That''s why I''m here today. Mr. Williams, what do you n to offer for this script?"

    "$500,000," Eric said, knowing he couldn''t set the price too high right away; he needed room for negotiation.

    Bruce Joel Rubin looked at him with incredulity and raised his voice. "Mr. Williams, are you seriously saying a script that could make over $100 million is only worth $500,000?"

    "Mr. Rubin, please don''t naively insist on the $100 million box office. Before a film is released, no one can predict its revenue. So let''s talk about how much you want."

    Bruce held up three fingers and gestured toward Eric. "$3 million. I''ve had two scripts produced into films before, so I know what Hollywood''s profit sharing looks like. I don''t want profit sharing; I want 1% of the North American box office."

    Even with some preparation, Eric was still taken aback by Bruce''s audacious demand. He had never seen suchpensation himself; the script for 17 Again had been a minimum of $200,000 with no profit share.

    For subsequent films like Home Alone, even though he was the investor, he had specified all terms clearly in the contract for a reasonable payment and directing fees to avoid anyplicationster.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    For instance, in the recently released The Others, he received no basic script payment because the film''s budget was only $5 million. Instead, he had the benefit of 3% of the North American profits. Considering The Others'' box office performance, that would him about one hundred thousand.

    Leaning back in his leather chair, Eric shook his head andughed. "Mr. Rubin, your asking price ispletely absurd. No screenwriter in Hollywood has ever obtained such a deal."

    "No, no, no, I have one right here," Bruceplimented Eric slightly and then continued, "Mr. Williams,pared to the profits this film could generate, my offer is not unreasonable at all, is it? Perhaps even the lead actor''s sry would surpass mine."

    "You''re mistaken, Mr. Rubin, I can''t fetch that much either. The ie reported in the papers was the total from all of my roles as an investor, director, and screenwriter. If I were just a writer, I wouldn''t earn even a fraction of those numbers."

    "Mr. Williams, can you offer me a more sincere price?" Bruce urged. "You have to realize that this script is like my child, and I hope for a great director to bring it to life."

    Eric internally scoffed. He detested those who alwayspared their work to children. While some were sincere, most just put on a show.

    Having heard Bruce''s unreasonable demand, Eric understood this middle-aged man was definitely in thetter group. Otherwise, they would be discussing the content of the script rather than how much money he wanted.

    "$3 million for basic script payment and box office share is definitely out of the question," Eric stated. "You just mentioned that Paramount intends to offer you $300,000 and 1% of the profits, so that''s what I can offer as well. Mr. Robin, I assure you, my 1% will be more valuable than Paramount''s."

    Bruce Joel Rubin shook his head immediately. "Mr. Williams, you really don''t seem sincere saying that."

    Eric wanted to convey his sincerity; he wasn''t a stingy person. However, given this man''s greed, Eric knew if he raised the price too high, Bruce would probably run off to ask for an even bigger ''sincere'' offer from other studios.

    "Mr. Rubin, I''m already being quite sincere. My first script was only $200,000 with no profit share. You''re potentially getting 1% of the profits now. Honestly, I just think this script is promising. It''s my first attempt at someone else''s script, which is risky, and if things go wrong, it could tarnish my reputation."

    "Maybe I should go to other studios for offers. I received a lot of business cardsst night," Bruce said as he tucked the script back into his bag.

    Eric shrugged casually. "Go ahead, but I doubt anyone will offer a higher price. Even if you go back to Paramount, at the film''s production and marketing costs, the box office must hit $60 million just to break even. The chances of you collecting that share are very slim, as I don''t believe anyone else can direct your script to a high box office. Besides, if it flops, no one may ever want your scripts again."

    Hearing this from Eric made Bruce hesitate for a moment, but he still got up to bid farewell to

    Eric.

    ...

    Once Bruce left, Eric turned his attention back to work, not dwelling on the matter further. Although Bruce was a bit greedy, he was still a smart guy. Smart people make smart choices. He might not fully grasp the implications of Eric''sstments now, but he would soon

    understand.

    If the script flopped, no one would dare ept his future scripts. Conversely, if this script became a hit, Bruce Joel Rubin would likely demand astronomical sums for future scripts, and only Eric could ensure that this script got made into a blockbuster.

    ...

    It had to be said, Bruce Joel Rubin was indeed a patient man. For the next week, he didn''t contact Eric, and Eric heard no further news about the Ghost script. Meanwhile, The Others reached a box office total of $25.54 million after its second week. Although it didn''t decline as anticipated, the under 5% drop in earnings took everyone by surprise. The total gross exceeded $52 million -- over ten times its production cost. Some Disney executives who had worried that Michael Eisner''s insistence on spending double the budget on marketing might lead to losses were relieved. After two weeks of release, Disney had already recouped its marketing expenses based on its share, meaning whatever profits came in afterward were pure profit.

    Other studios envied Disney''s good fortune and stopped criticizing Michael Eisner for his earlier lucrative deal with Firefly Films. Instead, they began praising his boldness.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 260: Chapter 260: A Bit of a Goof

    Chapter 260: A Bit of a Goof

    ?

    [Chapter 260: A Bit of a Goof]

    During the third week of November, with Thanksgiving approaching, a wave of holiday- themed films was set to release.

    Among the most anticipated was, of course, Home Alone 2. There was also Warner Bros.'' Lethal Weapon 2 and Universal''s Back to the Future Part II. In addition to these highly awaited films, several other titles were also nning to crowd the screens on November 17th.

    Notably, a certain film that had been rtively low-profile quietly made its way into the mix of those additional titles: Steel Magnolias. Aside from Eric''s unwavering confidence in this movie, nearly everyone else viewed Steel Magnolias as merely a side yer.

    Inparison to Disney''s heavy marketing for The Others, Steel Magnolias received little of the same attention. The Others had expanded to 2,000 screens by its third week, while Steel Magnolias only opened in 1,000 theaters. This was still a decent number, mostly because Julia Roberts starred in it. If Julia had participated in Steel Magnolias ording to the original timeline, it would have been lucky to secure even 500 screens.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Amid this collective skepticism, Julia even called Eric to scold him, her tone full ofints. Eric could only respond with gentle words and various reassurances tofort her.

    ...

    Given that Home Alone 2 was filmed in New York, Fox decided to host the premiere at arge theater on Manhattan''s 42nd Street.

    After negotiating with Fox, Eric sessfully arranged for a live broadcast of the premiere for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Compared to the premiere of The Others, the event for Home Alone 2 promised to be much more lively. After all, the first film had grossed an astonishing $300 million at the North American box office -- a rarity in film history at that time.

    Fox rolled out a 50-meter red carpet outside the premiere theater and invited dozens of Hollywood stars to join the celebration.

    "Eric, I... I''m feeling really nervous," Jennifer Aniston stuttered as the luxurious stretch limousine pulled up to the red carpet entrance, still clutching Eric''s arm.

    Eric could only soothe her, giving her a gentle pat and saying, "Alright, Jen. Just rx. You''re a big star now. There will be even more extravagant Oscar red carpets in the future. So why get all worked up over a little event like this?"

    "You make it sound so easy," Aniston replied, pinching his arm yfully. "And by the way, Eric, I''m cold."

    "Uh... there''s not much I can do about that. Your gown is already pretty conservative. Just wait till you see the off-the-shoulder, backless, thigh-high dresses -- those are everywhere."

    "I don''t want to look like those women," Aniston said, immediately pouting at Eric''s words.

    "Of course not. With me by your side, my darling, you don''t have to expose anything. You''ll be just as famous as those starlets."

    "I don''t want to rely on you. I... I..." Aniston hesitated, finally giving Eric''s arm a hard pinch. "It''s all your fault for insisting on giving me the character of Rachel. Don''t think I didn''t hear Dad say you want to stretch this si for 10 seasons, otherwise, I''ll always just be known as Rachel Green to the audience!"

    ''Countless starlets wished they could snag a role like that!''

    Eric thought to himself but replied without missing a beat, "Sweetheart, anytime you don''t want to act anymore, I''ll cancel Friends immediately."

    Aniston shot him a re. "Do I reallye off as that unreasonable?"

    "No, no, my little darling is the most understanding," he said. "Look, we''ve arrived at the red carpet. Let''s get out."

    "Hmph!" She huffed softly but quickly took out a small mirror from her purse to check her makeup onest time.

    As Eric got out of the car and took Aniston''s arm to head for the premiere red carpet, the packed fans on either side erupted in deafening cheers.

    "Eric! Eric!"

    "Eric, I love you!" A crowd of beautiful girls waved posters for 17 Again enthusiastically. "Rachel, Rachel, can I get an autograph?" It was clear that Aniston had her share of fans too. Eric nced at the tight security measures around them, feeling reassured, and softly urged Aniston, "Go sign some autographs for your fans."

    This was Aniston''s first experience with such a scene. Despite the New York temperature dropping below 10 degrees, she didn''t feel a hint of cold wearing her thin gown; instead, the excitement made her cheeks feel warm.

    This was the feeling of fame -- no wonder so many people wanted it.

    Thinking about this, when she heard her boyfriend''s suggestion, Aniston smoothly leaned into the wall of fans, readily grabbed a pen to sign on notebooks or posters thrust her way.

    Eric also smiled and signed a few autographs for some fans, even posing for a photo with the most fervent group of girls.

    After some brief interactions, Eric once again linked arms with Aniston and slowly made his way forward.

    Upon reaching the press area, Eric affectionately posed for a few photos with Aniston when a reporter stationed in the middle of the red carpet stopped them.

    This reporter, Laura Pena from Fox, was ready to maximize the benefits of the live broadcast by mimicking the Oscar red carpet tradition, featuring an interviewer on the premiere carpet.

    Jealous nces from the reporters on the sidelines directed toward Laura as she directed Eric and Aniston to step aside.

    "Hi, Mr. Williams, Miss Aniston. How about saying a few words to the audience?"

    "Hello, everyone," Eric and Aniston said together, smiling and waving at the camera. "Speaking of which, Mr. Williams, is this your first public appearance with Miss Aniston?" Laura asked.

    With Aniston giving him a slightly forlorn look, Eric replied confidently, "Oh, it''s not our first time at all. We''ve been together in the papers long before -- back in the early part of the year when I came to New York. Someone snapped a photo of us, and I still keep that picture."

    "Oh, I remember that. You and Miss Aniston are truly a perfect match," Laura said brightly. As for the rumors surrounding Eric''s yboy image, she certainly had the sense not to bring that up, given that Eric was still her boss.

    "Thanks for saying that," Eric smiled.

    After a bit more small talk, Laura shifted the conversation toward the film. She didn''t ask Eric directly but brought the mic to Aniston instead. "Miss Aniston, how much box office do you think Home Alone 2 could bring in?"

    "Of course, the more, the better," Aniston skillfully replied with a standard answer. "Could you give us a specific number?" Laura pressed for more detail.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Wrong Direction

    Chapter 261: Wrong Direction

    ?

    [Chapter 261: Wrong Direction]

    When Laura Pena pressed the question, Jennifer Aniston nced at her boyfriend Eric Williams, noticing him casually blinking a couple of times. She leaned closer to the microphone and said, "I watched the preview of Home Alone 2. This movie is even better than the first one. Little Stu performed excellently as usual, and Matthew still managed to be a bust. The other actors also delivered outstanding performances. So, I think this movie should at least hit $200 million at the box office."

    "Wow, $200 million -- a surprising number. I hope Miss Aniston''s words bring this film good luck," Laura Pena had no intention ofparing it tost year''s Home Alone. She continued, "By the way, Miss Aniston, I heard that the young bungler Marv was yed by Mr. Matthew Perry, your former ssmate, right?"

    Jennifer nodded, "Yes,st year when Eric was casting, he couldn''t find anyone suitable for Marv for a long time. So, I rmended Matthew to him. After a simple audition, Eric decided to cast Matthew in that role, and it turned out to be a great choice."

    "I didn''t know about that little tidbit," Laura said, her tone dripping with mockery. "So, Miss Aniston, you introduced Mr. Matthew Perry to Mr. Williams without fearing he''d get jealous?"

    Jennifer''s eyes widened at the question, and she tightened her grip on Eric''s arm. "How could that be? If Eric was jealous, he wouldn''t have chosen Matthew to y Marv."

    After a brief interview, the couple walked across the red carpet and entered the cinema.

    ...

    After greeting everyone who had already arrived, Eric leaned over to Jennifer and suddenly said, "Jen, honestly, I am feeling a bit jealous. You owe me a favor tonight."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Jennifer shot him a disbelieving look. "You do all this crazy stuff, and I can barely keep my cool. I haven''t seen you make it up to me once."

    "Well, how about Ipensate you a couple of times tonight?" Eric said with a mischievous grin, wrapping his arm around Jennifer''s waist and giving a yful squeeze to a sensitive spot through her gown.

    A tingling sensation raced up Jennifer''s spine; her body softened slightly. Gritting her teeth, she pushed Eric away, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You beast! You only think about these kinds of things. I''m ignoring you now."

    She indeed escaped from Eric''s side, deliberately walking toward Matthew Perry, greeting him with a warm hug.

    ...

    Eric shrugged in resignation, just about to follow when Donald Trump, who had previously made a cameo, approached, beaming and waved from a distance. Apanying Donald was a blonde woman who seemed to be in her thirties and holding a little girl. It was the adorable Ivanka.

    "Hey, Eric, long time no see," Donald Trump said as he ambled over, warmly embracing Eric. "Eric, this is my wife, Ivana. Ivana, meet Eric Williams."

    Eric politely shook Ivana''s hand.

    Just then, an adorable little voice piped up. "Eric, do you remember me?"

    "Of course, I do, Ivanka," Eric said, smiling as he reached out to pinch Ivanka''s chubby little cheeks, only to be met with strong protest. "Hey, Eric, you can''t just pinch girls'' cheeks!"

    Eric squatted down in front of the little girl and asked with interest, "Why can''t I pinch them?"

    Ivanka tilted her head, thinking for a moment but failing toe up with a suitable answer. Then she puffed out her cheeks and eximed, "Just because you can''t!"

    As Eric was about to tease the little girl further, Jennifer returned. Spotting Ivanka Trump, she eximed excitedly, "Wow, what a beautiful little girl, just like a doll!" Without waiting for Ivanka''s reaction, she reached out and pinched the little girl''s cheeks.

    "Ahhhh! You adults are so annoying!"

    With the little girl iling and squealing, everyone burst intoughter. Seeing how upset Ivanka was, Jennifer quickly released her grip and said apologetically to Ivanka''s mother, "I''m sorry, did I... do something wrong?"

    "It''s nothing, Miss Aniston. Ivanka is usually very good; she just doesn''t like unfamiliar people," Ivana exined with a smile. With Friends being immensely popr, she already knew who Jennifer was.

    Jennifer still looked slightly apologetic and nced at Eric, who quickly made the necessary introductions. The four of them then continued their conversation, ignoring the puffed-up little girl.

    "Eric, what you said during the premiere of The Ind was truly fantastic. I heard the film''s box office had already surpassed $50 million, while its budget was only $5 million, right?"

    "Yeah, while the production cost was only $5 million, the distribution cost was a bit higher," Eric replied.

    Donald, who had some insight into film distribution,mented, "Even so, Firefly Films should make a killing. Eric, how much do you think this film could gross in total?"

    Since these figures were widely reported with extensive analysis in the papers, Eric felt there was no need for secrecy. He replied, "I estimate it should make at least $150 million in North America. Overseas is hard to say, but with the Venice Silver Lion''s prestige and the quality of the movie itself, it might do even better there."

    Upon hearing Eric, Donald felt even more enthusiastic. If Eric''s calctions were correct, this low-budget film was set to bring in profits of around $70 to $80 million for Firefly. Not to mention the profits from the uing Home Alone 2, which were bound to be even higher. Without considering other films soon to be released by Firefly, it seemed Eric could easily rake in $200 million in cash from just these two films. Donald was practically going mad thinking about cash.

    Eric couldn''t help but notice the shift in Donald Trump''s expression. While he had a decent impression of the real estate mogul after spending little time together, he knew better than to let personal feelings guide his actions. He believed that even Donald''s close friends might lend him some assistance but wouldn''t invest heavily in an unstable real estate project at such a crucial time.

    Not wanting to let Donald cling to false illusions, Eric thought it better to rify the

    situation.

    At that moment, staff announced that the guests for the premiere could enter the screening

    room.

    "Jen, why don''t you and Mrs. Trump head to the screening room? I want to chat with Donald for a bit," Eric suggested to Jennifer, not avoiding mention of the Trump family.

    Donald nodded toward his wife, who was pulling Ivanka along to leave with Jennifer. However, Ivanka wriggled out of her mother''s grasp, looking serious like a little grown-up. "Mom, you go ahead. I have something to discuss with Eric."

    Ivana quickly realized her husband and Eric had something serious to talk about and tugged at her daughter. "Ivanka, stop fooling around ande along with your mother. Let''s go see

    Kevin."

    "I''m not interested in that little brat," Ivanka suddenly clutched her father''s leg like a little ko, refusing to budge no matter how her mother tugged.

    Finally, Eric spoke up, "Mrs. Trump, let Ivanka stay here. I don''t have anything important to

    discuss."

    Perhaps realizing something, Donald picked up his daughter and nodded to Ivana.

    ...

    Once the lounge began clearing out, Eric sat down on a sofa beside Donald. Little Ivanka didn''t rush to speak, blinking her big, beautiful eyes as she darted them between her father

    and Eric.

    After organizing his thoughts, Eric finally began, "Donald, I''ve looked over some of yourpany''s materials."

    Donald chuckled awkwardly, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice, "Aplete mess,

    right?"

    Eric shook his head honestly, "Not at all. Under normal circumstances, the projects you''re

    working on should wrap up by next year. While the real estate market isn''t great right now, as long as those projects don''t fall through, I believe you can make them profitable, given your capabilities." He paused before adding, "This isn''t ttery. I''ve reviewed your documentation. Back in thete 60s, while you were still in college, you managed an apartment project in Cincinnati, Ohio, earning a million dors in just one year. Not to mention the Hyatt hotel on 42nd Street, and the Central Park skating rink."

    Hearing Eric mention some of his more sessful ventures, Donald''s face showed a glimmer of pride. Yet, he quickly recalled his current predicament and couldn''t help but sigh. Eric, not waiting for Donald to respond, continued, "However, Donald, just as you need funds

    to advance your business, I need a lot of money to expand my filmpany. Plus, even if I had extra capital, it wouldn''t suffice for your real estate project''s needs."

    Donald understood Eric was speaking the truth, nodding casually and saying, "I see."

    They sat in silence for a moment before Eric suddenly asked, "Donald, you must have been trying to raise funds recently, right?"

    "Yeah, the banks that lent me money are no longer providing funds. I''m left trying to secure financing elsewhere. I''ve approached all possible investors I could, even taking a trip to Japan through a friend''s introduction. Unfortunately, those Japanese investors are asking for a much lower price than what I can ept to cover my debts. I can''t agree to that."

    Eric thought for a moment and said, "Donald, maybe the direction you initially chose to

    pursue was wrong."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 262: Chapter 262: This One Is for You

    Chapter 262: This One Is for You

    ?

    [Chapter 262: This One Is for You]

    Donald heard Eric''s words and a spark of inspiration flickered in his mind, but he couldn''t quite grasp it. He quickly asked, "Eric, what do you mean?"

    Eric replied, "I''m saying your approach to financing is all wrong. In the data I had collected, your projects are backed by over a billion dors from banks alone, not to mention other investors. If your projects stall, the banks will take the biggest hit. So, you should be persuading banks to keep funding you, rather than futilely trying to bring in other investors now."

    Upon hearing this, Donald Trump felt a surge of excitement and almost jumped up, while at the same time wanting to p himself. It wasn''t like he hadn''t thought about this before; after all, he had done everything he could to persuade the banks to agree to dy his hefty annual interest payments. However, after the banks had agreed to postpone payment, Donald felt satisfied and, after many rejections from banks, he changed his financing direction. Now, having taken the wrong step, he had wasted several months.

    "Eric, I truly don''t know how to thank you," Donald said, giving Eric''s shoulder a couple of firm pats as he casually handed the little girl sitting on hisp over to Eric. "This one is for you."

    Eric stood there, surprised, as he clumsily caught the little girl who was stunned by her father''s sudden action. He thought to himself that this was too precious; taking care of her would be a hassle, but all he could do was look, not touch... well, okay then.

    But Donald immediately said, "Eric, I''m sorry, but I have to get back to the office right away to gather the staff to discuss this matter. I''ve wasted four months already. Oh my God, four whole months! I can''t afford to waste another minute. So, could you take Ivanka to her mother?"

    Eric nodded quickly in agreement.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Once Donald saw Eric nod, he turned on his heel and left without looking back. Momentster, the empty hall was left with just Eric and the little girl in his arms.

    ...

    Watching the sliding door that had just stopped moving, Eric turned his attention back to Ivanka, pinching her cheek yfully as he joked, "Hey, Ivanka, did you hear that? Your dad just gave you to me. Let''s go back to Los Angeles!"

    Eric''s yful pinch startled Ivanka awake, who tightened her little fists and pounded on Eric''s arm a few times, fuming, "Hey, that''s so mean! I told you not to pinch my face!" After she said this, she wriggled free from Eric''s hold and sat off to the side, still ring furiously at him.

    The little tyke''s punches had no strength behind them, and Eric just chuckled, "Alright, Ivanka, let''s go find your mom."

    Ivanka instinctively wanted to nod but suddenly remembered something. "Um, Eric, I still have something to discuss with you!"

    Eric became interested, asking, "What is it? Tell me!"

    "I just started learning acting and even joined the drama club at school. Everyone says I''m progressing really quickly." Seemingly proud of her achievement, the little girl''s cheeks flushed as she added, "Eric, my dad always says you''re a great director. How about letting me act in your movie?"

    "Oh, that''s not so easy," Eric said, elongating his voice. "My movies are highly sought-after, and if you won''t even let me pinch your cheek, why would I agree to this?"

    Ivanka, of course, couldn''t tell Eric was joking. She widened her eyes and red at him angrily for a few seconds. When she saw that Eric showed no sign of backing down, she hesitated for a moment, seemingly making a big decision. She shut her eyes tightly, leaned her face closer to Eric, and said in a voice that suggested she was willing to sacrifice, "Just one pinch, and don''t use too much strength."

    Looking at Ivanka''s rosy cheeks, a wave of guilt washed over Eric. He raised his hand, then put it back down, surrendering. "Alright, no pinching. I''ll just agree to it."

    Hearing that she wouldn''t have to endure this ''torture,'' Ivanka wasted no time being polite with him. She jumped aside and said sweetly, "You just promised! No take-backs."

    "Of course," Eric nodded. "But, Ivanka, if you want to act in my movie, you need your parents'' permission."

    Ivanka promptly rolled her eyes at Eric. "You really are clueless. If they didn''t want me to, why would they send me to acting ss?"

    Eric thought about it, and she was right. In his past life, Donald Trump didn''t oppose his daughter running off to be a model at 16, so acting was certainly not off the table. The modeling world was way more chaotic than Hollywood.

    However, right after realizing this, Ivanka turned around and mocked him, which seemed a bit much for a little girl!

    Eric chuckled to himself and was about toe up with a retort when the door leading to the screening room suddenly swung open. A man in a movie theater employee''s uniform rushed in and saw Eric, breathing a sigh of relief. "Mr. Williams, you''re here! The premiere starts in two minutes; everyone''s waiting for you."

    "Oh, I''ll be right there," Eric replied to the staff member. He no longer had time to tease the little girl and stood up. "Come on, Ivanka, let''s go watch the movie."

    Ivanka nodded, skipped off the sofa, and obediently grabbed Eric''s hand as they headed toward the screening room.

    ...

    The McCallister family was setting off again to celebrate Christmas away from home. This time, Kevin, although not left behind, unwittingly boarded a flight to New York. Meanwhile, the two bumbling burrs, Harry and Mary, had escaped from prison and made their way to New York. They no longer targeted homes but set their sights on seemingly easier prey at a toy store. After Kevin checked into the za Hotel, he wandered around and lost his way. He ran into the two bumbling burrs again at Duncan''s Toy Chest, leading to yet another hriouslyical adventure.

    To be honest, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, while more colorful in plot, introduced characters like the odd pigeondy in Central Park and the greedy staff at the za Hotel. However, the film didn''t offer much in the way of fresh material. This sequel wasn''t without its changes; unlike the first film, which was entirely aimed at children, this installment added some adult humor -- like Kevin quoting an implicit adult joke from his uncle at the beginning, the burrs'' encounters with modern women, and many of the young burr Marv''sugh-out-loud lines -- providing a more adult-friendlyugh track.

    But regardless, after the movie screening, Eric received enthusiastic apuse and congrattions from many people.

    ...

    After the premiere reception, Eric drove Jennifer Aniston, heading to the Trump residence in Manhattan. Both mother and daughter sat in the back seat, as Donald had hurriedly left and taken the car with him. At that moment, Donald was likely too consumed with figuring out how to persuade the banks to keep giving him money to remember to send a car to pick up his wife and daughter. Thus, Eric had to take it upon himself to return them home.

    "Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Williams," Ivana said as they reached the Trump residence. Eric and Jennifer only stayed for a short while before saying their goodbyes, as Ivana Trump personally escorted them out.

    "It''s no trouble, Mrs. Trump. If there''s nothing else, we''ll be on our way."

    Ivana was just about to nod when Ivanka tugged at her mother''s sleeve urgently. "Mom, the movie, the movie!"

    "Oh, this..." Ivana looked over at Eric, feeling a bit awkward about her daughter''s behavior.

    Looking at the eager expression on Ivanka''s face, Eric said, "Mrs. Trump, if you and Donald agree, I''ll definitely consider asking Ivanka to audition if I need a child actor for a future

    film."

    "Thank you so much, Mr. Williams," Ivana responded with gratitude. Havinge from a modeling background, like many models, she had a natural yearning for the acting industry. Donald Trump''s need for the spotlight was even more pronounced, so they both would not oppose Ivanka making an appearance in one of Eric''s films.

    ...

    As Jennifer needed to rush back to Los Angeles to shoot thest episodes of Friends'' first season, and Eric also had a lot on his te, they hurriedly left New York the next day, heading

    back to Los Angeles.

    After the premiere, on November 17, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York officially hit theaters. This time, due to the fiercepetition during the Thanksgiving release window, even with Fox''s aggressive marketing push, the film did not receive as warm a reception as The Others, which had premiered earlier that month. The media responded with highly prized reviews, with many praising the sequel while others derided it as worthless.

    The New York Post published an article stating, "Many sequels face a familiar critique simply because fans are so passionate; their high expectations lead to disappointment. But Home Alone 2 truly earned the audience''s year-long wait. Although some say it''s merely a copycking any improvements, this sequel''s storyline is richer and more interesting than the first. If you strip away Kevin''s antics against the two bumbling burrs, how can Home Alone

    remain itself?"

    In contrast, a group of newspapers led by Hollywood Online harshly criticized the film: "Home Alone 2 is a sequel produced by Williams thatcks any sincerity, with heavily recycled plots that are nonsensical and illogical. Even more unbearable is that this so-called film for children aged 6-12 is rife with inappropriate adult humor. I believe this is a significant oversight by the film rating board; Home Alone 2 should definitely be rated PG-13, not PG."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 263: Chapter 263: The Dark Horse

    Chapter 263: The Dark Horse

    ?

    [Chapter 263: The Dark Horse]

    Although the reviews for Home Alone 2 were prized, it did nothing to stop this sequel from raking in a phenomenal box office haul.

    During its opening weekend, Home Alone 2 grossed $31 million from over 2,200 theaters in North America. By the end of its first week in theaters, the total box office climbed to over $46 million, easily surpassing the original''s opening week earnings of over $27 million. Other Hollywood studios were on edge, fearing that Home Alone 2 might shatter the box office records set by its predecessor.

    In second ce that week was Warner Bros.'' Lethal Weapon 2, which, despite being shown in more than 1,900 theaters, only managed to earn a little over $25 million -- barely half of what Home Alone 2 brought in. Paramount''s ckedy Harlem Nights came in third, with $22 million in box office revenue.

    While Home Alone 2 pulled in $46 million, what really caught attention during the Thanksgiving weekend was the film that had almost slipped under the radar: Steel Magnolias. To say it had been overlooked might be a bit of an exaggeration, as this was Julia''s first film after the massive sess of Pretty Woman, which certainly garnered a fair amount of attention. However,pared to the intense promotion of major films like Home Alone 2, Lethal Weapon 2, and Back to the Future Part II, the campaign for this Southern drama about the ordinary lives of several women fell significantly short.

    Despite Steel Magnolias only earning $17 million in its opening week andnding in fourth ce, it quickly emerged as the biggest dark horse of the Thanksgiving box office. Averaging an impressive $17,000 per screen -- taking into ount that it opened on about 1,000 screens -- these numbers were astonishing. The attendance was startlingly high. Only Home Alone 2 had a higher average at $20,000 per screen. Inparison, Lethal Weapon 2 made around $13,000 per screen, while Harlem Nights just barely crossed the $10,000 threshold -- demonstrating the standard for a hit movie.

    As more newly released films flooded the market, the box office for The Others dropped by 41% that week, earning $14.75 million, which was just enough to squeeze it into the top five.

    Universal''s Back to the Future Part II only earned a little over $13 million. However, this was not due to the film facing a box office failure, but rather because Universal made the strange decision to release it on an awkward date of November 22, just a day before Thanksgiving, instead of on November 17 or November 24.

    ...

    Speaking of Thanksgiving, Eric felt a headacheing on. While he received encouraging box office figures daily, his Beverly Hills vi was inplete chaos. As one of the most important holidays in America -- second only to Christmas -- Thanksgiving was traditionally a time for family reunions.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Drew certainly wouldn''t be returning to Culver for the holiday with her mother. As for Aniston, her parents had both remarried after their divorce, resulting in a rather chaotic blended family with half-siblingsplicating the mix. Now an adult, she found it awkward to celebrate Thanksgiving with either side of her family. After unintentionally venting her frustrations to Eric, he invited her over for the holiday, thinking she''d decline. To his surprise, she epted.

    Sitting at his desk, Eric felt a sense of his own suffering. If the two girls had contrasting temperaments, it might have created some bnce. However, both of them were fiery personalities, which made for an explosivebination. The only bright side was that they hadn''t gotten into a fight yet.

    After staring at theputer screen for half an hour without typing a single word, Eric shut down hisputer and left the office, hearing voices from downstairs.

    "Hey, fat girl, how many times have I told you? That pillow is mine! You''re not allowed to touch it!"

    "You little brat, you dare call me fat one more time? I''ll touch it, I''ll touch it!"

    After a brief pause, Aniston''s horrified and disgusted voice immediately rang out, "Ew, that''s so gross! You actually touched the pillow with your spit!"

    "If you''re so tough, then go on using it!"

    "Get away from me! Ugh, don''t change the channel, give me back the remote! I''m learning how to make pumpkin pie!"

    "Who would dare eat your cooking? That salmon omelet you made yesterday was inedible."

    "You ate a ton, so don''t pretend you didn''t enjoy it."

    "I had a stomachache in the middle of the night!"

    "You''re lying. Neither Eric nor I had any problems!"

    Eric hesitated for a moment, sighed, and turned back to his office. He picked up the phone and started dialing random numbers, one after the other.

    ...

    Virginia had gone home to spend the holiday with her parents, and Nicole was in Chicago promoting Sleepless in Seattle. Even Julia wasn''t in Los Angeles. Left with nothing to do, Eric dialed the number for Jeffrey''s house.

    "Hello? This is the Hansen residence." Upon answering, Eric was taken aback when it wasn''t Jeffrey''s voice on the line; it was a young man''s. He quickly realized it had to be Jeffrey''s son, Chris Hansen.

    "This is Eric Williams. Who am I speaking with?" Although he felt he already knew, Eric asked

    anyway.

    There was a brief pause on the other end before the young man replied, "I''m Chris Hansen, Mr. Williams. Are you looking for my dad? I''ll go get him."

    Since Eric didn''t know Chris, he didn''t say much. After a moment, Jeffrey''s voice broke through the line. "Eric, it''s almost Thanksgiving. What''s going on? Just so you know, Chris is finally home for a visit, and he brought his girlfriend, so I''m not dealing with anything except family today. If there''s work-rted stuff, talk to Robert."

    Eric paused for a moment, thenughed, "Nothing much, really. I was just feeling a bit bored at home, so I randomly dialed your number to chat."

    Jeffrey raised an eyebrow and asked, "Isn''t Drew supposed to be at your ce? With that quirky little girl around, how can you be bored?"

    "Well, you see, Jenny is over at my house too. So, that makes it a bit different."

    Jeffrey knew exactly what Eric meant. He had seen the two girls wing at each other while

    they were in the hospital together. After a brief moment of silence, Jeffrey burst outughing. "Hahaha, Eric! How on earth did you manage to bring those two together again?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 264: Chapter 264: The Wolf of Wall Street

    Chapter 264: The Wolf of Wall Street

    ?

    [Chapter 264: The Wolf of Wall Street]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric sighed and said, "It''s hard to exin in just a few words. Anyway, I''m just thankful that those two didn''t burn my house down these past few days."

    On the other end of the line, Jeffreyughed again and then added, "You must not be feeling well at home, huh? Dinner time is fast approaching. How abouting over here for a meal? You could also get acquainted with Chris."

    Eric was just looking for someone to chat with and didn''t want to disturb Jeffrey''s family time. He hesitated before asking, "Is that appropriate?"

    "What''s inappropriate about it? It''s a holiday, after all. The more, the merrier! It''s usually pretty quiet around here; it''d be great if you came over. Oh, and if you want, you can bring those two girls with you."

    Eric figured that the two girls wouldn''t have a chance to squabble in front of others, so he agreed, "Okay, I''ll head over now."

    "Get here quickly! I gotta go; I have things in the oven!" Jeffrey said, not waiting for Eric to respond before hanging up.

    ...

    Eric put down the receiver, returned to his bedroom to change, and then went downstairs.

    Drew and Aniston were fighting for control of the TV when they spotted Eric walking downstairs in nice clothes. They both felt a twinge of rm.

    "Eric, where are you going?" the two girls asked in unison.

    Eric feigned annoyance and said, "You two are being too noisy. I''ve decided to spend Thanksgiving elsewhere."

    "No way!" The girls jumped off the couch and rushed to Eric, wrapping their arms around him from either side. They exchanged res before both chanted, "It''s your fault!"

    Eric rubbed his temples and said, "Alright, enough already. Jeffrey just called and invited me over for dinner. Who wants to go?"

    "I do!" came their simultaneous response.

    "Okay, you have ten minutes to get ready. Anyone who dawdles isn''t going."

    With that, Drew and Aniston dashed up the stairs in a flurry.

    Arriving at Jeffrey''s ce, Eric rang the doorbell, and the door quickly swung open.

    A young man, dressed sharply in a suit and bearing a resemnce to Jeffrey but noticeably taller, greeted them with a faint smile and extended his hand. "Hello, Mr. Williams."

    "Just call me Eric," he replied, shaking the young man''s hand. "It''s great to meet you, Chris."

    Chris Hansen nodded at the two girls and took the red wine that Eric had offered, saying, "Please,e in."

    The three of them followed Chris inside. Jeffrey''s home looked just as it did before -- no, even tidier than thest time Eric visited, likely because his son was back.

    Since it was Drew and Aniston''s first time at Jeffrey''s ce, they exchanged surprised nces upon seeing the modest apartment that didn''t quite match Jeffrey''s wealth. Aniston managed to keep her mouth shut, but little Drew blurted out, "If Jeffrey is so rich, why does he still live here?"

    Eric shot her a warning look to keep herments in check, but Chris Hansen chimed in, "My dad is a bit sentimental and hasn''t wanted to move."

    "Oh," the little girl nodded lightly, a bit chastised.

    ...

    The three of them settled in the living room, and Jeffrey quickly emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron. Upon seeing them, he said, "Eric, you all sit tight. Dinner will be ready soon."

    "Need any help?" Eric immediately asked.

    Jeffrey shook his head, "No, no, it''s fine. Emily is helping me out; you all just chat with Chris." With that, he disappeared back into the kitchen.

    Chris Hansenughed awkwardly and exined, "When I was seven, I messed around in the kitchen and got burned by hot oil. Ever since then, my dad wouldn''t let me near the stove."

    Eric chuckled, nodding in understanding, and exchanged nces with the two girls, who then obediently made their way to the kitchen.

    The sounds from the kitchen included Jeffrey''s muffled voice and another sweet-sounding girl''s exmation of surprise, quickly fading into hushed whispers.

    The two men exchanged amused nces in the living room.

    Eric had been quietly observing Chris Hansen from the beginning. So far, he hadn''t sensed any of the fierce aura associated with a Yale grad, which was something Jeffrey once mentioned about him receiving a full four-year schrship and working for one of the big four investment banks, Morgan Stanley.

    Eric could only surmise from Chris''s impably tailored suit that he must be either a perfectionist or have quite a reserved demeanor. Of course, the former seemed more likely.

    "Eric, what are you thinking about?" Chris asked suddenly.

    Since he was Jeffrey''s son, Eric naturally felt a bit of kinship and replied candidly, "Jeffrey mentioned you worked at Morgan Stanley. I was wondering why you don''t give off any of that Wall Street Wolf vibe?"

    Chris paused, then smiled and asked, "What do you think a Wall Street Wolf looks like?" Eric thought for a moment before responding, "At the very least, should be aggressive, right? But you seem more like a meticulous researcher from someb."

    Chris shook his head and replied, "Eric, you''re wrong. The more ''aggressive'' you say a Wall Street Wolf is, the less aggressive they appear on the surface. You can look up photos of some of Wall Street''s top executives -- most of them blend in so seamlessly that you wouldn''t even notice them in a crowd."

    It was Eric''s first time hearing this perspective. He pressed on, "Why do they do that?" "It''s because it helps them blend in and dulled the instincts of the enemy, making their opponents less vignt."

    Eric nodded thoughtfully, "By the way, Chris, what do you actually do there?"

    "Pretty much whatever makes money," Chris answered simply.

    Eric chuckled and asked, "If Firefly Films wanted to go public, could theye to you?"

    At this, Chris''s smile faltered slightly, and he replied, "Eric, whether you meant it as a joke or

    not, if Firefly does want to go public, it must be with me handling it. You know what the name means to me; I want it to develop well."

    Noticing the seriousness in Chris''s tone, Eric nodded earnestly in response.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Cisco

    Chapter 265: Cisco

    ?

    [Chapter 265: Cisco]

    Seeing Eric nod, Chris let out a sigh of relief and continued, "But, Eric, if -- I''m saying if -- you can ensure that Firefly Films can keep growing as rapidly as it currently is, then it might be best not to go public. Manypanies that went public yearster sought to be private again. Going public may provide a huge influx of capital, but it alsoes with greater responsibilities and risks. Just look at Hollywood; major studios have faced hostile takeovers. The most recent one happened in 1984 when Disney was aggressively targeted by Saul Steinberg. Ultimately, Disney had to pay $325 million to buy back 11.1% of its shares from Steinberg. Back then, Disney''s market value was less than $2 billion. That $300 million hurt Disney considerably, forcing them to abandon their family-oriented management style and bring in Michael Eisner to steer thepany."

    As he spoke, Chris chuckled and added, "Of course, it''s now clear that Disney made a very smart decision by taking those risks, turning a setback into an opportunity. But not everypany shares that sort of luck. Firefly is growing rapidly right now, and if it goes public, it could attract even more attention."

    Eric listened patiently, asionally nodding. Once Chris finished, Eric had made up his mind: Firefly should remain private forever.

    "Chris, do you think it''s possible for Firefly to remain private indefinitely?"

    "Absolutely," Chris replied without hesitation. "Mostpanies go public to secure more funding, but Firefly isn''tcking for cash. So why go public?"

    As they were talking, Jeffrey emerged from the kitchen, calling the two of them toe eat.

    ...

    In the dining room, Eric also met Chris''s girlfriend, Emily Brighton. She had a tall figure, blonde hair, and blue eyes, dressed very stylishly. During introductions, Eric learned that she was the vice president of a clothingpany called Brighton Apparel. Given herst name, thepany name, and the fact that she was too young to have built it herself, it was clear she was the daughter of thepany''s owner.

    Emily was much more talkative than Chris. When she met Eric, she let out a squeal that only true fans could muster, expressing how much she enjoyed Eric''s movies. At the dinner table, she not only shared how she and Chris met but also encouraged Aniston to be a spokesperson for their fashionpany.

    Aniston, faced with Emily''s enthusiasm, didn''t know how to decline and looked desperately at Eric for help. Although she was still just a television actress at the time, her fame was rising thanks to Friends. On the other hand, Emily''s fashionpany didn''t have much recognition, and Aniston joining would feel like a step down for her.

    Before Eric could speak, Chris noticed Aniston''s difort and rescued her by saying, "Emily, can we just eat quietly? Yourpany is too small. I think it''s enough that some second-tier star is the spokesperson."

    Emily, hearing this, wasn''t pleased. She frowned and said, "That''s all your fault. If you hadn''t messed up our ns to go public, our three nts in Florida would have been up and running by now, along with that $9 million order from Asia..."

    "That''s hardly my fault; your dad was too greedy. He inted thepany''s credentials and got caught."

    "That was because you were the one who found out!" Emily pouted, looking like a wounded fawn. "Allpanies do this when they go public; why shouldn''t we?"

    Chris put down his fork and knife, raising his voice in rebuttal, "Do you still not see how much your dad inted the numbers? It''s a blessing I caught him; if the SEC had found out, yourpany would''ve been fined into bankruptcy by now!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Hearing the barely concealed anger in Chris''s tone, Emily sheepishly shrank back and muttered, "Well, my dad corrected itter..."

    "That was after Mr. Hawkridge rejected it! Don''t forget, you almost cost him his job. It''s a miracle he didn''t take it to the next level."

    Eric nced at Drew and Aniston, both sitting beside him, exchanging worried looks.

    Are they really starting to fight? They couldn''t break up right here, or the three of them would be in serious trouble today.

    As he silently prayed for calm, Jeffrey, seated at the head of the table, coughed softly. "Okay, enough. Let''s not argue."

    Both Chris and Emily, who were already ''in the zone,'' snapped back to reality upon hearing Jeffrey''s voice and quickly closed their mouths. To keep the atmosphere lively, Eric jumped in to initiate another topic, gradually lightening the mood at dinner.

    ...

    After dinner, Emily pulled Aniston and Drew into another room to chat, leaving the three men alone in the living room.

    At that moment, Eric apologized, "Sorry, Chris, about what just happened at the table..." "Eric, this isn''t on you. Don''t worry about it," Chris replied, shaking his head.

    Jeffrey, filled with a sense of nostalgia, added softly, "It can be good to let a little steam out. Back when Solina was around, we used to bicker all the time too."

    "Dad, can we not bring those things up anymore, please?"

    "Sure, I won''t mention it again," Jeffrey said, knowing his son had his best interests at heart.

    As they chatted, Eric gradually steered the conversation towards topics that interested him: "Chris, are you familiar with foreign exchange trading?"

    "I know a bit, but I haven''t participated in any projects like that. I''m currently working in the securities department."

    "Can you trade foreign exchange? Like the yen? It seems to be appreciating tremendously right now."

    Chris shook his head. "The yen has already doubled in value. Even if you had the cash, you wouldn''t make much entering now."

    Eric paused, regretting he hadn''t paid more attention to Japan''s economic history in his past life. Hearing Chris''s points, he decided to let it go, but another significant opportunity hadn''t yet arisen. "What about the ruble? Are you familiar with the Soviet ruble?"

    Chris cautioned, "Eric, I really think you should just stick to making movies. The forex market isn''t for everyone. Sure, the yen has appreciated dramatically over thest few years, but international hot money hasn''t made the wild profits you might think. The federal government simply used the yen''s appreciation to diminish Japanese goods''petitiveness in international trade, leading to massive capital flight from Japanesepanies and ultimately causing the bubble to burst and their economy to stagnate."

    "Alright, but have you all noticed that the Soviet Union seems to be crumbling?"

    Chris shrugged. "That''s certainly a possibility, but who knows when it''ll actually happen? Even if the Soviet economy copses, since the country has enforced a fixed exchange rate for the ruble, we wouldn''t be able to get involved."

    "Okay, but have you considered the possibility that if the numerous Soviet republics copse and all return to capitalism, during that economic upheaval, the ruble would undoubtedly crash? That could present a fantastic opportunity, don''t you think?"

    Chris and Jeffrey exchanged nces, both looking at Eric with curiosity. After a moment, Chris smiled and said, "Eric, if you share that viewpoint publicly, it might gain quite the following. If the Soviet Union really falls apart, then we''d no longer have to worry about the threat of nuclear war. Remember how the whole world was terrified when they detonated that bomb in the Arctic Circle, the ''Tsar Bomba''?"

    Eric felt a bit helpless. While Eastern Europe was already transitioning, and East and West Germany had unified that August, there were still almost two years until the Soviet Union, as he remembered it, would copse. Plus, with the half-century-long rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union, despite being often demonized, Soviet power was undoubted. Few would believe such a vast nation could disintegrate in mere months.

    "Let''s hypothetically consider this," Eric continued. "If the Soviet Union were to copse and the ruble depreciate significantly, if I were to put $1 billion into trading the ruble, using hundreds of times leverage, could I possibly multiply that amount many times over?" Jeffrey didn''t respond, but Chris looked at Eric like he was crazy. "Don''t be ridiculous; even if you had $1 billion, using more than 100 times leverage in such a drastic financial upheaval, you could lose it all within minutes."

    Eric blinked in surprise. "Well... okay, I don''t really understand all this."

    Chris realized Eric hadn''t even been to college, just a normal high school graduate, so he patiently exined, "Take your example of 100 times leverage. If you invested $1 billion, you''d magnify it to $100 billion for forex trading. But your $1 billion only stands for 1% of that $100 billion, meaning you could only withstand a 1% fluctuation in the forex market. Even if a currency is generally on a downtrend, there are fierce fluctuations due to thepetition between buyers and sellers. If that currency rises over 1% at any point, whether you invested $1 billion or $100 billion, you''d be liquidated immediately. Generally, in the forex market, leverage usually ranges from 20 to 30 times; asionally, some take risks with

    50 times leverage."

    "Uh, okay," Eric chuckled awkwardly, shrugging. "Just forget I mentioned it."

    Seeing Eric''s difort, both Chris and Jeffreyughed. Chris added, "The more vtile the financial market, the lower the leverage you''d want to ensure your capital''s safety; if a good opportunity does arise, taking $1 billion to double it is already quite impressive." Since forex trading seemed off the table, Eric thought it would be better to invest in something he was more familiar with, and besides movies, that was just the up-anding IT industry set to boom over the next twenty years.

    He felt several major softwarepanies were no longer an option; the inte wasn''t fully developed yet, and the timing for variousworkpanies hadn''t arrived. As for hardware, Eric had long been eyeing Apple, but with Steve Jobs''s future uncertain and Apple not on the brink of bankruptcy, what were his other options?

    After pondering for a moment, a name shed into his mind.

    Cisco?

    Cisco!

    Eric pped his forehead, almost bursting with excitement. In his previous life, it had been a giant with a market capitalization that soared to $500 billion by the time of dot-bubble.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Investment Company

    Chapter 266: Investment Company

    ?

    [Chapter 266: Investment Company]

    "Chris, do you know Cisco?" Eric asked with some excitement. He remembered that Cisco might not have gone public yet, and with his current wealth, he believed he could acquire a significant stake. Eric didn''t even expect too much; even just a 10% share could potentially make him taste the life of being the richest person in the world ten years down the line.

    Chris thought for a moment and asked, "Are you talking about that routerpany that Sequoia Capital invested in and incubated?"

    "Yeah, you know about Cisco?" Eric asked nervously. Chris knowing about thepany didn''t sound like good news -- could it be...?

    Chris didn''t notice the concern in Eric''s expression; instead, he smiled oddly and said, "of course I know. It''s actually ourpany that''s handling Cisco''s IPO. We''re in the same department, although not in the same team. The guy''s name is George Kelly. He spent months persuading some of Cisco''s major shareholders to agree to the IPO n. Now he''s out there trying to convince investment firms to take on Cisco''s stock when it goes public in February next year."

    So, it still hadn''t gone public.

    Eric let out a sigh of relief. When he heard Chris was familiar with Cisco, he had thought that it had already been listed or that major investment banks like Morgan Stanley were eyeing it, and snatching a piece would not be easy.

    "Chris, can you do me a favor?" Eric contemted for a bit before looking Chris in the eye and said, "Help me acquire shares in Cisco. As many as possible."

    Chris appeared bewildered. "Eric, some investment firms are avoiding George Kelly like the gue; a lot of them aren''t optimistic about thatpany."

    Jeffrey, who had been quietly listening, piped up, "Eric, if you want to invest, you should let Chris help you find more valuablepanies. As for this... whatever it is, Cisco, I think you should just forget about it."

    Eric shook his head firmly and kept his gaze on Chris. "Chris, can you help me with this?"

    Chris felt a strange pull from Eric''s earnestness and instinctively nodded, then added, "Eric, if you''re interested in thatpany, I can ask George Kelly for more detailed information. It''d be best for you to review that before making a decision."

    "No need. I''ve already decided."

    Chris and Jeffrey exchanged looks. Jeffrey quietly said, "Eric, didn''t you... maybe have a bit too much to drink earlier?"

    "Listen, Jeffrey, and Chris, I''m perfectly sober right now, my head isn''t foggy, and I''m not drunk. Well, actually, I''vee across some materials on Cisco before, and I believe thispany could be a giant in the industry like Microsoft, Oracle, or Apple. So, Chris, can you give me some good advice?"

    Chris nced at his father. He knew Jeffrey understood Eric the best. After contemting Eric''s usual nature, it seemed he had never sessfully persuaded him against a decision he was adamant about. So, Jeffrey nodded at his son.

    With his father''s confirmation, Chris said, "Alright then, Eric. If you''re determined, it''d be best to start an investmentpany or find one to act on your behalf. Morgan Stanley actually has a dedicated private wealth management department. With your current means, you''d definitely get top-notch service; of course,missions won''t be small. So, I rmend the former.

    After that, it''s straightforward: use that investmentpany to acquire Cisco stocks, then find a professional manager to join Cisco''s board to help you manage the acquisition afterward. Though, you could do it yourself, I doubt you have the time, nor do I rmend you take on such specialized tasks personally."

    Eric pondered for a moment, sizing up Chris across the table, then suddenly said, "Chris, how about you help me manage this investmentpany?"

    "Me?" Chris pointed at himself.

    Eric nodded. "Yeah, don''t worry, thispany won''t be small-time. I assure you it''ll have at least a hundred million dors in funding."

    Chris knew Eric wouldn''t joke about something like that and fell into a struggle.

    He was already a senior executive at Morgan Stanley. Most people took seven or eight years to reach that level in investment banking; he had only taken four years, and if he stayed on for another year, he could likely get promoted again.

    Suddenly, an opportunity presented itself. If someone other than Eric had said this to him, he might have agreed immediately. But Eric was too young, which made him hesitate, fearing that Eric might just be caught up in a passing whim.

    "I know what you''re worried about, Chris, but believe me, this isn''t a whim. I promise you. If you''re doubtful," Eric nced at Jeffrey and said, "Jeffrey can vouch for me."

    Jeffrey scratched his nose, chuckling awkwardly, "What am I supposed to guarantee?"

    "Guarantee I''m not acting on impulse; you should know my character by now."

    "But I remember you making a lot of decisions on impulse," Jeffrey said, but then added with augh, "Though they''ve all turned out to be correct. Chris, I think you should give it a shot."

    Chris contemted for a moment and said, "Eric, I need to think about this. I''ll give you an answer as soon as I can."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "No problem," Eric nodded, not rushing him.

    ...

    It wasn''t until ten o''clock that night that Eric finally took the two girls and left Jeffrey''s house.

    The chaotic Thanksgiving soon passed. After some arguing, none of them had eaten turkey. The two girls mischievously pardoned the two turkeys they brought back, surpassing the President of the United States.

    After the holiday, Aniston returned to work, leaving the vi. Eric also breathed a sigh of relief. While keeping an eye on the box office for the three movies rted to Firefly, he also started the casting work for The X-Files, as the writing team had basicallypleted the script for the first season after two months of busying.

    ...

    At Disney headquarters, an assistant knocked on the door before entering to report to a busy Michael Eisner, "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Rubin is here."

    "Let him in," Michael Eisner said as he put down his pen.

    Bruce Joel Rubin soon walked into the office. Life had been grand recently; news had spread in Hollywood that Eric had shown interest in the script for Ghost. He had met with senior executives from all the major studios, and the number of independent filmmakers wanting to coborate with him was countless. The prices for those wanting to purchase the script kept rising; however, it hadn''t yet reached his expectations.

    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Rubin," Michael Eisner said, walking around his desk. He smiled as he shook Bruce Joel Rubin''s hand.

    Bruce no longer felt the awe he had with the major studio executives not long ago; he shook hands with Michael Eisner confidently, and they took a seat on the couch.

    Michael Eisner made noment on the Ghost script, saying, "Mr. Rubin, I have read the script. I invited you here today to ask you something."

    "Mr. Eisner, please feel free to ask," Bruce said, taking a sip of the coffee the assistant had

    brought over.

    Michael Eisner patiently observed Bruce''s pretentious act. When Bruce finally set down his coffee cup, he asked, "I just want to know one thing: what exactly did you and Eric Williams discuss when you met? If your answer satisfies me, I will offer you a very reasonable price."

    Bruce furrowed his brow. Michael Eisner''smanding tone made him ufortable. "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Williams said he was very optimistic about the script and wanted to buy it to direct

    himself."

    Michael Eisner shook his head. "No, I know that kid too well; he would never say such a thing. What I need is for you to recount the details of your meeting with him. If you continue to lie or hesitate to tell the truth, you are free to leave now. If you recount that meeting in full and the result pleases me, I will offer you a very generous writing contract. I know that Paramount is currently making the best offer at $600,000 and 2% profit participation. Trust me, my offer will definitely be higher; it all depends on whether your response can satisfy me."

    Bruce felt a surge of dissatisfaction and almost wanted to storm out. However, he also didn''t want to miss out on the money. After thinking it over, he decided to endure and narrated the general situation of his meeting with Eric.

    Michael Eisner listened patiently. He knew Bruce wouldn''t provide an honest ount word- for-word; embellishment was inevitable. Thus, he was also assessing the credibility of what

    Bruce had said.

    When Bruce finished, Michael Eisner leaned back on the couch and thought for a full ten

    minutes.

    The situation stemmed from the celebration party for the blockbuster release of The Others. Disney hosted that party, and most of the attendees were Disney personnel. Therefore, Michael Eisner had already gathered details from many people regarding theplete event.

    Currently, he could determine that Eric hadn''t actively approached that group at the party; rather, he had happened to walk by and got cornered by guests, at which point he identally overheard the discussion about the script. He had only chatted briefly with them, and among the crowd was a general manager from Disney''s distribution department. ording to him, Eric hadn''t shown any unusual behavior at the time. Thus, it could be ruled out that Eric had initially expressed a strong interest in the script when he first heard the discussion.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Extraordinary Measures

    Chapter 267: Extraordinary Measures

    ?

    [Chapter 267: Extraordinary Measures]

    Immediately afterward, Eric left the group, and Bruce chased after him, briefing Eric on the script outline. Once Eric heard it, he simply handed Bruce a business card, indicating he coulde to thepany for a detailed discussion the next day.

    It was clear that Eric was interested in the script, but he had too many projects that caught his eye. Bruce was aware that Drew Barrymore was busy acquiring rights everywhere, though she believed she was doing so quietly. Still, everyone who needed to know was already aware. However, scripts were not particrly valuable; Hollywood produced about 8,000 to 10,000 scripts every year, yet only a few hundred made it to the big screen.

    Hence, Michael Eisner needed to ascertain whether Eric would direct this script personally. By this point, three of Eric''s films had already been released, each surpassing $200 million at the North American box office. With Home Alone 2 raking in $46 million in its first week, crossing the $200 million mark seemed inevitable.

    Under these circumstances, the next film choice by Eric was likely to seed unless the other party opted for an art film aiming for the Oscars. Otherwise, the box office wouldn''t dip below $100 million, and perhaps it would turn out to be another film with the potential to gross $200 million.

    Michael Eisner had personally reviewed the script for Ghost, and it certainly bore no resemnce to an art film.

    "Bruce, can you confirm that during your discussions with Eric, he expressed an intention to direct the script himself?"

    Bruce felt a bit annoyed by Michael Eisner''s prolonged thinking, but he still nodded. "Yes. Williams has consistently stated that he wishes to direct this script himself."

    Of course, Bruce skipped over the part where Eric emphasized how his direction would yield vastly different results from that of someone else.

    Because bringing that up would undermine his negotiation position with other filmpanies. In fact, Bruce had another n in mind; as long as other studios offered him a satisfactory price, he wasn''t bound to sell the script to Eric. As long as the contract specified that Eric must be the director, how they chose to secure his involvement was not his concern.

    After much deliberation, Michael Eisner finally reached a decision: "One million dors, plus a 3% share of North American profits. Mr. Rubin, this is Disney''s final offer, and there''s no room for negotiation. I doubt any other studio would offer more. So, if you agree, we can draft the contract immediately. If not, you can leave now."

    Bruce Joel Rubin briefly grimaced, quickly calcting in his mind. This price had indeed met his expectations. Just a few weeks before, he had been desperate to get the script sold. Now, $1 million plus a 3% profit share exceeded his initial expectations by a long shot. The earlier condition he proposed in Eric''s office at $3 million with a share of the box office was merely a bargaining tactic. Moreover, sitting across from him, Michael Eisner seemed more formidable than he had imagined; it was clear he wasn''t joking, and there wasn''t much room left for bargaining.

    Given that, Bruce soon made his decision: "Mr. Eisner, I can sell the script to Disney for the price you mentioned, but I have one condition."

    "Please go ahead," Michael Eisner gestured for him to continue.

    Bruce Joel Rubin stated, "I want Eric Williams to direct this movie."

    Michael Eisner''s expression shifted slightly. He well understood that a film directed by different people would yield vastly different oues. He had already entertained the thought of buying the script to make this film with Eric. If that weren''t the case, he wouldn''t have offered such a high price.

    "I can agree to that condition," Michael Eisner feigned a moment of thought before nodding. "No, I''m not done," Bruce said with a sly smile. "I will sell the script to Disney for the price you just quoted, but Disney must pay me $1 million upfront. After that, you have three months; if Disney cannot confirm that Eric will direct this film in that time, the contract is void. As for the $1 million deposit, the most I can refund Disney is 50%."

    Michael Eisner frowned. "Don''t you think that''s a bit outrageous?"

    Bruce shook his head. "Not at all. I''m taking a significant risk here. If you cannot secure Eric Williams as the director, then once the contract is voided, outsiders would surely guess our conditions. It wouldn''t be much benefit for me to try to get Eric back on board for directing this film."

    "How can I be sure you won''t leak this information to Eric Williams?" Michael Eisner asked. Bruce replied with surprise, "How could that be? Mr. Eisner, if the information leaks, it''s far more likely it came from your side of Disney. If I leaked it myself, I''d lose at least a million dors, which is trivial for Disney but a fortune for me."

    Michael thought about the possible next moves and responded, "Three months is too short; it needs to be at least a year."

    "Six months at most; a year is too long."

    "That''s not long at all. As a Hollywood screenwriter, you must know that many scripts take ten years or more to get made into a film, so one year should be eptable. Even if Disney fails, the value of this script won''t depreciate after a year."

    Bruce lowered his head in contemtion. "Fine, a year it is."

    "Then I''ll have someone draft the contract." Michael Eisner stood up and picked up the office inte, speaking a few words.

    ...

    Several hourster, the script contract was signed. After seeing Bruce Joel Rubin off, Michael Eisner drove to a prearranged vi in Malibu. By then, it was already afternoon, and a few people had arrived early at the vi. Anyone familiar with Hollywood would recognize that these individuals were heads of the major studios.

    "Hey, Barry, long time no see!" Michael Eisner approached Barry Diller first and greeted him warmly.

    "Yeah, everyone''s busy. I can''t remember thest time we met," Barry Dillerughed.

    Michael Eisner also exchanged greetings with Warner''s Steve Ross and Universal''s Sid Sheinberg before taking a seat beside Barry Diller.

    Soon after, Peter Guber, the CEO of Columbia Pictures, which had recently been acquired by Sony, joined them at the vi.

    Next came Paramount''s CEO Frank Mancuso, making it six of the seven major studio heads present.

    The heads of the major filmpanies recognized each other; most had previously worked together. Therefore, even amidst currentpetitive rtionships, they maintained a friendly front. After chatting for a while, one of Michael Eisner''s assistants rushed in and whispered a few words in his ear.

    Once the assistant left, Barry Diller asked, "Is that MGM noting?"

    Michael Eisner nodded.

    "Honestly, whether hees or not doesn''t matter. He can''t make any decisions anyway -- everything is still up to Kirk Kerkorian, that bastard. It would be a waste if he came," Paramount''s CEO Frank Mancuso remarked. "A few months ago, that jerk wanted to invite me to run MGM, but anyone who takes over that mess is in for trouble."

    As heads of major filmpanies, each person felt attached to the film industry. Hearing Frank Mancuso''sment prompted them to reflect on MGM''s glorious past.

    "Well then, let''s get started," Michael Eisner said; he had driven this gathering.

    Hearing this, the other five individuals stood and walked towards a prepared conferencen/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    room.

    ...

    As they sat down at the conference table, an assistant entered, distributing the prepared materials to those seated before quietly closing the door behind him and leaving. "Take a look everyone; we can''t let Firefly keep going like this," Michael Eisner stated, introducing the gathered intel on Firefly. The other studios had simr data, but he couldn''t expect them toe with their own research.

    Silence filled the room for a while until Steve Ross, CEO of Time Warner, was the first to close his materials. The others followed suit, and soon they exchanged nces.

    They all knew Firefly was a significant threat to the seven majors. They may have had the documents in hand, but none had pulled them together until now.

    Now the achievements of Firefly from the past year wereid out in front of them, and the impact on these executives was palpable.

    "I can''t believe that Firefly''s profits this year have already surpassed half of ourbined profits," Steve Ross remarked.

    Frank Mancuso from Paramount shrugged, casting a meaningful look at his former boss, Barry Diller, and bluntly stated, "Martin Davis meddles in everything, yet he knows nothing about the business. Paramount''s profits are negligible; we might face losses next year." Universal''s Sid Sheinberg fiddled with the stic cover of his folder, ncing at Michael Eisner. "If The Others and that Steel Magnolias moviebined, they probably grossed over $200 million at the box office. Disney also stands to gain from that. Michael, what''s your

    n?"

    Michael Eisner detected the sour tone in Sid Sheinberg''s words. "Disney didn''t make much from that; Williams only granted us simple distribution rights. We don''t have the rights to the

    video or TV broadcast."

    "But you''ll at least make $40 to $50 million, right?" Steve Ross chimed in.

    "Let''s not argue; remember what we''re here to discuss today," Barry Diller interjected,

    breaking the conversation.

    Then, all five pairs of eyes shifted toward Barry Diller. Everyone knew that Fox was Firefly''s closest coborator, holding the distribution rights to the three films directed by Eric and the

    video rights to Friends.

    Barry Diller understood the implications of their gazes and said firmly, "If you think my presence here is inappropriate, I can leave. But if I do, then this meeting would strip itself of

    meaning."

    After a cold scan of the room, Barry Diller continued, "We shouldn''t dwell on the past. You must have seen the box office data for this week. From November 17 to November 23, North America''s total box office was around $130 million, but the three films connected to Firefly pulled in over $70 million -- more than half the total. If we continue to allow Firefly to expand unchecked, you can imagine what''s in store for the seven majors."

    Sid Sheinberg from Universal spoke up, "Before Firefly acquired New Line, I specifically warned you that this acquisition couldn''t go through. But the fact remains, it waspleted with zero resistance, and none of you intervened. Now that Firefly has New Line, they''ve got a distribution channel. While their overseas sales are still weak, it''s only a matter of time before Firefly starts reaping massive profits domestically and develops overseas." The group fell into another moment of silence. Barry Diller turned to Michael Eisner, the

    driving force behind the gathering. "Michael, since this meeting is your initiative, you must have some ideas already, right?"

    Michael Eisner nodded. "Now, it seems unlikely that we can stop Firefly''s growth, so we''ll have to seek shares instead; since we can''t destroy it, we should exert some level of control."

    "Oh, if it were that easy," Peter Guber, the usually quiet CEO of Columbia, remarked. "I''m sure all of you have tried negotiating with Firefly."

    "Of course. So, normal tactics won''t suffice, which means we''ll have to resort to some

    unorthodox methods," Michael Eisner stated somberly. "We''ll need to unite among us to

    seed."

    "What about MGM?" Frank Mancuso inquired with concern.

    "Kirk Kerkorian isn''t a fool. Once we apply pressure, MGM will follow suit."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Financial Summary

    Chapter 268: Financial Summary

    ?

    [Chapter 268: Financial Summary]

    In a conference room, the heads of several majorpanies, all of whom had climbed the ranks from the bottom of Hollywood, were intimately familiar with the tricks and treachery of the industry. After several hours of discussion, a series of strategies targeting Firefly Films and Eric had been devised. The six CEOs evenid out the benefits that eachpany would receive once Eric was softened up.

    After Thanksgiving, Eric jumped into hisst busy stretch of the year. ording to the n, as long as he wrapped up this final month, he could take a long break starting inte December. Drew had even begun to ponder whether they should go on vacation together for Christmas.

    ...

    Eric had spent the entire morning at Fox participating in auditions for the leads of The X-Files. Since the show''s significance far exceeded that of its previous life, the selection of the male and female leads to support the entire series was being handled with great care.

    Thanks to the sess of Friends, thepetition for the leads of The X-Files was incredibly fierce. Several well-known actors whose careers had faltered in recent years joined the auditions. Although the auditions had already advanced to the second round, they hadn''t even finished with the male lead''s selection by noon, and none of the candidates had impressed Eric.

    He hadn''t even considered the two actors from his previous life. This was because, regardless of the emotion depicted, David Duchovny''s subtle smirk always felt out of ce and disrupted the scene, which was why Eric had no intention of casting him. The only reason the producer had chosen Duchovny was because of his low sry.

    As for the female lead, Gillian Anderson didn''t meet Eric''s expectations either and, on top of that, she hadn''t debuted yet.

    The character of Dana Scully in The X-Files was supposed to be a highly intelligent woman with degrees in physics andw, who worked as an instructor at the FBI. However, the petite Gillian Anderson didn''t portray the aura of a brilliant woman but instead seemed more like the male lead Fox Mulder''s secretary. Eric envisioned the actress ying Dana Scully as tall and sharp, with an air of cold elegance. This role should be able to create a bnce of power with the male lead rather than merely serving as his sidekick.

    ...

    After lunch in Century City, Eric had to leave the auditions in the hands of two producers and return to the Firefly headquarters for the first annual meeting following the merger with New Line.

    "Sorry, Carolyn, I hit some traffic on the way," Eric said as he hurriedly opened the door to his office, apologizing to a woman in her forties with brown hair sitting inside. This woman, Carolyn Elliott, ran a well-known ounting firm, which had been managing the finances for both Firefly and Eric''s personal ounts.

    Noticing Eric''s rushed demeanor, Carolyn, who had been waiting for a while and was feeling somewhat put out, couldn''t help but smile lightly. "It''s no problem, Eric, I just got here myself."

    Instead of heading to his desk, Eric sat down on the sofa opposite Carolyn. "Carolyn, have you organized the documents regarding my personal finances?"

    Carolyn retrieved the prepared documents from her bag, cing them on herp, and asked, "Eric, should we go over them now?"

    Eric nced at his watch, noting that the meeting was still over twenty minutes away, and thought that reviewing his financial situation would certainly be sufficient time, so he nodded.

    Carolyn opened the documents and began her report. "Eric, your main ie this year came from several films. Home Alone domestic distribution brought in $120 million, while Fox bought the overseas distribution rights, bringing in $24 million. Additionally, there''s total revenue from Home Alone''ster video and television license fees amounting to $32 million, making the current total for Home Alone $176 million."

    Even though Carolyn had gone over these figures many times, reciting them again in front of the almost twenty-year-old Eric gave her a strange feeling, as if she had wasted her entire life. After a brief moment of introspection, Carolyn quickly refocused on the documents and continued, "Because Firefly and New Line won''t merge financially until next year, all box office revenue from films released this year still belongs to you personally.

    Pretty Woman''s total global box office share is $102 million, with video and television rights bringing in $19 million so far, totaling $121 million.

    Moreover, the total box office share for Running Out of Time is $88 million, and it has not yet seen video revenue.

    Friends ad revenue ounted for $29 million, which hasn''t been received yet; ording to the contract, Columbia and Fox are expected toplete payment by December 31.

    Aside from those main film revenues, Firefly''s advertising department earned a total of $18 million from product cements in Pretty Woman, Running Out of Time, Home Alone 2, and Sleepless in Seattle.

    Additionally, your other twopanies, Pixar''s profits stand at zero, and UTA''s share brings in $9.3 million."

    At this point, Carolyn paused and looked at Eric seriously. "Eric,pared to your films, I feel that UTA isn''t generating much profit for you. Personally, I rmend you expedite the sale of your shares in that agency; otherwise, it may lead to trouble down the road."

    Eric nodded. He had gradually noticed the issue over the past six months. Although he owned a ny percent stake in UTA, it didn''t mean that he retained ny percent of the earnings from the artists. Thepany could only receive a small fraction of the ten percent from artists''missions; most went to the agents. So even though Kepler only held a ten percent stake in UTA, managing A-listers like Al Pacino and Julia Roberts'' contracts, he was probably making as much profit as Eric. Agents earnedmissions not just from film sries but also from actors'' earnings through endorsements and other channels. Furthermore, Eric couldn''t meddle in UTA''s affairs to avoid any potential conflicts of interest, making his ownership stake somewhat disposable, capable of being transferred at any time.

    "I''ll consider it, Carolyn. Please, go on."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Carolyn Elliott resumed, "In total, your ie to date this year is $441 million, with $117 million of that not yet received. Next, let''s go over the expenditure situation. Firefly produced seven films this year; Running Out of Time had no expenditures, while the other six had total personnel distributions amounting to $84 million, along with the acquisition costs of Pixar totaling $30 million, the New Line acquisition of $60 million, and the Fox shares acquisition of $80 million. Additionally, the construction costs of your Malibu estate total $27 million, and there are severalrge expenditures on your personal credit card, totaling $7.14 million, and...."

    Carolyn Elliott looked at Eric curiously. "And there''s also Miss Barrymore''s credit card expenditure of $21.56 million. The total expenditure sums up to $309 million. Eric, before Columbia and Fox pay the other two amounts, your avable funds would only be $15 million. Even if that moneyes in, you cannot spend with ease because, after some reasonable tax avoidance strategies, the tax you owe this year still reaches $140 million."

    Eric had specifically asked Carolyn to organize his financial situation in preparation for the uing investmentpany that Chris Hansen had finally agreed to after some days of thought. ording to Chris''s research, Cisco''s stock was expected to be around $18 at its IPO, with a total market cap of only $224 million. Eric knew this was certainly a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to snag Cisco shares at such a low price; once Cisco went public and the stock price soared, even if he wanted to buy more, those investment firms would be reluctant to sell their shares. Therefore, Eric, of course, wanted to acquire as many shares as possible. But now, he realized his remaining funds were barely enough to cover taxes. "Carolyn, is it possible to apply for a tax extension?" Eric inquired cautiously, knowing of a method that could extend the payment deadline for six months. If he could defer until the second half of next year, most of the revenue from the films would have been received, and his financial situation would have be much morefortable.

    Carolyn shook her head. "Eric, whether it''s Firefly or your personal finances, the situation is quite straightforward; there is no way to obtain an extension from the IRS with financial maneuvers. If you had nned to request an extension, you should have informed me at least six months ago. It''s already toote now."

    Eric smiled wryly. "Looks like I''ll have to take out a loan. By the way, Carolyn, what do you think of Firefly?"

    Carolyn looked puzzled. "Do you mean in what context?"

    "You should know that after merging with New Line, we won''t be able to outsource our finances to your firm anymore after this year."

    Carolyn Elliott felt a chill run down her spine. Firefly was her biggest client; losing this one could cut her firm''s ie by more than half. However, it suddenly dawned on Carolyn that Eric''s statement had implications. "Eric, are you saying you want..."

    "Yes," Eric nodded, smiling. "I want to invite you to join Firefly as the CFO. Although you would have to close your firm, I believe you can see that Firefly is worth it."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Long Time No See

    Chapter 269: Long Time No See

    ?

    [Chapter 269: Long Time No See]

    "I need a couple of months to wrap up my current projects." Carolyn spoke without much hesitation. Just as Eric had said, the potential for growth at Firefly Films was evident to anyone. A smart person would know to choose between a small ounting firm owner and the CFO of a majorpany.

    "Of course, that''s no problem," Eric replied. Several departments in thepany were now being run by Robert''s team, and Eric didn''t have anyone suitable, so he didn''t say much. However, he knew he would have to pay more attention to thepany''s finances, and bringing in Carolyn Elliott, someone he was somewhat familiar with, into that role was the best option. As for Robert Shea, Eric figured that as long as he was smart enough, he wouldn''t oppose that decision.

    The two chatted for a while and, upon notification from the staff, they made their way to the office.

    The meeting didn''tst long, mainly discussing Firefly''s and New Line''s financial issues, as well as the development ns for theing year. When Carolyn Elliott was reporting on Firefly''s finances, Robert Shea''s expression was quite something. New Line had released six or seven films this year, including A Nightmare on Elm Street 5, yet the total revenue didn''t even match the first installment of Home Alone. Moreover, ording to prior agreements, although Robert Shea owned 15% of Firefly''s shares, he could only watch and listen as Carolyn read out those profit figures without receiving a dime.

    During the process, Eric also announced Carolyn Elliott''s appointment as thepany''s CFO. Although Robert Shea tried to mask his displeasure, he didn''t object.

    ...

    The meetingsted the entire afternoon. Once it ended, Eric stopped Robert Shea, who was trying to leave, and asked, "Robert, how''s the video release for An Affair to Remembering along?"

    "I''ve ordered the first batch of 100,000 tapes. Eric, do you really think An Affair to Remember can ride the coattails of Sleepless in Seattle to be a hit again?" Robert Shea questioned, puzzled.

    Eric nodded affirmatively. "Of course, Robert, 100,000 is too few. We should at least produce 300,000 tapes. Please keep an eye on this."

    Robert Shea shook his head vigorously. "Eric, this is too risky. I think 100,000 is already plenty, and that''s already cost us a million bucks. We''ll definitely need to allocate more funds for marketing in the future. If the tapes do sell well, we can have the factory rush more out."

    "What if we can''t make it in time?" Eric countered. "Robert, trust me. Produce 300,000 tapes and distribute them, letting the distributors know they can sell first and payter. We need to ensure that An Affair to Remember is avable in every possible channel."

    Robert remained hesitant. A movie made over thirty years ago had a good chance of selling 100,000 copies after the buzz from Sleepless in Seattle, in his view. Producing 300,000 tapes along with that sales strategy seemed to him akin to throwing money into the water.

    After a moment, Eric said, "Robert, can you please just trust me this time? If I''m proven wrongter, I won''t meddle in any business decisions for a year."

    Hearing Eric say that, Robert immediately feltpelled. His greatest fear was Eric''s interference in thepany''s operations. Due to age bias, Robert didn''t think Eric had any real talent in running a filmpany, and he had only amassed his current wealth and status through a few sessful films. He believed that since that was the case, Eric should focus on film production rather than dictatingpany operations. Unfortunately for Robert, Eric owned 85% of thepany.

    With Eric''s assurance, even if it was just verbal, Robert Shea felt it was worth the gamble. The cost of 300,000 tapes would only be three million, and in exchange, he''d gain a year''s ''absolute control'' over Firefly. "Alright, Eric, I will execute your n as soon as possible."

    Watching Robert Shea leave, Eric smiled, thinking that this method might just work. He could use such a ''bait'' to push Robert to act ording to his wishes.

    ...

    After tidying up, Eric left the office and prepared to drive home. Just as he exited the building, a woman in her thirties with brown hair approached him.

    Once Eric stopped, the woman eagerly introduced herself, "Mr. Williams, I''m Sheryl Cody. Do you remember me? We''ve met before."

    Eric was almost on the verge of forgetting his brief encounter with Sheryl Cody in New York, but he certainly couldn''t forget the man apanying her, Brad Pitt.

    In stark contrast to Sheryl''s enthusiasm, Brad looked rather ufortable, clearly opposing his agent''s initiative to approach Eric.

    "Hello, Ms. Cody. Good to see you again." Eric smiled and shook her hand, finding the situation amusing. He had thought he wouldn''t see Brad Pitt again after that incident.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Seeing Eric remember her, Sheryl Cody beamed. It had to be said, she was incredibly well- maintained, and Eric couldn''t quite ce her age.

    "Mr. Williams, do you remember your invitation back then? I''ve brought my team on board at UTA."

    Eric reminisced and recalled the moment Sheryl hade to him with Brad to apologize. He had thought she handled herself really well, so he had just mentioned it casually. However, looking at the two of them now, he asked, "When did this happen?"

    "About... a week ago," Sheryl responded. When Eric showed no other emotion, she hurriedly added, "Mr. Williams, can I invite you to dinner?"

    Eric nced at Sheryl and then at Brad, who was standing behind her with a strained smile, quickly remembering her intent ining to him. "Ms. Cody, Brad isn''t auditioning for the lead role in The X-Files, is he?"

    Realizing Eric had hit the nail on the head, Sheryl chuckled awkwardly and exined, "Mr. Williams, Brad auditioned this afternoon, but unfortunately, you weren''t there at the time. That''s why I rushed over to talk with you."

    "Well then," Eric looked back at Brad. "Mr. Pitt, you should just wait back and see what happens."

    Brad''s face fell immediately at Eric''s words, and Sheryl sensed that Eric wasn''t fond of Brad being around. She discreetly signaled to the man standing behind her.

    "Um... I''ll head back now," Brad finally spoke. "Mr. Williams, see you... goodbye."

    Eric simply nodded in response, and after Brad drove off alone, he opened his car door and

    said to Sheryl, "Ms. Cody, please, get in."

    "Oh, thank you," she quickly climbed into the passenger seat.

    ...

    At the restaurant, after cing their orders, Sheryl Cody couldn''t hold back. "Mr. Williams, Brad is actually a fantastic actor. If you don''t believe me, you can check the audition tape for

    The X-Files. He just hasn''t had much luck."

    Eric certainly knew Brad Pitt was talented; he had garnered more acting awards and nominations than Tom Cruise. But so what? The number of talented actors in Hollywood who couldn''t break through was countless, while the opportunities were limited.

    Looking at the woman across from him, Eric smirked slightly. "Ms. Cody, do you only have

    Brad Pitt as your client?"

    Sheryl was taken aback by the sudden question but shook her head. "No, I have four or five

    others."

    Eric shrugged. "Oh, you''re certainly good to Brad."

    Sheryl''s cheeks flushed slightly. She caught Eric''s undertone but shrugged it off. The rtionship between agents and their actors didn''t need to be taboo. She recalled hearing about a music producer in his forties or fifties who raised a twelve-year-old girl and turned her into his wife; the girl''s name was something like Celine.

    Regaining herposure, Sheryl expressed a subtle plea, "Mr. Williams, could you give Brad a chance? He won''t disappoint you."

    Eric looked at her, quickly weighing the situation. With such a dedicated agent pushing for Brad Pitt, even though he was already 26, a handsome male actor had a significantly longer shelf life. Thus, Brad Pitt would still likely emerge in Hollywood, which was something Eric

    didn''t want to see.

    Given that, handing over the lead role in The X-Files to Brad would only bring disadvantages. The X-Files, like Friends, featured very fixed character roles. After running for several seasons, it would be nearly impossible for an actor to shift their screen persona, and the chances of making a return to the silver screen would be even slimmer. In the end, only Jennifer Aniston managed to pivot to film after Friends, and that came at a hefty price -- taking on many roles that diverged greatly from Rachel Green to avoid being typecast.

    Although Eric had made his decision, he remained rather ''considerate'' and thought for a moment before reminding Sheryl, "Ms. Cody, you should really think this through. Once Brad epts the lead in The X-Files, his screen image will likely be set in stone, and transitioning to other roles will be extremely difficult. The male lead in this series has to sign a contract for at

    least five seasons."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Liberty City

    Chapter 270: Liberty City

    ?

    [Chapter 270: Liberty City]

    Hearing Eric''s words, Sheryl Cody hesitated for a moment. But soon she realized that this hesitation was rather silly.

    She understood perfectly well what Brad Pitt''s situation was; over the past six months, he had only been able to make asional cameo appearances in some films or TV shows. Given that, if she couldnd the lead role in a major TV series, what was there to worry about? After all, many second and third-tier stars in Hollywood werepeting for the lead roles in The X- Files.

    Coming to that conclusion, Sheryl Cody said, "Mr. Williams, I believe The X-Files is going to be a great show. If we can get the lead role, what difference does it make if we get typecast?" That woman sure knew how to talk, Eric thought to himself.

    Sheryl Cody then added, "However, Mr. Williams, is it really necessary to sign a five-season contract all at once? Isn''t that a bit too long?"

    Eric immediately shook his head and replied, with a tone that left no room for discussion, "Not at all. The six leads in Friends signed five-season contracts."

    Sheryl Cody wasn''t sure if Eric was telling the truth. If it were indeed the case, she certainly couldn''t find any reason to negotiate further. Besides, even if it were five seasons or more, it seemed that neither she nor Brad Pitt had much leverage.

    Eric watched Sheryl Cody''s expression and said, "If you have no objections, I''ll take a look at Brad Pitt''s audition tape tomorrow. If his performance satisfies me, I''ll notify you toe in and sign the contract."

    ...

    The next day, Eric arrived at the Fox lot where the auditions were held. He found the tape of Brad Pitt''s audition, watched it multiple times, and confirmed that Brad''s current acting skills were indeed sufficient for the role of Fox Mulder. He then called in producers from both Fox and Firefly Films to discuss, and it was quickly confirmed.

    Next up was the lead actress and a few minor roles. Eric naturally had no intention of getting involved with the minor roles; he focused his energy on selecting the lead actress.

    At the same time, another variety show promised to Fox finally began to move forward. After much consideration, Eric chose the safest option: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

    This show originally came from the UK in thete 1990s and took the world by storm. Eric recalled that many television stations across many countries were airing simr imitation shows. Even until before Eric''s time travel, these shows hadn''t exited the television screen, and rumors often circted about someone bing a millionaire in different countries due to the show. This program capitalized on the public''s desire to get rich quick, thus having no limitations by time or era -- unlike other shows that might also seed now but came with loads ofplications. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was far simpler.

    So, once he drafted the nning proposal, Eric promptly sent someone to many countries that emphasized intellectual property protection to register the copyright. Once the show became popr, he believed that merely selling the rights would bring in a substantial profit.

    ...

    "Hey, Eric, how about this question: In Home Alone, how many siblings did Kevin have?" Drew, sitting in the passenger seat of the car headed to Malibu, held a small hardcover notebook, jotting down notes now and then.

    Upon hearing the question, Ericughed and shook his head. "No way. I''ve said it before -- the trivia questions must be relevant to real life and incredibly interesting. Your question is just testing people''s memory. Who''s going to waste their time worrying about how many siblings Kevin had?"

    Drew pouted and countered, "Well, your questions sound even more boring. Who''s concerned with how insects breathe?"

    Eric raised an eyebrow at the young girl. "Clearly, you weren''t paying any attention in ss. This question is definitely in your biology textbook."

    "You''re just making excuses. Only a nerd would care about these things," she huffed, chewing on her pen as she pondered. Then she asked, "How about this one: What year did the Hollywood sign get established?"

    Eric nodded, "That''s a good question. Write that down."

    "Yay," she giggled, scribbling it in her notebook.

    Eric thought for a moment and then looked at her. "By the way, I genuinely don''t know what

    year the Hollywood sign was established. What year was it?"

    The young girl rolled her eyes, "How would I know?"

    ||||

    "How did youe up with that question then?"

    She replied, "I just happened to pass by there yesterday." Drew continued to bite her pen thoughtfully and nced ahead. "How far is it?"

    "Five minutes, we''re almost there."

    ...

    The car parked outside the mansion at the Malibu tip. As Eric opened the door, he heard the young girl call out from inside the car, "Ah, Eric, I bumped my knee, help me out!"

    "Climb out yourself," Eric thought the girl was just being dramatic and didn''t pay her any mind as he headed straight to where Frank Gehry and his personalwyer, Edward, were waiting at the mansion entrance.

    "Wow, Eric, you''re so heartless," just as Eric reached out to greet the enthusiastic Frank Gehry, he felt a soft body jump onto his back.

    Eric pped her on the bottom, "Stop it. Can''t you see there are many people around? If you don''t stop acting up, I''ll throw you in the trunk."

    "I really bumped my knee, it''s all red now. Look!" the young girl said, obviously pouting.

    With a couple of quick motions, Eric lifted her off his back and examined her knee, noting a small bruise but no blood or swelling.

    "You''re fine. Just run two kilometers, and it''ll be good as new." He said as he set Drew down. The girl giggled and clung to his neck for a moment before finally letting go.

    Just as Eric released Drew, he felt someone watching from afar. Following his instinct to look in that direction, he didn''t spot anyone and thought perhaps he was just being paranoid. For some reason, these days, he had felt an uneasy sensation as if someone were tailing him.

    Maybe I should hire a security team, Eric thought, though he kept his focus on the people in front of him.

    ...

    "Apologies, this girl loves to mess around," Eric said as he shook hands with Frank Gehry and Edward Lewis.

    "It''s no problem," Frank Gehry chuckled, and Edward joined in agreement.

    "Shall we head inside? We''ve waited over six months for this architectural design to be a

    reality."

    Eric''s eager demeanor promptedughter from Frank and the others.

    "Please follow me," Frank said, ushering everyone into the vehicle as the temporary guards opened the mansion''s gates. They drove directly toward the cliffside mansion, and Eric had little interest in inspecting the other buildings in the estate. As long as everything passed inspection, that was what mattered; after all, those buildings were just for servants or guests. Several cars made their way along a winding path toward what Eric called the ''Liberty City'', the main building at the cliff''s edge.

    As they exited the vehicles, Eric was taken aback by what he saw. The silver shell-shaped building before him was even more exquisite and grand than what he had imagined.

    In his memory, Tony Stark''s Malibu mansion was just a concrete building. However, although this building also utilized some reinforced concrete, most of its structure was made of granite, special ss, and high-strength steel. The shell-like exterior was covered in shimmering silver titanium alloy materials, sparkling in the sunlight.

    Originally, Frank Gehry''s budget for the estate came to $5 million, but under Eric''s assurance

    of unlimited funds, Frank continually raised the budget -- from $10 million to finally $20 million. Near the end of construction, he requested an additional $2 million from Eric, 90% of which went into this building. It''s essential to understand that at this time, $20 million could have built a 20-story building. And now, the entire Malibu housing market still hadn''t reached the level of tens of millions of dors. Most Malibu vis were priced at just a few hundred thousand dors, even luxurious homes with private beaches only cost a few million. This made it in how extravagant a $20 million single structure could be.

    ...

    The group unconsciously lingered outside the silver building for several minutes before Frank finally broke the silence with pride. "Alright, I think we should head inside. I believe the

    internal structure of this building will amaze us even more."

    The staff opened the grand door of the mansion, and Frank Gehry led everyone inside.

    As soon as they stepped into the foyer, the first thing they saw wasn''t the vast living room but the shimmering sea through the windows.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Wow, so beautiful!" While the men held theirposure, the young girl broke the restraint, gasping as she rushed to the two-meter-tall floor-to-ceiling window.

    "Eric, Eric,e quickly!" Drew called out, pressing her face against the ss, gazing out at

    the ocean. Eric, slightly worried, asked, "Mr. Gehry, is this ss okay?"

    "Of course," Frank Gehry replied. "It''s special ss. At first nce, it looks like ordinary ss, but it''s actually threeyers with ayer of polycarbonate in between. Even if shot at, it can withstand anything short of a high-caliber sniper rifle. So a regr impact won''t cause

    any harm at all."

    One of Edward''s assistants eximed in surprise, "Mr. Gehry, if what you say is true, doesn''t that make it bulletproof ss? It must be very expensive?"

    Frank shook his head and replied honestly, "While it''s not technically bulletproof, it''s pretty

    close. And yes, the $20 million was spent on such features. Eric, shall I take everyone on a

    tour?"

    "Of course," Eric waved off Drew, who was still pressed against the ss, gazing at the view, and followed Frank Gehry into other parts of the mansion.

    As they walked, Frank exined, "This floor mainlyprises the living room, kitchen, gym,

    and meeting room. ording to the designs you provided, the basement is a workspace. The second and third floors have eight bedrooms in total, as well as a study, a small screening room, and a total of twelve bathrooms in the vi."

    Eric nodded gently as they climbed the spiral staircase to the second floor, listening to Frank''s

    narration and looking around. The group eventually reached the top floor, where there was a spacious master bedroom with panoramic views. Through the ss, not only could one see the Malibu skyline but also the distant ocean.

    As he looked around, Eric suddenly remembered to ask Frank, "Mr. Gehry, is this ss one-

    way?"

    "Of course. There''s no way I would overlook such a crucial detail. All the windows in this building have been specially treated. While they may appear bright from the outside, no one

    can see anything inside."

    "That''s good," Eric nodded, ncing around the master bedroom. If he were to find himself

    tangled up with ady in bed and someone was peeping through a telescope, that would be

    catastrophic.

    After about ten minutes of touring, the group returned to the living room, but Drew had mysteriously disappeared.

    "I bet Miss Barrymore has made her way to the outdoor pool," Frank Gehry chuckled.

    "Perfect! The view from there is splendid. Let''s head over there to discuss matters."

    After moving past a door beside the living room, they arrived at a massive outdoor swimming pool overlooking the cliff''s edge.

    While the indoor area was wonderful, it was still behind ayer of ss. Here there was no barrier, exposing them to the wide-open sky.

    "Mr. Gehry, can we go swimming now?" Drew''s voice came from behind a lounge chair.

    Everyone looked over and realized she had somehow found a pair of sunsses and was lounging in the sun.

    "Of course, Miss Barrymore," Frank Gehry replied with a warm smile, clearly fond of the girl. "But we need to wait until Mr. Williams signs the contract for the project eptance first."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Resentment

    Chapter 271: Resentment

    ?

    [Chapter 271: Resentment]

    From the moment the mansion in Malibu began construction, it garnered plenty of attention. After all, this 14-acre estate undoubtedly stood as thergest in newly incorporated Malibu, situated in such a unique geographical spot. However, the excitement was limited until thepletion of the remarkably eye-catching "Liberty City," which attracted local media coverage in newspapers around Los Angeles. People spected about which wealthy mogul had purchased such a morousndmark in Malibu.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Yet, details remained shrouded in secrecy until early December when it was discovered that Hollywood''s youngest A-list director, Eric Williams, along with Drew Barrymore, frequently entered and exited the estate. The news exploded.

    If the owner had only been a wealthy individual, it might not have been major news. But with someone like Eric, who had created a string of box-office hits, the story was a goldmine. After all, the public always had an insatiable curiosity for the private lives of celebrities. Therefore, within just a week, tabloid reporters spared no effort in uncovering every detail about the mansion.

    ...

    "ording to insiders involved in the design of ''Liberty City,'' the initial concept was hand- drawn by Eric Williams, which was then handed over to renowned architect Frank Gehry for detailed design. After seven months of meticulous work, the resulting creation was a dreamlike mansion akin to a work of art. Eric Williams was truly a prodigy in Hollywood, a stark contrast to Larry Ellison, the Oracle CEO, who splurged on Malibu properties like a Middle Eastern billionaire. This young director, not yet twenty, exhibited much more taste." "Investigations reveal that the total cost of the Malibu estate neared $30 million, a sum five times higher than the previous record for the most expensive Malibu mansion. ''Liberty City,'' perched at the cliff''s edge, sprawled over 40,000 square feet, boasting more than thirty rooms. The estate featured a swimming pool, tennis courts, and even a helicopter pad among many other amenities.

    Although this publication did not secure an interview with the owner, Eric Williams, aerial photography via a hired helicopter revealed that ''Liberty City'' appeared like a dazzling silver shell resting on the edge of Malibu''s coastline.

    As analyzed by a professor from the University of California''s architecture department, building such a dream vi on a cliff posed significant challenges, likely raising construction costs by over 30%. However, it now seemed worthwhile. In the future, many maye to Malibu, willing to take a boat out to sea just to gaze upon this magnificent mansion."

    "To date, aside from Drew Barrymore, none of Eric Williams'' close connections, like Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, or Virginia Madsen, have been seen entering the new estate. Eric had repeatedly stated to the media that he viewed Drew as a sister. It wasn''t until three weeks ago at the premiere of Home Alone 2 that he first appeared publicly with Jennifer Aniston and acknowledged their rtionship. However, insiders revealed that their rtionship was not stable. Therefore, the question of who would be the mistress of Malibu''s priciest estate leaves us with an intriguing mystery."

    ||

    ...

    At Disney''s headquarters in Burbank, Michael Eisner tossed aside a newspaper featuring aerial shots of ''Liberty City'' onto his desk. He mumbled a few discontented remarks under his breath, then soon smirked to himself. A short timeter, his assistant knocked and entered the office.

    "Mr. Eisner, here are thetest materials from IMS Detective Agency." The assistant ced several envelopes in front of Michael Eisner.

    Michael opened the envelopes, pulling out a thick stack of photographs, examining each one. They all depicted Eric and Drew appearing quite affectionate in public. After expressionlessly flipping through the photos, he retrieved more documentation.

    "Have you made contact with John Barrymore?" he asked casually while examining the papers.

    The assistant nodded but hesitated before saying, "Mr. Eisner, I believe the key lies with Drew Barrymore. If she doesn''t cooperate, it will be difficult to impact Eric Williams significantly."

    Without looking up, Michael replied with a cool tone, "That''s not for you to worry about. Just follow my instructions and ensure this task is done."

    The assistant detected the annoyance in Michael''s voice and quickly nodded, "Yes, Mr. Eisner."

    "Now, you can leave." Michael waved him off, and after the assistant vacated the office, he opened several more envelopes.

    Though he wasn''t aware that the tactic of attacking Eric through the fact that Drew was a minor had already been used by the former president of Columbia, Michael Eisner didn''t expect this trivial matter to heavily impact Eric. His goal was simply to create some trouble for the inexperienced young director.

    Moreover, he believed that when that day arrived, the young man would find that he suddenly faced numerous challenges. Michael had no doubt that after employing a series of maneuvers, Eric would eventually have to yield.

    "Hollywood isn''t an easy ce to thrive," Michael remarked, leaning back in his chair, satisfied after reviewing all the documents.

    ...

    "Eric, they''re so annoying," Drew said, standing by a huge floor-to-ceiling window in the Malibu vi, pointing at a few boats floating in the ocean. "The water looked beautiful, and now it''s like there''s trash floating around."

    Eric, sitting on the sofa by the window with a book in hand, responded with a hint of exasperation while gesturing at the party nners setting up for that evening''s party, "You''re the one who asked for this. If you hadn''t insisted on throwing a party, there wouldn''t be so many paparazzi out there."

    Upon hearing Eric''sment, Drew immediately pouted and flung herself next to him. "With such a gorgeous new home, not throwing a party would be a waste!"

    "Stop messing around and go manage your party," Eric pretended to scold her, but Drew giggled and, after a bit of yful banter, finally ran off to attend to her event.

    As Eric watched the busy figures moving about, he felt a bit overwhelmed and decided to head toward his studio, which was located a level down from the living room. Theyout mirrored the one he remembered from Tony Stark''s workshop; though, naturally, itcked Iron Man armor. Instead, it was decorated like Eric''s study in Beverly Hills. The entire west wall served as arge maic whiteboard showcasing numerous drafts he favored having in in sight. Other areas were fitted with bookshelves, filing cabs, and even a piano. Hisrge work desk faced the window, providing a view of the ocean outside.

    At that moment, however, the boats scattered across the sea indeed appeared as Drew had remarked, like floating garbage. Although the paparazzi couldn''t capture images of the inside of the vi with their advanced telephoto lenses, they remained stationed outside. Just days before, one had snapped photos of Drew swimming in the terrace pool, and Eric figured they were waiting to catch guests arriving for tonight''s party.

    Resigned, Eric shrugged, flipped on the lights, and pressed a button near the window. A panel matching the studio wall color silently rose, seamlessly blending in and eliminating any sign of the window. The studio was soon transformed into apletely enclosed space. Feeling satisfied, Eric sat down at his desk and continued reading the book on business management.

    ...

    On the coastal highway, a red car cruised leisurely down the road. Nicole, gripping the steering wheel, nced at Jennifer Aniston in the passenger seat. The young woman rested an elbow on the open window, gazing absently outside.

    In her boredom, Nicole casually asked, "Jen, you really don''t n on moving in? From the newspapers these days, that mansion looks stunning."

    Jennifer blinked but shook her head. "No, I can''t move in. Nicole, does living together with

    me bother you?"

    Nicole hurriedly shook her head. "Of course not, I just don''t quite get it."

    After a brief silence, Jennifer finally spoke up. "I told him there could only be one woman in the house, and he promised me Drew would move out at sixteen. If I give in now, who knows

    if he''ll keep that promise in a couple of years."

    Upon hearing this, Nicole''s lips moved without sound, but she said nothing.

    She thought Jennifer was being naive; a lot can change in two years, and who could predict how things would unfold? From her own experiences, she understood Drew''s shrewd nature well -- by that time, it would be remarkable indeed if that girl voluntarily moved out. Nicole could even imagine what tactics that little vixen might employ.

    If she found herself in such a situation, she believed she wouldn''t hesitate, charging in to

    steal the man -- deliberation usually led to empty hands.

    "Why not me?"

    As the memory of Eric''s attitude toward her unfolded, Nicole felt a flicker of quiet

    resentment, followed by a pang of envy for Jennifer Aniston.

    What did this one-track-minded girl have that she didn''t?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Anistons Intuition

    Chapter 272: Aniston''s Intuition

    ?

    [Chapter 272: Aniston''s Intuition]

    The car drove up to the manor, and the security guard, poised to ask for an invitation as the vehicle approached, immediately dropped the pretense upon seeing the twodies inside. His face broke into a deferential smile. "Ms. Aniston, pleasee in!" With that, he hurriedly dashed back to open the gate.

    As they got out in the parking lot, the twodies stood for a moment, just like Eric did when he first saw the Liberty City, surveying the vi before walking in together.

    Upon pushing open the ss door, they entered a grand hall spanning over 600 square feet, bustling with waitstaff and chefs darting about. The sight of the two women elicited littlen/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    more than an indifferent nce from the staff.

    The party hadn''t technically started yet, but as Eric''s girlfriend, the petite girl thought it only natural to arrive a bit early.

    After a moment, feeling ignored, she grew somewhat irritated, even forgetting about Nicole beside her. Strutting towards the kitchen in her high heels, she identally stumbled upon a middle-aged man in a suit discussing something with Drew. Pushing her chest out defiantly, she strode over. "Hey, how''s everythinging along?"

    Drew looked up at Aniston, dressed in a little white dress, and smiled softly. "Madam, you''re a bit early; the party hasn''t started yet. But you''re wee to rest in the living room for an hour."

    Seeing Drew treating her like just another guest made her furious. "You little brat, don''t forget who you are. Mind your manners, or I''ll have Eric toss you out."

    "I''m so scared," she giggled with a mock ''terrified'' face, quickly morphing back to a sly grin, rebutting, "Go ahead if you dare."

    Aniston shot Drew a few fiery res before turning her attention to the suited middle-aged man. "Are you in charge of the party?"

    He smiled and nodded, seemingly ignoring the girls'' banter. Both women were close to Eric Williams, and he didn''t dare offend either. He extended his hand, saying, "Hello, Ms. Aniston. I''m Will rk. How may I assist you?"

    "I don''t like the arrangement of the buffet table outside. Can you move it?" she casually offered, seeking an excuse to exert her influence.

    Before Will could react, Drew interjected, "Mr. rk, don''t forget I''m covering the bill today!"

    Will nced around. As a party nner, he often dealt with disputes among different hosts and typically deferred decisions to the person with authority. In this manor, the sole authority figure was Eric.

    "Perhaps it''s best if youdies consult Mr. Williams," he said with a slick smile.

    Both girls red at Will, but he merely shrugged, adopting a demeanor that implied, ''You do what you want; I''m not getting involved.''

    Frustrated, they exchanged nces, aware of the potential fallout. They would not escte matters in front of so many people, especially not in a way that would embarrass Eric.

    Finally, the petite girl suggested, "Let''s split it down the middle!"

    "Rock-paper-scissors!" Drew chimed in.

    Aniston clenched her fists, apparently recalling something. Quickly shaking her head, she said, "No way. Or do we go find Eric?"

    Drew smirked, "You were the one who started this mess; we have over a hundred guests today. If you act up and embarrass Eric in front of all these people, ugh..."

    Aniston wasn''t like Drew. If their positions had been reversed, the brazen girl probably wouldn''t have cared about Eric''s dignity, but Aniston didn''t dare go there. Sighing defiantly, she asked, "Where''s Eric?"

    Drew shrugged, the corners of her eyes not batting as she replied, "I don''t know; there are over thirty rooms here. You can go search one by one."

    "You..." the petite girl nearly charged at Drew but nced at the seemingly disinterested Will. She asked, "Mr. rk, do you know where Eric is?"

    Will offered a sheepish smile and shook his head. "Ms. Aniston, I''ve been in the kitchen. I really don''t know."

    Annoyed, she stomped her foot and turned to leave.

    ...

    In the living room, Nicole observed Aniston heading towards the kitchen and casually began to explore the vi''s interior. She strolled to therge window, gazing at the sea for a bit. Turning, she intended to check out the second floor but happened to notice a closed door nearby. Curiosity piqued, she pressed the button next to it.

    "What''s going on?" Eric''s voice came through the speaker, surprising Nicole.

    "Uh, Eric, it''s me," she quickly responded into the inte.

    "Oh,e on in," Eric''s voice said, and the door swung open automatically. Peeking into the stairwell that led down, she stepped inside, with the door silently closing behind her.

    Nicole made her way to Eric''s study, finding him sitting at his desk with his nose buried in a book. After taking in her surroundings, reminiscent of his Beverly Hills study, she sauntered over to the wall covered in scripts and lightly struck up a conversation. "Eric, I can''t believe you still haven''t changed this habit."

    Eric ced his book down, reopened the window, and switched off the overhead lights before saying, "Why should I? I really like it this way."

    Nicole, with her back to the wall, casually wandered around the room. "I envy you; you get to do whatever you want."

    "Just as long as one doesn''t always want too much, they can do as they please," Eric replied with a smile.

    "It''s not that simple." Nicole shook her head, moving beside Eric''srge desk. She perched herself on the edge, kicked off her high heels, and swung her fair feetzily.

    Noting her seemingly casual demeanor, Eric raised an eyebrow. "Jenny came with you, didn''t she?"

    "Of course, she''s out there. Maybe she''s busy arguing with Ms. Barrymore."

    Instinctively, Eric nced towards the door, realizing the absence of any interruption meant the two girls had likely kept things civil. Trusting in their discretion, he rxed, settling back into his leather chair while admiring Nicole. Dressed in a stunning red one-shoulder gown that showcased her figure beautifully, adorned with a matching scarf and bright red lips, she was a sight to behold.

    Feeling Eric''s intense gaze, Nicole suddenly grew self-conscious about her posture. Although she wanted to hop off the desk, lingering thoughts made her hesitate, but she lifted her chin slightly and puffed out her chest.

    "Did you put something in there? It looks a bit bigger," Eric teased after a moment.

    Nicole shot him a re, then taunted back, "Why don''t you find out?"

    Eric had never been one to be courteous, reaching out to take her two long legs and pull Nicole into his embrace.

    After a flurry of movements, she protested, "No, don''t take that off! What if someone walks

    in?"

    "Nobody enters without my permission," Eric exined, resulting in Nicole dropping her resistance.

    The bright red dress soon lifted up, cascading onto the nearby sofa, revealing a small scrap of cloth underneath. With her soft, bare skin pressed against the desk, the chill sent a soft gasp from Nicole, turning her head to shoot a gaze filled withment towards Eric, but his strong hands firmly gripped her waist, followed by an invasive heat.

    ...

    The petite girl hadn''t gained any leverage from Drew in the kitchen and left in a sulk, only to find Nicole missing. After asking a few staff members with little sess, one waiter pointed up the staircase. "I just saw Ms. Kidman go that way. She might have gone upstairs." Aniston thanked him, heading towards the stairs. She noticed the same tightly shut door leading to the lower level but didn''t feel inquisitive like Nicole; instead, she ventured up. After a thorough search, having taken her time to explore, she found no sign of Nicole or Eric. A strange feeling grew inside her. Frustrated, she double-checked by knocking on several doors, receiving no response.

    Returning to the main hall, Aniston inquired again about Eric''s whereabouts from the party

    organizers.

    "No idea. Mr. Williams could be in one of the rooms."

    "Ms. Aniston, it''s our first time here as well."

    "Sorry, Ms. Aniston. Perhaps you could look outside; the estate is pretty big. Mr. Williams may be somewhere else."

    Having asked everyone without any leads on Eric''s location, the petite girl stomped her foot

    in irritation, muttering, "Now that''s just great -- building such a big house for hide-and-

    seek." Thoughining, she still headed outside. The inability to find Eric and Nicole intensified that odd sensation, but she felt instinctively resistant to dwelling on a specific thought. While asking Drew directly would have been the simplest way, Aniston strongly disliked engaging with her. Besting Drew in a war of words seemed futile; she preferred a physical approach, which she was slightly better at, but today was clearly not the right time for that.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 273: Chapter 273: The Nuisance Neighbor

    Chapter 273: The Nuisance Neighbor

    ?

    [Chapter 273: The Nuisance Neighbor]

    Drew moved around the house, checking on the party preparations. After a while, she noticed that Aniston was missing. She casually grabbed a waiter and asked, "Where''s Aniston?"

    The waiter, bncing a tray, recalled, "Ms. Aniston seemed to be looking for Mr. Williams and Ms. Kidman. She didn''t find them inside the vi, so I saw her head outside."

    "Alright, go on about your business," Drew nodded. After the waiter left, she rolled her eyes, making her way to the entrance of the studio. She pressed the button by the door.

    After a moment, Eric''s voice came through, "Who is it?"

    "Eric, it''s Jenny. Open up!" Drew squeezed her voice to mimic Aniston''s.

    Inside the studio, Nicole had been kneeling in front of a man when she heard that voice. Startled, she looked up at Eric, lost for words. Eric was also taken aback by the sound. In a moment of excitement, he couldn''t help himself, identally spilling everything on the pretty girl''s face.

    After taking a deep breath, Eric realized that Aniston and Drew had very different voices, so the girl''s attempt to imitate Aniston sounded nothing like her.

    He gave Nicole, who was looking disheveled, a reassuring nce and handed her a box of tissues from the table. Then he directly picked up the microphone on the table and said, "Drew, don''t mess around."

    Outside the door, the little girl let out a bubblyugh, "Eric, you''re not scared, are you?" Eric let out an indifferent grunt, and Drew, seemingly unfazed, chimed in, "Just a reminder, the fat girl is searching everywhere for you two." With that, Drew hung up.

    Eric put the microphone down and pointed toward the bathroom door. "Why don''t you go take a shower? When youe out, just say you were here reading. I''ll leave first."

    Nicole nodded. Eric quickly tidied up and soon left the studio.

    ...

    After hurrying back to his room and washing up, Eric changed into a fresh outfit and walked outside the vi. After a bit of searching, he finally spotted Aniston sitting on a bench by the tennis court. When she saw Eric approach alone, the previously sullen Aniston finally broke into a relieved smile. Although he felt a twinge of guilt, Eric quickly fabricated a story about why he had just stepped out. He knew the girl wouldn''t appreciate hearing the truth, and he wasn''t foolish enough to spill it.

    As night fell, the partymenced.

    Drew had handled the guest list, and Eric couldn''t be bothered with it. Besides many people he already knew, they also invited neighbors from Malibu''s Point Dume area, along with their partners, resulting in close to two hundred attendees.

    At this point, Eric found himself dealing with a "nuisance neighbor." Hebeled him this way upon first meeting because the man was far from charming; he had straightaway offered to buy Eric''s estate.

    "Eric, how about $35 million? Come on, sell me this estate, and I promise one lump sum payment." Facing Eric''s rejection, the middle-aged man with a scruffy beard revised his offer. Eric replied helplessly, "Mr. Ellison, I''ve told you many times, I will not sell this estate." "How about $37 million? That''s actually $10 million more than what you built it for. Eric, please reconsider." Larry Ellison insisted with a glimmer of fervor in his eyes.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Having read about Liberty City in the papertely, Ellison, who had a penchant for luxury and collecting mansions, had his sights set on the majestic cliffside property of Liberty City. Compared to it, he felt that the series of mansions he previously purchased in Malibu looked almost disposable. The arrogant Larry Ellison believed such a grand estate was only meant for someone like himself.

    As a "neighbor" who received a party invitation, Larry Ellison clung to Eric as soon as he arrived, raising the price from $27 million to $37 million.

    "How about this, Mr. Ellison? You could contact Frank Gehry; I''d be happy to let you use the design for this mansion for free. You could just build it again somewhere else."

    Ellison immediately shook his head. "A mansion like this has to be one of a kind! Besides, where else has a location like Malibu Point Dume? Oh my God, why didn''t I think of this sooner? I should have bought this ce much earlier. Eric, how about this -- I have sixteen mansions in Malibu, I could trade them all with you. What do you think?"

    Eric opened his mouth in surprise. Given Larry Ellison''s status as CEO of Oracle, those mansions could easily be worth over a million each -- sixteen mansions could amount to a total price of around $40 to $50 million.

    However, Eric shook his head without a second thought. "Mr. Ellison, under no circumstances will I sell this estate; please don''t bring it up again. Besides, I have to mingle with other guests now. I''m sorry."

    Seeing Eric impatient to leave, Larry Ellison conceded, "Alright, Eric, just remember that whenever you want to sell, please contact me first."

    "Alright, I promise, if I ever consider selling, I will reach out to you, Mr. Ellison." Eric left that remark behind and walked over to Robert Shea, who was apanied by a fifty- something Asian man.

    "Hey, Eric, this ce is incredible! I can hardly contain my excitement." Robert Sheaughed as he shared a brief hug with Eric.

    Eric released Robert and said, "Larry Ellison from Oracle has been hounding me for over ten minutes. You''re not looking to buy this estate too, are you? If you say anything, I''ll call security to escort you out."

    Robert Sheaughed and replied, "Of course not! How could I be so thoughtless? By the way, let me introduce this gentleman. This is Mr. Raymond Chow from Hong Kong."

    "Hello, Mr. Chow, I''m Eric Williams."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Fox Misjudgements

    Chapter 274: Fox Misjudgements

    ?

    [Chapter 274: Fox Misjudgements]

    "Hello, Mr. Williams," Raymond Chow said, trying to maintain aposed demeanor, though his expression carried a hint of eagerness. "Mr. Williams, I saw your film, Running Out of Time. To be honest, it shared a lot of simrities with some styles of our Hong Kong cinema. Coincidentally, it was ourpany, Golden Harvest, that distributed the film in Hong Kong, and it did quite well at the box office."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I''ve always had a fondness for Hong Kong films," Eric replied. "Take Bruce Lee''s movies, for example, like Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, The Big Boss, Enter the Dragon, and that half of Game of Death. It''s such a shame." Eric shook his head regretfully as he mentioned thest title.

    Hearing Eric suddenly say this, Raymond''s face also lit up with nostalgia, and he shook his head. "It indeed is a shame. Ah, it''s been more than ten years since those days. I still remember the first time I worked with Bruce."

    After saying that, Raymond suddenly looked up at Eric and remarked, "I remember you, Mr. Williams, are only 19 this year. When Bruce passed away, you must have only been three. It''s hard to believe."

    "Good films are always good films," Eric continued. "Speaking of which, during myst shoot in Seattle, I made a special trip to Bruce Lee''s grave. Even now, after more than a decade, it''s stillmon to see fans from all over the world leaving flowers there."

    Raymond paused for a moment, a fleeting look of embarrassment crossing his face. If it hadn''t been for Bruce Lee, perhaps he wouldn''t have achieved what he had today. However, aside from attending Bruce''s funeral, he hadn''t been back to Seattle much since. "Once I wrap things up, I''ll also visit Seattle to pay my respects."

    Eric nodded, remaining nonmittal. He then nced at Robert Shea, who had been quiet up until now, unaware of Robert''s intentions to introduce him to Raymond.

    In front of Raymond, Robert pulled Eric aside and said, "Here''s the thing. Last year, I was involved in a film that Golden Harvest invested in, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You''ve heard of it, right? Initially, Fox agreed to distribute it, but after seeing the final cut, they backed out."

    Upon hearing the words Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eric quickly remembered this film. They invested $13.5 million, and in the end, the film made almost $130 million in North American box office. That figure could easily ce Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles among the top ten box office hits.

    It was puzzling for a film with such potential to have been abandoned by Fox. However, it seemed understandable; Fox had a history of making simr blunders. In the past, they had also dropped distribution for Titanic, selling it to Paramount for a measly $60 million, and in the end, Titanic made over $600 million at the North American box office. Despite learning from such experiences, Fox repeated their mistakester on, with James Cameron''s Avatar. Fearing financial risks, they brought in other investors, and Avatar ended up bing a massive box office sess, costing Fox billions due to misguided decisions.

    Shaking off these chaotic thoughts, Eric asked, "Robert. What are your thoughts on this?"

    Robert Shea said, "Well, Eric, the total budget for this film is $13.5 million, which is no small sum. New Line has also invested $3 million into it. Now that Fox refuses to release it, we''ll have to take matters into our own hands. I thought your insights into films would be valuable, so I wanted you to take a look at the final cut and offer some suggestions."

    "Did you bring a copy?" Eric inquired.

    Robert Shea paused. "No, I only brought Mr. Chow here to meet you and mentioned this matter in passing. We can head to the office tomorrow to watch it together."

    Realizing he might have been a bit hasty, Eric acknowledged that, although he had a private screen at home, he couldn''t possibly leave the hundreds of guests in the lobby just to watch a film. That would have been terribly rude.

    "Alright, then, I''lle to the office tomorrow morning, and we can check it out together."

    "Great, sounds like a n," Robert said, gesturing towards a familiar face nearby. "I see an old friend over there and want to say hello."

    "Go ahead, enjoy," Eric said with a smile.

    ...

    As he watched Robert walk away, he noticed that Raymond had not followed him.

    "Mr. Chow, do you have something else on your mind?"

    "No, it''s just that, Mr. Williams, you mentioned how much you liked Hong Kong films. What do you think about the current state of Hong Kong cinema?"

    As they made their way to the buffet table, Eric grabbed some food, and the two found a spot by therge windows. Upon seeing Eric approach, a couple lounging on the sofa quickly vacated their seats for them.

    Once seated together, Eric said, "Mr. Chow, I feel that Hong Kong cinema has lost its sense of rationality; it gives off this feeling of a final frenzy before a copse."

    Raymond had initially intended to casually discuss some great Hong Kong films with Eric and build rapport, hoping for a potential coboration. He hadn''t expected to hear Eric criticize the state of Hong Kong cinema. With a bitter smile, Raymond remarked, "Everyone''s making money like crazy; who has time to think about all that? Yet here you are, Mr. Williams, as an outsider, seeing things so clearly. Given this situation, do you think there are any solutions?" What solutions could Eric offer? He was merely spouting thoughts based on his past life experiences.

    Given the various limitations, the future of Hong Kong films seemed more or less predetermined. After a moment of thought, Eric replied earnestly, "Although I do enjoy many

    Hong Kong films, I honestly don''t have any solutions for this situation."

    Raymond sighed, looking at Eric tentatively, and asked, "So, Mr. Williams, do you think there''s a possibility for coboration between us?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Urgency

    Chapter 275: Urgency

    ?

    [Chapter 275: Urgency]

    Coboration?

    Eric thought for a moment after hearing the question, then shook his head. Although he liked some Hong Kong movies, he felt no obligation to help Hong Kong cinema break into Hollywood. There were not many sessful coborations between Hollywood and Hong Kong films, and he could only recall the Rush Hour series as a standout example. However, that film was clearly not a viable option at the moment.

    In his past life, Jackie Chanid the groundwork through several movies before establishing a name for himself in Hollywood, after which the Rush Hour series was released. He was lucky to have resonated with Western audiences, leading to massive sess. Now, while Jackie Chan reigned supreme in Asia, he held little clout in Hollywood. Inviting him to star in a Rush Hour film was no different from randomly casting a Hollywood-based Asian action star, except that the paycheck would likely resemble that of a top Hollywood star.

    "Mr. Chow, I don''t think this is the right time for coboration. I understand the history of your filmpany. Mr. Jackie Chan, your top star under Golden Harvest, tried to break into Hollywood in the early ''80s, but faced repeated failures. I doubt he would easily abandon his standing and career in Hong Kong to pursue opportunities in Hollywood now, would he?"

    Raymond Chow contemted Eric''s words, a look of disappointment and helplessness emerging in his eyes. What Eric said made sense; Hong Kong films were currently in a breakout phase, and Jackie Chan would not easily agree to venture into Hollywood again after previous failures. Aside from Jackie Chan, Raymond Chow struggled to name any other actors who could attract Hollywood''s interest, as martial arts remained the primary draw. Thistest big-budget release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, also exploited martial arts appeal. The four Ninja Turtles were all portrayed by Hong Kong martial artists.

    "It''s a real shame," Raymond Chow said, shaking his head. While he still entertained the idea of investing in Eric''s film, the young man before him was one of the directors behind several of this year''s highest-grossing films. Countless investors in Hollywood sought to partner with him, so a neer like Golden Harvest could hardly hope to im a piece of the pie.

    ...

    Finishing his meal, Eric bid Raymond Chow farewell and rose to leave. Just a few steps away, a tall woman in a ck evening gown approached, holding a ss of red wine. This looked like the same old routine.

    "Such ack of creativity," Eric thought with a wry smile as he sidestepped, quickly grasping the woman''s wrist. He took the ss of red wine from her hand and raised it toward her slightly flushed face. "Thank you for the wine, Miss."

    Realizing her intentions had been seen through, the woman felt a little awkward but quickly seized the chance to introduce herself. "N...no problem. Mr. Williams, I''m..."

    Before she could finish, Eric pressed a finger to her red lips, looking directly into her wide eyes. "Miss, I once heard a very philosophical saying: ''Why must we have known each other to meet?'' So let''s skip the name part, shall we?"

    Once Eric pulled his finger away, the woman nodded. "Well... alright, Mr. Williams, would you do me the honor of a dance?"

    Eric shook his head. "Sorry, Miss."

    Not wanting to press further, the woman turned away, disappointment etched on her face.

    ...

    Just as Eric was about to leave, a slightly mocking voice called out to him. "Why must we have known each other to meet, Eric? Then why did you leave me in your office the first time we met?"

    "Because we''re ''destined to meet''," Eric replied, turning to smile at Nicole, who now wore a cool and aloof expression,pletely shedding her earlier awkwardness.

    Noticing Eric nce at her face, Nicole shot him a re and whispered resentfully, "Next time, just try and pull that on me again."

    Eric shrugged with no concern. "As you wish, Nicole. You should know I''m a gant man who never forces women into anything."

    Nicole angrily bit her lip, recalling how Eric had gripped her face tightly, preventing her from escaping in his study. She nearly sshed her red wine on him in a fit of anger.

    "You''re utterly shameless."

    "I love it when womenpliment me," Eric teased. "Miss Kidman, may I have the pleasure of yourpany for a dance?"

    Nicole hesitated but eventually ced her dainty hand in his. As he led her toward the dance floor, she couldn''t help but ask, "Why did you refuse that ''nameless''dy? That''s not like you."

    "Because I didn''t like her eyebrows. Is that reason eptable to you?" Eric said, wrapping his arm around her waist as they moved onto the dance floor.

    Nicole leaned closer to Eric, replying, "That''s nonsense. I believe you''re just worried about Jenny being here."

    "And you? Getting so close, are you not afraid of what Jenny might think?"

    "Of course not, because Jenny stepped out for a bit." Despite saying that, Nicole still nced around.

    Seeing her reaction, Eric grinned mischievously. "Nicole, don''t you think our conversation sounds like that of an adulterous couple?"

    "You''re quite indecent."

    "Ah, now you''re praising me again. That''s not good. Men can''t handle too much ttery. How about we stop by my study again?"

    Nicole leaned in closer, whispering threateningly into Eric''s ear, "As long as you''re not afraid of being seen, I have no objections. But if it gets out, I won''t hesitate to steal a man from Jenny right in front of her."

    "Wow, maybe let''s skip that," Eric replied, pretending to shiver at certain dreadful thoughts, and refrained from pressing the matter further.

    ...

    The lively party carried on until midnight before finally winding down. Eric used the master suite, which offered a 360-degree view of Malibu, for a little "temptation," and Jennifer Aniston stayed over, albeit halfheartedly.

    ...

    The next morning, Eric joined Robert Shea and Raymond Chow from Hong Kong to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. To be frank, having endured countless visual effects spectacles in his past life, Eric feltpelled to leave during the screening of this "shoddy" special effects

    film a few times.

    Knowing the box office results already, he easily found the film''s merits in hindsight. After the viewing, Eric suppressed his difort and praised the movie, reassuring Robert regarding its distribution. After all, nobody could afford to turn their back on the dor.

    With Eric''s endorsement, Robert Shea confidently set the film''s release date for Easter. While this window wasn''t as prime as summer, it was still pretty good. Besides, summer had to be reserved for his own films. Even though New Line had invested to some extent in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it didn''t feel quite like a personal venture.

    ...

    After discussing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eric had just left the screening room when he spotted Allen waiting outside. As Eric emerged, Allen approached and said, "Eric, Disney''s president Frank Wells and Fox Television president William Bell are waiting for you."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Did theye together? Do you know what it''s about?" Eric asked, puzzled. Allen shook his head. "No, they didn''te together, and they didn''t say what they wanted."

    Checking his watch, Eric replied, "Then let''s go."

    Upon arriving in his office, Eric found the two middle-aged men chatting casually in the lounge. He weed them and attempted to invite both into his office, but Frank Wells and William Bell exchanged nces, showing no intention of joining. Realizing they sought him for different reasons, Eric suggested, "Why don''t you rest here for a moment, Mr. Bell?" "No problem, Eric. I don''t have anything nned for the morning anyway," William said with a smile as he settled back onto the sofa.

    Once alone with Frank Wells in his office, Eric asked about the purpose of his visit.

    "Eric, you previously promised Disney the distribution rights for a film. Mr. Eisner asked me to discuss this and sign a contract so that Disney can include it in next year''s ns." Eric pondered and replied, "I''m sorry, Mr. Wells, but I haven''t finalized what films I''ll be shooting next year, so how about we revisit this after the New Year? Rest assured, I will provide Disney with the rights for a film."

    Frank Wells recalled Michael Eisner''s instructions when he arrived. "Eric, that''s fine, but

    could we perhaps sign a letter of intent? You wouldn''t have to provide a specific film n -- just ensure that you deliver a film to Disney next year. Just like... just like the three film agreements you signed with Foxst year. I remember you hadn''t discussed the content of the other two films besides Home Alone 2 beforehand, right?"

    Eric raised his hands in surrender. "Frank, you should know that Firefly Films isn''t the little workshop it was a year ago. I can''t make such sweeping promises anymore; everything needs nning. Since you mentionedst year''s contract with Fox, you''re no doubt aware of certain bumps along the way. So, let me get my ns for next year in order, and I promise we will

    sign a deal with Disney."

    Frank Wells continued to plead for a bit, but when he saw Eric wouldn''t budge, he eventually

    left disappointed.

    The details of that meeting between the six CEOS in Malibu remainedrgely undisclosed up

    to that point. To ensure secrets weren''t leaked, only a few people directly involved were in the loop. Moreover, Michael Eisner hadn''t informed Frank Wells about the meeting, so Frank felt that Eric''s reasons were sufficient to report back to Michael Eisner.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Premonition

    Chapter 276: Premonition

    ?

    [Chapter 276: Premonition]

    After sending Frank Wells on his way, Eric invited William Bell, the President of Fox Television, into the office.

    "William, how has Fox been performingtely?" Eric settled onto the office couch, not rushing to inquire about William''s purpose for being there. Instead, he chatted about the current status of Fox.

    At the question, William Bell showed a slight feeling of excitement. Though Barry Diller held the top position, as the number two, because of Friends, Fox was riding a wave of sess, William felt a newfound confidence; he used to feel dwarfed when facing executives from the three majorworks, but now he could hold his head high, even in front of thework chairmen.

    "Very well, Eric. Just recently, the season finale of Friends hit an average of 28 million viewers, and the entire first season averaged 23 million, undoubtedly making it the number one show this year. Although Friends has ended, Fox''s loyal audience has reached 11 million. Oh, and we have another animated show, The Simpsons, that''s doing quite well too, averaging 13 million viewers. Thework has renewed it for a second season..."

    Eric listened patiently, asionally nodding in agreement. Once William finished, Eric asked, "So, William, what brings you here today?"

    William Bell replied, "It''s about The X-Files and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Mr. Diller wants to kick off production on both shows as soon as possible. By the way, Eric, I recall the n was to start production on The X-Files this month. Why haven''t we seen any progress yet?"

    A look of helplessness crossed Eric''s face. While he initially nned for that timeline, things had changed. Both Firefly and Fox ced heavy importance on The X-Files, resulting in disagreements between the two producers they sent. It often came down to Eric to resolve these issues, causing dys in the preparation.

    Moreover, while the male lead had been confirmed, a female lead was still not found. It would be a miracle to begin shooting by January. Nevertheless, Eric wasn''t anxious. Firefly was experiencing some financial tightening towards the end of the year. It made sense to wait for the revenue from the end-of-month split from Running Out of Time and Friends to kick off production on The X-Files.

    As for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, the production was rtively straightforward, and there was no rush. Funding was the main issue. Although the show was simple, it still required several million dors, half of which Firefly had to cover.

    Due to Cisco''s involvement, Eric had already transferred $10 million to Chris Hansen''s investmentpany ount. This left Firefly and New Line with a budget of less than $10 million. They needed that cash for the distribution of the tapes for An Affair to Remember and Scent of a Woman. Therefore, everything hinged on receiving thebined check of $117 million from Running Out of Time and Friends at the end of the month.

    Eric openly shared his predicament with William Bell, before adding, "William, as you can see, Firefly currently has no funds. So, we can''t invest our share immediately. Besides, The X- Files is set to premiere next September. There''s plenty of time. As for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, it would definitelyunch with the March TV season. A month of preparation and marketing will be sufficient."

    "However..." Eric''s reasoning was sound, and given that he held a ''boss'' status, William Bell wasn''t sure how to respond. He couldn''t understand why Barry Diller insisted hee here so urgently.

    "Eric, to be honest, Mr. Diller sent me," William Bell said, appearing earnest. "I think, given the rush for Friends, Mr. Diller is worried about potential setbacks."

    Eric chuckled. "That concern ispletely unnecessary, William. Firefly now owns 10% of Fox. There''s no way I''d hand over a show to someone else. Besides, we have contracts signed. What''s there to worry about?"

    William Bell was of a simr mind. Finally, he suggested, "How about you give Mr. Diller a call yourself? Otherwise, I have no way to report back."

    "Alright, I''ll do that," Eric said with a resigned shrug, feeling a bit of sympathy for this cautious president. While working for a major yer like Fox, having a domineering boss was undoubtedly frustrating. Eric figured the recently departed Disney President, Frank Wells, must have been in nearly the same predicament as William Bell. Both Michael Eisner and Barry Diller were known to be extremely strong personalities.

    When Barry Diller took Eric''s call, his tone betrayed surprise. Upon hearing the details, he realized he possibly made an error. However, since the event had already urred, he had to casually agree with Eric''s points, ending the conversation with a caring reminder for Eric to expedite preparations for The X-Files before hanging up.

    After seeing the relieved William Bell out, it was already 10 AM.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Allen knocked softly on the office door before entering. Seeing Eric leaning back in his chair as

    if deep in thought, he quietly asked, "Eric, the auditions over at Fox must have started by now. Are you going to participate?"

    Eric shook his head but immediately followed with a nod. "I suppose I should go. By the way, Allen, do you find anything strange?"

    "Strange in what way?" Allen asked as he followed Eric out of the office.

    Eric rubbed his forehead, saying, "Maybe I''m just tired and overly tense, but I have this feeling that something''s off."

    Allen paused, offering, "Why not take a day to rest, Eric?"

    "No, thanks," Eric replied, shaking his head. "If we could choose the female lead today, we could skip the third round of auditions. We''ve already been through enough of this." They shared a quiet moment as they walked to the parking garage. Thepany driver greeted Eric and hurried down to open the car door for him. Eric thanked him, but just as he was getting inside, he pulled back, raising his voice, "I just thought of something!"

    Allen and the driver exchanged puzzled nces.

    Realizing his slip, Eric said, "Let''s talk in the car."

    ...

    Once the car was moving, Eric turned to his assistant in the passenger seat and exined the purpose of the two presidents'' visits. He then added, "Allen, did you notice how urgent they

    were today?"

    "Urgent?" Allen considered it, thenughed, "If it were me in their position, I would be anxious too. Eric, I think you really need a break."

    Eric shrugged, choosing not to reply. However, that nagging feeling in his gut lingered, without him fully understanding why.

    ...

    Upon arriving at the Fox lot, auditions were already underway in a small studio. Eric pushed open the door to the audition room. The center seat at the judges'' table was empty, so Eric

    greeted everyone and took a seat right in the middle.

    "Miss, you can continue," he said, settling into his chair. One assistant handed him the audition materials, and he nodded to the young woman standing awkwardly in the center due

    to his unexpected arrival.

    After a brief pause, she resumed her somewhat stiff performance.

    Although there were many auditioning, the process was slow, with only about seven or eight performances in an hour.

    Following the departure of a woman with a more rugged appearance, a Fox producer named David Greenwater sat beside Eric. "This actress, Sharon Stone, is quite good. Not only does she have enough acting experience, but she also fits the physical requirements for the role of

    Dana Scully."

    David looked to his right expectantly for Eric''s response, noticing Eric seemed distracted, doodling on his paper. Since Sharon Stone entered, David had picked up on Eric''s absent- mindedness and how he barely paid attention to her performance.

    The man to Eric''s right was Hans Whitler, who had previously worked on the Cocoon movie and was brought in as a producer for The X-Files from Firefly. Seeing Eric''s silence, Hans curiously leaned over to nce at what Eric was scribbling.

    "What''s ''Instinct'' mean?" Hans asked curiously.

    Eric looked up, realizing both men were watching him, and exined, "Nothing much, I just

    came up with a good script and got a little distracted."

    The two producers were surprised and impressed, not believing Eric coulde up with a script under such circumstances. But they didn''t forget what they were doing and teased Eric a bit before Hans asked, "What did you think of Sharon Stone''s performance just now?"

    Eric shook his head. "Not good enough."

    David Greenwater pressed on, "Eric, I think Sharon Stone fits your criteria perfectly. She''s talented, age-appropriate, and her demeanor matches your vision. Why is she not suitable? How about we put her in the third-round consideration?"

    *****

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 Chapter 277: Chapter 277: This Reason Is Too Powerful

    Chapter 277: This Reason Is Too Powerful

    ?

    [Chapter 277: This Reason Is Too Powerful]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric handed the hastily written outline for Basic Instinct to Allen behind him and instructed his assistant to register it with the Writers Guild. Then he turned to David Greenwater and said, "Because I don''t like that woman."

    David Greenwater and Hans Whitler were momentarily speechless. That reason was toopelling. They felt a mix of helplessness and envy, wondering when they would reach the point where simply stating "I don''t like" could influence another person''s fate.

    Eric wasn''t inclined to exin himself further. He wasn''t wasn''t the type to boycott anything just because someone said something against certain views. If you didn''t like me, then I didn''t like you. It was as simple as that; we were just ordinary people, no need to overthink it. But after witnessing the tragedy that imed the lives of countless innocent civilians, a woman who could gleefully utter the word "retribution" could only be described as cold- blooded. No amount of political reasoning could excuse that behavior.

    So when Eric saw the dossier on Sharon Stone, he immediately passed on her. While the audition was taking ce, he took it upon himself to outline the script that would eventually make Sharon Stone famous, which ended up being a box-office hit.

    With Eric''s current fame, it made no sense for him to personally produce such a controversial film, especially when it could jeopardize his public image. Even in the future, he nned to keep his real name off any credits. That script, however, was perfect for Robert Shea. After all, Robert was set to direct two major films this year and was more than willing to make any movie that could generate profit. As for the lead actress,petition for roles could attract hundreds. Would Hollywood ever run out of leadingdies?

    Lost in his thoughts, Eric ignored yet another potential star that passed him by when the next woman walked in. He looked up at her, then flipped through her information. Confirming he wasn''t mistaken, Eric raised his head with an odd smile and asked, "Miss Jansen, have we met before?"

    Hans Whitler and David Greenwater, both ready to speak, shut their mouths at the same time. It seemed they finally had a lead actress lined up. They wouldn''t have to spend another few days sifting through auditions. Though they saw nearly a hundred beautiful faces daily, it would get dull, especially under Eric''s pressure. They didn''t have much decision-making power in these roles; they could only admire the pretty women from a distance.

    Famke Janssen, newly seated, noticed Eric''s peculiar gaze but felt a flicker of joy; being noticed was surely better than being ignored.

    "Mr. Williams, perhaps you''ve seen some of the ads I''ve done in magazines. I''ve shot quite a few," she said.

    Eric unabashedly nced at her long legs, tightly encased in white cks, and asked, "Miss Janssen, are you a model?"

    Famke shook her head, "Not anymore; I''ve just retired."

    Eric continued, "If you aren''t selected this time, what will you do next?"

    Her expression remained unchanged as she thought for a moment and replied, "I might apply to a university and study for a couple of years. Once I get a degree, I can find other jobs." "Other jobs, like what?"

    Famke hesitated, then shook her head, "I don''t know; I haven''t thought that far ahead."

    Eric nodded and said to the two producers beside him, "I''m good to go; you two can take it from here."

    A faint smirk crossed Hans Whitler''s face as he mused, "Aren''t you going to ask her anything else? Like if she has a boyfriend?"

    Eric shot him a nce as if to say, "What does it matter? If I like her, I like her; having a boyfriend doesn''t change that."

    "Eric, is she the one?" David Greenwater asked in a low voice.

    "Let''s finish the morning auditions first," Eric coolly replied.

    Truthfully, there weren''t many famous actresses born in the sixties who witnessed Hollywood''s rise. Only about twenty or so were well-known, and a few were trying to catch up. Among these figures, Famke Janssen stood out as a notable Hollywood woman. What made a strong impression on Eric wasn''t Famke''s role as the Phoenix, in X-Men but rather her unforgettable portrayal of the fierce and beautiful Russian assassin in GoldenEye. The way she could suffocate a man with her long legs was nothing short of exceptional. Having encountered her, he was eager to find out just how strong those legs were.

    While Famke sensed the three judges murmuring among themselves, she felt a twinge of anxiety, unsure of their discussions. However, her nerves calmed as they scrutinized her audition in detail. Other auditioners typically wrapped up in under ten minutes, but hers extended for a full twenty.

    ...

    After Famke left, David Greenwatermented, "She was good, though her acting was a bit clumsy. With more practice during filming, she could shine. She definitely has a strong presence -- no doubt about her modeling background."

    Hans chuckled in agreement.

    Eric paid no mind to the two''s mock admiration and focused on jotting down his thoughts on the forms in front of him.

    The morning auditions wrapped up quickly. With the role essentially filled, there was no rush for anyone else. Eric gathered his belongings and exchanged a few words before leaving with Allen. As for Famke, he felt no hurry; there would be time to finalize thatter.

    ...

    As they approachedte December, with Christmas around the corner, the North American box office had been led by Home Alone 2 since Thanksgiving weekend, generating over $110 million in just five weeks.

    Besides Home Alone 2, the top five included Warner''s Lethal Weapon 2 and Universal''s Back to the Future 2. These three films dominated the box office while The Others and Steel Magnolias contended for fourth ce, each consistently earning over ten million dors weekly. After seven weeks of umtion, The Others was closing in on the $100 million mark. Its final box office could surpass its initial $150 million target since its revenue had hardly dipped by more than 20% in recent weeks, while Steel Magnolias showed even more stable earnings. umting over $60 million in five weeks, that film perfectly fit the Christmas spirit. It seemed almost certain that the box office would rebound significantly during the holiday

    season.

    On the other hand, Eddie Murphy''sedy Harlem Nights, which initially saw good numbers, suffered steep declines of over 50% each week and slipped out of the top five, reinforcing the belief that ck films struggled to break into Hollywood''s mainstream.

    The impressive performance of Home Alone 2, The Others, and Steel Magnolias caught the media''s attention. Starting in early November, Firefly, or Eric''s films, had consistently held the top spot on the box office chart for seven straight weeks. ted for a December 22 release, Sleepless in Seattle, which Eric directed, was expected to perform well, especially with Fox''s aggressive marketing. Very few anticipated sess for Warner''spetitor, National

    Lampoon''s Christmas Vacation.

    ...

    As the seventh week passed, December 22 finally arrived. After its premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, Sleepless in Seattle opened in over 2,200 cinemas across North America. Also hitting theaters was Al Pacino''s film, Scent of a Woman, positioned as an Oscar contender. Following the conventional release strategy for awards contenders, Robert Shea limited the film''s screening to 60 venues to secure its Oscar qualification.

    With The X-Files lead confirmed, Eric''s work for the year was mostly finished. After attending the premiere of Sleepless in Seattle, he retreated to his Malibu home to rx, reading and writing scripts at his leisure.

    In stark contrast to Eric''s ease, the media across North America anxiously monitored the first- week box office for Sleepless in Seattle. If it secured the box office crown that week, Eric''s films would have achieved an unprecedented eight-week run at the top.

    Although many media outlets were skeptical about Warner''s National Lampoon''s Christmas Vacationpeting, no one dared to call it a sure thing. After all, this film, while featuring adult leads, shared a simredic style with Home Alone.

    In the midst of this anxious wait, the first weekend''s box office results came out: Sleepless in Seattle grossed $17 million, undeniably clinching that weekend''s box office crown. National Lampoon''s Christmas Vacation pulled in just over $11 million, earning even less than Home Alone 2 during its Christmas run. The victor was clear.

    One weekter, Sleepless in Seattle racked up over $27 million in its opening week, surpassing Home Alone 2''s earnings and iming the top position on the box office chart. This sess marked a triumphant win for Firefly -- through these three films, they had sessfully locked down the holiday season''s box office championship.

    As the media began to highlight this achievement,parisons were drawn tost year, when Home Alone reigned for ten weeks, a feat considered a miracle. However, for Eric''s films to secure the championship through consecutive releases truly demonstrated their strength. Though Firefly only officially released Scent of a Woman, with other movies distributed by Disney and Fox, most media outlets attributed the box office sess to Firefly rather than Disney, who they derided alongside the other major studios.

    ...

    At the same time, while Sleepless in Seattle imed the box office title, other notable events unfolded. Despite being limited to 60 preview cinemas, Scent of a Woman earned over $900,000 in its opening week, with an average of over $15,000 per theater, far surpassing the $10,000 threshold for a hit film. The positive reception also highlighted Al Pacino''s portrayal of the blind lieutenant as his most iconic role to date.

    Additionally, following the release of Sleepless in Seattle and with Firefly''s strategic promotion, the VHS of An Affair to Remember sold over 200,000 copies in its first week,

    breaking into the top ten sales charts. This was remarkable for a movie over thirty years old, and projections suggested that sales could surpass one million copies, possibly even reaching two million. Eric recalled that after Sleepless in Seattle was released from theatres, the VHS

    burned past that mark.

    Calcting the price of each VHS at just under $10, and after deducting a $5 cut for distributors, Firefly would flip a decent profit on the $30 retail price. If sales reached two million copies, Firefly could bring in $30 million -- equivalent to the total profits typically

    seen from a film grossing over $100 million at the box office in North America. While many marveled at Eric''s foresight, executives at Fox were left red-faced after selling An Affair to Remember''s rights for just $3.2 million.

    ...

    While Firefly was receiving ample praise, Eric sensed something amiss. ording to their contract, Columbia was supposed to pay over $88 million in shares for Running Out of Time, and advertising revenue for Friends was due for settlement in December. But bothpanies had found endless excuses to dy, and despite Eric''s efforts to meet with the heads at both Columbia and Fox, he was met with silence.

    Next, Eric had Firefly''s newly appointed CFO, Carolyn Elliott, approach several banks for loans against Firefly''s film contracts. Within just a few days, those loan applications faced an array of rejections for various reasons.

    On December 31, thest day of the year, Eric returned home after a day of fruitless business. Sat on the couch in his Malibu vi, he reflected on the unusual details he had encountered recently. He knew he had to dial Jeffrey''s number, who was celebrating Christmas in New York with Chris. When the call connected, Eric spoke with a weighty tone, "Jeffrey, something big

    might be about to happen..."

    *****

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 Chapter 278: Chapter 278: The Messenger

    Chapter 278: The Messenger

    ?

    [Chapter 278: The Messenger]

    Eric recapped the various happenings of the past few days and his spections over the phone, while Jeffrey on the other end in New York also realized the gravity of the situation and stated he would return to Los Angeles by tomorrow morning.

    After hanging up, Eric found himself seated in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, zoning out. As the sun sankpletely below the horizon, the unlit living room dimmed alongside it. The little girl had seemingly disappeared somewhere, and without orders, the servants of the estate would never intrude. Thus, the entire vi felt eerily silent and empty, save for Eric.

    He had no idea how much time passed when the inte in the living room started buzzing. Upon getting up to press the talk button, the voice of the estate security came through: "Mr. Williams, there''s someone here named Arnon Carpenter wishing to visit."

    Eric replied with confusion, "I don''t know anyone by that name. Did he mention the purpose of his visit?"

    The security guard responded, "No, but he ims to be ''the messenger.""

    "The messenger," Eric murmured, instantly recalling something important. He said to the guard, "Let him in."

    "Understood, Mr. Williams," the guard finished the call.

    Eric switched on all the lights in the living room, which quickly became bright as day. After that, he walked toward his study.

    Minutester, a bespectacled Caucasian man entered carrying a ck leather bag. He nced around the luxurious decor of the mansion under the bright lights, making a few low exmations of admiration. He knew he might never own such a mansion, yet the tasks he intended to carry out today filled him with a distorted sense of pride.

    Noticing the absence of Eric in the living room, the man showed no hesitation and walked over to the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling windows, sitting down to patiently await his host while watching the shimmering sea outside.

    ...

    After a while, Eric emerged from the study. Upon seeing the unexpected visitor already settled on the sofa, he slightly furrowed his brow but soon regained hisposure as he approached the man.

    Hearing the footsteps, the man stood up, not moving from his spot. He waited for Eric toe closer before extending his hand to introduce himself: "Hello, Mr. Williams, I''m Arnon Carpenter."

    Eric shook the man''s hand but remained silent. As Arnon Carpenter seemed unfazed by his cold demeanor and was about to sit back down, Eric spoke up, "I''m sorry, Mr. Carpenter, but this is my favorite spot. Please take a seat over there."

    Arnon Carpenter''s expression slightly shifted, but he quickly stered on a cold smile and nonchntly stood saying, "As you wish, Mr. Williams."

    After taking the spot Arnon vacated, Eric looked across at him and said, "I hear you''re ''the messenger,'' so why don''t you tell me your intent?"

    Instead of immediately responding, Arnon opened his leather bag and pulled out a thick stack of photographs, sliding them across the table toward Eric: "Mr. Williams, you might want to take a look at these first."

    Eric picked up the hefty stack and saw the first photo was of Drew curled up in his arms like a little kitten, taken a few weeks ago at the Malibu estate, during that incident when she cried about scraping her knee.

    Realizing the truth hit him, Eric understood he was indeed being followed. Perhaps his other instincts over these past days had not been mistaken either.

    Although he felt a wave of shock, Eric remainedposed as he flipped through the subsequent photos. Besides their ''intimate photos,'' it included every woman he had ever had contact with over the past year. Some of the shots were so cleverly taken that he needed to think hard to recall the time and ce of those moments. The rtionships depicted in those photos suggested a certain ambiguity at first nce.

    After examining the photos, Eric immediately deduced that Fox was involved, as Rupert Murdoch had previously admitted that a reporter from the New York Post had stalked him for months. Moreover, there were even photos of him with Nicole, yet notably none of him with Elisabeth. If this was orchestrated by other forces, then revealing the connection between the rising director and the media tycoon''s daughter would certainly create a bigger stir.

    However, Eric was certain that this situation was far from simple. If just the News Corp wanted to use such tactics to force his hand, the oue would only drive him to align with rivals. Neither Murdoch nor Barry Diller would be that foolish.

    As he casually tossed the photographs onto the coffee table, Eric looked up with a cold re at Arnon Carpenter: "What does this mean?"

    Arnon Carpenter slightly flinched at Eric''s icy stare and replied, "Mr. Williams, this is you pretending not to know."

    Eric spoke in a calm yet firm voice, "Do you really think these petty tricks can affect me?"

    Arnon Carpenter said, "Whether they can or cannot depends on whether my boss is willing. Mr. Williams, you must understand that many high-profile figures in Hollywood have disappeared like shooting stars because of one or two seemingly insignificant scandals. Care for me to list a few?"

    Eric replied sternly, "The women in those photos and I were consenting adults. If they get exposed, the most I''d be seen as is a yboy. Hollywood has plenty of those."

    Arnon Carpenter sat up straight, a mocking smile on his face, "Mr. Williams, the ''public'' you speak of is the most ignorant group. How they perceive you will hinge on what the media controlling their narrative wants them to see. And the one sending me as a messenger happens to control arge fraction of the media in North America. So these photos could tarnish your reputation. And this is just the start; after the small troubles, muchrger ones will follow."

    Hearing Arnon deliver such a statement, a flicker of unease crossed Eric''s eyes, but he quickly disguised it and said with an edge of anger, "Mr. Carpenter, can you tell me who your boss or bosses are?"

    Seeing that Eric was finally provoked, Arnon Carpenter gleefully remarked, "Mr. Williams, you''re too clever not to guess."

    "All right," Eric continued, "then tell me what their conditions are."

    "Forty percent of Firefly Films'' shares," Arnon Carpenter fluently stated as if reciting a line, then added, "You see, Mr. Williams, the boss who sent me to ry this is not greedy at all. He''s willing to relinquish 40% of Firefly shares, meaning you''d still be thergest shareholder. However, if you refuse, by the time everything is set in motion, the cost to make my boss back off will be far greater."

    Eric scoffed softly. Forty percent did seem reasonable, but losing that share alongside the three percent he had just transferred to Jeffrey would leave him with only forty-two percent. Though he would still be thergest shareholder, he would no longer hold absolute control. Robert Shea, while not particrly talented, had always been a power-hungry individual. If those people gained forty percent of the shares and promised Robert Shea what he desired, Eric was certain Robert would side with them. At that point, Eric would lose control of Firefly.

    After merging with New Line, Firefly had begun shaping into a real contender in the industry. Losing control would make it exceedingly difficult for him to develop a new filmpany that couldpete with the major studios, especially with the uing wave of consolidation in the 1990s. Faced with media giants, Eric would find himself increasingly marginalized, regardless of his sesses as a filmmaker.

    Realizing this, Eric felt no desire to y games with this stranger and directly delivered the dismissal, "Mr. Carpenter, you can tell your boss that if he wants to take Firefly,e and try. See if he can actually manage to do it."

    Arnon Carpenter''s expression grew smug as he responded, "Mr. Williams, my boss anticipated that you''d be hot-headed enough to directly refuse this offer. So he sent me to inform you that you have one more day to think it over. Calm down and reconsider. After all,

    this mansion is quitevish, and maintaining it must cost no less than a million dors a year,

    right?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric seemed to ignore Arnon''s remarks, pointing towards the front door and saying, "Mr. Carpenter, having a stranger like you show up here makes me very ufortable, so please leave immediately. I might lose control and have security toss you into the sea. Remember, this is private property, and I have every right to do that."

    *****

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 Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Trouble Arose

    Chapter 279: Trouble Arose

    ?

    [Chapter 279: Trouble Arose]

    Seeing Eric on the verge of exploding, Arnon Carpenter didn''t linger any longer. He dropped a business card with simple contact details and said, "Mr. Williams, feel free to call this number whenever you want to talk."

    Once he finished speaking, Arnon Carpenter got up to leave. Eric tossed the card into the trash and headed to his study. He pulled out his recorder from his pocket and pressed y, hearing a conversation between two people. Then he retrieved a freshly recorded videotape from a machine with a monitor in the study, opened the VCR, and inserted the tape before hitting y.

    The video of Arnon Carpenter sitting directly facing the camera appeared on the screen, capturing every detail with crystal rity. Even an ordinary person could roughly discern what he was saying from the movement of his lips.

    The tape didn''t run for long and finished quickly. Eric put both the recorder and the tape into the safe and locked it, letting out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn''t fall into the kind of predicament that Michael Jackson found himself in during his past life, where he couldn''t justify or defend himself.

    It was humorous to think about; normally, not many people would install cameras in their own homes, but this vi was built to resemble Iron Man''s mansion from his memories.

    Since it was a copy, these small details couldn''t be overlooked. Not just in the living room but in many areas of the estate, there were cameras connected to his study. As long as Eric wanted, he could know every movement urring anywhere in the estate from his desk.

    Who would''ve thought that a moment of impulsive inspiration back then would yield such significant insights today?

    ...

    On January 1, 1990, New Year''s Day.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Jeffrey returned to Los Angeles just after ten in the morning, apanied by Chris Hansen. Chris had already left Morgan Stanley. During that time, he had been preparing Eric''s investmentpany. Concerned after hearing Eric mention various issues from his father, Chris came to Los Angeles as well.

    After understanding the details, the three of them couldn''te up with any solutions, instead discovering that Firefly Films was now facing many sticky problems. However, Jeffrey and Chris didn''t suggest that Ericpromise with those people, ultimately agreeing to deal with whatever came next as the situation unfolded.

    New Year''s Day passed without much incident, but it felt like thest calm before a storm.

    ...

    On January 2, Eric rose early and asked a servant to bring today''s newspaper. The front page of the Los Angeles Daily News sshed a bold, ck headline across the top:

    "Eric Williams: Hollywood''s Most Hypocritical yboy."

    "Wow, they really held nothing back," Eric murmured as he nced over several photos of himself with various women that appeared prominently on the cover.

    Inside the article, things got even more outrageous; it distorted Eric''s reputation for chasing beautiful women, painting him as a shameless character who expected actresses to provide favors for roles.

    After checking other newspapers, while the reputable Los Angeles Times hadn''t reported on the scandal yet, many less prominent papers had simr stories.

    Since the era of blockbusters ended, Hollywood''s film industry had be more robust, and the so-called unspoken rules no longer had a ce to thrive. Stars were no longer imprisoned by their circumstances, and they didn''t have to endure maniption by those in power.

    However, this didn''t mean the unspoken rules had disappeared; rather, everything had beenid bare.

    In Hollywood, if an actor wanted to rise without any background, the only option was to offer their bodies. Yearster, a magazine would outline dozens of secrets to sess in bing a star, with the top item being: regardless of gender or sexual orientation, to make it big, one had to be ready to provide sexual services to those who could further their careers.

    Of course, while this kind of exchange was rampant in Hollywood, most people quietly adhered to these rules without causing any upheaval. asionally, some rebellious spirits didn''t make much of a ssh.

    The public wasn''t entirely clueless about the inner workings of Hollywood; they mostly just saw its glitzy, bright side. Hence, most stars had a positive image in the public eye, and people enjoyed indulging in that facade.

    But today, someone had twisted the rumors linking acimed director Eric Williams to various actresses and widely publicized them. Eric undoubtedly became a reluctant ''rebel'' against Hollywood''s rules. Thus, seeing such articles, his image in the public''s mind was bound to plummet.

    Just hours after the new day''s newspapers hit the stands, Eric''s Malibu mansion was surrounded by relentless paparazzi. Eric had initially nned to head out, but upon seeing the chaos outside, he decided to stay put in the manor.

    ...

    In a small vi in Beverly Hills, Jennifer Aniston was frantically waving a newspaper, shouting at Nicole who sat at the dining table, "Why? Why would you do this? I considered you a good friend, but you went after my boyfriend, you backstabber! Drew is also a backstabber, and Julia Roberts, and..."

    The agitated girl read aloud the names printed in the article, ripping the paper into shreds and throwing them at Nicole, "You''re all backstabbers! I''ve had enough!"

    Nicole calmly picked some of the torn bits out of her cor, then replied, "If we''re all backstabbers, then what does that make you? If it weren''t for Eric, would you havended the lead role in Friends? Would you have the fame you enjoy today?"

    For a moment, Jennifer was taken aback before responding, "I''m his girlfriend!"

    "And so what?" Nicole replied nonchntly, "Even if you marry him, so what?"

    "You--" the young girl pointed a finger at Nicole, gritting her teeth before storming off to her bedroom. She hurriedly stuffed her belongings into a simple suitcase and pulled it out, pping a check down in front of Nicole. "This is my rent. Starting today, I have nothing to do

    with you."

    "Oh," Nicole said, picking up the check, looking at it before folding it and, in a flirtatious manner, sliding it into her bra in front of Jennifer, shing her a coy look. "I''ll just consider

    the extra you paid as a tip."

    "Backstabber!" Jennifer spat again as she dragged her suitcase towards the exit.

    Nicole watched as the front door mmed shut behind her, then picked up scattered

    newspaper pieces from the dining table, unfolding one to read the contents. She murmured, "What a fool, not even realizing that jerk is in trouble and just knows how to be jealous."

    ...

    Jennifer stuffed her suitcase into her car and had just opened the gate when she was suddenly surrounded by several paparazzi.

    "Miss Aniston, what do you think about the article in today''s paper?"

    "Jennifer, will you break up with Mr. Williams?"

    "Miss Aniston, living with Miss Kidman means you already knew about the situation between

    her and Eric, right?"

    ||||

    Annoyed by the buzz around her, Jennifer shoved aside a microphone thrust in her face and shouted, "Get away from me! As of now, I have nothing to do with Eric Williams! Please don''t

    bother me anymore!"

    The reporters were even more excited by Jennifer''s outburst; this was the kind of reaction they wanted. If the subject remained calm, they certainly wouldn''t squeeze any sensational

    news from them.

    "Jennifer, will you continue on Friends?"

    "Miss Aniston, are you sure you just said you want to break up with Eric Williams?"

    "Jennifer..."

    Jennifer coldly pushed through the crowd, jumped into her car, and slowly drove onto the road

    to escape the paparazzi. She aimlessly cruised through the streets of Los Angeles for a while, her phone rang. Upon answering, she heard her father''s voice, causing her to pull over and

    finally break down, crying into the phone.

    ...

    "We are now live from the entrance to Eric Williams'' estate in Malibu. Since the scandal erupted two days ago, linking Eric with many actresses, over 72 hours have passed, and the estate remains tightly closed. Eric Williams has yet to make any rifications."

    A woman in a blue suit stood outside the bustling crowd of reporters with a microphone, addressing the camera, the locked gates of the estate visible behind her. Despite having been three whole days since the scandal broke, the buzz from the newspapers showed no sign of dying down; reporters kept increasing in number, now surpassing a hundred. "Due to the impact of Eric Williams'' scandal, the box office for the five films currently showing from Firefly has taken a hit this week. Notably, Sleepless in Seattle suffered the worst, with ticket sales dropping over 40% the following week, pulling in only $17 million. The other three films, The Ind, Home Alone 2, and Steel Magnolias, also saw dips beyond expectations, while Scent of a Woman faced minimal impact due to limited release. ording to data from rted institutions, the total box office losses from these five films could exceed $100 million as a result of Eric Williams'' scandal."

    "The three well-known actresses affected by the Eric Williams scandal -- Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, and Nicole Kidman -- are currently silent, with none issuing any statements. Whether they have received warnings from any powers remains unknown. Meanwhile, Eric''s public girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston, announced their breakup on the same day the scandal broke. Since the falling-out between these two, the cast of Friends'' second season has be

    a major question mark."

    "Model Leigh Zimmerman, who delivered an outstanding performance in Home Alone 2, publicly defended Eric Williams during an interview with the Manhattan Post, stating he is a genuinely kind and caring man, and that the attacks against this young director by various newspapers are mere defamation. As of now, she is the only actress to publicly stand up for

    Eric among all his films."

    ...

    Inside the Malibu mansion, Eric sat still on the sofa, watching the news about himself rolling across the TV screen. His coffee table and the floor were covered in various newspapers. Drew carried a small tray filled with delicate snacks, cautiously bringing it over to Eric. "Eric, would you like something to eat?"

    Eric''s eyes, which had been glued to the TV, shifted slightly, and he nced out the window; the blue sea was still littered with some ''junk.'' Before he knew it, the sky had darkened again.

    "Just leave it there; I''ll eatter," he said.

    Drewplied, cing the tray on the coffee table and tidying up the scattered newspapers

    before carefully sitting beside Eric. She had spent enough time around Eric to sense even the

    smallest changes in his emotions, and she could tell he was very angry, likely ready to explode. Although she knew he wouldn''tsh out at her, she felt a bit timid.

    After sitting quietly for a while, the girl finally said, "Eric, how about I get a woman toe

    over?"

    "Hmm?" Eric looked at her, puzzled.

    "I thought you might need an outlet," Drew said hesitantly.

    Eric forced a smile. "Who would I call? Is it not messy enough as it is?"

    "Well..." The girl slowly lowered herself, kneeling on the floor, inching toward Eric and

    reaching for his belt.

    Eric stopped Drew''s action, ruffled her soft hair, and said, "All right, I really don''t have the

    mood for that right now."

    Hearing Eric say this, Drew stopped her movements, but she still nestled against his leg,

    rubbing her cheek against his thigh. "Eric, no matter what happens, I''m always yours."

    "You misunderstand, Drew. It''s actually that I''m the one calling to prevent them from speaking up. In this situation, it''s best if they stay quiet."

    "Okay," Drew chimed, obediently acknowledging, knowing that whatever Eric said was right.

    *****

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 Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Four Summons

    Chapter 280: Four Summons

    ?

    [Chapter 280: Four Summons]

    While the two were quietly chatting, the mobile phone on the coffee table rang. The young woman eagerly picked it up and held it to Eric''s ear, leaning over onto him in the process.

    Eric wrapped his arms around the girl''s waist and pressed the talk button with his other hand. On the other end, Jeffrey''s concerned voice came through, "Eric, are you doing okay right now?"

    "I''m fine, just watching themotion. How''s everything at thepany?" Eric nced at the television where news was still broadcasting. His tone had a slight strain; he wasn''t made of iron. With such arge-scale attack, it was impossible not to feel something. If he hadn''t saved a bit of leverage beforehand, Eric wasn''t sure what he would have done.

    "Thepany situation is rtively stable. However, several minor employees resigned today; I guess they couldn''t handle the pressure from public opinion, and I didn''t try to persuade them to stay. Also, Robert hinted to me this afternoon that he wanted me to talk to you."

    "I suspect he was tipped off by someone. Just let him do what he needs to do."

    "I understand. I just thought I should mention this to you. By the way, when are you nning to strike back? You can''t just let things continue like this, right?"

    Eric paused for a moment before replying, "Now isn''t the time. By the way, how''s the financial situation?"

    Jeff''s tone grew heavy as he answered, "It''s all dragging out. I personally went to Columbia and Fox, but I didn''t manage to meet with any executives. I asked Edward about it; he said if this goes to court, we would definitely win, but it would take months. As for the loan, Carolyn contacted several banks. Citibank was interested and agreed to lend us $50 million, but then Disney and Fox both sent out legal notices, iming there''s an issue with our contract, which prevented Citibank from giving us the loan. That''s out the window now."

    "What do you think their aim is with this?" Eric wondered aloud.

    Jeffery replied from the other end, "I think it might have something to do with taxes. If it reallyes down to that, I believe a well-runpany like Firefly will get the IRS to allow us to defer our taxes."

    Eric knew what Jeffrey was thinking, and he hade to the same conclusion. He realized that theing storm was undoubtedly rted to money, and it was likely to be a substantial amount. Otherwise, these majorpanies wouldn''t go to such lengths to block Firefly from getting funds.

    "Jeffrey, let''s not think about that money for now. Try to get Carolyn to keep looking for loans. If domestic banks don''t work out, let''s try some from abroad. Since Citibank was interested, I''m sure there are other banks willing to lend to us."

    "I got it. Actually, Eric, Carolyn mentioned there''s another way to get a loan -- by mortgaging your shares in Firefly. Otherpanies wouldn''t have a reason to oppose that." Eric firmly replied without hesitation, "Jeffrey, that''s not negotiable. Ourpetitors are doing everything they can to grab Firefly shares. Can you guarantee that I''ll be able to get them back after I mortgage them?"

    "I meant if it''s just a small portion, say ten percent."

    "No deal, Jeffrey. Let''s put that aside." Eric continued, "Since they''ve made their move, we can''t just sit here. Halt the production of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and The X-Files. Also, there''s news out there that Friends might not have a second season."

    Upon hearing this, Jeffrey fell silent for a moment before saying, "Eric, how about I talk to Jennifer? I think she just acted out of impulse. She''ll understand your position now."

    Eric sighed, recalling how John Aniston had personally called him days before to scold him and warn him to stay away from his daughter. He replied, "No need."

    On the other end, Jeffrey shook his head and said, "Alright then. By the way, Eric, stop watching TV all day and don''t bother with the newspapers. You know they''re all fabricated. You should find something else to do, like writing a script or something."

    Eric thought for a bit and suggested, "Why don''t you help me find a band?"

    "A band? What do you need that for?"

    "I just felt inspired and want to produce a song."

    Knowing that Eric had some understanding of film scores and had seen him create incidental music, Jeffrey nodded without any doubts, "What kind of band are you looking for?"

    Eric replied, "A rock band, industrial heavy metal. Get me the best there is."

    "Um... alright."

    After a few more exchanges, they hung up. Eric pushed the girl, who had been leaning into him, aside, switched off the television, gave a few instructions, and then headed into his study.

    ...

    The next day, Jeffrey brought in Los Angeles''s best rock band along with a truck full of music production equipment to Eric''s Malibu estate. For the following days, eager paparazzi remained steadfast, waiting for Eric to emerge, asionally hearing faint sounds of rock music from the mansion.

    A week passed with the storm brewing. Eric still hadn''t made any move to respond, but there were no signs of the situation abating. Outside his Malibu estate and near Firefly''s offices, protesters with banners emerged, demanding that Eric announce his retirement from directing to stop "tormenting" Hollywood. Even some media outlets that tried to maintain fairness by publishing rational analyses about the events were overshadowed by the one- sided frenzy of public opinion, as many found joy in dragging a renowned genius director and multi-millionaire through the mud.

    ...

    A new week began, and the tumult escted. Eric woke up in the morning, barely had time for breakfast before a clerk from the Los Angeles County courthouse arrived with four summonsn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    all at once.

    Drew Barrymore''s father, John Barrymore, jumped into the fray, submitting a series of usations against his ex-wife, Jaid Barrymore, iming she was neglecting their daughter. He even alleged that Eric Williams was keeping Drew as his "pet." Alongside that, he was suing for custody.

    A county official responsible for property management alleged that Eric Williams had used bribery and other illegal means to acquire fourteen acres of publd in Malibu. A little- known Hollywood screenwriter, Randy pp, used Eric of giarism in the script for his film Running Out of Time, iming it echoed his own cop drama, Light and Dark, which he had written five years prior, seeking $200 million in damages.

    Newly established Sony Pictures decided to join the fray, suing Eric over his contract with Columbia Pictures for Running Out of Time, using him of fraud for receiving an unjustly disproportionate box office cut, vitingmercial regtions.

    ...

    The news that Eric Williams was facing fourwsuits simultaneously spread like wildfire, drawing all media attention from North America and the entire Western world onto him. With the situation developing, many began to realize that the events of the past few weeks were much moreplex than they had previously imagined. However, most continued to follow the drama with a sense of macabre fascination.

    ...

    In the Malibu vi, Eric and his newly arrived private attorney, Edward Lewis, discussed the fourwsuits at hand.

    "Eric, this situation is getting increasinglyplicated, and I''m sure you''ve noticed there''s a considerable force backing thesewsuits. To be frank, I can''t assure you we''ll win all four cases. Since they''ve managed to gather this many people, there''s no telling how the future judges or juries might lean; after all, you are currently at a significant disadvantage."

    Eric listened quietly to Edward''s analysis and waited until thewyer finished before saying, "Edward, no matter the oue, just do your best."

    "Of course," Edward nodded. "Among these fourwsuits, the one about Running Out of Time''s alleged giarism is the easiest. I''ve already located the original draft of that writer''s story. While Light and Dark does bear some resemnce to the movie on a basic level, the details couldn''t be more different. As for thewsuit from Sony, I personally oversaw the contract with Columbia and can guarantee there won''t be any issues. However, regarding the other two...," Edward looked at Eric, "When I helped you purchase that Malibund, I did use some questionable methods, but it was all in cash, leaving no evidence. Even if this is proven, I''ll make sure it doesn''t fall upon you. Just insist you were unaware."

    Eric could tell that Edward was taking responsibility upon himself. Grateful, he nodded, "Thank you, Edward. By the way, you don''t need to stress over thatstwsuit."

    "Are you sure?" Edward scrutinized Eric, "I was just about to say that one is the most dangerous. A small misstep could lead to a loss."

    Eric confidently shook his head, "Don''t worry, there''s no way I''ll lose." Edward didn''t fully understand the specific rtionship between Eric and the young woman,

    but seeing Eric''s unwavering confidence, he nodded in agreement.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 281: Chapter 281: The Brick

    Chapter 281: The Brick

    ?

    [Chapter 281: The Brick]

    A ck SUV parked outside an apartment building in Culver City, Los Angeles. A few burly bodyguards quickly jumped out and formed a barrier between the swarming journalists and the car. Drew, dressed in conservative casual wear and hiding behind sunsses, emerged from the vehicle. With the bodyguards guiding her through the frantic group of reporters, she entered the apartment grounds without saying a word. While the journalists often resorted to desperate measures to get their stories, they didn''t dare breach someone''s home in broad daylight, leaving them to wait outside the residence in disappointment.

    "Alright, spill it. What''s going on this time?" Once inside and seated on the living room sofa, Drew finally took off her sunsses and fixed a cold stare at her mother, Jaid Barrymore. Having not seen her daughter in nearly a year, Jaid initially wanted to exchange some friendly words. However, upon witnessing Drew''s frosty demeanor, she promptly lost her patience and shot back, "I''m your mother! Is this how you talk to me now?"

    "I asked you a question. What''s going on?" Drew suddenly stood up, mming her sunsses onto the floor, where they shattered into countless pieces.

    Jaid jumped at her daughter''s unexpected outburst, but was unwilling to back down. "Why are you getting mad at me? This is about your father and Eric Williams! That jerk even sued me! Now I have to pay for awyer too! Let me tell you, you both betterpensate me double for this. Otherwise, you can let that jerk of a father take you away!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I just want to know -- did you take anyone''s money this time?" Drew raised her voice.

    With her arms iling in agitation, Jaid replied, "What money? Who would give me money? I bet it''s all gone to that scumbag father of yours! I haven''t seen a dime and yet I still have to pay for awyer! I can''t believe this!"

    Drew stared at her mother for a moment before reaching into her handbag and tossing a check at her. "Here, take this. You don''t even need to hire awyer. Just shut up. And don''t let me find out you''re doing anything shady behind my back, or you''ll know what a bleak future looks like!"

    As Jaid bent down to pick up the check, she initially wanted to retort but froze when she caught sight of the amount written on it. Her anger shifted to a rigid expression, then quickly softened to a reluctant attempt at appeasement. She opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words.

    Drew ignored Jaid and turned to a middle-aged maid peeking from the kitchen at their confrontation. "Martha, go tidy up my room. I''ll be staying here for a while."

    "Sure thing, Miss Drew," the maid replied, hurrying upstairs.

    Once the maid rounded the staircase corner, Drew turned back to Jaid and firmly stated, "During this time, you''re not allowed to participate in any crazy parties or gatherings, don''t ept invitations from strangers, and absolutely no bringing men home."

    "I''m your mother!" Jaid couldn''t help but defend herself again.

    Drew immediately stretched out her hand. "Give me the check back."

    Instinctively, Jaid took a step back, shoving the check into her pocket, and hesitantly asked, "How long?"

    "Until this is over." After saying this, Drew walked toward the door and instructed her bodyguards to bring in her luggage, leaving Jaid behind in the living room as she ascended the stairs.

    ...

    In the United States, it was rare for civil cases to reach the final judgment stage; over 90% were settled before that point. Therefore, when Drew''s father sued Eric, Eric''s legal team immediately approached John Barrymore to negotiate a settlement. However, the opposing side demanded a staggering $10 million inpensation, which seemed more like extortion. Eric''s attorney, Edward Lewis, engaged in private negotiations with John Barrymore, but thetter remained inflexible, leading to a forced court appearance.

    On January 16, three weeks into the scandal, media coverage continued to pummel Eric with negative stories. That day also marked the first court appearance regarding John Barrymore''swsuit against his ex-wife, Jaid Barrymore, and the famous director, Eric Williams. As the sun rose, the crowd of reporters outside Eric''s Malibu estate swelled to over 300, with a simr number gathered at the entrance of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

    Drew arrived with her mother in the ck SUV at the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, stepping out to find herself engulfed by a throng of reporters.

    At almost the same time, her father, John Barrymore, who had been appearing in media as a grief-stricken father, also arrived. Seeing the scene, the reporters parted, almost on cue, creating a pathway between Drew and John Barrymore.

    Drew stepped out, carrying a seemingly heavy bag, and with a smile on her face, she pushed through the crowd toward John Barrymore amidst a flurry of shes from cameras.

    John hadn''t expected his daughter to approach him. Despite portraying apassionate image in media, he felt little connection to the youthful-looking girl before him.

    Nevertheless, when Drew stepped forward, John feltpelled to react. After considering the moment, he offered a warm smile and moved toward her, seemingly ready for aforting embrace.

    Seeing this, the reporters'' shes intensified. Their interest in the scandal surpassed that of the general public, and they were well aware of the case''s ins and outs. Observing such a scene, many perceptively noted that Drew Barrymore might be siding with her father, raising the stakes that Eric Williams would undeniably lose this case.

    When they stood a meter apart, John spread his arms, beaming with a fatherly smile to embrace his daughter. After all, it was an expected gesture.

    Drew slightly tilted her head, her smile morphing into something unsettling as she reached into her bag. Taking a step forward, she quickly pulled out a bright red brick and, without any hint of hesitation, mmed it against the man''s face before John could react.

    Bang--

    A dull thud echoed alongside the unmistakable sound of breaking bones, as the brick shattered into pieces that scattered across the ground.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 282: Chapter 283: The Ultimatum

    Chapter 282: Chapter 283: The Ultimatum

    ?

    [T/N: Chapter 282 is missing. I''ve searched multiple sources for this novel, but I couldn''t locate it. Every website either skips the chapter number entirely orbels Chapter 283 as Chapter 282. If anyone finds a source with the missing chapter, please let me know.]

    [Chapter 283: The Ultimatum]

    "Robert, it''s been nearly six months since we first met, hasn''t it?" Eric Williams said as he set down his coffee cup, looking at Robert Shea.

    "About that," Robert Shea nodded, his gaze drifting momentarily.

    "Do you remember the conversation we had when we first met?" Eric asked, leaning in slightly.

    Robert lifted his head. "We discussed quite a bit; are you referring to something specific?"

    Noticing Robert''s feigned ignorance, Eric replied, "I reminded you that time was not on our side."

    Robert nced out at the ocean view, falling silent as he once again lifted his coffee cup, retreating into thought.

    Eric continued, "I mentioned that the merger trend between media groups and filmpanies had begun. If we didn''t seize this final opportunity in the next few years, once the merger wave passed, we''d lose our chance to grow and would just be vassals to the big media conglomerates."

    Robert remained silent.

    With a sigh, Eric considered how he couldn''t fully share some thoughts with Robert. He recalled that twenty yearster, over 90% of North America''s media channels would be controlled by six major media giants. If this situation arose two decadester, Eric would have no means to resist, only toply.

    But the current situation was different; media control in the U.S. wasn''t highly monopolized yet. It resided in the hands of over fifty medium and smallpanies. Therefore, even if the major filmpaniesbined all their media resources, they couldn''t control more than a third of the channels. Although the current uproar seemed overwhelming, aside from the media that shaped public opinion, most merely followed the tide and adjusted ordingly. Thus, Eric had some room to maneuver; he just needed to wait for his enemies to show their hand. Only then could he counterattack. The fourwsuits he faced would damage his reputation again, yet it wouldn''t fundamentally harm him, much like the initial scandal, because although he was a public figure now, he wasn''t wholly dependent on fame to survive. Even if he couldn''t take charge of directing for a while due to this uproar, he could still lead film production through other means.

    Everything he did was to secure Firefly Films.

    To him, Firefly was his personal stronghold. As long as he maintained that foundation, he could grow his strength and conquer new territories. If he lost Firefly, despite his abilities, he could only manage someone else''s domain, never bing the owner.

    After a stretch of silence, Robert Shea finally spoke, "Eric, I heard you might need quite a bit of money to settle this matter."

    "Well, I guess," Eric nodded, beginning to understand Robert''s intentions.

    "Last time you paid me $60 million, and with the year-end New Line dividend, despite spending some in investments, I can still manage toe up with about $60 million."

    This time, Eric fell silent. Sixty million was neither too much nor too little.

    "Eric, 15% is too low. I feel that at least 25% is fair."

    Eric lowered his head, silently considering the lines on his palm.

    Which one signified his career line? It had to be the longest one.

    After some deliberation, Eric finally looked up at Robert Shea and said, "I agree."

    The two discussed specific details, and Robert left with a satisfied demeanor.

    Once Robert left, Eric sighed in disappointment. He had initially hoped to integrate Pixar and Flower Films, which held many rights to previously sessful adaptations, into Firefly. However, it seemed wiser not to proceed with that n.

    ...

    Due to John Barrymore''s injury, the trial had to be postponed by a week, and for the other threewsuits, Eric didn''t need to appear in court; he entrusted thempletely to his legal

    team.

    Yet, despite his efforts to avoid the public eye during this tumultuous time, one event required his presence.

    On January 20, the 47th Golden Globe Awards took ce at the Hollywood Hilton in Los Angeles.

    Firefly Films garnered a total of 11 nominations for titles like Pretty Woman, Running Out of Time, Steel Magnolias, and The Others, alongside the series Friends. Among the nominations relevant to Eric were the Best Screeny awards for Running Out of Time and The Others. The Golden Globes didn''t have a Best Director category; otherwise, Eric would have scored at least one additional nomination.

    Had it not been for the current scandal, as someone who received two nominations before turning twenty, Eric would have undoubtedly shone on the red carpet. He even considered skipping the ceremony, but doing so would be seen as a sign of weakness to his unseen enemies. Ultimately, he decided to brave the red carpet alone without any date.

    ...

    As he passed through the media area, Eric paused to sh a confident smile as the cameras clicked away.

    "Eric, can we ask a few questions?" a reporter called out at that moment.

    Eric shed a nomittal smile, giving neither a yes nor a no. He decided that if faced with a tough question, he would excuse himself.

    "Eric, you''ve been out of the public eye recently. What have you been up to at your Malibu estate? Are you working on a new script?"

    Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Eric struggled to think of the script amidst the chaos. Not wanting to reveal too much, he replied, "I just registered a musicpany. I might

    release a single soon."

    "Could you hint at the theme of the single?"

    "Mr. Williams, what''s the name of your musicpany?"

    "Eric, do you n to ditch filmmaking for a music career?"

    Initially unwilling to answer further questions, Eric rolled his eyes but replied, "It''s just a side project; my main focus will always be on films."

    With that, Eric decided to ignore the reporters and continued toward the end of the red carpet.

    Compared to the previous year, Eric had achieved even more, but there were noticeably fewer peopleing up to greet him. Most were familiar male acquaintances, while the female stars, aside from Julia Roberts, Virginia Madsen, and Nicole Kidman -- who acknowledged him per his earlier instructions -- avoided him, knowing his current reputation.

    Eric didn''t mind; self-preservation was instinctual for everyone.

    As he waited, more stars continued to stride down the red carpet.

    ...

    About ten minutester, amid the cheers from fans, Eric spotted Jennifer Aniston approaching in a white strapless dress, posing for the media before heading to the lounge

    area.

    Their eyes met unexpectedly, and the reporters surrounding them raised their cameras, eager for drama from the once-coupled pair.

    "Jen..." Eric called gently, not moving from his spot. Ever since that day, he tried reaching out

    to Aniston multiple times; but this time, she seemed resolute,pletely ignoring his calls and letters, even returning the flowers he sent.

    Jennifer quickly turned her gaze away from Eric after just a couple of seconds, walking off in the opposite direction, as if nothing had happened.

    Eric sighed; he didn''t want to approach her in such a setting. It wasn''t that he greatly cared about his reputation; he was more concerned for Aniston.

    Because she had distanced herself on the day the scandal broke, she hadn''t faced much

    bacsh from their mutual friends. If he were to approach her now, rumors of a reconciliation

    would only bring her trouble.

    ...

    "Eric, are you okay?" Jonathan Demme, standing beside him, noticed Eric''s forlorn

    expression and offered support.

    Eric shook his head, saying, "I''m fine."

    Tom Hanks then chimed in, "Eric, I believe this will all pass."

    "Of course," Eric replied with a wry smile.

    ...

    Inside the ceremony hall, Eric sat at the table for The Others, as it was situated towards the back, allowing him to feel somewhat at ease and avoid too much attention.

    Of course, the world didn''t revolve around any one person. The chaos he was experiencing had little effect on the festive atmosphere of the Golden Globes. Perhaps due to prior instructions, the hosts avoided teasing him, seldom mentioning Eric''s name throughout the awards. Gradually, Eric realized someone intended to downy his presence. Despite Firefly''s 11 nominations that evening, he surmised they wouldn''t secure any notable awards. As he had anticipated, since the release window for Scent of a Woman had missed the nomination cut-off, all significant awards such as Best Musical Comedy for Pretty Woman and Best Drama for Steel Magnolias went to others. Furthermore, both of Eric''s Best Screeny nominations fell t. Even Julia Roberts, who would have been a top candidate prior, ended up with nothing, and Virginia Madsen''s nomination for The Others likewise resulted in no win,nding instead with Michelle Pfeiffer for a film Eric didn''t even recall.

    Ultimately, Eric lost all hope, expecting the 11 nominations to be futile. However, when the Best Musical Comedy series leading actress award came up, Aniston surprisingly won Best

    Actress.

    Watching her give a heartfelt speech without mentioning him at all, Eric smirked coldly. Was this some kind of warning to the women around him -- break ties with Eric Williams and you

    could earn an award?

    ...

    As the two-hour ceremony wrapped up, Eric had no intentions of attending the following party. Just as he was about to leave, a strange waiter handed him an envelope.

    Once he settled into the car back to Malibu, he tore open the envelope.

    Inside was a single sheet of paper with a series of numbers. It read 19900201.

    Easy to decipher -- it meant February 1, 1990.

    Eric didn''t need to ponder; he knew this was the final ultimatum from the puppet master

    behind the scandal.

    "Impatient, are we?" Eric thought to himself. In his past life, Michael Jackson faced relentless

    media attacks for three months. He had only been dealing with this for a month, and they

    were already unveiling their ''trump card''?

    Reflecting on Michael Jackson, Eric noted the many simrities between Jackson''s

    tribtions and his current predicament.

    In 1993, the intense scrutiny on Jackson stemmed not just from his race but from his ascendance from a signed artist to owning 50% of Sony Records, along with coveted rights to songs from legends like the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

    During the 1990s, the music industry was thriving, and the value of those song rights

    exceeded a billion dors. Given that, the music industry''s elites and the predominantly white Western world found this intolerable.

    This led to a massive bacsh, resulting in Jackson retreating from the spotlight.

    Yearster, in 2009, at the age of 50, Jackson nned a 50-show world tour to celebrate his career. Many assumed this was the twilight of a once-glorious career, but the reality proved otherwise. Tickets for the shows rapidly sold out within hours, reaffirming his superstar

    status.

    Then, in a shocking turn of events, just days before the tour began, the legendary star inexplicably passed away.

    Shivering at the thought, Eric realized he was fortunate not to be reborn as a ck man.

    Despite the collusion against him by industry giants, he didn''t face any deep-seated public prejudice.

    ...

    After the Golden Globes, Eric swiftly facilitated a deal with Robert Shea to transfer another

    10% of Firefly''s shares while also moving the $60 million payout into an investment ount

    in New York.

    Although Jeffrey and Chris expressed concerns, urging Eric to save some cash for emergencies,

    Eric was resolute. He insisted Chris utilize that $60 million, along with an additional $10 million already avable, to acquire as many shares of Cisco as possible. Before this scandal, Eric hadn''t valued money heavily. He believed that if he focused on steady progress, he would eventually reach the pinnacle of sess. However, the situation made him realize that in the realm of capital, money held paramountn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    importance. It served as a shield; if he had been a billionaire prior with assets totaling in the billions, no one would dare to attack him now.

    Days and weeks rolled on, and enduring the media bombardment became routine. Yet, he

    asionally heard good news; many investment firms viewed Cisco skeptically. With its current valuation at only $225 million, under Chris''s aggressive pricing strategy, some firms looking to acquire Cisco shares backed out.

    From the initial 7% share to an increased stake, by the end of January, he had invested the entire $70 million, acquiring a total of 23%. While it seemed like a loss considering Cisco''s current low valuation, if evaluated against its peak valuation of $500 billion, that stake equated to astronomical worth.

    Eric understood that as Cisco grew, his ownership percentage would diminish. Still, maintaining around 10% stake would ensure a sizable fortune for him in the future.

    ...

    As Chris utilized all $70 million, February 1 finally arrived, and thewsuits continued to drag on unabated. The Federal Trade Commission''s Los Angeles division held a press conference announcing investigations into Firefly and UTA for potential antitrust vitions.

    The news sparked renewed public interest, with numerous analyses flooding the press.

    In Malibu, Edward Lewis hurried into the living room, taking a seat opposite Eric. Several others were already present, including Jeffrey, Robert Shea, and UTA''s CEO, Kepler Hyde.

    "Edward, can you start by exining the situation?" Eric offered, pouring a cup of coffee for Edward.

    After gulping down his coffee, Edwardid a thick stack of documents on the table and retrieved one, saying, "Eric, the situation is as follows: the FTC has begun investigations into

    Firefly and UTA. If found guilty, not only will you have to forfeit your entire stake in UTA, but

    you could also face hefty fines."

    "How much might the fines amount to?" Eric asked, focusing on the question that mattered. Given that Columbia and Fox had simultaneously withheld substantial payments to Firefly, he suspected the final blow would be tied to finances.

    Edward presented another document. "ording to antitrust provisions, fines are usually 20% of the profits from the alleged monopolistic actions. However, this number is not fixed and can vary significantly. If things go well, you may not have to pay any fines at all. Simply offloading your UTA shares could suffice, but if..."

    "Edward, sorry to interrupt, but you know we''re not well-versed in the legalities of this. Just tell me how much I could potentially pay in fines."

    "Alright," Edward Lewis sighed. "Based on the situation surrounding Firefly and UTA, you could find yourself facing fines up to $160 million."

    Eric was taken aback. "How could it be so much? UTA''s profits barely reach a few million."

    Edward rified, "Eric, you need to consider UTA and Firefly as one entity. Previously, both were your personal assets. I obtained some documents from Carolyn Elliott, revealing that your total receipts this year were over $400 million. When factoring in potential revenues from the five films currently in theaters, because the vitions by UTA and Firefly aren''t

    severe, there''s little chance for the 20% base amount to be raised. Summing it all up, you could be liable for a maximum of $160 million."

    Eric paused briefly, "What''s the timeframe for imposing these fines?" Edward understood the implication and responded, "Given the current circumstances, this

    months

    lawsuit likely won''t extend beyond three months. Afterward, you''d have another three to settle any fines. Oh, Eric, I mentioned earlier that $160 million is worst-case; typically, fines are much lower or sometimes don''t even exist."

    "Six months," Eric murmured to himself, not wanting to ask Edward about the consequences

    of failing to pay the fine. It was evident -- asset freezing and subsequent auctions. His only asset was Firefly Films.

    Even though the year-end films might yield profits exceeding $160 million, Eric knew that

    once thewsuits began, he wouldn''t see a cent from them. By the time he triumphantly concluded hiswsuits, six months would probably have passed. Seeing the dire circumstances, Eric resolved not to dwell in uncertainty anymore. He

    addressed those around him, saying, "Given the situation, it''s time to strike back." Jeffrey, who had been simmering with frustration, interjected, "Eric, let us know what you

    need us to do."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 284: Chapter 285: The New Turning Point

    Chapter 284: Chapter 285: The New Turning Point

    ?

    [Chapter 285: The New Turning Point]

    Since that video was released, public sentiment began to shift dramatically. Initially, the North American media took a somewhat restrained stance. However, across the Antic, British media, including several UK newspapers under News Corporation, shamelessly changed their position to fully support Eric. The reason for this, of course,y in Eric''s British heritage; the British media seemed to think that, like any star from the UK who became famous in Hollywood, Eric could still be considered a "British rose," regardless of his current nationality.

    Eric, having grown up in London until the age of eight and still retaining his British nationality, had created a series of box office hits as a Hollywood director. Unsurprisingly, before the controversy erupted, he had be a source of pride for the British public. The box office performance of several of his films in the UK was a testament to this.

    Thus, when the controversy began, the British media initially joined the fray to criticize Eric. However, most of them adopted a tone of disappointment, like a parentmenting a child''s poor choices. They had believed their ''child'' had fallen from grace, only to realize, as time passed, that he had actually been wronged by others. It''s no wonder that their emotions ran high.

    ...

    On the day the video surfaced, the famous Guardian newspaper published a front-page article thatbeled the various attacks against Eric as "the most severe media persecution of thete 20th century."

    "Eric Williams left behind a series of ssics for the world film industry in just one year. Such a feat is exceedingly rare in the history of cinema. His Home Alone series broughtughter to children everywhere. Pretty Woman and Sleepless in Seattle offered romantic visions for young lovers. His film Running Out of Time showcased a gripping battle between good and evil. And his work on The Others proved that horror could be chilling without excessive bloodshed and violence...

    But this extraordinarily talented young man faced a heartbreaking series of attacks, which can only be described as the most severe media persecution of the 20th century. A closer examination reveals that for over a month, the scandalous stories surrounding Eric Williams werergely fabricated from baseless rumors and unsubstantiated photos. Thewsuits he faced seemed to be orchestrated by those with ulterior motives. It is almost surreal that in a country like America, which constantly proims that freedom is paramount, the media can be manipted to such an outrageous extent. This is nothing short of ironic."

    ...

    Following the Guardian''smentary, the idea that Eric was enduring "the most severe media persecution of the 20th century" quickly gained traction among many foreign media and swiftly materialized back in North America.

    Most American media, initially just following the trend, epted this new viewpoint. They began to clear their names while defending Eric.

    However, the most vociferous reactions did note from the media but from ordinary citizens. History had taught that whilemon people could be easily misled, they were also the hardest to deceive. Thements made by Arnon Carpenter in the video were undeniably a significant provocation to the American public, who had always valued freedom and transparency.

    Thus, in just three days, through various fan organizations formed across North America, groups supporting Eric began to emerge in over a dozen major cities including New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and Phdelphia.

    While the numbers in each city were notrge -- barely reaching two thousand in Hollywood -- these demonstrations spanned nearly every important American city. Even the dimmest minds recognized the potential for the situation to escte uncontrobly if the federal government remained indifferent.

    ...

    As the federal government convened urgent discussions on how to respond, Eric, having barely spoken for over a month since the controversy erupted, announced that he would release his first single on Valentine''s Day, February 14, in response to the debacle. He stated that all proceeds from the song would be donated to legal aid foundations in North America to support vulnerablemunities.

    This act of responding to personal injustice through a song was unprecedented. Curious individuals, regardless of their allegiance to Eric, eagerly anticipated the release. The major North American recordbels quickly reached out to Eric, offering lucrative deals for the song''s distribution.

    Seeing the tide turning, the federal government announced a news conference on February 13, stating that a dedicated investigation team would thoroughly probe the series of attacks against Eric Williams.

    ...

    On February 14, amid the nationwide romance of Valentine''s Day, many couples found themselves spending the evening out at bars, shops, and cinemas in North America. However, noticeably fewer people were out than usual. Many went rummaging through storage for their long-neglected radios, desperately tuning in to find the right channel. In fact, those without radios contributed to a surge in sales, as the once-dwindling demand suddenly rocketed. Certain media outletster reported that radio sales exceeded 2.6 million units that day, outpacing the annual Super Bowl TV sales record by far.

    ...

    In a Beverly Hills vi, Michael Eisner returned home after a long day. Since Eric leaked the video, Eisner had be acutely aware that his coordinated campaign with several other film moguls against Eric had utterly failed. As one of the primary instigators behind the incident, it became imperative for him to erase any trace of past actions in light of the growing protests supporting Eric.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    After resting briefly on the living room sofa, Eisner nced at his watch and instructed the servant to bring him a radio, before retreating quietly to his study.

    Simultaneously, countless individuals across North America engaged in simr behavior before eight o''clock.

    At exactly eight o''clock, a popr music show on WABC kicked off.

    "Hi, everyone! I''m your friend Matthew Suddeth, and as a radio host, I can assure you that today is likely to be the day with the highest listeners I''ve ever had, as everyone''s eyes are glued to their TV screens right now. You might not know that in the over two hours since I got to work, I''ve already heard one song over twenty times! It''s an exhrating anthem! Wow, my boss is signaling me from the other side of the ss, so in order to avoid being fired, I''ll just say this: this is WABC''s ''Music Paradise'' show, and I''m your host Matthew Suddeth. Now, let''s listen to the new song, ''new-divide'', from the famous director Eric Williams!"

    As the host wrapped up, a brief silence was followed by a steady drumbeat that seemed to approach from afar, soon joined by rapid guitar strums and percussive rhythms that escted in intensity. This preludested over half a minute without the singer''s voice appearing, and audiences all around felt a deep resonance emanating from their souls.

    Michael Eisner, sitting in his armchair, tried to feign indifference. His fingers absent- mindedly tapped along to the rhythm on his desk, although a hint of embarrassment crept onto his face, even with no one else in the study.

    The music from the radio continued undisturbed by his reactions, and Eric''s voice soon filled

    the airwaves.

    I remembered ck skiesThe lightning all around meI remembered each shAs time began

    to blurLike a startling signThat fate had finally found meAnd your voice was all I heardThat I

    get what I deserve

    [T/N: New Divide by Linkin Park]

    ...

    Eisner shifted in his chair, forcing what appeared to be a cold smirk and muttering, "Is this supposed to be a condemnation? How childish."

    Yet, despite his words, Eisner''s expressions turned serious. As the CEO of a filmpany, he recognized that this song''s reach would only bolster Eric''s already advantageous position. So, sucumbing to instinct, he began to ponder whether there were loose ends he''d yet to tie up and whether any incriminating evidence could still be out there. He was a seasoned businessman, and knowing the situation had shifted, he naturally felt the need to continue coborating with Eric. After all, profit reigned supreme.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 286: Chapter 287: This Is Just Too Much

    Chapter 286: Chapter 287: This Is Just Too Much

    ?

    [Chapter 287: This Is Just Too Much]

    Gotten a reminder from the waiter, Eric finally stood up, only to find that it wasn''t just Murdoch who had arrived, but also Elisabeth, who was linked arm-in-arm with her father. The look she gave him carried a slight reproach, clearly indicating she was aware that Eric had chosen this ce for their meeting to make her father ufortable.

    Given that she was a woman with whom he had a close rtionship, Elisabeth''s light scold coupled with her annoyance left Eric feeling a bit awkward.

    After Eric had weathered the recent crisis due to the Friendswsuit and the productions of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and The X-Files, Murdoch had requested multiple meetings to discuss matters with him. After some consideration, Eric decided to agree but refused the suggestion to meet at the Murdoch family''s estate. Instead, he picked a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in a busy downtown area. To make his point, he even had the paparazzi notified. As long as news broke that Murdoch had proactively reached out to him, not only would the media perceive Fox as capitting to Eric, but other major filmpanies would definitely start thinking poorly of Fox, viewing it as a traitor to the Big Seven.

    However, Murdoch clearly wasn''t the type to be outsmarted easily. He not only brought along his somewhat contentious daughter but acted all frail and helpless, leaning on her as if he truly needed support. It was likely that with some embellishment from the media, Eric would be painted as the petty young man who required an elderly man toe begging for mercy.

    Feeling a mix of annoyance, Eric thought about sshing a cup of coffee over Murdoch''s head forying it on so thick. The old man wasn''t even sixty yet! As someone who had lived through the future, Eric distinctly remembered that in his previous life, Murdoch had been spry and vigorous well into his eighties.

    Noticing Eric''s expression, Murdoch wore an enigmatic smile as he approached Eric and extended his hand, saying, "Eric, good to see you again."

    "Hello, Mr. Murdoch," Eric replied, shaking his hand, then turned his attention to Elisabeth. She rolled her eyes at him but showed no intention of greeting him.

    "Liz, don''t be so rude," Murdoch scolded her, feigning the role of a stern father, although he secretly enjoyed the sight of Eric being put in a difficult position in front of his daughter.

    Elisabeth shot a displeased look at her father. Though she resented Eric for choosing this meeting spot, she didn''t fully agree with her father''s behavior either. With a huff, she ignored the two men, sat down at the table, and began to peruse the menu.

    Both Murdoch and Eric exchanged awkward nces.

    "Mr. Murdoch, why don''t we sit?" Eric finally broke the silence.

    ...

    Murdoch nodded and took a seat. The three of them ordered their food, and after a brief moment of silence, Murdoch decided to bring up a topic: "Liz, how''s the movie you''re working oning along?"

    Elisabeth had initially been folding the napkin in front of her, determined to stay quiet, but since her father directed the question at her, she replied in a soft voice, "It''s ready to go; we start filming at the end of the month."

    "Oh," Murdoch nodded. "I heard the lead actress is, what''s her name... Jodie Foster? I''ve heard she''s quite talented. It sounds like it''ll be an exciting film."

    Elisabeth nced at Eric before saying, "Yes, someone rmended Jodie Foster for the lead role. After the audition, I thought she was great, so I signed her on."

    Seeing his daughter nce back at Eric, Murdoch smiled knowingly and directed his gaze at Eric. "Why not let Firefly Films handle the distribution of the movie?"

    Eric raised an eyebrow. Before he could respond, Elisabeth shot a re at her father. "Dad!" Eric quickly added, "Mr. Murdoch, Firefly''s distribution isn''t a problem, but our overseas channels aren''t well established yet. It could limit the film''s box office performance." Although Eric was trying to convey a sincere opinion, Murdoch took his words as a sign that Eric doubted the film''s potential. He was aware of Firefly''s limited distribution capacity and assumed Eric didn''t want to invest their limited resources in a project he didn''t believe would seed.

    In reality, Murdoch had read the script for his daughter''s film, titled The Silence of the Lambs. After all, Elisabeth had invested nearly 20 million in this movie. Except for the 6 million contributed by Julia and Drew, all other investments were "borrowed" by Elisabeth from her father. Despite being domineering in other respects, Murdoch had always been willing to support his children financially. He happily provided the investment for Elisabeth''s foray into film production, viewing it as a way to nurture her skills, with profitability being an afterthought.

    Furthermore, while Murdoch didn''t know much about films, he recognized that the script was a rated R horror film, a genre known for its difficulty in attracting high box office numbers or awards. This was why he suggested letting Eric''s Firefly handle its distribution. His intention, however,y in wanting to set the stage for Eric and Elisabeth to spend more time together. Having sessfully navigated his own crisis, Eric was bound to achieve great sess in the media industry. Murdoch believed that if this man could be his daughter''s husband, it would be greatly beneficial for their familypany. Plus, Murdoch had deduced that Elisabeth bore real feelings for Eric, especially after a recent argument she''d had with him during Eric''s difficult time. Given this foundation, it made sense to encourage more interaction.

    With this in mind, Murdoch smiled at Eric. "Eric, it''s just a horror film. New Line has always focused on horror film distribution, so I believe Firefly can handle it well. If the need arises for overseas distribution down the line, Fox will definitely cooperate."

    With such "good intentions"ing from Murdoch, Eric found it hard to refuse. He turned to Elisabeth, only to see her sulking, fiddling with a napkin and tearing it into shreds.

    "Liz, what''s your take?" Eric asked tentatively.

    Elisabeth pouted, "You guys can decide."

    "Then it''s settled," Murdoch dered like a parent, cutting off any further discussion.

    With Murdoch''s assertion, Elisabeth made no objections, and Eric nodded in agreement.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    At that moment, the waiter started serving their dishes, leading to a brief pause in their conversation. Once the waiter poured red wine into their sses and Murdoch took a sip, praising it, he casually turned to Eric and asked, "Eric, you were born in 1970 in London,

    right?"

    Herees the juicy part.

    Eric thought to himself while feigning nostalgia. "Yes, I was born in London, but I moved to the States when I was eight, so I don''t really remember much about London."

    "You should return one day," Murdoch sighed. "I remember over thirty years ago when Liz''s grandfather passed away from heart disease. I had to drop out of school to take over the family business, and I wasn''t much older than you at the time.

    Back then, Sydney''s newspaper industry was controlled by three major families. When they saw that my paper, the Sunday Times, and the Evening News were thriving, they set their sights on acquiring them. After I repeatedly turned them down, they resorted to all sorts of tactics.

    In just one year, my mediapany faced more bacsh andwsuits than in many previous yearsbined, even receiving death threats. But I didn''t back down. I invested twenty years to not only build mypany into thergest media group in Sydney but also end up acquiring thepanies of those once enemies."

    Although Murdoch noticed Eric maintaining an air of indifference, he knew Eric was listening. He continued, "So, Eric, what you''ve been through recently is just part of the game. I believe you should look ahead and not dwell on the past."

    Eric managed a smile as he looked up. "I am looking ahead, Mr. Murdoch. If not, we wouldn''t

    be sitting here so calmly today."

    "Then," Murdoch cautiously ventured, "how about dropping thewsuit over Friends? And as for The X-Files, there''s no need to rush, but for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which is set to premiere in March... it''s already the end of February, and the entire team hasn''t made a move. Eric, I think you should prioritize this. A month of promotion following the Oscars would certainly be an excellent opportunity tounch the program."

    "I think so too," Eric said, swallowing his food, wiping his mouth with his napkin, then fixing his gaze on Murdoch. "However, Mr. Murdoch, you just mentioned that after bing the leading newspaper mogul in Australia, you ended up acquiring your previous enemies... Now regarding this situation, what happens? Firefly has released five films by the end of the year, and because of this upheaval, thebined box office loss will likely exceed a hundred million. Firefly''s losses will be no less than thirty million, and I still have no idea who my

    enemies are."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 288: Chapter 289: You Cant Exactly Bite Back

    Chapter 288: Chapter 289: You Can''t Exactly Bite Back

    ?

    [Chapter 289: You Can''t Exactly Bite Back]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After learning from Murdoch that the recent turmoil had been led by Michael Eisner, Eric hadpletely decided against any form ofpromise. He was determined to figure out a way to secure the rights to The Righteous Brothers'' song Unchained Melody the very next day. As for everything else, he didn''t really care -- his mind was filled with great movie ideas.

    It was a bit of a shame, though. Eric had originally nned to spend this year starting a special effectspany to get a handle on the use of visual effects in preparation for the uing production of Jurassic Park.

    And Ghost would have undoubtedly been a terrific project for him to experiment with; the wall-walking effects and the Grim Reaper effects would allow him to hone his skills. Losing that film could disrupt many of Eric''s ns.

    "Alright, Eric, it''s getting a bitte. Let''s call it a night," Murdoch suddenly said.

    Eric didn''t feel much like chatting anymore. He signaled a waiter and handed over his credit card to settle the bill. Murdoch, however, stood up directly and said, "Eric, Liz has been staying in Beverly Hillstely. I''m getting a bit old, and I''d like to head back. Would you mind giving her a ride?"

    "Dad, I can get back on my own," Elisabeth piped in.

    "You''re just a girl. What if you run into any trouble? I''m sure Eric wouldn''t mind giving you a ride, right, Eric?" Murdoch said with a smile, looking at Eric.

    Eric nced at Elisabeth and replied, "Of course, if Liz wants a ride, I''d be happy to help."

    "Then it''s settled," Murdoch replied, calling over his assistant and bodyguard before turning to leave.

    ...

    It was nearly ten o''clock now, and the restaurant wasn''t particrly crowded; only Eric and Elisabeth were left exchanging nces.

    "I don''t need you to drive me. I''ll go back on my own," Elisabeth stubbornly repeated.

    "Oh," Eric nodded, gesturing for her to make her own choice.

    Elisabeth, just standing up, shot Eric a frustrated look before defiantly sitting back down. "I''ve never seen someone so rude."

    Eric chuckled. After settling the bill, he stood up and said to thedy, "Okay, let''s head out."

    Reluctantly, Elisabeth stood up and followed Eric to his car.

    "Are you still staying with Julia?" Eric asked as he started the engine.

    "Yeah, it''s more fun to room together, plus Julia is my partner in the filmpany, so it''s convenient for us to discuss business."

    "Speaking of which, I still don''t know the name of your filmpany," Eric casually asked as The drove onto the highway.

    "It''s TG Films," Elisabeth replied.

    "What does TG stand for?"

    Elisabeth opened her mouth, ready to answer, but then thought about it. If she exined, Eric would definitely ask about the three girls involved, and that would expose Drew. Drew had insisted more than once that they keep Eric out of the loop. Elisabeth believed she had far more scruples than his unscrupulous father; she wouldn''t easily betray her friends.

    "TG is just TG. Why ask so much?"

    "Oh, alright," Eric acquiesced, changing the subject. "By the way, did you not rify things with your dad about The Silence of the Lambs?"

    "rify what?" Elisabeth asked curiously.

    "Like how I think this script has potential."

    Elisabeth blinked a few times. "My dad didn''t ask."

    "Well, I guess when The Silence of the Lambses out, someone is going to regret not having a slice of that pie," Eric said with a chuckle.

    "Ugh, now that you mention it, you''re awful! You secretly bought the rights to An Affair to Remember from Fox. I''ve heard that movie''s tape sales have already hit over a million copies. My dad ripped Barry Diller a new one for it -- and a few Fox executives lost their jobs over it!"

    Eric shrugged. "Business is business. Besides, you guys volunteered to sell it. I didn''t steal anything."

    Elisabeth frowned. "Well, we haven''t signed anything yet. Don''t think I''m going to hand over The Silence of the Lambs to your littlepany for distribution."

    Eric stopped at a red light and casually gazed out the window at the street scenery. "Suit yourself. But it might not be a blockbuster. You might end up crying over losses."

    "Well, if that happens, I won''t be the only one crying," Elisabeth indicated pointedly. Seeing Eric''s indifferent expression, she continued, "Let North America handle the domestic distribution through Firefly. But I want a 35% cut, and I''ll give Fox the overseas rights."

    "20%," Eric said with a grin, ready to negotiate.

    Elisabeth raised her fist and yfully punched Eric''s shoulder. "35%! Or else I''ll just hand it over to Fox!"

    "How about 21%?"

    "Fat chance!" Elisabeth began to protest again when a silver convertible behind Eric''s car went wild with honks. A few young people in the car shouted, "Hey, green light! Let''s move!" Eric nced at the rearview mirror helplessly, then slowly pressed down on the gas pedal.

    As the silver convertible sped past, a few young people shouted provocatively through Eric''s window. Eric pretended not to hear them and continued driving at his own pace. Surprisingly, the convertible slowed down and matched his speed.

    "Hey, beautiful! How about taking a ride with us?" a young man with a wild hairstyle called to Elisabeth in the passenger seat.

    Eric nced at the scene outside and quickly pressed the window button to close it, and Elisabeth did the same. She couldn''t help but say, "You''re really spineless. Thedy next to you is being harassed, and you won''t even fight back."

    Eric retorted, "Are you going to bite back if a dog bites you?"

    "You... you''re so vulgar!" Elisabeth angrily turned her head away, determined to ignore Eric.

    Eric didn''t take it to heart; he focused on driving. Though the windows were up, the young men in the convertible wouldn''t go away. They alternated between speeding up and slowing down, circling Eric''s car and making various provocations.

    Eric checked outside and realized they were nearing Elisabeth''s ce, so he decided not to

    engage.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 290: Chapter 291: Swatting Mosquitoes

    Chapter 290: Chapter 291: Swatting Mosquitoes

    ?

    [Chapter 291: Swatting Mosquitoes]

    Julia went to San Francisco during the day for a business event. Since it wrapped up early, she didn''t stay in town and took a flight back home. After a long day, Julia went to bed early.

    After what felt like hours of sleep, she heard a noise at her bedroom door. Someone walked in. She thought it might be Elisabeth again sneaking into her bed, so she didn''t mind -- until she noticed two figures stirring on the other side of herrge bed. A sense of something being off crept in as she recognized the identity of the man.

    Just as Julia felt annoyed at Elisabeth for her antics, she considered sneaking out while the two were distracted. However, before she could stealthily make her way to the edge of the bed, Eric''s gaze caught her squarely.

    They both froze and stared at each other.

    "Come on, move! If you''re not going to do anything, let go of me! I want to sleep. This is so ufortable!" Elisabethined from her position, nestled on the bed.

    Realizing she had been spotted by Eric, Julia abandoned her n to quietly escape. After all, the girl enjoying herself on the bed was unlikely to even notice her.

    Things were going smoothly until that dastardly man reached over and caught her.

    What was he up to?

    Julia''s eyes widened, filled with a mix of anxiety and... anticipation. Yet, instinct kicked in, and her body began struggling to break free. But mindful of Elisabeth, she couldn''t make any sudden moves. After a few moments of cautious wriggling, she resigned herself to the situation. Though Eric couldn''t see her, she shot him a furious re.

    Sensing Julia had calmed down, Eric resumed his gentle motions. Juliay there, dumbfounded, listening to those incredibly embarrassing sounds emanating from the bed. Finally unable to resist the urge to escape again, she attempted to move, but felt her nightgown being yanked as she was flipped over onto the bed, the hem of her nightgown lifted. Arge hand patted down in just the right spot, lifted high, then came crashing down. Smack--

    The sharp sound echoed. If Julia hadn''t sensed what wasing, she likely would have cried out in pain.

    You jerk, I''ll get you for this!

    Just as that thought crossed her mind, another unmerciful pnded, sending a searing pain racing through her body. Strangely enough, despite the intensity of the atmosphere, Julia soon found her earlier resistance waning. She justy there,pletely vulnerable.

    "What are you doing?" Elisabeth finally mumbled, her face buried in the pillow, slightly dazed, after the two ps had echoed.

    "Swatting mosquitoes," Eric murmured softly after stealing a nce at the now still woman beside him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Oh," Elisabeth replied, her mind still hazy. After some time, she thought she should probably buy some bug spray tomorrow.

    After a while, Eric released Elisabeth and pulled a nket over her, then moved over to embrace Julia. Though Elisabeth was already exhausted, she didn''t realize anything was amiss; she quickly drifted back into sleep. Meanwhile, Julia, held closely by the man, breathed softly, her body betraying any trace of resistance. She let Eric tug down her nightgown, presenting her in an utterly shameful manner. She felt him press a small piece of cloth to her lips. Though she wasn''t nning on making any sound, she obediently opened her mouth and epted it...

    ...

    Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains into the bedroom. Elisabeth groggily opened her eyes and looked around. It suddenly dawned on her that she was in Julia''s room. A flood of memories rushed back, prompting her to sit upright suddenly, but then she recalled Julia had gone to San Francisco yesterday.

    Thank goodness, Elisabeth thought, relieved to see that Eric wasn''t there. Her own clothes were neatly folded on the chair at the bedside. She grabbed her clothes, then hurried into the bathroom. After a considerable amount of time, Elisabeth finally dressed and padded downstairs barefoot.

    Noises came from the kitchen, and a sweet smile crept onto Elisabeth''s face.

    That jerk actually had a conscience! At least he didn''t leave without doing something nice and was making breakfast for her.

    In a few steps, she reached the kitchen door and watched Julia preparing breakfast in her pajamas with her back turned. Elisabeth stood frozen for a moment until Julia sensed her presence and turned around.

    "Uh, Julia, um..." Elisabeth stammered.

    "What''s up?" Julia asked curiously, her expression entirely neutral.

    Elisabeth waved her hands in front of her chest, trying to find her words. "When did you get back?"

    "Yesterday afternoon," Julia replied, turning back to crack an egg into a hot pan.

    A wave of anxiety washed over Elisabeth, making her repeat the question, "Yesterday afternoon?!"

    "Yeah," Julia turned her head to look at her and nodded.

    Elisabeth felt her mind spiral into confusion. Could it be that everything she experienced yesterday had just been a dream?

    No way, that''s impossible! Eric had been too intensest night; she could still feel something unusual between her legs. It definitely wasn''t a dream.

    "Uh, Julia, did you..."

    "Right next to you. That jerk finished with you and then came to mess with me," Julia said softly, wearing a calm expression.

    It took Elisabeth a full minute to process before she finally eximed, "What the hell!"

    Seemingly unfazed by Elisabeth''s outburst, Julia ted a fried egg and asked, "Liz, do you want breakfast?"

    If Eric''s actions had driven Elisabeth crazy, Julia''s reaction now sent her over the edge. "Julia, you... how can you still eat breakfast?!"

    "Why not?" Julia filled a te for herself and headed toward the dining room.

    Elisabeth followed her inside, watching as Julia took her seat at the table and began to eat her toast and egg, one bite at a time.

    A few minutester, as Julia continued to gobble her food, tears suddenly began streaming

    down her face.

    "Liz, I''m sick, and it''s not getting better, boo-hoo..."

    Seeing Julia in such despair made Elisabethpletely forget about theirst night''s encounter. She thought Julia must have received some terminal diagnosis with little time left. But afterforting her for a while, Julia finally began to exin what had happened.

    "How can he do that? Let''s go find that jerk! If he doesn''t give us an exnation, this isn''t over!"

    It seemed the weight lifted a bit off Julia''s shoulders after sharing her biggest secret. She reached out to grab Elisabeth''s hand and said, "Liz, don''t be like that. Honestly, this isn''t

    entirely Eric''s fault."

    "Julia, after everything, you still defend him? You''re really disappointing me."

    Julia shook her head. "No, I''ve talked to him about this. He wants me to recover too. It''s been

    so long, and I thought I was over it. Butst night... he pped me twice, and I realized I had lost all urge to resist. Instead, it felt like something I had been waiting for."

    "Swatting... mosquitoes?" Elisabeth''s mouth twitched as she recalled the night''s details.

    Julia''s cheeks flushed, and she nodded.

    "What do you n to do?" Elisabeth finally asked.

    Julia shook her head. "I don''t know. I wish I did."

    "I think you should talk to Eric again."

    Julia shook her head vigorously like a bobblehead. "No, no, no! I can''t face him right now. The

    moment I see him, I just..."

    "I''ll go find him," Elisabeth stood up abruptly but was pulled back by Julia.

    "Please don''t. That''ll only make things awkward."

    After pondering for a moment, Elisabeth slumped back down.

    The two sat side by side on the sofa, sitting in silence for a while, until Elisabeth finally broke

    it. "Actually, Julia, this is all my fault. If I hadn''t brought him back..."

    Julia pulled a tissue from the box in herp to wipe her face and, hearing Elisabeth say that,

    couldn''t help butugh, teasing, "You were quite the flirt in bed! I can''t believe everything that came out of your mouth -- it made me blush."

    Julia''sment immediately jogged Elisabeth''s memory back to the awkward events of the

    previous night.

    Her expression went through a range of emotions. Although she hadn''t said much in the bedroom yesterday, thinking back now, it was all quite embarrassing, especially since Julia had heard everything: "You clearly saw us go in! Why didn''t you just run away?"

    "I considered it, but that guy caught me and pped me a couple of times, and I didn''t have

    the strength to leave."

    "Now I see it; you secretly wanted that too. That''s why you went along with it."

    Julia quickly shook her head. "I didn''t!"

    "Still denying it?" Elisabeth lunged at Julia, wrestling her onto the sofa.

    Julia wasn''t about to back down and yfully fought back. Soon, both women found

    themselves in a tangle of limbs, breathless and disheveled. They identally ended up on the

    couch, faces just inches apart, the air between them palpable.

    "Julia, when you went to San Francisco, did you meet anyone?"

    "Hmm," Julia blinked rapidly, appearing confused.

    "I mean, did you meet any women?" Elisabeth asked. And upon seeing Julia''s expression shift

    subtly, she couldn''t help but lean in, part her lips, and kiss her.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 292: Chapter 293: Eisners Decisiveness

    Chapter 292: Chapter 293: Eisner''s Decisiveness

    ?

    [Chapter 293: Eisner''s Decisiveness]

    After a while, Eric returned to the conference room holding a portable phone, while Robert Shea set down his coffee cup and looked at Eric inquisitively.

    "It''s Michael Eisner," Eric exined with a hint of cheerfulness in his tone.

    "Is he wanting to invite you to talk?" Robert Shea raised an eyebrow as he recalled that the recent turmoil was orchestrated by Michael Eisner.

    Eric nodded and sat back down in his chair. "Yes."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Did you agree?" Robert Shea asked curiously.

    "I don''t mind hearing him out; after all, I don''t have ns tonight," Eric replied, cing the phone beside him. He continued, "Robert, since you don''t want to take on Basic Instinct, you should pick a script soon. It''s already March, and if we don''t get the project finalized, it will be tough to hit the summer release window."

    Seeing that Eric wasn''t insisting on giving him the Basic Instinct script anymore, Robert felt a slight sense of relief, though he couldn''t help but feel a conflicting disappointment. After all, it was a script Eric had written himself.

    However, he quickly adjusted his emotions and said, "I understand. I''ve collected six scripts these past few days; I''ll have my assistant bring them to you for your thoughts."

    Eric shook his head. "No need for that. I think it''s better if you choose personally. I can''t guarantee any movie will seed. Just pick a script and bring it to me for a signature when you''ve made your choice."

    Robert Shea paused for a moment, then understood that Eric was preparing to fully let go of the project. This meant that the sess or failure of the film would be entirely his responsibility. But Robert Shea wasn''t one to shy away from ountability. After a brief hesitation, he nodded, "Alright, I''ll choose a script as soon as possible."

    ...

    After work, Eric drove back to Malibu, but his destination wasn''t his Cliff House. Instead, he was heading to a mansion owned by Michael Eisner in Malibu.

    "Eric, I''m d you coulde. Please,e in," Michael Eisner greeted Eric with a big smile as the servant led him through the front door.

    "Hello, Mr. Eisner," Eric offered a polite smile and shook Michael''s hand briefly.

    Michael Eisner didn''t mind Eric''s cool demeanor one bit. Still beaming, he said, "Eric, I specifically invited a famous French chef to prepare dinner for us tonight. Let''s head inside." Eric nodded and followed Michael directly to the dining room. Throughout the dinner, besides the periodically appearing servants, it was just Michael and Eric at the table. Michael proficiently described the exquisite French dishes as they were served, and after dinner, he even invited the chef wearing a tall white hat to take a group photo with them.

    While Eric admired Michael Eisner''s patience, he subtly enjoyed the meal. After all, the initiative was in his hands.

    Once dinner was done, Michael Eisner led Eric to his study, and after the servant brought in coffee and exited, he said, "Eric, now that the past is behind us, I think it''s time we discussed a potential coboration."

    A mocking smile finally crept onto Eric''s lips. "Coboration?"

    Michael Eisner maintained his smile. "Yes, coboration, Eric. In this world, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Though that''s a strategy of British diplomacy, I believe it applies topanies as well."

    "There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests," Eric chuckled slightly and then said, "Mr. Eisner, if you had the option to coborate with friends or neutral parties, would you coborate with your enemies?"

    "Of course not," Michael Eisner replied. "But, Eric, do you think in Hollywood, Firefly Films has friends? Although you''ve found your partnership with Fox quite enjoyable, believe me, if given the chance, Murdoch will surely stab Firefly in the back."

    "I''m aware of that, which is why I will do my best to not give Mr. Murdoch that opportunity. Furthermore, I certainly won''t allow enemies who have already stabbed me in the back a chance again," Eric said casually, picking up his coffee.

    Michael Eisner smiled upon hearing Eric''s words. "Eric, I imagine you have learned some things. I won''t deny that; therefore, I believe it''s time for a truce."

    "A truce?" Eric raised his head and asked, "What kind of truce?"

    Michael Eisner replied with a hint of confidence, "How about the script for Ghost?"

    Eric initially shook his head without thinking. "Mr. Eisner, I don''tck for scripts, and I''m not interested in coborating with Disney. If we can''t proceed with Ghost, I can always choose something else. And I guarantee that Disney won''t be able to produce the version of Ghost I have in mind. You may make a small profit off it, but it absolutely won''t be a ssic; whether it sells well is even harder to say."

    "No, no, no, Eric, I think you''re missing my point entirely. I meant that Disney will transfer the script for Ghost to you, and then we can have our truce. How does that sound?"

    Eric finally looked surprised and raised his head, meeting Michael Eisner''s confident gaze. Then he thought of other concerns. "Mr. Eisner, I imagine Disney must have spent a significant sum to acquire the Ghost script, and possibly even promised Bruce Joel Rubin a share of the profits, right?"

    "Yes," Michael Eisner nodded. "One million dors in cash and 3% of the North American profits."

    Eric calcted the figures in his mind. Based on past performance, that added up to over three million. Perhaps from a profit standpoint, it wasn''t a small sum, but for a Disney that was clueless about the oue, this price was absurd.

    Seeing Eric silently deep in thought, Michael Eisner then said, "Eric, Disney is very sincere; therefore, once we establish a truce, I will transfer this script to Firefly Films for free."

    "What about your contract?" Eric instinctively asked. "I imagine Bruce Joel Rubin wouldn''t be okay with that."

    "That''s actually easily resolved. Disney will transfer the script to Firefly Films, and once the film is produced, Disney will handle distribution. Bruce Joel Rubin''s share cane from Disney''s profits. What do you think?"

    "Firefly Films and Disney would co-distribute, with the film rights belonging to Firefly," Eric rapidly went through his thoughts before responding. Since Michael Eisner could make such a bold decision, being overly concerned would just seem petty.

    On the other hand, while turning the film overpletely to Disney for distribution might maximize profits, it would mean Firefly''s channel wouldn''t expand. If this situation persisted, Firefly would end up like DreamWorks in the past: capable of producing great films but struggling to distribute due to ack of power, merely surviving among therger studios.

    Moreover, these years represented the best andst opportunity to expand Firefly''s distribution channels. The costs of filmmaking in the early ''90s weren''t too high, so Eric was determined. Even if they earned less in these years, they had to expand the distribution channels for Firefly. Otherwise, by thete ''90s, with the rise of special effects blockbusters costing hundreds of millions to produce, not having their own distribution channels would lead to a dire situation. Most profits would be siphoned off by the big studios controlling the distribution channels, leaving productionpanies unable to recover even their costs. Seeing some softness in Eric''s tone, Michael Eisner nodded without hesitation. "No

    problem."

    Once Michael Eisner finished speaking, the atmosphere between them grew a bit tense. Michael Eisner achieved his goal, and Eric, who initially wanted to challenge Eisner, could no

    longer hold his ground.

    After finishing his coffee, Eric stood up. "So, Mr. Eisner, if there''s nothing further, I''ll take my

    leave now."

    "I''ll see you out," Michael Eisner chimed in as he stood up.

    ...

    After seeing Eric out of the mansion, Michael Eisner returned to his study with a somber expression. He picked up several unassuming folders that had been sitting in the corner of his desk. Inside were various project proposals from Disney directors rted to the Ghost film.

    Michael Eisner was arguably the one among the heads of the seven major filmpanies who understood Eric the best and was most aware of his personal potential. It was this knowledge that led him earlier in the year to ally with several otherpanies to jointly pressure Firefly. Unfortunately, due to some missteps in the process, the effort wasn''t sessful. After seeing news of Murdoch''s interest in approaching Eric, Michael Eisner decisively chose to reconcile with Eric. After all, as he had begun by saying, there were no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

    Moreover, Michael Eisner had not initially intended to use the Ghost script as a bargaining chip for reconciliation, but earlier he had asked several well-known directors under Disney to study the Ghost script. The project proposals they provided, which were now in his hands, were

    all unsatisfactory to him.

    *****

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 Chapter 294: Chapter 295: Surprises

    Chapter 294: Chapter 295: Surprises

    ?

    [Chapter 295: Surprises]

    "Can I sit next to you next time?" With journalists gone, Virginia rxed a bit and threw Eric a flirtatious look.

    Eric smiled as he took the woman''s hand and squeezed it gently, saying, "Of course, as long as you''re willing."

    Virginia looked around; the awards ceremony was still a few minutes away from starting, and since most of the people around were familiar faces, she didn''t pull away but let Eric hold her hand.

    ...

    At 4:30 PM Pacific Time, the 62nd Academy Awards kicked off.

    Learning from the previous ceremony, this time they had a host: Billy Crystal. Eric remembered that Billy Crystal hosted the Oscars for nine consecutive years. Many wondered how this guy, not exactly a household name in Hollywood, keptnding the Oscar gig. However, the host of the Oscars didn''t have to be a Hollywood actor; often, they were hosts of television talk shows. Indeed, Billy was among the most famous hosts alongside another Oscar icon, Whoopi Goldberg. In addition to being an actor, Billy was also a noted host for popr shows like Saturday Night Live.

    As always, the opening consisted of a musical number celebrating the nominated films. Billy sang praises for the nominated films this year: My Left Foot, Steel Magnolias, The Others, and Driving Miss Daisy, with his witty banter toward the guests keeping the audience entertained.

    ...

    After the Best Supporting Actor award closing the ceremony, it was followed by a series of minor awards. About twenty minutester, the famous actor dubbed the "White Haired Old Man of Hollywood," Steve Martin, took the stage. This brought Eric back to attention, as the next award was for Best Original Song. The piece Eric had copied from the film Running Out of Time was nominated for its song.

    "Good songs can elevate a film," Steve Martin said, gesturing toward the big screen, where segments of the nominated songs began to y.

    "The nominees for Best Original Song are Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid, I Love To See You Smile from Parenthood, The Girl Who Used to Be Me from Shirley Valentine, and Unspoken Love from Running Out of Time."

    After introducing the nominees, Steve opened the envelope and nced inside, appearing slightly surprised. He looked out over the audience and his gazended on Eric for half a second before quickly diverting. Then, he read, "And the winner of the Oscar for Best Original Song is Unspoken Love from Running Out of Time."

    Wow--

    Before the melody of Unspoken Love even started, a synchronized gasp swept through the auditorium, and numerous eyes turned toward Eric.

    Eric felt a mix of disbelief as he stood up. He quickly embraced those nearby and smiled as he made his way to the stage.

    After receiving the little gold man from the presenter, Eric stepped up to the microphone. He gathered his thoughts and scanned the audience before smiling and saying, "This is truly unexpected. I never thought my first Oscar would be for Best Original Song. But I have to say, this little gold statue feels heavier than I imagined."

    A light chuckle arose from the audience.

    As theughter settled, Eric continued, "Just over a year ago, I was an obscure young man barely into adulthood. After the sudden loss of my father, I had to drop out of school and work at an Italian restaurant. Then one day, I realized I couldn''t keep living like this. I felt a strong urge to do something important, so I started trying to write my first novel and screeny.

    Fortunately, with help from some, I found sess and made it to today. I''ve always loved music, and after receiving my payment for 17 Again, I bought my first piano. I would asionally tink with some tunes and clumsily notate them on staff paper. Unspoken Love was born from that creative spark.

    I''m not a professionalposer, so winning this award is quite a surprise. I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way: Mr. Michael Krauss, who helped me publish my first book; James Brooks and Penny Marshall for giving me my Hollywood break; and Jeffrey Hansen for assisting me with my first film and supporting me throughout the following year. Lastly, I would like to thank the beautiful women in my film -- oh,e on! Don''tugh. I''m serious! Thank you all so much."

    Although he hadn''t prepared a speech, Eric finished his eptance remarks at a rapid pace before heading backstage with the two presenters.

    ...

    When Eric returned to his seat, the award for Best Makeup had already been announced, and the presenter was now discussing this year''s nominees for Best Foreign Language Film.

    As two names he didn''t recognize announced the winner for Best Foreign Language Film, The Lover, Eric''s gaze shifted to the big screen featuring a rather neurotic woman, causing a slight stir of emotion within him.

    "What''s up? Got some inspiration again?" Virginia teased lightly.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Eric shook his head. "Nothing much, just suddenly remembered a few people."

    "Why not just say a few women?" Virginia quipped softly.

    Eric chuckled. He indeed recalled a few women from the screen: Isabelle Adjani and two others, Sophie Marceau and Monica Belli.

    He had a knack for feeling that these three women, although Isabelle Adjani was the best

    actress, were simr in many ways. In a previous life, he had seen someone describe Isabelle Adjani as a blend of the two women, Sophie Marceau and Monica Belli.

    *****

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 Chapter 296: Chapter 297: The Oscars (Part 2)

    Chapter 296: Chapter 297: The Oscars (Part 2)

    ?

    [Chapter 297: The Oscars (Part 2)]

    After patiently waiting for the apuse to die down, Billy Crystal said, "So, Hollywood is a ce filled with dreams. Whether you''re under twenty or over eighty, if you have real talent and are willing to work hard, you will definitely get recognition."

    Apuse erupted once again, and many turned their gaze toward Eric, as there was no doubt that Billy''s mention of being ''under twenty'' referred to him. The camera switched to Eric as it followed the audience''s attention.

    Eric pped calmly, a faint smile gracing his lips as a response. After finishing his segment, Billy Crystal invited another group of presenters before leaving the stage.

    After a few irrelevant awards, Hollywood legend Jane Fonda stepped onto the stage. Eric instinctively straightened in his seat because the next two awards were the most important for him that night. Although he directed four films that year, Firefly Films submitted both Pretty Woman and Running Out of Time for Best Director, neither of which garnered a nomination.

    Thus, the two Best Screeny nominations for The Ind and Scent of a Woman became the most significant nominations he had at this Oscars.

    Born into a family of actors, Jane Fonda stood alongside Morgan Freeman, who appeared to be in his forties. The sleek ck gown she wore allowed her to subtly showcase her youthful charm.

    "This year has undoubtedly been a bumper crop for Hollywood. Local box office earnings have surpassed $5 billion for the first time, and many more outstanding films emerged than in previous years. And no great film can stand without a good script; the script is the foundation of a movie. Now, let''s take a look at the films nominated for the Oscar for Best Adapted Screeny," Jane Fonda stated as she slightly turned to indicate the big screen. Then she continued reading, "The nominees for Best Adapted Screeny are: Driving Miss Daisy, Alfred Uhry; Enemy: A Love Story, Roger L. Simon; Born on the Fourth of July, Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic; My Left Foot, Jim Sheridan and Shane Connaughton; Scent of a Woman, Eric Williams."

    The images of the five nominees appeared sequentially on the big screen. Eric blinked, transfixed on the stage. Though he tried to maintain a nonchnt demeanor, the intense atmosphere led him to clench his hands nervously in hisp. While the attention surrounding the Best Adapted Screeny and Best Original Screeny wasn''t as high as the final four big awards, these two awards certainly held more significance than the earlier trivial award for Best Original Song.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After introducing the nominees, Jane Fonda quickly opened the envelope in her hand, leaned close to the microphone, and announced, "The Oscar for Best Adapted Screeny goes to: Driving Miss Daisy."

    As the thunderous apuse echoed around him, Eric felt his heart skip a beat, filled with an overwhelming sense of dread. Scent of a Woman was the likely winner among the nominees, given the usual Oscar snub for horror films. He had considered submitting either Sleepless in Seattle or Pretty Woman for Best Original Screeny, believing romantic films had a better shot at winning. However, after much deliberation, Eric chose to submit The Others for Best Original Screeny and let go of Sleepless in Seattle and Pretty Woman.

    Despite the low chances of a romance film winning, he believed The Others was a far superior scriptpared to traditional horror films, giving it a better shot than those two romance scripts. Although Oscar rules wouldn''t prevent him from submitting both romantic films as well, it would diminish their chances of winning by splitting the votes.

    However, Eric now realized that no matter how he calcted his odds, he overlooked a crucial fact.

    Both the Best Original Screeny and Best Adapted Screeny awards were voted on by members of the Writers Guild. Therefore, with nominations for both Scent of a Woman and The Others, the voting members might consider that it would be unfair to let him leave empty- handed after receiving two nominations, at least voting for one of the two films. But Eric was also certain most writers wouldn''t vote for both scripts; they would choose either Scent of a Woman or The Others.

    This meant that, while Best Original Screeny and Best Adapted Screeny were different awards, the votes for these awards were still divided. There was no doubt that if given a choice, the more artistically aplished Scent of a Woman would receive more votes than The Others. So, if Scent of a Woman didn''t win, then The Others would have even less a chance. Sighing inwardly, Eric shook his head slightly, quickly masking his emotions as he focused on the stage.

    After announcing the Best Adapted Screeny award, Jane Fonda did not leave the stage. Instead, she proceeded to introduce the nominees for Best Original Screeny. "The nominees for the Oscar for Best Original Screeny are: Dead Poets Society, Tom Schulman; Crimes and Misdemeanors, Woody Allen; Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Steven Soderbergh; The Others, Eric Williams; When Harry Met Sally..., Nora Ephron."

    Eric''s face appeared again on the main screen. Although many in the audience could easily spot him at his table, quite a few turned to him to gauge his reaction.

    Undoubtedly, those people were also aware of his current predicament. Whether anyone was secretly enjoying the spectacle, however, remained unknown.

    Eric ignored the irrelevant stares and simply nodded to a few crew members around him, exchanging reassuring nces without letting his disappointment show.

    *****

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 Chapter 297: Chapter 298: The Oscars (Part 3)

    Chapter 297: Chapter 298: The Oscars (Part 3)

    ?

    [Chapter 298: The Oscars (Part 3)]

    Despite having no expectations for the award, Eric''s expression held a hint of anxiety. He reassured himself internally, somewhat like a character from a literary work, that he was still young -- a premature win might not be good for him anyway.

    On stage, Jane Fonda wrapped up her introduction for the Best Original Screeny nominees and scanned the audience. Whether intentional or not, Eric noticed her gaze linger on him for a moment. Before he coulde to any conclusion, she lowered her head, opened the envelope, and briefly nced at the winner''s card. A look of surprise shed across her face before she smiled and nced back at Eric.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    He was sure this time it wasn''t just his imagination. If that earlier nce could have been idental, then this one -- was it a sign...?

    His heart raced, and without realizing it, Eric tightened his fist, his gaze sharp as he focused on Jane Fonda.

    Sensing the anticipation of the audience, Jane didn''t prolong the moment and leaned into the microphone, announcing, "The Oscar for Best Original Screeny goes to... The Others"

    The most unexpected thing happened. In the Los Angeles Music Hall, most people had long been entrenched in Hollywood, and upon hearing that title, many disyed looks of shock.

    Though he had received hints beforehand, Eric still widened his eyes in disbelief. It wasn''t until someone nearby stood that he followed suit.

    Thunderous apuse erupted.

    At the same time, a surprising moment unfolded in the award hall. With Eric''s rise, more people began to stand, including the nominees for The Others, Sleepless in Seattle, Running Out of Time, and Pretty Woman. Those associated with Firefly Films multiplied, with Eric noticing that the number of standers reached five rows around him.

    Although some immediately realized this was somewhat improper, sitting back down felt even worse, so they remained as they were.

    After briefly hugging a few nearby individuals, Eric, pressured by time, rushed to shake hands with others, sometimes only touching fingertips due to distance.

    Even with this whirlwind, it took nearly a minute for Eric to approach the stage.

    By now, in the audience, the expressions of doubt, shock, and resignation hadrgely morphed into envy. Just a minor award for Best Original Screeny had created such a stir; after this event, no one would dare overlook Eric''s status in Hollywood.

    Eric delivered his eptance speech smoothly, as he had prepared ahead of time, making it feel easier than his earlier remarks after winning Best Song. As he spoke, a part of his mind wandered, pondering why he won this award.

    Undoubtedly, it was the result of Oscar politics.

    He realized he had perhaps underestimated theplexities of the Oscars. Given his influence in Hollywood, not walking away with at least one award after two nominations would surely raise questions regarding the Oscars'' fairness.

    Indeed, such skepticism wouldn''t onlye from the media; it could also arise from the general public. The prior incident he faced had already subjected him to malicious scrutiny. His public rtions battles for a substantial award without garnering recognition could lead the audience to form negative associations, resulting in disappointment towards the Oscars.

    He contemted why he didn''t win the seemingly more attainable Best Adapted Screeny for Scent of a Woman but instead secured the Original Screeny for The Others. Eric understood this was likely the product of backdoor dealings. While he found the underlying motives intriguing, he knew he hadn''t reached a status whereby he could prate the Oscars'' inner workings.

    Thinking this, he followed Jane Fonda and the award presenters backstage, where staff eagerly took the unengraved little golden statue from him, pinning the engraved te in ce.

    ...

    Next up was the award for Best Director, and as Scent of a Woman received a nomination in this category, Eric found himself a bit anxious while waiting for the staff to finish.

    Jane Fonda approached him. "Mr. Williams, congrattions," she said, smiling and extending her hand.

    "Thank you for the hint earlier, Ms. Fonda," he replied, attempting to remainposed. "I''ve seen many of your films; Coming Home and The Electric Horseman are fantastic, but my favorite remains On Golden Pond. The portrayal of familial love in that film is so moving." "Thank you for appreciating that," she replied, still smiling. "Mr. Williams, I assume you''ll be holding a celebration party next?"

    Eric felt a slight shift in his demeanor. He quickly recognized that this wasn''t a mere casual greeting. He didn''t understand her intentions, but forming connections with someone from Hollywood''s famous acting legacy could only benefit him.

    Thus, he readily responded, "Yes, Ms. Fonda. If you''re free, you''re wee to join our celebration party afterward at the Beverly Hills Hotel on the third floor."

    "I''ll be there," she nodded, aware that Eric was eager to return to the hall, and she quickly departed.

    ...

    With that, when Eric returned to the award hall, he disappointingly found Oliver Stone delivering his eptance speech for Born on the Fourth of July, while nearby, Al Pacino from the Scent of a Woman crew shot Eric a resigned nce. As for Martin Brest, Eric couldn''t read his expression, but he could guess it was likely one of disappointment.

    Speaking of Born on the Fourth of July, Eric recalled the unfortunate Tom Cruise. He remembered that Cruise was originally set to receive his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor with that film.

    Unfortunately, because of his role in Running Out of Time, Cruise had to miss out on this opportunity.

    Both Firefly Films and Cruise had tried to secure a nomination for Best Actor, but without sess. Though he secured a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama at the Golden Globes, he didn''t receive an Oscar nod. Eric noted that when he met Cruise days ago, thetter hadn''t

    shown any goodwill.

    Cruise had received ample remuneration for his role in Running Out of Time, so while Eric felt a little sympathy that Cruise didn''t secure an Oscar nomination, he didn''t feel indebted to him. After all, Cruise''s earnings greatly exceeded those of Tom Hanks.

    Lost in thought, Eric noticed previous Best Actress winner Jodie Foster starting to announce the nominees for Best Actor. Listening to her introductions, Eric considered that had The Silence of the Lambs been produced and released the previous year, Jodie Foster might have secured a second Oscar for Best Actress.

    That felt like a regret.

    "And the nominees for Best Actor are: Morgan Freeman for Driving Miss Daisy; Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman; Daniel Day-Lewis for My Left Foot; Keh Branagh for Henry V; and Robin Williams for Dead Poets Society."

    With each name introduced, a clip of their performances yed on therge screen behind

    Jodie Foster.

    Eric nced at Al Pacino, who was slightly tensed a few seats away. He could empathize with Pacino''s feelings. For 17 years, Pacino had amassed five Oscar nominations, all of which had been in vain, leading many to assert, "Oscar owes him a little golden statue."

    As for the original winner for Best Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, while his performance also shone, he had clear disadvantages.

    First, being British, he was likely to face discrimination from the Academy, and there was no question about that.

    Secondly, Daniel Day-Lewis was still in his early thirties, just reaching the average age for Best Actor nominees, making him significantly youngerpared to the fifty-year-old

    Pacino.

    Finally, in terms of experience and connections, Daniel Day-Lewis couldn''tpete with Pacino, who had nearly two decades of industry experience.

    In Eric''s previous life, Day-Lewis''s win was partly due to it being a rtively lean year for Oscar contenders. Though influenced by the butterfly effect, Eric inferred from the current list that most of the nominated films would likely match those from his previous life. Besides Born on the Fourth of July, which gained some attention because of Tom Cruise, the other films

    had little impact.

    This time, things unfolded ording to Eric''s expectations, as Jodie Foster opened the envelope and quickly called out Al Pacino''s name.

    To an enthusiastic ovation, Al Pacino acknowledged his castmates from Scent of a Woman, but instead of immediately proceeding to the stage, he headed towards Eric in the back. Realizing what was about to happen, Eric smiled and stood up, while Jonathan Demme, who had been

    sitting next to him, cleverly vacated the space.

    *****

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 Chapter 299: Chapter 300: Too Late

    Chapter 299: Chapter 300: Too Late

    ?

    [Chapter 300: Too Late]

    The spacious party hall was crowded with people, as Firefly Films hosted their Oscar celebration. Typically, aside from the winning film crews, only the major studios in Hollywood would throw such parties after the Golden Globes or the Oscars, inviting numerous stars from the industry. Lesser-knownpanies wouldn''t even dare to do it, as it would only result in an embarrassing turnout due to theck of big-name stars, which would be even more humiliating.

    However, Firefly was different. Even though they still held a second-tier position in the industry, this year, due to the significant impact of their films at the box office and award ceremonies, most of the stars from former UTA certainly showed up. Additionally, many other Hollywood celebrities came just to support or scout for opportunities.

    "I feel the Academy has been a bit too conservative this year. All four films you directed personally achieved huge box office sess. Aside from Home Alone 2 being a pureedy, I believe the other three deserved nominations for Best Director without a doubt, especially Running Out of Time. What a pity," Harvey Weinstein said sincerely, leaning his plump face closer to Eric.

    Eric had just run into the Weinstein brothers after the Oscars. He had nned to catch up with them, but after hearing that Firefly was holding a celebration, the brothers brought the entire crew from My Left Foot along. Even though My Left Foot received five nominations, it ultimately came away empty-handed. As a result, the Weinsteins canceled their original celebration, and no studio memberined.

    Holding a ss of red wine, Eric smiled, "Harvey, it''s all good. I''m still young, and there will be many opportunities in the future. Winning awards too early isn''t necessarily a good thing. It can easily lead someone off course and make them stagnant."

    "No, no, no." Harvey immediately shook his head. "Eric, I actually think Firefly''s award strategy has quite a few missteps. Take those two Best Screeny nominations, for example. If it were up to me, I wouldn''t have submitted one for Best Original Screeny and another for Best Adapted Screeny. It''s not that your scripts aren''t excellent; it''s just that both scripts are so outstanding that they could end uppeting against each other, which could result in both missing the mark. I think you can see my point. And as for Scent of a Woman, it''s a shame it only got one Best Actor nomination."

    "I think Daniel Day-Lewis''s performance in My Left Foot was exceptional. If it weren''t for Scent of a Woman, perhaps the Best Actor award should have gone to him," Eric said, ncing over at Daniel nearby. "I heard Daniel got so immersed in his character that he lost himself in it. He even acted as if he were disabled, requiring help to eat."

    Harvey looked around and lowered his voice slightly. "Actually, I prepared to push for the Best Actor campaign initially, because while My Left Foot is outstanding, it''s still a British film, and its lead is an Irish artist. So even though My Left Foot got five nominations, the most likely award would have been Best Actor. But when Scent of a Woman appeared, I knew Daniel''s Best Actor nomination was out of the question. And the chances for Best Picture were very slim as well. So I switched to pushing for Best Director. Unfortunately, I still couldn''tpete with Oliver Stone. After all, he''s a renowned director in Hollywood for years, while Jim Sheridan was directing for the first time. In the end, it was just bad luck for Miramax."

    Eric nodded, not disagreeing, and continued to wait for Harvey to borate. He knew that Harvey had set the stage for something more significant.

    As expected, after a brief pause, Harvey gestured to Robert Shea, who was nearby, passionately discussing something with a group of people. He continued, "Eric, I know Robert Shea led Firefly''s Oscar campaign, but look at how outstanding Scent of a Woman is. Unlike My Left Foot, Scent of a Woman reflects typical American values, and with Martin Brest''s credentials, it had all the advantages. Yet, it only ended up with one Best Actor award while Best Director and Best Picture slipped away. That''s what''s truly unfortunate. If Miramax had handled Scent of a Woman, I believe it could have at least secured one of those awards." After hearing Harvey''s words, Eric expressed some regret. "Harvey, you do make a good point. But Firefly doesn''t have the same standing as Miramax anymore. When Firefly was gearing up for expansion, I looked into some information on Miramax and knew you guys had strongworks after years of acquiring films in Europe and East Asia. My initial n was to have Robert Shea handle North American distribution while you brothers could expand into the overseas markets."

    Harvey couldn''t help but lick his dry lips at the thought of expanding Firefly''s overseas reach. Eric''s earlier films had performed nearly equally well overseas as at home. In fact, Pretty Woman''s box office overseas surpassed its domestic earnings by a whopping 100 million dors.

    The reason the Weinstein brothers focused on art films for Oscar contention stemmed from ack of power. They aimed to gain recognition through awards, boost their names, and profit from box office sales and anciry revenues -- a bit of a backdoor way to make it big after all. After all, Hollywood had only one Oscars each year. If they had the chance to release a blockbuster, the Weinsteins would undoubtedly change their strategy.

    "Well... Eric, I think now..."

    Eric shook his head. "It''s toote now, Harvey. Firefly and New Line have fully merged. Even though I''m still thergest shareholder, I have to consider Robert''s feelings. Compared to now, Miramax''s influence is simply too small. If we were to continue as originally nned, Robert wouldn''t be willing to let you brothers take the overseas distribution rights."

    After a brief sh of disappointment crossed Harvey''s face, he quickly said, "Eric, actually, I''m more skilled at award campaigning. Perhaps we could..."

    "Harvey, what do you think motivates so many people to be so passionate about the Oscars?" Harvey paused before replying with a single word: "Profit."

    Eric chuckled. "See? There you go. That''s why no major moviepany, while valuing the Oscars, has ever ced them in first priority. Most of the films they produce aremercial. Firefly is the same. For the next several years, Firefly will focus primarily onmercial films. Only after reaching certain strength and scale will we delve into and seek out art films, gaining a few honors to embellish thepany."

    "Eric, don''t you think these two matters can progress simultaneously?" Harvey said,

    somewhat reluctantly.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Well, of course, they can. So, there''s still a possibility for us to work together, but merging is out of the question. By the way, I happen to have a film in mind that I believe has excellent award potential, and the producer of that film is here today. Perhaps I could introduce you." Harvey nodded, feeling a bit defeated, and Eric quickly brought him over to Elisabeth and Julia, who were seated on a sofa in the corner, whispering to one another.

    ...

    "Hey,dies. Mind if I sit down?" Eric asked, approaching.

    At the sound of Eric''s voice, Julia froze, and Elisabeth lifted her leg, kicking towards Eric. "Get lost, you yer!"

    Eric quickly ducked aside, sweating as he dodged the sharp ck stiletto. He couldn''t help but notice that both women seemed to have kicked the same leg. Birds of a feather really do flock

    together.

    "Liz, don''t be like that. I''ve already apologized. Let me introduce you to someone."

    Hesitantly, Elisabeth stood up, and Julia did the same, her eyes wandering until they eventually settled on Eric''s face, managing to muster up a reluctant smile.

    Elisabeth nced over at the hefty figure beside Eric. "You mean him? Harvey Weinstein? I

    know him."

    Harvey looked at Eric in confusion, wondering who still dared to kick Eric without hesitation in Hollywood today. He felt an intense curiosity about Elisabeth''s identity.

    Eric quickly said, "Harvey, this is Elisabeth Murdoch, the second daughter of Rupert

    Murdoch."

    "Ah, Miss Murdoch, nice to meet you. It''s an honor to have your recognition," Harvey Weinstein said, immediately beaming as he extended his plump hand.

    Elisabeth reluctantly shook his hand and then turned her eyes back to Eric. "What can I do for

    you?"

    "Well, I believe that after the production of The Silence of the Lambs, it will definitely make an impact at next year''s Oscars. And Harvey excels in this type of PR, which is why I wanted to

    introduce you."

    "Oh..." Elisabeth dragged out her response, her expression turning a bit angry. "So, Firefly earns the money from distribution, but doesn''t care about the awards?"

    Eric waved his hand. "Of course not, Liz. You must have misunderstood. What I meant is,

    Harvey is great at award campaigns, so I wanted to hand the campaign for the awards for next year''s The Silence of the Lambs over to them. Don''t worry, all PR expenses will be covered by

    Firefly." Upon hearing this, Elisabeth scoffed, raising her chin. "That''s more like it." After stating this, she turned her gaze towards Harvey Weinstein with a questioning look.

    For Harvey, the chance to connect with the Murdoch princess was a treasure. Though he only caught snippets of their conversation, he sensed that Elisabeth was now a producer. That was a wonderful opportunity. If they coborated, with the Murdoch family''s resources, would Miramax still have to scrape by like that?

    Thinking of this, Harvey''s expression grew much more earnest, every crease in his round face filled with a smile as he said, "I have no problem with that, Miss Murdoch. It would be an

    honor to coborate with you."

    After all was said and done, Elisabeth waved her hand at Eric and Harvey. "Well then, unless there''s anything else, you can leave now."

    The two men exchanged nces. Harvey thought to himself that they hadn''t exchanged any contact information yet.

    As Elisabeth was about to sit back down with Julia, she suddenly remembered something and addressed Eric, "Wait, you stay. I have a few things I want to ask you."

    Seeing the situation, Harvey could only take the hint and leave temporarily.

    ...

    Once Harvey had walked away, Elisabeth asked, "Mr. Williams, I heard that Ghost has already

    started production."

    Eric twitched a bit and nodded cooperatively. "Yes, Miss Murdoch. Do you have any

    requests?"

    Before Elisabeth could respond, Julia burst intoughter at the theatrical tone adopted by the

    two.

    The atmosphere was disrupted, and Elisabeth feigned anger as she poked Julia in the side

    until Julia was giggling in surrender, prompting Elisabeth to finally let up.

    "Hey, I say, in public like this, you two should keep it down a bit."

    "Who are you to tell me what to do, you jerk?"

    "Uh, fine. I won''t interfere. Your Majesty, please speak," Eric said with a wry smile, raising his

    hand in a surrender gesture. Well, what could he do? Enjoying the moment meant debts would

    follow; he couldn''t stoop to their level!

    "I mean, for your next movie''s leadingdy, what do you think of Julia?"

    Eric looked over at Julia, hesitating to respond when Elisabeth raised an eyebrow. "No

    disagreement allowed. This role is set."

    "Liz, don''t do this, and I really don''t want to..." Julia suddenly realized what was about to happen and quickly grasped Elisabeth''s arm. Elisabeth reassuringly patted Julia''s thigh, "Don''t worry; I''ll be right beside you during filming. I won''t let this awful guy have a

    chance."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 301: Chapter 302: No Choice

    Chapter 301: Chapter 302: No Choice

    ?

    [Chapter 302: No Choice]

    As for the controversy over the award results reported by the media, the Academy, as always, offered no response. After all, everyone knew that no matter who received the awards, there would always be plenty of disputes.

    A few days after the Oscars, Firefly Films released its first major project, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, following the earlier turmoil. Many people closely followed the movie with varying emotions.

    Although the recent release of Reservoir Dogs did quite well at the box office, the film, despite Eric''s influence leading to a significant increase in its release scale, was still considered a modest sess.

    Eric had high hopes for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, prompting Robert Shea to secure up to 2,000 screens for the film. This was already the limit of what Firefly could handle at the time, while the seven major studios could have easily lined up more than 3,000 screens if necessary. Moreover, even if Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles performed significantly better than initially expected after its release, it would be difficult to increase the number of screens beyond that point. If ticket sales fell t, then hundreds of screens could be pulled the following week.

    Thus, the release stirred considerable attention from both inside and outside Hollywood. If Firefly ended up facing a "Waterloo," there would surely be many waiting to gloat or take advantage of the situation.

    However, thanks to the Box Office results from the previous timeline and the current promotional scale being muchrger, Firefly had allocated a hefty $6 million for marketing this movie, excluding the cost of producing 2,000 copies. Therefore, Eric was not as anxious as Robert Shea or Jeffrey.

    Although he attended the premiere, Eric took a backseat as a guest, allowing the filmmakers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to take the spotlight.

    At that moment, he was discussing the preparations for Basic Instinct with Jeffrey. "Jeffrey, if Hollywood can''t find suitable actors, I suggest you try Europe. Look at the movie The Unbearable Lightness of Being from a few years back; the director chose European actors because most sought-after Hollywood actors were too conservative to take on the roles." Jeffrey nced at Robert Shea, who was passionately giving a speech on stage. He shook his head, saying, "Eric, that''s not what I''m worried about. There''s still a lot to consider, like the director. The Paul Verhoeven you suggested just signed on for a big film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and is unwilling to listen to Basic Instinct. Plus, the budget is quite a problem. I had someone run a detailed budget based on your script, and the bottom line was that the movie''s cost would be at least $30 million, far exceeding your suggested $20 million budget. Most importantly, the rating issue with your designed scenes went a bit too far. They''re likely to bebeled NC-17; we have no influence on the rating board. If we get an NC-17 and are limited to specific theaters, it won''t just be a money sink."

    Eric ran his fingers through his hair, knowing Jeffrey spoke the truth. The American film rating board was entirely controlled by the seven major studios. Many had analyzed that identical scenes in films produced by the seven would receive an R rating, while those from outside would be hit with NC-17. Eric clearly remembered the case of Meg Ryan, who starred in a film aimed at breaking boundaries. Released through a major studio, some of its more daring scenes were deemed R-rated.

    If this movie managed to avoid an NC-17 rating, the major studios would collectively lose their minds. While there was always a chance of reworking the script for a different rating, that would drastically alter the plot, making box office oues uncertain.

    After thinking for a moment, Eric recognized he had no choice but to say, "Let''s do this, Jeffrey. Reach out to the big studios, see who might be willing to coborate, and pick one that offers us better terms."

    "And what about your involvement as the screenwriter...?"

    "If that''s the case, there''s no point in hiding it. Just use my real name; I''m not even twenty yet, and writing this script will make me seem youthful and reckless. If I try to conceal it, I bet those guys will leak the truth for whatever motives they have."

    Jeffrey shook his head in exasperation, stating, "Eric, I can''t understand why you''re so determined to make this movie. I don''t see what''s so extraordinary about it."

    "Then just read the script a few more times," Eric joked. "Do you know who really ends up pulling the trigger?"

    Jeffrey shook his head, "If you tell me what Beth said after she''s shot by the main character, Nick, I''d be able to confirm."

    Eric teased, "Maybe she says something like ''I...''."

    "I think the least likely phrase is ''I love you,'' but the most likely is ''I was wrong,"" Jeffrey quipped back.

    Eric paused; in fact, the original line was ''I love you.'' However, he figured it would be hard for someone on the brink of death from being shot by their beloved to utter such words. So, while writing the script, Eric made a little modification, leaving only ''I...'' for the audience to guess, akin to how suspense was built in movies like The Others; leaving a mystery tends to help box office oues.

    ...

    After several of the filmmakers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gave speeches on stage, the film began screening.

    As Eric watched the images on screen, he couldn''t help but frown slightly. It had such a strong B-movie, Hong Kong ir. Though with a total budget of $13 million, it was a massive production by Hong Kong standards, it barely held up as a mid-budget film in Hollywood, particrly as it also needed a few special effects.

    One scene showed a group brawling, and a knife-wielding thug identally cut through some wires. Even if they couldn''t achieve glowing effects, there should at least be some zapping electrical sounds, but the reality was... there was nothing. The thug merely twitched a bit, as if shocked. It looked pretty silly.

    Of course, Eric''s expectations had been spoiled by his experience with special effectsden blockbusters. Despite Eric''s repeated frowning, the audience in the theater intermittentlyughed at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' antics or gasped in surprise.

    Initially tense, the filmmakers loosened up upon hearing theughter and cheers from the audience.

    Perhaps due to budget reasons or simply the nature of Hong Kong films, the movie''s runtime was only 90 minutes, and it wrapped up quickly without the lights even turning on before enthusiastic apuse rang out through the cinema.

    ...

    "A fantastic sci-fi action film! While there were shorings in several areas, with a $13 million investment, it''s undeniably a noteworthy film."

    "The movie''s references to Renaissance figures had the audience in stitches, and the action choreography offered plenty of memorable moments worth watching."

    ""

    Following the premiere, all sorts of reviews came pouring in. Thanks to Firefly''s vigorous promotion and public rtions, the overall reception for the film was quite positive. Many newspapers gave it high ratings, and while a few fiercely critical articles appeared, they didn''t make much of a ssh. Despite the seven major studios'' desire for the film to flop, not a single one would shell out hundreds of thousands or even millions to discredit it, faced with Firefly''s relentless money-spending on publicity.

    Moreover, internally, the seven were not particrly optimistic about the film. Otherwise, Fox wouldn''t have originally refused to distribute Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles after seeing

    the finished product.

    ...

    Amidst widespread attention, three dayster, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grossed an astonishing $25 million on its opening weekend across 2,000 theaters in North America,

    shocking many.

    Fox, having misjudged the potential, dismissed several executives within a short period, and following the incident with An Affair to Remember, they became the target of mockery from numerous media outlets.

    In this situation, Fox had no way to voice their concerns.

    A weekter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' first-week box office hit $32 million.

    Upon seeing these figures, many naysayers in the media fell silent.

    ...

    Hollywood insiders also realized that Firefly had emerged unscathed after earlier troubles,

    and word spread that Eric had been the first to bet on this movie, igniting more discussions in Hollywood. Excluding the few films Eric himself was involved in, including Steel Magnolias, this marked the second time a film Eric championed against the odds turned out to be a major

    sess.

    Suddenly, many began inquiring about which films Eric considered promising.

    Thus, the series of rights acquisitions that Eric had Drew undertake earlier that year regained considerable public interest.

    Since Drew wasn''t particrly rushed, Eric had managed to get a little more than half of the twenty-plus copyrights he had listed.

    Upon discovering the two rights currently under negotiation, every major studio in Hollywood joined the bidding frenzy, with rights holders ying their cards close to the vest.

    In this climate, Eric had no choice but to halt Drew''s acquisitions. Although there were still some rights yet to procure, any further attempts would lead to fiercepetition with a low chance of sess.

    Moreover, several key adaptations Eric valued, including Charlie''s Angels, Mission: Impossible, and The Bourne Identity, were already secured.

    But that was a matter forter. In the wake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' massive sess, the person with the most mixed feelings was undoubtedly Robert Shea. After all, if Robert Shea had waited just six more months for the release, New Line Cinema

    would have been in apletely different situation.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 303: Chapter 304: Taking in Advance

    Chapter 303: Chapter 304: Taking in Advance

    ?

    [Chapter 304: Early upation]

    Nicole shrugged and said, "Well, it doesn''t matter. I received quite a few other offers while I was here. Eric''s been helping me choose; his taste has already spread all over Hollywood. I heard you yed a part in that."

    Hearing this, Drew shot the girl an annoyed look and asked, "Where''s Eric?"

    "In the study, discussing something with a guest."

    "Can you help me put my stuff in my room?" She pushed her suitcase toward Nicole and dashed toward the study door.

    Nicole looked at the small suitcase in front of her, furrowed her brow slightly, and then a cryptic smile appeared on her lips as she pulled it along and headed toward the stairs.

    ...

    Upon reaching the door of the study on the lower level, Drew quickly punched in the code on the keypad, and the door opened automatically. She walked down the spiral staircase but didn''t see Eric anywhere. Then it hit her; Eric must be in the study on the second floor, and with all those scripts and sensitive materials in that room, he surely wouldn''t let just anyone in.

    As she stomped up the stairs to the second-floor study, she pushed open the door and immediately spotted Eric seated across from a brown-haired man, discussing something.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The brown-haired man turned at the sound of the door, and Drew recognized him instantly. She had a good memory; the middle-aged man was Michael Krauss, the publisher behind Eric''s Jurassic Park. "Hello, Mr. Krauss."

    Michael Krauss, surprised that Drew had called out his name without hesitation, stood up. "Hello, Miss Barrymore. I didn''t expect you to remember me. We only met once atst year''s party, right?"

    Drew shook Michael''s hand and then spun back to Eric, throwing herself into his embrace and rubbing her face against his. "Eric, I missed you so much."

    Eric smiled and patted the girl''s hair. "Alright, stop it. We have a guest here. Go make us another pot of coffee; we just finished thest one."

    "Hmph, making me work right after I got back," the girl grumbled yfully but brightened up and skipped toward the door.

    "Drew always acts like this, sorry about that," Eric said, exining with a resigned look to the stunned Michael Krauss.

    Michael Krauss chuckled awkwardly before adding, "No, no, it''s fine. Let''s continue discussing The Matrix, Eric. I think the novel is a bit short, only a little over fifty thousand words. A lot of things seem vague to me. It would be great if it could be expanded to two hundred thousand words."

    "I''d like to do that, Michael, but you should understand I barely have that kind of time right now. Writing fifty thousand words is already quite a aplishment, and you know I wrote this just for the film rights," Eric replied, gesturing. They were discussing the highly anticipated The Matrix.

    After the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and some past events, Eric''s insight into movies had reached all of Hollywood. As a high-risk industry, Hollywood people tended to be superstitious about such matters, which is why Drew''s quiet acquisition of the rights garnered attention.

    Following the incident, Eric''s original n to obtain the screeny for The Matrix from the Wachowski brothers couldn''t be executed anymore.

    The Matrix didn''t appear until ''99 in his old life. Right now, the concept was merely some scattered thoughts in the minds of the two carpenter brothers. Eric had written it out without reservation and made some vague alterations that set the book apart from the movie, but the main storyline remained essentially unchanged. Even though he only wrote a little over fifty thousand words, it was enough to secure the rights and not worry about copyright issues in the future.

    "Eric, this story is quite exciting, so I think maybe I could find someone to expand on it to two hundred thousand words. Don''t worry, there won''t be any issues with the rights; I guarantee we''ll sign a thorough contract with whoever we hire," Michael said, proposing an idea.

    Eric shook his head immediately, "Michael, hiring a ghostwriter is a risky business. Once the profits reach a certain level, I can guarantee that writer wille out seeking their cut. So I won''t take that risk."

    While they were talking, Drew strolled in with a pot of coffee, curious as she picked up the novel manuscript between them. "What are you two talking about? Hmm... The Matrix sounds like an interesting name."

    Michael Krauss nced at Drew, who had taken a seat on the nearby sofa and was flipping through the manuscript. He looked helplessly at Eric.

    "It''s fine, we can keep chatting," Eric reassured Michael with a calm nce. He understood Michael was worried Drew might overhear something inappropriate and spill itter. Michael then asked, "So, Eric, since you disagree with that, I''d like to ask about the rights to Running Out of Time. Have you thought about adapting that story into a novel?"

    "Michael, the rights to Running Out of Time are jointly held by Firefly Films and Columbia. The first installment already grossed over four hundred million globally, so with the sequels, the revenue might surpass 100 million. Given the immense financial stakes, Columbia wouldn''t agree to novelize the series for just a few hundred thousand or a few million in royalties."

    "That''s quite unfortunate," Michael replied, shaking his head. Then he continued discussing details about the publication of The Matrix with Eric. After some time, Michael declined Eric''s invitation to stay for dinner and bid farewell.

    Eric saw Michael Krauss out of the vi and returned once he drove through the gates.

    ...

    "Wow, Eric, how did youe up with this? It''s just brilliant." As soon as she stepped into the living room, Drew excitedly waved the manuscript in front of Eric.

    Eric snatched The Matrix manuscript from her hands and asked, "When did you get back?"

    "I came straight here from the airport," Drew grinned as she linked her arm through his, walking with him into the study on the lower level.

    "Why were you on the set of The Silence of the Lambs? If it were filming in Los Angeles, that would be one thing, but you, this little girl, ran all the way to Pennsylvania?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 305: Chapter 306: Eric Thought So Too

    Chapter 305: Chapter 306: Eric Thought So Too

    ?

    [Chapter 306: Eric Thought So Too]

    "Hey there, Ms. Kidman, I''m Tom Cruise, but you can call me Tommy. Wow, you''re gorgeous -- almost more beautiful than in the movie! Can I call you Nicole?" Eric was chatting with Pa Wagner when he heard Tom Cruise''s enthusiastic voice behind him.

    "Of course, that''s fine, Mr. Cruise," Nicole replied, her tone slightly distant. However, it seemed that Tom didn''t pick up on that and went on to discuss other topics.

    Pa shot Eric an awkward smile, internally scolding Cruise for hisck of decorum. After all, Nicole Kidman was Eric''s date, and their rtionship was all too clear.

    Eric turned slightly to see Cruise already seated across from Nicole. He resignedly said to Pa, "Well, Ms. Wagner, shall we sit down?"

    "Sure, Eric, I''m really... sorry," Pa replied in a low voice.

    "It''s no big deal," Eric said, returning to the table, signaling the waiter over so they could start ordering.

    "Nicole, the pan-seared foie gras here is fantastic. They say all the ingredients are flown in directly from France. I think you should try it," Cruise said after flipping through the menu, quickly looking up with a smile.

    "Sorry, Mr. Cruise, I''m on a diet," Nicole lightly shook her head and ordered a sd from the waiter, then closed the menu.

    Cruise hit a snag with his remark; his smile dimmed, but his eyes glinted with interest.

    Eric and Pa also finished ordering, and after the waiter left, Cruise spoke without hesitation. "Sorry, Eric. I''ve read the script for Ghost, but Pa''s productionpany is gearing up to shoot another film, so I can''t take that role. Honestly, I think ying a ghost sounds pretty silly. Furthermore, I didn''t see anything special in that script. I suggest you consider a different film, like a sequel to Running Out of Time. Even though I can''t be involved, I''m sure the sequel will be a box office sess thanks to the first film''s poprity."

    Hearing Cruise say this, Pa ced a hand on her forehead and softly rubbed her temples. Clearly, Cruise''s self-importance was on full disy again, as he hadpletely forgotten her prior warning.

    Nicole opened her mouth slightly at his words, then discreetly raised her juice to her lips, shielding a hint of sarcasm at the corners of her mouth.

    Eric sat back in his chair, his hands resting on the tabletop, fingers intertwined as he listened with mild interest to Cruise''s words. Once Cruise finished speaking, Eric looked at him intrigued. "So, Tommy, what was the purpose of inviting me here today?"

    Pa quickly jumped in to prevent any further faux pas from Cruise. "Mr. Williams, Tommy is just like that; he never keeps things to himself, so please don''t take offense. We think the script for Ghost is quite good; it''s just that Tommy''s schedule is already booked, so he can''t coborate this time."

    "Oh, well then..." Eric continued to inquire.

    As Cruise was about to respond, he felt a gentle kick at his calf from beneath the table. He nced at Pa and saw a light plea on her face, prompting him to shrug and fall silent.

    Finally relieved that Tom Cruise had stopped speaking, Pa turned to Eric and said, "It''s like this, Mr. Williams. Flower Films, under Firefly, acquired many novel and film rightsst year, including a TV series called Mission: Impossible. I wanted to ask if you could transfer the rights to us. We will certainly offer a very reasonable price."

    Eric raised an eyebrow, curiously asking, "Ms. Wagner, what interests you in this TV series? If adapted into a film, it should be an action-spy flick, which differs greatly from Tom''s current screen image."

    Cruise couldn''t help but interject again. "See, Pa? Eric thinks so too. So I believe we should just drop this matter. I''ve always said I''m not suitable for pure action films -- those roles should go to Schwarzenegger or Stallone. I''m better suited for drama, even if it has some action elements. It should be more like Top Gun from a few years back or our recent film, focusing on the story. Eric, you must agree, right?"

    Eric smiled lightly and nodded. "Of course, I think Tommy is much more suited for narrative- driven films. A sudden shift would be very risky."

    With the two men diverting the topic, Pa found herself at a loss for words, her expression turning fraught. She nced at the man who appeared to be gloating over his ''recognition'' and then at Eric, whose slight smile seemed somewhat peculiar to her.

    Moving past the issue of the original Mission: Impossible series, Eric quickly suggested, "Tommy, why don''t you tell us about the movie you''re currently preparing? I believe many fans would be very excited to hear about it."

    "Absolutely," Cruise said, suddenly interested. His gaze drifted back to Nicole. "A few years back, when I worked with Paul Newman on The Color of Money, I developed an interest in racing and have been wanting to make a racing film. The script envisions massive and thrilling racing scenes. Paramount has agreed to invest $60 million in this project. I''m sure it can create the same box office glory as Top Gun did in ''86. By the way, Nicole, we''re currentlycking a female lead. Would you like to audition? The moment I saw you, I thought you would be perfect for the role of ire."

    Nicole perked up at the thought of a $60 million investment. She nced at Eric, noticing the nomittal expression on his face, then tentatively asked, "Mr. Cruise, could you provide more details about this role?"

    "Of course! ire is a doctor. The male lead, Cole, meets her after an ident during a race, and he quickly finds himself drawn to her strength and resilience, ultimately falling in love with the main character..."

    Cruise animatedly described the role for about seven or eight minutes, only pausing when the waiter brought their meals to the table. Nicole would asionally throw in a yful question in rhythm with Cruise.

    Pa, watching the couple''s conversation anxiously, nced at Eric. Seeing him calmly enjoying his meal, she felt a bit reassured.

    "Ms. Wagner, are you still serving as Tom''s manager?" Eric suddenly asked, breaking from the ongoing chatter surrounding him as he took a few bites and looked at Pa.

    Pa wasn''t sure why Eric asked that, but quickly replied, "No, I''m currently responsible for managing C/W Productions, so Tommy has a new manager named Pat Kingsley."

    Eric secretly sighed, realizing how fortunate Tom Cruise was. Even though he had intruded on this timeline, two immensely significant women for his career were still by his side. Pa Wagner had been a significant benefactor to Tom Cruise, helping elevate him from a nobody to one of Hollywood''s A-list stars. She had also assisted in establishing his productionpany and produced several of his films. One could say that half of Cruise''s sess was due to Pa Wagner.

    Subsequently, Cruise and Pa went on to establish Cruise/Wagner Productions, and Pa became the head of thepany. Tom then hired another manager, Pat Kingsley, who performed excellently, taking over Pa''s responsibilities and diligently managing Cruise''s affairs for fourteen years. Throughout this time, despite Cruise''s personal controversies, Kingsley maintained his public image perfectly.

    In the past, both Cruise and Nicole had Kingsley as their manager, but after the couple''s divorce, Cruise''s career stagnated while Nicole soared, eventually winning an Oscar and joining the $20 million club.

    Feeling an acute sense of imbnce, Cruise irrationally dismissed the hard-working Kingsley over a flimsy excuse linked to Oscar''s negative reception. He thoughtlessly reced her with his sister, who had little professional experience as a manager.

    Not long after, Cruise faced the repercussions of his decisions. Without a strong manager to

    negotiate and manage his public image, a series of misfortunes followed -- including a fallout with Paramount, the infamous couch incident, media scrutiny of his beliefs, and frequent tabloid rumors with co-stars. In just over a year, Cruise''s public image plummeted, and his acting career took a significant hit.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Disheartened, Pa eventually left Cruise''s productionpany. Following that, aside from the Mission: Impossible series, Cruise''s films mostly flopped, and his leverage with Paramount diminished. His days ofmanding a hefty $75 million from a single film were long gone.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 307: Chapter 308: A Rush of Emotion

    Chapter 307: Chapter 308: A Rush of Emotion

    ?

    [Chapter 308: A Rush of Emotion]

    "Here''s your breakfast," Nicole said as she carelessly ced the tray in front of Eric and sat down at the other end of the table.

    Eric, who had just settled down at the dining table, nced at the tray and asked, "Where''s the milk? And I told you, I don''t like them sunny-side up."

    "Eat it or don''t. By the way, I have to go to New York for a few days, and I won''t being back here. Just continue having the maid prepare your breakfast," Nicole said, fiercely poking at her sd with a fork.

    Eric chuckled, "You''re still mad, huh? Drew left yesterday, and now you''re leaving. Doesn''t that leave me all alone in the vi again?"

    "Hmph, what do I care? You just wave your hand, and I''m sure women would flock to you," Nicole replied angrily.

    "Alright, alright, I formally apologize for my behavior yesterday, Miss Kidman. Will you forgive me?"

    "Not a chance! You''re such a jerk. My... that hurt for so long."

    Eric casually spread the newspaper across the table andmented, "That''s your fault. If you didn''t always seize every chance to tease me, none of this would have happened."

    "You... I''m not talking to you," Nicole pouted, lowering her head and aggressively chewing her breakfast, the crunching of the sd sounding almost like she was biting at Eric himself.

    Nicole typically maintained aposed demeanor, and it was the first time Eric had witnessed her throwing a little tantrum. To be honest, it was somewhat cute.

    Laughing, he got up, poured himself a ss of milk from the fridge, and pushed it towards Nicole. "Want a ss of milk? If you only eat sd, your body won''t handle it. You''re in such great shape. Why suddenly go on a diet? I prefer a bit of meat on your bones."

    Nicole shot Eric another re but poured herself a ss of milk nheless.

    ...

    Eric smiled and took a few sips of his milk while casually flipping through the newspaper in front of him. A little whileter, he suddenly set his utensils down and picked up a section of the newspaper. The photo was unmistakable. It showed him and Tom Cruise from their meeting yesterday. The picture had been taken through a ss window, capturing only their backs, but Tom and Pa Wagner were clearly visible.

    "Tom Cruise reportedly criticized Ghost, possibly falling out with Williams."

    "Hollywood''s famous director Eric Williams is in the midst of intensive preparations for his new film, with the casting of the lead roles drawing public interest. Yesterday, our reporter spotted Eric Williams meeting Tom Cruise at a well-known restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard in Hollywood, supposedly inviting Tom Cruise to star as the male lead in his uing film. However, the meeting appeared to be quite contentious. Analyzing Tom Cruise''s lip movements, our reporters discovered that the negotiations were not going smoothly. Cruise referred to taking the lead role in Ghost as ''extremely foolish.'' He didn''t discuss much about Ghost with Eric Williams but seemed to hit it off with Eric''spanion, Nicole Kidman, who shot to fame with Sleepless in Seattle, even inviting her to join his new project. He further stated that the female lead in Ghost had no room for development and was merely a crying trophy role.

    After Tom and Pa Wagner left, Eric and Nicole Kidman sat in silence for a long while. Due to their position, it was unclear what they discussed, but after their discussion, Eric stood up to leave, while Nicole anxiously chased after him.

    From the looks of it, our yboy seemed quite displeased with Nicole Kidman''s conversation with Tom Cruise. Perhaps upset that Nicole Kidman did not refuse to appear in Tom''s new film, he stormed off. It''s likely that a rift formed between Eric Williams and Nicole Kidman, possibly due to Tom Cruise."

    Eric sighed as he read the newspaper several times before passing it over to Nicole. "Look at this, another mess."

    Nicole took the newspaper and skimmed through it, then pouted, "The paper isn''t wrong; we''ve definitely developed a rift."

    "Nicole, you look quite cute when you''re throwing a fit. Just check the mirror."

    "Hmph!" she scoffed, ignoring Eric''s teasing and continuing with her breakfast.

    ...

    However, Eric lost his appetite. While he didn''t care much about the fallout with Cruise, the critic''sments about Ghost demanded his attention. If he didn''t rify and refute the ims quickly, the media might focus on Ghost, potentially creating a negative perception among the public. The film could be branded a flop before it even started shooting.

    He grabbed the newspaper and headed to the living room, dialing Kepler''s number. They discussed the situation, and Kepler promised to reach out to Cruise''s camp for a statement. The absence of anyments regarding Eric and Nicole in the newspaper suggested that the tabloids had only deciphered a portion of their conversation through lip-reading, rather than having any audio recording. If they had, the content of Eric and Nicole''s discussion post-Tom and Pa''s departure would have definitely made headlines.

    ...

    Setting aside that topic, Eric returned to the living room. He nced at Nicole, who was still eating her breakfast leisurely, andmented, "These reporters can read lips now. Looks like we have to be more careful moving forward. Even when no one''s around, we can''t just say anything."

    Nicole rolled her eyes at Eric without saying a word, while she continued eating and reading the paper. But it seemed this meal wouldn''t be peaceful; Eric soon spotted another newspaper showcasing a couple walking side by side, the man looking attentive while the woman had a faint smile on her face.

    Shaking his head, Eric picked up the newspaper again and went back to the living room where he made a phone call. After finishing up, he finally felt at ease returning to the living room to finish his breakfast.

    Once they were done eating, Eric drove Nicole to the airport before heading to the headquarters of Firefly Films.

    ...

    When he arrived at thepany, it was almost ten o''clock, just in time for his meeting with Robert Shea, scheduled for ten.

    Following the blockbuster sess of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Robert Shea had been in a unique emotional statetely. After all, when Firefly acquired New Line, it had a valuation of only $150 million. Robert had managed to snag a 10% share from Eric during a tough time, raising his overall stake in Firefly to 25%.

    However, shortly after, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit theaters and pulled in $30 million during its opening weekend. As ecstatic as he was for its sess, Shea couldn''t help but feel

    immense regret.

    If he had insisted on keeping New Line, the sess of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would have been theirs alone.

    With the current box office trajectory, there was no question the film would gross over $100 million. In the international market, including home video and merchandising, surpassing $100 million in profits would be a breeze. Not to mention, the movie could easily generate sequels. Just on the sess of this one film, New Line''s valuation would likely double.

    "If only I hadn''t sold..." Robert Shea had grumbled privately more than once in the past few days, but it was all for naught.

    ...

    In a small conference room at Firefly, four people gathered around a small meeting table. Robert Shea then introduced the two individuals sitting beside him to Eric. "Eric, these are the scripts I''ve gathered over the past few days. Take a look? Oh, and these two are Ronald Bass and Nancy Price, the screenwriter and author of the original novel."

    Eric nodded, took the script, and nced at the cover where the title read: Sleeping with the

    Enemy.

    He remembered this was a film starring Julia Roberts that had apparently done quite well atn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    the box office.

    "Eric, is there a problem?" Robert Shea asked, noticing the change in Eric''s expression, thinking Eric might be dissatisfied with the script. However, backed by the sess of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shea felt much more assured. He thought to himself that even if he failed once more, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had already brought in a significant sum of money, money that rightfully belonged to him. Thus, even if Eric opposed, Shea had no ns to

    relent.

    Eric shook his head. "Nothing''s wrong." After saying this, he began to quickly flip through the

    pages of the script.

    Minutester, after skimming through the script, he looked up at Robert Shea and asked, "Robert, are you sure you want to make this movie?"

    Robert Shea nodded confidently. "Eric, you mentioned before that you wouldn''t interfere with my script selections. As long as I chose wisely, you would sign off."

    Hearing the reluctance in Robert''s voice, Eric understood why and just smiled lightly. "Of course, I''ll keep my promise. This thriller script isn''t bad. By the way, do you have any actors

    in mind?"

    Robert Shea had initially prepared to argue with Eric, but since Eric didn''t raise any objections, his pent-up tension dissipated, leaving him feeling somewhat awkward and silent. He then responded, "Yes. That''s why I brought Ronald Bass and Nancy Price here today. Ronald, why don''t you take it from here?"

    Ronald, sitting next to Robert Shea, said, "Mr. Williams, the moment the script was

    completed, Nancy and I agreed that Julia Roberts would be the best fit for the female lead. However, we did extend an invitation, but Julia Roberts''s agent outright declined. Mr. Shea

    thought perhaps you could help."

    "Robert, what''s your take?" Eric asked Robert Shea again.

    Robert Shea nodded, "I also believe Julia Roberts is the best fit for this role. I even called

    Kepler Hyde directly, but Kepler said Julia wasn''t interested in the script. Given your rtionship with her, I believe you could assist in persuading her."

    Eric pondered over the script for a moment before nodding, "Alright, I''ll give it a shot."

    "Eric, you and I both know your rtionship with Julia, so can I count on you for a solid answer?" Robert Shea continued.

    Eric raised his eyebrows and considered for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, I guarantee Julia will sign on. However, regarding her sry, you''ll need to negotiate directly with Kepler. UTA is no longer around, and I''m merely friends with Kepler, so I won''t be able to dictate

    Julia''s sry."

    "That''s perfectly fine," Robert Shea replied. "By the way, the film''s budget is estimated to be around $30 million, and I also n to cast an A-list star as the male lead."

    Eric slightly contemted the script he had just perused and remembered the movies in his mind, doubting that this film would cost anywhere close to $30 million. Looking at Robert Shea, who seemed eager to argue with him, Eric chuckled, "Alright, $30

    million."

    Robert Shea, who had been feeling frustrated due to his earlierments, anxiously sipped his coffee, not knowing why he felt so worked up today, wanting to confront Eric about something, but Eric wasn''t giving him any openings.

    "Ronald, Nancy, why don''t you wait in my office for a bit? I need to discuss some other matters with Eric, and then I''lle back to talk to you about the film."

    "Sure, Mr. Shea," the two replied, sensing the tension in the air and promptly leaving the

    office.

    "Eric, about the overseas distribution of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I think it would be best

    to let Disney handle it. Michael Eisner''s percentage is quite high, and if we follow through with your previous ns and handle it ourselves, I believe we''ll lose out on at least $10

    million." Once they were alone, Robert Shea brought up the distribution situation for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

    "Michael Eisner contacted you?" Eric asked, surprised.

    "Of course," Robert Shea seemed to pick up on Eric''s discontent and quickly added, "I know Michael targeted you for a while, but that''s all in the past. Besides, you epted the script for Ghost, so I think we can put that matter to rest. Also, my contact with Michael Eisner was

    solely for the benefit of Firefly."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 309: Chapter 310: This is a Misunderstanding

    Chapter 309: Chapter 310: This is a Misunderstanding

    ?

    [Chapter 310: This is a Misunderstanding]

    Robert Shea finished his sentence, and a brief silence fell between them. They locked eyes, neither willing to back down. After a moment, Eric was the first to look away from Robert Shea, who then shed a victorious smile.

    "Alright, Robert, if you insist," Eric said, his voice slightly hoarse and a little lower in pitch.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Robert Shea let out what he considered a heartyugh. He reached out slightly, as if wanting to pat Eric on the shoulder, but the conference table stood between them, making the gesture impossible.

    "Eric, don''t think that way. You have to believe me, in Hollywood, money is the most important thing. Without money, everything is just talk. Distributing channels don''t get built overnight; just look at the other filmpanies out there. Which one doesn''t have decades of history?"

    After Robert Shea spoke, Eric nodded slightly, whether in agreement or something else was unclear. "By the way, Robert, Jeffrey told me you didn''t have much faith in the Basic Instinct project?"

    Robert Shea paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, Eric, I think..."

    Eric didn''t have the patience to hear Robert Shea''s reasoning. He interrupted, saying, "Then let''s cancel the project."

    Robert Shea opened his mouth in shock. "What? Cancel it? But Jeffrey has already started casting for it, hasn''t he?"

    "I mean cancel it from this year''s production te," Eric raised his head. "This movie, if made, would definitely run into major issues with ratings. So, to mitigate risk, I n to pull investment from the majors and I will also invest a portion personally, setting up a shellpany to handle it."

    Having been in Hollywood for twenty years, Robert Shea understood perfectly what Eric meant. He didn''t have much faith in the Basic Instinct script, but he hadn''t been entirely opposed to it either. Now, by doing this, Eric was effectively pulling the movie''s production out from under Firefly Films. If the movie ended up being a sesster on, both the rights and profits would have nothing to do with Firefly -- meaning it wouldn''t concern him at all.

    Robert Shea realized this was Eric''s counterattack against his earlier stubbornness. Shea had just acted on impulse, and Eric, as the major stakeholder, had every right to be more headstrong.

    After pondering for a moment, Robert Shea said, "Eric, even though I don''t see it working out, I''m not entirely against it..."

    "ording to the current n, we will release the film you are responsible for, Sleeping with the Enemy, alongside TG Films'' The Silence of the Lambs this summer. There''s also Ghost, which we are co-releasing with Disney. I think Firefly won''t be able to spare too many resources for Basic Instinct, so it''s a good choice to separate this project to mitigate risk."

    After thinking things over, Robert Shea gritted his teeth. He couldn''t believe Eric would keep seeding indefinitely, so he quickly nodded. "Fine, Eric, let''s do it your way."

    In reality, even if Robert Shea had disagreed, Eric had already nned to do this.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    In the past, Basic Instinct only grossed a little over $100 million. In terms of both reputation and box office, it couldn''tpare to Ghost or The Silence of the Lambs. It might not even do as well as Sleeping with the Enemy. However, given Robert Shea''s stubborn decision to hand the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over to Disney, Eric had to react to keep Shea in line. Otherwise, Eric knew Shea would continue pushing boundaries.

    "So, I''ll get back to work," Eric said, nodding at Robert Shea''s answer, then stood up and left the meeting room.

    After Eric left, Robert Shea smugly smiled, finished his coffee, and slowly rose to leave.

    ...

    North of Malibu, in the Santa Monica Mountains, dozens of crew members were bustling amid the trees with various photography equipment scattered around.

    This was the set for The X-Files. Although the stories in The X-Files took ce across various states in America, it was impractical to shoot all over the country. Instead, they filmed around Los Angeles or built sets in studios, only going to the relevant states for unavoidable exterior shots and editing those into the final cut.

    ...

    Mulder and Scully drove a ck Ford down a small road through the woods, chatting leisurely when suddenly the radio sprang to life with strange static noises, quickly turning chaotic. Mulder promptly stopped the car.

    ...

    "Cut! That shot is good, Raymond, take down the camera from the car quickly. Brad, Famke, you guys can take a break," director Kim Manners shouted into a megaphone. The crew members promptly got busy.

    Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen heard the director as well,ughing as they got out of the car. Brad fetched a bottle of water from the production team and handed it to Famke, who smiled and thanked him.

    "Hey, Famke, just two more hours before we get off. How about we hit a bar tonight?" Brad Pitt asked, seeing her in a good mood and seizing the opportunity.

    Famke hesitated for a moment. Although she had grown fond of Brad after spending time together, even earning some attention from paparazzi during a walk that made the papers, a shadow from the past shed in her mind. She was all too aware of how shended this leading role. That guy had given this part to her -- aplete newbie without any acting experience -- amidst fiercepetition. It was clear that he took a special interest in her. She knew signing that actor contract implied her eptance of certain realities.

    She initially thought Eric Williams would be quick to extend an invite to her, but soon afternding the role, a scandal had engulfed him, leaving herpletely at a standstill.

    Besides, with Brad Pitt''s relentless charm, Famke found herself enjoying hispany. He was gentle and caring, which began to drive her heart to flutter.

    "Maybe he''s already forgotten about me," she thought. Months had passed without any significant action, and clearly, a yboy like him wouldn''t becking for women. Perhaps she was just a fleeting presence in his life.

    Beautiful women tend to carry an air of pride, making such thoughts leave her feeling somewhat dejected, more so than when she initially signed the contract for this role.

    "I think... maybe, alright," Famke finally nodded gently.

    Brad Pitt beamed even brighter. "By the way, do you have a bar you like to go to?"

    Famke shook her head. "Sorry, I used to live in New York, so any ce you choose is fine." "No problem," Brad Pitt nodded.

    ...

    The two were about to continue their conversation when a car rolled into the set. One of The X-Files producers, Hans Whitler, stepped out, ncing around and spotting the two chatting, a frown creasing his forehead as he walked over.

    "Hey, Hans, what brings you here?" Kim Manners weed him before he could reach them.

    Hans Whitler smiled and shook hands with Kim Manners, gesturing toward Brad and Famke.

    "I''m looking for them."

    "What''s up?" Kim Manners asked.

    Hans shrugged, looking a bit resigned. "Mr. Williams wants to see them."

    "Mr. Williams..." Kim froze for a moment, then quickly connected the dots. The only person Hans could be referring to was Eric Williams. "Is there something wrong?"

    Hans handed Kim a newspaper. "You might want to see for yourself."

    At that moment, Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen approached as well. Upon seeing the newspaper Hans had given to Kim, their expressions dropped. The front page featured a photo of the two

    of them together.

    Brad recognized Hans Whitler as a producer from Firefly Films and an uneasy feeling washed over him. He thought to himself, "I can''t be that unlucky." He still vividly recalled an incident in New York where he had been kicked off a TV set after chatting up one of the actresses. Even though he hated everything about Eric at the time, as the situation settled and Eric shone brighter, Brad felt smaller inparison. People often envied those just ahead of them, but when it came to someone who was far beyond, such emotions faded away. Though Eric was much younger, Brad felt more reverence than animosity toward him. At the start of the production, he had worried Famke Janssen might be Eric''s woman, so he initially kept his feelings in check. However, time proved Famke was seemingly unrted to Eric, which made him more confident in pursuing her.

    But now, he realized he had misjudged the situation again.

    Casting a nce at Famke, Brad wanted to smack himself. This woman had no acting background, yet she was selected from arge group of auditioners; it was hard to believe it

    was mere luck.

    If it wasn''t luck, then there had to be another reason. And since both the male and female leads for The X-Files were handpicked by Eric, that ''other reason'' was all too apparent. Kim Manners eyed the newspaper showing Brad and Famke strolling together, noting the article discussing their apparent romantic sparks. Curiously, he asked, "Hans, what does this

    mean?"

    Hans leaned in and whispered a few words into Kim''s ear. Kim turned to look at the pair standing before him and immediately said, "Hans, I think there''s been a misunderstanding

    here. I thought this piece was for our series promotion."

    Brad couldn''t hold back anymore and chimed in, "Mr. Hans, it''s really just a misunderstanding. Miss Janssen and I have absolutely no rtionship."

    Famke, hearing Brad''s words, looked at him wide-eyed in disbelief.

    Brad shot a somewhat guilty nce at Famke but quickly rectified, "Fam... Janssen, we just

    happened to bump into each other yesterday, chatted for a bit, and then parted ways. Nothing

    happened between us, right?"

    Famke finally caught on. She didn''t know about Brad''s past in New York, and seeing him deny their earlier interactions without hesitation made her feel like the kind words he''d shared were mere illusions, erasing the slight fondness she had felt for him.

    "Yes, Mr. Hans, I have no rtionship with Mr. Pitt. The gossip in that article is entirely fabricated by the tabloids," Famke said coldly.

    While Brad felt a wave of relief wash over him, he couldn''t help but feel a bit despondent. But soon, he adjusted his mindset.

    As long as he could keep the leading man role, he would have no trouble winning over women in the future. He had heard from his agent that Fox valued The X-Files as much as Friends; imagining himself enjoying that level of fame made him feel all the sleepless nights and hard work in Hollywood were worth it.

    Hans Whitler gave a nk look at the two, then focused his attention on Famke, implying, "Mr. Williams wants to see you two; you can discuss this with him in person." Director Kim Manners observed the situation and asked, "Hans, does it have to be right now?

    The next shot is ready to go."

    Hans pped a hand on Kim''s shoulder apologetically. "Sorry, Kim, but we might have to

    stop here for today. It takes more than an hour to drive to Firefly''s headquarters, and Mr. Williams instructed me to bring them over before we wrap."

    "Come on, Hans, it''ll only take about ten minutes. This shot isn''t that long; it''s just a few

    simple lines?"

    Hans shrugged.

    "Alright then, I''ll have the crew shoot other shots in the meantime." Knowing the discussion was futile, Kim Manners resignedly said goodbye to everyone and headed straight to the crew.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 311: Chapter 312: Occupational Habits

    Chapter 311: Chapter 312: upational Habits

    ?

    [Chapter 312: upational Habits]

    At a brightly lit mansion in Beverly Hills, a lively party was taking ce to celebrate the start of filming for The Godfather Part III. By the pool outside the vi, a middle-aged man in his forties with a bit of a paunch and thinning hair was animatedly talking to a dark-haired woman beside him.

    "You know, I worked as Mr. Copp''s assistant on both previous Godfather films. It was like being a co-director. Mind you, I was just in my early thirties back then. It''s not easy to be a co-director at thirty in Hollywood. Over the years, I kept in touch with Mr. Copp. He even introduced me to the investors for this film. He has high hopes for my script. So, Miss Connelly, as long as you perform well, I guarantee you''ll sessfully make that transition."

    Jennifer Connelly felt a bit impatient inside, but she dared not show it. After losing the role of the love interest in Running Out of Timest year, her agent Jim Lister had not devoted much attention to her. As a result, it had been a whole year since she hadnded any role.

    If this continued, she might find herselfpletely forgotten by Hollywood. Just the thought unsettled her. Without Hollywood, what else could she do? Acting was all she knew.

    She could settle down with a man, be a full-time housewife, and while she could ept that option, she didn''t want to lead a mundane life concerned only with groceries and bills. Even in marriage, she desired a richer life.

    But among the people she knew, only someone like this man -- forty or fifty, established in Hollywood -- could provide her with that life. Not to mention, the age of these men usually matched her father''s. Moreover, in Hollywood, their marriages were often the most unstable. Who knew when she might get dumped? With age creeping up on her and her looks fading, what would she do then?

    "Hey, Miss Connelly, are you listening to me?"

    The woman snapped back to the present as she heard a slightly annoyed voice nearby. She quickly focused, putting on a smile. "Sorry, Mr. nton."

    Tony nton seemed pleased with her response and discreetly nced at her figure entuated by her ck evening gown before continuing, "Miss Connelly, zoning out at such a formal event is quite rude. Those big shots wouldn''t have been so forgiving. Oh, herees Al Pacino! And Mr. Copp, and, is that... his nephew Nics Cage?"

    Jennifer Connelly noticed a few men approaching,ughing as they came from the vi. The man in the middle with sses and a big beard was clearly Francis Ford Copp. The others who had been chatting in the yard quickly gathered to greet them.

    "Miss Connelly, let''s go say hello," Tony nton said, gently raising his arm.

    Jennifer hesitated but linked her arm with his and walked towards Copp and his group.

    After a group departed, Tony nton quickly released Jennifer Connelly and approached Copp with a friendly smile. "Mr. Copp, congrattions on directing the final installment of The Godfather series. I believe this film will make quite a ssh!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Thank you, Tony. How''s your movieing along?" Francis Copp asked, shaking hands with Tony.

    "It''s almost ready to roll! Oh, and this is my lead actress, Miss Jennifer Connelly. She starred as Deborah in Sergio Leone''s Once Upon a Time in America. Not sure if you remember her."

    Francis Copp sized up Jennifer Connelly like she was an item for sale. To Hollywood bigwigs, no beauty could really captivate them.

    Feeling scrutinized, Jennifer froze, her outstretched hand that was meant for handshake greeting dropped, and she nervously fidgeted with her dress hem.

    "Hmm, not bad, just a bit too pretty, Tony. Your film is a drama; it''s not always good to have such a stunning lead."

    Tony nton was about to speak when Copp waved his hand dismissively, "Of course, it''s your film that you''ve prepared for so long. The casting is your decision, and I won''t interfere."

    "No, no, Mr. Copp, if it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t know where to find investors. Plus, your judgment is way better than mine. If you think she''s not suitable, I''ll definitely reconsider." Hearing Tony nton say this, Jennifer felt her heart sink. The role she had fought so hard for could vanish just because of a casual remark. In an instant, she wished these powerful men were dragged into hell.

    Copp noticed her expression and quickly patted Tony on the shoulder,ughing, "Easy there, Tony. I was just joking. This girl still seems promising. If you rece her, who knows how many times she''ll curse me in private?"

    "Of course not! Miss Connelly admires you a lot. We were just discussing your films," Tony quickly replied, gently nudging Jennifer, who stifled a sniffle, trying to pull herself together. Just as she was about to speak, Copp had already turned to walk away with Al Pacino and Nics Cage.

    ...

    "Frank, who was that guy? I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere," Al Pacino asked once the three moved away.

    "Oh, he was my assistant during the first two Godfather films, which is probably why you recognize him. We''ve kept in touch over the years. Recently, he approached me about making a film and I introduced him to a few investors out of respect," Copp casually replied. Al thought for a moment but couldn''t recall who Tony nton was and dropped it. Watching Nichs Cage lean curiously towards the entrance, Al chuckled, "Come on, Nick, I''ve been saying it forever: Eric rarely attends parties. He''s not into this sort of scene. You should focus on your audition. If you impress Eric and factor in your family ties to Copp, I believe Eric will hand you the lead in Ghost."

    At the mention of Eric, Copp appeared contemtive. "Speaking of which, after that recent incident, everyone thought that kid wouldn''t get through it. Turns out he came through, and made Michael Eisner eat crow, handing over a script. Al, you''ve worked with Eric Williams. What do you think of him?"

    Al Pacino pondered briefly and shook his head. "Honestly, I couldn''t say. I had just made my Broadwayeback at the end ofst year when Eric hit me up in a cafe. He pitched me his script, and at first, there was nothing special. I was ready to turn him down when he then mentioned the script for Scent of a Woman. It piqued my interest, so I quickly hopped on a ne to LA. If I had to say... he''s very mature -- mature beyond his years. When you''re with him, you quickly forget he''s still under twenty. It feels like you''re talking to someone your

    own age."

    "You''ve got me interested in meeting this remarkable young man," Copp replied with augh. "I heard Steven had tried to get the rights to Jurassic Park but got turned down by the kid! Haha, not many can pull one over on Steven in Hollywood."

    "He''s definitely earned that privilege now," Al chuckled in return.

    Copp paused for a moment before grinning, "Yeah, he really has. Who knows, in a few years, Hollywood''s big seven might just turn into eight. I can''t believe how many hit films he''s been able to produce. Half ofst year''s top ten box office were from Firefly Films. Truly remarkable."

    As they chatted, themotion near the entrance of the mansion caught their attention. In unison, they exchanged nces and started to head in that direction to find out what was

    happening.

    ...

    "Fam, why do you seem a bit awkward? Is your dress ufortable?" Eric inquired as he drove towards the Copp estate, ncing at Famke Janssen, who sat in the passenger seat.

    She wore a rose-colored one-shoulder gown, her hair styled into an elegant bun. Even though she wore only a touch of light makeup, she looked significantly more beautiful than when Eric had seen her earlier in the afternoon.

    "No, no, it''s nothing. Just an upational habit," Famke Janssen replied shyly, finally rxing her hands on her knees.

    "upational habit?" Eric asked, intrigued.

    "Yes," she smiled awkwardly, then exined. "Back when I participated in fashion shows, the clothes were usually designed just before the event. If you identally ripped one, us models couldn''t afford to pay for it. So, we couldn''t wait to take them off after walking on the

    catwalk."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 313: Chapter 314: Self-Destruction

    Chapter 313: Chapter 314: Self-Destruction

    ?

    [Chapter 314: Self-Destruction]

    Francis Ford Copp redirected his gaze and introduced, "Eric, over there is the garden. If you''re interested, you can take a lookter. There are ornamental nts transnted from the jungles of South America."

    "No, no, it''s not that. I thought I saw someone I recognized, but I might have been mistaken," Eric recalled a fleeting figure he had glimpsed, seemingly holding the arm of a balding middle-aged man. Most likely, he had misunderstood; a girl like her, so proud and confident...

    Shaking his head, Eric kept his thoughts to himself, offering a nonchnt expression to the others as he continued toward the vi.

    ...

    Tony nton, who had been buttering up Jennifer Connelly, heard faint apuseing from the manor entrance. He inquired among those nearby and soon returned to Jennifer. "Eric Williams showed up! That young, overly ambitious director, I never expected to see him here."

    The middle-aged man seemed to be reminiscing, unaware that the woman beside him nearly dropped her wine ss at the mention of Eric''s name. Her thoughts became flustered.

    "Miss Connelly, do you know Eric Williams? He''s a truly remarkable young man. In less than two years, he made a huge name for himself in Hollywood. Being kissed by a lucky woman doesn''t even begin to describe his good fortune. He''s like the love child of Lady Luck," Tony chuckled at his own joke, breaking into a self-satisfiedugh.

    Jennifer Connelly, however, found nothing tough about. Holding her ss, she lowered her eyes slightly as a series of numbers shed through her mind -- Eric''s phone number. She had only dialed it once, nine months ago, when Running Out of Time was released. She regretted not leaving a message.

    But at that time, no one answered when she called. Afterward, as Eric''s fame skyrocketed in Hollywood, her pride and insecurity made her too cowardly to dial that number again. She felt that by ignoring it, she could hold onto something.

    Earlier that year, a scandal erupted linking Eric and several women. She had been caught up in it at first. However, the media''s attention shifted to the Hollywood starlets who had risen to fame thanks to Eric. Like those brief encounters, she became just a name in a long list of gossip articles, overlooked and insignificant.

    Perhaps that was why the middle-aged man had asked if she knew Eric Williams.

    How ridiculous, she thought. Who in Hollywood didn''t know him?

    Soon, Jennifer spotted Eric walking alongside Francis Ford Copp; he looked much the same as a year ago. However, he seemed to have a different woman by his side.

    Though the woman wasn''t as pretty as she was, she was tall, easily four inches above Jennifer. Yet, Jennifer forced herself to feel a subtle, fragile superiority -- at least she had held out while they had sumbed. Yes, just like that.

    In her flustered state, thoughts scrambled in her head. Meanwhile, Tony was contemting whether to approach Eric to make himself familiar with him. But given the current situation - - Francis beside Eric -- no one else approached either. It was clear that Eric had not reached the level where Francis would introduce him.

    Maybe if he hung around, Copp would mention him.

    Tony couldn''t help but notice Eric handing out business cards to others. He thought about how if he could get Eric''s contact info, it mighte in handy someday.

    After this idea popped into his head, Tony felt a surge of excitement but soon faltered,cking the courage to act.

    Jennifer noticed the eagerness in the middle-aged man''s eyes and quickly said, "Mr. nton,

    I remember there are benches in the garden. Why don''t we go sit there?"

    "Oh, uh, sure," Tony replied, feeling reassured by her suggestion and using it to psychologically give himself a boost.

    Fearing that Tony might backtrack, Jennifer took his arm, gently pulling him toward the garden. After searching, they finally found a bench near a table filled with drinks to sit down.

    Tony poured two sses of red wine, handing one to Jennifer, and quickly brought up a topic to discuss. Yet, Jennifer appeared distant, sipping her wine without focus; within minutes, her ss was empty.

    They had been there a while, and she maintained a restrained demeanor, only managing to drink two sses in an hour. Noticing this, Tony subtly poured her another ss from the nearby table.

    Lost in her emotions, Jennifer epted the drink with a simple thank you, unaware of the increasing pace of her consumption. Minutes passed, and before she realized, she finished yet another ss.

    Seeing Jennifer take the red wine eagerly from him brought a glimmer of excitement to Tony''s face. His heart raced as he sneakily eyed the deep plunge of her strapless gown; he began nning how to y with the huge soft breasts inside the dress tonight.

    After several sses of wine, Jennifer seemed to grasp something, but her slight inebriation left her defenseless. Gradually, she allowed herself to sink into a state of reckless abandon; although she drank more slowly, she still epted each new ss Tony presented.

    ...

    "Eric, this is my daughter, Sofia. Sofia, meet Eric Williams, the youngest and most outstanding director in Hollywood," Francis said, having turned to introduce a young girl to

    Eric after showing him around the vi.

    "Hello, Miss Copp," Eric greeted warmly without changing his expression, enthusiastically acknowledging the curious girl.

    "Hi, Eric! Can I call you that? I love your movies! It''s hard to believe you''re so young," Sofia Copp eximed, looking more enthusiastic than Eric.

    Eric''s expression shifted slightly, recalling her mediocre performance in The Godfather Part III. He suggested, "Maybe you could make a great movie too; why not give it a try? I''m sure your father would support you."

    Sofia nced at her father before replying, "I can''t!, I''m not a genius like you. I''m still so young. Plus, Dad has already decided that I''ll y the Godfather''s daughter in The Godfather Part III. I think I should follow my cousin''s path and explore acting."

    "Of course, youth is the perfect time to try everything, so you can find the path that suits you best," Eric continued.

    "Wow, you sound much older than you are, more like a grandpa," Sofia couldn''t help but

    remark.

    "Sofia, don''t be rude. I find Eric''s words quite insightful," Francis yfully chided his

    daughter.

    Sofia stuck out her tongue but stubbornly said, "I''m not wrong, though. Why would a grandpa

    like you agree with him? Hehe."

    Francis looked at Eric, somewhat helpless.

    The mischievous girl then turned to the tall woman beside Eric. "And thisdy..."

    "My name is Famke Janssen," she introduced herself.

    "Well, Miss Janssen, can I borrow Eric for a moment to dance?"

    Famke shrugged and looked at Eric. "Sure."

    "Hey, I don''t think I agreed yet," Eric smiled as Sofia pulled him toward the dance floor.

    "Would you refuse?" Sofia asked, looking up at him. She was petite and even in high heels,

    she was still much shorter than Eric.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Alright, I won''t," Eric shrugged and gently held her waist.

    ...

    As they danced, Sofia suddenly said, "Hey, you seem a bit distracted."

    "Is it that obvious?"

    "How could I not notice?" Sofia pouted, a hint of irritation coloring her face.

    To be honest, her thick lips and the way one side of her upper lip curled made her appear awkward. Although plump lips might be considered attractive by some, Eric preferred a more

    subtle look.

    "I''m sorry," Eric responded, losing himself in thought.

    Sofia tilted her head and asked, "By the way, was there something implied in what you just

    said? Can you tell me what you meant?"

    "Do you want to hear the truth?" Eric asked, focusing on her.

    "Yes."

    After thinking a moment, Eric decided that dissuading her from messing with the ssic series could be beneficial. Remembering her performance in The Godfather Part III -- truly excruciating -- he knew that even with Al Pacino''s Oscar-worthy presence, it still felt awkward. Winning two Golden Raspberries was no ident.

    Since they weren''t close, Eric had avoided bringing this up in front of Francis earlier -- crossing personal boundaries often led to awkwardness in social situations.

    But now, alone with Sofia, he figured it wouldn''t hurt to mention it, as long as he was gentle about it. They couldugh it offter as a joke, after all.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 315: Chapter 316: Ambition

    Chapter 315: Chapter 316: Ambition

    ?

    [Chapter 316: Ambition]

    It had to be a mistake. How could it possibly be him?

    The spoon approached her lips as she weakly opened her mouth. Warm liquid flowed down her throat into her stomach, bringingfort. But after just a few sips, her stomach churned violently. After a brief dry heave, she felt her body lift once more. Momentster, she found herself hunched over the toilet, the soft thuds on her back pushed her over the edge, and she expelled all the alcohol she had consumed that night.

    ...

    Stepping out of the bathroom, Eric patiently fed the woman a bowl of hangover soup. After wiping the corner of her mouth, he finally stood up.

    Famke and Sofia behind him regarded Eric with mixed feelings.

    "Eric, you''re so thoughtful. I hope my future boyfriend can treat me like this," Sofia openly said as soon as Eric finished his task.

    Famke Janssen didn''t say anything, but her look at Eric held a touch more warmth than usual.

    Eric smiled and wiped his hands with a towel, then said to Sofia Copp, "Sofia, is it alright if she spends the night here? She has already thrown up all the alcohol, so she definitely won''t dirty your bed with more."

    Sofia Copp asked in surprise, "Aren''t you taking her back?" After saying this, she remembered there was another woman in the room and instinctively covered her mouth.

    Eric exined, "Actually, I haven''t seen her for a year. We''re not in the kind of rtionship you think we are."

    "Wow," Sofia Copp sighed, unsure of how to respond.

    Famke Janssen, on the other hand, sighed in relief.

    "Well then, let her stay here. I can make do in the guest room for the night," Sofia Copp quickly suggested.

    Eric thanked her. Amid the curious looks from the two women, he grabbed Jennifer Connelly''s handbag from the nightstand and pulled out a small address book.

    After flipping through it, Eric quickly grabbed the phone on the nightstand and dialed Jennifer Connelly''s agent.

    "Hello, Jim Lister... This is Eric Williams. Are you in Los Angeles?... Good, tomorrow at ten in the morning,e to Firefly Films headquarters. We need to discuss Jennifer Connelly... Alright, goodbye."

    After hanging up, Eric casually flipped through the address book again and quickly found a page that was noticeably different from the others. It looked well-worn with frayed edges, and it clearly held his Beverly Hills mansion''s phone number.

    Smiling slightly, Eric closed the address book and returned it to the woman''s white handbag.

    "Famke, we should go," he said, ncing at the sleeping Jennifer Connelly. He then pulled the tall woman beside him, "Famke, let''s go."

    Sofia Copp instructed a maid to stay in the room with Jennifer Connelly and followed Eric out: "Aren''t you going to y a little longer? It''s still early."

    "No, by the time I drive back to Malibu, it will be around eleven," Eric replied, ncing at his watch.

    The young woman didn''t insist further as they walked downstairs. Eric said his goodbyes to Francis Copp and others before leaving with Famke Janssen.

    ...

    An hourter, after parking in the garage of the mansion, Eric led the woman inside the vi. Pulling at his tie, he finally spoke to her as she curiously surveyed the surroundings, "Sorry, Famke, I hope tonight wasn''t too disappointing."

    "No, not at all. I thought it was pretty nice," she said with a bright smile. As a rtively unknown model, she would have never dreamed of attending such parties. Seeing Eric walk towards the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, she followed after him. After a few steps, she couldn''t help but exim, "This ce is so big! It doesn''t even feel like a home... Oh, I mean, it doesn''t feel like a ce people live in; it feels more like a library or museum."

    Eric didn''t mind the slip of her words. He ced a coffee pot on the round table by the window and then turned off all the lights in the living room.

    Suddenly, the surroundings went dark, and Famke jumped, letting out a startled "Hey..."

    But soon, her eyes adjusted, and she noticed a soft glow from outside the ss. As she walked to the bed and looked out, the dark sea spread below her, dotted with starlight around a full moon, creating a serene beauty.

    "How does it look?" Eric asked softly as he sat down in a space-age chair by the table, pouring

    coffee for the two of them.

    Famke cautiously leaned on the edge of the bed, admiring the night view. She sighed, "It''s beautiful. I take back what I said. This is a home. My apartment in Burbank doesn''t have a view like this and is disturbed by traffic the entire night."

    Eric reclined a little, watching her as she settled into the space-age chair across from him, holding the coffee cup he pushed toward her. He admired the sight of her, still dressed in that rose-red gown, the hem floating as she moved. Without her high heels, her fair feet peeked out subtly under the skirt, her tall frame nestledfortably in the white, egg-shaped chair, exuding a stunning aura that made Eric feel an urge to capture the moment.

    "If you like it, you could stay here," he finally offered after admiring her for a while.

    Upon hearing his words, Famke Janssen paused in her movements, an evident flicker of interest crossing her face, but she soon shook her head, "If I stayed here, I wouldn''t know how to ce myself."

    "I remember you saying in the office this afternoon that I was too soft-hearted."

    "Huh?"

    Eric didn''t respond to her confusion and continued, "Seeing Jennifer Connelly again tonight made me regret letting her gost year."

    "Ah?"

    "Do you know Howard Hughes?" Eric asked.

    Famke Janssen tilted her head for a moment, then shook it, "No, I don''t."

    Eric was momentarily taken aback, recalling that she wasn''t American but had moved to the U.S. from the Nethends as an adult, so it was understandable that she didn''t know about

    Howard Hughes.

    Since she wasn''t familiar with him, Eric exined, "Howard Hughes was one of the greatest filmmakers in Hollywood, as well as one of the biggest yboys.

    His romantic interests nearly spanned all the top female stars in Hollywood during the ''30s and ''40s. Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Susan Hayward, Gene Tierney, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner... Perhaps many of these names are unfamiliar to you, but if you look them up, you''d find that each could easily be hailed as ''the most dazzling'' or ''the greatest'' star.

    There was a magazine report revealing that Howard Hughes had as many as 164 girlfriends at one point, with his escapades spread all across Los Angeles."

    Famke listened as Eric narrated Howard Hughes'' morous life as if telling a tale, his tone gradually filled with admiration and longing, even bordering on obsession. She unconsciously opened her mouth and seized a chance during one of Eric''s pauses, "You''re not nning to...

    be like him, are you?"

    Eric paused, then responded with fervor, "Why not? In terms of achievement, I''ve already surpassed what Howard Hughes aplished at my age, and he inherited his father''s fortune; I built my wealth from scratch. In terms of wealth, I definitely n to be richer; and regarding status, I own Firefly Films, and in a few years, thispany will be among the big yers in film. So why not?"

    "But, but..."

    "There''s no ''buts'' here." Eric waved his hand sharply, "I''ve decided that as long as it''s a

    woman I like, I will hold on to her tightly, by whatever means."

    Famke instinctively shrank back in her seat, "I... I hope I''m not that one."

    Eric''s tone took on a slightly wicked edge, "What do you think?"

    "I... I''m not sure yet," she stammered, confused by his overwhelming derations.

    "Come here," Eric beckoned in a tone that had a hint of persuasion.

    At the sound of his voice, Famke instinctively set down her coffee cup and walked toward Eric.

    When standing in front of him, she finally realized what was happening. Turning back, she wondered how she had be sopliant. She wanted to step back, but Eric had already wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into an embrace.

    "Take your time to think. Let''s just do what we need to do first," Eric whispered in her ear.

    Feeling Eric''s hands roaming over her, Famke tensed up. Soon, however, she recalled something and said, "Wait, don''t ruin the dress!"

    No sooner had the words left her lips than the sound of fabric tearing pierced the air.

    "I told you, you can''t back out now," Eric whispered again, breathing warm air into her ear. Feeling a chill from behind, Famke let out several hurried breaths before forcefully hitting Eric''s shoulder, "You jerk, that''s forty thousand dors!"

    Still feeling a pang in her heart, she attempted toin further, but Eric quickly silenced

    her with his lips.

    A series of muffled sounds followed, and the two bodies soon tumbled off the space-age chair. Fortunately, the floor was covered in carpet, so despite her gown being in a tattered state, she didn''t feel any difort.

    ...

    After a while, Famke felt herself being lifted by Eric''s strong arms. He carried her in several steps to the floor-to-ceiling window before pressing her rather roughly against the cool ss. Eric''s lips traced her bare back, inching up towards her neck. As he made his way up, she instinctively turned her head, meeting his lips with her own.

    Pulling her hips back, he got into position. Once they were ready, Eric released her lips, leaning in to whisper, "Have you made up your mind yet?"

    "Hmm? Ah,e on!" she whispered back, still caught up in the moment but eager for him to

    proceed. Before she could move, her arms were pulled up at the same time and pressed firmly

    against the ss window.

    "Have you made up your mind?" Eric asked softly once more.

    "You''re such a tyrant," Famke weaklyined while shifting her waist.

    Eric showed no signs of relenting. He held both her wrists above her head with one hand and

    reached down with his other hand and teased her gently, leaning in to whisper again in her ear, "Have you made up your mind?"

    "Ugh..." she moaned softly, her fair face pressed against the ss. After holding on for a

    moment longer, she finally surrendered, "I''ve made my decision; I''ll be your woman, yours."

    A satisfied moan echoed throughout the empty hall.

    ...

    She felt soft andfortable but also very tired. Her eyes resisted the urge to open. But

    somehow, she sensed there was something she needed to do.

    What was it?

    Her hazy thoughts upied her for a moment before she recalled that there was work to be

    done.

    Right, she was shooting a TV series and would bete if she didn''t hurry.

    Suddenly, she sat up, pulling the thin nket down, revealing her bare chest. Running her

    fingers through her hair and rubbing her eyes, Famke Janssen finally got a clear view of her surroundings.

    It was arge bedroom with windows on all sides, all wide open. Morning light streamed in,

    illuminating the space, yet the air was free of the dust that often mingled with sunlight. Remembering everything from the night before felt surreal, but how could it be a dream? Oh no, it seemed she had promised something.

    Mumbling to herself, she slipped out of bed, realizing she didn''t see her clothes anywhere.

    She rummaged through a small wardrobe nearby, pulling out a shirt that was just about her size. The shirt barely covered her backside, exposing her long legs, which were bare beneath and creating a glimpse of whaty in between as she walked.

    Curiously roaming around the bedroom, she noticed the northern view disyed Malibu''s urban area, lined with countless small vis that looked a bit... ridiculous.

    Well, she didn''t quite understand why she felt that way.

    Moving to the other side, the sun had risen high, merging seamlessly with the deep blue sea, a

    breathtaking sight.

    After hesitating for a few minutes in the bedroom, she opened the closet again, and with frustration, mmed the closet door shut. "Why are there only shirts? No pants at all!" Lowering her gaze to her outfit and ncing at the rm clock on the nightstand revealed it

    was already eight-thirty.

    Driving from here to the filming location on the other side of the Santa Monica Mountains

    would take at least an hour, which certainly meant she''d bete.

    But surely, no one would dare scold her today, would they?

    She felt a burst of pride -- her performance might be terrible, yet she had never received a

    reprimand.

    Her constant fear of being scolded seemed linked to someone named Brad Pitt, who often found himself in hot water, despite performing much better than her. Thinking of him brought a smile to her face for reasons she couldn''t quite understand. Then, she carefully descended the stairs, cautiously peeking into the hall, thinking it would be disastrous if anyone saw her dressed this way.

    "Famke, you''re awake! Wow," Eric eximed, having just finished his workout and fresh

    from the shower, towel draped around him. He spotted the woman peeking down from the

    stairs and marveled at the sight, his view of her shape and legs unobstructed from below. Noticing Eric''s leering gaze, Famke sighed in exasperation as she tugged at the hem of her

    borrowed shirt. "Why are there only shirts in your closet? Not even one pair of pants?"

    Eric teased, "It''s so I can enjoy moments like this."

    "Ugh, jerk," she replied. "Alright, Famke, I do have a few of Drew''s clothes. But they probably won''t fit you. You''ll

    have to wear yesterday''s costume. I''ll fetch it; I think it''s still in the car." "Hurry up, and also, my... underwear."

    "Understood," Eric replied as he left. Famke hesitated before gingerly making her way

    downstairs, still barefoot, meandering around the hall.

    Before long, Eric returned, handing her a bag containing clothes and shoes. He pointed

    toward the bathroom, "You can take a shower, too."

    "Thanks," Famke Janssen said as she took the bag. Just as she turned around, she felt a yful

    p on her rear end.

    "Hey!" she whined, ring back at him.

    "Hurry up," Eric said with no remorse in his tone, grinning as if he were considering another

    yful p. Seeing this, Famke swiftly made her escape.

    ...

    In just over ten minutes, they sat together in the dining room, staring at Eric as he read the newspaper while eating breakfast. Famkeined, "We''re going to be sote this morning. There''s no way we''ll get anything filmed now."

    "Don''t worry, it''ll be quick," Eric said, flipping a page of the newspaper without ncing up.

    "It takes at least an hour to drive to the set. By the time we arrive, it''ll probably be over ten,

    plus I still need to get my makeup done, set up a scene, and rehearse my lines..." She took a sip of her milk while ranting.

    "It won''t take that long. At most, we''ll be half an hourte."

    Famke cast a disdainful nce at Eric, "Hmph, that''s easy for you to say. I can''t exactly fly

    there."

    Eric finally looked up, "I called a helicopter, which will get you there in less than thirty minutes."

    Famke opened her mouth in shock but soon shook her head vigorously, "No, no, that''s too shy! If I did that, everyone would... would..."

    "Oh, that''s the point," Ericughed. "It''s a way to assert my im. After this, we''ll see who dares toy their eyes on you."

    "You''re being unreasonable," Famke faltered for a moment before retorting. "Alright, baby, what you say goes," Eric replied. "By the way, this afternoon, a real estate agent wille to see you. Didn''t you mention yesterday that your Burbank apartment

    was

    too noisy? I''ll make sure the crew lets you leave early so he can take you to Beverly Hills to

    pick out a vi. I''ll talk to the production team about it."

    "I... I can''t afford to rent there right now," she protested.

    "Just choose one. Whichever one you like is yours, I''ll charge it."

    "I don''t want that."

    "Fine, you can get your own furniture. I won''t be involved in that."

    "I don''t want that!" she insisted again.

    "By the way, do you need a car? How about a Lamborghini? Hmm... no, that''s toon/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ostentatious. I think a Ferrari would suit a woman better," Eric mused and recalled Famke driving a convertible Ferrari against Bond in GoldenEye, thinking it was cool beyondpare.

    "Yes, let''s go with the Ferrari."

    "..."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 317: Chapter 318: Inside Information at the Dinner Table

    Chapter 317: Chapter 318: Inside Information at the Dinner Table

    ?

    [Chapter 318: Inside Information at the Dinner Table]N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Francis Ford Copp quickly said, "No, no, no, Sofia, you have to believe in yourself. You have immense potential. Don''t listen to that little kid talking like he''s an old man. If he can achieve that at only neen, then my daughter can, too."

    "Dad, I actually think Williams has a point," Sofia Copp''s brother, Roman Copp, suddenly interjected.

    "Roman!" Francis red at his son in disapproval.

    Roman shrugged and promptly lowered his head, while Nics Cage remained silent. Though he also agreed with Eric''s sentiment, he had seen his cousin''s performance before, and that feeling... well, better left unspoken.

    Sofia sensed the tension rising and quickly said, "Dad, let''s just drop it. I know you love me, and I love you, too. That''s why I want The Godfather Part III to be even better. I''ve made up my mind to start small, just like Nick. Didn''t Tim Burton rmend a girl named Winona Ryder to you? I heard she''s an incredible talent. Maybe you could let her audition."

    Francis red at his son for being biased but then softened a bit, turning to his youngest daughter, "Alright, Sofia, I''ll let Winona try out."

    Roman was resigned to his father''s favoritism. He thought for a moment, then grinned mischievously at his sister, "Sofia, since Eric Williams suggested this, you should definitely make him give you a role."

    "Hmph, I''m not that thick-skinned," she huffed, returning to her breakfast.

    This time, Francis didn''t scold his son but remarked with a hint of nostalgia, "It''s true, Eric Williams has a powerful knack for creating stars. From that little kid in Home Alone to that actress from Australia at the end of the year, what''s her name? Nicole Kidman? They''re all now top-tier actors. I heard Tom Cruise not only rejected the offer for Ghost but also disparaged the film. What a foolish guy."

    "Hey, Dad, you can''t say that about Cruise; he''s one of my idols!" Sofia protested, lifting her head in disapproval.

    "Little sister, Dad isn''t wrong. Tom''s actions this time were a bit foolish. Sure, he''s been famous for a decade, but his box office numbers are all over the ce. Plus, he has one critical w -- he doesn''t have any blockbuster franchise backing him. In that case, if a string of his films tank, he could easily slide out of the A-list."

    Sofia challenged, "But there are so many famous actors in Hollywood without franchise support."

    Roman continued, "Sure, many actors do fine without it, like Al Pacino or Robert De Niro. They rely solely on their talent. But Cruise? Remember those hit movies Grease and An Officer and a Gentleman? They were big back then, but can you spot either of John Travolta or Richard Gere in Hollywoodtely? The reason is simple: after those two hits, they hit a rough patch with no big hits to follow up. Cruise was on a simr path, but he got lucky and keptnding hits every few years, which is why he''s still on top. But in this town, luck isn''t reliable."

    Francis gave a rare approving nod to his son.

    Sofia looked thoughtful. "So you''re saying if he had a popr franchise, even if his star power wanes, he could revitalize it with sequels?"

    "Of course! Look at Harrison Ford. A few years back, his poprity dipped significantly. But thenst year, with Raiders of the Lost Ark, he easily bounced back to A-list status." Roman leaned in, lowering his voice and taking on a more gossipy tone, "And I heard at a party that Tom Cruise''s capable agent, Pa Wagner, was scouting a franchise project for him. But the rights to adapt that project, it seems, were snagged by Eric Williams."

    Sofia immediately perked up, leaning toward her brother with curiosity, "What show? I want to find the tape!"

    Roman stirred his fork around in his te before replying, "I think it''s called Mission: Impossible, but it''s pretty old. You probably won''t find any tape."

    "Okay, enough chit-chat. Let''s eat," Francis said, eyeing his children who were huddled together like conspirators in a cartoon, sounding quite displeased. Then he turned to Nics Cage, "Nick, this time in Ghost, put in some effort and establish a good rapport with Eric Williams. It''ll surely be beneficial for your future."

    "I know, Uncle," Nics nodded.

    Jennifer Connelly listened as this family discussed the ins and outs of Hollywood, most of which most people wouldn''t even know. Though the Copp family included her in their conversations asionally, she still felt out of ce in their world.

    After breakfast, Jennifer rushed to excuse herself from the Copps. She kept thinking about another matter -- Eric had asked her agent to meet him at Firefly Films at ten.

    ...

    As she stepped out of the Copp mansion, Jennifer spotted a silver sedan parked about ten meters from the entrance. Her agent, Jim Lister, anxiously watched the door. The moment he saw her, he waved excitedly, and Jennifer quickened her pace to join him.

    Jim hadn''t slept well after receiving Eric''s call the night before. He had been slightly hyped but couldn''t get in touch with Jennifer until the morning. He had even had to call Tony nton, who was quite rude but finally provided Jennifer''s whereabouts.

    So, Jim arrived outside the Copp household early in the morning. However, he felt unsure if Jennifer would actually be here. After all, this was the house of one of Hollywood''s top four directors.

    Hecked the courage to barge in, opting instead to wait near the gate, hoping she would emerge soon so they could head to Firefly Films together. Even though Eric hadn''t explicitly said they should go together, Jim felt that was the implication, and taking Jennifer along would boost his own confidence.

    "Good morning, Jim," Jennifer greeted shyly as she approached him.

    Jim hardly had time for small talk. He quickly said, "Jennifer, get in the car. We can talk on the

    way."

    "Um, do I really have to go?" she hesitated.

    Jim nodded affirmatively, "Of course! Eric Williams definitely wants to see you."

    ...

    Barely processing her situation, Jennifer found herself pulled into the car, and before long they arrived at Firefly Films'' headquarters. Jim led her to the reception, where he exchanged a few words with the receptionist.

    She looked at her records and said politely, "You must be Jim Lister. Mr. Williams asked for you toe up directly, but he didn''t mention this youngdy."

    Jennifer''s expression dimmed, but Jim assured her, "Mr. Williams probably just forgot. Could you let him know Jennifer Connelly is here? I''m sure he''ll let us both go up."

    The receptionist nced at Jennifer and reluctantly nodded, taking up the phone to ring through a message. After a brief chat, she said, "You two can go up now. Mr. Williams'' office

    is on the seventh floor, room 706."

    After thanking her, Jim led Jennifer toward the elevator.

    "Jennifer, please... no more temper tantrums, alright?" Jim hesitated for a moment in the elevator before finally voicing his concern.

    Jennifer remained silent, silently nodding her head.

    Jim sighed in relief but couldn''t resist adding, "Eric Williams is single, and there are countless women in Hollywood eyeing him. Plus, he clearly likes you. If you could be his girlfriend, it would greatly help your future. Hollywood is quite practical, and I''m sure you''ve

    felt that deeply this past year."

    "Yeah..."

    ...

    Inside the office, Eric was multitasking, listening to Allen recount his work ns for the past few days while skimming through reports about Hollywood''s special effectspanies provided by a consulting firm. He wasn''t focusing on every detail but was looking for any standout effects teams he remembered from his past life.

    He still believed in the power of memory. If someone had excelled in his previous life, with his assistance in this timeline, they could undoubtedly do even better. Sure enough, he spotted a name he recognized: Stan Winston Studio.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 319: Chapter 320: Make It Interesting

    Chapter 319: Chapter 320: Make It Interesting

    ?

    [Chapter 320: Make It Interesting]

    "Even though model effects are still the mainstream technique used in special effects films, I dare say that within the next ten to twenty years, CGI will definitely rece model effects as the primary technology for special effects films. About ten years ago, Industrial Light & Magic created a fully CGI scene in a movie, andst year, Jim''s film The Abyss even featured fully CGI characters. These are the most straightforward representations of this developing trend," Eric said, animatedly conversing with Stan Winston and James Cameron at the restaurant. Though both men opposite him were seasoned special effects artists, Eric was well aware that he could hold his own in a discussion about the evolution of film effects. His knowledge as a time traveler allowed him to see the trends in special effects more clearly than they could, and he quickly seized the lead in the conversation.

    "Eric, I don''t agree with you. While CGI can create more varied scenes, it is still quite expensive. Compared to that, model effects are considerably cheaper. You must know Jim''s The Terminator only cost about $6.5 million. If CGI had been used, that $6.5 million probably wouldn''t have even covered the effects budget," Stan Winston rebutted.

    "Of course, I''m only saying that CGI is the main trend in the development of film effects, but model effects will always have their ce. Speaking of which..." Eric casually turned to James Cameron, "Jim, have you thought about making a sequel to The Terminator? I remember you mentioned in an interview that there were many regrets about the first film that you didn''t get to realize."

    At this question, James Cameron and Stan Winston exchanged nces. They had been discussing for over half an hour, and their lunch was nearly finished. Cameron hadn''t figured out how to bring up the topic until Eric asked it.

    "Eric, actually, I''ve already written a draft for the sequel. But I''m still looking for investors," James Cameron said, feigning modesty. Although known as a tyrant on set, Cameron was not actually hot-headed in his day-to-day dealings. When it came to securing investments for his films, he knew all the tricks, otherwise, he wouldn''t have managed to get funding despite going over budget time and again.

    Eric understood Cameron''s subtle maneuvering and was fully aware of his current situation. Although Cameron had not yet evolved into the legendary figure he would be, Eric, as someone familiar with movie history, had a keen interest in the name. He maintained a habit of reading newspapers and magazines daily, staying fully informed about Hollywood developments. Whenever news about James Cameron cropped up in the papers, he would take

    note.

    Cameron''s film The Abyss had a whopping budget of $70 million, which was double what Warner Bros. spent on the global blockbuster Batmanst year. Despite receiving numerous des and Oscar nominations, it had underperformed at the box office, grossing just over $50 million in North America and $30 million overseas. With poor box office results, associated merchandise also tanked, resulting in a significant loss for Fox of over $30 million.

    In Eric''s memory, that was the only film by James Cameron that had ever lost money for investors.

    After such a major setback, Fox was unlikely to fund Cameron''s new movie, especially one that appeared even bigger in scale, like The Terminator 2. Although the first film had done well, it was still not enough for Fox to take another risk. Other major studios that had little coboration with Cameron were even less likely to invest.

    In his recollection, The Terminator 2 had been produced by a small independent filmpany called Carolco, which had to scrape together $100 million for the project, ultimately grossing over $500 million worldwide. Although the investment was hefty, Eric was certainly not nning to let this opportunity slide, and he had no intention of letting Cameron off the hook either.

    Thinking it over, Eric continued, "Jim, if possible, could you give a brief overview of the plot for The Terminator 2?"

    Seeing Eric''s interest, James Cameron felt a flicker of hope. "Of course, but please keep it a secret and don''t let it slip."

    "That''s a given," Eric nodded, then turned to Jennifer Connelly, who was dutifully ying the role of a wallflower. "Jenny..."

    She smiled yfully, revealing her two small canine teeth. "Don''t worry; I won''t say a word." "Well, the general story goes like this..." James Cameron sinctly shared his draft outline. Jennifer''s eyes widened in disbelief as he spoke of his concept for the liquid metal robot. Eric already remembered the full movie and noticed that James Cameron wasn''t particrly gifted in storytelling. He simply listened attentively as Cameron narrated, asionally noting some differences between the outline and the final film, such as the fact that Linda Hamilton''s Sarah Connor was not confined to a mental institution in Cameron''s early draft. Of course, these were trivial details. During the entire narration, both Cameron and Stan Winston kept a close watch on Eric''s reactions. Noticing that Eric''s demeanor remainedrgely unchanged, Cameron felt a pang of unease. If a story wasn''t generating interest from potential investors, the likelihood of securing funding was slim.

    "Jim, based on your concept, I imagine the budget must be quite high. Have you done a preliminary budget?" Eric eventually asked.

    "I have, yes. Even though the concept of the liquid metal robot might increase costs, I only need $60 million to make this film. I don''t need to use CGI for every scene; some parts can utilize more affordable models. I''ve discussed this with Stan," Cameron confidently mentioned, inadvertently turning the conversation into a sales pitch, disregarding his earlier pretense of modesty. After all, Eric was one of the few people in his circle capable of securing that amount of money.

    Stan Winston quickly chimed in, "Yes, Eric, for some scenes we can rece the robots with mercury or models. An investment of $60 million would suffice."

    Sixty million? You must be joking! Eric thought to himself as his expression grew serious. "Sixty million is nearly ten times the budget of thest film. Firefly has never handled such a substantial investment in movies."

    "Eric, trust me, this film will not disappoint you..." Cameron attempted to continue but was interrupted by Eric. Since James Cameron had yet to find investors, it was important to keep the suspense alive. If Cameron got his hands on the funding too easily, he would no doubt spend it with reckless abandon.

    Eric had momentarily considered suggesting that Jeffrey produce The Terminator 2, but he quickly dismissed the idea. The frugality of Jeffrey contradicted Cameron''s extravagant tendencies, and bringing them together would only lead to conflicts.

    "Sorry, Jim. I need to think this through. A $60 million investment isn''t just pocket change. Let''s talk about today''s main business, though. Stan, I think you''ve caught on to some of what I''m nning. I''m looking to establish a special effectspany and would like to invite you and your team to join. This new venture will take on most of Firefly''s film effects work in

    the future."

    Stan Winston didn''t seem upset because Cameron was rejected; Eric''s cautious response to the The Terminator 2 project was almost expected. If he had agreed right away, that would have been unusual. "Eric, why me? I mean, there are plenty of talented effects teams around

    Hollywood."

    Eric recalled something Stan had said in his previous life. He smiled and replied, "Because they just do effects, but you use effects to perform."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    This remark resonated deeply with Stan. It struck at the very nerves that had once driven his dreams. A long time ago, Stan Winston had aspired to be an actor. However, the disparity between dream and reality was vast. After three years as a makeup apprentice at Disney, he opened his own Winston Studio. Eventually, he realized he hadn''tpletely abandoned his dream; actors performed with their presence, but he performed through effects. Thus, for all these years, Stan had maintained his passion for film effects and was often characterized as "mad" in his devotion.

    This unwavering enthusiasm for special effects was a critical factor in Stan Winston''s sess. Truth be told, without Stan, James Cameron would never have been able to create the ssic The Terminator on the mere $6.5 million budget.

    It''s worth noting that due to severe funding shortages, the Terminator in the first film was merely a simple metal model,cking any mechanical movement devices. Consequently, the effect shots of the robot''s movements were shot frame by frame, resembling stop-motion animation. In a film with 24 frames per second, that amounted to 1,440 frames per minute for scenessting several minutes. The sheerplexity of that work was staggering -- not just anyone could endure that without a deep-seated conviction and passion.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 321: Chapter 322: Not So Nice to Hear

    Chapter 321: Chapter 322: Not So Nice to Hear

    ?

    [Chapter 322: Not So Nice to Hear]

    "Eric, take a look. The situation isn''t exactly what you imagined. Carole Bouquet, Nastassja Kinski, Isabelle Huppert, and Isabelle Adjani -- these top European actresses either declined the invitation or expressed interest in the story but requested that you tone down the intimate scenes," Jeffrey said as he handed Eric a pile of correspondence in the office.

    Eric took the stack and silently browsed through the responses. After a while, he shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "Looks like I was too naive."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Of course, trying to get a top actress with great acting skills to star in Basic Instinct is tough. Even these European stars might ept the film''s content, but if they want to make it in Hollywood, they won''t easily take on roles like this. It could significantly impact their image here. If they have no intention of pursuing Hollywood, then even more so; this script wouldn''t appeal to most European actresses ustomed to indie films."

    "By the way," Eric suddenly looked down at a few messages in his hand. "Carole Bouquet''s agent replied, saying she''s very interested in the film. You should reach out and see if we can get her to fly to Los Angeles for a meeting."

    Jeffrey nced at Carole Bouquet''s information and chuckled, "Eric, this French actress does fit the character of Catherine Tramell best. However, she just won the Cesar Award for Best Actress this past March. I assume it won''t be easy to convince her."

    "Then let''s package it right. I have a film that has a female lead avable for her to try out, and it''s a big-budget project with an investment of no less than $60 million."

    "I didn''t know about that," Jeffrey perked up. "What is it?"

    Eric smiled and shook his head. "That''s a secret for now, and it might not even be my next movie. I''ve already instructed Stan and his team to begin work on the effects for Ghost while gearing up the pre-production tech development for Jurassic Park. So, my specific ns after Ghost haven''t been set yet. I might prepare Jurassic Park or some other simpler effects films to gain more experience."

    "Fine, I won''t pry," Jeffrey said, "But Disney is not happy with the progress on Ghost. They want you to start filming as soon as possible."

    "They know my pace," Eric replied. "Even though this film involves effects, they''re not particrlyplex. I n to shoot the parts that need effects first and hand them to Stan for post-production. It won''t take more than a month, and if all goes well, we''ll wrap up by mid- June, leaving nearly a month for promotional work. That should be enough time."

    "I told them the same," Jeffrey chuckled. "However, Eric, I think we should prepare a backup n. Several local second and third-tier actresses have sent in their materials; why not consider some of them? I think there are some good options in that pile."

    "Then please hand me those files before you leave, and I''ll choose some for a simple audition," Eric said.

    Just then, Jeffrey''s assistant knocked on the door and said, "Mr. Hansen, Mr. Williams, Mr. Roger Spottiswoode and Mr. Don Johnson have arrived."

    "Let''s go," Jeffrey said to Eric. "Looks like we have a director and a lead actor confirmed now."

    ...

    Eric followed Jeffrey to a small meeting room, where the three men quickly stood upon their arrival. When Eric saw Mnie Griffith there, he was momentarily surprised but soon rxed, as Mnie was Don Johnson''s wife.

    To be honest, Don had always been merely a television actor. Compared to his wife Mnie Griffith, hecked her level of fame. Eric figured Mnie was probably there to support her husband -- after all, they had only been married for just over a year, and their marriage was still in the honeymoon phase.

    Eric had picked Don Johnson for the role of Nick in Basic Instinct based on his recollection of a certain film, while he felt that Michael Dous, the original actor, was simply too old for the part. Although he was a good actor, Eric sensed that Michaelcked the intensity to fully embody a hotheaded detective like Nick.

    As Eric shook hands with the couple, he suddenly recalled another individual. Given the timeline, he figured his rebirth hadn''t impacted the appearance of Don and Mnie''s daughter, Dakota Johnson. In another timeline, Dakota had starred in a well-known film called Fifty Shades of Grey. To some extent, the Griffith family could be considered a Hollywood dynasty, but they ranked far below the Copps or Fondas in terms of influence. "Mr. Williams, is there a problem?" Don Johnson asked, noticing Eric''s curious gaze directed at the couple.

    "Oh, sorry, I was just recalling something," Eric replied with a smile, turning to the other guest, Roger Spottiswoode, a middle-aged man in his forties with a slender face and sses. In another life, his most famous movie was Tomorrow Never Dies.

    However, at this point, Roger Spottiswoode, despite being 45, had yet to achieve significant recognition as a director. After Jeffrey suggested him, Eric decided to watch some of his previous work and discovered that he excelled in drama scripts like Basic Instinct. More importantly, Roger offered his services quite cheaply and didn''t ask for final cut rights, so Eric quickly settled on him.

    After some pleasantries, the three men took their seats.

    "Mr. Spottiswoode, you''ve had the script for several days now. Why don''t you share your thoughts on the film?"

    "Certainly, Mr. Williams," Roger Spottiswoode nodded. "I believe Basic Instinct, on the surface, tells the story of solving a murder case of a perverse nature. However, in essence, it portrays a primal desire, a wild passion. It''s evident from the script that Nick, as the detective, is essentially the same as the murderer, Catherine Tramell. Deep down, both of them harbor a destructive tendency. Hence, during Nick''s undercover work, he identally kills an innocent tourist out of excitement.

    Moreover, once the rock singer is killed, Nick immediately suspects Catherine is the real murderer. Following that interrogation scene, due to Catherine''s provocations, Nick''s deep- seated desires are awakened, leading to his rough behavior towards Beth..."

    Roger Spottiswoode, despite not having had a notable career thus far, demonstrated a strong understanding of the script. Everyone in the meeting room nodded along attentively.

    Eric realized that Roger Spottiswoode might follow in Jonathan Demme''s footsteps; Demme had risen to prominence thanks to The Others and had since be a top Hollywood director. Roger, likely seeking to seize this opportunity, was ready to capture the spotlight, knowing that Basic Instinct was rtively unconventionalpared to Eric''s other scripts. Ultimately, since Eric personally penned it, any controversy would likely target him, and if the film seeded, Roger would also benefit.

    The group spent the entire afternoon discussing various aspects of shooting Basic Instinct. After work, Eric returned to his estate with a hefty stack of potential actress files.

    ...

    As he pushed open the door to the vi, a petite figure came to greet him.

    "Hi, Vicki, when did you get back?" Eric embraced her and gave a kiss.

    "Inded at 10:30 this morning. It was dreadful; I never want to endure such a long flight again." Virginiained, linking her arm with Eric''s. She had just returned from a film awards ceremony in Europe. She had initially wanted to invite Eric to join, but he had unfortunately been too busy. Besides, if he attended every award ceremony, he would be worn out. Ultimately, Jonathan Demme had been preupied filming The Silence of the Lambs, so he had to let Virginia go on her own.

    "Honestly, I detest long-haul flights as well. My trip to Venice was an absolute nightmare," Eric said with augh. "Since you''re back, stay here for a while. I''ll be heading to New York in

    a few days; you can help look after the house."

    "I''m not going to help you with that," the woman yfully retorted. "By the way, this afternoon, a guy named Michael Krauss dropped off a sample of your new book. I looked it over, and the story is brilliant, but it''s a bit short."

    Virginia said, strolling away for a moment before returning with a hardcover book featuring the cover design Eric specifically requested, with the title The Matrix written in green

    lettering.

    Eric looked at the cover and nodded. "Not bad; I didn''t expect it to be published so quickly."

    Settling onto the sofa, Eric began to flip through the pages. Virginia quietly put away Eric''s coat and briefcase beforeing over to sit beside him, naturally leaning into him as Eric wrapped his arm around her waist.

    Virginia giggled a few times before lying down on the sofa, resting her head on Eric''sp. As

    he gave her waist a gentle squeeze, her face quickly flushed, and her breathing grew slightly

    quicker.

    "Have you decided on your next movie yet?" Eric casually asked.

    "Not yet. I''ve received tons of scripts, but they''re all horror films. Since The Others just

    wrapped, I''m worried that if I keep acting in horror movies, it''ll be hard for me to transition

    to other genres. So, I want to try something different."

    Virginia said as she moved the book away and looked at Eric with sparkling eyes.

    "Alright, I''ll keep an eye out," Eric replied.

    "How about you write me a script?" she suggested.

    Eric chuckled while yfully pinching her cheek. "You really are greedy. Are you auditioning

    for Basic Instinct?"

    Virginia happened to have seen the script for Basic Instinct, giving Eric a mock re and

    challenging him. "If you let me audition, I''ll do it."

    Pretending to be annoyed, Eric flipped Virginia over, yfully smacking her behind a few

    times. Virginia squealed and copsed against his legs.

    "Okay, get up now," Eric said, trying to contain hisughter.

    "Ouch, you''re terrible! You''repletely inconsiderate!" Virginiained with a blush

    on her cheeks, but she quickly got up.

    "I don''t have any scripts that fit for you at the moment, so you should let Kepler help you

    choose, or bring me some to take a look at," Eric exined. After seeing her nod, he added, "By the way, please bring me that briefcase I had earlier. I have some work to finish." "It''s after hours now," she said, but still got up to retrieve the briefcase. Eric pulled out a stack of actress files from the bag and began going through them, asionally picking out one he found appealing and cing it aside. "What are these for?" Virginia asked with curiosity, picking up a file to look at.

    "Candidates for the female lead in Basic Instinct," Eric exined. "Most of the top European actresses have rejected the offer, and Hollywood''s top actresses won''t take it either. I can only choose from the second- and third-tier actresses."

    "Honestly, many of those secondary actresses have pretty solid skills."

    "Of course, but I don''t have the time to sift through like I''m picking pearls from sand. I need

    to use first-tier actresses wherever possible; it adds some assurance for the box office."

    Virginia sighed lightly and soon thought about how lucky she was. "Eric, you focus on your

    work. I''ll go make dinner. What do you want to eat?" "Anything is fine, you decide," Eric replied, not looking up.

    Knowing Eric meant what he said and never was picky about food, Virginia rose and headed to

    the kitchen.

    ...

    Eric was just halfway through when the phone rang behind him. He got up, grabbed the cordless phone, and pressed the button to answer. Jeffrey''s voice came through, "Jeffrey.

    What''s going on?"

    After a brief exchange on the phone, Eric paused, then replied, "Alright, let''s talk on the

    phone. You can give the number here to Carole Bouquet''s people."

    ""

    "No problem. I''ll hang up now." Eric pressed the hang-up button, ced the cordless phone on the coffee table, and continued sifting through the actress candidates.

    About ten minutester, the phone rang again. Eric picked it up casually, and an ented

    female voice came through: "Hello, Mr. Williams. This is Carole Bouquet."

    ...

    Half an hourter, Virginia emerged from the kitchen, calling Eric to eat. She saw him still on

    the phone, pacing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gesticting animatedly. She decided

    not to interrupt.

    After a while, Virginia finally saw Eric hang up. He tossed the cordless phone onto the sofa and

    copsed onto it, appearing tired.

    She walked over and asked with concern, "What happened?"

    "Nothing much, I invited a French actress, Carole Bouquet, to y the lead in Basic Instinct,

    but she declined as well."

    Virginia couldn''t help but feel a little smug, realizing that Eric -- of all people -- had trouble securing a star for his film. But seeing Eric''s frazzled state, she quickly held back her amusement, offering, "Well, take your time selecting. There are still plenty of others willing

    to audition. Hmm... Carole Bouquet, wasn''t she the spokesperson for Chanel No. 5 a few years back?" "Yes, and she also yed a Bond girl," Eric nodded.

    "I recall now; she''s known to be quite a character. After starring as a Bond girl, she refused to

    be typecast and returned to France to work in independent films."

    "Forget about her. If she refuses, she refuses," Ericmented. ''That''s just the way Hollywood is; casting always has its ups and downs. Even Steven Spielberg and James Cameron have their share of challenges. I remember back in my past life, it took Cameron months to convince Fox

    to let Leonardo DiCaprio y Jack in Titanic.''

    "Let''s eat first," Virginia suggested.

    Eric nodded and stood up, heading toward the dining room.

    ...

    It was already past ten at night when Virginia, wearing pajamas, curled up on the bed with a pillow in her arms, watching as Eric continued pacing the room on the phone.

    "...I don''t care. They had enough time since the morning and can''t make it, that''s unfortunate... Tomorrow, I''ll finalize the female lead for Basic Instinct. Yes, right on the spot.

    New York called an hour ago; Roy and the others have been waiting there for a week, and both main characters are already there. I can''t waste more time. Alright, I''m hanging up." Sighing, Eric finally ended the call, ced the phone on the nightstand, and then tiredly copsed onto the bed. He pulled in Virginia''s soft body and greedily inhaled her sweet scent,

    feeling an immediate tension ease in his heart.

    Virginia gently massaged Eric''s temples and said softly, "Eric, do you really need to rush so much? You''re already so talented; why wear yourself out like this?" "These ns were originally set for the first half of the year. Unfortunately, due to that

    incident at the beginning of the year, I lost over three months, and that''s why things are this

    way," Eric exined, his toneced with exhaustion. "I just feel time is tight, and there''s too much I want to aplish."

    "I truly wish I could help you, but sadly I can''t do anything," Virginia responded softly.

    Eric chuckled, tightening his grip around her waist just a bit more. "Actually, you can help me

    -- be my giant pillow. I like holding a woman while I sleep."

    "Is it just holding while sleeping?" she teased, her voiceden with innuendo as she reached

    to turn off the lights in the bedroom, plunging the room into dimness. The soundproofing was excellent, so although the wind blew outside, there were no crashing waves, and

    everything felt eerily quiet.

    "Yeah, just holding while sleeping," Eric said, his head resting on Virginia''s generous bosom.

    Not long after, his eyes began to droop, and he quickly dozed off.

    Virginia stared for a moment before tenderly pulling the nket over both of them.

    ...

    In Firefly Films'' audition room, a woman in a simple jacket sat back in a chair, rxed, with

    her legs crossed. She casually fished out a cigarette from her pocket, a faint, indifferent smile lingering on her face.

    "You can''t smoke here, Miss Tramell," the assistant behind the camera called out.

    The woman nced flirtatiously at the assistant''s position and replied, "You going to sue me

    for smoking?"

    After lighting the cigarette and taking a puff, she exhaled tendrils of smoke.

    After a brief pause, the assistant asked again, "Can you tell me about your rtionship with

    Mr. Buz?" "I''ve kind of been in a sexual rtionship with him for over a year. I enjoy making love with him; he isn''t afraid to try new things. I like that kind of man who can give me a great deal of

    pleasure," she said, smoking while unabashedly voicing her desires.

    "Have you two yed S&M?" the assistant inquired once more.

    The woman smiled mischievously. "You guessed it."

    "Do you tie him up?"

    "No."

    "You''ve never tied him up?"

    "Never. Johnny likes to use his own hands; I like his hands."

    ...

    Just as the assistant was about to continue, Eric interrupted, "Alright, that''s enough."

    The woman''s expression immediately shifted to disappointment, and she felt somewhat resentful. Firefly had given her hardly any preparation time; she received the audition invitation that morning and rushed over, barely having an hour to get ready. However, despite her annoyance, she dared not express it in front of the young director.

    Otherwise, there would be no chance left: "Mr. Williams, I think I could try again."

    "No need," Eric replied. "Miss Nielsen, while your appearance fits Catherine Tramell''s character very well, your performance didn''t evoke much of Catherine''s essence. You seemed too restrained, cautiously walking a tightrope. I understand this might be due to the limited preparation time. But the more fundamental issue is that I don''t see any potential in you for this character -- nothing that projects the kind of aura Catherine embodies. So, I can only say

    I''m sorry." Despite Eric''s patient exnation, the woman still felt somewhat begrudging. After thanking him, she exited dejectedly.

    Once she left, Jeffrey couldn''t help but speak up, "Eric, I think your mood is off; you seem too

    rushed. How about we take a half-hour break? This way, the actresses can prepare a bit longer. We only have eleven women left; we have plenty of time to finish the auditions." Eric sighed, ncing at his watch. There was still ample time. He had already eliminated

    eight auditioners on the spot, and if he continued at this rate, they would end up with nothing again, and casting the lead for Basic Instinct would remain unresolved.

    "Inform them we''ll take a half-hour break," Eric stood up and said to Jeffrey. "I''m going out for some fresh air."

    "Sure, go ahead," Jeffrey nodded.

    ...

    As Eric opened the door and stepped out, the auditioning actresses waiting on the hallway

    benches stood up as he passed by.

    "We''re taking a half-hour break. You can prepare a bit more in the conference room over there," Eric addressed the actresses, then walked to the other end of the hallway. Several of the women exchanged nces, several eager to follow but ultimately deciding against it. Arriving at the restroom at the end of the hallway, Eric was just about to wash his face when a woman suddenly emerged. She bumped right into him, losing her bnce and falling to the floor while Eric stepped back.

    The woman was initially a bit angry, but when she realized it was Eric, she quickly stood up in

    a fluster. "I''m sorry, Mr. Williams. I didn''t mean to."

    "No problem; it''s my fault," Eric shook his head, assessing the woman with striking eyes. "You''re Joanna Pacu?a?"

    Her eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly, "Yes, Mr. Williams! I can''t believe you know me. By about the audition..."

    the way, "There''s a half-hour break. You can prepare a little longer," Eric said, feeling a spark of interest. "Miss Pacu?a, could you say that again?"

    "What?" Joanna paused at the mention of a break, sensing the opportunity.

    "I mean, your first statement."

    Joanna Pacu?a thought for a moment and, although unsure, replied, "I''m sorry..."

    "Yes, that''s it! Say it a few more times," Eric leaned against the wall, casually pulling out a

    cigarette and lighting it.

    Joanna Pac felt her heart race as she realized he wanted her to keep apologizing: "Mr. Williams, I really wasn''t trying to." "Wrong. Not that line," Eric waved, shaking his head.

    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry..." The woman tightly clutched her red purse, repeating the phrase over and over. She felt the young director was somewhat peculiar; she had merely bumped into him, and he was putting her through this! For a moment, Joanna worried that

    she would miss out on this audition.

    "Alright, stop," Eric finally interrupted her. "The ent was off; it didn''t sound good."

    ""

    "I checked your materialsst night; you''re from Pnd and were an actor at the Polish National Theatre?"

    "Yes," she nodded.

    "Whye to America? Isn''t a national theatre better than being a third-rate actor in Hollywood?"

    After a moment of silence, Joanna replied, "Because of political reasons..." Eric nodded, not wanting to pry further, as he had no interest in politics. He scrutinized

    Joanna Pacu?a anew. She was the same age as Sharon Stone, the original lead in Basic Instinct,

    but Joanna appeared much younger; she could easily pass for in her twenties.

    "You hardly look thirty-three," Eric remarked.

    Joanna''s expression dimmed as women typically avoided their age, especially reflecting on

    the hardships she had faced. Since 1980, she had been confined due to political upheaval in Pnd, and although she finally immigrated to America, the man who helped her never

    looked back and married another woman instead.

    Over the years, she drifted in Hollywood alone, feeling like a wandering soul. Although she

    starred in a low-budget horror filmst year, it only grossed about a million dors --

    nothing that would elevate her career.

    The more Joanna thought about it, the sadder she became. She nced at Eric, noting that she

    was being forced to apologize for something that wasn''t even her fault. It felt like the entire world conspired against her, and tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing. "Uh, what''s wrong?" Eric asked awkwardly when he noticed Joanna was tearing up,

    scrambling to find a tissue and handing it over. "Don''t cry."

    She epted the tissue to wipe her eyes but only grew sadder, eventually choking on her words. "You horrible Americans! That jerk who sent me here to the States just abandoned me. You... you''re just as bad. I identally bumped into you, and this is how you treat me? You''re all just bullies!"

    Eric raised his hand in rm, finding Joanna''s emotional outburst rather chaotic and unsustainable. He finally grew impatient, raising his voice, "Alright, that''s enough!" The sudden silence startled her. She touched her tears, realizing her current situation and instantly regretting her outburst. This opportunity was nowpletely ruined. Once she calmed down, Eric inquired again, "So, what made you want to audition for this

    movie?"

    "What?" she asked, still confused.

    "I''m asking about Basic Instinct." "What''s that to you?" Joanna asked quietly, still processing this twist. Eric thought for a moment before responding, "Honestly, I don''t want you in this film. You

    should pursue something more mainstream. Since you were in the Polish National Theatre,

    you must have reasonable actings skills."

    "Do you think I don''t want to be in a mainstream film?" Joanna replied, "But I have no opportunity to do so. I''ve auditioned numerous times and been rejected every time for all

    kinds of reasons. I can''tpete with local actresses." Eric again pondered, then said, "Let''s do this -- don''t participate in today''s audition."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 323: Chapter 324: Classic Scene

    Chapter 323: Chapter 324: ssic Scene

    ?

    [Chapter 324: ssic Scene]

    Half an hourter, in another makeup room, Diane Lane sat nervously in her chair, excitement bubbling under her surface while the makeup artist quickly touched up her eyebrows and hairstyle.

    Several crew members busily moved around her, while Eric Williams asionally pointed out directions to the makeup artist on what to do next.

    This situation made Diane realize that she was genuinely in the running for the leading role in Basic Instinct. Although the film had some adult themes, which would undoubtedly impact her future screen image, it was Eric Williams''s film. Even though he wasn''t directing it himself, and was merely credited as a producer, Eric''s name graced the screeny. Because of this, no one would see the film as anyone else''s work.

    Thinking about all the leadingdies who became stars from Eric''s films made Diane feel a rush of excitement.

    "Mr. Williams, what do you think? Is this okay?" the stylist asked, standing back to inspect her work as she quickly brushed Diane''s face with makeup.

    Eric approached Diane, scrutinizing her carefully, and shook his head. "No, the eyebrows need to be a bit bolder. The lips look too sexy; I don''t want sexy."

    "Should I make it more masculine then?" the stylist asked tentatively.

    "Not at all. The lead has to be a woman, but not the sexy kind of woman."

    The stylist furrowed his brow in thought. As one of the top professionals in the industry, he had encountered various entric requests from different directors, so he didn''t seem impatient with Eric''s instructions. After a moment, the stylist got to work on Diane''s face again.

    Her eyebrows became more pronounced, while her alluring upper lip was toned down. Once he was finished, the stylist nced at Eric for approval.

    Eric nodded slightly. Then he looked behind him. "Has the dress I just designed been made yet?"

    "Almost ready," a crew member replied. "Three minutes."

    "Make it quicker," Eric called out, before turning back to Diane. "Mr. Johnson will be here shortly. I need you to perform a few more scenes with him. You should prepare yourself now." Diane carefully stood up, trying not to mess up her newly styled hair. Nodding, she took the pages of the script handed to her and moved to a corner sofa to sit down and quietly review the lines. The previously noisy crew members intuitively lowered their voices.

    "Mr. Williams, the dress is ready," an assistant brought over a white dress and showed it to Eric. "What do you think?"

    "Looks good," Eric replied as he took the dress, walked over to the sofa, and handed it to Diane. "Put this on. Juste out in this dress. Try to understand Catherine Tramell''s mindset. Your opportunity is significant, but if it doesn''t work out, I won''t hesitate to consider other options."

    "Got it." Diane nodded. Even though Eric''s suggestion for her to audition without anything underneath felt a bit awkward, she didn''t refuse. She epted the dress and headed to the fitting room.

    ...

    "You just said you enjoy men''s touch, didn''t you?" In front of the camera, Don Johnson asked aggressively.

    Diane Lane wore a subtle, confident smile as she calmly retorted, "No, I said I like Johnny''s touch. I don''t set rules, Nick; I prefer to let things flow."

    "You killed Mr. Baz, didn''t you?" an assistant prompted for her line.

    Diane leaned slightly forward, a hint of sarcasm in her tone as she replied, "I''m not foolish enough to kill someone using methods from my own book and then announce myself as the murderer. I''m not an idiot."

    "We know you''re not that stupid. Maybe that''s your way to avoid conviction?"

    "Writing a book as an excuse," Don Johnson stated again.

    Diane smiled brightly at Don Johnson. "Of course, that works perfectly." Just as quickly, her expression shifted to seriousness, as if her previousment was merely a joke. She looked at the others facing her and said, "I already told you, I didn''t kill him."

    "Did you do drugs with Mr. Baz?"

    "Of course."

    "What kind?"

    "Cocaine. Nick, have you ever snorted cocaine?" Diane looked back at Don Johnson with a teasing glint in her eye.

    With that, the room fell silent for a brief moment. The most memorable scene from Basic Instinct unfolded in the audition room. Diane clearly got into character. She unconsciously performed a leg switch, which caused Jeffrey, who had been sipping water across from her, to spit it out upon witnessing the scene.

    ...

    This unexpected distraction took Diane out of character as she raised her hand to cover her dress''s hem. Yet, her expression showed little embarrassment, and she boldly gazed at Eric across the way, knowing he had caught a glimpse beneath her dress.

    Eric cleared his throat a couple of times. Diane''s ability to let go made him very pleased. He quickly said, "Very nice. Congrattions, Diane Lane. You nailed the audition."

    "Thank you for your recognition, Mr. Williams. I promise I will work hard," she replied, sitting up a bit more formally to express her gratitude.

    Eric nodded and then turned to Roger Spottiswoode. "Now that we have our leadingdy, I''ll be heading to New York tomorrow. This movie will be entirely in your hands and Jeffrey''s. Normally, it would take three months to finish this film, but I hope you canpress the production timeline to under two months because it needs to be released three months from now, with a month left over for promotion."

    "I''ll do my best," Roger Spottiswoode replied.

    "I don''t want to hear words like ''doing best.'' I need a 100% guarantee. We can add to the movie''s budget if necessary. I need itpleted on time, and the film''s quality must be

    assured."

    Roger felt the pressure building but realized that since Eric''s film was on the line, he still had to finish Ghost, which would involve special effects, while Basic Instinct wouldn''t need as many. Having been in Hollywood for so many years, he thought he couldn''t fall behind any youngerpetitor.

    "I guarantee I''llplete it on time," Roger finally stated without hesitation.

    Eric nodded, extending his hand to shake Roger''s. "It''s a necessary situation, Roger. You know, I wasted a few months at the beginning of the year. I have to rush back and show some people they can''t hold me back even a little. So, if you can get this film done, we''ll definitely continue to coborate in the future."

    *****n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 325: Chapter 326: Thats All I Have

    Chapter 325: Chapter 326: That''s All I Have

    ?

    [Chapter 326: That''s All I Have]

    Even though Eric tried to lighten the mood, the woman''s mind seemed elsewhere, casting a faint air of awkwardness throughout the evening.

    After dinner, Eric watched her tidy up and stood up, saying, "It''s gettingte, I think I should head back."

    "You didn''t drive here, how are you nning to get home?" she asked, her tone indifferent.

    Eric cleared his throat awkwardly twice, about to say something when Joanna Pac suddenly added, "Could you watch some TV for a while?"

    Eric perked up a bit, nodded slightly, and sat back down on the couch.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The woman cleaned up the dishes and then slipped into the bathroom. The small apartment had poor sound instion, and Eric could clearly hear the sounds of running water, stirring an unusual flutter in his chest.

    After a while, she emerged from the bathroom, draped in a pink bathrobe with damp hair cascading around her shoulders. She casually turned off the lights in the living room, leaving only the flickering glow of the television.

    Eric silently watched her switch off the TV, and soon after, a soft, bare figure leaned against him, hesitantly rubbing against his side. She whispered, "I''ve heard about you."

    "Hmm?" Eric felt the atmosphere shift and instinctively asked with a hint of confusion.

    "About your life," Joanna repeated, her hands moving due to her nervousness as she unbuttoned his shirt. Her tongue flickered gently on Eric''s cheek, trailing down as she stammered, "I... I only have this to offer. My... my request is not too high."

    Eric exhaled deeply, pulling her slender waist toward him and pressing his lips to hers in a deep kiss.

    ...

    Sunlight squeezed through the narrow bedroom from a nearby taller building, barely filtering through the curtains into their small space. Although the bed felt a bit cramped, the faint scent of her perfume eased his difort.

    Her light brown hairy against his chest, and though she was quite tall, only slightly shorter than him, she curled into Eric''s embrace like a little girl. He could feel her gentle breathing against his skin.

    As he carefully traced her smooth back, Eric contemted getting up, but his watch rested on the nightstand, and he hesitated, not wanting to disturb her. He had lost track of time and knew it must bete, especially afterst night''s wildness that had kept him up until past one.

    He hadn''t brought a mobile phone, despite Motor having supplied him with severalpact models during the filming of Running Out of Time. Compared to what cell phones were like in his past life, they still felt clunky to him, and he didn''t care to carry one around.

    He reasoned that many people were likely searching for him by now.

    Joanna stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she felt herself nestled against a man. After a moment of disorientation, memories of the previous night rushed back.

    "I''m sorry, Eric. What time is it?" she asked, looking up at him shyly.

    Seeing her awake, Eric casually nced at his watch on the nightstand, "It''s nine forty."

    "It''s thatte already?" She sighed lightly but made no move to get up, instead, she arched her back slightly and rested on Eric''s arm, blinking her beautiful eyes at him.

    "Don''t want to get up?" he asked curiously.

    She shook her head, "I just don''t know what to do when I do."

    "That''s not good. Without a goal, one can easily grow old," Eric replied gently.

    "Ha, I''m indeed much older than you," she said, sounding a bit downcast.

    Eric soothingly stroked her back, "You look about my age, at most twenty-five." "But still not twenty-five."

    He pressed his lips against hers lightly, "Alright, let''s not talk about sad things. Since we don''t want to get up, let''s do something meaningful instead."

    "Hmm... like what?" She hadn''t quite realized what was happening when Eric suddenly shifted, pinning her beneath him. She let out a short gasp and quickly wrapped her arms around his waist, her mouth slightly open as she surrendered to his movements.

    ...

    "Yes, Allen, I''m fine. I''ll be at the airport on time this afternoon. You go over to Malibu and have... someone help me gather some things... Yes, there are people there, you''ll know once you get there... Also, buy an extra ticket."

    After hanging up, Eric looked at the woman, who was now fully dressed. "Come with me to New York. I''ve had someone arrange a ticket for you."

    Joanna hesitated, "You''re going to film a movie. What will I do?"

    "I''ve already thought of your role. You''ll be my personal assistant."

    "Personal assistant?" she echoed, contemting it before nodding slowly, "Okay, sure, since

    I have nothing going on in LA. But what about my agent?"

    "What do you think of your agent?" Eric asked.

    "Seems okay, I suppose," she replied.

    "Don''t use that uncertain tone. I mean, if you think he''s great, then stay. If not, let him go."

    Without hesitation, Joanna quickly said, "Then I''ll let him go."

    "Done deal," Eric chuckled. "Call him now, tell him he''s fired. Then you''re free, and we can head to New York."

    "But... personal assistant?"

    Eric stepped closer, highlighting her waist, "What? Are you reluctant?"

    "No, I just... feel a bit scared." Her eyes flickered as she spoke.

    "Scared of... what?"

    Joanna hesitated for a moment, then partially closed her eyes, "Scared that you might just want to toy with me and then ignore me when you''re bored."

    Eric feigned anger, "Do you think I''m that kind of person?"

    "Because I don''t know, I''m scared. I just want some stability. You''re the big boss at Firefly Films; help mend a role in a movie to stabilize my career in Hollywood. That''s not too much to ask for, right? I promise I won''t bother you again. If you want... you can alwayse back

    to find me."

    After Joanna finished speaking, her voice tinged with anxiety, Eric pulled her tightly into his arms. "Don''t worry, that won''t happen. Even if you don''t believe it, I promise you will be one of Hollywood''s top stars. I''ll make you the lead in my next film."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 327: Chapter 328: On Set Visit

    Chapter 327: Chapter 328: On Set Visit

    ?

    [Chapter 328: On Set Visit]

    This scene featured the character Willy Lopez, the antagonist who killed Sam. He had been so startled by Sam''s ghost that he fled the Odeon Apartments and, unfortunately, got hit by a car on the street.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    For such a minor role, Eric did not put much effort into finding the original actor. Instead, a casting director selected a man in his thirties, named Philip Reed, a Latin American actor.

    The shot where Willy gets hit by a truck was quite dangerous. Thus, even though Philip Reed was just a small character, they still nned to use a stunt double. After all, in case Philip Reed got identally injured, the crew would be left scrambling to rece him.

    "Stan, are you ready?" Eric asked as he stepped forward.

    "Of course, I promise nothing will go wrong. Let''s get started," Stan Winston signaled that he was ready. Eric then returned to the monitor, scanned the surroundings again, and after confirming everything looked good, he called for action.

    ...

    A red sedan and another truck came toward each other. In the shot, Philip Reed''s character Willy appeared terrified but forgot to evade. In another monitor shot, the two cars crashed together with a loud bang.

    "Good, one take, effects team get ready. Hey, you two, go help Mr. Reed to the side to rest," Eric sighed in relief. No idents -- great.

    Philip Reed, standing beside the two wrecked cars, was visibly shaken, helped off by two crew members. Even though the stunt team assured everyone there wouldn''t be any issues, and although the position of Philip Reed was safe, witnessing the two cars collide was still nerve- wracking. But there was no way to substitute for that main shot.

    Once Philip Reed left, after some quick preparations, a stunt double who looked just like him came out. This stuntman stood between the two cars, suspended by wires, gearing up for the shot where Willy gets flung away.

    This shot was indeed quite tricky. To avoid any idents, as the stuntman flew into the air, he had tond face down, and he wore protective gear on his face.

    Even though the stunt team from Stan Winston Studio was experienced, they still attempted this shot seven or eight times before getting it right. The stuntman had to endure several falls, as it wasn''t easy tond urately on his face.

    Afterpleting these two shots, the filming progressed more smoothly, including the scene where Willy''s soul gets dragged away by Death. This really just involved a few background actors donned in blue bodysuits, screaming as they dragged the moaning Willy into a corner. Later, in post-production, those actors would be transformed into the desired grim reaper image throughputer effects.

    Although these scenes seemed straightforward, by the time the shooting wrapped up, it had unknowingly be past eleven at night. After wrapping up, Eric returned to the hotel where the crew was staying just past twelve-thirty.

    ...

    "Eric, I''ve had the kitchen prepare ate-night snack," Joanna Pac said as she got up from the couch, just stepping out of the shower.

    Eric walked over and kissed her cheek, "Didn''t I say if we wrappedte, you should just get some rest?"

    Joanna took the towel from Eric''s hand and carefully dried his wet hair. "It''s alright; didn''t you ask me to be your personal assistant? I have to do this job well."

    Eric smirked as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "You''re being so agreeable. Does that mean you''ll do anything I ask?"

    Joanna wriggled a little but didn''t fight free from his hold. She softened quickly and didn''t respond to Eric''s question; instead, she tossed the towel aside. "After a long day, let''s just eat thete-night snack and get to bed early; after all, we''ll have plenty of time in the future."

    "Then stay here tonight; I want to hold you while I sleep," Eric whispered as he sniffed her fragrant hair.

    "Okay, okay, stop it! The snack will get cold. Let''s eat!"

    After some yful moments, Eric moved to the dining table, eating theirte-night snack while asionally chatting with Joanna, who leaned on the couch still watching him.

    From that day on, Eric quite decisively brought Joanna to New York, and she didn''t resist. With the time they had spent together, she started to develop a mild sense of dependence on him.

    ...

    The scenes rted to special effects in Ghost were filmed over two weeks before wrapping up. After a thorough review to make sure everything was in good order, Eric handed the rough cut over to Stan Winston and the others to take to Los Angeles for post-production. Since the special effects used in Ghost were rtively simple, with not many shots needing effects, a lot of these shots werepleted using basic film ovey techniques.

    Thus, even though Eric had high standards for some aspects, post-production wouldn''t exceed a month, and they could have everything finished byte May. With Eric''s fast filming pace, the movie wouldn''t be far from wrapping up.

    As the special effects portion wrapped up, it was now May, and gradually people started visiting the set. Eric was surprised that the first to show up was Donald Trump along with his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

    It was midday, and due to shooting several outdoor scenes of Sam taking Annie to the bank, the crew had closed off a not-too-busy street in Manhattan.

    "Eric, I''m really sorry I couldn''t be of much help with that thing before," Donald Trump greeted Eric, his first words an apology, referring to the scandals at the begining of the year.

    Eric smiled; he knew Donald couldn''t help much with that situation. "No problem, Donald. By the way, how''s everything going with you?"

    Hearing this question, Donald smiled slightly. "It''s okay, I barely made it through; thanks to your early warning, after some effort, the bank had to agree to continue lending me money. The resort is now fully built, and some parts are already in use -- at least I won''t go bankrupt again."

    After saying that, almost as if performing a magic trick, Donald pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to Eric. "This is a membership card for my resort. Of course, it''s the top tier --e visit if you have time in Antic City."

    Eric took the membership card with a smile, recalling that Antic City was in New Jersey, a ce he had never been to. Recently, he had seen in the entertainment news that Michael Jackson had attended the opening of Trump''s resort.

    "I''ll definitely check it out if I get the chance," Eric replied, ncing at a little girl nearby who was curiously wandering around holding a stuffed animal. "Ivanka, why didn''t you say hi? You look a bit gloomy. Is someone bothering you?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 329: Chapter 330: Not Planning to Reason

    Chapter 329: Chapter 330: Not nning to Reason

    ?

    [Chapter 330: Not nning to Reason]

    "My fee, Eric, is twenty bucks," Ivanka dered assertively, her little money-obsessed demeanor making everyone around chuckle.

    Ericughed too, reaching into his pocket and curiously asking, "Ivanka, what do you need money for?"

    "I don''t like Daddy anymore. I''ve decided that I won''t use his money anymore. I want to be independent," Ivanka replied in her bright little voice.

    Standing nearby, Donald Trump awkwardly rubbed his forehead, though a smile lingered on his face.

    Eric nced at Donald Trump, concealed the wallet he had just pulled out, and pressed on, "But you know your tuition and your meals and lodging are all paid for by your dad, right?"

    "I checked. That''s just something my dad is supposed to do as a father. But other than that, I don''t want to spend his money anymore. You see, I bought this bunny plushie from cleaning my room," Ivanka maintained her serious tone, looking adorably earnest as her sparkling eyes fixated on Eric''s wallet, as if afraid he wouldn''t hold up his end of the bargain.

    Eric looked down into his wallet, pulled out a one hundred dor bill, and handed it to her. "Here, take it. The extra is a reward for your outstanding performance just now."

    "Don''t treat me like a little kid. Daddy did that too, and I won''t take more than what''s due -- twenty bucks is twenty bucks."

    The crowd watching finally burst intoughter.

    "Alright, alright," Eric chuckled, shaking his head as he rifled through his wallet, only to find a pile of one hundred dor bills. "Ivanka, I don''t have any change. What do you think I should do?"

    While there had to be plenty of twenty-dor bills in the surrounding area, Eric still disyed his wallet in front of Ivanka, wanting to y with the little girl a bit more.

    Ivanka leaned over, inspecting Eric''s wallet seriously, and was momentarily caught off guard. As Donald Trump''s daughter, she had lived a life offort, usually having whatever she wanted bought for her, and thus had little experience dealing with money matters.

    After her parents'' sudden divorce, Ivanka had started to think about making money herself. Now facing such a plicated'' issue, she instinctively looked to her father for help.

    "I charge a consulting fee if you want my help, you know -- twenty bucks," Donald Trump said with a straight face in an official tone.

    Ivanka red at her father angrily and then looked back at Eric.

    "Twenty bucks," Ivanka repeated, staring unblinkingly at Eric, clearly indicating that she wasn''t nning to reason with him.

    Eric saw the assistant director gesture towards him, signaling that the next shot was ready, so he couldn''t continue teasing Ivanka. He shoved the one hundred dor bill into her hand. "Here, take the hundred dors. The remaining eighty is an advance on your future cameo roles just do four more cameos in my movies."

    Displeased at the thought of having to return the money, Ivanka considered Eric''s offer and tilted her little head. She realized it wasn''t a bad idea, especially since Eric hadn''t charged her ''consultation fees'' like her annoying father had. She readily nodded, "No problem, but I can only do four cameos!"

    "Of course," Eric nodded, looking at Ivanka''s little expression, and unexpectedly thought of an old man who always appeared mysteriously in superhero movies. If a little girl with a plush toy kept showing up in his film, it would surely be interesting, wouldn''t it?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ...

    Once filming resumed, Donald Trump discreetly took his daughter and left. Over the next few days, the exterior shots were almost finished, and Eric moved on to the most important indoor scenes.

    The filming for Sam and Molly''s apartment took ce in a building in SoHo, Manhattan. Initially an old industrial area, SoHo had seen numerous factory apartments sit vacant due to the decline of manufacturing in New York. With cheap rents, many artists chasing dreams flocked there, renting out unused factories as studios. Over decades, SoHo had gradually be synonymous with contemporary art, its concept spreading worldwide.

    In Ghost, Molly is an artist, making their living arrangement perfectly fitting for the film''s characters.

    One evening, after catching news about a ne crash on TV, Sam''s pessimistic remarks caused Molly sleeplessness. Thus, the girl got up alone to work on ceramics, and a drowsy Sam noticed his love missing and followed her to Molly''s studio.

    This led to one of the most iconic scenes in Ghost.

    "I want this scene to have a somewhat theatrical effect, especially with the lighting. It''s divided into two parts. The first part is the throwing scene. Here, see, there''s a light, but I don''t need it to shine on camera. I just need a top light effect. As for the second part, I need high-contrast lighting," Eric exined as he walked around the room with the lighting technician, who nodded in understanding.

    After giving instructions, Eric approached Nics Cage and Bridget Fonda, who had been chatting easily. Their evident chemistry was just what Eric needed. For a touching love story, if the leads didn''t share sparks, unless both actors were exceptionally talented, it could end up disastrous for the film.

    Despite Bridget Fonda''s beauty, Eric refrained from intervening as before -- he needed the female lead to maintain that electric connection with the male lead.

    In matters of film and women, Eric could separate importance clearly. In his mind, film always took precedence; it was his foundation in Hollywood. As long as he achieved enough in film, pursuing women would naturally follow.

    Seeing Eric approach, the two who had been chatting instinctively prepared to stand.

    "It''s fine, sit down," Eric waved them off, pulling up a chair across from them. "What were you just talking about?"

    They exchanged nces, and Bridget finally spoke up, "Nics mentioned that a famous British theaterpany is performing Hamlet on Broadway tomorrow night and asked if I

    wanted to go see it."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 331: Chapter 332: Incredible

    Chapter 331: Chapter 332: Incredible

    ?

    [Chapter 332: Incredible]

    On screen, the female lead hung on Sam like a ko, passionately kissing him as they slowly fell onto the sofa beside them.

    ...

    "Cut! Good, we got that take," Eric finally shouted after more than four hours of filming. Everyone present, including the two leads who had just crawled off the couch, let out a sigh of relief.

    What should have been a quick scene took an excruciating four hours to shoot, and anyone would have felt a bit anxious with such a dy. However, Eric, who could have easily expressed his frustration, remained calm. The others, of course, didn''t dare show any signs of impatience either; they just repeated the scene over and over.

    Eric checked his watch and said, "Let''s wrap for today. It''s alreadyte; there''s no need to clean up here. Just head back and get some rest."

    Before anyone could cheer for the director''s consideration, Eric added, "But no one is allowed to bete tomorrow."

    A chorus of groans filled the room, but no one dared toin. After all, everyone had earned decent overtime pay, and Eric surely had much more work awaiting him, probably more exhausting than theirs.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The crowd quickly dispersed. By the time Eric and the assistant director reviewed the footage and secured it away in a safe, over half an hour had passed.

    Filming in Manhattan had quietly continued for nearly a month. Thanks to Eric''s ability to reference existing films in his mind, his pace was considerably quicker than many Hollywood directors.

    In just one month, two-thirds of the filming for Ghost had already beenpleted, and he estimated about ten more days would be needed to wrap it up. Word had alsoe in from Los Angeles that the special effects were progressing smoothly. Eric had even used a video phone to view some of the effects.

    ...

    The production of Basic Instinct in San Francisco wasn''t going as smoothly. It wasn''t due to the performances of the two leads, who were doing quite well, but rather some external issues. Everyone knew that San Francisco was a hub for the LGBTQ+munity, and a controversial scene in Basic Instinct had been sensationalized by tabloids. This sparked protests from LGBTQ+ organizations, with some radicals even attempting to obstruct filming.

    Jeffrey had to personally contact the San Francisco Police Department for assistance. For several days, Basic Instinct had been filmed under the protection of over fifty police officers, necessitating a substantial sponsorship payment from the production to the local police department.

    ...

    On the other hand, Firefly Films'' first summer release, The Silence of the Lambs, had wrapped over a week prior. To get the film out quickly, the crew had to divide into three teams.

    By the end of May, all post-production work would bepleted. Due to the rush, the budget had ballooned from under twenty million to twenty-five million. Eric had yet to see any rough cuts, but he trusted Jonathan Demme''s direction and the unchanged cast. He believed the final film wouldn''t differ too much from what he recalled.

    ording to n, the film''s critical screenings were set for early June, with a theatrical release on June 8. However, Robert Shea had only arranged for 1,500 theaters to premiere it. While Eric understood that this was Shea monopolizing resources for his own film, Sleeping With the Enemy, he said nothing. Being scheduled for the summer block was already a big win, especially for an R-rated horror film, which typically released either around Easter or at summer''s end. For it to squeeze into the busy summer schedule was quite fortunate, and 1,500 theaters was not a bad number for a horror film.

    ...

    Alongside the movie matters, Eric found that personal responsibilities were piling up. He had to manage the affairs of Firefly, Pixar, and even Cisco, which frequently needed his direct intervention.

    While he focused on Firefly, Eric continued to monitor the otherpanies. Thanks to ample financial backing, the production of Toy Story had already passed the halfway mark. Though it might not make the uing Christmas release, it would definitely be ready for next summer''s window. This version of Toy Story was shaping up to be far more refined than he remembered, enhancing many details along the way. The film''s length wasn''t the original 81 minutes but was extended to a more standard 90 minutes. Eric was confident that Toy Story would astonish Hollywood.

    As for Digital Domain, Eric entrusted that to Stan Winston. He merely arranged for a financial supervisor to oversee the finances while remaining hands-off in other aspects.

    After its listing in February, Cisco''s stock skyrocketed. Although it slowed down a monthter, the stock surged again after the first quarter''s profit report was released. Eric''s $70 million investment had now ballooned to over $200 million, with no signs of stopping. Several investment firms began regretting their decisions to sell their shares to Firefly.

    ...

    While keeping an eye on all these developments, Eric noticed recently that the people around him were acting a bit strange. They asionally shot him odd looks, as if nning something. It felt subtle and peculiar, and he couldn''t quite figure out if it was just his imagination.

    For instance, today, crew members sought various excuses to take the day off, hoping Eric would wrap shooting an hour early while citing other pressing matters. If it were only one or two people, it wouldn''t seem strange, but when everyone behaved this way, Eric would truly have been questioning his intelligence if he didn''t realize something was up.

    Given everyone''s firm insistence, Eric had to yield. After all, they had all been working tirelessly for days, and the film was nearingpletion; he decided to go along with their wishes.

    However, as the day wrapped up, Eric caught the photographer Nicole before she could leave. "Nicole, tell me what''s really going on?"

    Nicole looked at Eric with a puzzled expression, as if caught off guard, and a bit incredulous. As Eric pressed for answers, she nced around and saw many eyes on them, quickly shaking

    her head. "Eric, I can''t say anything or I might get killed."

    "If you don''t spill, I''ll take you out right now," Eric threatened.

    The photographer puffed out her chest defiantly, appearing unfazed, fully aware that Eric couldn''t actually do anything to her.

    Eric punched her lightly on the shoulder. "Alright, scram. I just hope you don''t get me into any trouble."

    "Definitely not, for sure," Nicoleughed, stepping back. Once she was at a safe distance and certain Eric couldn''t hear her, she couldn''t help but mutter, "Incredible, truly incredible. How could anyone forget about something like this? No wonder you''re such a workaholic."

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 Chapter 333: Chapter 334: So Many Ties

    Chapter 333: Chapter 334: So Many Ties

    ?

    [Chapter 334: So Many Ties]N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As the waiter pushed a multiyered cake into the party hall, the birthday song began to y, marking the climax of the celebration. A few women who were known to be close to Eric were nudged out of the crowd by the jovial guests. Blushing, they huddled around Eric to help blow out the candles on the cake.

    The lively party continued until the early hours of the morning. As the guests began to disperse, Eric, the host, politely escorted each one out, inevitably meeting a few pained stares along the way. Under those circumstances, he certainly couldn''t take any woman back to his ce -- not only to spare the feelings of the other women, but also because a number of keen-eyed paparazzi had gathered outside the Hilton Hotel where the birthday party was held. Eric''s every move would surely be the subject of their attention that night.

    For instance, as they returned to the hotel in the car they had arrived in, several obviously paparazzi-driven cars followed closely behind, even a couple of them on motorcycles trailing near Eric''s sedan.

    Despite trying to keep hisposure, after mingling with so many people, Eric inevitably felt a bit tipsy. He leaned back wearily against the car seat while Drew nestled against him like a little kitten, having behaved well and not touched a drop of alcohol amidst the chaos of the party.

    ...

    Upon returning to the hotel where the crew was staying, Eric took the elevator directly from the underground parking lot to the floor where the crew was located. The girl followed him without hesitation, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

    Although many crew members who returned at the same time noticed this detail, they all affected nonchnce. After all, with the girl''s figure as noticeable as it was, it wasn''t easy to remember her age.

    Looking at the little shadow following him, Eric shrugged helplessly. "Drew, did you book a room here at the hotel?"

    Drew pointed at Eric''s room door with her hand. "My luggage is inside."

    "Uh, okay." Eric knew discussing it further wouldn''t help, so he pulled out the room key from his pocket and just as he opened the door, he saw a mountain of beautifully wrapped gift boxes piled up in the living room of the suite.

    "Wow, when did these arrive?" Eric asked in surprise.

    "I had someone deliver them during the party. In fact, gifts have beening in over the past few days, and Allen and I put in a lot of effort to keep it a secret," Drew said cheerfully, a proud smile on her face.

    "Well, thanks for preparing this surprise for me. I really like it," Eric said, cupping the girl''s chin and nting a kiss on her cheek, feeling her little hands move as if to hug him. He quickly pulled away, "Let''s open the gifts and see what we have. I''ve never received so many gifts before."

    "I''ll help," Drew said, clearly intrigued. She bounded over to pick up arger box that certainly looked like a tie and began to unwrap it.

    Eric set aside the tie that Nicole had sent him and sat down beside the gift pile next to Drew, casually opening a box.

    After a while, Eric unwrapped a gift from Virginia, revealing yet another tie.

    "Hmph, no taste at all, picking a pattern like that," the girl muttered, less animated than before but still expressing her dissatisfaction.

    Eric held the light blue polka dot tie from Virginia up to his chest, examining it with amusement before putting it back in the box. He then began rummaging through the remaining gifts.

    About ten minutester, a few more ties appeared before the two of them.

    "Don''t move! Let me count," Drew eximed, blocking Eric who was trying to put the gifts

    away.

    "One, two, three, four, five, six... oh my gosh, I can''t handle this!" She leaped up, like a frustrated wife catching her phndering husband, and flopped onto the nearby sofa, burying her head in a cushion and whimpered.

    Ignoring her theatrics, Eric stared at a gift box without a name attached to it, somewhat taken aback. Sixties total; five of them were from Virginia, Nicole, Jennifer Connelly, Famke Janssen, and Joanna Pac. Neither Julia nor Elisabeth, with whom he had previously been involved, had sent ties. Who could thest one be?

    He brought the gift box to his nose, catching a faint scent of familiar perfume. A beautiful and defiant face floated into Eric''s mind.

    Speaking of which, the second season of Friends was about to start filming, and he hadn''t seen his littledy in quite a while. Rtionships that begin modestly are often hard to forget. Though they had broken up, he still saw asional news about Aniston in magazines or papers. Whenever the paparazzi asked her about their rtionship, she didn''t exhibit the excitement that had followed their initial public exposure.

    Noticing Eric''s distracted expression and that he hadn''te to check on her, Drew poked her head out from behind the cushion. Seeing him lost in thought, she stuck her tongue out yfully, then obediently crawled off the sofa to Eric''s side.

    "Eric, Eric, Eric..." Drew waved her hand in front of Eric''s face, calling his name repeatedly. Eric gently pushed her hand away and asked, "By the way, where''s your gift?" "Uh?" The girl opened her mouth and hesitated for a moment before getting up and skipping to the corner of the living room, opening her suitcase to pull out a small box. She returned to Eric''s side in a few quick steps. "Here."

    Eric looked at the palm-sized box in his hand and felt a sudden premonition. He opened it

    quickly and pulled out a vibrant red tie, holding it in front of Drew. "This is a bit too tant, don''t you think? What was it you just said?"

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 Chapter 335: Chapter 336: Million-Dollar Fee

    Chapter 335: Chapter 336: Million-Dor Fee

    ?

    [Chapter 336: Million-Dor Fee]

    Eric''s 20th birthday attracted a considerable amount of media attention. With many high- profile Hollywood figures attending the birthday party, it was inevitable that the media had a field day afterward.

    The tabloids focused on the female stars present at the party. After the incident at the beginning of the year took a big turn, the actresses who were originally attacked, no matter what they did in private, rified the facts on the surface. With Eric''s recent breakup with Aniston, spection about who his next girlfriend would be became a hot topic among gossip outlets.

    While in Los Angeles, Eric had always been cautious about protecting his privacy, and the paparazzi struggled to uncover much about him.

    However, this time was vastly different. Many female stars hade specifically for Eric''s birthday, and since this was New York and not Los Angeles, coupled with the film crew shooting a movie, keeping things under wraps became nearly impossible.

    Surprisingly, the first person to be uncovered by the paparazzi was not Nicole or Julia, who had hurried over from the set to celebrate Eric''s birthday; it was actually Joanna Pac, who had only recently started appearing with Eric.

    After all, Joanna''s looks were on par with those of any of the actresses Eric had previously been linked with. Under the relentless probing of the paparazzi, detailed information about Joanna quickly surfaced in the media.

    Almost overnight, the media spotlight shifted to her, overshadowing numerous A-list actresses, and her poprity skyrocketed. Due to the public''s intense curiosity about Joanna, the productionpanies that held distribution rights to her earlier films quickly released videotapes of her films, making a substantial profit in the following days.

    ...

    Facing the buzz from the outside world, Eric didn''t allow anyone to make a statement and even increased security measures for the film, Ghost. After all, the movie was set to wrap up in just half a month, and much of it consisted of indoor filming. While the area surrounding the set was swarmed with paparazzi daily, the shooting process was not significantly impacted. Charlie Walker sat on the couch in Eric''s living room, staring thoughtfully at the closed bedroom door.

    He was Joanna Pac''s agent, arranged by ICM (International Creative Management). With all the media hypetely, Charlie had received numerous offers for Joanna to star in films, including several big productions from the major studios.

    Excitedly calling from Los Angeles, Charlie found himself unable to reach Joanna; only Eric''s assistant, Allen Fisman, ryed Eric''s insistence to cancel everything.

    Having so many offers turned down left Charlie unsatisfied. He knew that one project from Warner Brothers had offered a staggering $1 million fee, meaning he would receive a $100,000mission. For a guy representing a few second-tier actors, that was a considerable ie.

    Though Charlie recognized that Eric might want to personally promote the beautiful Polish actress, Eric had yet toplete this film, and there was no sign of any follow-up project. Charlie felt that getting Joanna Pac to ept a movie now would pose no scheduling issues.

    After about seven or eight minutes, the bedroom door finally opened. Eric, having changed out of the dirty clothes he had worn all day on set, donned a simple white shirt and casual pants, while Joanna Pac followed behind him, carrying a few garments.

    Seeing them emerge, Charlie promptly stood up, smiling and greeting them.

    Eric shook Charlie''s hand, while Joanna merely nodded at her agent before turning to Eric and saying, "You two continue talking; I''ll go do someundry for you."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With Charlie somewhat dumbfounded, Joanna exited the room.

    ...

    Once the door closed, Charlie looked at Eric with strong envy, thinking how lucky he was to have a stunning beauty like her taking care of hisundry and cooking. He mused that he would dly trade ten years off his life for such a luxury.

    "Sorry, are you Mr. Waller?" Eric gestured for the agent to sit and asked curiously.

    Charlie, not at all offended by Eric''s slip regarding his surname, quickly nodded and respectfully handed Eric his business card, saying, "Yes, Mr. Williams. I''m Charlie Walker; here''s my card."

    Eric took a look at the card. Though he wasn''t particrly invested in it, he politely tucked it into his shirt pocket before saying to Charlie, "Mr. Walker, I recall asking Allen to get back to you."

    Charlie nodded. "Yes, Mr. Williams, but I think it would still be best for Ms. Pac to read the script herself. It would be a shame to pass up an opportunity."

    After finishing his sentence, Charlie pulled out a thick stack of scripts from his briefcase, roughly seven or eight, and ced them on the coffee table in front of Eric.

    With nothing else to do, Eric casually flipped through the scripts.

    Charlie watched with a mix of tension and anticipation. Given Eric''s string of sessful films, his script choices weremon knowledge in Hollywood.

    If Eric approved a project, even if it wasn''t the highest-paying offer from Warner Brothers, Charlie could use Eric''s interest as leverage to negotiate for a better deal with the studios, confident that they would be willing to provide a more satisfactory offer.

    After spending a little over ten minutes, Eric had gone through the scripts. He mainly looked at the storylines, only skimming through if something piqued his interest. However, none of the scripts stood out, and he felt none of them had the spark he hoped to see. Slightly shaking his head, Eric thought that if there were indeed some remarkable scripts here, he wouldn''t mind Joanna taking them on.

    "Sorry, Mr. Walker, none of these will work. I think you may have wasted your trip."

    Charlie felt a wave of disappointment wash over him and replied stubbornly, "Mr. Williams, I really believe this script is solid, and Warner offered $1 million for it. Why not let Ms. Pac give it a shot?"

    "$1 million?" Eric echoed, selecting the script that Charlie had mentioned. Looking at the notes, he saw that it was indeed a script from Warner, budgeted around $30 million, telling the story of a wife who, after divorcing her ne''er-do-well husband, took drastic measures to gain custody of her daughter.

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 Chapter 337: Chapter 338: Dud

    Chapter 337: Chapter 338: Dud

    ?

    [Chapter 338: A Damp Squib]

    At the end of May, filming for Ghost came to a close in Manhattan, New York. Eric returned to Los Angeles with the crew to start post-production.

    As schools in North America began their summer break, the summer box office season for 1990 officially kicked off. On May 25, Universal Pictures'' Back to the Future Part III and Disney''s Fire Birds released by Buena Vista International were released in more than 2,000 theaters respectively.

    Back to the Future Part III experienced a rushed production. After all, Back to the Future Part II had just hit theaters at the end ofst year. The reason was simr to Columbia''s reboot of the Ghostbusters series after a five-year hiatus. Universal''s parentpany, MCA, was in the final stages of negotiations with Japan''s Panasonic group for a buyout. To secure a good price, Universal needed strong performance at the box office.

    Due to the tight schedule, although Back to the Future Part III was produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Robert Zemeckis, it received criticism from many film critics upon its release. Even with a considerable support base from die-hard fans of the series, the film managed only a $19 million box office over the three-day opening weekend.

    Inparison, the performance of Disney''s Fire Birds was less than ster. The film told the story of American military Apache helicopter pilots. Despite the ongoing controversies regarding the quality of Back to the Future Part III, Fire Birds, after extensive marketing, turned out to be a dud with little excitement upon release.

    Critics asionallypared Fire Birds to Tom Cruise''s blockbuster Top Gun that grossed $350 million worldwide. Most reviews simply tagged it as a "poor imitation of Top Gun." Also opening in 2,000 theaters, Fire Birds only earned a pitiful $6 million at the box office. This disappointing performance left theater managers, who had signed a two- to three-week run contract with Disney, grumbling. After three weeks, this $30 million investment was on track to be pulled from theaters. Considering distribution costs, the film would incur at least a $30 million loss for Disney.

    ...

    Disney''s summer blockbuster had fizzled out, and Eric should have felt a sense of schadenfreude. However, due to the film''s lead actor, he couldn''t find any joy in it at all. The star of this $30 million production was Nics Cage, who yed the lead in this version of Ghost.

    On the morning of May 29th, as Eric and a few key creatives from Ghost exited Los Angeles Airport, they were met by a swarm of paparazzi, who bombarded him with questions about Fire Birds. Having just rushed to the airport for a flight back to Los Angeles, Eric waspletely unaware of the situation with Fire Birds and had no opinions to offer, especially since the questions were loaded with traps. In the end, he could only hurry away in silence, nked by his bodyguards.

    However, his silence proved to be counterproductive. The following day, tabloid headlines red about "Williams'' Cold Shoulder on Fire Birds." The article mentioned Eric''sments regarding Nics Cage and quickly pivoted to the ongoing post-production of Ghost.

    Considering the disappointing box office of Back to the Future Part III, many media outlets began to question the quality of Ghost. While the situation gained momentum, Eric had already left Los Angeles for San Francisco.

    After all, such matters should be managed by the publicity departments of Firefly Films and Disney. Eric only needed his agents to issue some statements. He trusted that Disney, having just experienced a box office flop, would be cautious with Ghost.

    ...

    The flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco isn''t that long; it takes just over an hour. However, Eric had been busy and hadn''t been to San Francisco in over a year. Hisst visit was regarding the acquisition of Pixar.

    Over the past year, Eric had handed over Pixar''s operations to John Lasseter. Most of theirmunication urred over the phone, and when face-to-face discussions were necessary, John usually traveled to Los Angeles.

    Thanks to Eric''s unhesitating financial backing, Pixar was no longer the shabby animation studio tucked away in Richmond near San Francisco Bay. The headquarters had moved to a small town called Emeryville near Berkeley, and the workforce had doubled to over 300 employees, with more than 100 engineers dedicated to technical support for 3D animation. This was a far cry from the modest operation it had been just after Eric''s acquisition.

    "John,pared to Jobs, I''m practically an angel as a boss, right?" Eric said as he embraced John Lasseter upon stepping out of the Pixar building.

    John recognizing Eric''s yful jab, after shaking hands with Allen and Joanna, he said, "Of course, let''s go in."

    As they entered the office, Eric feigned displeasure, saying, "But for Toy Story, I originally only agreed to invest $30 million, and now your expenditures are nearing that amount, and I haven''t seen a single frame of animation."

    Even though John understood Eric wasn''t ming him, he felt a bit sheepish. The original Toy Story waspleted under extremely challenging circumstances, leading to a budget of just $30 million, which resulted in many rough details.

    After receiving substantial funding support from Eric, John''s perfectionism as an artist came into y, and going over budget became almost inevitable. As of now, only two-thirds of the animation waspleted, yet costs had already approached $30 million. Thankfully, John was more restrained in his spending than someone like Cameron, knowing he didn''t haveplete faith in 3D animation. In his effort to minimize potential impacts and losses from future failures, John exercised caution with the budget.

    In the past, the sess of the original Toy Story led to the second installment''s budget skyrocketing to $100 million and the third to a staggering $200 million. Clearly, in pursuit of perfection, John, as a director, was cut from the same cloth as James Cameron, just not quite as reckless.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

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 Chapter 339: Chapter 340: Monopoly Proposal

    Chapter 339: Chapter 340: Monopoly Proposal

    ?

    [Chapter 340: Monopoly Proposal]

    John Lasseter and Ed Catmull were dedicated to creating 3D animation, both sensing the promising future of this animation form. When they heard that Eric had confidence in the future ofputer-generated effects, neither could think of any rebuttal. After all, the 3D animation they were advocating had yet to yield results, while Eric''s vision in film had already been validated through several movies.

    After discussing for a while, Ericid out a detailed n in front of Ed Catmull, who began to realize Eric''s intentions. Although he was currently working on 3D animation, it was still a form ofputer-generated effects. Ed had initially worked at Lucasfilm, where he was responsible for theputer-generated scenes in Star Wars. It was evident that Eric hoped he would lead this new team.

    John Lasseter recognized this as well, looking worried. Having coborated for so long, their teamwork had be quite seamless. If Eric moved Ed to lead theputer effects department in Digital Domain, what would happen to Pixar?

    "Eric, you''ve got to understand that while most of the technological issues with Toy Story have been resolved, Pixar still relies heavily on Ed..."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric nodded, acknowledging John''s concerns. "I understand your worries, John. I don''t mean for Ed to leave Pixar; I merely n to establish a technical team dedicated to researchingputer-generated effects and engineering the rted software. Ed is not only an exceptionalputer technology expert but also more familiar withputer-generated effects technology than most of Hollywood''s special effects personnel. After all, he''s been involved with these effects for over a decade. That''s why I hope he can serve as the Chief Technology Officer for Digital Domain, leading this team."

    While Eric spoke with John Lasseter, Ed Catmull had been furiously contemting the implications. Now hearing Eric mention his role, he felt a spark of excitement.

    From Eric''s proposal, Ed sensed Eric''s ambition regardingputer-generated effects. Although he remained skeptical about the potential of the n Eric presented, that did not hinder his understanding of its grand scope. If the trend in visual effects developed in the direction Eric suggested, then Digital Domain, which would prioritizeputer-generated effects research more than any other special effectspanies, would undoubtedly be an industry leader.

    Moreover, there was the initiative to engineer the software solutions for effects processing. Even though this n would require substantial manpower and resources, once it umted to a certain level, Digital Domain would undoubtedly dominate the effects industry, holding an unshakeable position.

    When a neer entered the visual effects industry, facing a problem that was already addressed by Digital Domain''s detailed software solutions, they would have to choose between assembling a tech team of dozens or even hundreds to re-develop a solution or directly purchasing the software from Digital Domain.

    The answer was obvious.

    After a moment of reflection, noticing John Lasseter''s expression, Ed Catmull, who had initially intended to agree, said, "Eric, I hope that this technical research team of Digital Domain can have its headquarters in San Francisco. This way, I can bnce my responsibilities at Pixar, and while Los Angeles is the heart of the film industry, San Francisco, with Silicon Valley, can attract the topputer talent."

    Eric nodded, "Of course, that was my intention. We could even base the team in Emeryville, perhaps bing neighbors with Pixar."

    They spent a few more hours discussing the details, leaving the specific ns for Stan Winston and Ed Catmull to work out.

    ...

    Once Eric left Pixar and got into that Chevrolet van, he let out a sigh of relief. Another important piece was in ce. No one understood the evolution of visual effects better than he did;puter-generated effects were set to be the mainstream of the effects industry. Even Industrial Light & Magic, which originally thrived on model effects, had closed its model effects department -- responsible for many of the virtual characters in Star Wars -- to focus primarily on digital effects.

    Moreover, his insistence on creating engineering solutions for effects software was not a rash decision. It stemmed from a well-thought-out understanding of another trend within the effects industry.

    After the turn of the century, with the rapid advancement ofputer technology, the entry barrier into the visual effects industry had dropped significantly. Companies around the globe began to spring up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.

    In this context, the survival environment for the former giants of the visual effects industry became increasingly grim. Topete with Hollywood''s established effects giants, other states in the U.S. and even countries overseas began offering significant tax rebates and other financial support for effectspanies.

    Under such fiercepetition, ssic Hollywood effectspanies began to fold one after another.

    Eric had no intention of letting the fate of John Lasseter mirror that of that time line. He also didn''t seek to rescue the entire effects industry, as, from a filmmaker''s standpoint, his economic interests often conflicted with those of the effectspanies.

    Eric''s n was to maintain a technological edge over other effectspanies through an umtion of knowledge and an engineering approach tomonly used effects solutions. Finally, by selling both the solutions and software, he aimed not only to keep Digital Domain at the absolute forefront of the industry but even hoped it could be an oligarch in the effects sector, establishing a technological monopoly.

    This proposal wasn''t without feasibility. After all,puter-generated effects were just beginning to take off, and the big-name effectspanies remained the aristocrats of the industry. If a filmpany wanted to produce a project with special effects, their options were somewhat limited. In this context, Digital Domain would undoubtedly have no shortage of special effects projects; as long as they were willing to invest, they would umte plenty of solutions.

    Years down the line, when the barrier to entry in the effects industry lowered, thoseters would encounter many of the required technologies already developed into mature software solutions by Digital Domain. These neers would surely opt to purchase the software rather than invest heavily in developing their own solutions. What? You want software that we don''t have? Don''t worry, we have a strong technical team. For the right price, Digital Domain can quickly and affordably develop the technology you need. It''s much cheaper than trying to maintain your own tech team, isn''t it?

    Like many industries, once a monopoly is formed, it is very difficult to break.

    In the past, Industrial Light & Magic possessed this kind of potential, especially in the early ''90s whenputer-generated effects began to flourish. At that time, Industrial Light & Magic dominated the special effects industry, and any of the seven major film studios wanting top-notch effects would turn to them first. Unfortunately, after the sess of the Star Wars trilogy, George Lucas acquired more wealth than he could spend in a lifetime and lost his ambition to transform Industrial Light & Magic into a giant.

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 Chapter 341: Chapter 342: The Lost

    Chapter 341: Chapter 342: The Lost

    ?

    [Chapter 342: The Lost]

    Eric spent an entire afternoon on the set of Basic Instinct, reviewing various aspects of the film''s progress. That night, he stayed at the hotel where the Basic Instinct crew was lodging, and they even held a small reception in his honor.

    The next morning, Eric left the crew and headed to Cisco''s headquarters in San Jose, located south of the San Francisco Bay, for a small executive meeting. He then hurried back to Los Angeles.

    ...

    Less than two days after leaving Los Angeles, he received at least ten calls urging him to return, most of which were rted to internal matters at Firefly Films. This only deepened Eric''s resentment towards Robert Shea.

    As the CEO of Firefly, these were tasks that Robert should have managed. Thepany''s affairs were not tooplicated; with a little attention, he could have kept everything in order.

    However, what disappointed Eric the most was that Robert devoted more energy to his own project, Sleeping with the Enemy, which he was personally producing. Robert handled all distribution matters for Sleeping with the Enemy himself. Eric figured this was the only project at Firefly he didn''t have to worry about. If he hadn''t been so pleased with the rough cut of the film, he might have confronted Robert.

    It wasmon for high-ranking executives in Hollywood''s major studios to solidify their positions and seek more benefits through sessful film projects, so it wasn''t hard to understand Robert''s focus on Sleeping with the Enemy.

    Yet Robert''s actions stood in stark contrast to Eric''s ns. What he didn''t realize was that if he could fullymit to thepany''s operations, he would surely be one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood in the future. But Robert wanted to prove himself through filmmaking, grasping for a power that was not rightfully his, and Eric found this increasingly intolerable.

    ...

    On the flight back to Los Angeles, Eric furrowed his brow, thinking about how to address the current situation at Firefly. At that moment, he heard Joanna Pac''s soft voice beside him. "Eric, would you like something to drink?"

    Eric turned to see a blonde flight attendant smiling at him, a beverage cart in front of her.

    "A ss of water would be great," he replied.

    The flight attendant nodded and poured him a ss. As Eric reached out to take it, his arm crossed in front of Joanna''s chest. She instinctively shrank back, attempting to meld into her seat.

    Once the flight attendant left, Eric sighed helplessly. "Joanna, could you rx a bit? I''m not a tiger. I didn''t mean anything by itst night. I just had a bit too much to drink."

    Joanna''s cheeks flushed as she recalled the events of the previous night. After the small reception held for Eric''s arrival on the Basic Instinct set, she had left early feeling a bit tired. As she was leaving, Eric handed her his room key without any subtlety. The implication was clear, and she epted it, obediently returning to Eric''s suite. After taking a shower, she quickly fell asleep.

    She wasn''t sure how long it had been, but she woke up to some noises from the living room. At first, she thought Eric had returned and paid little attention.

    After some time in a fog, Joanna nced around and noticed that Eric hadn''te into the bedroom. Sensing something was off, she cautiously got out of bed, opened the bedroom door a crack, and peered into the living room. To her surprise, she almost gasped.

    In the living room, Eric wasfortably slumped in a chair turned towards her, his face flushed, intermittently letting out soft sighs of satisfaction. Kneeling at his feet were two half-naked women, one on each side, leaning against his legs. They were tending to Eric''s needs, and the sounds they made made Joanna''s face flush crimson.

    She quickly recognized the two women. They were the leading actresses from Basic Instinct, Diane Lane ying Catherine and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Beth. Due to her upbringing, Joanna was quite conservative, and seeing such a scene made her mind go nk. She wished to return to bed and pretend to be asleep, yet her intense curiosity pushed her to watch.

    After about ten minutes, Joanna witnessed Eric suddenly grasping Diane Lane''s head and pressing it firmly between his thighs for what seemed to be an eternity before finally letting her go. Then, Joanna heard Eric say something to the two women. The previously half-naked women responded with a yful tone, but then quickly discarded what little clothing they had left and climbed onto the coffee table opposite Eric, kissing passionately.

    After that, there was no more to be seen.

    Eric hadn''t enjoyed the sight of their bodies for long before hearing a woman copse onto the floor in the bedroom. Luckily, his drunkenness wasn''t too severe, and he quickly remembered instructing Joanna to wait for him in his room.

    After sending the two women away, Eric returned to the bedroom, reassuring Joanna until she was finally able to rx.

    However, the events of the previous night were clearly something Joanna wouldn''t forget for quite some time. Hearing the regret in Eric''s tone, she bit her lip and finally asked softly, "Eric, would you ever do that to me?"

    "Of course not. They wanted to please me, and I was just having fun with them. You''re my woman."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Joanna knew Eric was speaking the truth. Such things were quitemon in Hollywood. Over the years, she had received simr hints herself. If she could let go of her stubbornness and adapt to Hollywood''s rules, she wouldn''t have spent ten years in America without achieving much.

    Still, she couldn''t help but whisper inint, "So I''m just your woman and not your lover?"

    "If I said lover, you would think I''m being insincere, right?"

    "Don''t you know women are quite willing to be deceived?"

    "Lying takes a lot of brainpower, and you know I''m busy. I don''t have much time to think about these things. I''ve already lined up your future for you. If you want, you''ll be a big star in Hollywood, making millions for each film, maybe even an Oscar. And when you''re tired of acting, you''ll be free to switch careers. We can have a few kids, watch them grow up, and then they''ll be carefree little people, scheming to take our wealth."

    At Eric''sst line, Joanna couldn''t help butugh, saying, "Sounds great, aside from love and marriage."

    "Love and marriage are incredibly unreliable, especially here in America. Do you know those two women I mentioned?"

    Joanna nodded.

    Eric continued, "Diane Lane, who yed Catherine, her parents divorced just 13 days after she was born. Jennifer Jason Leigh, who yed Beth, her parents divorced when she was three."

    "And what about you?" Joanna instinctively asked.

    Eric thought for a moment and replied tly, "I don''t even know who my mother is."

    Joanna tightened her grip on Eric''s arm, not pressing him further.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 343: Chapter 344: All Found Out

    Chapter 343: Chapter 344: All Found Out

    ?

    [Chapter 344: All Found Out]

    Around nine in the morning, a sports car pulled up outside the entrance of Liberty City. Kathryn Bigelow took a deep breath, still shaken, andined to Cameron, who was behind the wheel, "Jim, if you drive that fast on the way back, I''ll never ride in the same car with you again."

    "I thought you liked that thrill," Cameron said, ncing at his wife''s startled expression with a hint of pride. He honked the horn enthusiastically, for they had a reservation, and the manor''s security soon saw the Cameron couple inside the car and opened the gate.

    As the sports car entered the manor, Kathryn Bigelow remarked, "Do you know how fast you were just going? You''re joking with your safety, and I don''t like it at all, not one bit."

    "Alright, Kate, I apologize," Cameron shrugged nonchntly, gazing at the scenery outside the window. "Hey, what do you think about building a manor like this someday?"

    Kathryn Bigelow knew her husband was changing the subject again and quipped back, "When do you think you''re going to earn thirty million dors?"

    Cameron confidently replied, "Maybe with my next film."

    "If you don''t overspend," Kathryn teased.

    After hits like The Terminator and Aliens 2, Cameron had already established himself as a leading director. Besides a steady director''s fee, he could also enjoy a share of the film''s profits. However, due to his relentless pursuit of perfection, he often ended up sacrificing his own share to secure additional budgets from the producers. Except for The Terminator, which only had a fixed investment of more than 6 million US dors, the subsequent Alien 2 and The Abyss were also in this situation; Titanic and Avatar were no exception. Particrly during Titanic, the escting costs nearly drove him to the brink, but he never wavered in his pursuit of perfection, pushing the costs over two hundred million dors.

    ...

    Just as he stepped out of the car, Cameron gazed at Liberty City, shining silver in the morning sun, and marveled, "It''s just perfect for a movie. I have to get it in there."

    Kathryn Bigelow, shouldering her bag from the back seat, casually remarked, "Eric has to agree first."

    "He''ll definitely agree," Cameron said, unable to help himself as he extended his arms and framed the mansion with his fingers, calcting the best angle for the shot.

    "Alright, let''s go in. We have a lot to discuss today," Kathryn pulled on Cameron''s sleeve firmly, prompting him to reluctantly follow her toward the vi''s entrance.

    Before they could even ring the doorbell,ughter from a woman echoed from the east.

    "Looks like they''re over there," Cameron said, nodding with his chin. He and his wife maneuvered around the towering holly trees that served as a barrier, spotting a man and a woman on the tennis court.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Kathryn Bigelow noticed Eric, dressed in a white tennis outfit, struggling against the woman opposite him, who was ying an aggressive game with precision. She couldn''t help but smirk in delight.

    Cameron, however, was captivated by the tall, athletic figure of the woman on the opposite side. She wore a tight ck sports tank and shorts, showcasing her slender waist and long legs, with deep brown hair casually tied back in a ponytail, and her slightly rugged features exuded a wild charm.

    Tall, athletic, wild, untamed...

    Each characteristic embodied Cameron''s definition of sexiness, and even with his wife standing right beside him, a flicker of fervor was evident in his gaze.

    Upon spotting the Camerons, Eric ignored another tricky shot from Famke Janssen and dropped his racket like a lifeline, striding towards them. The woman on the court, displeased, was about to protest when Eric pointed toward the couple. Seeing Kathryn and Cameron, she set her racket aside and followed Eric over.

    ...

    "Jim, Kate, I thought you''d arrive around ten," Eric greeted them.

    "If we hade a bitter, we might have missed seeing you all flustered," Kathryn Bigelow couldn''t resist teasing.

    Eric chuckled awkwardly and introduced his girlfriend, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Famke Janssen."

    Although it was clear Eric had omitted the word "one of," Famke Janssen still beamed with joy, warmly shaking hands with Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow.

    Eric then noticed the way Cameron was looking at Famke with a hint of intrigue. He quickly understood Cameron''s thoughts, smiled slightly, and yfully put his arm around Famke''s smooth waist, giving it a gentle squeeze. He asked Cameron, "Jim, doesn''t Famke seem like the perfect lead for your movie?"

    "Absolutely! If it weren''t for the fact that the lead in Terminator 2 has already been cast, I''d definitely invite Miss Famke Janssen."

    "That''s too bad," Eric replied with a chuckle, sneaking a nce at Kathryn Bigelow. The casting of Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 was the shpoint for the divorce between this couple. During the filming of Terminator 2, the rumors surrounding Cameron and Linda Hamilton had stirred quite a scandal. After the movie release, Cameron divorced Kathryn Bigelow, whom he had been married to for less than two years.

    It''s worth noting that Kathryn Bigelow was among the few beautiful female directors in Hollywood. Even twenty yearster, when she took the stage at the Dolby Theatre as the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director, she still appeared to be in her thirties, in herte fifties. Now, Kathryn was already 39 years old, and her stunning looks and physique were enough to incite envy among many Hollywood actresses who had resorted to extensive cosmetic enhancements.

    Both women quickly noticed that their men were distracted by the woman across the court. Kathryn used her foot to nudge Cameron discreetly, while Famke wrapped her arms around Eric and yfully pinched his waist.

    "Ah..." Eric winced, instinctively lifting his hand as if to swat Famke''s backside, but quickly realized the impropriety of the moment and instead suggested, "Well, shall we head inside to

    talk?"

    "Sure," Cameron quickly chimed in.

    Once inside the vi, Eric hastily showered and changed before emerging, leading the Cameron couple, who were sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows sipping coffee, down to

    the basement study.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 345: Chapter 346: Maya

    Chapter 345: Chapter 346: Maya

    ?

    [Chapter 346: Maya]

    Cameron knew about the rendering software. Simply put, this type of software worked by usingplex calctions onputer-generated preliminary images concerning lighting, materials, and colors to make the visual effects appear more realistic, even to the point where it became hard to distinguish reality from simtion. The special effectspany behind The Abyss, Industrial Light & Magic, was currently using the Renderman software developed by Ed Catmull.

    When Ed Catmull was still at Industrial Light & Magic, George Lucas had the foresight to buy the permanent license for this software. After Steve Jobs acquired Industrial Light & Magic''s animation department and formed Pixar, Ed Catmull brought the software over to Pixar and obtained a certain stake in thepany. However, as Jobs continued to inject funds into the loss-making Pixar, the stakes of several managers at Pixar were eventually reimed by Jobs, making Renderman the property of Pixar.

    Back when Eric wanted to take over Pixar from Steve Jobs, Jobs had attempted to strip Renderman from Pixar''s asset list but ultimately failed. This illustrated the software''s immense value.

    After Eric presented the development n for the fluid simtion software and exined the general situation regarding the Renderman software, Cameron became intensely interested in the 3D modeling software that Eric had just mentioned. From Eric''s words, Cameron sensed that the 3D modeling software was the centerpiece of this project.

    "The folks in San Francisco haven''t finalized the detailed n yet. I initially nned tomission Autodesk to develop the software, but we couldn''te to an agreement on ownership rights. So, I have to do it myself," Eric exined, shrugging in response to Cameron''s curiosity.

    "Autodesk?" Cameron asked, puzzled.

    "They''re the well-knownpany behind that famous AutoCAD industrial design software," Eric continued. In his memory, several key 3D animation design software, such as Maya, 3ds Max, and Softimage, were products under Autodesk, which almost monopolized this type of film and TV special effects software.

    Although history wouldn''t change for over a decade beyond this point, Autodesk was still focused on developing and managing AutoCAD at that time. Given thatputer-generated film effects were just beginning to emerge, Autodesk showed no interest in developing 3D animation software for film effects. They believed that such highly specialized software had littlemercial potential.

    Eric''s desire tomission Autodesk stemmed mainly from their nearly ten years of technical umtion in 3D design software development, which could significantly shorten the development time for the 3D modeling software. However, even though Autodesk had no interest in such software, they still wanted to share ownership with Eric, which ultimately couldn''t be negotiated, leaving Eric to organize a team himself to develop it.

    Once Eric mentioned AutoCAD, Cameron recalled it and began asking a series of detailed questions. Cameron finally asked, "Eric, how much do you n to invest in these projects? I imagine it''ll be quite a substantial expense."

    "The development of the fluid simtion software and optimizing Renderman doesn''t require too much money. Thirty million dors should be enough. The main focus remains on Maya; this software needs ongoing investment. But I''m confident it will yield sufficient returns in the future."

    "Maya? You mean that 3D modeling software you mentioned? I didn''t realize you were also interested in the mysterious Maya civilization."

    Eric rified, "This Maya isn''t referring to the Mayan civilization of Central America but is instead derived from an ancient Indian term meaning ''illusion'' or ''dream''."

    "That name fits surprisingly well," Cameronughed.

    "Of course, 3D modeling is just the most basic functionality of Maya. In my ns, 3D animation, simtion, special effects, and other features will be gradually added. It will also connect with the Renderman rendering software, creating aplete special effects production process," Eric spoke with confidence, sharing only his technical ambitions.

    The reason there had been so many mainstream and non-mainstream special effects software in the past was primarily because, in the decade following the rise ofputer-generated effects, most big softwarepanies had little confidence in themercial prospects of such software. Many established special effectspanies had to develop their own. By the time the software industry giants saw the massivemercial potential of special effects software, the market was already saturated with diverse options, making monopoly nearly impossible.

    However, Eric''s decision was a leap ahead of many others, and he didn''t intend for Digital Domain to monopolize Maya. Instead, once the software was developed to maturity, he aimed to carefully introduce it into the market, ensuring that Digital Domain''s technology remained absolutely leading. He believed that when a mature special effects software became avable, very fewpanies would continue to invest in developing their own.

    This was just a first step; as Digital Domain progressed and the Maya software gained traction, many film and TV special effects solutions and plugins would be developed based on Maya, simr to how many applications were developed based on the Windows system, thereby creating a strong binding effect.

    By then, even if software giants attempted to involve themselves in this area, Maya''s standing in the film effects industry would equate to that of Windows in the operating system, leaving those giants with the money, technology, and strength only to watch this multi-billion dor treasure trove slip by.

    Dealing with women was oftenplicated. After Eric returned from the tennis court, he took little more than ten minutes to shower and change, while Famke Janssen took over half an hour before she entered the office with a pot of coffee. At this point, she had changed out of her tight crop top and hot pants and was dressed simply in a white T-shirt and loose khaki cks. Her hair still held a bit of moisture, and she wore light makeup.

    "Mr. Cameron, Ms. Bigelow, would you like some coffee?" Famke asked as she poured the coffee.

    Catherine Bigelow, who had been admiring Eric''s storyboarding, turned around and smiled, nodding while she approached to help. Meanwhile, Cameron, who had just been taken aback by Famke''s beauty, hadpletely lost interest and was animatedly discussing special effects for disaster films with Eric. He merely nodded at Famke''s inquiry without turning to look.

    "Miss Janssen, don''t mind Jim. He tends to focus so much on one thing that he ignores everything else," Catherine said, apologizing for Cameron''sck of attention to Famke.

    After serving coffee to Cameron and Eric, Famke returned to the sofa and said, "It''s no big deal. Sometimes Eric can be the same way. Once, I saw him pacing near the window with a frown, so I approached him to ask what was wrong. He became very angry, as if I had startled him, iming I had driven away his inspiration."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After Famke shared this, the two women exchanged a knowing nce, sharing a moment of mutual empathy. Perhaps due to this connection, they quickly began chatting and affectionately referring to each other by nicknames.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 347: Chapter 348: Heartfelt Thoughts

    Chapter 347: Chapter 348: Heartfelt Thoughts

    ?

    [Chapter 348: Heartfelt Thoughts]

    As the astronomical tide approached in Australia, Johnny let go of Bodhi. Hearing his colleagues swear that they would capture Bodhi upon his return, Johnny muttered to himself, "He''s noting back."

    After locating Bodhi, Johnnypleted the first and only task of his FBI career, fulfilling the wish of the deceased Angelo, and then tossed his FBI badge aside, beginning his own journey of self-discovery, or perhaps stepping into confusion.

    Unlike Johnny, Bodhi understood his purpose from the start. He and his friends traveled the world, seeking ever higher and more dangerous waves, igniting their passions and pursuing untamed wildness.

    They lived recklessly, rebelling against the power structures and conventional moralities. In a world that stifled the spirit, they created their own set of rules. But such a system was destined to be unwee in the real world. The moment Johnny Utah intruded into their lives, their demise was sealed.

    ...

    Noticing Eric put down the script, Kathryn Bigelow perked up, ready to address any questions Eric might have about it. Yet, instead of doing so, Eric picked up the budget sheet to examine it further.

    "Twenty million isn''t enough," Eric looked up from the budget sheet. He turned to Kathryn Bigelow and said, "If we follow the script exactly, with all the skydiving scenes and surfing stunts, the costs are bound to soar to thirty million, plus additional expenses forter promotions. This film needs to gross eighty million to break even."

    Eighty million?

    Kathryn Bigelow felt a moment of shock. Her previous film, Blue Steel, had only made just over eight million. While it turned a profit with a budget of under three million, the thought of needing eighty million for her current film unsettled her.

    She was still just a small director,cking the reckless ambition of someone like Cameron. Even he had moments of almost cracking under pressure. Starting a film with the necessity to gross eighty million wasn''t something most people could handle, especially since it was only 1990. Hollywood produced hundreds of films each year, yet often fewer than ten exceeded one hundred million at the box office; films surpassing eighty million barely crested twenty. Furthermore, Kathryn was acutely aware that Point Break was not a typical Hollywoodmercial film. This realization prompted her to nce at Cameron.

    She had originally envisioned making an art film that satirized the federal system and exposed human nature, intending only minimal surfing and skydiving scenes, which could keep the budget below ten million.

    However, this script was crafted under Cameron''s influence, undoubtedly including thoserge scenes by his encouragement.

    Eric noticed Kathryn directing nces toward Cameron and fully confirmed his suspicions. He had previously watched Kathryn''s films, including Near Dark and Blue Steel, and knew her style well. As he read the script, he could guess which elements were Cameron''s additions.

    "Eric, the script can still undergo adjustments to reduce unnecessary scenes. In that case, twenty million would suffice," Kathryn suggested, slightly lowering her head as she flipped through the script a few times before setting it down.

    Eric sensed a hint of redness in Kathryn''s face while she spoke. Remembering her slight gasp as she flipped the script, he became convinced that he hadn''t imagined it; Kathryn had indeed blushed.

    Clearly, she was using one of Cameron''s old tricks: securing the film first and dealing with costster, leaving the investors to figure it out. However, Kathryncked Cameron''s audacity, resulting in her somewhat unnatural expression.

    "But I think this script is great as it is; it needs no adjustments," Eric stated, retrieving the script and mimicking Kathryn''s previous motions, flipping through the pages.

    "Ah, well..." Kathryn''s face lit up at Eric''s approval. It meant securing the funding was likely. However, once she noticed Eric imitating her earlier behavior, her face flushed again. She realized he had caught on to her intentions.

    Though Eric wanted to tease a bit more, he held back upon seeing her slightly embarrassed expression. He already had the upper hand in the conversation, and besides, Kathryn didn''t seem as formidable as James Cameron.

    "All right, Kate, let''s put off the budget talks until we begin filming. For now, let''s focus on the script. I''d like to know what your vision for Point Break is, or what you aim to express."

    A worldly person would have realized Eric''sments about the budget were merely a way to gain negotiation leverage. But Kathryn, typically awkward in social situations, missed that cue. Her face revitalized, she eagerly dered, "I prefer to see this as a sports movie -- a story about the pursuit of freedom. By the end, the characters find their ce; Tyler forgives Johnny, Angelo dies beneath the robber''s wall, Johnny leaves the FBI, and Bodhi loses all his friends, throwing himself into the ocean without hesitation."

    Eric nodded slightly. "And what about the scene where they rob a bank with the president''s face?"

    "Eric, let me rify; depicting such actions does not mean I condone them."

    "Of course, I understand that. Otherwise, all those directors making sher films should be in prison by now."

    "No, it''s different. Those filmmakers are catering to humanity''s deepest, most twisted desires with graphic images. I just want to convey my viewpoint."

    She was certainly an artistic youth -- a beautiful introverted woman who was not particrly sociable. Eric couldn''t help but find that endearing.

    As Eric absorbed her serious remarks, the thought crossed his mind, then he continued, "Kate, the script makes it clear that the message should be a satire against the federal system. But have you considered that audiences typically despise being preached at? We should embed those themes in the storyline instead of stating them outright; doing so risks cheapening the overall message. Look here..."

    Eric flipped to a specific page in the script, spreading it out on the coffee table between them.

    Kathryn leaned in slightly, finally kneeling beside the table, tilting her head to listen intently to Eric''s views. Famke Janssen, having remained silent beside them, started to notice the proximity of Eric and Kathryn. She instinctively nced back at Cameron, who sat with his back to them on arge armchair, skimming through the script.

    Though they hadn''t spent much time together, Famke felt she understood Eric somewhat. At that moment, she sensed his focused exchange with Kathryn, spotting the mischief in Eric''s typically serious demeanor. It was clear that he was harboring thoughts about Kathryn because Famke knew that the more earnest he seemed, the more mischief he likely cooked up

    in his mind.

    Talk about bold; after all, the woman''s husband sat right in the room! Plus, the age difference was certainly notable.

    Famke watched for a moment in amusement before feigning a check of her watch, announcing, "Eric, it''s already eleven. Should I prepare lunch?"

    Startled from his thoughts, Eric disyed no displeasure and turned to Kathryn, "Kate, what

    do you and Jim like to eat? I''ll have Famke prepare it."

    Famke confirmed Eric''s inclination: if Eric had beenpletely absorbed in discussing the script with Kathryn, he would typically show irritation at being interrupted. However, now,

    he appearedpletely unfazed.

    In contrast, Kathryn seemed momentarily thrown off bnce by the interruption. Nheless, she managed not to show any displeasure. Hearing Eric''s question, she replied, "Anything will do; Jim and I are not picky."

    Eric then told Famke, "Let''s just call for takeout ording to our usual menu. Also, please grab us a couple of pens."

    Famke rose and walked to the desk, pulling out two pens from the holder while stealing a nce at Cameron. He was furrowing his brow, deep in thought as he examined the script, clearly unfazed by the women surrounding him.

    Famke thought about reminding Cameron of something but hesitated; she wasn''t clueless about the renowned director. After all, he had been married three times, revealing a history of being a bit of a womanizer. With that in mind, any stray thoughts Famke had faded away.

    After handing the pens to Eric and Kathryn, the two quickly started jotting down notes in the

    script.

    Famke observed for a short while, then shrugged lightly and left the study.

    ...

    James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow spent the entire day at Eric''s vi, during which Eric and Kathryn discussed the filming details of Point Break in depth. Cameron also went through Eric''s disaster movie scripts. He showed a keen interest in Independence Day, but nothing was

    finalized yet.

    Independence Day was tailor-made for Cameron, resembling the Terminator series'' multi- threaded narrative style, and Eric believed Cameron would make it even more spectacr

    than Rnd Emmerich might.

    Yet, concerns lingered for Eric. As a special effects blockbuster, Independence Day, even without Cameron''s direction, woulde with an overwhelming budget. He was certain that if Cameron took the reins, the budget would double, possibly approaching two hundred

    million.

    As he recalled that Terminator 2 only grossed two hundred million at the North American box

    office, he recognized that Independence Day, like Terminator 2, was more about spectacle than depth -- merely another popcorn flick. Itcked the box office potential of Titanic, so without absolute confidence, Eric wasn''t about to hand it over to Cameron.

    After all, Firefly Films had only recently established its reputation in Hollywood, and a two hundred million dor investment that flopped would be devastating. After all, Cameron wasn''t infallible; take The Abyss, for example, which had an eighty-million budget yet only matched that figure at the box office. Although overseas sales and DVD releases could

    ultimately recoup costs, the profit would be minimal.

    ...

    In the days that followed, Eric continued discussions with Kathryn Bigelow regarding various aspects of Point Break. Preparations for Terminator 2 progressed steadily. However, while negotiating with Arnold Schwarzenegger for a role, someplications arose. Though Schwarzenegger was also with ICM, he and Eric didn''t share much familiarity. His agent quoted a staggering fifteen million for the role.

    That was indeed a high price. At that time, the top male stars in Hollywood typically earned around five million, meaning Schwarzenegger was demanding an increase of threefold. Eric of course could notply.

    Both sides found themselves at a stalemate. Under Cameron''s mediation, Schwarzenegger was somewhat willing to negotiate, but his concessions were minimal. Moreover, he didn''t seem very enthusiastic about participating in Terminator 2.

    After Eric had a thorough investigation done, he uncovered the truth: the root of the issueyn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    with the Germans.

    That''s right -- the Germans.

    However, it wasn''t a story that could be exined easily in a couple of sentences; it involved a great deal, tracing back to the reunification of East and West Germany.

    Ever since the Berlin Wall fell, the merging of the two Germanys resulted in the government having to issue a significant amount of currency to quickly assimte the two economies, leading to a level of intion. The rise in the Deutsche Mark''s value acted simrly to the appreciation of the yen, causing domestic capital to flow towards international markets. Of course, that was only part of the problem. Then came tax reforms: personal ie tax rates for high earners in Germany soared to 51%. Wealthy individuals felt the pinch, and in efforts to stimte the German film industry, the government encouraged local investment in filmmaking. If Germans invested in film production, the ie they generated that year would not only be exempt from personal ie tax but also provide a certain percentage refund. Unlike other countries that mandated local filming with domestic crews, German policies allowed filming to be conducted hence without any requirement of local scenery. Thanks to these incentives, a substantial influx of German capital soon flooded into Hollywood. These investors had no interest in independent films; they were focused solely on big-budget productions that featured major stars.

    With the assistance of high-profile producers in Hollywood, the Germans quickly zeroed in on stars like Stallone and Schwarzenegger, leading to a natural rise in their pay, with both quoting figures around fifteen million for participation. Terminator 2 struck right as this price

    surge began.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 349: Chapter 350: Agree

    Chapter 349: Chapter 350: Agree

    ?

    [Chapter 350: Agree]

    Michael Lynn hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded, a wry smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. This matter was no secret; many old employees from New Line were aware of it.

    At that time, Michael hoped Robert Shea would wait a little longer. New Line, although much less profitable than Firefly Films, was in good operating shape. Firefly, on the other hand, had little to show aside from the rights to a few blockbuster films; it was basically just an empty shell. Therefore, Firefly''s need for New Line''s well-established distribution channels far outweighed New Line''s need for Firefly. If they could hold off for another year and a half, Firefly would surely offer a higher price.

    After the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Robert Shea expressed his regret to Michael at a party. If he had followed Michael''s advice and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had been sessful, New Line''s value would have at least doubled. But now, it was toote for such talk.

    "Eric, that''s true," Michael agreed, nodding and making no attempt to defend himself.

    Eric did not mind Michael''s cold response. He smiled and said, "Michael, I think I can guess why you initially stopped Robert from selling New Line, but he didn''t listen to you. Do you know why?"

    Michael lifted his gaze to Eric, waiting for him to continue.

    "Because I told him that time was short for us second-tier filmpanies. If we didn''t seize the opportunity to expand to a sufficient scale, we would eventually face the fate of being swallowed by the big film giants. Last year, Columbia Pictures was acquired by Sony, and recently, MCA, the parentpany of Universal Pictures, was also being bought by Japan''s Panasonic. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. merged with Time Warner. This whole series of consolidations proves my point fromst year."

    "Eric, I don''t quite understand," Michael finally spoke up.

    "No, you definitely can understand," Eric replied. "You should see the purpose behind my acquisition of New Line. My original n clearly defined Firefly''s role. Robert was to manage operations and oversee film distribution, expanding Firefly''s distributionwork worldwide in the shortest time. I was to handle production. From the start, my goal was for Firefly to expand rapidly. But now, Robert has veered off course."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Michael lowered his head, unwilling to meet Eric''s fiery gaze. The look in Eric''s eyes carried the weight of authority, far removed from the youthful naivety of a twenty-something.

    A scrap of paper had somehownded on his knee, standing out starkly against his gray pants. Michael lightly lifted his arm to swat at it, but the paper stubbornly clung to the fabric, so he gave up.

    "Michael, I know you and Robert have been very good friends for a long time, so I hope you can talk to him. It wouldn''t be appropriate for me to confront this issue personally, as it might cause misunderstandings between Robert and me. But you''re different; you''ve been partners for over a decade, so he should be more open to your words. If he focuses all his energy on what he should be doing, I might even transfer a portion of shares to him."

    "It won''t work, Eric," Michael said, finally raising his head. "I know Robert well after all these years we''ve worked together. I can''t influence him. The reason Robert and I became friends is that I never threatened his authority. Put simply, I have no say with him."

    Eric put away the sample box of tissues in front of him and pulled out a document from a nearby file cab, sliding it across the table to Michael. "Then you can take a look at this first."

    The cover held no title, and Michael suppressed a flicker of expectation as he opened the first page.

    It was a stock transfer agreement for a 2% stake, effective at the end of the year, with the selling party able to terminate the agreement at any time before that.

    "Michael, I know you probably can''te up with cash to buy this 2% stake in Firefly, but I can help you secure a loan for it without any legal risks. You must have seen Firefly''s financial statements fromst year. As long as Firefly maintains its current growth, you could repay this loan with just two years of dividends, and then you''d be one of Firefly''s shareholders." Michael pressed his dry lips together, gripping the contract tightly. Although 2% didn''t seem much, given Firefly''s current profitability, he could expect nearly ten million dors in dividends each year. This was several times more than his annual sry, and the stake itself was valuable. From Eric''s words, he understood that this stake was essentially being given for free.

    But there was no such thing as a free lunch. epting this stake would mean he would have topletely betray Robert Shea and side with Eric. Moreover, the use about the agreement''s effectiveness at year-end suggested that if Robert dug in his heels, Eric would push him out of Firefly, and Michael would then need to help stabilize the situation at Firefly to avoid severe repercussions from any desperate actions by Robert. That was clearly not an easy task. "Eric, this isn''t an easy thing," Michael said after several minutes of silence.

    "Well, how about this," Eric nodded and pulled another file from the cab, handing it over: "What about this time?"

    When he opened it, the conditions were almost identical, but the transfer amount had changed to 3%.

    Michael forced a smile, trying tough but feeling the muscles in his face tense ufortably. He wanted to throw the document back at Eric in youthful outrage, but he was no longer the impulsive kid he had once been.

    "Eric, I..."

    "This is my bottom line, Michael. Jeffrey also only received 3%."

    Eric didn''t present another offer because, in his mind, Michael Lynn was worth just that much. He had done a thorough background check on Michael, knowing that he was Robert Shea''s ssmate at Columbia University, with a doctoral degree, and had entered the industry almost concurrently with Robert. With over a decade of experience in film distribution, Michael had the capability to seed Robert''s position after he departed.

    Moreover, unlike the power-hungry Robert Shea, Michael didn''t possess such ambition. Such a personality suited the role of CEO at Firefly, assisting Eric in its growth.

    Filmpany executives often received stock options. Just as Eric had previously converted Jeffrey''s dividends into a 3% equity stake, by selecting Michael, Eric was essentially offering a good price for what Michael would receive in the future.

    Michael didn''t hesitate long; he flicked the annoying bit of paper away from his pants and smiled as he raised his head to ask, "Eric, aren''t you afraid I might ultimately refuse and tell Robert about this?"

    "I rarely undertake anything without confidence," Eric said, seeing that Michael had made the decision he hoped for. With an easy demeanor, he continued, "If you tell Robert about this, you won''t gain anything. I doubt Robert would hand over 3% of the shares for nothing. In that case, I would also have to risk a tumultuous upheaval at Firefly to get rid of both of you. Do you think you could recreate a New Line from that?"

    Michael shook his head with a bitter smile. "I just think this would be too... cruel for Robert."

    "Thepetition in Hollywood is inherently brutal. If I hadn''t survived the chaos earlier this year, Firefly would already have be a subsidiary of the Seven."

    Michael sighed, finding a pen on his desk. He signed the agreement. Eric quickly handed over the duplicate for signature, then took back his copy after Michael signed. "Now, Michael, starting today, I expect you to utilize the next six months to seize control of all resources Robert has at his disposal. I believe Robert won''t be overly guarded against you. I don''t want Firefly''s operations to halt in any way after Robert leaves. Of course, regarding the old New Line employees, I anticipate that with your promotion and generous dividends by year-end, they''ll choose not to leave with Robert."

    "I understand," Michael nodded, picking up the agreement. "Eric, if there''s nothing else, I have to get back to work."

    "Yes, Robert will likely make another movie next semester, so you have ample time to aplish those tasks. I''ll do my best to cooperate," Eric added. Watching Michael nod and leave, Eric finally let out a deep sigh of relief. This issue had finally been resolved.

    His caution wasn''t unwarranted; Miramax was a prime example. The departure of the Weinstein brothers due to disagreements with Michael Eisner caused Miramax''s operations to stall, and after struggling for several years, Disney had no choice but to shut down and sell

    Miramax at a loss.

    Even a behemoth like Disney could be at a loss with its subsidiary. Robert Shea held resources that were truly a match for Eric, especially in film distribution. Since theirpanies had merged not long ago, Eric had yet to involve himself in distribution matters. If Robert left suddenly, it was entirely possible that Firefly''s distributionwork could copse without warning -- this was exactly what Eric wanted to avoid. But given Robert''s current behavior, dragging this out was not an option for Eric. The longer they waited, the greater the potential bacsh from Robert''s dismissal would be.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 351: Chapter 352: Banter

    Chapter 351: Chapter 352: Banter

    ?

    [Chapter 352: Banter]

    After staying at Firefly Films'' office until nearly seven o''clock, Eric did not head back to Malibu. Instead, he drove straight to the premiere of Sleeping with the Enemy on Sunset Boulevard.

    The premiere was scheduled to start at seven, and when Eric arrived, it was already a quarter past. Without much dy, he hurriedly stepped onto the red carpet, arranged by the staff. After posing for a few photos with the reporters but not answering any media questions, Eric made his way into the theater. He knew Robert Shea wouldn''t want him to steal the spotlight at the Sleeping with the Enemy premiere, and Eric certainly didn''t want that either. If it weren''t for the fact that people would specte negatively about his absence from the premiere, Eric wouldn''t have even bothered attending.

    "Hey, Julia, long time no see! You look absolutely beautiful today," Eric eximed as he walked into the screening room, noticing an empty seat next to Julia.

    "Thanks, Eric, but this seat..." Julia pointed to the seat next to her, her tone hesitant.

    "What about it?" Eric asked, puzzled, as he stood up to check that he hadn''t sat on anything.

    "That''s my seat; move over!" Eric hadn''t even turned around when he heard Elisabeth''s exasperated voice.

    "Liz, what are you doing here?" Eric replied, somewhat helplessly, turning to look at her. The woman had cut her hair short, wearing a simple white shirt and ck fitted trousers, cinched at the waist with a brown leather belt, making her look quite sharp. "Wow, you didn''t wear that outfit on the red carpet, did you?"

    "Why not? Do you think there''s something wrong with it?" Elisabeth said, defiantly raising her chin, her small feet in ck sandals relentlessly pushing Eric toward the adjacent seat.

    With a sigh, Eric shifted over to the other seat. After she sat down, he added, "It''s more than just inappropriate, it''s practically ruining the event. It seems like the star attending the premiere wasn''t dressed in evening wear."

    "Eric, Liz came in through a side entrance," Julia suddenly exined.

    Elisabeth shot Eric an eye roll before turning back to Julia, saying, "Don''t pay him any mind; the best way to deal with people like him is to ignore them."

    "Liz, you really hurt my feelings. Have you forgotten all the wonderful times we had together?" Eric feigned a wounded expression.

    "Forgotten," Elisabeth replied bluntly.

    "Ah, well, I shoulde visit you guys more often. I haven''t seen Mr. Murdoch in forever. I wanted to personally thank him for his help with The Silence of the Lambs," Eric mused.

    Elisabeth, finally annoyed, reached over and pinched Eric in the ribs. "I warn you, Eric Williams, you must not go around spreading that. Otherwise, I''ll drop you from my friend list."

    "Alright, alright. Such a devoted daughter," Eric said with a grin.

    The Silence of the Lambs had grossed nearly $40 million in North America after just two weeks, with its total North American gross possibly exceeding $130 million. ording to the distribution agreement between TG Films and Firefly Films, The Silence of the Lambs could bring in at least $30 million for Firefly. That amount was equivalent to about 15% of 20th Century Fox''s annual profits. If the word got out that Rupert Murdoch casually handed the film over to Firefly, it could certainly affect Murdoch''s reputation at News Corp and provide ammunition for other shareholders to attack him. That''s why Elisabeth felt the need to warn Eric so seriously.

    Of course, Eric had no intention of making that information public; he just really wanted to see Murdoch''s expression upon learning about the film''s sess, which he believed would be highly entertaining.

    "Also, I need to caution you, Eric; you must not pressure Julia into taking films she doesn''t like. When filming Sleeping with the Enemy, Julia almost had to see a psychologist," Elisabeth said.

    "It couldn''t have been that bad, could it?" Eric leaned in to nce at Julia, asking with

    concern.

    Julia stayed silent, and Elisabeth immediately added, "Definitely. Every time she saw the male lead''s character in the script, she thought of some insufferable guy."

    "Some insufferable guy? It wouldn''t be me, would it?"

    "Uh-huh."

    "Such a serious topic doesn''t quite fit today''s situation. Let''s breeze over it and talk about something else, like, do you have ns for your next movie?"

    Both women shot Eric a synchronized eye roll but didn''t pursue it further. Elisabeth remarked, "Originally, TG was just going to be a small studio, but now, I''ve picked a floor of office space in Century City. We''ll set up thepany''s administrative department before moving on to ns for the next movie. So, Firefly needs to pay our share as soon as possible." "Ahem, you see, talking about money can be quite touchy. I think you should speak with Robert about that," Eric jokingly suggested.

    "Hmph, don''t think I don''t know. New Line has a notorious history of dying payments to producers. If you dare to y that game with us, I''ll kick Drew out of TG."

    "Whoa, even I can''t get that little devil out myself. I''ll bet you a million dors you won''t seed at that."

    "Bet your Liberty City estate?"

    "No need to bet; you can just move in there. But just to be clear, marriage talk is off the table."

    Elisabeth raised her foot to kick Eric in the shins, but Eric, who had been prepared for her move, yfully dodged.

    "Alright, you two, it''s about to start," Julia reminded them.

    Eric and Elisabeth fell silent, ceasing their yful banter. Julia got up and walked on stage with a few of Sleeping with the Enemy''s creators. After a brief interaction with the audience, the screening began shortly after.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Julia''s character, Laura, was supposed to be a well-off housewife. However, due to her husband Martin''s suspicious nature, twisted possessiveness, and strong violent tendencies, Laura lived in constant fear. After failing to free herself from her husband through proper means several times, Laura thought of faking her own death to escape.

    During a boating ident, Laura pretended to slip and drown, finally breaking free from her husband''s grip and fleeing to a small town in Iowa to start over.

    But due to her oversight during the escape, the clues she left behind made Martin realize Laura wasn''t dead. Driven mad, he would stop at nothing to find her.

    This was supposed to be a fairly ordinary and straightforward story, but Julia''s brilliant acting turned Laura into apelling character. Through her rich expressions and bodynguage, the audience felt a deep sympathy for Laura, who endures her husband''s abuse, within just over ten minutes.

    As Laura sessfully escaped, most of the audience let out a sigh of relief.

    But the film was far from over. Martin unexpectedly received a call from one of Laura''s ''friends,'' leading him to realize that Laura might still be alive. Martin soon confirmed this and set off on a frenzied quest to find her. The plot tightened its grip on the audience once again, and as the tension rose and fell, their hearts raced. This thrilling ridested an hour and a half until Laura ultimately shot Martin dead in her apartment, at which point the viewers collectively let out a satisfied sigh of relief.

    ...

    Eric could even hear the low apuse that erupted in the theater after Julia fired the gun on screen, clearly a sign of appreciation for the film.

    Meanwhile, Elisabeth, who had been quietly enjoying the film, shot a nce at Eric, her eyes conveying a subtle warning. "Honestly, I loved that scene the most. I''ve decided to buy a

    ticket to watch it again tomorrow."

    "Looks like I should add a disimer at the end saying ''all fictional, please do not imitate.""

    "That wouldn''t do any good. I had all A''s in my college courses; that proves my intelligence." "Liz, it seems we have a serious misunderstanding between us, which isn''t great. How about we find a time to talk it over? You can bring Julia along."

    "And a gun."

    "No need for that; I have a spare."

    "Drop dead."

    As they exchanged yful jabs, the lights in the screening room came up, followed by a wave

    of apuse.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 353: Chapter 354: Connelly Arrives

    Chapter 353: Chapter 354: Connelly Arrives

    ?

    [Chapter 354: Connelly Arrives]

    Eric drove back to the Liberty City. Just as he passed through the gates, a security guard approached him. "Mr. Williams, Miss Connelly stopped by this afternoon."

    Eric was somewhat surprised. After their encounter at the Copp family''s party, he had taken quite an interest in the youngdy. However, he wasn''t rushing to make a move -- after all, the prey had already fallen into the trap. It was because he had been too eager a year ago that he scared her off, and Eric certainly wasn''t going to make such a rookie mistake again.

    Besides,pared to a year ago when he had just stepped into Hollywood, Eric''s mindset had changed significantly. Back then, everything fascinated him, and he found himself rather susceptible to beautiful women.

    Now, Eric recognized that in Hollywood, as long as one had enough power and status, beautiful women were abundant. Hollywood had no shortage of stunning women -- there were even handsome men around. Eric couldn''t help but amusingly theorize that the high percentage of homosexuality in Hollywood might be partially due to getting bored of ying with too many gorgeous women and starting to explore rtionships with men.

    After that incident, Miss Connelly returned to Stanford University, studying while waiting for news from Eric. Yet with the filming of Ghost underway, he had put thoughts of her aside. Eric viewed his pursuit of the beautiful women from his past memories now as a hunting game, capturing them one by one became a rewarding experience.

    From April until now, almost three months had passed without any interaction with Connelly. Clearly, the young woman couldn''t wait any longer and came knocking today. This was certainly the oue Eric wanted. After receiving Eric''s promise, Connelly quickly returned to Stanford to continue her studies, perhaps employing a little strategy of allure. Unfortunately for her, Eric wasn''t falling for that trick anymore.

    ...

    Entering the vi, Eric noticed a record yer softly ying Julia Fordham''s The Comfort of Strangers. Hearing that song made him chuckle lightly. He took off his jacket and hung it up, moving toward the couch in the living room corner. There, he soon spotted Jennifer Connelly, who was sprawled across the chaise lounge, engrossed in a magazine.

    One had to admit that a tall, well-proportioned woman looked good in anything. The white short-sleeved T-shirt and simple jeans did nothing to hide her perfect S-curve figure. A small coffee table beside the couch held a cup with faint steam wafting above it, and paired with the tune from the record yer, the scene exuded a cozy, bohemian vibe.

    Eric walked over quietly and sat across from her. He yfully grazed his fingers across the slender waist revealed between her T-shirt and jeans.

    "Ah--"

    Startled by the sudden touch, Jennifer Connelly flipped over. Seeing it was Eric, she rxed, sat up, and leaned against the back of the sofa, smiling as she asked, "When did you get back? You scared me!"

    Eric''s gaze fell just right to peek at the neckline of her T-shirt, not noticing any sign of a bra. Two full, high curves stood prominently, and there were visible little bumps beneath the fabric. Feeling bold, he cupped her face and nted a kiss on her cheek before saying, "Just now. How about you?"

    Although she noticed Eric''s gaze, Connelly didn''t attempt to cover up, smiling widely with her little canine teeth showing. "I stayed with my parents in New York for a time after summer break beforeing to Los Angeles. That was back in early June when you were finishing your film in New York, so we didn''t get to see each other. By the way, I couldn''t make it to your birthday party in New York. I''m really sorry."

    "No problem, I got your gift. I loved it. What have you been up totely?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Not much, just hanging out at school," she said, trying hard to mask her disappointment, but her tone betrayed her. For the past few months, she had been waiting for Eric to help her find a role. Unfortunately, three months had passed without any news. Sometimes, when she thought about the gap between her and Eric''s status, she couldn''t help but worry he might have forgotten all about her, especially after reading in the papers about him with another beautiful woman.

    Jennifer had long lost interest in her Stanford sses. The only reason she hadn''t dropped out was due to her agent''s advice. In Hollywood, most starlets had low educational backgrounds, so staying in university a few extra years to earn the title of a "schr" could still help her career. At the very least, it could elevate her image.

    "You''re luckier than I am. I''ve never even been to a college campus, and you''ve attended two of America''s most prestigious universities," Eric teased as he yed with a strand of her ck hair.

    She pouted slightly, "But I feel like you''re making fun of me."

    "Not at all," Eric replied, chuckling and shaking his head.

    Connelly pulled her hair from Eric''s hand, standing up to say, "I''ll go make dinner. What do you want to eat?"

    Though he had already eaten, Eric didn''t refuse and said, "I remember the kitchen is pretty low on ingredients, so just make whatever."

    Connelly nodded and pulled a hair tie from her pants pocket, skillfully tying her long hair into a ponytail as she headed toward the kitchen.

    After a bit of thought, Eric decided to follow her. After a simple dinner, it was already nine o''clock, and the vi felt empty with just the two of them. The situation made Connelly a bit nervous. She knew something was bound to happen that night; she wasn''t nning on leaving and understood she wouldn''t be able to escape.

    ...

    After clearing the dishes, they chatted for a while. Sensing her unease, Eric suggested, "How about we watch a movie?"

    Jennifer Connelly recalled their movie outing from a year ago, but she couldn''t recall the film''s name. At that time, Eric had pulled her out from the back of the theater, yet the paparazzi had still caught them red-handed. Her cheeks flushed at the thought, but she nodded. She knew Eric wasn''t taking her out to a regr theater now; besides, the private screening room in the vi was undoubtedly more luxurious than any cinema.

    Walking into the screening room, they found rows of shelves lined with tapes and various film copies Eric had collected since moving to Malibu.

    "What do you want to watch? There are quite a few horror films here," Eric asked with a grin.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 355: Chapter 356: How Many More People Are You Planning to Harm

    Chapter 355: Chapter 356: How Many More People Are You nning to Harm

    ?

    [Chapter 356: How Many More People Are You nning to Harm]

    Seeing that Eric was unwilling to let go, Connelly nodded and didn''t add anything more.

    "It''s gettingte; just look outside," Connelly said after a while, ncing out the window. Eric checked his watch and remembered he still needed to finalize the lead actress for Point Break today. As for the two lead actors, Kathryn Bigelow had already signed Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. Keanu had even started immersing himself in the role by spending time with a police department in Los Angeles.

    Looking at the woman in his arms, Eric quickly made a decision. He picked up the phone and called Kathryn Bigelow, casually making an excuse that he wouldn''t be attending the audition for the lead actress today, leaving the decision to her.

    Of course, he was met with some teasing from Kathryn, who thought his evasiveness was due to the awkwardness he felt from her bluntments the day before.

    After hanging up, Eric turned to Connelly, who had been listening intently. "Well, that''s it for today. We''ve got a whole day free now."

    Connelly tucked her chin in, asking, "You were just talking about casting, weren''t you?"

    "Yeah, I''m producing a film titled Point Break. It''s a cop thriller about some criminals robbing British Airways and an undercover agent. However, the film features a lot of parkour and extreme sports, so it''s going to be really cool once it''s done. You should check it out when ites out," Eric exined casually.

    Noticing the expression on the woman''s face, he quickly added, "The lead role isn''t right for you. Kathryn wants someone with a wild persona, which you definitely don''t have."

    Caught with her thoughtsid bare, Connelly felt a bit embarrassed, only to hear Eric continue, "Actually, there''s a great opportunity tonight. Robert is throwing a celebration party for the sess of the box office for Sleeping with the Enemy, and a lot of Hollywood producers will be there. I can ask around to see if there''s a suitable movie for you. I bet quite a few people in Hollywood would still be willing to do me a favor."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Honestly, there''s no rush," the woman replied, trying to maintain a level of modesty but soon couldn''t help asking, "Do you have ns for your next film?"

    "I have a story about tornadoes, but we can''t start filming until the special effects issues are sorted out. It''ll probably have to wait until next Spring," Eric said casually without going into too much detail. He knew she wouldn''t be interested in his grand ns like Cameron would be.

    He had already given the lead role in Twister to Joanna Pac. Joanna was currently taking English speaking sses. After being in the U.S. for so many years, her speaking still wasn''t perfect. Although Eric inexplicably enjoyed her ent when she said "I''m sorry," the lead role was a native-born American, and it would beughable if her speech had a strong European immigrant ent.

    Additionally, filming for Twister wouldn''t begin until next Spring at the earliest. To minimize the time therge budget was tied up in the project, it might start aste as Summer next year. This wasmon for many films in Hollywood.

    Spring and Summer were the peak seasons for tornadoes. If they chose to shoot in the Fall or Winter, it would be testing the intelligence of North American audiences. With special effects technology at the current level, outdoor shoots would surely not be feasible. Combined with post-production effects, the production timeline for Twister would stretch to a whole year, aiming for a release as a summer blockbuster in 1992.

    At that rate, Eric''s directing frequency would revert to the standard rhythm of most directors, making a film every year or two. In the next couple of years, Eric wouldn''t be able to devote all his energy to Twister. He would need to oversee Cameron''s Terminator 2 and Point Break personallyter this year. Once those two projects werepleted, and the special effects for Twister sorted out, he could start preparing that film.

    Even though special effects films would be mainstream in the future, and Eric would focus his main efforts on their production, he wouldn''t neglect the smaller films with shorter turnaround times and high returns. However, he nned to adopt Spielberg''s work style, directing one film while producing multiple others.

    Jennifer Connelly, realizing Eric had drifted off after a moment, mildly expressed her dissatisfaction: "Eric, what are you thinking about?"

    Eric suddenly snapped back to the present, realizing he had neglected the beautiful woman in his arms. "Nothing."

    "Let''s get up then," Connelly said, attempting to sit up, only to be pulled back into his arms again by Eric.

    "I just pushed my work for today aside, and you must not have any ns either, right?"

    Connelly chuckled and replied, "Well, Eric, I''m actually hungry."

    Seeing her expression, Eric relented. "Alright, what do you want to eat, or we could go out. There are quite a few nice restaurants in Malibu."

    "Aren''t you afraid of being seen?" Jennifer Connelly asked with a smile.

    ...

    "Another one, you really are busy," Elisabeth said as soon as she saw Eric that evening at the Hilton banquet hall.

    Eric nced at the woman heading toward the restroom before turning to Elisabeth. "Of course, especially after hearing someonein like a scorned wife. I find it rather satisfying."

    "Ha, a scorned wife -- are you talking about me?" Elisabethughed, as if he had made the grandest joke.

    Eric shrugged, "Whoever it is knows in their heart. I''m just curious why you seem to be everywhere I go."

    "This is a celebration party for Sleeping with the Enemy. I''m good friends with Julia, so isn''t it reasonable for me to be here?" Elisabeth rified coherently.

    "It seems reasonable, but it still feels a bit off," Eric admitted. "Between you two..." "That''s none of your business," Elisabeth quickly interrupted Eric''s spection. "I happened to overhear that you were talking to James Brooks about a movie?"

    Eric candidly revealed, "Yes, I''m looking for a suitable film for Jen to star in."

    Elisabeth smirked, teasingly adding, "How many more people are you nning to harm this time?"

    Eric felt confused. "I don''t understand what you''re getting at."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 357: Chapter 358: Production Cuts

    Chapter 357: Chapter 358: Production Cuts

    ?

    [Chapter 358: Production Cuts]N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The group around Eric broke intoughter. A portly producer, who had just been introduced as someone from Fox, said, "Eric, I have a few scripts here too. How about I drop them off at the Liberty City Manor tomorrow? You can take a look. These projects are still under

    consideration, and if you can pick one, the lead actress will be Miss Connelly."

    As soon as he finished speaking, the others who had been watching the scene quickly realized this was a fantastic opportunity. While it wasn''t easy to get Eric to write a script personally, getting him to help select one and only needing to secure a lead actress was quite a profitable deal.

    "Eric, I have some scripts..."

    "Eric, tomorrow I''ll also have someone..."

    Realizing the opportunity, several executive producers around eagerly began to rmend their projects.

    "You guys can''t just do this," Amy Pascalined helplessly from the side.

    Noticing that many at the party were curiously looking over, Eric gestured for silence, making a shushing motion. The people in front of him were smart enough to understand that if word got out, their chances would diminish. They promptly closed their mouths.

    "Here''s the deal. You can send me the scripts to look over, but if you want me to help make a selection, I''ll need to take 30% of the investment. Of course, I''ll only invest and won''t interfere in any other matters."

    The executives exchanged nces and nodded in agreement. With Eric investing, they could use that as a promotional point. As an investor, they couldn''t object to having him credited as an executive producer.

    Eric quickly saw through their intentions and added, "I''ll invest under Jenny''s name. Just so we''re clear, once the movie is made, it won''t have anything to do with me. You can''t use my name for promotion."

    Everyone turned to look at Jennifer Connelly, who innocently shrunk her neck, unsure of what was happening.

    After a brief hesitation, they quickly agreed. Eric personally would select the script and invest in the film while ensuring his woman yed the lead. This showed his confidence in the

    project. If it floundered, the reasons would fall squarely on him.

    Once the arrangements were settled, Eric tentatively asked, "By the way, what was the reason behind those scripts getting cutst time? I refuse to believe it was simply because I spoke a few more words."

    Amy Pascal smiled and said, "Eric, you can stop trying to argue. While there are some other factors, those projects got scrapped mainly because of you."

    Eric shrugged, "Okay, so what are those other factors?"

    Amy Pascal replied, "Production cuts. I don''t know what other studios are nning, but Columbia has already decided to cut back. Pat, how about you guys?"

    "Our project is simr, but it isn''t finalized yet. Mr. Ross believes the chances of conflict are low."

    "I think the chances of conflict are quite high."

    Eric interrupted, "Excuse me, can someone exin?"

    Seeing Eric''s expression, Amy said, "Eric, if you''ve been paying attention to the international news, you should''ve noticed that tensions in the Middle East are very high. The Federal Government may take military action against Iraq, possibly within the next year. If that happens, public attention will definitely shift to the war, making it essential for filmpanies to cut production."

    Eric suddenly felt rmed.

    The Gulf War!

    He almost forgot such an important event.

    Seeing Eric lost in thought, Amy asked with concern, "Eric, are you okay? War doesn''t necessarily have to break out. After so many conflicts, public anti-war sentiment runs high, and Bush can''tpletely ignore public opinion to force a war."

    "I''m fine. Sorry, I need to excuse myself," Eric said with a strained smile, pulling Jennifer Connelly along as they headed out of the crowd.

    "Eric, what''s wrong?"

    Eric continued walking with her and said, "Jenny, we need to go. I suddenly remembered something very important."

    Jennifer Connelly nodded obediently, and after saying their goodbyes to a few people, they quickly left the Hilton Hotel.

    ...

    Back at Angle Manor, Eric told Jennifer to go to bed. Then, he grabbed recent newspapers and headed straight to his study.

    After spending a couple of hours scanning through international news, he found that papers like The New York Times and The Washington Post were increasingly filled with Middle Eastern news. Eric could begin to piece together the broader context.

    It all seemed quite simple: Iraq and Iran had fought a war for eight years, which only ended in thetter half of 1988. This war left both nations battered, greatly damaging Iraq''s economy, which ended up in severe debt to several Middle Eastern countries, with Kuwait alone owed $14 billion.

    There was no way Iraq could repay that debt. Ultimately, they brazenly demanded that Kuwait forgive it, iming that Iraq''s war with Iran was a contribution to all Arab nations. Kuwait could not possibly agree to that, and so negotiations began. Those negotiations had now reached their final stages, with the conflict between the two countries practically imminent. It was evident from newspaper reports that the U.S. had decided to intervene. Of course, the U.S. couldn''t stand by idly while Iraq attempted to persuade Middle Eastern countries to reduce oil production and increase prices -- this directly threatened American interests.

    This was only the information avable at the moment.

    Recalling memories from a previous life, Eric knew the negotiations eventually broke down, leading to Iraq''s invasion of Kuwait. Saddam''s forces took over the country within just eight hours, dering Kuwait the neenth province of Iraq on August 2, 1990, which was just over a month away. Six monthster, on January 17, 1991, the Gulf War erupted, and a coalition led by American forces took 42 days to liberate Kuwait.

    During the Gulf War, Eric was already in middle school. While he was no longer as naive as a child, he wasn''t as aware of current events as he would be in college. Most of the information he gathered about the war came from brief news segments after school or conversations overheard among adults, so his memories were quite fragmented.

    However, remembering a few key dates was enough. Even with his butterfly effect on this timeline, he believed his current influence was insufficient to change the course of the war. Therefore, he could use those memories to maximize his benefits from this impending

    conflict.

    *****

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 Chapter 359: Chapter 360: Need a Pillow?

    Chapter 359: Chapter 360: Need a Pillow?

    ?

    [Chapter 360: Need a Pillow?]

    Jennifer Connelly rang the doorbell again while holding breakfast. This time, the door opened directly. The girl curiously peered inside before stepping in, making her way along the spiral staircase into the study. She gazed at the walls covered in drafts, surprised just like many who entered that room for the first time.

    "Eric, where should I put breakfast?" she asked, looking around.

    Eric got up from the corner sofa and pointed to the coffee table beside him. After taking a sip of milk, he noticed Jennifer Connelly was sitting next to him, her right hand resting on her knee as she propped her chin up to look at him.

    "Jenny, have you eaten?"

    The girl shook her head and smiled, saying, "I''ll just have an appleter, that''s enough for me."

    Eric only nodded, not saying anything further. He knew women were often stubborn about such things. Convincing one to stop losing weight was usually much harder than trying to get cash from her.

    "Eric, did you not sleep at allst night?" After a while, seeing that Eric was enjoying his meal and appeared to be in a good mood, Jennifer couldn''t help but ask.

    Eric swallowed his food and replied, "Had some things to take care of. By the way, I might need to go to New York for a few days. Amy Pascal and the others should be sending over the script we discussedst night. You can stay at the manor and wait."

    Jennifer shifted closer, her eyes on Eric as she said expectantly, "If I''m left alone here, it''ll be so boring. I want to go to New York with you."

    Eric shook his head, solemnly stating, "I have important business to attend to this time. If you tag along, I won''t be able to keep youpany. You''ll end up worse off than staying here alone. How about this: after I''m done with all this, I''ll take you to New York for some fun."

    Jennifer tugged at the hem of Eric''s T-shirt, fidgeting in discontent. After a while, realizing Eric wasn''t going to relent, she reluctantly gave up.

    After breakfast, Eric finally felt a bit tired. He got up to help the girl clean up the tableware. ncing at the time, it was only six-thirty. He considered it for a moment and decided to rest for a few hours. Having lived two lives, he knew very well that health was the most important thing.

    "I''m going to take a nap. Wake me up at ten, please."

    Just as Jennifer was about to go for a jog around the manor, she shot him a knowing look and said, "Need a pillow?"

    Eric paused for a moment, quickly understanding. He appraised the girl, who had changed into form-fitting workout gear, and said with interest, "Sounds good."

    Jennifer opened her arms and winked at Eric, "Then you''d better take action yourself."

    Without saying much more, Eric stepped forward and lifted Jennifer Connelly into his arms. Amidst her lightughter, he carried her upstairs.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Jennifer didn''t hear the rm. When she finally woke up, it was already eleven o''clock. She hurriedly got dressed and went downstairs. She quickly spotted Eric, who was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the sea, pacing while talking on the cordless phone. As she got closer, she could finally make out what Eric was saying.

    "... Yes, John, all the money. Pixar only needs to keep the minimum liquidity for July. The rest should be deposited into my designated ount. I need it urgently... No, no, no, John, where''s your head at? I''m not on the board; I''m right at home... I''ll provide my ount by this afternoon or evening, it should be the ount for Firefly Films, the one that owns Cisco stock... Don''t worry, just a month; I guarantee it... Alright then, I''ve got several other calls to make; I''ll hang up now."

    After hanging up, as Jennifer was about to approach, she saw Eric quickly dial another number with practiced ease. "Hello, Stan? It''s Eric... Yeah, things have been goodtely, how about you?... Well, there''s something I wanted to discuss. Isn''t there still some money left in the Digital Domain ount? I need to borrow some urgently... Don''t worry, within three months, I''ll return all the money to the Digital Domain ount, do you really not trust me?... Alright, alright, I know, but don''t leave too much, I really have something important... So, let''s do this: have the ountants at Digital Domainpile the financial statements, and I''ll send the ount infoter... Okay, then, goodbye... Oh, I''lle by when I have time, but I''ve been super busytely... Uh-huh, goodbye..."

    After hearing more of Eric''s discussions, although Jennifer wasn''t quite clear on all the details, she gathered he was pulling funds from apany called Digital Domain. After several simr calls, Eric finally ced the cordless phone back on its cradle. Noticing Jennifer standing nearby, he walked over, wrapped his arm around her waist, kissed her, and said hurriedly, "Jenny, I''m heading to the Firefly headquarters now and will probably go straight to New York. You stay here for now."

    With that, Eric picked up a small suitcase he had set aside. Jennifer Connelly went over to help him carry another small bag as they both walked out of the vi. A ck van was already parked outside, and the driver approached to take Eric''s bag and put it in the trunk.

    Just as Eric was about to jump in the car, he quickly remembered something. He pulled out his wallet and handed a credit card to Jennifer. "If you get bored staying at the manor, you can go shopping. You don''t have a ce to stay in Los Angeles yet, do you? Pick out a vi yourself; anywhere in Hollywood Hills, Beverly, or Malibu is fine. Use this card to pay. I''m off -- goodbye."

    Feeling Eric ce the card in her hand and kiss her on the cheek, he then got into the ck van and drove off. After a while, Jennifer finally processed what just happened. Looking at the Citibank credit card in her hand, she recalled everything and confirmed she hadn''t misheard Eric.

    ...

    "What? All the liquidity? Eric, you can''t do this." In the conference room, Robert Shea was the first to stand up in objection after hearing Eric. "Eric, even though we don''t have any films releasing this summer besides Ghost, the overseas distribution for Sleeping with the Enemy and Ghost still needs funds. Also, there''s the promotion for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles tape and the production ns for the second half of the year..."

    Eric knew thatpared to his otherpanies, which he wholly owned, getting things done at Firefly definitely wasn''t something a simple phone call could aplish. However, he didn''t intend to prolong the discussion with Robert Shea, so he quickly interrupted him, "Robert, I''m not trying to withdraw all the funds. I thought I made it clear earlier. I only need to use this money for a month, and I''ll gradually return it after a month. Plus, I''m not asking for your opinion, do you understand?"

    *****

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 Chapter 361: Chapter 362: Go Back for Treatment

    Chapter 361: Chapter 362: Go Back for Treatment

    ?

    [Chapter 362: Going Back to Heal]

    "Of course, it''s the skyrocketing international oil prices," Chris answered without hesitation. "That''s your final guess, Eric, but that''s impossible. Do you know what Iraq''s invasion of Kuwait means? These two countries hold one-fifth of the world''s known oil reserves. Once Iraq annexes Kuwait, Saddam could manipte international oil prices at will, effectively making himself a public enemy. The entire world wouldn''t stand for it. Even if he''s a madman, he wouldn''t do something like that."

    "Since everyone thinks that way, I want to take a gamble. I bet there will be a war in the Middle East within three months. Chris, if you''re not willing to help me, then I''ll just open an ount at the New York Mercantile Exchange by myself. You wouldn''t just sit there and let me, an outsider, get ripped off, would you?" By the end, Eric tried to y the emotional card. Chris listened to Eric''s stubborn tone and felt a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Eric, your worth has already hit the billion-dor mark. You can buy anything you want; is it really necessary to take this kind of risk? You just said you were pulling all yourpanies'' liquid funds. If you lose all that money, it would be a huge mess. The incident at the beginning of the year just happened. If the seven major studios knew Firefly''s liquidity was drying up, they''d pounce on the opportunity without hesitation. The business world is ruthless; don''t expect anyone else to show mercy."

    Eric confidently replied, "Why not think positively? What if I win the bet?"

    Chris smiled and yed with a pen in his hand, gently suggesting, "How about you take a couple of days to cool off? Go have some fun in New York or take a vacation?"

    "Chris, I''m perfectly calm. I''ve made my decision. If you don''t agree, I''m just going to go find a futures broker and do it myself," Eric said as he started to rise.

    Seeing that Eric was serious, Chris waved his hand resignedly. "Okay, okay, I agree. Sit back down."

    The two talked over some details, and Chris called thepany''s financial manager. "Eric, why don''t you go with Weber to handle the transfer procedures? I''ll find youter."

    Once Eric left with the financial manager, Chris picked up the phone and dialed Jeffrey''s number. "Dad, has Eric talked to you about his ns?"

    After a few words on the other end, Chris added, "It seems Eric hasn''t filled you in, but this is tooplex to exin over the phone. I think you shoulde to New York. Eric... he''s a bit worked up; I can''t reason with him."

    After a brief conversation, Chris hung up and exited the office.

    ...

    Emily Brighton couldn''t help but peek at the three people sitting in the living room. It was Eric''s second day in New York, and afterpleting filming for Basic Instinct, Jeffrey had returned to his farm in Marnd to take a break. Less than a weekter, the old man rushed to New York due to a phone call from his son.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    At that moment, the three of them sat in silence. Jeffrey had already spent an hour sincerely trying to persuade Eric, who showed no signs of relenting. The atmosphere was awkward, and Chris suddenly broke the silence, asking his girlfriend in the kitchen, "Emily, is dinner ready?"

    "Yeah, it''s all set," Emily quickly replied.

    "How about we eat first?" Chris tentatively suggested.

    Eric had no intention of creating a rift with Jeffrey. He smiled and said, "Jeffrey, let''s eat first. After dinner, you can keep trying to persuade me. Don''t let yourself go hungry."

    Jeffrey grumbled and walked toward the dining room, while Eric shrugged at Chris, who let out a resigned sigh.

    Emily Brighton was usually quite talkative, and at another time, she would have found a couple of topics to liven up the dinner atmosphere. However, at this moment, she quietly sat beside Chris, wordlessly eating her meal.

    After some time of silent eating, Jeffrey finally softened his tone. "Eric, you won''t be able to keep this a secret. If you want to trade oil futures, that''s fine. But you can''t put all your money into it and definitely shouldn''t use loans. If others find out you lost everything, they''ll seize the opportunity to strangle Firefly."

    "Jeffrey, why can''t you think positively? What if I make a profit?"

    "There''s no way that could happen. This is Wall Street, not Hollywood; we''re all amateurs here."

    Chris chimed in, "Yeah, Eric, Wall Street is the territory of the financial sharks. Futures trading is essentially a double-sided betting contract. If you make money, it means someone else loses. The more you win, the more they lose. Do you really think your opponents will be willing to let that happen? When I worked at Morgan Stanley, I saw firsthand how these big investors manipted the financial markets for their own benefit. And don''t even bring up the SEC; even the FBI has trouble dealing with these giants."

    "Our two hundred million dor stake isn''t worth their attention," Eric said with a shrug. "Besides, if conflict breaks out in the Middle East, oil prices will soar. Any tricks from the financial giants will just be swept away by the tide."

    Jeffrey and his son exchanged nces and fell silent again. Eric didn''t want to dwell on the matter. Looking over at Emily Brighton, he rememberedst Thanksgiving when the couple had been in a spat. Now they seemed to be back on good terms.

    "Emily, has your family''s fashionpany gone public yet? I remember you mentioning itst Thanksgiving."

    Emily cast a wistful nce at Chris beside her and shook her head. "Not for another three years, I''m afraid."

    "That''s alright. Once I make money this time, if you''re interested, I can invest with you," Eric said with a smile.

    Emily chuckled and responded, "Sure, that sounds great," but didn''t take it seriously. Having spent so much time with Chris, she knew just how risky the futures market could be. Eric could be throwing in a small fortune, but the chance of actually gaining anything back was slim.

    "Eric, where are you staying now?" Jeffrey asked.

    "I booked a suite at the Soho Grand on Sixth Avenue. I n to stay there for a while." Jeffrey wasn''t familiar with Sixth Avenue, so he looked at Chris, who exined, "Sixth Avenue is quite close to the New York Mercantile Exchange."

    Jeffrey sighed, realizing that Eric had even thought of that detail. This situation left no room for retreat. "Chris, you should set aside the investmentpany business for now and focus

    on helping Eric as much as possible."

    "I understand, Dad," Chris nodded.

    ...

    In the following days, Chris began helping Eric hire traders and set up his ount. Jeffrey stayed close to the two young men, and naturally, there were arguments mainly over the margin for futures trading.

    Eric wanted the margin set at 5%, allowing for twenty times leverage which would ramp his $200 million investment up to 4 billion. However, Chris and Jeffrey believed it should be set at 20%, providing only five times leverage.

    Eric knew the father-son duo was looking out for him and didn''t stubbornly insist on his way. After a morning of debate, they eventually met halfway at 10% margin and ten times

    leverage.

    By July, oil prices on the futures market were rising again, nearing $19 a barrel.

    Eric and Chris hastily assembled a trading team to start making trades.

    Due to the situation in the Middle East, many spectors had dived into the oil futures market. Just at the New York Mercantile Exchange, the daily trading volume for oil futures passed 100,000 contracts (with each contract representing 1,000 barrels), amounting to a daily transaction of $2 billion.

    Given the current situation in the Middle East, many people were betting on oil prices either falling back to $14, as they had months before, or continuing to rise.

    As a result, Eric''s bullish team didn''t stand out much. To avoid drawing too much attention, Chris kept their daily trading volume around $10 million. At this rate, it was enough to spend the entire $200 million before August, and Eric didn''t raise any objections.

    As Chris had previously mentioned, once oil prices climbed to $19 a barrel, they didn''t rise significantly anymore but began fluctuating between $18 and $20. Jeffrey, worried for both young men, was even more anxious than they were. Although the futures contracts Eric bought had delivery dates in October, the profits and losses from futures trading were settled daily. Each day after the market closed, Jeffrey sat with a calctor, working out how much

    they made or lost.

    Concerned that the stress might cause the old man health issues, Eric and Chris urged Jeffrey multiple times to return to the Marnd farm, but nothing worked.

    ...

    After another long day of trading, Eric returned to his hotel, showered, and was about to make

    a few calls back to Los Angeles when he heard the doorbell. Despite knowing plenty of people in New York, very few knew his hotel address.

    Curious, he opened the door, and a petite figure jumped up to wrap around his waist like a

    ko bear.

    This situation was inappropriate, so Eric quickly stepped back into the room and shut the door. Once safely inside, he pulled Drew off him and asked, "Weren''t you going on vacation in Hawaii? I thought you said you''d be gone for weeks. What are you doing here?"

    The girl let Eric toss her onto the couch, where she propped herself up with her chin resting on

    her rounded palm, sparkling eyes fixed on Eric, as she teased, "Jeffrey said you went crazy and wanted me to convince you to go back to Los Angeles for treatment."

    *****

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 Chapter 363: Chapter 364: A Prophetic Thought

    Chapter 363: Chapter 364: A Prophetic Thought

    ?

    [Chapter 364: A Prophetic Thought]

    "How could there be so many? I remember saying this with only five or six people around." Jennifer Connelly''s expression was filled with excitement. In the past, she had to put in a lot of effort tond a lead role in a small production. Now, staying at home, numerous scripts were being delivered to her door. This treatment had the young woman feeling a bit giddy. Of course, Connelly didn''t forget who had given her all of this. She leaned affectionately against Eric, saying, "I''m not too sure. It might be that some information identally leaked out. Since you left these past few days, someone has been bringing scripts every day. They even delivered some to Jim. Jim waspletely taken aback, thinking someone had made a mistake and mixed up the scripts. He called to ask about it and found out what was going on, so all the scripts ended up here."

    Eric picked up a script and flipped through it casually, recalling Connelly''s agent, Jim Lister. He asked, "Did Jim give you any feedback?"

    Connelly shook her head. "The people delivering scripts to him were not people Jim could offend, so they all came for you to decide."

    Eric chuckled and replied, "That''s fine. Based on the movies I helped you pick out before, Jim''s judgment wasn''t great."

    "Actually, he''s not that bad. It was just that we didn''t have many choices back then," Connelly said weakly, defending Jim Lister, who had been managing her career for many years.

    Eric didn''t respond. He nced through some information about the script deliverers and tossed the papers on the coffee table, smirking, "They sure have calctive motives. There aren''t that many free lunch opportunities in this world."

    These producers clearly intended for him to pick out suitable scripts that they could produce to make money off his fame, even potentially dragging him into the mix at the end.

    Feeling Eric''s displeasure, Connelly shrank her neck slightly, but her gaze worriedly lingered on the pile of scripts, fearing that if Eric got upset, he might throw it all out. During the days he had been gone, she had already set her sights on several scripts and even discussed them privately with Jim Lister. However, Connelly knew that although these people were ostensibly inviting her to star as the lead, they were really aiming for Eric, and she didn''t have any decision-making power.

    "It''s toote. Let''s talk about it tomorrow," Eric said as he stood up. "Sweetheart, I''m going to take a shower. Can you prepare a ss of warm milk for me?"

    "Sure," Connelly nodded. She watched Eric leave the small living room, turned off the TV, tidied up a bit, and took a reluctant nce at the stack of scripts before she turned off the lights and walked through the hallway to the west side kitchen.

    ...

    In a past life, having always aspired to be a film director, Eric had no idea how many movies he had watched or how many notes he had taken.

    However, clearly, the total of all the movies he could recall paled inparison to Hollywood''s annual film output. After breakfast the next day, Eric started reviewing the stack of scripts for Connelly; he looked through a dozen or so but didn''t find any familiar titles from his memory.

    Of course, there were many promising scripts amongst them. Those who sent scripts, hoping to coborate, certainly wouldn''t be foolish enough to submit low-quality ones. Any script that made its way to the Liberty City Manor had clearly been through rigorous selection. Even if a project hadn''t been officially started, these scripts were likely high-priority considerations.

    From the genres of the scripts received, it was obvious these filmpanies had done their homework on Connelly''s background before sending them. They knew exactly what she was capable of.

    Unfortunately, among those projects, there is not a single leading actress, and over eighty percent of the characters were just eye candy, with differences only in screen time. Connelly let out a smallint about that, while Eric could only smile it off; even he had regarded Connelly simply as a pretty face. No matter how eager the producers were, they wouldn''t cast a pretty face in the role of a serious actress.

    "Stopining. If you can do eye candy at the level of Marilyn Monroe, your status will definitely be higher than those Oscar-winning actresses," Eric remarked, stacking a pile of scripts aside and pulling out another one from the pile in front of him, looking at the perturbed Connelly.

    "It''s not that easy; we''re talking about Marilyn Monroe," Connelly said, gently rocking in her chair across from Eric, her tone filled with longing. Because of her legendary life, Marilyn Monroe was still a hot topic, while other actresses from her time, even those who were a bit more famous, had faded into obscurity. Although many were still alive, none could be mentioned in the same breath as Monroe.

    Just then, there was a series of beeping noises from the inte nearby.

    "Go see what''s going on at the front gate," Eric instructed. Connelly put down the script in her hands and walked over. After saying a few words, she turned back to Eric with a hint of surprise in her voice, "The doorman said Rupert Murdoch is here?"

    "What''s that old fox doing here?" Eric mumbled but had no choice but to stand up and personally go to the door, letting the doorman in.

    Despite his disinterest in Murdoch, Eric still went out to greet him. Connelly hesitated for a moment but didn''t follow. She was aware of who Rupert Murdoch was. The aura surrounding such a media mogul intimidated her a bit.

    ...

    As Eric stepped outside the vi, a ck Rolls Royce pulled up and parked in the area in front of the vi.

    The driver quickly got out and opened the back door. Murdoch emerged with a beaming smile. Just as Eric was about to step forward, the door on the other side opened, and Elisabeth popped out, nodding her chin in a sort of greeting towards him.

    Eric grinned widely, though inwardly, he was cursing Murdoch. This old man must think he''s got his finger on Eric''s pulse. The first thing he does upon meeting Eric is bring his daughter along? Such deceitfulness! Sooner orter, he would end up getting her pregnant and then

    abandoning her.

    Murdoch exchanged a brief hug with Eric and then surveyed the vi beside them, saying, "Eric, I''ve wanted toe see this ce for a long time but have just been too busy." "Yeah, we''re all so busy. Let''s head inside," Eric gestured for them to enter.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

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 Chapter 365: Chapter 366: I Heard You Needed Money

    Chapter 365: Chapter 366: I Heard You Needed Money

    ?

    [Chapter 366: I Heard You Needed Money]

    "Alright, 80 million it is," Eric quickly understood Murdoch''s situation. Although News Corp was firmly under Murdoch''s control, the Murdoch family only owned 40% of the shares. If Murdoch intended to pull all the liquid assets away like Eric did with Firefly, he would certainly face strong opposition from other shareholders.

    "Eric, I need to withdraw 80 million within ten days, and I must provide a thorough exnation to the shareholders. If you can''t repay this money before the end of the year, I expect to convert this funding into Firefly shares. What do you think about 10%?"

    "5%. Firefly is worth that much now." Eric was confident he could repay the money within three months but wasn''t willing to take any chances.

    Murdoch immediately shook his head. "No way, Eric. I can''t exin 5% to the shareholders. I heard you opened a shell productionpany..."

    The two bargained back and forth, eventually settling at an agreement of 8%.

    ...

    With the deal confirmed, the older and younger men stepped out of the study. From afar, they heard Elisabeth''sughter echoing through the hall.

    "Liz, do you want to use soundwaves to take down my house?" Eric joked as he found the two women sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window.

    "I''d like to take you down," Elisabeth, sprawled on the couch looking over a script, sat up and made room for her father to sit while giving Eric a yful eye-roll.

    Eric took a seat next to Connelly and asked her, "What were you justughing about?"

    "It''s a script mimicking Tom Cruise''s Top Gun, but it''s definitely taking aedic route. The storyline is quite... quirky," Connelly tilted her head, struggling to find an appropriate adjective.

    Disdainfully, Eric blurted, "Another Top Gun? That film isn''t so easy to replicate. It imed to have a budget of no more than $20 million, but under the military''s full support, it effectively served as a recruitment ad..."

    As he spoke, Eric suddenly remembered something and turned to Elisabeth. "Liz, let me have a look at the script."

    Elisabeth passed the script over. Eric nced at the title and didn''t immediately recognize it. However, after flipping through a few pages, he quickly remembered the film.

    The script was for the well-known American absurdistedy, Hot Shots! He recalled that the film starred Charlie Sheen, the main actor from Two and a Half Men. The movie cleverly crafted a main storyline resembling Top Gun but pushed the parody to extremes, not only mimicking many ssic Hollywood films but also incorporating numerous jabs at famous personalities and events from recent years.

    In the early 1990s, most Hollywoodedies stuck to traditional scripts, so the radical parody of Hot Shots! caused quite a stir upon its release.

    Noticing Eric''s change in expression after looking at the script, even Murdoch, who initially seemed indifferent, became curious and leaned in to ask quietly. Elisabeth whispered to her father, "It''s a Fox script."

    Hearing this, the old fox rxed and poured himself a cup of coffee, patiently waiting for Eric to continue perusing the script.

    "Eric, I saw this script first, you know?" Elisabeth chimed in as soon as Eric looked up.

    Eric handed the script to Connelly beside him and said to Elisabeth, "The project is already greenlit. Are you trying to poach Fox''s work?"

    "Hmph, of course not. But don''t forget what you just said. Let me pick a script. I know you hold a 30% stake, so give it to me."

    Eric shot her an expression of "Did I say that?" which nearly made Elisabeth jump up in frustration.

    ...

    After lunch, once he saw off the Murdochs, Eric headed to Firefly''s headquarters to prepare for the premiere of Ghostter that evening.

    Elisabeth had only managed to retort a few times about Hot Shots! before she gave up on seeking Eric''s financial backing. Though she had a bit of a spoiled temperament, she proved to be quite savvy and rational when it came to significant matters.

    Hot Shots! featured two prominent female roles: one was a psychoanalyst, the lead female role, while the other, nicknamed "The Pilot," was a standout amongst a bunch of musclemen, though she had very few lines. Connelly wasn''t particrly satisfied with either role, but having selected the script, she obediently chose to y the lead.

    The North American distribution of Ghost was powered by Disney and Firefly, making it a grand affair. The film opened in an impressive 2,300 theaters and held avish premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

    Before 6 PM, celebrities had already begun appearing on the long red carpet outside the theatre. Although just a few blocks away was the premiere of Die Hard 2, the Ghost premiere was clearly more star-studded. Besides the stars invited by Disney and Firefly, the families of the lead actors from Ghost were also in attendance. The Copp and Fonda families exerted considerable effort to support their younger generation, and their connections alone were enough to fill a good portion of Hollywood.

    ...

    "Wow, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are here together!"

    "If Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman show up, that would be wild."

    "That''s hard toe by; just having two is already great."

    ...

    "Look, Jodie Foster!"

    "Still so beautiful; it''s a shame I heard she''s a lesbian now."

    "Just rumors."

    "After that Hinckley incident, it had to hit her hard. If it were me, I''d probably change my orientation too."

    ...

    "Is that James Cameron? I heard Terminator 2 is in the works. Can''t wait! The woman next to

    him, is she his wife?"

    "She''s beautiful and ssy; she must be an actress."

    ...

    "Wow, Cher''s here too!"

    "She worked with Nics Cage on Moonstruck three years ago. I hear they''re good friends."

    "I still prefer her singing."

    11

    "....

    11

    11

    On the red carpet, filmmakers frequently spotted unexpected stars, prompting loud gasps and discussions from the audience.

    Originally, only a few hundred fans lined both sides of the red carpet, but within less than half an hour, news of the event spread rapidly, and the street was flooded with fans. In fact, many fans who initially attended the Die Hard 2 premiere made their way over, creating an awkward

    situation for Fox.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ...

    As the director, Eric barely made it onto the red carpet before he was swamped with guestsing to support the film. At this point, the fans dazzled by the Hollywood spectacle likely wouldn''t even notice whether their director appeared on the red carpet.

    "Eric, I made a special trip to see the screening. The film is superb, particrly how the music bookends the film, elevating its theme to new heights," Francis Ford Copp praised, having rushed over from the set of The Godfather Part III, pping Eric on the shoulder.

    Eric nced at Nics Cage, who stood quietly beside Copp and said, "Nick''s performance exceeded my expectations. Perhaps soon, the Copp family will see a new Academy Award

    2."

    winner emerge."

    "Haha, that''s a given," Copp replied proudly.

    ...

    After greeting the Copps, Eric quickly wove through the crowd to acknowledge others. Just

    as he was about to find a corner to rest for a moment, he feltrge hands pressing down on his shoulders. Turning around, he saw a stern James Cameron and a smiling Kathryn Bigelow.

    "Jim, Kate, how are you? Thanks foring," Eric quickly greeted.

    James Cameron, however, wore no smile from the red carpet and asked tightly, "Eric, where''s the money? They''ve already started casting for Terminator 2, but the ck Ant''s finance department tells me we''re out of funds. How can I make a deposit and sign contracts with the union? Plus, Stan informed me you suddenly withdrew all the liquid assets from Digital

    Domain."

    "Weren''t there still a few hundred thousand?" Eric instinctively asked.

    Cameron felt an impulse to throttle Eric. "What good is a few hundred thousand? Tell me!"

    "Fine, fine, Jim, don''t panic. I need the money for a month. After that, you can have as much

    as you want?"

    Cameron was about to ask what they would do for that month, but upon realizing the implications of Eric''s words, he quickly altered his request. "I want to raise the budget, at

    least... at least another 20 million."

    "Sure," Eric nodded readily but quickly added, "No more than that."

    "Okay, but what about this month?" Cameron finally inquired.

    Eric exined, "Take your time with casting. You can work with Stan on how to realize the

    liquid robot. I heard they developed a transformation software for that purpose. Oh, and Kate, we might have to push back Point Break a bit."

    "I''m fine with that," Kathryn Bigelow smiled. "After all, dying it means it would only release at next year''s Easter slot, and the loss falls on you."

    "Kate, you''re so reasonable. Jim, you should learn from your wife," Eric teased subtly,

    prompting a re from her.

    Due to the overwhelming number of stars attending the premiere, the ceremony started twenty minutester than scheduled.

    Eric finally took his seat and watched a bit of the film when he noticed Michael Eisner calling Copp over to him, taking a seat next to Eric. "Eric, I heard you needed money recently?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 367: Chapter 368: A Certain Moment

    Chapter 367: Chapter 368: A Certain Moment

    ?

    [Chapter 368: A Certain Moment]

    Due to a massive influx of capital and Eric''s ''whimsical'' demands, the trading team ramped up their purchases of crude oil futures in the following days, increasing their daily investment by over $30 million.

    By mid-July, Eric had poured a staggering $250 million into the futures market. Since crude oil prices fluctuated during those two weeks, this amount had not appreciated. Chris grew even more anxious.

    ...

    On July 16, a report published early that morning in The New York Times quickly spread across the globe.

    At local time on July 16, and in the early hours of July 16 in Eastern Time, a fully equipped elite armored tank division of Iraq''s Republican Guard suddenly gathered at the Iraq-Kuwait border. Simultaneously, stunning news emerged about Iraqi-Kuwaiti negotiations, where Iraqi President Saddam Hussein presented new conditions. He not only demanded the forgiveness of Kuwait''s previous $14 billion loan but also sought $2.4 billion inpensation for ''stealing Iraqi oil.''

    The Western nations, keeping a close eye on the Middle Eastern situation, had yet to respond, but the financial markets, highly sensitive to any news, began to show significant vtility. That same week on July 16, as the world''s major futures exchanges opened, crude oil prices, which had been hovering between $18 and $20 per barrel, swiftly broke the $20 mark. In under two hours, prices shot up to $21. Throughout the day, oil prices did not dip again, closing at a high of $21.40, with a 7% increase.

    ...

    That evening, Chris and his father Jefferey did not return to Chris''s apartment; instead, they gathered in Eric''s hotel suite. Despite the surge in crude oil prices, which had generated a profit of $175 million for Eric in just one day, Chris felt even more troubled.

    The fax machine in the suite buzzed incessantly, continuously churning out documents.

    Jeffrey, Chris, and Eric silently scanned the faxes, while Drew lounged on the couch, absorbed in the television.

    "All I could gather is this, Eric," Chris said after circting the documents. "As you''ve seen, almost all military experts believe this is just Iraq trying to put on a show of force. The likelihood of war breaking out is minimal. This armored division, equipped with Soviet T-72 tanks, is more than enough to tten Kuwait. If Iraq nned to invade, they wouldn''t need to deploy the Republican Guard; a standard infantry division could easily take Kuwait City. Saddam is likely just trying to extort more concessions."

    "I still stand by my initial guess."

    "Eric, this news will break in the papers tomorrow, and the crude oil prices will likely fall again. To avoid losing the profits we made today, I suggest we start selling tomorrow morning. That way, we might secure around $100 million in profit."

    "No, keep buying, Chris. I feel like the time is getting closer."

    Chris nced at Jeffrey, who didn''t really grasp the conversation, and said, "In that case, we can expect even more violent fluctuations in oil prices in theing period, so I need enough margin in the ount."

    Eric knew Chris spoke the truth. Compared to the rtively stable prices of early July, the vtility of oil prices inte July would be even greater, given the involvement of the Middle East and Western nations. "No problem; you can operate as necessary."

    Seeing Eric not adhering to his opinion this time, Chris breathed a sigh of relief.

    ...

    On July 17, the analysis articles Eric and the others had seen the night before appeared in major newspapers worldwide. Even a high-ranking official from the U.S. Department of Defense publicly asserted on a television interview that Iraq would not take military action against Kuwait. Due to this perspective, crude oil future prices fell to $20.70, a 3% drop.

    However, in the following week, oil prices began to slowly rise again. After deploying an elite armored division at the Iraq-Kuwait border, Iraq didn''t stop but instead continued to bolster its troops. Within a week, 100,000 Iraqi troops amassed at the border.

    Kuwait''s head of state, Emir, could no longer remain passive and began pleading with other Arab nations for intercession.

    ...

    On July 22, Egyptian President Mubarak visited Baghdad to negotiate on behalf of the Kuwaiti Emir but left empty-handed with no promises from Saddam. Soon after, Yasser Arafat, the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, visited Baghdad where Saddam warmly weed him. When Arafat left, he could only ry a single message to the Emir: "Show me the money."

    ...

    While most Western nations still maintained that Saddam would not take military action against Kuwait, in the face of Iraq''s aggression, on July 24, the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet in the Gulf conducted joint military exercises with the UAE.

    By this time, international oil prices had risen to $23, a 15% increase from the previous week. Eric''s investment in the futures market grew to $400 million, with a staggering weekly profit of $500 million. The profits were unbelievable, yet Chris repeatedly urged Eric to pull back. He pointed out that any significant shift in the Middle Eastern situation could lead to losing everything.

    The military exercises seemed to deter Iraq somewhat, as the next day Saddam urgently summoned U.S. Ambassador April spie. In front of the Arab-American ambassador, Saddam solemnly assured her that Iraq would not take military action against Kuwait.

    When this news broke, it appeared to mark a turning point. In the following days, oil prices began to slowly decline as most investment firms grew pessimistic about oil prices. As this unfolded, an increasing number of spectors aggressively shorted the market; whatever contracts they bought would quickly be absorbed.

    ...

    In thest week of July, Eric spent all of his remaining $700 million on crude oil futures. Due to the drop in oil prices, the previous profit of $500 million dwindled to nearly nothing. Despite Chris''s exhaustion and despair over Eric''s insistence on making onest purchase of a hefty $20 million crude oil futures contract, he had little choice. The $700 million gamble, with a tenfold leverage and hardly any surplus margin, meant that if oil prices fell by just $2, those seven hundred million would vanish in an instant. Moreover, if oil prices dropped by more than $2, Eric''s ount would face a margin call, resulting in not only a total loss but leaving him deeply in debt to the futurespany, possibly leading to bankruptcy.

    At this point, many pressing concerns were bing impossible to hide from Jeffrey. The old man was stunned by the figure of $700 million, left in a daze for a moment before sighing deeply.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    In Los Angeles, Hollywood was closely monitoring Eric''s every move. Thus, news that Ghost had surpassed $100 million at the box office in three weeks became less significant. After the release of Basic Instinct, which sparked intense controversy, few media outlets took this opportunity to criticize Eric''s work as a screenwriter.

    It seemed everyone was waiting, anticipating some sort of final reckoning.

    Finally, time, that indifferent mistress, wiggled her waist and stepped into the grid of August

    1990.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 369: Chapter 370: I Have Something for You

    Chapter 369: Chapter 370: I Have Something for You

    ?

    [Chapter 370: I Have Something for You]

    Since early August, Eric had spent half a month in New York before quietly returning to Los Angeles.

    Before Eric made his return, he had pulled cash flow from several of hispanies. With hundreds of millions of dors flowing back into businesses like Firefly,panies that had panicked due to sudden cash shortages quickly got back on their feet. Firefly''s financial director, Carolyn Elliott, had also quietly withdrawn a loan application from Citibank earlier that month.

    At this point, even the slowest person realized that Eric had won his bet.

    ...

    Over in the Middle East, Saddam had not halted his offensive after invading Kuwait. His army of a hundred thousand men pushed toward the Saudi Arabian border after quelling resistance in Kuwait. While the West had merely been shocked at Kuwait''s annexation, Saddam''s actions at this moment filled most Western countries with fear.

    Saudi Arabia, with and area of over two million square kilometers, only had seventy thousand conventional troops -- less than Kuwait''s. When it came to resisting an Iraqi invasion, their ability was even less impressive.

    If Saddam invaded Saudi Arabia again, controlling the Persian Gulf chokepoint, the West would be left entirely powerless in the Middle East. The proven oil reserves of Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia ounted for 45% of the world''s total reserves. The remaining 55% were spread across the globe. Thus, if Iraq were to annex Saudi Arabia, Saddam could easilymand high prices of $100 per barrel, forcing Western countries toply and pay up.

    Faced with this clear threat from Iraq, Arab nations that previously wished for the West to avoid meddling in Middle Eastern affairs quicklypromised and epted the U.S. troop deployment proposal.

    Simultaneously, Western nations swiftly imposedrge-scale sanctions on Iraq, freezing billions of dors in Iraqi and Kuwaiti overseas assets and enacting the strictest embargo measures against Iraq.

    However, none of this curtailed the skyrocketing oil prices, as Iraqi troops remained poised to move into Saudi Arabia. Within just a week, oil prices surged to $29, an increase of over 40%. It wasn''t until August 7, 1990, when the Pentagon announced that the U.S. military''s elite 82nd Airborne Division''s advance forces had arrived in Saudi Arabia, that the panic-driven spike in oil prices began to ease.

    When Eric returned to Los Angeles, over 100,000 American troops were stationed in the Persian Gulf, facing off against Iraqi forces. The pace of oil price increases slowed, but with the threat of war imminent, the price hikes showed no signs of stopping.

    ...

    A ck helicopternded in ya Vista, on the western outskirts of Los Angeles. As Eric stepped off the chopper with a group, he exchanged introductions with the regional executives who hade to greet him. He then turned to Stan Winston, who hade along, and said, "Stan, what do you think of this ce? Less than a hundred meters ahead was once Howard Hughes'' airport. Of course, it''s now abandoned. I n to buy about 100 hectares here to build a filming base for Firefly."

    Stan looked around and replied, "I can say for sure that you''ve made a lot of money this time."

    Eric smiled slightly but chose not to pursue that topic.

    Many who knew he had been specting on oil futures were curious about how much he actually made. The subtle probing had never ceased during that time. However, he didn''t even know the specific figures himself since it would take three months to wrap things up in New York.

    Noticing Eric''s expression, Stan chuckled. He had only been joking around, but quickly shifted the conversation back to business: "We''re only about five kilometers from Venice. If you''re building a filming base here, perhaps a digital effects studio can also be relocated here. The T-Rex model from Jurassic Park is supposed to be a whopping 20 feet tall, requiring a lot of space to operate."

    "I had thought of that," Eric stated. "I not only want to build regr soundstages but also establish a special effects film base. Stan, if you''re interested, this base can be under your supervision."

    Stan was mildly excited but cautiously replied, "Eric, the geographic conditions here are indeed favorable, but there''s a significant drawback: it''s too far from downtown Los Angeles. Transport would be quite inconvenient, and your n would require arge number of professionals."

    "I''ve thought about that as well. I''ll fund the construction of aplete set of supporting infrastructure, including residential areas, supermarkets, schools, and more," Eric quickly responded.

    While Stan was still processing the news, the ya Vista executives who apanied Eric were already super excited. Eric''s n, if realized, would significantly boost the economic development of this administrative region.

    "Mr. Williams, is what you said true?" a tall, slender middle-aged white man couldn''t help but ask.

    "Of course," Eric replied seriously. "However, if you all could cooperate fully, I guarantee thepletion of this n will take no more than three years, with a total investment of at least $1 billion."

    The executives started whispering among themselves. A $1 billion project was something they never dared to imagine, let alone stumble upon such an opportunity.

    Eric continued walking with Stan and the others. The reason for choosing this area was not a whim but because, in his memory, it was where Spielberg and others established DreamWorks, which yearster developed into the well-known ya Vistamunity where many famous films were shot, including the Iron Man series.

    After spending the morning exploring ya Vista and discussing preliminary ns with the executives, the group of them stood by a man-madeke, pointing out the surrounding terrain as noon approached. Suddenly, an SUV drove onto the road nearby and several people got out.

    At the time, ya Vista was still like the outskirts of Los Angeles, so sparsely popted that it was hardly an exaggeration. Therefore, the sudden appearance of the off-road vehicle captured everyone''s attention, and many realized the upants must have ties to their group. Sure enough, as the upants stepped down, Eric immediately recognized the tall blonde woman at the front and was shocked. How did Nicole find her way here?

    In the distance, Nicole instructed the bodyguards before approaching with a thirty- something blonde woman.

    As she came within four or five meters of Eric, the tall blonde''s expression turned mildly resentful, her gaze locking directly onto Eric without reservation.

    Noticing the eyes drawn towards him, Eric helplessly greeted her, "Nicole, how did you know

    I was here?"

    "Yeah, finding you wasn''t easy," Nicole replied without answering the question, her tone carrying light dissatisfaction.

    Eric didn''t pry further, knowing only a few people were aware of his whereabouts and could guess where Nicole got the intel. He turned to the blonde woman beside Nicole and asked,

    "And who is this?"

    "Hello, Mr. Williams. I''m Pat Kingsley," she replied.

    Eric looked her over in surprise. He recalled casually mentioning to Nicole to switch

    managers, not expecting that just a few monthster, she had indeed made a change.

    They shook hands, and Eric smiled, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Kingsley. By the way, how''s Tom

    Cruise doingtely?"

    "Very well, thank you for asking," Pat Kingsley replied politely, discreetly sizing up the

    young man before her. Despite Eric working with Cruise before, it had been under Pa

    Wagner''s management at that time, making this their first encounter.

    After exchanging pleasantries, Eric nced at his watch and informed Nicole, "Nicole, you''reing at a rather inconvenient time. I''m just about to head back."

    The young woman''s eyes filled with deep disappointment. "You really don''t want to see me,

    do you?"

    Hearing her, Pat raised an eyebrow and quickly took a few steps back, leaving the space for the

    two to converse.

    Eric shook his head, insisting, "No, I really meant it."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Then can Ie visit you?" she asked again.

    "Alright, but since I flew in by helicopter, you might have to let your bodyguards drive back

    on their own," Eric said.

    Nicole''s discontent vanished, reced by excitement, and she nodded eagerly, "I''ll go tell

    them right away."

    Momentster, Eric and Nicole boarded the helicopter back to Malibu, and Stan Winston, Pat Kingsley, and the others discreetly stayed behind, respecting their privacy.

    ...

    Half an hourter, the helicopternded on the helipad at the Liberty City. Eric walked with Nicole toward the vi while casually asking, "When did you switch managers? I had no idea."

    "Well, you haven''t shown any interest in my affairs, so how could you know? I... I just followed your advice to switch," she confessed.

    Eric coughed awkwardly, quickly changing the subject, "What do you think of her?"

    "She''s alright, I guess. Pat suggests I pursue a low-key, mysterious acting route to maintain distance from the public. Other than that, I haven''t seen anything particrly special about

    her," Nicole replied.

    Eric merely nodded, withholding anyments. In his past life, Pat Kingsley had managed Tom Cruise''s career impably, possibly following this packaging strategy. Over the years, Cruise''s image remained impable, proving the route was practical.

    Pushing open the door to enter the lobby, Eric found the vi rtively empty.

    Drew had returned to Los Angeles with Eric but had left for Culver City after just one day,

    busying herself with Elisabeth on their second film. Connelly had joined the cast of Hot Shots!, and with Eric''s approval, Fox had greenlit the film, which had already begun shooting. Thus, the vi was left quiet once again, with only Eric inside. The staff usually didn''te

    into the main vi.

    Deep down, Eric enjoyed this solitary living situation.

    "Make yourselffortable. I''ll call for takeout," Eric said casually to Nicole.

    "Or I could prepare lunch instead. What do you want to eat?"

    Eric saw no reason to refuse. "I don''t know; just make something simple."

    Nicole nodded and headed to the kitchen. Although she hadn''t visited here many times, she

    was fairly familiar with the vi.

    ...

    After Eric took a shower and changed clothes upstairs, Nicole had alreadyid out a simple

    lunch on the dining table.

    Sitting down at the table, watching Nicole te his lunch before returning to her seat, Eric asked, "By the way, how did your film perform?"

    Just as Nicole picked up her knife and fork, she paused and answered despondently, "Flop."

    "Uh, alright, let''s eat first," Eric quickly replied, realizing Nicole''s demeanor. Previously, when he had raised funds, he had taken $8 million from her, which was likely her savings for the year, if not more.

    As for what film that was, Eric racked his brain but couldn''t recall.

    As for Nicole''s discontent, it stemmed from her belief that her rtionship with Eric should

    have been more significant than Julia Roberts''.

    But now, Julia had three consecutive hits with Pretty Woman, Steel Magnolias, and Sleeping with

    the Enemy, each crossing the $100 million mark, while she had managed only one film, Sleepless in Seattle. After that, Eric had seemingly lost interest in her altogether. Nicole''sst film was selected with the help of her former manager, and after Sleepless in Seattle gained sess, without Eric''s involvement she didn''t dare change her path, sticking to another romanticedy. However, after releasing in July, it had grossed only $10 million after nearly a month. With a $5 million paycheck and a total cost of $30 million, it needed at least $60 million to break even, and now it was unlikely even to clear $20 million. Having risen to fame with a rom like Sleepless in Seattle, now facing failure in her

    strongest genre, she feared quickly bing a box office poison unless she could find a turnaround.

    To make matters worse, she had reached out to Eric several times during this period, but the

    little jerk before her had always dodged her for various reasons. Fed up, she had driven out to

    confront Eric today.

    "Oh, by the way, I have something for youter. I hope you''ll like it," Eric said, trying to

    lighten the mood as they ate lunch, sensing the air was a bit chilly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 371: Chapter 372: The Fairy

    Chapter 371: Chapter 372: The Fairy

    ?

    [Chapter 372: The Fairy]

    In Eric''s memory, the actress ying the fairy in Hook was Julia. With Julia''s recent streak of leading roles in three blockbuster films, her box office appeal had left Nicole far behind.

    Thinking about this, Eric realized why Nicole had been mentioning Julia''s name so frequently since yesterday. The sudden drama that unfolded yesterday afternoon surely stemmed from an intense feeling of imbnce within her.

    In thispetition for the fairy role, Julia was undoubtedly Nicole''s biggest rival. Even though Nicole''sst movie had just flopped, she had built up enough star power from Sleepless in Seattle to still be considered an A-list star. In this context, the odds of her securing the fairy role were still quite favorable against other Hollywood actresses.

    However, Julia''s involvement changed everything. The fact that she had starred in three consecutive films that had each grossed over a hundred million meant something significant. Just look at Schwarzenegger -- after two consecutive box office hits, he demanded $15 million for his role in Terminator 2.

    It''s safe to say that Julia had be the most bankable box office queen in Hollywood. If she expressed interest in a film, be it from one of the big seven studios or an independent

    productionpany, they would be more than willing to cough up a huge paycheck to have her on board.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Under these circumstances, unless Julia voluntarily stepped aside, other actresses didn''t stand a chance for roles she was eyeing.

    Steven Spielberg could tell from Eric''s expression that he must have known whom he had just referenced. With a highly publicized film project like Hook, any move from the crew would attract intense scrutiny. News of Julia auditioning for the fairy role had already been uncovered by the tabloids.

    Sitting quietly beside them, Nicole discreetly studied Eric''s face. Noticing a hint of uncertainty, she tightened her grip on her utensils.

    "Eric, Sony Pictures is backing this project heavily. The funding is not an issue at all, and the producer from TriStar is keen on having Miss Roberts participate. So, the real question now is, unless someone can persuade Miss Roberts to step aside, how can Miss Kidman secure this role?"

    As Spielberg finished, his tone turned a bit ambiguous. Everyone knew that Julia had shot to superstardom within just two years, and it was clear that Eric''s support yed a role. Three of Julia''s films came from Firefly Films, that''ll tell you everything.

    Despite Julia''s recent film, Sleeping with the Enemy, seemingly unrted to Eric, Robert Shea had also been touting his own contributions. Anyone with a grain of sense in the industry wouldn''t be fooled. Thus, Eric''s connection to Julia was obvious, but Spielberg was indifferent to the exact nature of their rtionship. The reason he hade today had another purpose, leading him to say, "So, Eric, if you can persuade Miss Roberts to withdraw, I can personally ensure that the role goes to Miss Kidman."

    Eric shot a nce at Nicole before saying, "I''ll have a word with Julia. As for the role, I''ll leave it to you, Steven. If there''s anything you need my help with in the future, just ask."

    "Actually, I happen to need your help with something today," Spielberg said with a smile.

    Eric paused, feeling like he had fallen into a trap but was happy to help out right away. "Why don''t we discuss it over lunch?"

    Spielberg nodded. "Sure thing."

    ...

    After lunch, they settled by the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean. Spielberg opened the satchel he had brought along and pulled out a bound screeny, sliding it across the table toward Eric.

    "Eric, here''s the Hook script. You can take a look at it."

    Eric ced the script on the coffee table and rubbed its cover. "Steven, what''s this about?"

    Spielberg leaned back against the sofa and gazed out at the sea, a hint of weariness crossing his face before he spoke. "Eric, newspapers are iming I''ve had a fascination with the story of Peter Pan since I was a child and have always wanted to make it into a film. There''s truth to that. However, now that I''m in my forties, I have to confess that my interest has waned. I turned down this project multiple times before, but Mike McDawell, the CEO of TriStar, who used to be my agent, personally begged me to take it on, so here I am."

    "You''re not confident in the script?" Eric asked directly.

    Spielberg didn''t deny it, replying in a subdued tone, "I feel that if the movie is made based on this script, it could seriously tarnish my personal reputation."

    Eric still hadn''t picked up the script and asked again, "What can I do to help?"

    "I recently rewatched your Home Alone series, especially the second one. The sequel blended adult and child-friendly elements perfectly. That''s actually part of my frustration with this movie. I hope you can help look over this script. I know with your stature, a modest writing fee wouldn''t do, so if you''d be willing to participate in revising the script, I could get you involved in part of the investment."

    Spielberg was genuinely sincere, and Eric, unable to turn him down, picked up the script to begin reading.

    ...

    As Spielberg quietly sipped the coffee Nicole had delivered, he asionally nced at Eric''s expression. Even though Eric didn''t show it outwardly, Spielberg noted the subtle frowns that would asionally appear.

    The script was long -- if filmed in its entirety, it would likely run two and a half hours. Eric, in his previous life, had never seen this movie; he had only heard bits and pieces about it.

    Initially, Eric thought that being a Spielberg film, it couldn''t be that bad, even if it didn''t receive great reviews. But as he read through the script, he felt a deep sense of conflict, wanting to give up multiple times and urging Spielberg not to proceed.

    However, the project was already in motion; the two lead actors, Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, had contracts in ce, and significant funds were already allocated to the initial preparations. With most people brimming with confidence about the film, halting production seemed impossible.

    It took Eric nearly an hour to finish over a hundred pages of the script.

    Setting the script down, he turned to Spielberg and said, "Steven, you have far more experience making films than I do, and you''re aware of where the script''s problems lie,

    right?"

    Spielberg nodded. "TriStar wants to make this a family-friendly film, like E.T., but the script..."

    "In my view, if produced as it is, the film won''t please either adults or children," Eric stated. Spielberg replied with a slightly bitter smile, "That is indeed the case."

    "Let''s talk about E.T. The reason it became a sessful family movie was that it included elements that fascinated everyone. First, the alien theme draws in adults, while E.T.''s friendship with the child protagonists resonates strongly with children. That''s why it achieved massive box office sess."

    As Spielberg smiled, remembering his proudest creation, Eric quickly redirected the discussion back to the script. "But Hook isn''t like that. From the screeny, it tries to convey too much. If someone hasn''t read the original work, it would be hard for most people to grasp the character rtionships. While many have heard of Peter Pan, I''d wager that most only understand him as ''a boy who doesn''t want to grow up.'' As for the deeper stories of Hook and the crocodile or Peter Pan''s ties to Tinkerbell, very few know of those." Spielberg seemed to realize something but couldn''t pinpoint it. As amon struggle for many readers with dyslexia, Spielberg just didn''t have a knack for scriptwriting. To date, none of the most sessful films of his career were scripted by him. Spielberg could turn a story into a good film butcked the talent to adapt a concept into a great screeny. "So because most people aren''t aware of the original Tinkerbell story, we don''t need to include all those details from the source material. Doing so would just confuse the audience,"

    Eric continued.

    "Indeed, I just realized I had fallen into a trap," Spielberg interjected. "When my mother read me the original story, I subconsciously assumed everyone knew the film''s stories. So when I worked with James on the screeny, I tried to incorporate these details, which ended up making the story bloated."

    Eric joked, "Yes, but that''s just one issue. The other is the film''s positioning. Even as a family movie, it should have a focus -- like Home Alone 2. While it incorporates many adult elements, it''s primarily aimed at children. From what I''ve read, the story''s positioning feels incredibly muddled. Young kids won''t engage with the lengthy setup in the first thirty minutes. They have no patience -- the first thirty minutes is enough for them to lose all interest. On the other hand, adults probably wouldn''t find Peter''s adventures on Nevend appealing either."

    "Perhaps we should find a universally appealing element to connect the two segments," Spielberg suddenly said, excitement bubbling over.

    They exchanged nces, both looking at Nicole, who sat quietly not far away looking through

    a magazine. "Tinkerbell!" "Exactly! I believe Tinkerbell could serve as a charming character, simr to how E.T. appealed. As a tiny, pretty fairy, she would draw love from both adults and kids. Yet, the script doesn''t feature her enough; her appearancees toote. She should show up within the

    first ten minutes."

    Spielberg took the script, flipping through it for a moment, and said, "That''s indeed a great

    idea. Also, I suddenly feel we should cut out the scene where Tinkerbell grows big and kisses Peter. That''s just not right -- there shouldn''t be any romantic subplot. Well... to appeal to adult viewers, maybe we could add a hint of flirtation. But the focus should remain on their

    friendship..."

    Once their ideas began flowing, they engaged in an enthusiastic discussion until the sun set. Only after Eric saw Spielberg off from the vi did he feel a sense of aplishment. "Eric, I genuinely hope you''ll get involved in this film. I can negotiate with TriStar for at least a 20% investment share for you. Please consider it; I believe once we implement the changes we discussed this afternoon, the film will show great potential," Spielberg said just before getting into his car.

    After a long afternoon of discussion, Eric felt a renewed sense of confidence in the story but still had no intention of investing. "Steven, this is your project. I''m just offering a bit of script feedback, and I have my own film to focus on."

    Although Spielberg sensed Eric was only deflecting, he didn''t press further. "Well, let''s leave

    it at that then. By the way, please give me an urate update on the casting for Tinkerbell so I

    can help arrange things. I''ll take off now; goodbye."

    "I''ll do that. Goodbye," Eric waved, watching Spielberg''s car drive away.

    ...

    "Eric, this should be a great opportunity! Why are you hesitant to invest?" Nicole couldn''t help but ask after Spielberg departed.

    "While the screeny might see some improvements, the story itself has fundamental issues, and the profit margin isn''t wide," Eric replied, shaking his head. "Plus, Spielberg and

    the two lead actors aren''t taking any sries this time but will share the final profits of the

    film. Do you have any idea what their cut will be?"

    "Hmm?" Nicole nced at Eric, curious.

    Eric extended four fingers. "Those three will be taking 40% of the film''s profits. That''s not split among outside investors from Hollywood; it''s the overall profit across the board. That means the productionpanies likely won''t earn much, and Sony will only gain some prestige. Honestly, it''s better to invest that money into making another movie."

    Nicole had seen reports about Hook''s expected profits. Rumors imed it could rake in two hundred million, with 40% making for a whopping $80 million.

    "Eric, if... I mean, if I got the role, how much do you think Sony would pay me?"

    "I''ve just done Spielberg a huge favor and turned down his investment offer, so trust me, he''ll

    make sure you get a pretty decent deal. He hinted at that before leaving." Nicole immediately recalled Spielberg''s offhandment about "arranging things," clearly concerning the Tinkerbell role. She felt a surge of excitement but quickly grew anxious. "And

    what about Julia Roberts...?"

    Eric reassuringly patted her back. "I''ll give Julia a call tonight."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 373: Chapter 374: The Biggest Threat

    Chapter 373: Chapter 374: The Biggest Threat

    ?

    [Chapter 374: The Biggest Enemy]

    As noon approached, Julia was busy in the kitchen with the maid, preparing lunch. Suddenly, the phone rang, causing Julia to instinctively shrink her neck; the bowl she was stirring with eggs nearly slipped from her hands.

    These past few days, she developed a mild case of phone ringing anxiety. After that night when Elisabeth not only rejected Eric''s request but hung up on him mid-sentence, Julia felt a wave of apprehension every time the phone rang, worrying it might be Eric calling to confront her.

    In fact, from the very next day, Julia considered calling Eric herself to tell him she no longer wanted that role. Although Eric could be intolerable at times, she understood deep down that everything she had in Hollywood was thanks to him. He simply wanted her to let go of a role that wasn''t all that significant -- his request wasn''t unreasonable at all.

    However, as days passed, Julia never managed to make that call. Inside, she secretly hoped Eric would call her again and say some sweet nothings to charm her... well, that possibility seemed slim, and more likely, he would sternly reprimand her, at which point she would easily agree to drop the role.

    The phone rang several more times without anyone answering. Seeing Julia dazed, holding the mixer and stirring the eggs mechanically, the maid finally spoke up, "Miss Roberts, the phone has been ringing for a while."

    Julia snapped back to reality and handed the mixed eggs to the maid, walking out of the kitchen. "Hey, Liz, Drew, the phone has been ringing! Why didn''t you answer?"

    After calling out, she nced towards the living room and saw a pile of scripts scattered around, but the twodies were nowhere to be found. Straining her ears, she caught murmurs from outside; it seemed Elisabeth and Drew were ying badminton in the backyard. Julia then walked over to a nearby extension and casually picked up the receiver.

    "Why did it take you so long to answer? I''m outside your house; let me in," that familiar direct tone rang through the receiver before she could even reply.

    "Ah, Eric! Uh... okay, I''ming!" Julia hurriedly hung up the phone and made her way to the door.

    She opened it to find a in ck Chrysler parked outside -- not particrly eye-catching -- but she immediately recognized Eric in sunsses behind the wheel. The car rolled into the driveway, and Julia closed the door behind her, noticing that Eric had already parked and stepped out.

    "What have you been doing? It took you forever to answer!" Eric asked casually, handing her a briefcase as he rummaged for his mobile phone.

    Julia took the bag into her hands and exined, "I didn''t notice the ringing."

    "Oh," Eric said nonchntly while closing the car door. Then he continued, "Are you home alone? I thought Liz and Drew were here."

    "They''re in the backyard," Julia pointed towards the back of the vi as Eric turned to walk towards the house, and she quickly followed him.

    "It smells fantastic; looks like I arrived just in time for lunch," Eric remarked.

    Mary, the middle-aged maid, overheard and crept her head into the living room curiously. Not immediately recognizing Eric, she quickly retreated, adhering to the strict confidentiality use of her employment, which forbade her from prying into her employer''s privacy or sharing it, or else risk facing severe consequences.

    Julia ced the briefcase aside, opting not to join Eric on the sofa. She felt slightly apprehensive and said, "I''ll go call them."

    ...

    Upon seeing Julia reappear, Elisabeth, who had just missed Drew''s serve, set down her badminton racket. "It''s time for lunch; I''m done," she dered. "Julia, I still think we should turn this ce into a tennis court; badminton is just too light and boring."

    For once, Julia didn''t argue back. "Eric is here."

    Elisabeth looked confused. "What?"

    Drew dropped her racket and dashed into the house. Elisabeth watched Drew''s retreating figure and shrugged. "Okay, I get it; her master has arrived."

    Julia let out a smallugh and yfully tapped Elisabeth''s shoulder. "Watch it! You might end up saying it in a way that Drew hears."

    "What if she does? Maybe she''ll be happy!" Elisabeth replied casually, then lowered her voice, "So, Eric, how did it go?"

    "I... didn''t really look closely. Who knows if he''s angry? After all, you were the one who hung up on him," Julia said.

    "I did it for you! You need to take some responsibility!" Elisabeth shot back in a tone that suggested she thought Julia was being unreasonable.

    With Eric not present, Julia quickly retorted. "If you weren''t feeling guilty, why ask that?"

    "I''m not guilty! It''s just... that guy is insufferable," Elisabeth snapped, casting a nce at the vi''s entrance where Drew had vanished. Immediately, she pulled Julia in for a quick embrace and whispered, "Sweetheart, we must unite against him! We absolutely cannot back down; this isn''t just about a role -- it''s about our dignity as women."

    Julia squirmed free from Elisabeth''s hug. "Stop! Eric is right here; if he sees us, it''ll be a disaster!"

    "Let him see! That''ll make himpletely give up!" Elisabeth said defiantly.

    The two women stepped into the vi, where they found Drew cozied up beside Eric, whispering something in his ear.

    ...

    Seeing them enter, Eric looked up and said, "Julia, once lunch is ready, let the maid take the day off. We have matters to discuss that shouldn''t involve outsiders."

    Elisabeth was about to reflexively argue, but Julia gently pulled her sleeve, urging her to be quiet.

    "I''ll tell Mary," Julia affirmed.

    Lunch was prepared quickly, and the maid, obeying Julia''s orders, left the vi without

    protest.

    "I''m telling you, Eric, this time we absolutely won''t back down," Elisabeth dered, chin up, as she faced Eric at the table.

    As Eric sliced into his steak, he nced at her with a sly grin. "No problem; I have plenty of experience managing stubborn women."

    "You, you... if you dare do that, I''ll call the police!" Elisabeth shot back immediately.

    Meanwhile, Julia recalled the events of that night, her cheeks warming, as some

    unexinable anticipation grew inside her.

    Yet that anticipation left Julia feeling somewhat frightened. She knew all too well that this feeling was entirely abnormal; thus she swiftly stated, "Eric, I''m not doing Hook anymore. I''ll call Kepler in the afternoon to withdraw from the project. You can offer it to anyone else."

    Eric raised an eyebrow at Elisabeth, who mmed her cutlery onto the table, ring at him. She shot Julia a disdainful look, then stood up abruptly. "I''m full; you two can enjoy your

    meal."

    With that, she exited the dining room and made her way upstairs.

    Julia thought that with lunch over, Eric would achieve his goal and leave. Yet, to her surprise, he had no intention of departing. He lingered until both she and Drew had cleaned up the

    dishes.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Finally, when the two women emerged, Eric, who had been watching TV in the living room, said, "Go get Liz. I have something to discuss with you both."

    As Julia nodded, Eric stood up. "Forget it; I''ll go."

    "Eric, don''t... don''t bully Liz," Julia said hesitantly, watching him walk toward the stairs.

    Eric gestured reassuringly at her and went upstairs. Since he had been there once before, he was aware of where their rooms were. He stopped at the second door on the left, knocked twice, and pushed it open. Upon seeing Elisabeth lying at an angle, hiding her face in the pillows, he whispered, "Liz, are you asleep?"

    Hearing his voice, Elisabeth flipped over, hugging the white pillow to her chest as she red

    at him. "Hmph! You jerk! I don''t want to talk to you."

    "Enough of this! Come downstairs and eat something; I have something to say," Eric said,

    gently pulling the pillow from her embrace.

    Elisabeth, petnt, snatched the pillow back, cradling it once more. "Didn''t you achieve your

    purpose? What''s left to discuss?"

    "If this was just about the role in Hook, I wouldn''t be here. There''s something else very important I need to discuss;e downstairs and listen."

    "I''m in a bad mood today; I don''t want to hear it," Elisabeth whined, stretching out her voice as she kicked her legs in frustration, sending her sandals flying onto the floor.

    Seeing her resolve not to budge, Eric couldn''t help but think of an ostrich with its head buried

    in the sand.

    ...

    "Have you read this book?" Once he sessfully ''persuaded'' Elisabeth downstairs, the four of them gathered in the living room, and Eric retrieved a book from his briefcase, cing it

    before them.

    Elisabeth nced at the cover. "I haven''t read it. Why''d you bring this book? Even if you''re

    trying to get the rights to make a movie, what do you need us three for? I''m telling you right now, we''re choosing the script ourselves -- absolutely will not let you interfere one bit," she answered defiantly, not wanting to show any weakness in front of Eric.

    Eric merely smiled, exining, "This book narrates a story from the Civil War period about a lieutenant named John Dunbar, who gets injured and is sent to the West to guard a post. He interacts with the local Native Americans. Read it when you have time; the writing is excellent, and it''s important for you all."

    The three women focused their attention on the book as Elisabeth added, "I don''t understand. Can you rify?"

    "Actually, this book was originally a script, written back in 1980. It was initially called

    something like Knight X; I can''t quite remember the exact title. Kevin Costner got the script from the author Michael ke in 1986, but after years of searching, he couldn''t find a

    productionpany to back it.

    About a year ago, Michael ke, at Kevin Costner''s suggestion, turned the original script into

    a novel called Dances with Wolves. With the novel selling well, a small productionpany finally showed interest in turning it into a film. But even then, they had trouble finding a director willing to take on the project, so Kevin had to step in, write, direct, and star in the

    film himself.

    From what I gathered, the movie waspletedst year. Because of his insistence on perfection, Kevin spent all the initial $15 million budget, and when the little productionpany refused to invest more, he had to chip in another $3 million out of his own pocket. Then the film faced issues with distribution; none of the major studios were interested in handling it. It wasn''t until recently that it found a distributor in Orion Pictures. You''ve heard

    of them, right?" Elisabeth nodded. "Yeah, but what''s your point?"

    "I''m stating a fact: from the start of its production until now, this film has never been

    perceived favorably. That''s actually very beneficial for what you all n to do." Elisabeth seemed to understand but asked, "So, you''re optimistic about the film?"

    "Yes, but I arrived toote; the smallpany producing the film signed an agreement with Orion just over a month ago. They n a limited release by the end of the year, going for Oscar

    nods first, hoping to leverage awards to garner more attention before gradually recouping their investment through cinema and home video sales.

    The important takeaway here is that this film poses a significant threat to The Silence of the

    Lambs. You should understand that the Oscars typically show bias against horror films; if there''s any viable alternative, the Oscars will never award a horror movie." Elisabeth remained confident about The Silence of the Lambs. Hearing Eric say this, she asked with confusion, "If this film is as good as you say, why wouldn''t anyone distribute it?"

    "High-quality films don''t always trante to box office sess. Just take a look at the past Oscar winners -- you''ll see tons of micro-budget films winning awards; many films that were doubted before their release became very sessful once they hit theaters. Of course, there

    are also plenty of counterexamples, so it''s understandable that distributors wouldn''t want to

    risk it. What I''m saying is that Orion has positioned this film as an Oscar contender. From the novel''s perspective, the film''s theme is about the racial integration of white settlers and Native Americans, a topic that often attracts Oscar''s attention. Plus, Orion has substantial experience in Oscar campaigning. Therefore, if you don''t take action, this film will undoubtedly be The Silence of the Lambs'' biggest threat at next year''s Oscars."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 375: Chapter 376: Spoiling You, Arent I?

    Chapter 375: Chapter 376: Spoiling You, Aren''t I?

    ?

    [Chapter 376: Spoiling You, Aren''t I?]

    Elisabeth took a nce at the check she had in her hand. The amount was $30 million. ording to Eric''s earlier information, the production cost of Dances with Wolves was only $18 million, and since the movie hadn''t been released yet, there really weren''t any promotional costs. This $30 million was enough to buy out the entire film along with the distribution contract from Orion. If the negotiation strategy was handled well, she might even have some money left over.

    For most Hollywood producers, investing in a film costing around $20 million and achieving a profit of over 50% after a few years of distribution would be considered a huge sess. Films with the ridiculously high return of Home Alone were rare, and it wasn''t umon for producers to pour in millions only to recover nothing in the end.

    At that moment, Elisabeth raised the check in her hand and looked at Eric with disdain. "You jerk, can you possibly be any more shameless? I yed the viin, and in the end, the movie rights go to you? You can forget about it."

    Eric, unfazed, shot back, "Well, do you have the money to buy it yourself?"

    "I can borrow from my dad."

    "Alright then, give me back the check. Just pretend I wasn''t here today," Eric said, extending his hand.

    Elisabeth instinctively reached to return the check, but quickly pulled it back. Eric''s sudden bluntness made her feel uneasy. After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly said, "Fine, we''ll split it. You take $15 million, and I''ll get $15 million from my dad."

    "Give me back the check."

    "You jerk, the rights might belong to you, but the distribution goes to Fox. That''s fair, right?" "Deal," Eric snapped his fingers, a smile returning to his face. "Actually, I wasn''t finished. This is part of the deal -- you can use this condition as bait. Tell the film''s producers that if they agree to sell the movie to you, you can persuade Fox to help distribute it. You can even promise to help them with future film releases. For those small Hollywood productionpanies, securing a link with a giant like Fox would be as appealing as Wal-Mart endorsing a small workshop to sell their products. Throw out that bait, and as long as the producer isn''t aplete fool, they''ll have to agree."

    After Eric finished, there was a moment of silence in the living room. Drew and Julia quickly realized that Elisabeth had fallen for Eric''s trap again. The two girls burst intoughter, and Elisabeth threw a pillow at them in frustration. "You jerk, taking advantage of my family again! I''m done! You can do the viin yourself!"

    "I''m just using the resources at hand. Besides, if I were to personally get involved, this film would be seen as a goldmine by everyone. At that point, it would be nearly impossible to w it back. So not only can I not take the lead, but I can''t even be linked to this whole affair. I''ll avoid any suspicion as much as possible; you should try to y along too."

    Elisabeth''s eyes brightened as she propped her chin on her delicate little hands, looking at Eric. "Oh, you''re absolutely right. Even if the movie looks like garbage, people will treat it like a treasure. So technically, I could just go solo without you."

    "Yeah, and you should also convince your dad to make sure Fox Television and Fox Films break off ties with me. Honestly, airing Friends, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and the

    uing The X-Files on Fox, I think that would really be a loss."

    Elisabeth immediately countered, "You can''t take the rights for Millionaire and The X-Files. Fox and Firefly share those licenses, and Friends is already locked into several seasons of contracts."

    "But I could pull a stunt like earlier this year and shelve those first two projects. Worst case, nobody makes money. I have tons of ideas in my head, and I cane up with a few more TV shows. As for Friends, that''s even simpler."

    Elisabeth retorted, "If you did that, your reputation in Hollywood would be shot."

    "If it could bring them a massive profit, who cares whether their associate is an angel or a devil?"

    "Son-of..." Elisabeth couldn''t help herself, nearly cursing, but Eric''s threatening gaze made her swallow thest word. She pouted slightly, "You... bad guy. I can''t be the viin helping you secure the rights and then walk away with no benefits. You''re like the miser from Balzac''s stories."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Didn''t we just agree to get the rights, and have Fox distribute? From the information I''ve gathered, it''s a four-hour movie. Four hours! You should know what that means, right? A theater can screen it maybe four times a day, whereas movies under two hours can run six to eight shows. Just this limitation alone might cause many theaters not to want to show this film, so its box office won''t likely be great. It''ll depend on the home video release to recoup costs. What I''m focused on is the Oscar potential of the film. Firefly needs an Oscar-winning film to shine."

    Eric spoke the truth. Although he remembered that the film won Best Picture and Best Director among prestigious awards, he still wasn''t sure how well it performed at the box office. However, based on its four-hour runtime, Eric felt that Dances with Wolves wouldn''t do very well.

    Elisabeth gasped, "Four hours? Are you serious?"

    "Yeah, four hours! Longer than The Godfather. I think it''s a decent film, but it won''t surpass The Godfather."

    "Okay, I''ll trust you this once," Elisabeth said as she nced at the check in her hand, her eyes glinting mischievously. "I heard you made a lot of money in the oil futures market. If there''s any money left after buying the rights, I''m not giving it back to you. I''ll keep it for spending money."

    "That''s fine by me," Eric replied cheerfully.

    Elisabeth widened her eyes in mock astonishment. "Wow, hard to believe! The miser actually said that."

    "I''m always generous with my woman."

    As soon as he finished speaking, another pillow was thrown at him.

    Eric, no longer able to tolerate it, caught the pillow and got up, walking around the coffee table toward Elisabeth. "Third time''s the charm, huh? Spoiling you, aren''t I?"

    Elisabeth screamed and tried to escape, but Eric pinned her back onto the sofa.

    "Hey, hey, hey! You can''t hit a woman, you jerk! Julia, help me! Wow, go hit Drew instead. She''d definitely like that! Jerk, stop it."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 377: Chapter 378: If You Mess Up, Pay with Your Flesh

    Chapter 377: Chapter 378: If You Mess Up, Pay with Your Flesh

    ?

    [Chapter 378: If You Mess Up, Pay with Your Flesh]

    Katherine Bigelow paused from her meal, her previously straight posture slightly leaning forward, her hands resting on the dining table. A look of curiosity shed in her eyes.

    Although she always referred to Eric as "little guy," this was merely her teasing him after realizing he had some ideas about her uing film project. When it came to movies, anyone had to admit that Eric''s achievements in under three years had surpassed what most filmmakers aplished in their entire careers. So when Eric began talking about her film, Point Break, Katherine took him seriously.

    Eric spoke slowly, "What I see is a sense of loss and struggle, a profound desperation from people who find it hard to break free from the constraints of rules. Out of this despair, the group led by Bodhi recklessly burns themselves out, heading toward destruction. Because of desperation, Angelo Pappas bes unambitious, like many numb people who asionally reflect on their past glories before dying a pitiful death during a mission. And because of despair, Johnny Utah confines himself to the hunt for Bodhi, moving like a zombie, and ultimately he finds Bodhi, only to descend into confusion again."

    "That''s... surprising," Katherine Bigelow said, her eyes widening slightly, her tone tinged with a bit of nostalgia. "I''ve asked Jim more than once how he felt about the script, and he just said: ''Oh, darling, this story is incredible.""

    "So you see, even the people around you can hardly grasp the depth of the script''s themes, let alone the average audience. Their attention often goes to the adrenaline-pumping surfing and skydiving scenes. After watching, they think it''s just a cool story. As for the film''smentary on the rigid social structures and the desire for change, ny percent of the audience will fail to understand that."

    Katherine frowned, appearing contemtive. After a moment, she asked dejectedly, "Why is it... like that?"

    "It''s simple, really. Because your influence isn''t strong enough."

    Katherine shot Eric a re. "I know I can''tpete with you, little guy. Feeling proud, are you?"

    "I''m serious. If you had enough influence, people would naturally pay more attention to your works and would delve deeper into their meanings. Then the concepts you want to express would be understood. Take Jim''s Terminator for example; to many fans and media, this sensational work issues aint against mankind''s relentless development of nuclear arms and the anxiety surrounding nuclear war -- a pretty tragic theme, right? But many know it''s not really like that; the inspiration for Terminator simply came from a fever dream Jim had in a little inn in Rome."

    Katherine initially nodded along, finding Eric''sments about Terminator amusing, unable to suppress augh. "I''ll definitely tell Jim what you said today when I have the chance."

    Eric thought to himself, you probably won''t have many opportunities; the pre-production for Terminator 2 was already done, and shooting would start in early September. After returning from New York, Eric had attended a meeting with the creative team behind Terminator 2. From the way Cameron and Linda Hamilton exchanged nces, the cliche story of the passionate director and his sexy leadingdy had already begun, and it seemed likely that thepletion of Terminator 2 would coincide with Cameron and Katherine''s breakup.

    Of course, Eric had no intention of bringing this up to Katherine; that would be stirring the pot. Even if Cameron was at fault, it would certainly put Katherine off.

    "I believe Jim would agree with me," Eric replied with a smile, returning to the previous topic. "So, if you don''t want to be a niche filmmaker, you need to try to expand your influence. There are many ways to do this: filming controversial topics, creating box office hits, or directing award-contending films, among others. But producing films on controversial topics carries a lot of risks and could backfire, leading to public disdain. So, I think thetter two methods are more practical."

    Katherine shook her head, yful sarcasm mixed with jealousy. "These methods are easier for you; you''re a little monster."

    Eric chuckled. "Fine, I''ll take that as apliment. The truth is, I have a script that could give you enough influence. If you make this film, I think any movie you want to create afterward will garner significant attention. I just don''t know if you''re brave enough to take it on."

    "Brave... enough?" Katherine Bigelow responded slowly, locking eyes with Eric. "Little guy, are you discriminating against me because I''m a woman?"

    Eric replied, "At least in my memory, no female director has tackled simr themes." "Wait, let me guess," Katherine said, now intrigued, resting her chin in thought. "Something that female directors rarely touch, hmm... like the script you wrote for Basic Instinct?"

    "Of course not. Many female directors in Europe have been much more daring than Basic Instinct."

    "Then, a Western?"

    "Not quite. Ah, I remember, I deliberately watched the music video you directed for Martini Ranch''s Reach. I loved your Western cowgirl look -- it''s very cool, it really makes you..." "Shut up, no teasing the big sister," Katherine shot him a yful re, though her lips curled into a faint smile, clearly not offended by hisment. "Let me think for a moment."

    Eric shrugged. "Okay, here''s a hint. What do you think Americans, and the entire West, have been most concerned about in recent months?"

    "Of course, it''s the Middle East. There''s going to be a war, right? You''re not suggesting I should make a war movie, are you?"

    Eric snapped his fingers, disregarding the curious looks from around the room. "Bingo! And it''s definitely not a small scale war movie; rather, it would be an epic World War II film, with no budget constraints. You can spend whatever you want. We have enough time to prepare, as I n to release it on June 6, 1994, exactly fifty years after D-Day. So, are you willing to take it on?"

    Katherine Bigelow hesitated for a moment. If Eric was serious, the budget for this film would certainly far exceed that of Point Break. Unlike Cameron, who was reckless, Katherine had a passion for filmmaking and loved expressing her viewpoints through film. However, she understood that if she took on this massive project and it failed, it could mean a long silence or possibly permanent exit from Hollywood for a female director.

    "Eric, can you tell me about the script first?" In the end, she couldn''t resist the temptation, but she asked this question to gauge if she could walk away from the offer if the script didn''t

    suit her tastes.

    Eric noticed the changes in Katherine''s expression. He was confident that the script he had in mind would pique her interest. He meticulously analyzed Katherine Bigelow''s previous works, remembering her Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker andter entries like Zero Dark Thirty. Many of Katherine''s projects had a strong personal style. Both her early work, Near Dark, and theter Zero Dark Thirty exuded a cool despair. Although there was a twenty-year gap between Zero Dark Thirty and Point Break, both films featured male and female protagonists who ultimatelypleted their tasks: one discarding an FBI badge, the other shedding tears devoid of joy, even in winning Best Director for The Hurt Locker.

    Intriguingly, Eric''s chosen story centered around hope. Despair and hope seemed like two extremes, yet they often intertwined like brothers.

    "It''s a story about saving one out of eight," Eric exined. "On June 6, 1944, after D-Day, three brothers from the Ryan family died in battle on the same day. Their mother received three death notifications in one day. The youngest son, James Ryan, parachuted behind enemy lines, leaving his fate uncertain. To give this grieving mother a sliver of hope, military brass dispatched Lieutenant Miller and his eight-man team to infiltrate the war zone and locate James Ryan to bring him back from the battlefield..."

    Eric''s eloquence came through as he spoke. Having the entire film in his mind allowed him to narrate the story smoothly. Katherine listened attentively, unaware that many patrons in the restaurant had gradually filtered out. The assistant director in charge of the shooting schedule noticed how engrossed they were and chose not to interrupt them, even as their filming time approached.

    In Eric''s view, Saving Private Ryan wouldn''t just be another quintessential American film; it was worlds apart from the mainstream movies he had seen.

    The film authentically depicted the brutality and horror of D-Day, portraying a cast of ordinary soldiers each with distinct personalities. Throughout their mission, the group of eight was filled with doubt and conflicts; some may have even died questioning the "why" until theirst breaths.

    This exploration of war and deep examination of humanity clearly resonated with Katherine Bigelow, who still felt a little like a rebellious artist. She understood that as a woman, if she could create such an epic war film, it would likely cause a global sensation. In an industry where female directors often faced discrimination, Katherine Bigelow had a strong desire to prove herself, surpassing many.

    Noticing her intrigue, Eric coaxed her like a salesman, "So, Katherine, what do you say? Are you interested in taking on this script? Even if you haven''t directed a film with such scale, that''s not a problem. Since it''s ted for the fiftieth anniversary of D-Day, you have nearly four years to refine everything before the June 6 deadline."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Katherine Bigelow didn''t respond immediately. Instead, she inquired, "From what you''re saying, this film''s budget will likely be over double that of Point Break. Aren''t you afraid that I

    could mess up this project?"

    "If you mess up, you''ll pay with your flesh," Eric thought evilly to himself but said aloud, "Not at all! I believe in your abilities, and besides, you''ll have me to support you."

    "If you''re going to meddle in the production like many Hollywood producers, I won''t take on

    this film."

    "Once you approve the script I write, I won''t interfere overly with the film''s production. I just mean that if there are difficulties, I''ll step in to help. But I believe four years is ample time to

    iron out any issues."

    "Then first, write out the script for me to review," Katherine Bigelow remarked, noticing the dwindling number of patrons in the restaurant. "It''s time to get to work."

    "I''ll get that script to you as soon as possible," Eric replied as they both stood up and walked

    out of the restaurant side by side.

    ...

    In the days that followed, Eric frequently visited the Point Break set. One weekter, the first draft of Saving Private Ryan waspleted smoothly, and Eric presented it to Katherine. After reading it, she looked captivated and even suggested numerous revisions. For trivial details, Eric was happy to agree, but when it came to the core substance of the script, he wouldn''t back down and stood his ground in discussions with Katherine.

    Thus, amidst the filming of the movie, crew members often caught sight of the director and producer deep in conversation, asionally finding themselves in heated debates. This left many feeling anxious, worried that their disputes might disrupt the filming. But their concerns proved unfounded; as September came to a close, filming progressed smoothly towardpletion, and neither Eric nor Katherine stirred any serious conflicts. During the month, while keeping an eye on Point Break, Eric also closely followed events in

    New York, flying back there two or three times.

    ...

    As October rolled around, after two months of buildup, the U.S. troop presence in the Persian Gulf reached five hundred thousand, and war seemed almost inevitable. International oil prices crossed the $40 mark in early October. However, as military forces increased in the Gulf

    and the U.S. coborated with Saudi Arabia to stabilize oil prices, the growth of oil prices stagnated despite surpassing the $40 mark.

    As a matter of convention, most people believed the next oil price surge would ur the moment war broke out.

    But Eric knew that once warfaremenced, fueled by the United Nations'' relentless offensive, oil prices would actually drop rather than rise. That would be a development for the

    next year; for now, it was time to tally the first round of harvests.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 379: Chapter 380: Target Disney

    Chapter 379: Chapter 380: Target Disney

    ?

    [Chapter 380: Target Disney]

    "MGM had been around for almost seventy years now; the brand itself was its own value," Chris said, shaking his head. "But honestly, it wasn''t really worth much anymore. So whichpany caught your eye? Columbia and Universal were definitely out of the running since the Japanese just purchased them and were gearing up for a big push. Warner Bros., forget about it; they''re out of the question as well. That leaves only Disney, Paramount, and Fox. Well, Fox is also out of the picture, being supported by News Corp. Now, it''s just Disney and Paramount. Disney is in a rapid growth phase. So, are you looking at Paramount?"

    Eric countered, "Why not Disney?"

    Chris wore a surprised expression. "Disney is currently in a fast rise, doing quite well. Not to mention, the CEO is Michael Eisner. After the incident earlier this year, while you two have seemingly reconciled, if you attempt to acquire Disney, Eisner will know what that means for him. He''ll go all out to stop you."

    Recalling how Paramount, once tethered to Vi, had been overtaken by the less prominent Lionsgate and ended up dragging down the Vi group, Eric shook his head. "Acquiring Paramount would indeed be fairly easy. I bet the shareholders would be more than willing to sell it to me. However, Paramount isn''t a great choice; their development direction doesn''t align with my ns. Their business is just too confined to film production. Disney, on the other hand, is different. Disney''s all-epassing operational strategy fits perfectly with my future expansion in Hollywood."

    "If you insist, the amount you''ll spend might exceed what the two Japanese conglomerates spent," Chris replied while he pondered his not-so-vast memories of Disney. "Disney''s market value is roughly around $4 billion now. If you want to buy them, you can only go for a hostile takeover, which means a premium of at least 50%. It''s tough to acquire Disney without at least $6 billion."

    "If I don''t strike now, in a few years, buying Disney will be out of the question," Eric stated. With the rapid growth of the American economy and the rise of Hollywood on a global scale, the market values of major filmpanies increased by over 30% a year. Even the struggling MGM eventually sold for over $5 billion a decadeter. In memory, three yearster, Vi bought Paramount for $10 billion, and the current Paramount could barely reach a priceparable to that of Universal''s parentpany, around $6 billion max. While Barry Diller had some influence in that deal, it also reflected the soaring market values of the major studios as Hollywood expanded.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Although with patience, Firefly''s potential suggested that in five years, it could stand shoulder to shoulder with any of the major studios, Eric also knew that if things continued as they were, all seven major studios would have integrated with media conglomerates by then.

    Of course, during this process, Firefly would inevitably face ''coercion'' by media groups, but that wasn''t what Eric wanted.

    What he aspired to be was a master, not a vassal. So, since there was an opportunity, he knew he had to acquire a major filmpany as the most significant bargaining chip to eventually evolve into a media conglomerate rather than be coerced. In his mind, the onlypany that had transitioned into a media group solely through its own strength was Disney; Time Warner could only count as half.

    "If you want to buy Disney, you''ll have to start preparing right now," Chris contemted and said. "Our first step is to buy Disney stocks to gain a voice in their board. After that, because we wouldn''t need to pay everything at once, $3.6 billion in cash would suffice. If necessary, we could even secure financing. With Firefly''s results over the past couple of years, I believe any investment bank on Wall Street would love to get in on this deal. Many of Disney''s shareholders would probably prefer equity over cash..."

    As Eric listened to Chris'' analysis, he scribbled something on a notepad resting on the coffee table. By the time Chris finished speaking, Eric had written out a check and handed it over, saying, "Let''s not talk about that for now, Chris. This is your bonus."

    Chris nced at the check and quickly pushed it back. "That''s too much."

    "This is what you earned. If it wasn''t for your help during the oil crisis, I wouldn''t have made such profits," Eric insisted, blocking Chris'' attempt to return the check.

    "I really can''t take that much. I know how much my contributions are worth," Chris firmly shook his head, adding, "And if Dad found out, he wouldn''t agree."

    Thinking of Jeffrey, Eric contemted. "How about this? I''ll convert the amount into equity in Firefly Investment, say 3%, the same percentage as your father''s stake in Firefly Films."

    Chris thought it over and eventually nodded.

    Currently, Firefly Investment mainly held a 23% stake in Cisco, and at Cisco''s current valuation, that 3% wasn''t much, considerably less than the cash Eric had initially offered.

    But Eric knew how massive Cisco would grow in the future, so he didn''t feel he was giving too little. Besides, in the future, he could always increase Chris'' equity stake. If he gave too much now, what would happen when he couldn''t provide moreter?

    While Chris had a reserved personality and their rtionship was solid, no one could predict what might happen with the passage of time. In the past, Michael Eisner had transitioned from a brilliant leader who brought Disney to its pinnacle to a stubborn tyrant who ultimately lost the confidence of the board and was disgracefully ousted.

    "Since you''ve justid out some ns, why don''t you take charge of this? Start acquiring Disney stocks from now on," Eric said, chatting with Chris while his mind drifted to that unresolved sore spot, the project Cutthroat Ind.

    If only they could throw Cutthroat Ind at Disney. That summer, Disney had already lost over $100 million, and they''d likely struggle to recover from that loss through the second half of

    the year.

    Throwing Cutthroat Ind at Disney could result in another $100 million loss for them. Two consecutive years of losses would significantly weaken Michael Eisner''s standing at Disney, thereby reducing his control over the board. When the acquisition n initiated, everything would be much simpler.

    However, Michael Eisner wasn''t an idiot, and pulling this off would be very tricky.

    As Eric thought about this, he quickly recalled Robert Shea, who had been close to Michael Eisner since the turmoil earlier that year. Perhaps that was a potential avenue to explore.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 381: Chapter 382: Deeply Immersed in the Role

    Chapter 381: Chapter 382: Deeply Immersed in the Role

    ?

    [Chapter 382: Deeply Immersed in the Role]

    Since August, Robert Shea had sensed a looming crisis. The fact that Eric did not involve him in any matters concerning the ya Vista filming base had made Robert aware of the situation.

    This reminded him of Barry Diller''s experience six years prior. Barry had taken Paramount to new heights but had nearly been ousted due to conflicts with major shareholder Martin Davis. Over the years, Paramount''s declining performance juxtaposed with Fox''s rise had shown the magnitude of Martin Davis''s mistakes back then.

    Robert was also somewhat self-aware. He knew he couldn''t match Barry Diller''s capabilities; however, he had one advantage Barry did not -- his 25% stake in Firefly and the fact that most of Firefly''s employees had been his subordinates during his time at New Line.

    Robert confidently believed that if Eric forced him out, the damage to Firefly would far exceed the loss Paramount faced from Barry Diller''s departure. So, even as he felt the crisis

    approaching, he didn''t think Eric would dare go too far.

    In truth, he understood that Eric hoped he would let go of production roles and only participate in distribution. Yet, in any filmpany, the authority over production was a hotly contested prize. If he were only to oversee film distribution without involvement in otherpany affairs, he might as well be a distribution department manager.

    As another workday ended, Robert Shea stood up to stretch, nced at his watch, and saw it was nearly five. He issued a fewmands to his assistant, then habitually gathered his things, put on his coat, and left the office for home.

    Robert''s office was adjacent to Eric''s. As he passed by Eric''s office door, he noticed the locked door and, feeling somewhat displeased, pondered if Eric had left the office early yet again.

    Walking down the long corridor toward the elevator, he instinctively paused when he heard Eric''s voice.

    ...

    At first, it was just some idle chatter -- Robert quickly lost interest and was about to walk past when he perked up his ears to catch Eric saying, "...this time we can''t let it go wrong like with Ghost. You need to take charge of this, contact an agency to reach Bruce Evans, and make sure we secure that script smoothly."

    "Don''t worry, Eric, I''ve got this covered. This time, it''s going to be foolproof," came the voice of Eric''s assistant, Allen Fisman.

    Eric replied, "Still, be careful. Don''t let the price get too high; that might raise suspicion."

    The two exchanged a few more words, and then Robert heard a light ping. After faint footsteps, the elevator area fell silent. A momentter, Robert walked over and watched as the elevator on the left slowly descended, a contemtive expression on his face. He also made a mental note of Bruce Evans''s name, deciding to find someone to inquire about this screenwriter.

    ...

    As the elevator began its descent, Eric shared a smile with Allen. The wall around the corner of the elevator could catch glimpses of people''s shadows, albeit unclear. As Robert stepped out of his office, Eric and Allen had already noticed him. Just revealing the name Bruce Evans was enough. Bruce wasn''t a nobody; this screenwriter already had several films produced. Yet, the game still had to be yed to secure the rights to the script for Cutthroat Ind.

    "Let him walk away with a little hope; that can save thepany a lot of trouble," Eric suddenly remarked as the elevator approached the bottom floor.

    "Eric, why do I feel like this script is pretty good?"

    "A good script doesn''t always lead to a good film. Even if a good film is made, it doesn''t guarantee audience approval."

    Allen nodded thoughtfully as they headed to the parking lot. Just as Eric opened the car door, his mobile phone rang.

    "I''ll head back first," Allen said, offering his farewell.

    ...

    Eric nodded, answered the call, and a feminine voice came through. "Eric, now my reputation ispletely ruined."

    "Don''t worry," Ericughed a few times and added, "The little princess of Fox, I think that title is quite ssy. You''ve been quite the sensationtely."

    It had to be said that Elisabeth had really gotten into her role recently, perfectly embodying an arrogant heiress desperately seeking an Oscar. The youngdy even attended a party hosted by Martin Scorsese for Goodfes, personally ''lobbying'' him not to submit the film for Best Picture, suggesting only the Best Director would suffice. If Martin agreed to that condition, she could leverage Fox''s resources for awards campaigning.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Elisabeth ced more value on the Best Picture award; if The Silence of the Lambs won, she, as a producer, would be receiving the little golden man.

    Hollywood knew that Martin Scorsese was not exactly favored by the Academy, making his films much less likely to win Best Directorpared to Best Picture. Thus, Elisabeth''s suggestion probed a sensitive spot for Martin. He nearly exploded with anger upon hearing it, and word got out, earning Elisabeth the nickname "Fox''s Little Princess."

    "Ugh, you jerk! This is all your fault! Who doesn''t know that ''Fox''s Little Princess'' is a jab?" Elisabeth raised her voice inint, then continued, "I signed the contract with the producers of Dances with Wolves this afternoon. We didn''t negotiate the price, but I spent $27.5 million, plus $2 million to buy out their distribution contract. You should have seen their expressions; it was like they wanted to write ''big spender'' on their faces. I worked hard for just a $500,000 bonus, and that''s uneptable. You need topensate me." "Would a little bodilypensation do? I happen to be free tonight," Eric quipped.

    "Get lost!"

    Eric stopped joking and said, "Alright, where are you now? I''d like to see the rough cut; I haven''t seen that film yet."

    "I''m of course at home," Elisabeth started, before quickly adding, "But it''s alreadyte. Let''s talk tomorrow. The original copy is stored in Fox''s vault, and Century City is definitely closed by now."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 383: Chapter 384: No Second Chances

    Chapter 383: Chapter 384: No Second Chances

    ?

    [Chapter 384: No Second Chances]

    However, Eric never agreed to Fox''s request. The project for the film Hot Shots! had merely been a fun side project he picked for Connelly. Aside from the investment, he hadn''t been involved in any production processes from the start, so he wasn''t about to let Fox use his name for promotional purposes recklessly.

    Now it seemed that Fox was clearly unwilling to back down and began plotting other schemes. He was certain there''s going to be a scandal involving him and Jennifer Connelly stered across the papers tomorrow. Considering Connelly was the leadingdy in Hot Shots!, Fox could easily twist things around and link him to the film.

    As they entered the elevator, Connelly looked at Eric, who seemed pensive, and curiously asked, "Eric, what''s wrong?"

    "Nothing," Eric shook his head, keeping what he had discovered to himself.

    ...

    Once they exited the elevator, they saw several people waiting outside. Alongside Eric was Elisabeth, and also there was Carlin Hunt, the head of Fox''s distribution department whom Eric had coborated with before. There was also a thin, bespectacled middle-aged man. "Eric, long time no see," Carlin Hunt warmly weed him, giving Eric a brief embrace. "You''ve put on a little weight," Eric teased with a chuckle as he released Carlin.

    Carlin Hunt sighed, "I''ve been so busy with worktely, and when I''m stressed, I tend to gain weight. Oh, by the way, Liz, you know her; this is Mr. Jim Abrahams, the director of Hot Shots!"

    Eric and Elisabeth exchanged silent greetings with a nce before shaking hands with Jim Abrahams.

    "Mr. Williams, it''s great to meet you. I really enjoy your films," Jim Abrahams was unusually enthusiastic. If it weren''t for Eric''s rmendation, his movie wouldn''t have been produced so smoothly.

    "Hello, Mr. Abrahams, your filmmaking style is quite interesting as well."

    After a brief chat in the hallway, Abrahams excused himself to leave with Connelly for work- rted matters.

    ...

    Once they left, Eric stood silently, yfully watching Carlin and Elisabeth, who both looked rather uneasy. Carlin was clearly feeling guilty, trying to act nonchnt while avoiding eye contact with Eric. Elisabeth, meanwhile, couldn''t resist hiding half of her body behind Carlin. After a moment of silence, Carlin finally mustered the courage to say, "Eric, let''s take a look at the preview of Dances with Wolves. I''ve invited a few film critics and other staff from the distribution department. They''re all waiting in the screening room, and we can discuss our release ns at the same time."

    "Are you responsible for the promotion of Hot Shots! as well?" Eric finally asked.

    Carlin couldn''t keep the pretense any longer. He awkwardly nodded and admitted that the idea to promote Hot Shots! through a rumor involving him and Connelly hade from one of his assistants. Carlin thought it was a good n, believing Eric might not notice they were behind it. Little did he know, Eric had already caught on.

    "No second chances," Eric replied seriously, "and it absolutely cannot cross the line."

    Carlin recognized the seriousness in Eric''s tone and eagerly nodded, "You can rest assured, the reporter is from the New York Post."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The New York Post was part of News Corporation, and Eric nodded in relief, "Go ahead to the screening room. I need to speak with Liz about a personal matter."

    Carlin nced at Elisabeth before turning to walk toward the screening room at the other end of the hallway.

    ...

    Elisabeth seemed not to hear Eric''s conversation and, with her head down, was ready to follow Carlin out. But Eric grabbed her by the cor and headed towards the stairwell by the elevator. Carlin turned to see Elisabeth struggling in Eric''s grip and chuckled, shaking his head without a care. He thought, finally someone could handle this spoiled girl. He was unaware of the backstory regarding Elisabeth''s acquisition of the Dances with Wolves rights and took her earlier ''performances'' at face value.

    As they pushed through the heavy iron door of the stairwell, Eric mmed it shut behind them, plunging the corridor into darkness.

    Looking at the girl who appeared ready to bolt at any moment, Eric cracked his knuckles, producing a series of popping sounds.

    Elisabeth''s eyes darted nervously. She stammered a warning, "Y-you, I warn you, don''t get any funny ideas. This is my territory; I could have the security throw you out in a heartbeat."

    Eric scanned the girl in her denim outfit, seemingly contemting where to begin. "Feels good to manipte your man, doesn''t it?"

    "Ugh, who''s your woman? I tell you, I''ve already..."

    "Already changed your orientation and be a lesbian?"

    Elisabeth widened her eyes in surprise, "Drew must have told you, that little traitor. I''ve thought she was unreliable!"

    "Yeah, Drew said you two were pretty unprofessional as a couple. She was so disappointed you didn''t actually turn lesbian; she made it into a joke to share with me."

    "Joke... joke?" Elisabeth''s expression flickered with disbelief. "She''s just lying; I''m nning to be with Julia forever. Ah, you better note any closer!"

    .

    ��

    After what felt like an eternity, Eric finally chuckled, "Look at you! You''re such a failed faux lesbian -- not only do you not resist men, but you actually like them a lot."

    Leaning against the stair door, Elisabeth heard Eric''s teasing remark and weakly kicked him with her heel, "You jerk, I don''t like you!"

    Eric shrugged it off, casually adjusting his cor andughing, "No problem, if you don''t like it this time, maybe next time you will. Let''s head to the screening room; they''re surely waiting impatiently."

    Elisabeth quickly shook her head, her face still flushed, "No, no! I can''t be seen looking like this how would I face anyone?"

    "Where do you n to go?" Eric asked casually, fiddling with the doorknob. But when he couldn''t pull the door open, he led her down to the next level instead.

    "The TG office is on the third floor; I''m going there," Elisabeth replied, only to realize her tone was off. She immediately stiffened her face, "Where I go is none of your business." "Then I won''t concern myself," Ericughed, shaking his head. He teased, "However, we can''t let your scheming with Carlin against me slide. This will inevitablye back to haunt you. Consider it a running tab."

    Elisabeth red at Eric with fierce intensity. For that brief moment, she wished she hadser vision like aic book character so she could scorch a hole in this insufferable guy. Hearing Eric''s words brought back memories of earlier events, and she frowned, "Watch your back, you petty man. I still haven''t settled the score with you for pping me in front of those two!"

    Eric waspletely unfazed by her death re. He squinted his eyes and moved closer, whispering, "Don''t worry. Next time, I definitely will deal with you in front of them." Elisabeth shrank back slightly. Though she knew Eric meant what he said, she didn''t want to show weakness. She gritted her teeth, "If you dare do that again, I swear I will fight back." "I''m game. I prefer the most primal way of dueling, and you women have a natural advantage

    too."

    The two continued bickering as they descended another flight of stairs. The stairwell door was simply ajar, and Eric yanked it open, stepping out with Elisabeth.

    She immediately rushed for an elevator, sporting a victorious little expression as she made her descent. Eric merely shrugged and, a whileter, managed to catch an elevator back to the previous floor, making his way to the screening room.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 385: Chapter 386: Another Jennifer

    Chapter 385: Chapter 386: Another Jennifer

    ?

    [Chapter 386: Another Jennifer]

    Last year, when Eric nned to acquire a filmpany with distribution channels, he had gathered information on Orion Pictures. This filmpany was established around the same time as Miramax, founded by the Weinstein brothers, in thete 1970s.

    However,pared to Miramax''s smaller projects, Orion''s debut was quite grand, attracting renowned filmmakers like Francis Ford Copp and Sylvester Stallone. In fact, the first Terminator film was distributed by Orion. After its inception, Orion produced eighteen films in just five years, with ten of those turning a profit -- a remarkably high ratio in the film industry.

    As a result, Orion was oncebeled by the media as a formidable new yer in Hollywood, posing a significant threat to several major studios. This caught the attention of figures like Sumner Redstone of Vi and John Kruger of Metromedia, with the spiritedpetition ultimately leading to the very wealthy John Kruger acquiring control of Orion.

    But starting in thete 1980s, Orion''s situation took a nosedive. It suffered several years of losses from its film productions, leading to ever-increasing debt and putting thepany on the brink of bankruptcy.

    "Alright, let''s leave them alone," Eric interjected. "I heard John Kruger''s nning to sell Orion to oil tycoon Marvin Davis. Now that''s a big yer, and it might make aeback."

    "When did you read about that?" Carlin Hunt asked.

    Thinking for a moment, Eric replied, "About a week ago, in an article from The Hollywood Reporter."

    Carlin said, "Well, you''re probably unaware that the deal has fallen through. Marvin Davis lost a fortune when he bought 20th Century Fox, and he had to sell it to Mr. Murdoch. There''s no way he''d risk that again. John Kruger has already decided to shut down Orion. I heard the production department is gearing up to acquire the rights for the Adams Family series from Orion."

    Eric shrugged. "Whatever, let''s focus on our own matters."

    "About the second proposal..." Carlin nodded, about to continue when he suddenly looked at Eric seriously and said, "Eric, I just realized something. Since you hold the rights to Dances with Wolves, Liz throwing a fit to secure that movie must have been your directive, right?"

    "Yep," Eric didn''t deny it.

    Carlin Hunt hesitated for a moment, recalling Eric''s keen insight, and asked, "What do you think about the box office prospects for this film? If you''re optimistic, we can schedule it for next Thanksgiving. If you just want it to pave the way for The Silence of the Lambs to hit the Oscars, then we should aim for a Christmas release?"

    "This movie definitely has the potential topete for Best Picture at the Oscars. That''s what I see. As for box office performance, I don''t really have any insight. But it shouldn''t do too badly, right?" Eric spread his hands, speaking honestly.

    "Alright then," Carlin Hunt said, noticing Eric''sck of confidence about the film''s performance. "Let''s follow the release strategy of Rain Man, aiming for December. But since it''s Christmas season, this type of film can only get around a thousand screens. However, our marketing will surely be far better than Orion''s."

    After spending hours discussing specific details of their coboration, as Eric left the office building, Carlin asked, "Eric, although it''s a bit audacious to ask, I''m still curious. Since you secured the rights for this film, why didn''t you handle the distribution yourself?"

    Eric sighed, "Do you think Liz would willingly throw a tantrum just forughs and earn herself the nickname ''Fox Princess''? This was a condition we agreed upon; the rights are mine, but distribution goes to Fox. That littledy acts like a hamster, trying to hoard everything for her nest."

    Carlinughed heartily. "Of course, she''s the daughter of the Murdoch family."

    ...

    Jennifer Connelly left after doing her so-called voice work for Hot Shots! that morning. Since it wasn''t quite time to clock out, Eric didn''t head straight back to Joanna''s mansion. Instead, he went to Burbank, where he took care of some office matters before leaving at the end of the workday.

    The next day, unsurprisingly, the New York Post ran a gossip piece about him and Jennifer Connelly. The article cleverly avoided using the photo of Connelly leaping into Eric''s arms, opting instead for a shot of her friendly linking arms with him as they entered the Fox office building. This way, if they didn''t want to admit anything, they could always im to just be good friends. Friends linking arms wasn''t a big deal, right?

    Aside from that somewhat suggestive headline, "Another Jennifer for Williams," the article was rather subdued. It recapped Eric''s past with Jennifer Aniston and detailed Connelly''s journey as a child star. As for the nature of their rtionship, the report leaned entirely on spection.

    After a few introductory paragraphs, the news shifted to the focus on Connelly''s recent film, Hot Shots!. If one thought a bit deeper, they would realize it served as somewhat of a promotional fluff piece. However, a gossip-infused promotional piece was a genre most readers enjoyed. Even those who quickly recognized itsck of credibility found it far more engaging than the pompous reviews often seen.

    During publicity campaigns, many films employed this strategy, usually leveraging gossip between the leading man and woman. This time, Hot Shots! chose to capitalize on the rumored romance between the starlet and the Hollywood hotshot director, Eric Williams.

    As for the film''s leading man, Charlie Sheen, although he had earned some status from his recent role in toon a few years prior, he still paled inparison to Eric''s influence. While Sheen was also a famous Hollywood yboy, stirring the pot with stories of romance with the lead actress would certainly draw attention. Still, given Connelly''s affiliation with Eric, the distribution team wouldn''t take the risk of upsetting him. After all, he wasn''t just any director, and Connelly wouldn''t be on board with such tactics either.

    Eric couldn''t care less about the article. However, several women called him after seeing the news, testing the waters. Ever since his breakup with Aniston, Eric hadn''tmitted to any serious girlfriend. Naturally, those women must have had thoughts about him, but he dismissed all their probing. He honestly had no interest in that.

    *****n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 387: Chapter 388: Trouble

    Chapter 387: Chapter 388: Trouble

    ?

    [Chapter 388: Trouble]

    In order to invite Eric to the premiere of Hot Shots!, Fox had moved the premiere up to a day before the release of Ghost Detective. However, Eric had no intention of attending the premiere for Ghost Detective. No matter how sincere Fox was, he wouldn''t attend the premiere for Hot Shots! either. It was already generous enough for him to let them make publicity on his name indirectly.

    As MGM-UA invested heavily in Rocky V, with a production cost of $60 million, it had the most screens of any movie released that year. However, when the weekend box office numbers came in, it surprised many by underperforming.

    Despite being the most anticipated film, Rocky V turned out to be the worst performer in the series. The previous sequel had grossed $300 million worldwide, and Rocky V opened in a stunning 2,000 theaters. But over its opening weekend, Rocky Vonly raked in $14.35 million, averaging less than $7,000 per theater. Topare, the previous sequel, Rocky IV, had achieved an average of $15,000 per theater during the same timeframe.

    Not only did the film have a low attendance rate, but it also received extremely poor reviews. Box office tracking agencies had to drastically lower their projections to just $50 million. There was no chance of breaking even, and media outlets predicted that this film could very likely mark the end of the Rocky series.

    Ghost Detective, released in over 1,900 theaters, fared just slightly better, earning over $15 million. However, this horroredy, which imitated Ghostbusters, also failed to garner good reviews.

    What really shocked everyone was Hot Shots!, released by Fox. This almost absurd film received a barrage of criticism from critics, with many passionate conservative reviewers iming it was a desecration of ssic cinema. Unexpectedly, this quirky parody attracted arge audience. Over its opening weekend, it grossed $25 million across more than 1,900 theaters, matching its production cost. If the film didn''t experience a significant drop in box office numbers afterward, it could be another box-office hit for Fox this year.

    As of now, Fox had only seen sess with Die Hard 2, which grossed $110 million. However, with a $70 million production budget and nearly $100 million in total marketing costs, Die Hard 2 hadn''t made much of a profit despite its international sess.

    Although Eric had a 30% stake in Hot Shots!, Fox still took the lion''s share of the profits. With overseas distribution and subsequent video sales, this parody film was set to easily generate over $100 million in profits. Consequently, after the strong opening weekend, Fox quickly announced ns for a sequel.

    ...

    While Fox celebrated, the mood among Hollywood colleagues was quite mixed. Originally, they believed Ghost Detective''s poor performance would be Eric''s first major failure. But the unexpected sess of Hot Shots! took everyone by surprise.

    After further investigation, someone quickly discovered that a significant portion of Ghost Detective''s funding came from apany called Good Line Productions. Upon hearing this, many seemed to connect the dots, especially when Eric had suddenly established ck Ant Productions earlier that year. They realized there might be problems within Firefly Films.

    ...

    However, Eric had not taken time to focus on movie matterstely. On the eve of Thanksgiving, after over 600,000 multinational troops were deployed in the Middle East, they issued an ultimatum to Saddam, demanding he withdraw from Iraq by January 15, 1991. Saddam responded dismissively, proiming that he would "fight to the end."

    This news sent the crude oil futures market into yet another round of vtility. Eric remembered that the Gulf War had erupted just two days after the ultimatum was issued, on January 17. He believed that, even if he was the metaphorical butterfly pping its wings, the timing would be quite close to that.

    To avoid drawing too much attention, Eric chose not to fly to New York this time. Instead, Chris came to Los Angeles. Much like how most thought Iraq would not act against Kuwait, this time the spectors believed the war, when it arrived, would drag on like America''s previous two conflicts. If this urred, crude oil prices would soar again. Following the ultimatum, spectors had begun to build up long positions.

    Faced with Eric''s unusual bearish outlook, Chris had little doubt this time. However, he noted that the situation was quite different from before August. Prior to then, oil prices had been steadily increasing until Iraq invaded Kuwait, when prices suddenly skyrocketed to $40.

    Now, faced with an imminent war, the crude oil futures market would likely be more unpredictable. With two months until the conflict erupted, any announcement from the Western countries or Saddam could lead to a significant rise or fall in oil prices. Using a ten- fold leverage in such a vtile market would be akin to signing one''s own death warrant. After discussions, the two agreed to use $2 billion in funds with a more secure five-times leverage, reserving the rest as margin for guarantees. This approach would minimize risk, although Eric wanted to invest all his funds with higher leverage. Yet, the futures market couldn''t amodate more than $10 billion at five times leverage. If they attempted to invest several billion at such high leverage, they would struggle to find banks willing to issue coteral for hundreds of billions.

    ...

    After two days in Los Angeles, Chris quickly departed, leaving Eric to focus entirely on his most important task. Even during Thanksgiving with Drew, he didn''t cease his rted

    preparations.

    Although the federal Thanksgiving holiday was only one day, businesses typically closed from Thursday through the following Monday. Firefly Films was certainly no exception, given that Thanksgiving in 1990 fell on November 22.

    On November 26, Monday, with the opening of several new films on November 22 and 23, the second weekend saw Rocky V''s box office drop a staggering 55%, earning less than 7 million. Ghost Detective also had decline approaching 50%, indicating potential losses for the $40 million investment. In contrast, Hot Shots! managed to maintain its momentum amid the new releases, collecting $16 million in its second weekend. Its total gross had surpassed $47 million.

    Coincidentally, this day marked Firefly''s year-end meeting. Arriving early at the office, Robert Shea quickly sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off. Initially, he attributed it to the ridicule regarding Ghost Detective''s box office flop and even took it out on a staff member.

    By 9 AM, the meeting officially began.

    *****

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 Chapter 389: Chapter 390: Year-End Blowout

    Chapter 389: Chapter 390: Year-End Blowout

    ?

    [Chapter 390: Year-End Blowout]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Robert Shea sneered, "Ha, you think if you want to buy back, I''ll sell to you? Let me tell you, you can forget it. Since you''ve burned your bridges, I''ll drag you down with me. Don''t think that just because you''ve won over Michael and the others, you can control everything at Firefly now."

    Eric stood up as well, staring coldly at Robert across the desk. He was half a head taller than Robert, and his air of poise, which was far beyond that of his peers, brought some calm to Robert, who was on the edge of madness. "If you don''t want to sell, that''s fine. But starting next year, I''m going to consolidate Firefly along with Pixar, Digital Domain, and ck Ant Productions. I''ll also bring in a lot of funds for the ya Vista studio base. I guarantee your share will be diluted to below 10%, and it will keep on being diluted."

    Robert, who had calmed slightly, couldn''t help but ask, "Why would you do this? Just because I didn''t take your advice to abandon production and focus solely on distribution?"

    "Because you and Firefly are not on the same page. You consider your own power and interests more; you''d sacrifice Firefly for that. Just look at the overseas distribution for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, those unnecessary budget expenditures for Sleeping with the Enemy, and the film currently in theaters. Do you need more examples?"

    "Didn''t you do just that? Weren''t you the one who started ck Ant Productions first?" "ck Ant Productions ispletely my personal asset. The distribution for Basic Instinct didn''t use Firefly''s channels at all. The contract for Point Break leaned much more towards Firefly, while you were too busy thinking of how to gain profit from Firefly''s distribution channels." Eric waved his hand dismissively and said, "Alright, Robert, that''s enough. I''m not here to debate who''s right or wrong. If you leave now, you could walk away with arge sum of money and restart your career. From today on, Firefly will only have one voice."

    Robert Shea was enraged again by Eric''s words. "I''ll make you understand that getting rid of me isn''t that easy. I''ll sue you, and I''ll take back everything from New Line!"

    "You can go ahead and sue. After two or three years of thiswsuit, you''ll find that not only will yourwyer fees be astronomical, but your shares will be worth a fraction of what they are now, and you''ll bepletely out of Hollywood. Of course, even if they devalue, you can still livefortably and enjoy an early retirement for the rest of your life."

    Robert''s temples throbbed as anger surged through him. Grabbing a coffee cup nearby, he suddenly paused at the cold re from Eric. Yet, he couldn''t hold back and abruptly threw the coffee cup, smashing it against the conference room''s 32-inch television used for disying video materials.

    With a loud crash, smoke poured from the shattered screen.

    Eric nced at the broken television and said, "I''ll make sure finance deducts that from your dividends. Don''t worry; it will be calcted at depreciated value."

    Robert gnashed his teeth at Eric, muttering some incoherent sybles through clenched jaws, before kicking a nearby chair and storming out of the conference room.

    ...

    "Based on the information we''ve gathered, Firefly''s overall profits this year might only rank fourth, behind Warner Bros., Fox, and Universal. In light of this positive development, Eric Williams'' sudden and aggressive dismissal of Robert Shea triggered turmoil within Firefly, which was an unwise action. The distribution channels Firefly just established could be destroyed because of this.

    A staff member from Firefly who wished to remain anonymous revealed that Eric Williams and Robert Shea had a heated argument at the year-end meeting. Following that, out of anger, Eric Williams fired Robert Shea. However, Shea''s representatives stated that was not the case at all. Eric Williams dismissed Robert Shea without any justifiable reason; the truth of the matter will be closely followed by our report."

    ...

    "Firefly stated their next film, Point Break, will be released as scheduled and will not be affected by the sudden departure of the CEO."

    ...

    "In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Robert Shea appeared agitated, condemning Eric Williams for burning bridges and vowing to take him to court.

    Reportedly, after Robert Shea''s departure, no employees from New Line left with him. All positions held by Shea were quickly taken over by Eric Williams and the new CEO, Michael Lynn. Jeffrey Hansen was once again appointed as the president of Firefly."

    ...

    "After a week of waiting, Firefly announced on the morning of December 2 that they were entering negotiations to buy back Robert Shea''s shares. It seems Shea had given up his decision to sue Firefly. However, the situation is far from over. Although Firefly has the right of first refusal, all seven major Hollywood studios have expressed interest in acquiring those shares.

    Due to Firefly''s outstanding performance on television, parentpanies of majorworks like ABC and CBS have also made offers to Robert Shea. Subsequently, major media groups like Vi have also begun submitting bids."

    ...

    "This morning, Robert Shea officially made a $500 million offer, which would put Firefly''s market valuation at $2 billion. However, the spokesperson for Firefly stated that Robert Shea''s bid waspletely exorbitant.

    ording to the information, Firefly operates only a few properties, including the Burbank headquarters. The ya Vista studio base is still in the preparatory stage. Therefore, Firefly''s main assets are the film copyrights from the merger with New Line. The number of films that have grossed over a hundred million dors and have potential for sequels in recent years is astonishing. The si Friends, which holds copyright, has already brought in over a hundred million dors in pure profit from advertising revenue, video releases, and broadcast rights, just from its first season alone. So while the $2 billion valuation may seem high, it''s not entirely unfounded.

    As we''ve reminisced about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs bing billionaires by their thirties, we''ve unknowingly seen a 20-year-old billionaire born in Hollywood, a ce that constantly creates miracles. Let''s review the journey of this young tycoon..."

    ...

    In just a week since Robert Shea''s departure, discussions around the event erupted like a year- end celebration across all media, even drawing in European outlets across the Antic. Compared to the uproar caused by the $2 billion figure, Eric''s recent rumors with Connelly

    seemed trivial byparison.

    *****

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 Chapter 391: Chapter 392: An Itch Hard to Bear

    Chapter 391: Chapter 392: An Itch Hard to Bear

    ?

    [Chapter 392: An Itch Hard to Bear]

    As the head of security for the estate and someone who often apanied Eric, Carter Moen knew about Eric''s rtionship with Elisabeth. He signaled to others to put their weapons away before politely saying to Elisabeth, "Miss Murdoch, we didn''t receive any word that you wereing. We thought you were an intruder."

    Elisabeth had indeed arrived unannounced. With plenty of paparazzi lurking outside the estate, she had to charter a helicopter to avoid bing a hot topic for gossip magazines.

    Of course, Elisabeth wasn''t about to share any of this with them. Instead, she simply asked, "Where''s Eric?"

    Carter Moen''s expression shifted somewhat as he realized there was already ady in the estate. He was aware that Eric had a habit of not inviting other women over when there was already one present, which meant that this youngdy hade uninvited.

    But those were matters for the master of the house to deal with, so he just said, "Mr. Williams is in the vi. Would you like me to notify him?"

    "No need. I''ll go to him myself," Elisabeth replied before striding towards the cliffside overlooking Liberty City.

    ...

    Upon reaching the door, Elisabeth pushed against it only to find that the heavy one-way ss door was locked. She leaned against the door to peer inside but saw nothing.

    Just as she was about to ring the doorbell, she noticed the keypad next to it. A mischievous thought crossed her mind. She took out her Motor mobile phone and swiftly dialed Drew, the youngdy, to get the security code.

    After entering the code, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. Elisabeth deliberately removed her little ankle boots and ced them aside, walking silently across the polished floor in her thin socks.

    As she passed through the hallway, Elisabeth quickly spotted Eric by arge ss window facing the sea. Several sofas and lounge chairs were arranged nearby, and Eric sat alone in the farthest chair, diligently sketching something on hisp board.

    As she drew closer, Elisabeth initially intended to sneak up behind Eric to give him a little scare. However, her eyes widened in surprise when she saw a young woman reclining on the opposite sofa -- none other than Jennifer Connelly. What astonished Elisabeth was Connelly''s attire.

    "Don''t move," Eric said with mild annoyance, ncing up.

    Connelly froze, and upon noticing that the woman''s gaze had shifted, Eric turned around and, seeing Elisabeth, remarked, "Ignore her. Just stay there; I''ll finish up soon."

    Considering the other person was only a woman, and with Eric''s insistence, Connelly dutifully settled back down, though a rosy hue crept into her cheeks.

    Noticing how Elisabeth was eyeing her figure with a tinge of jealousy, the initially tense Connelly rxed, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

    Elisabeth huffed softly and walked over to sit on the armrest of Eric''s single sofa. Eyeing the nearly finished sketch resting on hisp, she retorted, "Is this what the private life of a billionaire looks like?"

    "Shut up," Eric mumbled without looking up, clearly annoyed by her interruption as he focused on his drawing, gripping his charcoal pencil firmly.

    Elisabeth, pouting, raised her little fist and circled it around above Eric''s head before finally pulling it back sheepishly.

    Getting up, she moved to the nearby round table and poured herself a cup of coffee. Holding the cup, she sat down in another single sofa, bored as she watched Eric draw.

    Even though she didn''t want to admit it, there was something undeniably captivating about Eric''s intense focus while he sketched. For a fleeting moment, Elisabeth wished she were the one lounging on the sofa instead of Connelly.

    Just as that thought crossed her mind, Connelly let out a quiet "psh psh."

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    More than ten minutester, Eric finally looked up and said, "Sweetheart, you can get up now."

    Connelly unfolded a light nket draped over her, smiling as she leaned in to see Eric''s finished sketch. "Wow, this is amazing! Is this really me?"

    "Of course. Only a beauty like you could inspire such artistry," Eric said with a grin, setting the charcoal pencil aside and grabbing a wet wipe to clean his hands.

    Curious, Elisabeth leaned in to get a better look at the lifelike woman on the board. Though she secretly agreed with Connelly''s assessment, she scoffed, "It''s nothing special. I could do that too."

    Eric patted Connelly on her waist, wrapped in the nket. "Sweetheart, go put on some clothes, and give me a moment to deal with this unwee guest."

    Connelly chuckled, casting a sideways nce at Elisabeth. She understood Elisabeth''s identity, so she didn''t gloat too much and obediently rose to leave.

    Once Connelly ascended the nearby stairs to the second floor, Eric organized his sketchpad and asked, "So, what''s up? Hmm... judging by that aggressive look of yours, I bet you''re here because you can''t scratch that itch and want me to handle it?"

    Elisabeth hummed a bit, about to retort when she recalled her father''s advice and softened her tone. "Eric, could you let Robert Shea''s shares go to Fox? My dad said, with those shares, we absolutely won''t participate in any decisions at Firefly; you''ll still have total control. That promise can be written into the agreement."

    The moment Elisabeth arrived, Eric anticipated what the girl''s intentions were.

    The most anxious regarding Robert Shea''s 25% share belonged not only to Firefly itself but undoubtedly Fox as well. If another filmpany snagged them, it could be more bearable, but if those shares fell into the hands of the big threeworks, it would surely threaten the partnership between Firefly and Fox Broadcasting.

    Even if Friends and a couple of other shows were unlikely to be snatched away, Firefly might still develop new programming topete with the bigworks against Fox. That''s definitely not what Murdoch would want to see.

    Moreover, when it came to business interests, personal friendships didn''t weigh heavily. After all, anypany had arge team employing many people. Eric couldn''t overlook that management would naturally strive for maximum profit. Hence, failing to secure those shares or having them snatched away bypetitors could naturally sway Firefly''s management towards the other side.

    She gestured towards the coffee on the small round table, dissatisfied, wrinkling her nose slightly. Reluctantly, she poured Eric a cup and handed it to him.

    *****

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 Chapter 393: Chapter 394: No Fighting

    Chapter 393: Chapter 394: No Fighting

    ?

    [Chapter 394: No Fighting]

    Due to the limitations imposed by the buyback rights, Robert Shea''s shares, though coveted by many, were not snatched up through malicious bidding by anypanies. After all, this stake ounted for only 25%, and Eric possessed absolute control over Firefly. Whether it was one of the seven major studios or the three majorworks, their aim in acquiring the shares was to coborate with Eric.

    If any of them resorted to hostile bidding, they would undoubtedly offend Eric, and even if Eric could not match the price offered by the hostile bidder and had to relinquish his buyback rights, thepany that acquired those shares would face fierce resistance from Eric. In that scenario, achieving their goal of acquiring the shares would be very difficult.

    Consequently, those who were interested in Robert Shea''s shares ended up having more interactions with Eric. Only if Eric relented would they make a move to acquire them. Of course, throughout the entire process, Eric showed no signs of yielding.

    Suddenly visiting the estate, Elisabeth spent some time trying to get a promise out of Eric, but she didn''t get anywhere. With Connelly present, she couldn''t be a distraction, so after a brief chat, she decided to leave.

    As Eric escorted Elisabeth out of the vi and along the estate path, Elisabeth looked around at the lush shrubs with her hands behind her back. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and she said, "That script for Cutthroat Ind that Robert took from you is now being fought over by everyone; Fox wants a piece too. You wouldn''t oppose this, would you?"

    Eric paused for a moment, pondering the question. Noticing Elisabeth stopping due to his pause, she continued, "You aren''t so petty about this, right? Anyway, this matter..."

    Looking around and locking eyes with her, Eric sinctly replied, "No fighting."

    Elisabeth slightly opened her mouth to look at Eric. Although she was a bit spoiled, she was also a sharp-witted woman. She quickly sensed something from Eric''s expression and asked, "You''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you?"

    Eric nodded slightly and continued toward the helipad. "Just keep it to yourself. If you leak it and ruin my ns, I won''t let you off the hook."

    Elisabeth shot a re at Eric, wondering why it had to be her fault. However, she wisely chose not to argue back. She understood the stakes and nodded in agreement, then asked curiously, "So what''s the deal with that script?"

    Eric replied nonchntly, "That''s not for you to inquire about."

    Feeling dissatisfied, Elisabeth gave a small huff. As they stepped into the helipad area, she told Eric, "I''m heading out; you can go back to sketching your nudes."

    "Why do you always have to make something wholesome sound so vulgar? Sketching is a practice that brings peace of mind. You, on the other hand, are just too restless. You should give it a try."

    Elisabeth looked at him in disbelief. "You can calm down in front of such a pretty girl?"

    "That''s just how it is. I have a beautiful model right in front of me -- I can''t be expected to draw a ster cast, can I?"

    "You''ve got too many twisted arguments. I''m not debating this with you," Elisabeth stated, seeing the pilot signaling her it was time to board. She leaned over and pecked Eric on the cheek. "Goodbye, I''m off."

    "Take care, and say hello to Mr. Murdoch for me."

    ...

    Regarding the negotiations to buy back Robert Shea''s shares, Eric didn''t participate directly. His presence would not have benefited the negotiations; instead, it could provoke Robert''s resentment, creating barriers to the talks.

    Jeffrey led the negotiations for Firefly, and Eric enlisted the assistance of his private attorney Edward Lewis. Eric nned to establish a dedicated legal department at Firefly after the New Year, and he invited Edward Lewis to join, just as he had with Carolyn Elliott in the finance department. Edward agreed without much hesitation.

    As Eric anticipated, Robert Shea''sck of cash and his unwillingness to give up his entire investment rights in Cutthroat Ind fueled the negotiation process. After three weeks of intense discussions, on December 24, the day before Christmas, they finally reached an agreement. Firefly bought back Robert Shea''s 25% share for $390 million. Additionally, Firefly would pay Robert $60 million in shareholder dividends and CEO sries over a year, totaling $450 million spent topletely free Eric from Robert Shea.

    This deal sent waves through Hollywood.

    ...

    Columbia and Universal Pictures managed to sell for between $5 and $6 billion primarily because they were publicly tradedpanies and the Japanese had paid a high premium to facilitate the deals. For Columbia Pictures, prior to Sony''s announcement, its market value was only around $2 billion.

    Now, without being listed, Firefly''s valuation surged past $1.5 billion through this deal. If Firefly maintained its current performance, once it went public, it could surpass any Hollywood giant except for ones already merged with Time Warner.

    The deal was made on the day after Eric produced and Kathryn Bigelow directed Point Break hit theaters.

    Point Break''s opening weekend figures were in. In over 1,800 theaters, it totaled over $16 million in its first three days. For Kathryn Bigelow, averaging nearly $9,000 per theater over that weekend was a very good indicator. In Hollywood, an average of $10,000 for an opening weekend typically signified that a director had joined the ranks of A-list directors. After a subsequent four days in theaters, Point Break was sure to exceed that $10,000 average. However,pared to Eric''s previous films, these numbers were a definite failure. Not counting the films he directed, even the same year''s production, The Others had surpassed $20 million during aparatively quiet release windowst November.

    As a result, many media outlets attributed the failure of Point Break to Eric''s hasty decision to oust Robert Shea. Following the release of the opening weekend figures, Robert Shea publicly mocked Eric again, iming it was merely the beginning of Eric''s failures.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *****

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 Chapter 395: Chapter 396: Why

    Chapter 395: Chapter 396: Why

    ?

    [Chapter 396: Why]

    Michael Eisner sat in a posh cafe in Beverly Hills, ncing at his watch once more. There were still five minutes before their scheduled meeting, yet an impatient look had already crossed his face.

    He had been feeling anxioustely. Following a series of film flopsst summer, Disney suffered losses of over a hundred million dors, and none of the films released by the end of the year had achieved particrly impressive results. If it weren''t for the profits from Disnend and branded merchandise sales, Disney would have likely faced its first loss since Eisner took over as CEO in 1984.

    Despite managing to keep the bnce sheets somewhat stable, shareholders had begun to criticize him for consolidating power within Disney and for his heavy-handed approach in dealing with Eric Williams, which effectively ended the good rtionship Disney had with Firefly Films.

    Michael Eisner certainly would not admit to anyone the regret he felt. Had he foreseen such consequences, he wouldn''t have been so quick to publicize the split. But discussing these matters now would prove futile. After he attempted to express reconciliation with Eric through Ghost, all he managed was to prevent Firefly from publicly opposing Disney. However, any coboration between the two was nowpletely off the table.

    Although he had effectively controlled Disney''s board of directors, Michael Eisner understood that his absolute authority depended on his ability to generate sufficient profits for Disney''s shareholders.

    As long as Disney continued delivering consistent returns, there would be no unified front among shareholders opposing him within apany that had such scattered ownership. asionally, a particr shareholder might voiceints, but they wouldn''t faze him, not even the Disney family. That was why he found himself sitting here today, having arrived earlier than usual.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Before he knew it, five minutes had passed. A waiter finally led Robert Shea to the table. Michael Eisner put on a warm smile as he shook hands with Robert, and the two men took their seats across from each other.

    "Sorry, Michael, I ran into some issues and got here a bitte," Robert Shea said after ordering a coffee.

    "No problem, Robert. You''re notte at all," Michael Eisner replied, still smiling.

    After a few casual exchanges, the waiter brought their coffees. Robert leisurely added several sugar cubes, appearing rxed and in no rush to address business matters. His demeanor suggested he was trying to establish the upper hand.

    Things had been going well for himtely. After the initial frustration of being cast out from Firefly, Robert found himself in a better position with the script for Cutthroat Ind, which he had snatched from Eric. He was even enjoying more clout than when he had served as CEO of Firefly, with the major film studios lowering their tones, eager to coborate with him on the Cutthroat Ind project.

    Robert Shea certainly contemted producing Cutthroat Ind independently, but for a film with such a hefty budget, distribution was far from straightforward. Without New Line to back him up, the connections he currently had were insufficient to carry something of that scale. Unless he could patiently buildworks over the next few years, tapping into the distribution channels of the major studios was unavoidable.

    However, driven by his anger at being ousted from Firefly, Robert was eager to make aeback, with a side motivation to stick it to Eric. Thus, he had resolved to coborate with the major studios, activelyworking among the executives to secure the best deal he could for himself.

    Michael Eisner observed the posturing Robert Shea was adopting with a brief, scornful smile and remarked, "I heard that kid went to New York again."

    Robert Shea knew precisely whom Michael referred to and his expression darkened. "It''s likely due to the recent fluctuations in oil prices. He might''ve made a bit of moneyst time so he''s looking to cash in again. Young folks just don''t know their limits. Not only did he turn down the HFPA''s invitation to be a presenter, but he didn''t even attend this year''s Golden Globe Awards. He''s likely offended them to no end. Getting awards for Firefly''s films will not be an easy feat in the future."

    Michael Eisner wasn''t particrly invested in the Golden Globes or the Oscars. MGM boasted over 150 Oscars, the highest count of any studio, yet it wasn''t thriving. Only smaller studios fussed over the profit potential of the awards. This showed how limited Robert Shea''s perspective remained. Michael Eisner couldn''t help but reflect that Eric''s decision to boot Robert from Firefly had been a correct one.

    "That kid will face consequences sooner orter, Robert. Now, let''s talk about Cutthroat Ind," Michael Eisner said directly.

    Robert Shea put down his coffee, shaking off his earlier demeanor. "Let''s hear Disney''s terms first, Michael. I''m still leaning toward coborating with Disney, but you''ll need to present an enticing offer."

    Michael Eisner responded, "A 60/40 split, covering both investment and distribution costs. You get 40%, Disney takes 60%, and, of course, you also get to enjoy that revenue share."

    Robert Shea felt a sense of disbelief and, looking at Michael Eisner''s serious expression, let out a scoff. "Are you joking, Michael? I''d never agree to a 60/40 split -- let alone that, I wouldn''t even ept a 50/50 split. I think it''s best I take my leave now, everyone''s time is valuable."

    "Why the rush, Robert? Why not hear me out?" Michael Eisner said with a knowing smirk, waving him back.

    Noticing something in Michael Eisner''s demeanor, Robert Shea hesitated for a moment but eventually sat back down.

    Michael Eisner continued, "Let''s revisit Ghost. Eric Williams once imed that aside from him, the chances of that script seeding in someone else''s hands were slim. I initially doubted him, but after Ghost released, I realized he was right. Had it not been for that moving score of Unchained Melody, the film wouldn''t have achieved the same quality and would''ve likely fallen t at the box office. No other director orposer could have linked that ssic from decades prior with Ghost, not even close."

    "Does that rte to what we''re discussing today?" Robert Shea asked impatiently.

    Michael Eisner nodded, his gaze sharp on Robert Shea. "Of course. Do you know why I haven''t rushed to contact you like other studios?"

    Robert felt a sense of trepidation, sensing something was off. He stammered, "Wha... Why?"

    *****

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 Chapter 397: Chapter 398: That...

    Chapter 397: Chapter 398: That...

    ?

    [Chapter 398: That...]

    Women typically had smaller breakfasts, and Kathryn Bigelow soon finished her simple sandwich, sipping juice while making small talk with Eric, who was still tackling his ham sandwich.

    Once Eric finished eating, Kathryn asked, "What''s next on your agenda?"

    He gestured toward a stack of newspapers and documents beside him. "The New York Stock Exchange opens at ten, so I should wrap up these before then."

    "Take your time. I need to get going," Kathryn replied politely, giving Eric a nod before standing up to leave.

    Eric didn''t try to keep her; with a strong-willed woman like Kathryn, showing too much eagerness could backfire. Provoking some interest while maintaining a bit of distance was the better choice.

    As he watched her walk away, he signaled for the waiter to clear their tes, then opened the pile of newspapers next to him. He started with the Los Angeles Times, quickly scanning the international news section. The United Nations troops were beginning to wrap up operations, and otherwise, nothing significant caught his attention. He swiftly flipped to the entertainment section.

    "Disney announced a coboration with Robert Shea to produce Cutthroat Ind, ted for June 28th."

    Today was certainly a good day, Eric thought to himself, a faint smirk creeping onto his lips.

    He had been worried that his n might hit a snag, but things seemed to be unfolding just as he intended. With Disney and Robert Shea both falling into this trap, it allowed Chris to elerate acquiring Disney stocks.

    Although Cutthroat Ind wasn''t a special effects-driven film, it was still an over $70 million production, and the five-month shoot was neither particrly short nor long. From what he read, Disney and Robert Shea had also, as he had secretly arranged, enlisted Renny Harlin and Geena Davis as director and lead actress, likely ensuring the film would maintain the ''standard'' of the original.

    It was quite evident that by scheduling Cutthroat Ind for June 28th, they aimed to counter the releases of Firefly''s Toy Story on June 21st and Terminator 2 on July 5th, though it remained unclear who would truly overshadow whom.

    ...

    Kathryn returned to her room, quickly touched up her makeup, slipped into a pair of tan knee- high leather boots, grabbed her purse, and headed downstairs again for a friend''s gathering that morning.

    As she passed through the hotel lobby, she slowed her pace, ncing toward the restaurant. Eric still upied his usual spot, legs crossed and lips slightly pursed, deeply engrossed in reading his newspaper, exuding a calm demeanor that belied his youth. If you were not familiar with him, it would be difficult to realize that he was only twenty years old at first nce.

    Kathryn continued walking, and just before her view was blocked by a wall, she hesitated, but quickly redirected her gaze and walked outside.

    Stepping out into the chilly air, Kathryn couldn''t help but slip her hands into the pockets of her trench coat. After waiting a moment by the roadside, she hailed a taxi and climbed inside. The warm air of the air-conditioned car made her thoughts coalesce again.

    That earlier scene reyed in her mind; she suddenly realized that Eric hadn''t mentioned anything about Saving Private Ryantely.

    During the shoot for Point Break, he had been quite eager for her to take on that project, and they had discussed the script at length. However, given that Point Break hadn''t wrapped yet and her own hesitations about the project, she had been stalling on the decision.

    Could this guy have forgotten?

    She quickly dismissed this thought. He was too sharp to overlook something like that. But why hadn''t he brought it up?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Or perhaps he''d simply acted on a whim,ter realizing that a woman couldn''t possibly handle such arge-scale project and choosing to let it lie for now, nning to give the film to a more suitable male directorter.

    Leaning against the car window, watching the remnants of snow along the roadside, Kathryn pondered whether this situation could tie back to Point Break.

    Point Break had already left theaters, earning over $61 million at the box office. Kathryn felt rather satisfied with the film''s performance; at least it had allowed Firefly to recoup its costs. The profit from subsequent VHS sales would be pure earnings. For a female director, delivering profitable films was crucial; failing to do so could significantly impact their careers, more so than their male counterparts. Regarding this $30 million budget movie, Kathryn faced pressure akin to that of any blockbuster director.

    Yet, the film''s box office results paled inparison to the films Eric had previously produced. This had to be the reason he stopped bringing up Saving Private Ryan.

    It had to be.

    That little schemer, always chasing profit!

    The taxi came to a stop, and Kathryn paid the fare before stepping out. As the brisk air swept over her, her thoughts began to clear, and she quickly shoved her scattered musings aside.

    After all, Point Break had done well at the box office. As long as she found projects that interested her, securing funding wouldn''t be an issue. Missing out on one film wouldn''t hurt much.

    She gave herself a pep talk, reflecting on unnecessary anxieties, and pulled her trench coat cor up. With her purse tucked under her arm and her hands back in her pockets, she strode toward the nearby street, her sturdy leather boots cking against the pavement.

    A gust of cold wind hit her, making her shiver slightly, and she couldn''t help but think it might be time to buy a scarf.

    ...

    For several days afterward, since both of them had a strong sense of time, they consistently met at breakfast.

    "Sometimes, I can''t help but think your life is so vastly different from your age, it''s hard to believe," Kathryn remarked one morning as they took their usual seats.

    Eric looked up at her. "What kind of life do you think I should be living?"

    Kathryn made a dismissive gesture. "Anything but this -- it goes against my sense of

    normalcy."

    Eric chuckled a bit. "Maybe I''m doing this on purpose to catch your attention. You know, I''m quite good at charming women."

    Kathryn shot him an incredulous gaze, her cheeks turning slightly pink. Hesitantly, she asked, "You''re not -- you''re not really like what those papers say, with that... that fixation, are you? I''m, well, a lot older than you."

    "What papers are you reading? Proper publications typically praise me for my youthful talent and don''t dwell on that nonsense."

    "I can''t remember the name; it was just a profile article I happened upon."

    Eric thought for a moment and exined, "Let''s put it this way: I prefer spending time with

    women who are closer to my mental age. It gives us more topics to discuss, and as you can see, we''ve enjoyed our chats these past few days, haven''t we?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 399: Chapter 400: Epic Films

    Chapter 399: Chapter 400: Epic Films

    ?

    [Chapter 400: Epic Films]

    After the release of 17 Again, Eric, despite receiving numerous offers, did not make any appearances on the big screen, not even in cameos. Nevertheless, due to his legendary rise to fame, his photos frequently cropped up in newspapers and magazines. So even while walking down the street, even if he wasn''t immediately recognized, there were always people who felt a sense of deja vu.

    As more and more guests arrived at the art exhibition in the library, the attention on Eric increased. However, most seemed to just think he looked familiar, as they had no intention of approaching him for a chat. To avoid unwanted attention, Eric had to put on a pair of sunsses, which made him look somewhat out of ce in the gallery. This prompted a small tease from Catherine.

    "This piece is about the Golden Apple," Catherine whispered to Eric as they stood in front of a painting. "At the wedding of the human hero Paris and the sea goddess Thetis, all the gods were invited, except for the discordant goddess Eris, who was turned away. Upset, Eris barged into the wedding, produced a golden apple, and imed it was for the fairest among the goddesses, igniting a dispute.

    Hera, the wife of Zeus, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, all believed they deserved the apple. With no resolution in sight, Zeus appointed Paris, the prince of Troy who was tending sheep on Mount Ida, to settle the argument.

    The man in thought depicted in the painting is Paris, with the three goddesses to his right. Due to Aphrodite''s promise that he could win the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Paris awarded her the apple. With Aphrodite''s assistance, Parister abducted Helen, the Queen of Sparta, deemed the most beautiful woman on earth, sparking the Trojan War."

    As they approached another oil painting in the northwest corner, Catherine quietly continued her exnation. Although she majored in art criticism at Columbia University, she didn''t delve into theposition and colors for Eric. Instead, she focused on the various background stories behind the paintings. While Eric was familiar with much of what she described, he made no interruption, listening with keen interest.

    After finishing her exnation, Catherine nced at Eric, who looked deep in thought, and curiously asked, "What are you thinking? Are you bored?"

    "Not at all," Eric shook his head. "I was considering putting together a proposal back in Los Angeles about the potential for developing films based on European myths and histories. This genre of film is a gold mine. Unfortunately, due to past limitations with special effects and manualbor, not many outstanding works have emerged in recent years."

    Catherine, who believed in blending instinct into her work, didn''t tease Eric about thinking of work during their outing. Instead, she inquired, "Are you referring to epic films, like Ben-Hur and Spartacus?"

    Both Ben-Hur and Spartacus were European epic films produced in Hollywood in the early 1960s. The former told the story of a Jewish ve''s revolt against the Roman Empire, winning 11 Academy Awards and bing a nearly unsurpassable record in Oscar history. Although Titanic had more nominations, it won the same number of awards as Ben-Hur. Spartacus was andmark film by the legendary director Stanley Kubrick.

    Both movies were massive investments that utilized thousands of extras. In an era where Hollywood''s industrial practices became highly standardized, the scale of such productions was nearly impossible to replicate. Thus, making films of this nature depended on the advancement ofputer-generated effects.

    As Eric and Catherine walked away from the painting of the Golden Apple, he said, "Definitely like Ben-Hur and Spartacus. Both ssics were adapted from literature rather than strict historical ounts, and I believe that''s key to their sess at the box office and with awards."

    Catherine queried, "Why can''t adaptations stick to the facts? I feel that following history is more authentic."

    They stopped in front of another oil painting, and Eric exined, "But real history is often too brutal and unappealing. If one were to develop a film of this genre, it would certainly be at the level of a super production. To recoup costs, you would need to significantly alter history to cater to modern audiences. As I mentioned, viewers typically want to see what they want to see."

    After Eric spoke, he nced at Catherine. Although she hadn''t made many films by now, she possessed the ability to convey certain social consciousness in her work. However, her style frequently veered towards being preachy, which not only failed to earn her recognition from awards but could also lead to audience irritation.

    It wasn''t until many yearster, with the film that garnered her an Oscar -- The Hurt Locker -- that she overcame this w. The filmpellingly portrayed a bomb disposal unit''s daily life during the Iraq War without preaching ormenting, yet, by the end, audiences felt a natural aversion to war. This became the best way to promote anti-war sentiments. Catherine gazed at the painting in front of her. Instead of providing another low-key exnation for Eric, she stated, "It seems like you''re talking about my films?"

    Eric smiled, "Exactly, I didn''t use any direct references to your work, but you picked up on my intent. That''s the best way tomunicate an idea."

    Catherine recalled what Eric had said a few months earlier on the set of Point Break. She fell into a brief moment of contemtion, and Eric chose not to interrupt, standing silently beside her.

    As noon approached, Eric chose the painting that sparked their earlier discussion about the Golden Apple, signing a check for fifty thousand dors to the organizers. Whether this money would meaningfully help so-called orphaned children was not something Eric dwelled

    on.

    At lunch, Catherine''s friend Becky Murphy joined them for a simple meal. They didn''t return right away, opting to attend a four-hour lecture on European history at a Columbia auditorium at Becky''s suggestion.

    Throughout the lecture, Becky remained curious about Eric. As Catherine''s close friend, she had already heard about Catherine''s divorce from Cameron, making her very interested in Catherine''s rtionship with Eric. During the lecture, Becky often whispered to Catherine and asionally cast inquisitive nces at Eric.

    *****n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 401: Chapter 402: The Pickup

    Chapter 401: Chapter 402: The Pickup

    ?

    [Chapter 402: The Pickup]

    When people talked about the Disco Demolition Night, they couldn''t overlook the film Grease, starring John Travolta, which premiered in 1978. This disco-themed musical not only topped the box office that year but also made history by being the first film to release a soundtrack album.

    That album broke sales records that would remain unmatched for many years and propelled the disco music industry to new heights. However, that peak didn''tst long. A year after Grease hit theaters, an incidental event sparked the "Disco Sucks" movement, which aimed to undermine disco music.

    In Eric''s view, this movement clearly involved a struggle for interests. Much like theter struggles Michael Jackson faced, the rise of disco music, which had low production costs, significantly impacted the traditional recording industry. This prompted big yers in the conventional record business to manipte the media and incite a bacsh against disco, spurred by that idental event.

    As Eric chatted with Kathryn about these events, he caught sight of two girls approaching out of the corner of his eye.

    The girls walked up to him, and Eric realized they were there for him. He looked up and saw one girl with a ponytail, whose expression was shy as she slightly lowered her head. The other girl, sporting a shoulder-length bob with fair skin, wore a shiny ck sequin dress that sparkled under the lights.

    The short-haired girl, noticing Eric''s gaze, mustered the courage to ask, "Excuse me, are you Eric Williams?"

    Eric didn''t answer but rather looked at the woman sitting next to him with surprise. "Look, Kathryn, someone mistook me for Eric Williams again. But I think I should look a bit better than him, don''t you?"

    Kathryn shot Eric a disapproving look and said nothing. Meanwhile, the two girls exchanged nces, unsure if they should leave.

    But Eric stood up, extended his hand to the fair-skinned girl, and introduced himself. "Hi, I''m Allen, Allen Fisman."

    The girl in the sequined dress reached out to shake his hand. "Hi, Allen, you can call me Charlotte. This is Alice."

    Eric shook hands with the ponytail girl next to Charlotte, smiling as he asked, "Can I buy you a drink?"

    The two girls nced at Kathryn, who remained indifferent. Charlotte then nodded. "Sure." So, under Kathryn Bigelow''s unimpressed gaze, Eric led the two girls to the bar, ordered a few drinks, and stayed there chatting with them. Within five minutes, Eric had themughing and the short-haired girl, Charlotte, was yfully punching him with her small fists, seemingly wanting to be closer to him.

    Kathryn, watching Eric ce his hands on the exposed waist of the ponytailed girl, could no longer contain herself and muttered, "What a lech, iming it''s his first time at a ce like this."

    Just as she considered leaving early, a Caucasian man in his thirties approached her. "Excuse me, miss, can I sit here?"

    Kathryn''s first instinct was to nce over at Eric, but she felt disappointment as he seemed oblivious to what was happening, still dancing with the two girls. His hands were now slung around the waist of the short-haired girl, with a slight downward movement.

    "Sorry, sir, this seat is taken," Kathryn said coldly, focusing on Eric''s hands for a few moments before returning her gaze to the man.

    "Are you referring to that guy?" The man indicated toward Eric with a smile. "I doubt he''ll be back soon. Honestly, it''s quite rude to leave ady here alone while dancing with other girls."

    As he spoke, he sat down beside her. "Allow me to introduce myself; I''m Bernie Wesley, and I work on Wall Street."

    Since he was polite, Kathryn felt it was unnecessary to keep being aloof, so she introduced herself simply. "Kathryn."

    "Kathryn, I actually noticed you a while back. You have a quiet and restrained charm; you really shouldn''t be here. Let me guess, you''re a doctor...wyer... ountant?"

    Bernie Wesley made several wild guesses. Seeing that he was set to continue, Kathryn finally said, "I''m a director."

    Bernie Wesley exhibited no sign of embarrassment. Though he wasn''t well-versed in Hollywood, he was aware of some of its unwritten rules. "I can''t believe it; you''re so pretty. If you told me you were an actress, I''d find that easier to believe. Being a director isn''t something women usually do."

    Even though his tone didn''t carry any disdain, Kathryn found hisments somewhat offensive, and her brow furrowed slightly. Bernie, clearly adept at reading people, quickly backtracked. "Of course, there are many talented female directors in Hollywood. By the way, what projects have you produced? Maybe I should check them out?"

    "You wouldn''t be interested," Kathryn replied.

    Bernie misunderstood her indifference towards her work, judging her age, he assumed she must be no more than thirty. At that age, even male directors often struggled to create significant work, let alone women. He pivoted quickly and said, "Do you have any projects you''re interested in? You know, ourpany actually invests in Hollywood. If you have a good script, I might be able to help you."

    Unexpectedly, Kathryn showed no sign of interest. She calmly said, "Thanks, but I''ll pass."

    "Don''t be so absolute. Why not leave me a way to contact you? You never know when it mighte in handy for you."

    Kathryn, who was usually patient, was starting to feel irritated by his insistence. She spoke bluntly, "Mr. Wesley, if it''s alright, I''d like to have a moment to myself."

    "Oh,e on, Kathryn, this is a dance club!" Bernie seemed clueless about her irritation, smiling as he suggested, "How about we dance together? If you don''t know how, I can..."

    Before he could finish, he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see two tall men in suits had suddenly appeared behind him.

    "Sir, please don''t bother thedy," one of them said.

    Thinking that these overzealous security guards had misstepped, Bernie nned to reprimand them, relying on his connections with the club''s owner.

    However, he quickly recognized a difference; these mencked the roughness typical of bouncers. Their appearance may have seemed unremarkable, but the stern aura they exuded was characteristic of professionals trained in handling serious situations -- they likely had military backgrounds or were even former special forces.

    Realizing that someone of importance would have such bodyguards was not someone he could afford to mess with, Bernie Wesley stood up, made an apologetic gesture toward Kathryn, and awkwardly walked away.

    Kathryn quietly thanked Eric''s bodyguards, who simply nodded before retreating to an unnoticeable corner.

    Looking back at the dance floor, she noticed Eric ncing in her direction and giving her a thumbs-up. It was clear that the two men who had rescued her were sent by him. To her surprise, she felt a slight sense offort, realizing he had been watching her.

    As a single woman sitting alone on the couch, Kathryn was used to unsolicited advances, and Bernie Wesley wasn''t the only one interested. The people who had been trying to flirt with her, who had been waiting for Bernie Wesley to return in vain, noticed what had just happened and stopped approaching her. Soon, the absence of suitors made her even more conspicuous, and many guests found it amusing to talk about the solo woman who dominated the couch without anyone daring to approach her.

    After some more antics with the two girls, Eric left the dance floor, intending to take Kathryn back to the hotel.

    Seeing Eric prepare to leave, the short-haired girl pulled herpanion along.

    ...

    As they exited the club and walked down the alley, the girl in the sequined dress had already worn a dark trench coat. She nced over at Kathryn, who was walking silently next to Eric, and, gathering her courage, said to Eric, "Allen, why don''t youe sit with us for a while?"

    "Huh?" Eric thought he misheard.

    But the short-haired girl continued, "I mean, why note sit with us? Alice and I are living together, you know."

    The implication was clear, and Alice, the pony-tailed girl behind her, yfully pinched Charlotte for being bold, looking up at Eric with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

    "Let''s pass on that, it''s toote now," Eric chuckled, thinking maybe things were getting a bit

    too provocative for his liking.

    Even though he declined the girls'' invitation, he kindly hailed a taxi for them before he and

    Kathryn hopped into the car sent by the bodyguards.

    Just a short distance away in the taxi, Charlotte, ncing back at Eric getting into a ck car, sighed softly. Alice turned to her and asked, "What''s wrong, Charlotte?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Didn''t you notice? He really is Eric Williams."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 403: Chapter 404: Casting

    Chapter 403: Chapter 404: Casting

    ?

    [Chapter 404: Casting]

    When it came to the issue of producers, Kathryn Bigelow couldn''t help but say, "Why look for another producer? I could handle it myself."

    Eric chuckled in surprise. "That''s a bold suggestion. For a project with a budget over $50 million, not many directors in Hollywood would confidently ask to take on producing themselves. That often results in losing their directing job."

    Kathryn seemed to realize her request was a bit excessive. In Hollywood, the constraints that producers imposed on directors were a serious matter. The final cut of most films usually rested with the producer, to prevent directors from recklessly filming ording to their whims, which couldpromise the film''s quality. This also protected investors'' funds from being squandered by the directors.

    Of course, this rule had significant downsides. Many excellent films were ruined in post- production due to producers'' interference, and directors often bore the brunt of negative reviews from audiences. It wasmon yearster for studios to release a director''s cut, which would finally redeem those films. One of the most famous examples was Sergio Leone''s Once Upon a Time in America.

    After the woman made her bold suggestion, feeling a bit awkward, Kathryn ran her slender fingers over the storyboard paper in front of her. Eric smiled slightly and said, "Of course, the biggest advantage of Hollywood is its flexibility. If you really want to be the producer of Saving Private Ryan, I can make that happen."

    Kathryn looked up, cautiously asking, "What about final cut rights?"

    Eric raised an eyebrow. "Hey,dy, don''t push your luck."

    "Lady..." Kathryn repeated his term, elongating thest syble. "That''s discriminatory. Are you suggesting that if I were a man, I would get the final cut rights?"

    Eric stared at Kathryn''s beautiful face, untouched by time. "If you were a man, you wouldn''t even get the producer''s position."

    Kathryn couldn''t help but shrink away from Eric''s unabashed gaze. "I warn you, little guy, don''t test me like this, or I won''t take this film."

    "Are you feeling insecure?" Eric shot back suddenly.

    "What?" Kathryn asked, confused.

    Eric posed dramatically, looking at her, "I mean, are you feeling insecure? Afraid you can''t handle my... charm?"

    Kathryn''s mouth dropped open in surprise as she red at Eric''s infuriating expression, momentarily frozen, then suddenly stood up and nonchntly pped the folder on Eric''s head a few times. "You little brat, narcissist."

    Eric leaned back leisurely in his chair, avoiding her yful hits, andughed at Kathryn''s rare moment of losing her cool.

    They were already seated in a prominent spot in the restaurant, and Kathryn''s sudden ''attack'' on Eric drew the attention of all the diners.

    Feeling the weight of those curious stares, Kathryn''s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Mechanically, she lowered her arms, embarrassedly putting down the folder, and hurriedly turned to exit the restaurant.

    Watching her flee, Eric couldn''t help but smile wider. Ignoring the hushed whispers from others, he picked up the folder and followed her outside.

    ...

    Once back in her room, Kathryn hurried to the bathroom to wash her face with cold water. As the heat retreated from her cheeks, she looked in the mirror at her damp hair and gently patted her face, trying to hasten its return to normal. She mumbled to herself, "You annoying guy, little brat."

    Lost in her thoughts in front of the mirror, she was jolted by a knock at the door. She dried her face with a towel and walked towards it.

    Thinking it might be Eric at the door, she hesitated for several seconds. Then she thought to herself that she couldn''t show weakness over just a few teasingments from him, as that would only make him more smug. No, she absolutely couldn''t give that little brat any more satisfaction, especially with all that... charm. So full of himself.

    Gathering her courage, Kathryn yanked the door open, blocking Eric from entering, her expression icy, chin slightly raised. "What do you want?"

    Eric, noticing her proud facade, handed her the folder with a smirk. "Your Majesty, you left this in the restaurant."

    Kathryn nced at the folder in Eric''s hands but showed no intention of taking it. "You can give it to someone else. I..."

    Before she could finish, Eric stuffed the script into her arms. As she fumbled to catch it and tried to push it back, Eric stepped back. "Alright, it was just a joke. Take your time with the script. Since you want to be a producer, you should quickly put together a detailed production n. If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave."

    ...

    This time, since he had prepared far more thoroughly than in August, Eric didn''t need to stay long in New York. Given the rity of the situation, Chris could handle everything, and Eric had many things to juggle, making remote corrtion quite bothersome.

    On February 5th, Eric returned to Los Angeles after spending more than half a month in New York.

    However, given the preparations many agencies and investors had made this time, the $2 billion investment didn''t yield returns as high as before due to the reduced leverage and an increase in yers in the futures market.

    ording to Chris''s statistics, this time the final profit from the crude oil futures market was around $4 billion. Adding the profits fromst August, Eric would be left with nearly $8 billion after all transactions wereplete. This amount was more than enough to fully acquire Disney and might even allow him to do some other things.

    ...

    In Los Angeles, the annual awards season had reached its climax with the announcement of the Golden Globe winners since the end ofst year.

    Due to the war, Hollywood''s awards season was not as lively as in previous years, and even the Golden Globes were held quite low-key for public image considerations. However, now that the oue of the war had been determined, the Oscars, scheduled for March 24, would still shine as brightly as ever.

    Although Eric didn''t participate in the Golden Globes on January 19, he kept a close eye on the developments.

    At the Golden Globes, the two most significant works connected to Firefly were Ghost and

    Friends.

    Whoopi Goldberg won Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy without a doubt, as

    she had in the past. What surprised Eric was that Nics Cage, who reced Patrick Swayze as Sam, won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Eric thought that while Cage''s acting was impable, this award was more focused on public rtions. Apart from Firefly''s lobbying, the Copp family''s connections surely yed a significant role.

    As for the second season of Friends, which continued to receive acim and high ratings, it not only won Best Musical or Comedy Series but also saw Aniston take home Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Sadly, Eric had not been able to attend; otherwise, he would have surely run into the long-missed little firecracker.

    Elisabeth''s production of The Silence of the Lambs was recognized as an Oscar favorite, even edging out Francis Ford Copp''s The Godfather Part III in terms of buzz. However, the film seemed to not have gained much favor from the Golden Globe voters. Despite receiving a simr number of nominations as what would soon be revealed for the Oscars, only Jodie Foster nabbed the Best Actress award, while the rest of the nominations fell t.

    This result left Elisabeth anxious for a while, prompting her to call Eric in New York for a

    discussion.

    Nheless, the focus of The Silence of the Lambs'' public rtions had always been on the Oscars; the Golden Globes were not too important. Furthermore, while the Golden Globes were often seen as an Oscars precursor, the real reflections of Oscar standings were better seen in the Directors Guild, the Screen Actors Guild, or the Writers Guild awards.

    In those awards, The Silence of the Lambs had already garnered a wealth of des, so Eric was confident that the Oscars wouldn''t see too many bumps in the road.

    Ordinarily, The Godfather Part III should have been a significant threat, but that wasn''t the case

    this time.

    ...

    Due to Eric''s inadvertent influence, Sofia Copp, who had received criticism in his past life, voluntarily withdrew from The Godfather Part III''s production. Francis Ford Copp brought in the talented Wynona Ryder instead, but even such changes ultimately couldn''t save the film, which felt somewhat like an unnecessary sequel.

    Many knew that Copp initially had no ns for a third Godfather film; however, after the Copp family''s filmpany saw massive losses in the previous two years, he had no choice but to agree to Paramount''s production of the sequel.

    Reportedly, Copp had aimed for an Easter release the following year, but due to Paramount''s repeated pressure, the film was moved up by over three months. Consequently, with the production period shortened, the sequel didn''t shine in the same way

    as its predecessors. To date, The Godfather Part III had only garnered $60 million at the box office, and with current attendance rates, it likely couldn''t sustain itself to gain any post-

    Oscar ticketing momentum.

    For this reason, Paramount wasn''t particrly enthusiastic about promoting The Godfather Part III for awards, and although Copp didn''t publicly express his dissatisfaction, privately, he was not pleased with Paramount''s haste, which negatively affected the film''s quality. This left him less interested in the promotional effort.

    While the first two installments of The Godfather had won Best Picture, the quality of the third inparison rendered its chances for that award quite bleak. Moreover, with Eric''s move to secure Dances with Wolves, there were no filmspeting with The Silence of the Lambs at this

    year''s Oscars.

    ...

    Back in Los Angeles, Eric only casually inquired about these matters before redirecting most of his focus to the reorganization of Firefly and the preparations for Twister. After all, even if The Silence of the Lambs won awards, it seemed superficially unrted to Eric.

    As for Ghost, although it gained a Best Picture nomination, Eric had no intention of campaigning for it. Firefly only put forth effort for Whoopi Goldberg''s Best Supporting Actress and the Best Original Screeny categories. While Bridget Fonda and Cage had both received Golden Globe nominations, neither made it to the Oscars.

    ...

    After more than half a year, Ed Catmull had brought the development of the effects software Maya to its final testing phase. Of course, this only represented the traditional definition of a 1.0 version, and the primary functions were to cater to the relevant effects work on Twister, with ongoing investment for continuous enhancement throughout the film''s production. Additionally, the fluid simtion software assigned to a research group at Stanford University had beenpleted and integrated with both Maya and the rendering software RenderMan. This software was designed specifically for creating fluid effects like hurricanes and waves, making such scenes appear more realistic.

    With the effects issues preliminarily resolved, Twister began its initial casting process.

    Of course, Eric had already confirmed Joanna Pac for the leading female role, which was non-negotiable. However, the roles of the male lead and the second female lead, alongside many supporting roles with significant potential, became the targets of various talent agencies vying for involvement.

    Even though many in Hollywood knew about the ongoing tensions between CAA and Eric -- especially since Home Alone 3 had stalled due to CAA''s insistence on exorbitant fees -- CAA still actively reached out to Eric this time, eager to snag the roles of the male lead and the

    second female lead in Twister.

    Many could see this was CAA''s way of trying to mend fences, as the current Hollywood talent agencyndscape was characterized by a three-way standoff among CAA, WMA, and ICM. CAA was not as dominant as in the past; Michael Ovitz had slipped out of the top ranks on the Hollywood power list published at the end of the previous year.

    Had this been two years prior, Eric might have been obsessed with past grievances with CAA.

    However, now, he hardly cared about anything they did. His sights were set broader on the overallndscape of Hollywood, and CAA was no longer the behemoth that all studios feared.

    In the past two years, there had been no rumors of CAA agents barging into major studios'' executive offices.

    So when CAA made their overture, Eric graciously allowed the casting director to ept then/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    resumes they offered.

    Eric''s films hade to be recognized as "star-making machines"; practically every film he had made hadunched at least one Hollywood A-lister into the spotlight. With Eric''s reduced output,petition for roles in Twister had reached a high level. After

    news of the casting began to circte, not only CAA but also WMA and ICM intensified their efforts, and even some smaller agencies joined in, hoping tond roles in the supporting cast. Thus, anyone who could even remotely connect to Eric''swork was striving to reach him

    directly, as he held the final say in casting decisions.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 405: Chapter 406: Finding a Place

    Chapter 405: Chapter 406: Finding a ce

    ?

    [Chapter 406: Finding a ce]

    Drew''s proposed trip to Las Vegas ultimately didn''t pan out. Not to mention that Eric waspletely tied up; even if he had had the time, with their ages, he and Drew wouldn''t have been able to enjoy much fun there.

    Although Las Vegas was often dubbed Sin City, the reality was that thews there were quite strict. There were even curfews, and anyone under twenty-one was prohibited from gambling or drinking. Eric wouldn''t turn twenty-one until May, and Drew certainly didn''t meet that age limit.

    With no chance to hit the gambling ma, Eric conferred with the youngdy and decided to host a birthday party at the Malibu mansion. Even though tradition dictated that you celebrated youring of age at eighteen, for the precocious Drew, her sixteenth birthday already felt like her adulthood celebration. So, the youngdy ced immense importance on this birthday bash, dedicating herself to the nning in the days leading up to it.

    Once news broke that the mansion would host another party, it caused quite a stir in Hollywood. This would be the secondrge-scale event at the estate; the first had been over a year ago when Eric first moved in. With Firefly''s rise bing an unstoppable force, the number of individuals wanting to associate with Eric continued to grow. Thus, Drew''s birthday party became the center of attention in Hollywood. Many who had even the slightest past interaction with Eric called to request invitations.

    With numerous primary and supporting roles still up in the air for Twister, the stars eager to connect with Eric andcking contacts had to get creative about securing party invitations.

    ...

    "This morning, with Soviet mediation, Iraq announced a detailed withdrawal n. It seems this war won''t have any more repercussions. It''s hard to believe this is probably the quickest war the country has waged in decades," Jeffrey mused, having already arrived early at the estate and now sitting on the sofa in the study.

    Eric handed Jeffrey a cup of coffee and took a seat opposite him. "Yeah, it feels almost premeditated. I sensed something was off back in New York. Not only did countries like Saudi Arabia cover over a billion dors in military expenses, but the U.S. also raked in over a billion through oil contracts from this war. With such massive profits at stake, I bet some people are thinking about another round."

    Jeffrey, unperturbed by the underlying implications of Eric''s words, quietly asked, "How''s Chris doing?"

    "All contracts will be finalized by the end of the month. Chris has given me a fairly detailed report -- around $4.1 billion in total. Any specific fluctuations shouldn''t exceed $100 million. Oil prices are down to $18 a barrel; it can''t drop any further."

    Jeffrey let out a slight gasp, "Adding that to the previous, it''s almost $8 billion. If you factor in Firefly, your worth is now $10 billion! Wow, at your age, that''s a record that could make it into the Guinness Book. I doubt it''ll be broken anytime soon."

    Eric shrugged. "Pure financial figures don''t mean much. It''s all about how to turn that money into real power and influence."

    Jeffrey chuckled, "After hearing that, I can''t help but feel curious. I really want to see how far you can take this."

    Eric replied with confidence, "It won''t take long --maybe ten years, at most twenty..." While they chatted casually, the study door opened, and Drew, d in a pink little dress and high heels, strutted in. "Eric, the guests are piling in; I''m almost overwhelmed!"

    "As long as you''ve greeted them properly, you don''t have to hover. There''s no need to get frazzled," Eric said, shifting aside so she could sit beside him.

    Drew waved a hand to fan herself, "If I had known, I wouldn''t have invited so many! We already have over two hundred guests, and others are stilling!"

    Though sheined, a smile danced on her lips, clearly ted with the event''s scale.

    Eric furrowed his brow. "Tell Carter to step up patrols around the mansion. We can''t have any shenanigans, and we absolutely need to keep outsiders out."

    "I took care of that already. I had Carter borrow 30 security personnel from their headquarters, so they''re on strict duty at the entrance," she replied.

    Eric nodded, ncing at his watch. "The important people should be arriving soon. Shall we head out? Jeffrey, are you staying here?"

    Jeffrey got up, "Nope. Who knows, I might run into some familiar faces to catch up with."

    ...

    The three move from Eric''s study to the grand hall, which was already bustling with guests. Well-dressed men and women in exquisite gowns flowed through the space, quietly talking in groups; it felt orderly and far from chaotic.

    As soon as Eric appeared, he became the focal point of everyone''s attention. Those closest to him approached him to say hello. Drew linked arms with Eric,pletely unfazed by the attention on them. She knew Eric was the main draw behind the party gathering.

    After mingling a bit, a bodyguard approached Eric to deliver a message from the mansion entrance. After listening, Eric gestured for Drew to follow as they stepped out of the vi. As dusk settled, the mansion''s colorful lights illuminated the space, casting it in a dreamy glow.

    "Eric, who just arrived?" Drew whispered.

    "Francis Ford Copp," Eric replied just as he spotted Copp arriving with his daughter Sofia and Nics Cage. He beamed and made his way over to them.

    "Frank, I didn''t expect you toe personally today," Eric said, embracing Copp, greeting Cage, and shaking Sofia Copp''s hand. "Sofia, you look lovely tonight in that white eveningn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    gown."

    "Drew looks beautiful too," Sofia responded with a polite smile, nodding at Eric before greeting Drew.

    Before they could exchange more pleasantries, Eric noticed Amy Pascal walking in with a man who seemed to be her husband. Amy Pascal was the vice president at Columbia Pictures, although their partnership had faded since Running Out of Time. However,pared to Warner Bros. or MGM, Firefly still had ties with Columbia.

    After greeting Amy Pascal and letting the couple inside the vi, over half an hour passed, and with the party about to start, Eric was just turning to take Drew back to the hall when he spotted two women approaching.

    "Drew, happy birthday!" Elisabeth hugged Drew before pulling the woman next to her over. "Eric, this is the leadingdy of my next film, Susan Sarandon."

    Eric smiled at Susan Sarandon, "What a coincidence -- we meet again, Susan! I didn''t expect you to star in Liz''s film."

    "I thought the script was great, so I epted, but I look forward to working with you again," Susan beamed, sharing a quick greeting with Drew afterward.

    As they walked side by side back to the hall, Eric asked Elisabeth, "By the way, what''s the title of your uing movie? I haven''t heard anything yet."

    "The script is titled Thelma & Louise; it''s a road movie," Elisabeth exined.

    Eric paused for a moment, then quickly connected the dots. It was pivotal in paving the way for feminist road movies and had a significant impact, so he was surprised it was now in

    Elisabeth''s hands.

    However, he recalled that Thelma & Louise would be produced by MGM and had performed fairly well at the box office, meaning the unfortunate MGM would be losing yet another

    sessful project.

    "From the title, I assume the two main characters are female, right? Who''s the other one?"

    Elisabeth shot Eric a nce. "I originally had Gina Davis in mind. But given everything you stirred up, that''s definitely out of the question; I''ll need to find another lead."

    Eric considered briefly and said, "We start filming The X-Files in June. Famke Janssen shares a simr vibe as Gina Davis, so let''s give her that role."

    Elisabeth, recalling the sultry Famke Janssen, teasingly asked, "Why should I give it to her?

    You beg me!"

    "Not a problem," Eric said with a yful glint in his eye, "How about I find a private ce to beg you right now?"

    Elisabeth fell silent for a moment, her cheeks flushing as she clenched her teeth and finally

    said, "You''re such a jerk."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 407: Chapter 408: Any Objections?

    Chapter 407: Chapter 408: Any Objections?

    ?

    [Chapter 408: Any Objections?]

    After a while, Harvey left on his own, and Elisabeth finally shifted closer to Eric, whispering, "Eric, what do you think about me buying Miramax?"

    Eric signaled for a waiter to take away his empty te and requested a ss of champagne before asking, "What brought this on all of a sudden?"

    Elisabeth replied, "I heard Miramax lost a lot of money this year. Last year, after the

    sesses of Sex, Lies, and Videotape and My Left Foot, the Weinstein brothers bought over ten movies at once. But most of them bombed at the box office, and they didn''t score much at the Oscars. I think this is a good opportunity."

    "A good opportunity? What kind of opportunity? What''s your purpose in buying Miramax? Even if you bought it, what specific ns do you have for it? And what about TG''s development strategy? Have you thought all this through?" Eric fired off a series of questions that left Elisabeth stunned. After the sess of The Silence of the Lambs, she had been focused on striking while the iron was hot, aiming to continue producing films and expanding TG. But specific ns? Did productionpanies like theirs need borate ns? Outside of making movies, wasn''t it just about making movies?

    "Okay, let''s take it one step at a time," Eric observed Elisabeth''s confused demeanor. "Why do you want to buy Miramax?"

    "To... Win Oscars. Those two brothers are experts at Oscar campaigning. Besides helping with The Silence of the Lambs, theynded five nominations for Best Foreign Language Film," Elisabeth exined.

    "While there are always hot-selling films vying for the Oscars each year, most nominated films are still considered art pieces. If you want to buy Miramax, are you nning to focus on making artistic films that aim for awards from now on?"

    Elisabeth shook her head. "Of course not, it''s just..."

    "Just that you want them for their promotional help when needed, right? Do you really think TG has the strength to buy apany just to produce and distribute art films for the sake of winning Oscars?"

    Elisabeth reluctantly moved her waist, her silver knife grazing an enormous shrimp on her te. She mumbled, "Fine, then I won''t buy it."

    Eric added, "In reality, the Oscars often serve as just a cherry on top. We can''t deny their significance in sales, especially videotape sales. Stars who earn Oscars see their market value rise. But Hollywood produces hundreds of films each year, and only a handful everpete for Oscars. If aiming for the Oscars is a moviepany''s business goal, thatpany will struggle to grow. Take Orion Pictures, which just announced it''s ceasing production. A few years ago, they received 18 Oscar nominations in one year, yet now they''ve headed down the path of bankruptcy."

    Elisabeth waved her small hand to dismiss him. "Okay, I just had a whim about it. You don''t need to drone on like that, sounding like an old man. My dad doesn''t talk this much."

    Eric looked at her with an exaggerated "hurt" expression. "If I were talking to someone unrted, do you think I''d be going on like this?"

    Elisabeth''s cheeks flushed slightly. "Even if... even if I was wrong, is that alright?"

    "The Silence of the Lambs was a breakthrough hit; that''s an exception. But then you chose a road movie. I haven''t seen that script yet, so I can''tment, but have you thought about what the focus of your future films would be?" Eric asked.

    Elisabeth appeared thoughtful. "I haven''t considered that at all. I just feel that as long as I can find good scripts and make good movies, that should be enough. Well, of course, my n is not to produce any movie with a budget exceeding 30 million dors within the next five years. That way, I can minimize risks. Even if there are unexpected losses, I won''t lose too much."

    "I won''tment on the big seven, but my n for Firefly is to focus on high-budget special effects films. New Line will handle horror thrillers, and Flower Films will specialize in action films. Pixar will be responsible for animation, and ck Ant Productions is still figuring things out because it''s a recent surprise," Eric briefly exined before looking at Elisabeth. "So, which genre do you think would be suitable for yours?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Elisabeth counted on her delicate fingers and pondered for a moment. "If I can''t specifically make art films, then it seems like the only major category left isedies."

    Finally, she had stepped right into the trap. Eric decisively stated, "Then it''s settled. From now on, yourpany will specialize inedies. Focusing on one genre has great advantages, just as the Weinstein brothers figured out their own sessful Oscar promotional strategy. If you pivot to makingedies, in time, you''ll also develop a viable path. Comedies generally carry low production costs, which is perfect for a studio like TG Films."

    Elisabeth seemed to grasp a different implication, looking skeptically at Eric. "Why do I feel like you''ve set all of this up?"

    Eric snapped his fingers, giving her an admiring look. "Smart move! So, you don''t have any objections?"

    Elisabeth weakly asked, "What if... I do have an objection?"

    Eric smiled warmly at her. "Look, you''re phrasing it as a question, which shows this is just a hypothetical. That means you''re probably not opposed at heart. Since that''s the case, it''s a done deal. Let''s sit down and discuss specifics on our coborationter. I''ve had a lot of good ideas mulling in my head and haven''t had the energy to implement them. I''m just not willing to hand them over to outsiders, so I guess you''re lucky."

    Elisabeth stared at Eric for several seconds, then pursed her lips in silence as she shoved the remaining shrimp on her te forcefully into Eric''s champagne ss as a half-hearted act of rebellion. Then she slumped down on the table, drumming her fingers out of frustration. "Oh my God, how did I end up with someone as shameless as you? I''m losing my mind."

    Eric nced at theyer of grease rising in the ss and sighed, "What a waste." He stood up regretfully, called over a waiter for another ss, and thoughtfully handed one to thedy sitting next to him. "Here, have a ss of champagne. You should be thanking me. After all, I''ve handed you a giant ''gold mine'' to manage."

    "I can''t take it anymore," Elisabeth red at Eric through gritted teeth, epting the champagne and downing it in one go.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 409: Chapter 410: Its Not Like Im Against It

    Chapter 409: Chapter 410: It''s Not Like I''m Against It

    ?

    N?v(el)B\\jnn

    [Chapter 410: It''s Not Like I''m Against It]

    Stan Winston nodded and followed Eric as they walked out of the studio. Cameron, ncing back at theputer surrounded by a team of special effects artists, reluctantly followed them and caught up to Eric, throwing his arm around his shoulder. "Eric, I just had a fantastic idea about Terminator 2. You see..."

    Eric could tell that Cameron was inspired by the recent special effects he had seen, and he immediately made a pained expression. "Jim, don''t even think about it. The budget for this movie has already exceeded $100 million, and we''re over 40% into post-production. If you want to start over, you might as well shoot me with Arnold''s gun."

    Cameron felt a brief embarrassment but then stubbornly responded, "Eric, it''s just a minor modification. I swear to God, it won''t cost much."

    "Jim, it''s not about the money. If it were, I would have fired you before you hit that $100 million mark. The real issue is the timeline. Firefly has already begun pre-promoting Terminator 2, and I''ve seen the rough cut. The movie is already fantastic, and I just hope you can deliver it on time."

    Cameron kept trying to convince Eric, but when he saw Eric steadfast in his refusal, he walked away, disappointed.

    "He definitely won''t let this go," Stan Winston remarked, watching Cameron''s retreat while speaking to Eric.

    At that moment, Eric wore a more rxed expression as he replied, "I know he won''t let it go. But that guy has a habit of wanting more, so I couldn''t agree right away. Just keep an eye on him for me. If he needs to tweak a few details, make an effort to amodate him, but we absolutely can''t change our stance."

    Stan chuckled, "Eric, Jim alwaysins about you being a merchant of film who only cares about money at such a young age,cking any ideals. If he heard what you just said, he''d probably change his mind about you."

    "Let''s keep it that way, then," Ericughed too. "Otherwise, he''ll just end up spending more of my money."

    After a few moreughs, Stan switched to business. "Let''s get serious. Although the CG issues have been resolved, I think perfectlybining CG with real scenes is no easy task."

    "That''s part of why I came here," Eric said. "Besides checking out the results of this special effect work, I need you to bring a team with me to Ohoma for on-site scouting. I need professional effects artists to evaluate the feasibility of the locations."

    Stan considered the recent work schedule. Since the digital division set up, thepany had taken on several jobs from other studios that didn''t require his direct involvement. He nodded in agreement. "Then I''ll take Matt and the others. Honestly, I suddenly feel you might have been right. CG effects could very well rece practical effects in the not-so-distant future." "There''s no need to get sentimental, Stan. Just like how sound reced silent films and color reced ck and white, these things are inevitable."

    Stan said, "I just feel a bit nostalgic. I never imagined I''d suddenly be reced after doing practical effects for over ten years. Anyway, when do you n to leave? I''ll make preparations."

    "We''ll head out in two days. I''ll have my assistant fax you the detailed itinerary. The initial scouting team has already brought back a lot of footage and images. I''ve picked some main shooting locations; this trip is just to assess the practical feasibility of filming. We should be back in about a week."

    As noon approached, Eric declined Stan''s lunch invitation and hurried out of the Digital Domain headquarters, driving toward Beverly Hills.

    ...

    The car stopped outside a mansion in Beverly Hills. The driver got out and rang the doorbell. The security quickly opened the gate, and the car drove inside.

    Stepping out, Eric looked around. The mansion was about 1,000 square meters, with a cobblestone path leading straight to the entrance nked by perfectly manicuredwns. A crescent-shaped swimming pooly in front of the vi.

    Neither of the two women seemed inclined to greet him, but Eric didn''t mind. He pushed open the vi door and stepped inside, only to hear the sound of a baby crying from a room on the left.

    Walking over, he witnessed a somewhat humorous scene in the nursery. Elisabeth was shaking a rattle toy while mumbling something and making silly faces at the baby. Julia was cradling the baby in her arms with a bottle in her other hand, trying to feed her.

    When the two women noticed Eric''s figure in the doorway, they both lit up, but upon realizing it was him, their expressions quickly fell back, redirecting their focus to the child.

    Eric approached, observing the two women''s chaotic efforts, and extended his hand. "Let me take over. Babies are so delicate; you can''t just hold them like that."

    Julia nced at Eric''s serious expression and handed the baby over.

    Taking the baby into his arms, cradling its head securely, Eric looked at the two women and asked, "Didn''t you hire a nanny?"

    Julia sighed, looking at the baby who continued to cry even after Eric held her. "We did, but one of them, Lina, called in sick, and Betty went to the supermarket for form for Emma. I have no idea why she''s still not back. The little one suddenly started crying; maybe she''s hungry?"

    Eric epted the bottle from Julia, tested the warmth against his lips, brought it to the little girl''s mouth, but the baby just sucked for a moment and then spit the nipple out, continuing to cry. Handing the bottle back to Julia, Eric leaned down and sniffed, then said, "I think it''s time to change her diaper."

    As he spoke, Eric ced the baby in a nearby crib, unwrapped the nket, removed the soaked diaper, and skillfully wrapped the little one in a clean one.

    Both Elisabeth and Julia watched Eric change the baby''s diaper, their faces disying a mix of confusion and surprise.

    By the time Eric finished and stepped into the bathroom to wash his hands, the baby had quieted down, gazing around with wide, bright eyes.

    Julia looked at Eric as he emerged from the bathroom and couldn''t help but say, "I can''t imagine there''s anything you don''t know how to do."

    Eric gently patted the baby with a finger, and upon hearing Julia''s remark, heughed. "I''d like to know that too. When you figure it out, Let me know."

    Elisabeth chimed in, "You''re not actually nning on having kids, right?"

    "If a guy pushes himself hard enough, it''s not impossible," Eric shrugged. "But I''m absolutely not doing that."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 411: Chapter 412: Taming

    Chapter 411: Chapter 412: Taming

    ?

    [Chapter 412: Taming]

    Elisabeth looked at Eric with an expression that showed she wasn''t about topromise. She scrunched her little nose in frustration but eventually pouted and nodded reluctantly. Eric broke into a satisfied smile. Though she often feigned stubbornness, deep down, she was bing increasingly docile, which was a good sign.

    The two of them then dove into discussing their specific coboration ns, and before they knew it, the whole afternoon had slipped by. Elisabeth nced out the window at the darkening sky and put down her notepad. "Isn''t it gettingte?"

    Eric turned to look as well and nodded. "Yeah, but it''s not dark yet. I''ve been busy all afternoon are you really going to kick me out without dinner?"

    "I just worry that after you finish dinner, you might want more..." Elisabeth blurted out, regretting it immediately as her cheeks went red. She hurriedly stood up. "I--I''ll go downstairs and have Julia prepare your dinner."

    Watching thedy flee in a fluster, Eric chuckled, stretching his back and moving to organize the scattered papers on the desk.

    ...

    Eric settledfortably on the sofa, picked up the remote, and flipped on a TV movie on Warner Cable. It waspletely dark outside now when there was a gentle knock on the door. Julia stood there and said, "Eric, dinner''s ready."

    "I''ming," he replied, turning off the TV as he walked out of the study.

    The dining table was set with a fairlyvish dinner. Eric pulled out a chair and sat down, watching Julia as she served dinner for the two of them. "By the way, are you really nning to name the little one that?"

    "What?" Elisabeth asked, looking slightly confused.

    Eric exined, "Drew told me that you''re going to name the little one Emma Roberts Murdoch?"

    Julia nced nervously at Elisabeth when she heard this. Elisabeth must have misunderstood Eric''s meaning because she shot him a re and said, "So what? You better not think about it."

    "What am I not supposed to think about?" Eric responded.

    "Don''t even think about adding Williams at the end. Emma is my and Julia''s baby."

    Eric shrugged as he grabbed his utensils, cutting into the sausage in front of him. "I wasn''t even thinking about that. It''s not my kid. I''m just curious -- if this gets out, how will you exin it to your dad? Are you just going to tell him you came out?"

    Elisabeth''s voice had less confidence as she said, "That''s none of your business."

    Eric shrugged again and focused on his dinner. After finishing, Elisabeth tidily started cleaning up the table, acting like a dutiful little wife. She peeked into the nursery to check on the little one, who was being looked after by the nanny, then boldly marched into one of the small lounges to watch TV.

    Eric stayed where he was in the adjoining dining area, watching Julia clear the dishes. "Now that you have Emma, I bet you won''t be able to take on any movies for a while, huh?"

    Julia washed a te with a stic scrubber and said softly, "Well, I have enough money tost me quite a while, so I''ll at least wait until Emma is a year old before I work again. If it''s really a problem, I guess I''ll just partner with Liz as a producer."

    "I think you''re better off as an actress. In fact, I have several great ideas that would suit you perfectly."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Julia shot him a re. "You''re always bullying me. I don''t want to work with you again." Eric exaggeratedly sighed. "Can''t I change the big bad wolf image you have of me?"

    "Big bad wolf..." Julia giggled at Eric''s wording. "You really are self-aware."

    Ericughed along, noticing the coolness of the Los Angeles night in March. Julia wore a fitted light yellow sweater and casual white pants that highlighted her long, shapely legs. The sweater seemed a bit short; when she bent down, her slim waist asionally peeked out, adding a touch of subtle allure.

    Realizing that Eric was openly admiring her, Julia quickly sped up her dishwashing, wanting to escape his line of sight. But she soon found Eric standing up and walking toward her.

    Instinctively, Julia felt like fleeing, but it was like she had fallen into a trap, feeling like a little rabbit caught in a snare.

    After a moment, Julia mustered the courage to say, "Eric, we might get... seen."

    Eric didn''t care if Elisabeth saw them, but he remembered there was a nanny watching Emma. Even though she had signed a confidentiality agreement, it would still be an awkward situation if she caught them. With that thought, Eric halted but leaned close to Julia''s ear and whispered, "I''m taking Liz back to the bedroom first."

    Julia, feeling dazed, instinctively nodded. It wasn''t until Eric left the kitchen that she realized what he meant. Her face flushed, and she regretted agreeing so easily. What was she going to do next?

    Nervously, she walked to the kitchen door and peeked outside, immediately spotting She saw Eric carrying Elisabeth on his shoulders and walking towards the stairs. Elisabeth didn''t dare to shout out loud because she was worried about the maid; she could only struggle constantly. However, judging from the strength of her struggle, it seemed that she had no intention of getting rid of Eric. When they were near the stairs, Elizabeth noticed Julia looking at her curiously, and she quickly gave her a look for help. Julia looked at Elizabeth''s embarrassed appearance, and for some reason, she couldn''t help butugh at the sight of her.

    After finishing the dishes, Julia stayed with the nanny for a bit, watching over Emma. After lingering for half an hour, she finally made her way upstairs to her bedroom.

    She lingered at the bedroom door for a while, thinking that if she didn''t take the initiative to go over, he would definitely do something even more abominable. She found an excuse for herself and gently pushed the door open and walked into the bedroom. Under the dim light, Elisabeth was lying on the big bed facing the door, with her hips raised high, allowing Eric to hit her violently from behind, and she let out a few weak moans from time to time.

    Seeing Juliaing in, Elizabeth seemed to have seen a savior, and she shouted hoarsely: "Julia, save me, wuwu, I''m dying."

    ...

    Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains into the bedroom. Eric dreamt he was submerged in cold river water. Shivering, he opened his eyes only to realize he was crammed against the edge of the bed, the nket vanished.

    Now that he was awake, there was no way Eric could go back to sleep. He dressed and left the bedroom.

    Downstairs, he ran into the plump thirty-something nanny holding a baby bottle. He vaguely remembered Julia calling her Betty, so he greeted her.

    Betty, the Latina nanny, recognized Eric''s identity and politely said good morning, stifling her curiosity about which of thedies he had spent the night with. Her face didn''t reveal any unusual feelings.

    Eric followed Betty into the nursery. The little oney in the crib, looking around with beautiful curious eyes. When she saw Eric, she opened her mouth and giggled, waving her

    little hands.

    Noticing the tired look on Betty''s face, Eric said, "Ms. Betty, let me feed the little one. You can

    take a break."

    "It''s fine, Mr. Williams. Someone wille to switch shifts with me at eight."

    "Didn''t you say the other person was sick?" Eric reached out to Betty.

    Seeing Eric''s insistence, Betty handed over the bottle and exined, "Ms. Roberts got

    someone else; otherwise, I''d definitely be overwhelmed."

    Watching as Eric fed the little one, Betty casually walked over to tidy up the diapers from the night. However, she couldn''t help but nce at Eric a few more times. Seeing his skilled handling, she even wondered if this little one might be Eric''s illegitimate daughter, simply living under the guise of Julia''s brother''s daughter.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 413: Chapter 414: The Sequel

    Chapter 413: Chapter 414: The Sequel

    ?

    [Chapter 414: The Sequel]

    Even though Eric Williams didn''t show any displeasure, Jim Carrey eagerly defended, "No, Mr. Williams, that''s not what Carl meant. I''m really looking forward to working with you. It''s just that there doesn''t seem to be much about the film in this contract?"

    "Due to the need for project confidentiality, we can only discuss the details of the film after the contract is finalized," Eric replied.

    Carl Maxson interjected again, "Mr. Williams, may I ask boldly, is Jim''s role the lead?"

    Eric nodded. "Of course, otherwise I wouldn''t go through so much trouble. I''m very optimistic about this film project, and I''m confident it will elevate the lead to the level of A- list celebrities. So, this contract is not harsh; it''s a fair exchange of interests. Don''t forget, there are 200,000 people in Hollywood waiting for such an opportunity every day, and over 90% of them will never see it in their lifetime. My time is tight, so I apologize for not being able to give you much time to consider. If you don''t agree, then it''s too bad. I will immediately arrange for other candidates."

    Jim nervously nced at his agent. Carl Maxson initially intended to ask Eric for a few days to think it over, but after hearing Eric, he could only give Jim a look that suggested he needed to decide for himself. Deep down, though, Carl hoped Jim would agree, as Eric pointed out, many actors in Hollywood might never get such an opportunity.

    Jim quickly made up his mind and asked, "Mr. Williams, do we sign the contract now?"

    Eric shed a faint smile. "Yes, of course. You can also notify yourwyer toe over and review this contract again. If there are no issues, we can sign this morning, and you''ll have the script within a week."

    Jim exchanged nces with his agent again, then nodded in agreement.

    From then on, there was no need for Eric to intervene.

    ...

    Once Allen escorted the two out, Elisabeth spoke up, "Eric, you just said that he would see the script in a week. So where is the script?"

    Eric retrieved a story outline from the filing cab and handed it to Elisabeth. "Here''s the story outline I wrote. The detailed script is still being revised by the screenwriters."

    Elisabeth picked up the thin pages and nced at the title on top, Dumb and Dumber. Sheughed a little, saying, "Just from the name, it''s aedy. And that title is really not creative."

    Eric sat down in his office chair and ignored Elisabeth''s customary little taunts. He picked up another document that needed attention. Securing Jim Carrey meant that for the next few years, Firefly Films would have unmatched achievements inedy. Jim was one of the rareedy kings in Hollywood''s history. When it came to Hollywood''s $20 million pay club, many would rattle off a list of stars, but the first to earn a $20 million paycheck wasn''t Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, or Harrison Ford; it was Jim Carrey.

    Eric had watched many of Jim''s films, with the most memorable being The Mask, which was also one of Jim''s peak works.

    The reason he chose Dumb and Dumber was primarily due to copyright issues. The Mask was a 1980ic work by Dark Horse Comics. Although Eric found that the film rights for thisic still belonged to Dark Horse, acquiring the rights now would indeede at a high cost. Besides the foreseeablepetition, Dark Horse certainly would raise the price.

    However, Eric was already nning a strategic move. Once Disney and Robert Shea''s Co. released their film, Cutthroat Ind, it would be well-known in Hollywood how Robert had snatched the script away from him. If this movie flopped at the box office, just like its original version, then thosepeting with Eric for scripts would have to ask themselves if they were stepping into another trap.

    As for the original creators of Dumb and Dumber, the Farrelly brothers were not yet a presence in Hollywood. After registering the story, Eric handed it over to Firefly''s screenwriting department for further development.

    In addition to Dumb and Dumber, Eric found out that Jim had coborated with another scriptwriter and director, Tom Shadyac, for another project. Tom was also registered with a simr script like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

    In the original timeline, Tom Shadyac had worked with Jim on several movies. However, Tom was just an obscure screenwriter under Warner Bros. at that moment. Eric intended to recruit him to gain experience working on the Dumb and Dumber project and create a consistent duo with Jim.

    After ncing over the outline for Dumb and Dumber, Elisabeth didn''t see anything particrly special, but out of trust in Eric, she didn''t express much doubt and simply asked, "Eric, do you have a suitable director in mind for this story?"

    "Well, have you seen Bill & Ted''s Excellent Adventure? I n to have director Stephen Herek for this film. Oh, by the way, all these details concern you. I''ll get you the necessary materials as soon as possible. Just make sure to have the finished film by the end of the year."

    Elisabeth responded, "What about Thelma & Louise? It took me ages to convince Ridley Scott to direct it. Now you''re asking me to prepare Dumb and Dumber, and there''s no way I can

    juggle both."

    "Don''t you have Drew to help you? Besides, if the boss had to do everything themselves, they''d be overwhelmed. Aren''t you going to hire a professional producer?"

    "I can think of that, but... never mind, I won''t waste time exining to you." Seeing her stubborn side, Eric understood that Elisabeth wanted to challenge herself. "If you don''t want to exin, then don''t linger here. I''ve got a lot of work to do. Tomorrow, I need to head to Ohoma for scouting and won''t be back for a week. There''s a pile of work waiting for me to handle today."

    Elisabeth seized on Eric''s words and countered, "Isn''t the boss still going to take on all the work themselves? Be careful not to wear yourself out."

    "Even if I wear out early, I can still handle you easily. If there''s nothing else, please shut the door on your way out. No need to see you out."

    Elisabeth huffed twice, stood up, then sat back down for a moment. Leaning over the other side of the desk, she asked with a hint of excitement, "Hey, by the way, for the Oscar ceremony at the end of the month, who are you nning to take on the red carpet?"

    Eric looked up and asked directly, "Do you want toe with me?"

    Elisabeth''s face flushed red, and she couldn''t meet Eric''s gaze, mumbling a small yes with her

    head down.

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, but I n to walk the red carpet alone."

    "Why?"

    "Because there are too many women, and it wouldn''t be fair to take one over the others, so I

    won''t take anyone."

    Elisabeth stared at Eric. "You really are... blunt."

    "Alright, do be good, and stop pouting. If you find it ufortable to walk alone, just take Julia with you. I''ll be generous and won''t hold it against you if you guys want to be close."

    "Ugh, don''t think I can''t find another malepanion to walk the red carpet with."

    Eric squinted slightly. "You can certainly try."

    Elisabeth huffed a little self-consciously, no longer addressing Eric, and left his office.

    ...

    That morning, Jim Carrey signed the contract with Firefly, but Eric didn''t have time to meet with him again. The next day, he flew to Ohoma with the digital effects team and several

    key members from Twister.

    Ohoma was located in the south-central region of the United States and at the southern end of the Tornado Alley, which often experienced frequent tornadoes from April each year. The crew spent a full week scurrying around various northern areas of Ohoma, and that was with the prior scouting team having done a lot of groundwork; otherwise, there''s no way so much could be aplished in a week.

    In addition to location scouting, Eric also gathered real data on tornadoes from a meteorological research facility in Ohoma City.

    After a week, Eric returned to Los Angeles with most of the crew, leaving behind a five-person working group responsible formunicating with the filming locations he had selected and negotiating tax rebate arrangements with Ohoma for Twister. Though the tax rebate amount in the various states of the U.S. was not as high as it would be in a decade, it was still a significant figure rtive to the production cost of Twister; even a low rebate percentage represented a tangible amount.

    By the time they returned to Los Angeles on March 9, the atmosphere for the uing 63rd Academy Awards in Hollywood was growing more intense.

    ...

    The nominations for this Oscars had been announced long ago. Aside from The Silence of the Lambs, which got a Best Picture nomination that would emerge again over a decadeter, Francis Ford Copp''s The Godfather Part III, Martin Scorsese''s Goodfes, and Penny Marshall''s Awakenings were anticipated films this awards season.

    Furthermore, as per the original timeline, the film Ghost should have received a Best Picture

    nomination but did not this time, which had nothing to do with the quality of the movie. The primary factor was Eric''s age. Although the movie was excellent, the Academy''s old guard likely felt subconsciously with Eric being so young, and with the film managing to be a box office sess, that there wasn''t an urgent need to vie for such an important Oscar

    nomination.

    Eric didn''t have the energy to care about these things. Even if Ghost had received the Best Picture nomination, if it did not win, it wouldn''t help much since it had already left theaters and was destined to be etched into the annals of Hollywood''s romantic films. Aside from Ghost, Firefly had no standout works for the Oscars. Catherine''s Point Break received good reviews, but due to its anti-establishment viewpoint, it was destined to go home empty-handed, with no nominations.

    The other two films rted to Firefly -- Sleeping with the Enemy and Basic Instinct -- had also only achieved box office sess, without any significant des. So, while this Oscars season didn''t involve Firefly much, after returning to Los Angeles, Eric still had to make time to attend several public rtions parties to personally advocate for The Silence of the Lambs.

    ...

    In the days leading up to the Oscars, while conducting PR for The Silence of the Lambs, Elisabeth and Drew also began preparations for Dumb and Dumber,pletely handing over Thelma & Louise to Ridley Scott. Ridley Scott had long been famous in Hollywood; not to mention his past works, he had already directed ssics like Alien and de Runner, making him qualified to direct and produce Thelma & Louise.

    ...

    Hollywood was never in short supply of films waiting to be made. Even without developing

    new projects, Firefly and New Line had umted plenty of films in their library that could

    have sequels.

    Of course, the Home Alone franchise couldn''t be overlooked, but Eric''s enthusiasm for producing this series had waned considerably. The reason behind it was that he recalled the

    box office fate of Home Alone 3, which only made a tenth of that of the second, but the production cost remained close to that of the first two.

    While they did not need to rece the lead like in the original timeline, the unpredictable risks associated with it were still hard to ignore. Eric even contemted selling the sequel rights to this series; perhaps he could exchange them with other filmpanies. Aside from Home Alone, Columbia had once again proposed the idea of making a sequel to Running Out of Time, which this time saw Tom Cruise getting inspired to "revive" the original. The movie was significantly sessful, raking in over $500 million globally. However, since Cruise struck out on his own, his ambitious first major project, Day of Thunder, ended in failure. Although the $80 million gross wasn''t bad, it fell shortpared to the equally high production cost of $80 million.

    In such circumstances, no filmpany dared to recklessly work with Tom Cruise on another mega-budget film. Moreover, Cruise didn''t want to revert back to making low-budget indie films. Over the past two years, Hollywood had experienced a series of blockbuster waves, which gradually formed the mindset among filmmakers that if you wanted to make big money, you must be ready to invest heavily.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Just as Cruise would kick off a Mission: Impossible series whenever his poprity began to wane, this time he strategically chose Running Out of Time. Interestingly, the firstpany he approached was Columbia, which had recently been acquired by wealthy Japanese interests,

    rather than Firefly.

    *****

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 Chapter 415: Chapter 416: Late Night Conversations

    Chapter 415: Chapter 416: Late Night Conversations

    ?

    [Chapter 416: Late Night Conversations]

    The car slowly pulled into the parking lot of the Liberty City estate. The driver turned his head and noticed Eric was resting with his eyes closed, so he quietly turned off the engine and remained seated, not wanting to disturb him. However, feeling the surrounding silence, Eric quickly opened his eyes, nced out the window, and said, "I''m sorry, Tony, did I sleep for too long?"

    The driver replied, "Not long, Mr. Williams. We just arrived home a couple of minutes ago. Still, I suggest you rest a bit more; you''ve been pretty tiredtely."

    Eric stepped out of the car and took a deep breath, the cool Malibu coastline air revitalizing him. Tony, the driver, followed him out and said, "Mr. Williams, the doorman mentioned that Ms. Kidman came by earlier this evening."

    "Got it. You should go rest," Eric said as he took his trench coat and briefcase from the car and headed towards the vi.

    ...

    In the vi''s hallway, the lights on the walls created a soft glow. Eric walked to a corner of the hall and saw Nicole recliningfortably on the sofa, nestled against a throw pillow, sound asleep. She wore a thin light pink knit top, which gently rose and fell with her breath. Eric felt a flutter in his chest watching her but decided not to disturb Nicole, as it was already past ten at night, and she had likely been waiting for him for a long time.

    He picked up a nearby light nket and draped it over her before heading to the bar in the corner to pour himself a drink. He sat down at a small coffee table and took out a stack of documents from his briefcase to go over.

    With the Oscars approaching, Eric was scheduled to shoot Twister in Ohoma, which would take three long months. If all went well, the film would wrap by the end of June. So, he needed to take advantage of his time in Los Angeles to manage several matters for Firefly Films.

    If he werefortable with the status quo, Eric could easily delegate more responsibilities. After all, with his current wealth, he could livefortably for a lifetime without doing anything. But being just twenty, he felt full of energy and didn''t want to live a lethargic life. As a ''passerby'' in this timeline, Eric had taken on a yer''s mindset, curious to see how far he could level up before the ''curtain call'' -- it was all quite an interesting endeavor.

    ...

    Time passed slowly, with only the asional rustle of paper breaking the silence in the lighted area. Perhaps having slept enough or sensing the night chill, Nicole stirred on the sofa, opened her eyes, and pulled the nket closer to her. Hearing sounds nearby, she propped herself up to see what was happening.

    Propped against the back of the sofa, peering at Eric, who sat cross-legged in a single chair, focused on the files, she finally asked, "Eric, what time is it?"

    "Almost midnight," Eric replied, ncing over at her. Having just woken up, Nicole''s cheeks were adorned with a lovely blush, a few stray locks of hair falling alluringly across her forehead. It was no wonder many literary works described the beauty of women just awoken from slumber -- Nicole looked enchanting.

    Noticing Eric''s gaze on her, she chuckled, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and sat up, slipping on her high heels to walk over to him.

    Eric made space for her, and she unhesitatingly squeezed onto the same chair with him. Both were slim, so they fitfortably together.

    Nicole giggled, nudging her waist against him yfully, then leaned in closer to examine the documents in his hand, asking, "What''s that?"

    Eric replied, "It''s the script for Pixar''s second 3D animated film." He handed her another folder, saying, "These are the initial character design sketches. Take a look and tell me what you think."

    As she opened the blue folder and saw many insect designs, she quickly finished looking through it and said, "They''re quite cute! I''m not sure about anything else."

    "Just thinking they''re cute is enough for me. When I pitched this story idea to John and the team, they mentioned that real-life insects aren''t all that charming," Eric exined.

    Nicole gently wrapped her arm around his, chuckling, "I think any story youe up with is bound to be amazing."

    "You have a lot of faith in me. One of these days, someone might end up learning a painful lesson from that blind trust," he teased.

    "That would mean they didn''t do a good job."

    "Hmm..." Eric prolonged the sound before jokingly asking, "You''ve been extra sweet today. This isn''t your typical style. Are you perhaps trying to get me to help you with something?"

    Nicole showed no sign of guilt and smiled, saying, "Am I sweet enough for you to want a taste?"

    With that, she leaned in closer.

    Eric chuckled as he lightly pecked her lips, feigning judgment, "It does have a bit of sweetness

    to it. If, there''s something going on -- best to tell me quickly while I''m in a good mood,

    right?"

    "I genuinely don''t have anything important. Just that someone wanted me to set up a meeting for them. I figured you wouldn''t agree, so if you don''t ask, I won''t bring it up." Eric quickly processed the information. Nicole was currently filming Hook; if it were Spielberg, he wouldn''t let her do something like that herself. Their rtionship was decent; he would call personally for anything important. That left one other person -- after all, Nicole''s current agent was Pat Kingsley, who also represented Tom Cruise.

    "It''s not about Cruise, is it?" Eric asked tentatively.

    Nicole looked surprised but nodded, "It is. I haven''t met him, but Pa Wagner invited me to dinner yesterday and mentioned this."

    Eric understood her intention to signal that she hadn''t had any private dealings with Cruise and smiled, asking, "Is it rted to the rights for Running Out of Time? Or is Cruise trying to acquire the other half?"

    This time, Nicole was even more astonished, "How did you know?"

    "It was easy to guess. Aside from this, I couldn''t think of anything else it could be," he

    replied.

    In fact, this was partly educated spection; he remembered that Cruise owned half the rights to the Mission: Impossible franchise. That gave him leverage in negotiations with Paramount, leading to Cruise receiving a bigger cut for each film.

    Without those rights, Paramount would''ve discarded someone as troublesome as him ages ago. While there was a falling out, Paramount needed to mend fences with Cruise if they wished to restart the franchise. That meant he could afford to pursue Running Out of Time, which he could grow into a sessful series.

    Hearing Eric''s thoughts, Nicole remarked, "That''s strange. If it were me, I wouldn''t have guessed. You must have caught wind of some news."

    Eric didn''t dig into that any further, choosing instead to ask, "So, what''s the n? I''m curious about how Cruise intends to acquire half of the Running Out of Time rights. He has a worth in the millions, but could he realistically scrape together a full hundred million in cash?" "Cruise''s productionpany should have gotten some investments. Pa said if you were agreeable, they''d like to discuss things in person -- they''re considering putting up part cash and making some trade-offs, maybe having Cruise star in a few movies for Firefly," she

    exined.

    If history remained unchanged, actor sries, including stars like Cruise, wouldn''t explode until after 1995 when the $20 million sry club formed, and stars began to shift toward a lower base pay plus shares model. Comparable to the current scene, Schwarzenegger and Stallone''s $15 million sries didn''t seem outrageous.

    Eric contemted whether he''d be able to halt the intion of actor sries. In the future, the situation had already seen movies suffering due to spiraling pay. The soaring sries left a massive dent in film industry budget, prompting numerous bad films as production costs skyrocketed, leading the industry down a downward path.

    Seeing Eric suddenly go quiet, Nicole eventually broke the silence, asking, "What are you thinking? You seem lost in thought."

    "Just mulling over how to exploit you talented actors; even capitalists struggle these days,"

    he said.

    Nicoleughed at Eric''s jibe and added, "So should I just tell Pa tomorrow that you don''t

    agree with this?"

    "Hmm, if theye up with cash on the table, I might consider it. But you should notice that

    there are seldom any big-name stars in Cruise''s films. Star actors don''t like working with him, and he doesn''t seem keen on coborating with top names either. In this case, he''s trying to do Running Out of Time solo."

    "Then I''ll tell him just that," Nicole said, hershes lowered slightly as she gently traced a finger along Eric''s arm before adding, "By the way, Eric, I heard you''re going to the Oscars without a date this year?"

    "I n to go solo," Eric replied, reiterating what he''d told a few other women, "Sorry, Nicole, they''ve all asked about it too. But it seems you didn''t have a nominated rolest year, right?"

    Nicole sighed, responding, "Pat helped me secure a spot as a presenter for Best Cinematography, so I''ll be attending."

    Not wishing to continue with that topic, Eric quickly shifted gears and asked, "How''s the

    filming for Hook going?"

    "It''s going alright," Nicole said, though her tone wasced with disappointment. She quickly realized it might''ve seemed like she was sulking over the red carpet dramas. "I feel Mr. Spielberg seems very... anxious. He even called for random stoppages several times these past

    few days. Maybe... maybe..."

    Nicole hesitated to voice her thought that perhaps pursuing this role was a mistake, but she held back, recalling how Eric had initially discouraged her to take it. She couldn''t show disdain for the opportunity -- she''d worked hard for it, and now that she''d secured the role, she''d have to swallow her discontent quietly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With Eric possibly selling half the rights to Running Out of Time for a hundred million dors, a sudden thought sparked in Nicole''s mind, "Eric, what if I tried my hand at producing

    movies?"

    "What brought this on all of a sudden?" Eric asked.

    A blush crept onto Nicole''s cheeks; she couldn''t admit it was about the money, even if it

    crossed her mind. Deep down, she also envied Julia, Drew, and Elisabeth for starting their own productionpanies. The Silence of the Lambs had generated profit exceeding a hundred million after its various release channels, and given her sry of $5 million per film, she would need to shoot 20 movies to match that.

    While it was morous to be a top star, the real power in Hollywood belonged to producers. Without connections, Nicole would naturally stick to acting. But with a supporter like Eric and the sesses of figures like Elisabeth ahead of her, it lit a spark in her.

    "I just thought I''d give it a shot. If they can do it, so can I," she dered. Eric considered it for a moment before breaking into a mischievous grin, "Not impossible. If you can bring those two people on board, I''d support the idea of starting a filmpany."

    *****

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 Chapter 417: Chapter 418: A Handshake is Enough

    Chapter 417: Chapter 418: A Handshake is Enough

    ?

    [Chapter 418: So Bad]

    The reporters were destined to be disappointed. After Eric got out of the car, the chauffeur drove off, leaving him to walk the red carpet alone. As he passed through the interview area, Ericplied with the reporters'' demands, stopping briefly to pose for photos.

    Just as Eric was about to leave, one reporter finally couldn''t hold back and shouted, "Mr. Williams, why are you without a date tonight?"

    Eric paused, ncing at the journalist who had spoken, seemingly about to say something. This piqued all the reporters'' interest. As members of the Hollywood press, they vaguely suspected that Eric might have had trouble deciding which woman to bring and just opted not to bring anyone. If Eric did say something along the lines of "Who do you think I should bring?" it would surely spark a headline that would leave plenty of room for interpretation.

    Eric kept the crowd in suspense, cleared his throat, nced at the reporters holding their tape recorders, and shed a brief mischievous smile before turning away and heading down the red carpet.

    The group of reporters stared at Eric''s departing figure in dazed silence for a while before a few self-deprecating chuckles broke the stillness.

    ...

    Eric appearedter in the lineup, and as usual, there was arge crowd already waiting at the end of the red carpet. asionally, several stars would pretend to stray into the ABC live coverage, eager to catch a glimpse on the broadcast.

    Upon seeing Eric arrive, familiar faces rushed up to greet him. He exchanged pleasantries with Francis Ford Copp and Al Pacino from The Godfather Part III. Since Nics Cage was Copp''s nephew, members of the Ghost team also gathered near The Godfather Part III crew. Eric''s presence soon drew in The Silence of the Lambs crew as well, forming a small circle of over ten people.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "What''s going on over there?" Eric asked, nodding to arge group of people in front of him. But before anyone could answer, it seemed that the crowd had received some sort of signal and gradually dispersed. Eric finally spotted a man and woman surrounded by people.

    Others fell silent, looking somewhat awkward, until Francis Ford Copp spoke up, "That''s Renny Harlin and Geena Davis; I''m sure you know them, Eric?"

    Eric replied nonchntly, "Of course I do."

    At that moment, he understood why so many people had gathered around Renny Harlin and Geena Davis only for them to disperse after he arrived.

    ...

    Renny Harlin not only had acquired the directing rights for Cutthroat Ind, but previously he had also directed Die Hard 2 for Fox. News of the Cutthroat Ind script had spread throughout Hollywood, and aside from a few who understood it was a trap, most believed the film had great potential. If Renny Harlin managed to deliver two blockbuster hits in a row, his status in Hollywood would skyrocket, which was no surprise as to why so many people had sought him out to chat.

    At this point, Renny Harlin and Geena Davis also noticed him. Renny merely nodded at him from afar and led Geena in another direction.

    "Renny, we should go say hi," Geena whispered while linking arms with Renny.

    Having made his first film at 26, Renny was now in his early thirties and already had two big productions under his belt. While he couldn''t bepared to Eric, he still had enough sess to look down on most directors who toiled away without ever finding fame. Thus, the scene where the stars had stepped away upon Eric''s presence made Renny quite ufortable. Hearing his wife''s suggestion, he felt even more displeased and stated, "Disney and Robert Shea have already made a mess with Williams over the Cutthroat Ind script. If we go over to greet him, it wouldn''t earn us any goodwill. If Michael Eisner and Robert Shea see us, it''ll just create problems for us. It''s unnecessary to get involved in something so thankless."

    Geena sighed and didn''t press further.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Eric''s circle found themselves discussing the Cutthroat Ind situation.

    Francis stared at the departing figures of Renny and Geena and turned to Elisabeth, saying, "Cutthroat Ind script getting snatched away was quite the surprise. But I don''t understand why Fox let Renny go so easily; there must be more to it."

    Elisabeth cast a quick nce at Eric. Renny Harlin had been a rising young director that Fox had been nurturing, even handing him the sequel to Die Hard. Plus, Fox had already discovered that Eric had appointed Renny to direct Cutthroat Ind. If it hadn''t been for Eric''sment about "not taking it," Fox wouldn''t have let Renny go so readily, even if it meant dragging awsuit out for years.

    This was certainly not information for public consumption. Faced with Copp''s question, Elisabeth shrugged it off, saying, "I''m not really sure about that. Fox''s business isn''t something I meddle in."

    Copp sensed that Elisabeth was holding back but didn''t delve into the idea that Cutthroat Ind was a trap. He assumed Fox had, like Eric, stumbled into a misstep with Disney.

    Thinking along these lines, Copp, assuming a mentor-like demeanor, patted Eric on the shoulder. "Eric, that''s just how Hollywood is. Don''t take it too heavily; it''s just a script after all. You''re not short on those, right? Ha ha!"

    Ericughed lightly and then asked, "Francis, how many Oscars do you think The Godfather Part III might snag?"

    Copp looked indifferent and replied with a grin, "As long as I don''t walk away empty- handed, I''ll be satisfied. After all, facing Fox''s little princess is quite the pressure for me too."

    "Mr. Copp, are you also joking about me?" Elisabeth yfully scolded, casting a re at Eric. If it weren''t for him, she wouldn''t have been stuck with such a backhanded nickname.

    The group erupted inughter again.

    ...

    Soon, the attendees for the ceremony began to stream into the auditorium. When Eric found his seat, he was momentarily stunned to see Elisabeth and Nicole sitting beside him. He had only exchanged a quick greeting with Nicole outside, nning to meet up again at the post- ceremony party. He hadn''t expected this situation. It was definitely a ploy by the Oscarmittee

    so unfair!

    Although he grumbled internally, it didn''t seem appropriate to switch seats at that moment.

    The ceremony had yet to begin, and as Eric pondered how to ease the tension, the two women appeared perfectly at ease. Elisabeth reached out to Nicole with a smile, saying, "Hello, Ms. Kidman, it''s been a while."

    "Long time no see, Ms. Murdoch," Nicole replied, extending her delicate arm to grasp Elisabeth''s hand.

    Surrounding acquaintances who witnessed this scene discreetly turned their gazes away.

    Eric felt a spark of tension crackling in front of him, watching the two slender arms crossing in front of him. He chuckled dryly and murmured, "A handshake is enough; let''s not get too

    close."

    *****

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 Chapter 419: Chapter 420: Look at You All So Eager

    Chapter 419: Chapter 420: Look at You All So Eager

    ?

    [Chapter 420: Look at You All So Eager]

    "Well, since you all look so eager..." Elisabeth nced at Eric sitting in the audience, mustering her courage to say, "Finally, I want to thank Eric Williams. Although this guy really didn''t do anything, it seems like everyone feels he should be thanked, so I guess I''ll just go with the flow."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Seeing the girl''s half-hearted attempt to cover up, the audience erupted in a chorus of yful jeers, which only made Elisabeth''s face grow redder.

    As the ceremony reached its conclusion, the final segment allowed for some free expression. At this stage, the emcee would not restrict the time for the winners'' speeches. Many people, if they wished, could take the stage or mingle with the guests in attendance.

    At that moment, many noticed host Billy Crystal stepping back onto the stage, casually walking over to the flustered Elisabeth, who looked ready to flee from themotion, and joked, "Come on, Miss Murdoch, you seem to be struggling with that little gold statuette. Let me help you with that."

    As he spoke, Crystal lent a hand to steady Elisabeth, supporting the statuette she held in her hands, then stepped forward to the microphone, saying, "Alright, those executives from Hollywood studios are now tearing up because some guy has finally stopped crazily making movies. A few years back, his films were quite a strain for everyone. So, in this joyful Cisco, let''s forget about Eric Williams. The glory tonight is already destined for The Silence of the Lambs."

    Amid the finalughs, this year''s Oscar ceremony finally came to a close.

    ...

    Ghost only garnered a few minor awards, so Firefly Films didn''t n to host a celebratory banquet. After all, following the Oscars, as long as one had the energy, there were all sorts of parties to attend. Eric simply announced that everyone was dismissed. The celebratory party for The Silence of the Lambs chose not to take ce at a hotel but rather at a mansion owned by the Murdoch family in Beverly Hills.

    As Eric slid into his car, he noticed a petite figure mbering in right after him, throwing her arms around Eric with a flurry of kisses and cuddles, "Eric, where''s the little gold statuette? Where''s the little gold statuette?"

    Drew wasn''t present at the ceremony, but the girl had been waiting outside the entire time. Eric pulled the clingy girl away,ughing, "How could I have the little gold statuette? They''re all with Liz; they''re back there doing interviews."

    At this, Drew suddenly jumped out of the car. Eric ignored the crazy girl and waved to Nicole, who then made her way over and climbed into the vehicle.

    Once Eric signaled the driver to head toward the celebration for The Silence of the Lambs in Beverly Hills, he lifted the partition between them, and the car smoothly began to roll out.

    Nicole''s mood was quiteplex at that moment. For the audience, the Oscar ceremony was merely a lively Hollywood affair filled with fun and jokes, but for the stars attending, watching others ascend the stage to enjoy victory and glory made no one content to remain a mere spectator.

    Once the car settled into a steady pace, Eric looked at Nicole''s expression and asked, "Are you feeling envious?"

    Nicole honestly nodded, "I was just thinking about when I could get my Oscar statuette."

    Eric looked at Nicole and replied, "You''re too beautiful; Oscar tends to have a bias against pretty women."

    Nicole wrapped her arms around Eric''s arm, leaning against him with an endearing tone, "What about you?"

    Eric embraced the girl, feeling the outline of her slim waist through the silk dress and said, "Of course, but do you really want the Oscar?"

    Nicole insisted, "I don''t believe there''s a female actor in Hollywood who doesn''t want one!"

    "If you want an Oscar, it''s not impossible," Eric continued, noticing the sparkle in Nicole''s eyes, "But you''ll need to dedicate two or three years fully to it. During that time, you might not be able to jugglemercial films, so there''s a lot of risks involved. In the end, you may not even get the Oscar, and your value could diminish if you overly focus on art films."

    Despite the team allure of the Oscar, Nicole certainly wouldn''t give up her development inmercial films for it. Hearing Eric''s words, she cast him a skeptical nce, "That shouldn''t be the case, right?"

    Eric exined, "For you, it absolutely would be. First, you''d need to choose an art film script that has the potential to impact the Oscars, then ensure it fits the judges'' tastes for outstanding films. Once you confirm the movie is good enough with test screenings, it''s a long road of pre-marketing and promotion, which usually takes several months. So, the effort required is much more than just filming the movie -- you also need to participate in various public rtions efforts.

    After getting enough attention at other pre-Oscar awards, the final push for Oscar Campaign begins. This entire process might just lead to a nomination. But given your background, age, and looks, getting that first nomination doesn''t guarantee you''ll win. You''ll have to go through this at least two or three times, and even then, you need to pray not to encounter any strongpetitors."

    While Nicole found Eric''s words somewhat believable, she still questioned, "Even though it sounds reasonable, looking back at recent Oscars, it seems like what you said doesn''t quite happen. Judy Foster this year, thest winner was... I think it was that older woman, and going further back, it seems those winners didn''t follow your proposed process, did they?"

    Eric chuckled, "That''spletely different. I was talking about a targeted strategy of aiming for the Oscars. The previous winners probably didn''t even know they would get nominated before they starred in those films."

    "Since they didn''t, how could you...e up with those things you mentioned?"

    Eric had, of course, drawn from his memories of the past. In just a few years, the Oscar''s publicity would be increasingly standardized and formic. For instance, Nicole herself, in his original timeline, first garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Actress through Moulin Rouge, then won the little gold statuette the following year with The Hours. And not long after, Jennifer Lawrence would repeat this standard process by first earning a nomination for Winter''s Bone, then winning the award for Silver Linings ybook.

    There were plenty of examples of winning on the first try as well, like Julia''s Erin Brockovich or Charlize Theron''s Monster. However, those actresses, even if they hadn''t received many nominations before, were already aplished by the time they imed their wins, having made their mark in Hollywood.

    Faced with Nicole''s relentless questioning, Eric didn''t feel the need to exin further, "Why do you have so many questions?"

    Nicole twisted her body against Eric, giggling, her mind momentarily set aside the thought of pursuing an Oscar. After a moment, she remembered something else, "Eric, do you think it would be appropriate for me to star in a film like Sarah & Shannon? Pat just said that movie would be too much of a departure for me."

    Eric, however, was not at all concerned, "You''re gorgeous, but you don''t have a sweet look. If you only keep doing romanticedies, I guarantee you won''tpete with Julia and the others. So it''s better to explore your range early on and try out some very unique roles. Experimenting with various types of films will prevent you from being limited to just one style. Although Sarah & Shannon is an R-rated movie, if you nail the role of Sarah, it could be spectacr."

    Upon hearing Eric mention Julia''s name, Nicole turned her head, but her thoughts took a different direction, quietly asking, "You don''t... want me topete with Julia Roberts, do

    you?"

    Eric retorted, "Do you think I would need to?"

    As his career progressed, Eric''s perspective also broadened considerably. What he wanted was to continuously grow Firefly Films until it became a unique titan in Hollywood. In this context, Eric wouldn''t invest too much thought into precisely directing the development paths for the women in his life. As long as they were thriving in their respective fields without seeking his assistance, he usually saw no reason to intervene.

    However, it was evident that Nicole thought differently. She always felt that Eric treated her differently from the other women. Or to put it bluntly, even after that incident, while Eric had changed a lot in his attitude toward her, Nicole still believed that he always showed favoritism towards the others.

    For a moment, Nicole fell silent, realizing that she rarely guessed Eric''s true thoughts, and this time was no different. When she was daydreaming, she felt that she was suddenly picked up by Eric. sitting on his thighs, she cried in surprise, but shrank into Eric''s arms obediently.

    Eric pulled down the girl''svender tube dress and stroked her delicate and fair skin. He said with a slightly admiring tone, "It''s perfect. You know, Nicole, if I didn''t want you topete with Julia, I would have locked you up in the vi at Liberty City Manor and made you my personal maid forever."

    Feeling Eric tearing off the nipple stickers on her chest bit by bit, and then reaching out to touch them, Nicole leaned on Eric''s shoulder with some panting, and said in a sweet voice: "I''m sorry, Eric, I shouldn''t have doubted you, can you forgive me?"

    Eric still didn''t stop what he was doing, and said, "I still have those maid outfits. I kind of miss seeing you in those outfits."

    "I...ha, I''ll find time to...wear it again for you to see."

    ...

    The trip from the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills usually only

    took forty minutes, but it was already over an hour when Eric finally arrived at The Silence of

    the Lambs party venue.

    Drew and Elisabeth, who came out to greet him, eyed Nicole suspiciously as she leaned

    against Eric. Being "in the know," it was easy for them to spot the telltale signs on Nicole''s face, leading to disapproving looks directed toward Eric.

    Nicole''s doubts had prompted Eric to ask the driver to take a few extra loops around Los Angeles, where he had given the girl quite a scolding in the back of the car.

    Facing the usatory gazes from Drew and Elisabeth, Eric maintained hisposure: "Liz, Nicole is a bit tired. Why don''t you take her to find a room to rest for a while? I can manage on

    my own."

    Elisabeth huffed in annoyance but coldly directed at Nicole, "Follow me, Miss Kidman."

    With that, Elisabeth turned and headed toward the vi. Nicole nced back at Eric, saw him

    nod, and followed after her.

    Once the two women were out of sight, Drew leaped onto Eric''sp,ughing brightly, "Eric, didn''t that feel great? Should we find some time to give it a try too?"

    Eric lightly tapped the girl''s forehead with his finger, adopting a serious expression, "Thinking about these things all day might mean it''s time for a good reality check." Drew maintained her smile, cheerfully linking her arm with Eric''s as they walked toward the vi, all the while chattering excitedly, "Yeah yeah, I promise to cooperate if you get serious

    about this!"

    ...

    As they entered the vi, the lobby was teeming with people engaged in lively conversations. Upon seeing Eric, numerous guests hurriedly approached to greet him, and he responded with

    a smile to each one.

    After chatting for a bit with Anthony Hopkins, Eric spotted Murdoch making his way through the crowd, beaming as he approached. As it was a celebration for his daughter''s winning Best Picture, Murdoch couldn''t possibly skip out on the event. Eric also noticed that Murdoch was apanied by two youthful men around his own age.

    After introductions, Eric learned that these two young men were Elisabeth''s brothers. Noticing their slightly resentful expressions aimed at him, Eric guessed that Murdoch had undoubtedlypared them to himself and might have belitted them in private -- talk about being caught in the crossfire!

    However, while physically simr in age, Eric''s mental maturity was light years ahead of these two young punks. He didn''t take their dismissive demeanor personally. After exchanging casual greetings, Murdoch ushered the two young men away and led Eric to a sofa.

    Watching his sons walk away, Murdoch couldn''t help but sigh, "If only L and James had half of yourpetence, I''d feel much more at ease handing the reins over to them." Eric vaguely recalled Elisabeth mentioning her brothers; they were the quintessential spoiled rich kids. One had even spent some time in juvie for reckless driving. Hearing Murdoch''s sentiment, Eric tentatively suggested, "Isn''t there still Liz?"

    Murdoch shot a nce at Eric, remembering his daughter''s connection with him, looking

    somewhat troubled.

    While he wholeheartedly wished for Eric and Elisabeth to be together, believing their union would significantly propel News Corp, he also recalled that over a year ago, Eric wasn''t even willing to marry his daughter when Firefly was still in its early stages. The chances now

    seemed even slimmer.

    Moreover, with Firefly''s current scale and the ambition Eric had shown, Murdoch was certain that even if Eric and Elisabeth did end up together, Firefly would only maintain a good

    coborative rtionship with News Corp, not be its subsidiary.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 421: Chapter 422: Visiting the Set

    Chapter 421: Chapter 422: Visiting the Set

    ?

    [Chapter 422: Visiting the Set]

    In the third week of filming Twister, a Boeing passenger ne roared down the runway at the Ohoma City airport. Virginia Madsen, seated in first ss, nced out the window at the damp runway and felt a rush of excitement. If it rained over in Ponca City, she might just catch a break with the crew''s schedule for the day.

    At the end ofst year, Virginia received a film offer from Paramount, but the chosen filming location was Northern Irnd. For this movie, Virginia spent three whole months in Northern Irnd before returning to the U.S.

    Although Virginia was a fiercely independent woman, three months without seeing her little man made her miss him deeply, both emotionally and physically. As soon as she got back to the U.S., she called to ask if she could visit the set. Eric could hardly say no.

    After disembarking, Virginia stepped out of the airport terminal with her assistant, Shania. They paused for a moment when a young man wearing a white baseball cap ran up to them.

    After greeting the two women, the young man introduced himself, saying, "Ms. Madsen, I''m Peck Hearns. Mr. Williams sent me to pick you up. This way, please."

    As he spoke, he kindly took the luggage from Shania''s hands and gestured for them to follow.

    "Thank you, Mr. Hearns," Virginia responded politely, following the young man out of the airport.

    "Just call me Peck," he said.

    The three of them climbed into a ck Chevrolet van, and then Virginia asked, "Peck, is the crew working today?"

    Peck Hearns seemed a bit taken aback at first but, remembering the weather outside, he understood why Virginia asked. "Of course, Ms. Madsen. For our movie, overcast skies are exactly what we''re hoping for. The crew has only had four days off in three weeks, so as long as it isn''t pouring rain, we''ll be working."

    Virginia felt a pang of disappointment at Peck''s exnation. It was only Tuesday. If the crew wasn''t off today, she likely wouldn''t be able to spend time with Eric until the weekend. And due to hermitments, she could only stay three days; she had to fly to New York on Friday for a promotional event for the brand she endorsed, which she couldn''t ditch due to contractual obligations. Given her little man''s workaholic nature, he wouldn''t have much time for her during the week.

    ...

    Ponca City was about 100 kilometers from Ohoma City. Thanks to the highway, they arrived in just an hour and a half.

    Although the weather was gloomy, it showed no signs of rain. The hotel where the crew was staying was almost empty.

    After arranging rooms for Virginia and her assistant, Peck Hearns asked, "Ms. Madsen, will you be waiting for the crew to finish up, or shall we head to the set now?"

    "Let''s go to the set," Virginia replied, her tone calm but betraying her impatience.

    Peck Hearns, tactfully avoiding any ufortable truths, nodded politely. Noticing Virginia''s outfit, he added, "If we''re heading to the set now, you might want to change into something more casual. At the very least, no high heels."

    Virginia was wearing a burgundy zer and skirt, a look she had specifically chosen since Eric preferred her professional attire. However, after hearing Peck''s suggestion, she quickly returned to her room and changed into a simple jacket and jeans,pleting the look with a pair of t boots.

    Peck Hearns swallowed hard, noticing Virginia''s legs encased in the jeans, marveling at how stunning a woman could look in anything. He couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy for Eric''s good fortune.

    ...

    The group climbed into an SUV and soon drove out of Ponca City. The road became much narrower, a bumpy cement path that jolted them around for half an hour. Virginia peered out the window and spotted a crane with its arm extended skyward. As they moved closer, the distant roar of the engines could be heard.

    Noticing the puzzled look on Virginia''s face, Peck Hearns exined, "That''s the sound of Boeing engines. To create a more realistic tornado effect, we rented them from Boeing." Virginia imagined the terrifying winds that could be generated by an aircraft engine capable of lifting hundreds of tons into the skies, shaking her head at how crazy her little man was. Shania, her assistant, chimed in with surprise, "A Boeing engine? That thing won''t blow us away, will it?"

    Peck Hearns seemed pleased with the women''s astonished reactions. "Of course, if you got too close, it could lift you off your feet. But as long as you keep your distance, you''ll be fine."

    They soon arrived near the set, where the staff on duty waved them through upon seeing Peck Hearns'' work badge.

    ...

    Virginia and Shania exited the vehicle, and the roar of the Boeing engines grew deafening.

    The filming location was set in a muddy channel, bustling with crew members. Various filming equipment scattered around, and a massive crane sat on the opposite bank, its arm seemingly connected to a farm tractor.

    After dropping the two women off, Peck Hearnspleted his task with a few parting words and headed toward a nearby temporary structure.

    The crew was busy, so Virginia refrained from interrupting. Standing about ten meters away, she watched for a while but didn''t catch sight of Eric.

    Minutes passed, and as the engine noises temporarily quieted, Virginia hoped that the crew had paused for a break. Instead, a drenched person crawled out from beneath a wooden bridge, and Virginia recognized Eric''s personal cinematographer, Nicole Frank. She waved at her.

    Nicole smiled widely, revealing a face that was smeared with mud, but as soon as she spotted Virginia, she turned and ran in the opposite direction. She saw her speak loudly to a crew member and quickly grab something that looked like a camera lens from the logistics team before charging back into the channel.

    A momentter, someone shouted an anguished "Action" over a megaphone, and the engine noises resumed.

    Shania, startled by the noise, tugged at Virginia''s sleeve and said, "Vicki, maybe we should wait a bit farther away? It looks like that might be the actors'' rest area over there."

    Virginia realized that these scenes could take dozens of takes, possibly taking a couple of hours to finish. She nodded, prepared to leave, when Nicole popped back up and approached

    them.

    "Let''s head that way," Nicole suggested, pointing toward the actors'' rxation area as she raised her voice.

    ...

    Having moved further away, they could speak without the noise bothering them. Nicole shrugged off her mud-sttered coat, asking a crew member for a towel to wipe her face. A white towel quickly turned gray, and once she finished, Nicole tossed it in the trash. Seeing that Nicole had tidied herself up a bit, Virginia smiled and extended her hand, saying, "Nicole, it''s been a while."

    Nicole reached out, but she quickly withdrew, noticing Virginia''s puzzled expression. She chuckled and exined, "Let''s skip the handshake, Ms. Madsen. I just crawled out of the mud, and I''m not exactly clean. I''ve heard that mud here can carry hepatitis, and everyone on set

    got vinated."

    Virginia nodded, understanding. "By the way, where''s Eric? I don''t think I''ve seen him." Nicole pointed toward the water channel, saying, "He''s in there shooting." Virginia thought about how messy Nicole looked when she emerged and imagined Eric could be just as filthy in that dirty water. She looked over there with a bit of concern and said, "Aren''t you the cinematographer?"

    Nicole didn''t catch any special tone in Virginia''s voice. "This is the first time we''ve shot such a scene. Eric wanted to see the real effects firsthand, so he jumped right in. You may not know, but Eric''s cinematographic skills are on par with mine. I''ve no idea how he learned."

    As they spoke, they watched the crane suddenlye to life, lifting a farm tractor off the

    ground.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "This is the scene where the tornado lifts the tractor," Nicole mentioned, then suddenly smacked her forehead. "Oh no, I forgot to tell Eric you arrived!"

    "No, it''s fine. He''s busy, and I don''t have anything urgent. I can just wait here," Virginia

    quickly waved her hand.

    "Alright then," Nicole said, finishing the coffee that staff had handed her. Standing up, she said, "I''ve got to get back to work. I need to set up the next shots, so I can''t stay with you."

    ...

    As Nicole walked away, Shania couldn''t help but express her awe. She had only been hired by Virginia earlier that year and had never met Eric before. But based on everything she had observed around her, she was instantly curious about him. After all, here she was at 26, still just an assistant, and she had fought hard tond this job. And to think that Eric was only 20 and already managing arge crew while owning apany like Firefly Films.

    "Vicki, what''s Mr. Williams really like?" Shania finally asked.

    Virginia hesitated for a moment. As her close assistant, there were many things Virginia had no secrets about, so she had already shared some details with Shania before they arrived. Now, hearing Shania''s question, she wasn''t quite sure how to answer. After thinking it over, she finally said, "I don''t know how to describe him. He''s a very special person; you''ll understand when you meet him."

    Shania murmured in acknowledgment, wanting to ask more, but suddenly recalled a piece of advice from a friend when she got this job: to be an assistant to a star, the most important thing was to suppress one''s curiosity. Shania, having only spent two years atmunity

    college before dropping out, wasn''t willing to lose her hard-won position over mere

    curiosity.

    With the filming environment being quite noisy, they both quietly observed the set, watching as the crane lifted the tractor one moment and then lifted another truck into the air the next. Eventually, nks from the wooden bridge flew up as well, and the artificially created wind sent debris flying. Although the tornado would be added in post-production, Shania already felt that the film was going to be a real showstopper.

    The two of them reached the set at ten o''clock and waited a full two hours until the morning shoot wrapped up, and the noisy environment finally quieted down.

    ...

    Virginia stood up and walked toward the channel.

    Before long, she spotted a muddy man and woman being helped out of the channel by crew

    members. While she didn''t recognize the man, she could tell he was likely the male lead in Twister. The woman, though in a disheveled state, had long, elegant eyes. Even covered in mud, her beautiful gaze hinted at her being a great beauty.

    The woman didn''t notice Virginia watching her. With the help of an assistant, she headed quickly toward a nearby temporary structure, which Virginia assumed must be the bathroom.

    Before the woman disappeared entirely, Virginia heard a familiar voice call out, "Vicki, you''re

    here!"

    Virginia turned to see a muddy and soaked Eric, holding a camera wrapped in stic.

    "Eric," Virginia softly said, taking a couple of steps toward him, her heart aching at his disheveled appearance. Just then, she noticed an assistant approaching with a towel. Virginia grabbed it, reaching out to clean Eric up.

    "Don''t. I''ll take care of this," Eric said, passing the camera to someone else. He took the

    towel from Virginia and wiped his face to avoid the mud getting in his eyes, then added, "There''s hepatitis out here. I need to take a shower first. Just wait a bit; I''ll be quick."

    Virginia nodded. After Eric left, Shania sidled up to her and said, "So, that''s Eric Williams,

    huh?"

    Virginia yfully tapped Shania''s head. "What''s wrong? Is there a problem?"

    "No, it''s just that I thought he would be... you know..."

    "Thought he''d be like what? Not that special?"

    Shania nodded, and Virginia decided not to borate. She looked at the pretty assistant and

    thought that if you felt his specialness, you might have fallen deeply in love with him.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 423: Chapter 424: An Unforeseen Circumstance

    Chapter 423: Chapter 424: An Unforeseen Circumstance

    ?

    [Chapter 424: An Unforeseen Circumstance]

    As midnight approached, rain began to trickle down outside, but the sound of the rain didn''t disturb Eric at all.

    Virginiazily leaned against Eric''s side, softly murmuring, "Wouldn''t it be great if it could always be like this?"

    Eric yfully pinched her cheek, teasing, "You''re not a little girl anymore. Where do these silly thoughtse from?"

    Virginia shook her head in annoyance, looking up at Eric, "Ugh...e on, you''re only twenty! Can''t you say something sweet that a guy your age should say to charm a woman?"

    Eric chuckled, "I can''t say that. We know each other too well; it would feel awkward to say those kinds of things."

    But Virginia seemed to have found interest, sitting up slightly to look at Eric, her eyes wide with a yful pout. "Come on, darling, say something. I want to hear."

    Eric quickly raised his hands in surrender, pleading, "Stop! Don''t talk to me like that. It gives me the chills. Alright, let me think... let me think..."

    Under Virginia''s expectant gaze, Eric pondered for a moment before stammering, "Li... little baby..."

    Hearing Eric''s painfully awkward tone, Virginia burst outughing, her whole body sinking back against Eric as she mimicked in his tone, "Little baby... li... little baby."

    Eric couldn''t help butugh too, "Alright, stopughing. It''s just that we''re too familiar with each other; I can''t pull this off. Next time, let''s go to a club, and you can see my skills at charmingdies."

    Virginia chuckled a few more times before saying, "Yeah, right."

    Eric insisted, "I''m serious! Last time I was in New York, I actually snagged two girls at a club. But since I stuck to my principles, I ended up going back to the hotel alone."

    Virginia asked pointedly, "Did they recognize you?"

    Eric hesitated, stumbling over his words, "Uh, well..."

    Virginiaughed even more. If Eric had been recognized, it was almost guaranteed that women would flock to him; after all, he was a billionaire.

    Eric didn''t make any arguments, letting Virginia continue to be amused for a while before saying, "Let''s get some sleep; I''ve got to wake up early tomorrow."

    Virginia soon quieted down but then softly asked, "Eric, if you can''t even whisper sweet nothings, does that mean I''m no longer your sunshine?"

    Eric nodded confidently, "Of course not. I just wish that our rtionship leaned more toward familial feelings."

    Virginia sighed in a small voice, "But I''ve never even tasted the vor of love yet; it''s a bit disappointing to shift to family feelings so soon."

    Eric turned and kissed her cheek, saying, "You might not like it, little beauty, but you won''t get away now."

    Virginia snuggled against Eric, murmuring, "I''ve never worn a wedding dress or put on a ring."

    Eric took her small hand and said, "I''ll buy you a diamond ring one of these days. A big rock, how does that sound?"

    Virginiaughed, "Wouldn''t that be too extravagant?"

    Eric gave her a look that said she was being too picky. "What do you want then?"

    Virginia thought for a moment and replied, "I want you to design a unique ring for me."

    "Not a problem," Eric immediately agreed.

    With this promise, Virginia was soon satisfied and fell asleep quickly. Eric felt the wind outside pick up a bit. He got up to close the window and took a shower before lying down to sleep.

    ...

    In a haze of sleep, he suddenly heard urgent knocking at the door. He opened his eyes to see it was still dark outside. Turning on the light, he nced at the clock; it was three in the morning.

    Feeling Eric move and the disturbance from the knocking, Virginia woke up, saw Eric hurriedly throwing on his pants, and sat up too, quickly finding her clothes. The crew couldn''t possibly not know she was staying in Eric''s room, and with knocking at this hour, something serious must have happened.

    Just as Virginia walked into the living room, she saw Eric return with a serious expression.

    "Eric, what''s going on?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric quickly found his shirt and jacket, shaking his head at Virginia''s worried gaze. "Nothing. I have to go out for a bit. You stay right here and don''t wander around."

    Virginia, sensing Eric was keeping something from her, grew more anxious. "What is it? Please tell me."

    After a moment of hesitation, Eric finally said, "Around two in the morning, a tornado passed through the northwest of Ponca City, hitting the street set we built for the film. Some staff got injured, and Jeffrey and I need to head there now."

    As Eric rushed out, he felt Virginia following him, leaving the room too. At that moment, many doors opened in the corridor, crew members were looking to see what was happening, and no one seemed to care that Virginia had juste out of Eric''s room.

    The door to Joanna''s room on the right side also opened. Dressed in her pajamas, Joanna quickly woke up upon seeing the chaos in the corridor. After learning what was going on and that Eric was heading to the site, concern shed across her face. Since they were filming Twister, Joanna was well aware of the seriousness of the situation.

    Seeing Eric prepare to leave, Joanna stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve. "Eric, why don''t I go with you?"

    Virginia, still following closely behind Eric, quickly added, "I want to go too."

    "Stay in your room, you both. This hotel is a reinforced concrete building; the weather forecast said there wouldn''t be a major storm. So this ce is safe," Eric said in a calm voice, his expression leaving no room for argument.

    Knowing that going wouldn''t help at all, Joanna tugged at Virginia and the two women returned to Joanna''s room. Eric and Jeffrey quickly left the hotel with a group of people as the sound of car engines filled the streets.

    ...

    The two women had no thoughts of resting anymore. They sat on the small sofa in Joanna''s room. Virginia took the coffee Joanna handed her and couldn''t help ncing out at the bright headlights outside. "This afternoon, I said there might be a tornado, and Eric told me not to be a jinx. Who knew... I really shouldn''t have said that."

    Joanna poured herself a cup of coffee, settling onto the sofa. "It''s okay; this has nothing to do with you. Because of this movie, I''ve also been paying more attention to tornadoes. I''ve already seen several tornado incidents reported in the paperstely; it''s pretty normal in the

    Midwest."

    Virginia sighed again, hearing the wind asionally howling outside, murmuring, "I hope Eric will be fine."

    Joanna blinked her long eyes and quickly said, "Don''t say that."

    Virginia froze for a moment and immediately covered her mouth.

    ...

    Out in the outskirts roughly seven kilometers northwest of Ponca City, a street in the small town where the main character''s aunt lived looked like it had been rampaged by some giant beast. Aside from the clear ruins stretching southeast, other structures, built as temporary sets, were also severely damaged by the force of the wind and were no longer usable.

    In the spotlight of several SUVs, an assistant director was briefing Eric and the senior crew members on the situation, "The seven staff members who were on watch managed to hide in the south-facing abandoned basement just in time. One fell and may have a fractured leg, but the others only had minor scrapes. All seven have been taken to Ponca City Hospital for

    checkups."

    Still worried, Jeffrey asked, "Are you sure it''s seven people and no one is missing?" The assistant director nodded, "I arranged this personally. The workers are from the nearby town; they all went home for the night. There were only those seven people here."

    Eric and Jeffrey breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the crew members were okay, there wouldn''t be a major issue, or else they would have to deal with the unions again. Given the numerous thrilling scenes in this film, various unions had representatives stationed here, always ready to stir up trouble.

    Eric understood why so many productions preferred shooting in ces like Canada. The lowbor costs and high tax rebates were one thing, but the main reason was to avoid getting tangled up with the many unions in the U.S. These unions could be a nightmare, and whatever they said had to be listened to; otherwise, they would threaten to withdraw all their members, bringing production to a halt.

    Seemingly oblivious to the easing expressions among Eric and the others, the assistant director continued, "However, the town of Richie to the southeast was hit by the tornado as well. I heard two people were swept away and still haven''t been found. Many others were

    injured."

    Eric and Jeffrey exchanged nces, unsure of how to respond. In situations like this, no one could possibly say it wasn''t their concern.

    The assistant director felt he''d struck an inappropriate note by bringing that up, so he turned back to the matter at hand. "So, Mr. Williams, what should we do about this? Do we need to

    rebuild?"

    Eric looked at the condition of the ruins illuminated by the vehicle lights and shook his head.

    "Since this ce has already been destroyed by the tornado, it''ll be more authentic than what we could make ourselves. So let''s film the scene of the tornado passing through here directly. Also, let''s find a simr small town quickly to shoot the scene where the main character has dinner at her aunt''s house."

    They deliberated over the relevant details, and by the time they returned to Ponca City, it was already bright outside. Perhaps due tost night''s wind, all the gloomy clouds had

    disappeared, and the orange sun slowly peaked over the horizon.

    ...

    Back at the hotel, Virginia and Joanna came out to meet Eric. Once they saw he was safe, they

    both felt relieved.

    Only one person among the seven watching over the set had a slight injury, but during the day, the crew still encountered a tussle with union members.

    Moreover, news of the tornado hitting the crew made it to the reporters who remained in Ponca City. By the next day, it appeared in the newspapers, with more reputable ones reporting the truth, but the sensational tabloids didn''t hold back. To draw attention, their reports leaned towards exaggeration, even pinning the situation in Richie town onto the crew. In just a few days, Ponca City was swarmed with reporters again. Seeing that things were escting, Firefly Films had to issue a formal statement in the Los Angeles Times along with a joint statement from the rted unions to calm the storm.

    ...

    Whether this sudden tornado had blown away the crew''s luck was uncertain, but the subsequent filming began to encounter issues one after another, including a car ident. Eric had to establish a dedicated safety team, and due to these dys, the original shooting schedule, which was set to wrap up by the end of June, might fall back by at least a week. This meant that not only would Eric miss the premiere of Toy Story, but he also might not make it back for the release of Terminator 2.

    The quality of both films spoke for itself, and their promotional work was proceeding steadily, so Eric''s presence wouldn''t impact their box office much. However, what Eric was most concerned about was the film Cutthroat Ind, which was set to premiere between the two films. In early May, teasers for Cutthroat Ind had started airing on television, and ording to intel, the movie would finish post-production by mid-June without any dys. Of course, Eric didn''t want Cutthroat Ind to be dyed. Disney intended to release it between Toy Story and Terminator 2 topete with them. But Eric knew that in the end, it would be Cutthroat Ind that would suffer the most. All he hoped for was that Cutthroat Ind

    would be hit as hard as possible.

    ...

    Chris kept updating him on progress from his end. Firefly Investment had sessfully

    dispersed and acquired 7% of Disney shares through several shellpanies. If Cutthroat Ind could repeat its disastrous failure from the original timeline, then with the Disney stock price dropping as a result, Firefly Investment could capitalize on acquiring more shares.

    ...

    Fully immersed in the production of Twister, Eric hadn''t left Ohoma for months. Virginia''s visit was soon followed by Jennifer Connelly, Elisabeth, and Drew making their rounds at the set. By early June, Famke Janssen, who had finished filming Thelma & Louise, also stopped by,

    but the tall actress could only stay for two days before she had to head back as the new season of The X-Files was about to begin production.

    After Famke left, the crew soon weed a little girl. Eric initially agreed to pay one hundred

    dors to Ivanka Trump for her to make cameos in five movies. The script included two scenes

    suitable for the little girl: one where the main character Jo Harding was a child, and another where Jo, upon arriving at her tornado-destroyed aunt''s town, saw a family of three embracing, which also featured a little girl.

    Ivanka didn''t have the final say in this, so Eric faxed the two scenes'' scripts to Donald Trump

    in New York. The real estate mogul, who had just pulled through the economic crisis,

    ultimately chose the role with more screen time for his daughter.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 425: Chapter 426: Its Time to Make a Move

    Chapter 425: Chapter 426: It''s Time to Make a Move

    ?

    [Chapter 426: It''s Time to Make a Move]

    Although Eric wasn''t in Los Angeles, Toy Story began a small-scale release during internal test screenings for Cutthroat Ind after a lengthy promotional period. The innovative 3D animation form, its heartwarming and humorous storyline, and its fable-like plot quickly generated massive buzz in the media.

    "Unlike Disney''s traditional fairytales about princes and princesses, this film tells a story about friendship, trust, and the search for belonging from the perspective of toys."

    "This is a fable aimed at adults, with elements of both heroism and anti-heroism as its main pirs. The bustling collective family dynamic always elevates so many touching moments. Buzz and Woody''s grand aspirations and genuine sincerity reflect our own. A touch of dark humor doesn''t diminish the beauty worth believing in."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "The brand new animated film format, Pixar''s 3D technology, is undoubtedly set to revolutionize hand-drawn animation as we know it."

    In just one week, the small-scale release achieved nearly the total impact of all prior promotions. The overwhelmingly positive media response bolstered the publicity department''s confidence, prompting Michael Lynn to discuss with Eric over the phone and increase Toy Story''s publicity budget by another $10 million, making its total production and marketing costs soar to $70 million, a blockbuster-level budget.

    However, Eric knew that as long as Toy Story could establish the status of 3D animation in Hollywood, the $70 million investment would be worth every penny. Moreover, ording to memory, he was confident about recouping Toy Story''s total costs just from its North American release, and subsequent distribution channels were bound to generate substantial profit.

    Most importantly, prior to all this, Pixar had already registered trademarks for all the toys featured in the animated film. Eric was fully aware that the profits from licensing Toy Story''s animated characters would undoubtedly rival the box office revenues.

    ...

    Compared to the grand promotional push for Toy Story, the test screenings for Cutthroat Ind seemed quite understated.

    After internal screenings, Disney had little confidence in this film but didn''t entertain thoughts of it being a box office failure. Although Disney cited the need for further detail modifications as a reason to refrain from broader test screenings, it maintained a relentlessmitment to television promos, billboard posters, and other marketing strategies.

    Michael Eisner seemed to believe that insufficient quality could be redeemed through increased promotion. He not only refused to cut the promotional budget for Cutthroat Ind, but he also suggested raising it. As a major investor, Robert Shea realized that he would likely face substantial losses from Cutthroat Ind. Having endured Hollywood for many years, he sensed that if the movie flopped, Disney would surely find ways to shift the me for their financial losses onto him. Thus, he refused to shell out another dime and even had a heated argument with Michael Eisner.

    The push to increase the promotional budget came from Eisner, but he was determined that Disney wouldn''t bear the expense alone, leveraging the terms of their contract topel Robert Shea to contribute financially based on his investment ratio. Shea reluctantly swallowed his pride, knowing that refusing to pay now would give Disney all the more reason to me him for any box office failures.

    ording to Disney''s projections, considering Cutthroat Ind was packaged as a Hollywood blockbuster with over $100 million in investments, even if the plot was... well, let''s be honest, a bit scattered, Hollywood had seen untidy plots go on to rake in millions before. So, Disney optimistically anticipated that Cutthroat Ind could at least gross $80 million, with overseas revenues expected to meet that figure as well. After two critical revenue sources, even if losses were incurred, they believed that recouping costs within two years from video sales and TV broadcast rights would be an absolute certainty.

    Even as Toy Story gained incredible acim, Disney sensed its monopolistic status in Hollywood animation might be under threat. However, since Toy Story and Cutthroat Ind catered topletely different audiences, they didn''t feel particrly pressured.

    ...

    Enteringte June, the summer box office of 1991 had already been underway for a month, initially kicked off by Fox''s release of the sequel to Hot Shots! at the end of May. The previous year, the first Hot Shots! had garnered nearly $200 million worldwide on a $20 million investment, outperformingst year''s Fox hit, Die Hard 2, which made Fox eager to greenlight the sequel.

    Yet, afterst time Eric had earned a 30% investment by selecting the script, resulting in $8 millionting about $50 million in profit for him, Fox decided to handle the sequel differently. Fox turned a blind eye to the matter, with no mention made of Eric''s involvement, and Eric, swamped with work, didn''t focus on any specific agreements.

    Having previously parodied Top Gun, the sequel maintained itsedic style by spoofing Sylvester Stallone''s First Blood. Unfortunately, Fox bungled the follow-up. Even though the sequel''s absurdity surpassed the original and the budget ballooned to $40 million, for some reason, audiences just weren''t buying it.

    Fromte May tote June, during its three weeks in 2,100 theaters, Hot Shots! sequel only managed to gross $28 million, solidifying its failure. The sess of a film is always a reason to celebrate, but the shocking reality was that this sequel had flopped terribly. As a result, numerous shareholders wrote to the Fox board, condemning management for sidelining Eric and mishandling the Hot Shots! sequel, whichid waste to what should have been a promising franchise.

    Not just Hot Shots!, throughout the past month of summer, other films from various studios also flopped, normally shy box office numbers werecking. Typically, by this time of year, North America''s weekly total should have surpassed $100 million, but leading up to Toy Story''s debut, weekly earnings hovered just above $80 million. Everyone knew the reasons behind the downturn.

    ...

    On June 21, after weeks of massive promotional efforts and umting positive reviews, Toy Story finally premiered in 2,400 North American theaters. Before this, Toy Story had already garnered over $1.5 million in ticket sales from its limited release. Although that figure seemed rather modest, averaging sessful per-theater earnings of over $50,000 with under 30 theaters showing it.

    With nopetition during this summer te, Toy Story earned $30 million on its opening weekend. A weekter, its earnings soared to $47 million, easily surpassing its production costs.

    s upon release,

    s the first 3D animated film, Toy Story achieved such astounding making waves in Hollywood and around the world. The previously underappreciated Pixar studio quickly became the focus of Hollywood attention. Many industry magazines estimated that the studio could be valued at over $1 billion if it decided to go public.

    Media outlets soon unearthed that Eric had originally purchased Pixar from Steve Jobs for $20 million. At the time, Jobs was still struggling to keep hisputerpany afloat. When approached by reporters asking for his thoughts, Jobs remained tight-lipped, seemingly

    unperturbed by the unfolding events.

    However, privately, Jobs quickly picked up the phone to call Eric, offering his congrattions and seizing the opportunity to request a lucrative order from him.

    After Toy Story, Pixar would certainly need to expand again. With Jobs''sputerpany producing professional-gradeputers, upon hearing his request, Eric happily agreed without hesitation. He thought of it as a chance to build a connection with Apple moving forward, even if he was doubtful that someone like Jobs would reciprocate this investment. Eric, who had no intentions of letting Apple slip by, decided that intervening wasn''t yet the right time, as hecked the necessary funds or energy for such a venture.

    ...

    A week after Toy Story''s release, on June 28, Cutthroat Ind also premiered in 2,500 North American theaters with great fanfare following a massive opening night. In contrast to Toy Story''s rising poprity from its initial screenings, Cutthroat Ind, despite having invested $35 million in promotional materials across multiple channels, only held a few open test screenings invite-only for friendly media and critics.

    After gaining benefits from Disney, those invited had no intention of trashing Cutthroat Ind, yet they also weren''t about tovish praise on the film, knowing it could backfireter. As a result, reviews in newspapers primarily focused on the film''s grand visuals and picturesque scenes, while discussions about the plot were notably sparse, with few willing to engage in that conversation.

    While news of Terminator 2''s $100 million investment spread first, Cutthroat Ind was, in fact, the first Hollywood blockbuster to hit theaters with a budget over $100 million. Thus, on opening day, fans brimming with high expectations filled the cinemas, and Cutthroat Ind raked in $9 million on its first day.

    However, things took a swift downward turn. Once the film released, Disney could no longer control the narrative surrounding Cutthroat Ind. The following day, media coverage turned sharply negative, with many respected critics candidly stating that Cutthroat Ind was merely "expensive visual trash" made by pouring $100 million into a chaotic production. Audience members interviewed after watching the film expressed extreme disappointment,beling it as a disjointedic strip void of any coherent storyline.

    Having evolved over nearly a century, North America''s film industry had be highly essible, with low-priced tickets making movies a popr form of entertainment. With so many options avable, it meant that there was little space for bad films in this mature

    market.

    As a result of all this, Cutthroat Ind''s earnings on its second day plummeted to just over $5 million, and then fell again on the third day to only $3 million.

    During its opening weekend, Cutthroat Ind achieved $17 million at the box office, but if one ignored the trends, that number didn''t seem too bleak.

    But three dayster, Cutthroat Ind''s attendance shrank to the almost mandatory minimum for a cinema to keep showing it. After the first week, Cutthroat Ind managed to umte a total box office of $20 million, meaning it only brought in a paltry $3 million over four weekdays. In its second week, over 1,000 theaters took the now-empty film off the marquee, and the remaining 1,500 found themselves clinging stubbornly to the end of their contracts with Disney, left toment their unfortunate situation.

    Whether due to Cutthroat Ind''s poor quality or promotional strategies that inadvertently stirred audience defiance against it, the film''s plummeting reputation and earnings contrasted sharply with Toy Story''s fortunes. As Toy Story entered its second week, its earnings not only remained stable but increased further,ting over $49 million by the end of the second week. Even if it benefited from ack of majorpetition, achieving nearly $100 million in just two weeks sent shockwaves through the industry.

    ...

    Terminator 2 had also been marketing itself with a hype around its over $100 million budget. This time, fans seemed cautious. Therefore, on July 3, Terminator 2''s opening day yielded only $8 million, but the meticulously crafted suspenseful plotbined with the allure of the liquid metal robot soon won critical acim. After its opening day earnings, the next two days earned $14 million and $11 million respectively, wrapping up the weekend with a total of $33 million, surpassing Toy Story''s initial figures.

    Conversely, during its second week, Cutthroat Ind only managed to scrape up over $5 million before plummeting into obscurity. Over its two-week run, it managed to earn $25 million against a staggering $140 million budget, leading to overwhelmingly negative reviews which dashed any hopes for overseas earnings. Its prospects for home video and television broadcast revenues were also nearly nonexistent. As a result, Disney and Robert Shea found themselves jointly facing a staggering loss of $120 million.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 427: Chapter 428: Golden Parachute

    Chapter 427: Chapter 428: Golden Parachute

    ?

    [Chapter 428: Golden Parachute]

    By five in the afternoon, the sun had begun its descent, casting a magnificent orange hue across the horizon where the sea met the sky outside the ss curtain walls of Liberty City. Eric and Chris remained in their seats, seemingly unmoved the entire day.

    It had been six months since Eric made the decision to acquire Disney. Throughout that time, in addition to secretly acquiring Disney stock, Chris had conducted extensive research on the entire Disney Group. This included probing into the shareholders, the creditors, and their attitudes towards Disney''s management, alongside detailed data on various Disney assets. The cost of this research had already run into the millions, making Chris perhaps the most knowledgeable person about Disney at that moment.

    For most of the day, Eric yed the role of listener, asionally asking questions that Chris patiently answered.

    As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, they wrapped up their discussions. Chris concluded with, "Cutthroat Ind has just left theaters, and given the enormous losses, now is the worst time for Disney''s shareholders and creditors regarding management. It''s the best opportunity for us to initiate our acquisition. We need to make an offer within a week, which gives us time to consolidate the scattered Disney stocks we hold and form an acquisition team. Oh, I almost forgot to mention..."

    At that moment, Eric held a listing of films that Disney nned to release in thetter half of the year and raised his head to ask, "What''s that?"

    "The folks at Firefly Investment Company simply don''t have enough manpower to form a professional acquisition team. I was thinking about coborating with Morgan Stanley. You know I have some connections there, and they already have a corporate merger team that can handle everything from asset evaluation to legal matters and pricing negotiations."

    "That sounds fine," Eric replied.

    Chris added, "What I meant to say was, you must have heard that Michael Ovitz led CAA''s team to help Panasonic acquire Universal, earning a $70 millionmission in the process. Morgan Stanley''s team won''te cheap either."

    Eric chuckled, "Everyone knows the Japanese are willing to get ripped off. We certainly are not. How much would it cost to hire Morgan Stanley''s team?"

    "If we go by a team of 100, I estimate it will be around $50 million. Once we initiate a hostile takeover,pleting the acquisition will take at least six months, and it may stretch to a year or more," Chris said, looking at Eric in anticipation.

    Disney''s market value was just over $3 billion at that time, but the final amount involved in the acquisition wouldn''t be less than $5 billion. With Morgan Stanley taking a 1%mission from that, the fee was quite reasonable. Eric vaguely recalled that major investment banks usually charged shareholders 10% or more for assisting in stock sales.

    Reflecting on those figures, Eric quickly made his decision, stating, "Let''s go ahead and hire Morgan Stanley''s team. And let them know, if they canplete the acquisition within six months, I will increase their originalmission by an additional 30%."

    For corporate mergers, the longer the process dragged on, the greater the uncertainties and costs involved. Many hostile takeover attempts fizzled out due to prolonged dys. Thus, far from dissuading Eric, Chris showed his admiration for Eric''s decisiveness: "I''ll ry that condition to Morgan Stanley."

    ...

    Over the following week, while Chris secretly made the necessary final arrangements, Eric remained actively involved.

    With Toy Story crossing the $100 million mark in its third week and The Terminator 2 continuously climbing at the box office, industry experts estimated both films would earn about $200 million each in North America. Having two films grossing over $200 million during a summer release was impressive enough to make Hollywood''s other filmpanies green with envy.

    Consequently, Firefly Films hosted a grand celebration party at Eric''s Liberty City Manor. This was the thirdrge-scale event held at the manor, and in stark contrast to previous parties, Eric not only invited numerous Hollywood stars and executives but also approved dozens of media reporters to cover the event.

    All of this was aimed at building momentum for the uing acquisition. The greater Firefly''s influence, the more favorable the acquisition would be.

    In just one week, not only were Toy Story and Terminator 2''s box office sesses widely celebrated, but Cutthroat Ind and Fox''s Hot Shots! sequel also faced criticism anew. Eric had initially nned to follow Sony and Panasonic''s lead in aplete acquisition, rather than attempt to swap out Firefly shares for Disney stock.

    Thus, this entire publicity stunt was not about instilling confidence in Disney investors to sell their stock. Throughout various newspaper articles, Eric subtly conveyed one key message: if they didn''t sell, Disney could continue to release films like Cutthroat Ind or Hot Shots! sequel, further targeted by Firefly''s blockbusters.

    While many sensed this underlying tension, it wasn''t until Firefly submitted its acquisition offer to Disney that people truly grasped the implications of Eric''s earlier statements.

    ...

    On Monday, July 22, 1991, after working the weekend without rest due to the catastrophic box office failure of Cutthroat Ind, Michael Eisner had spent the past few weeks attempting to pacify Disney''s shareholders and creditors.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric''s remarks about the so-called Cutthroat Ind trilogy only fueled Eisner''s frustrations; a single statement worsened his already precarious situation. Many shareholders chastised him for stubbornly relinquishing a good working rtionship with Eric. Eisner wanted to work with Eric, but afterst year''s upheaval, it seemed nearly impossible.

    After breakfast at his Malibu vi, Eisner didn''t head to Disney headquarters. He had already booked a flight to meet with Disney''srgest shareholder, the Bass family in Texas.

    As Disney evolved over the years, the Disney family that had founded the brand no longer held a significant stake; currently, the Disney family foundation owned about 3% of Disney stock. In contrast, the Bass family, having made their fortune in oil, had acquired 16% of Disney''s shares during the 1970s and 80s, bing itsrgest shareholder.

    In 1984, it was the Bass family and Disney elder Roy Disney''s support that enabled Michael Eisner to secure the position of CEO.

    As the driver took him to Los Angeles airport, a small private jet was waiting -- a benefit of Eisner''s role as Disney''s Chairman and CEO.

    Once the ne took off, Eisner ryed a few instructions to his assistant before deciding to rest for a while. The flight from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, would take over two hours, and the burdens from the Cutthroat Ind box office disaster had left him mentally and physically

    exhausted.

    Not long after dozing off, the cabin lounge door was knocked on, with an urgent voice calling, "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Eisner! Mr. Wells has an emergency calling through."

    Awakened abruptly, Eisner frowned as he exited the lounge. The assistant, noticing Eisner''s gloomy expression, handed him the cordless phone, softly exining, "I mentioned you were resting, but Mr. Wells insisted it was urgent."

    Eisner nodded expressionlessly, took the phone, closed the lounge door behind him, and poured himself a ss of red wine, asking, "Frank, what''s going on?"

    On the other end, Disney president Frank Wells spoke hurriedly for over a minute before Eisner realized that his winess was spilling over. Yet, he was too preupied to care, casually cing the empty wine bottle on the table before hanging up and exiting the lounge. He called out to his assistant, "Nick, notify the pilot that after wend, we''re returning straight back to Los Angeles."

    By noon, Eisner finally arrived back at Disney headquarters, where the board members were already waiting in the conference room.

    Seated at the head of the table, Eisner silently reviewed the acquisition proposal submitted by Firefly. After a whispered curse, he turned to Frank Wells and inquired, "Frank, are you sure this isn''t a joke? Where does Firefly think it can gather enough money to acquire Disney?"

    Frank patiently exined, "I personally called Eric Williams to verify this."

    "I''m asking where they got the money!" Eisner''s voice had grown into a roar. Wells, maintaining hisposure, shook his head. Just as Eisner was about to lose his temper, one of the board members cautiously ventured, "Could it be from the previous oil

    crisis?"

    Eisner paused, quickly connecting the dots from Eric''s actionsst July and August. He felt certain that Eric had raised around $700 million in capital back then.

    Almost a year had passed since that event, with Eric having kept a low profile ever since.

    Everyone presumed he hadn''t made much money, but looking at the acquisition offer, Eisner

    realized everyone had been duped.

    Faced with embarrassment, he clenched his fist and looked up, stating, "Now, let''s discuss what to do next. If Eric Williams sessfully acquires us, we all might need to pack our bags. So we absolutely cannot allow that to happen."

    The meeting room erupted into a flurry of voices. The sixteen Disney board members either favored Eisner or were former high-ranking executives at Disney. Due to Eisner''s tight grip on power, their authority had been significantly diminished. However, they didn''t seem to mind, knowing that if a significant decision went awry, it would be Eisner who bore the brunt of the me, just like with Cutthroat Ind. Thus, this cushy job that required no ountability yet offered a high sry was something no one wanted to lose.

    "The most important task now is to reassure the shareholders. As long as they stand with us, Firefly''s acquisition attempt isn''t feasible."

    "Hey, it''s too bad that Cutthroat Ind just caused such a massive loss. Firefly seized the

    opportunity perfectly."

    "Don''t forget the creditors. We just discussed deferring payments on maturing bondsst week. That option can''te back because it will only increase the pressure from the

    creditors, seeing as Firefly''s performance is so ster."

    "Firefly now holds 11% of the shares; that''s quite a headache."

    Discussion buzzed for about five minutes, but Michael Eisner failed to hear anything useful

    from the people around the table. This infuriated him, as he ignored his role in creating this situation. To solidify his power, the more ipetent board members he had, the better for

    him.

    Disregarding their chatter, Eisner directed his assistant, "Gather all management for a meeting, and send a letter to Firefly''s management to formally decline the acquisition." "Mr. Eisner, ording to procedure, we need to disclose this to the shareholders," the assistant gently reminded him.

    Eisner shot an irritated nce at his assistant, "Just do your job."

    The assistant, feeling sheepish, nodded and exited.

    Eisner rapped his fingers on the table to silence everyone, dering, "Alright, quiet down.

    We''ll discuss this once management arrives."

    A hushed silence fell over the board members.

    ...

    On the same day Firefly submitted its acquisition offer to Disney''s board, Disney rejected the proposal outright and selectively shared information about Firefly''s offer with numerous

    shareholders.

    Within just three days, while rejecting Firefly''s terms, Disney swiftly approved a protective n against hostile takeovers known as the golden parachute.

    The golden parachute referred to a pre-signed agreement designed to protect the management from hostile acquisitions, stipting that if a targetpany were acquired sessfully, the existing high-level management would receive substantial severance packages should they face termination. Clearly, when confronted with a hostile takeover, Michael Eisner''s first thought was still about safeguarding his own interests.

    Three dayster, Firefly held a press conference to publicly announce its acquisition n for Disney and, as a Disney shareholder, demanded that Disney''s management immediately disclose its financial status to the investing public.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 429: Chapter 430: The Woman in White

    Chapter 429: Chapter 430: The Woman in White

    ?

    [Chapter 430: The Woman in White]

    "That was just a gimmick. The Others had an exceptional storyline, and its release spanned the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons without any directpetition, which is why it achieved such an outstanding box office through long runs."

    Nicole snatched the information from Eric''s hand and flipped through it, retorting, "There''s nopetitor of the same type for Billy Bathgate, right?"

    Eric didn''t mind her taking them: "Billy Bathgate was positioned as a crime drama. That genre isn''t exactly mainstreammercial fare, and it''s somewhat niche. Beyond the star power of Dustin Hoffman and Bruce Willis contributing to the box office, the most reliable way to recoup costs was to aim for the Oscars. But Disney decided to roll it out widely on November 1 instead of building word of mouth with limited screenings, which was pretty much a surrender of the Oscars. They invested nearly $50 million! After the box office resultse in, I can guarantee more shareholders will be disappointed with the current management team..."

    Nicole was getting a little flustered by Eric''s hand resting on her thigh when he suddenly stopped moving. "What''s wrong?" she asked curiously.

    "Michael Eisner must be aware of this too. I''m thinking Disney might very well postpone Billy Bathgate," Eric replied, staring at Nicole''s exquisite face for a few seconds before breaking into a mischievous grin. "Nicole, I have a task for you."

    "Hmm?"

    "Right now is a very special time. If Disney suddenly decides to dy Billy Bathgate, it would surely be a hot topic for the media. You just so happen to have received an offer for the lead role. If journalists ask about it, you should say I told you not to take the role after reading the script."

    Nicole immediately understood Eric''s intent. If she said those words, it would undoubtedly create negative consequences for the box office of Billy Bathgate, even if its release date was changed. After all, no one knew that Eric had gained this foresight from the memories of his past life. Up until now, all his sesses were credited to his keen insight into films. Just look at some of the summer movies that came out recently: Hot Shots! sequel of First Blood parody tried to cut Eric out from all the profits, but the entire franchise fell t. The screeny for Cutthroat Ind that Disney snatched from Eric ended up crumbling too. Conversely, movies that initially seemed less promising, like Terminator 2 and Toy Story from Pixar Animation Studios, thrived under Eric''s influence.

    "Alright, I''ll say that when the timees," Nicole nodded, cing the materials in front of her on the coffee table as she leaned in closer to wrap her arms around Eric''s arm. "Eric, are you really going to buy Disney?"

    "With this muchmotion, do I look like I''m kidding around?"

    Nicole chuckled, "No, I mean... Did you make the money for acquiring Disney through those oil futures you did?"

    Eric replied, "Now, many people are curious about the source of my funds for buying Disney. Information like that could easily sell for over $100,000. Are you sure you want to know?"

    "Alright, I won''t ask," Nicole shook her head, realizing that question might have been a bit ill-timed. As a smart woman, Nicole quickly understood that it was better not to know about such things. Otherwise, if the information got out, she would definitely be suspected of leaking it.

    "It''s best you don''t know," Eric added. "The two New Year releases are crucial for Firefly, so I''ll personally visit various sets. How''s everything going with Sarah & Shannon? You found the time toe here today?"

    "I was shooting some scenes for Rosie, so I happened to be free," Nicole exined.

    "What about Pa Wagner?"

    "She heard that this is a script you personally conceived, so she took the producer''s role without any second thoughts. But Pa has also been preparing for Tom''s next film, which is a prequel to Running Out of Time. She even invited me for the leading role; Sony had shown interest too, but it fizzled out because Tom didn''t agree."

    Eric thought that if history didn''t change, Nicole was just starting out in Hollywood with little fame. The two of them starring together would have been no problem.

    But now, things were different; Nicole was already an A-list star. Considering her own interests, it wasmon for Tom''s films to steer clear of leadingdies, because the investors usually had specific budgets for actors. If they paid too much for the leadingdy, it woulde at the expense of Tom''s sry.

    "Forget about him. Just focus on making Sarah & Shannon. If this movie does well, you could develop box office clout, and who knows, you might even out-earn Tom in the future."

    Nicole''s eyes sparkled with anticipation, but she shook her head, "It''s unlikely. Scripts centered around female leads are still too few."

    Eric looked Nicole up and down and asked, "Didn''t you practice ballet? Do you still have that foundation?"

    Nicole shook her head, "Ballet requires years of training. I only learned for a bit as a child. Why do you ask?"

    "Because I want to see you in an action film. I''ve never seen you in one," Eric said.

    Nicole found Eric''s curiosity a bit odd but replied, "I''ve only done a handful of movies; maybe I''ll try one in the future."

    In her former timeline, Nicole''s roles were quite varied --edies, musicals, horror films, biopics, and epics -- but she had never tackled an action film, which was a bit of a regret, though she had some action sequences in the Aquaman series.

    However, he remembered that while there were many hit movies with female leads, sessful action films starring women were not abundant.

    After some thought, Eric decided to wait until the end-of-year releases of Sarah & Shannon and Thelma & Louise to see how they performed. Especially since Sarah & Shannon was being released many years early; if it did well, it would indicate that films with female leads had considerable market potential, paving the way for the earlier development of some female- led action films.

    ...

    As dusk fell, Michael Eisner and Frank Wells'' car pulled into a Beverly Hills mansion. As the two of them got out of the car, Summer Redstone was already there to greet them.

    After some casual exchanges, Summer ushered them into the vi''s dining room, where people were already busy in the kitchen nearby. As the three of them sat down, a sumptuous spread of dishes was quickly served.

    Halfway through dinner, after a lot of veiled conversation, Michael finally couldn''t hold back anymore and asked, "Mr. Redstone, may I ask why you invited us here today?"

    Summer leisurely wiped his mouth with a napkin before responding, "I heard that Disney''s management has been facing some troubletely?"

    Michael shrugged and said tly, "Everyone''s aware of that."

    Redstone didn''t mind Michael''s somewhat dismissive tone and continued, "Actually, Vi

    is looking to join in the acquisition of Disney."

    Michael frowned; another one.

    Frank took a quick look at the tight-lipped Michael, then turned to Redstone. "Mr. Redstone, Vi runsrge theater chains. Surely that wouldn''t allow you to acquire Disney under

    antitrustws, right?"

    "If we can reach a consensus today, I''ll divest the chain business in the short term, which

    won''t vite federal regtions."

    "What about the funds?" Frank asked again.

    Redstone replied, "Actually, I''ve been nning to acquire a filmpany for a year now, preparing behind the scenes. My initial target was Paramount, but now Disney seems like a

    better choice."

    Michael suddenly interjected, "Mr. Redstone, why don''t you share your terms with us?"

    Redstone shed a confident smile. "Michael, I know about your connections with Eric Williams. If Firefly buys Disney, you surely can''t stay on as Disney''s CEO anymore. So, I hope we can cooperate; it would be a win-win situation. If I acquire Disney, I promise you can

    continue in the role of Disney CEO."

    Michael asked, "And what would I have to do?"

    "You''d have to persuade Disney''s board and management to be on my side. I''m sure

    shareholders won''t ignore the management''s opinions."

    "Those people only care about the profits," Michael recalled being snubbed the previous

    week andined.

    Redstone waved his hand. "Of course, I will offer them enough profit. Just give me three months, and I can raise $5 billion. So, I hope you can cooperate with me and dy this acquisition as much as possible; the longer I have, the more funds I can gather." "There''s another crucial issue," Frank said at this point. "Right now, we have no idea how

    much leverage Eric Williams holds. Firefly''s initial offer was a whopping $4.2 billion; if they insist on their current strategy of full acquisition, you can bet that figure will exceed $5

    billion."

    Redstone said, "I''ve already had people conduct the necessary assessments. During the oil crisis that startedst year, Eric Williams raised a total of $700 million in principal. Calcting on a five-times leverage basis, that would ce his returns around $5 billion, so our strengths should beparable, but my connections on Wall Street are much stronger than his. In a final financing showdown, Firefly would definitely be outmatched by Vi."

    Michael asked, "Are you sure?"

    Redstone nodded confidently. "Of course. I hired a top-notch investment team from Goldman Sachs to simte investment calctions. Unless Eric Williams has crystal ball insight, five times is the most he''s likely to leverage; $5 billion is already an inted figure." Michael and Frank shared a nce. Redstone calmly sipped his coffee, patiently waiting for

    their decision.

    Honestly, if he had the choice, Michael Eisner definitely wished Disney could remain as it was.

    Disney''s current shares were very dispersed; thergest shareholder had only 16% of Disney''s shares, and no one had absolute control, which allowed him to manage the board and firmly hold Disney in his own hands.

    But now, the reality was that Disney was facing a takeover. Even if Redstone didn''t act, otherpanies might reach out with acquisition offers. Given that, it would be better to choose aN?v(el)B\\jnn

    more advantageous buyer.

    Michael Eisner was aware that Redstone was also a person with a strong desire for control. Still,pared to Eric Williams, who wanted him out of Disney, Redstone was undoubtedly a

    reasonable choice.

    "Mr. Redstone, if we''re to cooperate, I want to sign a formal agreement to secure Disney''s

    absolute control."

    "That''s not possible," Redstone shook his head. "Michael, the moment Cutthroat Ind

    failed, even if there was no current acquisition, you could no longer hope for absolute control over Disney. You need to face that reality. A few years ago, Disney shareholders allowed you

    to manage the board because you could bring them enough profit." Hearing those words, Michael''s expression turned slightly embarrassed.

    Redstone continued, "Of course, should I acquire Disney, I will still give you sufficient

    authority. I can guarantee that."

    Michael felt a slight chill run down his spine. This sort of guarantee was practically no

    guarantee at all.

    Redstone seemed to sense Michael''s concerns and got up briefly. He returned shortly with a document in hand. "I understand your thoughts. Talk is cheap. This is a draft contract prepared for you. You can take a look. If I acquire Disney, you would still have control over

    Disney''s key strategic nning department, consumer products division, and television broadcast division; Vi would only increase oversight of Disney''s finance department while participating in Disney''s film project development."

    Michael opened the document in silence, and Frank leaned in to look as well. After over ten minutes, both men finished reading the document. Although the conditionsid out were not what Michael had envisioned, it seemed to be the best deal he could get. Though he was reluctant to admit it, Michael understood that Redstone was right: after a few consecutive failures, his absolute control over Disney had begun to waver. Even without this acquisition, Disney''s shareholders would start meddling in thepany''s affairs. Closing the folder, Michael looked up and said, "So, let''s discuss the specifics of the

    cooperation n."

    ...

    It was a rare rainy morning in Los Angeles.

    As Eric opened his eyes, he found fine rain falling on the window.

    Nicole, curled up in Eric''s arms, stirred from the movement and sleepily looked out the

    window, a hint of excitement in her voice. "It''s raining."

    "Yeah," Eric replied just as he was about to get up, but Nicole snuggled closer. "Eric, let''s

    sleep a bit longer. It''s so early, and it''s raining."

    Eric rxed andy back down. After many exhausting days, he decided to take a moment to

    unwind.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 431: Chapter 432: Mischief

    Chapter 431: Chapter 432: Mischief

    ?

    [Chapter 432: Mischief]

    Eric handed over the script for Dumb and Dumber to TG Films. Other than some suggested notes he had attached, he didn''t inquire further about the film''s preparations until filming began. After the shootmenced, Eric only managed to see a few rough cuts that Drew brought to the set at the Liberty City Mansion, and the original directors, the Farrelly brothers, were reced by Keanu Reeves'' breakout director, Stephen Herek. This change didn''t significantly impact the film. Eric had decided to go with Stephen Herek after watching his movie, Bill & Ted''s Excellent Adventure, which had a style very simr to Dumb and Dumber. When he entered the set with Drew, they were filming a scene where Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, ying the characters Lloyd and Harry, discovered a suitcase full of cash and went on a spending spree. The original soundtrack for this scene was notably amusing, featuring the ssic Pretty Woman, the music that apanied the male lead taking Julia shopping in Pretty Woman. However, in Pretty Woman, Julia transformed from a Cindere into a princess after being pampered, while in Dumb and Dumber, the protagonists'' makeover just ended up looking ridiculous.

    Eric and Drew quietly stood at the edge of the set, watching the filming. Momentster, he heard director Stephen Herek shout "GOOD!" Drew giggled and said to Eric, "You''re fantastic! You stood here, and they''ve already shot the scene a bunch of times!"

    "If the director hears that, he''ll surely be heartbroken," Eric replied with augh.

    "He can''tpare himself to you. Even though hisst film, Bill & Ted''s Excellent Adventure, did quite well at the box office, the producers weren''t initially nning on letting him direct the sequel. It was only because they heard we invited him to direct Dumb and Dumber that he got to keep that franchise alive."

    Eric wasn''t too interested in the gossip Drew was sharing about Hollywood. After the scene wrapped, an assistant approached Stephen Herek and whispered something in his ear. Stephen nced over at Eric and quickly got up to greet him, announcing a break for the crew.

    "Mr. Williams, it''s great to see you," Stephen Herek said as he approached with a few of the film''s lead actors.

    Eric shook hands with the bespectacled man in his early thirties. Although Drew had sounded dismissive when she spoke of him, Eric knew that directing a movie at such a young age in Hollywood was quite a feat, indicative of real talent and potential.

    After chatting briefly with Stephen Herek, Eric greeted the two male leads, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Jeff, having starred in several films prior, was somewhat more well-known than Jim, making it easier for Eric to gather the original two leads. In Dumb and Dumber, Jim Carrey''s outrageous performance overshadowed Jeff Daniels'', which meant Jim carried the spotlight while Jeff continued to remain a steady presence, somewhat neutrally received.

    Originally, Jim Carrey had chipped a front tooth identally, which added an unexpected ssic ir to his character. Since he hadpletely embraced the script, Eric decided not to overlook this small but ssic detail, and Jim''s front tooth appeared to have a gap -- though it was cleverly covered with makeup.

    Stephen Herek and Eric discussed some filming details, then they watched the recently shot footage together before the crew resumed working. Eric didn''t disturb them; he continued standing outside with Drew, watching the performances unfold.

    ...

    After a while, an assistant director approached them and said a few words to Drew. She nodded and then tugged at Eric, saying, "Eric,e with me. I want to show you something really cool."

    "What is it?" Eric asked, a bit puzzled, but he followed her outside.

    Once they stepped out, Eric spotted a double-decker bus parked on the roadside. A group of tall, stunning women began disembarking from the bus, all dressed in matching pink t-shirts and white high-waist jeans, most of them wearing sunsses. The women were chattering excitedly among themselves and greeted the crew members with the kind of indifference one would expect from a bunch of prideful canaries.

    "Is this the ''cool thing'' you were talking about?" Eric pointed towards the group of women and asked Drew.

    He noticed that the t-shirts they wore had "Elite" printed on them, which made it clear that these women were models from the famous Elite Model Management. Piece together the context of the script, Eric quickly figured out their purpose for being there.

    He silentlymented the foolishness of the young girl. It would have sufficed to just find some attractive local actresses in Hollywood for a few ending shots. These women weren''t even supermodels from Elite -- having them show up wouldn''t create much buzz, but the expenses were undoubtedly high.

    But Drew had a proud grin on her face, and upon seeing Eric''s expression, quickly understood his thoughts and exined, "We didn''t spend a dime! About a week ago, when I was flipping through a fashion magazine, I saw that Elite was holding some runway shows in Los Angeles. I contacted their head, and once they heard this movie was based on your script, they eagerly agreed to sponsor us. All we had to do was mention Elite''s name in thest few lines of dialogue, and there''s that bus with their logo."

    Eric responded with a satisfied "uh-huh." Just then, the group of models walked closer, and the chatter quieted down as they noticed Eric and Drew. The models were aware of Eric due to the media frenzy surrounding him; his fame had eclipsed that of any other star in Hollywood, let alone his several billion-dor fortune that made their eyes sparkle with interest.

    Feeling dozens of unabashedly lingering gazes upon him made Eric uneasy. These alluring women should have been the target of hunting for many men, yet here, he felt like the prey. "Hello, Miss Barrymore," a striking model among them approached with an alluring smile, clearly the leader of the group, greeting Drew.

    Drew and the model sped hands, "Hi, udia. Where''s Mr. McDonald?"

    "He had ast-minute emergency in Mn, and he asked me to apologize on his behalf. But I think we sisters will be enough for the shoot, right?"

    "Of course!" Drew nodded. Just as she was about to introduce Eric to the model named udia, she enthusiastically extended her hand toward Eric. "Mr. Williams, I''m so thrilled to meet you! I''m udia Schiffer."

    Eric vaguely recalled the name -- she must have been one of the supermodels from his previous life. However, looking at the still somewhat young model, he guessed she had just started her journey in the industry. He smiled and shook her hand lightly, "Hello, Miss Schiffer! It''s an honor to meet you too."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    udia smiled back, the corners of her mouth lifting in a unique way. Taking a small step closer, she said, "Mr. Williams, just call me udia."

    "All right, udia," Eric said, taking a slight step back, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her unabashed interest.

    "I heard this script was written by you personally, Mr. Williams. My sisters and I have been anticipating it for days! By the way, I''ve seen many of your films. Those scenes with Cruise and Hanks in Running Out of Time were stunning! Mr. Williams, do you think Andy really dies in

    the end?"

    With udia inching closer, Eric had no choice but to step back a bit more. "Well, let''s leave a little suspense for everyone. You must have heard, Columbia has already started on the sequel to the movie, and Cruise will be back."

    "It''s a shame you won''t be directing the sequel. That just makes it less appealing," udia Schiffer said with a look of regret.

    "Definitely not," Eric replied, ncing over at Drew, who was enjoying his teasing, and shot her a mildly reproachful re before continuing to address the models behind udia. "All right, how about youdies head back to the set and take a break? It''s not too hot now, but standing under the sun could easily lead to sunburn."

    The models were already rather disgruntled with udia monopolizing Eric''s attention. Yet, they were cautious not to create awkwardness for him and maintained a somewhat reserved demeanor. Upon hearing Eric''s suggestion, they rushed toward him, encircling him without hesitation. A few even discreetly nudged udia outside of the circle, leading Eric, surrounded by the fragrant scent of beauty, towards the set.

    Drew watched the scene unfold and didn''t mind in the least, simply shrugging her small shoulders and following along.

    ...

    Once inside the set, Eric turned the group of beautiful women over to an assistant director, giving them direction. Afterward, he found a spot near a resting trailer by the crew and sat

    down to collect his thoughts.

    "So, did you find anyone interesting?" Drew said, squatting down by Eric''s knees with a beaming smile after thedies left.

    "Interesting in what way?"

    Drew made a dismissive face, "I mean, who are you interested in? I can send her over

    tonight."

    Eric yfully tapped her on the head; it had been a while since he''d done such a thing, so he fumbled a bit. But Drew''s reaction was the same, letting out a whine as she rubbed her

    forehead. "I''m a big girl now! No more head tapping!"

    "I''m curious about when you n on shifting to the business of matchmaking," he retorted.

    "Geez, such is the price of being nice," Drew grumbled, then nced at the women not too far away. "They''re just a bunch of pretty faces, meant for fun. Hey, what about udia? She''s tall and blonde, with luscious lips -- fits your taste perfectly."

    "That sounds oddly strange," Eric chuckled. "Your phrasing reminds me of something I''ve heard before -- oh, at the farmer''s market. Those vendors always use phrases like that to describe their vegetables. ''Look at my fresh cabbage, so crisp and just picked!""

    Drewughed but replied, "Well, it is exactly like that."

    "All right, cut out the nonsense," Eric said, patting her head again. "Besides, did you see how they looked at me just now? I feel like I''m the one being hunted."

    Drew giggled, followed by an exaggerated "Oh!" with her eyes rolling before turning back towards the women, considering her options. "Hmm, udia Schiffer is nice. I''ll choose her!" Eric had no idea what was going on in Drew''s mind. He stood up, saying, "Well, if there''s nothing else, I''m off. I need to swing by the Firefly headquarters again." Drew waved her hand absently, without paying much attention, "Go on, go on."

    Eric yfully pinched her cheek, enduring her protests as he let go, and after saying goodbye

    to the director and the others, he left.

    ...

    In the afternoon, at the Firefly headquarters, he discussed the progress of the Disney acquisition with the acquisition team. After work, Eric drove to pick up Famke Janssen. The

    two then headed to Sunset Boulevard for dinner before driving back to his Malibu vi.

    As they drove into the vi, the guard at the entrance recognized Eric and recalled Drew''s previous instructions, so he ultimately said nothing. After all, it wasn''t his business, and getting on the bad side of that little dynamo could mean losing his job.

    After parking the car, Eric took Famke''s hand and showed her around the estate before

    returning to the vi.

    "What have you been drawingtely?" Famke asked as they reached the small living room, picking up a sketchbook resting on the coffee table and casually flipping through it. Eric poured coffee for them, nced back, and said, "Just doodles."

    "Is that a ying card?" Famke asked, holding up a drawing after Eric sat down next to her.

    Eric frowned slightly, "How is a heart a ying card? Didn''t you notice the surrounding

    patterns?"

    "What''s this then?"

    Eric opened his mouth, paused, and ultimately didn''t hide it, replying honestly, "A ring, a

    design for a ring."

    Famke seemed taken aback, a mix of apprehension and excitement in her gaze. "You mean an

    engagement ring?"

    Eric nodded.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 433: Chapter 434: And God Created Woman

    Chapter 433: Chapter 434: And God Created Woman

    ?

    [Chapter 434: God Created Woman]

    Eric''s voice gradually faded away, likely heading to Drew''s bedroom. Famke Janssen then turned towards the still slightly confused blonde.

    Knowing that this was just Drew being her mischievous self, Famke''s initial annoyance dissipated quite a bit; in fact, it struck her as a bit funny. The blonde girl extended her hand and said, "Hi, I''m Famke Janssen."

    udia Schiffer reached out to shake Famke''s hand, looking a bit embarrassed. "Hello, Ms. Janssen. I''ve seen your work on The X-Files. Oh, I... I''m udia Schiffer. I''m a model."

    After exchanging greetings, Famke Janssen said, "Ms. Schiffer, I think we should head downstairs. Where are your clothes?"

    "Barrymore took them," udia replied. "She said... she said she wanted to surprise Mr. Williams. I''m sorry, I didn''t know you... you..." udia realized she had beenpletely fooled by Drew, and that Eric had no idea what was going on.

    "I see," Famke thought for a moment, stepping forward to pull some of Eric''s clothes from the wardrobe. "If you don''t mind, you can wear his clothes for now. By the way, how tall are you?"

    "5 feet 11 inches," udia said quietly.

    "Ah, what a coincidence! I am too," Famke said and smiled, remembering something amusing.

    udia Schiffer took the white shirt and jeans that Famke handed her and carefully put them on under the covers, unable to hold back her curiosity. "What''s wrong?"

    Famke shook her head without answering. She had nned to go to sleep, with her own clothes left in the bathroom. Now, she had no choice but to find something from Eric''s wardrobe, as she loosened the towel wrapped around her and began changing.

    Once the two women finished changing, they headed downstairs into a small living room illuminated by fluorescent lights.

    As they opened the door and walked in, the scene before them made Famke and udia want tough but dare not.

    In the corner of the room, Drew stood there in a white crop top and denim shorts, barefoot on the cold floor. What made the situation even more amusing -- and yet somber -- was that Drew had arge bowl full of fruit precariously bnced on her head, her hands holding it up, gazing innocently with a pitiful expression on her delicate face.

    Eric sat on the couch with his legs crossed, quietly flipping through a magazine without saying a word.

    Famke Janssen moved over to sit next to Eric, wanting to intervene, but when she caught sight of his tightly pressed lips, she realized he was genuinely upset and tactfully shut her mouth.

    udia watched Famke sit on Eric''s right side, her gaze drifting to the empty space on the left side of the couch. Although feelingpelled to sit there, she didn''t dare and instead walked over to the nearby armchair.

    It was nearly eleven at night, and the small lounge was exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of Eric asionally turning a page in his magazine breaking the silence.

    Famke and udia initially thought Eric would speak soon, but the silence stretched on for a full half hour. The expression Drew had worn while feigning innocence had faded, reced by an anxious look.

    Being near Eric, Famke and udia felt the subtle pressure emanating from him. Famke was managing fine, but udia found herself breathing cautiously, as if her every breath might attract Eric''s ire. Although she knew it was Drew who had instigated the situation tonight, if she had simply refused this afternoon, none of this would have happened. This regret lingered in her mind as she wondered what would happen next -- would Eric take out his frustrations on her?

    Despite being in his twenties, this young man was already one of the elite in Hollywood. If he chose tosh out at her, surely even Elite would struggle to withstand such pressure.

    udia had pondered for half an hour but still couldn''t figure out what had gone wrong. Why was Eric so upset?

    Was it because she had interrupted his date with Famke?

    That couldn''t be it. She followed the gossip and knew he was quite the yboy with plenty of women around him. If there was anyone to be mad at her, it should be Famke.

    ...

    After Eric finished thest page of the Variety magazine, and closing it, he lifted his head.

    ncing at udia carefully seated on the armchair, Eric said, "I''m sorry, Ms. Schiffer. It''s all Drew''s fault. I hope it hasn''t troubled you too much."

    udia Schiffer''s heart, which had been hanging in the bnce, finally settled. She quickly shook her head, "No, it''s fine. Actually, I..."

    Eric waved his hand in a dismissive manner. "It''s prettyte. Just stay here for the night. I''ll arrange for someone to take you home tomorrow."

    "Sure, alright," udia said as she stood up quickly.

    Eric whispered a few words to Famke Janssen, who nodded in response before getting up and leading udia out of the living room.

    "Eric..."

    Drew, still standing with the bowl on her head, timidly called out like a frightened cat testing the waters after the two women''s figures vanished.

    Eric looked at her anxious, pleading expression, feeling a pang of softness in his heart. But then recalling the day''s events, his expression turned serious again.

    "Do you know what you did wrong?"

    Drew wanted to nod, but as soon as she moved her head, she remembered the bowl on her head and could only lift her chin a little to say, "I understand now. I shouldn''t have done something so ridiculous without your permission. I promise I won''t do it again."

    "That''s not it. Think harder," Eric said, pretending to pick up the magazine again. Drew hurriedly stopped him, "Wait, I need to think..."

    Drew''s mind raced, feeling as if her brain was on fire, but she still had no clue. "Eric, why not just hit me instead?"

    Eric sighed. If she could think this through, she wouldn''t have made such a mistake. "I''ve always hoped you''d be a decent producer and help me in the future."

    "I''ve been trying! I''ve been working hard these past few days. Julia and Liz can attest to that."

    "But what you did today was highly inappropriate. If this got out, how do you think it would

    turn out?"

    Drew pondered, shaking her head honestly. She didn''t think it would matter much. If it got out, it got out. Who could do anything to her?

    Eric pressed on, "If it gets out, you might as well forget about bing a sessful producer. Many will see you as a low-level pimp. With that kind of reputation, the truly talented and capable people would instinctively think twice before working with you, and all you''d attract would be more opportunists with their own agendas."

    Watching Drew''s face turn contemtive, Eric gestured for her to remove the bowl from her head and said, "The women I like, I will pursue myself. Don''t ever pull a stunt like this again.

    Understand?"

    Drew ced the bowl on the coffee table, twisted her stiff neck, and nodded quickly. Thinking that the matter was settled, she cheerfully leaned over towards Eric.

    Eric shot her a warning look. "Don''t think I''ll let you off this easily. You''re grounded for three days. Stay home and reflect on your actions."

    "Ah, no! I still need to go to the set of Dumb and Dumber," Drew protested, her spirited nature warding off the thought of being cooped up for three days -- it would be worse than going

    hungry for three days!

    "I''ll call Liz. You don''t need to worry about it."

    "Eric... can''t I negotiate for two days instead?" Drew pleaded with her big doe eyes, looking

    pitiful.

    "Four days."

    "Fine, fine, three days it is."

    ...

    In the quiet morning at the vi, udia Schiffer emerged from her guest room and wandered along the circr corridor, passing by door after door, curiously guessing what each one

    contained but too timid to barge in and check.

    After wandering for a while, she finally made her way down the stairs on the west side of the second floor. Turning right, she found the kitchen. udia peeked inside and saw Famke Janssen busy making breakfast, so she walked in.

    Famke noticed udia''s presence and smiled, "Good morning, Ms. Schiffer. Did you sleep

    wellst night?"

    "Very well," udia replied, ncing at the steaming pot on the stove. "Do you need any

    help?"

    Famke appraised udia''s outfit, realizing she was still wearing Eric''s clothes from the previous night, barefoot. "No thanks, I''m fine. There are slippers by the door if you want them. Eric''s in the gym; perhaps you can chat with him."

    udia nodded, asked for directions to the gym, and then headed out. The vi''s floor felt slightly cool under her bare feet, but she found itfortable, so she didn''t bother to grab

    the slippers and walked straight toward the gym.

    ...

    Eric was jogging on the treadmill. Upon seeing her, he nodded in acknowledgment and pointed to the other treadmill next to him. udia instinctively obeyed and walked over to that one, stepping on it and moving slowly while sneaking nces at Eric. He wore a white tank top that showcased his toned muscles, and udia felt her heart race at his chiseled,

    handsome profile.

    "Where are your shoes?" Eric asked, ncing at her outfit.

    udia jumped slightly at his sudden question, stopping briefly before answering, "I... I

    don''t know."

    Remembering howst night yed out, Eric didn''t press further but shifted the topic. "Has

    anyone ever told you that you look like someone?"

    "Brigitte Bardot?" udia answered.

    Brigitte Bardot was a sultry star from the ''50s and ''60s, oftenpared to Marilyn Monroe and dubbed the "sex kitten." It had been said that udia bore a striking resemnce to Bardot, which certainly helped her gain traction in the fashion scene within just two or three

    years.

    "Exactly. The way you look barefoot reminds me of her in And God Created Woman. She used to walk around barefoot all the time. It''s true -- beautiful women are God''s favorites. If it weren''t for Brigitte Bardot, that messy love quadrangle movie would''ve flopped." udia felt a pang of regret for not having watched any of Brigitte Bardot''s films, which left

    her struggling to think of a way to engage Eric in conversation.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 435: Chapter 436: The Road

    Chapter 435: Chapter 436: The Road

    ?

    [Chapter 436: The Road]

    Starting from 1984, the A Nightmare on Elm Street series, which was produced at a rate of one film per year, umted a significant number of dedicated fans. When Firefly Films announced that Wes Craven, the creator of the series, would return to direct the final installment, it drew considerable attention from moviegoers.

    On November 1, Halloween day, Freddy''s Dead: The Final Nightmare premiered in over 1,200 theaters across North America, raking in $13 million at the box office during its opening weekend. It also received quite a few positive reviews. Although the film''s total earnings would likely rest around $50 million,pared to its production cost of under $15 million, Firefly was set to make a tidy profit domestically.

    Aside from Firefly''s modest sess at the year-end box office, Disney announced that its high-budget film, Billy Bathgate, would be postponed until the following summer, just as Eric had imagined. Disney imed to believe in the film''s box office potential, hoping to fully realize itsmercial value. However, those with even a bit of industry knowledge scoffed at this reasoning.

    After the announcement of the dy, the filmmakers faced questions from reporters, either mming up or spinning tales. But soon, an interview with Nicole Kidman, a former lead candidate for Billy Bathgate, provided a hint to the public. Nicole didn''t provide anymentary on the film but ambiguously mentioned that a good friend advised her against taking the role.

    As one of Eric''s "rumored girlfriends," it was easy for many to guess who that "good friend" was. Once the news broke, media outlets turned up the heat, relegating Billy Bathgate to the category of flops, making Disney''s defense seem futile.

    ...

    However, this turmoil hardly affected Disney''s stock price. Ever since Fireflyunched its public acquisition of Disney, thepany''s shares had slowly been climbing. By early November, Disney held a market value of $4.7 billion, marking a 34% increase in just three months.

    With Wall Street and Hollywood closely watching, on November 4, Vi officially ced a $4.9 billion bid for Disney,peting directly with Firefly.

    That day was a Monday. Firefly had already gathered some intel, and Eric arrived early at the Firefly headquarters to strategize with the acquisition team.

    During the three months Summer Redstone spent securing investment, in addition to engaging in back-and-forth discussions with Disney''s management and shareholders, Firefly managed to purchase an additional 4% of Disney''s stock at a premium, raising its holdings to 15%, making it Disney''s secondrgest shareholder.

    If the acquisition reached a stalemate, Firefly could demand a re-election of Disney''s board at the next shareholders'' meeting, thus taking a hand in Disney''s management and potentially seizing control.

    Moreover, even in the worst-case scenario, should Firefly lose this acquisition battle, with Disney''s current stock price, they could cash out their shares for a profit of at least $300 million.

    ...

    Upon entering the meeting room, Bernie Sanders, the head of the Morgan Stanley team, spoke first: "Based on the information we''ve gathered, Summer Redstone has divested his interest in theater operations. Vi has managed to raise around $5 billion. Additionally, Vi controls a small share of Blockbuster''s stocks, and Redstone is lobbying Blockbuster for funding support. If sessful, Vi''s leverage will exceed $7 billion."

    As Eric listened, he flipped through the materials in front of him regarding Blockbuster. Blockbuster was thergest video rental chain in North America, boasting over 2,000 locations. Most importantly, its business model provided it with a significant cash flow, a factor that worried Eric the most.

    He recalled Redstone''s hostile takeover of Paramount in 1994, which urred after acquiring Blockbuster, using that asset to secure $10 billion in funding and ultimately swallowing Paramount.

    Thinking along those lines, Eric asked, "Bernie, is there a chance that Vi might use its funds to acquire Blockbuster first and then use Blockbuster as coteral to raise more money for the acquisition?"

    After some contemtion, Bernie shook his head. "While that strategy is very effective, the likelihood is extremely low. Since Blockbuster changed hands in 1987, it has been expanding rapidly, adding 500 stores a year, with annual growth rates exceeding 30%. Shareholders only need to hold onto their shares, and in less than three years, they could easily double their investments. Under those circumstances, a sale is highly unlikely."

    Eric felt a bit relieved. Though he couldn''t predict why Vi wouldter seed in acquiring Blockbuster, Bernie''s analysis seemed sound.

    "What about within Vi? Even though Redstone currently holds control, wouldn''t the shareholders prevent him from going unchecked?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Bernie nodded, "Redstone may have raised over $7 billion, but if his bid exceeds $6 billion for Disney, he''ll encounter increasing resistance from Vi''s shareholders. Once the bid exceeds their psychological limits, it could lead to internal conflicts, allowing us to win the acquisition easily. However, we don''t know what that limit is."

    The room buzzed with quiet discussions. Eric pondered if there was a way to entice Redstone to withdraw from this contest. However, he soon felt disheartened as it seemed unlikely. Redstone was a ssic autocrat: headstrong, utterly dismissive of others'' opinions, particrly in directpetition.

    Years ago, during his hostile takeover of Vi, Redstone had relentlessly pushed his offer from $2.25 billion up to $3.4 billion, and uponpleting the acquisition, faced with resistance from Vi''s management, he didn''t hesitate to pay hefty severance packages to remove the upper management entirely. His aggressive nature was evident.

    Once a decision was made, unless circumstances forced him into a corner, the chance of Redstone stepping back was virtually zero.

    ...

    On the day Vi made its bid, Firefly immediately countered with a $5 billion offer. With just a $100 million difference, onlookers spected that this was merely a test of the waters between Firefly and Vi.

    In the week that followed, neither side seemed to make any headway. Yet those involved knew that the frequency of contact between Vi and Firefly''s acquisition teams with Disney intensified during that time.

    Many also recognized that the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons would prove crucial for this acquisition, mainly because Disney''s management was still determined to lobby shareholders against the deal. If Disney''s performance improved in the two months ahead, or if Firefly faced significant setbacks, it was likely that Disney''s management would once again secure substantial shareholder support.

    ...

    Despite the year-end box office being significantly lower than the summer period, thepetition was still fierce.

    On November 22, the first week of the year-end holiday season kicked off with a bang, featuring five films thatunched simultaneously, including Fox''s Home Alone 3, Disney''s Beauty and the Beast, Firefly''s Dumb and Dumber, Paramount''s The Addams Family, and Universal''s An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.

    Although it had been a year since a sequel was developed, Home Alone 3 showed no signs of slowing down, pulling in over $27 million from more than 2,500 theaters over its opening weekend, securing the top spot without question. Eric was somewhat surprised by this performance but didn''t regret handing the sequel rights over to Fox, considering the film''s budget was over $50 million, leaving little room for profit for the studio.

    Trailing right behind Home Alone 3 was Paramount''s The Addams Family, whichted $24 million across over 2,400 screens.

    Firefly''s roadedy, Dumb and Dumber, came in third, with Eric arranging for it to screen in 1,900 theaters, earning just $20 million over the weekend.

    While this figure paled inparison to the former two films, it was worth noting that Home Alone and The Addams Family had built substantial recognition through previous films and television series. Dumb and Dumber was entirely new,cking any audience buildup, yet it had a very low production cost, making its results all the more noteworthy.

    On the same day the weekend box office numbers were released, Hollywood producers began analyzing the film, aiming to uncover the sess factors of thisedy so they could replicate it. They quickly pinpointed the key element: Jim Carrey. However, upon learning of Jim Carrey''s contract terms with Firefly, most abandoned any ideas they might have had.

    Aside from these three films, while Disney''s Beauty and the Beast received favorable reviews, its distribution was limited to fewer than 1,000 screens, cing it fifth in the box office, even behind Universal''s Cape Fear, which had already been out for a week, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro.

    As for Universal''s other coboration with Spielberg''s Amblin Entertainment, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, it grossed a dismal $340,000 across 1,700 theaters, marking the first box office disappointment of the holiday season.

    ...

    Amid the rivalry with Vi and the asional mischief from Disney''s management, Eric didn''t take any breaks during the Thanksgiving holiday, even sharing Thanksgiving dinner

    with Jeffrey and others.

    Eric originally estimated that Dumb and Dumber would earn about $80 million; as long as it hit that milestone, he would be satisfied, considering that lowbrowedy had yet to cultivate a sufficient audience in Hollywood. However, the film exhibited the potential to exceed $100 million, alleviating Eric''s concerns about the uing Sarah & Shannon (The Heat). Nheless, although Dumb and Dumber achieved visible sess, it was met with criticism from Disney. Just a day after its release, Disney condemned the film''s raunchy style as ipatible with its own business philosophy, arguing that such lowbrow humor would damage Disney''s wholesome brand image if the twopanies merged.

    In response to Disney''s somewhat unreasonable criticisms, Eric dispatched a firm rebuttal. He rified that, upon acquisitionpletion, Disney would be just one brand under the Firefly umbre, not the other way around. Thus, the current management''s assertions were utterly baseless; the projects developed by different subsidiaries would not affect one another. After all, Disney''s Touchstone Pictures had produced a considerable number of R-rated films over

    the past few years.

    ...

    After a month in the Thanksgiving marketce, Home Alone 3''s box office total reached $80 million. Given the uing Christmas season, Fox anticipated the film would continue to perform well, as itspetition included films like Beauty and the Beast, which had only grossed about $30 million over four weeks. While Beauty and the Beast received good reviews, its box office potential was clearly limited; post-holiday expectations were low. Conversely, Dumb and Dumber managed to pull in $65 million, making it a sure bet to surpass the $100

    million mark in revenue.

    Steven Spielberg was bound to be a pivotal figure no one in Hollywood could overlook. While most focused on the rivalry between Firefly and Disney''s films, Sony Pictures boldly set the release date for its highly anticipated Hook on December 6.

    Although the film''s script underwent extensive modifications with Eric''s involvement -- particrly increasing Nicole''s role as the fairy -- the movie still received bacsh. In the two weeks leading up to its release, it faced negative media attention. Sony had initially expected the film to earn over $40 million in its first week, but it only managed to pull in $17 million. Though box office numbers increased as Christmas approached, it never surpassed $30 million in any week. With a budget of $70 million, this film would inevitably rely on Spielberg''s personal reputation to recoup its costs.

    Opening alongside Hook, Dances with Wolves proved even less remarkable. While the smaller

    film garnered great reviews, its four-hour runtime kept the bulk of viewers away from

    cinemas.

    On December 20, during the first week of the Christmas release season, Firefly''s Sarah &

    Shannon (The Heat) and Disney''s Father of the Bride premiered in 1,900 theaters. Father of the Bride, a remake, relied on the star power of the original with Elisabeth Taylor butgged significantly in relevance; while the original was a ssic, it had been out of cirction for 40 years, leaving its impactrgely diminished. As a result, the film earned only about $14.4 million in its opening weekend.

    In contrast to Father of the Bride''s old-schooledy approach, Firefly''s Sarah & Shannon

    (The Heat) wowed many audiences with its raunchy humor, bringing in $21 million over its opening weekend despite mixed reviews from critics. Nicole''s portrayal of a serious yet somewhat goofy female cop, teamed with Rosie O''Donnell''s brash police officer, delivered 100 minutes of nonstopughter to cinema-goers. Nicole''s transformative role in Sarah & Shannon (The Heat) even sparked interest among viewers regarding her character in Hook, inadvertently boosting thetter''s box office numbers. Nheless, most fans interviewed expressed a stronger preference for Nicole''s performance in Sarah & Shannon (The Heat).

    ...

    As thest day of 1991 passed, with the New Year on the horizon, box office totals for the year began to emerge, hinting at a significant final showdown.

    Although some films were still in theaters, the box office and audience reception for most had

    already crystallized. Due to the war, North America''s total annual box office revenue for 1991

    was just $4.8 billion, a drop from 1990.

    Time Warner continued to dominate Hollywood, releasing 21 films altogether with a cumtive gross of $750 million, capturing a market share of 15.6%. Reluctantly acknowledged by everyone, Firefly''s name shone brightly in the second position. With hits like Terminator 2, Toy Story, Freddy''s Dead, Dumb and Dumber, and Sarah & Shannon

    (The Heat), Firefly secured a total box office of $660 million, ounting for 13.7% of the North American market share.

    Due to Cutthroat Ind being their main focus, Disney only released 12 films throughout the

    year. Its most highly touted movie flopped, leading to a dismal total box office of $380 million and a market share that sank to its lowest in five years at 7%. Furthermore, with debts amounting to $2 billion requiring interest and principal repayment,

    Disney reported a loss of $120 million. This data triggered the first drop in Disney''s share

    price in over five months.

    ...

    The Disney shareholders, initially holding onto a glimmer of hope regarding its management

    team, finally lost all confidence, leading them to seriously consider the potential merger between Firefly and Vi.

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Bass. It''s unfortunate we couldn''t reach an agreement. I hope we get an

    opportunity to coborate next time," Eric said as he stood in the parking lot at the corner of Liberty City Manor, saying goodbye to the two middle-aged men in front of him.

    The two men, who were about to head off, were named Sid Bass and Roy Disney. Sid Bass was

    the current head of the Bass family, who held the most Disney shares, while Roy Disney, as everyone knew, was a member of the Disney family--nephew of Walt Disney. "Here''s hoping," Sid Bass looked deeply at Eric onest time before entering his silver sedan.

    Roy Disney''s lips moved as though he wanted to speak, yet ultimately joined him in the car.

    ...

    As their vehicle left the manor, Chris, who had quietly stood by Eric''s side, couldn''t help but

    say, "Eric, I think their proposal sounded quite reasonable. If you agree, Vi won''t pose a threat to us anymore."

    Sid Bass and Roy Disney''s visit represented a significant portion of Disney''s shareholders,

    hoping to exchange their shares for equity in the mergedpany with Firefly rather than cash. Should Eric agree, these Disney shareholders would band together to support Firefly in the acquisition, but Eric chose to decline.

    Hearing Chris''sment, Eric nced over at Bernie Sanders. "What do you think, Bernie?"

    Bernie shrugged and said, "I''m merely a mediator. When Sid Bass reached out to me, I didn''t hold out much hope. I figured you had long since made up your mind."

    Eric chuckled, leading the two men back. "You guys should''ve heard the news: Barry Diller is

    leaving Fox in February."

    Both men nodded in unison; they had been closely following Hollywood news during this

    time. The news of Barry Diller''s impending departure sent ripples through Hollywood. As an outsider, Murdoch had primarily focused on his newspaper operations in Australia and the UK. Without Barry Diller''s assistance, Murdoch would never have entered the mainstream Hollywood scene, let alone developed Fox Broadcasting. Consequently, the details surrounding Barry Diller''s sudden exit became the subject of much spection. When Eric encountered Elisabeth during the Christmas break and inquired about it, she didn''t hold back her insights.

    Eric continued, "Barry Diller is an immensely gifted individual. His contributions have yed

    a crucial role in Fox''s rise over the years. Mr. Murdoch offered him incentives to stay, but as of

    last September, Barry told him he didn''t want to continue as an employee. He wanted to be the owner. You know what Murdoch''s response was?" Chris and Bernie looked on with curiosity.

    "No buildup or suspense needed," Eric stated. "Murdoch replied that there could only be one

    owner of Fox."

    Chris fell silent, deep in thought.

    Eric went on, "Firefly is no different; only one person can be in charge. Murdoch surely recognized that Barry Diller''s departure would significantly impact Fox''s progress. Yet he didn''t even entertain the idea of a second option, even one that would affect his hold on Fox.

    Many investors often try to impress upon business owners that they shouldn''t hoard all the

    their

    profits and should share benefits for mutual growth. In truth, such arguments serve as a pretext for those vying for control of thepany -- an excuse to justify exchanging shares for development capital, often made by those with limited choices. If ample funds were avable, I imagine that the founders of suchpanies as Microsoft, Oracle, and Cisco would never have opted for public financing. After achieving sess, most do all they can to increase their stake, aiming to regain control. Firefly is quite fortunate. I currently have enough capital to take a path unlike other entrepreneurs. It may be tougher and require more sacrifice, but I firmly believe it''s worth it. I will never choose the rtively

    easier option that would bury Firefly''s future under heavy risks."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 437: Chapter 438: Overambition

    Chapter 437: Chapter 438: Overambition

    ?

    [Chapter 438: Overambition]

    "Dennis Nohr resignedst week. Remember him? He was the one who demonstrated a

    special effects shot for you," Stan Winston said as he had just sat down upon returning to the office.

    Eric recalled, remembering the special effects artist mentioned by Stan. Dennis Nohr was a tall, thin white guy in his thirties, a Stanford Universityputer science graduate. Stan had previously introduced him as having done an outstanding job during the post-production of Twister.

    "Was he poached?" Eric asked, sensing that if it were a routine resignation, Stan wouldn''t have brought it up.

    Stan nodded. "Sony Pictures ns to start its own visual effects division and invited Dennis to be the head."

    "People move up. We can''t stop them," Eric replied. "But is there something else?"

    Stan handed Eric a document from his desk, saying, "Eric, look at this. Since the release of Terminator 2, twelve very talented effects artists have resigned, including two supervisors. The turnover among regr employees has been even higher, but I haven''t tracked that." Eric looked it over. Along with the resignation dates, there were notes about where these individuals went; most had been lured away by other effectspanies, including Industrial Light & Magic, a majorpetitor in digital effects. Some even started their own studios.

    "You''re in better shape here," Eric remarked, looking up with a smile at Stan. "Pixar is having it worse. John even provided me with a report suggesting measures like nonpete uses to prevent this."

    "You don''t seem worried at all?" Stan''s initial concern lessened in the face of Eric''s smile.

    Eric set the resignation document aside and addressed Stan. "Stan, do you know how much I''ve invested in the tech R&D teams at both Pixar and Digital Domain since taking them over?"

    Stan shook his head. He was more focused on effects tech and didn''t usually pay much attention to finances. Plus, duringst year''s reorganization of Firefly, Eric separated the R&D teams of Pixar and Digital Domain, assigning them to Ed Catmull, so Stan was even less informed.

    Recalling the numbers in his mind, Eric said slowly, "Ed Catmull now has over 400 dedicated tech R&D team members. These are the best talents in various technical fields, making an average of around $100,000 a year. That alone consumes $40 million annually. The professional staff at Pixar and Digital Domain has reached 600, and their average sry is not much lower. That''s another $60 million. Additionally, Firefly has invested in three R&D centers at Stanford University, the University of Washington, and UC Berkeley, where the industry''s top scientists provide advanced tech support for Pixar and Digital Domain. That adds up to a significant expenditure."

    Stan was taken aback. He hadn''t realized how much Eric was willing to spend. If it was calcted that way, Eric had invested at least $200 million over the years. In an uncertainndscape like CG effects and 3D animation, only someone like Eric would boldly sink that kind of money without hesitation.

    Seeing Stan''s surprised expression, Eric continued, "The estimated profit for Firefly in 1990 is $400 million, but in reality, due to the enormous expenses in special effects tech development, we barely made just over $200 millionst year."

    Stan rxed further, understanding Eric''s point. While the loss of tech talent was regrettable, it wouldn''t shake Digital Domain and Pixar''s standing in the industry. In Hollywood, aside from Firefly, no otherpany dared to invest so recklessly in tech.

    Industrial Light & Magic had long held the lead in effects, but as the focus shifted from model effects to digital ones, their prior concentration on models would inevitably leave them behind as Digital Domain forged ahead.

    Falling behind almost guaranteed continuousg. Since Terminator 2''s release, Digital Domain had already won several projects for effect-heavy films -- these were previously the domain of Industrial Light & Magic. Now with these projects, Digital Domain could umte more technology, creating a beneficial cycle where ILM wouldn''t catch up, let alone surpass Digital Domain.

    Thinking of this, Stan smiled faintly. "Over $200 million in profits isn''t bad. Not many of the seven major studios report profits exceeding $200 million. Disney, MGM, and Paramount all reported losses this year. Huh... or should I say Hollywood is back to eight major studios?"

    Eric said, "With the acquisition of Disney, it''ll soon be back to seven."

    Stan recalled the soaring offers for Disney from Firefly and Vi in the newspapers, feeling an eagerness that he didn''t voice. A deal worth tens of billions seemed too far removed from his reality.

    "By the way, Eric, after Dennis Nohr left, he asked if he could buy the rights to use software like Maya from Digital Domain. I remember you mentioned this before?"

    Eric had considered monopolizing effects software. In the original timeline, Autodesk had dominated the film effects software scene, with Maya and 3D Max as their gship products. But that wouldn''t happen for another decade.

    Right now, effectspanies were still in a sort of ''aristocratic phase''. They weren''t ready to be easily set up with just a handful of tech guys like they would be a decadeter. So, this wasn''t the best time to profit from effects software. Digital Domain''s priority was umting technology to reach an unrivaled position. Once the effects industry democratized, Digital Domain could easily enter the software market with its vast tech resources.

    "Let''s hold off on that for now. Maintaining Digital Domain''s tech leadership is crucial. Since they chose to leave, let them rebuild from scratch," Eric said, a faint smile creeping across his face. "I''ll have the legal department keep a close eye on this. If these departing staff members infringe on tech, I''ll make sure they and their financial backers pay dearly."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "I see," Stan nodded, ncing at his watch. It was well past the end of the workday. "Eric, why don''t we go grab dinner? There are some great restaurants over in Venice."

    With nothing pressing after that, Eric happily agreed.

    ...

    A week passed, and the final moments ofpetition between Vi and Firefly drew near. On January 18, just two days before the bid deadline, Firefly made a ssh by announcing four major film projects, including Jurassic Park and Deep Impact. They even dedicated a full page in the Los Angeles Times to promote Twister, stating that a 1-minute-and-30-second trailer would air during the uing Super Bowl.

    Almost simultaneously, Vi responded, dering that upon sessfully acquiring Disney, they''d invest $500 million to produce six to eight effect-heavy films.

    Having tasted the sweet rewards of high-investment major films, Hollywood''s investment scale had been growing over the past two years. Announcing such news bolstered confidence

    across the board.

    After one final week of negotiations, January 20 finally arrived.

    ...

    Even with a 100% confidence level in his heart, Eric woke up before 5 a.m. and by 8 a.m. made his way to Disney''s headquarters in Burbank.

    As Eric''s car pulled up, hundreds of reporters who had been waiting outside all night surged forward, surrounding his vehicle and firing questions as the shbulbs popped. Various inquiries blended into a chaotic moring that filled Eric''s ears.

    Stuck inside the car, Eric pushed against the door, but it wouldn''t budge. He had no choice but

    to wait patiently for security to clear a path.

    After a couple of minutes, a bodyguard from another car alongside Disney security managed to make their way through the frenzied horde to Eric''s car door.

    "Mr. Williams, can you confirm if Firefly will retain the Disney brand after the acquisition?"

    "Will Disnend be renamed Firefly Park?"

    "Will Firefly integrate Pixar Studios into Disney?"

    "I heard Disney''s top executives signed a $500 million golden parachutepensation package. Will Firefly undertake arge-scale management overhaul post-acquisition?"

    ||

    Such questions would typically be addressed in a press conference following the acquisition''spletion, but it was clear the journalists were eager for thetest updates.

    Just as the human wall made some room, Eric didn''t stick around to reply to any questions. He hurried towards the Disney office building.

    Two minutester, Eric finally entered the Disney lobby, leaving many reporters behind

    outside.

    Collecting himself with a deep breath, Eric followed a Disney staff member to a spacious

    lounge.

    Upon entering, he noticed an older gentleman sitting across from him, reading a newspaper. The man was somewhat rotund, and the most striking feature was the burn scars on his face. It was clear that this was the infamous Sumner Redstone.

    Eric hadn''t expected to meet him in such a setting. He nced at the young staff member

    beside him, who looked just as surprised, quickly realizing she had led him to the wrong lounge a space for the Vi team.

    Though Eric didn''t mind stepping out, facing the unabashed stare of Redstone made leaving

    feel like conceding.

    With aposed smile, Eric approached Redstone, politely extending his hand. "Mr.

    Redstone, it''s great to finally meet you."

    Redstone snorted in disdain, ncing at Eric''s extended hand before lifting his newspaper

    again, ignoring Ericpletely.

    The youngdy who had mistakenly led Eric to the wrong room was now more anxious than

    ever; if the two were to argue, her job could be on the line. She nervously nced at Eric, only to see him seemingly unfazed. He shrugged, withdrew his hand, and sat down on the nearby sofa. Looking at the staff member''s name tag, he said, "Miss Gleeson, could you get me a coffee? No sugar, just extra milk."

    "Uh, sure... okay," the youngdy hurried off to prepare his coffee.

    Eric picked up a nearby newspaper and started to skim through it.

    "Young man, it''s best not to be overly ambitious," Redstone''s voice cut through Eric''s concentration, an aging tone yet full of vigor.

    Putting down the paper, Eric turned his attention to Redstone, smiling. "Mr. Redstone, are

    you talking to me?"

    Redstone huffed again, "You''re lucky; your films often perform well at the box office. But acquiring Disney is not just about luck."

    Eric wasn''t surprised by Redstone''s coldness and sarcasm. Given that the man had been known to publicly berate his son as a fool, any restraint wasmendable. After all, Redstone had been embroiled inwsuits with his wife, son, daughter, and nephew; his notorious temper was well-known.

    In the face of such aggression, Eric didn''t shrink back but stood his ground. "I recall someone saying that luck is also a form of skill. Besides, for someone nearing seventy, you should think about enjoying your golden years instead of squabbling with us youngsters."

    Redstone nced at Eric, a knowing smirk forming on his lips. "You know, your filmpany isn''t bad at all. If you go public, let me know; Vi would be quite interested."

    Eric shook his head. "No, you''re mistaken, Mr. Redstone. While going public is a choice many

    companies make, I prefer to keep everything under my control. Though, I''m quite interested in Vi as well, especially MTV."

    "Ha, talk about overambition. That''s probably the funniest joke I''ve heardtely," Redstone

    chuckled. "Whether it''s a joke or not, we''ll find out in a few years," Eric replied, taking the coffee from the youngdy who had just returned. He looked at Redstone and continued, "Ever since I stepped into Hollywood, many people have called me overambitious. Yet they''ve done nothing but watch me continue to push forward step by step. I imagine you''ll see that too."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 439: Chapter 440: Just the Two of Us

    Chapter 439: Chapter 440: Just the Two of Us

    ?

    [Chapter 440: Just the Two of Us]

    Eric finished cleaning up the recording and casually handed the tape recorder to his bodyguard, Carter Moen, who sat in the passenger seat. He turned to Tina Fey and said, "You can have it back when we leave; there''s no need to hold onto it right now."

    Hearing the tone in Eric''s voice made it clear he had no intention of negotiating. Tina realized her earlier cleverness had rubbed him the wrong way. She awkwardly mumbled a few words in acknowledgment.

    The car drove for over twenty minutes when Carter Moen received a phone call. He turned to Eric and said, "Mr. Williams, there are reporters gathered outside the hotel. They''re asking whether we should go in through the front entrance or take the parking garage elevator."

    Eric didn''t want to get cornered again and responded, "Let''s take the parking garage elevator."

    After the two finished speaking, Tina couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Where are we headed?"

    "We''re going to celebrate the Disney acquisition, of course," Eric replied, ncing at Tina. "Are you interested in checking it out?"

    Tina hesitated for a moment; the allure of a Hollywood party was hard to resist. She nodded gently....

    She thought it would be an easygoing celebration. Instead, when she followed Eric into the Hilton Hotel ballroom, she discovered it was far from what she had expected.

    The ballroom, which spanned hundreds of square feet, was packed with people. The men were dressed in formal suits, while the women wore elegant or morous evening gowns. When Tina looked down at her beige short trench coat and washed-out jeans, she felt a sudden urge to turn and flee.

    As Eric reached the entrance and was about to step inside, he noticed Tina had stopped, her face showing embarrassment. Understanding her predicament, he waved over a hotel manager and whispered a few words. The manager politely addressed Tina, saying, "Miss, please follow me."

    Tina shot a puzzling nce at Eric, who nodded. Although she had no idea what was happening, she obediently followed the manager away.

    Well, it was certainly better than staying here. She thought to herself, feeling so awkward in her outfit that even if Eric hadn''t spoken up, she nned to leave anyway.

    ...

    As Tina''s figure disappeared, the crowd in the ballroom began to notice Eric.

    Eric shed a polite smile and moved forward to greet everyone.

    In addition to executives from Firefly Films, CEOs and high-ranking officials from major studios like Fox, Paramount, and Universal appeared in the ballroom. It was another major gathering of Hollywood''s elite.

    Eric didn''t feel surprised by their presence.

    After Firefly acquired Disney, it not only strengthened its own position but also inherited Disney''s standing within the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Before the acquisition, Firefly was merely a pawn in the Hollywood chess game; now, by joining the MPAA, it transformed into a yer that can set the rules for the Hollywood chessboard. The MPAA held a position in American entertainment simr to that of a certain bureau across the ocean; it controlled the rating power for all films in Hollywood. Take Terminator 2, for example. If Firefly had initially held a seat at the MPAA, the movie would likely have received a PG-13 rating instead of an R. With the youth audience ongoingly growing, being rated R meant losing a significant portion of viewers before the film had even been released. Luckily, Terminator 2 was exceptional enough to counterbnce the box office hit caused by its rating.

    Of course, America imed to be and of freedom, allowing any film the right to forgo rating. However, all mainstream theaters agreed to only show films rated by the MPAA. If a movie chose not to participate in the rating system, it effectively lost the opportunity for mainstream release, relegating it to showings in poorly conditioned underground theaters. This form of ''freedom-seeking'' would lead to losses greater than if a film had been rated NC- 17.

    The fallen MGM was still called one of Hollywood''s big seven, not just because of its half- century legacy but mainly due to its seat in the MPAA. Even though its financial performance was surpassed by many second-tier studios, nobody could shake MGM''s status. For Firefly, if it hadn''t managed to acquire Disney, securing a ce in the MPAA would surely have involved a challenging negotiation.

    Aside from the film rating authority, another primary function of the MPAA was to lobby on behalf of Hollywood to amend federalws protecting the business interests of its seven members.

    Looking at Eric, now officially one of Hollywood''s key yers, the executives from other majorpanies felt an inexplicable nostalgia, inevitably recalling their own situations at twenty.

    Eric could certainly sense theplex emotions from these people. After greeting them, he raised his ss and said, "I truly appreciate everyoneing to this celebration. I hope you all have a wonderful evening."

    Nodding in agreement, several executives dispersed, and Eric quickly moved to catch up with Barry Diller, who had been walking nearby.

    ...

    "Barry, can we chat over there?" Eric pointed to a nearby round table.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Barry nodded and followed Eric to the table, where Eric asked, "Barry, you''re leaving mid- next month. Have you thought about what you want to do next?"

    Barry chuckled, "Eric, I know what you''re getting at, but I won''t be signing any employment contracts again."

    Since the 1970s, Barry Diller had guided Paramount and Fox back to prominence. With Firefly acquiring Disney and Michael Eisner''s departure bing inevitable, Barry was undoubtedly the best candidate to rece Eisner.

    Eric tried to persuade him, "Barry, why not at least hear out my terms?"

    "Eric, let''s not discuss this anymore. Ever since I decided to leavest year, Imitted to no longer just being a well-paid employee. I''m approaching fifty and want to try building something of my own."

    "Well, okay. If you need help, like funding or something, just reach out any time," Eric raised his ss toward Barry.

    Barry lifted his own goblet, taking a sip of red wine. He said, "If Michael can''t stay, maybe you should consider Jeffrey Katzenberg. He was once my assistant, and I think he''s ready for

    the CEO position at Disney."

    Eric acknowledged, "Actually, I''ve thought about that. But you know, Jeffrey is a workaholic. I heard he used to show up at the office at five every morning and worked seven days a week. It''s one thing for him to set such a demanding standard for himself, but he demands the same from his staff. While he''s indeed achieved impressive results as head of Disney Studios, it has led to a lot ofints from the production department. Handing Disney over to him is a bit of a gamble; I wonder what might happen."

    "That''s just because of the different contexts he''s operating in. Right now, he leads a production department, so it''s natural he''d be aggressive. If he were to take over as Disney CEO, he''d surely adjust his management style," Barry exined as he looked at Eric. "Plus, with you supervising him, he probably wouldn''t get away with too much chaos."

    "I will have a talk with him," Eric nodded and then asked, "What about you? What are you nning to do after you leave?"

    Barry answered, "I''m thinking I might travel a bit, visit some techpanies. Now that I''m nearly finished with most of my responsibilities, I suddenly realize how much the world has changed in thest twenty years. I recently bought an interesting little item -- the Apple PowerBook. You know about that? I think it could change the world."

    "Of course, I know! I''ve been using aptop for some time now. I started with an IBM, and I just bought a PowerBook 140 too," Eric replied, surprised at Barry''s keen insight.

    He had always kept a close eye on Apple. When theyunched the first PowerBook 100st year, he had bought one to y around with. It cost $2,500 -- not cheap but not outrageous either. The configurations of today''sptops were still frustratingly low; even thetest PowerBook 140 only had a maximum of 4MB of RAM and a 120MB hard drive.

    Barry looked at Eric, taken aback. He quickly realized that Eric, being younger, would naturally be quicker to embrace new technologiespared to him. He let that thought slide. They talked for a little longer about personalputers andworking before Barry finally

    got up to leave.

    ...

    "Eric, congrattions!" Barry had barely walked away when Drew Barrymore rushed over in a rose-colored little dress.

    Eric wrapped his arm around her waist and seated her next to him. Just then, another tall woman approached, smiling and greeting them, "udia, how did you end up here?"

    "I just passed the audition for The Mask," udia Schiffer exined as she sat down next to

    Eric.

    Eric hadn''t been following The Mask''s developments closely, so he turned to Drew and asked, "Did you finalize the contract with Jim Carrey?"

    Drew''s face lit up with a hint of pride as she wiggled two fingers, "Yep, two films for $8

    million."

    Eric raised his eyebrows, surprised. "Wait, I told you to aim for a package deal of $10 million,

    didn''t I?"

    "That was all on him," Drew exined, her expression bing annoyed. "After the project was initially set up, we gently discussed it with him three times, but he wouldn''t budge. He

    wanted $6 million per film and only wanted to sign for one."

    "Oh, so what happened then?" Eric asked.

    Drew shrugged casually, "I just sent him the contract. The first offer was for two films at $10

    million. The second time, I lowered it to $9 million, and when I sent the third offer at $8

    million, he came forward to sign."

    Eric burst outughing and ruffled Drew''s hair, saying, "Nice work, you''ve got a bright future ahead! By the way, howe I didn''t see Liz? Did Mr. Murdoch note either?" "They all went back to Australia; I think her grandma''s birthday ising up," Drew

    exined before asking, "So, Eric, who was that girl over there? Is she someone new?"

    Eric instinctively asked, "What girl?"

    Drew pouted slightly, "The one in the beige trench coat."

    "Oh, her," Eric started to rify, just as Tina Fey, now in a sky-blue dress, appeared in his line

    of sight, and he waved at her.

    Tina Fey carefully lifted her borrowed dress and approached somewhat hesitantly.

    "Hey, you look great," Eric said, looking her over as she came closer.

    But Tina didn''t feel any of the Cindere joy of transformation. If this borrowed Armani dress

    got dirty or torn, she wouldn''t even know how to repay for it.

    Drew quickly picked up on Tina''s anxious demeanor as she walked andughed merrily, not

    minding that Eric was right there. On the other side, udia, having spent years modeling, was well-acquainted with the delicate nature of high-end designer pieces. She could easily rte to Tina''s feelings and discreetly masked her amusement with a sip from her winess.

    "Eric, this is a bit petty, isn''t it? When did you start liking this type?" Drew leaned in, whispering to Eric as Tina settled down with them.

    Eric shot a re at her, silencing her, before introducing, "This is Miss Tina Fey; she''s a

    reporter. Tina, this is Drew and udia."

    Tina wanted to correct him that her name was actually Elisabeth Fey, but seeing Eric being so presumptuous, she let it go and politely greeted the two women.

    Eric didn''t want Tina to remain in an awkward position before them, so he got up and

    extended his hand to Tina. "Let''s go dance."

    "Sure... okay," she agreed timidly.

    ...

    Seeing Eric drag Tina off to dance, Drew blinked at udia, scanning her from head to toe.

    "What''s wrong?" udia nced down at her attire.

    Drew shook her head,menting, "Men are utterly impossible; you, a stunning beauty, are

    sitting right here, and he drags off some little unknown to dance instead." udia paused for a moment, looking toward Eric in the distance. She felt a twinge of disappointment but couldn''t help defending Eric. "Mr. Williams is a gentleman; he''s just helping thatdy out."

    Drew giggled softly, leaning closer to udia. "You''ll see. He can be far from a gentleman at

    times."

    udia felt her cheeks flush slightly but curiously stammered, "You..."

    "Yup!" The girl didn''t wait for udia to finish her sentence; she admitted without hesitation and then smiled at udia, "You wouldn''t want to report him, would you?"

    udia quickly shook her head, regretting she ever asked. She knew this wasn''t beneficial to

    her at all.

    Drew didn''t say much more. She stood and extended a small hand to udia. "Beautifuldy, may I have this dance?"

    udia took Drew''s hand and smiled, "Just the two of us?"

    "Of course! I wouldn''t want to dance with those stinky men anyway. You''re the best, smelling

    so nice!"

    udia reluctantly stood up and let Drew pull her toward the dance floor.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 441: Chapter 442: Awaiting the Future

    Chapter 441: Chapter 442: Awaiting the Future

    ?

    [Chapter 442: Awaiting the Future]

    Tina Fey had a light breakfast before bidding farewell to Drew and udia. Although she was quite tempted by Drew''s invitation, she had not forgotten her primary responsibility. She was supposed to send back information about the acquisition from the previous day to

    Phdelphiast night. Now, with no materials in hand, she could only imagine the furious expression on her editor''s face.

    Drew called a car to take her back to her hotel in Burbank. As they drove smoothly through Malibu on the Pacific Coast Highway, looking out at the blue expanse of the ocean, Tina felt as if she was awakening from a daze. She opened her handbag and took out a camera, pondering over it thoughtfully.

    This camera wasn''t new, but it definitely wasn''t the one she had brought from the newspaper. She remembered clearly that her old camera had a slight scratch on it, while this one did not. However, if one wasn''t particrly observant, they likely wouldn''t be able to tell the difference.

    She imagined that the camera had been damaged when she fell yesterday, and that Eric had prepared another for her. To care for her pride, he hadn''t simply bought a brand-new one.

    A faint smile crept onto Tina Fey''s lips. No wonder this man had managed to attract so many women; apart from his asional roughness, he seemed practically wless. She found it impossible to harbor any resentment towards him and instead felt a peculiar urge to defend him, thinking to herself that if he were perfect, how could he possibly have any quirks that would allow others to live?

    After politely bidding farewell to the driver from the estate, Tina made her way to the hotel. As soon as she stepped into the lobby, a front desk attendant called out to her, "Are you Miss Tina Fey?"

    "Uh-huh," Tina nodded.

    "Great! You''re finally back. Since yesterday afternoon, we have received 11 calls from a gentleman named Simon Patrick. He insists that you return his call as soon as possible." "Got it," Tina replied, taking the note the front desk provided and hurrying to her room. Simon Patrick was the editor of the The Phdelphia Evening News, a man in his fifties.

    Back in her room, Tina immediately dialed the editor''s office at the newspaper. The moment he recognized her voice, Simonunched into a tirade. Tina frowned in annoyance but had no choice but to patiently exin all that had transpired the previous day.

    Upon hearing that she had secured an exclusive interview with Eric, Simon''s tone shifted dramatically, turning warm as he praised her and urged her to get the interview written up and sent back quickly.

    Tina hung up the phone with a light sigh. The scene fromst night when she had been knocked down had been captured live on television. Even if Simon hadn''t seen it, many staff at the newspaper would have caught wind of it, and clearly, some hoped she would fail this task.

    The Phdelphia Evening News wasn''trge, and opportunities for travel were few. Many hoped for the chance to cover the acquisition in Los Angeles; it amounted to a paid trip, and Hollywood''s epicenter held considerable allure. For many, Tina''s experience at the paper was rtively shallow. Her chance to cover this event stemmed from not only her decent performance over the past two years but also because of her looks, which led the somewhat lecherous Simon to give her this opportunity.

    She knew Simon was an old man with a wandering eye but felt no qualms epting the assignment, seeing it as a feather in her cap.

    She had initially thought thatpleting this interview sessfully would put an end to any gossip. Now, however, she began to realize how naive she''d been. Had she only epted Eric''s invitation to attend the celebrationst night without nabbing the exclusive interview, she would have undoubtedly botched the assignment, and unless she wanted to cozy up to that old geezer for favors, she''d have to leave the paper in disgrace.

    Tina couldn''t help but recall Drew''s invitation. Perhapsing to Hollywood was a good opportunity. Staying at the newspaper, she could envision a future filled with backstabbing and petty sabotage among colleagues, climbing her way up, and if lucky, reaching a position like Simon Patrick''s by the time she was his age. Or perhaps in a few years, she might marry, quit her job, and lead a humdrum life as a housewife.

    None of these ideas appealed to her; she wanted a life filled with excitement and variety.

    ncing at the phone before her, she hesitated for a few seconds before pulling out Drew''s contact information and dialing the estate''s number.

    ...

    Drew hung up the phone and returned to sit by the coffee table again. udia was leaning forward with the script for The Mask in front of her, curiously asking, "Did she agree?"

    Drew nodded, taking a sip from a ss of juice to ponder his thoughts. "Yeah, it''s a hassle that she had to call after returning to say she would. Not very straightforward at all."

    "After all, this is a big deal. When I got an offer from a modeling agency, my dad treated it like it was something serious. I had to wear him down for quite a while before he finally relented," udia said with a nce at Drew''s left hand, which was resting on the table.

    On his ring finger was a rose gold ring adorned with a sparkling heart-shaped red diamond, glinting in the sunlight streaming through the ss wall, making it hard for udia not to be captivated. She remembered that a few days ago, Drew hadn''t worn it. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "Hey, Drew, I''ve been meaning to ask you, where did you get that?"

    Drew set down her juice and proudly showed the ring to udia. "Isn''t it beautiful?"

    "Of course. The design is so unique; can I take a look at it?" udia smiled, her eyes twinkling.

    Drew carefully took it off and handed it to udia, grinning, "This can''t be bought, you know.

    If you work hard enough, maybe someone will gift you something simr."

    udia raised an eyebrow, catching on, and asked, "Eric gave it to you, didn''t he?"

    Drew nodded.

    udia examined the ring closely. The heart-shaped red diamond was perfectly set in soft pink rose gold, surrounded by elegantly carved floral patterns, and on the other side of the diamond was a small engraved letter "K."

    "What does the ''K'' mean?" udia asked curiously.

    Drew scrunched her lips, recalling Eric''s quirky sense of humor. "I can''t tell you; maybe you''ll figure it out someday."

    Thinking it was a little secret between Drew and Eric, udia didn''t press further and asked, "And those designs? They look odd yet beautiful."

    "Well," Drew said, ncing at udia''s vibrant lips. "Get me your lipstick, and I''ll show

    you."

    udia was a little puzzled but took out a Revlon lipstick from her bag and handed it to Drew along with the ring.

    Drew took the items, grabbed a tissue from a nearby box, and carefully folded it. She then applied the lipstick to the outer side of the ring and gently pressed it against the tissue. After finishing, she pushed the tissue toward udia.

    udia picked it up and inspected it curiously. At first, she was puzzled, but she quickly realized that the patterns resembled a string of cursive letters. After examining it closely, she read it aloud, "Eric-Williams, wow, this is... Eric''s name!"

    Drew nodded, carefully wiping the ring clean and cing it back on her left hand. She chuckled, "So, even if you like it, you can''t buy this one. This ring will never appear on the

    market."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    udia made a face, waving her hand in jest, "There''s no way I''m wearing that guy''s name on my hand! By the way, you seem to have it on the wrong finger; that''s the ring finger!" "Not at all," Drew replied, slightly disappointed. "It''s just a pity that I can''t wear it in

    public."

    udia raised her eyebrows thoughtfully and turned back to the script, mulling over the recent ''K'' letter and wondering if there might be an ''A'', ''B'', or ''C'' somewhere. While Drew''s eyes were focused on the materials in front of her, her thoughts drifted to the

    first time she''d seen the ring. Oh my God, Eric had actually made aplete set of 54 rings, the entire deck of cards! How infuriating! Even more annoying was that Eric hid the jokers, leaving her with just the heart K, iming that one day when she was really down, he might pull out the jokers as wedding rings.

    So far, aside from the heart K, a few other rings had made their way to several women. Drew only knew that Julia received the heart 4; she wasn''t too clear about the others.

    ...

    "The first time I saw you, I knew you were destined for Hollywood greatness. I''ve always wanted to bring you to Disney, but I never expected it would turn out this way," Michael Eisner said with a wry smile from his office at Disney Headquarters, his fingers tracing over a

    thirty million dor check.

    Michael tried to sound nonchnt, but remembering Barry Diller''s exit from Fox with a $129 million paycheck, he found it hard to maintain that front.

    As Barry Diller''s former assistant, he admitted he could be noparison to Barry. Yet, Disney''s development over the years hadn''tgged behind that of 20th Century Fox. Both their departures coincided, with Barry walking away with $129 million while he would get just

    $30 million.

    "People always say Hollywood is a dream factory, but they don''t realize that it can be a brutal ce. You can fulfill many people''s dreams but often can''t achieve your own," Eric reflected, recalling an article he had read about Barry Diller, feeling somewhat sentimental. Although the chaos of two years ago had left an irreparable rift between the two, he didn''t harbor much animosity towards Michael Eisner. Businesspetition was always ruthless, and using any means was fair game. If someone was too sentimental, they''d likely get swallowed whole without leaving a crumb behind.

    Michael Eisner didn''t know the source of Eric''s mncholy but felt a faint chord of resonance in his heart. Looking across at Eric, he asked, "Who do you n to rece me with, Frank?"

    "Frank is too conservative. I want a new Disney CEO who is passionate."

    Michael Eisner observed Eric and said, "That has to be Jeffrey then."

    Eric only smiled, still having not met Katzenberg, but Barry had personally rmended Katzenberg to him, so Eric was fairly set on that choice.

    Michael tucked the check away and opened his mouth to say something but ultimately held back. Although Katzenberg was someone he brought over from Paramount and promoted to president of Disney Animation Studios, their rocky rtionship was well-known in Hollywood, so any assessment he offered would likely send Eric in another direction. "Well, I''ll be on my way then," Michael Eisner said as he stood up, and Eric rose, walking him

    to the office door.

    While waiting for the elevator, Michael suddenly turned to Eric and said, "Oh, there''s something I should tell you."

    Eric raised an inquisitive eyebrow, prompting Michael to continue, "I''ve received an invitation from the Panasonic Group; I might be heading to Universal Pictures."

    Eric raised his eyebrows, unable to hold back his reaction, "Don''t they know about your

    conflict with Spielberg?"

    From the start of his career, Spielberg had maintained a strong rtionship with Universal; it was said he still owed them seven filmmitments.

    The fallout over movies like Who Framed Roger Rabbit had created a rift between Michael and

    Spielberg, and for thest few years, Spielberg''s Amblin Entertainment had no coborations

    with Disney.

    Compared to Michael Eisner, Eric considered Spielberg to be far more crucial to Universal. Even though the recent box office for Hook had been underwhelming, Spielberg''s position in Hollywood was not so easily shaken. Even without Jurassic Park, Eric believed Spielberg could develop other film franchises.

    If the Japanese brought Michael Eisner in as CEO of Universal, it would undoubtedly affect Spielberg''s coboration with the studio.

    When the elevator arrived, Michael stepped inside, and Eric thought for a moment before

    following suit.

    "This failure may not be a bad thing for me," Michael said, gazing at the flickering elevator lights. "A few years ago, I made quite a few poor decisions, including those involving Spielberg. Once I''m at Universal, I''ll work to mend things with him. I surely won''t make those

    mistakes again. So, Eric, watch out, next time I won''t lose to you again."

    "I''ll be watching," Eric replied with a smile.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 443: Chapter 444: In the Cards

    Chapter 443: Chapter 444: In the Cards

    ?

    [Chapter 444: The Meat in the Pot]

    No one believed that the disaster concerning the ruble was a randomly orchestrated event. The groundwork for this situation quietly began once Mikhail Gorbachev started reforming the Soviet economy.

    By thete 1980s, the Soviet Union unguardedly opened its financial market to the West. Almost overnight, a flood of foreign banks, investmentpanies, and even insurance firms rushed into major Soviet cities, gathering more rubles from the Soviet popce and businesses through high-interest savings schemes than local banks could muster.

    Simultaneously, the Soviet Union embarked on a privatization reform of state-owned enterprises. A substantial number of state enterprises were distributed to Soviet citizens in the form of shares and bonds. However, the average person was more inclined to seek tangible cash rather than abstract investments. Consequently, Western investment firms began to use the rubles collected from ordinary Soviet citizens to purchase shares of state- owned enterprises right out from under them.

    As vast quantities of Soviet state assets fell into Western hands, the final blow was imminent. Starting in thetter half of 1991, both North America and European nations began intensively predicting the downfall of the Soviet economy. Newspapers and media overflowed with negative headlines such as "Soviet Reform Will Inevitably Lead to Ruin," "Soviet Economy on the Verge of Copse," "Ruble Severely Overvalued," and "Ruble Needs Reevaluation." It echoed the old saying that "if three people say something, it bes a truth." When everyone spoke this way, even the most steadfast began to waver. Thus, panic regarding the copse of the Soviet economy and the severe devaluation of the ruble spread swiftly across various sses in the USSR.

    Sell-offs, runs, hoarding, panic buying...

    Under the maniption of Western powers, this rash bandwagon behavior within the Soviet Union dragged the already precarious ruble further into the abyss.

    In just a few short months, the exchange rate of the ruble against the dor plummeted from a high of 2 rubles to 1 dor, spiraling down to 112,000 to 1 dor, akin to an avnche. Even the most harrowing periods in human history, including wars, had not witnessed such staggering intion. The rubles in the hands of the Soviet people effectively became worthless scraps of paper.

    It was well-known that a nation''s currency typically relied on its gold reserves. Faced with the ruble''s free fall, the Soviet Union began to utilize its gold reserves, desperately attempting to alleviate the domestic economic crisis through direct gold sales. Just at this critical moment, the worst international gold market crash of the 20th century coincidentally urred.

    After the gold prices copsed, the Soviet Union found itself unable to locate any buyers for its gold exports.

    This plummet in gold prices became the final straw that broke the back of the Soviet camel. On December 25, 1991, Soviet President Gorbachev acknowledged theplete failure of economic reform, signed multiple presidential orders, and dered the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In a moment, the only superpower capable ofpeting with the United States evaporated into thin air.

    ...

    Chris was a great speaker, thrillingly describing this world-ss game of chess, which caused Emily, sitting beside him, to set her utensils down and gaze at her boyfriend with admiration, while Connelly''s eyes widened in shock.

    "So you''re saying we essentially seized the entire wealth of the Soviet Union?" Chris concluded, leading Connelly to voice his curiosity.

    Chris shook his head, "That''s clearly impossible. This isn''t a zero-sum game where we win at their expense; this is wealth evaporation. The wealth umted by the Soviet Union over half a century was like a pot of boiling water -- once the steam dissipated, all that spection yielded merely the dew that formed on the pot''s lid."

    Imagining the scene Chris painted, Connelly eximed, "That''s quite the waste!"

    Emily, who was near Chris, chimed in, "Honestly, the dissolution of the Soviet Union is for the best. At least we no longer have to worry about the threat of nuclear war."

    Eric nodded, "Definitely. That big Ivan that exploded over the Arctic Circle sure frightened the living daylights out of everyone. If a nuclear war broke out, the Soviets would only need to drop a few of those Ivan-ss bombs on both coasts to end it all."

    "What''s an ''Ivan''?" Connelly asked, curiosity piqued.

    All four of them had been born in the 1970s, but apart from Eric, the others looked puzzled.

    Eric had only stumbled across information about it while browsing online in his past life. "In 1961, the Soviets detonated a nuclear bomb with an estimated yield of 58 megatons in the Arctic Circle. At that time, a lot of us weren''t even born yet, so you might not know much about it."

    Seeing that the others had no frame of reference for a 58-megaton bomb, Eric rified, "To give you an idea of how terrifying Ivan was, the ne that dropped the bomb traveled at subsonic speed and flew 250 kilometers away before the explosion. Yet the shockwave nearly destroyed it. The bomb''s impact area reached 200,000 square kilometers, almost twice the size of New York State. On the other hand, the Little Boy bomb dropped on Hiroshima had a yield of only 13 kilotons but evaporated approximately 70,000 people immediately, leading to over 200,000 subsequent deaths. Ivan''s power was 5,000 times that of Little Boy. Rumor has it the Sovietster developed a bomb with a 100-megaton yield, but they couldn''t find a sufficientlyrge detonation site to test it."

    Hearing Eric''s words, Chris and the others disyed signs of mild fear.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric lowered his head and nibbled on a sausage, quietly stating, "So I actually believe any guy involved in making nuclear bombs should be sentenced to life imprisonment."

    Emily chuckled. "You know, Einstein himself regretted the indirect invention of the bomb." "But he was still guilty," Eric replied.

    Chrisughed. "Eric, your tone really does sound like that of an extreme pacifist."

    "I am one. Rather than war, I prefer those in power to settle their disputes through one-on- onebat -- unarmed, with cold weapons, or revolvers -- whatever it takes, as long as they don''t start a war."

    At this, the other threeughed, and Eric joined in.

    Well, this was just a bit of a joke.

    ...

    "This is for you," After lunch, while they tidied up the kitchen, Eric took Chris to the study and handed him an Apple PowerBook 140.

    "This thing is worthless; I''d rather write things down by hand," Chris muttered while poking

    at it.

    Eric replied, "I''m not asking you to use it for work; I just want you to take a good look at it. You know, at the beginning of the year, IBM, and several other hardware and softwarepanies joined NSFNET, and that will be our direction for development going forward. The traditional American industries have been divided among various factions; it''s nearly impossible for Firefly Investment to prate them. However, the high-tech industries rted toputers are still an untapped field. Think about it -- throughout the 1980s, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Larry Ellison became billionaires. I''m certain that the development ofputer technology hasn''te to an end; there will be even more opportunities ahead." Chris awkwardly managed to start up theptop and, upon hearing Eric''s words, didn''t argue. Eric had already brought him numerous surprises that inspired a kind of blind confidence in him.

    "I''ll carve out some time to learn more about it. What''s next on your agenda?"

    Eric recalled that the inte took off after Clinton took office, thanks to U.S. policy support. "As of now, not much. It''s still a bit early; we have to wait until next year. However, you should keep an eye on Bill Clinton, the presidential candidate in the uing election. He proposed an information superhighway n, which I just mentioned because thiswork may eventually serve as the backbone of the superhighway. You could gather some relevant materials for the Cisco management team to review; it''ll undoubtedly be beneficial." In the original timeline, NSFNET was indeed the precursor to the inte. Chris silently jotted down Bill Clinton and the information superhighway as key terms and said, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll head back to New York. Oh, and you''d better find my dad a couple of assistants; he is getting up there in age, and he isn''t as energetic as those old- timers like Redstone or Murdoch."

    Ericughed. "Of course, you shouldn''t worry about that, but I''m sure he wouldn''t appreciate

    hearing you say that."

    Chris shrugged. "No old guy likes to hear that, but it''s the truth."

    Chris and Emily were set to take a 4 p.m. flight back to New York. After a brief conversation

    with Eric, he walked them out of the estate.

    ...

    "I''ve arranged to meet Jeffrey Katzenberg to check out Disney''s production base. Do you want toe with me?" After seeing the two off, Eric asked Jennifer Connelly. Connelly shook her head. "Not really, I just finished filming and I''m toozy to move. I''ll rest

    at the vi; juste back early tonight."

    Even though Fox''s Hot Shots! Part 2 had flopped during the summer, Connelly wasn''t too affected because of her connection to Eric. She quicklynded anotheredy, scheduled to be released around Easter. Of course, Eric didn''t inquire about it; he had his own affairs to tend to and couldn''t be bothered to chase that little bit of "extra change."

    Eric nced at Connelly''s delicate face and said, "You just stay at home. That little girl Drew bought two more carstely, both very woman-friendly. If you want to go shopping, you can just take one from the garage."

    "Sounds good," Connelly replied, feeling a twinge of jealousy at Eric''s casual mention of Drew but decided not to show it.

    Eric noticed this little detail, but he didn''t dwell on it too much. He had low expectations for the women in his life, never fantasizing about a harmonious scene where they would all get along. As long as they could coexist peacefully, that was enough for him.

    ...

    Since Michael Eisner took over Disney, thepany had transformed dramatically over the course of more than seven years. Disney had broken away from its reliance solely on animated films, and now it not only had the Disney Studio for all-age films and animations, but also Touchstone Pictures for PG-rated and above films. Additionally, Disney managed a children''s TV show, but it wasn''trge-scale and had always struggled with performance. Compared to the Firefly Studios in ya Vista, Disney''s production base was smaller, but it was located in the bustling Burbank area.

    "The story of ddin is based on a tale from the medieval Arabic period about amp that can grant wishes, originating from the famous One Thousand and One Nights. However, we made localized modifications to the characters to better fit American audiences."

    In the Disney Animation Studio''s office, Katzenberg apanied Eric in watching clips of ddin''s production. Eric recognized this film as one of Disney''s most renowned animations

    from the 1990s.

    Afterward, Eric and Katzenberg moved into Katzenberg''s former office, where a secretary

    served them coffee before leaving. Eric then asked, "Aside from ddin, does the studio have other animation projects in the pipeline?"

    "Of course, many. During our weekly meetings, I always ask each director for five animation ideas. Over time, we''ve reached the project preparation phase for about five or six of them." Eric pressed, "You remember them all, right? Let''s hear the details." Katzenberg found Eric''s reaction a bit odd but nheless continued, "How about I have someone bring you the proposals so you can review them personally? Everyone knows you

    have an excellent eye for these things."

    "That works best."

    Shortly after, a secretary from the studio delivered a stack of project proposals.

    Eric patiently perused each one until he quickly identified his target: a story about the African savannah resembling Hamlet -- a rough draft of what would eventually be The Lion King. In the original timeline, The Lion King not only marked the final flourish of Disney''s 2D hand-

    drawn animations but also became its most sessful 2D animated film, grossing nearly a billion dors worldwide in box office revenue.

    Quietly extracting The Lion King script from his stack and handing it to Katzenberg, Eric asked, "What about this one? Have you guys discussed it yet?"

    Katzenberg took a look at it and replied, "This story was proposed by Brenda Chapman and is inspired by Hamlet. At first, I thought it might be a bit cliche. However, once I saw the character designs, I approved it because they were all quite appealing. But it hasn''tunched yet; if you''re interested, it might be queued up after ddin ispleted."

    Eric didn''t push for it, thinking it was alreay in the cards. It didn''t matter if they ate it sooner

    orter: "I think this story is excellent; have them prepare a detailed proposal for me. If it''s good, let''s make this project a top priority."

    Katzenberg nodded, called for his secretary, and briefly instructed her before turning to Eric. "Then let''s head to the TV production department. They''ve made significant reforms to the ssic Mickey Mouse Club recently and have changed the cast."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 445: Chapter 446: The Foolish Ones

    Chapter 445: Chapter 446: The Foolish Ones

    ?

    [Chapter 446: The Foolish Ones]

    "...So, they''ll being over shortly."

    Eric hung up the phone with Connelly and turned to the group of teens around him. "Now, you can call your parents. If they agree, you''ll be able to go to Liberty City Manor. Someone will host you."

    The teens cheered and scattered to make their calls. Only Christina, who had heard Eric''s words, asked, "Mr. Williams, aren''t youing with us?"

    Eric looked at the somewhat mature girl before him. In his past life, Christina might not have been as famous or lucrative as Britney, butpared to Britney''s chaotic career and life, Christina could definitely be considered a winner in life.

    "I still have work to do, but I can take you all out for dinner tonight."

    Christina''s expression fell momentarily, and she let out a soft "oh," unsure if it was feigned. But then she looked at Eric eagerly, her sweet smile returning as she said, "Mr. Williams, then we''ll wait for you toe back."

    "Quickly go and call your parents. If they don''t agree, you can''t go."

    Although the rehearsals for the day weren''t over yet, the big boss directly giving the word made the production''s head dare not challenge his authority. He even sent a car to take the teens to Malibu.

    Katzenberg didn''tment on Eric''s actions but regarded them as a youthful attempt to show off. After all, to him, Eric was just a guy in his early twenties, while Katzenberg himself was already forty-two.

    ...

    After checking out a few more sets, the two left the Disney Production Center and were en route back to Disney headquarters when Katzenberg, sitting next to Eric, said, "Eric, I had someone re-edit the film, Billy Bathgate. Do you want to take another look when you have time?"

    Eric recalled Billy Bathgate, which was supposed to release in early November the previous year, and shook his head. "No need. The biggest issue with that film was the casting. The lead actor, Ron Dean, always gave off a bizarre sense of disconnect. Plus, I don''t think this film even needs a theatrical release -- just let it go straight to video."

    Katzenberg nodded. While releasing a video could save a lot of marketing costs, he quickly followed up with another suggestion. "Considering it was nearly a $50 million investment, how about a limited release in September? The off-season marketing costs would be significantly lower, and you might recover some funds."

    "Let''s do that," Eric agreed. "Also, the one we just saw, Sister Act -- let''s increase the marketing push a bit. Whoopi Goldberg''sedic performance in Ghost was quite outstanding. This movie might bring some surprises for Disney."

    Even Katzenberg, who was usually confident, didn''t doubt Eric''s judgement in films. Hearing this, he made sure to note it down in his memo.

    Once they arrived at Disney headquarters, Eric attended a brief meeting with a few top executives. After that, he clocked out and headed back to Malibu.

    ...

    By the time he got home, it was already six-thirty. As Eric walked into the vi, he heard a chorus ofughtering from the kitchen. He leaned against the doorframe and peered inside, spotting seven or eight teens, including Connelly, gathered around two chefs. Upon seeing Eric, the teens set down what they were doing and came toward him. Eric realized they were making Risotto Balls.

    After greeting each other, Connelly said, "Eric, I invited a Italian restaurant chef toe and teach them to make Risotto Balls. It''s a lot of fun!"

    Eric smiled and nodded, having already figured that much from the two chefs.

    "Continue what you''re doing. I''ll go take a shower first. Jenny, could you help me prepare some clothes?" Eric asked as he turned to head upstairs.

    Connelly agreed and followed, walking beside Eric as she asked, "What made you think to invite these kids over?"

    "What''s wrong? Don''t you like it?" Eric inquired.

    Connelly shook her head. The kids were all very polite, treating her as if she were Eric''s girlfriend, and she was enjoying this mistress role. "I''m just a bit curious." After a moment''s thought, she nced back to make sure no one was following before asking, "Hey, you''re not... interested in any of these girls, are you?"

    Eric let out augh. "Do you think I''m that kind of guy?"

    Connelly nodded seriously. "I heard that when you met Drew, she was only thirteen. You must have had your eye on her back then. Hmm."

    Eric waved a finger at her, shaking his head in denial. "You''ve got that all wrong. That girl had her sights on me from the time she was thirteen; it was more of a long-term scheme."

    Connelly chuckled and yfully punched Eric on the shoulder. "You''re just making excuses. I found a copy of Lolita while cleaning the house today."

    Eric remembered that it must have been something Drew had left behind. The girl imed she wanted to study how to tempt older guys, but he didn''t exin that to Connelly and instead joked, "I was reading that book from a scientific perspective; don''t twist my words."

    "Ha-ha..."

    ...

    After Eric finished his shower, he found Connelly had returned to the kitchen to help. He grabbed a magazine, sat down on a couch near the ss wall, and began to read.

    After a while, a small figure emerged from a restroom, shaking water droplets from her tiny hands. She looked up, startled to see Eric sitting there.

    "Sorry, Mr. Williams, I didn''t know you were here," Britney said, a bit flustered.

    Eric pushed the box of tissues on the coffee table toward her. "Here, use this."

    Britney cautiously approached, taking a few tissues to dry her hands. When she saw Eric still watching her, she turned and peeked nervously toward the kitchen as if hoping someone would save her.

    Seeing the little girl''s difort, Eric smiled. "Do I look scary?"

    "No, of course not," Britney said, shaking her head like a bobblehead. After falling onstage in front of Eric earlier that afternoon, she felt shy and awkward around him. Typically, girls matured faster than their male peers, especially since Britney had started training and performing at eight years old. Given these circumstances, she was more mature than others her age but also felt a twinge of self-consciousness looking at Eric''s handsome face and

    gentle smile.

    "Sit down and keep mepany. There are plenty of people in the kitchen; they won''t miss you," Eric said, motioning to the couch opposite him.

    Britney obediently sat across from Eric, keeping her eyes a little downcast.

    "Who''s at home with you?" Eric asked, putting the magazine down on hisp and gently

    inquiring.

    "My dad, mom, brother, and sister," Britney replied.

    Eric recalled that Britney had a sister and a pair of parents who were only out for money, but he didn''t remember much about Britney''s brother. "Are they all in Los Angeles?"

    "Yeah, Mom had my sisterst year, so Dad moved with my brother to Los Angeles."

    ...

    Meanwhile, Christina seeded in wrapping a Risotto Ball that looked decent. She held it up to show off to her friends but soon realized Britney had been gone for quite a while. A sense of caution crept in, and she set down the Risotto Ball. She spoke politely to Connelly for a moment before stepping out of the kitchen, spotting Eric making Britneyugh.

    Oh no, that clumsy girl beat me to it.

    Thinking this, a hint of jealousy sparked in Christina as Eric waved her over. She quickly

    gathered her thoughts, shing a sweet smile before walking over.

    "Chris, we were just talking about you," Britney said,pletely innocent. She scooted over

    to make room for Christina.

    Christina, feeling slightly defensive, asked, "About what?"

    "Of course, our time in the Mickey Mouse Club," Britney replied.

    Eric looked at the two girls before him and said, "Britney was just telling me how great you

    are at singing. She mentioned you both have amazing voices. You should sing for me

    sometime!"

    "Sure!" Christina quickly responded. "We can do it right now!"

    Eric shook his head. "Let''s skip today; dinner will be ready soon."

    Christina had initially wanted to showcase her skills, but Eric''s suggestion left her feeling a

    bit disappointed.

    ...

    They had only chatted for a short while when Connelly poked her head out of the kitchen, calling them for dinner. Britney, already drawn in by the delicious aroma of the food, jumped

    up and skipped toward the dining area.

    As Eric put away his magazine and stood up, Christina bit her lip, finally mustering the

    courage to speak. "Mr. Williams, Britney''s singing... well, she isn''t as good as me. The

    teachers at the club all say so."

    Eric found more amusement in this than he expected. "What''s that about?"

    "I just mean, Britney is only slightly prettier than me. Other than that, I''m definitely better!"

    Christina assured, her determination evident.

    "Oh, I see," Eric said, nodding nomittally.

    Christina continued, "Mr. Williams, were you here today to cast for us?"

    Eric raised an eyebrow, finally understanding the reason behind the girl''s unusual behavior.

    He shook his head with a smile. "No, I was just checking the work at the Disney production

    nt today; it has nothing to do with casting."

    Rather than being discouraged, Christina came closer, crouching beside Eric as she asked

    eagerly, "Mr. Williams, do you think I could be an actress?"

    "Aren''t you already an actress?"

    "I mean, a movie actress, like Stuart Ronkel?"

    Eric thought back to the information he reviewed on Christina earlier. She was like many

    American kids, growing up in a broken family. Her mother had left due to her father''s abuse when Christina was just six. From then on, they lived a nomadic lifestyle. Christina began performing at eight to make money due in part to her singing ability. Kids who grow up in such environments usually mature quickly and yearn for a better life, which exined her earlierments. The resurgence of Home Alone 3 recently made Stuart one of the world''s most sessful child stars, directly reflected in his whopping $10 million paycheck. "Chris, keep focusing on performing in the Mickey Mouse Club. Just work hard, and you''ll definitely make a name for yourself. You don''t have to exclusively shoot movies," Eric reassured, gently tapping her hand. He wasn''t trying to be a savior; besides, he didn''t need to further his aplishments by fostering potential future stars now. He was more curious to see what became of the stars from his past life when they strayed from their original life

    paths.

    When Christina noticed Eric preparing to stand up, she reflexively grabbed his arm, her gaze asking for a favor. "Mr. Williams, give me a chance, okay? I heard you have a lot of girlfriends. I... I can be your girlfriend too."

    Eric looked at the girl gripping his arm and said, "Stop it, Chris, or I might get mad." "Please, Mr. Williams. I know I''m not pretty enough, but I can bring Britney along, and we can

    both be your girlfriends," Christina stumbled through her words, managing to get them out. Eric raised an eyebrow again.

    Assuming Eric was intrigued, Christina felt a spark of joy and continued. "Mr. Williams, Britney likes you, and she''s just a little clueless -- but she''s easy to charm."

    Eric nearly burst outughing. Christina''s description of Britney as "clueless" was spot on. In his past life, Britney''s string of subpar boyfriends consisted mainly of people close to her; even the paparazzi could use her to their advantage, showcasing just how easily she could be swayed. It was evident how easily she could be fooled and, despite countless wrong turns, shen/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    never seemed to learn her lesson.

    "Eric, um... what are you two doing?" After waiting a while and not seeing Eric show up,

    Connelly walked out from the dining area and caught sight of Christina holding on to Eric''s

    arm.

    Upon seeing Connelly, Christina quickly released her grip, and Eric shrugged at Connelly while heading directly for the dining room. Christina followed behind, her head down, too timid to meet Connelly''s eyes.

    Connelly nced suspiciously between the two but ultimately said nothing.

    ...

    Dinner was quite a feast. As soon as Eric stepped into the dining room, Britney excitedly

    approached him, holding a small te piled with Risotto Balls. "Mr. Williams, these are the ones I made! Would you like to try one?"

    Eric knew those Risotto Balls were prepared by the chefs beforehand, so he wasn''t concerned

    about getting something odd. He smiled and nodded, grabbing a bowl and picking out a couple from Britney''s te. "That''s enough for me. Thanks."

    With Britney leading the way, the other teens soon brought out their creations too. The only one left feeling disheartened was Christina, who had been somewhat glued to Eric''s side. She didn''t even know where her hard work had gone, as someone likely imed it while she was

    distracted.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 447: Chapter 448: Of Course He Did

    Chapter 447: Chapter 448: Of Course He Did

    ?

    [Chapter 448: Of Course]

    Unlike Sumner Redstone''s content-driven approach, Rupert Murdoch leaned more toward channel expansion, which exined why News Corp had a broader reach than Vi.

    With the rise of Fox Television Network and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, Murdoch gradually focused his business efforts on North America.

    The departure of Barry Diller left a crucial void in News Corp''s media operations in the United States. Murdoch had no choice but to take charge himself. These days, Murdoch has been in charge of the overall situation at Fox headquarters in Los Angeles.

    The sess of Friends, The X-Files, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire allowed Fox Television Network to develop more smoothly than in the previous timeline. Inspired by Warner Bros.''s initiatives and bolstered by News Corp''s inherent resources, Murdoch had begun preparing tounch the Fox News Channel.

    As another busy day came to a close, Murdoch''s assistant suddenly knocked and entered his office, handing him a document. "Mr. Murdoch, this is a news release just faxed over by Mars Allen, the editor of the New York Post. You might want to take a look."

    Murdoch trusted his assistant to not deliver trivial news releases. Since it was ced before him, it clearly had some significance.

    "Just leave it here; I''ll look at itter," Murdoch waved his hand, and the assistant politely exited the office.

    After quickly reviewing a few remaining documents, Murdoch picked up the news release. As he nced at the headline, his brow furrowed slightly. As a media mogul who built his empire on news, he could tell from the first few paragraphs that it was nothing but baseless gossip. While it might entertain readers, it would undoubtedly provoke discontent among the parties involved.

    He skimmed through it, unable to resist picking up the financial report he had just reviewed. It detailed the media content expenditures for Fox Television this year.

    His eyes quicklynded on the section about Terminator 2. In Hollywood, after theatrical runs, the next phase was VCR releases, followed by the television broadcast on majorworks, cable channels, and local stations.

    Once Terminator 2pleted its theatrical run and VCR distribution, it began the bidding process for broadcast rights. Typically, to maximize profit, films would air first on pay cableworks before considering free broadcast on over-the-air stations.

    However, due to the ownership connection between Firefly and Fox Television, Firefly made an exception, selling the first-round broadcasting rights to Fox. The price was steep, though: for just four airings, Fox had to pay a whopping $16 million in licensing fees, which averaged $4 million per airing.

    Fox and Firefly had always enjoyed a productive partnership. However, if this article from the New York Post were published, not only would Eric view it as a provocation, but other media outlets would also interpret it as a sign of a rift between Firefly and Fox, which was surely a scenario many people delighted in.

    While realizing this vulnerable position in his coboration with Firefly made Murdoch ufortable, he wouldn''t react too rashly. He called for his assistant again and instructed, "Tell Mars Allen that for simr news releases about Eric Williams, just suppress them. Make sure other reports are handled with care."

    "Got it, Mr. Murdoch," the assistant nodded and left.

    Checking the time, Murdoch stuffed the document into his briefcase and headed home.

    ...

    Last year''s, Thelma & Louise had received five Oscar nominations. Elisabeth had initially nned a publicity party with Drew but received a call from her father that evening, requiring her to rush back to the Murdoch family''s residence in Los Angeles for dinner.

    After dinner and seeing her daughter, who appeared somewhat distracted, he couldn''t help but scold, "You''re all grown up, and you still can''t be moreposed?"

    Sitting on an office chair with her legs crossed, Elisabeth casually remarked, "You should be telling that to my two brothers! Ugh, I heard James has recently taken a liking to rock music. I wonder what kind of people he''s hanging out with -- hope he doesn''t show up with a pale- faced, pierced girlfriend one day. Oh, and by the way, that ''girlfriend'' may not even be a woman!"

    Just mentioning the two sons gave Murdoch a headache. Looking at his daughter''s teasing expression made him even angrier. "What about you? At twenty-four, you should be considering marriage."

    Elisabeth''s expression shifted, and she impatiently changed the subject. "Dad, what did you call me back for? If it''s nothing, I''ll be on my way. I have a ton of things to do!"

    Murdoch knew he couldn''t push his strong-willed daughter further. He was aware that if he kept talking, she might just leave, so he reluctantly moved to the point.

    "Well, recently, I''ve noticed that Fox''s content production seems a bitcking. What do you think about Fox acquiring your filmpany?"

    Elisabeth shrugged. "Dad, you know full well that this isn''t something the three of us girls can decide; that guy needs to approve. Plus, even if you did acquire it, it wouldn''t matter. We already signed a distribution deal with Firefly. Also, don''t set your sights on Firefly. Even if they do have quality projects left, they''ll likely hand them over to Disney. Bottom line, Fox needs to make its own moves."

    Murdoch certainly understood Elisabeth''s reasoning. However, with film investment costs escting and risks climbing alongside them, Fox hadn''t turned out many sessful big- budget films in recent years. Last summer''s box office failure of Cutthroat Ind and Spielberg''s underwhelming performance with Hook had made many filmpanies cautious about hefty investments. Meanwhile, Firefly boldly announced four projects withbined investments exceeding $300 million, showcasing Eric''s confidence and initiative in film investments.

    "Firefly announced those four film projects, right? Do you think Fox might invest? After all, that''s $300 million, and Firefly just acquired Disney, so they must be cash-strapped." Elisabeth shook her head. "Not likely. Filmpanies typically seek external investment when they''re uncertain about a project. If he personally selected it, he must have the confidence. Plus, that guy''s be known on Wall Street as an extremely conservative businessman, advocating low debt and ample cash flow. If he didn''t have the capital, he wouldn''t propose such a n."

    Murdoch sighed and shot a nce at his daughter, his unspoken words implying, "So what good are you then?"

    Elisabeth red back discontentedly. "Old man, you''re not suggesting I sell my body, are you? Don''t even think about it!"

    Murdoch found this absurd and chuckled, shaking his head. He took the document from his briefcase and tossed it to Elisabeth. "This was handed over by the editor from the New York Post this afternoon. Take a look."

    Curious, Elisabeth flipped through it. Though she knew much of the report was nonsense, she still couldn''t help but vent, "Here we go again -- what a jerk! He''s bound to end up in trouble

    with women sooner orter."

    ...

    "Asshole," Elisabeth vented again the next afternoon at Julia''s Beverly Hills mansion after lunch as the women discussed the incident.

    "Asshole," Julia echoed from the other side of the sofa,ughing.

    Tina Fey cradled a little girl in her arms, smiling but refraining from adding her voice to the conversation. Meanwhile, the toddler babbled, "Dada!"

    Drew flipped through the document in front of her and remarked, "You all know the situation. Let''s think about how to handle the aftermath instead."

    "Who''s going to clean up his mess? Hand him the document and make him deal with it."

    "February 10 is the Super Bowl, and Eric has been busy editing the trailer for Twister. Better not bother him with this nonsense," Drew replied seriously as she read the document twice before tucking it into her bag. Then she asked Elisabeth, "Do you have the contact information for the reporter who wrote this? We need to retrieve that recording first."

    Noticing Drew''s serious demeanor, Julia said, "Isn''t it too much trouble? The report''s already

    suppressed."

    "Absolutely necessary. Plus, we need to warn that girl''s father; opportunistic people can be quite troublesome."

    Elisabethughed. "You seem to have plenty of experience handling this."

    "Of course, because Ie from a pair of parents like that. I know what kind of things those people can do," Drew quipped self-deprecatingly, her tone shifting to a husky and sinister one as she added, "No one can get in Eric''s way, and they certainly can''t hurt him -- not even you."

    For a moment, Julia felt like Drew resembled a cat from a horror film, her gaze foreboding and ready to pounce.

    Elisabeth felt a chill running down her spine and nervously said, "I only said a few things to him, and I wasn''t even using him. He just..." she paused, "All right, I''ll find that reporter''s contact information for you."

    Elisabeth quickly found the contact details for Cole Anderson. After Drew noted them down,

    she left Julia''s house with Tina Fey.

    Hearing the sound of Drew''s car leaving the neighboring vi, Julia smiled at Elisabeth.

    "What a little maniac. She really scared me just now."

    Elisabeth listened to the car engine fade away, turned to assess Julia, recalling herself,

    shrugged, and walked back to her room.

    Julia followed her with the sleepy little girl in her arms,menting, "Liz, you seem a bit off.

    You''re not going crazy too, are you?"

    "I still have to go to the set of The Mask this afternoon. No time to go nuts. But you''re just lounging at home; soon you''ll go stir-crazy. Better start filming soon."

    "I''ve been looking at scripts recently. By the way, do you think there''s a part for me in any of

    those films?"

    "Are you saying you want to y a crazy woman like Nicole Kidman?"

    "Wow, your tone sounds rather sour. Still sulking over Eric not giving that project to TG?

    Drew''s already said he has other ns.''

    "How dare Iin about him? I''m scared Drew wille after me!"

    ...

    After exchanging a check for that interview''s recording, Drew hurried to Disney''s production

    center with Tina Fey.

    Because of Drew''s connection with Eric, Billy rk, from the Mickey Mouse Club program, came out promptly to greet them upon hearing the studio gatekeeper''s announcement. "Hello, Ms. Barrymore," Billy rk said, somewhat puzzled. "I thought Mr. Williams was just here the other day. I didn''t expect to see another visitor so soon."

    Drew shed a charming smile, shaking hands with Billy rk. Once they reached Billy''s office, Drew pulled out the document and the recording.

    Billy read through the document and listened to a portion of the recording. His expression turned uneasy. He recognized that if this information got out, it would create trouble for Eric. After all, just recently, renowned director Woody Allen had found himself in a scandal involving his adopted daughter, and simr news would grab the media''s attention. If such a

    thing happened, the show would surely suffer as well.

    "Ms. Barrymore, what do you... what do you mean?"

    "rk, this isn''t your concern; you don''t need to worry," Drew reassured him with a smile.

    "Just call that girl''s father over. I''ll have a word with him -- also, could you pass me the details for the young actors who visited Eric''s house that day?"

    "Of course, of course! I''ll get right on that," Billy rk said, leaving the office in a hurry.

    In no time, Drew received the details of seven teenagers, quickly scanning through them and eliminating five, leaving only the profiles of Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. After scrutinizing the photos of the two girls, Drew smirked at Tina. "What do you think of

    them?"

    Tina looked at the photos and said, "They''re adorable! The kids chosen for Disney''s children''s channel are always a delight. Drew, I don''t think Mr. Williams is that kind of person. He likely just invited these kids to his estate."

    "No, you don''t understand," Drew shook her head. "Once you''ve been around Eric long enough, you''ll see how he often gazes at some people with these strange, unexinable looks as if he knows them well, despite the short acquaintance. I''m sure one of these seven

    kids might just be that kind of character."

    "Ah..." Tina said, surprised. She opened her mouth to say something but instinctively asked,

    "Did he look at me like that?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Drew nced at Tina, a smile on her lips. "Of course he did."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 449: Chapter 450: Eye-Popping Visuals

    Chapter 449: Chapter 450: Eye-Popping Visuals

    ?

    [Chapter 450: Eye-Popping Visuals]

    Drew expertly delivered a warning to Jamie Spears. For these greedy little yers, an empty threat might provoke reckless retaliation, considering they often felt they had nothing to lose. So, Drew painted a picture for Jamie. If he kept his mouth shut and yed it straight, Britney could remain a stable presence in the Mickey Mouse Club, and someday possibly be a superstar earning tens of millions a year. As Britney''s father, Jamie would enjoy that life of luxury too. But if Jamie sought quick, petty profits and spouted nonsense, their family would find themselves back in their small town in Louisiana, struggling with no way out. Observing Jamie as he humbly swore and backed out of the office, Tina Fey couldn''t help but chuckle. Yet, as she recalled Drew''s earlier words, she pondered her own level within the ''pyramid'' of Firefly Films. Soon, self-doubt crept in as she realized that, no matter how much she understood, she would always just be a brick, while he was the owner of the pyramid. "Hey, secretary, are you feeling inferior too?" came Drew''s teasing voice from nearby. Tina snapped back to reality, quickly covering her embarrassment and retorted, "What nonsense! And you don''t sound anything like that yboy at all when you imitate."

    "I''m not arguing about that with you. Just do me a favor and ask if there''s any juice left. After all this talking, my mouth''s dry."

    "Didn''t we finish everything? Aren''t we leaving?" Tina questioned.

    "Not yet. We haven''t met those two Lolitas, do you really not want to see them?"

    Tina shrugged and walked out of the office.

    ...

    In the post-production studio set up specifically for Twister, a 32-inch color TV was ced in the room. Eric, Jeffrey, Michael Lynn, Stan Winston, the renowned Hollywoodposer John Williams, and other key creative members were all fixated on the screen.

    The TV yed a one-minute and thirty-second teaser for Twister. With a heart-stopping sound of shattering ss, the audience couldn''t help but erupt into apuse.

    "Fantastic!"

    "That was freaking intense! I thought a tire was about tond on me!"

    "The use of ck edges in the teaser to create an eye-popping effect -- simple yet genius!" "Run it again! Run it again!"

    Listening to the stunned reactions of those around him, Eric couldn''t help but break into a satisfied smile. All the hard work over the past few days finally paid off. The surprise on the faces of these professionals indicated that when ordinary people saw these shots in the future, they would surely be even more amazed.

    After the trailer for Pretty Woman, the Super Bowl trailer had be an important promotional channel for major films every year. None of the prior teaser concepts from the crew had satisfied Eric, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

    Eric watched thepleted film of Twister several times. The visual effects showing cars, yachts, and tankers being tossed around reminded him of the so-called eye-popping teaser from the 2012.

    He recalled being startled the first time he saw that trailer. Although further viewings revealed that the so-called eye-popping moments were merely created by adjusting the depth of field in the shots and utilizing wide-screen ck edges on small screens to produce visual illusions, he still had a fondness for that teaser. Consequently, when he observed simr scenes in Twister, he quickly generated a simr idea.

    When he proposed this concept, some of the other creatives expressed doubt. However, Eric''s absolute control over the film allowed him to push through his proposal easily.

    Then, top-notch visual effects artists in the studio spent two days discussing solutions. They worked overtime over the next week and finally nailed down the relevant special effects shots. To test the results, Eric didn''t screen the trailer in the studio''svish theater. Instead, he had a standard TV brought in. Judging by the reactions of those present and the effectiveness he had just witnessed, even on a small-screen TV, the anticipated impact remained intact. This trailer was undoubtedly a major sess and would certainly cause quite a stir.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I was a bit worried at first, but with this trailer out, it will definitely steal the thunder from Batman Returns," Jeffrey couldn''t help butment as he watched the trailer scenes rey on the screen beside Eric.

    "I think you were a bit overly concerned to begin with," Eric replied with a chuckle. He never regarded Warner''s Batman Returns as a threat. From his memory of Warner Brothers'' Batman series in the 1990s, aside from the first film achieving sess due to decades of built-up poprity, the sequels had increasinglyrger budgets but waning reception. In fact, the four Batman movies in the 1990s had three different leads, changing directors just as frequently, yet there had been no breakthroughs despite the involvement of many major stars. "While Twister is certainly impressive, we shouldn''t underestimate Batman. The series has built decades of fanfare, and Warner invested $50 million in marketing for this film," Jeffrey began his familiar nagging tone as he looked at Eric''s rxed demeanor.

    Eric responded, "Jeffrey, haven''t you ever heard that the greater the expectation, the bigger the disappointment? Speaking of crazy, that recent debacle was quite the spectacle."

    Jeffreyughed and shook his head, aware of what Eric was referring to.

    In the first Batman film, the intended lead actress was Sean Young. However, after she fell from a horse during filming and broke her arm, the role went to the less conventionally attractive Kim Basinger. Batman became a hit, bringing Kim, who had been a third-tier star, to stardom. One could only imagine Sean Young''s feelings about it. A few months prior, she had infamously shown up in a shoddy Catwoman costume at Warner''s headquarters, begging the studio to give her the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns, only to earn herself the nickname "Crazy Woman."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 451: Chapter 452: Nothing Special

    Chapter 451: Chapter 452: Nothing Special

    ?

    [Chapter 452: It''s Quite Simple]

    As the intense background music yed, the storm chasers began to encounter a series of harsh weather conditions, with lightning, heavy rain, and hail appearing, interspersed with the shadows of tornadoes.

    "Nothing special here," Virginia eximed within the confines of Liberty City Manor.

    The next moment, the scene transitioned to a rain-soaked asphalt road, where a violent tornado uprooted a line of power poles in the distance. Amidst the shing sparks and the startled gasps of the main characters, a family speedboat was whipped up by the tornado and came rushing towards the camera. The close-up of the speedboat grewrger andrger, eventually bursting through the edges of the trailer. In that instant, everyone who witnessed that shot felt as though the speedboat would fly out of the screen and crash into them. "Whoa," both Virginia and Joanna screamed, leaning back in surprise. Even Eric, who had been prepared, couldn''t help but lean back, too.

    ...

    Meanwhile, countless households across North America watching the Super Bowl live made gasping and astonished noises as they leaned back in their seats.

    But the audience didn''t have time to ponder what was happening, as the next shot featured a tornado swirling out of the television screen, carrying countless debris that captivated their attention.

    In thest forty seconds of the trailer, the visual bombardment from thepact, yet not overwhelming, thrilling scenespletely mesmerized everyone. By the time the title Twister appeared along with the prominent release date of June 5th at the end of the trailer, many ''startled'' viewers already felt a strong desire to see the film.

    The title and release date froze on screen for two seconds. Just when everyone thought the trailer had ended, the television screen suddenly darkened. As the image flickered, a tractor flung by the tornado rolled ''out'' of the screen.

    "Bang--"

    With the deafening sound of shattering ss, countless televisions were left with distressing ''cracks.''

    Thisst shot, crafted meticulously by the finest visual effects artists in Digital Domain, reached a point of realism that was almost indistinguishable from reality. Although everyone understood it was impossible, the first reaction of anyone who saw that shot was that their own television sets had been ''smashed.''

    ...

    "Shit, how did they pull off that shot? It scared the hell out of me!"

    "How would I know? I wish they would y it again."

    ...

    "That freaked me out; I thought my TV really got smashed."

    ...

    "That''s just so damn cool; I have to see that movie as soon as ites out."

    ...

    "Rad! But we have to wait another four months; good Lord, that''s going to be a long wait."

    "I wonder when they''ll screen it; maybe we could snag some tickets for an early showing."

    ...

    Once the trailer finished, countless discussions erupted in living rooms. Many viewers even lost interest in the uing Super Bowl game. Thanks to this creative trailer''s influence, the trailers for the following films fell t inparison.

    "Eric, how on earth did they pull that off?" After the trailer ended, Virginia, who was leaning against Eric, quickly voiced what many were thinking.

    "The TV screen ratio is 4:3, but the standard cinema screen ratio is 16:9. When they yed the trailer on the TV, they added ck bars at the top and bottom to maintain the film''s aspect ratio; otherwise, the content would distort. The trailer cleverly utilized those ck bars, allowing the boat and tractor to seem to break out of those constraints, and increased the depth of field of different objects in the scene, creating the illusion of objects flying out of the screen," Eric exined.

    Virginia nodded, enlightened. "Sounds really simple; I thought it was something superplicated."

    "Many things are based on simple principles. An airne just gets off the ground using lift created by the eleration of air; can you create that?" Eric teased.

    Although many professionals could have easily deduced the principles behind that trailer, at the moment, aside from the Digital Domain, it would be nearly impossible for any other special effectspany to produce the same effects on short notice. After all, in a Hollywood where model effects and practical effects were still the mainstream, no special effectspany had ess to hundreds of millions of dors specifically dedicated to developingputer-generated effects technology.

    ...

    In the office of Universal Pictures, the Super Bowl final had long been forgotten as the Twister trailer yed for the fifth time on the conference room projection screen.

    "Cain, can your effects department produce simr shots?" After another yback, Michael Eisner turned to ask a head of the special effects department at Universal.

    Cain Pittman hesitated for a moment before begrudgingly shaking his head. "Mr. Eisner, we could easily handle the stunts in those shots, but for the tornado scenes, while we could manage to create them, we certainly couldn''t achieve the realism demonstrated in this trailer."

    Michael Eisner''s expression was unchanging as he asked gently, "What are the specific challenges? Briefly summarize."

    Cain Pittman gave a bitter smile. "Mr. Eisner,puter effects aren''t inherentlyplex; many principles were established by scientists decades ago. The key issues lie in various hardware and software and the funding for development. For instance, the most critical part ofputer CG effects is the texture rendering after modelpletion, which corrtes to the degree of realism of the image. I have a friend in Digital Domain, and he informed me that their post-production rendering farm hasputational abilities ranking among the top 50 supeputers in the world. Just that alone is something we can''t match with a mere handful of graphic workstations."

    "If I provided you with sufficient funding to update your necessary hardware and also recruited some talent from Digital Domain, how long do you think it would take to catch up with their level of technology?"

    "Very difficult," Cain Pittman no longer hesitated this time. "Mr. Eisner, that segment in the trailer with the barn being destroyed? Based on my experience, that was not filmed in real life but waspletely created using CG. This involvesplex dynamics knowledge and requires specialized software for processing. As it stands, Digital Domain has developed an entire suite of mature software tools. If we start from scratch, it would take us a year or two, and the chance of catching up with the their technology is slim; after all, they are continuously working on new tech innovations."

    Michael Eisner furrowed his brow slightly. Ever since the stunning liquid metal robot in Terminator 2st year, he had sensed that special effects films would be the mainstream in Hollywood. The films being produced or soon to be in production by Firefly, like Twister, Jurassic Park, and Deep Impact, all suggested this trend, which was why Michael Eisner was cing such a high importance on the Twister trailer tonight.

    But now, even if he understood where the problemsy, he felt somewhat powerless because they had already fallen far behind Digital Domain in terms of time.

    While Digital Domain wasn''t opposed to taking on special effects projects from other filmpanies, everyone knew that as a special effectspany controlled by Firefly, Digital Domain would always prioritize Firefly''s movie projects. Only when they had spare manpower and resources would they work on films from otherpanies, and it was quite possible that Digital Domain would be a key tool for Firefly to either win over or suppress other filmpanies.

    The tension on Michael Eisner''s face made everyone in the conference room cautious. The silencested nearly a minute before Cain Pittman, who had just been questioned, softly

    spoke up. "Mr. Eisner?"

    "Yes?"

    Cain Pittman, who was aware of Michael Eisner''s entanglement with Eric, said, "You know, while Industrial Light & Magic''s technical level in CG effects is not as high as Digital Domain, it does have a strong umtion of technical experience. I believe it''s the only effectspany in Hollywood that canpete with Digital Domain."

    Michael Eisner nodded slightly, quickly thinking. He didn''t have much of a rtionship with George Lucas, but everyone knew that Lucas was a close friend of Spielberg, who still owed Universal seven movie contracts. If he could get these two partners to join Universal, it would significantly bolster his position.

    Even though he and Spielberg had had an unpleasant experience during their coboration at Disney, Michael Eisner had alreadymitted to mending things with Spielberg before taking office. This use had even been included in an attached contract by Panasonic, which

    equally valued Spielberg.

    To reconcile with someone, merely ying nice often wouldn''t suffice; the key was to cater to

    their interests.

    In the conference room, once Michael Eisner voiced his thoughts, one executive quickly recalled something.

    Before Michael Eisner took office, Spielberg had already started talks with Universal to acquire the adaptation rights for a novel called Schindler''s Ark.

    This novel, about how Schindler saved many Jews during WWII from concentration camps,

    had its adaptation rights bought by Universal in the early 1980s, and Sid Sheinberg had always hoped Spielberg would direct it. However, due to various concerns, Spielberg had postponed the n until now.

    But recently, the Warner CEO Steve Ross, who had maintained a very close rtionship with Spielberg, was gravely ill and could pass away at any moment. Spielberg felt that Ross embodied the image of Schindler in his mind and intended to take on Schindler''s Ark to honor

    this elder.

    As everyone pieced together the series of events, Michael Eisner quickly decided to use this matter to reconcile with Spielberg and through him, reach out to George Lucas. "Paul, gather the information about the rights to Schindler''s Ark and get it to me as soon as possible. I want to see it by tomorrow morning. Also, find out what Spielberg''s favorite restaurant is and reserve the best table for tomorrow night."

    Watching his assistant jot down his instructions in the memo, Michael Eisner gently rubbed

    his temples before standing up. He said to everyone, "Alright, that''s it for today; you all can

    head home and rest."

    ...

    "I always thought it was a bad idea to schedule the prequel of Running Out of Time to be released on June 12; Twister is in front of it, and Batman Returns is right behind," said Jon Peters, president of Columbia, somewhat regretfully after seeing the Twister trailer in his luxurious Beverly Hills vi.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Compared to Michael Eisner''s detailed discussions of the Twister trailer in Universal''s headquarters, Peters and his partner Peter Guber wereplete outsiders. The two ran their films based purely on intuition -- saying they were clueless would not be an exaggeration. When Spielberg produced The Color Purple, even though Guber was the producer, Spielberg, who harbored a great disdain for directors who were inexperienced in film production, explicitly included a use in the relevant contracts that barred Guber from stepping onto the

    film set.

    Andpared to Guber, who at least had a college degree, Jon Peters was even less qualified. He had once been just a hairstylist for a Hollywood star, with a rude personality and a vtile temper, and he could barely read. Two people finding their way to be heads of one of the major studios was undoubtedly one of the ''curiosities'' in Hollywood in recent years. Guber gently swirled the red wine in his ss and said, "The release schedule has already been announced; adjusting it now is definitely toote."

    "The investment in this film has skyrocketed to $86 million thanks to Tom Cruise, and with

    marketing, it needs at least $150 million in North America and $300 million worldwide to ensure all costs are recouped. We have to think of a way; we can''t go on like this." "What can we do? We can''t go begging Firefly or Warner to change the release dates for

    Twister and Batman Returns, can we?"

    Peters thought for a moment and suddenly pped his thigh. "Hey, have you heard about Woody Allen''s recent scandal?"

    "Of course! It''s been all over the ce; how could I not have heard?" Guber replied. "What do you think about trying the same tactic on Eric Williams?" Peters asked tentatively, referencing how that scandal had left Allen''stest film all but ignored.

    Guber paused while swirling the wine but quickly shook his head. "No way. For Eric Williams,

    that wouldn''t work much; he''s the owner of Firefly now. Even if he doesn''t make films, he canfortably enjoy being a billionaire. But if he finds out what we''re doing... Just think of what happened to Michael Eisner; this kid may be young, but he''s not someone to be trifled with."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 453: Chapter 454

    Chapter 453: Chapter 454

    ?

    [Chapter 454]

    It was a little past ten at night when four men stood outside a famous restaurant in Beverly Hills,ughing and bidding farewell to one another. Obviously, they had enjoyed their dinner.

    Eric and Katzenberg watched as the two heads of Columbia Pictures got into their car and left before making their way to their own vehicles.

    "Those two areplete fools," Katzenberg remarked, shaking his head. "It''s hard to believe they actually agreed to this. Once the terms are finalized, our power will rise a significant level, while Columbia will be struggling to recover. I can''t help but wonder if the Japanese are simple-minded. Even if they wanted to give up some control, they should have at least assessed the capabilities of these two in Hollywood. Who would have thought they would just hand over a major filmpany to such people?" His incredulity was evident as he reflected on some of the agreements made over dinner.

    Eric waited for Katzenberg to finish before adding, "You got that wrong. Although these guys are making foolish decisions, they are actually pretty sharp. If they can secure this partnership with Firefly, they couldfortably hold their positions for a few years. The only thing sacrificed here is the interests of the Japanese; they themselves won''t suffer any losses."

    Katzenberg understood Eric''s point, but couldn''t help but express his thoughts, "If those two could manage thepany well, they could reap substantial rewards. Columbia is still one of the big seven, after all."

    Eric shrugged, "Do you think they want to? Unfortunately, they just don''t have the ability to run a big filmpany. If they did, they definitely would."

    Their cars were parked close together. As they reached their vehicles, Katzenberg didn''t rush to say goodbye. Instead, he climbed into Eric''s car, clearly wanting to discuss something further. Eric moved aside, signaling for him to continue, and closed the partition between the driver and them. The fewer people knew about their ns to undermine Columbia, the better. "Eric, instead of dividing these resources between Firefly and Disney, wouldn''t it be better to strengthen our own distributionpany with it? What do you think about letting Buena Vista International handle this?" Katzenberg proposed straightforwardly as he shut the door. Although this was Katzenberg''s initial idea and he had primarily handled negotiations with Columbia during dinner, Eric knew he couldn''t agree to Katzenberg''s request. If he did, Disney''s Buena Vista International would quickly gain distribution power equal to that of Warner and the other giants. Firefly would then be at a significant disadvantage, forced to increasingly rely on Buena Vista International for its international distribution, creating an unfavorable imbnce.

    "Jeffrey, what do you think about Michael Lynn?"

    Katzenberg blinked in surprise, not quite understanding why Eric had suddenly brought him up. After a brief pause, he replied, "Just an average guy, very conventional."

    "Even though acquiring Disney made many people think I''ve reached the peak of power in Hollywood, I don''t see it that way. Acquiring Disney was just the beginning. I have greater ns, like consolidating Hollywood and merging all seven major studios."

    "Eric, you can''t do that," Katzenberg said, looking at him as if he were delusional. "Even trying to acquire another major studio woulde under tight scrutiny and regtion from the Federal Trade Commission."

    "I know that. But taking direct action wouldn''t work. I have other methods in mind, and I''ve consulted some people about it. This approach is definitely viable and would not vite federal antitrustws. I even have my sights set on the next target," Eric answered, maintaining hisposure. "But Firefly has to remain the leader in this vision of my business empire. It''s my showcase to demonstrate my strength. Only by disying overwhelming advantages can Ipel my opponents to yield. So you need to understand, this portion of resources from Columbia can only go to Firefly."

    Katzenberg was about to argue but Eric continued, "I just asked you what you thought of Michael. My opinion is simr -- he''s mediocre. However, Firefly is in a growth phase and needs an enterprising leader. I can produce high-grossing films, but I''m not great at management."

    In a sh, Katzenberg understood, his face lighting up with understanding.

    "Two years," Eric said, holding up two fingers. "Michael''s contract still has two years to go. If Disney can achieve impable results during this time, I will let you take Michael''s ce and lead Firefly Group."

    Katzenberg quickly calcted and made a prompt decision. "Alright, Eric. Then we can allocate Columbia''s resources to Firefly. But regarding film coborations, I hope we can do that under Disney''s name."

    "That works for me," Eric agreed swiftly, thinking of how Katzenberg ruthlessly exploited Jobs'' Pixar studio in the original timeline. Smiling slightly, he said, "Even though we''ve established our intent, I leave the specific negotiations to you. We need to make Sony believe it''s a huge advantage while also securing enough benefits for ourselves."

    Eric was confident this coboration would be a straightforward deal, and he believed Katzenberg would handle it without mercy.

    "I''ll prepare some negotiation ns," Katzenberg nodded, wrapping up the discussion before saying goodbye and stepping out of Eric''s car.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ...

    "Mr. Williams, hello," came the sound of cheerful, youthful voices as Eric returned to the Liberty City estate. Upon entering the vi, he saw a couple of little girls, whose high-pitched tones reminded him of those who were members of the Mickey Mouse Club. The sound, however, sent shivers down his spine.

    "Mr. Williams, good evening," Drew stood up, beaming in a cropped jean jacket, trying her best to mimic Britney and Christina''s voices to greet Eric.

    Just a nce at the pile of shopping bags scattered on the sofa let Eric know that Drew had taken the two girls on a shopping spree -- though that wasn''t what concerned him at the moment. Noticing the time, he realized it was already past eleven. A mild chill ran through him, and he instinctively pulled Drew out of the small living room.

    "What are they doing here at this hour?" he asked, lowering his voice in a blend of urgency and concern.

    "Don''t worry," Drew replied, clearly aware of Eric''s worries. "I came right over by helicopter. No one knows they''re here."

    "But they know, don''t they? If they don''t go home, their parents will definitely ask about it. Get them out of here, now."

    Drew wanted to argue but Eric''s stern look silenced her. "Haven''t you heard about Woody Allen? You wouldn''t want to get me caught up in something like that, would you?"

    "Alright, alright, I''ll send them home," Drew relented, slightly pouting as she trudged back into the living room.

    Feeling a bit frustrated, Eric headed to the kitchen to find something to eat and began to contemte how he might deal with this reckless girl.

    As he heated milk, a tiny figure stealthily crept into the room -- he turned quickly to find

    Christina.

    "Mr. Williams, my mom''s back in Pennsylvania for a while. I... I told her I was staying at Drew''s. Can I stay tonight? I promise I won''t cause any trouble."

    Eric took a moment to assess Christina. Although he didn''t care much for women''s luxury items, it was hard to miss that the outfit she wore was definitely not cheap, and that shiny bracelet was surely authentic gemstones, not something synthetic. Although she was a child star on Disney Channel, these were not items Christina could ordinarily afford. Clearly, Drew had taken care of her wardrobe; Eric quickly realized that this was Drew''s way of nurturing the girls'' materialistic aspirations.

    "Mr. Williams," Christina repeated softly, catching his gaze. She clutched the door frame with one little hand, trying to look as endearing as possible.

    Even knowing that her pitiful facade was mostly an act, Eric couldn''t bring himself to refuse. "Alright then, you can share a room with Drew."

    Christina nearly jumped for joy, thanking him in a moment of excitement, and fluttered

    closer, "Mr. Williams, I can make something for you! Can I prepare ate-night snack?"

    Eric raised the cup of warm milk he had already prepared. "No thanks; I''ll just drink my milk.

    Let''s head out."

    "Ooh," Christina followed Eric out of the kitchen like a little tail.

    Hearing that Christina could stay, Britney clearly wasn''t pleased, but Eric held firm. Britney''s father had quite the reputation, and he had no intention of getting himself into trouble over

    that greedy man.

    He quickly sent a car to take a somewhat begrudging Britney away.

    "Eric, look at this tie! I, Brit, and Chris picked it out after a long time," Drew said as soon as they returned to the vi, producing a tie from one of the shopping bags and holding it up

    excitedly in front of Eric.

    After a long day, Eric just wanted to finish his milk and hit the sack, not really in the mood for this. He nced at it and said, "Not bad."

    Drew stuck her tongue out, instantly realizing she''d annoyed Eric again, and huddled close to

    him, "We''vepleted thirty percent of The Mask''s filming. Also, Liz and I bought twoedy scripts recently. Do you want to see them?"

    "Forget it. You''ve already bought them, so they must be good," Eric shook his head.

    "Oh, and Jim Carrey''s been pursuing udia Schiffertely," she added, eager to gossip.

    Eric paused, asking, "Isn''t Jim Carrey married?"

    "Yeah. Men are all the same, always looking for something better while enjoying what they have. But udia doesn''t care for him at all. Haha, she''s saving herself for you," Drew chattered on, while Christina, who had been pretending to be innocent, widened her eyes to look at Drew, then nced at Eric.

    Drew quickly realized she''d put her foot in her mouth and, eager to appease Eric, rified,

    "I''m not talking about you!"

    After Eric finished his milk and set the empty cup down, he pinched Drew''s cheek gently. "Get

    some rest. I''m off to bed."

    ...

    Once Eric''s figure disappeared, Drew transformed from a docile kitten into a little wildcat, mimicking Eric''s earlier actions as she pinched Christina''s cheek. "See? Eric is totally cool to

    be around."

    Christina nodded, her eyes casting downward, quickly darting around. Not minding the girl''s earnestness, Drew nced back at the shopping bags in the living room. "Let''s clean this up

    before bed."

    Christina obediently joined Drew to tidy up the mess but couldn''t help but ask, "Drew, why

    aren''t there any servants in the vi?"

    "What do you mean? There are dozens living in the estate. But other than regr cleaning, Eric doesn''t like unrted peopleing in here," Drew smiled at Christina. "So you two are

    lucky. Most people can''te in."

    Christina nodded, looking gratified.

    After the two girls tidied up the shopping spoils, Drew led Christina into her bedroom.

    As Drew slipped into the bathroom to shower, Christina finally rxed, no longer holding back her excitement. She celebrated silently, leaping onto therge bed before her. Her parents had divorced, and she had previously shared a cramped rental home in Burbank with her mother. Although they lived a distinctly morefortable life than Britney, it still paled drasticallypared to the grandeur of Liberty City Manor.

    Drew had undoubtedly been educating the two girls in materialism just as Eric had suspected, and it had taken effect. The two girls had gotten a taste of Hollywood''s opulence and were quickly developing a distaste for their previous surroundings. For some time, they had been striving to please Drew, hoping she would help them escape their old lives and enter this new,

    dazzling world they had just glimpsed.

    *****

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 Chapter 455: Chapter 456: Such Disappointment

    Chapter 455: Chapter 456: Such Disappointment

    ?

    [Chapter 456: Such Disappointment]

    The two women crossed through the vi''s grand hall and quickly spotted Eric''s figure. Thest rays of the setting sun nted through the ss wall, illuminating him. In the y of light and shadow, with his head bent as he read intently, Eric radiated a quiet and steady charm. Elisabeth and Julia instinctively slowed their pace, not wanting to disrupt this picturesque scene, but the empty hall amplified the sound of their high heels clicking on the floor.

    Hearing the sound of heels lightly hitting the floor, Eric looked up and saw the two women. He smiled and said, "I was just thinking about how I was going to manage dinner, and then you both showed up."

    "Ha! What do you take us for, your dinner?" Elisabeth teased, pulling Julia closer as they settled into the space chair opposite Eric. Both women were quite slender, and they didn''t crowd the ratherrge, egg-shaped chair at all.

    Eric gazed at the two women gently rocking in the chair across from him, a smile still ying at the corners of his mouth. "I meant someone came to cook for me. But if you two want to be dinner, I wouldn''t mind -- feast for the eyes, after all."

    The remark had a teasing undertone, causing Julia''s cheeks to flush slightly. Elisabeth, however, mockingly huffed, "Do you know how much like a movie viin you looked sitting there alone in the corner, plotting against the hero?"

    Eric took Elisabeth''s light jab in stride and continued, "Yeah, a viin usually has a few seductive beauties surrounding him. Now that you two have arrived, the picture''splete." Julia couldn''t help but chuckle softly, observing how Elisabeth always acted like a feisty cat when around Eric. It seemed like it was instinctual for her to exchange yful banter, yet she never quite managed to get the upper hand.

    "Hey, which side are you on?" Elisabeth teased upon hearing Julia''sughter, reaching out to pinch her waist.

    Juliaughed and swatted Elisabeth''s hand away, saying, "What''s it to you? Am I not allowed tough? Hehe, you go on; I''ll just pretend I''m not here."

    Eric watched the two women as they soon began to tussle yfully. With a smile still lingering, he lowered his gaze to rummage through a thick pile of materials in front of him, pulling out a few sheets to hand over. "Here, for you."

    Elisabeth had actually noticed the documents Eric had been reading from the moment she arrived. Despite only catching a glimpse, she recognized it was the contract draft between Firefly and Columbia. When Eric handed it to her, she promptly discontinued her yful banter with Julia, eagerly epting the sheets, yet her eyes moved restlessly toward the stack of documents on Eric''sp, which contained dozens more pages.

    Eric pressed down on the remaining documents, shaking his head. "You can''t see these."

    "How stingy," Elisabeth pouted before obediently leaning back.

    Once Elisabeth sat beside him, Julia curiously leaned over to nce at a few lines but quickly lost interest in the dense text. She looked up and noticed Eric was staring right at her, causing her to awkwardly avert her gaze. Eventually, she shyly returned his look, her heart betraying an unexinable anticipation.

    "You''ve beenzily rebellious for a year now; Kepler must be going crazy," Eric softly asked while twirling a pencil in his fingers.

    "I haven''t been rebellious! I''ve been taking care of Emma. Besides, with all the big names Kepler currently manages, I doubt he cares much about me," Julia defended, though her tonecked conviction. Since its inception, TG had produced very few films, yet they had all been extremely sessful. Julia, owning 30% of thepany''s shares, received dividends significantly exceeding her acting sry, making her enthusiasm for acting dwindle considerably.

    Eric appeared not to hear Julia''s defense, lightly tapping the blue cover of the folder with his pencil, saying, "It''s been ages since Pretty Woman released; you can pick up a romanticedy again. I''ll have someone go through some scripts for you."

    Julia mumbled an obedient "Mm." Elisabeth, having quickly scanned the thin pages in front of her, couldn''t help but interject, "How can you be so domineering without even asking Julia if she''s interested?"

    Eric shot her an unimpressed nce, silentlymunicating, "Do you not know me?"

    Elisabeth turned her head toward Julia, hoping she would join her in opposing Eric''s "tyranny." Instead, she found Julia adopting a submissive demeanor, making her frustration dissipate. What''s the point in worrying if she doesn''t care?

    "Hey, what''s the deal with all this?" Elisabeth waved the contract fragments in her hand, shifting the topic back to her main purpose for visiting.

    "It''s just as you see it -- coborating to develop movies. A win-win situation for everyone," Eric replied.

    "Couldn''t believe your nonsense," Elisabeth retorted. "Though this contract is somewhat harsh for Columbia, if it were released, given Firefly''s growing reputation, even stricter conditions wouldn''t deter interest. There''s definitely something fishy about this."

    As she spoke, her eyes darted to the remaining documents on Eric''sp, sure that they held the answers she sought. While she had been instructed by her father to gather information, she suddenly found herself irresistibly intrigued. Even though some terms seemed unfavorable to Columbia, if the movies produced together maintained Firefly''s usual box office performance, Columbia wouldn''t suffer, and its parentpany, Sony Pictures, could use this to gain a foothold in Hollywood.

    From that perspective, Firefly was indeed handing out pillows to people trying to sleep.

    "You just said there was something fishy, so of course, you can''t go around bbing," Eric replied, throwing Elisabeth into anotheryer of curiosity. Her eyes fixed on the remaining documents in Eric''s grasp as she contemted a surprise grab and how Eric might react if she got her hands on them...

    Intrigued, Eric watched Elisabeth bounce with anticipation, even nudging the documents in her direction, almost like a serpent in the Garden of Eden.

    Elisabeth''s eyes darted eagerly but then lost their enthusiasm when she caught Eric''s gaze. This man was truly insufferable.

    "Alright, I guess that''s enough of this," Eric chuckled, walking over to im the contract from Elisabeth''s hands, tucking it into his folder. He then yfully patted her cheek, as if calming a not-so-hungry kitten, "Alright, the kitchen''s stocked with ingredients, so go make dinner. If you''re not up for it, order takeout. I''ve got to make a few calls in the study." Elizabeth shook her head several times, trying to shake off Eric''s hand. Eric''s eyes shed, and his hand slid all the way down the girl''s neck. Elizabeth quickly pressed her chest and eximed, "Ah, what are you doing? Julia... Julia is here."

    Julia stared with wide eyes at Eric''s hand that reached into Elizabeth''s cor and seemed to be

    rubbing it.

    But soon, the hand was pulled out, holding a soft cushion in its hand. Elizabeth''s face suddenly turned red as blood, and Julia was stunned for a moment. Then she burst out

    laughing.

    "How disappointing." Eric sighed and said calmly.

    "You bastard," Elizabeth snatched the pillow away madly and cursed angrily, but she saw Eric walking towards the study on his own.

    As Eric disappeared from view, Julia turned to Elisabeth with a smile still gracing her lips,

    "So, uh... are we supposed to make dinner?"

    "Not doing it," Elisabeth said with mock bitterness, contemting saying something mean

    about starving Eric but quickly added, "Let''s just order takeout."

    Julia couldn''t help butugh at the absurdity of it all, "Hehe..."

    "Don''tugh," Elisabeth snapped, as if she had struck a nerve.

    Juliaughed harder, clutching her stomach, "Right... Haha... I can''t help it."

    "What''s there to be smug about? Yours are not much better than mine."

    Julia kept her smile on her face and proudly lifted up her breasts: "It''s bigger than yours

    anyway."

    "You damn bitch," Elisabeth yfully lunged at her, "I''ll show you whose are better!"

    "Ah... let go! That hurts! You really are serious. I''ll stopughing; I promise! Ah, help!" The two women''s cheerful voices echoed in the hall for quite a while before settling down

    into low whispers.

    ...

    Firefly''s sudden coboration with Columbia sent ripples through Hollywood. Over the following week, the North American media focused heavily on this topic, garnering more attention than the uing 64th Academy Awards set for the end of March.

    After all, such explosive and unexpected news was rarely as simple as it appeared; there were certainly hidden nuances beneath the surface.

    Amidst all the hustle and bustle, the nomination list for the 64th Academy Awards was released on February 19, with no surprise; Eric''s dyed film Dances with Wolves emerged as the clear frontrunner with twelve nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Moreover, since its premiere in December of the previous year, Dances with Wolves had remained in theaters for over ten weeks, consistently grossing around $7 million weekly. Its total box office crossed $100 million, and with such strong word of mouth, it was almost certain to see a ticket sales resurgence during the Oscar season, suggesting its total earnings might reach $150 million, and even $200 million was not beyond the realm of possibility. Eric never anticipated the film''s spectacr sess. He remembered it would be a major winner at the Oscars, but due to its daunting four-hour runtime, he hadn''t expected a blockbuster hit, believing it would mainly perform well in the aftermarket for tapes once it won Academy awards. Thus,st year he had casually handed over the film''s theatrical distribution rights to Fox, retaining only copyright and merchandise rights.

    Looking at the current state of things, Fox undoubtedly reaped massive profits, having ced

    far less than the $30 million paid for the film''s rights, putting in a minimal investment merely to issue it as an art film. As for financing the Oscars, expenses during this era were significantly lower than they would be a decade down the line.

    Eric felt slightly downtrodden; moreover, even more so would be the producers and Orion Pictures, who had sold Dances with Wolves for $30 millionst year.

    Having undergone bankruptcy reorganization, Orion Pictures had recently resumed production. Notably, an Orion executive publiclymbasted Firefly for employing "extremely despicable" tactics to snatch the film''s rights in a magazine piece, while the film''s director

    and lead actor, Kevin Costner, though not ck in promoting the movie, also understood the loss of substantial profit.

    Able to earn just 4.5 million from the sale pricest year based on the established percentage

    from Dances with Wolves profits, Kevin made a mere 1.5 million, but had he participated in profit-sharing, he would have received well over $10 million. This shortfall left him wishing he could smash his head against a wall in remorse.

    Yet that''s Hollywood -- realistic, cold, and bursting with opportunities. No one knew what

    would happen next. Just as Warner''s first Batman -- where expectations were low and in an effort to save costs, the studio had cleverly signed a pay-per-share deal with Jack Nicholson, who yed the Joker. The result? Batman shattered box office records, and the studio''s agreement ultimately saw them pay Nicholson a staggering $50 million in profit share -- a figure that far exceeded thebined amounts earned by the film''s leading actors and the

    director.

    ...

    The coboration agreement between Firefly and Columbia was not particrly secretive. Within a week, senior executives from other Hollywood studios had learned the gist of the deal. Essentially, the agreement ced Columbia in a position akin to that of an outside investor. Yet despite this, it was enough to generate envy from other studios. After all, typically when outside investors financed films, the returns varied greatly, often leading to losses more frequently than profits. However, Firefly hadn''t failed to deliver a hit in years. Hollywood also didn''t believe Firefly would intentionally craft a bad film to shortchange Columbia, so Columbia''s earnings were practically guaranteed. Moreover, many recognized Sony Pictures'' active facilitation of this coboration was primarily driven by their desire to establish foothold in North America.

    While it could be spected that there were other undisclosed deals behind this ord, other

    studios were eager to engage Firefly for simr coborations, expressing their willingness even for analogous contracts.

    As for Sony, after preliminary negotiations between the two parties, their headquarters disyed considerable interest in the deal, even unabashedly announcing the news in local Japanese media.

    Once the final details of the contract were settled, both sides held a signing press conference.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Hello, Mr. Ohga," Eric greeted, shaking hands with the Asian man in his sixties seated across from him, all while subtly assessing his counterpart. He hadn''t anticipated Sony''s significant emphasis on this partnership; the current president, Norio Ohga, had personally traveled to

    Los Angeles for the signing ceremony.

    Norio Ohga also scrutinized Eric across the table. Although he had previously reviewed Eric''s profile, he remained surprised by how youthful the owner of Firefly appeared.

    *****

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 Chapter 457: Chapter 458: Elegant Violence

    Chapter 457: Chapter 458: Elegant Violence

    ?

    [Chapter 458: Elegant Violence]

    Eric briefly recounted the outline of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Nicole listened intently. Once he finished, she remarked, "It doesn''t sound particrly special. It''s bound to be just another popcorn flick that markets itself with gimmicks like killer gunfights."

    "The rigidity of human thinking is quite severe. It''s easy to talk about innovation, but much harder to aplish it. Ny-nine percent of Hollywood films can find simr counterparts. The key is how they''re shot."

    Nicole shot Eric an amused look. "I''m just sharing my thoughts; no need to elevate this to the ''human'' level."

    Eric chuckled, "Actually, your understanding of this story only scratches the surface. Of course, that likely represents the perspectives of over ny percent of the audience. But if we delve deeper, this story is a true reflection of marriage in people''s real lives."

    "Hmm?"

    "John and Jane''s marriage resulted from typical love at first sight. In reality, many marriages are born out of such impulses. Yet, they don''t truly understand each other. Though they love one another, they remain guarded and tentative, which seals their doom for asting marriage. When the initial passion fades, their rtionship tends to be dull and monotonous, leading them to seek psychological counseling. At the same time, they receive orders to kill each other. This drastic turn causes the invisible barriers between them to copse. As they attack one another, they start to truly understand each other. This closely mirrors actual marriage dynamics; when spouses find themselves in disputes, the aspects of themselves they''ve carefully concealed oftene to light, leading to either a rebirth through fire or aplete split."

    After Eric finished speaking, he noticed Nicole had set down her utensils, propping her chin on her hand, gazing at him intently.

    "What''s up? Are you suddenly in awe of my vast knowledge? Rx, honey; you''re not the first and certainly won''t be thest."

    "I''m just wondering when this ''John Smith'' of yours wille clean about your true identity."

    Eric smiled but didn''t respond. He knew many around him were very curious about the peculiarities he disyed, and some had asked repeatedly. However, some things could never really be exined, and he had no intention of offering an exnation. "In many films and novels, the protagonist often remains in a state of mediocrity for a long time. It''s only after certain stimuli that they discover their brilliance, eventually bing the superheroes who save the Earth, like Superman or Spider-Man."

    Nicole made a face of disbelief. "Stop rambling; I won''t ask again."

    "Okay, let''s continue discussing Mr. & Mrs. Smith. You can y the female lead -- this script could kick off a coboration between Disney and Columbia, and it would be perfect for Pa Wagner to produce. It''s a win-win!"

    Nicole nodded, looking at Eric. "Eric, what do you think about you ying John Smith? Didn''t you just star in 17 Again?"

    Eric shook his head. "I don''t have the time."

    Nicole realized she was being a bit fanciful. Unlike a few years ago when he filmed 17 Again, Eric now had to manage the expansive Firefly Films and also direct Jurassic Park. He couldn''t just drop everything to participate in another film.

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The primary work for Jurassic Park wouldn''t start until after the Oscars at the end of March, and after acquiring Disney, Firefly Productions was getting into a good rhythm, with everything settled for the coboration with Columbia. Eric suddenly had a month of leisure time.

    So while he couldn''t spare any time to act in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, he had plenty of time to write the script. He typed out a page per minute, making slight adjustments ording to the current context based on his memory,pleting it in less than a week.

    During those days, Nicole stayed at the Liberty CIty Manor, witnessing Eric typing out the Mr. & Mrs. Smith script on hisputer. Sometimes they went out together, and they ended up in a few photos snapped by paparazzi, leading to some inevitable gossip.

    Once the script for Mr. & Mrs. Smith waspleted, both Disney and Columbia quickly reviewed it. Although they had some reservations that it wasn''t a special effects blockbuster, Columbia epted the project promptly.

    With the project confirmed, as luck would have it, Eric had some time avable. Disney and Columbia eagerly jumped into the pre-production phase. Within just a week, they produced the budget report. Since this was the first coborative film of both parties, the budget was quite generous to ensure everything went off without a hitch.

    ...

    In the screening room, Eric, Katzenberg, and Peter Guber watched the intense gunfight scenes on screen. Mr. & Mrs. Smith featured a substantial amount of gunfights. However, in the list of potential directors from Disney and Columbia, not a single one met Eric''s satisfaction. "Hong Kong action films prioritize making the viewing experience visually pleasing. Just look at this gunfight sequence -- the narrative setup, the atmospheric buildup, all culminating in that three-minute action scene reflect the director''s superb control. For Mr. & Mrs. Smith, what I wanted was a kind of elegant violence, a feeling that even when the hero and heroine looking at each other withrge-caliber shotguns, they should seem to be flirting," Eric exined softly.

    This three-plus-minute gunfight sequence, devoid of dialogue, was a single, continuous shot from A Better Tomorrow by John Woo. To a casual viewer, it might simply be a movie''s climax, but many directors regarded it as a significant benchmark for imitation.

    "Eric, you''re not seriously considering inviting those directors who only make B-movies from Hong Kong to direct Mr. & Mrs. Smith, are you?" Peter Guber''s tone carried a hint of

    disdain.

    "Why not?"

    "Nothing, I''m just a bit worried they might ruin the film," Peter replied, sensing Eric''s firm tone and letting out an awkwardugh.

    Eric didn''t want to create tension with Peter. He rified, "The Hong Kong film market is too small. To ensure they can recoup costs, directors there have to trim budgets, but that doesn''t mean they can only make B-movies."

    "Eric, do you have your eye on the director for this film?" Katzenberg asked, pointing to the movie that was currently ying.

    Eric nodded. While in the original timeline, John Woo''s career took a down turn after the new millennium, he was considered one of the best action films director of 90s. Given the time frame, it was about time for him to make his Hollywood debut. Because Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was still in production for its sequel, Firefly had maintained connections in Hong Kong, making this the perfect opportunity for Eric to reach out.

    *****

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 Chapter 459: Chapter 460: Inside Scoop

    Chapter 459: Chapter 460: Inside Scoop

    ?

    [Chapter 460: I''ll Handle It Personally]

    Nicole stepped out of a restaurant with Pat Kingsley after their lunch and received a call from Pa Wagner.

    Although the sound quality of her Motor microTAC phone wasn''t the best due to analog signal transmission, Nicole could still sense Pa''s frustration and disappointment during their conversation.

    Once Nicole hung up, Pat, who had been listening in, asked, "Did Pa turn you down?"

    Nicole nodded. Pa had still chosen Tom Cruise this time around, but Nicole wasn''t discouraged. While Pa had sacrificed the opportunity of Mr. & Mrs. Smith for Cruise''s productionpany, there were already some cracks in their rtionship. If Cruise''s uing films were to seed, things might hold together, but if not, their falling out was only a matter of time.

    "That''s understandable. Pa has worked with Tom for so many years, and their bond..." Pat shrugged and didn''t finish her thought. But Nicole knew it was just the usual drama between agents and actors. Based on what she knew of Cruise''s personality, it was clear that Pa had been amodating to him the entire time.

    Nicole wasn''t interested in diving deeper into the gossip. She was about to call Eric to inform him of this news when Pat''s phone rang again.

    "Hello, Pat Kingsley here... Pa," Pat raised an eyebrow and nced at Nicole, continuing, "What''s the matter?"

    A few minutester, Pat ended the call, her expressionplex. Pa had called to inform her that Tom Cruise wanted to terminate their management contract.

    Nicole observed Pat''s stunned demeanor and said, "I''m sorry, Pat. I didn''t expect it to turn out this way."

    "It''s not your fault, Nicole," Pat quickly smiled, relieved. "This might actually be for the best. I always wanted to manage a few more talents, but he acted this way after signing you. So, our separation was bound to happen sooner orter."

    Nicole stepped closer, linking her arm with Pat''s, and whispered, "How about I treat you to dinner again?"

    "Alright, I said it''s not your fault," Pat was several years older than Nicole and seeing her like a little girl made any lingering resentment vanish. "Also, I want to remind you that you''ve eaten enough today. For the sake of your figure, I rmend at least half an hour of exercise tonight. Don''t ignore these things; many actresses lose their figures because they neglect those little details."

    "I know, I know," Nicole nodded obediently. "So what are you doing this afternoon?"

    "I still have a year and a half left on my contract with Cruise. Since he wants to terminate it unterally, I need to negotiate somepensation," Pat replied. "Also, I already have my eye on a few good actors. Since I''m ending things with Cruise, it''s a good opportunity to negotiate with them. You wouldn''t mind if I signed someone else, would you?"

    Nicole didn''t mind at all. With Cruise gone, she would be Pat''s biggest asset. Even if Pat signed other clients, she would still focus most of her efforts on Nicole for a long time. Furthermore, the agent''s main role was to guide the actor''s career, and for that, Nicole had better choices than Pat. "Go ahead and sign whoever you want. If they''re good actors, I can talk to Eric and see if I can get them audition calls. But it''s just auditions; I can''t guarantee anything. They''ll still need to rely on their talent."

    Getting audition slots directly from Eric meant they would be for big-budget productions he was personally handling. Although thosemercial films might limit the actors'' range, they were incredible opportunities to gain exposure. Even minor roles in such films would attract many unknown second or third-tier actors.

    After hearing Nicole''s suggestion, Pat wasn''t polite at all. "Let''s agree on that then." "Of course," Nicole smiled and leaned closer to Pat, whispering, "Let me tell you a little secret, but don''t share this -- do you know about Jurassic Park?"

    Pat nodded, knowing that was hardly a secret.

    "Eric mentioned that the actors for that film could only take the minimum wage set by the union. So, you get what I''m saying?" Nicole said, raising an eyebrow at Pat.

    Pat''s eyes widened as she quickly grasped it. The fact that the actors would only receive the minimum wage was a tactic many big-time directors used to save on production budgets. However, very few directors in Hollywood dared to propose such conditions. Eric was clearly in a position to do so.

    However, if such conditions existed, only Oscar contenders would attract the interest of top Hollywood stars. This left the opportunity for lesser-known actors.

    Most of Hollywood''s popr stars already had stable management teams, which was why Pat aimed to sign the up-anding actors with great potential. By informing her of this inside scoop, Nicole gave Pat a head start to prepare, possibly increasing her chances ofnding roles in Jurassic Park.

    "Thank you, Nicole," Pat almost pulled Nicole in for a big hug, excited. She had even resolved to temporarily set aside the need to negotiatepensation from Cruise and focus on securing contracts with those actors. She was eager to pursue the roles in Jurassic Park.

    After parting ways with Pat, Nicole hopped into her car, feeling a surge of excitement. Those three women from TG Films had formed a little circle around Eric, and she wasn''t about to let herself be left out. She had already taken a great first step, hadn''t she?

    ...

    "Since Pa Wagner gave up this position, I''ll handle it myself," Eric said after hearing the news from Nicole.

    When Kathryn Bigelow was filming Point Break, Eric had served as a producer before. This role wasn''t as mysterious as most people thought; the producer often acted like a thread, weaving every aspect of film production together. Aside from being somewhat tedious and requiring strong organizational skills, it didn''t epass anything too intricate.

    Unlike independent producers in Hollywood who needed to oversee everything personally, someone in Eric''s position often only needed to give directions, and things would get done. When Disney and Columbia learned Eric would take the reins as producer for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, they were all for it. Without going through a lengthy incubation period, Mr. & Mrs. Smith quickly moved into the stage where the script was locked and funding was secured, and several teams began pre-production based on the script''s requirements.

    As for the directing side, Firefly''s invitation via Golden Harvest quickly reached John Woo, which he epted dly. Given this, everything proceeded remarkably smoothly.

    ...

    After epting the invitation, John Woo arrived in Los Angeles around mid-March. Recognizing the significance of this opportunity, he still brought along a martial arts team despite the film not requiring many fight scenes.

    The Firefly filming base in ya Vista was near Los Angeles International Airport, so Eric had someone take John Woo there directly upon his arrival.

    "Hello, Mr. Woo. Wee to Los Angeles," Eric greeted while shaking John Woo''s hand at the entrance of the studio.

    "Hello, Mr. Williams. I''m honored to meet you. I enjoy your films," John Woo said warmly. Hong Kong was still a British colony, many locals could speak English quite well. "Thank you. Let me introduce you to Stan Winston, an exceptional special effects artist and CEO of Digital Domain; this is Robert Harkins, vice president of Columbia Pictures; and this is the lead actress for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Nicole Kidman. This is my assistant, Allen Fisman..." Eric introduced everyone, with John Woo shaking hands as he went.

    After the introductions, John Woo hesitated to introduce his fewpanions, feeling somewhat smallpared to the Hollywood bigwigs. Although his martial arts director hailed from the renowned Yuan n, he felt it paled inparison to the others.

    But Eric showed consideration and asked about them, prompting John Woo to provide a brief introduction.

    Once they exchanged pleasantries, Eric led John Woo and the others into the studio. As they entered the facility, everyone, including John Woo, disyed expressions of shock. Compared to the makeshift studios back in Hong Kong, the scale of these studios could only be described

    as stunning.

    Eric had allocated a full 100 hectares for the ya Vista location, which included not just the studios but also numerous supporting facilities. The permanent staff at this studio already exceeded two hundred, and this didn''t even ount for the crew from Digital Domain. "What we''ve just seen is merely the traditional studio area. In addition, we have two virtual digital studios currently under construction specifically for shooting special effects scenes, expected to be operational next year," Eric guided John Woo and the others around before leading them into the administrative building''s office.

    At this point, only Nicole, John Woo, and a couple of associate producers from Mr. & Mrs. Smith remained. The Columbia vice president left after a brief appearance.

    As for Stan Winston, he had onlye by briefly and returned to Digital Domain for further work. Although the special effects for Twister hadpleted, and Jurassic Park was yet to start, Stan had been swamped with projects sincest year''s Terminator 2. John Woo''s assistants were escorted by Allen to their amodations ahead of schedule.

    "Mr. Woo, your amodation has been arranged here in LA. You can stay there temporarily during the filming of the movie. if you need anything else, you can call my assistant or reach

    out to me directly," Eric offered.

    John Woo looked somewhat startled by the courtesy. Before arriving, he had received some information about Eric from Raymond Chow at Golden Harvest. He had also heard of instances of Hollywood showing bias against outsiders. "Thank you, Mr. Williams, but let''s focus on the film for now, shall we?"

    "Of course, that''s no problem at all," Eric nodded with a smile, noticing John Woo''s

    hesitation.

    Handing over aplete script for Mr. & Mrs. Smith to John Woo, Eric noted that due to confidentiality, John Woo had only seen a rough outline back in Hong Kong. As John Woo opened the script, Eric added, "Mr. Woo, you can take your time reading the script privately. Let''s first discuss the creative direction for the film. Since you''ve seen the outline, perhapsn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    you can share your thoughts?"

    "Sure," John Woo replied while retrieving some prepared documents from his briefcase to hand to Eric. "Here are my thoughts, Mr. Williams. I hope you''ll take a look."

    As Eric flipped through the materials, he noticed they were sparse in writing, mostly storyboards. However, having a clear picture of the film in his mind, he quickly recognized the scenes depicted in the sketches.

    "From my perspective, while Mr. & Mrs. Smith is an action film, its true essence is an allegory about marriage. Therefore, during filming, I wish to create some external set designs to reflect this. For instance, the vi where the couple lives should have a sleek, stark style to symbolize the emotional distance between them. The vi''s eventual destruction would signify the resolution of their emotional barriers, marking the turning point in their

    rtionship," John Woo expressed.

    *****

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 Chapter 461: Chapter 462: Regrets?

    Chapter 461: Chapter 462: Regrets?

    ?

    [Chapter 462: Regrets?]

    "Brad Pitt definitely wasn''t going to work out. Even though it barely fit his schedule, if I agreed, Fox would surely do everything in their power to stop it. The X-Files was one of Fox''s gship shows," Eric said,ughing again. He added, "I suddenly understand why Liz and the others didn''t push for your Oscar nomination."

    Famke Janssen appeared puzzled and remarked, "I understand now."

    Aside from the little thoughts between women, it was clear that Fox, responsible for distributing Thelma & Louise, also worked behind the scenes to minimize the impact Famke''s involvement in the film would have, ensuring there were no surprises regarding the lead actress for The X-Files. A sudden change in leads for a show that had already garnered a strong following would have a massive effect on ratings. In the original timeline, The X-Files ended because of actor David Duchovny''s departure.

    Eric noticed that Famke looked somewhat down and asked, "Are you regretting taking this TV series?"

    Regret?

    Famke indeed felt that emotion rear its head. Just like Brad Pitt, she had signed on for five seasons of The X-Files, meaning to regain her freedom, she would be tied up for at least three more years. But what would happen three years down the line if Fox thought The X-Files was still worth continuing?

    For many TV actors who had been pigeonholed, it was particrly hard to decide to start over and transition to the big screen when they already had a hit series maintaining their poprity. Furthermore, attempting to juggle both a show and a film career was almost impossible since television producers often wouldn''t grant such opportunities unless the actor had substantial backing.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Thinking of this, Famke nced at Eric, suddenly feeling a sense of relief and smiling. Without this man, she might still be a struggling bit yer in Hollywood, with no hope of ever making it big. He had done so much for her; what more could she possibly ask?

    Eric had been attentive to Famke''s changing expressions, and seeing her smile, he said, "You''ve thought it through."

    "Yeah," Famke replied, ncing down at Eric as she kicked off her shoes, swinging her legs lightly.

    Eric reached out to hold her restless legs, looking up at her; Famke''s long legs appeared even longer: "Are you trying to tempt me?"

    "Yes, so what are you waiting for?" Famke said, leaning back on the table with her hands supporting her.

    Just as Eric was about to make a move and watching Famke, a lightbulb went off in his head: "I got it!"

    Famke instinctively looked at Eric. "What?"

    Eric wore an excited expression and stated, "I figured out who would be perfect for the leading role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith! How did I not think of this sooner? This person is the best choice."

    "You''re thinking of someone else at a time like this, and it''s a guy. Don''t you think that''s a bit hurtful?" Famke kicked Eric lightly on the calf in annoyance.

    "Oh, my bad, babe. I''m sorry." Eric quickly chuckled and gave her a kiss, temporarily avoiding the topic.

    ...

    In the meeting room, Jon Peters, waved a stack of documents, nearly hysterical as he said, "Pierce Brosnan? Eric, are you kidding? This guy was just a TV actor and starred in a few low- budget films. What box office appeal does he have? Don''t forget, we''re talking about a $60 million production here, $60 million!"

    "Mr. Peters, could you calm down a bit?" Eric looked at the irritable middle-aged man across the table with some disdain. If possible, he would''ve liked to adopt the same approach as Spielberg years ago and add a use to the contract barring Jon Peters from meetings. However, the situation was quite different now, and Eric couldn''t interfere in Columbia''s internal affairs.

    Sitting next to Jon, Peter Guber subtly pulled the man back, prompting Peters to calm down. Although he recognized his outburst, Peters showed no intention of apologizing, slouching in his chair with arms crossed, clearly unwilling to cooperate.

    Eric intended to exin why he was considering Pierce Brosnan when he saw Peters''s demeanor andpletely lost his patience, coldly stating, "Mr. Peters, if youck confidence in the Mr. & Mrs. Smith project, you can withdraw at any time. If this movie flops, I assure you, you won''t bear any responsibility."

    Since bing Columbia''s president, very few people spoke to him in such a tone. Even Sony''s executives were polite to him. Hearing Eric nearly reprimanding him, Peters almost blew up. Thankfully, he retained some rationality. Not to mention Eric''s standing in Hollywood was hardly inferior to his own, if he distanced himself from Mr. & Mrs. Smith, as Eric pointed out, if the film failed, he would bear no responsibility. But if it seeded, he wouldn''t receive any credit, and those things were always intertwined.

    After a moment of silence, Peters finally lowered his voice, reluctantly yielding: "Mr. Williams, I just hope you all know what you''re doing."

    "Thank you for your input," Eric replied indifferently, turning to someone beside him, who took out a tape and stood up to walk toward the projector at the front of the meeting room.

    "This is Mr. Pierce Brosnan''s audition tape. Please take a look."

    As Eric spoke, the staff member inserted the tape into the projector.

    In a simple audition room set up with a table, Nicole held up a champagne ss, looking somewhat forlorn as she sat alone. A tear leaked from her eye, which she quickly wiped away, taking a deep breath as if attempting to dispel the sadness within her.

    At that moment, a hand reached out gently to grasp the tall champagne ss Nicole held, pouring more champagne into it.

    Realizing something, Nicole looked down, offered a soft smile that carried a hint of

    suppressed emotion.

    Everyone in attendance was captivated by Nicole''s performance and charm, while also

    exhibiting a bit of curiosity about the male lead.

    "Ma''am, I prepared something for this moment," the man pouring the wine finally appeared on camera, dressed smartly in a suit, with a captivating square face and a roguish smile. "I think I should just show up and say, ''Baby, thanks for the gift.""

    If all the men in the meeting room had already been enchanted by Nicole''s performance, Pierce Brosnan''s suave entrance captured the attention of all the women present within

    moments.

    "Great, so what''s your decision?" Nicole lifted her head, smiling at the man beside her.

    "I want a divorce," Pierce Brosnan replied, moving to the other side of the table, pulling out a chair, and politely asking, "May I sit?"

    "No," Nicole responded.

    Pierce Brosnan acted as if he hadn''t heard her, sitting down uninvited. He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a gun, discreetly covering it with a napkin on hisp. In response, Nicole also took a defensive posture.

    The camera returned to their faces, and in that moment, everyone in the meeting room could almost feel the electric tension between the two, separated only by a dining table.

    ...

    The audition concluded as Pierce Brosnan led Nicole toward the dance floor. The video ended, plunging the meeting room into a brief silence.

    Although unspoken, Disney''s Katzenberg, who attended this project discussion, shared thoughts simr to those of Columbia''s two leaders, feeling that Eric''s choice of a rtively unknown male lead seemed somewhat hasty.

    However, Katzenberg wasn''t like Columbia''s top brass, blindly enamored with the box office draw of A-list stars, ignoring other factors. Having just seen the audition, he recognized that aside from his limited fame, Pierce Brosnan was nearly impable. Acknowledging the awkward silence in the meeting room, Katzenberg knew it was best to take some action, so he started pping gently. Once the silence broke, others in the meeting room joined in,

    pping along.

    Eric smiled and nodded at Katzenberg. While he could have arbitrarily made decisions, gaining others'' support made the movie production process much smoother. With Katzenberg initiating apuse, even if some initially disagreed, the bandwagon effect meant their previous aversion would lessen significantly. The decision on Pierce Brosnan as the male

    lead was virtually set in stone.

    Speaking of Pierce Brosnan, Eric couldn''t help but recall that night a few days prior, a smile creeping onto his lips. If it hadn''t been for Famke''s incidental gesture, he might have forgotten that the original timeline''s fifth James Bond actor was someone he was considering.

    In Brosnan''s first film in the 007 franchise, Famke yed a viinous Bond girl, with her character''s main skill involving wrapping her long legs around men, suffocating them to

    death.

    Even though Pierce Brosnan hadn''t made a name for himself yet, Eric remained optimistic about Mr. & Mrs. Smith''s prospects. In the original timeline, Brosnan''s first 007 film, while simrly unknown, had outperformed the previous installment at the box office, doubling its earnings, due to the remarkably simr character of John Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

    When the apuse faded, Eric said, "Since everyone has no objections, we''ll confirm Pierce Brosnan as the male lead. Now, let''s discuss other matters."

    ...

    With the lead established, all three principal creators for Mr. & Mrs. Smith were quickly settled, and the project began to pick up speed. A few days before the Oscars, Disney and Columbia held a lively press conference specifically for Mr. & Mrs. Smith. While the event was crowded, aside from introducing the film''s main creators, the production team revealed little. The only hint at spection was the movie poster shared during the press conference.

    In the poster, Nicole and Pierce Brosnan stood back to back. Nicole showed off her leg exposed from her long dress, holstering a delicate little handgun, while Pierce Brosnan held a

    famously hefty Desert Eagle.

    The next day, newspapers overflowed with diverse spections regarding Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Most leaned toward it being a romantic film, which Eric excelled at producing. Although guns appeared on the poster, people still leaned toward the belief, considering Eric''s previous sesses with Pretty Woman and Ghost, both romantic films. The title Mr. & Mrs. Smith also

    hinted at this.

    However, not everyone shared that sentiment. Some media quickly focused on the unfamiliar Hong Kong director, John Woo, conducting investigations and discovering that Woo was best known for directing action films. With firearms prominently featured in the movie poster, the film''s subject matter seemed quite apparent.

    Regarding the media spections and debates, neither Disney nor Columbia offered any rifications because many high-ranking studio executives knew the sess of a film, especially amercial one, heavily depended not only on its quality but also on the amount of buzz it generated among media and audiences.

    Many films do not have higher box office returns simply because they receive great reviews; instead, significant box office results generally follow higher levels of audience engagement, whether the chatter is positive or negative. Thus, allowing the media to specte freely while remaining silent kept the conversation going, heating up excitement around the project, which was the optimal approach.

    With no informationing from the studios, both lead actors became targets for the paparazzi, who certainly didn''t spare a thought about stalking John Woo either.

    Amidst all this buzz, Nicole and Pierce Brosnan soon moved into the "Spy School," specially

    set up for Hollywood actors to learn various weapon-handling techniques required for Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The production team for Mr. & Mrs. Smith was also swiftly assembled.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 463: Chapter 464: Three Ideas

    Chapter 463: Chapter 464: Three Ideas

    ?

    [Chapter 464: Three Ideas]

    Eric and Steve Case spent the entire day discussing back and forth without reaching much of an agreement, so they decided to continue their conversation the following day.

    After work, Chris invited Eric to his home for dinner. Eric dismissed his assistant and got into Chris''s car.

    "I can''t believe that the number of inte users in North America has surpassed 1.5 million. I thought we would have to wait a while," Eric remarked once Chris started the car. He nned tounch some projects after Clinton took office, but after seeing today''s data on America Online, he felt that it was better to start sooner rather thanter.

    Though 1.5 million seemed insignificantpared to the billions of inte users inter years, it was quite an impressive number in an era when personalputers had not yet be widespread. Byying the groundwork while the user base was still small, he could position himself advantageously for when user numbers skyrocketed, potentially even setting industry standards.

    Eric vaguely remembered a saying: "First-sspanies set standards, second-sspanies rely on branding, third-sspanies sell technology, and fourth-sspanies make products." These four statements formed a sort of industry hierarchy; the higher up in the pyramid apany stood, the greater the rewards.

    Chris was unaware of Eric''s train of thought. Upon hearing Eric''sment, he asked, "Wait for what?"

    "I had some ideas. I originally nned to wait until the inte developed further before implementation, but it seems like waiting isn''t necessary. The sooner, the better," Eric exined.

    Chris nodded while steering the car towards the side of the road to let a red BMW convertible speed by, appearing somewhat distracted.

    "Did you guys move?" Eric noticed the change in scenery as they passed signs and realized that thest time he saw Chris and Emily, they were living in downtown Manhattan, but now they were nearing Central Park.

    "We bought an apartment on the Upper East Hydee recently, right at 72nd Street on Third Avenue," Chris replied.

    "Funny enough, I have a vi nearby that Drew and I boughtst year, but I haven''t moved in yet," Eric suddenly remembered something and asked, "You aren''t getting married, are you?"

    Chris shook his head. "Emily wants to wait another two years; she doesn''t n on getting married before she turns thirty."

    Eric quickly picked up on the shift in Chris''s demeanor. What started as a lively conversation became somewhat subdued, and he suspected it had something to do with dinner.

    ...

    Chris parked the car in the lot of a high-rise apartment building, and they both stepped into the elevator, soon arriving at the floor where Chris''s new home was.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Dressed casually, Emily opened the door and warmly embraced Eric. "Eric, it''s so good to see you again."

    "Likewise," Eric chuckled as he released Emily from the hug. "But I didn''t bring any red wine with me."

    "It''s fine;e on in," Emily invited Eric into the apartment, thoughtfully hanging his coat. Eric thought something felt off with the couple. While Emily was usually cheerful and amiable, today she seemed overly enthusiastic.

    "Please, have a seat, Eric. Dinner will be ready shortly," Emily said after pouring him a cup of coffee. She then shot a nce at Chris. "Chris, can youe help me for a minute?"

    Chris looked a bit exasperated but moved toward the kitchen.

    Eric merely nced in the kitchen''s direction, suppressing his curiosity as he picked up the remote from the coffee table to turn on the television. He figured they''d eventually discuss whatever it was they needed to.

    ...

    In the kitchen, Emily put on some oven mitts, opened the oven with a quick peek, then closed it before whispering, "Did you tell him yet?"

    Chris shrugged. "This is so awkward. How do you want me to bring it up?"

    "Awkward? It''s quite a normal thing," Emily insisted, irritation creeping into her voice as she red at her boyfriend. "You... you just don''t want to help me."

    "If I didn''t want to help, I wouldn''t have brought Eric here; the rest is up to you," Chris replied, picking up a knife to chop some onions.

    Emily, exasperated, snatched the knife from him. "Fine, I''ll just say it myself!"

    ...

    "That night really scared me, especially when that tractor crashed into the TV screen. I honestly thought the television was broken. Eric, how on earth did you pull that off?" During dinner, Emily reminisced about the teaser for Twister with excitement in her voice.

    "It was just a simple visual effect," Eric exined, conveying the concept without much pride. After all, the current 3D movie effects had advanced to this level, appearing more stunning. However, 3D technology was still immature; prolonged use of 3D sses led to severe eye strain, so the tech mainly worked well for short films.

    Emily leaned in, full of anticipation. "I remember Twister is set to premiere on June 5th, but that''s still a long wait. Will Firefly do a preview screening?"

    "Of course, I''ll make sure two tickets are sent your way," Eric replied with a smile. "Thanks!" Emily beamed, but then a brief silence fell over the dining table. After a moment, Emily finally mustered the courage to ask, "Eric, um, Firefly has a significant amount of funding left, right?"

    Eric nced at Chris, who was pretending to sip soup, beforeughing. "Wouldn''t Chris know better than I do?"

    Chris immediately choked on his soup, grabbing paper towels in a hurry to clean his face.

    Understanding dawned on Eric, who set down his utensils and said seriously, "Emily, just say what''s on your mind. We don''t need pleasantries between us; that only makes us feel more distant."

    Her face flushed, Emily felt slightly embarrassed. "Actually, it''s about our family''s clothingpany..."

    "Oh, I remember now," Eric quickly recalled the instance two years ago during Thanksgiving when he first met Chris and Emily at Jeffrey''s ce. Back then, Chris worked at Morgan Stanley and was in charge of the clothingpany''s public listing. Because of a paperwork error by Emily''s father, the IPO had fallen through. "I remember telling youst year that if I made money on the futures market, I would invest in your family''s clothingpany. I''m sorry I almost forgot about it; how much do you need?"

    To Eric''s surprise, Emily responded hesitantly, ncing at Chris. "Um... one... one hundred million?"

    Chris shot her a sharp look, and Emily hurriedly added, "Actually, sixty million would work too."

    Eric could sense Chris''s seriousness; to put it mildly, he was quite stiff. Though he controlled a significant amount of Firefly''s funds, he felt that asking for investment in his girlfriend''s family business seemed unprofessional, which likely exined his awkward expression. After acquiring Disney, Eric still had about 1.5 billion of the 8 billion dors he had siphoned off fromst year''s Gulf War. After acquiring Disney, Firefly Pictures itself could be self- sufficient in terms of funds, so he had nned to use the money for other investments.

    "How about this," Eric proposed after a moment''s thought, "I''ll be in New York for the next few days. You could prepare some materials for me. After I review them, I''ll decide whether to invest sixty million or one hundred million. Does that work?"

    "Absolutely!" Emily''s face lit up with excitement. She nearly jumped from her seat to fetch her prepared documents but soon realized the setting wasn''t appropriate for such a quick

    move.

    ...

    After dinner, Eric politely declined Chris and Emily''s offer to stay over. Chris walked him down to the street, and they strolled side by side along the bustling streets of Midtown.

    "I''ve always felt lucky. If I hadn''t run into Jeffrey and then you, I probably wouldn''t have achieved what I have. I don''t have any family left in this world; I''ve always regarded Jeffrey as a mentor," Eric mused, looking at the neon signs lining the street. He remembered a few years ago when he risked everything to produce Home Alone. If it hadn''t been for meeting Jeffrey and his crew, as a Hollywood rookie, even managing to assemble a ragtag team wouldn''t have ensured his film vision woulde to fruition.

    Chris understood why Eric suddenly shared his feelings. He did not see himself and his father as Eric''s saviors. He had enough self-awareness; without meeting Eric, he wasn''t sure whether his father could pick himself back up, nor did he know how long their cold war mightst. Plus, now he managed over two billion in assets. Had he chosen to stay at Morgan Stanley, building operations of that scale individually would have taken at least another

    decade. "Actually, we''re all quite lucky."

    Eric chuckled, "Yeah."

    Chris shoved his hands into his coat pockets. "By the way, you can trust that investment. Emily''s father has retired now; Emily is currently in charge of the clothingpany, and business has been good these past two years. If it weren''t for the incident from two years ago, getting re-listed wouldn''t be a problem."

    "Well, you and Emily can sort out the specifics of the investment. Maybe talk about it when

    you get back," Eric joked.

    "Why don''t you take the lead? I''ll try to keep my nose out of it," Chrisughed. "Anyway, you mentioned you already have some thoughts onputerworking?"

    "I didn''t think you were paying attention to that."

    "All right, just tell me what you have in mind," he encouraged.

    Eric scanned their surroundings, gesturing toward a cafe on the street. "If you aren''t in a rush,

    let''s go in there and chat. The vi I bought is just ahead, but it''s a bit empty; I only called the cleaning service beforeing today."

    Chris nodded, and they walked into the nearby cafe, ordered two coffees, and settled in by the

    window.

    Eric gathered his thoughts before continuing, "Too bad there''s noptop here; it would make exining things much easier. You''ve been researchingputer materials recently, right?" "Yeah, just go ahead; I should be able to understand," Chris replied.

    "Essentially, all my ideas are based on the widespread avability of inte technologies.

    Just like I mentioned before, I believe it''s a significant trend for the future, and the possibilities are vast. Plus, even if my gamble fails, my losses wouldn''t be substantial." Chris agreed, "I feel your assessment is quite valid. A few days ago, I noticed Emily working on a clothing design using an Appleptop, and those designs were made using software, which would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. Now, personalputers aren''t priced too high; even a regr person can buy one with a month or two of sry. Ifputer hardware keeps growing at this pace, widespread adoption is inevitable."

    "Back to theputerwork, I currently have three ideas," Eric paused and added, "I arrived at these during my everyday use ofputers. I''ve also considered forming three separatepanies to pursue these ideas. First, I have a concept for a graphical interface

    browser."

    "A graphical interface browser?" Chris echoed.

    "It''s essentially a graphical version of a web browsing tool," Eric exined, thinking for a

    moment. "To put it in simple terms, the tools we use to ess the inte now are akin to the DOS operating systems from a few years ago, requiringplexmands to operate -- very inconvenient. My idea for a graphical interface browser would present current web tools in a user-friendly graphical interface, simr to Microsoft''s Windows operating system. As you know, before the Windows system, using a personalputer was often the domain of specialized tech workers. But once Windows emerged, even ordinary people could use a personalputer. My idea would be a ''Windows tool'' that makes the web essible to

    everyone."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 465: Chapter 466: A Once-in-a-Century Event

    Chapter 465: Chapter 466: A Once-in-a-Century Event

    ?

    [Chapter 466: A Once-in-a-Century Event]

    On April 29th, Michael Eisner arrived at Universal Headquarters more than twenty minutes early, as usual. Before he even walked into his office, he couldn''t contain his excitement as he asked his assistant, "Did you get to the bottom of that issue?"

    "Yes, Mr. Eisner, I''ve organized the materials and ced them on your desk," came the reply. "Great," Michael nodded and stepped into his office.

    On hisrge desky a red folder. Once settled in his chair, he eagerly opened it. When Columbia announcedyoffs, Michael had sensed early on that it was likely connected to Columbia''s recent partnership with Firefly Films. Consequently, he was particrly focused on the developments that followed.

    Three days earlier, Columbia had directly shut down its branch offices in several small South American countries. When Michael heard the news, he was nearly certain these cut departments had mostly been absorbed by Firefly. Clearly, this was a covert agreement negotiated by Peter Guber, Columbia''s head, with Firefly Films.

    As the former CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner understood better than anyone that Disney''s only shoring was its overseas distribution. This fact had driven him to develop Buena Vista International since he took the helm at Disney. However, although Buena Vista had sought to establish independent distribution after breaking away from Warner two years ago, its overseas capabilities still fell shortpared to other legacy firms with decades of experience.

    Columbia, on the other hand, stood out. Among Hollywood''s Big Seven studios, Columbia''s distribution prowess internationally was second only to the powerhouse Warner Bros., having established dedicated distribution offices in many countries.

    Michael studied the materials in front of him thoughtfully before murmuring to himself, "It is indeed true."

    The investigation report indicated that following the shutdown of Columbia''s South American offices, employees were swiftly absorbed by other film distributionpanies. While the names of thesepanies varied across South American nations, none bore any resemnce to Firefly Films. Yet Michael was certain that a few years down the line, thesepanies would undoubtedly rebrand under the Firefly emblem.

    Michael lightly tapped his fingers on the table, lost in contemtion. South America was just the beginning; the next target could be Southeast Asia or Europe.

    Firefly had a strong distribution presence in Europe, and given that Europe was the second-rgest film market after North America, Peter Guber wouldn''t dare to close downpanies there. Still, trimming certain elite teams would be unavoidable. As for the Southeast Asian countries, which were close to Japan, Peter might dy action there, keeping things under the radar.

    However, if Fireflypleted this n, they would effectively eliminate their only gap in film distribution, negating potential hindrances from Hollywood''s major yers.

    Having realized this, Michael began to strategize his next move. Over the past few years, both the overseas and North American film markets had been growing rapidly, leading to an increasing number of high-budget films emerging from Hollywood.

    The international market had yet to reach saturation, so ignoring the situation wouldn''t pose a significant threat to Universal. After all, Hollywood filmpanies generally had aligned interests in foreign markets. Firefly''s blockbuster films bolstered overall audience consumption of other Hollywood films abroad.

    Despite this, Michael was unwilling to let the matter slip by without action. If he exposed the situation, it could potentially disrupt Firefly''s ns. Yet if Eric found out he had been meddling behind the scenes again, Firefly would likely retaliate against Universal, just as they had against Disney two years prior. Michael had asionally entertained the thought that the film Cutthroat Ind might have been a deliberate trap set for him by Eric.

    After considering the matter for a while, Michael picked up the phone on his desk and dialed a number. It rang through quickly.

    "This is Michael Eisner."

    ...

    Outside the car, there was quite an uproar. Eric nced at his watch and frowned; this was the fourth crowd he had encountered. Today wasn''t Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so why were so many people gathering outside, blocking an entire street in Burbank with banners?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric pressed down the window to peek outside and was about to order the driver to get out and find out what was happening when his phone suddenly rang. He didn''t rush to answer but instructed the driver to step out and check the situation first.

    "Hello, this is Eric Williams..."

    Surprised by the voice on the other end, Eric said, "Mr. Eisner, what can I do for you?"

    Michael settled deeper into his leather seat, focusing on the materials in his hands. "Eric, have you heard about Columbia''s recentyoffs?"

    Raising an eyebrow, Eric replied, "Of course. Columbia has been losing money for the past couple of years; it''s only natural they would take such actions. I would do the same in their position, Mr. Eisner. Why do you ask?"

    Michael didn''t detect any nervousness in Eric''s tone; he knew Eric wouldn''t betray any vulnerability in a situation like this. "Eric, I think it can''t be as simple as that, right?"

    Eric''s response wasnguid. "Oh? And what do you think is going on, Mr. Eisner?"

    "I heard that thoseid-off employees haven''t truly be unemployed; in addition, their sries have increased by 20%."

    "Well, if you say so, then it must be true," Eric replied steadily. "However, that doesn''t concern us, does it?"

    Michael inquired, "What do you mean?"

    "I mean it doesn''t concern us," Eric reiterated. "We should be paying attention to our own matters. I heard Universal has just finalized a deal with Mr. Spielberg to adapt Schindler''s Ark. Honestly, I have high hopes for that project, and I enjoy a good rtionship with Steven." Michael fell silent. Stuck in a street in Burbank, Eric continued, "Mr. Eisner, I''ve also heard that Universal ns to coborate with Lucasfilm. However, you know Firefly ns to produce several high-budget special effects films in theing years. While we maypete with Industrial Light & Magic in the digital arena, if we''re willing to share some technical resources, I believe Lucasfilm would be pleased to take on Firefly''s special effects projects." Michael finally understood what was happening. Eric was signaling him to stay quiet about theyoffs; otherwise, he might stir up trouble for Universal''s coboration with Spielberg and George Lucas.

    Realizing this, Michael felt a wave of frustration wash over him. Just a year ago, few people in Hollywood would have dared to speak to him like that. However, he understood that Eric was now fully capable of making such threats, and this time, he seemed to have no choice but to

    concede.

    "Eric, I think I''m not the only one aware of this now, am I?" Michael said ambiguously.

    A smile crept across Eric''s face at this admission, as it essentially marked Michael''s concession. "We can''t control others, but should someone run their mouth too much, I won''t hesitate to knock a few teeth out."

    Michael cleared his throat a few times and engaged in some small talk before hanging up the

    phone.

    Eric casually tossed his phone aside and turned to the driver, asking, "What''s going on outside? Did you find out anything?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams," the driver replied. "It''s rted to an old case fromst year involving a ck man named Rodney King, who resisted arrest while being detained, and he was beaten

    by several officers."

    Hearing Rodney King''s name, Eric frowned slightly. The details about this event felt vague in his memory, but he couldn''t be mistaken about the name. Thinking back on the timing, it was

    now April 1992, which matched up.

    The driver continued, "However, the four white officers were captured on video by a passerby during the incident, who sent it in. To heighten interest, they only aired the footage of the beating while editing out Rodney''s resistance. As the situation escted, although the full video was broadcast by the three majorworks in an attempt to quell the outrage, it was toote. The trial dragged on for a year and ended today, and people are protesting in

    solidarity..."

    Before the driver could continue, Eric interrupted, "Turn around. We''re going back."

    The driver looked puzzled.

    "I''m saying turn around. We''re going back to the Liberty City Manor."

    Though the driver appeared confused, he sensed the firmness in Eric''s voice and quickly

    executed the turn.

    ...

    Leaning back in his seat, Eric rubbed his temples.

    The 1992 Los Angeles riots -- he never expected to find himself amid it all. His understanding

    of the uing upheaval was scant; all he knew was that this was a once-in-a-century racial riot in the United States.

    On the drive home, Eric repeatedly made phone calls, reaching out to several women one at a

    time.

    Virginia and Joanna were both in New York, which was a relief. Although there might be unrest in other parts of North America following the riots, escting things wouldn''t happen overnight. By the time news got around, they would surely be on alert.

    Jennifer Connelly was at Stanford, where she had been focusing on her studies since dating Eric. With less anxiety about her acting career, she devoted more energy to her education and

    aimed to graduate this year.

    Nicole was still in training at the spy school, which posed no problems.

    Famke Janssen was in her vi in Beverly Hills, having just woken up. The sound of Eric''s

    voice made her a bit gleeful. After politely asking a few questions, Eric learned thedy would

    be staying home today. If even Beverly Hills was unsafe, then Los Angeles would be

    thoroughly ruined.

    Drew, Julia, and Elisabeth were all still at home, nning to visit the Digital Domain headquarters at ya Vista to check on the progress of the making of The Mask. After considering the timeline regarding Rodney King''s case -- set to be judged in the

    afternoon -- Eric decided to divert toward ya Vista. He also gave Jeffrey a call to inform him about meeting up at ya Vista to check out the dinosaur models. Eventually, the car

    grew quiet.

    Having notified all those he intended to reach, Eric felt settled. He was naturally a detached person and had no intention of ying the role of a savior. In the face of events so vast that his personal influence held no sway, he felt there was little he could do.

    The car glided slowly across the Los Angeles roads when Eric suddenly thought of someone.

    Unable to resist, he picked up his phone and dialed, envisioning that stubbornly sweet face in

    his mind.

    "Hello, this is Ms. Aniston''s assistant. May I know who''s calling?" a polite female voice

    answered.

    "This is Eric Williams."

    "Ah..." The voice on the other end gasped softly before quickly quieting. "Mr. Williams, I''ll

    get Ms. Aniston. She''s getting her makeup done."

    "No, don''t bother," Eric interrupted her. "Where are you right now?"

    "We''re at the Universal studio, Mr. Williams. Do you want toe by?" Eric didn''t respond immediately; instead, he asked, "What''s Jen''s schedule today?"

    "Ms. Aniston is currently filming a romanticedy, and she will be in the studio the entire

    day," the assistant quickly answered.

    Eric acknowledged with a soft "Hmm."Oh, then I have no business with you."

    "Uh?"

    "Don''t tell Jen I called."

    "Mr. Williams, I don''t understand."

    Eric raised his voice slightly, "You don''t need to understand. All you have to do is remember

    not to tell Jen I called."

    "Oh, I--I understand, Mr. Williams." The assistant stammered her response.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 467: Chapter 468: Riots

    Chapter 467: Chapter 468: Riots

    ?

    [Chapter 468: It Seemed Like It Should Happen]

    Shortly after Eric finished his phone call, Stan Winston rushed in. "Eric, something''s happening outside."

    Eric thought to himself, "Finally, it''s here." He told the women, "Stay here and don''t wander off."

    After giving that instruction, Eric quickly left the studio, following Stan. The women

    exchanged nces for a moment, and Drew was the first to react, rushing out without a second thought.

    "But Eric told us to wait here..." Julia began, but before she could finish, the other three women followed Drew outside. Clearly, they had no intention of listening to Eric, and no one paid attention to Julia.

    It was nearing the end of the workday, but the usual order of theplex hadpletely dissolved into chaos. Groups of employees huddled outside, whispering towards the eastern sky. Not far off, a few people stood on the rooftop of the three-story administration building, seemingly watching something in the distance.

    From the expansive za outside the office area, one could see wisps of ck smoke rising from the eastern part of theplex.

    Though there was no inte, such a significant event urring in downtown Los Angeles spread across the Greater Los Angeles area in no time at all.

    At three in the afternoon, the San Fernando Courthouse in Los Angeles officially ruled that several police officers involved in the Rodney King case were found not guilty and released immediately. The strong protests from the ckmunity were ignored, and emotions boiled over, leading to attacks on passing white residents, swiftly escting into riots.

    Eric had initially thought he could just walk away as long as the people around him were safe. However, seeing the hundreds of employees from the digital division and filming base gathered in theplex made him realize he couldn''t just leave without concern.

    ya Vista was a district of Culver City, economicallyggingpared to other parts of Los Angeles, and home to arge poption of ck residents, which meant a strong potential for instability.

    Using theplex''s loudspeakers to unite the chaos-loving crowd and stabilize emotions, Eric managed to discuss countermeasures with the management team.

    "The main trouble is happening to the south, very close to us. There was an attempt to break into theplex just now. I''ve instructed security to close the gates, but the area is just too vast to ensure that no one sneaks in from anywhere. We have no guarantee against that, so we can only secure the filming and post-production studios. That way, even if someone slips in during the chaos, it''s unlikely they''ll be able to breach those buildings; after all, we do have some security here," said a logistics manager, pointing to an open map of Los Angeles on the table, weighing in with the information he had.

    Eric interrupted the admin manager, "Forget that for now; we need to figure out how to get these hundreds of people out safely. With the insurancepany in ce, even if something happens to the equipment here, we can getpensation. But having hundreds of people in theplex isn''t something to take lightly. Ensuring our employees are safe is the most important thing."

    Upon hearing this, everyone began to chime in with their opinions.

    "I just spoke with the Culver City chief; he said the looters are primarily robbing stores and supermarkets. It''s usually solitary white people who are attacked, so it would be safest to leave in pairs. The women absolutely cannot leave alone, even if they live in safe neighborhoods because nobody can guarantee they won''t encounter something unexpected on the way."

    "I think we should avoid downtown and head north towards Santa Monica, then through Beverly Hills. That area is definitely safer," another person said, pointing to the table''s map, tracing an alternative route that covered some of the safest neighborhoods in Greater Los Angeles.

    "If there are employees living in the downtown area, they might as well stay here tonight. We have dormitories for employees, and honestly, female staff should not leave downtown today; that ce is the most chaotic. Staying here is safer."

    "Perhaps we could ask the Culver City police department for additional personnel. The Firefly Studios were built here on the request of Culver City''s government, so I believe they wouldn''t ignore us. If they send help, along with our own security, that would make things much safer."

    As Eric listened, he nodded along. Once everyone finished voicing their opinions, he said, "Alright, let''s do that. And notify everyone that starting tomorrow, we''re on break. We''ll inform them when to return."

    A senior executive hesitated to suggest, "Mr. Williams, I think a break isn''t necessary. Tomorrow might be just fine, and many projects have tight schedules."

    "Just do as I say," Eric waved his hand, not wanting to exin too much. Given the escting situation, arge number ofpanies would inevitably halt operations. It was far better to notify everyone collectively than to call each person individuallyter.

    Seeing that Eric had made up his mind, the executives epted the decision and quickly dispersed to handle their matters.

    ...

    Once everyone left, the women gathered closer, already aware of the unfolding situation. "Eric, you must have sensed something was about to happen, right?" Elisabeth couldn''t help but ask, her eyes sparkling.

    Eric rolled up the map in front of him and ced it on the filing cab. "I''m not God; how would I know?"

    Elisabeth clearly didn''t believe him, letting out a huff of skepticism. Eric turned his head, brushed off the dust from his hands, and asked, "Where is your old man right now?"

    "Could you at least use a nicer title?" Elisabethined before adding, "He''s in New York, why?"

    Eric pointed to the faint ck smoke visible outside the window. "This is a great opportunity for Fox News. If they seize it, Fox News will gain several years'' advantage."

    In the original timeline, Fox News did seize the opportunity following the 9/11 events in 2001, quickly rising to be the secondrgest newswork in North America.

    Elisabeth thought for a moment and picked up the phone to dial Rupert Murdoch directly.

    ...

    Eric remained in ya Vista until around seven that evening. Only after Eric insisted did the Culver City police department send over ten fully armed officers to assist the security at Firefly Studios. Only then did Eric take the 5 women back to Liberty City Manor in a helicopter. Originally, he intended for Jeffrey to join them, but upon seeing the group of women around Eric, Jeffrey immediately shook his head. Eventually, Stan Winston invited Jeffrey to his ce in Malibu, resolving the situation.

    Despite the chaotic events, the atmosphere in the vi at the Manor, now with an additional five women, remained tense. They all gathered around the television, watching Fox News''

    live coverage of what was happening in Los Angeles.

    As a media mogul, Murdoch had a sharper instinct for major events than the average person. After receiving Elisabeth''s call, he quickly made arrangements. Two Fox News helicopters soon circled over the affected downtown area, while multiple ground reporters were dispatched as well.

    On the screen, the area that was once vibrant and shimmering from Beverly Hills had turned chaotic. Sirens red everywhere, and mes flickered in the distance. Within hours, the chaos had spread from certain areas south of Los Angeles to the entire Greater Los Angeles

    area.

    Throughout the night, Eric spent most of his time on the phone, first confirming that the employees from the digital division and production facilities had reached home safely. Later, around nine, another wave of looters attempted to scale the walls and break into the filming base but were dispersed by the police stationed at the studios who fired warning shots. He also received numerous calls inquiring about safety.

    Not until after eleven that night did the phone calls finally quiet down.

    Eric nced at the TV, where Fox News continued its special coverage of the events. It was clear that after this incident, Fox News would definitely solidify its position in the mediandscape. Eric felt little emotional attachment to this kind of thing that rises from disasters. Murdoch exemplified this type of capitalist, with an instinct to turn any opportunity that can

    be used into capital.

    "It''ste; everyone get some sleep. If things don''t improve by tomorrow, we''ll leave Los Angeles," Eric said, checking his watch. Although Malibu remained calm, no one could predict what might happen next. Because Eric did not have many memories of this incident, he had to make the safest ns possible.

    The concern written on the faces of the women suddenly turned to looks of uncertainty at his words. Eric was fully aware of what they were thinking and shrugged, "I''m heading to bed. If anyone wants to stay, feel free; otherwise, find a room for yourselves."

    With that, he rose and walked away amid their light chuckles.

    Drew watched Eric''s departing figure, feeling an urge to stand but ultimately retaking her

    seat.

    Elisabeth took a bite of an apple from the fruit bowl and said, "If you want to go, just go.

    Who''s stopping you?"

    "I''m going to my own room," Drew huffed, somewhat smug, as she stood. Among Eric''s women, only Drew had a set bedroom in the vi.

    Julia made a call to the maid to confirm that her niece was asleep before stretching, standing up, and leaving the living room. Elisabeth nced at Tina Fey and udia Schiffer, wished them goodnight, and followed Julia out.

    Tina and udia looked at each other, slightly embarrassed. Unlike the three other women

    who had no qualms about their status, Eric and Drew hadn''t arranged bedrooms for them, leaving the two wondering where they should go.

    The two women stared at the TV screen, staying put until midnight. udia finally said, "Shouldn''t we go to sleep too?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Yeah," Tina nodded but remained seated.

    udia had to stand up first, turning off the TV before Tina finally followed her upstairs.

    "I remember, thest time I stayed in this room," udia said, pointing to a guest room on

    the second floor, her face slightly flushed as she recalled thest time she had been tricked

    over by Drew.

    Tina Fey lowered her voice, "Can I sleep with you?"

    udia nodded, understanding that Tina''s situation was simr to hers; having stayed here once, udia herself wouldn''t know which room was the guest room either.

    As she thought about this, udia grabbed the doorknob to twist it but found the door

    locked. Inside, she heardughter, along with Elisabeth''s voice saying, "You jerk, go wherever you want, but don''te bother us!"

    Both women immediately understood that this guest room was upied by Elisabeth and Julia, who were treating them as if they were some night-time interloper.

    After exchanging nces for a moment, udia pointed to the end of the hallway, which was Eric''s master bedroom. "Should we... ask Mr. Williams?"

    For some reason, udia didn''t say to ask Drew; perhaps she felt Eric was the true owner of

    the vi.

    Tina seemed not to think much of it, quietly affirming, and the two women headed toward

    Eric''s bedroom.

    ...

    The next morning, as Eric woke up, the first thing he felt was a soft hand pressed against his back, a small hand still around his waist, and a light warmth from her breath on his neck. The other girl in front of him was lying on the bed with her arms around a pillow, her delicate face facing him, her blonde hair a little messy, but it made her look even sexier. Because the bedroom was warm, the girl''s quilt was not tightly covered, revealing part of her fair back. Thinking ofst night, Eric couldn''t help but smile. He couldn''t help butugh at how the two

    women, timidly asking if they coulde in, had prompted him to m the bedroom door shut, effectively trapping two willingmbs.

    Recalling the scene ofst night, Eric gently reached out and pulled the quilt on udia down,

    but did not take his hand back. Instead, he lifted the blonde hair that covered the girl''s face,

    admiring her delicate face, while his hand gently stroked the girl''s smooth back, slowly sliding down.

    Feeling Eric''s touch udia woke up. She said good morning, but felt embarrassed when she saw Eric''s hand reaching out from behind.

    Eric''s hand stayed on that slender waist for a moment, then he climbed over the mountains

    and climbed to the top of the mountain, and then stretched out his fingers to reach into the

    deep valley. udia couldn''t help but squeeze her long legs together, but after realizing that this position

    was even more awkward, she quickly loosened her legs and buried her face in the pillow shyly: "No, I didn''t even... showerst night."

    Eric did not continue to provoke and withdrew his hand. Although morning is usually the time

    when desire is strongest, he had already gone a little too farst night and it would hurt his body if he continued.

    Taking away the little hand that was still on his waist, Eric sat up and looked at Tina Fey who had been hugging him. He had just felt the girl''s breathing be soft, and noticed her eyshes fluttering from time to time. Eric knew that Tina Fey must have woken up, but just felt embarrassed and continued to pretend to sleep.

    Eric quietly got out of bed and looked at the woman feigning sleep and said, "It''s still early;

    you can sleep in a bit longer."

    After saying that, without waiting for the two women to respond, he picked up his clothes and

    walked into the bathroom opposite the master bedroom.

    Seeing Eric close the door behind him, udia remarked to Tina Fey, "Alright, he knows

    you''re awake now."

    Tina couldn''t pretend any longer, grabbing a pillow to cover her face, muffling, "Oh my God, what did I get myself into! I can''t believe... Oh my God!"

    Watching Tina''s reaction, udia, who was initially a bit downcast, felt rxed. Though she came from a privileged background and hadn''t had to rely on her body to make her mark as many models had to, udia had seen plenty of things in her years as a model. Compared to Tina, who came from a conservative middle-ss background, udia was evidently moreid-back.

    udia saw that Tina continued to hide under the pillow for quite a while and couldn''t help

    but chuckle, "But you didn''t seem to protestst night. If you had resisted, I don''t think Eric would have forced you."

    Tina reflected on what had transpired the night before and felt even more down. "I guess... I

    should have. Ugh, he never even gave me a chance to speak! No wonder Miss Murdoch said

    he''s a bastard!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 469: Chapter 470: Dust Settled

    Chapter 469: Chapter 470: Dust Settled

    ?

    [Chapter 470: Dust]

    Sessful people often have their stubborn side. Tim Berners-Lee was not only the one who introduced the concept of the World Wide Web but also invented the world''s first web server. If this man had wanted to establish apany andmercialize his research, he would have undoubtedly be a billionaire long ago. However, as an idealist, Tim Berners-Lee chose to share his findings with the world for free, which certainly made him a person worthy of respect.

    Eric spent an entire day discussing with Tim Berners-Lee. Although they both enjoyed their conversation and admired each other, Tim remained unwilling to abandon hismitment to free sharing.

    Eric could havepletely set aside Tim and founded his ownpany to develop a graphical web browser, Inte Explorer. However, doing so would mean forfeiting the opportunity to directly engage in setting the Inte protocol standards.

    By the evening, the two men quieted down. Chris sat silently beside them, gazing at the sunset over the ocean. Tim picked up his coffee cup again and crossed his legs, following Chris''s gaze toward the burning sunset. He sensed that Eric was about to make a final decision.

    After a long pause, Eric finally said, "Mr. Lee, I can agree to make the Inte Explorer browser avable for free."

    Tim Berners-Lee smiled, and Chris looked at Eric in surprise. Among the three proposed projects, Chris had always believed that Inte Explorer had the mostmercial potential. If Eric chose to make this project free as well, the loss would not be small. However, Chris refrained from raising any objections at that moment.

    The strategy of offering free software was bing an inevitable trend in the industry. Although Eric wasn''t well-versed in the browser software business, he understood that software sales revenue often represented just a minor portion of many Intepanies'' earnings. The key was user umtion. Once a sufficientlyrge user base was developed, driving value-added services on their own tform would constitute the major profit source for Intepanies.

    "However, I have a few conditions," Eric continued.

    Tim Berners-Lee gestured for him to go ahead.

    Eric stated, "First, Mr. Lee, I hope you can serve as the senior technical advisor for Inte Explorer."

    "I can agree to that," Tim Berners-Lee replied readily with a nod.

    Eric went on, "The second condition is that when the Web Consortium develops Inte protocols, it needs to lean toward the technical standards of Inte Explorer to some extent. In return, Inte Explorer will contribute research and development funds to the World Wide Web Consortium every year. At the same time, although Inte Explorer will be free for public use, we still retain the right to apply for technical patents."

    Tim Berners-Lee had given up on patenting the web server and World Wide Web technologies, sacrificing the chance to be a billionaire. However, Eric did not possess that kind of altruistic mindset. His philosophy was that the software he developed with his own funding could be free for you to use, but it remained his property. You could use it, but you couldn''t im it as yours.

    Tim recognized that Eric had not given up on the idea of monopolizing, yet this seemed to be the best solution. He was unwilling tomercialize his technical achievements but could not impose his standards on others.

    "Eric, from my personal standpoint, I can agree to your second condition, but I''ll need to discuss this with the other members," Tim said.

    "Of course, that''s no problem," Eric nodded. He knew that Tim Berners-Lee held high prestige within the Web Consortium, and since he had verbally agreed to these terms, there likely wouldn''t be many unexpected developments.

    ...

    The next day, Tim returned to MIT. Although the fallout from the Los Angeles riots continued, the situation had stabilized. By the following week, people began returning to their jobs, and Eric resumed his preparations for Jurassic Park.

    The most crucial dinosaur models for the film had all been confirmed, and the CG effects artists in Digital Domain had begun developing the special effects technology for the dinosaurs.

    As the producer of Jurassic Park, Jerry Bruckheimer had been actively seeking filming locations during this time. The primary shooting location on Kauai in Hawaii had been established, and during the riots, Jerry was scouting amber mines in Central America for the film''s opening

    scenes.

    Meanwhile, Eric focused on the all-important casting process for the film.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Perhaps because the memories in his mind were still so vivid, he found none of the many audition tapes for the male lead appealing. In the end, they reached out to Sam Neill.

    Sam Neill had entered the film industry in the 1970s. Though he was a decent actor, he had never truly risen to fame. Other than taking on supporting roles in various mainstream films, he mostly lurked in the indie film circuit.

    When Firefly reached out to Sam about Jurassic Park, he was ecstatic. Without having seen the script, he personally called to ept the offer.

    However, another problem soon arose. Before receiving the Jurassic Park invitation, Sam had already signed on as the male lead in Warner Bros'' sci-fi project, Memoirs of an Invisible Man. This film reportedly had a budget of $40 million, but Eric had no recollection of it -- likely a result of being a flop.

    Though Memoirs of an Invisible Man could barely be considered a big production, its male lead position couldn''t bepared to that of Jurassic Park''s protagonist.

    Sam quickly decided to break his contract with Warner Bros. It''s not umon for actors to be reced during production, but upon learning the reason for Sam''s contract termination, the savvy Warner executives were less than amenable. Internally, there had been ongoing disputes regarding Memoirs of an Invisible Man project. Therefore, even with a $40 million investment, the casting wasckluster. Among the actors, only Daryl Hannah, who had appeared in Wall Street, Steel Magnolias, and de Runner, possessed some notoriety. The male lead, Chevy Chase, was a middle-aged actor of Sam''s same generation and had faced a simr

    lack of stardom.

    Warner Bros recognized this as a significant opportunity since Eric''s films often catapulted lesser-known actors to stardom. Consequently, they used their hold on Sam''s contract to raise demands, stating that if Eric wanted Sam, he would need to receive an executive producer credit on Memoirs of an Invisible Man. Eric''s projects rarely failed, and Warner clearly sought to leverage Eric''s box office draw. Moreover, they elevated Sam''s role to the lead. Contractual matters like these often operate smoothly if not pursued too seriously, leading to amicable resolutions -- after all, a movie investment often ran into the tens of millions, with none having the luxury of dragging their feet.

    However, should anyone decide to take such matters to court,plications could arise, and lengthy legal battles were not unheard of.

    Eric certainly wouldn''t affix his name as executive producer for a project he''d never heard of. Once he acquired the script and found itcking, especially given its disjointed plot and gimmick of an invisible man, he refused even more.

    Nheless, Warner had already invested significant resources in the project, having spent millions in preliminary work. There was no way they could back out now; all they could do was

    grit their teeth and carry on.

    After a week of negotiations, both sides finally reached a reluctant agreement. Eric would receive an executive producer credit on another Warner film, while Sam was officially signed on as the lead in Memoirs of an Invisible Man. Once filming for Jurassic Park wrapped, he would continue shooting this project.

    After some careful deliberation, Eric ultimately selected to receive an executive producer credit on a Warner film currently in production, featuring none other than Kevin Costner, who had just won Best Director and Best Actor for Dances with Wolves. The film was titled The

    Bodyguard.

    The executive producer role carried vastly flexible authority; one could either manage everything or be hands-off. The most famous executive producer in Hollywood was undoubtedly Steven Spielberg, who typically credited himself on at least five films each year.

    ...

    While wrangling over Sam Neill''s contract with Warner Bros, Eric was simultaneously busy with casting for the female lead and supporting roles. For the two young child roles, Eric chose a young boy from Spielberg''s Hook and epted a girl role rmended by Jerry Bruckheimer, dly granting Jerry that favor.

    However, Eric didn''t tell Jerry that this little girl would be the least popr character in Jurassic Park. He remembered that the original version of Jurassic Park had be a worldwide hit with a thriving merchandising line. Yet due to John Hammond''s granddaughter''s series of foolish actions in the film, she became the most disliked character, leading the producers to eventually cancel the production of her action figure.

    During the auditions for the female lead, a very busy Nicole, currently filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith, personally came to Eric with Pat Kingsley. She rmended a recently signed actress from Pat Kingsley''s roster. After parting ways from Tom Cruise, Pat Kingsley swiftly signed several promising actresses. Originally, Pat Kingsley nned tond the role of the male lead in Jurassic Park, and paperwork had already arrived at Eric''s desk. However, since Eric already had his perfect candidate in mind, Pat Kingsley settled for the lesser position of pitching for

    the female lead.

    Interestingly, upon seeing the actress Pat Kingsley rmended, Eric was pleasantly surprised. The actress appeared to be in herte twenties, tall, with smaller eyes that brightened wonderfully when she smiled. Most importantly, this actress named Helen Hunt was also the female lead in Twister in the original timeline.

    From Pat Kingsley, Eric learned that Helen Hunt''s career had not been thriving in the film industry. She had been nning to act in television shows. However, with Pat Kingsley''s encouragement, she quickly decided to take a chance, transferring her contract over to Pat Kingsley and actively vying for the female lead role in Jurassic Park.

    Although Eric understood Nicole''s subtle intentions, he threw them to the back of his mind. Over the years, he hade to realize that Hollywood was very much a small circle of rtionships. Though the standardized audition processes for selecting actors continued, it was far moremon for actors and directors or producers to chat casually over meals and have roles decided, so Eric did not oppose Nicole cultivating her own circle. Moreover, Helen Hunt had won an Oscar for Best Actress for As Good as It Gets in the original timeline, illustrating her acting prowess. After the auditions, Eric was more than satisfied. Soon after, they finalized a contract.

    ...

    As May passed, the summer blockbuster season of 1992 approached while the aftershocks of

    the Los Angeles riots gradually faded. Although media extensively covered stories of some ck individuals saving White lives during the uprising, providing some mitigating narratives for racial conflict, many things remained unchanged. In fact, the aftermath of the riots led to an increase in discriminatory behavior. Numerous business owners in Los Angeles fired ck employees, deeming them as unstable factors.

    Additionally, Los Angeles County announced it would revisit the Rodney King case. Eric knew this case would have only one oue: guilty. Moreover, the trigger of the riot, Rodney King, who had a leash of robbery charges, recklessly drove drunk, was now seeking substantial personalpensation. Reports indicated that Mr. King demanded $54 million from Los Angeles County, pricing each blow he endured in the infamous footage at $1 million (he had

    reportedly taken 54 blows).

    Upon seeing these developments, Eric could only chuckle bitterly. Nothing would change; the county could never afford the exorbitant $54 millionpensation. However, it was certain the ultimate payout would still amount to millions, all of which would be footed by taxpayers. Yet this time, Eric was confident that the battered taxpayers wouldn''t dare voice

    any ims of injustice.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 471: Chapter 472: Opening Weekend

    Chapter 471: Chapter 472: Opening Weekend

    ?

    [Chapter 472: Opening Weekend]

    Kathryn heard Eric''s words and nced at him, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, though she remained silent. Inside, she thought of how she had caught him once again in a moment that fit his youthful disposition; after all, he was just a kid in his early twenties.

    Perhaps Kathryn didn''t even realize that whenever she interacted with Eric, she habitually focused on his actions and words that reflected his age. Maybe it was just a way to remind herself of something, who knew?

    After Eric finished speaking, he didn''t say anything more, and the two of them quietly turned their attention to the big screen.

    At that moment, the film reached about the twenty-minute mark, and the first tornado was about to hit, with two teams racing toward the tornado''s location.

    Having been influenced (or perhaps poisoned) by so many European film masters, Kathryn wasn''t that interested in this typicalmercial film. Of course, living in Hollywood, she didn''t despisemercial films as deeply as European art film directors. Instead, she subconsciously focused most of her attention on the blonde woman in a white tank top with striking eyes in the film.

    The performance during the interaction between the female lead and the male protagonist''s new girlfriend was outstanding. Though she deliberately dressed simply for the character of a meteorologist, the woman''s beauty still shone through.

    ncing at Eric in the dim light, she knew that this character, Joanna Pac, was still very much his woman.

    What a greedy little rascal.

    Feeling her gaze, Eric looked over, and Kathryn quickly turned her head back to the screen. Soon, the main character''s convoy encountered the first tornado. Watching the screen as the tornado fiercely lifted trucks and tractors one by one, Kathryn finally felt a jolt of

    astonishment. As a film director, she knew that nopany had ever created tornado effects this realistic before.

    The audience around them murmured in low astonishment as the first tornado appeared. Following it, the film''s pace quickened, with hurricane effect scenes popping up every ten minutes, mesmerizing the viewers with thrilling visuals that drew gasps from the crowd.

    Due to Twister debuting a few years ahead of its time, previously, only Terminator 2 -- the film that had implemented liquid metal robot effects -- created a simr sensation. Audiences had yet to experience a massive impact from CG-heavy blockbusters like Jurassic Park, which exined the overwhelming reaction of the theater''s attendees.

    As the movie concluded with grand symphonic music, before the lights even turned on, apuse erupted throughout the cinema.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Walking out of the theater amidst the crowd, they slowly made their way to the parking lot when Kathryn finally spoke, "The film''s score was lovely."

    "I have a sample of the soundtrack ready for you. I''ll send you a copyter," Eric replied.

    "Thank you," Kathryn said, not refusing. After a moment, she added, "The lead actress was also stunning."

    "Ah, I can''t send you that," Eric joked.

    Kathryn chuckled lightly, and the two walked over to the car. Eric gantly opened the door for her. As she got in, he leaned against the car door with a smile and asked, "Are you sure you won''t let me give you a ride home?"

    Kathryn shot him a re without answering, buckling her seatbelt.

    "How about this: you can drive me home instead. I wouldn''t mind," Eric continued with a yful grin.

    Kathryn secured her seatbelt, turned to give Eric a look that urged him to back off, and then mmed the car door shut. With the sound of the engine starting, her white BMW pulled onto the road, initially moving slowly before suddenly elerating, as if she felt that waiting even a moment longer might result in some monstrous beast catching her.

    Watching her car disappear into the traffic, Eric shrugged and muttered to himself, smiling as he walked over to his own car.

    ...

    Driving back to her home in Coldwater Canyon, Beverly Hills, Kathryn felt her previously racing heart slow down a bit. After parking and stepping inside, she heard the sound of the door, and a fuzzy little creature came running over, meowing as it likely felt famished.

    Kathryn fetched some cat food and poured it into the little one''s bowl before wearily copsing onto the living room sofa.

    After some time had passed, the slightly oversized yellow kitten, having had its fill, trotted over and lightly leaped onto the couch, snuggling up next to her.

    Kathryn scooped up the little one and ced it on herp, saying, "Paws, do you think I''m a boring woman too?"

    The cozy little critter simply curled its furry body into a ball, finding a morefortable position, narrowing its eyes,pletely ignoring its owner''s query.

    Looking at the lounging furball, Kathryn gently tugged on the kitten''srge ears, letting out a barely audible sigh into the air.

    ...

    After a lengthy promotional blitz, the moment for Twister''s release finally arrived. This was the first major film released by Firefly Films since they acquired Disney. Other Hollywood studios had set their sights on this film, and although Twister had built a solid reputation through a series of previews, until it officiallyunched on arge scale, no one could know the box office potential of a film. After all, there were examples where films had received rave reviews during previews, only to crash at the box office.

    On the evening of June 4th, Twister held an extravagant premiere at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood and was officially released in over 2,600 theaters across North America.

    "...an astonishing visual effects movie that, after two years of hiding, Eric Williams has gifted us with a magnificent feast for the eyes."

    "...a well-paced plot, astounding CG effects, and magnificent orchestral music -- this young Hollywood tycoon has surprised us once again."

    "...Having watched this film, I have one concern; perhaps our big screens will be dominated by such realistic CG effects and lose the essence of cinema as a storyteller. Special effectpanies such as Digital Domain might just usher Hollywood into a whole new era."

    ""

    On June 5th, after the midnight showing, a wave of reviews flooded various media tforms. Most print outlets rated Twister very highly, with countless reviews praising it. While there were inevitably some extremely conservative critics who routinely voiced their criticisms, these opinions hardly affected the prevailing trend.

    ...

    With everyone waiting in anticipation, on June 6th, the first-day box office for Twister was reported. Although Firefly Films did not disclose specific figures to the public, Hollywood studios and entertainment media that were closely monitoring the situation quickly obtained detailed numbers through their channels.

    The first day yielded $14.5 million.

    Upon seeing this number, many felt an indescribable numbness, sensing a mixture of surprise

    and inevitability.

    ording to traditional box office patterns, after Friday, Saturday would see an uptick, followed by a slight decline over the weekend. The projected box office after the first weekend for Twister was expected to be around $45 million, with weekday summer box offices typically averaging about half of the weekend''s figures. Following this pattern, Twister''s first-week box office could potentially reach around $70 million, covering costs.

    In the office of Columbia Pictures'' CEO, Peter Guber felt an unsettling sensation wash over him upon seeing the box office data in hand. Given Twister''s current reception, he knew that without a doubt, the box office wouldn''t drop significantly next week, likely remaining in the $40 million to $50 million range. With North American summer box office totals averaging around $100 million per week, Running Out of Time: The Prequel would have topete for the remaining $50 million with at least ten other films.

    Having already gone through preliminaries, many critics and audience members expressed varying degrees of dissatisfaction with Running Out of Time: The Prequel. They believed this prequel had entirely abandoned the film style Eric created in the first installment, turning into a mediocre action film. Although the action sequences were undeniably spectacr and the set piecesvish, faced with Twister''s realistic CG effects, these elements seemedcking

    inpetitive edge.

    Moreover, just a week after Running Out of Time: The Prequel''s release, Warner Bros.'' Batman Returns would hit theaters, making Peter Guber shiver at the thought of these two blockbusters battling it out.

    Columbia had originally signed a three-film deal with Tom Cruise''s productionpany, but it seemed that this coboration would need reconsideration. Peter couldn''t help but think of the film being produced, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Having navigated Hollywood for decades, he recognized that even if he couldn''t produce a good movie, his eye for talent in film was unquestionable. A film with a fresh story and novel shooting concepts was virtually guaranteed sess unless something went gravely awry.

    Peter Guber quickly made up his mind; to remain in his position, he would need to solidify his

    partnership with Firefly Films. After making his decision, Peter picked up the phone on his

    desk and dialed Eric''s number.

    "Hi, Eric, it''s Peter Guber... Oh, it''s nothing, really. I just wanted to extend my

    congrattions..."

    ...

    Amidst the summer moviegoers'' excitement, the first-week box office results for Twister

    finally came in. Over seven days, the film garnered more than $65 million. Adding to the previous week''s limited showings, the total box office just surpassed the $70 million mark. Many who had originally hoped for a dip in Twister''s box office now found theirst shred of hope fading. Those wanting to coborate with Firefly suppressed their disappointment and picked up their phones to call Eric again, just as they had when the first day''s numbers were released, leading to another barrage of phone calls for Eric.

    "Of course, Chris, feel free to take the lead on this matter; it could be $2 million a year if that''s

    what it takes... Haha, I didn''t mean to imply I have money to burn; I just believe you won''t let me be at a loss... Well, of course... Honestly, I enjoy hearing those envious voices calling to congratte me... Alright, enough chit-chat; I''m busy. If you''d like, you can fly over for tonight''s celebration party for Twister; it should be quite lively... I''ll hang up now," Eric said, hanging up the phone and casually handing it to his assistant behind him. Typically, afterpleting a film, directors in Hollywood would take a vacation to rest and

    reflect on the sess or failures of their film''s release. However, even though Twister nearly broke the record for first-week box office receipts in Hollywood, Eric had little time to enjoy the des.

    Far away in New York, Chris had just called to discuss the donation amount for the World Wide Web Fund and informed him that the framework for Inte Explorer had been set up. Alongside Tim Berners-Lee, thepany''s consultant, Chris had not only recruited dozens of software engineers but also secured a senior manager from Oracle to lead Inte Explorer. To facilitate interaction with the World Wide Web Consortium, the headquarters for Inte Explorer was temporarily established in Cambridge, Massachusetts, home of MIT, with the beta version of IE expected tounch by year''s end.

    In addition to Inte Explorer, the two otherpanies were also preparing steadily. ording to Eric''s n, these twopanies would only be officiallyunched after the IE beta version went live, so Chris''s main focus remained on Inte Explorer.

    ...

    An amplified voice called out from the open space in front of him, awakening Eric from his

    thoughts.

    This was a za inside Firefly Studios, and the colossal object in the center started moving slowly after the shout moments ago.

    It advanced, crouched, bit, and roared...

    As the T-Rex model, which had taken months of effort from several Digital Domain''s special effects artists, sessfullypleted various tests, everyone sighed in relief and cheered. "How is it, Eric?" Stan Winston approached, brimming with enthusiasm, his tone mixed with a bit of pride. While he knew that the center for Digital Domain development was in CG effects, after all these years working on model effects, Stan felt immense excitement and pride watching another modele to life under his team''s efforts.

    "It''s fantastic," Eric praised without hesitation. "I believe this big guy will astonish everyone

    next year."

    "Of course, it won''t be much worse than the tornado in Twister," Stan said confidently before adding, "Now, let''s take a look at the Velociraptor model."

    Under Stan Winston''s careful supervision, the T-Rex model was cautiously moved back to the warehouse, and several smaller Velociraptor models were quickly brought out by the crew.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 473: Chapter 474: What to Do

    Chapter 473: Chapter 474: What to Do

    ?

    [Chapter 474: What to Do]

    During a brief pause in the conversation, Catherine Zeta-Jones timely spoke up, "Are you talking about that movie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith?"

    Eric nced at the woman and replied, "Yeah, Catherine, are you interested in that film too?"

    "Of course," Catherine Zeta-Jones said. "That''s the movie you personally wrote, right? I watched most of your films while I was in the UK and my favorite was that one, The Others. The plot twists were simply mind-boggling."

    "Thank you for your praise, Catherine. A beautifuldy like you must be an actress, right?"

    Catherine nodded. "I''m going to y a role in the ABC series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."

    "It''s just a TV series; I think you''re more suited for movies. Oh, of course, that''s not something I need to worry about," Eric said with a smile. He raised his ss to John Peters and then excused himself.

    "Let''s go, dear," John Peters said as he wrapped his arm around Catherine''s waist.

    ...

    Catherine Zeta-Jones contemted Eric''s earlier remarks while following John Peters to a corner of the party.

    "Sweetheart, I have something to say to you," John Peters said as they sat down on a couch. He took her soft hand in his.

    Catherine feigned interest but felt a sense of dread building inside her.

    "Here''s the thing: I recently got divorced, and I want to--" John paused, then steeled himself, "I mean, darling, will you marry me?"

    Though Catherine had anticipated some advances, she was taken aback by his words. She had agreed to date this Hollywood producer primarily because of his power in the industry. Not to mention, John was over twenty years older and had an explosive personality. Their rtionship had mostly been her putting up with him.

    Thus, she had never entertained the idea of marrying him. She had nned on dating for a few years, establishing her footing in Hollywood, and then breaking up. Now, surprise marriage proposal caught her off-guard.

    Moreover, she remembered John mentioning he wanted his wife to be a full-time housewife after marriage. That was something she absolutely could not tolerate; she was still in her early twenties and could never agree to be a housewife to a man over twenty years older.

    "Catherine, are you listening to me?" John Peters asked, somewhat irritated as he noticed the shock and hesitation on her face.

    "Sorry, John, I just... I''ve never really thought about it," Catherine responded, shaking her head slightly, "Can you give me some time to think?"

    "Is there really anything to think about? Just marry me. I''ll provide you with afortable and respectable life. You won''t ever have to act again; I can fully support you," John said confidently, or perhaps overly so.

    Catherine avoided his gaze, identally catching a glimpse of Eric in the distance. She realized right then that he must have intentionally or unintentionally spurred John''s sudden marriage proposal.

    Feeling trapped, she cursed silently at the bastard, unsure of how to handle John''s overwhelming gaze.

    She knew that if she outright refused now, it was highly likely that he would explode in anger. But if she epted, it was even worse.

    Although John had several personality ws and was rather mediocre talent-wise, he wasn''t a fool. Seeing Catherine hesitate, his expression darkened as he grasped the situation, "I think you should just drop out of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. I''ll have Michael find another actress for the Maya role."

    Catherine spoke nervously, "John, that''s not what I meant..."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "No need to say anything," John stood up, looking coldly at the woman on the couch, "Miss Zeta-Jones, my least favorite thing is to be yed. Do you really think you can use me as a stepping stone in Hollywood and kick me aside afterward? Do you think something like that exists in this world?"

    Catherine opened her mouth to argue but couldn''t find the words. This man had already be entrenched in a delusion; she knew that anything she said would make no difference.

    John ced the ss he was still holding aside, adjusted his suit sleeve, and looked pityingly at the woman seated on the couch, "Hollywood isn''t just about having a pretty face. I think you should pack your bags and return to the UK by tomorrow."

    Catherine felt a sense of despair. John''s words meant he had fully turned on her, and if she stayed in Hollywood, he would indeed make it difficult for her. As president of one of the seven major studios, blocking an actress from a working-ss background in the UK was child''s y for him.

    Since this was a celebration party for Twister, John wouldn''t go too far, but after saying that, he lost the desire to stay and left the banquet hall after exchanging pleasantries with some acquaintances.

    ...

    "I see that mischievous smile on your face. Are you nning something bad again?" Joanna asked as she handed Eric her te, observing the man''s expression with curiosity.

    Eric exaggeratedly replied, "Of course not, I''m just a simple man who only does good things." Joanna, listening to Eric''s nonsense, was sure he had done something wrong.

    "What are you two talking about?" Virginia chimed in, gently lifting the hem of her gown as she sat beside Eric.

    Joanna pointed at Eric, "He just did something bad."

    Virginia raised an eyebrow, ncing at Joanna and then at Eric, before feigning surprise, "So soon? I''ve only been gone for a little over ten minutes!"

    Joanna appeared momentarily stunned, her cheeks slightly reddening as she yfully pinched Virginia''s arm. "Stop talking nonsense!"

    Virginiaughed lightly, dodging the yful pinch, and after Joanna let her go, she asked, "Eric, what''s going on?"

    "Nothing much, I just said a few extra words," Eric looked around the banquet hall, not spotting Zeta-Jones. He recalled how John Peters had said goodbye to him earlier and shrugged. John not onlycked intelligence but was also rather dense; he hadn''t anticipated that the small jibe would provoke such a quick response.

    Seeing Eric unwilling to borate further, the two women didn''t press him about it. Virginia stood, extending her hand to Joanna, "Let''s not waste our time with this troublemaker. Let''s go dance."

    Eric watched Joanna rise and chuckled, "You two are like sisters; if you dance together, everyone will just be envious of me."

    The celebration invited guests strictly from Hollywood; even if nobody said it, they all understood the nature of Eric''s rtionships with Joanna and Virginia. The two women had been close throughout the event, igniting quite a bit of envy in others regarding Eric''s good

    fortune.

    Virginia shot Eric a nce, "Let''s y for a bit longer. Joanna and I will head back to Beverly Hillster. You can go wherever you want tonight, but don''te disturbing us."

    After saying this, without waiting for Eric''s response, the two women left him with softughter and made their way to the dance floor.

    ...

    "Mr. Schultz, thank you foring today," Eric said as he bid farewell to thest wave of guests by the door, ncing at the servers beginning to clean the hall, feeling relieved. Just as he was about to head home, a hotel server approached him, "Mr. Williams, I think you should take a look at this."

    Eric followed the server to a corner of the banquet hall, where he saw a ck-haired beauty lying drunkenly on a couch. Her dress was disheveled, and she reeked of a mingling scent of alcohol and perfume, creating an oddly enticing aroma.

    Eric sighed awkwardly, intending to instruct a nearby server to arrange a room for Catherine Zeta-Jones, but noticed the server standing beside him staring at the beauty on the couch, swallowing hard and making a clear gulping sound. This deterred him from making further arrangements. It would be tragic for someone who had just been dumped to encounter a

    server harboring impure intentions.

    "You don''t need to worry; I''ll handle this," Eric waved the server off, summoned the hotel manager to give instructions, and then approached to pick up the woman from the couch, leaving the banquet hall. The server responsible for operating the elevator, though curious, stood still with his gaze averted.

    When Eric emerged carrying a woman in his arms, the driver and bodyguard waiting in the car were not surprised; they respectfully opened the car door for him.

    ...

    Catherine Zeta-Jones actually had a high tolerance for alcohol. However, being dumped publicly at the party may have prompted her to drink too much and she drunkenly passed out

    on the couch.

    Yet, as she felt herself being lifted by a man, Catherine was nearly fully awake. Despite still feeling light-headed, she sensed what was happening and felt safe in the strong embrace of

    the man holding her.

    Though she liked to socialize with Hollywood elites, she wasn''t so desperate as to let anyone take her home. Originally, she had intended to wake up and return to her ce, but the sensation of safety in the man''s arms altered her ns. So she decided not to wake up, and after rxing a bit, she quickly fell asleep again, even failing to realize she had curled up on

    the man''sp.

    Time passed, and when the car finally stopped, she was carried out. The cool night air made her momentarily wake from her stupor. Tho the initial Ise had dissipated, she understood now that it was exactly this infuriating man who undermined her rtionship with John Peters with discreet words; she should feel angry at him.

    As she hesitated, the warmth around her grew once more, and soon, she found herselfid on

    arge bed.

    This was herst chance!

    Though her stay in Hollywood had been brief, she was quite familiar with Eric Williams. A

    man so notorious for being a yer would surely have no qualms about taking advantage of

    her.

    What should she do now? Pretend to just wake up?

    What if he tried to force something?

    Or if he did nothing and simply let her leave, what then?

    The woman wrestled with her conflicting thoughts for a few seconds, still hesitating when suddenly she felt a thin nket ced over her. Soon, she heard the soft sound of a door

    closing.

    Finally, she felt safe enough to open her eyes. The room was dark and unfamiliar, yet Catherine Zeta-Jones didn''t sense any fear creeping in. After waiting quietly for a moment and ensuring he had indeed left and wouldn''t return, she gradually closed her eyes again,

    sinking into an endless ck dream.

    ...

    Perhaps it was the strangeness of the environment, or perhaps there was another reason. Despite having rested through the night, her mind remained somewhat foggy, yet she woke

    up early. This was a southern-facing bedroom on the second floor of a vi. Perhaps it was due to negligence, the curtains weren''t pulled, and she could see the dark red dawn outside. Barefoot and wrapped in a nket, she stepped onto the floor and went over to the window to take in the view of the endless, deep sea. Since it was early, the ocean appeared a dark color, its surfaceyered with a hint of orange from the gentle breeze, creating a breathtaking sight. However, she was not in the mood to admire it. cing the nket back onto the bed, she

    adjusted the gown that had slipped from her shoulder, and walked around the room. She quickly went into the bathroom, washed up, and tossed aside the alcohol-soaked gown, finding and wrapping herself in a pink bath towel. In her mind, she couldn''t help but think that this man had a pink bath towel in his guest room...

    As she pondered, she nced around and opened a small storage cab next to the bathroom door, discovering a fresh set of toiletries inside. She took out a toothbrush, brushed her teeth, and leisurely washed her face before finally stepping out of the guest room. She had seen this legendary Liberty City in magazines, but she never imagined she would one day walk out of one of its dreamlike vi rooms. Staring at the second-floor circr corridor,

    she felt an odd sense of unreality.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 475: Chapter 476: Killer Move

    Chapter 475: Chapter 476: Killer Move

    ?

    [Chapter 476: Early Preparation]

    "Filming for Jurassic Park on Kaua''i is expected to take about 10 to 12 weeks. During this time, unless there are any urgent matters, I will only be in touch with Los Angeles by phone. I hope everyone can handle their responsibilities well," Eric casually summarized as he organized the documents in front of him. The room was filled with presidents, vice presidents, and department heads who nodded in agreement.

    After the meeting was adjourned, Eric, as usual, detained several supervisors from Firefly and Disney for a brief discussion.

    "Eric, is there anything else?" After following him to his office, Jeffrey asked.

    "It''s about Columbia," Eric replied, pulling documents from the filing cab and handing them to Jeffrey, Michael Lynn, Katzenberg, and Frank Wells.

    When Columbia was mentioned, Jeffrey and the others quickly understood Eric''s intentions. He wasn''t referring to matters of film coboration with Columbia, but rather the division of Columbia''s distribution channels. After several months of maneuvering, Firefly not only secured a majority of Columbia''s distribution resources in South America, but throughyoffs executed by Peter Guber and other measures, distribution resources from European countries began to flow into Firefly as well.

    Although Columbia could notpletely eliminate its European branch, it was easy enough to cut a portion of it. To disguise their true intentions, Firefly absorbed only about half from thoseid off, while the other half faced the consequences of theiryoffs. epting a pay raise from Firefly and witnessing the plight of those who were genuinely let go, those who were absorbed had noints.

    Nothing is secret forever, and gradually, the Japanese also sensed something was amiss, questioning the Columbia management. However, Peter Guber struck back with a "killer move." This tactic was simple -- resignation. Faced with Sony''s doubts, Peter Guber personally called Akio Morita, indicating that if Sony headquarters did not trust his "reform measures," he could resign from the board.

    To everyone''s surprise, thisme tactic worked. Eric found it rather unbelievable. Typically, only management from extraordinarily sessfulpanies had the guts to y the "resignation threat" card. Peter Guber had brought Columbia significant losses for two years, and if it were Eric, he would rather see Guber go. Yet after receiving Guber''s resignation threat, Sony surprisinglypromised and even reced a senior executive in its US division. "The situation in Europe is almost wrapped up. Recently, I''ve reviewed the data regarding Asia," Eric said as he finished distributing the documents and leaned back against the sofa. "Southeast Asian countries have been implementing increasingly stringent restrictions against the influx of Hong Kong films. However, they have eased entry barriers for Hollywood films, which is fantastic news for us."

    Although this matter was unrted to Sony, Katzenberg still meticulously reviewed the documents before saying, "Eric, Sony has be aware of this issue but has refrained from taking action due to various pressures. However, I think it''s about time. In my view, Columbia''s distribution channels in Southeast Asia aren''t much stronger than ours. Those resources are nearly worthless, and we shouldn''t test the Japanese''s limits."

    "I understand," Eric nodded.

    After discussing for half an hour, they established some execution details, and then everyone called it a day.

    ...

    "Are you going to the premiere of The Mask?" As they stood together in the elevator, Jeffrey asked.

    Eric nodded and smiled, "I can''t skip it. Thedy has been nagging me for days. Otherwise, I''d be in Hawaii right now."

    "I''ve seen a sample of The Mask. What can I say? It''s a bit too chaotic and nonsensical; it''s quite odd," Jeffrey recalled critically.

    "It''s not intended for your age group, Jeffrey," Eric chuckled. "That''s just the style of The Mask. I nned to create a film like this from the start, and the highlight of this movie is Jim Carrey''s performance."

    "So, how much box office do you think it''ll pull in?" Jeffrey couldn''t help but ask the question on his mind.

    Eric considered it, saying, "I think $100 million should be doable. If it weren''t for thepetition from Twister and Batman Returns, it might be higher."

    Jeffrey opened his mouth, hesitating to voice his estimate. He shook his head,ughing, "I just don''t see where you get that confidence. One hundred million is already substantial." As they chatted, Jeffrey declined Eric''s invitation to the premiere of The Mask, leaving in his own car while Eric drove off toward the Chinese Theater where the premiere was being held.

    ...

    At five o''clock, the school bell finally rang, snapping Britney out of her daze as she packed her bag quickly and left the ssroom with the crowd.

    Although she was a child star on Disney Channel, Britney, like several other young actors, still had to attend school. Moreover, toply with the Actors Guild and child protectionws, Disney was responsible for arranging regr tutoring for its young stars. For fun-loving Britney, all of this felt like a torment.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After leaving the school building, just as Britney was about to retrieve her bike to go home, Christina ran toward her from another direction.

    As Christina approached, Britney smiled and asked, "What''s up, Kris?"

    Christina grinned, pulling out two tickets from her uniform pocket. "Tickets to The Mask premiere! Drew gave them to me. Do you want to go?"

    Britney''s smile faded somewhat as she stared at the tickets in Christina''s hand. "Drew gave them to you? Howe I didn''t know?"

    Christina''s smile remained, but seeing Britney''s expression brought a bit of satisfaction. If it weren''t for Drew specifically telling her the tickets were for the two of them, Christina might not have brought it up at all.

    "Are you going or not? If not, I''ll ask other friends," Christina said, showing no intention of exining. Although Drew said the tickets were for the two of them, if Britney didn''t want to go, there was nothing Christina could do about it.

    Seeing the content smirk on Christina''s face, Britney felt an impulse to refuse but thought better of it and replied, "Okay, but I have to call home."

    "Such a hassle," Christina pursed her lips and said. "Hurry up! Also, if we run into Drew, we might snag an invitation to the after-party. You''d better give your mom a heads up; maybe Drew will invite us to stay at her ce tonight."

    Britney''s excitement surged as she thought of the spacious rooms, game rooms, and swimming pools in Beverly Hills, especially whenpared to her small bedroom.

    After finishing her phone call home, just as she approached her bike, Christina grabbed her arm. "You''re not riding your bike, are you?"

    "What else can I do?" Britney blinked.

    "Don''t embarrass yourself;e with me," Christina urged, leading Britney out through a side entrance. She pointed to a nearby taxi. "Of course, we''re getting a ride. This time, it''s on

    me."

    Britney bit her lip in discontent at Christina''s ever-smug demeanor, saying, "We''ll split it." "Suit yourself," Christina replied as she approached the waiting driver, greeted him, and climbed into the front seat.

    Britney pouted but reluctantly got into the backseat.

    ...

    The two girls got out of the taxi and found themselves in front of the Chinese Theater, where

    a long red carpet stretched out, and stars donned in elegant attire posed for photographers along the walkway. Britney looked at a star in a stunning white dress on the carpet and said enviously, "So beautiful."

    "Those are just the little stars Firefly hired for the pre-show; the big names are further back," Christina said, sporting a know-it-all attitude.

    Not wanting to be dismissed by Christina, Britney quickly masked her envious expression, nced around, and asked in a hushed tone, "Hey, do you think we''ll see... Mr. Williams

    tonight?"

    "Who knows?" Christina shook her head, standing on her toes to see further down the carpet. "But the chances of Mr. Williams attending the premiere are quite high. He''s associated with

    Drew and..."

    At this point, Christina abruptly fell silent. She didn''t want to share the secret she had picked up on. However, Britney didn''t press her for more, continuing instead, "Have you seen Twister? It''s amazing! I wish I could see it a few more times, but I don''t have enough pocket

    money."

    "If we could just go to Liberty City again, we''d be able to watch it in that private screening room as many times as we wanted," Christina responded.

    "Let''s ask Drew to take us again, okay?" Britney said, obliviously.

    Christina shot an eye of mild disdain at the silly girl beside her but didn''t answer. Deep down, she was hopeful, although she smartly refrained from asking Drew herself. In her mind, Drew was miles ahead of the goofy girl next to her; she could hardly predict what Drew was thinking, while even a quick nce at Britney''s face could reveal her next move.

    The two girls didn''t rush into the screening hall for the premiere but stood by the red carpet

    like other fans, eagerly counting "stars."

    "Look! Mr. Williams and Drew!" As the premiere time approached, Britney pointed out the two figures emerging from a limousine at the end of the red carpet.

    When Drew linked arms with Eric and walked slowly toward them, Britney began waving enthusiastically, trying to get their attention.

    Eric waved to the crowd and easily spotted the two little girls, even winking at them.

    The Mask was rated PG-13, which meant that parents were advised to apany children. Thus, it was no surprise that the two girls were present at the premiere.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 477: Chapter 478: They Would Get Used to It

    Chapter 477: Chapter 478: They Would Get Used to It

    ?

    [Chapter 478: They Would Get Used to It]

    The Mask opened with over $37 million in its first week, far exceeding its production budget of less than $30 million, and it was virtually certain to gross over $100 million overall.

    In contrast, MGM had released only one movie during the summer season, which barely made $10 million at the box office. Clearly, the sess of The Mask would attract many eyes and envious nces. After all, even withoutparing to the now-defunct state of MGM, The Mask''s summer box office performance in 1992 was certainly better than that of Paramount, Universal, and Fox.

    Paramount''s summer blockbuster was Harrison Ford''s action film Patriot Games, but it only managed to gross just over $80 million. Universal and Fox faced simr difficulties, with none of the three major studios having a film that crossed the $100 million mark that summer. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures, known for its deep pockets, had recruited Tom Cruise for the high- budget Running Out of Time: Prequel. However, for various reasons, that film also stalled at around $80 million, barely covering its production budget. The failures in the North American box office often set off a chain reaction; because of Running Out of Time: Prequel''sck of sess, its overseas box office and anciry rights sales faced significant setbacks, costing Sony an enormous loss.

    One week after The Mask hit theaters, Disney''s Sister Act conveniently closed the chapter on the summer box office by hitting over 2,100 theaters in North America. The release of thisedy signified the end of the summer blockbuster season; thereafter, the films that followed were mostly those that the studios didn''t prioritize but merely aimed to gamble on at the tail end of the summer. The chances of any dark horse emerging from those releases were slim.

    Without a doubt, Twister became the biggest winner of the entire summer. With expected total box office earnings around $300 million,bined with the sess of The Mask, Firefly Films'' summer box office total easily exceeded $400 million. If you factored in several other Disney releases, by tallying the current annual box office total in North America, Firefly Films was on track to eclipse 10% of that total just from the summer season. If Firefly were a publicly tradedpany, its stock price would have likely skyrocketed by now.

    ...

    While North American entertainment media buzzed with excitement, Eric had already left Los Angeles. After attending the premiere of The Mask, he swiftly flew off to the Hawaiian Inds. Thanks to Jerry Bruckheimer''s impressive pre-production efforts, by the time Eric arrived in Hawaii, sets like Dr. Hammond''s research facility, the gates of Jurassic Park, and the electric fencing designed to keep out dinosaurs were allpleted. Meanwhile, two other smaller crews were shooting scenes involving amber mining and dinosaur excavations in the Dominican Republic and California''s Red Rock Canyon National Park.

    "Eric, this is the spot," Jerry Bruckheimer pointed to a deep forest corridor. "Kaua''i doesn''t have the kind of terrain you need, but this condition absolutely qualifies. We just need to take a day to transport the necessary equipment for filming."

    At this moment, they were discussing the scene of the T-Rex chasing a Jeep. Since Kaua''icked convenient geography, Jerry found an appropriate location on neighboring Oahu.

    "If we decide to go with this ce, we''ve definitely got to make some modifications to the surrounding environment, or it just won''t work. Would the state of Hawaii agree?" Eric asked, eyeing the pristine forest.

    "I thought of that already; they said it would be fine," Jerry responded with a confident look. Eric smiled and didn''t press the issue further. They both hopped into a Jeep, and after the driver started the engine, Eric stretched out. Although he had just arrived in Hawaii the day before, today, he had already explored all the filming locations with Jerry, with some preliminary shooting nned for the following day.

    Filming arge-scale movie consumed immense manpower and resources. Therefore, Eric couldn''t afford to take too much time to rest. With a production team of hundreds, the daily costs added up quickly, pushing Eric to jump into work as soon as possible. While he could easily afford to waste time given his wealth, doing so would disqualify him from being apetent director and producer.

    ...

    Once the Jeep arrived at the harbor on Oahu, the two boarded a small yacht back to Kaua''i. By this time, it waste evening, and after a day''s work, they rxed. Gazing back at the ind that appeared extraordinarily beautiful under the sunset, Jerry chuckled, "Eric, maybe you should try buying a small ind."

    "Do you have a private ind?" Eric asked curiously. The trend of purchasing private inds was gaining momentum, but he wasn''t particrly interested in it.

    Jerry shook his head. "Not yet, though I asionally consider it."

    Having been a renowned producer for over a decade now, Jerry''s wealth wasparable to top-tier Hollywood stars, making the financial aspect of acquiring a private ind a non- issue for him.

    "I honestly think buying an ind isn''t worth it. If it''s too close to the maind, you can''t guarantee your privacy. If it''s too far out, living on an isted ind bes a huge infrastructure issue. Unless you budget for it, you won''t have afortable life out there." Upon hearing Eric''s words, Jerry seemed to contemte.

    Eric continued, "If it were me, I''d rather buy a mountain instead. Then I could bring friends to the foot of a towering peak and point up to the clouds: ''See, that mountain is mine.""

    Jerry imagined the scene Eric described and couldn''t help butugh.

    ...

    As the yacht drifted further from Oahu, Jerry nced at a group of assistants on the deck and nodded toward Eric, leading them into the cabin.

    "Eric, judging by the current box office trends of a few films, Firefly Films should be able to exceed $500 million at this summer box office, right?"

    Eric knew Jerry wouldn''t bring this up for no reason. He nodded silently and took a seat next to him by a window.

    "I''ve seen the release schedule for Firefly and Disney films set for year-end. Firefly will still drop Speed, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and the joint production with Sony, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Disney is alsounching another animated film, which typically performs well. Therefore, the year-end box office figures shouldn''tg far behind those of the summer blockbuster season. Plus, with the umted box office from mid-range productions, Firefly''s box office share could easily exceed 30%, surpassing Warner."

    Eric had caught on to some hints in Jerry''s words andughed, "So, did someone ask you to ry a message?"

    Jerry nodded, "Martin Davis from Paramount. You know I''ve been working with Paramount for a while."

    "What does he want?" Eric asked bluntly.

    Jerry chuckled, "If you''re agreeable, Mr. Davis will make arrangements to meet you personally. What you two wish to discuss isn''t something I need to be concerned about."

    "Okay, I''ll make time to give Mr. Davis a call," Eric replied with a nod.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Jerry''s meaning couldn''t have been clearer. Given Firefly''s outstanding performance, it would undoubtedly provoke reactions from rival studios. Martin Davis''s reaching out through Jerry was clearly a bid for coboration with Firefly. After all, in situations where a win-win is possible, few would choose hostility.

    "Eric, personally, I think you could consider splitting Pixar Animation Studio and Digital Domain from the Firefly system, forming two separatepanies."

    Eric shook his head with a smile. "Jerry, it took me so long to bring Firefly together as a cohesive entity; how could I just disband it?"

    Jerry appeared momentarily taken aback, seeming to understand Eric''s point while also feeling something was slightly off.

    Eric, however, didn''t notice Jerry''s expression and turned his gaze to the ocean beyond the window, calmly stating, "Since the 1930s, Hollywood has grown ustomed to the structures of the ''Big Six,'' ''Big Seven,'' or ''Big Eight,'' but that doesn''t mean this should be Hollywood''s norm. In America, General Motors can dominate, Bell can dominate, Standard Oil can dominate, even Walmart, just thirty years old, can dominate; if that''s the case, why can''t Hollywood have a single entity at the top?"

    Hearing this, Jerry experienced a subtle sense of fracture, having been in Hollywood since the early ''70s. Nearly twenty yearster, he''d unknowingly be ustomed to the existence of several key yers in the industry. Yet Eric''s words made Jerry realize this rule didn''t have

    to be unbreakable.

    "Eric, why has Hollywood maintained this multistage structure for so long?" Jerry instinctively asked.

    After a moment of thought, Eric replied, "It''s probably because of ups and downs in fortune. Movies are different from other industries. Take Walmart, for example. They established a distribution system that outpacedpetitors, dominating the U.S. market in just thirty years. Others trying to replicate their model - even perfectly - wouldn''t achieve Walmart''s scale since Walmart already dominates the market. But the film industry is different; the strength of a movie studio is ultimately measured by box office receipts, which are the most vtile. It''s possible for a studio to produce a slew of blockbusters in a short period, like Barry Diller during his time at Paramount, but for a variety of reasons, that situation can''tst. Meanwhile, other studios also don''t rest, asionally crafting hits, creating a back- and-forth that makes achieving a monopoly nearly impossible."

    Having said this, Eric smiled with confidence, "But at Firefly, this situation will continue indefinitely. So, one day, I''ll make them get used to it."

    Jerry chuckled softly but didn''t echo Eric''s sentiment. Since other studios faced fluctuations,

    how could Firefly remain unaffected?

    ...

    Eric didn''t put too much stock in the message from Martin Davis ryed through Jerry Bruckheimer. Firefly had reached a level of stability that couldn''t be toppled by shady tactics; to defeat a studio, it had to be done with films.

    And if it came down to films, Eric was confident no studio in Hollywood could match that

    strength.

    Nevertheless, he didn''t ignore Martin Davis''s message. That evening, Eric ced a call to Martin Davis in Los Angeles, arranging for them to discuss things when they had free time, and he would gauge Paramount''s sincerity about potential coboration.

    Eric knew that with MGM being marginalized, Disney being swallowed up by Firefly, and Universal and Columbia both sold to Japanese conglomerates, the only external option for breaking into Hollywood was through acquiring Paramount.

    From his memories of the past and gathered information, after Vi''s Sumner Redstone lost the battle for Disney against Eric, he immediately shifted his attention to Paramount. Barry Diller left Fox, started his own venture, and soon began exploring how to re-enter Hollywood, uniting severalpanies to test the waters with Paramount''s shareholders. Although Paramount''s performance in recent years hadn''t been ster, its status as a major studio still held weight. If they could secure quality film projects, Paramount could potentially rebound at any time; hence Martin Davis had little desire to sell. Unfortunately for Martin, Paramount was a publicly tradedpany. While he was the primary shareholder, if other studios resorted to hostile acquisition tactics, amidst subpar performance, other shareholders might willingly ept a high buyout offer in favor of

    cashing out.

    Presumably, this was why Martin Davis would contact Eric. During the Japanese acquisitions of Columbia and Universal, both studios had short-term coborations with Firefly, which resulted in strong receipts, even if both studios ultimately sold and the Japanese paid far

    more.

    Martin Davis was quite straightforward with his intentions; he simply wanted to boost Paramount''s performance to deter other shareholders from selling thepany. With Eastern Europe''s film market gradually opening up and North America''s annual box office totals consistently growing, it was understandable that Martin had no desire to sell

    Paramount.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 479: Chapter 480: Tell Him What to Do

    Chapter 479: Chapter 480: Tell Him What to Do

    ?

    [Chapter 480: Tell Him What to Do]

    As they spoke, the jeep slowly rolled into the parking lot of the hotel where the cast of Jurassic Park was staying. Eric and Allen got out and walked towards the hotel building. Allen continued, "So, should we keep investigating the person behind this?"

    Although Eric suspected the chances of finding them were slim, doing nothing would make them seem like easy targets. So, upon hearing Allen''s words, Eric nodded and said, "Arrange for a private investigator to look into it slowly, but don''t spend too much effort or keep it too secret. It''s better if people know we''re on the case."

    The hotel had been taken over by the Jurassic Park crew. As Eric and Allen walked, they greeted familiar faces they encountered along the way.

    When they reached the stairs leading up, Eric said to Allen, "I''m going to take a shower. Let''s continue our talk at dinner; you can go ahead to the restaurant and wait for me."

    Upon hearing this, Allen smiled knowingly and handed Eric a document to sign, saying, "You might have to eat in your room. Just hand this over to me whenever you''re done; I''ll send it to Los Angeles."

    Eric immediately understood Allen''s implication and took the folder, asking, "Who came? I wasn''t told anything."

    Allen smiled and shrugged, "Well, I was specifically instructed not to reveal. I think you should just go see for yourself."

    Eric didn''t press further, turning swiftly to head up the stairs, taking just a few steps to reach his room door.

    ...

    Sitting on the living room couch was Joanna Pac, who looked startled by the sudden opening of the door, raising her head. The faint panic on her face didn''t dissipate upon seeing Eric. She quickly closed the magazine resting on herp and put it aside, then forced a calm smile, saying, "Eric, you''re back.''

    Eric walked over to her with a smile, ready to sit down. He noticed the magazine Joanna had just closed, which featured a woman holding a baby, but didn''t think much of it, assuming she was just looking for a casual read. He tossed the magazine beneath the coffee table and sat beside her, pulling her into an embrace and kissing her, asking, "Joan, why didn''t you give me a heads-up that you wereing? I could havee to pick you up."

    Seeing that Eric hadn''t noticed the magazine at all, Joanna feltpletely rxed and nestled into him, softly replying, "Vicky told me not to mention it. She wanted to surprise you."

    "Vicky''s here too? Where is she?" Eric asked, looking around. The room was so small that if Virginia were there, he would have seen her. He then nced towards the bedroom door. Joanna confirmed Eric''s thoughts, pointing to the bedroom. "She had a long flight and is still sleeping. I just woke up not long ago. It''s really exhausting being on a ne for so long."

    Eric nced at his watch. It was already 6:30 PM in Hawaii, but during summer, it didn''t get dark until 7 or 8, so there was no rush for dinner. He casually chatted with Joanna, asking, "How have things been? Are you feeling too tired?"

    After the tremendous sess of Twister in North America, it had quickly reached Europe. Joanna, as the leadingdy, had been hopping from one European country to another for promotional events.

    Joanna shook her head and smiled lightly, saying, "Not at all! Charlie has arranged my schedule perfectly, and honestly, I''d rather be busy than not have anything to do at all. It''s much better than waking up and not knowing what to do."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric remembered the ICM agent named Charlie Walker who had been assigned to Joanna, and since he was the one who personallymunicated this with ICM, he was assured that the agent wouldn''t be mediocre.

    "The major box office countries in Europe have all released it already. Japan has a little over a month to go. What are you nning to do next?" Eric inquired.

    Despite Twister being known for its realistic tornado effects, it was still projected to easily push the leads into the ranks of A-list stars with its estimated global box office total surpassing $600 million, leading Eric to guess that Joanna would be quite busy during this time.

    "Charlie suggested that I take advantage of the momentum from Twister and ept a fewmercial films while aiming for an art film in a few years to go for an Oscar," Joanna replied, looking at Eric. "What do you think, Eric?"

    Eric casually leaned back on the couch. While some women aged faster, some women seemed to be blessed by God, remaining immune to the ravages of time, and Joanna was clearly one of them. Although she looked like she was in her mid-twenties, she was 35 years old. Charlie Walker must have considered Joanna''s age when giving such advice.

    "That sounds perfectly fine. His suggestion may seem opportunistic, but it could definitely elevate your status in Hollywood. Hollywood stars must still rely on box office numbers," Eric remarked. "I''ll keep an eye out for suitable films for you."

    As they lounged on the couch, Joanna sensed that Eric''s rough hands felt even coarser, and pulling his hand over, she examined it, noticing several thick calluses on his palm. She asked, "How did this happen? You''re a director, you shouldn''t be doing the hard work yourself, right?"

    "Filming is physicalbor; this job is much moreplicated than when we shot Twister," Eric replied with a casualugh, capturing Joanna''s small hand. "I''m a man, after all. I can''t just keep my hands pretty like you women do."

    They chatted idly, and before they knew it, it had gone dark outside. Eric called room service to order dinner, ncing at the still-closed bedroom door before rising to say, "I''ll check on Vicky. She still hasn''t woken up?"

    ...

    The bedroom curtains were drawn tightly, making the room dark. Eric didn''t turn on the lights, quietly walking over and pulling a chair to sit down. The petite figure of the womany side on, peacefully asleep, her face buried in a cascade of golden-brown hair. Thanks to the air conditioning, the room was pleasantly cool, and Virginia was covered with a nket. After watching her for a moment, he finally reached out to pat her shoulder. "Vicky, it''s time to wake up."

    Virginia, possibly having slept enough, opened her eyes without much drowsiness smiled at Eric. Stretching her arms wide, she asked, "What time is it? You''re just getting back?"

    "I already wrapped up work. I saw you were sleeping, so I didn''t wake you," Eric exined, leaning his body towards the bed, and one hand unceremoniously reached into Virginia''s chest and grabbed a piece of soft flesh.

    Virginia smiled coquettishly and let Eric rub her gently. Perhaps it was because the man''s palms were a little rough, Virginia responded quickly, and she let out a few soft moans with her red lips slightly opened.

    Just when the two were feeling a little emotional, a voice from the living room called out, announcing the arrival of their dinner. Reluctantly, Eric released his hold, bending down to kiss Virginia''s face. "Let''s eat first; we have plenty of time tonight."

    Virginia murmured in response, extending her hand. "I don''t have the strength to get up. Pull

    me up."

    Eric listened carefully, confirming that Joanna had sent the waiter away before he swiftly pulled the petite woman up, teasingly asking, "Is it because you''re hungry or for another

    reason?"

    ...

    While the initial awkwardness between the three had subsided, dinner was consumed fast. Perhaps due to some special instructions, normally Eric was interrupted by a myriad of things even at midnight. Yet tonight was unusually peaceful. Aside from the waiter delivering dinner, there were no knocks at the door until they finished eating.

    "Don''t barge in, okay? There''s a surprise after you take a shower," Virginia warned Eric once more while sitting there going over documents, before she and Joanna headed into the

    bathroom.

    Locking the bathroom door, Virginia showed little response, but Joanna looked like a girl about to get up to no good. "Vicky, is this really okay?"

    Though Virginia felt a bit uneasy, having finally made up her mind, she couldn''t back out now: "Why are you worrying so much? I''m the one wanting a baby, not you."

    Joanna followed Virginia to the bathtub, watching her turn on the faucet to fill the tub. "I just think...it doesn''t seem right not to tell Eric."

    "Of course I''ll tell him. I''m counting on him to support the baby," Virginia said matter-of- factly. Amid the sound of running water, she emptied some prepared items from her bag onto the sink, producing a small sewing needle and pulling out a condom, and began to poke

    away...

    "Hey, that''s way too obvious; he''ll pick up on it," Joanna pointed to the condom that was quickly being punctured multiple times.

    Virginia acknowledged with a sound, lifting it to the light and inspecting it before nodding with satisfaction. She then took out another one and repeated the process while casting a nce at Joanna. Perhaps to suppress her own anxiety or perhaps to convince herself onest time, she muttered, "I''ve been preparing for months -- medical checkups, body adjustments, and it''s just thisst step; don''t mess it up for me."

    "But I just feel..." Joanna didn''t know how to respond, waving her hands aimlessly. Virginia continued, "My brother has been pushing me to get married again. You know I''m not nning on it. In Hollywood, even if you get married, not many couplesst long. It''s better to be single. A few years ago, I was thinking about adopting a child," she said, lifting her left hand, showcasing a beautifully patterned rose gold ring under the light, "but after he gave me this, I dropped the idea of adoption. Why adopt when I can have my own? I checked with the doctor -- at my age, it''s just right to have a child now. Waiting a few more years would be

    toote."

    Joanna clearly still had reservations, looking at Virginia''s resolute expression as she softly suggested, "You should talk to Eric about it."

    Virginia scoffed, "That little bastard. What would I discuss with him? You have to understand,

    he''s only 22. Don''t be fooled by his mature looks; he''s still just a kid inside. Guys like that tend to find kids annoying and would probably say to wait a few more years. Ha, if I waited a few more years, I''d be old! Having another baby would be risky; if I lose this face and have no kid, he''ll dump me in a heartbeat."

    Joanna weakly defended Eric, saying, "I don''t think Eric is like that."

    "Men are unreliable. Having a kid would give me security. Once I have a child, he''ll be obligated to take care of me. Besides, money means nothing to him if he can afford it. I''ve made up my mind. If you mess this up for me, watch out -- I''ll dunk you in the bathtub," Virginia warned, mimicking a throat-slicing gesture toward Joanna.

    Joanna recoiled slightly as she watched Virginia hurriedly clean up the sink and pack things into her bag, then pulled her toward the bathtub. "Alright, Joan; let''s take a shower."

    ...

    Eric felt that it was troublesome for women to take a shower. He had finished sorting through the documents Allen left him. The two women still hadn''te out, so he walked to the bathroom door and tapped lightly, smiling as he asked, "Hey, you guys aren''t drowning in there, are you? Do you need me to perform CPR?"

    "Don''t barge in! I''m warning you!" Virginia''s voice came from the bathroom, tinged with a

    hint of panic.

    "Okay, but it shouldn''t take this long to take a shower, right?" Eric grumbled, turning off the lights in the bedroom, took off his clothes and fell on the big bed.

    After a while, in the dim lighting in from the window, Eric saw two womening out of

    the bathroom one after another. When they came to the bed, Eric grabbed Virginia, who was walking in front, and pressed her under him skillfully. Following a few rustling sounds, a woman''s soft moan was heard.

    Joanna, who was still standing nkly beside the bed, raised her hand to look at the small box

    in her hand and blinked quickly, as if... something was wrong, was there any step she missed?

    The woman was still thinking when a big hand reached out and pulled her onto the bed.

    The small box in her hand also fell to the ground.

    "Come on, babies, let me see the deep sisterly love between you," Eric''s wicked voice rang

    out in the darkness.

    Joanna felt herself being ced on Virginia''s soft body, and then a big, somewhat rough hand pressed on her smooth back. The two women''s faces were pressed together. Hearing Eric''s words, Virginia below smiled and opened her mouth, biting Joanna''s red lips.

    ...

    Morning sunlight poured through the curtain gaps into the bedroom. Joanna, feeling a bit

    sore and weak, opened her eyes to see another face beside her, slightly parted lips with the

    person sound asleep.

    Seeing the sunlight streaming through the window, Joanna realized it was quitete; Eric was likely already at work. Sitting up, she exhaled deeply, ncing over at Virginia, thinking it was all this witch''s fault that she found herself suffering.

    However, recalling the events ofst night, Joanna suddenly realized he seemed to have... never worn a condom and she didn''t take precautions herself...

    Turning her head to the floor, she saw the small box containing the recently punctured

    condoms lying intact. Thinking of the possibility that she might be pregnant, her mood shifted,plex feelings flooding in as she recalled Virginia''s words from the previous night; after all, she was five years older than Virginia.

    Since her twenties, Joanna had lived a somewhat tumultuous life. She had finally made her

    way to America but found that her career didn''t progress as hoped. She''d wasted so many

    years failing to stabilize her life. If she hadn''t met Eric, she was uncertain when her life would have settled.

    Thinking about Virginia''s words from the previous night, Joanna couldn''t help but feel a hint

    of anticipation regarding having a child.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 481: Chapter 482: Internal Strife

    Chapter 481: Chapter 482: Internal Strife

    ?

    [Chapter 482: Internal Strife]

    Strictly speaking, Hook was not amercial failure, actually managing to turn a slight profit. However, this sess came at the expense of Steven Spielberg''s personal reputation, and the film''s earnings fell far short of the industry''s initial projection of $200 million.

    Therefore, Hook could be considered a significant failure.

    Martin Davis was all too aware of the situation, but he didn''t want Eric to steer the conversation away from Hook: "Eric, when Sony and Panasonic acquired Columbia and Universal, didn''t you cooperate with them before? In that case, what''s the problem with working with Paramount? After all, it would be a win-win situation."

    Eric smiled slightly, looking at Martin Davis. "Martin, you have to understand that the situation now is quite different from a few years ago."

    Back when they coborated with Columbia and Universal, Firefly was still rtively small, relying on the distribution channels of the two major filmpanies to bolster its strength. Now, however, things had changedpletely. Firefly''s strength and status had be equivalent to the other six major studios. Without sufficient benefits to justify it, partnering with Paramount solely based on some old grudges with Vi would simply mean aiding one''spetitor.

    Martin Davis understood that too, but he had already considered the relevant issues and quickly replied, "Eric, do you remember the movie Hot Shots! that you coborated with Fox?"

    Eric nodded slowly, sensing what Martin Davis was hinting at.

    "Paramount also has some film projects in storage. We could replicate the coboration model from Hot Shots!; you just need to select a project to invest in, and we''ll let Paramount handle the rest. What do you think?"

    Most Hollywood films typically had a long project incubation period, which usually began when a book or script was chosen by a producer until the film officially started shooting. During this time, the project often went through prolonged stages of script revision, finding investors, and selecting directors and actors. Over 90% of projects could stall during these incubation phases, and less than 10% would eventually secure filming. After all,pared to investments that ran in the tens of millions, a story merely existing on paper wasn''t worth much.

    The project reserves that Martin Davis mentioned referred to film projects still in this incubation phase.

    Upon hearing the suggestion, Eric''s expression shifted slightly. After considering for a moment, he nodded, saying, "That could be worth considering. But Martin, you know the situation regarding a sequel to Hot Shots!. If we were to coborate, I could never agree to thest set of terms."

    "Of course, everything is negotiable," Martin Davis said with a broad smile. "Eric, I have the materials prepared already; I''ll have someone send them over shortly."

    "One more thing. If nothing satisfactoryes up..." Eric shrugged toward Martin Davis with an expression that said you know what I mean. He was just curious about Paramount''s rights library, but the rights to some of Paramount''s most sessful films in the ''90s like Forrest Gump and the Mission: Impossible series were already with Flower Films, so Eric didn''t have high hopes for Paramount''s rights library.

    After finishing dinner, Eric excused himself from Martin Davis and left the restaurant, as the crew would have a meetingter that night.

    ...

    The next morning, shortly after Eric woke up, there was an urgent knock at his door.

    "Eric, take a look at this," Allen said as he entered the room, immediately handing Eric the document he was holding.

    Eric took it and nced down; it was a copy of a newspaper faxed from Los Angeles.

    "Martin Davis met with Williams in Hawaii; there are significant cooperative endeavors suspected."

    Below the bold headline were photos of Martin Davis on the set of Jurassic Park, as well as a picture of him leaving in a car with Eric.

    Allen followed Eric into the room, closing the door behind him before speaking again. "Yesterday outside the set, I encountered a photographer and thought he was just another paparazzo, so I didn''t pay much attention. It seems, however, that it was all arranged by Martin Davis. In New York, this morning after the stock market opened, Paramount Communications saw a short-term price increase of 1.2 percent sparked by this news. I''ve already received many inquiries about it. Mr. Hansen even called me at 4 AM about it." Allen handed Eric a memo. "There''s the call log."

    Eric took the memo and nced through the list of contacts; it included several high executives from the Fireflywork and a longer list of others. Eric looked at his watch; it was just 6 AM in Hawaii, which was three hours behind Los Angeles, meaning it was only just starting work hours over there. These people sure were quick to react. Luckily, Eric hadn''t disclosed his room number to many; those who knew understood his circumstances and didn''t bother him at dawn but instead went to Allen. Otherwise, he would have surely been woken up.

    Just as he was about to call Jeffrey and exin the situation, the phone in his room began to ring.

    "Hello, this is Eric Williams... Jeffrey, good morning. I was just about to call you..."

    After briefly exining the situation, Eric hung up and handed the memo to Allen. "Things are fine on this end. Can you help me screen calls from everyone else? Just say Martin Davis happened to be on vacation in Hawaii and we ran into each other."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Allen nodded but couldn''t help asking, "Eric, are we really going to coborate with Paramount?"

    "What do you mean?" Eric replied with a question instead of an immediate answer.

    Allen had just heard Eric''s exnation to Jeffrey and thought for a moment before saying, "I believe coborating now might not be a good choice. Firefly is entirely at par with the other six major studios now, and the pie each year is only so big. Even if it''s a cooperative model like with Hot Shots!, it would certainly increasepetition for us."

    "You''re absolutely right. But don''t worry, Allen, this situation hasn''t developed at all yet, and if we do end up coborating, it will certainly only be under conditions that guarantee sufficient benefits for Firefly."

    Allen raised the fax in hand. "Then what about this?"

    "Just pretend it doesn''t exist. Martin Davis is the one promoting this, and it doesn''t pose any harm to us; it should be those in the positions of Summer Redstone or Barry Diller that need to get worried," Eric replied,ughing slightly. "So maybe it could even bring in some unexpected gains. Regardless, we won''t lose out."

    ...

    "Mr. Malone," as a neatly dressed, meticulous middle-aged man walked by, Barry Diller''s assistant stood up to greet him outside the CEO office of QVC.

    John Malone acknowledged with a nod and knocked a few times on the door before stepping inside. The assistant opened his mouth but hesitated to stop the head honcho of the parentpany, Tele-Communications Inc..

    "Barry, have you gotten in touch with Eric Williams yet?"

    Barry Diller, who had been reading documents behind his desk, nced at John Malone and said, "Eric''s assistant just returned my call. He said Martin Davis is just in Hawaii for a vacation and they ran into each other."

    "Ran into each other? Come on, that''s too coincidental," John Malone scoffed, suddenly remembering Barry''s earlier words. "So you haven''t directly contacted Williams?"

    "No, my rtionship with him isn''t at the level where he would call me directly," Barry replied nonchntly.

    John Malone detected traces of boredom in Barry''s tone and couldn''t help but say, "Barry, you should be more upbeat about this. The acquisition proposal for Paramount was brought up by you personally, and this is just a small setback."

    "Just a small setback? Really?" Barry Diller shot him a pointed look. "You''ve made at least four trips to Los Angeles in the past few months. I suspect Martin Davis has probably already received the acquisition n I drafted. John, tell me if I''m right."

    By the end, there was an edge of suppressed anger in Barry''s tone. He feared neither enemies nor setbacks; he only felt betrayed by his allies. Barry had faced several roadblocks in probing into Paramount over thest few months, with the impression that they had preemptively taken precautions against his methods.

    Realizing the issue, Barry promptly conducted a relevant investigation and easily uncovered the truth. Although Tele-Communications Inc., as one of the parentpanies, had authorized QVC''s acquisition of Paramount, John Malone had started thinking about monopolizing the acquisition for himself. He showed no intention of hiding this ambition, visiting Martin Davis''s office multiple times.

    Thus, Barry Diller could piece together the timeline easily, figuring out everyone who had knowledge of his acquisition n. The only ones who knew were Comcast''s CEO Brian Roberts and the head of Tele-Communications, John Malone, along with Barry''s own team. Barry was confident his team wouldn''t leak any information, and John Malone was just being too

    obvious.

    As John Malone heard Barry Diller''s blunt usation, he shook his head with an expression of calm denial. "Barry, I think you''ve misunderstood. My visits to Martin Davis were also about

    the acquisition." "About Tele-Communications acquiring Paramount, not QVC, right?" Feeling increasingly irked by Barry''s relentless questioning, John Malone stated inly, "What if that''s true? Barry, I also gave you a chance, but there has been no progress from you these past months, has there?"

    Barry Diller nearlyughed out loud at John Malone''s clever words. If it weren''t for Malone''s betrayal, leaking details of his acquisition n, Barry felt confident that QVC could at least secure a percentage of Paramount''s shares on the secondary market to reach boardroom

    status.

    Though John Malone always presented himself as a fastidious gentleman, Barry Diller knew better; this was merely a facade, and the essence of who he was had already been revealed by his desperate words.

    Acquiring Paramount and returning to the office he''d left long ago as the owner was a long- held dream for Barry Diller, and he didn''t possess that capital himself; he could only rely on funds from Tele-Communications and Comcast.

    The two men stared at each other across the desk for a moment, and Barry Diller finally sighed internally,promising first. "John, even if Paramount coborates with Firefly, it doesn''t change much. While Eric Williams might be young, he is definitely not someone who would allow himself to suffer loss. Their coboration would at most just cost us a bit more. Our true enemies are Martin Davis and Summer Redstone. Based on my understanding of Davis, he doesn''t want to sell Paramount at all. So even if you spent a year in his office, the situation wouldn''t change. The only way to take Paramount would be through a forced acquisition. In this respect, Summer Redstone''s style is much more hardline; we can see that from Vi''s acquisition attempts in the ''80s andst year''s Disney acquisition. Summer Redstone is someone who ces all his chips on the table."

    As he spoke, Barry Diller paused, looking at John Malone with a slightly disappointed expression. "Summer Redstone is currently trying to leverage the financing he prepared forst year''s Disney acquisition to secure control of the video rental giant Blockbuster. If he seeds, with Blockbuster''s robust cash flow, we will have no advantage in a bidding war. Meanwhile, Martin Davis is also reaching out to Williams for self-preservation. They''re all striving for their goals, and what are we doing?" Barry eximed, hammering the table with a loud bang. "We''re busy fighting among ourselves!"

    "Mr. Diller, is everything okay?" Hearing the thud from the office, Barry Diller''s assistant,

    worried that the two were about toe to blows, slightly pushed open the door to check.

    Before Barry could say anything, John Malone turned with a scowl to the assistant, barking, "Get out! Who let you in?"

    The assistant shrank back, ncing at Barry Diller. After receiving a nod from him, he

    wordlessly melted back out.

    The office fell silent again as John Malone silently pulled out two cigars, offering one to Barry.

    The two men lit their cigars and took a long drag simultaneously.

    "Brian Roberts doesn''t seem very enthusiastic about acquiring Paramount; it''s only because

    of you that they agreed to this acquisition n. Tele-Communications doesn''t want Comcast to take advantage of this ride, so I don''t think I did anything wrong. Besides, even if Tele- Communications were to acquire Paramount on our own, I personally would be very willing for you to take the helm."

    "I''ve long made it clear to many that I won''t sign another employment contract," Barry Diller

    replied steadily through the swirling smoke. He held shares in QVC and held control over QVC based on the initial agreements, with the aim of acquiring Paramount on QVC''s behalf -- he was the owner. But if parentpany Tele-Communications Inc. moved to acquire

    Paramount, what rtion did that have to him?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 483: Chapter 484: Disappointment

    Chapter 483: Chapter 484: Disappointment

    ?

    [Chapter 484: Disappointment]

    Thinking about this possibility, and considering Paramount Pictures'' precarious situation, Martin Davis could no longer suppress his anger. He mmed his utensils on the table and used, "Eric, I wasted over a week on Kaua''i, and you can''t just throw me a half-hearted answer like this."

    Eric looked surprised at first, then slowly smiled coldly and replied, "Martin, you seem to be mistaken about something. I''m not your subordinate, so please don''t speak to me like that. Moreover, I never promised you anything from the start."

    "You..." Martin Davis red at Eric, about to say something, but suddenly remembered the current situation. "Alright, Eric, what exactly do you want?"

    Eric shook his head gently. "It''s not about what I want; it''s about what you want, Martin. You want to hold on to Paramount, but the fact is that other shareholders are looking to cash out because of the constant decline in thepany''s performance over the past few years. To dissuade them from selling, Paramount urgently needs good news that boosts people''s confidence in thepany''s future, not just one or two film coborations."

    "Good news?"

    "Yes, for example, Firefly Films investing in Paramount," Eric stated openly without hiding his intention.

    This left Martin Davis in silence. Given Firefly''s outstanding performance in the film industry, he recognized that this proposal would indeed be a significant help for Paramount''s current situation. However, on the other hand, he felt a sense of territory being invaded by an outsider.

    After a moment of consideration, Martin tentatively said, "Eric, if it''s a mutual share exchange forming a partnership between Firefly and Paramount, then I could agree."

    "Sorry, Martin, Firefly has no ns to bring in outside shareholders for now. I''m talking about acquiring a portion of Paramount''s shares, say 20%, for cash."

    Martin nearly cursed, thinking twenty percent wasn''t a small amount at all. "Eric, you know I can''t agree to this. Plus, you already control Firefly, and acquiring twenty percent of Paramount''s shares wouldn''t be approved easily by the Federal Trade Commission."

    "Martin, why speak so absolutely? Everything is negotiable."

    Eric''s tone didn''t change at all, but Martin no longer felt like continuing the conversation. If it were a share exchange with Firefly, he''d dly agree even to a twenty percent stake, or even more. After all, Firefly was a coveted investment target with premium assets like Disney, Pixar, and Digital Domain.

    But he would never agree to a cash acquisition because selling those shares meant handing over a significant portion of Paramount''s power to Firefly, while he wouldn''t have any leverage over them. Even if he remained thergest shareholder after selling twenty percent, the gap in shareholding would be quite narrow. If Firefly decided to, they could easily ally with other shareholders to push him out.

    "Eric, since youck sincerity, I feel there''s no need for us to continue this discussion," Martin said, standing up straight.

    Eric disyed a regretful expression. "Then I can only apologize, Martin. I thought this would be an opportunity for Paramount."

    Martin could hardly stand Eric''s nonsense. He saw this primarily as an opportunity for Firefly, and this young man had none of the naivety one would expect for his age. Instead, he came off as someone who had seen too much, solely focused on taking advantage of the situation.

    ...

    After Martin left, Eric went back to the tent, and Allen noticed the situation and followed him inside.

    "I thought you were going to coborate with Paramount again," Allen said, recalling Martin''s disappointed expression as he left, smiling.

    Eric muttered through a mouthful of lunch, "I wanted to coborate, but the terms I offered weren''t epted."

    Allen could guess that Eric had probably made an unappealing offer. Not too interested, he asked, "Eric, is there really not a single film project from Paramount that you find appealing?"

    "Nothing of the caliber of Twister. As for the level of Ace Ventura, there''s no need to waste my time on that."

    Allen looked shocked. Given Twister''s box office trajectory, he knew the film''s global revenue would be at least around six hundred million. It seemed that Eric''s standards were a bit too high. Nheless, he quickly realized that if they weren''t of that level, Firefly wouldn''t need to coborate with them. Coborating on a project like Ace Ventura would only lead topetition with films of the same level.

    Eric didn''t pay attention to Allen''s expression and continued, "Paramount''s current situation is primarily a result of Martin Davis himself. He knows nothing about films but holds power over Paramount, leading to professionals being mere puppets. Directors and producers who manage quality projects typically despise working with these outsiders."

    "Not many bosses are willing to delegate power to professional managers," Allen replied with a smirk, subtly ncing at Eric.

    "That''s why I greatly admire Murdoch. He skillfully found a bnce between delegating and controlling. If he had shackled Barry Diller like Martin Davis did, then there wouldn''t have been the Fox Films and Fox Television Network. And when Barry Diller wanted to take control, Murdoch readily parted ways with him. So even though the media oftenpares Murdoch to Redstone, I believe Murdoch''s achievements will ultimately surpass those of Redstone, who shares a simr style to Martin Davis." After saying this, Eric looked at his pensive assistant and smiled. "Allen, you''ve been with me for four years now, haven''t you?" "It''ll be four years in five months. I originally joined as your directorial assistant during the filming of Pretty Woman. Then Mr. Hansen mentioned he hadn''t found the right person for a while, so I did well and ended up temporarily as your executive assistant. And now here we are," Allen said, reflecting on how he had initially aimed to be a director when he joined Firefly, apany that had just started gaining attention with Home Alone.

    "Have you ever thought about bing a department head?"

    Allen recalled how Eric had recently discussed topics he hadn''t previously brought up, along with subtle probing, and finally understood what Eric was hinting at. He was indeed very tempted by Eric''s proposal. While the sry was high working closely with Eric, it limited his growth. "Of course I have, Eric. Do you have any suitable candidates for your next executive assistant?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Not for now, but..." Eric seemed to think of something and chuckled. "But your sessor absolutely has to be a woman, and she needs to be beautiful, charming, and capable."

    "That won''t be easy to find," Allenughed along but suddenly thought of someone. "However, I do have a good candidate in mind."

    "Let''s skip that," Eric immediately understood whom Allen was referring to. "Liz may agree, but she won''tst long; her position is pretty clear. Anyway, I''m not going to release you right away. We''ll take our time."

    Allen nodded, getting ready to leave but asked, "By the way, since Mr. Davis has left, should I continue monitoring Paramount''s affairs?"

    "Of course. This is a significant matter for Hollywood after all."

    ...

    Martin Davis''s empty-handed return wasn''t much of a surprise to many. Barry Diller had refrained from heading to Hawaii precisely because he anticipated such a result. He understood Paramount''s situation very well and knew Martin Davis couldn''t afford the kind of price Columbia was paying, and Eric wasn''t someone who would be easy to deal with.

    However, because Redstone publicly expressed interest in acquiring Paramount, the stock price, which had potentially risen due to the prospect of a Firefly partnership, didn''t fall back; instead, it continued to rise. Although Barry Diller didn''t explicitly make his acquisition intentions clear regarding QVC, his series of actions conveyed his objectives decisively.

    ...

    While Eric quietly monitored the situation in Hollywood, the filming of Jurassic Park proceeded smoothly. After returning to Los Angeles, Martin Davis connected with Eric a few more times over the phone, but no agreements were reached.

    As July came to an end, the North American summer movie season began wrapping up. Firefly''s two summer blockbusters were entering their concluding phases. Meanwhile, over at Disney, the distribution of Sister Act faced some issues. Due to Eric''s confidence in the film, Disney ramped up its release efforts. However, despite being on par with The Mask in terms of release scale, Sister Act''s opening weekend box office was only half that of The Mask. When Eric heard this news, he almost thought the film had veered off course.

    Yet by the second week, Sister Act''s box office not only didn''t drop significantly as Disney executives feared; it rebounded due to word-of-mouth. Though the increase was merely a negligible two percent,pared to the steep drops some films suffered, this performance delighted many. Even though its genre might not perform well overseas, based on its trajectory in North America, it might even surpass The Mask.

    At this point, merely within a summer season, Firefly had already captured ten percent of North America''s estimated total box office for the year, with many media outlets beginning to specte whether Firefly would surpass Warner that year.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 485: Chapter 486: Euro Disney

    Chapter 485: Chapter 486: Euro Disney

    ?

    [Chapter 486: Euro Disney]

    After nearly ten weeks of intense filming, Eric finallypleted thest shot of Jurassic Park on September 7. He confidently handed over the wrap-up and special effects work to Jerry Bruckheimer and Stan Winston before boarding a flight to Paris.

    After a long twenty-two-hour flight, the Boeing Eric was onnded at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. As soon as he stepped out of the terminal, Jeffrey Katzenberg was waiting for him outside, apanied by a few others. "Eric, it''s great to see you! I thought you might miss it," he said.

    "Of course, for something this important, I had to make every effort toe," Eric replied as The embraced Katzenberg.

    After exchanging pleasantries, Katzenberg started introducing a few people to Eric. "Eric, this is Vincent LaBrie, representative of the city of Paris; this is Louis Bartholot, head of the French partnershippany; and Patrick Schneider, ha ha, you don''t need an introduction for him -- you''ve met him at the midyear meeting, I know you have a good memory..."

    Eric shook hands and chatted with them all, and a few minutester, the group got into a vehicle and departed.

    "Eric, I''ve prepared a room for you at the Disney-themed hotel in the park, but you can also choose to stay in the city," Katzenberg enthusiastically said as they sat in the back seat of a business van. It was evident that Katzenberg was in a good mood, perhaps because another overseas Disney park was about to open.

    This Disney park was still called Euro Disney, not Paris Disnend as Eric remembered. While filming Jurassic Park, he hadn''t paid much attention to this detail. However, during the long journey to Paris, he had managed to sift through his memories about Disnend Paris. Of course, he couldn''t know too many specifics, but he clearly remembered that among Disney''s major parks, the most sessful was Tokyo Disnend, while the most unsessful was Disnend Paris.

    Thus, he wasn''t feeling as cheerful as Katzenberg.

    Tokyo Disnend opened in 1983 and had been highly sessful from the year it opened. However, due to the agreement between Disney and Japan, they signed a licensing deal for 45 years where Disney even relinquished the royalties on cartoon character representations. They only charged 7% of Tokyo Disnend''s annual revenue as a management fee. It wasn''t until Tokyo Disnend became sessful that Disney realized they had made a very poor deal. Even so, this 7% management fee still brought in several hundred million dors in profit each year.

    Stimted by the sess of Tokyo Disnend, Michael Eisner, who had just taken charge of Disney in 1985, began preparing for a second overseas Disney theme park. Because of the extraordinarily high profit potential and the thousands of jobs it would create, Paris managed to nab the project away from dozens ofpeting cities by offering many favorable conditions. They even specifically built a railroad directly connecting the city of Paris to Disnend.

    Learning from the lessons of Tokyo Disnend, Disney, through negotiations, secured a 49% stake in the joint venture for a very minimal cost, along with operational control of the park. Simultaneously, for the first five years, Disney would need to pay the park one and a half billion dors in royalties, which would rise to four billion dors per year after that period.

    From these agreements, it seemed Disney wouldn''t lose out. However, everyone knew that if this new park didn''t operate well or even faced losses, Disney likely wouldn''t be able to collect the most basic royalty fees.

    "Jeffrey, these are minor details; I''ll just stay at the Disney-themed hotel. Also, once we arrive, can you arrange for someone to prepare a detailed report on Euro Disney, from the initial nning to future operational models? The more detailed, the better."

    Katzenberg nodded immediately without thinking, but upon noticing Eric''s expression, he realized something wasn''t quite right. "Eric, is there an issue?"

    "I don''t know," Eric honestly shook his head. The details about Euro Disney''s partnership agreements were recounted by Allen on the ne, but he didn''t know much beyond that. Without seeing more documentation, Eric couldn''t figure out where the problems with Disnend Paris would lie. "Just consider me curious. If it''s possible, can you also find me some information about Tokyo Disnend?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Sure thing," Katzenberg said, no longer probing further, with a smile as he nodded. "By the way, after the opening tomorrow night, the Paris City Government will hold a reception. I figured you might forget about formalwearing straight from Hawaii, so I''ve had someone prepare it for you."

    "Thanks, Jeffrey," Eric said, looking at Katzenberg''s cheerful demeanor, and finally felt a bit uplifted. After all, history had already taken a significant turn; this new park was originally nned to open in April, but due to the Firefly acquisition of Disney and a series of other events, it had been postponed until September. Katzenberg had been managing the project for half a year now, and who knows, there might still be some unexpected turns.

    ...

    Since Eric had been busy in Hawaii,bined with over twenty hours of travel, once he settled into the Disney-themed hotel in Marne-Vallee, he fell straight asleep to recover from the jetg. When he finally woke up, it waspletely dark outside.

    Upon waking, as he looked through the window of the themed hotel, he immediately saw the brightly lit theme park outside. Although the park wouldn''t officially open until the next morning, arge crowd of visitors had already gathered near the entrance.

    The doorbell rang a few times and Eric withdrew his gaze, opening the door to find Allen standing there.

    "Eric, you''re awake! I finally woke you up. Mr. Katzenberg just sent someone over to check if you were up."

    "Is there something important?" Eric asked, letting Allen in.

    Allen shook his head. "No, Mr. Katzenberg is still at the park checking details for the opening. He''s probably going to be outte. Eric, do you want to go over there?"

    "Never mind; Jeffrey can handle it alone. I''m really just here to join the fun," Eric chuckled, shaking his head. Filming had drained most of his energy, and he also needed to control the overarching situation at Firefly. Eric didn''t want to get too involved in the nitty-gritty of thepany''s operations; he wouldn''t have enough energy even if he were split into several pieces. "By the way, did you get the information I asked Jeffrey about this morning?"

    Allen nodded. "This afternoon, Mr. Katzenberg sent over the materials. Do you need me to get them now?"

    "Go ahead and bring them. And while you''re at it, please prepare a dinner for me. I''ll just look over everything in my room."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 487: Chapter 488: You Should See for Yourself

    Chapter 487: Chapter 488: You Should See for Yourself

    ?

    [Chapter 488: You Should See for Yourself]

    After having breakfast, Eric met with guests attending the opening ceremony, as arranged by the staff.

    At nine o''clock, the opening ceremony officially began. Eric, along with Jeffrey Katzenberg and the management team of the new park, took to the makeshift stage, interacting briefly with the media present for the event. As the CEO of Disney, Katzenberg stepped up to the microphone to deliver his customary speech.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to Euro Disnend. This is an exhrating moment..."

    Eric kept smiling as he observed everything around him. In addition to the guests and numerous reporters, a sea of visitors had already gathered in the park''s square. He knew that various performances inside the park had also been prepared, and everything seemed to be unfolding as many expected.

    With loud apuse ringing out, Katzenberg concluded his speech and officially announced the opening of Euro Disnend. Amidst the music and the sound of fireworks, countless visitors began rushing toward the gates.

    Eric joined Katzenberg and the other guests as they entered Disnend.

    After socializing for over an hour, and since it was the park''s opening day, the management team, including Katzenberg, had to remain vignt about operations to handle any unforeseen circumstances. Soon, they dispersed to their respective posts.

    ...

    As Eric was about to say goodbye to Katzenberg and head back to the hotel to catch up on sleep afterst night''s all-nighter, he heard Patrick Schneider''s voice behind him. "Mr. Williams, please hold on a moment."

    "Pat, what''s the matter?" Eric asked, stepping aside to pause.

    Patrick Schneider pulled a floppy disk from his pocket. "Well, Mr. Williams, concerning the visitor survey you mentioned, I don''t think it''s necessary. We''ve already conducted extensive research. Besides, today is just the opening day. From what I see now, we''re definitely going to exceed 100,000 visitors. Everyone will be swamped and won''t have time..."

    Eric took the floppy disk, noting Patrick''s dismissive expression. However, he didn''t feel too concerned. The current situation at Euro Disnend wasn''t solely the fault of Disney''s management. Everyone involved in the project had been overly optimistic and blind, leading to the current circumstances. Many believed that Euro Disnend couldn''t fail, so it was understandable if they overlooked some minor details.

    "Well, if you''re too busy, then forget it," Eric said, fiddling with the floppy disk. "But I happen to be avable. Just assign fifty people to me, and I''ll handle it personally. With thousands of employees at the park, fifty people shouldn''t be a problem, right?"

    Patrick Schneider''s demeanor, which had just rxed, tensed up again. Although Eric was twenty years younger than him, everyone knew who he was. Eric spoke casually, but Patrick couldn''t allow the big boss to handle a survey himself.

    Being middle-aged and having risen to a top position at Disney, Patrick was savvy enough. He quickly realized that Eric wanting to do the survey was simply a way of asserting his authority. The refusal Patrick had just given had likely triggered the boss''s pushback.

    "Mr. Williams," Patrick hesitated for a few seconds before making a decision. He reached out to Eric, seemingly wanting to take the floppy disk back. "Perhaps I should handle this. I''ll submit the results to you within a week."

    Eric smiled. Facing this rather oblivious executive, his earlier annoyance faded somewhat. His age had always been a vulnerability, and it wasn''t the first time he had been underestimated. "Pat, you should just take care of your own responsibilities. Just give me fifty people. I''ll make sure my assistant handles it."

    Realizing Eric was giving him an out, Patrick nodded eagerly.

    Eric handed the floppy disk back to him. Just as Patrick was about to leave, Eric couldn''t help but stop him. "Pat, do you honestly believe there are no issues with Euro Disnend?"

    Of course, Patrick wouldn''t make sweeping statements. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Mr. Williams, there will definitely be some issues. However, this new park was built to the same specifications as our domestic Disney parks. Even if there are some ws, there certainly won''t be major problems."

    Eric felt an impulse to rub his forehead. He was starting to realize that building the park strictly to American Disney specifications was the biggest problem with Euro Disnend! "Alright, you go ahead and be busy, and I''ll have Allen contact you."

    Patrick sensed some uncertainty in Eric''s expression but didn''t probe further. He agreed and left.

    ...

    Eric had initially nned to attend the opening ceremony, rest briefly, and then return to Los Angeles. After all, post-production for Jurassic Park was in full swing, and staying away for too long was unwise. However, upon realizing the issues with Euro Disnend, he had to extend his stay.

    For the next week, while awaiting the survey results, Eric spent his time mingling at various parties. Besides the official party hosted by the French government to celebrate the opening of Euro Disnend, he also received numerous invitations to private parties.

    After another night of socializing, Eric stumbled out of a mansion in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, slightly tipsy, and bid farewell to the host.

    This was a family party held by Nics Seydoux, the chairman of Gaumont. The guests included many renowned French filmmakers. Eric had never been particrly fond of French cinema, but he was intrigued by Gaumont, which had emerged alongside the film industry. Many French filmmakers Eric was interested in had coborated with Gaumont, so he was happy to attend the party. Unfortunately, luck wasn''t on his side; he didn''t find any familiar faces among the attendees.

    The driver pulled up the car, and Eric shook Seydoux''s hand onest time. "Mr. Seydoux, thank you for the invitation. If youe to Los Angeles next time, be sure to visit me at the Liberty City Estate."

    Nics Seydoux smiled and nodded. "I certainly will, Eric."

    As Eric returned to the Disney hotel in the suburbs, he walked into the lobby and saw Allen waiting for him, seemingly for quite some time.

    "Eric, the survey results have all beenpiled. A total of 10,700 responses," Allen said

    briskly, though finally, he looked serious as he handed Eric a thick envelope. "I think you should see this for yourself."

    *****n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 489: Chapter 490: Renegotiation

    Chapter 489: Chapter 490: Renegotiation

    ?

    [Chapter 490: Renegotiation]

    The day after the all-night meeting, the newly opened European Disnend unexpectedly announced a temporary closure. The news shocked all of Europe and quickly spread worldwide.

    Constructed over seven years and costing a staggering $5.5 billion -- an amount that rivaled the annual fiscal ie of some small European countries -- Euro Disnend was undoubtedly a world-ss project during the strong dor era of the 1980s.

    On the same day the announcement was made, Disney issued a rification and apology statement on the front pages of several of France''s leading newspapers, including Le Monde, L''Union and Le Figaro. The statement exined that a series of problems had arisen following the park''s opening, and in light of its responsibility to visitors, the management had made the cautious decision to temporarily close Disnend for necessary reforms.

    However, very few people believed this statement, which urately followed the truth. Most media and the public preferred to think that something major had urred at Euro Disnend. Some irresponsible tabloids published fabricated stories iming that an ident at the park had resulted in dozens of casualties. Thispletely made-up report gained traction among the public, with some misinformed newspapers even reprinting it.

    Within just a day of the news breaking, after confirming it wasn''t a prank, countless reporters from television media and newspapers around the world boarded flights to Paris, eager to uncover the truth.

    On the same day, the French government expressed strong concern through a press conference. Jacques Chirac, the then-Mayor of Paris, promptly arranged a meeting with Eric Williams, Chairman of Firefly Films, and Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of Disney, to personally inquire about the reasons behind Disnend''s closure.

    After leaving the Mayor''s office, Eric and Katzenberg jumped into a ck sedan. After two hectic days, even Katzenberg --known for his boundless energy -- showed signs of exhaustion. Eric reclined in his seat and squinted his eyes.

    Suddenly, Eric heard the sound of a soda can being opened next to him. He forced himself to open his eyes and saw Katzenberg cracking open a can of energy drink. Remembering a joke about Katzenberg, he couldn''t help but smile slightly.

    "Eric, would you like some?" Katzenberg quietly asked.

    Eric shook his head. Even if offered an energy drink, he couldn''t muster the spirits. Since the night before, the two had hardly rested, and Eric felt like his biological clock had imploded. He envied Katzenberg''s stamina; whenever he felt tired, he could just chug a beverage and seeminglye back to life, far more effective than an energy potion in a video game.

    The decision to temporarily close European Disnend resulted from their careful deliberation together. The issues at the park had be quite severe. The return on a conservative approach of continuing operations while making corrections seemed uncertain and lengthy. In this situation, they thought a bold action would be better. Even if it didn''t entirely solve the problem, the attention it attracted could serve as a world-ss promotional marketing tool at no extra cost. When European Disnend reopened at some point, it would surely garner even more attention than its initialunch.

    Katzenberg quickly finished his drink and said, "Eric, if you are too tired, I can handle the negotiations with the French investors myself. You can go back and rest."

    Eric hazily nodded in agreement.

    Based on surveys and first-week revenue projections, even after adjustments, it would be exceedingly tough for European Disnend to achieve the initial profitability. The $5.5 billion in construction funds primarily came from bank loans, which needed to be repaid through the park''s operations. The average amount of principal and interest due per year reached a staggering $200 million.

    Additionally, severe budget mismanagement in the early stages had led to an array of superfluous projects being built, causing the operational costs of European Disnend to far exceed those of Tokyo Disnend. The scale of the two parks made this evident; European Disnend spanned nearly 5,000 acres, whereas Tokyo Disnend covered only 504 acres -- just a tenth of the former.

    Faced with this, Disney had no choice but to renegotiate terms with the French investors to discuss profit redistribution. Given the current situation, Eric had little expectations that European Disnend would contribute profits to headquarters. He merely hoped the park could achieve a break-even status and not be a burden for the parentpany.

    Feeling reassured about handing matters to Katzenberg, Eric returned to his hotel, too tired to even shower, and copsed onto his bed. He lost all sense of time, waking again to darkness outside.

    ...

    After washing up, he picked up the phone in his room to make a call and then headed downstairs to the restaurant. He spoke a few words to the waiter and chose a booth for himself, ordering dinner.

    Before he finished his meal, Katzenberg arrived, guided by the waiter.

    "Duplicate my dinner for Jeffrey," Eric casually instructed the waiter as Katzenberg took a seat across from him. Clearly, Katzenberg hadn''t eaten either, as he only requested the waiter to refill his milk.

    "How did it go?" Eric asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

    Katzenberg pulled a folder from his briefcase and handed it over. "Louis Bartolo read the documents and expressed no objections regarding the temporary closure for adjustments, but they want to take back operating rights. I declined."

    If they were to relinquish control over European Disnend, the project would spiral out of control, and Eric had little faith in the French investors'' operational capabilities.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric nodded, supporting Katzenberg''s decision, then opened the folder to review a draft contract. The terms generally aligned with the limits he and Katzenberg had discussed. Disney would waive the patent licensing fees for the first five years and reduce the fees by half after that. In exchange, the French investors needed to inject an additional $300 million into the project as operational funding.

    While waiving patent licensing fees meant Disney wouldn''t recover its upfront investment for a long time, it wasn''t necessarily a loss. If European Disnend were to suffer losses, the pressure of repaying billions in loans could lead to its bankruptcy. At that juncture, Disney would have no other path besides willingly releasing the patent licensing fees. This was because Disney had taken a domineering position during earlier negotiations, securing 49% of shares with just under 15% of the total investment, much of which came from loans approved by the French government. If the park didn''t meet expected profitability, Disney''s stronghold would reverse, and the French investors might stop providing funds, possibly forcing Disney headquarters to inject capital into the project.

    Now, by relinquishing patent licensing fees and securing an additional $300 million in operational funding, Disney could be seen as making a significant gain.

    After quickly ncing through the new contract, Eric continued eating his dinner as the waiter brought Katzenberg''s meal.

    Once they finished eating, neither of them left; the waiter cleared the tes and brought coffee. Eric turned to Katzenberg, saying, "Even though we can''t transfer operating rights to them, we must involve them in the management adjustments as much as possible. The report from that manager shows many issues that should have been obvious, yet our team clearly overlooked them."

    "I know," Katzenberg responded, watching the waiter pour coffee into his cup. He absentmindedly pushed it aside, clearly feeling the effects of too much coffee in the past two days. "Eric, I will personally stay here to steer things until the park reopens and gets back on track. All the films for the end of the year in the U.S. have been locked in. Though Frank can be a little overly cautious, he won''t make any major mistakes while temporarily managing Disney until I return."

    "Right, I wanted to talk to you about that yesterday, but with everything going on, I forgot. Your presence here is perfect. However, I''ve also been thinking about something else -- the possibility of renaming the park."

    Katzenberg looked puzzled and jokingly said, "You''re not really considering renaming Disnend to Firefly Park, are you?"

    "Of course not," Eric shook his head with augh. "Disney is already a very established cultural icon. I wouldn''t make such a stupid move. What I meant was, how about renaming Euro Disnend to Paris Disnend?"

    Katzenberg slightly shook his head. "I don''t understand, Eric. Is that really necessary?"

    "I think it''s crucial. The survey revealed that a significant portion of Disnend visitors were still French. Moreover, the so-called three hundred million potential visitors from the two- hour flight radius now seem unrealistic. Those three hundred million people don''t appear as eager about Disnend as we initially thought. In fact, besides the French, most visitors during the first week came from neighboring countries. Given this, we should focus on effectively catering to domestic French visitors with strong buying power. If the French take pride in their identity, let''s cater to that. The name change is just a part; we''ve also agreed that to appeal to the French, we''ll use the Frenchnguage as the park''s primarynguage, while English will be secondary. Additionally, park projects and activities must integrate French culture, just like that photo of Mickey Mouse I showed you the other day." Katzenberg was somewhat persuaded by Eric''s rationale but still asked, "Would renaming the park seem too abrupt and too obvious about our intentions?"

    Eric chuckled. "It depends on the media rtions skills of the operations department." "I''ll have them draft up a proposal as soon as possible," Katzenberg nodded. "What about you, Eric? When do you n to head back? Jurassic Park is still in post-production -- you can''t

    be away for too long, right?"

    "I''ll stay a few more days. Stan is directly in charge of post-production. He was involved throughout much of the production process. He knows exactly the effects I want, so there shouldn''t be any issues. If he could step back from managing Digital Domain, I might even consider letting him direct the sequel."

    Katzenberg was aware that Firefly intended to produce three Jurassic Park films and seemed surprised by this remark: "You''re not nning to direct the sequel yourself?"

    Eric shrugged. "It depends on the situation; I''m not sure myself."

    As they casually chatted, they heard rapid footsteps approaching. Just as Eric turned his head,

    Allen arrived at his side.

    Allen quickly nodded at Katzenberg before addressing Eric, "Mr. Williams, phone call from

    New York. It''s urgent."

    "Jeffrey, hold on a moment. Let me take this call, and we''ll continue our conversation," Eric

    told Katzenberg, standing up to follow Allen out.

    Katzenberg, though curious about what was so urgent in New York, didn''t pry further and

    simply nodded in understanding.

    More than ten minutes passed without Eric returning, and only Allen came back, hurrying toward Katzenberg. "Sorry, Mr. Katzenberg, Mr. Williams has already left for the airport. He has a flight to New York tonight. I was told to inform you." "What happened?" Katzenberg asked, rising with a serious expression.

    Allen shook his head and thought for a moment before replying, "I''m not entirely sure, but it doesn''t have to do with thepany; it''s... it''s Mr. Williams'' personal matter." Katzenberg noticed Allen''s hesitance, but since it was Eric''s personal matter, he rxed slightly and refrained from pressing further. "Aren''t you heading back with Eric?"

    Allen replied, "Mr. Williams asked me to stay here for now, to keep him updated on the

    ongoing adjustments."

    Katzenberg nodded. "In that case, stay close to me for now. By the way, did Eric leave any messages for us?"

    "No," Allen opened his mouth but then didn''t continue. After thatst call, Eric had rushed

    off without the chance to ry anything.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 491: Chapter 492: Hawaii

    Chapter 491: Chapter 492: Hawaii

    ?

    [Chapter 492: Hawaii]

    Virginia let Eric pull her along, unable to hold back any longer, she started to chatter, "Eric, when did youe back? I heard that the Disnend in Europe just opened and then suddenly closed down. I hope nothing serious happened! I was nning to finish this movie and then go have fun with Joan..."

    Eric didn''t answer and led her to the car. He opened the door and shoved Virginia inside, then went to sit on the other side, instructing the driver, "Carter, head back to New York."

    "Aren''t we waiting for Mr. Hyde?" the driver asked through the rearview mirror.

    Eric shook his head. Kepler had to negotiate with the director about Virginia''s contract, which wasn''t something that could be settled quickly, and Eric didn''t have time to wait around.

    Seeing Eric''s expression, the driver started the car. Eric raised the partition and turned his attention to the woman beside him.

    ...

    Virginia finally noticed Eric''s serious demeanor, a sense of dread creeping into her mind. She shifted slightly, muttering, "I... I''m still working, you know."

    Eric pointed to a double-decker bus visible in the distance, his voice rising as he suppressed his anger, "Is that what you should be doing right now?"

    Virginia shrank back, blinking rapidly. The realization hit her, "You... you know, don''t you?" Eric grunted in reply.

    "I wasn''t trying to hide it from you. I meant to tell you once you finished Jurassic Park, but then you had to go off to France," Virginia whispered in a rushed exnation, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, "It must have been Joan! I should have known better than to tell her. That unreliable person!"

    "Joan''s in the hospital," Eric shot her a re.

    Virginia immediately stopped her me, her expression changing to one of concern. "What''s wrong? What happened to her?"

    "Just like you," Eric replied.

    Virginia was taken aback, her mouth opened as she struggled to articte her thoughts. After a moment, she finally managed, "Traitor, liar! I can''t believe it! I''m going to cut ties with her! This is terrible. I told her everything, and she didn''t tell me she was pregnant!"

    "You know how Joan is. She''s the kind of person whocks security. With something this sudden, you expect her to just tell everyone?"

    "Ugh... You''re biased! I''m pregnant, too, and you''re defending her."

    Oh, not again!N?v(el)B\\jnn

    When Eric heard that, he was left feeling utterly helpless.

    ...

    Two hourster, Eric brought Virginia back to her ce in Southampton, Long Ind. The private clinic in Manhattan where Joan was staying was swarming with reporters. Even with a signed confidentiality agreement, Eric didn''t feelfortable bringing a pregnant woman there. He asked Virginia a few questions, and she told him about another private clinic where she had been checked, located in Southampton.

    "Mr. Williams, look, this is the fetus," the middle-aged female doctor said as she operated the equipment in the ultrasound room, pointing at the colorful screen.

    Lying beside her, Virginia turned to look. Eric gazed at the tiny figure on the screen, curled up like a ss marble, and he felt a strange sensation wash over him. He was going to be a father again.

    Noticing Eric''s expression, the doctor thought he was one of those parents who was surprised by the ultrasound image. She smiled and exined, "Mr. Williams, this is what a fetus looks like at about nine weeks. It has just developed its basic form. Although it seems tiny now, in about thirty weeks, you''ll have a very cute little baby!"

    Eric smiled and nodded.

    After spending over an hour on the examination, Virginia was nowpletely worry-free thanks to Eric''s earlier demeanor. Showing off her report, she said, "I told you! The little one is very healthy."

    "Well, we can''t have you jumping out of the car," Eric recalled the scene he had witnessed a few hours earlier.

    Virginia sheepishly stuck out her tongue, linking her arm with Eric as they walked out of the clinic. "I was using a stunt double, but the director said it didn''t look good. He wanted a shot from the front. I caved into the pressure thinking it wasn''t dangerous."

    "That movie doesn''t need to be shot anymore; I''ll handle the rest."

    Virginia nuzzled against Eric''s shoulder, grinning, "That''s fine, since you have plenty of money, haha."

    ...

    Eric first dropped Virginia off at her ce in Southampton and then went to pick up Joan from Manhattan. After thorough examination, Joan had been monitored in the clinic for twenty- four hours and hadn''t shown any problems, allowing her to be discharged. To avoid the swarm of reporters, Eric had to rent a helicopter on short notice.

    Even though she had sworn to cut ties with Joan, seeing her pale face filled with regret made Virginia''s small me of anger dissipate.

    After a busy day settling both women, Eric finally had time to focus on work. He juggled the various messes piling up -- from Disnend in Paris, post-production of Jurassic Park in Los Angeles, to managing Firefly Films -- doing nothing but making phone calls for two hours. Eric was even more eager for the online mailpany to be set up quickly so he could conveniently deal with iing messages through email.

    Once Eric hung up the phone, Virginia immediately pulled Joan over to him. "Eric, look! Joan and I picked out the names. If it''s a boy, we''ll call him Kevin, and if it''s a girl, Ang. What do you think?"

    "Whatever, they''re just names, call them whatever," Eric leaned against the sofa, taking Virginia''s notepad and casually said, noticing her frown. He quickly changed his tone, "No, wait! I''m the father, I certainly have naming rights."

    "Then you can pick one, especially if it''s two boys or two girls!" Virginia replied cheerfully.

    Eric propped his chin on his hand, thinking for a while, before finally saying one word:

    "Hawaii."

    "What?" Virginia and Joan asked in unison, puzzled.

    "Hawaii!" Eric chuckled, a hint of mischief in his tone. "Since it was conceived in Hawaii, we

    should name it Hawaii."

    Virginia''s eyes widened. After a moment, she pointed to Joan on Eric''s other side, her mouth forming a devious smile as she eximed, "Give it to her!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 493: Chapter 494: Another Paranoid Named Steve

    Chapter 493: Chapter 494: Another Paranoid Named Steve

    ?

    [Chapter 494: Paranoia]

    After lunch, Virginia pulled the two women outside for a walk while Eric headed into the study with Chris.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Emily''s reaction just now seemed a bit off, didn''t it? She never got shy about talking

    marriage before," Eric said as he settled into a chair beside the desk, his curiosity bubbling

    over.

    Chris shook his head and chuckled. "Maybe it''s because they''re pregnant. When you told me the news, I had a chat with Emily about a few things," he said, shaking his head as if the oue wasn''t great. He quickly changed the subject. "What''s going on in Europe? There''s a lot of noiseing from that direction."

    Eric summarized the situation with Euro Disney for Chris.

    Chris listened intently and shook his head. "A billion dor budget has ballooned to five and a half billion. It''s definitely spiraled out of control. If it still can''t turn a profit after the overhaul, what do you n on doing?"

    Eric shrugged. "We have to stick it out. This project affects the livelihoods of thirty thousand people and consumed so many resources from the French government. If I dared to shut it down, it would be like tearing up our rtionship with the French government."

    Chris nodded in agreement, sharing Eric''s viewpoint. He had looked up some news regarding Euro Disney due to its sudden closure.

    The French government not only sold thend to Disney--equivalent to one-fifth of the Paris city area--at a rock-bottom price back in the 1970s but had also provided over a billion dors in project subsidies. Additionally, they built a high-speed rail between Paris and Euro Disney, a further investment of several billion dors. All this sprang from the optimism surrounding Euro Disney''s prospects. If Disney backed down due to below-expected profits after consuming so much public resources, it would inevitably lead to a fallout with the French government amid public scrutiny.

    "Michael Eisner''spetence is undisputed, but from hisst few moves at Disney, it appears he has let thepany''s sess go to his head. If he continues to lead Disney, it won''t bode well for thepany. However, judging by his actions at Universal, he seems to have regained someposure," Chrismented, recalling Eisner, the mastermind behind the Euro Disney project.

    Eric recalled that, in the original timeline, Disney''s market value had continued rising in the mid-1990s, but only due to an overall improvement in the American economy. Their profits had been declining year after year, and the expensive acquisition of ABC had been a drag on thepany, pushing Disney''s debt ratio to a dangerously high level.

    It was only after Michael Eisner stepped down that Robert Iger implemented a series of reforms which revitalized the movie giant.

    At this point, Eisner being out and moving to Universal could be seen as beneficial for both him and Disney. Disney would no longer be hindered by Eisner, allowing it to grow rapidly. Aposed Eisner could also begin anew at Universal.

    In Hollywood at that moment, Eric thought that there weren''t too many outstanding talents. Most studio executives were more about preserving the status quo than pushing for innovation. The few he recalled from the 1990s were Barry Diller, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Michael Eisner.

    From what he currently knew, the chances of Barry Diller returning to scoop up Paramount were slim; it wasn''t easy for the Hollywood tycoon toe back. Katzenberg was still at Disney, and Eric had no intention of forcing him out as Eisner had done. This meant that his biggestpetitor in Hollywood would undoubtedly be Michael Eisner.

    "I heard Steve Ross isn''t doing well?" Eric suddenly interjected, thinking along these lines. Chris looked puzzled but nodded. "He probably won''tst through the year."

    "Without Steve Ross''s pressure, Warner''s already intense internal conflicts are likely toe to light, making it impossible for them topete with Firefly. Going forward, Firefly''s biggest rival would probably be Universal."

    "From your tone, you seem not to hate Michael Eisner?"

    "It doesn''t matter if I hate him or not. I''ve always admired capable people. Besides, having rivals keeps things interesting; life would be quite dull otherwise," Eric admitted candidly, aware that everything he possessed was thanks to his lucky breaks and felt deep respect for those tycoons who thrived without an edge.

    After discussing some Hollywood matters, Eric remembered what Chris had said upon his arrival earlier. "Didn''t you mention you had good news for me? What is it?"

    "Can you go online here?" Chris stood up with a smile.

    Eric nodded, realizing what Chris was getting at. "You''ve got results?"

    "Yes, just a moment," Chris replied with a grin, stepping out of the study and quickly returning with aptop from his car.

    Eric pushed aside his Apple notebook on the desk and connected thework cable as he was a bit surprised to see Chris pull out an IBM ThinkPad.

    The legendary ThinkPad series! Eric vaguely remembered seeing a magazine report about IBM about tounch itsptops topete with Apple. He didn''t expect it to have alreadye out, and that it was a ThinkPad. He had bought one himself in his past life before Lenovo acquired IBM''sptop business, likely marking ThinkPad as one of the longest-stingptop brands.

    "ThinkPad 700C, just released recently. I got one for testing; it has specsparable to Apple''s Powerbook, but it runs thetest Windows 3.1 system, which I think is much simpler to operate than the Mac," Chris exined, having invested considerable effort in understanding this tech due to Firefly''s focus onputer and inte investments.

    As the familiar Windows interface appeared, Eric quickly noticed the prominent ''e'' icon on the light blue background desktop.

    Chris skillfully connected theptop to the inte, watching Eric hover the mouse over the software shortcut. "This is the software logo designed ording to your sketches. Right now, it''s still in the Alpha version for internal testing; the Beta version for users is set tounch at the end of November, while the final version wille out next year after user testing and

    adjustments."

    Listening to Chris, Eric connected to thework and opened a graphical interface browser that had arrived two years ahead of schedule in his original timeline. After a brief loading period, a gray-schemed browser interface appeared on the screen with the eye-catching ''I Explorer'' logo in the upper left corner, followed by a menu bar, navigation icons, and the address field.

    When the homepage loaded, Eric was pleasantly surprised to see, "I can''t believe Yahoo''s homepage is already finished."

    Chris nodded, then shook his head. "If it were just a simple directory collection site, it wouldn''tst long. But your proposal had more than that. The team is currently testing and optimizing the search algorithm because they believe that feature will be integral to Yahoo. What you see is just our test server; we''ve gathered and organized around eight thousand websites in categories like news, finance, technology, and education."

    Eric clicked on a few sites in the directory to test the speed, which was very smooth, and noted that Yahoo''s team had designed the homepage following the straightforward design concept Eric had suggested. It didn''t resemble the cluttered portals he saw in his past life. However, he realized that the root cause still stemmed from the technical limitations of the time. Having thought that, Eric looked at the homepage again; while very simple, he sensed it was

    missing something.

    "Images! Right, websites shouldn''t all be text; there should be images too," he said, casually clicking on a few more sites, where, indeed, he found pictures.

    Chris seemed surprised but quickly exined, "I figured you wouldn''t care about this; the IE management is currently in talks to acquire apany called puserve. I was going to bring

    the rted documents next time."

    "puServe?" Eric repeated it but couldn''t recall what thepany did. "Do they have something to do with images?"

    Chris nodded. "They developed a very suitable image format for the current slow inte speeds that canpress images by 50% without losing quality. It''s called Graphiterat, but everyone just refers to it as GIF. The images you saw on those sites mostly use this format."

    Hearing the term GIF had Eric immediately nostalgic.

    So familiar!

    Chris noticed Eric''s raised eyebrows of recognition but paused in confusion before continuing. "The IE team ns to refine the GIF image format algorithm after acquiring thepany and apply for rted patents, then promote it via the IE browser." Although Chris didn''t exin explicitly, Eric quickly caught on. Promoting a new image format through IE would undoubtedly encourage many sites to adopt it. If this algorithm format was patented, otherpanies wanting to develop software using GIF would need IE''s authorization, creating a technical barrier that would hinderpaniescking technical strength from entering the browser market. Even powerful software firms like Microsoft would have to expend considerable time and money oveing such hurdles to create a browser that could disy GIF images. In a time of rapid technological growth, even a few weeks of dy could seepetitors pull ahead, let alone months or years. "By the way, has the software patent for the IE core been applied for?" Eric asked. Chris nodded. "We certainly applied for all feasible ones. Tim Berners-Lee also agreed to slightly favor IE''s technical standards while promoting the web. However, many technologies are still open-source, so bypassing our patents isn''t overly difficult. What we can do is set technical barriers around rted applications, like that GIF format."

    Eric felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this.

    Chrisforted him, "However, as long as we maintain our technical and time advantages, we can keep our lead. Plus, IE is free. The team doesn''t understand this; they feel the software is fantastic and would surely yield substantial profits ifmercialized." "That was my agreement with Tim Berners-Lee; you were there," Eric said. He wasn''t too concerned about the profit from IE software sales; the key was in the vast potential user base. "And you''ll understand the benefits of this approach down the road."

    "Well, hopefully," Chris didn''t say more. The entire world had only around twenty million inte users, vastly outnumbered by personalputers. So, giving up profits from IE software sales didn''t sting too much.

    After reviewing the progress from Yahoo and IE, Eric asked, "What about the online email service? To be honest, I''m more excited about this. Having online email would makemunication so much easier."

    Chris shrugged. "I can''t show you that. The chief engineer named Steve Mitnick at Hotmail is

    a perfectionist and a bit of a paranoid. I''ve asked a few times for an update but got nowhere. The core program for Hotmail has already been written, but he feels the system''s security isn''t tight enough and is still conducting closed tests on internal servers. I only got to try it outst time when I visited Hotmail''s headquarters in Cambridge." Ericughed, "Another paranoid named Steve!"

    Chris understood Eric was referencing Steve Jobs and chuckled. "Yeah, but it''s probably for

    the best. If Hotmail is to be an onlinemunication tool, it absolutely needs to ensure its security. So, I just let that guy tinker with it. I heard he''s quite a skilled hacker too."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 495: Chapter 496: The Upcoming Auction of MGM

    Chapter 495: Chapter 496: The Uing Auction of MGM

    ?

    [Chapter 496: The Uing Auction of MGM]

    The $20 million club had yet to be established, and $15 million was currently the peak sry for Hollywood stars. Only a few stars managed to earn that much, and generally, it was the wealthy overseas investors blindly offering such sries. For instance, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone''s paychecks were significantly boosted by European film investors, led by those from Germany, due to their immense poprity in Europe and box office power. Furthermore, a Japanese consortium, holding sway over Columbia and Universal, began making increasingly bold offers for actor sries. Hollywood''s local powers utterly detested this kind of "blind price-raising," but they were powerless to stop the trend. "$15 million is a bit too high; he isn''t worth that much. Although The Mask had a decent box office, it should be considered an exception. Jim Carrey''s other films still have overseas box office appeal, but they definitely won''t each match double their domestic takings. So it''s better to wait until Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is released before negotiating again. You can''t put all your energy into just Jim Carrey."

    Drew nodded in agreement and added, "Yeah, that''s what I thought too. He''s signed an option contract; no one will redeem him. Besides, we''ve treated him fairly. If he doesn''t appreciate it, let him be."

    The option contract Jim Carrey signed was quite intriguing, with a $100 million penalty use. For other major studios, that amount wasn''t a major issue. Given Jim''s demonstrated box office appeal, his first two films had generated over $100 million in profits for thepany.

    However, there was aplicated issue here. If other studios targeted Jim Carrey for his box office power and wanted to redeem him, that would mean offering up $100 million. Jim would have little choice but to sign another option contract with his new backers. Moreover, in order to recover that $100 million penalty, the terms of the new deal would hardly be more favorable than those given by his current studio, otherwise, the shareholders would never agree. As long as Jim wasn''t out of his mind, he wouldn''t choose that path.

    Drew talked a bit about matters on her side before curiously inquiring about Eric in France. After dinner, they chattedte into the night before finally heading to bed.

    ...

    The next morning, just before dawn, Eric woke up. He quietly dressed and went downstairs. After being away from Los Angeles for a few months and traveling around the world, his biological clock had be a bit off-kilter. He nced at the clock; it was 5:40 AM, which was earlier than he usually rose.

    After jogging for half an hour around the estate, Eric returned to the vi, slowly made breakfast, saved a portion for his littledy, and began eating while reading the newspaper. Many entertainment pages continued to focus on thetest developments in the battle between Vi and QVC for Paramount. Martin Davis probably sensed that he might not be able to keep Paramount and didn''t want it to fall into the hands of his former subordinate. So at the beginning of September, he signed a priority share transfer agreement with Vi. However, QVC quickly submitted documents to the Federal Trade Commission, suing Paramount and Vi for viting federal tradingws. Both parties spent the entire month haggling over the matter.

    After flipping through some newspapers, Eric quickly came across another interesting story. It was about MGM, one of the seven major studios. Casino tycoon Kirk Kerkorian, after offloading MGM''s real estate assets, began using MGM''s intangible assets as leverage in capital games. Two years prior, Kerkorian sold MGM to an Italian consortium headed by Giancarlo Paretti, making another hefty sum. Recently, however, Giancarlo faced allegations of fraud, used of deceiving investors to take control of MGM. The analysis suggested that Giancarlo Paretti had a high chance of losing the case.

    If Giancarlo were to lose, MGM would be auctioned off by the banks to repay the deceived creditors.

    Eric stared at the article for a moment, deciding to sit back and watch. Though MGM had poor performance this year, it was still a big name in the industry, and swallowing such an establishedpany wouldn''t be easy. Acquiring MGM would certainly double Firefly Films'' library, but fully taking over thepany would likely drain all avable liquidity, which seemed unwise considering that there were more valuable opportunities waiting for him.

    ...

    After breakfast, Eric didn''t rush to the office; he leisurely continued reading the newspaper. He heard the doorbell ring and got up to head to the living room.

    Tina Fey stood outside with a stack of documents, dressed in a smart ck office outfit, her signature ck-frame sses perched on her nose, and wearing small heels that made her stand tall.

    "Morning, Tina," Eric said with a hint of surprise. "What brings you here so early?"

    Tina looked at Eric, a bit shyly lowering her gaze and gesturing with the documents in her hand. "Drew mentioned yesterday that she wouldn''t be in the office for a while, so she asked me to bring over some materials to review here."

    Eric stepped aside to let her in. "You didn''t have toe this early; it''s only just past 8."

    "I... I didn''t have anything else to do," Tina replied awkwardly.

    Noticing her difort, Eric dropped the subject and led her to the dining room. "Have you had breakfast yet? I made some."

    "Not yet," Tina answered softly, cing her files on the dining table. She gazed nkly at Eric as he headed to the kitchen and then abruptly recalled something, quickly following him. "I''ll get it myself."

    "Alright, there''s milk and juice in the fridge, so just help yourself," Eric instructed as he returned to the dining area.

    Tina brought her breakfast over and sat down across from Eric, taking small bites like a cat and chatting with him intermittently. After Eric finished reading the newspaper, he casually noticed the documents Tina had set aside and asked, "What are these? Can I take a look?" "Sure, they are some scripts and other materials," Tina nodded.

    Opening the folder, Eric raised an eyebrow in surprise upon seeing a familiar name: Buffy the Vampire yer.

    Upon examining it more closely, Eric realized it was a development n for a television series. However, the file only contained a brief outline of about five to six pages. Since Eric had never followed Buffy the Vampire yer much, he wasn''t familiar with how this outlinepared to the original series. Still, he was surprised that Tina coulde up with this just from his casual mention to Elisabeth, and that they managed to acquire the television adaptation rights from Fox.

    Thinking it over, the development of a film''s surrounding value, besides remaking or developing sequels, typically included adapting it into a TV series. Given that Buffy the Vampire yer''s box office earnings weren''t particrly strong, there seemed little need for sequels or remakes. Thus, the focus would logically turn to developing a TV version.

    The original Buffy the Vampire yer series wouldn''t premiere until 1997, so they were starting five years early. Plus, with little original material for guidance, Eric had no idea if this TV show would be sessful. Still, given the ssics he remembered from his youth, Eric felt indifferent about the girls wanting to tackle Buffy.

    Waving the documents he held, Eric asked, "Are you all nning on making a TV series?" Tina nodded but asked back, surprised, "Isn''t this your suggestion?"

    "Not really; I just mentioned it in passing, and I didn''t expect Liz to run with it. How do you n to approach it?"

    Pausing her meal, Tina gathered her thoughts and replied, "We discussed it and n to adapt it into a fantasy adventure series aimed at teenagers."

    Recalling the original Buffy, which starred Sarah Michelle Ger, Eric agreed that their approach made sense since the version centered on the teen market. "That sounds good, but it might be best to take your time with the script. Audiences ultimately want to see a great story. I just read that outline, and I didn''t feel particrly impressed."

    Tina suddenly blushed and lowered her gaze because that outline was her work. Hearing Eric''sment stung a bit.

    Noticing her expression, Eric immediately understood. "You wrote this story outline?"

    "Yeah, I just tried to draft something."

    "Hey, it''s okay. For a novice like you, that''s already pretty good. Just practice more. I have a feeling you will be a great screenwriter," Eric smiled encouragingly.

    "Thank you, Eric," Tina replied, grateful for his encouragement.

    After quickly skimming through more of the other materials Tina brought and offering some small suggestions, Eric stood up. "I''ve got to head into work now. Drew will be getting up soon; you should stay here. There''s a fax machine on the east side of the partition; if any documentse in, could you help receive and organize them?"

    Tina nodded eagerly. "Sure!"

    After Eric exited the dining room, Tina instinctively put down her utensils and followed him

    out.

    Eric returned to the study to grab some files, changed his clothes, and as he left the vi, he noticed Tina trailing behind ike a housewife, he couldn''t help but hug the woman and kissed her on the corner of her lips, "I''m going to work; are you nning to leave today?"

    Not hearing him, Tina shook her head. "No, no, I won''t."

    "Oh, that''s good. Then stay tonight."

    "Okay... okay," the woman replied in a small voice.

    ...

    As October rolled in, there were less than two months until the year-end holiday release schedule. Firefly was gearing up for key releases like Speed, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Disney''s animated ddin, which were all nearlypleted and shifting into the promotional phase. The partnership with Columbia on Mr. & Mrs. Smith was also in its final stages of post-

    production.

    After returning to Los Angeles in recent days, Eric had been busy attending several high-level meetings at Firefly Entertainment concerning these films. Though the direct box office profits of films were bing a smaller share of the film industry chain, movies still held a crucial role as the lotive of the industry. If that lotivecked power, then the entire operation would experienceplications. Hence, every filmpany remained focused on ensuring that movies retained their paramount importance.

    After handing the script for Speed to Jan de Bont, Eric hadrgely stepped back from that project. He had written the script himself and passed it to the director from the original timeline. Moreover, the significance of this project for Jan''s transition from cinematographer to director ensured the film was treated with exceptional care. Following a test screening of Speed, Eric found no concerns. Compared to his memories, the film''s essence remainedrgely unchanged, with a tight narrative pace. Keanu Reeves still starred as the lead, and aside from a change in the female lead, there were not many significant alterations. After the higher-ups at Firefly viewed the rough cut, they unanimously gave it a positive review, proposing the most extravagant promotional scale

    they could.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    In contrast, Mr. & Mrs. Smith encountered a few small issues. John Woo, while experienced in directing many films, hailed from Hong Kong and had a shooting style that significantly differed from Hollywood''s. Additionally, John began his career with actionedies, frequently infusing excessive humor into many of his ssic gunfight films. While Eric juggled post-production for Jurassic Park, he had to personally get involved in editing Mr. & Mrs. Smith to cut unnecessaryedic scenes. Although the film containededic elements, its theme remained that of an action film exploring marital rtionships.

    One aspect that pleased Eric was that John Woo''s Hong Kong action team designed the action

    sequences for Mr. & Mrs. Smith to embody a distinctly Eastern Kung Fu film style. Eric believed

    that the action design surpassed that of the original version.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 497: Chapter 498: It Could Backfire

    Chapter 497: Chapter 498: It Could Backfire

    ?

    [Chapter 498: It Could Backfire]

    Eric didn''t deny it and said, "Both Tele-Communications and Comcast are ying their own games. In this situation, if Barry managed to sessfully acquire Paramount, that would be surprising."

    After this incident, it was clear that Barry Diller wouldn''t split from Tele-Communications and Comcast, but their coboration wouldn''tst too long either. Barry Diller''s talents in managing a televisionwork were beyond question. Eric believed that if he could win Barry to his side, it would certainly avoid the embarrassment that followed Disney''s acquisition of ABC in the original timeline.

    Katzenberg also recognized Eric''s thoughts and yfully countered, "That''s a great idea, but unfortunately, the chances of it happening are slim."

    "You can''t have any possibility if you don''t try," Eric replied.

    While they chatted, Katzenberg''s assistant knocked on the office door and peeked in, saying, "Mr. Williams, Mr. Katzenberg, Mr. Guber has arrived."

    "Let''s go check out the preview of Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Katzenberg said as he stood up.

    Just as the two stepped out of the office, Peter Guber walked over with a broad smile, warmly hugging both Eric and Katzenberg. Eric noticed that Peter''s assistant, John Peters, hadn''te along. Since returning to Los Angeles, he had vaguely heard about a conflict between Peter Guber and John Peters, apparently rted to the Superman rights at Warner Bros.

    In the 1980s, Warner had released four Superman films in a row, but each one did worse at the box office than thest. The fourth Superman film in 1987nded a dismal $15 million gross. Consequently, the Superman franchise was shelved, and DC Comics, which was tied to Warner Bros., fell into financial trouble. Disheartened, DC sold the movie rights to the Superman series, with the buyer being John Peters, who at that time owned his own productionpany.

    Although the second Batman film''s reviews and box office were not as strong as the first, it was still far better than the Superman series of the 1980s. Many began to recognize the potential for DC superhero movies, and the Superman film rights in John Peters''s hands caught the eyes of several buyers.

    As for the intricate details, Eric was less clear. However, from memory, he noted that over twenty yearster, John Peters''s name still appeared in the producer credits for Man of Steel, indicating that Warner Bros. had never fully regained the Superman rights despite all its efforts.

    At that moment, Eric could reasonably guess that Peter Guber was interested in the Superman rights held by John Peters, wanting Columbia Pictures to develop them, but the two must have disagreed on profit-sharing, leading to their conflict.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ...

    After some small talk among the three, they headed toward the screening room. By this time, several executives from Disney and Columbia Pictures had gathered, including the film''s director, John Woo. Since the two leads, Nicole Kidman and Pierce Brosnan, had already begun promotional work for the film, they were absent for this preview.

    Once Peter learned that Eric affirmed John Woo''s work, he dropped his previous discontent about Eric insisting on hiring John Woo and greeted him with a big smile.

    Eric didn''t make many alterations to the plot of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The film still began with the Smiths, who had been married for about five or six years, going for marriage counseling.

    However, it was precisely because Eric had kept the plot mostly unchanged that the audience in the screening room found it to be quite stunning. The film featured a series of high-tech gadgets, and although many effects were achieved through digital techniques of the time, it felt thrilling and even cooler than the high-tech appeal of the James Bond films.

    John and Jane, rival assassins from opposing groups, unexpectedly fall in love after meeting in the chaotic capital of Colombia. The pair swiftly married and began what appears to be the ordinary life of an American middle-ss family. However, behind this facade lies a series of assassination missions they each conceal from one another.

    Though John and Jane managed to keep their identities secret from each other, their respective assassin organizations eventually learned the truth. To eliminate the ''instability'' presented by the two, both groups independently coborated on a mission against them.

    John and Jane soon figured out each other''s identities. After a series of twists and turns, they confronted one another in the vi where they had lived for six years, ultimatelying to understand their feelings andunching a counterattack for survival.

    The film bnced thrilling action with asional warmth and humor. After Eric''s re-edit, the storyline felt even tighter.

    After a one hundred twenty-minute viewing, the film concluded with the roar of a rock song. The executives in the screening room patiently waited for the credits to roll, and when the lights came up, they apuded enthusiastically.

    ...

    "Mr. Woo, thank you for bringing us such an incredible film," Peter Guber said, pping andplimenting John Woo, who sat beside him.

    John Woo, being modest, deflected thepliments with a few humble remarks, although it was clear from his expression that he was pleased and proud.

    The release schedule and marketing n for Mr. & Mrs. Smith had already been set before the film waspleted, ted to premiere on December 18 during the Christmas season. This private screening was merely a final check for the executives involved to make minor adjustments to the marketing strategy. However, having viewed the film, all parties, including Peter Guber from Columbia, had no objections to the hefty $25 million marketing budget.

    Interestingly, it seemed Warner Bros. aimed to generate buzz by scheduling another Eric''s film The Bodyguard, for which he had secured Sam Neill as the lead, for release on December 18 as well,peting directly with Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

    Since he was credited as an executive producer, Eric couldn''t afford to ignore The Bodyguard. Although Warner only wanted to leverage Eric''s fame to boost box office numbers, a few days prior, they invited him to join a screening of the film. Eric felt the biggest selling point of The Bodyguard was Kevin Costner, the previous year''s Oscar winner for Best Director and Best Actor. Of course, Whitney Houston''s songs would also draw attention, but aside from that, Eric didn''t find the story particrly special.

    ...

    Eric spent nearly all of October in this busy routine. Besides keeping an eye on uing film releases, he also began discussions with the Firefly management team regarding next year''s production and distribution ns.

    By the end of October, Rnd Emmerich wrapped up filming for his nearly twenty-week project, Deep Impact. Emmerich had never managed such arge-scale production before, and as a result, the pace was much slowerpared to Eric''s smooth filming of Jurassic Park. But fortunately, Rnd Emmerich didn''t exceed the budget, and the film soon moved into post- production.

    ...

    November arrived quickly. With the Thanksgiving Christmas release window approaching, at the beginning of the month, Firefly, like other major filmpanies, released its small- budget horror films, but Eric paid little attention to these low-budget projects that hadn''t even reached ten million dors. He entrusted those to Firefly''s management team.

    ...

    Besides films, another pivotal event urred in November that was vital for the U.S. On November 3rd, the four-year U.S. presidential election results were announced, congratting Democratic candidate William Jefferson Clinton for narrowly defeating incumbent Republican candidate George H.W. Bush with 42% to Bush''s 37%, sessfully bing the 42nd President of the United States.

    Eric finally breathed a sigh of relief; history had not altered as he feared. If Clinton hadn''t be president, many unpredictable oues could have arisen. Perhaps America would have missed out on a decade of the fastest economic growth in its history.

    At his estate, Eric was discussing the matter with Kathryn Bigelow, who visited him. "Now do you believe me? I said all along that even without an early release of Riot documentary, Clinton still stood a chance to win because his economic policies were far superior to Bush''s

    team."

    Kathryn merely shot him a nce, sipping delicately from her ss of water. Clinton''s win had almost been a narrow victory; in fact, before the final vote count, Bush had even enjoyed higher approval ratings. Thus, the results shocked many.

    During the production of the documentary about the Los Angeles riots, Kathryn had gradually be a supporter of Clinton. Many directors and stars in Hollywood were backing Clinton

    too, including Spielberg and George Lucas.

    Consequently, afterpleting the Riot documentary, Kathryn suggested to Eric that they release it in September to support Clinton, but Eric, who was then in France, turned her down. This documentary attributed a significant portion of the causes of the Los Angeles riots to the high unemployment rate in South Los Angeles. While Bush''s administration had celebrated winning the Gulf War, thrilling a nation that hadn''t seen much military sess since World War II, the economic policies implemented during his four-year term ultimately failed. Unemployment had soared to 9%, there were continuous budget deficits, and the national debt reached an astounding $4 trillion -- a figure hard toprehend in the early 1990s when

    the dor was strong.

    A littleter, Kathryn said, "A mere 5% lead could easily slip away. Didn''t you say you were also a supporter of Clinton? Why did you oppose my release of this documentary back then?"

    "Because your intentions were too transparent, and it could backfire," Eric replied.

    "How could that be?" Kathryn asked, surprised.

    The reason Eric said this was because of the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Michael Moore

    faced pressure to release that controversial documentary about the events surrounding 9/11 while George W. Bush campaigned for re-election. Instead of tarnishing Bush''s support, the extreme viewpoints in Fahrenheit 9/11 only sparked a bacsh among some voters against Moore''s ideas.

    In summary, even Bush''s electoral opponent disagreed with Moore''s stance, putting themselves in opposition to him, yet Bush ultimately won re-election. Kathryn''s documentary on the Los Angeles riots, while not as blunt as Moore''s work, still pointed fingers at the economic policy failures of the Bush administration. During these tense times, it could easily be twisted by Bush''s campaign team as evidence to discredit him as a rival -- after all, Bush was still the President, possessing far more resources than Clinton. "People''s hearts are difficult to fathom. Sometimes you might think you''re doing the right thing, but others couldpletely interpret it the other way," Eric said thoughtfully. Kathryn wasn''t naive; upon hearing this from Eric, she soon grasped the implications and couldn''t help but sigh softly.

    Seeing her show such a rare expression, Eric consoled her, saying, "Don''t worry, Firefly ns to release the documentary in mid-December, and I promise it will at least earn a nomination for Best Documentary at the Oscars."

    Kathryn knew Eric meant well and nodded. She understood that the subject matter of Riot was

    too sensitive; while it was profound, not many people wanted to confront it. Moreover, the documentary was still too close to the events it depicted, urring less than a year after the riots. Although some sought reflection, most subconsciously wanted to avoid discussing it

    until many years passed.

    In this context, obtaining an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary would already be a major achievement; winning was unlikely.

    "Next, you can focus on making Saving Private Ryan," Eric said, and with a yful grin, he added, "Oh, and by the way, Jim''s True Lies also joined Firefly''s project n for next yearst

    month. I''m thinking of putting it in the summer release of the following year. What do you think?"

    A year had passed since Kathryn''s feelings about Cameron''s betrayal had eased significantly. Upon hearing this, she merely shot Eric a mock re and said, "You just love stirring the pot,

    don''t you?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 499: Chapter 500: Days Involving Vampires

    Chapter 499: Chapter 500: Days Involving Vampires

    ?

    [Chapter 500: Days Involving Vampires]

    In the kitchen, Eric dismissed the estate''s chef and personally poured thest of the corn sweet soup into arge porcin bowl. He carried it into the dining room where Kathryn sat stiffly at the table, looking a bit uneasy. As Eric set the soup down and prepared to crack a joke, he noticed that the little girl beside him was also sitting up straight, her thin lips pressed together in a manner that clearly imitated Kathryn.

    Seeing this, Eric stifled augh and ruffled the girl''s hair, warning her with a yful tone, "Drew, no shenanigans or I might just kick you out."

    "Here we go again... ah, let go! Always that line; can''t youe up with something new?" Drew shouted as she swatted Eric''s hand away, abandoning her imitation of Kathryn.

    Eric settled onto the other side of the long table, ignoring the girl, and turned to the woman opposite him. "Sorry, Kathryn. Drew sometimes likes to be a bit of a handful. Please don''t mind her."

    "It''s fine," Kathryn replied, shaking her head, though she still looked a bit uneasy.

    Eric nced at both women, slightly regretting his decision to keep Kathryn around. Drew and Kathryn were pr opposites; one was carefree and wild, while the other wasposed and proper. Eric could imagine that if another woman had been sitting there, Drew would have imitated her too, and the mood would have taken apletely different turn.

    With Drew being such a bright distraction, Eric was left with no choice but to have a serious discussion about movies with Kathryn. After dinner, he gentlemanly escorted her to her car. The atmosphere didn''t seem to head in any other direction. Still, this environment had evidently eased Kathryn''s nerves, as with Eric present, Drew didn''t act out anymore.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Like a statue," Drew finally blurted out as she watched Kathryn''s car pull away from the estate, the tension she had been holding all evening dissipating.

    Eric shot a nce at Drew, her slim waist cinched by a light blue fitted trench coat, and lowered his voice as if threatening her. "Kathryn''s lifestyle is the healthiest. If you continue down your current path, by the time you hit thirty, you''ll start piling on the pounds, tipping the scale at a hundred fifty, and wrinkles will creep onto your forehead and smile lines. Your hair will lose its shine, and you''ll sport bags under your eyes all day..."

    "Ahhh!" Before Eric could finish, Drew shrieked and jumped onto him, covering his mouth with her tiny hand. "Don''t scare me like that! I won''t end up like you said -- I''ve changed a lot!"

    Ericughed, patting Drew''s back to encourage her to let him go. "Okay, alright, I was just kidding. I was referring to those stars who got addicted to substances; that''s what really wrecks health."

    "It''s been years since I touched that stuff..." Drew said, tugging at Eric''s arm in a faux innocent manner.

    Eric was reminded of some Hollywood stars he knew from his previous life, including the girl beside him. They had struggled with addiction and while some managed to free themselves from those vices, their bodies were often the ones to pay the price. Some were severely skinny and had a hard time putting on weight (not that Angelina was starving herself...), while others struggled to lose weight and ended up needing makeup to create fake abs.

    ...

    Some time before Thanksgiving, Eric felt as though he had inexplicably been dragged into the world of vampires.

    First, Neil Jordan, the director of Interview with the Vampire, contacted him. A weekter, Neil handed Eric a production proposal along with a script he had personally written. After a quick skim, Eric made a few modifications based on his memory and handed it over to Firefly Films'' production department for a budget assessment, all while contacting Geffen Pictures regarding the film''s rights.

    ...

    Then, he epted Francis Ford Copp''s invitation to attend the premiere of Bram Stoker''s Drac.

    The film was produced by Columbia Pictures. Given that Copp''s previous works hadn''t met great sess, Columbia wasn''t too optimistic about this one either, scheduling its release just a week before Thanksgiving, on November 13.

    To their surprise, however, Bram Stoker''s Drac generated excellent buzz in early screenings, leading to a box office take of $38 million in its opening weekend. It was a great way to kick off the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

    Eric wasn''t initially very interested in the film; however, since Drew and Elisabeth insisted on attending the premiere for the sake of their preparation for the Buffy the Vampire yer series, he reluctantly brought them along.

    The movie wasn''t too different from what Eric remembered. However, due to his role in Speed, Keanu Reeves hadn''t portrayed Jonathan Harker, and Monica Belli''s chances to make her Hollywood debut flew out the window as another unknown actress took her ce. As for the stunning Italian beauty, Eric had no idea where she was now. During these past years, many Hollywood stars who should''ve been debuting around this time had yet to surface.

    After attending Bram Stoker''s Drac, it was immediately followed by Buffy the Vampire yer. Though Eric had never been obsessed with dramas, he could recall dozens of ssic series, so when the three women took charge of Buffy the Vampire yer, he didn''t feel too disappointed -- the show wouldn''t be missing out on anything significant.

    However, over this period, Elisabeth and Drew had hired several screenwriters to draft outlines. Even Tina Fey, who was assisting Drew, attempted her hand at writing, but all their efforts yielded less than satisfactory results. Eventually, they circled back to Eric.

    "Demanding me to be the producer? I charge quite a bit," Eric said with a chuckle as he looked up from his desk, which was littered with documents.

    Elisabeth cleared a small space on Eric''s desk, pulling out a stack of scripts from her bag to hand to him. "This is the original script by Joss Whedon for Buffy the Vampire yer. It''s brilliant; it was just butchered in production. If the film had adhered to the script, the results would surely be better. That''s why when I asked Joss to write the series script, he turned it down. The other writers have produced disappointing work, but today I contacted him again, and he said he would only agree to write if you were the producer."

    During this time, Eric had hastily watched through the film version of Buffy the Vampire yer, and he was rather disappointed. Calling it childish would not be excessive, especially during the part where the vampires attacked a school party, which felt more like a prank than a horror scene no blood was shed at all. Eric understood the reason behind it was to adhere to film rating rules, but the director had clearly gone overboard.

    As he read through the script in his hands, Eric felt like he was looking at apletely different story. Just as Elisabeth had said, the original script was significantly more engaging than the film. Joss Whedon was undoubtedly a talented director and writer in Hollywood, but before helming the Marvel Avengers series, the films he directed mostly flopped, and he was lingering mostly in the world of television. Still, his captivating sci-fi and fantasy elements garnered him a loyal following among the geekmunity.

    Speedily flipping through the script, Eric finally nced at the woman across from him. "I''m just a tad curious -- this series you''re producing can''t possibly end up on Disney Channel, right? And besides, I''ve never even met Joss Whedon. By all ounts, this really doesn''t concern me; how could he think of me as the producer?"

    "Of course, they want to ensure the quality of the series," Elisabeth answered quickly.

    Eric caressed the script, a slight smile creeping across his face. "Drew came with you, right? She''s definitely downstairs now. Do you know why the little girl didn''t want toe upstairs

    with you?"

    Elisabeth instinctively revealed too much. "Why?"

    "Because I can usually tell when the girl is lying; she knows it, too. That''s why she didn''t want toe up, fearing she might slip up," Eric replied, pointing at Elisabeth and smiling more broadly. "But you''re the same, Liz. When you lie, you unconsciously speed up your speech, plus a few other little nuances I won''t mention, or else you''ll just change them and I won''t

    catch you next time."

    Elisabeth shot a re at Eric for a moment before finally relenting. "Okay, you''re really such a nitpick. Joss Whedon''s initial condition was he wanted to direct, but he has no experience, so I obviously couldn''t trust him and tried to negotiate."

    Eric scrutinized Elisabeth, rolling with her tone. "And then you conveniently pushed me in,

    right?"

    In Hollywood, credentials really mattered. If Joss Whedon could work with Eric -- even if that work was just indirect -- it would still add sparkle to his resume, particrly with Eric''s

    current standing in Hollywood.

    Elisabeth, who often sensed pressure in Eric''s gaze sharper than the rest, habitually bounced back, raising her chin with confidence. "Yeah, just want you to lend your name; no need to

    chase me down like that."

    Noticing that Elisabeth was beginning to bristle, Eric reached over and handed her a nearby coffee cup. "Alright, alright. Go make me a cup of coffee, and have Drewe up too." Automatically, Elisabeth grabbed the dainty bone china cup from him. Once she stood up, she seem to realize what she was doing, shooting Eric an eye-roll. Yet, she left the office a bit smug, clutching the cup as if she''d won a small victory.

    ...

    A few minutester, Drew pushed open Eric''s office door, poking her head in with a cheeky grin before bouncing fully into the room. Elisabeth followed behind, andstly, Tina Fey strolled in with a cup of coffee.

    Now that Eric had decided to agree to be the producer for Buffy the Vampire yer, he clearly wouldn''t just p his name on a project. The two women in front of him didn''t seem willing

    to let him off easy.

    However, Eric noticed something else. Now that he was involved in television production, the initial developmental ns he had for Firefly were no longer applicable. This was merely a reflection of the normal trend for individuals to climb higher in their careers. Just like Miramax -- Disney acquired Miramax hoping the Weinstein brothers would focus on art films to make inroads at the Oscars, but ultimately, Miramax began to eye big-budget projects, resulting in a split from Disney due to their differing visions.

    The box office performance in Hollywood over the recent years had been noteworthy, and both Elisabeth and Drew didn''t naturally possess a calm demeanor. Their ambitions to push things forward were understandable. With Firefly and Fox supporting them, Eric wasn''t too concerned that generating more productions would lead to distribution issues.

    "Let''s cast a female lead with a sweet look, someone with that girl-next-door vibe. Forget

    about Christina Swanson from the film version. Once we find the right actress, we can have her undergo some physical training. You guys can get in touch with John Woo; his stunt team should still be in the States before heading back to Hong Kong," Eric suggested, and Tina Fey

    took notes diligently.

    However, Elisabeth interrupted, "Eric, this is a vampire movie; wouldn''t adding kung fu elements seem a bit odd?"

    Hearing her, Ericughed. "Hiring Hong Kong action directors doesn''t mean we have to incorporate kung fu. Primarily, they can design some really cool action sequences, which will attract viewers. The series will feature plenty of fight scenes between Buffy and the vampires,

    and if we keep the same awful fight choreography from the film, I think it''s better not to make the series at all."

    Elisabeth and Drew nodded furiously as Eric spoke, instructing Tina Fey to jot down their

    progress.

    After discussing several more details and bouncing around ideas for about an hour, Eric concluded, "That''s all for now; I''ll let you know other things as I think of them."

    The three women left his office, satisfied. In the following days, they quickly began casting

    for Buffy the Vampire yer.

    After experiencing one of the busiest stretches just before Thanksgiving, with Firefly''s marketing department tirelessly working for two major holiday releases, Eric wrapped up most of his work for the year. On November 19, after attending the premiere of Speed, he rushed off to New York to join the two women he had been expecting for Thanksgiving, who

    were taking some time off in East Hampton.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 501: Chapter 502: The Right Moment

    Chapter 501: Chapter 502: The Right Moment

    ?

    [Chapter 502: The Right Moment]

    The emergence of graphical web browsers like Inte Explorer (IE) significantly transformed how ordinary people essed the inte. Previously, users needed to navigateplex procedures to get online, which kept most people from bing avid surfers. However, with IE''s integration of the Yahoo homepage, everyday users could browse inte information ording to their preferences. They could also leverage Yahoo''s search engine features to find content that piqued their interest. This shift made it much easier for people who had almost no experience withputers to explore the web.

    Thanks to effective advertising and word-of-mouth, IE sold 110,000 copies across major North American cities within just a week of itsunch. Although thepany didn''t impose a limit on instations from each floppy disk, the software''s sales trajectory continued to rise rapidly without any sign of decline. Some retailers even raised the prices significantly due to the overwhelming demand.

    The poprity of IE not only resulted in a surge in user applications for inte services from mainstream telmunicationspanies but also led to a notable increase in personalputer sales for major brands by the end of the year.

    Meanwhile, both mainstream newspapers and specializedputer magazines attentively tracked the sudden market arrival of this "magic software." Almost all North American TV news channels featured special reports on IE''s soaring sales. More specialized publications like PC Magazine, InfoWorld, and Byte Magazine praised IE extensively, offering in-depth analyses of IE and Yahoo in theirtest issues.

    ...

    Standing by the window in his study, Eric hung up his mobile phone and returned to the seating area by the sofa. Chris slid a freshly brewed cup of coffee toward him, curiously asking, "From Los Angeles?"

    Eric nodded. "Warner wanted me to attend the premiere of The Bodyguard, but I turned it down. I''ve been getting calls like that all week. Spielberg even had Drew call me two days ago to test if I could make it to the premiere of Schindler''s List."

    Chris chuckled and inquired, "You''re going to attend the premiere of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, right? After all, you''re the screenwriter."

    "Maybe," Eric said, taking a sip of his coffee.

    Suddenly, lightughter came from the desk behind him. Turning around, Eric saw Virginia, Joanna, and Emily, who hade with Chris, huddled around aputer screen whispering to each other.

    While Eric couldn''t fully grasp the industry''s adtion for IE, Virginia made him aware of it. Due to the convenience of IE and Yahoo, Virginia, who previously had no interest inputers, had be fascinated with inte browsing, spending hours in front of theputer screen. She often dragged Joanna along. If it weren''t for the severe radiation fromputer screens, which often left her skin oily after extended exposure, Virginia would have wanted to hold onto theputer all day long.

    Following Eric''s gaze, Chris smiled knowingly at the sight of the three women.

    "News from the IE headquarters indicates that in less than two weeks since itsunch, total instations of the IE software have already surpassed three million, and it continues to grow explosively. As long as nopetitors emerge, IE is expected to cover all inte users in North America and Europe within three months. Likewise, Yahoo''s homepage traffic is skyrocketing, and thepany is expanding its website''s server to amodate the influx."

    Eric patiently listened to Chris''s information before asking, "These are all good news. Is there anything else?"

    "Of course," Chris replied. "Lately, Microsoft, Apple, IBM, and Oracle have all approached me about potentially buying IE and Yahoo. Apple even offered a high price of $150 million for bothpanies, clearly aiming for its operating system to dominate the IE software market. Additionally, several major inte service providers have contacted me. Steve Case from America Online ns to visit tomorrow to discuss personally."

    Eric only invested about $30 million in IE, Yahoo, and Hotmail online email services over the past year. If he sold IE and Yahoo to Apple, that would mean a quick five-fold return on his investment. However, with IE and Yahoo showing such strong growth potential, only a fool would sell them off. Other investors would typically consider going public to cash in after a while, but Eric had no intention of doing so before 1995.

    However, America Online was a very important piece in Eric''s inte strategy, and with Steve Case expressing interest in bothpanies, it would be unwise to ignore him. "What does Steve Case want?" he asked.

    "He hopes to acquire IE and Yahoo, or at least Yahoo," Chris responded, gauging Eric''s reaction. Knowing Eric well, Chris felt certain he wouldn''t part with eitherpany.

    "His interest in merging with either IE or Yahoo might not be a bad option," Chris considered aloud.

    At this time, America Online had begun exploring online advertising. In September, Steve Case secured a $1 million online advertising deal, which, while insignificantpared to what a TVwork or print media would typically charge, was arguably a breakthrough for the nascent inte. This demonstrated Case''s outstanding managerial capabilities.

    Seeing the contemtive expression on Chris''s face, Eric thought for a moment before saying, "Chris, do you know why I initially set up the browser, portal, and email services as three separatepanies?"

    Chris smiled but remained silent, suggesting Eric continue.

    Eric didn''t keep them in suspense, adding, "Because theputer and inte information industry is vastly different from the nearly century-old film industry. This is an emerging industry with plenty of aspects still in their infancy. Making a hasty move towards diversification isn''t wise. If apany has too broad a product line, it bes difficult to focus on excelling in any one area. The rapid development ofputer and inte technologies means that if you fall behind, yourpetitors could leave you in the dust." "So you want these threepanies to operate independently. Refusing the Yahoo team''s suggestion to set IE as the homepage means you want them to maintain a strong drive to improve their positions, right?" Chris surmised.

    Noticing that Chris had guessed his intention, Eric smiled. "Exactly. My n is to wait until these enterprises achieve undisputed dominance in their respective fields before considering horizontal expansion. That''s the sensible approach, rather than spreading ourselves thin from the start and ultimately falling behind more focusedpetitors, leading to failure across the board."

    "What should I say to Steve Case when hees by tomorrow?" Chris asked.

    "If he needs a reason, just tell him what I just said. Both IE and Yahoo could engage in deeper cooperative ventures with America Online in certain areas, which would undoubtedly be mutually beneficial, but a merger isn''t in the cards."

    While they chatted, lightughter again came from behind them. Eric turned around and asked, "Heydies, what''s so funny? Care to share?"

    "Nothing much, Vicky found a joke website," Emily replied, looking up.

    Virginia also shifted her gaze from the screen and said to Eric, "I realized something."

    "What''s that?" Eric asked, leaning back with a smile, cradling his coffee. Virginia pointed at theputer screen and eximed, "Although some information on these websites is interesting and diverse, much of it is outdated. We just saw a fashion website that provided brand information, and I actually read some of thatst year in a magazine. The news sources aren''t current either."

    Eric felt a spark of inspiration but kept hisposure. "What do you think should be done

    about it?"

    Virginia replied, puzzled, "What''s it to me? If they''ve got dated info, I''ll simply stop

    visiting."

    Emily, sitting beside Virginia, noticed the flicker in Eric''s eyes and remarked, "Eric, you''re definitely onto something, aren''t you?"

    "Yes," Eric nodded, turning to Chris with an enlightened expression. "Chris is on the same

    page."

    Virginia typed a few keys on the keyboard, casting a curious nce at Eric and Chris. "Then just say it already! Hiding things is no fun."

    Chris looked over at Eric andmented, "I think Yahoo can create its own content. I''m not sure if you feel the same, Eric."

    As portal websites evolved, they mainly split into those offering search engine capabilities and those focused more on providing news. Although the former seemed more promising, the current scale of the inte hadn''t yet reached the point whererge search engines could thrive. Yahoo''s existing search technology was sufficient. Thus, shifting towards a primarily news-based portal was undoubtedly a safer choice.

    Eric agreed. "Close enough, but with so many content sections on Yahoo''s main site, it simply wouldn''t be feasible to do it all. They could test a few aspects that inte users find most

    engaging first."

    "Perhaps...," Chris nced back at the women at the desk, lowering his voice slightly. "Don''t you think coborating with traditional print media could be a more efficient way to obtain

    content?"

    Looking at Chris''s sly demeanor, Eric instantly thought of News Corporation. His rtionship with Elisabeth wasn''t a secret among those present, and Chris''s expression suggested he wanted Eric to take the lead.

    News Corporation had operations across Australia, Europe, and North America, virtually covering the entire Western world with numerous types of newspapers, magazines, and arge number of televisionworks. Coborating with News Corporation for content could be the difference between Yahoo thriving and merely surviving. However, solely considering Yahoo, the enormous News Corporation wouldn''t likely be interested in a small fry like Yahoo, which had only just begun making waves in the online

    world.

    Eric didn''t dismiss Chris''s idea right away. "I''ll make time to talk to Mr. Murdoch, but I''m not overly optimistic. Establishing a dedicated content editing department at Yahoo is the way forward. Besides, Yahoo doesn''t need to coborate with such a colossal media group. Simply working with some individual newspapers and magazines for content would suffice." "I''ll head back and have the Yahoo team draft a n ASAP," Chris nodded.

    After a moment of thought, Eric added, "One more thing: now that IE and Yahoo have

    launched, it''s also time for stock equity incentives. I n to allocate up to 20% equity for eachpany as rewards, but the payout will take ce in 1995. Of course, these aren''t being handed out unconditionally. The specifics of how much equity will be awarded depend on negotiations with eachpany''s management team. The key metrics will include product market share, user numbers, revenue, patent holdings,pany evaluation, etc., as of 1995." It''s quitemon for investors to grant equity incentives to management teams making significant contributions to apany. This not only keeps thepany motivated but also boosts its cohesiveness.

    Although Chris thought Eric''s proposal of 20% equity was somewhat excessive, he understood that this was the best way to maximize motivation across the threepanies. Moreover, Eric pointed out that it was up to 20%, not a mandatory distribution. If the teams didn''t meet expectations, the equity incentives would certainly decrease. However, securing 20% to retain a team capable of keeping the threepanies in a leading market position was

    a worthwhile investment.

    Thinking along these lines, Chris began to ponder specific contract details with the three

    companies'' management.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 503: Chapter 504: The Market Value of Firefly Films

    Chapter 503: Chapter 504: The Market Value of Firefly Films

    ?

    [Chapter 504: The Market Value of Firefly Films]

    The media in North America, interested in Firefly''s revenue situation, began to analyze information collected through other channels after being denied ess to Firefly''s public annual financial reports and having their interview requests rejected by the higher-ups at Firefly.

    The professional financial media provided somewhat reliable data, whereas the non- professional entertainment outlets didn''t bother with fact-checking, often concocting sensationalized stories purely for attention.

    Before long, spection about Firefly''s operations flooded various publications, with most of them making baseless exaggerations that remarkably boosted their sales. Within just a few days, articles imed that Firefly''s annual profit had skyrocketed to $2.6 billion, leaving even Eric puzzled as to how the magazines had arrived at such figures.

    Jeffrey pushed open the door to Eric''s office and found Eric deeply sunk into his leather chair, legs propped up on a dark red desk. Eric casually flipped through a thick printed document when Jeffrey knocked on the doorframe.

    Eric straightened up, set the document on the table, and gestured to Jeffrey, "Jeffrey, what''s on your mind?"

    Jeffrey walked over, pulled out a chair to sit across from Eric, and nced at the document Eric had been reading. Curiously, he asked, "Is that a new script?"

    "No," Eric chuckled, sliding the document toward him. "Take a look; it''s from Chris." Seeing it was something from his son, Jeffrey took the document and discovered it was a draft contract for an incentive n for the management of IE Company. After skipping through a few pages, Jeffrey began to feel dizzy; it was over a hundred pages long and looked more like a thick book than a simple contract. The uses were even moreplicated than the agreements Hollywood stars signed with production studios.

    "Chris and I discussed this during Thanksgiving. We n to grant around 20% equity rewards to the management of IE, Yahoo, and Hotmail based on their performance in 1995," Eric exined upon seeing Jeffrey set the document aside so quickly.

    Given the market expansion shown by both IE and Yahoo, both of which had previously exited product lines but were now valued at over a hundred million dors in the capital market, the 20% equity incentive was significant. Chris had negotiated with management from all threepanies for a full month before reaching an agreement. Furthermore, the contract detailed every possible scenario meticulously, which surprised even Eric when he first saw it. But upon reading it, he realized all the uses were well-founded, showing Chris had dedicated substantial effort to this matter.

    "I don''t really understand all this," Jeffrey said with a smile, shaking his head. Then he added, "Carolyn has alreadypleted the annual financial report. You should have a look." With that, he handed Eric another document he had brought in.

    "Oh, that was quick! I thought it would take another week," Eric remarked, taking the document. New Year had just passed, and he hadn''t expected the finance department to work so efficiently.

    "I pushed Carolyn a few times," Jeffrey said, watching Eric go through the document. "With all themotion outside, I figured it was better to get it done sooner rather thanter. Say, Eric, should we ask Carolyn to hold a press conference to reveal a bit of information? Otherwise, the media won''t let up."

    Eric, perusing Firefly''s 1992 financial report, responded, "They already inted Firefly''s annual profit to $2.6 billion. Anyone with any sense knows that''s nonsense, so let them guess. We''re not obliged to satisfy their curiosity."

    Jeffrey chuckled, looking quite pleased. "Even though $2.6 billion does sound outrageous, if the North American and overseas film and entertainment markets continue to expand at this rate, Firefly could reach that level in a few years."

    "Of course, that''s just a matter of time," Eric agreed.

    ...

    Currently, Firefly''s primary revenue streams included film and entertainment, merchandise, theme parks, and television. Unlike a decadeter when film and entertainment profits represented only a small fraction of revenue for media conglomerates, at that time, revenue from Hollywood''s top seven studios was still the main cash cow.

    In Firefly''s 1992 financial report, total revenue from film and entertainment -- covering North American box office, overseas box office, and video distribution -- amounted to $4.2 billion. Although overseas box office revenue led with $1.8 billion, its profit margin was the lowest; after deducting costs such as theater shares and distribution budgets, profits from overseas stood at around $250 million with a mere 14% margin. In contrast, North American box office revenue was highly profitable, bringing in $1.5 billion, of which Fireflyted $520 million after deducting marketing and production costs. Finally, the profit margin from video distribution was the highest, yielding $580 million from $900 million in revenue after production costs, and even surpassed North American box office earnings.

    The merchandise earnings primarily came from the Disney merchandise stores. After acquiring Disney, Firefly delegated the development rights for the hit Toy Story merchandise to Disney''s relevant departments. As a result, Disney store sales reached $1.6 billion this year, yielding $330 million in profit. Earnings from theme parks and resorts amounted to $3.7 billion, but with a hefty operating cost, the profit margin was only about 10%, generating $360 million.

    Additionally, the financial department ssified the television show licensing earnings from Firefly''s films under the television business segment. The total profit from shows like Friends, The X-Files, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, along with Firefly''s 10% stake in Fox Television Network, reached $720 million.

    If operating expenses were ignored entirely, the total profit from these streams would equate to $2.76 billion, which was quite close to the $2.6 billion annual profit reported in the media.

    However, even with some costs already deducted, the sries for the thousands of employees within Firefly''s system, along with other expenses, remained substantial. Firefly also needed to provide ongoing funding for the technical departments of Digital Domain and Pixar Studio, as well as start paying off part of the $2 billion debt owed from the Disney acquisition. After all these deductions, Firefly''s profit narrowed down to around $1.5 billion.

    That didn''t even ount for the profit that actually fell into Firefly''s pocket. Let''s not forget that the state tax rate in North America was a staggering 35%. After paying taxes, Firefly''s annual profit came down to about $980 million.

    ...

    "980 million!" Eric eximed upon seeing the final figure, feeling a strong urge to battle the tax issues with the IRS.

    "Yes, $980 million!" Jeffrey''s tone was quite exhrated. Among the seven major studios in Hollywood, due to owning higher-profit entities like Turner Broadcasting, Warner''s annual profit stood at $950 million. Warner had maintained its dominant position in Hollywood for nearly a decade, but Eric''s report marked the moment Firefly would surpass Warner as Hollywood''s top dog. Jeffrey could not help but inquire, "Eric, what do you n to do next?"

    Eric set the financial report down, shaking his head. "I haven''t made any further ns yet -- at least not until next year."

    "Why not? We already have all this cash on hand. It would be a shame not to invest it," Jeffrey countered, surprised.

    "But we can''t just invest for the sake of investing, and this cash might not even cover my needs," Eric replied. ording to historical trends, as film investment scales grew, profits in film and entertainment tended to diminish; meanwhile, televisionwork profits had been steadily climbing. In a decade, they could represent more than half of all revenues for any

    media conglomerate.

    Thus, Firefly''s next expansion n would undoubtedly need to pivot towards television. However, even though the three major televisionworks in North America had yet to fall into the hands of any media conglomerates and their values hadn''t begun skyrocketing, attempting to acquire them wouldn''te cheap. The oil crisis during the Gulf War was a rare opportunity forrge profits, and Eric didn''t want to heavily leverage investment institutions. The best strategy was to umte funds through Firefly''s own strength.

    While this year''s profitability had already energized thepany, if next year''s Jurassic Park could achieve the same sensation and record-breaking box office as in the original timeline, then Firefly''s profits would surge once more, allowing them to gather sufficient funds for

    acquiring a televisionwork.

    ...

    While Eric was sharing his future ns with Jeffrey, Allen knocked a few times on the office door and, after receiving permission, walked in.

    "Eric, there''s an interview request here for you. I think you need to see this," Allen said,

    nodding at Jeffrey as he approached.

    Eric was puzzled. He had told Allen to reject all media interview requests, and since Allen had

    brought this one to him, it likely wasn''t a typical invitation.

    "From Forbes magazine?" Eric raised an eyebrow at the interview invitation, sensing

    something unsettling.

    Allen nodded, looking quite pleased. "This is an invitation from Steve Forbes himself, the editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine. There are some materials attached."

    Eric acknowledged with a murmur but continued reading.

    Since the early 1980s, Forbes had published a sensational list of America''s billionaires. In

    1985, due to the rapid rise of Walmart, Sam Walton had been atop that list as the richest

    American.

    However, unfortunately, Sam Walton had passed awayst April, with his wealth of over $20 billion distributed among his wife and children. Under such circumstances, although the Walton family remained the richest in the U.S., none of its members could climb to the top of the North American wealth rankings again.

    At that moment, the materials apanying the interview request from Forbes outlined an overall valuation of Firefly Films, which came to $10.5 billion. After ounting for Firefly''s liabilities and assessing Eric''s assets from the Firefly Investment Company, Forbes estimated Eric''s worth at $9.5 billion, a figure capable of securing the top spot on the American billionaires'' list.

    In the original timeline, in 1995, Bill Gates had skyrocketed in wealth thanks to the sess of

    Windows 95 and topped the wealth list at over $12 billion. Yet in the current context, the North American economy hadn''t begun its recovery, and with Sam Walton''s passing, Eric''s valuation of $9.5 billion was sufficient to take the number one spot.

    Counting carefully, Eric held over 98% of Firefly''s assets, while Jeffrey and Michael Lynn''s

    shares had been diluted after the acquisition of Disney. Jeffrey''s share was down to 1%, and Michael''s was even less, while Pixar executives like John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, and Stan Winston merely held stakes in corresponding subsidiaries. Therefore, it could be said that Eric owned nearly all of Firefly.

    If Firefly had been a publicly tradedpany, given its performance this year, crossing Forbes'' valuation of $10.5 billion wouldn''t have posed much of a challenge once the annual report was released. However, Forbes seemed acutely aware of the vtility of film investments, and thus provided a rtively urate valuation. This number, minus Firefly Films'' liabilities, reflected Eric''s worth. Additionally, after Cisco''s many expansion- oriented mergers and acquisitions, Firefly Investment''s shareholding has slightly decreased, but it still maintains a 36% shareholding, which at Cisco''s current valuation was worth around a billion dors, representing Firefly Investment''s most valuable enterprise. The cash reserves of a billion dors in Firefly Investment evidently eluded Forbes'' grasp. Putting it all together, $9.5 billion seemed to align closely with Eric''s current wealth status.

    *****n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 505: Chapter 506: Breaking It Down

    Chapter 505: Chapter 506: Breaking It Down

    ?

    [Chapter 506: Breaking It Down]

    Eric stepped off the ne and was just about to leave the airport with a few associates when he noticed Elisabeth, dressed in a khaki trench coat, waving at him while pulling a simple suitcase behind her. She quickly made her way over.

    After the Murdoch family moved their business center to the United States, they settled in New York. During the holidays, Elisabeth returned to New York to spend time with her family. Eric hadn''t expected to run into her at the airport while she was heading back to Los Angeles.

    Eric had his bodyguard help Elisabeth with her luggage before asking, "You''re back so soon; why not stay in New York a bit longer?"

    "Staying in New York isn''t all that fun. I spend all my time attending parties, and it gets boring. I''d rathere back to work," Elisabeth replied, ncing at Eric. "Speaking of which, I''ve been hearing quite a bit about Firefly Investmentstely. What exactly are you doing?" "I''m nning to conceal my assets by breaking them down into smaller pieces, making it harder for people to guess just how much I have," Eric responded candidly, knowing that even if he didn''t admit it, those with an interest would probably figure it out.

    For now, he couldn''t exactly hide Firefly Films, but the entertainment industry had plenty of room for maneuvering. Furthermore, since Firefly Films wasn''t publicly traded, it wouldn''t be easy for anyone to uncover its financials. However, some assets that Firefly Investments held were openly visible, like Cisco. Anyone paying a bit of attention could quickly find out that Firefly Investments was thergest shareholder of Cisco.

    At present, Cisco was valued at just over two billion dors -- not too eye-catching. However, Cisco''s development hadn''t strayed from its historical path, with the current CEO, John Chambers -- who was crucial to Cisco''s sess in the original timeline -- already confirmed as his sessor. If Cisco''s market valuation eventually ballooned into the hundreds of billions, Firefly Investments'' portion would be quite significant. Moreover, Eric had investments beyond just Cisco. Following the Forbes list incident, he had to start nning for the future.

    After discussions with Chris, Firefly Investments began its strategy by first handling its shares in Cisco.

    Firefly Investments injected funds into a select few private non-listed funds before conducting a reverse buyback of some of its Cisco shares. Using this method, Firefly Investments quickly distributed its Cisco shares into those funds. However, due to well- structured agreements, Firefly Investments'' control over Cisco remained unchanged, with no alterations in the representative board members.

    This kind of indirect shareholding was quitemon in North America. Even industry giants like General Electric, ExxonMobil, and Bell Telephone Company had their shareholder lists filled with various well-known and lesser-known funds, trusts, and capital managementpanies, with the true owners of these shares usually unknown.

    Not just with Cisco, but Firefly Investments nned to approach its investments in IE, Yahoo, and Hotmail in the same indirect fashion through trusts and other means.

    Upon hearing Eric''s answer, Elisabeth couldn''t help butugh. "Compared to Firefly Films, what does your stake in Cisco even amount to? Why not find a way to conceal your involvement with Firefly Films too?"

    Eric shrugged. "That''s a too big of a goal; it''s going to take time."

    "I don''t know why you''re going through all this trouble, as if you''re afraid someone will steal your things."

    Saying that, the pair made their way outside, where Elisabeth waved her hand at her driver, signaling him to leave, and got into Eric''s car.

    Eric got in from the other side and continued the previous discussion. "I''m not worried about others stealing from me, but I do want to be considerate of fragile sentiments. I wouldn''t want anyone to see how much money I''ve got and be provoked, leading to some unfortunate event."

    Elisabeth clearly took Eric''sments lightly, yfully punching him on the shoulder with her small fist and teasing, "You egotist."

    Eric just chuckled and didn''t dodge her harmless little jab. "I''m headed back to the Liberty City Manor; are youing with me?"

    Elisabeth blinked a few times, as if suddenly remembering. "Oh right, I forgot about that. Hey, Carter, turn around and take me back to Beverly Hills first."

    Carter Moen nced at Eric through the rearview mirror. As a bodyguard who had been with Eric for a while, he knew well about Eric and Elisabeth''s rtionship.

    "Just keep driving to Malibu," Eric waved his hand at Carter and turned to Elisabeth. "I remember Julia took her little one back to her parents'' ce. Your ce hasn''t been cleaned in ages, so you might as well stay with me tonight."

    Hearing Eric''s direct invitation, Elisabeth''s cheeks slightly flushed. She forced a casual "Hmm" in response, turned her head, and pretended to admire the view outside the window.

    ...

    Wrapped in a thick bathrobe, Elisabeth finally remembered her suitcase was still carelessly left at the vi entrance. Embarrassed, she chided herself for being so hasty a few hours earlier.

    She hadnded at four in the afternoon, done some things, and taken a short nap, and now it was past nine in the evening. Feeling hungry, she hesitated before heading downstairs.

    The small living room was lit, and upon entering, she found Eric casually lounging on the sofa, a ckptop resting on an elegant aluminum frame in front of him. He continually tapped at the keys, making soft clicking sounds.

    "Hey, I made somete-night snacks for you," Eric said, nodding toward the food on the ss table when he spotted Elisabeth walking in. "I called you toe upstairs, but you were already in the shower."

    "What are you working on?" Elisabeth asked, not in a rush to eat. She leaned over the back of the sofa to peek at Eric''sptop screen.

    "The script for Interview with the Vampire. Recently, the box office and critical reception for Bram Stoker''s Drac has been pretty good. The production team also finalized a deal with David Geffen for the coboration. We''re aiming for a release by the end of the year. How''s your Buffy the Vampire yering along?"

    "If it weren''t for this, I would have returned at the beginning of the month," Elisabeth replied. "I auditioned for the female lead in New York, following your suggestion. We n to choose girls with dance backgrounds -- this will shorten training time and make action scenes easier to film. We''re hoping to have the pilot ready before May."

    "Have you selected anyone?" Eric casually queried, typing a note into the script document.

    "Yeah, we picked a few girls. They''ll being to Los Angeles in a few days to have final auditions with the local candidates," Elisabeth said, ncing at theptop for a moment before shifting to sit across from Eric, cing the food tray on herp.

    Eric nodded, continuing to type.

    "Hey, will youe to the final auditions? There are going to be some really beautiful girls," Elisabeth asked after a brief pause.

    Eric chuckled, "Let''s skip that step. You know my preference -- just send me the final selections, and I''ll take it from there."

    Elisabeth lightly scoffed, tossing a piece of bread crumb at Eric in mock annoyance.

    "Hey, I almost forgot! What brought you to the airport today?"

    "I thought you had such a mischievous mind that you''d neglect that question," Eric teased.

    He adeptly caught the crumb that flew his way and took a bite before answering. "I went to San Francisco. Pixar''s new animation is nearly done, so I went to check the reel and discuss the Super Bowl teaser with John and the team."

    "Is this for the sequel to Toy Story?" Elisabeth asked curiously, recalling that Firefly had always termed its uing Pixar animations as ''untitled new Pixar animation.'' She hadn''t really paid attention until now, realizing the new 3D animation was almost finished. "No, the new animation is tentatively titled A Bug''s Life, telling the story of an ant family in an oasis fighting against the oppression of grasshoppers," Eric sinctly exined. Elisabeth looked at Eric and waited a few seconds before asking, "Is that it? Nothing more?"

    "If I told you everything now, it would ruin the surprise. You can catch it in theaters when it

    releases."

    "I''m not going -- those are for kids," Elisabeth pouted.

    ...

    After finishing theirte-night snacks, Elisabeth tidied up the dishes in the kitchen and returned to the small living room. Despite it being ten at night, she didn''t bother with pajamas after her afternoon nap. She seized the remote control from the ss table and joined Eric on the sofa, hugging a cushion to her chest as she randomly selected ate-night

    talk show.

    After watching the host''s wittymentary on recent events for a while, Elisabeth turned to Eric. "Hey, Eric, is Firefly nning to develop its own TVwork next?"

    "Did your old man guess it?" Eric asked, turning to her.

    Elisabeth nodded.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Media conglomerate integration has be an inevitable trend. Firefly''s reach in the film

    sector has already hit its limit. Next, we''re definitely expanding towards bing aprehensive media group -- this will include not just a TVwork, but also ventures into music and publishing," Eric exined, smiling. "But rest assured, Firefly won''t get into print media, so there won''t bepetition with News Corp on that front."

    With the rise of the inte, the decline of print media was bing inevitable. Eric recalled that even the most famous newspapers in the U.S. encountered bankruptcy crises after entering the new century. He had no intention of wasting time in a declining industry.

    "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re up to. I heard that the site you set upst year, Yahoo, has recently been in talks with several print media groups. The editor of the New York Post even mentioned it to my dad. You''re definitely nning tounch an online news site."

    Eric paused his typing and turned to Elisabeth, curiously asking, "What did your dad think

    about it?"

    Elisabeth smugly hummed a tune, not answering him, her expression saying she wouldn''t spill to avoid hurting his feelings.

    Eric shrugged, realizing Murdoch was probably not optimistic about that idea''s future.

    Having spent most of his life in media, Murdoch could easily tell that a proper foundation forrge-scale online news development didn''t exist in the current intendscape. The existing online user base was mostly concentrated among college students and professionals, with ordinary people not at that level yet. However, he certainly couldn''t predict how

    explosive the growth of inte users would be over theing years.

    "Hey, Liz, if one day I fought with your old man, who would you support?" Elisabeth shot him a scathing look. "I''d definitely side with my dad. How dare you fight an old

    man in his sixties? That''s just disgraceful."

    "Uh, I meant in a business sense?"

    "Then you two can duke it out however you please," Elisabeth leisurely reclined on the sofa,

    hugging the cushion while making her point. Given the current scales of Firefly and News Corp, some give-and-take would be expected over periods, but unless there was a significant industry upheaval, there was little chance of a mutual destruction scenario. Even now, amidstpetitive rtions, 20th Century Fox and Firefly coexisted without issues and even maintained some coborations. The other major filmpanies in Hollywood faced simr

    situations.

    Eric chuckled but said no more. He spent nearly another hour finishing the script of Interview

    with the Vampire, closed hisptop, and lightly patted the smooth leg of the girl resting on hisp. "Are you tired?"

    With no response, Eric turned to look, seeing that Elisabeth had already fallen asleep with her

    eyes closed.

    ...

    As the new award season approached, it didn''t seem to have much connection with Firefly Films. Most of the movies Firefly releasedst year weremercial hits. Even at the Golden Globes, which had a strong operational focus, thepany could only manage a few nominations, with no real contenders for awards. Moreover, given thepany''s astonishing 27% market share at the box officest year, Firefly''sck of notable awards became a target for media to cast scorn, disying a sense of sour grapes.

    Eric began his day reading several rted articles in the morning newspapers, though he

    didn''t pay much attention to them. He always believed that film awards were just icing on the

    cake, while Elisabeth took the opportunity to tease Eric about it.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 507: Chapter 508: The Big Ship

    Chapter 507: Chapter 508: The Big Ship

    ?

    [Chapter 508: The Big Ship]

    Stan Winston said, "Since you already have that thought in your mind, I think you''re at least ny percent sure. Rnd and I aren''t going to y a bet with only a ten percent chance of winning."

    Eric was about to continue his gentle persuasion when a voice broke in, "What bet? Did I miss something exciting?"

    Turning around, they saw James Cameron approaching them with his wild, unkempt hair.

    The three stood up to greet Cameron, then sat back down and recounted their earlier wager. Cameronughed, responding just like Stan Winston, "No bet! Who doesn''t know about your bet with Columbia back in the day? Besides, it''s been over ten years since Star Wars made over $700 million at the box office. It was inevitable that movies would start hitting the billion- dor mark. Don''t even mention a billion; two or three billion will be a piece of cake in the future."

    They allughed again.

    Seeing that the other three were not biting, Eric dropped the topic and pointed at Cameron, who looked like he just emerged from the wilderness. "Hey, Jim, did someone rob you?"

    "Of course not! I''ve been out on a boat for two months," Cameron said, raking his fingers through his tangled hair.

    Rnd Emmerich wasn''t very familiar with Cameron, so he looked puzzled. However, Eric and Stan Winston knew all too well about Cameron''s love for diving.

    Stan asked, "Jim, where did you dive this time?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Cameron replied, "North Antic. We went to see a big ship that sank eighty years ago." "Titanic?" Eric blurted out instinctively.

    Cameron was a bit surprised. "Eric, how did you know?"

    Realizing his slip, Eric quickly made up an excuse. "You just mentioned it: North Antic, a big ship that sank eighty years ago. The only thing I could think of was the Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1912."

    Cameron didn''t question Eric''s words and excitedly started rambling. "Yes, it''s the Titanic. We rented a submersible to take a look at that big ship. Even after eighty years underwater, it still looked massive, though it''s broken in two. We were nning to go inside the cabins, but unfortunately, the submersible was too big to fit. I''m nning to develop a robot for underwater photography in the future; next time, we can send it into the cabin for a closer look."

    "Is it safe to say your credit card is maxed out again?" Stan teased. Renting a submersible wasn''t something just anyone could afford. While Cameron''s directing fee had reached the top tier, he had not directed many films since starting out -- averaging a movie every two or three years. Earning enough to support such an expensive hobby was challenging.

    "So, I had toe back from the Antic," Cameron chuckled, not dodging the topic. He turned to Eric and said, "Eric, isn''t True Lies already listed as a project for this year? Why haven''t you talked to Arnold about the contract? If you''re not nning on casting Arnold as the lead, you better choose another actor sooner rather thanter."

    "Of course, Arnold will be the lead. But there''s no rush on the contract. After all, we won''t start shooting True Lies until the second half of the year. We can talk about it in June," Eric replied.

    Cameron and the others looked puzzled.

    "Why take that approach?" Rnd asked.

    Eric smiled mysteriously and shook his head. "You''ll find out then."

    Stan suddenly recalled something and cautiously asked, "Does this have anything to do with Arnold''s next film? I remember he''s involved with a Carolco action movie called Last Action Hero, directed by John McTiernan, who directed the first Die Hard film. We''re handling the special effects for that; well... it''s probably Neil''s team responsible for it. But there aren''t many special effects shots, and we finished thatst year. It shoulde out in June."

    Cameron, clearly impatient, asked, "Eric, don''t you underestimate that movie?"

    Since Stan had pointed it out, Eric didn''t hide his opinion and nodded. "I had someone gather information on Last Action Hero. You all know that most of Arnold''s fanbase came from your Terminator series, Jim. But this Last Action Hero focuses on the kid market. Not many of the Terminator fans are children..."

    At that, Eric shrugged.

    The other three understood. Arnold Schwarzenegger''s fee was $15 million. When discussing the contract for True Lies, it was unlikely they could lower that price, but if Last Action Hero flopped at the box office, he would have to consider reducing his fee to regain poprity. Cameron thought it over and suggested, "Eric, even if Last Action Hero performs poorly, Arnold''s fame is still there. Even with a reduced fee, it won''t drop too much. It might be better to sign the contract sooner."

    "Let''s wait a few months patiently, Jim. I guarantee Arnold will agree by then."

    When Cameron heard Eric say that, he shrugged and didn''t press further. The True Lies script was initially pitched to him by Eric. Compared to the original Terminator, Cameron wasn''t particrly excited about True Lies and was mainly doing it for the money. Although he was good friends with Arnold, he knew Firefly was the investor, and Eric was also his friend. Cameron wasn''t going to get into a fight with Eric over Arnold. There were plenty of action stars in Hollywood who fit the True Lies script''s criteria. Moreover, Cameron was well aware of Arnold''s acting capabilities; if he could find a better actor, he wouldn''t refuse.

    "Well, as long as you know what you''re doing," Cameron said.

    Before he could ask Stan Winston about any interesting developments in Digital Domain, Eric brought up Titanic again. "Speaking of Titanic, I remember seeing in the paper that CBS is nning a miniseries about it. Jim, are you interested in that subject?"

    "A miniseries? No way! I''m not wasting my energy directing a series; that''s just too much of a time waste, and the budget is too low to make anything good," Cameron shook his head vigorously. But then his interest was piqued. "But if it''s a movie, I might consider it."

    Eric responded, "Of course, it''s a movie."

    Cameron stared at Eric for a few seconds before asking, "Eric, are you sure you''re serious?"

    "Do I look like I''m joking?"

    "Well then..." Cameron wanted to say something but remembered he already signed a deal with Firefly. He could only say, "Once I finish True Lies, I''ll start preparing for that film."

    Stan Winston suddenly chuckled, "Eric, don''t let Jim fool you. His so-called preparation is definitely going to be Firefly covering the cost of a deep-sea exploration ship to continue his hobby."

    Cameron retorted, "Hey, Stan, if we''re actually going to make that movie, a detailed examination of the Titanic is a must."

    Eric said to Cameron, "Jim, if you think it''s necessary, Firefly can cover the funding."

    Cameron''s eyes lit up, and he even made a fist gesture towards Stan. With a big yer like Firefly supporting him, he could pursue his underwater exploration n that he could never afford -- oh, of course, this was all for the movie preparation.

    Eric, seeing Cameron''s excitement, added, "But I have one condition."

    "You say," Cameron seemed in a good mood.

    "I can give you the maximum freedom and flexibility in budget for this film, but I want the final say on the choice of the leadingdy."

    Cameron''s expression shifted to cautious as he weighed the pros and cons before confirming, "Eric, are you certain that if I hand over the choice of the leadingdy to you, I''ll have total control over everything else, from pre-production to final cut?"

    Eric pointed at Stan Winston and Rnd Emmerich. "Yes, Stan and Rnd are here. They can

    testify to what I said today."

    Though Stan Winston and Rnd Emmerich did not understand why Eric suddenly felt this

    way, they nodded in agreement.

    "Then it''s a deal," Cameron immediately raised his palm, as if he feared Eric would backtrack.

    Eric pped hands with Cameron, "It''s settled."

    Cameron withdrew his hand and grinned, "Hey, speaking of which, I''ve got a great idea right now. How about you hear it out?"

    Seeing Cameron so eager, Eric quickly interrupted, "Jim, don''t forget, you need to finish True

    Lies first."

    Cameron waved his hand, "Of course! As soon as we finish the prep for True Lies, I can start shooting tomorrow. But let''s discuss ideas about Titanic first. First of all, I think it should be a

    love story..."

    Cameron''s proposed concept for the Titanic script wasrgely in line with the original vision. By the time Eric left, Cameron was already discussing some special effects details with Stan

    Winston.

    With Cameron''s pace of filmmaking, True Lies was set to be released in the summer of 1994, meaning Titanic would likely start shooting in 1995, with the release date being even harder to

    predict.

    Eric didn''t dislike the idea of producing the miraculous film himself, but given his current numerousmitments, it would be tough to immerse himself fully in making a movie for several years. He certainly couldn''t match Cameron''s rigorous demands on film quality. It''s known that in the original timeline, Titanic took 160 days to film, and it took over two years to go from the green light to final release.

    Though he wasn''t sure what this timeline''s Titanic would turn out like, Eric believed that as long as the final quality matched the original, it wouldn''t be a problem to recoup even a $200

    million budget.

    ...

    Throughout January 1993, Eric focused on the post-production of Jurassic Park.

    Comete January, during the 50th Golden Globe Awards, Eric chose not to attend the event. Instead, he saw the next day''s newspaper featuring the host poking fun at him, along with the results of the awards.

    At the 50th Golden Globe Awards, Spielberg easily triumphed with Schindler''s List over Clint Eastwood''s Unforgiven, snatching the awards for Best Picture and Best Director. A few dayster, the 65th Oscars announced their nominations, and Schindler''s List dominated with twelve nominations, far ahead of all other contenders, bing the major favorite of that

    year''s Oscars.

    Naturally, Eric''s Twister remained true to expectations, only snagging two inconsequential nominations for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. However, the chances of winning those two nominations were nearly one hundred percent. When Twister first hit theaters, it received widespread acim from critics for its sound design. As for visual effects, there were only four nominees, including Robert Zemeckis''s Death Bes Her, David Fincher''s Alien 3, and Tim Burton''s Batman Returns. In all aspects, none of these three films'' effects couldpare to the whirlwind devastation shown in Twister. Unfortunately, Eric would still have to skip this year''s Oscars because, fromte March to April, Virginia and Joanna would be giving birth to their two little ones. He certainly had to be

    there for both women during that time.

    ...

    By early February, as the Golden Globes had passed, the excitement for the Oscars began to rise. However, Premiere Magazine released its annual Hollywood Power List in itstest issue, shifting public focus back onto Eric. The response within Hollywood circles was even more

    intense.

    The Hollywood Power List was primarily ranked based on the influence and power of

    individuals in Hollywood in the previous year. In the first two years after Eric''s rebirth, due to CAA''s strong rise, it practically dominated most of Hollywood''s A-list stars and script resources. Michael Ovitz of CAA consistently topped the Hollywood Power List, leaving major figures like Michael Eisner and Barry Diller in his wake.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 509: Chapter 510: Innocence

    Chapter 509: Chapter 510: Innocence

    ?

    [Chapter 510: Innocence]

    Drew tilted her head, a stack of notes in her hand, and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Didn''t you feel it when someone just slipped something into your pocket?"

    "I thought those girls were just trying to get friendly with me," Eric shrugged, obviously not oblivious to it. He reached for the papers Drew handed him and realized they were photos with contact information scribbled on them.

    In recent years, Eric''s film roles had evolved; he no longer held open auditions with regr actors but only sent invitations to established stars that fit the bill. He hardly participated in the selection of supporting roles anymore, so it had been a while since he had encountered such a scenario. As he flipped through the photos of those young, vibrant girls, he felt a fresh and nostalgic rush, reminiscent of the times a few years back when he first made a ssh in Hollywood with Home Alone and had simr experiences at parties in his house back in North Hollywood.

    As Eric and Drew critiqued the photos of the girls, the door to Drew''s office swung open, and in walked Elisabeth, d in a sharp ck business suit. "Eric, I heard from Ellie that you were here. I thought she might have been mistaken."

    "Good morning, Liz," Eric grinned, shoving the stack of notes back into Drew''s hands. He stepped forward to embrace thedy and nted a kiss on her cheek, "You look beautiful today."

    While Elisabeth relished Eric''s embrace, she felt Drew''s piercing gaze and quickly brushed her cheek against Eric''s, then stepped back, running her fingers through a strand of her golden hair. "The auditions are about to start. Let me take you to meet the creators of Buffy."

    "Sure, let''s go," Eric nodded. The three of them exited the office, traversing an open office area before entering a spacious room set up for the audition.

    As soon as they entered, a few people engaged in quiet conversation turned to them, standing up and directing their attention toward Eric.

    "Eric, this is David Greenwalt," Elisabeth introduced, pointing at a middle-aged man with ck-framed sses in his forties. "He''s great with teen and horror genres. He directed a few campusedies in the ''80s andst year helmed a couple of episodes of The X-Files. We invited him to direct the first season of Buffy."

    "Hello, Mr. Williams," David Greenwalt beamed, extending a hand for Eric to shake. "Great to meet you. I''m a big fan."

    "Thank you," Eric replied, smiling as he shook David''s hand. While he couldn''t quite ce the guy in his memory, hearing that he directed The X-Files suggested he was part of the Foxwork.

    "This is Joss Whedon, the writer of Buffy," Elisabeth quickly gestured to the second individual.

    Eric shook Joss Whedon''s hand. Joss was a few years over thirty, with a savvy look that seemed much more appealing than Eric''s memory of a bearded figure.

    After a brief introduction of a few other creators, they all sat down at a long table.

    ...

    Eric declined the middle seat they had set for him and chose the far left side. He hade just to have a bit of fun and had no intention of getting involved in the audition.

    Looking at the stack of actor profiles Tina Fey gave him, Eric handed it back directly. "Tina, I don''t need this. How much of the Buffy script have you finished?"

    Everyone in the audition room focused on this exchange. Tina, not wanting to push back, took the papers Eric returned and neatly tucked them back into a folder, pushing her sses back up her nose. "The scripts for the first six episodes are finished. We''re still discussing the plots for the rest."

    "Then just bring me the scripts for the first six to look at."

    Tina nced at Drew and Elisabeth, who sat in the middle. Shortly after, she nodded at Eric and left the audition room. A little whileter, she returned with a printed copy in hand and handed it to Eric.

    The auditions began promptly at ten. Eric casually flipped through the Buffy script, pausing to watch any auditioning girl he found attractive. Also, listening to Drew''s serious tone as he and the other creators asked questions made Eric realize that the girl who used to act like a know-it-all had truly grown up.

    As one of the key TV projects developed this year, Buffy also represented the ambitions of several women in television. Besides Eric, who held the title of producer, both Elisabeth and Drew actively participated as producers. Though theirpany had grown beyond many esteemed Hollywood studios, thanks to backing from Firefly and Fox, theypletely steered clear of distribution. This focus made production their only core business. Although it did mean they had to y a very hands-on role, everything remained organized.

    Since this was the final round of auditions, the process was much more detailed, and only five girls had auditioned after two hours that morning. In a considerate move, Fox hosted the girls who had yet to audition in the cafeteria of their building.

    ...

    Eric chose not to join the crowd and instead had lunch with Elisabeth and Drew in thepany''s break room. Tina had originally intended to join the others for lunch but was stopped by Drew.

    After the waiter delivering their meals left, Elisabeth eagerly asked, "Eric, what did you think of the girls this morning?"

    "They were all good. You all just pick who you want; I won''tment," Eric casually replied as he opened his lunch.

    This was the truth. Although Hollywood kicked off countless TV series every year, few, like Buffy, secured a promising future before production even began. The show had already gone through two rounds of eliminations, leaving only sixteen contenders in the running. Those who made it this far were typically strong actors, so it was now up to the creative team to make their choices.

    At this point, the soft skills of the actors also began to y a methodical role in their chances of selection. If an actor''s agent possessed considerable industry connections and could covertly reach influential producers, the actor would have a strong chance of selection. Of course, this period was typically when those with pull, like directors or producers, would seek to strike private deals. Eager-to-make-it young actors often fell into such traps, offering favors willingly. Even if they realized toote they had been yed, they usually just had to ept their misfortune.

    With these thoughts, Eric smiled at Elisabeth, "Liz, this is a great opportunity for you." Elisabeth initially looked a bit confused but soon caught on. Seeing Eric joke about the previous incident left her rolling her eyes at him as she focused on her lunch.

    "Speaking of which, it''s been a while since I saw Julia," Eric noted, realizing Elisabeth wasn''t snapping back at him like usual. "That girl really has a way of dying things. I had her start filming around this timest year, and she did manage to shoot one small film without much

    buzz, but then she went quiet."

    "Ha ha..."

    Elisabeth suddenly chuckled, seemingly recalling something.

    Tina Fey looked up, puzzled as to why Elisabeth wasughing.

    Drew, grinning, chimed in, "That''s really on you, Eric. You need to give Julia a bit of a talking

    to in Beverly Hills, and she''ll perk up."

    Seeing the yful look on Drew''s face made Eric wonder if she had somehow caught wind of

    Julia''s situation.

    Though he thought this, he replied, "Alright then, I''ll swing by tonight."

    ...

    The afternoon auditions kicked off shortly after, and Eric continued to chill on the sidelines, thinking the session might be low-key with Eric''s presence. The other creators involved with Buffy were finally rxing. But then, a tall girl walked into the audition room, grabbing Eric''s

    attention immediately.

    Another familiar face!

    Eric marveled at the coincidence and sat up straight to listen to the girl introducing herself. "Hi everyone, I''m Charlize Theron, eighteen years old, from South Africa..."

    At that time, while Charlize stood above 5''7", her youthful round cheeks still suggested a baby face, but her gaze embodied an effortless allure that would develop into something striking in just a few years. Initially adept at introducing herself, she casually nced at Eric, her expression momentarily surprised but quickly rxed. However, she couldn''t help but steal nces toward Eric repeatedly thereafter.

    He noticed that fleeting nce and recognized she must have arrived after finishing other obligations, as she hadn''t been around when he walked past the hall. Most girls who knew Eric was in the room had at least attempted to engage him in conversation during their auditions. Those who did so often revealed their motives more clearly.

    After Charlize''s introduction, Elisabeth, sitting in the middle, asked, "Miss Theron, your profile says you''ve been training in ballet since you were six and even participated in a balletpany in New York. What made you decide to leave that path for acting?"

    Charlize replied promptly, "I injured my knee dancingst year, and after months of recovery, I realized that dance might not be what I wanted. My dream has always been to act, so once I healed, I started working while studying acting at a drama school in New York." Another voice quickly followed up with, "After twelve years, you just quit like that? Don''t you feel it''s a waste? Maybe if you persevered a few more years, you could have be a shining

    star on Broadway?"

    Charlize hesitated briefly, and Eric was curious about her answer, sensing this question was

    unexpected.

    Even though it didn''t rte closely to the audition, she understood she couldn''t refuse to answer. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I don''t regret it. If someone realizes that what they''re doing isn''t what they want, forcing themselves to persist and wasting time is the

    real pity."

    Seemingly pleased with Charlize''s response, the panel threw a few more simple questions her way, and then it was time for her performance.

    The scenes for the performance primarily included moments straight from the script Eric had

    in front of him. Buffy''s character in the first season still disyed a touch of innocence and vulnerability. Stripped of her ''Chosen One'' status, she resembled most teenage girls, embodying a blend of naivete and rebellion, yearning for love yet gued with insecurity

    around boys.

    However, given Eric''s memories of Charlize''s on-screen roles -- often fierce andpelling -- seeing her attempt to portray a shy high school girl felt strange to Eric. Thus, when Charlize performed a scene where Buffy wistfully watched her crush walk away,N?v(el)B\\jnn

    asking Giles, "Do you think this outfit makes me look fat?" Eric couldn''t help but chuckle.

    His unexpectedughter disrupted Charlize''s performance and prompted the rest of the audition attendees to look over at him.

    "Sorry, sorry," Eric waved his hands dismissively, "I just thought... um, never mind, you all

    continue."

    ...

    Outside the Fox headquarters, Charlize stomped her foot in frustration against amp post in

    front of the building, but her inner turmoil had yet to subside.

    It was all that bastard''s fault.

    Charlize was sure her performance had been wless; after all, she had prepared extensively

    for this audition. She didn''t just watch Buffy: the Vampire yer''s movie version repeatedly; her agent had retrieved additional detailed information through personal channels. Yet that guy''s suddenughter during the audition had shattered her calm and led to multiple missteps. Though the panel hadn''t shown significant disappointment, she still caught glimpses of it on

    their faces as she left.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 511: Chapter 512: Be Cautious

    Chapter 511: Chapter 512: Be Cautious

    ?

    [Chapter 512: Be Cautious]

    The production process for the TV shows was highly standardized andplex, with fiercepetition; often, only one out of one hundred scripts would get selected. Many series that advanced to filming would still undergo rigorous selection after producing a pilot, leading to more cuts. Typically, new series that eventually aired on television would only be ordered for six episodes. After the initial airing, just before Thanksgiving, if the ratings performed well, they''d move forward with additional episodes. However, if the ratings were abysmal, the show could be abruptly canceled.

    Even Rupert Murdoch couldn''t simply decide to greenlight an entire first season of a series produced by his daughter''spany without seeing positive ratings first. He might only offer better terms once the show had demonstrated strong viewership.

    Right now, Buffy the Vampire yer hadn''t even produced a pilot, but Fox had already ordered a full first season. Apart from being a nominal producer who had done little, Eric couldn''t think of any other reason for this development.

    Kepler noticed Eric fell silent for a while and tentatively asked, "Eric, are you still there?"

    "Yeah, I''m just a bit surprised."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Ha! You''re the most powerful person in Hollywood right now. So, about that earlier discussion, do you want to meet that girl? Didn''t you say she had a lot of potential?"

    Eric chuckled, teasing, "Now I''m starting to wonder if you owe Michelle Simmons a favor or if it''s just a romantic debt you need to settle."

    "Hey, Eric, stop joking. My son is already in middle school!"

    "Alright, alright. In that case," Eric rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, "I''ll make time to meet that girl. Honestly, I just came up with a pretty good idea."

    Kepler asked, "Is it about the movie?"

    "Yeah, I had the idea of making an action series with a female lead. That girl is only eighteen, which is a plus. At least, if the movie does well at the box office in the future, we could shoot several sequels."

    "Your movies can''t possibly flop at the box office." Kepler sincerelyplimented before half-jokingly adding, "You''d better leave a few roles for ICM when the timees."

    "Of course, no problem," Eric replied. "Let''s wrap it up for today, and when I find some time, I''ll have Allen get in touch with you."

    ...

    After hanging up, Eric turned around to see the curious girl who had been eavesdropping jumping over. She linked arms with Eric and asked, "Eric, what girl? What movie?"

    "It''s that girl from this afternoon. Kepler called me about her," Eric pinched the girl''s cheeks yfully. "Speaking of which, you''re eighteen now, and it''s time for those copyrights that Flower Films has reserved for you to help you hone your skills -- let''s start with that female action movie I just mentioned."

    Drew was already aware of the copyrights that Eric had set aside for her. "You''re talking about the film version of Charlie''s Angels?"

    Once back inside the restaurant, Eric sat down and said, "Yes. The films from thest couple of years, like Thelma & Louise and Sarah & Shannon (The Heat), have both done well in the box office and critically. Not to mentionst year''s A League of Their Own; all of these prove that female-centric films are very promising."

    The usually cheerful girl suddenly felt a bit anxious. She looked at Elisabeth and the others and said, "But, Eric, I''m not sure if I can handle it, and what about TG Films?"

    Eric reassured her, "This won''t be an overnight decision, plus I think Liz can handle thepany just fine."

    With Eric''s approval, Elisabeth initially felt a bit proud but then expressed her frustration: "I don''t want to. Thepany was founded by me, Drew, and Julia. Why should all the work fall on me when they get to rx and reap the benefits?"

    "Then I''ll just sell my shares in thepany to you," Drew said without hesitation.

    Elisabeth was taken aback, unsure how to respond. Meanwhile, Julia, who was still holding onto Emma, looked a bit anxious: "How about I give up my shares too?"

    Julia''sment was clearly fueled by guilt; she hadn''t helped with much since thepany was formed. She had initially invested a few million dors, but in the past two years, she had already earned back over ten times that amount. This had led her to bezy about acting, even losing interest in the stardom Eric had initially promised her.

    Hearing Drew and Julia speak up, Elisabeth felt embarrassed. "I didn''t mean that! I was just saying it casually. I didn''t want either of you to give up your shares!"

    Eric lightly tapped the table, interrupting the women''s chatter. "Actually, I have an idea you might want to hear. Twentieth Century Fox has had a rough couple years with their film business. I remember Liz mentioned that Mr. Murdoch wanted to buy thepany, right?"

    Upon receiving Elisabeth''s nod, Eric continued, "If that''s the case, you could consider selling thepany entirely to Twentieth Century Fox. Whether you three want to exchange shares for Fox stock or cash is up to you. Drew can leave and return to managing her Flower Films, and Liz, given your performance these past two years, I think you could at least secure a vice president position at Fox."

    Eric paused but left unsaid some subsequent thoughts. If things went well, Elisabeth might climb up the Fox hierarchy and eventually take over the Murdoch family''s News Corp. Despite Rupert''s preference for his sons to take the family mantle, if his daughter shone far more brilliantly than them, even if Murdoch still leaned toward having his sons in charge, Eric believed the shareholders would have a say. After all, while Murdoch controlled News Corp tightly, the family didn''t have absolute dominance over it. Investors would surely prefer to entrust their investments to someonepetent.

    Once Eric finished speaking, Drew promptly nodded in agreement, and Elisabeth appeared to reflect deeply. Tina Fey seemed like an outsider, quietly eating her dinner, while Julia opened her mouth as if she were about to ask, "What about me?"

    Eric finished his dinner in a few bites and shot Julia a warning nce at her wandering eyes, saying, "As for you, we''ll talk about it in a bit."

    Julia sheepishly shrank back and held Emma up. "I... want to sleep with Emma tonight."

    The little one didn''t understand why her aunt was holding her up but seemed to enjoy it, giggling and waving her little hands excitedly.

    Eric took a napkin from the carton and wiped his hands, then walked up to the little girl, picking Emma up from Julia''s arms. "Come on, Emma, let''s go watch some TV."

    "TV, TV!" the little girl squealed, showing no shyness, reaching out to grab Eric''s shirt cor.

    As they walked, Eric asked, "Little one, I need to discuss some things with your aunt. Do you want to sleep with Aunt Liz, Aunt Drew, or Aunt Tina?"

    Though the two-year-old could understand Eric''s words, it took her a while to think about it before she said, "Auntie Julia."

    "Well, that won''t do," Ericughed, shaking his head as he picked up the remote and turned on the TV. He settled down with Emma in hisp. "Choose someone else."

    Emma stared wide-eyed at him for a moment and suddenly said, "Daddy."

    "Um..."

    "Haha," the sound of the little girl calling him "daddy" sent the room into peals ofughter from the women around.

    Eric chuckled and pinched the little girl''s cheeks. He turned to the women in the dining room, asking, "What''s going on? Why is she calling me daddy?"

    After considering Eric''s suggestion, Elisabeth, sounding somewhat envious, said, "Well, if you''re going to be a daddy, what''s wrong with having more daughters?"

    "Not that, it just feels a little weird," Eric shook his head and suddenly recalled something. "Hey, by the way, what did you register for the little one''s name?"

    "Emma," Elisabeth answered.

    Eric sensed a hint of oddness in her tone and followed up, "I meant herst name."

    A moment of silence fell over the dining room.

    A bad premonition crept into Eric''s mind; these women wouldn''t have really gone off the

    rails, would they?

    Finally, Drew softly said, "Eric, didn''t you know?"

    "I... know what?"

    "Yeah, I heard it was your suggestion."

    Eric felt a throb at the temples and pressed, "What''s it?"

    "Emma Roberts Murdoch Barrymore Williams!"

    Puff�� �� Tina Fey, who had been clueless until then, cracked up at the long string of names,

    causing Eric''s remote to slip from his hand and hit the floor.

    After a moment, Eric turned to Elisabeth. "I seem to recall asking about this once, and someone was adamant that there would be no way myst name would go on the little one''s." Facing Eric''s inquiry, Elisabeth stood her ground with hands on her hips: "We put it on because we wanted to; Williams isn''t your exclusive property, and we can use it!" "Right," Julia whispered, but then quickly slipped into the kitchen to wash dishes. Drew settled down next to Eric, immediately selling Elisabeth out: "Liz was worried that using the surname Murdoch would create misunderstandings, and I just went along with it." Eric habitually tapped Drew''s forehead, looking utterly bemused. "And this is going along

    with it?!"

    ...

    The very next day, after Eric had discussed the strategy for TG Films, Rupert Murdoch anxiously called Eric from New York. Though thepany''s shares held no direct connection to Eric, ording to the agreement from when thepany was founded, Firefly Films remained thergest beneficiary of all movie distribution rights and peripheral operating rights in the North American territory.

    These two aspects allowed thepany to receive over half of the profits from the movies they produced. Fox, on the other hand, only held the less profitable overseas distribution rights and had to split profits with TG, ultimately garnering only fifteen percent of the total profitability. Meanwhile, Elisabeth, Drew, and Julia shared about thirty percent of the total

    profits.

    If Fox acquired thepany but couldn''t reim the distribution rights held by Firefly Films, it would be nearly equivalent to not making an acquisition at all. Clearly, Murdoch wouldn''t engage in such a deal.

    Company valuation was another matter requiring prolonged negotiations. It bore simrities to Miramax''s situation, which was also seeking a buyer. Although history had diverged, in thest two years, the Weinsteins'' Miramax had spiraled into massive financial losses due to excessive business expansion and was frantically seeking a lifeline. While the Weinsteins offered thepany for five hundred million, interested producers and investment firms only valued Miramax at around fifty million, representing a tenfold difference. The most significant bargaining chip for Miramax was the Oscar-winning public rtions resources possessed by the Weinsteins. Such "intangible assets" were hard to quantify, and the big Hollywood studios scarcely regarded Miramax''s library or distribution channels. For thepany, aside from Eric''s support, the crucial bargaining chip was undoubtedly the three- year option contract signed with Jim Carrey. Given Carrey''s track record of back-to-back box office hits from low-budgetedies, even if just a single film was produced each year for the remaining three-year period, conservatively, it could yield around three hundred million

    dors for the producers.

    Despite the growing discord between the parties involved, industry insiders were well aware

    that Jim Carrey had no chance of escaping that option contract with a staggering hundred million dors in penalties. Otherwise, with Carrey''s demonstrated box office potential, several major studios would have made moves to try and poach him.

    Furthermore, if the series development for Buffy the Vampire yer saw simr sess as its original, it would serve as another vital bargaining chip for future negotiations.

    The nned business structure for 1993 had already been determined long ago. Even if a potential acquisition dialogue emerged, it would likelymence in thetter half of the year. Murdoch''s call to Eric was fundamentally aimed at getting a clear answer from him

    regarding thepany.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 513: Chapter 514: Fellow Countryman

    Chapter 513: Chapter 514: Fellow Countryman

    ?

    [Chapter 514: Fellow Countryman]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Even though he had been careful and even borrowed an ordinary car from an employee in the digital field, it was hard to avoid the limelight at Firefly Studios. Numerous film crews were constantly shooting there, and of course, the stars present were not just Nicole. Eric and Nicole ultimately couldn''t escape from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

    The bodyguard parked the car outside an Italian seafood restaurant a few kilometers away from Venice Beach. As soon as Eric and Nicole got out, five or six paparazzi jumped out of the following car, excitedly snapping photos of the two.

    Eric saw three other bodyguards stepping out of a different vehicle. He quickly moved to block the paparazzi, realizing immediately where the problemy. The bodyguard sitting in the driver''s seat was quite muscr, which made him easily recognizable as a professional security personnel. The sharp-eyed paparazzi at the studio spotted a nondescript car with someone so obvious behind the wheel, leading them to conclude that there must be someone important in the backseat.

    Nicole skillfully put on her sunsses to shield herself from the shing lights and gave Eric an apologetic smile. She knew he disliked being in the tabloids, and if it weren''t for her persistence, they wouldn''t have found themselves in this situation.

    "Let''s go," Eric said, slipping on his sunsses and wrapping an arm around Nicole''s shoulder as they hurried toward the restaurant.

    The paparazzi became even more excited when they saw Eric''s gesture, snapping pictures while unabashedly shouting questions.

    "Eric, are you and Nicole dating?"

    "Will Nicole be the star of your next film?"

    "Do you guys have marriage ns?"

    Eric and Nicole entered the restaurant without uttering a word, and the paparazzi were blocked at the door by the restaurant''s security. Eric could still vaguely hear one of the paparazzi arguing angrily.

    "Eric, I''m so sorry," Nicole whispered once they were inside.

    Eric released his grip on her shoulder and smiled, saying, "You know I''m the kind of guy who doesn''t worry about debts, as long as you don''t mind."

    Nicole chuckled, shaking her head. "Of course, I don''t mind."

    A blond waitress with a few adorable freckles on her nose led them to a seated area with a clear view of the sea. Barely containing her excitement, she handed the menu to Eric and Nicole, her gaze fixated on Eric. "Mr. Williams, Ms. Kidman, wee! What would you like to eat?"

    "What do you rmend?" Eric casually asked.

    The waitress, gazing at Eric''s profile, replied, "Our pan-seared sea bass is great. We just air- freighted it from Peru this morning, plus our cheese-butter baked shrimp and Italian seafood pasta are fantastic."

    Eric flipped through the menu briefly before closing it and looking up. "What about wine?" "Our white wine is excellent! The top-notch Soave dry white wine from Verona pairs best with seafood," the waitress said, maintaining eye contact with Eric as she cheerfully continued.

    "Then let''s get a bottle of dry white," Eric said, unsure exactly where Verona was but guessing it was somewhere in Italy. He then turned to Nicole, who was intensely studying the menu. "Nicole, what are you going to have?"

    After they took some time to finalize their order, Eric finally disyed a ''tilted grin'' and said, "I''m genuinely worried that girl might suddenly rmend our deep-fried Williams." "Come on, don''t be silly. She''s probably just your fan," Nicoleughed.

    While they were talking, the beach outside the floor-to-ceiling windows lit up again with shes of light. Being a public area, neither Eric''s bodyguards nor the restaurant''s security could chase them away. Eric looked at the paparazzi holding long lenses andmented, "It''s award season, but what''s the use of following us two no-nominations nobodies?"

    Nicole gestured for the waitress to draw the curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows next to them to block the distant view before saying, "I saw some articles about you in the newspaperstely, and they had a bitter tone. But really, don''t you ever think of shooting an Oscar contender?"

    "Not at the moment. You know Woody Allen, right?"

    Nicoleughed, "How could I not? It was such a fussst year."

    Instead of chatting with Nicole about Woody Allen''s affairs, Eric said, "You should know he never attends the Oscars, even when he won Best Director for Annie Hall. I tend to agree with his attitude toward the Oscars. He mentioned that if a director makes films to win awards, he unconsciously confines himself to the rules and gives up what he genuinely wants to express. Woody Allen is among the few directors who have achieved acim in major film festivals in North America and Europe. I believe this isrgely due to his freedom from the constraints of convention, which allows him to focus on his vision."

    "That''s indeed an interesting director," Nicolemented lightly after hearing Eric''s thoughts.

    "Even though he''s in a low period now, Woody Allen will certainly make aeback in a few years. He has a talent for capturing the beauty of his leadingdies. Would you be interested in coborating with him?"

    "No, I''m focused onmercial films for now. Once I''ve earned enough money tost a lifetime, I''ll consider doing what I really want, like winning an Oscar for Best Actress. After achieving sess, I''d just want to have two or three kids and be a good mom."

    "By that time, many will surely say, ''Wow, Nicole Kidman has faded and can only stick around in some small indie films now.""

    Eric chuckled, but upon reflecting, he realized that despite the fact that Hollywood stars had eagerly participated in Woody Allen films since the 1970s, Nicole had never coborated with him. The only time media hinted at a potential coboration, it was for a project called You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, which Nicole quickly backed out of within a month. That film eventually starred her close friend Naomi Watts.

    "Let them say what they want. By the way, your Jurassic Park should be wrapping up soon, but I haven''t heard about your next movie ns," Nicole asked.

    "I have no ns," Eric replied honestly, shaking his head. "If Jurassic Park hits expectations, that''ll be thepletion of a phase. I need to take a breather."

    Only a select few, like Stan Winston, Rnd Emmerich, and Cameron, knew Eric''s expectations for Jurassic Park''s box office, so Nicole couldn''t possibly know. "I don''t really understand what the first phase means."

    "It refers to the phase where I was personally involved. Moving forward, I intend to focus more on producing. For Jurassic Park''s sequel, I won''t direct it myself; I''ll also look for other directors for previous disaster film projects. Those films require extensive location shooting worldwide. I can''t keep leaving Los Angeles for several months each year. Of course, I will still personally direct films, but it will depend on the situation."

    Nicole nodded, suddenly remembering something and preparing to speak when the waitress returned with their dishes. She watched as the waitress eagerly served Eric and asked if he needed anything else. Once they were alone again, she added, "I almost forgot to ask -- Interview with the Vampire should be a project you''ve personally greenlit, right?"

    "Yes, what''s up?" Eric asked while picking at the sea bass on his te.

    "Have the roles for the film been settled?" Nicole inquired.

    "Interview with the Vampire is a coboration between Firefly and David Geffen''s productionpany. David took the producer''s seat, so he''s mainly overseeing this project. Firefly is just supervising the script and budget for now; the film''s main creatives haven''t submitted their choices for actors yet." As Eric spoke, he remembered the two male leads in the original Interview with the Vampire, nced at Nicole, and asked, "Has anyone approached you? Tom

    Cruise, perhaps?"

    "No, how could someone as proud as Tom Cruisee to ask me for a role? Pa did mention it to Pat; she hopes he might get the part, but he never asked us tomunicate about it. Although Tom''s recent few works haven''t been ster, he''s still a top leading actor. I heard David Geffen is interested in having him y the male lead," Nicole concluded, a mischievous smile lighting up her face as she winked at Eric.

    "Your mind is quite devious," Eric said with a chuckle. Everyone knew that David Geffen was known as one of Hollywood''s most powerful gay figures, while Cruise''s sexual orientation

    was buried deeper than Kevin Spacey''s notorious status.

    "So, if it''s not Tom Cruise, why bring this up?"

    "It''s actually one of Pat''s newly signed artists. He''s got potential, though she is not expecting him to be the male lead. Pat wants him to try out for the male supporting role."

    Eric joked, "The guys ying vampires need to be handsome! You''re actually supporting that

    kind of person?"

    Nicole waved her hand with a smile, "You''re handsome too! He''s my fellow Australian, so of

    course, I need to lend a hand."

    "Fellow Australian? That makes it harder for me to agree," Eric said, squinting yfully.

    Nicoleughed softly, picking a decorative red cherry from her te and cing it on Eric''s. She soothed him childishly, "Alright, take this cherry as a token of agreement. I''ll have Pat call David Geffen and say you approved."

    Eric popped the cherry into his mouth and replied, "Fine, arrange it however you want, as long as he gets through the audition. If he''s not suited, I absolutely won''t agree."

    "Of course," Nicole nodded.

    After ncing at their nearly finished lunch, Eric asked, "What do you n to do this

    afternoon?"

    "I just finished promoting Mr. & Mrs. Smith in Europe a few days ago and have been resting.

    Can I hang out with you in the studios this afternoon?"

    "Sure, I''m about to edit a rough cut of Jurassic Park; you can help me out."

    "Mmm, I''d like to learn! Maybe one day I''ll even change careers and direct something."

    Eric summoned the waitress to hand over the credit card before saying to Nicole, "Just stick to being an actress. Directing isn''t for everyone; trying to do too much can be a bad thing." "Then howe you seem like you can do everything?" Nicole asked, propping her chin on

    one hand with curiosity.

    Eric obviously couldn''t tell her that he had diligently spent four years in a directing program,

    then mingled in the industry for nearly twenty years. Though he never managed to direct a film belonging to himself, the skills he umted over that time were very solid.

    So, facing Nicole''s inquisitive stare, Eric puffed out his chest and confidently replied, "I''m a genius! You small fries could neverpare."

    "Ha, so arrogant," Nicoleughed, tossing a napkin at him.

    ...

    The next day, the tabloids were buzzing with excitement again. Although Eric and Nicole had been caught in the act, neither party responded to any of the rumors. As long as the media wasn''t overstepping, they ignored all the chatter.

    Production on Jurassic Park entered its final phase, and Eric spent long hours in the post-

    production center at the studio. Nicole, using her break as an excuse, stayed with Eric for the next few days, working as his temporary assistant. After work, they both returned to Liberty City Manor together. To avoidplications, Eric took a helicopter to and from work every

    day.

    The paparazzi gathering outside Firefly Studios initially hoped to catch juicier gossip but grew frustrated after seeing the ck Bell 230nd repeatedly for days. Ultimately, they cursed under their breath and slowly dispersed.

    Daytime was filled with interactions over scripts, while nighttime was spent together. Despite having to work overtime for Jurassic Park''s post-production every day, Eric still found his days quite pleasant. asionally, thoughts would flicker in his mind about something he felt he had forgotten, but soon it would vanish from his thoughts.

    Eric figured that if he had forgotten anything, his assistant Allen would remind him in time,

    so he didn''t worry too much about it.

    After more than a week and a call from Kepler, Eric realized he hadpletely forgotten

    about his scheduled meeting with Charlize Theron.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 515: Chapter 516: Lucky Star on the Production Line

    Chapter 515: Chapter 516: Lucky Star on the Production Line

    ?

    [Chapter 516: Lucky Star on the Production Line]

    After spending more than an hour in a beauty salon, Charlize Theron got her hair done and slipped into the trench coat she had picked out not long ago. She stood in front of a full- length mirror.

    The woman in the mirror wore light makeup, and her originally light-colored long hair had been dyed a golden brown. The fitted khaki trench coat, ck tailored pants, and knee-high ck boots entuated her figure beautifully.

    One of the beauticians who had just attended to Charlize looked at her enviously andplimented, "You are absolutely stunning. But I noticed you didn''t wear any perfume. You might want to try the Miss Dior line of light perfume. It''s fresh and elegant, perfectly matching your current style."

    Charlize nced at her manager standing nearby, her eyes questioning. When she first saw her manager effortlessly swipe a few thousand dors for a trench coat, she had felt anxious about how long it would take to repay if this venture ended in failure. But as the spending continued, she grew increasingly numb to it all.

    Now that she hade this far, it seemed reasonable enough to add a bottle of perfume to her purchases. After all, if this failed, she definitely wouldn''t be able to pay that money back.

    Michelle Simmons watched Charlize with satisfaction and nodded lightly. When she heard the beautician''sments, she hesitated for a moment but ultimately shook her head, saying, "This is good enough; you don''t need the perfume."

    Charlize felt a bit puzzled but didn''t argue. Since yesterday, her manager had been reminding her of various things to pay attention to during meetings, all while dressing her in a way that was distinctly different from her usual style. From all this preparation, she could guess what the document with Eric Williams''s name was about.

    He probably didn''t like women wearing perfume, she thought.

    After settling the bill, the two didn''t linger and headed straight to the car, driving towards the ya Vistamunity in Culver City.

    ...

    When they arrived at Firefly Studios, it was only half past ten. Michelle parked in a lot outside the studio, and the two got out. Charlize couldn''t help but nce at the studio walls. Though they stood over two meters tall, the massive film stages inside were still visible.

    Michelle looked at her watch and didn''t lead Charlize across the street to the studio right away. Instead, she found a nearby cafe.

    After ordering two cups of coffee and a te of snacks, Michelle asked, "Charlie, do you remember everything I told you?"

    Charlize mentally reyed Michelle''s reminders from the previous night and slowly recounted them to her manager.

    After Charlize finished, Michelle nodded, saying, "Good. But there''s one more thing. I know you''re a smart girl, but try not to show off your cleverness in front of Mr. Williams. Just be natural. If you feel really nervous, it''s better to say less than to blurt out something incoherent."

    Charlize remembered the rxed face she had seen in the audition room over a week ago. She thought her manager was being a bit too serious, but nodded obediently.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Do you think I''m overreacting?" Michelle suddenly asked, studying Charlize''s expression. Charlize hurriedly shook her head. "No, no."

    "Don''t think these are small matters. He became famous at eighteen with just a few films, and now has great power in Hollywood at a young age. Plus, he''s a director. Both of those factors could make him a bit..." Michelle paused, refraining from using the term ''childish.'' Hesitating for a moment, she added, "Somewhat... emotional. Minor slip-ups might end up making him dislike you. Just a little bit of dislike could mean you lose this opportunity. That''s not unheard of; there are rumors that during the auditions for The X-Files, both producers liked one actress, but he simply said, ''I don''t like that woman'' and dismissed her."

    Charlize opened her mouth, surprised by Michelle''s casual industry gossip. Remembering that she had just watched The X-Files, she curiously whispered, "Michelle, I heard that the lead actress in The X-Files was also his girlfriend. Is that true?"

    Michelle shot her a look. "That''s not your concern."

    Charlize brushed her hair back, feeling quite confident about her looks. However, seeing her manager''s expression, she began to worry again, "What if he wants me to be his... What should I do?"

    "If that happens, you would immediately be the envy of ny-nine percent of Hollywood actresses. In no time, you would have everything that ordinary people could only dream of: a luxurious lifestyle, a dazzling stardom, high sries, and the best treatment. You wouldn''t have to bend to Hollywood''s rules or toil like other stars to maintain your status..." Michelle watched as Charlize''s eyes sparkled with uncontainable longing, and she quickly sshed cold water on that idea, saying, "But you can rest assured; he probably isn''t interested in you."

    Charlize couldn''t help but exim, "Why? Why not??"

    Michelle shrugged. "Who knows? Just like we still haven''t figured out why he suddenlyughed during the audition for Buffy the Vampire yer. Given his nature, if he were interested in you, he would have made a move during the Buffy auditions. The fact is, that didn''t happen; he even forgot your scheduled meeting. So, girl, this time, the most important thing is to seize that opportunity Kepler mentioned. Don''t overthink it."

    Charlize''s shoulders slumped slightly, a hint of disappointment crossing her face.

    Michelle took a sip of her coffee and continued, "But you didn''t forget what I told you on the phone that night, right? If he offers you something in that direction, remember, don''t refuse. It would be absolutely beneficial for you. Many actresses in Hollywood would do anything to get into his bed, and he''s not an old, ugly man either. You won''t be losing out."

    Charlize rolled her eyes slightly but nodded, not arguing.

    ...

    They spent time at the cafe until 11:30, when Michelle picked up her mobile phone and dialed Eric''s assistant''s number. After chatting for a bit, she took Charlize and walked towards

    Firefly Studios.

    The studio guard had been informed ahead of time. After confirming their identities, he handed them temporary passes and let them in.

    The main road in the studioplex was spacious, lined with several trucks, golf carts, andvish SUVs parked next to the sound stages. Around noon, many people were moving in and out of the opened studio doors, and asionally a group of stars could be seen surrounded by fans as they slipped into their SUVs.

    After walking several hundred meters through the studio area and across a small courtyard, a row ofmercial lofts made primarily of steel and ss came into view. Continuing forward, they finally reached the administrative section of the studio.

    Michelle made another phone call, and soon a young man in his thirties emerged from an office building. After brief introductions, he said, "Mr. Williams is already in the restaurant.

    Follow me."

    ...

    Inside the studio, alongside arge employee cafeteria, there were several upscale specialty restaurants. Following the rumors from a week earlier, Eric and Nicole hadn''t been dining out anymore while at the studio. Instead, they picked one of these restaurants.

    After wrapping up the morning''s work, Eric checked the time and took Nicole to their usual lunch spot. He didn''t rush to order but called Allen to notify him and began sketching on his drawing pad that he brought from the office.

    Watching Eric quickly sketch, Nicole couldn''t help but ask, "Do you really not need me to step out for a bit?"

    Eric looked up at Nicole and grinned. "Nope. I asked Allen to bring that girl and her manager over. It''s just a meeting -- to have lunch and chat a bit."

    Nicole was already in the know, nodding as she looked at the artwork taking shape in Eric''s

    hands. Against a fiery backdrop stood the bold figures of three women. "What''s this? Is it the concept art for your nned Charlie''s Angels remake?"

    Eric nodded, shifting the sketch pad closer as he continued adding lines, exining, "Yeah, I intend topletely remold Charlie''s Angels into a blockbuster female spy series, somewhat like a female counterpart to 007 if it''s feasible."

    Eric didn''t care much for the original Charlie''s Angels series. Not only was the plot disjointed,

    but its music video tendencies felt overbearing. The director Joseph McGinty Nichol had originally been a music video director but had not managed to break away from the MV shooting style, leading to extensive scenes reminiscent of a music video in Charlie''s Angels. If not for the significant budget spent on practical effects and the hype surrounding female action films, its box office sess wouldn''t have been likely. Therefore, after two films, the series stopped abruptly and failed to take off again, with subsequent TV adaptations also

    falling t.

    Now that the rights were under his control, Eric didn''t n to follow the original style. Instead, he had a bigger ambition to turn this story into a longer series of action films. Even if it couldn''t rival the ssic 007 series, he would strive in that direction. "007 has already done sixteen films; creating a simr series of films isn''t easy. Frank Mancuso, who recently took over MGM, is nning to reboot the 17th 007 installment, and they previously sent inquiries about whether I''d be interested in ying a Bond girl." Nicole''s offhandments sparked an idea in Eric''s mind. He turned his head and scanned Nicole with intent, making her temporarily puzzled, and she shrank her neck,ughing, "Heh, haven''t you already gotten tired of this?"

    Eric leaned over and nted a quick kiss on Nicole''s lips, grinning as he said, "Impossible, I

    just suddenly had a brilliant idea."

    "Oh?" Eric continued, "Since 007 has a Bond girl, Charlie''s Angels should also have a ssic viin.

    Let''s call her Fallen Angel."

    "Fallen Angel? You''re not suggesting I y that part, are you?"

    "Bingo, the first Fallen Angel. What do you think?"

    "Not so fast! Since you want to develop a new series, the three leadingdies shouldn''t be too

    famous. If I y the viin, I could easily overshadow those three girls in every way. By then, the audience would focus on me, and the movie would definitely be unbnced," Nicole

    said confidently.

    Eric quickly realized the issue. Nicole''s recent film, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, had sessfully crafted a strong queen-like persona for her, which would make it challenging for three rising stars to stand in her shadow.

    "Well, if the first film doesn''t work, we can always go for a second one. We can use the first to create buzz and the second to solidify the Fallen Angel''s reputation. After that, the sequel development will be much smoother."

    "Now that''s more like it; I can give it a try," Nicole nodded in agreement.

    Just as they were talking, Allen walked in, leading Charlize Therone and Michelle Simmons

    into the restaurant.

    Nicole''s gaze briefly lingered on Michelle Simmons, sharply dressed in a ck suit with short hair, before moving to Charlize. After sizing her up, she suddenly leaned in close to Eric and

    whispered, "She''s your type!"

    "I haven''t ordered my food yet," Eric replied softly, standing up. "Hello, Mr. Williams. I''m Michelle Simmons. It''s a pleasure to meet you," Michelle approached warmly, extending her hand to Eric, then greeted Nicole before quickly yielding

    the floor to Charlize.

    "Ms. Theron, we meet again," Eric took the initiative to greet, openly admiring the woman

    before him, a lucky star on the production line of Hollywood.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 517: Chapter 518: Complications

    Chapter 517: Chapter 518: Complications

    ?

    [Chapter 518: Complications]

    The electric cart carried both of them straight to the entrance of the studio. As soon as they stepped out, Charlize Theron eagerly asked, "Michelle, did you get any results?"

    Michelle Simmons nodded. "Let''s talk about it in the car."

    Seeing her manager''s gesture, Charlize finally felt a wave of relief wash over her. After the initial excitement, however, it soon faded into a slight disappointment. She had prepared for this meeting for so long and owed her manager a hefty sum of money. To her surprise, throughout the meeting, Eric Williams spoke only polite but meaningless pleasantries, barely even casting a nce in her direction.

    People''s thoughts often drifted this way; despite Charlize''s outwardpliance with her manager''s arrangements, she still harbored her own calctions. Unfortunately, she had no chance to implement any of her little schemes during the entire meeting.

    Once they got into the car, Michelle was lost in her thoughts until they had driven out of Santa Monica, at which point she noticed that Charlize hadn''t said a word for quite a while.

    "Feeling a bit down?" Michelle nced at Charlize in the passenger seat.

    Charlize instinctively wanted to deny it, but seeing her manager''s smile led her to give a slight nod instead.

    "Let me rify," Michelle organized her words. "Mr. Williams said he saw your audition for Buffy the Vampire yer, and it went quite well, so you''ve sessfullynded a role in the movie. However, there are three main female leads, and you''re just one of them."

    A joyful expression briefly crossed Charlize''s face, but Michelle could still see the disappointment in the girl sitting next to her. She exined, "This is definitely a film centered around the main female characters. Its budget isparable to Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and it''s spearheaded by Eric Williams himself. You should be grateful for your luck; if this film had auditioned for the leading roles publicly, it would have driven every eligible actress in Hollywood crazy. You wouldn''t have had any chance at all."

    "Then..." Charlize pondered for a moment and asked, "If he''s not interested in me, why did I still get the role?"

    "Who knows? Maybe it was just your lucky break," Michelle thought about this question too, though she was also puzzled. However, she had no intention of delving deeper into it. Unless Eric Williams himself exined his reasoning, no one could truly know what he thought.

    As they spoke, Michelle spotted arge Blockbuster video rental store along the roadside and pulled over. She took Charlize inside with her.

    After searching for a while, Michelle finally found aplete set of the Charlie''s Angels TV series on VHS. Instead of renting, she decided to purchase it. Although she had watched the series over a decade ago, she needed to brush up on it since she had taken on the task of selecting the female leads. Michelle intended to watch the show thoroughly and prepare well.

    Seeing the three sultry actresses on the box of the video, Charlize understood that she was likely set to star in the movie version of the series. Charlie''s Angels had first aired in 1976, just as Charlize was born, and she had been living on a small farm in South Africa far removed from such entertainment.

    The two of them returned to the car with bags full of videos. Michelle started driving while picking up the conversation from before. "Well, you have the role now, so there''s no need to dwell on why you got it. After all, there isn''t anything about you that anyone else would covet. If Eric Williams had ulterior motives, he wouldn''t have gone through so much trouble tond you this part. Just focus on doing what you need to do."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Holding a box of videos, Charlize read the back cover while absorbing Michelle''s words. "So what do I do next?" she asked.

    Michelle contemted for a moment. "I remember you don''t have a driver''s license, right? Spend the next two months learning how to drive and getting your license. This is an action film after all, and you''ll have driving scenes. I''ll also need to be away from Los Angeles for a while. After two months, your schedule will be set by the filmpany. Williams said there would be three months of training for you."

    Michelle added, "He mentioned that the training would be very tough and strict. If any of you can''t handle it, it''s better to bow out beforehand."

    Charlize certainly wasn''t nning on bailing out, but she did catch on to something else in her manager''s words. "Did you just say ''any''?"

    Michelle hadn''t expected Charlize to pick up on that so quickly. "Yes. Besides you, I''ll also need to find two more girls. ording to Williams, I need to go to Europe. If all goes well, it shouldn''t take more than two months; that''s the deadline he gave me."

    "What about me?" Charlize hadn''t had the chance to consider how she would handlepetition. She knew that if her manager left, she certainly couldn''t stay at Kepler Hyde''s mansion in Beverly Hills, as she wouldn''t have enough money to live in Los Angeles for the next two months.

    Michelle understood Charlize''s concern. "I''ll arrange everything for you; the expenses will be deducted from your sryter. Before I leave, I''ll get your contract signed with Firefly so you''ll have an official film role."

    This was the first time Charlize had heard the term "sry" in rtion to herself since Michelle signed herst fall, so she felt a genuine thrill. "Michelle, how much do you think my sry will be?"

    Michelle absentmindedly tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she considered it. "For a major film like this, even for a neer, the sry shouldn''t be too low. However, sries for actresses are generally less than those for actors. Plus, there are three leading women in Charlie''s Angels. I''ll have more information once I talk to them. I estimate your sry should be between $100,000 and $200,000. Of course, if the movie bes a big hit, the studio will definitely offer some bonuses."

    There was one thing that Michelle didn''t mention: among the three leading actresses, Charlize''s sry would likely be the lowest, with the other two roles being filled by rising stars from Europe, meaning that even if those actresses weren''t well-known in North America, their sries would naturally be higher.

    While this figure was a far cry from the multi-million dor sries of the biggest stars she saw in magazines, Charlize was still delighted. At the very least, it was a solid start. She wasn''t one of the stars, and this amount should be sufficient to keep her from worrying about finances for quite a while, allowing her to focus entirely on preparing for the movie.

    A few dayster, Michelle Simmons, representing Charlize, signed the contract for Charlie''s Angels with Flower Pictures. Although the unfamiliar productionpany made both her and Charlize somewhat apprehensive, the $200,000 sry came as a pleasant surprise. While that amount wasn''t muchpared to the production budget of over $50 million, it was the best- case scenario Michelle had anticipated. Perhaps because of this rather ''generous'' pay, the contract also included an option for Charlize, which stipted that after she starred in the first Charlie''s Angels film, she would have to appear in two sequels over the next five years.

    ...

    By early March, after an intense period of hard work, Eric sessfullypleted all post- production on Jurassic Park.

    After watching the finished film, Eric felt confident about its box office prospects. Compared to his memories, this version of Jurassic Park had a plot just as thrilling as the original, but its special effects were even better. After all, the version from this timeline was Spielberg''s work following the failure of Hook. While it eventually became a great sess, the studio had not been entirely confident during production, hence the tight budget meant some details

    couldn''t be perfectly refined.

    However, the version Eric produced burned through $75 million just for the project budget. Determined to deliver superior special effects for the series, Digital Domain, since its inception, had been engaged in developing rted technology, spending a significant

    amount of funds in the process.

    After wrapping Jurassic Park, marketing ns for the film quickly kicked into gear. A weekter, Firefly released the first poster for Jurassic Park, and Disney''s themed stores began setting up disys for Jurassic Park merchandise. With Disney''s hundreds of stores across North America and Europe, as long as the film achieved its expected sess, Firefly would reap profits from merchandise sales in no time.

    For the summer release, Firefly had three films: Jurassic Park, Deep Impact, and A Bug''s Life. Eric

    knew the box office sensation that Jurassic Park would be, so to avoid impacting the box office of the other two films, he scheduled Jurassic Park to release on June 4. Then three weekster, on June 25, A Bug''s Life --pletely different in genre from Jurassic Park -- would premiere, while the special effects-themed Deep Impact was set for July 2. This timing ensured that while Jurassic Park''s box office momentum would still be present, it wouldn''t overshadow Deep

    Impact too much.

    ...

    The films released by Firefly over the past few years had be a focal point for other studios. Many people noticed something unusual about the schedule Firefly had set after announcing the films. Historically, Firefly had maintained a release pattern ofunching films at two-week intervals during peak periods.

    However, with A Bug''s Life being a 3D animated film distributed by Disney, this summer''s release saw a staggering month between releases for the two films. Observant people quickly realized that Firefly was exceptionally confident in Jurassic Park. The almost $700 million global box office ofst year''s Twister was still fresh in many Hollywood minds, and the emphasis Firefly ced on Jurassic Park clearly outshone their attention to Twister. Given these concerns, some more flexible mid-tier filmpanies chose to postpone their summer releases to avoid Jurassic Park''s spotlight. Meanwhile, Michael Eisner faced pressure from Universal''s executives and decided to push back the nnedte-June release of The Fugitive to mid-July, swapping its date with a medium-budget romantic film.

    Although many publicly criticized Michael Eisner for being overly cautious, he insisted on not exining too much to others. Upon hearing this news, Eric couldn''t help but admire Michael Eisner''s boldness; had Eisner insisted on keeping The Fugitive''s original release date for fear of losing digntiy, it would have made for quite a spectacle. With some stepping back, others chose to confront the challenge. Two films were even set to "attack" Jurassic Park directly: Cliffhanger starring Sylvester Stallone and Last Action Hero featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, both produced by the German-backed Carolco. One film was scheduled to release the week before Jurassic Park, and the other a week after.

    Eric had noticed these two potential box-office failures, which was why he paused negotiations for Arnold Schwarzenegger''s sry on True Lies. He hadn''t anticipated that these two films would so recklessly rush into the jaws of Jurassic Park.

    Afterpleting the post-production of Jurassic Park, Eric found himself swamped again with a slew of tedious tasks that required his personal attention.

    At David Geffen''s rmendation, the lead role in Interview with the Vampire was ultimately secured by Tom Cruise, while the second lead was taken by an Australian actor from Pat Kingsley''s agency. Eric couldn''t recall much about the actor named Jack ter, likely due to the butterfly effect. The only actor he personally intervened with during casting was the young Kirsten Dunst, who at that time was just eleven years old, yet her audition impressed

    everyone involved, including director Neil Jordan.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 519: Chapter 520: My Child Isnt Named Hawaii

    Chapter 519: Chapter 520: My Child Isn''t Named Hawaii

    ?

    [Chapter 520: My Child Isn''t Named Hawaii]

    Eric had barely arrived in New York for a few days when the 65th Academy Awards took ce at the Los Angeles Music Center, bustling with excitement. Schindler''s List emerged as the clear winner, racking up twelve nominations and iming eight Oscars, while Steven Spielberg finally realized his dream of winning Best Director.

    From the time he pretended to be a Universal Pictures employee to sneak into that Burbank studio, Spielberg had been in the industry for 25 years. He had created a series of box office hits with Jaws, E.T., and Raiders of the Lost Ark, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood''s most sessfulmercial directors. He enjoyed a high reputation in the industry but still shed tears of joy on that small stage when he received recognition from the Academy.

    Even though it was nearly midnight on the East Coast, the two women stayed with Eric to watch the entire award ceremony. When Virginia noticed Spielberg wiping away tears, she quietly asked Eric if he would react the same way when he won an Oscar for directing in the future.

    Eric recalled how, two years prior, he had felt when he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screeny for Scent of a Woman. At the time, he thought he would be indifferent about awards, as someone who had lived a full life. But in that adrenaline-filled atmosphere of the award ceremony, staying calm was nearly impossible. However, he was sure that if he ever won the Oscar for Best Director, he would be emotional, though he doubted he would cry like Spielberg. Spielberg retained a sense of childlike wonder well into middle age, while Eric had long lost any remnants of innocence.

    Last year''s Twister predictably won the award for Best Visual Effects, with Stan Winston personally epting the award. Due to Eric, the director, and the lead actress Joanna''s absence, and theck of major nominations beyond a few technical awards, most of the crew from Twister was not present at the Oscars. Twister winning a technical award was eptable, but all other films from Firefly Productions left empty-handed.

    Consequently, as the Oscars wrapped up, alongside congratting Spielberg for finally achieving his goal after over twenty years, much of the media aimed its criticism at Firefly Productions. They mmed thepany for being toomercialized, suggesting that even Disney had be obsessed with profit, focusing solely on making money withmercial films while forgetting the artistic and social merits of cinema.

    Eric mostly skimmed through these bitter articles, understanding that the root cause was Firefly Productions'' exceptionally strong performance the previous year. With a 27% share of the North American box office, it surpassed thebined totals of the second and third cepetitors. Other filmpanies must have felt anxious and restless as a result, which didn''t surprise him. Considering the films ted for the summer release that were already kicking off promotions, Eric thought this year would certainly make the other six major studios even more frustrated, but they would eventually adapt to this situation.

    ...

    After April, Virginia and Joanna both reached their due dates. Everybody in the manor, including Eric, became increasingly cautious since both women were pregnant at the same time. While the chances of them giving birth on the same day were slim, Eric still prepared two identical delivery rooms in the vi, even arranging two teams of doctors.

    On April 9th, a day that should have been ordinary, Eric had just finished lunch. As usual, he went to his study to handle paperworking from Los Angeles. Joanna, ever by his side, sat nearby with a book, reading quietly.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As media discussions critiquing Firefly Productions''mercialization surfaced, thepany maintained a notably cool demeanor. Despite no public response to the criticism, internally, after several meetings, the management unanimously agreed that the Oscars were an important part of Hollywood. Even for the sake of maintaining public image, Firefly couldn''t excessively ignore them. After a few days of discussions, the management proposed two alternative ns.

    One n was to create a dedicated art film department within Firefly, investing or purchasing a few art films each year aimed at the Oscars. The other option was to acquire a second or third-tier filmpany specializing in art films, and names like Miramax were already on the table, suggested by individuals like Michael Lynne.

    Eric felt no surprise seeing that name. In previous years, Miramax had mostly dealt with peripheral awards like Best Foreign Language Film. However, in recent years, as the Weinstein Brothers became increasingly adept at awards campaigning, they were almost annually attempting to snag core Oscar categories like Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor/Actress. This year, despite suffering financial losses due to rapid expansion in production and distribution, Miramax still received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for The Crying Game. Had it not been for Schindler''s List taking precedence, winning one or two awards wasn''t out of the question for them.

    However, upon looking at the documents, Eric''s interest in acquiring Miramax all but faded. Perhaps due to the recent media buzz, the Weinstein Brothers assumed Firefly''s interest in acquiring Miramax was more ''urgent'' than that of otherpetitors. Thus, they proposed a $100 million price tag while wanting to retain a certain stake and maintain Miramax''s independent operations.

    Years ago, Eric had chosen New Line and Miramax as potential targets for Firefly''s expansion mainly because both had established distribution channels. While small, they could scale quickly with good films, and he ultimately chose New Line primarily due to itsrger scale. Now though, Eric was far less keen about Miramax. After reviewing the terms proposed by the Weinstein Brothers, he became even less interested. If Miramax retained the Weinstein Brothers to run thepany independently post-acquisition, considering their ambitions to expand beyond just Oscar films, there was little doubt that Firefly and Miramax would follow the same path that once caused Disney and Miramax to split apart. Eric had no intention of dragging those two scheming brothers into the Disney framework toplicate matters for himself.

    After pondering the choices, Eric ultimately decided to stick with the first n.

    ...

    Resolute, he opened hisputer and began typing his thoughts onto a nk document. Just as he fumbled through a few lines, the door to the study was abruptly knocked on. He frowned but hadn''t yet responded when a maid pushed the door open, her face urgent as she said, "Mr. Williams, Madam''s water has broken."

    Eric immediately stood up. "Did you call the doctor?"

    "Madam just felt some difort in her stomach, and Ms. Paquin happened toe for a check-up. Now, Madam is already in the delivery room."

    Eric turned from his desk and began to walk outside, ncing back at Joanna as he moved. "Joan, do you have..."

    Joanna closed her book and smiled as she stood. "It can''t be that simple, don''t mind me, just go check on her."

    "Then you rest well here, you don''t need toe," Eric replied, following the maid outside.

    ...

    As they walked down the long corridor to a south-facing room on the other side of the vi, Eric could already hear Virginia''s cries of pain from outside. Just as he was about to push the door open, a nurse with a tray came out of another room and quickly stopped him. "Mr. Williams, you can''t go in like that; you need to wear a sterile gown first. Mary, help Mr. Williams with that."

    Eric quickly put on the gown, then finally stepped into the delivery room.

    The newly renovated delivery room was on par with any high-end hospital ward, with all brand-new equipment. Eric had promised to donate all the equipment used by the private doctors responsible for the two women after they had finished, and the other party had been so excited they nearly lostposure.

    Upon seeing Eric, Virginia reached out her hand from the bed, "Eric."

    "I''m here," Eric took her small hand, offeredfort, and then looked to the middle-aged woman beside him wearing a mask. "Ms. Paquin, how is it going?"

    "Don''t worry, Mr. Williams. With me here, there won''t be any issues. Plus, Elisa will be here

    shortly."

    Elisa mentioned by the middle-aged woman was another doctor from a different team. Eric nodded and observed the busy doctors and nurses, deciding not to disturb them further,

    quietly staying by Virginia''s side.

    Women often took longer during their first deliveries. Eric had prepared for this inevitability, but with Virginia''s water breaking in the afternoon, she was still struggling well into the early morning; the little one would just note out.

    Virginia, looking a bit pale, heard Eric softly discussing with the doctor the potential for a C- section if the baby remained unresponsive after twelve hours. She immediately called out, "Eric, I don''t want a C-section. I heard that can make the child stupid."

    "Don''t say such things. That''s impossible. Just lie down calmly," Eric sat beside her, gently holding her hand and trying to soothe her.

    "It can happen, it can happen. I just don''t want a C-section."

    Eric, feeling a bit helpless, said, "Then you need to push and get the little one out as soon as

    possible."

    "It hurts..."

    "Then let''s do a C-section."

    "Waaah... It''s all your fault!"

    "Okay, okay, me me, just don''t cry. Rx, rx."

    "I''m hungry."

    "There''s porridge in the kitchen; I''ll go get you some," Eric said and hurried out of the

    delivery room.

    With the Virginia inbor, nobody was resting; the vi was brightly lit. As Eric passed

    through the living room, he saw Joanna still sitting on the couch with a maid, speaking softly. Upon seeing Eric, Joanna quickly asked, "Eric, how is it going?"

    Eric shook his head. "Dr. Paquin said that after twelve hours, if there''s still no progress, a C- section would be best. I''m getting Vicky some food, Joan; you should rest soon." "I''m fine; I can''t sleep either," Joanna gently shook her head, her hand softly rubbing her

    abdomen. Perhaps influenced by Virginia, she felt slight pains, but she dismissed them as normal urrences from past experiences. To avoid worrying Eric, she did not mention it, continuing, "Gina just asked if she wanted anything to eat. You should hurry to the kitchen."

    ...

    Watching Eric head into the kitchen, she soon saw him return with a bowl. The maid standing by Joanna whispered, "Mr. Williams is so considerate."

    "Indeed," Joanna softly replied, the difort in her abdomening back. She furrowed her brows slightly, reaching for the remote next to her, hoping to turn on the TV for distraction. As she shifted her body slightly, she caught sight of faint dampness on the couch. Before the maid could say anything, she followed Joanna''s stunned gaze and gasped, "Oh my

    God."

    As she spoke, the maid hurriedly got up and rushed toward the delivery room.

    ...

    Joanna''s water had also broken... Upon hearing this news, Eric nearly froze in ce. Meanwhile, the doctors remained calm, dividing into two small teams to assist each woman.

    As a precaution, Dr. Paquin suggested that Eric contact one or two more doctors toe in. Faced with such a coincidental scenario, Eric no longer considered confidentiality issues and immediately agreed to the suggestion. Dr. Paquin went ahead and rmended two of her colleagues to Eric.

    The nearby residents had already noticed the well-lit manor. The arrival of two helicopters

    thatnded in the backyard stirred even more curiosity, with some peopleing to inquire, but they received no answers from the security guard.

    Eric briefly exchanged words with a doctor who arrived fresh from a helicopter, surprised to find him there, then slipped into Joanna''s delivery room.

    Upon seeing Eric, Joanna, who was biting her lips, instantly reached out her small hand.

    As the man took her hand and softlyforted her, Joanna, usually so quiet, couldn''t hold

    back her tears, "Eric..."

    "It''s okay, it''s okay; it''ll be quick. Don''t worry," Eric reassured her, gently wiping the corner

    of Joanna''s eye.

    Joanna shook her head lightly, gazing up at him timidly, "No, Eric, I mean, my child isn''t

    named Hawaii."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 521: Chapter 522: Angels

    Chapter 521: Chapter 522: Angels

    ?

    [Chapter 522: The Burden of Force]

    "What are you nning to do?" Joanna asked Eric after she finished reading the email seriously.

    Eric chuckled lightly, "Honestly, it''s not a big deal. I''ve been single for a while now." Joanna blinked her slender eyes a few times, and she almost grasped the situation. Eric wasn''t married, so having a child early wouldn''t be too significant; at most, some conservative folks would criticize him, but with his current power and fame, it wouldn''t cause him any real harm.

    "So... Will the movie really be affected?" Joanna pointed to the email.

    Eric smiled and patted Joanna''s hand. "Don''t worry, it won''t have much impact. You don''t need to concern yourself with this. Just focus on taking good care of the little one. And if you ever get bored and want to work, I can arrange for you to do a movie or whatever you''re interested in. Haven''t you been chatting with Emily about fashion? Interested in being a designer?"

    Joanna shook her head, leaning gently against Eric''s arm. "I was just talking with Emily; I''m not like you. I can only act, nothing else."

    "Then just let it be. If you want to do something, just let me know."

    "Yeah," Joanna replied softly, pausing for a moment before adding, "Eric, I told my parents about Elia''s birth."

    Eric turned to look at her. "What did they say?"

    "They didn''t say much. They just hope I''ll be doing okay."

    Eric squeezed Joanna''s hand and said, "I assure you, you and Elia, you two will be just fine."

    "I know," Joanna nodded. "But there''s something else."

    "What''s that?"

    "My... my little sister ns toe to America. Mom and Dad hope I can look after her."

    Eric was somewhat puzzled. It was the first time he heard Joanna mention having a younger sister. "Why didn''t you ever mention her?"

    "I didn''t think it was necessary," Joanna said, looking at Eric. "Her name is Ewa, Ewa Pacu?a. She''s... she''s a year younger than you."

    Being a year younger meant Ewa Pacu?a was just twenty-two years old.

    Eric''s mind spun as he subconsciously asked, "Is Ewa prettier than you?"

    As soon as the words left his mouth, Eric felt a sharp pinch on his arm from Joanna, causing him to rub it and cry out in pain.

    Joanna released him, shot Eric a re, but softly said, "Everyone who knows us says Ewa looks just like me, especially our eyes."

    This time, Eric didn''t dare to joke, nodding in agreement. "Your eyes are the prettiest. So, what''s Ewaing to America for? Can I help in any way?"

    "I initially thought of asking for your help, but never mind. I''m going to keep Ewa far from you," Joanna said bluntly.

    Eric quickly donned a charming smile. "Alright, you handle it. I won''t interfere. But if you need help, it''s fine to ask someone else and just say it was my idea."

    Joanna nodded and sighed, "Ewa wanted toe a few years ago, but I insisted she finish her degree in Pnd."

    Eric asked, "What does she study?"

    "English," Joanna replied, then nced at Eric. "Her English is way better than mine. She won''t... won''t have that strange ent you like."

    To prepare for Twister, Joanna went through extensivenguage training to lose her ent. But after filming was over, her ent returned, a quirky, rolled-r tongue English that Eric couldn''t quite define but strangely liked.

    As they talked, Eric''s mobile phone beside him rang.

    "Hello, is this Mr. Williams?" a female voice came through.

    This mobile number was new, assigned when Eric came to New York, and not many knew it. Hearing the somewhat familiar but strange voice, Eric asked, "Yes, this is I. Who is this?" "Mr. Williams, this is Michelle Simmons. I just returned from Europe. Your old number was answered by Mr. Fishman, who told me I could reach you at this number."

    Eric immediately recalled her, saying, "Michelle, how was your trip to Europe?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams, I found several qualified actresses as you requested. They are with me in Los Angeles, and I wanted to ask if you could arrange a time to meet them."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Eric considered for a moment. "How about you fax their information to me first? I''ll take a look. Write down the number."

    Michelle Simmons seemed to know something and didn''t argue. "Just a moment; I''ll find a pen."

    After a while, Michelle noted the fax number before hanging up.

    Joanna saw Eric hang up and asked, "Is there an urgent matter in Los Angeles you have to handle?"

    Eric shook his head, smiling. "No, don''t worry. I promised I would spend time here with you

    guys."

    Joanna smiled, standing up. "I was just thinking about the fax. Should I go grab it for you?" "Yeah, it might take a bit longer," Eric replied.

    ...

    After Joanna left, Eric looked at the email on hisputer screen, thought for a moment, and wrote a reply to Jerry Bruckheimer. He then shut down the browser and began typing the story outline for Charlie''s Angels.

    Nearly half an hour passed, and Joanna still hadn''t returned, but Virginia walked out with a pile of faxes. "Hey, look at all these pretty faces. What are you up to now?"

    Ericughed as he picked up the documents. "Didn''t I tell you? I''m nning to remake Charlie''s Angels into an action movie for women."

    Virginia sat down in Joanna''s chair, took a few sips of Eric''s coffee, and asked, "Is this your next movie?"

    Eric looked at the materials in his hand, not realizing the deeper meaning behind Virginia''s words, and simply nodded. "Yeah, next movie."

    Virginia immediately frowned, saying, "It seems like you''re just nning to use this movie as a pretext to fool around with the leadingdies. Charlie''s Angels? Pshh, I''ve seen it. Just three little flirts showing off their bodies."

    Realizing Virginia thought he would personally direct Charlie''s Angels, he merely felt amused. He reflected on how the once gentle woman had turned into a fiery mom after giving birth -- not in terms of body shape but temperament.

    He pushed a portion of the story outline he had written toward Virginia, saying, "This is serious work, and I only intend to be the writer, not the director."

    Virginia used the mouse to scroll to the top of the document and read a few lines. Suddenly,

    she became interested and pulled the notebook closer to her.

    Noticing her move, Eric shifted the stack of actress profiles Michelle Simmons had sent, making room as he continued reading.

    Momentster, Eric''s gazended on one actress''s profile.

    Virginia suddenly spoke, "Eric, this Jill Monroe is a genius with high IQ, and I like the setup

    for Sabrina Wells, but I feel the character of Kelly Garrett is a bit forced. I''ve seen Bruce Lee''s action films, but Kelly Garrett was adopted by an old Chinese man who runs a martial arts school in Chinatown after her parents died when she was six. Wouldn''t she have other rtives? Even if she didn''t have any family, ording to federal adoptionws, it wouldn''t be possible for an old Chinese man to adopt her. There are many inconsistencies." Eric listened to Virginia''s ramble with a slight smile. These were merely brainstorming ideas that would undergo significant modificationster. But ncing at the profile in his hand, he chuckled, saying, "If it doesn''t work, we can adjust it. Maybe give her a Chinese grandfather who knows martial arts. It''d make more sense. What do you think?"

    Virginia looked at him, "A grandfather who knows martial arts?"

    Eric smiled, "Yeah, there''s a profile here of an actress who has a quarter Chinese ancestry. She''d be perfect."

    With that, Eric pulled out the actress''s profile and ced it on the round table.

    Virginia picked it up and immediately saw the photo of the graceful and striking girl. Her eyes then fell to the girl''s biographical details as she quietly read out the name, "Kate Beckinsale." Eric smiled, knowing the character Kelly Garrett in Charlie''s Angels had been defined as the ''muscle'' of the Angels. Who could be more fitting than Kate Beckinsale, who wouldter earn the title of Hollywood''s "Violent Barbie"?

    Meanwhile, Virginia was beside Eric, wowed. "Wow, an Oxford grad! No wait, given her age, she should only be a sophomore now. Haha, now that she''s in Hollywood, she''s probably not

    going to finish her degree."

    "Alright, don''t hate on a high-achieving student just because youck academic prowess," Eric said, pulling the profile from Virginia''s grasp.

    Virginia wasn''t bothered and chuckled, "Isn''t your other beauty, Jennifer Connelly, just

    studying at Stanford?"

    Eric countered, "You still have to have what it takes to get into Stanford. Do you?"

    "I''m not interested," Virginia nonchntly rose, asking, "What do you want for dinner?"

    "I''ll eat whatever the kid''s having. Is that okay?"

    "Ugh, I''ll just starve you to death!" Virginia blushed, rolled her eyes at Eric, and left.

    Eric smiled to himself and shrugged, turning his attention back to the profiles in his hands.

    ...

    The candidates Michelle Simmons found weren''t many, just eight, and even though the profiles were detailed, he quickly finished reviewing them. Eric initially thought he wouldn''t encounter any "familiar faces," but upon reaching thest one, a familiar, somewhat wild-

    looking Latina woman''s photo appeared before him.

    Penelope Cruz!

    Eric raised an eyebrow in surprise, ncing up at the character setup for the other Angel, Sabrina Wells. Although it diverged from his memory of her, he thought carefully and realized that Penelope Cruz''s persona and image perfectly matched the role of Sabrina Wells.

    As for thest role of "IQ Specialist," it clearly belonged to the already signed Charlize

    Theron.

    Eric hardly hesitated before picking up the mobile phone beside him, scrolling through hisptop to find Michelle Simmons'' contact number, and dialing.

    The call was soon connected. Upon hearing Eric''s voice, Michelle sounded slightly surprised but asked, "Mr. Williams, I sent the materials over. Did you receive them?"

    "I did," Eric replied, looking at the two profiles on the round table. "Kate Beckinsale and Penelope Cruz -- besides what I have here, is there any other info on them?" Michelle paused, seemingly searching for something, then quickly responded, "Most of their

    information has been sent. Penelope''s resume isplete. She made her markst year in Jam��n Jam��n, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Her performance was well received. As for Kate Beckinsale, though she''s only yed minor roles, she participated in a major Shakespeareanedy, Much Ado About Nothing,st year. It''s set to release next month. The leads are Keh Branagh, the Best Actor at the Oscars three years ago, and this year''s Best Actress, Emma Thompson. Additionally, stars like Michael Keaton and Keanu Reeves have also participated. The productionpany aims for an Oscar sweep next year, so the production should be exceptional. To be a part of such a film indicates this girl has strong capabilities; I even auditioned her while in the UK."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 523: Chapter 524: The Final Countdown

    Chapter 523: Chapter 524: The Final Countdown

    ?

    [Chapter 524: The Final Countdown]

    Eric Williams had been cornered by Peter Guber for nearly an hour. If he hadn''t had an important meeting to attend afterwards, Eric figured he would have beenpletely worn out by this guy by the end of the morning.

    After sending Peter Guber on his way, Eric quickly arrived at therge conference room at Firefly headquarters. By this time, nearly all the department heads from Firefly''s film division had gathered, along with several high-ranking executives from overseas branches, totaling around forty to fifty people. With the arrival of the summer blockbuster season in June, it marked the busiest time for a film and entertainmentpany.

    To avoid disrupting work, the management decided to hold the mid-year operational and financial summary meeting at the end of May. Since Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, it did not require waiting for the formal mid-year financial report toplete the business summary and adjustments requested by the board.

    The North American film market had performed tepidly in the first half of the year, with only Paramount Pictures'' Easter release of a film titled Indecent Proposal lucky enough to cross the $100 million mark. Firefly had released a total of seven mid to low-budget films in the first six months of 1993, with the best performer being a family adventureedy called Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, produced under the Disney brand and distributed by Buena Vista. It garnered over $43 million at the North American box office, but thebined box office total for all seven films was only $180 million.

    While that figure seemed rather unimpressive, Firefly''s total revenue from video tape sales, peripheral rights operations, theme parks, Disney stores, and other business lines had reached $2.2 billion, with a pre-tax profit exceeding $250 million. That meant the revenue from box office ticket sales had ounted for only about ten percent of Firefly''s total

    revenue.

    Eric understood that if thepany truly achieved such a revenue proportion, it would be a healthier business model for aprehensive media group. This approach would also enhance a mediapany''s resilience to risks, lowering the chances of bankruptcy due to the failure of one or two films.

    However, in reality, Firefly was far from that point. The temporary revenue split primarily resulted from the film industry being in a downturn for most of the first half of the year, with the hottest releases scheduled for thetter half, including the studio''s major films. Just thebined production costs of Jurassic Park, Deep Impact, and A Bug''s Life would exceed the production and distribution costs of the first half''s seven films.

    ...

    The entire meeting continued until four-thirty in the afternoon. Although there was still half an hour until the workday ended, Eric had already nned to leave early. However, just as he packed up, Jeffrey Katzenberg stopped him, and behind him was Patrick Schneider, head of Disnend Paris. Due tost year''s major operational missteps at Disnend Paris, Eric and Katzenberg had initially nned to pull Patrick Schneider back to headquarters. However, after Patrick Schneider had improved operations at Disnend Paris, Eric and Katzenberg decided to allow him to stay for the time being.

    Today''s meeting also addressed the state of Disnend Paris. In the first two quarters, the total number of visitors reached six million, bringing the park to a break-even point, with potential profits in the second half of the year. As a project that had been severely mismanaged during its development, Eric''s only requirement for Disnend Paris was to maintain financial bnce and not be a burden on the group. The prospect of turning a profit delighted him. In the original timeline, Disnend Paris had incurred billions in losses for Disney headquarters each year after opening, with few years of actual profit.

    "Eric, it''s like this -- Louis Bartolo, the representative of the French investors for Disnend Paris, is also here in Los Angeles," Katzenberg stated matter-of-factly, "They are not too satisfied with the current situation and want to reim management rights for Disnend Paris."

    Eric didn''t take the two back to his office but instead indicated for them to sit at the meeting table. He asked, "I remember we clearly outlined the situation at Disnend Paris to themst year. We made significant changes. Isn''t everything moving in a positive direction? Why would they still have that notion?"

    Seated across from them, Patrick Schneider had the most insight into the matter. He answered, "Mr. Williams, the situation at Disnend Paris is indeed improving; however,pared to the profitability of Tokyo Disnend, the gap is still quiterge. The French are likely influenced by the way the Japanese have been able to operate Tokyo Disnend."

    Eric scoffed in his mind. The French had a good n, but they didn''t consider whether they had the capability to pull it off. The sess of Tokyo Disnend stemmed from the Japanese''s recognition and admiration of American culture, something that didn''t exist in Europe. He recalled that in the original timeline, due to early massive losses at Disnend Paris, Disney headquarters was forced to relinquish control, resulting in years of stagnation and increasing burden for Disney. This alone ensured Eric would never give up control of Disnend Paris. Disney headquarters, after all, possessed rich operational experience, which enabled Disnend Paris to quickly adjust and improve within a year of recognizing issues. Handing it over to the French was a gamble he was unwilling to take.

    "Regardless, we certainly won''t relinquish control of Disnend Paris," Eric asserted, looking at the two men. "Does Luis Bartolo want to meet me?"

    "He invited us to a dinner tonight to discuss this matter. We''ve epted, since he''s here after all, just letting you know and seeing how we might handle this," Katzenberg said, fully aware that Eric would likely decline the dinner.

    "I won''t be going," Eric shook his head, thinking for a moment. "Since the French are envious of Tokyo Disnend, if they really want control back, it''s not impossible..."

    Before Eric could finish, Katzenberg interjected, "Eric, absolutely not."

    Eric waved off Katzenberg''s objection, smiling as he continued, "Wait for me to finish! You know I''ve been dealing with Peter Guber for a while. If we outright refuse, I''m sure the French will continue to harass us. Let''s set a price. If they aspire to have control like the Japanese do, then they should buy back all our shares in Disnend Paris. We can structure it as an agreement simr to Tokyo Disnend -- just collecting royalties."

    Katzenberg instantly rxed upon hearing Eric''s stance, while Patrick Schneider chimed in, "That''s a solid n. If the French are willing to buy back our shares, headquarters can shed this burden, and we can reliably profit from Disnend Paris. Even if Disnend Paris ultimately can''t sustain itself under the French, we won''t bear too much responsibility." Despite Disnend Paris showing signs of recovery, Patrick Schneider felt a weight on his shoulders as head of the park, constantly worried about a sudden downturn. If he could escape this burden and return to headquarters, he would jump at the chance, though he knew the likelihood was slim. The French wouldn''t be foolish enough to take on all the risks themselves, so Eric''s proposal effectively extinguished their desire to reim Disnend Paris.

    Katzenberg added, "In that case, Eric, maybe you should join tonight''s dinner. It would be better for you tomunicate this proposal directly to Louis Bartolo. I can''t wait to see his face when he hears this."

    Eric shook his head. "No need for that. Besides, Jeffrey, even with this condition as a shield, I''m sure you can effectively convey the details to him. No need for the French to be constantly

    reminded of this."

    "Alright, I understand," Katzenberg nodded, and after wrapping up the conversation, the three left the conference room, exchanging light banter.

    ...

    As they walked toward the elevator, Patrick Schneider spoke up, "Mr. Williams, I heard thepany is nning to establish a new art film division specifically for making award-

    winning films. Is that correct?"

    Eric nodded, grinning. "Michael is currently in charge of nning that department. You''re not suggesting you want to self-nominate as head, are you?"

    There were many Michaels, but Patrick Schneider understood that Eric was referring to Firefly''s CEO, Michael Lynn. "Certainly not, Mr. Williams. However, having been in France, I have good connections in that film circle. There''s an excellent young French director looking to break into Hollywood. He''s just in his thirties but has already received several Cesar nominations. It''s notable that he earned a nomination for his first feature film at the age of twenty-five -- a rare feat in the conservative French film industry, where it''s a hundred times tougher for young talent to break throughpared to Hollywood. What''s more impressive is that his work bnces bothmercial sess and artistic merit."

    The three entered the elevator, and Katzenberg remarked, "Getting Oscar recognition is not easy for French directors unless they start their careers in Hollywood." Patrick Schneider was merely passing on information to Eric, fully aware of the truth in Katzenberg''s statement. As they were about to answer, they heard Eric ask, "What''s the name

    of this director?"

    "Luc Besson," Patrick Schneider replied.

    Eric chuckled, "What a coincidence. I just happened to have seen his film, La Femme Nikita. It

    was quite good."

    If John Woo''s three trademarks in Hollywood were slow motion, character close-ups, and pigeons, Eric''s impression of Luc Besson''s "trademarks" was chasing, chasing, and more

    chasing.

    This wasn''t to say Luc Besson''s film style was singr; rather, in the films Eric had seen directed by him, there seemed to be an abundance of chase scenes. From the early La Femme Nikita, toter films like Taken and the inexplicably sessful Lucy, they all leaned heavily on that form, and yet audiences consistently engaged with the adrenaline-pumping

    simplicity of those plots.

    Contemting this, Eric asked, "Patrick, what''s this about Luc Besson wanting to develop in

    Hollywood?"

    Patrick Schneider replied, "He ns to make a hitman-themed film, shooting in New York, and is currently seeking coborators from our side."

    Eric guessed it must be the film now known as Leon: The Professional, and felt a thrill. "Let''s have the production department reach out to him. I''ll look at the script. If it works, Firefly can handle the investment and production."

    Patrick Schneider was taken aback by Eric''s on-the-spot decision but nodded. "No problem. He''s currently in Los Angeles, and I''ll get in touch with him tonight."

    After exiting the elevator, the three said their goodbyes and each got into their cars.

    ...

    As the driver hit the highway, Eric gazed out the window, lost in thought. The world''s trajectory had changed so significantly under his influence. While the director remained the same, and the lead actor was likely also the same, he couldn''t help but wonder if Mathilda was

    still that same Mathilda.

    As they passed a movie theater, Eric caught sight of the towering poster for Jurassic Park

    stered on the outside wall and snapped back to reality. Jurassic Park was about to premiere -- now that was what mattered most.

    The $25 million promotional budget had been fully utilized, and without hesitation, Eric had allocated another $25 million. With the sessful saturation release of Mr. & Mrs. Smith as a reference, he decided to raise the opening number for Jurassic Park to over 3,000 screens. Without a doubt, Jurassic Park would be the first film in North America to open on over

    3,000 screens.

    Now, Jurassic Park was entering its final countdown phase.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 525: Chapter 526: Warning

    Chapter 525: Chapter 526: Warning

    ?

    [Chapter 526: Warning]

    It was already nightfall.

    In the densely popted northwest area of Santa Monica, three tall and attractive girls emerged from a supermarket, each holding a convenience bag, attracting the attention of nearby men. Although this area was home to many Hollywood stars and there were certainly no shortages of beautiful women on the streets, it wasn''t every day that you saw three stunning girls gathered together.

    The girl on the far left, with pale skin and ck hair, skillfully opened a pack of cigarettes from her bag,pletely ignoring the puzzled looks from passersby. She lit one up and asked the Latina girl in the middle, "Penny, what did that guy in the supermarket just say to you?"

    The Latina girl pulled a small business card from her pocket and showed it to the other two, saying with augh, "He said he was a scout from a talent agency and thought I looked like the Spanish actress Penelope Cruz. He wanted to invite me to audition for theirpany."

    The other two girls paused for a moment, then burst intoughter.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The three girls were naturally the chosen leads for Eric''s uing project, Charlie''s Angels. However, since the film was still in its early nning stages and no information had been disclosed to the public, the scout Penelope mentioned had found himself in a bit of a mix-up. After a heartyugh, Charlize Theron asked, "So, how did you respond to him?"

    "I pretended that I didn''t speak much English. After he pestered me for a while, he left me a card and walked away," Penelope Cruz said, casually tossing the card into a nearby trash can. Although she had a noticeable ent, her English was remarkably fluent.

    Another round of lightughter followed, and Kate Beckinsale took a few puffs from her cigarette before suddenlyining, "There are still two months to go. If I''d known this training was going to be so brutal, I wouldn''t have signed up."

    Upon hearing this, Penelope Cruz and Charlize Theron exchanged silent smiles, clearly aware that Kate often voiced this habitualint.

    Among the girls, Kate had it the toughest when it came to the rigorous training Eric arranged. Both Penelope and Charlize had been dancers since childhood, making it easy for them toplete various physical demands; their daily training felt just like their old dance sses. Kate Beckinsale, on the other hand, had only briefly attended a ballet ss as a child, and now her body was no different than that of an ordinary person. At first, she even cried from the pain during basic stretching exercises, but she ultimately persevered.

    After finishing her cigarette, they had finally reached their residence -- a small separate house that Michelle Simmons had arranged for them, just half an hour away from their training location.

    Kate tossed her cigarette butt into a nearby trash can, feeling somewhat unfulfilled. It seemed she wanted to smoke another one, but after ncing at the courtyard door nearby, she ultimately decided against it.

    The other two girls merely nced at her actions without saying anything. While they asionally indulged in a cigarette or two, it was never as frequently as Kate did. However, they showed no intention of dissuading her. Though Michelle Simmons encouraged them to get along, it didn''t mean they''d truly open up to one another. They were, after all,petitors at heart.

    Charlize took out her keys and unlocked the door. All three entered the living room, where Kate tossed her convenience bag onto the coffee table,zily leaned back on the couch, and grabbed the remote to turn on the TV. The other two girls, after cing their bags down, retreated to their rooms to change into morefortable clothing.

    Just as Penelope Cruz took off her coat, she heard Kate say from the living room, "Penny, Charlize, you''ve gottae see this! They''re live streaming the premiere of Jurassic Park!" Initially, Penelope didn''t want to respond, but upon hearing Jurassic Park, she thought of another name and immediately stepped out of her room, with Charlize following suit.

    At that moment, the television was showing a segment where a journalist asked a question.

    "...Mr. Williams, what are your thoughts on the recent smear campaign against Mr. Stallone''s film, Cliffhanger?"

    Witnessing the short pause on screen, Charlize couldn''t help butugh, grabbing a nearby throw pillow and squeezing it. She gleefully remarked, "Ha, this guy is really in trouble now."

    Charlize had heard some buzz about the smear campaign against Cliffhanger and, as a proud girl, she still vividly remembered the day she had beenpletely ignored. Watching Eric face some adversity was genuinely delightful.

    The fire of ambition burned bright in Penelope Cruz''s eyes as she gazed intently at the young man on the screen, seemingly oblivious to Charlize''s words, while Kate gave a surprising look to Charlize''s reaction.

    However, Eric quickly and calmly handled the situation, smoothly resolving the crisis. Apuse erupted in the venue.

    Charlize suddenly felt a bit downcast.

    Penelope Cruz''s gaze remained glued to the TV screen, leaning in to ask, "Charlize, you''ve met Eric Williams before, what do you think of him?"

    "A...really annoying guy," Charlize hesitated before answering, and after the female reporter asked about Jurassic Park''s box office expectations, she perked up her ears, noticing that the guy on TV seemed to want to evade the question while the reporter was being relentless. "...However, I think everyone is more curious, since Mr. Williams, you were able to break the norm by arranging 3,000 screens for this movie''s premiere, what are your box office expectations?"

    Then the audience saw Eric Williams lift the microphone to his mouth and, after a brief hesitation, he said, "If you really want to know, my global box office expectation for Jurassic Park is one billion dors!"

    Wow--

    Even sitting in front of the TV, all three girls could hear the shock rippling through the audience at the premiere. The previously quiet reporters could no longer hold back, rising to eagerly shout their questions.

    Both Charlize Theron and Kate Beckinsale were equally shocked upon hearing the number. One billion dors was unprecedented in Hollywood history, but beside them, Penelope Cruz seemed even more bewildered, eximing, "One million? No way it''s only a million!"

    Charlize blinked, momentarily caught off-guard, while Kate shot Penelope a quizzical nce: "Penny, it''s a billion dors, not one million."

    The terms million and billion sound quite simr, with only the first word differing, making it easy to see how Penelope could have mixed them up, especially since she hadn''t considered the possibility of a movie reaching a billion dors.

    Realizing her mistake, Penelope felt a bit embarrassed, but soon the gravity of the billion- dor figure set in, and her delicate jaw seemed to drop. "Wow, a billion...dors!"

    Due to Eric''s response, the question-and-answer segment at the premiere became untenable. The creative team behind Jurassic Park hastily answered a few more questions before exiting the stage, and the broadcast switched to the Jurassic Park trailer.

    True to Eric''s initial concept, the two-minute trailer for Jurassic Park didn''t reveal any full shots of the giant dinosaurs. However, the expressions of the main characters and the spine- chilling roar of the beast at the end stoked strong anticipation for the film.

    As the trailer concluded, Kate Beckinsale quickly dered, "Penny, Charlize, how about we go see the midnight showing tomorrow night?"

    Charlize, seemingpletely uninterested, replied, "That guy said not to rush into theaters just for publicity, so you should go first. If you think it''s good, I might consider catching a

    glimpse."

    Penelope waited for Charlize to finish before saying, "Kate, then it''ll just be the two of us going."

    "Sounds good," Kate nodded eagerly.

    Charlize added irritably, "Hey, did you both not see the trailer? It''s called Jurassic Park, but not a single dinosaur shadow appeared! I bet you''ll be disappointed if you go."

    Kate and Penelope exchanged looks, and Kate remarked, "Charlize, why do I feel like you''ve harbored a persistent grudge against Mr. Williams?"

    Penelope agreed, "Yeah, like... um, a jilted lover. Hey, what happened during yourst

    meeting?"

    "Jilted lover?" Charlize suddenlyughed nervously, seeming to sense something off. She tossed the pillow aside, stood up, and said, "I''m ignoring you two now, I''m off to shower and

    sleep."

    Penelope teased her retreating figure, "Charlize, it''s only seven-thirty!"

    Kate chimed in, "Should we buy your ticket for tomorrow?"

    "Do whatever you want. Just give the ticket to a homeless person; I''m definitely not going."

    Penelope let out a few chuckles and pressed on, "Then we''ll buy a ticket for the ''homeless person'' and you can cover the popcorn."

    From the bathroom, Charlize shouted back in frustration, "You two, shut up!"

    "Haha..."

    ...

    While the girls were frolicking, at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, the movie had already begun ying on stage. Just as Eric walked into the backstage area, he was surrounded by a group of people. Charlie West, responsible for organizing the premiere, observed Eric''s dark expression and nervously exined, "Mr. Williams, I''ve found out that the reporter was..." Eric waved his hand dismissively, "Forget it, I''m not concerned about that."

    Charlie immediately fell silent.

    Jerry Bruckheimer, noticing that no one else dared to speak, finally asked, "Eric, what should

    we do now?"

    Eric didn''t answer Jerry, quietly taking a few sips of water from a bottle handed to him by a staff member. He then asked those nearby, "Who is currently in charge of Carolco Pictures?"

    When Eric said this, everyone present knew he waspletely fed up.

    If Carolco had just been working covertly to hitch a ride on Jurassic Park''s publicity, there wouldn''t have been much to worry about. But openly stirring trouble during the premiere crossed a line that was intolerable.

    Watching Allen immediately pick up his phone upon hearing Eric''s words, Jerry couldn''t help

    but softly advise, "Eric, now isn''t the right time for a rash reaction; it''s too easy to give them

    an angle."

    "I know, don''t worry," Eric nodded.

    Everyone settled into a lounge to wait for the movie to end and for their turn to take the stage

    for a curtain

    call.

    After a while, Allen walked back in with a portable phone, cupping the mouthpiece and whispering to Eric, "Mr. Williams, Mario Kassar is currently in charge of Carolco. He''s one of the two founders of thispany and he''s on the line now; do you want to...?"

    Eric shook his head and replied dispassionately, "Tell him this matter ends here. I don''t want to see any more of this nonsense in the media, or I''ll wipe the name Carolco off the map here

    in Hollywood. I''m very upset today and am not in the mood for jokes." Allen nodded and took the phone back outside.

    Eric frowned and sighed. If it weren''t for that journalist stirring the pot, he would never have

    divulged his expectations for Jurassic Park''s box office so easily. Historically, the highest- grossing films in Hollywood hadn''t crossed the eight-hundred-million mark, and throwing around a billion would certainly create a stir in the media. Those discussions might not yield good results either; if Jurassic Park didn''t achieve a breathtaking opening week, the tides

    could shift rapidly.

    However, due to that meddling reporter, Eric feltpelled to release an even more explosive piece of news to suppress the chatter stirred up by the reporter. Otherwise, there would undoubtedly be articles iming that any rification was merely a cover-up, and that cover-up was a fact. The smear against Cliffhanger would be hard to shake off.

    Eric''s directive to Allen about what tomunicate to the head of Carolco wasn''t entirely a hollow threat. Carolco was a film productionpany that entirely relied on external financing, evencking its own distribution channels. If Eric genuinely wanted to bring this

    company down, it wouldn''t be too difficult; just leaking word that hispany would start targeting any film produced by Carolco would be enough. Given Eric''s recent box office sesses, the German investors would think twice about backing Carolco any longer. With no external funding, thepany''s copse would be inevitable. Unfortunately, Eric couldn''t act on that, at least not for now. As Jerry Bruckheimer had just

    pointed out, making an aggressive reaction now would only provide opposing parties with a chance to hit back.

    Minutes passed before Allen returned to the lounge.

    "Mr. Williams, Mario Kassar firmly denied Carolco''s involvement in today''s events. However,

    from his tone, it seems he''s backed down. I believe we shouldn''t have to deal with this again in the future."

    "Let''s leave it at that," Eric nodded, setting the matter aside and inquiring about the London

    premiere.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 527: Chapter 528: The Frantic Data

    Chapter 527: Chapter 528: The Frantic Data

    ?

    [Chapter 528: The Frantic Data]

    Because of the disastrous power outage, the plot entered a thrilling phase. Although many viewers realized that something very terrible was about to happen, when the T-Rex stomped into view with its heart-stopping footsteps, countless people couldn''t help but gasp.

    From this point on, the narrative split into several lines. Multi-line storytelling was often difficult to hold, and if the director mismanaged it, scene transitions during a moment of heightened interest could lead to audience annoyance. However, Jurassic Park faced no such issues. Whether it was the overweight programmer carrying the embryo to the dock, only to be taken out by the Dilophosaurus, or the jeep crew encountering the T-Rex, every moment tightened the audience''s grip on their seats.

    Countless examples proved that if a film only relied on grand spectacle or stunning special effects, it might not necessarily achieve excellent box office results. Jurassic Park skillfullybined the most cutting-edge special effects technology of its time with a captivating narrative, allowing viewers to enjoy a visual feast of ancient beasts brought back to life while experiencing the thrilling adventure alongside the film''s protagonists.

    As the two-hour adventure came to an end, everyone seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief when Dr. Sattler, along with her female assistant and the two kids, managed to escape from the dinosaur incubation facility, as if they, too, had just evaded disaster.

    ...

    When the credits began to roll with the end music, most of the audience didn''t immediately get up to leave. Instead, they engaged in animated discussions about various plot points with theirpanions.

    Starting from the second half of the film, the three girls stopped whispering and focused intently on the big screen. Initially, theyined about not having gotten better seats, but soon they realized that being closer to the screen provided a more exhrating visual experience. When the T-Rex lunged with its massive jaws, pursuing Malcolm and the others in their jeep through the forest path, someone instinctively leaned back to dodge.

    After the lights turned on, reluctant to leave, the crowd began to trickle out, the three girls joining the flow as they exited the cinema. Upon hearing a nearby couple mentioning they needed toe back for a second viewing, Kate turned to the other two women and said, "Charlie, Penny, how about we catch another showing tomorrow?"

    "Sure," Penelope jumped in, excitedly waving her hands. "I saw Twister multiple timesst year already! I thought the special effects in that were a miracle. I still vividly recall that level five tornado scene. I can''t believe this movie had even more thrilling dinosaur scenes. I absolutely need to see it again, no, twice!"

    As they chatted, they made their way to the parking lot. Charlize fished out her keys and opened the car door. "Three times is no problem, but tomorrow is Friday, not the weekend. Let''s check the time. If you guys get too excited to sleep, you might just bete."

    Penelope quickly nced at her watch. "Oh, it''s already two o''clock!" While speaking, she climbed into the backseat. "We have to hurry. I don''t want to be punished with those ridiculous horse stances. They''re honestly the most terrifying form of torture I''ve ever faced."

    "What''s so bad about that? Didn''t you hear Master Yuan say that when he was little, if they cked off during training, they''d be punished with a whole day without food and also get beaten? Those thick bamboo rods would hit their backs," Charlize started the car, even demonstrating the bamboo rod gesture with her hand.

    "He must have been trying to scare us," Penelope shrugged, showing indifference. Though she had grown up fairly poor as the daughter of a hairstylist, she had never experienced corporal punishment in her dance sses, making it hard for her to understand the dire stories shared by Firefly''s martial arts instructor.

    At that moment, Kate chimed in, "This isn''t meant to scare us. I remember when I was in high school, I watched a martial arts film on tape with some ssmates. I don''t remember the title, but it showed some kids learning fighting in a school. These kids were only six or seven years old and regrly faced beatings and scoldings. There, they seemed to have a saying that a strict teacher breeds outstanding students."

    Penelope smirked at Kate''s remark and looked at her. "Hearing you say that makes me realize what Master Yuan''s look meant when he watched you closely during training. He clearly wanted tosh out at you but couldn''t. I bet he was smoldering inside."

    "Shut it! I haven''t trained as long as you two!" Kate said, yfully reaching to tickle Penelope''s sides. After more than a month of training, she had barely met the standards, still feeling a significant gappared to her well-trainedpanions. Hence, she disliked being teased about it by Penelope and Charlize.

    Although the streets of Los Angeles were still lively at two in the morning, traffic had considerably reduced. Charlize helplessly listened to the two girls fooling around in the back and pressed the elerator to speed up, wanting to get home to rest without beingte for training the next day. While the martial arts trainer wouldn''t physically punish them, a staffer from Firefly often supervised their performance during training. Though she didn''t voice it, after watching Jurassic Park, Charlize had developed an increased anticipation for their uing film, Charlie''s Angels.

    Since it was a movie scripted by that guy, even if it couldn''tpete with Jurassic Park, it certainly had to be excellent.

    ...

    Compared to the three girls who had enjoyed a leisurely outing after the cinema, many others were not feeling as rxed that night.

    On a street in Beverly Hills, Michael Eisner also stepped out of a cinema around the same time. Although he had previously told Eric that he nned to attend a screening of Jurassic Park, he ultimately found an excuse to decline the invitation sent by Firefly. However, not attending the screening didn''t mean he was indifferent to the film. He had asked his assistant to secure tickets for the midnight showing as soon as the presale began.

    To average moviegoers, watching a film was merely a form of entertainment, leading to a chorus of excitement once the credits rolled. But Michael Eisner discerned a deeper significance in Jurassic Park. The film''s plot structure was undeniably impressive, but that wasn''t what he was most concerned about. Hollywood had plenty of talented screenwriters and directors capable of crafting outstanding films. Eisner was far more focused on the level of special effects presented in Jurassic Park. Last year''s Twister only opened the window to this realm; he confidently believed that Jurassic Park''s appearance would fully usher in an entirely new era for special effects films. If Hollywood''s big studios wanted to survive and thrive, they had to keep up with this trend, and Firefly was undoubtedly primed to lead the charge.

    Lost in thought, Michael Eisner stood on the curb for a moment when a hurried middle-aged man approached, apanied by another couple.

    "Mr. Eisner," the middle-aged man greeted. Just as he was about to introduce the others, Michael waved a hand. "How did it go?"

    The man gestured to a young male on his left. The youth opened a folder and handed a sheet of paper to Michael Eisner. "Mr. Eisner, ourpany haspleted a tally of 100 screening rooms for Jurassic Park across Los Angeles, all 200-seat venues. The average attendance per theater was 159 people, resulting in an upancy rate of 79.5%, with individual theater box office earnings around $1,500," he said, looking up nervously to gauge Eisner''s reaction. Seeing no change in thetter''s expression, he continued, "Considering the density of theaters in Los Angeles, we estimate this attendance rate to be rtively low on a national scale, so ourpany predicts the total box office for the midnight showing of Jurassic Park will be around $4.5 million."

    With that, the youth paused, waiting for further instructions from Michael Eisner.

    Michael Eisner quietly repeated the figure of $4.5 million before uncertainly asking, "What''s the highest midnight box office record before this?"

    The youth replied without hesitation, "Four years ago, the first Batman movie, with $2.21 million; however, Batman only had 2,200 screens open."

    Eisner detected that thest part of the youth''sment was likely meant to appease orfort him, but he felt no relief at all. A simple calction showed that the Batman midnight per-theater box office was only $1,000 -- one-third less than Jurassic Park. If fan base sizes were to bepared, Batman''s decades-long presence surely attracted far more fans in North America than the Jurassic Park novel. Thus, it seemed unlikely that Jurassic Park''s remarkable midnight performance was merely a result of die-hard fan support. Moreover, Eisner vaguely recalled that four years ago, Batman''s opening weekend gross was about $60 million. Jurassic Park had already outdone Batman''s record by more than double with its midnight results; how much would its opening week''s box office tally be? What awaited Jurassic Park''s box office potential over the uing time frame?

    Perhaps a billion dors wasn''t even its upper limit.

    After standing still for a few moments, the night breeze brushed past him, bringing him back to reality. He turned to the middle-aged man andmanded, "Mark, have thepany''s nning department keep a close eye on all details concerning Jurassic Park''s subsequent release; I want to see detailed reports daily. Also, within a week, I want them to provide an analysis report on Jurassic Park''s initial marketing strategies. Tell Christer that I can overlook his past mischief, but this is hisst chance. If the report in a week doesn''t satisfy me, he is

    free to pack up and leave."

    "I understand, Mr. Eisner," the middle-aged man nodded, while the young couple, presumably data analysis staff, smartly averted their gaze, pretending to be distracted to avoid getting caught up in the big corporate strife.

    Michael Eisner continued to whisper something further with the middle-aged man before he

    hopped into a ck sedan and drove away.

    ...

    Meanwhile, simr things were happening in various corners of Los Angeles, the heart of Hollywood. Although other filmpanies might not have been as attuned as Michael Eisner, they too were concerned about the situation.

    After hearing the news, the CEO of Carolco Pictures, Mario Kassar, could only describe his feelings as frustrated. The failure of Cliffhanger had be a foregone conclusion. Initially, Kassar had hoped that Arnold Schwarzenegger''s Last Action Hero, set to release next week, would stage aeback, but with Jurassic Park''s astounding midnight performance -- not only smashing Hollywood''s previous midnight box office records but also doubling them -- Last Action Hero would likely struggle to find sess.

    With abined investment exceeding $150 million, the costs of Cliffhanger and Last Action Hero equaled twice that of Jurassic Park. Even if both films flopped, the financing hade entirely from outside sources, so Mario Kassar''s personal wealth wouldn''t take a major hit. However, suffering such significant financial losses would likely make it difficult for Carolco Pictures to attract substantial funding from investors in the future.

    With a heavy heart, Mario Kassar lost track of time and picked up the phone to call MGM

    president Jon Glickman. The dial tone rang, and he suddenly realized it was already past two in the morning. Just as he was about to hang up, someone on the other end picked up the call.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Jon Glickman was evidently in a poor mood as well. MGM had raised $60 million to distribute these two films, betting everything on their sess. They never anticipateding up against the rampaging beast named Jurassic Park.

    Having already spent the marketing budget and signed the screening contracts, the decision to open at 2,000 screens had been solidified, leaving no room for dys. After previous warnings from Eric, neither Carolco nor MGM dared employ underhanded tactics again. After all, with a hands-off approach, they could survive a little longer. However, angering Firefly could lead them straight to bankruptcy. Given Jurassic Park''s demonstrated box office potential, minor malicious tactics wouldn''t bear any fruit. There hadn''t been reports of a major film''s box office sharply dropping due to scandal during its release.

    After a half-hearted back-and-forth on the phone, Mario Kassar and Jon Glickman ended the

    conversation feeling discouraged.

    ...

    The next day, the midnight box office results for Jurassic Park rolled in, revealing $4.59 million. The numbers immediately sent waves through the American media. While conservative critics bemoaned Jurassic Park would herald catastrophic changes in film art, over

    90% of the media praised the film. It was well-known that neither the quality of the movie nor itsmercial appeal could be faulted, and nitpicking would only lead to ridicule. Amidst the buzz, the single-day box office numbers for Jurassic Park continued to emerge over

    the following days.

    June 4, Friday: $21 million.

    June 5, Saturday: $24 million.

    June 6, Sunday: $22 million.

    This series of box office data could only be described as frantic to industry insiders. More than

    80% of major Hollywood films reaching theaters rarely exceeded a total box office of $20

    million.

    Therefore, when Jurassic Park''s opening weekend gross exceeded $71 million (including the

    midnight showing), most American media could only be left in stunned silence, emitting a

    collective "Wow!"

    Simultaneously, reports from the UK indicated that Jurassic Park raked in PS11 million at British box offices during its opening three days, also breaking several records.

    With this news breaking, many media outlets that had initially proimed Jurassic Park

    wouldn''te close to the billion-dor mark adopted a more cautious approach, with some even brazenly shifting their stance.

    ...

    Entering the workweek, Jurassic Park continued to rake in over $10 million daily across 3,000

    North American theaters. Without a doubt, after oneplete week, Jurassic Park had

    amassed a staggering $114 million in North America.

    At this point, Jurassic Park had shattered box office records across the board.

    Record-breaking 3,000 screens at opening! Record-breaking $4.59 million midnight box office!

    Record-breaking $21 million opening day box office! Record-breaking $71 million opening weekend! Record-breaking $114 million opening week!

    Moreover, as several overseas box office numbers trickled back to the states, hardly anyone in

    Hollywood doubted Jurassic Park would not only shatter the $790 million global box office record set by E.T. but also breach the billion-dor mark, which had nearly be a

    certainty.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 529: Chapter 530: Connected by Fate

    Chapter 529: Chapter 530: Connected by Fate

    ?

    [Chapter 530: Connected by Fate]

    "Come on, what did you say about me? You weren''t gossiping behind my back, were you?" Rachel strolled into the apartment, sat down by the shoe rack in the foyer, and casually asked while changing her knee-high boots.

    Caroline wore ts and didn''t change like Rachel; instead, she went right to the living room sofa and sat down. Hearing Rachel''sment, her cheeks slightly flushed as she thought revealing her friend''s tattoo was hardly gossip. "Of course not! I just told him you did an awesome job in that y and even won an award at the Edinburgh Arts Festival. He finds you quite interesting and said he might introduce you if there''s a chance."

    Rachel slipped on some slippers and walked over, smiling as she asked, "So when do you n to introduce us? He''s a Hollywood mogul! If I could meet him, I wouldn''t have to be running around auditioning for tiny roles all day."

    "Ah, well, I think Mr. Williams is just being polite. If I really brought you to meet him, it would be, um, too forward," Caroline said cautiously, ncing at Rachel, stammering a bit. Seeing the timid look on Caroline''s face, Rachel leaned in and yfully pecked her cheek. "Alright, I was just joking! I''m not that naive. Hollywood isn''t our yground. To be honest, I''m not a big fan of Eric Williams. A while back, an agent from ICM came to the UK for casting roles in a Firefly film. My agent barely got my info to them, and it was all for nothing. They just said I was the wrong age, didn''t even let me audition. It''s infuriating! I heard the

    selection criteria are set by Eric Williams himself."

    Caroline listened to Rachel''s frustration, unable to refrain from saying, "Well... that shouldn''t reflect on Mr. Williams. He''s a really charming guy."

    "You''re just too naive," Rachel replied, shaking her head.

    Caroline pouted her lips. "I''m not! I can tell what''s real and what''s fake."

    "Okay, I believe you," Rachel said, noticing Caroline''s wide eyes, looking at her as if challenging her belief. She surrendered quickly.

    Caroline observed Rachel''s dismissive attitude but chose not to push further; clearly, this wasn''t the first time they''d had a conversation like this. "So, Rachel, how did that audition go today?"

    "Landed it right on the spot," Rachel said excitedly. "It''s a role in Inspector Morse, probably two episodes'' worth of work. Once I finish, my rent for the next two months is sorted!"

    Caroline was thrilled for her friend but then remembered her situation, feeling a bit sheepish. "Rachel, I''ll help cover part of your rent."

    "Don''t even mention it. You should keep that money for your living expenses in the future! I''m not worried about it, plus you won''t be living here long; school starts and you''ll be off to Cambridge. Stay strong and don''t give in to your dad," Rachel waved her hand dismissively before standing up. "I''m going to brew some coffee. When it gets dark, let''s go out to celebrate my new role."

    Caroline responded with an "mm-hmm," watching Rachel head into the kitchen and feeling a bit in awe. "I''m really envious of you. You''re always so independent. If it weren''t for my dad forcing me to give up school to marry that rude, pretentious guy from the Edwards family, I probably wouldn''t have had the courage to flee home."

    Rachel heard Caroline''s words andughed, "What''s there to envy? At least when you get married, your dad will cover the wedding expenses. I can''t count on mine for anything, so I have to save up myself!"

    "I''m not sure, either. I don''t know what I''ll do if I go against my dad now. I heard from Aunt Lisa that my aunt cut ties with our family because she wouldn''t follow Grandpa''s ns."

    Rachel walked out of the kitchen holding a pot of coffee. "You have an aunt? I''ve never heard you mention her before."

    "I''m not a chatterbox!" Caroline quickly retorted, realizing this wasn''t going anywhere and added, "I do have an aunt, but I''ve never met her. I know about her from what Aunt Lisa secretively told me. Apparently, the year I was born, my aunt fell for a very talented ywright while watching a y in the West End, but he was from a poor background. Grandpa didn''t approve and quickly arranged another suitor for her. My aunt caused quite the scene at home and eventually moved to Greece, never to return for twenty years."

    Rachel couldn''t help but burst outughing. "Caroline, are you sure that''s true and not something your Aunt Lisa made up after watching too many romantic ys?"

    "Aunt Lisa is just our housemaid; she wouldn''t have the time for such nonsense," Caroline insisted.

    "Then it was probably inspired by too many daytime soap operas," Rachel teased again,ughing.

    Caroline appeared a bit swayed by the fairytale tale, though she refused to admit it and turned her head defiantly. "I''m not talking to you anymore."

    Rachelughed again and reached out to tousle the girl''s hair.

    As they were yfully bantering, the phone rang in the living room. Rachel set the coffee down and went to answer it. After a few words, she looked surprised and cupped the receiver to tell Caroline sitting on the sofa, "Caroline, it''s your dad calling."

    Caroline shrank back. "How does he know I''m here?"

    Rachel couldn''t help but shake her head, finding Caroline''s innocence amusing. Although her family wasn''t exactly prominent in the UK, they were certainly not on par with any fallen nobility. Caroline had run away from home, so her parents couldn''t possibly ignore it. The day Caroline moved in, her mom called Rachel asking her to look after her daughter.

    Seeing Caroline''s anxious expression, Rachel suggested, "Why don''t I tell your dad you''re not here?"

    Caroline hesitated, knowing that since her dad knew she was there, there was no escaping. Reluctantly, she approached and took the receiver from Rachel''s hands.

    "Hello, Dad, it''s me..."

    As Rachel handed the receiver to Caroline, she sensed it might be awkward for her friend and made her way to the bedroom. However, even though Caroline usually spoke softly, Rachel vaguely heard the girl''s excited voice.

    After about five minutes, Rachel heard silence outside and stepped out of the bedroom, noticing Caroline pouting on the sofa. She asked, "Did your dad want you toe home?"

    "No," Caroline sat up and said, "He said he won''t force me to drop out anymore, but he, he wants me to invite Mr. Williams over for dinner. That''s just... too sudden! How can I say that? If he declines, I''ll be mortified!"

    Rachel could easily piece together the situation, seeing how Caroline was fidgeting with her legs. The moment Caroline showed up in front of Eric Williams, the British press, always quick to investigate,id out her background. The darling of the Wilson family was personally showing someone around. Under different circumstances, even if it wasn''t a family embarrassment, the Wilsons would have deemed it a very undignified action.

    However, days went by, and the Wilsons didn''t make a move. They didn''t respond to media ims of Caroline and Eric being a good match either, clearly pleased with the situation. If Eric were merely a moderately well-known Hollywood director, the Wilsons would have acted high and mighty, but a young tycoon with multi-billion dor assets was enough to change

    their tune.

    Seeing her friend looking down with a troubled expression, Rachel asked, "So what are you going to do?"

    "I... I don''t know," Caroline shook her head.

    Rachel, familiar with her friend, recognized that deep down, Caroline wanted to invite Eric Williams over. She encouraged her, "Just tell him straightforwardly tomorrow; it''s an invitation from your dad. If he declines, it''s on your dad, nothing for you to feel embarrassed

    about."

    "Really?" Caroline looked up at Rachel, hopeful.

    Rachel nodded firmly without hesitation. "Of course."

    "Then tomorrow, I''ll just say my dad wants to invite him," Caroline''s face turned pink. "Rachel, help me think of how to say it so it doesn''te off as too abrupt..."

    ...

    Since London is situated at a highertitude, June days are very long. Eric returned to the hotel around seven in the evening, but the sky wasn''t showing any signs of darkening. After an early dinner, Eric went back to his room to handle all the umted emails from

    the day.

    The second weekend box office numbers for Jurassic Park hade in. Despite the first week''s explosive box office and great reviews, most institutions still predicted a drop of over 40% for the second week. Even at Firefly, many thought along simr lines, with some suggesting Eric prepare to cut back on Jurassic Park''s theater count.

    However, when the actual figures were released, many predictions were proven wrong again.

    Jurassic Park experienced only a 37% drop in box officepared to its first week, earning over $42 million, a far less drop than the average 50% predicted by most box office analysts. Many Hollywood releases tend to see a significant drop in their second week after a huge opening, withter weeks showing box office figures stabilizing ording to the film''s quality and

    reviews.

    Since Jurassic Park avoided a significant drop in its second week, its box office wouldn''t likely decrease dramatically in the subsequent weeks. Firefly''s internal statistics department had already estimated North American earnings for Jurassic Park to reach $500 million, surpassing the first Star Wars film by $40 million.

    Originally, when Eric boasted about a billion dors globally, he estimated Jurassic Park''s North American earnings to be around $400 million. Although now the film''s North American performance had exceeded even his own expectations, he couldn''t be sure if it could reach

    $500 million.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    This uncertainty arose because, when Eric devised Jurassic Park''s North American marketing strategy, he had used an aggressive promotional strategybined with extensive screenings, which was a more advanced versionpared to the saturated release approach that Hollywood only adopted yearster. This strategy significantly shortened the film''s lifecycle. A conventional blockbuster typically retained over 80% of its box office within four weeks. Based on Jurassic Park''s current trends, Eric was confident it could gross $300 million in North America over four weeks, but he had no idea what the box office trajectory would

    look like after that.

    After reviewing the rted emails for Jurassic Park, Eric began checking other messages and quickly found the information he wanted regarding Arnold Schwarzenegger''s Last Action Hero. As expected, the film''s quality wascking, and with the box officepetition from Jurassic Park, this $80 million action flick produced by Carolco Pictures only garnered about $16 million over its opening weekend, even less than Jurassic Park''s opening day revenue. In the original timeline, both Stallone and Schwarzenegger flopped with these two blockbusters released back to back. These two iconic Hollywood action stars, both born in the 1940s, found their fame in their thirties and after more than a decade of sess, both fell being mired in the same summer release fiasco. While Schwarzenegger wouldter earn over $20 million from several sequels in the Terminator franchise, his other films never ventured into high- priced territory again. Stallone''s popr franchises, Rambo and Rocky, ended due to a gradual decline in box office revenue, leaving him without a surefire hit. In the original timeline, Stallone managed to produce decent films over the next decade, but it often required years of struggle toplete projects, like The Expendables.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 531: Chapter 532: Farewell

    Chapter 531: Chapter 532: Farewell

    ?

    [Chapter 532: Farewell]

    Eric sat on the living room sofa when he first heard a soft gasping from the bedroom, followed by a flurry of rustling sounds and whispers.

    After about ten minutes, two girls emerged from the bedroom, dressed modestly and greeting Eric with a hint of shyness. Rachel stood a half-head taller than Caroline, making it easy for Eric to recognize that they were wearing their own clothes. As the two girls settled onto the sofa across from him, he asked, puzzled, "You two are sharing a bedroom?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams," Caroline nodded innocently. Perhaps it was because she had just woken up, her fair face held a touch of blush that added a hint of vulnerability.

    Rachel, however, was much more perceptive than Caroline. She quickly added, "Caroline is just temporarily staying with me; we''re not, um... living together."

    Caroline found Rachel''s rification somewhat perplexing. She blinked her long eyshes several times before understanding, and her pale face turned crimson. Flustered, she stood up, ready to flee. "Mr. Williams, I''ll go get you a ss of water."

    Eric, intending to say it wasn''t necessary, noticed the girl had already glided into the kitchen.

    Now, only Eric and Rachel remained in the living room. Eric surveyed the charming little apartment with interest, his gazending on the somewhat reserved Rachel Weisz. From his memories of his past life and Caroline''s words from the day before, he knew Rachel Weisz wasn''t an introverted girl per se. It was only because of his current identity that most people, as long as they had normal emotional intelligence, couldn''t reveal their true selves in front of him -- a regret from certain angles, indeed.

    "Caroline said you''re an actress?"

    Rachel had been surreptitiously examining her apartment for anything out of ce when she suddenly heard Eric speak. She quickly nodded in response. "Yes, um... Mr. Williams, I''ve been auditioning most of the timetely, and I got a small role in the sixth season of Inspector Morse."

    Eric was about to respond when Caroline emerged from the kitchen holding a steaming ss of water.

    He took the ss, noticing a piece of ice still hadn''t fully melted at the bottom. He politely drank a few sips before cing it on the coffee table in front of him.

    Watching Eric set down his ss, Caroline asked, "Mr. Williams, you came over so early; is there something on your mind?"

    Though with an innocent demeanor, the girl was no fool. Eric''s early visit surely meant he had other matters to discuss.

    "I''m heading back to Los Angeles. I had a little time, so I wanted to say goodbye."

    Upon hearing this, a trace of undeniable mncholy appeared on Caroline''s face, but she still politely replied, "Well then, Mr. Williams, I wish you a pleasant journey."

    Eric paused for a moment, then smiled, "Thank you."

    Rachel barely restrained the urge to facepalm in exasperation. This silly girl, what kind of nonsense was she saying? Seeing Caroline looking downcast and uncertain about what to say next, Rachel took the initiative. "Mr. Williams, will you being back to London?"

    "Probably not in the short term. The German premiere of Jurassic Park was originally scheduled for July 4, and I could have stayed until then. However, something came up in Los Angeles that I need to handle in person. If Ie back to Europe, I might just end up in Paris or Berlin."

    After hearing Eric''s words, the disappointment radiating from Caroline became palpable. Rachel looked at her friend with sympathy and suddenly mustered the courage to speak up. "Mr. Williams, Caroline won''t report to Cambridge until September. If you''re going to Paris or London, she can still be your guide; she speaks French, German, and Spanish fluently."

    Watching Caroline, who had initially been downtrodden, suddenly lift her head with hope, Eric couldn''t bring himself to refuse. He nodded. "Alright, I''ll have someone call you then. Caroline, would you be up for it?"

    "Um, I... I''m fine with that." Caroline nodded eagerly like a little chick pecking at grain, then realized her overzealous response might seem a bit too eager and shyly lowered her head, cheeks flushed.

    Caroline''s sry was handled by Firefly''s branch office. After Eric wrapped up this matter, he stood. "In that case, I''ll be on my way. My flight departs at eight, and I need to pack."

    The two girls stood alongside him. After Eric finished talking, he nced at Rachel Weisz and reached into his pocket to pull out a personal business card, handing it to her. With a hint of surprise in her expression, he exined, "There''s a disaster romance film in the Firefly pipeline that needs a British lead with a mix of rebellion and elegance. I think you should give it a try..."

    Instinctively taking the card, Rachel felt an overwhelming rush of exhration at Eric''s words to the point her head buzzed; she didn''t catch the rest of what he said.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Although she was raised in a well-off family and could afford to enjoy studying literature at Cambridge just like the gentry, acting was merely a hobby and a means to make a living. This did not mean Rachel would be indifferent to an invitation from Hollywood and its broader stage. However, due to her innate sense of pride and modesty, she wasn''t one to w her way blindly into Hollywood. If she had been that type of person, she would have schemed her way into getting the job Caroline had just received.

    After sharing a few more words, Eric said goodbye to the dazed Rachel and departed.

    ...

    Caroline initially thought about apanying Eric down to the lobby. However, thinking about the paparazzi waiting downstairs, he declined.

    As the girl watched Eric''s figure disappear at the stairway, she turned back and shut the door. Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, she walked over to Rachel. "Hey, Rachel?"

    Seeing her friend didn''t respond, Caroline yfully stretched out her hand and snatched the business card that Rachel held tightly in her grasp.

    "Hey, that''s mine," Rachel immediately reacted.

    Caroline flopped onto the sofa, hiding the card away and spreading her hands in mock innocence. "It''s gone."

    "Get up! If you lose it, I''ll kick you out onto the street," Rachel tugged Caroline aside, retrieved the card from beneath the cushions, and rushed into the bedroom to keep it safe. She then stepped out, bounding up to Caroline and cupping her friend''s face, yfully ruffling her hair. "Hahaha, Caroline, I''m going to Hollywood! Hollywood!"

    Caroline shook her head in annoyance. "Hey, you definitely zoned out just now and didn''t

    hear Mr. Williams finish."

    "Oh right, what else did he say?"

    "He mentioned that the movie probably wouldn''t start filming for another two years, and he hoped you wouldn''t be impatient and rush into things -- participate in more stage ys and hone your acting skills during that time." Caroline smirked with just a hint of schadenfreude. "Two years! Who knows, by then he might forget about you altogether." Rachel felt a bit daunted by this condition. Two years was neither a long nor a short time. Since the film project had been decided by Firefly two years in advance, it surely wouldn''t be a small undertaking. If it was guaranteed that she could secure that role, Rachel would have no qualms waiting two years. However, what Eric had just offered was merely a verbal agreement. Although Rachel didn''t think Eric would toy with her as a mere nobody, if he forgot about her in two years, she would simply be out of luck.

    With her thoughts in turmoil, Rachel decided to call her agent for some advice.

    As Caroline watched Rachel dial her agent, she waited as the person on the other end rambled

    on for what felt like ages before finally hanging up. Rachel, feeling a bit regretful, patted the cushion she was holding. "Now that Eric is gone, I couldn''t extend the invitation from my dad

    to him."

    At that moment, Rachel viewed Caroline as a good luck charm, and once she hung up the

    phone, she immediately threw her arms around her friend. "Don''t worry; didn''t he just say he''ll being back to Europe in a while and will look for you? You can invite him then." "But even though I know a bit about Paris, I''ve only been to Berlin twice." "Well, you''re a genius with a photographic memory. You could spend a day at the library studying, and you''ll know everything. If ites down to it, I can join you on a tour of Berlin

    to scout it out together."

    "Then it''s settled; we''ll go to Berlin tomorrow."

    "Isn''t that a bit eager on your part? You even have an audition tomorrow. Let''s go this

    weekend instead."

    ...

    Afternding at Los Angeles International Airport, Eric headed straight for Firefly Studios.

    Michael Lynn, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jeffrey Hansen, Frank Wells, along with Stan Winston, Ed Catmull, and John Lasseter, who were responsible for Digital Domain and Pixar, were all gathered at Firefly Studios, in addition to some heads from other departments.

    Eric walked into the conference room and took a seat prepared for him. He turned to Stan Winston on his left. "Stan, please give us an update on the current situation."

    Stan nodded and, as the assistant distributed the prepared documents to everyone present, he spoke up. "This matter began after the first weekend box office of Jurassic Park was released. Given the events following the release of Twisterst year, I didn''t think much of it initially. However, the resignation letters started piling up more and more in recent days. When I emailed you, we had received 126 resignation requests, but within just one day, it increased to 169. Currently, most of those I''ve held back from signing right away. Before this happened, our fixed employee count in Digital Domain was 850, excluding the tech support team led by Ed. However, if we allow this to escte, we could lose over 30% of our staff."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 533: Chapter 534: Nostalgia

    Chapter 533: Chapter 534: Nostalgia

    ?

    [Chapter 534: Nostalgia]

    Eric raised an eyebrow but did not answer the question. Instead, he retorted, "What do you think the purpose of apany going public is?"

    "To raise funds to allow thepany to develop better," the journalist replied.

    "Well, Firefly isn''tcking in funds, and its development status is clear for all to see. So, do you think there''s still a necessity for Firefly to go public?"

    The reporter, undeterred, pressed on. "Mr. Williams, are you truly satisfied with the status quo and have no ns to continue expanding Firefly''s territory?"

    "Of course not. However, there are many ways to secure funds for the expansion of Firefly, and going public isn''t the only option. I have aplete n for Firefly''s development. Some of my ideas might even spark quite a bit of controversy. I don''t want to waste time justifying every decision to those Wall Street big shots once we''re public. You all cover the news, so you should know how difficult they can be."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    With that slight teasing tone in Eric''s voice, the journalists present chuckled.

    They were well aware of what Eric meant. Although Hollywood and Wall Street closely intertwined, the reality was that the games they yed leaned more towardpetition than cooperation. Wall Street sought high growth and returns on investment, with most investors typically more interested in seeing a sleek financial report than in long-term development. This often ledpany operators to sacrifice short-term gains for long-term benefits, which put them at odds with Wall Street''s perspectives.

    If apany chose not to go public, Wall Street could only bark up the wrong tree; if they didn''t want to engage with its funds, they couldn''t meddle in its operations. But if apany opted to go public, even if the control remained with the operators, any deviation from the growth path envisioned by Wall Street would lead to incessant interference from investors. A bearish report from an investment bank today, an outspoken critique from a Wall Street tycoon tomorrow; if apany refused to cater to these pressures, it would face relentless turbulence.

    The most extreme example was the Marvel Entertainment Group, which Eric had been quietly monitoring. Through the 1980s, Marvel Comics had thrived, nearly swallowing up DC Comics, then owned by Warner Bros. However, after it fell into the hands of Wall Street investor Ron Perelman at the end of the decade, it encountered a series of misfortunes. Perelman was solely focused on capital operations and had no intention of running thepany. By now, he had extracted hundreds of millions in profits from Marvel, but thepany''s performance had sharply declined, edging toward bankruptcy.

    There were a multitude of spectors like Ron Perelman on Wall Street. In Eric''s memories from a previous life, MGM finally broke free of the gambling mogul Kirk Kerkorian after 2005, only to be yet another toy for the Wall Street spector Carl Icahn. In the years that followed, MGM repeatedly faced bankruptcy crises, with no improvement in its operations, while Icahn profited handsomely.

    All this information instilled a deep-rooted wariness in Eric toward Wall Street. Firefly was the foundation of his career, and it was what he was most passionate about, so he had never intended for it to go public.

    Chris managed several high-techpanies on behalf of Eric, which represented his means of expanding his territory in Hollywood. Nobody knew better than Eric the growth prospects ofpanies like Cisco, AOL, and Yahoo. If Firefly ever needed a significant influx of cash for expansion, Eric could easily sell off shares of Cisco or take Yahoo public to secure considerable funding. Even if he lost control of thosepanies in the future, he wouldn''t be overly concerned. The inte was a burgeoning industry, and bubble elements were rife; cashing out was the wisest option. Moreover, there were countless investment opportunities in the inte sector over the next twenty years.

    After Eric concluded his thoughts, he directly passed the microphone over to Ed Catmull. Following Eric''s hints, the journalists shifted their focus from Jurassic Park and Firefly to Firefly Software.

    This press conference quickly generated significant buzz in Hollywood and beyond. Many understood this was the first retaliatory strike from Digital Domain against recent poaching attempts, aimed at preventing Autodesk from entering the visual effects software market and maintaining the industry''s leading position.

    ...

    After the conference, Autodesk''s chairwoman and CEO, Carol Bartz, stated in an interview that Autodesk would not abandon its quest to enter the visual effects software market. However, news soon emerged that Autodesk''s board had begun to divide over the strategy to enter this sector. Firefly''s move had been too powerful; although Autodesk couldunch a mature effects software in just six months, by that time, Firefly Software would likely have captured ny percent of the market.

    Furthermore, Firefly Software boasted advantages that Autodesk simply didn''t have -- its coboration with the giant in the visual effects industry. The cost and technological benefits born from their close cooperation were beyond what Autodesk, which produced "tools" without its own testing grounds, couldpete against. Although Autodesk had previously reached some coborative intentions with ILM, the two were still separatepanies, unlike the close-knit partnership between Firefly Software and Digital Domain.

    A week after the Firefly Software press conference, ILM confirmed its decision to use Firefly''s products. That announcement was quickly followed by photos of George Lucas shaking hands with Firefly Software''s CEO, Ed Catmull.

    Lucas'' decision was also a reluctant one. ILM had previously developed its own tools, but their performance couldn''tpete with Digital Domain''s. Should they forgo coboration with Firefly Software, ILM''s CG effects might end up subparpared to even third-rate studios using tools like Maya, which would lead to a swift decline for them.

    The news of ILM and Firefly Software''s partnership prompted Autodesk''s board to shoot down management''s proposal to establish a visual effects software department.

    ...

    Along with the establishment of Firefly Software, Eric and Firefly''s management team began efforts to retain Digital Domain employees, implementing a series of sry and benefit increases. They even encouraged those who were set on leaving to establish their own effects studios, promising that these studios could ess software at discounted prices and secure a certain number of outsourced projects from Digital Domain. This initiative aimed to keep these talents tied to Digital Domain while simultaneously weakening thepetition. This strategy proved quite appealing to many; who wouldn''t prefer being their own boss, even if just for a small studio, over working for someone else? Following the implementation of this initiative, several small effectspanies, which had no previous connection to Digital Domain, expressed interest in joining its affiliatework in hopes of obtaining relevant benefits. Digital Domain selectively epted a handful of thesepanies. Since these affixed micro-studios depended heavily on Digital Domain for technology and projects, Eric wasn''t too worried about them evolving into threats against Digital Domain. In fact, this method elerated the expansion rate of Firefly''s effects software tools.

    After a little over a week, the employee exit wave at Digital Domain began to settle. In response to this event, and to ensure simr situations wouldn''t ur in the future, Eric started to formte an equity incentive n covering all memberpanies of Firefly Industries. This n aimed to deepen the sense of belonging and cohesion among Firefly''s employees.

    ...

    During this time, Pixar''s second 3D animated feature, A Bug''s Life, hit over 2,500 screens in North America. This insect-themed animated film attracted a sizable audience of all ages thanks to its fun characters and family-friendly plot. It earned $33 million during its opening weekend, with projections estimating around $50 million for the first week. While it couldn''t rival Jurassic Park''s opening figures, A Bug''s Life had definitely secured its ce among the summer blockbusters.

    With a production budget of only approximately $70 million, A Bug''s Life was well on its way to recouping costs based on box office trends. Moreover, as an animated feature, its surrounding merchandise profits promised to contribute significantly to its earnings. Within the first three days of the film''s release, merchandise sales across hundreds of Disney stores in the U.S. generated nearly $12 million in revenue. Additionally, Jurassic Park''s merchandise alsounched simultaneously through Disney stores. Over the course of a month, those sales exceeded $100 million in revenue. Eric had even gone so far as to include a few clear nods to Jurassic Park merchandise in the film, and history seemed eerily simr -- Lex, the granddaughter of Dr. Sattler, had her figurine be the least favored product among customers. Eric had inadvertently neglected to inform Disney about this, leading to a premature production of Lex action figures, while other character toys had sold out multiple times.

    ...

    Being in Los Angeles meant a whirlwind of activity. Often, he hadn''t finished one task before others started to pile up.

    Undoubtedly, most of these matters revolved around film. While the direct profits from Firefly''s film operations ounted for a diminishing share of thepany''s overall profits, nobody could afford to underestimate this branch. The film division was like the engine of a filmpany; only with enough power could the engine guide other sectors toward rapid

    development.

    After deciding to abandon the acquisition of Miramax, Firefly Studios revived its ck Antbel and established a dedicated art film investment department. After some time, several scripts gradually found their way to Eric.

    Quentin Tarantino, having gained fame from Reservoir Dogs, had spent the next two years already contributing to B-movies. But now, he finally recalled he had legitimate business to deal with. After a bit of nudging from Eric, he finally presented a script for Pulp Fiction. Eric, drawing from his previous knowledge, offered some rmendations, such as casting choices for the lead roles and that iconic twist contest moment.

    Perhaps many viewers of Pulp Fiction couldn''t understand why the twist dance between John Travolta and Uma Thurman was dubbed ssic. However, upon its initial North American release, when audiences who had lived through that vibrant era viewed that scene, they felt a swell of emotion inside.

    The story actually harkens back to 1978, when Paramount released a highly unconventional musical film, Saturday Night Fever. The male lead was none other than John Travolta from Pulp Fiction. Once it premiered, the film sparked an uproar among North American teens, raking in $170 million at the box office with ticket prices at only half what they would be in the 1990s. It undeniably took the top box office spot that year. Moreover, the film kickstarted a disco craze and set an unbeatable sales record for movie soundtracks for many years toe.

    In Saturday Night Fever, numerous scenes showcased Travolta''s character battling on the disco dance floor. Yearster, Pulp Fiction recreated that famous moment with Travolta and Thurman participating in a dance contest, evoking a nostalgic response.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 535: Chapter 536: Are You Looking for Someone?

    Chapter 535: Chapter 536: Are You Looking for Someone?

    ?

    [Chapter 536: Are You Looking for Someone?]

    Hearing the teasing tone in Eric''s voice, the three girls exchanged nces.

    Though she knew that the young man before her was only twenty-three, Kate saw none of the pride and restlessness often associated with someone his age. Instead, Eric carried himself with a calmness and detachment that was characteristic of someone who had experienced much in life.

    When the three girls jumped at the unexpected interruption, Eric stood up, leaning against the patio railing, smiling at the three girls clustered in the corner like quail. He yfully shook the cigarette box in his hand and asked, "Whose is this?"

    Penelope and Charlize turned their gazes toward Kate.

    Eric had already suspected that the cigarette belonged to Kate Beckinsale. There might be many smoking actresses in Hollywood, but few were recognized as having a strong addiction, and Kate was one of them. This somewhat unconventional British rose had been

    photographed more than once by paparazzi smoking openly in public, showing no intention of hiding it, even in front of cameras.

    Just as Kate mustered the courage to say something in response to Eric''s gaze, he leisurely slipped the cigarette box into his pocket and addressed the two girls beside her. "Charlie, Penny, keep an eye on Kate. She''s not allowed to smoke anymore. At least not until her contract for Charlie''s Angels is up. If either of you tells me she''s caught smoking again, I''ll deduct ten percent from both your paychecks."

    The three girls widened their eyes at Eric''s words. Unable to hold back, Penelope pointed at Kate and eximed, "Then... then what about her?"

    With a mischievous smile, Eric replied, "Kate''s paycheck stays the same."

    Finally, Kate spoke up, "Mr. Williams, it''s all my fault. If there are pay deductions, just take it from me. It has nothing to do with Charlie or Penny."

    Eric shook his head gently. "No way. If I take it from you, you won''t care. It''s gotta be from them."

    Since that initial date, Charlize had harbored some inexplicable resentment towards Eric. Hearing his somewhat ridiculous punishment, she couldn''t help but raise her voice in retaliation. "You''re being totally unreasonable!"

    Eric looked at Charlize''s slightly round baby-faced cheeks and resisted the urge to tease them, replying, "I''m too busy to argue with you."

    Ignoring the girls'' collective eye rolls, he extinguished the half-smoked cigarette in the nearby trash can, dusted off his hands, and said to the girls still standing in front of him, "Go change your clothes. Mr. Yuan just told me you three have performed well these past two months. As a reward, I''ll take you to a movie tonight -- the premiere of Deep Impact."

    The three girls exchanged nces. Penelope was the first to head toward the training room, and Kate followed closely. Although Charlize wanted to say something, the moment her gaze met Eric''s, she quickly looked away, unwillingly stepping inside.

    ...

    Once in the changing room, Kate and Charlize found that Penelope had already quickly stripped off her training outfit, now only in a fitted top. However, the Spanish girl didn''t rush to get dressed in her regr clothes; instead, she pulled out makeup tools from her bag and started meticulously applying makeup in front of the fitting mirror.

    Unable to resist, Kate teased, "Penny, I think you don''t even need makeup. If you step out in that outfit, Eric Williams won''t know what hit him."

    Unfazed, Penelope continued to groom her eyebrows and replied, "Hmph! You shouldn''t be talking. If it weren''t for your encouragement to smoke with Charlie, we wouldn''t be in this awkward situation."

    Kate shrugged off the matter, casually changing clothes as she spoke. "Don''t worry; I''ll just quit smoking for a few months."

    "Who knows if you can resist?" Charlize folded her training outfit, cing it neatly in her locker. Taking advantage of Kate and Penelope''s banter, she suddenly interjected, "Hey, didn''t you two ever think about why Eric Williams came to see us out of the blue?"

    Kate, having just put on a cropped T-shirt and holding her jeans while posing in front of the mirror, nced at her fair skin and remarked somewhat narcissistically, "I mean, it''s pretty obvious. But I''m definitely not letting this yboy get his way." After saying this, she shot an exasperated look over at Penelope.

    Feeling a little ufortable under Kate''s stare, Penelope retorted, "What''s your point? You have a boyfriend; I don''t."

    "Who told you I have a boyfriend?" Kate shot back.

    "Who was that guy who called youst weekend, then?" Penelope pressed.

    "He''s just someone I met while filming Much Ado About Nothing. I didn''t agree to be his girlfriend."

    Charlize listened silently to the two girls, changing into her regr clothes. Looking at Penelope, who was leisurely putting on her makeup, she feltpelled to let down her own ponytail that had been tied up for practice and instinctively checked her reflection in the mirror.

    ...

    Because it was summer, all three girls wore light clothing, and being at a blooming age, they exuded a vibe of youthfulness that left Eric feeling a refreshing shock at the sight.

    Noticing the subtle change in Eric''s expression, Penelope felt a surge of happiness and approached him, asking, "Mr. Williams, where are we going next?"

    Eric pointed to the door outside as he walked. "I initially nned for you three to make an appearance on the red carpet for Deep Impact, but I think it''s best if you don''t. If all three of you show up together, it might overshadow the talk for Deep Impact. We''ll discuss that during Charlie''s Angels press conference."

    Penelope didn''t pay much mind to her two freinds behind her and matched Eric''s pace. "So what about this time..."

    "I''ll arrange for you to go straight in. After the premiere, I''ll take you all out for dinner. Sound

    good?"

    "Sounds great! But I heard there''s usually a party after movie premieres?"

    "Do you want to go?"

    "We... we''ll follow your ns."

    "Ha, this time we won''t. I have to head to Europe tomorrow; it wouldn''t be right to stay out

    toote. I won''t take you to the party this time; maybe next time."

    "Okay," Penelope nodded obediently.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Charlize and Kate, trailing behind Eric and Penelope, exchanged a nce at their

    conversation, involuntarily pouting but not opposing Eric''s arrangements.

    ...

    After arriving downstairs, Eric squeezed the girls into the backseat of his car, taking the passenger seat himself before instructing the driver to set off.

    Although the premiere didn''t start until seven o''clock, by five that afternoon, the red carpet had already been rolled out at the China Theater, filled with media and fans eager to attend the event. Eric didn''t take the three girls directly to theater; instead, he stopped at a nearby hotel where the film''s creators and guests were temporarily settled and handed the girls over to the staff to be arranged.

    Upon seeing Eric, several stars, who hade to support the premiere, greeted him. After exchanging pleasantries, Eric made his way over to Rnd Emmerich, the director of Deep

    Impact.

    "Eric, congrattions! The box office for Jurassic Park is simply astounding."

    "Thanks, Rnd. I believe Deep Impact will perform wonderfully too," Eric said, greeting Jon Landau, the producer for Deep Impact, as well. "What were you two just discussing?"

    Jon had originally been Eric''s go-to producer for Cameron, but since Cameron only made a film every couple of years, Eric paired Rnd with Jon to work on the Deep Impact project, which had proved sessful.

    In response to Eric''s question, Jon pointed at Rnd and said, "Rnd''s still worrying about Deep Impact''s box office. It''s his first film with an investment over fifty million dors, and to be honest, I''m a little anxious too."

    Given the phenomenal box office performance of Jurassic Park, as the second CG effects

    blockbuster released by Firefly during the summer season, Deep Impact attracted significant media attention, not to mention that its production costs were simr. Eric could empathize

    with the pressure Rnd Emmerich was feeling.

    However, Eric felt much more rxedpared to Rnd. With nearly a decade of experience since his early days in The Noah''s Ark Principles, Rnd''s directing style had matured significantly, and with Eric''s oversight, this version of Deep Impact was undoubtedly

    superior to the original.

    In 1993, CG effects had only recently begun to rise in poprity, with the North American and global film markets still starving for more. Eric had no doubt that Deep Impact would achieve

    an impressive box office performance.

    He didn''t hold back, sharing his thoughts with both men.

    Rnd acknowledged the sense in Eric''s words and nodded, though his anxiety hadn''t quite

    eased. Eric understood that only after the actual box office numbers rolled in would Rndpletely let go of his worries -- amon ailment among directors before their films'' releases. Eric himself felt a bit anxious before Jurassic Park''s release. So he avoided offering

    too much constion.

    ...

    The press conference for the premiere had been scheduled to ur after the screening, which made the red carpet segment much simpler. Eric strolled leisurely down the long red carpet, signing autographs at the wall before he soon entered the screening room.

    As he approached his seat in the front row, he caught sight of a familiar voice with an ent

    calling out, "Mr. Williams."

    Turning his head, he saw the three girls seated together, with Penelope speaking and waving at him.

    Eric gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. He had exchanged greetings with quite a number of people along the way, so the girl''s gesture didn''t attract much attention. However, he couldn''t help but think that this Spanish girl was quite open with her intentions. Unlike Kate, who was a bit more carefree, and Charlize, who often had an inexplicable bit of resistance against him, Penelope felt like a little wildcat rushing recklessly toward him.

    In his memory, a loudmouthed male star in Hollywood had once given Penelope Cruz a rather fittingbel: trouble. In the original timeline, this fiery Spanish girl had a knack for making headlines with the male leads of her films, often breaking up couples in the process. She had even been public about her romance with Tom Cruise after his split with Nicole, evidently aiming to be the next Mrs. Cruise. However, Eric mused that the reason for their

    ultimate breakup might have been Tom''s realization that he couldn''t keep up with this restless firecracker.

    With all these thoughts running through his mind, he became quite intrigued. He wanted to

    see what kind of waves this emerging little enchantress could stir up in this timeline.

    ...

    As Eric took his seat, the host of the premiere said a few words before announcing the start of

    the screening.

    The lights in the screening room dimmed rapidly, and the Firefly Pictures logo that everyone hade to recognize lit up the big screen.

    After numerous revisions of the script, this version of Deep Impact had deviated significantly

    from the original. One could say they were two entirely different movies. Many subplots that

    didn''t align with the film''s main theme had been cut. After aet on a collision course with Earth was discovered, Rnd Emmerich focused the narrative on three threads: the federal government, journalist Jenny Lerner, and the boy who discovered theet, Leo Beiderman. Through adept interweaving of the plot and skillful suspense setups, he gripped the audience''s hearts during the forty-minute build-up.

    During an astronomy observation, young Leo Beiderman discovered aet that did not appear on any star charts. He reported the news to his mentor, and soon, an astronomer calcted that theet''s trajectory would ovep with Earth, meaning it was on a collision

    course.

    While the astronomer was rushed to ry the news to the federal government, an ident urred, creating significant suspense at this juncture. Time then jumped one year ahead. Journalist Jenny Lerner was diligently investigating a scandal that eventually led to a woman named ''Eli''. Suddenly, she was apprehended by the FBI and taken to meet the president, who requested her to halt her investigation. She refused and continued her usations, and the ensuing discovery shocked her: ''Eli'' was not a person but aet, aet that was set to collide with Earth.

    Meanwhile, the boy who discovered theet, Leo, continued living a normal life in a small

    town, just like many American high schoolers, with no one realizing disaster was looming.

    As Jenny edged closer to the truth, the federal government decided to publicly disclose the facts, and she was first in line to question the president at the press conference.

    It turned out that although the astronomer had encountered an ident while rying the

    news, the fact that aet was on a collision course with Earth had been discovered. To resolve the crisis, several major powers collectively built a space shuttle armed with nuclear

    bombs over the year, nning to destroy theet before its impact. However, to alleviate public panic as much as possible, the governments opted to keep quiet about it. From this point onward, Rnd Emmerich''s mastery of storytelling began to unfold. Much

    like the heart-stopping moments remembered in his film 2012, theunch of the space shuttle to intercept theet, the federal government''s choices, the fates of ordinary individuals, and the struggles of humanity under disaster all captured the audience''s attention tightly. When the first attempt to destroy theet failed, resulting in part of it crashing into Earth and creating catastrophic tsunami scenes, gasps filled the screening room.

    The ten-minute-long tsunami scene had been produced using the most advanced CG effects technology avable, providing a far more convincing experience than any miniature models. As massive waves surged toward New York, toppling the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, exmations of "Oh my God!" could be heard from the audience. Feeling the reactions in the auditorium, Eric leaned close to Rnd Emmerich''s ear and

    whispered, "Rnd, I think you can rx now. Perhaps you can spare a moment to discuss your next film. What do you think about the script for Independence Day?"

    Aside from a few critics, most of the guests invited to the premiere were diehard fans. If even

    these fans reacted so strongly to the film, it would undoubtedly create a sensation among general audiences -- a truth Rnd Emmerich knew full well.

    "If you can carve out some time, then I''m all in," Rnd replied, his tone rxed. "But I hear

    you have to leave for Europe tomorrow. I don''t know when you''ll be back."

    "That''s not an issue. If I have to personally oversee everything, then what''s the point of me

    being a boss?"

    Both men shared a knowing smile.

    ...

    As the movie approached its final act, Eric quietly told the person next to him that he was

    going to the bathroom.

    Although most people in the screening room had their focus on the screen, Eric''s movement

    was still noticed by some.

    Penelope nced over at Kate, who was entirely engrossed in the movie, then cautiously bent her body to leave her seat and chase after the figure Eric had disappeared toward. Noticing Penelope getting up, Kate didn''t pay it much mind. However, Charlize watched Penelope until she caught sight of her venturing toward the exit where a man had just passed, murmuring something under her breath, feeling a mix of reluctance, frustration, and a hint of insecurity. Soon enough, all that emotion shifted to the man, and Charlize clenched her jaw,

    growing furious. She could no longer concentrate on the film.

    ...

    This might be her only opportunity; if she missed it, who knew when the next chance would

    come.

    With that thought, Penelope rushed through a side door down a corridor, just in time to spot Eric''s figure turn a corner. Without hesitation, she followed him.

    As the Spanish girl reached the corner, she bumped right into someone, and just as she was about to apologize, she heard Eric''s voice asking, "Girl, are you looking for someone?" Penelope stopped, catching the yful glint in Eric''s eyes. Rather than feeling embarrassed, she confidently replied, "Mr. Williams, what a coincidence." "Indeed, it''s quite the coincidence," Eric said with a smile, taking a few steps forward to push

    open the men''s restroom door and step inside. After he took care of his business, he returned to find Penelope pretentiously standing at the sink doing her makeup. With the prey convenientlyid out before him, Eric leaned beside her at the sink, turned on

    the faucet, and whispered yfully near her ear, "It''s just us inside; do you want to step in for

    a look?"

    Penelope froze for a moment, then broke into a sly smile, her eyes sparkling with a touch of yful defiance. "Sure, as long as you don''t mind getting caught."

    Eric led her into the men''s restroom, casually cing a ''Cleaning in Progress'' sign outside the

    door.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 537: Chapter 538: Awkwardness

    Chapter 537: Chapter 538: Awkwardness

    ?

    [Chapter 538: Awkwardness]

    Thinking about Rachel''s advice to be more proactive, Caroline took a deep breath. She gently patted the stack of newspapers in her hand before using the spare room key that Allen had given her to open Eric''s suite door.

    It was already 8:30 in the morning. Caroline had apanied Eric to a cocktail party the night before as his trantor. Although she hadn''t drank much, Eric couldn''t resist the host''s hospitality and had indulged a bit too much, leaving him still asleep at that hour.

    After having breakfast and taking a walk in a nearby park, Caroline ran into Allen, who was getting the newspapers ready for the day and nned to wake Eric. Allen was quite impressed with the polite girl who greeted him, and knowing that she liked Eric, he decided to provide her with an opportunity.

    Caroline pushed open the door to the luxurious suite. She peeked inside and seeing that the living room was empty, she walked in. She ced the newspapers on the coffee table and headed towards the bedroom door, where she gently knocked a few times.

    "Just a minute."

    A voice called out from the bedroom, startling her. Before she could react, the bedroom door swung open to reveal a nearly nude man standing there.

    Eric had just woken up, mistakenly thinking it was Allen at the door. Remembering that he needed to make a phone call, he opened the door without a second thought.

    Caroline had never had to wake a man up before and was caught off guard to see Eric standing there in nothing but boxers. Being petite, her gaze initially fell on Eric''s muscr torso before trailing down, and she squeaked in surprise, quickly turning away while covering her blushing face with her hands.

    Eric, who had been momentarily taken aback, couldn''t help butugh at her cute reaction. He turned to grab his clothes saying, "Youe here first thing in the morning just to tease me. I must be really unlucky. I don''t even know if I can make it up."

    Caroline lightly stamped her foot, knowing Eric was joking, but couldn''t help but defend herself. "I didn''t! I just... I just came to bring you the newspaper."

    Hearing the tremor in her voice, Eric realized she was shy and decided to ease off the teasing. He quickly got dressed and said, "Alright, you can turn around now."

    Caroline had intended to run away but felt her cheeks were burning red as she feared she would be the subject ofughter if she ran into someone in her flustered state. Hearing Eric''s remark, however, she still didn''t want to turn around, keeping her back to him. "Eric, you go wash up. I''ll call and order breakfast for you."

    "Sure, thanks," Eric replied, walking toward the bathroom.

    ...

    About ten minutester, when Eric emerged from the bedroom, Caroline had vanished. He shook his head with a smile, feeling nostalgic for the innocence and shyness of a girl like her, which he knew was rare in Hollywood.

    After arriving in Europe, Eric called London as nned, only to find that Caroline hade over the same day. He understood the girl''s feelings for him, but the more he experienced her pure and genuine nature, the more he thought perhaps it would be best for her to return to her normal life. The world of Hollywood, filled with ambition and scheming, was not suitable for such an unpretentious girl. Bringing her into it would only put her at risk.

    Lost in these thoughts, Eric presumed Caroline hadn''t ordered breakfast for him. Just as he was about to call the restaurant, the hotel bellman rang the doorbell.

    The German premiere of Jurassic Park had taken ce a few days ago, while the Paris premiere was set for July 14. Eric had spent his days exploring Berlin''s sights and attending various invitations at night.

    Germany was the most developed country in Europe, with its economy onceparable to Japan''s in the post-war period. If not for the Cold War, it might have been on par with Japan, now the world''s secondrgest economy. Even so, Germany''s strength in this era made it the most powerful country in Europe, with its GDP equating to thebined total of the UK and France.

    A thriving economy led to a significant capital influx. Though Germans didn''t invest in industries around the world out of insecurity like the Japanese, they were keen on foreign investments. Due to unique tax incentives and Hollywood''s rapid development, investing in Hollywood films had be a popr option for German investors.

    To further stimte film development, the German government exempted film investment funds from taxes. With personal ie tax rates reaching 51%, if someone earned a million dors without investing, they''d pay $510,000 in taxes. However, if the million were funneled into film production, that tax was waived. If this 1 million doubles the profit on the film and bes 2 million US dors, then after paying personal ie tax, the remaining money is basically equivalent to exempting the original personal ie tax. Moreover, even if the money does not double, but only earns a small part, it is equivalent to exempting part of the tax to a certain extent.

    Fueled by this, many German investors threw considerable sums into Hollywood, even after the disappointing performances of Carolco Pictures'' two films, Cliffhanger and Last Action Hero, which had predominantly funded through German film funds.

    In a sense, Firefly''s Jurassic Park contributed to the losses of these productions. Arnold Schwarzenegger''s Last Action Hero wasrgely overshadowed by Jurassic Park. Nheless, when Eric arrived in Berlin, he was still highly sought after by various German filmpanies and investment funds. After Cliffhanger and Last Action Hero''s failures, the Germans had learned to be more prudent; merely inviting major stars wasn''t a guarantee of sess. Identifying the right investment targets had be integral, and with Jurassic Park breaking global box office records, Firefly Entertainment made for an ideal investment opportunity. During his time in Berlin, most of the invitations Eric received came from lobbying groups of German film funds. He began to ponder the scenario with the understanding that the average Hollywood blockbuster budget remained around $30 million, with advertising budgets not excessively high. Given the average output of twenty films a year by these major studios, Firefly''s internal cash flow couldfortably absorb that expenditure without relying on external film funding.

    However, with the advent of big-budget films, the average advertising budget could easily surge past $100 million. While Eric remained confident in Firefly''s ability to handle such financial demands by that time, it still wouldn''t be wise. Over the years, Eric hade to understand that Hollywood''s greatest advantage was leveraging others'' money to create films while keeping the profits for itself.

    Due to the significant risks associated with film investment, external investors often didn''t earn as much as expected. If investments in Hollywood yielded a 10% to 15% profit annually, it was deemed a fantastic return.

    Of course, not every studio, like Firefly, enjoyed Eric''s unique insights. Film investment often involved wins and losses, and Hollywood had developed internal revenue-sharing rules to retain most profits while passing on losses to external investors. However, this rule didn''t apply to Firefly. For others, film production was akin to gambling, while Eric, who could see the dice''s true value, was exceptional.

    Take Jurassic Park as an example; for a film grossing $1 billion worldwide, if external investors were brought in andter told they had not turned a profit, it would not be a surprise if they

    went up in arms.

    Overall, the operational structure of most Hollywood films, which involved many investors, aimed to reduce investment risks. However, for Firefly, much of that risk diminished in front of Eric, falling well within the realm of what Firefly could manage alone. At this juncture, to operate under Hollywood''s rules was less about sharing risk and more about sharing profits.

    ...

    Even after finishing breakfast, Eric hadn''t developed any feasible ns for operation, and a simple breakfast had somehow upied him until after 9 o''clock.

    Coincidentally, it was Monday, and the box office for Jurassic Park that weekend hadn''t deviated from the predicted figures. However, the performance of Deep Impact in its opening weekend exceeded Eric''s expectations, raking in over $47 million in North America, with projections suggesting it would likely cross the $70 million mark in its first week, effectively covering costs. Meanwhile, Pixar''s 3D animated film A Bug''s Life was also nearing $100 million in total North American box office receipts.

    As he was finishing the newspaper in hand, the doorbell rang again. Eric opened the door to find Allen standing there.

    "You came at the right time. A few days ago, I asked Disney to gather some information on promisingputer animation studios. Do you have time today to check on their progress? If

    it''s looking good, send me the details."

    "Sure, I''ll take care of it," Allen replied, jotting it down.

    Eric shook his head, then suddenly added, "Also, don''t ask Caroline to do this sort of thing.

    She''s too shy for it, and it was a bit ufortable just now."

    Allen seemed to understand something, offering a teasing smile. "Sorry about that, Eric. I

    didn''t think about it."

    "Oh, by the way, is there anything else?"

    "Ms. Wilson asked me to see if you''re nning to go out today," Allen said with a hint ofn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    mischief.

    Eric nced at his watch and nodded, "Alright, I''ll head down now."

    "She''s waiting for you downstairs," Allen added before turning to leave. Eric had already set his agenda for the day, deciding to visit Museum Ind in Berlin. He

    returned to his room to change his shoes, tidied up a bit, and then stepped out.

    ...

    Caroline was seated in the lobby of the hotel, flipping through a magazine, appearing perfectlyposed. Yet, when she saw Eric, a blush crept onto her cheeks, evoking a strong urge in Eric to give her a yful pinch, a thought that had lingered in his mind several times.

    "Shall we go?" Despite the mischievous thoughts, Eric remained courteous as he greeted her and led her outside.

    At that point, Berlin wasn''t particrly flourishing. The division from the Cold War had left much of the city controlled by the Soviets, and at that time, the capital had moved to Bonn in the west. However, the reunification in 1990 led to a consensus to relocate the capital back to Berlin, where rapid infrastructure improvements were made due to West Germany''s robust economic capacity.

    Berlin boasted a highly developed public transportation system, as did the entirety of

    Germany. Both Eric and Caroline walked side by side to the subway station without a car, apanied by two bodyguards. They soon took the subway to the famed Museum Ind. Though the name "Museum Ind" may initially sound peculiar, it referred to a cluster of institutionsprised of the Berlin Museum, the National Gallery, and other museums. Eric had no particr fascination with German culture. The long period of turmoil in Europe had left Germany with few boast-worthy culturalndmarks. Many could enthusiastically recount cultural heritage from countries like Ennd, France, Italy, or Greece. But mention Germany, and most would think of Hitler - hardly a proud part of history.

    Despite Caroline being extraordinarily shy, her knowledge was impressive. She often shared facts that even museum guides might miss, leading Eric to inquire further. Her responses left

    him neither shocked nor surprised. He felt a sense of admiration and envy; despite having retained memories from a past life, hecked the gift of perfect recall, and with time, the

    rity of some memories had begun to fade.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 539: Chapter 540: From Finland

    Chapter 539: Chapter 540: From Find

    ?

    [Chapter 540: From Find]

    The anticipated first love ended before it even began, leaving the heartbroken girl restless all night. It wasn''t until dawn that Caroline finally packed her bags and left her room.

    She had nned to sneak out quietly, thinking that Eric might not care about her departure anyway. The hotel corridor was empty; to the lefty the elevator, while Eric''s room was just a short distance to the right. Caroline hesitated, ncing around, before finally giving in to her lingering hopes. She convinced herself that saying goodbye without a word would be too rude, given her upbringing.

    When she reached Eric''s door, she pressed the doorbell and waited silently. Her mind raced with what she should say when he answered. Maybe he would try to persuade her to stay, in which case she would forgive him for his words from the day before. Caroline had always believed herself to be a very understanding girl, especially since she liked him so much.

    Then the door opened, and the tall blonde woman from the previous afternoon appeared before her. udia was casually dressed in a pink silk nightgown, and the impression of her body suggested she wore nothing underneath. Her long, smooth legs were exposed, and anyone could see she had spent the night here.

    "Good morning, Miss Wilson. Eric is just in the shower. Do you need something?" udia politely motioned for Caroline toe in, not reacting to the girl''s sudden timidness. She was a clever woman and never pried into Eric''s affairs with other women.

    Standing before the much taller udia, Caroline felt a pang of insecurity, shrinking back slightly. She held back the bittersweet emotions rising within her, giving her nose a gentle rub, and quietly said, "Miss Schiffer, I just came to say goodbye to Eric. Could you please tell him I''m headed back to London?"

    Caroline finished speaking without waiting for udia''s reply and hurriedly walked towards the elevator.

    udia peeked at the girl''s despondent figure as she left, then returned to the guestroom to knock on the bathroom door and inform Eric of Caroline''s visit.

    As Caroline stepped out of the hotel, she stood by the curb, ready to hail a cab when she heard a voice calling her name behind her. Turning around, she saw Eric rushing after her.

    Eric caught up beside her and breathed a sigh of relief, fastening thest two buttons of his shirt as he said, "Caroline, let me take you to the airport. I can''t just let you go on your own." Initially, Caroline felt a flutter of warmth in her chest at Eric''s words, but stubbornness surged within her. "No thanks, Eric. You should... you should go back to Miss Schiffer. I can manage on my own."

    Eric finished fastening his shirt, ignoring Caroline''sment as he took her small bag. "Come on, I''ll arrange for someone to buy your ticket. But first, we really should get breakfast. You can''t skip breakfast."

    Seeing Caroline keep her lips pursed, Eric resorted to a little charm, taking her hand in his and leading her back inside the hotel.

    Once he held her warm, rough hand, Caroline''s resistance melted awaypletely. She lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, walking quietly beside Eric like a well-behaved child.

    ...

    After breakfast, Eric took Caroline to the Berlin Schonefeld Airport in the hotel car, where he got her boarding pass and arranged for Rachel to pick her up upon arrival in London. He stayed with her until it was time to board her flight, watching her walk toward the gate until she disappeared.

    Hearing the door open, udia, leaning against the living room sofa watching TV, straightened up and looked at Eric. "Did you send her off?"

    Eric nodded slightly, walking over to sp his arms around udia''s slender waist as he settled beside her on the sofa.

    Noticing the hint of disappointment in Eric''s demeanor, udia couldn''t help but ask, "If you like her so much, why let her go?"

    "Because I''m a good guy," Eric said with a self-deprecating shake of his head, noticing udia rolling her eyes. "You know who she is, right?"

    "Of course, I do. She''s the only daughter of the Earl of Wilson in Berkshire. I heard all about it in Hollywoodst month. The papers were full of news about you two nning to marry. When I came here yesterday, I thought you might send me away because of mymon background."

    Eric gently squeezed udia''s waist. "Alright, enough teasing. Have you had breakfast yet?" "Of course!" udia giggled, snuggling closer to him. "Let''s go out today. I can be your tour guide."

    Though Eric felt no qualms about appearing publicly with another woman right after sending Caroline off, he knew it would likely embarrass Caroline and her family if it made the papers. He initially intended to refuse udia''s suggestion but then rummaged through a pile of magazines on the coffee table and pulled out a travel brochure, flipping through it. "How about we visit another city? We can avoid the paparazzi. Prague sounds good."

    udia leaned in closer, aware that Prague was the capital of the Czech Republic, only about two hundred kilometers from Berlin, but shook her head. "We need a visa for Prague. Even though it''s quick to get a tourist visa, we won''t be able to go today."

    Eric realized the new EU had only been formed two years prior with just six member countries. After tracing a finger along the map for a while, he picked another EU country -- Hond. "Then let''s go to Amsterdam."

    "Great! I''ll change and call my agent. He''s in Paris negotiating a contract for me," udia said, standing up and heading to her bedroom.

    Eric quickly skimmed the travel brochure and then followed udia into the room, where she had already changed. She was now standing by her desk, searching through her Chanel bag for her mobile phone and a contact book.

    He casually nced over at her when he noticed the mobile phone in her hand. Just as she found her agent''s temporary number and was about to call, Eric approached from behind, taking the phone from her while wrapping his arm around her waist.

    udia thought Eric was suddenly feeling yful and shot a teasing re at him. Just as she was about to lean over therge desk, she noticed Eric was actually examining her mobile phone with interest.

    Feeling a slight blush creep up at the thought she had just entertained, udia turned to face Eric directly. "Is there a problem?"

    Holding her mobile phone, Eric leaned closer and kissed the curve of her lips softly. "Sorry, babe, but it looks like we might not be able to go to Amsterdam after all. But maybe in a few

    days, I can take you to Find."

    "What?" udia asked, puzzled.

    Eric pointed to the prominent ''NOKIA'' logo on the mobile phone. "This mobile phone''s from Find."

    udia still wore a confused expression while Eric felt a bit excited. He had been thinking about Apple but overlooked the fact that before the rise of Apple, Nokia held over forty percent of the world''s mobile phone market share. It was a giantpany that at one point had a market valuation exceeding two hundred billion dors.

    In another timeline, Apple only started to rise in 2007, which seemed very far off. The rapid development of Nokia was all set to unfold in theing years, and if he could get involved now, it could lead to a significant fortune.

    ...

    Rachel sat in the Heathrow Airport terminal, reluctantly listening to a chatty suitor beside her, her eyes focused on the entrance. She let out a sigh of relief when a familiar figure finally came into view, standing up and saying to the somewhat decent-looking young man next to her, "Excuse me, Mr. Luke. My girlfriend just arrived."

    Rachel emphasized the word "girlfriend" before ignoring Luke''s surprised expression and made her way toward Caroline.

    As she approached, Rachel quickly noticed something was off. The sharp, fair-skinned girl''s

    usual spark was dimmed. Her thin lips formed a tight line, her eyshes lowered, and her once fluffy, slightly curled hair now drooped lifelessly. She looked like a pitiful cat abandoned by its owner, soaked in the rain.

    "Caroline, what''s wrong?" Rachel hastened her steps, concern etched on her face. When Caroline saw Rachel, the tension in her lips immediately crumbled, and with reddened eyes, she copsed into Rachel''s arms. "Wahh, wahh, Rachel... he... he rejected me." Rachel initially thought something major had happened, but upon hearing Caroline''s words, she let out a relieved breath. Still, she understood that for this young girl experiencing love for the first time, it was undoubtedly a significant blow. So, Rachel held her tight, gently patting her back tofort her. "It''s okay, don''t cry. I told you before, Eric Williams is a

    yboy. You shouldn''t..."

    "He''s not!" Caroline protested through her sobs.

    Rachel sighed but went along with the girl. "Alright, he''s not."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "He''s a bad guy," Caroline contradicted, sniffling.

    "Yeah, he''s a bad guy." Rachel yed along.

    Caroline cried against Rachel for a good while before finally managing to quiet down,

    whispering, "Rachel, I miss mom."

    Rachel wiped the girl''s face, slinging her backpack over her shoulder, then took Caroline''s

    hand as they walked out together. "Let''s go home."

    Caroline obediently followed Rachel until they exited the airport terminal, only to suddenly

    murmur, "He held my hand."

    Rachel pulled out her keys, opened the door of her powerful Jaguar Sovereign, and helped Caroline into the passenger seat. "I know. Today''s Daily Mail had photos of you two."

    Feeling anxious, Caroline looked at Rachel. "What did they say?"

    "Who cares what they say? The Daily Mail is just a gossip rag."

    Rachel said this as she turned the car around onto the highway. Caroline couldn''t hold back

    her instinct to ask more, but she quickly buckled up, saying, "Rachel, please drive slowly. This

    is too dangerous."

    "Alright, kiddo, I''ll listen to you today."

    Rachel slowed down, having visited Caroline''s estate a few times, so she didn''t need Caroline to direct her. After leaving the airport area, she headed northwest down the highway. Once the speed was steady, Rachel cautiously probed, "Feeling any better? Want to talk about

    what happened?"

    After a moment of silence, Caroline softly replied, "He suddenly said we weren''t suitable for

    each other."

    Rachel remained quiet after Caroline''s statement, unable to hold back a sigh. She didn''t prod

    further, knowing Caroline still harbored deep feelings for Eric and he was likely sheltering her from more negative aspects. However, Rachel also knew that Caroline, albeit tender-hearted, could be stubborn and wouldn''t let go of things easily.

    As the Jaguar passed through Windsor and continued for another several kilometers, they arrived at the Wilson estate, situated along a tributary of the River Thames.

    ...

    When the estate''s gatekeeper saw the car stop outside, he approached to ask a question. But

    as soon as he saw the youngdy with a drawn, weary face in the passenger seat, he quickly stated, "Miss Caroline, you''ve finally returned. Your mother mentioned you this morning. I''ll notify her right away; oh, I''ll open the gate for you!"

    The man, named Mark, greeted Caroline respectfully and hurriedly opened therge iron gate of the estate before rushing back into the security booth to grab the phone. Though it wasn''t her first visit, driving through the long driveway of the Wilson estate and gazing at the sprawling acreage still filled Rachel with admiration. The British aristocracy had long since declined; the maintenance costs of traditional estates and castles were exorbitantly high. With the UK''s inheritance tax reaching seventy-five percent, many cash- strapped nobles struggled to maintain their heritage and had to either donate their castles or let them fall into disrepair. The Wilson family was one of the few aristocratic families maintaining their prominence in modern times.

    As the car stopped along the roadway, Rachel hadn''t even gotten out when she saw a graceful

    woman apanied by a few maids exiting the castle. Upon seeing her mother, Caroline hurriedly jumped out of the car and ran toward her.

    Rachel opened the back door just as one of the maids graciously approached to take Caroline''s

    bag.

    Upon seeing them, Lady Wilson walked over and extended her hand to Rachel. "Miss Weisz, thank you for taking care of Caroline during this time."

    "No problem, Lady Wilson. Caroline is my good friend. I only did what I should do," Rachel

    replied politely. The reverence the British generally held for nobility was deeply ingrained in them, and Rachel''s rapport with Caroline was mostly due to the girl''s innocent character that masked the innate distance brought by her aristocratic upbringing. However, in the presence of Lady Wilson, Rachel felt somewhat constrained and was eager to excuse herself. "Lady Wilson, since Caroline is home safe now, I should get back to London. I have some things to attend to this afternoon."

    "If it''s nothing too urgent, why not stay for lunch?" Lady Wilson still wore a warm smile and made a gentle gesture inviting Rachel to stay. Caroline, however, immediately pulled Rachel forward, saying, "Stay, Rachel. We spoke on the phone the other night, so I know you have nothing nned this afternoon."

    Caught off-guard, Rachel felt her cheeks heat up as the girl exposed her, wishing she could

    pinch the naive girl''s face. Staring at Lady Wilson''s unwavering smile, Rachel could only smile slightly and agree, "Then, I''ll impose."

    Upon hearing Rachel''s eptance, Caroline eagerly pulled her toward the castle, and only

    then did Lady Wilson say, "Caroline, first go say hello to your father in his study."

    "I know, Mom."

    "And don''t forget, Matthew and Robert will also return home for lunch. The little one will be

    here too."

    Caroline, taken aback with excitement, asked, "What about Charles?"

    "He left for New York a week ago," Lady Wilson said, gazing at her daughter fondly. "You as a

    sister are utterly negligent, not even knowing where your brother is."

    Caroline yfully stuck her tongue out but quickly withdrew it under her mother''s sharp

    gaze.

    As Rachel walked behind them, she was left feeling uneasy. With Caroline''s chatterbox nature, she was quite familiar with the Wilson family''s situation. The current Earl, James Wilson, had three sons and one daughter, precisely the three individuals mentioned moments earlier. Caroline was the youngest child in the family. Although Lady Edith Wilson appeared to be in her early forties due to her youthful care, she was actually much older. Her eldest son

    Matthew and her second son Robert were both married with children. The only one still single was Charles, who was four years older than Caroline but supposedly already engaged. Listening to the mother and daughter chat, Rachel could tell nearly everyone in the family would gather for the lunch, amplifying her sense of difort. Indeed, as noon approached, the castle was filled with more and more guests, with both of the

    earl''s sons arriving with their wives and children, and several other waves of visitors left Rachel with an overwhelming urge to escape. Yet, it seemed that Lady Wilson, ever perceptive, had noticed Rachel''s unease. After lunch had wrapped up, she quietly instructed her daughter with a few words, and only then did Caroline take Rachel back to her room.

    *****

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 Chapter 541: Chapter 542: A Confounding Invitation

    Chapter 541: Chapter 542: A Confounding Invitation

    ?

    [Chapter 542: A Confounding Invitation]

    When Allen heard udia''s words, he merely shrugged slightly. Eric, who was reviewing documents, noticed his assistant''s small gesture and helplessly shook his head.

    This time, Eric''s actions were indeed different from past experiences. In previous attempts to invest inpanies like Cisco and America Online, the prospects had been rather clear, and the amounts of money involved were not overly substantial. Even the investments in three intepanies like Yahoo had only reached the tens of millions.

    However, this time was vastly different. Nokia, arge Finnish conglomerate, was struggling, yet the financial data Eric collected indicated that this "almost starving horse" still had around $1.1 billion in assets. From Eric''s perspective, the more shares he could acquire, the better. If he could take overpletely, he wouldn''t hesitate to invest all of Firefly Productions'' funds into it.

    ...

    After staying a few more days in Berlin, Eric, along with the creative team of Jurassic Park, moved to Paris to prepare for the film''s French premiere.

    By mid-July, Jurassic Park had been out in North America for six weeks, grossing over $300 million effortlessly. The sharp rise of Jurassic Park''s box office had transitioned the local media from being astonished by its first week crossing the $100 million line to a state of numbness. A box office surpassing $400 million within theing weeks seemed almost certain, and discussions about whether it could hit the astonishing $500 million mark were tepid at best. After all, whether it was $400 million or $500 million, to most Hollywood films, it felt like staring at the stars in the sky -- few pondered whether each star was a hundred light years away or a thousand; it all seemed too distant.

    The international box office for Jurassic Park also crossed $300 million in its sixth week, bringing its total earnings to $600 million. The British box office, in particr, stood out, with earnings reaching PS57 million after six weeks and expectations that total receipts would exceed PS70 million. Meanwhile, Jurassic Park was set to open soon in France, Spain, Japan, and other lucrative international markets. Especially in Japan, a nation famously obsessed with monsters, although Eric couldn''t recall the exact figures, he was certain that Jurassic Park''s box office there had undoubtedly surpassed $100 million.

    While Jurassic Park raked in astonishing box office figures worldwide, shattering records, it did not always receive positive coverage from local media. Many media outlets across Europe had adopted a "wolf ising" tone in their discussions of Jurassic Park, with France being particrly vocal.

    As the birthce of film, the French took great pride in their national cinema. France had indeed experienced a glorious cinematic era. To wee the box office titan Jurassic Park and defend the "dignity" of French cinema, they had released the most expensive film in French history, Germinal, at the same time. This film, adapted from a major French literary work, had a production cost of 164 million francs (over $30 million), backed by more than a dozen French filmpanies, marking it as France''s highest investment in a film to date.

    Eric could only think, "Why go through all this trouble?"

    Germinal depicted the tragic lives of French miners in thete 19th century and ran nearly three hours long. It was, by all ounts, a real snoozefest. Eric found it hard to believe that such a film wouldpete against the highly entertaining Jurassic Park at the box office.

    Additionally, the timing was quite sensitive. This year marked thest year of negotiations for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. After years of grappling, North America and European countries had finally reached a consensus on most terms to form the World Trade Organization. The U.S. government was actively seeking equal economic status for Hollywood films alongside physical products, but European countries had raised the concept of "cultural exception." Prominent Hollywood directors had even embarked on a public feud with European filmmakers over this issue.

    Eric firmly stood on the Hollywood side of the dispute. To avoid stirring emotions among the French media, he cut much of the team''s promotional schedule following the simple premiere in France and sent the other creatives off to their next stop, Madrid. Jurassic Park was already a hot topic in Europe, so reducing promotional activities wouldn''t significantly impact its box office in France.

    ...

    While promoting the film, Eric continued to discuss Nokia over the phone with Chris in private. Chris had decided to bring Firefly Investment''s team to Europe, prompting Eric to stay temporarily in Paris.

    In contrast to the media and cultural industries'' resistance to Hollywood films, local French production and distributionpanies were eager to invest in and distribute Hollywood films. Sharp businessmen saw the irreversible decline of French cinema, and capital always moved towards profit. The French filmpanies knew what was at stake.

    At a hotel by the Seine in Paris, Eric enjoyed a leisurely moment on the hotel balcony. The gentle steam rising from his coffee lingered in the air as he typed on his notebook, asionally raising his gaze toward the towering Eiffel Tower in the distance.

    Upon hearing a knock at the door, Eric turned around to see Allen walk in, carrying a stack of documents.

    "Eric, the box office stats for Jurassic Park and Germinal''s opening day just came in," Allen said, cing the documents on the small table beside Eric and handing a sheet to him.

    Eric had strolled through the streets the previous night and noticed lines at several cinemas, so he had anticipated some positive news. Not in a hurry to peruse the documents, he pulled out a floppy disk from hisptop and handed it to Allen. "This is a script idea I came up with the other day. Please send it back to L.A. and have them register the copyright."

    The script on the floppy was for Night at the Museum, an idea that had popped into Eric''s head after he had apanied Carolyn on her visit to Berlin''s Museum Ind. He had taken advantage of his free time over the past few days to draft it.

    Allen didn''t ask further questions as he took the floppy, introduced the materials he''d just brought over, and pulled out an invitation letter. "This is an invitation from Gaumont''s CEO, Nics Seydoux. They''re hosting a celebration for a film tonight and would like you to attend."

    Flipping through the box office numbers for Jurassic Park and Germinal, Eric frowned slightly and casually asked, "What movie?"

    "It''s called Fanfan, a love story that premiered in early June. It stars two very well-known French actors, Vincent Perez and Sophie Marceau. The film has received great responses in Europe and Asia," Allen briefly exined, omitting the box office data for Fanfan. After all,pared to Jurassic Park, the love story''s numbers seemed trivial.

    Eric sighed with a hint of resignation, recalling, "Sophie Marceau paid a penalty of 1 million francs to leave Gaumont. Didn''t the two sides have a falling out? Why are they working together again?"

    Allen didn''t know about that. Sophie Marceau''s influence was primarily in France and Japan, and Hollywood hadn''t yet taken notice of the "Rose of France. "I''m not sure about that, Eric. Should I look it up?"

    Eric paused, then shook his head. "No need; I just remembered that."

    The incident regarding Sophie Marceau''s fallout with Gaumont over filming Beau Pere appeared in most of the actress''s magazine articles. In the final analysis, it was just to beautify the actress''s image, and it was more of a publicity.. Truth be told, the fine of a million francs equated to less than $20,000, which wasn''t severe for a European star of her caliber. Their dispute was more likely a temporary separation, not something making them

    enemies.

    Realistically speaking, with European cinema in decline and fewpanies capable of producingmercial films, Sophie Marceau''s choices were limited.

    "Then," Allen nodded towards the invitation, "what about the party tonight?"

    Eric shook his head. He had no idea what the celebration party would entail, especially since the French media had turned the situation surrounding Germinal and Jurassic Park into a hostile rivalry. If any media representatives attended, it would inevitably lead to questions about the box office performances of both films. Letting out a sigh, Eric nced once more at the statistics; on the opening day, Jurassic Park had garnered 6.6 million francs while Germinal, which shared a simr release scale, only earned just over 1 million. Whatever answer he provided, or even if he refrained frommenting, just appearing in the papers the next day would likely ignite a media frenzy.

    Allen sensed Eric''s concerns, saying, "In that case, I''ll call to decline the invitation. Also, Mr. Hansen will arrive in Paris tomorrow at around ten. I''ve reserved a hotel room. Eric, is there

    anything else you want to add?"

    "No, that''ll be all."

    ...

    Allen nodded, turned, and left Eric''s room. Just as he reached the hallway, his mobile phone rang. After answering, he said a few words before returning to open Eric''s door. He handed Eric the mobile phone. "Eric, it''s a call from Mr. Jack Valenti."

    Jack Valenti?

    Eric felt a bit puzzled. Jack Valenti was the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. Eric had only met him once at the film association''s annual meetingst year, so he was unsure why Jack Valenti would be calling him.

    However, Valenti had served as the MPAA''s president since 1966 and had been in the position for nearly thirty years. He seemed inclined to continue for some time. This political figure had consistently advocated for expanding Hollywood''s influence globally, earning him a highly respected status in L.A. Without hesitating, Eric took the mobile from Allen and exchanged a few brief words with Valenti before hanging up.

    Allen overheard a rushed tone from the other end, although he didn''t catch the content. After Eric ended the call, he told Allen, "Get ready; I''ll be attending the celebration Gaumont is

    hosting for Fanfan tonight."

    Noticing Eric''s serious demeanor, Allen asked, "Should I prepare a tuxedo for you?"

    "No need; I can wear what I had on for the premiere."

    Eric returned the mobile to Allen, still pondering the reason behind Jack Valenti''s call. Given

    the current climate, he spected that Valenti might want to discuss the ongoing

    negotiations of the GATT.

    The MPAA, being both the rating authority for Hollywood films and the advocate for

    Hollywood''s interests, would be engaging in discussions regarding the GATT''s impact on films. While this also aligned with the interests of Firefly Productions, Eric couldn''t fathom

    why Valenti would reach out to him directly.

    ...

    As nightfall descended, a luxurious vehicle pulled up to a grand residence by the Seine River in

    the western suburbs of Paris. As Eric stepped out, he was greeted warmly by a crowd of

    people. His first impression upon seeing them was that this celebration was rather extraordinary. Nics Seydoux of Gaumont was expected, as was Jack Valenti, who had made prior arrangements. However, Eric was taken aback by the presence of Constantin Film''s president, a figure he had met justst week, along with several other familiar faces. "Eric, I''m thrilled you could make it," Nics Seydoux warmly embraced Eric before introducing him to the others.

    Aside from Constantin Film''s president, there was also the CEO of New World Pictures, the head of the fourth French television channel, and the chief of Vivendi''s film department... What surprised Eric most was the presence of John Calley, the president of MGM, whose actual controller was the French banking group Credit Lyonnais.

    Overall, most of the people present were heads of some of the most notable filmpanies in

    Europe. By the conclusion of the introductions, Eric maintained an expressionless demeanor, ready to face whatevery ahead.

    "Alright, folks, give me some time alone with the kid," Jack Valenti finally announced after Seydoux finished introducing everyone. The crowdplied, and Valenti shot Eric a knowing nce as they moved toward the interior of the grand house. They navigated through clusters of guests, guided by servers, until they reached a private suite.

    "You must be quite puzzled right now," Jack Valenti said, smiling as he motioned for Eric to

    take a seat on the sofa.

    Valenti, an elderly man with graying hair and sharp eyes, was the staunch advocate for Hollywood''s interests. Eric nodded, acknowledging his curiosity. While he had started piecing things together, he wasn''t overly concerned that Valenti would act against the interests of Firefly Films; after all, Valenti had held his position with great stability for decades.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    *****

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 Chapter 543: Chapter 544: Plenty of Time Ahead

    Chapter 543: Chapter 544: Plenty of Time Ahead

    ?

    [Chapter 544: Long Way Ahead]

    Eric listened to Sophie''s trantion and found it both amusing and perplexing. The logic of children was often quite unreasonable. The little girl in the princess dress, much like many proud French people, held a belief in the primacy of the Frenchnguage, naturally assuming that others should learn French, rather than adapting to others''nguages. Although France and Britain were only separated by the English Channel, French people''s proficiency in English was notoriously poor, as evidenced by the bacsh from French employees and visitors when Paris Disnend adopted English as its workingnguage.

    Sophie found the little girl to be quite entertaining and slightly bent down to say something to her. But perhaps due to a natural rivalry among attractive young girls, the child didn''t seem impressed by Sophie at all. Instead, she rolled her eyes at Sophie and turned away.

    Noticing Sophie''s slight awkwardness, Eric didn''t pry into their conversation. Instead, he directed his attention to the little girl and asked, "Hey, I don''t think I caught your name." Despite having just scoffed at Sophie, the little girl showed no sense of formality upon hearing Eric speak. She looked to Sophie, prompting Sophie to reluctantly take on the role of trantor.

    "She said her name is L��a."

    Eric instinctively wanted topliment the child''s name, but quickly realized they were in the residence of the Seydoux family. A child navigating a party without adult supervision was likely one of the hosts. Thus, the girl''s name became obvious: L��a Seydoux.

    Eric took a moment to study the little girl''s features and found faint traces of familiarity. In his original timeline, Hollywood''s major film studios had increasingly focused their resources on big-budget movies, leading to fewer opportunities for neers. This shift meant Hollywood''s second-generation talents became more exposed to the public. For various reasons, filmpanies were keen to provide these children of celebrities opportunities, especially those who already possessed some level of fame.

    L��a Seydoux was one of those children. The girl in front of him frequently appeared in films by legendary directors like Woody Allen, Quentin Tarantino, and Ridley Scott, thanks to the vast connections her family had in the industry. She was also cast in major blockbusters like Mission: Impossible 4 and Spectre, acquiring roles that could drive ordinary actresses absolutely mad with jealousy.

    The seven- or eight-year-old L��a noticed Eric zoning out again, her displeasure evident as she muttered something in French before sprinting away towards the hall.

    Sophie tranted with a smirk, "She says you are really very rude, and she''s decided she will never watch your movies again."

    Eric chuckled at the retreating figure of the little girl. "So I''ve lost a fan, huh?"

    "Looks like it," Sophieughed along with him.

    The abrupt entrance of the joking little girl eased the initial strangeness between Eric and Sophie. As someone who had crossed over from another timeline, Eric not only remembered most of Sophie Marceau''s films, but his knowledge of her vastly exceeded what she herself might have realized. This understanding allowed Eric to easily tap into topics that interested Sophie. In just under an hour of casual conversation, the typically guarded French rose revealed a glimmer of genuine connection.

    "Eric, you''re absolutely right. I believe marriage is simply a form of bondage. Sure, lovers should be together, but if the love fades, there''s no need for entanglement. It only leads to pain. That''s why I never intended to get married."

    During their chatter, Sophie had downed a few sses of red wine, and now a slight blush graced her cheeks as she spoke. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if recalling troubling thoughts.

    Many things were often easier said than done. Saying one wouldn''t cling desperately is rarely straightforward.

    A waiter passed by with a tray, and noticing Sophie reaching to grab another ss of wine, Eric gently interrupted him and motioned for him to walk away.

    "I don''t think you should have any more to drink," Eric said softly.

    Sophie frowned slightly but quickly smiled charmingly. "Hey, Eric, haven''t you ever secretly wished to see me drunk?"

    "Of course! I''ve nned out the ''show'' for when you get tipsy," Eric replied, loungingfortably against the railing. "So I''m just stirring up your rebellious spirit to get you to drink more."

    Sophie shot Eric an incredulous look, then erupted intoughter, drawing the attention of several guests in the hall. Thankfully, she hadn''tpletely lost her senses; after a few more giggles, she reined in her demeanor. "You are quite an amusing person, Eric."

    "Just so you know, sparking a woman''s curiosity is often the first step for a man to attract her."

    Sophie opened her wide, bright eyes in surprise and leaned in closer to Eric, like a carefree little girl. "And what''s the second step?"

    "The second step," Eric leaned in slightly, reaching out to gently hold her delicate chin, then unabashedly kissed her as she wore a mixed expression of surprise and excitement.

    ...

    Waking up in the slightly cool Paris morning, Eric felt a warm body carefully attempting to escape his embrace. Instinctively tightening his arm, he pulled the woman back into his hold, only to open his eyes at her startled soft gasp.

    Sophie''s body tensed for a moment, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "Eric, you... you''re awake?"

    "Yeah, good morning, Sophie," Eric leaned in closer, pressing a gentle kiss on her cheek.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Sophie sensed Eric adjusting herfortably in his arms, suggesting he might want to continue sleeping. Reluctantly, she nestled deeper into his warmth. After a few more minutes, Sophie firmly pushed away Eric''s hand from her waist, sitting up to begin dressing. She noticed Eric propped up on the bed, watching her every move, causing her to feel a rare

    shyness.

    After she finished dressing and casually tied her disheveled hair into a ponytail, she seemed to regain herposure. She scanned the spacious bedroom for her purse.

    "It should be in the living room," Eric gently interjected.

    "Thank you, Eric," Sophie paused for a moment. "I had a great timest night, but now, I

    think I should be going."

    Eric put on a sad expression. "Come on, after I was toyed with all night, can''t you at least leave me a kiss?"

    Blushing lightly, Sophie smirked and leaned over the bed, quickly pecking Eric on the lips before making a swift exit, reaching the bedroom door as she tossed a quick goodbye over her

    shoulder.

    A momentter, the sound of the door closing echoed from the living room, leaving the suite quiet once more.

    With a smile lingering on his lips, Eric took a moment to reflect before getting out of bed. He understood Sophie''s inner turmoil from just moments before and chose not to hold her back. She was a woman who pursued freedom above all else; trying too hard would only drive her further away. Better to let things flow naturally.

    After all, there was plenty of time ahead, wasn''t there?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 545: Chapter 546: This is Just Crazy

    Chapter 545: Chapter 546: This is Just Crazy

    ?

    [Chapter 546: This is Just Crazy]

    "Since you''ve made up your mind, I have to think a bit more long-term," Chris chuckled.

    He continued, "As for the acquisition, the information we''ve gathered is quiteprehensive. Even though Nokia''s new 1011 phone has been selling welltely, thepany''s issues haven''t really been resolved. With our financial advantages, acquiring Nokia shouldn''t be a major problem. What''s left to discuss is which acquisition method to choose. Eric, if we go for aplete buyout, the premium will be very high, which would also obstruct your original n to acquire a televisionwork. Among the big fourworks in North America, Fox is growing the fastest and certainly isn''t for sale. The market value of any of the other threeworks exceeds $10 billion. If we chose a stock-for-stock merger, you could even loseplete control of Firefly."

    Eric had been considering these issues as well. A windfall like the Gulf War wouldn''te around a second time. While the tech boom in IT stocks was still a few years off, acquiring a televisionwork was something that needed to happen sooner rather thanter.

    He vaguely remembered some data. In his original timeline, the order of mergers between North America''s majorworks and filmpanies was ABC, NBC, and CBS. Disney wrapped up its acquisition of ABC in 1996 for approximately $19 billion but just three yearster, in 1999, Vi acquired CBS for $37 billion. The scale of the twoworks wasn''t too far apart, but this disparity arosergely due to the rapid economic growth in the United States during the 1990s, which caused stock prices to surge.

    "Chris, do you think that with Firefly''s current performance, it would be feasible topletely finance the acquisition of awork through issuing corporate bonds?" Eric asked.

    Chris thought for a moment. Eric hadn''t hidden many of his ns. If they followed the n Eric had discussed with him, Firefly could raise about $5 billion in cash during the acquisition negotiations. However, if they wanted to swallow any of the big threeworks, they would ideally need around $15 billion.

    Subtracting $5 billion from $15 billion...

    With that thought, Chris suddenly widened his eyes and looked at Eric in disbelief. "Issuing $10 billion in corporate bonds? Eric, you really are mad."

    Not to mention a $10 billion debt financing, up until 1993, there were very few instances globally where acquisition funding exceeded that amount. To issue $10 billion in corporate debt to acquire apany could only be described as insanity.

    Eric shrugged off Chris''s shocked expression. "Chris, think about it from another perspective. We all know what MGM''s current situation is like. Their assets are around $1-1.5 billion, but their liabilities are as high as $1.7 billion, with a debt ratio exceeding 100%. However, if weplete the acquisition of awork, Firefly''s asset size would undoubtedly reach $30 billion, with existing liabilities only around 40%."

    "But Eric, a billion-dor liability and a ten-billion-dor liability aren''t just simple numerical issues," Chris countered.

    Eric certainly understood that. Investors usually purchasedpany bonds because they presented lower riskpared to the fluctuations associated with stocks. Thus, therger the amount involved, the more cautious investors would be. Even a giant like General Motors hadn''t yet encountered a $10 billion corporate debt.

    Still, Eric brimmed with confidence. He recalled how, in his original timeline, Disney sessfullypleted debt financing on the level of $10 billion during the acquisition of ABC. Moreover, Firefly was in a stronger operational position than Disney had been in that parallel universe: "Chris, maybe for otherpanies, issuing $10 billion in corporate bonds is indeed too daunting for Wall Street investors, but Firefly is different. Last year, Firefly''s profit approached $1 billion. This year alone, the profits from summer blockbusters like Jurassic Park, A Bug''s Life, and Deep Impact could total $500 million -- that''s just part of the film''s overall operation. This kind of profitability is enough to alleviate most investors'' concerns."

    Just as Chris was about to respond, the car suddenly came to a halt. Eric looked out the window, realizing that they had stopped in the hotel''s underground parking lot.

    Chris packed away the documents into his briefcase and said, "Eric, I''ll keep an eye on this matter. Once I return to New York, I''ll carve out some time for a feasibility assessment. Jorma Oll might head back to Find this afternoon, so we have only one lunch meeting with him -- we should focus our energy on Nokia for now."

    Eric nodded and got out of the car. After arranging for Chris and the others, it was nearly noon. Eric and Chris, representing Firefly, hosted Jorma Oll at a nearby restaurant.

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    As agreed upon, Firefly would issue a purchase offer to Nokia within three days. Until the acquisition waspleted, their positions would be temporarily at odds with Jorma Oll. Thus, there wasn''t much substantial discussion during this lunch. Eric made small talk about his interest in Nokia, while Oll passionately talked about digital mobile phones and the future of the global mobilemunicationswork (GSM). By the end of lunch, both enjoyed themselves.

    Oll returned to Find that afternoon to have preliminary discussions with Nokia''s major banking shareholders. Eric and Chris leased a conference room at the hotel to begin deliberating their acquisition strategy.

    Although Nokia had divested or sold off its unprofitable paper, rubber, and television sectors in recent years, as a once-diversified Finnish giant, Nokia still held other businesses, such as energy, pharmaceuticals, and cabling, which had remained profitable,prising about a third of thepany''s total assets.

    Even though mobilemunicationpanies in some European countries had begun operating GSMworks and had boosted sales of Nokia''s first GSM phone, the 1011, GSMworks hadn''t yet be fully ubiquitous. Coupled with significant initial R&D investments, while GSM phones had great potential, Nokia''s mobile division was still operating at a loss, with funds being supplemented by other profitable sectors. No one could foresee the explosive growth potential of GSM phones in theing years, and without visible profits, Nokia''s shareholders wouldn''t tolerate the ongoing situation. This also exined Jorma Oll''s urgent need for external investment.

    Anyone knew that energy and pharmaceuticals were lucrative industries, but Eric wasn''t interested in them at all. From a scale standpoint, Nokia''s segments were insignificant next to the giants in those fields.

    After detailed discussions, Eric ultimately decided that their priority should be acquiring Nokia''s mobilemunications division. This division included not only mobile phone operations but alsomunication devices primarily manufacturing base station equipment for GSMworks, where Nokia had technological advantages over other manufacturers as one of the early adopters of the GSMwork.

    ...

    The next afternoon, as Eric and Chris exited the conference room, Chris, holding a stack of documents, said, "For the R&D of GSM phones, Nokia has been in the red for the past few years, meaning they''ve invested all profits from their profitable divisions into the development of GSM phones. Now that the results are out, I think if Nokia''s shareholders had any foresight, they wouldn''t consider selling the mobilemunications division to us." "Who knows? Perhaps Nokia''s shareholders are eager to cash out," Eric replied. "But in any case, we at least need to acquire absolute control over Nokia."

    That was the baseline for the acquisition that their team had discussed over the past two days. Chris nodded in agreement, saying, "Then I''ll formally present the acquisition offer to Nokia tomorrow morning. Also, regarding the offshore investment fund name we just discussed,

    you can name it."

    Due to different tax rates in various countries, significant funds involved in cross-border acquisitions always raised tax issues. Themon solution was to inject funds into an offshorepany, then conduct investment operations through thatpany, which also could serve to hide assets. Even though it was only 1993, due to the many conveniences of offshore investments, the scale of capital in global offshore centers had already exceeded one

    trillion dors.

    Eric remembered the voices of two little guys chattering over the phone to New York

    yesterday and quickly said, "Let''s call it the Hawaii Fund."

    Chrisughed and nodded, "You must like daughters, huh?"

    "Yeah, haven''t you heard the saying? Sons are a father''s enemies from a past life, while daughters are his lovers."

    "It does sound familiar, and I think it''s rather scientific. For quite a while, my rtionship

    with my dad wasn''t very good, but Emily has always had a great rapport with her father. Perhaps you didn''t know, but I''ve had several arguments with Emily''s dad, and almost every time, she sided with him." Chris smirked and added, "I''ll have someone register that name."

    Eric replied with an affirmative grunt. The conference room was located at the lowest level of the hotel. They walked to the end of the hallway. The other team members had gone directly to the restaurant for dinner, while Eric needed to head upstairs to change. Chris also had some things to check in his room. While waiting for the elevator, Chris curiously asked, "Whichpany is your date with tonight?"

    Besides Nokia, Eric also had to manage discussions rted to European film partnerships in

    line with the GATT negotiations.

    "It''s the big stakeholder at MGM -- Lyon Credit Bank. This summer, the two movies MGM

    released tanked, and after failing to sell MGM in an auctionst year, they''re eager to get rid of this hot potato. However, they hope MGM''s performance can recover a bit first to make finding a buyer easier."

    As the elevator door opened, Chris and Eric stepped aside to let the passengers exit before they entered. Chris pressed the button and continued their previous conversation, "Haven''t you thought about buying MGM?"

    "Of course! I''ve been very tempted by MGM''s massive film library. If we could secure MGM''s library, it would allow us to fully leverage Firefly''s strengths in multi-channel operations, which would also greatly benefit the future development of thework. After all, awork still needs a lot of quality content. However, aside from the library, there''s nothing else that truly interests me about MGM."

    During Ted Turner''s transfer in 1986, he left MGM with only the film library from before 1948, which is why Turner Broadcasting, under Time Warner, began showing MGM''s ssic films in recent years. But MGM still owned over 4,000 film copyrights and even more television series rights, making it the secondrgest library after Time Warner. Yet, due to consecutive years of losses, this once-glorious film giant struggled to leverage its massive library advantages, caught in a vicious cycle of continual borrowing and losses.

    Chris said, "Isn''t there still the 007 rights?"

    "Given MGM''s current debt situation, with a 5% annual interest rate, they would need to pay

    $80 million in annual interest. MGM averages a new Bond film every two years, but the profits from that barely cover interest payments on their corporate debt. That''s why MGM has been losing money in recent years and umting more debt," Eric casually remarked about MGM''s situation. Suddenly inspired, he kicked the elevator wall lightly with his toe, excitement bubbling up as he eximed, "I just thought of a brilliant idea!"

    Chris looked at him in confusion. "Hmm?"

    "Compared to a giant like Lyon Credit Bank, all these European moviepanies are like

    small fry. If Lyon Credit could broker a deal using MGM as a shell, Firefly could extricate itself from these negotiations without derailing its established operational strategies." Chris, who had already understood the implications of Firefly needing to negotiate to

    facilitate the GATT discussions, quickly grasped Eric''s intent. Firefly had already confirmed many production ns for next year and the year after. To support the GATT negotiations, it needed to allocate some resources to share with European film entities, meaning they would have to adjust their established development ns. However, if Firefly could coborate indirectly with European filmpanies through MGM, they wouldn''t need to make drastic

    adjustments.

    Yet Chris wasn''t too optimistic about Eric''s idea. "You just said MGM''s annual profits might not even cover their bond interest. I can''t imagine those European filmpanies are oblivious to that. Do you really think they would agree?"

    "Then let''s invite all parties to sit down and negotiate. Given MGM''s current state, I believe

    as long as someone can guide thispany out of its predicament, its creditors would be willing to temporarily forgo some benefits. Otherwise, if thepany goes bankrupt, MGM''s assets wouldn''t even cover its current liabilities. The biggest problem MGM faces now is ack of sufficient funds tounch more film projects. The creditors have needs, the European filmpanies have cash, and Firefly can provide high-quality film projects. Put all that together, and we could nearly revitalize this floundering filmpany. Don''t you think they

    might be tempted?"

    Chris nodded but cautioned, "Didn''t you just say you were very keen on MGM''s library? If MGM really does revive as you said, the costs of acquiring thepany down the line will

    only rise."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 547: Chapter 548: Kill Bond

    Chapter 547: Chapter 548: Kill Bond

    ?

    [Chapter 548: Kill Bond]

    Eric thought it had to be that film, Revenge of the Musketeers, and said, "If you''re not happy, then don''t take it."

    "You make it sound so easy. I still have to make a living, you know? If I don''t act when I''m unhappy, then I can forget about acting again in the future," Sophie teased Eric, seemingly forgetting her earlier words.

    As they passed a streetlight, Sophie danced lightly on her short shadow, her high heels clicking against the cobblestones with a series of bright taps. The hem of her light blue dress billowed in the light, asionally revealing a glimpse of her delicate, fair calf.

    Eric felt a flutter as he watched Sophie''s childlike movements, thinking back to that spirited girl from La Boum who hadn''t really grown up, but had learned topromise. He wondered whether that was a pity.

    After a few jumps, Sophie naturally stepped to Eric''s right side.

    Looking at her lovely face beside him, Eric suggested, "Why don''t youe to Hollywood? I can introduce you to some movies."

    Sophie turned to Eric and remembered that this young man was the hotshot boss of Firefly Films and the director behind a string of global hits. However, she had yet to coborate with Hollywood and found it hard to feel the kind of awe she had around Frederick Brown from TF1. The actress hesitated for a moment, noticing Eric''s gentle smile. Suddenly feeling more rxed, she said, "Well then, tell me what the movie is. I won''t act in anything I''m not interested in."

    Eric recalled his earlier conversation with John Calley at the restaurant and replied, "How about a Bond girl?"

    Sophie immediately scrunched her face in disdain. "That guy who can charm women and save the world?"

    Eric chuckled, "Yeah, that guy. Interested?"

    Sophie drew out her words, "Not interested~~."

    "Don''t be so absolute. Why not give it a try? You could be the most beautiful Bond girl ever," he encouraged.

    "If I''m going to act, I''ll be the viin who kills Bond and destroys the world," Sophie said, shing a mock fierce smile that didn''t quite fit her naturally artistic and mncholy features.

    "Alright, you can be the viin then, killing Bond and destroying the world."

    Sophie stared at Eric for a few seconds, surprised. "Are you serious?"

    Eric nodded solemnly, "Of course. Do I look like I''m joking?"

    "Never mind," Sophie replied, her cheeks surprisingly reddening. Even under the dim streetlight, it was obvious. She tossed out her words in a flurry and then shot Eric a sharp look. "You charming tterer, I won''t fall for your tricks again."

    "But I really am serious about this," Eric said innocently. "Before I met you, I was just discussing the 007 series with MGM''s John Calley. MGM might be introducing both a good and a bad Bond girl in thetest installment. If you''re interested, I can rmend you to y the viin Bond girl."

    Sophie realized Eric wasn''t joking. Remembering her overly sensitive reaction, she felt a bit embarrassed. She mumbled a few hesitant affirmations and subconsciously quickened her pace toward the steps leading away from the Seine. Watching her retreating figure, Eric chuckled and hurried to catch up.

    Once off the riverbank, Eric noticed Sophie standing at the roadside waiting for a taxi. He approached her gently, "Why don''t I give you a ride? It''s hard to catch a cab at this hour."

    Sophie sized him up, noticing he was alone, and smiled, "How are you going to take me home?"

    Eric shed a confident and slightly mysterious grin. "I''ll perform a magic trick for you." With that, he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers with practiced ease. Sophie looked on, a mix of anticipation and curiosity shining in her eyes.

    And then...

    Nothing happened.

    A peal of mischievousughter quickly floated through the dim streetlight.

    "Ha ha, ha... Alright, Eric, it''s gettingte. I need to go home."

    Just then, Sophie spotted a taxi approaching from a distance and raised her hand, only to be stopped again.

    Eric pointed to a ck car that had pulled up nearby. "Look, my ride is here."

    As the ck car came to a halt in front of them, the driver exited and respectfully opened the door.

    Eric nudged Sophie gently. Unable to think of a suitable excuse to decline, she slipped into the back seat without hesitation. Eric climbed in from the other side and asked, "I still don''t know where you live."

    Sophie shot him a nce and intentionally spoke to the driver in French, then smugly nodded toward Eric.

    ...

    After some time driving down Avenue De New York, the ck car turned onto a northwestern street and wove through Paris for a ten-minute ride before stopping in front of a typical five- story European-style apartment.

    Sophie bid Eric goodbye and politely thanked the driver. She hopped out and ran toward the apartment entrance, while Eric instructed the driver with a few words before getting out himself.

    With a swift motion, Sophie punched in the ess code on the gate. Just as she was about to push open the heavy metal door, she was startled by the appearance of Eric beside her. "What are you doing?" Sophie instinctively panicked, protecting herself with her small hands. Eric smiled innocently. "Sophie, I''m thirsty..."

    Sophie couldn''t help butugh but quicklyposed herself, ring at Eric. "Eric, can you think of a more ridiculous excuse?"

    Eric pointed toward the car that had just left in a hurry. "Well..."

    Sophie watched the ck car disappear around the corner, suddenly feeling he had found a reasonable excuse. She pushed open the iron gate to let Eric in, but not without warning, "You drink your water and then leave."

    "Of course."

    "And don''t get any ideas."

    "I swear."

    "That doesn''t sound sincere at all."

    "I swear to God."

    "Please, what if God decides to punish me too?"

    "I''ll make sure He only punishes me."

    "Smooth talker."

    In the narrow hall of the apartment, the two exchanged yful banter in whispers as they quickly disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

    ...

    Within a short week, waking up twice in the arms of a man she didn''t quite know, Sophie felt a wave of shame wash over her regarding her fall from grace.

    Yet, she still didn''t understand why being with this man made her so easily sumb to temptation. With Eric, she felt an unusualfort; he seemed to read her thoughts easily. Even if they had asional disagreements during their conversations, those differences were starkly defined. Eric never tried to persuade her to see things his way; he seemed to understand right from the start that she hated people who lectured.

    Though they had known each other for less than a week, it felt like he''d known her for years. Sophie recalled how Eric first spoke to her, saying, "I feel like I''ve known you in a past life, so

    I came over to say hi."

    On this fresh and sunny summer morning in Paris, in an apartment in the sixteenth arrondissement, Sophie suddenly thought maybe he was telling the truth.

    How silly.

    Though she found her thoughts ridiculous, Sophie curiously turned her body to investigate while he slept. Yet as soon as she flipped over, she was met by Eric''s bright eyes.

    "You''re awake?" Sophie tried to sound calm.

    Eric sensed her slight tension and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "Nothing," Sophie gently shook her head. "You should go."

    Eric reached for his watch on the vanity and saw it was still before eight o''clock. He snuggled

    back into bed, pulling Sophie closer and rubbing his chin against her round shoulder. "It''s

    early, sleep a bit longer."

    Sophie opened her mouth to reply but abandoned her thoughts, recalling she had no work today. Shefortably leaned into Eric''s embrace, adjusting in order to rest her head on his

    arm.

    ...

    They snuggled together like two mice in winter, and after who knows how long, they both woke up simultaneously.

    Eric sniffed the air, detecting a faint smell of toast. He perked up, "Am I just hungry or is there

    really something cooking?"

    Sophie smiled lightly, "There''s a bakery nearby downstairs. I''m hungry too; you should get

    up and buy us some bread."

    Eric began to bargain immediately. "I don''t speak French. You go."

    "You can''t speak French, but you can at least use francs, right?"

    Eric buried his head deep into her fragrant pillow, continuing to whine, "I''m a big shot, I

    never carry change."

    Sophie, both amused and annoyed, pinched Eric lightly, then climbed out of bed. She paddedN?v(el)B\\jnn

    barefoot to the closet, casually found a loose pink outfit, and dug a few bills from her wallet. Slipping on her fluffy slippers, she headed for the door.

    Watching Sophie''s figure disappear, Ericzily stretched and slowly began to get dressed

    himself.

    Then, after a simple breakfast, Eric found himself being kicked out again.

    Oddly enough, he felt as though this hadn''t been the first time.

    Of course, Eric could empathize with Sophie''s conflicting emotions. His memory remembered that after finishing La note bleue in 1991, she hadn''t worked with Zwski for a decade. Although their rtionship had started to fade, much like how Sophie directed that film about love bing a habit, they hadn''t formally broken it off; it had be a routine. From studying Sophie''s past performances, Eric knew she would spend most years drifting in Hollywood; he now aimed to move her there two years ahead of Braveheart.

    It was easily within his reach, and Eric sensed Sophie wasn''t resistant to the Hollywood

    invitation, or rather, to his personal invitation.

    ...

    Back at the hotel, after meeting with Chris to finalize a few things, Chris formally submitted

    an all-cash acquisition offer to Nokia''s management team in Find for its mobile

    communications division.

    As expected, Nokia''s management promptly rejected Firefly Investments'' n, offering instead to sell 20% of the Nokia Group''s shares in exchange for $250 million in development funds. The deal differed significantly from Eric''s expectations, but he understood that just like Firefly''s acquisition proposal, Nokia''s offer was merely a probing one. Both parties'' bottom lines would need long negotiations to rify.

    Once official discussions began, Chris didn''t stay in Paris but traveled to Helsinki with Firefly''s acquisition team. Eric remained in Paris but kept in close contact with Chris. Additionally, it surprised Eric that the proposal he presented during the meeting with Marcel Novare of Lyon Credit Bank and MGM''s John Calley that night met with unanimous opposition from all European film powers. The reason was quite evident: even though Eric''s proposal looked promising, nobody was willing to step into MGM''s mess.

    Over the years, aside from a few lucrative capital operations under Kirk Kerkorian, MGM hadn''t delivered any noteworthy results. Kerkorian had never put any money into MGM; their operations relied entirely on constantly issuing corporate bonds to fund movie production

    and distribution, yet after over a decade, the number of hit films produced had dwindled while debts piled up.

    Following the summer releases of Cliffhanger and Last Action Hero, which failed miserably at

    the box office, thergest shareholder, Lyon Credit Bank, not only couldn''t benefit from MGM but also had to keep investing to prevent MGM from copsing under its debts.

    In light of this, it waspletely understandable why European film factions were unwilling

    to step into such a disastrous situation.

    Left with no other options, Eric considered his situation and quickly came up with a more

    eptable proposal.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 549: Chapter 550: DreamWorks

    Chapter 549: Chapter 550: DreamWorks

    ?

    [Chapter 550: DreamWorks]

    After Eric finished discussing the terms of the swap, Marcel Novare immediately showed his reluctance. He felt that even considering the 75% stake in MGM held by Lyon Credit Bank, the price of $1.2 billion was somewhat undervalued. Eric offered an overall valuation of MGM at only $1.2 billion, yet thepany known only in whispers was valued by Eric at an astonishing $800 million.

    "Eric, this is too harsh of a condition. Even if MGM''s overall market value is barely $1.2 billion, the productionpany is definitely not worth $800 million."

    Eric didn''t bother to counter Marcel''s statement. Instead, he gave a teasing smile to the Frenchman and nodded, saying, "Of course, if you don''t agree, we can negotiate."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Marcel Nova were taken aback for a moment. Noticing the gazes of others in the meeting room, he couldn''t help but show a wry smile. He realized that since Eric had already spoken, there was no room for bargaining regarding MGM.

    Currently, MGM was clearly in a passive position. With the productionpany n Eric proposed, the other major filmpanies in Hollywood surely would be eager to take on the distribution. The opportunity MGM had was primarily due to Eric''s personal intentions. If he chose to ignore MGM, he could simply assist in the production of the 007 series and rid himself of the shadowy agreements tied to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade without having to go through all this.

    Thinking about these things, Marcel Novare nodded helplessly, "Alright, Eric, I''ll submit this proposal to the board for discussion as soon as possible."

    With that, the matter was essentially settled. As the host, Nics Seydoux was about to ask everyone to dinner when he suddenly remembered a question: "Eric, what do you n to name the productionpany?"

    Without hesitation, feeling somewhatzy, Eric blurted out, "Let''s just call it DreamWorks."

    "DreamWorks, nice name," someone said.

    "Yeah, the Dream Factory -- great connotation," another chimed in.

    Everyone nodded in agreement while Eric chuckled mischievously. However, the new productionpany indeed bore a striking resemnce to the DreamWorks of the original timeline. The name was quite fitting, but if Spielberg wanted to make big waves again, he would definitely need to choose a different name for the filmpany.

    ...

    After dinner at the Seydoux family''s mansion, Eric took a car back to his hotel. It was already 10:30 PM, and since it was still working hours in Los Angeles, he called the Firefly headquarters to discuss the day''s events with the Firefly Films management and asked Michael Lynn to send a senior executive to participate in the negotiations for the new productionpany.

    A few dayster, a vice president from Firefly Films arrived in Paris to handle the negotiations for Firefly''s interests in the DreamWorks film productionpany. Thest stop of Jurassic Park''s European promotion in Madrid, Spain, also held its premiere. Meanwhile, the box office data for Jurassic Park in Paris was quickly released. In its first week in France, Jurassic Park grossed over 27 million francs, while itspetitor, Germinal, managed only around 6 million francs in its opening week. Even converted to dors, Germinal''s production cost was only half of Jurassic Park''s, but its production cost of over 160 million francs was still the highest in French film history. Following the release of these figures, the French media was, of course, in an uproar, demanding that the French government pay attention to local films. However, Eric was well aware that many matters had already been settled behind the scenes. As the negotiations for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade were in their final stages, the U.S.government issued a final ultimatum to several European governments: if an agreement was not reached by December 15, 1993, the entire pact would be void. European countries understood that if the agreement was indeed voided, international trade would fall into a prolonged state of chaos, which Europe, in its economic recovery phase, could not afford.

    By the time Eric received this news, he had already taken the creative team of Jurassic Park to Tokyo, Japan, preparing for the movie''s premiere on July 29.

    ...

    At the same time, Chris''s negotiations with Nokia Group also yielded some results. The main shareholders of Nokia agreed to divest severalpanies unrted to mobilemunications from the group and to continue negotiating solely on Nokia''s mobilemunications division with Firefly.

    After this agreement, the total assets involved in the negotiations were reduced from $1.1 billion to around $700 million.

    Furthermore, Eric learned from Chris that, due to the gradual recognition of the GSMwork by various European countries, many telpanies were starting to shift their focus towards researching GSM standard mobile phones. If other telpanies promptlyunched GSM mobile phones, the technological edge Nokia had built up would quickly evaporate. In this scenario, Nokia desperately needed a significant cash infusion to fund the development of new mobile phones and for marketing their products, making Firefly''s negotiating advantage more apparent.

    With the scale of involved assets now down to $700 million, Eric instructed Chris not to worry too much about financial details. The most important thing was to secure arger equity stake in Nokia. After further discussion about the prospects of mobile phones, Chris agreed with Eric''s viewpoint.

    ...

    Eric and the publicity team settled in the Chiyoda District of downtown Tokyo. Japan''s economy had been booming throughout the 1980s, and this was peak national pride for the Japanese people. Upon arriving in Tokyo, Eric clearly sensed the palpable eagerness of the locals to do something.

    After the premiere, Eric quickly left Japan, while many members of his team chose to remain, nning to tour Tokyo. Japan maintained a very favorable image in the West, so most held a deep curiosity about the country. Given that Tokyo was thest stop for Jurassic Park''s promotion and their work waspleted, Eric didn''t push for anything more.

    ...

    "Allen, did I ever tell you about my childhood dream? I wanted to be like migratory birds, continually moving from ce to ce, searching for a ce where the temperature always remained at 23 degrees." Uponnding at Los Angeles International Airport with a few apanying staff, Eric took a deep breath and said to Allen walking beside him.

    Allen knew Eric moved to Los Angeles from London when he was just eight, and asked with a smile, "What about your dream before you were eight?"

    Eric paused for a moment, then nodded, "Yeah, you know, the weather in London has always been terrible. I hated the damp and cold environment."

    Allenughed and asked, "And what happenedter?"

    "Well," Eric gestured as if embracing the bright sunlight around them, "I discovered that Los Angeles was just that ce. Once you arrive here, there''s no need to migrate anymore."

    "Looks like you really don''t enjoy flying all over," Allen summarized with augh.

    "Definitely," Eric chuckled in return.

    Eric''s itinerary wasn''t widely known. Upon exiting the airport, he was met by severalpany cars dispatched by Firefly Films. Eric noticed Jeffrey standing cheerfully by one of the

    vehicles.

    "Jeffrey, why did youe in person?" Eric approached in surprise and gave Jeffrey a hug.

    "I had a free afternoon, and I heard you were returning today, so I came personally," Jeffrey

    exined.

    Eric let a few of his bodyguards, who had been with him around the globe, roam freely and sent Allen away before getting into the car with Jeffrey.

    ...

    "Is there something going on?" Eric asked once the car started.

    Jeffrey shook his head with a smile, "Do you think we''ve be so distant?"

    Eric hesitated, then shook his head, "Of course not. I''m just a bit surprised."

    "I really had no agenda today, which is why I came," Jeffrey reiterated. "However, there''s a small thing --st week, I went to New York and met the two kids."

    "Oh?" Eric showed a puzzled expression.

    "Kevin and Elia are both adorable," Jeffrey said, seeming a bit shy to ask. "Eric, Emily has been in frequent contact with Joan and Vicky. You''re in closer contact with Chris than I am as a father. I just wanted to ask if you could find out when those two are nning to get married?"

    It seemed that concern for children''s marriage was a universal trait among parents. Eric couldn''t help but chuckle internally, "Aren''t they saying they n to wait until they''re thirty

    to marry?" "Thirty..." Jeffrey pursed his lips, "So how old is Chris now?"

    Eric paused. He remembered meeting Chris for the first time when Chris was twenty-six. Now,

    three yearster...

    "Twenty-nine?"

    Jeffrey nodded with distress, "Plus, I learned from Emily''s father that Emily is actually a year

    older than Chris."

    Eric couldn''t help but show a look of concern, spreading his hands, "Jeffrey, I can''t help you

    with this. You''ll need to nag them as a father yourself. You know, children usually dread their parents nagging them. If you talk about it a few more times, they might just end up getting

    married!"

    "Does that actually work?" Jeffrey asked inquisitively.

    Eric thought about it. Both Chris and Emily were stubborn individuals, so this method likely

    wouldn''t work well, but he couldn''t think of a more suitable approach: "That''s all I cane up with."

    "Then I''ll give it a shot..." Jeffrey sighed and didn''t pursue the topic any further. Instead, he asked, "I''ve heard about the coboration with the European filmpanies. However, don''t you think that 30% stake is a bit low? Given your reputation now, simply acting as a producer would already be sufficient to im a 30% profit share from a film."

    "I don''t think this should be simply calcted like that, Jeffrey. Think about it -- what does

    MGM have left?"

    "007?" Jeffrey asked, puzzled.

    "Exactly. MGM only has 007 left as a bargaining chip," Eric replied with augh. "But that''s not what I''m referring to. MGM doesn''t even have a filming location anymore; everything was sold by that old man Kirk Kerkorian and even turned into MGM Hotel. Although the newly established DreamWorks filmpany will coborate with MGM, production will still heavily depend on the resources Firefly has."

    Jeffrey nodded in understanding. He knew that Eric had set a budget of $800 million for producing ten films, and given Hollywood''s average production cost per film, spending $800 million on ten films was no easy feat. Firefly Films'' shooting base and special effectspanies would undoubtedly take on most of the production work. In that case, even without any shady dealings, Firefly would still make a substantial profit during production.

    "On another note, Stan Winston has already chosen a new location for the Digital Domain studio and ns to set it up in Florida, where they offered three years of tax exemption. The new branch aims to construct a studio of around 20,000 square meters in the state capital," Jeffrey quickly shifted back to Firefly''s matters.

    Although Eric always kept track of various aspects of Firefly Films, he couldn''t know every detail and had granted Digital Domain ample autonomy. Therefore, this was the first time he had heard about this news. However, Eric had no objections; a three-year tax exemption was a

    good condition for Digital Domain. If he were in that position, he would have agreed as well. Even though the trend for special effectspanies was shifting overseas, the profitability of the special effects industry in North America remained very high. Special effectspanies were still thriving, and reputable effects studios had no trouble securing projects. Even after the establishment of Firefly Software, with more special effects studios emerging, this situation wouldn''t change anytime soon.

    "That approach works, too. Once Firefly Software is established, more special effectspanies will undoubtedly emerge in Los Angeles, and having a subsidiary in Florida is also

    a good choice." Eric nodded, smiling as he added, "Perhaps in a few years, we''ll have to move our special effectspany overseas."

    "Is that really necessary?" Jeffrey asked, puzzled.

    "Who knows," Eric shrugged his shoulders. He couldn''t possibly exin too much to Jeffrey

    at this moment.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 551: Chapter 552: Quite Expensive

    Chapter 551: Chapter 552: Quite Expensive

    ?

    [Chapter 552: Quite Expensive]

    Hollywood was undoubtedly the dream destination for countless dreamers, celebrated for its endless parties. Whether it was spring, summer, fall, or winter, parties scattered across Los Angeles, from the lowly ranks of extras to the highest-tier megastars. For those wanting to blend into Hollywood, attending various types of parties was the fastest way.

    At avish mansion in Beverly Hills, avish scene unfolded. As night fell over Los Angeles, the hallways, pool, andwns of the mansion filled with countless revelers, including many familiar faces from the silver screen. The asion for the party was the birthday celebration of the host''s new girlfriend, a moderately famous Hollywood producer, though it seemed that few cared about such details.

    Amidst the pounding rhythm of the music, two young men sat at the bar in the mansion''s entrance, ordering two bottles of beer from the bartender. The brown-haired youth took a hearty swig from his bottle and looked at the men and women dancing wildly in the makeshift dance floor. He turned to his blonde friend and said, "Luke, this ce is amazing. Thanks for bringing me here."

    The blonde youth named Luke clinked his beer bottle with his friend''s and smiled, "No big deal. I just happen to know Tony. Matthew, bringing you here is just a way to celebrate that great role you justnded."

    Matthew couldn''t help but boast with a smirk, "Speaking of which, I got lucky with that audition. Paramount had already decided on another actor for that supporting role, but that poor guy got caught driving drunk the very night he received the role. Haha! Sure, I had a couple of toughpetitors after that, but my agent pulled some strings, and now I''vended the part! I might even get to share scenes with Harrison Ford. Jamie said that if I can make a strong impression with this film, I could aim for a lead role in a small-budget movie next."

    As Luke listened to Matthew excitedly recount his role acquisition, he felt a tinge of jealousy but kept it to himself, still engaging in yful banter.

    Suddenly, cheers erupted from the dance floor, drawing their attention. Matthew turned around just in time to see a girl dancing wildly like a mermaid. She was petite, wearing a cropped top and denim shorts. Although the lighting was dim, both young men could clearly see her wless skin and pretty doll-like face.

    For some reason, despite the crowded dance floor where men often groped women, the doll- faced girl was pulling nearby girls in for close dances, which only heightened the excitement among the male spectators. Yet, not a single man dared to approach her.

    "That''s Drew Barrymore. That chick is smoking hot," Matthew said, staring at the girl''s slim waist, taking a gulp of his beer with eager eyes.

    Luke noticed his friend''s gaze shifting and said suddenly, "Remember that movie you were in, Buffy the Vampire yer?"

    Matthew, still focused on the girl, nodded. "Of course! What''s up?"

    "That film has been adapted into a TV series. I heard that it''s being produced by Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, and Murdoch''s daughter."

    Matthew couldn''t help but rub his chin, considering this a good way to strike up a conversation. Although he hadn''t been in Hollywood for long, he knew a bit about its gossip. He added, "Luke, I heard Drew Barrymore is Eric Williams'' girlfriend, right?"

    Luke casually remarked, "Who knows? That was three years ago. In Hollywood, do you really think rtionshipsst that long?"

    Matthew felt confident entering the Hollywood circle and pretended to be knowledgeable, nodding while stealing another nce at the doll-faced girl. He began to imagine that her connections might just be a constion from Eric Williams for his former fling. If he could snag her, he believed that through Drew Barrymore''swork, he could shave off five, maybe even ten years of struggling in Hollywood. After all, Drew Barrymore''s godfather was Steven Spielberg!

    As he got more excited, Matthew tossed his empty bottle aside, adjusted his clothes, and headed towards the dance floor,pletely oblivious to the smug look on his friend''s face.

    ...

    The dance floor was packed tighter than a can of sardines. Initially, Matthew joining in didn''t catch anyone''s attention. But as he moved his body closer to Drew, more people began to notice. Many slowed their dance moves, whispering amongst themselves, as though a show was about to unfold.

    "Hey, Drew, I''m Matthew," Matthew finally managed to get close enough to introduce himself, feigning nonchnce.

    The girl, who had been blissfully dancing with her eyes partially closed, noticed the unexpected intrusion and bore a surprised expression on her doll-like face. But instead of stopping her movements, she gave him a sweet smile and greeted, "Hi, Matthew!"

    Seeing that smile made Matthew''s heart race, instantly boosting his confidence. He edged closer, hesitating only a moment before attempting to ce his hand on her inviting waist and continued, "I heard yourpany is producing Buffy the Vampire yer. What a coincidence! I was in the movie version!"

    "Wow, really?" Drew showed genuine interest. "You''re... Matthew, right?"

    "Matthew Abrams. I''m from Canada."

    "Did Tony invite you?" Drew asked.

    Matthew hesitated, then pointed his chin slightly outside towards his friend. "My buddy brought me along."

    Sitting by the bar, Luke noticed the unfolding drama, realizing things were about to get messy. Seeing Drew''s beautiful face turn toward him made him shudder. As soon as the flirtation between them resumed, he wasted no time getting up and leaving the lively party scene altogether.

    Drew watched as the guy scooted a bit closer. She grabbed half a bottle of champagne from a drunk girl beside her. Matthew saw Drew''s action and immediately said, "Drew, I think you''d better not drink this kind of champagne."

    The girl''s smile was unchanged; she didn''t bring the bottle to her lips but looked at him instead. "So you are Matthew, right?"

    Matthew, ying hurt, responded, "I thought I already introduced myself."

    "I only wanted to confirm again," Drew said with a yful smile. "Matthew, didn''t your ''close'' friend just tell you anything?"

    Matthew failed to notice the emphasis Drew ced on the word "close". He casually replied, "I doubt he had anything to tell me."

    Drew nced outside the dance floor and noticed the figure had already vanished. The smile on her doll-like face grew even sweeter as she said to Matthew, "You truly are pitiful." Matthew thought he had misheard her and leaned in closer, reaching out as if to casually touch her waist. "What did you say?"

    She quickly dodged his hand, raising her voice, "I said you, are truly pathetic!"

    With those words, the champagne bottle she held flew towards Matthew''s handsome face. A loud thud followed, sending shards of ss mixed with champagne flying in all directions, demonstrating just how hard she had thrown it.

    As the ss shattered, cheers erupted from the onlookers in the dance floor.

    "Ahhh!!!!"

    "Cool!"

    "Do it again, do it again, do it again!"

    The force of the champagne bottle hitting Matthew''s face sent him into a daze. Only when the crowd erupted in cheers did he slightlye to his senses. Touching the blood oozing from his cheekbone, he recognized the potential risks of facial disfigurement and losing the role he had just secured. A surge of rage overtook him, and he lunged at Drew, only to collide with two women of the simr stature.

    As he fell backward, thest thing he barely registered were the two identical faces of vic

    women.

    Meanwhile, the party host had caught wind of the incident and hurried over. When he saw Drew''s innocent expression alongside her empty hands, he sighed and said, "Drew, you''ve caused me trouble again."

    "It''s not my fault, Tony," she retorted. "Who let such a rule-breaking guy into your home?"

    Tony crouched down to assess the unconscious Matthew. Apart from a nasty gash on his left cheekbone, it seemed there weren''t any serious injuries. However, a mild concussion was unavoidable. After instructing a servant to attend to the unfortunate fellow''s wound, Tony turned to Drew and said, "Alright, I''ll handle things here. But Drew, I think it''s time for you to

    leave."

    The girl shook her head nonchntly. "I''m not done partying yet! I''m not going!"

    "I mean, you do know, right?" Tony said, leaning in closer to tell her, "Mr. Williams should

    be back this afternoon."

    "Wow," Drew squealed excitedly, darting outside. The pair of vic twins who had previously thwarted Matthew''s advance quickly followed her.

    Tony watched the twins leave with Drew, feeling a wave of envy. As a boxing enthusiast, he

    had seen a feature on the twins in Sports Illustrated the previous June. Don King, a renowned boxing promoter, had unearthed these twin sisters from Russia. Not only did they possess stunning, perfectly toned bodies, but they also had a unique, delicate beauty characteristic of Eastern vic women. Tony had even asked about their fight schedule, intending to watch, but now they''d inexplicably be Drew''s bodyguards. "What a waste!" Tony muttered to himself. As a well-known Hollywood producer, he had

    long ceased to ce value on women''s allure; rather, thepetitive thrill of boxing excited him even more. Viewing that identical twin pair battling in the ring would certainly provide more sensory stimtion than engaging with a hundred different women.

    ...

    The hefty SUV pulled up outside the estate at the corner. Seeing the lights shining from the mansion, Drew excitedly yelled to the driver up front, "Natasha, stop the car now, right

    here!"

    "Sure thing, boss," replied the Russian woman named Natasha, who quickly halted the

    vehicle.

    Drew jumped out of the car but didn''t rush toward the mansion. Instead, she tapped on the driver''s window. "Natasha, you alle down here with me to meet Eric."

    "Okay, boss," replied the woman again.

    ...

    After handling some business at the studio''s office in the afternoon, Eric returned to the

    estate shortly after dinner. He settled into an eastside lounge in the mansion, skimming

    through the recent newspapers.

    "Eric, you''re finally back," Drew pushed open the door of the living room, and when she saw Eric, she pounced on him pressing him on the sofa.

    Eric tossed the newspaper aside, held her down, and sniffed. He then asked yfully, "Been

    drinking, huh? Where did you go wild this time?"

    Drew giggled and avoided answering his question, instead pointing to the Russian sisters standing quietly at the door, "Eric, look! My new bodyguards! What do you think?"

    With the TV drama still ying in the background, Eric noticed themotion at the door. He

    caught sight of what Drew was pointing at and raised an eyebrow, yfully tugging at her ear, "What kind of nonsense are you getting into this time?"

    Drew squealed, "They''re really my bodyguards! I snagged them from that old creep Don King.

    I spent a lot of money!"

    Eric didn''t care about boxing events and, of course, had no knowledge of Don King''s reputation in that realm. He waved toward the two girls. "Come over and sit down." The twins were dressed in matching white T-shirts and denim jeans, making it impossible to

    tell them apart. Following Eric''s words, the one on the left looked confused, while the girl on

    the right gazed at Drew. "Eric is also your boss -- his word is the same as mine," Drew told them.

    Once hearing Drew, the right-side girl tugged her sister along and they both walked over,

    taking a seat on the single sofa Eric had pointed out.

    Looking at the tall sisters crammed onto a single chair without crowding each other, Eric curiously asked, "Are you models?"

    "No, boss," said the girl who had just answered.

    Still resting against Eric, Drew chuckled. "Eric, I snagged them from Don King. How could

    they be models?"

    Eric had to ask, "Who is Don King?"

    "Um... he is a famous boxing promoter for the WBA! How could you not know him?"

    "Why should I know him? A boxing promoter... Are they boxers?" He nced back at the twins. They appeared somewhat aloof, and it was hard to see any boxing characteristics; rather, one might easily mistake them for models due to their strikingly beautiful faces. However, Eric recalled that many famous models took up boxing to keep fit, and female boxers didn''t always exhibit the same muscr lines as their male counterparts. Often, they looked just as shapely and refined.

    Seeing Eric finally putting the pieces together, Drew nodded. "Yeah, they''re pretty fierce!"

    "Ha, how fierce could they be?" Eric chuckled, shaking his head. Before Drew could respond,

    he asked, "What are their names?"

    "Natasha."

    Eric waited for further boration, but when Drew fell silent, he prompted, "Natasha?" Drew scratched her head awkwardly, chuckling, "Since they look identical, they can just both

    be Natasha! The other name is simply too tricky for me to remember." She turned to the twins

    and pointed the girl who had spoken. "What''s your name?" "Boss, my name is Natasha Sokolov, I''m the sister. My sister''s name is Yevgeny Sokolov."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric noted that the twin sister Natasha spoke a bit of English, but her sister clearly struggled. Natasha''s English wasn''t perfect either and Eric could barelyprehend her sister''s name upon hearing it, quickly acknowledging that remembering would be another challenge.

    Curious, Eric meant to ask Drew for more details after the girls left. "Drew, I hope you arranged a ce for them to stay. They should go rest now." Natasha nodded obediently at Eric and took her sister by the hand, leading her out.

    "Alright, tell me. What''s the story with them?" Eric asked once the twins had left. "They''re both talents Don King discovered back in Moscow. I don''t know much more than

    that. I saw them featured in a magazinest month and found them interesting. So, I had an ICM agent get in touch. I promised to help them and their family immigrate to the U.S., but in return, they''d have to be my bodyguards. I offered them a better deal than that old Don King!"

    In the wake of the Soviet Union''s copse, in addition to a half-century''s worth of wealth evaporating, the former Soviet states faced an economic winter that deprived many of the basics for living. This led to a significant wave of immigration, where capable individuals sought out better lives elsewhere. Clearly, these sisters were part of that migration. ncing at the fluttering eyshes of the girl in his arms, Eric wondered whether they were lucky or unfortunate to fall into Drew''s hands.

    "Just handle things well and don''t cause any trouble. Also, treat them nicely; they''re... all a

    bunch of unfortunate people," Eric reflected on the images from past newspapers highlighting the living conditions of Soviet citizens after the copse, unable to help but

    sigh.

    "Of course! I spent a lot of money on them!" Drew replied cheerfully.

    Eric pinched her cheek. "They are people, notmodities."

    Drew nestled into his palm with a grin, "Hey, they''re mine! And Eric, I''m kind of yours too,

    you know. They are quite expensive -- one million dors!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 553: Chapter 554: Voluntary Withdrawal

    Chapter 553: Chapter 554: Voluntary Withdrawal

    ?

    [Chapter 554: Voluntary Withdrawal]

    After hesitating for a moment, Eric looked at Katzenberg and said, "I''ll personally handle the preliminary preparations for acquiring ABC for now, and we can make adjustments once the formal negotiations begin."

    Katzenberg shrugged slightly to indicate his understanding, though his expression showed a hint of disappointment.

    After the meeting, Eric noticed that Jeffrey had just given him a signal, so he pretended to organize some paperwork to be thest one to leave. Once everyone had cleared out of the conference room, Eric said to Jeffrey, "Am I being too indecisive?"

    Jeffrey came over to Eric''s side, leaning against therge mahogany desk, his gaze warm as he looked at the weary young man slouched in the leather chair. "I remember reading somewhere that great wealth often makes people indifferent. So, Eric, I hope you can show a little more humanity. If you had just unhesitatingly dismissed Michael and handed the acquisition over to Jeffrey, I think most people in the conference room would have felt uneasy. Michael''s achievements since bing CEO of Firefly are there for everyone to see." Compared to the turmoil that Peter Guber caused at Columbia Pictures, Michael Lynn had been conservatively but efficiently managing the affairs of Firefly over the past two years. And facing Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was poised to take his position at Disney, Michael didn''t choose to engage in infighting like the management at Time Warner. These were the qualities that Eric genuinely appreciated and valued.

    If possible, Eric would like to keep Michael Lynn at Firefly.

    The reality, however, was that apany could have two co-presidents, much like Warner during Steve Ross''s time, but only one individual could serve as the CEO. Moreover, Eric hadn''t heard of any major corporation where a CEO swapped positions with a subordinate. Once someone else took that position, the predecessor either moved up to a ''virtual title,'' like chairman, which maintained influence without much decision-making power, or left outright.

    Since Firefly had most of its shares concentrated in Eric''s hands, it hadn''t formed a board of directors. Even if one were established in the future, the chairman''s title would not fall to anyone but Eric. Therefore, if Michael Lynn left, he would have no choice but to exit Firefly entirely.

    "Isn''t Michael only fifty this year?"

    For most fifty was still considered a prime age.

    "Fifty-two," Jeffrey replied, cing a hand on Eric''s shoulder. "Eric, I used to think that many of your decisions were quite risky, but now I realize you must have been very confident then. In that sense, considering Jeffrey''s sharpness, you seem somewhat conservative. Having Jeffrey step into Michael''s position wouldplement you perfectly. So, Eric, have a good conversation with Michael. Changes in Hollywood''s executive management are quitemon, and Michael is just over fifty, which gives him plenty of time to pursue other opportunities."

    You had to face what needed to be faced. Eric took a deep breath and stood up, saying, "There''s still some time before quitting time. I''m heading over now."

    ...

    Michael Lynn''s secretary was on the phone when she spotted Eric approaching, and quickly covered the mouthpiece with a questioning look.

    "Please help me bring two cups of coffee for Michael," Eric instructed the secretary, then knocked on the door of Michael''s office and stepped in.

    Michael Lynn looked surprised to see Eric but quickly appeared relieved. He got to his feet and invited Eric to sit on the couch in the waiting area, smiling. "Eric, were you put in a tough position just now?"

    Eric showed an awkward expression, knowing that most of the executives at Firefly were aware of his intention to elevate Katzenberg. Of course, Michael understood this too.

    Michael''s secretary came in carrying two cups of coffee, then quickly exited.

    As Eric gathered his thoughts, Michael spoke first. "Eric, Firefly is gettingrger, and I''ve found that many things are beyond my control. I''ve actually been thinking that once my contract expires next year, I''ll voluntarily resign and leave thepany to pursue other interests."

    Now it was Eric who looked surprised.

    Seeing Eric''s astonishment, Michael smiled gently, continuing, "My contract is up next April, so I''ll start handing over my responsibilities at Firefly beginning early next year. Honestly, I think Jeffrey is better suited for this position than I am."

    Eric had thought this discussion would turn into an argument, but the direction it took waspletely unexpected.

    "Michael, if you''re leaving Firefly, what are you nning to do?"

    "Maybe I''ll take some time off to be with my family, and I enjoy red wine. I''m nning to tour Europe and find a nice vineyard. Once I''m rested, I''ll definitely return to Hollywood. You know I''ve been in this industry since 1967 for over twenty years, and I can''t just walk away. I n to start my own productionpany."

    Eric gradually regained hisposure and said to Michael, "If you need any help then, feel free to call me."

    "Of course! And if possible, I''d love for you to help me pick out scripts when the timees." Eric let out a sigh of relief and cheerfully replied, "That''s certainly no problem. Speaking of which, aside frompany gatherings, we haven''t had a chance to chat privately. Let''s grab dinner tonight?"

    "There''s a nice Michelin restaurant on Amanda Street that I frequent. Let''s give it a try tonight?"

    "Sure, I''ll treat," Eric initially thought to invite Michael to the estate but didn''t object since Michael suggested it himself.

    "Of course, it''s your treat!" Michael Lynn chuckled heartily. "I''ll have my secretary call and make a reservation. See you tonight."

    "See you tonight."

    ...

    After bidding Eric goodbye, Michael Lynn settled back into hisfortable office chair, letting out a soft sigh.

    He recalled the early days, more than two years ago, when Eric approached him cautiously -- he certainly wasn''t as agreeable back then. Michael Lynn knew that it wasn''t that Eric had changed drastically over the two years; it was more about shifts in their positions. At that time, he was part of Robert Shea''s camp, and now Eric considered him an ally. That recognition of their roles was a reward for the diligence he had exhibited while managing

    Firefly.

    Michael Lynn certainly wasn''t unwilling to cling to the position of CEO at Firefly, but he understood when to step back better than Robert Shea. Realizing that Eric might elevate Jeffrey Katzenberg after his contract ended, Michael had struggled with that for a while. However, he quickly cleared his mind about it. In a straightforwardly structured filmpany like Firefly, engaging in infighting to preserve his position would only lead to being swept out

    the door.

    Although outsiders spected, Michael Lynn knew well that the disastrous summer blockbuster of 1991, Cutthroat Ind, which cost Disney and Robert Shea over a hundred million dors, was a trap set by Eric.

    Robert Shea had shed severely with Eric while at Firefly, and after leaving, he attempted to regroup. However, his productionpany had failed to show any signs of improvement, with several big-budget films fizzling out without a trace. Many had even forgotten who

    Robert Shea was.

    Of course, Firefly had yed a part in that setback. Including the recently established DreamWorks, Firefly could directly influence other major studios like Sony-Columbia, 20th Century Fox, and MGM. With Firefly itself, these four studios held a significant share of Hollywood''s market power.

    Under such formidable influence, Eric wouldn''t need to issue any orders; other studios coborating with Firefly would steer clear of Shea''s productionpany. Even the other three major studios wouldn''t dare contact Robert Shea if they sought a good rtionship with

    Firefly.

    Understanding these dynamics, Michael Lynn definitely wanted to avoid the same fate as Robert Shea.

    So he wisely made the recent decision.

    By actively stepping back, he could retain his stake in Firefly, receive a substantial annual

    dividend, and also keep the connections he had built during his time there. It was valuable to have Eric Williams, or even his sessor Jeffrey Katzenberg, remember the good he had done, which would greatly aid his future endeavors in Hollywood.

    ...

    Initially puzzled, Eric soon realized the intentions behind Michael Lynn''s decision after

    thinking it through.

    However, it was good that Michael could see rity; Eric would certainly not treat him poorly

    in the future.

    With time still left before the end of the workday, Eric returned to his office. After reading

    over a few documents, the phone on his desk rang.

    When he picked up the receiver, the outside secretary said a few words, prompting Eric to nod,

    "Let her in."

    Momentster, a Spanish woman peered into the office, locking eyes with Eric''s smiling face.

    "Hi, little wildcat," Eric called out.

    Hearing the nickname, Penelope Cruz rxed and stepped inside, wearing a ck spaghetti- strap dress and carefully closing the office door behind her. She approached Eric''s desk, slightly pouting as sheined, "Eric, I thought you had forgotten about me." "How could I? I just got back from Tokyo yesterday and hadn''t gotten a chance to call you yet," Eric replied, motioning her closer, "Come over here for a kiss."

    Eric''s desk was expansive, with hisputer monitor,ndline, and a stack of files taking up a

    small portion of the space. Penelope shed Eric a wild smile, cing her hands on the desk

    for bnce before jumping up, nudging a stack of papers aside, and crawling across the

    surface to Eric.

    Eric chuckled in surprise but didn''t mind as he leaned in to gently kiss the lips that came closer to him. "So, what have you been up totely?"

    Not letting go after the kiss, Penelope kicked off her heels andnguidly dangled her legs over

    Eric''s desk. She looked at him with sparkling eyes as he read through the papers, "After our

    training, Michelle said the ns for Charlie''s Angels had changed, so she enrolled us in a short acting workshop."

    "Yeah, it''s always good to learn more now. Once you all be famous, there won''t be time for this," Eric acknowledged.

    "Eric, when is production really starting?"

    Putting down the documents, Eric thought for a moment before answering. "Do you know

    about the DreamWorks Company that was set up in coboration between Firefly and MGM?"

    "I heard about it just today."

    "The project has moved to DreamWorks. The specific coboration n should be finalized

    this week. Once the Paris team delivers the confirmed n, the Charlie''s Angels project will move into the substantive production stage, with filming set to start by the end of September. This project is a greenlight from both Firefly and MGM, and we have ample funds avable, so

    there won''t be any obstacles."

    With the information she had been eager to know, Penelope grinned, "I''ll tell the other two right away; they were worried the film wouldn''t happen."

    Eric squeezed Penelope''s sharp chin and teased, "Aren''t you worried?"

    "Of course not; it''s your movie," Penelope swayed her head and shook off Eric''s hand. Then,

    grabbing his hand as it rested on the desk, she traced a finger in his palm while saying, "Eric, my sister hase to Los Angeles. My mom was concerned I couldn''t take care of Monica, but... I gave her $200,000, and she stopped worrying. Also, I bought a house in Santa Monica for $950,000 and a Toyota sedan for $50,000. I sorted a private Spanishnguage school for my sister..."

    Penelope casually spoke about these things, all while carefully gauging Eric''s reaction. Although Eric had given her a credit card with a sizeable limit, the clever Spanish girl knew this wasn''t an invitation for careless spending. Especially when it came to buying that house, she felt exceptionally nervous. At $950,000, before turning eighteen, she never imagined she could spend so much money all at once, let alonepare it to 60 million pesetas in present-

    day Spain.

    After listening for a while, Eric cut off Penelope''s tallying of expenses. He was already well

    aware of these things and had been quite pleased with her recent behavior. "Let''s not talkN?v(el)B\\jnn

    about boring stuff. I don''t want to hear it."

    The Spanish woman immediately switched topics. "Eric, why don''t youe over to my ce tonight and see how I decorated my new home?"

    "I have ns for dinner with someone; I can''t go back with you," Eric observed Penelope''s

    face light up, and then added, "This time wouldn''t be suitable to bring you along. We''ll talk about it another time."

    Penelope didn''t show disappointment and asked, "Could youe after dinner then?"

    "It might be quitete, and it could affect your rest."

    Penelope shook her head, "That''s fine."

    "Alright, just give me the address, and I wille by tonight."

    Penelope took the pencil and notepad from Eric, leaning over the desk to write down her

    address. Then she pulled out a key from her purse and handed it to Eric. Eric received and tucked it away, remembering the other two girls he had been meaning to ask, "Are Kate and Charlize living with you?"

    "No, they''re still at their original apartment. Eric, should I invite them to move in with me?" "No need for that; even if you asked, they probably wouldn''t want to move in." Penelope stuck out her tongue. She knew exactly why Eric said that, but she didn''t take offense. After spending quite a while in Eric''s office, she bid farewell and left.

    ...

    After work, Eric and Michael drove to a Michelin three-star restaurant on Amanda Street near

    the Firefly headquarters. During dinner, they didn''t discuss any business, instead engaging in light-hearted chit-chat. Though there was a significant age difference, Eric had the wisdom of two lifetimes and had the experience to match Michael Lynn''s. They ended up finding

    plenty ofmon topics to connect over during dinner, with their discussions not ending even after dinner.

    Michael, who lived in Burbank for work convenience and knew the area well, took Eric to a nice bar, and they didn''t part ways until it was close to eleven at night.

    ...

    Dazed but happy, Eric climbed into the car, recalling the afternoon''s events. He pulled a note with the address out from his pocket and handed it to the driver. "Take me to this ce."

    He wasn''t sure how much time passed before he heard someone calling his name. He opened

    his eyes to see the driver pointing outside. "Mr. Williams, we''re here."

    Turning his head, Eric saw a small vi lit up along the road. "You can head back;e pick

    me up tomorrow morning."

    After exiting the car, Eric shook off the dizziness and saw in the streetlight that it was a two-

    story white vi with a pleasant environment, surrounded by trees and shadows. The Spanish girl certainly knew how to pick a good ce.

    Standing in front of the door, Eric was about to ring the bell when he remembered the key Penelope had left him. He rummaged through his pockets, found the key, and opened the

    door to step inside.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 555: Chapter 556: The Old Fox

    Chapter 555: Chapter 556: The Old Fox

    ?

    [Chapter 556: The Old Fox]

    Since CAA expanded its scope in the 1980s, introducing more specialized script agents and streamlined channels, Hollywood filmpanies received thousands of original scripts each year. These scripts were often adapted from various types of screenysmissioned by film studios. If chosen by a major studio, they could fetch prices as high as a million dors, dramatically transforming the lives of many emerging writers. As a result, Hollywood referred to these original scripts as "spec scripts." The first script Eric sold, 17 Again, turned out to be a very sessful spec script.

    In recent days, Eric carried a hefty volume with him wherever he went as he selected projects for DreamWorks, which had recently coborated with MGM. This thick tome appeared to be a ssic novel, but its five or six hundred pages were actually summaries of scripts submitted by various Hollywood agencies.

    After announcing his search for scripts, Eric''s desk quickly filled with selections. Given his current situation, there was no way he could take the time to review each one. Therefore, he simply instructed his team to prepare some detailed summaries, which were then delivered to him the next day. Each script was condensed into a two or three-page synopsis, with only essential information regarding the author and the storyline.

    ...

    Rupert Murdoch sat in his luxury car on the main road of Firefly Studios, looking at the enormous soundstages and busy crowds around him, reflecting on the day''s uing meeting. A shadow of worry crossed his mind as he thought about it.

    The luxury car passed through the office area and stopped outside a beautifully decorated restaurant inside Firefly Studios. Since it was not yet lunch hour, the restaurant was mostly empty. As Murdoch entered, he spotted Eric in the corner, casually dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans, engrossed in reading a book, looking like any ordinary young employee at Firefly.

    Who could have imagined that a young man not yet twenty-five could, in just a few years, build a fortune by swallowing up Disney and establishing the massive Firefly Studios?

    Although the funding for acquiring Disney was considered a miracle, with Jurassic Park now raking in global box office numbers, Murdoch realized that even without the oil crisis caused by the war two years prior, the rise of Firefly Studios as one of Hollywood''s major yers was just a matter of time.

    Out of the corner of his eye, Eric noticed someone entering the restaurant and looked up to find it was Murdoch. He quickly set down his book and stood up to greet him. "Rupert, weren''t we supposed to meet at noon? Why are you here so early?"

    Murdoch, beaming with a smile, shook Eric''s hand. "I was curious to see what you were like at work, so I thought I''d drop by. I didn''t expect to find you here."

    Eric sat down with Murdoch and exined, "I was just speaking with a director here, and he left not too long ago."

    "What was it, Bond or Charlie''s Angels? I heard MGM handed you the Bond franchise as well?" Murdoch asked, looking intrigued.

    "The Bond project won''t even begin until next year, and I''ll hardly be involved. I''m focusing on Charlie''s Angels for now. Funny enough, I chose the same director for both films -- the one I just met, Martin Campbell."

    Murdoch couldn''t immediately recall Martin Campbell, but he noted that anyone trusted by Eric with two high-profile films surely had something special about him. He silently made a mental note to investigate further; maybe Fox could strike a deal.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The waiter soon brought Murdoch a cup of coffee. Sipping it, he hesitated to mention the agenda of today''s meeting. He nced at the borately-bound book on Eric''s table, which had no title, and casually asked, "What are you reading?"

    "For DreamWorks business, I''ve recently received a lot of scripts. I had someone prepare brief summaries, and they''re quite interesting," Eric said, pushing the book forward for Murdoch to see.

    Like other Hollywoodpanies, Murdoch envied Eric''s n to produce ten films for MGM through DreamWorks over the next three years. If it were possible, Fox wouldn''t mind forging a simr partnership. After all, three high-quality films a year wouldn''t overly anchor a major studio to a productionpany while still yielding significant profits -- something no one could resist. Yet Murdoch was well aware of theplex undercurrents behind DreamWorks'' foundation, and he could only watch as the juicy opportunity fell into MGM''s hands, the "hick" of Hollywood.

    Murdoch casually flipped through the summaries before handing the book back to Eric. "So these are spec scripts, huh? Can you find any good ones?"

    The scripts delivered to Eric were undoubtedly decent, but he had his sights set on "finding a diamond in the rough." If he came across a script he recalled being good, that would be ideal. If not, he could treat it as a collection of short stories. If any of the scripts piqued his interest and had a manageable budget, he would pass those on to the production team for consideration.

    Of course, Eric didn''t focus solely on the original scripts in front of him. He had instructed his team to conduct research based on his past experiences to uncover information about promising films that would emerge in theing years. If that still didn''t suffice, he nned to pick a few blockbusters that hadn''t made it to this timeline to produce, leaving the oue out of his considerations. After all, with DreamWorks'' involvement, Firefly''s stake was rtively small; as long as a clear majority of the ten films turned a profit, that was good enough for the European investors.

    Setting aside the book Murdoch returned, Eric replied, "I''ve got a good eye for these things." Murdoch genuinely envied Eric''s instincts. He had often wished News Corp could rule the world if it could tap into Eric''s script-picking talent. Yet he knew this was merely a matter for envy; raising his cup for another sip of coffee, Murdoch remarked, "I thought you''d be writing scripts yourself."

    "If Ie across something interesting, I might write one or two, like Charlie''s Angels, but my personal energy is still limited," Eric responded, sensing Murdoch wasn''t keen to dive into the main topic yet. He wasn''t in a rush, as Firefly''s exit n from Fox Broadcasting had already been submitted days prior. Even if this meeting with Murdoch didn''t go well, Firefly could still exit the arrangement in ordance with standard business practices -- albeit it might take longer that way.

    Time passed quickly, and noon arrived. As the bustling studio had arge staff cafeteria, many employees continued to filter into the restaurant. While they consciously avoided approaching the table upied by Eric and Murdoch, the formal business discussion had not yetmenced.

    After ordering lunch, Eric and Murdoch continued light conversation. Once lunch was finished and the restaurant emptied out, Eric signaled for the waiter to clear the table and bring more

    coffee.

    Both were busy men, and soon Murdoch stopped discussing trivialities. Eric took the initiative to broach a more serious subject: "Rupert, you''ve seen the exit n, right?"

    Murdoch nodded, taking a sip of coffee. The bitter taste caused him to frown, prompting him to add more sugar before replying, "Eric, while Firefly has done well these past couple of years, don''t you think you''re being a bit too hasty?"

    "Well, once you see the path ahead, you''d want to get on with it sooner rather thanter. It''s better to move forward early rather than crowding inter with everyone else," Eric

    countered.

    The media M&A scene had kicked off this year with Vi and QVC vying for Paramount, and there were only three major televisionworks in the country. Slower moves would lead to futurepetition with other conglomerates,plicating acquisitions and increasing costs dramatically.

    "With your character, even if you choose a stock swap for the acquisition, you wouldn''t relinquish too many shares. Since you''re not nning on taking Firefly public, your only option left would be to issue bonds," Murdoch calmlyid out Eric''s proposed n. "You must know the risks involved. Many formerly thrivingpanies fell apart during unchecked acquisition sprees, trapped by massive debt. Look at MGM; despite generating some profit each year, they barely scrape by just covering interest on the debt. Aside from shareholders flipping it for quick profits, thepany has little real value left. If you blindly expand, Firefly could find itself in a simr situation."

    Having made his point, Murdoch took another sip of his overly sweet coffee and continued in

    a fatherly tone, "Eric, a simple calction shows that if Firefly issued five billion dors in long-term bonds at a 5% annual interest rate, you''d owe 250 million dors a year in interest alone -- not to mention the five billion in principal. That needs repayment. There''s a lot of uncertainty in film investments; profits can''t remain high indefinitely, and running a televisionwork is no simple task. If Firefly begins to incur losses, you''ll find those once- enthusiastic Wall Street investors will suddenly turn predatory, trying to control yourpany as creditors. That''s something I''ve personally encountered more than once." Eric had certainly considered these issues multiple times and had a multitude of countermeasures ready in his mind.

    At this point, Eric was also aware that Murdoch wasn''t truly concerned for him; the old fox merely wanted to maintain their existing rtionship with Firefly Studios.

    Beyond a few TV programs, the high-quality films produced by Firefly in recent years were primarily aired on the Foxwork, which not only brought in strong ratings but also significantly enhanced Fox''s brand reputation -- a feat 20th Century Fox had failed to

    achieve.

    Once Firefly acquired itswork, their cooperation would likely dissolve, and they might

    even be rivals. Losing Firefly as a film supplier would be one thing, but Fox''s core programs -- Friends, The X-Files, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire -- were all closely tied to Firefly. Although Murdoch had created a series of media sesses, he wasn''t an expert in content; despite shows like Friends holding up ratings over the years, Fox itself failed to develop a blockbuster program fully owned.

    The importance of these gship programs to anywork was immense; just consider how much the six leads of Friends earned per episode in its final seasons. Despite his youth, Murdoch wouldn''t underestimate Eric as a naive rookie. He knew that if it came down to it, even if Eric might not reim all three shows, he would surely be able to eliminate them all if necessary, because Murdoch understood he would do the same if he had to. Besides, with Firefly holding at least half of the rights, they had every right to do so.

    After speaking for a while and feeling parched, Murdoch again lifted his coffee cup, observing the indifferent expression on the young man''s face across from him. He couldn''t help but sigh

    inwardly.

    Setting down his coffee cup, Murdoch finally asked, "Eric, since you''re set on your course, let''s talk about Friends. Acquiring awork isn''t something that can happen overnight, but after this year, the contract between Fox and Firefly for Friends will expire. Shall we discuss

    renewal?"

    The rights to Friends belonged entirely to Firefly, while the other two shows had five-year contracts expiring next year. By bringing up Friends first, Murdoch was testing Eric''s attitude. Eric wasted no time and stated inly, "Rupert, Friends will not be renewed. However, I can assure you that after their contracts expire next year, Firefly remains open to renewing with

    Fox for the other two shows."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 557: Chapter 558: You Really Arent Considerate

    Chapter 557: Chapter 558: You Really Aren''t Considerate

    ?

    [Chapter 558: You Really Aren''t Considerate]

    Eric took some time to go through all the materials. Although the script for Braveheart differed significantly from the finished film he remembered, he didn''t worry too much about it. During a movie''s production, aside from the script, the director, cinematographer, score, and final editing could all greatly influence how the film turned out. These factorsbined could lead to an excellent script being turned into a subpar film, while an average script could end up as a remarkable movie.

    After closing the document, Eric thought of Sophie, who was far away in Paris. He couldn''t help but pick up the phone on his desk and dial a long international number.

    The phone rang several times before a slightly groggy female voice came through. Eric couldn''t understand Sophie''s French at that moment, but he knew what she meant when he said, "Sophie, it''s me."

    Even with the speed of the signalparable to light, the multiple long-distance transfers created a significant dy in their conversation.

    It was already midnight in Paris. A dim bedsidemp lit Sophie''s bedroom, and the girl didn''t fully open her eyes due to being disturbed from her sleep by the phone. Her long eyshes fluttered restlessly. Although the intervals of their conversation were only a second or two, Sophie felt as if no one on the other end was speaking for quite a while. Just as she was about to hang up, Eric''s voice finally came through.

    Despite the slight distortion in his voice, Sophie immediately recognized Eric''s tone. In the cool midnight of Paris, hearing his voice inexplicably stirred feelings of longing, typical for a girl in love. She pulled the thin nket over her shoulders and said, "Eric, it''s the middle of the night. You''re really not considerate."

    Eric nced at the warm afternoon sun outside his window, felt Sophie''s emotions through the phone, and smiled. He said softly, "Maybe it''s because I miss you too much. Will that reason get my apology epted?"

    Sophie, curled up under the covers, chuckled softly twice. "I don''t believe you, you smooth talker."

    "Okay, I think now''s not a good time to discuss that," Eric quickly changed the subject. "I recently came across a really good script and thought the leading role would suit you perfectly. But since the timing isn''t right, I''ll have someone send the information to your agent, and you can look it over tomorrow."

    Sophie sensed Eric might be ending the call and felt an inexplicable reluctance. She said, "Hey, you should at least tell me what the movie is about. If I''m not interested, then even if you personally delivered the script to me, I wouldn''t act in it."

    "It''s an epic about William Wace. You know William Wace, right?"

    Sophie vaguely sensed some words of information, but still half-dozing beneath the covers, her voice was assertively dismissive as she said, "No, tell me about him."

    Eric didn''t know much either, but thankfully he had just skimmed through a thick stack of materials, so he briefly recounted the details about William Wace.

    Sophie held the receiver to her ear, sinkingfortably into herrge bed. Her mind wasn''t on Eric''s introduction of this so-called William Wace. She merely felt that Eric''s voice from across the ocean was veryforting. asionally, she mumbled a few things, clueless that Eric had already finished speaking. She didn''t remember any of the details.

    At that point, Eric could sense Sophie''s mood. After sharing what he could about William Wace and hearing silence on the other end, he chuckled and said, "Darling, how about I tell you the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?"

    "Sure..." came her murmur from across the line, followed immediately by Sophie''s yful retort: "Do you think I''m a child? And don''t call me ''darling''! Who''s your darling anyway?"

    "Let''s talk about the movie then. I''ll give you a brief overview of the plot, and then you can decide whether you want to take the role."

    After a while, Sophie''s voice came through very softly, "Hmm..."

    Eric pulled out the Braveheart script from his desk and began to recount the story slowly from the beginning. Time passed, and he eventually called out softly a few times without getting a response. It was clear to him that the girl across the ocean had fallen asleep, so he hung up the phone.

    The result of this was that Eric, who happened to be staying at the Liberty City Estate that night, was naturally awakened by Sophie''s call at midnight. Sophie firmly dered it was her way of getting back at him for waking her up st night." Eric didn''t mind, but the girl in his arms ended up rolling her eyes throughout the entire call.

    ...

    The script for Braveheart, written by Randall Wace, had beenpleted over a year before. It had traveled around Hollywood for quite some time before finallynding in Mel Gibson''s hands.

    Mel Gibson was very interested in the script and was looking to move into directing, so he immediately approached his best working rtionship at Warner Bros. However, since the epic film craze of thete 1950s and early 1960s, such movies hadn''t seen a sessful case in years. Additionally, with Braveheart having many war scenes and high production costs, Mel Gibson had never directed before, and thebined risks led Warner to quickly reject the project.

    Subsequently, Mel Gibson began shopping the project around to several other major studios. Whenever he insisted on directing it himself -- never having directed a film before -- he was met with immediate refusals. Firefly Films had received the project proposal for Braveheart earlier in the year but, like the other six studios, Firefly''s rights department assessed the project''s value very low, so it had never made it to Eric''s desk.

    When Allen, representing Eric, personally sought out Mel Gibson, Mel was quite surprised but dly made time to discuss the project with Allen for an entire morning.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    At the time, Mel Gibson was on a promotional tour for his directorial debut, The Man Without a Face, in Seattle. As one of Hollywood''s biggest superstars over the past few years, he was constantly surrounded by paparazzi.

    So, the next day, photos of Mel Gibson and Eric Williams''s personal assistant "secretly discussing" the new film project appeared in several entertainment newspapers. Early the following morning, Eric couldn''t help but feel a sense of forehead-smacking disbelief upon seeing the news in the papers. He''d been too careless. If it had simply been Firefly''s production department interacting with Mel Gibson, securing the film that nobody believed in would''ve faced little resistance. But with the photo stered across the press, everyone understood that it was him personally who was interested in the project.

    It didn''t take much thought to realize what would happen next.

    *****

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 Chapter 559: Chapter 560: Its All Mine

    Chapter 559: Chapter 560: It''s All Mine

    ?

    [Chapter 560: It''s All Mine]

    In the days that followed, Braveheart garnered more and more attention in Hollywood. When it was revealed that Mel Gibson did not immediately ept the terms proposed by Firefly Films, several other major studios examined the script for Braveheart and rushed to reach out to Gibson.

    Both Braveheart and the monumental movie Ben-Hur that released thirty years ago fell into the epic genre, and the plot shared several simrities. In a fascinating coincidence, the screenwriter for Ben-Hur was named Lew Wace, while Randall Wace penned Braveheart, with thest names being the same. Due to some misleading information, some began topare Braveheart to Hollywood''s second Ben-Hur.

    Released in 1960 at a ticket price of 50 cents, Ben-Hur grossed over $70 million. Adjusted for an average ticket price of around $4 in 1993, that would equate to about $560 million today. In a time when entertainment became increasingly diversified, even the idea of a $560 million box office for a Hollywood film seemed far-fetched. Nevertheless, even half of that amount would send every studio in Hollywood into a frenzy.

    Eric never expected events to unfold as they did. Perhaps influenced by the media and Hollywood''s united hype, Mel Gibson''s confidence soared. He started presenting a list of tough demands to the negotiation team sent by Firefly, including increased pay, arger stake, and absolute control over the film. Big-budget productions typically aimed for profit, and the Oscars were simply the icing on the cake. Braveheart''s box office in the original timeline had never disyed anything remarkable. It would take a stroke of madness for Eric to agree to Gibson''s conditions, so in the face of a stalled negotiation, he decided to abandon the project altogether.

    As for Sophie, the day the news broke, Eric called her again. He honestly informed her of the unexpected changes. Sophie straightforwardly expressed her annoyance and even took the opportunity to mock Eric, although her tone carried a hint of yfulness.

    While Braveheart was a hotmodity for other studios, it was merely an unintentional detour for Eric, who had far too many pressing matters on his te.

    ...

    In early August, Kathryn Bigelow''s long-prepped Saving Private Ryan officially started filming in Irnd. Though Eric couldn''t travel to Europe, he still kept a close eye on the movie, checking in with Kathryn every few days to discuss shooting issues.

    At the same time, True Lies began shooting in Washington. Cameron''s films always assured quality. Eric only intervened as a routine check when he felt Cameron was burning through too much cash, although it generally bore little effect.

    Additionally, a considerable amount of production progress had been made on the 2D animated feature The Lion King, which had been overseen personally by Katzenberg. While the film could have been ready by the end of the year with some overtime, Eric insisted on postponing its release until the following year.

    All of these films were set to be major offerings for the summer of 1994. The year''s end te, which included Ace Ventura 2, Interview with the Vampire, and Quentin''s Pulp Fiction, was also progressing steadily.

    Moreover, the sequel to Jurassic Park was naturally included in Firefly''s production ns. Rnd Emmerich had begun gearing up for Independence Day afterpleting his work on Deep Impact. Eric also had to keep tabs on several films still in the pipeline with Sony Pictures, andstly, the newly formed DreamWorks was getting underway with Charlie''s Angels, having already confirmed the three leading actresses and the director, with casting calls for minor roles beginning soon.

    Though ny percent of this work did not necessitate Eric''s direct involvement, the financial stakes of these projectsbined exceeded a billion dors, keeping him perpetually busy.

    ...

    Outside of film, after days of consideration, Murdoch reluctantly agreed to most of the conditions outlined by Firefly''s proposed buyout, and both parties began haggling over the final details. It was expected to wrap up by mid-September, and to avoid drawing too much attention, everything was proceeding quietly, with neither Murdoch nor Eric personally involved in the talks.

    At Firefly''s headquarters, Eric found himself on the phone with Chris, who was far away in Northern Europe. After a month of negotiations, the Nokia acquisition was nearing its final stages. Chris sessfully obtained a 51% stake in Nokia''s mobilemunications division for $420 million, achieving absolute control. Although the premium was over 20%, Eric viewed the deal as an exceptional value.

    While discussing tax-avoidance strategies such as setting up apany in Irnd with Chris, the office door suddenly swung open. Eric looked up and saw Elisabeth entering with red- rimmed eyes, followed closely by an upset Drew. Tina Fey timidly followed behind, and upon noticing Eric looking at her, Tina winked yfully, as if suggesting something.

    Honestly, even without her indicating, seeing Elisabeth and Drew approach his desk, standing far apart and sulking, made Eric almost immediately realize what had transpired.

    He briefly wrapped up his call with Chris and hadn''t even spoken when Elisabeth pointed usingly at Drew, saying, "Eric, you tell her whether or not you talked to my dad about the financing."

    Just as Eric began to nod, Drew interjected indignantly, "I know you talked about it, but Eric didn''t agree to your dad''s terms at that time; you''re lying to me!"

    Elisabeth sniffled in exasperation, ring at Eric, "You clearly gave him the nod!"

    After that morning''s call, the little woman had vanished for several days. Eric thought the situation had been resolved, but evidently, things had taken a turn for the worse. During that phone call, Eric neither agreed nor disagreed -- it could be interpreted in numerous ways. Now, as he faced two pairs of eyes intensely locked on him, he realized he couldn''t lean to either side. He stood up and pulled both women toward the sofa in the reception area to address them. "Alright, what''s going on with you two? Let''s sort this out." Drew immediately raised her chin defiantly andined, "She refuses to admit she lied to me!"

    "Why should I admit to lying? Eric clearly gave the nod," Elisabeth replied, equally agitated. "You''re a total liar!" Drew quipped once more, prompting Elisabeth, feeling utterly aggrieved, to spring from her seat and lunge at Drew.

    Seeing this, Eric quickly stepped in to separate the two as they tried to reach for one another, desperate to grab hold. Stifling augh mixed with frustration, Eric said, "You can fight, but no scratching on the face; that''s off-limits. They''re both mine."

    As thest word left his lips, Elisabeth bared her teeth and sank them into Eric''s arm. This made Drew immediately dissatisfied since she hadn''t wanted to bite him before, so she started gnawing on his arm as well.

    A seemingly tragic scream resounded through the office. A short whileter, Eric found himself again seated on the sofa, his shirt sleeves rolled up, staring at the crescent-shaped red marks on his arms, and sighed. Ignoring Tina, who was still stifling giggles beside him, he looked back at the now much quieter girls across from him. "Alright, I''ll admit this was my mishap. I didn''t rify things properly. Can we just stick to the agreement I discussed with Rupert? Any objections?"

    Drew only pouted and turned her head away in silence.

    Elisabeth shook her head and nced at the red imprints on Eric''s arm with guilt, suddenly dropping her gaze. She was already feeling somewhat guilty and knew deep down that her dad had put her in a bind. Despite being a strong character, she didn''t want to admit to lying, but she also couldn''t turn on her father. Thus, they remained at an impasse for several days before feelingpelled to confront Eric.

    "Since there are no objections, let''s leave it at that. Drew, Tina, you two can head back. I need

    to talk with Liz."

    The little woman huffed audibly, miffed, and marched toward the exit, while Tina Fey, though feeling a tad reluctant, quickly followed her out.

    As soon as the office door clicked shut, Elisabeth spoke in almost a whisper, "Eric, I''m sorry. I didn''t know my dad would do this."

    "Don''t worry. I''ll deal with your dad in due time," Eric smiled at her. "Rest assured; it

    certainly won''t be a physical confrontation."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Elisabeth suddenly recalled a question Eric had asked her before,ughed slightly, but chose not to plead on behalf of her unscrupulous father. After all, in their moneyed elite tier, even in a fit of rage,plete financial ruin for the other party was unlikely. Hesitantly, she nced at Eric''s arm and asked meekly, "Does... does it still hurt?"

    Eric rubbed one of the bite marks and replied, chuckling, "It''s alright. I''ll just go get a rabies

    shotter."

    Elisabeth let out a lightugh and reached for something to throw at him, but finding no cushions on the office sofa, she settled for rolling her eyes at Eric instead. "You just backed out of Fox; are you nning to acquire thework now?"

    "Yeah, that n has been locked in ce. We''re exiting Fox to sidestep legal issues."

    If Firefly retained its shares in Fox, it would keep their rtionship somewhat closer. Even though Elisabeth felt a little sad about it, she understood the reasoning behind it, letting out a soft sigh. "Now that the financing''s over, does that mean we have no connection anymore?"

    Eric chuckled, "What? You''re trying to dump me, huh?"

    Elisabeth looked back with feigned hurt. "With so many women in your life, I heard you''ve been spending a lot of time with those Spanish sisterstely. What do you need me for?"

    Without hesitation, Eric immediately replied, "Of course, I care about each and every one of

    my women."

    Elisabeth felt her heart skip a beat but retorted defiantly, "Wow, that''s pretty shameless of

    you."

    "I''m not denying it; after all, you all know now." Eric shrugged. "And what about you? Drew mentioned you''re going to 20th Century Fox as vice president. What exactly will you be doing

    there?"

    "The filmpany hasn''t performed that well in recent years, so Dad asked me to take charge of production while still remaining CEO of TG Films."

    Speaking of TG Films reminded Eric of a longstanding issue. "Did you nail down the deal with

    Jim Carrey?"

    "Yeah, it''s done. He signed for three more films with a $15 million sry plus 5% of the profit

    share."

    Hollywood''s top stars were increasingly demanding profit sharing in their contracts, and Eric didn''t find this figure surprising. While other A-list actors might get simr deals,panies were often hesitant to lock them into three films at once. However, Jim Carrey''s box office draw had remained strong even as he reached his peak with The Mask; he was still in his prime,

    and given his low-cost films, 20th Century Fox wouldn''t assume too significant a risk signing

    this deal.

    Thinking further, Eric asked, "I haven''t heard any news about Buffy the Vampire yer in a while. What''s the n with that series?"

    "It''s set to premiere around September 28," Elisabeth mused. "Yes, definitely September 28. Given its niche vampire themes, while some thought it might align with theing-of-age genre, we initially proposed using Friends as the lead-in. However, we ultimately decided on The X-Files as the better lead-in. It just feels safer. Eric, how much viewership do you think

    this series can achieve?"

    The original Buffy the Vampire yer had caused quite a sensation on the smaller WBwork under Time Warner. Now with the distribution on the already prominent Fox, and a viewer base cultivated through The X-Files, it shouldn''t be a problem to match its ratings.

    Yet, Eric didn''t want to make any promises. "Joss Whedon''s script is outstanding, and as long

    as you don''t alter it as drastically as the movie version, your viewership should hold up. Beyond that, it''s hard to say."

    Elisabeth noted the uncertainty in Eric''s voice but dismissed it. High viewership wasn''t easily

    attained. With the big fourworks airing at least ten shows during prime time, aside from performance specials and holiday events, it was often only one or two shows that made a ratings ssh.

    Changing the subject, Elisabeth asked, "You said earlier you wanted to discuss something with me. What was it?"

    "Oh, nothing major. Just catching up. It''s been a while since I visited your ce. How about

    tonight?"

    "Julia''s not home," Elisabeth blurted out before realizing her words were awkward, her cheeks turning a shade of red as she averted her gaze from Eric''s.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 561: Chapter 562: A Temporary Departure

    Chapter 561: Chapter 562: A Temporary Departure

    ?

    [Chapter 562: A Temporary Departure]

    When Eric arrived at Fox''s headquarters in Century City alongside Elisabeth, the savvy media reporters had already surrounded the entrance, making it nearly impossible for anyone to enter without an invitation to the press conference. Eric guessed the situation at the Firefly headquarters in Burbank was likely simr.

    With the help of security personnel, Eric''s vehicle managed to sessfully navigate through the throng of people and into thepound. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he saw Rupert Murdoch and Michael Lynn approaching him with a few others in tow.

    Elisabeth climbed out from the opposite side of the car. Upon seeing several familiar faces, including her father, she felt a flush of warmth and hurriedly greeted everyone before making her swift exit under the pretext of work. Eric maintained his usual demeanor and exchanged pleasantries with Rupert and the others before casually asking, "Michael, Rupert, did you figure out who leaked this?"

    Rupert and Michael exchanged a nce, and it was finally Michael who spoke up. "Eric, it might have been Miss Barrymore who inadvertently let it slip."

    Eric cursed under his breath about the girl, thinking how she didn''t realize to keep her tail hidden. In just one day, the news about Firefly pulling out had made it to all the major newspapers and television stations; hiding was simply out of the question. It was clear that Rupert and Michael understood this incident was certainly not a mere ''idental'' leak by the girl; the intention was too obvious. Michael''sment was merely intended to give everyone some leeway.

    "Just yesterday, she came to meining that someone had tricked her, and now here we are with this mess. I''ll have a good talk with herter," Eric said, joining the others as they walked into the office building. "Since this has all happened, let''s discuss how to handle it." Michael didn''t fully grasp the implication of Eric''s first statement, thinking he was just speaking casually. But his sharp nature detected a flicker of something else in Rupert''s eyes. Eric caught the change in Rupert''s expression just in time. Since the other party noticed his hint, Eric assumed they would soon understand the full context of the situation. As for what the old fox would think afterward, that was no longer Eric''s concern.

    With twenty minutes left before the press conference, the group did not head straight to the press hall but instead went to a meeting room first to discuss the uing press conference issues.

    Even though the stock pullout n would most significantly impact Fox Television, potentially keeping News Corp''s stock prices depressed for a long time toe, it also affected Firefly Films'' next phase of nning. The most apparent manifestation was that while News Corp''s stock tumbled, mostpanies involved in television operations on the New York Stock Exchange saw their stocks rise to varying extents.

    Since the news about the stock pullout had already leaked, any attempt to deny it would be pointless. Regardless of belief, Firefly needed a reasonable excuse to temporarily appease the media, aiming to minimize any uncertainties arising from the televisionwork acquisition during its preparatory phase.

    After discussing the joint statements for the press conference, Rupert and his Fox team left the meeting room, allowing Eric and Michael to have a moment of private discussion.

    ...

    Once the outsiders were gone, Michael asked, "Eric, how do we handle this? All the majorworks have be wary."

    Eric had already thought this through on the way to Century City and even made a few calls. "I just found out that Vi''s negotiations to acquire Blockbuster have reached their final stages. If we want to, we could easily intervene now."

    "You mean we can use the front of expanding our video rental business?" Michael inquired. Eric replied, "It''s a strategy that would surely work, and selling off our Fox Television shares in order to expand into the video rental business makes sense as a justification."

    1993 marked the final prosperous stretch of the video rental industry, and it was also the period of highest profitability. Apart from Eric, who could foresee the future, no one else would have believed that just a few yearster, the video rental industry would decline drastically due to the rise of DVDs and online rental services.

    At that time, the stature of the video rental industry had already begun to surpass total movie box office grosses. Due to the FCC''s strict antitrust rules against television monopolies, progress had only recently started to loosen, and the majority of people were unaware that the U.S. television industry was entering another major period of mergers and consolidations. The excuse of moving towards video rental expansion would at least seem usible.

    During the subsequent press conference, after Rupert announced a series of coborative ns between Firefly and Fox to the dozens of reporters present, Eric exuberantly promoted Firefly''s intentions of entering the rental market, clearly indicating Firefly''s aim to acquire Blockbuster, soon to be owned by Vi.

    As for what was toe, Eric anticipated that Firefly would eventually ''lose'' in thepetition with Vi, and thus he believed he merely hadn''t lied. For good measure, Firefly even sent a vice president to start discussions with Blockbuster''s top brass.

    ...

    Vi had recently offered a staggering $8 billion for Blockbuster, a chain that had over 3,000 video rental stores across the nation. Firefly''s sudden involvement led to an evident stalemate in Vi''s negotiations with Blockbuster. Although Blockbuster''s management team realized through their brief dealings with Firefly that Firefly had no true intention of acquiring them, they were nheless now interested in using Firefly to leverage a better deal from Vi.

    What had once been a purely favorable scenario suddenly came crashing down. An infuriated Summer Redstone published a scathing article in the Los Angeles Times, trashing Eric for being out of line. But the acquisition of Blockbuster was a key part of Vi''s deal to acquire Paramount, and failure in this endeavor would strip Vi of its bargaining chip forrge- scale debt financing, jeopardizing their ns for Paramount. Thus, Redstone had no choice but to raise the price once again.

    Eric ignored Redstone''s provocations, maintaining his work and life rhythm as usual.

    After the press conference, although the drop in News Corp''s stock price elerated, the fears regarding the split between Fox Television and Firefly kept the prices from returning to their prior levels.

    Perhaps Rupert soon understood the situation. Dayster, 20th Century Fox sessfullypleted the deal to acquire TG Films, raising their initial offer from $120 million to $140 million. Eric guessed Rupert''s reasoning; despite themotion, the old fox felt guilty but was unwilling to raise the price, simply paying a $20 million incentive to prevent some troublemaker from stirring things up again.

    Once TG Films was acquired, Fox started ramping up the publicity for Buffy the Vampire yer to restore investor confidence. They even touted that Eric himself was stepping in as

    producer.

    ...

    By mid-August, an unexpected event disrupted many ordinary lives. On August 18, a dentist in Los Angeles officially filed awsuit against Michael Jackson for purportedly molesting his son, who had not yet turned 13, sparking widespread outrage over the usations against

    Jackson.

    Faced with thewsuit while on his Dangerous World Tour, Michael Jackson was forced to halt his concerts and return to the United States to respond. Eric recognized this tour represented Jackson''s career peak, but it would also mark his definitive high point.

    Upon Jackson''s return to America, hundreds of reporters quickly surrounded his residence, igniting a fiery media frenzy. As for how the used felt during this wild celebration, who

    cared?

    In hindsight, there was too much discussion about the event. While Eric believed Michael Jackson was innocent, he could do nothing but watch from afar. He had no connection to Jackson; he was acutely aware that in times like these, there was little he could do. Not to mention the dentist''s usations or the media''s bias against Michael, even his own sister stepped forward to tarnish his brother''s reputation with ims of pedophilia. How could Jackson possibly clear his name?

    ...

    Perhaps this incident took a toll on Eric, or maybe he was just overwhelmed with work recently; he found himself feeling inexplicably irritable and downcast. Many around him noticed this change, and Jeffrey even brought a psychologist to Eric''s office, but Eric tly refused the offer.

    In the following days, the people surrounding Eric increased significantly. Famke Janssen, who was already filming the new season of The X-Files in Canada, made a special trip back to Los Angeles to stay with Eric for several days. Then there was Jennifer Connelly, and even Nicole, who was filming The Mummy in Moro, began calling him frequently. The perceptive Penelope became particrly amodating around Eric, and everyone else seemed to tread cautiously. The girl who had caused trouble by leaking the stock pullout n even moved into the mansion and invited Tina Fey and udia Schiffer over, secretly inquiring if Eric wanted to ''sample'' some twin action. Joanna and Virginia also repeatedly suggested that Eric might want to spend a while in New York to keep the two little ones

    company.

    Eric understood why Jeffrey and the women around him appeared so on edge. The percentage of celebrities in Hollywood struggling with mental health was rmingly high, and many chose extreme methods to alleviate their pressures, which often resulted in severe harm to themselves. As the backbone of Firefly, if anything happened to Eric, thepany would be like a ship lost at sea, and at this juncture, no one wanted to see such a scenario unfold.

    "I n to stay in New York for a while," Eric stated at the start of the new week''s executive

    meeting.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The room full of Firefly executives reacted without surprise to Eric''s deration; in fact, they exhaled in relief and nodded in agreement.

    Seeing that no one opposed him, Eric began discussing the ns for his absence. With summer blockbusters now over and the stock pullout firmed up, the most pivotal task at hand

    for Firefly was the preliminaryyout for acquiring ABC, which mainly involved assembling a buying team, coordinating financing channels, and acquiring shares in ABC to gain initial leverage, etc. Since Michael Lynn had confirmed he would be leaving next year, Eric no longer felt any reservations and entrusted the entire matter to Katzenberg. Most of the film projects were proceeding smoothly. Even if issues arose during Eric''s absence, they could always be rectified upon his return. Recently, the film Charlie''s Angels had confirmed its script, cast, director, and production team, leaving the remaining details of the

    project that didn''t require Eric''s attention.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 563: Chapter 564: This is What Emily Taught Me

    Chapter 563: Chapter 564: This is What Emily Taught Me

    ?

    [Chapter 564: This is What Emily Taught Me]

    Eric thought attending Emily''s so-called fashion show would be an easy affair. However, the next day, when he discovered that Emily hade to the East Hampton estate again, taking things very seriously, he realized her ns were far more intricate than merely getting him to participate in a runway show.

    The entire event was a marketing scheme nned by Emily, using Eric''s presence at Brighton Apparel''s new collectionunch as a buzz. Emily sent invitations to several Hollywood celebrities. Because of Eric, the Hollywood mogul, many stars who normally had to consider their schedules for top brand fashion shows like Chanel and Givenchy agreed to attend.

    Thanks to ster media rtions, within just a few days, the once-unknown Brighton Apparel brand caught fire in entertainment and fashion news, with many Hollywood stars set to attend. As New York Fashion Week kicked off, Brighton Apparel had already stolen half the spotlight.

    Meanwhile, Emily and the Pac sisters were personally preparing Eric''s outfit for the fashion show that evening. The mansion''s hall was lined with three rows of clothing racks filled with menswear, alongside a heap of various men''s shoes.

    Eric, liek most men, generally disliked trying on clothes repeatedly, especially like women did. Watching Emily Brighton sift through a pile of jewelry to select an avant-garde silver pendant to bring to him, Eric finally snapped after over an hour of being fussed over. "Stop, Emily! If you dare hang that chain around my neck, I''m not going anywhere tonight."

    As Joanna and Ewa chuckled in unison, Emily rolled her eyes. "What a boring man. And that isn''t for your neck; it''s a fringe-inspired military essory."

    Emily gestured with the pendant before him.

    Eric zipped up his ck jacket and realized it felt a bit snug. After searching for over an hour, he was exhausted and didn''t want to fight it anymore. He stretched his tense body and said, "This''ll do. I''m not a woman; dressing up too much will raise questions about my orientation."

    "Only an idiot would question your orientation," Emily replied, begrudgingly putting the pendant back into the jewelry box. Seeing Eric''s jacket zipped up, she walked over, dissatisfied, and reached to unzip it again. "Don''t you think this jacket is a bit tight? It''s not necessary to zip it; just leave it open."

    Eric blocked Emily''s hand and zipped up himself. "What guy walks around with their jacket unzipped like this?"

    "This is a sample. You only need to wear it tonight," Emily countered, picking up a brooch and showcasing it to him as he appeared apprehensive. "This is thepany logo. We need it on your jacket."

    When Eric saw that the brooch had ''Brighton'' crafted in fancy script, he half-heartedly let Emily pin it to his chest. After checking the mirror, he frowned slightly. "Isn''t the gold a bit too shy? It feels off."

    "It may be, but no one will care, and I had the models try it -- it''s best for photos, it stands -out," Emily exined.

    Upon hearing this, Eric chuckled. "I see now; you''re nning to make me the spokesperson for yourpany. Should we discuss my endorsement fees first?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Emily took a few steps back, assessing his outfit, while she and Ewa adjusted his cor. Listening to Eric''s joke, she yfully replied, "Sure, whatever you want for endorsement fees. I''ll just deduct it from yourpany shares at the end of the year."

    Eric shrugged, about to respond when he heard the sound of a child crying from the nursery. He instinctively started toward it, but Emily quickly grabbed his arm. "You can''t hold the baby right now! If that little one wets your clothes, we''ll have wasted the whole afternoon." "I can manage," Joanna assured Eric with a reassuring look as she headed toward the nursery. Eric looked over to see Joanna holding the little one and then turned to Emily, dressed sharply in a ck business suit. "Chris will be back soon; when are you two nning to get married?" Emily hesitated. The usually savvy businesswoman showed a hint of worry. She was smart enough to connect the dots from the recent events and suddenly turned to Eric, "Eric, you weren''t behind this, were you?"

    Eric yed dumb. "What do you mean?"

    Noticing Eric''s moment of guilt, Emily felt sure of her suspicion andined, "You''re so cruel! You don''t want to marry but happily live your life while suggesting that Jeffrey and my parents pressure Chris and me to wed. They''ve driven me crazytely."

    Eric didn''t deny it any longer, grinning mischievously as he said, "I''m just looking out for you. Look, I''ve got kids now. Once you guys have yours, whether boy or girl we can make a marriage arrangement."

    Emily rolled her eyes at Eric but didn''t press the topic that troubled her further.

    ...

    The fashion show was scheduled for seven o''clock that evening. Even though it was still before three in the afternoon, East Hampton was over a hundred miles from Manhattan, so Eric and the others had to leave early to get there.

    While in the car, Emily expertly detailed the day''s lineup to Eric. "The show starts at seven,sts about forty minutes. Then Vogue wille to take some photos of you for next month''s cover -- this was agreed upon. In exchange, they''ll do a feature on our fashion brand. After that, we have a celebration party at Hyatt. Eric, I hope you can stay at least an hour at the party; those stars came here for you."

    Eric nodded, doing some quick calctions. They''d finish up around ten, and driving back to East Hampton would take at least two hours. There was no chance of returning that night. Fortunately, he had already nned to visit Luc Besson''s set the next day.

    Suddenly, Eric remembered something. "Emily, didn''t you say the fashion show onlysts about ten minutes at most? How is it forty minutes?"

    Emily exined, "The show itself is indeed ten minutes, but typically, all shows dy about half an hour for guests, buyers, and media to mingle."

    ...

    Arriving at the hub of New York Fashion Week near Bryant Park in Manhattan, it was already five in the afternoon. Emily quickly gave somest-minute instructions, leaving Ewa and a female assistant with Eric while she rushed off to finalize preparations.

    If Central Park were the size of a palm, Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan would barely be the size of a fingernail. As the venue for New York Fashion Week, a few white tents had been set up on thewn, and the park was buzzing with people, camera shes ringing out all

    around.

    Eric''s outfit looked good but paled inparison to the colorful and extravagant crowd around him. To avoid attention, Eric threw on a pair ofrge sunsses and chose a hat for a little cover, effectively blending in as just another face in the crowd.

    Ewa Pac, attending her first Fashion Week, was ecstatic. Although she was one of the models for the show that night, she had been training for days and, given her unique position, she wasn''t waiting backstage with the other models. Instead, she dragged Eric all over the

    venue.

    After snapping a photo in front of an exquisitely branded luxurybel, Eric turned to leave when he noticed a familiar-looking girl take his spot, striking various poses for the photographer trailing her.

    Curious, Eric asked Ewa and the somewhat forgettable assistant beside him, "Do these things really hold that much appeal for you guys?"

    "Of course! I have my eye on a Chanel bag, but I can''t afford it just yet. My sister only gives me $2,000 a month for spending money, so I''ll just have to wait until I earn my own," Ewa said, linking her arm through Eric''s with a hint of longing.

    Eric only smiled. A few days together revealed Ewa''s straightforward nature -- she wore her feelings on her sleeve, which Eric appreciated. He knew Joanna was taking good care of her too. Not only did she purchase her a small apartment in Manhattan, but she also covered the costs of her modeling training. The $2,000 Ewa described truly was just pocket money -- probably more than what the average struggling Manhattanite spent monthly.

    The assistant trailing them spoke up, pointing at the girl who had just upied Eric''s photo spot. "Mr. Williams, are you referring to them?"

    "Yeah," Eric nodded.

    "Heh, Mr. Williams, most of them are just here to leech off the show," the assistant replied

    disdainfully.

    Noticing Eric''s confusion, the assistant borated, "Only a small fraction of the stars received formal invitations to Fashion Week. Many of these are up-anding stars or minor models craving publicity who didn''t get brand invites. They juste to snap photos at the events or hope to sneak into shows for a few quick snaps, effectively leveraging the exposure for magazine features back home, like ''XXX Stuns at New York Fashion Week'', to boost their visibility. It''s a great way for stars without film roles to maintain or even enhance

    their notoriety."

    After listening to this, Eric jokingly said to Ewa, "You might fit into that leech category, huh?"

    Ewa grinned proudly. "Yep, but they''re after calls from Chanel, Givenchy, and Valentino, which don''t matter. All I need is to stick by Eric Williams, and I''llnd in the gossip magazines'' headlines tomorrow."

    Eric nodded seriously, "Now that''s some real cunning."

    Ewa immediately sold out her "teammates." "Hehe, this is what Emily taught me."

    As the three of them continued to wander around until six, the assistant received a phone call

    and promptly reminded them it was almost time to prepare, leading them toward one of the

    tents on Bryant Park''swn.

    ...

    Emily was conversing with a bearded middle-aged man when she saw Eric and Ewa arrive. She brought the man over, introducing him, "Eric, this is Mr. Jim Cotris, the buying director at Marks & Spencer in the UK."

    "Mr. Williams, it''s a pleasure! I''m a fan of your movies," the middle-aged man said warmly,

    shaking Eric''s hand.

    After exchanging pleasantries, Eric noticed guests starting to arrive on the red carpet entrance and heard Emily give the assistant a few instructions. She then motioned to Eric to remove his hat and sunsses. "Eric, although you''re quite the big name, I have many guests to mingle with, so I hope you don''t mind going in a bit early."

    Eric smiled and said, "No problem."

    With that, he followed the staff toward the red carpet. The buzz around had been palpable

    since word spread that Eric would appear that night, and there were noticeably more people flocking around than at other tents'' entrances.

    When Eric stepped onto the red carpet with a tall blondedy by his side, the crowd erupted in excitement, and he could hear several female voices squealing.

    As the shes erupted, Eric maintained a friendly smile, waving to the crowd, and small

    cheers followed. If it weren''t for the security and barriers, they might have rushed him.

    Although reporters outside posed various questions, Eric remained silent. After posing for a series of photos, he walked into the venue with Ewa at his side.

    "Alright, you''vepleted your mission," Ewa said, clearly enjoying the attention she had garnered and yfully nudging Eric. "I need to go prepare for the show."

    With that, she hurried toward backstage.

    ...

    As Eric surveyed the not-so-well-lit venue, the white catwalk looked empty, but some guests

    had already filled the tiered seating on either side of the runway.

    Once the staff led Eric into the venue, they turned to leave. Eric recalled what Emily had told

    him about his designated spot and made his way over, scanning the room.

    The moment he walked in, Eric spotted a red figure upying his space. Though the lighting wasn''t bright, he still recognized the Asian girl at first nce.

    She had a sleek, ear-length bob and wore a striking red shirt with an open cor,plemented by fitted pants that highlighted her long legs, finished off with some striking

    ck leather boots.

    While Eric didn''t immediately recognize her, he was reminded of someone else.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 565: Chapter 566: You Guessed It Right

    Chapter 565: Chapter 566: You Guessed It Right

    ?

    [Chapter 566: You Guessed It Right]

    With only three minutes before the show began, Eric finally saw Emily personally escorting Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, into the venue. Noticing the two women walking toward him, Eric stood up, curious about the renowned fashion powerhouse.

    Anna Wintour, sporting her iconic bob hairstyle, had not donned her signature Prada sunsses this evening.

    "Eric, this is Ms. Anna Wintour. Anna, this is Eric," Emily formally introduced them, even though everyone already knew each other.

    "Hello, Mr. Williams. It''s a pleasure to meet you," Anna Wintour said warmly, extending her hand to Eric.

    Her voice was a bit raspy, giving off a tired vibe, although she spoke rapidly like many elite people. Eric shook her hand and replied, "Likewise, Ms. Wintour. You can call me Eric."

    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Anna Wintour walked toward her seat. Just as Eric was about to return to his spot, Emily gently tugged on him. Eric had to shift Nics Cage and Bridget Fonda slightly to his left to sit right next to Anna Wintour.

    ...

    As the three settled into their seats, Emily''s assistant appeared from backstage, holding a small brown teddy bear. She approached Eric and said, "Mr. Williams, time is tight, and this is all we could find. Is this okay?"

    Eric realized that she had brought a teddy bear. A memory of a certain R-ratededy that had ruined childhoods shed through his mind, and he instinctively broke into a mischievous smile. Taking the teddy bear from the assistant, he said, "That''ll do, thanks!"

    The assistant blushed a bit, smiled shyly, and nodded at Emily before she headed back backstage.

    Many Hollywood stars who were invited to the show had been ncing over at Eric from time to time. If not for the numerous media reporters present, they would have likely approached him. Seeing a staff member inexplicably deliver a teddy bear to Eric seemed to give many guests a justifiable reason to look his way unabashedly.

    Eric nced at Anna Wintour, who was about to speak, and held up a finger to indicate a moment of pause. He then walked a few steps to Ivanka Trump and handed her the teddy bear. "Here you go, Ivanka. This is your mascot for tonight."

    Ivanka instinctively took the bear. With everyone around watching her, she felt too embarrassed to toss it away and instead hugged it to her chest, looking toward her father, Donald Trump, for help. He, however, wore a beaming smile. Naturally, Donald enjoyed being in the spotlight, especially after Ivanka had appeared with a stuffed animal in Jurassic Park, which had made her beloved by the world. As a father, he felt proud.

    When Eric handed the teddy bear to Ivanka, many attendees instantly grasped the situation and stifledughter. Meanwhile, the media jumped at the chance to capture the moment, and the room erupted in shes from cameras.

    Seeing that Eric was still lingering near her, Ivanka asked a reporter nearby to snap a photo of them together. She maintained her adorable demeanor, but after the photo, leaned closer to Eric and whispered, "You bad guy, I''m never acting in your movies again."

    "Oh, that can''t be. I''ve paid for your time. Are you nning on breaching our contract, Miss Trump?"

    "How about this time?" Ivanka raised the teddy bear in her hand. For some reason, she felt there was something wicked in Eric''s eyes when he looked at the bear.

    "Would a thousand dors be okay?"

    "You''re wealthier than my dad, and you''re only offering me a thousand bucks? How stingy!" When Ivanka heard that, she instinctively began to negotiate, almost making Ericugh. It seemed that even though she had grown up, a hint of that little money-grubber vibe Eric had unintentionally instilled in her remained.

    Eric calmly replied, "Why don''t you make an offer?"

    After considering for a moment, Ivanka mustered up her courage and said, "Ten thousand dors!" Once she said it, she realized she might have been too bold, her cheeks flushed as she quickly added, "I need to save for my future tuition to avoid needing my dad''s money."

    "Alright, ten thousand it is," Eric said, feigning a pained expression.

    Ivankapletely disregarded Eric''s theatrics; with his eptance, her eyes lit up, and she stretched out her hand eagerly. "Give it to me."

    Eric raised his palms. "I don''t have it on me right now; I''ll have someone send it to you after the show."

    The girl seriously warned, "But you better not forget."

    ...

    Upon returning to his seat, Anna Wintour, who had been observing him keenly, immediately remarked, "Eric, you''re quite an interesting person."

    "Thank you, Anna."

    Eric nodded with a smile, feeling that Anna''s enthusiasm was a bit excessive. After chatting a bit more, he understood that Anna wanted to invite him for an interview with Vogue. She was an excellentmunicator, and if it hadn''t been for Emily chiming in briefly, Eric might have found it hard to turn her down.

    n or not, Anna Wintour showed no signs of disappointment when a half-hourter, the fashion show officially started.

    With some eerie and melodic music ying, the models began walking down the runway.

    Eric feltpletely indifferent about the models'' attire on stage, but when he heard the apanying music, it captivated him.

    The song''s lead was a woman whose voice carried a soft rasp. Her low, haunting melodies were like whispers from a ghostly muse in the still of the night.

    "Eric, this is a song by The Cranberries from Irnd called Pretty. The lead singer is Dolores O''Riordan. Their music is quite evocative; if you''re interested, you should consider buying a record," Anna Wintour exined, noting Eric''s appreciation.

    Eric nodded slightly in gratitude, mentally noting the song title and details about The Cranberries.

    Aside from Pretty, the following segments of the show provided little more for Eric to pay attention to.

    After more than ten minutes, the fashion showcase concluded. Most people hurried off to the next event, while Eric, under Emily''s arrangement, moved to a nearby studio to shoot several

    cover photos for Vogue.

    ...

    By the time all these activities wrapped up, it was 8:30, and Eric had just appeared in the ballroom of the Hyatt hotel. Several eager individuals were approaching him.

    In addition to the Ghost duo, Nics Cage and Bridget Fonda, Emily had also invited seven or eight other Hollywood celebrities. They weren''t expecting tond any immediate offers from Eric; their main goal was to be more familiar with him. The more memorable they were, the better their chances ofnding suitable roles in future Firefly projects.

    After socializing with the group, Eric finally joined Cage and Fonda on a couch, discussing that uing movie before the fashion event.

    "It''s essentially a story about a reserved cop in Manhattan who meets a waitress at a diner. After a chance encounter where the cop forgets to bring his money, he makes a deal with the waitress: if his lottery ticket wins, they split the prize. Sure enough, the ticket hits, and after some internal conflict, he ends up sharing the million-dor reward with the waitress, and they find romance along the way..."

    Cage''s storytelling wasn''t particrly strong. If it had been apletely unfamiliar narrative, Eric might have shook his head, but he remembered the movie. Oddly enough, in the original timeline, Cage and Fonda had portrayed those very roles in a film titled It Could Happen to You. Eric didn''t see the film as anything particrly remarkable, but it wasn''t terrible either. It was just decent; their continued discourse wouldn''t significantly benefit their careers, but it wouldn''t hurt their box office draw either.

    Eric shared his honest opinion with both actors.

    "So, we''re not going to take it, then," Bridget Fonda said after considering Eric''s feedback.

    Cage seemed to share this sentiment.

    Eric smiled, "If you''re not nning to take this project, you''d better not let Michael Eisner know about our discussions; otherwise, he''ll be furious with me."

    "I won''t just blurt this out," Cage chuckled. He well understood the dynamic between Michael Eisner and Eric. "Since we won''t pursue this film, Eric, do you have any roles that might suit

    me?"

    Eric shook his head honestly. "Firefly has been focusing on big-budget, special effects filmstely. Since the ''stars'' of those films are typicallyputer-generated, they generally cast outstanding second-tier actors to save costs."

    Cage shook his head sadly, then thought for a moment and added, "Eric, I thought the movie you did with Sony, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, was fantastic. That Hong Kong director''s name was..."

    "John Woo," Bridget Fonda interjected.

    Cage nodded, "Right! John Woo. I really admire his directing style; the action sequences are just incredible. Do you think there''s a possibility for us to coborate?"

    Eric wore a peculiar expression, wondering if this was some kind of historical inertia. "John''s currently working on another film, but he signed a three-picture deal with us. There''s

    still one more film left for next year. If you''re interested, I have a suitable script that could fit you."

    Since the script for Face/Off was still under wraps, Eric didn''t divulge any specifics to Cage. They made an initial agreement. Seeing Cage get a potential project, Bridget Fonda wasn''t one to be outdone but, being an actress who lingered in secondary status in this timeline, Eric couldn''t think of any fitting project for her in the immediate future and only politely suggested they could discuss

    tential roles in the ire.

    Nics Cage and Bridget Fonda weren''t idle people; after their conversation with Eric, they

    quickly left the party.

    ...

    Emily had mingled with arge crowd at the event and soon approached Eric, holding a

    champagne flute.

    "Emily, where''s Ewa?" Eric asked, ncing around.

    "She''s doing a photoshoot; they need it for the magazine tomorrow. I expect they''ll be

    workingte," Emily exined, giving Eric a yful roll of her eyes. "She''s Joanna''s sister, so

    keep your thoughts to yourself."

    ||||

    Eric could only respond with a silent eye roll before shifting the topic. "Didn''t you already discuss matters with Anna Wintour? Why did she want to invite me for an interview with

    Vogue?"

    "If Anna Wintour didn''t know how to seize opportunities like this, do you think she would have be the editor-in-chief of Vogue before turning thirty? Besides, after taking the helm at Vogue, she''s been emting Tina Brown''s approach from Vanity Fair."

    Upon hearing Emily mention Vanity Fair, Eric realized that the magazine focused on the private lives of high-society stars and the wealthy. Given Vogue''s mimicry of Vanity Fair, it wasn''t surprising for them to extend an invitation to him.

    Seeing Emily take a sip of champagne to wet her throat, Eric smiled, "I think I''ve done everything I needed to tonight. What do you think of the oue?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Absolutely fantastic, Eric. Thank you!" Emily''s mood brightened immediately. "With the news pieces built up from tonight, Brighton Apparel''s brand will spread across the U.S. in no time. Do you remember that British buyer from Marks & Spencer I was talking to before the

    show started?"

    Eric nodded, recalling the image of a bearded man.

    "I had been negotiating with him for a while, and he wasn''t budging. But seeing you here

    tonight, along with Nics Cage and others, he just promised me a $5 million order! While many buyers are still considering, just the orders secured tonight have already surpassedst year''s sales by over double. Eric, I n to invest in twenty more specialty stores in the major cities. Do you think that''s feasible?"

    "I''m not too knowledgeable about that, so it''s up to you to figure it out."

    Emily blinked at him. "I mean, if each store requires a $500,000 investment, that would

    roughly need $10 million."

    Though $10 million wasn''t a trivial sum, Eric assumed Brighton Apparel should be able to pull

    that off without issue.

    Noticing Eric''s puzzled expression, Emily proactively said, "You guessed it right, the

    company is out of cash. For this fashion show alone, I''ve already spent over $5 million."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 567: Chapter 568: An Unexpected Encounter

    Chapter 567: Chapter 568: An Unexpected Encounter

    ?

    [Chapter 568: An Unexpected Encounter]

    In a luxurious suite on the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel, a new day dawned. Eric sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, casually flipping through the manuscript of Home Alone he had worked on the night before. He couldn''t help but feel nostalgic; it had already been five years since he had typed out that script on an old typewriter, brimming with ambition.

    After the sound of water from the bathroom, Kelly Hu emerged wrapped in a simple bathrobe. She curiously stared at Eric''s back for a moment before she couldn''t resist creeping closer and kneeling on the thick carpet beside him, resting her head on his knee as she peered at the script.

    Noticing the woman''s position, Eric reached out to stroke her cheek and asked, "Have you ever been to Japan?"

    Kelly tilted her head, rubbing her face against his palm. "I went with a close friend six years ago."

    "It sounds like you had a good impression of Japan."

    She replied, "It was okay, I guess... they were all very polite."

    "Why don''t you go put on some clothes? We can have breakfast together," Eric said, showing no interest in continuing that topic as he pinched her delicate chin, giving her instructions. There was a slight hesitation in Kelly''s movement. Everything that needed to happen had happened sincest night, yet Eric had not brought up the character again. She was worried that once they had breakfast, he might just ask her to leave.

    Seeing Kelly linger, Eric guessed her thoughts. He pulled a private business card from his pocket and handed it to her, saying, "Resident Evil is likely going into production next year. You have over four months to prepare. When the project starts up next year, I''ll personally arrange an audition for you. If your performance meets my standards, I''ll give you the role of Ada Wong. So, take this time seriously, and really delve into that character''s traits. Also, it''d be best to enroll in a short-term acting workshop."

    Kelly took the card, her expression tinged with anxiety as she asked, "What if I can''t meet your standards?"

    "If you do well as Ada Wong, you''ll make quite an impression, much like the character yed by Brooke Shields in Running Out of Time, who only appeared for a few minutes but left asting impact. However, if your performance doesn''t measure up, not only would it ruin the film, but it wouldn''t help your career either. Regardless, even if you don''t pass the audition, I can help arrange other opportunities for you."

    The disappointment was hard for Kelly to hide upon hearing Eric''s words, which offered no real promises.

    Eric lifted her chin, feeling dissatisfied. "Do you think I''m one of those low-tier directors who uses sweet talk to hook up with women and then forgets about them?"

    "Mr. Williams, I don''t," Kelly said, her eyes shifting.

    "Even if you do, it''s fine. Since you were encouraged by your agent to get close to mest night, you can ry my exact words to him. I''m sure he''ll understand what I meant. If he doesn''t, take that card and go find UTA and get yourself a new agent. They''ll know exactly what to do with my card."

    "Okay, I got it," Kelly said softly, avoiding Eric''s gaze.

    Eric''s fingers slid down to loosen her bathrobe, admiring her graceful body as he firmly stated, "Now, go get dressed."

    ...

    In Hell''s Kitchen, a ssic apartment building stood next to arge container truck, surrounded by stacks of filming equipment. This was the set for Leon: The Professional.

    When Eric arrived from the Hyatt, the crew was already filming. Luc Besson, still trim and young, was in the midst of directing two protagonists, not intending to interrupt, Eric simply stood by, observing like a passerby.

    Lolita was certainly not the same Lolita anymore. Although Jean Reno retained his role as the male lead, the female lead had been reced by a sixteen-year-old named Melissa Grint; she was small, barely five feet tall, and appeared almost underdeveloped.

    Even though Luc hadn''t cast the original Lolita, the actress he chose brought a certain innocence even more so than Natalie Portman''s.

    Today marked the third day of filming, but Gary Oldman, the main antagonist, had yet to show up. They were currently shooting the iconic scene where Mathilda meets Leon on the staircase.

    The shoot went smoothly, with only five or six simple takes needed before they wrapped that scene up.

    While Melissa Grint''s performance deviated from Natalie Portman''s style as Eric remembered it, her acting was just as strong. When she, clutching a burning cigarette, asked Leon if life was only painful in childhood or always painful, she perfectly expressed the angst, confusion, and discontent of adolescence, earning Eric''s silent apuse.

    Perhaps this is Hollywood -- where nobody is irreceable.

    Without a twelve-year-old Lolita, the controversy surrounding Leon: The Professional would likely be much less, and it might even surpass the limitations of its original timeline, potentially earning several Oscar nominations.

    ...

    During lunch, the creative team chose a nearby restaurant to treat Eric. The sixteen-year-old pubescent girl enthusiastically chatted with Eric about her views on Mathilda. Eric and Luc discussed scriptwriting, and Eric shared some concepts for a film styled like Taken. Given Luc''s strengths in this genre, he immediately vowed to draft a script based on Eric''s ideas. The afternoon shoot started off smoothly until someone noticed Melissa frowning slightly during filming.

    Initially, Melissa imed nothing was wrong, perhaps she had just eaten something off earlier that day, but as she climbed the stairs, her leg suddenly gave way, and she tumbled

    down the stairs.

    Chaos erupted on set. Doctors arrived after about ten minutes, confirming it was nothing serious -- just acute appendicitis.

    The crew sighed in relief but was soon faced with a dilemma.

    The hospital informed them the girl needed immediate surgery. Though appendicitis surgery was usually quick, she''d require at least a week or two of recovery. With a film crew burning cash every day, waiting for a lead actress for two weeks was out of the question.

    At least it was reassuring that the shoot had just started, and the cost of resuming was minimal; they could quickly rece the actress.

    Eric had intended to return to East Hampton, but under these circumstances, he proposed

    they review the audition tapes of the original leading actress.

    Luc agreed, and they all returned to their hotel, where the assistant director quickly gathered

    the audition tapes.

    There were a good fifty tapes from aspiring actresses. With expectations, Eric began

    reviewing them but found no one named Natalie Portman.

    Losing interest, he quickly bid farewell to Luc.

    ...

    On the road back to East Hampton, Carter Moen, Eric''s bodyguard and driver for several years, noticed Eric''s expression through the rearview mirror and asked, "Boss, are you feeling

    down?"

    Eric shook his head. "There are just days when I feel a little low."

    Carter joked, "Doesn''t that happen every month?"

    "Fuck you!"

    "Ha ha..."

    After the lighthearted exchange, Eric rxed and picked up the Home Alone script again,

    flipping through the pages.

    In the sleek ck Toyota cruising down Long Ind, Eric was lost in thought when, suddenly,

    the car jolted and came to a stop with some dull thuds.

    "What happened?" Eric called out, lifting his head.

    Carter patted the steering wheel and turned to say, "We broke down. I''ll check it out."

    Eric followed Carter outside the car.

    Lifting the hood revealed a cloud of smoke that billowed forth. Carter waved his hands to

    clear the air, cautiously examining the situation.

    Eric crouched awkwardly by the roadside, reached into his pocket for a cigarette, and asked,

    "Carter, do you know how to fix this?"

    Carter shook his head lightly, smiling, "Actually, I''m better at fixing tanks."

    "Fine," Ericughed, pulling out a lighter, but Carter interrupted, "Boss, we need to push the

    car to the side of the road first."

    So, reluctantly, Eric pocketed the cigarette and lighter, and they worked together to push the ck Toyota slowly to the roadside.

    As they struggled, Eric juggled self-deprecating humor, saying, "I''m a billionaire, and here I

    am pushing my own car."

    Carter responded without missing a beat, "I''m a Marine, and I used to fly ck Hawk

    helicopters. Now, look at me, driving a Japanese car."

    Eric chuckled, "I suddenly see you as a natural talk show host."

    "I can''t talk for twenty minutes straight; let''s skip that."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Once they rolled the Toyota to the side, Carter made his way back to the engine. Knowing he

    couldn''t help, Eric squatted back down at the roadside.

    After a bit of inspection, Carter looked up, saying, "Boss, it''s not a big issue, but I don''t have

    any tools."

    Eric surveyed the area, inquiring, "Where are we?"

    "Jericho City is to the north," Carter answered.

    As they debated whether to call a towingpany or look for nearby tools, a white Chevrolet

    pulled over nearby. A woman in her thirties leaned out, "Gentlemen, do you need a hand?" "Yes, ma''am, if you don''t mind," Carter stepped forward, and Eric stood up as well.

    The woman hadn''t noticed Eric at first due to the car blocking her view. But as he stood, she

    eximed, "You''re Eric Williams?"

    "Yes, ma''am," Eric extended his hand.

    Before the middle-aged woman could respond, the back door of the Chevrolet swung open,

    and a little girl jumped out, a look of surprise lighting her face as she approached Eric. "Wow, it''s really Eric Williams! Mr. Williams, hello! I''m Natalie Hersg, but you can call me Nat!" Eric raised an eyebrow as the little girl shook his hand enthusiastically. Before long, the woman intervened, "Nat, let go of Mr. Williams''s hand; that''s rude."

    "Okay, Mommy," the girl released Eric''s hand but continued to gaze at him curiously. "Mr. Williams, are you here to select actors on Long Ind? What do you think of me?"

    "Oh, well, I''m just passing through..."

    "What movie are you nning to film next? Do you have a role for me?" she asked, making an

    adorable face.

    The girl''s mother ignored her barrage of questions and chatted briefly with Carter before

    suggesting, "Mr. Williams, I live nearby. Perhaps Mr. Carter cane with me to get some tools." "Sure, that would be helpful," Eric nodded at the woman.

    Since it was Eric they were dealing with, the woman felt at ease and warmly invited Carter to

    sit in the front seat. Then she called out to her daughter, "Nat, hop in; we''re heading back!" "Mom, you''re definitelying back, right? Can I stay and chat with Mr. Williams?"

    The woman nced at Eric, who nodded eagerly, "Don''t worry, ma''am; I''ll take good care of

    Nat."

    "As long as it''s not too much trouble for you, Mr. Williams. Nat, don''t be a handful now."

    "I won''t be!" Natalie Hersg said immediately, stealing a nce at Eric, as if he''d think of

    her as a troublesome girl.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 569: Chapter 570: Record-Breaking

    Chapter 569: Chapter 570: Record-Breaking

    ?

    [Chapter 570: Record-Breaking]

    Back at the mansion, Chris detailed the series of operations regarding Nokia Group''s acquisition to Eric.

    "...Since Nokia''s sales operations increasingly focused on international markets, we set up an international salespany in Irnd. This allowed us to consolidate all revenue from outside Find there, enabling us to pay only about ten percent in corporate taxes. This way, we could funnel significant amounts into an offshore fund located in the Caribbean. Nokia''s overall tax rate would remain around ten percent; if we set up salespanies in each European country, the tax rate would be at least twenty percent."

    At this point, Eric suddenly recalled the "sandwich" tax avoidance strategies of major international tech giants like Apple and Google. Looking up, he noticed Chris showed no indication of being concerned about such matters. Eric thought for a moment but ultimately decided to keep his thoughts to himself. After all, Chris and Jorma Oll were undeniably smart. Furthermore, every multinational corporation had departments dedicated to researching tax strategies. If there were cheaper tax avoidance options avable, they wouldn''t ignore them. For him, a high schooler who never even attended college in this life, to propose a scheme using Nokia''s brand intellectual property and exploiting the zero-tax loopholes among EU nations would seem entirely out of ce.

    Chris felt Eric''s moment of hesitance and continued speaking, "We acquired a 51% stake in Nokia, which is entirely held by the Hawaii Fund set up in the Caribbean. Based on the current development situation, Nokia Group''s business is set to experience explosive growth over the next few years. The $420 million we injected will only cover R&D and marketing expenses for less than two years. As you requested, Nokia will restart its listing n on the New York Stock Exchange in 1995, at which point we will have controlling shares."

    At this point, Chris suddenly raised his head and asked, "Eric, I remember that when we invested in America Online, you also requested it to go public after 1995. Is there something special about that timing?"

    "It''s not just America Online. I n to have severalpanies, including the browser softwarepany, Yahoo portal, and Hotmail email service, as well as Firefly Software spun off from Firefly Films, and Digital Domain, all go public in the two years following 1995," Eric was prepared for Chris''s question. Although the reasoning he provided wasn''t entirely urate based on his memory, it was definitely reasonable. "1995 marks Clinton''s third year in office, and his administration''s information superhighway initiative is expected to take effect early that year. For techpanies, this represents the best moment to go public. If we miss that window, we can''t predict what policies the next president might implement if Clinton doesn''t get re-elected."

    Chris nodded in agreement as they discussed various matters. He then closed the documents in front of him and said, "Eric, are you really nning to acquire Leslie Wexner''s LTD?"

    "Yes, after attending the fashion show at Bryant Park during Fashion Week, I had some great ideas. Fortunately, LTD''s Victoria''s Secret brand can help me realize this n."

    "But Victoria''s Secret is an underwear brand, right?"

    "That''s exactly what I want: an underwear brand. Leveraging this brand, I n to create a series of reality shows once Firefly acquires a televisionwork and transform Victoria''s Secret into a cultural icon."

    "Isn''t there the Brighton Apparelpany? The quality between the two brands is quite different..."

    "Chris, which would you prefer to see: a pretty, curvy lingerie model or a runway model looking as stiff as a stic doll?"

    Chris chuckled and replied, "Well, with that in mind, the investmentpany can''t assist with the televisionwork acquisition n in Los Angeles. By the way, I just got back yesterday and received a call from my former boss at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Ritchie, asking if Firefly Film would issue bonds. I didn''t disclose anything, just said I would mention it to you."

    The acquisition of the televisionwork had just begun, and Eric hadn''t anticipated that others had already noticed. He asked, "Which investment bank do you think is more suitable for Firefly''s bond offering?"

    "If you truly n to issue tens of billions in corporate bonds like you initially envisioned, any investment bank on Wall Street would fight tooth and nail for that business. However, if you want to quickly secure sufficient funding, I suggest distributing this business among several investment banks. It would be wise to contact some European and Japanese investment banks too; given Firefly''s credit rating, they will offer even bettermission rates."

    Eric noted Chris''s remarks in a memo. "I''ll discuss it with the team in Los Angeles tonight."

    "Then let''s continue our discussion about LTD," Chris said. "From what I gathered yesterday, thergest shareholder of LTD is Leslie Wexner, who holds about 35% of the shares. Based on LTD''s recent stock pricing, thepany''s total market value is $1.47 billion. After acquiring Nokia Group, the investment firm will only have $600 million left, which is merely $100 million more than the market value of Wexner''s shares. Therefore, if we want to proceed with the acquisition, I''ll need to employ some of Wall Street''smon ''dirty tactics.""

    Eric noticed Chris seemed excited when mentioning "dirty tactics." Clearly, as an investor from Morgan Stanley, Chris envied those Wall Street tycoons who leveraged acquisitions to dominate the capital market. Previously, whether acquiring Cisco shares, investing in America Online, or the recent purchase of Nokia Group, Chris had always adhered to standard business transactions without deviation.

    "Chris, you can handle the $600 million entirely on your own; I''m staying out of this. Just make sure you end up securing LTD."

    "Give me three months," Chris held up three fingers. "Additionally, I need Brighton Apparel as leverage for debt financing. After the acquisition, the twopanies might merge

    directly."

    "I said I''d leave this entirely in your hands," Eric replied with a smile. "Chris, this time you can unleash the Wall Street wolf within you."

    "I''ve suddenly developed a fondness for the name ''Wall Street Wolf''."

    Just as the two shared augh, Emily walked through the door. It was already dusk, and they had been so engrossed in their conversation that they forgot to turn on the lights. The room felt dim as Emily saw two powerful men seated across from each other at the desk grinning with mischievous Smirks, giving her a little shiver. She reached for the switch, turned on the light, and let out a sigh of relief, saying, "Hey, gentlemen, I hate to interrupt your scheming, but it''s already seven o''clock. Aren''t you hungry?"

    "Dear, we''ll head over right now," Chris said, gathering his papers while Eric stood up to stretch his stiff limbs from sitting too long, and they all walked toward the dining room with

    Emily.

    Taking advantage of Chris''s trip to the restroom, Emily suddenly leaned closer to Eric. "Eric, have you two discussed that thing?"

    "I''ve handed it all over to Chris. Just wait to be the CEO of LTD," Eric replied.

    "Wow, thank you so much!" Emily clenched her fist in excitement.

    ...

    At the dining table, Emily enthusiastically recounted the series of changes at Brighton

    Apparel.

    Since the stunning marketing strategy during New York Fashion Week more than half a month ago, Brighton Apparel''s brand recognition rapidly expanded across the U.S. and Europe. Although the next season''s clothing hadn''t been officiallyunched yet, thepany''s ready-to-wear sales and orders had significantly increased.

    "...A few days ago, that Leslie Wexner offered us a buyout offer again, this time for $450 million. Ha! That old guy probably doesn''t realize that in a few months, hispany just might end up being acquired by us," Emily eximed.

    Chris couldn''t tolerate his girlfriend''s over-the-top gestures and interrupted, "Alright, darling, do you want everyone to know we''re nning a hostile takeover of LTD?"

    "Of course not! I''m no fool. Do you think anyone here would leak that information?" Emily waved her small hand dismissively. "Eric wouldn''t, Joann wouldn''t, and neither would Ewa. Oh, and you two little sweethearts, Elia and Kevin, you wouldn''t gossip about it, right?"

    In the high chair between Eric and Joanna, little Elia made a little noise in response to Emily, while Kevin just stared nkly at Emily, seemingly disinterested in the conversation. Ewa, who came over again for food, noticed the two kids'' reactions and suddenly asked Eric, "Eric, do you think Kevin is... is he a bit slow? Seems kind of in?"

    Joanna shot her sister a re. "Ewa, don''t say such things."

    Ewa Pac stuck out her tongue but didn''t push the topic further; Joanna''s authority was

    much more effective with her than Eric''s.

    Although Chris and Emily remained silent, Joanna caught the simr curiosity in the

    exchanged nces between Chris and Emily. She gently said, "Vicky checked the little guy before and even tested his IQ; he was fine. The doctor said it''s just that Elia is so lively that itn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    makes Kevin seem overly quiet."

    "Being quiet isn''t bad; maybe he''ll grow up to be a philosopher," Chrisplimented.

    Joannaughed but remained silent, ncing at Eric. She was very aware of Virginia''s thoughts. As Eric''s eldest son, Eric treated Kevin without regard for him being an illegitimate child. Virginia was hoping for Kevin to be Eric''s sessor. If he really became a

    philosopher, Virginia would likely be quite upset.

    "As long as the little guy can grow up happy, that''s all that matters. His future path should be

    his own choice," Eric said, patting his son''s little head.

    Emily opened her mouth to speak but ultimately didn''t say anything. Everyone in the dining room, except Eric, noticed Emily''s little gesture and fell momentarily silent. Chris, concerned that Emily might say something, lightly kicked his girlfriend.

    Everyone clearly understood that what Emily wanted to discuss was how Eric nned to divide his personal wealth, but that issue felt far too sensitive, considering Eric was still

    under thirty.

    Eric was equally aware of everyone''s thoughts. He felt that if he built such a substantial enterprise and left it without an heir, that would be a tragedy. However, Eric was assured that he would never have just two children. He would surely find a sessor for his career. He wasn''t like Rupert Murdoch, still clinging to power into his eighth decade, causing his children tock adequate experience and ultimately fail to find suitable sessors. Even if Eric retired at fifty, that was still many years away. There was no point in worrying about

    these issues now.

    ...

    The next morning, Eric vaguely heard hurried footsteps and opened his eyes to see Ewa waving a newspaper as she entered the bedroom.

    "Eric, Jurassic Park broke E.T.''s box office record! Nine hundred million dors worldwide!

    Nine hundred million!"

    Eric rubbed his forehead, ncing out at the morning light, marveling at how Joanna had more energy than he did.

    Joanna woke up as well, seeing Ewa''s excitementpletely disregarding appropriate manners. She sighed, took the newspaper from Ewa''s hand, and yfully smacked her with a

    nearby pillow. "Ewa, do you not know how rude it is to barge into someone''s bedroom? If you do this again, I''ll send you back to Pnd!"

    Though she was aware her sister was just threatening her and wouldn''t really send her away, Ewa still shrank back a bit. "I just wanted you to know this great news as quickly as possible!"

    "Sending you to Pnd is one thing, but it might be better to send you to ska. Those kinds of ces are perfect for energetic youngsters," Eric joked, pulling Joanna closer against him. "ska? It''s so cold there; I''d rather go back to Pnd!" Ewa protested.

    "Shut it, now get out," Joanna said, shooing her away.

    Once Ewa was sent off, Eric lost any lingering desire to sleep. He sat up and opened the New

    York Times newspaper Ewa had brought in.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 571: Chapter 572: ER

    Chapter 571: Chapter 572: ER

    ?

    [Chapter 572: The Story from the Emergency Room]

    Eric pondered for a moment and suddenly recalled Elisabeth''s strong personality and their rtionship. There was no way she wouldpletely ignore him, especially considering the Braveheart project. So...

    Thinking of that old fox, Eric said, "Liz, I suddenly feel like I shouldn''t get involved with this. Once Braveheart loses money, and coupled with the lesson from the fiasco of Cutthroat Ind a few years ago, Firefly Films will definitely have a much strongerpetitive edge when ites topeting for scripts in the future."

    "Then you''ll just sit back and watch me get kicked out by thepany?"

    Eric shook his head, "No, I figure if anyone is going to walk, it''ll be your old man."

    Elisabeth fell silent for half a second and sighed, "Can''t you just not be so smart for once?"

    Eric shook his head with a sigh, "What can I do? Sigh, intelligence is just one of those things..."

    Elisabeth looked at Eric''s smug face, raised her mouse as if to throw it at him but then set it back down, "Alright, the truth is my dad personally talked to Mel Gibson about this project."

    "Which means you also shouldn''t get involved. Your old man is just too clever. If he doesn''t change his ways, he will eventually reap what he sows. Oh wait, he already started reaping what he sowed when he messed with Drew that time. Look at how your News Corp stock prices have been fluctuating; mostpanies would have crumbled by now."

    Elisabeth seemed a bit helpless, "My old man is sixty-two. Do you think he can change?"

    "Fine," Eric shrugged, "What are the benefits for me getting involved in this project now?"

    "Firefly can invest," Elisabeth held up five pale fingers, "Half is fine, but we have to keep the copyrights."

    "Forget it. You guys set the price too high. Mel Gibson might just take all the profits," Eric instantly rejected.

    "Then what do you suggest we do?"

    Eric acted casually, "Alright, I''ll just be the nice guy this once, but save the lead female role for me."

    Elisabeth gave him a disdainful look, "Who is it this time? It wouldn''t be Joan''s sister, would it? I saw a photo of you two together in the papers the other day."

    Thinking of Ewa, Eric felt a headacheing on, "Of course not her. If I messed with Ewa, Joan would definitely take Elia back to Pnd."

    "Hmph, don''t think I don''t know about those Spanish sisters. Tsk tsk, you should be careful. You might wake up one day and find yourself in the same situation as Michael Jackson."

    "Am I that kind of person? Monica is already sixteen. Besides, I haven''t even touched her."

    "What about Drew? You guys knew each other when I counted the years. Oh, how funny, 1988 and 1975, same age as that boy in the Michael Jackson case..."

    Eric squinted his eyes, "Why don''t we skip talking about Braveheart today and focus on these issues instead?"

    Elisabeth immediately sat up straight and said seriously, "Fine, the lead female role is yours; what''s next?"

    Eric recalled the Braveheart script he read a while back. It hadn''t changed much from his memory, and both leads could still be confirmed to be the same cast. The budget was sufficient; the quality of the movie was absolutely guaranteed. The only issue remaining was distribution.

    "How do you n to distribute this film?"

    "My dad is nning to make this film the gship for next summer''s blockbusters," Elisabeth remembered Eric''s earlierments, "But now, based on what you said, should it be scheduled for the end of the year instead?"

    "Yeah, from a production standpoint, I''ve gone through the script. It doesn''t need major changes. As soon as we confirm the male and female leads, we just need to find a suitable producer to work with Mel Gibson, and that will guarantee the film''s quality. The only remaining issue is distribution. Braveheart can be considered an Oscar contender; if we release it in summer, it can''t enjoy the awards season''s box office benefits. So, it''s best to release it at the end of the year."

    The awards season typically starts at the end of the year and runs until the Oscars in March. During these months, numerous film awards took ce. For an Oscar contender, every influential award won during this period could stimte the film''s box office. After winning significant Oscars, films usually experienced another box office rebound. Therefore, for a film like Braveheart, which had the potential to win Best Picture and other major Oscar awards, end-of-year release was the ideal choice.

    Elisabeth pulled out a notepad from her purse and jotted these down, then looked up and asked, "Anything else?"

    Eric lightly tapped the desk with his fingers, pondering for a moment, "I haven''t heard anything about the Weinsteins'' Miramaxtely. Have they found a buyer?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Not yet, I think," Elisabeth considered and said, "Aren''t you not interested in Miramax?"

    "Just because I''m not interested doesn''t mean Miramax isn''t valuable. Everyone knows how the Weinsteins handle the Oscars. Currently, the Oscar economy is still quite lucrative. So, maybe 20th Century Fox should acquire Miramax and let them handle Braveheart."

    Elisabeth picked up her pen, about to note that down, when she suddenly remarked, "Aren''t those two brothers asking for quite a high price? Maybe we can follow the model used in The Silence of the Lambs -- Fox pays them, and they help with the PR?"

    "Fox unwilling to buy Miramax doesn''t mean other filmpanies aren''t tempted. What if they find a buyer during this year? Do you think they''d still handle Fox''s Oscar contender? It''s possible that you guys could end up bingpetitors."

    "Looks like that''s the only way," Elisabeth wrote that option down and suddenly added, "Firefly is working on that WWII film; it should alsopete for the Oscars, right? That

    Kathryn Bigelow?"

    "That film is due out next summer. Kathryn is a woman, so her chances of getting Best Picture and Best Director aren''t very high this time. We''ll aim for Best Male Lead. Meanwhile, with Mel Gibson directing and starring, he can''t take both little golden statuettes. So you guys can focus on Best Director."

    Elisabeth remembered how she was mocked in the media after The Silence of the Lambs won Best Picture and realized that Eric was speaking the truth. She said, "But Mel Gibson isn''t exactly a well-known director; he should be more suited for Best Male Lead."

    Eric nodded seriously, "It wille down to each person''s merits. No woman has ever won Best Director at the Oscars. A little media hype might just push Kathryn forward. A film like Saving Private Ryan has a high potential for Best Picture too. Plus, Tom Hanks and Mel Gibson; Mel is way better looking than Tom, and generally, good-looking people don''t win Oscars." "Alright, alright, let''s not fight over Best Male Lead," Elisabeth quickly surrendered, thenughed, "If the Academy knew we were already discussing how to split the Oscars two years from now, do you think they wouldn''t give us a single award?"

    Eric lowered his voice, "Yeah, that''s very possible. So, you must not go around spreading

    this."

    "Hehe..." Elisabeth giggled a couple of times, "Hey, is there anything else?"

    "Not for now. I''ll let you know if I think of anything."

    Elisabeth was about to close her notebook but added, "How about, when the final cut of the

    film is done, you help out and take a look?"

    "That might be pushing it. I''m the owner of Firefly Films; does it really make sense for me to run over to yourpany and act as an editor?"

    Disappointed, Elisabeth stuffed the notebook back in her bag, saying, "Don''t think I don''t

    know your intentions."

    "Oh? Do tell."

    "Mr. Williams, can you tell me why you suggested I take the position at Fox?"

    Eric chuckled, "Are you expecting to be the VP at Warner Bros. instead?" Elisabeth ignored Eric''s attempt to change the subject, "You want me to take my dad''s ce

    and then use my influence to expand yours in Hollywood. Your ambition, Drew''s little slip of the tongue revealed it a while back. Hmph, I''ll go along with your wishes. I''m curious to see how you n to unify Hollywood in the future."

    Eric showed no signs of embarrassment from being exposed. Leaning back in his chair with a cup of coffee, he said leisurely, "I promise you''ll see that day."

    "Well, I''m waiting," Elisabeth replied. After saying that, she grabbed her bag and stood up.

    Eric followed suit and asked, "You''re not in a rush to get back to L.A. now, are you?"

    Elisabeth countered with curiosity, "Why would I go back to L.A.?"

    "Then where are you going?"

    "Of course, I''m going home," Elisabeth gave Eric a roll of her eyes. "When I was fourteen, my

    dad moved our whole family to Manhattan. Did you think we still lived in Australia?" Eric genuinely forgot this detail, "Then I''ll drop you off. Is your old man still in L.A.?"

    Elisabeth replied, "He went to the U.K. about Sky TV. I''m going home to see mom."

    ...

    After dropping Elisabeth off, Eric returned to his study. He was just about to call Sophie when he suddenly realized that the French Rose had recently joined the cast of Revenge of the Musketeers, but he didn''t have the contact information for the crew, so he set that aside for the

    time being.

    With nothing else to do, Eric picked up the TV drama proposals that came in from L.A. and

    began to review them.

    After spending over two hours looking through the numerous proposals, Eric found that none of them resembled the American dramas he remembered. However, he still wrote down some suggestions for a few promising projects, intending to let the television department decide whether to move forward with them. After all, the production costs for a TV drama were much lower than for a film, and following normal procedures, a TV show often just shot a pilot first to test audience reception, so failure wouldn''t incur significant losses.

    Just as he was about to put all the files away, Eric suddenly noticed the file that Elisabeth had flipped through. She had casually set it beside the monitor after scanning it.

    Eric picked up the file and flipped it open. Though he had no expectations left, just seeing the project nner''s name made Eric''s pupils dte.

    Because in that section, a very familiar name was prominently disyed: Michael Crichton.

    The renowned author of Jurassic Park in the original timeline, although Eric had written Jurassic Park a few years earlier, Michael Crichton was still a decent screenwriter in Hollywood but no longer as dazzling as in the original timeline.

    Looking at the TV drama project proposal in hand, even though he hadn''t opened the content yet, Eric was already roughly guessing what this drama would be based on his memory. ER; that medical drama that became a huge hit in the 90s. Because of the immense ratings for

    ER, it led to the rise of numerous medical dramas like Grey''s Anatomy and House over the next

    ten years.

    ER not only produced over ten seasons but alsounched George Clooney, known as Hollywood''s most eligible bachelor, into stardom.

    Eric excitedly opened the cover, briefly scanning the contents of the TV drama proposal, and

    indeed, as he expected, it was the proposal for ER.

    After flipping through the proposal, Eric calmed down from his excitement. What he needed to consider now was how to securely acquire this project. Having just experienced thepetition over Braveheart a few months ago, Eric didn''t want to go through that again. For the futurework, ER''s value was undoubtedly equal to Friends. Moreover, this drama had a significant advantage: it featured many main characters, or rather, there was no singr main character. This meant that as long as the ratings were good, ER could continue indefinitely without the productionpany facing the issue of not being able to afford the actors'' sries and cutting the show. With so many leads, if one actor left, it wouldn''t matter;

    they could just rece them.

    Thinking of this, Eric picked up the phone and directly dialed Michael Lynn''s number in L.A. They chatted on the phone for quite a while, and sensing Eric''s serious attitude, Michael Lynn immediately said he would personally follow this project.

    However, recalling hisst experience, Eric advised Michael Lynn to not be too conspicuous.

    After thinking about it, Eric looked at the pile of project proposals and finally suggested that Michael Lynn pick a few and let the licensing department approach them together. This way, they wouldn''t attract too much attention from others.

    After reiterating his instructions, Eric finally felt at ease hanging up the phone.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 573: Chapter 574: A Good Opportunity

    Chapter 573: Chapter 574: A Good Opportunity

    ?

    [Chapter 574: A Good Opportunity]

    Barry Diller spoke in a rather t tone, but Eric realized that continuing the conversation wouldn''t yield any results.

    While Eric felt some regret, he mostly thought it was a shame. With Barry Diller''s talents, running QVC, a television shoppingpany worth less than one billion dors, was hardly enough to showcase his abilities. Moreover, Eric knew that in just a few years, with the rise of emerce, television shopping would likely be obsolete.

    With Barry Diller passing on this opportunity, any hope of his return to Hollywood seemed bleak.

    Not achieving his goal, Eric didn''t rush to leave. The two casually chatted about other matters until Eric''s mobile phone rang at three in the afternoon. After answering, Eric quickly hung up.

    He hadn''t made a point to avoid Barry Diller while on the call, so after ending the conversation, Barry remarked, "That was Jeffrey calling, wasn''t it?"

    Eric chuckled and nodded. Barry Diller had been under a lot of scrutinytely. Although the Paramount acquisition had been settled, the attention on him hadn''t faded immediately. Within just a few hours of their meeting, news had already spread to many.

    Both understood that Jeffrey Katzenberg''s call was surely probing Eric''s intentions regarding Barry Diller, but Eric exined, "Jeffrey said one of thepany''s films just finished its final cut and asked if I wanted to take a look at it."

    "You should head to Burbank then; there''s just enough time to watch a film," Barry said with augh. Then he added, "Jeffrey can be a little impatient, much like Michael. The calm Frank Wells is a perfect counterbnce to him. During the years Michael ran Disney, Frank always acted as a buffer between Michael and the Disney staff. Anytime those guys got an earful from Michael, Frank would step in to smooth things over. I don''t know much about Mr. Hansen, so if you were to make Jeffrey the CEO, I suggest you keep Frank as Jeffrey''s right-hand man."

    Eric got up, put on his coat, and shook Barry Diller''s hand. "Thanks for your advice, Barry; I will consider it carefully."

    Barry personally escorted Eric out of the hotel. Just as they stepped outside, a throng of reporters who had caught wind of their meeting surrounded them, bombarding them with questions about their discussion.

    Since Barry hadn''t agreed to his invitation, Eric opted not to stir the pot further. He said nothing and slipped into his car under the protection of his bodyguards.

    ...

    Arriving at Firefly''s headquarters, Eric found Katzenberg waiting for him in the lobby with a group. On the phone, Katzenberg''s excuse for inviting Eric was to view a screening of Interview with the Vampire. At that moment, director Neil Jordan, original author Anne Rice, and stars Tom Cruise and Kirsten Dunst were also present, along with David Geffen, who had coborated on the film.

    After greeting everyone, it was clear to Eric, despite Katzenberg''s good disguise, that there were traces of doubt and inquiry in his expression.

    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group surrounded Eric and headed for the elevator. Due to the crowd, they naturally split into two groups, allowing Eric, Katzenberg, and Geffen to use one elevator.

    As they entered, Eric chatted briefly with David Geffen before asking Katzenberg why he hadn''t seen Michael Lynn and others.

    "They''re all at ya Vista," Katzenberg replied and then casually added, "Eric, why did you suddenly return today?"

    Eric exined, "Barry and I are good friends. He wasn''t able to wrest Paramount from Redstone, so I came back early tofort him."

    Katzenberg nodded, seeming relieved. As a former subordinate of Barry Diller, he had reached out to Barry after the failed acquisition. Yet, he didn''t believe Eric had rushed back from New York just for that reason. Compared to himself, Eric wasn''t as close to Diller; merely expressing sympathy would suffice with a phone call.

    Katzenberg could guess the reason behind Eric''s meeting with Barry. Since Eric chose to state it this way rather than admit to discussing certain matters, it implied that nothing significant had transpired, and that there wasn''t any need for further discussions. With that, he let out a sigh of relief.

    To be frank, Katzenberg didn''t think Michael Eisner was significantly more capable than himself. Many of Disney''s sesses in thete ''80s had stemmed from his leadership. Butpared to Barry Diller, Katzenberg willingly admitted his inferiority, making it hard to envision how they would coexist should Barry join Firefly. He certainly wouldn''t want to relinquish the soon-to-be-assured position of CEO at Firefly, which he had worked so hard to attain. The thought of letting Barry serve as his subordinate was even more unfathomable. Setting aside those worries, Katzenberg grew more chatty and began discussing recent happenings. Standing next to Eric was David Geffen, who also picked up on the sudden change in atmosphere and chimed in.

    ...

    The trio bantered as they made their way to the screening room. As the projectionist prepared to start the film, Eric leaned toward Katzenberg, who was sitting to his left, and whispered, "Jeffrey, David seems a bit overly enthusiastic. Is something going on?"

    David Geffen was sitting to Eric''s right when Katzenberg lowered his voice, "Geffen''s recordpany is about to split from Warner Bros."

    The screening room wasn''t the ce for heavy discussions. After thatment, Katzenberg straightened up, confident that Eric understood the implications of what he said.

    Of course, Eric grasped Katzenberg''s message. It was 1993, and ording to established history, next year David Geffen, Steven Spielberg, and Katzenberg would co-found DreamWorks.

    However, history had diverged significantly. Katzenberg didn''t leave Disney despite his conflicts with Eisner, and Spielberg had no ambitions to strike out on his own following the sess of Jurassic Park. The only event that had unfolded was Geffen''s recordpany separating from Warner due to Steve Ross''s death and some discord with Warner Bros.

    While Geffen''s recordpany didn''t stack up against Columbia Records or Universal Music, when DreamWorks was eventually formed, Geffen was the richest of the three, courtesy of his

    musicpany.

    With DreamWorks not in y, it was clear that David Geffen was looking for a solid coborator for his recordbel. Among the seven major yers, aside from his former partner Warner Bros, Firefly was undoubtedly the best option.

    Since the sess of Home Alone, Eric had contemted making Firefly a media giant epassing all areas of entertainment, including the music industry in his ns.

    However, after years of experiences, Eric had gradually tempered those ambitions. Just as he had told Elisabeth he wouldn''t delve into print media, he found expanding Firefly into the music sector was likely not the best choice. Much like the print media industry that copsed after the dawn of the new millennium, the record industry had already begun to struggle thanks to the introduction of tapes that were significantly cheaper than vinyl records in the ''80s, facing threats from piracy. With the arrival of the inte age in theing years, music downloads would plunge the record industry further into crisis.

    Although a full decline in the record industry was still a few years away, if Firefly were to boldly enter that realm, the potential scenario could see them finally establishing a foothold only to have a sudden freeze in the industry, rendering their efforts in vain.

    ...

    While watching Interview with the Vampire, Eric remained distracted, pondering the implications of the recordbel discussion Katzenberg had just mentioned.

    Once the screening concluded, Eric mechanically joined in apuding along with everyone else, but hisst thought lingered on the notion that, rather than venturing into music distribution, it was wiser to establish a payment tform leveraging the inte and hardware, much like Apple had done, which would be the key to profitability in the music industry in the digital era.

    As the lights came up in the screening room, whispers filled the air. While Eric mulled over his recent insight, he heard a woman''s voice beside him.

    "Mr. Williams, what did you think of the film?"

    Looking up, he saw Anne Rice, about fifty years old, dressed in ck with a bob simr to that

    of Anna Wintour, approach him.

    From Anne Rice''s expression, Eric could tell she was pleased with the film. However, since he hadn''t fully focused on it, he could only echo from memory, "It was great, especially Kirsten''s performance; it felt like there was a thirty-five-year-old soul hidden in her twelve-

    year-old body."

    Seeing Eric lost in thought, Anne had initially felt some discontent, but upon hearing his words, her previous emotions vanished. She beamed as if she had found a kindred spirit, waving to Kirsten Dunst, who was seated not far away, pulling her over for an affectionate embrace. "Mr. Williams, what a coincidence! I felt the same way."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Coincidence? That''s something you already said.

    Eric silently downyed that thought but maintained his cool facade. "So, Ms. Rice, you''re

    also satisfied with the film, right?"

    "Yes, I was initially worried that Mr. Cruise wouldn''t be able to handle the role, but his

    performance exceeded my expectations."

    "Then why don''t you write a review, Ms. Rice?" Eric suggested in line with her sentiment, "It would greatly help promote the film and allow more of your fans to discover it."

    In the realm of vampire-themed literature, Anne Rice held a great status. If this renowned author publicly endorsed the film in the media, it would carry the weight of a million-dor advertisement.

    Anne Rice didn''t promise immediately but responded ambiguously, "I will share my genuine

    thoughts on this film."

    After saying this, Anne took Kirsten Dunst''s hand and walked out of the screening room,

    quietly chatting with her about something.

    ...

    The group quickly shifted to a conference room where the film''s creators, Firefly''s producers, marketing heads, and a few invited critics began sharing their insights and suggestions for modifying some details of the film.

    While many were eager to express their thoughts, Eric remained silent. He didn''t have much feeling about a vampire movie. Offering unsolicited suggestions could end up being counterproductive.

    About half an hour into the meeting, David Geffen received a phone call, excusing himself

    from the discussion. Eric and Katzenberg took the opportunity to leave the conference room

    with him.

    The outdoor parking lot at Firefly was open-air. As the three exited the office building and

    walked toward the lot, David casually asked, "Mr. Williams, does Firefly have any intentions to enter the record industry?"

    "Sorry, David, I haven''t considered that yet. However, the next phase for Firefly will focus

    mainly on TVworks. Even if we were to venture into the record industry, it would have to

    wait a few years."

    David Geffen simply acknowledged that, his expression remaining unchanged. Although he

    wished to align himself with the flourishing Firefly, he had other options avable. Since Eric didn''t show particr enthusiasm, he opted not to push further.

    Once David Geffen left, Katzenberg expressed his regret, "Eric, I truly believe this is a missed

    opportunity."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 575: Chapter 576: If I Were to Choose

    Chapter 575: Chapter 576: If I Were to Choose

    ?

    [Chapter 576: If I Were to Choose]

    The next day, Eric arrived personally at the office that Drew had leased for Flower Films in Venice Beach.

    In the distance, the three-story building overlooking the beach and the sea was fully rented by Drew, with most of the rooms undergoing renovations. Eric specifically rushed over to personally chat with Amy Pascal about the matters concerning Flower Films.

    Last night, during a discussion with Drew, they had quickly shifted focus due to her insistence, and they hadn''t managed to reach any conclusions on many topics. Since Drew had brought Amy Pascal, who was originally the chairwoman of Sony Pictures in that timeline, into the fold, it seemed logical to discuss things with someone more professional.

    In Eric''s view, Drew''s ability to hire people far exceeded her other talents. For instance, Eric had always been puzzled about how she got those Russian twins to be so obedient; they definitely hadbat skills on an elite level. Yet, even when Drew was scolding them, the twins hung their heads in silence like a pair of docile kittens.

    During the first few days the twins appeared next to Drew, while they maintained their cool demeanor with no hint of a fighter''s edge, Eric, out of curiosity, had sparred with one of the twins in the mansion''s gym. Or rather, it couldn''t really be called a "match", as Eric had surrendered within a minute and consequently ended up with a ck eye, which Drewughed at him about for several days.

    And now, surprisingly, the girl had sessfully convinced Amy Pascal to join her at Flower Films, which felt to Eric like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

    "Amy, what made you decide to team up with Drew?" Eric asked as soon as he saw Amy Pascal in the office.

    Amy, sporting a wavy hairstyle and looking cheerful, smiled at Eric''s question and said, "Eric, you should understand, I came here because of you. Drew knows that too."

    "In that case, you could have joined Firefly. Firefly is in an expansion phase, and if you came over, I''d definitely be all for it."

    "I considered it when I decided to leave Columbia, but Firefly''s management system is already quite established. It would be hard for me to fully utilize my abilities there. Here, it''s different," Amy waved her hand lightly. "It''s like a nk te. I can showcase my talents freely, and no one will care that I''m a woman since the owner of thepany is also a woman."

    Eric looked at Amy Pascal''s determined expression and asked, "So, do you have aplete n in mind already?"

    "Of course," Amy replied, actually pulling out a document from the file cab next to her and handing it to Eric. "This is what I have prepared over the past few days. I gave Drew a copy, but I figured you just got back yesterday, so she probably hasn''t had a chance to pass it on to you."

    As Eric flipped through the pages, it became clear why he had wanted to discuss Flower Films'' development strategy seriously the previous night, but Drew seemed half-hearted about it; she apparently already had aprehensive n in ce.

    Looking at the document, which consisted of over ten pages, Eric closed the blue stic folder casually. "Amy, why don''t you summarize it for us?"

    Amy didn''t object and said, "I''ve researched Flower Films'' intellectual properties, and I think two rights suitable for development at this stage are Mission: Impossible and The Bourne Identity."

    Mission: Impossible and The Bourne Identity referred to the TV series version of the movie franchise and the original novel title, respectively. In Eric''s n, he felt that The Bourne Identity wouldn''t be ready for development for another few years; it was a bit too early. However, he didn''t interrupt Amy Pascal and allowed her to continue.

    "...If Flower Films could sessfully produce several lucrative blockbuster movies over the next few years and establish its own profitable movie franchise, it could expand through going public or issuing bonds. My personal suggestion is to first work towards a merger between Flower Films and MGM. Considering the state of Sony Columbia, I believe they''llst at most five years before being forced out of Hollywood."

    When Amy Pascal said this, she shot a knowing look at Eric. When she saw no change in Eric''s expression -- just a slight shrug -- she continued, "At that point, we could further acquire Columbia Pictures on top of MGM, but all of this hinges on the sess of the films developed by Flower Films. First, in terms of movie production financing, with you backing us, I believe we can easily secure funding from Wall Street or European capital. Alternatively, Firefly could invest directly, but I suspect you wouldn''t want Firefly too involved with Flower Films, at least for now, am I right?"

    Amy Pascal''s strategy was evidently more meticulous than Eric had originally thought. While in that timeline both Columbia and MGM had be subsidiaries of Sony, Eric had never considered having Flower Films gradually absorb bothpanies. But this method was definitely more viable than simply using massive funds for an acquisition.

    While Eric had originally nned for Firefly to absorb MGM''s film library in a few years, the fact that MGM fell into Drew''s hands instead of Firefly''s didn''t make a significant difference. Hearing Amy''s proposal, Eric nodded. "Before the antitrustws loosen further, I indeed wouldn''t want Firefly overly involved with Flower Films. Everyone knows how this works, but asw-abiding citizens, we need to give the SEC a reason not to bother us. Additionally, I''d prefer other filmpanies to handle the distribution of Flower Films'' movies since Firefly''s projects already consume a lot of our marketing resources. Of course, you can rest assured that under any circumstances, Firefly will always be the strongest support for Flower Films. I just wish things never had to get thatplicated."

    Amy Pascal nodded and said, "Before I left Columbia, I spoke directly to Mr. Guber." Mentioning Peter Guber, a clear distaste appeared in Amy Pascal''s eyes, but she went on, "Columbia will handle the distribution of Flower Films'' productions, and Mr. Guber promised to offer the best possible profit-sharing terms."

    After spending half an hour exining her n, Amy Pascal finally said, "So, Eric, now you can share your thoughts. Although you haven''t disagreed with me so far, I sense there are points you don''t support?"

    "I certainly can''tpete with you professionals on operational matters," Eric chuckled. "What I want to stress is film production. Even though big-budget films have be Hollywood''s main revenue trend, I hope Flower Films can still engage in producing mid to low-budget independent films."

    The 1990s would be the golden decade for Hollywood''s independent films. Though many independent films turned out to be expensive visual flops, every year saw many quality films emerge, with high-grossing independent films being quitemon.

    Amy Pascal seemed to grasp some of this situation and nodded. "Anything else?"

    "I looked over the rights library of Flower Filmsst night. Mission: Impossible, The Bourne Identity, and Tolkien''s The Lord of the Rings series are among the most valuable rights, all with potential for franchise development. However, thetter two aren''t suitable for development right now. What you should focus on is Mission: Impossible. I''ll personally provide a concept for

    the adaptation."

    Amy Pascal looked a bit disappointed. "Eric, is that the only one?"

    Actually, there was also Forrest Gump, but if they chose to produce it now, it would only be ready for release the following year. In that case, Fox''s Braveheart would certainly suffer at the Oscars facing off against Forrest Gump. Moreover, Tom Hanks was still in Irnd filming Saving Private Ryan, making it impossible for him to take on other projects in the near term. So Eric nned to push Forrest Gump back for filming next year, aiming for a 1995 release. As for the potentialpetition at the Oscars, that wasn''t his concern.

    Just as Eric was about to nod, he hesitated and said, "While I was in Berlinst time, I came up with a great idea for a fantasy film called Night at the Museum. The script is already registered, and I can hand that over to you as well."

    Amy Pascal''s eyes sparkled with excitement, then she asked, "Eric, don''t your scripts usually get developed by Firefly directly?"

    Eric replied, "Firefly''s major releases for the next three years are mostly decided." Amy Pascal suddenly recalled the project information that Firefly had already divulged. Films like Saving Private Ryan, True Lies, The Lion King, Jurassic Park II, Independence Day, Toy Story 2, and a series of films in coboration with Columbia and DreamWorks were all confirmed for Firefly in the next three years, which led her to feel a bit envious. Presumably, the mindset of other Hollywood filmpanies was simr.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Though otherpanies had ramped up their production of big-budget films over the past two years, sess was rare since theycked the special effects technology supported by Digital Domain under Firefly. Moreover, there was no Eric-like figure around; even the most morous Steven Spielberg of the ''80s was now left far behind by Eric.

    Seeing that Amy had no further questions, Eric said, "So, let''s proceed. You two can start preparing for Mission: Impossible and Night at the Museum. You can also select some well- known directors for small-budget independent films to invest in."

    "Eric, do you have any suggestions for the main characters in these two projects?" Amy

    inquired.

    Eric hesitated for a moment before saying, "For the lead in Mission: Impossible, I rmend Tom Cruise. However, the condition is that Tom can only participate as an actor in this project and needs to sign a contract for at least three films. As for Night at the Museum..." Eric thought for a moment, realizing that Ben Stiller wasn''t famous yet. The only other person that came to mind was Jim Carrey. While Jim was very suitable for the lead role in Night at the Museum, Eric wasn''t highly enthusiastic about coborating with him. "Let''s pick from the currently famousedic actors. The specifics can be determined based on their avability and audition results. The film''s main focus is on the miraculous creatures thate to life in the museum, so the lead character isn''t the most critical part."

    Amy Pascal nodded and then suddenly shook her head. "Eric, although Cruise''s career has

    been a bit rocky these past two years, signing a three-film deal in one go might not be so easy. I worked with him during the production of Running Out of Time: Prequel, and he isn''t so easy to work with. He might demand that his productionpany gets involved in this project."

    "I understand. You can give it a try. Engaging with him won''t cost us anything. If he agrees, that would be fantastic, and we can make some concessions on his fee. But if he is insistent on excessive participation, Hollywood isn''t short of stars who can rece him."

    "I''ll talk to him," Amy Pascal nodded, noting all these things down in her memo.

    Eric waited for her to finish writing before continuing, "Now let''s discuss another very

    important matter."

    "Hmm?" Amy Pascal raised her head immediately when she saw Eric''s serious expression.

    "This is something I thought ofst night. Recently, I had someone investigate the superhero licenses held by Marvel Comics."

    "Eric, are you nning to develop superhero films like Warner does?"

    "Not at the moment," Eric replied. "What I mean is, I had someone look into which secondary and tertiarypanies hold the rights to some of Marvel''s leading superheroes, including Spider-Man, Captain America, and the Fantastic Four. I need you to help me acquire them

    back."

    Amy Pascal considered the data on Marvel''s superheroes before saying, "Eric, Marvel has quite a few superheroes. It''s not going to be easy to get them all back."

    "Well, at least try to secure Spider-Man. Honestly, I''m most interested in that superhero."

    Amy Pascal smiled and said, "Spider-Man is one of Marvel''s most popr superheroes. If I

    were to pick, it would definitely be Spider-Man."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 577: Chapter 578: Why Not Blockbuster

    Chapter 577: Chapter 578: Why Not Blockbuster

    ?

    [Chapter 578: Why Not Blockbuster]

    Drew had been quietly listening as the two discussed how to acquire the rights for Spider- Man and other superhero franchises. When she heard Eric even mention the possibility of acquiring Carolco Pictures, the young woman couldn''t help but burst outughing, clearly amused.

    Eric nced at Drew and asked, "Is it that funny?"

    "Of course! It''s just the Spider-Man rights. Carolco could develop a project together without needing this particr film. We could trade them for the rights to Mission: Impossible or Night at the Museum; after all, they need financing too!"

    Spider-Man had proven incredibly sessful in the original timeline, so Eric subconsciously felt he needed to raise the stakes for acquiring the superhero''s rights. Drew''s words sparked a moment of rity in him.

    Amy Pascal interjected, "Drew, I''ve considered that possibility too. But filmpanies usually finance their highly anticipated movies through debt financing. This way, once the film bes a blockbuster, they only have to repay the debt and interest without sharing rights or profits with anyone else. We don''t n to distribute the film ourselves, so we would already need to give up a portion of the distribution revenue. If we follow your idea of bringing in Carolco and those filmpanies for joint production, our profits would be even smaller."

    "Well, let''s just pretend I didn''t say anything," Drew shrugged nonchntly, picking up a ss of juice from the table and sipping it on her own.

    Amy noticed Eric''s changing expression and asked, "Eric, you aren''t really considering this, are you?"

    "I think it''s a good idea; let''s go for it," Eric replied while watching Amy Pascal''s somewhat reluctant look. "Amy, I promise you won''t regret it in the future."

    Of course, Amy couldn''t know whether she would regret itter, but since Eric had spoken, she relented, "Fine, Eric. If they request to share the rights, should I agree?"

    "You could slightly increase your investment share, but the rights definitely cannot be shared. Both Mission: Impossible and Night at the Museum are franchise films. We need to ensure that the initiation of sequels and casting choices are totally under our control. If ites down to it, we could make some minor concessions on sequel investments," Eric thought, determined not to repeat Paramount''s mistake of coborating with Tom Cruise on Mission: Impossible. In the original timeline, because Cruise held half the rights, Paramount lost the ability to change the lead when they fell out, ultimately having to bring him back like it or not.

    Just when Eric intended to ask Amy Pascal how her conversation with Cruise was going, he noticed Nicole approaching from a distance.

    He waved to her and stood up to greet her, but the young woman floated over to Nicole first, hugging her tall figure and gently rubbing against her, exuding excessive enthusiasm as she said, "Hi, Nicole! Wow, I didn''t expect your skin to look so beautiful from the sun. I''m so jealous! I definitely need to take a trip to Africa when I have the time."

    "Thanks for thepliment, Drew," Nicole replied while pulling Drew away without hesitation and walking over to Eric.

    "Hi, Nicole," Eric greeted her with a hug. Since many guests were around, they refrained from any overt affection.

    Amy Pascal exchanged pleasantries with Nicole before excusing herself to mingle elsewhere. Drew, however, lingered, as the three of them sat at a small round table. Eric poured a ss of red wine for Nicole and inquired, "How was it shooting in Moro?"

    Nicole''s expression turned uneasy. "That ce was terrible, and they were even fighting! We had to live with five hundred soldiers dispatched by the local government throughout the shoot. The only silver lining was that we didn''t encounter any attacks; we spent five days in a small town, and just after we left, the next day we heard it got raided by rebels."

    Eric didn''t know much about the political climate in North Africa but recognized that filming in Moro saved Universal at least ten million dors in production costs. "I think as long as The Mummy does well, Michael Eisner surely won''t let you film a sequel in Moro again.'' "Of course! I''d rather give up a role in the sequel than return to that godforsaken ce," Nicole said, patting her deeply tanned skin. From what Drew knew of her, the young woman had justplimented her tan; that would have to be taken back. Moreover, Eric''s reaction indicated that although most idealized a healthy sun-kissedplexion, and once Nicole returned to Los Angeles, many friendsmented on how lovely her tan had be, yet Eric seemed indifferent to her noticeable change.

    ...

    As they continued chatting, the sun set unnoticed, and the mansion''s lights illuminated. More guests arrived for the party, prompting Eric to rise and socialize with some important guests.

    By seven o''clock, with almost all guests present, Eric was joined by the main creative team of Jurassic Park in shattering an ice sculpture symbolizing the billion-dor box office -- marking the official start of the party.

    Even with Thanksgiving approaching, many of Eric''s women remained in Los Angeles. Besides Nicole and Drew, Famke Janssen and the Cruz sisters were also at the party. Eric had assumed Jennifer Connelly would return home to have dinner with her parents, but she surprised him by attending as well.

    After returning to Los Angeles, Eric hadn''t found time to visit Julia and her little one, so he called to invite Julia to bring Emma along to the party. Instead, Julia made an excuse of Elisabeth''s invitation, whisking Emma and Elisabeth off to New York, much to Eric''s amusement and frustration. He felt Julia''s state was undoubtedly "hopeless," and he had given up any expectations. However, Julia resembled a little sparrow fluttering around a cage, drawn to the open sky and ever-so-tempted to try pping her wings.

    As Eric socialized at the party, he nced at his watch and noticed it was nearing eight o''clock. Meanwhile, Buffett had not yet arrived. Just as he was about to have someone check if something was amiss, he noticed a group of women crowded on one of the sofas near the vi''s ss wall,ughing and chatting. To his surprise, they were all his women. Perhaps it was because they gathered like a flock of birds without the presence of any clueless male

    guests to interrupt.

    Nicole noticed Eric''s astonishment as she approached from the gathering.

    Curious, Eric asked her, "What are you all chatting about?"

    "Gossip, clothes, cosmetics, men," Nicole replied with a cheeky grin. "Anyway, whatever you men don''t take an interest in, we''ll talk about that."

    "Actually, men are very interested, especially thest item you mentioned. Any chance you could share some details with me?"

    Nicole yfully winked, "Of course not."

    Eric shrugged and joked, "Well, in that case, I''ll have to resort to some interrogation

    methods."

    Nicole''s cheeks flushed slightly, but she said nothing more, extending her small hand toward Eric. "How about we go dance?"

    Eric regrettably shook his head. "I''m waiting for an important guest, so I can''t join you right

    now."

    Nicole pouted but wisely chose not to press the issue. As she turned to leave, Eric pulled her back and quietly urged, "Help me tell them to stay tonight."

    Nicole assumed Eric had something secretive to say and shot him an exasperated look,menting, "I''m only responsible for passing along the message; if they don''t want to stay,

    that''s not my problem."

    "Of course," Eric was about to tease her some more when he noticed Jeffrey waving at him from a distance. Realizing Buffett might have arrived, he nodded to Nicole and hurriedly made his way over to Jeffrey.

    ...

    Eric led Jeffrey, Katzenberg, and others to the parking lot and spotted a silver-haired man in his sixties, wearing tortoise-shell sses, stepping out of a ck Mercedes.

    "Hello, Mr. Buffett," Eric greeted him, feelingpelled to admire the legendary billionaire

    once again.

    While most wealthy individuals on the Forbes list amassed fortunes through one significantpany or product, like Bill Gates with Microsoft or Larry Ellison with database software, Warren Buffett was known for his diverse investment strategies that repeatedly brought him to the summit of wealth.

    "Eric, it''s great to see you," Warren Buffett warmly shook Eric''s hand. "I''m really sorry for beingte; I had some things to deal with."

    "No worries, Mr. Buffett. Let me introduce you to..." Eric introduced Katzenberg and others one by one before they all made their way back to the vi together.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Upon seeing Eric bringing a group of Firefly executives towards the parking lot seriously,

    many guests sensed an important figure was arriving. When the guests realized the individual was Warren Buffett, numerous expressions of surprise shed across their faces. After Eric and Buffett disappeared into the vi, several guests rushed to a corner to pull out their

    mobile phones and spread the news.

    Clearly, with the major shareholder of ABC TV in attendance, it was obvious Firefly''s acquisition of thework aimed to be a substantial target. As news spread, it would undoubtedly affect many things, especially NBC and CBS, whose stock prices had been rising steadily; their upward trend would likely grind to a halt -- and perhaps even drop -- while

    ABC''s stock would probably see the opposite effect.

    ...

    Most guests attending the party were from within Hollywood, and few had crossed paths with Buffett, so Eric directly ushered him to his study.

    "Eric, I wanted to meet you back when Firefly was acquiring Disney, but I unfortunately didn''t have the chance. I was a Disney shareholder back then, you know."

    Eric poured two sses of Coca-C he had prepared earlier and offered one to Buffett as he settled on the opposite sofa. "Actually, I feel the same, Mr. Buffett. Like many others, I really admire your investment strategies. I even considered buying some Berkshire stock." Buffett examined his ss of Coke with interest and said, "If you n to invest, I would of

    course wee you. Before I came here, I reviewed all the films you''ve been involved in. While some weren''t quite to my taste, I cannot deny they all hold considerable box office potential. I''m curious -- how do youe up with or choose these scripts?"

    "Based on personal feeling, I suppose. We all know investing in movies is like gambling; until

    a film is released, no one can be certain how the audience will receive it. Otherwise, George Lucas wouldn''t have been the one to make Star Wars."

    Eric''s exnation likely wouldn''t satisfy Buffett, but Buffett didn''t seem inclined to probe deeper. He had been contemting Eric for some time back in his small Omaha home, thinking of him as a person favored by Lady Luck. Since Eric''s rapid rise in 1988, he hadn''t made a single misstep in either investing or filmmaking. Although he wouldn''t admit it out loud, Buffett felt Eric belonged to the same breed as himself. Since the 1960s, Buffett had meticulously selected from various investment portfolios, which led him to umte nearly ten billion dors in wealth by avoiding major mistakes.

    That''s why ever since Firefly announced its withdrawal from Fox Broadcasting, Buffett had been closely monitoring their every move. The day Firefly announced they werepeting to acquire Blockbuster, Buffett had sensed their true intent was anything but Blockbuster. "Eric, I''m curious. The growth rate of the video tape industry outstrips that of box office revenue each year, yet the development of televisionworks has been stagnant for quite some time. Why did you choose not to acquire Blockbuster and instead target ABC?" With Buffett at his door, Eric no longer debated, saying, "I remember you once said, ''When others are greedy, I am fearful; when others are fearful, I am greedy,'' right?"

    Buffett smiled, indicating his agreement.

    "Right now, the growth of the video tape industry is in the phase where you said everyone

    should be greedy for its profits, while televisionworks are scaring many people off. I''d

    think that acquiring ABC doesn''t seem all that surprising?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 579: Chapter 580: Late Night Talk

    Chapter 579: Chapter 580: Late Night Talk

    ?

    [Chapter 580: Late Night Talk]

    As Eric and Buffett stepped out of the study, it was already past midnight. Many guests had hoped to gather information from Eric and Buffett before leaving, but with the party winding down, they had no choice but to leave feeling disappointed.

    At that moment, aside from the party staff cleaning up, only the top executives from Firefly Films remained, along with a few women who had mysteriously disappeared during the festivities.

    As Eric and Buffett descended the stairs, they were greeted by Jeffrey and the others chatting in the living room. Although they were eager to know the oue right away, everyone politely escorted Buffett out first.

    Once Buffett''s car left the estate, Eric shrugged at the curious expressions of the group. "Buffett is interested in selling ABC, but we have a significant difference in pricing."

    Upon hearing this, no one expressed disappointment or excitement. It was understood that when it came to negotiations involving billions of dors, it would be strange to finalize an agreement in just one night.

    Eric instructed the other executives to leave, keeping only Michael Lynn, Jeffrey, Katzenberg, and Frank Wells -- the four giants of Firefly Films. The five of them settled in the living room where they had just been talking, and Eric saw Drew, now in a T-shirt and shorts instead of her evening gown, poking her head in. He directed her, "We need to talk for a bit longer. You guys go ahead and rest."

    While the word ''you'' can mean both singr and plural, the expressions of the other four people subtly shifted into something more ambiguous. They all understood that Eric''s ''you'' referred to the three of them, not just one. Even the typically aloof Jeffrey couldn''t help but feel a bit envious of Eric''s luck with women.

    Drew obediently nodded, "Okay. Do you guys want coffee? I can send Natasha to get some?"

    Although many had noticed the twin Russian girls bustling around the house that night, Eric wasn''t keen on calling them over to distract the four older men and pointed to the coffee machine in the corner. "It''ste. You shouldn''t make them do everything; get it yourself."

    Drew made a face at Eric but dutifully went to the coffee machine.

    While the girl prepared the coffee, Eric briefly exined the oue of his conversation with Buffett to the four men beside him.

    "...That''s about it. I presented Firefly''s acquisition n, and then," Eric spread his hands, "it wasn''t a sessful negotiation."

    Even though everyone understood that the cash acquisition proposal wasn''t feasible anymore, Eric still brought up aprehensive acquisition n he had drafted earlier. Just like Eric''s reaction to Buffett''s proposal, Buffett rejected it right away. Both men were aware that their acquisition ns weren''t their bottom lines, but neither could afford to show any concession during their first informal meeting.

    In short, the only oue of the night was confirming that both parties had an interest in this transaction. Therefore, the prolonged back-and-forth was likely just beginning.

    After Eric spoke, the five in the living room fell into a short silence as they absorbed the information he had just shared.

    Drew finished making the coffee and quietly ced cups in front of everyone on the coffee table. She leaned in to give Eric a quick kiss on the cheek before carefully closing the door behind her as she left.

    After a moment, Katzenberg spoke up first. "Eric, I think the main issue here is that Buffett doesn''t recognize the actual market value of Firefly. This isn''t surprising. Even though our profitsst year were on par with Time Warner''s, the substantial profits came from movies and their merchandising. Most people understand how vtile the movie business can be. Buffett is known for his cautious and conservative investment strategies, so his views can''t represent everyone. If we want to staypetitive in this transaction, we must stop being consistently low-key. It''s necessary for us to showcase Firefly''s strength to the media appropriately."

    After Katzenberg''s remarks, the other three nodded in agreement. Frank Wells added, "Eric, I believe you have to secure the top position on Forbes'' list this year and leave the second ce far behind, just like Sam Walton did years ago."

    Before Sam Walton''s passing in 1992, Walmart had a market value exceeding $40 billion, with the Walton family owning over 40% of thepany. Up until 1992, Walton was the only billionaire on the Forbes 400 list whose wealth exceeded $10 billion.

    After Walton''s death, the family wealth was split between his wife and four children, but they managed to avoid a significant inheritance tax, allowing the Walton family to remain one of the wealthiest in North America. Following Walton''s passing, due to Eric''s voluntary relinquishment, Buffett, who ''seeded'' him at the start of the year, had a personal fortune of only $9.3 billion.

    Even without Frank Wells reminding him, Eric was aware that this year he would find it hard to avoid that position and continue enjoying being his ''invisible billionaire.''

    Last year''s figures on the Forbes list could still be justified to some extent, but this year the record-breaking global box office of Jurassic Park had significantly increased Firefly Films'' visibility, and the news of Firefly acquiring ABC would definitely need to be disclosed to the public soon. The attention surrounding both transactions would lead investment institutions to analyze Firefly''s strength more closely. In such circumstances, if Forbes released a simr figure tost year''s, it would undoubtedly attract countless questions. A serious deviation from the facts would greatly undermine the credibility of a financial magazine. Eric knew that the incentives he offered could hardly persuade Steve Forbes to gamble the future of his family business.

    "Well, although I''m not quite ready, I''ll find time to speak with Steve Forbes about this matter personally," Eric stated.

    Jeffrey, still perplexed by Eric''s ability to sidestep such issues, joked, "Eric, I still think this is a good thing. I just can''t understand the silly doubts you have. Are you afraid that when you

    wake up, someone will have stolen your money?"

    Eric shrugged helplessly and didn''t respond as the other three menughed.

    "Alright, stop teasing me. Let''s get back to business," Eric said after a moment ofughter, waving his hands.

    Michael Lynn then asked, "Eric, did Buffett say whether he''d stay in Los Angeles after he left?"

    Eric shook his head. "I didn''t ask. Thanksgiving ising up soon; I think Buffett will head back to Omaha for the holiday."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Katzenberg interjected, "Buffett''s wife Susan has been living in California these past few years because he didn''t want his wealth to be divided. Even though they are separated, they aren''t divorced, and I''ve heard their rtionship is still pretty good. I think Buffett will stay in Los Angeles to celebrate Thanksgiving."

    Eric replied, "Even if Buffett stays in Los Angeles, you know I''m going to New York, and I might not be back until after Christmas. So, from now on, you''ll have to handlemunication with Buffett."

    Everyone in the room knew about Eric having two children, and Jeffrey had even visited the kids on Long Ind. So, they weren''t surprised by Eric''s decision to spend Thanksgiving in

    New York.

    Aside from Eric, who could ck off, Michael Lynn and the others couldn''t afford to rest, especially with the end of the year approaching. They needed to stay on top of the film releases during this critical period and conduct audits and summaries of Firefly''s financial and personnel work from the past year. This process had already started in early November, but with Firefly''s ever-growing structure, finishing everything before Christmas would be considered a significant achievement.

    Given these circumstances, Michael Lynn said, "If that''s the case, in situations where private discussions don''t lead to agreements, we''ll have to wait until January next year before making any public acquisition offers. I suggest we dy this until February or March to allow us to do more preliminary nning."

    As time passed, Eric and Katzenberg, still brimming with energy, noticed the fatigue setting in on Jeffrey and the others. Even though many details were still unaddressed, Eric didn''t want them to keep pushing through. He finally said, "Let''s wrap it up. You all can discuss how to conduct high-profile media outreach among yourselves. If anythinges up, just call or email me." Standing up, he added, "It''ste. Why don''t you all stay the night? I''ll show you to

    the guest rooms."

    "No need," Michael Lynn immediately stood up; he didn''t want to stick around and feel like a third wheel. "I have a vi near Pepperdine University; it''s not far from here." Katzenberg pointed northward and smiled, "Mine is even closer, just at the foot of the hill."

    Frank Wells chimed in with a smile as well, "I live in Malibu."

    Eric looked at Jeffrey, who rushed to wave his hands. "I''m sure Michael won''t refuse me crashing at his ce for the night."

    "Of course," Michael Lynn nodded with a smile. "I just bought a nice batch of red wine recently; Jeffrey, Frank, want to join me for some?"

    "Thanks, but it''s toote. I''ll definitelye by another time," Katzenberg shook his head.

    "I can''t either. My wife called at 11 asking why I wasn''t home yet," Frank Wells replied, which drew lightughter and teasing from those in the room.

    If not for Eric''s presence, the four top executives of Firefly would still belong to the wealthy elite. It wasn''t surprising for them to buy property in a wealthy area like Malibu. Eric didn''t insist any further, seeing everyone off one by one as he returned to the vi.

    The party''s tables, chairs, and props had already been removed. The once-bustling hall now felt quiet and empty. Standing in the center, Eric looked up at the circr corridor on the second floor and at the closed doors while he couldn''t help but think of that famous line from

    Forrest Gump, a smirk creeping across his face.

    "Life is like a box of choctes."

    ...

    When Eric woke up, he found himself lying on the floor. Although he didn''t usually sleep on a carpet, the wooden floor didn''t feel ufortable. The air conditioning kept the bedroom warm, and it didn''t feel cold without any covers.

    Noticing he could hardly feel his right arm, Eric squinted and turned his head to see Famke Janssenfortably resting on it, sound asleep. She had likely been there for too long and the hand waspletely stiff.

    Eric nced at his watch, still on fromst night; it was 11:30, and he couldn''t help but chuckle. It had been a long time since he had been so reckless.

    Carefully extending his still-functional left hand, he reached around and found a pink nightgown, presumably belonging to Drew. The women had alle in evening gownsst night, and aside from Drew, no one else in the vi had their own wardrobe. Eric folded it with one hand; being an autumn-winter style, it was quite thick, and he carefully lifted his right hand to ce the nightgown under Famke Janssen''s head.

    Perhaps well-rested, even though Eric was being extremely careful, Famke Janssen woke up

    quickly. Seeing Eric holding the pink garment, she chuckled and swatted it away, "Get rid of that! You look so sleazy."

    Eric tossed the nightgown aside, but Famke Janssen moved closer. Recalling the events ofst

    night, she raised her head and happened to notice a small hand peeking out from the edge of the bed. Though she didn''t know who it belonged to, she didn''t hesitate to bite down on Eric''s

    shoulder. Amid his muffled groans of pain, she quickly eased her grip and said softly, "Eric, you''re getting more outrageous. I warn you, don''t expect there to be another time."

    Eric grinned and replied, "Okay, I promise. Are you hungry? Let''s go downstairs and make

    something to eat."

    Famke Janssen wrapped her arms around Eric''s waist and murmured, "I want you to make it

    for me personally."

    "Sure, I don''t mind if you gobble me up."

    "You jerk, I really want to eat you."

    They both carefully got out of bed. Famke Janssen walked over to the closet to find some

    clothes of Eric''s to wear. Noticing Eric''s gaze drifting towards the women in therge bed, she teased with a hint of jealousy, "How about I go down alone, and you stay here?"

    "No, it just feels like we''re missing someone."

    Famke Janssen slipped on a pair of Eric''s jeans and also looked towards therge bed,

    counting quietly before saying, "Maybe Nicole is already up?"

    Just as she finished speaking, Nicole''s mumbling drifted from the other side of the bed, "I

    feel terrible. Damn it, who kicked me out?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 581: Chapter 582: Very Safe

    Chapter 581: Chapter 582: Very Safe

    ?

    [Chapter 582: Very Safe]

    After enjoying a Thanksgiving dinner with thedies in Malibu, Eric took Drew and headed to New York.

    East Hampton was better suited as a summer getaway; in winter, it bore a destendscape, overrun with weeds and devoid of life. A heavy snowfall would only add to the bleakness. Once winter set in, Virginia and Joanna moved with the two little ones to the more popted and well-equipped Southampton.

    Thanksgiving evening remained lively. Although the two women had given the household staff time off, Chris and Emily showed up, along with Ewa Pac and Drew with her two twinpanions, filling the dining room with arge party.

    "In college, I specifically studied Buffett''s story," Chris enthusiastically began discussing the recent media buzz surrounding Firefly''s acquisition of ABC. "The main reason Buffett umted his wealth through diversified investments is his purity of purpose. He was able to dedicate himself entirely to perfecting his investment strategies.

    Anyone familiar with Buffett knows that he treats investing as the singr pursuit of his life. Despite being a billionaire, he refuses to spend more than a penny to improve his lifestyle; he leads an incredibly modest life, his eating habits shockingly simple. The core of his existence revolves around sifting through countless financial reports, identifying suitablepanies for investment.

    This approach, which analyzes apany''s fundamentals rather than relying solely on stock market trends, maximizes his ability to assess apany''s growth potential. That is how Buffett consistently navigated the correct path for decades."

    Everyone listened intently to Chris, but the little girl who sat next to Eric gnawed on turkey and suddenly eximed, "I heard he took down Solomon!"

    In the 1980s, Solomon Brothers was indeed the king of Wall Street. While Solomon was at its peak, firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Lehman Brothers seemed like mere junior partners. However, in 1990, Solomon faced an SEC investigation due to a false bid scandal, leading to a swift decline. Less than four yearster, Solomon Brothers had be a second-tier investmentpany. At the time of the scandal, Buffett''s Berkshire Hathaway happened to be Solomon''srgest shareholder. During the investigation, Buffett took over all management responsibilities for Solomon. On the surface, it seemed that Solomon had indeed copsed under Buffett''s stewardship.

    Hearing the little girl''sment, Chris shook his head and chuckled, "It''s not as simple as you think. The main issue was Solomon''s overexposure. Take the false bid case from three years ago as an example. The Federal Securities Act dictated that an investment bank could underwrite a maximum of 35% of each national bond issue, yet Solomon managed to secure 85% of that distribution through false bidding, flipping them to other investment banks for hefty profits.

    Such antics weremon throughout the ''80s, which led to the SEC investigation prompting other capital forces to strike back. Of course, Buffett''ster handling of the situation was also a significant misstep.

    Just after Solomon came out from the SEC inquiry, Buffett eagerly wanted to disrupt Wall Street''s rules by shing employee sries and bonuses, causing a mass exodus of talent. Without those people, Solomon found it practically impossible to make aeback. I''ve heard that Solomon has now be a target for Citibank and probably won''tst much longer."

    After Chris finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the dining room, even the two little ones sensed the unusual atmosphere, staring wide-eyed at their mother.

    Eventually, the blunt Emily chimed in with a smirk, "Eric, you''d better be careful; the Firefly hype seems a bit much."

    Eric took a casual sip of red wine and shrugged, "There are small andrge investment firms going belly-up on Wall Street every year, but have you ever seen a major film studio toppled by its peers?"

    Emily retorted without hesitation, "Isn''t Orion, Universal, and even MGM about to go under?"

    Chris turned toward his girlfriend, unable to hold back. Eric grinned at Emily and said, "True, but they had their own internal issues that prevented them from thriving in Hollywood." Chris added, "Most of the business of investment banks deals with virtual financial products, which mostlye from otherpanies. They earn profits throughmissions from stock issuance, bond underwriting, and mergers and acquisitions but produce little themselves. When an investment bank faces a crisis, externalpanies usually withdraw their business to avoid risk, triggering a domino effect that can lead to rapid decline. However,panies like Time Warner, Firefly, and Vi, which just acquired Paramount, have already formedprehensive industry chains. They won''t easily be taken down by outside forces unless a massive project leads to bankruptcy."

    "I''ve recently seen some news," Emily argued a bit defensively. "A New York Times article from two years ago analyzed that if Firefly continues to expand, it might vite federal antitrustws and face mandatory break-up."

    If apany were to be broken up due to antitrustws, the major shareholders would have to choose to retain shares in onepany while being forced to sell shares in the other, instead of holding stakes in both like Eric could.

    Emily''sment seemed to strike a chord, and Chris wore a worried expression as he looked at Eric and said, "I think this is indeed an issue that needs careful consideration, Eric. Before acquiring ABC, you must bepletely sure that it won''t lead to this problem."

    Eric had also researched the relevant antitrustws, but he understood the trends of media consolidation over the next decade in America. He rxed and replied, "Don''t worry, there won''t be a problem. I actually think that integrating media channels aligns more with federal government interests, don''t you think?"

    No government wanted to relinquish control over public discourse. Any supposed freedom of speech was rtive. Being immersed in the intense information shes of Wall Street, Chris was well aware of this truth, so he nodded and smiled, "That does seem urate."

    Virginia noticed Eric and Chris engaging in some cryptic conversation andined, "Gentlemen, if this goes on, we won''t understand a thing. How about we switch to a lighter topic?"

    Eric nodded, "Alright, well, the turkey tasted great today, better than... uh, it tasted pretty good."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Eric almost blurted out about the ''weird turkey'' thedies had concocted the previous night but caught himself just in time. However, Virginia still picked up on something and shot Eric an exaggerated re. The others in the restaurant chuckled at Eric''s struggling attempt to

    swallow his words.

    Though it was only 9 PM after dinner, snow had started to fall outside without anyone noticing. The drive back from the easternmost part of Long Ind to Manhattan usually took two hours, but during snowy conditions with slippery roads, it would clearly take longer -- and be very unsafe. So, Eric invited Chris and Emily to stay over.

    The house wasrge, the rooms ample, and Chris and Emily didn''t mind at all.

    ...

    After dinner, the women scattered to their activities; some watched TV, others cleaned up the dining area, while a few kept an eye on the little ones. Eric and Chris settled by the vintage firece in the vi, discussing the acquisition of Victoria''s Secret''s parentpany, LTD.

    Chris had been quietly acquiring LTD stock during this period and anticipated that after the New Year, he could officially take his ce on the LTD board andunch an aggressive

    acquisition campaign.

    Leslie Wexner, thergest individual shareholder in LTD, held 35% of the stock, so the likelihood of sess wasn''t guaranteed. Although Chris felt confident, he honestly admitted to only a 70% chance of sess. If Wexner managed to secure support from shareholders amounting to over 51%, Chris would have to retreat. However, this uncertainty fueled Chris''s ambition; if everything were easy, it would likely be too boring. Besides, even if the acquisition failed, LTD would have to pay a price if it wanted to buy back shares held by Firefly Investments, implying that no real losses would befall Firefly.

    The two continued their discussionte into the night, and it wasn''t until then Eric finally retired to the bedroom.

    ...

    In the center of therge bedy a tiny figure. Joannay on her side next to Hawaii, propping her head up with one hand, reading softly from a book. Upon noticing Eric enter, Joanna set the book aside and said, "You should sleep with Vicki tonight. With Emily here, we can''t have

    any embarrassing moments."

    "Alright, let me give our little princess a kiss first," Eric smiled andy down next to Hawaii, nting a kiss on the little one''s cherubic cheek. He then picked up the book Joanna had been reading, realizing it was a collection of Hans Christian Andersen''s fairy tales. Shaking the book yfully, Eric asked, "Why are you reading that to our little princess?"

    Joanna retrieved the book from Eric''s hands and replied, "What else should I read?" Eric nestled closer to the little one, watching as Hawaii''s beautiful blue eyes darted between him and her mother, continuing with augh, "Anything is fine, but it''s probably best to avoid fairy tales. I would go crazy if my daughter grew up wanting to run away with a prince

    like in those stories."

    "You always think up such ridiculous scenarios," Joanna yfully patted Eric''s shoulder, ncing at the book in her hands. Raising her perfectly-shaped eyebrows, she said seriously, "Then I''ll check out a bookstore tomorrow to see what''s suitable for her."

    "Are you serious?" Eric raised his head. "It was just a joke. Besides, the little one probably

    can''t even understand it yet, right?"

    Joanna countered, "Of course she can understand. Elia is very smart." Remembering Hawaii''s reaction when Joanna read aloud, Eric agreed and nodded. He took the copy of Andersen''s fairy tales from Joanna and said, "Let me read a passage to the little one.

    Let her hear Daddy''s voice."

    Joanna grabbed a pillow and ced it next to Hawaii. She rxed andy down, smiling, "Aren''t you afraid she''ll learn bad things?"

    "Not at all. If a prince ever tries to seduce my daughter, I''ll break all his legs," Eric chuckled.

    "Ha ha..."

    As Eric flipped to the story of The Snow Queen, one about friendship between boys and girls,

    he thought, yes, this theme is pure and wholesome -- very safe, this is the one.

    ...

    After Thanksgiving, the media campaign kicked off in Los Angeles. It seemed that suddenly, the previously discreet Firefly Films became quite ostentatious. Michael Lynn, the CEO of Firefly Films, even broke convention by appearing on an NBC financial talk show, discussing some ''unknown'' secrets behind Firefly''s growth. Variety magazine even published an article valuing Firefly Films at an astonishing $25 billion. Seeing this piece, Eric couldn''t help but mutter to himself, why 25 billion? Couldn''t it be a bit more or a bit less? But he knew this figure was provided by Firefly, and since the piece was already published, he chose not to

    correct anything.

    Meanwhile, Katzenberg kept close contact with Buffett. Within just a week, they met three times in Los Angeles. However, based on the emails Katzenberg sent to Eric, the negotiations showed little progress. Following the sudden media outburst, Buffett seemed to enter a wait-

    and-see phase.

    Due to Eric and Katzenberg''s continued high-profile engagement with Buffett, the shares of

    the three major televisionworks, which had started rising in tandem, began to diverge.

    NBC and CBS experienced significant drops, dragging the stock of News Corp, which owned the Foxwork, down as well.

    Eric continued to stay in Southampton with the women and children, asionally making

    trips to Manhattan for parties. The little girl, who had been with him, couldn''t bear the dullness of Southampton and ran off to Manhattan the next day with her twopanions. Eric knew the girl had friends everywhere and a ce to stay in Manhattan, so he didn''t pry. Though Thanksgiving had passed, the festive atmosphere showed no signs of fading, as Christmas was fast approaching. Compared to Thanksgiving, Christmas felt even more

    exuberant.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 583: Chapter 584: Count You Brave

    Chapter 583: Chapter 584: Count You Brave

    ?

    [Chapter 584: Count You Brave]

    Even though Berkshire Hathaway, owned by Warren Buffett, and Tom Murphy''s Metromedia didn''t have absolute control over ABC, the fact that the twopanies held close to 40% of the shares meant that it would be quite easy for Buffett to convince the board after he came to a private agreement with Firefly Films.

    However, ABC was not entirely united. While Buffett''s stance was firm, it didn''t mean that other major shareholders at ABC were uninterested in reaching a deal with Firefly, especially considering that Firefly had been turning huge profits ever since its inception. In fact, towards the end ofst year, during Buffett''s private discussions with Firefly, some shareholders openly expressed dissatisfaction with Buffett''s secretive negotiation tactics.

    After Firefly released its financial report for 1993, many investment firms holding shares in ABC became more eager to facilitate the transaction. After all, some benefits appeared to be easy to calcte. With Firefly''s profitability, even if ABC''s original shareholders only retained a 30% stake in the mergedpany, as long as Firefly''s profitability didn''t drastically change, the annual profit dividends for shareholders would be nearly the same as they received while holding ABC shares. In addition, they could acquire a significant amount of cash through this equity transaction for other investments.

    Following Firefly''s open invitation for acquisition talks after negotiations with Buffett fell through, the ABC board swiftly passed a resolution to initiate formal negotiations with Firefly.

    ...

    On February 10, after receiving an official reply from ABC, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Firefly''s lead attorney, Edward Lewis, led the acquisition team to New York tomence formal acquisition discussions.

    Unlike the straightforward equity and debt situation at Firefly, ABC''s circumstances were moreplex. Chris had facilitated the involvement of a Morgan Stanley team as consultants.

    In the initial acquisition of Disney, both parties had enjoyed a very pleasant coboration. Although Firefly had changed dramatically since that time, thepany''s extensive administrative resources meant that it wouldn''t have to fully rely on Morgan Stanley. Nheless, Morgan Stanley remained enthusiastic, and the entire Wall Street could see that this was a deliberate effort to curry favor with Firefly.

    After negotiations, Firefly nned to implement arge-scale debt financing program for the acquisition, and that was a primary business for investment banks, providing significant profitspared to asional mergers and acquisitions.

    Eric didn''t head to New York with Katzenberg but stayed in touch by phone every day tomunicate negotiation updates.

    Before Katzenberg left New York, the higher-ups at Firefly had already discussed the acquisition''s bottom line in detail. After several discussions, Eric authorized Katzenberg to offer a maximum of 25% of Firefly''s shares, with the cash portion being flexible up to $10 billion.

    That figure wasn''t arbitrary, considering that both Firefly and ABC were performing quite well. Hence, no one doubted that their merger would have a synergistic effect. Under the best performance expectations, once they merged, Firefly''s profits could potentially reach $2 billion in the following years. Thus, the shareholding returns of shareholders holding 25% stakes would beparable to the annual earnings from ABC shares at that time. This made the figure rtively easy for ABC to ept.

    Of course, no one could predict the future, except perhaps Eric. The merged Firefly could either experience an explosion in revenue and profits or, under the burden of heavy debt from a $10 billion acquisition, spiral into ruin.

    Eric remained optimistic about the deal. Although in the original timeline Disney faced years of poor performance after acquiring ABC, the main reason was Michael Eisner''s management issues. After Eisner left, Disney quickly revitalized, soaring ahead of rivals like Time Warner and News Corp in scale and profitability. This all proved that the acquisition was correct. As for the heavy debt burden post-merger, Eric wasn''t concerned. Thete 1990s would be a period of rapid economic growth in the United States, with all sectors, including entertainment, seeing substantial increases. Moreover, with Eric''syout in the technology sector, even if Firefly encountered trouble, he could easily raise enough funds through various channels to resolve any crisis. Besides, he felt the likelihood of such issues arising was low.

    ...

    Sincest year, Eric had repeatedly requested to expand Firefly''s 3D animation division. However, during this era, 3D animation technology was just emerging. Other than Pixar, there weren''t any sizable 3D animationpanies in North America or even worldwide, forcing Eric to adopt an internal training mechanism. Alongside expanding Pixar, Disney''s traditional hand-drawn animation department had stopped hiring and started training traditional animators and gradually began transitioning towardsputer animation.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    While keeping close contact with Katzenberg in New York, Eric had primarily focused his energy on his animation divisions. To that end, he personally led a coborative meeting between Pixar and Disney''s animation departments.

    Disney''s animation department hadpleted The Lion King and had begun preliminary promotions. Besides The Lion King, there were several other animated sequel projects, including ddin 2. Due to the longer production cycle of hand-drawn animationpared to 3D animation, these projects had already been confirmed before Firefly acquired Disney. However, Eric had stopped approving new hand-drawn animation film projects and had been quite clear that if Disney''s existing traditional animators were unwilling to undergo training forputer animation, once their current projects werepleted, they would only be left to work on low-budget projects for Disney Channel.

    Most of the traditional animators at Disney were rtively young, and possessing highly skilled drawing abilities,pleting training forputer animation software shouldn''t be too difficult. To prevent a bacsh from the hundreds of traditional animators, Eric promised to give them ample time to learn and adapt, covering all costs associated with their training.

    ...

    The Pixar staff attending the meeting gradually exited the Disney animation studio headquarters in Burbank. John Lasseter, who walked alongside Eric at the front, said, "Eric, although no one openly opposed the decision, I feel a lot of people in the studio are still very resistant to this change. You might encounter some trouble."

    Eric was fully aware of this; Disney''s animation studio had over 700 traditional animators. While more than 70% were around 30 years old, there were still some who were veterans from the Walt Disney era. These individuals would find it nearly impossible to adapt to the new animation production methods, and with that, being phased out was almost inevitable. In this context, no one would stand idly by. The reason there hadn''t been any opposing voices earlier wasrgely due to the overwhelming advantages exhibited by Pixar''s 3D animation. Also, Eric''s sudden announcement left many unprepared, prompting no one to act as the ''early bird'' without preparation.

    "They all understand the advantages of 3D animation over hand-drawn animation. Both Toy Story and A Bug''s Life have proven this, so this transition is inevitable," Eric said while walking with John Lasseter. "If they can''t make this shift, Firefly will have no choice but toy them off. I''ve done all I can to give them about two years'' worth of traditional animation projects to work on. They have a good amount of time. If they really getid off, they surely won''t be left without an option, as many TV channels need traditional animators for children''s animated

    shows."

    Having worked at Disney for a long time, Lasseter sighed inwardly at Eric''s words. But he knew first-hand how ruthless capital could be. Although Eric was not a harsh boss, he wasn''t a phnthropist either. Achieving such a bnce was not easy. Otherpanies might have simply announcedyoffs without granting employees such a generous time to adjust.

    ...

    It was still early. Due to their busy work schedules, Lasseter and others didn''t n to stay overnight in Los Angeles. Eric arranged for a private Firefly corporate jet to return the group

    to San Francisco.

    Eric initially intended to personally drive John Lasseter and others to Santa Monica Airport. However, as they entered the parking lot, he noticed Elisabeth, wearing sunsses, stepping out of a red BMW and waving him over.

    "Eric, I think we need to head to Santa Monica ourselves," Lasseter said with a smile, noticing Elisabeth''s graceful figure, causing others to chuckle.

    Once Elisabeth approached, Eric made the introductions. Seeing her hesitating to speak, he decided against driving Lasseter and the others. Thankfully, they were not overly concerned about the details. They bid farewell to Eric and got into their cars.

    After everyone left, Eric walked with Elisabeth to her red BMW. He yfully knocked on the hood and asked, "New car?"

    Elisabeth put her sunsses back on and raised her chin teasingly, "I bought it six months ago. In your world, where you never care about others, calling it ''new'' isn''t wrong." Seeing no one around, Eric reached out and pinched Elisabeth''s chin, grinning, "Don''t you think if you need something from me, you should keep your ''little ws'' to yourself?" Elisabeth dramatically swatted Eric''s hand away, replying confidently, "We alreadypleted the acquisition of Miramax."

    With work near the day''s end, Eric didn''t want to be the center of attention, so he opened the car door and got into the red BMW, inhaling the faint scent of perfume in the cabin. He asked Elisabeth, who climbed in behind him, "Oh, how much did it cost?"

    Elisabeth started the car and slowly pulled out of the parking lot, stating, "$100 million for 90% of Miramax''s shares, the Weinstein brothers retain 10% and continue to manage Miramax''s operations."

    "That''s a bit pricey, but letting the Weinsteins keep some shares is a smart move. Otherwise,

    if they left, Miramax wouldn''t hold much value." Elisabeth replied, "If they both leave Miramax, thepany''s value would diminish anyway. With News Corp backing us, those profit-driven brothers won''t leave easily."

    Eric added, "The Weinsteins had enough of funding shortfalls in the past few years. Initially, they''d certainly cooperate well with 20th Century Fox, but everyone has ambitions. Once you can no longer amodate these brothers'' ambitions, things will fall apart." Elisabeth, who was personally involved in negotiating the Miramax acquisition, knew exactly what kind of people the Weinsteins were: "If ites to that, we can let them go. Fox can''t let

    them take the lead."

    As Eric watched Elisabeth turn onto the freeway, he remembered to ask, "Where are you

    taking me?"

    Elisabeth responded nonchntly, "The higher-ups have decided to let the Weinsteins

    personally oversee the production of Braveheart, which was your original idea, so we''re all

    going out for dinner to discuss it."

    Eric felt taken aback by Elisabeth''s assertive tone, hesitantly asking, "Isn''t Fireflypeting with Fox? Am I supporting the enemy by doing this?"

    "It counts!" Elisabeth nodded emphatically. "If you don''t want to, that woman named Sophie

    Marceau can just leave."

    "Alright, I''ll concede that you''re tough."

    "Hum..."

    The meeting took ce at a fancy French restaurant in Beverly Hills. Upon Eric''s arrival, the Weinstein brothers weed him warmly, while Mel Gibson appeared rather aloof. Eric sensed that either he was lost in sess or justcked social skills. However, Mel Gibson''s agent, Ed Limato, was exceptionally cordial.

    Eric recalled that Limato had been Mel Gibson''s manager since the early ''80s, remaining with

    him for over twenty years until his passing. Ed Limato was twenty years older than Mel

    Gibson, and their rtionship was as close as father and son. However, he couldn''t quite recall Ed Limato''s exact date of death. If Limato''s passing coincided with Mel Gibson''s career decline, it would mirror Tom Cruise''s situation. It also served as a reminder of how crucial a

    good manager could be.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 585: Chapter 586 Was This Self-Entanglement?

    Chapter 585: Chapter 586 Was This Self-Entanglement?

    ?

    [Chapter 586 Was This Self-Entanglement?]

    Elisabeth had helped Emma finish her bath and prepared some porridge for the little one, who was still moring for food. Noticing that Eric and Julia still had note downstairs, Elisabeth felt a mix of concern and impatience.

    Emma leaned against the coffee table, eating with a spoon, and saw Elisabeth ncing toward the staircase. The little girl quickly thought of Eric and, in her sweet voice, asked, "Mommy, where''s Daddy?"

    Hearing Emma calling her ''Mommy'' made Elisabeth''s heart flutter. She anxiously looked back at the stairs, relieved to find no oneing down. She got up from the sofa and knelt on the carpet beside Emma, gently rubbing the little girl''s head. "Emma, shall we y a game?"

    The starving child''s eyes lit up at the idea of a game, and she quickly set her spoon down. "Okay!"

    "Here''s how it works. From now on, when we talk, you call me Liz, and I''ll call you Emma. Let''s see who can stick to it the longest, okay?"

    Emma tilted her head and hesitated before shaking it. "That''s not fun."

    In a slightly urgent tone, Elisabeth replied, "Emma, if you don''t want to y this game, then I won''t take you to Disnend anymore, and I won''t take you to Coldwater Canyon Park, either."

    Emma blinked rapidly and blurted out, "Auntie, take me!"

    Elisabeth casually nced at the empty bowl in front of Emma and tried again, "Well, if Auntie doesn''t give you food anymore, I won''t make you any porridge."

    That threat was a bit hefty. Emma immediately showed a worried expression and quickly said, "Okay, I''ll y the game."

    Elisabeth sighed with relief, saying, "Alright, let''s try it out. What do you call me now?"

    "Liz," Emma called out and lifted her little bowl. "More!"

    The child had just eaten some chocte cake and drank a bowl of porridge. Elisabeth knew she couldn''t let her eat any more. She gently said, "That''s enough for today, okay? We can have more in the morning."

    "Talking doesn''t count," Emma pouted at Elisabeth''s refusal. Children had a strange instinct, and with tearful eyes, she used, "Mommy!"

    Elisabeth nearly bumped her head against the ss coffee table, silentlymenting as she touched her forehead and waspelled to take the bowl from the little one. "Alright, you can only have half a bowl more, but that''s it."

    "Okay," Emma eagerly nodded. Noticing Elisabeth''s expression, the little girl feltpelled to do something, her pretty blue eyes twinkling as she called out once again, "Liz!"

    Having just stood up, Elisabeth saw Emma''s swift transition between the two names and couldn''t help but think to herself: Was this self-entanglement?

    ...

    After waking Julia, Eric quickly grasped the situation. The so-called "child abuse incident" had clearly not urred. Earlier that evening, Julia had dinner and a few drinks with friends, bing slightly tipsy. After returning home, her sudden motherly instinct kicked in, and she decided to care for the little one herself, sending the nanny off to rest. After ying with Emma for a bit, she figured the child was a little sleepy and managed to put her to bed before heading off to rest herself.

    During this process, both Julia and the nanny overlooked one crucial detail: the little one had not had dinner. Julia hadn''t asked, and the nanny hadn''t mentioned it; both assumed the other would fix a meal. Consequently, Emma, who didn''tin about hunger until she fell asleep, woke up in the middle of the night to seek food.

    Since Emma had been adopted by Julia, Eric had seen the little girl often. During the LA riots two years prior, Emma had stayed at the mansion with Julia for a time. Watching her grow from a tiny tot into a girl he felt very fond of, Eric hadn''t corrected Emma when she called him "Daddy." Though he didn''t care for the godfather customs, Emma was dear to him, treated almost like a goddaughter.

    Understanding that Julia hadn''t meant to be careless didn''t ease Eric''s anger toward her negligence. Moreover, having seen the film Julia madest year only fueled his mes. He had intended for her to star in a romanticedy to help revive her career after taking care of Emma had led to a decline in her poprity. Instead, she took on another project without consulting him. Fine, she could take that on, after all, he never meant to force his woman just to make movies for Firefly Productions.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    However, Eric was barely aware of the chaos of Julia''s movie until he identally discovered what it was about -- a pair of reporters traveling to Las Vegas to investigate a casino mogul for evidence of crimes, which led to nowhere. Julia, portraying the female reporter, barely left her hotel room throughout the film. The plot was nonsensical, making it seem like she hurriedly scribbled half-baked homework for her teacher in just ten minutes. The film garnered scathing reviews, wiping out thest remnants of poprity Julia had built through Pretty Woman and Steel Magnolias.

    What a disgrace! What a self-destructive path!

    Azy woman with no drive -- this wouldn''t do!

    The more Eric thought, the angrier he grew, so heid into Julia until he noticed her mixed signals. Though she cried for mercy, she seemed to enjoy the punishment, finally prompting him to stop.

    ...

    After feeding the little one to her heart''s content and plopping her on the sofa to watch cartoons, Elisabeth stole a nce at the stairs yet again. At this point, it was unclear how many times she had done so. Sadness washed over her; they had been up there too long, clearly lost in their folly, leaving her to take care of the child alone. It was infuriating. She promised herself she would not voluntarily walk into this trap again.

    Just as she thought that, Elisabeth finally heard footstepsing from the stairs. Quicklyposing her face into a neutral expression, she prepared to confront them.

    Eric and Julia descended the stairs, one after the other. Elisabeth turned her back to Eric, throwing a pointed re at Julia, whose face remained flushed.

    Oh, those two!

    Eric sat down on the sofa, while Julia made her way toward the coffee machine in the corner.

    Seeing Julia so eager to brew coffee only added to Elisabeth''s frustration. She shot a look at Eric, silently conveying her disapproval, but her gaze halted at the absence of the Hermes belt she had gifted Eric for Christmas.

    "Oh, I left it upstairs," Eric waved it off lightly.

    "Hmph," Elisabeth scoffed, letting out a dismissive sound.

    Julia soon prepared the coffee, poured Eric a cup with ice, and handed it to him. Eric lifted the cup, blowing lightly before taking a sip and gestured toward the sofa beside him. "Come sit. I need to discuss something with you."

    Julia nodded before approaching the armchair, but she had barely touched it before standing

    up with a cry.

    Noting Julia''s pitiful demeanor as she covered her rear, Elisabeth turned to Eric and remarked, "You''re a brute."

    However, her tonecked any bitterness; instead, it hinted at a grievance that Eric hadn''t distributed "the violence" evenly.

    Hearing Elisabeth, Eric shot her an amused look, causing her to shyly evade his gaze. She

    realized her tone didn''t convey enough severity; it leaned more toward... No way, I''m not a masochist, absolutely not!

    To prove that she was not hesitant, Elisabeth collected herself and prepared to retort, but discovered Eric had already turned to Julia sitting crookedly on the sofa.

    "How much money do you have on you now?" Eric asked Julia.

    She shook her head, hesitated, and finally replied, "Maybe, perhaps around 30 million?"

    Eric felt exasperated. This woman didn''t even know how much money she had: "Tomorrow, contact your ountant to get a tally. Keep a hundred thousand for expenses, and give me the

    rest."

    "Julia, don''t give him money. This is robbery," Elisabeth immediately protested.

    Julia, seemingly ignoring Elisabeth''sints, obediently nodded. "Okay, I understand."

    Eric paid no mind to Elisabeth''s objections, pressing on. "Once Fireflypletes the purchase of the ABCwork, I''ll convert your cash into Firefly stocks. However, I''ll hold onto these stocks and anyter dividends for you. After you win an Oscar, then we can discuss what to do with the shares."

    Just as Elisabeth was about to say something, she was left surprised and stopped. Her eyes regarded Julia with a tinge of envy.

    After Firefly Productions shared its annual financial report, numerous investment institutions mored to invest, offering several times the value. Yet Eric had resolutely turned them all down, including during thework acquisition. Now, he was proactively converting Julia''s cash into Firefly stock. Even though this amount was trivial in the grand scheme of the future mergedpany, it clearly indicated Eric had fully embraced Julia as his own. Despite herplicated feelings toward Eric, Julia had no issues with her intelligence. She recognized the implications behind his actions. Under other circumstances, she might have fretted over Eric''s sureness, but having just been chastised by him, a sense of submission and reliance dwelled within her. At this moment, Julia would''ve jumped off a nearby cliff on Eric''smand without thinking twice.

    Seeing how Julia didn''t negotiate back but readily agreed, Eric felt a hint of guilt. But since he couldn''t change the facts, steering them towards a better oue seemed the best course.

    He took a few sips of coffee and nced at Elisabeth and Julia, as well as the little girl who was focused on the cartoons. "Liz is bound to be busy with her new role as VP at Fox, and you can''t just be idle. I''m personally arranging your next film, so noziness allowed. It won''t make sense for Emma to stay here; this Hollywood environment isn''t suitable for her growth. I n to send her to New York to be with the two children, and let Joan take care of her. You

    don''t mind, do you?"

    Although no incidents had urred that night, the two women recognized Eric''s suggestion was prudent. After all, they couldn''t wait for regrettable events to unfold. Watching Julia nod, Elisabeth questioned with some trepidation, "What about Julia''s brother? And do you think Joan will ept Emma?"

    "Given that custody lies with Julia, they have no leverage to interfere," Eric rified. "Also,

    Joan loves children. When Vicki was out filming, Joan often took care of Kevin. Adding Emma into the mix wouldn''t be a challenge. Since you both agree, I''ll call Joan tomorrow to discuss this. Emma''s already three years old; it''s time for her to start kindergarten."

    As they wrapped up these discussions, it was nearing midnight. Julia took the barely awake

    Emma to the nursery while Eric finished his coffee, casting a subtle smirk at a seemingly absent-minded Elisabeth as he stood. "Come on, I have something good to show you." "What good thing?" Elisabeth instinctively rose to follow.

    "The belt you gave me for Christmas. I realized it''s quite versatile. Let''s go explore it again;

    you can assist me."

    Elisabeth was stunned for half a second, then felt Eric grip her hand as they headed upstairs. Her body trembled slightly for reasons she couldn''t fathom, her steps weakened as she followed Eric, her voice protesting, "I... I don''t want to. Let go of me!"

    ...

    The temperature in Los Angeles during February mornings remained a bit chilly, but Eric savored the feeling of sitting in the courtyard of this Beverly Hills mansion. Both the downtown area and the northern valley were shrouded in light mist, yet Eric could feel the

    gentle warmth of the rising sun.

    Elisabeth and Julia had arranged several scenic seating areas in the courtyard, and Eric sat at a

    round table with an IBMptop resting on it, next to today''s issue of the Los Angeles Times.

    Although it was just 8 AM in Los Angeles, it was already 11 AM in New York. Eric had just spoken with Katzenberg about the morning''s negotiations with ABC. While the world''s media closely followed the developments, and Eric read significant coverage in the newspaper, direct contact with the participants yielded the most urate firsthand ounts. Besides, there had been someplications in the morning''s negotiations in New York.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 587: Chapter 588: How Much Money Do You Really Have?

    Chapter 587: Chapter 588: How Much Money Do You Really Have?

    ?

    [Chapter 588: How Much Money Do You Really Have?]

    Waterworld resembled a water-based Mad Max, set in a post-apocalyptic wastnd after the copse of civilization. However, while one was set in a world strained by resource depletion following a nuclear war, Waterworld took ce in a distant future where continents were submerged beneath the ocean.

    Compared to the massive investment in Cutthroat Ind, which bombed at the box office, Waterworld''s global tally of over $200 million didn''t seem like a total failure. Yet, its production faced financial hurdles simr to those of Titanic, wherein a series of cost overruns forced investors to keep pouring money into the project to avoid losing their initial investments. Waterworld ultimately saw a production budget of $175 million, with promotional costs pushing the total investment over $200 million -- making it the highest- budget movie before Titanic.

    The oues of the two films, however, were starkly different. Titanic set an unprecedented box office record while Waterworld, despite its global earnings, ultimately resulted in significant losses for the producers.

    From an outsider''s perspective, Eric was still quite fond of Waterworld''s story concept. If it could have followed the low-budget route of Mad Max, Eric would have jumped at the chance to take on the project. However, as the head of Firefly Films, Eric wouldn''t touch this project knowing its future prospects.

    Moreover, with Kevin Costner already looking into starring in the Mission: Impossible series before Waterworld, Eric hoped that Waterworld might fall through. This would allow them to gain leverage in sry negotiations for the Mission: Impossible sequel.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Both Amy and Drew could sense that Eric was somewhat distracted while flipping through the Waterworld script. Drew knew this wasn''t unusual for Eric when he reviewed scripts, but it didn''t typically affect his judgment on a script''s quality. Amy Pascal spected that Eric''s inattentiveness might hint at hisck of confidence in the project.

    Sure enough, Eric quickly finished reading the script, disying no excitement typically observed when he encountered a promising script. He asked Amy, "Have you discussed this project with Kevin Costner?"

    Amy shook her head. "Not yet. While negotiating with Kevin regarding Mission: Impossible, I found out that his productionpany was reaching out about this project. Kevin''s agency, WMA, intends to package it for major studios."

    Eric frowned slightly upon hearing the word "packaged." Although CAA, WMA, and ICM stood as the top three agencies in Hollywood, after he had published that article, the other two firms had mimicked CAA''s packaging strategy. Just three years ago, CAA''s packaged project, Hook, had severely damaged Spielberg''s directorial reputation.

    When Eric first entered Hollywood, he felt from memory that this packaging strategy overly inted agents'' power while driving up star sries and production costs. Yet, as he spent more time there, he came to understand that the damage from packaging strategies truly harmed filmpanies far beyond just inted budgets. The creative teams of packaged projects werergely those rmended by the agency, meaning there was often little room for flexibility. This could lead to creative decisions that were ill-suited for projects, ultimately resulting in failure; Spielberg''s Hook served as the ssic example.

    The true harm to a filmpany was the failure of a major investment. As film budgets grew, this harm became increasingly severe.

    Like Waterworld in his hands, if one aimed to create a water-based wastnd film, the best- director choice was undoubtedly George Miller, who had risen to fame through the Mad Max series. The original Waterworld''s costumes and sets were essentially copies of Mad Max elements, meaning they only scratched the surface aesthetically.

    Eric recalled that the film''s director had been Kevin Reynolds, who ultimately found himself overwhelmed and left the project as production dragged on, sensing the potential failure of Waterworld. It was easy to imagine that had they chosen the right director from the beginning, the film''s oue would have been much better.

    "Since it''s a packaged project, we should stay out of this one; Firefly Films cannot afford any failures right now," Eric remarked, handing the script back to Amy. "Let''s pretend this never happened and focus on preparing Mission: Impossible."

    Hearing the word "failure," Amy arched an eyebrow, realizing Eric''s skepticism regarding the project. However, she quickly understood the underlying message and smiled knowingly.

    If Waterworld flopped, it would certainly save a significant amount in sries for the Mission: Impossible sequel.

    Checking the time, it was almost noon, and Kevin Costner was about to arrive. So, Amy hurriedly stuffed the Waterworld script into her bag.

    ...

    Kevin arrived shortly with his agent at the restaurant. Even though Eric orchestrated the situation surrounding Dances with Wolves back then, the passage of time had eased the tension. After all, Hollywood was a gamble; once one put their cards on the table, they had to live with the oues. If someone couldn''t move on from a bet, they wouldn''tst long in Hollywood.

    During lunch, both sides finalized various details regarding Mission: Impossible. Although there were some reservations about Eric''s rmendation of Brian De Palma, known for horror films, no one present was foolish enough to doubt Eric''s vision.

    Considering Kevin''s age, Eric nned only to make three films in this iteration of Mission: Impossible. Beyond three films, unless Kevin voluntarily lowered his sry, the rising star sries in Hollywood essentially meant the filmpany would be working for the stars. However, as long as they owned the rights to the Mission: Impossible series, they could set it aside for ten or eight years. By the time Kevin''s influence on the franchise dwindled, the project could be rebooted amidst nostalgia.

    Since Kevin was eager to begin work on Waterworld and had tight scheduling demands, Mission: Impossible quickly entered production after a main creative team had been finalized. Columbia also set the release timeline for Mission: Impossible for the end of the year.

    ...

    With Mission: Impossible organized, Eric turned his attention to the ongoing ABC acquisition negotiations while allocating significant energy to a series of films in production or post-

    production.

    Out of three summer releases, The Lion King wasplete, while the other two films, Kathryn Bigelow''s Saving Private Ryan and Cameron''s True Lies, entered the final editing stages. Eric felt confident about Cameron''s direction and limited his involvement with True Lies. Before shooting wrapped on Saving Private Ryan, Eric had already reviewed extensive footage Kathryn had filmed, which he found satisfying. Most importantly, the Normandynding sequence, supported by cutting-edge digital effects technology, appeared even more stunning than the original. However, since Kathryn''s directing style diverged considerably from the original, Eric found himself frequently in the editing room, asionally prompting Kathryn''sints. It wasn''t so much his interference that bothered her, but rather her feeling of distrust towards Eric, even if she remained unaware of this sentiment.

    These were the films Firefly was about to release, but Eric also needed to keep an eye on the preparations for Jurassic Park 2 and Independence Day, which were set to begin in thetter half of the year. Eric didn''t intend to direct any more films in the Jurassic Park series, so selecting a director took considerable effort.

    Aside from Firefly''s films, the coborative project Men in ck was also entering its final phase, ted for a summer release. Another film, Jumanji, faced dys due torge effects work, pushing its release to the end of the year.

    At DreamWorks, Charlie''s Angels was nearingpletion of final production. This year, DreamWorks nned tounch three films to meet their goal of ten films within three years. Hence, Eric had to allocate enough attention to support that side while also selecting two additional projects. He wrote the story outline for Resident Evil and handed it off to the writers forpletion of the script. He also lent a hand with the uing MGM James Bond sequel. With Sophie off working with Braveheart''s crew in Irnd, Eric proposed an outline for GoldenEye but didn''t assign the role of the female lead viin to Famke Janssen since she would be fulfilled with The X-Files during the GoldenEye shoot.

    ...

    Amidst all these ongoing projects, time quickly rolled around to March. This year''s Oscars were scheduled for March 21, considerably earlier than in previous years.

    However, at the beginning of March, the attention of Hollywood was far from the uing Oscars. Everyone was focused on another event.

    After chattingte the night before with Rnd Emmerich about Independence Day, Eric

    nned to catch some extra sleep due to the recent whirlwind of activity. But as the clock approached eight in the morning, Elisabeth stormed into the bedroom, practically shaking

    him awake.

    "Eric, wake up! You have to see this issue of Forbes, and the newspaper..." Elisabeth spoke hurriedly, excitement bubbling in her tone.

    Still groggy, Eric wrapped his arms around her and mumbled, "Don''t be noisy. Let me sleep a

    bit longer."

    "You''re the richest person in the country now and you want to sleep!" Elisabeth yfully hit

    him a few times.

    Eric knew immediately upon hearing "Forbes" that something significant had urred. He had discussed thetest Forbes Billionaires list over the phone multiple times with Steve Forbes, finally agreeing on a figure. Although this number still didn''t reflect Eric''s true worth, it favored the ongoing negotiations for Firefly Films'' acquisition of ABC.

    "$19.7 billion! I never expected you had this much money, and that it was $10 billion more than Warren Buffett''s second ce!" Elisabeth eximed as she saw Eric still lingering in

    bed.

    "Do you really trust the numbers they publish?" Eric turned to face her.

    Elisabeth looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

    Eric replied, "This number was agreed upon with Steve Forbes, so it''s not entirely urate.

    Don''t go making a scene about it; help me make breakfast."

    "I already made breakfast!" Elisabeth shot back, pressing Eric to get up. "Then tell me, how

    much do you actually have?"

    Realizing he couldn''t get back to sleep, Eric opened his eyes and grabbed the Forbes magazine from her hand. He nced through it and said, "See? It clearly states that due to the explosion of the film and television industry, of this $19.7 billion asset, $19 billion belongs to Firefly Films, and only $700 million is from other assets. If that was truly the case, do you think Chris still has the strength to attempt a hostile takeover of LTD?"

    Elisabeth had heard about Chris''s attempts to acquire LTD in New York. If Firefly sought public investment, they would need to form an independent board of directors for oversight. ording to Federalw, investmentpanies had to establish such boards, even if they didn''t go public. Yet, Firefly Investment Company had refrained from pursuing that route, indicating that most of its funds were likely Eric''s. Currently, Chris had already offered over $2 billion in his attempt to buy LTD. Even if this was a leveraged acquisition, without sufficient capital, Chris wouldn''t dare to make such moves. Elisabeth''s interest piqued at Eric''s words. "So tell me, how much do you actually have?"

    Typically, Eric preferred to keep a low profile, yet like any man, he felt the urge to showcase his strength to the women around him. Responding to Elisabeth''s question, Eric said, "Setting aside whether Forbes'' valuation of Firefly Films is urate, I personally believe it''s worth far more than $20 billion. Through several private funds, I currently hold about 23% of Cisco''s shares--you know Cisco, right?"

    Elisabeth nodded in astonishment. With Cisco''s current market value, that 23% stake would

    be worth over $3 billion. "Additionally, I also have stakes in Yahoo, Hotmail, and Inte Explorer," Eric continued. "Thosepanies have attracted a lot of eyes, and the most recent valuation was $500

    million."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 589: Chapter 590: General

    Chapter 589: Chapter 590: General

    ?

    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    [Chapter 590: General]

    While the Forbes billionaire list sparked controversy, Chris sessfully acquired LTD for a final price of $2.4 billion after more than two months of heated negotiations. The original major shareholder, Leslie Wexner, stepped aside, and on the day the contract was signed, LTD announced its merger with Brighton Apparel.

    Through a series ofplex financial maneuvers, Chris used less than $1 billion of his own funds throughout the entire process. Apart from the $600 million from Firefly Investment, another $400 million was financed through debt from Brighton Apparel. Afterpleting the acquisition and the subsequent merger, Firefly Investment and Brighton Apparel held abined 62% stake in LTD, achieving full control.

    "If we follow Wall Street''s rules, this is just the beginning," Chris said on the phone after detailing the entire acquisition process to Eric. "As long as we streamline and reorganize thepany''s departments next, significantly improve performance, and drive up the stock price, we can then split off and sell off LTD''s subsidiaries. That way, we will have generated enough capital to pay off the debts. That''s the essence of an investmentpany''s acquisition cycle. Too bad..."

    Before Chris could finish his sigh, Emily''s voice faintly came through the phone, "Chris, what are you regretting? We bought LTD to manage it, not to turn it into your personal toy like those greedy and evil Wall Street kinds."

    "Emily, I''ve worked over twelve hours a day for two months straight, just secured LTD for you, and that''s how you see me?"

    Amidst the softughter of others, Emily''s voice echoed again, growing louder, "But that''s the truth." After that, the receiver was probably snatched by Emily, excitement apparent in her tone, "Hi, Eric."

    Although it wasn''t quitting time in Los Angeles yet, night must have already fallen in New York. Eric, holding a mobile phone, crossed the cement path of the Firefly Films post- production center, pushed open the door into the administrative building, and exchanged nces with an executive on his way, before continuing into the phone, "Hi, Emily, are you guys having a party?"

    "Yeah, Miss Roberts is here too, and Emma! The little one is so adorable, heard she calls you ''Daddy''?"

    Hearing Emily''s gossipy tone, Eric indulged her curiosity, "Yeah, I think that''s a good way to teach Elia and Kevin to call me ''Daddy'' early on."

    Emily seemed a bit deted at Eric''sck of denial but quickly perked up, saying, "By the way, I haven''t congratted you yet, Mr. World''s Richest Man."

    "Thanks, but it''s more urate to say I''m the richest man in America."

    "American riches are world riches, of course," Emily said with the unmistakable confidence typical of Americans. "But didn''t you say that after securing LTD, you would design a marketing n for thepany yourself? Can''t we start that now?"

    "You know, I''ve been super busytely. While you guys are celebrating, I''ve got to go into a conference call, no telling when I can get off work."

    Yet Emily wasn''t swayed by Eric''sment, probing further, "Then tell me how you n to do it, so I can prepare in advance."

    Eric stepped into the conference room, greeted Michael Lynn and others who were waiting inside, sat down, and then hurriedly said to Emily, "Start contacting models. Don''t limit it to just American models; we want top models from Latin America, Europe, and Asia as well. Oh, and absolutely no skinny, nd-faced fashion models -- firstly, they have to have curves; t-chested ones are an absolute no. I n to personally n a lingerie show for Victoria''s Secret."

    ...

    Just as Emily was about to ask more, Eric quickly said goodbye and hung up the line, turning off the mobile phone in order to avoid any disruptions during the meeting.

    Setting down the Motor, Eric nced at the conference phone and asked Allen, who was sitting next to him, "Is Jeffrey on the line?"

    As Allen was about to respond, Jeffrey''s voice came through the conference phone, "Eric, I''m here."

    "Good," Eric said, gently pping his hands as a habit. "Let''s get started. Jeffrey, can you please update everyone on what happened this afternoon?"

    Katzenberg paused for a moment on the line, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before quickly outlining thetest developments during the negotiations that afternoon.

    During the negotiations, the representatives from ABC had surprisingly stopped using the long-drawn-out tactics they typically favored and had adopted a firmer stance. For the first time, they clearlyid out a proposal that ABC would find eptable.

    "The ABC management offered a price of $71.4 per share, of which $23.8 would be exchanged for roughly 30% of Firefly Films'' total shares, while the other $47.6 would be paid in cash. Additionally, ABC management insisted that the 14.7 million shares of ABC stock we already hold could only be exchanged for non-voting preferred stock. After making this demand, the ABC representatives stated they wouldn''t resume negotiations until we responded. I think the ABC management is under shareholder pressure and wants toplete this acquisition soon; this situation might rte to recent media trends. It''s clear our public rtions strategy has had an effect."

    As Katzenberg finished speaking, Allen handed Eric a draft filled with calctions.

    ABC had about 210 million shares outstanding, and based on the price per share that ABC proposed, the total transaction amounted to $15 billion. The $23.8 represented 30% of the share price, which meant that ABC wanted to exchange 30% of its shares for an equal share of Firefly''s, along with $10 billion in cash.

    Before making the public acquisition offer, Firefly had already obtained a 7% stake in ABC, which amounted to the 14.7 million shares Katzenberg referred to. This stock definitely couldn''t be overlooked in the merger process. Although even if this deal went through, ABC shareholders would never gain enough authority over Firefly, the strategy of converting this stock into non-voting preferred shares was clearly aimed at diluting Eric''s control.

    Eric quickly read through the data Allen handed him and then passed the draft to Jeffrey on his right. The others in the conference room quickly reviewed it as well.

    After examining the analysis, Michael Lynn remarked, "This proposal should still have been drafted by Warren Buffett. Though ABC made considerable concessions in the share exchange, they bnced the estimates between ABC and Firefly, both pegged at $15 billion. This aligns perfectly with Buffett''s recent media statements."

    Frank Wells added, "If it''s confirmed that ABC management is indeed under pressure from shareholders other than Buffett, we might be able to gain enough leverage."

    Strange noises emerged from the conference phone; Katzenberg seemed to be muted, whispering to someone. After a moment, he remarked, "This seems to be confirmed. David West, president of State Street Global Advisors, just called to invite me to dinner. State Street owns 3.9% of ABC."

    The three others in the conference room turned to look at Eric, their expressions eager.

    Clearly, even though the debates regarding Eric''s personal wealth hadn''t ceased, the undeniable fact that he had built Firefly Films into a phenomenon in just six years couldn''t be overlooked. As the media delved deeper into Firefly''s capabilities and scale, other ABC shareholders had grown restless, eager to join the Firefly camp. West''s dinner invitation was nothing short of a clear signal. They could all imagine that when Katzenberg shows up for dinner, he wouldn''t just be meeting with West but possibly other ABC shareholders too.

    Looking at Eric deep in thought, Jeffrey finally couldn''t contain himself and said, "Eric, if we can sidestep Warren Buffett and Tom Murphy, acquire shares from other shareholders, or even gain controlling interest, we could have enough power to advance ABC''s coboration with Firefly independently."

    Eric shook his head, stating, "It''s impossible to circumvent Buffett. If he realizes he''s been betrayed by the other ABC shareholders, things will get a lot worse. And remember, Tom Murphy isn''t just a major ABC shareholder; he''s the current head of ABC. He has enough power to really jeopardize the situation at ABC. Moreover, they hold nearly 40% of the shares; if a stalemate arises in the future, ABC will certainly be the battleground for both of us. What I want is a strong national televisionwork, not a ''wreckage''."

    Frank Wells interjected, "So what''s our next move? Honestly, I want to wrap this up soon and

    then take a vacation."

    Eric paused for a moment, and hearing the word ''vacation'' from Frank, information shed in his mind. He suddenly looked up and asked, "Frank, where are you nning to vacation?"

    In his memory, Frank Wells had tragically perished in a helicopter ident during his

    vacation in 1994.

    "The Alps," Frank replied with a smile, but soon added, "Of course, if the work here demands it, I can always postpone until next year."

    "Then it''s next year," Eric recognized his overreaction and pretended to be casual, saying,

    "You can take a prolonged break next year, but this year probably won''t work. Even if weplete the acquisition, there are still many things to sort out. You''re Jeffrey''s right-hand man; you can''t just leave now."

    Frank Wells had already been significantly affected by the butterfly effect. Even if he went on vacation this year, it likely wouldn''t guarantee that he''d encounter misfortune again. Given Eric''s decision to postpone a year, if misfortune were to strike again, it could only be

    considered fateful.

    "Alright, no problem," Frank agreed with augh. "Eric, let''s talk business."

    "Yeah," Eric nodded. "I think since some ABC shareholders are leaning our way and have

    applied more pressure on ABC management, we can add some leverage from our side to intensify that pressure. Ultimately, if we can convene shareholders'' meeting to vote -- bypassing management to finalize this deal -- that would be ideal."

    "That route seems feasible," Katzenberg remarked over the conference phone. "If we release news next year that negotiations for the ABC-Firefly acquisition are deteriorating, the initiative will surely return to our side. Also, I''ll be dining with David Westter, and I could invite them to publicly endorse this deal in the media."

    Michael Lynn added, "We hold 14.7 million shares of ABC stock. If we sell some of those in the

    coming days and push down ABC''s stock price, it''ll make this situation even more credible."

    The group quickly devised a specific n, and since Katzenberg had a dinner invitation, Eric kept the meeting brief. After finalizing the n, Eric dered, "Since this matter has reached its final stage, we should prepare ordingly. I hope we can finalize the trading agreement before the Oscars, making it clear this isn''t just a show. Our timeline is tight, and after the deal is done, we need toy out ns for ABC ahead of the fall season. All of this takes time. If we can''tplete the acquisition beforehand, we have to decisively shift our focus. Just a few days ago, Jack Welch, the CEO of General Electric, emailed me. GE holdsplete control over NBC, making negotiations much easier than with ABC. If we can secure GE, we can take NBC. Of course, that''s just a fallback; we''ve invested so much in ABC -- Firefly will never give up

    until the veryst moment."

    NBC had recentlycked the original Friends, and with NBC''s management in conflict with GE''s upper management over thest few years, thework had be quite chaotic. Thus, pursuing a merger with NBC would be significantly less challenging than with ABC.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 591: Chapter 592: The Internal Screening

    Chapter 591: Chapter 592: The Internal Screening

    ?

    [Chapter 592: The Internal Screening]

    Many yearster, the now elderly Private Ryan returned to the Normandy American Cemetery, where over 120,000 livesy buried. He ran his fingers over the white gravestone, feeling the weight of the name etched upon it, as if he had been transported back in time.

    The sound of waves crashing against thending craft echoed like the soldiers'' uneasy cries before battle. With habitual nervousness, Captain Miller twisted open his aluminum canteen and took a long drink, while his lieutenant stuffed a bar of chocte into his mouth, both trying their best to remain calm.

    As the helmsman signaled imminentnding, Captain Miller and Lieutenant Horvath hurriedly reminded the soldiers about what to watch out for during thending. However, their words seemed to carry little weight; when the hatch opened, a rapid burst of machine gun fire instantly took down arge number of soldiers before they even had time to react.

    This brutal scene, with absolutely no room for a breather, made many viewers in the screening room gasp. The shaky footage from the handheld camera intensified the feeling of being right there in the thick of it.

    The following images only tightened the viewers'' nerves further. Some struggled to jump into the water, only to be struck down by bullets, never to resurface; others fought hard to reach the shore, but fell before they could reach the beach; and some valiantly dragged their woundedrades, only to find in the aftermath of cannon fire that they were left holding nothing but half a corpse...

    Eric noticed a female executive from the distribution department sitting not far to his left, her face already contorted in anguish as she covered her eyes. Others wore simrly grave expressions.

    He nced at Kathryn beside him; her fingers were tightly gripping the armrest, her anxiety clearly palpable.

    As the twenty-minute Normandynding sequence concluded, the camera cut to the mailroom, and Eric distinctly sensed a collective sigh of relief from everyone in the room. Someone even raised a hand, seemingly wanting to apud the sessful war scenes, but quickly realized the subject matter did not warrant such a reaction, and lowered their hand again.

    Eric watched Kathryn, who showed no signs of easing up. He gave her hand a reassuring pat and bent closer to whisper, "How about we step outside for a bit?"

    This was the first internal screening of Saving Private Ryan after its final cut had beenpleted, but Kathryn shook her head, "Isn''t that a bit inappropriate?"

    Eric gestured vaguely downward, "You''re sitting so straight that you''re blocking others'' view."

    Kathryn, already feeling extremely anxious, rxed some at Eric''s yful jab. When she felt him trying to pull her up to leave, she quickly shook off his grip. Yet, she found that she was already rising from her seat, so she ended up walking out of the screening room with Eric.

    ...

    The screening room was located on the first floor of the Firefly Studios administrative building. Once they stepped out, shutting the door behind them and sealing away the movie''s sound, a peaceful quiet enveloped them.

    Being Saturday, though many film crews were hard at work in the studios, there weren''t many people stayingte in the administrative building. Eric put his hands in his pockets and looked at Kathryn, who wore a ck leather jacket and jeans, her tall figure striking. "How about we go to my office for a cup of coffee? We''ve seen the film so many times. We cane back after they finish."

    Kathryn hesitated, reluctant to be alone in a room with this man who often stirred her emotions. She pointed to the cement walkway outside the floor-to-ceiling window. "Let''s just walk outside instead."

    "OK," Eric replied, taking the lead.

    The Firefly Studiosplex was oriented in a northeast rectangle, parallel to the Ballona Creek running through Culver City.

    Having stepped out of the administrative building, Eric nced back at Kathryn, whose worried gaze was still fixated on him, and he sought to lighten the mood. "Kathryn, I''ve always been curious; what does ''Ballona'' mean in the name of the creek beside the studio? Do you know?"

    Kathryn, having a deep knowledge of ssical paintings, was quite familiar with some of the Western mythological figures associated with them. Though her mind wandered, she immediately blurted, "It''s the name of a tall beauty warrior goddess from ancient Rome..." Realizing what she had said, she shot Eric an annoyed re, though there was no anger in her eyes, just a flicker of embarrassment.

    Eric chuckled, "I actually think ''Ballona'' is quite a pretty name, unlike Kathryn, which is somonce."

    "Did you know that in Greek mythology, the counterpart of Ballona, the warrior goddess Enyo, was incredibly bloody and ruthless? It''s said that after the Trojan War, when the city was ughtered, she drank the blood of the fallen in a drunken haze."

    Eric shrugged innocently, "Do we really need to delve that deep? I''ve never heard of such a niche subplot."

    Kathryn smirked slightly, a faint smile ying on her lips. "You brought it up first."

    "Alright, my bad," Ericughed, shaking his head. "Let''s talk about something else. What do you have nned next?"

    Kathryn replied, "I intend to take some time off, travel around, and thene back to work. Remember Becky? She mentioned that Columbia University is hosting a pop art exhibition next week, and I n to check it out."

    Eric only vaguely understood that pop art represented a form of popr culture, but he hadn''t looked into it much deeper. "I might also head to New York soon. Are you still staying at that hotel in SoHo?"

    Kathryn reminisced about their time together three years earlier at the 60 SoHo Hotel; it was as if everything was clear as yesterday. She said, "I might, but I... might also stay at Becky''s

    ce."

    "It''s not nice to inconvenience others. I have a high-rise apartment near Sixth Avenue with a view of Central Park; maybe you could stay there."

    Kathryn stopped, her eyes fixed on Eric for a few seconds. Seeing no sign of nervousness on his part, she felt embarrassed. "You... you still need a ce to stay, right? I think I''ll just go to a hotel so no one is burdened."

    Eric maintained a gentle smile, casually saying, "OK, just call me once you''re settled in. Maybe we can be neighbors."

    Kathryn felt an urge to flee; this guy was being a relentless pest, so unreasonable.

    She''s felt flustered and anxiously searched for a way to change the topic. "When we wrap up filming, you asked me to keep all those props. Why? They are just gathering dust in a warehouse in Irnd, and I have to pay considerable monthly storage fees for them!"

    For Saving Private Ryan, the crew had prepared thousands of World War II uniforms from various countries, a multitude ofnding crafts and military vehicles, plus countless other props -- spending over ten million dors. Eric definitely wouldn''t treat them casually like many films and just offload them.

    Moreover, he had better ns for reusing them.

    Though it was amusing to see how awkwardly Kathryn tried to divert the conversation, Eric decided not to poke fun at her further; he didn''t want to scare her off. "I n to use these items to create a mini-series about World War II films. It will connect with the storyline of Saving Private Ryan, focusing on a unit venturing deep behind enemy lines after the Normandy invasion. Kathryn, since you''ve done so much research, you''re likely more knowledgeable about World War II history than I am. Would you be interested in being the producer for this mini-series?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Kathryn did not give a direct answer but asked, "Shouldn''t the cost of a war drama be quite high? How much do you intend to spend on this?"

    "With those props and the production team from Saving Private Ryan, the cost per episode won''t exceed ten million. I''m thinking of producing ten episodes." "That''s a hundred million dors! Saving Private Ryan only cost seventy million, and I''m still worried about whether we can recoup that investment. You''re nning to spend a hundred million on a TV drama?" Kathryn shook her head but thenughed, looking at Eric. "I almost forgot; you''re now the wealthiest man in America, so money is no issue for you." Eric had grown used to people teasing him about being the richest man, smiling as he replied,

    "I''m the wealthiest but not foolish. Don''t worry; after Saving Private Ryan hits theaters, it will spark a wave of war films. Launching this mini-series at the right time should make recouping our costs quite feasible. I happen to be acquiring a TVwork. This series could enhance its

    brand."

    Kathryn shook her head. "I don''t know much about these matters, but I''ve heard rumors that your negotiation with ABC fell through?"

    Eric rified, "It didn''t fall through; we''re just at a crucial point. It depends on whether ABC

    is willing to budge. If everything goes well, I''ll be going to New York next week for the

    signing." "Today is the 12th, and the Oscars are on the 21st." Kathryn said this, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. If that were the case, Eric wouldn''t be in New York for long. "I heard they invited you to present the Best Picture award, which rarely happens."

    Thanks to the butterfly effect, the film Schindler''s List that should have released this year was dyed by a year, making this Oscar a lesser year as no renowned directors released films.

    To improve ratings, the Oscarmittee had personally invited Eric early in the year to participate this ceremony. Initially, they hoped Eric would open the show to draw in viewers, but in March, after thetest issue of Forbes came out, they changed their minds. They wanted him toest to present the coveted Best Picture award -- a duty usually reserved for Hollywood veterans. However, given Eric''s power and reputation in Hollywood, no one would question his qualifications for presenting that award.

    "Speaking of the Oscars, ICM is hosting a warm-up party at the Sunset Tower Hotel tonight. Kepler called to invite me to make an appearance. Your contract is also with ICM; do you want

    toe with me?"

    Kathryn shook her head. "Better not. I n to head home early to rest."

    Eric noticed a fleeting yet undeniable interest in Kathryn''s expression, quickly reced by a refusal. After some thought, he suspected the reason. Not only Kathryn but also due to the coboration with Firefly, Cameron also had his contract with ICM. Kathryn clearly wanted to

    avoid running into him, so Eric did not press further.

    ...

    The two walked a loop along theplex''s walkway, stopped for coffee at the cafe, and only headed back to the administrative building when they felt the screening of Saving Private Ryan was nearly wrapping up.

    Stepping back into the screening room, they found the fluorescent lights already turned on.

    The executives and the marketing staff participating in the internal screening had begun to murmur among themselves. When they noticed Eric and Kathryn''s entrance, everyone fell silent, and after a brief moment of quietude, they all broke into apuse simultaneously. Arriving just in time for this internal screening, Katzenberg approached and said, "Ms. Kathryn, congrattions on making an incredible movie. If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I definitely wouldn''t have believed it."

    Kathryn understood that Katzenberg hadn''t meant his statement entirely; he was implying that he wouldn''t have believed a woman could direct a film of such caliber. However, she didn''t mind. She smiled and shook his hand, responding, "Thank you for your praise, Jeffrey." Katzenberg nodded and then turned to Eric. "But, Eric, this film has two significant issues. The length is 170 minutes, nearly three hours; I suggest trimming it further. The rating is also a concern. If we cut out the excessively bloody scenes, we could certainly achieve a PG-13 rating, but it would lose some of its authenticity. If not adjusted, an R rating is inevitable." Eric knew Katzenberg''s direct nature well. Though Katzenberg had many sociable qualities typical of high executives, he confronted work matters straightforwardly. So he didn''t take offense at Katzenberg''s honesty. "Jeffrey, the rough cut of this film ran four and a half hours. Kathryn and I have already trimmed it as much as possible. I don''t believe we can reduce the current 170-minute length any further. As for the R rating, Terminator 2 proved that an R- rated film doesn''t necessarily result in box office failure. This is, after all, a war film." Katzenberg recognized Eric''s point. After hearing his confirmation, he chose not to dwell on the matter anymore. As a professional filmmaker, he felt the film''s plot had already been tightened to the point of no return. Nevertheless, being instinctively critical in his profession,

    The voiced his opinions to Eric.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 593: Chapter 594: Come Here

    Chapter 593: Chapter 594: Come Here

    ?

    [Chapter 594: Come Here]

    Watching the three old men across the table furrow their brows at the data in the notepad, Eric calmly exined, "Firefly insists it can only sell a maximum of 25% of its shares. However, since both ABC and Firefly are registered in Dware, ording to Dware''s General Corporation Law, if the parentpany acquires 90% of the subsidiary, the parentpany''s board can unterally propose to privatize the remaining circting shares. The method of privatization is determined by the parentpany, and there is no need to consult the subsidiary''s board or investors. So if ABC can cooperate with Firefly to acquire 90% of the shares beforehand, we can buy out the remaining 10% in cash, and the other shareholders won''t have to participate in the 25% equity swap. Therefore, the equity obtained by Berkshire Hathaway and Mr. Murphy''spany would not be less than what Mr. Buffett proposed."

    Taxes are divided into federal and state taxes. However, there is a significant difference in state tax percentages, and due to Dware''s unique tax exemption policy, manypanies choose to register there.

    As a well-knownwyer, Charlie Munger quickly identified some issues, saying, "But, Eric, have you not considered that this n could still likely provoke an SEC investigation?"

    Although Eric''s proposal was not illegal, it teetered on the edge. As the most mature bond market in the world, the U.S. prioritized the protection of small shareholders'' interests far more than those of major shareholders. Eric''s proposal raised suspicions that ordinary shareholders could lose their autonomy. If this proposal incited discontent among minority shareholders leading to awsuit, Firefly would still find itself in hot water.

    Eric did not shy away from Charlie Munger''s gaze. "I consulted thepany''swyers, and this is not illegal. Simrly, ordinary shareholders'' interests won''t be harmed. Firefly will still offer to buy their shares at a price 50% higher than the stock price."

    While the two men engaged in dialogue, Buffett imagined the downfall of Solomon Brothers four years ago. Whenever he thought of it, a chill ran through him. The downfall was not merely because of the false bidding scandal, but due to the lengthywsuits and credit crisis that followed. Before the Solomon Brothers incident, Buffett had scarcely appeared in court in almost sixty years, and he had never been a defendant. Compared to other investors who were often embroiled in disputes, this was an impressive record.

    Now, even though Buffett knew that epting Eric''s proposal would maximize Berkshire Hathaway''s interests, it would also bring unnecessary legal risks to both parties involved. This risk had crossed a line that Buffett could not tolerate. "Eric, I do not agree with your n."

    Eric was somewhat surprised, but Charlie Munger and Tom Murphy, who were very familiar with Buffett, showed no odd expressions. They both knew Buffett was inherently overly cautious.

    Once Buffett''s words were spoken, the conference room fell silent.

    However, everyone realized the underlying implication of Buffett''sst statement: he did not reject the deal itself, merely Eric''s n. Therefore, all waited for him to continue.

    Although Buffett maintained a calm exterior, he felt an internal conflict, unlike the struggles he faced during the Solomon Brothers'' crisis a few years prior.

    If he gained absolute control of ABC, he might have been tempted to reject the deal out of pure instinct. Buffett was not one to bargain well; when he sensed that something had slipped out of his control, he typically ended it decisively to avoid wasting energy. He applied the same logic when investing inpanies -- he generally did not linger in situations he could not control but chose to sell off his shares instead.

    Currently, the situation with ABC had slipped from his grasp, even his influence umted over decades in the investment world seemed ineffective. Firefly''s rise was more legendary than his own sess story. Aside from him and a few old friends, many major shareholders of ABC had already shifted to Firefly''s side.

    Buffett knew that if he did not strike a deal this evening, under Firefly''s covert support, a group of ABC shareholders might convene a special shareholders'' meeting to push the transaction through.

    If the deal went through without his approval, it could lead to scenarios simr to Eric''s proposal of excluding 10% of minority shareholders. They could also draft other ns that would encroach on the interests of Berkshire Hathaway and Tom Murphy, which could ultimately cost them their influence over ABC and the future mergedpany, irrespective of whether their economic interests remained intact.

    Furthermore, if the deal copsed, the consequences would be even more unpredictable. The U.S. viewing audience size is fixed. ABC had secured its leading TV market share in North America not only due to its stable operations but also because itspetitors NBC and CBS were both in a slump. Whether Firefly took over NBC or CBS, its strong content production capabilities would pose a significant threat to ABC''s status. General Electric held absolute control over NBC, but management, with support from other shareholders, had created considerable instability. If ABC''s performance began to decline, the disgruntled shareholders would likely escte matters, creating a vicious cycle that would jeopardize thework''s operations.

    The room remained silent for a full five minutes as everyone patiently awaited Buffett''s final decision.

    Finally, after a deep sigh, Buffett softly remarked, "I might regret this decision in the future." As the words echoed in the room, everyone sensed that Buffett had made his decision. Eric smiled confidently and said, "Warren, I assure you, you will not regret today''s decision." Buffett did not react much to Eric''s remarks, but since he had made up his mind, he no longer lingered on the details. He simply agreed to Firefly''s offer of 25% equity and $10 billion in cash.

    After a brief toast with champagne to celebrate, Buffett and his twopanions declined Eric''s invitation and left the Sunset Tower Hotel.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ...

    In the underground parking lot, as they watched Buffett''s car drive away, Eric turned to Katzenberg and smiled, "Jeffrey, you will host the next press conference."

    Katzenberg understood thatpleting the acquisition of ABC would significantly boost his career, so he excitedly responded, "Eric, should we hold a senior meeting now to prepare?"

    Eric tapped his watch. "You have to think about others'' feelings. It''s the weekend, and it''s already 8:30 PM."

    "Fine, let''s do it tomorrow," Katzenberg seemed entirely unaware that tomorrow was Sunday, but Eric chose not to stop him, knowing the executives wouldn''t me him.

    Katzenberg hurried off to deal with the reporters who had been waiting, while Eric and Jeffrey returned to the party, joking and chatting.

    News that Eric had arranged for champagne to be sent to the conference room had spread throughout the party, and guests began to gather around him to offer congrattions. Although the negotiation hadn''t taken long, Eric felt tense throughout the entire process. Buffett did not want the transaction to fail, and neither did Eric. If it did, all the preliminary work Firefly had done would go to waste, and everything would have to start over.

    Now, feeling a sense of relief, fatigue began to set in. After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Eric sank into a sofa in the corner of the hall.

    ...

    Watching Penelope deliberately walk by with Kate Beckinsale and Charlize Theron, Eric smiled and patted the sofa beside him. Without hesitation, Penelope walked over, grinning as she sat next to him. Sensing that Eric in the middle of the sofa didn''t intend to move, the other two women exchanged nces, and finally, Charlize took the initiative to sit down on Eric''s left, with Kate following suit beside her.

    Penelope, oblivious to the little details, leaned slightly against Eric and excitedly said, "Eric, today Kate and I tried on dresses together. They''re beautiful! Do you want to take a sneak

    peek?"

    Eric was a bit puzzled and asked, "Oscar dresses?"

    Penelope nodded, "I shot a movie called Belle ��poque beforeing to the U.S. which got nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, and I received an Oscar invitation." Now Eric understood, the promotions for Charlie''s Angels had already begun. Since Penelope was attending the Oscars for Belle ��poque, it must mean Kate was there for the Shakespeareanedy Much Ado About Nothing. Eric remembered that this film had won no awards at the Oscars in the original timeline, and it seemed MGM had put in considerable work to promote Charlie''s Angels. Moreover, the two people at the helm of MGM, one had been a Paramount executive and the other had been a producer at Warner Bros. With their years of umted connections, it wouldn''t be difficult to orchestrate an inconsequential nomination for Much Ado About Nothing, allowing Kate to seamlessly appear at the Oscar ceremony. Curious about this, Eric turned to Kate and asked, "What nominations did Much Ado About

    Nothing receive?"

    "Best Costume and Best Score," Kate replied, somewhat bashfully. Although she hadn''t been in Hollywood long, she knew this Oscar attendance was purely due to luck.

    Eric recalled his experience at the Golden Globes in January andughed, "Those are rather fitting nominations. It would have beenpletely absurd if you''d only received a Best Picture nomination without any heavyweight awards, like at the Golden Globes." Hearing the three discuss the Oscars, a sh of disappointment crossed Charlize''s eyes.

    Although she had moved out of the three-way apartment, Penelope maintained an excellent rtionship with the two women as Eric had requested. Even though Charlize quickly raised a ss of red wine to mask her expression, Penelope noticed Charlize''s change in demeanor and thus said to Eric, "Eric, why don''t you help Charlize get an Oscar invitation too? That should be an easy task for you."

    Eric nced at Charlize, whose expression clearly showed expectations yet retained an air of restraint, and replied, "It''s unnecessary; next year you three can attend the ceremony together. Perhaps you''ll even take turns being award presenters."

    Upon hearing Eric''s refusal, Penelope said nothing more, but Charlize noticeably drooped her

    head in disappointment.

    Kate''s sparkling eyes nced back and forth between Eric and Charlize, raising her eyebrows

    slightly. She felt Eric was definitely being deliberately coy.

    Eric noticed the subtle shift in Kate''s expression but didn''t mind if she caught on, maintaining his smile and suddenly asking Kate, "Do you still smoke?"

    Kate froze for a moment, quickly shaking her head, "No, no."

    "Hmm..." Eric dragged out the response, "Looks like you do."

    Realizing her guilty conscience was tantly obvious, Kate quickly said, "You can deduct

    from my pay if you want."

    Eric smiled and said, "Actually, you could just privately subsidize the two of them."

    Staring at Eric''s rxed smile, Kate realized he wasn''t being serious, so she followed suit with a lighthearted tone, "Okay, you can penalize me; I''ll make it up to them privately." Eric shrugged, leaning back against the sofa, took a small sip of his wine, and waved, saying, "You guys go have fun. I''ll rest for a bit."

    Maybe feeling rxed now, Kate responded, "You really sound like an old man."

    "Oh," Eric nodded, replying, "Penelope and Charlize, you two go have fun. Kate, just stay here

    with this old man for a while."

    "Charlize, let''s go dance," Penelope got up, wrapping her arm around Charlize, smiling as

    they walked toward the dance floor.

    Eric looked at Kate, who remained seated, and patted the spot that Charlize had just vacated.

    "Come here."

    Kate shifted away, saying, "I was just joking, you know. This is a public ce; you can''t just

    act out like that."

    "In that case, what are you afraid of? Come here!"

    Kate stood firm, "I''m noting over!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 595: Chapter 596: The Procrastinator

    Chapter 595: Chapter 596: The Procrastinator

    ?

    [Chapter 596: The Procrastinator]

    Bright and early the next morning, all the major newspapers in America buzzed with the news that Eric had met with Buffett again and preliminarily reached a merger agreement. Since it was the expanded weekend edition, the Los Angeles Times devoted a significant amount of space to Firefly Films.

    Eric read the paper while enjoying his breakfast when he heard a slightmotion at the entrance of the dining room. He turned to see Kate, wearing nothing but a loose white men''s shirt, appear at the door.

    Eric realized that women didn''t just randomly find his clothes to wear; it was more about the fact that they often donned formal gowns before spending the night at the Manor. Evening dresses certainly showcased a woman''s allure, but they weren''t always the mostfortable for everyday wear. So, after waking up, women often sought out his clothes to wear.

    Kate noticed Eric staring at her long legs beneath the shirt and instinctively slowed her pace to cover up her slightly awkward steps.

    When she finally sat down at the dining table, she let out a sigh of relief. The memory of Eric thoroughly exhausting herst night ignited a little me of anger in her, but she quickly recalled the events of the party. Spotting the newspaper in Eric''s hands, she asked nervously, "Eric, does the paper mention anything aboutst night?"

    Eric knew exactly what she was referring to and responded with a mischievous grin, "Yeah, it''s all over the front page."

    Kate''s heart raced as she quickly snatched a copy of the paper next to Eric, flipping through several pages, relieved to find no mention of their intimate moments at the party. She shot Eric an annoyed re.

    Eric got up and headed to the kitchen, bringing back breakfast he''d set aside for Kate. He delivered it to her with a reassuring remark, "Don''t worry, there are no photos, so no mainstream media will report on it. Even if those third-rate tabloids catch wind of it, they''ll think twice about the consequences. It''ll only circte in our circle, if anything."

    As Kate rxed a bit, she picked up a piece of toast, ready to eat. However, Eric''sstment made her raise her head again. "So many people know; they will definitely talk behind our backs."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Let''s consider it from a different angle," Eric said as he sat back down, picking up the newspaper again. "This actually won''t hurt you at all, will it?"

    Of course, having such a powerful backing from Eric wouldn''t harm her; it could potentially take her acting career to new heights. But after pondering it for a moment, Kate still felt a bit uneasy. However, she didn''t want to delve deeper into thoughts that she couldn''t fully understand, especially afterst night''s "workout" had left her starving. She quickly dismissed everything and focused on her breakfast.

    Eric observed the changing expressions on Kate''s face, his smile widening.

    The news wouldn''t damage Kate''s reputation or career. After all, despite being at the top of the Hollywood pyramid, Eric wasn''t one of those old guys in their fifties or sixties. He was around the same age as Kate, and most people hearing about their rtionship would only envy her.

    However, there would be some impact. Importantly, the moment people learned about Eric and Kate''s rtionship, many men would think twice before trying to pursue her.

    Kate spread jam on her bread, inadvertently lifting her gaze to see the grin on Eric''s face. Her intuition told her that his expression was rted to her, prompting her to ask warily, "What bad idea are you up to?"

    Eric replied with augh, "You called it a bad idea; when have you ever seen a normal viin casually reveal his ns?"

    Kate snorted softly, hastening her eating. She quickly finished her breakfast and, ncing at the empty tes in front of both herself and Eric, she hesitated but eventually got up to start clearing the table.

    Upon returning to the dining room, she found Eric had opened hisptop and was looking at something.

    She took her seat again, and seeing that Eric didn''t initiate conversation, Kate grabbed the newspaper and flipped through it absentmindedly.

    She came across an article discussing how the FCC might investigate the merger between Firefly and ABC for antitrust concerns. The author''s tone was rmist, implying that a merger between Firefly and ABC was unlikely.

    At first, Kate felt a bit schadenfreude but quickly chastised herself for it. She reached out and lightly tapped Eric, handing him that page of the paper. "Eric, is this true?"

    Eric nced at it, having already read it. "It is, and it isn''t."

    "Could you avoid being so vague? It''s quite ungentlemanly."

    "Alright, since you want to know," Eric beckoned Kate to sit beside him. "This article states that the biggest obstacles to Firefly acquiring ABC are internal within ABC. However, the two main obstacles, Warren Buffett and Tom Murphy, have already agreed to the deal. They control 40% of ABC''s shares, and with other shareholders leaning towards Firefly, the proportion supporting the merger exceeds 51%. Thus, that point is null."

    After hearing Eric exin, Kate sensed her own disinterest in the subject. However, since she had brought it up, she pointed at the article and pressed on, "What about the FCC''s antitrust investigation?"

    "Definitions of monopoly under federal antitrustw can often be quite fuzzy. Ny percent of industry giants, when they reach a certain level, will exhibit some borderline monopolistic behavior. That''s unavoidable. As long as no one raises a fuss, government agencies seldom proactively hunt for trouble. Most antitrust investigations originate from rival firms trying to suppress theirpetition, which requires considerable funds and connections to initiate. If we''re talking aboutwsuits, Firefly certainly isn''t short on funds. And as for connections -- Firefly currently spends over half a million a year on government consulting and political contributions. ABC does the same. Moreover, the merger between Firefly and ABC doesn''t vite federal antitrustws. Even if someonees forward to stop it, they can only dy things. They wouldn''t gain anything while creating two powerful enemies for themselves. I doubt anyone would want to undertake such a fruitless endeavor."

    Kate nodded slightly, unsure if she wanted to continue discussing the topic. Just then, theptop emitted a series of beeping sounds resembling a pager.

    Eric looked over, surprised to see a chat window had appeared on theputer screen without him noticing.

    Suddenly, a line of text popped up in the chat box: "This is the test version. I''ve installed it for you; give it a try!"

    Staring at the name "Steve" in the dialogue box for a moment, Eric felt a flicker of joy that Steve Mitnick had finally created the instant messaging software, followed almost immediately by a curse for the hacker. He quickly typed back, "You hacked into myputer. Don''t you think that''s rude?"

    "Oh, sorry, I just thought it would be more convenient to install it this way."

    Eric detected no real apology in that remark and helplessly took the mouse to explore the software''s features. After proposing his concept for instant messaging, he had sent Steve various information from his memory. At that moment, though the interface of the instant messaging software was quite rudimentary, the functionality was already impressive, featuring ount levels, user information settings, simple emojis, email integration, and chat groups, all running smoothly. Steve Mitnick, while a procrastinator, disyed top-tier

    technical skills.

    Kate watched closely as Eric interacted with Steve Mitnick, curious about the software. "What is this?" she asked.

    "A chat software," Eric replied. "With this, you can text chat with friends who are in different

    locations."

    "Oh," Kate perked up, intrigued. She reached out with her small hand and typed "Hello" on the keyboard, mimicking Eric''s earlier actions as she pressed the Enter key. She eagerly stared at the window, waiting for a response like a child discovering a new toy.

    Steve Mitnick soon replied, "What does this mean?"

    Eric typed back, "My woman is saying hi to you."

    Just as Kate was about to protest Eric''s phrasing, Steve replied again, "Oh, I heard you have

    quite a few women."

    ||||

    Eric quickly caught Kate''s hand as it reached for his waist, soothingly patting it. He thought to himself: Can''t he read the room?

    Indeed, the heavy procrastinator on the other end demonstrated some social awareness: "Sorry, that came out wrong. Is your woman not angry?"

    Kate pulled her hand back, rolling her eyes at Eric before clumsily typing, "I''m very angry."

    There was a brief silence from the other end before he replied, "I''m very sorry."

    Eric didn''t want their exchange to continue in such a mundane manner. He seized the

    keyboard and swiftly typed to Steve Mitnick, "Since the software is ready, let''s get the promotion n rolling, and I''ll send you my thoughts intermittently."

    "This is just a test version. I think we should wait until June to officially promote it."

    "Are there any issues?"

    "Many issues. Though we''ve made a lot of improvements, it still has plenty of bugs. I''ve already discovered at least a dozen ways to break this software''s encryption system."

    "I can''t think of a single way, so don''t assume everyone shares your twisted mindset. There

    are still more normal people out there."

    "I''m not twisted!"

    "I''m not debating that with you. Get the promotion n done within a month. And don''t forget to register the patent. As for those bugs you mentioned, we''ll fix them gradually. There are no perfectly wless software solutions out there."

    "Okay," Steve Mitnick conceded, "I''ll have them work on the promotion n. By the way, you mentioneding to Boston for a chat. When are youing?"

    "Are you following the news?" "Yeah, I saw you attended the Golden Globe Awards. I happened to catch it."

    "That was over a month ago," Eric sighed, "I''m quite busy right now. Maybe next month."

    "Let''s stick to next month," he replied, then added, "Oh, I just nced at the Yahoo homepage and now I know what you''ve been busy with."

    After wrapping up with Steve Mitnick, Eric opened his email to find that Allen had sent over

    his schedule.

    "I have a flight at 3 PM," Eric pointed to the schedule on the screen and told Kate.

    "I think I have something to do today, too," Kate instinctively stood up.

    Eric shook his head, pulling Kate back down into her seat. "You can''t even walk straight. What

    else do you have to do?"

    Kate blushed as she yfully hit Eric''s arm. "This is all your fault."

    "Of course, I didn''t deny that," Eric chuckled. "Last night you said you wanted a beautiful

    beachside vi. How about I have them send you some listings, and you can choose?"

    "No thanks," Kate decisively rejected. "I''d rather go back and live with Charlie."

    Eric nodded, "Alright then."

    Kate was momentarily taken aback. She had thought Eric would certainly try to convince her otherwise, but she was surprised at how easily he brushed off the topic. A tinge of disappointment crept into her heart, but she managed not to show it on her face. They spent the morning at the vi, and in the afternoon, Eric left Kate to rest while he

    boarded a flight to New York.

    After Warren Buffett and Tom Murphy reached apromise, the ABC acquisition faced no further hurdles. The ABC board approved the deal the following day.

    During the previous negotiation process, both parties had agreed on many details, so once the

    deal was approved, there were no remaining issues between ABC and Firefly. They jointly submitted an application to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Thanks to extensive preparations, the FCC quickly approved the transaction. However, Firefly would need to divest some of the television operations that originally belonged to Disney.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 597: Chapter 598: Foreshadowing

    Chapter 597: Chapter 598: Foreshadowing

    ?

    [Chapter 598: Set Up]

    This year, Firefly Films originally nned to push two films for the Oscars: Interview with the Vampire and Pulp Fiction. However, after the Oscar nominations were announced, Eric realized that, although Interview with the Vampire received good industry reviews and grossed a substantial profit for Firefly, vampire movies, likeedies, were generally not favored by the Oscar voters. Despite the extensive PR efforts put into promoting the movie for the Oscars, it ultimately only garnered nominations for Best Makeup and Best Sound - categories that were considered less significant.

    In the end, the responsibility of pursuing an Oscar fell solely on Pulp Fiction. Eric jokingly told Kapler that he might very well fall asleep during the awards ceremony, which was often mocked for being too long. However, aside from the older guests who might truly struggle with the energy, most people found it hard to feel sleepy in the tense and heated atmosphere of the Oscars.

    It had to be said, watching an awards ceremony that was so different from what existed in the original timeline was quite intriguing. Originally, Schindler''s List had been pushed back a year, and among the more popr nominated films this year, besides Pulp Fiction, there were also In the Name of the Father, The Piano, and The Remains of the Day.

    Additionally, Eric noted Jane Campion, who was nominated for Best Director for The Piano. This Australian female director inevitably fell short at just the nomination stage. Although he hadn''t researched it thoroughly, Eric knew that very few women had received Best Director nominations in Oscar history and none in thest decade. This presented a significant variable for next year''s Oscars regarding Best Director. If Kathryn were nominated for Best Director for Saving Private Ryan, the Oscar voters might have to consider the public rtions risks of ignoring female directors for two consecutive years.

    After going home empty from Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, Quentin also inevitably lost out to Robert Altman for Best Director. Altman was renowned for crafting political satire films and had already been nominated for Best Director three times before. Although he lost to Steven Spielberg in the original timeline, this time, no one could point out the Oscar path for this seasoned director.

    When Robert Altman left the stage with presenter Clint Eastwood, Eric anticipated that Pulp Fiction would likely walk away with just the Best Original Screeny award. Nevertheless, Eric didn''t mind that as long as Pulp Fiction brought in enough box office revenue.

    Hearing the announcer call his name, Eric walked towards the stage, holding the envelope containing the Best Picture results. As he made his entrance, the audience burst into warm apuse. Eric smiled and approached the microphone, initially expecting the apuse to fade, but to his surprise, it only grew louder.

    The Oscars were essentially a gathering where everyone supported each other, akin to what a host once joked about: a game where millionaires awarded each other. Eric''s rising prestige and influence in Hollywood over the past few years made such treatment quite expected.

    The apusested a full thirty seconds before Eric raised his hand to settle the audience, scanning the crowd and remarked, "To be honest, when I received the invitation to present this award, I felt rather anxious."

    Although there wasn''t anything particrly funny about this line, it elicited softughter from the audience.

    "I always felt that such an important award should at least be awarded by someone over sixty, but the director immediately rebutted that I had already aplished things that others wouldn''t achieve until they were eighty, so I came up here."

    Amid theughter from the audience, Eric deadpanned, "But don''t hold any expectations. Even if I''m the one presenting the award, the little gold man is definitely not made of solid gold."

    The audience recognized this as Eric''s jest about his personal wealth, prompting another round ofughter. Clearing his throat, Eric said, "Of course, Best Picture represents an honor -- a recognition of a film''s value by over six thousand professional voters in the Academy. It surely can''t be reced by money. Now, let''s take a look at this year''s outstanding nominees."

    After finishing his statement, Eric gestured toward the screen and stepped to the side. Clips from Pulp Fiction, The Remains of the Day, The Piano, In the Name of the Father, and The Fugitive appeared in sequence on the screen.

    As Eric watched the snippets of these films, he couldn''t be sure who would win Best Picture this year.

    Compared to the rtively smaller pools of voters for Best Director and Best Actor categories, Best Picture was determined by a total of over six thousand voters from different guilds. This implied that the association of important awards with specific films could somewhat indicate Best Picture''s winner. If a film garnered several significant awards, it could essentially be considered locked for Best Picture.

    However, this year was undoubtedly a mediocre one for the Oscars, with no film emerging as the clear favorite. Best Director went to Robert Altman for Short Cuts, Best Actor was awarded to Daniel Day-Lewis for In the Name of the Father, Best Actress went to Holly Hunter for The Piano, and Best Original Screeny was taken by Pulp Fiction. Best Supporting Actor and Actress went to different films, with therger guilds making starkly different choices. It seemed the determination of Best Picture would now rely on grassroots public rtions efforts.

    While there was uncertainty about who would take home the award, Eric felt confident that mediamentary post-Oscars would be notably busier than usual.

    After the introductions concluded, Eric approached the microphone once more, opened the envelope in his hand, nced at the audience, and quickly found one film crew members, narrowing his eyes as he spotted two familiar faces among them: Elisabeth in a white gown and a certain hefty Weinstein.

    Due to Eric''s brief hesitation, everyone in the Los Angeles Music Hall turned to follow his gaze, apanied by soft murmurs.

    Eric quickly refocused and announced, "So, the Best Picture of 1993 goes to, The Piano, Jane Campion."

    As apuse erupted, a woman in her forties with short hair stood up from The Piano''s crew, hugging her fellow crew members and excitedly making her way to the stage. "Congrattions, Ms. Campion," Eric said as he handed her the golden statue, politely hugged her, and stepped aside.

    While Jane Campion delivered her eptance speech, Eric nced back at the audience. During this era, Oscar-winning cast and crew did not rush the stage together. The crew members of The Piano still sat in their seats.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Noticing Eric''s gaze, Harvey Weinstein politely nodded at him, while Elisabeth smugly raised her chin and tantly drew a ''C'' sign in front of her with her finger, then made a fist and abruptly opened her hand, performing a gesture that symbolized disillusionment.

    Even if Elisabeth hadn''t made those gestures, Eric could guess her intention. Jane Campion''s female identity served as both an advantage and a disadvantage. Without the support of Robert Altman, who had several Oscar nominations under his belt,bined with Weinstein''s media maniption and award promotion abilities, plus the News Corp''s vast media support, he might actually be able to make Jane Campion the first female director to win an Oscar.

    Yet because of Robert Altman, Weinstein was aware that the odds of winning Best Director were slim for him. Thus, he shifted focus towards Best Picture and sessfully introduced a female producer; this was clearly groundwork for next year''s Braveheart.

    In that case, if Kathryn were nominated for Best Director for Saving Private Ryan next year and failed to win, the Academy would have sufficient reasoning to argue that since they awarded Best Picture, such an important category to a woman this year, the media would have no basis

    to use them of gender bias.

    Since he had already decided to support Elisabeth and even pushed for Fox to acquire Miramax, Eric wouldn''t be upset by the girl''s small antics. After all, whether Braveheart or Saving Private Ryan emerged victorious next year, to Eric, it was just a matter of left hand versus right hand. Otherwise, Eric wouldn''t have postponed the production of Forrest Gump by a year. Moreover,pared to Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart clearly required award support to recoup more profits.

    ...

    Eric initially nned to head home for a rest after the ceremony, but thinking about Forrest Gump and that Tom Hanks was also attending the ceremony, he decided to chat with Hanks about the project. As the crowd departed from the Los Angeles Music Center to the Hilton Hotel''s Vanity Fair Oscars party, even though Eric had changed Hollywood''s history, the Vanity Fair party still took ce on time, albeit he hadn''t been able to attend in recent years.

    In the bustling party hall, Eric and Hanks moved to a quiet corner where Eric briefly described the plot of Forrest Gump to him.

    Hanks listened attentively and nodded, "Eric, since this is your chosen script, there''s no problem. I''ll have my agent cancel those offers tomorrow. This story sounds intriguing; maybe I should get a copy of the original to read."

    Eric quickly shook his head, "The original story is a rather absurd satire novel, and I don''t rmend you read it before seeing the script. I n to adapt it into an inspiring film showcasing America''s history from the 50s to the 70s. The character Forrest represents a simple and sincere approach to life. If you read the original story first, it might negatively affect your entrance into the character, as first impressions and biases can be quite strong." "All right, just let me know when production begins," Hanks said with a chuckle, acquiescing. As for matters like pay, he wouldn''t be negotiating with Eric directly; such issues were typically left to producers and Hanks''s agent to handle.

    ...

    After casually chatting for a bit, they parted ways. Eric greeted a few acquaintances and handled interactions with guests who approached him, spotting Penelope and Kate. He intended to sneak off with the two women early. However, just as he was about to approach

    them, Elisabeth led a group from The Piano towards him.

    "Eric, this is Ms. Campion, and Ms. Campion..."

    Eric smiled and shook hands with everyone in turn. Knowing Elisabeth had a close rtionship with Eric, they exchanged polite greetings before dispersing.

    Once the crowd thinned out, Elisabeth asked, "Why weren''t you talking to me? You''re not

    really upset, are you?"

    Ericughed, "I thought if I got close, I might block your shine surrounded by all those

    people."

    Elisabeth let out a small huff, but realizing that Eric wasn''t really angry, she rxed and asked, "What were you discussing with Tom Hanks just now?"

    "A film; I n to have him star as the lead. Just giving him a heads up," Eric said nonchntly without trying to take credit for the postponed production of Forrest Gump. He noticed Penelope and Kate looking over and gestured for them to wait outside.

    Elisabeth followed Eric''s gaze and noticed the two women leaving. With a hint of jealousy,

    she teased, "Those two look like the leads from Charlie''s Angels. Why didn''t you get all three

    girls together?"

    Eric chuckled, "I''m too busy, so I only managed two, and I''ll get to thest one slowly."

    "Just do whatever you want," Elisabeth lightly kicked Eric''s leg in mock discontent. Then recalling something, she asked, "When are you going to have that script ready for Julia?" "At least after I finish with things in New York," Eric said, casually cing his wine ss on a passing server''s tray. He leaned in slightly and kissed Elisabeth on the cheek, whispering, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving now. I haven''t had a decent night''s sleep in a week." Elisabeth drew back slightly. She had an important topic she wanted to discuss with Eric, but seeing the faint dark circles under his eyes, she figured it could wait and nodded for him to

    leave the party.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 599: Chapter 600: Voluntary

    Chapter 599: Chapter 600: Voluntary

    ?

    [Chapter 600: Voluntary]

    Eric had encountered too much nonsense when it came to charity. Whether in this life or a past one, he found himself utterly disinterested. Tom Murphy sensed Eric''sck of enthusiasm and swiftly changed the subject, mentioning, "Eric, I heard the sequel to Jurassic Park is in the works. Aren''t you nning to take the helm as director?"

    Now that Eric had be a stakeholder in Firefly Films, it was no surprise that such a lucrative project dealing with billions of dors had caught Warren Buffett''s attention as well. When he heard his old friend bring it up, Buffett chimed in, "Eric, given how important Jurassic Park is, I believe it''s best if you get directly involved. No one wants to see any hups with the sequel."

    Eric anticipated that the introduction of other stakeholders at Firefly might lead to such discussions. However, unlike Michael Eisner back in his timeline, who stubbornly pushed his agenda after acquiring ABC and led thework back into financial trouble, Eric knew he could not control Firefly alone. He realized it was crucial to maintain good rtions with both shareholders and the management team.

    In response to the two older gentlemen''s suggestions, Eric patiently exined, "I will still serve as the producer for the Jurassic Park sequel, and I''ll be very careful when choosing the director to ensure this project goes off without a hitch. However, for at least the next year, I n to focus my energy on content production at ABC. While ABC had a fantastic yearst year, achieving the top market share in North America, I''ve noticed that since Growing Pains wrapped up, we haven''t had any breakout series in quite a few years."

    Upon hearing Eric''s n, Tom Murphy nodded in understanding and asked, "I heard Firefly has reimed the rights to Friends?"

    "Yes," Eric acknowledged, noticing that Tom seemed ready to continue. He added,

    "However, The X-Files and Who Wants to be a Millionaire were developed in coboration with Fox, and we cannot get those back."

    "There''s also that series, Buffy the Vampire yer. I heard it has generated quite a buzz among teens," Buffett interjected, shaking his head slightly with regret as hemented, "Eric, you were a bit too generous with Fox."

    "Back then, Firefly and Fox were partners," Eric replied casually. "Nheless, besides Friends, I''ve picked out another promising show for ABC, which is currently in production. You''ll be able to see the pilot next month."

    "Oh," Tom Murphy perked up, eager to know more, "What''s the genre?"

    "A medical drama," Eric replied. "It''s called ER. If you''re interested, I can have someone send a storyline outline to you tomorrow."

    "That''s not necessary," Tom shook his head, smiling. "I''m more eager to see the pilot when it''s ready."

    "Not a problem. When it''s done, I''ll make sure to invite you right away. Warren, if you''re interested, you''re wee to join us as well."

    "If I can find the time, I''ll be there," Buffett said. "By the way, Eric, since we can''t get Millionaire back, why don''t youe up with a simr reality show?"

    Eric chuckled, "Already on it. Firefly purchased an idea from a Swedish producerst month for a reality show called Survivor. We''re currently refining the details, and we n tounch it in the fall alongside Friends and ER."

    Even though the famous reality show Survivor didn''t debut on CBS until 2000 in Eric''s original timeline, it had already been conceived back in 1994, but U.S.works had yet to pick it up.

    While Eric had been gathering show ideas, Charlie Parsons, creator of Survivor, had been pitching his concept to majorworks in the U.K. and the U.S., only to be rejected repeatedly. After discovering the idea, Eric had Firefly''s television production department secretly acquire the exclusive rights.

    However, the format Parsons had envisioned was quite roughpared to what Eric remembered, so he had them continue refining the project.

    After Eric shared a brief overview of Survivor with Buffett and Tom Murphy, Buffett deemed it interesting. Still, Tom, who had been working in the television industry for decades, saw the disruptiveness of Survivor''s concept and continued to praise it.

    Eric didn''t disy much pride in Tom''s ttery; after all, the world was replete with ideas. Moreover, the concept of Survivor had certainly gone through scrutiny at the former ABC production department, only to be carelessly tossed aside. Tom Murphy''spliments were likely more about the glow of Eric''s personal achievements in creating a string of sessful programs, simr to how any movie project Eric became interested in would draw attention andpetition in Hollywood.

    "Warren, Tom, there''s one more thing I want to give you a heads up about," Eric said, taking a few sips of champagne to moisten his throat. "I n to divest all the newspapers and magazines owned by thepany."

    At this, Buffett raised an eyebrow, and Tom asked, "Eric, why would you want to do that? Those newspapers have been profitable for years. I see no reason for divestment, especially since they can enhance Firefly''s media influence."

    Historically, the inte boom would escte dramatically the following year. Although traditional print media still held a significant ce in the industry, Eric remembered clearly that, with the rise of new media, those print outlets would soon lose their luster, slipping quickly in value. Many traditional print media groups that once made the Fortune 500 list faced steep declines in their assets in the early 2000s.

    As print media was at its peak in value, Eric believed it was time to cash out. "Tom, I do not deny their value. However, Firefly''s focus is not on print. We intend to concentrate on film and television productions and their derivatives, which is why I''m considering selling these assets," Eric exined, ncing at Buffett. "Warren, I know you''ve always valued the newspaper business. If Berkshire is interested, perhaps we could set up a time to discuss it. I''d provide a reasonable price."

    To Eric, it was a win-win situation. If Buffettter felt he''d been taken for a ride, that wouldn''t be Eric''s fault.

    Berkshire Hathaway held shares in several newspapers, including The Washington Post. Buffett had maintained a keen interest in the newspaper sector thanks to his childhood as a paperboy.

    However, Buffett was well aware that obtaining those newspapers, formerly part of the Metromedia Group, would require at least a billion dors. Still, he already had ideas on how to deploy the ten billion or so in cash that could be raised from this transaction. He nned to use those funds to acquire the remaining shares of Berkshire''s operating insurancepany. In the short term, Berkshire wouldn''t be able to gather enough cash to buy these newspapers. Despite Eric''s sincere demeanor, Buffett started to feel a sense of caution creeping in, prompting him to respond carefully. "Eric, if you could wait a year, Berkshire wouldn''t mind acquiring those newspapers. However, at present, we already have other uses for the capital gained from this acquisition, and I can''te up with enough cash."

    "That''s alright," Eric maintained a very sincere demeanor as a younger party. "Currently, Firefly doesn''t have an urgent need for funds, so Berkshire could easily pay for the acquisition

    using stock."

    As Berkshire Hathaway''s stock price hovered around twenty thousand dors, the highest in North America at that time, Eric knew that in theing decades, the stock price would surge to an astonishing two hundred thousand dors. Even if they sold those newspapers for a billion now, the resale value could climb to ten billion in a decade.

    Buffett, usually tight-lipped regarding stock sales and transfers, became instantly alert when Eric mentioned this proposal. He shook his head, saying, "Eric, Berkshire does not acquirepanies through stock transactions. Perhaps you should contact other media

    conglomerates."

    Eric shook his head in disappointment, "Alright, if Berkshire has an interest, they can call me

    anytime."

    "I will," Buffett nodded, indicating at a distance. "Eric, I see an old friend over there. Excuse

    me."

    Buffett finished his statement and shot a knowing nce at the hesitant Tom Murphy. Tom swallowed his words and followed Warren Buffett away.

    ...

    Watching the two older gentlemen leave, Eric checked his watch; it was already one o''clock in

    the afternoon. Scanning the area, he spotted Jeffrey and walked over.

    As Eric approached, a middle-aged man talking to Jeffrey raised his ss toward Eric and

    politely stepped aside.

    "Eric, what were you just discussing with them?" Jeffrey asked.

    "Just some program production matters," Eric replied, "Jeffrey, today is the birthday of the two little ones. I''m heading to East Hampton. You shoulde along."

    Jeffrey shook his head,ughing as he declined, "I can''t believe the two little ones are already one year old. I''ll ask my secretary to pick up a couple of birthday gifts for them, but the party is for you young folks. I don''t need to attend."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Come on, let''s go together. Chris and Emily will be there too. Maybe you can even chat with

    them about weddings and such."

    "Those two," Jeffrey donned an expression of resignation, but after considering it, he said,

    "Alright, I''ll go."

    "I''ll go greet Katzenberg and the others first. The helicopter should be ready on the roof. You

    can head over first."

    ...

    In East Hampton, Long Ind, April brought the essence of spring and a vibrant atmosphere. The helicopter descended slowly onto thewn of a seaside estate. Eric assisted Jeffrey as they disembarked, exchanging a few words with the pilot before the helicopter took off again. At that moment, Joanna and Virginia approached with arge group of people. The two women had called Eric earlier about the birthday party for the little ones, expressing a desire to invite some guests. Eric understood their intentions; they didn''t want the children to remain hidden as illegitimate offspring. He never intended to keep his children''s identities a secret, so he agreed to their request.

    More than ten people made their way over. Besides Joanna and Virginia, who held the two

    little ones, Eric also spotted Chris and Emily, though the two women were keeping their distance. Additionally, he recognized Virginia''s brother Michael Madsen and a tall woman in her thirties, presumably his wife. He also saw Joanna''s sister, Ewa Pac, but aside from them, Eric was not too familiar with the others.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 601: Chapter 602: How Much Will This Cost?

    Chapter 601: Chapter 602: How Much Will This Cost?

    ?

    [Chapter 602: How Much Will This Cost?]

    Over 5 million daily visits -- this number, when shared, was hard for most people to believe, including Elisabeth. However, it remained an undeniable fact.

    Since the advent of personalputers in the ''80s, North America had umted tens of millions of users. This provided a solid foundation for the sessful promotion of Inte services. Once Bill Clinton took office, he further pushed the initiative for the information superhighway at the government level.

    The key factor, though, was the introduction of graphical user interface browsers two years earlier, which dramatically lowered the barrier for ordinary people to explore the online world. Combined with the content support provided by Yahoo''s portal and free email services, inte services were no longer the domain of tech experts and began expanding to a wider user base. This expansion led to Yahoo''s impressive user count today.

    "If we really wanted to understand the reason," Eric exined in response to Elisabeth''s skepticism, "it''s simr to the rise of television in the ''50s and ''60s. People discovered they could watch the world through a little box, so they rushed to buy them. Investors saw a profit opportunity and started creating television stations to provide content, which gradually formed a massive industry. Now,puters andworks not only allow us to observe the world but also to connect with it. After over a decade of development in software and hardware, when it explodes, the expansion happens incredibly fast."

    Elisabeth said, "But the traditional print media industry won''t just disappear, right?"

    Eric nodded. "Of course not. It just won''t be as glorious as before."

    Suddenly smiling, Elisabeth remarked, "So what do I tell my old man -- oops, I mean, my father -- Should I tell him the newspaper industry is about to decline and we should not buy? Do you really think your few words will change his deeply rooted beliefs?"

    Eric shrugged. "Well, when Firefly decides to publicly auction off that portion of assetster this year, News Corp can participate in the bidding. In business, the highest bidder wins."

    Elisabeth thought that was a fine enough n. She would ry Eric''sments to her father. Even if it didn''t sway his ultimate judgment, at least during the auction, News Corp might be more cautious and not bid so aggressively.

    "Oh, one more thing," as they were about to leave, Eric called Elisabeth back. "Don''t let the news about Yahoo''s user data slip out."

    Although Yahoo, IE, and Hotmail had justunched and were under close scrutiny, the industry had only seen threepanies burning cash without substantial returns. Moreover, these threepanies had never publicly released any data. This allowed them to maintain a low profile while continuously growing. Many had begun to realize thesepanies had amassed a substantial user base, but without specific numbers, few people felt a significant need for urgency. If that data got out, industry giants would quickly understand what 20 million total users and over 5 million daily visitors meant. Such a massive user base -- even without immediate profit potential -- represented a huge investment opportunity, likely inviting a flood ofpetitors to enter the field.

    Elisabeth stopped and asked, "What about my dad? Can''t he know?"

    Eric shook his head earnestly. "Especially not your dad."

    Elisabeth smirked and yfully hit Eric. "Fine, I get it. But I suppose these things can''t stay hidden forever, right?"

    Eric confidently raised a fist in the air and waved it lightly. "As long as I have another year to set the groundwork, my chips will be enough to crush anypetitor!"

    Portal sites and online email services were rtively easy to replicate, but once Steve Mitnick''s instant messaging software took off,bined with proprietary technologies like those in IE, a vast userwork could form, drawing in new Inte users like a ck hole. The Matthew effect in the Inte industry -- where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer -- was starkly evident. Once a giant emerges in a specific area, it bes exceedingly difficult for simrpanies topete.

    Elisabeth found herself unable to resist staring at Eric''s self-assured profile for a few moments. When she sensed his gaze upon her, she quickly looked away. "By the way, you mentioned wanting me to rmend an editor for Yahoo?"

    Seeing Virginia wave to them from outside, Eric asked, "Do you have anyone in mind?"

    "I don''t know if they are a good fit; you''ll have to judge," Elisabeth replied. "You''re familiar with Vanity Fair, right?"

    "Yeah," Eric nodded, suddenly recalling someone. "You''re not suggesting Tina Brown, are you? Would she really be willing to leave Conde Nast?"

    With the rise of portal websites, Eric could only select from traditional media. He needed someone with a strong drive and not a conservative mindset, or else they''d struggle to navigate the newndscape of inte media. Tina Brown had led Vanity Fair and The New Yorker back to prominence through a series of innovations, and she would currently be in her early forties -- full of the qualities needed to fit the role. If Eric could bring her onto Yahoo as editor-in-chief, it would certainly be a solid choice.

    However, recalling past events, Eric remembered that Tina had left her position at Vanity Fair to take over as editor at The New Yorker under Conde Nast.

    Elisabeth said, "Tina just left Vanity Fair earlier this year. We''re somewhat familiar. I saw her at a party the other day, and Conde Nast wants her to switch to The New Yorker, but she''s hesitating. She''s not someone who enjoys moving from one role to the same position; if there''s a better option, I think she wouldn''t mind exploring it."

    Eric replied, "Make sure to leave her number for meter."

    ...

    As night fell, the lights both inside and outside the mansion twinkled brightly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Being a birthday party, it naturally began with blowing out candles. Everyone tried hard to get the two adorable one-year-olds to partake. Hawaii, who could already say "Mama," eagerly pointed at the candle on the cake, grinning impatiently. In the end, she reached out with her tiny hand and snuffed the candle out, elicitingughter from all. Kevin, however, waspletely overwhelmed by the sea of unfamiliar faces and burst into tears. Ultimately, little Emma blew out the remaining candle.

    Once the cake was distributed, the party truly began. The dinner table was filled with a buffet- style dinner for guests to help themselves, and people began gathering in groups, sitting or

    standing.

    Eric, with a ss of red wine in hand, mingled among guests, continuing the afternoon discussion about films with Pierre rk from Merrill Lynch, when Joanna suddenly walked over and gently tugged at his sleeve.

    "Sorry, I''ve got to step away for a moment," Eric said, nodding to the others before trailing Joanna to the side. "What''s up?"

    Joanna softly responded, "Eric, can youe with me for a second?"

    Unsure of what was happening, Eric followed Joanna into the mansion, through a busy room filled with guests, and upstairs, where Joanna pointed toward the bedroom. "Vicky is crying. Can you gofort her? I don''t know how to handle it."

    Eric halted, asking, "What happened? Wasn''t everything fine just a moment ago?"

    "It''s about Kevin," Joanna exined. "Hawaii has been talking for over a month, but Kevin hasn''t said a word, and just earlier..."

    Realizing the situation, Eric chuckled helplessly. "Why don''t you join the guests? I''ll take care

    of it."

    ...

    Pushing open the bedroom door, he found Virginia bent over the bed, changing the squirming little one''s diaper. Eric casually flopped onto the big bed, observing Virginia''s slightly red- rimmed eyes and saying, "This isn''t necessary. Boys developter than girls. Einstein didn''t speak until he was three. He''s only one; what''s the rush?"

    "Everyone thinks Kevin is slow," Virginia replied, her nose tinged with emotion, and she passed the little guy to Eric. "Maybe you should hold him. When he grows up, you might not

    even like him."

    "Quit saying silly things," Eric said, giving Virginia a disapproving look as he held the little one in his arms. He extended one finger to tease his son, who was staring wide-eyed at the finger dangling above him. Kevin grabbed it and instinctively tried to put it in his mouth, tickling his newly sprouted baby teeth.

    Virginia watched the bonding moment between father and son, and her tension eased a bit as she sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly regretting her earlier words. "I should have opted for

    a C-section; Kevin is probably this way from prolonged oxygen deprivation."

    "But didn''t the IQ test say he was fine?" Eric countered.

    Virginia protested, "For such a small child, how could it be urate?"

    Understanding that it was pointless to argue with her, Eric quietly spoke to his son beside

    him. "Buddy, you''ve got to learn to talk faster. If you don''t, Mommy might stop liking you."

    The little guy blinked up at Eric with his big eyes, seemingly confused yet at the same time understanding.

    Seeing his son''s response stirred something inside Eric. He tentatively prompted, "C''mon, give ''Daddy'' a try. Repeat after me, ''Da--Da--""

    After a brief silence, the little guy suddenly made a series of baby sounds: "Pa--Pa--"

    Though the words were indistinct, both Eric and Virginia clearly heard in the quiet bedroom. Virginia immediately leapt from her chair, her expression lighting up with joy, erasing the

    earlier sadness.

    "I told you; this little bastard is definitely ying dumb," Eric chuckled, flipping the little guy over while gently patting his rear end. "He was just waiting for me to say it first." Although Eric hadn''t applied any real force, the little fellow began to wail immediately. Virginia rushed in to scoop up her son with loving coos, making sure to scold the ''culprit'' who

    had inadvertently upset him.

    ...

    As Eric descended the stairs, Joanna approached him nervously.

    "It''s all cleared up," Eric smiled, rying what had just happened. Joanna sighed with relief,

    "Now Vicky can finally rx."

    "She just overreacted," Eric chuckled.

    Most of the guests in the mansion were women. After exchanging a few words with Joanna, Eric was about to leave when Emily, Chris''s girlfriend, blocked his path.

    "You can''t just drop a line and leave! I''ve been in touch with so many models. I just need your

    ideas now."

    Ericughed, gesturing outside, "Do you still have time to worry about this right now?"

    Emily looked frustrated but couldn''tin about Eric bringing Jeffrey along. "Chris will exin that to Jeffrey. We just bought LTD, and we''re so busy that we barely have time to sleep. Where on earth will we find time to n a wedding? Let''s not change the subject. You''re the one who encouraged us to buy LTD; you can''t just walk away from it now."

    "I never intended to abandon it," Eric countered. "It''s just that I haven''t had the timetely; you know how it is. Even if I share my ns, you still wouldn''t be able to execute them. This will require my personal involvement, and you all will just have to follow."

    "What can''t I do? At least give me a hint so I can prepare," Emily pressed.

    "I''m nning to personally direct the Victoria''s Secret annual fashion show." Emily appeared a bit disappointed. "Is that it? That''s something I can handle; I was atst

    year''s New York Fashion Week! I personally orchestrated the fashion show in Brighton, and Victoria''s Secret already has annual productunch shows."

    "That''s not all. I want to gather top models from across the globe and invite the hottest pop stars to perform live. Through media marketing across newspapers, magazines, TV broadcasts, and online discussions, I''ll turn the fashion show into a fashion carnival, making Victoria''s Secret a global sensation."

    Even though Eric only outlined a basic concept, Emily seemed almost speechless, her jaw nearly dropping as she stammered, "This... how much will this cost?"

    "First off, my directing fee will be at least $10 million, and that''s the discounted price," Eric joked before adding, "We should focus on how much this marketing strategy will earn thepany, not how much it will cost. I promise, rtive to the expected returns, this

    investment will be minimal."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 603: Chapter 604: The Madman

    Chapter 603: Chapter 604: The Madman

    ?

    [Chapter 604: The Madman]

    At ABC headquarters on 66th Street in Manhattan, in the multimedia screening room, Anthony Edwards, ying Dr. Mark, stirred awake once more at 6:30 in the morning. He nced at his watch, exhausted, as the 87-minute pilot episode of ER officially came to an end.

    As the lights came on, a buzz of chatter filled the screening room.

    Eric caught snippets of opinions from some at ABC, mentioning things like "too much medical jargon, "niche subject, "disorganized structure," and "not enough dramatic conflict." He merely smiled, not doubting these industry veterans'' expertise, but aware that such professionalism could only keep a TV show at an average level. If every drama''s ratings always aligned with these people''s predictions, there would never be any dark horse hits. Tom Murphy, sitting beside Eric, leaned over to chat with Buffett. Naturally, he could hear the murmurs around him. He smiled and said, "Eric, don''t mind what they say. I actually think this is a solid TV show. In fact, niche subject matter tends to stand out more and could surprise with unexpected ratings."

    Eric, unfazed, nodded and yfully asked Buffett for his thoughts on the show.

    "It is indeed a bit too fragmented," Buffett remarked. "But I don''t think the storyline is disorganized at all. A closer analysis reveals that the character arcs for Dr. Mark, Dr. Doug, and the intern John Carter are quite well-structured. I''m actually looking forward to how the plot develops."

    Nearby, Katzenberg and Robert Iger shared their thoughts in a casual manner. ER was a project Eric had personally spearheaded. Until Eric faced his first major failure, nobody questioned his vision. The show''s airing was already set in stone; the screening felt more like a formality after the merger with ABC.

    It was now May 7, and the summer movie season loomedrge. The major personnel adjustments following ABC''s merger had concluded, and the focus was now on streamlining ovepping departments from both Firefly and ABC. Katzenberg would continue to direct his efforts in this area for a few more months. Eric, however, needed to squeeze in a trip to Boston to meet with managers from threepanies responsible for the browser, Yahoo portal, and online email.

    After a simple lunchtime reception at ABC''s headquarters, Buffett and a handful of individuals involved in the acquisition in New York began to depart, heading back to their respective cities.

    Though he hadn''t found a suitable sessor yet, Eric arranged for his right-hand man, Allen Fiseman, to take a position as vice president in ABC''s primetime programming department. Following the merger, Eric hadn''t conducted any widespread personnel changes at ABC, which eased many people''s minds. Therefore, bringing in a trusted associate to ABC''s core department raised no objections.

    After saying goodbye to Katzenberg and others, who still had work to do, Eric pushed through the narrow ss doors and stepped outside ABC''s headquarters onto the somewhat cramped 66th Street, resisting the urge to nce back at the red brick building that made him want to cover it with a mosaic. He patiently waited for his driver to pull up.

    ABC, once headquartered in a grand building at Rockefeller Center in the ''80s, sold that property at a high price to a Japanesepany after Buffett and Tom Murphy, two famously frugal characters, took over. This sale triggered an anti-Japanese sentiment in America during the ''80s. Subsequently, Tom Murphy opted for a new headquarters in the still- developing Upper West Side.

    ...

    The driver soon arrived, and Eric got out ten minutester at a cafe near Bryant Park in Midtown. Since it was working hours, the cafe was rtively quiet, and without needing a waiter to guide him, he spotted Tina Brown sitting by the window to his left.

    Last month, Elizabeth had given Eric the contact details for the former editor of Vanity Fair, and finally, after some time, he had managed to schedule a meeting with Tina.

    Tina was just in her early forties, dressed in a simple white shirt, sporting neat short hair. Unlike Anna Wintour''s mboyance or Emily''s typical power woman vibe, she seemed more like a homemaker. However, anyone who knew Tina Brown wouldn''t doubt the woman who became the editor of the century-old magazine at just 25.

    Tina noticed Eric''s arrival. She waved to the waiter and got up to greet him personally.

    "Hello, Mr. Williams. It''s a pleasure to meet you," she said, extending her hand warmly.

    Eric shook her hand and replied, "I''m d to meet you too, Ms. Brown, but it seems I might be a bitte."

    Tina smiled and led him back to her table. "Not at all. I''ve beening here every afternoontely, so I was actually the one who arrived early."

    Eric sat down opposite her, noticing an IBMptop in front of Tina, connected to a phone line, with aputer tutorials book and a ck notebook next to it. He couldn''t help but look a little more closely.

    Tina observed Eric''s curiosity and turned herptop''s screen toward him. "The cafe owner is a friend of mine, which is why I''m able to use the inte here. I''ve been researching Yahoo''s sitetely and I have a lot of questions I''d love to ask you about it, Mr. Williams."

    When arranging this meeting, Eric had been upfront about his intentions to talk, so hearing Tina''s exnation, he said, "Of course. Feel free to ask me anything. And just call me Eric; I hope it''s alright if I call you Tina?"

    "Of course," Tina nodded, about to say more when Eric pointed to theptop disying the Yahoo homepage. "This version isn''t thetest Yahoo homepage. Can I take a look?"

    Tina pushed theptop closer, and Eric casually ordered a coffee from the approaching waiter. Then, he skillfully entered a URL, revealing apletely different design for the Yahoo homepage than what was currently disyed.

    The original Yahoo homepage had a basic T-shapedyout cut into three sections. The new one was a typical "H" shapeyout, a sessful model that future ssic portal websites would adopt. This strategy was something Eric had been discussing with the Yahoo team via email for some time, but the new homepage was still in an internal testing phase. Unlike the old homepage where you had to scroll for ages to reach the bottom, the current design, due to limited inte speeds, was only as big as the screen could handle. The top still featured the Yahoo logo and search bar, with a series of links on the left. Login, email, Yahoo forums, and soon-to-beunched instant messaging tools were moved to the right while the main "H" shape showcased highlighted news content.

    Initially, Eric had nned to add a rmended sites section above the news content, as these "super traffic links" could attract advertising revenue. With Yahoo''s anticipated site traffic, these ad spots could generate significant ie in the next few years. But at the moment, trying to charge websites for advertising was unrealistic. Since it was impossible to collect fees now, Eric preferred to scrap that section temporarily. After all,unching a navigation section now would have to be free, and shifting from a free model to a paid one on the inte is notoriously challenging.

    Eric opened the test interface, positioned theptop screen so they could both see it, and pointed at the links for "News," "Finance," "Entertainment," and the highlighted news stories in the middle, addressing Tina Brown. "If you''re willing to take on the role of Yahoo''s editor-in-chief, these content sections will be your future projects. The center''s featured news is akin to the highlighted pieces on a magazine cover, while each sub-section resembles the various pages of a magazine," he exined, casually opening the entertainment section and offering a brief overview.

    Tina listened patiently before looking up at him. "Eric, why do you think I''d be suited for this role?"

    Eric shook his head. "I can''t say for certain, Tina. It''s a whole new industry that never existed before, so I''m only looking for candidates from traditional media. Someone rmended you to me, and after some research, I truly believe you''re a strong candidate. However, Yahoo doesn''t have much time to let you limate to this job. You''d get a one-year contract, and within that year, if your performance isn''t satisfactory, you''ll need to move on."

    Tina frowned slightly at the stringent conditions. As a woman who had been a powerhouse in the magazine industry for nearly twenty years, even high-ranking executives at Conde Nast wouldn''t speak to her so harshly. Yet, considering Eric''s status, Tina held back her initial retort. This young man''s position in media had already far surpassed any executive at Conde Nast, not to mention his enormous wealth, which represented real power in society. After gathering herposure, Tina said, "Eric, I''ve heard rumors you''ve already invested over a hundred million dors into browser software, Yahoo, and online email services. I just want to know how you n to recoup those investments. While you''re affluent, no industry can survive on pure investment without profit for long."

    "The user base for Yahoo is alreadyrge, and thepany is developing a unique advertising system. These projects are currently under wraps, and you''ll only get the full details once you sign a contract with Yahoo," Eric replied.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Yahoo had previously tested basic banner ads and email promotions on a small scale. Tina had noticed those while researching Yahoo''s web presence, but she didn''t think those seemingly trivial ad moves could cover the site''s massive expenses. However, since Eric wasn''t willing to share any details ahead of time, she shifted the topic. "What about content, Eric? Yahoo primarily relies on republishing material from other sites, and there''s ack of original content. I feel that the current inte content is quite sparse, and if this continues, Yahoo will quickly hit a growth teau."

    "I''m aware of that," Eric said, shing a hint of confidence. "While it''s part of Yahoo''s next

    step, I can reveal that starting in the second half of this year, Yahoo will establish a special angel investment fund to support promising websites. The initial investment will be around one hundred million dors, and all of that will be spent in a year. With an average investment of one million dors per site, Yahoo will support about one hundred new websites. Additionally, I don''t mind annually investing another one hundred million dors into this initiative. Besides that, you''ll also need to set up your own content editing department at Yahoo. If your ideas prove feasible, I''m open to funding adequately." Burning through a hundred million dors annually to support website development! At that moment, Tina''s first thought was that this legendary young man across from her must

    be crazy. Although countless websites had emerged, very few were truly profitable. Most were either corporate profiles or small sites created out of individual interests. The legitimatemercial websites were still quite rare. In Tina''s view, Eric pouring that much money into this venture was akin to throwing gold coins into the water.

    Noticing the fleeting expression on Tina Brown''s face, Eric chuckled. "When Columbus proposed his grand sailing n, many thought he was insane too, but he went ahead with it.

    That''s why we can sit here today on this continent hended on, discussing another

    madman''s crazy n, don''t you think?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 605: Chapter 606: IES

    Chapter 605: Chapter 606: IES

    ?

    [Chapter 606: IES]

    Steve Mitnick said, "Yeah, but he said the n was too expensive. You definitely wouldn''t agree. But I think thest thing you need now is money, right?"

    "Indeed, we''re notcking money," Eric chuckled, even though Firefly Group had just issued a massive $8 billion bond. If Eric needed money, he knew all the banks in America would likely be eager to lend him huge sums. "But what weck is time. Theputer operating systems have been developing for over ten years, and there are already many mature options on the market. Moreover,pared to developing a new operating system from scratch, it''s clearly easier to bypass our software patents and create a new web browser. Since we''ve gained an unparalleled advantage in this field, it would be unwise to abandon our strengths to venture into other industries."

    In truth, the most crucial reason Eric couldn''t say out loud was that Microsoft was set tounch the groundbreaking Windows 95 operating system the following year. The release of Win95 would mean Microsoft would dominate the operating systemsndscape, andunching another operating system at that time would surely result in a failure. If only time could be rolled back five years, Eric would have jumped at Steve Mitnick''s proposal to develop awork-based operating system leveraging the advantages of browser software. In the original timeline, Netscape had once proposed a system based on its browser, but that n had died due to the rise of Win95. Google developed an operating system based on its browser, ChromeOS, in thete 2000s, but it wasn''t untilte 2020 that it was able to reduce Windows share by almost 5%. It was clear that after Win95, it became almost impossible to shake Microsoft''s grip on the PC era.

    Steve Mitnick nodded in disappointment. "I guess you have a point there."

    Eric smiled. Although Steve Mitnick was a technical genius, he ultimately had some idealistic tendencies. However, people like him were often purer in their pursuits, much like the two founders of Google in the original timeline. Eric could confidently assert that at least Steve Mitnick would focus more on technology development rather than scheming to make money. Eric believed that often, those who dedicated themselves to a single pursuit ended up reaping far greater rewards.

    "You should be able to guess," Eric said after a pause. "I came here with the intention of merging the threepanies to form Yahoo! Network. IE and Hotmail will officially be rebranded as Yahoo! Browser and Yahoo! Mail. Steve, are you interested in being the CEO of thispany?"

    "No, no, no, Eric," Steve immediately shook his head vigorously. "I could sit in front of aputer screen for the rest of my life, but if you want me to manage thosepanies and sit in an office or conference room handling all the trivialities, I''d go crazy." After a pause, he added, "You''d better let Ian take that role. He''s clearly better at runningpanies. Maybe I can serve as Yahoo!''s CTO."

    Eric was somewhat surprised and thenughed. "I''ve always thought you were a lot like another Steve I know, but it looks like you two arepletely different types of people."

    The other Steve, of course, was Steve Jobs. Jobs had a strong need for control, while this guy seemed more like a tech enthusiast who was oblivious to the outside world.

    "You''re talking about Steve Jobs, right?" Mitnick said as he maneuvered the car past a white van, closely following the two cars in front of him, his expression nostalgic. "I bought a Macintosh when I was at Penn. Back then, it was an amazing personalputer. The graphical user interface, the pioneering multimedia features, and its 8 MHz processing speed were far ahead of the IBM personalputers of that time. It''s a pity that since Jobs left, Apple hasn''t released anything too impressive in years."

    ...

    After more than half an hour, the three cars came to a stop in front of a white six-story building near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology across the Charles River. After their discussion, Eric had nearly abandoned the idea of cing a technology-focused genius like Steve Mitnick in charge of Yahoo!. Despite Steve Mitnick''s high intelligence, he clearly had no interest in managing apany, and insisting on it would only lead to counterproductivity. The building hosted a few retail stores on the ground floor while the top five floors were upied by the threepanies, which together employed nearly nine hundred people. Under the lead of Steve Mitnick and other executives, Eric began greeting the employees in the open workspaces on each floor.

    As they entered the second-floor office area, despite the expansive space, the density of fewer than two hundred employees per floor didn''t seem high, but with all the office supplies and personalputers, it appeared rather cluttered and cramped. However, upon seeing Eric, the behind-the-scenes big boss, all the employees seemed energized. Some bold female employees even retrieved a camera, excitedly dragging Eric to take a series of photos.

    They eventually reached a lounge on the top floor where Eric sat down at a round table and said with a smile, "The first time I visited Pixar, all its employees were crowded into a very old and cramped office building. But now Pixar has its own 16-acre campus in Emeryville, San Francisco. I believe that thepanies you''re steering will achieve far greater sess than Pixar, so all of this is just temporary."

    The threepanies had been burning cash for years with minimal revenue, so Steve Mitnick and the others wouldn''t expect a better office environment. Moreover, since they had recognized the growing potential of the threepanies, they paid even less attention to such trivial matters as office space.

    Ian Gurney, who was responsible for browser development, said, "Eric, I think this ce is already great. Why don''t we take a look at the results of the IES development? It''s in my office. The idea you proposed for the browser scriptingnguage was brilliant. Once IES is released, I don''t think anyone will surpass IE in the browser field."

    Jeff Locke and Steve Mitnick both lit up at Ian Gurney''s mention of IES.

    Eric nced at Tina Brown, who looked somewhat confused, and shook his head with a grin. "Not just yet. Everyone''s been working for me for more than two years. We have to celebrate a bit. Do you know if there''s a ce in Boston that can host a party for nine hundred people?" This time, the three men wore puzzled expressions. Tina Brown realized that she hadn''t signed her employment agreement yet, and Eric had deliberately steered the conversation away from what seemed to border onpany secrets, which she didn''t mind. As the most famous party nner since the Oscars, Tina Brown obviously had the most experience in such matters. She smiled, "Eric, if you want to arrange a party for nine hundred people at once, it''s best to hold an outdoor event, and the only ce would be a nearby park. I just happen to have the phone number for the owner of Boston''srgest partypany. They can help us secure a suitable venue, but if you want it tonight, contacting them urgently and arranging food and beverage facilities will cost extra."

    Eric replied, "That would be great. Please contact them, Tina."

    Tina Brown smi ba

    "Alright, as you wish, s." Afterward, she turned to Ian Gurney

    and the others. "Can I borrow your phone?"

    "Right this way, ma''am," Ian Gurney said as he stood up, leading Tina Brown into an office.

    After arranging the evening''s employee gathering, having lunch together, Eric and Tina Brown returned to their booked hotel.

    That afternoon, they found a cafe where Eric went over a few prepared documents with Tina Brown, including an extensive equity incentive agreement.

    Once Tina Brown had reviewed everything and confirmed she had no further questions, she finally signed an agreement, officially joining Yahoo! as the editor-in-chief of content.

    ...

    From the hotel suite''s ss window, Eric looked out over Massachusetts Avenue, which connected MIT and Harvard. The streets were lined with wildly inconsistent buildings in height and era, driving any perfectionist to distraction. Compared to the sprawling metropolis he vaguely remembered that had gathered over a million people without notice, the entire Boston area housed less than five million people spread over hundreds of miles, with only about sixty thousand residents in downtown. Perhaps this was why city nning seemed so "unhurried," radiating a strong sense of chaos.

    As the boss, Eric had found himself a little tipsy after the night before at the Boston Park gathering across the Charles River with nine hundred enthusiastic employees, and even after taking great care, he had to be helped back to the hotel.

    With his head still a bit foggy, Eric gazed out at the Cambridge skyline bathed in the morning sunlight, stretching his body slightly before heading out of his room for breakfast in the

    dining area.

    When he walked into the dining area, he noticed Tina Brown, sitting by a window. She nodded at him, and when Eric approached her, she gestured that she was almost done with her breakfast. "You should try the Boston baked beans. Very few restaurants offer it these days, son/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    I didn''t expect to find it here."

    Boston was affectionately nicknamed Bean Town, a nickname ten times cuter than the Big Apple, originating from the dish Tina was referring to.

    Eric, not being sweet-toothed, was indifferent to this dish made with syrup. Sitting down across from Tina, he simply ordered a sandwich and a juice.

    Tina Brown had the waiter clear her utensils as she patiently sat across from him, reading the day''s newspaper. Once Eric finished his breakfast, she said, "Eric, I hope to take over Yahoo!''s editorial team soon. Additionally, the office spaces for the threepanies that I saw yesterday were somewhat scattered, making it difficult for me to concentrate in such an environment. I called some real estate agents yesterday, and I found a couple of floors in a building just down the street that have be avable due to the originalpany going bankrupt. I hope we can rent that space."

    Eric nodded, smiling. "I''ve said that once you''re on board, these things will fall within your purview. But there are still plenty of things you need to familiarize yourself with, so there''s no need to rush. Once I leave Boston, you can dive right in."

    "A lot of things..." Tina Brown repeated, chuckling. "Like, for example, the issue regarding

    IES we discussed yesterday?"

    "Yes, but that''s just one part of it," Eric exined. "IES stands for the codingnguage

    developed jointly by the IE browser team and the other twopanies sincest year, with the full name being IEScript. It''s an entirely new scriptingnguage distinct from traditional programmingnguages. Simply put, thisnguage allows web programmers to embed it directly into webpage code without needing theption stage that Cnguage code typically requires. With the new IES scriptnguage, web programmers can directly write this script into the code, and then the IE browser interprets it."

    The scriptnguage was a design idea Eric proposed to Ian Gurney and others based on his

    memories of Netscape''s JavaScript. To top-tierputer wizards like Ian Gurney, Jeff Locke, and Steve Mitnick, Eric''s vague directions were already enough for them to understand and generate the groundbreaking IES Scriptingnguage.

    Although Tina Brown wasn''t too familiar withputer knowledge, she grasped Eric''s exnation. Nevertheless, she still had some reservations. "Eric, what exactly is the function of this scriptingnguage?"

    "The primary function of this scriptingnguage is to allow originally static webpages to have dynamic content," Eric rified, giving a simple example. "For instance, web advertisements. Currently, Yahoo!''s website can only embed a fixed advertisement within different content pages. While it''s possible to manually adjust ad content across various pages, it won''t be realistic to operate manually in the future when dealing with millions of webpages. However, with the IES scriptnguage, we can urately target specific ads to different content pages. Through dynamic code recognition, a movie news webpage can automatically disy movie advertisements, while a sports news page can present sports equipment ads."

    Eric paused for a sip of juice to give Tina Brown, who was a technology novice, a moment to contemte before continuing, "Of course, that''s not the most crucial point. The key is that the IES scriptnguage will be open to web developers for free. It will be very simple and easy to learn for those with a technical background. Within a year or two, it''s unlikely that another scriptingnguage will emerge in the same industry. This n, paired with the one hundred million dors in Yahoo! Angel funding I told you about for developing content sites, will be enough to establish IES as the standard format in web development within two years. With control over the patents for IES and the IE browser, in the future, all sites developed through the IES Scriptnguage will only be recognizable via the IE browser. I believe you can grasp

    what that means, right?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 607: Chapter 608: A Joke

    Chapter 607: Chapter 608: A Joke

    ?

    [Chapter 608: A Joke]

    Eric heard Chris''s question and smiled faintly. He picked up a pen and casually sketched a simple diagram of the long tail theory on the writing board. With a confident tone, he stated, "Of course it makes sense, and it''s significant. Everyone knows there are many B-moviepanies in Hollywood, right?"

    Although the others were unsure why Eric suddenly brought this up, they nodded and curiously looked at the simplistic diagram he had drawn.

    Eric finished illustrating the long tail theory, whichpanies like Google, Amazon, and Netflix relied on in the original timeline. He said, "Take some B-movies in Hollywood as an example. The revenue structure of B-movies resembles this chart. We can call it the ''long tail chart.'' The head of this chart represents the box office revenue of a B-movie that is fortunate enough to reach theaters. This part ounts for the majority of the area of the long tail chart. For a B-movie that typically costs only a few million or even hundreds of thousands to produce, getting into theaters usually leads to a decent profit. However, most B-movies find it hard to get theatrical release, which leads the average person to think that B-moviepanies struggle to survive. But that''s not the truth; many B-moviepanies thrive. Their survival strategies are like this diagram."

    As Eric spoke, he drew a dashed line through the biggest section of the chart and marked an ''X,'' then quickly cut out sections of the tail area with vertical lines while annotating and exining, "As shown in the diagram, even if they can''t secure thergest profits from the ''head,'' they can still gain ieparable to that area through home video distribution, cable television rights, and vast overseas market rights sales. Just think about it: a B-movie that costs two million dors can recoup a significant portion of its production cost in the U.S., but overseas, even the bundled rights sales can yield substantial ie. Selling for $200,000 in the UK, $150,000 in France, followed by Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal... After Europe, there''s the equally vast Asian market and rtively wealthy countries in Latin America and Africa. All these scattered revenues can add up to make a smallpany quite profitable." He paused, setting down the pen and looking at the others present. "So, do you see what I''m getting at?"

    Chris appeared to ponder seriously, while Tina Brown, more familiar with Hollywood, countered, "Eric, I think few small B-moviepanies have the kind of extensive channels you mentioned, aside from the big seven Hollywood studios. This ideal state seems non- existent."

    "But it''s a fact that productionpanies like Roger Corman''s have thrived in Hollywood through the distribution methods I just mentioned, isn''t it?" Eric replied, smiling. "And I''m only using this idealized example to demonstrate Yahoo''s future profit model."

    As an outstanding finance graduate, Chris quickly grasped Eric''s point. "Eric, I think I understand what you''re trying to express. You mean if the sales channels for a ''product'' are extensive enough, even if the profits from those channels are minimal, they can still umte into impressive figures."

    "Bingo," Eric raised his right hand, attempting to snap his fingers but failing, much to the lightughter of the group. He lowered his arm and continued, "Considering the current online environment, the entire cyberspace already has hundreds of thousands of websites of varying sizes. If we could develop a simple and client-approved advertising distribution technology and enlist 100,000 decent traffic websites into the Yahoo advertisingwork, even if each website only generates a trivial ie of $10 per month, Yahoo would earn $1 million each month. While that amount would still be far from covering Yahoo''s current operating expenses, the recent growth of inte users and websites has been staggering. If the number of websites in Yahoo''s advertisingwork could increase tenfold or a hundredfold in the following years, our ie would increase geometrically."

    Tina Brown asked, "Eric, if I set up a website and sessfully grow it to a certain scale, I definitely wouldn''t join the Yahoo advertisingwork and would choose to operate independently. That seems to yield more revenue."

    Eric pointed to the ''X'' on the head of the long tail chart. "The focus of the Yahoo advertisingwork isn''t on those websites in the ''head.'' We aim to tap into the tail that produces revenuesparable to that of the ''head.""

    Tina smiled slightly embarrassed, having overlooked the rule Eric had just exined.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric didn''t mind and continued, "Moreover, the n I previously mentioned involving $100 million in funding to support the growth of small to medium-sized websites can actually be categorized as part of the Yahoo advertisingwork. Any website wanting angel investment from Yahoo must join thework. We''re still in the early stages of the online industry''s emergence and I think there aren''t many investment options for those smaller websites. We can seize this opportunity to incorporate the more promising ones into the Yahoo advertisingwork and promote them using Yahoo''s vast portal website channel effects. In theing years, the most influential websites on the inte will mostly emerge from the Yahoo advertisingwork. Even if these websites choose to break awayter, I''m sure Yahoo will have grown strong enough to explore other profitable channels."

    The so-called other profitable channels refer, of course, to search engine services. At that moment, Yahoo already had a rudimentary search engine function, but due to the limitations of the inte industry scale, its potential hadn''t fully erupted. The original timeline''s reason for Yahoo''s failure primarily rested in its blind faith in the unshakeable position of its portal website, which overlooked the development potential of search engines. Otherwise, with the immense resources Yahoo had at the time, it would never have allowed Google to take its ce. But now, Eric certainly wouldn''t make such an error.

    ...

    This small executive meetingsted until 3 PM. After Eric finished discussing Yahoo''s two major development ns, Chris, Ian Gurney, Tina Brown, and others shared their suggestions with enthusiasm. After the meeting, Eric and Chris left the Yahoo headquarters together while Ian and the others remained in the conference room, excitedly discussing topics.

    Chris had just attended a Nokia board meeting in Find and hurried back to Boston, already feeling extremely fatigued. Upon arriving at his hotel, he swiftly went into his room for a much-needed nap.

    After wrapping up the day''s meeting, Eric also had little left to do in Boston. Any details for Yahoo''s uing development could easily be discussed via email. If his meeting with John Chambers and Steve Case went smoothly the next day, Eric could return to Los Angeles. Unlike Chris, Eric still maintained a slightly excited demeanor from the meeting and didn''t seem the least bit tired after a full day of discussions.

    ...

    May in Boston showed no signs of summer heat. The afternoon sun was warm and gentle. After seeing Chris back to his room to rest, Eric changed into casual attire and went downstairs to exit the hotel.

    Having been in Boston for a week, except for the gathering he hosted for all the employees, Eric had limited his activities to the Cambridge Hotel on Massachusetts Avenue and the Yahoo headquarters a few blocks away. Now that he had mostly finished all his tasks, he intended to take a stroll -- something he did in every city he visited. Moreover, just less than two kilometers west along West Avenue, where it intersected Massachusetts Avenue, was the renowned Harvard Business School. Although Eric had long since lost his admiration for the institution that produced a slew of political and business luminaries, he was still curious.

    As Eric stepped outside the hotel, Carter Moen appeared right on cue and asked, "Boss, need a car?"

    Having been neglecting his personal appearancetely, a faint stubble covered Eric''s jaw, lending him a more mature vibe. He pulled out a light-colored pair of sunsses from his pocket and put them on. Given his casual outfit, Eric believed not many people, apart from extremely familiar friends, would recognize him easily. "I''m just going across the river to look around, so no need for a car."

    Carter nodded and watched as Eric strolled towards a street corner, resembling a rxed college student, before following him from a distance with anotherpanion. Turning onto West Avenue, though its name suggested it was amercial street, it was merely a twone asphalt road. Most of the buildings lining the road were ssic red-brick houses, triggering some of Eric''spulsive tendencies. Brownstone culture thrived in Boston, and these seemingly shabby red-brick structures were typically home to well-off middle and upper-ss residents, while lower-iemunities still resided in cheap wooden houses.

    After walking a few hundred meters along West Avenue, Eric noticed an ATM next to a supermarket. Realizing he hadn''t brought any cash and might need it soon, he headed over to withdraw several hundred dors with his credit card.

    Upon exiting the ATM, he saw ady wearing a light blue jacket, carrying two overflowing grocery bags toward a red Ford. She cautiously reached out to open the trunk. Eric approached her and offered, "Ma''am, need a hand?"

    "Thank you, you''re such a kind person," thedy smiled as she stepped aside. Eric helped her pull open the trunk, nodded in acknowledgment, and continued walking ahead.

    Thedy meticulously arranged her groceries in the trunk and, as she closed it, she looked up and noticed Eric''s figure walking away. She remembered catching a glimpse of his profile earlier, which gave her a strange sense of familiarity. However, she couldn''t pinpoint where that feeling originated, ultimately dismissing it as deja vu.

    Still, even with sunsses on, he was a handsome guy.

    With a quick mind, thedy mentally scolded herself for being silly. Just as she was about to get into her car and leave, she remembered she had forgotten to buy some items her roommate had asked her to pick up, so she turned back towards the supermarket. After exiting the supermarket the second time, thedy casually tossed a bag of items onto

    the backseat and climbed into her Ford. As she dug for her keys, she couldn''t help but nce ahead. That figure was still in her line of sight. Feeling inexplicably fluttery, she drove alongside Eric, slowed down her vehicle, and courageously asked through the open window, "I''m heading to the Soldiers Field up front. Want a ride?"

    Standing on the curb, Eric slightly leaned forward and waved his hand sitting in the driver''s seat of the Ford, smiling, "Thanks, I''ll be across the river shortly."

    Thedy appeared to be around his age, with silky light brown hair and a fair, lightly made-

    up face, radiating an air of elegance. Eric wouldn''t have minded an encounter like this in a foreign city, but if he got in the car with this beauty, his bodyguards, Carter and hispanion, would surely lose track of him. His bodyguard had previously advised him to avoid actions that might catch them off guard, for his safety.

    He thought thedy would leave after he declined the offer, but she smiled and said, "Didn''t you know? Right across the river is the Soldiers Field."

    Eric paused, honestly shaking his head. He had only nced at a map to get the Harvard Business School''s location and had no idea what thedy referred to as the Soldiers Field. "I''m from Los Angeles, just wanted to check out Harvard Business School."

    "Are you nning to apply to the business school? Perhaps I can show you around," thedy said, her gaze sparkling, still maintaining a slow speed. "By the way, my name is Mnie." Eric had no interest in inventing a fake name or introducing himself. Hearing her ent, he casually shifted the topic, "You''re not from Georgia, are you?"

    "Oh," Mnie replied, surprised. "How did you guess?"

    "Does someone in your family enjoy reading Gone with the Wind?" Eric casually asked.

    "Yes, my dad. My namees from Mnie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind. I can''t believe you guessed it just from that. That''s amazing."

    "I couldn''t have guessed just based on your name," Ericughed. "The main reason is that I can hear your Georgia ent. I have a... friend from Georgia."

    Actually, the reference to Gone with the Wind was indeed a lucky guess, but the rest wasn''t

    entirely random. Eric felt that thisdy named Mnie shared specific phic habits with

    Julia, who also grew up in Georgia.

    "Haha," Mnie lightly drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, grinning. "I get it; you''re referencing the joke about Conan Doyle and the cab driver."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 609: Chapter 610: Unexpected Guest

    Chapter 609: Chapter 610: Unexpected Guest

    ?

    [Chapter 610: Unexpected Guest]

    Faced with Caroline, whose beautiful eyes sparkled like a doll filled with anticipation, Eric was contemting how to backtrack on what he had just said when he saw Carter Moen push open the ss door of the restaurant and walk towards them.

    As Eric''s personal bodyguard, Carter Moen of course knew Caroline. He politely nodded at the girl and leaned down to whisper a few words into Eric''s ear.

    Eric felt a bit surprised at Carter''s words, but he wasn''t entirely taken aback. Once Carter finished speaking, Eric stood up and said to Caroline, "I''m really sorry, Caroline, but we have an unexpected guest."

    Caroline immediately got up from her seat, her face showing reluctance as she asked, "Are you leaving?"

    Eric had nned to take this opportunity to leave, but looking at the girl''s pitiful expression softened his heart. He shook his head and replied, "No, he''s already here."

    As Eric said this, he walked towards the entrance of the restaurant, and Caroline hurried to keep up with him. As they stepped out, Eric spotted a pair of middle-aged individuals walking side by side along the path in front of the restaurant. The woman wore a light-colored trench coat and had blonde hair, exuding the typical intelligent air often seen with career women. The man donned a gray suit, sporting a somewhat messy head of curly hair, round ck- framed sses, and a habitual confident smile.

    Standing next to Eric, Caroline said in surprise, "It''s Bill Gates! Why is he looking for you?"

    "Looks like he''s not here for a friendly chat," Eric responded quietly as he approached. Caroline found hisment a bit puzzling, but she still followed suit.

    "Hello, Eric. This is my wife, Melinda," Bill Gates said, as he approached with an informal ease and shook hands with Eric. He then introduced Melinda Gates, who, despite being middle-aged, had only recently married Bill at the beginning of the year.

    Eric shook hands with Melinda Gates and gestured to Caroline, introducing her, "This is Caroline Wilson."

    Bill Gates shook hands with Caroline as his eyes casually scanned up and down this refreshing girl dressed in a light pink hoodie, red jeans, and white sneakers. Although she was petite, at about 5''1", her beautiful blonde hair, delicate features, and well-proportioned figure gave off an appealing vibe, like a doll brought to life by God.

    Inadvertently, Bill Gates assumed Caroline was yet another Hollywood star who frequently appeared alongside Eric, feeling a twinge of envy at Eric''s proximity to so many beautifuln/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    women.

    After exchanging introductions, Eric pointed to the restaurant behind him and asked, "Caroline and I were just having a meal. Would you like to join us?"

    "Of course, I remember the ice cream here being quite good. It''s been years since Ist had any," Bill Gates nodded.

    The group entered the restaurant, just as a server who had nearly chased Eric outside to finish his bill spotted the now-sunsses-free Eric and Bill Gates returning. Though they maintained theirposure, several servers couldn''t help but reveal their excitement.

    Eric led Caroline and the Gates couple to a corner table and ordered a few snacks. Carter Moen understood that his boss and Bill Gates surely had things to discuss, so he quietly sent away a server who seemed like he wanted to join, while another bodyguard upied a nearby seat. Bill Gates'' followers did the same, ensuring a clear separation between Eric''s group and the other diners.

    After sampling a few bites of ice cream, Bill Gates didn''t beat around the bush. He said bluntly, "Eric, sell Yahoo to me."

    Eric wasn''t surprised that Bill Gates knew the new name of thebinedpanies following the merger. Bill''s tone was polite but hinted at an unmistakable strong stance, causing even Caroline, who had previously been intrigued by Gates, to furrow her brow.

    Since the other party was so straightforward, Eric confidently shook his head and said, "Not selling."

    Bill Gates kept smiling and continued, "Eric, Firefly just issued an $8 billion bond, so your financial pressure must be considerable. I can offer you $600 million, paid in cash."

    Eric had only invested just over $100 million in the original threepanies, and even at Gates'' price, selling now would yield nearly a 500% profit.

    However, unless Eric had lost his mind, he wouldn''t sell the newly merged and promising Yahoo.

    "Bill, I definitely won''t sell Yahoo. Let''s talk about something else," he said.

    $600 million was nowhere near Bill Gates'' bottom line. He thought Eric was merely discontent with the low offer and replied, "How about $650 million? Microsoft is very sincere."

    Sitting next to Eric, Caroline couldn''t help butugh at Bill Gates, who was only willing to raise his offer by $50 million while still iming sincerity. But she quickly realized her gaffe and rushed to apologize to Bill Gates, saying, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, Mr. Gates; I was... I..."

    Despite Caroline''s seemingly sincere apologies, Bill Gates felt some irritation towards Eric''s "little trophy" he always carried around. He thought Eric shouldn''t keep his girlfriend around in this situation. However, since Caroline was clearly Eric''s woman, he didn''t feel it was his ce to reprimand her and instead smiled politely, asking, "Miss Wilson, is there something wrong with what I said?"

    Caroline cautiously nced at Eric. She still wasn''t quite sure what was happening, worrying that her earlier giggle might have upset Eric''s business negotiations with Bill Gates, which would surely make her feel guilty.

    Eric didn''t mind Caroline''s unexpected interjection; he encouraged her, saying, "Feel free to speak your mind, Caroline. I''m curious too."

    With that, Caroline rxed a bit and looked at Bill Gates, saying softly, "Our professor has been paying attention to the threepanies Eric holds sincest year. He said that those threepanies are practically one entity. He even had us do a case study on them. Although we couldn''t obtain detailed data, based on its potential user base and development potential, the overall value should be around $1 billion. Mr. Gates, your... your offer is too low." Perhaps realizing herst statement was a bit too direct, the girl''s face turned slightly flushed after finishing her sentence, but she still looked expectantly at Eric.

    Eric nodded appreciatively at Caroline, holding back the urge to feed her a spoonful of ice cream for her reward. He turned to Bill Gates and said, "Caroline is currently studying for her MBA here. I believe Harvard''s professional judgment should be pretty urate. So, Bill, I think we shouldn''t discuss the acquisition any further; why don''t we consider coboration instead?"

    As Microsoft''s position solidified, Bill Gates held a king-like presence within thepany. Even outside of Microsoft, almost everyone treated him with politeness. Thus, his irritation was further provoked by Caroline''s words, and when he heard Eric mention coboration, he raised an eyebrow with a hint of sarcasm, asking, "How do you n on coborating?"

    "The Yahoo browser could be Microsoft''s pre-installed browser software. I know a new operating systemunch ising next year; this way, it would achieve a win-win situation. If Microsoft is open to paying an exclusivity fee, Yahoo wouldn''t mind temporarily halting technical support for the Yahoo browser on operating systems like Linux and MacOS, directing more users towards Windows."

    In Bill Gates'' view, it had always been Microsoft''s applications encroaching upon other operating system tforms. There had never been a precedent for an external application to be used as Microsoft''s pre-installed software, let alone having the audacity to demand an exclusivity fee - that was simply dreaming.

    Facing such a ''naive'' proposal from the young man, Bill Gates chuckled and shook his head. "Eric, you do so well in Hollywood. Why don''t you put that energy into the media industry?" Eric smiled back, refuting, "Isn''t Microsoft also eyeing this new field of online businesses?" Bill Gates fell silent for a moment, regaining hisposure as he looked intently at Eric and said earnestly, "Eric, although your browser software currently upies the market, Microsoft can also create browser software. And don''t forget, I own the most widely used operating system tform in the world, on which I set all the rules."

    That statement was undoubtedly a naked threat. Bill Gates clearly suggested that if Eric refused to sell Yahoo to Microsoft, thepany wouldn''t hesitate to take actions that might hinder Yahoo''s browser software from functioning properly on Microsoft''s tform. However, instead of feeling angered by Gates'' threat, Eric was stirred up with fighting spirit. In the original timeline, Netscape fell hard due in part to Microsoft''s bundling strategy. But the most critical factor was that both Microsoft and Netscape operated on a browser core called Mosaic. So, users could enjoy goodpatibility with the majority of online sites, regardless of whether they chose IE or Netscape. This addressed the biggest obstacle Microsoft faced in promoting IE on the Windows tform. However, in this timeline, Eric hadunched a brand new IE browser a year earlier and captured the market for browsers for free. Consequently, Mosaic browsers had not re-emerged. Even if Mosaic did return, many websites had already adapted to the new IE''s technical standards, and apletely different core browser could potentially block a lot of sites from disying correctly. Therefore, Mosaic browsers would find it hard to promote themselves again.

    What Microsoft faced henceforth was this issue. Unless theypletely disregarded legal risks and extensively used new IE patents, it would be challenging for them to bring a mature browser to market for years toe.

    Eric looked at Bill Gates, who seemed to be waiting for his final answer, chuckling softly as he

    leaned slightly forward, pressing his fingers against the table and saying, "Bill, I was checking the technical patent list of browserpanies the other day and noticed that, unknowingly, they have umted 337 patents rted to browser software and its peripheral technologies. If Microsoft truly intends to develop its own browser, please ensure you meticulously review the patent list before proceeding. You see, we may say we belong to the same category of people. I don''t mind sharing my things, but it has to be with my consent. And Yahoo is not one of those smallpanies that can only ept their fate if someone infringes on or pushes them into bankruptcy. If I find someone trying to take something that belongs to me, no matter its worth, if they dare to steal, I wouldn''t mind spending $1 billion to sue them. You should know that I can easily make that happen; Microsoft''s current $20 billion market cap doesn''t evene close to my personal assets."

    Although refined over thousands of years, every woman still hides an instinctive desire for strong dependence. As Caroline listened to Eric''s powerful deration, her head spun, and her gaze towards him sparkled with countless stars.

    Melinda Gates, who had remained silent all along, observed her tense husband and the calm

    Eric, sighing internally. While Bill had treated her gently during their courtship, she had witnessed his explosive side when he threw documents at subordinates. Microsoft''s sess had turned Bill increasingly tyrannical. Eric''s openly dered wealth surpassed Bill''s by twofold, and she thought he would be even more aggressive, but at this moment, the maturity disyed by these two men was vastly different. The less than twenty-five-year- old Eric had remainedposed throughout the exchange, making his forceful statements as casually as if he were chatting with friends.

    Seeing the two men caught in a stalemate and Caroline, who was fixated on Eric without uttering a word, Melinda Gates finally decided to break the tension. She spoke softly, "Eric,

    why don''t we forget about what has been said and talk calmly? We genuinely want to

    coborate."

    "Of course, that''s not an issue," Eric nodded and smiled, yfully pinching Caroline''s cheek. This little woman innocently disyed her charms, irresistibly teasing an old guy, which was simply too detestable and unbearable. How could he not punish her a little to ease the

    rebellion?

    Feeling Eric''s slightly rough fingers touch her, Caroline squealed, finally realizing what happened and bashfully lowered her head in embarrassment, not daring to meet anyone else''s gaze.

    With his wife easing the tension, Bill Gates calmed down, and he realized that while Yahoo''s

    scale couldn''tpete with Microsoft, Eric wasn''t one of those tech entrepreneurs whom Microsoft could easily bend. Although he felt a bit resentful, Bill Gates understood that he needed to make the most beneficial choice for Microsoft to ensure its absolute leading

    position.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 611: Chapter 612: Even Tap Water Wouldnt Do

    Chapter 611: Chapter 612: Even Tap Water Wouldn''t Do

    ?

    [Chapter 612: Even Tap Water Wouldn''t Do]

    If possible, Eric would have preferred Caroline, such a delicate girl, to stay in a castle forever, living an idyllic life like a carefree little princess. However, fairy tales could only ever remain tales, and most fairy tale stories didn''t have true endings. Real-life fairy tales were even rarer than Disney''s animated features.

    Faced with the hopeful look in Caroline''s beautiful big eyes, Eric ultimately couldn''t bring himself to refuse her directly. Instead, he said, "Caroline, being my assistant isn''t an easy job. Just because you got an MBA from Harvard doesn''t mean you''ll easily adapt to this work. First, you need to intern in my assistant''s office for a long time --maybe months, even years. Only by standing out in that environment can you move forward."

    Although Allen had little work experience when he started, he grew alongside Firefly when it was just beginning. His qualifications developed right along with thepany, allowing him to perform well and stick around Eric for more than five years.

    Over the years, as the Firefly system expanded, Eric''s personal assistant office grew into a small team of more than ten people, aside from Allen, who reported directly to Eric. Though Eric rarely intervened in Firefly''s management, it didn''t mean he was oblivious topany affairs. One of the essential roles of that little team was to summarize vital financial, personnel, and project decision-making information within Firefly before submitting it to Eric for review. Another crucial responsibility was to keep track of all the film and television projects that Eric personally approved, ensuring they didn''t deviate from his creative direction. While Chris primarily handled most of the holdingpanies like Yahoo, AOL, Cisco, and Nokia, many matters still filtered through the team to Eric. Moreover, the team also took charge of Eric''s personal finances, scheduling, research, and all sorts of trivial chores.

    Eric had entertained thoughts of adding a little ir by trying to recruit Jennifer Connelly, a Stanford graduate, into his assistant''s office to take over Allen''s job. However, she quit after just a month, demonstrating that the job was anything but easy. Therefore, he had no

    confidence in this delicate little person standing before him, who looked as if she might break at any moment.

    However, Caroline showed no signs of retreating. She didn''t want to continue being an ignorant girl in her ivory tower. Besides, as long as she could be closer to him, she felt she could ovee any obstacle. Hearing Eric''s slightly softening tone, Caroline quickly beamed, saying, "So I''ll take that as a yes! Once I finish my courses here, I''ll head to Los Angeles around September."

    Eric thought about it and couldn''t quite remember agreeing to anything, but seeing Caroline''s excited face, he reluctantly asked, "Will your parents agree?"

    "Eric, I''m twenty-three now. I can decide what I want to do myself," she replied earnestly. "Oh..."

    Eric stretched out thatst syble, smiling as he took a step back to look Caroline up and down, feigning surprise as if he hadn''t realized how grown up she was.

    Seeing Eric''s yful expression, Caroline appeared flustered, her previously pale face glowing red under the streetlights.

    Eric had intended to tease, but noticing Caroline''s growing self-doubt, he quickly backtracked, saying, "Alright, I agree. But I''m not the kind of boss who''s easy on you. If you don''t perform well in this job, I won''t hold back."

    Caroline nodded slightly.

    Taking a nce at his watch, Eric noted it wasn''t even eight yet. He thought he could still discuss his earlier meeting with Bill Gates with Chris and the others. Looking at several brightly lit apartment buildings by the roadside, Eric asked, "Which building do you live in?" "That one," Caroline pointed at a red-brick apartment ahead of them.

    As they arrived at the entrance of the apartment, Caroline hesitated, asking, "Eric, when are you leaving Boston?"

    Eric had nned to return the day after tomorrow, but with the sudden appearance of Gates, his schedule would definitely change. "I''m not sure now; with everything that just happened, I''ll probably stay for another four or five days."

    Caroline had hoped they could wander around Boston like they didst year in London and Berlin, but from Eric''s tone, she realized he would be busy over the next few days and had to let it go. After thinking for a moment, the girl feebly suggested, "Eric, how abouting up for a cup of coffee? I... oh, I can introduce you to my roommate."

    Eric hesitated for a moment, almost ready to refuse, but with Caroline watching him intently, she nervously added, "Unless that''s a no, then forget it. I''ll see you."

    With a small sigh, Eric relented, "Alright, but Caroline, do you know what it usually means when a girl invites a guy over to her ce for coffee at this time?"

    Caroline paused, recalling fragments she had read in books or seen in movies, her face immediately turning crimson. Stammering, she replied, "Maybe, maybe tea would be okay?"

    Here she goes, trying to y cute again.

    Suppressing the urge to smile, Eric said seriously, "Caroline, you need to remember: you absolutely shouldn''t invite any man to your ce to drink coffee at such times, nor tea, juice, milk, or even tap water."

    Caroline then realized and shyly fidgeted with her hands, responding obediently, "Okay."

    As Eric walked into the lobby of the apartment building, Caroline noticed the little g on her mailbox was up. Excitedly, she walked over and pulled out a letter, waving it at Eric and sharing her little secret, "Eric, my aunt wrote to me again!"

    Ericughed as he walked to the stairs, replying, "Looks like your aunt treats you better than your parents do."

    "Not really," Caroline replied while fiddling with the envelope. Feeling something that seemed like photos inside, she hurriedly tore it open, "It''s just that my aunt has lived in Greece for many years. She only wrote to mest year and asked me not to tell my parents."

    Seeing Caroline''s eagerness to share, Eric continued, "Since she''s been gone so long, why did your aunt write to you now?"

    "She said she missed her family," Caroline carefully extracted a few photos from the envelope and suddenly remembered, "Oh, she mentioned you! She said she saw our story in then/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    newspaper."

    Eric didn''t think there was anything special between him and Caroline, probably just a misunderstanding from her aunt, and casually replied, "Oh, what did your aunt say?"

    "She encouraged me to bravely pursue my happiness and not to be bound by family," she said, sneaking nces at Eric, her voice shy and trailing off almost to a whisper. Feeling a bit awkward about how to continue, Eric remained silent for a moment until Caroline raised the photos in her hands and handed them to him. "Look, this is my aunt."

    The hallway lights were dim, and as Eric took the photos, he saw a picture of a blonde woman dressed in a white sundress lounging against the rail of a small yacht, her fair skin glowing and elegant demeanor radiating warmth as she smiled. She looked only in her early thirties, incredibly young, and bore a slight resemnce to Caroline.

    Eric stared at the first photo for a few seconds before politely returning it to Caroline,plimenting, "Your aunt is beautiful."

    "Thank you," Caroline said as she carefully ced the photo back in the envelope, expressing some regret, "I wish I could look like her."

    Eric recalled the impression he just had and said, "I think you two look quite simr."

    "She resembles my grandmother more. We don''t look alike," Caroline shook her head, ncing at Eric and stretching her arms over her head, saying, "Besides, I meant I wish I could be as tall as she is."

    Eric replied, "You''re just the right height now; no need to envy anyone else."

    With a hint of uncertainty, Caroline lifted her chin, asking, "Really?"

    "Not really."

    "You bad boy."

    ...

    Mnie struggled with whether or not to tell Caroline about meeting Eric Williams. In the end, she decided she should inform her and felt a bit guilty for feeling jealous. Caroline always treated everyone around her sincerely, and Mnie thought it was unfair to have such

    thoughts.

    However, it wasn''t until after dinner that Mnie realized Caroline still hadn''t returned. After recalling how Howard Heinz, who constantly switched girlfriends, had been bothering Carolely, she started to worry. Caroline was too pure and kind-hearted; if that guy managed to lure her in, she would surely get hurt.

    Just as Mnie resolved to go find Caroline herself, she finally heard the sound of someone

    opening the door.

    She hurried to the entrance and excitedly eximed to the pink figure that had entered, "Caroline, guess who I ran into this afternoon!"

    Before Caroline could answer, another figure followed in, smiling and saying, "It wouldn''t be

    me, would it?"

    "Ah!" Mnie gasped in surprise upon seeing Eric walk in with a smile, quickly rearranging

    her expression, "Mr. Williams, I didn''t realize you came specifically to find Caroline. I

    thought it was just a coincidence."

    Eric had only now noticed Mnie''s voice and realized how coincidental this situation was. "It really is a coincidence; I didn''t know Caroline was studying here."

    Caroline wanted to introduce the two but was shocked at their exchange. She looked back and

    forth, asking, "Do you two know each other?"

    "I ran into Mr. Williams on West Street while I was at the supermarket this afternoon," Mnie briefly exined, extending her hand formally toward Eric, "Hello, Mr. Williams,

    I''m Mnie Gleason."

    "Call me Eric," he replied, shaking her hand.

    If it had been any other woman, she probably would have questioned how Eric and Mnie knew each other. However, Caroline didn''t realize any of this and was instead thrilled by their coincidence. She invited Eric to sit, and while Caroline headed to the kitchen, nearing the kitchen door, she suddenly turned around, asking, "Eric, what do you want to drink?"

    Eric chuckled softly, replying, "Just coffee, I think."

    Mnie took a seat next to Eric. Though she seemed a bit reserved, she was significantly more talkative than Caroline. Noticing Eric casually inspecting the apartment''s decor, she volunteered, "This is a ce Caroline and I decorated together. She can take you to her roomter; it''s more interesting there."

    As Mnie said this, she yfully winked at Eric. Eric was not clueless as to what Mnie meant, but just then, a little head popped out from the kitchen. "Eric, you can''t go into my room! That would be so rude!"

    Upon hearing Caroline say this, Eric understood what it meant. After all, a girl''s room generally contained personal things rted to her. "Don''t worry, Caroline. I won''t do that." Caroline indeed felt relieved and busily resumed her tasks without hesitation. Mnieughed silently and pointed subtly at a door on the left side. Eric simply smiled and

    shook his head.

    Mnie was just joking when she asked, "Eric, did youe to Boston to deal with thosepanies on Massachusetts Avenue?"

    "Yeah," Eric recalled Caroline mentioning that their instructor had taken these threepanies as case studies. He nced at a nearby photo of Caroline and Mnie beaming on

    a bridge and thought to ask, "Caroline mentioned this afternoon that you guys analyzed those threepanies as case studies. What do you think of their situations?"

    Though Mnie didn''t understand why Eric was suddenly questioning her, she realized that it could only lead to something good. After considering it, she replied, "I believe you shouldn''t treat them as three separatepanies. Especially in the future, if they continue with their current statuses, as the user bases of these threepanies grow, there will be increasing management and technical conflicts, slowing down the growth of all three. Only by merging can they address these synergy issues. Additionally, during our investigation, while we didn''t acquire specific data, we realized these threepanies have reached a terrifying number of users, and there''s no sign of slowing down. If they can''t sessfully transformmercially, with the rapidly increasing operational costs, I think even you might find it

    hard to shoulder such a huge expense."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 613: Chapter 614: The Information Industry Alliance

    Chapter 613: Chapter 614: The Information Industry Alliance

    ?

    [Chapter 614: The Information Industry Alliance]

    Once Eric finished speaking, silence enveloped the conference room. While the future he described was certainly inspiring, Ian Gurney and a few others couldn''t shake the feeling of doubt. Sure, sess of the n would be great, but what if it failed?

    After a moment, Chris suddenly seemed to think of something and said lightly, "You know, Firefly Group was just a small productionpany six years ago."

    The silence broke as Steve Mitnick, who had appeared somewhat distracted while staring at hisptop, looked up and said, "I agree with Eric''s n. If we don''t even have the confidence to catch up to Microsoft''s one-third market value in five years, we might as well pack up now. I''ll just head back to Das and help my old man sell junk bonds."

    His serious words drew a few light chuckles from the others in the room.

    Then, Jeff Locke, the most reserved and steady member of the original trio, raised his hand and said, "I also agree."

    Ian Gurney and Tina Brown exchanged nces and nodded in turn.

    "Well then, let''s discuss the specifics. I initially hoped tounch the IES Scriptingnguage and YCR chat software as soon as possible, but rolling out these two projects will change the industry''s evaluation of Yahoo!''s value once again. It might also pressure Microsoft to act more urgently, so for now, all promotional ns for these two projects are on hold until the negotiations with Microsoft wrap up. Does anyone have any other thoughts to share?"

    Ian Gurney spoke up, "Given the benefits of the Yahoo! browser technology priority protocol for promoting Microsoft''s operating system, simply restricting Microsoft fromunching browser software for five years isn''t going to be enough. I believe we shouldn''t grant Microsoft any browser patent licenses."

    "Microsoft definitely won''t agree to aplete ban on any licensing," Eric thought for a moment and replied, "During your negotiations, try to make the patent licensing terms sound difficult to encourage Microsoft to focus more on that aspect. However, as long as we solidify the position of Yahoo!''s website and online mail products in the inte sector, the significance of the browser interface will diminish, so we don''t need to guard the browser software patent too fiercely against Microsoft."

    "Let''s request another low-interest loan," Steve Mitnick suggested with a glint in his eye as he looked at Eric. "I know you''re not short on cash, but the more we ask for, the more Microsoft will underestimate Yahoo! Letting the enemy look down on you should provide some benefits."

    Everyone chimed in, revisiting the coboration intentions that Eric had reached with Bill Gates the night before, determining Yahoo!''s bottom line for coboration. By the time they finished, it was nearly noon, and Eric set off for the airport to wee John Chambers and Steve Case, who were arriving in Boston at the same time.

    ...

    Though the American inte industry consistently led the world, monopolistic inte service providers like AT&T, Comcast, and Time Warnercked incentives to improve broadband speed, which resulted in the average inte speed for users in the U.S. ranking outside the top ten globally. At one point, this slow speed became a hindrance to the growth of the inte industry. In another timeline, inte giants like Google and Facebook recognized this issue andunched high-speed broadband services, sparking a catfish effect that forced these monopolistic industry titans to up their game.

    In 1994, the inte industry was just emerging, with speed still being the crucial limitation. At that time, inte services charged by the hour, making it expensive, and most users experienced speeds below 256 Kbps -- dial-up connections yielded only 256 Kbps, meaning that downloading a 1MB file could take several minutes under poor conditions. The slow speeds were not due to ack of technology; ADSL broadband technology was already avable, but market-dominating service providers had no intentions of upgrading. Due to speed limitations, Yahoo! had to manually reduce content offerings to ensure a good user experience.

    While the Clinton administration strongly supported the development of the information industry, the monopolistic giants would not heed any policy documents from the White House without seeing tangible benefits. The explosive growth in the inte sector at the century''s end stemmed from profit motives. Eric''s main objective in bringing John Chambers and Steve Case to Boston was to unite Cisco and AOL to propel the inte industry into a ''fastne''. His current wealth and status allowed him sufficient clout to push for this initiative.

    ...

    After picking up John Chambers and Steve Case from the airport and sharing a simple lunch, Eric took them to tour Yahoo!''s headquarters. Besides a few confidential projects and information, Ian Gurney personally showcased the majority of Yahoo!''s technological achievements in browser software and online email services over the past two years.

    When they exited the Yahoo! headquarters, it was already dusk. Steve Case turned back to look at the well-lit Yahoo! office building, feeling a mix of emotions.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    When IE and Yahoo! began to take off, Steve Case had hoped Eric would sell thosepanies to AOL. After being turned down, instead of being disheartened, he becamepetitive. Last year, AOL hadunched its own portal site, but its user base was only a fractionpared to Yahoo!''s. Initially, Steve had thought the disadvantage was due to IE''s edge, but after seeing Yahoo!''s superior technology in theworkpany, he realized AOL''s chances of surpassing Yahoo! in the inte business were virtually nonexistent.

    In contrast, John Chambers felt much more at ease. When he was appointed as Cisco''s CEO, Eric, as a major shareholder, had publicly expressed his support in a shareholders'' meeting, aiding his stability in the position and the smooth execution of his development strategies. Although they hadn''t met often, John held a favorable opinion of Eric. Even though Eric hadn''t openly stated the intent behind this invitation on the phone, John still made the trip from San Francisco amidst a busy schedule.

    ...

    After dinner, Chris, John Chambers, Steve Case, and Ian Gurney gathered once more in Eric''s suite at the Cambridge Hotel.

    "You can look over these materials first; we''ll discuss them afterward," Eric distributed several documents he had prepared. Though Chris had already seen them ahead of time, he began flipping through them anew.

    As Eric approached the small bar in the room to prepare coffee for everyone, he casually said, "In the ''80s, the alliance between Microsoft, IBM, and Intel was a golden triangle. Microsoft developed the operating system software tform, IBM provided the best PC hardware, and Intel focused on processor chip technology. The rapid spread of PCs was closely linked to the cooperation of those threepanies. day, they have all gained a significantpetitive position in their respective fields. I believe the next few years will present a crucial opportunity for the development of a new inte industry, so why don''t we form a simr alliance to Microsoft, IBM, and Intel?"

    After years of development, Cisco had established its leading position inwork solutions, devices, and relevant software. As the leader of Cisco, John Chambers also sensed the inte industry''s budding growth and rapid development over the past few years and asionally considered ways to advance Cisco during this time. The information industry alliance n in his hands sparked a sudden rity in his thoughts.

    Cisco, AOL, and Yahoo! respectively representedwork device providers,work service providers, andwork content providers. The business domains of the threepanies covered the entire spectrum of thework hardware and software industry. If they could coborate closely, this alliance would undoubtedly be an unbeatable behemoth in the new high-tech industry.

    After carefully reading the seven to eight-page information industry alliance n twice, John Chambers opened another document detailing the prospects for ADSL broadband technology. Of course, John was familiar with ADSL technology, but Cisco was divided on whether to prioritize this technology for product development. He was also curious about how Eric had gotten involved in such a highly specialized technology with a limited scope of application. Curious, he looked up just as Eric brought him a cup of coffee. After thanking him, John refrained from voicing his doubts and continued reading the document in his hands.

    Eric could sense John Chambers'' curiosity but had no intention of exining himself further; he had already exhibited enough unconventional traits. A little more wouldn''t make a

    difference.

    After about ten minutes of silence in the living room, everyone except Steve Case closed their documents, with the others disying a hint of excitement.

    Eric first looked toward Steve Case and said, "Steve, what do you think of this alliance n?"

    Steve Case forced a smile. At this point, AOL already boasted millions of fixed users. Although they still couldn''tpete with traditional providers like AT&T, they were the hottest among emergingpetitors. Before he saw the information industry alliance n, Steve had sensed something was amiss deep down but felt reluctant to ept it. However, he now realized that if AOL did not join this alliance n, Eric would undoubtedly seek another partner. Even though Eric controlled 30% of AOL''s shares, that paled inparison to Eric''splete industryyout n, making Steve''s share value insignificant to Eric. Eric would certainly not hesitate to suppress AOL.

    After a moment''s hesitation, Steve finally asked, "Eric, have you considered other partners

    besides AOL?"

    Eric didn''t mind the underlying implications of Steve''s question and replied with a smile, "AT&T and Comcast, those traditional market monopolists, no longer show any ambition. It''s nearly impossible to make them proactively pursuerge-scale technological upgrades, so they''re not in the pool of potential partners for Yahoo!. Among the second-tier service providers, only AOL meets Yahoo!''s requirements."

    Steve Case felt slightly relieved, but seeing Eric''s more rxed demeanor reminded him that AOL''s rapid growth over the past two years had been heavily dependent on that $60 million investment from Firefly two years ago. ncing at Cisco''s CEO John Chambers beside him, reminding himself of the timing of Yahoo! Network''s emergence, Steve reluctantly realized that Eric had likely beenying the groundwork for this n since two years ago.

    If this legendary young man had already started nning for this day two years ago, he would certainly have foreseen today''s situation.

    Eric and Steve Case''s main disagreementy in AOL''s online business, specifically the portal

    site. The alliance n clearly stated that upon joining the information industry alliance, AOL would need to withdraw from online businesses like the portal site and focus solely on being a service provider. However, with the development potential of Yahoo!''s portal, Steve found it difficult to let go of the online business.

    Eric had certainly considered the possibility that Steve might refuse. However, at this time, AOL held only around 20% of the U.S. inte user share. Compared to Yahoo!''s broad promotion using IE, AOL''s portal''s influence reached only about 3 million users through its client software, while Yahoo! boasted over 20 million global users. Therefore, Eric believed that the chance of Steve refusing was quite low.

    Still, even if Steve chose to decline, Eric had backup ns.

    The YCR instant messaging software was about tounch, and Eric could easily emte the

    strategy Microsoft used with MSN in the original timeline, allowing Yahoo! to directly enter the inte service provider domain. He could integrate dial-up modules into the YCR chat

    tool, utilizing the future market advantage of YCR to rapidly promote Yahoo!''s inte ess services.

    However, this would expand Yahoo!''s business scope even further. Ian Gurney and the others would not be able to earnestly carry out the ''Yahoo! Technology Alliance'' and ''Yahoo! Advertising Alliance'' ns, which was not the result Eric desired.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 615: Chapter 616: The Two of Them

    Chapter 615: Chapter 616: The Two of Them

    ?

    [Chapter 616: The Two of Them]

    At the end of May, Firefly Group was gradually entering the actual distribution phase for the $8 billion bonds issued for ABC, marking the first summer blockbuster season after their acquisition of ABC. This summer was crucial for Firefly. If the films in the summer season did not maintain the impressive box office performance of Firefly''s previous releases, it would severely impact investors'' interest in Firefly''s bonds.

    Although Firefly''s acquisition of ABC was finalized, the attention from investors and media towards Firefly Group had not diminished in recent months. Under the spotlight, the three films that Firefly nned to release this summer faced overwhelming skepticism. War drama, Saving Private Ryan, and the 2D animated feature, The Lion King, were both viewed unfavorably by the media and investors. Additionally, after Arnold Schwarzenegger crashed and burned with Last Action Hero the previous year, the uing coboration with Cameron on True Lies had already begun to draw some dissenting boos even before its release.

    Critics attributed Firefly''s decision to pivot away from their strengths in CG effects films in favor of creating "niche" films to Eric''s personal blind arrogance, iming he had let past sesses go to his head, thinking of himself as an infallible god. Many shareholders, including Warren Buffett, inquired about Eric''s intentions behind transferring hot project titles like Men in ck, Night at the Museum, and Resident Evil to other ventures. Although the shareholders used a seemingly harmless tone, Eric could sense a strong undercurrent of distrust, realizing that they implied he should not aid petitors."

    The originally nned one-week trip to Boston was dyed from May 9 to May 25. Many matters remained unresolved, but Firefly Group was a significant funding source for Eric''s subsequent industry ns. Sensing that both Hollywood and outside forces were growing increasingly restless about Firefly Group''s situation, Eric left the negotiations for the partnership with Microsoft to Chris and the Yahoo management team, and hastily returned to Los Angeles to regain control.

    ...

    Once Firefly''s business jetnded at Santa Monica Airport in Los Angeles, Eric rushed to Firefly''s headquarters in Burbank.

    "Today''s release of Beverly Hills Cop 3 and the uing release of The Mummy in two days will be significantpetitors to Saving Private Ryan next week," Michael Lynn reported worriedly in the conference room at Firefly headquarters. "Paramount has arranged over 2,900 screens for Beverly Hills Cop 3''s opening, and Universal''s strategy for The Mummy clearly mimicsst year''s Jurassic Park,unching with series openings at 3,100 screens. Paramount''s other film, Star Trek VII, is set tounch right after True Lies on June 10, hitting theaters on June 17. This film only costs $35 million, and the quality cannotpare with True Lies. However, that also means Paramount faces no box office pressure and can promote it with ease. Plus, the Star Trek series has built decades of poprity, so if it surprises, it could significantly impact True Lies'' performance. Lastly, Warner Bros. unexpectedly adjusted the release date for Lethal Weapon at the beginning of the month to coincide with The Lion King on June 24, making their intentions pretty clear."

    After Michael finished, Eric asked, "What about July?"

    Michael understood Eric was asking about the situation regarding Charlie''s Angels and Men in ck, which were to be distributed by MGM and Columbia, but Firefly retained significant rights in both films. "Both Charlie''s Angels and Men in ck, along with... Fox''s Dumb and Dumber 2, have no formidablepetitors in the same timeframe."

    In the original timeline, Dumb and Dumber 2 took over ten years to emerge primarily because New Line could not afford Jim Carrey following the first film. Since the rights nowy with the financially robust Fox, that issue no longer existed, and a sequel was not surprising. Eric responded with a lightugh, "They seem to have it easy."

    Michael continued, "I have kept the PR department attentive to the trends in public sentiment and have already sentwyer letters to six newspapers and television stations that maliciously attacked us. The marketing department drafted a n to add $10 million to the promotional budget for each film; I had someone send it to your emailst night. You might not have had a chance to check it yet."

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment but then shook his head. "There''s no need to add more to the budget. The average promotional expenditure of $40 million per film has already saturated the market. Continuing to increase it would be counterproductive; this isn''t the first time we''ve faced this type of situation, and we don''t need to be so flustered just because they strike a pose. Honestly, you should see that they are betting Firefly will encounter a Waterloo this summer. Whether it''s the niche film Saving Private Ryan, the genre-rejected True Lies, or the drastically altered strategy for The Lion King, it all suggests to them that Firefly might fail. They''re just waiting for that moment to arrive and make our failure even more thorough."

    He smiled with a hint of sarcasm, "But have they considered that perhaps the scenario they imagined might flip entirely?"

    Firefly Group had reached a level wherepetition with other major filmpanies could not be swayed by petty underhanded tactics; in the end, it all came down to film quality -- an area where Eric held a considerable advantage. Moreover, he decisively entrusted Firefly''s day-to-day management to more professional hands like Katzenberg and Michael Lynn, focusing the majority of his energy on film production. Given this scenario, a film that had already proven its box-office potential in the original timeline would still do well, even if it didn''t hit the same heights due to the butterfly effect; the likelihood ofplete failure was virtually non-existent.

    Eric''s words served as a reassurance to everyone present; before that, Michael Lynn and others had shown signs of worry influenced by external sentiments.

    With their minds settled, they began discussing uing countermeasures.

    The current situation arose not only due to Firefly Group''s expansion blocking other filmpanies but also because of the influence of other shareholders and Wall Street capital forces. This was a crucial moment for Firefly Group''s bond issuance; should the $8 billion bond issuance be impeded, per the additional terms agreed upon during Firefly''s acquisition of ABC, it would either need to raise interest rates or reduce the size of the bond issuance and cover the remaining parts with equity. Whichever option it was, both oues would please investors.

    Thus, Katzenberg, who had specially returned from New York, said, "Eric, while in New York, Tom Murphy asked me several times about Firefly''s cooperation with Sony and MGM. We cannot alter the existing contracts. However, I believe we should reim the distribution rights for films like Mission: Impossible and Night at the Museum from Miss Barrymore. Given Columbia''s current standing, the resistance should be minimal. Doing so can greatly enhance the confidence of those shareholders and creditors, making it easier for us to issue bonds." Over the years, under Peter Guber''s management, Columbia had be such a mess that finding a reason to reim the rights would be rtively easy. However, many of Eric''s ns would be interrupted: "Columbia would have to cover 50% of the marketing costs for these movies and only take a 15% share of the box office. Even if we could squeeze out distribution resources from films like Independence Day or Jurassic Park 2, Firefly could not afford such terms, could we?"

    Katzenberg nodded in resignation. With average production costs above $40 million for major films, Columbia needed a minimum of $130 million in North American box office to break even. Of course, they had acquired rights for overseas distribution, which could yield some profit, but home video and licensing rights still belonged to Flower Films. Naturally, Flower Films would choose Firefly as a partner. In totality, whenpared to the expected multimillion-dor profits from these blockbusters, the bulk of profits were divided between Flower Films and Firefly, leaving Columbia -- a major studio -- at the losing end.

    Eric thought that if he were a major shareholder at Columbia, he would do everything in his power to throw a manager like Peter Guber in prison. But in reality, Sony remained veryfortable with this executive. And everyone in Hollywood knew that Columbia''s situation was deteriorating more and more.

    "Eric, since the primary issue at hand is ensuring the smooth issuance of thepany''s bonds, I think we mainly need something positive to stimte the market," Michael Lynn said, after which everyone attending the meeting looked at Eric.

    Eric of course knew what they were thinking. He smiled, "As it happens, I''ve recently written a nice script and n to invite Julia Roberts to y the lead. Maybe we can announce that

    news tomorrow."

    "That''s not enough," Frank Wells added. "Eric, you''d better direct it yourself like in Pretty Woman. Everyone has been eagerly awaiting what your next film will be sincest year''s

    Jurassic Park."

    Eric shrugged helplessly. "You know I''ve got other things to handle. At most, I can take on the

    role of producer."

    Katzenberg interjected, "Eric, I recall you mentioning your ns for The Matrix. If we announced that project simultaneously, it would definitely have a better effect."

    Eric thought for a moment; The Matrix could also be brought up now. "No problem, you can start preparing the press release, but I won''t be participating in the press conference. I need to check on the production progress of all the projects I''m currently overseeing in theing

    days."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Once they settled that, Katzenberg outlined the restructuring progress at ABC, while heads of departments reported other minor matters before the meeting came to a close.

    ...

    On the way back to the Liberty City Mansion, Eric identally fell asleep in the car. When he opened his eyes, he found himself still leaning back in the rear seat, but next to him, a soft body snuggled close, and a nket covered both of them.

    Thinking about how Drew always managed to be at his side the moment he returned to Los Angeles brought a warmth to Eric''s heart.

    He realized they must be in the garage, and it was undoubtedly dark outside. Feeling a sense

    of fatigue, Ericzily didn''t check the time. He didn''t mind being in the car and nned to continue his sleep while hugging Drew. But perhaps sensing his movement, Drew woke up. "Eric..." she calledzily, rubbing against him as usual, then began toin, "It''s so dark, Natasha, turn on the lights."

    In the darkness, Eric couldn''t help but chuckle. Just as he was about to remind her they were in

    the car, a gentle sound filled the cabin and light illuminated the space. Eric was astonished to find two identical figures sitting in the front seat. Moreover, this wasn''t the Mercedes he had ridden in upon his return; it was a spacious SUV. Eric didn''t typically gather cars, but Drew frequently bought luxury cars on a whim, and without even noticing, they had amassed more than twenty vehicles in the mansion''s underground garage. Because they rarely drove them,

    most were still shiny and brand new.

    Looking at the grinning girl wanting to act cute beside him, Eric pinched her little ear and asked, "How did you let them sit in front?"

    Drew giggled, "You want them to sit in the back too?"

    "Yeah, and then you go drive," Eric replied helplessly, then opened the door to get out, with

    Drew and the twins following him down.

    Eric looked at the unfamiliar SUV in front of him and kicked the tire, asking, "Is this a Hummer? When did you start liking vehicles like this?"

    "It''s for you," Drew came over and linked her arm with Eric''s, saying, "A birthday gift."

    Only then did Eric remember that he had just turned 24; he shrugged nonchntly, moving

    outside. "Why do I need a Hummer?"

    Drew pouted in protest, "This is military-grade, very sturdy!"

    "And then...?"

    Drew blinked, seeming to realize...it didn''t matter. The truth was, Eric rarely drove these

    days, much less a conspicuous military vehicle around: "If you don''t like it, I''ll just get you

    another birthday gift."

    Eric pretended to be curious and asked, "Oh, there''s a backup? What''s that?"

    The girl pointed to the quiet twins following behind, "Well, them."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 617: Chapter 618: An Unexpected Outcome

    Chapter 617: Chapter 618: An Unexpected Oue

    ?

    [Chapter 618: An Unexpected Oue]

    Eric noticed that the twins were clearly dressed for a morning workout and nodded, "Perfect timing,e work out with me."

    As Eric spoke, he turned to leave, but the twins exchanged nces and didn''t move. Eric asked in confusion, "What''s wrong?"

    One girl hesitantly replied, "Our boss doesn''t allow us to... exercise with you."

    The boss in question must have been Drew, and Eric paused for a moment before he realized that when the girl said Drew wouldn''t let them ''exercise'' with him, it meant they weren''t allowed to join him in boxing. After all, in the boxing ring, he only had a punching bag for a partner.

    Eric, of course, had no masochistic tendencies andughed, "If you wanted to hit me, I wouldn''t be keen either. I meant you could join me for a run, a game of ball, or anything else."

    Only then did the twins quietly follow him.

    Watching the two girls, who appeared innocent and harmless, Eric joked as they walked, "Drew may be your boss, but I''m the owner of this estate, so you should call me ''Master.""

    Though the twins'' English hadn''t improved much over time, they weren''t so clueless as to miss the pun in Eric''s statement. However, they didn''t hesitate and replied in unison, "Yes, Master."

    Eric had always found their mindset puzzling. Hearing the twins address him so confidently and recalling how little the girl had reacted when she casually mentioned wanting to gift them to him for his birthday, it left him even more intrigued. After returning from their morning workout, he took the opportunity, while the twins were preparing breakfast, to ask the girl his question.

    "It''s simple. Because I bought them," the girl said with a mouthful of toothpaste, eyes sparkling yfully as she winked at Eric. "You can try asking them to do anything in the kitchen; they''ll absolutely obey. And they''re still virgins too."

    Eric leaned against the door frame and shot her a look, pursuing his inquiry, "And your reason?"

    Drew finished rinsing his mouth, washed his face, and began his skincare routine, exining, "They were basically sold to America. If I hadn''t bought them from Don King, they would either be dead in an underground boxing ring or severely beaten. Lots of people love to see that kind of spectacle. Even if they survived, they would likely end up in some shady tech academy."

    The world has nevercked for beautiful things that became the dark sacrifices of some people under money and power. As Eric''s own status improved, he gradually gained ess to parts of the world that ordinary people never saw. Hearing Drew''s response, he merely shook his head.

    The girl applied face cream and nced at Eric''s expression, adding, "So, I not only saved their lives but gave them a life they never dared dream of before. I even helped their families escape from that godforsaken ce in Moscow where they can barely get enough to eat. So why would they refuse me?"

    "Right..." Eric trailed off, nodding thoughtfully. "Is that all?"

    "Ha ha," the girl giggled, showing no difort revealing her mischievous side to Eric, "I just very inly told them that if I wasn''t happy, I''d return them to Don King."

    If they were sent back, it would mean the twins would face the grim fate she''d just described. Eric sighed inwardly, stepped closer, and wrapped his arms around the girl''s soft waist, saying, "You wouldn''t actually do that, would you?"

    She turned around, yfully wrapping herself around Eric, and replied with a melodramatic sigh, "If you don''t let me do that, then I won''t."

    Eric patted the girl''s back and remarked, "Looks like I need to keep a tight rein on you, little imp, to prevent you from wreaking havoc on the world."

    She rested her chin on Eric''s shoulder, her tone dreamy and soft as she whispered, "Eric, you''re my whole world; I don''t care about anyone else."

    ...

    The disappointing first-day box office of $1.72 million for Beverly Hills Cop III poured cold water on many people''s hopes of actively attacking Firefly.

    Hollywood''spetitivendscape was never short of situations where people pushed others down when they fell. Consequently, media reviews were overwhelmingly negative, and the following day''s box office for Beverly Hills Cop III plummeted to a stark $1.5 million. After the first two days, the total ticket sales had barely reached $3.22 million, just a small fraction of Paramount''s original box office estimate of $12 million.

    Even outside Hollywood, many began to see a noticeable change in the environment. Over the next few days, Eric received a flurry of favorable emails in his inbox. On the same day the first- day box office for Beverly Hills Cop III was announced, Firefly Group also released ns for The Matrix series and Eric''s follow-up project for Julia, Runaway Bride. The sales of Firefly''s long- term bonds immediately jumped by 50%, with total sales reaching $200 million. Unless there was a drastic shift, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank''s nned bond distribution, expected to take three months, might wrap up in just two.

    On May 27, Universal Pictures'' The Mummy rolled out in 3,100 cinemas across North America, shattering Jurassic Park''s previous record of 3,000 screening venues. Universal even went as far as to apply for a Guinness record for this achievement.

    With Beverly Hills Cop III entirely swept into the background, The Mummy experienced a slight surge on its opening day,ting $16.9 million, while Beverly Hills Cop III managed to scrape together only $4.5 million. Over the next two days, The Mummy took in $18.1 million and $16.3 million, respectively. While the $51 million total ticket sales over the three-day opening weekend exceeded both industry expectations and internal projections at Universal, the only party truly thrilled was Universal itself.

    As long as there was no stronglypeting film squeezing Saving Private Ryan, Firefly had little pressure. Even after the saturated release of Jurassic Parkst year, the high acim couldn''t prevent a 40% drop in ticket sales the following week. The Mummy was projected to earn $75 million in its first week, with the next week''s revenue likely dropping between $40 million and $50 million. Moreover, this summer''s box office had previously peaked at $170 million; the two films hadpletely different themes. The Mummy''s drop the following week wouldn''t significantly impact Saving Private Ryan.

    ...

    With that matter settled, Eric let go of his worries and focused on the production of his films. He now held the reins of some of Hollywood''s most heavyweight films. Firefly''s roster included Jurassic Park II, True Lies, Toy Story 2, Face/Off, and others.

    Flower Films had the Mission: Impossible series, Night at the Museum series, and Forrest Gump.

    Firefly coborated with Columbia on thest two films, Jumanji and Mr. & Mrs. Smith 2, and with DreamWorks for the Charlie''s Angels series, Resident Evil, and more. Even MGM''s uing GoldenEye would see some financial involvement from Firefly.

    While Fox''s Braveheart had no ties to Firefly, it was certain that Eric would soon find himself roped into offering free consultation to Elisabeth.

    The films were at varying stages of production: some were already in post-production, while others were still in script revisions. Eric had only managed to check in on the effects progress for Jumanji and had just wrapped a detailed post-production discussion with the recently finished Mission: Impossible director Brian De Palma when June 3 rolled around.

    ...

    After a grand premiere, Saving Private Ryan officially opened in 2,700 theaters across North America.

    As a war filmmemorating the 50th anniversary of World War II''s D-Day, it broke ground with simultaneous releases in major European markets such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, with a total of 29 countries participating in the global rollout.

    The authentic and harrowing D-Day scenes, the moral debates of saving eight to rescue one, and the growth and struggles of ordinary characters during war prompted an avnche of discourse about the film.

    Many box office analysis organizations reached amon conclusion: a film''s final box office usually corrtes directly with its buzz. As the media began to deliberately probe into Kathryn Bigelow, the female director, the topic around Saving Private Ryan spiked to a peak.

    Firefly originally aimed to leverage Kathryn''s previous marriage to Cameron for promotion. They even adjusted the release schedule of Firefly films, nning to release True Lies a weekn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    after Saving Private Ryan.

    However, after The Hollywood Reporter published an article questioning whether Kathryn could direct a war film as authentically as a man, leading other media to copy and follow up on the discussion, feminist groups in North America and Europe quickly reacted with sharp bacsh. The initial hopes of a healthy box officepetition between Saving Private Ryan and True Lies failed.

    Nheless, this oue didn''t significantly impact Saving Private Ryan''s ticket sales. In fact, with the sudden influx of female viewers, who previously had no interest in war films, the box office soared. After earning $42 million in its opening weekend, the film continued its impressive streak by raking in another $31 million over four weekdays, totaling $73 million for the first week, exceeding Firefly''s projections by a whopping $25 million. This surge wasrgely attributed to the unexpected support from female viewers.

    ...

    As True Lies hit theaters the following week, this momentum showed no signs of waning. Some feminists who suddenly noted Cameron and Kathryn''s rtionship even publicly bought ad space in newspapers, urging women to continue supporting Saving Private Ryan, seeking to overshadow True Lies. Remarkably, these appeals seemed effective.

    True Lies earned $37 million during its opening weekend. Although Saving Private Ryan didn''t surpass it, the gap was less than $1 million, making it hard to determine which film would ultimately take the lead. While Eric and Firefly''s execs celebrated the explosive sess of Saving Private Ryan, they couldn''t help but think: Don''t mess with women. If they could propel a film''s revenue 50% higher than expected, they could equally drag another film''s numbers down by 50%. At the same time, Eric privately thanked his stars that True Lies was a male- centric movie; if it had been aimed at female viewers, it would have suffered immensely. True Lies ultimately raked in $51 million at the box office over its opening week, barely topping Saving Private Ryan''s second-week gross of over $49 million. While it couldn''t match the earlier earnings of The Mummy and Saving Private Ryan, it still met Firefly''s expectations. The outstanding box office performances of both films silenced skeptics who had predicted a dreary summer for Firefly, ensuring that even if The Lion King underperformed, no one would challenge Firefly''s might anymore. Under these circumstances, Jeffrey''s reform efforts on ABC faced much less resistance when returning to New York.

    ...

    At the newly expanded Firefly Studios in ya Vista, bustling activity resumed. During busy hours, most people rushed from one ce to another, seemingly indifferent to

    the outside world. However, when several buses slowly pulled into the studio, they quickly caught everyone''s eye. Five buses parked in front of a newly built but unused gigantic soundstage drew onlookers.

    Certainly, while Hollywood was used to an abundance of beautiful women, few had witnessed such a formidable array of gorgeous faces.

    As a group of tall, curvy models streamed off the bus, many of the male onlookers couldn''t help but swallow hard. However, before they could voice their thoughts, stern security personnel swiftly dispersed the crowd. Interestingly, as some studio staff admired the scene, the models looked around in awe at the impressive soundstage. For models, whose careers

    oftenst only a few years, finding their ce in Hollywood could lead to a decent marriage, if not a meteoric rise to fame.

    Moreover, if they could connect with that important figure uing, they could enjoy a life

    of endless luxuries for the rest of their days.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 619: Chapter 620: Happiness Comes Too Quickly

    Chapter 619: Chapter 620: Happiness Comes Too Quickly

    ?

    [Chapter 620: Happiness Comes Too Quickly]

    Emily tapped her finger on Diane Kruger''s measurements and remarked, "Did you forget? You specifically asked us to pay attention to their body types when selecting models."

    Eric nced at the A-cup note beside the measurements before he looked back at the slightly shy Diane Kruger in the center of the room. While he mostly remembered her facial features as somewhat sharp, that was mostly from images of her around thirty. At this moment, Diane had just turned eighteen. Despite her hair being styled into a bun to appear more mature, her petite, round face still exuded a youthful vibe. It was this very freshness that drew Eric in.

    Edward Lazarek smoothly guided Diane through the interview process, then nced at the two big bosses nearby who had been quietly discussing things. Since they were right beside him, he likely caught on to Eric''s interest in one of the three models.

    Noticing Edward''s questioning gaze, Eric signaled to a stylist and whispered a few words. The stylist, with Diane looking excited yet a bit nervous under the envious gazes of the other two models, led her away to a temporary makeup room.

    After the pair of models went for their auditions, the makeup artist returned with Diane, who appeared transformed. Her new look turned heads in the room. With her hair let down from the previous bun, her hair framed her small face, which seemed even more delicate. The bright red lip color had beenpletely reced with a softer rosy tint, showcasing the full bloom of youthful vitality that an eighteen-year-old girl should possess.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric leaned toward an equally shocked Emily and said, "Look at this girl! She has a sweet, innocent charm that naturally invokes a protective instinct. This is the kind of image that will be highly sought after. I believe we could even develop her as one of Victoria''s Secret''s five spokesmodels."

    Before anyone in the audition room could respond, Diane, who had been somewhat tense, excitedly covered her mouth.

    ...

    At that time, the hottest topic in the fashion world was that Eric Williams would personally create an annual fashion show for the brand he held shares in, LTD. Some big names in the industry asionally mocked him, questioning his fashion sense, but all the models and their agencies understood this represented a golden opportunity for fame. For modeling agencies, this was an ideal tform to elevate their models.

    For the models themselves, this opportunity felt particrly precious. If they could join this show, their profiles would soar, leading to more gigs and endorsements. Some might even cross over into Hollywood, like udia Schiffer.

    The five spokesmodel spots for Victoria''s Secret had be the PR focus of several modeling agencies. Everyone knew those five would garner more resource allocation, and most assumed only top names like Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell would receive these opportunities. Although Eric had specifically selected Diane, and she felt sure she could win a spot in the show, she had never dared to hope for an invitation to be a Victoria''s Secret spokesmodel. Hearing Eric say that one sentence left her feeling overwhelmed by happiness.

    Though Emily and Edward hadn''t voiced their opinions yet, it was clear to everyone in the audition room that Eric''s word on this mattered. The makeup artist who had just styled Diane noticed she seemed a bit unsteady and quickly came over to help her.

    ...

    Eric hadplete control over this matter. With Eric''s judgment made clear, neither Emily nor Edward would oppose it.

    After Diane calmed down a bit, Eric smiled and asked, "So, Miss Kruger, are you willing to ept the invitation to be a Victoria''s Secret spokesmodel?"

    Diane, flustered and a bit incoherent, nodded and replied, "Yes, Mr. Williams! Of course, I would be thrilled to!"

    "Great! I hope you and your agent can wait for a bit. After the auditions, we can discuss the contract details."

    Once Diane left the room, Emily shook her head and remarked, "Eric, that girl is indeed impressive. But don''t you think her mental resilience could use some work?"

    Eric knew Emily was referring to Diane''s earlier nervous demeanor. He tapped on her profile and replied, "Emily, not everyone''s life is as smooth as yours. This girles from a small town in Germany, without connections or background. Without a special opportunity, she could fade away in the fashion world in a few years, settling down and bing a nobody. This chance could change her life forever. It''s not an overreaction to be this excited. During the sess of Home Alone, I sometimes felt like breaking down in tears from the emotion."

    Emily waved her hand dismissively and said, "Alright, you''ve made your point. But you''reparing someone who at eighteen has achieved fame and wealth others may never get. What''s there to cry about? If anything, it''s others who should be upsetpared to you, right?"

    Eric chuckled slightly but didn''t answer; instead, he invited the next group of models in. Though it was just a formality, the audition didn''t wrap up until well after six o''clock.

    ...

    Eric reviewed Emily''s initial list and adjusted it, tentatively selecting Diane Kruger and Tyra Banks as two of the new spokesmodels, aside from Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. Tyra''s inclusion was based not just on her qualifications but also on a consideration for diversity; after all, if all five spokesmodels were white, it would surely stir controversyter on. Thest spot was still undecided, and both Emily and Edward leaned towards udia, but Eric needed to confirm udia''s avability.

    By the time the interviews finished, it waste evening. Entrusting Emily and Edward with discussions about the endorsement with Diane, Eric changed into a different outfit in the temporary makeup room and quickly left the studio. That night was the celebration for True Lies. Despite thepetition from Saving Private Ryan during the summer box office, True Lies had still proven to be a significant sess, and a celebratory party was, of course, unavoidable.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 621: Chapter 622: Damn Los Angeles

    Chapter 621: Chapter 622: Damn Los Angeles

    ?

    [Chapter 622: Damn Los Angeles]

    Eric''s pessimistic judgment about Fair Game darkened Joel Silver''s expression. Although Firefly and Warner Bros. were rivals, when it came to a movie project, Eric typically made no judgments at all. But since he had spoken up, he certainly wouldn''t rattle off nonsense. After all, a movie had to be released, and if the oue contradicted everything Eric had said, hisments would undoubtedly make him aughingstock in Hollywood. Given Eric''s status, no film was worth risking his reputation.

    Hollywood was both a tight-knitmunity and exceptionally cold and ruthless. The failure of a big-budget film often foreshadowed the exit of a studio executive or producer. This phenomenon created Hollywood''s distinctive "firing season," where, after the summer blockbuster and holiday seasons, failed films inevitably resulted in heads rolling. Fair Game had a budget of $50 million, considerably less than the $70-80 million super-productions of recent years, but it was still a significant film. Joel Silver understood that if this movie flopped, while it wouldn''t necessarily cost him his job at Warner Bros., their coboration would be far from what it had been in the past. Although Eric''s tempting offer did entice him, Joel had been operating within Time Warner''s system for nearly a decade. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn''t want to switchpanies rashly.

    After a moment''s hesitation, Joel couldn''t help but probe, "Eric, where do you think this movie''s issues lie, and is there still a chance for redemption?"

    Eric shook his head with a smile. "Joel, my position doesn''t allow me to consult for you on these matters. Just sharing my thoughts is already generous."

    In his memory, Fair Game had many problems. While action blockbusters inevitably suffered from weak plots, this film didn''t even manage to tell a weak story clearly. Even swapping the KGB for another nefarious force wouldn''t change the movie''s fate.

    Eric believed the only remedy was to scrap the project altogether. Though this would waste the initial investment, it could save further production and distribution costs, preventing greater losses. However, the likelihood of such a decision happening at Time Warner was low. The structure at Time Warner was overly cumbersome and faction-ridden. The approval process forrge-scale films was always a battleground for various interests. When a project had bright prospects, management could rally together. But when issues arose, involved parties would scramble to disavow responsibility. Even the CEO of Time Warner wouldn''t risk board scrutiny to cancel a project already in production unless it affected his own interests. Eric was reluctant to borate further, and Joel couldn''t ask for more.

    ...

    Joel Silver had intended to talk business with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had revitalized his image with True Lies, at this party. But after hearing Eric''s words, he abandoned his original n. If the Fair Game project flopped, any coboration with Schwarzenegger would be thrown out the window. Certain elements of Fair Game bore simrities to Die Hard. Joel had hoped to create another hit action series following Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, but now, he was only trying to figure out how to minimize damages. The movie had just begun shooting; there was certainly room for adjustment.

    On his drive back to his mansion in Beverly Hills, Joel Silver increasingly felt this was urgent. He called several key creatives behind Fair Game and instructed his driver to turn around towards the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Sitting across from him in the luxury vehicle, Cindy Crawford anxiously watched her fidgetypanion and felt an odd pang of regret. Her agent had a good rtionship with Edward Razek, the operations director at Victoria''s Secret. Earlier that morning, a phone call from Razek had informed Cindy about some news, reason enough for her to appear at the True Lies party. Eric''s spection about her was indeed urate; Cindy was unwilling to give up her role as the lead in Fair Game, but she also wanted to secure a contract as a spokesperson for Victoria''s Secret. Confident in her allure, she had thought that merely meeting Eric Williams would pave the way for her, but now, the situation starkly contrasted her expectations.

    ...

    After some time, Joel Silver noticed the woman beside him again. Initially, he had intended to enjoy thepany of this beautiful woman, but now he had lost any desire for casual romance. He clearly understood that his Hollywood power came from filmmaking; if he lost his job as a producer, his influence would evaporate. The women who once looked at him like docile kittens wouldpletely ignore him.

    Pulling up to another intersection, Joel casually instructed his driver to stop and said to Cindy, "Miss Crawford, I have other important matters to attend to. I''m afraid I can''t take you home. I apologize."

    "It''s alright, Mr. Silver," Cindy Crawford said with a charming smile, exiting the car with grace after the driver opened the door for her, turning to wave goodbye as the luxury vehicle drove away.

    ...

    Once the Cadic disappeared from view, she looked around at the somewhat deste street, the nk of a kicked metal trash can echoed, followed by her frustrated exmations, "Damn Los Angeles, damn Hollywood..."

    ...

    Everything, even a handful of worthless dirt, could be spun as beneficial if someone were to say it was good. Conversely, even a gem could be torn apart if someone deemed itcking.

    Joel Silver had initially thought the Fair Game script was fantastic, overlooking many ws which could easily be spotted by others. But once Eric, the legendary director behind many box office hits, dismissed the story as worthless, the script''s shorings became ringly obvious.

    At ate-night meeting room in Burbank''s Warner Bros. headquarters, despite it being the early hours, an ominous Joel Silver left the director of Fair Game, Andrew Sipes, writer Charlie Fletcher, and other assistant directors and producers -- silent and tense.

    "Stop filming for a week," Joel said, tapping his fingers on the table, staring at the collective results of their hours of discussion on the memos. "The KGB gimmick is no longer viable; the Soviet Union has copsed. Without the KGB, there''s no allure for the audience. You can rece it with the mob or a Latin drug lord. Also, what''s the deal with the male lead''s ex- girlfriend? I remember she only had a single scene. This character is expendable, so why does she suddenly reappear in scene 24?"

    Faced with Joel''s prating gaze, the writer Charlie Fletcher instinctively nced at the assistant director Thomas Samuel.

    Seeing the reaction, Joel understood and flipped through the actor profiles until he found one and mockingly smiled at Thomas Samuel. "Salma Hayek, huh? Big chest. This Mexican girl certainly serviced you well, right?"

    Thomas Samuel realized this was a prelude to Joel''s impending wrath. Nervously, he stood up. "Mr. Silver, let me exin, I just thought the character in the original was interesting,

    which is why I suggested..."

    "Your life is about to get much more interesting," Joel interrupted, crumpling the profile in his hand and throwing it at him. "Now, take your Mexican bimbo, and get the hell out of here. Don''t let me see you in Hollywood again."

    After that unfortunate assistant director left the meeting room in a disgraceful manner, Joel coldly swept his gaze over the remaining people. "I don''t care how you manipte your status to entice those naive young actors, but if you dare gamble your jobs, I will have you taken care of. Remember, this is a multi-million dor business -- millions!"

    Once he finished his tirade, Joel quickly calmed down, refocusing on the memo in his hand before looking again at the writer Charlie Fletcher. "The female lead has too much screen time. If she were Nicole Kidman, I might not mind, but her character, apart from showing off, is just a screaming eye candy in thetter half. Since there are no standout qualities, we should focus on developing the male lead instead. Also..." he recalled an incident from a few hours prior, "Notify Cindy Crawford tomorrow that she''s fired. This woman has zero box office draw. If we need a trophy, it at least needs to have some box office pull." Sitting to Joel''s right, director Andrew Sipes spoke softly, "But, Mr. Silver, Cindy Crawford was introduced to us by Mr. Melnik..."

    Joel hesitated for less than a second before recalling Eric''s tempting offer at the party, instantly growing more confident in his response, "If I don''t want to, no one can shove anyone into my movie. If Melnik insists, I don''t mind bringing this up at the Warner board

    meeting."

    Benjamin Melnik, the executive president and CFO of Warner, was someone most in the room knew Joel had traditionally treated politely, which instigated curiosity about why he suddenly

    took a hard stance tonight.

    Yet, such high-level disputes were hardly their concern, so everyone nodded in agreement.

    Joel was pleased with their reactions. "So, does anyone have suggestions for alternatives?"

    Andrew Sipes suggested, "What about udia Schiffer? If we''re looking for a trophy, no one in Hollywood has more box office draw than her, but her fee is around $5 million, ten times what Cindy Crawford was earning for this role."

    Of course, Joel was aware of udia''s rtionship with Eric. He instinctively felt that if they extended an invitation, he was certain Eric would have udia refuse the offer. However, Joel quickly considered that if they presented a revised script, what if udia epted? That could indicate Eric''s endorsement of the script, a boon worth far more than $5 million. He believed Warner would undeniably increase the budget by that much for this reason plus, even if turned down, there would be no losses on their end.

    "First thing tomorrow, contact udia Schiffer''s agent," Joel instructed Andrew Sipes. "But don''t send the current script yet. Just gauge her avability, and after the script is revised,

    then present it."

    Andrew nodded, jotting down the note.

    "Alright, let''s continue our discussion," Joel said, sipping his coffee to invigorate himself, "The chase scenes seem excessive as well, leading to an oppressive experience for viewers. Thus, we have to trim those down and add scenes of the leads teaming up to fight back. That''s

    what the audience wants to see..."

    ...

    Eric had no idea that his casual remarks would ripple through so many people and events in just one night. After attending the party, considering the Victoria''s Secret spokesperson role, he ced a tentative phone call and coincidentally learned that udia had just returned to Los Angeles, so he made his way to her home in Beverly Hills.

    At a hillside mansion in Beverly Hills, Eric, dressed casually in a tank top and beach shorts, sat on the second-floor terrace basking in the warm morning sun while reading the newspaper. Below him, the city was awash in gold from the rising sun, with car traffic flowing like blood through the urban veins.

    udia, looking radiant and rxed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, emerged from the second- floor living room with a breakfast tray. She ced it on the round table and leaned in to kiss Eric. "I made beef sandwiches. Want to try?"

    Eric pecked her soft lips and pulled her into his embrace, wrapping his arms around her slender waist under the T-shirt. He mischievously pointed at the breakfast and said, "I fed youst night; now it''s your turn to feed me."

    udia giggled and wiggled her waist but showed no intention of breaking free. She

    obediently sat on Eric''sp and reached for a sandwich from her te, bringing it to his

    mouth.

    After taking a few bites, he suddenly recalled something that had been tossed aside the night

    before. He asked, "I happened to want to ask your opinion about something. You know I''m preparing for a Victoria''s Secret show, right? They need five spokespersons, four have been confirmed, and thepensation will be quite generous. However, unlike ordinary shows, this one requires some rehearsal time. Are you interested in joining?"

    udia''s eyes sparkled. She had always hoped to participate in a film directed by Eric. Though

    this event was not a film, she recognized it as a prime opportunity to spend time with him. However, she soon let her happiness turn to disappointment, shaking her head. "If we had discussed thisst year, I would have jumped at it. But now, I can''t."

    Eric wasn''t put off. Curiously, he asked, "Didn''t you just wrap a film? Surely you wouldn''t

    have another project lined up so soon?"

    udia shook her head, regret in her voice. "No, but I did sign a three-year endorsement

    contract with the French lingerie brand Farmanlst year, so I can''t participate in other lingerie shows. I''m really sorry, Eric."

    Eric smiled and shook his head. "It''s fine. I was just asking casually." udia made a soft sound, leaning in closer with an alluring demeanor as she asked, "When do you n to shoot your next film? Can I be the female lead?"

    Eric inhaled the lovely scenting from udia. "I can''t promise you anything. I won''t have

    another film nned until after the Victoria''s Secret show wraps up. But I assure you that if a fitting role arises, you will be the first I consider."

    "Really?" udia asked with a yful smirk, "You won''t consider Julia Roberts or Nicole Kidman either?"

    Eric nodded confidently. "Not at all."

    udia gave him a peck on the cheek. "I know you''re just ttering me, but it still makes me

    happy."

    "I''m definitely not ttering you. You are apletely different type of actress, so there''s nopetition." "Oh..." A hint of disappointment flickered across udia''s face, her performance noticeably improved. Her tone turned sorrowful. "You probably think I''m just a pretty trophy." "Indeed, the most beautiful trophy in Hollywood, without a doubt."

    "Still a trophy," udia seemed a bit unwilling to concede, tugging at Eric''s cor, as if

    trying to get him to retract his statement.

    Eric chuckled and pinched her cheek, finishing the sandwich in her hand before suddenly

    lifting her and carrying her indoors. "Plenty of time left; let me enjoy my ''Miss Trophy''

    properly."

    "Hey, no! Not like this!"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 623: Chapter 624: A Reasonable Explanation

    Chapter 623: Chapter 624: A Reasonable Exnation

    ?

    [Chapter 624: A Reasonable Exnation]

    Following the box office sesses of Saving Private Ryan and True Lies in June, the nervous shareholders and creditors of Firefly Group found their worries eased. The astonishing $46 million box office in the opening weekend of The Lion King had them reassessing the value of their stocks and bonds.

    The production cost of The Lion King was only $45 million. Even though its marketing expenses reached simr heights, the expected North American revenue of $300 million already promised substantial profits for Firefly. Future ie from sequels, international box office receipts, video sales, and merchandise licensing would continue to generate over $1 billion in profit. Some in Hollywood believed the golden age of hand-drawn animation was upon them again. The initial reaction of the small shareholders and creditors of Firefly was a hope that thepany would increase its investments in hand-drawn animation, raising the production rate from one every two years to one -- or even multiple -- films annually.

    Therefore, when news appeared in the paper that Eric Williams was set to close the Disney Animation division after The Lion King, no one believed it to be true. When a recording yed, featuring Eric answering a reporter''s question at the premiere of The Lion King, the world was left in shock, convinced that Eric Williams must have lost his mind.

    In the following days, all the offices and private lines of Firefly executives, including Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Lynn, were flooded with calls from shareholders, creditors, and the media. Naturally, Eric was not spared either. However, when some people reached out to him, their calls were directed to his assistant''s office. Any inquiries regarding Disney Animation were met with affirmations, but no further exnations were given.

    Agitated small shareholders even put pressure on the Firefly executives through public statements in the newspapers. The sale of Firefly''s long-term bonds began to slow once again. In just a few days, the topic of closing the Disney Animation division garnered worldwide attention, and rumors even surfaced iming Disney was on the brink of bankruptcy.

    ...

    At the Firefly studios, in the preparation area for the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show, Eric was deeply engrossed in a hushed discussion with a designer about a new Angel costume.

    Outside the studio, a woman in her thirties, dressed in a ck business suit and with brown hair, approached the entrance. After briefly showing her credentials, she was admitted inside. She scanned the area filled with designers, costumers, and fitting models, quickly moving through the bustling crowd to reach Eric.

    The woman was named Kelly Haynes. She had started as an assistant in Eric''s office. While Eric had agreed to let Caroline and her roommate, Mnie Gleason, work for him after theypleted their courses at Harvard, they wouldn''t be avable for some time. After returning from Boston and through a rmendation from Allen, Eric chose Kelly to be his first assistant.

    Noticing the hurried approach of Kelly, Eric looked up and asked, "Kelly, what''s up?"

    Kelly had been with Eric in the assistant''s office for several years, but being so suddenly in front of the big boss felt a bit daunting. After calming herself, she said, "Mr. Williams, Mr. Buffett just called. He said he''ll arrive in Los Angeles at 4 PM and wants to invite you to dinner. Also, Mr. Murphy and Mr. West areing from New York."

    Warren Buffett, Tom Murphy, and David West, president of State Street Global Advisors, were all board members representing that 25% minority stake in Firefly.

    Eric had previously given a brief exnation to these men over the phone, but it was clear they weren''t ready to let the matter go.

    Pausing from his work, Eric replied, "Please let them know I''m avable. By the way, is the information I requested ready?"

    "Yes," Kelly said, pulling a document from her bag and handing it to Eric.

    Eric smiled and shook his head, saying, "While this information isn''t ssified, it shouldn''t leave the office without my request. Plus, I don''t have time to look at it now; please give it to me before dinner."

    Kelly''s cheeks reddened. She intended for Eric to see her work immediately but forgot important office protocols. She put the document away and said earnestly, "I''m sorry, Mr. Williams, that was my mistake."

    "No problem. Is there anything else?"

    Kelly produced a memo, saying, "Hearst, Conde Nast, News Corp, and Knight Ridder have all made bids on the print media assets spun off from ABC..." She paused, ncing at the designer next to Eric, who seemed absorbed in his drawings. The designer sensed Kelly''s gaze and awkwardly made an apologetic gesture towards Eric before moving to another workstation.

    This minor interruption didn''t affect their conversation. Kelly continued, "As of now, Hearst''s highest bid is $1.35 billion, followed by News Corp at $1.3 billion, Conde Nast at $1.28 billion, and Knight Ridder at $1 billion. During this morning''s meeting, Mr. Lynn and the others felt these bids were merely initial gauging, estimating the final price should settle between $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion."

    Eric nodded, indicating he understood. Kelly didn''t expect him to discuss anything with her. If Eric had thoughts on a decision, he usually consulted with Michael Lynn or others; she was just responsible forpiling the information for him.

    Turning the memo page, Kelly couldn''t help but nce at Eric''s expression, saying, "Mr. Schneider, the head of the animation department, and Mr. Roy Disney would like to speak with you in person. They say this invitation represents the 758 employees of Disney''s hand- drawn animation division and they hope you will take it seriously."

    "Didn''t expect Roy Disney to jump in like this. He really sees himself as the grandmaster of Disney, doesn''t he?" Eric chuckled with a hint of sarcasm. Both from memory and his impressions of Roy, Eric didn''t think much of Roy''s penchant for manipting power.

    In the original timeline, in the mid-1980s, Roy Disney had aligned with shareholders to oust Walt Disney''s son-inw, effectively erasing the influence of Walt''s bloodline on thepany. The mid-1990s saw Katzenberg''s resignation, and Michael Ovitz''s departure, both linked to Roy Disney''s actions. In the early 2000s, Roy again initiated a shareholder vote to oust Michael Eisner, marking his presence in every turbulent time for Disney post-Walt''s death. While some of these moments had positive impacts on Disney, with Disney now part of Firefly, Eric simply wouldn''t allow Roy Disney to remain a destabilizing factor.

    Thus, not long after acquiring Disney, and once the situation stabilized, Eric used Roy''s age as an excuse to remove him from the animation division''s leadership, only keeping a nominal title as an artistic advisor.

    After a moment of thought, Eric said, "Let them know I''ll be in my personal office at the studio tomorrow at 9 AM."

    Hearing Eric''s nonchnt tone, Kelly worried he might not fully grasp the chaotic external circumstances. After a brief hesitation, she quietly jotted this down in her memo, then asked, "Mr. Williams, is there anything else you need us to take care of?"

    "No, just arrange for a car to pick me up for dinner tonight," Eric replied, shaking his head. Just as he was about to let Kelly leave, another thought urred to him. "I haven''t had a chance to look atst weekend''s box office report. How did Warner''s Wyatt Earp do?" Kelly answered, "$7.5 million. It ranked fifth for the weekend box office, behind The Lion King, True Lies, Star Trek VII, and Saving Private Ryan. The movie''s reception has also declined, with estimates suggesting total earnings between $25 million and $30 million. After ounting for costs, Warner will shoulder a loss of $70 million in the short term. The detailed report has been sent to your email."

    Given that no one had brought this up with him specifically, Eric had already anticipated Wyatt Earp''s fate. He couldn''t help but smirk, saying, "Warner won''t be looking forward to any

    westerns after this."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Yeah, Warner''s total box office for the year currently ranks behind Firefly and Universal. However, they have a release schedule of 29 films this year, one more than Firefly. Their uing film revenues could very well ce them second, as all the other major studios are reducing output: Firefly with 15 films, Universal with 16, Paramount with 15, Fox with 13, and Columbia and MGM with fewer than 10. While some lesser studios may release a lot of films, they haven''t achieved notable box office sess."

    "You seem quite savvy with numbers," Ericughed. "I like women who are good with

    figures."

    "Thank you, Mr. Williams," Kelly said, feeling flustered in front of the ten years younger man''s smile. She quickly added, "If there''s nothing else..."

    Realizing he had blurred a line, Eric wondered if Kelly was married, making his yfulments seem too forward. Collecting himself, he said, "You can head back to work. If I

    need you, I''ll reach out."

    ...

    "During the premiere of The Lion Kingst Thursday, Firefly Group''s chairman Eric Williams unexpectedly confirmed a long-rumored piece of Hollywood gossip: the closing of Disney Animation Studio, citing ns to fully digitize animation production. However, soon after, the dramatic turn of events caught everyone off guard. The Lion King, which had not been initially viewed as a big contender, not only shattered Disney Animation''s first-day box office record by more than double but also earned an astounding $46 million in its opening weekend, breaking multiple records for Disney''s 2D animations. The projected total revenue might far exceed Firefly''s previously released 3D animated films, Toy Story and A Bug''s Life. Following this, our reporter contacted Firefly Group''s CEO Michael Lynn, who confirmed that thepany would continue with its animation production transition n. What kind of impact will this have on Firefly and other Hollywood studios? Let''s turn to Mr. James Hilt of Variety for his insights..."

    On the screen, the host of an NBC finance show stood to wee the guest entering the

    studio, while sitting before the television, David West, president of State Street Global Advisors, sighed to Tom Murphy beside him. "Young folks, always so reckless. Tom, do you think we can persuade that little brat Eric Williams to change his mind?"

    Tom Murphy nced out the window of the private ne at the clouds and shook his head. "If he''s determined, it seems no one can stop him. I spoke with Warrenst night; he seems to have heard something from Eric that''s making him uncertain."

    "This is an animation department capable of producing films grossing $300 million. Even if Williams were to make such a decision, canceling the original ns wouldn''t earn him any me. I don''t understand why he insists on sticking to a clearly wed n."

    Tom Murphy suddenly asked, "What will you do if he remains stubborn?"

    David West paused, chuckled wryly, and shook his head. "What can I do? Should I file awsuit

    against him in federal court to prevent this?"

    Eric''s stock holdings represented his absolute control over Firefly. As long as he remained within legal boundaries, he could adjust his subsidiary businesses at will. Closing the hand- drawn animation division out of skepticism for 2D animation''s future might generate controversy but would not vite anyws.

    Both men fell silent, aware of another option: selling their Firefly stocks to cash out. If they

    chose this route, both Eric and Wall Street would be more than willing to buy their shares. However, with Firefly having eclipsed Time Warner and be thergest media group in North America, only the shortsighted would consider selling their stocks now.

    Listening to the heated debates between the host and guests on the in-flight TV, Tom Murphy finally said, "Let''s hope Eric Williams gives us a reasonable exnation."

    *****

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 Chapter 625: Chapter 626: We Continue

    Chapter 625: Chapter 626: We Continue

    ?

    [Chapter 626: We Continue]

    After bing shareholders in Firefly Films, both Warren Buffett and David West began paying close attention to the Hollywood film market.

    After Eric finished speaking, the three men realized that in Hollywood this year, whether it was the massive sesses like The Mummy and Saving Private Ryan, or the failures such as Beverly Hills Cop III and Wyatt Earp, all adopted theprehensive release strategy that Eric had referred to. Thus, they all endorsed the conclusion drawn in the first article.

    None of the three felt anxious enough to ask Eric why he was discussing this; instead, they quietly followed along as Eric turned to the next page of the materials.

    "First, I want to rify something," Eric said as he flipped to another page of the document. "My n is to shut down Disney''s hand-drawn animation department, but I never said I wanted to stop Disney''s animation production altogether. I simply want to shift Disney''s animation studio from traditional hand-drawn animation to more advanced digital animation production."

    Of course, Buffett and the others were aware of this, nodding along with smiles. They understood why Eric would say this; external rumors had exaggerated his actions to the point where people believed he wanted to rece the Disney brand with Firefly.

    Eric smiled and said, "Now, the next materialspare four animated films released between 1991 and 1994: Beauty and the Beast, ddin, Toy Story, and A Bug''s Life. These four films represent typical 2D and 3D animations. Overall, we can see that the total box office of Beauty and the Beast and ddin slightly exceeded that of the two 3D animations.

    However, when we analyze the box office trends, it is clear that Beauty and the Beast and ddin follow a long run exhibition model, with box office revenue for the first eight weeks ounting for only 57% and 53% of their total box office respectively. In contrast, Toy Story and A Bug''s Life had corresponding numbers of 89% and 88%, exemplifying theprehensive release model.

    Moreover, we can observe that Toy Story and A Bug''s Life rapidly dropped below 1,000 screens after 13 and 12 weeks respectively, making way for other films. However, Beauty and the Beast and ddin maintained their 1,000 screen counts for 25 and 21 weeks, respectively. I believe that in theing years, asprehensive releases dominate the market, theaters will never allow such prolonged upation of arge number of screens."

    Tom Murphy asked, "Eric, this doesn''t seem to prove that 2D animation is destined for extinction. We could easily apply aprehensive release model to 2D animation, wouldn''t The Lion King be an example of that?"

    David West and Warren Buffett nodded in agreement.

    Eric appeared to anticipate their question, maintaining his smile as he said, "Let''s continue to the next set of materials."

    Buffett and the others exchanged nces and turned to the next page once more.

    "What I''m going to exin next is why 2D animation cannot use theprehensive release model," Eric noted, ncing at Tom Murphy. "We''ve already observed that The Lion King is merely an event film. From the box office trends of animated films like The Little Mermaid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast, and ddin, we have not seen any signs of expansion in the 2D animation market. So, I hope everyone can temporarily set aside The Lion King, okay?"

    Tom Murphy nodded awkwardly, while Warren Buffett and David West focused on the documents in their hands.

    Eric continued, "What you see here is aparative chart of the weekly box office for four animated films. We can observe that the weekly box office for the two 2D films fluctuates significantly. Even after eight weeks, the numbers can rise and fall unpredictably, sometimes dropping to just over $5 million, while suddenly spiking to over $8 million the next week. In contrast, the other two films have a steady decline in box office trends simr to live-action films. The question is, why does this happen? The answer lies on the next page."

    As all four flipped to the next page, Eric looked up at the three men and smiled, "Isn''t that astonishingly long bar on the first graph catching your attention?"

    After Eric mentioned it, even those who hadn''t initially noticed it -- Buffett and the others -- now saw the strikingly long bar on the graph.

    "This bar graph lists the audience proportions for 2D and 3D animated films by various age groups. To present the results more clearly, I divided the audiences into four age groups: (0- 13 years), (14-18 years), (19-28 years), and (>28 years). This data is derived from Disney''s past market research reports and is undoubtedly urate."

    Eric gave a brief exnation. "We can clearly see that for 2D animated films, the audience aged 0-13 upies an incredible 41% of the total audience, while the same figure for 3D animations is only 26%. However, this doesn''t mean there''s a decrease in the number of child viewers for 3D animations; rather, it indicates a significant increase in the number of viewers over 13 years old. The chart shows a stark contrast in the audience proportions at ages 14-18, which are 17% and 29%, respectively. Simrly, in the 19-28 age group, the figures are 7% and 16%. I believe a substantial portion of that 7% in the 2D category is likely made up of parents taking their children to watch movies. The audience aged 28 and older watching 2D animated films is likely there primarily to cater to their children''s viewing needs." After summarizing the data, Eric stopped looking at the document, looking up and said, "Disney has a tradition of re-releasing previous 2D hand-drawn animated films every seven years because Disney sees the 7-13-year-old child audience as a key demographic. Every seven years, a whole new batch of child viewers emerges. Through this detailed data analysis, we can see why 2D animated film box office trends are unstable and why they only adopt a long run exhibition model.

    Because 2D animated films target a very young audience, these child viewersck independent decision-making abilities and must be apanied by parents to watch the films. Even during summer vacations, adults have workmitments. They can often only take children to see 2D animated films on weekends or during specific holidays. To adapt to uncertain schedules of parents, filmpanies must employ the soon-to-be-phased-out long run exhibition model to fully explore the box office potential of 2D animations. Conversely, 3D animated films differ. This new animation format not only appeals to young children but also resonates with teens who possess their own purchasing power and a segment of adult viewers. In the previous audience proportion statistics, the figure for child viewers in 3D animated films was only 26%, while thebined proportion for the primary movie-consuming audience aged 14-28 reached 45%. This proportion isparable to that of live-action films, which is why 3D animated films can adopt the sameprehensive release strategy as live-action films."

    Once Eric finished speaking, Buffett and the others fell into a moment of contemtion. He didn''t disturb their thoughts but raised his hand to check his watch. Fifteen minutes had gone by unnoticed, and he didn''t want the restaurant staff toe barging in again, so he leaned closer to Kelly Haynes and whispered a few words.

    ...

    While Kelly Haynes felt a bit reluctant to leave Eric''s passionate presentation, she obediently stood up and walked toward the exit. As she reached the door, she realized that Eric had been so close to her ear just moments ago that if he had leaned in slightly more, he could have kissed her cheek. Yet, she felt no resistance; instead, her ear warmed where Eric''s breath had

    brushed against her.

    ...

    Hearing the soft click of the door behind her, Eric looked back at the three men, smiling and saying, "So, shall we continue?"

    Buffett and the others nodded in agreement. Although they still had many questions, the pile of materials left in their hands made them instinctively assume that this young man had surely considered any potential inquiries they might have.

    At that moment, Tom Murphy and David West felt nearly convinced by Eric''s arguments,

    while Warren Buffett gazed at Eric with deep admiration and eagerness. At 65, he was still vigorous, yet the issue of mortality had begun to trouble him and his partners. Many of Berkshire Hathaway''s partners had asked him multiple times about the next sessor of thepany, and clearly, none of Buffett''s children were suited for the job.

    Though Buffett believed he could work for at least another decade and had humorously

    mentioned that he would haunt Berkshire Hathaway even after his death, everyone -- including himself -- knew well that once he passed, Berkshire Hathaway would face

    uncertain changes.

    Buffett had made multiple attempts to groom a sessor, but all efforts had failed. Now, this young man who could calmly recognize industry trends during The Lion King''s box office sess and chose long-term nning over immediate benefits possessed the insight and decisive execution he had always meant to find in an ideal heir.

    Yet...

    A strong sense of regret soon grew within Buffett. The wealth and status Eric currently held

    also meant that he was unlikely to assume control of Berkshire Hathaway in the future. Buffett preferred his sessor to stay focused on the operations of thepany without being distracted by other ventures, but Eric''s business interests had far surpassed those of Berkshire Hathaway. If he entrusted Berkshire Hathaway to Eric, it would be challenging for Eric to devote much energy to managing another vastpany.

    Though painfully recognizing this point, Buffett still felt a twinge of unwillingness. Eric was unaware of Buffett''s thoughts. Seeing the three men show no signs of dissent, he

    said, "Now that we''ve discussed the external factors impacting 2D animation, let''s move on to the internal factors. I''m sure you''ve all noticed the cost differences between the two types of films. Yes, the two listed 2D animated films both had budgets under $30 million, while Toy Story and A Bug''s Life had budgets of $50 million and $80 million, respectively."

    At this point, Eric paused for a moment and continued, "First, I need to rify something: whether it''s 2D or 3D animation, the primary costs arebor costs. Every frame in both types of animated films is hand-drawn; only the medium differs. Because hand-drawn animation has been around for over half a century, the industry is mature, and there''s arge number of animators. Therefore, even among Disney''s finest hand-drawn animators, few earn over $100,000. However, digital animators are a newly emerging profession and are in short supply. After the sess of Toy Story, to prevent Pixar''s skilled digital animators from being poached by other studios, Firefly had to increase their sries. Simrly, post-The Lion King, if Disney wanted to maintain its hand-drawn animation department, animators whose average sries were around $50,000 could see their monthly sries add $10,000 in the future. This means the production costs for 2D animation could nearly double..."

    Tom Murphy suddenly interrupted Eric with augh, "Eric, you just said that The Lion King is

    an event

    movie?"

    "Of course, but my perspective doesn''t mean that all of Hollywood shares it. Everyone else seems to think that the golden age of 2D animation has returned, right?" Eric recognized Tom Murphy was joking, offered a brief exnation, and continued, "The production cost for The Lion King already surpassed $45 million, so if it doubles, the future cost of 2D hand-drawn animation could exceed $100 million."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric clearly remembered seeing an announcement in 1999 from Disney promoting its uing hand-drawn animated feature Tarzan as the highest-budget animated film in history, with a reported production cost of $150 million. However, this film only grossed $170

    million at the North American box office. Based on the experience he had umted by now, including production costs and huge marketing expenses, the likelihood of Disney incurring losses on this movie was remarkably high.

    "So, if in theing years, theaters are no longer willing to waste screen resources for the long run of 2D animated films, with a production cost of $100 million and a possible average marketing budget rising to $50 million, we can be sure that unless films like The Lion King that arebeled event filmse along again, it will be incredibly difficult forpanies to recover their production costs through box office earnings. And of course, you may argue that animated films'' peripheral ies have always been substantial, so let''s take a look at the next set of statistical data..."

    Buffett and the others were unexpectedly struck by a wave of amusement from Eric''sst statement,ughing heartily as they turned the page. Just then, Kelly Haynes quietly returned

    to Eric''s side.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 627: Chapter 628: A Strange Coincidence

    Chapter 627: Chapter 628: A Strange Coincidence

    ?

    [Chapter 628: A Strange Coincidence]

    In a vi in Santa Monica, early in the morning, a little girl named Nina couldn''t wait to run to the kitchen with the help of her nanny, Jennifer.

    "Mom, good morning," the little girl greeted, leaning close to her mother.

    Kelly Haynes, busy at the counter, leaned down to kiss her daughter''s cheek and replied, "Good morning, honey."

    Jennifer stepped forward to help and, seemingly casually, nced at the rosy cheeks of her boss, a sign of residual joy from the night before. She naturally remarked, "Mrs. Haynes, you look lovely today."

    Kelly Haynes knew that since the nanny had woken upst night, she couldn''t hide the fact that Eric hade over. However, having gone through everything that happened the night before, the initial anxiety and shyness had disappeared. As a grown single woman, bringing a man home for the night was nothing to be ashamed of. She simply nodded at Jennifer and said, "Thank you, Jenny."

    However, it was clear that this matter would not end so easily. As Kelly started to serve breakfast onto tes, her daughter tugged at her sleeve with a mysterious expression, whispering, "Mom, I think I heard a cat meowingst night."

    Kelly nearly dropped the frying pan at those words. Jennifer, who had been preupied with certain thoughts, turned her head sharply, stifling augh behind her hand.

    Kelly took a discreet deep breath, smiling at her daughter as she responded, "Honey, you must have misheard."

    "Definitely not," Nina shook her little head confidently but had no intention of arguing with her mother. "Mom, can we get a little kitten?"

    "Sweetheart, not right now. Mommy has to work, and you need to go to art ss. After summer break, you''ll be back in school! Even Jenny has her own things to do. If we get a kitten, we wouldn''t have anyone to take care of it. We''d just have to leave it alone at home."

    The kind-hearted little girl pictured her mother''s description and shook her head, a little disappointed. "Then forget it."

    Kelly divided breakfast into four portions, carrying three over to the dining table. She said to her daughter, "Come on, eat up. After breakfast, Jenny will take you to your ss."

    Nina nodded obediently but unexpectedly pointed at the fourth te left on the counter. "Mom, why is there an extra breakfast?"

    Kelly calmly found a quick excuse. "Mommy ns to take it to work for lunch."

    Jennifer noticed her boss''s fluster and Nina''s lingering confusion, suddenly realizing this was an opportunity. She spoke up, "Nina, you mentioned drawing a beautiful picture in ss yesterday. Why don''t you show it to your mom?"

    Nina''s eyes lit up, and she quickly hopped off her chair, racing to her room for the drawing. Kelly sighed with relief, saying to Jennifer, "Thank you, Jenny."

    Jennifer tried to make her smile more genuine as she pointed at the remaining te. "Mrs. Haynes, do you need me to take this over?"

    While Kelly thoroughly enjoyed her time with Eric, she also knew that nothing serious woulde from their rtionship. Concerned about Nina''s reaction, she had asked Eric to wait until Nina left for her ss before he left. Eric had kindly agreed.

    Reflecting on the wild night, Kelly felt her cheeks flush as she realized Eric must be starving. Hearing Jennifer''s suggestion, she hesitated but ultimately nodded in agreement.

    Seeing Kelly agree, Jennifer got up and grabbed the remaining breakfast, steadying her feelings as she headed outside.

    Though this young woman, part-time renter and part-time nanny, had been introduced by a friend, Kelly had done her homework. Like many young people in Los Angeles, Jennifer was an aspiring star, a Hollywood dreamer. However,pared to the many others who were desperate and aggressive, Jennifer seemed much moreposed. A twenty-two-year-old, she had recently graduated from Denison University with a good education and upbringing. After arriving in Hollywood, she took acting sses, appeared in stage ys, and found this nanny job to make ends meet. If it weren''t for these circumstances, Kelly certainly wouldn''t have let a Hollywood dreamer care for her daughter.

    As Eric''s assistant, Kelly certainly was among the elite. While she had been preupied with her daughter earlier, she suddenly noticed Jennifer''s stiff posture as she held Eric''s breakfast. In that instant, it all clicked. Still, Jennifer hadn''t made any mistakes while looking after Nina these past few months, and Kelly had a good impression of her. If she could provide some assistance, Kelly wouldn''t hesitate.

    Thinking along those lines, Kelly called out to the young woman, "Jenny."

    Jennifer froze in ce. Being a smart woman, she sensed that her employer might guess something. She turned her head with great effort, her eyes wide and showing a strained smile. "Mrs. Haynes..."

    Kelly offered an encouraging smile. "This really is a good opportunity. But if you want to seize it, you''d better rx a bit."

    Jennifer, whose heart had been in her throat, finally felt it settle back dow gratefully nodding. "Thank you, Mrs. Haynes."

    ...

    The unique fragrance from the woman''s bedroom always lifted one''s spirits. Eric lounged in a leather chair near the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying the warm morning sunshine. His fingertips still felt the soft caress of his assistant''s touch. If it weren''t for a bothersome news article in the Los Angeles Times in front of him, this day would have been perfect.

    Jennifer entered, catching sight of the man in a white shirt loungingfortably in his chair. Before she had the chance to gather her nerves, he had already turned toward her. Caught in a dilemma, she grappled with whether to pretend she just recognized Eric, missing the fleeting look of surprise on his face.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    They held each other''s gaze for a moment, and Eric spoke first. "You''re the nanny fromst night?"

    Though Eric''s tone was casual, Jennifer felt an innate pressure emanating from him as someone of higher status.

    "Yes," Jennifer nodded but quickly added in a fluster, "I... I''m just a part-timer. My name is Jennifer Garner."

    Eric felt that this bizarre coincidence was quite amusing, prompting him to chuckle. But this light chuckle caused Jennifer Garner to panic further, thinking she had messed something up. Quickly pointing to the food she was holding, Eric asked, "So, this is my breakfast?" Jennifer Garner nodded urgently. "Yes, Mr. Williams." She handed him the te that held scrambled eggs and sandwiches, but noticing that Eric seemed unsure about how to handle it, she awkwardly averted her gaze toward the vanity but found Eric seemed uninterested in

    moving.

    Eric used a free hand to pat his right knee, propped on his left leg. "Could you grab me a few napkins?"

    "Of course, that''s no problem," Jennifer Garner replied, nodding hurriedly. She grabbed a tissue box from the vanity and approached him.

    Eric''s chair was low, while Jennifer Garner was tall. She first bent over but immediately felt that this elevated position might displease him and instead squatted down. However, that position felt even less dignified. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to kneel beside Eric like a dutiful maid, carefullyying the napkins across his knee.

    Eric observed Jennifer Garner''s series of actions in silence, feeling the weight of the power wealth brings. Yet, this sensation was quite pleasurable. It exined why so many people spend their lives chasing fame and fortune.

    Afterying the napkins down, seeing the te ced in front of him, Jennifer Garner nced up at Eric. Noticing a change in his expression, she suddenly abandoned the thought of getting up, quietly staying at his side. She even contemted helping Eric hold the te to make it easier for him to eat. But Jennifer Garner was not without some pride; this arrangement was already pushing her boundaries. Though those boundaries were fragile, unless Eric spoke first, she felt she should hold her ground... at least.

    Eric, however, showed no intention of asking her to do anything further. He cut the eggs and sandwiches into small pieces, picked up a fork, and casually ate while not neglecting Jennifer beside him. "Since this is a part-time gig, I guess you''re beautiful and want to get into

    Hollywood, right?"

    "Um," Jennifer pondered carefully before responding, "I... envy that kind of life, so I want to

    give it a try."

    Eric nodded. "At least you didn''t say you''ve wanted to be an actor since you were eight.

    Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been able to enjoy my breakfast. In fact, many stars didn''t anticipate this path when they were young. But destiny has a way of surprising people; some find themselves sudden Hollywood stars overnight, with their worth skyrocketing. The more you chase after something, often, the harder it is to achieve."

    Jennifer Garner realized she had hit the nail on the head and smiled brightly in agreement.

    Jennifer Garner was a typical beauty with high cheekbones and full lips, but she clearly wasn''t Eric''s type. Still, he didn''t mind offering some insights. "Since you want to break into Hollywood, do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are?" Jennifer Garner''s mind spun, but she momentarily couldn''t answer Eric''s question. She had only been in Hollywood for a few months; how could she understand these things? Eric didn''t expect her to respond. "You''re beautiful, but in Hollywood, that isn''t an advantage; it''s more often a disadvantage. Pretty faces are everywhere. If you watch movies, you''ll notice countless attractive women with roles primarily as ornaments in party scenes. Your physique and looks are just the type that could easily fade into the background. If you can''t pinpoint your niche, there''s a good chance you''ll end up being dismissed as just another

    pretty face."

    Jennifer Garner listened intently, wishing she could take notes. Even the top Hollywood stars wouldn''t get Eric''s direct insights so easily. The savvy young woman knew this opportunity was far more valuable than winning a role in one of Eric''s movies, as today''s advice could save her a lot of stumbling in her future career.

    Eric lounged as he chewed on his food, leisurely continuing, "Since beauty won''t give you an edge, what else do you have? Acting skills? Ha! Like beauty, they''re abundant in Hollywood. You can''t go without acting skills, but you also can''t treat them as your currency -- especially for someone as pretty as you. Even with outstanding acting talent, it can often be overshadowed by your looks."

    Feeling as if Eric had focused entirely on her ws without revealing her strengths, she couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Williams, what should I do then?"

    Eric smiled at the woman still kneeling by his side. "You''re smart; that counts as an asset. Many in Hollywood fail due to ack of smarts. Even if theye across opportunities, they

    don''t know how to seize them."

    Jennifer Garner smiled, lowering her gaze slightly.

    Continuing with a hint of implication, Eric said, "Now, another crucial factor in breaking into

    Hollywood -- opportunity -- isn''t a problem for you anymore. However, if you can''t identify your direction, you''ll likely end up as only a second-tier actress. As you age, even if you realize what path to take,peting with the new generation of actresses will be

    increasingly difficult."

    Realizing Eric was about to reveal something crucial, Jennifer Garner raised her face.

    "Your beautycks sweetness or naivety, giving it a more fierce edge. This indicates you are

    definitely not suited for roles of any innocent lead characters. The only acting route fit for you is as an action star."

    Though she had only been in Hollywood for a few months, Jennifer Garner had been lucky enough to attend a few auditions; none yielded any calls back. Now, understanding why her auditions for those roles had fizzled out, she asked, "Mr. Williams, do you mean like Ms.

    Nicole Kidman, an action star?"

    Recalling that in the real world, Nicole''s career declined steeply after winning the Oscar, mainly because she could not find the right path, Eric shook his head. "Nicole is not an action star; her roles are much broader. But for you, this is your ideal path. Stick with it. Before you turn thirty-five, you might just be the go-to leadingdy for action films in

    Hollywood."

    Indeed, Eric was thinking of Angelina Jolie at the moment. In his eyes, Jolie wasn''t particrly beautiful nor charming; her figure was average. Yet, through countless media reys of ''Jolie is beautiful, Jolie is captivating,'' even those who despised Jolie might find themselves thinking, ''Okay, she''s not bad after all.'' Moreover, from the start of her career, Jolie had consistently followed a path that suited her style. Because of this, in a Hollywood

    where other actresses rise and fall and new generations appear, Jolie had consistently maintained her top-tier status.

    Eric remembered that Jolie had a top-notch manager. In the real world, Nicole couldn''t

    endure the downslope of her career anymore and eventually left CAA to seek representation with Jolie''s manager.

    Jennifer Garner absorbed Eric''s words and, feeling somewhat unfulfilled, asked, "What happens after thirty-five?"

    Eric had finished his breakfast, ncing at the girl''s expectant gaze, and smiled. "Being too greedy isn''t good. By the time you''re thirty-five, you''ll have made enough money. After that, it''s about taking care of yourself, getting married, having kids, and enjoying life. You might

    even try to vie for an Oscar."

    In fact, after thirty-five, if she were still relevant, the next step would be simple -- y

    viins. Wicked witches or Evil Stepmothers, for example. Even Meryl Streep, known for having the most Oscar disappointments,ter took on some ''bad'' roles. Jennifer Garner wisely refrained from asking more, sweetly taking Eric''s te from him but

    not getting up immediately, adopting a wait-and-see attitude like a little maid waiting for instructions.

    This clever maneuver made Eric unable to resist caressing her chin, admiring this young face,

    as if appreciating a new piece of art. "I actually love the name Jennifer; it means a charming

    woman."

    Feeling the cold fingertips brush against her face, Jennifer Garner shivered slightly and quietly replied, "Mr. Williams, I... I''ll be staying here with Mrs. Haynes for the time being." "Great! If I have time, I''ll give you a call. I hope you won''t refuse my invitation," Ericughed. "But right now, you need to hurry and take Nina away, or both Kelly and I will bete

    for work."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 629: Chapter 630: Then Come Out to Me

    Chapter 629: Chapter 630: Then Come Out to Me

    ?

    [Chapter 630: Then Come Out to Me]

    The brand new Studio 11 at Firefly Studios measured 75 meters long and 45 meters wide, making it even more spacious than Warner Bros.''rgest soundstage. At that moment, the studio was divided into six main work areas, with a total team of over 120 people working on the designs for the six themes of the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show. Cindy Crawford walked into the studio with her agent Jeremy, and what she saw was a bustling scene. However, towards the back of the studio, a crowd had gathered, and loud music wasing from that direction.

    Jeremy pulled over a staff member to ask a few questions, and the two confirmed they should head toward the crowd at the back.

    As they approached the outer edge of the crowd, Cindy and Jeremy both heard a slightmotion before the music ying suddenly stopped.

    Following the gazes of the crowd, Cindy''s pupils shrank as she spotted a fiery figure dressed in ck wings. The girl in this stunning ensemble was none other than Diane Kruger, the same girl Cindy had encountered just outside the studio, who now lookedpletely transformed from that youthful girl in a T-shirt and jeans. The vibrant red uniform, representing warmth,bined perfectly with the mysterious ck wings and her pure, sweet face, giving off an aura of youthful vitality.

    Cindy had always prided herself, but at that moment, she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

    If only...

    That outfit was supposed to be hers.

    As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Cindy suddenly heard that voice she had been loathing for the past few days.

    "Diane,e over here."

    Eric waved at the girl, who looked a bit shy under the watchful eyes of dozens surrounding her. Diane, upon hearing Eric''s call, hurriedly made her way to him.

    Cindy noticed all eyes in the room were on Diane, and feeling a bit resentful at being overlooked, she approached Eric and said, "Mr. Williams, it''s nice to see you again."

    Eric was about to discuss with Todd Thomas any adjustments needed for Diane''s angel outfit when he heard another woman''s voice. Turning around, he saw it was Cindy Crawford. This time, he didn''t deliberately snub her. Instead, he extended his hand and smiled, "Yes, it''s great to see you again, Ms. Crawford."

    Cindy recalled how Eric had deliberately refused to shake her hand at thest party. Seeing the hand he had extended, she suddenly felt an impulse to embarrass this infuriating man in the same way.

    However, before she could act on that thought, Cindy found her right hand reaching out.

    Eric shook Cindy''s hand and said, "Ms. Crawford, let''s talk about your matterster. Just give me a moment."

    His affirming tone left Cindy at a loss for words, but before she could respond, Eric turned his attention back to Diane. With this shift, the other people who had noted Cindy''s arrival also redirected their attention, leaving only Edward Razek, who had a decent rtionship with her, to give a slight nod.

    Eric had Diane pose a few times and discussed some modifications with Todd Thomas before saying to her, "Based on the music you just heard, let''s give it a try and see how it feels."

    Diane had no objections. Eric instructed the crowd to clear a path of about ten meters. As soon as Diane was ready, he pressed the button to y a rock song.

    Diane realized that this demonstration was likely much more important than the audition. As the music began, she took a deep breath, raised her face slightly with a confident smile, found the rhythm, and strutted down the makeshift runway.

    However, the rock beat seemed ill-suited for the runway, and as Diane reached the end, posing sexily and turning to head back, the sudden change in the tempo disrupted her stride.

    Returning to the starting point, Diane nervously nced at Eric, knowing that runway music wouldn''t perfectly sync with the model''s footsteps. A seasoned model would find the rhythm, and a sudden change wouldn''t affect her steps -- this was entirely her mistake.

    Eric did furrow his brow, but not for the reason one might think. He waved his hand and told her, "Forget it, you don''t need to walk anymore."

    Diane came to Eric''s side and weakly pleaded, "Mr. Williams, I can do it again, I promise I won''t mess up this time."

    "That''s not the issue," Eric shook his head, recalling something and ncing behind him.

    Cindy, who had been somewhat gleeful, noticed Eric turning toward her, quickly masking the hint of disdain on her face.

    Eric found Cindy in the crowd and pointed toward the makeshift runway, asking, "Ms. Crawford, are you avable now?"

    Cindy understood exactly what Eric was referring to and confidently replied, "Of course, no problem."

    Eric turned to Todd Thomas and ordered, "Todd, take her to change into something more suitable."

    Cindy felt that her moment to shine had finallye, following Todd into the fitting room.

    The designer quickly selected a ckce ensemble for Cindy and gestured toward the adjacent stall, saying, "Cindy, you can change in there."

    Cindy looked at the outfit and noted that while Todd Thomas had exquisite taste, she couldn''t help but ask, "Todd, is this all there is?"

    Todd paused for a moment and smiled, exining, "Cindy, that angel outfit was specifically designed for Ms. Kruger. We''ve onlypleted one so far; the others are still being made."

    Cindy tentatively demanded, "Can I wear what she has on?"

    Todd had just left to call Diane and hadn''t heard the conversation between Edward and Eric. However, by seeing Cindy appear, he could infer enough. Thus, Todd shook his head, advising, "Cindy, don''t be stubborn; I''ve heard some recent rumors. It''s most crucial that you seize this opportunity. If you participate in this show, with your fame and qualifications, I''m sure you''ll get your own angel outfit."

    Previously, these fashion designers had treated her like a treasure; even top designers rarely spoke to her in this tone. Therefore, Todd''s words made Cindy''s mood plummet once again. Noticing the change in her expression, Todd didn''t want to offend this darling of the fashion world and pointed to the nearby closets and shoe racks, saying, "We can pick some essories, but let''s make it quick."

    Cindy''s mood lightened slightly; both had an eye for fashion. Although there wasn''t an angel outfit, they quickly paired several items together.

    Eric waited for nearly five minutes and was about to send someone to check when Cindy and Todd finally emerged from the fitting room.

    The ckce outfit, white sheer shawl, striking crystal wrist essories, and strappy bootsbined perfectly to create an air of noble elegance.

    Cindy noticed Eric nodding in approval and saw the anxious girl standing beside him. She let out a big sigh of relief in her heart.

    "Can we start?" Eric asked, pressing the y button on the recording machine at the

    workstation.

    Cindy made an OK sign, and Eric proceeded to press the y button while telling Diane,

    "Watch carefully."

    As the previous rock music started ying again, Cindy waited briefly, found the rhythm, and stepped back onto the runway.

    In stark contrast to the inexperienced Diane, Cindy moved effortlessly,pletely unaffected by the earlier disruption that had thrown Diane off.

    As Cindy returned to the start, Eric turned off the music and asked the girl beside him, "Did

    you see anything?"

    Diane replied softly, "I... I''m not as good as Ms. Crawford."

    "She has ten more years of runway experience than you, so of course you''re not as good," Eric chuckled and shook his head. "Pay attention to Cindy''s presence next time."

    After giving that instruction, Eric made a ''do it again'' gesture to Cindy, who dly didn''t

    mind letting that lucky rookie watch again what a supermodel looked like. Nodding, the music started ying once more.

    "Look," Eric pointed at Cindy strutting her stuff, saying to the girl beside him, "She''sposed, confident, and has a powerful presence that conveys, ''When I step onto this runway, all the attention from the stage and the audience belongs to me.'' This is what a true

    Super Model is."

    Noticing Cindy had returned to the start, Eric casually turned off the music and continued, "Although your outfit is stunning and will certainly attract attention on stage, you''re stillcking that outgoing charisma. You know, I n to have you open the show, and I''m sure you know what that means. But what I want is for the audience to remember you once you finish walking the entire runway instead of just your outfit. Here, let me show you again."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As Eric said this, he turned to Cindy and instructed, "Cindy, take off those essories and

    walk again."

    Cindy was puzzled as to why Eric wanted her to do this, but Edward Razek, who had been standing next to Eric, had heard every word he said to Diane. He realized Eric held no negative feelings toward Cindy and, in fact, admired her. Noticing Cindy''s hesitation, Edward knew her naturally arrogant personality and didn''t want her to leave a poor impression on Eric, so he

    covertly signaled her.

    Cindy caught Edward''s eye and intelligently chose toply, smiling as she removed her shawl and wrist essories. When Eric pointed out her boots, Cindy quickly switched back to her ck heels she hade in with.

    "OK, let''s do this again," Eric said. Once Cindy was ready, he pressed the y button on the music again, watching with satisfaction as Cindypleted the entire walk, then turned to Diane and said, "See, even without her essories, that powerful outgoing presence remains, and her steps are also very stylized, leaving asting impression easily. That presence is something you''ll have to cultivate on your own. I hope you develop your unique charisma instead of mimicking others, as that will only lead to ack of authenticity. You, of course, have four months for this. However, as for your walking technique, I''m also not satisfied. How many hours are you training each day?"

    Diane responded, "With everythingbined, I train for six hours a day."

    "That''s not enough," Eric shook his head and turned to Edward, saying, "Get her a specialized

    training team -- the best. Also, increase the training volume to ten or even twelve hours a day, pushing her to her limits without harming her health."

    After Edward nodded in acknowledgment, Eric turned back to the timid girl, who had her head down and seemed intimidated. "If you can''t grasp what this presence is, then just walk out to me. And, by the way, the funds for hiring the training team can be deducted from your future

    endorsement fees."

    Throughout his time with the team, Eric had been approachable and friendly, showing no signs of a bossy demeanor. Thus, many people had grown ustomed to the asional offhand quip with him.

    However, at that moment, as they heard Eric say those words, an idea popped into the heads

    of many, including a frightened Diane, its original charm stripped away: tyrant! Even Cindy, who had unconsciously moved closer to Eric,pletely suppressed all

    expressions of pride.

    A whirlwind of titles rushed through everyone''s mind regarding Eric: North America''s richest

    billionaire, owner of the world''srgest media group, Firefly, the Hollywood director behind a string of box office miracles...

    Any one of those titles was enough to inspire awe or fear, but Eric had attained all this by the age of twenty-five, showing no signs of slowing in business expansion.

    This was not a person but a mountain -- a mountain capable of crushing every other reliance

    and pride to dust.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 632: Chapter 633: Why Say Again?

    Chapter 632: Chapter 633: Why Say Again?

    ?

    [Chapter 633: Why Say Again?]

    Los Angeles, in a simple office at Firefly Films'' studio.

    Cindy Crawford felt that hertest thought was just inviting trouble. Beside her, her agent Jeremy was carefully reading a sponsorship contract for supermodel Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, who were on the same level as her. Across from her was a detestable man who seemed to have too much time on his hands, observing her with a curious look. If his gaze had been filled with obsession or desire like that of other men, she wouldn''t have minded; she might have even reveled in it. But this man''s look was more reminiscent of admiring a beautiful pet rather than a stunning woman.

    There was a gentle knock on the office door. After being granted permission, a staff member entered with Cindy Crawford''s clothes.

    Cindy Crawford didn''t look for a room to change out of her lingerie. Instead, she slipped on a ck long dress right there in the office, finally letting out a sigh of relief as she returned to her chair, casting an annoyed re at Eric.

    Eric smiled faintly and remarked, "You look prettier with clothes on."

    "Mr. Williams," Cindy Crawford finally couldn''t hold back, retorting, "are youparing me to... a Barbie doll?"

    Eric shook his head. "Of course not. You''re much prettier than a Barbie doll. But I do know a girl who looks just like a real-life Barbie; it makes you want to pinch her cheeks just looking at her."

    Cindy Crawford noticed that when Eric said this, a soft, almost indulgent smile appeared on his lips, sparking a hint of jealousy in her. How could this insufferable man think so fondly of other women in front of someone as beautiful as she? His expression was unfathomable.

    Thinking about her recent circumstances, Cindy''s resentment and grievance bubbled to the surface again. After hesitating for a moment, she finally couldn''t resist showing a slightly sorrowful expression, saying, "Mr. Williams, I''m already twenty-eight years old."

    Eric didn''t shy away from the typical ttery. "Compared to other supermodels, you''ve taken great care of yourself. I believe in ten years, you''ll still be just as stunning."

    Though she couldn''t detect too much sincerity in Eric''s tone, Cindy felt somewhat morefortable. However, her tone was more mncholy. "But as a model, I definitely won''t be able topete with the new generation after thirty. It took me six months to barelynd a chance in Hollywood, just to prolong my career. Why do you powerful figures have to make it difficult for someone like me?"

    Eric chuckled, "Do you think I intentionally sabotaged your role?"

    Cindy Crawford didn''t answer but gave him a look that clearly conveyed her beliefs.

    Eric continued, "This matter is indeed somewhat rted to me, but I didn''t sabotage your role. The film project encountered problems. If everything had gone ording to n, that movie would have been your starting point in Hollywood and also your endpoint."

    Cindy recalled Joel Silver''s sullen face that night and immediately understood Eric''s words. However, she quickly seized on another loophole. "But the role that was originally mine ended up going to udia Schiffer. How do you exin that? Don''t you worry that this film will be udia''s Hollywood endpoint?"

    "That situation was unexpected. Joel Silver wanted to pull me into the mix through udia," Eric said, not denying his rtionship with her. "I was unaware beforehand and don''t n to interfere now. As for the impact, it would only affect you. Not to mention that Joel Silver would definitely adjust the project; even if udia flopped, do you think I would let her face any consequences?"

    A sense of helplessness rose within Cindy. She moved her lips but said nothing more. Jeremy, who had been quietly listening from the side, finally sighed with relief, feeling fortunate that Eric didn''t seem to mind Cindy''s little provocation.

    At that moment, he realized that Cindy Crawford''s character was akin to a small insect crushed underfoot by an idental passerby, and her usations toward Eric were like a bug''s rtives foolishly suing a passerby for murder. This wouldn''t earn her any respect, rather, it would seemughable and absurd.

    As the two of them fell silent, Jeremy was about to fulfill his duty as an agent and discuss the contract with Eric. However, after considering the recent events, he suddenly thought it might be more fitting to let Cindy speak for herself. A beautiful woman often received more leniency.

    Although Cindy Crawford was more well-known than Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, Jeremy didn''t have anyints about the simr treatment in the contract. He merely pushed the contract toward Cindy, pointing out a use he deemed necessary to negotiate.

    Seeing them gesturing at one another, Eric proactively said, "If you need to discuss this privately, I can step out."

    "No need," Cindy quickly lifted her head and said to Eric, "Mr. Williams, we have no objections to this contract. But isn''t five years a bit too long?"

    Eric replied, "If you think that''s long, we can sign for two years."

    Cindy and Jeremy exchanged nces, nearly thinking they had misheard him -- this was too generous.

    However, Eric didn''t let them ''down,'' quickly adding, "However, before making a decision, you should look at use... it should be the seventh page, I don''t remember exactly which one. That use states that the first party will utilize its media resources to assist its endorsers in increasing their personal fame and public influence. However, if you''re unwilling to sign a five-year contract, then LTD and Firefly won''t be able to allocate too many resources to you. Not only that, we''ll start grooming your sessor right now, pouring the media resources that originally belonged to you into her, so when your contract expires, she can directly take your ce."

    Models have very limited channels for establishing and maintaining their fame. Besides those who go the unconventional route by dating movie stars, pop stars, or athletes, the more traditional way is to continuously appear on magazine covers. That''s why you often see supermodels'' bios include how many prestigious magazines they''ve graced the cover of. Jeremy had also noticed the use Eric mentioned. However, the use had seemed too vague and did not provide any specific promises, which is why he hadn''t paid much attention to it. At that moment, upon hearing Eric specifically refer to this use and its connection with the five-year contract, both realized the true value hidden within what appeared to be an insignificant agreement.

    Firefly, a major media group involved in film and television, possessed media resources that simply couldn''t be matched by just print media alone. For example,nding a lead role in a Firefly film could generate an influence that would surpass being featured on a hundred magazine covers. The more fame a model garnered, the higher the endorsement fees she would receive. In Eric''s contract, while it mandated that any endorsement rted to Victoria''s Secret took priority at all times, it did not prohibit her from epting other product endorsements, except within the industry of lingerie brands. So, if Firefly provided media resources as stipted, Cindy believed her endorsement rates for any brand in the future would undoubtedly skyrocketpared to before.

    Although tempted, Cindy Crawford still smartly pursued, "Mr. Williams, could you borate a bit more on that use?"

    "More specifics? For example, movie roles, guest appearances in TV shows, talk show invitations, traditional print media interviews, online media promotions, etc. Even if you decide to publish a beauty and skincare book, as long as it isn''t too shabby, Firefly can help you in securing publishing and marketing deals. Since you five main endorsers'' poprity also equates to greater exposure for the Victoria''s Secret brand, rest assured that Firefly won''t skimp on the resources," Eric paused, ncing again at Cindy''s stunning face. "Actually, there''s an excellent opportunity avable right now. If it weren''t for time constraints, I could rmend you for the role of the Bond girl in the 17th 007 film. Although previous Bond girls have been pretty faces, this one has a very different character, guaranteed to bring the actress

    a lot of fame."

    Eric was referring to the character yed by Famke Janssen in GoldenEye, a fierce and wild Russian femme fatale that left a deep impression on audiences. It opened the door for Famke in Hollywood. Compared to the unfortunate eye candy in a previous film, this viinous Bond girl was a hundred times better. But now Famke had already begun filming the fifth season of The X-Files, and couldn''t make it, so Eric had no choice but to let MGM find a suitable candidate themselves.

    Cindy was about to try to have Eric rify his promises within the contract when she heard hisstment. Her eyes lit up, and she said, "Mr. Williams, I can do the show and prepare for the runway at the same time. You''ve seen my walk; I believe I won''t need the long preparation

    that those rookies require, right?"

    As she spoke, she shot Eric a flirty look.

    Eric shook his head, unfazed. "Nope, you can only choose one."

    "Well, I--"

    "And you can only choose the first option."

    Cindy froze for a moment, realizing she could only choose the first. Disappointment flickered

    in her eyes, and she still reluctantly said, "Mr. Williams, you''re quite inconsiderate."

    The fluidity of her charm once again made Eric think of the desire to tame the wild.

    Wait, why did he think that again?

    Clearing his throat and pushing aside those scattered thoughts, Eric said, "Unless there are other questions, I''ll contact Emily Brighton, and you can sign the contract tomorrow."

    Cindy Crawford wanted to say something but was cut off by Eric waving his hand. "Miss Crawford, I know what you want to say. The media resources use is indeed rather vague, but you should understand that even if I removed that use, very few supermodels would refuse this contract. A five-year endorsement fee of ten million dors, while not the highest and a bit demanding, is still more than most in the modeling world can boast. As long as we can work together harmoniously, I will certainly not hesitate to provide you with greater returns in the future."

    Once Eric finished, Cindy Crawford smartly chose to leave well enough alone. "Well then, I

    have no issues, Mr. Williams."

    "Alright, then let''s discuss my requirements," Eric scanned Cindy again and asked, "What''s

    your current weight?"

    Cindy suddenly felt a bit awkward. In the past six months, while focusing on her Hollywood endeavors, she hadn''t been as meticulous about her figure. After hesitating, she answered

    honestly, "136 pounds."

    136 pounds is not overweight for someone nearly six feet tall like Cindy Crawford.

    However, Eric remembered Cindy''s figure when she had been in her lingerie and shook his head. "In two months, I want to see a nice set of abs, okay?"

    Cindy thought to herself, could I say no? Yet that fleeting thought was quickly brushed aside as she posed seductively, showcasing her curves, and replied, "Of course, Mr. Williams, but I already have abs; you might not have noticed earlier."

    Eric, with a yful smile, nodded. "No worries, there will be more opportunities next time."

    Eric wasn''t deaf to the hints in her tone; he was simply more ustomed to the hunt than

    being the prey.

    Cindy realized that her obvious hints had failed to elicit a date invitation from Eric. Abruptly, feeling awkward, she continued to politely exchange a few words, agreed on a signing time, and then left with her agent.

    ...

    At four o''clock that afternoon, Kelly Haynes walked into Eric''s office in the studio, only to

    find a ck piano had appeared in the room. Eric was seated at the piano, engrossed in

    ying a somewhat unfamiliar tune.

    Though Eric''s fingers seemed slightly clumsy on the keys, the sad andnguid melody still exuded a poignant appeal, evoking a sense of despair that almost brought tears. Holding several thick files, Kelly leaned against the doorframe, gazing dreamily at his

    focused silhouette.

    "Will you still love me when I''m no longer young and beautiful? Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?"

    Suddenly, the piano melody came to a halt as Eric picked up a pencil, ready to add something

    to his unfinished score. Sensing the presence behind him, he turned and found Kelly standing there with tears glimmering in her eyes, her expression filled with maternalpassion. Eric quickly rose and approached Kelly, taking the stack of files from her and tossing them aside, wrapping the woman in his embrace as he softly asked, "Why are you crying?" Nestled against Eric, Kelly suddenly felt a childlike shyness wash over her. "I''m not crying; I just... brought you the report you wanted, along with a letter from Mr. Buffett."

    Eric reflected on Kelly''s recent expression and suddenlyughed. "Have you been here for a

    while?"

    Kelly nodded. "I knocked, but you didn''t hear me."

    Eric understood the situation and shook his head. "Looks like I''m really a failure." Kelly was a bit puzzled by what Eric meant, but he had already taken her small hand, leading

    her to the long bench at the piano. "Come see my new song. Can you y the piano?"

    "Uh-huh."

    Kelly nodded, taking a nce at the small fraction of the score Eric hadpleted. Her

    delicate fingers, unable to resist, danced along the keys, and the earlier melody flowed seamlessly back into the air.

    Eric instantly recognized that Kelly''s piano skills vastly outshone his own. "I should have called you over sooner; I wouldn''t have to write this so painfully."

    Kelly picked up a pencil and corrected a few minor errors in Eric''sposition. "Why are you

    writing such a sad song?"

    "It''s a background song for the show. However, your reaction isn''t what I was aiming for,

    whichn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    is why I just said it was a failure," Eric said, his fingers gliding lightly over the keys. "This song is meant to convey not sadness but a sense of disillusionment after realizing shattered dreams. In the story, a once idealistic young man chases his illusory dream for half

    his life, achieving great sess, only to look back and find that both people and things have

    changed. Thevish life isn''t what he desires, and the girl from back then is no longer an angel

    in his imagination, yet he refuses to wake up, sinking deeper into the vanity until he

    perishes." Kelly gazed dreamily at Eric''s profile, murmuring, "The Great Gatsby?" "Exactly," Eric smiled, leaning in to gently kiss Kelly''s lips, half-jokingly saying, "Could you

    not be so smart? It puts a lot of pressure on me."

    With adoring and worshipful eyes, Kelly replied, "Who could be as smart as you? I''ve studied

    piano for so many years, yet I could never write anything like this." "Please don''t idolize me; it makes me feel like a fraud."

    "You''ve already stolen everything from me," Kelly blurted out, then immediately regretted

    it. Her face flushed, avoiding his gaze, she stammered, "So, what''s the name of this song?"

    "It''s called Youthful Glory."

    Eric ced the halfpleted score on the stand and said, "You y; I''ll sing for you."

    Once again, the gentle melody began to y as Eric took a moment to prepare and began to

    sing softly. Though his slightly hoarse voice couldn''tpare to Lana Del Rey''s innocence and mncholy, it carried its own unique sense of despondency. "I''ve seen the world, done it all, had my cake nowDiamonds, brilliant, and Bel Air nowHot summer nights, mid-JulyWhen you and I were forever wildThe crazy days, city lightsThe way you''d y with me like a childWill you still love me when I''m no longer young and beautiful? Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?I know you will, I know you will, I know that you willWill you

    still love me when I''m no longer beautiful?

    "

    [T/N: Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey]

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 634: Chapter 635: Isnt There a Way to Stop This?

    Chapter 634: Chapter 635: Isn''t There a Way to Stop This?

    ?

    [Chapter 635: Isn''t There a Way to Stop This?]

    The theater lights dimmed.

    After the production and distribution logos shed on screen, a cacophony of frantic shouting erupted from the sound system. The image brightened to reveal a packed underground boxing ring filled with a wild crowd.

    In the ring, a fragile figure seemed overwhelmed by the fierce onught of a muscr, buzz- cut female fighter. Yet throughout the exchange, the girl somehow managed to avoid even a single hit from her opponent.

    With rapid cuts and edits between shots, a ck host holding a microphone narrated the action at an incredible speed, as if he were rapping. The power dynamics of the two female boxers wereid bare -- the buzz-cut fighter''s imposing physique may have seemed intimidating, yet the frail girl''s undefeated streak of 37 matches sent the audience into another frenzy.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    In the shing close-up shots, the girl, whoseplexion appeared a bit sickly pale, raised her hand wrapped in white bandages to block several attacks. She seized an opportunity to strike back, but a sudden bright light shed before her eyes, momentarily clouding her judgment. Her opponent showed a cruel, wicked smile as her fist came rocketing toward the girl. The girl staggered back, ultimately colliding with the rough wooden barrier of the ring. In the chaos, a piece of protruding barbed wire caught her right arm, leaving a noticeable gash.

    Just as the girl narrowly dodged a potentially lethal blow, a loud bang resounded, cutting away from the boxing match. The door of a ck Buick Riviera mmed shut, and the camera lingered for a close-up of its recognizable "triple shield" logo.

    Some overly confident viewers smiled, suspecting this shot was undoubtedly product cement.

    Morgan Freeman stepped in to take over the role originally yed by Bill Murray as the liaison, John Bosley. He stood by the Buick Riviera for a moment, listening intently before casting a discerning nce at the dpidated street. The view switched to a first-person perspective. In John''s sight line, a few young men and women appeared at the alley''s entrance. John''s gaze seemed tond on a particr figure, and he smiled at a tall person approaching from the opposite side. "Gill, let''s go meet your future partner."

    Charlize Theron portrayed Gill Monroe, who nodded and followed Morgan Freeman toward a warehouse-like building from which sounds of indistinct chatter emanated.

    Two brawny guards noticed John and Gill''s arrival. Instead of stopping them, they opened the iron gate for them with a hint of deference.

    Moving through the dim corridor, John brought Gill to the second-floor seating area. A bald White man greeted John,ing over to whisper a few words in his ear.

    Gill, however, had already taken notice of the two fighters facing off in the ring below. The previously seemingly overwhelmed girl now showcased her dominance, unleashing a flurry of relentless attacks that steadily overpowered the buzz-cut fighter.

    "She''s quick," Gill couldn''t help but exim.

    By this time, John had silently taken position beside Gill, his expression growing serious. "She''s angry."

    Before he finished speaking, the buzz-cut fighter fell unconscious, knocked out by a powerful kick from the dark-haired girl.

    The venue erupted into wild cheers, but John remained expressionless, telling Gill, "Let''s go."

    They vanished from the staircase, and the scene adeptly shifted back outside. Among the young people observed by John at the alley''s mouth, a Latin girl d in a cropped top and ripped jeans approached. She nonchntly popped a lollipop in her mouth, yfully shed the finger to her friends, and ambled towards John''s Buick.

    Upon reaching the Buick Riviera, the Latin girl removed the candy from her mouth, revealing not a trace of candy on the tip, but a glint of metal instead.

    Many seasoned film buffs in the audience exchanged knowing smiles upon seeing these shots. They recognized Penelope Cruz''s character as a car thief, but also realized from the previous shot that the Buick seemed more like a "bait."

    As a film adapted from a TV series, most viewers by now had identified the three girls'' roles. At the same time, curiosity about the "Angels" continued to grow. Kate and Penelope''s skills were clear, but Charlize''s Gill had yet to show any distinct talent.

    Though the film was only a little over two minutes in, most viewers found themselves immersed in the plot; this was exactly the effect the producers aimed for.

    Just as Penelope''s character inserted tools into the car''s keyhole, the camera cut back to the underground boxing ring.

    The pale, dark-haired girl sat alone on an empty bench in a waiting area, quietly wrapping a bandage around her recently injured right arm.

    At the door, John and Gill paused for a moment. John stepped forward and sat next to the dark-haired girl, while Gill stood by the door, a mix of admiration and respect in her

    demeanor.

    "You only want to win each time, but they wouldn''t hesitate to kill you," John sighed, his tone holding a note of caution.

    "I only want to win, knowing they can''t kill me," the dark-haired girl replied calmly, her voice devoid of pride or arrogance, as though stating a simple fact.

    "That was just an ident, Bernie will handle it," he continued, "But I still suggest you don''t

    come back here. There are too many rule-breakers these days."

    The dark-haired girl showed no intent to agree, focused instead on neatly securing her bandage while ncing at Gill by the door.

    John chose not to press the matter further, signaling to Gill as he introduced them. "Your new partner, Gill Monroe. Gill, this is Selina Garrett."

    Selina nced at Gill but ignored the girl''s attempt at greeting. Instead, she pragmatically inquired, "Aren''t there supposed to be two?"

    John chuckled lightly, "The other one''s outside. Let''s go."

    Penelope Cruz''s character, Lucini Beck, had already found herself in trouble. Like usual, she quickly opened the car door in mere seconds, but minutester, not only had she failed to find the ignition wire, the door had inexplicably locked itself.

    Like a bird caught in a trap, Lucini struggled for a bit before deciding to find something to smash the Buick Riviera''s ss and escape, when suddenly someone opened the passenger

    side door.

    A kindly-faced ck man smiled and said, "Picked a car I knew you''d love. How does it feel?"

    Lucini gaped in surprise, her mouth agape for a second before her expression morphed into one of innocence. Waving her arms frantically, she stammered, "Ah... Haha, good evening, sir. I just came by to say hello, didn''t realize nobody was here. Haha, hahaha." Laughter erupted from the audience as the girl''s hriously awkward excuse unfolded.

    However, when John tossed a thick stack of documents into Lucini''sp,ughter rang out again throughout the auditorium.

    For within that stack were photographs of Lucini caught in the act of stealing cars, and amusingly, all those vehicles bore Buick''s prominent "triple shield" logo.

    "Looks like Buick spared no expense this time; this cement is certainly amusing," many film critics in the audience mused.

    On screen, Lucini chattered nervously like a flustered magpie, justifying her actions while defiantly using John of stalking her. The other two girls watched in silence, while John slowly stated, "You''ve got 30 minutes to get the car to 10880 Malibu, or I''ll hand you and

    these photos over to the cops."

    The "chattering magpie" fell silent immediately as the engine roared to life. The Buick Riviera smoothly drifted a dozen meters before merging onto a main road.

    Once flowing through the busy traffic, Lucini''s voice echoed again, "If I get to 10880 Malibu,

    are you going to let me go?"

    "Plus one more job for you."

    "Oh no, I don''t want to end up serving 180 years like my dad. If you make me go crack a safe,

    I''d rather be caught by the cops."

    "We guarantee the legality of our actions."

    "Are you FBI?" "No."

    "CIA?"

    "No."

    "MI6?"

    "No."

    "Please don''t tell me it''s KGB!"

    Growing impatient, multiple voices chimed in unison, "Shut up."

    The Buick Riviera sped away, fiery rock music starting up, giving many viewers a substantial surprise with the opening credits. Eric employed a style reminiscent of David Fincher''s opening in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, with male sculptures encased in a strange ck liquid slowly being shattered, evoking themes from the opening of a Bond film.

    ...

    "A striking feminist style, directly countering the Bond series."

    One excited female critic jotted down that sentiment in her notebook, then muttered to

    herself in awe, "I can''t wait; I just wonder if this film can reach even a fraction of the Bond

    series'' heights."

    Although the initial minutes included clues waiting to be unraveled, Eric didn''t delve into anything too profound in the storyline.

    Simr to the original script, Knox Network Technologies had reported a theft of their core code for a newly developed online email service. If that core code was misused, it would threaten the information security of millions of users. Simultaneously, Eric Knox, the primary developer of this code, had gone missing. The three Angels were assigned to rescue Eric Knox and retrieve the core code.

    Undoubtedly, this plot line aimed to promote Yahoo''s email service.

    At the time, Yahoo was the only significant yer in online email services, even if the name changed; everyone knew "Knox Network Technologies" implied the samepany. While discussing the script with several Yahoo executives due to the premise of the core code theft, Ian Gurney and others initially worried users might take it seriously. However, Steve Mitnick, after reading Eric''s script, mockingly told him, "How ridiculous. Go ahead and shoot

    it."

    Eric didn''t mind the ridicule from this tech genius; it was just a movie. He was also aware that the online email services'' core codeprised millions of lines -- certainly not a one-person job. Furthermore, the core codes were stored on secret server clusters essible only to a

    handful of Yahoo executives.

    Even if the "person in charge" were genuinely kidnapped, as Steve Mitnick scoffingly remarked, moving those servers housing Yahoo''s core codes would require several container trucks, assuming those kidnappers could pinpoint the right servers from the massive data

    center. In contrast, Eric''s script set this "core code" simply on a 2.5-inch floppy disk. How absurd could it be?

    After the film''s release, Yahoo could easily dissolve any potential user anxiety by rolling out a

    few exnatory articles.

    Certainly, professionals like Steve Mitnick saw this setup as ludicrous; however, in the mid- 90s, when many ordinary people had yet to encounter personalputers, such a plot wouldn''t raise many eyebrows. Instead, it projected an impressively high-tech aura.

    Selina, the intense and tough "girl with a past," Gill, the geniusputer whizz, and Lucini, theedic chatterbox with an uncanny knack for unlocking anything, coordinated increasingly smoothly throughout their exciting missions. Meanwhile, the viins'' grand

    scheme unraveledyer byyer.

    In a film about saving the world, the climax always finds its way to the viin''s secretir, and

    Charlie''s Angels was no exception.

    ...

    Within a secret base deep in the Nevada desert, the Angels faced their final showdown after a series of tumultuous events bringing them to the viin''s headquarters.

    Not long into the fight, Lucini -- having managed to help her friends crack the base''s main

    door found herself separated.

    With no time to worry, Selina and Gill encountered a flood of enemies. Selina battled fiercely

    against all the muscr NPCs, as was her style, taking down the talkative viin. Finally, together, they reached the central control room, bruised but victorious.

    Gill''s fingers flew across the keyboard as she anxiously stared at theputer screen. "The

    virus program has been activated. In ten minutes, it will spread. All we can do is alert

    everyone to disconnect from thework to prevent catastrophic data loss worldwide." "Isn''t there a way to stop it?" Selina asked.

    "The virus''s activation sequence is encrypted. This encryption can only be cracked through

    brute force, but considering this facility''sputer power, it would take 190 years to crack it, and we only have ten minutes." She paused, then added, "Unless there''s a supeputer; then we might only need a few minutes to break the password."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 636: Chapter 637: Charlies True Identity

    Chapter 636: Chapter 637: Charlie''s True Identity

    ?

    [Chapter 637: Charlie''s True Identity]

    "Charlie''s Angels delivered a pink explosion of visual delight for movie fans while also leaving us with a plethora of entertaining hidden details. We could see a character and world setup that was entirely different from the TV series. One could imagine that this was an ambitious hint from the producers for a sequel.

    As fans of the 007 series eagerly discussed whether the ck figure escaping in a propeller ne during the film''s post-credits scene was to be the next James Bond, gossip magazines debated whether Penelope Cruz''s character, Lucienne Baker, had an Oedipalplex. Meanwhile, geeky young folks pored over the film''sst segment, analyzing the realistic yetplex exhaustive algorithm. Amidst this, many likely overlooked a very discreet detail. In the first three minutes of the film, Morgan Freeman''s character, John, seemingly offhandedly told Lucienne, ''You have thirty minutes to drive the car to Malibu 10880, or I''ll turn you and these photos over to the cops.'' After that, we never saw any mention of Malibu 10880 again, nor did the film exin why John wanted Lucienne to drive the Buick to that location. Investigating further, it appeared there was no such address in Malibu. This abrupt dialogue initially seemed like apletely pointless redundancy.

    But is that really the case? Everyone knows that the plot of Charlie''s Angels was meticulously constructed. The producers paid great attention to details. Even the program code typed by the genius girl Gill Monroe in the final scenes was reportedly written by Steve Mitnick, the Chief Technology Officer of Yahoo. Thus, in the film''s critical opening segment, a meaningless dialogue could not possibly ur.

    After extensive investigation by our magazine''s reporters, we finally uncovered the ''true identity'' of Malibu 10880. Many readers might have already noticed the prominent photo of a shell-shaped vi in our illustrations and spected about it. Indeed, the so-called Malibu 10880 refers to Eric Williams'' luxurious private estate in Malibu. ording to several insiders, while the actual upant number of the estate is not 10880, Eric Williams has referred to it as 10880 on multiple asions. Moreover, we found the most straightforward evidence. A project document from the architectural design firm responsible for the estatebeled the ''Liberty City'' vi project with the codename 10880.

    For now, let''s not delve into why Kate Beckinsale''s character, Selina Gattler, immersed herself in the brutal underground fighting scenes or what kind of turmoil she and her former partner encountered. These behind-the-scenes stories will likely appear in either a prequel or spin-off. Back to the film, after the formation of the new angel trio, their first task was, of course, to meet with their elusive boss. Although this mysterious BOSS never revealed their true identity, ording to this logic, John''s instruction for Lucienne to drive to the ''fictional'' 10880 received an exnation. At the very least, in this film, the identity of the master of 10880 undoubtedly hinted at the undercover boss of the detective agency, Charlie Townsend, who never appeared throughout the movie. Based on the real-world existence of ''10880'', it''s clear that Charlie Townsend was Eric Williams'' persona in Charlie''s Angels.

    Perhaps as the screenwriter for the film adaptation of Charlie''s Angels, Eric Williams set up this little detail on a whim. But when we shift our focus to today''s Hollywood, many would be surprised to find that the youthful boy who gained fame from Home Alone six years ago had now be an omnipresent figure in Hollywood, much like Charlie Townsend in Charlie''s Angels. This influence was even more pronounced in this summer''s film lineup.

    Starting from the end of May, all the films that had been released -- Saving Private Ryan, True Lies, The Lion King, Charlie''s Angels -- achieved remarkable box office sess, regardless of whether they were produced or released by Firefly Group. Each film bore traces of Eric Williams'' personal touch. Uing summer blockbusters like Dumb and Dumber 2 and Men in ck were also works of Eric Williams. This new Hollywood mogul''s influence extended across four out of the seven major studio chains, including Firefly, MGM, Columbia, and Fox. Such overwhelming influence nearly surpassed that of any film tycoon in Hollywood''s century-long history. Given that this miraculous young mogul was still under twenty-five, one could specte that someday, Eric Williams might unify Hollywood and be the true king of the industry."

    ...

    Eric ced the article that had been reprinted by several newspapers in just two days down on his desk and chuckled as he continued reading other materials.

    After a week in theaters, Charlie''s Angels hadfortably grossed over $49 million. Although this figure couldn''tpete with the opening weeks of previous films like The Mummy or Saving Private Ryan, the buzz surrounding this female action blockbuster far exceeded that ofst month''s hits.

    The reason for Charlie''s Angels'' lower ticket sales wasn''t due to the summer rush ending or factors like screening frequency or film quality. Just like Buffett mentioned at the premiere about not understanding certain plot elements, the movie contained numerous high-techponents that might leave older audiences and children in the dark. Charlie''s Angels thus failed to attract viewership from all age demographics. However, the same high-tech elements generated extraordinary appeal among viewers aged 14 to 28, creating an immense impact within that group.

    Moreover, due to its ster reputation and massive buzz, Charlie''s Angels managed to maintain box office revenue in its second week, unlike any film in the summer of 1994, where increases were absolutely unheard of. Box office forecasting agencies predicted that Charlie''s Angels'' second-week earnings might even exceed $50 million, making a total of over $100 million within two weeks nearly assured.

    Charlie''s Angels also performed admirably in several overseas markets that screened simultaneously with North America, particrly in Japan, a country famous for itsic culture. The character of Selina, a cartoonish bandaged girl, incited a frenzy among Japanese manga enthusiasts, with the film''s first week in Japan nearing North America''s, reaching $46 million. Following this, the rted merchandise of Charlie''s Angels, including several action figures of Selina, faced consecutive sellouts within just a week. The once-unknown Kate skyrocketed to be the most popr Western female star in Japan, leading to a flurry of coborations and endorsement offers flooding into ICM.

    Thanks to the sess of Charlie''s Angels, MGM finally pulled itself back from the brink of bankruptcy. European investors anticipating substantial returns were equally jubnt. After the first-week box office results of Charlie''s Angels were released, both sides eagerly contacted Eric to initiate preparations for a sequel.

    Simultaneously, two otherpaniespletely unrted to the film industry also unexpectedly benefited.

    ...

    After a week of release, due to the movie''s powerful advertising effect, Yahoo''s online mailbox users increased by 1.1 million within seven days, most of whom were highly valuable new Inte users. The daily traffic on Yahoo''s portal site also experienced a significant uptrend in a short period.

    On July 1, Yahoo officiallyunched its instant messaging software, YCR, which saw explosive growth spurred by Charlie''s Angels. Within a week, this chic and avant-garde remote chatting software surpassed 10 million users. Despite thorough advance estimations and preparations, Yahoo still struggled with the massive data influx caused by the surge in YCR users, temporarily causing server outages on the evening of July 5. Although they faced teasing from other high-tech giantspeting for the title of ''the world''srgest data processing center,'' user enthusiasm remained unfazed.

    ...

    The other benefittingpany was undoubtedly Buick.

    The previously business-focused Buick sedans, which were not especially favored by the youth market, experienced a sales surge of more than double within the week following the release of Charlie''s Angels. In addition to the repeated disys of the Buick LeSabre in the movie, sales for several other models from Buick also saw a significant increase. Thanks to the influence from Charlie''s Angels, Buick not only opened doors to the young consumer market that had previously eluded them but was also set to increase its car sales by at least 30% in thetter half of 1994.

    It''s worth mentioning that because the film included the line, ''Don''t you think Buick''s "tri- shield" logo is cool?'' Buick was initially reluctant but still managed to muster up a $5 million cement budget. After the movie''s release, Buick''s president promptly contacted MGM, which handled the film''s distribution, expressing willingness to invest an additional $20 million for joint promotion -- a kind of deal that previously only the 007 series could afford. Subsequently, Buick''spetitors, including Ford, Chevrolet, and even Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda, hurriedly reached out to the production team, vying for exclusive product cement rights in the sequel of Charlie''s Angels.

    ...

    The knock at the office door pulled Eric from his engrossed reading. Responding, the door gently opened, revealing his assistant in a professional outfit stepping inside. Eric smiled and waved the copy of The Hollywood Reporter he had just read, asking, "Kelly, do you think I can

    unify Hollywood?"

    "From an antitrust perspective, that''s impossible," Kelly said, carrying a stack of documents as she sat across from Eric. "Yet from the perspective of miracles, that may not be the case."

    Eric replied, "I can tell you''replimenting me and not using me as a scapegoat like this

    article, right?"

    Kelly smiled with a knowledgeable and feminine grace, "Yes, but this article also did Firefly a

    big favor. ording to the finance department''s forecasts, the financial report for the first half of the year needs to be postponed until next month due to the merger with ABC. This article''s release has boosted morale as much as a positive financial report would. The impacts of the animation department''s restructuring are now negligible, and we expect toplete the sale of all long-term bonds by the end of the month."

    Eric inquired, "Speaking of that, any updates from Peter Schneider and Roy Disney?"

    "I came to tell you just that," Kelly handed Eric one of the documents. "These are their

    proposed conditions."

    Eric opened the document and briefly skimmed it. Aside from significantly increasing sries and budgets for the animation department -- a series of expected demands -- Peter Schneider and Roy Disney also requested the construction of a Disney animation studioparable to Pixar, along with autonomy simr to that of Pixar.

    Closing the document, Eric wore a faintly sarcastic expression. "They opened with a demand to double the employee sries; it''s clear they have no intention of resolving this matter

    quickly." Kelly responded, "Since they chose to team up with Ron Perelman, Ron needs enough time to rally the creditors on his end as well."

    "Good, we also need enough time toy our ns," Eric suddenlyughed and remarked, "In that regard, they''re contributing theirst help to Firefly."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Kelly couldn''t help but feel pity for both Peter Schneider and Roy Disney, particrly for Peter. This executive from the animation department was quite capable. If he followed Eric''s n for reforming the department, he might still have a chance at a higher position within the Firefly system in the future. Yet now, even if the animation department found a new owner, his current act of betrayal would surely expose him, and Firefly absolutely had no obligation to keep this matter a secret from the new owners.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 638: Chapter 639: I Made Another Movie

    Chapter 638: Chapter 639: I Made Another Movie

    ?

    [Chapter 639: I Made Another Movie]

    Charlize opened her eyes to find herself lying on the sofa, a nket draped over her. The sky outside had clearly darkened. In the simple office, which was divided by partitions, only a deskmp lit the space, while a figure behind the desk silently flipped through something.

    Recalling the wild events of the afternoon, Charlize stealthily pulled the nket tighter, trying to cover her flushed face.

    "Awake?"

    Eric''s sudden voice startled Charlize. After a moment, she quietly replied, "Yeah."

    Seeing the panic on Charlize''s face as she hurriedly pulled the nket over her head, Eric chuckled softly. Out of consideration, he refrained from mentioning the afternoon''s antics and said, "It''s almost eight o''clock. If you n to stay here overnight, we''ll have to squeeze on the sofa."

    "I don''t..." Charlize instinctively tried to retort, but the words quickly changed to, "Did Kate and the others leave?"

    "They left a while ago," Eric replied, standing up to turn on the office lights. He walked over to Charlize and said, "Get up. I''ve made reservations at a restaurant. Let''s go have dinner." The fluorescent light made Charlize squint reflexively. Looking at the figure of the man beside her stirred a wave of strong embarrassment within her. "You, go out. I need to get dressed." "Sure thing, Your Highness," Eric teased with a smirk, cing Charlize''s clothes on the coffee table beside the sofa before turning to leave the office.

    Charlize stared at the door for a moment before reaching out from under the nket to grab her clothes.

    But as soon as her arm stretched out, she saw a tie -- the same one she had used for "mischief" a few hours earlier -- hanging from her wrist. Frantic images flooded her mind. Charlize quickly pulled her arm back and swiftly untied the tie from her wrist.

    Due to the wild antics of the afternoon, Charlize was quite reserved at dinner, but with Eric''s patient attempts at lightening the mood, she soon rxed. By the time they left the restaurant, she had mustered the courage to hook her arm through Eric''s.

    They chose to eat at Venice Beach, and after dinner, it was close to eleven. The beachfront promenade was still lively.

    Since the release of Charlie''s Angels, the three girls had be targets of endless paparazzi, but Charlize''s whereabouts that evening came as a surprise to everyone. Plus, with Eric''s bodyguard''s skilled counter-surveince techniques, they simply donned baseball caps and, thanks to the dim lighting of the night, walked a long stretch on the promenade without encountering any disturbances.

    After apanying Charlize for a while, Eric checked his watch and said, "I''ll drive you home. It''s gettingte."

    Charlize hesitated for a moment and said quietly, "I don''t want to go back tonight."

    Since Charlize was still living with Kate, Eric quickly understood why she didn''t want to return. He smiled and said, "Then let''s go to my ce."

    Charlize shook her head and replied, "I... I don''t want to go to your ce either. You, I just don''t want to go."

    Recalling Charlize''s strong personality, Eric understood her reasons for rejecting him again. Looking around, he pointed to a nearby cinema and said, "How about I treat you to a movie? Charlie''s Angels has been really poprtely."

    Charlize, feeling the earlier apprehension dissipate,ughed at Eric''s enthusiastic suggestion. "Who would go watch their own movie?"

    "I would! I always watch my movies multiple times. Isn''t that a bit narcissistic?"

    "You''re just working."

    "By the way," Eric suddenly tapped his forehead, saying, "I almost forgot I was in another movie. I wonder if tickets are avable at this theater; Columbia hasn''t scheduled too many midnight screenings."

    Noticing the confusion on Charlize''s face, Eric exined, "Men in ck. You know, the premiere was today, but I didn''t go. The midnight show should be starting soon."

    Charlize paused and tightened her hold on Eric''s arm, asking softly, "Did you skip the premiere just to wait for me?"

    "Yup, isn''t that touching?"

    "Don''t tter yourself," Charlize lightly pinched Eric''s side and said, "We''re even now; I won''t be thanking you anymore."

    Eric feigned a hurt expression and clutched his chest. "Your Highness can be so callous."

    "Don''t call me that again," Charlize said, irritation making her grip tighten, but she quickly let go, walking toward the cinema. "I''ll buy the tickets; let it be my treat."

    ...

    Though it was gettingte, Eric and Charlize were lucky enough to snag tickets for the midnight screening of Men in ck.

    Taking the original setting of an alien invasion, Eric retained Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as the two leads. Additionally, he cast the long-absent Catherine Zeta-Jones in the prominent role of the female coroner, whose charm bore a striking resemnce to Linda Fiorentino in the original.

    Like everyone else in the theater, Charlize soon became immersed in the fascinating story and the characters'' amusing performances. However, half an hour in, she remembered Eric''sment and asked, "Didn''t you say you were in this movie too? I still haven''t seen you."

    With a teasing smile, Eric replied, "You''ll see me in five minutes."

    Charlize turned back to the screen, unable to get more from Eric.

    In the plot, J has his world turned upside down when he realizes extraterrestrials are everywhere. He spends the night on a bench by the Manhattan River, and although he doesn''t find some little girl''s innocent smile inspiring enough to spark a noble desire to defend the world, he ultimately decides to join the Men in ck.

    Soon, he is taken by K to their secret headquarters.

    Amid a suddenedic chaos in the Men in ck headquarters'' lobby caused by a mysterious sphere, K leads Jinto the alien monitoring room.

    In the next moments, when the big screen lights up with images of monitored aliens, the entire theater burst intoughter. A smile crept across Charlize''s face as she finally understood what Eric meant about also appearing in the film.

    Just like the original, the "aliens" being monitored on the big screen were all recognizable public figures to the American audience -- Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and of course, Eric was in there too. Moreover, J''s earlier dialogue about his school teacher had beenpletely

    rewritten.

    On the screen, K said, "All the people on the screen are aliens. In public, they act perfectly normal, but behind closed doors... well, you probably already know."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    J stared at the big screen, dumbfounded, eximing, "Oh my God."

    Kresponded, "Unexpected, isn''t it?"

    "No, no, no -- it makes perfect sense," J pointed to one corner of the screen, deadpan, and said, "I''ve never thought Eric Williams was human. Just look at the crazy things he''s done

    over the years!"

    K exined, "Eric Williams is a Pandora alien. Six years ago, his spacecraft crashed on Earth. To raise enough money to fix it, he''s been directing movies using his ancestral talents." Jeximed, "The spaceship! I know! It must be in Malibu! I always thought that shell house looked like a spaceship!"

    Knodded. "Exactly, 10880 Malibu."

    As soon as K''s line fell, a wave ofughter erupted in the cinema. After all, because of a widely circted article in The Hollywood Reporter, the number 10880 had be ingrained in public consciousness.

    But the teasing didn''t end there. As K continued his exnation, a "surveince close-up" of Eric appeared on the big screen. Eric looked just like a normal person, but he sported two amusing light blue antennae.

    At that moment, the Pandora alien "Eric" was furiously holding a tax bill and bellowing at the other two agents, "I have a green card! I''m aw-abiding citizen! I''ve already paid 35% in personal ie tax! Why do I still have to pay this damned alien immigration management tax? Are aliens not people too? You''re discriminating against me! Racial discrimination! Ah, I

    have a dream..."

    Just as "Eric" was about to imitate Martin Luther King''s famous speech, one of the agents lost his patience, punched "Eric" in the nose, and sent him sprawling backward.

    After that, J, looking enviously, nodded and said with conviction, "If the Men in ck can hit

    Eric Williams, I''m in."

    Following that jest, like other roaring audiences, Charlize had copsed into Eric''s side,ughing uncontrobly. Eric softly patted Charlize''s back and said, "You don''t have to be so

    dramatic."

    "Ha ha, Eric, are you really an alien?" Charlize sat up, bracing herself on Eric''s arm as she continued tough and ask.

    Leaning in close to Charlize''s ear, Eric whispered, "Didn''t you check earlier this afternoon?"

    Charlize''s face flushed, and she yfully scoffed, though still curiously reached out to touch Eric''s head, seemingly searching for the two antennae.

    Eric chuckled and swatted Charlize''s curious hand away. "No need to look; I left the antennae at home. If you want to see them, you cane with me to 10880 Malibu."

    "Ha ha..."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 640: Chapter 641: The Forward

    Chapter 640: Chapter 641: The Forward

    ?

    [Chapter 641: The Forward]

    "Eric, I''m well aware that star sries can be inted, but I recently heard that Firefly Group just green-lit James Cameron''s new film Titanic, which has a production budget of $150 million. Since Firefly is willing to allocate such a hefty budget for a high-risk disaster movie, why won''t they make some concessions for the Men in ck sequel? After all, even if we meet the creators'' demands now, the final production budget likely won''t exceed $150 million?"

    Eric nced at Peter Guber and said, "Peter, before we discuss Men in ck, do you know why I''m willing to let James go over budget time and again?"

    Peter shrugged.

    Eric didn''t expect Peter to answer, so he continued, "Because I''m very sure that every dor James spends is aimed at enhancing the film''s quality, rather than simply inviting overpaid stars with big sries."

    Peter attempted to counter, "But inviting stars is precisely about making the film more appealing at the box office, isn''t it?"

    "Of course, I''m not denying that," Eric replied. "But oftentimes, it''s just not worth it. Take the recent Beverly Hills Cop III and Wyatt Earp; Paramount and Warner spent huge budgets on lead sries. Eddie Murphy and Kevin Costner both received over $15 million in fixed sries and substantial profit-sharing agreements, yet we saw what happened in the end."

    Peter said, "Eric, those were just flukes, and Miss Kidman''s sry from The Mummy is even more shocking."

    "Nicolepletely forfeited a fixed sry in exchange for her profit-sharing agreement. If The Mummy didn''t do well at the box office, she wouldn''t get a dime," Eric stated. "And then there''s James; whenever his productions exceed budget, he voluntarily waives his directing fee to alleviate thepany''s financial burden. But those stars? They expect to get paid millions while also demanding higher profit shares. Despite reaping these benefits, they take on no risks for the filmpanies. Just like I mentioned regarding those two films, they resulted in massive losses for the studios, yet the two leads walked away with over 10 million dors. Other studios can pursue big-name stars with extravagant sries; that''s not my concern. But with Firefly and its associatedpanies, they shouldn''t expect to get away with that kind of treatment."

    Seeing that Eric wouldn''t budge on sry expenditures, Peter Guber conceded, "In that case, Eric, I think Firefly and Columbia need to renegotiate that copyright distribution agreement. The rights to Men in ck fully belonged to Columbia, and under the conditions for sequel development, they will automatically revert to Firefly after five years. That agreement seems a bit unfair to Columbia."

    The initial agreement Eric had created was modeled after the Marvel character licensing deal, which allowed for a five-year term with no sequels automatically reverting. After Peter Guber prompted him for rification, Eric waved to the people nearby and leaned against the workbench with a smile, looking at Peter Guber. "Peter, we all know this was an unfair agreement from the start, and the Japanese know it too. And the private dealings we''ve engaged in are even less fair, but since the Japanese think they''re trying to break into Hollywood, they should understand that tuition feese with that."

    "But, Eric..."

    Eric interrupted Peter Guber with a wave of his hand, still smiling. "I know Jeffrey Katzenberg tossed you out of his office yesterday. You likely think I''m a softer touchpared to Jeffrey; at least I wouldn''t throw you out like he did. But being amodating doesn''t mean I''m easy to talk to. This matter is non-negotiable. Your reasons don''t hold water either.

    Let''s consider the rights for Jumanji, which will be released at the end of the year. Columbia has owned this copy right for years without taking any actions. Every studio has plenty of simr film rightsnguishing about. If it weren''t for Firefly, it''s likely these two projects wouldn''t even be up for consideration today. Firefly has given them substantialmercial value. In rtion to Sony, we should consider ourselves partners. The Japanese may not understand certain things, but we all know how much you''ve taken from Columbia over the years, so let''s wrap this up. I think you should focus on cleaning up any evidence and avoid giving the Japanese a chance to point fingers."

    Peter Guber felt his face flush with Eric''s blunt response but couldn''t think of any rebuttals.

    Noting the change in Peter Guber''s expression, Eric didn''t want to make him feel as ufortable as Katzenberg liked to do. After all, Peter had made a significant contribution to ensuring Firefly could sessfully sign the ''unequal treaty'' with Columbia.

    After considering it, Eric said, "Here''s the deal: I''ll have Firefly move forward with some negotiation tactics, and I''ll also publicly support your side in the media. At least for now, Sony wouldn''t risk tossing you aside, given the potential fallout. I think you won''t be at Columbia for much longer, right?"

    Peter Guber nodded excitedly; he wanted such assurances and honestly didn''t care about the Japanese stake in the matter. With a verbal promise from Eric, Peter Guber dropped the earlier discussion. "Eric, many people will attend the Men in ck celebration party tonight. Why don''t youe along?"

    Eric shook his head, "I have something very important to do tonight; I''ll have to pass."

    ...

    Peter Guber left Firefly Studios satisfied, while Eric continued pondering the Men in ck situation.

    In the original timeline, Men in ck was one of the most troubled franchises rtive to other popr Hollywood series, with a staggering 15-year gap between the three productions. No matter how the films performed, their critical reception and box office also regressed while production budgets multiplied. Much like the Mission: Impossible series, most of the profits for Men in ck were divided among stars like Will Smith and the creators,paratively leaving Sony Pictures with only a tidy profit.

    This situationrgely stemmed from the underperformance of Sony''s film operations; for many years, itgged behind as one of the lower-ranked studios. This disadvantage against A-list stars exacerbated Sony''s position. Paramount could afford to tussle with Tom Cruise after Mission: Impossible III''s box office failure, but Sony couldn''t muster the leverage to make such threats. They had to rely on exorbitant sries and strategies to lure in stars and projects. In the original timeline, the very first $20 million sry was offered from Sony Columbia to Jim Carrey.

    Unlike Sony Columbia, Firefly had no such worries. If they couldn''t reach an agreement on Men in ck''s sries, Eric would have preferred to shelve the project for an extended period. After all, he had plenty of higher-margin projects awaiting development, without needing to make concessions like Sony.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Reflecting on all this, Eric anticipated the uing battle for Marvel. If he could secure getting Marvel''s superhero copyrights before they became disorganized, Firefly could maintain a strong foothold in Hollywood for the next twenty years or even longer.

    ...

    Men in ck was thest film associated with Firefly Group to premiere during the summer blockbuster season of 1994. Following its release, the summer season had nearly passed, and while other major studios were still set to release several films in the remaining summer days, Firefly began tallying its impressive summer profits.

    Byte July, Firefly''s finance department presented the preliminary financial report for the first half of 1994. Despite a temporary disruption from the ABC merger, Firefly Group''s revenues in the first half still reached $7.3 billion. However, due to costs from departmental restructuring andyoffs, the group''s profit margin dipped slightly to 9%, resulting in a total profit of $657 million over six months. This number fell within internal expectations and even surpassed many Wall Street analysts'' predictions.

    Additionally, after intense bidding and negotiations, the renowned North American mediapany Conde Nast eventually agreed to purchase the news paper assets spun off from

    Firefly for $1.52 billion.

    By the time summer box office news and a slew of positive developments came through, Firefly sold $8 billion in bonds rted to the acquisition of ABC on July 20. Subsequently, various individuals, calcting their own interests, began to fidget within

    Firefly.

    First up, riding the wave of The Lion King''s five-week total of $215 million at the box office, Disney Animation''s head, Peter Schneider, and Roy Disney, who had been biding their time, took the lead as ''forward scouts,'' confidently advocating for the ''long-suffering'' Disney animation staff to secure their benefits.

    As the nning for Marvel Entertainment was nearing its final stages, and with Ron Perelman lurking in the background, Eric wanted to demonstrate his mitment'' to Disney''s animation department. He personally engaged with Peter Schneider and Roy Disney to

    discuss conditions.

    Eric deliberately adopted a position that signaled he wasn''t ready to discuss cutting the Disney hand-drawn animation department, while also signaling a reluctance topromise too quickly, effectivelymunicating mixed signals to certain parties.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 642: Chapter 643: The Time Difference

    Chapter 642: Chapter 643: The Time Difference

    ?

    [Chapter 643: The Time Difference]

    "Hello everyone, this is Instant Entertainment News. Since the end of June, following the tremendous sess of the 2D animated film The Lion King, a significant disagreement surfaced between the thriving Disney Animation division and its parentpany, Firefly Group, regarding the development strategies for animated films. Subsequently, tensions began to escte.

    This past Monday, notable Wall Street investor Ron Perelman led the Firefly Creditors Alliance, which suddenly pressured the Firefly board, demanding two creditor board seats. The request from the Firefly Creditors Alliance was quickly supported publicly by Disney''s animation division, with head Peter Schneider stating that bringing in creditor board members would allow for better oversight of Firefly Group''s management and operations, preventing major shareholders from acting arbitrarily and protecting themon interests of minority shareholders, creditors, and the tens of thousands of Firefly employees."

    At a luxurious Beverly Hills mansion, a small cocktail party was taking ce. Guests, including Ron Perelman, Roy Disney, and Peter Schneider, were shaking their champagne flutes enthusiastically as they watched a television set ced in the open air, seemingly waiting for something.

    On the screen, the host summarized the news and continued, "After The Lion King broke the box office record for animated films in the U.S.st week, a Firefly spokesperson publicly announced that a grand celebration party for The Lion King would be held today at the Hollywood Sunset Tower Hotel. The industry widely spected that this party might signify Firefly Group''s beginning topromise with Disney''s animation division.

    However, this afternoon, employees of Disney''s animation division issued a statement in the Los Angeles Times, dering that in solidarity with the Firefly Creditors Alliance''s request to join the Firefly board, all Disney animation employees would boycott the party. It is currently 7:15 PM Pacific Time. For thetest updates, let''s go to our reporter on the ground in Hollywood''s Sunset Boulevard..."

    The feed switched to Los Angeles at dusk, where a reporter stood in front of the Sunset Tower Hotel with a microphone. "Good evening, viewers. As we can see, the Sunset Tower Hotel, which should be bustling with activity, appears just as it usually does. Fifteen minutes ago, a spokesperson for Firefly announced the emergency cancetion of tonight''s celebration party for The Lion King. However, prior to 7 PM, vehicles carrying Firefly executives like Eric Williams and Jeffrey Katzenberg still appeared at the hotel parking lot. We specte this indicates the executives were making a final appeal, but it seems those efforts have clearly failed. As of now, we have not seen any senior management or employees from Disney''s animation division at the Sunset Tower."

    Watching the deste hotel on the screen, Peter Schneider suddenly became worried that he might have gone too far. He was not concerned about offending Eric; he felt he could find another job even after leaving Firefly. Yet, the current situation didn''t seem to benefit his interests much.

    Noticing the change in Peter''s expression, Roy Disney patted him on the shoulder and said, "Peter, think about how Eric Williams has treated us over thest couple of years. Besides, once Ron and the others secure their two board seats, as long as Disney Animation continues to be profitable, we won''t have to worry about anything."

    Still wearing a cheerful smile, simr to that of theughing Buddha, Ron Perelman added, "Don''t worry, Peter. Once we secure those two board seats, there will be five directors on the board who are not under Eric Williams'' influence. We can then take advantage of this opportunity to build our own strength within Firefly. By then, even if Eric possesses outright controlling interest in Firefly, he won''t dare make any reckless moves that could risk instability."

    Peter Schneider rxed and nodded. Roy Disney then raised his champagne flute, saying, "So, in the spirit of our shared goal, I suggest we all raise a ss."

    Most of the attendees at the cocktail party were representatives of Firefly''s creditors. Just as they were about to agree with Roy Disney, the television screen that had been ying the news suddenly changed.

    ...

    The image showed various media reporters who had been initially scattered around the Sunset Tower Hotel, now swarm toward the hotel''s front entrance as if pulled by a maic force. Among the reporters, Eric''s figure quickly appeared in a somewhat shaky live shot from a television station.

    In the footage, Eric stood expressionless, protected by bodyguards. Once the reporters quieted down, Eric stared intently into the camera, seemingly gazing at certain people watching from their television sets. In a serious tone, he said, "In that case, tomorrow morning at 9 AM, Firefly will hold a press conference, and I invite both the favored and the unfavored to attend."

    After tossing out this statement, Eric hurriedly entered his vehicle under the protection of his bodyguards.

    In front of the TV, the group that was about to toast for a celebration looked at each other in confusion. Even the shrewd Roy Disney felt a twinge of ominous premonition. As a member of the Disney family, which was crucial to Disney, Roy had interacted with Eric numerous times. He recalled Eric had always exhibited a calmness well beyond his years. But even the mostposed individual could be impulsive, and if Eric were to decide to burn his bridges, it could spell disaster.

    ...

    Due to this anxiety, Roy Disney struggled to get a good night''s rest. The next morning, he woke up early to turn on the television, patiently waiting until nine o''clock when the news channel featured the scene from the Firefly Group''s press conference hall.

    "Currently, Firefly Group holds 17% of Marvel Entertainment''s debt. As a significant creditor of Marvel, we have discovered that Marvel''s operational losses for the first half of 1994 have already exceeded $24 million, and Marvel''s stock price has continued to decline. With a total debt of $553 million, Marvel''s stock valuation is insufficient to cover even $300 million, leading to severe insolvency.

    ording to federalpanyw, we will file awsuit in the New York District Court while making this statement, requesting immediate involuntary bankruptcy protection for Marvel. At the same time, it hase to our attention that significant sums of debt financing intended forpany development have been misappropriated by Marvel''s parentpany, MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Company. This serious vition of bond tradingw directly caused Marvel to be on the brink of bankruptcy. Therefore, Firefly will file awsuit to ensure MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings is held ountable for its illegal actions."

    Roy Disney listened patiently to the statement read by Katzenberg on TV. After worrying throughout the night, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. The statement made no mention of Disney''s animation division, indicating that Firefly executives were not inclined toward a scorched earth approach.

    However, Roy Disney immediately questioned the intent behind this speech. He could tell that this was likely Firefly''s retaliation against Ron Perelman''s actions, but many details were unclear to him. He picked up the phone and dialed his personalwyer.

    After hiswyer exined the situation, Roy began to understand the implications. ording to U.S. corporatew, when apany faces severe insolvency and continued operational losses, creditors have the right to request involuntary bankruptcy protection. Bankruptcy protection differs from bankruptcy liquidation; it essentially gives creditors a buffer period to allow the debtor to propose a reorganization n and repayment scheme. However, if such a n fails, thepany will face imminent liquidation.

    Firefly Group''s request for Marvel''s bankruptcy protection was driven, much like Ron Perelman''s interests, to gain control of Marvel from a creditor''s position. However, unlike Ron, Firefly''s position was bolstered by Marvel''s financial distress, thereby gaining potential support from federal courts.

    Once Firefly seized control of Marvel, the illegal misappropriation of Marvel''s financing by MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings would be a significant weapon against Ron Perelman. MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings would not only face return requests for Marvel''s financing but also could incur massive fines from the SEC. This was the ultimate trump card.

    In a country with stringent financing regtions, the ramifications of illegally appropriating hundreds of millions in financing were far from the petty fines in the tens of thousands. If proven guilty, even apany valued in the hundreds of billions could face devastatingn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    penalties from the SEC.

    ...

    At this moment, in the same Beverly Hills mansion where the cocktail party had taken ce, Ron Perelman, still in his pajamas, no longer exhibited his usual calm demeanor. His hand holding the microphone trembled, reflecting fear and anger. After Firefly Group issued the statement, several entities, including Berkshire Hathaway, State Street Global Advisors, and Firefly Investment Company, all released simr statements as creditors. Thesepanies owned nearly 90% of Marvel Entertainment''s bonds. If the New York District Court deemed Firefly''s demands valid, Ron Perelman realized he would have no room to maneuver among the other creditors.

    "Avy, I want an exnation. Why am I only hearing about this now? A 90% transfer of bond ownership -- shouldn''t I have been notified ahead of time? Tell me why!" After an angry outburst directed at Marvel CEO Avi Arad, Ron Perelman listened patiently to thetter''s exnation before mming the phone down onto the table.

    Avi Arad exined that Firefly and several other creditor institutions had only recently submitted the rted debt transfer deration to Marvel, and that Marvel had prepared the relevant documents only because Ron Perelman happened to be in Los Angeles at the time.

    Ron Perelman quickly sensed two discrepancies in Avi Arad''s words -- Firefly and Berkshire Hathaway had utilized a permissible time gap to inform Marvel of the bond transfer within the legal timeframe, after which Marvel''s CEO, Avi Arad, had manufactured another dy to further postpone notifying Ron.

    Realizing the dire situation was worse than he had imagined, Ron Perelman spected that Avi Arad might have been co-opted by Firefly Group. If that turned out to be true, he would likely take a significant fall at Marvel.

    After pacing anxiously around the bedroom, Ron Perelman suddenly pped his bald head, realizing that Firefly Group had been strategizing for at least a month. This prompted him to

    consider two possibilities: either Firefly had forecast his intentions to utilize Disney Animation''s division to enter the Firefly board and proactively set up defenses, or,

    alternatively, Firefly had long coveted Marvel.

    After issuing over $500 million in bonds, Marvel no longer held any value in Ron Perelman''s

    eyes; it had simply be a mess he could easily discard. He seldom paid attention to Marvel''s operations. If Firefly Group shared this sentiment, their motives could be to push him back, dissuading him from pursuing positions on Firefly''s board. Weighing the possibilities swiftly in his mind, Ron Perelman deduced that the first scenario was highly unlikely. If Firefly''s true aim was simply to use Marvel''s weaknesses to force him

    to withdraw, they need not acquire nearly 90% of Marvel''s bonds -- this amounted to $500

    million in cash.

    In Ron Perelman''s view, Marvel was not even worth half of that $500 million. Quite frankly,

    he thought that if anyone offered him $500 million, he would instantly hand over Marvel

    without hesitation.

    If Firefly Group''s intention aligned with the second possibility, however, the acquisition of

    that $500 million suddenly made sense.

    The real questions were why Firefly wanted Marvel and why they chose to act at such a

    sensitive time.

    Were they not concerned about potential fallout from Disney Animation?

    Or did someone genuinely believe Marvel was worth more than Disney Animation?

    Ron Perelman slowed his pacing, and soon he picked up the phone again, bypassing Avi Arad,

    to dial another Marvel executive''s number.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 644: Chapter 645: A Deal Too Costly

    Chapter 644: Chapter 645: A Deal Too Costly

    ?

    [Chapter 645: A Deal Too Costly]

    In an office at Universal Pictures headquarters, Michael Eisner set down the Variety magazine that featured Firefly''s financial report for the first half of the year. He couldn''t help but feel a mix of emotions.

    Although the profit of Firefly Group was only a bit more than $600 million, which was less than half of the profit two years prior for both Firefly and ABCbined, it was still surprising to everyone. Typically, during the merger of tworgepanies, it wasmon for the new entity to experience a dip in performance due to the turmoil from integration and restructuring. However, Firefly had navigated this turbulent period quite smoothly. Michael Eisner had to admit that if he had been in that position, he would have had a hard time managing things better.

    After a sessful coronary artery bypass surgery, Michael Eisner''s health had returned to what it had been before, aside from needing to maintain a vegetarian diet. Thanks to the strong box office sess of The Mummy, he easily resumed his position as CEO of Universal. However, he now faced a tricky problem: Michael Ovitz, whom he had personally brought in to serve as President of Universal in an attempt to appease the board before his surgery, was always trying to share power.

    Lost in thought about how to push Ovitz out of Universal, the office door chimed a few times, snapping Michael Eisner back to reality. He quickly focused his energy on the task at hand, knowing he needed to deal with this new visitor.

    A smiling, bald, plump man walked into the office, guided by his secretary. Michael Eisner greeted him warmly, standing up and extending his hand. "Mr. Perelman, it''s great to see you."

    "Great to see you too, Mr. Eisner," Ron Perelman replied.

    After the secretary served two cups of coffee, Michael Eisner made some small talk with Ron Perelman before asking, "So, Mr. Perelman, what brings you here today?"

    Ron Perelman retrieved several copyright transfer agreements from his briefcase and handed them to Michael Eisner. "Before discussing this matter, I think it would be best for Mr. Eisner to take a look at these first."

    Michael Eisner briefly scanned the copies of the agreements and set them aside. "So, you''re saying Marvel wants help from Universal to avoid going into bankruptcy protection, right?" "Yes, I believe we can work together," Ron Perelman said. "From these copyright transfer documents, it''s clear that Firefly''s actions towards Marvel aren''t just retribution; they''ve had their eyes on Marvel for quite some time. With Eric Williams'' eye for developing films, it also implies that the superhero rights under Marvel are worth far more than one might imagine. If Universal can help Marvel escape this crisis, we could be the strongest partners, coboratively developing these superhero projects under Marvel in the future."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Michael Eisner raised an eyebrow and asked, "So what does Universal need to do?"

    Ron Perelman paused for a moment, but quickly replied, "I just need Universal to present a high-priced offer to acquire Marvel -- just as a show of good faith. Universal wouldn''t need to put out any actual funds; as long as this positive news prevents Marvel from being forced into bankruptcy protection, I''ll have enough time to handle things internally at Marvel."

    A sardonic smile crept across Michael Eisner''s face. "And then Marvel will engage in deep coboration with Universal, right?"

    Ron Perelman confidently responded, "Of course."

    Michael Eisner finally let his smile drop, bluntly stating, "Mr. Perelman, I''m fully aware of the predicament Marvel is in, and I''m also very clear about your character. So, we don''t need to resort to these insignificant tactics. If you want help from Universal, that''s fine, but I need to see tangible benefits."

    Ron Perelman''s expression faltered slightly, but he quicklyposed himself. "Mr. Eisner, what would it take for Universal to help Marvel then?"

    "If Marvel transfers the remaining popr superhero film rights they currently hold to Universal, I can agree to publicly support Marvel," Michael Eisner dered.

    "That''s impossible..." Ron Perelman instinctively eximed, but then quickly realized he had overstepped. He settled on a more controlled demeanor. "Mr. Eisner, that condition is a bit excessive."

    Marvel had already lost the rights to Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the Hulk. Given Firefly''s rough attitude, Ron Perelman guessed it would be extremely difficult for Marvel to regain those superhero rights. If they transferred the remaining valuable superhero rights to Universal, he couldn''t imagine what value Marvel would retain.

    While Marvel always publicly imed to own thousands of superheroes, this count included every character ever featured in the Marvel Comics universe, which was inted. In reality, only a few dozen characters were well known, and the well-known superheroes that sorted equivalently in poprity to DC''s Batman and Superman were even fewer than ten.

    Ron Perelman recognized that Firefly was eyeing Marvel''s valuable superhero potential. However, he believed that what Firefly truly desired were the characters with the same cinematic potential as Batman and Superman -- not all of Marvel.

    If he met Michael Eisner''s demands and identally transferred key superhero copyrights to Universal, he wouldpletely lose that bargaining chip.

    Michael Eisner''s thoughts mirrored Ron Perelman''s in that he also didn''t see Marvel as a treasure trove of adaptation potential.

    From the start, he had little desire to get involved in this messy situation. Although he was eager to snag some of Marvel''s popr hero rights during this opportunity, Firefly''s aggressive stance and Ron Perelman''s shrewdness made it nearly impossible for Universal toe out ahead.

    Furthermore, Universal was already in negotiations with Nicole Kidman over The Mummy sequel. If he upset Firefly by meddling in this issue, Michael Eisner worried that Eric Williams might pull Nicole Kidman from The Mummy franchise altogether. If he jeopardized a profitable project for a goal with an unclear future, that would surely be a deal too costly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 646: Chapter 647: A New Boss

    Chapter 646: Chapter 647: A New Boss

    ?

    [Chapter 647: A New Boss]

    The evenings at Liberty City Manor always offered Eric a respite from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. Whenever he had the chance, Eric would sit by the ss wall overlooking Liberty City during sunset, sometimes with a book or a document in hand. He would quietly gaze at the orange sun gradually sinking below the horizon until the city lights illuminated the night. Elisabeth once joked that Eric looked like the sinister viin hiding in the corner of a movie during those moments. Chris, who had studied a bit of psychology, suggested that Eric''s behavior was a sign of insecurity. Rather than sitting on the oceanfront terrace of a spacious vi, he was behind thick ss, as if he were keeping the entire world at bay, afraid of disruption or harm.

    Of course, Elisabeth''sment was made in jest, while Chris''s theory wasn''t entirely urate either. Aside from Eric himself, no one could analyze the mindset of a cross-timer. Only Eric knew it was a habit he had unconsciously formed, much like everyone''s unique personal quirks.

    Setting aside his project n, Eric looked up at the half-submerged sun, mentally organizing the ns for the next day, ensuring no details went unnoticed.

    In Hollywood, Ron Perelman''s every move was under the keen eye of Firefly. All of Ron''s interactions with Universal and other studios were already anticipated by Firefly.

    At this point, Marvel was merely an entertainmentpany. Fewpanies outside Hollywood showed interest in Marvel now that it had lost its potential for capital operations. With Firefly and others controlling 90% of Marvel''s debt, Wall Street wasn''t likely to touch this hot potato. That left only the major Hollywood studios as potential rivals for Firefly.

    Despite Ron Perelman''s hasty return to New York indicating he had yet to reach any agreements with Universal, Warner Bros., or Paramount, Eric still wanted to avoid any surprises. In the event that Ron were pressed too hard, he could end up epting harsh terms from other studios. So Eric intended to dangle a fresher "carrot" to divert the eyes of Hollywood''s major studios.

    As he organized the documents on the round table beside him, Eric was about to get up to tend to dinner when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him.

    ...

    Drew, wearing a tank top and shorts that showcased her slender legs, suddenly pounced into his arms from behind.

    Eric smiled and gently pushed the rambunctious girl away, asking, "Weren''t you supposed to be on the set of Night at the Museum for a few more days? What are you doing back early?"

    With a giggle, the girl rested her head on Eric''s leg, saying, "I was worried you might leave me behind and take 10880 back to Pandora alone, so I hurried home!"

    Eric pinched her cheek yfully and turned to greet the twins dragging arge suitcase behind them. This action drew a pout from the girl, who tugged at his shirt and yfullyined, "Eric, why are you home alone?"

    Eric captured her restless little hand, responding, "I was nning to spend the evening with a girl named Silence, but you interrupted my ns."

    "Silence?" The girl paused but quickly understood what Eric meant by "Silence," and with a mischievous grin, she wrapped her arms around his neck, saying, "Now that you have little Drew, you don''t need Silence anymore! If I''m not enough, there''s Natasha and... Natasha! Oh, and I brought you a gift!"

    As Eric watched her excitedly run to open the suitcase and pull out a light blue antenna that had been a hit in Men in ck, he shook his head with a smile. "How unoriginal! You didn''t just pick that up at the Disney store on the way back, did you?"

    "Of course not," she insisted, forcing the blue antenna onto his head. "I bought it at the Disney store in New York, just for you!"

    Well, at least it wasn''t from the Malibu Disney store, Eric smirked internally, watching Drew pull out a pink antenna and enthusiasticallye over to ask the twins to take their picture together.

    After patiently allowing her to have her fun, Eric finally took off the silly antennas and asked, "After being in New York for so long, did you visit Kevin and Elia on Long Ind?"

    "Of course! I even read bedtime stories to Elia for several days!"

    Eric chuckled, "Let me guess, it was another horror story, right? You shouldn''t scare her so much."

    "No way!" Drew giggled, moving to direct the twins to bring her luggage into her bedroom. Her eyesnded on a few records on the round table, and she curiously picked one up. "What''s this?"

    Eric nced at the record in her hands and nodded toward the record yer nearby. "That''s the BGM I prepared for the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show. Try it out; I bet you''ll love it." Drew ced the record on the yer. As the brief intro ended, a powerful female voice filled the room.

    Oh, you broke my heart!

    That was just the opening line, but the song''smanding energy quickly became evident.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Wow, I love this song!" the girl eximed as she squeezed next to Eric. When the rebellious tune came to an end, sheughed, "Eric, this song isn''t from one of your ex-girlfriends, is it?"

    As for Eric''s "ex-girlfriend," it could only be Jennifer Aniston. Thinking of the girl he hadn''t seen in a while, he felt a twinge of nostalgia. Years had passed, and the distance between them had only grown. It seemed they might never return to how things once were. Drew surely sensed this, which was why she freely mentioned Aniston in front of him.

    He yfully tapped her forehead and said, "I wrote it myself. Is that not allowed?"

    She chuckled a few times, wisely avoiding pursuing that topic, and asked, "What''s the title of the song?"

    "Guess!"

    Drew tilted her head, recalling the two letters mentioned repeatedly in the lyrics, and tentatively asked, "Is it FU?"

    Eric nodded, "Smart, but no prize."

    Pouting, she leaned in closer, "No way! I want a reward!"

    Eric pressed a gentle kiss on her soft cheek and said, "Alright, just one. Don''t be greedy."

    "Can I have this record then?"

    Eric shook his head, "This is just a demo. Besides, I feel the singercks the right punch. Once

    I get a better artist to record it, I''ll let you have it. But this song is still a secret, so don''t

    spread it around."

    "Okay," she nodded, ncing at the other few records on the table, "What about these? Can I listen?"

    "I haven''t had dinner yet. Help me prepare something to eat. You''re always so busy ying, clearly not much of a homemaker."

    "Ha ha..."

    ...

    After The Lion King, excitement buzzed through Disney''s animation studios in Burbank. Roger Allers, director of The Lion King, shared in the enthusiasm. Despite the department''s projects being on hold due to a restructuring strategy, Roger still arrived early at his office. After enjoying a cup of coffee, Roger intended to ask his assistant for information about several hand-drawn animation projects that were in the incubation stage. He wanted to review which animation they could produce once an agreement was reached with headquarters, but he was interrupted when one of his staff members burst into his office without knocking.

    Frowning, Roger asked, "Jim, what''s going on? You''re out of sorts!"

    "I''m so sorry, Mr. Allers, but I think I just saw the boss in the parking lot."

    "The boss?" Roger repeated, standing up suddenly. "You mean Eric Williams?"

    Jim nodded. "Yes, and I think Michael Lynn was with him."

    Roger furrowed his brow, believing this could mean Eric wanted to bypass Peter Schneider

    and Roy Disney to negotiate directly with them.

    However, during their previous meetings, the entire Disney animation department had

    agreed to a defensive alliance. Roger knew they needed to stick together to secure better

    terms from the parentpany. He quickly asked Jim, "Did Schneider and Disneye in

    today?"

    Jim shook his head. "I''m not sure. I just got here and rushed to inform you as soon as I saw the

    boss."

    Roger nodded and then said, "Go check if Peter and Roy have arrived. If not, call them right away."

    With that, Roger hurriedly left his office.

    ...

    By now, the news of Eric''s arrival had spread throughout the Disney animation department. Many employees stood up from their open cubicles to look toward the entrance. Middle management from the animation department also rushed to greet him.

    Peter Schneider and Roy Disney had clearly not made it to the office yet. Eric and Michael Lynn, along with a few aides, entered the animation department meeting room, where Roger

    Allers awaited them, shaking hands with Eric.

    "Where are Peter and Roy?" Eric nonchntly asked.

    "Mr. Williams, they''re on their way. They might be stuck in traffic, but they''ll be here soon."

    Not wanting to call out Roger''s lie, Eric stated, "Then let''s head to the conference room. Bring in all the heads of the other departments. If they''re stuck in traffic, give them a call." An hourter, Peter Schneider and Roy Disney, who had rushed from home worried Eric would circumvent them and speak directly with the employees, arrived at the animation department

    meeting room covered in sweat.

    ...

    At the head of the table, Eric casually noted that most people were present. He set down the Los Angeles Times, took the prepared documents from Kelly, and addressed everyone, "Since everyone is here, let''s begin this meeting."

    Roy Disney jumped in, "Mr. Williams, I believe this meeting is entirely unnecessary. We''ve already outlined our terms, which I think everyone in the animation department deserves. If the parentpany can''t meet these demands, over 700 employees from the animation department will fight back."

    "Your demands, like promotions and raises, do you expect those toe from the creditors''

    board?" Eric replied sarcastically, looking at Roy Disney. "If it''s the former, that''s certainly reasonable. But if it''s thetter, do you know what having someone like Ron Perelman on thepany board could lead to?"

    Eric''s increasingly sharp tone caused difort among all the managers in the meeting room, creating a sense of unease.

    Before Roy Disney could respond, Eric continued, "You surely know the precedent set by both

    Revlon and Marvel. The ill-fated acquisition of Revlon by Ron Perelman in the ''80s saw that once thriving cosmeticspany torn apart, and now few can even recall what it was. Furthermore, after Ron took over Marvel, it went from apany that once surpassed DC to a mere tool of capital operations. The departure of Marvel''s seven main artists two years ago over dissatisfaction with Ron''s mismanagement left Marvel in a colossal mess, burdened with a debt of $553 million. Yet you want to usher this corporate parasite who only devours apany''s substance into the Firefly board? Beyond satisfying selfish interests, I can''t see your intentions."

    Eric''s voice grew louder, and he lifted his coffee cup almost impulsively, feeling an urge to

    throw it. But catching sight of a panicked employee at the far end of the conference table with eyes shut in fear, he hesitated and returned the cup to the table.

    Taking a moment to calm down, Eric opened the documents in front of him and said, "Given

    how far we''vee, maybe it''s better to part on good terms. Let''s discuss the idea of bringing in a new boss for the animation department."

    Although Eric''s earlier remarks stirred a feeling of guilt among the animation department

    managers, his final statement caused everyone to instinctively question whether they had

    misheard him.

    Including Peter Schneider and Roy Disney, over a dozen management personnel exchanged

    nces, all realizing they hadn''t misheard -- Eric had genuinely said those words. However, a singr thought simultaneously surged in everyone''s minds.

    How is that even possible?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 648: Chapter 649: No Way Around It

    Chapter 648: Chapter 649: No Way Around It

    ?

    [Chapter 649: No Way Around It]

    Most of the purchasers of Firefly''s long-term bonds were various pension funds and insurancepanies from North America and Europe. These investment institutions primarily focused on maximizing the security of their funds, which made them prominent investors in U.S. Treasury bonds that often offered annual interest rates below 3%.

    Although rating agencies assigned a 2A rating to Firefly''s long-term bonds, slightly lower than the highest 3A rating for U.S. Treasury bonds, a series of financial data released by Firefly, especially the impending influx of $3 billion in free cash flow, encouraged many industry analysts to express that the safety of Firefly''s bond investments was nearly on par with U.S. Treasury bonds. To add to this, Firefly''s long-term bonds offered almost double the annual interest rate of 5.5%pared to U.S. Treasury bonds.

    In this situation, even without Firefly suddenly abandoning its hand-drawn animation department, leaving the creditor alliance with no leverage, the institutions holding Firefly''s long-term bonds had no grounds to request an early bond buyback after Firefly''s tough stance. That move would effectively mean cutting off their own financial lifeline.

    Thus, while the news of Firefly''s anticipated sale of its animation division caused quite a stir in Hollywood and Wall Street, the creditors gathered in Los Angeles found themselves in an awkward position.

    As the advocate for the creditor alliance, Ron Perelman returned to New York only to find all his focus consumed by the Marvel situation. Although he knew how to navigate the capital markets with skill, he quickly became overwhelmed in the face of absolute power.

    Warren Buffett, Tom Murphy, and David West all had extensiveworks and influence in New York, and then there was Katzenberg. A native Manhattanite, he had been part of then- Mayor candidate John Lindsay''s campaign team at the young age of 19. A few yearster, he had worked as a financial officer to assist Lindsay in his presidential bid. Although that attempt had failed, such a political history was hard for ordinary folks topete with. Even after years in the media sector, Katzenberg was still seen as a semi-local powerhouse in New York, not to mention he was now poised to be the next CEO of thergest media group in America, which only enhanced his influence.

    Under significant pressure from various forces, the efficiency of the New York local court was astonishingly high. Ron Perelman, returning to New York, did not even have the chance to take action before facing a barrage of investigations fromw enforcement agencies. Upon hearing the news of Firefly''s decision to sell its animation division, a feeling of dread washed over Ron Perelman. He immediately called Summer Redstone to agree with the terms proposed by Vi. Perelman sensed that agreeing to Vi''s deal would allow him to swiftly extricate himself from the Marvel maelstrom while securing $100 million in funds. Conversely, if he failed to nail down the deal, he could find himself in serious trouble with Firefly.

    However, the sudden turn of events still caught Ron Perelman off guard. The whole of Hollywood was salivating over the ''fresh cabbage'' represented by Firefly''s animation division, and Vi was far more eager to snag this ''cabbage'' than other majorpanies. At this time, Summer Redstone would not risk angering Eric for Marvel''s ''rotten apple.''

    Consequently, despite multiple attempts, Ron Perelman could not get a hold of Redstone himself.

    ...

    At that moment, Malibu''s Liberty City estate was hosting a business party.

    Two days had passed since Firefly issued a series of announcements and statements. Although Firefly could havepletely ignored the stranded creditors in Los Angeles, doing so, while satisfying, would not align with Firefly''s long-term interests. Even as a privatepany, Firefly could not entirely detach from the capital markets, especially considering Eric was developing various industries outside of Firefly. The pension funds and insurancepanies spanning across every state in the U.S. and throughout Europe were precisely the primary investors in capital markets.

    Therefore, Eric quickly extended an invitation to all creditor representatives to participate in the party at Liberty City under the pretext of "face-to-facemunication to resolve differences." By this point, actualmunication was hardly needed; guests at the party no longer brought up the creditor alliance at all.

    Anyone could clearly see that Firefly was offering them a way out.

    Initially worried about facing Eric''s haughty demeanor, the creditor representatives arrived at the estate to find that the owner of Firefly Group was not just mature andposed like most of his peers but was also amodating and engaging. This rxed everyone greatly. During the subsequent discussions, they gradually forgot Eric''s age and unconsciously began to surround him, eagerly discussing various economic and political current events. "If we pay close attention, we can notice a brand-new information technology industry is rising. While academia has referred to the advancement of cutting-edge technologies like new energy, information technology, space technology, and biotechnology as the third industrial revolution, the truth is that the only industry close to ordinary people''s lives is information technology. We all know that the sectors that can be widely popr among the general popce will generate the highest economic value. So in the next ten or even twenty years, mobilemunications, personalputers, application software, and the Inte will emerge as the most valuable investment targets," Eric stated confidently, red wine ss in hand, while surrounded by a group of creditor representatives who were also high-level fund managers.

    One fund manager dressed in a ck suit asked, "Eric, I know you''ve also invested in high- techpanies like Cisco, Yahoo, and AOL outside of Hollywood, but don''t you think the risks in high-tech investments are too great? If I remember correctly, one of the investment philosophies of Firefly''s other shareholder, Mr. Warren Buffett, is to avoid high-tech industries as much as possible."

    "I wouldn''t dare toment on Warren''s investment philosophy, as that could get me buried by his supporters," Eric replied, eliciting a chuckle from the room. "However, in other times, investing in high-tech industries can indeed be very risky. But now, it''s different. We are on the brink of an overall industry boom. The field of information technology is vast and covers nearly every aspect of our lives. The semiconductor industry drives personalputers and mobilemunications, both of which propel the growth of application software, mobile phones, and the Inte -- all of which together create a massive range of industrial clusters. In this rising trend, investing in high-tech is very secure. I can say with confidence that the North American market, and even the global market, will see a new long-term bull market driven by the developments in the tech sector over the next few years." Another astute fund manager asked, "Eric, do you think there will be a bubble in this?"

    "Of course, every bull market signifies a stock market bubble, and this uing industrial explosion will surely mean an evenrger bubble," Eric said, his eyes carrying a knowing glint as he surveyed the crowd with a subtle smile. "In a frenzied stock market, even if you hadn''t heard my words today, I believe you would still jump in without hesitation. However, whether or not one can restrain their greed to sessfully escape in the end -- that depends on everyone''s luck."

    Seeing that many people had fallen into short contemtion, Eric chose to stop there, deciding it was best to leave a strong impression without saying too much. As he noticed Elisabeth, donned in a light purple gown, smiling from the periphery, he raised his ss and excused himself from the crowd.

    ...

    Eric offered apliment about Elisabeth''s dress, "What brings you here?"

    "I''ve been here for about half an hour," Elisabeth replied, her smile still bright. "I didn''t want to interrupt you, seeing howfortable you were among those older gentlemen." Eric moved over to a snack table, grabbed a fruit tter, and, finding a spot on a sofa with Elisabeth, smiled back at her words. "It wasn''t easy. If I got too close to my peers, the implications would be quite unsavory. I guess you wouldn''t want to witness that scene either,

    right?"

    Elisabeth yfully nudged Eric''s shoulder. After sipping some red wine, she graduallyposed herself and said, "My dad''s been regretting somethingtely."

    Eric looked up and asked, "Regretting what?"

    Elisabeth shrugged. "That paper media asset from Firefly. My dad said he wishes he had known that it could be bought for just $1.52 billion; News Corp would''ve definitely made a

    move."

    Eric popped a piece of apple into his mouth and responded, "No worries. That old man''s memory is getting worse by the day; he''ll forget soon enough."

    Elisabeth frowned slightly, "Eric, could you at least show a little respect for my dad?"

    "Okay, okay, I''m sorry," Eric replied more solemnly. "So now he definitely wants to buy Disney''s animation division, right?"

    "Um," Elisabeth nodded. She ced great confidence in Eric''s judgment and even admired him. Since he had insisted on downsizing the hand-drawn animation division after The Lion King, she didn''t feel as eager about it as other major Hollywood studios did.

    However, her dad''s opinion was far from aligned with hers.

    Eric said, "Let me tell you, Liz, acquiring that paper media asset from Firefly might yield

    decent profits over the next few years. But buying the hand-drawn animation division just won''t be profitable."

    Elisabeth shot Eric a look, "What good is that advice for me? You need to talk to my dad about

    it."

    "I''m not obliged to, but just this once, don''t get involved," Eric thought for a moment and added, "Even if your dad goes all out, I doubt he''ll get it this time."

    Elisabeth inquired curiously, "Oh? Whichpany do you think is most likely to acquire the

    animation division?"

    Recalling some materials Kelly had gathered in the past few days, Eric responded, "I think

    Warner Bros. is the most likely. Their film business this summer was terribly weak. If Terry Semel doesn''t deliver impressive results to the board and shareholders soon, he might not stay in the CEO position for long. Then there''s Paramount; I heard they n to use Blockbuster to mimic Disney''s merchandising strategy."

    Eric smiled with a touch of schadenfreude, "With over 3,000 Blockbuster locations in

    America, that''s more than six times the number of Disney stores worldwide. It''s a really good idea, but Paramount doesn''t have many films to develop in terms of merchandise. It''s funny when I think about it. Ha! Sorry, just had tough a little."

    Elisabeth rolled her eyes slightly, waiting for Eric to finish. When hisughter subsided, she

    said, "I thought you''d think Universal was the most likely; after all, Michael Eisner used to be

    Disney''s CEO."

    Eric shrugged, "Forget about Universal and Columbia. Michael Eisner would definitely want the animation division, but he doesn''t have enough power now; both Universal and Columbia are in the hands of the Japanese. The Japanese can be generous at times, but they can also be extremely tight-fisted. Their anime industry is highly developed, and while they won''t look down on Hollywood''s animation studios, they won''t be eager to spend over $1 billion to buy a hand-drawn animation division. Lastly, MGM doesn''t stand a chance either. As for you guys, I believe News Corp''s current focus remains on the televisionwork; they probably won''t be as reckless as Warner Bros. or Paramount."

    Elisabeth slightly nodded, acknowledging that Eric''s analysis was sound.

    Since Firefly acquired ABC and no longer cooperated with the Foxwork, News Corp had

    channeled most of its energy into the operation of the televisionwork this year, even going so far as to significantly reduce film production once more. Resolved not to attempt influencing her father''s decisions any longer, Elisabeth rxed and asked, "So, haven''t you been trying to acquire thaticpanytely? Which superhero

    copyright are you eyeing?"

    "There are quite a few: Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Iron Man, and so on.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Actually, I''m aic book fan; did you notice that?" Eric replied.

    Elisabeth shot him a dubious re, "You''re just talking nonsense. I''ve never seen you reading

    aic book!"

    Eric chuckled, "That just means we need to get to know each other better."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 650: Chapter 651: Not for Long

    Chapter 650: Chapter 651: Not for Long

    ?

    [Chapter 651: Not for Long]

    "Ron, I''m a professional manager, not a capital yer," Avi Arad pointed to the outdated office supplies in the conference room. "Look at what you''ve done over the years. You''ve just mindlessly squeezed the remaining value out of Marvel. Many people have left in the past few years, thepany has no vitality, and it''s saddled with massive debts. If this continues, Marvel is going to die. I''m just trying to save thispany. Isn''t that right?"

    Ron Perelman showed some embarrassment on his face, but he quickly snapped back, "But you shouldn''t betray me. If you had any objections, you could''ve discussed them with me."

    Hearing Ron Perelman say this, Avi Arad nearlyughed out loud. "Ron, do you really not remember how many times I practically begged you to ''discuss'' things?"

    Not sure if he was hurt or embarrassed, Ron Perelman felt a rush of blood to his head and nearly stammered as he emphasized once again, "You... don''t forget, I am the owner of thispany."

    "Not for long," Avi Arad suddenly lost interest in talking to Ron Perelman and coldly dropped the line, walking out of the conference room.

    ...

    More than half an hourter, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Avi Arad, Ron Perelman, and their respectivewyers gathered in another meeting room at Marvel.

    Seemingly unaware of how Ron Perelman had rallied his spirits after collecting his emotions, Katzenberg opened a thick stack of documents he had pieced together the previous night, getting straight to the point. "Ron, you have two choices now. First, settle privately. MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings would pay a sum to buy out all Marvel''s circting shares at the current stock price, and then implement a 100% debt-to-equity swap, handing Marvel over to us. Personally, I think this is the best way to solve the current situation."

    Hearing Ron Perelman''s cold snort, Katzenberg remained unfazed and continued in a cold, formic tone. "Then there is the second option: we will apply to the SEC to investigate MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings'' encroachment on Marvel''s debt financing. Although such an investigation and the subsequentwsuit would take a long time, no matter how long it drags on, in any case where the evidence is conclusive, you will still have to return all the encroached debt financing to Marvel, and you will face hefty fines from the SEC. I assure you, without $1 billion, don''t even think about settling thiswsuit. Spend that $1 billion, and you will be close to bankruptcy."

    A middle-aged man sitting next to Ron Perelman spoke up, "Mr. Katzenberg, can I take this as you are trying to intimidate my client?"

    Katzenberg nced at Ron Perelman''swyer and replied with a smirk, "You should know, I''m in the film business. So don''t use linesmon in movies in such settings; it''ll just make you look unprofessional."

    The middle-aged man, obviously having the thick skin characteristic ofwyers, didn''t mind Katzenberg''s sarcasm and insisted, "Mr. Katzenberg, you didn''t answer my question."

    Katzenberg shrugged. "I''m not intimidating your client; I''m merely stating a basic fact and the determination of Firefly Group."

    Ron Perelman stopped his privatewyer from saying anything more and said to Katzenberg, "Jeffrey, I''m not choosing either of those options. Don''t forget, Marvel''s bankruptcy protection period is one month. As long as I cane up with a reasonable solution within a month, Marvel is still mine, and nobody can take it away."

    "That''s right, it''s one month," Katzenberg said disdainfully. "But you really can''te up with any method to bring Marvel back to life. Because the current Marvel is utterly a shell. Aside from the toy division, which can barely operate, Marvel films? Just a shell. Marvel television? A shell. The music department? A shell. Even the core, theic book division, is no different from a shell now that all seven lead writers responsible for major hits like X-Men and Fantastic Four left two years ago. Mr. Perelman, tell me, how do you n to bring Marvel back to life?"

    Ron Perelman shouted back at Katzenberg without hesitation, "Don''t think I don''t know; the Firefly Group doesn''t care about any of that. What you really want is just the superhero rights under Marvel. I''m telling you, you absolutely won''t seed. I would rather sell Marvel for a dor to any third party than give it to Firefly."

    Katzenberg, who had a notoriously short temper, raised his voice as well. "But you currently don''t have the authority to sell Marvel for a dor to any third party because a federal court wouldn''t allow you to make such a move that would harm the interests of creditors. Even if you want to sell, you can only sell to Firefly."

    "Don''t even think about it. I''ve always been the one to take things from others. Nobody can take what''s mine."

    "Do you think it''s still the ''80s? Go take a look downtown. Drexel Burnham is long gone -- it''s simply not there anymore!"

    ||||

    The already unfriendly meeting quickly escted into a heated argument. Just as it looked like both sides might resort to violence, the onlookers, including Avi Arad, snapped back to reality and quickly separated Katzenberg and Ron Perelman.

    After wreaking havoc in the office, Ron Perelman finally calmed down, leaving the Marvel headquarters with hiswyer and assistant without a word.

    ...

    In Los Angeles, Eric Williams learned about the outbreak of conflict from Avi Arad''s worried call. However, he wasn''t too concerned. If he wanted to take over Marvel with a gentle touch, Eric could''ve sent Frank Wells to handle the situation, but that would only give Ron Perelman an inch. Katzenberg''s strong and vtile personality was just the right match to keep Ron Perelman''s greed in check.

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    After the rocky first negotiation, Ron Perelman didn''t continue to engage with Firefly but immediately flew to Los Angeles, attempting to hand off the burden of Marvel to several major filmpanies in Hollywood. However, as the focus was all on Disney''s animation division, nobody in Hollywood paid any attention to Ron Perelman. Even Michael Eisner, who realized he couldn''t count on Panasonic''s support to purchase the animation division, had no intention of taking action, as he sadly understood the Japanese wouldn''t support Universal due to the conflict between Marvel and Firefly.

    Subsequently, Ron Perelman refused to give up and tried to probe variouspanies interested in the entertainment industry. However, mostpanies with weaker strength were hesitant to provoke the capital forces represented by the country''s two wealthiest individuals. Likewise, the strongerpanies recognized that resolving Marvel''s predicament would require investing hundreds of millions of dors. Yet even if they seized Marvel, developing Marvel''s film rights still relied on Hollywood''s backing. And as Hollywood''s biggest yer, Firefly would certainly not allow these outsiders, who had taken their "prey," to have an easy time; in the end, it would just be not worth the trouble.

    In desperation, Ron Perelman even started to reconsider the long-term bonds he held with

    Firefly.

    But ultimately, nothing came of it. Not to mention that MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings'' bonds were worth only $400 million, hardly enough to cover Marvel''s losses, but also realizing Ron Perelman''s recent troubles, investment firms interested in taking over the bonds were offering lower and lower prices. The highest bid was still a 10% discount, leading to a loss of $40 million in just a few months. Ron Perelman found it equally difficult to ept. Another week passed, and it seemed Firefly had no urgency. However, Ron Perelman found himself at a dead end.

    If he continued to stalemate and let the month-long bankruptcy protection period pass withouting up with any feasible corporate restructuring measures, Marvel would face

    compulsory liquidation.

    On the morning of August 21, as soon as Avi Arad sat down in his office, he received a call from Ron Perelman. The hoarse voice on the other end struggled to maintain thest bit of dominance. "I don''t want to see Jeffrey Katzenberg again. I want Eric Williams to meet with

    me personally."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 652: Chapter 653: For the Sake of Secrecy

    Chapter 652: Chapter 653: For the Sake of Secrecy

    ?

    [Chapter 653: For the Sake of Secrecy]

    Time moved into September.

    The North American summer box office wrapped up perfectly with a total of $2.17 billion. Of course, this perfection was mostly rtive to most Hollywood studios; for Warner Bros., the summer season had not been nearly as satisfactory.

    As the holidays passed, the four major public televisionworks and numerous cable channels kicked off a new year of fall programmes, sparking fiercepetition for television ratings. Various new shows and sequels from Americanworks began to premiere starting at the end of August.

    The ABCwork, recently acquired by Firefly Group, undoubtedly garnered the most attention. Before the merger, ABC had already started to dominate the television market. Once the programsunched by ABC matched the poprity of Firefly Films'' movies, it would mean the market share of the other majorworks would continue to bepressed. Furthermore, ABC''s heavily promoted programs showed no intention of hiding their ambition to dominate the TV market like they did in Hollywood.

    On Monday, ABC aired its long-running sports show Monday Night Football, which enjoyed stable ratings. Starting Tuesday, ABC rolled out three prime-time shows over the following three days: Survivor, ER, and Friends.

    Although Friends had just been reimed from Fox, the gshipedy had maintained an average viewership of over 20 million for its first five seasons, dominating the ratings foredy programs for five consecutive years.

    After regaining the airing rights for Friends, Firefly''s television department quickly announced that Eric would personally get involved in scriptwriting for Season Six, adding more celebrity guest appearances. Although many industry insiders knew these were mere promotional gimmicks, Eric found it challenging to intervene in a show whose timeline and storyline had already developed for five years. He would mostly just be credited as a writer, while the star guest appearances seemed somewhat more usible.

    However, for Friends'' fans, this kind of hype was remarkably effective. Just as the promotional campaign for Season Six began, it sparked heated discussions, and entertainment media predicted that the show''s ratings could hit new highs.

    At the same time, ABC promoted the reality show Survivor and the medical drama ER with the same intensity as Friends. Although neither program''s writing or production had much to do with Eric, no one in the industry seemed to doubt his ability to pick a winner. In fact, after ABCunched Survivor, a reality show that its original writer had struggled to pitch to otherworks, an executive in NBC''s programming department was fired for missing out on Survivor. While internal power struggles yed a role, this incident sufficed to illustrate Firefly''s growing influence in the televisionndscape.

    ...

    Outside of ABC, after Ron Perelman reached apromise, Firefly sessfully acquired the entirety of Marvel Entertainment. While the industry closely watched which superhero Eric would choose to develop into a film, he made no moves in that direction. After fully integrating Marvel into Firefly, Eric merely injected necessary funds and asked Marvel''s CEO, Avi Arad, to acquire aic bookpany called Image Comics.

    Image Comics didn''t have any adaptation rights that Eric particrly sought. The reason for acquiring this small-scaleic venture wasrgely to rectify Ron Perelman''s mistakes. In 1992, unhappy with Perelman, seven popr writers responsible for major Marvel series like Spider-Man and X-Men left to form Image Comics. Consequently, the quality of Marvel''sics plummeted. Come 1993, Perelman began issuing substantial junk bonds under Marvel''s name, which burdened thepany with hundreds of millions of dors of debt, ultimately leading it toward insolvency.

    Although Eric was primarily interested in the superhero rights Marvel held, as long as Marvel separated from its capital operations and stabilized, they could still generate impressive revenue despite a shrinkingic industry.

    Before special effects technology further developed, Eric did not n to usher Hollywood into the superhero movie era. Thus, the best option before that was to make Marvel self- sustainable. To achieve this, Eric facilitated the transfer of popric adaptation rights developed by Firefly over the past few years to Marvel. After announcing this n, the once- dwindling Marvel instantly found its way back intoic fans'' radar, with the recently released movie based on Charlie''s Angels beingbeled one of the most anticipated adaptation projects in years.

    Of course, although publicly Firefly announced no ns for superhero movies, behind the scenes, Eric had already begun working on the Marvel Cinematic Universe project. By acquiring superhero rights before Marvel began extensively selling them off, the rights were not yet scattered about. Most of the remaining rights, which had quietly been gathered under Flower Films by Drew, could slowly be reimed by Firefly in theing years.

    Thus, the newly structured Marvel Cinematic Universe was far grander than its original timeline.

    When Katzenberg and other core Firefly executives first saw the extensive Marvel film n tree chart that spanned nearly 100 films from 2000 to 2030 in Eric''s office at the Liberty City estate, they could only disy their astonished expressions. Frank Wells, who had already celebrated his 60th birthday, joked wistfully that he would likely never see this npleted.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in September, Michael Lynn, whose contract had been dyed for several months, announced his resignation. Katzenberg was officially named the CEO of Firefly Group. This transition did not stir any waves, nor did it lead to internal power struggles like those seen at Warner Bros.; everything unfolded smoothly.

    After stepping in as CEO, Katzenberg faced his first task of securing a good price for the hand- drawn animation department that had been spun off from Disney while simultaneously reestablishing a fully digital Disney animation department. He did not intend to directly merge Pixar into this new Disney animation division. The Pixar studio, located in the San Francisco Bay, maintained a unique corporate culture and creative vision; forcing a merger would disrupt Pixar''s intrinsic rhythm.

    However, the new Disney animation division would receiveprehensive technical support from Pixar. Moreover, given the lengthy production timeline for animated films, Pixar and the future Disney animation would notpete against each other but instead provide Firefly with ample 3D animated content. What''s more, maintaining a healthypetition among different departments was an excellent way to spark creativity.

    ...

    Aside from all these developments, Eric invested considerable energy into producing the annual Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show, which was now entering its rehearsal stage.

    The media frequently criticized and mocked Eric for "not staying on task" with the show. Following the initial promotions for the event, an NBC financial program even did the math, suggesting that if he used the time spent on the fashion show to make a film, even a movie that only achieved half the box office of Jurassic Park could still yield more than $300 million in profit for him personally and for Firefly. Nheless, the fashion show, which was supposed to cost around $20 million, might receive high ratings due to Eric''s fame -- though recouping that $20 million investment still seemed quite unlikely, and profitability was even

    more remote.

    However, Eric had never thought of leveraging the fashion show for profit. While NBC''s calction sparked considerable debate, many found its reasoning dubious, including Eric himself, who merely shrugged it off with augh.

    Since news of the fashion show broke, Eric and the Victoria''s Secret brand frequently appeared in the media, greatly boosting thepany''s revenue, which had increased by 30% over the past three monthspared to the previous year.

    Eric was confident that following intense media coverage surrounding the fashion show, an increase in revenue of 100% for Victoria''s Secret wasn''t out of the question. As it stood, Victoria''s Secret only held around 10% of the market share, while in the original timeline, the brand boasted over 40%. The annual fashion show, which Victoria''s Secret held consistently every year, yed a significant role in that marketing sess.

    The substantial profit margin from a 40% market share was undoubtedly iparable to the earnings from a single film.

    Simultaneously, Eric nned to fuse the fashion show with Yahoo''s portal andunch thergest inte marketing campaign in history, further increasing traffic and brand recognition for Yahoo. This strategy promised immeasurable benefits for Yahoo, which was preparing for an IPO strategy the following year.

    ...

    At Firefly Studios, a business SUV parked outside the Victoria''s Secret photography studio. Tina Brown packed away a document she had repeatedly reviewed during the ride into her briefcase and nced outside. Turning to the two girls sitting anxiously beside her in the passenger seat, she said, "Caroline, Mnie, we have arrived. Let''s get out."

    Caroline shot a nce outside at the massive studio. Looking at Tina Brown''s briefcase, she politely offered, "Ms. Brown, let me help you with that."

    Tina Brown chuckled and shook her head. Perhaps it was the distinctly Britishdy-like

    demeanor of the girl that endeared her to Tina: "Caroline, you''re soon to be Mr. Williams'' assistant. I can''t have you carrying my things."

    Upon hearing Tina Brown''s affectionate mention of Eric, Caroline felt her face flush. She stammered, "I... I don''t even know if I''ll be good enough for that job."

    The three girls exited the car, where Kelly was already waiting at the entrance.

    After greeting Tina Brown, Kelly''s gaze immediately fell upon the petite, doll-like Caroline:

    "You must be Caroline. I''m Kelly Haynes."

    "Hello, Ms. Haynes," Caroline knew Kelly was set to be her boss, but seeing the poised, intelligent Kelly in person made the young girl feel unwarrantedly inferior.

    Kelly smiled and nodded, greeting Mnie before leading the three of them into the studio.

    The design work for the angel costumes was alreadyplete, and the studio had been transformed once again, with arge runway constructed measuring over ten meters long and five meters wide at the center.

    Having been the editor of Vogue, Tina Brown''s eyes widened in surprise upon seeing the runway. Traditional runways typically only measured a little over a meter in width. Eric''s unconventional runway would surely spark controversy in the future.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    However, Tina Brown felt no resistance; instead, she sensitively recognized that this runway would undoubtedly be a talking point for the Victoria''s Secret show.

    In contrast to Tina Brown''s thoughts, Mnie -- who was following closely behind Kelly and Tina -- kept stealing nces at Kelly''s graceful figure. After a moment, she gently tugged on Caroline''s arm to draw her slightly away from the two older women. She leaned closer to Caroline''s ear and whispered with a grin, "Caroline, I''d bet money that guy has a rtionship with his female assistant. I''ve heard Kelly Haynes has been divorced for years, but she doesn''t look like someone who hasn''t had a man around for long."

    Caroline blushed and lightly swatted Mnie: "You... don''t say things like that to me. I don''t want to hear it. Besides, it''s rude to gossip about others."

    Mnie exaggeratedly sighed, rolling her eyes at Caroline''s shy demeanor.

    Kelly led the three girls near the runway, where enthusiastic rock music yed. Models

    dressed in simple lingerie walked the runway.

    Kelly pointed to Eric, who was nearby observing the models and asionally jotting down notes in a notebook, and said, "Eric is busy. Let''s wait a moment."

    "Of course, no problem," Tina Brown nodded with a smile, but her gaze remained fixated on a

    youthful girl on the runway, whose not-so-tall stature wasplemented by impressively graceful strutting. After a moment of deliberation, as if realizing something, she asked Kelly, "This seems to be a rock song; why are there no lyrics?"

    Kelly exined, "The six themes for the Victoria''s Secret show have all been personally created by Eric, so for the sake of secrecy, we''ll only use the instrumental track during the

    rehearsal phase."

    Mnie, startled by the revtion, echoed, "Ms. Haynes, are you saying that all six songs

    were personally written by Mr. Williams?"

    "Yes," Kelly nodded with pride.

    Tina Brown, along with the others, had heard Eric''s stunning rock single, New Divide, and

    with Kelly''s confirmation, they no longer doubted. They were left once again in awe: what

    else could this guy do?

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 654: Chapter 655: A Return to Reason

    Chapter 654: Chapter 655: A Return to Reason

    ?

    [Chapter 655: A Return to Reason]

    Sensing the tension in the room, Tina decided to break the ice. "Eric, I have a meeting with Mr. Katzenberg at 2:30 this afternoon to discuss some details regarding Yahoo''s coboration with Firefly. Before that, can I interview you on a few questions in my capacity as Yahoo''s Editor-in-Chief?"

    Eric realized that Tina''s inquiry wasn''t just spontaneous; she was serious. He admired her ability to seize the moment. As the owner of Yahoo, he didn''t mind providing some exclusive news for his media tform, so he nodded pleasantly. "Of course, go ahead and ask."

    Tina was well-prepared. She swiftly pulled out a notebook from her briefcase, wasted no time, and asked her first question, "Eric, after The Lion King, Firefly has continued to reform Disney''s animation division. Beyond the reasons that have already been announced, does Firefly have any deeper strategic considerations?"

    Eric hadn''t expected Tina''s first question to be so spot-on. The industry had been buzzing with spection about the real reasons behind Firefly''s decision to sell their hand-drawn animation department, with countless insider analyses but no one hitting the nail on the head.

    Having been a media queen for years, Tina had a keen sense for these trending issues, which wasn''t surprising at all.

    Eric replied honestly, "Yes, but that involves confidential information about Firefly Group, so I can''t discuss it."

    Tina smiled and marked an x next to her first question, then thought for a moment before changing it to a question mark. She looked up and asked, "In that case, Eric, can Yahoo invite professional analysts to write amentary based on your answer?" After a beat, she added, "I mean, after the animation department is auctioned off."

    "Sure," Eric nodded, knowing that both sides were aware this was just a clickbait article. The true reason behind Firefly''s reduction of their hand-drawn animation department could only be deduced in hindsight yearster with the decline of 2D animation. So Eric wasn''t worried about any insights the Yahoo analyst could extract from his affirmative answer.

    "Well, the second question," Tina continued, "Many people want to know about the sequel to Men in ck. Rumor has it that Firefly has temporarily rejected the idea of restarting the Men in ck sequel to retain the rights. Is that true?"

    Eric chuckled, "Tina, that''s quite a bold question."

    "Boss, I didn''t bring a tape recorder," Tina deliberately changed her address, smilingly exining.

    Eric knew herment signified that his reply wouldn''t be verbatim on the website. Moreover, he sensed that she was testing whether he could handle negative news about Firefly Group appearing on Yahoo.

    As a broad-spectrum media tform, Yahoo''s credibility would falter if all news about Firefly was positive.

    "The true insider story is this," Eric pondered for a moment before saying, "After the sess of the first Men in ck film, the actors including Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, along with the directors and producers, demanded significant increases in sries and profit-sharing. If Firefly and Columbia acquiesced, we''d have to pay the main creators a total of $35 million in fixed sries and a 30% profit share, bringing the sequel''s production costs to $120 million. Factoring in substantial distribution and marketing expenses, total project costs could approach $200 million."

    He paused, allowing Tina to take notes, then continued, "Although the first Men in ck grossed nearly $600 million worldwide, sequels often don''t surpass the original. Our box office forecast for the sequel is about $200 million in North America and $200 million internationally, based on the average profit-sharing rate for North American and international revenues. This means thepany would only recoup about $140 million in box office."

    Eric exined that typically, Hollywood box office revenue amounted to one-third of total ie, meaning that Firefly and Columbia could expect to recover about $280 million from home video and merchandise sales over the following years. Not to mention the lengthy time involved, after tapping into all potential profit points, the total earnings from the sequel would be $220 million, of which 30% would go to the creators, amounting to $66 million. "So, in this scenario, the few who merely participated in the film''s production would take over $100 million, while Firefly and Columbia, who invested countless resources into production, marketing, and distribution, would only end up with $150 million to split. Tina, do you really think it''s worthwhile to develop a sequel under these conditions?"

    Tina shook her head with a smile. ording to Eric''s analysis, if a sequel went into production, Firefly and Columbia would effectively be working for a handful of creators, which was clearly not cost-effective.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Diane Kruger and Tyra Banks listened with curiosity, satisfied by Eric''s casual revtions of Hollywood''s inner workings, but they refrained from making anyments.

    Cindy, having found her earlier tactic effective, boldly asked, "Why not develop a sequel? Even if the leads get a bigger cut, isn''t Firefly still making money?"

    Eric merely rolled his eyes at her, showing no intention to exin. He took small sips of his coffee.

    Tina noted some of Eric''s figures, then smiled at Cindy. "Cindy, here''s an example: if you opened a business and hired a CEO to manage it, and thepany earned $10 million a year, but you found that the CEO''s sry was nearly $10 million, would you still want to keep him?"

    Cindy opened her mouth to argue but realized that if it were her, she would definitely fire that CEO and hire someone for $1 million or even less.

    "Surely you wouldn''t," Tina observed Cindy''s expression and continued. "The situation with Men in ck is simr to the CEO I just mentioned. This CEO can only yield $10 million for thepany but takes home a $10 million sry. Nopany would allow such a situation.

    Of course, specifics can vary in real Hollywood film studios. If we''re discussing MGM or Columbia, they might have to offer high sries to the creators if they don''t greenlight a Men in ck sequel. However, Firefly, with more choices, doesn''t have to do that, particrly considering the time constraints. The annual film te is limited, and Firefly will likely opt for higher-margin projects, such as this year''s The Lion King, which is projected to yield $1 billion in profits over the next several years. If they exchanged The Lion King''s slot for Men in ck 2, Firefly''s ultimate profit might fall under $100 million. Eric, is that right?"

    Tina directed thatst question at Eric.

    Eric nodded, "I must say, Tina, your understanding is quite remarkable."

    Tina smiled politely, saying, "Thank you for the acknowledgment, Eric. However, without your figures, I wouldn''t have been able to analyze these points. But do you think I should publish these figures on Yahoo? This topic might provoke hostility from Hollywood stars

    toward Firefly."

    "The issue of inted sries for Hollywood stars needs to be addressed, or it will impact Hollywood''s sustainable development in the future. When you''re at Firefly Headquarterster, you might ask Katzenberg for some materials. He''s been advocating for a return to reason in star sries for years. So, take this opportunity to create a feature on the topic. Firefly''s major films in recent years have relied entirely on non-superstars and will continue to do so," Eric shrugged. "I''m not worried about their hostility at all."

    Tina nodded slightly, clearly excited. She recognized that this subject would spark a heated discussion. Correspondingly, Yahoo news would see increased attention due to this debate, akin to the boost in sales she once experienced with magazines she ran.

    With this matter on her mind, Tina quickly finished the remaining questions, handed out her business cards to Cindy and the girls, and arranged to discuss online publicity strategies with them that evening before she hurried out of Firefly Studios.

    ...

    Though Tina was in Los Angeles, the next day, the discussion regarding inted Hollywood star sries hit Yahoo''s homepage, using the dyed production of the Men in ck sequel as a springboard. The topic section extensively addressed the reasons behind the surge in star sries and the various impacts it had on Hollywood over recent years through multiple highly specialized articles.

    Since Michael Ovitz''s establishment of CAA, debates regarding inted Hollywood star sries had never ceased, but with Firefly''s vigorous support and Tina''s astute maneuvering,

    this topic''s poprity far surpassed any previous instances.

    Yahoo''s rted articles were quickly republished by over 300 newspapers and media outlets across North America and Europe within just a few days.

    ...

    Subsequently, the big four movie studios -- Firefly, Fox, Columbia, and MGM -- quickly released statements indicating they would gradually adjust their production strategies to address the issue of excessive actor sries. While Warner, Paramount, and Universal were not part of the Firefly alliance, they soon issued simr statements underlining shared interests.

    ...

    The united statement from the seven studios sent shockwaves through the industry. The American Actors'' Union immediately protested, stating that if the seven studios were to cut actor sries, they would resist through a work stoppage. Some stirred-up actors began to show signs of restlessness, seemingly ready to initiate an "immediate vacation."

    In the face of this situation, Yahoo News swiftly published a rebuttal article asserting that the cost-cutting strategies of the seven studios targeted only a small number of stars with inted sries and did not apply to the majority of regr actors. The actors'' union evidently was controlled by a select group seeking to mislead the public through such

    confusion.

    After Hollywood had just experienced a bountiful summer box office, no one wished to see a

    work stoppage emerge.

    Firefly and several other major studios quickly rified that they would not reduce the wages of ordinary actors. Moreover, with the overall expansion of Hollywood''s film industry, the ies of regr actors would not decrease; in fact, they were expected to rise gradually.

    Thus, the ordinary actor ss was pacified, while the superstars perched atop Hollywood''s

    pyramid began to express their dissatisfaction.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 656: Chapter 657: Sudden News

    Chapter 656: Chapter 657: Sudden News

    ?

    [Chapter 657: Sudden News]

    After his heart bypass surgery, although Michael Eisner was repeatedly reminded by his family and doctors to rest, he found himself in his office at Universal headquarters before 7 a.m. on that new day. This morning at 10 o''clock, Firefly Group was set to officially auction off its hand-drawn animation division at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

    Opening the brand new IBM desktopputer on his desk, Michael Eisner quickly clicked the top link on Yahoo''s entertainment portal, reading the detailed asset list of the animation division set to be auctioned with mixed feelings.

    Even now, Michael clearly remembered how in 1986, under the suggestion of Bill Mechanic, then head of the home entertainment division, the management team had begun to release Disney''s ssic animated films despite pressure from all sides.

    Before that, industry insiders and even those within Disney had estimated the value of the hundreds of films in the Disney film vault at only $200 million. However, Disney''s first attempt to release the home video of Pinhio from 1940, which incurred a hefty marketing cost of $7 million, sold 1.7 million copies within a year, generating $51 million in revenue. Subsequent releases like Sleeping Beauty and Cindere surpassed the $200 million valuation ced on the Disney vault.

    Having witnessed the resurgence of Disney''s 2D animated films at the end of the 1980s, Michael Eisner felt that he understood the value of Disney''s animated films better than anyone else.

    When Firefly announced it would package and sell its animation division, Michael''s first thought was a determination to acquire it at all costs. Even without the box office bonanza of The Lion King, he believed he should pursue this goal.

    However, the reaction of Panasonic, Universal''s parentpany in Japan, dampened Michael''s spirits. Panasonic''s interest in the entertainment sector had never been particrly enthusiastic; they had originally followed Sony''s lead in acquiring Universal out of concern about being left behind bypetitors in the electronics industry.

    In recent years, Panasonic had realized that owning a Hollywood studio did not significantly benefit its electronics sales, and they understood that from the start, they had been heavily taken advantage of by Hollywood. Unlike Sony, which still held onto some hopes, Panasonic had lost much interest in continuing to operate Universal and was unlikely to shell out tens of billions of dors for an animation division.

    After a month of futile trips to Japan seeking support from Panasonic, Michael Eisner finally saw a glimmer of hope. The sess of The Mummy brought Universal a very attractive financial report, and Panasonic decided it was time to cash out on Universal. Coincidentally, the Seagram Group from Canada expressed its desire to break into Hollywood, and discussions quickly entered a secret negotiation phase.

    As the captain of Universal, Michael Eisner was naturally part of those negotiations. During this process, he recognized the keen interest that Seagram''s CEO Edgar Bronfman had in the media sector and seized the opportunity to persuade Bronfman to acquire Disney''s animation division before finalizing the deal for Universal. Encouraged by the sess of The Lion King, Bronfman agreed without much hesitation.

    As time passed, Michael was pulled from his thoughts by a knock at the door from his secretary: "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Bronfman has arrived."

    Michael stood up, adjusted his suit, and greeted the tall, bespectacled man with a beard who walked in.

    After exchanging warm greetings, Michael said, "So, Edgar, let''s head out now."

    Edgar Bronfman hesitated slightly, replying, "Michael, shouldn''t we wait for Mr. Ovitz?" Michael shook his head slightly, exining, "Edgar, if you''re sure about acquiring Universal, perhaps we should set aside some time to discuss Michael''s situation in detail. But today, let''s focus on the Disney animation division."

    From Michael''s expression, Edgar realized that the recent rumors regarding Michael Eisner''s rift with his long-time friend Michael Ovitz were indeed true. However, after Michael''sments, Bronfman did not bring up Ovitz again, and the two left for the Beverly Hilton together.

    ...

    After spending a sweet night together, Nicole, although eager to attend the animation division auction with Eric, had to fly to New York early in the morning with her agent, Pat Kingsley, to discuss a film offer. Following the sess of The Mummy, Nicole nned to take on an art film during the break before production of The Mummy sequel, both to hone her acting skills and improve her chances of a nomination, hoping to change her image as just another pretty face in the opinions of critics.

    Eric kindly saw Nicole off at the airport before heading to the Beverly Hills Hilton.

    ...

    Upon getting out of the car in the parking lot, Eric spotted Kelly approaching him with a blue folder. He said, "I''m really sorry, Kelly, something came up."

    Kelly noticed the faint scent of cologne on Eric and, though her expression didn''t change, she couldn''t help but remark, "You don''t have to apologize to me; you''re my boss."

    Eric was surprised to see this typically sharp and capable assistant showing a hint of jealousy. He moved a step closer tofort her by wrapping an arm around her waist when a ck Cadic pulled into the parking lot, ruining the moment.

    Startled by Eric''s move, Kelly took a step back, ready to protest, when several people stepped out of the Cadic and walked toward Eric.

    ...

    "Eric, long time no see," Michael Eisner said as he approached, shaking Eric''s hand. He introduced the middle-aged man beside him: "This is Edgar Bronfman, CEO of the Canadian

    Seagram Group."

    Eric, already familiar with the auction participants, responded warmly, "Hello, Mr.

    Bronfman."

    "Mr. Williams, great to meet you," Edgar Bronfman said with a smile, although he felt a bit strange referring to this young man -- twenty years his junior -- as "Mr. Williams."

    Due to the differences in statuses of the buyers and sellers today, the two men shared only a few casual remarks before Michael Eisner and Edgar Bronfman moved on with their entourage.

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Watching them leave, Kelly smiled and remarked to Eric, "You always manage to make neers feel quite ufortable."

    Eric knew Kelly was referencing Bronfman''s reaction, and he just chuckled. The Bronfman family, who owned Seagram, had rapidly risen in Canada by capitalizing on the opportunities presented by Prohibition in the 1920s and 30s. Although they still operated in the liquor business, they had be a diversified conglomerate. Edgar Bronfman was the third generation of the Bronfman family managing hundreds of millions in business, yet in front of Eric, this "third-generation heir" struggled to exude any sense of superiority. Curiously, Eric recalled what Edgar looked like and asked, "Is Edgar Bronfman Jewish?"

    "Yep," Kelly nodded. "Bronfman is a typical Jewish surname."

    "Seagram hasn''t even acquired Universal yet, and they''re already setting their sights on Disney''s animation division. The twobined could require $10 billion in cash, and both Panasonic and Firefly only ept cash payments," Eric said, growing a bit conspiratorial as he leaned closer to Kelly. "Hey, do you think there might be some secret organization like the Freemasons trying to invade Hollywood?"

    Kelly shot him a look, saying, "Seagram purchased 24.3% of DuPont in 1981. This past April, DuPont initiated a stock buyback agreement, ultimately buying back the shares held by Seagram for $9 billion. That''s where their cash for acquiring Universal and the animation divisiones from."

    Eric nced at his watch as he led Kelly toward the elevator to the underground parking garage, saying, "$9 billion, huh? They could be doing anything else with that money. For outsiders, buying a filmpany seems pretty foolish."

    Kelly countered, "With the film market''s average annual growth rate of 9%, even if Seagram doesn''t seed after acquiring Universal, they could still profit from reselling it."

    Eric pondered for a moment and agreed that Kelly had a point.

    He recalled that in the original timeline, Seagram sold Universal back to Vivendi several yearster due to various issues, and Vivendi floundered with it before eventually handing it off to General Electric. However, even without ster performance, Universal never fell into the disarray that MGM did. Plus, now that Michael Eisner was in control, it seemed unlikely that Seagram would take a massive loss if their venture eventually didn''t pan out. However, if Seagram forced a hefty investment under Michael Eisner''s urging to acquire Disney''s hand-drawn animation division, the future scenarios would surely differ significantly.

    Unlike Paramount or Time Warner, Universal and its parentpany MCA were likely to remain foreign-owned now and in the future. ording to federalws, foreigners were prohibited from owning American television stations, which restricted Universal''s path toward bing aprehensive media conglomerate. This meant Universal''s risk resistance would fall far short of that ofrger groups like Firefly, Paramount, and Time Warner. If they acquired the hand-drawn animation division, which was destined to fall into trouble, Universal would almost certainly face significant challenges in that area in the uing years. With the music record industry also likely to suffer under the impact of the inte, the possibility of Universal ending up in a predicament like MGM was far from

    impossible.

    It seemed that Kelly and Eric shared the same train of thought, as she curiously asked, "Eric, whichpany do you hope secures the animation division today?" "Paramount, I guess. I don''t want Warner to decline that quickly; I''d rather see thempete with Firefly for a few more years. Of course, whoever ends up with the hand-drawn animation division, it''s good for Firefly since it means one of ourpetitors will be in serious trouble

    because of this burden."

    ...

    As they continued chatting, they quickly arrived at a meeting room inside the Hilton Hotel. Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was to preside over the auction, was already pouring over a document, muttering to himself. Upon seeing Eric and Kelly enter, he merely nodded in

    greeting.

    Eric chatted for a while with Frank Wells and several executives before realizing it was almost

    10 o''clock. He, along with the others, left the meeting room to enter the auction hall. Although media reporters had been kept out, a significant number of people still filled the

    large room with over a hundred seats.

    Eric greeted each Hollywood mogul who came to bid or simply observe before taking a seat in

    the back with Frank Wells and others.

    ...

    At 10 o''clock, Jeffrey Katzenberg confidently approached the auction podium. As the murmurs in the audience quieted down, he spoke into the microphone, "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to today''s auction. As you all know, the 2D animated film The Lion King, which premiered on June 24 of this year, has already grossed an astonishing $670 million worldwide. This is an incredibly encouraging message for Hollywood, signaling that the animated film market is about to enter a brand new era. However, due to strategic development considerations within Firefly Group, we regrettably decided to sell our hand- drawn animation division in its entirety."

    After a brief opening remark, Katzenberg continued, "Although you all have received the detailed asset list, allow me to briefly introduce what we are auctioning. In addition to the listed assets, Firefly Group has also decided to ease the buyer''s short-term financial burden by extending the originally set one-year payment deadline to three years."

    As soon as Katzenberg finished speaking, a murmur rippled through the auditorium.

    This news was too sudden; all the bidders were caught off guard by Firefly''s decision.

    Of course, the purpose behind Firefly''s move was easy to guess. Offering buyers ample time to pay meant they could likely drive up the prices.

    Soon, an older voice cut through the hushed murmur of the crowd: "Jeffrey, I request a pause

    in the auction; I need to discuss this with my team." Everyone turned to see that the speaker was Summer Redstone, CEO of Vi.

    Katzenberg readily agreed, maintaining his smile, "Of course, Mr. Redstone. The bidding will

    be dyed by half an hour. Please feel free to discuss if anyone needs to."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 658: Chapter 659: Brief Respite in Expansion

    Chapter 658: Chapter 659: Brief Respite in Expansion

    ?

    [Chapter 659: Brief Respite in Expansion]

    The news that Disney''s animation division had been sessfully auctioned off for a staggering $2.5 billion reignited a flurry of media coverage. After both parties signed the deal, Summer Redstone seized the opportunity to announce the formation of Paramount Animation, appointing Roger Allers, director of The Lion King, as CEO of the newly established division. Meanwhile, Vi dered that it would leverage the vastwork of Blockbuster stores, along with Paramount Animation, Paramount Pictures, and MTV''s programming, to jointly enter the lucrative film and television merchandising industry.

    Just a day after securing his contract as CEO of Paramount Animation, Roger Allers held another press conference to announce the simultaneous initiation of three 2D animated projects from Disney: a sequel to The Lion King, Pocahontas, and Mn. This move clearly aimed at his former employer, Disney.

    The influx of good news in quick session propelled Vi''s stock price up by 7.6%. The rise made thepany''s shareholders, who had previously criticized Redstone''s aggressive expansion strategy, reevaluate their opinions andmend his decisive leadership. However, where there were winners, there were also losers -- most notably, Warner Bros. CEO Terry Semel, who had lost to Redstone in the bidding war for Disney''s animation division. Althoughpanies like Seagram and 20th Century Fox, which also lost in thepetition, faced some media bacsh, thementary surrounding Warner Bros.'' defeat was almost derisive. After all, Warner Bros. had more than double the overall strength of Vi, and its previous struggles in film left it with ample rationale to seize the Disney animation division. This loss negatively affected Warner Bros. even more than just the defeat itself; many media outlets spected whether thepany was facing a financial crisis. Firefly''s unexpected announcement on the auction day to extend the payment deadline disrupted Warner Bros.'' carefully considered bidding strategies. While Semel was the head of thepany, his authority was significantly less than that of his predecessor, Steve Ross. Consequently, he was unable to recalibrate the strategy quickly in response to Firefly''s sudden move, leading to Warner Bros.'' eventual failure in the auction.

    While the fundamental responsibility for this failure rested on the shoulders of Warner Bros. shareholders and the board''s constraints on Semel, it was clear they would never take the me. Ultimately, Semel bore the brunt of the criticism.

    Warner Bros.'' stock price had already been suffering from poor box office performance over the summer, and with this auction loss, their hopes of breaking into the animated film sector withered away. The negative impact of this event caused Warner Bros.'' stock to dive even lower, reversing a brief recovery following the summer slump.

    Under immense pressure, Semel even toyed with the idea of resignation amidst his busy schedule. However, this thought was fleeting. Among the reasons to stay was the lucrative sry the CEO position offered, and anyone who had tasted the power of leading a major media conglomerate would hesitate to give it up. So, Semel had to grapple with the challenges and search for solutions to the ongoing predicament.

    ...

    As the seller, Firefly Group celebrated their gain of $2.5 billion in cash from the deal, yet the media''s tone towards thepany was far from congrattory. The general consensus among media outlets was that the $2.5 billion auction price for Disney''s animation division was still significantly lower than its actual worth. They pointed out that the ongoing sess of The Lion King alone could provide ample proof. With an estimated profit of $1 billion over the next three years, that meant an annual ie of over $300 million for Firefly. By the industry standard, where apany''s market value typically exceeds its annual profit by tenfold, the media believed the real value of Disney''s animation division should be over $3 billion.

    In contrast to Semel, who was desperately managing media interviews in hopes of turning around Warner Bros.'' recent downturn, Firefly held a routine press conference during the signing with Paramount and subsequently refrained from engaging further with mediamentary. This underscored the advantage of being a privatepany, which could evade the pressures of stock prices and profit reports.

    Moreover, despite dampened expectations for Disney''s theme parks and merchandise businesses following Firefly''s decision to part with the animation division, the internal development strategy at Firefly Group remained crystal clear. After spinning off the traditional animation department, Jeffrey Katzenberg immediately began restructuring Disney''s animation division.

    While most of the top digital animators were at Pixar, the past few years had seen an explosion of advertising design firms and special effects studios utilizingputer graphics technology. Training a batch of skilled professionals with bothputer and artistic backgrounds from these firms to reboot Disney''s animation department seemed well within reach. Additionally, Firefly Softwarepany and Pixar Studios could offer aplete suite of mature animation technologies and some management talent for the new Disney animation division.

    Under Katzenberg''s expert control, who had previously led the revival of Disney''s animation department, everything could go smoothly, allowing the new Disney animation division to produce its first work within three years. Thus, the release schedule for Disney animated films would only see a slight interruption in 1996 before returning to a ster output pattern with Pixar and Disney alternating releases.

    The continuous divestiture of print media and the animation division had significantly boosted Firefly''s cash reserves. However, Eric had no intention of pursuing aggressive expansion just yet.

    Though the merger with ABC had proceeded without significant upheaval, at that moment, Firefly was akin to a recentlybinedrge media machine; it had just achieved the basics of operation and was still far from optimal efficiency. With several issues requiring attention, brazenly pushing for the next round of expansion would lead to two possible oues: one characterized by excessive growth resulting in an unwieldy structure and systemic problems that might lead to overall copse and financial crises; the other represented by a superficially strong entity like Warner Bros., riddled with internal discord, ultimately unable to avert decline.

    Eric envisioned a Firefly that, even when encountering high-level transitions resembling Warner Bros., could operate smoothly. Thus, while rebuilding the Disney animation division, Firefly was also busy aligning operations across its two main segments -- film and television -- through continuous adjustments at ABC, Disney Channel, ESPN, Marvel Entertainment, and more.

    Since internal restructuring usually didn''t require excessive capital, the operating cash flow within Firefly was more than capable of handling these adjustments. Given the robust profitability of Firefly''s various sectors and the significant funds flowing in from divesting those two assets, thepany''s ounts inevitably disyed a considerable cash surplus. Firefly''s choice to extend the payment period during the auction of the Disney division was partly motivated by this reason: toorge an inflow could lead to tax liabilities if it couldn''t be invested promptly.

    In the past, Eric''s first reaction to such a situation would typically be to settle Firefly''s debts. However, after several years of experience, his once-conservative approach to business began to shift. He gradually embraced the notion of a leveraged business model. Although Firefly''s debt reached $10 billion, its debt-to-equity ratio stood at a healthy 30%. For most corporations, this level of indebtedness was quite sustainable and even beneficial, enabling tax avoidance through interest expenses.

    Furthermore, while paying off debts early could save Firefly some interest costs, eliminating all $10 billion in liabilities in the short term would only save roughly $5 billion in interest. On the other hand, investing that same $10 billion could yield several times that amount within a decade, thanks to Eric''s unique advantage in navigating such markets. Therefore, the decision between settling debts or investing practically made itself.

    With abundant cash support, even though Firefly''s internal expansion momentarily paused, Eric sought to hasten investments in the high-tech sector he was familiar with. It was the dawn of thete 90s tech boom, and this was an opportune moment to enter the fray.

    ...

    To support the technical development of Yahoo''s advertising and technology alliances, Eric injected another $200 million into Yahoo. The $200 million debt financing promised to America Online also hit their ount in one lump sum. At the same time, per the original n to expedite Yahoo''s advertising alliance via an angel fund, Eric began elerating investments in promising websites.

    Nevertheless, these investments still represented only a small portion of Firefly''s cash reserves. Eric was certainly not about to blindly increase investments and be taken advantage

    of. As such, leaving nearly $1 billion in cash after dividends for other shareholders also

    became a predicament for Eric.

    ...

    "What a fortunate dilemma," he reflected while seated in his office at Firefly Studios, reviewing thetest financial statements of the group over a week after the auction of the Disney animation division.

    Just as he was contemting, Kelly walked in, gave him a light re, and handed him a schedule across the desk. "I''ve booked a Gulfstream business jet. The Victoria''s Secret team can fly to New York tomorrow morning. Miss Brighton has arranged a press conference there. Additionally, the set at the Manhattan Lexington Avenue Armory has been set up ording to your blueprints, although the remote-controlled camera track you asked about is still in customization and might take another week. And your earpiece recorders..." she paused, adding, "I don''t know what all these strange ideas of yours are, but Motor is willing to customize them for free; they just want their logo prominently disyed on the equipment." Eric nodded. "That''s fine, but we need the equipment delivered within a week."

    "Of course, I''ve already instructed them," Kelly acknowledged, then continued, "Regarding the Victoria''s Secret ns, Mr. Katzenberg''s assistant just called. He''ll also be heading to Newn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    York tomorrow."

    Looking up from a document he was reviewing, Eric asked, "What for?"

    Kelly, skipping any yful banter, exined, "Tomorrow is the 19th, Monday, and Survivor

    airs Tuesday. Mr. Katzenberg likely wants to see the ratings news for Survivor as soon as possible. If any issues arise, he can make quick adjustments."

    Eric nodded in realization. He simply remembered that ER and Friends were set to premiere on September 28th and 29th but had overlooked that Survivor''s premiere was a week earlier. Given the strong positive response from its trial run, ABC wasn''t overly worried about ER and Friends. However, for Survivor, an innovative reality show format that Eric personally selected, doubts lingered among many. Unique in its format, Survivor couldn''t facilitate a trial episode. Thus, it wasn''t surprising that Katzenberg wanted to be on hand at ABC''s New York headquarters to react promptly to any implications stemming from the show.

    In truth, Eric didn''t worry too much about Survivor''s performance, knowing that the show had proven immensely popr in his previous life -- even years after itsunch, a slew of simr reality shows emerged. But he had no intention of interfering with Katzenberg''s decisions. Noticing his silence, Kelly passed him a thick file. "This is the information you requested. The radiomunication technologypany you asked me to look into is developing products that stray too far from the main GSM format. I don''t see much investment potential unless you believe their technology canpletely rece GSM, which seems unlikely. The first- generation analog signal transmissionsted over twenty years before GSM ousted it; even if this newmunication format has more advantages, it seems unlikely to rece GSM quickly. After all, all the mainstream globalmunication technologypanies and mobile device manufacturers currently use the GSM format and have heavily invested in R&D. Those world-ss electronic giants wouldn''t allow their newly acquired technological

    advancements to be easily supnted."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 660: Chapter 661: You Wont Be Disappointed

    Chapter 660: Chapter 661: You Won''t Be Disappointed

    ?

    [Chapter 661: You Won''t Be Disappointed]

    Although Virginia and Joanna lived far away from downtown New York City in East Hampton, their lives were far from the monotony often associated with housewives.

    Virginia maintained her acting career, frequently going off to film, and Eric was quite supportive of her. Most of the time, Joanna single-handedly took care of the three little ones, Hawaii, Kevin, and Emma. After living in East Hampton for a while, Joanna found her own social circle and often took the kids to neighborhood gatherings. While searching for a preschool for three-year-old Emma, Joanna developed an interest in education. With Eric''s support, she donated money and became a board member of the East Hampton School, and she was actively nning to build a public library in the area.

    Eric, while perhaps somewhatcking as a father, kept in close touch with the women and children thanks to advancements inmunication technology. Yet, there were still many things that took Eric by surprise.

    Like right now.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    It was already the afternoon of the next day. To spend more time with the women and the kids, Eric had canceled his attendance at the Victoria''s Secret fashion show press conference on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. He spoke with Emily Brighton and Edward Razek over the phone after the press conference, and Jeffrey Katzenberg called to discuss the uing episode of Survivor that would air that evening.

    Now, at four o''clock in the warm autumn sunshine, on the spacious estatewn covered with various toys, only Eric and the two little ones remained. Virginia had taken Ewa shopping, Joanna had gone to the preschool to pick up Emma, and the maids, perhaps sensing that this was Eric''s ''quality time'' with the kids, had all disappeared.

    Holding Kevin, who was happily gnawing on a teething toy, Eric cast his gaze toward Hawaii Williams, who was deeply engrossed in a children''s book at a small table not far away.

    Half a year it had only been half a year!

    Eric silentlymented in his mind: It had only been six months since hest saw his precious daughter who loved bedtime stories, and now she had turned into a little oddball.

    What was more frustrating was that the women had all kept this from him; he had only learned about his daughter''s transformation just yesterday.

    Watching his daughter turn the pages, Eric almost wanted to shout, "Sweetheart, can we not do things a one-and-a-half-year-old should be doing?"

    As a father, Eric naturally wished for his children to be smarter than the average kid, perhaps even to be geniuses. However, he also understood that being too brilliant could often lead to difficulties. Just like yesterday, when his daughter could clearly remember him after six months apart and call him "Daddy" as though she was familiar, Eric felt that for her, it was more of a symbol. Just like books, toys, kittens, and birds, the term "Daddy" seemed to have be just another noun in her mind.

    It was an awful feeling.

    After a moment''s thought, Eric walked over and squatted down beside his daughter, peering at the book she was holding. Trying to strike up a conversation, he asked, "What book are you reading, Hawaii?"

    The little girl nced up at Eric and then looked down again, responding in a tone that was remarkably mature for her age, "Dad, I''m just a kid. You don''t have to pretend around me, okay?"

    Eric nearly fell over.

    So she still knew she was a kid!

    "Alright, Hawaii, how about you put the book down and y with Kevin for a while? How about the seesaw?"

    Hawaii nced at the seesaw before quickly responding, "I don''t want to."

    Eric patiently tried to coax her, "Then what do you want to y? You shouldn''t just read all the time, or your eyes are going to go bad, and then you''ll have to wear really ugly sses."

    Hawaii tilted her little head, hesitated for a moment, then handed her book to Eric, saying, "Dad, read it to me."

    "Uh..."

    Eric took the book, promptly sat down on thewn, and continued holding his son. He looked at his daughter, who was wide-eyed, saying, "Hey, besides reading and listening to stories, can''t we do something else?"

    Hawaii focused intently on the corner of the book peeking out from under Eric, seeming to realize she couldn''t retrieve it from him. Pouting her little lips, she muttered "You''re such a mean dad," and ran off toward the vi.

    Eric could only helplessly watch his daughter''s small figure disappear. He picked up Kevin and followed her inside.

    ...

    By evening, the women returned one after another. Eric moved into the kitchen to help Joanna prepare dinner, casually bringing up the subject of their daughter.

    "Haha, maybe Hawaii has inherited the genes of Pandora aliens, just like you, she''s a genius," Joanna said, joking without a worry.

    Eric wanted to tell Joanna that he wasn''t a genius but a little lucky: "Joanna, I think we should take this issue seriously. Compared to her peers, Hawaii''s performance is way too extraordinary, and that''s not a good sign. Don''t you see? Her thinking has be a bit too symbolic. It feels like when she calls me ''Daddy,'' it''s not much different from naming a tree. If this continues, she''ll likely grow up to be very indifferent, and I''m sure you wouldn''t want that to happen, would you?"

    Joanna added mushrooms to the soup pot and shot him a re, "That''s because you don''t spend enough time with her. I don''t feel any coldness when Hawaii calls me ''Mommy.""

    "Okay, fine, that''s on me, but..."

    Joanna put the lid on the pot, leaned over, and kissed Eric''s cheek, smiling. "Hawaii''s situation is indeed a bit unique, but I''ve consulted an education professor from Columbia University, who gave me a lot of advice. I''m going to make sure to raise Hawaii well, so don''t worry."

    Feeling somewhat relieved, Eric then curiously asked, "Did you ask -- why Hawaii turned out this way?"

    Joanna nodded,ughing, "It''s definitely because of your genes, she''s got a high IQ. Besides, the professor I consulted mentioned that it might be because I read to her a lot when she was younger. Our daughter is naturally very bright, so after being exposed to too much information, it led to her current condition."

    Eric nodded and said, "I think you should stop reading her bedtime stories for a while."

    "I''m not reading those anymore. Following the professor''s advice, I just need to ensure Hawaii is exposed to information that fits her age, and things will improve," Joanna said before adding, "Are you sure you won''t regret skipping the press conference for the Victoria''s Secret show? I heard from Emily that it was the first public event ever!"

    "I don''t need any more fame at this point. It''s better to leave the spotlight for the models; it benefits both Firefly and Victoria''s Secret."

    "Ha, I don''t understand that stuff, but I''m looking forward to your new show tonight on ABC

    that you personally selected. I think it''s called Survivor."

    Eric chuckled, "You certainly won''t be disappointed."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 662: Chapter 663: Did I Say Something Wrong?

    Chapter 662: Chapter 663: Did I Say Something Wrong?

    ?

    [Chapter 663: Did I Say Something Wrong?]

    After there was a knock at the conference room door, the same female staff member walked in again. Having learned from the previous lesson, she kept herments brief this time. With a smile, she handed the results to Katzenberg and softly said, "Mr. Katzenberg, here are the ratings for the half-hour mark."

    Despite his impatient nature, Katzenberg was astute and recognized the meaning behind the staff member''s smile. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment and turned his attention to the half-hour rating report.

    The X-Files still held the top spot, though its viewership had declined from 22.1 million at its premiere to 21.2 million, a drop of 900,000 viewers. In second ce, Seinfeld saw a rebound in its ratings, rising from 19.9 million to 20.6 million, an increase of 700,000.

    Then, Katzenberg''s sharp eyes lit up as he nced at Survivor, which came in third. With 19.1 million viewers, Survivor had skyrocketed by 1.3 million viewers during its half-hour segment, a significant increasepared to Seinfeld''s 700,000 boost.

    Tom Murphy and Robert Iger, who stood by Katzenberg''s side, both broke into smiles.

    "The viewership actually increased by 1.3 million," Robert Igermented, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Seinfeld only aired one episode, and NBC''s follow-up is a brand-new si, Perfect Town, which surely can''tpete with Survivor. Plus, if The X-Files continues to slip, Survivor may very well hit the 20 million mark."

    [T/N: Perfect Town is a new si butterfly-ed into existance.]

    As the viewership report circted around the conference room, silence gripped the room when the initial viewership numbers came in. After all, everyone present could only think of the outrageous ratings that Who Wants to Be a Millionaire achieved a few years back. While everyone recognized thatparing it to Millionaire would be pointless, the initial viewership of 17.8 million was still quite respectable. However, no one could guarantee where the ratings might head next.

    But now, with the half-hour ratings released, the atmosphere in the conference room grew lively. Various executives began to voice their opinions.

    Just as Robert Iger finished speaking, another executive chimed in, "Yes, a premiere viewership of 20 million! While it doesn''tpare to several years ago with Millionaire, it still sets the record for reality shows in recent years."

    "There''s also the fact that Survivor has another episode after The X-Files, so these numbers might climb a little higher."

    "If the ratings reach 20 million, we definitely need to capitalize on that. The marketing department should roll out a fresh promotional n."

    "Perhaps we can use Survivor as a lead-in for next week''s new show."

    Amidst the excited chatter, Allen raised his fist and exchanged high-fives with the director, writer, and other key figures of Survivor. The upward trend in viewership indicated that Survivor was off to a solid start, alleviating all concerns among the creative team.

    Katzenberg, Murphy, and Iger came over to extend their congrattions.

    ...

    With the excitement in the room, the next half-hour seemed to fly by. Unbeknownst to the group, the first episode of Survivor hade to a close. After a shortmercial break, the opening credits for the second episode began to roll. About ten minutes into dataption, the conference room door swung open once again. All eyes shifted to the staff member who walked in, who had been previously deep in low-key discussions.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Suddenly caught in the spotlight of over a dozen pairs of eyes, the staff member''s face turned slightly red. Still, she raised thetest ratings report in hand and excitedly announced, "Survivor''stest ratings reached 20.6 million, surpassing The X-Files by 100,000 and iming the top spot."

    "Wow!"

    Though several executives were present, cheers erupted throughout the room.

    After a brief conversation with Tom Murphy and Robert Iger, Katzenberg approached Allen and the team, saying, "Allen, Mark, Charlie, you might want to start preparing for the next season."

    Allen nodded. With the premiere ratings clearly on the rise, and now over 20 million viewers, a new season was almost a certainty.

    Standing next to Allen, Charlie Parsons, the writer and creator of Survivor, felt a rush of excitement but couldn''t help but think of Eric. If Eric hadn''t personally handpicked Survivor from a plethora of project ideas, Charlie wondered if Survivor would ever have made it to the screen, let alone achieved today''s sess. He couldn''t resist saying, "Mr. Katzenberg, I heard Mr. Williams is currently in New York; perhaps we should share this good news with him."

    Upon hearing Charlie Parsons''ment, Katzenberg, Murphy, Iger, and even Allen exchanged peculiar expressions.

    Charlie looked quizzically at the group, pondering what he might have said wrong. Katzenberg and the others understood exactly where Eric was at the moment, but they also remembered Eric''s unwavering confidence in Survivor since it was chosen. They realized that while a show''s premiere hitting 20 million was indeed a momentous event for awork, for Eric, it might have merely been a foregone conclusion. After all, Eric had never wavered in his strong support for this project.

    Seeing Charlie''s confusion, Katzenberg shared knowing nces with Murphy and Iger before replying, "Right now, it might not be the best time to interrupt Eric. I''ll give him a call once we have theplete data from the two episodes."

    What Katzenberg and the others had in mind was that Eric, who already made history with Millionaire, likely wouldn''t be overly concerned with Survivor''s premiere numbers. They didn''t want to disturb him while he spent time with his family.

    On the other hand, Charlie, unaware of the subtleties, mistakenly thought the odd expressions from the executives rted to Eric''s more scandalous rumors. He imagined Eric somewhere indulgently intimate, prompting those bigwigs to appear so peculiar. Although inwardly envious of Eric''s romantic escapades, Charlie quickly pretended to understand and smiled at everyone, wisely choosing not to press the topic further.

    ...

    In contrast to the straightforward premiere, Survivor''s second episode featured a taste- testingpetition that had many fans buzzing about the series. This time, considering the audience''s tolerance levels, the producers didn''t feature more extreme items like the increasingly bizarre bugrvae or animal embryos. Instead, they showcased a dish featuring live octopus tentacles -- a delicacy widely epted in East Asia. Though the wriggling tentacles might seem off-putting, the crowd in the conference room appeared intrigued, even relishing the missteps of the contestants in the program.

    However, while they began to enjoy the reality show, everyone remained focused on the

    evolving ratings.

    When the staff member entered again at the half-hour mark of the second episode to announce that Survivor''s ratings had hit 22 million, even usually reserved Murphy couldn''t contain himself and shouted to his assistant, "Pop the champagne!"

    In the end, Survivor''s top ratings that night astonished staff members at Nielsen, reaching 23.6 million. After the show ended, Katzenberg effortlessly took out his wallet and invited all the staff working in the ABC building to party at the headquarters'' dining room all night long.

    ...

    The next day, Nielsen released even more detailed Tuesday ratings, revealing that Survivor''s premiere umted a peak of 23.75 million viewers, with an average of 21.12 million, dominating the charts. This surpassed The X-Files'' peak rating of 22.1 million and an average of 20.96 million, crowning it as the day''s viewing champion.

    ABCwork initially worried that Survivor wouldn''t perform well in the 18 to 49 age demographic, especially since The X-Files primarily appealed to younger viewers and advertisers often focused on that demographic''s ratings.

    Surprisingly, Survivor''s numbers defied expectations, achieving an 8.7 rating among the 18 to 49 age group with a market share of 23%, meaning around 1.2 million viewers in that demographic tuned in. In stark contrast, The X-Files scored only 7.1 and 17%, still impressive but clearly outmatched by Survivor.

    The explosive ratings of Survivor sparked heated discussions among the public, with the term "Survivor" echoed in conversations across America. The press seized the opportunity, with The New York Times publicly praising Survivor as "a surprisingly riveting game of real-life human dynamics and nature''s harsh realities," while The Washington Postuded it for "entirely transforming the essence of reality television; this is what a true ''reality'' show

    looks like."

    With the heightened buzz surrounding the show, ABC quickly announced the renewal of Survivor and initiated auditions for the next season.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 664: Chapter 665: Exile

    Chapter 664: Chapter 665: Exile

    ?

    [Chapter 665: Exile]

    Eric did not prohibit the Victoria''s Secret Angels from engaging with the media for self- promotion. It was no surprise to see Heidi Klum''s street-style photos sshed across magazine covers. However, when Emily flipped through the magazine and disyed an exclusive interview in front of him, Eric''s eyebrows furrowed at the headline "Behind the Scenes of the Victoria''s Secret Show."

    Eric took a tissue from one of his staff members to wipe his greasy hands and took the copy of Fashion New York.

    While he did not stop the Angels from confidentially contacting the media to promote themselves, he had repeatedly emphasized from the start that no details about the Victoria''s Secret Show were to be leaked. Those terms were even included in their contracts. Strict confidentiality measures kept the media intensely focused on the show, achieving the best publicity results.

    Yet, in this interview, Heidi Klum had subtly revealed some intricate details about the background music created by Eric himself and the unique wing designs of the Angels -- details never disclosed by the production team before. While some of her words seemed vague, anyone with a normal IQ could piece it together.

    After reading the interview, Eric''s frown deepened further as he shook his head and sighed, "These girls really make me worry."

    The nearby Diane Kruger and other models, waiting to test the runway camera angles, couldn''t help but roll their eyes at Eric''s seemingly old-fashioned remark. After all, at least half of the forty supermodels were not much younger than Eric. Of course, thedies did not discuss it in front of him; instead, they leaned in to peek at the magazine, curious to know what mess Heidi Klum had stirred up. Over the past few months, they had cornered Eric''s temperament quite well. Although his tone didn''t seem angry, they all understood he was definitely upset.

    Emily chose to ignore Eric''sment and stated seriously, "The interview in Fashion New York has already been picked up by several media outlets. Many people are discussing the details disclosed in the article. While Heidi Klum didn''t reveal too much, I think we should take this seriously. If we don''t address it..." She nced at the mboyantdies nearby and continued, "If we don''t handle it, even more information will be leaked."

    Eric, of course, realized the severity of the situation. If these troublesome supermodels weren''t stopped, they would undoubtedly continue leaking more information to get attention. If that happened, by the time the Victoria''s Secret Show aired, the media and the audience might have already lost interest due to all the exposed details.

    "Have Heidi Klume to see me. And," Eric recalled, saying, "Isn''t Heidi currently under contract with Metropolitan Models? Call the agency''s owner and inform them of the situation."

    "Are you only having Heidie over? I think you should talk to everyone," Emily responded. After thinking for a moment, she added, "Also, Heidi''s actions have already vited the contract; she should face some consequences. Eric, you can''t always pamper them."

    "They''re not my daughters; why should I pamper them?" Eric chuckled as he shook his head. "Everyone''s busy. It''s enough for her toe alone."

    Emily appeared somewhat exasperated but walked away to make the call.

    ...

    Eric shifted his focus back to the camera on the slide rail and discussed some adjustments with Nicole. He stood and addressed the Angels present, saying, "Alright, you beautiful troublemakers, hop on stage so we can test the effect."

    When the girls heard Eric make that joke, they assumed his irritation had somewhat passed, and they chuckled as they made their way onto the wide runway.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Half an hourter, a ck sedan pulled up outside the factory. Justin Pierce, a modeling agent, stepped out with Heidi Klum, once again instructing, "Heidi, remember, you have to insist this was just an ident. You were tricked by that reporter from Fashion New York, and you voluntarily admitted your mistake. Got it?"

    Heidi Klum took a small mirror from her handbag to touch up her makeup, speaking somewhat impatiently, "Of course I know, Justin. You''ve said it a hundred times."

    Justin Pierce wanted to say something more, but Heidi had already brushed him off and was striding toward the door.

    Emily, standing off to the side watching Eric test the camera effects, was the first to notice the arrival of Heidi and Justin. She initially nned to scold for a few moments in a stern manner, but she saw Heidi Klum walking directly towards Eric.

    As a faint scent of perfume wafted by, Eric nced up from the camera monitor when Heidi approached him, giving a slight nod and signaling her to wait.

    However, Heidi, eager to make amends, spontaneously asked while pointing at the models strutting on the runway, "Mr. Williams, do you need me to go up as well?"

    Eric did not respond right away. Instead, he gestured for everyone to stop and told Nicole beside him, "The effect is looking good. Set up the backup slide rail ording to today''s parameters."

    After instructing everyone to take a break, Eric led Heidi towards the lounge. Concerned, Emily followed closely, while the others, already aware of the situation, gathered elsewhere. Seeing Eric pick up the Fashion New York magazine, Heidi immediately adopted a pitiful expression, saying, "Mr. Williams, I''m really sorry. This was an ident. I promise it won''t happen again. The reporter who wrote the article is a friend of mine. We were just having dinner, and I casually mentioned some things about the Victoria''s Secret Show. I didn''t think she would publish them. I''ve already cut ties with her; Justin can vouch for it."

    Justin Pierce quickly nodded in agreement.

    At just 21 years old, still fresh-faced, Heidi Klum was already showing the excellent eloquence that wouldter help her on television. Her tone had a delightful neighborly charm.

    Eric found it amusing to watch Heidi Klum''s lips flutter with a hint of yfulness, and he simply put the magazine down.

    Once she had finished speaking, Heidi noticed Eric''s gaze on her lips, and she provocatively curved her smile, revealing an attractive arc.

    Momentster, Eric casually remarked, "Actually, I was going to have Michel Levaton fire you, Heidi. The contract states it clearly, and I''ve reminded you all more than once not to disclose any details of the Victoria''s Secret Show to the media, but you still crossed the line." Michel Levaton was the founder of Metropolitan Models, and Eric''s first words instantly caused tears to well up in the eyes of Heidi and Justin, while Emily disyed a look of shock. She had thought Eric would merely scold them, not act on something... wait, he mentioned "was going to," so what now?

    As soon as Emily realized it, the initially shocked Heidi Klumprehended Eric''s implications as well, stammering, "So...so..."

    Eric didn''t keep her in suspense. "But you''re a very promising model; it would be a waste to leave this industry, so I don''t n on doing that."

    Heidi Klum rxed, squeezing her Prada handbag tightly and gazing pleadingly at Eric. She understood that he hadn''t finished speaking.

    "However, you definitely aren''t suitable to participate in this Victoria''s Secret Show now. Some mistakes are forgivable, and you can learn from them. But there are other mistakes that carry

    consequences."

    When Heidi heard Eric''s words, she feltpletely drained. She had just started her modeling career two years prior and was on a rapid rise. If she missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she couldn''t imagine where her career would head next. With those thoughts, her previously innocent facade evaporated, and she stepped closer, grabbing Eric''s arm, pleading, "Mr. Williams, please give me another chance. I''m really, really sorry. I promise it won''t happen again. I''ll ept any punishment; just please don''t make me leave this ce,

    I''m begging you."

    As she spoke, she brushed against Eric''s arm with her body gently.

    Standing beside them, Emily opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately

    held back.

    As a fashionpany owner, Emily had much interaction with the modeling world. She knew

    very well that not many of these beautiful girls were as innocent as they pretended to be. This approach was actually the best solution. With this lesson learned, she believed that the other Victoria''s Secret Angels would surely steer clear of any transgressions. As for finding a recement for Heidi Klum, the modeling industry was vast, and it wouldn''t be hard to find

    one or two substitutes.

    "Don''t be like that, Heidi. I haven''t finished speaking," Eric drew back his arm and gently pushed Heidi into a chair.

    Thinking that Eric''s attitude had softened, sheplied, sitting down in the chair with her forlorn expression mixed with a touch of flirtatiousness, watching him with anticipation. Eric picked up the magazine again and casually flipped through it. "You mentioned in the article that you hope to travel, right?"

    Heidi nodded, unsure of where Eric was heading with this question.

    "Well, then why don''t you take a trip? It''s autumn in the Northern Hemisphere; how about

    New Zend? it''s springtime down there," he added after some thought, "You cane back

    around Christmas."

    Heidi''sst bit of hope shattered at those words, and her mind raced with one thought: what

    kind of ce is New Zend?

    After saying this, Eric nced at Justin Pierce, standing beside Heidi Klum, and said, "You

    should go with her."

    Disappointed to be leaving, Heidi Klum stood by the bustling Lexington Avenue, biting her thin lips angrily as she red at a passerby looking her way. After what felt like an eternity, Justin Pierce finally wrapped up his call and walked over, his expression equally disheartened. "I''ve spoken with Mr. Zommer; he''s booked a flight for tonight... to New Zend."

    In the original timeline, New Zend only became a talk of the town as a Middle-Earth tourist destination after the release of The Lord of the Rings series. But at this moment, for most people, New Zend was akin to a remote and poor ce.

    Heidi kicked a nearby light pole, lifting her chin defiantly as she said, "I''m not going to some godforsaken New Zend. What is this, exile? Haha, Eric Williams thinks he is someone important, Frederick the Great? Since he''s fired me, why should I listen to him? Justin, didn''t Dior want me as the face of their fragrancest month? We should head to France right now." Justin Pierce felt a sense of helplessness for this pampered girl who hadn''t grasped the situation. "Heidi, Dior was interested while you still held the Victoria''s Secret Angel contract. Now that you''ve been fired, that endorsement is off the table."

    Heidi opened her mouth in shock, her tone filled with bitterness. "So what if it''s gone? Do you

    think I can''t find other work?"

    Justin Pierce didn''t directly respond. He shrugged his shoulders, "Before this interview, I

    warned you not to mention any inside details about the Victoria''s Secret Show, but you didn''t

    listen to me."

    Heidi immediately protested, "Are you ming me? But you went along with it too; don''t think I didn''t notice."

    "Ultimately, the decision lies with you," Justin said, his patience wearing thin. "So, if you

    don''t want to go to New Zend, whatever, I''ll head back to the apartment to pack my

    things."

    Heidi''s eyes widened. "What, you''re going by yourself?"

    "If I don''t go, Mr. Zommer will fire me," Justin took a deep breath and looked at the blonde beauty he had helped to rise to this point, exining patiently. "Eric Williams isn''t Frederick the Great, but he controls thergest media group in North America, epassing a third of the national televisionworks and countless media resources. Heidi, do you even realize the kind of influence that means? Even the president wouldn''t lightly cross such a media mogul. Our modeling agency, which relies heavily on media resources, would steer clear of him. Yes, it really is exile. You should be thankful that Eric Williams is only punishing you and doesn''t intend to expel you from the modeling industry. But if you refuse to go to New Zend, Zommer will terminate your contract. Under Eric Williams'' pressure, no other top modeling agencies will sign you again. Sure, you can sign with some lesser agencies or even go solo, but without the support of a top-tier modeling agency, you won''t be able to secure endorsements from leading brands, not to mention another opportunity like the Victoria''s Secret Show. In that situation, how far do you think you can go in this industry?"

    Heidi''s once defiant expression now fell t.

    "So, let''s go to New Zend together; it''s only a couple of months after all," Justin said, his voice tinged with bitterness, looking at the model he had nurtured. "At least the scenery there

    is really beautiful."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 667: Chapter 668: The Show Begins

    Chapter 667: Chapter 668: The Show Begins

    ?

    [Chapter 668: The Show Begins]

    Under the watchful eyes of the public, the day finally arrived on November 2.

    The Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show was set to kick off at seven in the evening, with everything expected to conclude by eight-thirty. The after-party was scheduled at the Gramercy Hotel, not far from the Armory on Lexington Avenue.

    From the early morning of that day, media reporters stationed in New York began to gather around the Armory. By noon, the roads within hundreds of meters of the Armory were already packed with journalists from various outlets. After coordinating with the city''s officials, Firefly Group had roads barricaded between two blocks around the Armory early on November 2. Fortunately, the Armory was at the southern end of Lexington Avenue, which was not a particrly busy area, so the roadblocks did not severely disrupt public transportation nearby. Hence, the department readily approved Firefly''s request.

    The project team had already entered the Armory early that morning, working on the final touches under strict security. Even the invited media had to wait until their entry time arrived before being allowed in. Most uninvited reporters could only patiently wait outside, hoping to glean some useful information.

    Although guest entry was at six o''clock, there were always people hoping to gain attention for various reasons. The gathering of hundreds of media personnel undoubtedly highlighted this hotspot for attention-seekers. Some reporters, who had staked out prime shooting locations outside since early morning, anticipated they would have to wait until afternoon for any useful news. Little did they know, they had underestimated the fashion event''s impact and some individuals'' deep desire for fame.

    Throughout the day, the streets around the Armory were buzzing with various attempts to snag an attention boost. Among these were numerous models; after all, the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show catered to only forty lucky ones. New York, as a fashion capital, was brimming with morous dreamers feeling the show''s allure. Those models not making it onto the Victoria''s Secret runway found alternative pathways.

    Some more established models often arrived with a small team, snapping various photos along the streets surrounding the Armory, hoping to create buzz for the next day''s headlines like "XXX Attends Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show." Even if they never set foot inside, under the industry''s tacit eptance of such attention-grabbing tactics, no one would call them out. Models without status had to rely on a shy appearance, either strutting back and forth on the street or pretending to wait for friends under a streetlight for hours. This garnered countless shes from the cameras. Although most photos would likely be discarded by the journalists, any snippet appearing in newspapers or magazines was an opportunity for these girls. If one caught the attention of a fashion mogul, that could catalyze their rise. There were precedents; Cindy Crawford had earlier garnered fashion world interest from a few chance street shots taken by a small reporter, which set her on her current path.

    ...

    As the showtime neared, reporters gathered near the Armory maintained an air of superiority, seemingly aware of the inside scoop. asionally, they would snap a few shots with a hint of condescension. However, as dusk approached and they watched some colleagues escorted inside ahead of schedule, all media personnel perked up, waiting eagerly for six o''clock. They knew that with Eric Williams in the mix, even invitations sent to the First Family would likely not be declined. While the Victoria''s Secret project team did not publicly unveil any guest list, it was certain that the lineup for the show would be formidable.

    Just as the clock approached five-forty, a shy white stretch limousine arrived at the end of the red carpet outside the Armory, surprising all. The sudden appearance caused a stir, and the shbulbs began to pop frenziedly.

    The limo driver exited, opening the door respectfully, and a doll-faced girl in a pink short coat eagerly hopped out.

    "Wow, it''s busy!" the girl cheerfully said to herself, then waved at the nearest group of reporters. "Hey, everyone!"

    Upon seeing Drew Barrymore, who had a close rtionship with Eric, the crowd of reporters erupted into excitement. When the girl greeted them, they mored to respond chaotically. One reporter boldly shouted, "Miss Barrymore, are you here to support Mr. Williams?" The girl beamed and nodded, "Yep."

    Amid the noise, another brave reporter raised their voice, "Miss Barrymore, what do you think about Mr. Williams'' rumored rtionship with Heidi Klum?"

    Drew maintained her smile. "I think the stuff you guys write is pretty hrious; I don''t have an opinion. As long as everyone''s happy, that''s what matters."

    Her slightly sarcastic remark left some reporters looking sheepish, while others noted that she seemed in no rush to step forward, prompting questions that were cut off when the limousine door opened again.

    From the back of the car emerged two stunning, identical-looking blonde Russian twins. Dressed simrly in dark fitted coats and ck knee-high boots, they carried an almost military air beneath their striking features.

    In recent years, while Drew had continued her yful antics, she had kept a low profile away from the media. Suddenly appearing in front of a crowd with the Russian twins provoked a faint stir among reporters.

    "Miss Barrymore, who are these beautifuldies? Are they models too?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Drew casually ced her hands in her pockets, strolling leisurely along the red carpet towards the Armory''s entrance. "They''re Natasha; they aren''t models, they''re my bodyguards."

    Despite recognizing the twins'' somewhat cold demeanor, their identical exquisite faces made it hard for reporters to believe that they were indeed bodyguards. "Miss Barrymore, you must be kidding, or are they set to y bodyguards in a Firefly film?"

    "Ha ha, that''s an interesting thought. Maybe I could have them give it a try someday." Saying this, Drew walked to the entrance of the Armory. The tall security guard didn''t even ask her for an invitation, eagerly unhooking the barricade and respectfully letting her and the twins in, eliciting discontent from some reporters.

    One reporter asked in an usatory tone, "Hey, big guy, doesn''t Drew Barrymore need an invitation?"

    The question received only an exaggerated roll of the eyes.

    ...

    Drew stepped into the Armory''s external lobby, casually doodling on a wall designated for photos. Some special guest photographers were caught by surprise as she slipped away before they were ready. As she walked down the corridor to the backstage area, Drew curiously examined theyout around her, suddenly asking the twins behind her, "Natasha, what did it feel like to be the center of attention just now?"

    After exchanging nces, one replied, "Boss, it felt... awkward."

    "Ha ha, exactly. Just don''t get too fond of that feeling; otherwise, you''ll find it quite

    distressing."

    The twins nodded in quiet agreement, following Drew closely. They understood why she had said that; even if they grew fond of the attention, this seemingly innocuous boss would not grant them too many opportunities to bask in it; their destinies were already set. Thinking of this, both twins felt an image of their youthful master spring to mind, a figure who preferred to be called "Master." While they understood the implications that came with it, they didn''t feel much resistance, only a sense of awe. They knew that although he was young, he was a significantly powerful figure, with wealth exceeding even the Russian Federation''s treasury post-Soviet copse. This wealth, detached from their lives, nheless provided them with unprecedented security.

    ...

    Once Drew made her appearance, the clock swiftly turned to six. Limousines began to arrive, parking along the not-so-long red carpet, as the crowd of reporters frantically clicked their shutters. New York''s political elites, fashion tycoons, media executives, and Hollywood stars -- figures who rarely congregated -- were all in view. Although Eric had no intention of allowing these guests to steal the thunder from the Victoria''s Secret Angels, he didn''t refuse their eager attendance. Undeniably, the presence of these heavyweights would empower the media coverage, keeping conversations about the show lively until its scheduled airing in

    December.

    As minutes ticked by, invited guests could still walk the red carpet while the majority of regr guests had to enter through different paths; otherwise, getting a thousand guests inside in an hour would be impossible.

    ...

    As seven o''clock approached, Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, sat in the front row on the left side of the runway, quietly listening to the distantmotion outside. She engaged in hushed chat with Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner, her gaze sweeping over the surroundingvish crowd and the elegant arrangements within, feeling a twinge of nostalgia. Since taking the helm at Vogue, Anna had been the focal point at any major fashion event she attended. Traditionally, primary organizers and designers approached her to exchange pleasantries. Today, however, Anna felt a rare sensation of being overlooked. Yet she felt neither anger nor frustration because many around her eclipsed her in fame and stature. Just nearby sat SI Newhouse, the head of Conde Nast, Vogue''s parentpany. It was usually the other way around; celebrities came to her to say hello, but she had just made her rounds with

    him.

    Finally, the clock struck seven. With a few subtle clicks, the lights shifted, plunging the guest seating into dimness as the already glittering silver-sequined runway sparkled even brighter. Everyone''s gaze turned towards the towering archway.

    Behind the arch, a specialized rock band setup awaited in front of a solid rear-projected giant screen. Anna couldn''t help but recall the rumors she had heard, her mind tinged with both curiosity and anticipation -- surely Eric Williams would not take to the stage. However, she quickly dismissed the notion -- a fashion show directed by Eric was usible,

    but performing on stage under his current status would be too over the top. Anna leaned closer to Jann Wenner, asking softly, "Jann, do you know which bands will be performing?" Jann shook his head, "I''m not sure. What we''ve gathered is that Firefly Group is set to showcase some artists from their stable. Jeffrey Katzenberg reorganized all the music divisions under Firefly recently, creating Firefly Records. But from what we''ve heard from recent gossip, we all know that Eric Williams personallyposed all the BGM for this show. His previous track, New-Divide, was amazing; I bet this one won''t disappoint either. I''m actually quite looking forward to it."

    Anna nodded. While music intrigued her less, she was far more eager to see what kind of inner

    show Eric would present.

    As the lights illuminated, Eric stepped out on stage, delivering a brief address before

    retreating to warm apuse.

    The stage lights shifted again, deep crimson lights washing over the runway, bathing the

    interior in a vibrant red glow.

    With crisp drumbeats echoing, a British ceremonial guard stepped out under the red lights,

    beginning the pre-performance.

    Some in the crowd remained intensely curious; others appeared quite indifferent, questioning

    the meaning behind it all.

    However, the sounds that followed quickly resolved their uncertainty, as the drumbeats quickened, leading the announcer to dere the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show''s first theme:

    British Invasion.

    A few unfamiliar rock youths took the stage, and explosive music erupted in the air.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 669: Chapter 670: I Messed Up

    Chapter 669: Chapter 670: I Messed Up

    ?

    [Chapter 670: I Messed Up]

    The moment Diane Kruger lost her high heel, a jolt ran through her mind, and she felt as if all the air had been sucked out of her. The sudden sensation of falling almost made her copse

    on the runway.

    I messed up?

    I messed up!

    I messed up... I messed up... I messed up...

    That soul-crushing thought surged through Diane Kruger''s mind countless times. She thought she heard the audience''s mockingughter below, but no one shouted "stop." The lights continued to shift, the music yed on, and the artificial snow in the venue fell in a flurry. So, after a moment''s hesitation, she lifted her bare left foot and pressed on, her months of grueling training finally paying off. Even though she had lost one high heel, Diane Kruger quickly regained her bnce and swaggered down the runway with her trademark confidence.

    As the heel fell, some people in the audience couldn''t help but show a glee of misfortune on their faces. Yet, when Diane Kruger steadied herself, many of them felt a twinge of disappointment: Why didn''t she fall?

    However, as Diane Kruger confidently walked to the end of the runway, the mood in the audience gradually shifted. Everyone began to reflect on how they would handle such a sudden situation, and they all knew the answer was a resounding "no" inparison to what this girl was managing.

    Those who remained strong in adversity easily earned people''s instinctive respect, and soon the feelings of schadenfreude were reced by admiration. Thus, when Diane Kruger began her turn, spontaneous apuse slowly erupted in the venue. The ovation reached a crescendo as shepleted her walk, nearly drowning out the music at the end.

    Basically following her rigorous training instincts, Diane Kruger didn''t even notice the change in the audience''s mood. She forced herself to walk to the finish line, and just as she slipped behind the backstage entrance, certain the cameras would no longer catch her, thest of her strength suddenly drained away. Tears streamed down her face as she copsed softly on the steps leading to the backstage exit.

    ...

    Apart from Eric, who was in the control room, there were threerge screens backstage showing the situation in the hall. When they saw Diane Kruger''s heel drop, the backstage coordinator quickly alerted everyone via inte within mere seconds. Diane was still on the runway, and already backstage was in a flurry.

    In the control room, noticing the heel drop, Eric''s heart sank. A once wless show was now marred by an unexpected incident, and it was impossible not to feel anger.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But the moment had passed, and Eric knew that being angry wouldn''t do any good. As he watched Diane quickly regain herposure and the audience''s response shift, his furrowed brows began to rx. He absentmindedly rubbed the inte he held and thought for a moment before he pressed the button to control allmunication channels, speaking firmly, "This is Eric Williams. Everyone take your roles, carry on without panic. Nicole, get your assistant to bring that high heel to me, immediately."

    Setting down the inte, Eric nced at the monitor, observing the scene as it returned to normalcy. He issued a few quick instructions to an attendant sitting in front of the screens and then briskly exited the control room.

    As he stepped out, Emily and Edward Razek approached him.

    Feeling equally concerned, Emily urgently said, "Eric, I just asked Donnie in logistics about redoing this theme. The artificial snow won''tst for the full four minutes. It''ll take at least half an hour to reassemble. What should we do?"

    Recalling what he''d just witnessed, Eric replied as he walked, "No need for a re-shoot. Have Tinae over; we need to discuss this."

    Emily was taken aback. "What? No re-shoot? But..."

    "Don''t worry, Emily. I have some good ideas."

    As they spoke, they reached the connecting entrance to the main area. The Victoria''s Secret Angels who finished their tasks returned from the front, their faces disying almost unanimous feelings of relief. Diane Kruger had already sat down on the steps. When she saw Eric, her slender frame tensed slightly, and the tears she couldn''t stop flowed down again. "I''m so sorry, Mr. Williams. I messed up. It wasn''t intentional. I don''t know why that high heel... why it just fell off."

    Eric sighed softly. Although he already had a n in mind, the show hadn''t reached the perfection he wanted. Seeing Diane still adorned with the heavy angel wings, he signaled to two staff members, saying, "Help Diane take off her wings. And where''s that high heel?"

    Upon hearing Eric wanted to remove her precious angel wings, Diane''s expression grew even more sorrowful, but she didn''t dare say anything. After messing up something so important, even if there were re-shoots, she''d have no part in it.

    The wings were soon taken off. Without them, Diane appeared even more fragile, and coupled with her heartbreak, anyone couldn''t help but feel a wave of sympathy.

    Nicole, who was responsible for photography at the front, quickly had an assistant bring over the high heel. Eric instructed that it be ced in a clear stic bag. Sitting beside the still crying girl, Eric gently ced his hand around her.

    Feeling Eric''s act, Diane stiffened for a moment but soon leaned against him. In that instant, she found an unexinable sense of sce, gradually stopping her sobbing.

    Seeing this scene, the girl who hade with Eric couldn''t help but pout, and the surrounding onlookers shared nces that reflected confusion. But before they could express any jealousy, they were drawn to what Eric did next -- a few even gasped.

    Because Eric was inspecting the high heel through the stic bag.

    The final theme continued, with music still ying, but in that small area by the backstage entrance, a rare silence fell as Eric scrutinized the shoe.

    Why was Eric checking that high heel?!

    Keen observers noticed that the front of the silver high heel in the clear stic bag was attached with a broken strap, severed into two pieces. A thought zed in everyone''s minds - - someone had sabotaged Diane Kruger''s shoe to make her trip.

    Such underhanded maneuvers were fairlymon in the fashion industry. Models had indeed pushed one another off bnce on the runway before. But no one had expected that someone would dare do such a thing at Eric''s big show.

    When most people saw Eric''s grave expression, they grew tense, but Emily stepped forward without hesitation, taking the high heel from him and examining it closely. "Eric, it looks like the break might be natural?"

    Eric also suspected the strap''s fracture could be from natural wear but found the timing coincidental. The shoe had only been worn during final dress rehearsals, and those runs had gone without issue; now it had broken off so suddenly -- it seemed too suspicious. Surveying the upper management in the Victoria''s Secret project team and the staff peeking nearby, Eric thought for a moment and then handed the stic bagged shoe back to Emily. "Contact the FBI to perform a trace analysis on that strap. We need to confirm if it was an idental break. If it was an ident, fine. Also, don''t forget to collect fingerprints from the

    shoe."

    After thinking it over, he removed the other shoe from Diane''s foot, also putting it into a stic bag and handing it to Emily. "And this one too -- see if there was interference." "I''ll handle it right away, and I''ll try to get the results by tomorrow." Emily''s face turned serious as she took the high heels. "I won''t participate in the after-party; will you handle the hosting?"

    The group watched anxiously as Emily hurried away with the high heels, their hearts filled with a stormy premonition. Eric had just said, if it was an ident, that would be it, but he hadn''t mentioned what would happen if it wasn''t. They all knew well that if someone were indeed sabotaging things, Eric wouldn''t let it go easily.

    Once Emily left, Eric waved to those nearby. "The final theme is about to wrap up. Everyone should prepare for the curtain call; no need to linger here."

    The crew returned to their posts, and Eric turned to Diane, still resting against him. "Can you

    go back on stage? You performed so beautifully today, and it would be a shame not to be there

    during the finale."

    Though Diane Kruger understood that the earlier runway incident wasn''t her fault, the

    exhaustion from the immense shock she felt was hard to shake off. Taking a few deep breaths,

    she still felt weak,cking the strength to rise.

    Eric reassuringly patted her shoulder and told Edward Razek, "Edward, have that rock band y another song. Dy the curtain call by five minutes."

    Edward nodded and spoke quickly into the inte before walking towards the stage.

    Eric looked at Diane and asked, "Do you want something to eat? It might help." "Okay," Diane softly nodded, surprised that Eric would postpone the entire show just for her,

    causing her cheeks to flush.

    Looking to the twins beside her, Eric said, "Natasha,e help Diane to the break area."

    The twins started to move but were stopped by Drew extending her arm.

    Sniffling, the girl tugged the twins along, leaving only ament about "You handle it

    yourself."

    Eric chuckled, shaking his head. The girl hadn''t been jealous in a while, and Eric almost forgot how women could be jealous.

    ncing at Diane, who looked like a delicate kitten beside him, Eric shrugged and picked her

    up. Under the surprised eyes of the backstage crew, he carried her towards the break area.

    It was only when he set her down in a chair that Diane, blushing like a blossoming rose, whispered, "Thank you, Mr. Williams."

    Eric retrieved a stack of choctes from a nearby table and held them out to her with a smile, "No need to mention it; it''s quitefortable to hold."

    His teasing remark only made Diane''s cheeks warmer, but she bravely whispered back, "If... if

    you want, you can... anytime..."

    Before she could finish her stammering sentence, Diane paused when she noticed a staff

    member busy rushing over with a few pairs of high heels.

    ...

    The front stage performance quickly concluded, and with Eric''sfort, Diane gradually regained her strength. Forty supermodels joined together on stage,pleting this grand fashion event with a perfect finale.

    Though a small hup had urred during, for most attendees, the Victoria''s Secret Show left them immensely satisfied. The subsequent after-party at the Gramercy Hotel on Lexington

    Avenue thrilled the fortunate guests.

    ...

    However, while many partied exuberantly at the celebration, Eric and all the main coordinators of the Victoria''s Secret Show had unknowingly slipped out early, gathering in the conference room at Yahoo''s headquarters in New York.

    Standing before a whiteboard in the conference room, Eric attached a newly printedrge

    photo.

    Emily, Edward Razek, and invited Yahoo editor Tina Brown nced at the picture, which

    showed a close-up of the Victoria''s Secret runway. They could still discern the venue''s lights and the audience, undeniably captured during the live event. Most notably was the striking silver high heel that had been left behind at the center of the runway.

    Eric stood by quietly, allowing everyone in the conference room to appreciate the image for a moment before asking, "So, what does everyone think when they see this photo?" What else could it be but the shocking moment from tonight''s Victoria''s Secret Show? Emily thought back; she had been beside arge screen backstage, experiencing the entire ordeal of Diane Kruger''s shoe fall, and it had truly made her break out in a cold sweat. The other project leads in attendance shared simr feelings, some still puzzled why Eric wouldn''t re-shoot the final theme. After half a year of meticulous preparation, a shoe fell off -- it seemed terribly unfortunate.

    As an observer, Tina Brown''s perspective differed from Emily and the others. She contemted the photo Eric posted for a moment, and then tentatively spoke the word,

    "Cindere?"

    "Exactly," Eric replied, nodding appreciatively. "It is Cindere."

    With Eric and Tina Brown sharing their views, everyone else in the conference room began to

    comprehend.

    The photo of the silver high heel, glittering on the luminous runway, resembled the crystal

    shoe Cindere had lost in fairytales.

    Seeing that everyone had grasped the concept, Eric continued, "I reviewed all the footage of

    Diane''s performance after her shoe dropped, and honestly, her performance didn''t waver much from earlier. I believe that in the post-editing, the presentation shown to the audience will still be stunning. Moreover, this falling heel incident can be a clever marketing

    angle." At this point, Eric quickly grabbed a marker and wrote a phrase on the whiteboard, saying, "So, besides our predetermined marketing strategies, we''ll add an impromptu promotion

    line, which we''ll code-name the ''Cindere Incident.""

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 671: Chapter 672: Hollywood is Really Small

    Chapter 671: Chapter 672: Hollywood is Really Small

    ?

    [Chapter 672: Hollywood is Really Small]

    At ABC''s production center, Emily walked into a studio with her assistant, who held a thick stack of documents. She surveyed the busy crew recording segments for the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show and patiently waited until Eric eventually emerged from the crowd.

    Noticing the serious expression on Emily''s face, Eric led her into a temporary office and instructed the secretary to brew some coffee before asking, "Did you get any results on that matter?"

    Emily nodded and then shook her head. She opened the documents her assistant handed her and presented them to Eric. "The FBI in Manhattan reviewed all the footage we provided, but they didn''t find anything. There were just too many people in and out of the backstage thosest two days. Also, there were no issues with fingerprints; evidently, the person who did this was very clever."

    They were discussing the incident involving the shoe that fell during the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show. Although the media had spun Diana Kruger''s mishap into a Cindere-like tale, the truth behind it was less morous. The FBI''s examination of the broken shoce showed clear signs of tampering.

    As Eric read through the report, he asked, "Did they find out how the shoce was tampered with?"

    Emily took out a delicate nail file and a thin piece of string from her handbag. Demonstrating in front of Eric, she said, "See, someone used a nail file on this string, which made the break look natural. However, the FBI''s report indicated that the force on the shoce''s break wasteral, while a natural break would show a vertical force."

    Eric picked up the nearly severed string she handed him and tugged gently, causing it to snappletely. He shook his head in resignation. "This is just..."

    Noticing Eric''s gaze shifting to the nail file, Emily continued, "This is practically impossible to trace. Each angel had their own kit in the makeup area, and..." She paused and added, "Detective Rini from the FBI told me that unless weunched a full investigation, we

    wouldn''t get any results. However, he mentioned that they had done everything they could. If we push for a case, the media will report it widely, and we''ll face huge public rtions risks. We would certainly be criticized as well."

    Although several days had passed since the show, media interest had not waned. Prior to this, some gossip pages had made conspiracy theories about Diana Kruger''s fallen heel, turning the event into a romantic ident. If a full investigation wasunched, the fairy tale image they had created would shatter in an instant. The FBIunching an investigation over a shoce would undoubtedly be criticized as a misuse of authority, and bringing in private detectives wouldn''t be feasible either.

    "Well, if that''s the case, let''s just drop it," Eric said, reluctantly fiddling with the nail file.

    Hearing Eric give up on pursuing the issue, Emily sighed in relief. It wasn''t that she wished to protect the culprit, but given the current favorable situation, halting the investigation was more beneficial overall from any perspective.

    Once that issue was settled, Emily quickly shifted the conversation. "Eric, where do you n to spend Thanksgiving?"

    "In Malibu," Eric replied, a hint of anticipation crossing his face as he reminisced about the previous year. Getting the women together to cuddle up in bed was something that happened only once a year, and he certainly didn''t want to miss it. "I''m spending Thanksgiving in Malibu and Christmas in New York. Why?"

    Emily''s shrewd demeanor softened; she shyly fidgeted a bit before saying, "Could you change your ns? For Thanksgiving...e with me and Chris to Marnd. Oh, and it would be great to have Elia and the others with us."

    Realizing the situation, Eric understood immediately. Jeffrey was currently secluded at their Marnd farm, rarely going to New York or Los Angeles. As dutiful son and future daughter- inw, Chris and Emily would naturally spend Thanksgiving with him.

    However, as two single adults, they couldn''t escape the inevitable "forced marriage" scenario that holiday gatherings entailed.

    Chuckling to himself, Eric shook his head. "Nope, I''m not going, and this is for your own good. If I bring a family over to Marnd for Thanksgiving, Jeffrey will definitely want grandchildren once he sees Kevin and Elia. You''d just end up with more pressure."

    Emily shot Eric a re. "Fine, whatever. I''ve never met anyone so gleefully malicious." Eric still wore a smile. "Isn''t Chris in Europe right now? If you''re really scared of this, talk to Chris and see if he can find an excuse to stay in Europe past Thanksgiving."

    Emily replied, "Jeffrey called Chris in Europe, and he already agreed. And even if... Chris wouldn''t do what you suggested."

    Leaning on the leather chair, Eric spread his hands. "Well, I can''t help with that. If you ask me, you two should just get married. Even if you don''t n to, you could at least have a kid."

    "I just turned thirty..."

    "Stop being too melodramatic. With that tone, you''d think you just turned thirteen. What about those girls who be mothers in their teens? How would they feel?"

    Emily shot him a reproachful look, pouted, and stood up. "I can''t talk to you macho types. I''m leaving."

    ...

    After seeing Emily off, Eric returned to the studio, where everyone had just finished recording some segments and was taking a break. He checked the footage they had just shot, then made his way to the five Victoria''s Secret models resting in a lounge area.

    Today, they were recording behind-the-scenes footage from the show, and while it would involve footage of other angels, most of the highlights focused on the five main models.

    Noticing Eric entering the lounge, the five supermodels gathered on the sofa greeted him cheerfully.

    Eric smiled and nodded as Diana Kruger rose to pour him a cup of coffee. He thanked her and sat down on a nearby single chair, casually pulling out the nail file from his pocket and ying with it while chatting with the women, intermittently tending to his nails.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The five Victoria''s Secret angels noticed Eric''s actions, and various expressions spread across their faces.

    Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista wore faint smiles, while Cindy Crawford appeared puzzled at first then quickly masked it with a smile. Tyra Banks and Diana Kruger held their coffee cups in front of their faces, trying to hide their reactions and maintain normal expressions.

    Eric caught their expressions and paused to look at Cindy before quickly shifting his gaze. "Is there a problem?"

    "Eric, nail files aren''t meant to be used like that," Linda Evangelista said with augh as she set down her coffee cup, extending her slender fingers to demonstrate. "If you file it like that, your nails will look terrible."

    It dawned on Eric why all thedies had reacted that way. Nonchntly shruggin, he was about to say he didn''t care how his nails looked. Instead, he pointed to Cindy. "Cindy, show

    me how it''s done."

    Cindy, looking at Tyra and Diana on her right, who were closer to Eric, wondered why he wanted her to demonstrate. Reflecting on her previous reaction, it suddenly hit her. She understood that Eric must have misinterpreted her response.

    How rude! How could he think it was something she would do? Even though Diana Kruger was gaining fame in the modeling world, she posed no threat to Cindy, who had already established herself. There was hardly anything to gain from such an act.

    In terms ofpetition, Cindy nced at Tyra. Although Tyra had a few years'' head start, her fame did not overshadow Diana. Among the five, those two were actually the onespeting. If Diana messed up, it was Tyra who would benefit the most.

    Cindy didn''t dare voice her thoughts though. Sheplied and got up to Eric''s request to demonstrate with the nail file. As she reached for it, she noticed Eric extending hisrge hand

    toward her.

    Well, well, what a troublesome man!

    Cindy Crawford felt a re of annoyance inside, but wore a practiced expression of reluctant submission. She gently squatted down to help Eric "demonstrate" how to use a nail file. Noticing this, Christy Turlington immediately stood up, as if she had just remembered, and said, "I think I need to touch up my makeup."

    "I seem to have put on too much lip gloss, I need to reapply it," Linda Evangelista found an excuse almost at the same time, and the two women couldn''t wait to get up and walk out. Tyra Banks looked at the actions of the two, and although she did not find any reasons, she stood up and walked out. Diane Kruger, who stood up with her, had a little resentment in her expression. Shouldn''t she be the one to do this kind of thing? Why did he call Cindy Crawford? Soon, Eric and Cindy Crawford were the only ones left in the lounge. As the door was gently closed, Cindy Crawford did not stop what she was doing, but raised her chin with a wronged

    look on her face and said to Eric, "It wasn''t me."

    "I know."

    Cindy Crawford raised the nail file in her hand: "Then you still..."

    Eric took the nail file and threw it into the trash can next to him. He said, "I know someone is messing with me, but I can''t check it. I''m very angry now. Cindy, what do you do when you''re

    angry?"

    "Shopping."

    "Oh, what a typical woman."

    "You are discriminating," Cindy Crawford''s eyes flickered and she asked, "What about you?"

    Eric reached out and pressed Cindy Crawford''s shoulder: "Guess." Cindy Crawfordy on Eric''sp, looking extremely submissive. She felt Eric''s fingertips brushing across her face, as if he was touching something delicate. The woman said with

    some resistance, "You can''t do this."

    Eric didn''t push further, pulling back his hand. "Alright, go out and let Diane in."

    Cindy stiffened but didn''t get up, muttering, "What a rotten man."

    With a triumphant smile, Eric gently patted Cindy on the cheek. "Hurry up; you''ve got fifteen

    minutes."

    ...

    During the editing of the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show segments, ABC''s ratings for Survivor continued to soar. By November, it averaged over 33 million viewers per episode. Unless something unexpected happened, The Victoria''s Secret Annual Fashion Show was set to enjoy a massive lead-in from Survivor''s season finale on December 6.

    ...

    Simultaneously, the Thanksgiving release window officially kicked off on November 11, with

    multiple new films premiering that day. Although the box office capacity during the New

    Year''s period is typically far lower than summer, thepetition for that window was

    significantly fiercer.

    After a five-year hiatus, Julia Roberts returned to romantic films. Thanks to the excellent buzz and residual box office clout of Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride grossed $28 million in its opening week. While not record-breaking, its overall box office takings had no doubt crossed the $100 million mark, ensuring a high return on the $30 million production cost.

    ...

    After Runaway Bride, Kevin Costner''s version of Mission: Impossible hit theaters on November

    18.

    Eric had agreed to support the young woman, so he returned to Los Angeles on November 17 to attend the film''s premiere at the Los Angeles Music Hall.

    Compared to the mid-tier budget for Runaway Bride, the premiere of Mission: Impossible was

    much more grandiose.

    Stepping out of the car, Eric crossed the long red carpet, casually epting a few interviews

    before heading backstage with the crew.

    After a quick hug with the young woman and greetings with Amy Pascal and others, Eric

    began chatting with the creative team behind Mission: Impossible, including Brian De Palma and Kevin Costner.

    Brian De Palma was behind many ssic films like Carrie and Scarface. Moreover, there was another intriguing detail about the fifty-something thriller director that piqued Eric''s interest. He remembered a story about a family who had fled the Soviet Union during a period of political unrest. The husband and wife quickly divorced, and the wife''s acting career was derailed bynguage barriers, leading her to be a maid in the home of renowned Hollywood director Brian De Palma. The maid, named Galina Loginova, had a daughter named Mi Jovovich. This story was just the beginning and would ultimately involve many

    figures from the film industry.

    Every time Eric thought of this, he couldn''t help but feel how small Hollywood truly is.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 673: Chapter 674: I Will Chain Myself to Desk

    Chapter 673: Chapter 674: I Will Chain Myself to Desk

    ?

    [Chapter 674: I Will Chain Myself to Desk]

    On the issue of Universal, both Panasonic and Seagram had a very urgent inclination toward a deal. After months of negotiations, the two sides had reached a preliminary agreement. They only needed to rify the final debt information and personnel disputes to finalize the transaction.

    During these months, Michael Eisner had been lobbying Edgar Bronfman, the head of Seagram, to help him remove Michael Ovitz from Universal. He went to great lengths to exaggerate Ovitz''s alleged misconduct during his time as Universal''s president.

    Michael Ovitz had been ustomed to using CAA''s ounts to fund his luxurious personal expenses when he was at CAA. As a private partnership, CAA did not have to pay as much attention to financial reporting as a publicpany would. As the founder of CAA, Ovitz held a unique position and could act freely without anyone daring to question his spending habits. However, after taking on the role of Universal''s president, Ovitz failed to recognize he had transitioned from a privatepany to a major public corporation. He continued to maintain hisvish lifestyle, presuming that expenses for a luxurious office renovation or gifts for Hollywood elites should be reimbursed by Universal without question.

    This behavior marked the first point of conflict between him and Eisner. Eisner strongly disagreed with Ovitz''s somewhat capricious personal conduct.

    Meanwhile, the strong urge for control that Ovitz developed at CAA shed with Eisner''s dominant personality, which was also a source of contention between them.

    As the head of Seagram, Edgar Bronfman certainly could not fail to notice this dynamic. Listening to Eisner criticize Ovitz using the movie Junior as an example shortly after arriving, Bronfman resolved to oust Ovitz from Universal before the deal was finalized.

    This was partly a result of Eisner''s lobbying, but as the head of arge conglomerate, Bronfman was also focused on the stability of Universal after Seagram''s acquisition. He had no intention of buying a filmpany rife with internal conflict among its executives. Although he was an outsider to Hollywood, Bronfman understood that for anypany to grow stronger, internal management stability was a must.

    After Eisner finished speaking, Bronfman asked, "Michael, I just want to know one thing: how much will it cost to get Ovitz out of Universal?"

    Michael Eisner''s face flushed, and he coughed awkwardly. If it weren''t for the golden parachute agreement he had personally instigated, it would have been easy to get Ovitz out. Ultimately, this was his oversight, yet Eisner would never admit it. Moreover, he made that decision out of desperation; having finally gainedplete control of Universal, he did not want Panasonic to interfere with its management changes due to his heart surgery.

    "ording to the agreement we signed, if we request Ovitz to resign without any significant decision-making blunders, Universal needs to pay a cashpensation of $50 million and an additional $50 million in stock options," Eisner exined, gauging Bronfman''s reaction before adding, "However, if Ovitz resigns voluntarily, the cost to Universal would be much lower. I heard that Sony is currently in talks with Ovitz for him to be the CEO of Columbia. He might very well choose to leave on his own. Of course, even if Ovitz refuses to resign voluntarily, we can take this opportunity during the deal to include a use regarding his departure in the negotiations, forcing the Japanese to bear the cost of his exit."

    After hearing Eisner''s words, Bronfman thought for a moment while tapping the armrest of his chair and said, "In that case, pleasepile all the information you''ve shared about Ovitz during this time. This afternoon, I will present the materials as evidence of Ovitz''s unsuitability for the position of Universal''s president to the Panasonic negotiation team, formally adding his departure to our negotiation terms."

    A flicker of joy crossed Eisner''s face, and he nodded, "I''ll get on it right away."

    ...

    Hollywood was once again stirred up by events toward the end of 1994. Internal management upheavals at Columbia began, and Universal Pictures found itself facing another change of ownership. The already high-profile Flower Films saw a surge in recognition, impressively breaking through with their blockbuster, Mission: Impossible, much like another firefly beginning to shine.

    Michael Ovitz set down the Hollywood Reporter in his hands, summarizing thetest major Hollywood events, only to feel disappointed to realize that none of it had much to do with him anymore.

    This made him reminisce about a few years ago when he was still at the helm of CAA -- not only orchestrating events between major film studios but also personally steering Sony''s acquisition of Columbia and Panasonic''s acquisition of Universal, two multibillion-dor deals.

    However, now, though he was unwilling to admit it, Ovitz had found himself with the abrupt transition from being a Hollywood mastermind to feeling like just a mere pawn. After running CAA for two decades, he had umted a fortune, yet for someone like him who was used to being at the pinnacle of Hollywood, losing power was a hundred times more painful than losing money. Ovitz understood that the moment he sold all his stakes in CAA, his chance to return to the agent industry was slim. Following his falling out with Michael Eisner, remaining at Universal had lost all meaning, prompting Ovitz to start considering his next move. Fortunately, the turmoil at Columbia presented him a chance to make aeback. Driving into the Culver City Columbia Pictures lot, just as Michael Ovitz got out of the car, Idei Nobuyuki already came over with several attendants.

    A few years prior, when Sony acquired Columbia, Ovitz had dealt with Idei Nobuyuki; although he sensed Umaoka''s fatigue and anxiety at that moment, he warmly embraced him nheless.

    The Columbia Pictures executive offices noticeably featured many Asian facesing in and out. Idei Nobuyuki led Ovitz into the former luxurious office of Peter Goober, but neither Goober nor John Peters was present.

    Once seated in the office and exchanging brief pleasantries, Idei Nobuyuki bluntly stated, "Mr. Ovitz, you must already know that Columbia''s situation is dire right now, and Sony desperately needs a management figure who can turn things around."

    "In Hollywood, any filmpany will go through highs and lows. Columbia has decades of umted experience and the backing of a giant like Sony; revitalization is definitely just a matter of time," Michael Ovitz confidently replied. "Of course, all of this hinges on the fact that thepany needs apetent manager."

    Idei Nobuyuki nodded in agreement, "So, Mr. Ovitz, since you''ve epted my invitation today, you must be interested in the CEO position at Columbia. Can you share how you n to manage thispany?"

    After a brief contemtion, Ovitz responded, "To speak frankly, Mr. Nobuyuki, the fundamental survival key for a filmpanyes down to one thing: the ability to produce outstanding box office hits. During my time at CAA, I sessfully pitched dozens of film projects to Hollywood studios every year. I believe there are very few in Hollywood with more experience in film project operations than me."

    While the triopoly of Hollywood talent agencies had significantly diminished CAA''s monopoly, Ovitz''s achievements during his time at CAA were still widely acknowledged. Idei Nobuyuki valued him mainly because of this track record. After hearing Ovitz''s response, he slightly nodded, "Mr. Ovitz, then Sony wholeheartedly wees you to lead Columbia. I wonder what your sry requirements would be?"

    "My sry request isn''t high; as long as it''s..." Ovitz paused, realizing that Idei Nobuyuki likely didn''t want to hear Goober''s name. He quickly revised, "As long as it''s on par with the previous head, that would be fine. However, I want to ensure that once thepany''s financial standing improves, I receive the bonuses and dividends I deserve."

    Idei Nobuyuki was very pleased with Ovitz''s terms, nodding repeatedly, "Of course! As long as Columbia''s operations improve, you will certainly receive your fair rpense. Is there

    anything else?"

    Ovitz said, "Yes, there''s one crucial point. I do not want external factors to constrain my ability to manage thepany, so I need to secure absolute operational autonomy at

    Columbia."

    Upon hearing the term "operational autonomy," Idei Nobuyuki visibly shuddered.

    If not for previously granting operational autonomy to those ipetents Peter Goober and John Peters, Columbia would not have fallen to its current state. In recent days, with the deepening financial audits at Columbia, Idei Nobuyuki hadn''t slept a single good night. Under the profligate and irresponsible management of Goober and Peters over thest five years, Columbia''s internal operations and financial health had deteriorated to a shocking extent. To minimize losses and lessen tax burdens, Sony would have to write down Columbia''s assets. Statistics from the recent period indicated that Columbia could face asset write-downs amounting to $2.1 billion, which would mean a shocking $2.1 billion loss on Sony''s annual

    financial report.

    $2.1 billion!

    In the half-century since Sony''s inception, they had never encountered such a massive loss.

    Idei Nobuyuki had not dared to ry this grim news back to Sony Headquarters. Their chairman, Akio Morita, had suffered a stroke a few years earlier, and Idei Nobuyuki worried that suddenly hearing such bad news might make Idei worse.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Now, hearing the term "operational autonomy" again from Michael Ovitz made Idei Nobuyuki feel a chill all over; he shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Mr. Ovitz, while we can negotiate other terms, I must ask you to refrain from mentioning operational autonomy anymore. You''ve seen, Sony has suffered enough headaches over it, and we certainly will not allow Columbia to be left to a single manager again."

    Ovitz replied, "Mr. Nobuyuki, you should understand that I''m different from Peter Goober. Frankly, I still don''t get why Sony initially hired such ipetent people. I have every confidence in sessfully managing Columbia, but I need adequate power and trust. If Sony loses trust in the next manager of Columbia because of Goober''s impact, I can assure you, it will be incredibly difficult for Columbia to recover. Hollywood differs from other industries; what is needed in a Hollywood filmpany is a paternalistic management style, not a so- called modernized corporate management model. Just look at the management structure of the seven major studios to see that I''m not lying. Sony''s previous approach of granting Goober autonomy was not wrong; the biggest mistake was simply choosing the wrong

    person."

    A hesitant look appeared on Idei Nobuyuki''s face; he knew Ovitz''s points weren''t inurate, but Sony had just been bitten hard by a "viper" and it was impossible to not fear it again.

    "Well, it''s dinner time. How about..." Just as Idei Nobuyuki was about to invite Ovitz to dinner to continue their conversation, an assistant knocked on the open office door and approached the two men who were deep in discussion.

    "President, I think you need to take a look at this," the assistant said, casting a strange nce at Michael Ovitz and handing a fax document to Idei Nobuyuki. Curious, Idei Nobuyuki quickly flipped open the folder, knowing that the assistant wouldn''t intrude on their meeting without good reason. The document must contain extremely important information.

    After skim-reading a few pages, Idei Nobuyuki looked up and asked the assistant waiting at his side, "Where did this documente from? And is this information... urate?" "This document started circting after today''s negotiation meeting between Panasonic and Seagram. Now..." The assistant nced at Michael Ovitz, an expression of somewhat malicious glee crossing his face, "now... the whole of Hollywood is buzzing about it. I think it should be urate."

    Idei Nobuyuki nodded slowly, gesturing for the assistant to leave. He carefully read through the document in his hand, frowning deeper with each line, before letting out a soft sigh and handing the paper to the already visibly uneasy Michael Ovitz. "Mr. Ovitz, let''s discuss our cooperationter; I think you need to address this matter now."

    Ovitz took the document and, upon flipping through just a few pages, his expression changed dramatically. He suddenly stood up, looked at Idei Nobuyuki, and said, "Mr. Nobuyuki, I''m

    sorry, but I think I need to leave."

    ...

    Hastily exiting the office, Ovitz trembled slightly as he climbed into his car. After instructing

    the driver to go, he opened the document again, his expression growing increasingly furious.

    The document outlined a slew of "evidence" of his unsuitability for the presidency of Universal. However, Ovitz viewed this document as a tant attempt to destroy his career in Hollywood.

    Just the usation that he spent $2 million renovating an office made Ovitz feel his chances of coborating with Sony had shrunk significantly. The media had primarily criticized both Goober and Peters for their reckless spending at Columbia. But Ovitz believed he was fully entitled to enjoy such privileges; many heads of Hollywood also enjoyed these benefits. However, having just experienced Goober''s extravagance, Sony would surely be very wary of

    such matters.

    Furthermore, other suggestions he made regarding poaching talent from other recordpanies to expand Universal Music''s operations, investing more in the television department, and inviting top celebrities to coborate with Universal had been spun into

    evidence of his "grandstanding."

    Although their friendship had broken down, Ovitz still could not believe that Eisner would resort to such drastic measures to push him out of Universal.

    "I was already nning to leave voluntarily, why are you treating me this way?"

    "Why like this!" The more he dwelled on it, the angrier he became. Michael Ovitz picked up the mobile phone

    next to him, trembling as he dialed Michael Eisner''s number.

    As soon as the call connected, Michael Ovitz seethed, "Alright, you''ve achieved your goal. I''m

    telling you, Michael, you won''t chase me out of Universal. I will chain myself to Universal''s

    desk."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 675: Chapter 676: So Close

    Chapter 675: Chapter 676: So Close

    ?

    [Chapter 676: So Close]

    Recently, whenever he found some free time, Eric would delve into the Quam

    information that Kelly had gathered for him. As someone who had previously known nothing about mobilemunications, Eric had even put in effort to understand the advantages of Quam''s CDMA technology over the time division multiple ess technology used in GSM and other second-generationmunications.

    Eric also discovered that Quam was currently in one of the lowest points in its development history. The mobilemunications industry was rapidly transitioning from analog to digital signals, and the second-generation mobilemunication technologies had already matured and were moving intomercial stages. Though Quam had demonstrated the superiority of its CDMA technology over 2G through numerous experiments and tests, there wasn''t a singlemercial CDMAwork operational worldwide. Thinking back to the information he had seen recently, Eric spoke to Kelly, saying, "I realized that I had taken some things for granted regarding Quam. At first, I thought that since CDMA technology was superior to GSM and Quam was in a difficult position, if I invested a significant amount of money and supported Quam, it would surely enable thepany to be a leader in the industry. But the reality is far moreplicated than I imagined. Quam''s current predicament is tied to the entire direction of the mobilemunications industry. The establishment of any mobilemunicationwork involves investments of billions or even tens of billions of dors. Once a certainmunication standard is determined, even if itgs behind other technologies, it cannot be changed for a while. Thus, the process of establishingmunication standards, affected by various interests, cannot simply be dictated by ''my technology is better.'' There are too many cases where bad money drives out good, so if I recklessly invest in Quam, I might end up losing everything."

    Kelly listened quietly to Eric. When he had first insisted she gather Quam''s information, she had taken a close look at it, and she had gained a deep understanding of Quam''s situation.

    Not to mention the squabbles over technical standards among major U.S. operators, there were also interest entanglements between Quam and the operators. Initially, Quam had acted like an outsourced developer, creating customized wirelessmunication solutions for telpanies. During this process, several operators had invested in Quam, making them shareholders. This connection had actually been a potential advantage for Quam in thepetition overmunication standards. However, if Eric, with his financial strength, forcibly pushed himself into the role of a major shareholder, diluting the operators'' holdings, it would inevitably weaken CDMA''spetitive edge. There was even a risk that Quam could end up defeated in the final mobilemunication standards set against GSM and fall into the realm of marginal technologies.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    If this were earlier, Kelly would have certainly advised Eric against recklessly investing in Quam. But now, listening to Eric''s self-reflection, there was more admiration in her soft gaze. A man at the top of the pyramid could maintain such awareness and rationality. She found herself somewhat enamored with this little man, and the thought of persuading Eric to withdraw began to fade. "Eric, San Diego is only about 100 kilometers from Los Angeles. I mean, once you wrap things up here, why not take some time to chat with Quam''s CEO, Irwin Jacobs? The information we''ve gathered can''t possiblypare to what the founder of Quam knows. Maybe after meeting, you could achieve unexpected results."

    Eric looked at Kelly and smiled, "Weren''t you originally against my investing in Quam?" "That was back then. Since you now have such a clear understanding of the situation, there''s no harm in trying. I think your previous pointpletely ignored your current personal influence. With the capital you hold now, if you wholeheartedly support Quam, it could definitely give it a greater edge in thepetition over mobilemunication standards." Eric had initially given up the idea of a major investment in Quam, nning to gradually acquire some Quam shares through Firefly Investments and be a modest shareholder. But Kelly''s words stirred some impulse in him again.

    However, after considering his work schedule, Eric once again revealed a look of helplessness. Even if he could spare some time to meet with Irwin Jacobs, it would be impossible for him to spend too much energy on Quam. He already had many things demanding his attention.

    This project could have been handed over to Firefly Investments, but Chris was also limited in personal bandwidth. With several majorpanies under Firefly Investments rapidly developing, Chris had been busy this past month, flying around to manage personnel and production adjustments at Nokia due to its rapid expansion. He had hastily returned to the U.S. just before Thanksgiving.

    Noticing Eric''s concerns, Kelly reached over and gently patted his hand, saying, "Eric, you also have me... we can help you. You don''t have to take everything upon yourself."

    "Alright," Eric said, catching Kelly''s hand before she could pull it back. He squeezed it and added, "Since it''s like this, perhaps I need to n better and allocate some energy towards Quam."

    Though Eric had made up his mind, the earliest he could schedule a meeting with Quam CEO Irwin Jacobs would be after the New Year.

    ...

    Entering December, movies like Mission: Impossible and Runaway Bride continued to rake in box office profits during the holiday season. As award season approached, Braveheart, which had been handed over to Fox and managed by the Weinstein brothers, also began its small-scale pre-release. Firefly also released Luc Besson''s Leon: The Professional by the end of the year. Meanwhile, turmoil in Hollywood persisted. Sony announced a staggering $2.1 billion asset write-down for Columbia Pictures, shaking the entire capital market. After the news broke, Sony''s founder and chairman, Akio Morita, submitted his resignation to the board. Although Sony publicly stated that Morita''s departure was unrted to the Columbia incident to protect his reputation, few believed it.

    As for Universal, Michael Ovitz''s departure had be certain, but the question of his exorbitant severance package led to bickering among Panasonic, Seagram, and Michael Eisner. Panasonic contended that the golden parachute agreement was Eisner''s personal oversight. Therefore, if Seagram insisted on Ovitz''s exit, the severance should be paid by Eisner. Eisner, however, firmly stated that the agreement had been approved by Panasonic''s board and had nothing to do with him. Seagram understood that Universal''s future operations depended on Eisner, so it could only apply pressure on Panasonic, even subtly threatening to divert its acquisition focus to Columbia if Panasonic did not relent.

    ...

    Amid all this, Ericpleted the editing of the television broadcast version of the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show in early December and again focused his energy on the final marketing phase for Victoria''s Secret.

    To maximize the brand''s influence, once the television broadcast version was edited, Eric instructed Firefly''s distribution department to start producing videotapes of the show. By December 6, the first batch of a million tapes had been produced, ready to be distributed nationwide immediately after the broadcast.

    On December 6, Tuesday, even though work hours had long passed, ABC''s headquarters at 66th Street was still bustling with people. Today marked not only the airing of the final episode of the first season of Survivor, which was poised to make ratings history, but also the long-promoted broadcast of the Victoria''s Secret Annual Fashion Show.

    ABC had just experienced a fruitful fall television season, with hits like Friends, Survivor, and ER dominating ratings. Each program had consistently performed well, firmly securing the top spot inwork television market share. Among them, the reality show Survivor had created a new ratings phenomenon, with an average of over 33 million viewers for its first twelve episodes. Thus, every employee workingte at ABC''s headquarters wore expressions of excitement and joy. They anticipated the high viewership for Survivor''s final episode and thevish party that senior executives would undoubtedly host for the ratings bonanza.

    ...

    In therge conference room at ABC headquarters, over ten people had gathered. However, unlike when Survivor initially aired, the main attendees this time were the Victoria''s Secret project team, including Eric, Edward Razek, Emily, and five invited Victoria''s Secret models. Knowing Survivor''s finale would definitely be a sess, ABC had not made a fuss like during the series debut. Only Robert Iger was onsite, while Tom Murphy had left early due to his age, and Jeffrey Katzenberg hadn''t made a special trip from Los Angeles.

    In addition to the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show broadcast starting at nine o''clock, Yahoo

    would alsounch a fan voting activity for the Victoria''s Secret Angels at the same time.

    In the conference room, Cindy Crawford watched Eric sitting at the conference table, expertly typing away on hisptop while instant messaging Tina Brown, who was also pulling overtime in Boston. She quickly got up, went out for a moment, and soon returned with anotherptop. Behind her followed a male employee eagerly helping connect Cindy to the inte. Linda Evangelista and a few other models noticed and clustered around Cindy, all

    eager to peer at the screen.

    Emily, sitting near Eric, watched the gathering with a hint of jealousy and quipped to Chris beside her, "Good-looking women really have their privileges. I want aptop too; why doesn''t anyone lend me one?"

    Chris, initially absorbed in a magazine, reluctantly got up. "Alright, I''ll help you borrow one. Goodness... women."

    Emily widened her eyes at him. "What did you say?"

    Chris didn''t respond and hurried out of the conference room, promptingughter from the

    others.

    Feeling a bit embarrassed herself, Emily took a quick nce at her watch, then poked Eric,

    who was chatting quietly with Robert Iger, and said, "Hey, Eric, those one million tapes cost over five million to produce. Do you really think anyone will want to pay thirty dors for a short film that''s only about forty minutes long?"

    Eric felt uncertain, but he had already devised a n. "If no one buys them, then we''ll just

    give them away. We can run various events through Yahoo, or even offer them for free in Victoria''s Secret stores. I wasn''t nning to profit from the tape sales anyway. The million tapes are like Victoria''s Secret''s lingerie catalog, mainly for promotional purposes. Of course, I''ll cover all the expenses for this year''s fashion show; starting next year, LTD will have to

    shoulder the costs."

    Emily chuckled and nodded. Regarding the promotional effectiveness of this grand show, LTD had handed over production rights to Eric, now seeing LTD''s value rise by over a billion dors. Not to mention next year, even if Eric asked LTD to reimburse him for production

    costs, the board would surelyply.

    Seeing her boyfriend return with aptop, Emily shifted a little and wondered about the viewership for Survivor before the Victoria''s Secret Show. She asked, "Eric, how many viewers do you think the final episode of Survivor will get?"

    Just then, everyone in the office, who had been previously immersed in their tasks, turned

    their eyes toward Eric.

    Eric shrugged and pointed to the electronic clock on the conference room wall. "In half an hour, everyone will know. I''m sure it will surprise everyone." Disappointed sighs echoed among the group. Robert Iger, sitting next to Eric, teased him for

    a prediction. Eric merely shook his head in silence, which only intensified the anticipation for

    the uing ratings.

    As the final episode of Survivor began, the preliminary statistics released by Nielsen shocked

    everyone.

    Justst week, Survivor''s figures had only reached 38 million viewers, yet as soon as the finale started, viewership skyrocketed to 49 million, and continued to climb. By the time the results were announced, the rating had surged to 56 million viewers.

    Seeing the astonishing number, Emily turned to Eric, who was excitedly dialing on his mobile in the conference room corner, and asked, "56 million? How many viewers do you think the Victoria''s Secret Show will get?"

    Eric, already having anticipated this, wasn''t as surprised or excited as the others. He looked at

    the big screen, which had begun showing ads, and said, "Based on past experiences of lead- ins for high-rated shows like the Super Bowl, Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show''s average ratings would probably be half that of the lead-in series. But given the extensive promotion, I think

    the ratings will be higher than usual."

    "Wow, even if it''s just half, that''s still 28 million," said Emily excitedly. "I can''t wait for tomorrow''s stock market open; LTD is just a hair away from a $4 billion valuation!"

    As she spoke, the advertisement on the big screen finished up, and the glittering silver VS logo

    of Victoria''s Secret appeared. A line invited viewers to participate in the voting for their favorite Victoria''s Secret Angels through Yahoo, followed by a breathtaking view of Manhattan at night, and the sound of drumming seemed to grow ever closer.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 677: Chapter 678: Unintended Consequences

    Chapter 677: Chapter 678: Unintended Consequences

    ?

    [Chapter 678: Unintended Consequences]

    From the very beginning, the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show adopted a marketing strategy closely tied to Yahoo. During the live television broadcast, which attracted over 40 million viewers, Yahoo''s name was frequently mentioned between each segment of the fashion show, and the Yahoo logo appeared on screen time and again. There were even behind-the-scenes moments featuring Victoria''s Secret Angels campaigning for votes on the Yahoo voting page. Thanks to this vigorous co-promotion, fueled by the show''s impressive ratings and buzz, viewers wishing to learn more about the breathtaking lingerie fashion show flocked to Yahoo''s website, provided they had inte ess at home.

    In the Boston Yahoo headquarters, the operations manager for the Yahoo website, Jeff Locke, and Yahoo''s editor-in-chief, Tina Brown, eagerly watched the real-time surge in user traffic on the site. After the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show went live, the number of users visiting Yahoo increased by 50% within just half an hour. Midway through the broadcast, Tina Brown pulled the heads of the Yahoo editorial team into a meeting room to discuss how to further leverage the show''s poprity to expand Yahoo''s influence.

    However, less than ten minutes into the meeting, Jeff Locke burst in urgently, saying, "Tina, there''s a problem, the Yahoo forum server just crashed."

    While she had focused on media content, since joining the industry, Tina Brown had been working hard to catch up onputer knowledge. Upon hearing Jeff Locke''s announcement, she realized the gravity of the situation and immediately stood up.

    Thest crash urred a few months earlier when Yahoo had justunched their YCR chat software. The unexpected surge in user growth had led to a server meltdown. The incident had be aughingstock forpetitors, especially following a discussion about "the world''srgest data processing center" in Charlie''s Angels. To her dismay, less than six monthster, Yahoo was facing another simr crisis.

    Tina Brown followed Jeff Locke out of the meeting room and asked, "Did you notify Ian and Steve?"

    Jeff Locke pulled out his phone and began dialing, exining, "I''m calling them now, but the tech department said it''s not a big issue -- just a server restart should fix it."

    Tina Brown shook her head, knowing things were never that simple. "Even if the tech issue isn''t severe, we''ll definitely be on the headlines tomorrow."

    Jeff Locke paused and then offered a wry smile. Thest YCR server crash had humiliated Yahoo, and now, during such a highly publicized event, they faced another setback. After connecting the call, he briefly filled CEO Ian Gurney in on the situation before hanging up and calling Steve Mitnick''s number.

    Due to the rapid expansion of thepany, Yahoo''s editorial department had separated across two office buildings. Just as Tina Brown and Jeff Locke were leaving the Yahoo editorial building to make their way to the nearby headquarters, Tina''s assistant hurried up behind them with a phone saying, "Ms. Brown, it''s a call from Mr. Williams."

    Around ten minutester, after the server restarted, the Victoria''s Secret discussion forum was back online, and the cause of the crash had been identified.

    The Victoria''s Secret discussion forum was a submunity within Yahoo''s fashion section, with server capacity able to handle approximately one million visitors. In the current intendscape, this should have been ample capacity. However, due to repeated underestimation of user traffic and the powerful referral effect from the homepage links, user visits to the forum skyrocketed during the live broadcast, ultimately doubling the server''s capacity, resulting in a data flood that crashed the system.

    Once normal operations resumed, Yahoo had to remove the forum''s homepage link to prevent this from happening again. Thankfully, the server downtime was short-lived. After recovery, while some users expressed their dissatisfaction, normal discussion threads quickly filled the space.

    ...

    At ABC headquarters, as the fashion show prepared to close, Eric hung up the phone and curiously opened the now-functioning Victoria''s Secret discussion forum. The page buzzed with all kinds of lively topics.

    "Can someone tell me the name of that Victoria''s Secret Angel who looks so much like Audrey Hepburn in the second tost act?"

    "Vote for my girl Cindy! The YCR fans'' tribe is now open --e join us!"

    "I absolutely loved the second and third songs! Let''s y lyrics chain -- I''ve only remembered a few lines and want toplete the lyrics!"

    "Did no one notice that Eric Williams used the Soviet war song ''Leningrad Symphony'' as the background music? What does that mean?"

    "Why are there so many obnoxious men here? Baltimore friends, if you want to discuss lingerie styles, head to my YCR group, tribe ID 9527149."

    "Where can I find the Victoria''s Secret store in Phdelphia? Help please."

    "That Baroque piece was so heartbreaking; I cried listening to it. What am I going to do? I want to hear it a hundred more times!"

    "Keep an eye on the TV -- the ''Cindere Incident'' is about to happen! Diane Kruger is going to drop her shoe soon!"

    "OMG, I want to lick!"

    Although each page could only disy twenty posts, Eric couldn''t help but smile at the familiar topics. Although themercial potential of online forums had always been bleak, they sessfully captured the attention of inte users and served as critical hubs for navigating online discussions.

    As Eric considered how to present some thoughts on online forums to Yahoo''s management, the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show approached its closing segment. Soon, Nielsen provided the final viewership data, revealing that the average audience for the show reached 41.5 million. Due to the relentless hype surrounding the "Cindere Incident," viewership peaked at 46 million when Diane Kruger dropped her shoe.

    ...

    "It was the Super Bowl of the fashion world!"

    The next morning, the New York Post sshed a bold headline across its front page proiming just that, featuring a captivating image of Diane Kruger in a bright red military- style angel outfit from the show''s opening.

    Since its first televised broadcast, the Super Bowl had held a firm grasp on annual viewership, continuously surpassing over 100 million viewers, with hardly any program able to shake its dominance. In the past, when television programs attempted to associate themselves with the Super Bowl broadcasts, they were often met with derision and scorn. However, this time, few opposed the New York Postbeling the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show as "The Super Bowl of the Fashion World."

    Although Survivor eventually reached 56 million viewers, 10 million more than the peak viewership for the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show, the fashion show boasted a spectacr rating of 26.8 among the key 18 to 49 demographic, outpacing Survivor by six percentage points. Moreover, the show attracted a particrly concentrated audience within the crucial 18 to 34 age range, which meant itsmercial value far exceeded that of Survivor in the eyes of advertisers.

    Once the ratings were released, over a hundred domestic and international TVworks reached out to Firefly Group to purchase the broadcasting rights to the fashion show. HBO, under Warner, even offered $5 million for the exclusive domestic cable rights to air the event. While media outlets scrutinized the viewership ratings for the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show, Yahoo didn''t escape unscathed; the server crash that evening became fodder for several ITpanies to ridicule. But these jabs barely harmed Yahoo''s reputation; instead, they further

    enhanced its public visibility.

    Many media outlets recognized the potential ties between Yahoo and Victoria''s Secret during the ongoing six-month branding coboration. Commentators from Entertainment Weekly dedicated substantial coverage to dissect the "brilliant co-marketing strategy." As Yahoo''s traffic continued to surge, analysts from several major investment banks raised their assessments of Yahoo''s market value.

    ...

    After the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show took ce in Manhattan a month ago, sales of LTD''s products began to rise dramatically, and post-broadcast, the show''s massive impact resulted in booming sales for Victoria''s Secret stores across the country. LTD''s stock price rose by 22% in the subsequent week, pushing thepany''s market cap to $4.5 billion. However, themercial sess of the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show also attracted a torrent of criticism. The day after the broadcast, media personalities and conservatives, led by New York Times columnist Thomas P. Pecker, used the show, with its overwhelming sexual implications, of being inappropriate for ABC, a national public broadcaster. Coupled with this public outcry, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received hundreds of letters and phone calls demanding ABC be penalized and prevented from airing the fashion show

    again.

    The bacsh from conservatives and some media outlets evoked considerable support; however, many detractors, primarily from youth-oriented onlinemunities, vehemently opposed the conservative push to ban the fashion show. Feminist groups also voiced disagreement with conservative criticisms, leading to a heated debate thatsted over a week and even sparked several instances of online trolling.

    Though the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show hadn''t ostensibly vited any rules, under mounting pressure, the FCC had to meet with representatives from ABC and LTD to discuss resolutions

    for this controversy.

    But, attempting to oust a television program with over 40 million viewers was impossible.

    After much mor continued into the days before Christmas, the FCC and the production team for the fashion show eventually reached apromise: for this year and subsequent Victoria''s Secret Shows, if aired on public television, they must be scheduled after 10 PM and clearlybeled with a TV-14 warning for minors.

    ...

    Amidst all these developments, another unexpected event left many surprised and delighted.

    One week after the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show aired, one million copies of its videotape officially went on sale. Emily and others had worried that no one would want to spend $30 on a mere 40-minute tape. Eric even prepared to treat the unsold tapes as giveaway items. However, on the day of release, all one million copies sold out in no time, prompting Firefly''s distribution department to scramble additional resources to produce another million copies - - all of which were snatched up just as quickly.

    Perhaps due to the scarcity creating a hype marketing effect, various media outlets began reporting on it. In less than a month, the sales of the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show videotapes approached 7 million. Finally taking note of the phenomenon, the Firefly distribution department conducted a survey, revealing that 75% of purchasers bought the videotape primarily for the six songs. This meant that these people essentially viewed this tape as a

    music album.

    After thorough evaluations, Firefly projected that final sales for the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show videotapes could potentially surpass 20 million copies. At $29.90 each, that was roughly $30, which could yield a staggering $600 million in sales. Given the mere 40-minute length of the show, production costs for a single tape were approximately half that of a regr movie. Subtracting distribution and retailer profit margins, each tape would yield roughly $15 in profit for the distributor -- about half of the sales revenue -- resulting in an astounding potential profit of $300 million!

    Media outlets that oncemented Eric''s decision to abandon filming movies for the loss of

    several hundred million in potential earnings were now wide-eyed, realizing that somehow, he had recouped that ''loss.''

    The surprise sess of the ''Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show Soundtrack'' caused considerable embarrassment for music magazines like Billboard and Rolling Stone. Normally, these high- profile music magazines published their weekly charts, but the past few weeks had brought in a flood of ridicule since none of the songs on their charts came from the show''s soundtrack.

    Music fans firmly believed any song from the fashion show could easily dominate those charts. Given the overwhelming bacsh, established artists who had previously nned to release new singles at year''s end dyed their ns.

    The situation wasplex for magazines like Billboard; after all, Firefly had its own unconventional methods. Typically, when regr artists released new singles, they would aggressively promote them through radio and television to secure chart positions. Yet, Firefly had made no such efforts. Although the names of the six songs had begun circting, no one knew which band or artist was behind them. At Eric''s insistence, Firefly records had kept the identities of the performers a closely-guarded secret.

    As a result, while fans buzzed about the six luscious tracks, and the videotapes continued to

    fly off shelves, outside of ABC and a few cable channels that secured rebroadcast rights, there were hardly any appearances of these songs on radio or television. Without promotion or public rtions campaigns and zero intent to showcase their existence, why would anyone

    rank those songs? Only their tape sales could serve as a basis for that!

    ...

    Following the show, Eric retreated to Southampton to spend time with his women and children, where a pre-Christmas party was held in the mansion.

    In the living room, Emily snuggled little Kevin while animatedly sharing recent events withn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric and the others. "Since the Rolling Stone''s Jann Wenner couldn''t reach you, he kept calling

    me. You won''t believe how much pity was in his voice the other day! He said if we don''t start promoting those songs, their magazines would lose credibility. Eric, why not let Firefly Records unveil those artists ahead of time? It''d be a perfect opportunity. After all, Victoria''s Secret has already reaped its rewards. If those artists grab some spotlight, who cares?" Eric leaned back on the couch, folding his magazine and shaking his head at Emily. "Beyond

    considering what''s best for Victoria''s Secret, the current scenario actually favors those neers. If we start promoting them now, most of the media attention would go to Victoria''s Secret and it may not be benificial to them in the long run. Instead, we should wait until after Easter next year to gradually roll out their singles. By then, the hype around Victoria''s Secret would have cooled, allowing the media to focus more on these fresh talents."

    Emily replied, "You''re clearly worried about the impact on the Victoria''s Secret tape sales. The results were astonishing -- 20 million tapes could bring $300 million in profit! $300 million! WOW, LTD''s revenue has increased significantly this year, but their annual profits are

    only around $400 million."

    Eric chuckled and said, "Wipe that drool off your chin. No amount of envy will change the fact

    that it was you folks who willingly sold me the rights to the Victoria''s Secret Show. So this money is mine."

    Amidst theughter of Chris, Virginia, and the others, Emily merely pouted and replied,

    "That wasn''t even my decision! The board of directors is the one regretting it. In thest meeting, those guys were even suggesting I retract the rights to the Victoria''s Secret Show." Though Emily''s tone was casual, she nced at Eric, her gaze carrying a hint of hopeful

    expectation.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 679: Chapter 680: Lessons

    Chapter 679: Chapter 680: Lessons

    ?

    [Chapter 680: Lessons]

    The negotiations between Firefly Group and Columbia regarding sequels to films like Men in ck were personally overseen by Jeffrey Katzenberg. Given Katzenberg''s tough demeanor, Eric was not overly concerned that Firefly would be at a disadvantage in the negotiations. As for Columbia''s so-called threat of legal action, Firefly considered that hardly worth mentioning. If Columbia did file awsuit, it would likely drag on for a year or two without resolution, and Firefly could afford the dy, whereas Columbia would not risk a prolonged battle.

    However, Columbia started to turn its attention toward Flower Films, prompting Eric to get personally involved. As soon as the New Year festivities in New York were over, he headed back to Los Angeles.

    Although Flower Films appeared to have no direct stake in Firefly, it was a crucial step in Eric''s Hollywood expansion n. The entire Hollywoodmunity was quite aware of the nuances surrounding Flower Films. With the major seven studios essentially monopolizing the distribution channels, any new yer in Hollywood would hesitate to produce films with budgets over $50 million without the backing of one of the major studios. If they didn''t get that support, they could easily find themselves losing money in the distribution process.

    Yet Flower Films, seemingly insignificant, managed to pull off quite a feat. It had not only produced two massive films with budgets around $80 million each but also secured distribution terms from Columbia that would have made many smaller studios envious. This was undoubtedly thanks to the robust support from the Firefly Group.

    Flower Films'' confidence stemmed from the understanding that if it could not secure reasonable distribution deals with the other major studios for its big-budget films, Firefly would step in to take over.

    Columbia''s decision to challenge Flower Films right after the New Year seemed motivated by this very fact. Flower Films had two films awaiting release: Night at the Museum and Forrest Gump. Columbia had initially ted both films for the summer of 1995, but now, at the beginning of 1995, the summer release ns of the seven major studios were already being finalized. This was particrly true for Firefly, which had heavy hitters like Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 lined up for this summer.

    If the negotiations between Columbia and Flower Films broke down, even though Firefly could take over Flower Films'' two films, it would not have the necessary resources to distribute them effectively. The other major studios might have that capability, but Flower Films would find itself at a disadvantage in terms of the distribution agreement. So, there was a possibility that both films might be dyed.

    With Night at the Museum costing $80 million to produce and Forrest Gump at $50 million, a postponement would keep the total investment of $130 million from being mized in time. Flower Films'' subsequent ns would be rendered impossible, leading to a devastating domino effect on the studio.

    At Firefly''s headquarters on Venice Beach, not too far from the studio, Amy Pascal sat worriedly telling Eric about recent developments. "Columbia''s reasoning is based on the disappointing box office for Jumanji, and they point out that Night at the Museum''s style is very simr to Jumanji''s. Based on the original profit-sharing agreement, Columbia ims they wouldn''t just fail to profit but would actually incur losses. Therefore, they''re seeking to change the established contract, raising Columbia''s North American distribution share from 15% to 20%, and they also want a stake in video and TV rights."

    Upon reflection, Eric saw that Jumanji and Night at the Museum shared quite a few stylistic elements, including scenes with lots of animals, monsters, and exotic nts. Even the visual effects for both films had been produced by the same team under Digital Domain.

    However, the failure of Jumanji to meet box office expectations was not due to its quality. Despite poor reviews, its standing as a major blockbuster leveraging cutting-edge CGI meant that critic opinions had little impact on its financial sess. Theck of box office sess was primarily due to fiercepetition during the holiday season.

    During the summer season, the major studios typically avoided internalpetition by staggering major releases, but thepetition during the 1994 Christmas season could only be described as brutal. On December 23, in addition to Jumanji, six other films, including Street Fighter, Little Women, and Nobody''s Fool, released in over 1,500 theaters simultaneously. Inparison, the week prior saw only three filmsunched alongside Face/Off.

    With so many new releases, the total box office for the week of December 23 to 29 surged to $188 million, marking the highest weekly gross forte 1994. However, during that week, eight films surpassed $10 million at the box office. Despite this fiercepetition, Jumanji managed to earn $36 million in its opening week and only suffered a modest 26% drop the following week, showing it performed well. If Jumanji had beenunched in a lesspetitive summer season, it might have easily surpassed $200 million at the box office; its underperformance was merely a matter of timing.

    Eric was confident that Columbia''s internal team would recognize this. Using Jumanji''s box office struggles as an excuse to renegotiate profit-sharing terms with Flower Films felt somewhat disingenuous.

    After pondering for a moment, Eric looked up and asked, "What about Forrest Gump? What''s their excuse for that?"

    "Columbia thinks Forrest Gump is better suited as an Oscar contender with limited box office potential. They''ve been a bit lukewarm on the release from the start," Amy Pascal replied, ncing at Eric. "Honestly, I agree with Columbia. Forrest Gump is an outstanding film, no doubt, but its inspirational and nostalgic tone seems more appropriate for a year-end release. The summer audience primarily skews younger. So, we should focus on getting Night at the Museum out. If we dy Forrest Gump until the end of the year, it might actually benefit its chances for next year''s Oscars. The film has a strong American cultural vibe, and without the Oscar halo, profits from overseas distribution would certainly be limited."

    Eric listened patiently to Amy Pascal''s analysis. As someone who had once been a powerful yer at a major Hollywood studio, her insight into themercial positioning of Forrest Gump was indeed sharp. But, just like the famous saying from Forrest Gump about life being like a box of choctes, no one could predict how a film would perform until it was released. Fortunately, Eric already knew the potential of Forrest Gump, so he merely nodded slightly at Amy''s analysis without outright agreeing.

    He nced over at Drew, who was quietly listening intently and not putting on any of her usual charming antics. Eric inquisitively asked, "Drew, what do you think we should do?"

    Drew considered for a moment before responding, "It depends on what you n. Columbia''s moves seem intended to pressure Firefly into greenlighting the sequels for Men in ck and Mr. & Mrs. Smith-oh, and definitely now the Jumanji sequel too. If we don''t y ball with them, Columbia will probably just keep dragging out the profit-sharing negotiations with Flower Films. Without those two films, Columbia won''t find another project to fill their schedule and will also miss out on this summer''s box office. It''s a lose-lose situation."

    Eric nodded, smiling, "Well, to Hollywood, Sony looks like an affluent neer trying to rub elbows with the established yers. Apany willing to spend but not disrupt the industry''s rules benefits us. If Columbia had more aggressive backers, it would be much harder for us to navigate these waters. So, I''m not aiming to squeeze Sony too tightly over the rights to those films."

    Amy Pascal rxed and smiled, while Drew shrugged and said, "Then what do we have to worry about? Things can just continue as they are."

    Eric chuckled and shook his head at their reactions. "You both seem too nonchnt. This situation illustrates that even close allies can be unreliable. Columbia is pushing things because they see that Firefly wants to help Flower Films, but at the moment, it doesn''t have the capacity to do so. Ultimately, Flower Films will have to rely on itself."

    Surprised, Amy Pascal asked, "Eric, are you suggesting we should handle the releases of these two films ourselves?"

    "Not at all," Eric responded. "You just need to take your time with that. The most important lesson here is that Columbia needs to learn not to antagonize partners without sufficient

    leverage."

    Drew shook her head in confusion, "Eric, you''re losing us a bit here."

    Looking at his watch, Eric turned toward the television in the office. "It''s about time. Do you have the remote?"

    Amy Pascal nodded and grabbed the remote. She switched on the TV to find the news channel. Just then, the screen cut to a report about the auction of mobilemunication licenses. The host held a news release and looked into the camera, saying, "Breaking news: At 10:15 AM, Firefly Group''s CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sony USA''s President Howard Stringer held a press conference at Columbia''s headquarters in Culver City, announcing that the twopanies would jointlymence production on the sequels for Men in ck and Jumanji this year. Now, let''s turn to our reporter in Los Angeles for more live coverage..."

    The three of them watched the TV screen, and after a moment, Drew eximed, "Eric, this is so sudden! Had I known this wasing, Amy and I wouldn''t have worried about the releases of Night at the Museum and Forrest Gump these past few days."

    Drew''sment jolted Eric out of his thoughts. He didn''t immediately respond but picked up the phone to dial a number. Once connected, he said, "Kelly, I just saw a report about the mobile operating license auction. Find out what''s going on. I need detailed information by

    tomorrow."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    After a brief conversation, Eric hung up without exining his actions. He returned to the previous conversation, saying, "The reason I urged Katzenberg to finalize this quickly is to show some folks that Flower Films'' uing actions regarding rights issues don''t rte to

    Men in ck."

    Amy Pascal asked, "Eric, are you saying you don''t n to have us coborate with Columbia

    anymore?"

    Eric nodded, "Now that the dispute between Firefly and Columbia is resolved, if Flower Films terminates its cooperation, it will no longer be affected by the Firefly-Columbia rights conflict. Thus, you can search for a distributor without the risk of being taken advantage of. My n is this: transfer the distribution of Night at the Museum to MGM, which I will personally discuss with Frank Mancuso, ensuring that profit-sharing terms mirror those with Columbia. MGM only has one Bond film this summer, so adding Night at the Museum won''t overload them. For Forrest Gump''s overseas and anciry rights, Firefly will handle those, and you''ll manage the domestic release. Think of it as good practice. Given that Forrest Gump leans more towards being an Oscar contender, the distribution pressure won''t be too intense, and

    the box office trajectory will likely be lengthy. All you need is to secure over 1,500 theaters for

    the opening."

    Listening to Eric, Amy Pascal furrowed her brow slightly, indicating some hesitation.

    Hollywood film distribution, at its core, consists of several key steps.

    First, you need to contact theaters willing to show your film. The major studios inherently

    have the advantage here; for many promising films, these studios often secure distribution agreements with theaters even before production starts, sometimes even receiving substantial upfront payments from distributors. This is also a critical barrier preventing many new yers from entering Hollywood.

    When the big studios distribute films, theater owners actively seek partnerships, but if a newly established filmpany wants to release a movie, obtaining those upfront payments or signing preliminary distribution agreements is nearly impossible. Even if they finish production, theater owners often don''t show much enthusiasm for screening their films, resulting in many independent movies losing the opportunity to be shown, leading to the second crucial step in film distribution -- marketing.

    With simr quality, scale, and timing, films released by major studios generally yield much higher box office returns than those from smallerpanies. The primary reason for this disparity lies in marketing. The major studios possess well-established marketing systems, and recent consolidations in the media industry have further enhanced their overall media power, far surpassing that of smallerpanies. Since the marketing of films is handled by the distribution side, theaters often prefer to showcase mediocre films from the major yers rather than exceptional films from smaller studios, as the major studios'' strong marketing power can often lead a below-average film to outperform a highly praised independent film. However, while Flower Films may seem like a neer on the surface, the key problems these neers usually face weren''t issues for Flower Films.

    Amy Pascal, who began her career over a decade ago as a junior staffer at an independent productionpany and ended up as Columbia''s VP, was well aware of every aspect of film distribution. Even without Firefly''s help, she could leverage her connections to secure enough theaters for Forrest Gump. With Firefly''s backing as thergest media group in America, the marketing concerns for the film would be easily addressed. Therefore, simply handling the North American release of Forrest Gump did not seem challenging for Amy Pascal at all. Yet at that moment, she couldn''t shake the feeling that this was entirely unnecessary... right?

    Wouldn''t it be better to let Sony or MGM handle the distribution? Just as Eric had stated, MGM only had one Bond film this summer, so adding Night at the Museum wouldn''t be difficult. And if MGM truly couldn''t manage both films, there were still other major studios, right? By offloading distribution responsibilities, Flower Films would save ample time to prepare

    for new projects.

    Eric understood Amy Pascal''s current mindset. Besides teaching Sony a lesson, he had another

    motive: to keep as much profit as possible from Forrest Gump for his own team. In the original timeline, Forrest Gump''s North American box office made $330 million; passing it off to anypany for distribution would mean at least giving away 15% in fees. This amounted to approximately $50 million. Most Hollywood films extract everyst penny of profit and still may not yield $50 million for the producers.

    As he noticed Amy''s expression, Eric smiled and said, "Honestly, this is just my personal

    suggestion. You and Drew should think it over. If you really want to avoid theplications, just hand the distribution contract over to MGM."

    Upon hearing that, Amy Pascal felt assured and replied, "Eric, let''s go with your n. I

    believe you''re considering what''s best for Flower Films."

    Once they reached a consensus, Drew eagerly leaned in and linked her arm with Eric''s. While

    she absolutely wouldn''t oppose Eric''s decision, she recognized that showing unwavering agreement without any input could hurt Amy Pascal''s feelings. Flower Films still needed

    Amy''s expertise.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 681: Chapter 682: I Was Forced Into This

    Chapter 681: Chapter 682: I Was Forced Into This

    ?

    [Chapter 682: I Was Forced Into This]

    The girl looked surprised and regretful as she heard Christina''s words, saying, "Goodbye, what''s going on?"

    Christina nced at Eric and replied, "The Mickey Mouse Club ended, and my mom ns to take me back to Pennsylvania for high school."

    "Oh, that''s such a bummer," the girl hugged Christina again, then released her and grabbed her little hand, saying, "You can alwayse visit me in Los Angeles. Hmm, it''s gettingte; I''ll have Natasha drive you home."

    Christina froze. She had been waiting outside the girl''s house for several days, and just when she finally saw her, she hadn''t managed to say what she truly wanted to say before being given the boot. Watching one of the identical twins jump into the car after Drew''sment made Christina feel even more flustered. Her eyes scanned around nervously, and she cast a pitiful nce at Eric.

    Since merging with ABC, Firefly had been making adjustments to its television operations. Small things, like canceling low-rated shows, typically ended up filed in the assistant''s office unless Eric specifically requested them. After all, the television business under Firefly saw dozens of new shows getting axed each year. Had it not been for suddenly seeing Christina, Eric wouldn''t have cared much about these issues.

    Seeing the girl about to be unceremoniously sent off made Eric shake his head helplessly. While it might seem a little cold-hearted, he understood it was the girl''s way of standing her ground. However, he didn''t think some situations needed to be approached so cautiously. He reached out and gently tapped the girl on the forehead, smiling as he said, "No joking around now; let''s keep Christina here for dinner."

    "Wow, all right, all right," the girl pouted with irritation, rubbing her forehead before climbing into the car and instructing the twins to open the big door to drive in.

    Eric didn''t get back in the car. Instead, he waved at the somewhat bewildered Christina and walked her toward therge mansion.

    ...

    After the Michael Jackson scandal erupted two years earlier, Christina had felt Drew''s attitude toward them shift to coldness. Before that, Drew often invited them over to y and asionally took them to some really interesting parties. But after that incident, all of that came to a sudden halt; Drew hadn''t contacted them once. Christina asionally visited Drew''s house with Britney, but Drew''s attitude was never as warm as before. As for Eric, the one Christina had wanted to meet for so long, she hadn''t seen him even once since that scandal.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Initially, Christina had given up on maintaining that connection with Drew, but the unexpected disbandment of the Mickey Mouse Club forced her to seek help from Drew. Drew''s whereabouts had been somewhat elusive, and Christina had been waiting outside Drew''s mansion in Trousdale for over a week. Luckily, she had finally caught a break, and more importantly... she ended up bumping into Eric.

    Walking beside Eric and stealing nces at him, Christina didn''t know what to say. Instead, she carefully surveyed the mansion she hadn''t been inside for a long time, once again imagining when she might have a beautiful house like this.

    "Do you want to stay in Los Angeles?"

    The sudden voice surprised Christina, but she quickly regained herposure. Looking up at Eric, she nodded earnestly, saying, "Yeah, I... I don''t want to go back to Pennsylvania for high school. I like singing."

    Eric gazed at her hopeful little face and said, "But you''re too young. You''re not even fifteen yet, right?"

    A hint of disappointment shed in Christina''s eyes. She knew her age was her biggest limitation. Nevertheless, she argued, "Mr. Williams, I could sing Mariah Carey''s ''Vision of Love'' when I was ten. They said I sang just as well as her."

    Eric knew that Mariah Carey was famous for her difficult whistle notes. Still, he also recognized that this young girl''s skills were on par with Mariah''s.

    "Christina, having talent doesn''t change the fact that you''re a minor. No recordpany will sign you."

    Christina''s expression instantly dimmed. She couldn''t help but wish that the Mickey Mouse Club could havested another two years. That way, by the time she turned sixteen, it might be easier to sign a contract with a recordpany. Turning to Eric, she held back her words. She understood that saying anything wouldn''t be of any use.

    When they reached the front door of the vi, Eric pushed the door open for Christina, who stepped inside. The twins were already busy in the kitchen, and the girl''s coat was on the hanger -- it looked like she had gone to take a shower.

    Eric took a juice box out of the fridge and handed it to Christina, who sat down on the sofa. He asked, "Justin and Britney, are they still in Los Angeles?"

    Christina shook her head, "I''m not sure. The boys and girls in the Mickey Mouse Club were always divided into separate groups. The rtionships between the girls weren''t that great either. After filming stopped, everyone lost contact."

    Eric sat down on the sofa and murmured while contemtively considering the situation.

    Although the pop music scene in the U.S. had always been vibrant, different genres tended to shine during different periods. From the mid-90s to the early 2000s, the hottest type of music was undoubtedly Teen-Pop, with key representatives being the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Christina, who was just starting her career, was also on the Teen-Pop route, while Justin Timbeke had initially joined a boy band in that genre.

    Currently, Firefly had justpleted the integration of its musical resources and had formed Firefly Records. However, with the arrival of the inte age and the decline of the record industry due to online music streaming, Firefly Records could never reach the heights that Warner, Universal, or Columbia Records once enjoyed. In such context, it seemed impractical for Firefly to invest extensive resources into each music genre as traditional industry giants had once done. The best course of action was to focus primarily on developing and nurturing a particr type of artist.

    In thest decade before the recording industry''s decline, the most popr music genre was undeniably Teen-Pop.

    In his memory, Disney''s recordbel had always fluctuated between sess and failure. Artists like Britney, Christina, Justin Timbeke, and even future stars like Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, and Selena Gomez were widely recruited by the major recordbels -- a significant loss for Disney. After all, their rapid rise to fame was closely associated with nurturing from the Disney Channel.

    Not wanting to interrupt Eric lost in thought, Christina took small sips of her juice.

    After a while, Eric looked up at Christina and said, "How about this, Christina? You can stay in Los Angeles for now, and someone will reach out to you."

    Christina looked at Eric with excitement, "Mr. Williams, are you saying I... can keep singing?"

    Eric smiled and nodded, "Of course, but you won''t be able to release any records for the next few years. I''ll arrange for you to have some movie or TV appearances to maintain your

    poprity."

    Christina didn''t catch that Eric had referred the you to the plural form, thinking it was a personal privilege he was giving her. ted, she bit her lip and cautiously looked around, gathering the courage to approach Eric. Blushing, she quietly said, "Mr. Williams, I... I can stay tonight as long as I call my mom to tell her I''m staying at Drew''s."

    Eric raised an eyebrow andughed, "What do you n to stay for?"

    Christina''s cheeks reddened even more as she mustered her courage and boldly looked at Eric, saying, "Whatever you want me to do, I''ll do it."

    Eric chuckled and lightly pinched the girl''s cheek, saying, "Don''t get any funny ideas. I''m not interested in a little kid like you."

    Christina instinctively flinched, saying, "You''re lying. You clearly like it."

    "Oh?"

    "You and Drew were together when she''s younger than me!"

    Eric pointed his chin behind Christina whileughing, saying, "You''ve got it wrong; I was

    forced into it back then."

    Christina blinked in confusion, realizing something as she quickly turned her head and saw

    the girl in a bathrobe smiling at her.

    After dinner, Eric instructed Natasha to drive Christina home.

    ...

    As the car drove out of the mansion gates, the girl beside Eric picked up the demo tapes Christina had handed him when she left, weighing them in her hands and saying, "Eric, you better be careful. The Chandler family extorted over $20 million from Jackson, and now they live in a mansion in Manhattan, New York; they''ll never have to work again. I think if someone extorted you just once, their family could live off that forever."

    "My money isn''t so easy to extort. Besides, there are so many of these things happening in the industry, and how many actuallye out? Over these years, only Jackson''s case has really blown up, and he was wronged," Eric chuckled, though his expression held a hint of sarcasm. Christina originally wanted Drew to help pass her demo tapes to some record executives. After hearing Eric''s promise, she still left some tapes behind when she left.

    Back inside the vi, Eric casually tossed one of the tapes into the yer, and Christina''s powerful rendition of ''FU'' filled the room. Compared to his memory of the original and the version from the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show, the girl''s vocal delivery was even more

    impactful.

    Cuddling a pillow, the girl came over to Eric, who was tapping on hisptop. "Christina really does sing well, but I think it''ll be hard for her to find her niche. She''s better suited for the development route of vocalists like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, but she''s just too short," she said with a chuckle.

    She seemed to be speaking casually, but it inadvertently hit a critical point.

    In Eric''s memory, although height wasn''t a factor, Christina had indeed never found a

    suitable musical direction. While her first album sold over ten million copies, the rise of Britney overshadowed her as she released a string of unsessful Teen-Pop albums and was forced to pivot but never found her true position again.

    Still, Eric pointed at the yer where ''FU'' was ying, saying, "Isn''t this Christina''s music

    direction?"

    Eric had already decided to keep Britney and Christina on the original Teen-Pop path. However, rather than go for Britney''s sweet, girl-next-door image, Christina could develop a slightly more rebellious, independent girl persona. If boy bands could coexist in all sorts of corners, he reasoned that by distinguishing the positioning, keeping two different styles of Teen-Pop queens wouldn''t be a problem.

    After spending several hours organizing his thoughts and memories on Teen-Pop, he sent them to the work email of his assistant and requested Kelly to include it in the meeting topics for the next day. Then he shut down hisptop and took the sleeping girl beside him to rest.

    ...

    During the executive meeting the next day, after once again discussing ns to gradually scale down Firefly''s film production over theing years, Eric raised the issue of the future direction for Firefly Records. After integrating the music resources of the former ABC and Disney, Firefly Records was at a critical stage of development. Eric took advantage of the recent remarkable sess of certain songs released during the Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show to

    encourage the management team to ept his proposal to prioritize packaging a batch of Teen-Pop artists.

    The meeting ultimately confirmed two crucial ns for the future of Firefly Records: one was to recall the Mickey Mouse Club kids for potential assessment and development; the other was to initiate a buyout offer to a small subsidiary of Sony Records, JIVE Records. Strictly speaking, JIVE was considered a subsidiary of RCA, which in turn was part of Sony BMG. At that moment, JIVE seemed rtively inconspicuous within the vast Sony Records system, but Eric knew that in theing decade, the most sessful Teen-Pop acts like the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Justin Timbeke would emerge from JIVE. This didn''t mean JIVE possessed any magical power; rather, the management team there excelled at packaging teenage idol singers, and their unofficialpany motto was "Take Idolism to the Next

    Level."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 683: Chapter 684: Differences

    Chapter 683: Chapter 684: Differences

    ?

    [Chapter 684: Differences]

    Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart not only coincidentally received the same Golden Globe nominations, but their simrities were also numerous. Both were epic films with profound themes, remarkable war scenes, and even the scoresposed by two of Hollywood''s leading musicians, John Williams and James Horner. As a result, both films attracted significant attention during awards season, and recently, supporters of Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart were engaged in heated debates in the media.

    If Firefly Productions and Fox were just straightforwardpetitors, this awards season -- both publicly and privately -- would see bothpanies fiercely vying for several major film awards. This situation would undoubtedly lead to unnecessary expenses for both parties regarding public rtions budgets, and the final results may not even favor either side. However, due to the rtionship between Eric and Elisabeth, there was already some unspoken understanding between the two parties long ago.

    "Eric," Harvey Weinstein analyzed seriously, "from the current situation, separating Best Picture and Best Director is the most advantageous strategy for both ourpanies. Saving Private Ryan''s global release ising to an end, and it was released on video in North America two months ago. Therefore, I believe the most suitable award for this film would be Best Director. Although the film exudes a strong masculine essence, Kathryn is a woman. In Oscar''s sixty-plus-year history, while there have been a few female directors nominated, no woman has ever won Best Director. So if Saving Private Ryan wins Best Director, the impact would be just as significant as winning Best Picture. After all, the Oscars have crowned sixty- six Best Pictures, yet there hasn''t been a single Best Female Director''s film. And for decades toe, Kathryn could be the only Best Female Director. If Saving Private Ryan wins Best Director, this film will maintain enduring influence for many years."

    Eric nodded. Although Harvey Weinstein didn''t mention anything rted to box office profits, his words clearly analyzed the award''s pros and cons from a business perspective. Once Kathryn became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director, Saving Private Ryan would hold a very unique position in film history, making it singr until a second female director won an Oscar. Whenever someone thought of the Oscar for Best Director, they''d quickly think of the only female recipient, followed by recognition of this film. This also meant that Saving Private Ryan would generate profits for Firefly far exceeding those from any other Best Director-winning film through its video, DVD, and rted channels in the years to

    come.

    Noticing Eric''s agreement, Harvey Weinstein continued, "Braveheart is still in its release phase, so the title of Best Picture is more important for us. If we both handle PR independently, with both films demonstrating equal strength, the final results could be unpredictable. Personally, I believe the oue may very well be the opposite of what we hope for. Saving Private Ryan is an American patriotic war film, andpared to the historical narrative of Braveheart, it undoubtedly has a higher chance of winning Best Picture. The Director''s Guild hardly has many women; most members are old-school men who tend to lean toward male directors. In this respect, Mel Gibson has a much greater chance than Kathryn. If we want the results to align with our expectations, we have to reach mutual understanding on our PR strategies after the Oscar nominations."

    While Braveheart, which was set to release by year-end, had many advantagespared to Saving Private Ryan -- which had long been out of theaters in North America -- it could create maximum media impact during awards season. But if one carefully analyzed the Oscar potential of both films, Saving Private Ryan possessed two significant advantages: its American patriotic themes and extreme political correctness. If both sides acted independently in the uing Oscar PR strategies, the oues could indeed be uncertain. After Harvey finished speaking, Eric nodded and said, "Alright, Harvey. I''ll call Katzenberg tonight and have the Head of PR for Firefly''s awards strategy contact you tomorrow. You two can discuss things privately."

    Harvey Weinstein''s presence was partly to hear Eric''s promise of cooperation. After all, a joyful consensus on splitting the ''cake'' would be the best win-win scenario. Otherwise, the final result could end up being exactly the opposite of what both parties were hoping for, or one side could end up utterly defeated -- something neitherpany wanted to see.

    Once they identified the main issue, Harvey Weinstein casually began discussing some details, "Eric, Kathryn Bigelow was also a major producer of Saving Private Ryan, but I heard she hasn''t been very involved in the Golden Globe PR activities. The Golden Globes don''t matter much, but if Saving Private Ryan aims for the Oscar for Best Director, she should make more public appearances. Even if she doesn''t attend many private PR parties, I think she should do a few more interviews with the media."

    The primary steps for award campaigning include both media blitzes and private outreach to the judges, ultimately mirroring an election campaign by swaying various influences to secure votes from the awardmittees.

    Harvey''s suggestion was certainly well-founded. Eric agreed, but still chuckled, "Harvey, you might not know, but Kathryn is somewhat... well, idealistic. She doesn''t particrly enjoy these activities, and I can''t force her."

    Harvey Weinstein paused for a moment. If managed correctly, Saving Private Ryan''ster video and TV licensing could continue to Firefly hundreds of millions in profits. Such a significant business opportunity shouldn''t be overlooked just because of the director''s whimsical idealism.

    However, Harvey quickly recalled some private rumors, envisioning Kathryn''s agelessly beautiful face, and chuckled to himself, choosing not to pursue the matter further.

    Elisabeth, who had been quietly listening to their discussion, suddenly chimed in with a tinge of bitterness, "In her forties and still an idealist -- does she think she''s a little girl?"

    Eric almost sputtered his coffee as he hurriedly ced the cup on the table and shot a surprised re at the unexpectedly jealous Elisabeth, only to receive an unapologetic re in return.

    Harvey Weinstein sensed that the atmosphere was starting to shift. Recognizing the tension, he discreetly excused himself to leave. With Eric''s confirmed promise, the uing details of the award campaign wouldn''t require his direct involvement; Harvey would handle themunication with Firefly''s relevant personnel.

    As Eric escorted Harvey out, he and Elisabeth sat back down together.

    With just the two of them remaining, Elisabeth realized that her earlier outburst was somewhat unwarranted, yet she was unwilling to apologize. Avoiding Eric''s gaze, she lost herself in looking far away, as if counting the hills and mansions in the distance.

    Eric called over the waiter to bring them a fresh pot of coffee, also gazing into the distance alongside Elisabeth.

    After a moment of silence, Elisabeth suddenly became a bit irritated again and red at Eric, "Julia was right -- you''re such a jerk,pletely clueless about how to cater to us."

    Eric felt a bit bewildered. "Your Highness, what did I do wrong?"

    "You should have spoken up first just now instead of making me break the silence."

    Eric found it amusing, "I thought you were reflecting on life and didn''t want to interrupt your deep thoughts. Besides, you''re not a little girl -- why are you fretting over this?"

    "Why do some people in their forties still get to act like little girls while I can''t?"

    Eric could only concede, "Alright, you keep your little girl mentality. Who knows, by the time you''re as old as Kathryn, you might be just as beautiful as she is."

    "Yeah," Elisabeth suddenly felt a bit smug, "wait until I''m forty -- just imagine what she''ll look like by then."

    Eric could already picture it, because he had seen it: more than a decadeter, Kathryn would look just as she did now.

    If this woman could live her life like an enchanting fairy, it wouldn''t be a waste of her time on

    this earth.

    Noticing Eric''s smile amidst his thoughts, Elisabeth pretended to shiver with distaste and remarked, "You''re actually imagining that and smiling? That''s pretty twisted-- no wonder people say you have that fixation."

    Eric wasn''t inclined to discuss Kathryn any further. He quickly shifted the topic, "I saw Mel Gibson got nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes. His performance seems barely deserving of that nomination. You''re not thinking of setting him up for an Oscar nomination,

    are you?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric hadn''t even mentioned any PR issues rted to the Golden Globes with Harvey. He

    mainly felt the Golden Globes didn''t matter much to Saving Private Ryan. The influence of the Golden Globes typically peaked around their ceremony before rapidly yielding to the Oscars'' greater significance. For films currently in release, Golden Globe visibility might boost box office receipts, but the impact on films already inte-stage operations wasn''t that

    substantial.

    For Saving Private Ryan, the Oscars were key. After all, whenever the film''s news appeared in the media, it would be recognized as an Oscar contender. When selling overseas video or TV broadcasting rights, buyers primarily cared about Oscar nominations. Often, even just being nominated for an Oscar held far more weight than a Golden Globe. This disparity was even more pronounced when it came to acting awards, as seen with Leonardo DiCaprio, who struggled for years for an Oscar. Many people weren''t even aware that he had already won a Golden Globe for Best Actor a decade prior to finally winning the Oscar. Elisabeth, upon hearing Eric change the topic, astutely decided not to pursue the matter further and said, "Speaking of that, Mel Gibson actually got into a bit of a fight with Harvey

    over that nomination."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 685: Chapter 686: Well Have Nothing

    Chapter 685: Chapter 686: We''ll Have Nothing

    ?

    [Chapter 686: We''ll Have Nothing]

    Eric didn''t expect the Firefly management to act so decisively. They had just discussed matters in the morning meeting and by the afternoon, they already moved to engage with JIVE Records. However, he wasn''t too surprised. JIVE had seen its glory days around 2000, and at that moment, with Teen-Pop still so far away, JIVE''s market value was hardly more than ten million dors, a negligible amount in the grand scheme of the Firefly Group.

    When Eric heard that Howard Stringer was using JIVE Records as a bargaining chip, he merely chuckled and said, "Howard, it''s true that Katzenberg ns to acquire some promising recordbels soon to strengthen Firefly Records. Since you''ve mentioned it, I guess it must be true. But unless Firefly intends to buy all of Sony Records, I won''t be getting involved with these minor issues. If you have any questions, feel free to call Katzenberg and his team."

    Howard Stringer certainly couldn''t know that Eric had instructed this himself. Hearing Eric''s words made him a bit uneasy.

    Upon receiving news from JIVE, Howard quickly gathered information on the unassuming subsidiary. He found that JIVE had focused on ck Hip-Hop music and had previously missed the chance to sign Will Smith, which had be a notable industry gossip. Over the years, JIVE had failed to nurture any heavyweight ck artist, and perhaps as a result of their stagnation in Hip-Hop, the management team at JIVE was now trying to pivot.

    Despite researching thepany multiple times, Howard couldn''t find anything particrly appealing about JIVE that would attract Firefly. Although he hadn''t pinpointed the crucial factors, he didn''t believe things would be as simple as Eric suggested. Observing Eric''s calm demeanor across the table, Howard finally decided toy his cards on the table, saying, "Eric, how about this: the distribution contract between Flower Films and Columbia remains unchanged. In return, I can ensure that JIVE Records gets sold to Firefly."

    Compared to a subsidiary recordpany with mediocre performance, if they lost Night at the Museum and Forrest Gump, Columbia would struggle to find two films that could fill the summer slots. Columbia''s situation was dire; if they couldn''t maintain even superficial sess, Sony would undoubtedly face greater pressure from investors in their film business. Nevertheless, Eric just shook his head dismissively, saying, "Howard, I''ve said it before, I''m not at all interested in acquiring the insignificant JIVE Records, and don''t think you can use this as a bargaining chip. I reiterate, it was Columbia that instigated this matter. If you''re unwilling to cooperate properly, then let''s go our separate ways."

    Eric''s cold dismissal ignited a spark of anger within Howard. He retorted, "Eric, the contract between Columbia and Flower Films is still active. If Flower Films attempts to terminate it unterally, Columbia may not hesitate to pursue legal action to protect its interests."

    Eric suddenly leaned forward slightly, his eyes radiating danger, saying, "Howard, listen to me, don''t do that. Otherwise, you''ll find that the trouble Columbia faces will far exceed that of Flower Films."

    Howard retorted just as sharply, "Eric, Columbia is already facing enough trouble. If we have no other choice, we won''t mind incurring a bit more."

    "And then what?" Eric continued, picking up where Howard left off without waiting for him to respond. "Then you''ll discover that Columbia''s business will get worse. You''re from a media background. When Idei Nobuyuki hired you, it was to revitalize Sony''s entertainment sector in the U.S. If you can''t achieve that, you won''t hold much value for Sony. As Columbia continues to decline, Sony will certainly seek another scapegoat, and that scapegoat will most likely be you. But now, you have another choice: swallow this matter. Columbia will only lose one summer slot, but things won''t continue to deteriorate. The responsibility for losing that summer period will ultimately fall back on a higher-up at Sony, at Idei Nobuyuki''s level. So, Howard, what do you n to do?"

    Leaning back in his chair, Howard''s eyes flickered, and he remained silent for quite some time.

    Eric chose not to engage further. Feeling the warm evening sun wash over him, he called over a waiter to bring a menu. After discussing with Elisabeth in low tones and ordering dinner, he handed the menu back to the waiter and asked Howard, "So, Howard, do you want to stay and have dinner with us?"

    Startled as if awakened from a daze, Howard shook his head slightly and chose not to say anything more, leaving with a polite goodbye.

    Eric simply nodded, showing no intention of seeing him off. It was Elisabeth who watched Howard''s retreating figure and asked, "Eric, aren''t you afraid of pushing him too hard?"

    "If he''s managed to climb to the position of CEO of Sony''s American division, he''s not likely to act rashly. However, he will soon realize that the CEO position doesn''t live up to his expectations. It''s natural for him to feel a bit down for a while."

    Although they had ousted Peter Guber from Columbia, thepany would still have to survive under the shadow of Firefly for a few years due to projects like Men in ck. Unless Howard Stringer was willing to drastically cut ties with Firefly and develop his own film business independently, he certainlycked the capability; Columbia was currently without a single outstanding manager.

    ...

    In the following days, Columbia ultimately epted the reality of dissolving the distribution contract with Flower Films. Between fighting for Sony''s profits and protecting his own position, Howard Stringer clearly chose thetter.

    Meanwhile, Firefly encountered trouble in the process of acquiring JIVE Records, as Sony Records decisively refused Firefly''s offer.

    However, what Eric was after wasn''t necessarily a particr signed artist or the music rights owned by JIVE. He was focused on the JIVE management team that had created the peak era of Teen-pop in his previous life.

    With JIVE Records acquisition falling through, Firefly swung its "axe" at the entire JIVE management team, offering JIVE''s CEO, Barry Weiss, the position of president of Firefly Records. Although Sony became acutely aware of this move and increased their focus on JIVE, Barry Weiss had no hesitation in choosing between the presidency of Firefly Records and a subsidiary of Sony Records. He swiftly led the entire management team of JIVE away from Sony to join Firefly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Los Angeles International Airport.

    The bumps during the ne''snding jolted Irwin Jacobs awake from his slumber. After over twenty hours of flight, he felt utterly exhausted.

    After more than three years of operations -- and after ceding significant technical rights -- Quam had finally gained support from the South Korean government for CDMA. However, with the rise of GSM and its widespread adoption in Asia, the Korean side was starting to waver. Irwin Jacobs had to personally rush to Korea to handle the crisis.

    Reflecting on Quam''s position in North America, Irwin felt a wave of confusion rise within him. Thergest tel operator in the U.S., AT&T, had settled on GSM as its mobilemunication standard, leading a wave of smaller operators to follow suit. Quam was now teetering on the brink of survival; if they couldn''t quickly gather support for CDMA in America, even their advanced technology wouldn''t save them from bankruptcy. Currently, a meeting with that young man had be a crucial opportunity for Quam.

    Stepping out of the airport with his assistant, Irwin enjoyed a moment of ease in the bright Los Angeles sun. Scanning the crowd, he soon spotted one of Quam''s partners, Andrew Viterbi, making his way toward him.

    The two embraced, and Andrew led Irwin into a ck car, instructing Irwin''s assistant to drive while they settled into the back seat.

    As soon as they gotfortable in the car, Irwin eagerly asked, "Andrew, have you been in contact with Eric Williams?"

    "Of course," Andrew replied, nodding. "Tomorrow at noon, at the Malibu Liberty City estate, Eric Williams has invited us for lunch."

    Irwin was a bit impatient: "Tomorrow at noon? It''s only ten o''clock in the morning. Why

    didn''t you schedule it today?"

    Andrew patted his old buddy on the shoulder and said, "Hey, Irwin, rx. You''ve been on a ne for more than twenty hours; you need some rest. You wouldn''t want to meet Eric Williams in this state, would you? Besides, we still need to discuss the n. This might be ourst chance, and if we miss it, a decade of hard work could go down the drain."

    Hearing his friend''s words, Irwin managed to calm down and nodded.

    ...

    They drove to a hotel in Santa Monica, where Andrew had arranged rooms for Irwin and his assistant. After a quick freshen-up, Irwin went to Andrew''s room.

    Andrew seated Irwin on the couch and turned to brew some coffee.

    As soon as Irwin sat down, his eye was caught by a copy of Fortune magazine on the coffee

    table, the cover featuring a candid shot of Eric on a movie set. Picking up the magazine, Irwin discovered a bookmark tucked within it. Curious, he flipped to that page and found an article

    introducing the Firefly Group.

    ncing through a few lines quickly drew him in.

    As the new year began, countless media outlets reflected on the past while looking ahead.

    For financial media, the start of a new year was the peak season for reporting on various economic statistics from the previous year. The Firefly Group, which had been making headlines with various big movesst year, was undoubtedly the focus of American financial media. Although Firefly hadn''t yet released its fourth quarter financial report and its annual report, based on the data disclosed in the first three quarters, Fortune predicted that the Firefly Group''s revenue for 1994 might reach $18 billion, with an operating profit of around $1.5 billion. Additionally, Firefly had seen two significant non-operational revenuesst year: $1.5 billion from divesting print media assets and $2.5 billion from the auction of Disney''s animation division. With this robust profitability, Firefly had surpassed Time Warner to be thergest media giant in Hollywood.

    After patiently allowing Irwin to finish the article, Andrew Viterbi remarked, "Surprised?"

    Irwin nodded, saying, "Over $10 billion in cash reserves and $2.5 billion in free cash flow. It''s hard to imagine such a profitable enterprise exists in Hollywood. Eric Williams is only 25 years old this year, right?"

    "Yes, indeed," Andrew replied. "This young man seems almost like a miracle worker in this world. Just like the annual Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show that received so much media buzzst year. Eric spent $20 million in six months to operate the Victoria''s Secret brand for that morous lingerie showcase. Many thought that Eric would only recoup that spending through brand appreciation and product sales profits, but after the fashion show released its videotape, sales skyrocketed. They projected the $29.9 videotape would sell over 20 million copies, generating $300 million in revenue for Eric. Subsequently, Eric returned the rights of the fashion show back to LTD, gaining over $200 million in equity," Andrew said, a hint of admiration in his voice. He clearly had done significant homework about Eric.

    Irwin felt a mixture of astonishment and awe. Yet at 62, having experienced much of life''s ups

    and downs, he maintained a sense of calm despite his excitement.

    After finishing a cup of coffee, they turned to business matters.

    ...

    Andrew handed a prepared document to Irwin, saying, "Here''s the detailed n. Take a

    look."

    As Irwin flipped through the materials, he noted that the FCC had recently conducted a spectrum auction for established telpanies. For thesepanies that had secured A and B block licenses, Quam''s influence was quite limited; it couldn''t dictate which mobile technology the established operators would opt for. Thus, Quam had initially focused its attention on the C block licenses.

    While the A and B block licenses were simply limited offerings for a fewpanies, the C block auction attracted numerous bidders, leading to fiercepetition. Those small to medium-sized telpanies, having spent heavily to acquire spectrum licenses, would likely lean toward more economical mobilemunication technology. Compared to GSM, CDMA had significant advantages inwork construction costs and spectrum utilization

    efficiency.

    Quam''s worst-case scenario from the onset was that if CDMA was rejected by all established tel operators, they would then seekmercial opportunities from C block license winners.

    However, after Eric expressed interest in Quam, Andrew had developed a bold idea. They

    nned to secure enough financial support from Eric and then swiftly acquire all the C block licenses. They would then bundle CDMA technology and offer those spectrum licenses at a lower price to smaller tel operators. Even if CDMA technology failed to gain traction with mainstream tel operators, it could still capture one-third of the mobilemunication market through promotion within the C block.

    "I''ve already registered apany called Wave. If I can get funding from Eric Williams, I''ll

    step back from Quam and focus entirely on Wave, preparing to acquire all the C block licenses," Andrew dered.

    Irwin set the n aside. Although Andrew''s voice was filled with anticipation, he knew full

    well that both of themcked confidence in this matter.

    Due to their tacit understanding,petition for A and B block licenses hadn''t been intense. Nevertheless, the FCC still auctioned off a staggering $3.75 billion in total. To acquire all the licenses in thepetitive C block auction, they would at least need to set aside double the

    premiumpared to A and B blocks, which conservatively estimated would also require $4 billion.

    After a moment''s hesitation, Irwin asked, "Andrew, how likely do you think Eric Williams

    would be to provide us with $4 billion in support? Don''t forget, Quam is barely worth $400 million as a whole now."

    Supporting apany valued at under $400 million to execute a $4 billion n seemed like a madman''s idea to most.

    Despite having prepared a set of carefully deliberated remarks, neither Irwin nor Andrew felt

    any assurance regarding the oue. The only reason they put forth such an unrealistic n was that Quam had run out of options.

    "Since Eric Williams reached out to us, we''re sure to gain some support from him. Perhaps Eric can help us persuade a mainstream tel operator to embrace CDMA technology too. As for the n," Andrew reassured Irwin, attempting tofort himself as well, "if we try, we may have a 1% chance of sess. But if we don''t try, we''ll have nothing."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 687: Chapter 688: Theyre Here

    Chapter 687: Chapter 688: They''re Here

    ?

    [Chapter 688: They''re Here]

    Eric flipped through the materials Chris handed him and began to read.

    Inparison to AT&T, a telmunications giant with a market value exceeding $80 billion and profits surpassing $4 billion at the time, the other two major telmunicationpanies attempting to enter the mobilemunication market, Verizon and Sprint, were in a far less favorable position.

    Verizon was originally formed as Bell Antic, carved out from the original AT&T during the 1984 telmunications antitrust case. After ten years of development and consolidation, Verizon''s current market value stood at $23 billion. However, in recent years, Verizon had struggled with a downturn and reported a loss of $754 millionst year.

    Inparison, Sprint, which did not have Bell ancestry, had a market value of only $10.5 billion. Nevertheless, Sprint''s operational situation was much better than Verizon''s. In 1994, its annual profit reached $880 million. This robust performance likely fueled Sprint''s ambitious ns to establish a nationwide wirelesswork. During the auction process for the A and B block licenses, they made bold moves, ultimately acquiring more wireless spectrum licenses than both AT&T and Verizonbined. This ambition would lead Sprint to bear up to $1.5 billion in spectrum licensing fees, an expense that equaled nearly two years'' worth of thepany''s profit, assuming they maintained their current strong operational status.

    Having finished reading the materials, Eric began to understand why Chris had said that bringing Verizon and Sprint into the CDMA camp might not be impossible after all.

    Despite being giants in the American telmunications industry, these twopanies were nowhere near AT&T''s level. Verizon, due to several mergers in recent years, had umted a massive debt of $8.9 billion, amounting to 38% of thepany''s market value. This was a major reason for Verizon''s continuous losses over recent years. Thetest spectrum license auction would add around $600 million to its debt burden. If Verizon wanted to build and operate a mobilemunicationswork, in theing years, their debt ratio could very likely surpass 50%.

    Meanwhile, Sprint''s situation wasn''t particrly rosy either. Although it originally boasted an excellent operational status, thepany had expanded too rapidly in the mobilemunications sector. The $1.5 billion for spectrum licenses and the enormous funding required to establish a national mobilemunicationswork could lead Sprint down a simr path of continuous losses as Verizon had experienced.

    AT&T, with its deep pockets, made the choice to adopt GSM technology as the standard for its mobilemunicationswork without hesitation, uninterested in the potential for GSM to be overtaken by more advanced third-generationmunication technology in the future. However, financially strapped Verizon and Sprint had to carefully consider the cost implications of their technology choices in building theirworks. Although CDMA technology had not yet achievedmercial viability, there was significant experimental evidence to demonstrate its advantages in spectrum capacity and construction costspared to GSM and other second-generation digitalmunication technologies. Chris patiently waited for Eric to finish reading the materials before saying, "Aside from the factors surrounding CDMA itself, if Firefly expressed interest in the telmunications industry and openly funded Quam, then Verizon and Sprint would be highly inclined to lean towards CDMA. As the debt burdens for bothpanies increased, it would be significantly harder for them to secure financing through either debt or equity in the future. Firefly has the substantial capital they desperately need. Even if we don''t directly support these twopanies financially, they would incline towards technological coboration with Quam, which has the backing of such a powerful entity as Firefly."

    Eric nodded, leaning back on the sofa while lightly tracing the materials in hand with his fingers, yet his mind wandered elsewhere.

    ...

    In any country, the telmunications industry was monopolized by certain giants. Had it not been for the famous telmunications antitrust case in 1984, AT&T would undoubtedly be thepany with the highest market value in the U.S. today. Even after splitting off seven subsidiaries, AT&T, with its current market value over $80 billion, remained one of the fivergest corporate giants in America, while General Electric, ranked first, was valued at just over $90 billion.

    Although AT&T''s monopoly in the U.S. wasn''t backed by administrative support, and AT&T faced restrictions from federal antitrust authorities to expand further, even after a major breakup, AT&T''s current monopolistic status was still hard to challenge. Over a hundred years of development had provided AT&T with aprehensive nationwidendlinemunicationwork, which not only required massive investment but also wasn''t something that could be easily built in just a few years. Most emergingpanies wishing to start their own tel businesses often had to rentmunication lines from AT&T. In such conditions, it was nearly impossible for neers to catch up or surpass AT&T. However, things that had once seemed hopeless over the decades were now presented with significant opportunities due to the advent of new technological waves: the rise of the mobilemunications and broadband inte industries. At this point, both industries were just beginning to take shape. Aside from Eric, no one could foresee how developed these sectors might be, but Eric was well aware that in twenty years, either the mobilemunications or the broadband industry would surpass AT&T''s then-dominantndline business. By the early 2010s, many households had moved away fromndlines, while mobile phones and broadband had be essential to daily life.

    Though the recent auction for C block licenses faced dys because of a somewhat absurdwsuit -- indicating that neers wanting to enter the telmunications industry still faced numerous overt and covert barriers -- these barriers didn''t mean much to Eric, who already held vast capital in hand. To put it in modern gaming terms, he didn''t need to start from scratch like those noob yers. He could simply invest to unlock a high-level ount and enjoy the game directly. At that moment, he had two excellent "game ounts" at his

    disposal.

    Eric knew a bit about the future prospects of the twopanies. Verizon and Sprint, alongside AT&T, would emerge as the three giants of the American telmunications industry. He spected that this uing situation was primarily due to the relentless efforts Verizon and Sprint were currently making in mobilemunications. In contrast, other U.S. tel businesses ofparable strength to Verizon and Sprint, such as Southern Bell and Northern Tel, had likely missed out on this crucial industrial transformation and would gradually be eliminated from the market or swallowed by otherpanies.

    Moreover, due to the enormous capital required for spectrum licensing fees and constructing a nationwide mobilework, this was the best timing to invest in bothpanies. Eric understood that this may be thest opportunity; missing it could mean significant ramifications. As the wave of new technology surged forward, when the Nasdaq began to soar in the following years, both Verizon and Sprint could simply issue a small amount of stock in the public market to raise sufficient capital for growth. They would be unlikely to bring in a major shareholder like Firefly, which could alter their equity structure. Even if they wanted to, the skyrocketing market valuations would prevent Firefly from raising enough funds.

    ...

    Seeing Eric deep in thought, Chris patiently waited a moment before asking, "Eric, what are you thinking?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Snapping back to reality, Eric raised the materials in his hand and asked straightforwardly, "Chris, whichpany do you think would be more receptive to our investment, Verizon or

    Sprint?"

    Chris raised an eyebrow, preparing to respond, when the inte nearby beeped a few times. Eric stood up and pressed the inte button, hearing the manor''s doorman''s voicee through: "Mr. Williams, Messrs. Jacob and Viterbi have arrived."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 689: Chapter 690: Wont Give Up

    Chapter 689: Chapter 690: Won''t Give Up

    ?

    [Chapter 690: Won''t Give Up]

    When Eric''s question was posed, Irwin Jacobs found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

    Quam had always been generous with licensing its CDMA technology, but to date, there had yet to be a singlerge-scale CDMA device manufacturer globally. Against the backdrop where GSM device manufacturers flourished everywhere, even Nokia, which had a strong technical foundation, nearly faced a supply chain copse due to the rapidly expanding market demand. Quam, on the other hand, had almost no experience in device production.

    In reality, Quam did have its own telmunications equipment and mobile phone factory, but most of the equipment produced was only intended to meet testing requirements for CDMA technology. While Nokia had its own supply chain to "copse," Quam''s factory didn''t even have apleteponents supply chain. Typically, it only conducted limited procurement ofponents based on demand. This state of affairs couldn''t supportrge-scale production of CDMA devices.

    It was easy to foresee that if the situation persisted, even if major telmunications operators intended to select CDMA as their mobilemunication technology standard, they would definitely shift back to the GSM camp due to theck of sufficient CDMA equipment to build mobilemunicationworks.

    Seeing that Irwin Jacobs remained silent, Andrew Viterbi, who sat nearby, eagerly stepped in to exin, "Eric, the main difficulty in manufacturingmunications equipment lies in the design and development of core chips. Quam already had very mature products in this area. As long as CDMA technology can be promoted, Quam can quickly establish factories for equipment production and also outsource manufacturing to other telmunications equipment manufacturers."

    Eric merely smiled and nodded without voicing any objections. The primary reason for his earlier remark was to prompt Andrew Viterbi''s response now.

    It was true that technical R&D consumed a massive amount of funds, but the construction and operation of manufacturing facilities consumed even more. Nokia had initially acquired $420 million from Firefly for this purpose, and its profits over the past two years had been funneled into the expansion of its factories.

    Over a decadeter, Quam''s main business did not include manufacturing telmunications equipment and mobile phones; it primarily focused on patent licensing and chip R&D. Eric was well aware of this, but guiding Quam toward this route did not align with Firefly''s interests because if Quam did not engage in product manufacturing, it would not requirerge-scale equity and debt financing, making it difficult for Firefly to leverage its capital advantage to acquire a significant stake in Quam.

    Through their discussion at the table, both parties roughly rified their intentions.

    ...

    After lunch, Eric, Chris, and Kelly took Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi to the study, where they formallyid everything on the table.

    Eric handed over a stock document to Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi, stating, "I have been keeping an eye on Quam sincest year and believe strongly in CDMA technology. Recently, Firefly has gradually umted 2.1 million shares of Quam stock. We will report this to the SEC and the Quam board soon, and I wanted to inform you both as a gesture of cooperation from Firefly."

    Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi only nced at the document symbolically before exchanging looks of disappointment that they both could sense in one another''s eyes. Quam had long recognized the unusual fluctuations in its stock price recently, realizing that someone had been buying shares in bulk. The board and management initially spected that someone had insider information that CDMA technology was about to be confirmed as a standard by major telmunications operators, which encouraged this person to make a move for potentialrge profits once the rted facts were publicly announced. Quam had only issued 30% of its shares to the public, so the board wasn''t concerned about losing control over thepany and was instead quite excited about these spections, preparing for what was toe.

    They never imagined that the reality would soon unveil itself, showing that these spections had nothing to do with the situation -- CDMA had not been "internally appointed" by any telmunications operators, and the disappointment felt by the two was palpable.

    However, after a brief moment of disappointment, Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi recalled Eric''s identity and their moods lifted. At the very least, the one covertly buying Quam stock was not a spective trader but a billionaire like Eric, who was genuinely interested in Quam. As long as he utilized his capital and influence to promote CDMA technology, Quam had a significant chance of oveing its current plight.

    Of course, although he had focused solely on technological development, Irwin Jacobs wouldn''t naively believe that Firefly''s 2.1 million shares would suffice for their appetite. This equity only ounted for 10.5% of Quam''s total shares. He stated, "Eric, since Firefly has already made so many preparations, I assume you must have a detailed n in mind?" Eric nodded and said, "Up to now, no major telmunications operator is willing to adopt CDMA technology as the standard for their mobilemunicationwork, which is Quam''s primary dilemma. Firefly can leverage its connections, media channels, and capital advantages to assist Quam in promoting CDMA technology.

    However, at the same time, Quam needs to immediately resolve its inability to mass- produce CDMA equipment issues. I don''t want to see Firefly bending over backwards to get operators to ept CDMA technology only for them to switch back to GSM due to ack of timely supply of CDMA equipment. Therefore, I suggest Quam start setting up telmunications equipment and mobile phone factories right now."

    In contrast to Irwin Jacobs, who focused on R&D, Andrew Viterbi poured more of his energy into the management of Quam. Upon hearing Eric''s first half of the statement, he felt a surge of excitement, but became troubled thereafter and interjected, "Eric, we have indeed considered this and conducted thorough research. ording to our initial findings, just building a factory capable of producing 1 million CDMA phones a year requires an investment of $80 million, which we simply cannot... um..."

    Upon reaching this point, Andrew Viterbi noticed Eric was smiling at him and instantly understood something, stopping his speech and offering an awkward smile.

    Eric didn''t mind the interruption and continued with his unwavering smile, "I know Quam surely cannot raise the funds to build the manufacturing nt, but Firefly can cover this expense. Frankly speaking, Firefly''s assistance in promoting CDMA technology is also aimed at obtaining sufficient returns; therefore, I hope to increase Firefly''s stake in Quam through an investment."

    Irwin Jacobs had already suspected as much and asked, "Eric, how much does Firefly n to inject into Quam?"

    Eric replied casually, "Following what Andrew just said, with an investment of $80 million for a phone factory, Quam will surely also need to build a CDMA base station equipment factory. Let''s count that as another $80 million, totaling $160 million. Solely these two factories'' investments are likely insufficient, as Quam also needs to establishponents procurement and product marketing systems. So let''s just round that expenditure to $200 million, and at current stock prices, Quam would typically need to issue about 10 million shares of stock to Firefly."

    Irwin Jacobs estimated that with the issuance of 10 million new shares, Quam''s total shares would expand to 30 million. Firefly''s existing 2.1 million shares would then amplify its ownership to 40%. While this wouldn''t secure controlling interest, Firefly would leap to be Quam''srgest and most significant shareholder.

    In the beginning, whenunching Quam, Irwin Jacobs had invested almost his entire fortune, but after several rounds of financing and the IPO in 1992, his stake in Quam had dwindled to less than 1%. As long as he could ensure Quam''s survival, he didn''t particrly care about the shifts in personal equity. He understood that for Firefly to assist Quam wholeheartedly in promoting CDMA technology, they needed sufficient equity. After contemting for a moment, he nodded, "Eric, I don''t oppose your proposal, but stock issuance must be decided by the Quam board."

    AT&T''s announcement to join the GSM camp had already cost Quam more than half of its potential North American market. If Verizon and Sprint also chose GSM next, bankruptcy would be the only path left for Quam. Firefly betting $200 million at such a time was a risky venture; if it failed, that money would be down the drain.

    Eric believed that Quam''s board should understand that Firefly''s actions were equivalent to a signal that the entire Firefly system would wholeheartedly promote Quam''s CDMA technology. While the final injection scheme would likely undergo adjustments, the possibility of Quam''s board rejecting Firefly''s investment was incredibly low. After ncing at his watch, Eric stated, "So, Irwin, Chris and Kelly will take charge of the specific affairs moving forward. I hope to hear good news from Quam soon." Just as Irwin Jacobs was about to say something, he felt a light kick on his shoe from Andrew Viterbi, reminding him of the proposal they discussed the day before. He said, "Eric, Andrew and I have another proposal we''d like you to take a look at."

    Eric nodded and epted the document Irwin Jacobs pulled from his briefcase, reading it carefully before passing it to Chris and Kelly beside him.

    Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi watched anxiously, concerned Eric would outright reject their

    proposal.

    After a moment, both Chris and Kelly finished reviewing the materials and simply looked to Eric without offering any suggestions. With a $4 billion n on the line, the final decision

    ultimately rested on Eric.

    After mulling it over, Eric remarked, "I think this proposal leans a bit too idealistic."

    Hearing Eric''s words, Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi both felt a wave of relief; at least Eric hadn''t categorically rejected the proposal.

    Eric didn''t know what the two were thinking and continued, "You are surely aware of the

    lawsuit regarding the C-band licenses. The grounds for thewsuit are utterly absurd, yet it can still prolong the auction of C-band licenses for a long time. This alone shows that the legacy telmunications operators would never allow those small and medium telpanies to thrive. Even if we acquired all the C-band licenses, the ultimate leasing users would still likely be AT&T and a couple of other tel giants. Perhaps before the C-band licenses are auctioned, these mainstream tel operators might already finalize the technical standards. Therefore, this proposal holds little significance for promoting CDMA." Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi realized that Eric hadn''t entirely dismissed the idea, patiently waiting for him to continue.

    Eric also didn''t tease them further: "However, this proposal could serve as ourst resort. If major tel operators fail to choose CDMA technology, Firefly can activate this n, acquire all the C-band licenses, and then acquire a telmunications operator to independently build a CDMAmunicationwork." At this point, Eric looked at the two with a smile, adding, "Of course, all of this hinges on our coboration''s smooth progress; otherwise, Firefly won''t waste funds on promoting CDMA technology." Andrew Viterbi, suppressing his emotions, asked, "Eric, are you saying that as long as Quam epts Firefly''s investment, you''ll agree to execute this n?"

    Eric shook his head and said with a smile, "I just mentioned that this would be Firefly''sst

    resort. If Firefly bes Quam''s major shareholder, it will first choose to promote CDMA technology to old-school tel operators like Verizon. Only if these mainstream operators reject CDMA will Firefly activate this proposal."

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Irwin Jacobs felt far more excitement than Andrew Viterbi. CDMA was the culmination of his decade-long efforts; he strongly hoped for its survival instead of fading into oblivion against technologies like GSM. "Eric, can I interpret this as you absolutely will not give up on CDMA technology as long as Firefly bes Quam''s major shareholder?"

    Without hesitation, Eric nodded. Even if GSM truly dominated the market, technology would eventually see upgrades; the world of WCDMA, TD-CDMA, and other 3Gmunication technologies couldn''t bypass the CDMA standard. Hence, even if CDMA temporarily faltered during this industry upgrade, acquiring Quam with its extensive CDMA patents would

    still be advantageous.

    Yet Irwin Jacobs remained slightly concerned and asked, "Eric, could Quam obtain a written endorsement from Firefly regarding thismitment?"

    "Absolutely," Eric affirmed once more.

    "Well then," Irwin Jacobs stood up, extending his hand toward Eric, who simrly rose, and

    said, "I will get back to you with good news soon."

    ...

    After saying goodbye to Irwin Jacobs and the others, evening had set in.

    Eric and the rest returned to the vi, seated near the ss curtain wall, taking in the

    magnificent sunset view over the ocean. Chris inquired, "Eric, are you really nning to spend $4 billion to acquire all the C-band licenses?"

    Eric epted the freshly brewed coffee from Kelly and smiled, "I''ve already said this is a n

    ofst resort. Rather than buying the C-band licenses, I would prefer to invest that $4 billion in shares of either Verizon or Sprint."

    Hearing Eric bring up the topic they were discussing earlier, Chris replied, "About that, it may not be so easy. Legacy tel operators prefer debt financing over high-cost equity financing. However, these twopanies currently have massive capital needs, so your idea is not entirely impossible. If you are determined to move forward, I will expedite this

    process."

    Eric decisively nodded, "Let''s negotiate on an investment cap of $4 billion. As long as I can acquire shares of bothpanies, I wouldn''t mind taking a bit of a loss on the price." Chris chuckled, "$4 billion is going to be tough; it would be great if they epted Firefly''s investment of $2 billion."

    $4 billion would equate to a 40% stake in Sprint, and even for Verizon, which was double the

    size of Sprint, $4 billion could secure a 20% stake. Eric was well aware of the difficulty in this,

    saying, "Just do your best."

    ...

    While they were talking, Drew and Emily walked in bearing a plethora of shopping bags, with

    the twins behind them also carrying a bunch of items, clearly having gone shopping in the

    afternoon.

    As they breezed in, Emily noticed the astonished look on her boyfriend''s face and set down

    the convenience bag in her hands, exining, "All of these are Drew''s things! I only bought a few items, and they''re all in the car."

    The little girl grinned, instantly exposing her friend''s lie, "Yeah, just a few items, but they might be a bitrge -- they filled up the trunk and the back seat!"

    After teasing each other a bit, Chris, along with Emily, nned to take their leave.

    Eric didn''t hold them back but escorted them to the door, and when they reached the car, he

    asked, "When do you n to head back to New York?"

    Chris didn''t answer and simply looked at Emily.

    Emily exined, "Victoria''s Secret has been filming ads in Los Angelestely, and also, Cindy

    will be attending the Golden Globe Awards. We''re probably going to wait until after the

    Golden Globes to leave."

    Eric said, "How could the Golden Globes invite only Cindy Crawford?"

    "The Golden Globes initially hoped that all five of them would present the Best Original Score

    award together. But then we received an invitation from the Oscarmittee for all five of them to take the stage together. Between the Golden Globes and the Oscars, we would obviously choose thetter. The Golden Globes had to settle for just inviting Cindy after that."

    As Emily spoke, she climbed into the car, then popped her head out to add, "Oh, Eric, if you

    have free time over the next few days, could you help me check out the effect of the Victoria''s Secret advertisement we''re doing post-production on at Firefly Studios?"

    "No problem, I''ll be over there most of the time for the next few days. You can contact me

    anytime."

    ...

    After sending Chris and Emily off, Kelly also took her leave, returning to the vi. The little girl rushed into her room to inspect her purchases from the day. Eric settled onto the sofa

    beside the curtain wall, meticulously sorting through everything that had transpired today in his mind.

    The sunpletely set below the horizon, leaving the light gradually dimming. After an unknown amount of time, Eric felt a tall, slender figure quietly walk over. He looked

    up at Natasha''s delicate face and signaled her to turn on the nearby lights. Natasha walked quietly to the wall and switched on the lights, softly saying, "Dinner is ready,

    Master."

    Eric nodded, and just as he stood up, he suddenly recalled something and asked, "What about

    the package Chris brought me this morning?" Natasha replied, "I ced it in the living room''s cab."

    "Send it to the study after dinner."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Understood."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 690 - 691: Moving Some Cash

    <h4>Chapter 690: Chapter 691: Moving Some Cash</h4>

    [Chapter 691: Moving Some Cash]

    Quam''s headquarters was located in San Diego, California, just under two hours'' drive from Los Angeles, making travel very convenient. After Eric expressed his intention to invest in Quam to Irwin Jacobs, the two began close negotiations.

    In Eric''s office at Firefly Studios, Kelly, who had just returned from San Diego, handed over a memo and said, "Chris is going to have discussions this afternoon with several key shareholders at Quam. He asked me toe back first with the results of our negotiations from this morning. Quam''s board is willing to ept only half of what we proposed for the investment, but they aren''tpletely firm on that. Reaching a deal is just a matter of time."

    Eric opened the memo Kelly had handed over and said, "Now that we''ve started formal contact, we can''t keep this under wraps for long. The longer we drag this out, the more chance there is for something unexpected to happen. All I care about is time. Let''s set a week; I want this deal finalized in the next week."

    Kelly replied, "Eric, if we try topress the negotiations into a week, we''ll be at a disadvantage."

    Eric shook his head. "We can''t rush this or it will draw too much attention, putting us in a truly passive situation. You need to go back to San Diego tomorrow and exin the pros and cons clearly to Quam. AT&T just got spectrum licenses and announced GSM as its technology standard. Other operators that received spectrum licenses won''t hesitate for long. If they miss the best time to push for CDMA because of indecision, we''ll pull out of this deal without hesitation. So, just one week."

    Once news of Firefly''s attempt to invest in Quam got out, it would not only cause the stock price to skyrocket but could also draw interest from others. After all, Firefly''s recent investments in Cisco, America Online, Yahoo, and Nokia had reaped substantial returns, and the capital market had already begun paying close attention to Firefly''s investment movements. Dying too long could allow another interestedpany to emerge, which would pose the biggest problem.

    After a moment of consideration, Kelly nodded, "Okay, I''ll make the preparations."

    Eric finished reading the memo and discussed some key points with Kelly before picking up a thick package from his desk. "The Wachowskis are about to arrive; you should join us."

    Kelly followed him, surprised. "Eric, are you really thinking about letting them direct <i>The Matrix</i>?"

    Eric replied, "It hasn''t been finalized yet; let''s meet them first."

    "I just feel like this is a bit... absurd. They''re just two rtively unknown screenwriters."

    Eric chuckled, "I used to be a rtively unknown screenwriter too."

    Kelly said, "But you didn''t start off directing films with such a massive budget. <i>Home Alone</i>''s budget was only a million, and after that you had <i>Pretty Woman</i>, <i>Home Alone 2</i>, and Ghost, and it wasn''t until <i>Twister</i>, your sixth film, that you began attempting big-budget productions."

    Eric exined, "At that time, I was a bit timid. If I had jumped straight into a project with over a hundred million dor investment and it flopped at the box office, I definitely wouldn''t be where I am now."

    Kelly still looked somewhat puzzled. Considering Eric''s steady rise as a director, he had always been very rational, yet this time seemed a bit irrational.

    Thanks to<i> Jurassic Park</i>''s tremendous sess, Firefly had very high expectations for Eric''s adaptation of <i>The Matrix</i>, with a production budget set at one hundred million dors. Jeffrey Katzenberg and others hoped Eric would continue directing, yet he developed an interest in the two neers in Hollywood who had yet to direct a single film, which was quite baffling.

    ...

    At a little restaurant near the administration building where Eric often had lunch, the Wachowski brothers stood up as soon as they entered, apanied by a studio employee.

    Eric dismissed the employee, taking a seat across from the Wachowskis with Kelly. As he looked at the Wachowski brothers, who at that moment still appeared as men, Eric felt an inexplicable sense of strangeness; he found it hard to understand the mindset of a transgender person.

    Noticing Eric''s gaze, the younger brother, Larry Wachowski, who was slender and wore sses, nced at the package Eric had ced on the tabletop and said, "Mr. Williams, what do you think about our concept for <i>The Matrix</i>?"

    Eric collected his thoughts and pulled out the storyboards from the package. "You can call me Eric. I think your ideas about bullet time and the 360-degree rotating shots in your storyboards are really cool. However, it feels like you haven''t adhered entirely to the narrative of my novel. These storyboards don''t provide a detailed script; could you share your specific ideas for the plot?"

    To prevent any cognitive oveps, the novel version of <i>The Matrix</i> that Eric had written did not follow the film''s path in memory beyond the title and main concept. Itcked deep philosophical contemtion and primarily focused on the male lead, Neo, serendipitously discovering that he lived in a virtual reality. Together with his friends, he fought to return to reality.

    In response to Eric''s question, Larry Wachowski said, "Eric, actually, Andy and I had simr concepts before, but they were just scattered fragments. It wasn''t until we saw your novel that we decided to script our story. What you see in the storyboards is usbining your novel with some of our own ideas. We think thatpared to the novel version, this story offers a deeper exploration of themes regarding reality and illusion, the origins of life, and so on, rather than just being a sci-fi novel."

    Eric nodded, "So,pletely discarding my story, tell me about your concepts."

    "Of course," Larry Wachowski replied. "Our idea is that in the illusion created by the machine, Neo should be a hacker and programmer, and one day, a mysterious person suddenly contacts him..."

    The Wachowskis eagerly began detailing their story concepts, with Eric chiming in asionally. Before they knew it, even Kelly became gradually engaged in the discussion.

    It was past two in the afternoon before they remembered it was time for lunch. After a quick bite, Eric started asking the Wachowski brothers about their specific shooting ideas, and they continued to discuss until evening when the brothers finally left Firefly Studios.

    ...

    Eric had the waiter clear the coffee from the table, ordered dinner on the side, and then turned to Kelly beside him, "What do you think of them?"

    Kelly pondered for a moment and said, "They''re two very imaginative individuals, but if the film is shot ording to their ideas, it mighte across as somewhat... obscure. If made into a low-budget cult film, it might be a ssic. But for a big-budget film with over a hundred million in investment, the box office bes a real concern."

    Eric nodded; his assistant had keen insights.

    In the original timeline, to secure investment for <i>The Matrix</i>, the Wachowskis had kept their screeny quite restrained, skillfully blending the philosophical elements they wanted to express withmercial elements. As a result, audiences were presented with a film that was not only cool but also rich in meaning. When the first <i>Matrix</i> film released, it immediately caused a sensation, achieving both box office sess and critical acim, thus catapulting the previously unknown Wachowskis to the forefront of Hollywood directors.

    There was a simple yet brutal rule in Hollywood: as long as you could produce amercially sessful film, you could attain everything you desired. Therefore, after the first film''s sess, the brothers gained ample control over the sequels. The studio, Warner Bros, was willing to grant their every request. Consequently, the brothers began to insert their ideas into the films without restraint.

    The sequels, while showcasing excessive special effects, also grew darker and more convoluted. This extreme discord produced catastrophic results: after fans anxiously awaited four years, they ended up with two mediocre sequels, and as the second, <i>Reloaded</i>, nearly exhausted the series'' goodwill, disappointed fans unleashed their frustration on the third installment, which should have been the pinnacle of the series, leading it to be the lowest-grossing and critically reviled film in the original triology.

    Recalling these events, Eric told his female assistant, "I will personally oversee the screeny. I won''t let them run wild."

    "Eric, but they have no directing experience at all. Based on a general film production timeline, if everything goes smoothly, <i>The Matrix</i> might need three months of shooting and another four months for post-production. The pre-production could take about three months, totaling little less than a year. From now until next summer, we have around a year and a half. We could perhaps let them use the next six months to direct a low-budget film to build their skills."

    Eric nodded, "That''s a good idea. One and a half years... uh, a year and a half, eighteen months, six months, 1995, 1997..."

    As Kelly noticed Eric''s expression change suddenly as he muttered to himself, she stood up worriedly, asking, "Eric, are you okay?"

    Eric calmed down, forcing a smile, and patted Kelly''s small hand resting on his shoulder. "I''m fine; I just suddenly thought of something."

    "Are you really okay?" Kelly still looked concerned, checking Eric''s forehead with her hand. Aside from some light perspiration, nothing felt amiss.

    With a smile, Eric took her small hand and kissed it lightly. "I''m really fine; I just suddenly realized that I might have overlooked some things."

    After Eric kissed her hand, Kelly, noticing the surprised gaze of a nearby waiter, blushed slightly and withdrew her hand, resuming her seat while forgetting to ask Eric what had caused his briefpse.

    Eric quickly returned to normal, but the previous thought lingered in his mind.

    Thanks to Kelly''s unintentional reminder, Eric suddenly remembered the production timeline for <i>Titanic</i>. In the original timeline, after <i>Titanic</i> created a box office miracle, many production details were uncovered by the media. Eric clearly recalled that the original <i>Titanic</i> movie started preparations in the second half of 1995, began principal photography in 1996, and Fox initially nned for it to be released in the summer of 1997. However, Cameron kept pushing the production timeline further along, ultimately leading to its release at the end of 1997, with an entire production period of nearly two years.

    Though an initial budget of $150 million had been approved for <i>Titanic</i>, Eric was already mentally prepared for Cameron to reportedly go over budget again. Still, as long as he could deliver a ssic film like the one in the original timeline, Eric didn''t mind if Cameron raised the budget to $200 million. However, he inadvertently overlooked the fact that Cameron would not only exceed the budget but also extend the production timeline.

    Due to Disney''s auction of their hand-drawn animation departmentst year, Firefly already faced a hold-up in their nned animation releases for the summer cycle, and if <i>Titanic</i> was not released on time, the only film scheduled for Firefly that summer of 1996 would be <i>The Matrix</i>.

    In the past few years, the profits from Firefly''s gship summer films were responsible for about half of the annual profits from the film business. This highlighted the significance of the summer cycle to Firefly''s cinematic division. If next year''s summer film te dwindled to a third of what it usually would be, the Firefly Group''s film business would undoubtedly experience severe ramifications.

    Staring at Cameron wasn''t likely to yield results; ultimately, that would only result in him roaring louder on set.

    Taking firm resolve, Eric decided to prepare in advance.

    Furthermore, it was fortunate that it was just the beginning of 1995. If he realized thister in the year, attempting to prepare a film capable of supporting the summer te of 1996 would be impossible within the time constraints.

    ...

    With Eric''s direct decision-making, the choice for the director of <i>The Matrix</i> quickly fell to the Wachowski brothers.

    Following Kelly''s suggestion, during the pre-production phase of <i>The Matrix</i>, Eric arranged for the Wachowski brothers to shoot a low-budget film to hone their directorial skills.

    The Wachowskis, who were already screenwriters, had a script they personally wrote titled <i>Bound</i>, which had been sold to a productionpany affiliated with Warner Bros. However, with Eric personally mediating and Firefly agreeing to co-invest, Warner Bros happily consented to hand over the directing rights to the Wachowski brothers.

    ...

    Negotiations with Quam continued, and word inevitably leaked out in the following days. Major tel operators expressed close interest, with even AT&T executives calling through Warren Buffett to inquire about Eric''s intentions.

    While Quam''s stock price skyrocketed as a result, under Firefly''s firm stance, Quam''s shareholders and board began graduallypromising.

    ...

    Hollywood was gearing up for the Golden Globe Awards, but Eric paid little attention to the event. To avoid any dys from Cameron''s <i>Titanic</i> affecting the uing summer te, he became increasingly preupied with selecting scripts.

    "Mr. Williams, the story goes like this: a Marine officer, unhappy with the U.S. government''s treatment of fallen soldiers, leads his men to seize a batch of gas canisters and takes a group of tourists hostage in a prison ind that has been turned into a tourist site to demand a ransom of $100 million topensate families of the fallen soldiers. That abandoned prison was once known as ''Devil''s Ind,'' famous for its high level of security. During the hostage rescue, the FBI discovers a former British agent as the only sessful escapee from Devil''s Ind, prompting FBI executives to deceive the agent into thinking he will receive government protection, on the condition that he leads a special forces team into Devil''s Ind to rescue the hostages..."

    Inside Firefly Studios, an emaciated middle-aged man narrated his screeny concept to Eric, punctuating his words with hand gestures. Eric listened quietly as Jerry Bruckheimer, seated beside him, nods repeatedly. Once the middle-aged man finished, Jerry Bruckheimer said, "Eric, how about David''s idea? It''s fantastic, right?"

    Eric wore a nomittal smile and said, "Mr. Weisberg, you can head back for now. If there is any result, someone will notify you."

    The emaciated middle-aged man nced at Jerry Bruckheimer, then hesitantly told Eric, "Mr. Williams, can you imagine Sean Connery ying the role of the British agent, the first 007? That''s quite a hook. The role of the chemist could go to Nics Cage, and John Woo would be the director; his style suits this script perfectly. With that cast, this movie would absolutely be a box office hit, and there''s more..."

    Eric still did not indicate anything, but Jerry Bruckheimer''s patience wore thin as he frowned. "David, listen to Eric. You should head back, and I''ll call you in the afternoon."

    Feeling Jerry Bruckheimer''s displeasure, David Weisberg did not dare to insist further and left the office quietly.

    Once the office door closed, Jerry Bruckheimer turned to Eric and said, "Eric, now can you share your thoughts?"

    "Jerry," Eric shrugged, smiling, "you know my rule. I don''t want a repeat of the situation with the script for <i>Cutthroat Ind</i>."

    After learning that Eric was seeking screenys, Firefly received a deluge of scripts delivered by agents within just a few days. However, to avoid past pitfalls, any script reaching Eric needed to first have the writer sign a strict letter of intent with Firefly. This ensured that once Eric selected a screeny, the writer would not attempt to sell it to other studios for a higher price.

    Today, Jerry Bruckheimer coincidentally brought in a screenwriter with a promising idea to pitch, leading to the earlier interactions.

    Jerry Bruckheimer said, "I understandpletely. And I also think that incident was a trap youid for Michael Eisner, wasn''t it? Am I right?"

    Eric shrugged; even if everyone guessed it, he wouldn''t confess.

    Jerry Bruckheimer smiled knowingly and exined, "I''ve acquired that screeny, so don''t worry. As long as Firefly agrees to invest, the rest will be fine."

    "Jerry, it seems you overlooked one problem; as of now, I don''t even know the name of the screeny."

    "Uh, that is something I missed, but you know how it goes, screeny titles are often still tentative at this stage," he said. "However, David has given this story a title: <i>The Rock</i>."

    "Alright, <i>The Rock</i>," Eric repeated with a smile. "By the way, David Weisberg just mentioned Sean Connery, Nics Cage, and John Woo. Oh, and you, the golden producer. In that case, have you calcted the budget for the film?"

    Eric was unsure of Sean Connery''s sry for <i>The Rock</i> in the original timeline, but he knew Conneryter received his first $20 million paycheck for <i>Entrapment</i>, so even if it were lower now, it wouldn''t differ by much. Cage''s current sry was around $15 million, and John Woo''s fee after three sessful films wouldn''t be below $10 million. As for Jerry Bruckheimer, a top producer, he surely wouldn''t settle for less than $10 million. Therefore, the sries of just the main creative team would exceed $50 million.

    After a moment of thought, Jerry Bruckheimer said, "Eric, the lead expenses for this film are a bit high, but the film doesn''t have many special effects or grand scenes, so the budget should stay under $80 million."

    Eric was unsure about the exact box office for <i>The Rock</i> but knew the North American and worldwide box offices couldn''t have been bad. Tapping his fingers on the chair arm as he considered, Eric nodded, "Alright, Jerry, $80 million is the cap. And you know Firefly doesn''t follow the habit of granting sry bonuses, so this $80 million is the sum of all production expenses."

    When Jerry Bruckheimer mentioned this budget, he had actually inted it slightly; he estimated $75 million would likelyplete the film. Unlike many filmpany executives Eric had previously worked with, he didn''t deliberately try to cut out a creator orpress the budget to create problems for the producers. This made Jerry feel at ease as he said, "No problem, Eric. I''m quite familiar with Sean Connery; I can help persuade him to join this project. As for Cage and John Woo, you should reach out to them directly."

    The two went into detail discussing the project. Just as Jerry Bruckheimer was about to leave, Eric jokingly said, "Jerry, everyone entering this office these days seems to leave behind one or two film ideas. You aren''t nning to leave empty-handed, are you?"

    Jerry Bruckheimerughed, remembering that he didn''t have anything urgent to attend to, prompting him to sit back down. Crossing his legs casually, he said, "Actually, I do have one more script. It''s a bit cliche, a crime action film mimicking the buddy-cop dynamic of <i>Lethal Weapon</i>. I originally nned to sell it to Columbia for some quick cash; the budget is just $19 million. Are you interested to hear about it?"

    Eric narrowed his eyes slightly, keeping his smile steady. "Oh, what''s the title of the script?"

    "<i>Bad Boys</i>."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 691 - 692: I’m Not Buying Insurance

    <h4>Chapter 691: Chapter 692: I''m Not Buying Insurance</h4>

    [Chapter 692: I''m Not Buying Insurance]

    "The script synopsis revolves around two vastly different detective partners who, while investigating a case, mistakenly swap identities in front of a key witness. To gain the witness''s trust, they are forced to live each other''s lives during the subsequent investigation."

    Jerry Bruckheimer didn''t notice the subtle shift in Eric''s expression. Compared to David Weisberg, who had been a bit verbose when introducing <i>The Rock</i>, Bruckheimer sinctly summarized the story in high-concept movie terms. The simple details showcased the vast difference between a seasoned producer and a run-of-the-mill screenwriter.

    "That''s actually a solid idea. The buddy cop duo has proven to be very sessful in both <i>Lethal Weapon</i> and <i>Beverley Hills Cop</i>. The identity swap adds an innovative element to the story. Jerry, have you selected a director yet?"

    Upon hearing Eric''s question, Bruckheimer straightened up and asked, "Eric, you wouldn''t be interested in this story, would you?"

    In the original timeline, <i>Bad Boys</i> had catapulted two heavyweights in Hollywood, Michael Bay and Will Smith, to stardom. Although it was just a low-budget crime film, it was undeniably excellent. Eric certainly wouldn''t let this pass by. He nodded and replied, "Why not? This story is quitepelling, and it carries a low budget. It might achieve unexpected sess."

    Bruckheimer, who had initially intended for small talk, turned serious and addressed Eric''s previous question. "You know, we just wrapped the <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> project, so I''ve only recently had time to prepare for the next phase of work. I received this scriptst year and reviewed it with Firefly Pictures. They felt that simr films had already been produced too many times, so it didn''t go through. Originally, I hadn''t nned to bring it to you. My contacts with Columbia have just started, and right now, we only have budget numbers -- nothing on directors or actors yet."

    Firefly''s film division primarily operated through several major production houses. Other than a few highlight projects each year that Eric personally oversaw and produced, he didn''t pay much attention to other mid-budget or low-budget films.

    Hearing that the script had been rejected by Firefly, Eric didn''t harbor any resentment toward the production department, nor did Bruckheimer imply anything negative about Firefly''s decision-making. In Hollywood, everyone understood that production heads needed to sift through a massive pile of scripts each year, ultimately selecting only a handful for production. It was impossible to determine the potential of every script. Many films, initially passed over by all studios, eventually ended up being massive hits.

    Moreover, if it hadn''t been for Eric''s memories from a past life, he might have found the script overly conventional. Putting aside those mediocre knock-offs, even the most renowned series like <i>Lethal Weapon</i> and <i>Beverley Hills Cop</i> had spawned numerous sequels.

    "Let''s see, let''s drop the coboration with Columbia. I think this project deserves some serious consideration. We could aim for a release by the end of this year. Firefly has only confirmed the Christmas release of <i>101 Dalmatians</i>, so perhaps we could slot this film for Thanksgiving."

    "Eric, Thanksgiving? You''re not joking, right?" Bruckheimer eximed. He had initially anticipated that such a low-budget crime action film would be lucky to secure an Easter release, not even considering the quiet autumn slot.

    "Of course not," Eric replied. "However, I haven''t seen the script yet, so this is just a preliminary thought. Ultimately, it will depend on the quality after production. If the idea is good but the oue is a dud, then Thanksgiving is off the table."

    Bruckheimer responded, "I''ll call someone to have the script sent over."

    Eric nced at his watch and said, "That works, but I have othermitments. If the scriptes, I can only look at it this evening."

    Bruckheimer didn''t seem rushed. "Sure, take your time. I''ll focus on <i>The Rock</i> for now; let''s talk again when you''re free."

    ...

    After seeing Bruckheimer off, Eric mulled over the matter. The experiences with <i>The Rock</i> and <i>Bad Boys</i> parallelled his previous life and were both directed by Michael Bay. It seemed it was time to pull the bombastic Bay into Hollywood.

    In the original timeline, although Michael Bay was often dubbed "Bayhem" and found himself on critics'' lists of the most hated bad directors, he was an absolute darling of Hollywood producers. This wasrgely because he never strayed into deep storytelling; he dedicated himself solely to makingmercial films. Most of his movies turned a profit for the studios, and perhaps even more importantly, he never exceeded production budgets or timelines,ing off like a rather peculiar Hollywood office worker.

    Thinking about Michael Bay naturally led to <i>Transformers</i>. Eric suddenly realized he still hadn''t secured the rights to this infinitely potential blockbuster series.

    However, the fame of <i>Transformers</i> was immense, and acquiring the rights would undoubtedly require some hurdles.

    ...

    After jotting down all this in his work memo, Eric heard a knock at his office door. Shortly after, Emily poked her head in and said, "Eric, it''s been several days! You''re not nning to stand me up again, are you?"

    Eric put his memo away, stood up, and smiled at Emily, who stood at the door. "You don''t have to be so harsh; are you blocking my door now?"

    "You can''t even deny it! Just for me to look at an ad reel, and it takes you this long," Emily retorted.

    As they walked out together, Eric said, "I cleared my afternoon meetings for you, but there were unforeseen circumstances! You know how busy I''ve beentely. Between death postcards and rattlesnakes, I''m just like the lead from Robert Altman''s <i>The yer</i> --135 calls a day. That adds up to over 50,000 in a year!"

    Emily, clearly unfamiliar with <i>The yer</i>, scoffed, "That''s impossible."

    Eric looked at Emily and chuckled. "If you just need me to look at the Victoria''s Secret ad reel, you could just bring the tape to my office. You insisting I go to the post-production studio means you have some other ns, right? Better fess up now; otherwise, I definitely won''t cooperateter."

    For a brief moment, Emily showed a hint of guilt, but she quickly gain herposure and said, "Shouldn''t a smart guy act a bit dense when the time''s right?"

    "That''s a responsibility Chris should bear; it''s not my problem."

    "Never had much expectation for you anyway," Emily replied. "Here''s the situation: we''ve shortlisted a potential director for this year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>. He has an impressive track record in ad and MTV productions and has even won some industry awards. We just coborated on one ad, and we haven''t finalized if we''re giving the show to him, so I wanted you to take a look."

    Eric shook his head,ughing. "I think the situation is that he wants to transition into films butcks connections in Hollywood. You want him to direct the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>, so here I am selling myself out."

    With an exasperated look, Emily admitted, "Okay, okay! I admit you''re a tad smarter than Chris, alright?"

    Eric stopped joking and said earnestly, "Let''s set things straight first -- this is just a meeting; I can''t guarantee anything. If you''ve made any promises in advance, you''d best sort them out yourself."

    "I''m not an idiot; how could I possibly promise anything beforehand? Creating an opportunity to connect with you is a dreame true for many. He wouldn''t be foolish enough to ask for anything more."

    "Touche. I guess it makes sense; I''m somewhat of a big deal now," Eric shrugged. "What''s the guy''s name?"

    "Michael Bay."

    "Uh... what?" Eric had just nodded when he instinctively raised his voice, his surprise difficult to mask.

    "Michael Bay, what''s the matter?"

    "It''s nothing; I feel like I''ve heard that name somewhere," Eric defended himself, inwardly feeling a mix of amazement and disbelief. Was today Explosion Day?

    In the original timeline, Michael Bay was indeed the go-to director for Victoria''s Secretmercials. The female lead of <i>Transformers 3</i> was even a former Victoria''s Secret Angel. Through Emily''s introduction, Eric learned that at this point, Michael Bay had already gained some fame in the MTV and advertising circle, having won a series of MTV andmercial awards.

    However, even achieving the utmost sess in the MTV ormercial directing sphere, the stature still paled inparison to that of a film director; in fact, even that of a television director. Just like stage actors, many MTV ormercial directors longed to break into feature films. The most sessful in this regard are Michael Bay and David Fincher.

    ...

    At the post-production center of Firefly Pictures, it was Eric''s first time watching Michael Bay''s advertising work in the screening room. Thanks to his years of honing his craft in the MTV and advertising industry, he had developed a striking personal style in color control, rapid camera movements, and editing. Anyone who had seen a Michael Bay film knew he was exceptionally skilled at showcasing the beauty of the female form, like the iconic shot of Megan Fox leaning on the hood of Bumblebee in <i>Transformers</i> -- a scene memorable to all male viewers. Coborating with Victoria''s Secret on lingeriemercials seemed like a match made in heaven.

    As Eric finished viewing a one-and-a-half-minutemercial, he found no major ws aside from itsck of originality. Furthermore, the creative aspect was not Michael Bay''s responsibility.

    When the lights came on, Emily, sitting next to Eric, was most concerned about Victoria''s Secret itself, impatiently asking, "Eric, what do you think?"

    Eric nced at the now fixated Michael Bay, who was eagerly listening, and nodded. "The color, editing, and music are all outstanding. If this were solely for a five-second TV spot, it would suffice. But overall, this adcks creativity. The one-and-a-half-minute ad is just a clumsy umtion of sensual elements; I see no focal point at all."

    "We mean to trim it down for a TV spot. But Eric, do you have any ideas?"

    "Well," Eric shrugged and said, "pick a decent advertising agency, and let them handle it. I really don''t have more time to deal with this. But think about those timeless greatmercials; you''ll realize how vital creativity is, so it''s best to prioritize it."

    Emily felt a bit resigned but understood that she couldn''t ask for too much more. Eric had already created a major ad for Victoria''s Secret; he couldn''t dedicate additional energy to that.

    Leaning back, she introduced, "Eric, this is Michael Bay."

    Michael Bay quickly stood up and extended his hand, saying, "Mr. Williams, it''s a pleasure to meet you."

    Eric shook Bay''s hand and smiled. "That camera work in the ad was impressive. Emily mentioned you''d be taking over this year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>; I hope you can create an unforgettable lingerie show once again."

    "I''ll do my best, Mr. Williams."

    As they expressed pleasantries, they all left the screening room, heading through a long corridor toward another conference room.

    ...

    Michael Bay trailed behind the group, watching Eric whispering with Emily and Edward Razek. He initially felt disappointed, thinking this opportunity had slipped away. But after a moment, he saw Eric wave him over, prompting him to stride forward.

    "We''re done here;e with me," Eric said as he turned away from Emily and the others toward the stairs, heading downstairs.

    Michael Bay was momentarily puzzled, standing in ce until Edward Razek patted his shoulder enviously, prompting him to follow swiftly, excitement bubbling within him.

    After several years of development, besides the oversized studio areas, the digital domain studio, film studio administrative block, and post-production center were now nestled amidst greenery.

    Eric led Michael Bay out of the post-production center, walking leisurely along the tree-lined path toward the administration area while asionally nodding at the staff who greeted him.

    Michael Bay slightly stepped back to keep pace beside Eric. He knew nothing about Eric''s personality. Though he wanted to impress, he hesitated to speak out since Eric didn''t open up. He quietly observed this young man who suddenly rose in Hollywood over the past few years. Despite being a few years younger, Bay could feel Eric exuded a maturity that was strikingly out of character for his age. He recognized it was no illusion, but abination of power and wealth radiated an inherent brilliance.

    The Hollywood leading director he once looked up to was now following behind him as if he were an underling. Having lived this life for many years, Eric didn''t feel any shallow, egotistical sense of pride, only a slight nostalgia.

    As they approached the administrative building, Eric finally said to Michael Bay, "Emily mentioned you''ve won many awards in music MTV andmercial production. I watched your ad just now, and it was well-crafted. So, if you want to make films, you certainly have the foundation."

    Michael Bay hadn''t anticipated that everything would feel so easy; his excitement nearly got the better of him, but he quickly realized that Eric hadn''t finished speaking. He straightened, ready to listen intently.

    Eric smiled and said, "You''re probably waiting for the ''but''?"

    Michael Bay grinned, acknowledging the point.

    Eric exined, "There''s no real ''but'' -- just one thing. Forst year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>, I invested over half a year nning it. It was abor of love. The groundwork isid, so this year''s show will be much easier to produce, but I hope you can dedicate at least three months of effort on it."

    "Mr. Williams, I assure you, you won''t be disappointed."

    "Just call me Eric. It feels a little strange when people older than me address me so formally."

    As they entered the administrative building and reached Eric''s office door, the studio''s office secretary handed him a folder upon seeing him return. "Mr. Williams, this is the package Mr. Bruckheimer just had sent over."

    Eric took the folder, entered his office, and instead of heading to his desk, he sat on the sofa in the guest area, motioning for Michael Bay to feel at ease. "What would you like to drink? I''ll have Gina get it."

    "Coffee, just coffee will be fine," Michael Bay replied, quickly rising slightly to politely address the office secretary as she looked over.

    The female secretary nodded and left without questioning Eric, clearly familiar with his preferences.

    As Eric opened the folder, he discovered scripts for <i>The Rock</i> and <i>Bad Boys</i>. He casually passed the <i>Bad Boys</i> script to Michael Bay while he started reading <i>The Rock</i>. Bay didn''t understand Eric''s intentions but diligently began flipping through the script.

    After about ten minutes, Eric skimmed through <i>The Rock</i> script. He nced at Michael Bay. If thisrge production script could be shelved for a year, it wouldn''t be too bad to give it to Michael Bay, the original director. However, to fill the summer release slot for the next year, that n would have to wait.

    Noticing Eric had halted, Michael Bay raised his head at an opportune moment, rearranging what he had just read in the script to prepare for any questions Eric might pose.

    Eric ced <i>The Rock</i> script on hisp and asked Bay across from him, "What do you think of this story?"

    Bay assumed Eric was referring to the <i>Bad Boys</i> script and nodded, saying, "Itbines the crime elements of <i>Lethal Weapon</i> with theedic style of <i>Beverley Hills Cop</i>. It''s thrilling; if produced, it will undoubtedly be an excellent film."

    "Sure thing -- let Gina make you a copy of this script to take home and study. In a couple of days, I''ll have someone contact you to discuss putting the production team together."

    Upon hearing this, Michael Bay''s head buzzed, unsure if he heard correctly. He asked, "Mr... Eric, are you saying I''m to direct this film?"

    "Yes, or do you think you need to continue honing your skills in the advertising world?"

    Michael Bay shook his head vigorously, instinctively gripping the script tightly. "No, no, Eric, I don''t need to... hone anymore. I can take the job."

    Although he felt Eric''s decision was perhaps a bit rash, Bay was resolute in not questioning it further and decisively epted.

    Eric smiled and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "Great, but let me remind you of two points. First, as I mentioned, you need to allocate three months for the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>, so this film must be fully wrapped by August."

    With seven months to go, Bay recalled the script''s scenes he had just seen. There weren''t too many grand set pieces or effects involved, and then nodded, stating, "No problem."

    "You must think my decision is a bit impulsive, even reckless, right?"

    "Not at all, absolutely not."

    "If that''s honestly how you feel, that''s fine. But second, you must understand that as long as the film''s production quality is up to snuff, we n for it to hit theaters at Thanksgiving. In addition to myself, Jerry will co-produce with credit attached. We take our reputations seriously; if it flops, there won''t be a position left for you in Hollywood, and you''ll be forced to return to makingmercials."

    The gravity of Eric''s words settled into Michael Bay, causing his earlier excitement to detepletely.

    He had previously thought Eric''s decision a bit whimsical, but after this speech, he realized the script in hand was very much a high-priority project for Firefly. Eric and Jerry Bruckheimer wouldn''t associate their names with it if it weren''t. If the film floundered, the media would direct all criticism toward the two seasoned producers, whereas this novice director would struggle to stay afloat in Hollywood afterward.

    Eric observed the shifting expressions on Michael Bay''s face and asked, "So, do you still dare to take on this job?"

    Michael Bay wanted a few days to consider, but he recognized that hesitation would only disappoint this young Hollywood mogul before him. After a slight pause, he nodded decisively, "Eric, I''ll take it."

    "Excellent," Eric confirmed with satisfaction. "And onest thing -- you can rest assured. If any issues arise with the film down the line that aren''t your responsibility, Jerry and I won''t take it out on you. Just do your best."

    This endorsement eased some tension for Michael Bay, who quickly nodded in agreement.

    ...

    Half an hourter, Michael Bay left the administrative building and walked down the studio''s tree-lined path. The excitement from grasping the film script washed over him once more as he reveled in his good fortune. Bay was almost oblivious to the increasing foot traffic as it neared the end of the workday. He clenched his fist, letting out a delightedugh, took a few swift strides, jumped, and mimicked a shooting motion. Unable to contain his glee, he broke off the main road onto the studio''swn, pulled out his Motor phone, and without considering who was on the other end, scrolled through his contacts and dialed a number. The moment he heard a voice, he eximed, "Hey, buddy! You''ll never guess what just happened! I got the script -- a movie script! I''m about to make a movie, and it was personally given to me by Eric Williams, Eric Williams -- the guy from <i>Jurassic Park</i>! Haha! I am going to..."

    "Uh, oh, sorry, really sorry. No, I''m not buying insurance. No, I''m not buying car insurance either..."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 692 - 693: Meow

    <h4>Chapter 692: Chapter 693: Meow</h4>

    [Chapter 693: Meow]

    Under Eric''s strong insistence, the investment negotiations with Quam were finalized on January 21st, the day of the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

    Quam''s shareholders and management understood that reaching an agreement with the financially strong Firefly Investment as soon as possible would be beneficial for promoting CDMA technology. Therefore, they did not take advantage of Firefly''s urgent attitude and simply requested that the final investment amount be determined based on Quam''s stock price from the day before the deal was reached.

    After news of Firefly''s contact with Quam spread, Quam''s stock surged 21% in a mere week, reaching $23.8 per share. Firefly was ultimately required to pay $238 million for the 10 million shares of Quam''s directed share offering. This price was well within Eric''s tolerance, prompting him to personally rush from Los Angeles to San Diego early that morning.

    After the signing ceremony in the morning, Eric, Chris, and Quam''s Irwin Jacobs, along with other senior executives, retreated to a conference room to discuss the next steps.

    After discussing the lobbying strategies for tel operators and Quam''s ns to build CDMA equipment factories, it was already five in the afternoon. Chris and Irwin Jacobs had scheduled a meeting with the CEO of Verizon for the following day, and they couldn''t wait to board the flight to Verizon''s headquarters in New York. After seeing off Chris and Irwin Jacobs, Eric returned to Los Angeles with his entourage.

    Securing Quam marked another crucial move for Eric in the already rising high-tech industry.

    Eric''s mind shifted to thepanies under Firefly''s portfolio, which included Cisco, Yahoo, Nokia, and America Online. ording to the original historical trajectory, aside from Cisco, the other threepanies would gradually decline in theing years.

    Eric had read articles about why Nokia fell from grace. These high-techpaniescked neither funding nor technology during their development; the root cause of their decliney in major missteps in their development direction. As long as Eric maintained sufficient control over thesepanies, he was confident that, given his second-chance advantage, he could steer them on the right path for at least the next twenty years.

    ...

    As the ck Rolls Royce sped along the Pacific Highway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a magnificent orange hue over everything in sight.

    Inside the car, Eric kept his eyes closed in contemtion, while Kelly, seated beside him, quietly flipped through a document, not wanting to disturb his thoughts.

    After some time, noticing Eric suddenly open his eyes and sit up straight, Kelly looked up and asked, "Eric, what''s wrong?"

    Eric turned to Kelly and asked, "I remember seeing a merger proposal from Cisco''s higher-ups a few days ago. Do you recall that?"

    Kelly nodded. "Yeah, they''re nning to acquire awork switchpany in Seattle, and the preliminary negotiation price was $1.9 billion, using a stock-swap method."

    "What will our ownership percentage be after this transaction?"

    Kelly thought for a moment and replied, "Cisco''s current stock market value is about $16 billion. After the acquisition, it will exceed $18 billion. Our shareholding will drop from 23% to 20.5%."

    Eric shook his head. Although Firefly would still be Cisco''srgest shareholder at 20.5%, their control would diminish. Even though Cisco historically maintained a strong industry position and Eric had no intention of interfering in its management, he realized that the dilution of Firefly''s stake in Cisco could not continue, even if this diluted share would still represent substantial wealth in the future.

    "We can''t let it drop any further. No, not only that, but we need to increase our stake in Cisco again. Contact Chris tomorrow and have the Cisco management change the merger method to a cash-plus-stock arrangement, ensuring our shares aren''t diluted again. Also, discuss a proposal to increase our stake back to 30%."

    Kelly asked, puzzled, "Eric, weren''t you nning to invest in the tel industry? Given Verizon and Sprint''s current scale, either of them would require over $1 billion for Firefly''s investment. If we want to raise our stake in Cisco to 30%, given the premium factors, we might need to invest $2 billion, and there''s no guarantee any investment firms would be willing to sell their shares."

    Eric felt a twinge of generosity at the thought -- $2 billion was over twenty times the amount Firefly originally invested in Cisco, yet it would only buy less than 10% of the shares. It seemed that the days of ''scooping up bargains'' wereing to an end. However, considering Cisco''s future value, this additional investment was definitely worthwhile.

    Firefly Group had justpleted a very profitable fiscal year. Eric had expressed feeling overwhelmed by too much cash recently, but now he realized that if he wanted to continue expanding, their funds were far from sufficient. In the past, he had toyed with the idea of some major investments but always hesitated, feeling the returns weren''t high enough. This time, however, he experienced a revtion; constantly looking for ''bargains'' was not the right investment mindset, it was pure spection. Like warfare in the age of cold weapons, winning a few battles with underdog strategies could work asionally, but if one always sought to turn the tables that way, it would surely lead to defeat in the end.

    "The profits from Firefly Group should be able to cover these ns. If not, I will consider financing from other sources. You just need to proceed."

    Kelly nodded, making a note of Eric''s instructions. As she looked out the window, they were about to enter Los Angeles, and she asked, "Eric, the Golden Globe Awards ceremony should have started by now. Are you going to the Hilton?"

    Outside, night was falling. Eric checked his watch -- it was 7:30. With his status, even if he rushed over now, he wouldn''t be turned away from the banquet hall. However, it didn''t really seem necessary. Looking at his assistant, who sat beside him in a fitted ck suit, exuding intellect, Eric smiled and responded, "I''ll skip themotion. Nina is at boarding school today, right?"

    Kelly blushed slightly and nodded.

    "Then let''s find somewhere to have dinner first, and then we can go to your ce."

    The assistant fiddled with her clothing nervously and said softly, "Or, we could just go straight to my ce. Eating out makes it easy for us to be spotted..."

    "Sure, let''s do that."

    ...

    "There''s no doubt, and it has nothing to do with the film. It''s just another victory for men. A self-righteous film like <i>Braveheart</i>, overflowing with fabricated historical facts,pletely overshadowed <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, a film vastly superior in every way, simply because the director of <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> is a woman. This once again proves Hollywood''s deep-rooted sexism. In this industry, no matter what a woman aplishes -- no matter how many feats that even men have difficulty achieving -- she still won''t receive recognition. In the end, I can only helplessly ask, does it really have to continue like this?"

    The day after the Golden Globe Awards, a well-known female columnist for the <i>Los Angeles Times</i> published this impassionedmentary in her personal column, igniting a significant media discussion about gender discrimination, including various queries and discussions regarding the plots behind the Golden Globe nominations.

    The issue stemmed from the 52nd Golden Globe Awards, where the highly anticipated <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> lost in four categories it was nominated for, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screeny, and Best Score, only for Tom Hanks to win Best Actor.

    While many professional critics recognized that both <i>Braveheart</i> and <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> were on par artistically, there remained a significant portion of critics who instinctively leaned towards the culturally resonant <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>. With no strongpetition, Tom Hanks winning Best Actor was almost a given. Before the ceremony, most discussions revolved around who would win Best Picture and Best Director.

    After <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> left empty-handed, many who previously identified with it turned to disappointment and doubt. Feminists protested against the Golden Globe''s selectionmittee for the sake of the female director, Kathryn Bigelow, even urging Hollywood actresses to boycott the ceremony.

    In response to media scrutiny, the Golden Globesmittee, as it had in the past, chose to remain silent. Such doubts about the awards urred almost every year, and as long as it didn''t escte into chaos, not responding became the best handling approach. Responding might show insecurity and only make the situation worse.

    ...

    In the following days, the nominations for the 67th Academy Awards were announced, sparking renewed media buzz about <i>Braveheart</i>, this time focusing on Mel Gibson''s nomination for Best Actor. The Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor had already caused discontent among critics, many of whom felt that Mel Gibson''s performance barely qualified and did not merit award consideration. Most media outlets believed the Oscars would be more judicious than the Golden Globes and would not hand Gibson a Best Actor nomination so lightly; however, the oue left many feeling as if they had swallowed a fly.

    Critics, still irate from the Golden Globe injustices, hastily directed their ire towards the Oscars, resulting in yet another discussion surrounding the awards'' legitimacy.

    Ordinary people had no idea how many events had transpired and merely followed the unfolding debates with interest. As the topic gained traction, more media outlets began to dive into the discourse, finding various angles to engage viewers or readers.

    Most hadn''t noticed that amidst this heated discussion, the already off-screen <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> quietly sold 670,000 videotapes in the following week, bringing in sales equal to the previous two weeksbined, generating $20 million in tape sales for Firefly.

    Meanwhile, the still-released <i>Braveheart</i>''s weekly box office soared by 60% post-Golden Globe, reaching $11 million -- a cumtive box office past $73 million. The Weinstein brothers were naturally ecstatic, stepping up their promotional efforts.

    In the whole affair, Mel Gibson bore the brunt of it; discussions surrounding his Best Actor nomination and the controversy regarding Hollywood''s gender bias had considerably diminished his chances of winning Best Director.

    ...

    "He already received a paycheck of $18 million and will take 10% of future profits. Fox owes him nothing. Harvey originally wanted to leak those anti-Semitic leanings of his, but I stopped him. Hmph, if it weren''t for the fact we''re both Australians, I wouldn''t have even bothered."

    In Beverly Hills, at Julia Robert''s and Elisabeth''s mountainside mansion, Elisabeth reclined in a crisp white shirt and jeans, wearing sunsses, as she leaned against a sunbed by the pool, addressing Eric, who was reading a script on another deck chair.

    Eric flipped a page in the script, simply nodding in acknowledgment.

    Elisabeth''s eyes narrowed in dissatisfaction, and she pouted, saying, "Eric, I heard you brought on two rookie directors and gave the one for <i>The Matrix</i> a shot. Aren''t you afraid of messing it up?"

    "Technically, it''s three," Eric casually corrected.

    "Of course, I know. The Wachowski brothers, right? So, what makes them special?"

    Hearing Elisabeth''s slightly gleeful tone, Eric chuckled, "Don''t worry about it. They''re all contracted for three films with Firefly for at least five years, so they won''t be directing for otherpanies, unless I release them."

    Having decided to utilize the Wachowski brothers and Michael Bay, Eric certainly didn''t want them to seed with a big box office hit and then jump ship, so he had them sign Hollywood''s standard option agreement, which required them to direct at least three films for Firefly before considering other offers.

    Of course, to maintain good rtions with these potentially valuable directors, Eric hadn''t imposed rock-bottom pay typical of many option agreements. He advocated suppressing the excessively high sries of Hollywood stars but wouldn''t exploit the creative talents of filmmakers. A win-win was essential for a healthy industry cycle. The agreements Eric offered were fair, and both the Wachowski brothers and Michael Bay readily signed.

    Elisabeth mistook Eric''sments for a traditional option agreement and grunted mockingly, "I think you''re the ''greedy Jews'' Mel Gibson was talking about."

    Eric shrugged off the racial jest without a second thought, saying, "Who knows? Everyone trying to make it in Hollywood wishes they could be a Jew."

    As they were chatting, Julia quietly approached with a tray of cut fruit and ced it on the small round table next to Eric. She gently nudged him to the side, snuggling up to him as they shared the wide beach chair, basking in the sun.

    Elisabethined, "Julia, where''s my fruit tter?"

    Julia wrapped one arm around Eric''s waist and adjusted her position forfort, enjoying Eric''s heartbeat and the warm sunlight,zily saying, "You can make your own."

    "Tsk, tsk, like a cat, a spring cat at that."

    Julia ignored her, Eric smiled and touched Julia''s face against his chest: "Kitten, meow."

    "Meow..."

    "Ugh, you two are disgusting," Elisabeth said, mimicking dry heaves before casting a nce at Eric''s script. "When will you finish reading? What do you think of it?"

    "You know, I just can''t muster any energy for things that don''t interest me."

    "Is this script really that bad? I put in a lot of effort and even researched lots about little animals."

    The script in Eric''s hands was the one that had sparked <i>The Nut Job</i> idea after both he and Elisabeth saw a little squirrel at the outdoor cafe. Elisabeth coborated with a few writers during that time to flesh out the story.

    "It''s not terrible, but there''s nothing particrly eye-catching. If you really want to see something, I can get you a copy of the Disney animation story that''s in the works, so you can see what imagination looks like."

    Elisabeth leaned back into her chair. "If you don''t think this story is good, then why bring Chris Wedge from Blue Sky Studios? I checked that studio''s portfolio; they''ve done effects for big films but haven''t stepped into animation yet. He can''tpare to the folks at Pixar!"

    Eric closed the script, picked an apple from the fruit te, and took a bite. "Your story may be average, but it can allow them to hone their skills by creating a short film."

    "Why not just spare me some people from Pixar?" Elisabeth shot back, "Like they do with Disney animations?"

    Eric shook his head. "Don''t set your sights on Pixar. But I''m not giving this studio to you. We''ll split it, I''ve decided -- 10% left for the management, and Firefly and Fox will each take 45%."

    "You already have two animation studios!"

    Ericughed. "If not for the fact that some animated ideas don''t fit Disney''s distribution style, I wouldn''t mind having Firefly own another animation studio."

    "Wow, you greedy Jew!"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 693 - 694: Power Permeation

    <h4>Chapter 693: Chapter 694: Power Permeation</h4>

    [Chapter 694: Power Permeation]

    The taxi pulled over on a street at the top of Beverly Hills. The driver had been enjoying a pleasant conversation with the sleekly dressed, charismatic middle-aged passenger with ck hair beside him. Looking out at the luxurious mansions through the window, he joked, "Hey, I never expected your destination would be here. In these kinds of Beverly Hills mansions, you''re either visiting a superstar or one of Hollywood''s top producers. You''re definitely going to make it big!"

    Chris Wedge was in a good mood as well, even a bit excited. He smiled broadly as he responded to the driver''sments, paid the fare, grabbed his briefcase, and turned toward the mansion''s entrance.

    Confirming the address one more time, Chris Wedge rang the doorbell and patiently waited, his mind drifting back to that phone call from a few days ago.

    This story started back in 1987 when Chris Wedge was just thirty years old. He resigned from his position at an animation studio and, along with a few friends, founded Blue Sky Studios on the second floor of a dental clinic. After eight years of development, Blue Sky Studios, while still far from reaching the heights of industry giants like Digital Domain and Industrial Light & Magic, had begun to earn some recognition in the visual effects industry. They had over a hundred employees and had even handled some of the CGI for <i>Jumanji</i> the year prior.

    A few days ago, the producer who had been in charge of liaising with Blue Sky Studios for the <i>Jumanji</i> film suddenly called him. The producer asked if Chris was interested inputer animation. Chris had always envied his old friend John Lasseter''s sess in 3D animation and had attempted simr projects himself; without hesitation, he expressed his interest. And that led to today''s highly anticipated meeting.

    ...

    A voice from inside the house inquired who was there. Chris Wedge noticed the voice sounded somewhat familiar. He snapped back to attention and replied quickly.

    The door opened, revealing a tall, slightly flushed blonde woman. With tousled golden hair and an air ofziness, she wore a loose beige knit sweater with a wide neckline that revealed a hint of her shoulder. Though the sweater was oversized, it couldn''t hide the long legs wrapped in tight white jeans.

    Chris Wedge stared for a moment until thedy frowned slightly, snapping him back to reality. He awkwardly said, "Miss Roberts, hello. It''s a pleasure to meet you. I''m a fan."

    As Chris said this, his right hand slightly raised, he looked at Julia''s slender fingers gripping the doorknob, finally hesitating to extend his hand.

    "Eric and Liz are waiting for you; pleasee in," Julia replied and tugged at her sweater before turning to walk inside.

    Following Julia through the path in the courtyard, Chris had calmed down enough to reflect on how Julia had appeared just a moment ago. He suddenly realized that the Hollywood A-lister didn''t seem quite herself. She had looked either just awoken or a bit tipsy, or perhaps more like she was... high. Chris was certain he hadn''t detected any alcohol on her; it was already 4 PM, well past lunchtime, and it couldn''t possibly be the aftermath of a nap.

    Lost in his thoughts as he followed the path, he spotted a young coupleing towards him from the poolside of the mansion. Chris quickly dismissed those scattered thoughts. Ruminating over them wouldn''t do him any good; he couldn''t afford to let the hosts guess what was on his mind.

    Seeing the approaching pair, Chris Wedge eagerly reached out his hand to Eric, who was walking ahead. "Hello, Mr. Williams."

    "Hi, Chris. Just call me Eric. This is Liz; you two must have spoken on the phone."

    "Of course, Miss Murdoch. It''s a pleasure to meet you," Chris Wedge smiled and shook hands with Elisabeth.

    The three of them sat down at a round table in the courtyard. Julia brought them coffee but seemed uninterested in the conversation. Instead, shezily made her way to a nearby lounge chair and flipped through a magazine.

    While Chris Wedge felt a bit puzzled about the dynamic between the man and two women in front of him, he cautiously controlled his gaze, trying to avoid ncing too often at Julia, whoy nearby.

    "You and Liz have probably already discussed the general situation over the phone. I''ve seen the effects you did for <i>Alien 3</i> and <i>Jumanji</i>; they were impressive. I also understand you sought investment from Columbia for an animated short film during <i>Jumanji</i>''s production but didn''t seed, correct?"

    Chris Wedge nodded. "Yes, Eric. I worked on outsourced Disney projects back when I was at my original studio and have always been very passionate about animated films."

    Elisabeth asked, "If you were looking to invest in animation, you should''ve gone to Firefly, right? Why Columbia?"

    Chris felt a bit embarrassed about how to respond and exchanged a nce with Eric without knowing what to say.

    After finishing her question, Elisabeth quickly realized the implications. Firefly already had the industry''s leading 3D animation technology and would hardly be interested in Blue Sky Studios.

    Eric seemed to overlook Elisabeth''s question entirely and dove straight into discussing 3D animated films with Chris. Wedge had prepared extensively over thest few days and skillfully addressed all of Eric''s questions, even disying a set of animation short storyboards he had prepared in advance.

    Despite having some technical background, an animation studio still needed to start with animated shorts to venture into 3D feature films. Pixar had umted sufficient experience after producing shorts like <i>Luxo Jr</i>. and <i>Tin Toy</i> before tackling feature-length animations.

    After half an hour, Chris Wedge put away the storyboards and said, "Eric, this short only needs a $3 million investment. If I can secure funding, I promise to deliver a project within six months that will showcase our capabilities in handling animated features."

    Eric shook his head. "Chris, I''m not looking to invest in Blue Sky Studios."

    Chris had just disyed disappointment at what he believed was his carefully prepared short animation script failing to meet Eric''s approval. But then Eric followed up, "I''m looking to acquire Blue Sky Studios."

    Chris Wedge immediately raised his head. "Eric, are you saying... acquisition?"

    Eric nodded, a smile on his face. "Yes, acquisition."

    Though not deeply embedded in Hollywood circles, Chris was somewhat aware of Eric and Elisabeth''s rtionship. He always thought it was probably Fox that showed greater interest in Blue Sky Studios; if an acquisition was on the table, it would likely be Elisabeth representing Fox who would make the approach.

    However, after half an hour of discussion, Chris Wedge gradually realized Eric was still the one calling the shots, leaving him further perplexed. Firefly already owned Pixar and Disney Animation. If they were looking to expand within animated films, it should have been confined to those two studios.

    While Chris knew he wouldn''t refuse the acquisition offer, he asked cautiously, "Eric, may I know why?"

    "Of course," Eric exined. "Even though animated films have always been limited to a PG-13 rating due to their audience, Disney has a lot of great ideas that don''t align with their core values. If these ideas were distributed by Disney, they would tarnish their established brand image. So, I n to take these ideas and hand them off to an animation studio operatingpletely outside of the Disney system for production and to be released by other filmpanies."

    Chris Wedge asked, "Doesn''t Firefly has many other filmpanies under its umbre?"

    "Disney is a significant brand within the Firefly system. If Firefly''s other film divisions produce animated films, audiences will inevitably think of Disney. What I''m aiming for isplete separation."

    Chris nodded and nced at Elisabeth. "So, Eric, what''s the acquisition offer?"

    "To indicate our intent for long-term cooperation, we''re not looking for a full acquisition. Firefly and Fox will each invest $5 million to acquire 45% of Blue Sky Studios, and you can retain 10%. Also, Firefly will provide technical support for the animation studio. The animated films produced by the studio will be released by Fox."

    A $10 million offer for 90% ownership was far below Chris Wedge''s expectations; after all, it was eight years of his hard work. However, Eric''s promise of technical support made Chris Wedge think twice. The top-notch 3D animation technology in Firefly was not something money could buy; it had enabled Firefly to dominate the 3D animated film market in recent years.

    After a moment of consideration, Chris Wedge decisively nodded. "Eric, I agree to the deal."

    "Great, I hope we can have a pleasant coboration in the future." Eric stood and shook hands with Chris Wedge, and they sat back down as Eric began outlining his detailed n.

    As sunset approached, Chris Wedge, sensing the mood, kindly excused himself. Specific acquisition agreements would be discussed in more detail in theing time.

    ...

    After sending off Chris Wedge, the two returned to the poolside. Elisabeth looked at Julia, who was stillnguidly reclined on her lounge chair. "Eric, did you see that? Chris Wedge stole more than a few nces at Julia. I''m pretty sure he''s suspecting she might be high. If that gets out, it would be big news!"

    Suddenly, Julia, as ifing back to life, threw the magazine in her hands at Elisabeth and retorted, "You''re the one who''s high! I''m just a little tired!"

    "Ha! Let me check to see if you''re really tired," Elisabeth said, lunging toward Julia to grab her waist but was met with Julia swiftly lifting her foot and kicking.

    Plop--

    Caught off guard, Elisabeth tipped into the pool.

    "Ah, ugh..."

    After surfacing quickly, Elisabeth clung to the edge of the pool and huffed angrily, "Forget this! I''m not talking to you anymore, you wicked woman, trying to murder your own partner."

    Ericughed as he helped Elisabeth out of the pool, urging her to change clothes. He then turned and sat where Julia had been lounging, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her onto hisp.

    Having just recovered her spirits after being teased by Elisabeth, Julia melted into Eric''s embrace, quietly purring softly, like a cat that had lost its bones, soon returning to her previouszy and dreamy state.

    Elisabeth returned to the conversation after changing clothes, towel drying her wet hair. Seeing Julia ck against Eric, she refrained from poking the bear this time and sat nearby instead. "Eric, you''ve been talking about animated film concepts that don''t align with Disney''s distribution style. Do you already have something in mind?"

    Eric picked up the magazine Julia had previously held and casually flipped through it. "Not long ago, I came across apletely anti-fairy tale picture book by William Steig. You can start working on securing the adaptation rights for that project soon."

    "What? You didn''t exin clearly at all."

    Eric chuckled, "Tomorrow, you should buy a copy and take a look for yourself. The book essentially subverts all the ssic Disney fairy tale tropes, but I think it''s fascinating. It could definitely make for a unique animated film, though it can''t be distributed by Disney or any of Firefly''s affiliated studios, or else it would severely damage Disney''s carefully crafted brand image. That''s why I thought of forming an independent animation studio outside of Firefly."

    Elisabeth became interested. "Oh, what''s the name of this book?"

    Eric replied, "<i>Shrek</i>."

    In this timeline, DreamWorks'' <i>Shrek</i> was an animation project that Jeffrey Katzenberg created in retaliation against Disney after leaving thepany. From the quality of the film, it was evident that the investment was low and the production rushed. Yet, surprisingly, this low-budget animated film that parodied Disney fairy tales became a massive box office hit, even iming the title of North America''s box office champion that year, reviving DreamWorks Animation from its precarious position. Since Jeffrey hadn''t left Disney in this timeline, DreamWorks had taken a different turn. Eric was nearly certain that if he didn''t get involved, an alternative film like <i>Shrek</i> wouldn''t even appear in this world at all.

    Recently, Eric had been sorting through memories of past films while seeking projects for Firefly to pursue for the uing summer. Unsurprisingly, titles like <i>Shrek</i> and <i>Ice Age</i> popped to mind.

    While those animated films had performed on par with Disney animations at the box office, they also diverged from the core spirit of Disney films. Moreover, the 3D animation market had not reached saturation yet. By partnering with Fox to acquire Blue Sky Studios, not only could unsuitable Disney animation projects be ced within this studio to continue earning Firefly substantial profit, but it would also enable Eric to maintain Firefly''s influence over Fox through coboration.

    Reflecting on this, Eric suddenly thought of something else and turned to Elisabeth, "Liz, one more thing: now that we have Blue Sky, are you interested in buying a toypany?"

    Elisabeth blinked in confusion, "A toypany? Why?"

    "Eventually, Blue Sky will produce animated features that will surely require merchandise," Eric exined.

    Elisabeth looked at him for a few moments then rolled her eyes, "You''re just rambling. Few people would buy an entire restaurant just to eat a steak!"

    "Alright," Eric smiled, "Actually, I''m talking about the toypany''s rights. Hasbro, you know?"

    "<i>Transformers</i>?" Elisabeth blurted out, then perked up, "Wait, are you talking about <i>Transformers</i>?"

    Eric nodded. "You see, just mentioning Hasbro made you think of <i>Transformers</i>. That''s how huge this toy franchise is. If developed into a live-action film, it would have incredible potential."

    "But we don''t need to buy Hasbro. We can just buy the rights to <i>Transformers</i>," Elisabeth countered.

    "Of course not. Copyrightes with expiration limits, and Hasbro isn''t foolish enough to sell you permanent rights. We need to acquire Hasbro to ensure it''s a done deal. Once the technology for effects advances over theing years, I believe the value of the <i>Transformers</i> rights will be nearly on par with <i>Star Wars.</i>"

    "You''re exaggerating. What film rights could possibly rival <i>Star Wars</i>?" Elisabeth instinctively shook her head. <i>Star Wars</i>'' impact had been deeply rooted in the minds of the audiences, and even Julia, resting on Eric''s leg, gently shook her head in agreement.

    However, Elisabeth quickly reconsidered. If the statement hade from anyone else, it might not hold much weight, but given Eric''s words, the impact felt different. "Eric, are you serious?"

    Eric affirmed with a nod. "Do I look like I''m joking?"

    Elisabeth rolled her eyes. "Then why doesn''t Firefly just acquire Hasbro outright?"

    Eric shrugged. "Firefly''s goals are too ambitious. If we make a move, there would be contenders popping up, and Hasbro would surely set a high price. My n is simr to the acquisition of Blue Sky Studios: Fox can be the face, and Firefly operates from behind the scenes. We grab Hasbro first, and then we split the deal. What do you think?"

    Elisabeth narrowed her eyes, clearly calcting. "What if I don''t n to share?"

    Feigning a menacing demeanor, Eric clenched his fist, cracking his knuckles, "Then I might have to resort to force."

    Elisabeth didn''t look fazed by Eric''s theatrics. Instead, Julia affectionately pulled Eric''s fist towards her cheek, brushing against it as she called softly, "Eric..."

    Seeing Julia''s affectionate gesture, Elisabeth made a face, "I think it''s better if you just take her into the house and give her a good exercise."

    Eric helplessly pulled Julia up, giving her a yful smack on her rear. "Stop clinging. Let''s go make dinner."

    "Okay, what do you want to eat?"

    "Whatever is in the fridge."

    As Julia dreamily swayed away, Elisabeth shrugged, returning to their earlier topic. Given Eric''s unwavering confidence, she didn''t question it any further and asked, "How much is thispany likely to cost?"

    "I''ve looked it up; Hasbro''s current market value is about $2.9 billion. A friendly acquisition would be roughly $3.5 billion. In a hostile takeover, it shouldn''t exceed $4 billion. Plus, given Fox''s influence, I believe the chances of a friendly acquisition are quite high."

    "But that''s $3 to $4 billion!" Elisabeth hesitated. "Eric, I think we should just buy the <i>Transformers</i> rights for now. Let''s extend the copyright duration as much as possible -- twenty years, would that be enough?"

    Eric shook his head. "Hasbro has been performing very steadily with profits around $200 million in recent years. After the acquisition, leveraging Blue Sky''s merchandise licensing and Hasbro''s toy distribution system will likely enhance future performance significantly. Plus, given the huge potential of <i>Transformers</i> rights, Hasbro is undoubtedly undervalued. Even without film rights development, we would recover our investment within ten years. If Firefly didn''t have so many ns in recent years, I''d definitely take this on myself."

    Before his rebirth, the <i>Transformers</i> films had already grossed more than $5 billion worldwide, with merchandising revenue being incalcble. Eric recalled Disney had sent an acquisition offer to Hasbro afternding Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, but Hasbro set a price too high, especially with the <i>Transformers</i> rights held by Paramount; thus, the deal fell through.

    With visual effects films shining brighter in Hollywood in recent years, Eric was certain others would soon notice the <i>Transformers</i> rights. If not secured soon, there would be plenty of regretter. In Hollywood, copyright licensing typicallysted twenty years at most. However, Eric knew that twenty yearster, <i>Transformers</i> would still be popr; even if the timeline were adjusted, the franchise would likely outlive <i>Harry Potter</i>. Hence, a two-decade copyright extension would be far too short. Furthermore, Hasbro would certainly resist selling the <i>Transformers</i> rights for only twenty years. It was wiser to acquire thepany fully now rather than risk copyrightpses while the <i>Transformers</i> series reaches its peak.

    The reason for sharing this cake with Fox was twofold: First, Firefly already possessed Marvel, a monumental licensing treasure that could be developed for decades, alongside numerous animated and live-action film rights. It was impossible to monopolize all profits due to limited release time and schedule. Secondly, Firefly had reached a development cap; due to antitrust issues, it could no longer aggressively merge with other filmpanies. Therefore, coboration had be Eric''s best avenue for prating the Hollywood system. This would allow him to gain profits while gradually expanding his control over Hollywood, just like MGM at the time. Through various film project coborations, the invisible power Eric wielded within thepany rivaled that of its CEO. If he spoke up, the controlling shareholder, Credit Lyonnais, the major shareholder of MGM, will definitely rece the helm of MGM without hesitation.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 694 - 695: Almost Got into a Fight

    <h4>Chapter 694: Chapter 695: Almost Got into a Fight</h4>

    [Chapter 695: Almost Got into a Fight]

    The merger deal involving an amount that could reach $4 billion was far beyond what Elisabeth could decide, and even Rupert Murdoch had to be cautious about it. While the News Corporation had been firmly in the hands of the Murdoch family, this was primarily due to Rupert''s excellent management skills that continuously brought profits to shareholders. If Rupert acted recklessly, shareholders would definitely turn against him.

    Upon hearing Eric''s thoughts on acquiring Hasbro, which he ryed through Elisabeth, Rupert made a special trip from New York to Los Angeles. He spent the entire day discussing the matter with Eric, but unfortunately, the negotiations did not go as hoped. The News Corporation had always focused on the media sector and had not ventured into other areas for decades, while Hasbro was primarily a toypany with little connection to media.

    Although Eric painted a tempting picture, Rupert was not one to be easily swayed. As someone who had not personally witnessed the box office miracle of <i>Transformers</i>, he was very cautious about relying on just a conceptual ''pie'' diagram. In the end, they decided that Fox would first acquire the rights to <i>Transformers</i>, and in theing years, Firefly could initiate the acquisition of Hasbro, with both parties nning to co-develop the film series.

    In the evening, Eric and Rupert walked out of the Liberty City Manor side by side, apanied by Jeffrey Katzenberg, Elisabeth, and Kelly. Rupert had to catch a flight back to New York, and Elisabeth made a hand gesture signaling Eric to contact her while she climbed into Rupert''s luxury car. As a dutiful daughter, she naturally intended to personally drive her father to the airport.

    ...

    Watching as Rupert''s car pulled away, Jeffrey turned to Eric and said, "If Fox could independently realize the profit potential you''ve described for <i>Transformers</i>, I bet Rupert would not hesitate to acquire Hasbro and wouldn''t even need us to coborate. Unfortunately, he doesn''t have that kind of confidence. Eric, I think there''s no need toplicate this further. We can just buy Hasbro outright now -- Firefly has enough funds."

    "Jeffrey, let''s put that idea on hold for now," Eric chuckled and shook his head. "Besides, Firefly is already way ahead of other media groups in Hollywood -- we should slow our pace a bit."

    Jeffrey seemed to understand and didn''t press Eric further. He was also aware that it was indeed time for Firefly to pause and reassess.

    ...

    In recent days, Firefly''s 1994 annual financial report had been released, showing that its businesses in film, television, merchandise, and theme parks generated a staggering $18.7 billion in operational revenue. Although it hadn''t quite broken the $20 billion mark, the figures were impressive enough to leave many astonished. Meanwhile, the group achieved a profit of $1.67 billion, marking increases of 62% and 40% respectivelypared to 1993. This remarkable growthrgely stemmed from the previous year''s acquisition of ABC, which had added $7.5 billion in operational revenue to Firefly.

    After acquiring ABC, it had taken nearly a year for business integration and downsizing. Firefly was expected to surpass $20 billion in revenue and $2 billion in profit for the 1995 fiscal year. Such robust revenue and profitability allowed Firefly to pull far ahead of itspetitors in Hollywood. The most notable contrast had been with Time Warner, which had previously overshadowed Firefly.

    Although Time Warner had shrouded their financial performance from 1994, Eric had managed to obtain the relevant data. For the entire year, Time Warner''s film segment had only generated $3.3 billion in revenue, a staggering 40% decline from 1993. Warner Bros. Entertainment''s top-grossing film, <i>Natural Born Killers</i>, brought in just $105 million -- far below Firefly''s North American blockbuster, <i>The Lion King</i>, which raked in $310 million. Globally, Time Warner''s box office shares could notpete with Firefly''s.

    In 1994, the entire Time Warner group brought in just $8.3 billion, leaving it $10.4 billion behind Firefly. Moreover,pared to the stable profitability enjoyed during Steve Ross''s time, Time Warner had experienced its first loss in years. While the loss of $91 million seemed insignificant against $8.3 billion in revenue, it served as a dangerous warning sign, indicating that Time Warner was beginning to decline without Steve Ross at the helm.

    Besides Time Warner, Vi, the parentpany of Paramount, News Corporation''s Fox, and Universal''s parent MCA were nowhere near Firefly''s level. Sony, the parentpany of Columbia, was indeed much stronger than Firefly, but Columbia had suffered a $2.1 billion asset write-down at the end ofst year, dropping its market value to below $3 billion -- less than one-tenth of what the media estimated Firefly to be worth. As for MGM, it had virtually no presence.

    One could say that Firefly was clearly ahead of the pack in Hollywood at this point.

    ...

    Reflecting on this invigorating data, Jeffrey couldn''t help but nce at Eric standing beside him. Everything Firefly had achieved stemmed from this young man''s keen insights in film and media. Although Eric had increasingly stepped back from direct management of the Firefly Group, everyone within the organization understood that he was the true soul of Firefly. Without him, Firefly''s miraculous rise would have been impossible.

    Despite being the CEO of Firefly, Jeffrey was well aware that he was better suited for micro-management. Hecked the decisive judgment and control over the group''s overall direction that Eric possessed. Whether it was the acquisition of Disney years ago orst year''s merger with ABC, Eric''s wildly ambitious moves had drawn numerous criticisms. Many spected that the rtively young Firefly might copse under such aggressive expansion. Ultimately, however, Firefly not only assimted these industry giants but also sessfully integrated them into its operational structure.

    At this moment, Eric''s decision to pause on expansion stemmed not only from the investments in high-tech industries like the inte that had drained Firefly''s financial resources, but also from the challenges created by the two substantial mergers. While those problems had not yet surfaced, they were there, merely masked by Firefly''s strong profitability.

    After Rupert left, Jeffrey didn''t rush away. Instead, he returned to the vi with Eric and began talking about a recent problem at ABC that had everyone concerned.

    "During the prime time from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., NBC and CBS both airedte-night talk shows. NBC''s <i>The Jay Leno Show</i> consistently generated a profit of $150 million a year, while CBS''s <i>David Letterman Show</i> pulled in $50 million annually. In contrast, ABC''s 11 p.m. news program, <i>Nightline</i>, only averaged a $10 million profit per year. Previously, we had few good options, but now that David Letterman''s contract with CBS is nearing its end, Robert suggested we bring him to ABC. David is very interested in the idea. Our prime time ratings are very strong and could serve as a great lead-in for histe-night show. However, just when Robert put forth this proposal, the president of the news department, David Weston, barged into his office, and they got into a heated argument that almost turned into a fight."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 695 - 696: Of Course, It’s All About the Money

    <h4>Chapter 695: Chapter 696: Of Course, It''s All About the Money</h4>

    [Chapter 696: Of Course, It''s All About the Money]

    The news department operated independently under ABC, managing all of thework''s news programming. The profit margins for news programs had always been very low. Over the years, only a few times had this trend been broken. However, the news department served as a critical media channel for any media conglomerate. This nationwide tool for controlling public opinion could not simply be measured by profit alone. Even if it operated at a loss, majorworks would not readily cancel their news programs.

    When Jeffrey Katzenberg mentioned <i>Nightline</i>, Eric Williams didn''t just hear about the significant profit gap between <i>Nightline</i> and thete-night shows on NBC and CBS and instantly get excited. Instead, he cautiously asked, "What are the points of contention between Robert and the news department president, David Westin? And if we bring in <i>The Late Show with David Letterman</i>, what will happen to <i>Nightline</i>?"

    Katzenberg replied, "This concern mainly stems from David worrying that if <i>Nightline</i> gets canceled, it could be the spark that leads to budget cuts in the entire news department. Besides <i>Nightline</i>, there are several other low-rated news programs, and if all those shows get cut, the staff size and budget of the news department could shrink by at least 30%. The department has always been a cohesive unit, and the management has a hard time epting a sudden disruption to the stability they''ve maintained. Regarding <i>Nightline</i>, Robert''s proposal is to dy the show by an hour, airing it after thete-night shows."

    "Dying it by an hour is a terrible idea; it''d be better to just cancel it outright. If I were David, I''d probably end up shing with Robert," Eric shook his head and chuckled. <i>Nightline</i> was originally scheduled to air at 11 PM, but pushing it back an hour would push it to an entirely meaningless time slot. After a moment of consideration, Eric said, "You should personally call David Westin about this. Don''t let it drag on and escte the conflict. Just assure him that there won''t be anyrge-scale adjustments to the news department from headquarters. Even if <i>Nightline</i> gets canceled, the news department won''t have a massiveyoff."

    Katzenberg asked, "What about the extra staff?"

    Eric thought for a moment and replied, "Now that Fox News and two major newsworks exist, those specialized news channels need to scale up to achieve profitability. The reason Fox News rose quickly was due to the media resources of the entire news group spread across the world, and we don''t have that advantage. Therefore, we won''t be doing an ABC News channel. However, there aren''t any professional news websites online yet. I believe we can explore that route. Although ABC''s news department can''t support a 24-hour news channel, establishing a professional news website is absolutely feasible."

    Katzenberg asked skeptically, "Eric, isn''t Yahoo a news site?"

    Eric shook his head and exined, "Yahoo positions itself as aprehensive information tform; the news section is only a small part of their business. They do create some content, but the majority of the informationes from various inte media sources, essentially acting as a ''cyber supermarket'' that distributes content from other sites."

    Katzenberg nodded, somewhat understanding but resolved to go back and research relevant materials thoroughly.

    Eric added, "The inte will likely be the primary media broadcasting channel of the future, so we should get David Westin to pay attention to this. If he encounters any issues with website development, he can reach out to Yahoo for help. Back in the day when Ted Turner started things up, many thought there was no way to turn a profit, but he handed over a slice of the pie that should have belonged to the majorworks to this neer. The current situation is quite simr; hardly anyone notices the potential of professional news sites on the inte. If ABC can get in early, it might just reach significant heights."

    Eric understood the future inte environment perfectly. Compared to other sectors like search engines and emerce, news websites didn''t seem to have much potential for profit. The more crucial role for them would be as tools for public opinion, which Eric valued the most. However, he wasn''t going to be candid about this; otherwise, the news department wouldn''t pour its efforts into expanding in that area.

    His primary goal in making this suggestion was to provide the news department with another direction for development, mitigating the internal conflicts arising from adjustments rted to programs like <i>Nightline</i>. But Katzenberg was genuinely excited about Eric''s suggestion. The wave of the inte had begun, and as the head of a media group, Katzenberg found himself increasingly exposed to relevant information. He knew that ABC simply did not have the strength to create a news channel that couldpete effectively. However, if they could seize the initiative and establish a professional news website online that was on par with their standing in the real world, that would be incredibly fulfilling.

    "Eric, if that''s the case, I''ll take the time to personally oversee the ABC news website. With this new project, there''s no reason for David to keep stirring things up, and the adjustments to <i>Nightline</i> can proceed smoothly."

    Feeling Katzenberg''s enthusiasm, Eric didn''t want to discourage him. He thought for a moment and suggested, "How about this: Firefly can set up a subsidiary specifically responsible for the news website. This will make it easier to tackle things like going public and financing in the future."

    Katzenberg looked puzzled. "Eric, why go public? Haven''t you always been against it?"

    Going public was, of course, all about making money.

    Under normal circumstances, the profit outlook for news websites wasn''t clear, and raising capital through an IPO was almost impossible.

    But the next few years were different. With the rise of the inte wave, any concept tied to the inte was sure to attract investors. Eric didn''t expect the ABC news website to produce significant operational revenue, but it would be a shame not to leverage the opportunities of the inte bubble to make a sizeable profit in the financial markets, especially considering his unique foresight as someone who had "reborn."

    Yet he couldn''t express such thoughts directly to Katzenberg and preferred to be vague. "Jeffrey, I can''t exactly exin this to you right now, but you''ll understand in a few years."

    Katzenberg had encountered this type of reasoning from Eric before, and more often than not, it proved to be true. So he didn''t question it further and kept asking Eric for specific ideas on how to build the news website.

    They continued to discuss until the sun sank behind the ss-lined horizon. Eventually, Katzenberg and Kelly decided to leave together.

    Eric nced at the time; he had an Oscar publicity party for <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> that evening. He hurried upstairs to change into a suit and quickly left Malibu, heading to Beverly Hills.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 696 - 697: Quite Miserable

    <h4>Chapter 696: Chapter 697: Quite Miserable</h4>

    [Chapter 697: Quite Miserable]

    The PR party took ce in a mansion area northwest of the Hollywood Bowl in Beverly Hills. As Eric just arrived at a grand house, he spotted a familiar white BMW ahead. Kathryn Bigelow had just handed her car keys to the valet and was about to walk into the mansion when she noticed a ck Rolls-Royce approach. She instinctively nced over, and Eric rolled down the car window and waved. Kathryn smiled and nodded, stopping to wait for Eric to get out.

    "Carter, you can go home now, you don''t need to stick around for me," Eric told the driver before exiting the car, holding a box.

    Kathryn stepped forward and lightly embraced Eric. As she watched Eric''s car drive away, a hint of confusion crossed her face, but she didn''t say anything. Instead, she curiously looked at the square package Eric held in his hand. "You''re bringing a gift? That''s a bit of a problem. I thought we didn''t need to," she remarked.

    "Of course, it''s not necessary," Eric shook his head. He looked up and down at Kathryn, recalling that theirst meeting was atst year''s discussion about the <i>Band of Brothers</i> project. Unfortunately, the project''s budget was too high, and the subject matter was not quite suitable for ABC as a public broadcaster, so the majority of executives had opposed it. Since then, Eric hadn''t pursued it further and had to set it aside for the time being. In the past few months, he had only exchanged a few phone calls with Kathryn due to how busy he was.

    Months had passed, but Kathryn hadn''t changed at all. She wore a simple ck fitted maxi dress and ck heels, with a simple red thread bracelet around her wrist. Just standing there, she still exuded a calm and restrained presence.

    Noticing Eric''s changing gaze, Kathryn had almost developed a reflex to adopt a defensive posture, even after not seeing him for such a long time. However, she quickly realized that the look Eric had nowcked any of the aggressive undertones that she remembered, and her mood slightly rxed, though she felt an inexplicable twinge of disappointment.

    What kind of woman wouldn''t be attracted to a man as aplished as he? Surely, he must have someone...

    The thought popped into her mind, but before she could finish it, Kathryn abruptly pushed it aside, her expression briefly showing a hint of panic. She avoided Eric''s gaze and said, "Let''s go inside."

    Eric raised the box in his hand. "Don''t you want to know what''s inside?"

    "What is it?"

    "I''ll tell you after the party, but I can let slip that it''s a gift for you."

    "A gift?" Kathryn paused, looking up at Eric. "For me... a gift?"

    Eric merely smiled softly, lifting his arm slightly. "Alright, I''ll keep you in suspense just a little longer. Let''s head inside."

    Kathryn nced at Eric''s raised arm, hesitating about whether to respond.

    "You wouldn''t deny me this little bit of recognition, would you? I''m a man; it''s quite a blow to my ego."

    In the end, Kathryn reached out and linked her arm with Eric''s, though she seemed to mumble somewhat reluctantly, "Little man."

    After she said that, Kathryn couldn''t help but let out a lightugh, feeling as if they were back in those years when they spent time together at the SoHo Grand Hotel in Manhattan. Then she recalled the white scarf Eric had given her.

    Turns out he had already given her a gift long before.

    That scarf was still quietly resting in her closet, and whenever she visited colder ces, she would bring it along, although she rarely acknowledged it as a gift from someone special, as if it had be an inconspicuous part of her life.

    Feeling the slight pressure of the woman resting against him ease up, Eric joked, "You know, Kathryn, in some stories, women who often refer to a certain man nearby as a ''little man'' usually end up quite miserable."

    Kathryn''s personality meant she wouldn''t be particrly interested in some types of media or literature. Hearing Eric, she asked earnestly, "Miserable? Why''s that?"

    Eric noticed the somewhat naive light in her eyes, coughed lightly, and didn''t answer directly. Instead, he nodded to himself, affirming, "Oh yes, very miserable."

    Kathryn didn''t think much of the serious expression on Eric''s face. She simply pouted and said, "I have no idea what you''re talking about, macho man."

    ...

    The people inside the mansion received the notification and came out to greet them. Eric and Kathryn stopped chatting and attended to the guests. Mainly, it was Eric leading the way while Kathryn handled the socializing. She had little experience in such gatherings, and when surrounded by too many people, her difort became apparent.

    This party had been arranged by Eric through Francis Ford Copp''s connections. Over the years, Eric had maintained a good rtionship with the Copp family.

    Being a PR event, it was certainly not overly ostentatious. The mansion, located on the hillside, had just over twenty guests scattered inside and outside. Many of them were middle-aged individuals around Copp''s age, as it was widely known that the Oscarmittee had aged significantly. Yet, the guest list was not limited to directors; it included actors, producers, and various Hollywood professionals. There was no music ying, and the waitstaff was minimal. Thewn featured several long tables stocked with a self-serve spread of food and drinks. Guests gathered in small groups, whispering to one another. Since they had agreed toe, it effectively implied some unspokenmitments, so few directly discussed the Oscars.

    ...

    Eric navigated the crowd with Kathryn, and after stopping by the long tables to grab some food and take a breather, they were talking quietly when Copp approached with a middle-aged man sporting a bushy beard.

    "Eric, Kathryn, let me introduce you to Terrence Malick. Terrence, this is Eric and Kathryn."

    "Hello, Mr. Malick, just call me Eric," Eric replied, slightly raising an eyebrow while shaking hands with him.

    After the introductions, Copp pointed to a round table next to the mansion''s pool. "Eric, shall we chat over there?"

    "Sure," Eric nodded with a smile, ncing at Terrence Malick again. He could feel a sense of curiosity brewing inside him. Terrence Malick had once been one of the renowned directors of the 1970s, with films like <i>Days of Heaven</i> winning him the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. However, after <i>Days of Heaven</i>, for reasons unknown, Malick had suddenly stepped away from directing, and nearly twenty years had passed since then.

    In the original timeline, Malick would return to filmmaking in 1998 and directed a war film that was released the same year as <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, called <i>The Thin Red Line</i>.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 697 - 698: Should We or Not

    <h4>Chapter 697: Chapter 698: Should We or Not</h4>

    [Chapter 698: Should We or Not]

    The four of them settled around a round table, and Copp turned to Eric and Kathryn. "Here''s the deal. Terrence has been preparing a World War II film adapted from a James Jones novel for years. The script was already written a long time ago, but he hasn''t been able to find a suitable director. He hoped I would helm it since I directed <i>Apocalypse Now</i> back in the day. But I just don''t have the energy for another war film. After watching <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, Terrence thought it might be worthwhile to let Ms. Bigelow give it a shot."

    Eric and Kathryn were no strangers to James Jones. He was the screenwriter of the ssic film <i>The Longest Day</i>, about the Normandy invasion. To prepare for <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, they had even revisited that film together.

    Upon hearing Copp''s words, Eric was already convinced that the movie Terrence Malick was working on was the one he remembered as Red Dawn. In their original timeline, <i>The Thin Red Line</i> was dyed until 1998, and Eric guessed that Terrence had been unable to find a suitable director,pelling him to step in himself. Plus, <i>The Thin Red Line</i> not only released in the same year as <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> but alsopeted for the Oscars in 1999. Unfortunately, neither film triumphed, losing out to the Weinstein brothers'' Oscar darling, <i>Shakespeare in Love</i>.

    Kathryn, overhearing Copp''s introduction, turned to Terrence Malick and asked, "Terrence, can you give us a brief overview of the script?"

    "Sure. The original novel by James Jones isn''t strictly autobiographical, but it isrgely based on his experiences serving at Guadalcanal during World War II. You can read itter; I made significant changes to the plot. Unlike <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, which explores the values of war, my script aims to delve into the brutal impact of war on human nature, primarily focusing on a unit known as Charlie Company..."

    Eric noticed that Kathryn''s focus grew sharper. She quickly became engrossed in a detailed discussion with Terrence, almost forgetting about him and Copp. He could tell she was captivated. The examination of war''s effects on humanity was such a philosophical topic, certainly a favorite among artistic women.

    Exchanging a knowing look with Copp, they both chuckled quietly and chose not to interrupt, patiently listening to their conversation.

    After a full half-hour, the discussion finally wrapped up. Kathryn turned to Eric, her enthusiasm evident. "Eric, what do you think of the story?"

    "Hmm, it''s a great story. Firefly is very interested in investing. Terrence, have you done a rough budget yet?"

    As soon as Eric finished speaking, Kathryn shot him a reproachful nce. She had hoped Eric would discuss the script, but the little rascal directly asked how much the movie would cost. How utterly deting!

    Eric felt a bit helpless, thinking to himself, "You''re a goddess who doesn''t worry about livelihood, but I''m a businessman!"

    Terrence Malick, however, didn''t share Kathryn''s annoyance. Hearing Eric express interest in investment made him happy. The project had been in the works for years, yet many filmpanies rejected it due to perceived risks. At times, Terrence felt like giving up.

    "Eric, the film requires about $50 million to produce. I''ve shown the script to several well-known actors, and many are quite interested. Sean Penn and John Travolta have bothmitted as long as we secure funding."

    At that time, Sean Penn and John Travolta were both A-list stars. Their involvement would guarantee box office sess, which was precisely why Terrence shared that information. Eric knew that, in fact, the original cast for <i>The Thin Red Line</i> had been even more ster. Besides Sean and John, it also included George Clooney, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, and Adrien Brody -- big names in Hollywood.

    Though history had shifted, Eric was confident that if Kathryn could secure the Oscar for Best Director, the $50 million budget would be hefty, but not unmanageable given the film''s box office potential. With a fresh Oscar winner and big-name actors involved, recouping costs and making a profit would not be too daunting.

    Terrence perceived Eric''s contemtion as hesitation. He knew that $50 million was considered high for a film, but this storycked strongmercial appeal. After considering, he added, "Eric, if you think the risk is too high, Firefly can invest $25 million and agree to handle distribution, while I look for another $25 million in funding."

    "That''s not necessary," Eric firmly decided. The investment might be on the high side, but he felt little pressure to recoup costs. Firefly couldn''t invest only inmercial films; it was necessary to produce projects that had artistic merit. "Firefly can cover the full investment. However, I have one condition. Terrence, I want you to not only write the script but also serve as the producer for this film."

    Having once won the Best Director award at Cannes, Terrence''s return after twenty years would also serve as a significant promotional draw when the movie released.

    However, Eric''s request didn''t stem solely from that reasoning but from Terrence''s credentials. Hollywood ced high importance on hierarchy. Projects with experienced directors and producers always attracted powerful actors, much like Woody Allen and Robert Altman, whose films were known for their ster casts. Although Terrence hadn''t directed in two decades, his reputation and connections had not vanished. Otherwise, they wouldn''t be having this meeting today. If he took on the producer role, Terrence could effortlessly put together an even stronger cast.

    Terrence understood that Eric wasn''t referring to a producer who merely lent their name without participating in the film''s production. He had not worked in film for two decades and had only wished to be a screenwriter on this project. However, after many setbacks and the possibility of change, Terrence''s resolve weakened considerably.

    Kathryn nced between Eric and Terrence before diplomatically suggesting, "Terrence, we had such a great conversation earlier. I''d love for you to be involved in this project as well."

    Many creative philosophies Kathryn had mentioned resonated with Terrence, and coborating with a like-minded director didn''t seem so difficult anymore. Hearing Kathryn''s encouragement, Terrence nodded. "Alright, Eric. I''ll take on the role of producer."

    "Great, let''s hope for a fruitful coboration," Eric said with a smile, raising his ss.

    ...

    Since this gathering wasn''t purely for entertainment and the guests were older, some began to leave shortly after ten o''clock.

    Eric and Kathryn bid farewell to each guest, and only when Copp departed in his car did Kathryn notice something was off. Looking around the mansion, now only the few waitstaff were cleaning up, she asked, "Eric, where''s the... house owner?"

    He pointed to himself. "Right here."

    Kathrynughed at his gesture. "How did you end up buying a house here?"

    "Consider it an investment. I think I have a few ces besides this one," he replied, knowing Kathryn wasn''t genuinely interested, just making casual conversation.

    In reality, aside from the Liberty City Estate, Eric had already acquired around sixty or seventy luxury properties in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Malibu, and Manhattan over the years. Most luxury homes in American metropolitan areas during the ''90s were priced under a million dors. Yet, he was aware that even after the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, despite the extended downturn in the American housing market, cities like Los Angeles and New York continued to see surging luxury prices thanks to wealthy buyers and investors. In twenty years, homes priced over a hundred million dors would bemonce, making today''s investments potentially yield tenfold or even greater returns.

    Of course, beyond investment purposes, owning property could also offset personal ie taxes. To mitigate taxes, both Firefly Group and Firefly Investments sought to avoid dividends, keeping funds in corporate ounts. Even in his role as chairman of Firefly Group, Eric had only nominally taken a one-dor sry. However, he still earned significant ie from films he directed, produced, or wrote. For instance, for the recently concluded <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>, being a personal investor meant he would receive most of the revenue from tape sales, which was projected to bring in around $300 million. Chris had previously provided Eric with various investment proposals, but he ultimately chose to invest in real estate, enjoying thefort of having a home wherever he went.

    Kathryn certainly had little interest in these aspects. She simply responded quietly with a murmur.

    Back in the courtyard, the two resumed discussing <i>The Thin Red Line</i> by the poolside table. Eric stopped mentioning boring budget figures, and Kathryn soon realized that this little man had an analytical depth about films that rivaled her own. It seemed as though he had already absorbed the entire movie after just hearing the script once. Without noticing it, she began reminiscing about her past -- the time as a child when her father, who wanted to be aic book artist, taught her to paint, igniting her interest in art. There were also her experiences at the San Francisco Art Institute, and her ten years living and working in New York where her passion for filmmaking blossomed, leading her to explore short films, and so on...

    Memories were among the most effective means of disarming someone''s heart.

    ...

    Late into the night, during early springtime, the surroundings remained silent, even the insects had quieted. The orange lights in the mansion''s courtyard seemed to glow even more dreamlike.

    A cool breeze swept by, and in the soft chill, Kathryn suddenly sensed a growing tension in the atmosphere. The little man in front of her still wore a gentle smile, but there was a hint of loneliness about him that seemed as though he sought to merge into the night, making her heart soften involuntarily.

    Instinctively sensing something amiss, Kathryn stood up unconsciously.

    Eric looked up in confusion, seeing the woman''s startled expression. "Kathryn, what''s wrong?"

    "I, Eric, it''ste. I should go," she said, her voice trembling slightly. She had resolved that if he urged her to stay, she would firmly refuse.

    Hmm, she needed to sound more resolute.

    Eric nced at his watch; it was already half-past eleven. He stood up and remarked, "It iste. I remember you usually go to bed right at ten o''clock, don''t you?"

    Kathryn instinctively shook her head. "No... um, yes."

    Eric chuckled, "Right, remember the gift I mentioned earlier? Come on, let me show you."

    "Eric, can''t we do it tomorrow? It''s just toote now."

    Eric walked back into the mansion, saying, "Just a few minutes. Since it''s alreadyte, tomorrow can wait."

    Kathryn watched Eric''s retreating figure and reluctantly followed him.

    In the living room, Eric retrieved a box from the cupboard. "The Oscars areing up, and I know you probably don''t remember that. So, I prepared a dress for you -- designed it myself. Come take a look; what do you think?"

    As he spoke, Eric carefully lifted a light gray silk embroidered gown from the box. He had created it from memory, recalling the dress Kathryn wore when she won Best Director.

    Kathryn stood nearby, her attention fixated on the uneven heart-shaped embroidery on the gown, and her nervousness returned. "Eric, my agent already contacted someone for a dress sponsorship. I''m trying on dresses in a couple of days."

    "Oh, then just try this one on first. Whichever one you like best is the one you should wear."

    "Can I take it home?"

    "If it doesn''t fit, you''ll need modifications made quickly. Just try it on here; I want to see how it looks," Eric said, smiling innocently as he watched her hesitate. "You wouldn''t deny me this small favor, would you? This is my hard work!"

    "Well... alright," Kathryn softened her tone once more, taking the box Eric offered and following his lead into a nearby room.

    ...

    After some time, the woman finally emerged, cautiously holding her skirt.

    Music had started ying in the living room without her noticing; a soft sound filled the air; a sweetly haunting melody that made one want to cast away all worries and lose themselves.

    Though he vividly remembered the image, seeing Kathryn walk out in the gown made Eric feel an overwhelming sense of awe. She embodied the ideal figure -- nearly perfect in her proportions -- her gorgeous face unmarked by time, flushed with a soft hue.

    As Eric rose to approach her, extending his hand, Kathryn, unbeknownst to herself, let go of her skirt and offered her right hand. Before she realized it, she found herself in Eric''s embrace, swaying gently to the music.

    They lost track of time, the music ying over and over. Leaning her chin against Eric''s shoulder, Kathryn whispered in his ear, "Eric."

    "Hmm?" His voice melded with the gentle music in her ear.

    "I... haven''t made up my mind yet. I don''t want to... just be tricked into sleeping with you. I... I want to go home..."

    Her voice trembled slightly, devoid of the assertiveness she usually had, sounding more like a trapped little creature, pitifully begging her hunter to spare her.

    In an instant, Eric''s heart softened as he murmured, "Alright, I''ll take you home."

    "I don''t need you to take me; I can go back myself. I... I have a car."

    "Okay," Eric released her waist. "You don''t need to alter the dress anymore, so go change. You can''t drive in that!"

    ...

    A few minutester, Eric stood under the pale yellow streetmps outside the mansion, watching as Kathryn''s white car gradually disappeared down the road, dramatically creating a sense that she was fleeing.

    He chuckled softly to himself, releasing a quiet sigh. He wasn''t quite sure how to feel in that moment.

    By midnight, except for the dim streetlights, this stretch of the residential area had only a few lights left.

    Turning to look at the front gate, although the mansion was fully equipped, Eric didn''t wish to stay alone. Strangely, he suddenly craved a lively atmosphere and then thought of the lively youngdy.

    He picked up his phone and dialed. After a few rings, through the static, a vibrant presence came streaming through.

    The girl was still at a party, even though it was past midnight.

    "Eric, calling me sote?" she sounded a little guilty, and the background noise began to fade.

    Eric knew she was hiding in a quiet corner somewhere, and he couldn''t help but smile with affection, scolding her gently, "It''ste, don''t get crazy. Be careful or you''ll have dark circles tomorrow."

    "I won''t! Just having fun today, hehe! Did you need something?"

    "Can Natashae pick me up? I''m near Cannes Street in Hollywood Hills, just where we checked out that housest time. There was a party here tonight, and now I''m the only one left."

    "Oh, I''ll be right there! Just wait for me!" Without inquiring further, she quickly hung up the phone.

    ...

    Meanwhile, at the Drew''s estate in Trousdale, the party atmosphere was a stark contrast to Eric''s little gathering. String lights drove away the nightpletely, and music reverberated over dozens of meters. The good thing was that it was on a mountain top; except for Elisabeth and Julia''s nearby mansion, there were no close neighbors. Their house was still empty and had never been sold, so no oneined about the noise.

    Eric didn''t like other men showing up at his mansion, so when the girl hosted a party, she only invited her female friends. With plenty of girlfriends running around, there was singing, dancing, sshing in the pool, and even a few girls cuddling in yful embraces -- all sorts of antics that would shock any man.

    When Natasha brought over the ringing cordless phone, the girl was chatting away with Gwh Paltrow. Although both were Spielberg god daughters, the girl''s standing far surpassed needing Spielberg''s backing. However, Gwh had her own motives, trying to maintain a close connection with the girl.

    When Drew excitedly rushed away from the lively conversation, Gwh quickly pieced together who was on the line and subtly followed her.

    As Drew dashed into a room, Gwh calmly took a drink and quietly waited outside.

    After a moment, the door opened, and seeing Drew emerge, Gwh immediately shed a curious smile and approached, "Drew, was that Eric calling?"

    "Yeah," Drew replied, nonchntly bypassing Gwh''s query, striding toward the microphone at the center of the courtyard. She switched off the music by snatching the mic from Christina Aguilera, who was singing. With a few solid thuds into the mic, silence fell over the crowd.

    Drew pulled Christina close and gave her a yful kiss, addressing the audience. "Hey, guys, this party is wrapping up! You''ve got ten minutes to get home. If you''re slow, Natasha will toss you out! And those who are too drunk -- whoever brings them home can sell them for some midnight snacks, alright?"

    The girls knew Drew''s nature well. Though she spoke cheerily, if they surpassed the ten-minute mark, this unpredictable wild girl was serious about getting rid of them.

    Thus, there was hardly any hesitation, as girls began packing up. Some even teased her, asking, "Drew, is your maning home?"

    Drew waved her little hand, "Yes! My king is arriving, but he doesn''t need you little bitches to sleep with him, so scat!"

    A bold girl chimed in, "Drew, I''m still a virgin. Can I stay and serve our king?"

    "Scram! Tomorrow I''ll break that with a beer bottle; it''s already been two minutes. There are still eight minutes left."

    Another girl joked, "I want Natasha to throw me! She seems strong."

    "You little loser, I''ll have Natasha break your legs before she tosses you out. Wanna bet?"

    "Drew, you''re so violent."

    In just five minutes, a crowd of girls had thinned out rapidly. Drew personally helped load the barely teenage Christina into a sports car, ensuring everything was double-checked so no one remained. She instructed the two maids to clean up quickly and then drove off with her twins in tow.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 698 - 699: A Spiritual Connection

    <h4>Chapter 698: Chapter 699: A Spiritual Connection</h4>

    [Chapter 699: A Spiritual Connection]

    Eric waited for about twenty minutes before a red sports car appeared at the intersection not far away and quickly pulled up in front of him.

    The window rolled down, and the girl didn''t even bother to open the door; she simply squeezed out through the window. Eric hurriedly reached out to catch her, pulling her out of the car.

    After a moment of snuggling against Eric, she sniffled yfully and said with a grin, "Eric, you smell like a woman. Did you get kicked out of bed at thest minute?"

    Noticing the brief awkward expression shing across Eric''s face, the girl couldn''t help but burst intoughter. "Haha, I guessed right! Poor thing, let little Drew give you a hug. Don''t cry!"

    Eric chuckled and yfully smacked her on the backside, looking at her rosy face from drinking too much. "It''ste; you should hurry home and get some rest."

    "Yeah, home. Carry me to the car..."

    With one arm around her, Eric opened the car door and stuffed her inside. He didn''t get in right away but walked around to knock on the driver''s window. The ss slid down, revealing the twins. "Master, is there something wrong?"

    Eric nced over to confirm the twins hadn''t been drinking and nodded. "Nothing, let''s go."

    "Eric, you don''t need to check. How could I let them drink? That''s too dangerous! Ugh, I feel a bit dizzy. I need a hug."

    After Eric climbed into the backseat, the girl immediately snuggled against him, and he wrapped his arm around her small frame, affectionately patting her head. "I really want to knock some sense into you."

    "Hey, even if you did, I''d still know what you''re nning as soon as you raised your hand."

    Feeling the car start moving, Eric smiled and raised his hand. "Come on, guess what I''m about to do?"

    Restingfortably on Eric''s leg, the girl reached out to tug on his hand, yfully nibbling on it a couple of times. "That''s way too obvious. I''m not guessing."

    ...

    For over ten minutes, the sports car wound its way along the mountain roads of Beverly Hills, finally reaching the Trousseau Estate. Eric was still bent over chatting with the girl when Natasha, in the passenger seat, turned around. "Master, there''s someone at the front gate."

    Eric looked up to see a ck SUV parked outside Drew''s mansion.

    The girl perked up at Natasha''s words, sat up, and peeked outside,ughing. "Gwh Paltrow! She must have forgotten something when she left."

    Eric asked, confused, "Forgot what?"

    "How would I know?" the girl replied, still smiling. "Whatever it is, she just needs an excuse toe back."

    It suddenly clicked for Eric, and he chuckled softly, deciding not to say anything more.

    Seeing the girl''s red sports car parked at the mansion entrance, Gwh Paltrow took a deep breath and stepped out of her SUV, her face already wearing an apologetic expression as she walked towards Eric and Drew. "I''m so sorry, Drew. I left my bag at your ce, and I have an audition sheet in it for tomorrow, so I had toe back now."

    The girl warmly took Gwh''s hand. "No worries, Kate! It''ste, why don''t you just stay the night?"

    "Wouldn''t I be bothering you?" Gwh asked, directing her question at Eric.

    Eric silently looked at the two girls, who seemed to be like sisters despite not having those feelings, and simply nodded. He then saw the gate open and walked towards the courtyard.

    Noticing that Eric didn''t intend to engage her in conversation, Gwh''s eyes flickered with disappointment, but she quickly changed her expression to amodate the girl still holding her hand.

    "Let''s go inside," the girl said, seemingly oblivious to Gwh''s demeanor, before instructing the twins to take Gwh''s car into the garage.

    ...

    As Eric stepped into the courtyard, he noted two maids still working and various items scattered around, realizing the girl had indeed been throwing a party at his house. The two maids didn''t know much about Eric''s nature, and upon seeing him, they froze, fearing reprimand since their work wasn''t finished.

    Close to 1 AM, and Eric wasn''t the type to be unreasonable. He waved his hand. "You all can head to bed. Clean up tomorrow."

    The maids sighed in relief and quickly finished their tasks, then quietly disappeared.

    Behind him, the two girls chattered away, and Eric had no interest in joining them. He tossed his coat onto the sofa, headed upstairs, and turned on the water to fill the tub for a shower.

    A momentter, Natasha appeared quietly at the door holding Eric''s coat. She hung it up neatly on a nearby rack and approached softly. "Master, let me handle it."

    Eric rose to let Natasha oversee the water flow, then walked over to the sink to grab his toothbrush. Squeezing toothpaste onto it, he asked, "What''s Drew doing downstairs?"

    "Just chatting with Miss Paltrow."

    "It''s prettyte. Go tell them to continue their conversation tomorrow."

    "Okay," Natasha nodded. As Eric started brushing his teeth, she focused on the bathtub, checking the water temperature before quietly slipping out of the bathroom.

    After brushing his teeth, Eric stripped off his clothes and sank into the inviting warmth of the tub, feeling his eyelids growing heavy. After a while, he felt the bathroom door push open, and the girl dove into the tub beside him.

    Eric held her wriggling little body against him and said with a chuckle, "Stop fooling around. It''ste. Where''s Gwh Paltrow?"

    "She went to the guest room to sleep, Eric. Are you thinking of sneaking in? She might be looking forward to it."

    "Not interested. Since you don''t like her, why are you being all nice?"

    The girl snuggled closer against Eric''s shoulder. "It''s just interesting to see her trying so hard to get close to me while clearly disliking me."

    Eric patted the girl on the back and said, "Don''t take it too far."

    "If you don''t like it, I''ll just ignore her."

    Eric shook his head. "Not necessary, but why did I just hear you call her Kate?"

    "Because that''s her baptismal name, given by godfather."

    Eric asked curiously, "Oh, what''s your god name?"

    "I just casually picked it up while filming <i>E.T.</i> I was only eight at the time, and they didn''t give me a proper name. She''s from a long-established Hollywood family, and her name was given formally during her baptism."

    Noticing the girl seemed strangely low-spirited, Eric leaned over and kissed her doll-like face. "It''s okay, how about I give you a god name?"

    "Alright, will I call you Daddy?"

    "Uh... not gonna happen."

    "Ha ha," the girl giggled, wiggling again and sshing water everywhere. "You totally like it; I can feel it."

    Eric stretched out to hold her down again. "Keep it up, and I''ll toss you out."

    "Ha ha," the girlughed a few more times, then stopped her antics. "By the way, Eric, I got this really cool script today and paid a whopping $500,000 for it. Can you take a look?"

    "Tomorrow. Look at the time."

    "Just a quick peek," she insisted, getting more energetic as the night grewte. She climbed to the edge of the tub, grabbing a bottle of shampoo and banging it against the edge, calling out, "Natasha! Natasha..."

    Voices echoed from the twins, "Boss?"

    "Can you bring me that script I got today?"

    "Sure."

    A momentter, the bathroom door softly opened, and Natasha walked in holding a script. Her usually calm and clear face had a hint of redness as her gaze flickered away, not daring to look directly at Eric in the tub.

    Although ayer of bubbles covered the tub, obscuring everything, Eric felt a bit awkward, ready to tell Natasha to leave, but the girl stretched her two pale arms out, asking Natasha to help her dry off. "Why be shy? I''m Eric''s; you all are Eric''s too."

    Natasha replied softly, "Yes, boss."

    As the twins left, Eric finally asked, "What exactly did you do?"

    The girl didn''t answer directly and cheerfully said, "If you don''t want it, I''ll just give them away."

    "Uh..."

    "Just kidding, I wouldn''t give them to anyone. Haha, let''s see the script," she said, holding one hand out with the script while offering Eric a dry towel with the other.

    Eric dried his hands and took the script from her, flipping it open, his eyes nearly popping out of his head when he saw the cover simply titled <i>Scream</i>, with the writer''s name Kevin Williamson.

    Fortunately, the girl turned around to hang the towel up, so she didn''t see the brief surprise cross Eric''s face, or she would definitely have guessed something was up.

    As the girl turned back, Eric casually questioned, "Where did this scripte from?"

    "Everyone ispeting for it right now; they tried to start bidding at $350,000, and all the major studios backed out. Just a few small productionpanies are leftpeting. I thought it was such a cool script, I immediately offered $500,000 to secure it."

    Hollywood''s top writers could sell a script for $2 million to $5 million, but due to box office potential limitations, horror scripts typically didn''t go for that high. Eric knew <i>Scream</i> was a massive sess in the original timeline, but at this moment, $500,000 seemed like a stretch for a horror script that usually wouldn''t be worth over $200,000 to $400,000, which was why the major studios had pulled out at $350,000.

    The girl had once again guessed Eric''s thoughts from his expression and exined, "The $500,000 isn''t just for this one script; it also includes contracts for two sequels and two simr genre scripts. Altogether, it''s actually five scripts."

    Hearing this, Eric''s earlier thoughts quickly vanished.

    Of course.

    There was no way this girl was going to lose out.

    Eric could guess the motivation behind writer Kevin Williamson''s decision; being an unknown screenwriter in Hollywood, $500,000 would be a fortune. Thousands of scripts pass through Hollywood every year, and many writers only get one or two projects before fading out; some never earn $500,000 in their lifetime. It was clear Williamson was looking to cash in, given the chance.

    However, for $500,000 for five films, once <i>Scream</i> hit it big, Williamson was bound to regret his choiceter.

    Feeling Eric''s change in mood, the girl smugly giggled a couple of times. "Eric, what do you think of me ying the girl who gets killed right at the beginning of the script?"

    Leaning against the edge of the tub while flipping through the script, Eric asked calmly, "What made you think of that?"

    "I just think it sounds interesting. I haven''t acted in a movie for ages, and this role won''t take much time at all."

    "Well, if you like it, go for it. By the way, what happened with Tina''s script for <i>Mean Girls</i>?"

    "It''s already in the works. We n to aim for a year-end release. If the filming of <i>Scream</i> goes well, we will also release it at the end of the year. If no one wants to distribute it, we''ll just do it ourselves. Oh, and there''s a sequel for <i>Mission: Impossible</i>; Kevin Costner''s agent called the other day, wanting to discuss the sequel contract."

    Eric asked, "How did you respond?"

    The girlughed, "We just ignored him! Everyone knows by now that <i>Waterworld</i> is a mess. Although it''s more or lesspleted, we found out it burned through $130 million just in the filming phase. I heard they scared the original director off by the end, and post-production will take at least another $30 to $40 million! Costner wants to secure a <i>Mission: Impossible</i> sequel contract in case <i>Waterworld</i> flops; I won''t let him seed. If he wants to negotiate, we''ll wait until after <i>Waterworld</i> is out, haha. With <i>Scream</i> and <i>Mean Girls</i>, I''ll have plenty to keep me and Amy busy for a long time; plus, we have to personally handle the release for <i>Forrest Gump</i> and participate in the promotions for <i>Night at the Museum</i>. There''s so much to do!"

    Warner Bros. must be regretting their decision to take on Kevin Costner''s long-nned <i>Waterworld</i> after the major actor strikest year.

    With production costs nearing $170 million, marketing alone would likely require another $30 million, for a total of $200 million that Warner needed to recoup at least $600 million worldwide just to break even. From Eric''s recollection, that $600 million worldwide looked impossible; just not flopping would be an achievement. When ticket sales were low, even a blockbuster that burned through $200 million in costs wouldn''t earn much from anciry revenues like video tapes and television rights. Warner was facing massive losses on this film -- almost a certainty.

    Eric couldn''t help but think of Warner''s summer te this year; besides <i>Waterworld</i>, they had <i>Batman Forever</i>, <i>Heat</i>, <i>Fair Game</i>, and <i>Eraser</i>, of which only <i>Batman Forver</i> was assured revenue. However, he couldn''t recall any of the other films doing huge box office globally. But the production cost for all five films was sky-high. Not discussing <i>Waterworld</i>''s cataclysmic $170 million price tag, <i>Batman Forever</i> hit $120 million from its stacked cast, while <i>Eraser</i> cost a significant $100 million due to Arnold Schwarzenegger''s hefty sry. The other <i>Heat</i> came in at $70 million, and the cheapest among them, <i>Fair Game</i>, still cost a hefty $50 million.

    In Eric''s view, these films were definitely not worth their enormous production budgets. Although the summer blockbuster lineup would boost Time Warner''s film revenue significantly this year, he was almost certain the profits would fall sharplypared tost year''s $91 million loss; Time Warner CEO Terry Semel was in for a rough time ahead.

    Perhaps, while Time Warner was down, Firefly could do something.

    After all, Time Warner held something that Eric found extremely tempting and Fireflycked.

    ...

    Lying on an unfamiliar bed in a strange room, Gwh Paltrow tossed and turned for a long time, her mind swirling chaotically with expectations, longings, envy, and more.

    Although both she and Drew were goddaughters of Spielberg, Gwh had always looked down on Drew, thinking of her as just a low-level girl in Hollywood who only managed to survive because of her godfather. However, Drew''s recent streak of good luck drove Gwh up the wall. Just looking at the multi-million dor mansion she was currently in made Gwh grind her teeth -- she didn''t even know when she would ever buy a ce like this.

    Over the years, Gwh had purposely lowered her profile when interacting with Drew, yet she did not even bring her a single audition opportunity for a big project, making her resentful.

    What a brat!

    All she did was snag Eric Williams!

    I will definitely win him over.

    After plotting in her mind for an unknown amount of time, the sky outside gradually brightened, and Gwh finally fell into a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes again, sunlight filled almost the entire room.

    Groggily ncing at her watch, it was 9:30 AM. Gwh sprang up, quickly freshened up, and nervously sat at the vanity, meticulously getting herself ready, silently hoping that he hadn''t left yet; otherwise, she wouldn''t know when their next meeting would ur. That brat never even bothered to introduce her to Eric Williams. Although some girls had begged her to take them to see Eric at Liberty City Estate, they had all been unsessful.

    After dressing carefully, Gwh stepped out of the guest room. The vi showed no traces ofst night''s party and seemed rather empty. She walked all the way to the living room without encountering anyone.

    As she was about to step out, she saw one of the twins carrying some clothes down the stairs. Upon seeing her, the girl politely paused to greet her.

    Though she was somewhat envious of the twins'' wless pale faces, Gwh asked nonchntly, "Natasha, where''s Mr. Williams?"

    "Miss Paltrow, the master is outside."

    Gwh paused, hesitating to ask, "You... call him master?"

    The twin nodded without a change in expression and asked, "Miss Paltrow, would you like breakfast?"

    "Yes, please prepare a fruit sd with honey, and I''d like a cup of milk slightly warmed to 40 degrees if possible. Oh, and please bring it outside; I want to eat in the garden," Gwh semi-processed the odd address before giving amand as if she were the owner of the house.

    "Sure, Miss Paltrow," Natasha nodded and quietly walked away.

    Gwh stood there momentarily stunned, thinking how nice it would be to have such obedient servants serving her all the time.

    She quickly perked up and went outside.

    The outside of the vi featured a square swimming pool bordered bywns and some bushes; to the west was the driveway leading to the gate, which had quite arge area for temporary parking, while to the east, a small path extended out to a triangr terrace that overlooked all of Los Angeles.

    Gwh immediately spotted Eric sitting at a long table on the terrace, seemingly on a phone call. The table was strewn with aptop, a fax machine, and a stack of documents. One of the twins sat quietly at the entrance of the terrace, engrossed in a book.

    Though the scene felt a little odd, Gwh approached without hesitation. However, just as she reached the entrance to the terrace, the twin stood up and stepped in front of her. "Sorry, Miss Paltrow, the master is on the phone."

    Even knowing she wasn''t speaking to Eric directly, the two identical girls'' sharply different attitudes made Gwh feel unsettled. "I just want to say hi to Mr. Williams. I won''t interrupt him."

    The twin continued to silently shake he head, making it clear she wouldn''t let her through. Noticing Eric looking over, Gwh eagerly waved at him.

    Eric smiled and nodded, saying a few words to the person on the other end before hanging up. "Natasha, let Gwhe over."

    "Sure, Master," Natasha replied softly, quietly stepping aside and sitting back down to read her book.

    With a spring in her step, Gwh moved forward, only to suddenly tone down her movements and greeted Eric politely. "Morning, Eric."

    "Morning," Eric chuckled lightly, showing no concern for her overly casual demeanor as he took a seat in front of theptop and opened a document.

    Originally sitting across from Eric, Gwh immediately rose and moved beside him, ncing at theptop screen just in time to see the YCR software icon on his desktop. "Eric, you use YCR too? I have it! Can I have your number?"

    "Sorry, Gwh, this is for work. I don''t add personal friends."

    Gwh persisted, "Oh, don''t you have a personal number?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 699 - 700: The One that Got Away

    <h4>Chapter 699: Chapter 700: The One that Got Away</h4>

    [Chapter 700: The One that Got Away]

    Eric simply ignored Gwh Paltrow''s question, lowering his gaze to the documents in his hands. He asked, "Didn''t you say there was an audition today?"

    Gwh Paltrow showed no signs of embarrassment. She leaned on the table, propping her chin with her hand as she looked at Eric and said, "I suddenly thought that script was terrible. I''m not going. By the way, I heard your <i>Matrix</i> is already in the works. I''ve read that novel countless times. Do you think there''s a role in it for me?"

    This woman truly had a good opinion of herself.

    Eric chuckled. "How about the lead female role?"

    Gwh Paltrow''s eyes lit up in an instant. "Really?"

    Eric shook his head without hesitation. "No."

    Gwh Paltrow didn''t seem upset at all; instead, she lightly tapped Eric on the shoulder and stated, "Eric, you''re so bad."

    With a pile of work to do, Eric had no time to indulge her -- especially since he didn''t feel anything for her. Just as he was about to lose his patience and send her away, he heard the young girl''s voice from behind, "Kate, I didn''t expect you to be up earlier than me."

    "Hey, Drew, good morning," Gwh Paltrow greeted the girl.

    Eric felt the girl lean into his back, turned to give her a quick kiss on the cheek, and then subtly signaled with his eyes.

    The girl giggled and released Eric, reaching for Gwh Paltrow, who was lounging next to him. "Kate,e on, let''s go have breakfast."

    Although Gwh Paltrow didn''t want to leave, she didn''t dare to refuse Drew''s invitation and reluctantly got up.

    ...

    As the area quieted down, Eric redirected his attention back to the documents in his hand.

    This was a private bond financing agreement, the result of the lobbying efforts by Chris and Irwin Jacobs in recent times. The contract was for Firefly Investments to provide Verizon Communications with $300 million in private bond financing, specifically for purchasing CDMA base station equipment and mobilemunicationwork solutions from Quam. The bond had a five-year term with an interest rate of 3%.

    After paying the hefty licensing fees for mobile spectrum permits, aside from the financially robust AT&T, all other tel operators faced funding shortages during theirmunicationswork''s digital upgrade. Firefly already held 40% of Quam''s shares, making it thergest shareholder with nearly absolute control over Quam.

    This financing agreement essentially represented Verizon''s price for joining the CDMA technology camp.

    Although Verizon was already bearing nearly $9 billion in debt, it had firmly rejected Firefly''s equity investment proposal. This decision was not hard to understand; for apany with substantial growth potential, the cost of equity financing was much higher than debt financing. Just like Firefly Group, which also held significant debt, if they were in need of cash, Eric would still opt for issuing bonds rather than bringing in other shareholders to share in Firefly''s future profits. As long as Verizon weathered theing few years of hardship, the operational situation would soon improve once the mobilemunicationwork was established, and its debts would gradually be absorbed.

    However, the deal also had a sense of opportunism to it. Given its enormous debt burden, Verizon''s next public financing would have required an interest rate of at least 6% to ensure sess. But the interest rate on this private bond financing was only 3%. If they agreed to this contract, Firefly would lose $10 million annually just on interest, and considering the principal of $300 million, the potential returns if that capital were invested elsewhere could be significantly higher after five years.

    Eric didn''t know how CDMA technology triumphed in the original timeline, but at the moment, he couldn''t decline this contract. Chris had just informed him over the phone that signing this agreement to pull the secondrgest tel operator in North America, Verizon, into the CDMA camp would effectively revive Quam. Once the news broke, Quam''s stock would likely soar by at least 100%. Eric wasn''t particrly concerned about Quam''s skyrocketing stock price because Firefly would never easily sell its shares. What mattered most to him was the rapid promotion of CDMA technology.

    Considering all of this, Eric recalled another thing Chris mentioned over the phone: while Verizon had rejected the equity investment proposal, Sprint''s stance wasn''t as firm.

    Even though Sprint had made enormous profitsst year, its overly aggressive expansion in mobilemunication sparked widespread investor concerns. Most analysts believed that if Sprint proceeded with its n to build a nationwide mobilemunicationwork, the substantial upfront investments would leave thepany unable to generate any profit over the next three to five years. Moreover, if the bets failed and the mobilemunications industry didn''t meet expected growth, Sprint risked bankruptcy due to its aggressive expansion strategy. These factors significantly lowered the chances of Sprint sessfully securing debt financing, leaving investors unwilling to purchase bonds from apany that might face bankruptcy in theing years, forcing Sprint to opt for issuing stocks to raise funds.

    At a party in New York, Chris had spoken with a board member from Sprint who revealed that Sprint could issue an additional 10% of total stock to Firefly but at a price of $1.6 billion -- 60% above Sprint''s current stock price. While this wasn''t likely to be the final trading price, Firefly would have to pay a premium toplete the deal. Eric would''ve preferred to acquire Sprint shares in the open market, butpared to Quam''s possible 30 million shares even after issuing more, Sprint''s total stock was a staggering 3.6 billion shares -- 120 times that of Quam. Most stockholders were investment-oriented entities not prone to sell their stocks easily, making it challenging for Eric to build a significant stake through the public market.

    With these thoughts in mind, Eric noted several digits in his notebook. Regarding Verizon''s $300 million debt financing and acquiring Sprint''s stock, he probably needed at least a 30% premium -- around $1.3 billion. The ongoing n to increase stakes in Cisco would require arger $2 billion investment. Adding these together brought the total to $3.6 billion.

    Additionally, Ian Gurney, the CEO of Yahoo, had recently discussed the management''s views on thepany''s future with Eric via phone and email. ording to their ideas, Yahoo would also turn into a cash-burning giant in theing years.

    Even if Firefly Group maintained a $2 billion annual profit for the next few years, with Eric''s 73.7% shareholding, his annual dividends would only amount to $1.5 billion. Although he had other side ie, it still wouldn''t be sufficient to support these ns.

    After mulling this over, Eric resolved to take things one step at a time. If it didn''t work out, he would scale back on some projects.

    ...

    "Eric, what are you thinking about?" The girl suddenly popped up next to him again, still apanied by Gwh Paltrow.

    "Nothing, just some random things," Eric answered vaguely. With someone else around, he couldn''t be casual like he usually was; if certain things got out, it could lead to unnecessary trouble.

    The girl didn''t mind, though. She took the fresh coffee from Natasha''s hands and poured it for Eric. "Eric, I''m heading to the office. Are you leaving today?"

    Eric shook his head. "No, I''ll wait for you toe back."

    "I''ll leave a Natasha with you. Just let her know if you need anything."

    Eric smiled. "Let''s skip that. You take her with you. It feels a bit weird to split them up."

    "Okay, the maid''s phone number is under the coffee table. They live nearby in Coldwater Canyon. You can call them over if you need help," the girl added and turned to leave. Upon noticing Gwh Paltrow hadn''t moved, she said, "Kate,e with me. I''ll take you to see mypany."

    Gwh Paltrow realized she had a chance to be alone with Eric, so she wouldn''t easily leave. "Drew, you go ahead. I''ll leave on my ownter. I''m heading to Burbank; we''re going different ways."

    "Oh, alright," the girl nodded, winking at Eric yfully in front of Gwh Paltrow before walking toward the door where the twins had already opened the car.

    As the engine roared and faded away, the mansion was quickly left with just Eric and Gwh Paltrow.

    ...

    "Eric, can I sit here?" Gwh Paltrow asked, not waiting for his answer before plopping down beside him.

    Eric felt a bit of a headache; the girl was being mischievous again, knowing he didn''t like this woman and still keeping her around.

    "Eric, both twins are named Natasha. That''s pretty interesting," Gwh Paltrow quickly initiated small talk.

    Eric replied casually, "The older one is Natasha; the younger one has a longer name that''s in Russian. No one remembers it, so we just call her Natasha."

    "Oh," Gwh Paltrow seemed intrigued. "How do they differentiate between them when they''re together?"

    "They''re both the same. Why differentiate? When together, just call out Natasha, and the older one will respond."

    "That''s so interesting! I wish I could have a pair of servants like that," Gwh Paltrow didn''t hide the envy in her tone.

    Eric chuckled, stealing another nce at Gwh Paltrow. A sudden thought crossed his mind, making him look back up again to catch that fleeting notion.

    <i>Se7en</i>.

    Though he had been revisiting various films in his memory, Eric realized he hadpletely forgotten about this ssic. ording to his recollections, <i>Se7en</i> was released in 1995 and should have started production around this time.

    However, the female lead was right here, and the male lead was still lingering in television. Eric had also never heard anything about <i>Se7en</i>. If it weren''t for the not-so-prominent female lead sitting in front of him, he wouldn''t have remembered when he would think of it again.

    In the original timeline, <i>Se7en</i> shook audiences with its dark and despairing plot, achieving a $300 million box office on a $30 million budget, marking it as a signature work that propelled New Line Cinema into a leading filmpany.

    Seeing Eric gazing at her for an inexplicable longer time, Gwh Paltrow''s expression shifted slightly, and her tone became reserved. "Eric, what are you looking at?"

    "Nothing," Eric said, picking up his phone. "Sorry, Gwh, I need to make a few calls."

    Gwh Paltrow''s expression turned a bit forlorn. "Should I... step out?"

    Eric nodded but, remembering that she had just helped him recall a film that had slipped through the cracks, he softened a bit. "You can go watch TV in the living room for a while."

    Gwh Paltrow sensed the change in Eric''s tone and smartly decided not to push further. She stood up and walked toward the vi.

    Eric grabbed his phone and pondered for a moment before dialing the head of New Line Cinema to inquire about a screenwriter named Andrew Kevin Walker.

    When the big boss personally called, the head of New Line Cinema didn''t dare to pry too deeply and took care to follow Eric''s instructions, searching for the information.

    Eric quickly obtained Andrew Kevin Walker''s information; the writer had one released work titled <i>Brainscan</i> and, importantly, he also found <i>Se7en</i> listed.

    The script for <i>Se7en</i> hadn''t veered off its original path and still sat with New Line, but the head of New Line had been hesitant about the project due to its dark theme, whichcked appeal, alongside their failure to secure a suitable director, thus leading to its stalling. Moreover, New Line had originally estimated just $8 million for this script, intending to create a low-budget cult film. As a result, this inconspicuous little project hadn''te to Eric''s attention.

    Eric understood that with his rising status, he inevitably missed many opportunities he might have encountered before. It was an unavoidable reality; after all, he could only focus on so much.

    He instructed the New Line head to fax the script over and asked them to arrange for David Fincher to meet with him before hanging up.

    Gwh Paltrow had no interest in watching television; she had been peeking around the vi. When she saw Eric hang up the phone, she hurried out.

    Approaching Eric, she noticed the fax machine on the long table was making a series of clicking sounds.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 700 - 701: Too Embarrassed for My Own Good

    <h4>Chapter 700: Chapter 701: Too Embarrassed for My Own Good</h4>

    [Chapter 701: Too Embarrassed for My Own Good]

    Eric flipped through the script sent over from the productionpany, noticing Gwh Paltrow moving closer. To avoid her pestering him further, he casually pulled out a few pages with the female lead''s lines from <i>Se7en</i> and handed them to her. "Here, take a look. Interested?"

    Gwh Paltrow excitedly epted the pages, her eyes lighting up. "Eric, is this for me?"

    Eric shrugged. "If you''re interested, the role is yours."

    Gwh fell silent, quickly scanning the script pages in her hands. However, disappointment washed over her soon after. After Eric had handed over the pages, he didn''t provide more material, indicating the female lead had just these few brief scenes. Having starred in several films, she knew enough about scripts to deduce that these scenes totaled less than ten minutes, and the role offered little room for development -- just mundane interactions with the male lead. Essentially, her character was the type that audiences would forget moments after leaving the theater.

    Moreover, this script appeared to be for a low-budget crime thriller.

    In a low-budget thriller, having a female lead with less than ten minutes of screen time would have seemed less of an issue if it hade from someone else. Gwh knew well enough that her family''s influence in Hollywood could nab her a lead in an independent film but would barely reach the major studios. Even with her godfather Spielberg, she had only managed a minor cameo in <i>Hook</i>, and since then, she hadn''tnded any roles in his films.

    Yet, the script she received from Eric was far below her expectations.

    With Eric''s standing in Hollywood, she was certain he could leverage his connections tond her a lead role in an A-list production. Evenpaniespeting with Firefly couldn''t escape the influence she believed Eric wielded. In her hands, the script felt like a billionaire pulling out a penny.

    As Eric read through the script,paring it to what he remembered, he caught a glimpse of Gwh''s unimpressed expression. He could guess what she was thinking and smiled to himself. This film was a result of her helping him remember; if she wanted the role, he wouldn''t mind handing it over to her as a form of return favor. But if she found it unworthy, he wouldn''t push it further.

    He recalled many films featuring Gwh Paltrow, but none stood out. Even in <i>Iron Man</i> as Pepper Potts, Eric knew the main reason Marvel had cast her was purely for budgetary constraints. In a film with over a $100 million production cost, securing an Oscar-winning actress for just $3 million was a rarity. Even lesser-known actresses would notmand such low rates after an Oscar win. This could indirectly reveal the shadow of Gwh''s sess as an actress.

    Gwh remained unaware of Eric''s internal thoughts as she saw him deeply engrossed in the script. Deciding not to interrupt, she leafed through the few pages in hand, contemting how to deepen her connections with Eric.

    After a while, her impatience grew, and the doorbell rang.

    Surprised, Eric nced at his watch, realizing it hadn''t even been half an hour since he called New Line. He figured David Fincher would at least take until noon to arrive, so he was caught off guard at how early it was.

    Listening to the doorbell ring multiple times, Eric looked at Gwh.

    Gwh, confused for a moment, quickly stood, a bright smile on her face. "Eric, you stay put. I''ll get the door."

    Watching her walk away, Eric smirked, rising to tidy up the scattered paperwork on the table.

    ...

    Three years ago, David Fincher had been fortunate enough to be picked by Fox to take over directing <i>Alien 3</i> from the legendary Ridley Scott and James Cameron. He had ambitious ns to make an impact, but quickly faced a rude awakening.

    The budget for <i>Alien 3</i> exceeded that of its predecessors by over double, and upon its North American release, it set records for the lowest box office and critical reception in the series. Throughout production, ongoing conflicts with the studio made David realize Hollywood wasn''t all mour.

    After the disappointing box office performance of <i>Alien 3</i>, David had to step back from Hollywood and refocus on directing music videos.

    Now, three years had passed. Although he received various offers during this time, most fizzled out in negotiations, primarily due to disagreements over control of the film.

    David didn''t believe the failure of <i>Alien 3</i> fell solely on his shoulders. At that time, he had neither final cut rights nor script revision authority, which remained with Fox. The final product bore little resemnce to his initial vision, leading him to resolve that if future projects didn''t afford him creative control, he would rather not participate.

    Today, while discussing a music video project with a pop star residing in Beverly Hills, he received an unexpected call from someone iming Eric Williams wanted to meet him. Initially, he thought it had to be a joke. After all, everyone in Hollywood knew Eric Williams; still, he figured Eric likely wouldn''t know who he was.

    After some back-and-forth, David finally epted it was likely genuine. He hastily excused himself from the pop star and drove to the address mentioned during the call.

    Even as he rang the doorbell, doubts lingered. He recalled some recent Hollywood gossip that Eric had assigned next year''s significant projects at Firefly to two rookie directors. While media reactions were cautiously neutral, many within the industry were eager to see Firefly falter in doing so.

    So, if Eric Williams sought him out, it undoubtedly rted to a film.

    The grand entrance opened, revealing ady in a ck knee-length dress standing before him. David perked up and extended his hand, momentarily lost for words regarding how to address her.

    "Hello, I''m Gwh Paltrow," she replied, not knowing David''s identity. Judging from David''s casual white long-sleeve T-shirt and sweatpants, she didn''t show any immediate disdain and greeted him with a polite handshake.

    "I''m David Fincher; Mr. Williams asked for me," he replied, though his tone conveyed uncertainty, leading him to re-evaluate that earlier call. If it were a prank, he was about to make a fool of himself.

    Fortunately, reality didn''t disappoint him. Gwh nodded, inviting David in while closing the door behind them. "Follow me."

    ...

    As David walked in, Eric stood to greet him, shook his hand, and motioned for him to sit at the long table on the patio. When Gwh intended to join them, Eric reluctantly pointed to the coffee pot on the table. "Gwh, could you pour us two cups of coffee?"

    "Sure thing," she replied, momentarily caught off guard but reluctantly picked up the coffee pot. Once she turned her back to the two men, she gritted her teeth in annoyance.

    Eric''s attention returned to David, who hadn''t yet grown into the fuller figure he would have inter years. In his early thirties, he was tall and slim, embodying a hint of a hippie vibe.

    Noticing the confusion and hesitance on David''s face, Eric passed him the script for <i>Se7en</i>. "I imagine you''re curious about how I found you, but let''s skip that boring stuff. I saw <i>Alien 3</i>, and I happen to have a script that I thought you might want to try out. We may not know each other well yet, but I have a feeling we''ll get to know one another better. Oh, and you can call me Eric."

    David felt a little more at ease hearing Eric''s words. He took the script and smiled back, quickly flipping through it.

    Gwh took her time before finally bringing the coffee over.

    Eric epted the tray, saying, "Gwh, if you''re not in a hurry, you could watch some TV for a bit."

    Gwh looked taken aback and couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Eric, although she obediently walked into the living room. Once inside, she kicked the couch in frustration, muttering, "Really? What am I supposed to do, steal your script?"

    ...

    After about half an hour of quietly managing emails with coffee in hand, David finally set down the script and said, "Eric, I''ve read it."

    "Oh," Eric replied, finishing up an email he had just drafted and shutting his inbox before turning to David. "What do you think?"

    "The theme is dark and pessimistic, but the plot structure is quite clever. If done right, it could turn into something very special." Before Eric could respond, David steeled his expression and added, "Eric, while I genuinely want to work with Firefly and you, there''s something I need to rify upfront."

    "Go ahead," Eric gestured.

    David exined, "My past experience with Fox wasn''t pleasant. The entire process was mired in disputes. I don''t view <i>Alien 3</i> as my work. I want to avoid that situation urring again. If you''re simply looking for a director to execute your vision without giving input, we might not bepatible."

    Eric nodded. "I understand. Jim -- oh, I mean James Cameron -- he doesn''t regard <i>Piranha II</i> as his work either. You two do share simrities. So, why don''t you tell me your requirements?"

    David hadn''t expected Eric to be so amodating yet hesitated to ask for anything excessive. Deep down, he wanted to coborate with Eric. After deliberating, David stated, "I wish to have rights for reasonable modifications to the script. During filming, I also prefer not to have anyone hovering over my shoulder. Additionally, the budget you''ve written down is only $8 million; that''s far too low. For a narrative film, we need a sufficient budget to attract quality actors to support the film. Regarding the final cut..." He hesitated, scratching his head for a moment before admitting, "If possible, I want to be involved in the final edit."

    "Let me share my expectations," Eric smiled as he listened. "All the directors I''ve worked with know my habits. If you continue working with me, those guidelines will remain consistent.

    First, we will discuss and reach a consensus on the script. You can propose modifications during this stage, and if I find them reasonable, I''ll ept. Since I want you to direct the film, I trust your shooting style. Thus, once we finalize the script, I won''t heavily interfere with your directing. However, my condition is that once the script is established, I prefer the director to avoid making drastic changes during filming. This way, we can keep disagreements limited to the preparatory phase without wasting anyone''s time.

    About the budget, that won''t be an issue. As for final cut rights, I can''t grant too much flexibility. I retain the final cut authority, but I typically delegate as much as I can to the director. You can ask those who have coborated with me about how much I am willing to let go."

    Eric generally entrusted final cut rights to directors like Cameron and Rnd Emmerich, as both were straightforward in theirmercial approach without overwhelming personal agendas. But with David Fincher, his reservations stemmed from the fact that David''s films carried a strong personal style. In Eric''s past life, <i>Se7en</i> had been the result of a tug-of-war with New Line, and should he relinquish full control, it may lead to the ill-fated project that followed -- Fincher''s self-indulgent <i>The Game</i>.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 701 - 702: Docking

    <h4>Chapter 701: Chapter 702: Docking</h4>

    [Chapter 702: Docking]

    Eric and David Fincher chatted well into the afternoon, finalizing much of the details for <i>Se7en</i>. David had shed his initial reservations, feelingfortable with Eric''s bold coborative approach that allowed for creative freedom, which stood out among other Hollywood studios. Before leaving, he made a firmmitment to direct the film.

    They exchanged contact information, and Eric personally saw David out.

    ...

    During the noon hour, Drew hadn''t returned yet; she only called to have a sweet chat and insisted on ordering takeout for Eric from far away.

    Gwh Paltrow lingered longer than intended, and after escorting David out, Eric didn''t want to waste energy dealing with her. The Paltrow family could definitely be deemed a Hollywood "dynasty" in the eyes of lesser-known actors, but to Eric, they were not particrly impressive. There was no mutual connection, so he saw little reason to show them any courtesy. Once David left, Eric politely asked her to leave.

    Since she dismissed the role of the female lead in <i>Se7en</i>, Eric felt no obligation to retain the "original crew."

    To Eric, this seemingly inconsequential role actually marked Gwh Paltrow''s turning point in her Hollywood career. Even if she leveraged her family influence to star in ten low-budget indie films, the impact of <i>Se7en</i> would far outweigh that. After all, those indie films, grossing only a couple of million and perhaps never even receiving a release, wouldn''t significantly enhance an actor''s notoriety. Moreover, for an actor with average talent, being featured in a hit movie was the best way to sustain a career. A strong degree of visibility in a sessful film would lead to greater box office appeal, allowing her to secure better roles.

    As for how far Gwh could go in Hollywood without this film, Eric deemed it none of his business.

    ...

    The following period was a whirlwind for Eric until just before the Academy Awards. He spent nearly all his time in back-to-back meetings about the screeny, casting auditions, budget discussions, and scouting locations.

    While the Oscar buzz surrounding <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> remained a secondary concern, after he confirmed a second film, Eric had to focus on a staggering seven projects entering the substantive production phase. These included five key films dispersed across the Firefly Group''s various brands: <i>Titanic</i>, <i>The Matrix</i>, <i>The Rock</i>, <i>Bad Boys</i>, and <i>Se7en</i>. Additionally, there were coborations with Columbia on <i>Men in ck 2</i> and with MGM''s DreamWorks on <i>Charlie''s Angels 2</i>.

    On top of these live-action films, Blue Sky Studiospleted its deal and became affiliated with 20th Century Fox.

    News of the deal quickly spread through Hollywood, sparking envy as everyone learned Blue Sky would receive ample technical support for 3D animation from Firefly. There wasn''t a single studio in Hollywood that didn''t envy Firefly''s prowess in 3D technology.

    During this time, Fox surreptitiously acquired the film rights to <i>Shrek</i>, and Eric also moved ahead to discuss the concept of <i>Ice Age</i> with Chris Wedge. Those two lucrative animation franchises alone would keep Blue Sky busy for a decade.

    However, there was one hup concerning the rights to <i>Transformers</i>.

    Elisabeth initially aimed to quietly negotiate the live-action film adaptation rights with Hasbro, but Hasbro wasn''t like other rights holders. As a globally recognized toy giant, they understood that a live-action <i>Transformers</i> film could significantly boost sales of the toy line but were incredibly tough negotiators, demanding substantial licensing fees, limiting the scope of the film''s production, and insisting on joint investment in the project.

    Naturally, Elisabeth wasn''t going topromise easily, and both sides fell into a stalemate, prompting the news to rapidly circte through Hollywood.

    Hollywood had no shortage of sharp minds, and word spread. Some keen observers who picked up on Elisabeth leading the rights negotiations sensed the "Firefly influence" behind it, leading to a frenzied scramble, with Hasbro raising its prices.

    To prove their "innocence," Firefly joined thepetition as well.

    However, Eric didn''t present an overly high offer; thepetition didn''t heat up too intensely. Due to technical limitations, it simply wasn''t the right time to produce a live-action <i>Transformers</i> film.

    In truth, the best time for a <i>Transformers</i> movie would be ten years from then. Even if it were expedited, it would ideally take ce post-2000, as creating the live-action effects Eric recalled would certainly cost over $200 million. Otherwise, the results would likely beckluster.

    Eric didn''t believe any of the major studios would muster the courage to invest $200 million in a single film, and even if they did, they wouldn''t possess the exceptional effects capabilities that would define the industry. By that time, Industrial Light & Magic, known for the special effects in the previous <i>Transformers</i> movie, would likely be far behind in technology.

    Without those prerequisites, even if other major studios secured the rights and attempted tounch the project, the chances of sess were slim. If it failed, the rights would naturally be shelved. But it was only 1995, and there was plenty of time to see what happened.

    ...

    As March rolled intote, the Academy Awards drew closer.

    However, before that, the most sensational Hollywood event urred when the Seagram Group, after over six months of negotiations, finally reached a deal with Panasonic to acquire MCA Inc. and Universal Pictures for $7.5 billion.

    The deal should have been finalized by the end of the previous year, but negotiations stalled due to the Michael Ovitz incident, where all parties deliberated extensively over the enormous severance package owed to him. Rumors even suggested aplete breakdown in negotiations.

    The dysted over two months, but it ultimately concluded sessfully.

    While Panasonic, Seagram, and Universal did not reveal the finalpensation agreement reached with Michael Ovitz, this was no secret to Eric.

    Ovitz ended up securing a $120 million severance package from Universal, shared by both Panasonic and Seagram. Meanwhile, Universal CEO Michael Eisner had re-signed his contract during this time, voluntarily reducing his options and bonuses for theing years.

    Though the dispute was eventually resolved, there were no victors in this affair. Panasonic and Seagram were understandably displeased with the $60 million they had to pay out unjustifiably, while Michael Eisner harbored frustrations over beingpelled to cut his sry.

    As the apparent beneficiary of the situation, Michael Ovitz turned out to be the biggest loser. If he hadn''t left CAA and sold all his shares, he would have continued raking in tens of millions annually.

    In his attempt to join Universal, Ovitz had "cleaned house," selling all his CAA shares to establish himself on a broader tform, only to find himself unceremoniously pushed out less than a yearter. None of the major studios were willing to take him on, and returning to talent representation was impossible -- CAA wouldn''t wee back a dethroned "king," and the stable three-way monopoly of ICM, WMA, and CAA blocked any chance for him to start fresh.

    One could say that Michael Ovitz, a once-mighty titan of the entertainment industry in the ''80s, had seen his Hollywood career dismantled utterly.

    Losers are swiftly forgotten, while Hollywood''s neers eagerly sought to make their presence known.

    After the deal''s conclusion, Seagram''s Edgar Bronfman quickly sent out invitations and threw an extravagant party at Universal Studios in Burbank. It felt very much like the new power was "docking" with the established powers. With the Oscars approaching and stars flooding Los Angeles, responses to the invites came pouring in.

    ...

    As night fell, the party hall at Universal was bustling, with guests arriving from all over Los Angeles.

    After Eric Bronfman finished interacting with important guests in the hall, he was interrupted by Michael Eisner, who was standing beside a middle-aged white man in his thirties.

    "Edgar, this is the CEO of Hasbro, An Hasenfeld, whom I mentioned to you," Michael Eisner warmly introduced. "An, this is Edgar Bronfman from Seagram."

    Seagram and Hasbro shared some simrities; both were family-run businesses maintained by their founding families. Seagram was founded by the Bronfman family in the early 20th century, just as Hasbro was established by the Hasenfeld family shortly thereafter.

    Although Universal had experienced several months of unrest, business had to continue.

    During the acquisition negotiations, Panasonic had once suggested that since the conflict between Michael Eisner and Michael Ovitz was irreconcble, they should simply eliminate the less advantageous party -- Michael Eisner. Ultimately, Edgar Bronfman insisted on keeping Eisner, knowing that Eisner''s ability to navigate Universal''s waters was far more valuable than Ovitz''s. After all, the difference in severance pay amounted to mere millions.

    Thus, Michael Eisner was eager to prove the correctness of Seagram''s decision, leading to a heightened urgency in the race for the <i>Transformers</i> rights.

    He was among the first to suspect that the <i>Transformers</i> rights might be tied to Eric. Even if it had no bearing on Eric, his in-depth analysis indicated that a live-action film based on the globally recognized toy brand, enhanced with cutting-edge CGI effects, certainly held significantmercial potential. Universal should, therefore, pursue the rights with reckless abandon.

    Edgar Bronfman had heard Michael Eisner detail the potential surrounding the <i>Transformers</i> rights and, upon hearing him introduce An Hasenfeld, disyed keen enthusiasm. Eisner desperately sought to establish impressive deliverables, and both men were keen on maximizing their Hollywood resources.

    "An, I hope you enjoy the night," Edgar Bronfman greeted, shaking An Hasenfeld''s hand with a smile. "Regarding the <i>Transformers</i> rights, I hope you''ll give it some serious thought -- Universal is very sincere about coboration."

    "Of course, Hasbro is equally keen on making Hollywood connections," An Hasenfeld replied, shrewdness gleaming in his eyes, offering no definitive answer but a vague smile.

    Unfazed, Edgar continued, "Since that''s the case, An, how about a round of golf tomorrow? We can discuss it in more detail then?"

    "Edgar, I might not have time tomorrow -- my apologies," An Hasenfeld shook his head.

    Michael Eisner understood that agreements rarely came to fruition at parties. It was best to ensure An was well entertained. Noticing his eyes drifting towards the crowd, he suggested, "An, if there''s anyone here you''d like to meet, I could introduce you."

    An Hasenfeld remained silent, lifting his wine ss to his lips.

    Edgar Bronfman observed An''s gaze, realizing that he had shown up without apanion. After considering, he added, "An, thedies of Hollywood are quite friendly; please don''t hesitate to mingle. If there''s a starlet here you''re interested in, we can certainly reach out."

    Just then,motion erupted at the entrance of the party. The trio could feel all eyes turning toward the doorway, and some guests began heading that way.

    Curious, Michael Eisner and the others looked over. At the entrance, five stunning models entered the party like living mermaids, instantly bing the center of everyone''s attention. Hollywood is no stranger to beautiful women, but these five, tall and d in exquisite designer gowns and high heels, with wless faces, exuded an aura that overshadowed every other female presence in the hall.

    Watching those five striking figures, Edgar Bronfman couldn''t help but feel a mix of admiration and envy for Eric Williams''s discerning eye.

    Though these women weren''t movie stars, they were among the hottest topics in recent Hollywood media. They were set to present one of the year''s first Oscars.

    For many, the current fame of these models meant the barriers to entering the film industry were almost nonexistent. With Eric Williams''s expansive connections paving the way, if they expressed a desire to act, studios interested in them would surely shower them with offers.

    Previously, supermodels faced significant hurdles when pursuing film roles, often relegated to forgettable minor characters despite reaching peaks of fame in their field.

    However, under Eric''s influence, these five Victoria''s Secret Angels had transitioned beyond the supermodelbel and into the realm of national icons.

    Reflecting on Eric Williams brought mixed feelings to Edgar Bronfman. Naturally, he invited Eric to the party and even rang him personally after sending the invitation to demonstrate his regard. But, despite several previous gatherings, Eric hadn''t attended, and it was uncertain whether he''d make an appearance that night.

    Michael Eisner, too, felt a swirl of emotions upon seeing Cindy Crawford and the other four women. The young man he once thought overly ambitious now stood at the peak of Hollywood, extending his influence beyond its confines while Eisner still struggled to secure his own position.

    Yet, Eisner quickly refocused his attention on An Hasenfeld, realizing that dwelling on the past served no purpose. Presenting deals brought immediate significance.

    Noticing how An nced at the five women, Eisner calcted his next move. The excitement in An''s eyes hinted at a masculine eagerness. After a brief contemtion, Eisner leaned closer to Edgar Bronfman, signaling him discreetly.

    "An, those five beauties have to rank among the most stunning in the world. Let''s go introduce ourselves," Michael suggested.

    Edgar looked puzzled at Michael''s intent but yed along. "Right! ording to recent magazine rankings, they''ve all been top contenders for the most beautiful starlet. It''d be a pity to miss out on meeting such breathtaking women."

    Encouraged, An nodded, "I''d enjoy meeting them as well!"

    As they spoke, the five Victoria''s Secret Angels, swarmed by various guests, began to disperse throughout the hall.

    Michael Eisner, with An Hasenfeld in tow, led the way directly toward Diane Kruger, who was dressed in a burgundy evening gown.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 702 - 703: The Big Boss

    <h4>Chapter 702: Chapter 703: The Big Boss</h4>

    [Chapter 703: The Big Boss]

    When Michael Eisner and hispanions approached, the guests around Diane Kruger quickly took the hint and left. Her agent leaned in to whisper a few words, and the young woman nodded slightly, graciously shaking hands with Michael Eisner and Edgar Bronfman.

    "Mr. Eisner, Mr. Bronfman, thank you for Universal''s invitation to this party," Diane greeted them, her agent skipping the introduction of Allen Hasenfeld, allowing Diane to address Michael Eisner and Edgar Bronfman first.

    "Miss Kruger, it''s truly an honor to have your presence at this party," Michael Eisnerplimented, gesturing towards Allen Hasenfeld and introducing him, "This is Mr. Allen Hasenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Hasbro."

    Diane Kruger, dressed in a wine-red gown that entuated her figure, resembled a delicately blooming rose, her youthful face carrying an air of innocence and charm. This contrast stirred intrigue among many mature,posed attendees. Allen Hasenfeld grasped Diane''s petite hand, his eagerness apparent in his gaze. "Miss Kruger, you look absolutely stunning tonight. I saw your performance at the <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>; it was truly mesmerizing. I will definitely make it to the show by the end of the year. Will you be participating again?"

    Diane felt his grip linger a bit longer than expected, surprised; it was the first time she had received such tant attention. Maintaining a polite smile, she subtly withdrew her hand with a gentle tug, responding, "Yes, Mr. Hasenfeld. I signed a five-year contract with Victoria''s Secret."

    "Oh, that''s wonderful," Allen Hasenfeld replied smoothly, undeterred by her withdrawal.

    Michael Eisner had exchanged a few more pleasantries before excusing himself, stating that another guest had arrived, and discreetly led Edgar Bronfman away.

    Once in a quieter corner, Edgar Bronfman quickly inquired, "Michael, are you sure you know what you''re doing? That''s Eric Williams'' girl!"

    At gatherings like this, not bringing a date typically signified that one was looking to y around. In the midst of securing the <i>Transformers</i> rights, if Allen Hasenfeld were to express interest in any of the women present, as long as they weren''t at the very top of the A-list, Universal could easily arrange some coboration to ensure his satisfaction.

    Hollywood was notoriously chaotic; that wasmon knowledge among those in the industry. However, there were certain women that everyone knew should not be trifled with. Diane Kruger, at just eighteen, had ascended from rtive obscurity to one of the most recognized supermodels in the world in less than six months. It was hard to believe she wasn''t linked to the powerful Eric Williams, who had been promoting her behind the scenes.

    Thus, those who were in the know associated Diane Kruger with Williams, and though many might have been tempted, none dared to make any moves. Thanks to Eric''s formidable influence, her modeling agency, Elite, and her talent agency, ICM, treated her like royalty. It wasmonly understood that securing endorsement deals andmercial engagements for Diane was often more difficult than for the other four Victoria''s Secret angels.

    Michael Eisner was certainly aware of these dynamics. Upon hearing Edgar Bronfman''s question, he nced around the crowd, leaned in closer, and whispered, "Of course I know that''s Eric Williams'' girl. Just imagine if Allen Hasenfeld hits a wall in front of her, or worse, if he has any friction with Eric Williams. How could any of the studios in the Fireflywork get the <i>Transformers</i> rights?"

    Born into immense wealth, Edgar Bronfman knew from a young age that businesspetition was ruthless. If one tried to win a business war with kindness, the result would end in ruin. After weighing Michael''s perspective, he nodded in agreement but couldn''t shake a hint of concern as he surveyed Allen Hasenfeld, still lingering by Diane. "Just don''t let things get out of hand."

    "Don''t worry," Michael Eisner smiled and shook his head. "This is a public event. Everyone here is a respectable person; nothing major will happen."

    ...

    On the other side, Allen Hasenfeld had indeed found himself captivated by Diane Kruger''s beauty. After making some moves to woo her, he began to notice unusual behavior. Over recent times, with various major studios vying for the <i>Transformers</i> rights, he had been invited to numerous Hollywood parties.

    Naturally, he had received some warm wees. During these gatherings, he realized that some of the stunning faces he had previously only seen on screen were actually quite approachable. Some even came forward upon learning his identity. But Diane''s attitude set her apart; he could distinctly sense her formal demeanor,cking the usual warmth. While other starlets'' agents would discreetly withdraw after making introductions, Diane''s agent maintained a watchful eye, brimming with caution.

    Gradually shaking off his initial infatuation, Allen began to detect that something was off, especially with the several prying gazes onlookers cast in his direction. It made him realize that something unusual was at y. Although he appreciated beauty, Allen Hasenfeld had no desire to invite unnecessary trouble. He had also noticed how Michael Eisner confirmed him before Diane -- perhaps the intent wasn''t as innocent as it appeared.

    Just as he was about to excuse himself to grasp the situation more thoroughly, he found himself reluctant to leave, drawn by that captivating youthful face. He hesitantly asked, "Diane, may I ask, do you have a boyfriend?"

    Diane Kruger''s mouth fell open in surprise, momentarily at a loss for words.

    In the past few days, she had felt the unique treatment afforded to her. Yet she understood the root cause of this attention -- they all saw her as Eric Williams'' girl. Ever sincest year, she had sensed his pervasive influence within Hollywood. This immense power meant she enjoyed the perks of careful treatment from those around her, simply because of their perceived connection.

    Lost in this princess-like treatment, she had unconsciously epted this identity; she was, in essence, someone who belonged to him. Moreover, being his girl had its advantages.

    However, Allen Hasenfeld''s sudden question felt like a silver needle piercing through her self-imposed fantasies, popping the bubble of her dream-like state. A flicker of panic rose within her--what if everyone around her, who had treated her so kindly, discovered that she had no actual rtionship with him? What would happen then?

    Suddenly, the sensation of free-fall enveloped her, plunging, plummeting...

    It felt reminiscent of awakening from a dream.

    Heaven, Earth, Hell.

    Unlike Diane''s momentary daze, her ICM agent, Susie Dean, stood by her side, realizing Allen Hasenfeld seemedpletely unaware of the situation. No wonder he persisted in his pursuit.

    Susie Dean knew all about the ongoing battle over the <i>Transformers</i> rights, and she wasn''t keen on stirring any trouble with Allen. Thanks to past connections with UTA and their strong coboration with ICM, Susie understood the importance of handling the situation carefully. After all, many agents at ICM would proudly refer to Eric Williams as "The Big Boss," a testament to his influence over the agency.

    If this situation impacted the rights to <i>Transformers</i>, Diane Kruger was unlikely to suffer consequences, nor would Allen Hasenfeld, but her poor handling of the matter could lead to repercussions for her as an agent.

    As she noticed Allen Hasenfeld''s fixation on Diane''s beauty, Susie expected this sharp-witted girl would subtly hint at her rtionship with Eric -- only to see Diane lost in thought instead. Frustrated, Susie was about to speak when the party hall suddenly shifted, resembling an invisible hourss being unexpectedly flipped; guests took on the gravitational pull toward the entrance.

    "It''s Eric Williams! I can''t believe he''s here."

    "Let''s hurry over; maybe we can say hello!"

    "Katie, can you check my makeup? Is it okay... hey, don''t walk away!"

    Buzzing chatter filled the room as everyone quickly grasped the situation. Even those who usually held themselves with a sense of superiority couldn''t help but move toward where all eyes were turning, wanting to be noticed when Eric arrived.

    Hearing Eric''s name snapped Diane out of her stupor. She had been entangled by Allen Hasenfeld since her arrival and hadn''t moved too far from the entrance. Turning her head slightly, obstructed by the crowd, she caught a glimpse of the figure that held her heart.

    Seeing that Allen''s attention had been diverted by the unexpectedmotion, Susie seized the moment to gently pat Diane''s shoulder. "Diane, Mr. Williams has arrived. Let''s go over."

    "Ah, alright," Diane instinctively responded but then felt a fresh wave of anxiety. It had been months since theyst met; what if he turned cold towards her? With so many people around, if that happened, it would be impossible to keep things hidden.

    Gazing at the throngs around Eric, she hesitated like a prisoner facing execution, wishing for just a bit more time to linger.

    "Susie, it''s too crowded. Let''s wait a bit before going over," she hesitated finally suggesting.

    Susie Dean, not privy to Diane''s thoughts, noted the group of men encircling Eric and nodded, "Alright, we''ll wait a moment."

    ...

    In the center of the crowd, Michael Eisner and Edgar Bronfman stepped forward to greet Eric. Although they wore weing smiles, inside, they felt disced. After days of being the center of attention, Eric''s arrival overshadowed them effortlessly.

    Inside the hall, Hollywood stars, renowned directors, and top producers were eager to engage Eric in conversation. Since the beginning of the year, with Fireflyunching an array of production ns, Eric held a string of the most coveted films in Hollywood. Firefly had already brought many directors, actors, and producers to prominence. No personality within Hollywood could afford to overlook the vast opportunities tied to these projects.

    Previously, affluent attendees at Hollywood parties often enjoyed a sense of superiority due to their wealth before these "locals." Though these industry figures often appeared morous, they were usually pawns in arger game of capital maneuvering. Edgar Bronfman, fresh from his sessful acquisition of Universal, had maintained a sense of pride associated with wealth. Yet Eric''s entrance obliterated any illusion of superiority.

    After acquiring MCA, Edgar had essentially gambled 70% of Seagram''s assets on this deal. However, evaluating the recent trading conditions with Panasonic, the entire MCA group, including Universal, was valued at merely $7.5 billion. Meanwhile, thetest issue of <i>BusinessWeek</i> valued Firefly at an astonishing $45 billion -- greater than thebined market caps of Time Warner and Vi -- six times that of MCA. This meant that Eric''s personal fortune soared to $33 billion, while his assets beyond Hollywood surpassed $10 billion,nding him firmly in the first ce on <i>Forbes</i>'' list of North America''s richest, far ahead of 2nd ce Bill Gates.

    In the presence of such a young man, it seemed almost impossible for anyone in the world to im any sense of superiority.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 703 - 704: All Ears

    <h4>Chapter 703: Chapter 704: All Ears</h4>

    [Chapter 704: All Ears]

    After spending some time mingling with the guests, Edgar Bronfman and Michael Eisner moved away from Eric Williams, heading to another side of the party hall.

    Watching Eric still surrounded by a group of admirers, Edgar felt the shift in the atmosphere beside him. It was noticeably quieter. Despite knowing that he couldn''t catch up with Firefly Group in the near term, he couldn''t help but feel a strong sense of envy. He turned to Michael Eisner and said, "Michael, after paying off the acquisition cost, Seagram Group has around $1.5 billion left in cash. Which direction do you think we should expand next?"

    The funds for Seagram Group''s acquisition of MCA mainly came from the $9 billion obtained from selling DuPont shares. After paying Panasonic $7.5 billion, they were left with $1.5 billion in cash.

    Originally, Edgar had no ns to invest this money in Hollywood immediately. However, seeing Eric''s shining presence stirred a desire within him to expand Seagram''s reach in the Hollywood industry quickly. Michael Eisner could sense Edgar''s emotions. He felt simrly, replying, "Edgar, you know that Fox and Firefly recently jointly acquired Blue Sky Studios, right? With Firefly already owning Pixar and Disney animation studios, they are still actively nurturing animationpanies outside Firefly. Last year, Vi spent a fortune acquiring Disney''s hand-drawn animation team from Firefly. All of this shows the promising future of animated films. I think we should first establish Universal''s animation department."

    Edgar nodded, "Do you have a detailed n ready?"

    "We could mimic what they did with Blue Sky Studios and acquire a decent special effects studio. CG effects and 3D animation are simr in many aspects. Then, we could poach some skilled animators from Firefly''s two studios. Although Pixar and Disney pay very well, if we offerpetitive sries and treat them well, I''m sure we can attract some key talent," Michael said, having thought this through thoroughly. However, this n would require a significant investment, and Panasonic had been reluctant to spend that money in the past two years.

    Michael added, "But, Edgar, I should mention that making animated films isn''t easy. We might need to invest hundreds of millions up front, and I can''t guarantee that our first animated feature will be a hit. We need to build up to it."

    Edgar was notcking in vision for long-term growth. Since much of Hollywood was focused on developing animated films, Universal certainly couldn''t afford to be blindsided by it. He replied, "Funding isn''t an issue. You can start preparing a proposal."

    ...

    Meanwhile, Eric remained unaware of the conversation between Edgar Bronfman and Michael Eisner. Even if he had known, he wouldn''t have been too concerned.

    A sessful 3D animated film relied on numerous factors. Creativity, technology, team, funding, and time were all crucial. In his past life, after the sess of Pixar''s <i>Toy Story</i>, several major studios had attempted to produce 3D animated films. Yet, aside from Disney, only Blue Sky Studios could be considered to have a modest sess over the next decade or so.

    The long production cycles and high costs associated with animated films were significant barriers to other studios venturing into this business. Even Time Warner quietly abandoned their attempts after investing in several unsessful animated films.

    Fox, spurred by <i>Toy Story</i>''s sess, established its own animation department years ago. Elisabeth had even brought it up with Eric.

    After the Blue Sky Studios deal waspleted, Elisabeth suggested merging Fox''s animation team with Blue Sky Studios. Initially, Eric did not object, but after seeing clips from Fox''s animation film, titled <i>Frozen</i>, hepletely scrapped that idea.

    <i>Frozen</i> had nothing to do with <i>Ice Age</i>; it told the story of humanity entering the space age after a nuclear war, where a space military academy faced an attack from alien forces. The premise was interesting, but the quality of the animators'' work was severelycking. In Eric''s view, thepleted animation clips were below Disney''s television standards. Upon hearing Eric''s critique, Elisabeth promptly disbanded the entire animation department, resulting in a wasted few million dors.

    Fox''s animation department faced simr issues as other studios attempting tounch animation films without a solid foundation.

    With a ss of red wine in hand, and patiently engaging with overly enthusiastic guests around him, Eric realized that his presence had rather ungraciously overshadowed the host of this party.

    Firefly''s Burbank headquarters was just two miles from Universal Studios, separated only by a freeway. Eric had been discussing project details with the <i>Matrix</i> team at the Firefly headquarters until a bit past seven in the evening. When he left, he decided to pop by and join the festivities after receiving a personal invitation from Edgar Bronfman a few days earlier. He never expected to walk into this situation.

    After about ten minutes, the crowd surrounding him gradually dispersed.

    ...

    Diane Kruger had been anxiously waiting for the moment and, seeing that the bigwigs beside Eric had finally left, took a deep breath and forced herself to smile, lifting her skirt slightly as she made her way over.

    However, just as Diane made her move, four other "mermaids" circting the party simultaneously approached Eric. Their current high status had been built by none other than Eric himself. With so many people around just moments ago, they couldn''t squeeze through, but now was the perfect time to greet him.

    Seeing the five most morous women in the room embrace Eric and greet him, some of the ordinary guests, who thought it was their turn to get familiar, slowed their pace, resigned to wait.

    "Hey, Eric, good evening."

    "Linda, that outfit looks amazing on you tonight."

    "Cindy, your ck gown is fantastic, too."

    "Oh, and Christy..."

    After Cindy Crawford hugged Eric, she smiled and said, "Eric, why do you onlypliment our outfits? Don''t you think we''re pretty?"

    "Of course not, you are all my perfect selections," Eric said with a smile, clearly enjoying chatting with gorgeous women rather than being surrounded by a bunch of guys.

    After greeting Linda Evangeline, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, and Tyra Banks, Eric noticed Diane Kruger standing a bit off, seeming somewhat nervous. He reached out, asking, "Diane, what''s wrong? Aren''t you going to hug me?"

    Diane quickly stepped forward for an embrace but realized that although Eric''s attitude towards her remained friendly, just being friendly wouldn''t make her stand out among the other four. In that brief moment, she made a bold decision. As Eric released her waist, she subtly shifted, wrapping her arm around his.

    During the production of the <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>, Cindy and the others had sensed Eric giving special treatment to Diane. Seeing her affectionate actions now didn''t surprise them at all, but Eric raised an eyebrow, keenly taking notice.

    Cindy Crawford, aware that she couldn''t reach the same level of intimacy with Eric as Diane, felt a tinge of jealousy. She looked at Eric and yfully asked, "Eric, why did youe alone?"

    Eric had decided to drop by the party on a whim, initially wanting to bring his female assistant along, but Kelly had to rush back home for dinner with her daughter, so he came by himself.

    He had expected to bump into his woman there, like Nicole.

    Due to their coboration on <i>The Mummy</i>, Nicole maintained a solid rtionship with Universal, and missing an event like this was unlikely. However, Eric missed the mark; Nicole had already attended a party a few days earlier and couldn''t show up to every single event. Naturally, she wasn''t there today either. Aside from Nicole, he had just scanned the room and hadn''t spotted any other familiar faces.

    But this was something Eric couldn''t disclose to Cindy. Instead, he simply wrapped his arm around Diane Kruger and said, "Isn''t she my date?"

    Cindy, feeling bold, stepped up and linked her arm with Eric''s other arm. "In that case, I''ll be your date too."

    Eric raised an eyebrow yfully and replied, "Sure, you all can be my dates."

    Such an obviously double-edged statement elicited some yful pouting from the women, but none of them moved away.

    ...

    In the midst of the crowd, Hasbro''s CEO n Hassenfeld had not yet approached Eric. He stood patiently, waiting for the right moment.

    However, after witnessing the close interaction between Eric and Diane Kruger, he began to piece together a few things.

    After pondering for a moment, n grabbed a drink from a server''s tray and made his way over to Eric.

    The surrounding women noticed n making his way over and, while feeling slightly annoyed by hisck of social awareness, they made way for him. Diane tightened her grip on Eric''s arm as he approached.

    n nodded slightly towards Diane and extended his hand to Eric, saying, "Hello, Mr. Williams."

    "Hello, Mr. Hassenfeld," Eric replied, shaking his hand.

    Hearing Eric casually say hisst name, although he had anticipated it, still surprised n. "Mr. Williams, you know me?"

    Eric grinned and said, "I''m not in the habit of pretending not to know someone."

    n chuckled heartily but was quickly calcting in his mind. If Eric Williams knew him, then the rumors were likely true.

    Recalling Edgar Bronfman and Michael Eisner''s little maneuver earlier, n turned to Diane Kruger. "Miss Kruger, I apologize. I didn''t realize your rtionship with Mr. Williams earlier. When Edgar and Michael introduced you to me, I thought you were single."

    Diane, taken aback by n''s sudden remark, responded politely, "That''s alright, Mr. Bronfman."

    Diane''s surprise didn''t mean Eric was also oblivious. Meanwhile, Cindy, who heard n''s words, sensed the implication, even without knowing who n was. Edgar Bronfman and Michael Eisner had clearly introduced n to Eric''s women in hopes of stirring up conflict.

    Eric felt slightly displeased that Michael Eisner had stooped to such petty tactics to create a rift between him and n Hassenfeld. However, he remainedposed. Michael hadn''t sessfully pitted him against n, but n''sments also seemed aimed at instigating conflict, potentially benefiting Hasbro if a tussle erupted between Firefly and Universal over the Transformers rights.

    Those who managed to attain CEO positions at major corporations were rarely fools who would rush into action at the slightest provocation.

    n Hassenfeld wasn''t one of those fools, neither was Michael Eisner, and certainly, Eric wasn''t either.

    Seeing Eric''s expression remain unchanged, n was unsure whether he was oblivious to the implications of his previous words or simply unaffected. After thinking for a moment, he probed again, "Mr. Williams, since you know me, I assume Firefly has been keeping an eye on <i>Transformers</i> for quite some time now?"

    Eric replied, "<i>Transformers</i>, huh? It''s indeed an interesting toy series. I yed with <i>Transformers</i> when I was a kid."

    "Oh? How do you view the prospects of developing a live-action film for this toy series?" n pressed further.

    Eric shrugged, "I don''t think there''s much movie development value for <i>Transformers</i> right now."

    n furrowed his brow, "Mr. Williams, can you borate on your reasoning?"

    "Reason?" Eric chuckled, "Once I heard that someone was vying for the <i>Transformers</i> rights, I became very interested and had our tech team conduct some assessments. Do you know what the results were?"

    "Please tell me," said Allen Hassenfeld, looking all ears.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 704 - 705: Let’s Go Take a Look

    <h4>Chapter 704: Chapter 705: Let''s Go Take a Look</h4>

    [Chapter 705: Let''s Go Take a Look]

    As n Hassenfeld finished speaking, another voice came from behind him. "Eric, would you mind sharing your thoughts on <i>Transformers</i>?"

    Eric turned his head to see Michael Eisner and Edgar Bronfman approaching side by side. They had quickly noticed n Hassenfeld engaging with Eric and rushed over to prevent any potential negotiations over the <i>Transformers</i> rights.

    Though Firefly appeared indifferent on the surface regarding the <i>Transformers</i> copyrights, no one could deny they were a formidablepetitor. n Hassenfeld''s proactive approach had created a sense of urgency for Michael Eisner and Edgar Bronfman. If they allowed Eric to walk away with the <i>Transformers</i> rights at a Universal party, they would be theughingstock of Hollywood.

    "Of course, no problem, Michael," Eric said with a smile, clearly not minding Michael Eisner''s eavesdropping. In fact, he hoped his uing remarks would circte throughout Hollywood.

    As Michael Eisner and Edgar Bronfman moved closer, some guests from other studios, noticing the gathering, casually joined in, equally interested in the <i>Transformers</i> rights.

    Standing beside Eric, Diane Kruger and Cindy Crawford observed in just a few short minutes how Eric had once again be the center of attention. The film executives, whom they usually found difficult to engage with, crowded around Eric, listening intently with no airs about them. While Diane and Cindy clung to Eric''s arm without issue, Linda Evangelista and the other three women were unceremoniously pushed to the outskirts of the group, their gazes toward the two more privileged women tinged with envy.

    Although Diane and Cindy realized these big shots were not particrly interested in them, they couldn''t shake a feeling of strange satisfaction and pride.

    n Hassenfeld, watching the crowd and Eric''s confident demeanor, felt an uneasy sensation and regretted approaching Eric to chat. Eric certainly didn''t seem like someone who intended to say good things about <i>Transformers</i>.

    Moreover, given Eric''s status in Hollywood, his words certainly wouldn''t be easily brushed off. n Hassenfeld doubted Eric would simply make noise to suppress the value of the <i>Transformers</i>'' rights.

    ...

    Sure enough, after patiently waiting for everyone to gather around, Eric said, "Hearing everyone recently express interest in the <i>Transformers</i> movie rights sparked my curiosity about this toy franchise. I even contemted some production ideas privately, but ultimately concluded that under current conditions, <i>Transformers</i> doesn''t have much adaptation value. If a live-action film were forced, the cost and risks would be extremely high."

    Had there not been someone indirectly tying the <i>Transformers</i> film rights to Firefly, this many people wouldn''t have been involved in the scramble. When Eric spoke these words, nine out of ten people didn''t believe him but were also in no hurry to contradict him.

    Eric looked around and continued, "In my vision, if we were to make a live-action movie, the design of the <i>Transformers</i> should be aplex and intricate mechanical life form made up of hundreds or thousands ofponents, transitioning seamlessly between car and robot forms. After discussing my ideas in detail with the visual effects engineers at Digital Domain, the conclusion was that if we followed this concept, the difficulty of CG effects production would exceed that of <i>Jurassic Park</i> by more than ten times, resulting in astronomical costs."

    After Eric''s remarks, while Michael Eisner wore a friendly smile, he sharply asked, "Eric, I''m curious. How did you assess that the difficulty of making <i>Transformers</i> is more than ten times that of <i>Jurassic Park</i>?"

    Previously, everyone had merely taken Eric''s ''ten times'' as a descriptive statement of the challenge involved in making <i>Transformers</i>. If Michael Eisner hadn''t opened his mouth, no one would have painstakingly dissected his wording.

    However, when Michael Eisner seized on this point to challenge Eric, despite their outwardly curious expressions, many in the crowd secretly reveled in the prospect of seeing how Eric would handle such a pointed question.

    To their surprise, Eric showed no sign of irritation at all. Hearing Michael Eisner''s query, his smile remained. "Michael, I assume you''re not familiar with the specific software development, technical testing, and 3D modeling processes involved in CG effects. Let''s use the critical aspect of image rendering as an example. Digital Domain''s visual effects engineers informed me that if we want to achieve the CG effects I need, every frame of CG effects in the film would require the current state-of-the-art rendering workstation to run continuously for 630 hours."

    Hearing gasps of disbelief from those around them, Eric chuckled, "You might find the 630-hour rendering time somewhat unbelievable, but if you don''t believe me, feel free to call Digital Domain for confirmation. There''s also another caveat: therge post-production rendering farm Digital Domain recentlypleted in Florida has 10,000 rendering servers. If fully operational, rendering a single frame could take just over three minutes, which might sound trivial. But remember, I''m only talking about one frame. Assuming this film had 30 minutes of special effects scenes, that would involve 43,200 frames. Even if all the rendering parameters were straightforward and required no testing, it would take Digital Domain''s rendering farm running at full capacity 115 days just toplete the task. In contrast, <i>Jurassic Park</i>''s post-production rendering took about a month, and utilized the nearly obsolete rendering farm at Venice Beach. If you factor in the significant upgrades in scale and equipment, Florida''s rendering farm would be eight times the capacity of the Venice Beach rendering farm. Thus, my earlier im that making <i>Transformers</i> is more than ten times more difficult than <i>Jurassic Park</i> is quite reasonable."

    Michael Eisner fell silent, though n Hassenfeld pressed on, "Eric, can''t the production specifications be reduced a bit?"

    "Of course, but I wonder if audiences will buy that," Eric shrugged and added with a grin, "I tend to have a bit of perfectionism, which isn''t a great habit when ites to movie making. So you can ignore what I said earlier; there certainly are cheaper production ns avable, including using models for shooting, which would definitely be much cheaper. But I will go see that at the theater."

    Their expressions clearly reflected skepticism at Eric''s words. If he said that, how could they possibly ignore it?

    Eric, however, paid no attention to their burdensome thoughts and, feeling slightly hungry, left the group and headed toward the buffet table in the hall.

    ...

    Cindy Crawford and Diane Kruger followed closely at Eric''s side. Even Linda Evangelista and the other two women, who had been pushed out earlier, tagged along.

    As they grabbed tes and selected food together, Cindy asked, "Eric, does it really require 630 hours?"

    Eric nodded while cing barbecue shrimp on his te. "Yeah, it involves veryplex technical details, but the 600-plus hours of rendering time is real."

    Diane added, "So, doesn''t that mean <i>Transformers</i> can never be made?"

    "Not at all," Eric replied, "ording to Moore''s Law in the semiconductor industry,puter processing speed doubles every 1.5 to 2 years. So, in ten years, rendering the same frame will just take a little over ten hours. By then, other technologies will develop alongside it, making my earlier thoughts much easier to achieve."

    In 1995, the semiconductor industry had only recently begun entering the microprocessor era, with mainstream CPUs still utilizing 0.35-micron processes, leaving a considerable gap before the arrival of the nanometer age. The lowest-level instructions of aputer CPU amounted to millions of transistors emitting a collection of 0s and 1s, and as semiconductor processes advanced ording to Moore''s Law, the number of transistors on chips of simr scale doubled, effectively doubling the CPU''s speed.

    A task that could only take ten hours in ten years was now requiring over 600 hours; this limitation wouldn''t be easily broken and would require patience as technology evolved. Consequently, now wasn''t the right time to make Transformers.

    Moreover, Eric''s repeated mention of Digital Domain had sent another message: even if others wanted to undertake making <i>Transformers</i> in Hollywood, they couldn''t bypass Digital Domain. Only Digital Domain had the capability to handle the special effects for <i>Transformers</i>. While Digital Domain had maintained its independent operation and had never rejected special effects orders from Firefly''spetitors, that didn''t mean they would always stay on the same side.

    Regarding Industrial Light & Magic, most of the CG effects blockbusters in recent years had been produced by Digital Domain. Their continuous stream of orders not only brought in substantial revenues but also provided enough financial strength for ongoing technology research and development. At that moment, Digital Domain had already surpassed Industrial Light & Magic significantly in terms of technological capabilities.

    For example, Firefly had invested $100 million in Digital Domain''s rendering farm in Florida, and its powerfulputing capabilities could support the rendering demands of all Digital Domain''s orders. Even if Industrial Light & Magic could scrape together $100 million to build a simrly sized rendering farm, the ie from their current CG effects orders may not even cover the costs of maintaining and upgrading such arge-scale farm.

    Considering these factors, Eric noted, Cindy Crawford chimed in, "In ten years, it would only be six times at most. How could it turn into just over ten hours?"

    Eric paused, then shook his head and smiled, observing the puzzled expressions on the other women. He couldn''t help but sigh at the mathematical skills of these beautiful women.

    Diane Kruger was the quickest to rify, "It seems it''s not just six times. If it''s continuously doubling, it should be two raised to the sixth power -- 64 times. Am I right, Eric?"

    "Smart girl," Eric nodded, handing her a shrimp as a reward. "Here, for you."

    "Hehe," Diane smiled brightly, ncing at the others, especially Cindy, her expression radiating a hint of pride. With Cindy''s proximity to Eric, Diane felt a significant threat.

    Cindy noticed Diane''s gaze, inwardly scoffing dismissively. Silly girl, how many men actually prefer smart women? However, despite her thoughts, Cindy''s expression revealed a touch of disappointment as she leaned closer to Eric, gently saying, "Eric, I want some too."

    "Alright, alright," Eric replied, adding a shrimp to Cindy''s te. Noticing the other three women extending their tes as well, he joked, "How about we take this entire tray of shrimp with us?"

    Watching Eric feign the act of lifting the entire tray, the women quickly interjected withughter, "Haha, no, we''d be the talk of the party if we did that."

    After eating for a while and dancing with a few women, Eric noticed n Hassenfeld, the CEO of Hasbro, had left the party shortly after speaking with him. Eric decided it was time to go as well.

    However, looking at Diane Kruger and Cindy Crawford who seemed to be nning to leave with him, and even the expectant eyes of the other three women, Eric could only say: "Cindy, I''m heading home."

    "Eric, I''ve never been to Liberty City. Will you take me there to see it?" Cindy Crawford boldly asked, entirely ignoring Diane Kruger on the other side.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 705 - 706: Can We Swim Here?

    <h4>Chapter 705: Chapter 706: Can We Swim Here?</h4>

    [Chapter 706: Can We Swim Here?]

    In the hall, countless eyes were either intentionally or unintentionally fixed on him. If he took five stunning beauties away together, it would just be too obvious.

    Faced with the tempting gazes of the women, Eric still had to decline. "It''s toote today, but I''m off tomorrow. If everyone''s free, you cane over and hang out."

    "Really? Then it''s settled," Cindy Crawford promptly replied, with the other women quickly chiming in.

    Eric smiled and nodded, ncing at Diane Kruger, whose eyes reflected a hint of disappointment. "Diane, let''s go."

    Diane Kruger froze for a moment. She had thought Eric wouldn''t take any of them back with him. Just as she was feeling uncertain, Eric''s calm tone -- unmarked by anymands or requests -- made it all feel so natural, like an ordinary conversation.

    While hesitating whether to y a bit coy, she felt the envious nces of the other women. Diane immediately dismissed any thoughts of false modesty and affectionately linked her arm with Eric, shing a charming smile as she said, "Okay!"

    Eric wrapped his arm around her and waved goodbye to Cindy Crawford and the others before walking toward the party host to say his farewells. Those social niceties were still necessary.

    ...

    Watching Eric leave, the remaining four women felt a distinctck of interest in the nearby men trying to flirt with them.

    Having climbed to their current heights in the fashion industry, they were quite realistic. Most of the men around, despite their prominent positions in various industries, couldn''t offer help that wouldpare to the effortless support Eric provided with a simple gesture.

    They had just witnessed Eric''s influence in Hollywood, and even in their own fashion-centered careers, the immense attention surrounding the <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> had made all forty Victoria''s Secret Angels prime targets for brands to chase after.

    Many media outlets predicted that in theing years, the Angels would monopolize the best endorsement opportunities in their circle. With six months left before the second <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>, the runway slots for the forty Angels had already be the focus of fiercepetition among major modeling agencies. Unless Eric interfered personally, the Angels from less powerful agencies would likely be pushed out entirely.

    Even the positions of the five Angels were coveted, with tabloids reporting more than once about possible recements among them. In this situation, the best way to secure their positions at the top of the fashion pyramid was undoubtedly to cling tightly to Eric''s coattails.

    Shooting a distant nce at Eric, who was saying goodbye to Edgar Bronfman and Michael Eisner before exiting the party hall, Cindy Crawford turned down a dance invitation from a would-be suitor. She looked at her exquisite Patek Philippe watch and said, "It''s almost ten o''clock; I should be heading back. Maybe I''ll go to Rodeo Drive and pick out something to wear tomorrow. Linda, are youing?"

    "Of course," Linda Evangelista replied, cing her half-empty ss in a passing waiter''s tray. "The Chanel boutique should be closed, but I know their manager, so I can call and get in for a fitting."

    With Eric leaving the party with Diane Kruger, the remaining women, who were not as harmonious behind the scenes, shared a sudden sense of camaraderie. Christy Turlington joined in, her tone slightly sour. "What''s with the little girl? Doesn''t he know older women are way more interesting?"

    Cindy Crawford chuckled softly and leaned in to say, "Don''t you know? He actually prefers older women."

    "Of course we know," Linda Evangelista chimed in,ughing. "Maybe we just aren''t old enough yet."

    "Haha..."

    Amidst theughter, Cindy Crawford nced at Tyra Banks. Due to her skin color, they hadn''t been too close, but now Cindy said, "Tyra, I heard Naomi Campbell invited Edward Razek to dinnerst week. You better watch out."

    In a world rife with racial discrimination, the fashion industry couldn''t amodate two dazzling "ck pearls" at the same time. Tyra Banks understood this well, but her experience was still somewhat limited. Hearing the seemingly teasing yet subtly tense conversation echoed insecurity. "I don''t think we need to worry too much; we all signed contracts, didn''t we?"

    Cindy Crawford dismissed her concerns with a disdainfulugh. "Tyra, I signed with Warner for <i>Fair Game</i>st year, yet in the end, they reced the lead actress."

    Recalling that episode, a flicker of resentment crossed Cindy''s face, but it quickly faded.

    She had originally intended to transition into film, wanting to strike while her reputation in fashion was still strong. But after the <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>, which could have marked her retirement, she suddenly found herself at the peak of her career again. As long as she maintained her contract with Victoria''s Secret, her endorsement ie would far exceed that of most leading Hollywood actresses.

    After chatting for a while, the four women bid farewell to the party, leaving many men regretting their departure.

    ...

    As Eric drove Diane Kruger away, they had hardly exited Universal Studios when he unexpectedly received a call from Hasbro''s CEO, n Hassenfeld, who wanted to schedule a meeting to discuss <i>Transformers</i>.

    Eric had been juggling several film projectstely, and the uing weekend provided a small break before the 67th Academy Awards on March 27. He didn''t n to attend the ceremony but decided to meet n the next day at ten since he''d have the time.

    He knew his earlier words at the party had made n thoroughly understand the reality.

    Starting to film <i>Transformers</i> would require a significant investment and budget; second and third-tier studios in Hollywood wouldn''t be able to manage such a project. Hasbro had only seven major studios to choose from, and only Firefly could provide reasonable guarantees for the <i>Transformers</i> movie iteration.

    Although Hasbro could choose other studios, a disastrous oue would ruin the world-renowned toy brand''s image. n Hassenfeld understood the stakes clearly.

    Despite initial ns to let Fox obtain the rights, given everything that had urred, Eric decided it would be safer for the <i>Transformers</i> franchise toe under Firefly''s wings.

    ...

    The following morning, Eric woke up early as usual.

    He didn''t rush to get out of bed buty on his side, propping his chin up as he admired the lovely face next to him.

    Perhaps sensing his gaze, Diane Kruger fluttered her eyshes, waking up.

    "Good morning," Eric whispered, leaning in to kiss her on that inviting cheek.

    "Morning, Eric," Diane replied bashfully, nodding slightly.

    Eric pressed a button on the nightstand, and the spacious circr bedroom''s curtains glided open, letting the morning sunlight pour in.

    Outside, thendscape was shrouded in a light fog.

    The sudden brightness made Diane feel even shyer, and she instinctively curled up under the covers, yet curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked out cautiously.

    "Want to take a look?" Eric offered. "It''s foggy, but you should still be able to see around; the view here is pretty nice."

    Diane had seen photos of Liberty City in magazines and knew this bedroom was like a circr UFO perched atop a sleek vi. However, she never imagined she would wake up here one day.

    Seeing her nod, Eric quickly dressed in long pants and a shirt. After checking around, he noticed Diane''s maroon evening gown from the previous night was not in the room. Drawing from his experiences, he opened the closet and quickly found a white shirt and a baggy T-shirt, lifting them up to the girl still curled up in the sheets. "Which one?"

    Diane scanned the clothes and pointed to the T-shirt Eric was holding. "That one."

    Eric handed her the T-shirt, and Diane got up. With Eric''s gaze on her, she blushed deeply as she slid the oversized shirt over her bare body; her outfit fromst night had been left behind during her shower, and she felt too shy to ask Eric to fetch it.

    After getting dressed, Diane looked down at herself, feeling how loose the T-shirt was. She gestured toward the closet, her eyes asking, "Can I?"

    Eric nodded, "Feel free."

    The girl quickly found a brown leather belt, adjusted it around her waist, and suddenly, the baggy T-shirt transformed into a stylish dress.

    Eric observed her little transformation and thought, how fitting; she really was a former style icon, turning a simple T-shirt into a fashionable dress almost instantaneously.

    ...

    The floor was cool, but walking barefoot felt quite pleasant. The two walked over to the south window, where the fog partially obscured the sea, yet they could still see the dark waters within a few kilometers. In the east, a hint of red pierced through the mist, promising another beautiful day ahead.

    "Honestly, the evening views here are the most stunning," Eric said, holding Diane''s hand as they moved to the north side of the bedroom. This part of the Liberty City Estate was already higher than the surrounding areas, and Liberty City entuated that elevation, showcasing a view packed with buildings that filled their sight, except for mist-covered hills in the distance.

    Diane leaned against Eric, gazing down at the cityscape filled with buildings beneath them; the height offered an almost omniscient perspective.

    They stood there quietly chatting for a while, and Eric enthusiastically pointed out a few of their Hollywood neighbors in the view.

    ...

    At nine o''clock, several luxury cars arrived at the entrance of the Estate, with Cindy Crawford and the others having left downtown Los Angeles early to reach the vi.

    The women circled the estate''s driveway to Liberty City, parked their cars, and walked toward the vi together.

    Diane, still wearing the T-shirt from that morning, opened the door. Upon seeing her friends arrive, she felt a subtle sense of superiority that she didn''t show outwardly. However, the astute Cindy and her friends certainly couldn''t overlook that vibe.

    After the initial warm hugs and greetings, Cindy couldn''t wait to ask, "Diane, where''s Eric?"

    "We just had breakfast; he''s on the terrace reading the paper," Diane intentionally emphasized the word "we" a bit more before leading Cindy and the others into the vi.

    The others nodded in muted thoughts while maintaining their cheerful facades. Linda Evangelista casually put her arm around Diane''s shoulder and sweetly whispered about how she feltst night. Diane, despite her usual confidence, felt her cheeks redden under Linda''s teasing words.

    As they chatted softly and strolled through the spacious foyer, the five women made their way to the terrace on the vi''s south side.

    The morning fog had mostly dissipated, and sunlight broke through thest remnants, glimmering on the swimming pool, which shimmered like a giant emerald.

    Dressed in a white shirt and khaki pants, Eric lounged by the pool on a reclining chair, flipping through the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. He stood up with a smile to embrace each of them as they approached. "I expected you all to arrive closer to noon. It''s so early -- have you had breakfast yet?"

    "Not yet, Eric. What do you think we should do?" Cindy Crawford recalled Diane''s intentional mention of their breakfast together and asked.

    Eric shrugged with a chuckle. "There''s food in the kitchen; you can help yourselves."

    Despite his offer, none of the women showed any interest in eating. They looked at the spacious pool on the terrace, and Cindy suddenly asked, "Eric, can we swim here?"

    Eric nodded. "Of course."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 706 - 707: When Will We Start Shooting?

    <h4>Chapter 706: Chapter 707: When Will We Start Shooting?</h4>

    [Chapter 707: When Will We Start Shooting?]

    Women always had a knack for causing a scene, especially beautiful women.

    With Eric''s approval, Cindy Crawford and the others promptly entered the changing room behind them to put on their sexy bikinis. Red wine, drinks, and snacks were gradually gathered onto the terrace, and the women even brought out the sound system from the living room. As music started ying, the terrace turned into a mini party.

    Inte March, Los Angeles'' temperature barely climbed to around 20 degrees Celsius, not exactly ideal for swimming. However, for women who cared about their appearance, temperature was never an issue.

    Eric loungedzily on a poolside chair, watching five gorgeous women frolicking in the pool, and he was very much enjoying himself.

    After a while, Linda Evangelista swam over to Eric, propping herself up on the pool''s edge, eyeing Eric, who still wore his shirt and pants, and said, "Eric, why don''t you join us?"

    Eric looked at her elegantly androgynous face from the short cut she sported and replied with a smile, "Do you have goldfish at home?"

    Linda rested her chin on her smooth arm and shook her head in confusion. "Not at home, but Christy likes to have them."

    Eric gestured towards the other stunning women in the pool, a mischievous grin on his face. "What do you think would happen if you put a shark in a goldfish bowl?"

    Seeing Linda''s movement, the other four women swam over, arranging themselves at the pool''s edge in a row, just in time to hear Eric''sment. Amid their giggles, Cindy Crawford shot him a teasing nce, "Mr. Shark, you coulde down and see if you can eat us."

    Eric didn''t expect her to be so bold; the implication was rather clear.

    After calcting the time, he shook his head. "Not now, I have a guest at ten."

    Cindy and the others looked puzzled since Diane Kruger had been by Eric''s sidest night. "Is it that n Hasenfeld?" she inquired.

    "Yes, it is," Eric nodded. However, with the <i>Transformers</i> rights being aplicated matter, he didn''t want to discuss it further and switched the topic. "Aren''t you all attending the Oscars the day after tomorrow? How are the preparations going?"

    The women realized Eric was steering the conversation away and wisely refrained from asking more questions. Linda said, "We''re already set; honestly, I never thought I''d have a day on the Oscars stage."

    As they chatted, noticing that Eric had no intention of jumping in the pool, the women decided to get out.

    Eric admired the stunning bodies in front of him and thoughtfully handed each of them a towel to dry off. Once they dried off, he arranged the lounges on either side of him. The warm sun close to ten o''clock felt veryfortable, and the women quickly rxed, resembling cats basking in their owner''s affection.

    Eric strolled over to the sound system to change to a more soothing ylist. Returning to his chair, he asked, "After the Oscars, what''s next for you all?"

    "Whatever the agency offers, we''ll take it. However, up until September, we''ll mostly be free," said Linda, who was lounging to Eric''s left. "September is going to be busy with the four major fashion weeks and the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>, and then it''ll get slow again until the fall/winter shows next February or March."

    Cindy, unable to snag a spot next to Eric, leaned over from her position between the other women and asked, "Eric, do you have any job opportunities for us?"

    To maintain the Victoria''s Secret Angels'' visibility, apart from the fashion show, Firefly Group continually provided them with media exposure opportunities. This was a primary reason why bing a Victoria''s Secret Angel had be highlypetitive in the modeling world. However, these opportunities paled inparison to what Eric could offer directly. So, sensing what Eric hinted at, Cindy eagerly inquired.

    Eric certainly didn''t disappoint, saying, "Yeah, when I was preparing for the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>st year, I started thinking about this. In short, it''s a realitypetition for models, where contestants face various challenges topete for an invaluable Victoria''s Secret Angel contract."

    Diane remarked, "It sounds simr to the modelpetitions our agency hosts, doesn''t it?"

    "Not quite," Eric shook his head. "What I envision isn''t just apetition; it''s a reality show. If it''s a show, we need to showcase what draws the audience in. My n is to choose a well-established supermodel as the host, invite some well-known fashion figures as judges, and create various fun yet professional challenges each episode, using apetitive elimination format to crown a champion who earns the contract."

    After Eric finished, Tyra Banks chimed in, "Are you saying it''s like <i>Survivor</i>?"

    Eric looked at Tyra with interest and nodded, smiling. "Exactly, just like <i>Survivor</i>."

    Watching the excitement blossom in the women''s eyes, Eric doused their enthusiasm slightly, stating, "However, this is a more professional reality show, and its ratings surely won''tpare to <i>Survivor</i>."

    Christy Turlington asked, "So, Eric, what kind of ratings do you think this... reality show will get?"

    Eric shook his head. "I can''t guarantee anything. No one can urately predict a show''s ratings until it airs."

    Cindy followed up, "Will it air on ABC?"

    "No," Eric replied. "Every TV show has a specific target audience. ABC mostly broadcasts shows for all ages. This... let''s call it the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> for now, will target young viewers aged 16 to 28, especially women interested in fashion. Once produced, Firefly will sell the show toworks like UPN, WB, or MTV that cater to younger audiences."

    The <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> would likely air on the UPN andter CW, which was formed when Paramount''s UPN and Warner''s WB merged. However, even if history remained unchanged, that show would still debut a decadeter.

    Cindy, who had hosted a fashion program called <i>House of Style</i> on MTV a few years earlier, understood the state of thoseworks. Even if their ratings were generally low, their concentrated audience made them attractive to advertisers targeting specific demographics. Therefore, their hit shows also turned out to be quite profitable.

    If the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> could achieve <i>Survivor</i>-level ratings on these niche TVworks, the show would undoubtedly create a stir. Securing the hosting spot would not only bring in substantial pay but also elevate her status to the top in the industry thanks to the exposure from such a reality show.

    Reflecting on Eric''s earlier mention of selecting a well-regarded supermodel as the host, Cindy''s eyes sparkled with a hint of wariness as she nced at Linda Evangelista beside her.

    If there was anyone with the most seniority in the supermodel circle, it was undoubtedly Linda Evangelista. She was recognized as the first supermodel in the fashion world, while Christy Turlington''s credentials appeared to surpass Linda''s. Even though Tyra Banks and Diane Kruger seemed lesspetitive on the surface, it was uncertain what Eric might decide; after all, if he chose Tyra or Diane as the host, no one could stop him.

    Cindy''s thoughts ran deep, and the expressions of the other women reflected subtle changes as well.

    Eric, oblivious to the shift in mood among the women, continued with enthusiasm, "While the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> won''tpete with shows like <i>Survivor</i> or <i>Who Wants to Be a Millionaire</i> for viewership ratings, its production costs will also be very low. Most expenses will be for the host and judges'' fees, and the shooting locations won''t be particrly demanding. My rough estimate is that once we find our footing with thework, turning a profit through broadcast rights, tape sales, and international licensing will be quite easy. Moreover, the beauty of such a low-cost reality show is that as long as there''s a market, we could keep producing season after season, whether it''s ten, twenty, or even thirty seasons."

    Hearing Eric''s words, the hearts of the five women raced almost in unison.

    The short-lived careers of models had always been a pressing dilemma for theirmunity. Usually, even supermodels would begin to fade away once they hit thirty, reced by fresh faces, regardless of how stunning they still were. Landing a hosting role on a long-running reality show meant securing a stable position, akin to holding an iron rice bowl. Even if the pay wasn''t astronomically high, they could maintain their fame and continue earning through other avenues.

    Eric took a few sips of juice, about to say more when the inte on the wall beeped, signaling that n Hasenfeld had arrived.

    Eric exchanged a few words over the inte and turned to the lounging women. "You all keep enjoying yourselves. I''ll go meet the guest."

    Cindy quickly offered, "Eric, do you need me to help entertain him?"

    "No, it''s okay," Eric waved her off.

    The women understood that Eric preferred them not to know too much about the <i>Transformers</i> matter, so they didn''t press further.

    However, the moment Eric stepped through the ss door, leaving, the atmosphere on the terrace turned noticeably colder.

    Brief nces exchanged between the five women revealed the undercurrent of subtle hostility. There could only be one host for the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. The reason they had managed to maintain a facade of camaraderie leaned heavily on their standing as Victoria''s Secret representatives, as their current statuses were rtively equal.

    But if one of them were to seize the role of host on the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, that delicate bnce would likely shatter in an instant.

    ...

    n Hasenfeld parked in front of the Liberty City Shell vi and stepped out, taking in his surroundings, especially the vi that had been frequently joked about by the media as an alien spacecraft afterst year''s <i>Men in ck</i>. He gazed at it with envy.

    While Hasbro was valued at two billion dors, like many long-establishedpanies, it had morphed into a publicly traded entity over half a century of development. Although the Hasenfeld family still controlled the toypany, they were no longer the majority shareholders. Their family wealth stood at merely five to six hundred million. n''s personal fortune was even less than a hundred million, making it just a matter of light envy as he beheld this dream vi coveted by many wealthy individuals.

    Perhaps this financial disparity subtly drained n''s confidence, leaving him feeling somewhat unsettled about the uing negotiations regarding the <i>Transformers</i> rights.

    As the vi door opened, n spotted Eric approaching and quickly went to meet him.

    The two exchanged greetings, and Eric led him inside the vi, directly to the study.

    Once seated on the sofa, n observed Eric going over to make coffee and remarked, "Eric, why not let the servant do that?"

    "Ah, I prefer peace and quiet, and I''m not used to having people hovering around. So usually, they stay outside and don''te in unless needed."

    Everyone has their unique preferences. Hearing Eric say this, n nodded slightly and didn''t ask further.

    Once the coffee was ready and poured for the two, Eric sat down on the sofa. "So, n, let''s get straight to the point. What are Hasbro''s final terms for coborating on <i>Transformers</i>?"

    "Uh..." n hesitated, putting down his coffee cup as he paused for a moment before saying, "Eric, regarding what you saidst night, I want to ask first. If <i>Transformers</i> is handed over to Firefly, when can you officially start filming?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 707 - 708: Delivered to the Door

    <h4>Chapter 707: Chapter 708: Delivered to the Door</h4>

    [Chapter 708: TDelivered to the Door]

    The optimal production time for <i>Transformers</i> would certainly be ten yearster, but if Eric were to say that now, he believed Allen Hasenfeld would likely walk out on the spot.

    "How about five years?" After a moment of consideration, Eric suggested to Allen Hasenfeld, his words not merely a way to cate him. Advancing the production to around the year 2000, there wouldn''t be too many technical issues, just that costs might be a bit higher. "I have several high-techpanies backing me, so I''m quite knowledgeable in this area. Given the current pace of technological development, starting <i>Transformers</i> five years from now would keep costs within a manageable risk range."

    Last night''sments didn''tpletely quash the enthusiasm of the filmpanies vying for the <i>Transformers</i> rights, but they had certainly had a noticeable impact. Before arriving that morning, Allen Hasenfeld had called several top executives from the filmpanies he had been negotiating with, and their enthusiasm was no longer what it had been just days earlier. Allen understood that these parties were not losing interest in the <i>Transformers</i> rights, but rather, they were apprehensive due to Eric''s remarks.

    Since Eric had openly suppressed the <i>Transformers</i> copyright at the party, it was almost certain that he didn''t want others to vie for the rights. If he was doing this while the copyright battle was still ongoing, one couldn''t rule out the possibility that he would act against them during the film production.

    Thus, Hasbro''s best potential partner at this point was Firefly. Of course, they could keep the <i>Transformers</i> rights tightly in their grip, but that wouldn''t align with Hasbro''s fundamental interests either.

    Once Eric finished speaking, Allen Hasenfeld didn''t hesitate, saying, "Eric, Firefly has always been Hasbro''s most desired partner. We''ve discussed in detail that if you could personally direct this film, Firefly would only need to pay a $5 million licensing fee for the rights. However, Hasbro would like to make a joint investment; our request is modest, just a 30% investment stake."

    "Allen, I can''t guarantee that I could direct this film, but I will definitely be personally involved as a producer. As for Hasbro wanting to invest, I''m open to considering it," Eric replied without hesitation. It wasn''t that he couldn''t direct, he simply didn''t want to take on the role for <i>Transformers</i>.

    For Eric, the <i>Transformers</i> films were best positioned as popcorn blockbusters filled with special effects and explosions, and that was good enough. In his previous life, the <i>Transformers</i> series had received poor ratings from both media and film criticsrgely because of this positioning, and Eric cared about maintaining his reputation as a director. Thus, he preferred to leave the directing role to someone less concerned about negative critiques.

    They went back and forth in negotiations and finally reached an agreement. Hasbro would license the film adaptation rights of <i>Transformers</i> to Firefly for $3 million, with a term of ten years. Fireflymitted to developing the film version in five years, with Hasbro able to participate in up to 25% of the investment.

    Allen Hasenfeld wasn''t really concerned about the few million dors in licensing fees. So, when Eric lowered the price to $3 million, he didn''t press the issue too much. Instead, Eric permitting Hasbro to participate with a 25% investment caught him by surprise. In previous discussions with other filmpanies, the main sticking point had been the investment ratio from Hasbro.

    At first, Hasbro dreamed of splitting the investment for a live-action film right down the middle with their partner. But they quickly realized that such terms were out of the question for most filmpanies. Before arriving, Allen''s bottom line had been 20%, and Eric''s willingness to allow for 25% made him wish he had known that earlier, thus saving time with the others.

    Seeing the expression on Allen''s face, Eric couldn''t help but chuckle inside. Even if that buried thought of getting one over didn''t pan out, Hasbro would eventually experience the financial reality of Hollywood.

    Certainly, the details of the contract would need detailed discussions between both sides. Yet, with the oue now assured, Eric became even more enthusiastic and opened a bottle of champagne for a simple celebration.

    Holding the champagne, Allen Hasenfeld and Eric looked ahead at the movie prospects for <i>Transformers</i>, and seemingly casually, he broached another topic, "Eric, if I may say so, Firefly has been falling short in the development of movie-rted merchandise in recent yearspared to those blockbuster films. Take Disney''s 3D animated films -- Firefly produced a part of the merchandise but confined it to sales within Disnend and Disney stores. For merchandise types that Firefly couldn''t produce, your loose application-based licensing approach was also a significant waste of the brand."

    Firefly had indeed recognized this issue, but in recent years, both Firefly and Disney had focused on film operations. After acquiring Disney, Eric had immediately pursued the acquisition of a televisionwork, diverting much attention from taking care of this matter. Meanwhile, Katzenberg had begun seeking solutions. Recently, Eric had seen several rted documents where the brand operations department was discussing a bundled licensing agreement with fast-food giant KFC, where KFC would pay $100 million annually for the rights to feature Disney cartoon characters on their restaurant merchandise. Once this partnership took shape, Firefly could expand on this model, establishing more efficient branding strategies.

    However, Eric would not share such thoughts with Allen. He understood Allen''s intent behind thosements, simply nodding in acknowledgment while other considerations flickered in his mind.

    As expected, Allen continued, "Since we''re on the subject, I think, why don''t we cooperate more deeply in this area? Firefly is a media conglomerate, and I suspect you wouldn''t be aiming for a broad expansion of Disney stores, as that''s not Firefly''s focus either. Hasbro canpletely fill the market gaps outside of Disnend and Disney stores. We not only possess a robust product distribution system in North America but also have significant reach in European and Asian markets."

    Eric feigned intense interest yetmented, "Allen, after hearing you say this, I would love for us to coborate, but I must discuss this with management before making any decisions. Regardless of the oue of that discussion, I''ll get back to you as soon as possible."

    Allen hadn''t expected Eric to provide an immediate answer, but he was thrilled at the sentiment.

    Throughout the rapid expansion of Hasbro in the ''80s, they often took a clumsy route of acquisitions to enrich their toy offerings.

    In recent years, Firefly''s strong emergence in CG blockbuster films and 3D animated movies had unveiled a new development route for Hasbro. If a close partnership with Firefly could be formed, the CG films and 3D animated movies produced by Firefly would provide Hasbro with a continuous stream of toy designs. Hasbro had long coveted toys from films like <i>Toy Story</i>, <i>Jurassic Park</i>, and <i>The Lion King</i>; however, Firefly had always been very conservative in coborations on this front, leaving them without opportunities.

    With this intent developed, Allen heartily approved. He nced at the time -- a little past eleven. Lunch was still some time off, and since Eric didn''t extend an invitation to join him, Allen graciously took his leave.

    ...

    After seeing off Allen Hasenfeld, Eric didn''t return to the vi terrace to rx; instead, he dialed Katzenberg''s number.

    Allen Hasenfeld''s cooperation proposal also opened his eyes to another opportunity.

    The potential value of the merchandise surrounding Firefly''s films could be seen from KFC''s willingness to pay $100 million annually for Disney cartoon character licensing.

    The idea Eric previously suggested to Fox to acquire Hasbro wasn''t just about the <i>Transformers</i> rights; he was also interested in Hasbro''s extensive toy production and sales system. Fox was hesitant to take the risk, prompting Eric to contemte acquiring Hasbro himself. However, due to significant investments in high-tech industries in recent years, Erked the necessary funds to seize Hasbro.

    Now, Allen Hasenfeld''s proposal felt like Hasbro was proactivelying to him.

    As long as a close partnership with Hasbro could be established, given Firefly''smanding brand presence, this world-ss toy giant would eventually develop a reliance on Firefly''s brand image.

    Additionally, all contractse with expiration dates. Eric predicted that Firefly''s investments could see arge return around 2000, coinciding with the peak of the inte bubble, at which point he would have sufficient strength to acquire Hasbro.

    Thus, all Firefly needed to do was to sign a five-year contract with Hasbro. The closer their partnership became in those five years, the stronger Hasbro''s reliance on Firefly would be. When the contract expired, Firefly would naturally initiate an acquisition offer, and Hasbro, now tightly bound to Firefly Group, would know exactly how to choose, or they would find themselves with little choice.

    After sharing his thoughts over the phone with Katzenberg, who was quite enthusiastic and dered he would immediately gather the management team to discuss the matter, Eric hung up. He looked at the time -- 11:30 AM.

    Gathering others for a meeting close to lunchtime was... well,ints would certainly not rest on his shoulders.

    Having secretly grumbled about a certain workaholic, Eric made a call to Elisabeth, briefly exining the recent developments. Elisabeth had already heard aboutst night''s events, and although there was a tone of regret in her voice, the situation unexpectedly winding up this way was probably the best oue. After all, without Eric stepping in directly, the chance of Fox snatching up the <i>Transformers</i> rights was slim.

    ...

    After finishing the two calls, Eric returned to the vi terrace, only to notice several women approaching him with curious looks. He smiled and said, "Everyone, it''s noon; let''s get ready to eat... wow."

    With a ssh, before Eric could finish his sentence, five women swiftly picked him up and tossed him into the swimming pool.

    Gasping a bit, Eric steadied himself in the water.

    Hearing the sshes, the five womenughed and jumped into the water, cheekily calling out, "Hey, Mr. Shark, leaving us hanging for so long is a punishment!"

    Eric wiped the water from his face, feigning anger as he red at Cindy Crawford, quickly swimming toward her. "In that case, you all should get ready to face a punishment too."

    "Whoa, ah..."

    "Ha ha!"

    "Run, run!"

    After sshing around for a bit, Eric finally caught hold of a soft, delicate body. To prevent her from escaping, he applied just enough pressure to lift her out of the water and pinned her against the pool''s edge. Shaking his wet hair, when Eric opened his eyes, he found himself staring at Linda Evangeline.

    Instead of acting as a ''captive,'' Linda stretched her long, graceful legs, boldly wrapping them around Eric''s body, her gaze fiery.

    As Eric''s hands began to move, he suddenly recalled something, locking eyes with Linda and asked, "Linda, if I remember correctly, you should be married, right?"

    Linda had divorced her husband two years prior, but at that moment, she showed no inclination to exin. Instead, she provocatively licked her lips, looking at Eric and said, "What''s the matter? Are you scared?"

    Recognizing that the woman in front of him had no reservations, Eric dropped any pretense. The fire inside him only grew stronger as the other women nearby widened their eyes, gasping in either genuine or feigned shock.

    Once the dam of desire was opened, it was hard to close. For the next two days, the five women did not leave and indulged in all kinds of shameless debauchery.

    ...

    By Monday morning, with the Oscarsing up that evening, Cindy Crawford once again forgot to inform her agent about her whereabouts, leading to her agent nearly losing his mind trying to track her down.

    Simultaneously, the five women realized they had a few important matters to wrap up before departing hastily from the estate.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 708 - 709: A Resounding Footfall

    <h4>Chapter 708: Chapter 709: A Resounding Footfall</h4>

    [Chapter 709: A Resounding Footfall]

    After several months of excitement and fanfare, the 1995 award season finally brought its culmination with the 67th Academy Awards.

    Under the influence of Eric, this year''s Oscars looked significantly different from previous ones. The beloved ssic known as <i>Forrest Gump</i> was dyed, while the groundbreaking indie film <i>Pulp Fiction</i> arrived early, and the iconic film that many deemed overlooked, <i>The Shawshank Redemption</i>, had yet to even be made.

    Despite these changes, the interest surrounding this Oscars ceremony was just as strong as in any prior year. The rivalry between <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> and <i>Braveheart</i> had been heavily publicized by the media for months. The five supermodel ambassadors fromst year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> were set to present awards that night. Meanwhile, a certain short man with big sses, who always appeared a bit entric and had previously been embroiled in scandals, was sweeping major nominations with his film <i>Bullets Over Broadway</i>. Of course, he would definitely not be in attendance.

    Most importantly, this Oscars had the potential to feature the first-ever female winner for Best Director, with her nominated film being an exhrating war movie.

    ...

    On March 27, at 5 PM, the red carpet live broadcast by ABC began on schedule.

    Outside the Shrine Auditorium, fans fortunate enough to get spots along the red carpet eagerly awaited to catch a glimpse of the stars.

    Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Jodie Foster, Winona Ryder...

    Each familiar face that appeared on the red carpet elicited cheers from the crowd.

    A limousine pulled up slowly at the end of the red carpet. For Kathryn, this was her first time attending the Oscars. Though she had garnered industry attention before with films such as <i>Point Break</i> and <i>Blue Steel</i>, the controversial subjects of those films meant she had never received significant nominations.

    The limousine, arranged by her agency, was a stretch Lincoln, and she sat alone inside, giving the space an almost empty feeling. ncing nervously at the sea of people outside, she suddenly felt anxious.

    She had always struggled with public appearances.

    When the door swung open, Kathryn hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped out, nervously gripping her clutch as she walked onto the red carpet.

    She ultimately chose to wear the light gray silk gown Eric had gifted her. The dress featured an irregr heart design embroidered on the chest and was cinched at the waist. Its long hemline was beautifullyplemented by her tall frame, giving off an impressive impression of endless legs below the waist.

    Though she felt momentarily flustered, she straightened her back instinctively, hiding any signs of unease behind aposed exterior. This aura of confidence struck a delightful silence among the spectators, most of whom were left to wonder, "Who is this stunning star?"

    It wasn''t until someone called out "Kathryn" that the crowd collectively snapped back to reality, cheering enthusiastically in response.

    "Kathryn, Kathryn, Kathryn..."

    The blinding shes of cameras made her raise her hand instinctively to shield her eyes. She quickly realized that such a gesture was inappropriate and ended up waving gently to the crowd instead, her face breaking into an awkward smile. This only intensified the excitement in the air, and she even heard someone shout, "Kathryn, I love you, marry me!" which was hriously shouted by a woman.

    Standing at the perimeter of the red carpet, her agent gestured multiple times for her to move forward, prompting her to remember to start walking.

    Feeling utterly alone.

    She surprisingly missed that little guy. Even though he had scared her senseless that night, she thought that if someone like him were beside her now, holding onto his arm might somehow ease her nerves. A strong man always provided a sense of security; she used to think that was a ridiculous notion. Yet now, surrounded by a crowd, she suddenly recognized that she might actually need just a little bit of that support.

    Her thoughts tangled, like a maritepletely following her manager''s directions, she walked along the red carpet and joined the cast of <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, finally letting out a breath. But she was quickly ushered away by her agent, who led her inside the auditorium to introduce her for an interview with ABC.

    The content of the interview had already been briefed to her by her agent.

    But when the female hostplimented her on the stunning dress and asked which brand it was from, she found herself at a loss for words.

    A certain shadow suddenly flitted back into her mind.

    She heard he had caused some trouble at a Universal party a couple of days ago, allegedly trying to snatch some movie rights. He really was a handful.

    Rumor had it, he was also tangled up with some women.

    Sigh.

    While she attempted to maintain herposure as an older sister worried over her little brother, she could not shake off certain emotions.

    She just didn''t realize that these feelings were resentment.

    Since he wasn''t attending the Oscars, she had no idea what he might be doing right now.

    ...

    Early in the morning, after sending off the five women from the Manor, Eric hurried over to Firefly headquarters in Burbank.

    Katzenberg was known for his high efficiency. Although it had been the weekend a couple of days prior, by the time Eric arrived at the office, Katzenberg had already prepared a rough coboration proposal with Hasbro.

    Eric wasn''t well-versed in operational matters, so he listened patiently as Katzenberg and the head of the branding division exined things. They debated various points all morning.

    Even during lunch, the discussions continued as Eric dined with Katzenberg, going over several film development details.

    During their meal, Eric shared his vision for the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, igniting Katzenberg''s enthusiasm. Katzenberg jumped on him with fervor, extracting every detail from Eric''s mind. He strongly rmended that the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> be ced under the Lifetime Entertainment Services owned by A&E Networks.

    A&E Networks had originally been a subsidiary of ABC, but at that time it was jointly owned by Firefly Group and Hearst Group, with no controlling interest by either side -- each held 50% of the shares. The smallwork primarily featured basic cable channels, including a history channel, crime and psychology channel, and the Lifetime channel, which focused on content for women.

    Basic cable channels, as opposed to premium channels like HBO and Showtime, were avable to viewers who paid for cable, giving ess to numerous programming options. However, different cable packages offered varying channels. Other channels under Firefly, like Disney and ESPN, were also ssified as basic cable.

    Typically, subscribers would have dozens to hundreds of basic cable channels in their packages, so even the smaller A&E channels had a substantial viewership of 30 to 90 million. Yet, as they had to share audiences with all the other channels in their packages, their actual ratings could vastly differ.

    Katzenberg suggested that Lifetime, even though it was still rtively unknown, had the potential for growth like a seed that needed nurturing. If you didn''t water it or fertilize it, it would never flourish.

    After lunch, this workaholic couldn''t wait to get in touch with the A&E station manager in New York. The team held a long phone meeting thatsted all afternoon, discussing how to further develop Lifetime. Given the professionalism of the television industry specialists in the room, it only took a few hours to draft a detailed development strategy and marketing n.

    The main strategy drew inspiration fromst year''s sess of <i>Survivor</i>, focusing on transforming Lifetime into a channel predominantly featuring reality shows for women.

    Prior to this suggestion, Lifetime mostly aired low-budget roms and women''s dramas, andcked significant scale, primarily relying on purchasing rerun rights for popr shows from majorworks, with minimal original production. Its programming barely qualified inparison to the historical and crime channels avable on A&E Networks.

    But putting this strategy into ce was the best course of action; they wasted no time getting started.

    First, the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> had to be secured.

    Wow.

    What a setup for the boss.

    Although Eric silently criticized the idea in his head, he didn''tck the spirit of adventure. Seeing how driven everyone was after just an afternoon with Katzenberg, he was willing to take a chance too. After all, the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> had rtively low costs and simple format, meaning the chances of losing money were minimal.

    Later, most of the reality shows that took off in North America could trace their roots back to one show: <i>Survivor</i>.

    From his scattered memories, he recognized that the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> was essentially the modeling version of <i>Survivor</i>,plete with the same elimination mechanisms and the inevitable tearful moments every episode, which mirrored the elements that <i>Survivor</i> had utilized.

    But that was what American audiences loved to watch; otherwise, <i>Survivor</i> wouldn''t have set all kinds of astounding viewership records.

    Then Katzenberg took it a step further, leaving Eric thinking that this guy was more than worth his multi-million dor sry each year.

    Not only did he request the A&E manager to rush to Los Angeles tomorrow for more detailed discussions about this venture, but he also invited the heads of Firefly''s television production department to join them in brainstorming the key production details for the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    By the time all these tasks werepleted, it was already 8 PM, 8 PM, 8 PM...

    It seemed like just a few days ago that Eric hadined about how some burdens wouldn''t fall on him, yet ironically, in just a few days, he had be a burden creator himself.

    But as the boss, Eric couldn''t very well tell his employees to "let''s not push so hard" or "let''s head out early."

    So he stayed until night fell.

    ...

    As the Oscars ceremony reached its halfway point, Eric and Katzenberg finally exited the conference room, hurrying to the cafeteria in their headquarters.

    Though they were scheduled to attend a party after the Oscars, Eric, feeling famished, realized there was no way he couldst until then. After a long day of intense work, most people''s first reaction was usually one thing: hungry.

    They ordered dinner and immediately turned on the television in the cafeteria, fully aware of the asion.

    The announcement for the Best Original Screeny was underway.

    Both <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> and <i>Braveheart</i> had received nominations for Best Original Screeny, yet Eric had won that award once before. He knew better than to expect another golden statuette so soon at his age. After getting a nomination, he entirely abandoned hopes for that award and decided not to attend the ceremony.

    Listening to the presenter ramble on, he was initially distracted, but soon he perked up.

    He heard a familiar name mentioned.

    Of course, it wasn''t <i>Braveheart</i>, <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, or that entric man''s <i>Bullets Over Broadway</i>. Okay, <i>Four Weddings and a Funeral</i> was out of the picture as well. While Eric had a vivid memory of the lead actress recounting her thirty-three romantic exploits in that film, he wasn''t paying attention to the screeny''s writer.

    What caught his attention was a film titled <i>Heavenly Creatures</i><i></i>.

    This movie had two screenwriters, one named Fran Walsh, who was more of a side character and unworthy of mention. The other, however, had a name that rang out loud and clear: Peter Jackson.

    Moreover, the two female leads in this film intrigued Eric. One, Kate Winslet, had managed to bravely navigate through the powerful butterfly effect to emerge in Hollywood again, while the other lead actress was Mnie Lynskey, whom Eric found memorable as the quirky neighbor and stalker, Rose from <i>Two and a Half Men</i>.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 709 - 710: A Historic Moment

    <h4>Chapter 709: Chapter 710: A Historic Moment</h4>

    [Chapter 710: A Historic Moment]

    Peter Jackson had dreamed of making the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> series since childhood, but after a lot of ups and downs, he finally saw his dreame true as he approached forty.

    Through the television in the Firefly Group headquarters'' dining room, Eric saw a younger, slimmer Peter Jackson dressed in a poorly fitting ck suit, with messy hair and a tense expression.

    There was little doubt that the Oscar for Best Original Screeny would go to <i>Braveheart</i>, and as soon as Peter''s image was cut from the broadcast, it left behind only a silhouette of disappointment.

    In fact, even if <i>Braveheart</i> hadn''t won, it still wouldn''t have been the turn of <i>Heavenly Creatures</i>, as the scripts of subsequent films like <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, <i>Four Weddings and a Funeral</i>, and <i>Bullets Over Broadway</i> were all much stronger; <i>Heavenly Creatures</i> merely took advantage of its biopic subject matter.

    To Eric, the reason for its nomination was quite simple: its distributor, Miramax.

    Since they had sessfully prated the industry, Eric believed that good things would eventuallye their way, so he hadn''t reached out to Peter Jackson.

    After the Best Original Screeny, a few inconsequential technical awards came and finally arrived at the climax of the ceremony; only the Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture awards remained.

    Everyone in the restaurant perked up.

    The nominees for Best Actress included Jodie Foster from <i>Nell</i>, Winona Ryder from <i>Little Women</i>, Susan Sarandon from <i>The Client</i>, Miranda Richardson from <i>Tom & Vis</i>, and Jessica Lange from <i>Blue Sky</i>.

    Jodie Foster and Winona Ryder definitely had no chance, while Miranda Richardson was another outside contender, given that <i>Tom & Vis</i> was also distributed by Miramax. The Weinstein brothers weren''t likely to change their nomination-selling strategy anytime soon.

    The remaining contenders, Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, both represented heavyweight acting talent in Hollywood; each had garnered at least three Best Actress nominations, making it a close race.

    Eric recalled that Susan Sarandon''s Oscar-winning performance hade in the following year''s <i>Dead Man Walking</i>, meaning that this year''s Best Actress was undoubtedly going to go to Jessica Lange.

    As expected, after an introduction,st year''s Best Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, read Jessica Lange''s name with grace, and the crowd erupted into apuse.

    After the Best Actress was announced, a few minutester,st year''s Best Actress winner, Holly Hunter, walked onstage in a stunning red gown to present the Best Actor award.

    This year''s Best Actor was nearly a foregone conclusion, as indicated by the audience''s reaction. When Holly Hunter read off the nominees and reached Tom Hanks''s name, the apuse from the audience was noticeably louder.

    At the same time, the television screen showed Mel Gibson''s awkward, stiff smile; his nomination for Best Actor was purely the result of the Weinstein brothers'' aggressive PR push, aiming to undermine his Best Director nomination.

    Watching Tom Hanks embrace the members of the <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> crew while walking up to the stage amidst the audience''s cheers, Jeffrey Katzenberg, sitting across from Eric, asked, "Eric, do you think we have it this time?"

    Eric understood Katzenberg was referring to Kathryn''s Best Director nomination and he nodded slightly, smiling, "If she doesn''t win Best Director now, then the Academy really is beyond belief."

    To promote Kathryn''s nomination for Best Director, Eric had tapped into all the connections he had built over the years. Big names like Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Copp had privately supported Eric as well. As for the many directors who had worked with Firefly, they were undoubtedly on board.

    With <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>''s awards eligibility beyond question and the Weinstein brothers agreeing to step back from thepetition, Kathryn''s chances of winning exceeded ny percent.

    Of course, Eric also knew that he should only use this kind of influence for vote-pulling this one time; if he overdid it, the Academy would surely push back against him.

    Feeling confident, Eric began instructing people to prepare the car for the celebratory dinner. ...

    Meanwhile, Kathryn, seated among the <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> team in the grand auditorium, felt immensely anxious; her fingers gripped the armrests tightly as she focused onst year''s Best Director winner, Robert Altman. Although Eric had taken her to several PR parties, he hadn''t shared much more than that with her; she had no idea she was incredibly close to winning the award.

    "And the nominees for Best Director in the 67th Academy Awards are Robert Redford for <i>Quiz Show</i>; Woody Allen for <i>Bullets Over Broadway</i>; Mel Gibson for <i>Braveheart</i>; Krzysztof Kieslowski for <i>Three Colours: Red</i>; and Kathryn Bigelow for <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>."

    Robert Altman took his time introducing the five nominees for Best Director this year. He nonchntly opened the envelope in his hand, nced at it and, with a smile, raised his voice, "Well, the historic moment has arrived..."

    At seventy, Robert Altman spoke at the pace of his film''s gentle long takes, pausing significantly after his statement. Countless eyes turned toward Kathryn, who was desperately attempting to suppress her urge to cover her mouth with her hands, trembling slightly as she patiently waited.

    After creating suspense, Robert Altman continued, "And the Oscar goes to Kathryn Bigelow for <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>. Let''s congratte this lovelydy, the first woman to ever win the Oscar for Best Director."

    The apuse erupted.

    Noticing the tall figure in the fifth row, dressed in a light gray gown, covering her mouth and swaying as she stood, the apuse grew even louder, and a few people also rose to their feet, cheering.

    The Oscars, at its sixty-seventh ceremony, finally weed its first Best Director female winner -- a truly historic moment.

    Even as Kathryn embraced the entire crew on her way to the stage, the apuse did not cease,sting almost two minutes. Only when Kathryn finally regained herposure, taking several deep breaths, did the apuse gradually quiet down when she stood at the microphone.

    "Thank you, thank you, thank you all," Kathryn said, her words somewhat disjointed as she expressed her gratitude. Once everyone settled down, she couldn''t help but scan the audience, seeing countless familiar and unfamiliar faces, but she noticed one missing. As she saw the camera crane slowly turn toward her, she remembered that even if he weren''t in the audience, he was likely watching on television. She instinctively turned her gaze to the dark lens.

    ...

    Back at the Firefly headquarters restaurant, Eric also gazed at the wall-mounted television. In that moment, he could clearly sense the search in Kathryn''s eyes; her emotion seemed almost too apparent. Even Katzenberg, sitting opposite him, gave a mischievous grin, beaming at him.

    On the screen, Kathryn quickly regained herposure and began her eptance speech. Although her tone was somewhat awkward, her excitement masked it well, Eric could still catch her rehearsed hints. He smiled, thinking it was somewhat unfair to put someone up on stage who didn''t even know how to position herself.

    The rest of the awards ceremony proceeded without much interest. <i>Braveheart</i> undoubtedly took home Best Picture, and Mel Gibson was able to take the stage this time as a producer, wedged between two other winners. The audience seemed drained of emotion from the earlier Best Director award, responding less enthusiastically.

    As everything wrapped up, Eric watched the final shot of guests in the grand auditorium rising to leave, prompting him and the Firefly executives to stand. <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> had won five awards, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Editing, so the Firefly executives still needed to be seen at the celebratory party.

    ...

    On the other side of Los Angeles, over a thousand guests slowly exited the auditorium and made their way to waiting cars, scattering off. Older attendees might head straight back to hotels or their homes, but most would be off to various parties that night.

    Due to the three-hour time difference between the coasts and to amodate East Coast viewers, the Oscars had always started at six in the evening on the West Coast and ended at nine. Though it was already past midnight on the East Coast, it was still prime nightlife hours on the West Coast.

    Firefly''s celebration party was arranged at the Sunset Towers Hotel, where Eric and Katzenberg arrived early, finding the party hall still rtively empty.

    However, within five minutes, Sunset Towers was buzzing with activity as countless luxury cars lined up outside.

    Eric soon learned that Fox was also holding their celebration party at the same venue.

    Because she needed to conduct interviews after the Oscars, Kathryn would arrive a bitter, but the rest of the members of <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>''s crew had already shown up. Meanwhile, Elisabeth and the Weinstein brothers had also arrived early. The two parties were on different floors, and Eric understood that Fox''s event would certainly be much livelier. Elisabeth didn''te over to say hello at that moment.

    As more and more people filled the party hall, the Victoria''s Secret Angels, who were there to present the Best Visual Effects award, gradually arrived, along with various members from other films that had received scattered Oscar nominations. Eric even spotted most of the crew from <i>Leon: The Professional</i> -- still petite Natalie Portman, who hadn''t yet gained weight, and a casually dressed Jean Reno.

    <i>Leon: The Professional</i> had been releasedst year but didn''t fare too well in the U.S. box office. Critics had condemned Luc Besson for his overly sexualized portrayal of Natalie Portman''s character.

    However, the film had found great sess in Europe and Asia, and Eric knew that in a few years, with the rise of the Inte, it would be increasingly cherished.

    Even though <i>Leon: The Professional</i> had not gained the critics'' favor and received no Oscar nominations, young Natalie Portman had indeed made her first real step in Hollywood. Following the film''s release, she had even snagged a small role in Warner Bros.'' ensemble film <i>Heat</i>, portraying Al Pacino''s daughter. However, whether she would have future opportunities likending the role of Padme Amid in the <i>Star Wars</i> prequels was something Eric did not concern himself with.

    ...

    About ten minutester, Kathryn finally appeared at the door.

    "Congrattions, Kathryn," Eric said, noticing the little gold statue in her hand, stepping forward to embrace her.

    Kathryn, already feeling overwhelmed, became excited once more upon seeing Eric. She hugged him tightly and said, "Thank you, Eric."

    "You''re wee," Eric smiled and nodded. With so many people around them, they didn''t have time for a lengthy conversation, and Kathryn was soon surrounded by others.

    As Eric watched the lively crowd, he turned to Katzenberg, asking, "Aren''t Roger Allers and the others nning toe?"

    Roger Allers was the director of <i>The Lion King</i>. While <i>The Lion King</i> hadn''t received a Best Picture nomination like at the Golden Globes, it had garnered three for Best Original Song and one for Best Score, which turned out to be a decent showing. Although the hand-drawn animation department had transitioned to Paramount, the majority of <i>The Lion King</i>''s rights still belonged to Firefly, which was unlikely to forget inviting them to the celebration party.

    Katzenberg shook his head and replied, "They won''te, their celebration is over at the Four Seasons Hotel; they definitely want to go there."

    Eric smiled and asked about the situation with Disney''s animated film <i>Monsters, Inc</i>. After chatting for a bit, he spotted the young girl breaking through the crowd, making a beeline for him.

    In such settings, she certainly couldn''t miss out; Eric grinned as she nestled against him at first. He gently pulled her away and then nodded at the twin girls trailing behind her before asking, "How are your filmsing along?"

    "Ugh, so boring, why talk about work now?" she rolled her eyes in response.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 710 - 711: The Vibrancy of Outspokenness

    <h4>Chapter 710: Chapter 711: The Vibrancy of Outspokenness</h4>

    [Chapter 711: The Vibrancy of Outspokenness]

    After politely saying goodbye into the phone''s microphone and hanging up, Harvey Weinstein took a deep breath and turned toward the banquet hall, his face filled with satisfaction.

    The call hade directly from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corp, all the way in New York. Though it was just a simple congrattory message, the fact that it was already past midnight in New York spoke volumes about the importance News Corp ced on Miramax.

    Tonight''s Oscars ceremony truly marked the most glorious moment for Miramax in its sixteen-year history. After being acquiredst year, bolstered by the financial strength of its parentpany News Corp, Miramax had finally shaken off the constraints that had previously restricted its endeavors to small, inconsequential projects. Thanks to films like <i>Braveheart</i>, <i>Bullets Over Broadway</i>, <i>The Piano</i>, and <i>The Crying Game</i>, Miramax had unprecedentedly secured a total of 27 Oscar nominations across all the major categories, ultimately winning 9 golden statues.

    Behind this glory was Miramax''s annual profit of over $200 million in 1994, a figure that approached the profitability of 20th Century Fox''s main operations. Harvey Weinstein, proud and excited, couldn''t help but feel a tinge of regret. If he hadn''t sold thepanyst year or had retained more shares, he would have received a more substantial dividend from Miramax''s annual profits. However, he quickly shook off that thought. Many things in this world had no "what if" attached to them. Just a few years prior, Eric Williams had even made an acquisition offer to Miramax. If that deal had gone through, even if he retained only ten percent or less of Firefly, it would still represent a fortune.

    Shaking his head with a sigh, Harvey Weinstein had just returned to the party hall when a disheveled figure in a ck suit approached him.

    "Hey, Harvey," the man eagerly said, having clearly waited for quite a while, knowing Weinstein was busy. Without beating around the bush, he continued, "I heard Firefly''s celebration is upstairs. Remember that thing I mentioned wanting to talk to you about?"

    Harvey Weinstein made it a point to cultivate good rtionships with talented filmmakers. Although this New Zend director hade up empty-handed tonight, Weinstein didn''t show any sign of neglect. He paused for a moment, recalling, "Peter, are you talking about <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>?"

    Peter Jackson nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Harvey, the film rights for <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> are with Flower Films, right? I was wondering if you could introduce me."

    Due to a certain peculiar ostrich mentality, Harvey Weinstein now found himself reluctant to see yet another rising star shine so brightly in Hollywood. He hesitated slightly, saying, "Peter, look around, there are so many guests to attend to. I really can''t leave right now."

    Peter Jackson, undeterred, replied, "Harvey, it doesn''t matter if you don''t have time. Could you at least send someone to get us into that party? I tried to go up just now, but they wouldn''t let me in."

    "Oh, ha ha..."

    Harvey Weinstein paused for a moment, thenughed heartily while patting Peter Jackson on the shoulder, "That''s no problem at all, Peter."

    With Weinstein''s help, Peter Jackson was no longer stopped at the door and easily made his way into Firefly''s party hall.

    ...

    Although Firefly had only one heavy-hitting Oscar film this time around, the party was clearly more crowded than Fox''s -- there were at least two hundred guests bustling about.

    Weinstein''s assistant Brad Grey escorted Peter Jackson into the party hall and left without any further introductions. Jackson didn''t expect any more than that, and after toasting with a ss of champagne and milling around the crowd for a while, he finally spotted Eric Williams''s figure. However, Eric was surrounded by seven or eight men and women who seemed to be fervently discussing something. Jackson understood it was not the best time to approach, so he patiently waited for Eric to be avable.

    Around Eric were Jeffrey Katzenberg, his former assistant Allen Fisman, the girl draped across his arm, and a group of Victoria''s Secret Angels.

    They weren''t discussing anything too formal; on the surface, it appeared they were chatting aimlessly. However, the Angels seemed to catch a whiff of something and skillfully steered the conversation toward reality television while asionally testing Eric''s reactions.

    Unbeknownst to him, the disheveled figure in a ck suit caught Eric''s eye as he watched him linger for over ten minutes nearby. Eric subtly tilted his lips upward and nudged the girl by his side, "Drew, could you do me a favor and grab a ss of champagne?"

    Drew Barrymore blinked her bright eyes, understanding Eric was trying to shoo her away. Although she found the five towering beauties surrounding him quite annoying, she feigned willingness and stepped away, heading toward the long tableden with drinks.

    ...

    Peter Jackson waited patiently for over ten minutes, noticing that the crowd around Eric showed no signs of dispersing. He was debating whether to keep waiting or to make a move when Drew Barrymore emerged from that group.

    He instantly recognized this as a fabulous opportunity. While the rights to <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> were indeed held by Flower Films, Peter Jackson was aware that the ultimate decision-maker behind Flower was Eric Williams, with Drew merely a figurehead. But as he realized that there was no opportunity to speak with Eric directly, the prospect of engaging with Drew felt worth a shot.

    Although Drew didn''t understand why Eric had pushed her aside, she decided not to dwell on it. She noticed a tall figure in a light gray suit nearby that was equally surrounded by others, and as she prepared to approach this shy yet charming guy, she heard someone call her name, "Miss Barrymore."

    Turning around, she saw a scruffy white guy in a disheveled suit, wondering whether his poor attire was borrowed or stolen; yet her baby face broke into a sweet smile. "Did you call for me, Mister?"

    "Yes," Peter Jackson nodded quickly, extending his hand. "Hello, Miss Barrymore, I''m Peter Jackson, a director."

    "Oh," she grasped his hand, nodding as she awaited him to continue.

    Peter Jackson had contemted many ways to spark a discussion, but faced with the moment, his thoughts scattered. Finally, he managed to say, "You see, Miss Barrymore, I have been a Tolkien fan since childhood, and bing a director was always my dream -- to bring <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> to the big screen. I heard that Flower Films holds the rights, so I hope to secure a chance to direct."

    Drew asked, "Have you directed anything simr to this before?"

    Jackson shook his head, "Not yet, but I''ve been preparing for years, working on script adaptations, scouting locations, and character designs. If I could just get a shot, I''m sure I could convince you."

    Drew blinked and replied, "Then tell me about your filming ideas; I want to hear."

    Jackson cast a nce at Eric nearby, hesitating as to whether discussing these concepts with this golden-haired beauty was of any use. Drew noticed his change in demeanor and smiled slyly, asking, "You say you''ve prepared for this film for years, yet youck the patience to even share your thoughts with me?"

    Realizing his blunder, Peter Jackson knew he had to seize this opportunity. He straightened up and said, "So, Miss Barrymore, first off, I believe <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> shouldn''t just be a single film. It should be a trilogy; otherwise, it would be a wasted opportunity to fully showcase Tolkien''s grand world."

    Drew nodded, in agreement. "Eric mentioned something simr."

    Upon hearing that, Jackson felt energized. "In my proposed script, the story would start with Bilbo Baggins''s 111th birthday. The One Ring, crafted by the Dark Lord Sauron thousands of years ago, eventually found its way to Bilbo. During his birthday party, he proudly showcased the ring, prompting Gandalf to recognize its power. At Gandalf''s urging, Bilbo handed the ring to his nephew Frodo Baggins while Sauron, having awakened from centuries of slumber, dispatched the nine Ringwraiths to reim the One Ring..."

    Noticing that Drew was engaged with the story, Jackson dove into the narrative, sharing the twists and turns of the plot with ease while answering her asional questions. Half an hour had passed before he concluded his thoughts.

    Though she had purchased the rights to Tolkien''s works as Eric requested, Drewcked the patience to read through all of them. Yet at that moment, she was thoroughly engrossed and, looking towards Eric, saw that the five tall beauties had disappeared. She turned back to Peter Jackson and said, "Come with me, I''ll introduce you to the person you want to meet."

    Peter Jackson felt a bit awkward upon hearing that, realizing his intentions had been guessed, yet he didn''t hesitate and closely followed her.

    ...

    "Eric, this is Peter Jackson. He wants to do <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> and just shared some ideas with me -- pretty good!" she sinctly introduced.

    Eric smiled as he shook Jackson''s hand, "Hello, Mr. Jackson."

    "Hello, Mr. Williams."

    "I saw you two talking for quite a while -- was it about this?"

    Jackson nodded, "Yes, Mr. Williams. Miss Barrymore is a very patient listener."

    Eric turned to Drew, asking, "So, what do you think?"

    "He''s put a lot of thought into this; I think he should have a chance to try."

    Since the opportunity had presented itself, Eric didn''t want to waste energy being aloof. He replied to Peter Jackson, "If that''s the case, you can head to Flower Films headquarters tomorrow and talk with Amy Pascal. However, there''s one more thing: even if it''s negotiated sessfully, the project won''t be able tounch for a few years, so you''d better prepare yourself."

    Upon hearing Eric''s word, Peter Jackson felt a mix of emotions -- he was thrilled to see some light ahead but perplexed about what Eric meant by ''a few years.''

    Fortunately, Drew asked for him, "Eric, when will it actually start? I have no shortage of funding here."

    "Probably one or two years," Eric replied with a smile. "Once you have the independent distribution capability to release the film, it''ll be around that time."

    Understanding Eric''s insinuation, Drew guessed that he meant after Flower Films secured MGM.

    Given the current situation, it seemed like it wouldn''t take long. MGM had been struggling for years, and the production department was almost nonexistent, with only the distribution side still intact. Flower Films needed MGM''s distributionwork.

    ...

    After exchanging contact information and sending Peter Jackson on his way, Eric turned his attention back to Katzenberg and Allen, asking a different question, "Who do you think would be more suitable among those girls?"

    Eric was referring to the candidates for the host of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. His previous conversation with the Victoria''s Secret Angels had also served as a sort of examination.

    Allen nced at Katzenberg, who replied without hesitation, "Eric, Diane Kruger wouldn''t be suitable. Her age and that cutesy vibe wouldn''t resonate with the nature of the show."

    Hearing Katzenberg''s quick dismissal of Diane Kruger, Eric shrugged, "Jeffrey, do you really think I''m the type to be stubborn and only favor my own?"

    Katzenberg smiled, secretly wondering what Eric''s thoughts truly were. He still felt that Eric''s choice of the Wachowski brothers to direct <i>The Matrix</i> was a bit hasty; if Eric were to let Diane Kruger host <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, he wouldn''t be too surprised. It would just seem rather chaotic.

    "Additionally, Miss Turlington''s high street fashion vibe is too strong, and she doesn''t seem very articte -- she wouldn''t be suitable for a reality show requiring close interaction. That leaves Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Tyra Banks. Tyra''s a bit young and inexperienced, and her skin tone may not be favorable, but she certainly has an exuberant energy that gives her a notable edge over the other two."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 711 - 712: The New Wave of Technology

    <h4>Chapter 711: Chapter 712: The New Wave of Technology</h4>

    [Chapter 712: The New Wave of Technology]

    Ultimately, the discussion surrounding the potential hosts for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> focused on Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and Tyra Banks.

    The title of supermodel had initially risen to prominence with Linda Evangelista, making her the most persuasive choice to host the show. Prior to the <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>, Cindy Crawford frequently appeared on television programs. Though, after the show, all five models held simr public recognition, Cindy still had the advantage of experience in hosting TV programs.

    Tyra Banks brought a lively personality to the table, and it was evident that she would easily connect with the contestants, making her quite approachable. However, a ring w stood out; Tyra was born in 1973, which made her just 22 years old at the time. While she gained significant fame from the <i>Victoria''s Secret Shows</i>, her youth could be a challenge for the role. If not for this, Eric wouldn''t even have to think about the host for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> in this timeline.

    After quite the discussion, the final decision rested with Eric.

    Honestly, despite what happened in the previous days, Eric didn''t have a deep understanding of these five women. His memories from the past mostly came from various media outlets. Now that he found himself here, it would be foolish for Eric to take media information at face value.

    The reforms for Lifetime Television and the ns for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> were just beginning, so Eric wasn''t in a hurry; he intended to have a detailed discussion with thedies before reaching a decision.

    ...

    Before they knew it, night fell softly, and as Eric listened to Luc Besson share ideas for a sci-fi film, he heard Kathryn''s voice beside him: "Eric, it''ste. I think I should head home."

    Noticing Kathryn approaching, Luc Besson raised his ss and smiled, subtly excusing himself.

    Kathryn looked a bit embarrassed at the moment. "I didn''t interrupt your conversation, did I?"

    "Of course not," Eric shook his head.

    Checking his watch, it was just past eleven. The party was still quite lively, with not many guests leaving. However, for Kathryn, who was known for her strict routine, it was undoubtedly quitete already.

    Eric looked at Kathryn, who held her little golden trophy tightly in front of her, a hint of tension and panic crossing her face. He smiled and said, "Shall I give you a ride home?"

    "No, no need," Kathryn instinctively shook her head, the hint of tension and panic spilling over her pretty face.

    "You''ve had a drink; driving yourself isn''t safe. I wouldn''t feel right about that," Eric said, gesturing toward the exit.

    Kathryn shifted a bit, suddenly saying, "You''ve been drinking too."

    "I have a driver,e on," Eric replied.

    As Kathryn followed Eric towards the door, she murmured, "I can take a cab home."

    "Do you think you can just wave down a cab like a heroine in a movie? It''s the middle of the night; there aren''t any cabs around," Eric joked, waving over to Katzenberg to signal him to handle the next arrangements.

    ...

    When they reached the parking lot, Eric personally opened the car door for Kathryn and sat next to her after confirming her address with the driver.

    The streets near Sunset Boulevard were still bright with lights, though the traffic and pedestrians had thinned out considerably.

    As they drove through Sunset Boulevard, seeing Kathryn clutching her trophy, Eric couldn''t shake the feeling that he was sitting next to a naive little girl. He smiled and said, "How''s the script for <i>The Thin Red Line</i>ing along with Terrence Malick?"

    "It''s... going okay. There are some minor disagreements on details, but nothing major. Next month, we''re nning a trip to Guadalcanal for a field study; Terrence wants to shoot on location."

    Eric nodded. "Oh, have you thought about when you might start shooting?"

    Although the film would be backed by Firefly, it didn''t fall under Firefly''smercial film category, which allowed Eric to take a rxed approach, enabling Kathryn and Terrence Malick to make their own decisions.

    "Next year, I think I''d like to have more time to prepare," Kathryn said after a brief hesitation.

    The two chatted casually, unaware until the car came to a stop outside a residence in Coldwater Canyon.

    They stepped out, greeted by old streetmps, their yellow light illuminating a power pole covered in dark moss, looking quite weathered and about to copse.

    "Well then, good night," Eric said, opening his arms to Kathryn.

    Kathryn cautiously moved closer, embraced him briefly, and then released him, saying, "Good night."

    After she turned to walk toward the door, Eric recalled something and called out, "Kathryn?"

    She froze, turning back, "W-what?"

    Eric pointed at the trophy in her hand. "In theing days, we might need you to participate in a few interviews. I hope you''ll be prepared."

    "Oh, I understand." She said, ncing at him. After locking eyes for just a couple of seconds and realizing he had nothing more to say, she hurriedly retreated into the yard.

    Eric chuckled, returned to the car, and as Carter Moen started the vehicle, he couldn''t help but tease, "Boss, this isn''t quite your style."

    "Just drive, I already feel like I''m imposing on a little girl here."

    Carter Moen efficiently turned the car around, "Ms. Bigelow definitely feels something for you; otherwise, she wouldn''t be acting so flustered."

    "Always feels like something is stillcking," Eric quasi-answered.

    ...

    The next day, the news of the first-ever female Best Director winner at the Oscars dominated major media outlets worldwide, triggering jubtion everywhere.

    At the same time, Firefly took the opportunity tounch a new round of promotional efforts for <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>''s videotape. Riding the waves of Kathryn winning Best Director, the following week, the North American sales of <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>''s video quickly surpassed 1 million copies.

    In Europe, since the release of this video came after North America, there was significant market demand; thus, with Firefly''s promotional support, the weekly sales figures there easily surpassed North America, reaching nearly 1.5 million copies. In just a week, the videotape sales for <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> generated $75 million in revenue for Firefly. Internal forecasts suggested that the final videotape sales would exceed $500 million, possibly even surpassing the film''s global box office receipts.

    Since moviepanies typically don''t disclose videotape sales figures, most people remained focused on Kathryn''s Oscar win.

    However, inside Hollywood, the astonishing videotape sales of <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> stirred excitement. Major filmpanies promptly began seeking excellent war film scripts, leading to significant attention on Kathryn''s uing project, <i>The Thin Red Line</i>, which even sparked a bit of a legal dispute.

    It turned out that before Terrence Malick approached Eric, he had already engaged various productionpanies to make this film, including all six major studios. This wasn''t the issue. The critical element was that during discussions with a small independent studio named Phoenix, Terrence had signed a letter of intent, authorizing Phoenix to raise production funds for <i>The Thin Red Line</i> back in 1988.

    Given the film''s high budget and significant risks, Phoenix hadn''t managed to secure a single cent. ording to industry practices, such a letter of intent would generally be considered null and void in such circumstances.

    Ideally, the situation would simply pass on, and the project would smoothly transition to Firefly.

    Yet after Kathryn won the Oscar for Best Director and <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> saw phenomenal sess in the tape market, perhaps due to instigations from some, Robert Geisler, the producer from Phoenix, resurfaced, iming that ording to their original agreement, Phoenix had gathered sufficient funds for <i>The Thin Red Line</i> and demanded Firefly return the rights for the film''s production and distribution.

    Such ridiculous situations weremon in Hollywood. Eric didn''t overly concern himself, leaving the matter to Firefly''s legal department.

    He had read the script for <i>The Thin Red Line</i> and retained several details about it, knowing it was not destined to be a blockbuster.

    Furthermore, he was aware that Phoenix might simply be trying to involve themselves in the investment. As long as it didn''t interfere with the film''s production, Eric was amenable to relinquishing a portion of the investment rights. However, if they didn''t know their ce, Eric wouldn''t hesitate to let them experience Firefly''s wrath.

    ...

    Post-Oscars, Eric focused primarily on reforming Lifetime Television and preparing for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    Lifetime Television was established in the early 1980s following the merger of two small TV stations owned by ABC and Hearst, bing part of the A&E Network.

    For the first several years, Lifetime consistently ran at a loss, only managing to break even by thete ''80s.

    At this time, Lifetime reportedly had 30 million users, including all theoretical users across various cable TV packages.

    However, just like in Eric''s memories of the under-watchedw, educational, or foreignnguage channels, Lifetime had be a neglected channel, with even its more popr programs usually garnering fewer than 2 million viewers. Due to the consistently mediocre ratings, major cable providers often threatened to drop the channel because, much like with the inte, cable signal transmission also consumed bandwidth.

    Before Katzenberg brought up Lifetime, Eric had nearly forgotten the channel was still part of Firefly''s holdings.

    Once nsmenced, Eric began learning more about Lifetime Television.

    In the ''80s, Lifetime reran programs produced by ABC Network, asionally picking up a few inexpensive low-cost women''s films. The programming could only be described as nd and unexciting.

    It wasn''t until the early ''90s, with ABC''s renewed performance buoyed by parentpany support, that Lifetime began attempting to produce its own TV movies or mini-series. However, their annual output averages barely reached two films, which was minusculepared to ABC''s need to air dozens of new shows each year.

    Thus, reforming such an obscure channel was no easy task.

    Fortunately, the executives at Firefly were filled with confidence, drawing inspiration from ESPN''s transformation from fewer than 300,000 local users to the nation''s leading sportswork. They quickly crafted detailed development ns.

    On another front, while cable television emerged in the ''80s, it didn''t truly flourish until thetter half of the ''90s. The rise of high-tech industries stimted not only the growth of the inte but also led to significant expansions in the cable TVwork.

    Many ssic cable dramas began surfacing prominently in thetter half of the ''90s. Among these, the most renowned productions from HBO under Time Warner stood out. From Eric''s perspective, the U.S. cable TV market was on an upward trajectory.

    With the new wave of technology just beginning, while the major focus remained on intepanies, substantial investments also flowed into the television sector. Firefly boasted a solid internal funding chain, eliminating the need to constantly seek financing from external investment banks or foreign film funds. Still, therge investment influx into television indirectly provided Firefly with an expanded tform.

    Concurrently, the regtions governing the U.S. cable television industry began to loosen rapidly;rge-scale consolidations had already started the previous year. The reason Barry Diller and Sumner Redstone lost the battle for Vi was primarily that the parentpany, QVC, merged with AT&T, which was a major cable operator.

    In this context of the industry''s resurgence, it was a prime opportunity to position themselves within the cable television sector. After all, ording to Eric''s memories, while public television might not entirely fade away, it would gradually be overshadowed by the more premium content offered on cable stations. Moreover, many cable channels hadn''t yet taken stock of the opportunities about to arise, which meant if Lifetime Television could establish itself ahead of time, it could potentially rece some of those channels that might have otherwise thrived.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 712 - 713: One-Tenth

    <h4>Chapter 712: Chapter 713: One-Tenth</h4>

    [Chapter 713: One-Tenth]

    Revitalizing a televisionwork couldn''t rely on just one hit show. However, a program that generated buzz and garnered widespread media attention could significantly enhance the channel''s visibility, attracting more viewers. Once the momentum had built up, continuously producing quality programming could lead thework into a healthy cycle of growth.

    That was precisely what Eric hoped for with <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    The Firefly Group didn''t have any major acquisition ns for the next few years, but that didn''t mean they would cease to expand and develop. Prior to Eric proposing <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, Katzenberg had already begun ramping up investments in Firefly''s music division. Though Eric wasn''t fervently passionate about Katzenberg''s ns, he didn''t obstruct them either. Thanks to strict copyright protectionws, the music industry, while heavily impacted by the inte era, hadn''tpletely copsed despite bing increasingly sluggish.

    In addition to the music business, developing more structuredmercial operations around popr films was one of the key development ns for Firefly over the next few years. The uing toy coboration talks with Hasbro were part of this n.

    Upon hearing the idea for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, the spirited Katzenberg immediately suggested revitalizing the Lifetimework.

    As mentioned earlier, even if <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> achieved great sess, sustaining a televisionwork would require more than just one hit show.

    After several brainstorming sessions, management quickly developed a detailed original programming,work resource reutilization, scheduling, and marketing n. Fireflymitted to investing $100 million each year for three years into programming, acquisitions, and marketing for Lifetime, aiming to create a dedicated women''swork focused on fashion and high-quality living for young women.

    Lifetime''s parentpany, A&E Networks, was jointly owned by Firefly Group and Hearst Corporation. Thus, this reform n for Lifetime needed to be discussed with Hearst for resource support. Hearst owned hundreds of daily papers, weeklies, and magazines worldwide, and these print resources remained indispensable for promoting a women-focused channel.

    ...

    Post-Oscars, the awards season had finally concluded, and Eric had wrapped up most of the film projects that required his attention. Yet, before he could even take a few days to rest, a barrage of new tasks flooded in.

    With Hearst''s headquarters in New York and A&E''s also located there, if ns went forward, most of Lifetime''s programming would be produced in New York. For numerous reasons, Eric needed to head to New York to engage in relevant discussions and nning.

    At the same time, the birthdays of his two little ones were approaching, and Easter fell on April 16 that year. During such special asions, he always made it a point to spend time with his women and kids.

    Hasbro''s headquarters in Rhode Ind was very close to New York, so negotiations regarding their toy development coboration would take ce there as well.

    Discussions regarding Firefly Investments and telmunications operator Sprint had already begun, involving over a billion dors in investments, and certain key events warranted Eric''s personal attendance. Both Firefly Investments and Sprint had their headquarters in New York.

    On the flight to New York, Eric briefly reviewed his schedule and realized that once he wrapped up these tasks, summer movie season would be upon him.

    ...

    As soon as he stepped off the ne, he dove headfirst into work.

    At the ABC headquarters in Manhattan''s Upper West Hydee, a meeting was in progress involving senior executives from Firefly Networks, A&E management, and representatives from Hearst Corporation. At Eric''s invitation, William Hearst, the third-generation head of the Hearst family, was also present.

    "...ording to 1994 data, Lifetime had 31.5 million subscribers. Cable operators like Comcast, Time Warner, and TCI paid an average monthly subscriber fee of 15 cents per subscriber. Last year, Lifetime earned $56.7 million from operator fees, $33.5 million in ad revenue, bringing annual revenue to $90.2 million with a profit of $13.8 million. We n to utilize three years to expand Lifetime''s subscriber base to between 60 million and 90 million, increasing the operator fee to 25 cents, and we expect to surpass operator revenue with ad ie through a series of quality programs, aiming for annual revenues of $500 million and a profit of $100 million."

    After delivering his brief report, as Katzenberg was ready to continue to the next topic, William Hearst raised his head, tapping on the documents in front of him. Without acknowledging Katzenberg directly, he looked across the table at Eric and said, "Eric,st year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> generated direct profits and indirect stock value increases exceeding $1.5 billion for you. Doesn''t this n seem a bit modest inparison?"

    Leaning back in hisfortable leather chair, Eric twirled a pencil in his fingers habitually and smiled, "William,st year was entirely unexpected. We need to take things step by step. Given what Lifetime has in ce, achieving that goal in three years is already an excellent oue. Last year, Firefly''s total profit from all television operations was over $600 million."

    William Hearst scrutinized the young man seated across from him and said, "I''m not particrly focused on television, but something feels iplete about this n. Or rather, some aspects haven''t been rified."

    Without directly confronting him, Eric replied in a roundabout way, "This is just a draft; it definitely requires revisions. Otherwise, we wouldn''t be holding this meeting today."

    William Hearst observed Eric''s slightly rxed smile, "Eric, I mean, regarding the production of original programming for Lifetime, this n seems tock rity on how we''re proceeding with that, doesn''t it?"

    Eric responded, "Oh, I believe there shouldn''t be any disagreement here. Besides news programming, all other shows for thework would be produced by Firefly''s entertainment division, following the usual practice."

    As the two executives squared off, those present fell silent, patiently listening.

    As industry elites, most attendees understood what the two were discussing. By this point, even the rather confused note-taker began to grasp the situation.

    Eric and William were engaging in a discussion about the copyright ownership of Lifetime''s original programming.

    Typically, a television show''s producer sells its broadcast rights to awork, receiving only a small portion of the revenues, often insufficient to cover production costs.

    Most of a television show''s revenue actuallyes from the sale of VHS tapes and syndication rights after its initial broadcast, known as syndication. Shows distribute their content via syndication systems to numerousworks across the United States and more than a hundred other countries; the profits from these sales often far exceed that from the initial broadcast. In fact, the profits from popr shows'' tape sales and syndication can sometimes reach ten times the production costs. That''s also why many lead actors in television series earn such high sries per episode; without those tape sales and syndication,works would never be able to offer such exorbitant wages relying solely on advertising and cable division revenues from the initial broadcasts.

    Most production and distribution departments in televisionworks operate as one unit, so they don''t have to differentiate these issues.

    However, the situation with Lifetime and A&E was different. A&E was jointly owned by Firefly and Hearst, with each holding a 50% stake. If Lifetime''s original programming were produced by A&E, Hearst would share in the profits from tape sales and syndication. Yet, if the shows were produced by Firefly''s division, the copyrights would be unrted to A&E, which meant even though Hearst wouldn''t need to bear production investment risks, they would also miss out on any profits from tape sales and syndication. That was the reason William had just called the n ''stingy.'' If ad revenues and cable fees alone could $100 million in profit, that would be meagerpared to what tape sales and syndication revenues could bring.

    Though Hearst retained a giant presence in the print media world, theycked enough confidence in television operations, and William recognized that Eric''s invitation to this meeting was not as straightforward as it seemed. He decided to y along: "Eric, I believe it''s more suitable for A&E to handle the production of these original programs. Hearst can proportionally provide the production funding, and if there are needs for print media resources, we can try to amodate."

    A glimmer of interest sparked in Eric, and he straightened up, "Speaking of proportions, William, I think the shareholding ratio between Firefly and Hearst in ESPN aligns better. Don''t you think?"

    Even though he had been prepared for such a discussion, William almost tossed the documents in his hand at Eric when he heard that. He immediately shook his head, "Eric, that''s not going to happen. Absolutely not."

    Firefly and Hearst held equal shares in A&E, but it was different for ESPN, where Hearst only owned 20%pared to Firefly''s 80%. Initially, Hearst and the Metropolitan media group had equal stakes in ESPN, but in the 1980s, as ESPN was on the rise, Tom Murphy bought up most of the ESPN shares from Hearst and other minor stakeholders for less than $50 million. Now ESPN was the number one sports channel in North America, with revenues exceeding $200 million in 1995. The shares sold off by Hearst back then each generated profits beyond $50 million annually.

    Given this past lesson, William was adamant that he wouldn''t repeat such a mistake.

    Hearing William''s vehement refusal, Eric shrugged, "William, if you don''t agree, so be it."

    William fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Eric, I''ve heard your ideas about <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. This project requires extensive support from print resources. Firefly sold off all its print assetsst year. Without Hearst, it would be challenging for you to grow this project significantly on your own."

    "William, I see this as a win-win situation. We gain resources, and you receive more news material," Eric replied, shaking his head and shing a confident smile. "Besides, you''re mistaken, Hearst isn''t the only yer here; there''s also Conde Nast and News Corp., with which Firefly has solid rtionships. I even have Yahoo, which although not yet on par with traditional print media in influence, oveps significantly with the young female audience Lifetime targets. I''m sure you noticed the media potential Yahoo demonstrated duringst year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>."

    William opened his mouth but couldn''t find the right words to counter.

    Though reluctant to concede, he had to admit internally that while Hearst was a powerful yer in the media sector, they weren''t essential for Firefly, yet without Firefly, it would be hard for Hearst to grow A&E further.

    The current situation was that Eric hadid down his conditions: Firefly wanted majority ownership of A&E. If Hearst opposed, they would lose out on most of the potential profits from Lifetime as it expanded. Conversely, if theypromised, Hearst could be in danger of repeating their past mistakes with ESPN.

    After a round of internal conflict, William stated, "Eric, having Firefly aiming for 80% ownership is absolutely impossible. We could possibly relinquish absolute control, allowing you to reshape thework as you see fit. How does that sound?"

    Eric shook his head, "William, Hearst''s focus is on print media; I don''t think you need to stubbornly cling to these television assets. How about this? I''ll take a step back: Firefly will settle for 75%. That''s my bottom line."

    "No, no, no, Eric, the maximum is 55%. Any higher and I''d rather forfeit A&E''s production powers and maintain the status quo."

    "Hey, William, did you know thatst year''s <i>ER</i> had a production cost of less than $30 million but garnered over $150 million in syndication profits from just the first season? We''ll soon be releasing tapes, which will bring additional revenue. And then there''s the advertising revenue: $45 million, with profits only a fraction of what syndication provides -- a fraction!"

    William appeared exasperated, "But you can''t expect that kind of windfall from every series, can you? Well, okay, Eric, 60%. Any more than that, and I might face inquiries from shareholders."

    "You can''t fool me, William; the Hearst family has always firmly controlled Hearst Corporation, and no one would oppose your decision. It''s 70%, the highest Firefly can handle. If you can''t ept it, Firefly might consider acquiring another cablework on its own."

    "..."

    "..."

    As the attendees listened to the two bosses exchange rapid-firementary, reflecting keen minds and quick pace, inferring shrewdness and strategy from even their light-hearted remarks, they were taken aback, as people rarely engage in negotiations akin to market bartering.

    After more than ten minutes of back-and-forth, both parties finally reached apromise they could begrudgingly ept: Firefly would hold 65% ownership while Hearst retained 35%, with A&E responsible for producing Lifetime''s programs and Hearst providing ample support in print media resources.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 713 - 714: Split in Two

    <h4>Chapter 713: Chapter 714: Split in Two</h4>

    [Chapter 714: Split in Two]

    "Eric, I think if you stand firm, it wouldn''t be a problem for Firefly to acquire 70% of the shares from A&E Network. The Hearst Group doesn''t have any leverage in this matter," Jeffrey Katzenberg said with a hint of regret during their lunch after the meeting.

    Holding his te, Eric was at the buffet table with Katzenberg, picking out food. He turned to nce at William Hearst not far away, who was chatting andughing with Tom Murphy. He said, "For Lifetime Television to develop, it definitely requires significant initial investment. The Hearst Group''s involvement not only helps share the investment risk but their media channels worldwide are also crucial. Plus, we already have absolute control now, so the Hearst Group won''t have any leverage going forward, right?"

    Eric''s tone hinted at some lingering thoughts. Katzenberg immediately caught on, grinning slyly, revealing a row of prominent teeth. Once Lifetime Television took off, as the majority shareholder, Firefly could easily dilute the Hearst Group''s shares.

    After they finished choosing their food, they found a table to sit at. Katzenberg asked, "I missed the kids'' birthdays the other day and had Peter deliver gifts for me. Did you receive them?"

    "Of course, they all loved them," Eric nodded, then added, "What about you? Are you nning to go back to Los Angeles for Easter?"

    "Marilyn and the kids all came to New York this year to celebrate with my parents, so I''m luckily not running around," Katzenberg replied. He married early, and his wife''s name was Marilyn Siegel; they had a pair of twins.

    ...

    After a moment of casual conversation, the two men naturally drifted back to work. The higher-ups at the group had been focusing their energy on discussing the overall development n for Lifetime Televisiontely, somewhat neglecting the specific production of programs.

    During the morning meeting, after discussions with the Hearst Group, the final n took shape. Now, Katzenberg started to worry about the host for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. This had been a topic of discussion since the Oscars, yet it remained unresolved. Eric found himself vaciting between Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista, while Tyra Banks, the "original host," was excluded due to age concerns.

    "Eric, there''s less than half a year until the fall lineup in September. Reality shows need to be produced all at once; we don''t have much time to waste. Have you decided which of Linda Evangelista or Cindy Crawford to go with?" Katzenberg pressed.

    Eric hesitated, saying, "I''ve been thinking about this too. Both of them are incredible, so Jeffrey, what do you think about splitting them?"

    Katzenberg frowned slightly. "Eric, you mean having them alternate as hosts? That''s not a good idea. Switching hosts could easily distract the audience."

    "No, what I mean is, since we now have a $100 million project budget, why not kick off two reality shows at the same time, with them as hosts?"

    Katzenberg became interested. "Eric, do you have a good idea?"

    "That''s what I''ve been struggling with recently. I have some thoughts, but I''m not too familiar with this area."

    Katzenberg wore a puzzled expression, not fully understanding what Eric meant.

    "I''m saying," Eric continued, "this idea rtes tost year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>. During the preparation period for that project, designers brought forth dozens of angel costume designs every week, but in the end, only about forty were selected. The elimination process was incredibly fierce, and several designers didn''t even have any of their designs used. I''ve been thinking, since we can host a modelpetition, why can''t we create a reality show that focuses on fashion design? The only problem is, I don''t know enough about fashion design to know if this is a good n."

    What Eric was referring to was thepeting show, <i>Project Runway</i>. The two programs wereunched around the same time and were considered rivals with nearly equal ratings. Furthermore, as the hosts of these programs, Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum had both, at one point, topped <i>Forbes</i>'' list of highest-paid TV actresses.

    Unfortunately, Eric had never been particrly interested in fashion design in his former life; while he had skimmed a few episodes of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> just to see the models, he hadn''t watched a single episode of <i>Project Runway</i>.

    In contrast to Eric''s hesitation, Katzenberg was quite optimistic. "Eric, often a sessful project starts with a single thought. Walt Disney got the idea for Disnend by watching his daughter y. He probably had no idea how to create a theme park back then, but now Disnend exists all over the world. Plus, I think your idea might be even better than <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    There are countless individuals in America who are very interested in design. Many slightly well-known celebrities love tounch their personal brands, but many lesser-known designers struggle to gain recognition. If we can provide a tform for a fashion design reality show, not only will it attract talented designers, but the audience, who cherish their design dreams, would love to watch it too.

    As for the fashion design aspects, we can let professionals handle that. The Hearst Group has so many world-ss fashion magazines; they could easily bring in an editor-in-chief to serve as the artistic consultant for this reality show, and Cindy and Linda, being supermodels for so many years, would surely have better taste in fashion than most ordinary designers -- they''d be excellent hosts."

    "Well, they''re in New York right now too. Since Easter ising up, I''ll take some time to think it over and discuss it with them," Eric conceded, reassured by Katzenberg''s words. His initial hesitation stemmed from wanting to y it safe; after all, just as they began reforms at Lifetime Television, if they encountered failure with an original program, which could heavily impact future ns for thework.

    Thinking it over, it made sense to start production and see how it went. If the show''s quality didn''t meet his expectations, they could shelve the project. Besides, the potential loss would only amount to a few million dors.

    ...

    Easter falls on the first Sunday after the spring equinox, and students usually had a week off for spring break, though it wasn''t a national holiday.

    Yet, it was still the weekend. Eric returned early to East Hampton on Long Ind, nning to spend time with his women and kids. This year, Easter came muchter than usual; it typically fell in March, but this year it was April 16.

    At the same time, DreamWorks officially released <i>Resident Evil</i>, distributed by MGM, a week before Easter in 2,500 theaters.

    The movie, which cost $30 million to make, was considered moderately budgeted.

    Eric chose not to use the version he remembered from the movies, opting instead for a storyline based on the game. Compared to Mi''s live-action role, he preferred the two 3D animated films produced by Ca based on the game''s narrative, especially the battle scenes featuring Jill Valentine and the president of Eastern Europe in <i>Resident Evil: Vendetta</i>. Those scenes were simply outstanding. Although it wasn''t possible to start with <i>Resident Evil: Vendetta</i>, he could always change the viin, and since the script included Ada Wong, he could definitely work those action sequences into the film. So, during the scriptwriting process, Eric had even sketched out some storyboard scenes to share with the writers and invited action coordinators from Hong Kong for those fight scenes during production.

    Undoubtedly, the results were excellent.

    Once the film released, audiences most enjoyed the epic showdown of Leroy Washington against the Tyrant and the closebat between Ada Wong, portrayed by a rising star, and the main antagonist. Kelly Hu''s performance propelled her into fame, making her a beloved action star among fans.

    Although media reviews generally weren''t high, the film''s solid plot, well-developed setting, and sufficient highlights led to a strong $23 million opening weekend. Industry estimates predicted the film''s North American gross could reach around $60 million, which would nearly recoup production costs. Eric knew well that <i>Resident Evil</i>''s key market wasn''t North America but overseas. In his previous life, none of the <i>Resident Evil</i> movies had exceeded $100 million in North America, yet the series became the first to break the $1 billion mark in global box office revenue for video game adaptations.

    Despite some media personalities mocking the film as Eric''s worst-performing Hollywood debut, when the opening weekend numbers came in, executives at MGM and DreamWorks quickly reached out to Eric, eager to start ns for a sequel.

    ...

    At his vi in East Hampton, Eric hung up the phone with MGM CEO Frank Mancuso and stood up to head outside.

    It was April 15, a Saturday.

    On Friday, the box office for <i>Resident Evil</i>''s second week was published, showing a 30% drop from the previous week''s opening, which adjusted the total revenue back to $70 million. Hence, Frank Mancuso called once again, excited to share good news while discussing sequel ns. Eric had no objections.

    April in New York saw the weather just warming up, and today was sunny and lovely with moderate temperatures.

    In the backyard of the vi, Joanna and Virginia were seated at a table with the kids, decorating Easter eggs.

    Eric walked out of the vi, bypassed the swimming pool, and approached thewn. He picked up Emma, who was dashing over to show off her little colored egg, and came to the table, catching sight of Ewa Pac, who had quickly appeared after just a brief phone call. He smiled and said, "What brought you here?"

    Ewa, not pleased, poked him with a paintbrush. "Did my sisterin about me, and now you''re doing it too?"

    "Me? How could Iin about you?" Ericughed as he dodged her poke and set Emma down on a small chair. The little one immediately reached for the paintbrush on the table, forgetting all about Eric.

    Eric looked around; Virginia was holding Kevin''s hand and carefully drawing patterns on an egg, clearly enjoying herself. When she saw Eric approaching, she raised the egg toward him as if to show off how great her son was, while Hawaii, sitting on Joanna''sp, held a marker with a bored expression on her face.

    Eric leaned in to kiss his little son''s cheek, pulled a chair over, and took Hawaii into his arms. "Come here, sweetheart. Did Mom paint badly? Let Daddy show you how to do it."

    Joanna smiled as she watched Eric take their daughter, passing her the egg and paintbrush. "Hawaii''s not interested in this, maybe I''m just too terrible at it, haha."

    "Well then, let''s start with a silly face," Eric said, holding onto Hawaii''s little hand in the same way Virginia did.

    Hawaii squirmed slightly in Eric''s grasp, feeling the roughness of her father''s big hand. Eventually, she rxed with a sigh.

    Ugh, why do I have to paint these silly things on a hard-boiled egg? So dumb.

    The little girl mentallyined, ncing sideways at the small boy sitting in Vicki''sp, pouting. Wow, he got paint all over his face; how clumsy.

    Her gaze drifted back to her mother, who rested her chin on one hand, wearing a warm smile as she looked at them.

    Hawaii sighed again in her heart.

    Oh.

    However, seeing the look of happiness on Mommy''s face as she watched Daddy teach her how to paint, she figured she''d pretend to be clumsy like Kevin for now.

    But boy, this was so hard!

    Geez, Daddy, how could you hold my little hand and still mess it up? Seriously?

    The little girl couldn''t help but remark, "Daddy, why are we drawing this stuff?"

    "To celebrate Easter!" Eric exined.

    "Then what''s Easter?"

    "Because people say Jesus will rise again on this day, and that''s why it''s called Easter."

    "Who''s Jesus?"

    "The Son of God."

    "Who''s God?"

    "I can''t quite exin that."

    "Then why do we celebrate the day Jesus rose from the dead?"

    "Because Jesus is many people''s faith."

    "What''s faith?"

    "Faith is something a person needs to hold onto in their heart."

    "Hold onto what?"

    "Hold onto what you think is right."

    "Daddy, what''s your faith?"

    "Oh, sweetheart, you caught me off guard there. But you could ask your mom."

    "Mommy, what''s your faith?"

    "God."

    "..."

    The little girl blinked herrge, pretty eyes, just like her mother''s, and mentally sorted through this information, finding a loop.

    Then, she realized that Daddy and Mommy were just brushing her off again.

    Sigh. How could these grown-ups treat a little kid like this? I''m only two years old!

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 714 - 715: Contracting

    <h4>Chapter 714: Chapter 715: Contracting</h4>

    [Chapter 715: Contracting]

    Two cars drove along the narrow asphalt roads of East Hampton, eventually stopping outside a mansion on the coast of Southern East Hampton. Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista stepped out of their respective cars, approached the mansion''s front door, and rang the bell, patiently waiting for a moment until a woman''s voice inquired who it was.

    After announcing their names, the door swung open. They returned to their cars and drove into the estate.

    They maneuvered through an S-shaped concrete driveway, stopping in front of an extravagant European-style vi.

    A middle-aged maid approached them and politely said, "Miss Crawford, Miss Evangelista, please follow me."

    The two women followed the maid, holding their handbags as Cindy Crawford asked, "Where''s Eric?"

    "Mr. Williams is with thedies and children decorating Easter eggs," the maid replied as she led them into the vi''s living room. She instructed a younger maid to prepare coffee for them and walked toward the backyard.

    Upon hearing the maid''s words, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista exchanged a brief look, a flicker of tension passing between them as they tried to maintain their civility.

    Since Eric informed them abouting to New York, it became clear that the hosting position for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> would likely be a contest between the two of them. Despite having three fewerpetitors, the underlyingpetitiveness between them felt even more intense as they forced themselves to remain polite on the surface.

    However, the maid''s words somehow intensified the unspoken tension between them.

    Cindy Crawford leaned in and whispered, "How much do you think this estate is worth?"

    "Twenty million maybe? Who knows, we can''t afford it anyway," Linda Evangelista answered casually, though her mind raced with thoughts about the size of the estate, which already spanned five to six acres just in the front yard. Given its coastal location, there must be a private beach too, adding up to well over 20 acres -- equivalent to around eight hectares.

    Even though both were considered high-ie individuals, affording such a mansion seemed impossible, let alone maintaining it. Moreover, the East Hampton estates weren''t like buying a car; the unique neighborhood governance in the U.S. meant that the buyer not only needed to agree on a price with the seller but also needed the approval from the other residents in the neighborhood. Most of the residents in East Hampton were wealthy businesspeople or high-profile politicians, and it would be anything but simple for them to prate that elite circle.

    After serving coffee, the maid politely inquired if they needed anything else. Seeing them shake their heads, she took her leave.

    ...

    The living room fell silent for a brief moment. Cindy Crawford took a sip of her coffee and turned to nce at the ss doors leading to the backyard. After contemting for a moment, she exchanged a knowing look with Linda Evangelista, got up quietly, and walked toward the door.

    Linda raised an eyebrow at Cindy''s behavior, sensing it might be inappropriate. However, her curiosity proved too strong to resist, and she followed suit.

    They stood side by side behind the ss door, peering into the backyard.

    The first thing that caught their eyes was a swimming pool, a staple of many American backyards. Further out, a white cement path was nked by a small children''s yground on one side and awn on the other. In the middle of thewn sat a table covered with a variety of colorful items. Six or seven figures encircled the table, and the maid they had just seen today was nearby. Eric, dressed casually, leaned over the table, affectionately kissing a woman and one of his children.

    Eric being a father was no secret, but this was the first time either of them had seen it in person.

    From prior experiences, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista expected Eric would be discreet about his illegitimate children, just like many billionaires who wouldn''t even acknowledge their existence. Yet the scene before them challenged their preconceived notions. Even from a distance, the warm interaction between Eric and his children made it clear he truly was a devoted father.

    After a moment of daze, Cindy Crawford pulled her gaze away, surveying thevish European vi beside her, and sighed, "It''s quite depressing, really. We work hard all our lives, but it''s better to have a child."

    The moment she spoke, Cindy suddenly snapped back to reality, ncing at Linda Evangelista. Their eyes met briefly, and she rushed to notice Linda''s averted gaze flickering. Cindy instantly realized Linda must be contemting the same thoughts, granting her some relief and easing her guilt.

    Not daring to snoop any longer, they both silently returned to their seats next to the sofa.

    ...

    In the backyard, Eric was painting eggs with his daughter, Hawaii. Upon hearing the maid''s report, Virginia, sitting opposite him, rolled her eyes. "You''re really busy! You haven''t even finished a basket of eggs and have already run out several times."

    "I just wanted to spend some more time with you guys at home," Eric chuckled, releasing Hawaii and observing Virginia''s sulky expression. He leaned across the table with both hands, saying, "Come here, sweetheart, let Daddy give you a kiss."

    He leaned in toward Virginia''s cheek.

    "You cheeky guy, always taking advantage of me," Virginia replied yfully, tilting her cheek for Eric to kiss. She then lifted Kevin for Eric to kiss as well.

    Eric nted a kiss on his son''s chubby cheek, then draw close to Emma, who bounced over, crying, "Daddy, Daddy! I want a kiss too!"

    "Of course!" Eric kissed Emma''s cheek, turned to Joanna next, making an effort not to favor anyone.

    When it was Hawaii''s turn, the little girl blinked rapidly, realizing this was her chance to escape from the boring task of decorating eggs.

    Letting Eric nt a kiss on her cheek, she promptly tugged on his shirt sleeve, asking, "Daddy, can I go with you to see the guests?"

    Before Eric could respond, Joanna rubbed Hawaii''s head and said with augh, "Sorry, sweetheart, but Daddy has very important matters to discuss."

    Hawaii recalled how Emma acted when being spoiled, tugging Eric''s sleeve again with her innocent voice. "Daddy, I''m just a little girl. I don''t know anything, I won''t interrupt your talks."

    "Uh..." Eric stared at Hawaii, appearing utterly baffled by her logic.

    The room fell silent for a moment before Virginia, Joanna, and Ewa erupted intoughter at Hawaii''s innocent deration.

    "Ha ha, sweetie, you just revealed your own secrets!" Ewa said, unable to contain her amusement as she pinched Hawaii''s cheek yfully.

    "Hey, Aunt Ewa! Stop that or I''llin to Mom!" Hawaii protested, swatting Ewa''s hand away, though her little voice carried little weight.

    "Wow, that''s a serious threat! Let Aunt Ewa squeeze you a little more!" Ewaughed.

    "Hey, let go, or I''ll bite you!"

    "That''s enough! You two stop it! Hawaii,e over to Mommy, and don''t bother Daddy!"

    After some yful scuffles, Joanna stepped in to mediate, ushering her daughter to her side and waving at Eric, signaling him to get back to work.

    After painting eggs for a while, Eric had a bit of dye on his shirt and hurriedly changed into clean clothes. After washing his hands, he finally entered the living room.

    ...

    "Cindy, Linda, I''m truly sorry to have youe all the way here," Eric said, embracing the two women.

    "No worries, we''re not too busy anyway," Cindy Crawford replied with a smile.

    Eric nodded. "Let''s head to my office; we can discuss things there."

    Once in the office, Eric retrieved two prepared documents from the bookshelf and sat at his desk. Watching the two women opposite him, who appeared slightly anxious, heughed and said, "No need to worry now. Initially, I only had the production n for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, but I recently thought of another idea, so both of you will get a job."

    Cindy Crawford tucked away her earlier distracting thoughts and perked up. "Eric, are you saying Firefly is nning to produce two fashion reality shows?"

    "Yes," Eric confirmed. "Out of the five of you, I believe only the two of you are suitable for this. The only remaining question is which of you will take which role."

    Cindy and Linda exchanged nces but said nothing, waiting for Eric to borate.

    "You''re already familiar with the details of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, so let me exin the other idea. This is also apetitive show, but instead of models, it focuses on fashion designers. We''re tentatively naming it <i>Project Runway</i>."

    Linda Evangelista replied, "Eric, <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> seems more feasible, but the expertise required for fashion design is much greater. Will people actually want to watch that?"

    Without answering, Eric asked, "Have either of you thought about creating a personal brand named after yourselves?"

    "Well, I''ve considered it, but I''ve always been too busy." Cindy replied.

    "I thought about starting a perfume line," Linda Evangelista shrugged, the thought clearly bringing up past disappointments.

    "That''s precisely it," Eric said, smiling. "In today''s entertainment industry, anyone with a bit of fame likes tounch their personal brand. So for many ordinary people, they definitely have dreamed about this. This show will align perfectly with their aspirations, and let''s not forget, there''s also a substantial audience of urban women who are very fashion-conscious because <i>Project Runway</i> will air on Lifetime under A&E Networks, primarily targeting young women."

    "Can... can we see the documents first?" Cindy Crawford cautiously suggested, pointing to the papers in Eric''s hands.

    Ericid the two documents on the table. "These don''t rte much to the show; they''re just some rough budget ns. You''ll need to find the exact format of the show yourselves."

    Cindy and Linda were puzzled again; hadn''t Eric mentioned they were to host?

    "Well," Eric continued, "I initially had some ideas for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, but now I''ve decided to entrust both projects entirely to you two, with just me overseeing everything."

    "Eric, I don''t quite understand," Cindy Crawford remarked, incredulity etched across her face.

    Eric rified, "What I mean is that you both will serve as hosts and producers for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>."

    Though Linda was thrilled by the producer title, she recognized her limitations. "Eric, I...I have no idea how to even begin."

    "Let''s start with yourpensation," Eric smiled. "As producers of both shows, you will each receive a 10% profit share from <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>; how much that 10% amounts to will depend on how exceptionally you produce the shows."

    "Eric, do we need to invest anything?" Cindy''s eyes lit up as she asked.

    "Not at all. Firefly will provide a $20 million production budget for each project, so you won''t need to put in any of your own money."

    "So, what will we need to do?" Linda Evangelista asked, feeling energized by the prospect of receiving a 10% profit share. She was well aware that with Eric overseeing both projects, the risk of failure was dramatically reduced. Even if the shows didn''t achieve the terrifying ratings and profits of <i>Survivor</i>, themercial returns would still be seen as considerable.

    "Here''s the key," Eric said with a smile. "Don''t think that this 10% profit share will be handed to you easily. The reason I''m giving these two projects to you is that I don''t know much about the fashion industry, whereas you''ve both been entrenched in this world for years, familiar with all the rules, and possessing sufficient vision and experience. So while Firefly will provide some staffing, you''ll need to assemble your own core creative team for the professional side of things."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 715 - 716: Is That Too Stingy?

    <h4>Chapter 715: Chapter 716: Is That Too Stingy?</h4>

    [Chapter 716: Is That Too Stingy?]

    The original sess of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> can bergely attributed to the duo of Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum, who simultaneously served as hosts and producers, deeply involved in the show''s production.

    Despite having watched a few episodes of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, Eric knew that even if he tried to replicate those ideas, the results would likely bepletely off-base, as his knowledge of fashion was quite limited. He could identify a good model''s makeup and walk but was far from being able to provide detailed critiques. However, those issues were easily managed by these two top supermodels who had been navigating the fashion world for years.

    Yet Eric realized just having these two stunning women host wouldn''t be sufficient to ensure their passionate involvement in the programs, which prompted him to consider the coborative model from his past life -- allocating a small portion of the profit to incentivize their deepermitment to the show, which would leave him more at ease.

    Having exined his vision, Cindy Crawford pointed at the documents. "Eric, you''re asking us to build our own core team, but with just a production budget, we don''t know how to execute that!"

    Linda Evangelista chimed in, "Yeah, Eric, you have to give us some guidance!"

    "Let''s start assigning some tasks first," Ericughed, handing the documents to Cindy and Linda. "Given what I know about you two, Cindy is more suited for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>; Linda, you''ll handle <i>Project Runway</i>."

    Linda Evangelista hesitated as she took the document from Eric without instantly flipping it open. "Eric, you might not know me well enough. Otherwise, you''d realize I''m actually more fitting for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, being the first supermodel."

    From earlier conversation, Linda discerned that <i>Project Runway</i> was likely Eric''sst-minute idea, whereas a supermodelpetition was inherently more rtable. The prospects for <i>Project Runway</i> didn''t seem as strong as those for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. Although Eric''s insistence left her no choice but to ept, she thought it best to try and contest it a bit -- what if Eric agreed with her?

    Before Eric could speak, Cindy Crawford retorted, "Linda, I also was the first supermodel to host a television show, so I''m clearly more suited to <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>!"

    "What''s the point of being a fashion show host for years? Honestly, Cindy, I think the taste of your outfit today isn''t that great, and I just didn''t say anything earlier."

    "Oh, thank you for your input, Linda," Cindy Crawford settled back into her office chair, unbothered, looking at Eric with a smile. "Eric, Linda''s taste in outfits exceeds mine, so she''s more suitable as the producer of <i>Project Runway</i>!"

    Caught off guard by how she''d unintentionally undermined herself, Linda sniffed with annoyance, looking at Eric.

    "Hey, enough fighting! It''s settled then," Eric remarked as he saw thepetitive looks between the two women, chuckling. "My faith in both of you has just gone up!"

    "Oh? Why''s that?" Cindy Crawford asked, sensing a mischievous glint in Eric''s smile.

    "Do you know what the most important element in reality TV is?" Eric countered, not answering directly.

    Both women looked up at him, and Eric continued, "The most important aspect of reality shows is Drama! Your earlier exchange could be seamlessly integrated into a reality TV segment without any editing."

    Both Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista felt a bit embarrassed, but Eric was unfazed as he continued, "Both of your projects have equally good prospects; it all boils down to how well you execute. In <i>Project Runway</i>, if you can capture the essence of reality TV, even if viewers aren''t initially versed in fashion, they''ll find enjoyment in the designer rivalries."

    Having caught a recent episode of <i>Survivor</i>, Cindy turned to Eric and asked, "Eric, I''ve always been curious -- does <i>Survivor</i> have a script?"

    "Yes, absolutely!" Eric replied with a nod.

    Cindy suddenly felt like she''d been deceived; <i>Survivor</i> had long promoted itself aspletely unscripted, and she used to enjoy that show. "So, all the things we see on television are pre-nned?"

    "You''ll be creating your own show soon enough, so it''s essential for you to understand this," Eric exined, "Reality shows have scripts, but they''re not like traditional film scripts centered around dialogue. They focus on show format. Besides a few signature lines for the hosts, the other parts are mostly tailored around the contestants'' personas to create potential narratives. However, these scenarios aren''t mandatory for contestants; the production team subtly guides the actions they wish for."

    As he exined, Eric''s smile grew wider as he turned to the two women and added, "For instance, let''s say I want to create a little conflict between you two, so I assign both promising projects to one of you, leaving the other dissatisfied. That''s how you both just ended up in such a situation."

    Linda Evangelista responded with a yful re, "Eric, you''re so naughty! Are you making fun of us?"

    "I only speak the truth," Eric replied with augh. "Another key point is motivation. Contestants in a reality show are intelligent enough to recognize what the production team desires. With the lure of hefty prizes, they''ll likely take actions that fulfill those expectations. In the minds of ordinary viewers, a ''script'' usually refers to a dialogue script, while in reality shows, ''scripts'' focus more on actions. Hence, when reality shows im there''s no script, it isn''t outright falsehood."

    Cindy then wondered aloud, "Eric, what if we crafted a narrative but the contestants refuse to follow along?"

    "There are numerous contestants in one reality show, so during filming, the production team can capture hours of footage, while the final edited episodes typically onlyst about 43 minutes. Thus, you can always select the best footage that meets your needs from the pile. If nothing works, the issue undoubtedly lies with you. Moreover, for particrly stubborn contestants, the straightforward solution is simply passing them. And as the show progresses and contestants dwindle, you won''t have to worry, as those who stay will be the ones familiar with the rules and willing to cooperate."

    "Wow, it feels like... my entire outlook on life has been reshaped! Is this still a professional reality show? I mean, will our expertisee into y?" Linda Evangelista eximed dramatically.

    Eric nodded. "Of course! If in your show, the fashion designer''s creations are stunning enough to amaze everyone, you have to keep them on board to ensure fairness. That principle of skill eclipses everything else means that those with such talent will less likely participate in reality shows."

    Cindy, however, was more pragmatic in her thinking. "Eric, I''m just thinking, can you lend us a few experienced producers from the <i>Survivor</i> project?"

    "Absolutely! Even if you hadn''t mentioned it, I would have arranged it. I stated earlier that Firefly would provide some staff; that includes them."

    "Then, Eric, can you share your vision for <i>Project Runway</i>? I can''t go inpletely blind," Linda Evangelista insisted.

    Although Eric hadn''t seen <i>Project Runway</i>, he could gauge its basic format, recognizing it as a follow-up to <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. "Firstly, your creative team will be essential. Firefly will assign a few professionals who''ve worked on <i>Survivor</i> to assist you. But if you directly mimic <i>Survivor</i>''s setup, I can foresee that this show will fail. So while starting from <i>Survivor</i>''s sess, you need to develop your own style.

    For <i>Project Runway</i>, you should starts choosing a few judges; three full-time judges, including yourself, plus an established fashion designer and a chief editor from a fashion magazine. You could probably get support from Hearst Corporation for this. If you have individuals in mind, you''re wee to follow your vision."

    Linda tilted her head, considering this. "Eric, what do you think about Anna Wintour?"

    Eric gave her a perplexed look.

    Cindy thenughed out loudly, sarcastically chiming in, "Linda, I reckon Karl Lagerfeld would suit it even better. Just invite the old guy to rule over everything!"

    Upon realizing her whimsical suggestion, Linda quickly backtracked but still tossed back, "I was just throwing ideas around! No need to get so excited!"

    "Alright, stop bickering," Eric found amusement in the spat but felt it was not the right time to indulge.

    Once the two women turned their attention back to him, Eric continued, "Linda, understand that you are the core and face of this program. Therefore, the most prominent figure in the show has to be you; even I won''t appear on any producer lists. When selecting guest panelists, ideally, the two fixed guest judges can''t have a greater profile than you, and any guest appearances must consider sustainability. Even if you have the connections, you can''t expect anyone to attend for free; you need to pay them a guest appearance fee. Given the show''s budget of $20 million, you can only asionally invite a big star for special episodes; that would offer viewers a surprise. More often than not, it''s best to invite those with a certain level of fame but who aren''t too big."

    Linda Evangelista nodded. "What about the other details? I''ve seen <i>Survivor</i>, so should we have apetitive group mechanism simr to that?"

    "You and your team will need to hash that out internally; I can only offer my thoughts. Grouppetition doesn''t work because each designer is an individual with their own style. Hence in the show, you may implement grouppetitions asionally, but most of the time, a more individual-focused approach works best. I think each episode could feature a theme and give them a set time to create. You can judge their works and eliminate contestants one by one until a champion emerges. That will be the general structure for each episode."

    Cindy Crawford asked curiously, "Are we rewarding the champion with a prize of one million dors too?"

    "Not feasible at all; we''re a niche TVwork offering niche programs, so it''s only $100,000," Eric rified.

    "$100,000? Isn''t that stingy?"

    "Do you expect everyone to earn as much as you two? The average American sry is less than $50,000; for most, $100,000 is significant. To keep this show authentic, the selection of contestants must strictly be from the working-ss levels. Models should be fresh faces from small towns, and designers can''t be too professional. Moreover, the final reward can''t solely be mary. The ultimate prize for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> should offer the model the resources required for pursuing a career, such as an opportunity to grace the cover of a top fashion magazine; Hearst Corporation would provide that support. Additionally, there would also be chances for contracts with modeling agencies; I believe your managementpanies would eagerly embrace that coboration."

    "And for me? What about mypensation?" Linda Evangelista questioned.

    "Yours would also be a $100,000 cash prize, plus ideally, a chance to coborate with a fashionpany. You can reach out to them, and I''ll speak with LTD as well," Eric casually waved his hand. "In summary, they''re entirely your business. Don''t expect too much assistance from me; I''ll just ensure the quality of your work."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 716 - 717: Did I Say That?

    <h4>Chapter 716: Chapter 717: Did I Say That?</h4>

    [Chapter 717: Did I Say That?]

    Before they knew it, they had been talking for over an hour when the door to the study was gently tapped. Ewa Pac peeked in.

    "Eric, Vicky asked me to see if you''re keeping guests for lunch," she said.

    Eric knew as soon as he heard Virginia''s name that she had sent Ewa to rush them along. ncing at the clock, which was nearing eleven, he realized that since Virginia didn''t want both women to stay for lunch, he shouldn''t insist. He told Ewa, "No need, we''ve finished discussing everything. Cindy and Linda can head back to New York just in time."

    "Oh, then I''ll let Vicky know," Ewa said with a sly wink, sticking her head back out, and the door quietly closed behind her.

    "In that case, you all can leave now. I''ll treat you to lunch another time," Eric said after Ewa left, rising to his feet.

    Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista understood exactly what just transpired. If the tables were turned, they felt they would have done the same thing, but they certainly felt a bit disgruntled.

    ...

    After saying their goodbyes to Eric, Cindy and Linda got into their cars and left the seaside estate.

    They drove along the serene roads for a few minutes until they reached downtown East Hampton. Linda noticed as Cindy parked her car in front of a restaurant, and she followed suit.

    The two women walked into the restaurant with their bags. With lunchtime approaching, the dining area was already bustling with guests. Their striking presence caught the attention of many, and while most guests merely discreetly stole nces, a few even called out friendly greetings. Two casually dressed girls eagerly approached them, with one asking, "Linda, Cindy, can we get your autographs?"

    "Of course," Cindy said, feeling lifted by the attention. She dly took the paper and pen from the girl, signed quickly, and handed them to Linda Evangelista.

    As they signed, the girls chattered excitedly, "We didn''t expect you guys to be here! Jill even said we might not run into any celebrities. Oh, we''re here on vacation, and the white beaches of East Hampton are so beautiful! It''s a pity it''s a bit cold right now; we can''t really swim."

    Upon hearing the girl''s opening remark, Linda paused, quickly finishing her autograph. She returned the paper and pen, losing a bit of interest in continuing the conversation with her eager fans.

    After a few brief exchanges, the two women were guided to their seats by a waiter. Cindy took the menu from the server and grimaced at the prices, which were even higher than those at Manhattan''s finest restaurants. In a bit of a defiant mood, she ordered several of the most expensive items.

    When the waiter left, Cindyined, "What does he mean we just happen to be able to rush back to New York? Doesn''t he realize it takes two hours to drive from East Hampton to Manhattan? By the time we get back, we''ll be starving!"

    Hearing Cindy''s mix of envy and frustration, Linda felt less upset. She rummaged through her purse, pulled out the documents Eric had given them, and casually replied, "Why didn''t you just point that out to him? Then he would have felt awkward about rushing us out."

    "I couldn''t care less," Cindy scoffed softly, adding randomly, "She''s acting all high and mighty just because she had a child. Does she really think she''s the boss?"

    Linda flipped through the documents without looking up, saying, "We need toe up with a proposal in two weeks, prepare in May, and that barely leaves us three months for production. Plus, we have to make time for the fall fashion week, and then it''s immediately the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>. I''m genuinely worried about whether I''m going to lose my mind from everything on my te."

    Seeing that lunch would still take a while, Cindy dug into her bag for the documents. "No one is forcing you. If you say you don''t want to do this anymore, those bitches will definitelye at you shouting. Just make sure you don''t regret it in the future. Look at what Naomi Campbell has been doingtely; you can tell she''s regretting turning down the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i> fromst year."

    Linda recalled the rumors circting about Naomi Campbell trying to leverage connections to oust Tyra Banks from the Victoria''s Secret campaign. She shook her head, disdainfully saying, "I think she''spletely missed the point. The Victoria''s Secret Angels brand was built by Williams, and he''s a major shareholder at LTD. Without his approval, no one will just swap out Victoria''s Secret representatives."

    "Do you think she doesn''t get that? She simply hasn''t had the chance to connect with Williams, and even if she did, it might not help. Plus, she''s way too greedy. There are six themes for the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i> but only five models. If it were me, I''d aim to snag an opening slot for one of the themes to maintain my standing in the industry."

    Linda envied Cindy''s sharp business acumen. Hearing this, she said, "If you''ve given it so much thought, why didn''t you give her a heads-up?"

    "What would I get from alerting her? Friendship? Ha," Cindy dismissed,ughing derisively as she nced toward the kitchen before turning her focus back to the documents.

    Linda flipped through a few more pages of the files before looking up suddenly. "Cindy, I have a great idea! Hear me out."

    "Oh, let''s hear it. If it''s good, I''ll use it without hesitation," Cindy replied absently as she thought about which guests she could invite in the future. She felt that Linda''s intelligence probably wouldn''tnd a great idea.

    Unfazed by Cindy''sck of enthusiasm, Linda excitedly proposed, "You know our shows will air concurrently. My show needs models, and yours definitely needs designers. Why don''t we do a crossover episode? It would be a huge draw!"

    "Wow, that''s not a bad idea," Cindy acknowledged, but then shook her head, saying, "I don''t want to cross over. What if your show flops and pulls me down with it?"

    Linda retorted, "Hey, I''m talking about something serious here! And why can''t it be the other way around -- what if you drag me down?"

    Cindy tilted her chin slightly and replied, "Because that''s just not going to happen."

    "You''re so full of yourself."

    "You''re wrong; this is confidence."

    "Forget it. I''m not going to argue with you," Linda conceded but then couldn''t help but ask, "So, if we did a 10% split, how much would we make?"

    "Last year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i> cost about $20 million to produce. I''m not expecting too much; as long as the show''s profit is not less than a tenth of the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>, I''ll be satisfied."

    Linda recalled the profit figures from the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i> and remarked, "Well, you''d only end up with about $3 million; that''s pretty low for five months of work."

    Cindy chuckled but didn''t feel the need to exin anything further to Linda.

    The media loved to boast about how much these top models earned every year, but the actual figures often differed dramatically from the reports.

    Take Cindy herself, for instance; some media outlets exaggerated her earningsst year to $25 million, but that just wasn''t urate.

    While it was true that she grossed about $25 million, that figure was like apany''s revenue -- it represented earnings, not profit. Of that $25 million, $10 million was from her Victoria''s Secret endorsement. The remaining $15 million primarily came from new advertising contracts gained through the influence of the <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>. Those contracts required very little from her; mostly, she just needed to show up at events and film some ads, so their rates were far lower than Victoria''s Secret''s, but the average contractsted about three years. With those contracts in hand, she''d have to avoid taking on many more endorsements in theing years.

    To break it down, her Victoria''s Secret contractsted five years, averaging $2 million per year, while her other contracts had an average length of three years at $5 million annually. Combined, that brought her earnings to $7 million per year.

    But even that wasn''t the end. At her ie level, she had to pay a 35% personal ie tax, plus her agency took a 10% cut. In the end, she was left with just about $3.85 million, which was her actual annual ie.

    Moreover, the modeling industry was known for its rapid turnover, and even for someone like her, a supermodel, her ie would certainly decline as she got older and new talents emerged. That''s why Cindy cared much more about job security than Linda, who was far less sensitive to money. She distinctly remembered Eric saying that as long as this reality show performed well, it could sustain production for dozens of seasons.

    Dozens of seasons -- Cindy didn''t dare wish for that. However, if it could run for ten years, she''d be able to save a substantial nest egg before hitting forty, allowing her a dignified retirement.

    As her thoughts wandered toward the future, Cindy inexplicably recalled the sprawling estate on the East Hampton coastline that she had spotted earlier in the day, along with a few fleeting figures nearby. Remembering the guy whose wealth <i>Forbes</i> reported at $46.5 billion, she realized that even if she maintained her current ie of over $3 million a year, she would nevere close to even one percent of his worth, which left her feeling a sense of helplessness as she stared up at the stars. She murmured, "Sigh, maybe it''d be better to just have a kid."

    Sitting across from her, Linda Evangelista caught thatst remark and suddenly looked up, "Cindy, what did you say?"

    Cindy wore a puzzled expression. "Did I say something?"

    Linda nodded with certainty, "You did, and this is the second time."

    A brief flicker of panic crossed Cindy''s eyes, but she quickly regained herposure, lowering her gaze back to the documents andzily countered, "What did I say?"

    "You know what you said."

    "Oh, I forgot."

    Linda then yfully threatened, "Watch out, or I might tell him what you were thinking."

    Cindy shrugged nonchntly. "Go ahead; who''s to say whether that thought was yours or mine?"

    Linda widened her eyes in shock, instinctively raising her voice, "My... thought? How dare you pin that on me!"

    Cindy gestured around them, asking, "Shush! Do you want these people tough at us?"

    Noticing that other patrons were already ncing their way, Linda lowered her voice. "Anyway, I heard what I heard."

    "Fine, whatever," Cindy shrugged, not worrying much about it. She felt that this idea was like a contagious virus, and she was sure Linda had caught it; otherwise, she wouldn''t have fixated on that little detail just now, seemingly intent on proving something.

    ...

    The purchasing power of women far exceeded that of men; this was a consensus everyone shared. Thus, Lifetime Television possessed this potential consumer base since advertisers would definitely prefer targeting female audiences.

    The US cable television market had been brewing for over a decade and was on the brink of explosion. This intense phase of industry upheaval often provided the best opportunity for oligopolistic enterprises to emerge.

    While no singr femalework had dominated thendscape in this timeline, no one doubted that cable television held that potential. If they could seize the opportunity andunch aworkparable in scale to ESPN, it wasn''t out of the question.

    The fundamental factor for a televisionwork''s sess was still its outstanding programming. Though they already had <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>, awork could not rely solely on reality shows to maintain viewership. Television series were indispensable. Eric had a considerable advantage here; while considering the two reality shows, he had already thought of a drama perfect for Lifetime Television.

    However, Lifetime''s annual budget was only $100 million. Although Eric held high expectations for it, he couldn''t push things too quickly. Over-investment could lead to losses, which would not only be demoralizing but could also hinder future development ns.

    Of the $100 million budget, $40 million was already allocated to the two reality shows. Additionally, thework needed to order a range of television programs to fill various time slots, along with setting aside enough for marketing expenses. Therefore, the remaining $60 million is simply not enough to squeeze out the budget for producing a TV series.

    Of course, if <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> performed well during the fall season, Lifetime Television''s budget would significantly increase.

    After Easter, Eric temporarily reduced his focus on the Firefly Group, channeling most of his energy into negotiating the Firefly investment in Sprint.

    On another front, the coboration talks between Firefly and Hasbro concerning toy merchandise were progressing smoothly. Both sides showed a strong desire to cooperate. By the end of April, a detailed proposal had been prepared. After Jeffrey Katzenberg represented Firefly Group to sign the partnership agreement with Hasbro, he didn''t rush to leave New York. Instead, he relied on Lifetime Television''s next phase of development nning to lobby various cableworks, hoping to secure more subscribers for Lifetime before the fall season.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 717 - 718: Speculative Mindset

    <h4>Chapter 717: Chapter 718: Spective Mindset</h4>

    [Chapter 718: Spective Mindset]

    Throughout May, Eric and Chris were busy working on Firefly Investment Company''s acquisition of a stake in the telmunications operator, Sprint.

    Both parties had reached a rough agreement on the transaction in early May, with Sprint nning to issue 400 million shares of stock to Firefly Investment for a capital injection of $1.32 billion. After the deal wasplete, Sprint would increase its total share capital to 4 billion shares, with Firefly Investment owning 10% and securing two seats on Sprint''s board of directors. If this deal seeded, Sprint would likely adopt Quam''s CDMA technology, thanks to the push from Firefly Investment.

    However, the process was far from over once they drafted the deal. Though the barriers to entry in themunications industry were gradually loosening, getting a foothold in such a tightly regted sector required navigating throughyers of approval.

    Firefly and Sprint first needed to submit their n to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for antitrust review. Along with owning Quam, which was involved in the research and development of mobilemunication technology, Firefly Investment also held controlling shares in Nokia, a manufacturer of mobilemunication base stations and terminal equipment. If they sessfully acquired a stake in Sprint, they would essentially have a grip on the entire mobilemunication industry chain, drawing strong suspicions of monopolistic intentions.

    If this had been ten years prior, the FTC would have immediately rejected this transaction. However, in recent years, the federal government continued to ease legal restrictions on the telmunications sector, giving this transaction a possibility of approval.

    After Eric and Chris attended several FTC hearings regarding the deal and engaged in behind-the-scenes lobbying, by the end of May, the FTC finally approved the transaction.

    While dealing with the FTC, Firefly Investment and Sprint also submitted relevant applications to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). With the FTC''s unpredictable approval obtained, the remaining two agencies were much simpler to navigate. Within a week of the FTC''s approval, both the SEC and FCC also granted their approval for the deal.

    ...

    On May 26, the signing ceremony for Firefly Investment and Sprint took ce at the Sprint Group headquarters in Manhattan.

    At the press conference following the signing, senior executives from both Firefly Investment and Sprint publicly announced that Sprint would coborate deeply with Quam to build a nationwide mobilemunicationwork utilizing CDMA technology.

    Just a month earlier, Verizon had joined the CDMA camp after securing $300 million in targeted bond financing from Firefly Investment. Now, with Sprint -- holding nearly half of the A and B ss mobilemunication licenses -- announcing its entry into the CDMA arena, it marked the resolution of disputes over mobilemunication technology standards in the United States. CDMA technology not only escaped being entirely sidelined but also captured more than half of the U.S. mobilemunication market.

    As soon as the conference ended, Quam''s stock price began to surge, skyrocketing by 8% during trading hours to close at $31.5 per share,fortably above the $30 mark. Compared to approximately $17 per share at the end of the previous year, Quam''s market cap had increased by 85% in just six months, making it only a matter of time before it doubled.

    ...

    "I remember thest time I was in San Diego, Quam''smunications equipment manufacturing nt was just starting to select a location. They wouldn''t be able to scale production until at least the end of the year," Eric mused. "Although Sprintmitted to using CDMA technology, they can''t wait six months, so they''ve decided to temporarily implement a GSMwork in the Washington area. Additionally, Quam initially nned to partner with Sony to build the factory, but I vetoed that n. If we''re going to coborate, it should definitely be with Nokia. This is a prime opportunity for Nokia to enter the U.S. market. Before we took control of Nokia in 1991, Quam had already granted Nokia aplete set of CDMA technology licenses. While Nokia focused on GSM development, they do have some foundation in that area and can provide a number of management personnel for Quam''s manufacturing facility."

    The next day was Saturday. After a busy Friday, many tasks had finally concluded, and Chris brought Emily to East Hampton.

    However, the two quickly retreated to Eric''s study to discuss business. Naturally, the conversation started with Quam. Chris understood very well that Eric''s recent strategic moves werergely aimed at benefiting Quam.

    Leaning back in his chair, Eric listened to Chris and replied, "When ites to GSM and CDMA, I''d think that for the time being neither side could effectively push the other out of the market. Therefore, the best route is actually the integration of both technologies. It''s simr to this DVD format dispute; the two major DVD technology standard camps were very smart about not wasting another decade fighting over R+ and R-, choosing instead to support each other."

    It had been a few years since the DVD standard was established, and Hollywood had been doing everything to dy theunch of DVDs due to concerns over the cheaper cost of DVD piracy.

    However, it was no longer possible to dy further. Following the experience with the Sony Betamaxwsuit, Hollywood could not rely on litigation to block the emergence of DVDs. It was expected that major DVD manufacturers would release DVD yers after the summer blockbuster season.

    Chris, also informed on this topic, chimed in, "The standards held by the two DVD technology camps still belong to the same generation of technology, so supporting each other wouldn''t be difficult. But GSM and CDMA are twopletely different generations of technology standards. The integration will mostly be impossible."

    Eric rified, "I''m not talking about integration at the operator level but rather at the terminal level. Nokia has GSM technology, Quam has CDMA technology, and both have significantly deep technical umtions in these standards. Therefore,unching phones that support both GSM and CDMAworks shouldn''t be hard at all."

    Dual-mode and fullwork phones supporting multiplework standards were verymon inter years. In 1995, however, the new generation of digitalmunication technology was just beginning to be widespread. The major tech camps were fully focused on squeezing one another out of the market and had never considered coexistence or integration. Therefore, a multiworkpatible phone was a brand-new concept.

    Chris''s eyes lit up. "Eric, that''s a brilliant idea! How about we hold a conference call tomorrow with Jorma Oll and Irwin Jacobs to discuss this? A phone that can support both GSM and CDMAworks might not have a huge market in Europe, but in North America, where GSM and CDMA coexist, there''s definitely potential!"

    "Go ahead and arrange it. <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> is releasing on June 2, and I might be able to stay in New York for another week," Eric replied. He was also nning to have an in-depth discussion with Nokia''s CEO, Jorma Oll, soon.

    Nokia was one of the first manufacturers to bet on GSM technology, which was key to its rapid rise in recent years. While it didn''t monopolize CDMA patents like Quam, Nokia had the most GSM-rted patents among major telmunications equipment manufacturers.

    Months ago, when news surfaced that Firefly Investment was acquiring shares in Quam, Jorma Oll expressed confusion over Eric''s strategies in emails. He believed that blocking Quam''s CDMA technology would better serve Nokia''s interests. Now, Eric not only supported CDMA technology but also captured half of the mobilemunication market in the U.S., which surely stirred some tension, even if Jorma''s public reaction remained calm.

    Although Eric had exined the intentions behind his actions over the phone and via email, moremunication would surely be beneficial.

    Only through maintaining open dialogue and understanding each other''s intentions could Ericfortably delegate the management of his enterprises. This would free him up for other pursuits.

    Chris habitually pulled out a small notebook from his shirt pocket to jot down this matter seriously before turning back to Eric. "Once we settle this, I think we should discuss Yahoo."

    "I''ve been in contact with Ian and the others, and I have a good grasp of their general thoughts," Eric nodded.

    The employee stock option n was set to expire this year, and Firefly Investment''s team began evaluating the performance of Yahoo''s senior management to determine their stock rewards.

    Originally, Eric nned to initiate Yahoo''s IPO after this stock incentive program ended. However, recently, the top executives unanimously expressed the desire for Eric to dy Yahoo''s IPO. Their reasoning was quite sound. The capital market was overly profit-driven, and once Yahoo went public, it would face performance pressures, undermining its current strategy of cautious, steady growth.

    After repeated persuading from Yahoo''s management, Eric began to reconsider this matter.

    A few years back, Eric had originally intended to take Yahoo public in 1995, aiming to cash in on the rapidly inting Inte bubble. Once his Yahoo stocks moved past the lockup period, he hoped to a substantial sum as Yahoo''s stock price soared.

    In hindsight, Eric''s n had a very obvious spective mindset, subconsciously focusing on cashing out rather than nurturing Yahoo''s growth.

    Through these years of reflection, Eric recognized that if he maintained such a mindset, his career would inevitably reach a bottleneck at some point in the future.

    Seeing Eric lost in thought, Chris asked, "So, Eric, what are you thinking now?"

    "I suppose you agree with their idea, right?" Eric smiled, countering his question.

    Chris nodded candidly. "The capital markets are currently very favorable toward Inte investments. So, I believe if we dy going public for a few years until Yahoo has a clearer profitability outlook, we can certainly reap greater rewards."

    Eric recalled the timeline from his previous reality, where the Nasdaq index began to soar in 1998, skyrocketing from just over 1,000 points to over 5,000 within two years.

    If Yahoo went public after 1998, the funds gathered in the initial public offering would have unquestionably been several times those avable now. However, under a stringent financial regtory system, that money would predominantly be allocated to Yahoo''s own development rather thanpletely belonging to Eric. While there were ways to transfer some of those funds, doing so carried legal risks. It certainly paled against the safety of simply offloading personal shares.

    Cash out, cash out, cash out...

    Eric repeated the word in his mind, suddenly realizing that he wasn''tcking in money anymore -- no matter how much he cashed out, it would still go towards investment.

    This sudden rity brought Eric a sense of enlightenment. He turned to Chris and said, "Let''s do it this way; we''ll dy the IPO n, but in any case, we''ll aim toplete the IPO before our contract with Microsoft goes into effect."

    "Of course," Chris chuckled, relieved, that if Eric had insisted otherwise, he wouldn''t have known how to persuade him. "Speaking of which, Microsoft''s Windows 95 is set tounch in August. I assume you''ve already started using this system, right? Microsoft''s stock has been on the risetely; the market seems very optimistic about this new operating system."

    While Microsoft confirmed that Windows 95 wouldunch inte August, several testing versions had already been released, and piracy of copies had spread widely outside the U.S.

    Eric most certainly used this now-familiar operating system, stating, "I feel this system could allow Microsoft to monopolize the operating system market, which likely means we''re going to be butting heads with them in theing years. Microsoft has firmly established its dominance in the operating system market. They will undoubtedly look to prate the Inte market now. I can''t even confirm whether Bill Gates might forcibly tear up our agreement; after all, Microsoft may not want to wait until 1999."

    "I feel Microsoft has already begun to show signs of restlessness," Chris replied with a smile. "Steve called me a few days ago, mentioning that Microsoft had reached out to him, hoping he would leave Yahoo to join their uing Inte division."

    The Steve Chris referred to was Steve Mitnick, who was responsible for Yahoo''s technical department and a good friend of Chris from college. In Eric''s view, of Yahoo''s top management -- Ian Gurner, Jeff Locke, Steve Mitnick, and Tina Brown -- Steve Mitnick was the most critical for Yahoo because he oversaw the core technical R&D for most of Yahoo''s major Inte products. If he were poached, Yahoo would undoubtedly face a protracted period of turmoil.

    Thus, this news shocked Eric, leading him to instinctively ask, "Really?"

    Chris nodded. Seeing Eric''s worried expression, he added with a smile, "But you really don''t have to worry. I know Steve''s character very well. Since he called me, he surely isn''t going to leave Yahoo."

    Eric couldn''tpletely set his worries aside, asking, "What about the others?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 718 - 719: Misleading the Entire Industry

    <h4>Chapter 718: Chapter 719: Misleading the Entire Industry</h4>

    [Chapter 719: Misleading the Entire Industry]

    Chris had it a lot easier than Eric. He remarked, "Based on the initial assessment, Ian and Steve will receive 3 million shares each, Jeff Locke will get 2 million shares, and Tina Brown will receive 1 million shares. ording to Wall Street''s current valuation of Yahoo at 5 billion dors, with this stock incentive n, they''re set to jump straight into the 100-millionaire club. The likelihood of the four of them leaving is very low. Besides them, a significant group of mid-level managers and exceptional employees will also receive stock options ranging from a maximum of 200,000 to a minimum of 10,000 shares. There might be some losses from this group being poached for high sries, but it won''t have a major impact on Yahoo."

    Yahoo''s total stock was around 100 million shares, and based on Wall Street''s valuation of 5 billion dors, the share price equated to 50 dors. After implementing this stock incentive n, Yahoo would instantly create dozens of millionaires internally.

    The challenge forpeting portal sites was minimal. To maintain a long-term lead would require massive investments in tech R&D to build patent barriers and an effort to prevent core employee turnover as much as possible. This was the primary reason Eric had formted the stock incentive n in the first ce. If they failed to keep these strong managers and exceptional employees, those who had umted valuable experience at Yahoo could easily replicate the Yahoo model with the support ofpetitors once they left.

    While Chris wasn''t overly worried about Microsoft''s attempts to poach talent, Eric held a different view. It was clear Microsoft was aware of Yahoo''s stock incentive n yet still chose to probe Steve Mitnick. This indicated they were prepared to make a greater sacrifice.

    The final details of the stock incentive n wouldn''t be settled until the end of July, but there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. These shares rewarded Yahoo''s management for their work over the past years but also meant that the employees epting the rewards would be tightly bound to thepany.

    ording to the initial agreement, if employees who epted the stock rewards chose to resign within five years, Yahoo would forcibly buy back their shares at the original grant price. The resigners would also be restricted from engaging in any inte-rted jobs during the subsequent five years, or face huge penalties. Given the rapid advancement of the inte industry, being away from it for five years would almost guarantee being eliminated.

    Eric believed July would be a significant turning point for Yahoo. The inte industry was just beginning to rise, with countless opportunities for overnight sess. Thus, before the official implementation of the stock incentive n at the end of July, he knew some Yahoo employees would be tempted by more lucrative offers and might decide to forfeit their valuable stock options in favor of joining otherpanies or even starting their own ventures.

    After thinking for a moment, Eric slowly realized that while he couldn''t stop employee attrition, he could leverage Yahoo''s leading position in the industry to manipte events. After all, Yahoo was already a benchmark for many emerging intepanies. Some of Yahoo''s inte products had already attracted imitators, but no one had yet posed a credible threat to Yahoo''s market position.

    Since every move Yahoo made would be analyzed and imitated, it could potentially mislead the neers into a different path. The portal site model couldn''tst forever, but like the forting inte bubble of the next few years, Yahoo could excessively package the portal model on the surface, painting a much brighter future than its actual potential, thus distracting their majorpetitors into focusing solely on the portal business. In private, Yahoo could pursue the correct path, as numerous historical examples had proven that a giantpany''s rapid rise and fall hinged more on strategy than on funding or technology.

    If they couldn''t tread the right path, then even burning through 10 billion dors yearly would be futile. Nokia had encountered a simr fate when they were dethroned by Apple in the smartphone market; their investment in R&D still far exceeded Apple''s that year, yet they ultimately had to exit the market in failure.

    Having outlined his primary thoughts, Eric said, "Let''s talk about the n I just thought of. Isn''t Boston nning to hold a Yahoo Tech Alliance and Advertising Alliance conference? I''ve decided to move that up to early July and to make it as extravagant as possible. We''ll also hold a Yahoo productunch during that time and promote our soon-to-be-released YahooPay payment tools and other products via television broadcast."

    "Eric, I''m not too sure about that. Yahoo is already under the lens of so many people. If we make a big ssh, it could be detrimental for us. Why would we do that?"

    "Because," Eric said with a sly smile, "I want to mislead the entire industry."

    Chris was about to continue questioning him when there was a knock on the study door. Joanna walked in and, noticing Eric''s peculiar grin, remarked, "What sneaky scheme are you plotting now?"

    Eric wiped his expression clean, shook his head seriously, and replied, "Nothing. Chris and I are just discussing a charity n to donate some money to African buffaloes, trying to help control their poption. Managing millions of them migrating every year can be quite an operation."

    Joanna rolled her eyes gently, knowing Eric was joking. "Alright, we can talk more about thister. It''s time to eat."

    As Joanna left, Chris couldn''t help but chuckle, "African buffaloes? How did you jump from the inte to this?"

    "Elia hid the remotest night, and we were forced to watch an hour-long documentary on the African savanna," Ericughed, getting up. "Let''s head to dinner and we can discuss what we were just talking about afterward."

    Chris stood up too,ughing, "Elia is so smart. She''ll definitely be just as outstanding as you in the future."

    "Too outstanding can be a problem," Eric replied, gesturing around their vi. "Her starting point in life is higher than any child in the world. I worry that littledy might have no dreams and might want to rule the world or something."

    "Haha."

    ...

    The twoughed as they walked out of the study. As they entered the living room, they saw little Hawaii running in, the sound of her small boots pattering on the floor, her eyes wide open, her face disying an unusual mix of excitement and anxiety. Spotting Eric, she immediately rushed into his arms.

    "Sweetheart, what''s wrong?" Eric asked, stopping in his tracks and embracing Hawaii, who clung to him like a sloth. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he remembered the expression on Hawaii''s face and immediately looked toward the door.

    Chris was puzzled, thinking it was the first time he had seen such a rich array of emotions on Hawaii''s face.

    Before she could answer, a voice echoed from outside, "Hey, Elia, why do you run away when you see Aunt Drew? You''ve made me so sad that I won''t read you bedtime stories anymore!"

    Right after that voice, a girl in a light yellow coat entered, rushing to Eric, giving him a warm hug before nting a kiss on Hawaii''s cheek before she turned to greet Chris.

    Everyone opted for a BBQ lunch that day, and the smell of grilled meat wafted through the living room. Eric picked up Hawaii and continued outside, saying to the girl following them, "You''ve now be Elia''s nemesis. No more reading her scary stories, alright?"

    Despite saying that, his tone carried little about holding her ountable.

    With Hawaii''s exceptional intelligence, both he and Joanna worried she might only focus on logic and miss out on emotions. The girl''s earlier mischievous act had added a touch of normal childhood emotions to Hawaii, and Eric knew the girl would never genuinely harm his daughter, so once recognizing this matter, he didn''t think much of it.

    The girl made a silly face towards Hawaii, who turned her head to bury it in Eric''s shoulder, giggling before linking arms with Eric and saying, "By the way, Hanks is also in New York. He didn''te over, but he asked me to send his regards."

    ...

    While Eric was busy investing in Sprint, the summer blockbuster season in North America had silently begun, with the big opening film being Fox''s <i>Die Hard with a Vengeance</i> set to premiere on May 19.

    This sequel had cost Fox 90 million dors, but audience reactions during the test screenings hadn''t been great. With the formidablepetition posed by blockbusters like <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> and <i>Batman Forever</i>, hopes for box office sess in North America looked grim. Luckily, Bruce Willis, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, retained strong box office appeal internationally, which led Fox to decide to move up the North American release of <i>Die Hard</i> to align with the summer blockbusters.

    <i>Die Hard with a Vengeance</i> indeed did not live up to expectations, taking only 29 million dors during its opening week. Given its 90 million budget, this performance was nothing short of disastrous, and Fox was already certain they would shelve the series for the long run.

    Yesterday, May 26, marked the second week of the summer season with Warner''s <i>Fair Game</i> -- a film Eric had had a hand in -- debuting. This action movie had a budget of 50 million dors and had reced Cindy Crawford with udia Schiffer as the female lead. Rumors indicated significant changes to the script, but Eric had yet to follow up on box office information to see how it had performed.

    <i>Forrest Gump</i> was ted for June 9, and Eric had entrusted its distribution to Flower Films, with Drew traveling to New York to lead the promotional tour, which, in terms familiar to Eric''s previous life, was akin to a road show.

    ...

    "Be sure to say hi for me," Eric said as they walked out of the vi, handing Hawaii over to Joanna before rolling up his sleeves to help with the grilling, turning to the girl beside him. "When are you all leaving New York?"

    "Hanks is recording <i>The Late Show</i> today. We leave for Washington tomorrow, then Miami, and then back to the West Coast starting from Seattle," she exined, standing beside Eric grilling a skewer of chicken wings. "By the way, Amy heard that Kirk Kerkorian has started negotiating with MGM again. One of her friends saw Kerkorian with Frank Mancuso at a partyst week."

    Eric paused for a moment while flipping the meat before shaking his head and smiling. "Let''s eat first. Don''t worry about him. I''ll call Frank Mancuso tonight. You guys just focus on distributing <i>Forrest Gump</i>."

    "Sure," the girl nodded, just giving Eric a reminder. As long as he was aware of it, she wouldn''t need to worry about it more.

    For MGM right now, aside from the <i>007</i> franchise, other profitable series like <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> and <i>Resident Evil</i> were under Eric''s supervision. The rights for the uing summer release of <i>Night at the Museum</i> also rested with Flower Films. Without Eric''s approval, no chance that the bank would sell MGM for a good price.

    As for Kirk Kerkorian, Eric wasn''t about to let him stir up trouble in Hollywood again.

    ...

    After lunch, Eric and Chris discussed in detail the n to misleadpetitors using Yahoo.

    The current inte environment belonged to what future generations referred to as Inte 1.0. During this time, users were just beginning to engage with the web, filled with confusion and curiosity about everything online. This made portals, who acted as content guides, seem like they had significant potential on the surface. However, this period was merely the initial phase of users'' understanding of the inte, and as they became more familiar with the onlinendscape, the allure of portals, which could essentially provide only tailored content, was bound to weaken significantly as users began to desire personalized experiences.

    Thus, as inte content umted during the 1.0 era and became richer, the dawn of the 2.0 era unfolded, marked by services catering to users'' unique needs. While portals hadn''t been entirely eradicated, they had be less relevant as search engines catering to information retrieval and blogs satisfying social needs started to thrive.

    What Eric aimed to do was leverage the resources and advantages of Firefly Group and Yahoo''s media presence to amplify the public perception of the portal model''s potential. He intended to keep their mainpetitors'' focus drawn to the portal business for as long as possible.

    In the meantime, he would work to maintain Yahoo''s industry advantage in the portal space throughout the 1.0 era while preparing for the transition to 2.0.

    Yahoo had temporarily shelved its IPO ns, necessitating no public disclosures of any details for theing years, thus rendering this n quite feasible.

    In this grand intion of the bubble, even if some individuals managed to stay clear-headed, unless Eric found himself unlucky enough to run into a persistent opponent like Microsoft, Yahoo had enough strength to either win over those clear-headed individuals or obliterate them.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 719 - 720: Tenfold

    <h4>Chapter 719: Chapter 720: Tenfold</h4>

    [Chapter 720: Tenfold]

    Over the weekend, Eric and Chris discussed in detail the prospects for expanding the portal site''s development. On Monday, they held a conference call at the Firefly Investment headquarters about the partnership between Nokia and Quam, after which Chris headed to Boston to set ns in motion.

    It was May 29, and the release date for Firefly''s first summer blockbuster, <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, was set for June 2. Eric only needed to make it back to Los Angeles in time for the premiere, so he could linger a few more days in New York.

    May was the prime month for television series pitching and ordering, with countless producers andworks converging in New York to promote or buy new shows for the uing year. Firefly boasted three gship series: <i>Survivor</i>, <i>ER</i>, and <i>Friends</i>. Therefore, the selection of new shows was a calmer process for them. The television department focused much of its energy on the soon-to-expand Lifetimework. Aside from the uing productions of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>, the Lifetimework had also ordered a quality workce drama focused on women and several TV movies during May''s pitch meetings, reworking its program lineup ording to the series release n.

    ...

    Eric''s main focus remained on the two reality shows, <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>. The two shows had been in preparation for a month and a half. In April, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista, with help from the producers of <i>Survivor</i>, came up with a detailed production n. Throughout May, the two had been busy with the pre-production and selection of contestants, and now all preparations were nearingpletion.

    "This is the officialpetition venue. ording to the script, I''ll announce thepetition details here at the start of each episode, and in thetter half, the contestants will showcase their creations in this spot. The designers will sit in the chairs you''re in, alongside the judges, to enjoy the fashion show presented by the models. Additionally, there are rest areas behind that can provide some footage of contestants preparing for thepetition and waiting for results..."

    In an ABC studio in New York, a simple fashion show set was built, but without an audience, just a tiny runway with a few chairs on either side. Linda Evangelista stood on the stage, demonstrating the show''s format to Eric and the others seated below. This was Eric''sst task in New York; once confirmed, he would return to Los Angeles.

    After a few minutes of exnation, Linda looked at the audience below, waiting for Eric to make a decision. Eric was nked by Emily Brighton and Anne Sweeney, along with a handful of other assistants. Cindy Crawford sat beside Emily. A few special judges and producers responsible for <i>Project Runway</i> were seated at the evaluation table on the opposite side.

    LTD nned to sponsor these two reality shows, securing a portion of ad cements. Anne Sweeney, the president of A&E, was about thirty-five with brown hair. Initially responsible for Disney Television, Sweeney had been moved to this post after confirming Lifetime''s expansion ns by Katzenberg, who believed a woman could better capture the essence of a femalework. Of course, everyone understood the underlying motivations behind such a decision.

    Eric had been following up on this matter since the preliminary production proposal was put forth at the end of April. Now, he was only conducting final checks to ensure every detail was wless, so there were no major issues.

    He whispered to Anne Sweeney and Emily before looking up at Linda Evangelista. "Linda, is that runway made of wood?"

    Linda hesitated for a moment, lightly tapping her high-heeled boot on the runway, producing a thud against the wood. "Yeah," she replied with a nod.

    Eric pointed to the screen at the start of the runway. "Why don''t you walk down it so I can see?"

    Linda was puzzled butplied, strutting out from behind the screen.

    A series of dull thuds echoed in the room.

    Before Linda finished her walk, everyone noticed the problem. The sound of leather boots hitting the wooden catwalk is almost the same as the noise. If the audience abruptly heard those sounds during the program, it would surely take them out of the experience.

    Upon reaching the end of the runway, Linda reluctantly took a few cautious steps back. Embarrassed, she said, "Eric, I didn''t think of this. We''ll get that runway reced quickly."

    Eric nodded and turned to Emily and Anne. "I''m good on my end. How about you?"

    Emily shook her head, noting she was primarily there to observe the details of the ad cements for LTD''s products and felt it wasn''t her ce to get involved in the show''s production.

    Anne Sweeney did have a few more questions. It wasn''t until Linda started to look overwhelmed that she finally relented because of Eric''s presence.

    This executive, who had switched from Fox to ABC a few years back, was ambitious. She wanted to leverage the Lifetimework to achieve a significant oue, aspiring to reach the heights of women in Hollywood like Sherry Lansing and Amy Pascal.

    The previous president of A&E was from Hearst, and after gaining control, Katzenberg adjusted the position, reasoning that a woman could better grasp the essence of a female-targetedwork. Eric privately supported this decision, even though he didn''t have much information on Anne. But he vaguely remembered that she had had a hand in a very famous series called <i>Desperate Housewives</i>. From this perspective, she certainly had much inmon with Amy Pascal, who had a penchant for women-centered films. It made perfect sense to ce her in charge of Lifetime.

    Using the entire morning, the group toured several key filming locations for <i>Project Runway</i> and listened to Linda exin the entire process. The afternoon activities would certainly focus on <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    Both reality shows chose Manhattan''s Midtown as their main filming area, with the contestants'' apartments just a street apart. So, the walk-through didn''t require much effort.

    ...

    By 5:30 PM, after finishing up all the work, Emily, Anne, and the others wrapped up for the day and headed home. However, Eric was intercepted by Cindy Crawford.

    "Eric, are you free for dinner tonight? Let''s eat together," Cindy said, already stepping forward to affectionately link her arm with his.

    Linda Evangelista emerged from a makeup room with her belongings just as this scene unfolded. She smirked slightly and approached Eric, teasingly chiming in, "Eric, since we''re having dinner, why don''t I join too?"

    Eric joked, "If I take you both to dinner, someone will surely try to kill me with their eyes."

    "Thene to my ce. I cook pretty well, and we can continue discussing <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. I think there are many ces I could improve," Cindy said, throwing a threatening nce at Linda out of Eric''s sight, warning her not to cause mischief.

    Linda initially intended to tease Eric but felt annoyed by Cindy''s nce, which inadvertently seemed provocative. Boldly, she took Eric''s other arm, saying, "Then let''s go to Cindy''s! We haven''t hung out in ages."

    Cindy couldn''t hold back any longer and lightly pinched Linda under her ribcage from behind Eric.

    "Ouch, that hurts!" Linda eximed, tears welling up, looking at Eric with a pout. "Eric, Cindy pinched me."

    It took two hours to drive from Manhattan to East Hampton, but Eric intended to stay in town. With thedies inviting him, he graciously agreed, wrapping his arm around Linda''s waist andforting her as he said, "Alright, we''ll go to Cindy''s. If you''re going, we can eat what she cooks. If not, then next time I''m in New York, I''ll invite you for dinner."

    "Okay, I''ll do as you say," Linda replied in a yful voice, which wasn''t exactly baby-like but a bit raspy, carrying a youthful innocence that felt just right.

    Seeing Linda''s response, Cindy could only give her a pointed look, with no way to counter Eric''s decision.

    ...

    They went downstairs to the parking garage and squeezed into Cindy''s car. Though her apartment in the Upper East Hydee wasn''t far, it was rush hour, likely making the drive around ten minutes.

    Aware that her ns might be disrupted by Linda, Cindy quickly shifted the conversation back to <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. While driving, she asked Eric, "So, Eric, how do you think we''re doing with preparations?"

    "Everything''s great! I''m really looking forward to seeing what you bothe up with," Eric replied simply, feeling worn out from the day, not in the mood for anything too in-depth. In truth, he had already formed aprehensive assessment of the two shows throughout the monitoring process.

    Cindy, in charge of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, had a rather imaginative show format filled with creative details. It emphasized the host''s interaction with the contestants, and she herself had a significant presence on-screen. In contrast, <i>Project Runway</i>''s format was more fixed, each episodesting 43 minutes, structured in several set modules that focused on showcasing the contestants'' skills.

    Eric was generally quite satisfied with their work and couldn''t say one was better than the other; plus, he preferred they didn''t mirror each other''s formats too closely.

    Linda leaned in to listen, and remembering something else, she asked, "Eric, I heard <i>Survivor</i>''s second season just wrapped up, and I heard the season finale''s viewership climbed to 50 million! How much do you think ABC is making off that?"

    Eric shook his head and chuckled, "That''spany confidential, so I can''t share that with you. However, if your shows can reach even a tenth of <i>Survivor</i>''s sess, it would be enough to fill your wallets."

    To be honest, Eric wasn''t too clear on the specific revenue from <i>Survivor</i>''s second season either. Having just concluded, only preliminary ad revenue data was avable so far. ording to ABC''s statistics, the average ad revenue per episode for <i>Survivor</i>''s second season had already hit $27 million, with total ad revenues exceeding $350 million. The production cost for each episode was only around $5 million, and thanks to post-production video distribution and share in syndication, Firefly could expect to gain at least a tenfold return.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 720 - 721: What Are We Going to Buy?

    <h4>Chapter 720: Chapter 721: What Are We Going to Buy?</h4>

    [Chapter 721: What Are We Going to Buy?]

    Early in the morning, in a high-rise apartment in Manhattan''s Upper East Hydee by the East River.

    Linda Evangelista stood leisurely at the kitchen counter, slicing an apple. She wore only a tight ck tank top and denim shorts, with a Walkman clipped to her waist. Her tall, slender body gently swayed to the musicing from the headphones, asionally humming a few notes. She seemed to be in a great mood.

    After finishing her apple, as she turned to grab some sd dressing from the fridge, she noticed Cindy Crawford, who had somehow appeared in the kitchen doorway, casually leaning against the door frame. With her thick brown hair cascading down and her mysterious gaze, she looked like a witch.

    "Oh, you startled me," Linda said, instinctively stepping back and leaning against the fridge. After a moment of panic, she quickly pretended to be calm, took off her headphones, andughed awkwardly, saying, "Good morning, Cindy."

    Cindy Crawford crossed her arms and scrutinized Linda from head to toe, speaking in a haunting tone, "That''s my tank top."

    "Ah, ha, we have the same figure, hehe, it really suits me," Linda replied.

    Cindy''s gaze shifted down. "And my shorts."

    Linda waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, I''m a little heavier, but it''s fine."

    "And my Walkman."

    Linda felt as if Cindy was like a mother leopard ready to pounce, and she instinctively pulled her neck back, saying, "You, you can''t be that stingy. Next time youe over to my ce, feel free to use my things."

    Cindy smirked, straightening up and walking into the kitchen. Linda realized this was a bad situation; just as she was about to dodge, Cindy pressed her against the fridge. Though they had simr body types, Cindy''s strength far exceeded Linda''s due to her regr fitness routine. Linda tried to push away but found it futile.

    "I don''t care about those things," Cindy said, staring at Linda. "But why do you have to mess things up for me?"

    "I, I," Linda stuttered. "I, I''m just looking out for you. We did drinkst night, you know. I heard that babies conceived after a night of drinking have a high chance of being... well, let''s say, not very bright."

    Cindy picked up a small pot used for warming milk and waved it threateningly. "Do you believe I could turn you into an idiot right now? You were clearly trying to stir up troublest night."

    "I wasn''t!" Linda retorted, though her gaze dropped nervously, shifting slightly to the pot Cindy was waving.

    For some reason, the initial fear of Cindy transforming into a dark queen faded as Linda saw the pot, and she couldn''t help but start tough.

    "Haha..."

    Cindy tightened her grip, growing angrier. "You still dare tough?"

    Afterughing, Linda gained a bit more courage. "Cindy, let me go! If Eric wakes up, I can''t guarantee he won''t say something!"

    Cindy''s arm slightly loosened but then tightened again as she waved the small pot. "I don''t care whether you want to eat or not, but if you dare break this pot, I''ll make sure you regret it."

    "Alright, alright! I won''t say anything," Linda pleaded, putting her hands together as a gesture of surrender. She didn''t want to really provoke Cindy. A whack from that small pot would certainly hurt.

    Seeing her relent, Cindy loosened her grip.

    Once Cindy let go, Linda rubbed her chest and sniffed, teasing Cindy with a grin. "I think what you really need right now is to brush your teeth."

    Cindy felt the small ember of anger inside her re up again at Linda''s words, recalling the moment fromst night when her so-called friend had grabbed her by the back of her head right when it mattered most. If it hadn''t been for Linda, she might have seeded.

    "Yeah, but before brushing, I think we should get close like best friends do," Cindy said, tossing the small pot aside and moving forward, swiftly cupping Linda''s head to prevent her from escaping.

    Linda realized what Cindy intended to do and struggled. "What are you doing? Stop, Cindy! I''m sorry, I... mmm..."

    ...

    Eric had just walked out of the bedroom when he heard the muffled sounds of a struggle from the kitchen. He hurried toward the noise and happened to catch the scene of Linda being kissed against the fridge by Cindy.

    After a moment of watching, Eric chuckled, saying, "Hey, girls, don''t you think this is a bit of a waste of resources?"

    Cindy noticed Eric''s voice and released Linda, who quickly spat into the sink before rushing out of the kitchen and heading for the bathroom.

    Cindy tidied her disheveled hair in just a couple of movements, restoring her morous appearance, then turned to Eric with a seductive smile. "Good morning, Eric."

    "Morning," Eric replied, indicating the door through which Linda had disappeared. "What were you two doing?"

    "Oh, she wanted to try the taste of yogurt," Cindy casually shrugged, suddenly realizing something and dashed out of the kitchen, shouting, "Hey, Linda, I have spare dental supplies! You''re not allowed to use my toothbrush!"

    After all the fuss, breakfast was finally ready, and it was already nine o''clock.

    ...

    Eric set his milk and te down at the table, spreading out that day''s newspaper. He ate breakfast while reading.

    A few minutester, Cindy and Linda entered with their meager breakfasts. They had taken a while in the bathroom, and by the time they emerged, Eric had already brushed his teeth and started preparing his breakfast.

    As Linda sat down, she realized she still had the Walkman clipped to her waist. She took it off and ced it on the table, picking up her utensils to dig into the fruit sd on her te. Noticing Eric''s newspaper, she curiously asked, "Eric, what are you reading?"

    "Last week''s box office stats," Eric answered casually.

    "Oh, that reminds me!" Linda suddenly perked up, ncing at Cindy. "<i>Fair Game</i> came outst Friday -- did it make it to the top of the box office?"

    Cindy''splex gaze turned to Eric, who looked at her and shook his head. "Nope, the top spot went to Universal''s Casper."

    "Oh, so it must be second, then?" Linda quickly asked, her eyes glinting with mischief as she looked at Cindy.

    Eric shook his head again. "Second was Fox''s <i>Die Hard with a Vengeance</i>."

    "Ah, then... never mind. I''ll just check for myself," Linda said, shaking her head as she reached for the newspaper, flipping through the striking chart on the entertainment page, and gasped. "Wow, how could it be so low? Just $6.8 million, and it''s ranked sixth? It''s a new release!"

    "No one ever said audiences had to like new releases," Eric noted, catching Cindy''s nce while he spoke to Linda, inadvertently catching sight of the Walkman Linda had set on the table. His eyes fixed on it, and he reached over to pick up the sleek ck music yer, stroking it in his hands.

    At the mention of <i>Fair Game</i>, Cindy felt a rush of anxiety. The lead role should have been hers, and if the film were sessful, it would have meant a big step into leadingdy status in Hollywood. But upon hearing Linda mention the box office figures, she finally felt relief.

    $6.8 million for the opening weekend and ranked sixth certainly didn''t spell sess for the film.

    Taking a quiet breath, Cindy looked up to see Eric pondering the Walkman, a peculiar expression on his face, making her a bit confused. She asked the question that had been nagging at her, "Eric, did you know this film was going to fail from the start?"

    Eric continued to examine the Walkman, shaking his head as he casually replied, "I''m not that irvoyant. Joel Silver told me about the project, and I thought the script had real issues. I heard they made significant adjustments after that, so the current result really has nothing to do with me."

    "Impossible! udia Schiffer is the lead!" Linda chimed in. "I heard you helped her secure the role!"

    Eric replied, "udia doesn''t need my help to get roles. The offer from Warner was just too appealing."

    "Now that sounds terrible; the production cost is $50 million!" Linda continued. "With only $6.8 million for the opening weekend, what do you think the final box office will be?"

    "About $30 million, probably, which isn''t too disastrous. They might even break even in post-release. But next week, <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> ising out, and most other films will be wiped off the map."

    Eric spoke as if it were a foregone conclusion, and neither woman questioned <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>''s potential to dominate the box office. Cindy was still a bit caught up in her feelings about the film, pressing, "Eric, why do you think this one failed?"

    Eric answered, "I just skimmed some reviews. Primarily, it''s due to the film''s low storytelling quality. While Joel Silver made adjustments to the script, that issue stems from production, as the director wasted too much time on the early setup. When the story finally turned, it rushed to an end. It seems this was restricted by the budget, and the director couldn''t shoot what they wanted to."

    Though he hadn''t seen the actual film, Eric could roughly guess that the issues were simr to Michael Bay''s box office flop, <i>The Ind</i>, evoking a feeling of having not even begun before it ended. One major pitfall of the North American film industry was that, in most cases, if a film truly stank, audiences wouldn''t be swayed to see it just because of its big budget or big stars.

    Cindy felt relief that she had dodged a bullet; even if she had starred in this film, the failure wouldn''t have been her fault, but her stint in Hollywood would have surely ended before it even began.

    Yet she felt a twinge of envy; if she had starred in this film, her burgeoning acting career might have been ruined, while udia Schiffer would undoubtedlye out unscathed. With the resources Eric had, getting udia a lead role in any major production would effortlessly restore her fame.

    Casually munching on her breakfast, Cindy noticed that Eric was still toying with the Walkman and curiously asked, "Eric, is there something wrong with that portable music yer?"

    "No, it''s perfect; it''s a real work of art."

    "Then you..."

    "I suddenly thought of something," Eric mumbled, ncing up at the two women. "What are you two nning to do after breakfast?"

    Cindy replied, "My team and I are heading to the Hudson River for a shoot, preparing to record some VCRs for the contestants."

    "I don''t have much work today; the production crew needs to buy some props, and I don''t have to be there. Well, I could go swap out that runway piece from yesterday," Linda Evangelista said, suddenly realizing something. She turned to Eric and asked, "Eric, is there anything we can help you with?"

    "Come shopping with me," Eric reluctantly put down the Walkman, smiling. "I suddenly want to see if I can buy some things. Of course, if you want to personally swap that runway piece, then forget it."

    "Ah, no need for that! For something so small, let others do it!" Linda quickly shook her head, tossing a triumphant nce at Cindy.

    Cindy felt a bit bothered; having already told them she had work today, she felt she couldn''t ck off in front of the boss. With some reluctance, she asked, "Eric, are youing by tonight?"

    "Depends on how things go. I''m not returning to Los Angeles until the day after tomorrow. If there''s nothing else, I mighte over tonight," Eric replied uncertainly.

    After finishing breakfast, Cindy hurried off to work.

    Eric had been dyed for half an hour because of Linda Evangelista, who had put on makeup that made him hardly recognize her. After another half hour of her applying more cosmetics, they finally left the apartment.

    Eric''s car was parked outside the apartment, and as they got in, Linda Evangelista suddenly remembered to ask, "Eric, what are we going to buy?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 721 - 722: Can I Take a Look Inside?

    <h4>Chapter 721: Chapter 722: Can I Take a Look Inside?</h4>

    [Chapter 722: Can I Take a Look Inside?]

    "I don''t know what to buy, let''s wait until we get there," Eric said, running his fingers through his tousled hair, which Linda Evangelista had intentionally messed up. He asked the driver in the front seat, "Is there a Best Buy around here?"

    Carter Moen had recently taken some time off, so the driver was another bodyguard from Eric''s security team, coincidentally a New Yorker. Upon seeing Eric''s drastically altered appearance, the driver initially questioned whether his employer had been reced. Hearing him speak confirmed his identity as he replied, "There''s one on Fifth Avenue, right by Bryant Park."

    "Let''s go there," Eric nodded and instructed the driver to head out.

    Best Buy was thergest electronics retail chain in the United States, and Linda recalled the Walkman that Eric had fidgeted with during breakfast. She knew it likely had something to do with this trip.

    It was past business hours, and the roads were surprisingly clear. The sedan made it from the Upper East Hydee to the Best Buy near Bryant Park in under ten minutes.

    Eric and Linda got out of the car. Since there was no parking nearby, he told the driver to leave.

    It was a workday during business hours, so there weren''t many pedestrians on Fifth Avenue. However, once the sedan drove off, the two of them caught a few curious nces from passersby. It wasn''t that anyone recognized Eric and Linda; Eric didn''t even recognize himself thanks to Linda''s remarkable makeup skills. The main reason for the attention was the stark contrast in their appearances.

    Eric''s hair was a mess, and although his face had been handsome once, Linda''s touch made him look young and ordinary. At just twenty-five, he appeared more like he was in his early twenties. Today, he wore a slightly wrinkled light gray shirt, giving him the look of a disheveled college student.

    In stark contrast, Linda had her hair styled into an elegant bun, wearingrge sunsses and sporting striking red lips that made her radiate mour. Her ck knee-length dress hugged her curvaceous figure perfectly, and she carried a Prada handbag, draped with a decorative fur shrug that added a touch of aristocracy. More importantly, she was wearing high heels, which entuated her already tall stature, making Eric appear almost like ackey carrying her bags.

    Noticing the somewhat envious yet disdainful gazes from people around them, Eric chuckled at Linda''s mischievous expression and said, "You seem pretty pleased with yourself right now."

    Linda thought Eric was upset and quickly linked her arm through his,ughing, "Ah, I want that kind of makeup too, but I just can''t pull it off!"

    Eric didn''t buy her excuse but shrugged it off. Having gone through two lives and reaching the current position he had, outside opinions didn''t bother him much anymore.

    Allowing Linda to hang onto his arm, Eric pushed through the ss doors of Best Buy. Inside, the spaciousyout was filled withrge home appliances. After ncing at the store directory, he led Linda inward while saying, "You know, our situation is quite fitting with a certain trend from the European court days."

    Linda, like Eric, ignored the looks from others and asked, "What do you mean?"

    "Back in those days, wealthy European dames often kept talented young men as lovers, and those young men enjoyed living off their riches."

    Lindaughed, "I''ve never heard of that; you must be making it up!"

    "Not at all; many historical figures benefited from this arrangement."

    Still skeptical, Linda asked, "Who specifically?"

    Eric thought for a moment and replied, "Rousseau."

    Linda nodded, "I think I''ve heard that name."

    "Balzac."

    Her eyes widened under her sunsses, "Wow, really?"

    Eric nodded, "And Tchaikovsky."

    Linda''s mouth dropped in disbelief, but then she suddenly seemed to be ''in character'', dramatically waving her Prada handbag and dered, "Little Eric, pick out whatever you want; I''ll buy it for you."

    "..."

    Linda seemed a bit too excited and momentarily forgot to keep her voice low. A few other customers and staff in the store had already noticed the mismatched couple, and her words drew another wave of condescending nces toward Eric.

    As they walked through the appliance area, Eric spotted the Apple brand disy and led Linda over.

    After browsing, Eric found himself uninterested in Apple''s retro Macintoshputers and PowerBook notebooks. His currentptop was an IBM ThinkPad, and without Steve Jobs, Apple''s product designs looked pretty shabby.

    However, a small tablet-like device caught Eric''s attention.

    He gestured for the cashier, who had been shooting Linda judgmental nces, to retrieve the tablet from behind the counter. Eric examined it, and upon seeing the "on"bel, he recalled that it must be Apple''s early Newton tablet.

    The cashier, seeing Eric clumsily fiddling with the tablet and poking at the screen, couldn''t hide his contempt. He was annoyed that Eric had a stunning beauty like Linda on his arm. After watching Eric futilely poke the screen with his finger for a moment, he finally handed him a stylus, saying stiffly, "Sir, this tablet requires a stylus for use."

    "Oh, Ipletely forgot about that," Eric mumbled, taking the stylus, and this time he was able to use it without any trouble.

    "This is Apple''stest Newton MP110 series, featuring advanced handwriting recognition, great for high-end businesspeople. It''s priced at $799," the cashier emphasized the price, aware that for most average people, $799 was pretty steep, especially for such a basic device, which could even be deemed luxury given its meager capabilities. To his disappointment, Eric showed no reaction at all.

    Linda, concealed behind her sunsses, raised an eyebrow and wore a mischievous grin.

    After trying out the tablet''s notepad, memo, and calendar features, Eric finally looked up at the cashier and asked, "What material is the screen made of?"

    "What?" the cashier looked taken aback.

    "I mean, is the touchscreen made from STN or TFT?"

    The cashier finally understood but was unable to answer. Noticing Linda''s smirk, he felt even more flustered. "I''m not quite sure about that."

    Eric asked again, "What type of battery does it use?"

    The cashier was clearer on this: "It uses thetest lithium-ion battery developed by Sony, with a capacity over twice that of the standard nickel-metal hydride battery."

    "Oh," Eric nodded before continuing, "What''s the storage capacity and what type of storage chip does it use?"

    The cashier was left speechless, caught off guard. He sensed Eric was just trying to make him squirm and, feeling embarrassed, replied angrily, "Sir, I''m just a salesperson, not an engineer. Please don''t cause a scene."

    Before Eric could interject, Linda was unwilling to let that slide. "Hey, if you don''t know anything about the product, why are you even working as a salesperson? And with that attitude? Be careful, or I''m going to file aint!"

    The cashier adopted a dismissive demeanor. "Lady, please don''t wave your phony Prada around in front of me. My girlfriend has one just like it, bought from a proper retailer. Yours looks like a fake. I suspect you two are scammers, and if you keep causing a ruckus, I''ll call security."

    Linda''s handbag was an internal limited edition model, vastly different from the regr styles sold in shops. It caught her off-guard to be used of having a counterfeit. She turned to Eric, her expression one of helplessness.

    Eric shrugged slightly, not wishing to escte the situation. As he was about to lead Linda away, a middle-aged white man wearing sses hurried over, asking the cashier, "Jack, what''s going on here?"

    "They..." the cashier named Jack started to whine in a low voice.

    After hearing him out, the middle-aged man waved him off and turned to speak with Eric and Linda. However, when he got a good look at Eric, his eyes narrowed in scrutiny. Unable to confirm but instinctively feeling cautious, he said, "Sir, I''m the manager here, Rhett Jackman. You can call me Rhett. May I assist you?"

    "Sure," Eric replied with a smile, moving closer to the counter again and resuming his inquiry about the Newton tablet.

    Rhett Jackman differed from the earlier cashier; he was knowledgeable and replied with a smile, "This tablet utilizes thetest TFT LCD screen, with 1MB memory and 4MB storage, employing Toshiba''s sh memory chip."

    "Do you have other electronics here that use sh technology?"

    "Absolutely, our phones, digital cameras, andputers all incorporate that technology."

    Eric continued asking, "What''s the maximum storage capacity for these types of chips?"

    Rhett Jackman thought for a moment and said, "Thergest capacity would belong to the CF memory card developed by SanDisk. This product wasunchedst year and is primarily used in digital cameras, with a maximum capacity of 16MB. If you''re interested, I can show you."

    Sixteen megabytes was barely enough to store four MP3 tracks. Eric felt disappointed but decided to check it out anyway. "Let''s go take a look. Also, prepare five of those tablets for me; I''ll take them with me."

    Linda asked, puzzled, "Eric, why are you buying so many?"

    Eric smiled, "Gifts."

    Linda still didn''t quite get it, but Rhett Jackman raised an eyebrow, sensing that although this couple appeared mismatched, they weren''t what they seemed. His suspicions were further confirmed.

    He instructed the cashier at the counter to prepare the items for Eric while Rhett Jackman patiently led Eric toward the digital camera section with his ever-present smile.

    At another counter, Rhett Jackman handed Eric a storage card norger than a postage stamp. "Sir, this is the CF card, with 16MB storage, capable of holding up to 100 pictures. Do you need me to demonstrate it with a digital camera?"

    Eric examined the card, then shook his head, "No need; it''s toorge for such small capacity."

    Rhett Jackman remained unfazed, smiling, "Sir, this is the current technological limit. Five years ago, when sh chips first appeared, they only had 1MB of storage. Larger capacities are only achievable with hard drives."

    "Oh," Eric''s tone rose slightly as he suddenly recalled, "Are there hard drives that match the size of this CF card?"

    "Can''t say I''ve seen one," Rhett Jackman shook his head. "The smallest hard drive right now is Toshiba''s 1.8-inch model, used in their portable handheldputers."

    "Do you have any of thoseputers here?"

    "Yes, please follow me," Rhett Jackman said, guiding Eric to the Toshiba product disy. He presented a Toshiba Libretto 20 handheldputer to Eric. "This features a 6.1-inch TFT screen, 8MB memory, and 270MB storage, utilizing an internal 1.8-inch miniature hard drive."

    That morning, after seeing Cindy''s Walkman, Eric quickly thought of MP3 yers. At this time, the MP3 audio format patent was held by Yahoo. Due to their open licensing policy, it had be the most widely used audio format, not only online but also appearing in some CD music albums.

    Last weekend, while discussing Yahoo''s future strategies with Chris, they explored the possibilities of Yahoo venturing into hardware products, and now Eric realized that an MP3 yer would be the ideal fit.

    If he could gain control over all the rted MP3 yer patents, Eric could leverage Yahoo to create an online music store, effectively controlling the entire music sales supply chain from inte to hardware. North America''s strict music copyrightws and themon willingness to pay for music indicated a significant potential for an online music store, especially if Yahoo established a monopolistic sales tform, potentially yielding better profits than hardware sales.

    Additionally, MP3 yers could be integrated into Nokia phones, presenting another growth avenue.

    As he mused over all this, Eric briefly tested the Toshiba handheldputer as like a miniptop. Unconsciously, he asked, "Can I take a look inside?"

    Rhett Jackman hesitated for a moment but quickly replied, "Of course, sir, but we don''t have the tools here. Would you like toe to my office?"

    Eric was about to decline, considering the request seemed a bit excessive. But upon hearing Rhett''s response, he suddenly realized and smiled, "You recognized me, didn''t you?"

    Rhett Jackman chuckled and replied, "If you hadn''t asked that question, I wouldn''t have been able to put all the pieces together, Mr. Williams."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 722 - 723: Rocket Man

    <h4>Chapter 722: Chapter 723: Rocket Man</h4>

    [Chapter 723: Rocket Man]

    In an office above a Best Buy store, a pricey Toshiba handheld devicey dismantled into a disarray of parts.

    Eric examined the Toshiba mini hard drive in his hand, about the size of a credit card, and said in confusion to Rhett Jackman, "1.8 inches? It shouldn''t be this big. I think this hard drive is at least 4 inches."

    With Eric''s identity revealed, Rhett Jackman was filled with more respect and patiently exined, "Mr. Williams, the size of the hard drive doesn''t refer to the external casing but rather to the diameter of the internal disk tters."

    As Rhett spoke, he took the mini hard drive from Eric''s hand, expertly using a disassembly tool to open the back cover. He showed Eric the silver disk tter inside, which was slightlyrger than a coin. "These aluminum alloy tters are coated with countless tiny maic powder particles. The maic head arranges them in patterns representing 0s and 1s to record data."

    Linda Evangelista had been quietly listening all along and, surprised by Rhett''s sinct description, eximed, "That''s amazing! I just heard you mention CF cards, and this one has a capacity several times bigger. Does that mean it can store over a thousand photos?"

    Rhett Jackman appreciated Linda''s enthusiasm, smiling as he replied, "Based on current mainstream digital camera resolutions, it can store roughly 1,600 photos."

    Linda asked, "Then why do digital cameras use those tiny capacity CF cards instead of this hard drive?"

    Rhett exined, "There are many factors to consider, such as technology, costs, market positioning, and evenpany strategy. For example, if I were the CEO of Kodak, I would try to limit the development of digital cameras that use hard drive technology. Even though Kodak manufactures photography equipment, over 70% of their revenuees from film sales. The emergence of high-capacity digital cameras would be a disaster for thepany."

    Eric grabbed the mini hard drive again, contemting the MP3 situation. Hearing Rhett''s words reminded him of the shocking news about Kodak''s decline during his previous life, and he nodded in appreciation, surprised by Rhett''s foresight.

    In fact, Eric''s current role was already leaning towards being a guardian of the old order. As a major stakeholder in Firefly Group, it was in his best interest to halt the emergence of new media and technologies. But Eric recognized that if he truly did that, he would ultimately be driven out of the market.

    Sony''s downfall was the best example. In the early MP3 era, Sony''s technical umtions and music rights far surpassed Apple, yet they continuously retreated in the MP3 market. The fundamental reason was that Sony hesitated for too long over whether to fully abandon the CD realm. They even attempted, using their dominant position in the recording industry, to stop the development of MP3s and inte music sales. This counterproductive approach led to the once-dominant music yer industry king beingpletely pushed out of the market in just a few years.

    Eric knew that if he proposed the MP3 yer n, he would certainly face resistance from major recordbels, and even the record department within Firefly Group would raise objections. However, not doing so would mean surrendering the market to outsiders, cing him in a more passive positionter.

    After two hours at Best Buy, Eric left with tworge boxes filled with electronic products that seemed like antiques when viewed through a future lens but were equipped with the most advanced technology at that moment.

    Not heading back to Cindy''s apartment, Eric took Linda to his home on Sixth Avenue.

    ...

    After a simple lunch, Eric began organizing the spoils from his shopping spree. Linda wandered around the luxurious duplex apartment overlooking Central Park, savoring the sights. When she stepped downstairs, she spotted Eric arranging a brick-like IBM mobile phone amidst the numerous electronic products in the living room. asionally, he tapped away on his openptop.

    Linda curiously approached him and asked, "Eric, does anyone still use such a big mobile phone?"

    Eric was holding the IBM Simon mobile phone. Initially surprised by the size, he found it odd that, despite being muchrger than today''s phones that fit in the palm of your hand, it fully operated via a touchscreen. Apart from making calls, it also provided a notepad, memos, calendar, and other functions, essentially making it a smartphone -- and possibly the world''s first smartphone.

    "It''s 1995," Eric remarked. This again proved that technology had never been the issue; strategy was. If IBM had persisted in research and development along this line during his previous life, Apple wouldn''t have be so prevalent.

    Shaking the IBM Simon in his hand, Eric asked Linda, "If this phone were shrunk to fit in your palm, would you be willing to use it?"

    Linda picked it up and examined it for a moment but shook her head, "I''m not interested. A phone is just for making calls. All those notepad and memo features aren''t useful. A notebook that costs a few cents can do those things. Who would spend a thousand dors?"

    Eric nodded with a smile. From Rhett Jackman earlier, he had learned that the bulky IBM phone, along with Apple''s Newton tablet, Sony''s electronic notepad, and Toshiba''s handheld device, were all selling poorly. The fundamental reason echoed Linda''s sentiment. These seemingly high-end electronic productscked features and therefore didn''t have much market potential.

    "Let''s make another assumption," Eric said, picking up the Newton tablet. "What if this tablet could serve as an electronic reader and hold hundreds of books? Would you buy it?"

    "I''m not much of a reader," Linda replied, then added, "But as long as it''s not too expensive, I imagine people who enjoy reading would be keen to buy it."

    "Okay, sale failed," Eric chuckled as he put down the Newton tablet and picked up the Toshiba mini hard drive. "ording to the MP3 audio format developed by Yahoo, this hard drive can hold over 50 songs. With a few more years of technological advancement, it would be able to hold 100 to 200 songs without any issue. So, if there was an MP3 yer the size of a cigarette pack that could store hundreds of songs in your pocket for on-the-go listening, would you buy it?"

    "Of course I would!" Linda nodded eagerly, gesturing at the scattered electronic products in the room. "Eric, you bought all this stuff to develop the music yer you just mentioned, didn''t you?"

    "Exactly."

    Eric nodded. The expensive and impractical electronics he had purchased primarily aimed to understand the current level of technological development in liquid crystal disys, sh storage, hard drives, lithium-ion batteries, and more. By having a hands-on experience, he hoped to confirm the feasibility of his thoughts.

    Although sh storage capacity had yet to reach a practical level for MP3 manufacturing and the micro hard disk technology that once dominated MP3 storage wouldn''t appear untilter, developing a cigarette-pack-sized MP3 yer was still doable with the existing mini hard drive and lithium-ion battery technology. While it wouldn''t be aspact as the mini devicespared to chewing gum from his previous life, it would certainly be more cutting-edge than Sony''s Walkman. Additionally, Eric wanted to secure theplete patent technology for the MP3 yer, ensuring situations like the confusion over patent ownership that led to a flood of MP3 manufacturers from his previous life wouldn''t happen.

    Spending the entire afternoon, Eric tore apart most of the purchased electronic items, meticulously assembling a detailed memorandum for developing e-reader technology, the MP3 yer, and even smartphones.

    As he came down from his work mode, he noticed dusk setting in outside. Eric originally intended to send this memorandum to Yahoo''s executives and Nokia''s Jorma Oll, but reconsidering Chris''s warning about Microsoft''s intentions to poach from Yahoo, he decided to hold off for now. He thought it best to wait until July when everything settled down, giving him time to prepare.

    Eric retrieved two paper boxes he had used to carry the electronics and sorted through them, cing the relevant parts into one box while tossing the rest into another. He dusted off his hands, suddenly recalling that Linda should still be around.

    ...

    In the adjacent living room, the television was ying a show. Eric walked in to find MTV airing a fashion program, but Linda was curled up on the couch, cradling a pillow and fast asleep. Her curvaceous figure resembled azy kitten, rising and falling gently with her breaths. Strands of her blonde hair covered her face, her red lips slightly parted, giving her an air of charming allure.

    After silently admiring the perfect creation of humanity for a while, Eric didn''t have the heart to wake her. He settled softly in the corner of the sofa near Linda''s feet, inhaling the faint fragrance of her presence while quietly watching television.

    ...

    Despite sleepingzily all afternoon, Linda had actually woken up the moment Eric entered the living room.

    Curious about Eric''s reaction to her sleeping presence, she kept her eyes closed but waited patiently. When she felt him sit nearby, quietly watching television, she felt satisfied that he didn''t lose control and pounce on her. However, she also thought it unusual for a man to react so calmly.

    So, she decided to continue pretending to be asleep, but her eyes secretly peered open. As the light dimmed in the living room, she could only catch glimpses of his sharply defined profile in the flickering television glow. Having washed off her makeup from the morning, her natural features now exhibited a certain appeal that she found nice about him.

    A momentter, the program on TV suddenly changed, and the host began introducing a music video.

    <i>She packed my bagsst night, pre-flightZero hour, 9 a.m.And I''m gonna be high as a kite by thenI miss the Earth so much, I miss my wifeIt''s lonely out in spaceOn such a timeless flight</i>

    <i>...</i>

    <i>...</i>

    It was the famous British singer Elton John''s "Rocket Man." She loved this song; Elton''s voice carried an air of sadness, resignation, helplessness, and ultimately, a hint of hysteria.

    The lyrics told the story of a rocket man drifting through space, missing home and his wife, but to her, it felt more like a parable about a wayward soul longing for stability yet unable to attain it. Such stories often unfolded in movies, where retired bodyguards, spies, or soldiers were inevitably sent on onest mission, only to tragically die -- usually these characters were side characters. The heroes continued their adventures, stretching a movie franchise to its sixteenth installment without concluding it.

    Earlier, MTV had also aired a trailer for the sixteenth James Bond film. What was it called again? Ah, <i>GoldenEye</i>! It seemed to being out in July.

    Lost in thought for a moment, Linda nced at the man sitting across from her. She didn''tprehend the phrase "high ces are lonely," nor did she understand the feeling of "no one to hear the strings break," but instinctively felt that perhaps he was a rocket man too.

    Feeling her body stiffening from sleep and a bit hungry, she didn''t want to feign sleep any longer. She opened her eyes, instinctively stretching her long body, her delicate foot resting on his leg.

    "You''re awake," Eric turned his head, smiling as he held her slender ankle, cing it on his leg to make it easier for her to stretch.

    Linda tossed the pillow aside and nodded. Feeling a slight tickle from Eric holding her ankle, she blushed and yfully nudged it. "I had a dream that you gifted this entire house to me, and then I woke upughing."

    "Ha, well, waking up is good. If I had stayed in your dream, I''d certainly be crying."

    Though she felt envious, she never fantasized about Eric actually giving her the multi-million dor mansion. If it truly happened, she wouldn''t dare ept it outright. While not the sharpest tool in the shed, she knew everything in this world had a price. In the afternoon, her dream urately captured that sentiment, and the dim evening light allowed her to candidly share it.

    Eric''s words left her slightly disappointed. She kicked her feet yfully and said, "In such situations, even yboys seeking to avoid giving gifts usually know how to fake a bit. You''re just toozy."

    Eric pretended to look helpless. "Alright, let me think of something to say."

    Linda, her eyes sparkling in the flickering light from the TV, looked at him with a yful expression as if saying he bettere up with something.

    After a moment, Eric pped his forehead, his face lighting up in realization. "Oh! I remember now; this house isn''t mine!"

    "Ha! No creativity at all; aren''t you a Hollywood gold medal screenwriter?"

    "Just enjoy my creative ramblings," Eric chuckled, then asked, "Are you hungry? Shall we go out to eat?"

    "Sure," Linda nodded. She was far more familiar with Manhattan than Eric and had just begun to suggest a ce when the phone rang in the living room.

    "I''ll take this call, just a moment," Eric said as he got up to walk outside.

    Linda watched him leave the lounge, toozy to rise. She wiggled her body, peering out from behind the sofa''s armrest. She saw him sitting on the couch with the phone to his ear, vaguely hearing him discuss the premiere arrangements for <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>.

    The conversation stretched for nearly ten minutes before Eric hung up. As she was about to pull back and get up, Eric''s phone rang again.

    "Hello? Oh, Cindy! It''s you!" Eric replied, noticing Linda''s peering. He waved his hand at her.

    She smiled, having guessed Cindy''s intent for the call. Pulling her head back, she feltzy and didn''t want to hear anymore. Suddenly, she recalled Eric''s serious tone during that earlier work-rted conversation -- it was earnest, meticulous, and focused.

    And what about her?

    She had a decent background, no financial pressures, had grownzy with education as an adult, and relied on her good looks to model.

    It all began at sixteen.

    Fourteen yearster...

    Step by step to the present.

    Life seemed simple.

    Work and y.

    Not getting out of bed for less than ten grand a day.

    Marrying too young.

    Meeting the wrong people.

    Not wanting to settle anymore, so she divorced.

    Couldn''t handle her boyfriend, so she broke it off.

    Living on her whims, without boundaries.

    Suddenly, she realized she was the rocket man.

    No wonder she liked Elton John''s song so much.

    Straining to catch the conversation outside, she found Eric still speaking gently with Cindy, exuding endless patience.

    Perhaps while he too floated in space, he controlled everything, like a space shuttle pilot.

    But wait -- he didn''t control everything; at least he didn''t know what her ambitious faux-friend was thinking.

    She suddenly felt a sense of responsibility to do something. Her mind buzzed for a moment before she jumped off the sofa and headed toward the living room.

    "Oh, George''s Jean restaurant -- where''s that?" Eric was speaking with Cindy about the restaurant''s location when Linda approached him, tossing her hair over her shoulder with amanding gesture. She leaned closer, yfully pushing Eric back against the sofa.

    As Eric listened to Cindy share the address, he was abruptly pushed back onto the couch by Linda. He shot her a questioning look.

    Cindy on the other end had just finished giving the address when Linda went over to Eric, standing in front of him. He watched as she pulled down the zipper on her dress, skillfully slipped the shoulder straps down, and leaned in to give him a light nibble on the neck.

    "Cindy, I...oh, I''ve got it. Linda and I will be there in about fifteen minutes."

    "No, my dear Cindy, let''s wait for an hour," Linda said loudly into the phone, snatching it from Eric''s grasp and hanging up.

    Eric helplessly reached for Linda''s soft waist and chuckled, "Okay then, what state of mind are you in? Did something bite you?"

    "Certainly not," Linda replied, cupping Eric''s face in her hands, leaning in to kiss him wildly, her voice husky as she said, "I n to squeeze you dry."

    Well, Cindy darling, let''s see how you handle that tonight.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 723 - 724: Continuing the Glory

    <h4>Chapter 723: Chapter 724: Continuing the Glory</h4>

    [Chapter 724: Continuing the Glory]

    For Hollywood, the summer blockbuster season of 1995 kicked off with the release of <i>Die Hard with a Vengeance</i> on May 19. However, since the trailer for <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> premiered during the Super Bowl at the beginning of the year, the eyes of media and fans around the world had been firmly focused on this long-awaited blockbuster.

    June 2, the day <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> hit theaters, marked the official start of the summer movie season in the minds of most moviegoers.

    The massive sess of the original <i>Jurassic Park</i> two years earlier wasn''t just evident in its record-breaking global box office of over a billion dors; it established the <i>Jurassic Park</i> brand deeply in the cultural psyche, almost forming a cultural phenomenon. While the <i>Jurassic Park</i> series might struggle to reach the heights of the <i>Star Wars</i> franchise of the 1970s in an increasingly effects-driven era, the potentialmercial value of the brand remained in the tens of billions.

    With such powerful influence, the premiere of <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> attracted intense attention from hundreds of media outlets around the globe.

    Eric flew back to Los Angeles from New York on the morning of May 31, preparing for the premiere of <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> the following day.

    The premiere took ce at the Los Angeles Music Center at five o''clock on June 1.

    For this new iteration of <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, Eric hired director Joe Johnston, who had previously coborated with Disney on multiple films. Johnston, a former visual effects artist, had produced the familyedy <i>Honey, I Shrunk the Kids</i>, which had been a tremendous box office sess in thete 1980s.

    On the original timeline, Johnston was supposed to direct <i>Jumanji</i> and <i>Jurassic Park 3</i>. Eric chose to hand <i>Jumanji</i> off to another director, allowing Johnston to join the <i>Jurassic Park</i> franchise earlier. If the second film seeded, it could lead to him helming the third installment as well.

    ...

    The star-studded red carpet eventsted two hours, as media Q&A sessions were scheduled after the film screening. At seven o''clock, after a brief opening speech, the film began to y in the theater.

    The original <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> was essentially a pet project for Spielberg. Its plot was weak and disorganized, following the first film''s trope of characters making foolish decisions. In fact,ter on, Spielberg himself admitted it was his worst film. Despite its global box office grossing over $600 million in the original timeline, the series'' reputation took a major hit, leading the third film to only earn a mere $300 million worldwide.

    The new <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> kept the general concept of the original but, to avoid repeating its mistakes and maintain the franchise''s good reputation, Ericpletely reworked its framework.

    In the new script, Eric minimized the subplot of exploring Dinosaur Ind, eliminating several subplots and scrapping the mindless "do-nothing" character tropes. Instead, the story focused on thepany behind the disaster, which bribed the park''sputer administrator for dinosaur embryos in the first film. Thispany aimed to construct a new Jurassic Park to rake in massive profits by kidnapping various dinosaurs from Dinosaur Ind. After a grueling effort, they sessfully captured a Tyrannosaurus Rex. However, during transportation, the T-Rex managed to escape, leading to catastrophic results as it invaded the city.

    In the film, the hunt for the now rampaging T-Rex in the metropolis not only stunned audiences worldwide but also elicited gasps from the thousands of viewers in the cinema. There was no doubt this setup was highly sessful; the resurrection of dinosaurs in modern society already provided an immense thrill, and the T-Rex''s urban invasion was undoubtedly far more rtable than an isted Dinosaur Ind.

    The tightly woven storyline made everyone forget the passage of time; the two-hour viewing experience flew by. As the T-Rex, responsible for a series of devastating consequences, was finally subdued, the credits rolled, apanied by thunderous apuse in the concert hall.

    ...

    As the audience and guests began to disperse after the premiere, at the subsequent press conference, the invited journalists didn''t discuss the film''s quality or box office forecasts. Instead, they unanimously reserved the first question for a topic they had been eager to discuss for over a year.

    "Mr. Williams, I''m a reporter for the <i>Seattle Times</i>. First, I want to say this is an outstanding sequel, but we still don''t understand why you chose not to direct the <i>Jurassic Park</i> series?" A lucky female journalist who got the opportunity to ask focused intently on Eric, unable to contain her curiosity.

    Eric took the microphone handed to him, a subtle smile on his face as he said, "I know everyone has been curious about this for a long time, but my answer isn''t vastly different from the previous announcements from Firefly Group, and I have no intention of brushing anyone off. On one hand, I''m not a fan of doing the same job repeatedly. More importantly, I''m very busy now and find it challenging to carve out a few months to go overseas to shoot a film."

    "Mr. Williams, does that mean you won''t be directing films yourself anymore?" Seizing the moment before anyone could take the microphone away, the female reporter quickly followed up.

    Eric thought for a moment and replied, "Honestly, the first <i>Jurassic Park</i> marked the pinnacle of my career two years ago. It''s incredibly difficult for someone to remain passionate about something once they''ve achieved the utmost zenith in it. Will I continue to film another movie? The answer is certainly yes; I''m still young with plenty of time. However, when my next film starts is something I don''t quite know myself."

    The microphone passed to another journalist who asked, "Mr. Williams, I''m from <i>The New York Times</i>. Under what circumstances would you consider making your next film?"

    "There are many factors. For instance, a project that I feel could challenge me or a script that captures my strong interest. Of course, there''s another situation; a friend once joked that I''m like a chef running a restaurant and could easily step in to execute if the head chef is absent. That''s true; if Firefly Group needs me for a project, I could jump right in."

    "You mean you can direct any type of film project under the Firefly banner?"

    Faced with this subtly loaded question, Eric shook his head slightly and chuckled, "Oh, I''m not entirely sure about that, but you could look back at the various types of films I''ve produced over the years."

    Laughter arose from the audience. After a moment, another questioner said, "Mr. Williams, I''m from <i>The Hollywood Reporter</i>. Your films have achieved a level ofmercial sess that others can hardly match. When do you n to aim for the Oscar for Best Director?"

    Eric contemted countering with, "If you had already be the President, would you still care about a Scouts medal?"

    However, such a response would surely be interpreted by the press as Eric Williams openly dismissing the Oscars, though he genuinely held that sentiment; he would never express it publicly.

    After a brief pause for effect, Eric spoke into the microphone, "Alright, that''s thest question about me personally. I won''t be answering any more questions not rted to <i>Jurassic Park</i>. Regarding your inquiry, I believe it''s bound to be a very long story."

    The room fell silent for a moment. Then, everyone realized Eric''s subtle jab at the Academy and burst intoughter.

    As everyone knew, Eric was only twenty-five years old. In over half a century of Oscar history, no director had won the golden statuette before turning thirty. So, if Eric hinted at pursuing the Best Director award, he and the Academy would undoubtedly engage in a drawn-out chase for years toe. It''s easy to imagine the Academy bing even more stringent with Eric''s potential Oscar bid, eager to maintain their authority and demonstrate that they would not yield merely due to the des surrounding Eric.

    One could specte Eric might even oust Leo from being the perennial punchline at the Oscars.

    Leo had already followed the trajectory of history and boarded that ill-fated ship, so it was best to leave theugh-making to him.

    ...

    After the premiere, <i>Jurassic Park</i> officially opened in theaters across North America, once again breaking records with the number of screens reaching 3,500.

    Taking over the sequel to a film that once set box office records was undoubtedly pressuring for Johnston. He wasn''t going to treat this sequel with the nonchnt attitude of his predecessor. He invested a tremendous amount of effort into this installment. While he ultimately went slightly over budget, it all proved worth it.

    "With a tighter plot and more refined special effects, audiences unknowingly enjoyed two thrilling hours in theaters. Undoubtedly, Johnston delivered a satisfactory answer for this sequel." - <i>Los Angeles Times</i>

    "The T-Rex rampaging through the city was absolutely brilliant; even while watching the crowd being chased by the T-Rex on screen, I couldn''t help but feel my heart race, experiencing a sense of panic as if I needed to flee." - <i>Hollywood Daily News</i>

    "I initially thought this would be a standard sequel, yet the film surprised me with its breakthroughs in plot and special effects while continuing the style of the first. The city-invasion plotpelled me to think more about whether we should treat nature with greater respect and inflict less damage." - <i>New York Times</i>

    Unlike the overwhelmingly negative reviews received by the sequel in the original timeline, this new version garnered generally positive feedback. With good word-of-mouth and 3,500 screens, the film earned $31.7 million on its first day, effortlessly breaking all single-day box office records.

    The following day had earnings of $33.5 million, with Sunday bringing in $29.8 million.

    Ultimately, with the premiere''s midnight showing grossing $5.6 million, everyone was astounded to discover <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> grossed an astounding $106 million, setting a new box office record for a first weekend.

    Meanwhile, thanks to the powerful distribution channels of Firefly Group, <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> opened simultaneously in 22 countries and regions overseas, grossing $60 million over its first weekend.

    Three days'' global box office totaled $160 million, easily surpassing the entire production and distribution costs that Firefly had sunk into this sequel.

    Many people could hardly fathom the heights this film would achieve.

    For Eric, seeing this box office report, thest remnants of his anxiety melted away. He was alsopletely certain that the original <i>Jurassic Park</i> sequel truly had been mishandled by Spielberg.

    In truth, for Eric, this oue wasn''t too surprising. The massive fanbase built from the first film, coupled with the second film''s impressive quality and the expanding North American and global film markets, ensured that while its box office might not match the first film''s staggering heights, it wouldn''t fall far behind.

    Moreover, the past revival of <i>Jurassic Park</i>, after years of being shelved, with <i>Jurassic World</i>''s $600 million North American and $1.6 billion global box offices further proved how strong interest in this dinosaur franchise remained.

    ...

    In Culver City, Los Angeles, at the Columbia Pictures film studio.

    A ck Lincoln slowly stopped in front of an office building. Howard Stringer of Sony''s American division had just exited the vehicle when Bill Mechanic, the new head of Columbia Pictures, weed him.

    Mechanic was also a veteran of Hollywood, having worked at Paramount, Disney, and Fox. In the mid-1980s at Disney, he spearheaded the video release of ssic animated films and achieved impressive sales figures. After moving to Fox and serving as vice president towards the end of the 1980s, he began to consider his next career move when Fox appointed Joe Roth as president.

    Following Sony''s decision to abandon the n of having Michael Ovitz lead Columbia, they spent several months looking for a suitable recement. Ultimately, this position fell into Mechanic''s hands.

    In fact, Columbia had better candidates, but after the incidents involving Peter Guber and Jon Peters, Sony grew increasingly cautious about empowering studio heads. Consequently, a number of potential Hollywood executives withdrew from thepetition to lead Columbia during contract negotiations due to Sony''s many restrictions.

    Stringer embraced Mechanic warmly, exchanging pleasantries as they walked toward the office building.

    Mechanic kept pace with Stringer and said, "Howard, I assume you''ve seen the box office report for <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>?"

    "Of course," Stringer nodded. "I came over today specifically to discuss this matter. The headquarters just sent me a project, which I think has nearly as great potential as <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 724 - 725: The Right Approach

    <h4>Chapter 724: Chapter 725: The Right Approach</h4>

    [Chapter 725: The Right Approach]

    Bill Mechanic brought Howard Stringer into his office. As they both sat down, Howard pulled a document from his briefcase. "Bill, take a look at this first."

    Bill Mechanic received the document and opened it, where a photo immediately caught his eye. The image disyed a giant beast with armor-like scales reminiscent of a dinosaur. Without thinking, Bill eximed, "Godzi?"

    "Yes, Godzi," Howard Stringer nodded. He set aside the coffee handed to him by Bill''s secretary and waved the assistant away. "Mr. Nobuyuki contacted me yesterday and sent this material. Sony headquarters has already started talks with Toho, and we should be able to get the rights soon. He wants us to bring this monster to the big screen using Hollywood''s most advanced CGI effects."

    Since the first <i>Godzi</i> film debuted in 1954, the creature -- born from Japanese fears of nuclear devastation -- had gained worldwide recognition and amassed a huge following. Besides the over twenty films produced directly by Toho, Godzi-rtedics, cartoons, and merchandise flourished across the globe. The monster even significantly influenced many films dealing with giant creatures.

    Bill Mechanic understood that Sony executives were likely inspired by the box office sess of <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> and had be impulsive about making a CGI version of Godzi. Given that <i>Jurassic Park</i> served as a reference point, he expected a project budget of no less than a hundred million dors. However, pursuing this project conflicted with the development strategy he had designed for Columbia.

    After a moment''s hesitation, Bill asked, "Howard, what are Mr. Nobuyuki''s specific ns for this project? Columbia isn''t in the best shape right now."

    "I know your concerns, Bill," Howard Stringer said with a smile. "Budget-wise, there are no issues. Mr. Nobuyuki stated that as long as we can execute this project well, Sony is willing to bear a production budget of up to $150 million and invest $50 million in marketing because he hopes the first film makes a ssh, leading to a series like what Toho has done."

    Upon hearing this, Bill Mechanic felt no joy.

    If Sony invested $200 million into this project, they would need at least $500 million in global box office receipts to break even. Although <i>Jurassic Park</i> had already pushed the highest global box office record to $1 billion two years prior, Bill, who had spent twenty years navigating Hollywood, knew making a movie with global earnings of $500 million was no easy feat, even with the overall expanding market.

    Last year''s Hollywood market was remarkable in its sess, but only six films surpassed the $500 million mark worldwide. Bill feared if this $200 million project failed, it could deal a devastating blow to Sony''s confidence in film operations, possibly leading it to withdraw from Hollywood like Panasonic did. Each change in ownership at major studios meant management upheaval, putting Bill''s own future as CEO in jeopardy.

    After some consideration, Bill said, "Howard, I mentioned upon joining that if Sony wanted to operate the film business long-term, it should focus on producing medium to low-budget films in the next few years. This conservative approach would help stabilize Columbia''s nearly copsed production and distribution system. At that time, both you and Mr. Nobuyuki agreed with my approach, so why take the risk now?"

    Howard Stringer patiently exined, "Bill, Mr. Nobuyuki''s exact words are that Sony hopes Columbia will have a highly representative film series."

    "Howard, I just think this decision is foolish. They should know what failure on this project would mean. If the Japanese want to maintain their dignity, the <i>Men in ck</i> and <i>Jumanji</i> series are already enough," Bill shook his head. "I believe we should persuade Mr. Nobuyuki to abandon this idea. If it must be done, it should be postponed for another two or three years until Columbia regains its footing."

    Howard Stringer came from a media background, and he understood that Mr. Nobuyuki appointed him CEO of Sony Pictures specifically to revitalize their entertainment business. Not only the executives at Sony headquarters, even Howard himself felt a surge of excitement after seeing <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>''s ster box office performance. Thus, when Sony headquarters pitched the Godzi project, Howard perceived a significant opportunity.

    Yet, he hadn''t anticipated his eager arrival would turn into continuous friction with Bill Mechanic.

    "Bill, we need to separate from the situations faced by <i>Men in ck</i> and <i>Jumanji</i>. We need to pursue this project independently. Once we have our own gship film series, we won''t have to rely on anyone else."

    Bill Mechanic wanted to say more but, noticing Howard Stringer''s serious expression, he realized it was best not to push further against his direct superior. His tone softened. "Alright, Howard. We can proceed with this project, but I think it would be best to dy it a year. We''re all aware of Columbia''s situation. Since Peter Guber''s departurest year, our production and distribution operations have been almost at a standstill. While things have improved somewhat in recent months, if we could have another year..."

    "Bill, this is a decision from headquarters. There''s no room for negotiation. What we need to do is execute it," Howard Stringer finally lost his patience, interrupting Bill. "Also, I don''t want to prolong our disagreement. The board absolutely does not want Columbia to have another management crisis. If you don''t cooperate, I''ll have to report our situation to the board."

    Bill Mechanic felt taken aback. He had been at thepany sincete April, and the rapport between them had seemed pleasant. He even thought of Howard Stringer as an easygoing person. But he hadn''t anticipated this side of him -- so obstinate and threatening. Inwardly seething, Bill thought Sony had just gotten rid of two ipetent executives, only to hire a fool ignorant of the film industry.

    Howard Stringer had been a journalist andter served as the president of CBS News. While he was in the media field, he had never dabbled in the film industry. Hollywood was filled with executives from non-traditional backgrounds, but the top figures -- Jeffrey Katzenberg, Michael Eisner, Sherry Lansing, and himself -- had all climbed their way up through the Hollywood ranks.

    While it wasn''t unheard of for outsiders to oversee professionals, it had led to the downfall of Paramount ten years prior when Martin Davis, an outside investor, frequently interfered in management, causing rapid decline and eventual acquisition by Vi.

    "Alright," Bill Mechanic said with a slight shrug. Although he felt highly resistant, he didn''t want to search for a new job just yet. Since this project was a Sony headquarters decision, even if it flopped, he wouldn''t shoulder too much responsibility. If it seeded, it would only benefit him further. "Howard, given this, where do you n to start?"

    Despite outwardly conceding, Howard Stringer sensed Bill''s clear negativity. He thought for a moment and said, "How about this, Bill? I''ll take direct responsibility for this project, and we can assign the production to TriStar Pictures. You can continue to manage thepany as you see fit, coordinating only when necessary."

    Deep down, Bill Mechanic believed that Sony''s executives and Howard Stringer had clearly be deluded by <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>''s box office triumph, thinking they could effortlessly create a billion-dor film.

    He had originally contemted how topletely remove himself from this high-risk project, and while a sessful project would boost thepany''s overall strength and benefit him, if it failed, he wouldn''t carry a significant stain on his record when seeking his next position.

    "Of course, no problem. It would be wonderful if you were directly involved," Bill nodded without hesitation, smiling.

    Seeing that Bill Mechanic no longer resisted the n and willingly delegated authority, Howard Stringer felt satisfaction but also thought he had been a bit harsh in tone. He was not a particrly obstinate person; his previous statements were based on Mr. Nobuyuki''s instructions. The Sony board genuinely wanted to avoid another uncontrolled management scenario at Columbia.

    However, both he and the Sony executives failed to realize that while letting loose the reins might cause chaos, tugging them too tightly could lead to disaster.

    "So, Bill, who do you think would be the best director for this film in Hollywood?" With the intent to ease the atmosphere, Howard Stringer asked in a mild tone.

    "I think we should first address the special effects issue," Bill Mechanic said, still determined to exclude himself from the matter. He wasn''t going to rmend any directors. He merely noted, "If we want to use CGI technology to bring Godzi to the big screen, the only feasible option in Hollywood for this project is Digital Domain. But after earlier events, our rtions with Firefly Group aren''t very smooth, although they im that Digital Domain is a separate operation, no one can guarantee they won''t deliberately create obstacles for us."

    "Didn''t Universal''s <i>The Mummy</i> also have special effects done by Digital Domain?" Howard Stringer pondered before responding, "Michael Eisner and Eric Williams'' rtionship was far worse than that between Firefly and Columbia."

    "I believe it was mainly due to the leading actress, Nicole Kidman, mediating," Bill Mechanic remarked. "She''s Eric Williams'' partner, and she reportedly received a $30 million sry for the first <i>Mummy</i> film; that''s a price Universal paid for their sess with the <i>Mummy</i> series."

    "If <i>Godzi</i> can seed, we certainly won''t have trouble affording that," Howard paused to consider. "So, do you think we could implement a simr strategy as Universal?"

    Bill Mechanic shook his head. "I don''t believe so. Warner Bros.'' <i>Fair Game</i>, which was released at the end of May, starred udia Schiffer, who is also Eric Williams'' partner. However, this $50 million action movie only grossed less than $10 million during its opening week. Last weekend, in the wake of <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, it fell 57% to just $3 million. Originally, forecasting had it reaching $30 million, but it seems now it''d be fortunate to hit $25 million."

    "I heard about that at a business cocktail party a few days ago," Howard Stringer mentioned. "I was told during the film''s preparation, Eric Williams predicted this project would fail. Joel Silver made significant changes in an attempt to salvage it, but unfortunately, it didn''t work. I didn''t hear anything about the leading actress."

    Bill Mechanic thought to himself that at formal business gatherings, people wouldn''t bber about such gossip. But with a slight focus on Hollywood, these matters were hardly secrets. "In any case, Howard, we first need to resolve the special effects issue. Moreover, for such a big project, finding a reliable director is crucial. Ideally, this director should have sessfully directed a blockbuster with special effects."

    Although intending to remain uninvolved, Bill Mechanic still tried to guide Howard Stringer toward the right approach.

    Howard Stringer almost immediately thought of the recent hit <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>. "Perhaps we could try to reach out to Joe Johnston?"

    "If we could seed, that would be great," Bill Mechanic nodded in agreement, though he didn''t hold high expectations. Firefly Group had likely secured Joe Johnston with a stringent option agreement after having him direct <i>Jurassic Park</i>. Unless someone was willing to pay a substantial penalty, or if Firefly graciously released him, Johnston''s chances of directing for otherpanies in theing years were extremely low.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 725 - 726: No Hidden Cards

    <h4>Chapter 725: Chapter 726: No Hidden Cards</h4>

    [Chapter 726: No Hidden Cards]

    After a record-breaking three-day weekend box office of $106 million, the day-to-day earnings of <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> fell to the millions as it entered the workweek. Although this represented a 60% declinepared to the weekend, there was no doubt that the film''s first-week ticket sales would easily surpass the historical high of $140 million. It took the top spot on the 1995 film box office charts without anypetition. Most box office analysts predicted that <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> had essentially locked in the position of annual box office champion.

    Amid the dazzling brilliance of <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, not many people noticed that a film called <i>Forrest Gump</i> was about to quietly release on June 9. Although the film received unanimous praise from critics during its early screenings, this acim made a few media outlets, which had begun to take notice, pessimistic about its box office prospects. After all, films that critics loved tended to be more artistic and often performed poorly at the box office.

    Moreover, if there was any expectation for <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s box office, Eric Williams certainly wouldn''t allow Firefly Films to set its release date on June 9. In the eyes of the media, this was akin to cing a defenseless little animal under a T-Rex''s foot -- it was bound to be crushed.

    It''s important to note that in order to avoid being overshadowed by <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, other major filmpanies had all collectively decided to release their summer films at the end of June and in July. Time Warner even abandoned its previous strategy of aiming for ate May release, only leaving behind one poorly performing film, <i>Fair Game</i>, as the sacrificialmb.

    Once the first-day box office figures for <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> rolled in, Eric shifted most of his attention to handlingpany affairs that had piled up during his time away from Los Angeles. Although he maintained an observer status regarding <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s release and let Drew and Amy Pascal take charge, in this world, perhaps only he remained confident in <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s box office fate.

    Despite the film gaining a lot of positive buzz during the promotional phase, Amy Pascal ultimately only prepared 1,500 screens for <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s opening. Eric didn''t oppose this decision; as long as the movie generated the same buzz it had in the past, the box office was sure to have a long run. Starting with fewer opening screens could even create an effective hunger marketing strategy.

    Due to its low profile, even though Drew had pulled Eric and Steven Spielberg over for the premiere, and the film''s director, Robert Zemeckis, was a renowned director behind hits like <i>Back to the Future</i> and <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i>, <i>Forrest Gump</i> still opened quietly.

    Fortunately, the lead actor Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis had established a solid reputation after their previous sessful films. As a result, <i>Forrest Gump</i> managed to achieve a solid $6.7 million on its opening day across 1,500 theaters in North America.

    When Amy Pascal reported this figure to Eric, her tone was filled with relief. With $6.7 million on the first day, she felt that reaching $25 million in the first week was not a major issue. Given the film''s excellent critical reception and long-term screening strategy, the total box office could potentially approach $80 million before it left theaters.

    <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s production and distribution costs amounted to $70 million. If North American box office revenues hit $80 million, Flower Films could recoup a significant portion of their costs.

    The film was positioned as an award contender. With its current critical acim, it could even make a push for Best Picture at the Oscars. As long as it secured a few prestigious Oscar statuettes, the subsequent overseas distribution and video sales would yield substantial returns. Although the cash return period would be prolonged, Flower Films would still profit sufficiently from this venture.

    Amy Pascal''s analysis of <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s profitability was reminiscent of a thrifty housewife''s approach. It was understandable why she felt this way; even though <i>Forrest Gump</i> was personally championed by Eric and he had created a series of box office miracles, the fear of movie risk had sunk deeply into the instincts of Hollywood executives. The film''s total budget of $70 million was seen by most as far exceeding what it couldmercially deliver as an art film.

    However, the dramatic unfolding of events far exceeded most people''s expectations.

    ...

    After the massive first dayunch, most media outlets that had only nned a brief notice about the new film were surprised to discover that <i>Forrest Gump</i> far exceeded their expectations.

    "The movie is told through the eyes of a man with an IQ of only 75, perfectly showcasing the evolution of American society over the thirty years post-war through stunning effects."

    "The three main characters in this film embody the three mainstream American spirits from twenty years ago. Forrest represents the essence of the American spirit -- simple, hardworking, sincere, andmitted; Jenny represents the rebellious generation of the ''60s trying to break away from tradition to find themselves, only to end up wandering into the depths of despair; Lieutenant Dan belongs to those who question society; they have their own beliefs but remain lost, unsure of the value of their convictions. In the film, the wayward Jenny ultimately chooses to return home, while Lieutenant Dan follows in Forrest''s footsteps, symbolizing the reunion of three facets of the American spirit returning to its roots."

    "Admittedly, at first nce, it''s a seemingly absurd ''anti-intellectual film.'' Yet, during the two-hour and twenty-minute viewing, I found myself inexplicably moved. It made me reflect: this nation''s power is recovering, the economy is advancing, and technology is progressing rapidly, but while we pride ourselves on being smart, we fall further into materialism,pletely neglecting the spiritual values we should uphold."

    "What struck me most about <i>Forrest Gump</i> was that rain-soaked night when Jenny brought the slow-witted Forrest back to her room, dreaming about bing famous, only to ask him what he envisioned himself bing. Forrest, puzzled, replied, ''Why would I want to be someone else? Can''t I just be me?'' Ultimately, Jenny''s dream shattered, leaving the world in sorrow, while Forrest, staying true to himself, gained everything that ordinary people yearn for."

    As the years of the turbulent ''60s and the liberated ''70s passed, conservatism began making aeback in the ''80s, peaking in the ''90s. Simultaneously, the excessive materialism led to a growing void in the spiritual realm, with moral decay and fading humanity bing increasingly severe. Thus, the conservative persona represented by Forrest and his inherent qualities of kindness, sincerity, and simplicity resonated with more and more Americans longing for a richer spiritual life.

    With the media''s overwhelming and spontaneous promotion, a growing number of people began to take notice of the film and flood into cinemas.

    "Life is like a box of choctes; you never know what you''re gonna get."

    This line, destined to be a ssic etched into film history, quickly spread among the audience.

    Most people didn''t truly grasp the profound meaning behind it; they simply left the theater feeling inexplicably touched and satisfied, quietly repeating the phrase in their minds, making it impossible to forget.

    ...

    The explosive attention on <i>Forrest Gump</i> was most obviously reflected in its box office numbers.

    Following the opening day''s $6.7 million, the next two days saw daily increases of more than 20%, bringing the weekend total to $22.9 million. Compared to <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, this box office figure may seem negligible; however, as an art film, this breakout projection invigorated everyone. After all, just two weeks ago, a simrly budgeted film, <i>Fair Game</i>, had only managed to pull a pitiful $6.8 million over its opening weekend.

    Once workweek began, <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s box office momentum did not wane. Though it saw a slight decline from Sunday''s numbers, the daily earnings still hovered around $6 million.

    In the end, <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s first-week box office performance surpassed $47 million, leading to widespread astonishment among media outlets. This figure was nearly double or even triple what many had predicted for the film''s weekly earnings. However, after the shock, many couldn''t help but feel that under the circumstances of <i>Forrest Gump</i> bing a cultural symbol in America, this box office number somehow felt entirely reasonable.

    ...

    At Venice Beach, in an Italian seafood restaurant, Amy Pascal smiled as she looked across the table at Drew, who was whispering excitedly to Eric, her coffee cup in hand, sipping from it asionally.

    With the box office and critical acim for <i>Forrest Gump</i> both exploding, Amy had been in a state of palpable excitement for the past few days. She was now 100% sure that her decision to leave her position as Vice President at Columbia for this ''little workshop'' at Firefly Films was the right one. If her uing meetings went smoothly, she would follow Sherry Lansing as the second woman to head one of Hollywood''s top seven studios.

    Not sure what Drew said, Eric yfully pinched her ear, pushing her away with a chuckle, then turned to Amy and asked, "By the way, how''s everything going with Peter Jackson?"

    Amy replied, "Although he doesn''t have experience directing big-budget films, there''s no denying his talent in film. We''ve gone through hisplete vision for the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> series, including the script, storyboard, character design, and locations he scouted in New Zend. We''re unlikely to find anyone in Hollywood who''s as passionate about the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> as he is. It would be perfect for him to direct this epic fantasy series. Eric, do you want to have a chat with him when you have time?"

    "Not for now. Let him direct one or two films first and get familiar with how Hollywood operates. Once the timing is right, we can kick off the production for this series."

    Amy nodded; she understood when Eric mentioned "the right timing" and wasn''t in a hurry. The projects at Flower Films currently kept her and Drew busy for quite a while.

    As they spoke, Drew chimed in excitingly, "Eric, the photos Jackson took show how beautiful New Zend is! Shouldn''t we take a vacation there sometime?"

    "Sure, and let''s buy a big farm and keep a few horses too."

    "Ha, I don''t believe you''d be interested in raising horses," Drew teased. "Maybe you could just exile some less favored models there, make them your pets on the farm?"

    Without Drew bringing it up, Eric had almost forgotten about that. He hadn''t heard anything about Heidi Klum in half a year. He scratched her side yfully to hush her, then asked, "How are those projects, <i>Mean Girls</i> and <i>Scream</i>,ing along?"

    Drew replied, "They''re already filming! Wes Craven''s not keen on heading to Canada for <i>Scream</i>, so they''re shooting at a high school in Santa Rosa, Northern California. I''ll be heading there soon to film the initial scenes. Also, the <i>Mean Girls</i> crew went to Vancouver. Filming in Canada will save over a million dors, and Tina went along too."

    When Ericst left Los Angeles, those two films were still in the nning stages. Although it had been more than a month since then, he still felt rushed.

    Amy seemed to pick up on Eric''s thoughts and exined, "Eric, both films involve many high school scenes that need to be wrapped before summer vacation ends. That''s why we''re keeping the schedule so tight."

    Having been away from school for too long, Eric had be fuzzy on the concept of student vacation dates. Although he had a clear idea of the summer box office season, it mainly leaned towardsmercial terminology. Thus, it was only upon hearing Amy''s exnation that he finally recognized that if they didn''t shoot those school scenes before summer break, it would be a major hassle once students returned to ss.

    ...

    The three were deep into conversation when a waiter led a middle-aged man in his fifties into the restaurant. It was the current CEO of MGM, Frank Mancuso.

    "Sorry, Eric, I''mte," Frank Mancuso said apologetically as he reached out his hand to Eric.

    Eric stood up to shake hands andughed, "Not at all, Frank; we just arrived early. I assume these two don''t need my introduction?"

    "Of course not," Frank Mancuso said, shaking Drew and Amy''s hands. Heplimented, "I recently made it a point to see <i>Forrest Gump</i>; it''s truly an outstanding film that leaves asting impression."

    "Thank you for the recognition, Mr. Mancuso," Amy smiled and nodded.

    Once Frank Mancuso settled into his chair, he added, "Just call me Frank. Amy, we know each other reasonably well now, don''t we?"

    Amy nodded, "Of course."

    "Let''s order first, Frank. I''ve had lunch here before, and their pan-seared bass is quite good; you should give it a try." Eric took the menu from the waiter and made the rmendation while reminiscing about the first time he had dined there two years ago, alongside Nicole and a fresh-faced waitress whose gaze had made him feel a bit uneasy.

    After cing their orders, and as soon as the waiter left, Eric got straight to the point, "So, Frank, has Kirk Kerkorian made an offer on MGM yet?"

    Frank Mancuso nodded, "$1.5 billion, and Kerkorian seems quite eager -- he wants to finalize the deal before July. However, Credit Lyonnais hasn''t responded yet. They seem to be waiting to see how <i>GoldenEye</i> and <i>Night at the Museum</i> fare at the box office in July. I''ve also heard that the Frenchpany Vivendi has been in touch with Credit Lyonnais, but I don''t know their offer."

    While Credit Lyonnais was a universal bank in France, they never intended to be involved in the entertainment industry. Years ago, a twist of fate led them to be the majority shareholder of MGM due to a financial scam perpetrated by an Italian consortium. The court confiscated and used MGM shares to repay the enormous debts owed by the Italian consortium.

    Since the bubble-like expansion that began in thete ''80s, Credit Lyonnais had temporarily be thergest bank in Europe. However, after the financial bubbles burst in recent years, they suffered massive losses due to bad debts, amounting to hundreds of billions, and they had almost reached bankruptcy.

    Despite MGM showing signs of recovery, under pressure from the French government and shareholders, Credit Lyonnais was still anxious to divest its shares in MGM and convert them to cash to alleviate its financial shortfalls.

    Eric guessed that $1.5 billion was likely higher than the amount Kerkorian paid to regain MGM in his previous life, yet it still seemed reasonable.

    Although MGM appeared to be on the verge of revival, it was apparent to anyone with insight that beyond the <i>James Bond</i> series, control of lucrative franchises such as <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>, <i>Resident Evil</i>, and the uing <i>Night at the Museum</i> didn''t belong to MGM. While MGM''s operation had stabilized over thest two years, the massive debts left by Kerkorian didn''t seem to diminish significantly.

    "Frank, you could reach out to the relevant people at Credit Lyonnais. Our offer is also $1.5 billion; let them send someone to the negotiation table. I know they are in desperate need of funds, and we can pay the entire acquisition amount in one lump sum."

    Frank Mancuso looked over to Amy and Drew as he said, "Eric, is it Firefly Group?"

    Eric shook his head and replied with a smile, "No, it''s Flower Films. Firefly Group won''t get involved with MGM in that way."

    Eric''s casual remark sent a shiver down Frank Mancuso''s spine. Eric didn''t want Firefly Group to get entangled in MGM''s ownership disputes, which was easy to understand; he was cautious about encountering monopolistic barriers due to future expansion by Flower Films with the stake from Firefly Group.

    Given the current scales of Flower Films and MGM, to reach the level of a monopoly would typically require a decade or more of rapid development. But in this world, miracles weren''tcking. That little ''Firefly'' had managed to grow into a giant in just seven years.

    After considering his words carefully, Frank Mancuso asked, "So, Eric, how does Flower Films n to run MGM post-acquisition?"

    Eric didn''t answer but simply gestured towards Amy.

    Amy smiled, knowing Frank Mancuso was concerned about the arrangement for the original management team following the merger. "Frank, after the merger, I hope you can continue to stay on and primarily oversee the distribution of our films in North America and globally."

    Frank Mancuso was primarily responsible for distribution at MGM, as thepany hadn''t produced any significant films in recent years besides the <i>Bond</i> series. He didn''t yearn to rece Amy as the CEO of the newpany, so he was satisfied with this arrangement. He nodded and turned to Eric, "Eric, while a $1.5 billion offer isn''t low, I think if Vivendi and Kerkorian join in the bidding, the final price could potentially rise to $1.8 billion. In principle, Credit Lyonnais will certainly sell MGM to the highest bidder."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, "Frank, I don''t think Credit Lyonnais has any principles. They have no trump cards; they can only choose to ept or decline the deal. If they insist on selling MGM to someone else, I''ll immediately terminate all coboration between Firefly Films and DreamWorks with MGM. Without rights to distribute films like <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>, <i>Resident Evil</i>, and <i>Night at the Museum</i>, MGM would immediately revert to being an empty shell like a few years ago. At that point, I don''t believe anyone will still want to offer them $1.5 billion."

    Just imagining such a scenario created an intense sensation of helplessness within Frank Mancuso. He knew all too well that this situation was absolutely untenable for Credit Lyonnais. Although MGM had already signed distribution contracts with DreamWorks and Flower Films, there were countless methods in Hollywood for Firefly to achieve its goals without ''viting'' those contracts.

    At the same time, Frank Mancuso also definitely didn''t want Kerkorian to regain control of MGM. That gambling tycoon was merely a vampire with no serious interest in filmmaking. Like Ron Perelman of Wall Street, he was focused on financing through bond issuance whenever MGM had a healthy-looking operation. Then he would find ways to line his pockets until MGM was teetering on bankruptcy again, at which point he would sell it off without a second thought. The massive debts weighing down MGM now were merely the aftermath of Kerkorian''s repeated opportunistic practices in the ''80s, with huge interest payments making it impossible for MGM to carry on.

    Currently, he wasn''t aware of the state of Paris-based Vivendi, but he believed teaming up with Firefly Films was probably MGM''s only way out.

    Once merged with Flower Films, he trusted Eric would likely integrate DreamWorks into the newpany as well. Given the ownership of profitable franchises such as <i>Mission: Impossible</i>, <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>, <i>Night at the Museum</i>, <i>Resident Evil</i>, and the <i>James Bond</i> series, MGM would soon regain its vitality and once again be a powerhouse in the film industry.

    Feeling a pang of excitement at the thought of personally participating in MGM''s revival, Frank Mancuso said to Eric, "Eric, I''ll convey your message to Credit Lyonnais."

    Eric nodded in satisfaction before the pleasant mealtime continued.

    ...

    An hourter, after Frank Mancuso left the restaurant, Eric, Amy, and Drew remained, diving into discussions about Eric''s detailed ns for Flower Films'' future.

    Unbeknownst to them, the afternoon rolled into sunset with the beach aglow in orange hues. Just when Eric was about to lead the two out, his phone, which had been sitting on the table, rang.

    "This is Williams," Eric picked up the phone, chatted for a moment, nodding asionally. Momentster, a yful smile spread across his face as he looked at Amy and Drew opposite him and asked, "Do you guys know Godzi?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 726 - 727: Breaking Free from the Shadows

    <h4>Chapter 726: Chapter 727: Breaking Free from the Shadows</h4>

    [Chapter 727: Breaking Free from the Shadows]

    The call came directly from ICM''s Kepler Hyde.

    After Columbia decided to produce a <i>Godzi</i> film, they eagerly began searching for a director. Joe Johnston, who had just sessfully helmed <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, was undoubtedly the best choice. On the other hand, many actors, directors, and producers who worked closely with Firefly had most of their contracts through ICM. Due to antitrustws, although there were no direct financial ties between the two, ICM had always enjoyed a very close rtionship with Firefly among the three major talent agencies.

    Thus, news that Sony was trying to poach talent quickly reached Eric.

    Bill Mechanic was a seasoned Hollywood manager, and details about him weren''t hard toe by. His management style tended to be conservative, and he had a cautious personality. After Sony appointed Bill Mechanic as Columbia''s CEO, Eric briefly thought that Sony would abandon their exorbitant spending strategy and instead adopt a more cautious approach. However, as soon as he learned that Sony nned tounch <i>Godzi</i>, he knew they would return to their old ways.

    In the original timeline, although they had fired Peter Guber and Jon Peters, Sony still maintained their reckless money-sshing strategy, seeking recognition. They not only offered Jim Carrey an unprecedented $20 million sry but also blindly invested in numerous big-budget flops, with the 1998 version of <i>Godzi</i> being one of the most notorious failures.

    With Godzi''s immense global poprity, Sony ambitiously aimed to turn the film into a trilogy from its early development stages and brought on board Rnd Emmerich, who had achieved great box office sess with <i>Independence Day</i>.

    However, often the greater the expectations, the bigger the disappointments.

    From memory, the 1998 version of <i>Godzi</i> was criticized for its simplistic and absurd plot, as well as itsck of logic. Fans were particrly vocal in their critiques of Godzi itself.

    Godzi was known as the "King of Monsters" primarily due to its formidablebat abilities. In its Japanese versions, Godzi possessed indestructible skin and powerful attacks like atomic breath, capable of withstanding even nuclear sts, asionally emerging to fend off alien invasions as well. That was the true King of Monsters that dominated its realm.

    In stark contrast, the 1998 <i>Godzi</i> saw most fans reacting post-viewing with disbelief, often thinking, "Are you kidding me?" The iconic monster had ditched its ssic image for a Tyrannosaurus rex with fins, and to have its power reduced to being ensnared by a bridge cable was almostughable. Was Godzi really that weak?

    That wasn''t the worst of it; the most infuriating aspect was that this fin-backed Tyrannosaurus fell victim to a few strikes from the U.S. military''s missiles, dying with no struggle or fight. In its final moments, it exchanged a poignant gaze with the lead character, filled with a sense of longing and unfulfilled dreams, leaving behind a subtext that read: "You got his body, but I got his heart." After this emotional farewell, it simply passed away, leaving behind an audience bewildered andmenting: "It was a pathetic ''Godzi,'' and dying like that just isn''t enough to quell public outrage! And you still had to act like King Kong at the end? What kind of joke is that?"

    Eric recalled that while <i>Godzi</i> wasn''t a total box office disaster, its reputation was so poor that even yearster fans would bring it up in conversation just to criticize it.

    The film received multiple nominations from the Golden Raspberries, including for Worst Remake, Worst Director, Worst Screeny, and Worst Supporting Actress, drawing ire from moviegoers worldwide.

    Originally, Godzi''s rights holder, Toho, nned topletely retire the franchise after the 22nd film in 1995. However, after the release of the 1998 <i>Godzi</i>, in an attempt to salvage the monster''s image, they had to reboot the series, eventually releasing a total of 28 films before putting it to rest. In the end, the 1998 <i>Godzi</i> even dropped the "God" prefix and was simply titled Zi.

    Upon learning that Sony nned to push ahead with the <i>Godzi</i> project, Eric began considering how to steer this in the direction he wanted.

    Under his influence, Hollywood was undergoing significant changes. Eric wasn''t sure if the film would repeat its previous fate if a new director took over <i>Godzi</i>. So, he quickly resolved to guide it down the same path as before.

    While Sony''smitment to film production exceeded Panasonic''s, Eric doubted they could remain persistent if they faced a string of big-budget failures. Furthermore, it seemed clear that Sony could no longer rely on the <i>Spider-Man</i> franchise as a lifeline.

    Currently, there weren''t many suitable directors for <i>Godzi</i> in Hollywood. Cameron and Spielberg could be considered, and Eric himself would certainly be a possibility. Besides them, there were Joe Johnston, Rnd Emmerich, Jan de Bont, and Paul Verhoeven - a select few, with most having ties to Firefly. After all, many of Hollywood''s most sessful special effects blockbusters in recent years had emerged from Firefly, with directors like Cameron and Emmerich gaining substantial experience through their steadfast support.

    To replicate the sess of <i>Godzi</i>, pushing Rnd Emmerich towards Sony was undoubtedly the most straightforward approach.

    Thus, Eric''s task was clear: block Sony from searching for other directors.

    In this matter, he didn''t need to worry about Cameron; he was busy making <i>Titanic</i>, leaving Sony with no options there. Joe Johnston had signed an option contract with Firefly before taking on <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, so even if Sony could afford $20 million, they would have to pay hefty penalties for breach of contract, freeing him from their concerns. As for the others, Eric didn''t think they would settle for second best before ruling out the bigger names.

    The biggest wildcard, however, was Spielberg. The ssic <i>Jaws</i>, which had catapulted him to fame, could also arguably be seen as a monster movie.

    There was no doubt that even if Eric tried to make room, Sony would likely favor Spielberg over Emmerich.

    Of course, nothing was absolute, and at that moment, Emmerich found himself with an ample opportunity to bolster his own petitiveness." <i>Independence Day</i> surely marked the pinnacle of his directorial career.

    ...

    While Eric closely monitored Sony''s <i>Godzi</i> preparations, the summer box office in Hollywood continued to ze a trail, with <i>Forrest Gump</i> being particrly eye-catching.

    On its first week, it grossed $47 million, which was impressive given it was ying on 1,500 screens and had an average of $30,000 per theater, far exceeding the standard $10,000 average expected from blockbuster films.

    Then on June 16, Firefly''s <i>Toy Story 2</i> debuted, topping the box office with an impressive $69 million first-week gross. <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> followed up with $77 million in its second week, taking a 45% hit and bringing its total earnings to $217 million. Its third-week gross saw a 49% drop to $39.25 million. Comparatively, <i>Forrest Gump</i>, in its second week, saw only an 18% drop, raking in $39.2 million, and <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> narrowly held onto second ce with just a $50,000 lead.

    By June 23, even though Warner''s <i>Batman Forever</i> split opinions,ic fans flocked to see their beloved viins on the big screen, while <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s momentum truly began to shine.

    After the box office figures for the week of June 23-29 came in, despite <i>Batman Forever</i>''s impressive $78 million earnings at the top, all eyes turned to <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s $35 million score -- a significantly minor drop of just 10%. Meanwhile, <i>Toy Story 2</i>''s second week earnings fell to $33 million,nding it in third, and <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> continued its pattern ofmercial declines with a 40% drop to $23.5 million, finishing fourth.

    Unnoticed, in just three weeks, <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s box office drew together an unexpected total of over $122 million, fully entering the realm of the blockbuster.

    Moreover, based on its growing buzz and marginal weekly revenue decline, box office forecasting agencies repeatedly revised <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s expectations upward. By the time the third-week earnings were released, everyone was surprised to find that most forecasting agencies and media had subconsciously pegged <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s box office at a staggering $300 million.

    Although <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> had reached $279 million by its fourth week, closing in on $300 million, few doubted that <i>Forrest Gump</i> was quietly emerging as a contender for the year''s box office crown alongside <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>.

    ...

    The productionpany Flower Films was undoubtedly ecstatic about <i>Forrest Gump</i>''s box office sess, while the party with the mostplex feelings had to be Sony-Columbia, who lost the distribution rights to <i>Forrest Gump</i> and <i>Night at the Museum</i> due to the earlier disputes over <i>Men in ck</i> and <i>Jumanji</i>.

    When Sony realized they were likely only going to scrape by on the two films they''d banked on - both of which had skyrocketing costs - while forgoing at least a $100 million profit from <i>Forrest Gump</i>, some shareholders openly criticized the U.S. division''s decisions. Had it not been for Idei Nobuyuki''s personal endorsement of Howard Stringer, the newly appointed U.S. division head might have faced calls to resign.

    As winds shifted, Howard Stringer became ever more determined to escape the shadow of Firefly and turn <i>Godzi</i> into a blockbuster franchise.

    After his invitation to Joe Johnston to direct <i>Godzi</i> was turned down, Howard Stringer quickly set his sights on Spielberg.

    However, Howard Stringer was at least more astute than certain German film investors who only focused on big-name stars without considering their relevance. Given that Eric had pulled <i>Jurassic Park</i> from Spielberg, many of his recent films, while performing decently at the box office, hadn''t been particrly groundbreaking. His box office hits <i>Jaws</i> and <i>E.T.</i> were relics of a bygone era.

    Moreover, a few years back, Columbia''s coboration with Spielberg on <i>Hook</i> ended in an unremarkable box office disappointment despite initial praise. In recent years, Spielberg had maintained close ties with Universal, where he had partnered on the sessful summer hit <i>Casper</i>; that fantasy familyedy had surprisingly achieved over $80 million at the box office despite being overshadowed by massive blockbusters like <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>.

    Rumor had it that he was also about to establish a new productionpany in coboration with David Geffen under Universal, which made Stringer less confident about inviting Spielberg to the project.

    Amid this uncertainty, <i>Independence Day</i> premiered.

    ...

    Debuting on June 30, <i>Independence Day</i> brought in $56 million over its three-day opening weekend. Thanks to the July 4th holidaynding on a weekday, ticket sales soared, resulting in an explosive opening of $85 million due to its strong marketing and word-of-mouth. In just one week, it more than recouped its $75 million production cost, and typically, production and distribution partners took away 90% of first-week gross, meaning, theoretically, Firefly had already recouped all its costs in its opening week.

    With the sess of <i>Deep Impact</i>, Rnd Emmerich emerged as one of the top directors, and <i>Independence Day</i>''s box office results further skyrocketed his reputation.

    Moreover, Howard Stringer was pleasantly surprised to learn that Rnd Emmerich had none of the contractual entrapments that held Joe Johnston back.

    This meant that as long as Sony was willing to pay the price, they could hire Rnd Emmerich to direct <i>Godzi</i>.

    The question now was, what would Firefly''s response be if Sony reached out to Emmerich?

    While Stringer aimed to break free from Firefly''s shadow, he was acutely aware thatpletely escaping its influence was impossible. At the very least, this film would undeniably require technical support in digital effects.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 727 - 728: Strategic Error

    <h4>Chapter 727: Chapter 728: Strategic Error</h4>

    [Chapter 728: Strategic Error]

    "Twenty million in sry and a 15% share of the North American box office? Ha, Firefly can''t offer that," Ericughed and shook his head as he spoke to Rnd Emmerich, who sat across from him.

    It was July 7, and the two were having breakfast at a diner in Beverly Hills. Rnd had fully disclosed to Eric the conditions Sony had offered him to direct <i>Godzi</i>. Howard Stringer was also a smart guy; rather than directly approaching Firefly, he proposed an irresistible offer to Rnd to lure him away from Sony Pictures. After that, getting Firefly''s understanding became Rnd''s responsibility.

    If <i>Godzi</i>''s future box office could match the $300 million level of <i>Independence Day</i>, Rnd would be looking at a whopping $65 million from this project. Even if the film flopped, Rnd''s earnings would still exceed $20 million, ensuring a safety. Firefly surely would note close to offering such terms.

    Of course, Firefly was not being stingy, either. <i>Independence Day</i> had a massive box office sess, and in addition to the original $8 million fixed sry, Rnd could rake in over $20 million from the film''s subsequent earnings due to the applicable profit-sharing agreement. So, ultimately, <i>Independence Day</i> could bring him in $30 million. Directors who could earn $30 million from a single film were few and far between in Hollywood.

    This was the coborative approach Eric had always promoted: keeping fixed sries low and tying creative profits to box office revenue to share risks together. Sony''s approach, offering such an exorbitant sum with high box office share even before the film was underway, seemed almost reckless, driven solely by financial might.

    Seeing that Eric did not appear angry upon learning of his ns with Sony, Rnd felt a bit more at ease. Although he had never seen Eric genuinely angry, he wasn''t naive enough to believe that Eric was without temper. Their coborations on <i>Deep Impact</i> and <i>Independence Day</i> had been very enjoyable, and Rnd knew those films had propelled him to his current position. He wasn''t one to forget his roots; usually, even without a contractual obligation, he would be eager to continue working with Firefly. However, this offer from Sony was indeed hard to pass up.

    "Anyway, I''m really sorry, Eric. I don''t think I can direct <i>The Day After Tomorrow</i>," Rnd said, though he felt lighter inside. He still wore a regretful expression. Even though Firefly was on a hot streak, Eric''s influence in Hollywood was only growing. Rnd definitely didn''t want to anger Eric unless absolutely necessary. After some thought, he added, "Eric, everyone is looking forward to your new work. Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to direct <i>The Day After Tomorrow</i> yourself."

    "Let''s see how things go," Eric replied, smiling nomittally.

    Sony was ambitious in wanting to turn <i>Godzi</i> into at least a trilogy. Theoretically, Rnd wouldn''t be avable to return to Firefly''s films for several years.

    Eric felt a bit uneasy about the situation. Rnd''s decision to step away from directing <i>The Day After Tomorrow</i> would necessitate adjustments to Firefly''s filming schedule.

    When he had first invited Rnd to direct <i>Deep Impact</i>, they had only signed a two-film contract. Afterpleting <i>Independence Day</i>, their contractual obligations had been fulfilled. Although Firefly had the right of first refusal for a renewal, it was unlikely they could offer anything close to Sony''s sky-high sries. Blocking someone''s financial path is tantamount tomitting a crime against their family; in that light, it would be tough for Firefly to insist on keeping Rnd.

    Despite this, Eric felt rxed about letting Rnd depart, primarily due to ns he wasying groundwork for years down the line.

    At the moment, representatives from Credit Lyonnais had arrived in Los Angeles and were in acquisition talks with Amy Pascal of Flower Films. If they secured MGM as a distribution tform, Flower Films could rapidly expand.

    On the other side, while Sony had substantial financial backing, amid massive losses due to Peter Guber''s management, they couldn''t continue to prop up Sony-Columbia indefinitely. If Sony''s ambitious <i>Godzi</i> series faced failure, it would deal a devastating blow to their confidence in maintaining the film business. At that point, Flower Films could seize Columbia and further Eric''s ns to expand his Hollywood empire.

    Rnd was unaware of Eric''s thoughts and felt a bit guilty seeing how easily Eric let him go.

    The atmosphere during breakfast inevitably grew awkward. They exchanged dull pleasantries while quickly finishing their meal. Rnd offered to pay the bill and then excused himself from the diner.

    Although Howard Stringer had hoped Rnd could discuss the special effects responsibilities for <i>Godzi</i> with Eric, Rnd felt increasingly guilty. This was something he found hard to bring up, firmly deciding to leave the headache for Sony to handle.

    ...

    Once Rnd left, Eric didn''t hurry back to the office. He instructed the waiter to clear the tes, ordered a cup of coffee, and leisurely read the day''s newspapers.

    In the entertainment section of the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>, the weekly box office report highlighted <i>Independence Day</i>''s staggering $85 million, followed by Universal''s new release, the much-anticipated <i>Apollo 13</i>. Despite the absence of Tom Hanks, the film''s exceptional quality and reputation still brought in over $43 million during its opening week, cing it second.

    Considering the tumultuous acquisition earlier in the year, Universal had nevertheless maintained impressive box office results during the summer. The modestly budgeted films like May''s <i>Casper</i> and this <i>Apollo 13</i> showed far better performance than one would expect. Michael Eisner''s vtile nature wasn''t appealing, but after taking over Universal, he seemed to regain the sharpness he had during the ''80s with Disney. Eric recalled that Universal would be facing tumultuous changes over the next decade, but it was uncertain just how much upheaval Eisner could withstand.

    Following<i> Apollo 13</i> was the second week of <i>Batman Forever</i>, raking in $42 million, cing third. The ever-reliable <i>Forrest Gump</i> was still holding strong with over $28 million, slightly down 20% from the previous week, putting it in fourth, with a total of $150 million over four weeks. <i>Toy Story 2</i> earned just over $28 million, ranking fifth, with a total of $130 million, beginning its long run, though it certainly wouldn''t have the same staying power as <i>Forrest Gump</i>, and was expected to finish around $200 million.

    Additionally, <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> had reached a total of $280 million after four weeks but brought in only just over $14 million in its fifth week. It was projected to surpass $300 million the following week. However, box office receipts were also expected to fall below the $1 million mark as it entered its winding down phase.

    In just a month, weekly box office receipts dropped from $140 million to just $14 million. Newspaper articles couldn''t help but echo criticisms of Firefly''s distribution strategy, suggesting they had overextended <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>''s box office potential by releasing it on 3,500 screens during its opening week. If Firefly had employed a more conservative release strategy, the box office curve would undoubtedly have been more attractive.

    Eric simply smiled at thesements. Any perceptive individual could see that Firefly had effectively dominated the June release period over recent years, leading other studios to preemptively shift their major releases to July. Beginning from June 30, Universal''s <i>Apollo 13</i> and <i>Independence Day</i> resulted in an almost weekly run of two major new releases throughout July. For example, on July 7, Fox''s <i>The Cable Guy</i> starring Jim Carrey and Warner''s <i>Waterworld</i> debuts. On July 14, there was <i>Night at the Museum</i> and <i>Eraser</i>. The following week saw <i>GoldenEye</i> and <i>Heat</i>. Under this deluge of new releases, if Firefly did not extract as much box office as possible from <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> in June, they would quickly find their space encroached by an overwhelming flood of new films.

    Eric quickly skimmed through several major newspapers for the day, noting that Kevin Costner''s <i>Waterworld</i> would be released today. He picked up the phone and dialed Amy Pascal, reminding her to monitor developments with <i>Waterworld</i> and to choose a suitable time to initiate sry negotiations for <i>Mission: Impossible 2</i> with Kevin Costner.

    Although the final product had not yet been revealed, Warner''s $175 million aquatic dystopia was destined to tank. After the dismal performance ofst summer''s Western film, <i>Wyatt Earp</i>, this marked Kevin Costner''s second major filmmaking failure. With that, Flower Films would wield considerable leverage in negotiating sries for <i>Mission: Impossible</i> given the circumstances.

    Even with Eric''s strong support, Flower Films would still have to manage some financing along the way in the process of acquiring MGM. The first <i>Mission: Impossible</i> had shattered the global box office, surpassing $500 million -- a remarkable feat. Securing a deal for the sequel would undoubtably provide Flower Films with substantial additional financing leverage.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 728 - 729: No!

    <h4>Chapter 728: Chapter 729: No!</h4>

    [Chapter 729: No!]

    Burbank, Firefly headquarters.

    As the iconic duo, one tall and one short, walked into the office building, passing employees greeted them warmly.

    "Caroline, Mnie, good morning."

    "Renee, good morning."

    "Mr. Weissman, good morning."

    "Jean, good morning."

    The petite Caroline Wilson politely greeted everyone she brushed past in her distinctive ent. Americans often hadplicated feelings toward the British; if someone spoke in a tone reminiscent of a proud British aristocrat, it could lead to strong aversion. However, the petite girl''s innate purity and sincerity lightened the mood and inspired no negative feelings. Many younger male employees even made it a point to learn the girls'' work schedules just to hear her simple "good morning," looking for opportunities to run into her.

    Mnie Gleason, standing next to Caroline with breakfast in hand, pretended to be busy, merely nodding with her eyes while munching away at her sandwich. She shot an exaggerated eye roll towards a guy from the distribution department named Jean. These timid guys just stood around every day, greeting Caroline, but because of rumors involving Caroline and Eric, they didn''t dare to engage in deeper conversations.

    Having worked in Eric''s assistant''s office for nearly a year, Mnie had gained a thorough understanding of her boss. The more she knew, the more she felt that there was no possibility of Caroline and Eric being together. In her attempts to divert Caroline''s affections away from Eric, she had even tried to set her up with boyfriends, but each effort ended in vain.

    Eric''s assistant''s office was situated on the sixth floor. To finish breakfast before reaching the office, Mnie pulled Caroline to take the stairs, just in time for Mnie to finish her breakfast as they arrived on the sixth floor.

    A paper towel was offered to her from the side, and Mnie ungraciously took it, wiped her mouth, andughed, saying, "You sure know how to take care of me, Caroline."

    "If you sleep in again, I won''t help you make breakfast," Caroline yfully threatened.

    Mnie tossed the napkin into the trash without a second thought, tidied her hair, and cheerfully remarked, "If I hadn''t covered for you at the partyst night, it would have been you who couldn''t get up today."

    Caroline retorted, "You practically dragged me there! I didn''t even want to go. I hardly knew those people."

    "I did it for your own good. You''re turning into a little nun, working all day long without a break, daydreaming about someone!"

    Caroline felt her cheeks flush from Mnie''sstment but still defended herself, saying, "I think my current lifestyle is just fine."

    Being a simple girl, Caroline was content with her life. She had a good-paying job that didn''t require her to rely on her family. Plus, she had some caring friends around her. Most importantly, she not only worked for Eric but could asionally see him too. Though naive, she wasn''t foolish; she was even smarter than most people. Deep down, she knew this unrequited love wouldn''t lead anywhere, yet she didn''t want to force herself to adjust for anyone else. She just thought that when she no longer felt the same way about him, she would leave.

    Eric''s assistant''s office had a unique position within the Firefly Group. Though located in the Firefly headquarters building, it served as a vitalmunication hub between Eric and all his enterprises.

    As per Eric''s arrangement, Caroline and Mnie were responsible for matters rted to Yahoo, Cisco, and America Online, leading a small six-person team that included both of them. Thanks to her special rtionship with Eric and her outstanding work abilities, Caroline had been promoted to team leader by Kelly at the beginning of the year.

    Although this caused a potential candidate for the role to leave thepany, in the past six months, Caroline had gained everyone''s recognition. After all, the most crucial quality for the position was not social skills but exceptional information gathering, organizing, and coordination abilities. With her capability to absorb vast amounts of specialized knowledge effortlessly, no one could im to be better than her at this.

    The two girls entered the office, greeted their fellow colleagues, then Caroline settled at her desk and turned on herputer, ready to start the day''s work.

    ...

    Yahoo''s annual conference was set to take ce from July 10 to July 14, featuring key events like the Yahoo Network Product Launch, Yahoo Advertising Alliance Conference, and Yahoo Technology Alliance Conference. Recently, their team had been receiving daily prep updates from Boston for the conference,piling the information to send to Eric for review. They even ryed some of Eric''s special instructions back to Boston. On top of that, Eric had assigned them additional tasks, making them incredibly busy.

    The East Coast was three hours ahead of the West Coast. Caroline opened her email inbox, which was already flooded with twenty unread messages.

    After thoroughly reading all the emails, Caroline just opened the sending and receiving interface, intending to forward two important emails to Kelly Haynes when she heard the sound of high heels clicking towards her. Looking up, she saw Kelly walking in her direction.

    "Good morning, Ms. Haynes," Caroline stood up from her cubicle.

    "Morning, Caroline," Kelly smiled and nodded, handing Caroline a file folder.

    Caroline recognized the folder as the schedule for the Yahoo conference that she had just organized yesterday. Feeling a bit anxious, she asked, "Ms. Haynes, is there something wrong?"

    "Of course not," Kelly shook her head and said. "I need to head to ya Vista immediately for an impromptu meeting. Eric will be here at ten to review these documents, so please deliver them to him. Since you organized these materials, if he has any questions, he can ask you directly."

    "But, Ms. Haynes..." Caroline began to protest, but Kelly had already grabbed her handbag, saying, "No buts, Caroline. I need to go. I''ll see youter."

    As soon as Kelly left the office, Mnie leaned over from her cubicle and, seeing Caroline lost in thought while holding a folder, teased, "Caroline, do you want me to report to the boss for you?"

    "No," Caroline instinctively rejected that idea but quickly realized Mnie was just joking, which made others in the office chuckle.

    Giving Mnie an embarrassed re, Caroline sat down, hiding in her cubicle. She nced at the clock; there were still fifteen minutes until ten, so she quickly flipped through the document, intending to review the information she was already familiar with -- just to be safe.

    ...

    At ten o''clock, Eric had just settled into his office when a few minutester, a small figure was shown in by the secretary.

    "Hi, Caroline," Eric looked up upon seeing Caroline enter and was not surprised; the secretary had already informed him that Kelly had to rush to ya Vista.

    "Hi, Eric," Caroline walked over and handed him the file. "This is the schedule for Yahoo''s events from the 10th to the 14th."

    Eric smiled as he took the document, gesturing for Caroline to sit casually. He then instructed the secretary to bring them two cups of coffee before he began to review the papers.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 729 - 730: Amazon

    <h4>Chapter 729: Chapter 730: Amazon</h4>

    [Chapter 730: Amazon]

    Initially, the management team at Yahoo intended to quietly hold the Yahoo Tech Alliance and Advertising Alliance Conference, introducing new web technology products and discussingmercial coborations with Yahoo partners.

    After Eric devised a n in New York to misleadpetitors, the scale of the annual meeting was significantly erged. An exclusive budget was allocated for the event, which was ultimately divided into two major segments: a Yahoo web productunch aimed at users and the Yahoo Tech and Advertising Alliance Conference targeted at partners.

    In line with Eric''s vision to maximize influence, Yahoo sent invitations to executives at several high-techpanies, including Microsoft, Cisco, and America Online. The influx of media invitations was countless. After over a month of buildup, media spection suggested that Yahoo aimed not only to make the annual conference an industry highlight but also to further cement its position as a leader in the inte business.

    While Yahoo''s stature as a leader paled inparison to giants like Microsoft and Cisco, and could notpete with legacy techpanies like IBM, HP, and Apple, Wall Street had already valued Yahoo at $5 billion within just over three years of its establishment. Thus, no one could overlook Yahoo''s tremendous growth potential. Consequently, top executives like Bill Gates of Microsoft, John Chambers of Cisco, and Steve Case of America Online confirmed their attendance at the annual meeting. Jeff Katzenberg, as an executive representative of Yahoo''s important media business partner, Firefly, also nned to make time to attend. Jorma Oll from Nokia would take the opportunity to meet Eric in the U.S., alongside Quam CEO Irwin Jacobs and Sprintpany executives. This event could be seen as a gathering of the core figures in Eric''s economic empire.

    Thus, although the Yahoo annual meeting spanned five days, Eric''s schedule was filled to the hour.

    After ncing through his agenda, Eric flipped open the nning document for the Yahoo web productunch.

    This marked the sixth time in over a month that Eric had seen this draft. After Eric decided to hold the productunch, the first n from Yahoo was painfullyckingpared to what he recalled of mature productunches. Ultimately, Eric had to carve out personal time based on his memories to create a simple n, which was then modified repeatedly ording to real-world considerations until they arrived at the polished version he had in hand today.

    Due to the live television broadcast, thisunch event waspressed to just 30 minutes. This meant no celebrity guests and no time for executives to ramble. Eric wouldn''t take the stage himself, opting instead to leave all the time to a few key Yahoo executives. In the past month, Yahoo''s advertising nning department had devoted most of their time to figuring out how to maximize the limited 30 minutes to showcase the content Yahoo wished to present to television viewers, while also sparking interest in potential users.

    In addition to a brief review of Yahoo''s existing products and the promotion of key partnerships like ABC News and Amazon, theunch would primarily introduce two new offerings: the Yahoo personal homepage and the Yahoo online payment tool, Yahoopay.

    During this first wave of the inte era, information online was scarce. Simr to how movies and TV shows served the media industry, expanding online content was essential for the growth of the inte sector. Yet, such a task could not be aplished solely by specialized media websites. Tina Brown''s Yahoo news department, despite numerous expansions, had fewer than 1,000 employees, which was insufficient to provide adequate content for the current 25 million Inte users in the U.S.

    Thus,unching personal homepages akin to blogs and leveraging millions of users for this task would undoubtedly yield greater results. Everyone craves attention; if just one-fifth of those 25 million American users set up personal homepages and each contributed an average of 20 pages of new content annually, that would generate a staggering 100 million new content pages online.

    Moreover, if each of those pages generated 10 cents in advertising revenue for Yahoo each year, it could rack up $10 million annually. Eric understood that in theing years, those figures would skyrocket beyond imagination. Back in 1995, there were only a handful ofpanies in the entire inte industry that generated over $10 million in revenue. But as long as they maintained a strong position and given the impending explosive growth of the inte, Yahoo''s ad revenue would also experience exponential growth.

    On the other hand, inte emerce was just beginning, and even the behemoth Amazon was merely a seedling back then. Most emerce tforms couldn''t support aplete online payment system, making it the perfect time for Yahoo to enter the online payment segment. If Yahoo could sessfully establish itself now and everyone became ustomed to using Yahoopay for online transactions, the potential profits -- without ounting for any other revenue opportunities -- just from the interest on the hundreds of billions in user deposits would be substantial.

    When he considered Yahoopay, Eric couldn''t help but think of Amazon. After Yahoounched its $100 million angel investment program, Eric quickly spotted Jeff Bezos''s name among the project applications and specifically instructed Yahoo''s angel investment department to greenlight the project.

    However, Jeff Bezos was willing to part with only 10% of his shares in exchange for Yahoo''s $500,000 investment as seed money. It was clear that without special follow-up, Yahoo''s 10% stake would be gradually diluted as Jeff Bezos sought further funding.

    Eric understood the proverb about not taking on more than one could chew; therefore, he wasn''t going to let Yahoo be bloated. Whether in the present or future, Yahoo''s core business would focus on portal sites, search engines, and email -- fundamental inte services that would primarily rely on advertising for revenue, steering clear of heavy involvement in emerce. Even the nned Yahoo music store would operate as a separate electronic products division. Despite Yahoo not delving too deeply into emerce, investing in it was still a sound strategy, especially since he encountered the budding Amazon; Eric certainly couldn''t let this opportunity slip away.

    He marked Amazon''s name in the document with a pencil, and when he looked up, he noticed Caroline hurriedly averting her gaze.

    Seeing Caroline''s flushed face, Eric realized she had just been sneaking a peek at him. As a normal man, he didn''tck that kind of vanity from being noticed by the opposite sex. He simply smiled, knowing Caroline was shy and chose not to tease her.

    "Caroline, prepare a dossier on Amazon for me, and also make a copy of their original proposal," he said. "Oh, you know Amazon, right?"

    Caroline, relieved that Eric was serious and hadn''t teased her, nodded. "That''s the online book-selling site created by Jeff Bezos, right?"

    "Yes, and also schedule a time for me to talk directly with him."

    As Eric spoke, he nced down at his itinerary for theing days. His days were certainly packed, leaving only evenings open. On the night of the 10th was a g for techpany executives attending the annual meeting, while the 11th evening was reserved for executives within the Firefly system. Scanning down, he found that after 8 PM on the 12th, he had no other engagements, so he looked up at Caroline. "Let''s set it for the night of the 12th, from 8 to 9 PM, at the hotel where I''m staying."

    "Sure thing, Eric," Caroline nodded, pulling out her memo pad to jot it down. Although her memory was excellent, she still prepared a small memo, in line with most people''s working habits.

    After making the note, Caroline looked up and asked, "Eric, are there any other issues with this information?"

    "None," Eric shook his head, setting the folder aside. "By the way, how are the materials I asked you to prepare on the electronic yer and e-book?"

    "Almost done, but regarding the microdisk development coboration..." Caroline hesitated before continuing, "I''ve been calling IBM every day this week, but they haven''t responded. They just said their upper management is still discussing."

    While they were leaning towards using the small drives developed by Toshiba for storage, Eric still nned tomission IBM to begin immediate development on the microdisk. In this timeline, IBM was the first to introduce microdisk technology.

    Eric frowned and said, "It''s been a week; even if they aren''t nning to coborate, there should be some response."

    Observing Eric''s frown, Caroline thought for a moment and said, "Eric, I don''t think IBM is a good coboration partner."

    "Hmm?" Eric looked up, signaling Caroline to borate.

    Caroline exined, "IBM has long been a very bureaucraticpany. Their decision-makingmittee has as many as 38 members. Three years ago, they appointed Louis Gerstner to implement a series of reforms, which proved effective. But these corporate ailments can''t be resolved overnight. Even in coborations with partners of simr standing, IBM has consistently shown a veryckadaisical attitude. Even if they eventuallye to a conclusion, with their arrogance, I doubt they would agree to our terms."

    The battery, LCD screen, and other technologies for developing electronic yers and e-books were already rtively mature; the only remaining challenge was the storage medium. Current sh memory had too small a capacity, leaving only the microdisk as an option.

    Currently, top hard drive manufacturers hadn''t developed any micro-disks yet, but given their substantial technical foundations, miniaturizing hard drive technology wouldn''t be too challenging. Eric originally nned to pay IBM''s hard drive department to develop the microdisk and secure exclusive rights for a few years after sessful development, dying any potentialpetition by two to three years. Considering Caroline''sments, Eric remembered some data about IBM.

    It was said that IBM had an extremely strict hierarchy; during meetings, each executive was assigned a seat equivalent to their rank, and even thepany work attire reflected their hierarchy. Such a rigid system inevitably stifled management, which exined theck of response to their proposal for an entire week.

    At this moment, Eric realized IBM wasn''t a good partner after all. What he sought was exclusive rights to the microdisk, allowing Firefly to dominate the market for theing years after IBMpleted the development. As such agreements weremon among techpanies, the odds of Firefly securing exclusive rights from a giant like IBM were slim.

    "I should have thought this through," Eric said. "So who do you think we should coborate with instead?"

    "Seagate or Western Digital. Both hard drivepanies are based in California, making coboration very convenient, and they have strong technical capabilities," Caroline suggested. "Moreover, while Japanese hard drivepanies have more advanced technology, firms like Toshiba and Hitachi are involved in manufacturing electronic products, which may lead to futurepetition with us on simr products."

    Eric recalled that after 2000, Japanese electronics firms fell into decline due to slow adaptation, eventually bing upstreamponent suppliers. However, Japanese electronics still held amanding global position at that time.

    "In that case, let''s reach out to Seagate and Western Digital. You take charge of this and aim to secure results before the end of July."

    "Sure, got it," Caroline nodded earnestly as she recorded the instructions. When she looked up, she caught Eric watching her, making her cheeks flush. "Eric, what''s up?"

    "Nothing, just wondering if you really need to write all this down?"

    "It''s best to keep a record, just to be safe."

    Eric replied, "Still, if you have some time, you might want to chat with Buffett. I think he''d really appreciate you. He''s the type who can store everything in his head. Back when Capital Cities acquired ABC, they invited an entire investment banking team, but only Buffett was on the Capital Cities side, having all the acquisition data in his head. While others neededputers to crunch numbers for hours, he could just spit it out."

    "Oh, how could Ipare with Mr. Buffett?" Caroline shook her head, feeling embarrassed.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 730 - 731: The Gap

    <h4>Chapter 730: Chapter 731: The Gap</h4>

    [Chapter 731: The Gap]

    "Bing someone like Buffett is indeed tough. In reality, for most people, if they could attain his level of status and wealth, it would be nearly impossible for them to maintain the same undivided focus on one thing for decades," Eric said, gazing at Caroline''s lovely face. "However, I see certain qualities in you that are simr to Buffett."

    Ordinary people often grapple with too many distractions and desires, which can actually be the biggest obstacle preventing someone from making progress.

    Yet, Eric hadn''t seen any of that in Caroline. From their first meeting two years ago until now, her simple and pure nature hadn''t changed much. Coupled with her exceptionally bright mind, Eric believed that if Caroline dedicated herself to developing into an investor like Buffett, she would undoubtedly achieve remarkable sess in the future.

    Feeling a bit shy from Eric''s praise, Caroline wasn''t as familiar with Buffett as he was; she didn''t see the simrities he pointed out. Fidgeting with the hem of her professional outfit under the desk, she hesitated to ask and finally said, "Eric, if there''s nothing else, I need to get back to work."

    A grin spread across Eric''s face as he teased, "Don''t you want to chat with me?"

    Although she knew Eric was joking, Caroline couldn''t help but shake her head seriously. "But it''s work hours now."

    Eric found her somewhat old-fashioned demeanor amusing and continued, "You''re my assistant. Anything I need can be part of your job, including chatting."

    "That''s not how it works," Caroline shot back, blinking her eyes.

    But as she protested, thoughts of Kelly -- a capable and charismatic senior colleague of hers -- suddenly popped into her head. She recalled the yful affection disyed between Kelly and Eric, as well as their not-so-hidden rtionship, which sparked a rather absurd notion in her mind: was that also part of a female assistant''s job description? If so, what if Eric proposed...

    As this thought deepened, Caroline''s cheeks flushed bright red without her realizing it. She stole a quick nce at Eric but quickly looked away.

    Noticing Caroline''s inexplicable blush, Eric chuckled and asked, "What naughty thing are you thinking about?"

    "N-Nothing," Caroline stammered, shrinking her neck before standing up. "I''m going back to work now."

    With that, she turned and hurriedly left Eric''s office, as if fearing she might be restrained by a wicked overlord if she lingered a second longer.

    Ah, daring to be so negligent with her boss, Eric mused, maybe it was time to dock her pay as a punishment.

    Amused by his own thoughts, he pressed the call button for the desk phone and instructed the secretary outside to deliver the notes Caroline had left on his desk.

    ...

    In July, mostpanies started tallying up their revenues for the first half of the year, and Firefly was no exception. With the rapid recovery of the American economy, Firefly''s businesses -- including films, television, theme parks, and retail stores -- were experiencing a strong growthpared to the same periodst year. Though the relevant data was still beingpiled, it was already certain that the Firefly Group''s overall revenue for the first half of the year would exceed $10 billion.

    Meanwhile, <i>Fortune</i> magazine released its first global 500 rankings in July, previously only counting Americanpanies'' top 500.

    Despite enduring a bubble burst in the early ''90s, Japan still imed six spots in the top ten of the global 500. General Motors, ranked first among Americanpanies, held only the fifth position on the list, with the top four entirelyprised of Japanese conglomerates. Firefly''s annual revenue of around $20 billion seemed rather insignificant whenpared to the leading Mitsubishi Corporation''s $175.8 billion.

    While Eric pondered the vast gap between hispany and these world-ss corporate giants, he didn''t belittle himself. He believed that once allpanies within the Firefly system grew to full potential, they would undoubtedly be behemoths that everyone else would look up to. With rapid advancements in high technology, he knew that day wasn''t far off.

    ...

    At the Liberty City Shell Manor, Eric lounged on a sofa by the curtain wall, flipping through <i>Fortune</i> magazine when Natasha walked in with Amy Pascal. After preparing coffee for the two of them, the twins quietly headed upstairs. It was July 9th, with the Yahoo annual meeting starting the next day. Eric was soon flying to Boston, and Drew and the twins were upstairs helping him pack.

    Amy settled on the opposite sofa, took a sip of her coffee, and nced at the magazine in Eric''s hand, saying with a smile, "Eric, I think you''d prefer <i>Forbes</i> more."

    Eric understood that Amy meant the <i>Forbes</i> billionaire list. "Keeping an eye on those often makes it easy to lose ambition. I need to face reality and motivate myself."

    Amy shook her head, eximing, "You''ve already made yourself someone others aspire to. It''s hard to imagine where you''ll be in the future."

    "Ultimately, I don''t have a habit of stopping to wait for others," Eric smiled and asked, "Drew said you talked to Kevin Costner about the <i>Mission: Impossible</i> sequel yesterday. How did it go?"

    The $175 million film <i>Waterworld</i> had premiered two days ago, bringing in only over $6 million on its opening day. Although this number was simr to that of <i>Forrest Gump</i>, the weight and reputation of both films were worlds apart. Adding to that, <i>Waterworld</i> had received scathing reviews and it faced fiercepetition from both currently released and uing blockbusters, making its future look bleak.

    After the dismal opening day box office, Kevin Costner''sst shred of hope shattered. He proactively reached out to Flower Films, wanting to initiate the <i>Mission: Impossible</i> sequel to maintain his poprity.

    "We only had preliminary discussions," Amy replied. "I hope to secure contracts for both sequels at once, but Kevin only wants to sign for one and they aren''t willing to make significant concessions on the sry."

    Even with the flop of both <i>Wyatt Earp</i> and <i>Waterworld</i>, <i>Mission: Impossible</i> had just tasted great sessst year and was still riding high on its poprity. It wasn''t surprising that Kevin was reluctant topromise too much.

    "But the initiative is still in our hands, so let''s take it slow," Eric said after hearing her out.

    Amy nodded and continued, "I ran into Joel Silver yesterday. He asked me ifst year''s agreement still stood."

    Amy''s tone held a hint of confusion, clearly indicating that Joel hadn''t exined things to her fully.

    Last year, at the wrap party for <i>True Lies</i>, Eric encountered Joel Silver, who happened to be a former producer for <i>The Matrix</i>. Eric had thought about bringing Joel over to oversee that project. He briefly outlined the situation to Amy, saying, "Though <i>Fair Game</i> failed, it''s undeniable that Joel Silver is highly skilled at making action films. I think he''d be perfect for handling <i>The Matrix</i> series."

    After hearing that, Amy shook her head, "Eric, I don''t think it''s a good idea."

    "Why is that?" Eric asked, puzzled.

    "Do you remember Peter Guber and John Peters?"

    Eric nodded. After leaving Columbia, the two faded from the Hollywood scene. Very few were willing to invite these two spendthrifts back to be producers. However, Hollywood still remembered their ''illustrious record'' of flushing away over $2 billion of Columbia''s assets.

    Amy continued, "Sony had initially poached Peter Guber and Jon Peters from Warner Bros. to serve as CEO and president at Columbia. They were under contract with Warner at the time, but Sony paid $200 million to acquire their productionpany, who were still linked to Warner. Later, they also had topensate Warner $800 million. Joel Silver''s connection with Warner is even tighter; his productionpany is also affiliated with Warner, and he''s still under a long-term contract. For years, he hasn''t produced any films outside of Warner. Warner is currently in a tough spot, and if Firefly attempts to poach him, they certainly won''t just let him go without a fight. The cost for Firefly won''t be any less than what Sony paid."

    Eric begrudgingly shook his head after listening to Amy. While he wouldn''t mind paying Warner a reasonable termination fee if Joel Silver could transition to Firefly, he wouldn''t pull a stunt like Sony did.

    Although the summer blockbuster season hadn''t ended yet, Eric thought Warner''s strategy of substituting quantity for quality to improve performance was bound to fail.

    They had released three out of five nned films, but aside from <i>Batman Forever</i>, which performed decently, both <i>Fair Game</i> and the recent <i>Waterworld</i> had bombed.

    Though they still had Arnold Schwarzenegger''s <i>Eraser</i> and the star-studded <i>Heat</i>ing out in the next two weeks, Eric recalled that neither film had particrly high box office potential.

    The box office results for <i>Eraser</i> were likely to be simr to Fox''s <i>Die Hard with a Vengeance</i>, belonging to the type of old-school action films that perform modestly domestically and a bit better overseas. While <i>Heat</i> was a ssic, its nearly three-hour runtime would vastly limit its box office potential.

    Considering none of the five movies had that overseas blockbuster appeal and <i>Batman</i>''s international box office allure had dimmedpared to North America, thebined global total they could hope for seemed to be around $1 billion. This figure was just a tad above Firefly''s <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>''s global earnings.

    With its outstanding reputation and umted fanfare from the first film, <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> might not reach the first film''s billion-dor mark but it would be very close. Moreover, the total production and marketing cost for <i>Jurassic Park 2</i> was approximately $150 million -- its box office alone already ensured massive profits for Firefly.

    In contrast, Warner''s average production cost was already nearing $100 million, with total production and marketing expenditures hitting a staggering $700 million. Securing around $1 billion in global box office revenue would be far from enough to cover those immense costs.

    Compared tost year''s minor loss of $90 million, Warner''s losses this year would only deepen due to the drain from their movie business.

    Perhaps it was time to test if there was any possibility of the Warner board splitting its business.

    With the secondrgest cable operator in the U.S., several well-known cable channels had varying degrees of stakes with Warner. That was a sector where the Firefly Group had gaps.

    "Eric, what are you thinking?" Amy''s voice interrupted his train of thought.

    Snapping back to reality, Eric offered an apologetic smile. "Nothing, let''s talk about MGM."

    They had touched on a few topics casually earlier, but Amy''s main purpose for being there today was the acquisition of MGM by Flower Films. Taking advantage of Eric''s break from Los Angeles, Amy made a special trip to discuss these matters with him.

    Amy nodded, refraining from asking why Eric had been distracted, and said, "The potential offers from our trio -- Vi, Kirkorian, and us -- hover around $1.5 billion for MGM. After the rumors about Flower Films and DreamWorks possibly ending their coboration with MGM, the other two haven''t put in new offers. Both Vi and Kirkorian''s executives reached out to me. They hope to meet with you as they know Flower Filmscks sufficient funds for acquisition, so they''re interested in coboration. Credit Lyonnais had put down an offer of $1.8 billion, and everyone is currently at a standstill."

    Eric quietly listened to Amy and calcted quickly in his mind.

    Even if the final acquisition price remained around $1.5 billion, it wouldn''t be easy for Flower Films to scrape together the necessary funds.

    He had nned for Firefly Group to set aside $300 million to buy out the overseas, video, and television rights for <i>Forrest Gump</i>. The ie from the <i>Mission: Impossible</i> releasedst year would serve to repay previous film financing, while the uing <i>Night at the Museum</i> had been coteral for regaining the Marvel superheroes'' rights, yielding limited revenue for Flower Films. Besides, the earnings from <i>Night at the Museum</i> wouldn''t be settled until the end of the year.

    In total, the funds avable to Flower Films were limited to the domestic box office receipts from <i>Forrest Gump</i> and the buyout revenues from Firefly -- roughly around $400 million -- not nearly enough for the $1.5 billion target.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 731 - 732: The Dream Is About to Be Realized

    <h4>Chapter 731: Chapter 732: The Dream Is About to Be Realized</h4>

    [Chapter 732: The Dream Is About to Be Realized]

    A cash gap of approximately $1.1 billion wasn''t a problem for Firefly, which had ample cash flow. If Firefly Group decided to step in, all issues would naturally be resolved.

    However, Eric never intended for Firefly to be involved in this acquisition from the start. Besides, Eric had already nned to invest all of Firefly Group''s excess funds into high-techpanies like Yahoo. Diversifying attention onto this matter would definitely dy progress in other areas.

    After considering for a while, Eric took out his phone and dialed Emily Brighton.

    LTD Group had performed exceptionally well over the past two years and operated a retailwork with Victoria''s Secret, which could generate substantial cash flow. Eric had seen in LTD''s financial documents that Emily intended to pay off a long-term debt of the group early. With that in mind, getting LTD involved in this acquisition seemed like a good idea. Although Eric was a major shareholder in LTD, those shares were held by Firefly Investments, so at least in terms of equity, any future connection between MGM and Firefly Group would be nonexistent.

    When the call connected, Eric greeted her and asked directly, "Emily, are you interested in investing in Hollywood?"

    Amy Pascal sat quietly on the sofa as she listened to Eric and Emily discuss for over ten minutes. By the time Eric hung up, she had a good idea of the oue.

    "$600 million," Eric said to Amy after ending the call. "LTD can probablye up with $600 million, but there''s still a gap of about $500 million."

    "If the box office of <i>Night at the Museum</i> performs well, we could leverage the copyrights of a few films from Flower Films to secure the rest of the funding through debt financing," Amy replied. "But that cycle will take at least another three months, and Credit Lyonnais Bank won''t have any leverage on the deal price anymore. They definitely won''t budge on the payment deadline."

    Eric thought for a moment and said, "If Vivendi is willing, let''s bring them in. As for Kirkorian, it''s best to leave him out; bringing in someone like him would only stir up trouble."

    Just then, Drew came downstairs with the twins, each pulling a suitcase.

    After hugging Amy, Drew nestled closely against Eric, linking her arm with his, and asked, "What did you guys discuss?"

    With a firm grip on the little girl''s restless arm, Ericughed, "We talked about financing. I''m nning to involve LTD and Vivendi; what do you think?"

    "Sure, it''s your call," Drew nodded, showing no signs of questioning Eric''s decision.

    Amy interjected, "Eric, I think Vivendi won''t be satisfied with just the $500 million remaining share."

    "That''s all it is. If they''re unwilling, we''ll reach out to Wall Street investment firms. I think it''s unlikely they''ll refuse. Both Vivendi and Kirkorian know that trying to seize MGM from us will leave them with a mess when Flower Films and DreamWorks withdraw, so cooperation is the only way to join this acquisition," Eric replied. He paused and added, "After acquiring MGM, we still need to integrate DreamWorks. If they''re really unsatisfied, Firefly could always transfer its 30% stake in DreamWorks to them."

    Amy nodded, but Drew asked, "Eric, wouldn''t that weaken our control over thepany even more?"

    With a valuable portfolio of copyrights worth around $1 billion, Flower Films and DreamWorks were significant yers. MGM, burdened with high debt, was persistently hovering on the brink of bankruptcy. Credit Lyonnais Bank owned about 75% of shares, worth around $1.5 billion, while MGM also had 25% in cirction, making the total market value about $2 billion.

    Eric wasn''t entirely certain about MGM''s total share capital. However, looking at the market values of severalpanies, $4 billion could be ounted as 40 shares, with Flower Filmspletely under Drew''s control, representing 10 shares. In this acquisition, Flower Films would invest $400 million, and LTD would invest $600 million, securing 10 shares. Therefore, upon the merger''spletion, Eric would still retain 50% of the newpany''s shares, enough to maintain firm control.

    After analyzing these numbers with Drew and Amy, Eric said, "Although there may be arge shareholder like Vivendi, the futurepany''s equity will still be quite dispersed. Other minority shareholders would find it difficult to impact the business operations. The shares we hold will give us absolute control. Moreover, after the merger, thepany can issue an additional 10% of stock to raise operational funds without impacting our controlling interest."

    ...

    For these past days, Bill Gates felt an increasing sense of oversight, which became more pronounced over time. This all stemmed from the contract signed with Yahoost year.

    Though Microsoft secured an agreement to acquire 30% of Yahoo''s shares in 1999, as Windows 95''s beta version gained poprity and rival Apple faced a sales slump, Bill Gates gradually realized that Windows 95 could very well dominate the operating systemndscape. The clearer this thought became, the more he felt he had lost out on the contract.

    A year ago.

    If he had been more cautious and more confident in the market prospects of Windows 95, perhaps today''s situation would not be this way.

    As the release date for Windows 95 approached, Microsoft''s stock surged, doubling its total market valuepared tost year, surpassing $40 billion. Bill Gates was not insecure enough to think that Microsoft wouldn''t be able to buy the 30% stake in Yahoo in 1999; he just felt that the agreement had shackled Microsoft''s development strategy for the next four years, creating a sense of being trapped.

    After all, four years remained.

    The inte industry had already begun to show signs of fanaticism, and in this scenario, Microsoft could hardly just sit back and hold on to its dominant position in the operating system industry without taking any action.

    But what could they do?

    Originally, Bill Gates valued browser software highly, butst year''s contract made Yahoo''s browser the default on the Windows tform. Furthermore, the agreement prohibited Microsoft fromunching a standalone browser for several years, depriving them of significant leverage in this critical inte interface.

    Bill Gates had considered tearing up the contract; he had even tasked Microsoft''s legal team to conduct a risk assessment on the matter. If he were to forcefully breach the contract, Microsoft would only need to pay around $300 million in penalties -- an amount well within its means. Worst case scenario, they could tussle with Yahoo in court for a few years.

    However, fromst year to now, although a year might not seem long, it was sufficient for Yahoo to further strengthen its technological and patent barriers across various inte products, including browser software.

    Take the browser as an example; if Microsoft had immediately developed its own browser a year ago without signing that contract, leveraging its considerable advantage in operating systems, it could have forcefully taken market share from Yahoo''s browser using bundling strategies and promoted a proprietary inte technology standard.

    Now, though, Microsoft faced not just a superficial loss of time;pared to a year prior, it had not only missed the train in browser technology but also lost ground in a variety of web standards like I.E.S. scriptnguage, GIF image format, and even MP3 audio format -- technologies that strongly depended on the decoding capabilities of Yahoo''s browser software kernel. With over 90% of websites now adopting these standards, without Yahoo''s patent licensing, other software developers could barely parse most mainstream web pages.

    To prevent usations of monopolization, Yahoo maintained an open licensing policy for these technologies and Microsoft had already received part of the browser software patent licenses.

    However, it was evident that if Microsoft were to breach the contract, those patent licenses would surely be voided, and Yahoo would definitely not grant any further licenses.

    With over 90% of inte enterprises and users already ustomed to Yahoo''s technology standards, even if Microsoft achieved domination of the operating system market, it would be impossible to forcefully establish an alternative standard.

    Seated in the front row of the hall, Bill Gates listened withplex emotions as Yahoo''s COO, Jeff Locke, passionately exined how to utilize YahooPay.

    This conference was held at a student hall temporarily rented by Yahoo from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for their productunch on July 10 at 6:15 PM.

    In the past fifteen minutes, Yahoo''s CEO, Ian Gurner, provided a brief overview of Yahoo''s development over the years and introduced several of Yahoo''s popr inte products again, including Yahoo Browser, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Instant Messaging, and the Yahoo portal -- all of which surpassed ten million users. Bill Gates realized that these products also represented vast groups of technical patents.

    In North America, where intellectual property protection was extremely stringent, these patents were not something that could be freely utilized. Without proper authorization, even a giant like Microsoft couldn''t recklessly use them. While Microsoft certainly could afford heavy fines for patent misuse, it could not withstand the consequences of viting business rules. After all, Microsoft also held a wealth of patents in the operating system sector, and ifpetitors learned from Microsoft''s ways of rule-breaking, survival would be impossible.

    Meanwhile, Jeff Locke was introducing Yahoo''s online payment tool, making Bill Gates feel increasingly astounded.

    Though he didn''t know much about finance, he realized that this payment tform could, in fact, be indistinguishable from a bank. Given America''s rtively open financial regtory system, obtaining a banking license wouldn''t be too difficult for Yahoo if they desired it.

    The potential for a fully monopolistic virtual bank was staggering to imagine.

    With these thoughts, Bill Gates leaned slightly forward, instinctively ncing at Eric, who was conversing softly with Cisco CEO John Chambers a few seats away. Noticing Bill''s gaze, Eric gave him a slight nod.

    Bill nodded back, his peripheral vision catching a camera sweeping over, promptly straightening his posture and shing a professional smile.

    This conference reminded Bill Gates of serious matters, especially given its television broadcast format.

    Out of caution, the event wasn''t broadcast live; instead, it was recorded and set to air three hourster on ABC at 9 PM. Even so, it meant millions of viewers would witness this event, undoubtedly providing strong promotional effects for Yahoo.

    Theunch date for Windows 95 was confirmed for August 24, and Microsoft''s marketing department had already devised a n to satellite broadcast the product debut, expecting hundreds of thousands of viewers to tune in.

    However, at this moment,pared to Yahoo''s moves, Bill Gates suddenly felt Microsoft''sunch event appeared rather modest. He resolved to talk to Eric afterward, hoping to have Windows 95''sunch also broadcast on ABC. Of course, Microsoft could afford the associated costs, but without strong upper management support, obtaining such broadcast opportunities on the big three televisionworks was no easy task.

    ...

    On stage, after Jeff Locke finished introducing YahooPay, he took a moment''s pause amidst apuse from the thousands of guests in the audience. He took a sip of water from the podium, allowing everyone to digest the information shared.

    After a brief moment, Jeff Locke picked up the remote control again and pressed a button, revealing a fresh image on the big screen along with two bold words: Yahoo-Blog.

    "OK, next, I am solemnly introducing another new inte product from Yahoo, the Yahoo Personal Homepage."

    With a gentle smile on his face, Jeff Locke gestured to therge screen behind him and continued, "The inte is still a very new world for the vast majority of people. We have enabled ess to a massive amount of information on the Yahoo portal,municated with friends thousands of miles away via Yahoo Mail and YCR, and debated current hot topics in Yahoo forums. Now, moving further, many might wonder if there''s awork tool that can allow us to showcase ourselves to everyone. Well, today, your dream is about to be realized."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 732 - 733: The Wrong Path

    <h4>Chapter 732: Chapter 733: The Wrong Path</h4>

    [Chapter 733: The Wrong Path]

    "Before this, while various personal websites had already emerged on the inte, these all required a foundation of professionalputer skills to be realized. Yahoo''s personal homepage service would break through this limitation. Whether you were a student, a chef, a painter, a singer, a model, a plumber, or a homemaker, as long as you wanted to, you could create a personal homepage through Yahoo and showcase yourself," Jeff Locke remarked as he clicked the remote control in his hand, disying users of personal homepages from various walks of life on therge screen behind him. These users were all invited participants from the testing phase of Yahoo''s personal homepage service, including social celebrities from politics, business, Hollywood, and the tech industry.

    After briefly outlining the general concept of personal homepages, Jeff Locke switched the screen and continued, "Yahoo''s personal homepage connects users from across the United States and around the world through two main categories: interests and locations. This invisible web allows you to showcase yourself to everyone while enabling us to find like-minded friends from all corners of the globe, all through a personalputer, without having to travel or engage in frequent social activities..."

    As thunderous apuse resonated in the auditorium, Bill Gates snapped out of his deep thoughts. He nced at Jeff Locke on stage, who was nodding to the audience, and made up his mind.

    Although he had already missed thest opportunity to enter the browser software market, Microsoft could still venture into the portal website business, which was rtively easier to imitate. Over these days, Microsoft had probed much of Yahoo''s senior management. Bill Gates was also aware that other techpanies interested in the inte industry were making simr moves.

    Among Yahoo''s four main executives, CEO Ian Gurney oversaw the big picture and was responsible for overall corporate development strategy. Jeff Locke managed Yahoo''s portal and rted software products, Steve Mitnick handled Yahoo''s technical research and development, while thest one to join Yahoo, Tina Brown, led the Yahoo News division.

    Having decided to develop the portal website business, digging Jeff Locke from Yahoo would unquestionably yield twice the results with half the effort, given his familiarity with the operation rules of portal sites. Moreover, during preliminary inquiries, Bill Gates realized that of the executives, Jeff Locke had been the most receptive to Microsoft''s poaching efforts,rgely due to his dissatisfaction with the stock equity reward he was about to receive.

    Once the press conference ended, guests began to exit, and Yahoo prepared to hold a reception at a nearby hotel. Bill Gates waved over an assistant who had been sitting nearby, quietly instructing him to set up a meeting time with Jeff Locke, before smiling and walking over to Eric and others.

    ...

    The television broadcast of Yahoo''swork product announcement created quite a stir. The subsequent two days of technology and advertising alliance press conferences in Boston attracted even more media attention.

    While attending rted events, Eric''s time was crammed with various responsibilities. Yahoo was rapidly expanding, and the original office space was bing increasingly shabby. Due to confidentiality needs, Yahoo also could not continue staying in its previous office location.

    Both Yahoo''s executives and Eric hoped to establish a proprietary corporate campus, but such ns couldn''t be realized overnight. After searching, Eric ultimately settled on a thirty-story office building on Massachusetts Avenue. The building had just beenpleted and was still avable for lease, so Eric decided to rent the entire building for Yahoo''s temporary headquarters until the corporate campus was constructed a few yearster.

    Additionally, even though Yahoo had temporarily shelved its IPO ns, Steve Case still hoped America Online could initiate its own IPO. Jorma Oll also wished for Nokia''s stock to list on the New York Stock Exchange, which would not only raise some funds but also help Nokia enter the American market. Eric had to allocate time to discuss these issues in detail with them.

    Aside from these matters, Eric also conducted one-on-one discussions with several of Yahoo''s senior executives regarding the stock equity reward n''s oues. Although some individuals showed inclination to leave Yahoo, Eric hoped to retain as many as possible.

    The most unexpected part of this process was Jeff Locke. In the preliminary equity reward n, the four main executives -- Ian Gurney and Steve Mitnick were set to receive three million shares of Yahoo stock, while Jeff Locke would receive two million shares and Tina Brown one million shares. As a manager from the original threepanies before their merger, it was predictable that Jeff Locke would feel discontented with receiving a million shares less than Ian Gurney and Steve Mitnick.

    However, Eric didn''t perceive this arrangement as unfair. Ian Gurney oversaw Yahoo''s overall development and personally managed the establishment of Yahoo''s technology and advertising alliances. Many of Yahoo''s advertising partners and clients were secured by Ian Gurney himself. Meanwhile, Steve Mitnick, as the Chief Technology Officer, was responsible for the technical development of all products under Yahoo, bringing in genius-level talents. Their contributions undoubtedly exceeded those of Jeff Locke, who only managed Yahoo''s portal operations.

    After all, Yahoo was no longer what it once was. It had evolved from just a standalone portal site into a multifaceted business that included instant messaging software, browsers, and more. While the portal site was clearly Yahoo''s most dazzling division, Jeff Locke had inevitably fallen behind Ian Gurney and Steve Mitnick in importance.

    ...

    Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was already July 14. Yahoo''s annual meeting concluded that afternoon, with most guests having departed Boston. Although Eric had initially nned to leave that afternoon, he was forced to extend his stay until the following morning due to unresolved matters.

    It was now 7:30 PM as Eric and Chris left Yahoo headquarters, walking side by side along the sidewalk on Massachusetts Avenue, followed closely by their assistants and bodyguards.

    "So, he''s confirmed to join Microsoft?" Chris kicked a small stone off the sidewalk as he asked Eric.

    Eric nodded. Although he had raised the offer to 2.2 million shares, he still couldn''t convince Jeff Locke to stay. Thetter insisted on equity matching Ian Gurney and Steve Mitnick with three million shares to remain, which Eric simply couldn''t amodate. With a helpless smile, he remarked, "Actually, this isn''t too bad. It gives Microsoft a direction to focus on, and Gates won''te meddling with us."

    Despite having established a robust technological and patent barrier, Eric''s trepidation towards Microsoft hadn''t diminished at all. After all, many of Yahoo''s software would need to operate on Microsoft systems. If Microsoft felt cornered and decided to break off rtions, Yahoo would undoubtedly be in serious trouble. While such a possibility seemed slim, it still existed. Based on Eric''s past experiences, Microsoft''s approach topetitors was often ruthless after securing dominance in the operating system sphere.

    Chris understood Eric''s concerns and nodded. "Now that everything''s done, how do you think it went?"

    The scene in Boston had stirred quite amotion to lead otherpetitors astray. Although Eric had exined this to Chris, he remained unsure whether it had indeed been effective.

    "Didn''t you see it yourself?" Eric appeared more rxed as he answered, "Since Microsoft chose to poach Jeff Locke, at least for the next two years, he won''t pose much of a threat to us."

    Based on prior experience,ter versions of Yahoo and Google became two fundamentally different inte entities. Rather than a techpany, Yahoo functioned more like a mediapany, whereas Google, which focused on search engine technology, was a bona fide tech firm.

    While mediapanies face various thresholds and barriers in the real world, the barriers in the realm of the inte were terrifyingly low. Eventually, individuals could operate inte media businesses on their own, giving rise to what became known as "self-media."

    In such a context where entry barriers were incredibly low, websites primarily focused on media information were likely to proliferate. It was nearly impossible for anypany to be an inte giant solely through content advantages. The future of inte enterprises belonged to tforms like Google that specialized in the integration of vast amounts of online information as a search engine.

    Yahoo''s failure to escape the trajectory of decline, even after multiple reforms, stemmed from its inability to make a decisive choice between its media attributes and tech attributes. In the end, while it managed to oust America Online by over a decade, it still couldn''t evade its destined fate.

    Eric''s series of maneuvers in recent days aimed to guide otherpetitors to focus on developing inte media businesses, namely, portal sites. He even spoke whimsically at an industry exchange conference two days prior, drawing vivid analogies between portal sites and the three major televisionworks. He described the rtionship between portal sites and their advertising partners as akin to that of televisionworks and affiliate stations, greatly praising the sector''s growth potential. He predicted that once inte user numbers reached half of television viewers, portal site revenues would surpass those of traditional televisionworks.

    From the reaction on-site, it was evident many believed him. After the conference, Steve Case expressed interest in ramping up America Online''s investment in its portal business. Although initially, based on Eric''s persuasion, Steve Case had determined that America Online would prioritize its role as an inte service provider, Eric hadn''t asked America Online to abandon portal operations. This sector could significantly boost America Online''s stock price during the inte bubble a few yearster.

    Eric had been amodating to Steve Case, readily agreeing to his request and offering technical support.

    While many gravitated toward the inevitable decline of portal sites, most likely, they had no idea Eric was most concerned about the seemingly inconspicuous Yahoo search tool at the top of Yahoo''s homepage. Over the years, he had subtly invited Steve Mitnick, responsible for technical research, to intensify the development of intelligent search engine technology.

    As they chatted, they soon reached the hotel''s exterior. Chris nced up at the brightly lit restaurant on the second floor and told Eric, "Jeff Bezos must already be up there. He wasn''t pleased when you suddenly canceled the meeting the other day. I had to work really hard to finalize the terms with him."

    Eric had initially nned to meet with Jeff Bezos the night before to discuss increasing investments in Amazon. However, he became dyed by other matters and ended up arriving back at the hotel around 8:30 PM, making their meeting impossible. In the absence of time, Eric could only rely on Chris to connect with Jeff Bezos. Fortunately, that turned out well.

    ording to the agreement Chris reached with Jeff Bezos, for the next few years, Firefly Investment would be directly responsible for financing Amazon''s emerce tform. Fireflymitted not to interfere in Amazon''s operations, and to show goodwill, the investment would provide funds in exchange for Amazon''s convertible preferred shares.

    Preferred shares typically do not hold voting rights but have priority over dividends. The convertible preferred shares held by Firefly Investment would automatically convert tomon shares with voting rights after Amazon''s IPO.

    This arrangement could encourage Jeff Bezos to postpone Amazon''s IPO as long as possible, allowing Firefly Investment to acquire arger stake. Chris anticipated that before Jeff Bezos formally decided to take Amazon public, Firefly could secure around 40% of Amazon''s shares. Even after the IPO, Firefly''s holdings would likely remain over 30%.

    ...

    Once inside the hotel, they ascended to the restaurant on the second floor. Although Eric hadn''t arrivedte this time, Jeff Bezos was already waiting there.

    Eric had intentionally dyed leaving until the following morning to ensure he could meet with Jeff Bezos. Since the agreement was already in ce, both sides didn''t delve deeply into coboration issues. The atmosphere was quite pleasant as they casually chatted for about an hour to familiarize themselves before going their separate ways.

    ...

    Before stepping into his hotel room, Eric told Kelly, "Let''s head to New York in the morning and then back to Los Angeles. I need to check on the two little ones and also follow up on the production progress of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 733 - 734: The Right Moment

    <h4>Chapter 733: Chapter 734: The Right Moment</h4>

    [Chapter 734: The Right Moment]

    New York, on a yacht along the Hudson River, the crew of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> was busy filming thetest episode.

    Eric stood casually on the edge of the set, wearing sunsses, apanied by Linda Evangelista. Ahead of them, Cindy Crawford was exining the rules of the uingpetition to thest six contestants.

    Finishing up business in Boston, Eric had arrived in New York three days ago. He had spent the weekend on Long Ind with women and children before heading to Manhattan.

    After a month and a half, the shooting for both <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> was already halfway through, with expectations to wrap up around September. Eric had spent the previous day reviewing the production results of both reality shows.

    Because he had the memories of his past life as a reference, and Cindy had several years of experience as a TV host and sufficient experience in TV program production, Eric was very satisfied with the edited footage of the first two episodes of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    However, the results for <i>Project Runway</i> were disappointing. Although Linda was putting in her best effort, she simply didn''t have the extensive experience that Cindy possessed. While <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> had two edited episodes ready, <i>Project Runway</i> barely had one unsatisfactory rough cut.

    Since <i>Project Runway</i> hade around as a follow-up to <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, Eric decided to bring Linda along to learn from Cindy.

    It was clear that during Eric''s absence, there had been littlemunication between the two women. Eric understood that getting two equally proud and beautiful women to work together seamlessly was unlikely; opposites attract, but with simr types, it simply didn''t work out.

    "I can''t possibly do what Cindy does," Linda said as she leaned closer to Eric, watching Cindy Crawford from the set. "The audience is interested in details about modeling training, photo shoots, and even personal lives. But for fashion designers, their interest decreases significantly. The chances of drawing inspiration from Cindy''s edited footage seem slim."

    Eric chuckled, "I didn''t ask you to copy Cindy''s ideas. I just want you to see how she grabs the audience''s attention with this material. <i>Project Runway</i> definitely has its own angles to explore."

    Curious, Linda asked, "What angles?"

    Not expecting her to understand right away, Eric pointed out as Cindy approached after finishing thepetition rules, "I''ve thought it out; we can work on the pacing. If viewers feel a disconnect from fashion designers, let''s bridge that gap."

    As Cindy walked out of the filming area, she grabbed a bottle of water from a crew member and overheard Eric''s suggestion. "Eric, how do you n to bridge that distance?" she asked.

    "Take a guess," Eric responded with a smile.

    Cindy shrugged, showing no interest in guessing. But Linda was quick to voice her discontent. "Eric, Cindy can be quite mean. Last week, I faced some minor issues during shooting and called to ask her for help. She offered none andughed at me. Plus, she''s unwilling to cooperate with my ideas for crossover episodes."

    Cindy immediately rebutted, "Hey, Linda, I have my own work too. I''m not your mother, you know. I''m not obligated to help you with everything."

    "Alright, no fighting," Eric waved his hand to diffuse the situation. "The crossover idea is great, but there''s no rush. Let''s save it for the second or third season as a promotional gimmick. Pouring all good ideas into one season can initially deliver impressive results, but if we don''t build gradually, the audience will lose interest after a few seasons."

    Cindy nodded in agreement, proudly humming a few notes before ncing at Linda. "Hmm, I wonder if there will even be a second or third season for <i>Project Runway</i>."

    Linda hooked her arm around Eric. "If Eric says there will be a second and third season, then there will definitely be. Do you have a problem with that?"

    "I have no problem," Cindy said, giving a sly smile. She didn''t believe that if <i>Project Runway</i>''s ratings werecking, Eric would continue producing it.

    Linda seemed to catch that vibe too and nudged Eric. "Eric, what did you say earlier about getting closer to the audience?"

    Recalling the rough cut of <i>Project Runway</i> he had watched yesterday, Eric exined, "From what I saw, the pacing feels a bit slow. This is mainly because the clothing design process can be quite dull to watch. However, we can''t cut more from the footage, or else thepetitive process bes iplete. Therefore, I think we should add a lot of voiceover. On one hand, this can create a faster pacing feel. On the other, it can provide viewers with more exnations, helping them understand the reasons behind contestants'' actions. You and the production team should have a meeting about it tomorrow. I''ll be there too."

    "Sounds good," Linda nodded and red at Cindy in a show of defiance.

    Cindy pouted slightly, turning her gaze towards the contestants posing for photos. "What about my show, Eric?"

    "You''re doing perfectly fine. Just continue at this pace; no need for any changes," Eric replied.

    Cindy paused, not feeling too excitable over Eric''s praise. Instead, she felt a little lost.

    Linda burst into a carefreeugh, making a silly face at Cindy while Eric wasn''t looking.

    Cindy did such a great job that she ended up losing many opportunities to engage with Eric. Initially anxious about her performance, she now felt a bit smug instead.

    Eric returned his attention to the set where he noticed the two women expressing strange looks toward each other. "What''s up with you two?" he asked.

    Linda immediately shook her head. "Nothing, Eric. How about we head back now? I don''t see the point in wasting time here. We might as well try out that method you just mentioned this afternoon."

    ''You little bitch.''

    Cindy cursed her under her breath, observing that Eric seemed genuinely inclined to leave. She put on a wistful expression and tugged at Eric''s sleeve. "Eric, it''s almost noon. Ipleted my work so excellently; I can''t be denied a reward, like a meal."

    "Here''s a secret, Eric: Cindy''s expression means... ah, ouch! You think I wouldn''t dare fight back?"

    Eric separated the two women. "Alright, no more ying around. There are so many people here."

    Noticing the crew members and contestants on set ncing curiously in their direction, the two ''cats'' that almost scratched at each other quickly resumed their aloof demeanor.

    Cindy styled her voluminous wavy hair, turning to Eric. "Eric, let''s wait to eat togetherter. I''ve got a guesting in. She''s a stunning beauty and will be a special guest this episode."

    "You already invited someone and still..." Linda began, but seeing the threat in Cindy''s re, she cut herself off.

    Eric wrapped an arm around Linda''s waist and gently patted her, signaling her to stop causing trouble. Nodding to Cindy, he asked, "Alright, but you have to tell me who your guest is first."

    "Elizabeth Hurley," Cindy announced, observing as Eric''s expression remained unchanged. "Eric, don''t you know her?"

    "I do," Eric nodded.

    Elizabeth Hurley, a well-known British supermodel and actress, had be familiar to Eric through a series of tabloid headlines. He was unclear about the entire flow of her romantic history, but from the snippets in his memory, it seemed that the British supermodel had dated multiple men at once. Additionally, her personality... she was always trying totch onto wealthy men and ''luckily'' ended up with an Indian mogul.

    Eric remembered that Elizabeth Hurley was currently dating British actor Hugh Grant.

    After Hugh gained fame from <i>Four Weddings and a Funeral</i>, she had leveraged his publicity to build her own career in Hollywood. ording to Eric''s memories, Hugh was due to face a scandalter that year, which would decrease his poprity significantly. But for now, it was July, and since the incident hadn''t urred yet, it seemed that the butterfly effect resulting from Eric''s influence in Hollywood had changed many things.

    Thinking it over, Eric asked Cindy, "I''m just curious, how did you decide to invite her as a guest?"

    Cindy exined, "I met her at a Chanel partyst month. We hit it off. When she heard I was doing this show, she wanted toe in as a special judge. She''s been wanting to break into Hollywood for a couple of years, but it hasn''t gone smoothly, so she thought this opportunity could boost her exposure. It''s a win-win situation for both of us."

    ...

    After spending over an hour at the set of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, once the crew wrapped up for lunch, Cindy quickly led Eric and Linda to a quieter restaurant in arge building along Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, which offered excellent privacy with separate booths and required a membership card.

    As the three were settling in, a tall woman in a ck long dress approached them.

    "Hi, Liz," Cindy stood to greet Elizabeth Hurley, embracing her briefly before apologizing, "Sorry, Liz. Two friends unexpectedly joined me today, so I couldn''t let you know beforehand."

    As the two women chatted, Eric felt Elizabeth Hurley''s gaze fixated on him, sparkling with an unknown intensity.

    "Let me introduce you; this is Eric Williams, and this is Linda. You definitely know her," Cindy waved her hand yfully in front of Linda, making her feel slightly annoyed.

    "Mr. Williams, hello," Elizabeth said, her eyes lingering, wearing a polite smile as she reached out her hand to Eric.

    "Just call me Eric," he replied, shaking her hand. The brief contact felt like a teasing brush, making him think, wow, this woman is bold.

    After the formalities, as they sat at the table, Elizabeth Hurley directly asked, "So Eric, are you here for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>?"

    "Yeah," Eric nodded, casually flipping through the menu handed to him by the waiter.

    Elizabeth quickly realized she might be acting a bit too eagerly and refined her demeanor, elegantly browsing her own menu. Once the orders were ced and the waiter had left, she continued, "I thought you''d still be in Boston; I heard it''s quite lively theretely. By the way, I''ve set up my own personal homepage on Yahoo, but I''m not too good with it."

    Eric replied dismissively, "Oh, that should be simple. Just a bit of tinkering, and you''ll figure it out."

    After its rollout, Yahoo''s personal homepage had garnered over 7 million users in less than a week, showing rapid growth.

    Thanks to Eric''s influence in Hollywood, many celebrities opened their own personal pages, further enhancing the appeal of Yahoo''s personal homepage. With mobile inte still a far-off concept, Yahoo''s personal homepage primarily focused on long-form blogs, given the real-time microblogging had yet to catch on. However, Eric had already instructed the Yahoo department handling personal homepages to emphasize the social aspects.

    As this topic floated around, Cindy''s eyes also lit up.

    Her thoughts drifted back to a photo she had seen in <i>The New York Times</i> a few days earlier. It featured Eric posing with several business moguls like Jeffrey Katzenberg from Firefly Group, Jorma Oll from Nokia, John Chambers from Cisco, Steve Case from America Online, among others.

    In the photo, everyone stood centered around Eric. The apanying article predicted that due to the rapid development of thepanies mentioned, along with Eric''s significant ownership stakes in them, his personal fortune could rise by more than 50% this year. At the beginning of the year, <i>Forbes</i> estimated Eric''s personal assets at $46.5 billion. A 50% increase could potentially skyrocket his wealth to an astonishing $70 billion.

    What did $70 billion even mean? With Microsoft''s stock soaring, the second richest man, Bill Gates, had just reached a worth of $12.9 billion this year. Eric''s wealth alone was nearly equivalent to the total worth of the others in the top ten of the <i>Forbes</i> listbined.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 734 - 735: Return to Canada

    <h4>Chapter 734: Chapter 735: Return to Canada</h4>

    [Chapter 735: Return to Canada]

    Due to an unintentional conversation, the women, despite their differing thoughts, cleverly refrained from showing any signs of disturbance in front of Eric.

    Cindy proactively changed the topic, asking Elizabeth Hurley, "Liz, weren''t you recently seeking a coboration with Estee Lauder? How did that go?"

    Elizabeth Hurley shook her head with a hint of regret. "Estee Lauder ns to renew their contract with Paulina Porizkova, so I won''t have the opportunity."

    After saying this, she subtly nced over at Eric.

    "I wasn''t aware that Paulina still had a contract with Estee Lauder," Eric casually remarked. Paulina Porizkova had been one of the Victoria''s Secret Angels the previous year, and Eric always thought she bore a resemnce to Audrey Hepburn.

    From Elizabeth Hurley''s reaction, it seemed that Estee Lauder''s contract with Paulina was set to expire that year. Originally, Estee Lauder had intended to change their spokesperson, but Paulina''s poprity fromst year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> had led them to reconsider. For high-end, mid-range, or fast-moving consumer goods brands, the most important factor in choosing a spokesperson was often their poprity. The models who had participated inst year''s fashion show were undoubtedly among the most well-known in the industry.

    Linda joked, "I have quite a few endorsements myself, Eric. Want to hear about them?"

    "Oh," Eric shrugged. "Not really interested, but it''s safe to say you definitely have a Victoria''s Secret endorsement."

    Lindaughed and replied, "Well, of course! You''re the one who set that up."

    Hearing the discussion shift to Victoria''s Secret, Elizabeth Hurley seized the moment to ask, "Eric, will you be involved in producing this year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret annual show</i>?"

    "I won''t be participating this time," Eric said, looking at Cindy and Linda. "Do you feel relieved to hear that?"

    Linda, being straightforward, nodded and added with a faux sense of relief, "Yeah, yeah! You tyrant! It''s nice to know you can''t torture us this time!"

    In reality, since the beginning of the year, LTD had been working continuously to prepare for the uing <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i>. With Eric stepping back from the project, not only would the supermodel ountable for the show be affected, but they would also have to find their own background music, which had been another highlight of the show.

    Many prominent musicians were keen on coborating with the <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i> due to the immense poprity garneredst year.

    Cindy and Linda had already been informed that the show was under new direction this year, led by an MTV director who had previously shot Victoria''s Secret ads for them. However, he was still in Los Angeles working on his own film and wouldn''t be able toe to New York to take over the <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i> project until next month.

    As a top British supermodel, Elizabeth Hurley had also had the chance to participate inst year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i>. Unfortunately, at that time, she had been engaged in the filming of a UK production and had felt, like Cindy, that she was approaching the age limit for modeling. Both women had begun to shift their aspirations toward acting.

    By the time the <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i> garnered worldwide attention, Elizabeth found herself regretting not participating, especially since the film she starred in barely made a ssh. As a judge on <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, she hoped to connect with Cindy and find a way to step onto the Victoria''s Secret stage this year.

    The surprise for her came during lunch when she encountered Eric, the young Hollywood mogul. She knew all too well that if she wanted to make her way onto the Victoria''s Secret stage, bing best friends with Cindy wouldn''t have the same impact as having conversations with Eric.

    As they continued their chat, a server quickly arrived with their meals, poured wine for everyone, and quietly stepped away.

    Elizabeth casually sliced her steak, turning to Eric and saying, "Speaking of, I regret missing the <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i>st year due to scheduling conflicts. Do you think I have a chance of participating in this year''s show?"

    The Victoria''s Secret Angels lineup was essentiallyplete, having formed several tiers. The group of five clearly dominated the top tier, followed by a batch of equally hot models, and finally, arger number of potential candidates waiting for their moment. Even though the production for the second <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i> hadn''t officially begun, the roster for Angels was already determined. Plus, considering Elizabeth''s standing in the second tier of poprity, foisting her into the show would disrupt the established production and marketing strategies.

    Just as Eric was about to dodge her question, he felt a small leg brushing against his under the table, yfully nudging against him.

    He looked up to see Cindy beside him and Linda across from him, with Elizabeth sitting diagonally. Cindy appeared unbothered and shed a charming smile as Eric looked her way, and when he turned to his left, he caught Elizabeth lightly winking at him.

    That leg stretching over was certainly a bold move, putting him in a ridiculous position of wanting to lift the table to see their arrangement beneath it.

    He had witnessed her daring behavior earlier, so he wasn''t too surprised. Sticking with his previous line of thought, he said, "I don''t think that''s possible, Liz. The lineup for the <i>Victoria''s Secret show</i> has already been set."

    "Eric, as long as you speak up, they''d definitely be willing to switch people, don''t you think?" Elizabeth pursued, not sensing any need for reservation in front of a big shot like him. Any hint of favor from him would be a precious opportunity for her.

    Eric smiled and nodded, "Of course, that''s why I can''t do that. It would throw everything into chaos. Didn''t you start shifting towards acting? I think you should focus more on that."

    While Eric intended to change the subject, looking at her somewhat untamed yet pretty face reminded him of the movie<i> Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery</i>.

    Though Elizabeth was merely eye candy in that film, it was likely her only noteworthy work.

    He recalled that <i>Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery</i> was a parody film simr to a few years earlier with <i>Hot Shots!</i>, which parodied many films. However, <i>Austin Powers</i> specifically spoofed the <i>James Bond</i> series. While many jokes only resonated with American audiences and had limited internationalmercial potential, its low production cost allowed thepany to reap significant profits.

    The writer and star, Mike Myers, wasn''t an unknown either; he had produced another parody series, <i>Wayne''s World</i>, a few years prior, earning an even higher box office figure than <i>Hot Shots!</i>. Unfortunately, simr themes often fell prey to the sequel fatigue trope where the first film enjoyed immense sess, but <i>Wayne''s World 2</i> suffered after a $60 million budget, resulting in it flopping. As for Mike Myers, he had faded into quietude over the past two years.

    In another timeline, <i>Austin Powers</i> managed to produce three films, making it a rare trilogy among parodyedies. The box office numbers must have been quite impressive; perhaps he could find time to check if Mike Myers had picked up the script.

    Seizing the opportunity to steer the conversation toward films, Elizabeth quickly chimed in, "Eric, I really love acting too, but I just haven''t found the right opportunity. Does Firefly have any movies suitable for me?"

    Before Eric could answer, Linda jumped in, "Eric, I want to act in a movie too."

    Caught off-guard with how to respond to Elizabeth''s persistence, Eric almost felt like kissing Linda''s cheek as she conveniently redirected the topic, although he forced a look of impatience. "You should focus on <i>Project Runaway</i>, and if you can''t do that well, I''ll send you back to Canada."

    Linda pouted, showing no signs of remorse at all. "Why be mean? I don''t need to act if I don''t want to."

    Cindy then spoke up, "Eric, your next film still doesn''t have any prospects. Are you really nning on retiring?"

    "I just can''t find the right project," Eric casually replied.

    Linda urged, "So what kind of project would excite you?"

    "I can''t shake the feeling that I''ve been asked that before," Eric quipped, contemting, he said, "Perhaps a project that could top the box office of <i>Jurassic Park</i>."

    "Ha, surpassing <i>Jurassic Park</i>? That''s not so easy. Everyone says the box office was aplete surprise."

    Eric smiled and said, "Every film''s box office is a surprise because no one can urately predict the numbers before a film is released."

    Linda countered, "I think you shouldn''t set your standards so high. I really liked the early films you shot; <i>Sleepless in Seattle</i>, <i>Pretty Woman</i>, and yes, even <i>Running Out of Time</i>. I loved that film! I even thought about auditioning for the Yoyo role. Whileter ones like <i>Twister</i> and <i>Jurassic Park</i> were thrilling, their storylinescked."

    The two women yed off each other perfectly, subtly usurping Elizabeth Hurley from the center of attention and leaving her with no chance to interject.

    ...

    Their meal wrapped up quickly, and after leaving the restaurant, they stepped into the elevator. Elizabeth looked at Cindy, who seemed somewhat reluctant to say goodbye to Eric and Linda before driving off. Elizabeth then slid up beside Eric, taking the spot where Cindy had just vacated, and asked, "Eric, are you guys going to the set of <i>Project Runaway</i> this afternoon?"

    "Yeah," Eric nodded.

    "Can Ie along to take a look?" Elizabeth asked, then added, "I''ve watched <i>Survivor</i> and have always been curious about how reality shows are made."

    "Liz, that might not be convenient. These kinds of shows require a high level of confidentiality."

    "I just want to observe; I promise I won''t disclose anything. Really," Elizabeth said, then casually wrapped her arm around Eric''s.

    Eric looked at Linda, who gave him a look thatmunicated ''you decide.'' She turned aside, knowing that if Elizabeth approached them, she certainly couldn''t serve as an effective barrier, especially considering she wouldn''t even qualify as Eric''s girlfriend.

    "Well, alright," Eric decided, sensing Linda''sck of any objection and feeling Elizabeth gently nudging against his arm, he agreed. After all, very few people could resist the advances of a stunning beauty.

    ...

    The three of them headed towards Eric''s luxury car, where the driver opened the door. Eric ushered both women inside and drove off to the set of <i>Project Runaway</i>.

    Even though Eric had taken Linda to the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> set earlier that morning, <i>Project Runaway</i>''s production had not ceased.

    Arriving at the filming location for <i>Project Runaway</i> a few blocks away, the crew had already begun working. The pace here was slowerpared to the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> set, and due to the different program format, <i>Project Runaway</i>''s filming locations were mostly fixed,prising a sewing room, contestants'' dormitories, and apetition stage within the studio.

    While the finished episodes made it seem like the contestants had very tightpetition timelines, in reality, the shooting time for each episode could stretch up to a week.

    Upon arrival, Linda merely informed the production team to reconvene in the morning to reconsider the editing direction of the show, and then did not disrupt the crew''s work, instead standing by as a mere observer alongside Eric and Elizabeth.

    Elizabeth''s thoughts were definitely not on the reality show. Throughout the process, she remained glued to Eric''s side, feigning curiosity with multiple questions and presenting herself as eager to learn.

    While managing the persistent attention of the beautiful Elizabeth, Eric took a moment to call Kelly, who had already returned to Los Angeles, asking her to look into Mike Myers'' background for any scripts rted to <i>Austin Powers</i>.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 735 - 736: Not Violence

    <h4>Chapter 735: Chapter 736: Not Violence</h4>

    [Chapter 736: Not Violence]

    Filming of the show <i>Project Runway</i> extended into the evening, with several contestantspleting the theme of thepetition: resort swimwear.

    At this time, models had already donned the contestants'' creations. Although it had reached quitting time, the day''s work was not over yet. Designers participating in the evening''spetition would host their models and designs at a fashion party, showcasing their work to a prominent fashion columnist from a daily newspaper under the Hearst Corporation, who would also serve as a guest judge for the theme.

    Elizabeth Hurley had stayed by Eric''s side all afternoon, watching the crew pack up equipment in preparation for the move. She said, "Eric, I can sense that you''re not entirely satisfied with their work, but why don''t you offer them some pointers?"

    Eric felt that his presence had made many crew members nervous. He knew that if he intervened too much in the production, it would only leave them feeling more uncertain. This was the main reason he had taken on a more observer role throughout the afternoon.

    Moreover, most detail issues fell within his tolerance. Even if adjustments were necessary, he could discuss them privately with Linda. Hearing Elizabeth''s question, Eric casually replied, "No one can do a job perfectly; some minor slip-ups are inevitable."

    At that moment, Linda Evangelista walked over with the director of the crew. She said, "Eric, the crew is heading to the park in New York next. I need to attend the party tonight to shoot some scenes; are youing along?"

    Eric wasn''t interested in the over-hyped event, especially one organizedst minute just for shooting. He shook his head, saying, "I''ll pass. I n to head back early to rest," he added, ncing at Elizabeth, "Liz, I''m sure you''d be interested in this. Go enjoy the night with Linda."

    Elizabeth said yfully as she sensed an opening. "Eric, I actually don''t care much for parties either; they can get too loud."

    Linda eyed Elizabeth, who seemed overly familiar, with a slight smirk. She exchanged a few words with the director and turned to Eric, saying, "If you don''t want to go, that''s fine. The shoot starts at eight; let''s go grab dinner first."

    They found a nearby restaurant, and after dinner, Linda noticed how Elizabeth continued to cling to Eric without any signs of leaving. She silently cursed Cindy for this behavior and unwillingly headed off to work.

    ...

    It was already past seven-thirty in the evening, and the bright lights of Manhattan illuminated the streets.

    Eric personally drove Linda to the location of the night''s shoot and gently kissed her goodbye. Returning to the car, he looked at thezily reclining Elizabeth, a smirk forming on his lips. "Liz, where do you live? Should I take you back?"

    With Linda gone, Elizabeth ignored the driver in the front and boldly leaned closer, the perfect scent of her perfume enveloping Eric. "Eric, can''t I go to your ce for a cup of coffee?"

    "Let''s head to my apartment on Sixth Avenue," Eric instructed the driver, putting up the divider. He then casually pushed away the light and seemingly fragile woman leaning against him, taking a moment to admire her beautiful face and curvy figure. With a teasing smile, he half-joked, "Liz, let me give you a heads-up. I can be quite aggressive."

    Feeling exposed under his unabashed gaze, Elizabeth shivered slightly, a wave of nerves washing over her. However, recalling Linda and Cindy, she quickly realized Eric was joking. After all, if he were genuinely as he imed, neither Cindy nor Linda would be so close to him.

    As her worries subsided, Elizabeth yfully licked her lower lip, retorting, "Eric, I can be quite aggressive too."

    "Oh, now I''m intrigued," Eric replied, taken aback butughing.

    They arrived at Eric''s luxurious apartment located on the top levels near Central Park. Elizabeth was taken aback by the grandeur of the duplex, spanning two floors with a rooftop garden. Frequenting the upper-crust crowd, she had a good grasp of its worth but soon felt reassured about Eric''s wealth.

    Peering through the ss walls, she noted the clock showed eight o''clock. The Manhattan skyline sparkled with lights. With summer nights being long, the distant sky still glimmered, and barefoot on the slightly cool floor, Elizabeth leisurely strolled around the living room.

    Eric, however, had different ns. He sat on the sofa, picked an apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, took a knife nearby, and began casually cutting it, ncing around at the rxed woman. "Help yourself to whatever you want to drink," he said.

    Elizabeth nodded and walked over to the liquor cab in the corner. She randomly selected a bottle of red wine, a Romanee-Conti from 1972. Raising an eyebrow, she turned to nce at Eric, who was lounging, and let out a self-deprecatingugh, thinking how she almost considered pocketing the bottle, knowing it could fetch at least a few thousand dors.

    "Eric, can I open this?" she asked, raising the wine bottle.

    Eric, who rarely drank wine and had forgotten much of what Drew had shared about his collection, took a nonchnt look at the bottle and nodded, "If you like it, open it."

    Elizabeth nced around, found a corkscrew, and once she opened it with a light pop, a smile crept onto her lips. She measured out two sses, but instead of rushing back to Eric, she chose a jazz album from the record yer. As the soft jazz filled the room, she turned off the main lights, leaving only a soft glow from a wallmp. Then she brought a small tray to Eric.

    cing it on the coffee table, Elizabeth shed her bright green eyes and snatched the apple and knife from Eric, tossing them aside. She handed him a ss and settled across from him, raising her own ss. "Cheers!"

    Eric smiled and took a sip, savoring the wine''s tangy vor, rich and smooth.

    Looking at the vibrant woman whose toes brushed against his leg, Eric asked, "Has anyone ever told you which color of clothes suits you best?"

    "No, not really. I usually prefer more casual clothes," she replied. "But what color do you think I should wear?"

    "Red - passionate, wild, and vibrant. Very few women can pull off red, but you definitely can."

    Elizabeth cast a sultry nce Eric''s way and replied, "That''s apliment, right?"

    "Absolutely," Eric confirmed with a nod.

    Feigning disappointment, Elizabeth said, "I do have a red dress, but unfortunately, I can''t wear it for you right now."

    "That''s fine; there will be plenty of opportunities."

    "Yeah, tons of opportunities," Elizabeth said, finishing her ss of wine and tossing it aside. Leaning back slightly, she ced her hands on the coffee table. "That reminds me, Eric, isn''t time running out for us tonight?"

    "Oh, it''s only eight o''clock. I didn''t think you''d have this much faith in me."

    Elizabeth caught his double entendre and smiled flirtatiously. "What was it you said in the car? I''m waiting to see."

    "Funny, I was thinking about the contestants from <i>Project Runway</i> this afternoon. Honestly, when I was younger, I considered the idea of bing a fashion designer."

    "Oh," Elizabeth replied, not quite understanding.

    Just then, she watched as Eric stood and picked up the knife she had tossed aside. He approached her, reaching for her while guiding her to lie down on the coffee table.

    "Eric... what are you doing?" she stammered nervously.

    He chuckled softly, pressing on her waist. "Don''t move, darling. I want to study the construction of this dress."

    As he spoke, Elizabeth felt the cool de gently touch the neckline of her ck dress, the whisper of silk tearing filled the air.

    Watching the focused expression on his face above her, Elizabeth felt slightly more at ease, confirming he wouldn''t cut her. However, she soonmented the fate of her dress. "Eric, if you ruin this dress, what will I wear tomorrow?"

    "Tomorrow''s problems can wait until tomorrow."

    "Okay," she conceded, feeling the chilly de slide down her chest as the fabric split down the middle. An exhrating sensation coursed through her, but she held her ground and said, "Eric, I think this is not violence, but being too aggressive."

    "Oh, perhaps," he teased.

    Eric''s knife skills were surprisingly impressive, and soon her elegant ck dress was reduced to a square of fabric,id out like a rare offering on the table, its perfect form resembling an extraordinary masterpiece of tablecloth craftsmanship.

    Amid Elizabeth''s soft moans, Eric toyed with this newly revealed creation, reaching for the nearby tray of red wine and pouring it over the cloth.

    ...

    The morning sun poured warmly over Eric as he sat in the rooftop garden, reading that day''s newspaper and leisurely enjoying breakfast.

    It was July 19th, a Wednesday.

    Six days had passed since the recent releases of <i>Night at the Museum</i> and <i>Eraser</i>. While detailed figures weren''t avable yet, most media outlets had already been abuzz with excitement over the strong box office performance of <i>Night at the Museum</i>.

    Despite thepetitive pressure exerted by new and older films, <i>Night at the Museum</i> had triumphed, umting nearly sixty million dors in its first three days and was projected to surpass eighty million dors in its opening week - possibly even reaching ny million.

    The film''s production cost was a reasonable seventy million dors. In contrast, the action blockbuster <i>Eraser</i> featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger had a staggering one hundred million dor production budget, but it only earned about twenty-five million in its opening weekend -- less than half of <i>Night at the Museum</i>''s earnings.

    At this point, many in the media recollected Eric''s advocacyst year for reducing star sries and cutting production costs.

    Everyone undoubtedly remembered how other productionpanies maintained an ambiguous stance, echoing neither support nor opposition. It was Warner Bros. who first broke the impasse, giving in to their famous actors and pledging their intent by signing multi-million deals for high-budget movies like <i>Waterworld</i>, <i>Eraser</i>, and <i>Heat</i>, among others.

    Now, theparison of <i>Waterworld</i>''s one hundred and seventy-five million dor budget with its dismal box office return of around forty million had caused Warner''s shares to drop by more than ten percent. Although <i>Eraser</i>''s box office can''t be termed a failure, as it performed notably better than the earlier release <i>Fair Game</i>, it still significantlyggedpared to other summer films within the Firefly system -- especially when lined up against <i>Night at the Museum</i>.

    On Friday, Warner Bros. was set to release itsst summer movie of the year, <i>Heat</i>, which also boasted a budget of ny million dors. The film was set topete with the MGM''s next James Bond film, <i>GoldenEye</i>, which was expected to shine.

    The Easter egg for this <i>007</i> entry had already appeared at the end of <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>st year, causing quite a stir. Fans had been anticipating this film for a whole year, spurred by rumors of <i>GoldenEye</i> featuring a simrly exciting Easter egg for <i>Charlie''s Angels 2</i>, leading both <i>James Bond</i> and <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> fandoms into a frenzy.

    It was evident that in the face of this highly-anticipated blockbuster, the three-hour-long <i>Heat</i> held virtually nopetitive edge.

    At this time, aside from overt mockery, the media had shifted focus away from Warner Bros., which was destined for box office ruin this year. Many were now keenly watching Flower Films, which was in itsst stages of negotiations for a takeover of MGM.

    Everyone recognized that Flower Films was backed by Firefly. Once the acquisition waspleted, it would grant Firefly control over two-sevenths of Hollywood, while maintaining influence over Fox. As for Sony-Columbia, no one believed this Japanese-owned studio could escape Firefly''s looming shadow.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 736 - 737: A Brighter Future

    <h4>Chapter 736: Chapter 737: A Brighter Future</h4>

    [Chapter 737: A Brighter Future]

    While lost in thought, Elizabeth Hurley pushed open the ss door to the terrace, carrying breakfast. She wore only a short white bathrobe, showcasing her enticing long legs, her brown hair flowing freely. With her lips slightly pressed and azy gaze, she radiated a unique allure.

    "Morning, Liz," Eric openly admired her for a moment before greeting her.

    "Good morning, Eric," Elizabeth Hurley smiled modestly, nodding as she sat down next to him.

    Compared to the morous makeup from the day before, Elizabeth''s current light makeup was minimal, with no lipstick at all. Eric realized,pared to his previous memories of her, she conformed even more to his taste. At least, it was clear she had undergone lip enhancement surgeryter on, as fuller lips were considered beautiful, many female stars had simr cosmetic procedures.

    But Eric was not a fan of full lips; in fact, none of the women around him had that look. Nicole had once considered getting lip augmentation, but Eric dissuaded her. To him, Nicole''s perfectly proportioned lips looked best just as they were -- why change them to resemble overstuffed sausages? Over the years, Eric had not cast simr heroines in any of the films he had worked on.

    This had resulted in a subtle shift in Hollywood''s standards of beauty for women, unknowingly influenced by Eric''s personal preferences. Perhaps in a few years, under the bombardment of various films and television shows, public perceptions of beauty wouldpletely change; the prevailing aesthetic trends had always shifted with the media''s inclinations.

    "Eric, what are you looking at?" Elizabeth noticed Eric''s gaze and asked curiously.

    Eric replied, "Your lip shape is beautiful."

    Elizabeth smiled and said, "Thank you, but my agent always thinks it''s not sensual enough and suggested I get lip augmentation."

    "I actually find fuller lips unattractive."

    "Really? Everyone loves them," Elizabeth said, surprised.

    Eric shrugged, "I just really don''t like them."

    Elizabeth made a sound of acknowledgment. She had been considering following her agent''s advice to book a minor surgery, but now, she gave up the idea.

    After finishing his breakfast, Eric continued reading the newspaper and casually chatted with Elizabeth. "What have you been up totely?"

    "Uh," Elizabeth looked up, her thoughts shifting before she said, "I only have one jobtely -- being a guest judge for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>."

    "And then what?"

    "And then... nothing for now," she replied. She had been nning to use her appearance on <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> to connect with Cindy Crawford to see if she could be introduced for this year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>, but Eric had already shot down her idea the day before.

    In Hollywood, most professionals often found themselves unemployed, and the modeling world wasn''t much different. Even the top supermodels couldn''t count on work year-round. While the elite supermodels didn''t have to worry about making ends meet, many ordinary girls entering the industry struggled to maintain the high cost of living in big cities while waiting for their next job.

    Elizabeth Hurley belonged to a group that was somewhat on the fence; she had decent name recognition owing to her fame, but despite beingbeled a supermodel, she had never been a professional one. In recent years, her focus had shifted towards breaking into the film industry, causing her to neglect her modeling work.

    Thinking about this, Elizabeth nced at Eric, recalling the bottle of expensive red wine he had casually poured over herst night, feeling an inexplicable sense of anticipation. But she was a smart woman. If they had not slept together, she would have boldly sought the opportunity from Eric. However, if she did so now, it would turn everything fromst night into a transaction.

    Thus, it was up to the man to make a move. Even if Eric didn''t make any advances, she wouldn''t be foolish enough to ask for it outright.

    Eric responded absentmindedly, seemingly unaware of Elizabeth''s gaze as he continued to read his newspaper.

    ...

    After breakfast, the time had just passed eight o''clock.

    A staff member from Firefly Group in New York happened to arrive with a bag for Eric.

    "Try this. I had someone buy it," Eric said, pulling out a script from the bag and handing over the remaining contents to Elizabeth, who was still in her bathrobe.

    Elizabeth took the bag, nced inside, thanked Eric, turned back toward her bedroom, and emerged wearing a long burgundy dress.

    Sitting on the couch flipping through the script, Eric turned to look at her and smiled, "That looks great. Way prettier than the outfit fromst night. I told you, red really suits you."

    Elizabeth''s cheeks flushed a bit. Although everything fromst night had been cleaned up, a faint aroma of wine still lingered in the living room. She walked over and sat gracefully next to Eric, asking, "Eric, did you pick this out? It''s beautiful and fits wonderfully."

    "Yeah," Eric nodded. He had directed someone to pick out clothes for her. It would be a surprise if it didn''t fit. Noticing her gaze inadvertently shift toward the script in his hands, he casually passed it to her, saying, "Here, take a look."

    "Uh, is it okay?" Elizabeth feigned surprise as she received the script from Eric. ncing at the title, <i>Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery</i>, she quickly scanned the synopsis and felt a twinge of disappointment.

    She had appeared in numerous films, albeit with many small roles, but she had a discerning eye. This script seemed like one of those low-budgetedies, costing about ten or twenty million. In such movies, even the leadingdy often yed just a decorative role. Although she knew that if she wanted to break into Hollywood, she would likely have to start as eye candy, receiving this script from Eric felt below her expectations.

    Eric handed the script to Elizabeth and got up to change clothes, preparing to head to the set of <i>Project Runway</i> to discuss changes to the program that morning.

    When he returned to the living room donned in fresh attire, he noticed Elizabeth still appeared focused on the script. He smiled knowingly; he had merely flipped through it while she was changing and, truthfully, he had no interest in it -- the film was nothing but a pure parodyedy, and he was certain Elizabeth wouldn''t care for it either.

    "Liz, let''s go. I''ll drop you off at work. You can take the script home with you and look it over. If you like it, the leading role is yours."

    Elizabeth picked up her handbag and stood up, pondering for a moment before following Eric out the door. As they reached the elevator, she finally made up her mind, saying, "Eric, I''m not really fond of this character. It seems to have a lot of risque scenes."

    Elizabeth was clear about her feelings; if she epted this role, though Eric was offering it willingly, it could easily be a transaction, and they might never have any further connection. Plus, this character might not significantly help her career. If she refused, the fleeting intimacy they sharedst night could lead to unexpected opportunities with this powerful man in the future.

    Eric looked a bit surprised but soon understood Elizabeth''s thoughts. He didn''t mind; he appreciated smart women who recognized their boundaries. Moreover, he knew that the little games women yed rarely affected him.

    "Oh, I see. Then forget it," Eric said with augh, "Honestly, I don''t particrly care for this script either."

    Elizabeth raised the script in her hand. "Then why did you..."

    "Because it makes money," Eric replied candidly. "I''m the head of the filmpany; I can''t just dismiss projects that could generate ie based solely on personal taste."

    Elizabeth chuckled, aware that no one could operate purely on personal whims. Naturally, someone like Eric had far more leeway than ordinary people. Though he had just said that, if he truly disliked the project, he could easily cancel it without concern for the vast Firefly Group.

    They arrived downstairs and climbed into a luxury car waiting in the parking lot. Eric asked, "By the way, do you think you could tweak your ent a bit?"

    Elizabeth had an impable British ent, so much so that she had yed the Queen of Ennd in another timeline.

    Without hesitation, she replied, "If necessary, of course I can."

    "If you could learn a standard Manhattan ent and were willing to take on a TV series, there''s a great opportunity next year."

    "Next year?"

    Eric nodded, "Yeah, next year."

    Elizabeth wasn''t keen on doing a si, but she prudently asked, "Eric, can I ask, what''s the series about?"

    "It''s a story about a fashionable female writer in Manhattan. I can assure you, if yound this role, your future prospects will exceed what you could achieve in Hollywood." Eric exined. He was, of course, referring to the show that would create a major buzz, <i>Sex and the City</i>. The production rights for the novel had already been acquired by Firefly''s filmmaking unit, but Eric hadn''t yet revealed the specifics to relevant parties.

    The original show''s lead was Sarah Jessica Parker, who became an icon of Manhattan thanks to the series, showcasing its vast influence. However, Eric felt Elizabeth matched the character''s age and looks perfectly. The only hurdle was her ent. If it couldn''t change, even if <i>Sex and the City</i> became a hit, a character with a genuine London ent could never embody the essence of Manhattan, diminishing its impact significantly.

    Elizabeth wasn''t going to be swayed by a single line from Eric, but she also had no reason to doubt his judgment. He had no incentive to deceive her into thinking she was more significant than she truly was. After considering, she responded, "Then, I''ll take some time to sign up for a speech ss."

    She understood that her ent could never be her strong suit. While many Hollywood actors enjoyed learning British ents for roles in British films, she didn''t possess the skillset necessary for Shakespearean dramas.

    Eric nodded and dropped Elizabeth off at her destination before quickly returning to the <i>Project Runway</i> set.

    ...

    On July 21, 1995, thest two summer blockbusters, <i>GoldenEye</i> and <i>Heat</i>, premiered as scheduled.

    After a weekend of box office battles, <i>GoldenEye</i> grossed nearly $29 million in its opening weekend, raking in $29 million from over 2,800 screens. Although this result still didn''t outpace the legs of <i>Night at the Museum</i>, it left its rival, <i>Heat</i>, far behind. <i>Heat</i> only managed to garner about $8.4 million over three days, and despite receiving respectable critical acim, it struggled to recoup its costs. Warner Bros. would have to pin their hopes on future merchandise and home video sales.

    Byparison, <i>Night at the Museum</i> shone brightly, bringing in over $86 million in its debut weekend and experiencing only a 20 percent drop in its second week. In those three days, it grossed another $47.7 million, firmly securing the top spot on the box office charts.

    Many were surprised by this performance, considering it already eclipsed the total box office of <i>Jumanji</i>, which had only managed a little over $100 million by year-end. <i>Night at the Museum</i> had already exceeded $130 million in ten days, establishing itself as another unexpected hit of the summer.

    Though <i>GoldenEye</i> reached expected ticket sales,pared to <i>Night at the Museum</i>, it fell short of expectations. MGM had leaned slightly in favor of <i>GoldenEye</i>''s marketing but couldn''t change the disappointing trend. The <i>007</i> series was viewed as thest bargaining chip for Credit Lyonnais Bank, which had initially hoped for a massive sess for this sequel to drive up its sale price. But in light of <i>Night at the Museum</i>''s sess, it lost all bargaining power.

    Therefore, following the opening weekend ticket results, news from Los Angeles revealed that Credit Lyonnais Bank ultimately agreed to the acquisition deal with Flower Films.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 737 - 738: Debt Issues

    <h4>Chapter 737: Chapter 738: Debt Issues</h4>

    [Chapter 738: Debt Issues]

    Regarding the acquisition of MGM, Flower Films initially quoted $1.5 billion, but Credit Lyonnais Bank aimed to sell its shares for $1.8 billion. Credit Lyonnais Bank had made up its mind topletely distance itself from Hollywood and would not engage in any more financial ties with the industry after the deal closed. Therefore, both parties'' negotiations primarily focused on the final transaction price.

    Negotiations began in early June andsted until the end of July. The inability to reach an agreement stemmed mainly from Credit Lyonnais Bank waiting for the box office results of <i>GoldenEye</i>, which featured Eric''s involvement and in which they had high hopes. However, despite <i>GoldenEye</i> receiving favorable reviews upon its release, its box office didn''t explode, especially inparison to <i>Night at the Museum</i>, which left Credit Lyonnais Bank feeling less confident.

    After the opening weekend box office results of <i>GoldenEye</i> came in, both parties took a step back and settled on a final intent of $1.6 billion. Of course, after the transaction waspleted, Flower Films would assume MGM''s existing $1.7 billion debt, bringing the total transaction amount to $3.3 billion.

    ...

    The day after the deal was finalized, <i>The Los Angeles Times</i> featured an interesting cartoon on its front page.

    A giant, anthropomorphized firefly, adorned with a small flower on its head, rampaged through the streets marked with ''Hollywood,'' much like the Tyrannosaurus Rex in <i>The Lost World: Jurassic Park</i>. Buildings on either sidey in ruins, with shy logos from Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, and Columbia hanging down.

    Beneath this cartoon, <i>The Los Angeles Times</i> boldly titled the piece "Firefly Takes Hollywood."

    "Seven years ago, <i>Home Alone</i> emerged on the scene, grossing over $500 million globally on a shoestring budget of just $1 million, capturing the attention of all of Hollywood.

    But perhaps no one could have predicted that today, seven yearster, the young mastermind behind <i>Home Alone</i> has built his own media empire at an astonishing pace. This emerging empire is rapidly expanding, having already swallowed New Line, Disney, and ABC. Now, this firefly, which seemingly will never slow down, has also ''nted'' a dazzling flower beyond its own system.

    Before the MGM acquisition, we saw that Flower Films released its first film, <i>Mission: Impossible</i>,st year, which garnered close to $500 million worldwide with a production cost of $70 million.

    This summer, Flower Films'' two productions, <i>Forrest Gump</i> and <i>Night at the Museum</i>, have collectively grossed $190 million and $130 million in North America so far. While both films have much more box office potential, from when the summer season kicked off on May 26 until now, North America''s summer box office has totaled $1.68 billion over the past ten weeks. The rtively new yer, Flower Films, has inadvertently captured 19% of the market share.

    When we widen our view a bit, we can find that the three films released by Firefly Group -- <i>Jurassic Park 2</i>, <i>Independence Day</i>, and <i>Toy Story 2</i> -- have also collectively grossed $690 million domestically. These films simrly still have box office potential left untapped. However, thebined box office of these twopanies has already upied 61% of the total summer box office over the ten weeks, leaving less than 40% of the market share for all other Hollywoodpetitors, which is truly astonishing.

    It''s easy to envision that when Eric Williams personally nurtures this flower toplete the acquisition and integration of MGM and DreamWorks, leveraging a wealth of profitable movie projects including the <i>Mission: Impossible</i> series, the <i>007</i> series, the <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> series, and the <i>Night at the Museum</i> series, at the very least, it will soon reach parity with Firefly Group in the film business. We can almost foresee the bleak future for other Hollywood filmpanies over theing years."

    ...

    While the article in <i>The Los Angeles Times</i> was slightly exaggerated, it still caught the attention of many.

    The seven major filmpanies in Hollywood all had their own production and distribution systems, and many resources were exclusive to these studios, such as Paramount''s theater resources. So, for Firefly and Flower Films topletely monopolize Hollywood''s film market, they would have to absorb all seven majorpanies; otherwise, it would be nearly impossible to achieve such astonishing market shares yearly. The fact that these twopanies garnered 60% of the market this year can be attributed, in many people''s eyes, to luck; Firefly and Flower Films just happened to strike it lucky whilepanies like Warner Bros. had no major box office blockbusters this year.

    However, that didn''t stop Flower Films'' acquisition of MGM from raising awareness among the other studios. Executives from Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, and Columbia all understood that the best way to thwart Flower Films'' expansion was to do whatever it took to sabotage this deal.

    But wishes are easy, and the reality was that none of the other majorpanies were willing to take the plunge.

    After all, attempting to disrupt the deal would not only require exorbitant costs but would alsopletely alienate Firefly. While everyone knew this was about "sacrificing the present to invest in the future," there wasn''t a single Hollywood executive brave enough to make that sacrifice.

    As for forming a coalition, they might as well forget it. By the time thepanies with conflicting interests negotiated conditions for coboration, Flower Films could very well have grown into a towering tree.

    Although privately some people tried to leverage their resources to y tricks, aiming to ensure that even if they couldn''t stop the acquisition, they would force Flower Films to pay a higher price, these tricks were often easily neutralized by the other side. After all, in this world of capital, capital was the ultimate power, and right now, Firefly was undeniably Hollywood''s most financially robust media group.

    ...

    Los Angeles.

    In Drew''s Beverly Hills mansion, the girl stood by a clothes rack filled with little dresses, changing outfits while chattering away. "I really don''t know what they were thinking, sending someone to check my taxes. Haha, that trick is so old-school. My tax returns are whiter than Natasha''s! There''s no way they can find any issues there. Hmph! If I find out who''s behind this, I''m definitely going to teach them a lesson."

    It was already the end of July, and Flower Films had signed acquisition agreements with Credit Lyonnais Bank and DreamWorks in the prior two weeks.

    The MGM shares held by Credit Lyonnais Bank were acquired for cash, while under Eric''s strong push, the merger with DreamWorks employed a mix of cash and stock, amounting to a billion dors. Previously involved in the MGM acquisition, Vivendi contributed $300 million to obtain 30% of DreamWorks'' shares, while Fireflypletely withdrew; the European stakeholders of DreamWorks exchanged their shares for equity in the mergedpany.

    After the integration, for ease of equity operations, the newpany would still primarily operate under MGM. Flower Films, DreamWorks, and thepany that held the rights to <i>007</i>, United Artists, would gradually integrate into MGM''s production department over the next few months. The MGMbel would mainly be used for film distribution in the future.

    In the new MGM Group, Drew held 40% as thergest shareholder, Vivendi had 20%, LTD held 10%, DreamWorks'' original European stakeholders held 18%, and the remaining 12% were in circting shares.

    Eric sat on the living room sofa, waiting for Drew to finish changing so they could head to the new MGM''s first press conference together.

    Listening with a smile to Drew''s chatter, Eric flipped through the bnce sheet of the newpany.

    After the integration wasplete, Eric believed the most valuable assets of the new MGM would undoubtedly be the rights to several blockbuster films, alongside MGM''s vast film library.

    Although MGM lost the film rights to movies produced before 1948 due to the sale between Kirk Kerkorian and Ted Turner in the 1980s, the remaining catalog from 1948 onward still boasted over 4,000 films, cing it among thergest in all of Hollywood. In the original timeline, to push MGM''s catalog in promoting its high-definition Blu-ray format, Sony had once foolishly spent $5 billion in 2004, showcasing the immense value of MGM''s film library.

    Unfortunately, over the years, MGM had consistently struggled,cking the necessary resources to mize its film library, relying instead on crude licensing to external video tape distributors and cableworks, which people had to admit was a pity. Now that he had acquired these resources, Eric certainly wouldn''t allow that situation to continue.

    As Eric pondered how to manage MGM''s vast library of resources, he heard the girl eximing that her tax returns were whiter than Natasha''s, causing him to raise his head. The twins were dressed in simple ck T-shirts and washed-out jeans, quietly helping Drew pick out outfits. Their exposed faces and arms boasted that characteristic stunning paleness unique to vic beauties.

    Noticing Eric''s gaze, Drew shed a smile. "Eric, they''re even whiter when they''re not wearing clothes!"

    As Drew spoke, a faint blush appeared on the twins'' cheeks, and they stole a shy nce at Eric.

    Eric chuckled and shifted his gaze back to Drew, who was wearing nothing but her underwear. Even though she had passed her 20th birthday, she hadn''t changed much over the years, thanks to having kicked her previous bad habits. Standing at 5''3", she had smooth, radiant skin, a petite frame with a touch of softness, utterly tempting.

    Sensing Eric''s lingering gaze, the girl shot him a yful look, suggesting, "Eric, there''s still time, you know."

    "Come on, hurry up and get dressed. We need to get there early."

    "Then let''s do it in the car."

    "Stop joking around."

    "Hehe..."

    "Let''s get back to business," Eric said, momentarily serious, "Even though your finances are in order, owning such a substantial stake in thepany still looks a bit conspicuous. I n for MGM to issue an additional 20% of its shares -- around 70 million shares -- and based on the current stock price, we can raise about $1 billion. At that point, when your shares and LTD''s are factored together, we''ll still maintain about 40% ownership and won''t lose control of thepany. Plus, this would allow for more financial flexibility for thepany in theing years. What do you think?"

    The girl ultimately settled on a pink little dress. Once she got it on, she fluttered over to Eric, snuggling into him. "Eric, you really don''t need to ask me about these kinds of things. Everything I have is yours; just make the decision."

    "Heh, actually, I''m not very good at making decisions for others," Eric said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

    "But I''m not just anyone, Eric. Without you, I might have died by now."

    Feeling the small body pressed up against him, Eric joked, "Hmm, that line is starting to sound more like a soap opera. Ouch, watch the neck; I didn''t list you in my will!"

    "Well, I''d die with you."

    "Is this the second episode of a soap opera now?"

    "Woah, I''m serious."

    "Alright, alright, it''s time. Let''s get moving."

    ...

    MGM''s headquarters was located in Century City. Although the original film lot was sold off by Kerkorian in the 80s, the headquarters building still stood. As an established filmpany for over half a century, MGM had begun to decline, yet its headquarters building still appeared far more impressivepared to Flower Films'' offices on Venice Beach.

    At that time, Flower Films and DreamWorks hadn''t yet moved their offices there, but the press conference was arranged for thergest conference hall at MGM''s headquarters.

    When Eric and Drew arrived at MGM''s headquarters, the za outside was already packed with reporters. As soon as they spotted the duo''s vehicle, a swarm of journalists rushed toward them. Thepany''s security team quickly cleared a path for the two.

    "Mr. Williams, will Firefly acquire MGM in the future?"

    "Eric, Drew, are you nning to get married?"

    "Eric, why did youpletely separate MGM from Firefly''s system -- is it due to monopoly concerns?"

    "Will MGM expand as aggressively as Firefly?"

    "Eric, how do you n to resolve MGM''s debt issues?"

    Amid the blinding shes of cameras and a barrage of questions from reporters, Eric held Drew''s waist tightly, navigating through the crowd with the assistance of security until they finally entered the building.

    Once inside, high-rankingpany executives like Amy Pascal and Frank Mancuso, as well as several stars who were going to attend the press conference, greeted them. Under Eric''s instructions, executives from Firefly Group did not attend this press conference.

    After greeting everyone, they all walked to the press conference venue, where staff were still making final adjustments to the equipment. The conference hall, over 200 square meters, featured a small stage with a backdrop showcasing posters for thepany''s franchises, including <i>007</i>, <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>, and <i>Night at the Museum</i>.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 738 - 739: The Spy Movie Universe

    <h4>Chapter 738: Chapter 739: The Spy Movie Universe</h4>

    [Chapter 739: The Spy Movie Universe]

    During a lull at the press conference, Eric Williams gathered Amy Pascal and other MGM shareholders attending the event to discuss the idea of issuing additional stock. Naturally, Amy Pascal and the others had no objections. Even though MGM appeared to be thriving after the consolidation, the financial situation was quite tight.

    With a staggering $1.7 billion in debt, the annual principal and interest payments amounted to no less than $200 million. One of the reasons Kirk Kerkorian had repeatedly sold MGM was to restructure the debt through sale after sale, aiming to cut costs.

    After this transaction, Kerkorian was driven out of Hollywood, and the new MGM could not afford to y such capital games, meaning those interest payments couldn''t be avoided. If they could increase their stock issuance by 20%, thepany''s financial situation would improve significantly, providing ample funds to repair MGM''s production and distribution systems and to kickstart major projects like <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>.

    After discussing this matter, the staff announced that the press conference was about to begin, and everyone left the lounge to move into the conference hall.

    ...

    Except for the cast and crew of the currently filming <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> series, all the main actors from major franchises under the newpany like <i>007</i>, <i>Mission: Impossible</i>, <i>Night at the Museum</i>, and <i>Resident Evil</i> were present, making the venue gleam with star power. However, today, they were not the center of attention; the reporters focused entirely on MGM''s shareholders and executives.

    As the new CEO of thepany, Amy Pascal stepped onto the stage with enthusiasm, taking over ten minutes to introduce the general overview of the newpany and addressing a series of media questions regarding MGM''s acquisition and consolidation process.

    More than a hundred invited reporters were patiently waiting for the Q&A session that would follow the speeches of several MGM executives. Some people''s eyes had already wandered to Eric, sitting in the guest section.

    However, when Amy finally announced that MGM would issue additional stocks, the reporters immediately perked up.

    Recent media predictions suggested that MGM would choose to privatize like Firefly Group, aligning with Eric Williams'' usual style. Moreover, since MGM currently had only 12% of its shares publicly traded, the difficulty of privatization was quite low.

    Thus, this news was a stark contrast to what most reporters had spected, igniting a buzz among the journalists present as they questioned MGM''s motives, or more directly, Eric Williams'' intentions behind this decision.

    Unfortunately, after Amy concluded her remarks, Frank Mancuso, who had just transitioned to president of MGM, came back on stage to introduce MGM''s production ns for theing years and invited the guest stars to the stage for a brief interaction.

    After about half an hour, the anticipated Q&A session finally arrived.

    ...

    Once Eric, Drew, Amy, Frank Mancuso, and John Calley took their seats on the provided chairs, the host announced the beginning of the Q&A session, and every reporter in the audience raised their hands all at once.

    The host randomly selected a reporter, a woman with wavy brown hair and rimless sses. When she took the microphone, she didn''t immediately ask the burning question; instead, she directed her inquiry towards Eric, saying, "Mr. Williams, I''m a reporter for <i>The New York Times</i>. ording to public information, Firefly Group haspletely divested from MGM. In what capacity and stance are you sitting here today?"

    Eric smiled; he had anticipated this question and, on a deeper level, many people already knew the reasons behind it.

    However, Eric had no intention of dodging the question. He replied with a smile, "If you need a reason, I suppose I''m here as a representative of MGM''s shareholders. My personal Firefly Investment Company is thergest shareholder of LTD Group, which is MGM''s thirdrgest shareholder, currently holding 10% of the shares. That''s it."

    The female reporter from <i>The New York Times</i> pressed on, "Mr. Williams, whyplicate things? Wouldn''t it be simpler to directly utilize Firefly Group''s capital for this?"

    While manyrge corporations in North America exhibited monopoly behavior, executives rarely discussed theirpanies'' monopolistic practices openly, and no one would even acknowledge any intent to monopolize, as such statements might be evidence in future antitrust investigations.

    Eric certainly understood the unspoken rules. After a brief pause, he said, "The internal structure of Firefly Group is already extensive. If we continue to expand, it could be unwieldy, which would be detrimental to thepany''s healthy growth. Thus, MGM will operate independently outside the Firefly Group''s structure. This way, potentialpetition in the future might also prevent Firefly Group from losing its drive and falling intocency."

    This somewhat truthful yet vague response left no room for the reporters to criticize it. The next journalist had to pivot the topic to MGM''s uing stock issuance.

    "Mr. Williams, why did MGM decide to issue more stock instead of privatizing?"

    Eric had amassed a personal fortune that was nothing short of astonishing, and he would be even more wealthy as the inte wave exploded in theing years. Therefore, he was no longer seeking rapid wealth umtion but aiming to enhance his influence and control through that wealth.

    Like MGM, Eric controlled 10% of MGM''s shares indirectly through LTD, allowing him to fully manipte thepany. Simultaneously, owning only a small portion of shares meant that outside resistance would be rtively low. If he wanted to transform Hollywood into his own kingdom, Eric would likely adopt simr methods to gradually infiltrate other media groups in the future.

    Of course, he could never articte such thoughts publicly, as they would certainly raise concerns among many.

    Therefore, in response to the question, Eric simply stated, "Every enterprise should have its own independent path for development, so I don''t see this as an issue. The reason for issuing additional stocks is to enable MGM to develop better in theing years. As you''ve just seen, MGM will continue filming the <i>007</i> and <i>Mission: Impossible</i> franchises while alsomencing production on Tolkien''s epic <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, which all requires substantial funding."

    "Mr. Williams, <i>GoldenEye</i> also had an Easter egg for the second <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> movie. Fans have been very curious -- will MGM have a crossover between <i>007</i> and <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> in the future?"

    Upon hearing this question, Eric smiled and handed the mic to nearby Amy Pascal, saying, "Let Amy rify this question for everyone."

    Amy Pascal and others had been kept on the sidelines for a while. They were not unhappy because Eric was drawing all the attention, but the disappointment was inevitable.

    Seeing Eric voluntarily hand over the mic, Amy understood that he was subtly signaling to the reporters. She shot him a grateful look, then took the mic and said, "Thepany has held detailed discussions on this matter. Our n is to create a unique spy movie universe for MGM over the next ten years, incorporating the <i>007</i> franchise, the <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> franchise, the <i>Mission: Impossible</i> series, and potentially other spy movie franchises into crossovers. Soon, you will see James Bond, Charlie''s Angels, and Ethan Hunt all on the same screen."

    A spy movie universe?!

    Other spy movie franchises?

    James Bond, Charlie''s Angels, and Ethan Hunt appearing together on the big screen.

    ...

    A moment of silence fell over the reporters as they processed Amy Pascal''s statement, but they quickly reacted, and the venue buzzed with excitement once more.

    <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> and <i>Mission: Impossible</i> had undoubtedly been among the hottest spy films in recent years, and the poprity of the <i>007</i> series was undeniable.

    While there may have been some tongue-in-cheek B-movies featuring crossovers, no massive blockbusters had ever attempted to create an intersecting series of films. The implications of doing so involved not only movie rights but also whether the rted stars would be willing to participate, which was a significant obstacle.

    The mere possibility of a crossover between the <i>007</i> series and the <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> series was exciting enough for many movie fans, and MGM''s ambition to create a ''spy movie universe'' stirred considerable enthusiasm among some reporters who were also film aficionados.

    After a brief pause, shes went off wildly as eager reporters threw aside the conventions and began to yell questions.

    "Amy, could you please borate on the ''spy movie universe'' n?"

    "Amy, has MGM discussed this issue with Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Costner, and the three leadingdies from <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>?"

    "Is MGM not concerned that this n might affect the brand of the <i>007</i> series?"

    "..."

    The scene descended into chaos until the staff loudly restored order, allowing everyone to calm down once more.

    Afterward, the reportersunched inquiries toward Amy about the ''spy movie universe,'' leaving Eric to enjoy the spectacle as he shifted the focus of questions onto Amy and the others.

    The ''spy movie universe'' was undeniably inspired by theter series of Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Universe, and Monster Cinematic Universe. In the original timeline, these renowned spy films like <i>007</i>, <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>, and <i>Mission: Impossible</i> belonged to different film studios. The possibility of a crossover then was nearly impossible.

    But this time was different. Eric had recently realized that these legendary spy films, thanks to MGM''s consolidation, would all fall under one film studio''s purview. In addition to these threepleted projects, even the rights for the <i>Bourne</i> series rested with Flower Films, making the prospect of creating a unique spy movie universe for MGM highly possible.

    Although the backgrounds of the various series differed, that was hardly a problem.

    Except for the more unconventional <i>Bourne</i> series, the core plot of the other spy blockbusters revolved around four key words: save the world.

    As long as aplete world background was created within this theme and all the major series were ced within that narrative context for production, starting with individual films and eventually forming a crossover to tackle a significant antagonist andplete the task of saving the world, the entire story coulde to fruition.

    At the same time, the crossover of these major spy films would bring broader discussions and influence for all the series, and behind all of this was the potential for substantial economic benefits.

    Indeed, when MGM announced at the press conference that it would unite the <i>007</i> series, the <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> series, and the <i>Mission: Impossible</i> series to create a standalone spy movie universe, the media across North America and even worldwide began buzzing with excitement the next day.

    ...

    "James Bond, Charlie''s Angels, and Ethan Hunt -- all prominent screen heroes appearing on the same screen -- it''s hard to resist imagining that! I feel a strong urge to rush to the theater. I hope MGM can pull this series off wlessly."

    "I have serious doubts about the feasibility of this n. With the three major movie series having seen box office sess, Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Costner, and the <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> trio have reached ten-million-dor sries. If you gather all five, the sry expenses alone would be quite staggering! It''s hard to fathom how, if a crossover were realized, the overall film budget would reach such frightening heights. Perhaps when released, it may need a global box office of $1 billion just to break even."

    "This is undoubtedly a foolish idea. I really wonder if Eric Williams is getting carried away by his own sess. A spy movie universe featuring three potentially blockbuster franchises could easily ruin the reputation of all three. Perhaps this is just some hype concocted by MGM, especially with their impending stock issuance ns."

    "..."

    As the media extensively reported, discussions erupted on Yahoo forums, with fans showing a unified sense of anticipation for the films despite the diverse perspectives of journalists.

    Subsequently, the box office performance of the currently screening <i>GoldenEye</i> surged dramatically as moviegoers flocked back to the theaters, eager to spot potential crossover Easter eggs from other series. Initially expected to drop below $20 million in the third week, the buzz from the press conference caused <i>GoldenEye</i>''s earnings to soar to $23 million, pushing the total box office past $100 million and easily surpassing its predecessor''s box office record. In theing weeks, that total might even rise to $150 million or more.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 739 - 740: Coincidence

    <h4>Chapter 739: Chapter 740: Coincidence</h4>

    [Chapter 740: Coincidence]

    With a series of positive news, MGM''s stock price surged from $10.50 before the summer blockbuster season to $13.70 following the press conference.

    Afterpleting the integration of threepanies, the new MGM''s total share capital reached 365 million shares. When the stock price hit $13.70, MGM''s market value sessfully surpassed $5 billion. Consequently, the uing n to issue 70 million additional shares was expected to bring in around $1 billion in cash, allowing MGM topletely shed the shadow of debt that had been guing it and set off on a path of healthy development.

    The stock issuance would be managed by MGM''s top executives in the following months. After the press conference, Eric diverted some of his attention towards nning the MGM spy movie universe.

    <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> and <i>Mission: Impossible</i> had both emerged as popr spy films in the past two years. Although both were adaptations of ssic TV shows, the addition of these films into the spy movie universe faced little opposition and instead sparked great anticipation among fans.

    However, when Eric suggested incorporating the <i>007</i> series into the n, it sparked some controversy. Most of the criticism focused on the potential dilution of the <i>007</i> franchise''s brand equity. Media outlets even interviewed past actors who portrayed 007, with the original James Bond actor Sean Connery openly opposing the n, iming MGM was acting recklessly.

    Eric simply smiled at these voices of dissent.

    So far, all the original novels in the <i>007</i> series had been adapted into films by 1987, with the exception of one, <i>Casino Royale</i>. Moreover, even those series from before 1987 often bore little rtion to Ian Fleming''s novels. To maintain a semnce of ''heritage,'' the series habitually attached quirkily rted titles to Fleming''s name, referencing either his pets, vacation home, or quotes from his books.

    Ironically, the only film in the <i>007</i> series that grossed over $1 billion worldwide, <i>Skyfall</i>, had a title that had absolutely no connection to Fleming whatsoever -- it was actually created by MGM''s own writing team.

    In Eric''s eyes, this tenuous connection was entirely unnecessary. The greatest strength of the <i>007</i> franchisey in the global recognition it had built over decades. As for box office appeal, the previous film, <i>Licence to Kill</i>, only raked in $34 million in North America, demonstrating that the <i>007</i> franchise''s box office allure wasn''t as strong as one might think. If a story wasn''t executed well, no amount of fame would convince the audience.

    Eric''s idea for a spy movie universe had also been influenced by the Daniel Craig version of <i>007</i> from the original timeline.

    In that timeline, the <i>007</i> films around the turn of the century, particrly <i>Casino Royale</i>, had been both critically andmercially sessful. While the series often boasted about its ''heritage,'' it frequently opted to create apletely new story for each installment, often discarding the recognition rued by previous characters -- something he viewed as a regrettable waste.

    The Daniel Craig version of <i>007</i>, however, ventured down a different path, which Eric thought was quite serendipitous. After the sess of <i>Casino Royale</i>, MGM hurried to initiate the sequel''s production, but unfortunately, the process coincided with the Hollywood writers'' strike in 2008. This left them unable to gather star screenwriters to craft an entirely new tale.

    In their desperation, the production team had to piece together a ''sequel'' that directly followed <i>Casino Royale</i>, which was <i>Quantum of Sce</i>. Viewers who hadn''t seen <i>Casino Royale</i> would likely struggle to follow the sequel''s plot. Thus, it seemed MGM held little hope for the sequel, but surprisingly, this confusing ''sequel'' ended up grossing nearly $600 million worldwide, matching its predecessor.

    Beginning with <i>Quantum of Sce</i>, it appeared MGM had finally grasped something. They no longerpletely abandoned the stories from previous films; they ceased the relentless hunt for a main viin with every installment, and they did away with the forced connections to Ian Fleming''s legacy. They began creating an overarching storyline connecting several sequels.

    Amidst these changes, the subsequent film, <i>Skyfall</i>, created a pinnacle moment in <i>007</i> history with a global box office of $1.1 billion. Later, <i>Spectre</i>, despite receiving poor reviews, still managed to gross nearly $900 million.

    Inspired by the Daniel Craig <i>007</i> series, Eric nned to eliminate some of the subsequent Pierce Brosnan films like <i>Die Another Day</i> and <i>Tomorrow Never Dies</i>, discarding the tired trope of searching the globe for viins. Instead, he aimed to use the organization known as Spectre as the ultimate antagonist, incorporating elements from <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> and <i>Mission: Impossible</i> into a cohesive backstory, creating aplete spy movie universe.

    He decided to begin this story with Ian Fleming''s only novel that hadn''t been adapted for the big screen, <i>Casino Royale</i>. The currently screening <i>GoldenEye</i> would be thest film to reference the rivalry with the Soviet Union.

    Of course, while crafting the story''s main arc, MGM needed to address another long-standing issue -- thewsuit that had haunted the <i>007</i> series for decades. Over thirty years ago, the "Spectre" organization from Ian Fleming''s novels was modeled after a rival novelist, Kevin McClory''s creation. After a lengthy legal battle, the rights to Spectre were awarded to McClory.

    To establish Spectre as the ultimate viin in the MGM spy movie universe, the studio would have to resolve this copyright issue. While it was possible that MGM had previously been unwilling to pay the millions for the rights, it was now a different situation.

    With money no longer a pressing issue, Eric felt confident that McClory''s demand for $2 million was fair, especially since Spectre had already appeared in six previous <i>007</i> films. Even though MGM hadn''t used it since the initial ruling, Spectre''s fame was certainly worth the price.

    ...

    Throughout August, while Eric was busy with the MGM spy movie universe, he also made a trip to Silicon Valley in San Francisco.

    After preparation, the Firefly Electronics Company, responsible for developing MP3 yers and e-readers, was officially founded. Simultaneously, Firefly Electronics signed a secret agreement with disk manufacturer Seagate to develop micro-disks.

    Since thepany didn''t yet have official products, Firefly Electronics had established its electronic product R&D center in Silicon Valley. Over in Boston, Yahoo''s stock option reward n was fully implemented, maintaining most of its management, aside from a few executives like Jeff Locke who had left. As the MP3 and e-reader development centermenced, Yahoo also began ns for an online music store and an online e-book store.

    Developing micro-disks would require at least a year. Eric''s primary expectation for the R&D center in Silicon Valley wasn''t for them to produce a product quickly, but rather to take advantage of the situation and registerprehensive patent copyrights covering all aspects of MP3 technology both in the U.S. and abroad.

    The technology behind MP3 yers wasn''t particrlyplex, but by securing most patents ahead of time, Eric knew that in the future, production wouldn''t be as simple for just anyone. He could wield substantial leverage in theing digital music era.

    ...

    Upon returning to Los Angeles from San Francisco, Eric received news from Firefly that the Wachowski brothers hadpleted production on their directorial debut, <i>Bound</i>.

    While on the ne, Eric received a call from Katzenberg, and afternding at Santa Monica Airport, he immediately headed to the nearby ya Vista Firefly Studios to meet with Katzenberg and the Wachowski brothers.

    <i>Bound</i> told the story of two lesbian girls seeking a way out of their current lives who plotted to con $2 million from a mob boss, inadvertently starting a war within the mob.

    Stripped of its lesbian and female-led aspects, the film was essentially a ssic crime drama. Of course, the inclusion of LGBTQ+ elements added a unique vor.

    In the screening room, after watching the film, Eric nodded in satisfaction and told Katzenberg, "Given the quality of this film, if we let New Line handle the operations, it could easily recoup its $4.5 million production cost at the box office. You aren''t doubting their talent anymore, are you?"

    Having been in the film industry for many years, Katzenberg, of course, had an eye for talent. He nodded and chuckled, "Absolutely, I''m beginning to have high hopes for those two."

    After some low-key exchanges, the credits rolled, and the lights came up in the screening room. Eric got up and approached the Wachowski brothers, who looked a bit anxious. "Get ready. I hope you can quickly take your crew to Sydney. Most of the preparatory work is done; you just need to start filming as soon as possible."

    The Wachowski brothers paused, realizing what was happening. Andy Wachowski replied, "Eric, does that mean we''ve been approved?"

    "Yes," Eric nodded, adding, "But I will keep a close watch on the production of <i>The Matrix</i>, so I hope you won''t let me down."

    "Of course, we absolutely won''t," Andy Wachowski said, rubbing his hands together in excitement.

    ...

    After discussing the filming ns for <i>The Matrix</i>, the Wachowski brothers hurried to leave, and Katzenberg took Eric to his office to talk about another matter. "Eric, at the scale of Digital Domain currently, just sustaining Firefly and MGM''s film production is bing a bit of a stretch. We have many orders from other filmpanies as well. Stan discussed with me yesterday, hoping to continue increasing the workforce in the digital sector."

    Now that MGM was on a stable path, bothpanies were expected to produce no less than five CG effect-driven films each year. Given that each film required at least a 500-person effects team, they would need 2,500 people.

    Additionally, the application of CG effects was bing increasingly widespread. Even films not primarily focused on effects needed the expertise of effectspanies. Thus, the past few years had been a golden era for special effectspanies. With sufficient technology, projects were never in short supply, and industry giants like Digital Domain were thriving.

    However, Eric was well aware that the good times for effectspanies were numbered. As the new century approached, with further advancements inputer technology and other software giants entering the field of effects software development, thesepanies would soon transition from elite status to the mainstream. Those presently reaping high sries in effects roles would soon find themselves working more mundane jobs.

    Eric was already nning to take Digital Domain public during the peak of special effects films in theing years. At this moment, fueled by concerns for the future, he couldn''t afford to continue blindly expanding Digital Domain''s size.

    Thinking about <i>The Matrix</i>, which would be filmed in Australia, Eric said, "It''s better not to expand any further in the U.S.; if possible, we should establish subsidiaries overseas. Effectspanies wouldn''t consume too many societal resources; they can instead generate significant tax revenue. I believe countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zend would be quite weing. We could establish subsidiaries in those countries and seek tax incentives."

    "That''s actually a good n," Katzenberg nodded. "Which country do you think we should set up the subsidiary in?"

    Eric immediately thought of New Zend; in his past life, Weta Digital, which was synonymous with Digital Domain, had emerged from this country.

    However, Weta had already formed as a studio years ago when Peter Jackson established it to produce his personal films with a few partners. While it had a small setup, it was fully operational. Though Eric would entrust the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> series to Peter Jackson, he wouldn''t support an unrted effectspany.

    After a moment of consideration, Eric said, "Let''s choose between Australia and New Zend. <i>The Matrix</i> and the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> would be filmed in these countries, which would allow us to save a lot of energy on-site. I''llmunicate with Fox to help with this since News Corp''s foundation is in Australia. We can use their influence to acquire better incentives from the Australian government."

    As he spoke, Eric nced at the clock, realizing he still had over two hours until the end of the workday. He told Katzenberg, "Alright then; I''ll head over to Fox now. You get back to it."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 740 - 741: Are You Really Letting Others Live?

    <h4>Chapter 740: Chapter 741: Are You Really Letting Others Live?</h4>

    [Chapter 741: Are You Really Letting Others Live?]

    Eric stepped out of the car in front of the Fox headquarters at Century City and made his way, familiar as ever, to Elisabeth''s office. Just as he approached, a young secretary holding a microphone and on the phone attempted to block his path. Although she recognized Eric immediately, she mustered the courage to say, "Uh, excuse me, Mr. Williams, do you have an appointment?"

    Eric looked at the fresh-faced blonde girl and yfully asked, "Can I make an appointment now, hmm..." He nced at his watch and continued, "Let''s set it for 4:05."

    It just happened to be 4:05 PM. The secretary understood at once that Eric was teasing her. She was also acutely aware of Eric''s rtionship with Elisabeth but had only started working there a few days ago and wasn''t sure if she should let him in directly.

    Seeing the flustered look on her face, Eric chuckled, "Okay, just a joke. Is Liz busy with a client right now?"

    The secretary shook her head.

    "Then call her and tell her I''m here."

    The secretary finally snapped out of her daze, put down the phone she was holding, and dialed Elisabeth''s extension. After a brief exchange, she gestured for Eric to go in.

    Eric pushed the door open and stepped into Elisabeth''s office. She was buried in a pile of documents on her desk. Eric noticed that when he entered, her shoulder, d in a white shirt, paused for a moment, but she didn''t look up to greet him. He smiled and walked around the desk, leaning against the edge beside her. "Why did you hire such an inexperienced secretary? She doesn''t seem to know anything."

    No response.

    Eric''s lips curled into a mischievous grin as he gently flicked her earlobe.

    "Ah!"

    Elisabeth jumped slightly, turning to re at him. "You jerk! I''m working here. What are you doing showing up now?"

    "Nothing much. I just got back from San Francisco and suddenly thought of you, so I came to see you."

    Hmm... hmpf.

    A flicker of joy crossed Elisabeth''s face, but it quickly turned into a frown. "What''s so interesting about me? I don''t have a ''<i>Mission: Impossible</i>'' universe to entertain you."

    "Oh, so that''s where today''s little fire ising from."

    Eric chuckled, wanting to flick her earlobe again. "But MGM doesn''t have an animation studio either."

    Elisabeth swatted his hand away, rebutting, "That''s totally different."

    "Alright, don''t be upset. Come on, give me a kiss."

    Eric soothingly leaned in closer. This time, Elisabeth only slightly dodged, allowing him to kiss her by the lips.

    Once he pulled away, Elisabeth still sounded slightly annoyed. "You''ve spoiled her with popr franchises like <i>Mission: Impossible</i>, <i>Night at the Museum</i>, and <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>. And now there''s <i>007</i> -- she''s practically been pampered to the heavens."

    Eric exined with a grin, "You know the situation with MGM better than anyone. Without these popr franchises to boost them, they''ve been on a decline for years and can''t regain any strength. Fox is doing quite well now; Jim Carrey''s <i>Liar Liar</i> should reach about $180 million in North America, and it cost only $40 million to make -- way more profitable than any blockbuster out this summer. Plus, I heard you were recently negotiating with Lucas about rebooting <i>Star Wars</i>; how did that go?"

    Mentioning <i>Star Wars</i> brightened Elisabeth''s mood a bit.

    The <i>Star Wars</i> series had been a phenomenon for over a decade, and the talks of a reboot were ongoing.

    Based on a long-standing agreement, even though nearly twenty years had passed, Fox still held distribution rights for the <i>Star Wars</i> series. Although the significant profits went to Lucas, Fox could still fill their coffers simply by holding the distribution rights across various channels.

    "I''ve contacted Lucas a few times already. We can probably start preparing for the project next year, but it won''t hit theaters until at least 1997."

    While Elisabeth sounded somewhat dissatisfied, Eric knew that this was actually two years earlier than in his former life, which wasn''t too shabby.

    "For things like this, rushing doesn''t help," Eric said, picking up the stack of documents in front of Elisabeth and casually asking, "What''s got you so busy?"

    "The script for this year''s <i>The X-Files</i>. Can you take a look at it for me?"

    <i>The X-Files</i> was set to enter its sixth season, and ording to n, after the seventh season wrapped up the next year, Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen wouldn''t be renewing their contracts, putting an end to the ssic sci-fi series.

    Eric had long since moved on from that project and hadn''t even looked back at the first two seasons, only knowing that the show''s ratings remained steady. As he flipped through the script for the new season, he felt an odd sense of unfamiliarity.

    Noticing that Eric was engrossed in the script, Elisabeth got up and guided him into her office chair, saying, "You keep reading, I''ll go make you some coffee."

    Eric nodded, thinking that matters regarding the Digital Domain weren''t too pressing. He set the script back on the desk and continued flipping through the pages.

    A little whileter, Elisabeth came back with two cups of coffee, pulled over an extra chair, and sat down beside Eric. Just as she was about to ask something, Eric pulled out several pages from the script and said, "I want this episode -- have theme up with a new one to fill in."

    "Hey, I asked you to take a look at the script! I didn''t ask you to steal my work," Elisabeth protested, a bit annoyed, while reaching for the pages Eric had taken.

    She had just skimmed the script, but a quick nce was enough to bring the content back to mind.

    This episode narrates a series of mysterious deaths during a ss trip to New York, where a student has a premonition of a ne crash and manages to get a few teachers and ssmates off the flight before takeoff. After the ne took off, it soon exploded, killing all passengers and crew members onboard, while those who temporarily got off survived.

    But that was just the beginning. Those who had avoided the flight soon met their demise in inexplicable idents, ssifying the incident as mysterious. Detective Mulder and his partner Scully were sent to investigate, yet they ultimately couldn''t prevent the remaining survivors from perishing, nor could they uncover any potential cause.

    Flipping through the writer''s notes, Elisabeth said, "I remember now, the writer for this episode is Asian, and he based it on some mysterious beliefs. It''s about the grim reaper''s ims for life..."

    Without a doubt, this was the premise for what would be <i>Final Destination</i> in the future. Eric hadn''t expected to find this script here, nearly being used for <i>The X-Files</i>.

    Listening to Elisabeth''s vague exnation, Eric exined, "There''s a kind of fatalism in Eastern culture. The grim reaper believes everyone has a set lifespan; once that timees, you die, with no one able to escape death''s grasp. This script adopts that philosophy."

    "Mm-hmm, exactly," Elisabeth nodded, suddenly recalling he was somewhat familiar with the Eastern pholosophy, "Are there any other strange customs?"

    Eric pretended to ponder for a moment. "Yeah, their men can marry seven wives."

    "That''s nonsense," Elisabeth scoffed, raising her chin and lifting the script in her hand. "If you want one, bring something to trade for it."

    Eric feigned a deeply determined expression. "How about this: I''ll just give you a chance."

    "Pfft," Elisabeth yfully pinched his side.

    Eric grasped her hand and said, "Alright, enough of the teasing. I actually have a script I intend to give you; it might be a good exchange. This script is styled perfectly for New Line, while the other is more suitable for Fox."

    "Really, what script?" Elisabeth perked up.

    Eric briefly summarized the script for <i>Austin Powers</i>, which he nned for New Line to develop. However, as the rtionship between Firefly and MGM became closer and closer, Eric finally decided to give up.

    For the sake of brand reputation, just like Disney wouldn''t parody its own princesses like Snow White and Cindere, MGM definitely wouldn''t mock the <i>007</i> franchise. Even if Firefly and MGM didn''t show much overt connection, Eric was currently spearheading MGM''s spy film universe n. Thus, it would have been highly inappropriate for New Line to make a spoof like <i>Austin Powers</i> under those circumstances.

    After listening to Eric''s exnation, Elisabeth understood why Firefly was passing on that script and teasingly remarked, "Wow, you''re really protective of her."

    "I''m protective of all of you."

    "Hmm..."

    Elisabeth responded with a soft hum, feeling somewhat touched. Then she realized the ''YOU'' Eric referenced was plural, lightly tapping him on the shoulder. "Greedy guy."

    Eric reassuringly patted Elisabeth''s shoulder and said, "Tomorrow, let the writer of this episode contact New Line. I''ll arrange to have the script for <i>Austin Powers</i> sent over. Oh, and one more thing: if possible, try to cast a Victoria''s Secret Angel for the female lead."

    "I got it! But if their acting isn''t up to par, I won''t agree."

    "The female lead is basically just a pretty face; there''s not much acting skill needed -- just look good," Eric chuckled, ncing at his watch. "It''s about time. Let''s grab dinner and talk shop."

    "I knew you wouldn''te all the way to see me for nothing," Elisabeth mumbled, starting to gather her things to leave a bit early.

    ...

    As the two left the office, Eric initially thought about inviting Julia, but learned she was in the UK.

    "<i>Shakespeare in Love</i>?" At a restaurant in Beverly Hills, Eric was surprised to hear Elisabeth mention the title.

    Turns out, the Weinstein Brothers had already begun nning for <i>Shakespeare in Love</i> and had invited Julia to be the female lead.

    "Julia feels that Daniel Day-Lewis is the perfect choice for Shakespeare, so she personally flew to the UK to ask him."

    After his roles in In the <i>Name of the Father</i> and <i>The Age of Innocence</i> two years ago, Daniel Day-Lewis had taken a temporary hiatus from acting due to his marriage, and with his already limited output, Eric didn''t hold high hopes for Julia''s trip to the UK.

    However, he quickly recalled another detail: in the original timeline, <i>Shakespeare in Love</i> would absolutely sweep the Oscars in 1999, even winning Best Picture.

    But this year had <i>Forrest Gump</i>; Eric couldn''t believe the Weinsteins could manage to overshadow <i>Forrest Gump</i> with <i>Shakespeare in Love</i>.

    "What''s the detailed production n for Miramax? It shouldn''t be set to release this year, right?"

    "There was a n for that," Elisabeth replied as she browsed the menu, stealing a nce at Eric. "But Harvey is very optimistic about this project. He knows if it premieres this year, it won''t win against <i>Forrest Gump</i> at the Oscars, so he pushed it back to next year. Julia''s trip to the UK is to consult Daniel Day-Lewis about his avability next year."

    "Oh, that''s good to know." Although the previous life''s Best Actress was somewhat questionable, the overall Oscar potential for <i>Shakespeare in Love</i> was undeniable. If it coincided with <i>Forrest Gump</i>, it could lead to one of the biggest Oscar blunders in history.

    Ugh, blunder.

    This year, with <i>Forrest Gump</i>; next year...

    <i>Titanic</i>.

    If <i>Forrest Gump</i> was a surefire winner, <i>Titanic</i> was definitely set to shock the Oscars with its box office performance.

    Noticing Eric''s change in expression, Elisabeth asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "I was just wondering if Julia was aiming for an Oscar win or something," Eric pondered for a moment.

    Elisabeth nodded, "She wants to try, which is why she invited Daniel Day-Lewis. But really, just getting a nomination would be good enough; after all, she''s not in a rush."

    At only twenty-eight, it wasn''t easy for actors, male or female, to snag an Oscar before turning thirty.

    Hearing Elisabeth''s words, Eric remarked, "So why not wait another couple of years? I mean, for this project, if Daniel Day-Lewis doesn''t agree this time, wouldn''t it make sense to wait another two years?"

    Elisabeth hesitated for a moment, slowly understanding, "Next year... You mean there would be another film around the caliber of <i>Forrest Gump</i>ing from your side?"

    Eric shrugged, "I can''t say for sure, but the odds, well, they''re quite high."

    Elisabeth let out a long sigh and said to Eric, "Are you really letting anyone else live?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 741 - 742: Family Interests

    <h4>Chapter 741: Chapter 742: Family Interests</h4>

    [Chapter 742: Family Interests]

    After dinner, the two of them didn''t rush to leave the restaurant. They ordered two cups of coffee, and Eric began talking about establishing a branch of Digital Domain in Australia.

    "Isn''t Digital Domain''s annual revenue close to a billion dors now?" Elisabeth asked, a hint of envy in her voice.

    Eric nodded and replied, "Yeah, but since most of our workes from Firefly''s internal orders, the profit margin isn''t high -- only about 10%."

    To prevent talented visual effects artists from leaving Digital Domain, Eric offered them very generous sries and bonuses, ensuring a very low turnover rate despite the industry''s high demand for skilled professionals. However, the higherbor costs significantly diminished Digital Domain''s overall profitability. Still, Eric never expected this effectspany to bring in substantial profits for Firefly; its main role was to support the productions of Firefly''s films and maintain Firefly''s strong position in the effects field.

    Elisabeth understood some key points, saying, "Last month, the <i>Fortune</i> 500 list showed that even the smallestpany had revenues of $2.2 billion. Given the current high demand in the special effects industry, if Digital Domain continues to expand, it could easily go public in the future and join that list. Why are you setting up a branch in Australia? Sure, there are some incentives, but being far from Hollywood makes many things inconvenient."

    "You can definitely see that there are more and more special effectspanies in Hollywood now. So, the biggest factor limiting the development of special effectspanies in the future won''t be technology, but cost. I''m just preparing ahead," Eric exined.

    Elisabeth nodded slowly, stirring her coffee with a spoon, and after a moment, she said, "I haven''t been back to Australia much in recent years, so I''m not really familiar with the situation there. If you want to contact the Australian government, you should talk to my dad about it."

    "Your dad is sharp as a tack; I don''t want to deal with him."

    Elisabeth raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you implying that I''m easier to deceive?"

    "Well," Eric acknowledged, nodding seriously while joking, "but yourprehension skills aren''t bad."

    Elisabeth threatened to wave her spoon at him and then set it down. "Even if I wanted to, I really wouldn''t be able to help you. My dad has started training L and James to handle the newspaper business. Our family''s interests in Australia mostly involve print media, and I can''t really get involved there."

    Although News Corp''s newspapers were spread all over the globe, Australia was the heart of thepany, controlling over 70% of the country''s media resources -- much higher than the 40% share in the UK. Eric knew full well the impending decline of print media, but Murdoch clearly didn''t share that view, as he continued to treat print media as the foundation of News Corp.

    From Elisabeth''s briefments, Eric could sense that Murdoch still preferred to groom his sons for the family business; otherwise, he wouldn''t have put them in charge of News Corp''s core operations while only giving Elisabeth responsibility for the film side of things.

    At that time, News Corp made over 50% of its profits from print media due to its extensive newspaper holdings worldwide. Additionally, there were some television stations in Australia, East Asia, and the UK. Although Fox had been performing well in recent years, within the broader News Corp framework, it wasn''t the most crucial segment. However, if this trend continued, things would get interesting in the future.

    From what he remembered, News Corp had undergone a split over a decadeter, separating into a print-focused News Corp and a Fox Group that primarily dealt with film, TV, and other businesses. At that time, due to the decline of print media, the new News Corp had a market valuation of just over $2 billion, a mere 2% of Fox Group''s valuation of over $80 billion.

    As long as Elisabeth could secure control of Fox, it would essentially mean inheriting the entire News Corp. Just thinking about it made Eric smirk.

    "What are you thinking about, grinning like that?" Elisabeth''s voice brought him back to reality.

    "Oh, nothing," Eric quickly shook his head and said, "I think, since your dad has arranged it this way, you should just focus on running things at Fox. You really don''t need to worry about the Digital Domain branch; I''ll discuss it with him personally."

    Elisabeth squinted at Eric for a moment before pouting. "I have a feeling you''re up to no good."

    "Liz, you have to trust me -- I''m always on your side."

    "Is this ''you'' singr or plural?"

    Eric replied without hesitation, "Singr."

    Elisabeth smiled but said yfully, "Yeah, right. Good luck getting me to believe that."

    Having decided to let Elisabeth focus on Fox, Eric dropped the subject of the Digital Domain branch. After finishing their coffee, he nced at his watch and said, "It''s still early. How about I take you to catch a movie?"

    "Oh..." Elisabeth drawled in a slightly dissatisfied tone, "How many times have you asked me to go to the movies?"

    "Is this my first time? I guess I need to pick a good one. How about <i>Independence Day</i>?"

    "No way! I want to see <i>Liar Liar</i>!"

    "What a great girl! Even for a movie, you''re thinking of your own family''s film," Ericmented, handing his credit card to the waiter whileplimenting her.

    Elisabeth lifted her chin proudly, "Of course, not like you at all."

    ...

    In the days that followed, Eric personallymunicated with Murdoch about the relevant matters. Murdoch was more than willing to help but still requested that News Corp would take a stake in Digital Domain''s Australian branch.

    Without hesitation, Eric agreed to give News Corp 30% of the branch''s shares. Under Murdoch''s guidance, Stan Winston quickly brought the management team to Australia to negotiate with the local government. The Australian government was well aware of the benefits of having a major special effectspany settle in their country, so they showed considerable enthusiasm. With the Murdoch family''s backing in negotiations, they quickly offered a ten-year tax exemption n.

    Additionally, to attract more films to shoot there, the Australian government provided a $7.5 million cash subsidy for the uing filming of <i>The Matrix</i>, which was about 10% of the film''s budget.

    Hollywood reciprocated, announcing that after <i>The Matrix</i>, the special effects for the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> series would also bepletely handled by Digital Domain''s Australian branch.

    ...

    While all of this was happening, another earth-shattering event unfolded in America in August.

    On August 24, Microsoft officiallyunched Windows 95 at its headquarters in Seattle. With its superior user experience and extensive marketing campaign, Windows 95 sold 1.4 million copies in its first week. Unlike the free Yahoo browser, Windows 95 was priced at $210, a cost that would still not be considered cheap twenty yearster. Therefore, with the first-week sales generating nearly $300 million for Microsoft, thepany''s stock price surged again.

    Due to the increasing obsolescence of Apple''s operating system and ack of significant innovation over the years,pounded by recent issues with their new PC line, Apple had faced a dismal sales performance post-Windows 95unch. As Windows 95 soared to poprity, Apple''s sales plummeted significantly.

    Eric also received an invitation to the Windows 95unch event, but he opted not to join the fray in Seattle.

    After all, even though Windows 95 was a hit, Bill Gates was not in a particrly good mood.

    In subsequent weeks of research, it became evident that the most popr software on the Windows 95 operating system was thetest version of the Yahoo Browser that hadunched concurrently. Following this, the next most popr item was Yahoo''s YCR chat tool, with Microsoft''s own software suitegging behind.

    While Windows 95 made usingputers easier for the average person, a thought gnawed at Bill Gates: he was helping others to seed. The capital market was simrly attuned to these changes, as Microsoft''s stock skyrocketed, while Wall Street''s highest valuation for Yahoo soared to $6 billion, leading many investment firms to seek partnerships with Yahoo.

    Encouraged by this, Microsoft hurriedlyunched its MSN portal site a week after Windows 95''s release, which was modeled closely on the Yahoo portalyout, marking their entrance into the inte sector.

    While Jeff Locke had handled some research work for Yahoo in its early days, he had since focused on website operations. Given the time constraints, it was clear that MSN would be nothing more than a facade; in terms of content and user experience, it simply couldn''tpete with Yahoo''s portal.

    After browsing MSN''s portal interface a few times, Eric felt no need for concern; even after years of development, it probably wouldn''t catch up, especially since Yahoo was also progressing rapidly.

    ...

    As September rolled in, the summer box office season came to a close. While major film studios managed to regain some market share in the tail-end of the summer season due to the absence of new releases from Firefly and MGM, for the entire 14-week summer season, Firefly and MGM still captured more than 50% of the market share.

    The studio that performed the worst that summer was Sony-Columbia, which lost the distribution rights to <i>Forrest Gump</i> and <i>Night at the Museum</i>. Sony hastily purchased a few films as fillers, but these movies generally had box-office returns of only $10 to $20 million, with the highest grossing just $31 million. Overall, Sony Pictures'' total box office take for the summer barely reached $100 million.

    Warner''s summer box office share was decent thanks to <i>Batman Forever</i>, but due to high production costs, Warner''s film division faced more significant losses than severalpetitors in Hollywood.

    Aside from Firefly and MGM, Universal and Fox were the only studios that performed well. Paramount had intended to release a new Tom Cruise film during the summer, but after considering the barrage of blockbusters, it postponed the release to the new year, resulting in a lukewarm performance that was just slightly better than Sony''s.

    ...

    While Firefly headquarters celebrated the impressive box office performance of the past summer season, Eric was on his way back to New York.

    Entering September, the summer season had ended while the fall TV lineup was beginning. Production for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> was wrapping up, and Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista had even temporarily stepped away from these projects to prepare for the new year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>.

    Eric''s trip to New York wasn''t just to keep an eye on these two reality shows; he was also looking for a brief respite.

    In East Hampton, the September weather had turned quite cool. Ericzily sat on the estate''swn, flipping through a script while Joanna sat quietly beside him, peeling an apple.

    After a while, she offered him the peeled apple. Eric took a bite but didn''t take it from her hand.

    Joanna giggled and asked, "How''s the script?"

    "There are a few areas that need improvement, but overall, I''m quite satisfied," Eric replied while flipping to another page.

    Joanna observed, "You seem pretty invested in this scripttely. Are you excited about it?"

    Eric raised his eyebrows and nodded, "Yeah, it''s about time for me to start my next film, and the main reason is that I really enjoy this script."

    The script in Eric''s hands was the one he and MGM''s writing team had been developing for the James Bond film, <i>Casino Royale</i>.

    The original <i>Casino Royale</i> was set in a timeline post-2010.

    Though it was the first installment from Ian Fleming''s original work, aside from the scenes in the casino, the storyline had little to do with Fleming''s narrative.

    The plot revolved around a massive sum of money involving various chases, fights, and explosions, but it also introduced the first woman who captured Bond''s heart. This character, named Vesper, became a crucialponent for the sess of the Bond franchise''ster installments.

    In fact, several subsequent sequels referenced the character who was Bond''s first love.

    Eric was particrly fond of this character, so while substantial changes were made to the story for the spy film universe, the character of Vesper remained intact.

    What Eric was considering now was who would y Vesper. He remembered that Eva Green, who wouldter take on this role, was just a fifteen-year-old girl at the time, and the unique traits of cleverness, stubbornness, gloom, and mystery that characterized the role would be challenging to find a suitable recement for. At that moment, Eric couldn''t think of anyone in Hollywood fitting that description.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 742 - 743: How Old are You?

    <h4>Chapter 742: Chapter 743: How Old are You?</h4>

    [Chapter 743: How Old are You?]

    When Joanna heard that Eric really nned to film a <i>007</i> movie, she asked, "Isn''t the shoot for the <i>007</i> series going to take ce all over the world? Do you have that much time to travel?"

    "If I want to do it, I can always make arrangements," Eric replied. In recent years, with the advancement of the inte and digitalmunication technologies, remotemunication had be increasingly convenient. No matter where one was in the world, it was possible to stay in touch with Los Angeles easily. Therefore, being away for extended periods wouldn''t affect his connection with the headquarters.

    Moreover, Firefly Group had nowpletely gotten onto the right track, with no major expansion ns in recent years. Eric''s absence wouldn''t have a substantial impact on thepany''s operations.

    Thinking this, Eric tossed the script aside andzilyy down on thewn, enjoying the warm afternoon light.

    After all, the lead actress and shooting schedule were things that would have to wait until next year, so there was no need to rush to consider them right now.

    MGM was currently filming a big production, <i>Charlie''s Angels 2</i>, set to release in the summer of next year. Following that was <i>Mission: Impossible 2</i>, which Eric had just finalized with Kevin Costner, to be filmed early next year and released by the end of next year. So that meant the filming of <i>Casino Royale</i> should start around mid-next year, coinciding with the production of <i>Night at the Museum 2</i>, with both set to release in the summer of 1997. Therefore, it would take at least until early next year to begin specific preparations for those projects.

    As for the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> series, that would need to wait until 1997 to start production. After all, MGM had just stabilized and would require another year or two to umte resources before announcing the significant investment of $300 million for the trilogy. With MGM''s uing stock offering, announcing the project soon after raising funds would certainly raise concerns in the capital market, causing vtility in MGM''s stock price. Stability was what MGM needed most right now. While Eric was well aware of the potential of the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> series, no one else could know that. They would only see the immense risk associated with such a massive $300 million investment.

    Seeing Eric lying down, Joanna kindly took a pillow from the side and ced it under his head. With a gentle gaze, she looked at her man, lightly caressing his furrowed brow as if to smooth out the worries etched there. "You should take a nap. You''re always thinking about things, and it can be exhausting."

    Eric chuckled as he pulled her closer. "Come on, join me."

    Joanna yfully wriggled a bit but leaned against Eric, feeling his big hand slide down her waist, lifting the hem of her T-shirt to sneak his way underneath. Sheughed and yfully swatted him. "Stop it! Someone will see us."

    Eric''s fingers danced on Joanna''s soft waist. "How about we go to the beach in front?"

    "Ha, no," Joanna chuckled, twisting her body to press down on his mischievous hands. "Emma will be out of school soon, and I need to go pick her up."

    "Have the maid take care of it."

    "I can''t trust them; besides, I don''t have anything on my te right now."

    Ericughed, wrapping Joanna in his arms, breathing in the faint scent of her golden hair. "Those three little ones are lucky to have you looking after them."

    "I really like them too."

    "If they''re acting up, I can help discipline them as their dad."

    "Ha, of course not. They''re all very well-behaved."

    "Really?" Eric feigned disbelief. "I''ve heard about Elia''s recent antics -- Vicki told me in thest call."

    "Don''t bring that up; it was so embarrassing. Elia somehow got hold of the HBO password, and that night, I had juste out of the shower when Elia pointed at the screen and asked me, ''Mom, what are those people doing naked together?'' I didn''t even know how to respond."

    "Ha ha ha..." Eric couldn''t help butugh again. After a moment, he asked, "And then what happened?"

    "I barely managed to brush it off, butter I found out Ewa was watching TV and Elia saw her enter the password once and memorized it," Joanna expressed with a smile. "Elia isn''t mischievous; she''s just too curious and too smart."

    "In that case, maybe after some time, we can hire her a tutor, or you could teach her yourself."

    "I''ve actually been teaching her Polishtely; she picks it up quickly," Joanna replied.

    Eric nodded. "That sounds good."

    After chatting for a while, Joanna nced at her watch and got up. "It''s about time. I need to go pick up Emma."

    "Okay," Eric nodded and kissed Joanna as she moved away. He squinted his eyes, basking in thest bit of warmth from the approaching evening sun.

    ...

    Joanna returned to the vi and briefly spoke to the maid about dinner but didn''t see Hawaii or Kevin, so she inquired.

    "Ma''am, Miss Ewa has arrived. She didn''t let us tell you or Mr. Williams. She''s in the screening room with the youngdy and young master watching a movie."

    Joanna nodded and headed to the vi''s private screening room. Upon opening the door, she saw her sister sitting in a luxurious armchair with the two little ones in the dim light, while the screen yed <i>Men In ck</i>.

    Seeing the door open, Ewa Pac quickly turned the volume down and greeted, "Hi, sis."

    Joanna turned on the lights, looked at the two youngsters sitting obediently beside Ewa, then faced her sister. "Isn''t it fashion week right now? Aren''t you supposed to be working?"

    Ewa cuddled Kevin like a doll in her arms and said pitifully, "Can you please not use that tone with your sister? I''ve been working back-to-back on three shows in thest two days; I''m totally exhausted."

    Although Ewa once harbored a crush on Eric, that feeling had long faded over time.

    Joanna understood that her carefree sister now simply relished thefortable life at the East Hampton estate. As for her younger sister, who was 14 years her junior, Joanna felt a protective big sister instinct -- both indulgent and hopeful for her sister''s independence.

    Seeing Ewa''s pitiful expression, Joanna felt a little helpless but softened. Leaning against the door, she asked, "How''s it going with that boy Emily introduced you to?"

    "Oh, that guy? We broke up a while ago. He actually has a drinking problem. Who knows if he might get violent when drunk? I heard American men can have that w. You wouldn''t want your sister to deal with domestic violence in the future, would you?"

    "Alright, alright, I''m done meddling," Joanna sighed, ncing at the big screen. "Just don''t let Elia or Kevin watch this kind of movie. I need to go pick up Emma, and since you''re here, don''t forget to say hi to Ericter."

    "Sure, sure," Ewa said, relieved that her sister was finally letting her off the hook. She eagerly pointed at Hawaii. "Elia, say goodbye to Mommy."

    "Bye, Mommy," Hawaii replied, her eyes glued to the screen without turning her head.

    Joanna left, feeling a bit resigned. Once the door closed, Ewa cheered, settled into afy position, andzily leaned back in the chair.

    Momentster, a small voice emerged beside her. "Aunt Ewa, why are the cockroaches in the movie so big?"

    "Because they''re alien cockroaches."

    "What are alien cockroaches?"

    "They''re cockroaches from outer space."

    "Where is outer space?"

    "Um, little pest, you really ask a lot of questions. I might as well buy you an encyclopedia."

    "What''s an encyclopedia?"

    "It''s a kind of book that can answer all the questions you want to know."

    Hawaii''s eyes brightened. "Aunt Ewa, can you buy me an encyclopedia?"

    "Well, an encyclopedia isn''t just one book; it''s a whole set. Such an expensive thing? Have your dad buy it for you; he''s rich."

    Hawaii blinked her pretty eyes and stored that idea. She then asked, "So, Aunt Ewa, is Daddy an alien too?"

    "Hmm?" Ewa Pac paused, then recalled Eric''s cameo in the movie and burst intoughter, pinching Hawaii''s cheek with a mock mysterious tone. "Yes, your dad is an alien, and so are you, little alien, ha ha!"

    Just then, the movie on the screen ended. Ewa stood up, turned on the lights, and shut off the equipment, hugging the silly little Kevin while holding Hawaii''s hand as they walked outside.

    ...

    The three of them came out to the backyardwn and saw Eric lying there asleep. Ewa patted Hawaii on the head, grinning wickedly. "Elia, go ask your dad which he came from."

    Hawaii looked at Eric lying on thewn and then turned to Ewa. Hmph, did she think I was as silly as Kevin? Dad was sleeping; he would definitely be angry if he got woken up. Blinking her eyes, Hawaii said, "Aunt Ewa, Mommy said to remind you to say hi to Daddy."

    "Okay, little imp," Ewa Pac replied, rubbing Hawaii''s head. Remembering she had a little one in her arms, she quickly set Kevin down, squatting down to him. "Kevin, go wake your dad up and tell him it''s time for dinner."

    Kevin blinked his eyes, nodding clumsily, then walked over to Eric.

    Meanwhile, the two scheming girls stood in ce watching as Kevin approached his dad, eagerly anticipating the hrity that would unfold. But to their surprise, Kevin seemed topletely forget Ewa''s instructions. He plopped down next to Eric, picked up the script Eric had tossed aside, and began flipping through it, showing no intention of waking his father.

    Ewa''s eyes widened in shock. Could Kevin be the hidden little schemer here?

    Feeling something unusual beside him, Eric opened his eyes just in time to see Ewa sitting close to him, looking at their son, who was trying to read the script with a childlike wonder in his eyes. Kevin clearly couldn''t read, as a few pages had already been torn out.

    "What''s going on here? Did your eyes wander to the wrong subject?" Eric sat up, picking up his son and giving him a kiss, then pulled Hawaii closer and asked, "What''s going on?"

    Ewa shook her head but lingered on Kevin for a moment before saying, "Wow, Kevin is definitely growing up to be something. I could see him being the kind of kid suited to be president one day."

    "Ha, don''t speak nonsense," Eric shook his head. "What about you? Weren''t you supposed to be working during fashion week..."

    "Yeah, isn''t it Fashion Week recently? Why didn''t I go to work?" Ewa cut him off with an annoyed pout andined, "Ugh, please don''t be like my sister. I''ve just been interrogated about that!"

    Eric shrugged innocently, not quite understanding the situation. "Alright then."

    As he spoke, Eric stood up, holding the two little treasures and walked toward the vi. He instructed Ewa, "Have the maide over to tidy up here."

    "Got it, sir," Ewa said, dragging her voice yfully.

    ...

    Eric carried Kevin and Hawaii into the living room, sitting on the couch. The little girl cozily leaned against her father, her big eyes scanning him up and down. After a while, she asked, "Daddy, where is Pandora? Are you really from there?"

    Eric froze for a moment, then remembered, pinching his daughter''s cheek and smiling. "Honey, why do you suddenly ask this?"

    Hawaii raised her face and looked at Eric''s head. "I just saw you in a movie with Aunt Ewa."

    "Alright, Daddy isn''t a Pandora alien; that was just a movie," Eric exined.

    "Then, Daddy, can you buy me an encyclopedia set?"

    "What do you need that for?"

    "Aunt Ewa said all questions can be found in an encyclopedia."

    Eric scratched his chin, taking a moment to examine his little girl before smiling. "Sweetheart, do you know how old you are right now?"

    "Two years and five months." Hawaii answered with rity.

    "Right," Ericughed. "Two years and five months, so it''s best for you to do what a little kid your age should do, like y with toys, eat, and sleep, just like Kevin."

    Hawaii looked at her brother and shook her head. "But those things are so boring."

    "But that''s the life you should be living at your age. Once you''re grown, even if you want to go back to this time, you won''t be able to."

    Hawaii didn''t understand why she would want to go back when she grew up, but obediently nodded. Her eyes shining brightly as she watched her father, she put on a cute expression she learned from Emma. "Daddy, can you buy me an encyclopedia set?"

    Eric pped his forehead. Alright, that conversation was pointless.

    However, hearing his daughter repeat the request for an encyclopedia, he suddenly remembered that Yahoo didn''t have an encyclopedia section yet, and that could definitely draw significant web traffic. Perhaps he should email the Yahoo team about that tonight.

    After thinking for a moment and noticing his little girl still gazing at him with hope, Eric finally said, "Alright, I''ll have someone bring a set over tomorrow."

    "Thank you, Daddy," Hawaii cheered, leaning in to kiss Eric''s cheek. After a few moments of gazing up at her dad''s expression to confirm he wasn''t brushing her off, she jumped off the couch and scurried away.

    This... might be a tad too obvious, wasn''t it?

    Eric watched as his daughter ran off, feelingmentable thoughts.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 743 - 744: The Moment of Truth

    <h4>Chapter 743: Chapter 744: The Moment of Truth</h4>

    [Chapter 744: The Moment of Truth]

    While Eric enjoyed his vacation time in East Hampton, many others were far from rxed.

    September 17 marked the final day of New York Fashion Week.

    In Manhattan''s Bryant Park, Linda Evangelista had just finished herst show of the week. With her smoky eye makeup still intact, she hurriedly bid farewell to the event organizers and jumped into her car, urging her assistant to head over to the ABC headquarters on the Upper West Hydee.

    With both <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> set to premiere in the next two weeks, Anne Sweeney, the president of A&E Networks, had scheduled a discussion with Cindy Crawford about the final phase of promotional efforts.

    Even if A&E''s reform ns truly failed, it would hardly impact Firefly Group''s hefty annual ie of $20 billion. However, for Anne Sweeney and the staff she had brought into A&E, as well as for the production teams helmed by Cindy and Linda, the sess of both shows directly tied into their future careers. Consequently, everyone was working diligently during this critical time.

    About ten minutester, in Anne Sweeney''s office, Cindy Crawford was already seated, chatting softly with Anne. When Linda entered, they both stood up to greet her.

    "Good afternoon, Anne. I''m so sorry I''mte."

    "That''s alright. You''re notte at all," Anne responded warmly, giving Linda a hug.

    Although Anne was known for her no-nonsense approach at work -- sometimes even ruthless -- she was incredibly friendly in her dealings. Given their simr ages, the three women had be quite good friends during this period.

    After exchanging pleasantries, Anne picked up some documents and led the two women to a small conference room nearby.

    As they gathered around a small meeting table, Anne started, "The basic situation has been outlined. Although the corporate headquarters did their best, the new season of Lifetime has only managed to reach 34.5 million subscribers, which is only a 3 million increase fromst year. That''s our entire audience base."

    Cindy frowned slightly; this figure was only about one-eighth of the current U.S. poption. Remembering somements Eric had made earlier, she asked, "Anne, why was the increase so minimal? Isn''t there interest from the operators regarding Lifetime''s reform ns?"

    "Of course, that''s not the case. It''s aplex situation. Take Time Warner, for instance; not only did they fail to increase Lifetime''s subscriber base, but they''re also cutting Lifetime''s subscriptions by 800,000 this quarter. That''s just the nature of the business. Since media regtions have loosened up, operators can now have their own cable channels, and the market is limited -- not every operator is eager to see theirpetitors'' channels thrive," Anne replied, shaking her head. She continued, "However, the main factor is that Lifetime has had dismal viewership ratings in the past, which hasn''t benefited the operators. That''s why they''ve been lukewarm about Lifetime''s reforms. So, it alles down to the viewership stats of these two new shows."

    Once Anne wrapped up her exnation, Linda nced at Cindy and couldn''t help but voice a question that had been haunting them all: "Anne, what do you think... our ratings will be?"

    Anne hesitated, looking over the documents in her hands and then back at the two women. "Actually, that''s what I wanted to ask you. These projects were conceived by Mr. Williams; didn''t you talk to him about it?"

    Linda shook her head. "We did ask, but he didn''t respond."

    Anne nodded with disappointment and flipped through the nearby files until she found one to hand to the two women. "For these two programs, thepany signed floating contracts with the advertisers. ording to the contract, the eptable viewership threshold is 1.5 million, with a rating of 0.8. Based on those numbers, the average cost for a 30-second ad would be $50,000, with 16 minutes of ad time per episode, generating $1.6 million. Over 13 episodes, that just meets the production cost of $20 million. Then, with the operators taking a share and future syndication, we could break even."

    Linda and Cindy leaned in to look at the documents. After a moment, Cindy looked up and asked, "And what was Lifetime''s viewershipst year?"

    Anne hesitated again before saying, "In 1994, the peak viewership was for a TV movie called <i>The Seventh Floor</i>, starring Brooke Shields, and it attracted 2.21 million viewers. The average viewership during prime time for the entire year was 700,000."

    "Less than a million?" Linda expressed her disappointment almost jumping out of her seat.

    Anne nodded. She didn''t mention that the 700,000 was just the prime-time average. If you averaged it over the entire day, the numbers would look far worse. Therefore, Lifetime''s total ad revenue for the year was a mere $30 million -- less than what they received from the operators.

    It was easy to see that boosting the viewership to 1.5 million, more than doubling it, would be no easy feat with the subscriber base unchanged.

    Noticing the downtrodden expressions on the two women''s faces, Anne, despite her own anxiousness, offered encouragement: "I don''t think we need to worry too much. ABC had always undervalued Lifetime with ack of marquee programming, so ratings were bound to suffer. That''s not the case now. Just the production costs for the two shows you''re handling exceed Lifetime''s total programming budget for the past five years. Plus, with full backing from headquarters and Hearst in the promotional efforts, I have a lot of faith in our ratings."

    Linda, ever optimistic, nodded at Anne''s reassurance. "Anyway, it''s his show. If it tanks, I can always go back to being a model. I won''t starve."

    Hearing Linda''s cavalier dismissal, Cindy almost wanted to pinch her, her thoughts racing with disbelief. She turned to Anne and said, "Anne, you called us here to discuss promotional matters, right?"

    Anne chose to overlook Linda''sments, smiling instead. "Yes, I spoke with ABC; Cindy, prepare for tomorrow''s taping of <i>The Late Show with David Letterman</i>. Linda, your appearance is scheduled for next Wednesday."

    To stagger the promotional window for both reality shows, <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> was set to air on Tuesday, September 19, while <i>Project Runway</i> was set for the following week, September 28, on Thursday.

    After sessfully managing ABC''ste-night news show, <i>Nightline</i>, ABC lured David Letterman from CBS, seamlessly taking over the crown of the talk show slot.

    During this time, Firefly and Hearst utilized their respective channels to ramp up pre-release promotional efforts for both <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>, with Yahoo hosting quite a bit of relevant news. However, since neither show had yet proven its viewership potential, unlimited investments weren''t practical. Thus, seizing the opportunity to promote before the shows kicked off by appearing on a primetime talk show was deemed the most effective strategy -- and indeed, thest resort.

    Both women had previously participated in talk shows, especially following their sess at the <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>, which led to numerous invitations. Therefore, they weren''t unfamiliar with this world. After discussing some details, Anne apanied them to ABC''s production department to consult with David Letterman''s team.

    ...

    Amid the busy flurry of activity, the two days flew by in an instant.

    On September 19, the months of hard work were about to be validated.

    For countless ordinary individuals, Tuesday remained just another day.

    Most students were wrapping up their summer vacations, savoring theirst days off; young professionalspleted another day at work. Because it was a weekday, few ventured out for entertainment. After dinner, people sat down in front of their televisions -- some alone, some with partners, and others with children.

    They were unaware that at the ABC headquarters in Manhattan, many anxiously awaited the day''s new viewership data. Just then, one of them might recall the ads for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> they had recently seen in newspapers, magazines, or on television, leading them to grab their remotes, remembering they had Lifetime in their cable package and decide to tune in for a glimpse. As for those without ess to Lifetime, despite their fondness for fashion, they shrugged off the disappointment. Those indifferent to the fashion world felt no loss; after all, there were plenty of television programs to keep them entertained.

    For any television program, sess hinged on appealing to viewers'' tastes and tapping into their emotions.

    To meet this challenge, Eric exerted significant effort.

    For a modelingpetition show, young women who loved fashion and held dreams of the runway surely wanted to see something transformative -- a in, unremarkable girl suddenly showered with mor in front of everyone. If there were a term to describe it, it would be "a ugly duck turning into a swan."

    Thus, the theme of the first episode of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> was crafted precisely around that transformation of a duck into a swan.

    ...

    At 8 o''clock, after the finalmercial break, the Lifetime logo flickered to life once again as the title sequence for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> appeared.

    A dazzling array of stunning fashion photographs shed by, apanied by Cindy Crawford''s voice.

    "People always ask me, ''Cindy, how does one be a supermodel?'' Each time, I patiently guide them, saying, ''You should do this; you should do that.'' Until one day, it hit me, what if I could share everything I''ve learned through a television show, reaching out to all those girls dreaming of bing supermodels? So today, wee to <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    Through our selection process, we''ve chosen thirteen girls from across the United States. Some hail from small towns in the West, others from the City of Angels, with confident Southern girls and gentle Northerndies. Over the next two months, I''ll put them through rigorous training based on various standards, selecting the next rising star of the modeling world. The girl who ultimately triumphs will secure a modeling contract with Elite agency, a $100,000 endorsement deal with CIRL, and many more opportunities in the future.

    Well then, let''s get started!"

    As the stylish presence of Cindy burst onto the screen, the television showcased audition reels from girls across America.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in an apartment in Midtown Manhattan, time raced by. Alice and Charlotte, who had randomly crossed paths with Eric, had since parted ways, with Alice now moved in with her boyfriend.

    Her boyfriend, Scott, a Morgan Stanley financial analyst, was reluctantly pulled into watching this reality fashion show, which failed to pique his interest. The initial scene with Cindy was eye-catching enough that he indulged a bit, but as the mundane girls appeared on screen, he couldn''t help but chuckle, saying, "Ha! Alice, you think these ugly ducklings could be supermodels? It''s a joke! If they can, then you might as well be a world-famous model."

    Alice, watching thosemonce girls on screen, felt a twinge of disappointment. She had always admired Cindy Crawford and had only tuned in today because she''d heard about Eric''s involvement with the show. Thus, when Cindy dered her aim to turn these ordinary girls into supermodels, her disillusionment spiked.

    Most of the girls on the TV screen, while fitting and not unattractive,cked even a hint of the radiant supermodel aura Cindy exuded.

    When Scott picked up the remote to change the channel, Alice thought for a moment and pressed down on his hand. "Scott, just wait a bit longer."

    Scott, being somewhat considerate, followed her lead but added onestment: "Fine, but I''ll treat this as a joke."

    ...

    Meanwhile, in households across the country tuned into <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, many shared Alice''s mindset, with some already changing the channel in disappointment.

    Yet, the program rolled on.

    The fortunate girls began to gather in the fashion capital of New York, each distinct in personality, background, and life experiences. Clever camera work slowly made viewers forget about the in little ducklings, as they either saw reflections of themselves or were drawn in by curiosity and voyeuristic tendencies. Gradually, many forgot their initial letdown and became engrossed in the unfolding drama.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 744 - 745: The Momentum

    <h4>Chapter 744: Chapter 745: The Momentum</h4>

    [Chapter 745: The Momentum]

    Through instant filming of the contestants and continuous snippets of interviews, by the halfway point of the first episode, viewers had a general idea of who the girls were.

    Cindy Crawford made a timely appearance with two other guest hosts to kick off the contestants'' firstpetition, announcing that by the end of the round, one of the thirteen girls would be eliminated.

    Amidst anxious murmurs and gasps on screen, viewers at home were left in shock, wondering if it was too cruel to start the elimination process in just the first episode.

    Unbeknownst to them, many had already been captivated by the show.

    The scene shifted, and when the cameranded on the Armory located on Lexington Avenue, the contestants erupted in cheers of surprise, and viewers couldn''t help but widen their eyes.

    The <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> was at the height of its fame, and the Armory had be a fashionndmark in people''s minds because it hosted the first-ever <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i>. Young people who had attended the show in New York often made a pilgrimage to the Armory to pay homage.

    "Hello everyone, girls, I bet you know where this ce is," Cindy Crawford greeted them enthusiastically, getting the crowd fired up.

    Amidst the swooning cheers, Cindy continued, "Well, your first test is about to take ce right here. The fashion you will be using for thispetition has been handmade by top designers from the LTD Group. Each of you can choose one outfit from twenty options avable. There will be professional designers backstage to help you with your styling. Afterward, you''ll experience your very first fashion show in your lives. So, let''s get started! Remember, everyone has only half an hour to prepare. OK, GO! GO! GO!"

    With Cindy giving themand, all the girls couldn''t wait to rush backstage. The camera followed swiftly into a hall disying twenty exquisite garments on stic mannequins. These outfits were thetest from the uing fall collection by Brighton Apparel under the LTD banner. Unsurprisingly,pared to the finished products sold in stores, these handcrafted designs were significantly more refined and luxurious.

    After the camera panned over the gorgeous outfits, it returned to focus on the contestants.

    In the footage, some girls were overwhelmed by choices, pacing indecisively between outfits; others quickly made a selection and dashed toward the makeup room. There were even two girls who had chosen the same outfit, refusing to back down, leading to a heated argument...

    All this was captured authentically on camera, and even as the girls squabbled, no one stepped in to intervene. Eventually, both girls realized that if the argument continued, they would both be eliminated, and they reached apromise.

    This authentic conflict satisfied viewers'' craving for drama, prompting them to start discussing which girls they favored or disliked.

    The ensuing makeup scenes were quickly edited, and following a televisionmercial break, the screen faded to ck. With a series of clicks, the bright lights in the theater of the Armory illuminated in session, a familiar scene materialized before everyone. Although theyout was significantly different, many remembered that justst year, on that very runway, forty meticulously selected Victoria''s Secret Angels had put on a spectacr show watched by millions.

    However, when recalling those thirteen seemingly average girls, many began to question whether they had what it takes to walk down that runway.

    Curiosity heightened, viewers'' eyes remained glued to the screen.

    ...

    The camera caught Cindy Crawford walking through the backstage entrance, slowly approaching the runway, a nostalgic smile on her face. "Wow, this really brings back memories. But today, this stage will belong to our girls. No more chit-chat, let''s get started."

    After saying that, Cindy and a few other guest judges took their seats. A photographer set up a professional camera at the end of the runway.

    Music began ying, and the lights flickered.

    At the runway''s entrance, when the first girl appeared on camera, almost all viewers were taken aback.

    Stunning -- that was an absolute, one-hundred-eighty-degree transformation.

    Some even struggled to remember which girl she was from earlier.

    The morous handmade outfits, the top-notch designer''s creations, inbination with the lights and music, created a beautiful, dreamlike atmosphere.

    In reality, professional fashion insiders knew that even supermodels looked like ordinary people most of the time, not instantly breathtaking at first nce. The magic on stage came down to many factors -- skill, clothing, makeup, lighting, and music all yed significant roles in that allure.

    The contestants'' walks, though clearly inexperienced in the eyes of regr viewers, paled inparison to those of supermodels. However, thanks to that series of professional touches, along with the production team''s skillful editing, the effect was nothing short of transformative.

    Initially doubtful about the potential of these girls to be models, by the time the two-minute runway showcase ended, viewers'' uncertainties vanished. Some girls who once thought they could never be models began to envision themselves on that stage, imagining what it would be like.

    As the fashion show wrapped up, while many viewers were still digesting the experience, the harsh elimination round began.

    As Cindy''s stack of photos shrank, many viewers felt a tight grip of anxiety, hoping their favorite contestants would be spared while wishing for the elimination of those they disliked.

    The results came in -- some were relieved, others disappointed, and some shouted unfairness. But nothing could be changed; many found themselves silently anticipating the next episode.

    ...

    At ABC headquarters, although Anne Sweeney had told Cindy she could go home and await results, she remained in Anne''s office. Fashion Week had ended, and this year''s <i>Victoria''s Secret Show</i> was in the early stages of preparation and fittings. Cindy and Linda weren''t too busy, and Linda had swung by to join.

    The three women anxiously sipped coffee and chatted, ncing asionally at the television in the office. Unlike ABC, Lifetime didn''t receive Nielsen''s real-time ratings reports and had to wait until the program had aired to gather preliminary statistics, with detailed data following the next morning.

    Half an hour after the first episode concluded, the office door was knocked on, and Anne rose to greet the visitor.

    Cindy sensed the results were imminent, taking a deep breath and feeling her heart rate escte. She nced at Linda, who leisurely sipped coffee while flipping through a magazine.

    "You seem awfully calm, don''t you?" Cindy remarked with a frown.

    "Hey, it''s not my show. Why should I be nervous?" Linda replied, not looking up.

    "Then why are you here today?"

    Linda shrugged, with a cheeky expression. "I just wanted to see what you look like when you''re anxious."

    Cindy felt a spark of irritation re within her and waved her hand. "You better watch out; I might just choke you out!"

    "Don''t scare me; I''m a bit of a coward," Linda pretended to shrink back, but the act was tant, drawing Cindy closer to pinch her hard on the waist.

    Linda quickly dodged and yelped, "Ah, you wicked woman! You seriously pinched me!"

    "Hmph. You think I''m joking?"

    Linda lifted her leather jacket, peeking at her waist as she checked for any bruising. Thankfully, Cindy hadn''t gone hard enough; the spot was only a little red and not bruised. Rubbing it lightly, Linda pouted, "I''m totally telling Eric, just wait. I''ll say you''re showing signs of child abuse."

    "Ha! Don''t think your baby voice will let you y Lolita and pull that. And abusing kids? Don''t even look at how old you are."

    "I''m definitely not a Lolita..." Linda huffed, trailing off suggestively.

    Cindy understood the implication behind Linda''s words. She was about to respond when Anne Sweeney entered the office, prompting Cindy to stand up, surveying Anne''s expression. A rxed look on Anne''s face allowed Cindy to loosen up as well.

    At least, from Anne''s demeanor, the ratings seemed promising.

    Feeling good, Anne shook the forms in her hand and smiled, "Guess the ratings?"

    "Seven hundred thousand?" Linda blurted.

    "I''ll smack you," Cindy shot Linda a re before turning back to Anne. "Come on, Anne, I''m dying here."

    Anne smiled and handed the results to Cindy. "From the preliminary statistics, the ratings look like they''ll break records. The highest viewership hits 2.75 million, with an average of 2.3 million and an average rating of 1.3, far surpassingst year''s peak."

    Cindy nced over the figures and began to rx.

    The average viewership of 2.3 million exceeded the expected benchmark of 1.5 million by a whopping 800,000, and it was more than three times Lifetime''s average ratings during the same periodst year. Though it couldn''tpete with the big fourworks, Lifetime boasted a base of just over 30 million viewers. This meant the show was essentially captivating one-fifteenth of its audience base. If that proportion were scaled to a publicwork with national coverage, it would equate to around 18 million viewers.

    Linda leaned over to check out the figures Cindy held. "While it''s impressive, I think this is likely due to all that pre-show promotion. The real ratings will show inter episodes."

    Cindy paused, the thrill of excitement calming somewhat after Linda''sment.

    Though the production cost was $20 million, when factoring in all the promotional resources invested over this period, it was nearing about additional $10 million. That was an extraordinary sum by television standards,parable to film promotional budgets.

    Spending $10 million for a premiere with a high view count of 2.9 million was fully expected.

    The true performance of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> would rely on the uing ratings trends.

    Anne, however, remained optimistic. Even if the ratings dipped, having a foundation of 2.3 million ensured that maintaining an average of 1.5 million through a full season was entirely feasible. As long as the reception wasn''t overwhelmingly negative, production could easily continue.

    With hopes for a miracle in her heart, Anne was simultaneously grounded in her realistic approach, acknowledging that many things had to unfold step by step.

    ...

    Ultimately, as an unassuming basic cable channel, the first season of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> did not generate extensive media buzzpared to more popr broadcastworks unveiling their blockbuster dramas.

    "Yet another reality show satiating voyeuristic curiosity. While the storyline feels somewhat scattered, it manages to keep viewers emotionally engaged. Though the audience is smaller, it''s worth watching."

    "This reality show mimics the <i>Survivor</i> format but focuses on the much-discussed modeling industry for youth. Cindy Crawford still shines brightly, and the contestants'' transitions from average to stunning are quite striking."

    "I loved the transformation of the average girls, yet I''m frustrated by the arbitrary elimination process. I just can''t grasp why that contestant named Lena was eliminated; perhaps just to catch viewers'' attention."

    "..."

    Among the lukewarm media feedback, the Firefly Group and Hearst Corporation began marketing <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>''s record-breaking ratings for Lifetime during the following week. After all, viewers knew little of the inner workings of Lifetime, often subconsciously believing that a program breaking viewership records had to be exceptional quality.

    ...

    Even without buzz from the media, the show sparked a hot-topic frenzy among young girls, unintentionally rising in poprity.

    Whether they were daydreaming high school girls, college girls, or young women already in the workforce or starting families, after <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> aired, the topic came up more frequently when hanging out with their best friends.

    "Did you see <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>st night?"

    "..."

    "That girl Connie is such a brat; I really hope Cindy eliminates her. Annie''s legs are so long, and her figure is the best. I think she could very well be the winner."

    "..."

    "It seems like the judges'' elimination standards are a bit erratic. It feels like the eliminations are entirely based on personal biases, which seems unfair."

    "No, no! I think they eliminate based on whether the contestants can bring in ratings."

    "Wow, if that''s the case, Annie must be in trouble; she seems so quiet."

    "Who knows? If Annie gets eliminated, I''m done watching."

    "..."

    "The outfits sponsored by LTD are gorgeous."

    "I saw some in Elle; a few were from their uing fall collection."

    "I want to buy one when ites out; I love that light yellow one."

    "..."

    Simr conversations rapidly spread among young women over the following week, creating an undeniable buzz.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 745 - 746: The Circle

    <h4>Chapter 745: Chapter 746: The Circle</h4>

    [Chapter 746: The Circle]

    In earlier times, the explosive poprity of a television show could only be illustrated through a long-term analysis of ratings trends. To understand viewer opinions, television stations had to rely on newspaper surveys and random telephone interviews. This method of gathering information was incredibly inefficient and often inurate.

    However, with the rise of the inte in recent years, this situation changed rapidly. After the airing of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, although it didn''t generate much buzz in traditional media, its poprity among ordinary audiences became very apparent online.

    The Yahoo forum section for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> saw an influx of nearly 180,000 new members within just one week. The show became a hot search term on Yahoo''s search engine as well.

    Cindy Crawford''s personal homepage enjoyed a significant surge in followers. Before the show aired, she only had about 10,000 fans, but within a week of the show''s premiere, this number skyrocketed to 120,000, and it continued to grow rapidly.

    Since the personal homepage feature had only recently been introduced, while the overall user count was high, the socialworks rted to it were still in their developmental stages. Most popr figures only had fan bases in the low six figures, unliketer years when some reached hundreds of millions. Thus, thanks to the buzz generated by <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, Cindy Crawford''s fan count far surpassed that of her contemporaries and even attracted attention from traditional media.

    As the topic continued to gain traction, a week passed quickly. Based onst week''s viewer feedback, everyone felt confident about the ratings for the second episode.

    However, when <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> second episode''s viewership stats were released, they exceeded all expectations. The peak viewership reached 3.5 million, with an average of 2.8 million, achieving a rating of 1.6, breaking every ratings record held by Lifetime Television.

    While the viewership numbers didn''tpare with those ofwork television, the ratings for the key demographic of viewers aged 18 to 49 were impressive, particrly since <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> drew a primarily young female audience. The 1.6 rating even rivaled that of typical episodes aired on public television.

    The production and promotion of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> had always been closely linked with <i>Project Runway</i>. Spurred by the poprity of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, the premiere of <i>Project Runway</i> on the following Thursday also celebrated impressive numbers, with an average viewership of 2.6 million and a peak at over 3.1 million.

    Although <i>Project Runway</i> was a fashion production show, under Eric''s guidance along with the <i>Survivor</i> team''s oversight, this reality program was far from the professional and rigid format viewers might have expected. Initially hesitant about this somewhat specialized reality show, audiences quickly embraced it, enjoying the contestants'' fiercepetitions and the transformative design process turning any material into gorgeous fashion.

    As ratings climbed, traditional media quickly recognized the news potential in these two reality shows and began covering them, further amplifying the fame of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>.

    ...

    In the following weeks, the ratings for both reality shows showcased a parallel upward trend. In less than a month, both shows broke the 4 million average viewership mark simultaneously, with <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> being notably more popr than <i>Project Runway</i> -- the highest viewership for the fourth episode even climbed to 4.6 million.

    Within a month, as the buzz from both reality shows spread, more and more people started to take notice of Lifetime Television. Driven by the viral conversations sparked by <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>, many began to search for Lifetime in their cable packages. When they discovered it wasn''t avable, numerous viewers opted to switch their cable subscriptions.

    As a result, Lifetime''s subscriber count rose from 34.5 million to over 40 million in just one month. Those cable operators who carried Lifetime''s signal managed the transition smoothly. However, thosecking Lifetime were having a much harder time -- especially the unluckiest operator, Time Warner.

    This all began during the initial nning of Lifetime''s reform. Once the two reality shows were greenlit, Jeffrey Katzenberg personally contacted executives from Comcast, Tele-Communications, and Time Warner, hoping they would expand the coverage of Lifetime''s signal.

    However, since Lifetime had not yet made a significant impact, the major operators responded coolly to Katzenberg''s requests. Despite his efforts, the subscriber count only increased by a meager 3 million before <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> aired.

    While Comcast and Tele-Communications remained indifferent to the rise or drop of Lifetime''s subscribers,rgely basing their decisions on viewership data, Time Warner''s response was quite different. Understandably concerned that Lifetime''s rise could pose a significant threat to their WBwork -- already catering to young viewers -- they opted not to cooperate in expanding Lifetime''s subscriber base. Instead, prior to the fall season, they shed Lifetime''s user count by 800,000 through package adjustments. Even more insidiously, those cutsrgely concentrated in major markets like New York and Los Angeles.

    The stylish women in cities like New York and Los Angeles were a key demographic for both <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>. Once this news reached Katzenberg, he didn''t hold back from berating Time Warner''s cable division head over the phone.

    ...

    As the weeks passed, the fallout from this heated topic continued. If <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> hadn''t been such hits, the 800,000 viewers denied Lifetime would have been inconsequential. But now, with both shows bing widespread conversation pieces among young women, anyone discussing a contestant''s unfortunate elimination on <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> or a stunning outfit from <i>Project Runway</i> faced the awkwardness of not being able to contribute to the conversation, leaving them entirely out of the loop.

    In the U.S., cable operators maintained regional monopolies. Companies such as Comcast, Tele-Communications, and Time Warner strategically divided their territories to avoid unnecessarypetition. In remote areas, residents often had only one option for cable service.

    In such situations, subscribers had to ept their fate. In contrast, major metros like New York and Los Angeles were fiercely contested markets, with plenty ofpetition preventing any monopolistic trends from taking root.

    Consequently, those users unable to find Lifetime on Time Warner''s packages began switching to Comcast and Tele-Communications to watch <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>.

    By October, when Time Warner''s cable division recounted its subscriber numbers, they were shocked to discover they''d lost 460,000 in just one month.

    What does that number mean?

    Time Warner''s total cable user base was only 15 million. After cutting 800,000 lifetime TV users, only 3 million users remained with ess to lifetime TV stations, which is the lowest level among the major operators. The root of all this, of course, is thepetitive rtionship between Time Warner and Firefly.

    However, this one-month loss equated to 3% of Time Warner''s total user base. To put it into perspective, the entire year of 1994 saw Time Warner gain only 1.6 million subscribers. If this trend continued, Time Warner''s cable business could see itself regressing to levels from two or even three years prior.

    Caught in a bind with a struggling summer film te, Terry Semel summoned Time Warner''s cable division head, delivering a stern reprimand after hearing the distressing news. Originally, Time Warner had nned to handle the situation discreetly, but somehow, the details slipped out into the public sphere.

    Suddenly, headlines about "Time Warner''s Cable Business Decline" were dominating the media. While everyone recognized the situation stemmed from Time Warner''s attempt to suppress Lifetime''s growth, the strong rise of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> seemed to backfire, costing them dearly.

    If losing 3% of users in just one month was shocking, how much more would they lose over the year? This question lingered in the minds of many, especially the shareholders.

    In response, the management began facing increasing pressure from various fronts. It became clear that someone would have to ept responsibility for the situation.

    With Time Warner''s internal politics being as tangled as ever, the cable division epassed several factions, all aware of the origins of this debacle. If any otherpany faced this situation, they would likely handle it the same way. Consequently, this blowback couldn''t urately bebeled a management misstep. Terry Semel wouldn''t riskpounding the issue by stirring up further disputes internally, ultimately deciding to cast one of his top executives in the cable division as a scapegoat.

    A few dayster, Time Warner announced that a vice president from the cable division would soon be resigning due to a poor decision, providing some semnce of ountability.

    Yet, the matter was far from resolved. Lifetime''s visibility continued to skyrocket while Time Warner had lost 460,000 subscribers. If they didn''t quickly restore ess to Lifetime''s signal, the situation could worsen.

    Cable operators ran on their terms, and licensing requirements dictated when awork could be carried. Everything hinged on which party had the upper hand.

    After addressing external pressures and shareholder concerns, Terry Semel personally dialed up Katzenberg.

    His call was routed to Katzenberg''s secretary, who returned with a familiar, frustrating response: "Mr. Katzenberg is unavable... and we''re not sure when he will be reachable."

    After struggling to get through several times, Terry had little choice but to phone Robert Iger, who had just taken over leadership of Firefly Television.

    Iger was eager to help but exined that A&E Cable Network was a joint venture with Hearst and operated as a distinct cable channel. Thus, he couldn''t intervene in Lifetime''s affairs.

    With no way forward, Terry felt he had to reach out directly to Anne Sweeney, president of A&E.

    Sweeney was more straightforward: "I''m sorry, Mr. Semel, but I don''t have the authority to make these decisions anymore."

    Having been rebuffed three times in his office at Time Warner''s Manhattan headquarters, Terry was ready to throw his phone out the window in frustration.

    Watching the gloomy sky beyond the office window, he took several deep breaths, attempting to calm down.

    Terry understood this was Firefly''s way of retaliating against Time Warner''s earlier decisions, essentially leaving them in the lurch for months.

    However, given the current situation, Time Warner could not afford to wait. If their cable subscribers dwindled by several hundred thousand next month, the me would undoubtedly fall on him as CEO.

    As he pondered whether to personally fly to Los Angeles and engage Katzenberg directly, an idea struck him: Firefly''s youthful foundation, Eric Williams, was likely in East Hampton.

    Though he had never visited, the address of Eric''s East Hampton estate was easy to find. After a few calls, he secured the details swiftly.

    After some contemtion, Terry instructed his secretary to prepare a car. He nned to head to East Hampton himself. After all, as the absolute head of Firefly Group, securing Eric Williams'' direct agreement would far outweigh the exhaustion of navigating repeated discussions with Katzenberg and other superiors.

    Moreover, even while he recognized Eric''s exceptional ability to build a significant enterprise in such a short time, Terry secretly believed that the younger man would be easier to negotiate with than the shrewd Katzenberg. After all, no matter how talented a person may be, navigating theplexities of running a business demands time and experience.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 746 - 747: Inheritance

    <h4>Chapter 746: Chapter 747: Inheritance</h4>

    [Chapter 747: Inheritance]

    Two hourster, Terry Semel arrived in East Hampton, parking his car a mile away from Eric''s mansion on a small road. He took out his cellphone and dialed Eric''s private number. A soft-spoken woman answered. After a moment, the call was transferred to Eric, and Terry Semel mentioned that he happened to be passing through East Hampton and inquired if he could drop by for a visit.

    Eric''s tone on the phone was perfectly normal and he enthusiastically agreed.

    After hanging up, the driver in the front seat nced back at Terry Semel. "Mr. Semel, are we going now?"

    "No, let''s wait ten minutes," Terry Semel replied as he put away his phone. Though they both understood the situation, it was important to maintain appearances; being too eager might put him at a disadvantage.

    The driver nodded and smartly turned off the engine to patiently wait.

    Terry Semel leaned back in the leather seat, carefully pondering how to phrase his uing negotiation. Before he knew it, ten minutes had passed. The driver, seeing Terry deep in thought through the rearview mirror, considered reminding him but decided against it.

    A momentter, Terry snapped back to reality and was about to instruct the driver to head out when a police car rolled up, stopping a short distance away. Two officers stepped out, ncing at the ck Mercedes before walking over and tapping the driver''s side window.

    The driver, confused, rolled down the window, and the officer outside eximed, "Tony, is that you?"

    "Hey, Rocky," the driver replied, excitement coloring his voice as he turned to Terry Semel. "Sorry, Mr. Semel, just a minute, Rocky is an old buddy of mine from the force."

    Terry Semel waved a hand to indicate it was no issue. The driver quickly hopped out of the car.

    Considering that his boss was waiting, the driver, Tony, didn''t engage in long pleasantries. After a brief conversation, he returned to the driver''s seat and started the car to head toward Eric''s estate.

    "What was that all about?" Terry asked, not forgetting the two officers'' unexpected appearance.

    Tony pointed out a clearly visible camera on the streetlight outside. "They must''ve seen us from there. Rocky said Eric Williams donates a hefty sum to the East Hampton Police Department every year."

    Terry had a nce at the camera and mused about how thoughtful Eric Williams was regarding the safety of his two illegitimate children. Considering the notoriously low efficiency of police work, it was quite something that a car parked a little over a mile away from Eric''s estate would prompt such inquiries. This was not simply something money could achieve.

    ...

    When they arrived outside Eric''s mansion, Terry noticed a tall woman dressed in a light gray sweater and white jeans waiting at the door. He dismissed the driver and got out to approach her.

    "Mr. Semel, hello," Joanna smiled as she came forward to shake Terry''s hand. "I''m so sorry, Eric is currently in a meeting, so you might have to wait a bit."

    "Hello, Ms. Pac," Terry smiled and shook her hand, recognizing her voice from the earlier phone call. "I just decided to drop by on impulse. I hope it''s not too abrupt."

    Joanna shook her head. "Not at all. Please, follow me."

    As Terry followed Joanna into the mansion, he discreetly observed the woman who had shot to fame with <i>Twister</i> only a few years back but had suddenly retreated from the spotlight. His thoughts drifted back to the police officers he had seen earlier. Remembering the two kids, whom he hadn''t seen mentioned in the mediately, he felt as if Eric Williams'' attitude toward them was far less secretive than that of other wealthy individuals regarding their illegitimate offspring. These two little ones might even be heirs to the Williams family legacy one day.

    Terry''s thoughts turned slightly regretful as he realized that Joanna Pac''s child was a girl. If only it were a boy. As a Jewish woman, by tradition, the child would also be considered Jewish. If it were a boy, the inheritance rights would be significantly increased, leading to greater recognition among Hollywood''s Jewishmunity.

    He understood well that his rise to the position of CEO of Time Warner was closely tied to his Jewish ancestry. Although the position wasn''t as easy to hold as it might seem, many shareholders and board members supported him not only for his abilities but also because they shared the same background.

    As they entered the mansion, Terry was drawn to a little girl sitting beside the coffee table, flipping through arge book.

    Joanna noticed Terry''s gaze and led him to sit on the sofa. "Elia, we have a guest. Remember to say hello to Mr. Semel."

    The little girl on the stool lifted her head, her eyes as lovely as her mother''s -- pure and bright. With soft, blond hair and a slightly chubby face, she resembled a doll.

    The girl stared curiously at Terry, taking in his rimless sses for a moment before saying, "Hello, Mr. Semel."

    Terry''s attention, however, fell on the thick book in front of Hawaii. Recognizing it as part of the Encyclopedia Britannica, he felt an unexpected surprise. Not wanting to pry, he softened his tone, saying, "Hello, um... Elia."

    Joanna chuckled lightly, exining, "Mr. Semel, this is my daughter, Hawaii Williams. Please sit tight, Eric will be down shortly, and I''ll go make some coffee."

    Terry thanked her and observed the little girl as she turned pages, intrigued by her intense focus. He felt a peculiar thought cross his mind -- could a child as young as two or three really grasp what the Encyclopedia Britannica had to offer? Was he simply getting older?

    ...

    After a moment, Hawaii quietly turned the page, reading a few sentences. She nced beside her and noticed her mother was not seated where she should be. Spotting a hefty English dictionary nearby, she reached for it but realized there was an adult beside her. Turning to Terry, she asked without any hint of shyness, "What does ''Emperor'' mean?"

    Terry recognized that Hawaii was looking at the entry for ''Emperor Penguin'' in the biology section of the encyclopedia. Understanding that she likely knew what a penguin was but not the meaning of ''Emperor,'' he smiled gently. "Emperor means king. You know what a king is, right?"

    Hawaii nodded, then pointed at the illustration of the emperor penguin in the book. "Have you seen an emperor penguin?"

    "I haven''t, no. Emperor penguins live in the very cold Antarctic, where it''s hard for humans to survive."

    She blinked and inquired, "If humans can''t survive in the Antarctic, how do we know that emperor penguins are there?"

    Terry''s surprise rose another notch. This question had a philosophical ring to it, especiallying from a child who was likely just two or three years old.

    Seeing the girl gaze up at him with bright, curious eyes, Terry took a moment to respond. "Even though we can''t survive there for long, we can visit for a short time and discover emperor penguins."

    Hawaii pressed on, "If we only go there for a short time, how do we survive?"

    With a smile, Terry replied, "We can make lots of equipment, like thick clothes and sturdy shelters, to protect ourselves from the cold. With these things, we can survive for a short while."

    The little girl nodded and asked, "But why don''t emperor penguins need those things?"

    "Because they have adapted to the environment through many years of evolution. Humans can''t adapt like that, so we rely on tools."

    "Why can''t we evolve like emperor penguins?" Hawaii asked, her brow furrowed.

    "No, no, little one. You''re mistaken. Humans are the most amazing creatures on this. The emperor penguins live in a narrow environment, but we can go anywhere in the world -- even into space. It''s because we possess intelligence. By using our intelligence, we aplish these things, but other creatures cannot."

    Hawaii seemed to ponder his words vaguely, then remembered something. "I saw on TV that lions are smart. They can... work together to hunt."

    Terry''s gaze softened even further as he looked at the hefty book in front of the little girl. "No, Elia. That''s not intelligence. True intelligence is something that can be passed down through generations, and lions or tigers can''t do that."

    "Oh," Hawaii nodded, shifting her attention back to the book.

    Terry straightened his posture, sensing Joanna''s presence as she approached with coffee. He quickly stood slightly.

    Joanna had been quietly standing nearby, not interrupting the conversation until now. She handed Terry the coffee. "I''m so sorry, Mr. Semel. Elia can sometimes be a handful."

    "Not at all," Terry smiled and shook his head. Just a short exchange with the little girl had eased the agitation he had been feeling due to a series of trivial matters in recent days.

    He even felt that if he could have a somewhat personal rtionship with Eric, he would shamelessly ask Eric to consider Hawaii as his goddaughter. Unfortunately, that thought would remain just a thought; his current position didn''t afford him too much interaction with Eric.

    As Joanna sat down and chatted idly with Terry, they noticed a man and a woman descending the stairs. The man was clearly Eric, and Terry quickly recognized the woman as Cindy Crawford, host of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>.

    ...

    "My apologies, Terry, for keeping you waiting," Eric warmly embraced Terry Semel and introduced the woman. "This is Ms. Cindy Crawford."

    "Hello, Cindy," Terry said, shaking her hand. "Your show is fantastic; my daughter loves watching it."

    "Thank you," Cindy Crawford smiled and nodded.

    Knowing that the group had business to discuss, Joanna stood up, collected the book from Hawaii''sp, and led her toward the backyard. "Alright, Elia, it''s time. We agreed you could only read for two hours each day, and that time is up."

    Hawaii walked reluctantly beside her mother. "Mom, I found a problem. I''m two now, so I can read for two hours. When I''m three, I''ll read for three hours, but there are only twenty-four hours in a day. What will I do when I''m twenty-five?"

    Joanna spoke gently, "Oh, sweetheart, when you''re twenty-five, I won''t be keeping tabs on you anymore."

    "But Ewa is almost twenty-five, too. Why does Mommy still keep watch over her?"

    Joanna chuckled, "Because Ewa is too silly and isn''t as smart as you, Elia."

    Hearing the mother-daughter exchange, everyone in the living room, including the maid nearby, chuckled softly.

    Terry watched Joanna lead Hawaii away and turned to Eric. "That little one is so clever -- perhaps that''s the power of inheritance."

    "Perhaps," Eric chuckled.

    Cindy Crawford, sensing that Joanna was excusing herself, understood that the next topic wasn''t one she could join. Not wanting to leave quite yet, she was uncertain about what to do until Eric said, "Cindy, it''s time to start preparing lunch. Everyone should stay for that. Why don''t you go discuss with Joan what needs to be prepared?"

    "Sure, alright," Cindy sighed in relief. Since Eric hadn''t pushed her to leave, she felt good about staying. She hade partly hoping to catch Eric since she heard Virginia was out filming, and Joanna was gentler. As long as Eric didn''t make a fuss, no one would turn her away.

    Once Cindy was dispatched, the maid in the living room discreetly left as well, allowing Eric and Terry Semel to chat.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 747 - 748: The Problem

    <h4>Chapter 747: Chapter 748: The Problem</h4>

    [Chapter 748: The Problem]

    As Cindy Crawford approached the door leading to the backyard, she nced back and saw Eric and Terry Semel deep in conversation. She pushed the door open and stepped outside.

    It was just before noon, and the deep autumn sun bathed the spacious estate with its light. The temperature had dropped below 68��F (20��C) by the end of October, and even the sunlight seemed pale and listless due to the cooler air. Although thewn and surrounding shrubs that served as a fence were evergreen, there were still patches of withered leaves, detracting from the lively atmosphere.

    Cindy wasn''t fond of this chilly environment, but she looked up at the low autumn sky. A few white clouds drifted behind a breathtakingly bright blue, and it seemed that if she gazed over the nearby fence, she could see the horizon. This expansive view inspired a feeling of uplift in her heart, prompting Cindy tozily stretch her body. She asked the maid who was clearing leaves by the fence where Joanna was headed and then walked across thewn toward a spot where a few vibrant red maple trees grew by the seaside.

    Joanna was sitting beneath one of the maples, a thick book resting on herp, surrounded by two small figures who appeared to be collecting leaves.

    When she noticed Cindy approaching, Joanna waved and smiled. She then took a maple leaf that Kevin handed her and patiently discussed it in a low voice with the little ones, sliding it into the book on herp.

    It was still before 11 a.m. Cindy didn''t rush to ry Eric''s instructions but instead took a seat beside Joanna, admiring the trees. "These maple trees are beautiful. Are they maples? The trunks seem different from the ones I''ve seen before."

    Joanna nodded, pointing to several small holes in the tree trunk. "They are sugar maples. In spring, you can collect the sap to make maple syrup."

    "Oh, so that''s what a sugar maple is," Cindy said, realization dawning on her as she examined the small holes in the trunk. She appreciated that maple syrup was low in sugar and didn''t easily cause weight gain, making it a favorite among women. She frequently enjoyed it but had never recognized the tree that produced it until now.

    "We still have some freshly made maple syrup at home. You can try it at lunchtime," Joanna said. Just then, Hawaii ran over holding a leaf, while Joanna took the leaf from her daughter, examined it, and said softly, "Sweetie, this leaf seems to have some bug marks on it. Look at those spots; it doesn''t look nice. Why don''t you find another one?"

    Hawaii looked where her mother pointed, still curious. "Mom, why do bugs leave those marks on the leaves?"

    Joanna recalled that the marks were likely from secretions left by bugs that had damaged the leaves. She exined it gently in a way Hawaii could understand, sending her off to explore again.

    Cindy had been listening to Joanna and once Hawaii trotted away, said, "Joan, you really have a lot of patience."

    Joanna smiled, her gaze tender as she watched her little one gathering leaves, as if looking at the whole world. After a moment, she asked Cindy, "How did things go with Eric?"

    Cindy nodded with a rxed expression. "I n to produce another season in the spring, and he''s already agreed."

    ...

    Since she had specificallye to visit, Cindy had a real reason - she wasn''t just passing by. With the viewership ratings for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> climbing, she found herself a bit anxious.

    When she first secured this project, Cindy had her private ountant calcte her potential earnings under a 10% profit-sharing contract. ording to the ountant''s calctions, the ratings threshold needed for her to earn more was around 1.5 million viewers, which matched what Lifetime expected. Below that mark, she''d only receive the guaranteed sry of $800,000, something she had negotiated pridefully during the contract drafting. Other people in the industry were unprepared and didn''t have any guaranteed sry uses. If the ratings fell short and the project didn''t turn a profit, those months of work would feel wasted.

    But now, that same contract made her feel trapped.

    In strict business contracts, rights and obligations were always reciprocal. Thanks to that guaranteed sry use, Lifetime included a stiption for renegotiation ofpensation for the second season. This was a condition set by Lifetime to ensure continuation of the program; essentially, if the ratings didn''t skyrocket, they hoped Cindy would return at a lower sry. Unofficially, they had alreadye to a mutual understanding of a $500,000 intent.

    In a casual chat with Linda, Cindy had expressed that she would be satisfied with a $3 million profit share from <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, which she found to be a more realistic figure after working in television for a few years.

    To pull $3 million from this project, the show needed at least 2.5 million viewers. Given that Lifetime had previously struggled to reach even 1 million, Cindy had not been overly hopeful for this goal.

    But now, the ratings results for both shows had far exceeded anyone''s expectations. For the most recent episode of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> that she was responsible for, the peak viewership reached 4.6 million, and with Lifetime''s growing subscriber base and the program''s continued poprity, it was anticipated that the peak viewership could even exceed 6 million, with an average of no less than 4.5 million for the entire season.

    ording to the price floating contract signed between Lifetime and advertisers, an average of 30 seconds of advertising during the 1.5 million viewership would cost $50,000. An average viewership of 4.5 million would triple the advertisement price, generating $60 million in revenue just from advertising alone. With additional profits from syndication, DVD sales, and other ventures, the revenue would surely top $60 million. A project costing $20 million to produce could ultimately yield $120 million.

    After deducting the production costs, the profit would be no less than $100 million.

    One hundred million dors meant Cindy would pocket $10 million, and even top-tier Hollywood actresses whoted $10 million a year were few and far between.

    So now the question arose.

    With <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>, she and Linda not only stood to surpass the million-dor annual ie threshold but would also leave all the other supermodels earning in the million range far behind. As long as the two shows maintained their poprity, they could reliably sit atop the throne of supermodel queens.

    However, the repurchase use originally included to secure their guaranteed sry had recently begun to gnaw at Cindy''s peace of mind.

    If viewership did not meet expectations and production costs needed to be cut, Lifetime could invoke their negotiation right to lower Cindy''s guaranteed sry. But now, with the ratings soaring, the negotiation right still stood. If she earned a whopping $10 million in the first season, it seemed reasonable for Lifetime to request a lower cut should she return for a second season. If both parties couldn''t reach an agreement, Lifetime still retained the authority to rece the host.

    Cindy was unwilling to lower her slice, especially since <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> had even eclipsed <i>Project Runway</i> in poprity. If her share became smaller than Linda Evangelista''s next season, she''d look foolish. Word of that would spread like wildfire.

    However, the looming threat of recement terrified her even more.

    Despite the show''s uncertain beginnings, the host''s position had sparked fiercepetition behind the scenes, ultimatelynding her and Linda in those seats.

    Now that <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> had achieved monumental sess, if there was a rift between her and Lifetime, and word got out that they contemted recing her, the younger models would jump at the chance. Any media frenzy over a host change could overshadow any dip in ratings caused by her departure. This meant the dependency of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> on her wasn''t as strong as she once thought, yet she couldn''t afford to lose that position.

    Caught in this dilemma, after much hesitation, Cindy finally sought out Eric today in hopes of solidifying everything ahead of time, finding a solid reason for her visit: she wished to kick off production for the second season by year-end.

    ording topetition rules, <i>Project Runway</i> would feature its three finalists at the New York Fashion Week in February, meaning the production cycle extended beyond six months with a two-month winter break. It was impossible to produce two seasons in a single year. On the other hand, <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> was different; it consisted of thirteen episodes that could all air by December. After the first season finished, preparations for the second season couldmence, allowing it to go live on schedule in the spring.

    After rushing over that morning, Cindy discussed her ns for the second season with Eric, nervously addressing the negotiation issue. Judging by the smile on Eric''s face, he seemed somewhat amused but didn''t put her in a tight spot. He personally assured her that her contract would remain intact and indicated he would speak with Anne Sweeney about it.

    Finally, the heavy stone that had been sitting on her heart for half a month lifted.

    ...

    Reflecting on the earlier events, Cindy turned to Joanna, who was carefully trimming the leaves she had gathered with a small pair of scissors and slotting them into the book. She couldn''t help but ask, "Joan, don''t you find it boring just being with the kids all day?"

    "After some years, you won''t think that way, I assure you. Women always settle down," Joanna nced at Cindy with a smile and continued, "You know, I was born in Pnd, back when the Soviet Union still existed. Life in Pnd was pretty tough. I even went hungry as a child; you probably haven''t ever experienced real hunger, have you? Haha, I always dreamed of leaving Pnd, and after so many twists and turns, I did. But I found out the outside world wasn''t paradise either. It wasn''t until four years ago that I identally met Eric, and then came Hawaii."

    Joanna spoke casually, and when she noticed Hawaii running back over, she warmly embraced her, giving her a gentle kiss. The little girl sensed the change in her mother''s emotion and, feeling a bit puzzled, called out, "Mom, what''s wrong?"

    "Nothing, sweetheart," Joanna shook her head, releasing Hawaii and ncing at her watch before turning back to Cindy, who seemed contemtive. "Cindy, could you help me look after Kevin and Hawaii? I need to pick up Emma. The kindergarten is close by, and I''ll be back in fifteen minutes."

    "Of course, no problem," Cindy quickly nodded, then added, "Oh, Eric just said he wants to keep Terry Semel for lunch."

    "I''ll have the kitchen prepare something," Joanna instructed the little ones and entrusted them to Cindy before she got up to leave.

    ...

    Watching Joanna walk away, Cindy nced at the album Joanna had left behind and smiled at the two kids. "Alright, darlings, let''s continue. Aunt Cindy will y with you, okay?"

    Hawaii and Kevin were no strangers to her but showed less attachmentpared to how they were with Joanna. In a few minutes, they lost interest. With no experience looking after kids, Cindy eventually led the two little ones back to the vi.

    As she stepped into the living room, she found Eric and Terry Semel still chatting. When Eric noticed Cindy walking in with the kids, he pointed to the sitting room on the right, signaling that she could take the children there to y. Terry Semel nced at little Kevin and waved at Hawaii, receiving a cheerful response that made his smile broaden.

    ...

    Since his arrival was posed as a casual visit, Terry Semel had engaged in light conversation with Eric. Seeing Cindy enter with the kids, he felt the time to speak up hade. "Eric, there''s one more thing while I''m here. Lifetime has been doing quite well recently, and Warner has a substantial user resource; maybe we could explore a closer coboration?"

    Eric took a sip of coffee before responding, "Terry, while I don''t follow the television operations too closely, I''ve heard that Lifetime''s coboration with Warner hasn''t been smooth in the past."

    "Eric, corporate cooperation isn''t always smooth. Discrepancies are bound to arise as both sides must look out for their interests," Terry Semel assessed matter-of-factly. "Given Lifetime''s recent poprity, I believe we can renegotiate the profit-sharing contract. Warner can raise the user share to 18 cents; what do you think?"

    Eric shook his head, "Eighteen cents is too low. <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> has reached a peak viewership of 4.6 million; there aren''t many channels that have achieved this level."

    "I think 18 cents is quite generous, Eric," Terry disagreed. "<i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> only air for a total of two hours every Monday, yet there are 22 hours of prime time weekly. Aside from these two reality shows, Lifetime''s other programming hasn''t outperformed, and these two will wrap up in two months. It''s unlikely that Lifetime will find a great program to take on their viewer interest immediately, so overall, Lifetime still remains modest."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 748 - 749: Two Options

    <h4>Chapter 748: Chapter 749: Two Options</h4>

    [Chapter 749: Two Options]

    Lifetime Television''s foundation ultimatelycked a bit, as Eric reviewedst year''s programming schedule. In all of 1994, thework only aired 11 low-budget TV movies and a few soap operas that were repeatedly shown during prime time. There was little originality in the rest of the schedule.

    However, with the sess of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> amassing a solid fanbase, it made perfect sense to further invest in programming.

    "Terry, I admit you have a point, but this situation is about to change. Since Lifetime was able to create <i>Project Runway</i> and <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, we can certainly produce more sessful TV shows. Although the two reality shows will wrap up before the New Year, Lifetime has decided to kick off production on a second season of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, which canunch right on time in the spring. So, you really don''t have to worry about Lifetime''s poprity issues," Eric stated, chuckling to himself as he recalled Cindy''s antics earlier that day.

    Because of scheduling, <i>Project Runway</i> wouldn''t get picked up for two seasons within a year. Therefore, Eric could only hope Cindy would begin production on a second season of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> by year''s end to maintain Lifetime''s newly acquired poprity.

    Despite having many workaholics around him, it was evident that Cindy and Linda were not among them. Producing two seasons a year, while bncing a ton of other work, would be incredibly draining.

    Over the past few days, Eric had been scheming on how to persuade Cindy into this, even considering offering her a raise if necessary. Before he managed to bring it up, Cindy was already at his doorstep.

    Terry Semel didn''t know what was on Eric''s mind and naturally assumed the sudden smile on Eric''s face was a sign of determination. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Eric, 20 cents is the best offer Warner can make."

    Eric wiped his smile away and looked at Terry Semel. "20 cents is fine, Terry, but I have one condition."

    Terry Semel raised his hand, "Go ahead."

    "Lifetime can sign a three-year fixed revenue-sharing contract with Warner Cable, locked at 20 cents. However, Warner Cable needs to carry Lifetime''s signal across all its cable packages," Eric proposed.

    "Eric, that''s not feasible," Terry Semel shook his head immediately.

    The n entailed that once they secured the broadcasting rights, Warner Cable would provide some cable options featuring Lifetime for users to choose. Given Lifetime''s limited audience, it was expected that Warner Cable would see its subscribers for Lifetime reach approximately 6 million -- not even half of Warner Cable''s total 15 million subscribers.

    But Eric''s condition was ambitiously aimed at snatching all of Warner Cable''s subscriber resources. Under any considerations, Terry Semel wouldn''t agree.

    Eric didn''t react much to the refusal and offered, "In that case, Terry, let''s consider another option: increase the revenue-sharing to 30 cents, with the ability to renegotiate the rates annually."

    Terry Semel shook his head again. "30 cents is too high, Eric. As I just mentioned, Lifetime is worth at most 20 cents."

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment, picked up his coffee, took a sip, and said, "If that''s the case, let''s wrap it up for today, Terry. I''m actually not great at business negotiations; usually, Jeffrey handles these matters. You may want to consider this and send someone to talk with the higher-ups at Firefly."

    After a moment, he nced at his watch. "Lunch is almost here; you should try the apple pie. I usually don''t have much of a sweet tooth, but Joan''s is exceptional."

    Terry Semel''s expression grew grim; clearly, Eric was going to y the waiting game again.

    If it entered into the formal negotiation phase, resolving this would take at least ten days to a month. Eric clearly understood the current situation at Time Warner. Lifetime could afford to wait; after all, Comcast, Tele-Communications Inc., and many other smaller cable and satellite operators were actively bringing Lifetime on board. However, Warner Cable was losing thousands of subscribers daily, and they couldn''t afford any dys.

    Following several minutes of hesitation, Eric sensed Terry was weighing the pros and cons, so he waited patiently.

    Eventually, Terry Semel spoke up again, "Alright, Eric, 25 cents, but that''s my final offer."

    Eric shook his head, shrugging his shoulders. "Terry, I really only have two options. In fact, 30 cents isn''t unreasonable. ESPN''s broadcasting fee is $1.30. Plus, I would honestly rmend you choose the first option. Trust me, over theing years, Lifetime''s growth will astonish everyone. It will inevitably be a staple across all operator packages, and Time Warner could enjoy three years of lower revenue shares."

    Seeing there was no more room to bargain, Terry Semel finally yielded. "Okay, Eric, I''ll get back to you tomorrow."

    "Sounds good," Eric replied without rushing him. He understood Terry''s precarious position at Time Warner over the past couple of years made him careful about even minor partnerships that needed board approval.

    ...

    The next day, Eric received a call from Terry Semel, confirming that Time Warner ultimately chose the second option, raising the revenue share to 30 cents.

    The details of the cooperation would obviously beid out by management, and in the following days, Eric began focusing on the production issues for Lifetime Television.

    At that moment, no one had mentioned the initial $100 million budget n. Everyone understood that raising Lifetime''s viewership in non-prime time slots to the levels achieved by <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> couldn''t be aplished with merely $100 million.

    The biggest concern for Firefly Group and Hearst was how to maintain the momentum generated by the two reality shows.

    The answer was straightforward: produce or acquire more quality TV programs.

    "I havemunicated with headquarters; Lifetime will obtain broadcasting rights for <i>Sleepless in Seattle</i>, <i>Ghost</i>, and <i>Pretty Woman</i> next spring. These films have proven very popr with women," Anne Sweeney reported to Eric from the ABC headquarters office.

    All three films had grossed hundreds of millions, and even yearster, the price for individual broadcasting rights remained above a million dors. Though all were under the Firefly Group, inter-departmental finances needed clear ounting. Fortunately, Lifetime would receive a favorable deal.

    Sitting across the table, Eric flipped through the memo Anne Sweeney handed him and asked, "How do you n to schedule the broadcasts?"

    "As a lead-in for our new shows next year, Lifetime secured six airings. The standard prime time covers 22 hours weekly, but Lifetimecks the capacity to fill all that time. So, I n to focus on airing two hours from Sunday to Thursday, and an hour on Fridays and Saturdays for a total of 12 hours of prime time programming starting next spring."

    Typically, only the traditional Big Threeworks could fill all 22 hours in prime time. Even Fox, in its current state, only managed 18 hours each week.

    Eric was satisfied with Anne Sweeney''s programming arrangement and nodded, inquiring, "Have you reviewed the original text and scripts for the first two episodes of <i>Sex and the City</i>?"

    "Yes," Anne Sweeney affirmed.

    "What''s your take?"

    After pondering for a moment, she replied, "Bold, avant-garde, stylish, with a touch of feminine nuance and cleverness. Personally, I love the story, and I believe female viewers will too."

    Eric smiled and said, "Exactly. Avant-garde and stylish can easily serve as the standards for future Lifetime productions. Although, during our audience surveys, we found nearly 30% of the viewers for both <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> were male, don''t ever think about broadening the audience for thework. General audienceworks belong to the big public broadcasters. We need precision; Lifetime must solidify its viewer base among strong, fashion-conscious women aged 18 to 35, and tailor the programming around this demographic."

    "Eric, if that''s the case, it might restrict Lifetime''s growth potential, as 18 to 35-year-old women are still a minority," Anne Sweeney countered, sketching a circle on her paper, continuing, "If this circle represents that demographic, then while producing programming, we need to keep their needs in mind, thus further narrowing our subject matter. Some topics in that tighter circle will inevitably not appeal to some women, leading to viewer loss and gradually shrinking the circle more and more."

    Ericughed, taking the paper and pen from Anne Sweeney''s hand, and drew arger circle outside of what she had just drawn. "You''re looking at it the wrong way. I assume this circle reflects North American female viewers, right? But outside of North America, there are farrger audiences in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. As long as we can craft quality programs in this female viewer demographic, we can establish a solid brand presence. Lifetime''s signal could extend to markets beyond North America. I hope you won''t limit your focus here but keep an eye on the entire globe. Your ultimate goal should be to create asting impression among all women worldwide that Lifetime''s programs are the trendsetters in fashion and the conversation starters among women. Ideally, it should feel like a girl would have trouble fitting in if she hadn''t watched Lifetime."

    Anne Sweeney''s eyes widened, and she was genuinely surprised by Eric''s ambitious vision. She asked instinctively, "Is this really achievable?"

    "When Ted Turner founded CNN in 1980, almost everyoneughed at his audacity, convinced that a dedicated news channel could never be profitable. And yet? Look at where newsworks are today, operating worldwide and generating profits that rival the Big Three. That is the possibility."

    "Well," Anne Sweeney shrugged, "perhaps I''m a pessimist while you''re just the opposite."

    "Your statement reminds me of a saying: Do your best, and prepare for the worst."

    Anne Sweeney rested her chin on her hand, casting an appreciative nce at Eric as she chuckled softly, "Haha, Eric, turns out you''re not entirely confident."

    "Who would have thought just a few months ago that a single Lifetime program could attract over 4 million viewers simultaneously? So yes, the future I''m outlining is very much within reach. If there''s a potential gold mine here, our job is to dig it out as deeply as we can."

    Anne Sweeney perused through the original programming n and remarked, "If we take a conservative approach, Lifetime could already start turning a profit from this year. However, if we follow your vision and aim for excellence, the program''s investment will surely spike, and for the next two or three years, Lifetime may not turn a profit at all."

    "Firefly isn''t a publicly tradedpany, so you don''t need to sacrifice more extensive development ns for a financial report," Eric pointed out.

    "True," Anne Sweeney smiled again. "Since the boss doesn''t mind, I''ll set things in motion. Let me revise the original n."

    Eric nodded with a smile. "I can temporarily forgo profits, but if we don''t achieve sufficient annual growth, expect a "stick" toe down."

    "Heh, boss, if your statement carries any dark humor, I suggest you save it for another woman."

    After their discussions wrapped up, Anne Sweeney collected her papers and stood up to leave but paused to ask, "By the way, are you attending tonight''s party?"

    With <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i> achieving such impressive ratings, thepany had to celebrate, and a party was set for that evening.

    Eric nodded, "I''ll be there. Also, could you call Candace Bushnell, the author of <i>Sex and the City</i>? I have some revisions for the first two episodes'' scripts, and I want to discuss the uing plotlines with her. Oh, and invite Elizabeth Hurley too, so she can meet with Candace ahead of time to chat about the lead character."

    Anne Sweeney was aware that Eric had little time to discuss the script with Candace, so she had to seize this party opportunity. Nodding in understanding and seeing Eric had no further instructions, she turned and left.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 749 - 750: I Will Make You Cry

    <h4>Chapter 749: Chapter 750: I Will Make You Cry</h4>

    [Chapter 750: I Will Make You Cry]

    As night fell, despite the temperatures in New York City sinking below 50�� Fahrenheit (10��Celsius) byte October, the beautiful women dressed in revealing outfits showed no signs of slowing down as they attended all sorts of parties.

    In Midtown Manhattan, Rockefeller Center hosted a celebration party for Lifetime Television at one of its top restaurants.

    Eric arrived at the party at seven o''clock. The hall was already buzzing with activity. Aside from the television executives hosting the event, most of the guestsprised the creative teams and special guests of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>, along with some contestants still lingering in New York.

    Annie Sweeney had arrived early to oversee some arrangements. As Eric walked into the hall, she approached him with Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista.

    After some friendly chatter, seeing that most of the guests had arrived, Annie picked up a ss of champagne from a waiter, stepped onto the stage where the band was, and gently tapped her ss with the microphone to get everyone''s attention.

    "Okay, wee, everyone, to tonight''s party! Over the past month, we have witnessed a series of astounding ratings for <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> and <i>Project Runway</i>. Justst night, thetest episode of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> surpassed five million viewers!"

    As president of the A&E Network, Annie continued, "I want to thank everyone who contributed to these two outstanding reality shows. I hope you all continue to strive for more viewing miracles. Now, let''s raise our sses and toast -- Cheers!"

    Amid apuse and cheers, everyone in the room lifted their sses.

    After taking a sip of her champagne, Annie said, "I hope you all have a fantastic time tonight. Thank you."

    Another round of enthusiastic apuse filled the room as Annie stepped down from the stage, and the music began to y again.

    ...

    Having just finished her speech, Cindy, who had been linked arm in arm with Eric, ignored the envious nces around her and pulled him into the dance floor. At that moment, she pressed her body closely against Eric''s, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning in to whisper sweetly in his ear, "Eric, are you going to be in Manhattan for Halloween?"

    Eric enjoyed the closeness, smiling as he said, "No, I''m taking the kids out to trick-or-treat. You know the residents in the Hamptons are all wealthy, so I expect we''ll get quite a haul of candy."

    Cindy rolled her eyes yfully, her soft body brushing against Eric''s in a teasing manner. "Speaking of wealthy, is there anyone richer than you?"

    Eric tightened his grip slightly, stopping her yful antics. "Don''t make a scene -- you want me to embarrass myself in front of all these people?"

    Cindyughed softly, leaning in again, boldly suggesting, "How about we sneak off to the restroom?"

    Eric feigned hesitation, "Are we talking male or female?"

    "Of course, it''s up to you," she replied with a grin.

    After a moment of pretended contemtion, Eric said, "Let''s not go. I have to keep up appearances."

    With that, he gently pushed Cindy away from trying to cause more mischief and gave her a light pat on the waist. "Alright, go have fun. I''ve got some important things to take care of."

    Cindy pouted with a pitiful expression, "Must you rush off? The party just started, and this song hasn''t even finished yet."

    Just as Eric was about to respond, he caught sight of Linda Evangelista walking by and waved her over. She approached with a puzzled look.

    "Hey, Linda, I have a few things to do. Could you dance with Cindy for a bit?" Eric suggested, pushing Cindy towards her.

    "Sure thing," Linda said. Before Cindy could protest, Linda affectionately wrapped her arms around her and dragged her to the dance floor, teasing, "Cindy, let''s go!"

    Even though Cindy was physically stronger from her regr workouts, she wouldn''t darepare that under the party atmosphere. She shot a resigned nce back at Eric and let Linda pull her away.

    ...

    As Eric waved at them and moved on, Cindy''s sulking expression vanished, and she shot an eye roll at Linda, who was energetically pulling her along. "Okay, he has left, let go of me now."

    Linda just giggled, tightening her hold around Cindy''s waist again. The two women contrasted beautifully, with Linda in her more conservative ck knee-length gown, which gave off a strong, sophisticated vibe. Paired with Cindy''s alluring white deep-V gown, they created a strikingly powerful duo, even making some of the couples around them feel a bit inferior as they danced.

    As Cindy tried to free herself, Linda held her firmly, saying, "What''s the rush? You looking for a guy? Don''t forget Eric is still here!"

    "I just don''t want to be stuck with you," Cindy shot back.

    Linda looked at her intently for a moment and yfully dragged out her words, "Oh... I see, feeling a bit insecure, are we?" Beaming with pride, Linda proudly highlighted her height advantage with her heels.

    Raising her hand, she continued, "Don''t worry -- I won''t judge you."

    Cindy clenched her teeth and jabbed Linda yfully in the side. "Bitch, enough already!"

    Linda tightened her grip, somewhat nervous now, and warned, "ss, remember ss. Don''t forget where we are or I will scream!"

    Cindy narrowed her eyes, threateningly replying, "You''re wrong. Keep this up, and I will make you cry!"

    ...

    Eric left Cindy behind and soon found himself at a corner of the hall, where he spotted three women chatting: Annie Sweeney, Elizabeth Hurley, and another woman about the same age as Annie, around thirty-five. She wore a light blue one-shoulder evening gown, had stunning blonde hair, and sported a distinctive pair of pearl earrings. Eric recognized her from some materials he had seen -- this was Candace Bushnell, the author of <i>Sex and the City</i>.

    As soon as they noticed Eric approaching, the three women rose. Annie introduced, "Eric, this is Candace Bushnell. Candace, this is Eric."

    "Hello, Mr. Williams," the woman said confidently, extending her hand.

    "Just call me Eric," he replied as he shook hands with her and greeted Elizabeth before they all sat back down.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 750 - 751: Mr. Big

    <h4>Chapter 750: Chapter 751: Mr. Big</h4>

    [Chapter 751: Mr. Big]

    "So, what were you all just talking about?" After sitting down, Eric casually kicked off the conversation.

    Elizabeth Hurley leaned casually against him, her excitement palpable. "Candace just mentioned Manolo hnik. He''s having a productunch at the Gramercy Park Hotel next month! I just love that shoe brand. Lately, so many brands have been producing heels that look so bizarre. Only Manolo hnik manages to maintain such elegant designs consistently. I need to find a way to attend thisunch next month! Oh, by the way, Candace, when did you say it is?"

    "November 3rd," Candace Bushnell replied with a smile.

    Elizabeth pulled out a notepad from her purse, documenting it seriously, and turned to Eric. "Eric, do you know who Manolo hnik is?"

    Eric had certainly heard of him. He recalled that the shoe brand frequently came up in episodes of <i>Sex and the City</i>, where the character Carrie was obsessed with it, but he only knew the name.

    Casting a sideways nce at Anne Sweeney and Candace Bushnell, who sat across from him with their characteristic smiles, Eric couldn''t help but feel that Elizabeth seemed a bit juvenile inparison to these two intelligent women. A woman with keen insight wouldn''t drone on about fashion brands in front of men, as most men would likely find it dull, if not a little annoying, considering how these brands often came with a hefty price tag.

    Seeing that neither woman was stepping in to change the subject, and instead seemed to be fanning the mes, Eric began to piece things together.

    After some casual chit-chat, Eric turned to Anne Sweeney and Elizabeth Hurley. "Anne, Liz, could you give Candace and me some time? I''d like to discuss the script with her."

    Anne Sweeney stood up and said, "Of course, you two go ahead. Oh, Liz,e with me; the snacks here are really good. I''ll take you to try some."

    Elizabeth thought to herself that having the lead actress around for the script discussion would make more sense, but she didn''t oppose Eric''s wishes and followed Anne away.

    ...

    Once Anne and Elizabeth departed, Candace Bushnell moved closer to Eric, crossing her left leg elegantly and smoothing her skirt. "Eric, is there something wrong with the script I submitted?"

    Eric looked at her with interest. Themon notion was that women tend to show their age more easily, but the women around him seemed to defy this belief. Kathryn was stunning, Joanna was too, and now Candace Bushnell and recently departed Anne Sweeney were in theirte thirties, yet they maintained a youthful appearance thatplemented Elizabeth''s in some ways, adding a touch of maturity.

    Instead of answering her question directly, Eric took a sip from his champagne, leaned back against the sofa, and made it easier for himself to admire the intelligent beauty beside him. "The script isn''t majorly wed, just a few small details. Why don''t you start by telling me about the lead character?"

    A flicker of surprise crossed Candace''s face, realizing that Eric had picked up on some subtlety from their earlier conversation. However, she quickly regained herposure. "Eric, I don''t think Miss Hurley is suitable for the role of Carrie Bradshaw."

    After saying this, Candace maintained eye contact with Eric, determined not to let her nerves show. Yet, she unconsciously tightened her grip on her wine ss.

    Her longing for that big-city life had led her to New York alone at neen, but settling down in Manhattan had been harder than she imagined. Initially, she made ends meet by writing children''s stories for newspapers; just in recent years, she had managed to get her own column in the <i>New York Observer</i>. Even so, her life wasn''tfortable. The character Carrie Bradshaw, who often flirted with financial ruin in pursuit of thetest fashion, was really a reflection of her own reality.

    The fact that Eric Williams had personally chosen the rights to <i>Sex and the City</i> made her realize this was a pivotal moment in her life. She valued this TV series more than anyone else could, and as she feverishly revised the script over thest few weeks, the pressure became overwhelming, leading to mild anxiety.

    Upon hearing that Lifetime had confirmed Elizabeth Hurley for the lead, Candace dug into her collection of the model''s previous films and found her not to fit the image she envisioned for the lead role.

    The casting was decided by Eric Williams himself, and she knew she didn''t have much room to fight it. She had secretly prepared herself to ept this choice, but in her discussions with Anne Sweeney, it seemed the A&E Networks president was also slightly dissatisfied with the lead selection. That prompted their current conversation.

    As Eric listened, he quietly scrutinized Candace Bushnell, who seemed to be forcing a confident facade despite being significantly older than him. After a few seconds, he noticed the slight tremble of the ss in her hand and decided to intervene. "Go on, persuade me."

    Having just put herself in a difficult position, Candace felt the burden of Eric''s multiple roles weighing down on her. Regret washed over her for voicing her opinion; she scolded herself internally hundreds of times, realizing what a golden opportunity this was to coborate with Eric Williams. Surely, she could ascend into the ranks of well-known writers, with future works bing highly sought after. Yet, if she messed this up...

    Oh God, what have I done?

    Eric, barely aware he had just pulled her back from the edge of despair with a casual joke, watched as Candace''s mind raced. She suddenly felt a chill down her spine, realizing she had broken into a sweat in her rented gown, which made her worry about returning it in less than perfect condition.

    "Candace?" he asked, noticing her darting eyes without a word.

    She snapped her attention to him. "Yes, oh... I want to persuade you."

    Eric almost retracted his earlierpliments about Candace''s intelligence and emotional insights. He rolled his eyes, "So, go on?"

    Feeling a tinge of impatience in his tone, Candace took a deep breath. "Mr. Williams, firstly, Miss Hurley is British, and her identity doesn''t align with Carrie Bradshaw''s character."

    "That''s not a reason," Eric countered, unaffected by her change in his formality. "You should have heard Liz''s American ent; it''s pretty wless."

    "Of course, I have to concede that," Candace replied before realizing her previous doubts about Elizabeth''s identity were unfounded.

    But Eric couldn''t help but chuckle at Candace''s response. "Candace, you have to understand; you''re trying to persuade me."

    "Oh," Candace said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "So, the most important point is, I think Miss Hurley is just too beautiful."

    "And?"

    Candace continued, "If this show was aimed at male viewers or a broader audience, Miss Hurley would be suitable. But this is a show specifically for urban fashion-forward women. Most women in the real world don''t look like her. If she ys the lead role, ny percent of potential viewers won''t rte to her at all. Furthermore, an important theme of this show is fashion, showcasing how various brands can transform women''s lives. If the lead character is too stunning, it makes it difficult to convey the character development whose appearance and personality are enhanced by fashion, and this could negatively impact the show tremendously. In summary, I believe the lead should reflect the average urban woman -- slightly in, yet, at times, striking."

    Eric nodded, "Good points. Anything else?"

    Noticing the change in Eric''s expression, Candace felt more rxed. At least he was actually considering her arguments.

    However, there was an additional reason she held back -- the one that Anne Sweeney had whispered to her earlier. Anne had believed Elizabeth Hurley''s audition was alsocking in talent. While Anne hinted that it could be included in their discussions, Candace didn''t want to overstep.

    Shaking her head, she said, "Mr. Williams, that''s all. I have nothing else."

    Eric nodded, smiling. "You really like calling people ''mister,'' don''t you?"

    Candace''s face turned awkward. She recognized it was a sign of her insecurity but wouldn''t admit it outright. "Why do you ask?"

    "In your novels, I keep seeing Mr. Big. Come on, does he have a real-life counterpart?"

    Candace realized Eric was smoothly transitioning the conversation butcked the courage to push for an answer. "Yes, he does. Mr. Big is based on Ron Galotti, a publishing executive at Newhouse, who managed many magazine publications. I''ve coborated with him in the past."

    "Oh," Eric nodded, but for some reason, another Mr. Big from a certain Disney animated film popped into his mind, making him chuckle. Traditionally, Mr. Big implies a powerful figure, akin to a godfather. "Forget about Ron Galotti. Since I don''t know him, what about your male lead? I found his character sketch somewhat ambiguous while reading your outline and episodes one and two. Was his character development unclear?"

    Candace thought about it for a moment. "Well, he''s a very sessful man in his career."

    "That much is apparent," Eric interjected. "What about his character?"

    "His personality... tends to be somewhat indecisive. Therefore, he doesn''t appreciate strong and independent women." Candace exined. "That''s the main reason they keep breaking up. Ultimately, I don''t think they''re likely to end up together."

    "Do you find that setup realistic?"

    "Why wouldn''t it be?" Candace questioned. "Mr. Williams, everyone has ws. A person can be sessful in their career yet still struggle in their personal life."

    Eric felt a disconnect with the character, perceiving him as the ssic handsome but emotionally inept CEO archetype -- too familiar forfort.

    Shaking his head slightly, he decided not to pursue that line of questioning further. "Alright, as long as female viewers enjoy it, that''s what matters."

    Candace raised an eyebrow but chose not to respond.

    Eric changed the subject, offering his thoughts and suggestions for her script. "Regarding the script, I''m not too well-versed in fashion. That''s your realm. But concerning the storyline, I want you to make a few adjustments. First, I need more narration. Although you have deep insights into topics surrounding sex and fashion, it doesn''t mean viewers will glean everything solely through visuals. I''d like to hear more exnatory narrations..."

    As the discussion moved easily into script revisions, the two lost track of time, engrossed in their conversation.

    Half an hourter, with most issues smoothed over, Eric added, "One more thing -- this is just my personal preference: don''t always portray male characters as too weak and passive in rtionships. While it resonates with certain audiences, I think women with a bit of life experience would find it unrealistic, don''t you think?"

    While discussing the script, Candace had unknowingly downed several drinks. With her wine ss empty, the blush creeping into her cheeks, she mischievously looked at Eric and boldly asked, "Mr. Williams, don''t men generally dislike being passive?"

    Eric narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Are youing on to me?"

    Candace''s heart raced a few beats at his teasing, realizing she might have crossed a line. Although she''d heard rumors about this young tycoon''s preferences, she didn''t dare nurture any grand ambitions. But after a few drinks, Eric''s straightforwardness flustered her; she mumbled, "You''re such an annoying man."

    Despite the din around them, Eric caught her whisper andughed, "Oh, so it''s true."

    "What do you mean?" Candace asked, confused.

    "Weren''t you the one who said, ''If you tell a man, ''I like you,'' you might never see him again; but if you say, ''I hate you,'' you''ll have the best sex of your life''? That''s a ssic theory."

    Candace blinked in surprise. She had just been taken aback by Eric''s deep understanding of her script and hadn''t expected him to recall segments of her novel with such ease. Her face turned even redder, and she tried to steady her racing heart, staring intensely at Eric in defiance. "So, even if I''m being assertive, what are you nning to do about it, little boy?"

    "Wow, are you trying to provoke me?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 751 - 752: Mr. Biggest

    <h4>Chapter 751: Chapter 752: Mr. Biggest</h4>

    [Chapter 752: Mr. Biggest]

    After sleeping in, Candace Bushnell naturally woke up, stretching luxuriously on therge bed. As her hand brushed against the wall beside the bed, she realized she was not in her familiar bedroom.

    Just then, the door was pushed open, and she quickly pulled the covers up, but the man entering the room still noticed her.

    "Good morning," Eric smiled at the woman on the bed, cing a woman''s evening gown at the foot of the bed before turning to draw the curtains.

    Candace followed Eric''s figure to the window, watching him pull back the curtains. The bright light flooded into the bedroom, finally rousing herpletely.

    "Oh my God, this isn''t a dream! I really did sleep with this little guy!" she thought to herself.

    The realization that she had been with a man thirteen years her junior made her cheeks heat up with embarrassment, a mix of shyness and a hint of unexpected excitement.

    As Eric approached and sat down in the chair beside the bed, Candace felt a bit awkward and pulled the covers up over her face. After a moment, she felt it was a bit silly and sluggishly offered, "Good morning... Mr. Big."

    Eric looked at Candace''s childlike reaction, nodding and teasingly replied, "Oh, I get it, that must be apliment."

    Candace blinked in surprise as she processed his words and couldn''t help but chuckle softly, ttered but not knowing how to respond further.

    Seeing that Candace wasn''t saying much, Eric continued, "Candace, I had your dress fromst night cleaned and pressed. Um... I have a meeting at nine o''clock."

    Candace poked her head out from the covers and asked, "What time is it now?"

    Eric checked his watch and replied, "It''s eight-thirty. The car is waiting for me downstairs."

    "Wow, it''s already thatte? Then I..."

    Candace was about to sit up when Eric pressed a hand gently on her shoulder. "No, you can sleep a little longer. You can wake up whenever you want; I just wanted to say goodbye."

    They had partied until around two in the morning. Even though she had woken up, Candace felt weak all over but was reluctant to get up. Hearing Eric''s words, she decided to lie back down. Curiously about Eric, she ventured, "Was it an important meeting?"

    "If you''ve been following the media news, you should know that ESPN is about to sign a new contract with the NFL," Eric exined before chuckling. "I almost forgot, women usually aren''t as interested in sports as men are in fashion, right?"

    Candace shook her head, "Not at all! I used to be the cheerleading captain for my school''s football team when I was a girl."

    Eric recognized her politeness with a smile and pulled a card from his suit pocket,ying it on the bedside table. "I''ve made some breakfast. You can have some when you get up. If you don''t like it, there are others in the fridge. The card has the driver''s number; you can call if you need a rideter."

    Candace felt a twinge of disappointment when Eric didn''t give her his personal card but didn''t pursue it. They both understood this was merely a one-night stand; she wasn''t foolish enough to expect anything more.

    Seeing that she nodded, Eric added, "Oh, about the lead actress for <i>Sex and the City</i>, I discussed it with Annie this morning. Since Liz isn''t quite right, we should find someone else. But let''s hurry; we can''t drag this out."

    Candace knew that since Eric had initially chosen Elizabeth Hurley for the role, their rtionship must have been significant. She asked, "What about Miss Hurley?"

    "You don''t have to worry about that; I''ll arrange everything," Eric said before standing up. "Well, goodbye."

    "Goodbye," Candace said as she stretched her hand out from under the covers to wave at Eric.

    As the door closed, Candace turned over, lying on her back on therge bed, staring up at the ceiling, pondering for a moment. Eventually, she felt she could no longer sleep and decided to get up.

    She found her clothes and slipped them on, padding barefoot into the bathroom. Noticing a fresh set of toiletries in a cup on the sink with a note attached, her spirits lifted significantly. She ripped off the note, reading his handwriting, which made her subconsciously bring it to her nose for a sniff, only to inwardly scold herself for this silly, infatuated action.

    After putting the note down, she spotted therge bathtub in the bathroom and felt her interest pique once again.

    After enjoying a lovely hot bath, wrapped in a robe, she headed downstairs. The living room coffee table was set with a simple breakfast and, as usual, a thoughtful note. Next to it were her handbag and phone. She walked over, turning on her phone that had been off sincest night, and surveyed her surroundings. In the sunlight streaming through therge windows, she saw a round table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows and carried her breakfast over.

    There was a stack of newspapers on the table, likely where he had sat for breakfast while reading.

    Remembering Eric''s offhand mention of ESPN''s cooperation with the NFL, Candace, despite herck of interest in sports, found herself flipping through the newspapers curiously while eating breakfast.

    Sure enough, <i>The New York Times</i> had a significant article covering the negotiation between ESPN and the NFL.

    Previously, ESPN had negotiated broadcast rights for NFL games on a yearly or per-season basis. However, this time, ESPN ambitiously sought to secure an eight-year, exclusive broadcast contract. If sessful, ESPN would gain exclusive rights to broadcast NFL games weekly.

    Candace wasn''t deeply familiar with the specialized analyses in the newspaper articles but gasped when she saw the staggering total of $9 billion in contract value. The enormity of that figure was beyond herprehension; could NFL broadcast rights truly be worth so much? After all, ESPN was under Firefly''s umbre -- they wouldn''t suffer losses from this, would they?

    Lost in her thoughts, her phone suddenly rang. As she answered, a somewhat screechy voice filled the receiver.

    "..."

    Listening to her best friend Sonia bombard her with questions with no signs of stopping, Candace soon had to interrupt, "Alright, alright, Sonia, I admit I slept with him, so please stop nagging me."

    A series of gasps came from the other end. Candace helplessly moved the receiver a bit away from her ear until Sonia finished. "Come on, Sonia! I hope to find my own Mr. Big, but this guy is Mr. Biggest! A fragile little woman like me could get crushed by him; it was just one night!"

    "..."

    "I don''t know why either; I was just a bit dazed when he took me back. Furthermore, now that you mention it, those women at the party with their glowing eyes probably hate me! I guess I need to be more careful these days to avoid getting set up."

    "..."

    "Oh, right now," Candace heard another question from Sonia, ncing out the window at Central Park, basked in sunshine. Early autumn had stripped the park of its summer vibrancy, but the contrasting reds and yellows still painted a beautiful mosaic. "I''m in a penthouse condo at the entrance to Sixth Avenue, enjoying breakfast made by Mr. Biggest himself while taking in the stunning views of Central Park and uptown. I have to admit; the view is just breathtaking. If I could, I would love to stay here forever -- even as a maid."

    "..."

    "He''s already off to work! He''s not going to lounge around like us little women... What? There''s no way you''re getting in! You could cause some chaos, and I won''t let that happen -- no way!"

    "..."

    Sonia continued with who-knows-what on the other end, making Candace blush and huff in frustration, but the relentless questions kepting.

    "Oh my gosh, you shameless woman!" Candace squeaked, her cheeks flushed and a smile creeping onto her lips as she growled out loud.

    After a moment, seemingly overwhelmed by her friend''s relentless teasing, she stuttered for a bit, her fingers unconsciously gesturing, "I guess he''s a bit dominant -- you know, in bed -- then, um, veryfortable. He could definitely take you to another realm, soaring through the night, but you''d still be able to walk back to your own ce by the next morning... Ah, you jerk! You think I''m scandalous? You were the one who asked those dirty questions first! Oh, I get it! You''re just jealous! Yes, jealous! Hmph!"

    ...

    Eric''s ce was less than two miles from ABC''s headquarters on West 67th Street. While Candace discussed him with her friend, Eric had already arrived at ABC.

    Today, they would be discussing a matter extremely crucial for ESPN and the entire Firefly television division -- the $9 billion broadcast rights deal involving the NFL.

    Of the hundreds of cableworks that had emerged in the United States, ESPN was undoubtedly the most dazzling. Since thete 1980s, thanks to securing extensive broadcast rights for various sports events, ESPN had be the go-to televisionwork for sports fans across North America. Indeed, ESPN also stood out as the cablework with the highest average subscription fees, with its average user share surpassing one dor, while even thepeting Turner Broadcasting''s averages hovered around 68 cents. In fact, the average subscription fee for all cableworks in North America was only about 20 cents, less than one-sixth of ESPN''s.

    In Eric''s memory, ESPN was valued at approximately $75 billion, ounted for nearly one-quarter of Disney''s overall revenue at the time. After the decline of public television stations, ESPN''s profits and revenue ounted for more than half of Disney''s total television revenue.

    While Eric was not deeply entrenched in sports, he understood that in the new century, against a backdrop of emerging sportsworks, ESPN maintained its dominant industry position due to monopolizing the rights to numerous live sporting events.

    As America''s favored sport, NFL broadcast rights were naturally under ESPN''s hold.

    Eric hadn''t fully grasped ESPN''s trajectory until recently when ESPN President Steve Bornstein presented an ambitious n to monopolize the NFL broadcast rights, highlighting how ESPN had risen to such power.

    Currently, ESPN had around 90 million subscribers, with an average subscription fee of $1.30. The total annual revenue from broadcast rights and advertising exceeded $2 billion. Thus, when the enormous $9 billion n was unveiled, Robert Iger, who had just taken over television operations from Tom Murphy, was taken aback. Iger found Bornstein''s proposal very enticing yet deemed the likelihood of its implementation slim. Though his expectations were muted, he still submitted the proposal to Katzenberg.

    Katzenberg, with his sharp perspective, recognized the tremendous potential of the proposal, but also the significant risks hidden within it. If they were to secure the contract for $9 billion but failed to deliver the projected returns, the consequences could be disastrous. Additionally, there was another disadvantage -- securing all broadcasting rights at a price surpassing 50% of the existing rates would inevitably lead other sports leagues to raise their prices. If after the contract was secured, ESPN''s revenue did not meet expectations, the newly inted licensing costs would slowly drag ESPN into the mud.

    In the end, Katzenberg couldn''t make a decision and had to refer the matter back to Eric himself.

    While aware that monopolizing various live sports broadcasts was the route to maintaining ESPN''s dominant position, Eric was still taken aback when he first saw the potential contract amount of $9 billion. He had intended to keep Firefly''s operations stable in theing years, avoiding drastic moves, yet he knew of ESPN''s glorious past. After Steve Bornstein personally borated on the various stakes tied to the contract, Eric ultimately agreed, leading to today''s high-level meeting.

    In the meeting room at ABC headquarters, apart from Eric, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Frank Wells, Robert Iger, and other top executives, alongside board representatives like Tom Murphy and Warren Buffett sat attentively, focused as they listened to ESPN CEO Steve Bornstein discussing the oues of the negotiation with the NFL.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 752 - 753: That’s just unreasonable

    <h4>Chapter 752: Chapter 753: That''s just unreasonable</h4>

    [Chapter 753: That''s just unreasonable]

    "...After signing the contract, for the next eight years, ESPN will secure exclusive broadcasting rights for the NFL weekly games, as well as the rights to broadcast the Super Bowl in 1998 and 2001. Furthermore, ESPN will also hold official rights to air event programming, which means that viewers can legally record NFL games using their VCRs. We will be able to promote this power publicly through our channels," said ESPN President Steve Bornstein as he concluded his briefing on the negotiations with the National Football League to the assembled team.

    While he had already secured Eric''s support, he still needed to convince the other stakeholders in Firefly. Although Eric had absolute control, he wanted to avoid any significant discord with the other shareholders since it could jeopardize Firefly''s stable development.

    Tom Murphy, who had just stepped down as the CEO of the television division, was quietly reading documents when Steve finished. He raised his head and was the first to speak. "Steve, ESPN already holds a dominant market share in the industry and has be the go-to channel for sports fans. So, do you think it''s necessary for us to pay more than a 50% premium to enter into a high-risk eight-year contract for exclusive NFL broadcasting rights?"

    Steve Bornstein replied, "Mr. Murphy, while ESPN currently enjoys a leading market share, that doesn''t mean we can becent. In recent years,petitors like NBC, CBS, and FOX have ramped up their investments in sports channels. Even though ESPN has a significant advantage, if we allow this situation to continue, our market share could gradually be eaten away by otherworks, and we may lose our absolute edge."

    Tom Murphy shook his head slightly. "Steve, I haven''t seen any reports that support this. It sounds more like your personal spection and a bit rmist. The industry dominance of a cable channel isn''t easily dismantled."

    Steve Bornstein countered, "Mr. Murphy, I''m not being rmist. There''s a very clear example from recent years. Since its inception in the 1980s, CNN''s position in the news channel sector is very simr to ESPN''s in the sports channel arena. However, in recent years, Fox News hase up fast. Founded less than five years ago, this news channel, backed by News Corporation''s extensive global mediawork, has achieved a market share of 50%. At this growth rate, Fox News could match CNN before the year 2000. The industry position of ESPN can be broken more easily.

    If other media groups possess the guts to aggressively snatch broadcasting rights away from us, a decline for ESPN is entirely foreseeable. Therefore, securing an exclusive eight-year broadcasting rights agreement can effectively cut off the possibility of other sportsworkspeting for our resources, ensuring we won''t have to worry aboutpetitive threats for the next eight years."

    Warren Buffett chimed in, "Steve, let''s discuss expected revenues. You mentioned in your report that after securing exclusive NFL broadcasting rights, ESPN''s average annual subscription revenue would increase by 20%. With that growth rate, ESPN''s average user subscription price would exceed $2 in less than five years, which is already ten times the average subscription price of standard cable channels. Do you think viewers would ept that?"

    "Mr. Buffett, this price increase is a long-term process. Moreover, we''re not dealing directly with subscribers; our partners are cable operators. On the other hand, our negotiations with operators primarily hinge on viewership ratings. If we obtain exclusive broadcasting rights, viewers will have no other choice but to watch NFL games on ESPN. Therefore, as ESPN''s viewership rises, a corresponding increase in subscription revenue is inevitable, and operators will have no other options."

    Buffett nodded with a smile. He nced at another external board member from Firefly, David West, president of State Street Global Advisors. David shrugged with a smile and said, "After hearing Steve''s presentation, I find it hard to oppose this agreement."

    Eric finally turned to Tom Murphy, who also nodded slightly. Though he had always been a cautious operator and still thought the n was too risky, he realized that,pared to the potential rewards, this risk was worth taking.

    "Well then, it''s settled. We''ll proceed with this n, and thepany will inform everyone about the subsequent signing matters in a timely manner," Eric stated. He added, "Now that we''re all here today, let''s take this opportunity to discuss the group''s financial situation for the first three quarters. Carolyn?"

    As Eric spoke, he looked toward the group''s CFO, Carolyn Elliott, who nodded as she opened the prepared documents.

    ...

    As the morning meeting concluded, Eric and Katzenberg hosted Buffett and his group for lunch at the ABC headquarters restaurant. As they were leaving, Buffett pulled Eric aside. "Eric, do you have time next Thursday?"

    Eric looked puzzled for a moment, then realized that Thursday, November 2, was still open on his calendar. He nodded and replied, "Sure, Warren. I''ll probably be in New York until November 10, as you know, after the <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> wraps up."

    "Great. There''s a gathering then, and some of my old friends are all eager to meet you. I hope you''re interested?"

    Warren Buffett''s old friend gathering immediately made Eric think of the renowned Graham''s disciples meeting. Benjamin Graham, an esteemed economist, was known as the "father of modern security analysis," much like Einstein in the realm of physics. Buffett had been one of his students during Graham''s teaching tenure at Columbia University and had subsequently organized these gatherings, which included top-tier entrepreneurs, bankers, and fund managers capable of influencing the country''s economic direction.

    Eric understood that as his personal business expanded, it was inevitable that hispanies would intersect with these major capital yers. Buffett wouldn''t casually invite outsiders to such elite gatherings, and given that he''d extended an invitation, Eric certainly wouldn''t be foolish enough to refuse. Even if a coboration didn''t materializeter on, meeting these people would undoubtedly be beneficial.

    After a moment of thought, Eric asked, "Warren, can I bring someone along?"

    Buffettughed, "Of course! It''s not too formal; everyone will bring someone along."

    Eric replied, "No, I meant a good friend of mine, Chris Hansen, who currently manages my Firefly Investment Company."

    While this meeting of investment tycoons might not directly benefit Eric, it would definitely give Chris ess to invaluable connections. That''s why Eric quickly thought of him.

    Buffett pondered for a moment before nodding. "No problem. He''s a very promising young man."

    With that, Buffett pulled out a notepad and quickly jotted down an address, handing it to Eric. "Next Thursday at 7 PM."

    Eric epted the note and tucked it away. "Absolutely, we''ll be there on time."

    After seeing Buffett and the others off, Eric returned to the ABC headquarters building with Katzenberg.

    ...

    After spending two more days in Manhattan, on October 31, the day before Halloween, Eric promptly headed back to the Hamptons.

    East Hampton was essentially a vacation town. After the summer and fall seasons, most people returned to their residences in Manhattan, and women and children moved back to the populous Southampton just before Halloween. Although the estates here were much smaller than those in East Hampton, there were many full-time neighbors, and holiday festivities would be quite lively.

    As he drove into his estate, Eric got out and walked into the vi. The twins, sitting on the living room couch watching TV, got up to greet him; it seemed Drew hade to New York as well. MGM''s stock was set to be reissued on December 9, so MGM President Frank Mancuso had been staying in New York during this period, and Drew hade today not only for Halloween but likely also to discuss this matter.

    With the twins helping him take off his coat, Eric looked at the two girls and asked, "Why is it so quiet? Where''s Drew? Are there any others?"

    "The boss and Ms. Pac went shopping, and Ms. Madsen is upstairs with the kids," they replied.

    "Oh well, you all keep watching TV," Eric said, switching shoes as he headed upstairs.

    On the second floor, the door of a sunlit lounge room was ajar. Eric walked in to see Virginia facing away from him, seemingly engrossed in a book, surrounded by three little ones.

    He smiled and approached, giving Virginia a quick kiss, eliciting a light gasp from her.

    "Oh, you scared me," Virginia said, yfully hitting Eric andughing.

    Eric leaned over the armrest of the couch to see what book Virginia was reading. "What are you reading?"

    Virginia gesture to the cover, revealing it was yet another volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

    Shaking his head, Eric looked at the three kids. Hawaii, sitting closest to Virginia, had bright, sparkling eyes, as if she eagerly awaited Virginia to continue reading. The other two looked rather wilted, with Emma casting a desperate nce at Eric, herrge eyes glistening with tears, as if she was on the verge of crying.

    "Do you not want to listen? Come on, Daddy will take you to y," Eric said, stretching his hands towards the kids. While Hawaii remained still, Emma and Kevin cheered and rushed over.

    Virginia was not having it, holding Eric back. "Hey, you can take Emma to y, but Kevin stays with me! I''ve only read three pages!"

    Eric felt a little helpless. "Do you think my son can understand?"

    Virginia still wouldn''t let go. "But Elia can read on her own; Kevin can''t fall too far behind."

    "Don''t fuss over the kid. A little two-year-old doesn''t understand anything; you aren''t expecting Kevin to ace Harvard by three, are you?"

    "But Elia can read already," Virginia muttered again, her eyes suddenly expressing some grievance as she red at Eric. "You y favorites; Elia is so smart."

    Eric sighed, feeling exasperated. "Now, that''s just unreasonable! How am I supposed to control that?"

    "Anyway, you''re being biased!" Virginia protested more intively, tossing the Encyclopedia Britannica at Eric''s feet and turning away from him, curling up on the couch.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 753 - 754: The Web

    <h4>Chapter 753: Chapter 754: The Web</h4>

    [Chapter 754: The Web]

    Seeing Virginia curled up on the couch, sulking a little, Eric had no choice but to call the maid to take the three little ones away. He then squished onto the couch and gathered the woman into his arms, saying, "Alright, being strong has its limits. Elia''s situation is a bit special; you shouldn''t alwayspare her to Kevin."

    Virginia leaned into Eric''s embrace, murmuring, "I know, I just worry... I''m afraid you won''t like Kevin in the future."

    Hearing Virginia''s somewhat hesitant words, Eric realized her concerns ran deeper than just that. Although she had never mentioned the Hawaii Fund in front of him, the overseas investment fund he had whimsically established in his daughter''s name had made an impression on Virginia. With Nokia''s market value skyrocketing in recent years, the 51% stake in Nokia held by the Hawaii Fund had exceeded $3 billion. From Virginia''s anxious little details over the years, Eric could sense her worries about the future.

    Everyone had their biases, and Eric acknowledged he couldn''t always be neutral. Even though the births of the two little ones had been unexpected, he felt no resistance; rather, he was reassured. At least, in this strange world, he had two close rtives by blood.

    Holding Virginia, after a moment of contemtion, Eric said, "Vicki, Buffett invited me to a gathering on Thursday. Why don''t youe with me?"

    Virginia realized that since Eric had addressed her so seriously, the gathering would certainly not be an ordinary party. Bringing her along would, in essence, publicly acknowledge certain aspects of her identity. With noticeable surprise, she lifted her head but soon hesitated, asking, "What about Joan?"

    "I''ll talk to her. You know Joan isn''t too interested in these things."

    Biting her lip for a moment, Virginia seemed to muster a great deal of resolve before shaking her head, "No, I don''t want this to affect my rtionship with Joan."

    "I told you, Joan will definitely understand. It''s settled then. In the next couple of days, choose a nice dress," Eric patted Virginia, not allowing her to refute, and changed the subject. "Let''s talk about movies. What do you think about your recent project?"

    With Eric changing the subject, Virginia let her guard down, replying, "Ever since <i>The Sixth Sense</i>, it feels like I can only y a mother now. This time, I''m a single mother."

    Eric chuckled, "At least you''re a beautiful single mother."

    Just then, the sound of quick footsteps scampered in, and before Eric could turn his head, a small, fragrant body dashed between him and Virginia, pushing her aside, and affectionately called out, "Eric!"

    Of course, it was Drew.

    Annoyed, Virginia swatted Drew on the thigh as she was pushed aside, but the girl didn''t take it seriously. Giggles erupted as she kicked a bit and nestled back against Eric.

    Virginia had no choice but to get up and clear the single chair, straightening out her somewhat messy clothing. "It''s almost time to prepare dinner, so don''t make too much noise."

    After Virginia left the room, Eric wrapped his arm around Drew''s waist and asked, "When did you arrive in New York?"

    Drew kicked off her tan leather boots and snuggled beside Eric. "Not long ago. I flew in this morning with Amy. She''s off to Manhattan to meet Frank."

    Eric only kept an ear on MGM''s general situation and didn''t meddle in the specific operations. He hadn''t expected Amy Pascal toe to New York as well. He asked, "With the film release window at the end of the year being so critical, is it appropriate for all three of you to leave Los Angeles?"

    "This is a very important matter -- discussing adjustments to the pricing of the stock offering. The Nasdaq index has risen 16% in the past few months, exceeding 750 points. If we stick to the pricing from a few months ago, we''d be at a disadvantage. Anyway, we only have <i>Scream</i> and <i>Mean Girls</i>, both low-budget films, so it won''t be a problem to step away for a few days."

    Eric recalled how the Nasdaq index had indeed skyrocketed since 1995; his rebirth hadn''t changed much. Listening to Drew, he pinched her cheek and smiled, "Not bad, you can rattle off so many professional terms. Looks like you''ve been studying hard these past few months."

    Drew yfully nipped at Eric''s fingers, pouting, "Ugh, does that mean I was stupid before?"

    "Not stupid, just smart in the wrong ways," Eric dodged her teeth, asking, "After the price adjustment, how much funding can we raise?"

    "After all the fees are taken out, around $1.05 billion," Drew replied and then added, "Oh, by the way, when we arrived yesterday, Seymour Gilbert, the chairman of Morgan Stanley, invited us to a cocktail party tomorrow night. He asked if you were free to join?"

    Thanks to Chris, the Fireflywork had always maintained close cooperation with Morgan Stanley. Besides this MGM stock offering, they had been preparing for AOL''s IPO and Nokia''s stock listing in the U.S. for over six months, all handled by Morgan Stanley. The IPO for AOL and the public listing for Nokia were both set for next January. Unless major disagreements arose, Yahoo''s IPO would certainly fall under Morgan Stanley''s purview. However, Eric had never met Seymour Gilbert, Morgan Stanley''s chairman. Since the opportunity had presented itself, he nodded in agreement. "Sure, where''s it going to be?"

    "In Manhattan..." Drew tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "I can''t remember the exact address, but someone will pick us up."

    Eric nodded. "Since the offering is set for December 9, we should increase the marketing efforts for <i>Scream</i>, which is set to release on Thanksgiving. While the market is confident in MGM, the sess of this low-budget film could still yield positive effects."

    "I know, Amy thought of that too. The production budget for this film is $14 million, and we n to invest $10 million in marketing. If the opening week goes well, we can continue to add funds."

    Eric continued, "Additionally, since there aren''t any issues with the offering, MGM won''tck for funding in the next few years. So, you all should work on getting back the movie licensing MGM has authorized to others."

    Drew nodded, looking at Eric, waiting for him to continue.

    Eric had been considering the issue of a pay cable channel. Currently, thebined libraries of Firefly, Fox, and MGM had surpassed 10,000 films, yet none of the threepanies had a dedicated pay cable channel for movie broadcasts and had to sell the rights to others. The best option would have been to acquire HBO from Time Warner, which hadn''t been doing so well recently. Eric had hoped for that opportunity, but during Terry Semel''s visit regarding Lifetime, he had casually probed the matter, only to be met with a firm rejection.

    Although HBO hadn''t yet gained fame through original series like <i>Sex and the City</i> or <i>The Sopranos</i>, it was still a solid asset thanks to Time Warner''s cable operations. Even if Terry Semel were agreeable to a spin-off sale, the Time Warner board wouldn''t approve it. Thus, unless he intended to swallow up Time Warner entirely, buying HBO would be a tall order.

    Considering all this, Eric continued, "You guys tackle those tasks, and stop all new television broadcasting authorizations right away. I''m nning tounch a dedicated pay cable channel for movies next year, with a coboration between Firefly, MGM, and Fox."

    "Can''t it just be between us two?" Drew twisted around on Eric.

    "You know my n," Eric chuckled, "So, if you''re unwilling to deal with Liz, just let Amy and the others handle it."

    "Fine, fine."

    ...

    The two chatted for an unknown amount of time until they heard a gentle knock on the door. Eric turned to see Joanna standing at the door, looking at them. "Eric, Drew, it''s time for dinner."

    "Okay," Eric pulled Drew up, and they walked into the corridor where Joanna lightly tugged at his sleeve.

    Noticing Joanna seemed to have something to say, he nudged Drew, "You go ahead. We''ll be right there."

    Drew winked at him yfully but remained silent as she headed towards the stairs.

    "What''s up?" After watching Drew disappear, Eric asked Joanna.

    "Come with me," Joanna led Eric to her bedroom and pulled out a pink gift box from her bedside drawer, handing it to him. "Terry Semel had someone send this over this morning."

    Eric tugged the delicate card from the gift box, seeing a line that read: For the beautiful and intelligent Miss Hawaii Williams, from Terry Semel.

    Chuckling, Eric tore open the wrapping paper. Inside was a VHS tape, beautifully boxed with a picture of penguins on the cover. The title was <i>The World of Penguins</i>.

    Judging by the look, it appeared to be a documentary. Eric remembered an iconic film Warner had released in his past life titled <i>March of the Penguins</i>, but this was clearly something else.

    Joanna''s expression showed she recognized the cover of the tape and proceeded to recount the small incident that transpired between Terry Semel and Hawaii that day.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 754 - 755: Lost

    <h4>Chapter 754: Chapter 755: Lost</h4>

    [Chapter 755: Lost]

    Eric listened as Joanna recounted the events of the day while browsing through the tape he held.

    Although it was titled <i>The World of Penguins</i>, the back of the box listed over 20 different sources, including various movies and documentaries. As the CEO of a major media group, Terry Semel could easily arrange such a thing with just a fewmands. However, even so, it was clear that this tape had involved considerable thought.

    After flipping through it for a while, Eric began to piece together some details. He nced up at Joanna, who stood quietly by his side, and noticed her carefully studying his expression.

    Seeing Eric look over, Joanna''s eyes flickered with unease. "Should I just return the tape to him?"

    Her expression not only confirmed Eric''s suspicions but also made him understand even more.

    At its core, this was a sensitive subject -- race. Joanna was Jewish, and ording to Jewish tradition, Hawaii was also considered Jewish.

    Despite their strong presence in America and worldwide for various reasons, those who understood the deeper truths knew that Jews had faced intense exclusion and discrimination for centuries. The notion that Jews controlled America was even more absurd. Historical usations that Jews instigated economic crises and wars were essentially scapegoating.

    Centuries of persecution had instilled in Jews a powerful sense ofmunity -- almost instinctual. On the flip side, they greatly valued intelligence. A few days ago, Hawaii''s extraordinary cleverness had left asting impression on Terry Semel, which likely had also fostered a natural affinity due to his Jewish roots. Coupled with Eric''s daughter''s identity, that exined the little gift they received today.

    Firefly Group and Time Warner were, after all,petitors. Terry Semel''s motivations surely didn''t stem from a desire for profit; rather, he likely hoped to foster goodwill.

    Eric even thought about how over the years, whether for holidays or the kids'' birthdays, aside from close friends, executives from Firefly Group and other Hollywoodpanies had also gone out of their way to send gifts to the two little ones -- probably for the same reason. Only a nce at Hawaii''s gift would surely confirm it was even morevish. Though many shareholders of the seven major film studios had changed hands over the years and many had moved away from Jewish control, most of Hollywood''s studio executives were still Jewish. At Firefly, for instance, of the three key yers, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Robert Iger were both Jewish, aside from Frank Wells.

    As Eric contemted these matters, he noticed Joanna''s growing apprehension and self-doubt waiting for his reply. Wait a minute -- self-doubt?

    He recalled a previous conversation with Elisabeth where she casually mentioned her family wasn''t Jewish, wearing an air of superiority. Eric sighed internally, thinking, "What a tangled mess this all is."

    Throwing the tape aside, Eric pulled Joanna in for an embrace and kissed her cheek gently. "After all these years, you should know I don''t care about race or heritage. Hawaii and Kevin are my kids, and that won''t change. So, don''t dwell on these nonsensical concerns anymore."

    Joanna leaned against Eric and quietly hummed in acknowledgment, then asked softly, "What about the tape?"

    "Just take the time to show it to Hawaii. And don''t forget to thank Terry Semel for his thoughtful gesture. It''s always nice to acknowledge other people''s kindness," Eric reflected for a moment and added, "You don''t have to refuse such goodwill in the future. Generally, a sense ofmunity and connection won''t harm you or Hawaii."

    "I understand," Joanna leaned against Eric''s shoulder for a moment, feeling relieved. Then she gently pushed away, straightening his cor. "Let''s go eat; they''re probably waiting for us."

    "Wait, there''s one more thing." Eric held Joanna back and exined about Virginia: "So I n to take Vicki to Buffett''s gathering in a couple of days. While I wouldn''t mind taking you both along, we need to consider the feelings of those old guys who can only watch and not partake. So maybe next time I can take you with me."

    Joanna chuckled at the double entendre in Eric''s words and yfully tapped his shoulder. "It''s fine; I really don''t care about these things much. Just take Vicki."

    "Looks like we''re alike; I''m not that interested either. But you can''t always refuse these things," Eric joked with Joanna as they left the room together.

    ...

    Despite having experienced a few minor interruptions, the Halloween dinner proceeded in a lively atmosphere.

    After dinner, the women insisted on adorning Eric and the kids in their Halloween costumes. He and Emma donned identical outfits that were overly simplistic, consisting only of two glowing antennae on their heads -- blue for the boy and pink for the girl -- undoubtedly a nod to his <i>Men in ck</i> attire.

    By now, the sky hadpletely darkened. However, the streets of Southampton were festooned with lights and decorations, with many children starting to wander around for candy. There were even reports of a Halloween parade downtown.

    Eric stood at the changing room, watching Drew, Virginia, and Ewa dressed in various ridiculous costumes with the twins'' assistance, while Joanna managed the throngs of kids demanding candy at the door.

    As Eric looked at Virginia made up as Bloody Mary, he asked, "With Joanna staying home, are the three of you really going to go join the Halloween parade? Can I handle all three by myself?"

    Virginia, applying red lipstick, replied in a silly tone, "This is a great opportunity for you to bond with the little ones."

    "I''m just worried about their safety. The streets could get chaotic. Can''t anyone apany me? I at least need two people," he pressed.

    Drew, attempting to fit her clown essories, pointed to the twins. "Let Natasha go with you."

    "Her?"

    Ewa chimed in, "Come on, Eric! You''re such a buzzkill. We''ve finally got some time to enjoy ourselves."

    Virginia impatiently urged, "Yeah, go outside already! I still need to change."

    With that, Eric was shoved out the door, along with one of the twins who ended up with a pair of pink glowing antennae handed to her, as they had prepared quite a bit for this event.

    ...

    Although they''d gone trick-or-treatingst year, Emma evidently had forgotten. Both little ones looked puzzled, unsure of what their dad had nned next, and it seemed rather frightening to them.

    Downstairs, Joanna was cheerfully distributing candy from a box full for the children outside who chorused "Trick or treat!"

    After sending off a wave of little trick-or-treaters, Joanna opened the door, signaling Eric to take the kids outside.

    Eric carefully touched the soft antennae on his head and said to Joanna, "I feel a bit ridiculous."

    Joanna leaned down to straighten Emma''s pretty little dress and smiled at Eric. "Why would you feel strange? Haven''t you ever done Halloween before?"

    Eric thought the women might have been in cahoots; usually, mothers took the kids trick-or-treating. What was a big man like him doing with three small kids?

    It seemed that after observing the earlier group of children, Emma began to get excited, tugging at Eric''s sleeve and babbling to go outside.

    "Alright, alright, let''s go," Eric finally relented, taking Emma''s hand while she clutched onto Kevin and Hawaii, with the twins quietly trailing behind them as they headed out.

    This was a neighborhood in the southern part of Southampton. Exiting their estate, the street was alive with decorations, with pumpkinnterns everywhere, and throngs of kids scurrying door to door under adult supervision.

    Although it had been over a year since <i>Men in ck</i> had premiered, the blue antennae costume was still very popr, with numerous kids running around sporting the glowing headgear. Oddly, few adults wore such costumes. The twins, naturally a bit shy, didn''t wear the antennae Drew had given them when they left, making Eric''s own bright blue ones stand out even more. After all,pared to the movie, his "cosy" was quite spot on.

    Initially timid, the little ones grew bolder after visiting a few houses, expertly shouting "Trick or treat!" and scoring quite a bit of candy. Even Hawaii seemed genuinely curious, contemting why saying that phrase brought treats. She even pointed to strangers'' Halloween costumes, asking various questions along the way.

    Eric decided to let the little ones lead the way as they continued many of their visits, switching streets at the end to explore a bit longer. It wasn''t until the six of them suddenly found themselves at the edge of an unfamiliarke that it dawned on Eric they''d wandered off quite a distance.

    They were lost...

    Stopping Kevin, who was about to try eating the candy wrapper, Eric cradled his son, looking at the twins beside him. "Do you girls know where we are?"

    The twins paused, looking at each other cluelessly. "Master, we don''t know either," they replied.

    "Alright, what about the phone?"

    One of the twins rummaged through her pocket and handed Eric their cellphone.

    He dialed home, and when Joanna learned Eric had lost the three little ones, even herposed demeanor couldn''t suppress herughter. Yet, she managed to gather their surroundings and assured them she would soone to pick them up.

    After hanging up, Eric returned the phone to Natasha and looked around, leading the kids towards a bench under themplight by theke.

    Sitting on the bench with Kevin in his arms, Eric motioned for the twins to sit beside him and began sorting through their basket of collected goodies with the children.

    ...

    After chatting with the children for a while, a chill breeze blew through, bringing a faint fragrance in the cool air. Eric nced over at Natasha and her sister seated beside him, realizing how little he actually knew them since they had always been with Drew. Curious, he idly asked, "I just realized, how old are you two this year?"

    The sisters turned towards Eric with puzzled expressions, quickly confirming he was speaking to them. The girl on his left answered, "Master, we are twenty-one."

    "Oh, what a coincidence! That''s the same age as Drew," Eric nodded, smiling. "I thought you two were my age."

    The twins were uncertain of what he meant, carefully holding the children in their arms, bowing their heads slightly.

    Eric remembered another question and asked, "By the way, where are your parents?"

    The same girl on the left replied, "They''re in Iowa; the boss bought a farm there."

    Eric nodded, feeling that was a decent arrangement. He asked, "Do you miss home?"

    This time, the twins disyed the same confused expression.

    Eric was puzzled as well and exined, "I mean, do you want to go back..." Considering he didn''t know specifically where they were from, he just used the previous term, "Do you want to go back to the Soviet Union?"

    As soon as he said this, he noticed the girl on the left''s face pale slightly, shaking her head urgently. "No, I don''t want to."

    Eric realized the copse of the Soviet Union had profoundly affected her but didn''t realize the depth of that fear. He sighed and asked, "What about in the future? What do you n to do?"

    The left girl''s cheeks flushed noticeably; she cautiously nced at Eric and softly replied, "Whatever the boss says, we do."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 755 - 756: I Can Talk Movies with Them

    <h4>Chapter 755: Chapter 756: I Can Talk Movies with Them</h4>

    [Chapter 756: I Can Talk Movies with Them]

    "Eric, Chris, let me introduce you. This is John Neff. To be honest, I don''t agree with many of his economic views, but we can''t deny that under John''s leadership, the Windsor Fund has nearly outperformed the Dow Jones by over 3% annually for the past twenty years."

    It was the day after Halloween in Queens, New York, and Eric arrived punctually at the gathering Buffett mentioned, held in a wealthy vi in the area.

    Upon hearing Buffett mention the Windsor Fund, Eric raised an eyebrow slightly but maintained a warm demeanor as he extended his hand to shake with the older gentleman who somewhat resembled Buffett, even sporting simr tortoiseshell-frame sses.

    "Hello, Eric and Chris," John Neff said, a broad smile on his face as he shook hands with both of them. He nced at Buffett with a touch of dissatisfaction, "Hey, Warren, are you criticizing me in front of these young folks again? We should set aside some time to discuss your views on the efficient market hypothesis."

    "Of course, I have all the time in the world," Buffett chuckled before adding, "But now, I need to introduce these two young men to some other old-timers."

    In response, Buffett raised his ss toward John Neff and led Eric and Chris over to another gentleman in his sixties. "Another John," Buffett said as he lifted his ss. "John Bogle, this is Eric and Chris. You should meet."

    Chris, on the other side of Buffett, eagerly reached out to John Bogle, "Mr. Bogle, I''m Chris Hansen. It''s great to meet you. Oh, I''ve read many of your economics papers in college."

    "Hello, Chris. I know you; Firefly Investment Company has done a remarkable job with its portfolio in recent years. Perhaps we can chat sometime."

    "Absolutely, if I have that honor," Chris nodded vigorously, giving Eric the impression of a fan meeting a superstar.

    Then again, this wasn''t too surprising; Buffett wasn''t the only big name in the room. Many attendees were infamous figures in the investment world.

    Eric had done some homework on John Bogle; even without that, the name behind the Vanguard Group was legendary enough. He recalled that at its peak, the firm controlled more than a trillion in assets. Even now, Vanguard managed around $200 billion -- a substantial amount surpassing even Eric''s considerable wealth.

    From his encounters with major yers like Seymour Gilbert of Morgan Stanley yesterday to this morning''s introductions by Buffett, Eric had slowlye to realize that what represented a person''s power was not merely how many resources they possessed but rather how much they could control.

    Although he had harbored simr thoughts before, witnessing the capital moguls over the past few days had sharpened this realization. John Bogle, despite his personal wealth being dwarfed by Eric''s, maintained firm control over over $200 billion in assets. The board memberships those assets represented among <i>Fortune</i> 500panies were the true power the big funds wielded to influence industries and even national economies.

    ...

    As Buffett made his rounds throughout the hall, he stopped by a bar and exchanged his drink. He chatted with Eric and Chris for a bit before saying, "Alright, Eric, feel free to mingle with anyone you''re interested in. Of course, you can also meet some of these young folks your age."

    Chris seemed eager to engage, raising his ss towards Eric and Buffett before heading off to another corner. As a top finance student, it was clear he admired many of the investment legends in the venue -- far more qualified than those so-called economists who only talked big.

    The hall also housed numerous young people, presumably the proteges of the older veterans. Just then, a silver-haired elder walked over with a man in his thirties. "Hey, Warren, good evening! Oh, and Eric, let me introduce my brother''s son, Nate. He''s currently an investment manager at the Cahn Brothers Company."

    Knowing they were primarily interested in Buffett, Eric smiled at them before stepping away.

    ...

    After wandering through the crowd for a while, Virginia noticed Eric and approached him. "What are you discussing?"

    Eric raised his ss toward the group of women he had just been chatting with nearby and grinned at the woman linking her arm with his. "Movies and fashion and stuff, nothing you big men would be interested in."

    Eric chuckled, "Oh, I''m actually quite interested in those things."

    As they conversed, a male voice called from behind, "Hey, Eric."

    Turning around, Eric spotted Bill Gates and his wife. He smiled and extended his hand, "Hey, good evening, Bill, Melinda, this is Virginia Madsen."

    "Hello, Ms. Madsen. Melinda and I happened to watch your movie when we were dating, <i>The Others</i>, right?"

    "Yes, quite the surprise that was, years ago," Virginia said graciously as she shook hands with Bill and Melinda Gates.

    Since the sess of Windows 95, Microsoft had rapidly elerated its engagement in the inte industry within the past six months. Not only had theyunched a portal, but they''d even started acting as an inte service provider, seemingly following the old tactic of "shooting down a goose that flies by, whether you eat it or not." At this point, they werepeting head-to-head with Yahoo! and America Online.

    Eric had kept a keen eye on Microsoft''s business activities. From their recentckluster expansion results, he sensed no need to overreact to Microsoft''s potential threat.

    With the significant loss of the browser as a vital inte interface, he was less optimistic about Microsoft''s inte prospectspared to the past. Besides, with Windows 95''s sess granting Microsoft monopoly status in operating systems, the symptoms of corporate bloat had begun appearing, leading to loss of agility. Despite having vast resources, entering a rapidly evolving industry wouldn''t be easy.

    Although a fiercepetition had clearly begun behind the scenes, both sides maintained a facade of politeness. After a brief discussion, although they both remained polite, Eric sensed they wouldn''t find muchmon ground. As they parted ways, Eric raised his arm for Virginia to link hers and said, "Let''s go. Since Warren brought me here, I shouldn''t waste his good intentions; connecting with these old-timers is definitely beneficial."

    Virginia nced at Chris, who was animatedly chatting with a bespectacled middle-aged man alongside Emily, and smiled, "Sure, but in this setting, you probably won''t be asfortable as Chris."

    "That''s fine," Ericughed, "I can talk movies with them."

    "Ha ha."

    Quietly chatting, Eric made his way with Virginia into the crowd.

    In such settings, people typically engaged in less serious business; mainly, it was about cultivating connections.

    Years prior, Eric often found himself in a whirlwind of busyness, not particrly fond of such social gatherings, so he had been oblivious to this.

    But recently, reflecting on a series of details -- from the video Terry Semel recorded for his daughter to Morgan Stanley Chairman Seymour Gilbert inviting him to yesterday''s party and today, Buffett bringing him here -- Eric began to feel the omnipresent "web" pulling him in. Various groups, different powers, and diverse industries... What they all shared was significant influence and an undeniable desire to reel him into theirworks to amplify their own strength.

    ...

    After this party, the end of the year began to loom closer, and Eric''s more rxed lifestyle wasing to an end.

    In the following week, the most closely watched event by most media across the U.S. would undoubtedly be the uing second annual <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i>.

    This year''s show was scheduled for November 9th, a Thursday.

    The formal broadcast time would be set for a monthter, just likest year. Although this year''s show would start at 10 PM, taking into ount audience age restrictions, waiting two hours wasn''t a burden for the viewers who had anticipated the show all year long, especially since many fans were young people used to nightlife. Although the dy pushed the airing back by an hourpared tost year, viewership projections remained conservatively estimated at 25 million.

    For the general audience, they would only silently seek out pictures or video reports about the fashion show in newspapers or on television after November 9th to satisfy their curiosity. Yet those hundreds of guests invited to the show would have the chance to feast their eyes early.

    Thanks to Eric''s rigorous trainingst year, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had be very familiar with the show format. However, the most pressure this yeary on Michael Bay, who was directing the event.

    Since Michael Bay''s appointment as the director for the second <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> was announced, the media had scrutinized him for over six months. As his poprity surged, he was naturally under considerable pressure.

    Nevertheless, Firefly Group weed this entirely, for just a week after the show, Michael Bay''s new film, <i>Bad Boys</i>, would be released. Given that the movie had already garnered substantial anticipation, Eric believed it was almost certain that it would surpass the original box office numbers, especially since it wasnding in a prime Thanksgiving slot.

    Although the lead role had shifted away from Will Smith, in the original timeline, it was this very film that had propelled Will Smith to stardom, not the other way around. Consequently, the change in leads wouldn''t significantly affect the film; moreover, there was an added benefit that once <i>Bad Boys</i> achieved the expected sess, Firefly could immediatelymence work on the sequel. After all, once Will Smith was reced, the sequel wouldn''t have to navigate as tumultuous a fate as in the preceding timeline.

    ...

    Manhattan, Lexington Avenue Armory.

    On November 9th, as evening approached, crowds began to gather on the streets, and luxury vehicles lined up at the end of the red carpet. Each guest who got out sparked rounds of excited screams and apuse.

    In contrast tost year when Eric had kept all the spotlight on the Victoria''s Secret Angels, this year''s project team slightly altered the strategy by inviting a broader array of well-known celebrities to attend, and attendees were eager to participate given the event''s influence.

    Eric didn''t oppose this strategic shift but opted to maintain a lower profile, heading straight backstage at the fashion show.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    Chapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 Million

    Chapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable Accident

    Chapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration Party

    Chapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back ton/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 759 - 760: Celebration Party

    <h4>Chapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration Party</h4>

    [Chapter 760: Celebration Party]

    As December rolled in, <i>Scream</i> continued its sessful run in theaters, entering its third week. Even though Thanksgiving had passed, the film maintained its poprity among teenagers, raking in $13.56 million that week, bringing its cumtive total to $52.11 million.

    Inparison, Firefly Group''s <i>Bad Boys</i> had an impressive opening week with $42.57 million, which initially thrilled everyone. However, it faced a steady decline with over a 40% drop in ticket sales for two consecutive weeks. By its third week, the film''s earnings fell to $15.6 million, which put it at a disadvantage against <i>Scream</i>, which saw just a 20% decline. There was a possibility that this low-budget thriller might even surpass <i>Bad Boys</i> in its fourth week.

    Despite their differing box office trajectories, it was already evident that both films would surpass $100 million at the North American box office in theing weeks. With both films having production costs not exceeding $20 million, including total costs around $30 million, they emerged as surprise hits for the year-end 1995 lineup. Other films released around the same time saw their three-week totals remain under $30 million. As a result, the respective filmpanies might escape losses, but their profits would pale inparison to those of <i>Scream</i> and <i>Bad Boys</i>.

    ...

    The unexpected sess of <i>Scream</i> significantly boosted MGM''s stock issuance ns for December.

    In recent years, several major filmpanies in North America had nearlypleted their transformations into media conglomerates. Even Columbia and Universal hadrge multinational groups backing them to extend their business operations beyond film. Meanwhile, MGM, which struggled with financial difficulties and debts for over a decade, remained limited to simple film production and distribution. If not for their enhanced power after acquiring major film rights from Flower Films and DreamWorks, securing capital through stock issuance would have been a tough sell.

    However, backed by a string of sessful film rights including <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>, <i>007</i>, <i>Mission: Impossible</i>, <i>Night at the Museum</i>, <i>Resident Evil</i>, and the recently triumphant <i>Scream</i>, MGM''s stock issuance in December went off without a hitch. Their n to issue 70 million shares was fully subscribed within a week of theunch.

    Typically, apany''s stock price trends downward during a stock issuance, but thanks to the positive sales of <i>Scream</i>, MGM''s stock price not only remained stable but actually surged 6% over the week, reaching $15.80 per share. After the issuance, MGM''s total shares hit 435 million, with a market capitalization reaching a new high of $6.873 billion. With the $1 billion raised through this issuance, MGM finally escaped its cash-strapped status, and its $1.7 billion debt no longer posed a significant threat, cing thepany firmly on a path to recovery.

    ...

    At the Firefly Group headquarters in Burbank, Kelly Haynes knocked on Eric''s office door and walked in.

    "Eric, I just received the casting information for <i>Sex and the City</i> from New York. They''ve narrowed the candidates down to eight."

    Eric gestured for Kelly to sit down as he perused the actor profiles in his hands. After Candace Bushnell disagreed with Elizabeth Hurley taking on the lead role, Eric delegated the casting rights to A&E Television Network''s production department.

    However, during the casting process, Eric added a few original actresses to the audition list. As he reviewed the audition results from New York, he was surprised to find that Sarah Jessica Parker was still on the shortlist for the lead character Carrie Bradshaw, along with another name that caught him off guard: Mary-Louise Parker, known for her role in the show in which she yed a single mom.

    Just by looking at the names, some might mistake them for sisters, but Eric was aware the two women had no rtion whatsoever. In the character evaluation column, Mary''sments noted that she had years of experience on Broadway, was a skilled actress, sharp-eyed, and charming, making her a good fit for the urban writer character.

    Due to the type and era of the series, Eric had a better impression of Mary-Louise Parker''s character in the series <i>Weeds</i>. He recalled her character struggling for survival amid chaos, and he could only think of the innocently bright gaze that shone from those dark, soulful eyes.

    Sitting across from Eric, Kelly noticed a strange smile creep across his face. Curiosity piquing, she asked, "Eric, what''s going on?"

    "Oh, nothing," he replied, shaking his head as he marked a cross on Mary-Louise Parker''s profile.

    Even though Mary-Louise Parker seemed to resonate more with him than Sarah Jessica Parker, Eric couldn''t separate her from the single mom role in his memories for <i>Sex and the City</i>, especially since the original lead actress was already on the final candidates list. He decided he wouldn''tplicate things further.

    Confirming his decision, Eric flipped through the profiles of the other candidates but found no familiar faces.

    Handing the materials back to Kelly, he said, "Let''s go with Sarah Jessica Parker for the lead. I''ll leave the other three female roles to Annie and the team to decide."

    Kelly looked puzzled. "Eric, aren''t you going to watch the audition tapes? They should arrive by tomorrow."

    Eric shook his head. "No need. Since they''ve narrowed it down to eight, these candidates are surely suitable."

    "Okay, I''ll head out then."

    Kelly gathered her things and was about to leave when Eric called her back. "By the way, Drew is throwing a party tonight at the Liberty City Manor to celebrate the sessful stock issuance and the box office sess of <i>Scream</i>. Do you want toe?"

    Kelly paused, turning to shake her head. "I''m afraid I can''t make it tonight. I promised Nina I''d take her to see a movie."

    "Oh, that''s fine then. I wouldn''t want to keep you from being a good mom."

    "Ha, if there''s nothing else, I''ll head back to my office."

    Kelly chuckled, leaving Eric''s office, but not even five minutester, she turned back in.

    "Eric, New Line called and said the English version of the project we coborated on, <i>Rumble in the Bronx</i>, has beenpleted. Do you want to review it?"

    Eric nodded and nced at his watch before telling Kelly, "Have them prepare it. I''ll stop by at three."

    "Got it." Kelly nodded and exited the office.

    ...

    Finishing up some work, Eric made his way to the file cab, pulled out a script, and then headed to the office building''s screening room.

    After several years, New Line had seamlessly integrated into the Firefly system. However, under Eric''s guidance, the New Line team still maintained their original production strategies while ensuring coboration continued with Golden Harvest across the ocean.

    <i>Rumble in the Bronx</i> was another attempt by Golden Harvest to prate the North American market; they financed and produced the film while New Line contributed a portion of the investment and provided filming support, securing North American distribution rights. The film had reachedpletionst year and had been widely released in Asia, with its North American release scheduled for Easter next year.

    While in our original timeline <i>Rumble in the Bronx</i> grossed over $30 million at the North American box office, Eric''s interests lied only in the film''s potential to boost the lead actor''s poprity in North America.

    At that moment, the other script in Eric''s hand was the true focus of his ns.

    This script, written by a little-known screenwriter named Ross Limon, was famous in the original timeline - it was <i>Rush Hour</i>.

    At this time, the <i>Rush Hour</i> script was still just a simple and straightforward buddy-cop action film, quite simr to <i>Bad Boys</i> and previous series like <i>Beverly Hills Cop</i> and <i>Lethal Weapon</i>. They hadn''t yet confirmed a fully Asian lead, and the story''s plot was also significantly different from the original.

    However, Eric only focused on the general story outline of the script; he nned to modify the detailed plot ording to his visionter.

    There was even a notable side note: Ross Limon, the writer of <i>Rush Hour</i>, also wrote another script called <i>Titanic</i>, revolving around the famous ship''s story. However, this script was unrted to the project Cameron was currently shooting. Some productionpanies had shown interest in the script, but once Firefly announced the Cameron-led <i>Titanic</i> project, Ross Limon''s script became aplete afterthought.

    ...

    Arriving at the headquarters'' screening room, Eric encountered not only the head of New Line but also a few Asian faces, though the lead actor was absent.

    "Mr. Williams, let me introduce you. This is Johnny Lee, the producer of <i>Rumble in the Bronx</i>, and this is Jack''s agent, Chen," the New Line head introduced the two as Eric approached.

    "Hello, Mr. Lee, Mr. Chen. Wee to Los Angeles," Eric shook hands and said, "Shall we start the screening?"

    Producer Lee responded enthusiastically, "Of course, Mr. Williams. I''m sure you won''t be disappointed."

    They exchanged minimal small talk before stepping into the screening room.

    After the screening wrapped up, Eric patiently listened as the New Line representative exined the distribution n. He simply nodded, not intending to interject. Instead, he split the <i>Rush Hour</i> script and handed copies to the New Line head and the lead actor''s agent.

    "I came across this script, and I think with some modifications, it could be a great fit for Jack. I''ve written detailed notes on the script, but I believe Jack will likely have many personal ideas if we move forward. So, Mr. Chen, feel free to discuss this with him, and if he''s interested, we can seal the deal immediately."

    Though he also received a few pages of the script, the Golden Harvest producer noted that Eric hadn''t mentioned their interests. He nced at Jack''s agent, pondering whether to speak.

    However, Jack''s agent beamed at Eric''s offer. "Mr. Williams, are you saying that if Jack is willing, we can sign right away?"

    "Absolutely," Eric nodded with a smile. "If all goes well, I hope the film can hit theaters by next year''s end."

    Mr. Chen then asked, "So, Mr. Williams, will this film be produced by New Line, or is it under Firefly''s mainbel?"

    Eric exined, "New Line, but Mr. Chen, our variousbels under Firefly, whether that''s New Line, Firefly, or Disney, only differ in terms of the type of films produced. So there''s no need to worry that New Line''s production will lead to any unfavorable treatment."

    While he hoped for a partnership, Mr. Chen pressed further, "Mr. Williams, what will Jack''s sry be?"

    "Ha, you can discuss that with New Line''s team," Eric chuckled, replying.

    Though Eric considered locking the deal for three lower-budget films at once, he determined it wasn''t necessary to be too aggressive. After all, a win-win coboration was the best route.

    ...

    By the end of the screening, it was nearing five o''clock. After discussing <i>Rush Hour</i>, Eric handed off the follow-up work to the New Line team and hurriedly left to return to the Liberty City Manor.

    <i>Scream</i> entered its fourth week, pulling in another $10.65 million, bringing its total to more than $62 million. With the uing Christmas season, a box office rebound seemed imminent; breaking the $100 million milestone was only a matter of time.

    Additionally, with the smooth execution of MGM''s stock issuance n, Drew pestered him enough to gain permission for a celebration party at the Manor to toast MGM''s recent sesses.

    By the time Eric returned to the Manor, it was already past six, and guests had started to arrive.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 760: Chapter 761: I Wont Stop You

    Chapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond Girl

    Chapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 762: Chapter 763: The Catalyst

    Chapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 763: Chapter 764: Stop

    Chapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a Condition

    Chapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a ConditionChapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 765: Chapter 766: Sudden Developments

    Chapter 765: Chapter 766: Sudden DevelopmentsChapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a ConditionChapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 766: Chapter 767: Trip to Australia

    Chapter 766: Chapter 767: Trip to AustraliaChapter 765: Chapter 766: Sudden DevelopmentsChapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a ConditionChapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 767: Chapter 768: The Meeting

    Chapter 767: Chapter 768: The MeetingChapter 766: Chapter 767: Trip to AustraliaChapter 765: Chapter 766: Sudden DevelopmentsChapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a ConditionChapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 768: Chapter 769: Find Her

    Chapter 768: Chapter 769: Find HerChapter 767: Chapter 768: The MeetingChapter 766: Chapter 767: Trip to AustraliaChapter 765: Chapter 766: Sudden DevelopmentsChapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a ConditionChapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 769: Chapter 770: Thud

    Chapter 769: Chapter 770: ThudChapter 768: Chapter 769: Find HerChapter 767: Chapter 768: The MeetingChapter 766: Chapter 767: Trip to AustraliaChapter 765: Chapter 766: Sudden DevelopmentsChapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a ConditionChapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is gettingn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 770: Chapter 771: The Clever Girl

    Chapter 770: Chapter 771: The Clever GirlChapter 769: Chapter 770: ThudChapter 768: Chapter 769: Find HerChapter 767: Chapter 768: The MeetingChapter 766: Chapter 767: Trip to AustraliaChapter 765: Chapter 766: Sudden DevelopmentsChapter 764: Chapter 765: I Have a ConditionChapter 763: Chapter 764: StopChapter 762: Chapter 763: The CatalystChapter 761: Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond GirlChapter 760: Chapter 761: I Won''t Stop YouChapter 759: Chapter 760: Celebration PartyChapter 758: Chapter 759: The Inevitable identChapter 757: Chapter 758: 20 MillionChapter 756: Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps

    ?

    [Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

    With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria''s Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria''s Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

    Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the partyter."

    Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric''s special status. Upon hearing Eric''s words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

    Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

    After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop''s global sess.

    Emily followed Eric''s gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they''ve been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They''ll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

    Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don''t want to talk shop tonight."

    Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

    Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

    "Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I''m questioning your character."

    Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I''ll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

    As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn''t save you a seat."

    "Ah, that''s a bit much, isn''t it?"

    "You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ||||

    "That''s settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

    After saying this, Emily''s inte beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

    Eric wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had apanion; two people would be less conspicuous. Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago afterpleting discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily''s boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the R&D center for MP3 yers and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never apany him to an event like this.

    ...

    As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, upying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

    "Hey,dies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

    The women''s makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might identally ruin their looks.

    After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda yed with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren''ting tonight?"

    "I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane''s radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How''s shooting going?"

    Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn''t do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

    When Gwh Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

    Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don''t rush into the film industry. There''s plenty of time after you turn

    25."

    "Sure, I''ll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

    Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

    "Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show

    host."

    "Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star." "Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

    "Humph."

    While they were chatting, the lobby music started ying. Eric recognized the familiar sound, ncing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

    As the music yed, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it''s

    almost time. You need to change."

    Both women nodded and stood up.

    With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Vige. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it''s beautiful. Do you want toe see it tonight?"

    Eric joked, "I''m more into simple, modern style homes. I don''t think I''d appreciate an artist''s

    ce."

    Linda yfully pped Eric''s arm, "Are youing or not? If not..."

    Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you nning?"

    "I''m inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

    "Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

    Linda tugged at Eric''s sleeve, looking impatient, "Are youing or not? If you''re not..."

    "Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda''s notion slightly but nodding in agreement. "Then it''s settled; you can''t invite any other women tonight."

    "Fine, I promise."

    Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in ce. "Aren''t you going to go to the front?"

    "Well, here''s the thing -- Emily didn''t save me a seat."

    "Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to

    life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it''s too bad you won''t get to see them."

    With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

    "Humph! Bad guy; you''re definitely thinking something bad."

    After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

    ...

    As the lobby music yed on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren''t the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

    Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit sd and choctes were present. For that night''s big show, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so startingst year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

    Popping a chocte into his mouth, Eric contemted whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer''s area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria''s Secret robe sat

    down next to him.

    "Hi, Eric."

    Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie.

    You look stunning tonight."

    The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly reced Heidi Klumst year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn''t expected her to be at the Victoria''s Secret Show this year.

    "Thanks for thepliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering

    on Eric.

    Feeling somewhat ufortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

    "How''s Peter doing? I''m sorry I couldn''t attend your wedding."

    "He''s right in the lobby; we''re doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

    "Oh, that''s good," Eric responded, ncing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting

    ready." "Yeah," Stephanie''s expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I''m only walking for the finale theme, so there''s no need to worry."

    From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

    As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour''s only role in the show tonight might have been apromise with Peter Grant.

    Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn''t have much to discuss with Stephanie

    Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N'' Roses for damages rting to her youth -- he wasn''t interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

    Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn''t seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocte-

    covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

    "Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocte, sucking on it slowly with a hint of

    flirtation in her gaze.

    With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric nced her way, he knew that many eyes

    were on them.

    Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it''s just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

    "Don''t worry, Eric. I won''t mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her

    chocte. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you''d like toe?"

    Eric shook his head. "I''m sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard toe by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

    After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there''s a

    suitable role for me?"

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 771 - 772: Potential Benefits

    <h4>Chapter 771: Chapter 772: Potential Benefits</h4>

    [Chapter 772: Potential Benefits]

    Since theunch of the alliance n in 1993, nearly three years of close coboration had established America Online as a leader among traditional tel operators in providing high-speed ADSL broadband ess to users. Withpetitive pricing and reliablework service, America Online''s user base surged to 7.6 million over these three years,manding nearly 30% of the U.S. inte ess market. This robust expansion left slower traditional tel operators struggling in its wake.

    In contrast to Nokia''s rtively low-profile IPO, America Online''s public offering n drew significant attention from the outset.

    In recent days, besides Eric, Cisco''s CEO John Chambers and Yahoo''s CEO Ian Gurner, along with other executive allies from America Online, flocked to New York to support the stock issuance ceremony.

    Thus, Eric found himself busy attending various social gatherings, leaving little time for anything else. This continued until January 29th.

    From the previous evening,pany executives, guests, and a horde of media reporters and stock traders packed the Nasdaq stock exchange, all participating in the America Online IPO bell-ringing ceremony.

    America Online nned to issue 15 million new shares, representing 10% of the total stock, at an offering price of $33 per share, aiming to raise $495 million. However, due to the market''s strong reaction, after six rounds of public inquiries, America Online''s opening price skyrocketed to $42 per share, a 27% increase over the offering price, resulting in jubtion within the trading hall once the final price was confirmed.

    ...

    "The opening price is $42, but the offering price was only $33. Doesn''t that mean America Online lost... well, at least a hundred million dors on these 15 million shares? Why didn''t they set the price higher?" singer Cindy Crawford queried Eric at the post-IPO party.

    Eric raised a ss in acknowledgment of Morgan Stanley''s executives who greeted him. "At the current share price, America Online''s market value is nearing $7 billion, so in rtive terms, that hundred million dor difference is negligible. Pricing the stock at $33 for investment banks and institutional investors gives them more incentive to facilitate America Online''s listing. Plus, a strong opening day price can bolster investor confidence in America Online,ying a solid foundation for future financing. These potential benefits aren''t worth just a hundred million."

    Cindy nodded, somewhat understanding, and asked, "So do you think I should invest in some AOL shares? Will they appreciate?"

    "Of course," Eric replied with a smile. "Your savings must be looking pretty fat these days. Invest in some tech stocks -- AOL, Microsoft, Cisco, Intel... Plunk down a million bucks now, and you might very well be a centi-millionaire in a few years."

    "Sounds incredible," Cindy teased, raising an eyebrow. "But what if I end up losing money?"

    Eric shrugged, "If you lose, you lose. You''re capable enough not to starve."

    "Oh, you horrible man! You''re the one who suggested buying stocks, and you have no sense of responsibility," Cindy yfully pinched Eric at his waist, feigning annoyance. "I''m going to invest all my money in those stocks you mentioned. If I lose it all, I''ll just have to crash at your mansion in L.A."

    "If that''s the case, if you profit, shouldn''t you share a little with me?" Eric countered with a serious face.

    "Sure! How much do you want?" Cindy replied without hesitation.

    "Half. My financial advice is worth that much," he smirked.

    "Humph," Cindy shot Eric a re, then leaned closer and lowered her voice teasingly, "I heard you''re looking for young girls recently?"

    Eric shook his head and sighed, "Looks like I can''t work with your agency anymore. They just spread rumors indiscriminately."

    Knowing Eric was joking, Cindy exined, "I just went to the office the other day, and saw someone organizing documents. I asked John, and he said it was your doing. What are you nning?"

    "I need a few girls for my movie," Eric replied candidly. "As it turns out, I''ve already picked three, but one is still undecided. The other two are in New York and Mn. Want to meet them tomorrow?"

    "Why should I meet them?" Cindy asked casually.

    "Because you''re the veteran. Maybe you can guide them," he suggested.

    "To have them steal my job?"

    "Are you nning on working for another twenty years?"

    Cindy didn''t hide her thoughts, "As long as circumstances allow, of course! People who don''t work age faster."

    ...

    February in New York brought morning temperatures well below freezing. From the high-rise condominium overlooking Sixth Avenue, Central Park appeared deste. Even with the heating sting inside, one could still feel the chill outside.

    Eric had just returned from summertime Australia, making the cold feel quite surreal.

    Cindy, d in a snug ck sweater and jeans, emerged from the kitchen with breakfast for two, setting it on the round table beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. She looked at Eric, who was absorbed in hisptop screen, and asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"

    "An interesting little gal," Eric grinned, turning theptop toward Cindy. "Check her out. Another little beauty."

    Cindy leaned in to see the screen; it was an email. She instinctively began reading aloud: "Dear Mr. Williams, I am Miranda Kerr. It''s an honor to receive your invitation..."

    After reading a few lines, Cindy lost interest, ncing at Eric as he enjoyed his breakfast. "Doesn''t seem to be anything special?"

    Eric took a sip of his hot milk and set the cup down. "Just wait until you finish."

    Cindy shrugged and shifted her focus back to the email. Miranda had expressed her excitement and gratitude for Eric inviting her to the film and subtly mentioned her hope for more work opportunities to support her living and studying expenses in the U.S. After reading it, Cindy didn''t find anything particrly noteworthy. She figured she would have said the same if it were her.

    Suddenly, Cindy realized something and asked Eric, "So, how old is this girl?"

    "Thirteen."

    Cindy burst intoughter; at thirteen, this girl could craft such polished correspondence -- surely a real charmer. If she secured this coboration, she would be connected to Eric''s powerfulwork.

    "Ha, if you agree to work with her, she might just be glued to you for good."

    Eric shrugged, "For men, that should be a happy problem."

    "Hmm, you mentioned meeting two more girls today. Is it the same situation?"

    "I haven''t met them yet; we''ll see once we do," Eric replied. "But you know my taste. The ones I choose never disappoint."

    Cindy said, "I''m suddenly quite curious."

    "I''ve invited them over for lunch at noon, soe home afterward."

    "Sounds good," Cindy nodded.

    She was currently busy producing the second season of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, but since shooting took ce in Manhattan, it was close enough to Eric''s ce.

    ...

    After breakfast, Eric saw Cindy off and while he read Miranda''s email once more, he thought carefully and replied, consenting to Miranda''s request. He was curious to see how this little beauty would develop in her career.

    After days of busyness, Eric finally had some free time. He spent the entire morning at home reviewing the finalized screeny for <i>Rush Hour</i>. Though <i>Rumble in the Bronx</i> had yet to release, <i>Rush Hour</i> was formally in development with a budget of $30 million, having already signed Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as the two leads.

    The premise of <i>Rush Hour</i> was straightforward, but its main selling point was the strong personalities of the two leads, which exined their sky-high sries in the original timeline and the dys in subsequent sequels. To avoid a repeat of such issues, Eric also arranged to secure options for three sequels with New Line, specifyingpensation standards to maintain thepany''s negotiating power in future discussions.

    After finishing the script, he sent his revisions back to Los Angeles via email. Before he knew it, it had reached noon.

    ...

    Eric didn''t feel like cooking lunch himself and was about to call a nearby restaurant when the doorbell rang.

    Looking at his watch, he realized it was only 11:30, with half an hour left until the scheduled appointment. He thought it might be Cindy returning early, so he opened the inte and cheerfully asked, "You back so soon?"

    After a moment of hesitation, a young girl''s somewhat hoarse voice nervously replied, "Is this... Mr. Williams?"

    "Uh-huh?"

    "We''re Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio."

    After a brief silence, Eric opened the door, feeling somewhat resigned as he looked at the two fresh-faced girls outside.

    From the list of neers sent over by major modeling agencies, Eric had only recognized Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio, and not the iconic Adriana Lima from the original timeline. Thus, he only selected these two girls.

    However, he originally intended to meet both girls alongside their agents, but it was clear the agency had just dropped these two off.

    Sigh -- was he really being too nice?

    Eric pondered, stepping aside and gesturing for the two girls to enter.

    The girls walked in quietly, much like obedient kittens. They gazed at the pristine living room but hesitated to proceed further.

    Eric closed the door, saying, "You don''t have to change your shoes."

    Only then did they enter the living room, sitting together on the sofa after Eric indicated it was okay.

    He poured two sses of juice and handed them to the girls while assessing them again.

    Though they were made up, it couldn''t hide their youthfulness. However, both girls already possessed tall figures, especially Gisele. With her high-heeled boots, she nearly matched Eric''s height.

    Despite the frigid climate outside, the room wasfortably warm. The beauty-conscious girls wouldn''t dress too heavily, but it was clear the two in their short coats were already starting to sweat lightly on their foreheads.

    Eric pointed to the coat rack by the entryway, "If you''re hot, feel free to take off your coats and hang them up there."

    The two girls nodded in unison, stood up, removed their coats, hung them up, then quietly returned to their seats.

    Eric found the scene nearlyical.

    In the original timeline, Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio achieved vastly superior sess in the fashion industrypared to Miranda Kerr.

    However, juxtaposed with Miranda''s savvy email from that morning, Eric felt like he was now facing two frightened little quails.

    "Where''s your agent?" Eric casually asked, settling down onto a nearby armchair, searching for conversation despite his disappointment.

    Noticing the letdown on Eric''s face, both girls exchanged nces of uncertainty. Although Gisele and Alessandra were selected by IMG and Elite respectively, they had received simr instructions from their bosses beforeing. This meeting was a potential ticket to stardom, or they would end up like many neers -- continuously waiting for their opportunities.

    Each major international modeling agency scouted thousands of neers globally every year, and only a handful ever made it big.

    Coming from Brazil, considered the mostpetitive nation in the modeling industry, the girls knew only too well that for them, sess meant breaking out of Latin America. Many famous models might im they were discovered while shopping one day; that was mostly nonsense.

    Both girls, although total strangers until now, followed the same trajectory as most aspiring Brazilian models. They began professional training around ten, started submitting photos to agencies and entered variouspetitions by age thirteen or fourteen. The few fortunate ones who got signed were an extremely rare group, and those aiming for the top tier -- supermodels -- had even slimmer odds.

    That''s why they were being so cautious in front of Eric.

    Unlike Eric, who could glimpse the future, they didn''t have a clue where they would end up in this industry. At that moment, they were just two inexperienced girls from Brazil, suddenly faced with a massive opportunity, understandably anxious and cautious.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 772 - 773: A Step to the Top

    <h4>Chapter 772: Chapter 773: A Step to the Top</h4>

    [Chapter 773: A Step to the Top]

    "The agent said, we, we cane by ourselves," Gisele Bundchen exined quietly after a moment of silence. The girl knew her voice sounded hoarse, and to avoid drawing attention to this w, she deliberately kept her voice low.

    Beside her, Alessandra Ambrosio nodded in agreement.

    The slight length of the sentence made Eric Williams realize Gisele''s thick ent. Recalling that the officialnguage in Brazil was Portuguese, and noting that the information received from their agency indicated both girls had been out of Brazil for less than six months, with Gisele spending most of that time in Mn, he could only imagine their English skills.

    Eric couldn''t help but think, as he silently criticized IMG and Elite for sending these two girls, who barely spoke English, all alone. He soon understood; they might have just thought it didn''t matter if they could speak English or not, as long as they were willing to do what needed to be done.

    These modeling agencies really were cold-hearted. Perhaps, as long as their models became stars and brought in lucrativemissions, everything else was of no concern to them.

    Feeling Eric''s scrutinizing gaze again, Gisele and Alessandra, although their expressions turned slightly tense, subtly shifted their bodies and posed with a hint of charm.

    Eric chuckled to himself, feeling he ought to do something. He pointed to the kitchen and asked, "Can you cook?"

    "Uh?"

    "Ah?"

    Both girls showed a look of puzzled confusion.

    Eric continued, "I was nning on ordering from out, but since there are only four of us for lunch, how about you two take care of it? Just go and make something."

    Given the time situation, both girls'' English was a bit shaky, but they understood Eric mentioned that there were four people at lunch.

    It seemed there were only three people here.

    Although puzzled, they didn''t express it. Instead, they obediently stood up and walked to the kitchen, both silently thinking this must be some sort of test.

    This thought crossed their minds as Gisele and Alessandra exchanged nces, unconsciously mulling over what would happen if this was indeed a test and whether they would win or lose.

    Neither of them wanted to be the one that lost.

    Since receiving the notice, they had been meticulously preparing for this event under their agency''s arrangements. Although they were new to the industry, they knew well what Eric Williams represented. Even without mentioning Hollywood, just in the fashion world, his hand-crafted <i>Victoria''s Secret Fashion Show</i> had be a training ground for supermodels.

    With the marketing strategies focused around the <i>Victoria''s Secret annual show</i>, this event had pushed models who were once distant from ordinary people into the limelight. Models whose names were once limited to fashion circles saw their value skyrocket, with the top Victoria''s Secret models earning more than many A-list Hollywood actresses in recent years.

    If they could win the favor of such a big figure, as their agency boss had exined, they would have taken a giant leap forward.

    While the twopanies hadmunicated after the selection, the girls had just met and, despite being fellow Brazilians, didn''t share a deep bond. As they entered the kitchen, they approached the fridge, quietly picking out the ingredients they knew how to work with, showing no intentions of coboration or assistance.

    ....

    As noon passed, Cindy returned from the set of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>. Seeing only Eric in the living room, she asked, "Where is everyone?"

    Eric pointed toward the kitchen.

    Curious, Cindy peeked in at the two girls busying themselves and wore a strange smile. Turning back to Eric, she said, "Your taste is quite odd."

    Seeing Cindy look at him, Eric shrugged helplessly. "Am I really that lustful in your eyes? Besides, it''s still daytime."

    Cindy''s expression changed to one of mock sorrow. "Oh, looks like I''m going to be kicked out tonight."

    "Not at all. Considering your baseless questioning of my character, I''ve decided I''ll take good care of you tonight."

    Gisele and Alessandra quickly finished preparing lunch. Eric and Cindy walked into the dining area together.

    The two girls had just heard Cindy''s voice and, upon seeing her in person, their expressions were notably more enthusiastic than when they saw Eric. After all, Cindy could be considered the ultimate goal for their future aspirations.

    Based on his memories, Eric felt that among the two girls, Gisele''s style was more akin to Linda Evangelista. Both were the kind of professional models with strong personal styles but were not necessarily striking on the surface. Alessandra, on the other hand, resembled Cindy more, as her sweet and charming face brought out a star quality that surpassed that of many supermodels.

    Eric was never overly picky about food. Satisfied with his lunch, he didn''t shy away from the two girls and asked Cindy, "What do you think of them?"

    Just like cats pausing mid-bite, Gisele and Alessandra stopped simultaneously, looking at Cindy with hopeful expressions.

    While she wasn''t about to lead these neers personally as Eric mentioned earlier, as a seasoned woman with high emotional intelligence, Cindy certainly wouldn''t say anything offensive. After sizing the girls up, she told Eric, "They have excellent foundations. If you want, they could easily hit the Victoria''s Secret runway as soon as they''re of age."

    With that, Cindy nced at Gisele. As a veteran model with over ten years'' experience, she could immediately see that while Alessandra had a beautiful face, her body proportions were less than ideal -- her legs appeared a bit short. Without her stunning looks making up for these shorings, it would be challenging to go very far in this industry. However, Gisele''s qualifications were remarkable: "You''re Gisele Bundchen, right? How has your agency nned for you?"

    Gisele appeared somewhat surprised. "The agency originally intended for me topete in the Miss Spain pageant."

    Cindy nodded. "Sounds like they take you seriously. If you ce at the pageant, they have plenty of buzz to work with for your branding. With your looks, you''d certainly be in high demand in the fast-fashion circles."

    Excited by Cindy''s praise, Gisele nheless turned to Eric, gathering her courage to say, "But the agent told me this morning that I should follow Mr. Williams'' arrangements."

    If Eric were willing to personally intervene, her initial career ns would certainly be reconsidered.

    With the media resources at his disposal, it would be a piece of cake to mold them into top models. Just look at Diane Kruger, who had risen to the status of a top supermodel, even though she was just an ordinary model two years prior.

    Thinking of Diane Kruger, Gisele''s eyes showed more eagerness as she looked at Eric. Even Alessandra, who seemed to have had the same thought, exhibited a simr enthusiasm.

    Upon hearing Gisele''sment, Cindy recalled the email from earlier that day and shot a knowing smile Eric''s way, as if to say another girl nned ontching onto him.

    Eric ignored Cindy''s teasing look and shook his head, stating, "I won''t arrange things for you. Where you go from here will depend on your own efforts."

    Despite Eric''s words, Gisele and Alessandra showed no signs of disappointment.

    While they had momentarily stumbled due to nerves in Eric''s presence, their intelligence was undeniable. Without some savvy brains, they wouldn''t have achieved such huge sess in the fashion world. Both girls understood that even a little resource shared by such big figures could be a monumental help for those just starting out.

    Chit-chatting casually, they finished lunch and, feeling a bit more familiar with Eric''s character, Gisele and Alessandra rxed their initial awkwardness. After all, while Eric held an impressive aura, he ultimately was just a young man in his twenties.

    ...

    Cindy rushed back to the <i>America''s Next Top Model</i> set after lunch, without feeling let down or surprised by the girls.

    The second season of this reality show was set to return in early March, and unlike the more flexible shooting schedule of <i>Sex and the City</i>, reality TV had to finish entirely before airing, making her schedule quite tight.

    Gisele and Alessandra promptly washed the dishes and returned to the living room, where Eric sat by the ss window tapping on hisptop.

    After a moment''s hesitation, Gisele gathered her courage and approached Eric. "Mr. Williams, can I help you make some coffee?"

    "No, thanks," Eric instinctively shook his head, then realized and looked up at the girls, gesturing for them to sit down across from him. "The shooting schedule for the movie hasn''t been set yet, so you can continue doing your own thing for now. I''ll have someone notify your agency when it''s time."

    "Ah, does this mean we got the roles?" Gisele''s face lit up with joy.

    Eric smiled and nodded. "Of course, but just remember they are smaller, fleeting roles, so don''t get your hopes up too high."

    Alessandra jumped in first this time,plimenting him, "That''s alright! As long as we can participate in Mr. Williams'' movie, it''s an honor."

    Eric smiled, "Such ttery! However, it will likely be filmed in Panama, where the scenery is lovely. You''ll have a few days to explore -- think of it as a vacation."

    Alessandra quickly responded, "Thank you! Uh, can we call you Eric?"

    "Of course," Eric nodded, then suddenly noticed how Alessandra had unconsciously scooted her chair a bit closer to him. He observed her soft form leaning on the round table, propping her chin with one hand, and asked with a smile, "What are your ns for this afternoon?"

    Alessandra tentatively stretched her hand out like a cat, but mid-way lost her courage and merely picked up a pencil to fiddle with. "We''re not sure what to do."

    While Eric found humor in their clumsy attempts to flirt, he had no ulterior motives. At his current status, there was no shortage of women around him, and there was no need to deliberately push the envelope. If one couldn''t maintain enough self-discipline, it would be all too easy to spiral out of control.

    "Let''s do this," Eric closed hisptop. "How about I take you out for some fun?"

    "Ah?" Both girls looked momentarily stunned.

    "I mean go shopping and stuff. Manhattan has plenty of fun spots, like..." Eric trailed off, struggling to recall what interesting ces Manhattan had to offer. Finally, he said, "Forget it. It seems I''m not too familiar with Manhattan either. Maybe I should find a local."

    Gisele and Alessandra pretended not to notice Eric''s brief moment of awkwardness and instead showed excited expressions simultaneously.

    Eric soon thought of a woman who knew Manhattan inside and out. He pulled out his phone, browsed through his contacts, dialed a number, exchanged a few words, then stood up and said, "Let''s go."

    ...

    He took both girls for a drive around Manhattan, finally stopping his vehicle at Rockefeller Center in Midtown.

    Not far down the street, the <i>Sex and the City</i> crew was shooting exterior scenes.

    If anyone knew Manhattan''s nightlife and hangouts, among Eric''s acquaintances, the first person that came to mind was Candace Bushnell, the beautiful author of <i>Sex and the City</i>.

    The main reason <i>Sex and the City</i> became the fashion bible of Manhattan was due to its pervasive depiction and introduction of a series of well-known restaurants, bars, galleries, and nightclubs in Manhattan. No ordinary person could craft such clevermentary unless they were highly familiar with these ces.

    Yet, because of this, in Eric''s original timeline, <i>Sex and the City</i> faced heavy criticism from many reviewers for promoting hedonism excessively.

    Noticing Eric''s figure, the tall Candace Bushnell walked past with a middle-aged man.

    After exchanging friendly hugs and greetings with Candace, Eric then turned to the middle-aged man.

    The man extended his hand to Eric respectfully, introducing himself. "Hello, Mr. Williams, I''m Terry Patrick, one of the producers of <i>Sex and the City</i>. Would you like to take a look?"

    "Not necessary, I''m just here to pick up Candace. By the way, she doesn''t have any work scheduled for the time being, does she?"

    "Of course not," Terry Patrick shook his head. "Ms. Bushnell is just here to check in on the shoot."

    "That''s good," Eric nodded. "Well, you all can continue working."

    Terry bid farewell and left, realizing to give them some space.

    Eric then introduced the two girls to Candace. "I happen to have the day off and wanted to stroll around Manhattan. Would you be our guide?"

    "Of course, no problem," Candace quickly diverted her gaze from the two fresh-faced girls, not probing further, and smiled, "But I can''t guarantee you''ll like the ces I take you."

    Eric held the car door open for Candace, smiling, "Get in. If we don''t like it, we can always change ns. After all, Manhattan is huge."

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    Chapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV Lineup

    Chapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking Out

    Chapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie Channel

    Chapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 777: Chapter 778: Youre Not At All What I Expected

    Chapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''sn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 778: Chapter 779: Report Card

    Chapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 779: Chapter 780: The Gatecrasher

    Chapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits Up

    Chapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managingn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best Platform

    Chapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to Guess

    Chapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit Scary

    Chapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Giseles Ambition

    Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense ofN?v(el)B\\jnn

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?

    Chapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 786: Chapter 787: No More Shenanigans

    Chapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by Praise

    Chapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartmentn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of Reputation

    Chapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction ofn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 789: Chapter 790: Below Expectations

    Chapter 789: Chapter 790: Below ExpectationsChapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 790: Chapter 791: Amblin

    Chapter 790: Chapter 791: AmblinChapter 789: Chapter 790: Below ExpectationsChapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 791: Chapter 792: Taking the Leap

    Chapter 791: Chapter 792: Taking the LeapChapter 790: Chapter 791: AmblinChapter 789: Chapter 790: Below ExpectationsChapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "Son/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 792: Chapter 793: Action!

    Chapter 792: Chapter 793: Action!Chapter 791: Chapter 792: Taking the LeapChapter 790: Chapter 791: AmblinChapter 789: Chapter 790: Below ExpectationsChapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 793: Chapter 794: Breaking Through

    Chapter 793: Chapter 794: Breaking ThroughChapter 792: Chapter 793: Action!Chapter 791: Chapter 792: Taking the LeapChapter 790: Chapter 791: AmblinChapter 789: Chapter 790: Below ExpectationsChapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 794: Chapter 795: Two One Years and One Nine Months

    Chapter 794: Chapter 795: Two One Years and One Nine MonthsChapter 793: Chapter 794: Breaking ThroughChapter 792: Chapter 793: Action!Chapter 791: Chapter 792: Taking the LeapChapter 790: Chapter 791: AmblinChapter 789: Chapter 790: Below ExpectationsChapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 795: Chapter 796: I Dont Have Such an Obligation

    Chapter 795: Chapter 796: I Don''t Have Such an ObligationChapter 794: Chapter 795: Two One Years and One Nine MonthsChapter 793: Chapter 794: Breaking ThroughChapter 792: Chapter 793: Action!Chapter 791: Chapter 792: Taking the LeapChapter 790: Chapter 791: AmblinChapter 789: Chapter 790: Below ExpectationsChapter 788: Chapter 789: The Cliff of ReputationChapter 787: Chapter 788: Death by PraiseChapter 786: Chapter 787: No More ShenanigansChapter 785: Chapter 786: Are You In?Chapter 784: Chapter 785: Gisele''s AmbitionChapter 783: Chapter 784: Sounds a Bit ScaryChapter 782: Chapter 783: Easy to GuessChapter 781: Chapter 782: The Best tformChapter 780: Chapter 781: Get Your Spirits UpChapter 779: Chapter 780: The GatecrasherChapter 778: Chapter 779: Report CardChapter 777: Chapter 778: You''re Not At All What I ExpectedChapter 776: Chapter 777: The Movie ChannelChapter 775: Chapter 776: Breaking OutChapter 774: Chapter 775: Spring TV LineupChapter 773: Chapter 774: IMAX

    ?

    [Chapter 774: IMAX]

    Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.

    Instead of heading to the popr tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Vige, the small bars where underground rock bands yed in downtown, among other ces.

    Of course, they also stopped by some of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seemed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three women were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfume at a Dior store for the three women, knowing that when a woman wore perfume, it was often for a man''s enjoyment.

    In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartment building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.

    Eric wasn''t exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartment with the three women.

    After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three women finally walked out. Candace had her usual demeanor, but the two youngdies shot Eric some strange looks.

    Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"

    Candace shrugged,ughing, "I didn''t ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don''t know."

    Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.

    "Well, then I won''t pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"

    It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.

    Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don''t have too much time left today, so let''s go take a quick stroll."

    Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.

    ...

    After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric''s sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that ce! It''s from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."

    Eric looked over, realizing it was the American Museum of Natural History, andughed, "If you''re curious, let''s go take a look. It shouldn''t be closing soon, right?"

    Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."

    The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric''s attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."

    Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a documentary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I came to see it with some friends before, and it''s incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational documentaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."

    Eric nodded, "Let''s check this out."

    "Alright, but let''s hurry," she replied.

    The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in time for thest showing of the day.

    As it was nearing closing time, there weren''t many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.

    Once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an immersive sense of

    awe.

    Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn''t overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first time, both let out soft gasps of amazement.

    Gisele had just imed a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn''t expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It''s a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."

    Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfume, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful ces are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."

    Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That''s just like my hometown; it should be summer there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous ce in the Australian rainforest?"

    "I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing

    to chat with Gisele. "I''m quite curious about Brazil too, but I don''t dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you''re afraid to go?"

    "Sure, I went to Mexico a while back and don''t n on going back anytime soon."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Gisele had been following the news about the troublesome events in Mexico, remarking, "I think my hometown must be safer."

    Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing herck of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her mere fifty dors were stolen the very same day.

    Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did something unpleasant cross your mind?"

    "Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long time on the street, then I begged a passerby for some change to call home, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."

    Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few sesses were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for sess even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn''t be a ''Gisele,'' who long held the title of supermodel.

    "Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve sess in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he

    encouraged.

    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour

    earlier.

    At that time, the somewhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele''s main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.

    The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a moment, then told her that she recently met someone who would disrupt her life''s path, leaving her future uncertain.

    Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, iming it was too taxing to see.

    Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had immediately handed over thest few hundred dors in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to meet Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardlynded any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.

    The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.

    Two people?

    Now, in the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, ncing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.

    Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.

    Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointment. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she remembered something and nodded slightly back at Gisele.

    ...

    After their documentary viewing, it was nearly closing time for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace''s suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartment, before instructing the driver to head downtown.

    Gisele and Alessandra''s apartments, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Vige downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartment buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartment, which was Alessandra''s ce, while Gisele''s was conveniently nearby.

    Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.

    A notable characteristic of America is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a nce, seemingly inhabited by a low-ie poption who couldn''t even afford a car, which

    usually meant the area was quite chaotic.

    Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe

    living here?"

    Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn''t expected him to escort

    them home.

    Throughout the day, Eric''s mature and steady demeanor,bined with his gentle and

    considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls'' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about something.

    Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing something was missing.

    Hearing Eric''s question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of

    Eric''s gaze and reassured, "It''s alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a moment, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like toe upstairs?"

    Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"

    "Yeah, we all live together, but it''s fine, they''ll definitely wee you."

    "Let''s skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn''t want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."

    Alessandra nodded in disappointment and reluctantly walked toward the apartment. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let''s get back in the car."

    Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It''s just down that street; we can walk there."

    Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn''t worried about encountering any trouble. He

    nodded, "Alright."

    The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he merely smiled at her. "Eric, I''m alone in my apartment tonight."

    Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a ce all to yourself."

    "That''s not it; my roommates are... in Mn," Gisele exined.

    Eric realized it was nearly February, prime time for fashion weeks. Due to different legal

    regtions, New York wouldn''t hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.

    If he guessed correctly, Mn Fashion Week would likely be Gisele''s debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.

    "I just wanted to meet you two; I didn''t mean to interfere with your work. Um, Mn Fashion Week hasn''t started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn''t be toote, right?" "It''s fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in America, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn''t really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So

    just go to Mn. If anythinges up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seemed like she wanted to say something but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele''s apartment

    building.

    "Eric," Gisele began to speak but remembered how he''d turned down Alessandra''s invitation

    a moment ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."

    At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn''t even know how to say a particr English word.

    In Portuguese, he probably wouldn''t understand.

    Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile

    crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let''s

    save that for another time, but since we''re on this subject, keep it in mind forter."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 796 - 797: What’s the Reaction?

    <h4>Chapter 796: Chapter 797: What''s the Reaction?</h4>

    [Chapter 797: What''s the Reaction?]

    Nassau International Airport, Bahamas.

    nked by high-intensity floodlights, the otherwise empty airport''s closed-off area zed like a sunlit stage. It was the third day of filming at Nassau International Airport for the production team working on <i>Casino Royale</i>. The crew members were busily arranging the set for the next scene.

    The scene being shot was the climax of the first part of <i>Casino Royale</i>, where Bond chased down terrorists at Miami International Airport and foiled their plot against Skyfleet Airlines. This action-packed sequence included car chases, gunfights, and explosions, making it exceptionallyplex to film. To avoid any unforeseen disruptions that could affect the filming schedule, Eric arranged for this segment to be shot in the middle two weeks of the Bahamas filming period. Once this action sequence wrapped up, the crew would continue with less dynamic scenes.

    Since this portion of the story featured night shots, and to ensure the normal operation of Nassau International Airport was not disturbed, the crew negotiated with Bahamian authorities to secure filming hours from 8 PM to 4 AM in designated areas each night.

    The airport scenes amounted to approximately ten minutes in the script. Among them, a six-minute action sequence where Bond prevents a bomber from crashing a fuel truck into the prototype of Skyfleet was recognized as a ssic among car chase scenes.

    In those brief six minutes, the intense battle between Bond and the bomber, the Skyfleet prototype''s rollout, the police intercepting the fuel truck, and the chaos among the airport crowd all blended seamlessly through rapid and sharp editing. With a pulse-pounding score, the fuel truck steadily approached the Skyfleet prototype, gripping the audience''s hearts tightly in suspense. Ultimately, when the bomber detonated the explosives he wore, it erupted with a thunderous bang -- an exhrating release that provided viewers with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

    Of course, while the chase scene appeared thrilling, it was aplex endeavor to film. Many high-difficulty shots required hours of preparatory time, and the coordination of various nes, luxury vehicles, and background actors imposed a significant test on the director''s ability to manage the set.

    Before shooting began, Eric had visited the airport multiple times with his team to study potential filming angles, making adjustments to the shooting n based on his memorized shots. It wasn''t until the crew had been filming for two weeks that they officiallymenced shooting at Nassau International Airport.

    On one of the runways, Eric worked with Nicole Frank and the visual effects team to discuss camera angles for the uing shots. This included the moment when a fuel truck charged toward the Skyfleet prototype, narrowly missing a passenger ne descending from above.

    This shot could not realistically be filmed live; thending passenger ne would be created entirely in CGI during post-production. Nicole had justpleted hours of hanging in the air to capture the pilot''s subjective view of the descent, which wouldter be modified by the effects team to reflect the cabin''s perspective.

    ...

    Now they were about to shoot the moment when, as the passenger ne swooped down, a police car would be swept up and tossed by the terrifying st from the ne''s engines.

    Seeing the police car equipped for the shot secured to aunch device, Eric recalled previous tests conducted elsewhere but recognized that nothing could match the rity of the real-time effect. After discussing with Nicole and the effects team, he remained uncertain; he hoped a camera could be positioned on the trajectory where the police car would beunched so, when set flying, it would create a more visually arresting shot for the big screen. However, he knew this risked destroying an expensive camera if struck by the car.

    After pondering for a moment, Eric said, "Hold on the shoot for now. Let''sunch the car once to see the effect. Also, can we get a spare prop car on standby?"

    The crew''s cheapest camera was valued at over $100,000, while the prop cars custom-made by General Motors for the film averaged just $5,000. Although Eric wouldn''t mind a couple of cameras getting wrecked if necessary, he aimed to avoid it whenever possible.

    With Eric''s decision made, the assistant producer in charge of props moved away to prepare a backup vehicle. Eric and Nicole retreated to a safe position.

    After the effects team confirmed everything was set, they pressed theunch device''s remote button. A muffled thud echoed, causing the ground to tremble beneath everyone. The police car shot into the air before crashing seven or eight meters away, hitting the ground with a heavy thud and rolling forward. By the time the scene settled, the once-pristine police car had transformed into a mangled wreck, with parts scattered everywhere.

    Eric had no time to contemte the scene''s wreckage as he hurried over with Nicole, only to see that the concrete was left with a shallow crater where the car hadnded.

    After recalling the police car''s trajectory, Eric took a few steps near the crater, halted, and asked the effects team leader, "Toby, can you confirm that the trajectory of the car when it''sunched is fairly consistent?"

    Toby, a middle-aged white man in his forties, seemed to understand Eric''s intention. "While I can''t guarantee it, I think your position is rtively safe. We can adjust the car''s weight distribution on the chassis, allowing for a slightly differentunch angle, which will enhance your safety."

    "No need to shift; just set it up as it was," Eric decisively replied, then instructed the departments to prepare for official filming.

    The effects team began installing a new prop car on theunch device, while the crew quickly cleared the fallen wreckage. They even repaired the freshly made crater.

    Eric and Nicole set up several cameras, in addition to the one facing the trajectory of the tossed police car. Two other cameras would record the shot from different angles.

    ...

    Forty minutester, everything was ready. Eric stood in front of the monitor for onest check of the camera cements before signaling the script supervisor with an OK gesture.

    "<i>Casino Royale</i>, Scene 54, Take 1!"

    With a nod, both the fuel truck and another police SUV began moving simultaneously. Secondster, as Eric felt the familiar tremors beneath his feet, theunched police car again soared into the air.

    Eric locked his gaze on the most critical camera, number three, as he watched the car racing directly toward the lens. Suddenly, the monitor screen went ck.

    The crash sounds of the police car rolling onnding continued to echo, and standing nearby without restraint, Nicole eximed, "Oh my gosh, my Bonnie!"

    After the monitor cked out, Eric looked up because camera three''s filming was dangerously positioned, the cameraman had not operated the camera personally and instead had it fixed in ce. Now, that camera and its mounting rigy destroyed, probably beyond repair -- an incident that the insurancepany would not cover.

    While Eric felt a pang for the $150,000 Kodak professional camera, he turned to Nicole with a bittersweet grin and said, "Does that camera have a name too?"

    Nicole walked over to where the shattered cameray, kneeled down to see if anything could be salvaged, and replied, "Of course, every camera I''ve used has a name."

    "Oh, I''m sorry. But you should know, rule number one of the apocalypse is: never give names to anyone or anything around you; it will only make you weak."

    Nicole picked up the camera lens that had fallen to the ground, replying, "Don''t tell me that your film shoots are going to be frequented with ''apocalypse'' scenes; I will lose my mind."

    Eventually, others began to gather around. Eric reassuringly patted Nicole''s shoulder and turned to Toby, the effects team leader, offering an apologetic expression. "idents are inevitable. Let''s prepare for another attempt; hopefully, we can sessfully finish this shot next time."

    Nicole found the film canister from the wreckage and examined it. "Eric, even though the camera is wrecked, the film we shot should still be intact."

    Eric took the canister for a look. The exterior bore no damage, but, ncing at his watch, he noted it was already 2:40 AM. With all but a few nned shots for the daypleted, he suggested, "Let''s shoot one more take, and then we''ll call it a night. Everyone can head back early."

    Cheers erupted, and everyone swiftly got back to business.

    Although Eric didn''t adjust the camera cements, filming over the rest of the night proceeded without further camera mishaps, yielding satisfactory results.

    With nearly half an hour until four, Eric dered an early wrap. Night shoots were mental drainers, so after efficiently organizing the set''s affairs, Eric rode a speedboat back to Paradise Ind, where he copsed into bed and fell into a deep sleep.

    ...

    He awoke promptly at twelve noon.

    After a quick shower and changing into a casual t-shirt and pants, he left his amodations for the resort''s restaurant.

    Under the fierce midday sun of Paradise Ind, the nearby white sandy beaches were deserted. While summer was an ideal time for vacations in the Bahamas, tourists rarely remained outdoors after ten in the morning.

    Although many crew members rested, some staff on working shifts were present at the restaurant for lunch.

    As Eric traversed the resort''s path, he exchanged greetings with those he passed. Upon entering the restaurant, he noticed Miranda excitedly waving at him while chatting with Ivanka and her mother.

    Following the release of thetest issue of <i>VOGUE</i>, Gisele had quickly made a name for herself in the fashion world and received a torrent of coboration offers.

    Days after shooting that scene, Gisele and Alessandra had hastily departed the Bahamas, leaving only Ivanka and her mother alongside Miranda. Due to the shifting shooting schedule, Eric had not seen the group for a few days, assuming they had traveled to other nearby inds.

    Eric walked over, ruffling Miranda''s hair, who wore a light pink dress, before ordering lunch from the waiter. Sitting down, he asked Ivana Zeln��?kov��, "Are you enjoying yourselvestely?"

    "Absolutely, thanks for your hospitality, Eric," Ivana replied, then added, "By the way, Ivanka and I are leaving this afternoon; I''m here to bid you farewell."

    "You''re in such a hurry to go back. Why not stay a few more days?"

    Ivana exined, "Her dad called and said he wants to take her on vacation to Europe, so I need to take her back early."

    "Oh, that''s a pity," Eric remarked, turning to Ivanka. "Where in Europe are you two nning to go? We''re headed there next month, so we might just cross paths."

    Ivanka shyly smiled, saying, "Norway. Dad said he wants to take us white-water rafting."

    "Norway, huh?" Eric shrugged with disappointment. "I guess we probably won''t see you then."

    Ivanka casually munched on the ice cream before her, looking at Eric and quietly added, "That''s okay, Eric. You cane visit us when you''re in New York."

    Eric sensed a glimmer of hope in her eyes but understood that this invitation was likely a chore from Donald. Nevertheless, he didn''t mind, nodding in agreement, "Sure, if I''m free, I''ll definitely swing by."

    While Eric spoke to Ivanka and her mother, Miranda listened intently, though her eyes betrayed a hint of envy.

    Ivanka was around the same age, but just over a summer, she got to travel halfway around the world, going wherever she pleased. Meanwhile, ncing at the diamond-embellished silver bracelet on her wrist, Miranda sighed inwardly; it was a gift from Ivanka during these past few days -- a simple piece of jewelry, yet adorned with a ''CC'' logo -- Chanel, no less. It must have cost over a thousand dors, especially since it was just amon item from her twelfth birthday gift.

    Sigh. When would she be able to live such a life?

    Miranda nced at Eric, her thoughts tinged with a hint of wistfulness.

    Ivanka''s flight was scheduled for 6 PM. While they nned to depart from Nassau International Airport as well, Eric couldn''t find the time to personally send them off. So after finishing lunch, he took a moment to chat a little longer with them before heading back.

    ...

    By the time he returned to his residence, it was already 2 PM.

    Miranda trailed closely behind Eric to his abode. He settled onto the living room couch, flipping on the television while waiting for his assistant to deliver some documents.

    As Miranda dashed to the fridge and returned with two juice bottles, Eric took one, had a sip, then ced it on the coffee table. "Now that they''ve left, you should probably head back to LA, right?"

    "It''s summer break, Eric. And that TV series has wrapped up, so there''s nothing for me to do back home anyway."

    Saying this, Miranda adopted a cute, pitiful expression, removing her shoes and curling her long legs on the couch beside Eric, brushing her knee against his thighs.

    "You could always go back to Australia. I''m sure your parents miss you."

    "No way! I''m not going back," Miranda immediately shook her head. Realizing how that sounded might seem ungrateful to her parents, she quickly added, "It''s winter over there now, and I''m afraid of the cold."

    "Well, you can''t just hang around here forever; everyone''s so busy. It doesn''t make sense for you to just wander back and forth."

    Miranda rolled her eyes yfully, linking her arm around Eric''s, leaning closer as she said, "Then, Eric, I want to check out Miami and Ondo. I''ve never been to Disnend!"

    Both cities were in Florida, adjacent to the Bahamas, and Nassau''s airport scene was set to represent Miami International Airport.

    Still, Eric frowned slightly, hesitant. "I can''t let you roam around alone; I won''t be able to exin to your parents if something happens."

    "Of course, I won''t be alone! ire cane with me."

    "Who''s ire?" Eric asked, puzzled.

    Miranda pouted in displeasure. "ire is the assistant thepany assigned to me! She came to the Bahamas with me, and you''ve seen her too -- how could you forget?"

    Eric recalled a young brte he had seen with Miranda, who must have been around twenty. Although he had personally arranged for Miranda to be at ICM, she had no real name value. ICM definitely wouldn''t have provided a permanent assistant for her, and she couldn''t afford one on her own at the moment. This must have been an exception made for her due to the circumstances.

    Just as Eric was about to say something, the doorbell rang.

    Breaking free of Miranda''s clinginess, he got up to answer the door to find his assistant, Peter Rich, standing outside with a stack of documents.

    "Come in," Eric said, stepping aside to let Peter in.

    However, as Peter stepped inside, his gazended on the couch, and he hesitated noticeably.

    Curious, Eric looked over and saw a certain little sprite clumsily pretending to fix her already pristine pink dress, her eyes showing a faint panic as if fearful that others would misinterpret her and Eric''s earlier actions as scandalous.

    "Hi, Peter. Good afternoon," Miranda squeaked, still fussing to make the dress look disheveled despite her absence of any disorder. Eric remembered that he had previously discovered Miranda while she was handled by Peter back at <i>DOLLY</i> magazine.

    "Hi, Miranda," Peter replied awkwardly, unsure if he should excuse himself.

    Eric shot Miranda a re, swiftly deciding he wouldn''t let her stay in the Bahamas any longer. Too much joy could lead to mischief; who knew what trouble this little sprite would concoct.

    He had been too busytely to oversee this wild girl.

    "Let''s head to the study," Eric informed Peter, who still seemed hesitant.

    Passing the couch, Eric knocked lightly on Miranda''s head, and as she squeaked in protest, he added, "Call that ire over; I need to speak with her."

    ...

    Once in the study, Eric sat at his desk while Peter handed over the documents, saying, "The first-week box office results for <i>The Rock</i> havee out, along with thepany''s analysis of the film''s box office performance."

    Since <i>The Rock</i>''s opening day, Eric had anticipated this box office taking a hit from Eddie Murphy''sedy, <i>The Nutty Professor</i>.

    Initially, Eric had wondered whether John Woo was facing the curse of Hollywood again, reminiscent of his previous string of sessful films that led to a downfall. But, as he reviewed the weekend box office numbers, he soon realized matters weren''t as grim.

    For the opening weekend, <i>The Nutty Professor</i> topped the charts with a gross of $30.13 million, while <i>The Rock</i> came in a close second with $28.38 million. The third ce, <i>The Matrix</i>, faced a 37% drop to earn $25.76 million due to new films releasing.

    From those figures alone, it became clear that even if <i>The Rock</i> didn''t take the crown, the box office gap equated to only a little over a million dors. The Firefly distribution team predicted that <i>The Rock</i>''s first-week earnings would lie around $42 million.

    Gazing at the box office data, Eric asked Peter, "I remember hearing that <i>The Rock</i> received pretty favorable reviews during its screenings?"

    "Indeed," Peter confirmed, "<i>The Rock</i> garnered aposite score of around 7.5 from the media, and audience surveys we arranged also indicated great feedback. Meanwhile, <i>The Nutty Professor</i>''s media rating was only 5.6." He didn''t delve further intomenting about <i>The Nutty Professor</i>, as losing in box office was losing. He continued, "The distribution team has evaluated the reasons for <i>The Rock</i>''s box office shoringpared to <i>The Nutty Professor</i>. This information is on thest page."

    Eric found the report and noticed that Peter was still standing respectfully across from him, failing to locate a spare chair in the office. He gestured towards the sofa in the corner, "Have a seat; I''ll read this before we talk."

    Peter nodded and took a few steps back to sit on the couch.

    Eric flipped through the report, which contained statistics on the age demographics of the audiences who watched <i>The Rock</i>. It alsopared these viewers versus John Woo''s earlier films and other summer titles.

    Once he finished reading, Eric started piecing together why <i>The Rock</i> had been underwhelming at the box office.

    The summer months typically saw an influx of teens rushing into theaters, significantly boosting the box office numbers. Statistics showed that consumer contributions to box office revenues from students aged 22 and under ounted for roughly 40% of overall revenue. This additional demand for viewing paired with the sheer number of high-quality films during the summer was what allowed this period to leapfrog other ck months with box office totals averaging two to three times higher.

    Consequently, whether a film seeded during the summer highly depended on whether it resonated with young audiences.

    In this respect, <i>The Rock</i> faced challenges. While its stars, Sean Connery and Nics Cage, were box office giants, their appeal to teens was limited, and the film had no standout young female leads to draw that demographic''s attention. Furthermore, <i>The Rock</i> tackled the serious subject of unfair treatment of retired military personnel -- far removed from the edge-of-your-seat high-octane thrills that blockbusters like the <i>Mission: Impossible</i> series offered.

    As a result, those factors shaped the primary reasons why <i>The Rock</i>, despite positive buzz, failed to draw in a substantial youthful audience.

    Among theparative data, only 17% of viewers for <i>The Rock</i> were below 22 -- a figure even lower than the R-rated <i>Matrix</i>, which managed to reach 35% in that demographic. Furthermore, <i>The Rock</i>''s percentagesgged even behind several of Woo''s previous films, such as <i>Mr. & Mrs. Smith</i>.

    Despite the shorings, <i>The Rock</i> couldn''t be written off as a failure. The Firefly distribution team estimated a projected box office return of $130 million domestically and $200 million internationally based on current ratings and box office progression. This was well above its $75 million production budget, indicating that Firefly could likely recoup costs.

    "So, at the end of the day, we''ve still fallen short," Eric said, ncing back at Peter after reading the document. "What''s the reaction from Hollywood now?"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    Chapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is Wrong

    Chapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 799: Chapter 800: Countermeasures

    Chapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It Here

    Chapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 801: Chapter 802: Test Screening

    Chapter 801: Chapter 802: Test ScreeningChapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 802: Chapter 803: My Heart Will Go On

    Chapter 802: Chapter 803: My Heart Will Go OnChapter 801: Chapter 802: Test ScreeningChapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 803: Chapter 804: How About You Punish Me?

    Chapter 803: Chapter 804: How About You Punish Me?Chapter 802: Chapter 803: My Heart Will Go OnChapter 801: Chapter 802: Test ScreeningChapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 804: Chapter 805: The Buyer

    Chapter 804: Chapter 805: The BuyerChapter 803: Chapter 804: How About You Punish Me?Chapter 802: Chapter 803: My Heart Will Go OnChapter 801: Chapter 802: Test ScreeningChapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 805: Chapter 806: Is There Really a Need for This?

    Chapter 805: Chapter 806: Is There Really a Need for This?Chapter 804: Chapter 805: The BuyerChapter 803: Chapter 804: How About You Punish Me?Chapter 802: Chapter 803: My Heart Will Go OnChapter 801: Chapter 802: Test ScreeningChapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 806: Chapter 807: What Do You Think?

    Chapter 806: Chapter 807: What Do You Think?Chapter 805: Chapter 806: Is There Really a Need for This?Chapter 804: Chapter 805: The BuyerChapter 803: Chapter 804: How About You Punish Me?Chapter 802: Chapter 803: My Heart Will Go OnChapter 801: Chapter 802: Test ScreeningChapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 807: Chapter 808: Just Not Selling

    Chapter 807: Chapter 808: Just Not SellingChapter 806: Chapter 807: What Do You Think?Chapter 805: Chapter 806: Is There Really a Need for This?Chapter 804: Chapter 805: The BuyerChapter 803: Chapter 804: How About You Punish Me?Chapter 802: Chapter 803: My Heart Will Go OnChapter 801: Chapter 802: Test ScreeningChapter 800: Chapter 801: Bring It HereChapter 799: Chapter 800: CountermeasuresChapter 798: Chapter 799: Whatever You Do Is WrongChapter 797: Chapter 798: Troubles

    ?

    [Chapter 798]

    Peter Rich thought for a moment and said, "Not many other Hollywood studios have made public statements about this, but Universal did announce this morning that they will hold a celebration for the weekend release of The Nutty Professor. Besides, the media has been very active concerning this matter, especially since it''s the first time in three years that we lost our hold on the June release window."

    Since Jurassic Park in 1993, Firefly had firmly established itself in North America''s most popr movie month, June, thanks to its consistent strategy of releasing three summer blockbusters. During this period, few films from other studios managed to take home a week''s box-office crown.

    Because of Firefly''s consecutive hit summer films, Hollywood had evene to see June as Firefly''s "territory," with other major studios instinctively moving their top films away from the month.

    This year, however, with Titanic and the 3D animation films that Firefly excelled at both absent from the summer lineup, Firefly''s primary releases only included two movies. Universal, Paramount, and others began to attempt to "invade" what was traditionally considered Firefly''s prime period.

    Although Firefly had one film missing, the impressive performance of previous years left a deep psychological impact on the other studios.

    It was easy to imagine the joys of other Hollywood executives as Universal''s ckedy The Nutty Professor unexpectedly crushed Firefly''s The Rock, iming the weekly box-office championship. While they wouldn''t rush to make public derations, the close ties between Hollywood and the media almost guaranteed that these executives would express their relief through the press, lifting the pressure they had faced in recent years.

    Given the media''s nature of seizing the moment, Eric could almost visualize how lively entertainment news would be in the local papers in theing days.

    However, Eric didn''t particrly care. Just like the earlier conversation between Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells way over in Los Angeles a few days before. On one hand, Firefly was not a publicly tradedpany, and Eric had absolute control over it, freeing him from the pressures of capital markets and shareholders. On the other hand, with a solid financial foundation, Firefly''s production and distribution system was self-sustaining, eliminating any reliance on external financing.

    Thus, this underperformance at the box office wouldn''t have any substantial impact on Firefly. At worst, annual revenues from its film business might take a hit, but with the extreme uncertainty in the film market, such performance fluctuations were nearly an unavoidable reality for any major studio. The situation happening to Firefly also wasn''t entirely a bad thing; at the very least, it let Hollywood''s rivals, who''ve felt suppressed for years, breathe a bit easier, possibly lessening some of the hostility and wariness towards Firefly.

    After talking a bit with Peter Rich, Eric signed off on some necessary documents and sent his assistant away.

    ...

    Stepping out of his study and into the living room downstairs, Miranda immediately stood up to greet Eric as he came downstairs. A Caucasian woman sitting on a nearby armchair also stood up. She wore a women''s shirt and a ck knee-length skirt, stood about 5''7", had brown hair, and exhibited an ordinary appearance, though her eyes hinted at a faint cleverness.

    "Eric, this is ire Weissman," Miranda introduced, affectionately linking her arm with Eric''s.

    Eric nodded for her to sit back down, then asked, "You''re an intern at ICM, right?"

    "Yes, Mr. Williams. I dropped out of USCst year and have just started my first year at ICM." With nearly fifty percent of American college students dropping out, Eric wasn''t surprised by ire''s candor. He guessed from her school backstory she might be one of ICM''s upper management''s children -- USC was known as a prime school for the wealthy in North America. ire''s assignment as Miranda''s assistant surely wasn''t a mere coincidence; ICM management likely recognized that aligning with Miranda could provide valuable contacts, a resource every agent dreamed of.

    Eric didn''t bother delving into the intricacies of the situation. "Miranda doesn''t have anything else going on here. Why don''t you take her on a tour in Florida, then head back to Los Angeles?"

    ire smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mr. Williams. That''s my job."

    Miranda''s face lit up with joy, but then turned pitiful as she gently shook Eric''s arm. "Eric, I-I can''t even afford a ne ticket back to Los Angeles right now."

    Eric chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, and took out his wallet, intending to write her a check. Miranda, however, leaned in curiously, peeking into his wallet.

    "Wow, this, the ck one, I''ve heard of it. Eric, can I use this ck credit card?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Although the famous Amex ck Card wouldn''t be issued until 1999, many top-tier credit cards from banks were ck during that time.

    Eric wasn''t a collector and had only three or four credit cards from major American banks. Seeing Miranda''s eager expression, heughed, put his pen away, took out the Citibank ck card, and handed it to her, saying, "Just don''t go wild with it. Use it for a bit, thene back to Los Angeles like a good girl."

    "I know!," she beamed as she epted the credit card, pouting her lips to peck it, and noticing her faux pas, quickly wrapped her arms around Eric''s neck to kiss his cheek. "Eric, you''re such a nice guy."

    Eric felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing his unlimited ck card had somehow earned him a "nice guy" card -- what a loss.

    Gently pushing Miranda off of him, he said, "Go find Peter, have him call my ountant for authorization. And don''t showerpliments like that in the future."

    ...

    Once he''d sent off the clingy little sprite, he returned to the production of Casino Royale. However, in Hollywood, the media chatter surrounding The Rock''s underwhelming box office performance didn''t gradually fade with time; instead, it ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

    After the news broke that The Rock''s opening weekend earnings couldn''tpete with The Nutty Professor, most of North America''s media erupted into a frenzy.

    They knew that this celebratorymotion was somewhat unreasonable, yet the first reported box-office "loss" for Firefly after dominating the June window for three years was nevertheless big news. The general public found it as captivating as news of a major American corporation suddenly going bankrupt. So, whether for sensationalism or to celebrate genuinely, most media outlets expressed a schadenfreude attitude regarding The Rock''s box office disappointment.

    After a week of such uproar, on June 21, Universal released the highly anticipated film The Mummy 2 in over 3,300 theaters nationwide, alongside Sony''s The Cable Guy, which starred Jim Carrey, the first the studio had paid a $20 million sry to.

    Riding on the poprity of its predecessor and extensive promotion, The Mummy 2 earned a staggering $84.29 million at the North American box office within just one week, easily iming the weekly box office crown while also achieving the best opening performance for all films released in 1996 thus far.

    Meanwhile, as Firefly had expected, The Rock, despite not having arge adolescent audience, demonstrated solid quality, resulting in only a 23% decline in its second week, raking in $32.17 million to secure the second position in the weekly box office chart. However, Sony''s much-anticipated The Cable Guy fell far below expectations, recording just $29.96 million over its first week from over 2,600 screens. Due to Jim Carrey''s high sry, the film''s budget had swelled to $60 million, and given the cold reception andckluster critical reviews, this marked Carrey''s first film post-contract that likely wouldn''t exceed the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

    The Nutty Professor, unsurprisingly, experienced a 39% drop in its box office,nding in fourth ce with $27.45 million.

    On its fourth week, The Matrix saw a 46% drop, earning $20.18 million to finish fifth that week while surpassing the $200 million milestone at the North American box office, totaling

    $200.54 million.

    Despite The Rock''s decent performance in its second week, the film''s anticipated total revenue

    only capped around $130 million.

    It was clear that while The Matrix''s earnings exceeded $200 million, the media would not spare the opportunity to jab at Firefly, contrasting this year''s figures with those from the

    previous year.

    Last summer, Firefly released three major films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 which collectively grossed over $811 million in North America alone. In previous years, Firefly''s summer box office had consistently maintained such high levels.

    But this year, everything appeared to be in freefall.

    Even with The Matrix''s box office crossing the $200 million mark and The Rock predicted to bring in decent profits for Firefly, based on anticipated earnings -- $240 million for The Matrix and $130 million for The Rock -- this year''s summer total was shaping up to just $370 million. That was a stark drop of 54%pared tost year''s $811 million summer performance.

    Major films traditionally wield immense influence, so given the underwhelming thrust of

    these two films, it was easy to foresee that Firefly''s total profits in the uing year would likely shrink by over 50%pared to the previous year''s figures. Coupled with Titanic''s approaching losses reminiscent of Waterworld, it was entirely uncertain whether Firefly could achieve the over $2 billion annual operational profit it didst year.

    Some media outlets felt even more pessimistic, viewing Firefly''s losses in this summer''s box

    office as a sure sign of its decline.

    ...

    Under such circumstances, during thest week of June, Paramount''s release of Pocahontas delivered yet another blow to Firefly.

    On June 28, Paramount Picturesunched its first 2D animated feature film, Pocahontas, produced by the Disney hand-drawn animation studio that originally had been acquired from

    Firefly for $2.5 billion.

    While the production costs for this 2D animation had nearly doubledpared to its Firefly days, the decision-makers at Paramount Animation were all-out determined to give their old employer a "perfect revenge." The studio''s heads invested a substantial amount of effort, and the quality of Pocahontas far surpassed what had been seen during its previous era,ting $5.9 million even just from pre-release screenings. Although Pocahontas didn''t replicate The Lion King''s staggering opening of $66 million from years before, it still managed to earn $51 million in its first week, totaling $56.9 million -- well above most industry''s expectations. It even toppled The Mummy 2, which had a strong opening; in its second week, The Mummy 2 itself plummeted by 49% to just $41.72 million.

    Everyone knew that animated films thrived on long-term box office sess; if Pocahontas achieved $51 million in its opening week and maintained a drop below 30% in the weeks following, its total earnings could approach the $200 million mark. Subsequently, the second week''s box office decline of just 26% strongly confirmed this.

    In this scenario, everyonepletely ignored New Line Cinema''s Final Destination, which had premiered the same week as Pocahontas. This quirky horror film brought in more than $13 million in its strong first week, and had a mere 24% drop in its subsequent week, and could well umte near $60 million in total earnings at its $20 million budget. Given its overseas earnings, Final Destination undoubtedly stood as yet another profitable release for New Line following Se7en.

    Of course, most media outlets chose to ignore this fact, shifting the focus back to Pocahontas''s

    box office sess and directly pointing fingers at Firefly''s historic abandonment of hand-

    drawn animation.

    Only a select few knew the ins and outs of Firefly''s original decision to sell its hand-drawn animation studio, and the studio couldn''t possibly offer an exnation now.

    As things increasingly heated up outside, the group had to prepare its own counter-

    narratives.

    With The Matrix surpassing $200 million at the box office -- a cause for celebration -- Firefly

    arranged for the Wachowskis to appear on an ABC talk show, aiming to push for even higher box office numbers for the film.

    However, this talk show ended up bringing a range of troubles to Firefly.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 808 - 809: Music Copyrights

    <h4>Chapter 808: Chapter 809: Music Copyrights</h4>

    [Chapter 809: Music Copyrights]

    The call came from Kelly, who was in Los Angeles, regarding an MP3 yer. The Firefly Electronicspany''s R&D center in San Francisco had finally developed a finished MP3 yer utilizing microdisk technology for storage.

    After talking with Kelly for a while, Eric said, "Well then, let''s have someone send a sample over to London for me to take a look. As for the sales and promotional n, let the electronicspany work together with Yahoo toe up with a suitable proposal."

    "..."

    "About the music copyrights?" Eric hesitated before adding, "Sony Records definitely won''t easily grant us a license. Besides their own music resources, we can focus on negotiating with Warner and Universal Records. Have Yahoo start working on this for now, and when I return to Los Angeles in November, we''ll assess the situation again."

    "..."

    "Ah, Caroline, since she is heading back to London for a vacation, let her bring the sample with her... Okay, that settles it. Goodbye."

    After hanging up, Eric stood in ce, contemting.

    ...

    To effectively promote the MP3 yer, the primary challenge remained securing music copyright resources. Sony initially invested heavily in acquiring Columbia Records and other smaller musicpanies to promote their Walkman, ultimately merging them into what became Sony Records.

    When they lured the team from JIVE Records to Firefly Records, thebel had released hugely popr teen pop artists like the Backstreet Boys over the past two years, plus they held the soundtrack distribution rights for all the movies under Firefly Group. However,pared to established music giants like Sony Records and Warner Records, Firefly Records'' overall strength was still vastly inferior.

    Especially in the music copyright library, while those legacybels boasted millions of song licenses, Firefly Records'' collection barely amounted to tens of thousands, which simply wasn''t substantial enough to support the Yahoo Music Store initiative.

    Eric intentionally separated the MP3 yer from the Yahoo Music Store, with each product belonging to Firefly Electronics and Yahoo Network Corporation individually. This strategy aimed to establish Yahoo Music Store as a monopoly in online music sales. Firefly Electronics didn''t have ns to tightly control the MP3 yer patent. By this time, Nokia had already secured all technical licenses and set up a department for developing Nokia Music Phones. Going forward, the MP3 yer would simrly be licensed out to more stakeholders affiliated with Firefly.

    Eric''s n was that in the future, allpanies acquiring MP3 yer patents would have to purchase music albums exclusively from the Yahoo Music Store. In the end, although the MP3 yer was simply a transitional product with a shorter poprity cycle, the Yahoo Music Store could sustain itself long-term. Once users became ustomed to buying music from that store, even amid rapid updates to electronic hardware, the Yahoo Music Store would continue to maintain a strong industry position, generating substantial profits over time.

    ...

    After a brief day of adjustment to familiarize themselves with the Pinewood Studios'' shooting environment, the crew resumed operations the next day.

    Most of the outdoor scenes had already been filmed in the Bahamas, Czech Republic, and Italy. The filming during the final two months would mostly wrap up inside Pinewood Studios.

    Pinewood Studios was also among the earliest filming locations in Europe to undergo digitization. As filming progressed, initial post-production workmenced on-site at Pinewood as well.

    London was continuously cloaked in dreary weather, with fine rain drizzling outside the car window. Caroline Wilson had returned to London the previous evening and drove out to Pinewood Studios early that morning.

    The Wilson family estate was located on the banks of the Thames in the western suburbs of London, only ten kilometers away from Pinewood Studios. Caroline drove carefully, making it there in under twenty minutes.

    The navy blue mini car left the highway and turned onto Pinewood Road, heading north. It soon arrived at the parking lot of Pinewood Studios. Caroline picked up a small locked briefcase from the passenger seat, locked the car, opened her umbre, hesitated momentarily, then carefully bent down to tidy her voluminous blonde hair before walking towards the studio.

    Since it wasn''t too far from her home, Caroline had visited Pinewood Studios multiple times before. She was familiar with theyout of the area. The iconic 007 filming stage was positioned at the northernmost part of theplex and was thergest soundstage in the studio. However, when she called the night prior, she had learned that today''s shooting wasn''t happening in the 007 stage but rather in the underwater filming base.

    Navigating confidently to the soundstage of the underwater filming unit, a security guard at the entrance noticed the petite blonde girl approaching with a briefcase, feeling somewhat curious but finding it hard to feel any wariness. He approached and asked, "Excuse me, miss, who are you looking for?"

    "Sir, my name is Caroline Wilson. I have an appointment," Caroline said politely while putting her umbre away.

    The guard was a middle-aged man in his forties, slightly balding and a bit overweight. Perhaps it had been a long while since he had heard a respectful address like "sir" from someone, and Caroline carried an air of aristocracy that automatically prompted a little more respect from him. He nodded cheerfully, "Miss, please hold on a moment; I''ll check."

    ...

    Momentster, Peter Rich emerged from the soundstage. "Caroline, it''s great to see you again! Come with me."

    Caroline followed Peter Rich, asking, "Is Mr. Williams in there?"

    Everyone in Eric''s assistant office knew about Caroline''s feelings for Eric. Peter Rich noticed Caroline''s deliberate change in how she addressed him and smiled, nodding, "Of course, he''s in there. However, everyone is quite busy, so you might have to wait until noon. In fact, you could havee here at lunchtime."

    "I... I really didn''t have much to do at home, so I thought I''de early," Caroline exined with a blush, stealing a nce at Peter Rich, a bit worried he might tease her.

    Peter Rich wouldn''t do that. He casually changed the topic, leading Caroline to the shooting site within the stage.

    Around the central pool, approximately fifty people were bustling about. Large green screens surrounded the pool, and it was evident people were working underwater. The atmosphere was surprisingly orderly, with the asional noise from moving props and the director''s voice amplified over a megaphone breaking the stillness.

    Arriving at a designated waiting area, Peter Rich gestured around and said, "We''ll have to wait here."

    There were a few simple chairs, severalrge towels, and a steaming coffee pot on a long table -- a resting area. Two middle-aged men, wrapped in towels, sipped coffee and chatted. They noticed Peter Rich arriving with a petite girl and exchanged curious nces, nodding in acknowledgment.

    Caroline politely returned their gaze, scanning the area for Eric but not spotting him. She turned to Peter Rich in confusion.

    Peter Richughed and pointed towards the water.

    Caroline understood right away. Just then, several figures emerged from the water, and she instinctively raised her hand but didn''t wave because Eric wasn''t looking at her; he was saying something to the crew by the edge of the pool. People on the shore jumped into the water, pulling those who had just surfaced back to safety.

    Peter Rich offered Caroline a cup of coffee and invited her to sit. "The shoot started just an hour ago, so it''s expected tost until noon. If you''re bored, you might as well stroll around the area; there''s a cinema over by Goldfinger Avenue."

    Caroline ced the small briefcase on herp and epted the coffee with a grateful smile, saying, "It''s fine; I''ll wait here."

    Peter Rich nodded, ncing at the small briefcase on herp. He asked, "Do you need help storing that?"

    Caroline shook her head, "No, thank you."

    Peter Rich knew what was in the case and didn''t press. Noticing Caroline''s gaze frequently wander over towards the filming site, he casually remarked, "They''ve been shooting this scene for three days now, and we should wrap it up today. Underwater scenes can be tricky; Mr. Williams has been diving down himself each day. The day before yesterday, we filmed a scene where a cage fell into the water, and someone almost got hurt."

    Caroline''s heart leaped nervously. "Is everyone okay?"

    "Of course! We had lifeguards watching closely underneath the surface. However, some in the crew caught colds since the weather has been a bit chilly," Peter Rich chuckled, saying, "A few lucky fellows were sent home for the day to avoid catching anything. I heard they sneaked off to London before dawn."

    "Haha," Caroline giggled softly.

    "And you?" Peter Rich asked, "How long is your vacation? A month?"

    "Half a month," Caroline replied, "I need to be back in Los Angeles by the 20th. If I rest too long, I might fall behind on work."

    Since the release of <i>The Matrix</i>, many within the Firefly system felt that the staff at Eric''s assistant office resembled the Agents from <i>The Matrix</i>. They didn''t directly participate in any of thepanies'' operations within the Firefly group but gathered and organized major operational information to provide professional assessments directly to Eric.

    Thus, they acted as Eric''s eyes monitoring the Firefly economic empire.

    After years of refining, Eric''s assistant office had established a highly effective workflow. While many viewed the department as somewhat inconsequential, those employees were actually quite busy daily. Assistants like Peter Rich, who were able to stay close to Eric, had it easierpared to others involved in the grueling day-to-day operations.

    After Caroline spoke, Peter Rich nced back at the pool, smiling as he said, "Mr. Williams and I have discussed it, and next year, I might transition to FFM TV."

    FFM TV was a cable project that would be a major partnership between Firefly, MGM, and Fox over the next few years. From what Caroline read about it, she could understand Eric''s level of attention and importance he ced on thework. Hearing Peter say this meant he was getting a promotion, and Caroline naturally congratted him.

    "Congrattions, Peter!"

    Having recently been at Eric''s side for thest six months, Peter understood better than Caroline just how high Eric''s expectations were for FFM. Moving to FFM for mid-level management was certainly a significant career leap, but Peter smiled and said, "Caroline, that''s not what I meant. My point is that next year when I transfer, it''s likely Mr. Williams will need a new assistant. You know, Ms. Haynes can''t stay with Mr. Williams long-term; maybe you should give it a shot."

    Caroline''s cheeks flushed bright red as she stammered, "W-well, that''s entirely up to Mr. W-williams himself, right?"

    Caroline''s warm, polite, and genuinely kind-hearted nature endeared her to all the employees in Eric''s assistant office, treating her like a younger sister. Given her British aristocratic lineage, they also felt that if anyone deserved to be with her, it would likely be their boss.

    Over the past six months around Eric, Peter Rich had gained a decent understanding of Eric''s character. Though Eric was charming, he was also quite considerate of the feelings of the women around him. In other words, if Caroline were to be side by side with him, Peter felt certain that Eric''s flirtations would diminish, and perhaps over time, Caroline could be the officialdy of the house.

    However, observing Caroline''s bashful demeanor, Peter Rich merely smiled and chose not to pursue the topic further. After all, no matter how fond he was of the girl beside him, revealing his observations about their boss''s character would breach workce etiquette -- something everyone understood but no one openly confessed to.

    ...

    In the underwater filming area, Eric noticed Caroline shortly after she arrived, though he didn''t have time to greet her.

    They had been filming Bond''s underwater farewell scene with Vesper for four days now. The thrilling sequences involving a cage dropping into the water werepleted; only a few dramatic dialogues were left to shoot. However, these final scenes were among the most pivotal turning points in the film for Eric.

    Vesper''s death marked Bond''s transformation, returning him to his cold, ruthless form as the top agent 007, embarking on a path of vengeance.

    As the sshing sounds rang out, several people emerged from the depths once more.

    Eric took off his diving mask and breathing apparatus. This time, they weren''t pulled out of the water immediately. Instead, he instructed the camera crew to swap the film in the underwater camera before waving to Pierce Brosnan and Cate nchett, who were rapidly fitted with life rings nearby. Once they were close, he said, "Pierce, next, we''ll try a different effect: Bond doesn''t understand why Vesper suddenly betrayed him, so your next challenge is to portray a pure but calm expression, wanting to rescue Vesper first and understand what happened."

    Pierce Brosnan contemted for a moment, questioning, "So, I don''t need to show too much expression?"

    He sensed that Eric''s expectations had lowered considerably, exining the simpler request.

    Regarding the previous shot, Vesper, sinking with the cage, had felt sadness and reluctance when she saw Bond diving in to save her. She was a stubborn and obsessive woman who realized she had ruined everything. Not only did she fail to save her sister, but she also lost $150 million and betrayed the man who loved her desperately, resigning herself to death. Bond couldn''t grasp Vesper''s resolve to embrace death; he didn''t yet understand the situation clearly. In his frantic attempts to break open the cage, anger and urgency pushed him to save her first before unraveling everything, but Vesper was uncooperative.

    Cate had proven herself worthy of being Meryl Streep''s sessor, demonstrating her exceptional talent even on her first underwater shoot, achieving the performance Eric needed perfectly. Unfortunately, with Pierce Brosnan, the cameras had rolled for seven takes, and none gained satisfactory results.

    Eric nodded in frustrated agreement with Pierce''s observation; the debonair British actor simply didn''t have the innate talent for conveying character emotion through subtle facial expressions -- especially underwater. After numerous attempts, he decided to lower his demands.

    As they discussed, nearby, Cate floated on the surface, sipping from a hot coffee cup given to her by the crew. She looked at the two of them and cautiously interjected, "Eric, can I share my thoughts?"

    Eric smiled, nodding in encouragement, "Of course."

    He hadn''t noticed the emotional difference in how he conversed with Pierce and Cate, though that likely mirrored the dynamics of school teachers'' attitudes towards their best and struggling students.

    Cate handed the coffee cup back to a crew member and stated, "I think, while shooting, Pierce could focus on me -- just like this."

    As she spoke, Cate reset her expression, pursed her lips, and fixated her determined gaze on Eric. Perhaps caught up in the moment, she reached for a life ring in front of Eric, as though trying to forcibly pry apart a nonexistent cage door.

    In an instant, Eric felt if he didn''t let go of the life ring before him, Cate would rip him apart along with it. He quickly released his grip, and Cate, without hesitation, snatched away the life ring.

    While Cate didn''t disy many subtle emotions, that simple yet firm intent in her eyes conveyed a sense of urgency, despair, and fear: "Woman, you can''t die on me!"

    ''Oh, how I lost my train of thought.''

    Brushing aside those disordered musings, Eric excitedly turned to Pierce Brosnan. "Pierce, did you see that? Just like that!"

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 809 - 810: ARM

    <h4>Chapter 809: Chapter 810: ARM</h4>

    [Chapter 810: ARM]

    Britishbor protectionws were much stricter than those in North America. Any slight vition of the work schedule could lead to an investigation by the union. At noon, the crew stopped promptly for lunch.

    Eric instructed Peter Rich to prepare two lunch boxes and then headed toward the office exclusive to the <i>007</i> crew with Caroline.

    Carrying a small case for Caroline, Eric looked at the girl walking beside him and asked, "I saw youe in so early this morning. You don''t live around here, do you?"

    Caroline felt a bit awkward following Eric with empty hands, but she was too shy to ask for the case back. She asionally nced at Eric and nodded in response, "Yeah, I live by the River Thames."

    Caroline was clearly used to describing her home location this way, while Eric had no idea where the River Thames was but assumed it was nearby. He decided not to pry further and asked, "How are your parents doing?"

    "They''re good, but Dad is as busy as ever, just like... just like you. My brothers are also busy, so Mom is often home alone."

    Eric smiled and said, "Well, you can take this time to spend some more time with your mom."

    Caroline nodded obediently. "I will."

    ...

    They soon arrived at the temporary office, where Caroline opened the case with a password. Inside were three neatly arranged rectangr boxes.

    Eric opened the box and revealed an MP3 yer slightlyrger than an old-fashioned lighter, featuring a beautiful sky-bluecquer finish, a circr dial for operation, and a pure white disy. The box also contained headphones, a charger, and a data cable.

    Seeing Eric skillfully turn it on and casually open theputer on the desk, Caroline quietly introduced, "This is thetest product from the R&D center, using a 512MB micro hard drive and a rechargeable lithium battery. The disy screen is made from thetest generation TFT technology, allowing for eight hours of yback on a single charge, and data transfer uses a USB cable."

    Eric tried operating it for a moment. The yer had preloaded a few songs, and he put on the headphones, enjoying the pleasant musicing from them.

    He took another box out of the case and handed it to Caroline. "You should try it out."

    "Me? Is it okay?" Caroline asked uncertainly. Seeing Eric pushing it toward her, she epted and opened it carefully. Even though she carried these samples from Los Angeles, good manners prevented her from opening them beforehand, despite her curiosity.

    This one happened to be pink, and Caroline knew the final model would be pure white. The finalized MP3 yer from the R&D center woulde in three colors: sky blue, pure white, and pink.

    Caroline followed the developments at Firefly Electronics but was using an MP3 yer for the first time. Not as familiar as Eric, she needed to read the manual to operate it properly.

    Seeing Caroline struggling with the MP3 yer, Eric chuckled. Noticing theputer was already on, he connected to the inte.

    Yahoo had started to expand internationally over the past two years and established branches in major English-speaking countries, as well as in Japan, Germany, and France. They began to operate portal services, Yahoo Mail, instant messaging, and other business avenues.

    Eric opened the American version of the Yahoo Music Store, which wouldunch simultaneously with the MP3 release, currently still in the internal testing phase.

    After logging onto the website, Eric reached for the USB data cable on the desk, but when he looked down to connect it to theputer, he realized that theputer didn''t have a USB port. He remembered that USB data transfer was a technology standard only recently promoted by IT giants like Intel, IBM, and Microsoft, meaning only thetest personalputers had USB ports.

    The two mainstream data transfer standards avable were Apple''s FireWire and the USB. However, sincest year, Apple''s market share had been rapidly declining, projected to ount for only 5% of North American personalputer sales this year. Even if Steve Jobs returned to Appleter on, Apple Computer wouldn''t be a mainstream personalputer anymore. Eric, therefore, didn''t pursue any technology investment in that direction.

    With thisputer unable to facilitate data transfer, Eric decided to postpone testing until he was back home that evening when hisptop had a USB port.

    At that moment, Peter Rich entered, carrying two lunch bags, cing them on the coffee table in the lounge area. Noticing Eric had no further instructions, he nodded to Caroline and left.

    Caroline had just figured out how to y songs when she saw Peter Rich bring in lunch, quickly taking off her headphones.

    Eric and Caroline sat down on the couch. "Time is tight, so we can only grab a quick lunch here. Is that all right?"

    "It''s fine," Caroline shook her head and took out the lunch from the bags.

    The lunch was simple -- sandwiches, roast beef, small cakes, and vegetable sd. It looked decent, but anyone who tasted it would know the truth.

    Eric had grown weary ofmenting on British cuisine. He just wanted to fill his stomach. With the crew''s one-hour lunch break, he didn''t bother cooking something special. Watching Caroline''s ustomed demeanor, it was clear that she usually ate this kind of food.

    How pitiful.

    Caroline pulled out two cups of apple juice, handing one to Eric. Noticing Eric''s expression, she curiously asked, "Eric, what''s wrong?"

    "Nothing," Eric shook his head, calmly taking a bite of his cheese sandwich.

    Caroline blinked her big eyes and giggled softly, "Eric, do you think British food is bad?"

    Seeing that Caroline didn''t seem to mind, Eric nodded seriously.

    "Hehe," Caroline chuckled, not offended, but still slightly countered, "We just pursue simplicity!"

    From the moment he met Caroline, Eric could sense a subtle pride in her as a British girl. He decided not to pursue that topic further and switched subjects, "The MP3 yer is done. How''s the progress on the e-reader?"

    "It mainly depends on the processor chip. ARM has focused on developing mobile phone chips with Texas Instruments over the past two years and isn''t able to provide us with much technical support. So, the R&D center had to use the technology provided by ARM to design it by themselves. Although it''s not asplicated as mobile phone chips, developing the control chip for the e-reader is still much more challenging than the audio decoding chip for the MP3 yer..."

    As Caroline spoke, Eric suddenly looked up and interrupted, "ARM?"

    "ARM is apany based in Cambridge that focuses mainly on licensing the core design technology for microprocessor chips," Caroline exined. Noticing Eric deep in thought, she asked, "Eric, is there a problem?"

    There certainly was a big problem.

    Ericmented inwardly that Microsoft and Intel''s dominance in the personalputer market was irreversible. Besides their lead in the inte through Yahoo, AOL, and Cisco, he had also been considering and implementing strategies for the future of smartphones and the mobile inte age.

    Quam, Nokia, Yahoo, and investments in the mobilemunicationspany Sprint were all significant pieces in Eric''s n for the next decade. However, considering the Wintel alliance, it was clear that to secure dominance in the mobile era, it was essential to focus on mobile operating systems as well as mobile processor chips.

    In the previous timeline, ARM chips controlled over ny-five percent of the mobile smart devices market, with virtually all electronic manufacturers, including Apple, Quam, and Samsung, using ARM chip technology. However, more than a decadeter, due to the widespread and sometimes excessive licensing of ARM technology and mainstream manufacturers like Apple and Samsung developing their own chip solutions once they matured technologically, while ARM controlled a massive number of core patents, achieving a monopoly akin to Intel''s in the PC processor industry was now entirely out of reach.

    But as of now, everything was just beginning.

    If they could secure ARM early on, even if new mobile chip technology standards emergedter, the proven superiority of ARM''s technological solutions,bined with support from industry giants like Quam, Nokia, and Sprint in terms of channels and markets, could lead to ARM once again unifying the mobile chipndscape. Achieving a status akin to Intel in the PC chip market was not impossible.

    Realizing this, Eric looked up to find Peter Rich but instead encountered Caroline''s puzzled gaze.

    Taking a moment to calm down, Eric remembered that Peter Rich would certainly be nearby to help with his daily affairs. Since there was someone right in front of him, he asked, "Caroline, how long is your vacation?"

    Caroline, unsure of why Eric was asking, replied, "Half a month."

    "Let''s extend your vacation. How does a month sound?"

    "Hmm?" Caroline was even more confused.

    Eric continued, "It so happens that I suddenly thought of something. Since you''re already here, there''s no need to bring someone over from Los Angeles. During this time, I want you to help me gather information on ARM. Since you have prior experience collecting data for Quam, you should be quite familiar with it. I need everything about ARM, including management information, shareholders, business status, partners, etc."

    Remembering Quam, Caroline began to understand Eric''s intentions. "Eric, are you nning to acquire thispany?"

    Eric nodded. "You might need to make a trip to Cambridge. I''ll arrange for a driver for you."

    "No, no need," Caroline quickly shook her head. "I can drive myself. I also know many people in Cambridge."

    "Then never mind. If you need any help, you can contact Peter or call me directly," Eric said, noticing that Caroline''s expression had changed and no longer appeared as rxed as before. He realized, "Is this disrupting your vacation? If you don''t want to do it, I can call Kelly to send someone over."

    "No, no! I want to!" Caroline quickly shook her head.

    The truth was, she was just thinking that if she could spend a month in the UK and have a specific job to do, it would mean finding excuses to see Eric more often.

    Thinking of this made Caroline feel a little flushed.

    The two enjoyed their lunch while discussing some details. Before leaving, Eric gifted Caroline the pink MP3 yer.

    Although Caroline was excited about the yer, she protested, "This is a sample! How can I take it?"

    "Samples are meant for trial use," Ericughed as he stuffed the box into her hands. "I''ll have someone send you a Yahoo Music Store ount tonight, but you might need a newerputer with a USB port to download music. I can''t help with that. When you finish using it, feel free to write a user report."

    "Well, okay," Caroline finally epted the yer.

    An hour was actually quite brief. Caroline nced at the clock, realizing it was already 12:55 PM, and bid farewell.

    Eric instructed Peter Rich to send the remaining two MP3 yers to his ce and briefed him on assisting Caroline in gathering ARM data before starting his afternoon work.

    ...

    Since Kate joined the cast, she had always been quite cautious as a neer, especially as an outsider from Australia. However, after Eric epted her suggestions that morning, she gradually became more open and began expressing her ideas more boldly.

    After Kate joined the cast in Italy, Pierce Brosnan had been feeling a bit frustrated because he kept having trouble keeping up with her pace. But with Eric''s support from behind, plus the fact that no matter how outstanding Kate performed, she was still just a Bond girl, which didn''t impact his standing in the crew too much. Thus, Pierce Brosnan had managed to maintain a rtively positive demeanor, except for asionally showing a bit of tension during scenes with Kate, while the rest of the filming went smoothly.

    The underwater photography portion wrapped up sessfully in the afternoon, and most of Kate and Pierce Brosnan''s scenes werepleted. The remaining shots for Kate would be with Christina Aguilera, who yed her sister. This storyline was entirely separate from the original version and naturally had little screen time since this was a <i>James Bond</i> film, where James Bond was always the core focus. Although Eric obtained absolute control of the <i>Bond</i> series, he wouldn''t make drastic changes to the overarching style of the <i>James Bond</i> franchise.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 810: Chapter 811: I Cant Make Any Promises Right Now

    Chapter 810: Chapter 811: I Can''t Make Any Promises Right Now

    ?

    [Chapter 811]

    As September rolled in, Eric was busy shooting Casino Royale in the UK, while the North American summer movie season came to an official close.

    Firefly Group had released three films during the summer, The Matrix, The Rock, and New Line''s Final Destination, which collectively grossed $420 million. Although these films were still ying sporadically in North American theaters, their box office revenue of tens of thousands each week had negligible impact on the overall totals.

    Compared to previous years when they led the box office by a wide margin, Firefly Group''s box office revenue this year not only lost that advantagepletely but also saw Universal Pictures snatch the summer box office crown with a slight lead of $435 million. With The Mummy II and The Nutty Professor leading the pack, Universal also found sess with two other films.

    Following Firefly''s performance, Warner Bros. released six films during the summer. While none were major blockbusters, they still managed to secure $380 million due to their sheer number of releases, trailing Firefly closely.

    Perhaps due to Firefly''s sharp decline in summer performance, thepetitivendscape shifted in favor of Universal, Warner Bros., andter Paramount and Fox, among other major studios, which all saw a noticeable increase in summer box office revenuepared to previous years.

    Once Variety magazine officially released this year''s summer box office figures along with rtedmentary articles, other media quickly followed suit. Many professional outlets openly stated that Firefly''s declining performance signaled Hollywood''s return to a more bnced state among the "Big Seven" studios. Before Firefly''s rise, the seven major studios maintained a rtively equal market share based on their fixed production scales and distribution channels, asionally producing blockbusters but generally bncing their market presence ording to overall strength.

    Even though the Big Seven had been integrating into media groups, the film business still ounted for a significant share. As the notion of Firefly returning to "normal" gained eptance among the media, the capital markets reacted swiftly. Stock prices ofpanies like Time Warner, Vi, and MGM rose by more than 10% within a few days. Even Sony, despite the box office flop of Jumanji 2, experienced a slight uptick in shares.

    However, the sudden deceleration of the once fast-moving Firefly Group''s media empire drew keen media interest regarding their internal reactions. To get some feedback from Firefly''s higher-ups, some outlets even resorted to provocatively challenging thepany. Yet, after wrapping up work on The Matrix sequel, unless responding to tantly false smear campaigns, Firefly''s PR department remained notably low-key.

    As for Hollywood, most observers maintained a spectator''s mindset, especially after the poor reviews for Titanic''s premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Many anxiously awaited the year- end release schedule.

    With a production cost of $215 million and $50 million in distribution expenses, plus a runtime exceeding three hours, Hollywood saw little reason to believe in Titanic''s box office

    sess.

    While Firefly''spetitors were still content to watch from the sidelines, Wall Street already gleamed with anticipation. Should Titanic suffer a significant loss, it would not only consume profits from other sessful Firefly films but might also impact Firefly''s closed production system,pelling it to conform to industry norms rather than persist with their self- sufficient model.

    If Firefly opened even a small gap by seeking film financing from capital markets like other studios, Wall Street would have sufficient confidence to widen that gap step by step, ultimately absorbing Firefly and cing it under simr capitalist control as most Hollywood studios.

    ...

    Despite heightened scrutiny from outside, everything within Firefly remained orderly. On September 15, after more than six months of preparation, the FFM Network -- a coboration between Firefly, Fox, and MGM -- officiallyunched. FFM offered more high-quality film content than the previous incarnation of thework and implemented various promotional activities, managing to retain almost all of the original users from several pay cable channels, bringing the total user base to 4.1 million.

    Since FFM was positioned simrly to HBO, Time Warner naturally regarded it as a significant threat. Warner Bros. Cable even breaching contracts bypletely cutting off the signals of the 300,000 users who had previously subscribed to FFM''s predecessor. Time Warner adopted a total blockade approach against FFM.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    While both Firefly and Time Warner avoided an outright public confrontation, there were minimal restraints among subsidiaries. The moment Warner Bros. Cable severed the user signals, FFM promptly sued the cable giant in federal court for engaging in unfairpetition due to its market position. Warner Bros. knew thiswsuit could only help FFM gain notoriety, yet they had no choice but to respond, as FFM clearly would not agree to settle privately.

    As a veteran media yer, Weinstein quickly stoked the mes of controversy, and FFM''s profile surged in the process.

    With FFM''sunch coinciding with the beginning of the television fall season in September, ABC''s Friends, ER, and Survivor made their returns, along with Lifetime''s popr shows such as Sex and the City, Project Runway, and America''s Next Top Model.

    ...

    When someone was busy, the days flew by. By the time Firefly''s television department delivered the September ratings report to Eric, it had somehow be October.

    London''s weather had cooled further, and the filming of Casino Royale reached over 80%pletion. With just a month left, the most important scenes involved Bond teaming up with the Charlie''s Angels to rescue Ang Lind.

    Kate, Charlize, and Penelope needed another week before joining the set. The recent days had been more rxed for the crew, mainly focusing on dialogue scenes involving Bond, M, Vesper, and a few viins.

    After finishing a scene between the sisters Vesper and Ang that morning, Eric sat in the cafeteria of Pinewood Studios. After finishing lunch, he had some time left and started to read the newly arrived ratings report from New York.

    On ABC, Friends, ER, and Survivor continued to lead in viewership. This year, Friends was in its eighth season, with ns to conclude by the tenth. ABC had already announced this before the season started. Although the six main actors appeared slightly younger than in past life, ten years of filming had made them weary of continuing.

    This time, Aniston hadn''t rallied the other stars for a million-dor pay dispute, but Firefly was generous nheless. The sry for each of the six leads had doubled to $600,000 per episode for the final three seasons.

    As the most popr medical drama in recent years, ER maintained remarkably steady viewership, averaging over 20 million viewers per episode. Meanwhile, Survivor, which had peaked at an average audience of 30 million over its first two seasons, began to see a significant drop in viewership due topetition from other reality shows airing on differentworks.

    However, because Survivor''s production costs were low, even if ratings drop below 10 million, thework would remain very profitable. Moreover, the first three episodes of this season averaged 17 million viewers, which hardly reflected failure, positioning it among the leaders of North American reality programming.

    In addition to the three leading shows, ABC also weed a new dark horse this year -- a si called Everybody Loves Raymond. This family-centric show soared past the 15 million

    mark for its premiere episode.

    During its peak, its ratingspared well to Friends. With a opening viewership of 15 million, it was merely a starting point. It was expected that once Friends wrapped up, Everybody Loves Raymond would reach its own peak viewership, perfectly positioned to take over Comedy

    Night.

    In memory, Everybody Loves Raymond was CBS''s gship si. However, Eric had not been involved in it; he only discovered it after seeing the new show list submitted by ABC in May. The transition of Everybody Loves Raymond to ABC resulted mainly from David Letterman producing it. ABC had revamped itste-night programming over the past two years, moving CBS''s Late Show with David Letterman to theirwork, which naturally led to ABC securing Letterman''s television projects.

    After reviewing ABC''s ratings statistics, Eric was about to turn to Lifetime''s data when Christina Aguilera approached with a small tray.

    The girl stood across from Eric and sweetly asked, "Eric, may I sit here?"

    With a smile, Eric cleared some paperwork from the table and nodded to her. Christina happily

    ced her tray down and took a seat.

    While they had be close, Christina was far from clingy and never publicized their rtionship. Her discreet and intelligent behavior pleased Eric immensely.

    Since the entire day''s scenes involved Christina, her sitting beside Eric would only make people assume she wanted to discuss film matters with the director, not raising any suspicion.

    Watching Christina pick up her utensils and eat a small portion of the vegetable sd, Eric smiley asked, "What have you been up to? Why did you take so long toe to the table?" Christina replied sweetly, "My mom called from Los Angeles, and we talked for a bit longer."

    "Oh, were you feeling homesick?"

    "Not really," Christina shook her head.

    She truly wasn''t homesick. Having grown up in a single-parent household, Christina was much more independent than Britney. She had no desire to attend school and relished the opportunity to travel the world with her work.

    Eric smiled and turned his attention back to the papers in front of him, but Christina then spoke up, "Eric, I... suddenly feel like Ang isn''t that cool."

    Eric raised an eyebrow, "What do you think would be cool then?" Having seen Charlie''s Angels, Christina immediately replied, "Definitely like Kate Beckinsale''s character, Selina! But Ang seems more like a bookish tech geek who loves tinkering with machinery. I think that if Charlie''s Detective Agency actually existed, they would surely overlook Ang Lind."

    In the script for Casino Royale, Ang Lind was depicted as a tech-savvy geek obsessed with precision instruments, influenced by her father during childhood.

    "Thinking Ang Lind isn''t cool might stem from the fact that Casino Royale is a James Bond film, and the role isn''t given much room for development. However, that character is well- rounded and is akin to Qin the 007 series, who will eventually provide the Angels with all sorts of cool high-tech gadgets. You know, after the film is released next year, Marvel Entertainment will publishics rted to Ang Lind, and you''ll get to see it then." Initially, Eric had handed that character to Christina without sharing too much information. There was a time when Christina thought Ang might just be a minor character in the Casino

    Royale series.

    Now hearing Eric say this, Christina''s eyes sparkled, and she asked, "So, Eric, does this mean I could appear in the movie again in the future?"

    Eric chuckled, "Your character will definitely feature in theic stories; Marvel has already

    started on that. As for whether you can appear again in MGM''s spy movie universe, there are too many factors -- your career development, audience feedback on your character, the storyline needs, and so on. I can''t make any promises right now."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 811: Chapter 812: Many Bridges

    Chapter 811: Chapter 812: Many BridgesChapter 810: Chapter 811: I Can''t Make Any Promises Right Now

    ?

    [Chapter 811]

    As September rolled in, Eric was busy shooting Casino Royale in the UK, while the North American summer movie season came to an official close.

    Firefly Group had released three films during the summer, The Matrix, The Rock, and New Line''s Final Destination, which collectively grossed $420 million. Although these films were still ying sporadically in North American theaters, their box office revenue of tens of thousands each week had negligible impact on the overall totals.

    Compared to previous years when they led the box office by a wide margin, Firefly Group''s box office revenue this year not only lost that advantagepletely but also saw Universal Pictures snatch the summer box office crown with a slight lead of $435 million. With The Mummy II and The Nutty Professor leading the pack, Universal also found sess with two other films.

    Following Firefly''s performance, Warner Bros. released six films during the summer. While none were major blockbusters, they still managed to secure $380 million due to their sheer number of releases, trailing Firefly closely.

    Perhaps due to Firefly''s sharp decline in summer performance, thepetitivendscape shifted in favor of Universal, Warner Bros., andter Paramount and Fox, among other major studios, which all saw a noticeable increase in summer box office revenuepared to previous years.

    Once Variety magazine officially released this year''s summer box office figures along with rtedmentary articles, other media quickly followed suit. Many professional outlets openly stated that Firefly''s declining performance signaled Hollywood''s return to a more bnced state among the "Big Seven" studios. Before Firefly''s rise, the seven major studios maintained a rtively equal market share based on their fixed production scales and distribution channels, asionally producing blockbusters but generally bncing their market presence ording to overall strength.

    Even though the Big Seven had been integrating into media groups, the film business still ounted for a significant share. As the notion of Firefly returning to "normal" gained eptance among the media, the capital markets reacted swiftly. Stock prices ofpanies like Time Warner, Vi, and MGM rose by more than 10% within a few days. Even Sony, despite the box office flop of Jumanji 2, experienced a slight uptick in shares.

    However, the sudden deceleration of the once fast-moving Firefly Group''s media empire drew keen media interest regarding their internal reactions. To get some feedback from Firefly''s higher-ups, some outlets even resorted to provocatively challenging thepany. Yet, after wrapping up work on The Matrix sequel, unless responding to tantly false smear campaigns, Firefly''s PR department remained notably low-key.

    As for Hollywood, most observers maintained a spectator''s mindset, especially after the poor reviews for Titanic''s premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Many anxiously awaited the year- end release schedule.

    With a production cost of $215 million and $50 million in distribution expenses, plus a runtime exceeding three hours, Hollywood saw little reason to believe in Titanic''s box office

    sess.

    While Firefly''spetitors were still content to watch from the sidelines, Wall Street already gleamed with anticipation. Should Titanic suffer a significant loss, it would not only consume profits from other sessful Firefly films but might also impact Firefly''s closed production system,pelling it to conform to industry norms rather than persist with their self- sufficient model.

    If Firefly opened even a small gap by seeking film financing from capital markets like other studios, Wall Street would have sufficient confidence to widen that gap step by step, ultimately absorbing Firefly and cing it under simr capitalist control as most Hollywood studios.

    ...

    Despite heightened scrutiny from outside, everything within Firefly remained orderly. On September 15, after more than six months of preparation, the FFM Network -- a coboration between Firefly, Fox, and MGM -- officiallyunched. FFM offered more high-quality film content than the previous incarnation of thework and implemented various promotional activities, managing to retain almost all of the original users from several pay cable channels, bringing the total user base to 4.1 million.

    Since FFM was positioned simrly to HBO, Time Warner naturally regarded it as a significant threat. Warner Bros. Cable even breaching contracts bypletely cutting off the signals of the 300,000 users who had previously subscribed to FFM''s predecessor. Time Warner adopted a total blockade approach against FFM.

    While both Firefly and Time Warner avoided an outright public confrontation, there were minimal restraints among subsidiaries. The moment Warner Bros. Cable severed the user signals, FFM promptly sued the cable giant in federal court for engaging in unfairpetition due to its market position. Warner Bros. knew thiswsuit could only help FFM gain notoriety, yet they had no choice but to respond, as FFM clearly would not agree to settle privately.

    As a veteran media yer, Weinstein quickly stoked the mes of controversy, and FFM''s profile surged in the process.

    With FFM''sunch coinciding with the beginning of the television fall season in September, ABC''s Friends, ER, and Survivor made their returns, along with Lifetime''s popr shows such as Sex and the City, Project Runway, and America''s Next Top Model.

    ...

    When someone was busy, the days flew by. By the time Firefly''s television department delivered the September ratings report to Eric, it had somehow be October.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    London''s weather had cooled further, and the filming of Casino Royale reached over 80%pletion. With just a month left, the most important scenes involved Bond teaming up with the Charlie''s Angels to rescue Ang Lind.

    Kate, Charlize, and Penelope needed another week before joining the set. The recent days had been more rxed for the crew, mainly focusing on dialogue scenes involving Bond, M, Vesper, and a few viins.

    After finishing a scene between the sisters Vesper and Ang that morning, Eric sat in the cafeteria of Pinewood Studios. After finishing lunch, he had some time left and started to read the newly arrived ratings report from New York.

    On ABC, Friends, ER, and Survivor continued to lead in viewership. This year, Friends was in its eighth season, with ns to conclude by the tenth. ABC had already announced this before the season started. Although the six main actors appeared slightly younger than in past life, ten years of filming had made them weary of continuing.

    This time, Aniston hadn''t rallied the other stars for a million-dor pay dispute, but Firefly was generous nheless. The sry for each of the six leads had doubled to $600,000 per episode for the final three seasons.

    As the most popr medical drama in recent years, ER maintained remarkably steady viewership, averaging over 20 million viewers per episode. Meanwhile, Survivor, which had peaked at an average audience of 30 million over its first two seasons, began to see a significant drop in viewership due topetition from other reality shows airing on differentworks.

    However, because Survivor''s production costs were low, even if ratings drop below 10 million, thework would remain very profitable. Moreover, the first three episodes of this season averaged 17 million viewers, which hardly reflected failure, positioning it among the leaders of North American reality programming.

    In addition to the three leading shows, ABC also weed a new dark horse this year -- a si called Everybody Loves Raymond. This family-centric show soared past the 15 million

    mark for its premiere episode.

    During its peak, its ratingspared well to Friends. With a opening viewership of 15 million, it was merely a starting point. It was expected that once Friends wrapped up, Everybody Loves Raymond would reach its own peak viewership, perfectly positioned to take over Comedy

    Night.

    In memory, Everybody Loves Raymond was CBS''s gship si. However, Eric had not been involved in it; he only discovered it after seeing the new show list submitted by ABC in May. The transition of Everybody Loves Raymond to ABC resulted mainly from David Letterman producing it. ABC had revamped itste-night programming over the past two years, moving CBS''s Late Show with David Letterman to theirwork, which naturally led to ABC securing Letterman''s television projects.

    After reviewing ABC''s ratings statistics, Eric was about to turn to Lifetime''s data when Christina Aguilera approached with a small tray.

    The girl stood across from Eric and sweetly asked, "Eric, may I sit here?"

    With a smile, Eric cleared some paperwork from the table and nodded to her. Christina happily

    ced her tray down and took a seat.

    While they had be close, Christina was far from clingy and never publicized their rtionship. Her discreet and intelligent behavior pleased Eric immensely.

    Since the entire day''s scenes involved Christina, her sitting beside Eric would only make people assume she wanted to discuss film matters with the director, not raising any suspicion.

    Watching Christina pick up her utensils and eat a small portion of the vegetable sd, Eric smiley asked, "What have you been up to? Why did you take so long toe to the table?" Christina replied sweetly, "My mom called from Los Angeles, and we talked for a bit longer."

    "Oh, were you feeling homesick?"

    "Not really," Christina shook her head.

    She truly wasn''t homesick. Having grown up in a single-parent household, Christina was much more independent than Britney. She had no desire to attend school and relished the opportunity to travel the world with her work.

    Eric smiled and turned his attention back to the papers in front of him, but Christina then spoke up, "Eric, I... suddenly feel like Ang isn''t that cool."

    Eric raised an eyebrow, "What do you think would be cool then?" Having seen Charlie''s Angels, Christina immediately replied, "Definitely like Kate Beckinsale''s character, Selina! But Ang seems more like a bookish tech geek who loves tinkering with machinery. I think that if Charlie''s Detective Agency actually existed, they would surely overlook Ang Lind."

    In the script for Casino Royale, Ang Lind was depicted as a tech-savvy geek obsessed with precision instruments, influenced by her father during childhood.

    "Thinking Ang Lind isn''t cool might stem from the fact that Casino Royale is a James Bond film, and the role isn''t given much room for development. However, that character is well- rounded and is akin to Qin the 007 series, who will eventually provide the Angels with all sorts of cool high-tech gadgets. You know, after the film is released next year, Marvel Entertainment will publishics rted to Ang Lind, and you''ll get to see it then." Initially, Eric had handed that character to Christina without sharing too much information. There was a time when Christina thought Ang might just be a minor character in the Casino

    Royale series.

    Now hearing Eric say this, Christina''s eyes sparkled, and she asked, "So, Eric, does this mean I could appear in the movie again in the future?"

    Eric chuckled, "Your character will definitely feature in theic stories; Marvel has already

    started on that. As for whether you can appear again in MGM''s spy movie universe, there are too many factors -- your career development, audience feedback on your character, the storyline needs, and so on. I can''t make any promises right now."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 812: Chapter 813: The Apparent Reason

    Chapter 812: Chapter 813: The Apparent ReasonChapter 811: Chapter 812: Many BridgesChapter 810: Chapter 811: I Can''t Make Any Promises Right Now

    ?

    [Chapter 811]

    As September rolled in, Eric was busy shooting Casino Royale in the UK, while the North American summer movie season came to an official close.

    Firefly Group had released three films during the summer, The Matrix, The Rock, and New Line''s Final Destination, which collectively grossed $420 million. Although these films were still ying sporadically in North American theaters, their box office revenue of tens of thousands each week had negligible impact on the overall totals.

    Compared to previous years when they led the box office by a wide margin, Firefly Group''s box office revenue this year not only lost that advantagepletely but also saw Universal Pictures snatch the summer box office crown with a slight lead of $435 million. With The Mummy II and The Nutty Professor leading the pack, Universal also found sess with two other films.

    Following Firefly''s performance, Warner Bros. released six films during the summer. While none were major blockbusters, they still managed to secure $380 million due to their sheer number of releases, trailing Firefly closely.

    Perhaps due to Firefly''s sharp decline in summer performance, thepetitivendscape shifted in favor of Universal, Warner Bros., andter Paramount and Fox, among other major studios, which all saw a noticeable increase in summer box office revenuepared to previous years.

    Once Variety magazine officially released this year''s summer box office figures along with rtedmentary articles, other media quickly followed suit. Many professional outlets openly stated that Firefly''s declining performance signaled Hollywood''s return to a more bnced state among the "Big Seven" studios. Before Firefly''s rise, the seven major studios maintained a rtively equal market share based on their fixed production scales and distribution channels, asionally producing blockbusters but generally bncing their market presence ording to overall strength.

    Even though the Big Seven had been integrating into media groups, the film business still ounted for a significant share. As the notion of Firefly returning to "normal" gained eptance among the media, the capital markets reacted swiftly. Stock prices ofpanies like Time Warner, Vi, and MGM rose by more than 10% within a few days. Even Sony, despite the box office flop of Jumanji 2, experienced a slight uptick in shares.

    However, the sudden deceleration of the once fast-moving Firefly Group''s media empire drew keen media interest regarding their internal reactions. To get some feedback from Firefly''s higher-ups, some outlets even resorted to provocatively challenging thepany. Yet, after wrapping up work on The Matrix sequel, unless responding to tantly false smear campaigns, Firefly''s PR department remained notably low-key.

    As for Hollywood, most observers maintained a spectator''s mindset, especially after the poor reviews for Titanic''s premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Many anxiously awaited the year- end release schedule.

    With a production cost of $215 million and $50 million in distribution expenses, plus a runtime exceeding three hours, Hollywood saw little reason to believe in Titanic''s box office

    sess.

    While Firefly''spetitors were still content to watch from the sidelines, Wall Street already gleamed with anticipation. Should Titanic suffer a significant loss, it would not only consume profits from other sessful Firefly films but might also impact Firefly''s closed production system,pelling it to conform to industry norms rather than persist with their self- sufficient model.

    If Firefly opened even a small gap by seeking film financing from capital markets like other studios, Wall Street would have sufficient confidence to widen that gap step by step, ultimately absorbing Firefly and cing it under simr capitalist control as most Hollywood studios.

    ...

    Despite heightened scrutiny from outside, everything within Firefly remained orderly. On September 15, after more than six months of preparation, the FFM Network -- a coboration between Firefly, Fox, and MGM -- officiallyunched. FFM offered more high-quality film content than the previous incarnation of thework and implemented various promotional activities, managing to retain almost all of the original users from several pay cable channels, bringing the total user base to 4.1 million.

    Since FFM was positioned simrly to HBO, Time Warner naturally regarded it as a significant threat. Warner Bros. Cable even breaching contracts bypletely cutting off the signals of the 300,000 users who had previously subscribed to FFM''s predecessor. Time Warner adopted a total blockade approach against FFM.

    While both Firefly and Time Warner avoided an outright public confrontation, there were minimal restraints among subsidiaries. The moment Warner Bros. Cable severed the user signals, FFM promptly sued the cable giant in federal court for engaging in unfairpetition due to its market position. Warner Bros. knew thiswsuit could only help FFM gain notoriety, yet they had no choice but to respond, as FFM clearly would not agree to settle privately.

    As a veteran media yer, Weinstein quickly stoked the mes of controversy, and FFM''s profile surged in the process.

    With FFM''sunch coinciding with the beginning of the television fall season in September, ABC''s Friends, ER, and Survivor made their returns, along with Lifetime''s popr shows such as Sex and the City, Project Runway, and America''s Next Top Model.

    ...

    When someone was busy, the days flew by. By the time Firefly''s television department delivered the September ratings report to Eric, it had somehow be October.

    London''s weather had cooled further, and the filming of Casino Royale reached over 80%pletion. With just a month left, the most important scenes involved Bond teaming up with the Charlie''s Angels to rescue Ang Lind.

    Kate, Charlize, and Penelope needed another week before joining the set. The recent days had been more rxed for the crew, mainly focusing on dialogue scenes involving Bond, M, Vesper, and a few viins.

    After finishing a scene between the sisters Vesper and Ang that morning, Eric sat in the cafeteria of Pinewood Studios. After finishing lunch, he had some time left and started to read the newly arrived ratings report from New York.

    On ABC, Friends, ER, and Survivor continued to lead in viewership. This year, Friends was in its eighth season, with ns to conclude by the tenth. ABC had already announced this before the season started. Although the six main actors appeared slightly younger than in past life, ten years of filming had made them weary of continuing.

    This time, Aniston hadn''t rallied the other stars for a million-dor pay dispute, but Firefly was generous nheless. The sry for each of the six leads had doubled to $600,000 per episode for the final three seasons.

    As the most popr medical drama in recent years, ER maintained remarkably steady viewership, averaging over 20 million viewers per episode. Meanwhile, Survivor, which had peaked at an average audience of 30 million over its first two seasons, began to see a significant drop in viewership due topetition from other reality shows airing on differentworks.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    However, because Survivor''s production costs were low, even if ratings drop below 10 million, thework would remain very profitable. Moreover, the first three episodes of this season averaged 17 million viewers, which hardly reflected failure, positioning it among the leaders of North American reality programming.

    In addition to the three leading shows, ABC also weed a new dark horse this year -- a si called Everybody Loves Raymond. This family-centric show soared past the 15 million

    mark for its premiere episode.

    During its peak, its ratingspared well to Friends. With a opening viewership of 15 million, it was merely a starting point. It was expected that once Friends wrapped up, Everybody Loves Raymond would reach its own peak viewership, perfectly positioned to take over Comedy

    Night.

    In memory, Everybody Loves Raymond was CBS''s gship si. However, Eric had not been involved in it; he only discovered it after seeing the new show list submitted by ABC in May. The transition of Everybody Loves Raymond to ABC resulted mainly from David Letterman producing it. ABC had revamped itste-night programming over the past two years, moving CBS''s Late Show with David Letterman to theirwork, which naturally led to ABC securing Letterman''s television projects.

    After reviewing ABC''s ratings statistics, Eric was about to turn to Lifetime''s data when Christina Aguilera approached with a small tray.

    The girl stood across from Eric and sweetly asked, "Eric, may I sit here?"

    With a smile, Eric cleared some paperwork from the table and nodded to her. Christina happily

    ced her tray down and took a seat.

    While they had be close, Christina was far from clingy and never publicized their rtionship. Her discreet and intelligent behavior pleased Eric immensely.

    Since the entire day''s scenes involved Christina, her sitting beside Eric would only make people assume she wanted to discuss film matters with the director, not raising any suspicion.

    Watching Christina pick up her utensils and eat a small portion of the vegetable sd, Eric smiley asked, "What have you been up to? Why did you take so long toe to the table?" Christina replied sweetly, "My mom called from Los Angeles, and we talked for a bit longer."

    "Oh, were you feeling homesick?"

    "Not really," Christina shook her head.

    She truly wasn''t homesick. Having grown up in a single-parent household, Christina was much more independent than Britney. She had no desire to attend school and relished the opportunity to travel the world with her work.

    Eric smiled and turned his attention back to the papers in front of him, but Christina then spoke up, "Eric, I... suddenly feel like Ang isn''t that cool."

    Eric raised an eyebrow, "What do you think would be cool then?" Having seen Charlie''s Angels, Christina immediately replied, "Definitely like Kate Beckinsale''s character, Selina! But Ang seems more like a bookish tech geek who loves tinkering with machinery. I think that if Charlie''s Detective Agency actually existed, they would surely overlook Ang Lind."

    In the script for Casino Royale, Ang Lind was depicted as a tech-savvy geek obsessed with precision instruments, influenced by her father during childhood.

    "Thinking Ang Lind isn''t cool might stem from the fact that Casino Royale is a James Bond film, and the role isn''t given much room for development. However, that character is well- rounded and is akin to Qin the 007 series, who will eventually provide the Angels with all sorts of cool high-tech gadgets. You know, after the film is released next year, Marvel Entertainment will publishics rted to Ang Lind, and you''ll get to see it then." Initially, Eric had handed that character to Christina without sharing too much information. There was a time when Christina thought Ang might just be a minor character in the Casino

    Royale series.

    Now hearing Eric say this, Christina''s eyes sparkled, and she asked, "So, Eric, does this mean I could appear in the movie again in the future?"

    Eric chuckled, "Your character will definitely feature in theic stories; Marvel has already

    started on that. As for whether you can appear again in MGM''s spy movie universe, there are too many factors -- your career development, audience feedback on your character, the storyline needs, and so on. I can''t make any promises right now."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 813: Chapter 814: The Smartphone Era

    Chapter 813: Chapter 814: The Smartphone EraChapter 812: Chapter 813: The Apparent ReasonChapter 811: Chapter 812: Many BridgesChapter 810: Chapter 811: I Can''t Make Any Promises Right Now

    ?

    [Chapter 811]

    As September rolled in, Eric was busy shooting Casino Royale in the UK, while the North American summer movie season came to an official close.

    Firefly Group had released three films during the summer, The Matrix, The Rock, and New Line''s Final Destination, which collectively grossed $420 million. Although these films were still ying sporadically in North American theaters, their box office revenue of tens of thousands each week had negligible impact on the overall totals.

    Compared to previous years when they led the box office by a wide margin, Firefly Group''s box office revenue this year not only lost that advantagepletely but also saw Universal Pictures snatch the summer box office crown with a slight lead of $435 million. With The Mummy II and The Nutty Professor leading the pack, Universal also found sess with two other films.

    Following Firefly''s performance, Warner Bros. released six films during the summer. While none were major blockbusters, they still managed to secure $380 million due to their sheer number of releases, trailing Firefly closely.

    Perhaps due to Firefly''s sharp decline in summer performance, thepetitivendscape shifted in favor of Universal, Warner Bros., andter Paramount and Fox, among other major studios, which all saw a noticeable increase in summer box office revenuepared to previous years.

    Once Variety magazine officially released this year''s summer box office figures along with rtedmentary articles, other media quickly followed suit. Many professional outlets openly stated that Firefly''s declining performance signaled Hollywood''s return to a more bnced state among the "Big Seven" studios. Before Firefly''s rise, the seven major studios maintained a rtively equal market share based on their fixed production scales and distribution channels, asionally producing blockbusters but generally bncing their market presence ording to overall strength.

    Even though the Big Seven had been integrating into media groups, the film business still ounted for a significant share. As the notion of Firefly returning to "normal" gained eptance among the media, the capital markets reacted swiftly. Stock prices ofpanies like Time Warner, Vi, and MGM rose by more than 10% within a few days. Even Sony, despite the box office flop of Jumanji 2, experienced a slight uptick in shares.

    However, the sudden deceleration of the once fast-moving Firefly Group''s media empire drew keen media interest regarding their internal reactions. To get some feedback from Firefly''s higher-ups, some outlets even resorted to provocatively challenging thepany. Yet, after wrapping up work on The Matrix sequel, unless responding to tantly false smear campaigns, Firefly''s PR department remained notably low-key.

    As for Hollywood, most observers maintained a spectator''s mindset, especially after the poor reviews for Titanic''s premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Many anxiously awaited the year- end release schedule.

    With a production cost of $215 million and $50 million in distribution expenses, plus a runtime exceeding three hours, Hollywood saw little reason to believe in Titanic''s box office

    sess.

    While Firefly''spetitors were still content to watch from the sidelines, Wall Street already gleamed with anticipation. Should Titanic suffer a significant loss, it would not only consume profits from other sessful Firefly films but might also impact Firefly''s closed production system,pelling it to conform to industry norms rather than persist with their self- sufficient model.

    If Firefly opened even a small gap by seeking film financing from capital markets like other studios, Wall Street would have sufficient confidence to widen that gap step by step, ultimately absorbing Firefly and cing it under simr capitalist control as most Hollywood studios.

    ...

    Despite heightened scrutiny from outside, everything within Firefly remained orderly. On September 15, after more than six months of preparation, the FFM Network -- a coboration between Firefly, Fox, and MGM -- officiallyunched. FFM offered more high-quality film content than the previous incarnation of thework and implemented various promotional activities, managing to retain almost all of the original users from several pay cable channels, bringing the total user base to 4.1 million.

    Since FFM was positioned simrly to HBO, Time Warner naturally regarded it as a significant threat. Warner Bros. Cable even breaching contracts bypletely cutting off the signals of the 300,000 users who had previously subscribed to FFM''s predecessor. Time Warner adopted a total blockade approach against FFM.

    While both Firefly and Time Warner avoided an outright public confrontation, there were minimal restraints among subsidiaries. The moment Warner Bros. Cable severed the user signals, FFM promptly sued the cable giant in federal court for engaging in unfairpetition due to its market position. Warner Bros. knew thiswsuit could only help FFM gain notoriety, yet they had no choice but to respond, as FFM clearly would not agree to settle privately.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    As a veteran media yer, Weinstein quickly stoked the mes of controversy, and FFM''s profile surged in the process.

    With FFM''sunch coinciding with the beginning of the television fall season in September, ABC''s Friends, ER, and Survivor made their returns, along with Lifetime''s popr shows such as Sex and the City, Project Runway, and America''s Next Top Model.

    ...

    When someone was busy, the days flew by. By the time Firefly''s television department delivered the September ratings report to Eric, it had somehow be October.

    London''s weather had cooled further, and the filming of Casino Royale reached over 80%pletion. With just a month left, the most important scenes involved Bond teaming up with the Charlie''s Angels to rescue Ang Lind.

    Kate, Charlize, and Penelope needed another week before joining the set. The recent days had been more rxed for the crew, mainly focusing on dialogue scenes involving Bond, M, Vesper, and a few viins.

    After finishing a scene between the sisters Vesper and Ang that morning, Eric sat in the cafeteria of Pinewood Studios. After finishing lunch, he had some time left and started to read the newly arrived ratings report from New York.

    On ABC, Friends, ER, and Survivor continued to lead in viewership. This year, Friends was in its eighth season, with ns to conclude by the tenth. ABC had already announced this before the season started. Although the six main actors appeared slightly younger than in past life, ten years of filming had made them weary of continuing.

    This time, Aniston hadn''t rallied the other stars for a million-dor pay dispute, but Firefly was generous nheless. The sry for each of the six leads had doubled to $600,000 per episode for the final three seasons.

    As the most popr medical drama in recent years, ER maintained remarkably steady viewership, averaging over 20 million viewers per episode. Meanwhile, Survivor, which had peaked at an average audience of 30 million over its first two seasons, began to see a significant drop in viewership due topetition from other reality shows airing on differentworks.

    However, because Survivor''s production costs were low, even if ratings drop below 10 million, thework would remain very profitable. Moreover, the first three episodes of this season averaged 17 million viewers, which hardly reflected failure, positioning it among the leaders of North American reality programming.

    In addition to the three leading shows, ABC also weed a new dark horse this year -- a si called Everybody Loves Raymond. This family-centric show soared past the 15 million

    mark for its premiere episode.

    During its peak, its ratingspared well to Friends. With a opening viewership of 15 million, it was merely a starting point. It was expected that once Friends wrapped up, Everybody Loves Raymond would reach its own peak viewership, perfectly positioned to take over Comedy

    Night.

    In memory, Everybody Loves Raymond was CBS''s gship si. However, Eric had not been involved in it; he only discovered it after seeing the new show list submitted by ABC in May. The transition of Everybody Loves Raymond to ABC resulted mainly from David Letterman producing it. ABC had revamped itste-night programming over the past two years, moving CBS''s Late Show with David Letterman to theirwork, which naturally led to ABC securing Letterman''s television projects.

    After reviewing ABC''s ratings statistics, Eric was about to turn to Lifetime''s data when Christina Aguilera approached with a small tray.

    The girl stood across from Eric and sweetly asked, "Eric, may I sit here?"

    With a smile, Eric cleared some paperwork from the table and nodded to her. Christina happily

    ced her tray down and took a seat.

    While they had be close, Christina was far from clingy and never publicized their rtionship. Her discreet and intelligent behavior pleased Eric immensely.

    Since the entire day''s scenes involved Christina, her sitting beside Eric would only make people assume she wanted to discuss film matters with the director, not raising any suspicion.

    Watching Christina pick up her utensils and eat a small portion of the vegetable sd, Eric smiley asked, "What have you been up to? Why did you take so long toe to the table?" Christina replied sweetly, "My mom called from Los Angeles, and we talked for a bit longer."

    "Oh, were you feeling homesick?"

    "Not really," Christina shook her head.

    She truly wasn''t homesick. Having grown up in a single-parent household, Christina was much more independent than Britney. She had no desire to attend school and relished the opportunity to travel the world with her work.

    Eric smiled and turned his attention back to the papers in front of him, but Christina then spoke up, "Eric, I... suddenly feel like Ang isn''t that cool."

    Eric raised an eyebrow, "What do you think would be cool then?" Having seen Charlie''s Angels, Christina immediately replied, "Definitely like Kate Beckinsale''s character, Selina! But Ang seems more like a bookish tech geek who loves tinkering with machinery. I think that if Charlie''s Detective Agency actually existed, they would surely overlook Ang Lind."

    In the script for Casino Royale, Ang Lind was depicted as a tech-savvy geek obsessed with precision instruments, influenced by her father during childhood.

    "Thinking Ang Lind isn''t cool might stem from the fact that Casino Royale is a James Bond film, and the role isn''t given much room for development. However, that character is well- rounded and is akin to Qin the 007 series, who will eventually provide the Angels with all sorts of cool high-tech gadgets. You know, after the film is released next year, Marvel Entertainment will publishics rted to Ang Lind, and you''ll get to see it then." Initially, Eric had handed that character to Christina without sharing too much information. There was a time when Christina thought Ang might just be a minor character in the Casino

    Royale series.

    Now hearing Eric say this, Christina''s eyes sparkled, and she asked, "So, Eric, does this mean I could appear in the movie again in the future?"

    Eric chuckled, "Your character will definitely feature in theic stories; Marvel has already

    started on that. As for whether you can appear again in MGM''s spy movie universe, there are too many factors -- your career development, audience feedback on your character, the storyline needs, and so on. I can''t make any promises right now."

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 814 - 815: Bond vs. Charlie’s Angels

    <h4>Chapter 814: Chapter 815: Bond vs. Charlie''s Angels</h4>

    [Chapter 815: Bond vs. Charlie''s Angels]

    In the updated storyline, Vesper, just before her death, handed a ne to Bond. The pendant featured a photograph of Vesper and her sister, Ang Lynd.

    Bond used the pendant along with other clues left by Vesper to piece together the situation and embarked on a quest for revenge to rescue Ang Lynd.

    Meanwhile, Charlie''s Angels agency had been scouting around the world for girls with special abilities to join their ranks. Ang Lynd, who had been influenced by her father, a high-level mechanical engineer, and had a fascination with intricate mechanical designs, caught their attention.

    Charlie''s Angels agency utilized its foundation to provide a schrship for Ang Lynd, selecting her as a key candidate for their Angels program.

    Following the events of <i>Casino Royale</i>, Ang Lynd was kidnapped by an offshoot organization of the Spectre, aiming to force Vesper Lynd to hand over the $150 million that Bond won gambling.

    Ang''s disappearance alerted Charlie''s Angels agency, and since Selena, Jill, and Lucine were in the UK at the time, they received the task of finding Ang Lynd.

    Because of this storyline, which did not belong to the official organization, Charlie''s Angels found themselves entangled in the Spectre''s web, officially merging MGM''s spy movie universe. The script for the uing third installment of <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> nned to incorporate a subplot where the Spectre organization retaliated against Charlie''s Angels, ultimatelypelling them to coborate with official agencies to strike back against the Spectre.

    ...

    After Eric and Sophie Wilson confirmed their intention to acquire ARM, Chris took over the subsequent acquisition negotiations.

    Over the years, despite Eric continuously injectingrge sums of money into Firefly Investment Company through various equity incentives, Chris''s stake in thepany remained at the promised 3%.

    This holding percentage might seem insignificant, but considering Firefly Investment''s current asset scale, Chris''s worth had already exceeded $600 million. If the news leaked, he would undoubtedly be one of North America''s highest-paid executives. Moreover, in theing years, with the NASDAQ index expected to soar, that 3% stake could easily appreciate by more than tenfold, potentially reaching a valuation of $10 billion, which wouldn''t be surprising; certainly, the market cap of Firefly Investment would also be extraordinarily massive.

    Chris watched as Firefly Investment Company grew, making him acutely aware of the value of his 3% stake. His exceptional work ethic warranted thepensation Eric provided, allowing Eric to take a back seat in day-to-day operations while he focused on defining thepany''s overall direction and entrusting the finer details to Chris.

    ...

    With ARM''s matter settled, Eric wholly immersed himself in the final stages of filming <i>Casino Royale</i>.

    In the following week, Kate, Charlize, and Penelope joined the set to start filming the crossover storylines. After years of experience, the three had shed their initial naivety, and although their roles weren''t extensive, everything progressed smoothly.

    While Eric filmed the primary Bond-rted scenes, a second director took Kate and the others to Italy toplete some shots that had been left unfinished due to scheduling conflicts.

    The final scene of this version of <i>Casino Royale</i> took ce on a small ind in the English Channel. However, the crew did not n to shoot on that ind. Aside from necessary exterior shots, most of the scenes would still be filmed in the soundstages at Pinewood Studios.

    After Vesper''s death, Bond followed various clues and eventually located the Spectre organization''sir on that small ind in the English Channel, where Ang Lynd was also trapped.

    Simultaneously, Selena and the others arrived at the ind. The ind''s security was incredibly tight. The trio''s sole intention was to rescue Ang without confronting the Spectre directly, so they nned to sneak in through the venttion ducts to quietly extract Ang Lynd.

    Bond, on the other hand, had vengeance on his mind while rescuing Ang, charging straight into the base. By inadvertently drawing arge number of viins away from the Angels, he inadvertently aided Selena and the others in their mission to rescue Ang.

    However, due to Bond causing chaos in the base, the route the Angels used for entry was identally blown up, forcing them to exit through the front. This set the stage for the first direct confrontation between Bond and Charlie''s Angels.

    The scene was action-packed, even somewhat audacious.

    Neither side recognized the other, and upon encountering, they naturally engaged in a fierce battle.

    The thought of James Bond battling Charlie''s Angels was exhrating; Eric had long since decided that after refining this plot point, he would incorporate relevant shots in the trailer.

    Of course, a great idea doesn''t always trante to an easy shoot.

    ording to the detailed script, after Bond charged into the base, he would first encounter Selena, and in the urgent situation, neither side could afford to exin themselves, resulting in an immediate sh.

    As the powerhouse among the trio, Selena''s fighting capabilities had already shone in the previous two films.

    In fact, if one looked closely at the detailed settings, under life-and-death circumstances, Bond might indeed struggle to best Selena relying solely on his fists.

    While filming previously, Bond hadn''t showcased a particrly impressive fighting style, but as a MI6 top agent, he undoubtedly possessed significant skills. Moreover, standing over 6 feet tall, Bond naturally held a considerable advantage over the rtively petite Selena, and applying the principle of force, both sides should equally match inbat.

    ...

    At Pinewood Studios, the set for Bond''s <i>007</i> series had been buzzing with activity over the past few days.

    Having made a significant impact in recent years, <i>Charlie''s Angels</i>'' poprity rivaled that of Bond. Consequently, the plot featuring Bond shing with Charlie''s Angels attracted considerable attention, drawing anyone with ess to the soundstage in attendance.

    In front of himid a set depicting a corridor''s corner.

    Bond aggressively entered, while the Angels escorted Ang Lynd out, leading to their encounter.

    To achieve the best effect, the three girls wouldn''t appear simultaneously. Selena would first face off against Bond, creating this installment''s most iconic fight scene.

    Eric had specific requirements for Selena''s choreography: straightforward and fierce. After extended discussions with the action director, they determined that to make the fight visually appealing, they would significantly showcase Selena''s leg techniques since, as a woman, her punches against someone as tall as Bond mightck visual impact. However, her leg work would be an entirely different story.

    A fight may seem continuous on screen, yet the actual filming required breaking down each shot.

    In front of the monitors, Eric, along with cinematographer Nicole, the action director, and the Broli siblings who''d stopped by, reviewed the footage and discussed before summoning Pierce Brosnan and Kate Beckinsale from their rest.

    "Pierce, Kate, we need to reshoot thatst scene," Eric announced, pressing rey to borate on the necessary reshoot requirements. "If you just pin Kate against the wall, it''s unlikely you can actually hold her back. So, I want you to catch Kate''s ankle when she kicks high and push her against the wall."

    Eric continued, disregarding the curious expressions from Pierce Brosnan and Kate, and turned to the action director from Hong Kong. "Mr. Yuen, could you and Miss Lee demonstrate?"

    "Sure," came the response as they called over an Eastern girl whose build resembled Kate''s; she was the stand-in they had arranged.

    Watching the two demonstrate, Kate couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Eric, whispering, "Eric, don''t you think this feels a bit too flirty?"

    Eric replied with a chuckle, "We want to create that chemistry between Bond and Selena for the audience. If the reaction is positive, we could set up more interactions between them in future episodes."

    Kate frowned slightly, "You mean, tying Bond and Selena together?"

    "That''s not a certainty; perhaps the eventual conclusion will address the audience''s wishes, but before that, it''d be best for Bond and Selena to maintain a somewhat ambiguous rtionship. Many facts demonstrate that this effect often works best."

    "But," Kate nced again at Miss Lee, who effortlessly executed the high kick.

    Following her gaze, Eric quietly asked, "Have you cked off on your training these past two years?"

    "Me?" Kate''s cheeks flushed a bit. Despite not quitting her workouts for the role, her rising fame over the years meant she no longer trained with the same intensity as when Eric originally scheduled their training.

    After a moment''s thought, Eric asked, "If we break that shot down, could you do the splits?"

    Kate considered, then nodded.

    "Alright, let''s go with that," said Eric as he approached again to finalize a n with the action design team before filming continued.

    ...

    As Eric readied everyone for the next scene, background actors ying the viins found their spots, lying on the floor as if defeated, illustrating the aftermath of Bond''s recent sh with the viins.

    The initial portion of the action was soonpleted; after a brief preparation, the script supervisor yelled ''Action!''

    In the shot, Kate emotionlessly swept a high kick towards Pierce, who reached for her but unexpectedly missed, end up getting his face kicked despite the force being light, leaving him in a slightly awkward position.

    Eric stepped forward, watching the medical staff check on Pierce and asked, "Pierce, do you need a moment?"

    "Nope," Pierce shook his head, smiling gantly at the apologetic Kate. "It''s alright, Kate, no need to worry about it."

    asionally, taking a few hits during fight scenes was unavoidable. Seeing Pierce was fine, Eric quickly resumed filming.

    After a few more takes, Pierce finallypleted the intended action sessfully.

    Dressed in a tight ck leather outfit, Selena lifted one leg high, pinned firmly against the wall by Bond, unable to move.

    In this shot, the camera focused on their intense gaze; after a brutal struggle, Bond managed to subdue the fierce ''little wildcat'' before him, his expression slightly grim. Selena, though captured, remainedposed and indifferent, but due to their somewhat intimate positioning, their gaze created a spark that was electrifying.

    Echoing footsteps soon disrupted their peculiar standoff as Jill and the others appeared.

    Seeing Selena subdued by Bond, Jill promptly raised her gun, aiming it at him. Almost simultaneously, Bond freed one hand to deftly draw his own weapon, targeting Jill.

    At that moment, both sides seemed to recognize a deeper issue; hence, nomunication or furtherbat was initiated.

    Lucine kept Ang safe in the periphery, just able to glimpse the intersecting corridors, her eyes sweeping over scattered Spectre goons. "Hey, everyone, why do I suddenly feel like we''re on the same team?"

    Jill, close to Lucine, noted the simr scene in both corridors: the goons they faced were from Selena''s recent battle while the ones on the opposite side matched the one in front of them. Since they shared amon enemy, Jill slowly lowered her gun.

    While Bond''s wariness had not entirely faded, he recognized Ang and noticed how Lucine was protecting her, prompting him to gradually rx his hold on Selena.

    Casting a nce at the trio, Bond took Vesper''s ne from his pocket and handed it to Ang. "Your sister sent me to rescue you."

    Ang epted the ne, her expression confused. A very clever girl, she already sensed that the recent events were unusual, looking up at Bond to ask, "Where''s my sister?"

    Bond''s face darkened slightly, but before he could exin, footsteps echoed in the distance.

    "Get her out of here. I''ll find you," Bond warned vigntly, pulling his gun from his waist.

    The Angels, who initially aimed only to rescue Ang without an intention to engage the Spectre organization, couldn''t fight alongside Bond for no reason. Thus, they made a hasty withdrawal.

    Bond eliminated several reappearing goons as he made his way toward the main viin responsible for Vesper Lynd''s death, determined to settle the score.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 815 - 816: Reverse Public Relations

    <h4>Chapter 815: Chapter 816: Reverse Public Rtions</h4>

    [Chapter 816: Reverse Public Rtions]

    Along the coastal highway, a ck Buick LeSabre pulled over to the side. Lucine casually sat on the hood of the car, legs crossed, presenting a rxed and alluring demeanor. Selena and Jill leaned against the side of the vehicle, all three women dressed in simr tight-fitting outfits, their stunning faces and figures enough to make any man watching want to be the Buick parked beside them.

    At that moment, the women gazed toward a nearby farewell taking ce between two individuals -- a man and a woman, one older and one younger. It was none other than Bond and Ang.

    With everything settled, Bond, as Vesper''s lover, felt the responsibility of looking after Ang. However, he understood that his life, fraught with instability and danger, would not provide Ang with the peace she deserved. After considering this deeply, Bond decided to entrust Ang to the Charlie Detective Agency, which was also her request.

    The camera captured Ang, who seemed to grasp the situation, handing the ne back to Bond and saying, "I think you might need this more than I do."

    Bond took the ne, hesitated for a moment, then held it in his hand and told Ang, "Take care of yourself. If I have the chance, I''lle back to see you."

    "Okay," Ang nodded obediently.

    Not lingering, Bond nodded toward Selena and Jill, then turned and walked toward his Aston Martin. Ang watched him leave and suddenly remembered something crucial, calling out, "Hey, you still haven''t told me your name!"

    Bond raised a hand and waved, but without turning back, replied, "Bond, James Bond."

    ...

    As Pierce Brosnan delivered that iconic line, customary in every 007 film, Eric smiled and nodded from behind the camera, raising his voice, "Good! I officially announce that the shooting of <i>Casino Royale</i> is wrapped!"

    Everyone gathered for this scene spontaneously burst into apuse, exchanging nods, hugs, and farewells. Eric shook hands with Michael Wilson and embraced Barbara Broli, saying, "Barbara, I hope we get a chance to work together again."

    "Of course! I''m looking forward to our next endeavor," Barbara Broli smiled back.

    After nearly a year, the Broli family had mostly epted the reality that MGM had regained control of the <i>007</i> series. They no longer fixated on this, understanding that while they had lost control, their share of profits from the series had not been diminished by MGM. With Eric at the helm, the Broli family could actually benefit more.

    Eric exchanged a few words with Barbara Broli, then turned to Pierce Brosnan. Afterpleting Vesper''s scenes, Cate nchett had already left the set ahead of schedule. Without the pressure of Cate''s acting, Brosnan found the final stretch very rxed, and the earlier minor tensions dissipated.

    After chatting with everyone on set, the crew departed from the beach to return to Pinewood Studios, where a grand wrap party awaited them.

    ...

    It was now November 3rd, just after Halloween in North America.

    Following the wrap party, Eric headed back to Los Angeles with the post-production team and filming materials for <i>Casino Royale</i>. With just two weeks remaining until Thanksgiving, the release date for <i>Mission: Impossible 2</i> was set for November 22.

    During the post-production of <i>Casino Royale</i>, Eric''s first task was to incorporate the <i>Casino Royale</i> Easter egg into the ending of <i>Mission: Impossible 2</i>. This practice had begun with the Easter egg from the first <i>Charlie''s Angels</i> added to <i>GoldenEye</i> and had be customary in MGM''s spy film universe. Fans had grown increasingly curious about every Easter egg in the series.

    By November, winter had settled over London. When Eric left, the city had already seen its first snowfall of the year, while Los Angeles, located on the West Coast of the U.S., was still warm and spring-like, with daytime temperatures around a pleasant 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Even at night, temperatures rarely dipped below 50 degrees.

    At ya Vista, Firefly Studios, Eric emerged from the post-production studio with the film''s editor.

    Editing the movie''s Easter egg wasn''t an easy task. Unlike trailers, which can be lengthier, Easter eggs are often only a few brief shots, barelysting a moment. Thus, how to provide the audience with enough information and intrigue without revealing the main plot became a considerable focus for both the director and editor.

    Eric nned to set the scene where M would introduce 007 to the Phantom Protocol details he received from Ethan Hunt, but the specific content needed careful consideration. After two days of discussion in the editing room, he had roughly drafted a n for a ten-second clip.

    ...

    By the evening, after saying goodbye to the editor, Eric didn''t leave the studio immediately but instead headed to Jeffrey Katzenberg''s office in the lot. Earlier that day, Katzenberg had called, hoping to discuss uing Thanksgiving and Christmas movie releases. From his tone, Eric anticipated it was rted to <i>Titanic</i>.

    This holiday season, Firefly was ted to release two films: New Line''s <i>Rush Hour</i> and Firefly''s own <i>Titanic</i>.

    <i>Rush Hour</i> had already undergone several test screenings, receiving positive feedback. The film was set to premiere on November 15th and was in its final stages of promotion. With a budget of only $30 million, it was less than a seventh of <i>Titanic</i>''s budget, meaning thepany didn''t have to worry too much about it.

    Upon arriving at Katzenberg''s office, Eric waved off the secretary''s call for him, walked in, and found Katzenberg looking up from some documents. Katzenberg nodded at Eric, checked his watch, and said, "Eric, let''s head to the cafe outside to talk."

    The two exited the administrative building and made their way to the studio cafe.

    ...

    They casually ordered coffee and some snacks. Katzenberg began, "Eric, yesterday someone spotted Jim West dining with Theo Kinnard at Morton''s." Before Eric could inquire further, Katzenberg continued, "Jim West is Sherry Lansing''s assistant at Paramount, and Theo Kinnard is a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association."

    Hearing Theo Kinnard''s name made Eric understand the situation. Kinnard might be an ordinary Golden Globe judge now, but yearster, he would be the youngest chairperson in the history of the awards.

    "They truly wish for Firefly to fail," Eric sighed, shaking his head.

    Eric knew thepany had been working on PR for <i>Titanic</i>''s Golden Globe nominations. The nomination criteria were simr to those for the Oscars; however, the Golden Globe nominations were generally announced around December 10th, whereas <i>Titanic</i>''s wide release was set for December 20th. Before that, there would be a few limited screenings to satisfy the nomination requirements, but serious campaigning was needed to secure actual nominations.

    Typically, other Hollywood studios refrained from engaging in reverse public rtions againstpeting films. Such tactics almost invariably backfired, and the retaliatory strikes could be fierce. Thepetition tended to target their rivals'' weaknesses and attack them publicly to deter judges from voting for a film. Rarely did any studio engage in outright reverse public rtions, especially as Firefly faced this unprecedented situation with <i>Titanic</i>.

    Eric understood that Firefly had taken a hard stance against the other major yers in recent years. Even though the film market was growing, the overall size remained somewhat fixed; he couldn''t hold back Firefly''s box office performance simply to spare hispetitors'' feelings.

    Katzenberg wore a serious expression and added, "We''re also trying our best, but aside from Paramount, Warner Brothers and Universal are also making moves. Chances are, <i>Titanic</i> will only receive a few inconsequential nominations at the Golden Globes."

    "We can only do our best," Eric replied. "Moreover, we must be cautious about using any extreme measures. So many eyes are watching; if we get caught, it would stir even more trouble."

    "I certainly know," Katzenberg replied, nodding. He understood that extreme measures referred to voting maniption tactics. Universal and Paramount were going all out against Firefly. At a time like this, it would be foolish to provide them with even the slightest excuse.

    "Before you came back, Paramount moved <i>Star Trek: First Contact</i> from its Thanksgiving slot to December 13th, just a week before <i>Titanic</i> releases. They imed it was to avoidpetition with <i>Mission: Impossible 2</i>, but we all know the real reason," Katzenberg continued.

    "With this move, there will be nine films premiering over three weeks around <i>Titanic</i>, each set to screen over 2000 theaters on average -- three films each week."

    As Katzenberg spoke, he handed Eric a file he had just brought from his office.

    It was a release schedule for films.

    Upon reviewing the schedule, Eric noticed that in the weeks surrounding <i>Titanic</i>''s release, there were one or two prominently marked films every week.

    On December 13th, in addition to Paramount''s <i>Star Trek: First Contact</i>, there was Sony''s <i>Jerry Maguire</i>, starring Tom Cruise. Then on December 20th, going head-to-head with <i>Titanic</i> was Warner''s <i>Mars Attacks!</i>, featuring Jack Nicholson. The following week would also see Universal''sedy <i>My Fellow Americans</i>.

    On top of these, Fox and MGM had their new releases timed for the holiday season. Despite being allies, these studios couldn''t afford to back down for the benefit of <i>Titanic</i>, which many believed wouldn''t fare well.

    Eric examined the film schedule, while Katzenberg continued sharing ''bad news'', saying, "As for overseas releases, the only countries that can coincide with North America are the UK, Spain, and Australia. French and German distributors have little faith in <i>Titanic</i>''s box office prospects; they only want to give us a slot around February, which I''ve turned down. Japan initially aimed for a simultaneous release with North America, but since we rejected Toho''s offer for <i>Titanic</i>''s distribution rights, things have soured. Plus, Sony''s influence might y a role here. In sum, we''re encountering roadblocks in Japan too, where they proposed a mid-March release, which is eventer than what Germany and France offered. Additionally, the overseas distributors we''re negotiating with are hoping we provide more guarantees, essentially wanting us to lower the profit-sharing ratio."

    Eric couldn''t help but rub his temples; the influx of information was quite overwhelming.

    Katzenberg didn''t say anything further; Eric treated him well, and putting pressure on his boss was not the right move.

    "How about this?" After a moment of silence, Eric suggested, "If next month <i>Titanic</i> doesn''t meet expectations at the box office, I''ll call a senior management meeting to discuss it and propose a stricter budget policy for thepany."

    "Eric, you absolutely don''t need to do that. Filmpanies need to tryrger productions," Katzenberg quickly interjected.

    During Michael Eisner''s leadership at Disney, Katzenberg held significant responsibilities in the film studio. Much of his work often involved shielding Eisner from critique. If a movie that Eisner was involved in struggled, the criticisms would usually fall on Katzenberg to bear. To maintain Eisner''s reputation, Katzenberg avoided exining things too much.

    Hollywood highly valued authority; Eric''s proposal to apologize could damage his standing.

    Everyone understood that over the years, Eric had been the soul of Firefly. Without his sharp vision for film production, Firefly couldn''t have grown to its current scale.

    "Let''s settle on this for now," Eric said, shaking his head as he turned down Katzenberg''s offer. "But before that, I expect all departments to remain undistracted by external information, focusing on marketing and releasing <i>Titanic</i>. And overseas? If we can''t secure a good release date, and given that these distributors want to negotiate a lower revenue share, we can revisit this after the film releases."

    If the box office in North America fell short of expectations, Firefly would need to lower its revenue share for overseas distribution; alternatively, the advantage would revert back to Firefly.

    "No problem, I''ll personally oversee this," Katzenberg assured him with seriousness.

    *****

    /Sayonara816.

 Chapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    Chapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe Nominations

    Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?

    Chapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the Flow

    Chapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box Office

    Chapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting Sail

    Chapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 822: Chapter 823: Daydreaming

    Chapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 823: Chapter 824: What Happened

    Chapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe Awards

    Chapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital Domain

    Chapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found ann/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive News

    Chapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 827: Chapter 828: Music Copyright

    Chapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind Yourself

    Chapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!N?v(el)B\\jnn

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On Purpose

    Chapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial Report

    Chapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To Change

    Chapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 832: Chapter 833: An Idea

    Chapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding Invitation

    Chapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little Regret

    Chapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media Oligarchs

    Chapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the Grain

    Chapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office Explosion

    Chapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 838: Chapter 839: Im Afraid They Will Hit Me

    Chapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 839: Chapter 840: Unprecedented

    Chapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to Collaborate

    Chapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 841: Chapter 842: The Black Room

    Chapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found ann/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated Films

    Chapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the Future

    Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure Youre Normal?

    Chapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, andn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden Refusal

    Chapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddys Favoritism

    Chapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger Marketing

    Chapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe Plan

    Chapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the Stakes

    Chapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 850: Chapter 851: No Playing Too Wild

    Chapter 850: Chapter 851: No ying Too WildChapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 851: Chapter 852: Lawsuit Filed

    Chapter 851: Chapter 852: Lawsuit FiledChapter 850: Chapter 851: No ying Too WildChapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 852: Chapter 853: Why Are You All Looking at Me Like That?

    Chapter 852: Chapter 853: Why Are You All Looking at Me Like That?Chapter 851: Chapter 852: Lawsuit FiledChapter 850: Chapter 851: No ying Too WildChapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 853: Chapter 854: Do You Want to Know Whats Different?

    Chapter 853: Chapter 854: Do You Want to Know What''s Different?Chapter 852: Chapter 853: Why Are You All Looking at Me Like That?Chapter 851: Chapter 852: Lawsuit FiledChapter 850: Chapter 851: No ying Too WildChapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 854: Chapter 855: Exchange Rate Issues

    Chapter 854: Chapter 855: Exchange Rate IssuesChapter 853: Chapter 854: Do You Want to Know What''s Different?Chapter 852: Chapter 853: Why Are You All Looking at Me Like That?Chapter 851: Chapter 852: Lawsuit FiledChapter 850: Chapter 851: No ying Too WildChapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 855: Chapter 856: Who Bullies Whom

    Chapter 855: Chapter 856: Who Bullies WhomChapter 854: Chapter 855: Exchange Rate IssuesChapter 853: Chapter 854: Do You Want to Know What''s Different?Chapter 852: Chapter 853: Why Are You All Looking at Me Like That?Chapter 851: Chapter 852: Lawsuit FiledChapter 850: Chapter 851: No ying Too WildChapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

    https://.patreon/Sayonara816.

 Chapter 856: Chapter 857: Can You Imagine?

    Chapter 856: Chapter 857: Can You Imagine?Chapter 855: Chapter 856: Who Bullies WhomChapter 854: Chapter 855: Exchange Rate IssuesChapter 853: Chapter 854: Do You Want to Know What''s Different?Chapter 852: Chapter 853: Why Are You All Looking at Me Like That?Chapter 851: Chapter 852: Lawsuit FiledChapter 850: Chapter 851: No ying Too WildChapter 849: Chapter 850: Raising the StakesChapter 848: Chapter 849: The Marvel Cinematic Universe nChapter 847: Chapter 848: The Hunger MarketingChapter 846: Chapter 847: Daddy''s FavoritismChapter 845: Chapter 846: The Sudden RefusalChapter 844: Chapter 845: Are You Sure You''re Normal?Chapter 843: Chapter 844: Taking Control of the FutureChapter 842: Chapter 843: Three Animated FilmsChapter 841: Chapter 842: The ck RoomChapter 840: Chapter 841: A Chance to CoborateChapter 839: Chapter 840: UnprecedentedChapter 838: Chapter 839: I''m Afraid They Will Hit MeChapter 837: Chapter 838: Overseas Box Office ExplosionChapter 836: Chapter 837: Going Against the GrainChapter 835: Chapter 836: The Rise of the Media OligarchsChapter 834: Chapter 835: A Little RegretChapter 833: Chapter 834: Wedding InvitationChapter 832: Chapter 833: An IdeaChapter 831: Chapter 832: The More Developed, The Harder It is To ChangeChapter 830: Chapter 831: A Decent Financial ReportChapter 829: Chapter 830: You Really Did It On PurposeChapter 828: Chapter 829: Always Remind YourselfChapter 827: Chapter 828: Music CopyrightChapter 826: Chapter 827: Explosive NewsChapter 825: Chapter 826: Issues in Digital DomainChapter 824: Chapter 825: The Controversy of the Golden Globe AwardsChapter 823: Chapter 824: What HappenedChapter 822: Chapter 823: DaydreamingChapter 821: Chapter 822: Setting SailChapter 820: Chapter 821: Opening Weekend Box OfficeChapter 819: Chapter 820: Going with the FlowChapter 818: Chapter 819: How Could This Happen?Chapter 817: Chapter 818: Golden Globe NominationsChapter 816: Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful

    ?

    [Chapter 817: How Could Elves Not Be Beautiful]

    After discussing Titanic with Katzenberg, Eric rode back to Liberty City Manor.

    As dusk settled, he entered the vi, walked through the hall, and arrived at the ss wall where he spotted Nicolezily sitting on the sofa, engrossed in aic book.

    Yes, it was indeed aic book.

    Around the sofa, where Eric often rested, there were thousands of variousics stacked high. Back in America, while working on the post-production of Casino Royale, Eric had also begun preparations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the first Marvel superhero film, Spider-Man, wouldn''t debut until around 2000, he needed to start strategizing for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe n. Eric was keen on avoiding the same mistakes that led to the rushedunch of the DC movie universe, which ended up with a string of box office flops and critical failures.

    The main responsibilities for setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe rested with Marvel itself. However, Eric wanted to be involved in its creation, so he needed to thoroughly understand theic book characters under Marvel.

    The thousands ofics before him had all been pulled from the New York Marvel archives. When Eric called for theseics, Stan Lee had repeatedly reminded him to return them after reading, as many had be valuable collector''s items over the decades. Many Americans were avidic collectors, and superfan Nics Cage had spent millions on his collection. Thus, this pile ofics, some appearing somewhat outdated, certainly could tempt any seasonedic enthusiast into theft.

    Noticing Eric''s arrival, Nicole looked up, smiled, and removed the earbuds hidden in her hair, saying, "Eric, you''re back."

    Eric nodded, took off his coat, and walked over. Nicole shifted slightly to make room as they both squeezed onto a single-person sofa.

    He put on one of the earbuds Nicole had just taken off and asked, "Where''s Famke?"

    With Thanksgiving just around the corner, that girl had been busy promoting Mission: Impossible 2. Eric was nning to spend Thanksgiving with Nicole and Famke. After Thanksgiving, once Mission: Impossible 2 was released, he would take the young girl to New York to enjoy Christmas with the women and kids.

    Nicole recently had taken a liking to the new pocket-sized MP3 yer developed by Firefly Electronics. She slipped the other earbud on and enjoyed the music, then said, "She went to the supermarket. By the way, before you came back, Ms. Haynes had someone deliver a few documents from New York."

    Eric wrapped his arm around Nicole''s slim waist, leaning back in the chair. "Let''s leave them for now; I don''t want to see anypany documents today."

    After hearing a string of bad news about Titanic that afternoon, Eric had no mood to deal withpany affairs.

    Nicole understood the immense pressure that Titanic had brought upon Firefly recently. She had noticed the fatigue on Eric''s face and didn''t bring it up again. She picked up the thinic resting on herp, leaned against Eric, and said, "Eric, I found something interesting: Peter Parker''s parents were both CIA agents, and they even saved Wolverine!"

    Eric knew Nicole was intentionally choosing a lighter topic and replied with a smile, "If you read all these thousands of Marvelics around you, you''d find that almost every character in the Marvel universe can connect to one another. Creating plot crossovers for popr characters is a great gimmick used byicpanies to boost sales."

    "That sounds a lot like MGM''s spy movie universe," Nicole tilted her head and remarked. "Or maybe the inspiration for the spy movie universe came from theic bookpanies?"

    Eric nodded in acknowledgment. "That''s right."

    Nicole didn''t expect her random guess would hit the mark and felt a bit excited. She waved theic in her hand and asked, "So which superhero do you n to shoot first?"

    "Spider-Man has been confirmed, but in addition to that, I will coborate with MGM and Fox to initiate several other projects. In the future, I n to bring all the popr characters from the Marvel universe to the big screen."

    As the most popr superhero in the Marvel universe, Spider-Man would certainly remain with Firefly. However, Eric hadn''t figured out which superheroes MGM and Fox would each be responsible for yet. The allocation of Marvel superheroes in the original timeline couldn''t simply be replicated, so a detailed n would be necessary.

    Compared to DC, which had already developed several sessful live-action superhero films, Marvel had little to no poprity as a foundation in films. Thus, Eric had determined that bringing sessful superhero characters from the original timeline to the big screen first -- like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men -- would quickly open up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After establishing sufficient market interest with these characters, new superheroes could be introduced, improving the likelihood of box office sess.

    Nicole didn''t know Eric''s detailed ns but couldn''t help but exim. Although she''d only been casually readingics recently, Nicole had developed some understanding of the Marvel characters. If Eric''s n could fullye to fruition, it would undoubtedly be grand in scale.

    "Well, if all of them hit the big screen, it might be dozens of films," she said.

    "Of course," Eric remarked, ncing at Nicole as her lips parted slightly in surprise. He reached out and gently touched her,ughing, "You''ve been readingics for several days now. Are there any characters that interest you?"

    Nicole pretended to bite his hand as he instinctively withdrew. "Not really," she said. "By the way, it seems Marvel doesn''t have a female superhero as popr as Wonder Woman from DC."

    "Poprity is built gradually. If a female superhero from Marvel had a sessful TV series like Wonder Woman, she would definitely be quite popr now," Eric exined. He chose not to dwell on this topic further. Even if Nicole expressed interest in a female character, it wouldn''t be so easy for her to join in. Nicole''s current sry was already more than $15 million, the highest for actresses, which didn''t align with Eric''s n for the Marvel franchise to primarily feature second- and third-tier Hollywood stars.

    Suddenly reminded of something, Eric continued, "Speaking of which, I have a character I hope you could support."

    Nicole disyed a puzzled expression, keenly catching a keyword in Eric''s tone. With a teasing smile, she asked, "Support?"

    "Yes, it''s a trilogy series, which might evolve into a six-part series. There''s a character with a key role, not much screen time, but crucial. Among all the actresses I know, I think you''re the most suitable. However, I could probably only offer $3 million for it since it''s an ensemble cast, and while your role is important, you''re not the protagonist."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Nicole blinked her light blue eyes and smirked, "Three million for a trilogy? I think if I agree to this, Pat might go crazy. But since you say I''m the one you think is perfect for it, I''ll ept. So, what role is it?"

    Given Nicole''s current value, her manager, Pat Kingsley, would indeed likely flip at the news. It wasn''t just about themission being significantly reduced, but the contract posed an unpredictable risk to Nicole''s status as a top-tier actress.

    Eric gently cupped Nicole''s chin, admiring her wless face. Nicole was 29 this year, at a woman''s most vivacious time. Her long eyshes, rounded face, petite nose, and luscious lips were all so perfect.

    Unable to resist, Eric kissed Nicole''s lips before saying, "Your character is an elf, Gdriel.

    Know her?"

    "Oh, it''s from The Lord of the Rings," Nicole promptly realized.

    Eric nodded. The actress who originally portrayed Gdriel in the films was Cate nchett. While Cate was certainly a stronger actress in terms of craft, Nicole''s beauty far surpassed

    hers.

    To Eric, as the embodiment of nobility and elegance, how could elves not be beautiful?

    "MGM will unveil their ns for The Lord of the Rings series next fall. The trilogy will be filmed back-to-back and will take over a year in New Zend, but your scenes should only take two or three weeks, so it won''t take too long."

    From this summer''s blockbuster season to next summer''s premiere, MGM nned to release three heavyweight films as part of its spy movie universe. As long as these three films performed well at the box office, MGM would have enough confidence to announce The Lord of the Rings trilogy, an ambitious project involving $300 million. With the support of the spy movie universe''s performance, other MGM shareholders wouldn''t strongly oppose. Nicole had heard some rumors about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but she hadn''t paid much attention. Instead, she focused on Eric, curiously asking, "If I y Gdriel, who would y

    Arwen?"

    Eric didn''t hide his answer, squeezing her chin. "Diane Kruger. What do you think?"

    "You really have a thing for gorgeous women," Nicole teasingly retorted.

    In the past couple of years, the Victoria''s Secret Angels had frequently appeared in Hollywood films, sparking much conversation. Everyone knew who was pushing this, leading to countless versions of gossip and spection about Eric and the Victoria''s Secret Angels, with some exaggerated rumors iming he had "captured" the whole group.

    The woman next to him had teased him about it more than once, but Eric didn''t mind. "I just

    want this film to be perfect. Since it''s about elves, they should ideally be beautiful. Plus, the earliest legends about elves were originally from Germanic mythology, and Diane is German. It fits the character perfectly."

    "I really don''t want to hear your exnations," Nicole shot him a look and took the earbud back from his ear, just as Famke Janssen walked in, carrying two overflowing shopping bags while cking in her high heels across the hall.

    Seeing the cozy scene of Eric and Nicole on the sofa, Famke teased, "I run out to get food, and

    you two are cozy here."

    "Ha,e on, let''s get in on the fun!" Eric said, pulling Famke beside him as she set the bags

    down.

    Famke sat down on the armrest of the sofa on Eric''s other side and asked, "So what were you two just chatting about?"

    Eric casually replied, "Speaking of you, what ns do you have after New Year?"

    The seventh season of The X-Files was airing on Fox, marking the end of this ssic sci-fi series. Despite Fox offering generous terms, both Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen, the two leads, were unwilling to renew contracts. Brad wanted to seize the chance to enter film, while Famke had grown weary of the grueling schedules that required her to spend months in Canada each year as they filmed to save budgets.

    Sci-fi TV shows were usuallypleted in one go, so even though the show was still airing, Famke hadpleted all her work and was in a resting phase.

    "Not really any ns at the moment. I''m thinking about taking a year off to do some charity work. I n to visit refugees in Africa with a charity team after New Year."

    Eric immediately disyed a worried expression, taking Famke''s small hand. "Honey, please don''t go adopting any African kids like some Hollywood actresses do. If you want one, we can have our own--maybe next year?"

    Famke''s face flushed. Initially, she thought Eric was going to convince her not to go to Africa, feeling touched, but upon hearing his words, she smacked his hand away. "You heartless jerk!

    I''m going to ignore you for the rest of the day. Nicole, could you help me take these into the

    kitchen?"

    "Of course, it''s time to prepare dinner," Nicole shot Eric a gleeful look, got up, and grabbed one bag while Famke took another as they headed to the kitchen.

    Eric watched the two women''s tall figures whispering to each other as they walked away and

    chuckled to himself. He leaned over and flipped through theics until he found an

    interesting one to read.

    The cover prominently disyed a few striking words:

    Phoenix Rising.

    Jean Grey, the strongest and mostplex female superhero in the X-Men universe, held

    depths far richer than DC''s Wonder Woman.

    *****

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