I Am Hollywood

by Cui Shi yi

1 - 702

24. 735

I am Hollywood #Chapter 735: Chapter 736: Not Violence - Read I am Hollywood Chapter 735: Chapter 736: Not Violence Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

[Chapter 736: Not Violence]

Filming of the show Project Runway extended into the evening, with several contestants completing the theme of the competition: resort swimwear.

At this time, models had already donned the contestants' creations. Although it had reached quitting time, the day's work was not over yet. Designers participating in the evening's competition would host their models and designs at a fashion party, showcasing their work to a prominent fashion columnist from a daily newspaper under the Hearst Corporation, who would also serve as a guest judge for the theme.

Elizabeth Hurley had stayed by Eric's side all afternoon, watching the crew pack up equipment in preparation for the move. She said, "Eric, I can sense that you're not entirely satisfied with their work, but why don't you offer them some pointers?"

Eric felt that his presence had made many crew members nervous. He knew that if he intervened too much in the production, it would only leave them feeling more uncertain. This was the main reason he had taken on a more observer role throughout the afternoon.

Moreover, most detail issues fell within his tolerance. Even if adjustments were necessary, he could discuss them privately with Linda. Hearing Elizabeth's question, Eric casually replied, "No one can do a job perfectly; some minor slip-ups are inevitable."

At that moment, Linda Evangelista walked over with the director of the crew. She said, "Eric, the crew is heading to the park in New York next. I need to attend the party tonight to shoot some scenes; are you coming along?"

Eric wasn't interested in the over-hyped event, especially one organized last minute just for shooting. He shook his head, saying, "I'll pass. I plan to head back early to rest," he added, glancing at Elizabeth, "Liz, I'm sure you'd be interested in this. Go enjoy the night with Linda."

Elizabeth said playfully as she sensed an opening. "Eric, I actually don't care much for parties either; they can get too loud."

Linda eyed Elizabeth, who seemed overly familiar, with a slight smirk. She exchanged a few words with the director and turned to Eric, saying, "If you don't want to go, that's fine. The shoot starts at eight; let's go grab dinner first."

They found a nearby restaurant, and after dinner, Linda noticed how Elizabeth continued to cling to Eric without any signs of leaving. She silently cursed Cindy for this behavior and unwillingly headed off to work.

...

It was already past seven-thirty in the evening, and the bright lights of Manhattan illuminated the streets.

Eric personally drove Linda to the location of the night's shoot and gently kissed her goodbye. Returning to the car, he looked at the lazily reclining Elizabeth, a smirk forming on his lips. "Liz, where do you live? Should I take you back?"

With Linda gone, Elizabeth ignored the driver in the front and boldly leaned closer, the perfect scent of her perfume enveloping Eric. "Eric, can't I go to your place for a cup of coffee?"

"Let's head to my apartment on Sixth Avenue," Eric instructed the driver, putting up the divider. He then casually pushed away the light and seemingly fragile woman leaning against him, taking a moment to admire her beautiful face and curvy figure. With a teasing smile, he half-joked, "Liz, let me give you a heads-up. I can be quite aggressive."

Feeling exposed under his unabashed gaze, Elizabeth shivered slightly, a wave of nerves washing over her. However, recalling Linda and Cindy, she quickly realized Eric was joking. After all, if he were genuinely as he claimed, neither Cindy nor Linda would be so close to him.

As her worries subsided, Elizabeth playfully licked her lower lip, retorting, "Eric, I can be quite aggressive too."

"Oh, now I'm intrigued," Eric replied, taken aback but laughing.

They arrived at Eric's luxurious apartment located on the top levels near Central Park. Elizabeth was taken aback by the grandeur of the duplex, spanning two floors with a rooftop garden. Frequenting the upper-crust crowd, she had a good grasp of its worth but soon felt reassured about Eric's wealth.

Peering through the glass walls, she noted the clock showed eight o'clock. The Manhattan skyline sparkled with lights. With summer nights being long, the distant sky still glimmered, and barefoot on the slightly cool floor, Elizabeth leisurely strolled around the living room.

Eric, however, had different plans. He sat on the sofa, picked an apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, took a knife nearby, and began casually cutting it, glancing around at the relaxed woman. "Help yourself to whatever you want to drink," he said.

Elizabeth nodded and walked over to the liquor cabinet in the corner. She randomly selected a bottle of red wine, a Romanee-Conti from 1972. Raising an eyebrow, she turned to glance at Eric, who was lounging, and let out a self-deprecating laugh, thinking how she almost considered pocketing the bottle, knowing it could fetch at least a few thousand dollars.

"Eric, can I open this?" she asked, raising the wine bottle.

Eric, who rarely drank wine and had forgotten much of what Drew had shared about his collection, took a nonchalant look at the bottle and nodded, "If you like it, open it."

Elizabeth glanced around, found a corkscrew, and once she opened it with a light pop, a smile crept onto her lips. She measured out two glasses, but instead of rushing back to Eric, she chose a jazz album from the record player. As the soft jazz filled the room, she turned off the main lights, leaving only a soft glow from a wall lamp. Then she brought a small tray to Eric.

Placing it on the coffee table, Elizabeth flashed her bright green eyes and snatched the apple and knife from Eric, tossing them aside. She handed him a glass and settled across from him, raising her own glass. "Cheers!"

Eric smiled and took a sip, savoring the wine's tangy flavor, rich and smooth.

Looking at the vibrant woman whose toes brushed against his leg, Eric asked, "Has anyone ever told you which color of clothes suits you best?"

"No, not really. I usually prefer more casual clothes," she replied. "But what color do you think I should wear?"

"Red - passionate, wild, and vibrant. Very few women can pull off red, but you definitely can."

Elizabeth cast a sultry glance Eric's way and replied, "That's a compliment, right?"

"Absolutely," Eric confirmed with a nod.

Feigning disappointment, Elizabeth said, "I do have a red dress, but unfortunately, I can't wear it for you right now."

"That's fine; there will be plenty of opportunities."

"Yeah, tons of opportunities," Elizabeth said, finishing her glass of wine and tossing it aside. Leaning back slightly, she placed her hands on the coffee table. "That reminds me, Eric, isn't time running out for us tonight?"

"Oh, it's only eight o'clock. I didn't think you'd have this much faith in me."

Elizabeth caught his double entendre and smiled flirtatiously. "What was it you said in the car? I'm waiting to see."

"Funny, I was thinking about the contestants from Project Runway this afternoon. Honestly, when I was younger, I considered the idea of becoming a fashion designer."

"Oh," Elizabeth replied, not quite understanding.

Just then, she watched as Eric stood and picked up the knife she had tossed aside. He approached her, reaching for her while guiding her to lie down on the coffee table.

"Eric... what are you doing?" she stammered nervously.

He chuckled softly, pressing on her waist. "Don't move, darling. I want to study the construction of this dress."

As he spoke, Elizabeth felt the cool blade gently touch the neckline of her black dress, the whisper of silk tearing filled the air.

Watching the focused expression on his face above her, Elizabeth felt slightly more at ease, confirming he wouldn't cut her. However, she soon lamented the fate of her dress. "Eric, if you ruin this dress, what will I wear tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's problems can wait until tomorrow."

"Okay," she conceded, feeling the chilly blade slide down her chest as the fabric split down the middle. An exhilarating sensation coursed through her, but she held her ground and said, "Eric, I think this is not violence, but being too aggressive."

"Oh, perhaps," he teased.

Eric's knife skills were surprisingly impressive, and soon her elegant black dress was reduced to a square of fabric, laid out like a rare offering on the table, its perfect form resembling an extraordinary masterpiece of tablecloth craftsmanship.

Amid Elizabeth's soft moans, Eric toyed with this newly revealed creation, reaching for the nearby tray of red wine and pouring it over the cloth.

...

The morning sun poured warmly over Eric as he sat in the rooftop garden, reading that day's newspaper and leisurely enjoying breakfast.

It was July 19th, a Wednesday.

Six days had passed since the recent releases of Night at the Museum and Eraser. While detailed figures weren't available yet, most media outlets had already been abuzz with excitement over the strong box office performance of Night at the Museum.

Despite the competitive pressure exerted by new and older films, Night at the Museum had triumphed, accumulating nearly sixty million dollars in its first three days and was projected to surpass eighty million dollars in its opening week - possibly even reaching ninety million.

The film's production cost was a reasonable seventy million dollars. In contrast, the action blockbuster Eraser featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger had a staggering one hundred million dollar production budget, but it only earned about twenty-five million in its opening weekend -- less than half of Night at the Museum's earnings.

At this point, many in the media recollected Eric's advocacy last year for reducing star salaries and cutting production costs.

Everyone undoubtedly remembered how other production companies maintained an ambiguous stance, echoing neither support nor opposition. It was Warner Bros. who first broke the impasse, giving in to their famous actors and pledging their intent by signing multi-million deals for high-budget movies like Waterworld, Eraser, and Heat, among others.

Now, the comparison of Waterworld's one hundred and seventy-five million dollar budget with its dismal box office return of around forty million had caused Warner's shares to drop by more than ten percent. Although Eraser's box office can't be termed a failure, as it performed notably better than the earlier release Fair Game, it still significantly lagged compared to other summer films within the Firefly system -- especially when lined up against Night at the Museum.

On Friday, Warner Bros. was set to release its last summer movie of the year, Heat, which also boasted a budget of ninety million dollars. The film was set to compete with the MGM's next James Bond film, GoldenEye, which was expected to shine.

The Easter egg for this 007 entry had already appeared at the end of Charlie's Angels last year, causing quite a stir. Fans had been anticipating this film for a whole year, spurred by rumors of GoldenEye featuring a similarly exciting Easter egg for Charlie's Angels 2, leading both James Bond and Charlie's Angels fandoms into a frenzy.

It was evident that in the face of this highly-anticipated blockbuster, the three-hour-long Heat held virtually no competitive edge.

At this time, aside from overt mockery, the media had shifted focus away from Warner Bros., which was destined for box office ruin this year. Many were now keenly watching Flower Films, which was in its last stages of negotiations for a takeover of MGM.

Everyone recognized that Flower Films was backed by Firefly. Once the acquisition was completed, it would grant Firefly control over two-sevenths of Hollywood, while maintaining influence over Fox. As for Sony-Columbia, no one believed this Japanese-owned studio could escape Firefly's looming shadow.

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[Chapter 737: A Brighter Future]

While lost in thought, Elizabeth Hurley pushed open the glass door to the terrace, carrying breakfast. She wore only a short white bathrobe, showcasing her enticing long legs, her brown hair flowing freely. With her lips slightly pressed and a lazy gaze, she radiated a unique allure.

"Morning, Liz," Eric openly admired her for a moment before greeting her.

"Good morning, Eric," Elizabeth Hurley smiled modestly, nodding as she sat down next to him.

Compared to the glamorous makeup from the day before, Elizabeth's current light makeup was minimal, with no lipstick at all. Eric realized, compared to his previous memories of her, she conformed even more to his taste. At least, it was clear she had undergone lip enhancement surgery later on, as fuller lips were considered beautiful, many female stars had similar cosmetic procedures.

But Eric was not a fan of full lips; in fact, none of the women around him had that look. Nicole had once considered getting lip augmentation, but Eric dissuaded her. To him, Nicole's perfectly proportioned lips looked best just as they were -- why change them to resemble overstuffed sausages? Over the years, Eric had not cast similar heroines in any of the films he had worked on.

This had resulted in a subtle shift in Hollywood's standards of beauty for women, unknowingly influenced by Eric's personal preferences. Perhaps in a few years, under the bombardment of various films and television shows, public perceptions of beauty would completely change; the prevailing aesthetic trends had always shifted with the media's inclinations.

"Eric, what are you looking at?" Elizabeth noticed Eric's gaze and asked curiously.

Eric replied, "Your lip shape is beautiful."

Elizabeth smiled and said, "Thank you, but my agent always thinks it's not sensual enough and suggested I get lip augmentation."

"I actually find fuller lips unattractive."

"Really? Everyone loves them," Elizabeth said, surprised.

Eric shrugged, "I just really don't like them."

Elizabeth made a sound of acknowledgment. She had been considering following her agent's advice to book a minor surgery, but now, she gave up the idea.

After finishing his breakfast, Eric continued reading the newspaper and casually chatted with Elizabeth. "What have you been up to lately?"

"Uh," Elizabeth looked up, her thoughts shifting before she said, "I only have one job lately -- being a guest judge for America's Next Top Model."

"And then what?"

"And then... nothing for now," she replied. She had been planning to use her appearance on America's Next Top Model to connect with Cindy Crawford to see if she could be introduced for this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but Eric had already shot down her idea the day before.

In Hollywood, most professionals often found themselves unemployed, and the modeling world wasn't much different. Even the top supermodels couldn't count on work year-round. While the elite supermodels didn't have to worry about making ends meet, many ordinary girls entering the industry struggled to maintain the high cost of living in big cities while waiting for their next job.

Elizabeth Hurley belonged to a group that was somewhat on the fence; she had decent name recognition owing to her fame, but despite being labeled a supermodel, she had never been a professional one. In recent years, her focus had shifted towards breaking into the film industry, causing her to neglect her modeling work.

Thinking about this, Elizabeth glanced at Eric, recalling the bottle of expensive red wine he had casually poured over her last night, feeling an inexplicable sense of anticipation. But she was a smart woman. If they had not slept together, she would have boldly sought the opportunity from Eric. However, if she did so now, it would turn everything from last night into a transaction.

Thus, it was up to the man to make a move. Even if Eric didn't make any advances, she wouldn't be foolish enough to ask for it outright.

Eric responded absentmindedly, seemingly unaware of Elizabeth's gaze as he continued to read his newspaper.

...

After breakfast, the time had just passed eight o'clock.

A staff member from Firefly Group in New York happened to arrive with a bag for Eric.

"Try this. I had someone buy it," Eric said, pulling out a script from the bag and handing over the remaining contents to Elizabeth, who was still in her bathrobe.

Elizabeth took the bag, glanced inside, thanked Eric, turned back toward her bedroom, and emerged wearing a long burgundy dress.

Sitting on the couch flipping through the script, Eric turned to look at her and smiled, "That looks great. Way prettier than the outfit from last night. I told you, red really suits you."

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed a bit. Although everything from last night had been cleaned up, a faint aroma of wine still lingered in the living room. She walked over and sat gracefully next to Eric, asking, "Eric, did you pick this out? It's beautiful and fits wonderfully."

"Yeah," Eric nodded. He had directed someone to pick out clothes for her. It would be a surprise if it didn't fit. Noticing her gaze inadvertently shift toward the script in his hands, he casually passed it to her, saying, "Here, take a look."

"Uh, is it okay?" Elizabeth feigned surprise as she received the script from Eric. Glancing at the title, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, she quickly scanned the synopsis and felt a twinge of disappointment.

She had appeared in numerous films, albeit with many small roles, but she had a discerning eye. This script seemed like one of those low-budget comedies, costing about ten or twenty million. In such movies, even the leading lady often played just a decorative role. Although she knew that if she wanted to break into Hollywood, she would likely have to start as eye candy, receiving this script from Eric felt below her expectations.

Eric handed the script to Elizabeth and got up to change clothes, preparing to head to the set of Project Runway to discuss changes to the program that morning.

When he returned to the living room donned in fresh attire, he noticed Elizabeth still appeared focused on the script. He smiled knowingly; he had merely flipped through it while she was changing and, truthfully, he had no interest in it -- the film was nothing but a pure parody comedy, and he was certain Elizabeth wouldn't care for it either.

"Liz, let's go. I'll drop you off at work. You can take the script home with you and look it over. If you like it, the leading role is yours."

Elizabeth picked up her handbag and stood up, pondering for a moment before following Eric out the door. As they reached the elevator, she finally made up her mind, saying, "Eric, I'm not really fond of this character. It seems to have a lot of risque scenes."

Elizabeth was clear about her feelings; if she accepted this role, though Eric was offering it willingly, it could easily become a transaction, and they might never have any further connection. Plus, this character might not significantly help her career. If she refused, the fleeting intimacy they shared last night could lead to unexpected opportunities with this powerful man in the future.

Eric looked a bit surprised but soon understood Elizabeth's thoughts. He didn't mind; he appreciated smart women who recognized their boundaries. Moreover, he knew that the little games women played rarely affected him.

"Oh, I see. Then forget it," Eric said with a laugh, "Honestly, I don't particularly care for this script either."

Elizabeth raised the script in her hand. "Then why did you..."

"Because it makes money," Eric replied candidly. "I'm the head of the film company; I can't just dismiss projects that could generate income based solely on personal taste."

Elizabeth chuckled, aware that no one could operate purely on personal whims. Naturally, someone like Eric had far more leeway than ordinary people. Though he had just said that, if he truly disliked the project, he could easily cancel it without concern for the vast Firefly Group.

They arrived downstairs and climbed into a luxury car waiting in the parking lot. Eric asked, "By the way, do you think you could tweak your accent a bit?"

Elizabeth had an impeccable British accent, so much so that she had played the Queen of England in another timeline.

Without hesitation, she replied, "If necessary, of course I can."

"If you could learn a standard Manhattan accent and were willing to take on a TV series, there's a great opportunity next year."

"Next year?"

Eric nodded, "Yeah, next year."

Elizabeth wasn't keen on doing a sitcom, but she prudently asked, "Eric, can I ask, what's the series about?"

"It's a story about a fashionable female writer in Manhattan. I can assure you, if you land this role, your future prospects will exceed what you could achieve in Hollywood." Eric explained. He was, of course, referring to the show that would create a major buzz, Sex and the City. The production rights for the novel had already been acquired by Firefly's filmmaking unit, but Eric hadn't yet revealed the specifics to relevant parties.

The original show's lead was Sarah Jessica Parker, who became an icon of Manhattan thanks to the series, showcasing its vast influence. However, Eric felt Elizabeth matched the character's age and looks perfectly. The only hurdle was her accent. If it couldn't change, even if Sex and the City became a hit, a character with a genuine London accent could never embody the essence of Manhattan, diminishing its impact significantly.

Elizabeth wasn't going to be swayed by a single line from Eric, but she also had no reason to doubt his judgment. He had no incentive to deceive her into thinking she was more significant than she truly was. After considering, she responded, "Then, I'll take some time to sign up for a speech class."

She understood that her accent could never be her strong suit. While many Hollywood actors enjoyed learning British accents for roles in British films, she didn't possess the skillset necessary for Shakespearean dramas.

Eric nodded and dropped Elizabeth off at her destination before quickly returning to the Project Runway set.

...

On July 21, 1995, the last two summer blockbusters, GoldenEye and Heat, premiered as scheduled.

After a weekend of box office battles, GoldenEye grossed nearly $29 million in its opening weekend, raking in $29 million from over 2,800 screens. Although this result still didn't outpace the legs of Night at the Museum, it left its rival, Heat, far behind. Heat only managed to garner about $8.4 million over three days, and despite receiving respectable critical acclaim, it struggled to recoup its costs. Warner Bros. would have to pin their hopes on future merchandise and home video sales.

By comparison, Night at the Museum shone brightly, bringing in over $86 million in its debut weekend and experiencing only a 20 percent drop in its second week. In those three days, it grossed another $47.7 million, firmly securing the top spot on the box office charts.

Many were surprised by this performance, considering it already eclipsed the total box office of Jumanji, which had only managed a little over $100 million by year-end. Night at the Museum had already exceeded $130 million in ten days, establishing itself as another unexpected hit of the summer.

Though GoldenEye reached expected ticket sales, compared to Night at the Museum, it fell short of expectations. MGM had leaned slightly in favor of GoldenEye's marketing but couldn't change the disappointing trend. The 007 series was viewed as the last bargaining chip for Credit Lyonnais Bank, which had initially hoped for a massive success for this sequel to drive up its sale price. But in light of Night at the Museum's success, it lost all bargaining power.

Therefore, following the opening weekend ticket results, news from Los Angeles revealed that Credit Lyonnais Bank ultimately agreed to the acquisition deal with Flower Films.

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[Chapter 738: Debt Issues]

Regarding the acquisition of MGM, Flower Films initially quoted $1.5 billion, but Credit Lyonnais Bank aimed to sell its shares for $1.8 billion. Credit Lyonnais Bank had made up its mind to completely distance itself from Hollywood and would not engage in any more financial ties with the industry after the deal closed. Therefore, both parties' negotiations primarily focused on the final transaction price.

Negotiations began in early June and lasted until the end of July. The inability to reach an agreement stemmed mainly from Credit Lyonnais Bank waiting for the box office results of GoldenEye, which featured Eric's involvement and in which they had high hopes. However, despite GoldenEye receiving favorable reviews upon its release, its box office didn't explode, especially in comparison to Night at the Museum, which left Credit Lyonnais Bank feeling less confident.

After the opening weekend box office results of GoldenEye came in, both parties took a step back and settled on a final intent of $1.6 billion. Of course, after the transaction was completed, Flower Films would assume MGM's existing $1.7 billion debt, bringing the total transaction amount to $3.3 billion.

...

The day after the deal was finalized, The Los Angeles Times featured an interesting cartoon on its front page.

A giant, anthropomorphized firefly, adorned with a small flower on its head, rampaged through the streets marked with 'Hollywood,' much like the Tyrannosaurus Rex in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Buildings on either side lay in ruins, with flashy logos from Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, and Columbia hanging down.

Beneath this cartoon, The Los Angeles Times boldly titled the piece "Firefly Takes Hollywood."

"Seven years ago, Home Alone emerged on the scene, grossing over $500 million globally on a shoestring budget of just $1 million, capturing the attention of all of Hollywood.

But perhaps no one could have predicted that today, seven years later, the young mastermind behind Home Alone has built his own media empire at an astonishing pace. This emerging empire is rapidly expanding, having already swallowed New Line, Disney, and ABC. Now, this firefly, which seemingly will never slow down, has also 'planted' a dazzling flower beyond its own system.

Before the MGM acquisition, we saw that Flower Films released its first film, Mission: Impossible, last year, which garnered close to $500 million worldwide with a production cost of $70 million.

This summer, Flower Films' two productions, Forrest Gump and Night at the Museum, have collectively grossed $190 million and $130 million in North America so far. While both films have much more box office potential, from when the summer season kicked off on May 26 until now, North America's summer box office has totaled $1.68 billion over the past ten weeks. The relatively new player, Flower Films, has inadvertently captured 19% of the market share.

When we widen our view a bit, we can find that the three films released by Firefly Group -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, and Toy Story 2 -- have also collectively grossed $690 million domestically. These films similarly still have box office potential left untapped. However, the combined box office of these two companies has already occupied 61% of the total summer box office over the ten weeks, leaving less than 40% of the market share for all other Hollywood competitors, which is truly astonishing.

It's easy to envision that when Eric Williams personally nurtures this flower to complete the acquisition and integration of MGM and DreamWorks, leveraging a wealth of profitable movie projects including the Mission: Impossible series, the 007 series, the Charlie's Angels series, and the Night at the Museum series, at the very least, it will soon reach parity with Firefly Group in the film business. We can almost foresee the bleak future for other Hollywood film companies over the coming years."

...

While the article in The Los Angeles Times was slightly exaggerated, it still caught the attention of many.

The seven major film companies in Hollywood all had their own production and distribution systems, and many resources were exclusive to these studios, such as Paramount's theater resources. So, for Firefly and Flower Films to completely monopolize Hollywood's film market, they would have to absorb all seven major companies; otherwise, it would be nearly impossible to achieve such astonishing market shares yearly. The fact that these two companies garnered 60% of the market this year can be attributed, in many people's eyes, to luck; Firefly and Flower Films just happened to strike it lucky while companies like Warner Bros. had no major box office blockbusters this year.

However, that didn't stop Flower Films' acquisition of MGM from raising awareness among the other studios. Executives from Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, and Columbia all understood that the best way to thwart Flower Films' expansion was to do whatever it took to sabotage this deal.

But wishes are easy, and the reality was that none of the other major companies were willing to take the plunge.

After all, attempting to disrupt the deal would not only require exorbitant costs but would also completely alienate Firefly. While everyone knew this was about "sacrificing the present to invest in the future," there wasn't a single Hollywood executive brave enough to make that sacrifice.

As for forming a coalition, they might as well forget it. By the time the companies with conflicting interests negotiated conditions for collaboration, Flower Films could very well have grown into a towering tree.

Although privately some people tried to leverage their resources to play tricks, aiming to ensure that even if they couldn't stop the acquisition, they would force Flower Films to pay a higher price, these tricks were often easily neutralized by the other side. After all, in this world of capital, capital was the ultimate power, and right now, Firefly was undeniably Hollywood's most financially robust media group.

...

Los Angeles.

In Drew's Beverly Hills mansion, the girl stood by a clothes rack filled with little dresses, changing outfits while chattering away. "I really don't know what they were thinking, sending someone to check my taxes. Haha, that trick is so old-school. My tax returns are whiter than Natasha's! There's no way they can find any issues there. Hmph! If I find out who's behind this, I'm definitely going to teach them a lesson."

It was already the end of July, and Flower Films had signed acquisition agreements with Credit Lyonnais Bank and DreamWorks in the prior two weeks.

The MGM shares held by Credit Lyonnais Bank were acquired for cash, while under Eric's strong push, the merger with DreamWorks employed a mix of cash and stock, amounting to a billion dollars. Previously involved in the MGM acquisition, Vivendi contributed $300 million to obtain 30% of DreamWorks' shares, while Firefly completely withdrew; the European stakeholders of DreamWorks exchanged their shares for equity in the merged company.

After the integration, for ease of equity operations, the new company would still primarily operate under MGM. Flower Films, DreamWorks, and the company that held the rights to 007, United Artists, would gradually integrate into MGM's production department over the next few months. The MGM label would mainly be used for film distribution in the future.

In the new MGM Group, Drew held 40% as the largest shareholder, Vivendi had 20%, LTD held 10%, DreamWorks' original European stakeholders held 18%, and the remaining 12% were in circulating shares.

Eric sat on the living room sofa, waiting for Drew to finish changing so they could head to the new MGM's first press conference together.

Listening with a smile to Drew's chatter, Eric flipped through the balance sheet of the new company.

After the integration was complete, Eric believed the most valuable assets of the new MGM would undoubtedly be the rights to several blockbuster films, alongside MGM's vast film library.

Although MGM lost the film rights to movies produced before 1948 due to the sale between Kirk Kerkorian and Ted Turner in the 1980s, the remaining catalog from 1948 onward still boasted over 4,000 films, placing it among the largest in all of Hollywood. In the original timeline, to push MGM's catalog in promoting its high-definition Blu-ray format, Sony had once foolishly spent $5 billion in 2004, showcasing the immense value of MGM's film library.

Unfortunately, over the years, MGM had consistently struggled, lacking the necessary resources to monetize its film library, relying instead on crude licensing to external video tape distributors and cable networks, which people had to admit was a pity. Now that he had acquired these resources, Eric certainly wouldn't allow that situation to continue.

As Eric pondered how to manage MGM's vast library of resources, he heard the girl exclaiming that her tax returns were whiter than Natasha's, causing him to raise his head. The twins were dressed in simple black T-shirts and washed-out jeans, quietly helping Drew pick out outfits. Their exposed faces and arms boasted that characteristic stunning paleness unique to Slavic beauties.

Noticing Eric's gaze, Drew flashed a smile. "Eric, they're even whiter when they're not wearing clothes!"

As Drew spoke, a faint blush appeared on the twins' cheeks, and they stole a shy glance at Eric.

Eric chuckled and shifted his gaze back to Drew, who was wearing nothing but her underwear. Even though she had passed her 20th birthday, she hadn't changed much over the years, thanks to having kicked her previous bad habits. Standing at 5'3", she had smooth, radiant skin, a petite frame with a touch of softness, utterly tempting.

Sensing Eric's lingering gaze, the girl shot him a playful look, suggesting, "Eric, there's still time, you know."

"Come on, hurry up and get dressed. We need to get there early."

"Then let's do it in the car."

"Stop joking around."

"Hehe..."

"Let's get back to business," Eric said, momentarily serious, "Even though your finances are in order, owning such a substantial stake in the company still looks a bit conspicuous. I plan for MGM to issue an additional 20% of its shares -- around 70 million shares -- and based on the current stock price, we can raise about $1 billion. At that point, when your shares and LTD's are factored together, we'll still maintain about 40% ownership and won't lose control of the company. Plus, this would allow for more financial flexibility for the company in the coming years. What do you think?"

The girl ultimately settled on a pink little dress. Once she got it on, she fluttered over to Eric, snuggling into him. "Eric, you really don't need to ask me about these kinds of things. Everything I have is yours; just make the decision."

"Heh, actually, I'm not very good at making decisions for others," Eric said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"But I'm not just anyone, Eric. Without you, I might have died by now."

Feeling the small body pressed up against him, Eric joked, "Hmm, that line is starting to sound more like a soap opera. Ouch, watch the neck; I didn't list you in my will!"

"Well, I'd die with you."

"Is this the second episode of a soap opera now?"

"Woah, I'm serious."

"Alright, alright, it's time. Let's get moving."

...

MGM's headquarters was located in Century City. Although the original film lot was sold off by Kerkorian in the 80s, the headquarters building still stood. As an established film company for over half a century, MGM had begun to decline, yet its headquarters building still appeared far more impressive compared to Flower Films' offices on Venice Beach.

At that time, Flower Films and DreamWorks hadn't yet moved their offices there, but the press conference was arranged for the largest conference hall at MGM's headquarters.

When Eric and Drew arrived at MGM's headquarters, the plaza outside was already packed with reporters. As soon as they spotted the duo's vehicle, a swarm of journalists rushed toward them. The company's security team quickly cleared a path for the two.

"Mr. Williams, will Firefly acquire MGM in the future?"

"Eric, Drew, are you planning to get married?"

"Eric, why did you completely separate MGM from Firefly's system -- is it due to monopoly concerns?"

"Will MGM expand as aggressively as Firefly?"

"Eric, how do you plan to resolve MGM's debt issues?"

Amid the blinding flashes of cameras and a barrage of questions from reporters, Eric held Drew's waist tightly, navigating through the crowd with the assistance of security until they finally entered the building.

Once inside, high-ranking company executives like Amy Pascal and Frank Mancuso, as well as several stars who were going to attend the press conference, greeted them. Under Eric's instructions, executives from Firefly Group did not attend this press conference.

After greeting everyone, they all walked to the press conference venue, where staff were still making final adjustments to the equipment. The conference hall, over 200 square meters, featured a small stage with a backdrop showcasing posters for the company's franchises, including 007, Charlie's Angels, and Night at the Museum.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 739: The Spy Movie Universe]

During a lull at the press conference, Eric Williams gathered Amy Pascal and other MGM shareholders attending the event to discuss the idea of issuing additional stock. Naturally, Amy Pascal and the others had no objections. Even though MGM appeared to be thriving after the consolidation, the financial situation was quite tight.

With a staggering $1.7 billion in debt, the annual principal and interest payments amounted to no less than $200 million. One of the reasons Kirk Kerkorian had repeatedly sold MGM was to restructure the debt through sale after sale, aiming to cut costs.

After this transaction, Kerkorian was driven out of Hollywood, and the new MGM could not afford to play such capital games, meaning those interest payments couldn't be avoided. If they could increase their stock issuance by 20%, the company's financial situation would improve significantly, providing ample funds to repair MGM's production and distribution systems and to kickstart major projects like The Lord of the Rings.

After discussing this matter, the staff announced that the press conference was about to begin, and everyone left the lounge to move into the conference hall.

...

Except for the cast and crew of the currently filming Charlie's Angels series, all the main actors from major franchises under the new company like 007, Mission: Impossible, Night at the Museum, and Resident Evil were present, making the venue gleam with star power. However, today, they were not the center of attention; the reporters focused entirely on MGM's shareholders and executives.

As the new CEO of the company, Amy Pascal stepped onto the stage with enthusiasm, taking over ten minutes to introduce the general overview of the new company and addressing a series of media questions regarding MGM's acquisition and consolidation process.

More than a hundred invited reporters were patiently waiting for the QA session that would follow the speeches of several MGM executives. Some people's eyes had already wandered to Eric, sitting in the guest section.

However, when Amy finally announced that MGM would issue additional stocks, the reporters immediately perked up.

Recent media predictions suggested that MGM would choose to privatize like Firefly Group, aligning with Eric Williams' usual style. Moreover, since MGM currently had only 12% of its shares publicly traded, the difficulty of privatization was quite low.

Thus, this news was a stark contrast to what most reporters had speculated, igniting a buzz among the journalists present as they questioned MGM's motives, or more directly, Eric Williams' intentions behind this decision.

Unfortunately, after Amy concluded her remarks, Frank Mancuso, who had just transitioned to president of MGM, came back on stage to introduce MGM's production plans for the coming years and invited the guest stars to the stage for a brief interaction.

After about half an hour, the anticipated QA session finally arrived.

...

Once Eric, Drew, Amy, Frank Mancuso, and John Calley took their seats on the provided chairs, the host announced the beginning of the QA session, and every reporter in the audience raised their hands all at once.

The host randomly selected a reporter, a woman with wavy brown hair and rimless glasses. When she took the microphone, she didn't immediately ask the burning question; instead, she directed her inquiry towards Eric, saying, "Mr. Williams, I'm a reporter for The New York Times. According to public information, Firefly Group has completely divested from MGM. In what capacity and stance are you sitting here today?"

Eric smiled; he had anticipated this question and, on a deeper level, many people already knew the reasons behind it.

However, Eric had no intention of dodging the question. He replied with a smile, "If you need a reason, I suppose I'm here as a representative of MGM's shareholders. My personal Firefly Investment Company is the largest shareholder of LTD Group, which is MGM's third-largest shareholder, currently holding 10% of the shares. That's it."

The female reporter from The New York Times pressed on, "Mr. Williams, why complicate things? Wouldn't it be simpler to directly utilize Firefly Group's capital for this?"

While many large corporations in North America exhibited monopoly behavior, executives rarely discussed their companies' monopolistic practices openly, and no one would even acknowledge any intent to monopolize, as such statements might become evidence in future antitrust investigations.

Eric certainly understood the unspoken rules. After a brief pause, he said, "The internal structure of Firefly Group is already extensive. If we continue to expand, it could become unwieldy, which would be detrimental to the company's healthy growth. Thus, MGM will operate independently outside the Firefly Group's structure. This way, potential competition in the future might also prevent Firefly Group from losing its drive and falling into complacency."

This somewhat truthful yet vague response left no room for the reporters to criticize it. The next journalist had to pivot the topic to MGM's upcoming stock issuance.

"Mr. Williams, why did MGM decide to issue more stock instead of privatizing?"

Eric had amassed a personal fortune that was nothing short of astonishing, and he would become even more wealthy as the internet wave exploded in the coming years. Therefore, he was no longer seeking rapid wealth accumulation but aiming to enhance his influence and control through that wealth.

Like MGM, Eric controlled 10% of MGM's shares indirectly through LTD, allowing him to fully manipulate the company. Simultaneously, owning only a small portion of shares meant that outside resistance would be relatively low. If he wanted to transform Hollywood into his own kingdom, Eric would likely adopt similar methods to gradually infiltrate other media groups in the future.

Of course, he could never articulate such thoughts publicly, as they would certainly raise concerns among many.

Therefore, in response to the question, Eric simply stated, "Every enterprise should have its own independent path for development, so I don't see this as an issue. The reason for issuing additional stocks is to enable MGM to develop better in the coming years. As you've just seen, MGM will continue filming the 007 and Mission: Impossible franchises while also commencing production on Tolkien's epic The Lord of the Rings, which all requires substantial funding."

"Mr. Williams, GoldenEye also had an Easter egg for the second Charlie's Angels movie. Fans have been very curious -- will MGM have a crossover between 007 and Charlie's Angels in the future?"

Upon hearing this question, Eric smiled and handed the mic to nearby Amy Pascal, saying, "Let Amy clarify this question for everyone."

Amy Pascal and others had been kept on the sidelines for a while. They were not unhappy because Eric was drawing all the attention, but the disappointment was inevitable.

Seeing Eric voluntarily hand over the mic, Amy understood that he was subtly signaling to the reporters. She shot him a grateful look, then took the mic and said, "The company has held detailed discussions on this matter. Our plan is to create a unique spy movie universe for MGM over the next ten years, incorporating the 007 franchise, the Charlie's Angels franchise, the Mission: Impossible series, and potentially other spy movie franchises into crossovers. Soon, you will see James Bond, Charlie's Angels, and Ethan Hunt all on the same screen."

A spy movie universe?!

Other spy movie franchises?

James Bond, Charlie's Angels, and Ethan Hunt appearing together on the big screen.

...

A moment of silence fell over the reporters as they processed Amy Pascal's statement, but they quickly reacted, and the venue buzzed with excitement once more.

Charlie's Angels and Mission: Impossible had undoubtedly been among the hottest spy films in recent years, and the popularity of the 007 series was undeniable.

While there may have been some tongue-in-cheek B-movies featuring crossovers, no massive blockbusters had ever attempted to create an intersecting series of films. The implications of doing so involved not only movie rights but also whether the related stars would be willing to participate, which was a significant obstacle.

The mere possibility of a crossover between the 007 series and the Charlie's Angels series was exciting enough for many movie fans, and MGM's ambition to create a 'spy movie universe' stirred considerable enthusiasm among some reporters who were also film aficionados.

After a brief pause, flashes went off wildly as eager reporters threw aside the conventions and began to yell questions.

"Amy, could you please elaborate on the 'spy movie universe' plan?"

"Amy, has MGM discussed this issue with Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Costner, and the three leading ladies from Charlie's Angels?"

"Is MGM not concerned that this plan might affect the brand of the 007 series?"

"..."

The scene descended into chaos until the staff loudly restored order, allowing everyone to calm down once more.

Afterward, the reporters launched inquiries toward Amy about the 'spy movie universe,' leaving Eric to enjoy the spectacle as he shifted the focus of questions onto Amy and the others.

The 'spy movie universe' was undeniably inspired by the later series of Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Universe, and Monster Cinematic Universe. In the original timeline, these renowned spy films like 007, Charlie's Angels, and Mission: Impossible belonged to different film studios. The possibility of a crossover then was nearly impossible.

But this time was different. Eric had recently realized that these legendary spy films, thanks to MGM's consolidation, would all fall under one film studio's purview. In addition to these three completed projects, even the rights for the Bourne series rested with Flower Films, making the prospect of creating a unique spy movie universe for MGM highly possible.

Although the backgrounds of the various series differed, that was hardly a problem.

Except for the more unconventional Bourne series, the core plot of the other spy blockbusters revolved around four key words: save the world.

As long as a complete world background was created within this theme and all the major series were placed within that narrative context for production, starting with individual films and eventually forming a crossover to tackle a significant antagonist and complete the task of saving the world, the entire story could come to fruition.

At the same time, the crossover of these major spy films would bring broader discussions and influence for all the series, and behind all of this was the potential for substantial economic benefits.

Indeed, when MGM announced at the press conference that it would unite the 007 series, the Charlie's Angels series, and the Mission: Impossible series to create a standalone spy movie universe, the media across North America and even worldwide began buzzing with excitement the next day.

...

"James Bond, Charlie's Angels, and Ethan Hunt -- all prominent screen heroes appearing on the same screen -- it's hard to resist imagining that! I feel a strong urge to rush to the theater. I hope MGM can pull this series off flawlessly."

"I have serious doubts about the feasibility of this plan. With the three major movie series having seen box office success, Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Costner, and the Charlie's Angels trio have reached ten-million-dollar salaries. If you gather all five, the salary expenses alone would be quite staggering! It's hard to fathom how, if a crossover were realized, the overall film budget would reach such frightening heights. Perhaps when released, it may need a global box office of $1 billion just to break even."

"This is undoubtedly a foolish idea. I really wonder if Eric Williams is getting carried away by his own success. A spy movie universe featuring three potentially blockbuster franchises could easily ruin the reputation of all three. Perhaps this is just some hype concocted by MGM, especially with their impending stock issuance plans."

"..."

As the media extensively reported, discussions erupted on Yahoo forums, with fans showing a unified sense of anticipation for the films despite the diverse perspectives of journalists.

Subsequently, the box office performance of the currently screening GoldenEye surged dramatically as moviegoers flocked back to the theaters, eager to spot potential crossover Easter eggs from other series. Initially expected to drop below $20 million in the third week, the buzz from the press conference caused GoldenEye's earnings to soar to $23 million, pushing the total box office past $100 million and easily surpassing its predecessor's box office record. In the coming weeks, that total might even rise to $150 million or more.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 740: Coincidence]

With a series of positive news, MGM's stock price surged from $10.50 before the summer blockbuster season to $13.70 following the press conference.

After completing the integration of three companies, the new MGM's total share capital reached 365 million shares. When the stock price hit $13.70, MGM's market value successfully surpassed $5 billion. Consequently, the upcoming plan to issue 70 million additional shares was expected to bring in around $1 billion in cash, allowing MGM to completely shed the shadow of debt that had been plaguing it and set off on a path of healthy development.

The stock issuance would be managed by MGM's top executives in the following months. After the press conference, Eric diverted some of his attention towards planning the MGM spy movie universe.

Charlie's Angels and Mission: Impossible had both emerged as popular spy films in the past two years. Although both were adaptations of classic TV shows, the addition of these films into the spy movie universe faced little opposition and instead sparked great anticipation among fans.

However, when Eric suggested incorporating the 007 series into the plan, it sparked some controversy. Most of the criticism focused on the potential dilution of the 007 franchise's brand equity. Media outlets even interviewed past actors who portrayed 007, with the original James Bond actor Sean Connery openly opposing the plan, claiming MGM was acting recklessly.

Eric simply smiled at these voices of dissent.

So far, all the original novels in the 007 series had been adapted into films by 1987, with the exception of one, Casino Royale. Moreover, even those series from before 1987 often bore little relation to Ian Fleming's novels. To maintain a semblance of 'heritage,' the series habitually attached quirkily related titles to Fleming's name, referencing either his pets, vacation home, or quotes from his books.

Ironically, the only film in the 007 series that grossed over $1 billion worldwide, Skyfall, had a title that had absolutely no connection to Fleming whatsoever -- it was actually created by MGM's own writing team.

In Eric's eyes, this tenuous connection was entirely unnecessary. The greatest strength of the 007 franchise lay in the global recognition it had built over decades. As for box office appeal, the previous film, Licence to Kill, only raked in $34 million in North America, demonstrating that the 007 franchise's box office allure wasn't as strong as one might think. If a story wasn't executed well, no amount of fame would convince the audience.

Eric's idea for a spy movie universe had also been influenced by the Daniel Craig version of 007 from the original timeline.

In that timeline, the 007 films around the turn of the century, particularly Casino Royale, had been both critically and commercially successful. While the series often boasted about its 'heritage,' it frequently opted to create a completely new story for each installment, often discarding the recognition accrued by previous characters -- something he viewed as a regrettable waste.

The Daniel Craig version of 007, however, ventured down a different path, which Eric thought was quite serendipitous. After the success of Casino Royale, MGM hurried to initiate the sequel's production, but unfortunately, the process coincided with the Hollywood writers' strike in 2008. This left them unable to gather star screenwriters to craft an entirely new tale.

In their desperation, the production team had to piece together a 'sequel' that directly followed Casino Royale, which was Quantum of Solace. Viewers who hadn't seen Casino Royale would likely struggle to follow the sequel's plot. Thus, it seemed MGM held little hope for the sequel, but surprisingly, this confusing 'sequel' ended up grossing nearly $600 million worldwide, matching its predecessor.

Beginning with Quantum of Solace, it appeared MGM had finally grasped something. They no longer completely abandoned the stories from previous films; they ceased the relentless hunt for a main villain with every installment, and they did away with the forced connections to Ian Fleming's legacy. They began creating an overarching storyline connecting several sequels.

Amidst these changes, the subsequent film, Skyfall, created a pinnacle moment in 007 history with a global box office of $1.1 billion. Later, Spectre, despite receiving poor reviews, still managed to gross nearly $900 million.

Inspired by the Daniel Craig 007 series, Eric planned to eliminate some of the subsequent Pierce Brosnan films like Die Another Day and Tomorrow Never Dies, discarding the tired trope of searching the globe for villains. Instead, he aimed to use the organization known as Spectre as the ultimate antagonist, incorporating elements from Charlie's Angels and Mission: Impossible into a cohesive backstory, creating a complete spy movie universe.

He decided to begin this story with Ian Fleming's only novel that hadn't been adapted for the big screen, Casino Royale. The currently screening GoldenEye would become the last film to reference the rivalry with the Soviet Union.

Of course, while crafting the story's main arc, MGM needed to address another long-standing issue -- the lawsuit that had haunted the 007 series for decades. Over thirty years ago, the "Spectre" organization from Ian Fleming's novels was modeled after a rival novelist, Kevin McClory's creation. After a lengthy legal battle, the rights to Spectre were awarded to McClory.

To establish Spectre as the ultimate villain in the MGM spy movie universe, the studio would have to resolve this copyright issue. While it was possible that MGM had previously been unwilling to pay the millions for the rights, it was now a different situation.

With money no longer a pressing issue, Eric felt confident that McClory's demand for $2 million was fair, especially since Spectre had already appeared in six previous 007 films. Even though MGM hadn't used it since the initial ruling, Spectre's fame was certainly worth the price.

...

Throughout August, while Eric was busy with the MGM spy movie universe, he also made a trip to Silicon Valley in San Francisco.

After preparation, the Firefly Electronics Company, responsible for developing MP3 players and e-readers, was officially founded. Simultaneously, Firefly Electronics signed a secret agreement with disk manufacturer Seagate to develop micro-disks.

Since the company didn't yet have official products, Firefly Electronics had established its electronic product RD center in Silicon Valley. Over in Boston, Yahoo's stock option reward plan was fully implemented, maintaining most of its management, aside from a few executives like Jeff Locke who had left. As the MP3 and e-reader development center commenced, Yahoo also began plans for an online music store and an online e-book store.

Developing micro-disks would require at least a year. Eric's primary expectation for the RD center in Silicon Valley wasn't for them to produce a product quickly, but rather to take advantage of the situation and register comprehensive patent copyrights covering all aspects of MP3 technology both in the U.S. and abroad.

The technology behind MP3 players wasn't particularly complex, but by securing most patents ahead of time, Eric knew that in the future, production wouldn't be as simple for just anyone. He could wield substantial leverage in the coming digital music era.

...

Upon returning to Los Angeles from San Francisco, Eric received news from Firefly that the Wachowski brothers had completed production on their directorial debut, Bound.

While on the plane, Eric received a call from Katzenberg, and after landing at Santa Monica Airport, he immediately headed to the nearby Playa Vista Firefly Studios to meet with Katzenberg and the Wachowski brothers.

Bound told the story of two lesbian girls seeking a way out of their current lives who plotted to con $2 million from a mob boss, inadvertently starting a war within the mob.

Stripped of its lesbian and female-led aspects, the film was essentially a classic crime drama. Of course, the inclusion of LGBTQ elements added a unique flavor.

In the screening room, after watching the film, Eric nodded in satisfaction and told Katzenberg, "Given the quality of this film, if we let New Line handle the operations, it could easily recoup its $4.5 million production cost at the box office. You aren't doubting their talent anymore, are you?"

Having been in the film industry for many years, Katzenberg, of course, had an eye for talent. He nodded and chuckled, "Absolutely, I'm beginning to have high hopes for those two."

After some low-key exchanges, the credits rolled, and the lights came up in the screening room. Eric got up and approached the Wachowski brothers, who looked a bit anxious. "Get ready. I hope you can quickly take your crew to Sydney. Most of the preparatory work is done; you just need to start filming as soon as possible."

The Wachowski brothers paused, realizing what was happening. Andy Wachowski replied, "Eric, does that mean we've been approved?"

"Yes," Eric nodded, adding, "But I will keep a close watch on the production of The Matrix, so I hope you won't let me down."

"Of course, we absolutely won't," Andy Wachowski said, rubbing his hands together in excitement.

...

After discussing the filming plans for The Matrix, the Wachowski brothers hurried to leave, and Katzenberg took Eric to his office to talk about another matter. "Eric, at the scale of Digital Domain currently, just sustaining Firefly and MGM's film production is becoming a bit of a stretch. We have many orders from other film companies as well. Stan discussed with me yesterday, hoping to continue increasing the workforce in the digital sector."

Now that MGM was on a stable path, both companies were expected to produce no less than five CG effect-driven films each year. Given that each film required at least a 500-person effects team, they would need 2,500 people.

Additionally, the application of CG effects was becoming increasingly widespread. Even films not primarily focused on effects needed the expertise of effects companies. Thus, the past few years had been a golden era for special effects companies. With sufficient technology, projects were never in short supply, and industry giants like Digital Domain were thriving.

However, Eric was well aware that the good times for effects companies were numbered. As the new century approached, with further advancements in computer technology and other software giants entering the field of effects software development, these companies would soon transition from elite status to the mainstream. Those presently reaping high salaries in effects roles would soon find themselves working more mundane jobs.

Eric was already planning to take Digital Domain public during the peak of special effects films in the coming years. At this moment, fueled by concerns for the future, he couldn't afford to continue blindly expanding Digital Domain's size.

Thinking about The Matrix, which would be filmed in Australia, Eric said, "It's better not to expand any further in the U.S.; if possible, we should establish subsidiaries overseas. Effects companies wouldn't consume too many societal resources; they can instead generate significant tax revenue. I believe countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand would be quite welcoming. We could establish subsidiaries in those countries and seek tax incentives."

"That's actually a good plan," Katzenberg nodded. "Which country do you think we should set up the subsidiary in?"

Eric immediately thought of New Zealand; in his past life, Weta Digital, which was synonymous with Digital Domain, had emerged from this country.

However, Weta had already formed as a studio years ago when Peter Jackson established it to produce his personal films with a few partners. While it had a small setup, it was fully operational. Though Eric would entrust the Lord of the Rings series to Peter Jackson, he wouldn't support an unrelated effects company.

After a moment of consideration, Eric said, "Let's choose between Australia and New Zealand. The Matrix and the Lord of the Rings would be filmed in these countries, which would allow us to save a lot of energy on-site. I'll communicate with Fox to help with this since News Corp's foundation is in Australia. We can use their influence to acquire better incentives from the Australian government."

As he spoke, Eric glanced at the clock, realizing he still had over two hours until the end of the workday. He told Katzenberg, "Alright then; I'll head over to Fox now. You get back to it."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 741: Are You Really Letting Others Live?]

Eric stepped out of the car in front of the Fox headquarters at Century City and made his way, familiar as ever, to Elisabeth's office. Just as he approached, a young secretary holding a microphone and on the phone attempted to block his path. Although she recognized Eric immediately, she mustered the courage to say, "Uh, excuse me, Mr. Williams, do you have an appointment?"

Eric looked at the fresh-faced blonde girl and playfully asked, "Can I make an appointment now, hmm..." He glanced at his watch and continued, "Let's set it for 4:05."

It just happened to be 4:05 PM. The secretary understood at once that Eric was teasing her. She was also acutely aware of Eric's relationship with Elisabeth but had only started working there a few days ago and wasn't sure if she should let him in directly.

Seeing the flustered look on her face, Eric chuckled, "Okay, just a joke. Is Liz busy with a client right now?"

The secretary shook her head.

"Then call her and tell her I'm here."

The secretary finally snapped out of her daze, put down the phone she was holding, and dialed Elisabeth's extension. After a brief exchange, she gestured for Eric to go in.

Eric pushed the door open and stepped into Elisabeth's office. She was buried in a pile of documents on her desk. Eric noticed that when he entered, her shoulder, clad in a white shirt, paused for a moment, but she didn't look up to greet him. He smiled and walked around the desk, leaning against the edge beside her. "Why did you hire such an inexperienced secretary? She doesn't seem to know anything."

No response.

Eric's lips curled into a mischievous grin as he gently flicked her earlobe.

"Ah!"

Elisabeth jumped slightly, turning to glare at him. "You jerk! I'm working here. What are you doing showing up now?"

"Nothing much. I just got back from San Francisco and suddenly thought of you, so I came to see you."

Hmm... hmpf.

A flicker of joy crossed Elisabeth's face, but it quickly turned into a frown. "What's so interesting about me? I don't have a 'Mission: Impossible' universe to entertain you."

"Oh, so that's where today's little fire is coming from."

Eric chuckled, wanting to flick her earlobe again. "But MGM doesn't have an animation studio either."

Elisabeth swatted his hand away, rebutting, "That's totally different."

"Alright, don't be upset. Come on, give me a kiss."

Eric soothingly leaned in closer. This time, Elisabeth only slightly dodged, allowing him to kiss her by the lips.

Once he pulled away, Elisabeth still sounded slightly annoyed. "You've spoiled her with popular franchises like Mission: Impossible, Night at the Museum, and Charlie's Angels. And now there's 007 -- she's practically been pampered to the heavens."

Eric explained with a grin, "You know the situation with MGM better than anyone. Without these popular franchises to boost them, they've been on a decline for years and can't regain any strength. Fox is doing quite well now; Jim Carrey's Liar Liar should reach about $180 million in North America, and it cost only $40 million to make -- way more profitable than any blockbuster out this summer. Plus, I heard you were recently negotiating with Lucas about rebooting Star Wars; how did that go?"

Mentioning Star Wars brightened Elisabeth's mood a bit.

The Star Wars series had been a phenomenon for over a decade, and the talks of a reboot were ongoing.

Based on a long-standing agreement, even though nearly twenty years had passed, Fox still held distribution rights for the Star Wars series. Although the significant profits went to Lucas, Fox could still fill their coffers simply by holding the distribution rights across various channels.

"I've contacted Lucas a few times already. We can probably start preparing for the project next year, but it won't hit theaters until at least 1997."

While Elisabeth sounded somewhat dissatisfied, Eric knew that this was actually two years earlier than in his former life, which wasn't too shabby.

"For things like this, rushing doesn't help," Eric said, picking up the stack of documents in front of Elisabeth and casually asking, "What's got you so busy?"

"The script for this year's The X-Files. Can you take a look at it for me?"

The X-Files was set to enter its sixth season, and according to plan, after the seventh season wrapped up the next year, Brad Pitt and Famke Janssen wouldn't be renewing their contracts, putting an end to the classic sci-fi series.

Eric had long since moved on from that project and hadn't even looked back at the first two seasons, only knowing that the show's ratings remained steady. As he flipped through the script for the new season, he felt an odd sense of unfamiliarity.

Noticing that Eric was engrossed in the script, Elisabeth got up and guided him into her office chair, saying, "You keep reading, I'll go make you some coffee."

Eric nodded, thinking that matters regarding the Digital Domain weren't too pressing. He set the script back on the desk and continued flipping through the pages.

A little while later, Elisabeth came back with two cups of coffee, pulled over an extra chair, and sat down beside Eric. Just as she was about to ask something, Eric pulled out several pages from the script and said, "I want this episode -- have them come up with a new one to fill in."

"Hey, I asked you to take a look at the script! I didn't ask you to steal my work," Elisabeth protested, a bit annoyed, while reaching for the pages Eric had taken.

She had just skimmed the script, but a quick glance was enough to bring the content back to mind.

This episode narrates a series of mysterious deaths during a class trip to New York, where a student has a premonition of a plane crash and manages to get a few teachers and classmates off the flight before takeoff. After the plane took off, it soon exploded, killing all passengers and crew members onboard, while those who temporarily got off survived.

But that was just the beginning. Those who had avoided the flight soon met their demise in inexplicable accidents, classifying the incident as mysterious. Detective Mulder and his partner Scully were sent to investigate, yet they ultimately couldn't prevent the remaining survivors from perishing, nor could they uncover any potential cause.

Flipping through the writer's notes, Elisabeth said, "I remember now, the writer for this episode is Asian, and he based it on some mysterious beliefs. It's about the grim reaper's claims for life..."

Without a doubt, this was the premise for what would become Final Destination in the future. Eric hadn't expected to find this script here, nearly being used for The X-Files.

Listening to Elisabeth's vague explanation, Eric explained, "There's a kind of fatalism in Eastern culture. The grim reaper believes everyone has a set lifespan; once that time comes, you die, with no one able to escape death's grasp. This script adopts that philosophy."

"Mm-hmm, exactly," Elisabeth nodded, suddenly recalling he was somewhat familiar with the Eastern pholosophy, "Are there any other strange customs?"

Eric pretended to ponder for a moment. "Yeah, their men can marry seven wives."

"That's nonsense," Elisabeth scoffed, raising her chin and lifting the script in her hand. "If you want one, bring something to trade for it."

Eric feigned a deeply determined expression. "How about this: I'll just give you a chance."

"Pfft," Elisabeth playfully pinched his side.

Eric grasped her hand and said, "Alright, enough of the teasing. I actually have a script I intend to give you; it might be a good exchange. This script is styled perfectly for New Line, while the other is more suitable for Fox."

"Really, what script?" Elisabeth perked up.

Eric briefly summarized the script for Austin Powers, which he planned for New Line to develop. However, as the relationship between Firefly and MGM became closer and closer, Eric finally decided to give up.

For the sake of brand reputation, just like Disney wouldn't parody its own princesses like Snow White and Cinderella, MGM definitely wouldn't mock the 007 franchise. Even if Firefly and MGM didn't show much overt connection, Eric was currently spearheading MGM's spy film universe plan. Thus, it would have been highly inappropriate for New Line to make a spoof like Austin Powers under those circumstances.

After listening to Eric's explanation, Elisabeth understood why Firefly was passing on that script and teasingly remarked, "Wow, you're really protective of her."

"I'm protective of all of you."

"Hmm..."

Elisabeth responded with a soft hum, feeling somewhat touched. Then she realized the 'YOU' Eric referenced was plural, lightly tapping him on the shoulder. "Greedy guy."

Eric reassuringly patted Elisabeth's shoulder and said, "Tomorrow, let the writer of this episode contact New Line. I'll arrange to have the script for Austin Powers sent over. Oh, and one more thing: if possible, try to cast a Victoria's Secret Angel for the female lead."

"I got it! But if their acting isn't up to par, I won't agree."

"The female lead is basically just a pretty face; there's not much acting skill needed -- just look good," Eric chuckled, glancing at his watch. "It's about time. Let's grab dinner and talk shop."

"I knew you wouldn't come all the way to see me for nothing," Elisabeth mumbled, starting to gather her things to leave a bit early.

...

As the two left the office, Eric initially thought about inviting Julia, but learned she was in the UK.

"Shakespeare in Love?" At a restaurant in Beverly Hills, Eric was surprised to hear Elisabeth mention the title.

Turns out, the Weinstein Brothers had already begun planning for Shakespeare in Love and had invited Julia to be the female lead.

"Julia feels that Daniel Day-Lewis is the perfect choice for Shakespeare, so she personally flew to the UK to ask him."

After his roles in In the Name of the Father and The Age of Innocence two years ago, Daniel Day-Lewis had taken a temporary hiatus from acting due to his marriage, and with his already limited output, Eric didn't hold high hopes for Julia's trip to the UK.

However, he quickly recalled another detail: in the original timeline, Shakespeare in Love would absolutely sweep the Oscars in 1999, even winning Best Picture.

But this year had Forrest Gump; Eric couldn't believe the Weinsteins could manage to overshadow Forrest Gump with Shakespeare in Love.

"What's the detailed production plan for Miramax? It shouldn't be set to release this year, right?"

"There was a plan for that," Elisabeth replied as she browsed the menu, stealing a glance at Eric. "But Harvey is very optimistic about this project. He knows if it premieres this year, it won't win against Forrest Gump at the Oscars, so he pushed it back to next year. Julia's trip to the UK is to consult Daniel Day-Lewis about his availability next year."

"Oh, that's good to know." Although the previous life's Best Actress was somewhat questionable, the overall Oscar potential for Shakespeare in Love was undeniable. If it coincided with Forrest Gump, it could lead to one of the biggest Oscar blunders in history.

Ugh, blunder.

This year, with Forrest Gump; next year...

Titanic.

If Forrest Gump was a surefire winner, Titanic was definitely set to shock the Oscars with its box office performance.

Noticing Eric's change in expression, Elisabeth asked, "What's wrong?"

"I was just wondering if Julia was aiming for an Oscar win or something," Eric pondered for a moment.

Elisabeth nodded, "She wants to try, which is why she invited Daniel Day-Lewis. But really, just getting a nomination would be good enough; after all, she's not in a rush."

At only twenty-eight, it wasn't easy for actors, male or female, to snag an Oscar before turning thirty.

Hearing Elisabeth's words, Eric remarked, "So why not wait another couple of years? I mean, for this project, if Daniel Day-Lewis doesn't agree this time, wouldn't it make sense to wait another two years?"

Elisabeth hesitated for a moment, slowly understanding, "Next year... You mean there would be another film around the caliber of Forrest Gump coming from your side?"

Eric shrugged, "I can't say for sure, but the odds, well, they're quite high."

Elisabeth let out a long sigh and said to Eric, "Are you really letting anyone else live?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 742: Family Interests]

After dinner, the two of them didn't rush to leave the restaurant. They ordered two cups of coffee, and Eric began talking about establishing a branch of Digital Domain in Australia.

"Isn't Digital Domain's annual revenue close to a billion dollars now?" Elisabeth asked, a hint of envy in her voice.

Eric nodded and replied, "Yeah, but since most of our work comes from Firefly's internal orders, the profit margin isn't high -- only about 10%."

To prevent talented visual effects artists from leaving Digital Domain, Eric offered them very generous salaries and bonuses, ensuring a very low turnover rate despite the industry's high demand for skilled professionals. However, the higher labor costs significantly diminished Digital Domain's overall profitability. Still, Eric never expected this effects company to bring in substantial profits for Firefly; its main role was to support the productions of Firefly's films and maintain Firefly's strong position in the effects field.

Elisabeth understood some key points, saying, "Last month, the Fortune 500 list showed that even the smallest company had revenues of $2.2 billion. Given the current high demand in the special effects industry, if Digital Domain continues to expand, it could easily go public in the future and join that list. Why are you setting up a branch in Australia? Sure, there are some incentives, but being far from Hollywood makes many things inconvenient."

"You can definitely see that there are more and more special effects companies in Hollywood now. So, the biggest factor limiting the development of special effects companies in the future won't be technology, but cost. I'm just preparing ahead," Eric explained.

Elisabeth nodded slowly, stirring her coffee with a spoon, and after a moment, she said, "I haven't been back to Australia much in recent years, so I'm not really familiar with the situation there. If you want to contact the Australian government, you should talk to my dad about it."

"Your dad is sharp as a tack; I don't want to deal with him."

Elisabeth raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you implying that I'm easier to deceive?"

"Well," Eric acknowledged, nodding seriously while joking, "but your comprehension skills aren't bad."

Elisabeth threatened to wave her spoon at him and then set it down. "Even if I wanted to, I really wouldn't be able to help you. My dad has started training Lachlan and James to handle the newspaper business. Our family's interests in Australia mostly involve print media, and I can't really get involved there."

Although News Corp's newspapers were spread all over the globe, Australia was the heart of the company, controlling over 70% of the country's media resources -- much higher than the 40% share in the UK. Eric knew full well the impending decline of print media, but Murdoch clearly didn't share that view, as he continued to treat print media as the foundation of News Corp.

From Elisabeth's brief comments, Eric could sense that Murdoch still preferred to groom his sons for the family business; otherwise, he wouldn't have put them in charge of News Corp's core operations while only giving Elisabeth responsibility for the film side of things.

At that time, News Corp made over 50% of its profits from print media due to its extensive newspaper holdings worldwide. Additionally, there were some television stations in Australia, East Asia, and the UK. Although Fox had been performing well in recent years, within the broader News Corp framework, it wasn't the most crucial segment. However, if this trend continued, things would get interesting in the future.

From what he remembered, News Corp had undergone a split over a decade later, separating into a print-focused News Corp and a Fox Group that primarily dealt with film, TV, and other businesses. At that time, due to the decline of print media, the new News Corp had a market valuation of just over $2 billion, a mere 2% of Fox Group's valuation of over $80 billion.

As long as Elisabeth could secure control of Fox, it would essentially mean inheriting the entire News Corp. Just thinking about it made Eric smirk.

"What are you thinking about, grinning like that?" Elisabeth's voice brought him back to reality.

"Oh, nothing," Eric quickly shook his head and said, "I think, since your dad has arranged it this way, you should just focus on running things at Fox. You really don't need to worry about the Digital Domain branch; I'll discuss it with him personally."

Elisabeth squinted at Eric for a moment before pouting. "I have a feeling you're up to no good."

"Liz, you have to trust me -- I'm always on your side."

"Is this 'you' singular or plural?"

Eric replied without hesitation, "Singular."

Elisabeth smiled but said playfully, "Yeah, right. Good luck getting me to believe that."

Having decided to let Elisabeth focus on Fox, Eric dropped the subject of the Digital Domain branch. After finishing their coffee, he glanced at his watch and said, "It's still early. How about I take you to catch a movie?"

"Oh..." Elisabeth drawled in a slightly dissatisfied tone, "How many times have you asked me to go to the movies?"

"Is this my first time? I guess I need to pick a good one. How about Independence Day?"

"No way! I want to see Liar Liar!"

"What a great girl! Even for a movie, you're thinking of your own family's film," Eric commented, handing his credit card to the waiter while complimenting her.

Elisabeth lifted her chin proudly, "Of course, not like you at all."

...

In the days that followed, Eric personally communicated with Murdoch about the relevant matters. Murdoch was more than willing to help but still requested that News Corp would take a stake in Digital Domain's Australian branch.

Without hesitation, Eric agreed to give News Corp 30% of the branch's shares. Under Murdoch's guidance, Stan Winston quickly brought the management team to Australia to negotiate with the local government. The Australian government was well aware of the benefits of having a major special effects company settle in their country, so they showed considerable enthusiasm. With the Murdoch family's backing in negotiations, they quickly offered a ten-year tax exemption plan.

Additionally, to attract more films to shoot there, the Australian government provided a $7.5 million cash subsidy for the upcoming filming of The Matrix, which was about 10% of the film's budget.

Hollywood reciprocated, announcing that after The Matrix, the special effects for the Lord of the Rings series would also be completely handled by Digital Domain's Australian branch.

...

While all of this was happening, another earth-shattering event unfolded in America in August.

On August 24, Microsoft officially launched Windows 95 at its headquarters in Seattle. With its superior user experience and extensive marketing campaign, Windows 95 sold 1.4 million copies in its first week. Unlike the free Yahoo browser, Windows 95 was priced at $210, a cost that would still not be considered cheap twenty years later. Therefore, with the first-week sales generating nearly $300 million for Microsoft, the company's stock price surged again.

Due to the increasing obsolescence of Apple's operating system and a lack of significant innovation over the years, compounded by recent issues with their new PC line, Apple had faced a dismal sales performance post-Windows 95 launch. As Windows 95 soared to popularity, Apple's sales plummeted significantly.

Eric also received an invitation to the Windows 95 launch event, but he opted not to join the fray in Seattle.

After all, even though Windows 95 was a hit, Bill Gates was not in a particularly good mood.

In subsequent weeks of research, it became evident that the most popular software on the Windows 95 operating system was the latest version of the Yahoo Browser that had launched concurrently. Following this, the next most popular item was Yahoo's YCR chat tool, with Microsoft's own software suite lagging behind.

While Windows 95 made using computers easier for the average person, a thought gnawed at Bill Gates: he was helping others to succeed. The capital market was similarly attuned to these changes, as Microsoft's stock skyrocketed, while Wall Street's highest valuation for Yahoo soared to $6 billion, leading many investment firms to seek partnerships with Yahoo.

Encouraged by this, Microsoft hurriedly launched its MSN portal site a week after Windows 95's release, which was modeled closely on the Yahoo portal layout, marking their entrance into the internet sector.

While Jeff Locke had handled some research work for Yahoo in its early days, he had since focused on website operations. Given the time constraints, it was clear that MSN would be nothing more than a facade; in terms of content and user experience, it simply couldn't compete with Yahoo's portal.

After browsing MSN's portal interface a few times, Eric felt no need for concern; even after years of development, it probably wouldn't catch up, especially since Yahoo was also progressing rapidly.

...

As September rolled in, the summer box office season came to a close. While major film studios managed to regain some market share in the tail-end of the summer season due to the absence of new releases from Firefly and MGM, for the entire 14-week summer season, Firefly and MGM still captured more than 50% of the market share.

The studio that performed the worst that summer was Sony-Columbia, which lost the distribution rights to Forrest Gump and Night at the Museum. Sony hastily purchased a few films as fillers, but these movies generally had box-office returns of only $10 to $20 million, with the highest grossing just $31 million. Overall, Sony Pictures' total box office take for the summer barely reached $100 million.

Warner's summer box office share was decent thanks to Batman Forever, but due to high production costs, Warner's film division faced more significant losses than several competitors in Hollywood.

Aside from Firefly and MGM, Universal and Fox were the only studios that performed well. Paramount had intended to release a new Tom Cruise film during the summer, but after considering the barrage of blockbusters, it postponed the release to the new year, resulting in a lukewarm performance that was just slightly better than Sony's.

...

While Firefly headquarters celebrated the impressive box office performance of the past summer season, Eric was on his way back to New York.

Entering September, the summer season had ended while the fall TV lineup was beginning. Production for America's Next Top Model and Project Runway was wrapping up, and Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista had even temporarily stepped away from these projects to prepare for the new year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Eric's trip to New York wasn't just to keep an eye on these two reality shows; he was also looking for a brief respite.

In East Hampton, the September weather had turned quite cool. Eric lazily sat on the estate's lawn, flipping through a script while Joanna sat quietly beside him, peeling an apple.

After a while, she offered him the peeled apple. Eric took a bite but didn't take it from her hand.

Joanna giggled and asked, "How's the script?"

"There are a few areas that need improvement, but overall, I'm quite satisfied," Eric replied while flipping to another page.

Joanna observed, "You seem pretty invested in this script lately. Are you excited about it?"

Eric raised his eyebrows and nodded, "Yeah, it's about time for me to start my next film, and the main reason is that I really enjoy this script."

The script in Eric's hands was the one he and MGM's writing team had been developing for the James Bond film, Casino Royale.

The original Casino Royale was set in a timeline post-2010.

Though it was the first installment from Ian Fleming's original work, aside from the scenes in the casino, the storyline had little to do with Fleming's narrative.

The plot revolved around a massive sum of money involving various chases, fights, and explosions, but it also introduced the first woman who captured Bond's heart. This character, named Vesper, became a crucial component for the success of the Bond franchise's later installments.

In fact, several subsequent sequels referenced the character who was Bond's first love.

Eric was particularly fond of this character, so while substantial changes were made to the story for the spy film universe, the character of Vesper remained intact.

What Eric was considering now was who would play Vesper. He remembered that Eva Green, who would later take on this role, was just a fifteen-year-old girl at the time, and the unique traits of cleverness, stubbornness, gloom, and mystery that characterized the role would be challenging to find a suitable replacement for. At that moment, Eric couldn't think of anyone in Hollywood fitting that description.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 743: How Old are You?]

When Joanna heard that Eric really planned to film a 007 movie, she asked, "Isn't the shoot for the 007 series going to take place all over the world? Do you have that much time to travel?"

"If I want to do it, I can always make arrangements," Eric replied. In recent years, with the advancement of the internet and digital communication technologies, remote communication had become increasingly convenient. No matter where one was in the world, it was possible to stay in touch with Los Angeles easily. Therefore, being away for extended periods wouldn't affect his connection with the headquarters.

Moreover, Firefly Group had now completely gotten onto the right track, with no major expansion plans in recent years. Eric's absence wouldn't have a substantial impact on the company's operations.

Thinking this, Eric tossed the script aside and lazily lay down on the lawn, enjoying the warm afternoon light.

After all, the lead actress and shooting schedule were things that would have to wait until next year, so there was no need to rush to consider them right now.

MGM was currently filming a big production, Charlie's Angels 2, set to release in the summer of next year. Following that was Mission: Impossible 2, which Eric had just finalized with Kevin Costner, to be filmed early next year and released by the end of next year. So that meant the filming of Casino Royale should start around mid-next year, coinciding with the production of Night at the Museum 2, with both set to release in the summer of 1997. Therefore, it would take at least until early next year to begin specific preparations for those projects.

As for the Lord of the Rings series, that would need to wait until 1997 to start production. After all, MGM had just stabilized and would require another year or two to accumulate resources before announcing the significant investment of $300 million for the trilogy. With MGM's upcoming stock offering, announcing the project soon after raising funds would certainly raise concerns in the capital market, causing volatility in MGM's stock price. Stability was what MGM needed most right now. While Eric was well aware of the potential of the Lord of the Rings series, no one else could know that. They would only see the immense risk associated with such a massive $300 million investment.

Seeing Eric lying down, Joanna kindly took a pillow from the side and placed it under his head. With a gentle gaze, she looked at her man, lightly caressing his furrowed brow as if to smooth out the worries etched there. "You should take a nap. You're always thinking about things, and it can be exhausting."

Eric chuckled as he pulled her closer. "Come on, join me."

Joanna playfully wriggled a bit but leaned against Eric, feeling his big hand slide down her waist, lifting the hem of her T-shirt to sneak his way underneath. She laughed and playfully swatted him. "Stop it! Someone will see us."

Eric's fingers danced on Joanna's soft waist. "How about we go to the beach in front?"

"Ha, no," Joanna chuckled, twisting her body to press down on his mischievous hands. "Emma will be out of school soon, and I need to go pick her up."

"Have the maid take care of it."

"I can't trust them; besides, I don't have anything on my plate right now."

Eric laughed, wrapping Joanna in his arms, breathing in the faint scent of her golden hair. "Those three little ones are lucky to have you looking after them."

"I really like them too."

"If they're acting up, I can help discipline them as their dad."

"Ha, of course not. They're all very well-behaved."

"Really?" Eric feigned disbelief. "I've heard about Elia's recent antics -- Vicki told me in the last call."

"Don't bring that up; it was so embarrassing. Elia somehow got hold of the HBO password, and that night, I had just come out of the shower when Elia pointed at the screen and asked me, 'Mom, what are those people doing naked together?' I didn't even know how to respond."

"Ha ha ha..." Eric couldn't help but laugh again. After a moment, he asked, "And then what happened?"

"I barely managed to brush it off, but later I found out Ewa was watching TV and Elia saw her enter the password once and memorized it," Joanna expressed with a smile. "Elia isn't mischievous; she's just too curious and too smart."

"In that case, maybe after some time, we can hire her a tutor, or you could teach her yourself."

"I've actually been teaching her Polish lately; she picks it up quickly," Joanna replied.

Eric nodded. "That sounds good."

After chatting for a while, Joanna glanced at her watch and got up. "It's about time. I need to go pick up Emma."

"Okay," Eric nodded and kissed Joanna as she moved away. He squinted his eyes, basking in the last bit of warmth from the approaching evening sun.

...

Joanna returned to the villa and briefly spoke to the maid about dinner but didn't see Hawaii or Kevin, so she inquired.

"Ma'am, Miss Ewa has arrived. She didn't let us tell you or Mr. Williams. She's in the screening room with the young lady and young master watching a movie."

Joanna nodded and headed to the villa's private screening room. Upon opening the door, she saw her sister sitting in a luxurious armchair with the two little ones in the dim light, while the screen played Men In Black.

Seeing the door open, Ewa Pacula quickly turned the volume down and greeted, "Hi, sis."

Joanna turned on the lights, looked at the two youngsters sitting obediently beside Ewa, then faced her sister. "Isn't it fashion week right now? Aren't you supposed to be working?"

Ewa cuddled Kevin like a doll in her arms and said pitifully, "Can you please not use that tone with your sister? I've been working back-to-back on three shows in the last two days; I'm totally exhausted."

Although Ewa once harbored a crush on Eric, that feeling had long faded over time.

Joanna understood that her carefree sister now simply relished the comfortable life at the East Hampton estate. As for her younger sister, who was 14 years her junior, Joanna felt a protective big sister instinct -- both indulgent and hopeful for her sister's independence.

Seeing Ewa's pitiful expression, Joanna felt a little helpless but softened. Leaning against the door, she asked, "How's it going with that boy Emily introduced you to?"

"Oh, that guy? We broke up a while ago. He actually has a drinking problem. Who knows if he might get violent when drunk? I heard American men can have that flaw. You wouldn't want your sister to deal with domestic violence in the future, would you?"

"Alright, alright, I'm done meddling," Joanna sighed, glancing at the big screen. "Just don't let Elia or Kevin watch this kind of movie. I need to go pick up Emma, and since you're here, don't forget to say hi to Eric later."

"Sure, sure," Ewa said, relieved that her sister was finally letting her off the hook. She eagerly pointed at Hawaii. "Elia, say goodbye to Mommy."

"Bye, Mommy," Hawaii replied, her eyes glued to the screen without turning her head.

Joanna left, feeling a bit resigned. Once the door closed, Ewa cheered, settled into a comfy position, and lazily leaned back in the chair.

Moments later, a small voice emerged beside her. "Aunt Ewa, why are the cockroaches in the movie so big?"

"Because they're alien cockroaches."

"What are alien cockroaches?"

"They're cockroaches from outer space."

"Where is outer space?"

"Um, little pest, you really ask a lot of questions. I might as well buy you an encyclopedia."

"What's an encyclopedia?"

"It's a kind of book that can answer all the questions you want to know."

Hawaii's eyes brightened. "Aunt Ewa, can you buy me an encyclopedia?"

"Well, an encyclopedia isn't just one book; it's a whole set. Such an expensive thing? Have your dad buy it for you; he's rich."

Hawaii blinked her pretty eyes and stored that idea. She then asked, "So, Aunt Ewa, is Daddy an alien too?"

"Hmm?" Ewa Pacula paused, then recalled Eric's cameo in the movie and burst into laughter, pinching Hawaii's cheek with a mock mysterious tone. "Yes, your dad is an alien, and so are you, little alien, ha ha!"

Just then, the movie on the screen ended. Ewa stood up, turned on the lights, and shut off the equipment, hugging the silly little Kevin while holding Hawaii's hand as they walked outside.

...

The three of them came out to the backyard lawn and saw Eric lying there asleep. Ewa patted Hawaii on the head, grinning wickedly. "Elia, go ask your dad which planet he came from."

Hawaii looked at Eric lying on the lawn and then turned to Ewa. Hmph, did she think I was as silly as Kevin? Dad was sleeping; he would definitely be angry if he got woken up. Blinking her eyes, Hawaii said, "Aunt Ewa, Mommy said to remind you to say hi to Daddy."

"Okay, little imp," Ewa Pacula replied, rubbing Hawaii's head. Remembering she had a little one in her arms, she quickly set Kevin down, squatting down to him. "Kevin, go wake your dad up and tell him it's time for dinner."

Kevin blinked his eyes, nodding clumsily, then walked over to Eric.

Meanwhile, the two scheming girls stood in place watching as Kevin approached his dad, eagerly anticipating the hilarity that would unfold. But to their surprise, Kevin seemed to completely forget Ewa's instructions. He plopped down next to Eric, picked up the script Eric had tossed aside, and began flipping through it, showing no intention of waking his father.

Ewa's eyes widened in shock. Could Kevin be the hidden little schemer here?

Feeling something unusual beside him, Eric opened his eyes just in time to see Ewa sitting close to him, looking at their son, who was trying to read the script with a childlike wonder in his eyes. Kevin clearly couldn't read, as a few pages had already been torn out.

"What's going on here? Did your eyes wander to the wrong subject?" Eric sat up, picking up his son and giving him a kiss, then pulled Hawaii closer and asked, "What's going on?"

Ewa shook her head but lingered on Kevin for a moment before saying, "Wow, Kevin is definitely growing up to be something. I could see him being the kind of kid suited to be president one day."

"Ha, don't speak nonsense," Eric shook his head. "What about you? Weren't you supposed to be working during fashion week..."

"Yeah, isn't it Fashion Week recently? Why didn't I go to work?" Ewa cut him off with an annoyed pout and complained, "Ugh, please don't be like my sister. I've just been interrogated about that!"

Eric shrugged innocently, not quite understanding the situation. "Alright then."

As he spoke, Eric stood up, holding the two little treasures and walked toward the villa. He instructed Ewa, "Have the maid come over to tidy up here."

"Got it, sir," Ewa said, dragging her voice playfully.

...

Eric carried Kevin and Hawaii into the living room, sitting on the couch. The little girl cozily leaned against her father, her big eyes scanning him up and down. After a while, she asked, "Daddy, where is Pandora Planet? Are you really from there?"

Eric froze for a moment, then remembered, pinching his daughter's cheek and smiling. "Honey, why do you suddenly ask this?"

Hawaii raised her face and looked at Eric's head. "I just saw you in a movie with Aunt Ewa."

"Alright, Daddy isn't a Pandora alien; that was just a movie," Eric explained.

"Then, Daddy, can you buy me an encyclopedia set?"

"What do you need that for?"

"Aunt Ewa said all questions can be found in an encyclopedia."

Eric scratched his chin, taking a moment to examine his little girl before smiling. "Sweetheart, do you know how old you are right now?"

"Two years and five months." Hawaii answered with clarity.

"Right," Eric laughed. "Two years and five months, so it's best for you to do what a little kid your age should do, like play with toys, eat, and sleep, just like Kevin."

Hawaii looked at her brother and shook her head. "But those things are so boring."

"But that's the life you should be living at your age. Once you're grown, even if you want to go back to this time, you won't be able to."

Hawaii didn't understand why she would want to go back when she grew up, but obediently nodded. Her eyes shining brightly as she watched her father, she put on a cute expression she learned from Emma. "Daddy, can you buy me an encyclopedia set?"

Eric slapped his forehead. Alright, that conversation was pointless.

However, hearing his daughter repeat the request for an encyclopedia, he suddenly remembered that Yahoo didn't have an encyclopedia section yet, and that could definitely draw significant web traffic. Perhaps he should email the Yahoo team about that tonight.

After thinking for a moment and noticing his little girl still gazing at him with hope, Eric finally said, "Alright, I'll have someone bring a set over tomorrow."

"Thank you, Daddy," Hawaii cheered, leaning in to kiss Eric's cheek. After a few moments of gazing up at her dad's expression to confirm he wasn't brushing her off, she jumped off the couch and scurried away.

This... might be a tad too obvious, wasn't it?

Eric watched as his daughter ran off, feeling lamentable thoughts.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 744: The Moment of Truth]

While Eric enjoyed his vacation time in East Hampton, many others were far from relaxed.

September 17 marked the final day of New York Fashion Week.

In Manhattan's Bryant Park, Linda Evangelista had just finished her last show of the week. With her smoky eye makeup still intact, she hurriedly bid farewell to the event organizers and jumped into her car, urging her assistant to head over to the ABC headquarters on the Upper West Hydee.

With both America's Next Top Model and Project Runway set to premiere in the next two weeks, Anne Sweeney, the president of AE Networks, had scheduled a discussion with Cindy Crawford about the final phase of promotional efforts.

Even if AE's reform plans truly failed, it would hardly impact Firefly Group's hefty annual income of $20 billion. However, for Anne Sweeney and the staff she had brought into AE, as well as for the production teams helmed by Cindy and Linda, the success of both shows directly tied into their future careers. Consequently, everyone was working diligently during this critical time.

About ten minutes later, in Anne Sweeney's office, Cindy Crawford was already seated, chatting softly with Anne. When Linda entered, they both stood up to greet her.

"Good afternoon, Anne. I'm so sorry I'm late."

"That's alright. You're not late at all," Anne responded warmly, giving Linda a hug.

Although Anne was known for her no-nonsense approach at work -- sometimes even ruthless -- she was incredibly friendly in her dealings. Given their similar ages, the three women had become quite good friends during this period.

After exchanging pleasantries, Anne picked up some documents and led the two women to a small conference room nearby.

As they gathered around a small meeting table, Anne started, "The basic situation has been outlined. Although the corporate headquarters did their best, the new season of Lifetime has only managed to reach 34.5 million subscribers, which is only a 3 million increase from last year. That's our entire audience base."

Cindy frowned slightly; this figure was only about one-eighth of the current U.S. population. Remembering some comments Eric had made earlier, she asked, "Anne, why was the increase so minimal? Isn't there interest from the operators regarding Lifetime's reform plans?"

"Of course, that's not the case. It's a complex situation. Take Time Warner, for instance; not only did they fail to increase Lifetime's subscriber base, but they're also cutting Lifetime's subscriptions by 800,000 this quarter. That's just the nature of the business. Since media regulations have loosened up, operators can now have their own cable channels, and the market is limited -- not every operator is eager to see their competitors' channels thrive," Anne replied, shaking her head. She continued, "However, the main factor is that Lifetime has had dismal viewership ratings in the past, which hasn't benefited the operators. That's why they've been lukewarm about Lifetime's reforms. So, it all comes down to the viewership stats of these two new shows."

Once Anne wrapped up her explanation, Linda glanced at Cindy and couldn't help but voice a question that had been haunting them all: "Anne, what do you think... our ratings will be?"

Anne hesitated, looking over the documents in her hands and then back at the two women. "Actually, that's what I wanted to ask you. These projects were conceived by Mr. Williams; didn't you talk to him about it?"

Linda shook her head. "We did ask, but he didn't respond."

Anne nodded with disappointment and flipped through the nearby files until she found one to hand to the two women. "For these two programs, the company signed floating contracts with the advertisers. According to the contract, the acceptable viewership threshold is 1.5 million, with a rating of 0.8. Based on those numbers, the average cost for a 30-second ad would be $50,000, with 16 minutes of ad time per episode, generating $1.6 million. Over 13 episodes, that just meets the production cost of $20 million. Then, with the operators taking a share and future syndication, we could break even."

Linda and Cindy leaned in to look at the documents. After a moment, Cindy looked up and asked, "And what was Lifetime's viewership last year?"

Anne hesitated again before saying, "In 1994, the peak viewership was for a TV movie called The Seventh Floor, starring Brooke Shields, and it attracted 2.21 million viewers. The average viewership during prime time for the entire year was 700,000."

"Less than a million?" Linda expressed her disappointment almost jumping out of her seat.

Anne nodded. She didn't mention that the 700,000 was just the prime-time average. If you averaged it over the entire day, the numbers would look far worse. Therefore, Lifetime's total ad revenue for the year was a mere $30 million -- less than what they received from the operators.

It was easy to see that boosting the viewership to 1.5 million, more than doubling it, would be no easy feat with the subscriber base unchanged.

Noticing the downtrodden expressions on the two women's faces, Anne, despite her own anxiousness, offered encouragement: "I don't think we need to worry too much. ABC had always undervalued Lifetime with a lack of marquee programming, so ratings were bound to suffer. That's not the case now. Just the production costs for the two shows you're handling exceed Lifetime's total programming budget for the past five years. Plus, with full backing from headquarters and Hearst in the promotional efforts, I have a lot of faith in our ratings."

Linda, ever optimistic, nodded at Anne's reassurance. "Anyway, it's his show. If it tanks, I can always go back to being a model. I won't starve."

Hearing Linda's cavalier dismissal, Cindy almost wanted to pinch her, her thoughts racing with disbelief. She turned to Anne and said, "Anne, you called us here to discuss promotional matters, right?"

Anne chose to overlook Linda's comments, smiling instead. "Yes, I spoke with ABC; Cindy, prepare for tomorrow's taping of The Late Show with David Letterman. Linda, your appearance is scheduled for next Wednesday."

To stagger the promotional window for both reality shows, America's Next Top Model was set to air on Tuesday, September 19, while Project Runway was set for the following week, September 28, on Thursday.

After successfully managing ABC's late-night news show, Nightline, ABC lured David Letterman from CBS, seamlessly taking over the crown of the talk show slot.

During this time, Firefly and Hearst utilized their respective channels to ramp up pre-release promotional efforts for both America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, with Yahoo hosting quite a bit of relevant news. However, since neither show had yet proven its viewership potential, unlimited investments weren't practical. Thus, seizing the opportunity to promote before the shows kicked off by appearing on a primetime talk show was deemed the most effective strategy -- and indeed, the last resort.

Both women had previously participated in talk shows, especially following their success at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which led to numerous invitations. Therefore, they weren't unfamiliar with this world. After discussing some details, Anne accompanied them to ABC's production department to consult with David Letterman's team.

...

Amid the busy flurry of activity, the two days flew by in an instant.

On September 19, the months of hard work were about to be validated.

For countless ordinary individuals, Tuesday remained just another day.

Most students were wrapping up their summer vacations, savoring their last days off; young professionals completed another day at work. Because it was a weekday, few ventured out for entertainment. After dinner, people sat down in front of their televisions -- some alone, some with partners, and others with children.

They were unaware that at the ABC headquarters in Manhattan, many anxiously awaited the day's new viewership data. Just then, one of them might recall the ads for America's Next Top Model they had recently seen in newspapers, magazines, or on television, leading them to grab their remotes, remembering they had Lifetime in their cable package and decide to tune in for a glimpse. As for those without access to Lifetime, despite their fondness for fashion, they shrugged off the disappointment. Those indifferent to the fashion world felt no loss; after all, there were plenty of television programs to keep them entertained.

For any television program, success hinged on appealing to viewers' tastes and tapping into their emotions.

To meet this challenge, Eric exerted significant effort.

For a modeling competition show, young women who loved fashion and held dreams of the runway surely wanted to see something transformative -- a plain, unremarkable girl suddenly showered with glamor in front of everyone. If there were a term to describe it, it would be "a ugly duck turning into a swan."

Thus, the theme of the first episode of America's Next Top Model was crafted precisely around that transformation of a duck into a swan.

...

At 8 o'clock, after the final commercial break, the Lifetime logo flickered to life once again as the title sequence for America's Next Top Model appeared.

A dazzling array of stunning fashion photographs flashed by, accompanied by Cindy Crawford's voice.

"People always ask me, 'Cindy, how does one become a supermodel?' Each time, I patiently guide them, saying, 'You should do this; you should do that.' Until one day, it hit me, what if I could share everything I've learned through a television show, reaching out to all those girls dreaming of becoming supermodels? So today, welcome to America's Next Top Model.

Through our selection process, we've chosen thirteen girls from across the United States. Some hail from small towns in the West, others from the City of Angels, with confident Southern girls and gentle Northern ladies. Over the next two months, I'll put them through rigorous training based on various standards, selecting the next rising star of the modeling world. The girl who ultimately triumphs will secure a modeling contract with Elite agency, a $100,000 endorsement deal with CIRL, and many more opportunities in the future.

Well then, let's get started!"

As the stylish presence of Cindy burst onto the screen, the television showcased audition reels from girls across America.

...

Meanwhile, in an apartment in Midtown Manhattan, time raced by. Alice and Charlotte, who had randomly crossed paths with Eric, had since parted ways, with Alice now moved in with her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend, Scott, a Morgan Stanley financial analyst, was reluctantly pulled into watching this reality fashion show, which failed to pique his interest. The initial scene with Cindy was eye-catching enough that he indulged a bit, but as the mundane girls appeared on screen, he couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Ha! Alice, you think these ugly ducklings could become supermodels? It's a joke! If they can, then you might as well become a world-famous model."

Alice, watching those commonplace girls on screen, felt a twinge of disappointment. She had always admired Cindy Crawford and had only tuned in today because she'd heard about Eric's involvement with the show. Thus, when Cindy declared her aim to turn these ordinary girls into supermodels, her disillusionment spiked.

Most of the girls on the TV screen, while fitting and not unattractive, lacked even a hint of the radiant supermodel aura Cindy exuded.

When Scott picked up the remote to change the channel, Alice thought for a moment and pressed down on his hand. "Scott, just wait a bit longer."

Scott, being somewhat considerate, followed her lead but added one last comment: "Fine, but I'll treat this as a joke."

...

Meanwhile, in households across the country tuned into America's Next Top Model, many shared Alice's mindset, with some already changing the channel in disappointment.

Yet, the program rolled on.

The fortunate girls began to gather in the fashion capital of New York, each distinct in personality, background, and life experiences. Clever camera work slowly made viewers forget about the plain little ducklings, as they either saw reflections of themselves or were drawn in by curiosity and voyeuristic tendencies. Gradually, many forgot their initial letdown and became engrossed in the unfolding drama.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 745: The Momentum]

Through instant filming of the contestants and continuous snippets of interviews, by the halfway point of the first episode, viewers had a general idea of who the girls were.

Cindy Crawford made a timely appearance with two other guest hosts to kick off the contestants' first competition, announcing that by the end of the round, one of the thirteen girls would be eliminated.

Amidst anxious murmurs and gasps on screen, viewers at home were left in shock, wondering if it was too cruel to start the elimination process in just the first episode.

Unbeknownst to them, many had already been captivated by the show.

The scene shifted, and when the camera landed on the Armory located on Lexington Avenue, the contestants erupted in cheers of surprise, and viewers couldn't help but widen their eyes.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was at the height of its fame, and the Armory had become a fashion landmark in people's minds because it hosted the first-ever Victoria's Secret Show. Young people who had attended the show in New York often made a pilgrimage to the Armory to pay homage.

"Hello everyone, girls, I bet you know where this place is," Cindy Crawford greeted them enthusiastically, getting the crowd fired up.

Amidst the swooning cheers, Cindy continued, "Well, your first test is about to take place right here. The fashion you will be using for this competition has been handmade by top designers from the LTD Group. Each of you can choose one outfit from twenty options available. There will be professional designers backstage to help you with your styling. Afterward, you'll experience your very first fashion show in your lives. So, let's get started! Remember, everyone has only half an hour to prepare. OK, GO! GO! GO!"

With Cindy giving the command, all the girls couldn't wait to rush backstage. The camera followed swiftly into a hall displaying twenty exquisite garments on plastic mannequins. These outfits were the latest from the upcoming fall collection by Brighton Apparel under the LTD banner. Unsurprisingly, compared to the finished products sold in stores, these handcrafted designs were significantly more refined and luxurious.

After the camera panned over the gorgeous outfits, it returned to focus on the contestants.

In the footage, some girls were overwhelmed by choices, pacing indecisively between outfits; others quickly made a selection and dashed toward the makeup room. There were even two girls who had chosen the same outfit, refusing to back down, leading to a heated argument...

All this was captured authentically on camera, and even as the girls squabbled, no one stepped in to intervene. Eventually, both girls realized that if the argument continued, they would both be eliminated, and they reached a compromise.

This authentic conflict satisfied viewers' craving for drama, prompting them to start discussing which girls they favored or disliked.

The ensuing makeup scenes were quickly edited, and following a television commercial break, the screen faded to black. With a series of clicks, the bright lights in the theater of the Armory illuminated in succession, a familiar scene materialized before everyone. Although the layout was significantly different, many remembered that just last year, on that very runway, forty meticulously selected Victoria's Secret Angels had put on a spectacular show watched by millions.

However, when recalling those thirteen seemingly average girls, many began to question whether they had what it takes to walk down that runway.

Curiosity heightened, viewers' eyes remained glued to the screen.

...

The camera caught Cindy Crawford walking through the backstage entrance, slowly approaching the runway, a nostalgic smile on her face. "Wow, this really brings back memories. But today, this stage will belong to our girls. No more chit-chat, let's get started."

After saying that, Cindy and a few other guest judges took their seats. A photographer set up a professional camera at the end of the runway.

Music began playing, and the lights flickered.

At the runway's entrance, when the first girl appeared on camera, almost all viewers were taken aback.

Stunning -- that was an absolute, one-hundred-eighty-degree transformation.

Some even struggled to remember which girl she was from earlier.

The glamorous handmade outfits, the top-notch designer's creations, in combination with the lights and music, created a beautiful, dreamlike atmosphere.

In reality, professional fashion insiders knew that even supermodels looked like ordinary people most of the time, not instantly breathtaking at first glance. The magic on stage came down to many factors -- skill, clothing, makeup, lighting, and music all played significant roles in that allure.

The contestants' walks, though clearly inexperienced in the eyes of regular viewers, paled in comparison to those of supermodels. However, thanks to that series of professional touches, along with the production team's skillful editing, the effect was nothing short of transformative.

Initially doubtful about the potential of these girls to become models, by the time the two-minute runway showcase ended, viewers' uncertainties vanished. Some girls who once thought they could never become models began to envision themselves on that stage, imagining what it would be like.

As the fashion show wrapped up, while many viewers were still digesting the experience, the harsh elimination round began.

As Cindy's stack of photos shrank, many viewers felt a tight grip of anxiety, hoping their favorite contestants would be spared while wishing for the elimination of those they disliked.

The results came in -- some were relieved, others disappointed, and some shouted unfairness. But nothing could be changed; many found themselves silently anticipating the next episode.

...

At ABC headquarters, although Anne Sweeney had told Cindy she could go home and await results, she remained in Anne's office. Fashion Week had ended, and this year's Victoria's Secret Show was in the early stages of preparation and fittings. Cindy and Linda weren't too busy, and Linda had swung by to join.

The three women anxiously sipped coffee and chatted, glancing occasionally at the television in the office. Unlike ABC, Lifetime didn't receive Nielsen's real-time ratings reports and had to wait until the program had aired to gather preliminary statistics, with detailed data following the next morning.

Half an hour after the first episode concluded, the office door was knocked on, and Anne rose to greet the visitor.

Cindy sensed the results were imminent, taking a deep breath and feeling her heart rate escalate. She glanced at Linda, who leisurely sipped coffee while flipping through a magazine.

"You seem awfully calm, don't you?" Cindy remarked with a frown.

"Hey, it's not my show. Why should I be nervous?" Linda replied, not looking up.

"Then why are you here today?"

Linda shrugged, with a cheeky expression. "I just wanted to see what you look like when you're anxious."

Cindy felt a spark of irritation flare within her and waved her hand. "You better watch out; I might just choke you out!"

"Don't scare me; I'm a bit of a coward," Linda pretended to shrink back, but the act was blatant, drawing Cindy closer to pinch her hard on the waist.

Linda quickly dodged and yelped, "Ah, you wicked woman! You seriously pinched me!"

"Hmph. You think I'm joking?"

Linda lifted her leather jacket, peeking at her waist as she checked for any bruising. Thankfully, Cindy hadn't gone hard enough; the spot was only a little red and not bruised. Rubbing it lightly, Linda pouted, "I'm totally telling Eric, just wait. I'll say you're showing signs of child abuse."

"Ha! Don't think your baby voice will let you play Lolita and pull that. And abusing kids? Don't even look at how old you are."

"I'm definitely not a Lolita..." Linda huffed, trailing off suggestively.

Cindy understood the implication behind Linda's words. She was about to respond when Anne Sweeney entered the office, prompting Cindy to stand up, surveying Anne's expression. A relaxed look on Anne's face allowed Cindy to loosen up as well.

At least, from Anne's demeanor, the ratings seemed promising.

Feeling good, Anne shook the forms in her hand and smiled, "Guess the ratings?"

"Seven hundred thousand?" Linda blurted.

"I'll smack you," Cindy shot Linda a glare before turning back to Anne. "Come on, Anne, I'm dying here."

Anne smiled and handed the results to Cindy. "From the preliminary statistics, the ratings look like they'll break records. The highest viewership hits 2.75 million, with an average of 2.3 million and an average rating of 1.3, far surpassing last year's peak."

Cindy glanced over the figures and began to relax.

The average viewership of 2.3 million exceeded the expected benchmark of 1.5 million by a whopping 800,000, and it was more than three times Lifetime's average ratings during the same period last year. Though it couldn't compete with the big four networks, Lifetime boasted a base of just over 30 million viewers. This meant the show was essentially captivating one-fifteenth of its audience base. If that proportion were scaled to a public network with national coverage, it would equate to around 18 million viewers.

Linda leaned over to check out the figures Cindy held. "While it's impressive, I think this is likely due to all that pre-show promotion. The real ratings will show in later episodes."

Cindy paused, the thrill of excitement calming somewhat after Linda's comment.

Though the production cost was $20 million, when factoring in all the promotional resources invested over this period, it was nearing about additional $10 million. That was an extraordinary sum by television standards, comparable to film promotional budgets.

Spending $10 million for a premiere with a high view count of 2.9 million was fully expected.

The true performance of America's Next Top Model would rely on the upcoming ratings trends.

Anne, however, remained optimistic. Even if the ratings dipped, having a foundation of 2.3 million ensured that maintaining an average of 1.5 million through a full season was entirely feasible. As long as the reception wasn't overwhelmingly negative, production could easily continue.

With hopes for a miracle in her heart, Anne was simultaneously grounded in her realistic approach, acknowledging that many things had to unfold step by step.

...

Ultimately, as an unassuming basic cable channel, the first season of America's Next Top Model did not generate extensive media buzz compared to more popular broadcast networks unveiling their blockbuster dramas.

"Yet another reality show satiating voyeuristic curiosity. While the storyline feels somewhat scattered, it manages to keep viewers emotionally engaged. Though the audience is smaller, it's worth watching."

"This reality show mimics the Survivor format but focuses on the much-discussed modeling industry for youth. Cindy Crawford still shines brightly, and the contestants' transitions from average to stunning are quite striking."

"I loved the transformation of the average girls, yet I'm frustrated by the arbitrary elimination process. I just can't grasp why that contestant named Lena was eliminated; perhaps just to catch viewers' attention."

"..."

Among the lukewarm media feedback, the Firefly Group and Hearst Corporation began marketing America's Next Top Model's record-breaking ratings for Lifetime during the following week. After all, viewers knew little of the inner workings of Lifetime, often subconsciously believing that a program breaking viewership records had to be exceptional quality.

...

Even without buzz from the media, the show sparked a hot-topic frenzy among young girls, unintentionally rising in popularity.

Whether they were daydreaming high school girls, college girls, or young women already in the workforce or starting families, after America's Next Top Model aired, the topic came up more frequently when hanging out with their best friends.

"Did you see America's Next Top Model last night?"

"..."

"That girl Connie is such a brat; I really hope Cindy eliminates her. Annie's legs are so long, and her figure is the best. I think she could very well be the winner."

"..."

"It seems like the judges' elimination standards are a bit erratic. It feels like the eliminations are entirely based on personal biases, which seems unfair."

"No, no! I think they eliminate based on whether the contestants can bring in ratings."

"Wow, if that's the case, Annie must be in trouble; she seems so quiet."

"Who knows? If Annie gets eliminated, I'm done watching."

"..."

"The outfits sponsored by LTD are gorgeous."

"I saw some in Elle; a few were from their upcoming fall collection."

"I want to buy one when it comes out; I love that light yellow one."

"..."

Similar conversations rapidly spread among young women over the following week, creating an undeniable buzz.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 746: The Circle]

In earlier times, the explosive popularity of a television show could only be illustrated through a long-term analysis of ratings trends. To understand viewer opinions, television stations had to rely on newspaper surveys and random telephone interviews. This method of gathering information was incredibly inefficient and often inaccurate.

However, with the rise of the internet in recent years, this situation changed rapidly. After the airing of America's Next Top Model, although it didn't generate much buzz in traditional media, its popularity among ordinary audiences became very apparent online.

The Yahoo forum section for America's Next Top Model saw an influx of nearly 180,000 new members within just one week. The show became a hot search term on Yahoo's search engine as well.

Cindy Crawford's personal homepage enjoyed a significant surge in followers. Before the show aired, she only had about 10,000 fans, but within a week of the show's premiere, this number skyrocketed to 120,000, and it continued to grow rapidly.

Since the personal homepage feature had only recently been introduced, while the overall user count was high, the social networks related to it were still in their developmental stages. Most popular figures only had fan bases in the low six figures, unlike later years when some reached hundreds of millions. Thus, thanks to the buzz generated by America's Next Top Model, Cindy Crawford's fan count far surpassed that of her contemporaries and even attracted attention from traditional media.

As the topic continued to gain traction, a week passed quickly. Based on last week's viewer feedback, everyone felt confident about the ratings for the second episode.

However, when America's Next Top Model second episode's viewership stats were released, they exceeded all expectations. The peak viewership reached 3.5 million, with an average of 2.8 million, achieving a rating of 1.6, breaking every ratings record held by Lifetime Television.

While the viewership numbers didn't compare with those of network television, the ratings for the key demographic of viewers aged 18 to 49 were impressive, particularly since America's Next Top Model drew a primarily young female audience. The 1.6 rating even rivaled that of typical episodes aired on public television.

The production and promotion of America's Next Top Model had always been closely linked with Project Runway. Spurred by the popularity of America's Next Top Model, the premiere of Project Runway on the following Thursday also celebrated impressive numbers, with an average viewership of 2.6 million and a peak at over 3.1 million.

Although Project Runway was a fashion production show, under Eric's guidance along with the Survivor team's oversight, this reality program was far from the professional and rigid format viewers might have expected. Initially hesitant about this somewhat specialized reality show, audiences quickly embraced it, enjoying the contestants' fierce competitions and the transformative design process turning any material into gorgeous fashion.

As ratings climbed, traditional media quickly recognized the news potential in these two reality shows and began covering them, further amplifying the fame of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway.

...

In the following weeks, the ratings for both reality shows showcased a parallel upward trend. In less than a month, both shows broke the 4 million average viewership mark simultaneously, with America's Next Top Model being notably more popular than Project Runway -- the highest viewership for the fourth episode even climbed to 4.6 million.

Within a month, as the buzz from both reality shows spread, more and more people started to take notice of Lifetime Television. Driven by the viral conversations sparked by America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, many began to search for Lifetime in their cable packages. When they discovered it wasn't available, numerous viewers opted to switch their cable subscriptions.

As a result, Lifetime's subscriber count rose from 34.5 million to over 40 million in just one month. Those cable operators who carried Lifetime's signal managed the transition smoothly. However, those lacking Lifetime were having a much harder time -- especially the unluckiest operator, Time Warner.

This all began during the initial planning of Lifetime's reform. Once the two reality shows were greenlit, Jeffrey Katzenberg personally contacted executives from Comcast, Tele-Communications, and Time Warner, hoping they would expand the coverage of Lifetime's signal.

However, since Lifetime had not yet made a significant impact, the major operators responded coolly to Katzenberg's requests. Despite his efforts, the subscriber count only increased by a meager 3 million before America's Next Top Model aired.

While Comcast and Tele-Communications remained indifferent to the rise or drop of Lifetime's subscribers, largely basing their decisions on viewership data, Time Warner's response was quite different. Understandably concerned that Lifetime's rise could pose a significant threat to their WB network -- already catering to young viewers -- they opted not to cooperate in expanding Lifetime's subscriber base. Instead, prior to the fall season, they slashed Lifetime's user count by 800,000 through package adjustments. Even more insidiously, those cuts largely concentrated in major markets like New York and Los Angeles.

The stylish women in cities like New York and Los Angeles were a key demographic for both America's Next Top Model and Project Runway. Once this news reached Katzenberg, he didn't hold back from berating Time Warner's cable division head over the phone.

...

As the weeks passed, the fallout from this heated topic continued. If America's Next Top Model and Project Runway hadn't been such hits, the 800,000 viewers denied Lifetime would have been inconsequential. But now, with both shows becoming widespread conversation pieces among young women, anyone discussing a contestant's unfortunate elimination on America's Next Top Model or a stunning outfit from Project Runway faced the awkwardness of not being able to contribute to the conversation, leaving them entirely out of the loop.

In the U.S., cable operators maintained regional monopolies. Companies such as Comcast, Tele-Communications, and Time Warner strategically divided their territories to avoid unnecessary competition. In remote areas, residents often had only one option for cable service.

In such situations, subscribers had to accept their fate. In contrast, major metros like New York and Los Angeles were fiercely contested markets, with plenty of competition preventing any monopolistic trends from taking root.

Consequently, those users unable to find Lifetime on Time Warner's packages began switching to Comcast and Tele-Communications to watch America's Next Top Model and Project Runway.

By October, when Time Warner's cable division recounted its subscriber numbers, they were shocked to discover they'd lost 460,000 in just one month.

What does that number mean?

Time Warner's total cable user base was only 15 million. After cutting 800,000 lifetime TV users, only 3 million users remained with access to lifetime TV stations, which is the lowest level among the major operators. The root of all this, of course, is the competitive relationship between Time Warner and Firefly.

However, this one-month loss equated to 3% of Time Warner's total user base. To put it into perspective, the entire year of 1994 saw Time Warner gain only 1.6 million subscribers. If this trend continued, Time Warner's cable business could see itself regressing to levels from two or even three years prior.

Caught in a bind with a struggling summer film slate, Terry Semel summoned Time Warner's cable division head, delivering a stern reprimand after hearing the distressing news. Originally, Time Warner had planned to handle the situation discreetly, but somehow, the details slipped out into the public sphere.

Suddenly, headlines about "Time Warner's Cable Business Decline" were dominating the media. While everyone recognized the situation stemmed from Time Warner's attempt to suppress Lifetime's growth, the strong rise of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway seemed to backfire, costing them dearly.

If losing 3% of users in just one month was shocking, how much more would they lose over the year? This question lingered in the minds of many, especially the shareholders.

In response, the management began facing increasing pressure from various fronts. It became clear that someone would have to accept responsibility for the situation.

With Time Warner's internal politics being as tangled as ever, the cable division encompassed several factions, all aware of the origins of this debacle. If any other company faced this situation, they would likely handle it the same way. Consequently, this blowback couldn't accurately be labeled a management misstep. Terry Semel wouldn't risk compounding the issue by stirring up further disputes internally, ultimately deciding to cast one of his top executives in the cable division as a scapegoat.

A few days later, Time Warner announced that a vice president from the cable division would soon be resigning due to a poor decision, providing some semblance of accountability.

Yet, the matter was far from resolved. Lifetime's visibility continued to skyrocket while Time Warner had lost 460,000 subscribers. If they didn't quickly restore access to Lifetime's signal, the situation could worsen.

Cable operators ran on their terms, and licensing requirements dictated when a network could be carried. Everything hinged on which party had the upper hand.

After addressing external pressures and shareholder concerns, Terry Semel personally dialed up Katzenberg.

His call was routed to Katzenberg's secretary, who returned with a familiar, frustrating response: "Mr. Katzenberg is unavailable... and we're not sure when he will be reachable."

After struggling to get through several times, Terry had little choice but to phone Robert Iger, who had just taken over leadership of Firefly Television.

Iger was eager to help but explained that AE Cable Network was a joint venture with Hearst and operated as a distinct cable channel. Thus, he couldn't intervene in Lifetime's affairs.

With no way forward, Terry felt he had to reach out directly to Anne Sweeney, president of AE.

Sweeney was more straightforward: "I'm sorry, Mr. Semel, but I don't have the authority to make these decisions anymore."

Having been rebuffed three times in his office at Time Warner's Manhattan headquarters, Terry was ready to throw his phone out the window in frustration.

Watching the gloomy sky beyond the office window, he took several deep breaths, attempting to calm down.

Terry understood this was Firefly's way of retaliating against Time Warner's earlier decisions, essentially leaving them in the lurch for months.

However, given the current situation, Time Warner could not afford to wait. If their cable subscribers dwindled by several hundred thousand next month, the blame would undoubtedly fall on him as CEO.

As he pondered whether to personally fly to Los Angeles and engage Katzenberg directly, an idea struck him: Firefly's youthful foundation, Eric Williams, was likely in East Hampton.

Though he had never visited, the address of Eric's East Hampton estate was easy to find. After a few calls, he secured the details swiftly.

After some contemplation, Terry instructed his secretary to prepare a car. He planned to head to East Hampton himself. After all, as the absolute head of Firefly Group, securing Eric Williams' direct agreement would far outweigh the exhaustion of navigating repeated discussions with Katzenberg and other superiors.

Moreover, even while he recognized Eric's exceptional ability to build a significant enterprise in such a short time, Terry secretly believed that the younger man would be easier to negotiate with than the shrewd Katzenberg. After all, no matter how talented a person may be, navigating the complexities of running a business demands time and experience.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 747: Inheritance]

Two hours later, Terry Semel arrived in East Hampton, parking his car a mile away from Eric's mansion on a small road. He took out his cellphone and dialed Eric's private number. A soft-spoken woman answered. After a moment, the call was transferred to Eric, and Terry Semel mentioned that he happened to be passing through East Hampton and inquired if he could drop by for a visit.

Eric's tone on the phone was perfectly normal and he enthusiastically agreed.

After hanging up, the driver in the front seat glanced back at Terry Semel. "Mr. Semel, are we going now?"

"No, let's wait ten minutes," Terry Semel replied as he put away his phone. Though they both understood the situation, it was important to maintain appearances; being too eager might put him at a disadvantage.

The driver nodded and smartly turned off the engine to patiently wait.

Terry Semel leaned back in the leather seat, carefully pondering how to phrase his upcoming negotiation. Before he knew it, ten minutes had passed. The driver, seeing Terry deep in thought through the rearview mirror, considered reminding him but decided against it.

A moment later, Terry snapped back to reality and was about to instruct the driver to head out when a police car rolled up, stopping a short distance away. Two officers stepped out, glancing at the black Mercedes before walking over and tapping the driver's side window.

The driver, confused, rolled down the window, and the officer outside exclaimed, "Tony, is that you?"

"Hey, Rocky," the driver replied, excitement coloring his voice as he turned to Terry Semel. "Sorry, Mr. Semel, just a minute, Rocky is an old buddy of mine from the force."

Terry Semel waved a hand to indicate it was no issue. The driver quickly hopped out of the car.

Considering that his boss was waiting, the driver, Tony, didn't engage in long pleasantries. After a brief conversation, he returned to the driver's seat and started the car to head toward Eric's estate.

"What was that all about?" Terry asked, not forgetting the two officers' unexpected appearance.

Tony pointed out a clearly visible camera on the streetlight outside. "They must've seen us from there. Rocky said Eric Williams donates a hefty sum to the East Hampton Police Department every year."

Terry had a glance at the camera and mused about how thoughtful Eric Williams was regarding the safety of his two illegitimate children. Considering the notoriously low efficiency of police work, it was quite something that a car parked a little over a mile away from Eric's estate would prompt such inquiries. This was not simply something money could achieve.

...

When they arrived outside Eric's mansion, Terry noticed a tall woman dressed in a light gray sweater and white jeans waiting at the door. He dismissed the driver and got out to approach her.

"Mr. Semel, hello," Joanna smiled as she came forward to shake Terry's hand. "I'm so sorry, Eric is currently in a meeting, so you might have to wait a bit."

"Hello, Ms. Pacula," Terry smiled and shook her hand, recognizing her voice from the earlier phone call. "I just decided to drop by on impulse. I hope it's not too abrupt."

Joanna shook her head. "Not at all. Please, follow me."

As Terry followed Joanna into the mansion, he discreetly observed the woman who had shot to fame with Twister only a few years back but had suddenly retreated from the spotlight. His thoughts drifted back to the police officers he had seen earlier. Remembering the two kids, whom he hadn't seen mentioned in the media lately, he felt as if Eric Williams' attitude toward them was far less secretive than that of other wealthy individuals regarding their illegitimate offspring. These two little ones might even become heirs to the Williams family legacy one day.

Terry's thoughts turned slightly regretful as he realized that Joanna Pacula's child was a girl. If only it were a boy. As a Jewish woman, by tradition, the child would also be considered Jewish. If it were a boy, the inheritance rights would be significantly increased, leading to greater recognition among Hollywood's Jewish community.

He understood well that his rise to the position of CEO of Time Warner was closely tied to his Jewish ancestry. Although the position wasn't as easy to hold as it might seem, many shareholders and board members supported him not only for his abilities but also because they shared the same background.

As they entered the mansion, Terry was drawn to a little girl sitting beside the coffee table, flipping through a large book.

Joanna noticed Terry's gaze and led him to sit on the sofa. "Elia, we have a guest. Remember to say hello to Mr. Semel."

The little girl on the stool lifted her head, her eyes as lovely as her mother's -- pure and bright. With soft, blond hair and a slightly chubby face, she resembled a doll.

The girl stared curiously at Terry, taking in his rimless glasses for a moment before saying, "Hello, Mr. Semel."

Terry's attention, however, fell on the thick book in front of Hawaii. Recognizing it as part of the Encyclopedia Britannica, he felt an unexpected surprise. Not wanting to pry, he softened his tone, saying, "Hello, um... Elia."

Joanna chuckled lightly, explaining, "Mr. Semel, this is my daughter, Hawaii Williams. Please sit tight, Eric will be down shortly, and I'll go make some coffee."

Terry thanked her and observed the little girl as she turned pages, intrigued by her intense focus. He felt a peculiar thought cross his mind -- could a child as young as two or three really grasp what the Encyclopedia Britannica had to offer? Was he simply getting older?

...

After a moment, Hawaii quietly turned the page, reading a few sentences. She glanced beside her and noticed her mother was not seated where she should be. Spotting a hefty English dictionary nearby, she reached for it but realized there was an adult beside her. Turning to Terry, she asked without any hint of shyness, "What does 'Emperor' mean?"

Terry recognized that Hawaii was looking at the entry for 'Emperor Penguin' in the biology section of the encyclopedia. Understanding that she likely knew what a penguin was but not the meaning of 'Emperor,' he smiled gently. "Emperor means king. You know what a king is, right?"

Hawaii nodded, then pointed at the illustration of the emperor penguin in the book. "Have you seen an emperor penguin?"

"I haven't, no. Emperor penguins live in the very cold Antarctic, where it's hard for humans to survive."

She blinked and inquired, "If humans can't survive in the Antarctic, how do we know that emperor penguins are there?"

Terry's surprise rose another notch. This question had a philosophical ring to it, especially coming from a child who was likely just two or three years old.

Seeing the girl gaze up at him with bright, curious eyes, Terry took a moment to respond. "Even though we can't survive there for long, we can visit for a short time and discover emperor penguins."

Hawaii pressed on, "If we only go there for a short time, how do we survive?"

With a smile, Terry replied, "We can make lots of equipment, like thick clothes and sturdy shelters, to protect ourselves from the cold. With these things, we can survive for a short while."

The little girl nodded and asked, "But why don't emperor penguins need those things?"

"Because they have adapted to the environment through many years of evolution. Humans can't adapt like that, so we rely on tools."

"Why can't we evolve like emperor penguins?" Hawaii asked, her brow furrowed.

"No, no, little one. You're mistaken. Humans are the most amazing creatures on this planet. The emperor penguins live in a narrow environment, but we can go anywhere in the world -- even into space. It's because we possess intelligence. By using our intelligence, we accomplish these things, but other creatures cannot."

Hawaii seemed to ponder his words vaguely, then remembered something. "I saw on TV that lions are smart. They can... work together to hunt."

Terry's gaze softened even further as he looked at the hefty book in front of the little girl. "No, Elia. That's not intelligence. True intelligence is something that can be passed down through generations, and lions or tigers can't do that."

"Oh," Hawaii nodded, shifting her attention back to the book.

Terry straightened his posture, sensing Joanna's presence as she approached with coffee. He quickly stood slightly.

Joanna had been quietly standing nearby, not interrupting the conversation until now. She handed Terry the coffee. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Semel. Elia can sometimes be a handful."

"Not at all," Terry smiled and shook his head. Just a short exchange with the little girl had eased the agitation he had been feeling due to a series of trivial matters in recent days.

He even felt that if he could have a somewhat personal relationship with Eric, he would shamelessly ask Eric to consider Hawaii as his goddaughter. Unfortunately, that thought would remain just a thought; his current position didn't afford him too much interaction with Eric.

As Joanna sat down and chatted idly with Terry, they noticed a man and a woman descending the stairs. The man was clearly Eric, and Terry quickly recognized the woman as Cindy Crawford, host of America's Next Top Model.

...

"My apologies, Terry, for keeping you waiting," Eric warmly embraced Terry Semel and introduced the woman. "This is Ms. Cindy Crawford."

"Hello, Cindy," Terry said, shaking her hand. "Your show is fantastic; my daughter loves watching it."

"Thank you," Cindy Crawford smiled and nodded.

Knowing that the group had business to discuss, Joanna stood up, collected the book from Hawaii's lap, and led her toward the backyard. "Alright, Elia, it's time. We agreed you could only read for two hours each day, and that time is up."

Hawaii walked reluctantly beside her mother. "Mom, I found a problem. I'm two now, so I can read for two hours. When I'm three, I'll read for three hours, but there are only twenty-four hours in a day. What will I do when I'm twenty-five?"

Joanna spoke gently, "Oh, sweetheart, when you're twenty-five, I won't be keeping tabs on you anymore."

"But Ewa is almost twenty-five, too. Why does Mommy still keep watch over her?"

Joanna chuckled, "Because Ewa is too silly and isn't as smart as you, Elia."

Hearing the mother-daughter exchange, everyone in the living room, including the maid nearby, chuckled softly.

Terry watched Joanna lead Hawaii away and turned to Eric. "That little one is so clever -- perhaps that's the power of inheritance."

"Perhaps," Eric chuckled.

Cindy Crawford, sensing that Joanna was excusing herself, understood that the next topic wasn't one she could join. Not wanting to leave quite yet, she was uncertain about what to do until Eric said, "Cindy, it's time to start preparing lunch. Everyone should stay for that. Why don't you go discuss with Joan what needs to be prepared?"

"Sure, alright," Cindy sighed in relief. Since Eric hadn't pushed her to leave, she felt good about staying. She had come partly hoping to catch Eric since she heard Virginia was out filming, and Joanna was gentler. As long as Eric didn't make a fuss, no one would turn her away.

Once Cindy was dispatched, the maid in the living room discreetly left as well, allowing Eric and Terry Semel to chat.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 748: The Problem]

As Cindy Crawford approached the door leading to the backyard, she glanced back and saw Eric and Terry Semel deep in conversation. She pushed the door open and stepped outside.

It was just before noon, and the deep autumn sun bathed the spacious estate with its light. The temperature had dropped below 68F (20C) by the end of October, and even the sunlight seemed pale and listless due to the cooler air. Although the lawn and surrounding shrubs that served as a fence were evergreen, there were still patches of withered leaves, detracting from the lively atmosphere.

Cindy wasn't fond of this chilly environment, but she looked up at the low autumn sky. A few white clouds drifted behind a breathtakingly bright blue, and it seemed that if she gazed over the nearby fence, she could see the horizon. This expansive view inspired a feeling of uplift in her heart, prompting Cindy to lazily stretch her body. She asked the maid who was clearing leaves by the fence where Joanna was headed and then walked across the lawn toward a spot where a few vibrant red maple trees grew by the seaside.

Joanna was sitting beneath one of the maples, a thick book resting on her lap, surrounded by two small figures who appeared to be collecting leaves.

When she noticed Cindy approaching, Joanna waved and smiled. She then took a maple leaf that Kevin handed her and patiently discussed it in a low voice with the little ones, sliding it into the book on her lap.

It was still before 11 a.m. Cindy didn't rush to relay Eric's instructions but instead took a seat beside Joanna, admiring the trees. "These maple trees are beautiful. Are they maples? The trunks seem different from the ones I've seen before."

Joanna nodded, pointing to several small holes in the tree trunk. "They are sugar maples. In spring, you can collect the sap to make maple syrup."

"Oh, so that's what a sugar maple is," Cindy said, realization dawning on her as she examined the small holes in the trunk. She appreciated that maple syrup was low in sugar and didn't easily cause weight gain, making it a favorite among women. She frequently enjoyed it but had never recognized the tree that produced it until now.

"We still have some freshly made maple syrup at home. You can try it at lunchtime," Joanna said. Just then, Hawaii ran over holding a leaf, while Joanna took the leaf from her daughter, examined it, and said softly, "Sweetie, this leaf seems to have some bug marks on it. Look at those spots; it doesn't look nice. Why don't you find another one?"

Hawaii looked where her mother pointed, still curious. "Mom, why do bugs leave those marks on the leaves?"

Joanna recalled that the marks were likely from secretions left by bugs that had damaged the leaves. She explained it gently in a way Hawaii could understand, sending her off to explore again.

Cindy had been listening to Joanna and once Hawaii trotted away, said, "Joan, you really have a lot of patience."

Joanna smiled, her gaze tender as she watched her little one gathering leaves, as if looking at the whole world. After a moment, she asked Cindy, "How did things go with Eric?"

Cindy nodded with a relaxed expression. "I plan to produce another season in the spring, and he's already agreed."

...

Since she had specifically come to visit, Cindy had a real reason - she wasn't just passing by. With the viewership ratings for America's Next Top Model climbing, she found herself a bit anxious.

When she first secured this project, Cindy had her private accountant calculate her potential earnings under a 10% profit-sharing contract. According to the accountant's calculations, the ratings threshold needed for her to earn more was around 1.5 million viewers, which matched what Lifetime expected. Below that mark, she'd only receive the guaranteed salary of $800,000, something she had negotiated pridefully during the contract drafting. Other people in the industry were unprepared and didn't have any guaranteed salary clauses. If the ratings fell short and the project didn't turn a profit, those months of work would feel wasted.

But now, that same contract made her feel trapped.

In strict business contracts, rights and obligations were always reciprocal. Thanks to that guaranteed salary clause, Lifetime included a stipulation for renegotiation of compensation for the second season. This was a condition set by Lifetime to ensure continuation of the program; essentially, if the ratings didn't skyrocket, they hoped Cindy would return at a lower salary. Unofficially, they had already come to a mutual understanding of a $500,000 intent.

In a casual chat with Linda, Cindy had expressed that she would be satisfied with a $3 million profit share from America's Next Top Model, which she found to be a more realistic figure after working in television for a few years.

To pull $3 million from this project, the show needed at least 2.5 million viewers. Given that Lifetime had previously struggled to reach even 1 million, Cindy had not been overly hopeful for this goal.

But now, the ratings results for both shows had far exceeded anyone's expectations. For the most recent episode of America's Next Top Model that she was responsible for, the peak viewership reached 4.6 million, and with Lifetime's growing subscriber base and the program's continued popularity, it was anticipated that the peak viewership could even exceed 6 million, with an average of no less than 4.5 million for the entire season.

According to the price floating contract signed between Lifetime and advertisers, an average of 30 seconds of advertising during the 1.5 million viewership would cost $50,000. An average viewership of 4.5 million would triple the advertisement price, generating $60 million in revenue just from advertising alone. With additional profits from syndication, DVD sales, and other ventures, the revenue would surely top $60 million. A project costing $20 million to produce could ultimately yield $120 million.

After deducting the production costs, the net profit would be no less than $100 million.

One hundred million dollars meant Cindy would pocket $10 million, and even top-tier Hollywood actresses who netted $10 million a year were few and far between.

So now the question arose.

With America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, she and Linda not only stood to surpass the million-dollar annual income threshold but would also leave all the other supermodels earning in the million range far behind. As long as the two shows maintained their popularity, they could reliably sit atop the throne of supermodel queens.

However, the repurchase clause originally included to secure their guaranteed salary had recently begun to gnaw at Cindy's peace of mind.

If viewership did not meet expectations and production costs needed to be cut, Lifetime could invoke their negotiation right to lower Cindy's guaranteed salary. But now, with the ratings soaring, the negotiation right still stood. If she earned a whopping $10 million in the first season, it seemed reasonable for Lifetime to request a lower cut should she return for a second season. If both parties couldn't reach an agreement, Lifetime still retained the authority to replace the host.

Cindy was unwilling to lower her slice, especially since America's Next Top Model had even eclipsed Project Runway in popularity. If her share became smaller than Linda Evangelista's next season, she'd look foolish. Word of that would spread like wildfire.

However, the looming threat of replacement terrified her even more.

Despite the show's uncertain beginnings, the host's position had sparked fierce competition behind the scenes, ultimately landing her and Linda in those seats.

Now that America's Next Top Model had achieved monumental success, if there was a rift between her and Lifetime, and word got out that they contemplated replacing her, the younger models would jump at the chance. Any media frenzy over a host change could overshadow any dip in ratings caused by her departure. This meant the dependency of America's Next Top Model on her wasn't as strong as she once thought, yet she couldn't afford to lose that position.

Caught in this dilemma, after much hesitation, Cindy finally sought out Eric today in hopes of solidifying everything ahead of time, finding a solid reason for her visit: she wished to kick off production for the second season by year-end.

According to competition rules, Project Runway would feature its three finalists at the New York Fashion Week in February, meaning the production cycle extended beyond six months with a two-month winter break. It was impossible to produce two seasons in a single year. On the other hand, America's Next Top Model was different; it consisted of thirteen episodes that could all air by December. After the first season finished, preparations for the second season could commence, allowing it to go live on schedule in the spring.

After rushing over that morning, Cindy discussed her plans for the second season with Eric, nervously addressing the negotiation issue. Judging by the smile on Eric's face, he seemed somewhat amused but didn't put her in a tight spot. He personally assured her that her contract would remain intact and indicated he would speak with Anne Sweeney about it.

Finally, the heavy stone that had been sitting on her heart for half a month lifted.

...

Reflecting on the earlier events, Cindy turned to Joanna, who was carefully trimming the leaves she had gathered with a small pair of scissors and slotting them into the book. She couldn't help but ask, "Joan, don't you find it boring just being with the kids all day?"

"After some years, you won't think that way, I assure you. Women always settle down," Joanna glanced at Cindy with a smile and continued, "You know, I was born in Poland, back when the Soviet Union still existed. Life in Poland was pretty tough. I even went hungry as a child; you probably haven't ever experienced real hunger, have you? Haha, I always dreamed of leaving Poland, and after so many twists and turns, I did. But I found out the outside world wasn't paradise either. It wasn't until four years ago that I accidentally met Eric, and then came Hawaii."

Joanna spoke casually, and when she noticed Hawaii running back over, she warmly embraced her, giving her a gentle kiss. The little girl sensed the change in her mother's emotion and, feeling a bit puzzled, called out, "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, sweetheart," Joanna shook her head, releasing Hawaii and glancing at her watch before turning back to Cindy, who seemed contemplative. "Cindy, could you help me look after Kevin and Hawaii? I need to pick up Emma. The kindergarten is close by, and I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

"Of course, no problem," Cindy quickly nodded, then added, "Oh, Eric just said he wants to keep Terry Semel for lunch."

"I'll have the kitchen prepare something," Joanna instructed the little ones and entrusted them to Cindy before she got up to leave.

...

Watching Joanna walk away, Cindy glanced at the album Joanna had left behind and smiled at the two kids. "Alright, darlings, let's continue. Aunt Cindy will play with you, okay?"

Hawaii and Kevin were no strangers to her but showed less attachment compared to how they were with Joanna. In a few minutes, they lost interest. With no experience looking after kids, Cindy eventually led the two little ones back to the villa.

As she stepped into the living room, she found Eric and Terry Semel still chatting. When Eric noticed Cindy walking in with the kids, he pointed to the sitting room on the right, signaling that she could take the children there to play. Terry Semel glanced at little Kevin and waved at Hawaii, receiving a cheerful response that made his smile broaden.

...

Since his arrival was posed as a casual visit, Terry Semel had engaged in light conversation with Eric. Seeing Cindy enter with the kids, he felt the time to speak up had come. "Eric, there's one more thing while I'm here. Lifetime has been doing quite well recently, and Warner has a substantial user resource; maybe we could explore a closer collaboration?"

Eric took a sip of coffee before responding, "Terry, while I don't follow the television operations too closely, I've heard that Lifetime's collaboration with Warner hasn't been smooth in the past."

"Eric, corporate cooperation isn't always smooth. Discrepancies are bound to arise as both sides must look out for their interests," Terry Semel assessed matter-of-factly. "Given Lifetime's recent popularity, I believe we can renegotiate the profit-sharing contract. Warner can raise the user share to 18 cents; what do you think?"

Eric shook his head, "Eighteen cents is too low. America's Next Top Model has reached a peak viewership of 4.6 million; there aren't many channels that have achieved this level."

"I think 18 cents is quite generous, Eric," Terry disagreed. "America's Next Top Model and Project Runway only air for a total of two hours every Monday, yet there are 22 hours of prime time weekly. Aside from these two reality shows, Lifetime's other programming hasn't outperformed, and these two will wrap up in two months. It's unlikely that Lifetime will find a great program to take on their viewer interest immediately, so overall, Lifetime still remains modest."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 749: Two Options]

Lifetime Television's foundation ultimately lacked a bit, as Eric reviewed last year's programming schedule. In all of 1994, the network only aired 11 low-budget TV movies and a few soap operas that were repeatedly shown during prime time. There was little originality in the rest of the schedule.

However, with the success of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway amassing a solid fanbase, it made perfect sense to further invest in programming.

"Terry, I admit you have a point, but this situation is about to change. Since Lifetime was able to create Project Runway and America's Next Top Model, we can certainly produce more successful TV shows. Although the two reality shows will wrap up before the New Year, Lifetime has decided to kick off production on a second season of America's Next Top Model, which can launch right on time in the spring. So, you really don't have to worry about Lifetime's popularity issues," Eric stated, chuckling to himself as he recalled Cindy's antics earlier that day.

Because of scheduling, Project Runway wouldn't get picked up for two seasons within a year. Therefore, Eric could only hope Cindy would begin production on a second season of America's Next Top Model by year's end to maintain Lifetime's newly acquired popularity.

Despite having many workaholics around him, it was evident that Cindy and Linda were not among them. Producing two seasons a year, while balancing a ton of other work, would be incredibly draining.

Over the past few days, Eric had been scheming on how to persuade Cindy into this, even considering offering her a raise if necessary. Before he managed to bring it up, Cindy was already at his doorstep.

Terry Semel didn't know what was on Eric's mind and naturally assumed the sudden smile on Eric's face was a sign of determination. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Eric, 20 cents is the best offer Warner can make."

Eric wiped his smile away and looked at Terry Semel. "20 cents is fine, Terry, but I have one condition."

Terry Semel raised his hand, "Go ahead."

"Lifetime can sign a three-year fixed revenue-sharing contract with Warner Cable, locked at 20 cents. However, Warner Cable needs to carry Lifetime's signal across all its cable packages," Eric proposed.

"Eric, that's not feasible," Terry Semel shook his head immediately.

The plan entailed that once they secured the broadcasting rights, Warner Cable would provide some cable options featuring Lifetime for users to choose. Given Lifetime's limited audience, it was expected that Warner Cable would see its subscribers for Lifetime reach approximately 6 million -- not even half of Warner Cable's total 15 million subscribers.

But Eric's condition was ambitiously aimed at snatching all of Warner Cable's subscriber resources. Under any considerations, Terry Semel wouldn't agree.

Eric didn't react much to the refusal and offered, "In that case, Terry, let's consider another option: increase the revenue-sharing to 30 cents, with the ability to renegotiate the rates annually."

Terry Semel shook his head again. "30 cents is too high, Eric. As I just mentioned, Lifetime is worth at most 20 cents."

Eric nodded in acknowledgment, picked up his coffee, took a sip, and said, "If that's the case, let's wrap it up for today, Terry. I'm actually not great at business negotiations; usually, Jeffrey handles these matters. You may want to consider this and send someone to talk with the higher-ups at Firefly."

After a moment, he glanced at his watch. "Lunch is almost here; you should try the apple pie. I usually don't have much of a sweet tooth, but Joan's is exceptional."

Terry Semel's expression grew grim; clearly, Eric was going to play the waiting game again.

If it entered into the formal negotiation phase, resolving this would take at least ten days to a month. Eric clearly understood the current situation at Time Warner. Lifetime could afford to wait; after all, Comcast, Tele-Communications Inc., and many other smaller cable and satellite operators were actively bringing Lifetime on board. However, Warner Cable was losing thousands of subscribers daily, and they couldn't afford any delays.

Following several minutes of hesitation, Eric sensed Terry was weighing the pros and cons, so he waited patiently.

Eventually, Terry Semel spoke up again, "Alright, Eric, 25 cents, but that's my final offer."

Eric shook his head, shrugging his shoulders. "Terry, I really only have two options. In fact, 30 cents isn't unreasonable. ESPN's broadcasting fee is $1.30. Plus, I would honestly recommend you choose the first option. Trust me, over the coming years, Lifetime's growth will astonish everyone. It will inevitably become a staple across all operator packages, and Time Warner could enjoy three years of lower revenue shares."

Seeing there was no more room to bargain, Terry Semel finally yielded. "Okay, Eric, I'll get back to you tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Eric replied without rushing him. He understood Terry's precarious position at Time Warner over the past couple of years made him careful about even minor partnerships that needed board approval.

...

The next day, Eric received a call from Terry Semel, confirming that Time Warner ultimately chose the second option, raising the revenue share to 30 cents.

The details of the cooperation would obviously be laid out by management, and in the following days, Eric began focusing on the production issues for Lifetime Television.

At that moment, no one had mentioned the initial $100 million budget plan. Everyone understood that raising Lifetime's viewership in non-prime time slots to the levels achieved by America's Next Top Model and Project Runway couldn't be accomplished with merely $100 million.

The biggest concern for Firefly Group and Hearst was how to maintain the momentum generated by the two reality shows.

The answer was straightforward: produce or acquire more quality TV programs.

"I have communicated with headquarters; Lifetime will obtain broadcasting rights for Sleepless in Seattle, Ghost, and Pretty Woman next spring. These films have proven very popular with women," Anne Sweeney reported to Eric from the ABC headquarters office.

All three films had grossed hundreds of millions, and even years later, the price for individual broadcasting rights remained above a million dollars. Though all were under the Firefly Group, inter-departmental finances needed clear accounting. Fortunately, Lifetime would receive a favorable deal.

Sitting across the table, Eric flipped through the memo Anne Sweeney handed him and asked, "How do you plan to schedule the broadcasts?"

"As a lead-in for our new shows next year, Lifetime secured six airings. The standard prime time covers 22 hours weekly, but Lifetime lacks the capacity to fill all that time. So, I plan to focus on airing two hours from Sunday to Thursday, and an hour on Fridays and Saturdays for a total of 12 hours of prime time programming starting next spring."

Typically, only the traditional Big Three networks could fill all 22 hours in prime time. Even Fox, in its current state, only managed 18 hours each week.

Eric was satisfied with Anne Sweeney's programming arrangement and nodded, inquiring, "Have you reviewed the original text and scripts for the first two episodes of Sex and the City?"

"Yes," Anne Sweeney affirmed.

"What's your take?"

After pondering for a moment, she replied, "Bold, avant-garde, stylish, with a touch of feminine nuance and cleverness. Personally, I love the story, and I believe female viewers will too."

Eric smiled and said, "Exactly. Avant-garde and stylish can easily serve as the standards for future Lifetime productions. Although, during our audience surveys, we found nearly 30% of the viewers for both America's Next Top Model and Project Runway were male, don't ever think about broadening the audience for the network. General audience networks belong to the big public broadcasters. We need precision; Lifetime must solidify its viewer base among strong, fashion-conscious women aged 18 to 35, and tailor the programming around this demographic."

"Eric, if that's the case, it might restrict Lifetime's growth potential, as 18 to 35-year-old women are still a minority," Anne Sweeney countered, sketching a circle on her paper, continuing, "If this circle represents that demographic, then while producing programming, we need to keep their needs in mind, thus further narrowing our subject matter. Some topics in that tighter circle will inevitably not appeal to some women, leading to viewer loss and gradually shrinking the circle more and more."

Eric laughed, taking the paper and pen from Anne Sweeney's hand, and drew a larger circle outside of what she had just drawn. "You're looking at it the wrong way. I assume this circle reflects North American female viewers, right? But outside of North America, there are far larger audiences in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. As long as we can craft quality programs in this female viewer demographic, we can establish a solid brand presence. Lifetime's signal could extend to markets beyond North America. I hope you won't limit your focus here but keep an eye on the entire globe. Your ultimate goal should be to create a lasting impression among all women worldwide that Lifetime's programs are the trendsetters in fashion and the conversation starters among women. Ideally, it should feel like a girl would have trouble fitting in if she hadn't watched Lifetime."

Anne Sweeney's eyes widened, and she was genuinely surprised by Eric's ambitious vision. She asked instinctively, "Is this really achievable?"

"When Ted Turner founded CNN in 1980, almost everyone laughed at his audacity, convinced that a dedicated news channel could never be profitable. And yet? Look at where news networks are today, operating worldwide and generating profits that rival the Big Three. That is the possibility."

"Well," Anne Sweeney shrugged, "perhaps I'm a pessimist while you're just the opposite."

"Your statement reminds me of a saying: Do your best, and prepare for the worst."

Anne Sweeney rested her chin on her hand, casting an appreciative glance at Eric as she chuckled softly, "Haha, Eric, turns out you're not entirely confident."

"Who would have thought just a few months ago that a single Lifetime program could attract over 4 million viewers simultaneously? So yes, the future I'm outlining is very much within reach. If there's a potential gold mine here, our job is to dig it out as deeply as we can."

Anne Sweeney perused through the original programming plan and remarked, "If we take a conservative approach, Lifetime could already start turning a profit from this year. However, if we follow your vision and aim for excellence, the program's investment will surely spike, and for the next two or three years, Lifetime may not turn a profit at all."

"Firefly isn't a publicly traded company, so you don't need to sacrifice more extensive development plans for a financial report," Eric pointed out.

"True," Anne Sweeney smiled again. "Since the boss doesn't mind, I'll set things in motion. Let me revise the original plan."

Eric nodded with a smile. "I can temporarily forgo profits, but if we don't achieve sufficient annual growth, expect a "stick" to come down."

"Heh, boss, if your statement carries any dark humor, I suggest you save it for another woman."

After their discussions wrapped up, Anne Sweeney collected her papers and stood up to leave but paused to ask, "By the way, are you attending tonight's party?"

With America's Next Top Model and Project Runway achieving such impressive ratings, the company had to celebrate, and a party was set for that evening.

Eric nodded, "I'll be there. Also, could you call Candace Bushnell, the author of Sex and the City? I have some revisions for the first two episodes' scripts, and I want to discuss the upcoming plotlines with her. Oh, and invite Elizabeth Hurley too, so she can meet with Candace ahead of time to chat about the lead character."

Anne Sweeney was aware that Eric had little time to discuss the script with Candace, so she had to seize this party opportunity. Nodding in understanding and seeing Eric had no further instructions, she turned and left.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 750: I Will Make You Cry]

As night fell, despite the temperatures in New York City sinking below 50 Fahrenheit (10Celsius) by late October, the beautiful women dressed in revealing outfits showed no signs of slowing down as they attended all sorts of parties.

In Midtown Manhattan, Rockefeller Center hosted a celebration party for Lifetime Television at one of its top restaurants.

Eric arrived at the party at seven o'clock. The hall was already buzzing with activity. Aside from the television executives hosting the event, most of the guests comprised the creative teams and special guests of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, along with some contestants still lingering in New York.

Annie Sweeney had arrived early to oversee some arrangements. As Eric walked into the hall, she approached him with Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista.

After some friendly chatter, seeing that most of the guests had arrived, Annie picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter, stepped onto the stage where the band was, and gently tapped her glass with the microphone to get everyone's attention.

"Okay, welcome, everyone, to tonight's party! Over the past month, we have witnessed a series of astounding ratings for America's Next Top Model and Project Runway. Just last night, the latest episode of America's Next Top Model surpassed five million viewers!"

As president of the AE Network, Annie continued, "I want to thank everyone who contributed to these two outstanding reality shows. I hope you all continue to strive for more viewing miracles. Now, let's raise our glasses and toast -- Cheers!"

Amid applause and cheers, everyone in the room lifted their glasses.

After taking a sip of her champagne, Annie said, "I hope you all have a fantastic time tonight. Thank you."

Another round of enthusiastic applause filled the room as Annie stepped down from the stage, and the music began to play again.

...

Having just finished her speech, Cindy, who had been linked arm in arm with Eric, ignored the envious glances around her and pulled him into the dance floor. At that moment, she pressed her body closely against Eric's, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning in to whisper sweetly in his ear, "Eric, are you going to be in Manhattan for Halloween?"

Eric enjoyed the closeness, smiling as he said, "No, I'm taking the kids out to trick-or-treat. You know the residents in the Hamptons are all wealthy, so I expect we'll get quite a haul of candy."

Cindy rolled her eyes playfully, her soft body brushing against Eric's in a teasing manner. "Speaking of wealthy, is there anyone richer than you?"

Eric tightened his grip slightly, stopping her playful antics. "Don't make a scene -- you want me to embarrass myself in front of all these people?"

Cindy laughed softly, leaning in again, boldly suggesting, "How about we sneak off to the restroom?"

Eric feigned hesitation, "Are we talking male or female?"

"Of course, it's up to you," she replied with a grin.

After a moment of pretended contemplation, Eric said, "Let's not go. I have to keep up appearances."

With that, he gently pushed Cindy away from trying to cause more mischief and gave her a light pat on the waist. "Alright, go have fun. I've got some important things to take care of."

Cindy pouted with a pitiful expression, "Must you rush off? The party just started, and this song hasn't even finished yet."

Just as Eric was about to respond, he caught sight of Linda Evangelista walking by and waved her over. She approached with a puzzled look.

"Hey, Linda, I have a few things to do. Could you dance with Cindy for a bit?" Eric suggested, pushing Cindy towards her.

"Sure thing," Linda said. Before Cindy could protest, Linda affectionately wrapped her arms around her and dragged her to the dance floor, teasing, "Cindy, let's go!"

Even though Cindy was physically stronger from her regular workouts, she wouldn't dare compare that under the party atmosphere. She shot a resigned glance back at Eric and let Linda pull her away.

...

As Eric waved at them and moved on, Cindy's sulking expression vanished, and she shot an eye roll at Linda, who was energetically pulling her along. "Okay, he has left, let go of me now."

Linda just giggled, tightening her hold around Cindy's waist again. The two women contrasted beautifully, with Linda in her more conservative black knee-length gown, which gave off a strong, sophisticated vibe. Paired with Cindy's alluring white deep-V gown, they created a strikingly powerful duo, even making some of the couples around them feel a bit inferior as they danced.

As Cindy tried to free herself, Linda held her firmly, saying, "What's the rush? You looking for a guy? Don't forget Eric is still here!"

"I just don't want to be stuck with you," Cindy shot back.

Linda looked at her intently for a moment and playfully dragged out her words, "Oh... I see, feeling a bit insecure, are we?" Beaming with pride, Linda proudly highlighted her height advantage with her heels.

Raising her hand, she continued, "Don't worry -- I won't judge you."

Cindy clenched her teeth and jabbed Linda playfully in the side. "Bitch, enough already!"

Linda tightened her grip, somewhat nervous now, and warned, "Class, remember class. Don't forget where we are or I will scream!"

Cindy narrowed her eyes, threateningly replying, "You're wrong. Keep this up, and I will make you cry!"

...

Eric left Cindy behind and soon found himself at a corner of the hall, where he spotted three women chatting: Annie Sweeney, Elizabeth Hurley, and another woman about the same age as Annie, around thirty-five. She wore a light blue one-shoulder evening gown, had stunning blonde hair, and sported a distinctive pair of pearl earrings. Eric recognized her from some materials he had seen -- this was Candace Bushnell, the author of Sex and the City.

As soon as they noticed Eric approaching, the three women rose. Annie introduced, "Eric, this is Candace Bushnell. Candace, this is Eric."

"Hello, Mr. Williams," the woman said confidently, extending her hand.

"Just call me Eric," he replied as he shook hands with her and greeted Elizabeth before they all sat back down.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 751: Mr. Big]

"So, what were you all just talking about?" After sitting down, Eric casually kicked off the conversation.

Elizabeth Hurley leaned casually against him, her excitement palpable. "Candace just mentioned Manolo Blahnik. He's having a product launch at the Gramercy Park Hotel next month! I just love that shoe brand. Lately, so many brands have been producing heels that look so bizarre. Only Manolo Blahnik manages to maintain such elegant designs consistently. I need to find a way to attend this launch next month! Oh, by the way, Candace, when did you say it is?"

"November 3rd," Candace Bushnell replied with a smile.

Elizabeth pulled out a notepad from her purse, documenting it seriously, and turned to Eric. "Eric, do you know who Manolo Blahnik is?"

Eric had certainly heard of him. He recalled that the shoe brand frequently came up in episodes of Sex and the City, where the character Carrie was obsessed with it, but he only knew the name.

Casting a sideways glance at Anne Sweeney and Candace Bushnell, who sat across from him with their characteristic smiles, Eric couldn't help but feel that Elizabeth seemed a bit juvenile in comparison to these two intelligent women. A woman with keen insight wouldn't drone on about fashion brands in front of men, as most men would likely find it dull, if not a little annoying, considering how these brands often came with a hefty price tag.

Seeing that neither woman was stepping in to change the subject, and instead seemed to be fanning the flames, Eric began to piece things together.

After some casual chit-chat, Eric turned to Anne Sweeney and Elizabeth Hurley. "Anne, Liz, could you give Candace and me some time? I'd like to discuss the script with her."

Anne Sweeney stood up and said, "Of course, you two go ahead. Oh, Liz, come with me; the snacks here are really good. I'll take you to try some."

Elizabeth thought to herself that having the lead actress around for the script discussion would make more sense, but she didn't oppose Eric's wishes and followed Anne away.

...

Once Anne and Elizabeth departed, Candace Bushnell moved closer to Eric, crossing her left leg elegantly and smoothing her skirt. "Eric, is there something wrong with the script I submitted?"

Eric looked at her with interest. The common notion was that women tend to show their age more easily, but the women around him seemed to defy this belief. Kathryn was stunning, Joanna was too, and now Candace Bushnell and recently departed Anne Sweeney were in their late thirties, yet they maintained a youthful appearance that complemented Elizabeth's in some ways, adding a touch of maturity.

Instead of answering her question directly, Eric took a sip from his champagne, leaned back against the sofa, and made it easier for himself to admire the intelligent beauty beside him. "The script isn't majorly flawed, just a few small details. Why don't you start by telling me about the lead character?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Candace's face, realizing that Eric had picked up on some subtlety from their earlier conversation. However, she quickly regained her composure. "Eric, I don't think Miss Hurley is suitable for the role of Carrie Bradshaw."

After saying this, Candace maintained eye contact with Eric, determined not to let her nerves show. Yet, she unconsciously tightened her grip on her wine glass.

Her longing for that big-city life had led her to New York alone at nineteen, but settling down in Manhattan had been harder than she imagined. Initially, she made ends meet by writing children's stories for newspapers; just in recent years, she had managed to get her own column in the New York Observer. Even so, her life wasn't comfortable. The character Carrie Bradshaw, who often flirted with financial ruin in pursuit of the latest fashion, was really a reflection of her own reality.

The fact that Eric Williams had personally chosen the rights to Sex and the City made her realize this was a pivotal moment in her life. She valued this TV series more than anyone else could, and as she feverishly revised the script over the last few weeks, the pressure became overwhelming, leading to mild anxiety.

Upon hearing that Lifetime had confirmed Elizabeth Hurley for the lead, Candace dug into her collection of the model's previous films and found her not to fit the image she envisioned for the lead role.

The casting was decided by Eric Williams himself, and she knew she didn't have much room to fight it. She had secretly prepared herself to accept this choice, but in her discussions with Anne Sweeney, it seemed the AE Networks president was also slightly dissatisfied with the lead selection. That prompted their current conversation.

As Eric listened, he quietly scrutinized Candace Bushnell, who seemed to be forcing a confident facade despite being significantly older than him. After a few seconds, he noticed the slight tremble of the glass in her hand and decided to intervene. "Go on, persuade me."

Having just put herself in a difficult position, Candace felt the burden of Eric's multiple roles weighing down on her. Regret washed over her for voicing her opinion; she scolded herself internally hundreds of times, realizing what a golden opportunity this was to collaborate with Eric Williams. Surely, she could ascend into the ranks of well-known writers, with future works becoming highly sought after. Yet, if she messed this up...

Oh God, what have I done?

Eric, barely aware he had just pulled her back from the edge of despair with a casual joke, watched as Candace's mind raced. She suddenly felt a chill down her spine, realizing she had broken into a sweat in her rented gown, which made her worry about returning it in less than perfect condition.

"Candace?" he asked, noticing her darting eyes without a word.

She snapped her attention to him. "Yes, oh... I want to persuade you."

Eric almost retracted his earlier compliments about Candace's intelligence and emotional insights. He rolled his eyes, "So, go on?"

Feeling a tinge of impatience in his tone, Candace took a deep breath. "Mr. Williams, firstly, Miss Hurley is British, and her identity doesn't align with Carrie Bradshaw's character."

"That's not a reason," Eric countered, unaffected by her change in his formality. "You should have heard Liz's American accent; it's pretty flawless."

"Of course, I have to concede that," Candace replied before realizing her previous doubts about Elizabeth's identity were unfounded.

But Eric couldn't help but chuckle at Candace's response. "Candace, you have to understand; you're trying to persuade me."

"Oh," Candace said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "So, the most important point is, I think Miss Hurley is just too beautiful."

"And?"

Candace continued, "If this show was aimed at male viewers or a broader audience, Miss Hurley would be suitable. But this is a show specifically for urban fashion-forward women. Most women in the real world don't look like her. If she plays the lead role, ninety percent of potential viewers won't relate to her at all. Furthermore, an important theme of this show is fashion, showcasing how various brands can transform women's lives. If the lead character is too stunning, it makes it difficult to convey the character development whose appearance and personality are enhanced by fashion, and this could negatively impact the show tremendously. In summary, I believe the lead should reflect the average urban woman -- slightly plain, yet, at times, striking."

Eric nodded, "Good points. Anything else?"

Noticing the change in Eric's expression, Candace felt more relaxed. At least he was actually considering her arguments.

However, there was an additional reason she held back -- the one that Anne Sweeney had whispered to her earlier. Anne had believed Elizabeth Hurley's audition was also lacking in talent. While Anne hinted that it could be included in their discussions, Candace didn't want to overstep.

Shaking her head, she said, "Mr. Williams, that's all. I have nothing else."

Eric nodded, smiling. "You really like calling people 'mister,' don't you?"

Candace's face turned awkward. She recognized it was a sign of her insecurity but wouldn't admit it outright. "Why do you ask?"

"In your novels, I keep seeing Mr. Big. Come on, does he have a real-life counterpart?"

Candace realized Eric was smoothly transitioning the conversation but lacked the courage to push for an answer. "Yes, he does. Mr. Big is based on Ron Galotti, a publishing executive at Newhouse, who managed many magazine publications. I've collaborated with him in the past."

"Oh," Eric nodded, but for some reason, another Mr. Big from a certain Disney animated film popped into his mind, making him chuckle. Traditionally, Mr. Big implies a powerful figure, akin to a godfather. "Forget about Ron Galotti. Since I don't know him, what about your male lead? I found his character sketch somewhat ambiguous while reading your outline and episodes one and two. Was his character development unclear?"

Candace thought about it for a moment. "Well, he's a very successful man in his career."

"That much is apparent," Eric interjected. "What about his character?"

"His personality... tends to be somewhat indecisive. Therefore, he doesn't appreciate strong and independent women." Candace explained. "That's the main reason they keep breaking up. Ultimately, I don't think they're likely to end up together."

"Do you find that setup realistic?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Candace questioned. "Mr. Williams, everyone has flaws. A person can be successful in their career yet still struggle in their personal life."

Eric felt a disconnect with the character, perceiving him as the classic handsome but emotionally inept CEO archetype -- too familiar for comfort.

Shaking his head slightly, he decided not to pursue that line of questioning further. "Alright, as long as female viewers enjoy it, that's what matters."

Candace raised an eyebrow but chose not to respond.

Eric changed the subject, offering his thoughts and suggestions for her script. "Regarding the script, I'm not too well-versed in fashion. That's your realm. But concerning the storyline, I want you to make a few adjustments. First, I need more narration. Although you have deep insights into topics surrounding sex and fashion, it doesn't mean viewers will glean everything solely through visuals. I'd like to hear more explanatory narrations..."

As the discussion moved easily into script revisions, the two lost track of time, engrossed in their conversation.

Half an hour later, with most issues smoothed over, Eric added, "One more thing -- this is just my personal preference: don't always portray male characters as too weak and passive in relationships. While it resonates with certain audiences, I think women with a bit of life experience would find it unrealistic, don't you think?"

While discussing the script, Candace had unknowingly downed several drinks. With her wine glass empty, the blush creeping into her cheeks, she mischievously looked at Eric and boldly asked, "Mr. Williams, don't men generally dislike being passive?"

Eric narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Are you coming on to me?"

Candace's heart raced a few beats at his teasing, realizing she might have crossed a line. Although she'd heard rumors about this young tycoon's preferences, she didn't dare nurture any grand ambitions. But after a few drinks, Eric's straightforwardness flustered her; she mumbled, "You're such an annoying man."

Despite the din around them, Eric caught her whisper and laughed, "Oh, so it's true."

"What do you mean?" Candace asked, confused.

"Weren't you the one who said, 'If you tell a man, 'I like you,' you might never see him again; but if you say, 'I hate you,' you'll have the best sex of your life'? That's a classic theory."

Candace blinked in surprise. She had just been taken aback by Eric's deep understanding of her script and hadn't expected him to recall segments of her novel with such ease. Her face turned even redder, and she tried to steady her racing heart, staring intensely at Eric in defiance. "So, even if I'm being assertive, what are you planning to do about it, little boy?"

"Wow, are you trying to provoke me?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 752: Mr. Biggest]

After sleeping in, Candace Bushnell naturally woke up, stretching luxuriously on the large bed. As her hand brushed against the wall beside the bed, she realized she was not in her familiar bedroom.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and she quickly pulled the covers up, but the man entering the room still noticed her.

"Good morning," Eric smiled at the woman on the bed, placing a woman's evening gown at the foot of the bed before turning to draw the curtains.

Candace followed Eric's figure to the window, watching him pull back the curtains. The bright light flooded into the bedroom, finally rousing her completely.

"Oh my God, this isn't a dream! I really did sleep with this little guy!" she thought to herself.

The realization that she had been with a man thirteen years her junior made her cheeks heat up with embarrassment, a mix of shyness and a hint of unexpected excitement.

As Eric approached and sat down in the chair beside the bed, Candace felt a bit awkward and pulled the covers up over her face. After a moment, she felt it was a bit silly and sluggishly offered, "Good morning... Mr. Big."

Eric looked at Candace's childlike reaction, nodding and teasingly replied, "Oh, I get it, that must be a compliment."

Candace blinked in surprise as she processed his words and couldn't help but chuckle softly, flattered but not knowing how to respond further.

Seeing that Candace wasn't saying much, Eric continued, "Candace, I had your dress from last night cleaned and pressed. Um... I have a meeting at nine o'clock."

Candace poked her head out from the covers and asked, "What time is it now?"

Eric checked his watch and replied, "It's eight-thirty. The car is waiting for me downstairs."

"Wow, it's already that late? Then I..."

Candace was about to sit up when Eric pressed a hand gently on her shoulder. "No, you can sleep a little longer. You can wake up whenever you want; I just wanted to say goodbye."

They had partied until around two in the morning. Even though she had woken up, Candace felt weak all over but was reluctant to get up. Hearing Eric's words, she decided to lie back down. Curiously about Eric, she ventured, "Was it an important meeting?"

"If you've been following the media news, you should know that ESPN is about to sign a new contract with the NFL," Eric explained before chuckling. "I almost forgot, women usually aren't as interested in sports as men are in fashion, right?"

Candace shook her head, "Not at all! I used to be the cheerleading captain for my school's football team when I was a girl."

Eric recognized her politeness with a smile and pulled a card from his suit pocket, laying it on the bedside table. "I've made some breakfast. You can have some when you get up. If you don't like it, there are others in the fridge. The card has the driver's number; you can call if you need a ride later."

Candace felt a twinge of disappointment when Eric didn't give her his personal card but didn't pursue it. They both understood this was merely a one-night stand; she wasn't foolish enough to expect anything more.

Seeing that she nodded, Eric added, "Oh, about the lead actress for Sex and the City, I discussed it with Annie this morning. Since Liz isn't quite right, we should find someone else. But let's hurry; we can't drag this out."

Candace knew that since Eric had initially chosen Elizabeth Hurley for the role, their relationship must have been significant. She asked, "What about Miss Hurley?"

"You don't have to worry about that; I'll arrange everything," Eric said before standing up. "Well, goodbye."

"Goodbye," Candace said as she stretched her hand out from under the covers to wave at Eric.

As the door closed, Candace turned over, lying on her back on the large bed, staring up at the ceiling, pondering for a moment. Eventually, she felt she could no longer sleep and decided to get up.

She found her clothes and slipped them on, padding barefoot into the bathroom. Noticing a fresh set of toiletries in a cup on the sink with a note attached, her spirits lifted significantly. She ripped off the note, reading his handwriting, which made her subconsciously bring it to her nose for a sniff, only to inwardly scold herself for this silly, infatuated action.

After putting the note down, she spotted the large bathtub in the bathroom and felt her interest pique once again.

After enjoying a lovely hot bath, wrapped in a robe, she headed downstairs. The living room coffee table was set with a simple breakfast and, as usual, a thoughtful note. Next to it were her handbag and phone. She walked over, turning on her phone that had been off since last night, and surveyed her surroundings. In the sunlight streaming through the large windows, she saw a round table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows and carried her breakfast over.

There was a stack of newspapers on the table, likely where he had sat for breakfast while reading.

Remembering Eric's offhand mention of ESPN's cooperation with the NFL, Candace, despite her lack of interest in sports, found herself flipping through the newspapers curiously while eating breakfast.

Sure enough, The New York Times had a significant article covering the negotiation between ESPN and the NFL.

Previously, ESPN had negotiated broadcast rights for NFL games on a yearly or per-season basis. However, this time, ESPN ambitiously sought to secure an eight-year, exclusive broadcast contract. If successful, ESPN would gain exclusive rights to broadcast NFL games weekly.

Candace wasn't deeply familiar with the specialized analyses in the newspaper articles but gasped when she saw the staggering total of $9 billion in contract value. The enormity of that figure was beyond her comprehension; could NFL broadcast rights truly be worth so much? After all, ESPN was under Firefly's umbrella -- they wouldn't suffer losses from this, would they?

Lost in her thoughts, her phone suddenly rang. As she answered, a somewhat screechy voice filled the receiver.

"..."

Listening to her best friend Sonia bombard her with questions with no signs of stopping, Candace soon had to interrupt, "Alright, alright, Sonia, I admit I slept with him, so please stop nagging me."

A series of gasps came from the other end. Candace helplessly moved the receiver a bit away from her ear until Sonia finished. "Come on, Sonia! I hope to find my own Mr. Big, but this guy is Mr. Biggest! A fragile little woman like me could get crushed by him; it was just one night!"

"..."

"I don't know why either; I was just a bit dazed when he took me back. Furthermore, now that you mention it, those women at the party with their glowing eyes probably hate me! I guess I need to be more careful these days to avoid getting set up."

"..."

"Oh, right now," Candace heard another question from Sonia, glancing out the window at Central Park, basked in sunshine. Early autumn had stripped the park of its summer vibrancy, but the contrasting reds and yellows still painted a beautiful mosaic. "I'm in a penthouse condo at the entrance to Sixth Avenue, enjoying breakfast made by Mr. Biggest himself while taking in the stunning views of Central Park and uptown. I have to admit; the view is just breathtaking. If I could, I would love to stay here forever -- even as a maid."

"..."

"He's already off to work! He's not going to lounge around like us little women... What? There's no way you're getting in! You could cause some chaos, and I won't let that happen -- no way!"

"..."

Sonia continued with who-knows-what on the other end, making Candace blush and huff in frustration, but the relentless questions kept coming.

"Oh my gosh, you shameless woman!" Candace squeaked, her cheeks flushed and a smile creeping onto her lips as she growled out loud.

After a moment, seemingly overwhelmed by her friend's relentless teasing, she stuttered for a bit, her fingers unconsciously gesturing, "I guess he's a bit dominant -- you know, in bed -- then, um, very comfortable. He could definitely take you to another realm, soaring through the night, but you'd still be able to walk back to your own place by the next morning... Ah, you jerk! You think I'm scandalous? You were the one who asked those dirty questions first! Oh, I get it! You're just jealous! Yes, jealous! Hmph!"

...

Eric's place was less than two miles from ABC's headquarters on West 67th Street. While Candace discussed him with her friend, Eric had already arrived at ABC.

Today, they would be discussing a matter extremely crucial for ESPN and the entire Firefly television division -- the $9 billion broadcast rights deal involving the NFL.

Of the hundreds of cable networks that had emerged in the United States, ESPN was undoubtedly the most dazzling. Since the late 1980s, thanks to securing extensive broadcast rights for various sports events, ESPN had become the go-to television network for sports fans across North America. Indeed, ESPN also stood out as the cable network with the highest average subscription fees, with its average user share surpassing one dollar, while even the competing Turner Broadcasting's averages hovered around 68 cents. In fact, the average subscription fee for all cable networks in North America was only about 20 cents, less than one-sixth of ESPN's.

In Eric's memory, ESPN was valued at approximately $75 billion, accounted for nearly one-quarter of Disney's overall revenue at the time. After the decline of public television stations, ESPN's profits and revenue accounted for more than half of Disney's total television revenue.

While Eric was not deeply entrenched in sports, he understood that in the new century, against a backdrop of emerging sports networks, ESPN maintained its dominant industry position due to monopolizing the rights to numerous live sporting events.

As America's favored sport, NFL broadcast rights were naturally under ESPN's hold.

Eric hadn't fully grasped ESPN's trajectory until recently when ESPN President Steve Bornstein presented an ambitious plan to monopolize the NFL broadcast rights, highlighting how ESPN had risen to such power.

Currently, ESPN had around 90 million subscribers, with an average subscription fee of $1.30. The total annual revenue from broadcast rights and advertising exceeded $2 billion. Thus, when the enormous $9 billion plan was unveiled, Robert Iger, who had just taken over television operations from Tom Murphy, was taken aback. Iger found Bornstein's proposal very enticing yet deemed the likelihood of its implementation slim. Though his expectations were muted, he still submitted the proposal to Katzenberg.

Katzenberg, with his sharp perspective, recognized the tremendous potential of the proposal, but also the significant risks hidden within it. If they were to secure the contract for $9 billion but failed to deliver the projected returns, the consequences could be disastrous. Additionally, there was another disadvantage -- securing all broadcasting rights at a price surpassing 50% of the existing rates would inevitably lead other sports leagues to raise their prices. If after the contract was secured, ESPN's revenue did not meet expectations, the newly inflated licensing costs would slowly drag ESPN into the mud.

In the end, Katzenberg couldn't make a decision and had to refer the matter back to Eric himself.

While aware that monopolizing various live sports broadcasts was the route to maintaining ESPN's dominant position, Eric was still taken aback when he first saw the potential contract amount of $9 billion. He had intended to keep Firefly's operations stable in the coming years, avoiding drastic moves, yet he knew of ESPN's glorious past. After Steve Bornstein personally elaborated on the various stakes tied to the contract, Eric ultimately agreed, leading to today's high-level meeting.

In the meeting room at ABC headquarters, apart from Eric, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Frank Wells, Robert Iger, and other top executives, alongside board representatives like Tom Murphy and Warren Buffett sat attentively, focused as they listened to ESPN CEO Steve Bornstein discussing the outcomes of the negotiation with the NFL.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 753: That's just unreasonable]

"...After signing the contract, for the next eight years, ESPN will secure exclusive broadcasting rights for the NFL weekly games, as well as the rights to broadcast the Super Bowl in 1998 and 2001. Furthermore, ESPN will also hold official rights to air event programming, which means that viewers can legally record NFL games using their VCRs. We will be able to promote this power publicly through our channels," said ESPN President Steve Bornstein as he concluded his briefing on the negotiations with the National Football League to the assembled team.

While he had already secured Eric's support, he still needed to convince the other stakeholders in Firefly. Although Eric had absolute control, he wanted to avoid any significant discord with the other shareholders since it could jeopardize Firefly's stable development.

Tom Murphy, who had just stepped down as the CEO of the television division, was quietly reading documents when Steve finished. He raised his head and was the first to speak. "Steve, ESPN already holds a dominant market share in the industry and has become the go-to channel for sports fans. So, do you think it's necessary for us to pay more than a 50% premium to enter into a high-risk eight-year contract for exclusive NFL broadcasting rights?"

Steve Bornstein replied, "Mr. Murphy, while ESPN currently enjoys a leading market share, that doesn't mean we can be complacent. In recent years, competitors like NBC, CBS, and FOX have ramped up their investments in sports channels. Even though ESPN has a significant advantage, if we allow this situation to continue, our market share could gradually be eaten away by other networks, and we may lose our absolute edge."

Tom Murphy shook his head slightly. "Steve, I haven't seen any reports that support this. It sounds more like your personal speculation and a bit alarmist. The industry dominance of a cable channel isn't easily dismantled."

Steve Bornstein countered, "Mr. Murphy, I'm not being alarmist. There's a very clear example from recent years. Since its inception in the 1980s, CNN's position in the news channel sector is very similar to ESPN's in the sports channel arena. However, in recent years, Fox News has come up fast. Founded less than five years ago, this news channel, backed by News Corporation's extensive global media network, has achieved a market share of 50%. At this growth rate, Fox News could match CNN before the year 2000. The industry position of ESPN can be broken more easily.

If other media groups possess the guts to aggressively snatch broadcasting rights away from us, a decline for ESPN is entirely foreseeable. Therefore, securing an exclusive eight-year broadcasting rights agreement can effectively cut off the possibility of other sports networks competing for our resources, ensuring we won't have to worry about competitive threats for the next eight years."

Warren Buffett chimed in, "Steve, let's discuss expected revenues. You mentioned in your report that after securing exclusive NFL broadcasting rights, ESPN's average annual subscription revenue would increase by 20%. With that growth rate, ESPN's average user subscription price would exceed $2 in less than five years, which is already ten times the average subscription price of standard cable channels. Do you think viewers would accept that?"

"Mr. Buffett, this price increase is a long-term process. Moreover, we're not dealing directly with subscribers; our partners are cable operators. On the other hand, our negotiations with operators primarily hinge on viewership ratings. If we obtain exclusive broadcasting rights, viewers will have no other choice but to watch NFL games on ESPN. Therefore, as ESPN's viewership rises, a corresponding increase in subscription revenue is inevitable, and operators will have no other options."

Buffett nodded with a smile. He glanced at another external board member from Firefly, David West, president of State Street Global Advisors. David shrugged with a smile and said, "After hearing Steve's presentation, I find it hard to oppose this agreement."

Eric finally turned to Tom Murphy, who also nodded slightly. Though he had always been a cautious operator and still thought the plan was too risky, he realized that, compared to the potential rewards, this risk was worth taking.

"Well then, it's settled. We'll proceed with this plan, and the company will inform everyone about the subsequent signing matters in a timely manner," Eric stated. He added, "Now that we're all here today, let's take this opportunity to discuss the group's financial situation for the first three quarters. Carolyn?"

As Eric spoke, he looked toward the group's CFO, Carolyn Elliott, who nodded as she opened the prepared documents.

...

As the morning meeting concluded, Eric and Katzenberg hosted Buffett and his group for lunch at the ABC headquarters restaurant. As they were leaving, Buffett pulled Eric aside. "Eric, do you have time next Thursday?"

Eric looked puzzled for a moment, then realized that Thursday, November 2, was still open on his calendar. He nodded and replied, "Sure, Warren. I'll probably be in New York until November 10, as you know, after the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show wraps up."

"Great. There's a gathering then, and some of my old friends are all eager to meet you. I hope you're interested?"

Warren Buffett's old friend gathering immediately made Eric think of the renowned Graham's disciples meeting. Benjamin Graham, an esteemed economist, was known as the "father of modern security analysis," much like Einstein in the realm of physics. Buffett had been one of his students during Graham's teaching tenure at Columbia University and had subsequently organized these gatherings, which included top-tier entrepreneurs, bankers, and fund managers capable of influencing the country's economic direction.

Eric understood that as his personal business expanded, it was inevitable that his companies would intersect with these major capital players. Buffett wouldn't casually invite outsiders to such elite gatherings, and given that he'd extended an invitation, Eric certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to refuse. Even if a collaboration didn't materialize later on, meeting these people would undoubtedly be beneficial.

After a moment of thought, Eric asked, "Warren, can I bring someone along?"

Buffett laughed, "Of course! It's not too formal; everyone will bring someone along."

Eric replied, "No, I meant a good friend of mine, Chris Hansen, who currently manages my Firefly Investment Company."

While this meeting of investment tycoons might not directly benefit Eric, it would definitely give Chris access to invaluable connections. That's why Eric quickly thought of him.

Buffett pondered for a moment before nodding. "No problem. He's a very promising young man."

With that, Buffett pulled out a notepad and quickly jotted down an address, handing it to Eric. "Next Thursday at 7 PM."

Eric accepted the note and tucked it away. "Absolutely, we'll be there on time."

After seeing Buffett and the others off, Eric returned to the ABC headquarters building with Katzenberg.

...

After spending two more days in Manhattan, on October 31, the day before Halloween, Eric promptly headed back to the Hamptons.

East Hampton was essentially a vacation town. After the summer and fall seasons, most people returned to their residences in Manhattan, and women and children moved back to the populous Southampton just before Halloween. Although the estates here were much smaller than those in East Hampton, there were many full-time neighbors, and holiday festivities would be quite lively.

As he drove into his estate, Eric got out and walked into the villa. The twins, sitting on the living room couch watching TV, got up to greet him; it seemed Drew had come to New York as well. MGM's stock was set to be reissued on December 9, so MGM President Frank Mancuso had been staying in New York during this period, and Drew had come today not only for Halloween but likely also to discuss this matter.

With the twins helping him take off his coat, Eric looked at the two girls and asked, "Why is it so quiet? Where's Drew? Are there any others?"

"The boss and Ms. Pacula went shopping, and Ms. Madsen is upstairs with the kids," they replied.

"Oh well, you all keep watching TV," Eric said, switching shoes as he headed upstairs.

On the second floor, the door of a sunlit lounge room was ajar. Eric walked in to see Virginia facing away from him, seemingly engrossed in a book, surrounded by three little ones.

He smiled and approached, giving Virginia a quick kiss, eliciting a light gasp from her.

"Oh, you scared me," Virginia said, playfully hitting Eric and laughing.

Eric leaned over the armrest of the couch to see what book Virginia was reading. "What are you reading?"

Virginia gesture to the cover, revealing it was yet another volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Shaking his head, Eric looked at the three kids. Hawaii, sitting closest to Virginia, had bright, sparkling eyes, as if she eagerly awaited Virginia to continue reading. The other two looked rather wilted, with Emma casting a desperate glance at Eric, her large eyes glistening with tears, as if she was on the verge of crying.

"Do you not want to listen? Come on, Daddy will take you to play," Eric said, stretching his hands towards the kids. While Hawaii remained still, Emma and Kevin cheered and rushed over.

Virginia was not having it, holding Eric back. "Hey, you can take Emma to play, but Kevin stays with me! I've only read three pages!"

Eric felt a little helpless. "Do you think my son can understand?"

Virginia still wouldn't let go. "But Elia can read on her own; Kevin can't fall too far behind."

"Don't fuss over the kid. A little two-year-old doesn't understand anything; you aren't expecting Kevin to ace Harvard by three, are you?"

"But Elia can read already," Virginia muttered again, her eyes suddenly expressing some grievance as she glared at Eric. "You play favorites; Elia is so smart."

Eric sighed, feeling exasperated. "Now, that's just unreasonable! How am I supposed to control that?"

"Anyway, you're being biased!" Virginia protested more plaintively, tossing the Encyclopedia Britannica at Eric's feet and turning away from him, curling up on the couch.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 754: The Web]

Seeing Virginia curled up on the couch, sulking a little, Eric had no choice but to call the maid to take the three little ones away. He then squished onto the couch and gathered the woman into his arms, saying, "Alright, being strong has its limits. Elia's situation is a bit special; you shouldn't always compare her to Kevin."

Virginia leaned into Eric's embrace, murmuring, "I know, I just worry... I'm afraid you won't like Kevin in the future."

Hearing Virginia's somewhat hesitant words, Eric realized her concerns ran deeper than just that. Although she had never mentioned the Hawaii Fund in front of him, the overseas investment fund he had whimsically established in his daughter's name had made an impression on Virginia. With Nokia's market value skyrocketing in recent years, the 51% stake in Nokia held by the Hawaii Fund had exceeded $3 billion. From Virginia's anxious little details over the years, Eric could sense her worries about the future.

Everyone had their biases, and Eric acknowledged he couldn't always be neutral. Even though the births of the two little ones had been unexpected, he felt no resistance; rather, he was reassured. At least, in this strange world, he had two close relatives by blood.

Holding Virginia, after a moment of contemplation, Eric said, "Vicki, Buffett invited me to a gathering on Thursday. Why don't you come with me?"

Virginia realized that since Eric had addressed her so seriously, the gathering would certainly not be an ordinary party. Bringing her along would, in essence, publicly acknowledge certain aspects of her identity. With noticeable surprise, she lifted her head but soon hesitated, asking, "What about Joan?"

"I'll talk to her. You know Joan isn't too interested in these things."

Biting her lip for a moment, Virginia seemed to muster a great deal of resolve before shaking her head, "No, I don't want this to affect my relationship with Joan."

"I told you, Joan will definitely understand. It's settled then. In the next couple of days, choose a nice dress," Eric patted Virginia, not allowing her to refute, and changed the subject. "Let's talk about movies. What do you think about your recent project?"

With Eric changing the subject, Virginia let her guard down, replying, "Ever since The Sixth Sense, it feels like I can only play a mother now. This time, I'm a single mother."

Eric chuckled, "At least you're a beautiful single mother."

Just then, the sound of quick footsteps scampered in, and before Eric could turn his head, a small, fragrant body dashed between him and Virginia, pushing her aside, and affectionately called out, "Eric!"

Of course, it was Drew.

Annoyed, Virginia swatted Drew on the thigh as she was pushed aside, but the girl didn't take it seriously. Giggles erupted as she kicked a bit and nestled back against Eric.

Virginia had no choice but to get up and clear the single chair, straightening out her somewhat messy clothing. "It's almost time to prepare dinner, so don't make too much noise."

After Virginia left the room, Eric wrapped his arm around Drew's waist and asked, "When did you arrive in New York?"

Drew kicked off her tan leather boots and snuggled beside Eric. "Not long ago. I flew in this morning with Amy. She's off to Manhattan to meet Frank."

Eric only kept an ear on MGM's general situation and didn't meddle in the specific operations. He hadn't expected Amy Pascal to come to New York as well. He asked, "With the film release window at the end of the year being so critical, is it appropriate for all three of you to leave Los Angeles?"

"This is a very important matter -- discussing adjustments to the pricing of the stock offering. The Nasdaq index has risen 16% in the past few months, exceeding 750 points. If we stick to the pricing from a few months ago, we'd be at a disadvantage. Anyway, we only have Scream and Mean Girls, both low-budget films, so it won't be a problem to step away for a few days."

Eric recalled how the Nasdaq index had indeed skyrocketed since 1995; his rebirth hadn't changed much. Listening to Drew, he pinched her cheek and smiled, "Not bad, you can rattle off so many professional terms. Looks like you've been studying hard these past few months."

Drew playfully nipped at Eric's fingers, pouting, "Ugh, does that mean I was stupid before?"

"Not stupid, just smart in the wrong ways," Eric dodged her teeth, asking, "After the price adjustment, how much funding can we raise?"

"After all the fees are taken out, around $1.05 billion," Drew replied and then added, "Oh, by the way, when we arrived yesterday, Seymour Gilbert, the chairman of Morgan Stanley, invited us to a cocktail party tomorrow night. He asked if you were free to join?"

Thanks to Chris, the Firefly network had always maintained close cooperation with Morgan Stanley. Besides this MGM stock offering, they had been preparing for AOL's IPO and Nokia's stock listing in the U.S. for over six months, all handled by Morgan Stanley. The IPO for AOL and the public listing for Nokia were both set for next January. Unless major disagreements arose, Yahoo's IPO would certainly fall under Morgan Stanley's purview. However, Eric had never met Seymour Gilbert, Morgan Stanley's chairman. Since the opportunity had presented itself, he nodded in agreement. "Sure, where's it going to be?"

"In Manhattan..." Drew tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "I can't remember the exact address, but someone will pick us up."

Eric nodded. "Since the offering is set for December 9, we should increase the marketing efforts for Scream, which is set to release on Thanksgiving. While the market is confident in MGM, the success of this low-budget film could still yield positive effects."

"I know, Amy thought of that too. The production budget for this film is $14 million, and we plan to invest $10 million in marketing. If the opening week goes well, we can continue to add funds."

Eric continued, "Additionally, since there aren't any issues with the offering, MGM won't lack for funding in the next few years. So, you all should work on getting back the movie licensing MGM has authorized to others."

Drew nodded, looking at Eric, waiting for him to continue.

Eric had been considering the issue of a pay cable channel. Currently, the combined libraries of Firefly, Fox, and MGM had surpassed 10,000 films, yet none of the three companies had a dedicated pay cable channel for movie broadcasts and had to sell the rights to others. The best option would have been to acquire HBO from Time Warner, which hadn't been doing so well recently. Eric had hoped for that opportunity, but during Terry Semel's visit regarding Lifetime, he had casually probed the matter, only to be met with a firm rejection.

Although HBO hadn't yet gained fame through original series like Sex and the City or The Sopranos, it was still a solid asset thanks to Time Warner's cable operations. Even if Terry Semel were agreeable to a spin-off sale, the Time Warner board wouldn't approve it. Thus, unless he intended to swallow up Time Warner entirely, buying HBO would be a tall order.

Considering all this, Eric continued, "You guys tackle those tasks, and stop all new television broadcasting authorizations right away. I'm planning to launch a dedicated pay cable channel for movies next year, with a collaboration between Firefly, MGM, and Fox."

"Can't it just be between us two?" Drew twisted around on Eric.

"You know my plan," Eric chuckled, "So, if you're unwilling to deal with Liz, just let Amy and the others handle it."

"Fine, fine."

...

The two chatted for an unknown amount of time until they heard a gentle knock on the door. Eric turned to see Joanna standing at the door, looking at them. "Eric, Drew, it's time for dinner."

"Okay," Eric pulled Drew up, and they walked into the corridor where Joanna lightly tugged at his sleeve.

Noticing Joanna seemed to have something to say, he nudged Drew, "You go ahead. We'll be right there."

Drew winked at him playfully but remained silent as she headed towards the stairs.

"What's up?" After watching Drew disappear, Eric asked Joanna.

"Come with me," Joanna led Eric to her bedroom and pulled out a pink gift box from her bedside drawer, handing it to him. "Terry Semel had someone send this over this morning."

Eric tugged the delicate card from the gift box, seeing a line that read: For the beautiful and intelligent Miss Hawaii Williams, from Terry Semel.

Chuckling, Eric tore open the wrapping paper. Inside was a VHS tape, beautifully boxed with a picture of penguins on the cover. The title was The World of Penguins.

Judging by the look, it appeared to be a documentary. Eric remembered an iconic film Warner had released in his past life titled March of the Penguins, but this was clearly something else.

Joanna's expression showed she recognized the cover of the tape and proceeded to recount the small incident that transpired between Terry Semel and Hawaii that day.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 755: Lost]

Eric listened as Joanna recounted the events of the day while browsing through the tape he held.

Although it was titled The World of Penguins, the back of the box listed over 20 different sources, including various movies and documentaries. As the CEO of a major media group, Terry Semel could easily arrange such a thing with just a few commands. However, even so, it was clear that this tape had involved considerable thought.

After flipping through it for a while, Eric began to piece together some details. He glanced up at Joanna, who stood quietly by his side, and noticed her carefully studying his expression.

Seeing Eric look over, Joanna's eyes flickered with unease. "Should I just return the tape to him?"

Her expression not only confirmed Eric's suspicions but also made him understand even more.

At its core, this was a sensitive subject -- race. Joanna was Jewish, and according to Jewish tradition, Hawaii was also considered Jewish.

Despite their strong presence in America and worldwide for various reasons, those who understood the deeper truths knew that Jews had faced intense exclusion and discrimination for centuries. The notion that Jews controlled America was even more absurd. Historical accusations that Jews instigated economic crises and wars were essentially scapegoating.

Centuries of persecution had instilled in Jews a powerful sense of community -- almost instinctual. On the flip side, they greatly valued intelligence. A few days ago, Hawaii's extraordinary cleverness had left a lasting impression on Terry Semel, which likely had also fostered a natural affinity due to his Jewish roots. Coupled with Eric's daughter's identity, that explained the little gift they received today.

Firefly Group and Time Warner were, after all, competitors. Terry Semel's motivations surely didn't stem from a desire for profit; rather, he likely hoped to foster goodwill.

Eric even thought about how over the years, whether for holidays or the kids' birthdays, aside from close friends, executives from Firefly Group and other Hollywood companies had also gone out of their way to send gifts to the two little ones -- probably for the same reason. Only a glance at Hawaii's gift would surely confirm it was even more lavish. Though many shareholders of the seven major film studios had changed hands over the years and many had moved away from Jewish control, most of Hollywood's studio executives were still Jewish. At Firefly, for instance, of the three key players, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Robert Iger were both Jewish, aside from Frank Wells.

As Eric contemplated these matters, he noticed Joanna's growing apprehension and self-doubt waiting for his reply. Wait a minute -- self-doubt?

He recalled a previous conversation with Elisabeth where she casually mentioned her family wasn't Jewish, wearing an air of superiority. Eric sighed internally, thinking, "What a tangled mess this all is."

Throwing the tape aside, Eric pulled Joanna in for an embrace and kissed her cheek gently. "After all these years, you should know I don't care about race or heritage. Hawaii and Kevin are my kids, and that won't change. So, don't dwell on these nonsensical concerns anymore."

Joanna leaned against Eric and quietly hummed in acknowledgment, then asked softly, "What about the tape?"

"Just take the time to show it to Hawaii. And don't forget to thank Terry Semel for his thoughtful gesture. It's always nice to acknowledge other people's kindness," Eric reflected for a moment and added, "You don't have to refuse such goodwill in the future. Generally, a sense of community and connection won't harm you or Hawaii."

"I understand," Joanna leaned against Eric's shoulder for a moment, feeling relieved. Then she gently pushed away, straightening his collar. "Let's go eat; they're probably waiting for us."

"Wait, there's one more thing." Eric held Joanna back and explained about Virginia: "So I plan to take Vicki to Buffett's gathering in a couple of days. While I wouldn't mind taking you both along, we need to consider the feelings of those old guys who can only watch and not partake. So maybe next time I can take you with me."

Joanna chuckled at the double entendre in Eric's words and playfully tapped his shoulder. "It's fine; I really don't care about these things much. Just take Vicki."

"Looks like we're alike; I'm not that interested either. But you can't always refuse these things," Eric joked with Joanna as they left the room together.

...

Despite having experienced a few minor interruptions, the Halloween dinner proceeded in a lively atmosphere.

After dinner, the women insisted on adorning Eric and the kids in their Halloween costumes. He and Emma donned identical outfits that were overly simplistic, consisting only of two glowing antennae on their heads -- blue for the boy and pink for the girl -- undoubtedly a nod to his Men in Black attire.

By now, the sky had completely darkened. However, the streets of Southampton were festooned with lights and decorations, with many children starting to wander around for candy. There were even reports of a Halloween parade downtown.

Eric stood at the changing room, watching Drew, Virginia, and Ewa dressed in various ridiculous costumes with the twins' assistance, while Joanna managed the throngs of kids demanding candy at the door.

As Eric looked at Virginia made up as Bloody Mary, he asked, "With Joanna staying home, are the three of you really going to go join the Halloween parade? Can I handle all three by myself?"

Virginia, applying red lipstick, replied in a silly tone, "This is a great opportunity for you to bond with the little ones."

"I'm just worried about their safety. The streets could get chaotic. Can't anyone accompany me? I at least need two people," he pressed.

Drew, attempting to fit her clown accessories, pointed to the twins. "Let Natasha go with you."

"Her?"

Ewa chimed in, "Come on, Eric! You're such a buzzkill. We've finally got some time to enjoy ourselves."

Virginia impatiently urged, "Yeah, go outside already! I still need to change."

With that, Eric was shoved out the door, along with one of the twins who ended up with a pair of pink glowing antennae handed to her, as they had prepared quite a bit for this event.

...

Although they'd gone trick-or-treating last year, Emma evidently had forgotten. Both little ones looked puzzled, unsure of what their dad had planned next, and it seemed rather frightening to them.

Downstairs, Joanna was cheerfully distributing candy from a box full for the children outside who chorused "Trick or treat!"

After sending off a wave of little trick-or-treaters, Joanna opened the door, signaling Eric to take the kids outside.

Eric carefully touched the soft antennae on his head and said to Joanna, "I feel a bit ridiculous."

Joanna leaned down to straighten Emma's pretty little dress and smiled at Eric. "Why would you feel strange? Haven't you ever done Halloween before?"

Eric thought the women might have been in cahoots; usually, mothers took the kids trick-or-treating. What was a big man like him doing with three small kids?

It seemed that after observing the earlier group of children, Emma began to get excited, tugging at Eric's sleeve and babbling to go outside.

"Alright, alright, let's go," Eric finally relented, taking Emma's hand while she clutched onto Kevin and Hawaii, with the twins quietly trailing behind them as they headed out.

This was a neighborhood in the southern part of Southampton. Exiting their estate, the street was alive with decorations, with pumpkin lanterns everywhere, and throngs of kids scurrying door to door under adult supervision.

Although it had been over a year since Men in Black had premiered, the blue antennae costume was still very popular, with numerous kids running around sporting the glowing headgear. Oddly, few adults wore such costumes. The twins, naturally a bit shy, didn't wear the antennae Drew had given them when they left, making Eric's own bright blue ones stand out even more. After all, compared to the movie, his "cosplay" was quite spot on.

Initially timid, the little ones grew bolder after visiting a few houses, expertly shouting "Trick or treat!" and scoring quite a bit of candy. Even Hawaii seemed genuinely curious, contemplating why saying that phrase brought treats. She even pointed to strangers' Halloween costumes, asking various questions along the way.

Eric decided to let the little ones lead the way as they continued many of their visits, switching streets at the end to explore a bit longer. It wasn't until the six of them suddenly found themselves at the edge of an unfamiliar lake that it dawned on Eric they'd wandered off quite a distance.

They were lost...

Stopping Kevin, who was about to try eating the candy wrapper, Eric cradled his son, looking at the twins beside him. "Do you girls know where we are?"

The twins paused, looking at each other cluelessly. "Master, we don't know either," they replied.

"Alright, what about the phone?"

One of the twins rummaged through her pocket and handed Eric their cellphone.

He dialed home, and when Joanna learned Eric had lost the three little ones, even her composed demeanor couldn't suppress her laughter. Yet, she managed to gather their surroundings and assured them she would soon come to pick them up.

After hanging up, Eric returned the phone to Natasha and looked around, leading the kids towards a bench under the lamplight by the lake.

Sitting on the bench with Kevin in his arms, Eric motioned for the twins to sit beside him and began sorting through their basket of collected goodies with the children.

...

After chatting with the children for a while, a chill breeze blew through, bringing a faint fragrance in the cool air. Eric glanced over at Natasha and her sister seated beside him, realizing how little he actually knew them since they had always been with Drew. Curious, he idly asked, "I just realized, how old are you two this year?"

The sisters turned towards Eric with puzzled expressions, quickly confirming he was speaking to them. The girl on his left answered, "Master, we are twenty-one."

"Oh, what a coincidence! That's the same age as Drew," Eric nodded, smiling. "I thought you two were my age."

The twins were uncertain of what he meant, carefully holding the children in their arms, bowing their heads slightly.

Eric remembered another question and asked, "By the way, where are your parents?"

The same girl on the left replied, "They're in Iowa; the boss bought a farm there."

Eric nodded, feeling that was a decent arrangement. He asked, "Do you miss home?"

This time, the twins displayed the same confused expression.

Eric was puzzled as well and explained, "I mean, do you want to go back..." Considering he didn't know specifically where they were from, he just used the previous term, "Do you want to go back to the Soviet Union?"

As soon as he said this, he noticed the girl on the left's face pale slightly, shaking her head urgently. "No, I don't want to."

Eric realized the collapse of the Soviet Union had profoundly affected her but didn't realize the depth of that fear. He sighed and asked, "What about in the future? What do you plan to do?"

The left girl's cheeks flushed noticeably; she cautiously glanced at Eric and softly replied, "Whatever the boss says, we do."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 756: I Can Talk Movies with Them]

"Eric, Chris, let me introduce you. This is John Neff. To be honest, I don't agree with many of his economic views, but we can't deny that under John's leadership, the Windsor Fund has nearly outperformed the Dow Jones by over 3% annually for the past twenty years."

It was the day after Halloween in Queens, New York, and Eric arrived punctually at the gathering Buffett mentioned, held in a wealthy villa in the area.

Upon hearing Buffett mention the Windsor Fund, Eric raised an eyebrow slightly but maintained a warm demeanor as he extended his hand to shake with the older gentleman who somewhat resembled Buffett, even sporting similar tortoiseshell-frame glasses.

"Hello, Eric and Chris," John Neff said, a broad smile on his face as he shook hands with both of them. He glanced at Buffett with a touch of dissatisfaction, "Hey, Warren, are you criticizing me in front of these young folks again? We should set aside some time to discuss your views on the efficient market hypothesis."

"Of course, I have all the time in the world," Buffett chuckled before adding, "But now, I need to introduce these two young men to some other old-timers."

In response, Buffett raised his glass toward John Neff and led Eric and Chris over to another gentleman in his sixties. "Another John," Buffett said as he lifted his glass. "John Bogle, this is Eric and Chris. You should meet."

Chris, on the other side of Buffett, eagerly reached out to John Bogle, "Mr. Bogle, I'm Chris Hansen. It's great to meet you. Oh, I've read many of your economics papers in college."

"Hello, Chris. I know you; Firefly Investment Company has done a remarkable job with its portfolio in recent years. Perhaps we can chat sometime."

"Absolutely, if I have that honor," Chris nodded vigorously, giving Eric the impression of a fan meeting a superstar.

Then again, this wasn't too surprising; Buffett wasn't the only big name in the room. Many attendees were infamous figures in the investment world.

Eric had done some homework on John Bogle; even without that, the name behind the Vanguard Group was legendary enough. He recalled that at its peak, the firm controlled more than a trillion in assets. Even now, Vanguard managed around $200 billion -- a substantial amount surpassing even Eric's considerable wealth.

From his encounters with major players like Seymour Gilbert of Morgan Stanley yesterday to this morning's introductions by Buffett, Eric had slowly come to realize that what represented a person's power was not merely how many resources they possessed but rather how much they could control.

Although he had harbored similar thoughts before, witnessing the capital moguls over the past few days had sharpened this realization. John Bogle, despite his personal wealth being dwarfed by Eric's, maintained firm control over over $200 billion in assets. The board memberships those assets represented among Fortune 500 companies were the true power the big funds wielded to influence industries and even national economies.

...

As Buffett made his rounds throughout the hall, he stopped by a bar and exchanged his drink. He chatted with Eric and Chris for a bit before saying, "Alright, Eric, feel free to mingle with anyone you're interested in. Of course, you can also meet some of these young folks your age."

Chris seemed eager to engage, raising his glass towards Eric and Buffett before heading off to another corner. As a top finance student, it was clear he admired many of the investment legends in the venue -- far more qualified than those so-called economists who only talked big.

The hall also housed numerous young people, presumably the proteges of the older veterans. Just then, a silver-haired elder walked over with a man in his thirties. "Hey, Warren, good evening! Oh, and Eric, let me introduce my brother's son, Nate. He's currently an investment manager at the Cahn Brothers Company."

Knowing they were primarily interested in Buffett, Eric smiled at them before stepping away.

...

After wandering through the crowd for a while, Virginia noticed Eric and approached him. "What are you discussing?"

Eric raised his glass toward the group of women he had just been chatting with nearby and grinned at the woman linking her arm with his. "Movies and fashion and stuff, nothing you big men would be interested in."

Eric chuckled, "Oh, I'm actually quite interested in those things."

As they conversed, a male voice called from behind, "Hey, Eric."

Turning around, Eric spotted Bill Gates and his wife. He smiled and extended his hand, "Hey, good evening, Bill, Melinda, this is Virginia Madsen."

"Hello, Ms. Madsen. Melinda and I happened to watch your movie when we were dating, The Others, right?"

"Yes, quite the surprise that was, years ago," Virginia said graciously as she shook hands with Bill and Melinda Gates.

Since the success of Windows 95, Microsoft had rapidly accelerated its engagement in the internet industry within the past six months. Not only had they launched a portal, but they'd even started acting as an internet service provider, seemingly following the old tactic of "shooting down a goose that flies by, whether you eat it or not." At this point, they were competing head-to-head with Yahoo! and America Online.

Eric had kept a keen eye on Microsoft's business activities. From their recent lackluster expansion results, he sensed no need to overreact to Microsoft's potential threat.

With the significant loss of the browser as a vital internet interface, he was less optimistic about Microsoft's internet prospects compared to the past. Besides, with Windows 95's success granting Microsoft monopoly status in operating systems, the symptoms of corporate bloat had begun appearing, leading to loss of agility. Despite having vast resources, entering a rapidly evolving industry wouldn't be easy.

Although a fierce competition had clearly begun behind the scenes, both sides maintained a facade of politeness. After a brief discussion, although they both remained polite, Eric sensed they wouldn't find much common ground. As they parted ways, Eric raised his arm for Virginia to link hers and said, "Let's go. Since Warren brought me here, I shouldn't waste his good intentions; connecting with these old-timers is definitely beneficial."

Virginia glanced at Chris, who was animatedly chatting with a bespectacled middle-aged man alongside Emily, and smiled, "Sure, but in this setting, you probably won't be as comfortable as Chris."

"That's fine," Eric laughed, "I can talk movies with them."

"Ha ha."

Quietly chatting, Eric made his way with Virginia into the crowd.

In such settings, people typically engaged in less serious business; mainly, it was about cultivating connections.

Years prior, Eric often found himself in a whirlwind of busyness, not particularly fond of such social gatherings, so he had been oblivious to this.

But recently, reflecting on a series of details -- from the video Terry Semel recorded for his daughter to Morgan Stanley Chairman Seymour Gilbert inviting him to yesterday's party and today, Buffett bringing him here -- Eric began to feel the omnipresent "web" pulling him in. Various groups, different powers, and diverse industries... What they all shared was significant influence and an undeniable desire to reel him into their networks to amplify their own strength.

...

After this party, the end of the year began to loom closer, and Eric's more relaxed lifestyle was coming to an end.

In the following week, the most closely watched event by most media across the U.S. would undoubtedly be the upcoming second annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

This year's show was scheduled for November 9th, a Thursday.

The formal broadcast time would be set for a month later, just like last year. Although this year's show would start at 10 PM, taking into account audience age restrictions, waiting two hours wasn't a burden for the viewers who had anticipated the show all year long, especially since many fans were young people used to nightlife. Although the delay pushed the airing back by an hour compared to last year, viewership projections remained conservatively estimated at 25 million.

For the general audience, they would only silently seek out pictures or video reports about the fashion show in newspapers or on television after November 9th to satisfy their curiosity. Yet those hundreds of guests invited to the show would have the chance to feast their eyes early.

Thanks to Eric's rigorous training last year, the Victoria's Secret Angels had become very familiar with the show format. However, the most pressure this year lay on Michael Bay, who was directing the event.

Since Michael Bay's appointment as the director for the second Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was announced, the media had scrutinized him for over six months. As his popularity surged, he was naturally under considerable pressure.

Nevertheless, Firefly Group welcomed this entirely, for just a week after the show, Michael Bay's new film, Bad Boys, would be released. Given that the movie had already garnered substantial anticipation, Eric believed it was almost certain that it would surpass the original box office numbers, especially since it was landing in a prime Thanksgiving slot.

Although the lead role had shifted away from Will Smith, in the original timeline, it was this very film that had propelled Will Smith to stardom, not the other way around. Consequently, the change in leads wouldn't significantly affect the film; moreover, there was an added benefit that once Bad Boys achieved the expected success, Firefly could immediately commence work on the sequel. After all, once Will Smith was replaced, the sequel wouldn't have to navigate as tumultuous a fate as in the preceding timeline.

...

Manhattan, Lexington Avenue Armory.

On November 9th, as evening approached, crowds began to gather on the streets, and luxury vehicles lined up at the end of the red carpet. Each guest who got out sparked rounds of excited screams and applause.

In contrast to last year when Eric had kept all the spotlight on the Victoria's Secret Angels, this year's project team slightly altered the strategy by inviting a broader array of well-known celebrities to attend, and attendees were eager to participate given the event's influence.

Eric didn't oppose this strategic shift but opted to maintain a lower profile, heading straight backstage at the fashion show.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 757: Just Have to Sit in the Steps]

With only twenty minutes until the show began, backstage was a whirlwind of activity. Crew members were busy with final confirmations over their headsets, and the Victoria's Secret Angels had started waiting in the wings. As Eric walked into the backstage area, he was quickly approached by Emily, Edward Razek, and Michael Bay, among others. The surrounding Victoria's Secret Angels greeted Eric warmly.

Seeing everyone clustering around him, Eric waved his hands and said, "You all keep busy; we can chat at the party later."

Everyone had plenty to do, and their gathering was due to Eric's special status. Upon hearing Eric's words, Edward Razek and Michael Bay nodded and headed back to their workstations, leaving only Emily behind.

Eric scanned the room and noticed five young men in their twenties about to take the stage. He asked Emily, "Is that the Backstreet Boys?"

After Firefly Records decided to go with the Teen-pop route, they poached the JIVE Records team, who had initially created superstars like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Coincidentally, Barry Weiss, the CEO of JIVE Records who had recently jumped from Sony, brought along a batch of newly recruited talent, which included none other than the Backstreet Boys, who had helped solidify Teen-pop's global success.

Emily followed Eric's gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, they've been doing really well since they dropped their single in September. They'll be performing a new song tonight. If you have any questions, Barry Weiss should be in the main lobby."

Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "No need, just curious. I don't want to talk shop tonight."

Emily pointed at a makeup area filled with Angels. "In that case, feel free! I have a ton to do, and your favorites are over there. But no funny business until after the show ends."

Feigning discontent, Eric replied, "Are you questioning my professionalism?"

"Of course not," Emily responded, shaking her head with a smile, her tone serious, "I'm questioning your character."

Eric shrugged in feigned exasperation. "Fine, I give up. I guess I'll just go hang out in the main lobby then."

As Emily was about to leave, she said, "But I didn't save you a seat."

"Ah, that's a bit much, isn't it?"

"You were the one who mentioned on the phone that you might be too busy," Emily said, winking, then added, "But hey, you can sit on the steps in the aisle."

"..."

"That's settled then," Emily nodded to herself, pleased with her quick thinking, saying, "Besides, no one else would be allowed to sit on the stairs. You get special treatment due to your status."

After saying this, Emily's intercom beeped, and she quickly spoke into the mic, then waved goodbye to Eric as she rushed off.

Eric wasn't the type to seek the spotlight. The thought of sitting alone on the aisle steps felt awkward to him. He wished he had a companion; two people would be less conspicuous.

Unfortunately, he was on his own that night. Drew and Amy Pascal returned to Los Angeles a few days ago after completing discussions on the stock pricing adjustment with Morgan Stanley. Chris, who was Emily's boyfriend, was supposed to attend but flew to San Francisco the day before to address some issues at the RD center for MP3 players and e-book readers. Virginia and Joanna would never accompany him to an event like this.

...

As he pondered in boredom, Eric headed towards the makeup area. As a special representative, Linda and her friends had their own privileges, occupying a row of makeup stations. At the moment, only Linda, Tyra Banks, and Diane Kruger were present, while Cindy Crawford prepared to kick off the show and Christy Turlington was set to close it.

"Hey, ladies, you all look gorgeous tonight," Eric greeted, gently hugging the three women and nodding at the surrounding Angels.

The women's makeup took four hours to perfect; the nervous makeup artist nearby clearly worried that Eric might accidentally ruin their looks.

After Eric settled into the empty seat next to Diane Kruger, Linda played with her eyebrow pencil and curiously asked, "Eric, I asked Emily, and she said you weren't coming tonight?"

"I thought it would be a shame not to see this big show in person, so here I am," Eric smiled, admiring Diane's radiant face framed by her blonde hair, and inquired, "How's shooting going?"

Diane Kruger nodded, softly saying, "I didn't do very well, but Director Fincher is incredibly patient, and everyone has been looking out for me."

When Gwyneth Paltrow turned her nose up at a minor role in Se7en, Eric had casually passed the lead role to Diane Kruger. Now, Se7en had already wrapped and was in post-production with Firefly setting a release date for Easter next year.

Eric advised, "Make sure to find more roles to practice your craft. You have the perfect vibe for a working woman, so don't rush into the film industry. There's plenty of time after you turn 25."

"Sure, I'll take your advice," Diane Kruger nodded obediently.

Linda, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a grin, "Eric, which type of female character do you think suits my vibe best?"

"Your vibe is more suited for being a loyal model, or maybe guest-starring as a reality show host."

"Sounds like jealousy; People used to say I had the aura of a Hollywood golden age star."

"Yeah, but unfortunately, that golden age has passed, never to return."

"Humph."

While they were chatting, the lobby music started playing. Eric recognized the familiar sound, glancing at his watch -- only ten minutes remained before the show would officially start.

As the music played, a staff member rushed over, saying, "Miss Kruger, Miss Banks, it's almost time. You need to change."

Both women nodded and stood up.

With the row of makeup tables now empty, Linda, evidently excited, moved a bit closer to Eric and whispered, "Eric, I bought an apartment in Greenwich Village. The real estate agent said it belonged to an artist -- it's beautiful. Do you want to come see it tonight?"

Eric joked, "I'm more into simple, modern style homes. I don't think I'd appreciate an artist's place."

Linda playfully slapped Eric's arm, "Are you coming or not? If not... "

Eric narrowed his eyes, "Oh, what are you planning?"

"I'm inviting Cindy back home with me tonight," she said.

"Sure, just send me a box of tapes tomorrow. I love those edge-of-the-seat types of films."

Linda tugged at Eric's sleeve, looking impatient, "Are you coming or not? If you're not..."

"Alright, fine," Eric said, adjusting Linda's notion slightly but nodding in agreement.

"Then it's settled; you can't invite any other women tonight."

"Fine, I promise."

Just then, the lobby music stopped, and it appeared the official event was about to start. Linda looked at Eric, who remained rooted in place. "Aren't you going to go to the front?"

"Well, here's the thing -- Emily didn't save me a seat."

"Ah, ha-ha," Linda chuckled in surprise, sensing everyone around them was stirring back to life. As the music resumed, knowing the show had begun, she waved over her makeup artist to check her look, then said to Eric, "I need to go get into my costume soon. I have a beautiful pair of big wings tonight, but it's too bad you won't get to see them."

With a smile, Eric said, "No worries, I can catch you another time."

"Humph! Bad guy; you're definitely thinking something bad."

After quickly touching up her makeup, Linda stood up and headed towards the dressing room.

...

As the lobby music played on, Eric listened to familiar voices and melodies. Although the Backstreet Boys weren't the most conventionally handsome group, their voices held the enchanting quality that young girls adored.

Apart from various makeup tools on the table, some boxes containing fruit salad and chocolates were present. For that night's big show, the Victoria's Secret Angels had undergone over two months of body training, and in the days leading up to the event, they had been on a diet. Not to mention the incredibly heavy angel wings, the high-energy atmosphere during the show was exhausting, so starting last year, Eric had made sure to have small snacks prepared for the Angels, and this year was no exception.

Popping a chocolate into his mouth, Eric contemplated whether he could find a spot to watch the performance from the photographer's area at the end of the runway. Just then, he caught a whiff of something, and a woman wearing a specially designed pink Victoria's Secret robe sat down next to him.

"Hi, Eric."

Turning his head, Eric recalled the woman and smiled, extending his hand, "Hi, Stephanie. You look stunning tonight."

The woman in front of him was Stephanie Seymour, who had unexpectedly replaced Heidi Klum last year. Eric remembered she was likely married to publishing mogul Peter Grant now, but he hadn't expected her to be at the Victoria's Secret Show this year.

"Thanks for the compliment, Eric," Stephanie Seymour smiled, nodding, her gaze lingering on Eric.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under her stare, Eric thought that such looks usually came from men to women.

"How's Peter doing? I'm sorry I couldn't attend your wedding."

"He's right in the lobby; we're doing well," Stephanie Seymour replied.

"Oh, that's good," Eric responded, glancing around the room. "Looks like everyone is getting ready."

"Yeah," Stephanie's expression shifted slightly, hinting at some reluctance. "But I'm only walking for the finale theme, so there's no need to worry."

From her demeanor, Eric could sense some underlying tension.

As a publishing tycoon, Peter Grant was worth over a billion, and given his age and conservative personality, it was likely that he might hold reservations about his wife participating in such a provocative show. It seemed Stephanie Seymour's only role in the show tonight might have been a compromise with Peter Grant.

Bored with the conversation, Eric realized he didn't have much to discuss with Stephanie Seymour. Not only was she a mother, but she was also quite a fierce woman. Eric recalled how she once sued the lead singer of Guns N' Roses for damages relating to her youth -- he wasn't interested in getting caught up with someone like that.

Seeing that Stephanie Seymour didn't seem ready to leave, Eric pushed the box of chocolate-covered treats towards her, asking, "Want some?"

"Thanks," Stephanie Seymour gracefully took a chocolate, sucking on it slowly with a hint of flirtation in her gaze.

With his misgivings rising, Eric looked around. Most people were busy, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding between him and Stephanie. But from a makeup artist who immediately feigned searching for something the moment Eric glanced her way, he knew that many eyes were on them.

Not wanting any wild rumors to spread, he said, "Okay, Stephanie, I think you should go prepare. Even if it's just one theme, it deserves your full attention."

"Don't worry, Eric. I won't mess it up," Stephanie Seymour said after swallowing her chocolate. "By the way, Eric, Peter and I are hosting a family gathering tomorrow, and I was wondering if you'd like to come?"

Eric shook his head. "I'm sorry, Stephanie, but I have to head back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

"Oh, that's too bad," Stephanie Seymour said, expressing just the right amount of regret. She realized that opportunities to connect with him would be hard to come by. Even at the afterparty in an hour, Eric would likely be surrounded by people.

After slightly rephrasing her words, Stephanie Seymour added, "Actually, Eric, I heard that Lifetime is preparing a new drama series with four female leads. Do you think there's a suitable role for me?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 758: 20 Million]

Hearing that Stephanie Seymour wanted a role in Sex and the City, Eric was not surprised. With the gleaming success of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, the upcoming series that Eric personally spearheaded for Lifetime garnered significant attention from many actresses in the television and film industry once the news broke.

Sex and the City featured a four-lead format, with the four female leads being around 30 years old. This age range meant that aside from a select few who had already achieved fame and could sustain their acting careers, many actresses found themselves gradually disappearing from both small and big screens as opportunities dwindled after turning thirty. Although Sex and the City was just a television show, its backing from a rising Lifetime network and Eric himself made it extremely attractive for actresses around thirty.

Seeing the eager look on Stephanie Seymour's face, Eric asked, "Stephanie, can I ask a rather blunt question? How old are you this year?"

Stephanie Seymour showed no signs of hesitation typical of many women when asked about age. "I'm twenty-eight, Eric. I know the age requirement for the four leads in Sex and the City is around thirty, but I believe that standard needn't be so strict, right?"

As she spoke, Stephanie subtly edged closer to Eric, casually popping a chocolate-covered almond into her mouth, her eyes lidded as she gazed over.

Not unaffected by the alluring scent of Chanel No. 5 that surrounded her, Eric gently shook his head, saying, "Stephanie, that's unfortunately not possible. Besides, age isn't your biggest issue; the real problem is you're too beautiful. You should know I originally recommended another British actress for the lead, but the writers rejected her because she was too stunning. They wanted the character to appear rather ordinary."

"Oh, Eric, you must be pulling my leg, right?" Stephanie's expression turned somewhat wistful. "It's the first time I've heard that a writer had the power to overrule the boss's decision!"

Eric shrugged his shoulders. "But that's just the way it is. Overall, I consider myself a pretty open-minded boss. As long as my subordinates can justify their viewpoints, I won't be stubborn."

Stephanie looked visibly unsatisfied, seemingly about to speak again when a discordant sound of footsteps interrupted them; the first segment had concluded.

Both turned instinctively at the sound, and Cindy Crawford had approached Eric from behind, clad in a seductive black outfit, her back adorned with a pair of vibrant red wings. As she extended her arms for staff to remove the large red wings, she greeted Eric with, "Hey, Eric, what were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing, Cindy. You look absolutely stunning tonight."

"Thanks, Eric, but how many times have you said that tonight?"

"This is the first time for you."

"Haha," Cindy chuckled, taking off the wings and grabbing a pink robe from an assistant. She turned to Stephanie Seymour, "Sorry, Stephanie, but that's my spot. Mind moving a bit?"

"Oh, of course," Stephanie nodded but didn't immediately rise. Instead, she fished out a business card from somewhere and handed it to Eric, saying, "Eric, maybe we can find some time to chat. Just call me whenever you want."

With that, and before Eric could respond, Stephanie got up and walked toward the dressing room.

Cindy observed it all and sat down in Stephanie's previous spot, chuckling, "A lot of furies around, aren't there?"

Eric fiddled with the business card that Stephanie had just handed him. "By your industry's standards, shouldn't she be all set by now? Why not just focus on being a wealthy wife?"

"Haha, she's not quite there," Cindy said with some schadenfreude. "She found an old man who's over twenty years her senior -- hardly a fulfillment of anything. And guess what? How many kids does Peter Brant have?"

Eric shrugged. "Does it matter?"

"Of course," Cindy lowered her voice, gossiping, "Peter Brant had five children with his ex-wife. They were married for almost twenty years before Stephanie. According to federal law, if Peter wanted to divorce her, he'd have to part with half his assets, but his ex didn't pursue that."

Now intrigued, Eric asked, "Why not?"

Cindy replied, "She was a smart woman. She knew that Peter couldn't handle losing half his wealth, which would cause him to lose control over his own assets. So, when they divorced, Peter Brant's ex-wife didn't ask for a division of property; instead, she made sure he established inheritance rights ahead of time. Her five kids will end up with most of Peter Brant's fortune. Although the details weren't disclosed, you can imagine -- this half originally belonging to Peter's ex-wife will inevitably be passed down to the five kids. Hence, if Stephanie marries him, even if the marriage lasts, she and her kids likely wouldn't inherit much. If they divorced, she'd get even less compensation."

After hearing that, Eric couldn't help but laugh. "I can't shake the feeling that you've painted Stephanie into a corner."

"Well, I would never let myself end up like that -- totally not worth it," Cindy remarked. She glanced at Eric, as if wanting to ask something but ultimately held back, casually asking, "By the way, what were you guys chatting about just now?"

"Oh, she asked if America's Next Top Model is planning to change hosts. She mentioned she'd love that opportunity."

Cindy widened her eyes in surprise but quickly realized from Eric's smile that he was joking. She slapped his arm playfully, saying, "You little rascal, always teasing me. But," she glanced at the business card in Eric's hand, "be careful, she's married. If the media catches wind of it, it could get quite messy."

Eric casually ripped the card and tossed it into a nearby trash can, laughing, "I'm a serious person and wouldn't do anything out of line."

"Ha, I'll believe that when pigs fly. Earlier this year at the Liberty City Manor, you figured Linda was married but still let things go awry, didn't you?" Even now, recalling the chaos from that day, Cindy's cheeks flushed.

"That was beyond my control."

"Puh."

Eric laughed heartily, taking note of the still-bustling crowd around him. "Why are you so idle? Why haven't you gone to change? I thought Christy would walk the first segment with you; where is she?"

Cindy explained, "I'll be in the fourth and sixth segments, so I can afford a little break. Christie needs to prepare early for her third segment with wings."

"Oh, then let's grab something to eat." Eric brought over a few boxes in front of him.

"Now that you mention it, I am a little hungry," Cindy said, grabbing a skewer of fruit salad. Suddenly remembering something, she said, "By the way, Eric, are you coming over to my place tonight?"

Eric shook his head with a smile, "You're incredibly forward, but sorry, I'm already booked."

"Ah, who is it, Stephanie? No way."

"Definitely not, didn't you just say it? There are just too many furies around."

Cindy rolled her eyes. "It must be Linda then! Did she say something about buying an apartment in Greenwich Village and wanted you to take a look?"

Eric was surprised. "Has she already mentioned that to someone else?"

Cindy pointed to herself, scoffing, "That's old news, a hundred years ago kind of thing. Only she would be silly enough to shell out $2.8 million for it, claiming it's the former residence of some pop-art master or whatever. I can't even remember the name; it was so obscure. All I know is that I feel she's been duped by the real estate agent."

Eric didn't mind, saying, "Who cares? As long as she's comfortable living there."

"Ha, you're the only one who can downplay a house purchase like that! $2.8 million? If it could at least hold its value, great, but if not and the market crashes, she'll be stuck maintaining it. Although she paid in full, owning a place in Manhattan isn't cheap."

"It won't be a problem; at least for the next twenty years, Manhattan's real estate prices will only increase. If you have some extra cash, you could invest in several properties."

"Hmm, I'll think about it," Cindy nodded, hearing staff behind her calling her name as she quickly got up. "I gotta go, Eric. I'll see you at the party later."

"See you later."

Eric waved as she left. After Cindy departed, he got up, taking advantage of the break in the show to find a less conspicuous spot at the front and watched the entire competition.

...

The next day, as media coverage on the second Victoria's Secret Fashion Show flooded in, Eric left Linda's apartment in Greenwich Village early in the morning, flying back to Los Angeles.

On November 10, the day Eric returned to Los Angeles, the year-end release schedule for 1995 had already begun.

In contrast to the bustling summer blockbusters, year-end releases seemed to lack excitement.

Take Firefly, for instance. The company planned to release two films, Bad Boys and 101 Dalmatians, on Thanksgiving and Christmas, respectively. Each film's production budget hovered around $20 million. If it were a few years prior, a $20 million budget could be considered mid-range production; however, in recent years, with the explosive growth of the film market, productions costing under $20 million were now categorized as low-budget films.

Aside from Firefly, other film companies were similarly releasing mid to low-budget films. For example, MGM's Scream and Mean Girls had budgets even lower than Firefly's two films.

Sony originally had the potential to release at least one blockbuster, whether it was Men in Black II or Jumanji 2. By adjusting their schedules, at least one of the two could make the Christmas release window. However, perhaps due to the first Jumanji's poor box office performance during last year's year-end period, Sony was apprehensive about repeating that failure and thus scheduled both films for next summer.

From 1988 to now, after seven years, with Eric's growing influence in Hollywood and the strong impact of his personal butterfly effect, the norms of film production and distribution in Hollywood had transformed drastically compared to the original timeline. Some films that should have emerged never did, while some major blockbusters had changed leads. Likewise, there were also many films that hadn't even existed in the original timeline but were now appearing.

Although Eric still maintained a considerable influence and control over a few movie companies in his circle, he found it impossible to accurately predict the development patterns of several other Hollywood cinema companies.

For instance, this year, Fox was releasing a Jim Carrey-starring comedy and a Tom Cruise drama during the year-end period; Eric had never even heard of the titles or their content.

The box office draw of stars Jim Carrey and Tom Cruise remained strong, and these films could be considered the most heavyweight in the year-end lineup. However, since neither was a big-budget film, despite both stars' salaries nearing $20 million, their overall production costs didn't exceed $50 million.

To avoid competing with the Thanksgiving period, Fox decided to release Jim Carrey's new film a week before Thanksgiving, premiering in over 2,600 theaters. In its first three days, it grossed over $33.2 million, with projections suggesting the first-week gross would easily exceed $45 million, close to production costs. Based on this trend, the total box office could at least reach $120 million.

Up to now, every film Jim Carrey had released since his debut had grossed over $100 million, which was nothing short of miraculous.

However, according to the original contract, this would be the last film Jim Carrey would make with Fox.

Before the film's release, it was rumored that Sony had privately reached out to Jim Carrey, proposing a deal that would offer him a $20 million salary for an upcoming film. Following the strong opening weekend box office of his last film with Fox, Jim Carrey's team hastily announced this news afterwards, marking it as the first non-revenue-sharing $20 million deal in Hollywood, igniting discussions throughout the entire entertainment industry.

With the global film market booming and the North American and European economies recovering, an influx of speculative money began to flow into the film industry, making it unstoppable for Hollywood stars' salaries to soar to astronomical levels.

Eric recalled that even after experiencing the 2008 economic crisis, which plunged the global film market into a deep freeze, Hollywood stars' salaries didn't show any signs of decline; it was mainly the second and third-tier stars whose situations became increasingly tough.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 759: The Inevitable Accident]

Thanksgiving in 1995 happened to fall on November 23, one week after Eric's return to Los Angeles, officially marking the start of the holiday film season.

On November 17, alongside the still-screening Jim Carrey comedy, Firefly Group's Bad Boys and MGM's Scream premiered. Additionally, Warner released It Takes Two and Sony's The American President -- two romantic comedies clearly timed for the holiday season.

As the year came to a close, Firefly Group held numerous meetings to summarize, plan, and look ahead. Despite the film division being the most public-facing, it accounted for only about 20% of the group's operating revenue. After returning to Los Angeles, Eric busied himself with a backlog of company matters accumulated over the past few months. Thus, he didn't pay much attention to the release of these two low-budget films. On the film's opening day, he casually glanced at the box office figures and set the matter aside.

However, contrary to Eric's indifferent reaction, the media's attention on the two films surpassed everyone's expectations.

...

With the buzz generated from directing the second Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and the full promotional support from Firefly Group, Michael Bay's film, Bad Boys, exceeded all predictions. This crime-action film, made on a modest budget of $19 million, garnered an impressive $26.6 million just in its first three days, knocking Jim Carrey's comedy off the top box office spot.

The buddy-cop type crime-action genre had been done to death over the years. Popular series like Beverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon, and countless lesser-known films had drained most creative ideas for the genre, making it hard to produce anything fresh.

Despite its impressive box office, Bad Boys received an unusual amount of praise from the media. The film's twist on the contrasting personalities of its two leading men was seen as a small creative innovation, but critics primarily lauded Michael Bay's directing style.

"With dazzling car chase scenes, sharp editing, and explosive action, Michael Bay proves he is truly a visual master. He created a $50 million blockbuster's visual impact out of a $19 million budget. While the plot sticks closely to genre norms, it undoubtedly satisfies audiences looking for visual stimulation."

"Perfectly timed slow-motion shots and stunning wide-angle scenes all carry a unique aesthetic. As a directorial debut, Michael Bay delivered a satisfying product for both the producers and the audience."

...

"I must say, Michael Bay's command over visual sensations reached a peak," Eric chuckled to himself when he read these media comments.

Having been through this before, Eric vividly remembered how Michael Bay's directing style was criticized for its repetitive "three tricks."

Interestingly, most media praising Bay now echoed sentiments that they would later use to criticize him. Most directors develop strong personal styles; many critics either loved or hated those styles from the start. Bay was one of the rare cases where perceptions shifted from love to hate, eventually morphing into intense dislike.

Yet, as long as the profits rolled in for the producers, who cared about critics' opinions?

Unlike in the original film where Will Smith starred as one of the leads, this time a different Black rapper took his place. Therefore, there was no awkward situation where Smith's rising fame hindered the sequel's production, like what happened with the first Bad Boys.

After the impressive box office numbers for Bad Boys came out during its opening weekend, Firefly's production department began discussions with Michael Bay about developing a sequel.

...

On the other hand, the horror film Scream, produced by Flower Films and distributed by MGM, also benefited from the fully integrated MGM's vigorous promotional support. It achieved $12.15 million during its opening weekend, landing in third place at the box office, trailing nearly $8 million behind Jim Carrey's comedy, which made $21.35 million. For a horror film released during the family-friendly Thanksgiving slot, this was an impressive performance, even if it didn't seem particularly remarkable.

Critics' opinions about Scream were polarized. Some found its suspenseful atmosphere captivating, while others deemed it a hodgepodge of common horror movie cliches.

Eric had hinted to Drew that she could run the distribution for Scream, but he remained uncertain as to why the film was succeeding.

After its first weekend gross of $12.15 million, Scream earned over $6 million in its next few weekdays, bringing its total to around $18.63 million by the week's end.

Combining the opening weekend's numbers, critical reception, and audience feedback, the film company made rough projections for the box office totals of the new releases.

...

Since it was merely a popcorn flick and a Black comedy, despite Michael Bay's acclaim from directing the Victoria's Secret show, most estimates pegged Bad Boys' North American total box office at $100 million. Given the production and marketing costs of around $30 million, Firefly was poised to reap significant profits from the North American ticket sales.

...

As for Scream, based on its opening weekend performance and mixed reviews, it was projected to garner just $50 million in total box office and a 30% to 50% drop in the following week -- far below Eric's recollections of it crossing the $100 million mark.

Just as Eric pondered whether this odd outcome was due to the butterfly effect of his reincarnation, time moved to the following week.

Jim Carrey's comedy, Bad Boys, and both lackluster romantic comedies from Sony and Warner followed expected patterns of box office decline. However, Scream's second weekend numbers shocked everyone.

Despite the release of a few films like Money Train and Casino that didn't particularly shine yet still grabbed market share, Scream surprisingly bounced back, posting a slight increase of 7% in ticket sales. It reached a remarkable $13.1 million in its three-day weekend, suggesting that its total box office would far exceed the initially predicted $50 million figure, possibly matching Bad Boys' earnings.

Both media and Hollywood film companies always reacted swiftly to unexpected box office hits. After all, the media wanted news, while the film companies desired audience interest.

...

Within days, the reasons behind Scream's miraculous box office surge were quickly uncovered.

The reasons appeared surprisingly straightforward.

"Teen viewers who were interviewed consistently stated that their friends and classmates were discussing the movie. They found the bloody and thrilling horror film exhilarating. The film's setting, centered around a group of high school students, resonated strongly with them. One interviewed boy even remarked: they were tired of seeing Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson playing the same old tough-guy roles; they wanted movies that reflected their lives, even if it meant watching a horror film.

Hollywood often views viewers aged 18 to 34 as one unified young audience segment. The wave of interest spurred by Scream could indicate that this age classification might need reevaluation. A professor from USC commented that the film's appeal rooted deeply in the echo of the Baby Boom generation. After World War II, the first Baby Boom saw over 10 million children born each year. The children born during that era grew up in the 60s and 70s and once again brought about another boom. This new Baby Boom had been influenced by the previous one, thus termed the echo of the Baby Boom. The total number of babies born in the 1970s reached around 60 million. Those aged between 16 to 25 undoubtedly formed a distinct movie-watching demographic. The success of Scream is largely attributed to its unintentional alignment with the viewing interests of this rebellious group of teenagers."

...

On a Beverly Hills terrace, Elisabeth, wrapped in a white bathrobe, sat reading an article from the Los Angeles Times analyzing the reasons behind Scream's box office success. She looked up at Eric, who sat across from her. "Hey, I suddenly regret something."

Without looking up from his coffee, Eric asked, "What's that?"

"Final Destination should also be considered a teen movie, right? I suddenly regret trading you for Austin Powers. Honestly, I think that script is getting worse the more I read it."

Eric chuckled and replied, "Yeah, I think it's terrible too, which is why I traded you for it."

"You jerk," Elisabeth glared at him and then cautiously asked, "So, have you started production over there?"

"New Line plans to release it next summer, casting has already begun. It's too late for you to trade back now," Eric smiled. "So, fair and square, you should just stick to making that terrible movie. But no one ever said a terrible movie can't make money."

"Hey, you just support her. Any low-budget horror film can earn such high box office, and you won't even help me pick a few scripts."

Eric shook his head. "This really isn't my fault. Drew picked the script herself. I didn't involve myself at all."

"She... hm," Elisabeth wore an obviously skeptical expression.

Eric shrugged. "That's just the way it is. You can ask around and find out. That girl is more astute than you think. $500,000 for a one-time purchase of five scripts from that writer. I feel bad for him; if he hadn't been tempted by that $500,000 and signed a packaged deal, each of his future scripts could have effortlessly landed him a nice house in Beverly Hills. Now, he's stuck with that $500,000 and has to buy a small apartment at the foot of the mountain."

A sly smile spread across Elisabeth's face as she said, "Eric, are you suggesting I snag that writer? The contract for $500,000 probably won't have a hefty penalty for breaking it either."

Eric was joking at first, and with Scream's immense success, Kevin Williamson was naturally due for a sizable profit share from MGM. His final earnings would surely far exceed the $500,000 prize. Moreover, no screenwriter could guarantee their script would consistently succeed. The odds of a horror film becoming a blockbuster were slim, and even if a film company offered to pay a penalty and help Kevin Williamson break the contract, a wise opponent would never agree.

Glancing at Elisabeth, Eric added, "You could give it a shot. As long as you're not just doing it out of spite, if you manage to land him, that would be a feat."

Having been in the film industry for a few years, Elisabeth understood the game well. She sighed and continued, "Looks like I should start picking some teen movie scripts too. So, Eric, what have you been busy with lately?"

"Meetings to discuss next year's department budget and development plans," Eric replied.

Elisabeth blinked, realizing she couldn't pry further but still curiously asked, "How much revenue is Firefly projected to reach this year?"

"About $24 billion, a bit better than initially expected."

"Wow, that's... a bit better. That's double what my family makes! Your tone when you said that is downright infuriating," Elisabeth fussed, and then couldn't help but ask, "Based on the regular 11% net profit margin, Firefly's net profit this year should be around $2.6 billion."

"Yeah, but there's also the residuals from last year's sale of the animation division and print media assets, which should be about $1.25 billion."

"Wow," Elisabeth exclaimed, envious as she snapped her fingers and grabbed a silver butter knife from her breakfast plate, waving it playfully. "Now, don't move! It's a hold-up."

Eric turned a page of the newspaper with a grin, raising his right hand in surrender. "I give up, your Majesty, but pulling this in broad daylight might get us caught. How about we move to the bedroom, and I'll give you a few hundred million?"

"Yuck," Elisabeth blinked in surprise, then turned beet red and, cursing under her breath, stood to clear the table, balancing the dishes in her hands as she headed back into the villa. "I'll go wake Julia. Ugh, it's all your fault; she's become lazier than a cat."

Eric watched as Elisabeth walked away, muttering, "She clearly lives with you, so how is this my fault?"

With her back turned, Elisabeth simply said, "It's all your fault regardless."

"Uh, okay then."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 760: Celebration Party]

As December rolled in, Scream continued its successful run in theaters, entering its third week. Even though Thanksgiving had passed, the film maintained its popularity among teenagers, raking in $13.56 million that week, bringing its cumulative total to $52.11 million.

In comparison, Firefly Group's Bad Boys had an impressive opening week with $42.57 million, which initially thrilled everyone. However, it faced a steady decline with over a 40% drop in ticket sales for two consecutive weeks. By its third week, the film's earnings fell to $15.6 million, which put it at a disadvantage against Scream, which saw just a 20% decline. There was a possibility that this low-budget thriller might even surpass Bad Boys in its fourth week.

Despite their differing box office trajectories, it was already evident that both films would surpass $100 million at the North American box office in the coming weeks. With both films having production costs not exceeding $20 million, including total costs around $30 million, they emerged as surprise hits for the year-end 1995 lineup. Other films released around the same time saw their three-week totals remain under $30 million. As a result, the respective film companies might escape losses, but their profits would pale in comparison to those of Scream and Bad Boys.

...

The unexpected success of Scream significantly boosted MGM's stock issuance plans for December.

In recent years, several major film companies in North America had nearly completed their transformations into media conglomerates. Even Columbia and Universal had large multinational groups backing them to extend their business operations beyond film. Meanwhile, MGM, which struggled with financial difficulties and debts for over a decade, remained limited to simple film production and distribution. If not for their enhanced power after acquiring major film rights from Flower Films and DreamWorks, securing capital through stock issuance would have been a tough sell.

However, backed by a string of successful film rights including Charlie's Angels, 007, Mission: Impossible, Night at the Museum, Resident Evil, and the recently triumphant Scream, MGM's stock issuance in December went off without a hitch. Their plan to issue 70 million shares was fully subscribed within a week of the launch.

Typically, a company's stock price trends downward during a stock issuance, but thanks to the positive sales of Scream, MGM's stock price not only remained stable but actually surged 6% over the week, reaching $15.80 per share. After the issuance, MGM's total shares hit 435 million, with a market capitalization reaching a new high of $6.873 billion. With the $1 billion raised through this issuance, MGM finally escaped its cash-strapped status, and its $1.7 billion debt no longer posed a significant threat, placing the company firmly on a path to recovery.

...

At the Firefly Group headquarters in Burbank, Kelly Haynes knocked on Eric's office door and walked in.

"Eric, I just received the casting information for Sex and the City from New York. They've narrowed the candidates down to eight."

Eric gestured for Kelly to sit down as he perused the actor profiles in his hands. After Candace Bushnell disagreed with Elizabeth Hurley taking on the lead role, Eric delegated the casting rights to AE Television Network's production department.

However, during the casting process, Eric added a few original actresses to the audition list. As he reviewed the audition results from New York, he was surprised to find that Sarah Jessica Parker was still on the shortlist for the lead character Carrie Bradshaw, along with another name that caught him off guard: Mary-Louise Parker, known for her role in the show in which she played a single mom.

Just by looking at the names, some might mistake them for sisters, but Eric was aware the two women had no relation whatsoever. In the character evaluation column, Mary's comments noted that she had years of experience on Broadway, was a skilled actress, sharp-eyed, and charming, making her a good fit for the urban writer character.

Due to the type and era of the series, Eric had a better impression of Mary-Louise Parker's character in the series Weeds. He recalled her character struggling for survival amid chaos, and he could only think of the innocently bright gaze that shone from those dark, soulful eyes.

Sitting across from Eric, Kelly noticed a strange smile creep across his face. Curiosity piquing, she asked, "Eric, what's going on?"

"Oh, nothing," he replied, shaking his head as he marked a cross on Mary-Louise Parker's profile.

Even though Mary-Louise Parker seemed to resonate more with him than Sarah Jessica Parker, Eric couldn't separate her from the single mom role in his memories for Sex and the City, especially since the original lead actress was already on the final candidates list. He decided he wouldn't complicate things further.

Confirming his decision, Eric flipped through the profiles of the other candidates but found no familiar faces.

Handing the materials back to Kelly, he said, "Let's go with Sarah Jessica Parker for the lead. I'll leave the other three female roles to Annie and the team to decide."

Kelly looked puzzled. "Eric, aren't you going to watch the audition tapes? They should arrive by tomorrow."

Eric shook his head. "No need. Since they've narrowed it down to eight, these candidates are surely suitable."

"Okay, I'll head out then."

Kelly gathered her things and was about to leave when Eric called her back. "By the way, Drew is throwing a party tonight at the Liberty City Manor to celebrate the successful stock issuance and the box office success of Scream. Do you want to come?"

Kelly paused, turning to shake her head. "I'm afraid I can't make it tonight. I promised Nina I'd take her to see a movie."

"Oh, that's fine then. I wouldn't want to keep you from being a good mom."

"Ha, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to my office."

Kelly chuckled, leaving Eric's office, but not even five minutes later, she turned back in.

"Eric, New Line called and said the English version of the project we collaborated on, Rumble in the Bronx, has been completed. Do you want to review it?"

Eric nodded and glanced at his watch before telling Kelly, "Have them prepare it. I'll stop by at three."

"Got it." Kelly nodded and exited the office.

...

Finishing up some work, Eric made his way to the file cabinet, pulled out a script, and then headed to the office building's screening room.

After several years, New Line had seamlessly integrated into the Firefly system. However, under Eric's guidance, the New Line team still maintained their original production strategies while ensuring collaboration continued with Golden Harvest across the ocean.

Rumble in the Bronx was another attempt by Golden Harvest to penetrate the North American market; they financed and produced the film while New Line contributed a portion of the investment and provided filming support, securing North American distribution rights. The film had reached completion last year and had been widely released in Asia, with its North American release scheduled for Easter next year.

While in our original timeline Rumble in the Bronx grossed over $30 million at the North American box office, Eric's interests lied only in the film's potential to boost the lead actor's popularity in North America.

At that moment, the other script in Eric's hand was the true focus of his plans.

This script, written by a little-known screenwriter named Ross Limon, was famous in the original timeline - it was Rush Hour.

At this time, the Rush Hour script was still just a simple and straightforward buddy-cop action film, quite similar to Bad Boys and previous series like Beverly Hills Cop and Lethal Weapon. They hadn't yet confirmed a fully Asian lead, and the story's plot was also significantly different from the original.

However, Eric only focused on the general story outline of the script; he planned to modify the detailed plot according to his vision later.

There was even a notable side note: Ross Limon, the writer of Rush Hour, also wrote another script called Titanic, revolving around the famous ship's story. However, this script was unrelated to the project Cameron was currently shooting. Some production companies had shown interest in the script, but once Firefly announced the Cameron-led Titanic project, Ross Limon's script became a complete afterthought.

...

Arriving at the headquarters' screening room, Eric encountered not only the head of New Line but also a few Asian faces, though the lead actor was absent.

"Mr. Williams, let me introduce you. This is Johnny Lee, the producer of Rumble in the Bronx, and this is Jack's agent, Chen," the New Line head introduced the two as Eric approached.

"Hello, Mr. Lee, Mr. Chen. Welcome to Los Angeles," Eric shook hands and said, "Shall we start the screening?"

Producer Lee responded enthusiastically, "Of course, Mr. Williams. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."

They exchanged minimal small talk before stepping into the screening room.

After the screening wrapped up, Eric patiently listened as the New Line representative explained the distribution plan. He simply nodded, not intending to interject. Instead, he split the Rush Hour script and handed copies to the New Line head and the lead actor's agent.

"I came across this script, and I think with some modifications, it could be a great fit for Jack. I've written detailed notes on the script, but I believe Jack will likely have many personal ideas if we move forward. So, Mr. Chen, feel free to discuss this with him, and if he's interested, we can seal the deal immediately."

Though he also received a few pages of the script, the Golden Harvest producer noted that Eric hadn't mentioned their interests. He glanced at Jack's agent, pondering whether to speak.

However, Jack's agent beamed at Eric's offer. "Mr. Williams, are you saying that if Jack is willing, we can sign right away?"

"Absolutely," Eric nodded with a smile. "If all goes well, I hope the film can hit theaters by next year's end."

Mr. Chen then asked, "So, Mr. Williams, will this film be produced by New Line, or is it under Firefly's main label?"

Eric explained, "New Line, but Mr. Chen, our various labels under Firefly, whether that's New Line, Firefly, or Disney, only differ in terms of the type of films produced. So there's no need to worry that New Line's production will lead to any unfavorable treatment."

While he hoped for a partnership, Mr. Chen pressed further, "Mr. Williams, what will Jack's salary be?"

"Ha, you can discuss that with New Line's team," Eric chuckled, replying.

Though Eric considered locking the deal for three lower-budget films at once, he determined it wasn't necessary to be too aggressive. After all, a win-win collaboration was the best route.

...

By the end of the screening, it was nearing five o'clock. After discussing Rush Hour, Eric handed off the follow-up work to the New Line team and hurriedly left to return to the Liberty City Manor.

Scream entered its fourth week, pulling in another $10.65 million, bringing its total to more than $62 million. With the upcoming Christmas season, a box office rebound seemed imminent; breaking the $100 million milestone was only a matter of time.

Additionally, with the smooth execution of MGM's stock issuance plan, Drew pestered him enough to gain permission for a celebration party at the Manor to toast MGM's recent successes.

By the time Eric returned to the Manor, it was already past six, and guests had started to arrive.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 761: I Don't Like Japan]

Eric had just walked into the seaside villa when Drew approached him with Amy Pascal, Frank Mancuso, and others greeting him.

On the surface, Drew was the major stakeholder in MGM, but almost everyone knew that the film company was still under Eric's control. This could be seen tonight with the venue chosen for MGM's celebration party at the Liberty City Estate.

After exchanging pleasantries with Drew, who was in charge of the party, and a few MGM executives, Eric noticed Tom Hanks coming over with a woman in her thirties. He approached them warmly and hugged Tom, saying, "Tom, great to see you! I didn't expect you'd come over so early."

"I came early to discuss the awards PR for Forrest Gump with Drew and the team," Hanks explained, introducing the woman beside him. "This is my wife, Rita Wilson."

"Hello, Mrs. Wilson," Eric smiled at her before turning back to Hanks. "With the impact Forrest Gump has had, I think you're bound to create an Oscar miracle this year."

Forrest Gump had been in theaters for nearly six months and had already grossed over $300 million. However, it continued its run in over a thousand North American theaters, and with the awards season approaching in December, the media's interest in Forrest Gump was reignited. The film, which had started to show signs of wear, once again saw box office rebounds, reaching a scale of $2 to $3 million weekly. While that wasn't much for a newly released film, it was a remarkable achievement for one that had been out for nearly half a year.

Thanks to its immense popularity and critical acclaim, there was no doubt that the film was locked in for major nominations at this year's Golden Globes and Oscars. Consequently, the media buzz had recently centered around the possibility of Tom Hanks being nominated for Best Actor.

Last year, Hanks had just won the Best Actor award for Saving Private Ryan. Typically, it's nearly impossible for an actor to win again just a year after receiving the trophy, but the impact of Forrest Gump was simply monumental. The character of Forrest had effectively been rendered a symbol of the American spirit, coupled with strong support from critics and Oscar voters. While the Oscar nominations hadn't been announced yet, most media outlets had already begun discussing Tom Hanks' chances for a consecutive Best Actor win.

"Oh, I hope so too," Hanks replied, his eyes brightening slightly.

There had been a fair number of actors in Oscar history who had won the Best Actor award twice, but winning consecutively would cement Hanks' name in Hollywood history, a coveted honor not easily achieved.

...

After chatting for a while longer, Eric greeted some of the other guests who had arrived. Just as he was about to head upstairs to change clothes and take a quick shower, he heard a somewhat timid female voice from behind.

"Hi, Eric..."

Turning around, Eric saw Christina Aguilera standing behind him. The girl was wearing a knee-length pink dress, which Eric vaguely recalled was a Chanel design she had worn before. Christina may not have grown taller, but in this expensive little dress, she certainly exuded an air of elegance.

After sizing her up, Eric smiled and nodded. In truth, the teenage Christina looked more like the girl-next-door compared to Britney Spears, but unfortunately, in the original timeline, Christina had struggled to compete with Britney, who had taken the 'sweetheart' route.

Eric noticed the shy expression on the girl's face. Finally, he asked, "Christina, what are you doing here?"

"I, um..." Christina fidgeted with her dress, "I came to help Drew organize the party."

"Oh," Eric chuckled lightly, not pressing further. "Drew should be in the kitchen, head over there. Since the party hasn't started yet, I'm going to change."

"Okay," Christina nodded obediently, watching Eric walk towards the staircase. She glanced around; the party staff was putting the final touches on the hall while a few early guests chatted near the glass wall, seemingly unaware of her presence.

...

After hesitating for a moment, Christina found her courage and headed toward the stairs.

She had visited the Liberty City Estate before and had even stayed the night once. The girl tiptoed down the long corridor for a while before finally locating Eric's master bedroom.

Carefully turning the doorknob, she was fortunate to find it unlocked, and pushed the door open, stepping quietly inside.

It was a spacious circular bedroom, much larger than her own home at first glance, with vast glass windows that reminded Christina of cliffside restaurants she'd seen on TV.

Eric wasn't in the bedroom, but she soon noticed his clothes discarded on the big bed. After looking around, aside from the door leading to the hallway, there was a smaller door that must lead to the bathroom. He was definitely in the shower.

At that thought, Christina's cheeks flushed involuntarily.

Caught between staying or leaving, she hesitated for a while before finally making up her mind. She closed the bedroom door behind her and walked towards the bathroom door.

Eric was comfortably soaking in hot water when he heard the door open. He turned around and saw the small figure he had just encountered the other day slip in.

Their eyes met, and Christina's face turned bright red as she stood awkwardly at the door.

Eric looked at her for a moment before helplessly saying, "You shouldn't have come in here."

"I, Eric, I..." She had impulsively burst in, but upon seeing Eric, Christina felt her mind buzzing, completely forgetting what she wanted to say.

Eric couldn't help but laugh, "Go back out. If Drew finds out you did this, you can forget about ever getting to wear such a pretty dress again."

At the mention of Drew, Christina became a bit more alert. After spending time with her, she certainly understood Drew's personality. However, while she didn't want to envy Drew -- after all, Drew had treated her quite well -- the $8,000 Chanel dress she wore was a gift from Drew, a sum Christina couldn't possibly afford.

Yet, she still couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

Reportedly, Drew's net worth had already exceeded $2 billion, and all of it traced back to the man in front of her.

Keeping these thoughts in mind, Christina didn't leave. Instead, she nervously kicked off her heels and stepped toward Eric.

"Eric, I..." Christina sat by the bathtub, kneeling down and poking at the thin foam layer, trying hard to meet Eric's gaze. "I... I'll do anything."

Eric smiled and reached out to grab a large towel nearby, handing it to Christina. "Put this under your knees; if your dress gets wet, you won't have anything else to change into."

Having already been very nervous, Christina complied and placed the towel under her knees while her cheeks flushed as she looked expectantly at Eric, seemingly waiting for his command.

However, Eric didn't make any further moves. Instead, he settled back comfortably in the bathtub and casually asked, "So, tell me, what have you been up to lately?"

Christina lightly traced her fingers along the marble edge of the bathtub, replying, "I've been, um, taking dance classes recently."

Eric thought for a moment, nodding. "Oh, at your age, you should be able to release a single next year."

"But they said to release an album, I have to wait until I'm 18," Christina pouted, her tone almost childlike.

"Well, you should know, Christina, that very few artists get to release an album at 18."

Christina looked up at Eric then quickly dropped her gaze, murmuring, "But I don't want to wait another two years."

"Why not?" Eric inquired.

Christina paused her erratic finger movements on the marble. "Eric, I feel like I should be able to release an album now. No one says girls under 18 can't release albums, right?"

"But rules are patterned like that. If you're not 18 yet, according to how you're being marketed, it will definitely cause a stir in the future," Eric explained. The model for Christina as planned by Firefly Records was that of a somewhat rebellious girl. While being underage wouldn't sabotage her fame, it would lead to concerns and resentment from adults about the influence on young girls.

Christina bit her lip and looked up at Eric. "Eric, I heard that many singers develop in Japan before they turn 18."

"Yeah, that should be true," Eric nodded. Not just singers, due to different legal restrictions, many young girls often went there to develop for a few years. Eric recalled many famous supermodels, actors, and singers had similar experiences.

Christina lifted her face, hopeful, saying, "So can I... release an album over there first?"

"If you want to go, I won't stop you," Eric replied.

After pondering for a moment, Christina quickly understood.

She quickly responded, "Then I won't go."

Eric smiled in satisfaction. "Christina, for many girls your age, they'd probably still be in high school, with their futures feeling so far away. Your starting point is already very high, so I think you have no reason to rush, do you?"

Christina replied, "Eric, I'm not in school anymore. I feel stupid and can't learn anything, so it's better if I come out to work early."

"I remember Disney Channel should have arranged some roles for you guys, right?"

Christina nodded, explaining that since the members of the Mickey Mouse Club were reassembled, apart from schooling and routine training, Disney often provided them roles in their children's TV shows to maintain public visibility. However, the payout for these roles was usually just a few thousand dollars, and the opportunities didn't come around often, sometimes just once every month or two. For someone like Christina, who had grown accustomed to high-society life alongside Drew, these sums seemed negligible.

After hesitating a bit, Christina asked, "Eric, can I act in movies?"

At that moment, Eric seemed to piece together some things. "Is your family in financial trouble?"

Christina struggled for words; they weren't necessarily short on money. Her mother had found work in Los Angeles, and with Christina occasionally earning from TV shows, they could get by comfortably. However, it was just enough for a mediocre middle-class life, which wasn't what she desired. She was eager to earn more money and live a better life.

Noting Christina's expression, Eric realized, "Alright, I get it. You can go out now; I'll arrange something for you when I get the chance."

Christina looked up, eyes sparkling. "Really?"

"Would I lie to you, little one?"

"Then..." Christina's eyes brightened as she felt the urge to do something. After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and took Eric's hand from the bathtub, trying to pull him toward herself, but instantly remembered Eric's earlier words about her dress getting wet if she wasn't careful.

In a moment of hesitation, the girl had a clever idea; she opened her mouth and was about to cram Eric's fingers into her mouth.

Eric couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. He pulled his hand away from Christina's grasp and pinched her chin playfully. "Alright, stop messing around. You have one minute. If you haven't disappeared in front of me by then, I'm taking back what I just said."

"Ah, I..." Christina stammered.

Eric didn't give her much time, waving five fingers. "Fifty seconds left."

Christina immediately pouted, arguing back. "There's no way it'll be that fast!"

Ignoring her, he dropped a finger. "Forty seconds."

"Ah, I'm going now," Christina quickly bounced up, dashing out of Eric's bathroom. In a blink, she turned back, silly smiling at Eric, picked up her heels from the floor, and slipped out.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 762: The Youngest Bond Girl]

After Christina left, Eric lay back in the bathtub, closing his eyes and taking a moment to relax, mulling over his thoughts that had emerged from the recent events.

After changing into a fresh outfit, he felt rejuvenated and headed downstairs.

In December, Los Angeles had relatively short days. By seven o'clock, the outdoors was already cloaked in twilight, but the villa's grand hall was brightly lit and bustling with people.

The party had been in full swing for a while.

Noticing Eric's arrival, many guests came over to greet him, and he responded with a friendly smile. After a short time, Drew approached with a woman in her thirties with brown hair. The group chatting with Eric recognized Drew and her companion's identities, realizing that the two women likely had business to discuss, so they discreetly stepped away.

Drew's companion was named Barbara Broccoli, the current head of the family behind the 007 series.

Since the production began in 1961 with the first Bond film, Dr. No, the Broccoli family had controlled the rights to the 007 series.

Although most audiences associated the Bond series with MGM, the franchise had little connection to MGM before the 1980s. The series' rights had been under the control of Eon Productions, managed by the Broccoli family. In the 1970s, Eon's partner, Harry Saltzman, fell out with the Broccoli family and sold half of his company shares to United Artists, which later went bankrupt due to Heaven's Gate and was subsequently acquired by MGM. That was how MGM ended up owning half of the Bond series rights.

Despite the lack of absolute control over the Bond rights from either MGM or Eon Productions, due to ongoing operational struggles, MGM found itself relying heavily on the Bond series to keep its business afloat. This made MGM somewhat of a weaker party in relation to the Broccoli family, who maintained tight control over everything from the scripts to distribution for years.

The Broccoli family's livelihood depended entirely on the 007 series. Barbara Broccoli was around 35 years old, and she had started working as an assistant director on the Bond series starting from the time she was 20. She climbed the ranks to producer, ultimately taking full command of the series after her father, Cubby Broccoli, retired. For the past decade or so, she had focused exclusively on this one film series.

However, the Broccoli family's stronghold over the Bond series began to diminish with MGM's recent acquisitions and consolidations.

In the over three decades preceding this, although the Bond series had faced several low points, all 17 films released thus far had been profitable, creating a strong dependence for MGM on the Bond franchise, leading them to make various compromises with the Broccoli family.

Now that MGM had acquired rights to a series of blockbuster hits, this dependence had significantly waned. MGM was no longer in a position where it needed to compromise with the Broccoli family to start this project. In fact, when Eric proposed merging the 007, Mission: Impossible, and Charlie's Angels franchises into a new MGM spy movie universe, the Broccoli family, despite their reluctance, agreeably accepted the plan.

While Eric had reclaimed the initiative, he showed no intention of sidelining the Broccoli family. After all, they had invested a significant portion of their lives shaping the Bond series, and their production experience far outweighed that of any unfamiliar producers.

...

As the two women approached, Eric warmly embraced Barbara Broccoli, saying, "Good evening, Barbara. You look stunning tonight."

Barbara Broccoli returned the hug and smiled, "Thank you, Eric. This villa is everything people said it would be; I almost wish I could have a house like this myself."

"Well, you're welcome to visit anytime. By the way, where's Michael?" Eric referred to Barbara's half-brother, Michael Wilson.

Barbara explained, "He's been busy handling some company matters in the UK."

After a few pleasantries, Drew pointed to the nearby lounge area and stated, "Eric, shall we go over there to talk?"

Eric nodded, taking a glass of champagne from a passing server's tray, and settled down on a sofa in the corner with the two women.

"Eric, I'm thrilled to hear that you're planning to direct the next Bond film yourself. Even Dad has asked about it!" After they sat, Barbara Broccoli quickly shifted the conversation back to the 007 series, "However, I've read the first draft of the script, and I feel like the tone of this Bond film is quite different compared to previous ones, let alone the one that just premiered in summer."

"Can you be more specific, Barbara?" Eric inquired leisurely.

Barbara replied, "Well, I feel that this installment's portrayal of Bond is leaning towards a more action-hero direction. Pierce's character should be more gentlemanly. And honestly, we've seen recently that the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger - the traditional action stars - are on the decline. Pursuing a hard-action approach may not be the best route for the 007 franchise."

"Are you suggesting we stick with Pierce Brosnan's portrayal from GoldenEye?" Eric asked.

Barbara nodded, "GoldenEye was very successful, and I think there's no harm in continuing that approach."

Eric met Barbara's unwavering gaze, reflecting on her words and understanding her intentions. Ultimately, she still wanted more control over the Bond series.

"If I recall right, GoldenEye's worldwide box office has reached around $350 million, and most key markets have released it. Hence, future numbers aren't likely to change drastically. $350 million in global revenue against a production budget of $70 million is obviously a great profit. Following this formula should help us maintain good profits for the upcoming films. But Barbara, don't you want to take Bond to even greater heights?"

Barbara bit her lip, defiantly responding, "Unless one can predict the outcome, nobody truly knows if they are moving forward or backward."

Noticing Barbara Broccoli's intent to stand her ground against him, Drew, sitting close to Eric, raised her chin as if to say something. But when she felt Eric patting her on the back of her hand, she fell silent again.

"When others are advancing but you remain stagnant, that is in itself a form of regression," Eric reassured the woman. He shrugged at Barbara, saying, "So let's skip the vague life philosophies. How about we discuss more practical issues? Regarding the change in script style, I don't aim to turn the Bond series into an action-hero franchise. I just wish to make Bond more relatable - he should get hurt, face failure, and even shed a tear, rather than just emerge impeccably dressed and untouched after a series of fights and explosions."

"But Bond should inherently be a gentleman. Audiences won't mind the details you mentioned; they just want to see something that gets their blood pumping."

"With advancements in special effects technology, there will be more films that excite viewers, and the audience's demands will grow increasingly stringent. At that point, if you don't craft Bond with more depth, audiences will quickly grow weary and abandon the franchise."

"..."

Barbara Broccoli wanted to add something, but Eric raised a hand to stop her. "Let's put it this way, Barbara. I can assure you that the Broccoli family's rights within the 007 series will remain intact, and the profit shares you enjoyed in the past won't change. If you wish, you can continue as a producer on the Bond series. However, this is all predicated on the Bond series aligning with MGM's developmental interests. If you wish to maintain absolute control over the 007 series, I can tell you now, there's no possibility of that happening. Moreover, MGM won't compromise with Eon Productions. We can move forward without Bond while still thriving, unlike Eon, which would end up with nothing."

As Eric's tone grew increasingly serious, Barbara felt a surge of indignation rise within her, but that anger quickly faded.

Eric patiently gave Barbara time to consider her options, sipping his champagne while surveying the surrounding guests. His gaze casually caught sight of a small figure in pink moving around, causing him to smile and wave at Christina, who immediately floated over.

"Hi, Drew," Christina greeted as she approached, first acknowledging Drew, which made Eric chuckle at the revelation that she seemed to hold Drew in higher regard than he.

Drew merely nodded casually. Eric patted the spot next to him, and Christina sat down stiffly, casting a curious glance at Barbara Broccoli, who was sitting diagonally across from her on the sofa.

"Eric," after a short moment, Barbara Broccoli spoke again, her tone tinged with a hint of compromise. "The 007 series is my father's life's work. I only hope that you treat it very seriously."

"Of course, if I didn't care for this series, I wouldn't be directing a sequel," Eric replied, realizing that Barbara no longer sought additional control. He then reassured her and patted Christina's slender shoulder, saying, "By the way, Barbara, I recently had an idea. Um, let me introduce you. This is Christina Aguilera. Christina, this is Ms. Barbara Broccoli. All the Bond films you've watched have been produced by her family."

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Broccoli. I really love the 007 series," Christina said, eager but uncertain of Eric's motivations, as she politely stood to shake Barbara's hand while offering a small compliment.

"Hello, Christina," Barbara replied, equally puzzled and somewhat uneasy due to her recent compromises.

"The thing is, we're almost done with the post-production for the second Charlie's Angels film. After that, we'll have one more installment. While the original characters will have appearances, there's an established strategy for a generational update for the Angels. I think Christina could potentially fit in as one of the successors for the next generation of Angels," Eric explained.

At this, Christina's eyes lit up, while Drew peeked at the girl with a grin. Barbara, however, looked utterly confused.

Eric continued, "Since there's going to be crossovers between 007, Charlie's Angels, and Mission: Impossible, what do you all think about introducing the youngest Bond girl in the history of the series? Doesn't that sound enticing?"

"Ah?"

"Wow!"

"Really?"

Watching the three women react differently, Eric affectionately patted Christina's head and said to Drew and Barbara, "It's absolutely true, and this is a conclusion I've reached after much consideration."

Since the original universe had featured the oldest Bond girl, why couldn't this one have the youngest Bond girl as a concept?

Christina was still under sixteen at this point. Having her play a Bond girl in this upcoming film, while also taking on the role in the future Charlie's Angels film, could serve as a bonding thread to connect these different franchises together.

Drew held unwavering trust in Eric, and although her eyes glimmered with unfathomable thoughts while looking at Christina, and little Christina appeared to want to withdraw, Drew ultimately said nothing.

Barbara, on the other hand, maintained a very cautious disposition. "Eric, if that's the case, the original script would need to be completely rewritten."

"No, it won't be that complicated. Haven't we been looking for a more plausible reason for Vesper's betrayal of Bond?" Eric replied, patting Christina's head again. "Look, now we have it! In the original script, her reason for betraying Bond to save her kidnapped boyfriend was overly contrived. Now, she has a younger sister who gets kidnapped, and as a result, she betrays Bond - that's a much more logical reason, right?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 763: The Catalyst]

During the Christmas season in 1995, the last batch of Hollywood's new releases began to hit theaters. Traditionally, this time saw an influx of art films vying for a shot at the next year's Oscars. With the manipulation of studios behind the scenes, the media always buzzed with excitement.

However, this year, the publicity and media atmosphere felt much cooler. In the announced nominations for the 53rd Golden Globe Awards, Forrest Gump unsurprisingly secured seven major nominations, including Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Even with Forrest Gump sweeping a series of precursor awards, some films might have outright neglected their PR strategies regarding awards if it weren't for the Golden Globes separating their film categories into Drama and Comedy. To avoid direct competition with Forrest Gump at the Globes, several drama films even squeezed into the Musical or Comedy category, leading to mockery and criticism from some media outlets.

While the public enjoyed their holiday festivities, MGM had been hinting at news related to the upcoming 007 film, Casino Royale, for several months.

When it was announced that Eric Williams would personally direct this 007 sequel, many people's first reaction was disbelief; they thought it was a joke. Eric Williams had no interest in directing his own Jurassic Park sequels -- how could he possibly take on a franchise like 007 that had been around for over thirty years? Insiders felt that the 007 series rarely deviated from its formulas, giving little room for innovation. As an audience member, one might still enjoy the grand visuals and glamorous bond girls, but as a director? That job felt like it could only be described as tedious.

However, as the rumors grew, they became increasingly convincing.

Eric Williams was reportedly discussing the project with 007 producer Barbara Broccoli at a party in his estate.

The next film would adapt Ian Fleming's last unfilmed story, Casino Royale.

MGM started secret negotiations with the Charlie's Angels trio.

The 18th 007 installment would kick off the MGM Agent Movie Universe.

Major talent agencies began probing MGM about the 007 project's progress, hoping to secure more roles.

This series of scattered details gradually indicated that perhaps Eric Williams really was set to direct the next 007 film.

Media outlets swiftly picked up on the news, seeking to dig deeper.

Still, Casino Royale remained in the script revision phase. After releasing some information, MGM placed a gag order on their employees to maintain the project's secrecy and buzz. The PR department merely stated that the project was still in preparation and nothing was finalized.

Barbara Broccoli, the current head of the 007 series, was not one to make public appearances, and reporters couldn't extract more information from her. However, her brother, Michael Wilson, who also served as a producer for the series, was quite the opposite -- he loved being in the spotlight.

Soon enough, resourceful reporters in London obtained confirmation from Michael Wilson that Eric Williams would indeed direct Casino Royale.

...

The news exploded.

Since the 1993 release of Jurassic Park, which shattered global box office records with over a billion dollars, more than two years had passed.

With no word on Eric's next film, media speculation about him stepping back from directing had circulated more than once. During these two years, LTD Group rapidly rose under the success of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, while Lifetime's two reality shows made waves. The consolidation of MGM, Flower Films, and DreamWorks, alongside Firefly Group's consistently strong film business, seemed to validate the media's conjectures about Eric.

While the general public paid less attention to Eric, within Hollywood and even the burgeoning internet sector -- even the unrelated fashion industry -- his presence remained strong, with no signs of influence waning.

Take 1995 as an example. Hollywood saw a bountiful year. As the Christmas season wound down, the total box office reached an all-time high of $6.5 billion.

Firefly Group alone made over $1 billion from just five films -- Jurassic Park 2, Independence Day, Toy Story 2, Bad Boys, and Runaway Bride. The group released 18 films that year, and although production slowed compared to previous years, their films amassed a total of $1.39 billion, capturing a global box office share of $2.7 billion.

Statistical agencies estimated that the global box office market for 1995 was around $17.5 billion. Thus, Firefly Group accounted for 15.4% of the global film market's box office share. It was widely recognized that Hollywood films dominated the market, but for one company to take such a large slice of it was staggering.

No doubt, it was this miracle-driven young man orchestrating it all.

As buzz grew around Eric directing Casino Royale, interest in him reignited.

...

The media adeptly seized this momentum and began supplying readers and viewers with more intriguing information.

What interested most people, however, was pretty superficial. Last year, Forbes had estimated Eric Williams' net worth at $46.5 billion, a figure that left later billionaires looking up in awe and numbed many who saw it. After all, it was hard for ordinary people to comprehend what $46.5 billion really meant.

Thus, while they may not grasp the immense power of such wealth, they remained intensely curious about Eric's financial standing this year. The media eagerly began tallying up the substantial assets or shares he owned.

The accompanying "map" of the Firefly business empire in BusinessWeekly caused a frenzy among numerous media outlets, becoming fodder for various discussions in the coming months.

The latest issue of BusinessWeekly displayed intricate details about Eric's two leading business empires, Firefly Group and Firefly Investment, for everyone to see.

Firefly Group, undeniably Hollywood's largest media conglomerate, owned a slew of premier entertainment companies, including Disney, ABC, Firefly Films, Pixar, New Line Cinema, Firefly Records, Buena Vista International, Digital Domain, Marvel Entertainment, and more. Last year, relevant institutions estimated Firefly Group's valuation at over $50 billion, and this year, bolstered by impressive revenue growth, it shattered records again, reaching $65 billion. Based on a 30% annual growth rate, Eric Williams, who owned 73% of Firefly Group, stood to gain over $47 billion in assets -- five billion more than last year's total valuation.

The size of Firefly Investment was equally astonishing.

Through thorough investigation, BusinessWeekly reporters revealed that this initially low-key investment company now boasted stakes in far more quality companies than most imagined.

Look at this.

Yahoo, the internet's leading portal and an undisputed industry leader in recent years, valued over $5 billion with an 80% stake held by Firefly Investment.

Cisco, a major networking equipment company, had a current market capitalization of $26 billion, and Firefly Investment owned 26% following substantial acquisitions over the last year.

America Online, a new internet service provider slated to hit the Nasdaq next January, was valued close to $5 billion, boasting a 30% stake from Firefly Investment.

LTD Group, known for its beloved lingerie brand Victoria's Secret and having surged following the annual show, had a current valuation of $5.9 billion, with a 35% stake taken by Firefly Investment.

Nokia, the Finnish mobile communications device company, achieved sales of 7 million phones in 1995, with Firefly Investment holding a 51% controlling stake.

Sprint, a well-known telecom operator with a mobile network across the U.S., had a 10% stake from Firefly Investment.

Qualcomm, an emerging telecommunications technology company with numerous patents for third-generation digital communications, garnered support from Sprint and Verizon, with Firefly Investment holding a 40% stake.

While most traditional investors deemed investing in high-tech companies risky due to the vast RD expenditures needed to remain competitive, especially considering the potential for rapid decline, the recent rise in tech-heavy Nasdaq values and the boom in internet and mobile communication industries left little doubt about these sectors' bright futures.

Thus, the estimation and share prices of the tech companies owned by Firefly Investment doubled in recent years.

Take Yahoo, for instance; this tech company with popular products like Yahoo Portal and Yahoo Mail, received less than $600 million from Firefly Investment over the years -- but given its current market valuation, Firefly Investment could easily see returns exceeding tenfold if it chose to sell.

Although these companies backed by Firefly Investment couldn't match Firefly Group's colossal size, they were nearly all leaders in their respective fields. With the rapid development of high-tech industries, it's conceivable that, in the coming years, one or more of these companies might even surpass the market value of Firefly Group.

Should such predictions hold true, Eric Williams' wealth would reach jaw-dropping heights.

Such a business miracle taking form in the life of a man barely thirty years old instilled a profound sense of powerlessness in many observers.

...

Amidst the swirling tide of public opinion, Eric turned down a multitude of media interview requests and continued with his day-to-day life.

During the Christmas season, MGM's Mean Girls and Firefly's 101 Dalmatians were released simultaneously.

Disney was a master of family comedies, and the release of 101 Dalmatians quickly won over holiday viewers with its entertaining storyline and adorable cast of spotted puppies, pulling in over $50 million within just two weeks.

While Mean Girls didn't match the blockbuster status of 101 Dalmatians, it benefited from the buzz generated by Scream's teenage audience market. This high school girl comedy initially garnered $20 million in its opening week and followed up with $15.6 million the next week. With production costs lower than Scream, MGM had already recouped its entire investment in just two weeks.

As Eric kept an eye on the year-end box office for both films, his first order of business after New Year's was to rush off to Mexico, to Rosarito, the set of Titanic.

With his personal business empire exposed, Eric didn't relish the spotlight on this situation, but if he claimed to feel no twinge of vanity, that would be a lie. This New Year, however, was not solely filled with good news.

At least among the upper echelon of Firefly Group, the worst news was undoubtedly that the Titanic project was spiraling out of control.

After a long preparatory period, Titanic began filming in July, with an original shooting schedule set for four months, aiming to wrap before Christmas.

Yet as the year-end approached, the upper management in Firefly's production department found that only about half of Titanic's filming was completed, with post-production nowhere in sight. At that point, $60 million of the $150 million budget had been spent by Cameron. To complete filming would take at least another four months and would likely consume the rest of the budget. Thus, the remaining $30 million allocated wouldn't even cover post-production.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 764: Stop]

Rosarito, located in Baja California, Mexico, is a seaside town less than twenty kilometers from the border. It was here that much of the filming for Titanic took place.

While Firefly Group had state-of-the-art filming facilities at its Playa Vista studio, the massive sets required for Titanic would have been impossible to realize in the space-hungry Los Angeles area. During the pre-production phase, James Cameron, introduced by his friend, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, decided to move the filming to Mexico, purchasing a sixteen-hectare plot near Rosarito to build a set.

As the new year began, it seemed that the various business miracles of Firefly Group had led many to experience a sense of aesthetic fatigue and rebellion. When news broke that the Titanic project was spiraling out of control, the media quickly jumped into action.

In recent years, film production costs had risen rapidly, yet films with budgets exceeding $60 million remained scarce. Titanic had burned through $60 million just to complete 50% of its pre-production. It was evident that if Firefly Group didn't make certain decisions immediately, completing the film could result in production costs exceeding the previous year's $170 million spent on Waterworld. Waterworld had already demonstrated that a film with such drastic budget overruns during production had little chance of box office success.

Although it was known that with Firefly Group's solid foundation, sustaining a loss of one or two hundred million on a single project would not result in bankruptcy like many other film companies, the chaos surrounding Titanic had nonetheless proven to some that Firefly was not invincible. After basking in glory for several years, this strong company was starting to face the inevitable failures that loomed ominously from the beginning.

Originally, Firefly had set the release date for Titanic on June 28, 1996, in a move that aligned three films in a franchise-like pattern along with The Matrix and The Rock. However, following the news of Titanic's troubled production, several film companies began to feel empowered. Paramount, for instance, deliberately scheduled the first project from its newly renamed Paramount Animation studio, Pocahontas, for June 28. After a few days of hesitation, Universal also announced plans to move the release of The Mummy 2 up from mid-July to June 21.

June was already the prime month for summer movie releases, a spot that had been consistently dominated by Firefly in previous years. Other major studios had attempted numerous times to reclaim their stake in this lucrative time slot, all without success. Yet this year, some finally saw an opportunity to break Firefly's monopoly on the schedule.

Given Titanic's production pace, if Firefly wanted to force the project to meet its timeline, the quality of the film would surely suffer. Conversely, if Firefly allowed Cameron to maintain the current pace, Titanic would definitely not make it to the summer blockbuster season. According to Firefly's film slate, there was no alternative film that could fill Titanic's slot. Thus, regardless of the outcome, Firefly was destined to lose the golden box office weeks from late June to early July.

"According to Firefly's film slate over the past two years, there's currently no single film that could take the spot left by Titanic. However, during our last meeting, everyone felt that a short-production romantic comedy would be the best choice, but due to our contractual agreement with the theaters, Titanic had already reserved 3,000 screens for its opening. Not just any typical rom-com could fill that kind of screen count," said Kelly Haynes, Eric's assistant, flipping through documents on her lap, revealing the desert landscape outside to Eric, who was gazing out the window.

The convoy of five black SUVs cruised slowly along Baja's coastal highway. Upon hearing that Eric was personally heading to the Rosarito filming set, both Drew beside him and Joanna working remotely from New York, as well as many in Firefly's upper echelon, all suggested the same thing: "Don't go."

When it became clear that they couldn't dissuade him, the second suggestion that came up the next day was to bring security -- lots of security. Thus, the convoy was organized with each vehicle carrying five people, including Eric, Kelly, and most of Eric's security team.

The American public had a rather typical view of Mexico -- generally associating it with cheap labor or drug trafficking. The bordering regions were notorious for rampant crime, often described simply as chaotic. As such, Eric didn't balk at the elaborate security arrangements.

Once Kelly finished speaking, she noticed Eric appeared a bit distracted and gently reminded him.

Eric snapped back to attention, asking, "Oh, what were you saying?"

Kelly patiently repeated her previous points.

Her intention was clear. While typical romantic comedies or dramas wouldn't fill 3,000 screens, a film directed by Eric personally would be different. Everyone knew that Eric's breakout hits, from Home Alone to Pretty Woman, were predominately in those genres.

"I understand what you all mean," Eric chuckled. "But you know how busy I am right now -- perhaps I'll have to make another trip to Australia. I can't help but worry about how The Matrix is progressing without seeing it firsthand. With this schedule, it seems I won't have much time for my own projects until after the Oscars. And post-Oscars, it's full steam ahead into preparations for Casino Royale."

As Eric's assistant, Kelly was far more familiar with his schedule than many of Firefly's executives; she understood he wouldn't be able to squeeze in making a film before the production of Casino Royale. She simply reiterated what everyone else felt and ceased to press the matter. "Eric, how do you plan to handle the next steps for Titanic?"

"What do you mean by handle?" Eric asked, puzzled.

Kelly thought for a moment before continuing, "If we want to finish this film, based on Cameron's current pace, it might take around $200 million to complete, plus the marketing budget. Given Cameron's past box office performances, Firefly is likely to face a total loss. The real question might just be how much we end up losing. I think calling it quits on this project might be the best way to minimize damages?"

Kelly's suggestion reflected the sentiments of many, and this viewpoint was even echoing in media circles. A complete halt could lead to piecing together the accumulated footage to form a film that could mitigate some losses.

However, even if Titanic couldn't replicate its original success, Eric didn't plan on proceeding in that manner. Having already lived through a cinematic miracle, he was curious to see just how far the film could go this time around.

Eric couldn't articulate his feelings directly to Kelly, so he merely joked, "If I call it off now, Jim might just kill me."

"You..." Kelly chuckled, saying, "I'm starting to think you might be a bit too invested in this project."

Eric turned to look at her elegant features and asked, "Is it that obvious?"

Feeling her cheeks warm, Kelly lowered her voice, "I guess I have a sense of your perspective. Otherwise, well, you wouldn't be here in Mexico personally."

Seeing Kelly scrambling to find words only made Eric smile. He didn't want to make her feel awkward, so he dropped the playful teasing.

...

After crossing the border, the convoy traveled for another half hour before arriving in Rosarito, a small border town spanning roughly ten kilometers. However, the Titanic filming set wasn't in the town itself, so the convoy continued south for about five kilometers to reach their destination.

On the large, beachfront lot by the roadside, a simple makeshift wall had been erected. From inside the car, Eric could already see the filming facilities behind the wall.

A crowd of photographers had gathered outside the entrance, drawn by a wave of recent media buzz. The sight of the five luxurious SUVs caught their attention. Initially stymied at the gate, the reporters quickly noticed something was up. They converged around the vehicles, flashing their cameras and some even knocking on the windows in hopes of provoking a response to get a shot.

Fortunately, with five identical vehicles, the reporters were unable to identify the correct target. Eric quietly remained in his vehicle, waiting for the security team of the first car to negotiate with the guard. One by one, the five vehicles drove into the filming studio under the disappointed cries of the reporters.

Once parked, as Eric stepped out of the vehicle, Titanic's producer, Jon Landau, rushed over with two staff members, enthusiastically embracing Eric. "Eric, it's so great to see you here!"

Eric laughed heartily. "Just not sure if Jim wanted me here."

Jon Landau shook hands with Kelly, his expression instantly turning serious upon hearing Eric's comment. He shook his head, saying, "It's good you could at least come and check things out."

"Yeah," Eric nodded. "By the way, where's Jim?"

"Oh, everyone's busy with filming. Follow me, we're on the main set," Jon Landau pointed toward the way and led Eric over.

As they left the parking lot, Eric took in the surroundings. Three large soundstages stood in the studio, busy crew members moved around, prop equipment lay scattered about, and there were several large water tanks, a massive suspended tank being constructed, long filming tracks stretching over a hundred meters, and, standing by the ocean, a full-scale replica of the Titanic...

Just looking around made it clear how much Cameron had spent.

Eric remembered that in the original timeline, the Titanic replica had only been a partial model. Various special effects and shooting techniques had been employed to prevent it from being obvious on camera. But the model before him now was complete.

Even though Eric said nothing as he surveyed the area, Jon Landau couldn't help but feel anxious. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. As the primary producer of Titanic, he was aware of just how extravagantly Cameron was spending.

At that moment, the crew was shooting a scene at the bow, and under Jon's guidance, Eric climbed up onto the deck. He noticed a crowd gathered around the filming site at the bow, and he could hear Cameron's booming voice from far away.

"William, filming this way looks like a pile of crap. I want a crane, a big crane to get wide shots of the leads at the bow, not this lame mechanical arm. This method is absolute garbage!"

After Cameron's rant, a clearly irritated male voice came through to Eric's ears, but compared to Cameron's thunderous outbursts, Eric had trouble making out what the man was saying.

Jon Landau whispered beside him, "Jim's arguing with William again. I saw his storyboards; he wants to capture some wide-angle shots of the leads embracing at the bow, which requires a large construction crane. William disagreed and only allowed a mechanical arm at the bow. It's clear Jim isn't happy with the current filming approach."

Kelly noticed Eric's slight look of confusion and leaned in to provide an explanation. "That's William Stewart, one of the producers responsible for this project. He supervises the budget for the production."

Eric nodded as they approached the crowd, saying to Jon, "Let's see what's happening."

As they squeezed through the crowd, they heard Cameron's roar again: "Damn Waterworld! You can't compare my film to that piece of trash! You're practically nullifying every decision I make. Keep this up and I'll quit -- I'm done, done with this!"

"..."

"What? I'll make you jump into the sea. No, you're making me jump into the sea! Ha! If that would help, I'd do it right now!"

Finally pushing their way through, Eric caught sight of the furious Cameron facing a poor middle-aged man. "Jim, do you even know how much you've spent? At this rate, you'll ruin everything! No amount of threats will sway me; I won't agree to your plan."

Cameron seemed oblivious to Eric's presence, waving his arms wildly. "No, I'm not threatening you! Oh, jumping into the sea, huh? Watch me!"

With that declaration, amidst the gasps from the crowd, Cameron flushed with anger and leaped over the railing, disappearing from view in a stunning act that stunned everyone.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 765: I Have a Condition]

With a splash, the sound of someone falling into the water startled the crowd, and they rushed towards the ship's edge.

Seeing the director jump into the sea, a few crew members who had been hanging onto the mechanical arm on the deck immediately slid down the safety rope, without waiting for any orders. There were over a hundred people on site, but Eric wasn't worried about Cameron's safety; he was just a bit amused, wondering what kind of behavior it was to jump into the ocean over a disagreement.

Reaching the ship's railing, Eric leaned over to look below. Cameron had already grabbed hold of the safety rope and was being slowly hoisted back up with the help of a few others.

William Stewart, who had gone pale from shock, sighed in relief upon seeing that Cameron was unharmed. Only then did he notice Eric standing not far away. Remembering what had just happened, he hurried forward to explain, "Eric, I..."

Eric nodded at William, reassuring him, "It's fine, William. I saw everything; it's not your fault."

Hearing Eric's words eased William's mind, but as he recalled the recent turn of events, he felt a swell of sadness. Just as he was about to share his grievances with Eric, Cameron jumped back onto the deck.

Still brimming with energy, seemingly aiming to confront William, Cameron's fierce demeanor faded the moment he spotted Eric. Ignoring his drenched appearance, he approached Eric with enthusiasm and gave him a hug, saying, "Eric, you arrived just in time, hmm..."

Looking around and noticing everyone was staring at him oddly, Cameron yelled, "What are you all standing around for? Don't you have work to do?"

Eric smirked and waved at the crew, who promptly scattered and returned to their tasks. Cameron disregarded these little details and dragged Eric to the bow of the ship, calling over Leonardo and Rachel. He animatedly instructed them to pose, saying, "Eric, just imagine -- Jack and Rose standing at the front of the Titanic, with the vast ocean stretching out before them, embraced in a kiss as they face the mighty ocean breeze under the breathtaking sunset; what a beautiful scene that would be. To accomplish this, we need to install a tower crane..."

As he passionately rambled on, Cameron leaned against the ship's railing, raising one arm high and moving it slowly, acting as if he were that imaginary tower crane.

Eric patiently listened to Cameron's evident obsession, and finally asked, "Jim, installing a crane would take too much time; can't we use a helicopter?"

Cameron immediately shook his head, "No, no, no, helicopters are too unstable; it has to be a tower crane."

Eric leaned against the railing, looking up at the sky, recalling scenes from memory, and smiled, "Alright, Jim. You know why I'm suddenly here; everyone is saying Titanic is spiraling out of control. Do you feel that way?"

Cameron's face briefly displayed a hint of embarrassment, but he quickly said, "Eric, I know this movie may not finish on schedule, but it's definitely not out of control. I'm fully aware of what I'm doing. Well, the budget might stretch a bit. I think, for you, money shouldn't be an issue; you should have plenty."

Eric looked at Cameron, who was dripping wet in his director's jacket, and waved his hand helplessly, "You should change clothes first and give me some time to figure out how to counter your arguments."

Cameron seemed to realize something and laughed boastfully, saying to Jon Landau nearby, "Jon, call them up now and have them prepare everything quickly."

After saying that, Cameron waved at Eric and quickly made his way towards the gangway.

After watching Cameron's retreating figure disappear, Jon Landau and William Stewart looked at Eric, their expressions questioning.

Eric nodded and said, "Let's proceed according to Jim's idea."

William Stewart still wore a worried look, "But Eric, this will delay us for at least two days, and many original shooting schedules will be disrupted."

"It was already a mess; a little more chaos won't make much difference," Eric replied, glancing at William, "Don't worry. Consider this project my indulgence. Regardless of the outcome, it won't affect you."

With Eric saying that, William didn't press further. His biggest concern had been the budget overruns and potential box office failure of Titanic, knowing that if these things happened, he might be fired as the producer. Since Eric had given such a promise, he certainly wouldn't push his luck by continuing the argument.

...

After sending Jon Landau and William Stewart off to make preparations, Eric finally had some free time and greeted the leading actors, "Leonardo, Rachel, how's it been working with Jim?"

Leonardo smiled bashfully, while Rachel Weisz, having met Eric a few times, felt a bit more comfortable. She leaned against the railing next to Eric and said, "Jim is usually quite friendly, but he gets angry too easily."

Rachel glanced over at Kelly standing a little ways off and asked, "Eric, didn't Caroline come with you?"

"No, but I'll bring her next time to see you."

"Oh," Rachel said with a tone of disappointment. She had been filming this movie for a few months now, not even returning home for Christmas, and with a volatile director, it had been tough. Had it not been for her naturally strong character, she would have given up many times.

Eric could empathize with Rachel's emotions and encouraged her, "Keep working hard. Who knows, after this, you might become the big star needing to be coddled by directors."

Rachel chuckled, "As long as I don't have to encounter directors like Jim again."

Just as she mentioned Cameron, that familiar figure rushed back from the gangway: "Hey, Eric, the morning shoot is definitely done; follow me, I'll show you what we've been shooting recently."

Eric nodded, said goodbye to Rachel and Leonardo, and left the deck with Cameron to a makeshift post-production studio onsite.

...

In the original timeline, many ordinary people were often puzzled after watching Titanic, as it was perceived to be a visual effects blockbuster. After all, to most, the film's visuals were primarily real-world objects. Unlike benchmark effects films such as Jurassic Park, Star Wars, or Men in Black, it appeared that Titanic didn't feature any 'special effects' scenes.

But the reality was far from that; the entire film, from the starry night sky to the warm breath seen in cold scenes, was primarily composed of visual effects technology. Furthermore, creating realistic scenes using CGI posed even greater challenges compared to depicting imaginary aliens or spaceships, since most people had never seen an alien and couldn't distinguish between real or fake. But when it came to accurately rendering real objects, anything less than meticulous could easily be spotted.

As they needed to install the tower crane for Cameron, there wasn't any time left in the morning to reset the shooting schedule. So, Eric was pulled by Cameron to see the footage that had been shot recently in the post-production studio.

Aside from a small portion that was entirely shot on location, most of the footage showed green screens, even a scene planned in the Titanic's luxurious first-class cabin had green screens surrounding the dining setup, illustrating the expected workload to transform this material into the film's final scenes.

"Eric, I assure you that, as long as funding doesn't become an issue, I can complete all filming within three months, and we can also handle post-production simultaneously. Aside from primary scenes, I can subcontract some minor effects work. Jon has started reaching out to effects studios. Plus, having a render farm will significantly speed up post-production. I'd estimate, hmm, before August, I can guarantee all work will be finished."

During lunch, a group gathered in the dining area discussing the film's production process. Cameron passionately reiterated his promises, and, well, making wild claims didn't cost a dime.

Feeling Eric's support for the project, Cameron's unsparing assurances flowed freely, causing team members like Jon Landau, William Stewart, and even Rachel to roll their eyes.

With a smile, Eric cut into his steak and told Cameron, "August? There's no way we can make the summer blockbusters. I just wish you won't drag this film into the end of the year without it being finished. Jim, that's my bottom line; you need to understand that Firefly isn't solely mine."

"Of course," Cameron immediately nodded, glancing over at William Stewart, sitting not too far away, and said, "But Eric, I have one condition."

"Hmm?"

"I think William doesn't need to waste time here. Just Jon and a few other production assistants should be enough."

Eric shook his head, "That won't do, Jim; William must stay here."

That was ridiculous. Without any constraints, this guy would surely run wild.

While Eric supported the continuation of filming, he certainly wouldn't allow Cameron to squander resources unchecked. Otherwise, three hundred million dollars wouldn't be enough for him.

Cameron hadn't tried to lower his voice intentionally, and hearing their conversation, William Stewart looked at Eric with a glimmer of hope. Though he was irritated by Cameron wanting to send him away, he would definitely prefer not to remain if he could help it.

After rejecting Cameron's request and continuing lunch, Eric suddenly remembered another matter. He turned to Cameron and Jon Landau, saying, "By the way, there's something else. I hope we can keep all the props from this movie intact."

Everyone showed puzzled expressions, and Jon Landau replied, "Eric, it doesn't seem necessary. There aren't many films from Hollywood's 20s and 30s, and most props have little chance of being reused. Plus, I've already arranged to sell the big ship model to a local factory after filming, which will recover some funds for post-production."

Although the plan heavily relied on effects technology, the sourcing of details was still remarkably expensive. The film's expenditure on thousands of costumes, tableware, and accessory items amounted to millions, not to mention the full-scale ship model meticulously crafted to a one-to-one ratio.

In the original timeline, after Titanic's miraculous success, the props had generated further ticket revenues through touring exhibitions, earning additional hundreds of millions for the producers. While Eric hesitated about whether this version of Titanic could achieve the same success as its original, if there was even a chance, he wasn't about to let this profit opportunity slip by.

Hearing that Jon Landau planned to sell the big ship model, Eric quickly shook his head, "No need; I still find that ship very meaningful. Moreover, Firefly will likely create ocean-related films in the future, and these props might come in handy. We could keep this entire set as a dedicated filming base for ocean-themed movies."

Seeing Eric's determination, the others naturally didn't oppose. After a brief discussion, they decided to construct a warehouse onsite specifically for storing Titanic's props.

Since he was there, Eric didn't rush to leave but stayed to observe Cameron's shooting process. Although some scenes at the bow were on hold due to the crane installation, the crew quickly arranged to shoot other scenes instead.

With the budget pressures alleviated, Cameron seemed to calm down and was less irritable. At least, for the next couple of days, Eric didn't hear any of Cameron's thunderous rants.

However, while the Rosarito set found a calm atmosphere internally, the outside world became more boisterous.

Though a gag order was issued immediately after the incident, the large number of people on set meant the gag order didn't hold much weight. The news of Cameron's leap into the ocean made headlines in the North American entertainment news the very next day.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 766: Sudden Developments]

"Cameron had a heated argument with Titanic producer Eric Williams and jumped into the sea."

"The Titanic project spiraled out of control. Eric Williams personally went to Rosarito, and overwhelmed by pressure, Cameron attempted to end his life by jumping into the ocean."

"Eric Williams and James Cameron got into a physical altercation on the Rosarito set, pushing each other into the sea, and the Titanic project might be completely derailed."

"..."

Because there was no footage leaked from the set, rumors began to spread wildly, fueled by gossip. In the following days, the media in the United States reported increasingly absurd stories about Cameron jumping into the sea. The Firefly Group's public relations department's attempts to clarify the situation failed to quell the rapid spread of these rumors, and more media reporters began to converge on Rosarito, Mexico.

In a hurry to address the situation, Eric decided to have ABC send journalists to the set to specifically record some behind-the-scenes footage of the crew. Although this did not completely suppress the spread of rumors, the absurd comments soon fell apart after the related videos were aired.

The day after Eric arrived in Rosarito, Stan Winston, CEO of Digital Domain, also came to discuss post-production issues.

Titanic was set to utilize a lot of very innovative special effects techniques. According to Eric's vision when he founded Digital Domain, these new special effects methods would be specially organized, and if possible, patents would be applied for. Even though many of the special effects ideas emerged from Cameron's imagination, he was completely absorbed in the film once Eric provided sufficient budget support and had no intention of keeping track of these details.

After a morning of shooting, Eric had already spent five days on the Rosarito set. With the oppressive atmosphere of budget constraints gone, although Cameron occasionally still displayed some irritability, the sense of being on the brink of explosion had completely disappeared, and the interpersonal relationships on set improved significantly.

...

During lunchtime, as Eric was with Cameron and others in the restaurant, Jon Landau walked in hurriedly.

After getting his meal, he came over to Eric's table and said, "Eric, are you going back this afternoon?"

"Yeah," Eric replied. "It seems like things here are wrapping up, and I can't really help out any more."

Jon nodded, hesitated for a moment, and warned, "I think you should be careful on your way back."

"Huh?" Eric looked up, puzzled.

Jon continued, "I heard there have been several robbery incidents targeting journalists lately. There were even two unfortunate guys who had their ribs broken. You know how expensive their professional filming equipment is. Also, I just had a chat with Victor, who's in charge of security on set, and he said there have indeed been some unidentified people around here lately. So, you know."

Eric nodded seriously. He was well aware of the security situation in Mexico. The country only had a little over a hundred thousand regular troops, but the number of illegal armed groups led by drug traffickers was comparable to that of regular forces. Currently, things were somewhat manageable, but in the coming years, as security further deteriorated, Mexico was even ranked by the United Nations among 'war status' countries like Somalia and Yugoslavia. Given that Rosarito was close to the Mexico-U.S. border, the local security situation was even worse. On the advice of the security team, Eric had not stepped out of the filming location since his arrival in Mexico.

Hearing Jon's warning, Cameron's expression turned serious too. "Eric, if it comes to that, you can take a helicopter back. It might be a hassle, but it's definitely safer."

Unlike in the U.S., helicopters were primarily controlled by government departments in Mexico, and it was difficult for ordinary citizens to obtain flight permits. Eric chuckled and shook his head. "There's no need to go to such lengths. It's only 30 kilometers from here to the border. If we drive fast, we'll make it in half an hour, and besides, my convoy might be safer than a helicopter."

Eric wasn't being arrogant. The twenty-three bodyguards accompanying him were mostly seasoned ex-Marines. The five SUVs he traveled in, while not up to presidential standards in equipment, were certainly equipped for safety and protection. As long as they didn't encounter any severe firepower attacks, they could hold out just fine if they ever got stuck.

After lunch and some more conversation, Eric said his goodbyes and left the Rosarito set with his female assistant.

...

Still on the coastal highway in southern California, once the vehicles were driving smoothly, Eric looked down at the latest version of the script for Casino Royale coming in from Los Angeles. Seated next to him, Kelly happened to glance in the rearview mirror and noticed that a few cars were following them, recalling Jon Landau's warning from earlier that day. She anxiously tapped Eric and pointed behind them.

Before Eric could respond, Carter Moen, sitting in the front passenger seat, said, "Ms. Haynes, it's nothing. That's just the reporters' car; they might be following us back."

"Oh, I see," Kelly chuckled, feeling a bit sheepish about her earlier paranoia.

The convoy soon passed through the town of Rosarito and continued forward. Eric flipped through a few more pages of the script and stretched his neck while chatting a bit with Kelly. Just as he was about to dive back into the script, Carter suddenly pressed his earpiece and spoke softly, urgently, then turned to Eric and said, "Eric, there might be some trouble up ahead."

Eric looked up, puzzled, "Huh?"

Kelly felt the tension and nervously grabbed Eric's sleeve, her face melting into worry.

"A container truck has stopped about a kilometer ahead, blocking the road," Carter explained and added, "a very cliched move."

Eric glanced out the window. Though this was a four-lane highway, the central barrier was made of cement blocks, and a container truck could effectively block off half a lane.

Eric knew he didn't have time to hesitate. He calmly told Carter, "I don't know anything about this. You handle it."

Carter nodded, instructed the two to fasten their seatbelts, and quickly began giving orders over his earpiece while retrieving a handgun from the glove compartment, followed by a semi-automatic rifle.

Taking a deep breath, Eric noticed Kelly's nervousness and patted her shoulder, reassuring, "Don't worry, it'll be fine. Even if we run into trouble, there will be help from the border in less than ten minutes."

"Yeah," Kelly's face relaxed a little as she held Eric's hand with one and reached into her bag with the other, realizing the phone was useless for making calls in Mexico, she put it back down.

In the midst of their brief exchange, the convoy suddenly accelerated, and moments later, Carter turned to Eric, commanding, "Everyone buckle up."

Then, a loud bang echoed from the front of the convoy.

Sitting in the left side of the rear compartment, Eric felt it was not a gunshot. Confused, he leaned toward the window to look outside.

The front SUV had rudely crashed through the central cement divider, forcing a lane change into oncoming traffic. Subsequently, the second and third SUVs followed suit, and amid the chaos, the fourth SUV Eric was in also veered onto the other lane, scraping against the remaining cement barrier, creating a horrible screeching noise.

In the front, Carter, gripping the semi-automatic rifle vigilantly, gazed out the right window. Eric regained his focus amid the bumpiness and looked to the right. A blue container truck sat squarely in the right lane, and he caught a glimpse of two bewildered Mexican men standing next to the truck as they passed by.

The convoy passed the container truck without changing lanes again. Fortunately, this coastal highway had sparse traffic, making it easy to maneuver around any oncoming vehicles.

Though Eric didn't see anyone pursuing them, Carter remained vigilant, continuously communicating with the bodyguards in various vehicles. Finally, after about ten minutes, the town near the border came into view, and everyone finally relaxed.

Kelly sighed heavily, glancing at Eric and then at Carter, who was disassembling his weapon and stowing it into a backpack. After a moment of thought, she said, "I just saw... maybe it was a misunderstanding?"

Eric recalled the expressions on the faces of the two Mexican men and felt some doubt. Still, he didn't question Carter's judgment. It was always better to be cautious.

Carter secured his weapon and looked through the rearview mirror. "It wasn't a misunderstanding, Ms. Haynes. If you look closely, you should have noticed that the guy in the blue jacket was concealing a submachine gun. Plus, the container doors were clearly wide open. If they were really stopped due to vehicle trouble, they wouldn't be in that position."

Kelly questioned further, "Why's that?"

Carter suddenly shifted the topic and asked her, "Ms. Haynes, do you know what's the most important thing when driving at night in Mexico?"

"Huh?"

Carter replied, "The most important thing is if you see a red light, you run it. Never stop. Because if you pause for even a few seconds, armed robbers will appear by your window, robbing you blind. What we just encountered is similar to that scenario; if we had stopped, I guarantee you that dozens of armed individuals would have come out from that container before we knew it, and we'd be in a world of trouble."

Kelly glanced at Carter's serious expression in the mirror, then shot a look at Eric. Seeing Eric nod in agreement, she instinctively touched her chest and said, "I've heard that Mexico can be pretty chaotic, but this is way too bold. Don't they fear harsh government crackdowns?"

Carter said, "To be honest, they really don't. This country is beyond repair, and it's very difficult to restore normal social order."

Hearing that, Eric recalled some things. He remembered how the later president of Mexico, Calderon, tried to take strong measures against crime, only to exacerbate social unrest; during his administration, the death toll of innocent civilians affected by violence exceeded twenty thousand.

Reflecting on this information, Eric suddenly realized he had been too careless this time. His profile was too high; it might be best not to return to Mexico in the future.

As they drove through the town adjacent to the border, Eric could see the customs entrance in the distance. Suddenly, he felt the vehicle slow down. He looked up to see Carter leaning out the window, handing a black backpack to a middle-aged man outside, so he didn't really pay it much attention; crossing customs usually required discarding any "contraband."

While Mexico had strict gun control laws, in practice, due to its proximity to the U.S. and social chaos, this ban was nearly nonexistent. Carter had mentioned to Eric that in this small border town, there were probably over two hundred gun dealers.

Once the convoy joined the flow of traffic entering and exiting the border, Kelly completely relaxed. Then she remembered something and suddenly said, "Oh right, Eric, didn't they say a few reporters were driving behind us? They won't be in any trouble, right?"

Eric had momentarily forgotten about them. He looked towards Carter, who was checking in with earpieces. Carter turned back and said, "No worries; they're all still following us."

"That's good, but..." Kelly glanced at Eric and said, "Perhaps when we get back, the media will have a field day."

Eric understood what Kelly meant. Given the events that had just unfolded, it was only logical that the media would latch on to the story.

...

Sure enough, on the very day Eric returned to Los Angeles, some evening papers published headlines such as "Eric Williams Nearly Kidnapped in Mexico," complete with numerous illustrations -- photos of the container truck blocking the road, the mangled barrier, and the noticeable scratches on the SUVs. With clever captions, the media sensationalized the entire incident.

Things indeed turned lively. As a world-renowned tycoon with a net worth in the tens of billions, Eric's influence was unmistakable. The Mexican government, unwilling to let such events tarnish its international image, swiftly reacted, claiming it was just a misunderstanding and even accusing Eric's vehicle of damaging public property, demanding he compensate for the damaged barrier.

However, these rebuttals fell flat. The identities of the two Mexican men next to the container truck were quickly unearthed by the savvy media; both were documented criminals, even wanted by the Mexican government.

Consequently, things only got noisier.

The Mexican government no longer mentioned compensation, making vague statements about swiftly apprehending criminals, before quieting down.

In light of all the external commotion, Eric had no time to dwell on this minor mishap. At the very least, this incident overshadowed the earlier rumors about Cameron jumping into the sea. He simply handed over the media-related matters to Firefly's PR team and continued busying himself with work.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 767: Trip to Australia]

What is the capital of Australia?

Most people might instinctively think of Sydney, with about eighty percent likely to do so. Often, the simplest questions are the ones that are most easily answered incorrectly. Among the remaining crowd, another ten percent might hesitate, recalling Australia's other major city, Melbourne. However, both answers are incorrect; Australia's capital is Canberra, a city that doesn't boast a strong sense of presence in most people's minds.

After returning from Mexico, Eric stayed in Los Angeles for a week before setting off again for the southern hemisphere and Australia. The absence of Titanic from the summer lineup was a done deal, and the remaining two films, The Matrix and The Rock, absolutely couldn't afford to fail. The Rock was directed by John Woo and filmed not far from Los Angeles in San Francisco, facilitating easy oversight from the company.

The Matrix was a different story; despite believing in the Wachowski brothers' talent, they were still relatively new directors. Moreover, the film was entirely shot in Sydney, and the local Australian branch of Digital Domain was solely responsible for the post-production effects. The entire process was far removed from Los Angeles, prompting Eric to decide to personally check on the film's progress.

In comparison to the grandiose nature of his trip to Mexico, Eric's journey to Sydney was much more streamlined. Besides The Matrix, he had some other matters to address, possibly requiring him to stay in Australia for another week or two. Given that Kelly, as a single mother, was not suited for the trip, Eric arranged to bring two assistants from the office, plus four bodyguards, totaling seven people headed to Australia.

Filming for The Matrix had wrapped up by the end of the previous year, and the Wachowskis had already completed a rough cut of three and a half hours. The key post-production effects work had also begun. The headquarters of Digital Domain's Australian branch was located in the Camperdown area, close to the University of Sydney. With ample technical support from the American headquarters and the robust cooperation of News Corporation in Australia, the Australian branch had rapidly grown to employ over 200 staff members, primarily focused on The Matrix's post-production.

...

Eric checked into a hotel near the University of Sydney, less than a kilometer away from Digital Domain, making it convenient for work. Although it was a personal trip entirely for work, Eric was still met at the airport by a local politician and invited to attend a charity gala the following evening. Shortly after Eric's arrival, Lachlan Murdoch, the eldest son of Rupert Murdoch, who was overseeing some newspaper publishing in Australia for News Corporation, also called to invite him to a private party.

Due to jet lag and consecutive social gatherings, Eric struggled to get into a work mode for the next three days. Early on the fourth day, still feeling a bit hungover, someone knocked on his hotel room door.

When he opened it, Robert Kote, the producer of The Matrix, stood outside. Because the company couldn't lure Joel Silver to handle the project, they ultimately selected Robert Kote, a man in his forties who had previously been a producer within the Disney system and had been in the business since the mid-'80s, making him quite experienced.

Seeing Eric, who looked disheveled with his hair messy and a weary expression, Robert Kote hesitated and said, "Sorry, Eric, I didn't realize you were still resting."

At that moment, Eric was only wearing pants and had no shirt on, looking somewhat unkempt. Automatically, he raised his empty wrist but quickly realized his watch was missing and he couldn't remember where he tossed it the night before. He asked Robert Kote, "What time is it?"

"It's nine-thirty," Robert replied. "You mentioned you would be at the special effects company at nine, so I came to check on you."

"Oh, sorry," Eric said, shaking his head. "I got a bit too drunk last night. Go ahead without me. I'll, um, be there by ten-thirty."

"Okay," Robert nodded, adding, "Do you need me to get room service for you?"

Eric declined, saying, "No, I just need to take a shower and grab some breakfast."

Robert acknowledged with a sound and left without further comment. Eric closed the door, stripped off his clothes, and jumped into the bathtub, running hot water and sinking into the tub, comfortably stretching out his body as he recalled some of the previous night's events.

...

Last night, he attended a party hosted by Lachlan Murdoch at the Murdoch family estate in the suburbs of Sydney. Eric was somewhat acquainted with Lachlan and James Murdoch, but the two young men seemed to be classical examples of spoiled children, likely due to Rupert Murdoch's busy lifestyle sidelining their upbringing. Lachlan had been placed in the Australia headquarters to oversee News Corporation's publishing business, but at his first press conference, he became tongue-tied by just a few questions from reporters, demonstrating his lack of preparation.

In Australia, where News Corporation controlled over seventy percent of the media channels, reporters, regardless of how cunning they might be, had no choice but to respect the Murdoch heir, highlighting how bad Lachlan performed. The incident left Rupert Murdoch visibly disappointed.

Eric also sensed that Lachlan and James didn't particularly like him. Given their similar ages and Rupert's high expectations for his sons, it wasn't hard to imagine an ambitious father would use peers like Eric to inspire his lethargic sons.

The party was clearly a reception influenced by Rupert's directives, but Lachlan had invited a ton of his contemporaries and behaved exceptionally friendly; both boys seemed to be following instructions to toast Eric one by one, men and women alike. In the end, Eric only remembered being helped into a car by his bodyguards.

Thinking back, Eric chuckled and shook his head. He wasn't genuinely angry; after all, the less competent the Murdoch boys were, the greater the chances Elisabeth would inherit the whole News Corporation. In truth, he wouldn't mind if they got into more trouble.

...

After his shower, Eric got dressed and went down to the hotel restaurant, where one of the assistants he brought with him, Peter Rich, was already waiting for him.

After ordering breakfast, as soon as the waiter left, Peter approached to update Eric on his work over the past two days. "Mr. Williams, I got in touch with Cate Blanchett's agent, but I haven't met her in person. The agent mentioned that Ms. Blanchett is filming a TV series in Brisbane."

Eric interrupted, puzzled, "Brisbane?"

Peter Rich nodded, explaining, "Brisbane is the capital of Queensland in northern Australia; it's the country's third largest city, following Sydney and Melbourne, about seven hundred kilometers from Sydney."

Eric nodded, signaling Peter to continue.

Peter continued, "Ms. Blanchett's agent was very enthusiastic about our invitation and indicated they would get Ms. Blanchett to return as soon as possible to meet you in person."

Eric inquired, "Did you deliver the script to them?"

"It's already been given to Ms. Blanchett's agent."

Eric nodded and said, "Keep in contact with them. I don't have much time. If I can't meet her in a week, let it go."

Peter replied, "Understood, Mr. Williams. Is there anything else?"

"No, um, how's Sean doing?" Eric asked, referring to another assistant he'd brought along.

Peter responded, "He's already made contact with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), but we just found out that CSIRO's developed WIFI technology has not been patented in North America. Perhaps we don't need to purchase it from them after all."

Eric arrived in Australia, not just for the film matters but also to secure the patent rights to the emerging WIFI technology, held by a lengthy-named technical research organization in Australia.

In the original timeline, the Australian government made nearly a billion dollars annually just by charging licensing fees on billions of devices using WIFI technology worldwide. However, back then, the internet was just beginning, and few people realized the true value of WIFI, presenting Eric with an opportunity to "scoop it up."

As long as he could secure the WIFI patent, not only would he be in for the foreseeable massive licensing fees, but it would also grant him leverage and priority for companies like Cisco, Yahoo, and America Online in wireless network technology.

He understood Peter's implication; since WIFI had not been patented in North America, Firefly could acquire related technical materials without spending anything and apply for the patent themselves, claiming the technology as theirs. This tactic of preempting others' technological achievements was not uncommon across many sectors.

Nevertheless, Eric shook his head without hesitation. This was not a matter of moral righteousness; it was clear that WIFI's applications would be global in nature. Even if he preemptively claimed the patent in North America, a long legal battle with CSIRO was inevitable, not to mention the implications abroad.

"There's no need for that. Purchasing the WIFI patent won't cost much."

It would take at least another ten years for WIFI technology to fully permeate, and with the exception of Eric, no one could foresee its wide-open future. Presently, securing the patent wouldn't even amount to ten million dollars.

The waiter soon brought Eric his breakfast. He waved Peter off, finished his meal, and left the hotel to head to the Digital Domain Australia headquarters.

...

From the start of filming The Matrix, Eric had closely monitored the Wachowski brothers' progress through emails and other means. Thanks to the assistance of experienced producer Robert Kote, the brothers had faced few difficulties throughout the shooting process.

In the following days, Eric focused on discussions with The Matrix's key creative team around the film's post-production and editing processes. Despite Eric's remote guidance and Robert Kote's on-site supervision, the Wachowski brothers slyly inserted many personal touches into the film.

In the original timeline, the movie's immense success stemmed not only from its bold and novel themes of reality versus illusion but also from the profound philosophical explorations depicted by the Wachowskis. Thus, Eric didn't completely remove their inserted "personal content," but rather, based on his memory of the intended version, he made appropriate cuts to strike a balance between the film's commercial elements and its philosophical reflections.

The original version of The Matrix, after stunning audiences with the first film, suffered in subsequent installments due to Time Warner's excessive delegation of power, leaving the Wachowskis lost in their convoluted filming ideologies. This trend resulted in diminishing box office returns as each film progressed -- particularly the last installment faced failure despite the significant boost from the second film.

...

While Eric busily oversaw The Matrix's post-production in Sydney, hundreds of kilometers north in Brisbane, Cate Blanchett was completing a day's shoot. As she exited the set, her agent Ron Lather pulled up in a car, signaling her to get in.

Cate, clutching her handbag, instinctively glanced around as if feeling guilty before slipping into the backseat.

Neither spoke immediately. They drove a couple of blocks before stopping outside a cafe. After getting out and entering the cafe, they ordered two coffees and settled at a window seat. That's when Cate suddenly couldn't help but laugh, "Ron, why do I feel like we're plotting something bad?"

Ron chuckled as well, still in amazement. Just three days earlier, a young man claiming to be Eric Williams's assistant approached him, expressing Eric's interest in having Cate audition for a Bond girl role. Ron's immediate reaction had been skepticism and doubt about whether it was a scam.

After all, while he knew very well the actress he represented had exceptional acting skills, it was impossible to link her to anything associated with Eric Williams's new film.

"I feel the same way! But this is definitely a dream opportunity for everyone, isn't it? By the way, Cate, you haven't told anyone else, have you?"

Cate shook her head with a smile, saying, "Of course not. I don't want to be seen as someone who's daydreaming."

https//Sayonara816.