I Am Hollywood

by Cui Shi yi

1 - 702

30. 903

I am Hollywood #Chapter 903: Chapter 905: Kinship - Read I am Hollywood Chapter 903: Chapter 905: Kinship Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

[Chapter 905: Kinship]

At six o'clock in the afternoon, the first day of the Titanic exhibition hall came to an end.

Initial reports indicated that, aside from the $100,000 earned from selling 20,000 tickets, the revenue from souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, and other attractions in the park on opening day reached $570,000. In total, the operation garnered $670,000. If this kind of popularity could be sustained, the exhibition hall's revenue for the year would exceed $200 million, especially considering that Firefly had invested less than $15 million into the entire project.

Of course, it was unrealistic to expect the Titanic exhibition hall to maintain this level of excitement indefinitely. With its single-film theme, the ticket prices were only $5 -- just a fraction of what you'd pay at Universal Studios. But with such a good start, it seemed only natural to expand Firefly's theme park.

As night fell, while the exhibition sections associated with the film had closed, places like restaurants and bars remained open late into the night. The grand banquet hall aboard the ship was set to host various parties in the future.

To celebrate the grand opening of the Titanic exhibition hall, Firefly hosted a lavish party aboard the ship. Eric had initially intended to skip the event, but he was reluctantly pulled along by his assistant.

...

"The problem now is that the north side of the studio is bordered by Balona Creek, the south is a dense residential area, and Lincoln Boulevard is to the west. The theme park can only expand to the east, which would conveniently connect to the Titanic exhibition hall. However, that area has become increasingly residential over the years. If news of our park expansion leaks, the residents over there will definitely raise their prices. This isn't without precedent; when Orlando Disney World was being built, they faced similar issues when planning leaked and land prices skyrocketed."

On the top deck of the ship, Katzenberg stood alongside Eric, leaning against the railing while watching the crowds reveling around them, discussing the expansion of the studio.

Eric turned his gaze eastward; in the night, compared to how desolate Firefly Studios had been when it was established, the area now lit up with numerous lights.

When they first acquired the land beneath them, it was purchased for little more than the price of raw land. Playa Vista had even offered several incentives to ensure Firefly Studios was located within its tax district.

But now, expanding towards the residential areas had priced the land far beyond those initial bargains. With Firefly Group's current financial strength, no one would pass up a chance to cash in.

As he withdrew his gaze and returned to leaning on the railing, Eric pointed out the dark zone west of Lincoln Boulevard. "Jeffrey, how about that side?"

Katzenberg followed Eric's indication, saying, "I've had people gather data on that area. There are roughly 160 hectares of vacant land going west from Lincoln Boulevard all the way to the coastline; it's even bigger than the area of the studio. However, if we were to buy that for theme park development, the Titanic exhibition hall and other upcoming attractions in our studio would be divided by Lincoln Boulevard. Also, even without considering that division, the distance from where we are at the Titanic exhibition hall to the coastal beach is over four kilometers -- visitors wouldn't want to run that far."

After considering for a moment, Eric replied, "Okay, Jeffrey, contact the Playa Vista district government to secure that land on the west side. Have the theme park team attempt a preliminary plan. Even if the park doesn't go through, a large parking lot in that location wouldn't hurt. A theme park definitely needs spacious parking."

Katzenberg nodded; purchasing the 160 hectares of land wouldn't put financial pressure on Firefly Group. "What about the east side?"

"Let's buy as much as we can, but we can't let ourselves be taken advantage of. If those residents demand too much, we will just forget it," Eric added. "Also, we can leak false information about the park being developed on the west side; it might make land acquisition easier."

...

In the bustling banquet hall aboard the ship, Melanie Gleason had just returned with two cocktails when she spotted two boys flirting with Caroline.

Quickening her steps, Melanie positioned herself between Caroline and the boys, and in a slightly sassy tone, warned, "Hey, guys, my sister's only twelve! You'd best steer clear."

Although the boys were a bit put out, they hesitated to cause a scene. They took lingering glances at the doll-like little girl before reluctantly walking away.

Perhaps caught up in the lively atmosphere, Caroline's cheeks were slightly flushed. Taking the cocktail from Melanie's hand, she expressed her mild displeasure. "Mel, I'm not that little! Last time you said I was fourteen!"

"These little punks are getting bolder. Fourteen doesn't apply anymore," Melanie chided, playfully pecking Caroline on the cheek. Watching the girl shrink her neck in a coy manner, she added, "Let's take a look around first, and then we'll meet with the Boss that you've been dreaming about."

"You're teasing me again," Caroline protested, glancing around wistfully. "What a shame Rachel went back to England; she would have definitely come tonight."

"Focus on yourself for now," Melanie advised. "Are you really planning to stay close to Eric?"

"Well, I think this is a great opportunity," Caroline replied, her long lashes lowering as her tone took on a hint of melancholy. "And just like Peter, after working with Eric for a while, I'll probably end up going somewhere else."

Melanie sighed, knowing that Caroline understood far more about everything than she let on. Although Caroline always appeared like a delicate doll, every time Melanie used the guise of the girl's age to fend off suitors, it had always worked wonders. Yet, in reality, she was already 26 and could no longer be the naive young girl she once was upon leaving the confines of her sheltered life.

Reaching out, Melanie cautiously pulled Caroline in for a hug. "That's just how it goes; every girl has to deal with a few jerks while growing up."

Caroline lightly tapped Melanie's arm. "You're quoting Eric's movie to tease him again. He's not a jerk."

"Right, right," Melanie agreed, then recalled some amusing tales Rachel had shared with her and laughed, saying, "He's a bad boy."

Caroline blushed deep red. "Ugh, how annoying! Rachel told you that?"

...

After discussing the studio's expansion with Katzenberg and mingling with some important guests, Eric noticed Caroline and Melanie had made their way to the top deck. He waved them over.

Melanie nudged Caroline, who stepped forward to greet Eric politely. "Good evening, Eric."

"You too," Eric smiled, taking in Caroline's knee-length fitted dress. "You look beautiful tonight."

"Thank you," Caroline said, nodding. As she saw Eric relaxing against the railing, she took a small step forward, standing beside him while gazing at the night view.

Having considered everything for several days, Eric had finally made up his mind. Looking at Caroline's captivating demeanor by his side, he casually started a conversation. "So, how've you been lately?"

"Very well," Caroline said, instinctively wanting to linger a bit longer beside him. She added, "My aunt came to Los Angeles to see me last week."

Suddenly, Eric felt a fleeting memory spark inside him. "Your aunt?"

"Yeah, it's the first time I've met her. Eric, have you forgotten? When we met at Harvard, I showed you her picture," Caroline reminded him.

Eric's memory clicked; he recalled the woman in a black shirt he had encountered at the London premiere of Casino Royale.

The photo Caroline had shown him during their Harvard days surfaced in his mind. The lighting in the hallway had been dim, but he was now one hundred percent certain that woman was Caroline's aunt.

But why had she been at the Casino Royale premiere? He remembered Caroline mentioning that her aunt had referred to her in a letter. It seemed plausible that she had come to check on her niece's "boyfriend."

Yet, reminiscing about that woman's expression, Eric felt a nagging sense that things were more complicated than they appeared.

"So, Caroline, do you have a picture of your aunt with you right now?"

Caroline didn't understand why Eric was asking this but nodded, retrieving a small wallet from her handbag and flipping through it. "Here, this is a picture we took together on the Walk of Fame last week."

Eric accepted the wallet, looking closely at the image of the woman affectionately embracing Caroline, his mind swirling with an inexplicable feeling. He struggled to pinpoint what was amiss.

Seeing Eric staring at the photo for a while, Caroline suddenly recalled the T-shirt she wore that day might have shown a bit of her waist. Feeling her cheeks warm, she wanted to take the wallet back but hesitated. Instead, she attempted to keep the conversation going. "But, um, Eric, I think your eyes look a lot like my aunt's."

Caroline's innocent remark struck Eric like lightning, clarifying the chaos in his thoughts. He noticed he had loosened his grip, causing the girl's delicate pink wallet to slip from his fingers.

If a woman were simply there to check on her niece's boyfriend, she wouldn't show an expression of guilt like the one he had seen.

However, considering a different perspective, many details began to add up. Eric finally grasped that the strange feeling within him was a sense of deja vu.

As the wallet fell, Eric came back to reality, quickly apologizing to Caroline and instructing a waiter on the lower deck to retrieve it. He caught it as it was thrown up and handed it back to the girl. "I'm so sorry; it slipped."

"It's okay," Caroline shook her head, putting the wallet back in her bag. Looking up, she caught Eric looking at her again, shyly inquiring, "Eric, what's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing," Eric replied, reaching out to playfully tug at a strand of hair on her shoulder. "You've got a hair here."

"Mm... Huh?" Caroline began to nod but felt a sudden tug above her head, tilting her head as Eric nonchalantly withdrew his hand, his casual demeanor causing her to scrunch her nose in dissatisfaction. "Eric, you're such a tease."

Eric found her annoyed expression adorably cute. After a moment of hesitation, he gestured for Melanie, who was standing a short distance away, to come over. Once she arrived, he said, "Here's the plan, Melanie. You and Caroline will stay close to me from now on."

Caroline and Melanie exchanged bewildered looks.

In truth, Melanie had considered this idea already. However, she knew she couldn't be by Caroline's side forever. Plus, if Eric needed two assistants simultaneously, it might not naturally fall to her.

Eric didn't elaborate any further. Seeing no objections from either girl, he declared, "Then it's settled. Next week, Kelly will help you both get arranged. For now, go have some fun; I have a few things to take care of."

...

Once the girls had left, Eric leaned against the railing, finishing his glass of red wine in silence. He left the top deck and found Katzenberg discussing early preparations for Spider-Man. Together, they headed to an office within the ship's cabin. Eric handed Katzenberg a napkin-wrapped package and said, "Jeffrey, do me a favor, and let's keep this under wraps."

Seeing the serious expression on Eric's face, Katzenberg nodded earnestly, accepting the package with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Eric explained, "Inside are two strands of hair. I need you to have someone do a kinship test."

Katzenberg clearly didn't quite grasp the term. "Kinship test?"

"DNA testing. Have someone check if the owners of these two strands of hair are, uh, cousins."

With that clarification, Katzenberg finally understood.

While his curiosity grew, he also knew that Eric wouldn't share such private matters unless he trusted him entirely. He stowed the package in his wallet with the utmost seriousness and nodded. "Don't worry, Eric. I'll get it done right away and have results for you by Monday."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 906: Evasive Maneuvers]

Both Eric and Katzenberg hoped that the expansion of the Firefly Group theme park project would occur quietly and without fanfare. However, some things were simply destined to not go as planned. The day after the opening of the Titanic exhibition, the media burst forth with reports that Firefly Group was set to build a theme park based on the Playa Vista studio, even analyzing in detail the most likely eastward expansion plans for Firefly Studios.

Soon after, staff members who had been discreetly negotiating with the residents east of Firefly Studios reported that nearly all the homeowners who had almost agreed to sell now backed out. Although most were willing to continue discussions, without exception, they raised their asking prices to astronomical levels. Some homeowners even quoted $1 million for properties valued at less than $100,000.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that someone was stirring the pot, and it wasn't hard to guess who that someone might be. In contrast, the plan to acquire 160 acres of land west of Lincoln Avenue moved along smoothly. Once proposed, the Playa Vista district government quickly approved it, offering only a 50% markup over what Firefly initially paid for the studio land.

One could easily imagine that the Playa Vista district was eager for Firefly Group to build a theme park within their borders. After all, a large theme park could generate hundreds of millions in taxes and create numerous job opportunities for the local community. Tax revenue and employment generally served as indicators of how well various levels of government performed, from federal presidents to small-town mayors. To win voter support, one couldn't escape these metrics.

Due to the disruption, plans to expand eastward were now put on hold. Management had no choice but to let the theme park design team focus on the parcels west of Lincoln Avenue, trying to draft a feasible proposal.

...

On Saturday night, Eric secretly handed his and Caroline's hair samples to Katzenberg, who initially promised to deliver the results by Monday. However, the next day, Katzenberg called with a tone of regret, explaining that the cousin relation testing Eric requested was proving challenging. To obtain accurate results, it might take up to three days.

By Wednesday morning of the following week, Eric was in his office at Firefly Studios when Katzenberg finally brought in a thick stack of evaluation reports.

"For confidentiality, I had the analysis done in San Francisco," Katzenberg said, pulling the reports out of their folder and placing them in front of Eric. He continued, "The report just came in this morning. The doctor overseeing the analysis told me they've compared all 46 chromosomes from both samples and selected nine that matched preliminarily for further testing. Out of the 50 DNA loci sampled on those chromosomes, only one showed a difference, yielding a matching rate of 98%. They then tested another 50 DNA loci, and this time, all matched."

At this point, Katzenberg's implication was clear. Noticing Eric deeply engrossed in the report, he remained silent, quietly leaving the office.

The report spanned over twenty pages, containing far more detail than Katzenberg had mentioned and included many professional comparison images.

After calmly finishing the report, Eric glanced at the definitive conclusion on the last page and, after a moment of silence, rose to walk over to the shredder, feeding the report and the manila envelope into it.

To be fair, Eric had no interest in the origins of this body. If it weren't for Caroline, he wouldn't have proactively sought any verification, even if he sensed something was off. After sorting through some details in his mind, he realized that perhaps the woman had no intention of claiming him and that was probably for the best.

...

Lost in thought, staring at the pile of shreds, he heard a light knock on the office door. Eric responded and turned around. Caroline walked in with a stack of documents. Noticing Eric standing next to the shredder with a strange expression on his face, she asked in confusion, "Eric, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Eric shook his head and made a habitual joke. "I'm just not used to this; I almost thought an elementary school kid invaded my office."

Caroline scrunched her nose in annoyance, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Ignoring Eric's banter, she placed several binders on his desk and said, "These are the ones you need to review and sign today. Also, Ms. Pascal called; MGM's negotiations with Rainbow Media reached a conclusion, and she wants to set up a time to talk to you."

"Go ahead and call her over now," Eric said as he settled into his chair behind the desk. "And, I forgot to mention it yesterday, but reserve a table at the restaurant on the boat for lunch. I'm treating someone."

"Okay," Caroline nodded, making a note. After confirming Eric had no further requests, she turned and left the office.

...

Once the door clicked shut, Eric picked up a pen from the holder and opened the first document in front of him. It was the Clover Fund's next phase buy-in plan.

By late July, Thailand's financial market had become a disaster zone. After having drained the Thai economy, international currency speculators had turned their sights on the next juicy target: the Indonesian rupiah.

The Southeast Asian financial crisis had also affected the North American Nasdaq index, which had recently experienced frequent fluctuations, pausing its previous rapid ascent.

While negative commentary on the Nasdaq market increased, Eric recognized this as the Clover Fund's last chance to buy into IT stocks at lower prices. Thus, he devised a massive $1.5 billion stock investment plan for the coming three months, which would raise the originally planned $2 billion investment to $3 billion or even more. However, with Firefly Group's recent performance increase and unexpected profits from hits like Titanic and Finding Nemo, the plan faced criticism from some shareholders and executives, but none had firmly opposed it.

After carefully reviewing the buy-in proposal and glancing at the list of popular tech companies, Eric suddenly thought of Larry Ellison, whom he hadn't heard from in a while. He wondered how Ellison's plans to raise funds for the acquisition of Apple were progressing.

Thinking about this, Eric picked up his phone and dialed Ellison. They chatted briefly, and although Ellison spoke in a friendly tone, Eric sensed some hesitance in his voice regarding the Apple acquisition.

After hanging up, Eric pondered for a moment, shaking his head with a smile before dialing Caroline again. This time, Melanie answered the phone, but he didn't mind. He instructed, "Have someone look into the progress of Larry Ellison's plan to acquire Apple."

https//Sayonara816.

[Note: I have created a post in my for suggestions on my next translation work. You can comment on the post with your suggestions. Please make sure someone else is not translating that work on this website. I will take up new translation request once this one is completed.]

[Chapter 907: I Just Arrived Too]

"The assets under Rainbow Media primarily include the fully-owned Bravo channel, a 70% stake in the New York Sports Channel, a 50% stake in the Orlando WRBW channel, a 45% stake in the Fuse music channel, and a 30% stake in the Playboy channel. The company's total market value is approximately $1.8 billion based on asset assessments. Cablevision intends to sell no more than 30% of its shares to MGM for $600 million. Additionally, we will obtain the operating rights for the Bravo channel."

In the office, Amy Pascal, who had rushed from Century City, was briefing Eric on the final negotiations with Cablevision.

Eric glanced at the draft of the deal in his hand, feeling an odd sense that something strange had slipped in there. He looked up and smiled, asking Amy, "The Playboy channel?"

Fighting the impulse to roll her eyes, Amy explained, "It's a premium cable channel created in 1986 through a partnership between Cablevision and Playboy Enterprises, mainly featuring adult content like erotic films."

"Okay," Eric nodded, choosing not to dwell on a topic that might be uncomfortable for women. "Let's proceed with that. However, let's forget about the other channels. Once the deal is finalized, persuade the Rainbow Media management to sell off the Playboy channel's shares as soon as possible."

Amy hesitated a moment and said, "Eric, the Playboy channel has been quite profitable. Furthermore, Rainbow Media only holds shares; the operating rights for the channel have always remained with Playboy Enterprises, so it won't affect us."

"You might be mistaken, Amy. The reason I want you to sell the Playboy channel's stake is not related to the company's reputation. With the rise of free adult content online, the physical adult entertainment industry is bound to decline in the next few years. If we don't divest now, this asset will surely lose substantial value in the future."

"Fine, I'll keep it in mind," Amy conceded, then continued, "Regarding the bond issuance, we've reached an agreement with Morgan Stanley. They will assist MGM in issuing $500 million in corporate bonds next month. Many foundations, including State Street Global Advisors, have already expressed interest in subscribing, and our financing scale is modest, so it should proceed smoothly."

Although she spoke confidently, there was a complex emotion in Amy's gaze as she looked at Eric.

MGM initially planned on a bond financing scale of $1 billion. However, after Eric secured the production rights for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the massive cash flow generated by the global success of Casino Royale, the company ultimately only needed to issue half that amount for its expansion plans in television.

While the public praised MGM's increasingly stable expansion strategy, and most media outlets appreciated the decision to forgo the high-risk Lord of the Rings trilogy, Amy felt an underlying sense that losing the production rights for Lord of the Rings, along with the film rights for Tolkien's other two works, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, was a disastrous blow to MGM.

She even firmly believed that Eric's actions were a punishment for MGM's indecisive stance from shareholders to management during the Pierce Brosnan incident. However, only upon the release of the first Lord of the Rings film did she fully comprehend how severe that punishment had truly been.

Eric somewhat sensed the shift in Amy's expression but didn't dwell on it. Closing the deal draft, he added, "Since we're acquiring two channels at once, have you considered a detailed operational strategy?"

"Yes," Amy replied. "E! Entertainment and Bravo originally had some overlapping market positioning, so my plan is to clearly differentiate their content.

E! Entertainment will focus on entertainment and fashion programming, targeting teenagers around eighteen years old, which means content needs to be trendier. I believe the reality show concept for Beverly Girls is fantastic in that aspect. Additionally, the management had begun preparations for an E! Entertainment news channel, dedicated to reporting gossip from the entertainment and fashion worlds, and we plan to push ahead with that.

As for Bravo, we intend to primarily target housewives, an area where Bravo has already established a solid foundation. Our task is to continue developing suitable television programs to reinforce Bravo's market position among this demographic."

"Housewives," Eric repeated the word from Amy's earlier speech, and a television show's name, Desperate Housewives, instantly popped into his mind.

For a channel aimed at housewives, Desperate Housewives would be tailor-made. The reason ABC had increasingly been dubbed the "Women's Network" was mainly due to the impact of the high-rated series Desperate Housewives. Now that Firefly Group owned Lifetime, a channel aimed at urban elite women, and had added Bravo, targeting housewives, Eric surely wouldn't let ABC continue evolving into a women's channel.

Placing Desperate Housewives on Bravo would be a perfect fit.

Amy didn't catch Eric's words and asked curiously, "Eric, what did you just say?"

Snapping back to reality, Eric shook his head, deciding not to share that thought for now. "Just some ideas I had that aren't fully formed yet. I'll tell you after some time. For now, focus on integrating the two channels."

He'd only casually watched a few episodes of Desperate Housewives, and trying to replicate the whole story felt unrealistic. What he could do was draft a new script based on the general concept of the show, but whether it would resonate with audiences remained uncertain. However, that was fine; after all, if the original version of Desperate Housewives aired on Bravo, a channel far less expansive than ABC, it would feel like a missed opportunity. It was better to start fresh, with success or failure being of little concern.

Amy nodded, wrapping things up. Just as she was about to leave, she remembered something. "Oh, Eric, regarding Beverly Girls, Ms. Jenna has chosen four girls, and the script is nearly finished. Do you want to take a look?"

Eric checked his schedule on his computer monitor and nodded, "If I have some time in the next few days, I'll have someone give her a call."

...

After sending Amy off, Eric had lunch scheduled with Peter Jackson at the Titanic restaurant.

Peter had spent years preparing for the Lord of the Rings series, finally entering the production phase, only to unexpectedly face a change in the production company. He had been quite anxious lately, fearing the project could disappear without explanation.

Eric, of course, wouldn't allow that to happen and specifically made a personal appearance to reassure him.

Aside from the next film, Final Destination 2, Firefly Group didn't have any other films scheduled for the summer release. Eric's focus began shifting to the company's other projects.

Iron Man was set to begin filming early next year, and casting had already started. Although progress on Spider-Man was slow, the casting work had also begun. Firefly Group had several films in various stages of production, but Eric primarily needed to focus on these two monumental projects for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, now that he had acquired the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Eric had to devote a significant amount of energy to this project as well.

The original Lord of the Rings trilogy had achieved a staggering worldwide box office of $3 billion on a production budget of under $300 million, with a return on investment even higher than Titanic. Eric naturally needed to treat this project with utmost care.

To ensure the smooth operation of the entire project, as he transferred the production rights to Firefly, Eric also moved over the production team MGM had initially assembled to continue collaborating with Peter Jackson on the movie's preparations.

The major challenge in the early preparations for the Lord of the Rings trilogy was casting.

Due to the vast story backdrop, there was an unusually high number of characters in the trilogy, which meant that inviting well-known actors to participate would likely be challenging.

Although Eric highly regarded the project, he didn't plan on increasing its budget. Most roles would be filled by up-and-coming actors. While Hollywood had no shortage of actors, finding the right individuals among the sea of talent wouldn't be easy. Aside from securing the roles of the Elven Queen and Arwen for Nicole Kidman and Diane Kruger, Eric didn't interfere much in the casting, merely setting budget restrictions for Peter Jackson and leaving the intricate details to him.

Casting for the Lord of the Rings trilogy wasn't overly daunting; the multitude of roles meant that even if a few casting choices fell flat, they wouldn't diminish the quality of the film. After turning sixteen, Stuart Ronkel had also agreed to sign a six-film deal with Marvel, leaving only Iron Man pending.

After rejecting Tom Cruise, Marvel Entertainment CEO Avi Arad turned his attention to Matthew McConaughey. The actor's roguish charm aligned well with the persona of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. However, after starring in Se7en and Contact, McConaughey had risen to A-list status and was not interested in signing a long-term deal with Marvel. Eric, who had never particularly liked the actor, chose not to pursue negotiations further.

Thus, for a production with costs potentially exceeding $100 million, the selection of male leads typically confined to a small circle turned into a wide casting call for all Hollywood male actors.

Although Firefly's stringent long-term deal conditions received some media mockery and led to skepticism about the project's prospects, just as Eric had stated during the Brosnan incident, anyone seeking the role could still scout from Malibu to Burbank.

...

Firefly Studios.

It was the last day of July, and it happened to be a Friday.

Kris Jenner drove into Firefly Studios, parked her car, but didn't hurry to get out. She pulled out a makeup mirror to meticulously touch up her look before opening the car door. She had received word last Wednesday that Eric would allocate time to review the script for Beverly Girls, but unexpectedly, it took over a week for her to hear back. Still, she dared not voice any complaints.

Lately, thanks to the massive success of Casino Royale, combined with the Brosnan replacement incident, Eric's personal influence in Hollywood had soared to an almost unattainable level. Naturally, Kris Jenner, who instinctively revered powerful figures, felt that even if she had to wait a month, it was no big deal. Maintaining some connection with him was enough to elevate her standing in her small circle.

During this time, her life had indeed been spectacular. For the Beverly Girls project, she had moved back to Los Angeles with her entire family. She initially thought some old friends would distance themselves from her after her years away, but upon hearing she was producing a reality show conceived by Eric Williams, they all flocked to her, far more enthusiastically than when she had lived in Los Angeles.

...

Walking to Eric's office door, she politely greeted the outer secretary. The secretary told her to wait a moment, and Kris obediently took a seat in the outer waiting room.

"Don't blame me for not reminding you one last time, Bridget. If you get this role, people might start calling you Pepper Potts next time they see you."

After a while, Eric's office door swung open, and a man and a woman walked out. The man was naturally Eric, and the woman was Bridget Fonda, who had starred as the lead in Ghost. Kris remembered that since Ghost, Fonda hadn't really had anything noteworthy come out, but from the tone of Eric's voice, it seemed she was about to land an important role, one significant enough to alter a viewer's perception of an actor.

Kris couldn't help feeling a bit envious. She had once fantasized about becoming an actress but had never had such an opportunity.

Bridget Fonda noticed Kris Jenner sitting in the waiting room and nodded at her. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Eric, she bade farewell and left.

Eric watched Bridget Fonda depart, then waved at Kris Jenner. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Jenner. Please come with me."

"It's alright, I just got here too," Kris Jenner quickly responded, grabbing her bag as she walked over.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 908: It's This Expression]

After instructing his secretary to brew two cups of coffee, Eric walked into his office with Kris Jenner.

Kris took a seat opposite him at the desk. As she watched him lower his head to read a document, she couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. Just moments ago, Eric had addressed her as "Ms. Jenner," a contrast to the warmth of their last meeting. Though she speculated that Eric probably hadn't noticed such details, she was unsure if she should simply call him Eric again.

The secretary entered with two cups of coffee, and Kris thanked her, noticing that Eric still appeared lost in thought. After a moment, she pulled the Beverly Girls script out of her bag and placed it on her lap, offering a smile as she asked, "Eric, how have you been lately?"

After a busy week, the lead actress for Iron Man was finally confirmed; it landed on Bridget Fonda. Though Bridget had briefly stepped into the Hollywood A-list spotlight after Ghost, that was now seven years ago. Despite offers pouring in over the past few years, Bridget hadn't found anything with the same impact as Ghost, causing her popularity to wane. Thus, she ultimately decided to take the role of Pepper Potts in Iron Man. Having been the lead in Ghost, her role as an assistant to Iron Man was mutually beneficial; Bridget could regain her stature through this major film, while Firefly could leverage her star power.

Eric understood that selecting a lead actor from the A-list was no longer possible. To compensate for the lack of star power in the lead role, he planned to put more emphasis on supporting characters, similar to Marvel's past practices. Many supporting roles in Marvel films were 'one-off,' especially villains, eliminating concerns about sequel complications.

In addition to Bridget Fonda as Pepper, Eric still intended to invite Jeff Bridges to play the villain in Iron Man. Though Jeff wouldn't land his Oscar until 2010, he was already a bona fide acting talent with three nominations under his belt, much like Al Pacino. Eric also discovered that the film that would earn Jeff the title of "The Dude," the cult classic The Big Lebowski, had just wrapped earlier that year, with a release planned for the following year, which would undoubtedly boost Jeff's popularity.

While deep in thought about these matters, Eric snapped back to attention at Kris's voice. He looked up, grinned, and said, "You've probably heard about all the chaos lately."

Kris chuckled in agreement, complimenting, "I don't know how many people envy your 'chaotic' life." She handed the Beverly Girls script to Eric, continuing, "This is the script we've put together. It has profiles of the four girls; take a look."

Unlike competitive reality shows, lifestyle reality show scripts lack intricate setups. They mainly outline what the real-life participants should do in each episode or season, resembling a schedule.

Eric skimmed through the girls' profiles before flipping open the script. However, halfway through, he couldn't help but shake his head. "This won't work."

Kris, surprised that Eric was already dismissing the script without finishing, felt a bit anxious and asked, "Eric, what's the problem?"

"The script flaunts the girls' lavish lifestyles too frequently. Such overindulgence might captivate viewers at first, but it won't hold their interest for long. If viewers feel removed from their own lives after a few episodes, they will gradually lose interest. So, if you want to sustain the show, you need to find the right balance. Content-wise, it should satisfy viewers' curiosity about high society but also give the impression that 'these lives aren't all that special.'"

Kris listened intently and began to understand, cautiously suggesting, "Are you saying I should include more of the girls' everyday lives?"

"Essentially, yes. But don't make it mundane; focus on the details. For instance, you could emphasize their fashion. If you can make the girls' styles a hot topic among young audiences, the show will have an enduring element to attract attention, especially from female viewers."

Kris nodded in agreement before asking, "Eric, is there anything else?"

Eric reflected on reality shows from memory, replying, "You should tone down the drama elements. At least in the first season, there can't be any severe conflicts. Start by letting the girls get along with each other. Of course, they can't be too harmonious either; otherwise, there'd be no intrigue. Additionally, since the girls are participating in the reality show mainly to gain fame, they won't pay much attention to the salary. So you should discuss with MGM about crafting a tailored promotional plan for them. The girls' rising fame could, in turn, enhance the show's popularity. However, if they leave right after the first season, all our media investment will be wasted. It's best to sign them for multiple seasons at once."

"Eric, it's true that they want to become famous. However, even though the girls are wealthy, $40,000 per season is still a lot of money for them. I've already signed them for three seasons."

Eric suddenly realized he had fallen into the trap of thinking too narrowly about finances.

Considering his wealth now, it was impossible for him not to care about several hundred million dollars. Even in Beverly Hills, a $40,000 income was substantial, especially for young girls just starting out in life.

Kris didn't know what was on Eric's mind and continued discussing script changes.

About an hour later, as the conversation wrapped up, Kris sensed that Eric was signaling to conclude the meeting. She invited again, "Eric, we've just moved back to Los Angeles and are planning a housewarming party. Are you free soon?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Eric shook his head. He only valued Kris's potential in reality show production and didn't plan to get too tangled up with her family. "I'm pretty swamped lately. I can't spare the time."

"It's just in the evening; it won't interfere with work," Kris persisted, changing tactics. "Plus, Kim really hopes you can come. She's been envious of that graffiti shoot you did with her."

That night turned into a blast of girls taking pictures together. Eric only remembered pressing a "Williams imprint" on Kim Kardashian's side, something all the girls shared, but he didn't delve deeper into Kim's fabricated little fibs of vanity. Instead, he shook his head, saying, "I really don't have the energy for that right now. All I want after work is to go home and sleep."

Kris felt disappointed, realizing Eric wasn't likely to change his mind. If they could get Eric at the party, they would surely be the talk of their social circle. Aware that her efforts were likely futile, Kris didn't give up, saying, "If that's the case, you could at least hang out with Kim sometime. It's still summer."

Eric felt a little disgusted by Kris's relentless pitch about her daughters but quickly recalled the antics her counterpart had pulled in the original timeline, feeling a bit more forgiving. Looking into Kris's hopeful eyes, he said, "You might not know that I'm not particularly interested in young girls. I tend to prefer mature women."

Kris's jaw dropped in surprise; feeling Eric's gaze scrutinizing her, a suspicion crept in. Did Eric Williams want her to produce this reality show specifically because of her? She had heard about the young billionaire having a thing for certain types.

Recollecting the way she had grilled her daughter earlier, Kris realized the job had unexpectedly fallen into her lap, as her daughter hadn't even mentioned her name to Eric. He must have seen her somewhere, perhaps on a TV show where she had made a few appearances.

Coming to what she thought was a conclusion, Kris felt little hesitation or resistance. With her personality, if she could climb the social ladder with someone like Eric, what would she lose by giving up everything she currently had? Affectedly acting demure, she said, "Well, Eric, if you want, you can call me privately."

Eric had anticipated various reactions from Kris: embarrassment, or perhaps a righteous indignation, at least on the surface. He didn't expect her to be so straightforward.

Kris stood there in a well-fitted black suit, and Eric couldn't help but indulge some wicked thoughts. "What if I want it right now?"

Kris glanced around, nervously responding, "Uh, is this the right place?"

Eric crossed his legs, looking indifferent to the situation with no intention of offering her alternatives. "I prefer it here."

Kris hesitated just briefly. Realizing she had no leverage to maintain any semblance of modesty in front of Eric, her need to keep him happy took precedence. She stood up, walked around the desk, and, a little shyly, approached him. Her eyes flitted about before she bent over Eric's imposing desk.

Eric watched her voluptuous figure, reaching out without hesitation to smack her on the curves tightly wrapped in the black skirt. With her pained gasps, he commanded, "Who told you to do this? Get down on your knees."

After being spanked by Eric, Kris became even more submissive, quickly rising to kneel before him, smiling ingratiatingly.

As Eric reached out to her, he lifted his toe and playfully kicked her, saying, "Not here. Go under the desk."

"Uh, okay. Sure."

...

As the workday was ending, Peter Rich arrived from Century City, greeting a few acquaintances as he approached Eric's office. Just as he was about to speak to the secretary outside, the office door swung open, revealing Caroline and Melanie stepping out, and they spotted Peter.

Melanie noticed Peter's fleeting expression of guilt and suspiciously asked, "Peter, we're just about to punch out. What brings you here?"

"Something from FFM TV; boss sent me," Peter replied, exchanging pleasantries with Caroline and gesturing towards the office door.

Melanie and Caroline stepped aside, watching Peter knock twice on the door before entering. Melanie remarked to Caroline, "Something's definitely up. Dad used to show that same expression when he was sneaking a smoke."

Caroline chuckled and gently pulled at Melanie. "Let's go; Peter's probably here for work."

"Hmph, it's probably some shady business just between the guys, and they're keeping it from us," Melanie murmured, glancing at the secretary at the desk adjacent to theirs. Noticing the secretary was too far removed to have any insider knowledge, she leaned in, keen to gossip, "Mia, do you know what Peter's here for?"

The secretary, Mia, smiled and shook her head. Though she did know a woman had been in the boss's office all afternoon without coming out, she couldn't share that with anyone. Although her position was far inferior to Caroline's and Melanie's, she cherished her job, which involved basic duties like answering calls and serving refreshments. As such, she couldn't risk that for any gossip the two seemed to enjoy about their relationship with the boss.

After failing to extract any information from Mia, Melanie groaned, pulling Caroline away. Still, as they left, she told Caroline, "I bet it's just like I guessed. Caroline, later I'll teach you how to read those male expressions."

...

Eric hadn't anticipated that his assistant would be so keenly observant. The abrupt debacle of the afternoon left him with some matters best not handled by Caroline or Melanie. So, he decided to call on his former assistant for some backup.

After receiving a small box from Peter, Eric exchanged a few words about the FFM TV projects before sending him away. He then pushed through the door leading into the adjacent bedroom. Although he seldom rested there, the office was equipped with all necessary amenities.

The woman, tucked under a thin blanket on the bed, was awakened as Eric entered with a glass of water.

Eric opened the small box Peter had left behind and took out a pill plate, pressing one out and offering it to the woman's lips, instructing, "Open up."

Kris knew well what the pill was. She received the glass and took the pill down, playfully opening her mouth for Eric to check, then asked, "Eric, what time is it?"

Eric picked up her clothes and placed them at the bedside, saying, "It's five o'clock. Get dressed. You need to head back."

"Bruce went to New York for recording a show. I'm fine to stay tonight," Kris answered hopefully, noticing Eric's lack of response and feeling a bit deflated. Boldly, she teased, "Eric, you can call me whenever if you want. Once Kendall and Kylie get older, it'll be less likely."

Feeling awkward, Eric quickly placed another pill directly in her mouth, saying, "No tricks. Focus on making the Beverly Girls right. If the ratings are good, there'll be additional projects for you next year. If you mess this up, you might as well become a housewife."

Kris noted Eric's mildly annoyed expression and stifled a laugh, afraid to show it. Hearing that Eric might have more projects for her next year excited her; this sacrifice truly felt worthwhile. She obediently swallowed the pill in her mouth and began dressing.

The new project Eric hinted at was another reality series revolving around spoiled wives, inspired by Kris Jenner's idea for Beverly Girls. This series would fit nicely into the Bravo channel's lineup. Given that she was already a housewife, Kris might find it easier to manage than Beverly Girls. However, with MGM's recent acquisition of Bravo, adjustments would take time, and there was no need to rush.

...

After sending Kris off, Eric promptly made his way to Firefly Studio, heading for a restaurant in Venice Beach, where he had arranged to discuss the acquisition of Apple with Larry Ellison.

It was infuriating; after securing the promise of a $300 million investment from Eric, Larry had begun raising funds by claiming Firefly Investments would take part in the Apple acquisition. Firefly Investments' impressive track record in IT investments was well known. So, when it was reported that they would engage in the acquisition of Apple, even some financial players who initially hesitated began to give way.

Last week, Eric had inquired, and Larry had raised over $2.5 billion already. Given that Apple was valued at just $2 billion, even with some acquisition premiums, the amount seemed sufficient. Yet with the funds in hand, Larry had developed a desire to push Firefly Investments aside. Eric was certain this had been spurred by Steve Jobs, as Eric's previous refusal to license the MP3 player patent had left Jobs fuming; he was notoriously vindictive.

Eric held a nonchalant stance towards acquiring Apple. After laying out all the groundwork, if he still couldn't monopolize the future smartphone era, he would simply accept his misfortune. Still, he wouldn't allow anyone to exploit Firefly Investments' name, secure funding, and then try to distance themselves from him.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 909: Absolutely No Problem]

"Eric, it's been a while since we last met. You've been making quite a splash lately; I've been hearing your name every day here in San Francisco," Larry Ellison said as he warmly embraced Eric upon entering the restaurant they had agreed to meet at on Venice Beach.

Eric released the scruffy-faced Larry Ellison and replied with a smirk, "You're doing pretty well yourself. I heard you've recently raised a big pile of cash. What's your plan?"

"Hey, Eric," Larry said, guiding him to a table. He eagerly defended himself, "You must have heard some wild rumors. Look, you called me, and I immediately rushed over from San Francisco."

"If I hadn't called, you would have probably planned to meet me after buying Apple, wouldn't you?" Eric teased, glancing at the menu that the waiter had handed him.

"That's a misunderstanding, definitely a misunderstanding," Larry quickly denied. "I've been managing the company while flying back and forth across the coasts, so I have been a bit preoccupied with things on your end."

As Eric ordered his dinner and closed the menu, he looked up and smiled, "If you were really too busy, that would be understandable. I heard Oracle is facing intense competition from Informix lately. Did they take down that billboard they set up outside Oracle's building?"

In Eric's memory, Oracle had mainly held a dominant position in the industry.

But now, Oracle hadn't quite reached the market dominance that Microsoft had in desktop operating systems. In North America alone, two companies, Informix and Sybase, were their competitors of a comparable scale. Sybase was involved in server operations aside from database software, while Informix, just like Oracle, concentrated fully on the database software market, hence their fierce rivalry. Informix had even bought a billboard outside Oracle's headquarters with the advertisement saying, "Dinosaurs used to roam here." Eric didn't know the reference, but he figured it definitely wasn't a compliment.

Now, seeing the funds he had raised were enough to buy Apple, Larry indeed started entertaining the idea of leaving Firefly behind and pursuing Apple independently.

Apart from being encouraged by his friend Steve Jobs, he understood that if Firefly were involved, even if they only held 10% of the shares, they would still have a significant say in the acquisition, potentially undermining him as the initiator of the purchase. If he could shake off Firefly, the control of Apple would entirely rest with him and Jobs after the acquisition.

However, as soon as Eric spoke, Larry felt a little uneasy.

He certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to think Eric was simply teasing him about the Informix billboard.

Firefly's portfolio, including companies like Yahoo, America Online, and the recently risen Amazon, meant any software database company would scramble for their business. Moreover, Yahoo was also controlling a Yahoo Technology Alliance, which had started to become a rule-maker on the internet, amplifying its influence.

Eric's mention of Informix could not have been more of a warning. Oracle was then at a critical moment in its competition with Informix. Should every internet company under the Firefly umbrella lean towards Informix, the current standoff between the two database companies would be completely thrown off balance.

Database software companies and operating system companies shared some traits; if one started pulling away, influenced by the Matthew Effect, the lead would only grow more pronounced, as evidenced by Apple's current predicament.

Larry was known for his arrogance, and that was common knowledge in all of Silicon Valley. But he was certainly not the type to showcase his superiority in front of just anyone; otherwise, Oracle would not have reached its current scale.

At that moment, in front of Eric, he felt he had lost all of his arrogant leverage, even feeling a sense of helplessness, as though his fate rested in the other man's hands. Rubbing his forehead, Larry took a serious tone, "Eric, fine. I admit, I did not handle this properly. But negotiations for the acquisition are just starting, and I assure you that from now on, I won't hide anything from Firefly regarding this. If you're worried, you can send someone to join the negotiating team."

Hearing Larry back down, Eric shrugged and said, "Larry, I've told you before, I'm not really interested in acquiring Apple. I just think Jobs is a fascinating guy, which is why I got involved in this. Once the acquisition is complete, I won't dabble in Apple's management; consider it just a standard stock investment. But if you dare to play games with me, I won't hesitate to smash that rotten apple into your Oracle."

"Eric, rest assured, such things will never happen again," Larry replied, feeling a little off about Eric's final statement but not pointing it out. He realized that Eric had no intention of holding on to the matter, so he nodded along.

Eric gave him a glance and suddenly realized that being friends with Jobs, both had certain similarities: they were both quite the characters.

An idea sparked in his mind, Eric said, "Larry, you don't actually think this matter is concluded, do you?"

"Uh, Eric, what do you want to do?" Larry asked warily, having originally relaxed.

Not wanting to waste words on him, Eric straightforwardly asked, "So, you know Firefly is currently preparing Iron Man, right?"

Larry paused, quickly understanding what was being implied and excitedly replied, "Eric, you want me to play Tony Stark? Absolutely, I think I would fit just fine! Let's negotiate the salary."

Eric glared around but found no one suitable to bash on Larry's scruffy face, so he retorted, "Not Tony Stark, but would you be interested in playing Tony Stark's driver instead?"

"Come on, Eric! Even a villain would be better; being a driver is so humiliating," Larry suddenly seemed to get into a frenzy, earnestly starting to haggle.

"All right, you're the driver. I'll have someone notify you of the filming schedule," Eric declared, tapping on the table, making it official.

Larry initially thought Eric would bring something shocking but was relieved to hear it was just a cameo in a film. He nodded in agreement and even threw in a few jokes for good measure.

However, Eric clearly wasn't finished, continuing, "But I was not just talking about a cameo. Iron Man is a sci-fi movie, very suitable for tech company product placements, so let's have Oracle involved as well, with a placement fee of $5 million."

Larry immediately frowned. Oracle's annual advertising and marketing budget was still under $100 million; $5 million for a film would be quite hefty: "Eric, this is practically extortion! Can we lower that? How about $500,000?"

"Yahoo plans to build a major data center on both coasts and in Europe next year, and maybe I can consider allocating the database software orders for those projects to Informix."

"$3 million, Eric! You have to know that any decision I, as CEO, make needs board approval, and $3 million is my utmost limit," Larry replied, trying to negotiate firmly.

"Amazon is going public soon, and they'll definitely need to expand their infrastructure. As an e-commerce company, database software..."

Larry slapped the table, interrupting Eric's half-completed sentence, straightforwardly interjected, "$5 million, deal."

"Oh, and you can count the cameo as a dollar for being Tony Stark's driver. Hollywood doesn't allow free work, though you'll need to sign for three films first."

Larry frowned but nodded, "Fine!"

Satisfied, Eric nodded and added, "And this dinner is on you."

He didn't hesitate to extract that from Larry as a sort of punishment for his earlier mischievous plans.

...

After dinner, originally intending to head back to his property, Eric received a call from Drew saying several roles in The Fast and the Furious had been secured, so he had the driver take him to Beverly Hills.

Arriving at the luxurious home of the girl, he found Gwyneth Paltrow there as well.

Drew intertwined her arm with Eric's and sat on the sofa, saying, "Eric, Kate is very interested in the role of Mia, Dominic's sister. What do you think?"

In the original, the role of the male lead's sister in The Fast and the Furious was played by Jordana Brewster. Eric remembered this Latina's youthful beauty was nothing short of perfect; he just didn't know why, but her "shelf life" seemed to run short, as after turning 20, she didn't quite hold up in looks.

That thought flickered in his mind as he looked at Gwyneth Paltrow. Given how Hollywood history had shifted, even though Shakespeare in Love hadn't yet been produced, it wouldn't be a walk in the park for Gwyneth Paltrow to grab another starring role. Yet, being a Hollywood second-generation star, she had her reasons for expressing interest in a seemingly subordinate role like Mia.

"Gwyneth, I assume you've read the script for Mia? That character is just eye candy, with no real depth; it's merely for gaining familiarity with the audience."

Gwyneth eyed Drew by Eric's side with envy, only to express wistfully, "I wish there were roles better suited for me; unfortunately, I've been struggling to find one."

Having said that, she glanced hopefully at Eric, knowing that for the past couple of years she had been in three or four films annually, giving her enough visibility to make those nameless newcomers to Hollywood envious. Still, her family's connections wouldn't help her snag heavyweight blockbuster roles, and the films she had participated in hadn't made much noise.

Last year, she finally collaborated with Miramax on the adaptation of the novel Emma, initially hoping to try her hand at an Oscar strategy, but ended up without even a Golden Globe nomination. Thus, on her agent's advice, she planned to alter her strategy to increase her screen time in major productions to boost her profile as quickly as possible.

Coincidentally, MGM was preparing to launch The Fast and the Furious series, considering it was a project Eric wrote himself; Gwyneth Paltrow had suggested to Drew that she wanted to audition for a role. Previously, though they had always seemed like sisters in public, Gwyneth had not leveraged her connection with Drew in a film before. Living in Hollywood, she knew that leveraging favors could only go so far -- once or twice might work, but more than that would be futile. Even with family ties, it only went so far to help gain lead roles in low-budget independent films; ultimately, advancing her career would come back to the quality of her work.

Eric had dismissed Mia's character as having little depth, and Gwyneth Paltrow surely understood that much.

However, Eric underestimated the stir his personally penned film would cause in Hollywood; after all, it was part of a spy movie universe that was just beginning to stretch -- considering the current influence of spy movie universes in Tinseltown, even a minor role in that series would be enough to attract competition from top-tier actresses.

Seeing Gwyneth's hopeful eyes and her expression as though she would leap forward if he merely spoke, Eric chuckled. Compared to ordinary actors struggling in Hollywood, she already possessed unmatched resources. He wouldn't be swayed by a mere pitiful expression, saying, "It requires opportunity; you're roughly the same age as Drew, no need to rush. Maybe you will meet the right role soon. Well, if you are interested in the role of Mia, you can try it."

Gwyneth looked discouraged. She wanted to correct Eric's slip of the tongue; she was actually several years older than Drew and already 25 this year. But seeing that delicate face of Drew, she knew that kind of remark would not be received well.

Drew, with her characteristic grin, blinked and let it slide, saying, "Oh, Eric, I found those two actors you mentioned, uh, named Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, right? Amy and I checked them out, and Paul Walker seems okay, but that Vin Diesel guy is just a wooden performance."

After Drew spoke, she said something to the twins watching TV in the living room, and Natasha quickly brought a document to Eric.

Seeing Eric flip through the paper, the girl asked, "Do you want to see audition tapes?"

Eric glanced through the data regarding Paul Walker and Vin Diesel; both had been in Hollywood for several years and were certainly not newcomers. To avoid complications in casting, he simply asked Drew to track them down directly: "Let's view those audition tapes tomorrow. But remember, casting actors for films doesn't always boil down to picking the best performances; what matters most is suitability. Otherwise, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep would be the most sought-after stars in Hollywood."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 910: Private Airport]

On a bright morning, Gwyneth Paltrow woke up a couple of hours earlier than usual, probably because she had stayed over at Drew's house. Walking down to the dining room, she found Eric sitting at the table, enjoying his breakfast.

"Good morning, Eric," she greeted him casually before asking the twins to help prepare her breakfast. Taking a seat across from Eric, she glanced at the newspaper in his hands and inquired, "Eric, hasn't Drew gotten up yet?"

Eric nodded, "Yeah, why are you up so early?"

"It's already seven o'clock! I don't have a habit of sleeping in," Gwyneth replied without a hint of guilt. Her eyes flickered toward the glass of milk next to Eric, and she added, "Eric, I'm a bit thirsty. Can I have that glass of milk?"

Eric smiled and pushed the glass toward her, then called out for Natasha to prepare another one for himself as he continued reading the newspaper.

Gwyneth took a sip from the glass, smacked her lips, and recalled what Drew and Eric had discussed the previous night. She raised her gaze and asked, "Eric, are you really planning on buying four private jets all at once?"

"Yeah, what about it?" he responded.

Gwyneth scrunched her shoulders, and this time it wasn't an affectation. Hearing Drew and Eric talk about the purchase of four private planes last night left her with a strange feeling. Although she came from a good background, her experience with private jets had been minimal growing up. But here was Eric, planning to buy four at once and build private airports on both coasts -- something she never imagined would occur to her.

However, considering Eric's place at the top of Forbes' wealthy list, she found it more acceptable, though it intensified her envy toward Drew, thinking how lovely it would be if something like that could happen to her.

"I just think, will you actually use them all?"

"Ha, if you want to use one, you can borrow it from Drew," Eric chuckled.

Gwyneth blinked and leaned forward, slightly regretting not sitting next to Eric. With a teasing tone, she said, "Can't I just borrow it from you?"

"Sure."

"Then it's settled," Gwyneth seized the opportunity. "But I don't have your cell number yet. Can you give me one? A personal one, please."

This time, Eric gently shook his head, refusing, "If you want to reach me, just contact Drew."

"Hmph, you just said I could borrow from you!" Gwyneth playfully pouted, taking another sip from her milk and deliberately licking her lips in a flirtatious manner. Unfortunately, Eric didn't acknowledge her at all.

As she noticed Eric's indifference, Gwyneth was about to make another move when Drew sleepily wandered into the dining room, barefoot, wearing a tank top and short shorts, looking drowsy. She dragged a chair across to sit beside Eric and leaned against his shoulder with a small yawn, quickly shifting as she felt uncomfortable.

Watching Eric smile affectionately and wrap his arm around the girl to keep her from bumping into the table edge almost made Gwyneth want to shout out, "Why doesn't this little brat go back to sleep!"

On the other side of the table, the girl nestled against Eric's arm, mumbling before finally saying, "Eric, have Natasha get the car ready. We're heading to Ventura in a bit."

Eric gently suggested, "Why don't you eat something first? You can sleep on the way."

"Uhm, I haven't brushed my teeth. I'm not eating."

"Ha, then go brush your teeth."

"I want to take a shower too," a small, pale arm reached up from under the table, tugging at Eric's shirt collar as she playfully implored, "Eric, carry me."

Eric looked helpless but set down his newspaper and picked up the girl, leaving the dining room.

Feeling completely ignored throughout that process, Gwyneth felt a surge of anger as if she wanted to throw her glass of milk against the wall. When Natasha walked in with a salad, politely placing it before her, Gwyneth instinctively considered making a snide remark. But then she remembered the two quiet Russian girls at the gym, and she swallowed her words, feeling inexplicably upset instead.

...

After quite a while, Eric and Drew strolled back into the dining room, chatting and laughing, both dressed in new clothes. Gwyneth couldn't help but wonder if they had gotten into any mischief during their absence.

With a smile, she teasingly winked at Drew and casually asked, "Drew, isn't building a private airport in Ventura a bit too far from Los Angeles?"

Ventura was a small city north of Los Angeles, over a hundred kilometers away. Gwyneth had overheard Eric and Drew discussing the plan to build a private airport in Ventura the night before.

"Honestly, I wanted to build it in Los Angeles too, but unfortunately, the runway for a Boeing 747 needs to be at least three kilometers long. I searched for a long time in LA but couldn't find a suitable spot, so here we are in Ventura. But it's less than 50 kilometers from the Liberty City estate; it's not too far. It's about the same distance from Liberty City to LAX," Drew explained. "By the way, Kate, it's the weekend -- would you like to join us? Ventura is perfect for a weekend getaway, and Eric and I are thinking about picking up a small estate there."

Though she had planned to have lunch at home, Gwyneth quickly nodded without a second thought. "Sure," she replied, glancing between Eric and Drew. "As long as you guys don't mind me tagging along."

The girl immediately chimed in, "Then you can invite your boyfriend too! We plan to stay in Ventura for two days and come back on Monday."

Gwyneth stole a glance at Eric, smiled, and shook her head. "I don't have one right now. Or maybe you could lend me yours?"

"Ha ha, not happening," the girl giggled and shook her head while wrapping her arm around Eric's, whether intentionally or not. "But you can try to snag him; whoever gets him, wins."

...

After breakfast, Eric made a call to have a team of bodyguards come over, and they set off from Beverly Hills.

They drove through downtown Los Angeles, heading north along California Highway One. After a little over an hour, they entered another residential area.

In Drew's Range Rover, Eric sat in the middle while the girl occupied the seaside spot. Passing through Oxnard, just south of Ventura, the girl whimsically pointed to a fenced-off area near the coast and said, "What a pity, if only we could build the airport here."

Eric only smiled. Gwyneth, sitting next to Eric, leaned in closer, drawn by curiosity, and asked, "So why don't we build it here? I think it's quite suitable."

Summer clothes were light, and Eric felt the soft body of Gwyneth leaning in deliberately. He shrugged it off, just explaining, "This is the Mugu Naval Base."

"Haha, well, that definitely won't work," Gwyneth chuckled but didn't lean away, adding, "In that case, can we build the private airport nearby? I seem to recall something about no-fly zones near military bases?"

"No problem," Eric didn't answer, but Drew on the other side said, "I've already consulted with lawyers. Plus, Oxnard has two civilian airports, and the northern one is less than ten kilometers away. If there's a no-fly zone, those two airports wouldn't exist."

Chatting along the way, they quickly arrived in Ventura.

...

The group first checked into a private resort and then met with a local official to survey the airport site Drew had selected.

The plot was next to a dry riverbed in the southern part of Ventura, and when Eric and Drew stepped out of the car, they found themselves surrounded by farmlands.

The city official, named Jack Wilson, also exited the vehicle and led the group along a simple concrete path cutting through the fields, explaining, "Mr. Williams, you see, the Ventura Harbor is to the south. If you have a yacht, you could dock it here. Oh, the land for the private airport is right here. From where we are standing, all the way west for three kilometers and one kilometer south, totaling 300 hectares. Ms. Barrymore mentioned this airport will need to accommodate ten jets, so this land should be sufficient. Of course, if you want to build two intersecting runways, you would need to extend north by at least 500 meters, but I think that's unnecessary; both of Oxnard's civilian airports only have one runway."

Eric nodded, turning to the girl beside him, "Are we building one runway or two?"

The girl beamed and held up two fingers, "We have already picked out the land on Long Island, it's for two runways."

"Ms. Barrymore, this place can't be compared with Long Island," Jack Wilson interjected, smiling. "We are in a densely populated area. If you want a larger plot, it will cost more and take longer for approval. After all, getting closer to residential areas means building approval will require public consent. Here, however, the distance is just right, so you won't need to hold public hearings, and you can start construction sooner."

Feeling as though land had been a recurring concern for him lately, Eric eyed the vast fields to the north with little thought. He decided to secure as much land as possible to avoid future predicaments like the Firefly theme park situation. So he said, "If possible, let's build two runways. We are not in a hurry. If we can extend further north by another kilometer, securing 600 hectares is fine too."

Once Eric made his decision, Jack Wilson smiled and nodded, saying, "In that case, Mr. Williams, building this airport will take at least a year before construction can begin."

Eric asked with a smile, "Jack, don't you want me to buy more land? That'll contribute to Ventura's taxes, right?"

Jack Wilson nodded, his eyes twinkling with shrewdness. "Of course, but I'm just here to provide you with the best advice."

As they all chatted and strolled around the surrounding land for half an hour, Jack Wilson explained various details regarding the construction of the private airport. By midday, everyone returned to Ventura.

...

As a primarily leisure-oriented small town, Ventura's harbor was filled with hundreds of yachts of all sizes. After completing their official business, they all decided to rent a yacht for an afternoon at sea.

The white yacht drifted leisurely about ten kilometers from the coastline. Eric, dressed in swim trunks and sunglasses, lounged on the deck soaking up the sun. When he saw the twins secure the engine and come over, he sat up and smiled, "I had no idea you guys could operate a yacht. By the way, can you fly a plane?"

The two girls exchanged shy smiles and obediently sat next to Drew, one of them nodding, "Helicopters, we can."

The girl sitting next to Eric also sat up, wrapped her arms around one of his, and grinned, "Eric, they can do everything! Maybe they're KGB agents sent to lure you in!"

Eric playfully tapped her on the forehead, eyeing the twins as he joked, "They do look the part. So, what are your plans? As long as you don't plan to kill me, I'll cooperate."

The twins continued to smile shyly, shaking their heads, "No, Master. This is something the boss had us learn."

Gwyneth, feeling a bit overlooked, put her juice down and decided to chime in, "Eric, didn't you say you were buying four private jets? Why did Jack Wilson mention ten?"

Eric explained, "Building a private airport just for four jets would be wasteful. Other people are going to buy in too."

Gwyneth was intrigued, "Who?"

Eric didn't answer, smiling instead, "You could buy one too and just store it here."

Gwyneth's eyes sparkled with longing, only to reluctantly shake her head, glancing at Eric hopefully, "Right now, I can't even afford a good car, let alone a private jet."

"When you become a big star in the future, you will be able to buy one."

"But who knows when that will be? Besides, even if I could buy one, I definitely couldn't afford a Boeing," she said enviously, looking at Drew, who was chatting with the twins about something, before adding, "Eric, buying 1500 acres, oh, that's 600 hectares, must be very expensive here?"

Eric liked using hectares as a measure unit; that morning, Jack Wilson had played along with his habit. Gwyneth was clearly influenced by their earlier conversation, adopting hectares instead of her usual acres.

"If it were in LA, it would be quite pricey. But here, it's different. For just the land, it won't exceed $20 million."

Though the plot mentioned by Drew was near Ventura's town center, it was still farmland, so it wouldn't be that expensive. Jeffrey had only spent seven million dollars on that 2000-acre farm in Maryland. The biggest costs associated with private airports usually came from the ongoing operations and maintenance later on.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 911: Sky Bridge]

After the weekend, Eric returned to Los Angeles from Ventura and instructed Kelly to assemble a team from the assistant's office to focus on the construction of private airports on both coasts and the purchase of two Boeing 747-400s and two Gulfstream V jets. Eric himself shifted his attention to casting for several films and the expansion of Firefly Studios.

With the intensive casting initiations for Iron Man, Spider-Man, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Fast and the Furious all taking place at once, the casting demands for these heavyweight films practically covered all age ranges in Hollywood. Additionally, Firefly's recent accolades propelled many once-unknown actors to Hollywood superstardom.

So, despite the recent Pierce Brosnan incident, which left many Hollywood big names grumbling about Firefly's supposed 'stinginess', things still appeared quite bustling in Hollywood. Actors were going to great lengths to snag roles in these franchises.

"So, with The X-Files wrapped up, do you still keep in touch with Brad Pitt?" Eric playfully asked over breakfast with Famke Janssen at his estate, upon hearing her mention Brad's interest in playing Tony Stark.

Since The X-Files concluded just over six months ago, Famke hadn't picked up any new projects but had been traveling while doing charity work. She had just returned to Los Angeles and had been staying at the estate.

"It was Sheryl that called me," Famke explained, noticing Eric's confusion. She laughed, "Sheryl Cody -- Brad's agent. You must have met her. We've gotten along pretty well over the years, so she asked me to relay a message to you."

Eric vaguely recalled Sheryl Cody -- a capable agent from ICM whom he hadn't seen in years. As time had passed, both he and Brad Pitt had risen to different standings in Hollywood. Eric no longer held any preconceived notions about Brad; in fact, he felt virtually indifferent.

Bringing a selection of breakfast items to the table, Eric calmly analyzed, "Brad's acting is decent, but his image doesn't quite fit for Tony Stark." He thought for a moment, a hint of a smile appearing on his lips. "However, I could see him trying out for another role -- Thor. But if he wants that role, he'll need to be patient; the Thor movie won't start until after Spider-Man and Iron Man are released."

Historically, Marvel had once hoped Brad Pitt would portray Thor, but at that time, he was already transitioning into directing and producing, which rendered a comic-book character less appealing for him, leading to their lack of collaboration.

However, due to Eric's involvement now, although Brad Pitt had gained significant fame for his role in The X-Files, he would essentially be starting fresh again after the series wrapped.

Also, having been typecast by The X-Files, developing his career in films would not come as easy as it once had. However, Brad was indeed a fitting choice for Thor, with the movie set to launch about two years later when the shadow of The X-Files would begin to fade.

Famke nodded, saying, "I'll pass that message along to Sheryl then."

"By the way, how far along are you with the X-Men comics I gave you?" Eric inquired.

"I find them really interesting! I really like the character Jean Grey," Famke replied. "When are you planning to shoot X-Men? I haven't heard anything."

"This will also have to wait another two or three years," Eric explained. "My plan is to kickstart the Marvel Cinematic Universe first with Spider-Man and Iron Man. That way, advancing other projects will be much simpler. You can take your time this year to film a few projects to get a feel for it; filming for TV and movies are quite different."

"To that end, I'm heading back to the Netherlands soon; my sister is preparing a film and wants me to play a role," Famke said.

It was notable that Famke had two sisters; one was a director and the other, also an actress. Both were pursuing their careers in Europe. Upon hearing her, Eric couldn't help but encourage, "You just got back, and now you're already heading off again? You should let your sister come to Hollywood instead!"

Famke countered, "My sister is much stronger-willed than I am. She knows about my relationship with you; she wouldn't dream of coming here."

Eric chuckled, "Looks like I'm lucky, having snagged the most easygoing one among you sisters."

Famke shot him an annoyed glance and replied playfully, "That's just because you're a jerk."

Eric smiled smugly, quickly finishing breakfast before attempting to pull Famke in for a display of his 'jerkiness.' Feeling her leg going up to shield his action, he gently grabbed the long leg peeking out from her workout shorts, laughing, "Alright, I have to get to work now; come here, give me a kiss."

With an affectionate but somewhat exasperated look, Famke turned her cheek to allow Eric to kiss it, smiling slightly while teasing, "I'm buying a ticket back to the Netherlands today."

After planting a kiss on Famke's lips and stealing a quick kiss on her alluring leg -- delighting in her laughter -- Eric remarked, "You don't have to; I recently rented a Boeing 767. Whenever you're ready to go, I'll have someone send you."

...

After a busy couple of weeks, the selection for the lead in Iron Man had moved to its second round, with the audition list narrowed from the initial hundreds to just fifty. Eric planned to participate personally in the upcoming rounds of auditions.

Once at Firefly Studios, he found Jeffrey Katzenberg had arrived along with several theme park designers.

The design team in charge of developing Firefly's theme park project had come up with a plan for the western plot on Lincoln Avenue. Due to the residents in the eastern area asking for exorbitant sums, the studio couldn't proceed with expansion there, so the focus would primarily shift to the Lincoln Avenue western plot.

"Mr. Williams, look, we could build a sky bridge on Lincoln Avenue to connect the two theme park areas," one designer proposed. "Additionally, to link the Titanic-themed exhibition area with the western park without disrupting the studio facilities' operations, we could create a private passage on the eastern edge of the park with film-themed elements to keep it engaging for visitors."

Eric listened to the designer's presentation of the design slides, shaking his head. "That won't work. No one is going to want to walk a kilometer through a corridor. Moreover, the eastern area is supposed to be part of the theme park experience."

"Then we can add a few entrances in the accessible tour areas," the designer suggested.

"I'm not just talking about entrances. I think the concept of a private passage is fundamentally flawed. It would create a claustrophobic feel. If you've ever experienced that, you know exactly how terrible it can be," Eric responded. He stood up to approach the projector and had the secretary change a few images before stopping at a blueprint of a sky bridge crossing Lincoln Avenue.

He pondered for a moment before drawing a long line in the air. "How about we raise and extend this sky bridge to create an aerial walkway connecting the Titanic exhibition and the western park? What do you think?"

Jeffrey's eyes lit up, and he nodded as he approached Eric. "I think that's a fantastic idea. Much of the eastern park is unsuitable for visitors, but with a sky bridge, they could get a bird's-eye view of the entire park. This is significantly better than the ground-level passage idea."

Several designers joined in, one commenting, "However, such an aerial walkway must be expensive to construct, right?"

Eric shook his head at Gary, the designer. "Let's not talk costs for now. Consider this: the Los Angeles International Airport, not far to our south, has an annual passenger throughput of 60 million. Although most airport visitors take the western 405 freeway, even if one-fifth passed through Lincoln Avenue, that would still amount to 12 million people. If this sky bridge becomes a landmark structure on Lincoln Avenue, it essentially serves as a free advertisement for Firefly Studios to 12 million travelers from all around the globe each year. That kind of visibility certainly surpasses that of a bridge merely constructed for safety."

Gary nodded, visualizing a line that spanned the east and west park areas. "Mr. Williams, if we disregard the construction costs, then we could make this walkway stretch across the entire east and west parks. This would create symmetry, enhance aesthetics, and the four kilometers of aerial walkway would certainly provide visual shock value."

After Gary's suggestion, others chimed in with their thoughts.

Eric recalled numerous striking elevated walkways, having walked on several high sky paths previously. The designs had left a lasting impression on him. Now, with this opportunity and having the financial muscle, he naturally envisioned designing an aerial walkway akin to the one at his Malibu estate.

After lively discussions for over half an hour, the concept was essentially finalized.

That said, while brainstorming could be limitless, achieving a workable plan required the designers to delve into intricate details, such as the form of the walkway, materials to be used, height, etc.

...

After sending the designers off, Eric then walked with Jeffrey to another office building in the studio where the audition for Iron Man was taking place.

Since there had been prior notice not to wait for him, the creative team behind Iron Man had already started the auditions.

Eric and Jeffrey exchanged nods with the group of waiting actors in the hallway before entering the audition room, where a thirty-something white male was performing a scene with the help of staff. Upon noticing Eric and Jeffrey entering, he paused, unsure whether to continue.

"Go ahead, um, Mr. Rockwell, continue," Eric said with a smile, nodding at him.

Sam Rockwell was surprised Eric recognized him and quickly responded with a smile as he readied himself again, signaling back to the female assistant reading lines.

Eric casually nodded to the director Joss Whedon and seated himself beside Jeffrey, pulling out a stack of actor profiles from an assistant, watching Sam Rockwell's performance.

Sam Rockwell was one of the candidates who Eric personally selected among the final fifty.

Previously, Sam had auditioned for the lead role in Iron Man but didn't land the part; he later played the villain Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2. While the primary antagonist in Iron Man 2 was Whiplash, Sam's portrayal of Justin Hammer did possess some subtle parallels to Robert Downey Jr. Luckily, Eric remembered these and decided to include him in this round of auditions.

However, during the audition, despite giving a few pointers, Eric found it hard to feel satisfied with Sam Rockwell's performance. It felt like he was missing something.

Then, in a flash of inspiration, Eric instructed the crew to provide a pair of black-rimmed glasses for Sam. Instantly, his presence shifted from that of a street punk to a charming yet cynical CEO with a hint of mischievousness.

Unfortunately, Tony Stark wouldn't be wearing glasses.

Once Sam exited, realizing Eric's particular attention to him, the team openly looked on, clearly inquiring for Eric's opinion.

Regretfully, Eric shook his head. "His acting is solid, but if he's not wearing glasses, he simply can't embody the essence of Tony Stark. And with them on...well, it won't work. Next!"

Joss and the others breathed sighs of relief; their sentiments mirrored Eric's. However, they also understood Eric often made unexpected decisions, so there was some concern amongst them. If Eric leaned toward Sam Rockwell, that wouldn't bode well.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 912: I Hope You Can Be More Serious]

After a week of auditions, the list of candidates for the lead role in Iron Man was whittled down from fifty to just ten. To select Tony Stark from these final ten, the creative team began holding frequent meetings for discussions.

"David, this isn't working. I need you to try again. Remember, Tony Stark's pride is ingrained -- it doesn't need to be overtly displayed; your tone needs to sound more natural and self-assured," said Eric.

For the remaining ten candidates, the crew had moved away from group auditions, opting instead for one-on-one discussions and deeper evaluations to gradually eliminate candidates and closely scrutinize the best fit.

In a conference room at the studio, Eric patiently explained his vision for Tony Stark to David Duchovny, who was partaking in the discussions. David Duchovny was initially supposed to be the star of The X-Files, but due to a twist of fate, he was now just a familiar face in various indie films and television shows. While Eric didn't have a strong opinion about Duchovny's performance in The X-Files, he was a fan of his other work, Californication. David's portrayal of the disillusioned writer Hank Moody, navigating through the lives of beautiful women, left a significant impression on Eric.

After Eric finished speaking, David Duchovny on the opposite sofa pondered for a moment and replied, "Alright, Eric, I'll give it another shot."

Just as Eric turned to instruct the production assistant nearby to provide David with the lines, he noticed that everyone, including Joss Whedon, was looking at him with strange expressions. This seemed to happen often lately, and Eric felt a puzzling tension in the room. Unable to contain himself, he finally exclaimed, "I warn you all, if you keep looking at me with those adoring eyes, I'll dock your pay! Sally, let's go over that scene with David again."

Everyone circled on the sofa chuckled lightly, and Sally, the production assistant, picked up the script, glanced at David, received a nod, and began reading the lines of Christine, the Vanity Fair reporter, from Iron Man: "Some people say you're the modern-day Da Vinci. What do you think?"

"That's absolute nonsense. I don't paint," David replied.

"What about your other nickname, the Merchant of Death?" she asked.

"That's not bad," David answered, "let me guess, Berkeley?"

"Actually, Brown University."

"Alright, Miss Brown. The world may not be perfect, but we don't have a choice. I promise you, if one day we don't need weapons for peace, I will switch careers to build children's hospitals."

As the two prepared to continue, Eric interrupted, "Stop, still not right. David, your tone needs to be faster, and the scene shouldn't come across as too casual. Just think about it, and if it doesn't work, we'll move to the next scene."

David hesitated, "Eric, can you show me how it's done?"

Eric hadn't thought of how to describe it suitably and, upon David's request, nodded without a second thought. He turned to the production assistant and said, "Sally, let's start from that last part."

However, Eric didn't notice Joss Whedon excitedly signaling to the cinematographer behind them, who naturally directed the camera towards Eric.

Sally noticed Joss's subtle actions behind Eric but pretended not to and lowered her gaze to her script before reading, "Mr. Stark, you've rehearsed this line many times, haven't you?"

Eric didn't need to look at the lines; the recent preparatory auditions and his memory allowed him to understand the script thoroughly. Furthermore, he knew better than anyone what kind of effect he wanted. After gathering his thoughts, Eric replied effortlessly, "I practice it in front of the mirror every night before bed."

Sally nodded, "I can tell."

With a hint of playful sarcasm, Eric looked at Sally and said, "I wish you could see it in person."

Under the weight of Eric's natural, assertive gaze, Sally felt her cheeks flush, instinctively looking away as her voice faltered. Although she was very familiar with the script, she misread her lines: "Mr. Williams, I, I hope you can be more serious."

"..."

Eric was momentarily speechless.

"Haha."

Everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Realizing her mistake, Sally's face turned bright red, feeling intensely embarrassed as she raised her script to shield her face and hurried away to the restroom.

Watching the young woman flee in panic only caused more laughter from the group.

After a moment, Eric clapped his hands together, "Alright, everyone, let's get back to it. We'll skip that part and move to the scene between Tony Stark and Colonel Rhodes on the plane."

With Eric's cue, the group managed to rein in their laughter and resumed discussions.

...

As evening approached, Eric was about to discuss David Duchovny's performance with Joss Whedon and the others when Joss suggested, "Eric, we're almost off the clock. How about grabbing a drink together?"

Eric raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Huh?"

"I mean, Venice Beach has some great bars," Joss said. "Plus, I want to discuss something else; this is also everyone else's thought."

After assessing Joss's expression, Eric nodded, "Fine, then let's call it a day for now."

Thanks to the rise of Firefly Studios, Venice Beach near Playa Vista had recently become a popular hangout for Hollywood filmmakers, leading to an influx of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.

As they followed Joss into a bar called 'Light', Eric suddenly realized he hadn't had an experience like this in quite some time.

Although it was still early evening and night had yet to fall, the bar already buzzed with energy.

Wearing sunglasses, Eric entered the bar behind Joss, watching as he greeted the owner. They settled into a secluded booth in the corner.

After ordering a beer from the approaching server, Joss asked, "Mr. Williams, what do you want to drink?"

Eric noticed a waitress in revealing attire staring at him intensely, so he took off his sunglasses and shushed her with a finger raised, then smiled, "I'll have a beer too."

"Ah, got it," the waitress replied, somewhat startled, nodding as she hurried away. It took quite some time before she returned with two beers, her makeup visibly touched up, and she had removed an excessively large pair of earrings. After placing the beers in front of Eric and Joss, the girl boldly asked, "Mr. Williams, can I take a picture with you?"

Eric smiled and shook his head, "Sorry, miss."

Not discouraged, the waitress pulled out a business card from her pocket and handed it to him, "Mr. Williams, here's my number. Call me."

Without giving Eric a chance to refuse, she turned and sashayed away.

Eric glanced at the business card. "Jenny? I think Jennifer sounds better. I like the name Jennifer."

"Why don't you call her over and have her change it? I bet she wouldn't say no," Joss said with a laugh.

"I'm not interested in doing something so silly," Eric replied, shaking his head and placing the business card back on the table. He turned to Joss and asked, "So, what do you want to discuss?"

"Eric, which of the candidates we've been testing recently do you think aligns best with your vision?"

Eric chuckled, picking up the card again as if toying with it. "I'm guessing this isn't the only thing you want to talk about tonight, right?"

Joss shrugged and said, "Eric, I'm sure you've noticed everyone's sentiments lately."

"Huh?"

"We all feel that you have the deepest understanding of the character Tony Stark beyond any of the auditioners we've seen," Joss expressed. "In the past weeks, you've been repeatedly guiding these actors on how to perform, what expressions to use, and the tone to take."

Eric raised his head, "You want me to play Tony Stark?"

Joss nodded, "I've discussed it privately with Mr. Katzenberg, Mr. Arad, and others; they all think this plan is feasible."

Eric hesitated, recalling his dissatisfaction with the audition process. He even remembered that Robert Downey Jr.'s performance had several aspects that weren't convincing.

"Joss, I'm already a producer. If I take on the lead role, your position as director could easily become marginalized."

"If it would make the film better, I'd have no issue stepping aside," Joss said without hesitation. "Eric, I'm a fan of Iron Man, so I truly hope this film has the perfect leading man."

"I haven't even auditioned. I know what I want Tony Stark to be like, but do you think I can perform it well?"

Joss chuckled, "Eric, I think you wouldn't even need to act; just be yourself. Just look at how Sally reacted to your lines this afternoon; never has she blushed in front of other actors. It's essential for Tony Stark, as a playboy, to have that strong attraction to women. Moreover, well, I've been quietly observing you for a month, and many of your behaviors align closely with the Tony Stark we envision."

Without realizing it, Eric folded the business card into a paper airplane while listening to Joss. He looked back up and said, "Alright, let's start narrowing it down from these ten."

Joss noticed a shift in Eric's tone, without hesitation he pressed on, "Eric, I know you're busy, but you should also know that filming Iron Man won't take up too much of your time. The planned shooting schedule is four months. If it's tightly organized, you'd only need to be on set for under two months -- most of that can be done in LA, and even for the overseas shoots, we just need to head to nearby Nevada."

"It's not just about that, Joss," Eric replied, "the entire Marvel cinematic universe requires Iron Man to appear in not just this film but a whole series."

"But that's not really an issue, Eric. Aside from a few primary Iron Man films, your appearances in the crossover films will be much less than that -- and might not even take up a month's time. Furthermore, we average a two-year production cycle for films related to Iron Man, so taking two months every two years shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"

"It seems you're set on having me in this role?"

Joss chuckled and said, "Eric, honestly, have you never considered playing this character yourself?"

Eric's eyes flickered for a moment, "I have thought about playing Hugh Hefner's role; I wonder if he has managed to gather 2,000 girlfriends by now."

"Haha, that's the tone we need," Joss laughed. "The tone of Tony Stark."

"Okay, okay, I'll think about it. I promise to give you an answer by tomorrow... or, well, the day after," Eric said, tossing the small paper airplane towards Joss with a little too much force. It sailed over the barrier and landed in a nearby booth, where a girl let out a light scream.

Joss sensed that Eric's thoughts were softening and prepared to press on with his persuasion, but two petite girls marched over angrily. One was in a black dress, holding the paper airplane, which was now stained with liquid, likely from landing in a drink. Just as they were about to reprimand him, they recognized Eric and their anger evaporated, leaving them momentarily speechless, looking lost like two little quails.

With a smile, Eric regarded the two girls with amusement, then pointed at Joss, saying, "It's this guy fooling around; don't blame me."

The girl in the black dress was the first to react, quickly saying, "Sorry, Mr. Williams, we, we're fine."

As she spoke, the girl in black started to pull her friend away.

But Eric looked at the slightly taller girl with a bit of baby fat on her cheeks and said, "Sarah, right? I happen to remember your name. You're Sarah Michelle Gellar."

Turning to the other girl knowingly, he asked, "And what's your name?"

"Uh, I," the girl in black hadn't expected Eric to know her friend and quickly replied, "I'm Jennifer Love Hewitt."

"Oh, another Jennifer! I like girls named Jennifer -- can I buy you both a drink?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 913: Then I'll Go Too]

Joss Whedon watched as Eric talked animatedly with the two girls, occasionally making them burst into giggles. He felt a mix of helplessness and envy.

Though the girls glanced at him from time to time as if worried he'd be left out, their eyes and thoughts were almost entirely focused on Eric. At such a young age, holding power that was practically unheard of in Hollywood, Eric's allure to women was unmistakable -- like a moth drawn to a flame in the dark.

Knowing that he wouldn't be able to discuss business tonight, Joss decided not to linger as a third wheel. During a pause in their conversation, he said, "Eric, take your time to think about that thing we discussed. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be on my way."

Eric paused in his banter with the girls, stood and replied, "Don't worry; I'll think it over carefully."

As Joss noticed Jennifer Love Hewitt, who had recently taken the seat next to him, shift aside to give him space, he thought for a moment before subtly gesturing at his chest.

Eric understood the hint; Joss was reminding him to be aware of the girls' ages. Both Sarah and Jennifer were under five feet tall, which was quite rare in Hollywood, where tall starlets reigned, making Joss concerned that the two girls were still underage.

With a knowing smile, Eric exchanged understanding glances with Joss as he watched him leave. Turning to Jennifer Love Hewitt, who now occupied Joss's former seat, he asked, "So, where were we?"

"Oh, we were talking about the Victoria's Secret Angels. Both Sarah and I are really curious about how they maintain such amazing figures. It's practically perfect!"

"It's not easy, really. You might not realize this, but many Victoria's Secret Angels barely eat anything in the week leading up to the big show to maintain their physique."

Since she sat next to Eric, Sarah Michelle Gellar just happened to notice the gesture Joss had made. Having been in Hollywood from a young age, she understood what those signals meant. Remembering what could potentially unfold next, she felt a little warmth rise to her cheeks. Hearing Eric's words, Sarah chimed in, "Don't they get hungry from not eating?"

"Hunger is something you just have to endure," Eric replied. "So, there's really no reason for you two to envy them, nor do you need to aspire to become Victoria's Secret Angels."

Jennifer made a playful face, sticking out her tongue. "Even if we wanted to, we wouldn't be able to! We're too short."

"Actually, being shorter can be an advantage for you! Many Victoria's Secret Angels find it hard to transition to Hollywood due to their height," Eric explained, then curiously asked, "So, what movies are you two filming lately?"

Jennifer's eyes lit up for a moment before she composed herself, acting nonchalant. "Sarah and I just auditioned for a movie this afternoon. I don't know if we'll land any roles, though."

Eric noticed the change in Jennifer's expression and looked at Sarah, then back at Jennifer. "You two are too much alike -- height, looks, even your vibe is nearly identical! Even if you're not competing for the same role, the production team might decide to keep just one of you."

"What do we do then?" Jennifer glanced apprehensively at Sarah. She knew this well and didn't consider Sarah to be too close of a friend. Their similarities in personality allowed them to coexist peacefully, but she still felt the competitive tension.

Eric shrugged, saying, "That's just how it is."

Jennifer mustered her courage, her eyes earnest as she looked at Eric. "Eric, what about you? Don't you have some influence? This is an MGM film after all!"

Eric raised an eyebrow. "Oh, what's the movie called?"

"They haven't finalized the title yet; it's still going by the original name from the novel, which sounds really long, called I Know What You Did Last Summer."

Eric recalled. "Kevin Williamson's script, right?"

"Exactly," Jennifer nodded, "Eric, you know about this script?"

From what he remembered, in his previous life I Know What You Did Last Summer was associated with Sony-Columbia. However, Kevin Williamson had sold five scripts to MGM for $500,000, including plans for three Scream films, and he wouldn't be able to provide scripts for any other companies until the contracts were fulfilled.

In recent years, due to the success of Scream, Williamson had become one of the hottest horror screenwriters in Hollywood. MGM had showered him with additional bonuses, making their collaboration quite pleasant. However, a horror film like I Know What You Did Last Summer wouldn't have a production budget exceeding $20 million. Even within Firefly Group, Eric had rarely taken on projects under that budget, let alone might MGM.

"I don't know for sure; it's just a guess," Eric said, shaking his head. "But a movie like that would be perfect for you."

Seeing Eric focus mostly on Jennifer, Sarah decided to distract herself from her trailing thoughts and chimed in, "Eric, I heard Firefly is casting for Spider-Man. Is that true?"

Eric turned to her, "Oh, are you interested in Gwen Stacy?"

The question made Sarah shy away from Eric's gaze for a moment, but she ultimately nodded. "Actually, well, I really admire Director Cameron. I've watched Titanic five times."

"Complimenting other directors in front of me will only make me upset."

Sarah immediately shook her head. "No, no, Eric, um, you're actually even better."

Jennifer hadn't expected Sarah to bring up Spider-Man; it was something she had been thinking about earlier. Given the overnight fame of Rachel Weisz in Titanic, the role of Gwen Stacy in Cameron's new film was one that every eligible woman in Hollywood surely coveted.

Watching Sarah trip over her words, Jennifer smirked before stating, "Eric, I think you're actually greater too! My agent once told me that producing a single film that grossed over $2 billion globally could be called a miracle. But to do it twice with films grossing over $1 billion each is a miracle on top of miracles."

Eric chuckled and said, "Honestly, I can assure you that only actors who have never worked with Jim would have feelings like yours. Once you've worked with him, you probably won't want to act in his films again for a lifetime."

Sarah looked concerned, saying, "I've heard he can be quite harsh on set, but it can't be that bad, right?"

"Speaking of that," Eric glanced between the two girls with a grin but maintained a serious expression. "I happen to have a tape of behind-the-scenes footage from when Jim filmed Titanic. You won't find it anywhere else. Want to come watch it with me?"

Both girls immediately blushed, exchanging looks before shifting away from one another. Deep down, they were both a little excited about tonight, unsure of which invitation Eric had in mind for which of them. To their surprise, Eric invited them both at once. Despite being child stars, the two felt like they needed to figure out how this could possibly happen.

Eric chuckled as he put on a pair of sunglasses that hung from his collar. "Okay, I was just kidding. I'm leaving now. See you next time."

The two girls, still momentarily dazed, locked eyes again. Jennifer, more decisive, being two years younger than Sarah and having less success in Hollywood, felt that if she passed on this opportunity, she'd likely always be overshadowed by Sarah's increasing fame.

Standing up with Eric, Jennifer said, "Eric, um, I really want to see it."

Sarah, who was standing beside Eric, felt a spark of competitive spirit upon seeing Jennifer's pleased expression. Casually wrapping her arm around Eric's, she smiled sweetly, saying, "Eric, I'll go too."

...

Once outside the bar, the two girls climbed into Eric's car. They didn't fully relax until they arrived at the Liberty City estate and followed Eric into the shell villa, where they felt a little out of their depth.

As the three entered, the lights in the villa's hallway turned on automatically. Eric glanced back at the two girls, who looked hesitant, and said, "No need to change your shoes; just come on in."

Both Sarah and Jennifer felt like rolling their eyes -- did it look like they were hesitating over whether to change shoes?

After this, Eric headed toward the kitchen, and the girls exchanged glances before carefully following him. Though their hearts raced, their eyes wandered around the luxurious space, and some silly fantasies began to stir in their minds.

Once they entered the kitchen, watching Eric standing by the open fridge, Jennifer Love Hewitt let go of her reservations. Being in this opulent villa made her acutely aware of Eric's status and influence in Hollywood. Such a bigshot inviting both of them seemed quite reasonable.

She quietly approached, asking, "Eric, um, can I have another drink?"

Eric handed her a box of juice from the fridge and handed Sarah another one as he said, "It's getting late; let's skip the alcohol. How about we just watch a movie? Honestly, it's been a long time since I've sat down quietly to watch one."

As Sarah pulled out the straw from her juice box, she looked up and asked, puzzled, "Eric, didn't you say we were going to watch behind-the-scenes footage from Cameron's film?"

"Come on, what's so entertaining about watching Jim yell on set?" Eric replied, gathering snacks and drinks on a tray before closing the fridge. "Follow me; how about a horror film? It's bound to be scarier than any scenes of Jim losing it, right?"

The girls exchanged glances again. Sarah took the tray from Eric's hands, feeling warmth across her cheeks as they left the kitchen.

They walked through the spacious hall, high heels clicking against the floor, making their way towards the private screening room. It was Jennifer who finally broke the silence. "Wow, it's so big in here. I could get tired just walking around."

Eric turned on the lights and joked, "Want to stay here for a while? It's great exercise, really helps in keeping fit."

Sarah set down the tray, wanting to retort but thought better of it.

"So, what movie are we watching? If you really want to see Jim's behind-the-scenes footage, you definitely can here," Eric said, leading the girls into a room filled with copies of films in various formats.

The girls took in the countless tapes, DVDs, and film copies filling tall shelves, marveling at the sight, and spent several minutes browsing. A few moments later, Jennifer pulled out a film copy, saying, "Eric, this is The Exorcist! I've always wanted to see this movie, but I've been too scared to watch it."

"Then we'll go with The Exorcist," Eric said as he walked over and took the film copy from Jennifer. "Actually, I haven't seen it either."

As Sarah walked over, she teased, "Are you scared too?"

Eric shrugged, saying, "We'll see."

Though he said that, Eric underestimated the sheer terror of William Friedkin's horror classic.

Not long after the movie started, the two girls nestled against Eric on the sofa, repeatedly letting out frightened little squeals, while Eric occasionally felt his scalp prickle.

Eventually, when the girl possessed by the evil spirit rotated her head 180 degrees, Eric casually grabbed the remote and turned the lights in the screening room completely off.

"Ah..."

The sudden darkness sent the girls into another round of shrieks.

Then, Sarah reacted first, a little shaky in her voice. "Eric, wait, did the power just go out?"

"I turned it off."

"..."

After a brief silence, both girls, leaning against Eric, began to chuckle.

"Ha ha, ha ha! So, you're scared too?"

"Ha ha! You really tried to scare us with a horror movie, Eric!"

Feeling the warmth of their bodies pressed against him with little inhibition, Eric wrapped an arm around each of them, warning, "Stop laughing; I'm getting mad."

"Ha ha..."

The giggles continued for a moment, but soon, with Eric's movements in the dark, their laughter transformed into something different.

"Eric, um, don't do that. Be gentle; you're going to rip my clothes."

"Hmm... the button is in the front."

Perhaps thanks to the cover of darkness, the two girls, already somewhat mentally prepared, didn't resist much as a series of suggestive sounds began to fill the dark screening room.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 914: Ruining Childhood Early]

Faint morning light filtered into the master bedroom of Liberty City. Eric woke up first, gently caressing the smooth skin of the girl beside him, yet his thoughts were elsewhere -- on Iron Man.

In the script, after a night with Vanity Fair reporter Christine, Tony Stark not only avoided her the next morning but also felt awkward upon their next encounter. Such a reaction was certainly not characteristic of a playboy who had bedded every cover girl of fashion magazines throughout the year.

Well, that needed to change.

After a moment of quietly pondering the details of the script revision while staring at the ceiling, Eric couldn't help but silently laugh.

"All right, I'll just take care of it myself."

With a rhythm of a film every two years, scheduling was indeed quite manageable for him.

Not dwelling on this any longer, Eric felt the girl leaning against him shift her breathing from calm to rapid. He looked down to find her eyes still tightly shut, seemingly unwilling to wake up.

With a chuckle, he let his hand slide down further.

Jennifer Love Hewitt, who initially intended to keep pretending to be asleep, suddenly trembled, squeezed her legs together, and turned her flushed face up to him. "Eric, you are such a bad boy."

He pulled Jennifer closer, reveling in the warmth of her body against his. "When a girl says that, she usually wants a man to be a little worse."

Weakly, Jennifer pressed Eric's mischief-making hand away and pouted, "Why don't you go bother Sarah? She's probably pretending to be asleep too!"

Eric glanced at the other girl, who was still blissfully unaware if she was also faking sleep. He grinned and rolled over, pinning Jennifer beneath him. "No rush, it's still early. Neither of you is getting away."

...

After breakfast and seeing both girls off, Eric dialed Joss Whedon, instructing him to cancel auditions for the lead role in Iron Man.

At ten o'clock, Eric arrived at Firefly Studios, confirming that Bridget Fonda, the actress cast as Pepper Potts, had been notified and was on her way. When she heard Eric planned to play Tony Stark himself, her jaw almost dropped in surprise.

It was hardly a good look for a beauty to have her jaw drop in shock, so Eric reached out and lifted her chin. "Close your mouth, let's go for the audition first. Whether it works out is still up in the air."

Bridget was not pleased with Eric's earlier gesture, but her astonishment could not easily calm down. She obediently followed the others into an audition room.

They spent a busy morning performing most of the scenes between Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in Iron Man.

By the end, even Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells, who had popped in just for the excitement, unanimously agreed that Tony Stark was practically tailor-made for Eric. During the audition, Bridget sometimes struggled to keep up with Eric's performance rhythm.

After lunch, they reconvened in the conference room. Eric looked around the table and said, "If that's the case, let's discuss what we should do next."

Frank Wells and others had already returned to work, but Katzenberg lingered behind. "Eric, I think to ensure Iron Man's success, you should minimize your public exposure as much as possible to avoid your established persona affecting your on-screen image."

"That's fine with me," Eric nodded. He never liked being in the spotlight anyway; playing the behind-the-scenes 'puppet master' suited him much better. "So let's announce my role as Tony Stark closer to the filming start next year."

Everyone agreed.

...

It was now August 23rd, and the North American summer box office was wrapping up. At the same time, the real blockbuster release of the season, Casino Royale, was already in its ninth week.

Although this week's expected box office for Casino Royale dwindled below $4 million, the film had grossed over $363 million in North America after an impressive eight-week run, closely matching the predictions of around $370 million.

Simultaneously, Casino Royale's overseas box office surpassed $470 million, raking in a global total of $830 million. With the second phase of overseas releases approaching in September, crossing the $1 billion mark was just a matter of time, effectively securing Casino Royale's spot as the box office champion of 1997.

...

Influenced by the success of Casino Royale, even though Eric preferred to stay out of the limelight, his presence had noticeably intensified among the public lately. Under these circumstances, it was not suitable to announce his casting in Iron Man just yet.

There was a good reason why most Hollywood stars opted for a low-key lifestyle.

If the media exposure was too frequent, viewers could struggle to maintain their immersion in their characters when they appeared on the silver screen.

They discussed how to manage media operations for Eric's participation in Iron Man, naturally leading to a conversation about salaries.

While Pierce Brosnan made a fuss about his salary for the 007 sequel, in the entire project team for Casino Royale, Eric himself ended up at the top of the pay scale.

He had a contract signed for an $8 million salary plus a 10% cut of global box office receipts. Although this cut was not based on the complete global numbers but rather the share MGM received from those amounts, in light of Casino Royale's trajectory towards $1 billion, Eric would likely walk away with no less than $50 million from this project.

Of course, no one in Hollywood would contend Eric's earnings were excessive. Strictly speaking, Eric had actively lowered his asking price. After all, other directors in Hollywood would likely walk away with $100 million or more when producing a film that grossed $1 billion.

Now, transitioning into the role of Tony Stark did complicate the matter of salary.

Neither MGM nor Firefly fully belonged to Eric, even though he maintained control, so even when filming his company's movie, there needed to be a clear distinction between personal and company profits. Otherwise, he could find himself embroiled in unnecessary complications down the line.

Eric, of course, wouldn't waste much time on this. He simply signed a rookie contract as outlined by Marvel Studios, symbolically earning $500,000. He set his maximum salary ceiling at $20 million, the established limit for Marvel actors, understanding its implications for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe's long-term planning, Eric would never aim to break that barrier.

...

At the end of the day's meetings, while having dinner with Katzenberg, Eric handed him another slip he had drafted earlier that day.

Katzenberg looked at the list and asked, "Garfield, Scooby-Doo, Ted, hmm, and some Japanese horror films? Eric, what's this about?"

"Licenses," Eric took a sip of his wine. "I compiled these over the past few days. Have the licensing department purchase the rights to these three animated toy characters: Garfield, Scooby-Doo, and Ted. I plan to create a live-action/animated hybrid film, similar to Who Framed Roger Rabbit. However, this time we would be using 3D animation. As for the Japanese horror films, I thought about it while watching The Exorcist last night. Although teen horror films have become popular in recent years, films that genuinely evoke fear will always have a strong market, and, frankly, Japanese horror does it exceptionally well. So, send someone to Japan to collect some scripts for Japanese horror films. Let's see if there is anything interesting."

In fact, Eric had thought about this list while spending time with Sarah and Jennifer the night before.

These two girls not only had many similarities in height, looks, and temperament, but they also shared remarkably parallel journeys in their pasts.

Aside from Buffy the Vampire Slayer bringing Sarah Michelle Gellar more fame, both girls starred in a series of teen horror films during the late '90s. Entering the new millennium, one starred in Scooby-Doo, while the other took the lead in Garfield, before both girls participated in several Japanese horror films. Each effort had yielded solid box office returns.

Scooby-Doo and Garfield had already attained classic status as animated series, while Ted was merely an impromptu idea of Eric's meant to spark some nostalgic irreverence.

Regarding Japanese horror films, Eric recalled several classic works like Ring and Ju-on (The Grudge), which had yet to premiere in this timeline. He suggested Katzenberg cast a wide net and gather scripts from Japan, as some classics would undoubtedly be easy to find.

After listening to Eric's explanation, Katzenberg thought back to the time when Drew was relentless in scouring for rights, causing quite a stir among Hollywood studios. The scripts she collected back then had become some of the biggest box office hits.

Carefully storing the list, Katzenberg pondered further, "Eric, these don't seem like mainstream film genres, do they? Uh, do you have another list like the one Drew had back then?"

Eric rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Jeffrey, my energy isn't limitless, and I can't spend every waking moment on matters like this. Besides, consider how many licensing projects we have on hand; they could sustain Marvel-related releases for decades let alone Transformers, Lord of the Rings, and the upcoming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I'd wager that any one of those could sustain a film studio for ten, if not twenty, years."

Katzenberg grinned. "Certainly, though more good projects are always better. So, about those three hybrid films you mentioned -- which one do you intend to produce first? I was personally involved with Who Framed Roger Rabbit back in the day. A film of this nature often requires extensive preparation."

Eric had a general impression of Scooby-Doo and Garfield but had genuinely seen Ted; however, he had acquired some knowledge -- such films often received less box office success in their sequels because audiences tended to lose interest once they left the freshness of the first installment.

"Let's go with Ted," Eric decided after a moment, smiling at Katzenberg. "Get the rights, and I'll prepare an outline for you down the road."

...

After leaving Liberty City, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Love Hewitt found themselves pondering the next few days; perhaps that night with Eric was just a dream.

At the very least, the thrill of it all felt wonderful, especially since Eric Williams even made them breakfast.

Naturally, they longed to glean something from Eric, yet typically, such matters could not be stated so plainly. They had also heard countless tales of Hollywood girls who found no success after engaging with directors or producers in a more personal way. They tried to convince themselves to take it easy, treating the whole experience as just a dream.

However, on the third day, they received good news; their agent informed them that both of them had landed the lead roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Recalling Eric's comment that the two of them were not suited to appear in the same film, they both believed this outcome was likely Eric's doing. Still, an inexplicable sense of disappointment washed over them. Perhaps landing these roles meant they would have no further connection with Eric.

It was ultimately a transaction.

Yet this time, the girls were mistaken.

...

In the days following, Eric entirely immersed himself in the auditioning process for supporting roles in Iron Man, unconsciously forgetting about their concerns. While he had considered giving the lead roles of Garfield and Scooby-Doo to Jennifer and Sarah, this too was purely from an angle that held their suitability in mind.

Despite Hollywood's long history of lead creatives trading roles for favors, Eric had never entertained such thoughts. After all, the success of a film required a certain level of self-restraint; miscasting could translate to losses in the hundreds of million dollars, a principle understood by anyone of rational thinking in Hollywood. After all, no woman was worth that kind of money.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 915: A Brand New Era]

On September 5, with the release of Warner Bros.' action film by Steven Seagal, which was titled Fire Down Below, the summer blockbuster season of 1997 officially came to a close.

Overall, this summer's box office performance was brutal. It was overshadowed by two major hits, Finding Nemo and Casino Royale, both of which pulled in over $300 million at the box office. Other large productions that debuted in June were nearly wiped out, with Paramount's North American box office barely surpassing $200 million with The Lion King II, which could hardly be deemed a success.

However, as July approached, the chaos in the film market began to settle. Movies like Fox's Ice Age, MGM's Scream 2, and Universal's Air Force One achieved respectable box office results. Ice Age, in particular, drew the most attention.

This was not just because Ice Age grossed over $176 million in North America against a production cost of $59 million, but also because it marked Blue Sky Studios' first animated feature film. Despite the well-known technical support from Firefly Group, to receive acclaim in North America and triple the production cost at the box office was a huge motivational factor for other film companies.

Notably, apart from Casino Royale, the standout box office performers of the summer included The Lion King II, Finding Nemo, and Ice Age. These three animated films alone contributed close to $600 million in total box office, accounting for nearly a quarter of the entire summer's earnings.

Before Ice Age's success, several major Hollywood studios had begun establishing their own animation divisions. However, influenced by the monopoly Disney held over 2D animation and Pixar's control over 3D animation, along with the lengthy production times for animation, these studios felt producing successful animated films was a daunting task.

Now, however, whether it was Blue Sky Studios breaking traditional thought patterns or being driven by great profit motives, Hollywood's major film companies began to invest more heavily in their own animation departments.

On the other hand, the fierce competition of June made Hollywood realize that it could no longer adhere to the traditional approach of releasing major films just before Independence Day, as this only led to severe internal conflict.

The overseas box office performance further captured Hollywood's attention. This year's two billion-dollar potentials, Finding Nemo and Casino Royale, both saw overseas box office earnings significantly exceeding their domestic ones. While many media outlets were still marveling at Casino Royale breaking domestic opening-weekend records, the overseas first-week box office had already reached a staggering $136 million.

In its 13th week of release, Finding Nemo's North American gross exceeded $330 million, while its overseas earnings hit $390 million. Many overseas markets had yet to premiere, indicating at least an additional $200 million in box office potential still waiting to be tapped, in stark contrast to North America, which was approaching the tail end of its run.

Reflecting back, by September, Titanic, which was starting to wind down globally, ultimately earned an astonishing $1.6296 billion overseas, with total global box office surpassing an unprecedented $2.23 billion.

The Paramount Decree of 1948 and the subsequent rise of the television industry nearly marked the end of Hollywood's golden age of the American film industry.

However, in recent years, with Hollywood frequently creating box office miracles globally, the industry began to realize that a new golden age for American cinema was on the horizon. Moreover, this new era was accompanied by the rapid development of high technology and the ever-changing landscape of economic globalization. If you couldn't keep up with these changes, you would surely face obsolescence once again.

The biggest change was undoubtedly the rapid consolidation of several major media groups in North America.

It was somewhat ironic that the original intent behind the Paramount Consent Decree was to prevent monopolistic giants from dominating the industry. The unintended outcome was a severe blow to the American film industry. In recent years, the decree had become little more than a formality. Major media giants were even reaching into the theater industry, which had once been expressly forbidden, yet Hollywood was showcasing a rapid recovery.

As this summer season concluded, Hollywood entered into two major events related to media group consolidations. Viacom acquired CBS, and Seagram merged with the European music giant PolyGram.

Viacom's acquisition of CBS was nearly common knowledge in Hollywood. Since the 1980s, Summer Redstone had been relentlessly expanding Viacom's television business. Firefly Group and News Corp had jointly suppressed the promotion of The Lion King II, causing that $300 million potential 2D animated film to fall just over the $200 million mark. This debacle ultimately motivated Redstone to move forward with the CBS acquisition.

Eric Williams was very pleased with Viacom swallowing CBS. The North American public television network had already begun showing signs of decline, being increasingly overshadowed by numerous cable channels grabbing market share. Moreover, due to the influence of the new wave of technology, CBS's market value had surged several times over. Eric could determine that, without prior knowledge, Viacom would find CBS to be a cumbersome burden.

However, Seagram's acquisition of PolyGram caught Eric off guard. This came to light only when a reporter from a European newspaper accidentally captured a photo of Seagram's CEO Edgar Bronfman meeting with PolyGram executives.

When Seagram acquired Universal's parent company, MCA, it gained a powerful foothold in North America with Universal Records. If they also took over Europe's largest record company, PolyGram, Universal Records' power would far exceed that of other leading record companies worldwide.

...

"Alright, I'll send a plane to pick you up in Brisbane, but don't make it too obvious. By the way, shouldn't we share a kiss... Hmm, let's do it again... Haha, enough fun," Eric said, reclining in his office chair with his feet up on the desk while chatting on the phone with Miranda Kerr, who was all the way in Australia. Just then, Elisabeth casually walked into the office without knocking.

"Okay, let's wrap this up. I have a guest now, so I'm hanging up. Bye."

Elisabeth raised an eyebrow at Eric, who hurriedly hung up, but seeing nothing amiss, she shrugged and sat down opposite him, picking up a pile of documents on Eric's desk to leaf through.

After placing his phone down, Eric straightened in his chair and looked at Elisabeth, who was sifting through the thick stack of files. "Are you blatantly being a business spy?"

Elisabeth didn't look up, responding, "Hmph, I won't even dig into your phone calls with those little vixens, so how dare you be so smug?"

"I'm thinking of adopting 'being smug' as my motto," Eric replied with a laugh, pulling a pencil from his cup and making edits on a script spread out in front of him.

The script was an idea he had for Desperate Housewives from some time ago. Eric spent a few hours crafting a simple storyline, then handed it off to Marc Cherry, the original writer of Desperate Housewives.

Marc Cherry was still a relatively unknown figure in Hollywood at the time, so he worked diligently, quickly crafting the complete storyline and scripts for the first season's first three episodes.

Just as Eric wrote a few lines on the Desperate Housewives script, Elisabeth burst into laughter.

Eric lifted his head, "You're quite the frightening one. What if you scare me into writing a horror film script? That would take a lot of effort."

Elisabeth tossed a bunch of files back onto the desk, leaving just one folder, which she waved, still unable to suppress her laughter. "This one, the script for Ted, is just too cliche. Who wrote it?"

Eric pointed to himself with the pencil. "I've been bursting with inspiration lately, I can't help it."

Elisabeth rolled her eyes, brandishing the folder. "I want it."

"Come over and lean on the desk; I'll give it to you."

"Ugh, you jerk. You only think of awful things. No wonder you wrote such a cliche script!" Elisabeth exclaimed, throwing a small figurine of Ada Wong from Resident Evil at Eric.

He caught the figure of Ada Wong, displaying a little crossbow, and placed it gently down. "This one's a limited edition! If it breaks, I'll just have to put you on the desk for compensation."

She scoffed again, shaking the script for Ted. She didn't bring it up again but said, "Ted is a plush toy beloved by many kids. You're just writing this nonsense. Are they really okay with it?"

"I think there are two main reasons copyright holders might not be willing to cooperate. One, they're not getting paid enough, or two... they're really not being paid enough," Eric chuckled. "In any case, Firefly has already signed the copyright agreement with them. What we write for the script is none of their business."

"Bull, I know they must feel cheated, thinking you'd make Ted a Disney-style children's story. If they knew it would turn out this tacky, they wouldn't have sold it even if it killed them."

Eric laughed, "That might not necessarily be the case. It really depends on whether they're being paid enough. Still, this movie will definitely be R-rated, and kids can't watch it, so there won't be much impact. Now, what's the matter? You didn't come barging in here because you couldn't stop thinking about me, right? If I remember right, we just saw each other the night before last?"

"Who would think of you, you creep?" Elisabeth scoffed, pulling out an envelope from her handbag and handing it over. "This is the completed script for Shrek by Chris Meledandri. Can you take a look?"

Eric took it, opened it, and asked, "Why not just send it to my email? That'd be much easier."

"Everyone's in a rush. Who knows when you'd reply if it came in an email? I'm not planning to leave this afternoon, so help me out and give me some feedback after reading it. That'll do."

"Alright," Eric nodded with a smile. "But first, could you fetch me a cup of coffee with one sugar and plenty of milk?"

Elisabeth reached out as if to grab the Ada Wong figure again before standing up and leaving Eric's office.

Moments later, she placed the coffee in front of him and said, "Weren't you talking about Seagram acquiring PolyGram? Didn't you feel anything?"

Eric twirled the pencil in his hand, casually asking, "What kind of feeling?"

"I mean, you never thought about snagging PolyGram for yourself? There have been more criticisms lately regarding Fireflyer's player enabling piracy."

"All I know is that Firefly Records' performance has increased over 50% this year. While digital music comprises only about 10% of that, they're smart enough to realize where the industry trends are heading. For a new technology, resisting it will only lead to self-destruction. It seems Siemens wants to sell PolyGram now, likely anticipating the upcoming rise of digital music in the next few years."

"So, Seagram is the fool here? Can they not see this?"

"It's not a matter of being a fool. Edgar Bronfman managed to claim the CEO position at Seagram from his family; he can't be that foolish, though I wouldn't say he's incredibly smart either. Just like Redstone, many can only see short-term gains without thinking long-term."

Elisabeth nodded thoughtfully, then joked, "You're thinking pretty far ahead! Firefly hasn't expanded at all in the past two years; growth rates are bound to plummet soon."

As Eric made some more notes on the script, he continued, "Even if Firefly stops growing, that would still be enough for other Hollywood companies to catch up for several years. Plus, whether it will actually stop growing is uncertain. You know about the economic bubble in recent years. Since Firefly isn't a publicly-traded company, it can't enjoy the many benefits the bubble brings. Thus, expansion now would be unwise. When the bubble bursts, that'll be Firefly's moment to shine."

"So, what do you think of Seagram acquiring PolyGram?"

Remembering how, in the original timeline, once the media group consolidations were complete, only Universal seemed to switch owners continuously in the new century, Eric said, "I can only say, once Seagram completes the acquisition of PolyGram, that company will become a hot potato. Whoever takes it will be in trouble."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 916: Reunion After a Long Time]

In the past life, after Seagram acquired Polygram, the company found itself unable to bear the massive debts and the overall decline of the music industry. A few years later, Seagram had no choice but to sell itself entirely to the French company, Vivendi.

Vivendi took over Seagram, but within two years, it faced a significant loss, prompting it to sell all its entertainment assets to General Electric. General Electric then integrated these assets with its existing NBC network, forming NBC Universal, which encompassed television, film, and music. However, a few years later, General Electric too sold NBC Universal to Comcast.

It's fair to say that once Universal went through several ownership changes while other media groups were stabilizing, Edgar Bronfman's acquisition of Polygram Records proved to be a critical misstep.

After hearing Eric's analysis, Elisabeth remarked, "So, you're determined not to expand the record business?"

"Firefly is fine with just Firefly Records. If we continue on our current growth trajectory, in four to five years, the profits from the Fireflyer player might surpass the entire annual profit of the record industry. If we increase the weight of the record business in the group, Firefly would have to find a balance among various interests, which could hinder Firefly Electronics' development," Eric replied.

Elisabeth nodded in understanding and chuckled, "Oh, I thought you guys liked bigger things."

Eric glanced at Elisabeth's chest and lamented, "Of course, bigger is always better. It's just unfortunate that reality is too harsh."

"I'll hit you for that," Elisabeth playfully raised her little fist. But just seconds later, she leaned over her desk and whispered, "By the way, how much did you make this time in Southeast Asia?"

Following the collapse of the Thai baht in July, the currencies of Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore plummeted throughout August. The depreciation of the Indonesian rupiah even surpassed that of the baht.

"Right now, a lot of foreign exchange contracts haven't settled yet, but if we just count the paper profits, it should be around $600 million. Chris has already started investing in the Korean won, and we might make another profit," Eric said, glancing at Elisabeth. "What about you?"

Eric didn't hide his operations in Southeast Asian currencies from those around him; in fact, he specifically encouraged Elisabeth to participate. However, they hadn't gathered together, as that would be too conspicuous. Eric wasn't keen on having the governments of Southeast Asian nations coming after Firefly Group.

Elisabeth knew how much Eric had invested and was surprised, saying, "How did you make so much? I borrowed $100 million from Dad and managed to scrape together an additional $50 million with Julia's help, and I only made less than $80 million!"

"$80 million is already quite good. You entered the market a little late, but over 50% profitability shows your trader is quite capable," Eric flipped another page of the script, then looked up, "I take it you've recouped all your funds?"

"Yeah, many people say Southeast Asian currencies will rebound quickly, so Julia and I didn't dare to continue. But the Korean won probably won't see too much of a decline, so why are you guys putting your money on that?" Elisabeth inquired.

Eric smiled, "Besides Japan, Korea is the only fat fish left in Southeast Asia; do you think others will let it go?"

"Perhaps, but Julia and I have converted that $80 million all into stocks, so there's no turning back for us." Elisabeth shrugged and added playfully, "Oh, by the way, we also booked a Boeing 747-400. If the Nasdaq index doesn't continue to rise like you said, then you'll have to cover the costs!"

Eric replied helplessly, "Two planes are already enough for everyone. Why buy so many?"

"I really don't care! One is yours, and one is Drew's. I certainly deserve one too. Besides, it's only $80 million," Elisabeth made a bit of a spoiled face and said, "If I can't pay the balance later, I'll just offer Julia to Boeing; you can redeem her, okay?"

The Nasdaq index was still far from its peak, and there was still potential for it to rise several times.

Eric wasn't worried about whether the $80 million Elisabeth and Julia had invested would cover a Boeing 747. He just retorted with some annoyance, "You might as well offer yourself to Boeing."

As they chatted and occasionally teased each other, Eric reviewed the script for Shrek in detail, adjusting some details based on memory. Nearing the end of the workday, he handed the script to Elisabeth, saying, "Let's leave it at that for now. I'm heading to New York in a couple of days, where I'll personally check on the settings and storyboards at Blue Sky Studios."

Elisabeth stored away the script and curiously asked, "What's taking you to New York?"

"The Victoria's Secret show is about to kick off after Fashion Week, and they want me to come by. There are some other small matters too. I'll be in New York for a few days, and then I have to fly to London," Eric casually organized the files on his desk and put them in the safe. He picked up the landline phone to say hello to Caroline and the others before standing up, saying, "Come on, let's go get some food."

Elisabeth grabbed her bag and linked her arm with Eric's as they walked out of the office. Suddenly, she remembered something, asking, "Are you really skipping the Emmys?"

Eric shook his head, saying, "That's not urgent; I'll set off after the Emmys."

...

In September, with the arrival of the fall television season, one of America's most significant television awards, the Emmy Awards, also took place around this time.

Eric hadn't paid much attention to the Emmys in previous years, but as Firefly's television business expanded, he began investing more thought into it.

After a fruitful summer release, this year's Emmys saw Firefly Group's television programs shine brightly.

Whether it was the broadcast network's Friends and ER, or the cable shows like Sex and the City and America's Next Top Model, they all received numerous nominations.

Among them, under Harvey Weinstein's operation, FFM TV launched The Sopranos, which garnered a remarkable 16 nominations and became the standout star of this year's Emmy Awards.

The Emmy Awards ceremony took place on September 8, at the Pasadena City Hall in northeast Los Angeles, carrying on a tradition that had stretched over 20 years. The ceremony started relatively early and lasted just two hours, concluding at 8 PM West Coast time.

In the end, The Sopranos walked away with seven accolades, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor, and Outstanding Lead Actress, becoming the biggest winner of the night.

The celebration party was held at the Sunset Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard.

Eric didn't personally attend the Emmy ceremony, arriving only after the awards to celebrate with the Firefly Group. Though FFM TV was directed by Harvey Weinstein, its control still lay with Firefly, so there was no separate celebration for The Sopranos.

...

Entering the banquet hall, Harvey Weinstein was the first to welcome Eric, giving him a hug and quipping, "Hey, Eric, you came solo again tonight?"

Eric had become accustomed to attending various events alone, and Harvey's teasing was nothing new. However, hearing Harvey's comment made Eric suddenly remember something, and he instinctively scanned the room.

Before Eric had a chance to spot anyone, Robert Iger and Anne Sweeney, who had specially come from New York, walked over, blocking Eric's view.

Eric had no choice but to smile, greeting Robert and the others one by one.

...

How long does it take to forget someone? The harsh truth is, once you're alive, it's impossible to do so.

What one can really do is simply stop caring.

The last time was when she secretly gifted him a tie without a signature, receiving no reply, crying all night long and then deciding to forget about that guy.

In six years, while in the same city, she had done her best to make herself and him two parallel lines, thinking that would help her slowly stop caring. Yet, when she thought he wouldn't attend the Emmy celebration party, he appeared.

And just like that, her heart was suddenly absent. Her gaze unconsciously sought him out, watching as he mingled with the crowd, enjoying conversations with others, and making his way through the attendees before approaching her.

"Hey, Jenny," Eric greeted the Friends crew before turning to Jennifer Aniston. His gaze was curiously drawn to the tall man standing beside Aniston and felt somewhat disappointed yet intrigued. He vaguely remembered the guy had appeared in some film but couldn't quite name it.

"It's Jennifer, don't shorten surnames to form nicknames," seeing him look so nonchalant, Jennifer wanted to compose herself as well. Her left hand instinctively lifted but hesitated to reach out, recalling that her boyfriend was still nearby.

So, she habitually wrapped her raised arm around her boyfriend, thinking, "Hey, I have a boyfriend too!"

While that thought lingered, her outstretched arm ended up embracing nothing.

Turning away, she noticed the man beside her distinctly flinched, clearly looking guilty, seemingly wanting to distance himself from her.

Stunned for a few seconds, a wave of strong grievance washed over her.

Coward, jerk, traitor, chicken...

How could she be so unlucky?

She wanted to throw her glass of champagne at him but suddenly lost all her strength. The glass shattered on the floor, and she crouched down, bursting into tears.

It was a loud mess.

"Forget it, forget it, I don't want any of it, look at this."

The sudden change silenced the entire hall.

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Williams," the man standing next to Aniston finally realized what happened and apologized to Eric before awkwardly remaining where he was.

"Just go, don't stay here," Eric shot the man a glance, ignoring him and handing his drink to someone nearby. He crouched down to see the girl who had buried her head and was crying uncontrollably, reaching out to pick her up and walked toward the banquet hall exit.

Robert Iger followed behind and looked at Jennifer Aniston curled up in Eric's arms as he quietly asked, "Eric, what happened?"

Eric didn't respond but simply said, "Make arrangements; I don't want to see any mention of this in tomorrow's papers."

Robert Iger felt a headache coming on. The scene was too big to cover up, yet noticing Eric's expression left no room for discussion. He gritted his teeth and said, "Understood."

...

Once in the parking lot, Eric let the bodyguards step out. He placed the girl in the passenger seat and drove away from the Sunset Tower Hotel himself.

After a good while, Jennifer finally stopped crying while huddled in the leather seat but didn't dare look up, softly asking, "Where are you taking me?"

"Taking you home. Where do you live now?"

"I'm not going back."

"Uh-huh."

Eric responded and continued driving.

Another silence fell. Jennifer had her chin resting on her knees, quietly gazing at the lights passing by outside the window, when she suddenly said, "This is Bel-Air."

Eric glanced outside, the Bel-Air neighborhood rivaling Beverly Hills in wealth. "Hmm?"

"Diamonds, brilliant, and Bel Air now," the girl softly recited a line from Young and Beautiful, saying, "That's this Bel-Air."

Eric nodded. "Yeah."

"I really can't believe a horrible guy like you could write such a good song."

"Maybe I just plagiarized it."

The girl scoffed lightly. "Someone who can write a song like that wouldn't let you copy."

"Well, that line of thought is a bit fantastical."

"Now you're just rambling."

"Did I often ramble in the past?"

"I don't know; I've almost forgotten. With you popping back in, my public relations manager is probably losing it right now."

The girl clearly didn't hear Eric's order to Robert Iger. Eric didn't explain, nodding, "Yeah, right now my head is full of media headlines; how about we discuss how to take the front page?"

Jennifer turned her head to look at Eric in the driver's seat, opened her mouth, hesitated for a bit, and finally said, "As soon as you started rambling, I knew nothing was wrong."

"Feeling better? Then I'll take you home, okay?"

"Am I really such a hassle?"

Eric shook his head. "Not at all. If I wanted to, there's a 90% chance I could charm you into bed tonight."

Jennifer glared at him, indignantly, "Be careful or I'll take you down with me!"

"Are you hungry?"

The sudden change threw her off balance. The girl blinked, feeling a strange comfort in his concern, and nodded obediently, "I'm hungry."

"Great, a hungry person has very weak willpower, so you don't have the courage to take me down with you right now."

"..." The girl blinked again and shouted, "Pull over, stop the car!"

Eric reluctantly pulled over to the side of the road, glancing at the scattered streetlights, saying, "This isn't a residential area; it's dangerous to stop here. You might run into a psycho killer."

But the girl ignored him; as soon as the car stopped, she lunged at Eric, fists hitting him playfully a few times, frustratedly biting down on his shoulder.

"I'm going to just -- ugh -- bite you to death now."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 917: I Actually Don't Care Much]

Mulholland Drive wound its way through the entire Santa Monica Mountains, where two luxury cars parked quietly along the side of the road, gazing toward Malibu's sharp edge.

It was already early morning. On a hilltop near the highway, Eric lay on a camping mat, propped up on his arms, watching the sky shift from a dull gray to a bright blue. The surrounding area was open and serene. Beneath him was a grassy meadow, but the ground wasn't particularly even. Aniston, resting in his arms, instinctively searched for a more comfortable position in her sleep, rolling most of her body toward him.

Eric felt a pang of guilt over Aniston's public breakdown the night before. He had allowed her to vent all the pent-up frustration from recent years, enduring her pinches and bites in the car, and wandering aimlessly for hours along the lengthy Mulholland Drive.

By the time they reached the Malibu hilltop, it was late at night. Eric had intended to drive back to the estate at the Liberty City, but she insisted on staying to watch the sunrise. Eric naturally acquiesced. He sent their bodyguards back to fetch some camping gear and food, and accompanied her to the hilltop. After crying and fussing, she had stayed awake until just past two in the morning before finally dozing off.

Perhaps tempted by the lingering scent of last night's snacks, a little squirrel suddenly popped out from nearby bushes, eagerly grabbing a small piece of chocolate and munching on it. After finishing in just a few bites, the little guy seemed reluctant to leave, sniffing around for more and dashing toward a snack bag.

Eric had initially watched the little creature steal food in silence, but he didn't expect the critter to be so oblivious to its surroundings, making the bag crinkle loudly.

Concerned that Aniston might wake up, Eric carefully reached out and flicked the fluffy tail of the little creature. Startled, the squirrel leapt forward, creating an even louder commotion as it scampered away, only to stop at a distance and cautiously glance back at Eric, clearly reluctant to leave empty-handed.

The sudden noise jolted Aniston awake. After a moment of grogginess, memories of the previous night flooded back to her -- the way she had stubbornly toyed with Eric's patience. A wave of regret washed over her, making her question if she had been too willful.

She didn't dare look up at Eric's reaction. Instead, Aniston's hand snaked out from beneath the blanket wrapping them, slipping under Eric's shirt collar to touch the shoulder she had bitten the night before. The sensation of his skin was vivid under her fingertips, even feeling the scab from the blood that had dried there.

Eric naturally wrapped his arms around her slender waist. She was still clad in the silk gown from last night, its smooth texture caressing against his skin. Even though he had jokingly claimed a ninety percent chance of getting her back in bed, he didn't act on it.

However, feeling her movements, Eric couldn't help but tease, "What's this? Can't wait to take advantage of me first thing in the morning?"

Aniston's fingers paused but didn't pull back. Instead, she shifted her body fully onto him, resting her face against his chest, listening to the strong rhythm of his heartbeat, whispering, "Eric, I don't know what to do."

"If you don't know what to do, just set it aside and focus on what you can manage."

Aniston scrunched her nose in displeasure and replied, "Do you say these brainwashing lines to all the women around you?"

"No, not at all. You know I'm actually quite lazy."

"Uh-huh, lazy enough not to seek me out for six years."

"I thought you didn't want to see me again for the rest of your life."

"Now you're just arguing. You know I didn't mean it. That tie, that tie..."

"Ha! I remember getting seven ties that day. Well, it must have been seven, maybe eight."

"..." She fell silent for a moment, then added grumpily, "I really want to bite you again."

Golden sunlight gradually spilled over them as Eric gently rubbed her waist, saying, "The sun's up. Let's head down the mountain. You can take your time biting me at home."

Aniston suddenly recalled something and exclaimed, glancing around before turning Eric's wrist to check his watch. "It's already seven o'clock! Where are we? I have to shoot today."

With the fall season approaching, filming for the new season of Friends had kicked off. Eric was well aware of this, lightly patting Aniston's side. "No worries. The production company and the network's owners are here. You've got such a valid reason to be absent. It would be a waste not to use it."

"I don't want that. But, um, the way I was last night... they, they..." She murmured, sinking back down on Eric.

Eric continued to hold her soft body, chuckling, "Yeah, so what to do? How about I build a little wooden cabin here, and you can live here in hiding from now on?"

"With all that money, you're only willing to build a cabin? How stingy! At least it should be a castle, like Hearst Castle!"

"Do you know Hearst Castle took thirty years to build? Old William Hearst didn't finish it before he died. Do you really think you can wait that long?"

"Of course, I can be very patient."

"But I don't have that patience," Eric said with a laugh, rolling over to plant a few kisses on her sweet face. "Alright, let's get going. I told them last night, and no one dares to say a word."

Suddenly pressed down by Eric, Aniston let out a couple of light squeals, reciprocating his kisses, unknowingly wrapping her arms around his waist. "You... if you could be a little more devoted, you'd be the perfect man in the world. Why can't you just be a bit more dedicated?"

Eric leaned down again, kissing her lips lightly, laughing, "I didn't expect such high praise from you. But there really is no perfect person in the world," he said, pausing his teasing tone, serious now, "and you might already know, I have two kids now."

Aniston's eyes dimmed slightly as she nodded, forcing a smile, then mockingly added, "Of course, I know. I even know you named your daughter Hawaii. It's so chaotic; only a father like you would give your child such a bizarre name."

"What's wrong with Hawaii? I think it's nice."

"Hmph, not at all! When I..." She abruptly stopped, her gaze flitting away, her cheeks flushed, making Eric want to bite her.

Eric nodded with a grin. "Of course. When we have kids, I'll leave the naming to you."

"Who said I want to have your kids?" Aniston exclaimed, playfully pushing Eric's head away, her shyness evident.

"After last night, do you think you'll find any other guys?"

"You arrogant jerk," Aniston shot Eric a glare, but thinking back on last night's events made her sad again. She tightened her grip around him, whispering, "You better not bully me anymore."

"Yeah, I promise."

"And you better not make me sad."

"No problem."

"And you can't bring other women around me."

"Sure."

"And you can't talk about our business with others."

"Absolutely."

"And you can't touch other women."

"Uh... let's renegotiate from 'you jerk' onward."

Aniston playfully thumped her fist on Eric, then, in an instant, leaned over, kissing him. "Alright, you jerk, I'll let that last one slide. Let's go down the mountain; I have to shoot."

"I was serious just now. What if you take a few days off? I'll take you to New York for Fashion Week, and we can pick out some beautiful clothes."

"Absolutely not! The filming team is already in production. Even if you don't care about money, I can't make everyone wait for me."

Seeing Aniston's determined expression, Eric had to relent. He stood up, pulling her along as they walked down the slope, leaving their belongings for the bodyguards to take care of.

...

After leaving the Emmy Awards victory party, Eric had turned off his phone.

Having eaten breakfast with Aniston after hiking down, he turned his phone back on. It flashed a long list of missed calls.

Despite efforts by Robert Iger and others to keep last night's events out of the newspapers, the people around Eric had evidently already learned everything they needed to know.

Sifting through and returning a few calls, Eric set the matter aside and began his workday.

Last night, The Sopranos had won big at the Emmy Awards. While there were inevitable reports in the media about the Weinsteins' dealings with the Emmys, the exceptional quality of The Sopranos's episodes kept the comments from stirring much controversy.

FFM Television seized this moment to announce that their second self-produced new drama, Prison Break, would be premiering soon. They also started releasing tapes and DVDs of The Sopranos.

...

In September, summer vacations for students across North America were coming to an end. However, without a standardized holiday schedule, different schools had varying start dates.

Miranda Kerr had returned to Australia during the break and was now nearing the start of school. Unable to resist the girl's wishes, Eric arranged for a Boeing 767 to fly to Brisbane and bring her back to Los Angeles. He initially planned to head to New York once the plane returned, but then received a call from Larry Ellison in San Francisco. The acquisition negotiations with Apple's board had reached a final stage, and they wanted Eric there for the final discussions, so he had to head over to San Francisco on short notice.

At San Jose, Eric and his entourage exited the airport, where Larry Ellison eagerly awaited him.

Eagerly throwing his arm over Eric's shoulder, Larry didn't bring up the Apple acquisition but instead asked, "Eric, what's happening with the lead role in Iron Man? I'm still waiting to see who gets the privilege of having me as their driver."

Ignoring Larry's smug tone, Eric hopped into the car he provided and replied, "You'll know when we start filming next year."

"Hey, I put down five million for that! If you pick someone terrible, I have the right to decline to do product placement."

As their cars left the parking lot, Eric suddenly regretted not having kicked Larry into the back seat. He shook his head and said, "No, Larry, you don't have that right. The contract is already signed."

Larry hoped to make a cameo in a Hollywood blockbuster, but he still felt a sting over the five million Eric had taken from him. Realizing Eric wasn't going to let that slide, he quickly shifted topics, saying, "Apple's chairman Ed Woolard and CEO Gil Amelio are waiting for us at their headquarters in Palo Alto. Steve's also there. The deal we agreed on was a fifteen percent premium on the average stock price for the last week, totaling $2.45 billion."

Eric calculated in his mind that this price wasn't too steep, nodding in agreement. "If you've worked it out, what do you need me here for? You can just call Chris. I plan to keep my share under Firefly Investment anyway."

"I called! Hansen seems too busy, and--" Larry rubbed his hands together, saying, "He implied that some things would be more effective if you handled them."

Eric, sensing Larry's tone, anticipated that their call had not been purely beneficial.

Sure enough, when they arrived at Apple's headquarters, Steve Jobs bluntly demanded that Eric approve the reopening of Apple's ARM technology licensing and presented a large stack of documents proving the violation of the prior agreement requiring Apple to relinquish the ARM chip technology during Firefly Electronics' acquisition of ARM.

Apple had previously invested five million to develop mobile chips for the Newton tablet, becoming one of ARM's major shareholders.

After the acquisition of ARM by Firefly Electronics, they gradually reclaimed or halted licensing of ARM chip technology to others. After years of operation, few companies currently held the licensing rights, remaining were Nokia, Qualcomm, and Firefly Electronics itself.

In the conference room, Eric perused the pile of documents in front of him with an amused smile as he looked at Steve Jobs. "Steve, you called me here for this trivial issue?"

"Of course not just this," Steve looked around the conference room, pointing to the seven or eight Apple board members present. "I'm requesting that after the deal closes, they all resign, and you must ensure you don't interfere in Apple's affairs."

Eric noted the stunned expressions on the board members as they exchanged incredulous looks at Steve, who seemed unfazed. He felt a mix of bemusement and exasperation. "You expect me to support you in getting rid of these people, only for you to turn around and push me out of the decision-making? Do you think that makes sense?"

Steve stood firm, justifying, "This is my condition for returning to Apple."

Eric shrugged and turned to the board members. "If that's the case, you all ought to resign."

Apple CEO Ed Woolard exclaimed, "Eric, you can't do this!"

Eric kept a smile on his face, resting his hands on the expansive conference table, injecting humor into the situation, "You all see, working with a madman has no advantage. Apple could be bankrupt any day now, and you'd leave in a far worse state. So might as well leave now where you won't lose out on your severance pay."

The decision to sell Apple had already passed the shareholder meeting and although they were still board members, they couldn't jeopardize this deal just to cling to their positions.

While Larry was publicly presented as the lead in the Apple acquisition, many investors involved came on board due to Firefly Investment's positive view on Apple.

As a key figure in the Firefly network, Eric's influence was certainly stronger than that of both Larry and Steve combined. Everyone assumed Eric would intervene against Steve's chaotic antics, not anticipating his reaction would be to support the idea, leading to the final flicker of hope dwindling.

Nonetheless, a few board members found Eric's logic compelling. Although their expressions still bore traces of reluctance, they nodded in agreement. The others, seeing this, also resigned themselves to the decision.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 918: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder]

When Eric requested the entire Apple board to resign, Steve Jobs's expression remained tense and confrontational. "So, Eric, what about the licensing of ARM architecture technology?"

Eric understood exactly who Steve Jobs was. A man with such a strong desire for control could easily influence you if you reacted to his emotions. Leaning back in his office chair, Eric shook his head. "Steve, I can't agree to that. However, as a shareholder in Apple, if Apple needs to use ARM chips in the future, Firefly Electronics certainly won't refuse."

The technology behind ARM chips was central to Eric's vision for the future smartphone era. He planned to create a strategic alignment among Qualcomm, Yahoo, Firefly Electronics, and Nokia, similar to the dominance of Intel, Microsoft, and IBM, effectively monopolizing the entire smartphone industry chain.

To achieve this vision, preventing the widespread dissemination of ARM technology, as it had in his original timeline, was crucial. If the ARM mobile chips within the Firefly system could reach a level of dominance similar to Intel's in the PC market, even if Apple intended to produce smartphones in the future, they would have to source chips from companies within the Firefly framework.

Historically, Apple's dominance in the smartphone market, capturing over ninety percent of the profits, was attributed to their high-end focus, but fierce internal competition among Android platform manufacturers had also rendered them unprofitable. As long as the Firefly system could master core chip technology and the operating system, achieving monopoly status in the smartphone market early on could prevent a return to such fierce competition or at least limit it to the lower-tier manufacturers. This way, the Firefly system could enjoy the most substantial and stable profits the smartphone industry had to offer.

Steve Jobs remained relentless. "Eric, if you refuse to grant ARM license to Apple, we will pursue legal action based on the evidence we have."

In the conference room, everyone exchanged strange glances at Jobs's threats. Even Larry Ellison, sitting next to Eric, couldn't help but shoot a side-eye at his friend. Eric decisively dismissed the former Apple board members, removing the biggest obstacle to controlling Apple. It seemed petty to dwell on a minor issue now, which made Larry feel that Jobs was being quite ungrateful.

"Whether you sue or not is your business," Eric replied nonchalantly. "But Steve, if I were you, I wouldn't waste time on these matters. You should focus on how to revive Apple. Furthermore," Eric glanced at the remaining members of the original Apple board, "even though they've left, Firefly Investments expects a board seat and corresponding voting rights in the new board. There's no room for negotiation on that. Also, don't threaten me with phrases like this is your condition to control Apple, Steve. Honestly, I couldn't care less whether you want to take back control. It's clear that here, the person who cares most about Apple is you. So, any more questions?"

Steve Jobs's expression fluctuated for a while, and when everyone thought he might explode, he fixed his penetrating gaze on Eric and said, "Apple no longer has enough liquidity. I need $300 million."

"Larry raised a total of $2.5 billion, and after buying Apple, there's still $50 million left. I can give everyone a heads-up that this money doesn't need to be returned to the investors. Firefly Investments can top up another $50 million and give you $100 million for now. We'll discuss more later."

"The software from Yahoo has faced delays on operating systems other than Windows, and it's not very refined. I want the Apple operating system to receive treatment equal to that of Microsoft."

"I can't guarantee that Yahoo's software will sync with the Apple operating system like it does with Microsoft, but I'll instruct them to make improvements on the shortcomings. Anything else?"

Jobs thought for a moment and shook his head.

"Then it's settled. I need to head over to Oakland for a bit. I'll take my leave." Eric said, nodding to the others as he stood to exit the conference room. Larry Ellison exchanged a look with Jobs, but seeing he didn't move, reluctantly stood up to accompany Eric.

In the conference room, others began to rise as well. Jobs, however, remained seated like a statue, watching Eric disappear, his expression complex.

...

With the rise of Silicon Valley, affluent individuals amassed fortunes in the high-tech industry, and Atherton, northwest of Palo Alto, gradually became one of San Francisco's most renowned enclaves for the wealthy.

As evening approached, in a picturesque Atherton home surrounded by lush greenery, Caroline politely sent off a few cleaning staff and returned to the living room where Melanie stood at a fax machine receiving documents from Los Angeles, her gaze fixated on a solid wood dining table nearby.

"What are you looking at, Mel?" Caroline walked over to help Melanie organize the documents while curiously glancing in the direction of the table.

"Look," Melanie pointed to the table. "The decor in this house is mostly warm-toned, but this table, while it's light yellow wood, leans toward a cooler tone."

"What's wrong with that? I don't think it's a big deal," Caroline replied, puzzled.

"Eric mentioned he bought this place because his obsession with cleanliness has gotten worse, making him reluctant to stay in hotels. Cleanliness is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder," Melanie said. "Think about it, would he feel comfortable seeing this table?"

Caroline laughed. "Eric isn't that picky."

"This isn't about being picky; it's a disorder. Didn't someone say that Eric is reminiscent of the late Howard Hughes? A case of obsessive cleanliness got so severe that Hughes eventually couldn't eat, leading to his slow decline," Melanie explained.

Worry etched across Caroline's face as she circled the table. "It shouldn't be that severe, right?"

Melanie approached, pointing at a spot near the fruit bowl. "This table may be okay, but look here; there's a scratch. It's small but noticeable. Ha! When he gets back, I'll show it to him, and we can watch him squirm."

Caroline picked up the fruit bowl and placed it over the scratch, raising her chin defiantly at Melanie. "Mel, you can't tease Eric like that."

Melanie glanced at the shifted bowl, a mischievous smile forming at the corner of her mouth, and nodded. "Alright, I won't say anything. But I'm standing up for you. That guy wants to keep you around while shirking his responsibilities -- it's outrageous."

Caroline shook her head while organizing her documents. "I don't want Eric to be responsible for me. I'm not a child."

"Aw, poor little Carly," Melanie said, forcibly embracing Caroline. The two girls then went through the resumes just received from Los Angeles. Since Melanie and Caroline had vacated their previous positions as Eric's assistants, the roles needed filling.

While sorting through the pile of personal resumes, Melanie suddenly pulled one out, staring at the photo on it. "Wow, this girl's really pretty. Carly, for your own sake, I suggest we toss this resume."

Caroline snatched the resume from Melanie's hand, displeased. "Mel, we can't do that. It's unethical." She looked down at the resume, which belonged to a girl named Marissa Mayer. Even though it was just an ID photo, she did look lovely. "But, um, she's just an undergraduate from Stanford's computer department. She might not meet Eric's standards."

Melanie knew Carly wouldn't allow her to play around, but still, she took the resume again, hiding it at the bottom of the pile and said, "Ms. Haynes personally interviewed her. If she didn't meet the criteria, do you think she'd be in this pile?"

This time, Caroline allowed Melanie's little antics to pass. The two organized the documents, and the sound of engines revving outside indicated the arrival of vehicles.

...

The two girls stepped out to greet Eric, who was curiously surveying the luxury home. This property, around a hectare, was one Eric had recently purchased. With Firefly Electronics and other ventures growing, he anticipated needing a place to stay in San Francisco more often, and Eric had begun to dislike staying in hotels. Now that he could afford to buy property wherever he was interested, this mansion was a result.

Melanie greeted Eric and led a few bodyguards to a small villa on the west side of the estate designed for security personnel. After a brief introduction, she returned to the main house. Entering the living room, she saw Caroline emerging from the kitchen with a coffee pot, while Eric relaxed on the sofa, leg crossed, going through some documents.

Eric looked up at Melanie and asked, "All set?"

Melanie nodded, her gaze drifting to the long table on the west side of the living room. The pile of resumes was still there. Her eyes darted around before she casually said, "Eric, Los Angeles just sent over resumes for the assistant position. Do you want to take a look?"

Eric accepted a coffee cup from Caroline and, following Melanie's indication, realized it would be easier to read the documents at the long table. Nodding, he stood up and walked over.

Caroline watched the mischievous grin on Melanie's face, feeling helpless. Without putting down the coffee pot, she quickly followed.

Eric sat at the long table and was about to pick up the stack of resumes when he idly noticed the fruit bowl, feeling it was slightly askew. Instinctively, he reached out and pushed the bowl to the center of the table.

Melanie noticed Eric's motion and nearly burst out laughing.

Caroline shot a glare at Melanie, preparing to say something to divert Eric's attention when she noticed his gaze settle on the small scratch on the table.

Eric scrutinized the mark for a while, internally repeating "it doesn't matter" a hundred times. Eventually, however, he couldn't help but look up, about to say something when he caught an unexpected smile still on Melanie's face.

Suddenly understanding, he pointed at the scratch and asked, "Did you do this?"

Melanie quickly shook her head. "Of course not. It was already there."

"I instructed that all the furniture here needed to be replaced with new items. How could there be any defects?"

Feeling Eric's intense gaze, Melanie turned slightly anxious and shifted closer to Caroline, continuing to shake her head. "I don't know either."

Eric glanced at where he had just sat, then directed his eyes back to the fruit bowl and the pile of resumes before stating, "So, it must've been you then. To dare play tricks on the boss, you've got some nerve."

Caroline sensed Melanie's desire to escape, promptly stepping in to explain. "Eric, that scratch was there before. I moved the fruit bowl."

By this point, Eric likely understood the situation and replied, "Alright then, Melanie, call someone to bring in a new table. And the cost will come out of your paycheck."

Melanie opened her mouth in shock, feeling as though she might cry. The furniture in this mansion certainly wasn't cheap. Just this one table could equate to a few months' salary.

Caroline had seen the purchasing budget for all the furniture, knowing this seemingly plain German imported table cost an outrageous $25,000. She immediately interjected, "Eric, please don't do that. This table is very expensive."

Hearing Caroline's pleading tone and noticing Melanie's tearful expression, Eric decided against intimidation, smiling instead. He stood up with the stack of documents and said to Melanie, "Alright, I'll let you off this time. Next time you pull a stunt like this, you'll definitely lose a couple of months' salary."

Melanie sighed in relief. Although she often sympathized with Caroline, deep down, she held a significant amount of awe for Eric, given his growing wealth and power. With her broader life experiences compared to the more innocent Caroline, she understood the weight of Eric's influence and status in society.

After this little incident, Melanie couldn't help but reflect, vowing never to toy with such thoughts again. After all, she quietly valued this job, which offered substantial rewards and bright prospects, even more than Caroline did.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 919: Prodigal Daughter]

Eric sank back into the sofa, choosing not to mention the table incident again, and Melanie, of course, wasn't going to bring it up either. She walked over and said, "Eric, it's already six o'clock. If there's nothing else, Caroline and I are heading to the hotel."

"What's the rush to go to the hotel? You should stay here. We can fly straight to New York in the morning without all the running around," Eric replied. Not hearing a response from the two women, he looked up and saw Caroline blushing, while Melanie's expression seemed slightly awkward. Unable to resist, Eric chuckled and added, "Don't worry, I won't bother you. But if you two dare to attack me at night, I will fight back."

Melanie, hearing Eric's joking, laughed lightly as she settled next to Caroline on a single armchair and wrapped her arms around her small frame. "Eric, who knows, maybe someone hopes to be bothered by you."

"Who would?"

As soon as Melanie finished her comment, Caroline retorted playfully, which caused both Eric and Melanie to burst out laughing, making Caroline bury her face into Melanie's embrace.

"Alright, stop picking on Caroline," Eric said as he regained his composure. "Has the first-week sales report for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone come in?"

Last week, thanks to the powerful global distribution network of HarperCollins under News Corp, the first book in the Harry Potter series launched simultaneously in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and other major English-speaking countries.

In order to make the novel a hit as soon as possible, Firefly Group created a comprehensive promotional plan modeled after a movie release. A month before the book officially hit the shelves, a pre-launch campaign had already begun. With the book's release, every media channel within the Firefly system -- TV, film, internet, magazines, and newspapers -- was tirelessly promoting Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

With Caroline still shy against Melanie, she replied, "I spoke on the phone with HarperCollins this afternoon, and they are still tallying the numbers. We won't have detailed data until the day after tomorrow. However, preliminary feedback suggests that first-week sales globally should be no less than 100,000 copies."

Eric nodded in satisfaction, though he didn't seem overly excited. He recalled that the final book in the Harry Potter series had achieved a staggering 11 million copies sold within the first 24 hours, making the current numbers feel underwhelming by comparison.

Melanie, intrigued by Eric's calm demeanor, asked, "Eric, first-week sales exceeding 100,000 copies would be enough to put Harry Potter on the bestseller list in most countries. Aren't you satisfied?"

Eric shook his head. "Of course, I'm satisfied, but I think it's still far from the book's full potential."

"And how many copies do you think it should sell?"

"That's beyond my prediction; I'm not a prophet," Eric said, placing another finished resume aside and glancing at the last one, which made him smile.

Melanie noticed Eric's subtle shift but didn't dwell on it. After a moment's thought, she said, "Honestly, sometimes I think you really do act like a prophet. With Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, you seem to have known it would be successful ahead of time, which is why you invested so many resources into its promotion."

Eric flipped through Marissa Mayer's resume, nodding slowly. "Well, just keep that to yourself -- don't let it out. I'll have to silence you."

"Hehe," Melanie chuckled, patting Caroline's back. "Well, here's someone who already knows. What do you plan to do about that?"

Caroline finally sat up from Melanie's embrace, her cheeks still flushed, and she shyly glanced at Eric before averting her gaze.

Eric didn't tease Caroline any further but finished reading Marissa Mayer's resume and said, "Let's hire her. Call Kelly and have her arrange for this Miss Marissa Mayer to start her onboarding process."

Only then did Melanie realize the resume Eric was holding was the one she had intentionally placed at the bottom of the pile. She opened her mouth, but remembering the previous incident involving scratches on the table, she kept her expression neutral, taking the resume from Eric. After a moment's contemplation, she said, "Eric, aren't you going to interview her personally? She graduated from Stanford and might still be in Palo Alto."

Stanford was right next to Atherton's affluent neighborhood. Upon hearing Melanie's reminder, Eric nodded, "Why don't you give her a call? If she's in Palo Alto, invite her for breakfast tomorrow morning. If not, she can just come to work in Los Angeles."

As they were speaking, Eric's phone rang. He picked it up, checked the caller ID, and turned to Melanie. "I need to take a shower. Could you help me prepare some hot water? And dinner is on you too. If you can't cook, just order takeout."

Watching Eric walk into the backyard to answer his call, Melanie inspected Caroline's face and sighed, "Sigh, I really am like a maid. He never seems to consider asking you to prepare his bath."

Caroline turned red again, pushing Melanie's hand away as she stood up, "Come on, let's go together. I can help you."

...

On the West Coast of the United States, it was already evening, while in Brisbane, Australia, it was still not yet two in the afternoon.

On the road leading to Brisbane Airport, John Kerr was driving and was incredibly upset, or rather, during the three months since his daughter returned to Brisbane for the summer, watching her adorned in clothes and jewelry that he could never afford, John Kerr had been simmering with indescribable anger.

Now, he could no longer hold back and practically slammed his hands on the steering wheel while glaring at the rearview mirror, shouting, "So, Eric Williams sent a plane to pick you up. Why on earth did he send a plane for you?"

As Miranda Kerr was about to leave Australia, she could no longer endure her father's outburst. This summer, the father-daughter duo had already had their share of clashes, so she bluntly replied, "Eric likes me."

If they weren't on a highway, John would have almost slammed on the brakes. How could he not guess what was going on? However, since his daughter had kept silent about it, he couldn't explode, "Ha! Do you even know how old you are? This is criminal, I'm suing him!"

"Go ahead and sue, because I'm not going to stand by your side." Miranda shot back defiantly, "Who knows, the federal court in America might not even accept your lawsuit."

John smacked the steering wheel again and yelled, "Don't forget, I'm your father! If I don't allow it, you're not going anywhere!"

"My legs belong to me; I'll go wherever I want!"

As the argument intensified, Therese Kerr, sitting in the passenger seat, quickly patted her husband's shoulder in a calming gesture and turned to her daughter in the backseat with a hint of accusation, "Miranda, since Mr. Williams sent a plane to pick you up, why didn't you mention it earlier? Your father worried that you wouldn't be comfortable on the plane and even bought you a first-class ticket. It would be very costly to cancel now!"

Miranda had only wanted to surprise her parents, but hearing her mother say that, she nonchalantly replied, "Mom, it's only a few hundred Australian dollars; if it's gone, it's gone."

John scoffed coldly, "Exactly, if it's gone, it's gone. You're not leaving Brisbane today -- or anytime soon. We're heading back right now."

"Then you'd better break my legs first, because otherwise, I'm running away and never coming back!"

"Oh, I'll gladly break your legs! You think I'm afraid?"

Noticing the fierce look in her father's reflection in the rearview mirror, Miranda shrank her neck and shook her mother's hand in the front seat, "Mom, look at him!"

"John, don't scare the child."

John Kerr immediately vented his anger on his wife: "It's all your fault for spoiling her! I didn't consent to her going to Los Angeles, and now look -- she's so young and involved with someone else."

Miranda shot back in discontent, "Hey, Eric isn't married. Maybe I'll become his wife in the future!"

"Who would want to marry a crazy girl like you?"

"Dad, I know you're just jealous."

"..."

The car fell silent for a moment. John Kerr slammed the steering wheel again, determined to create a scene at the airport. He figured he would smash Eric Williams's so-called private plane and take his daughter home.

...

Brisbane Airport, located right next to the coastal area, appeared shortly after. Minutes later, the Toyota sedan parked in the airport's lot.

John was set on making a fuss, watching his wife grab luggage out of the trunk for their daughter. He didn't intervene or offer help.

Miranda had just pulled out her Chanel bag when she spotted a man and a woman approaching them from a distance.

As they got closer, Miranda recognized her assistant Claire Weissman. After ICM had sent Claire to accompany her to the Bahamas for a shoot, Claire had also taken on the role of her life assistant.

Once she recognized her, Miranda excitedly ran over, "Hey, Claire! What are you doing here?"

Claire hugged Miranda and smiled, "Mr. Williams asked me to come along. Oh, this is our pilot, Mr. Paul Cornish."

"Hi, Mr. Cornish," Miranda smiled sweetly, extending her hand to the tall middle-aged man.

Mr. Cornish gently shook Miranda's small hand and nodded with a smile, "Just call me Paul, Miss Kerr."

"Sure, Paul. Um, this is my mom, Therese Kerr, and this is my dad, John Kerr." Miranda enthusiastically introduced them all, showing no signs of the tension she'd just had with her father. She was quite clever, realizing that if her father genuinely didn't let her leave Brisbane today, it would create complications. So, she decided to adapt her approach, considering his fragile pride.

Indeed, when Paul Cornish and Claire Weissman politely extended their hands to John Kerr, the tension that had been building up within him began to dissipate. He unconsciously shook their hands.

Exchanging pleasantries, Paul Cornish then turned to Miranda and said, "So, Miss Kerr, the plane is ready. Shall we?"

Upon hearing Paul's words, John Kerr began to react, but before he could speak, Miranda preempted him. "Paul, can we take off a little later? I want my parents to see the plane."

With a slight smile still on his face, Paul Cornish nodded, "Of course, Mr. Kerr, Mrs. Kerr, please follow me."

Seeing Claire take the suitcase from Miranda with little fuss, Therese Kerr instinctively linked her arm with her husband's, whispering, "Let's go, John. Don't make a scene."

John Kerr, who had been on the verge of destroying the aircraft, found his previous impulses considerably diminished. He shot an exasperated look at his wife and reluctantly followed along.

They went through a VIP passageway, and since it was a private jet, the security process was much simpler. In a few minutes, they entered the airport.

John Kerr scanned the enormous form of the Boeing 767, then looked around. Brisbane Airport wasn't large, and among the dozen or so aircraft parked there, only two or three were larger than the nearly 50-meter-long plane before him.

The eyes of Miranda Kerr sparkled with excitement as she pulled her mother up the boarding ladder and quickly disappeared into the cabin.

Seeing that John Kerr had not followed them, Captain Paul Cornish stayed back and politely introduced John to several other crew members.

John mechanically shook hands with the crew members, and ultimately couldn't help but ask, "Paul, is this plane specifically for picking up Miranda?"

As an ordinary middle-class individual, John Kerr had always pictured private planes as small aircraft just a few meters long. Seeing a Boeing of this size being used as a private plane was a first for him, and he could never fathom connecting such an experience with... his daughter.

Paul Cornish smiled politely and nodded, "Yes, John. Is there a problem?"

"Well," John reluctantly lowered his voice, "this trip from Los Angeles must cost a lot, right?"

"For a one-time rental, a round trip from Los Angeles is about $500,000."

Suddenly, John felt a wave of helplessness wash over him, and he involuntarily hunched slightly.

$500,000 -- that's nearly 700,000 Australian dollars! He had never seen so much money in his life. His desire to stop his daughter from going to Los Angeles evaporated in an instant. All he could think about was what it would be like to have that $500,000 in cash; they could buy a new house, a nice car, maybe even a yacht. It felt so wasteful to just fly to Los Angeles for a quick trip.

What a prodigal daughter!

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 920: The Morning Interview]

In the early morning in Atherton, the streets were alive with the chirping of birds nestled among the lush foliage along the road, yet there was still an overwhelming sense of tranquility.

Marissa Mayer parked her car by the roadside, double-checked the address, and stepped out.

She had woken up before five that morning, spending over an hour meticulously preparing for her breakfast meeting. Through her research, she learned that Eric Williams was a highly laid-back individual in many respects. Since he had called her to join him for breakfast, Marissa was convinced that she had likely already secured the job.

Her month of effort had finally paid off.

A month prior, when Marissa discovered that Eric Williams's assistant's office was hiring a new assistant, she immediately felt a spark of interest. Since high school, she had envisioned her future and had stubbornly chosen to study computer science instead of attending law school, which her parents deemed safer. Beyond her passion for technology, she observed the vast potential of the booming IT industry.

She hadn't originally planned to start working so early. Although she held a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, she knew entering the workforce as a junior programmer was the only option available to her. Even with luck on her side, it would take her at least a decade or longer to climb the corporate ladder at any company.

But securing a position in Eric Williams's assistant office would change everything.

Two months earlier, she had seen on the Yahoo portal that Peter Rich, Eric Williams's former assistant, was now serving as the Vice President of Advertising Sales at FFM TV. Prior to that, another former assistant of Eric's, Allen Fisman, had become a Vice President at ABC Group.

From these examples, it was clear that as long as she got into Eric's assistant office and captured his attention, just a few years later, she could easily secure a mid-level management position within the Firefly Group's companies, with a promotion trajectory far quicker compared to others in management.

In comparison, even if she went on to earn a master's degree from Stanford and started as a higher-tier engineer, achieving equal standing would not be feasible within three to five years.

Thus, despite the job posting requiring a master's degree, Marissa decided to give it a shot. She meticulously prepared her resume and received handwritten recommendation letters from several esteemed professors at Stanford.

However, despite her confidence, she received a rejection call shortly after submitting her application, simply because her qualifications didn't meet the requirements.

She didn't let that discourage her. After putting in more effort, she connected with Peter Rich a week later through a professor at her school. As luck would have it, Peter was a protege of that professor, and under his recommendation, Peter agreed to submit her resume to Kelly Haynes, who managed the assistant office. Perhaps touched by her persistence, Kelly offered her an interview opportunity, and Marissa successfully made it to the final round of candidates.

Being the only undergraduate among the candidates, along with her insights into Eric's character, she was confident that she would capture his attention, and reality did not disappoint her.

The only thing making her hesitate was that Eric Williams was notoriously known as a playboy. Although she felt confident about her appearance, if he asked her out, she was unsure whether to accept, decline, or maybe tease him a bit.

"Maybe I'll deal with that when the time comes," she thought to herself.

...

With another glance at her outfit, Marissa opted for something not too formal since he invited her for breakfast. She wore a fitted camel wool sweater, white pants, and black stiletto heels, striking a balance between professionalism and femininity.

She looked up at the luxurious mansion before her with a hint of envy, mentally calculating what kind of position she would need to obtain to buy such a place one day.

With that thought, she pressed the doorbell, and a moment later, a petite girl emerged from a path within the sprawling estate and walked towards the front door.

The girl was as delicate as a doll, standing just over five feet tall, and wore a wool sweater and casual pants, though in different colors.

Marissa was relieved they weren't wearing matching outfits, but then felt slightly uncomfortable; this girl certainly looked no older than fourteen. Marissa wanted to avoid getting caught up in any of the rich families' less publicly discussed matters.

"Hello, Miss Mayer, Eric is already waiting for you," the girl said.

Caroline opened the door to let Marissa in, greeting her warmly. Noticing Marissa's awkward expression directly related to the girl's age, Caroline offered an introduction. "I'm Eric's assistant, Caroline Wilson."

Marissa's confusion did not dissipate; realizing her earlier faux pas, she quickly composed herself and shook Caroline's hand with a smile. "Hello, Miss Wilson."

"You can just call me Carly. Please follow me; breakfast will be ready soon. You can chat with Eric first," Caroline gestured for Marissa to follow her into the courtyard.

As they entered the villa, Caroline led Marissa to the entrance of the gym and called, "Eric, Miss Mayer has arrived."

Marissa saw a man on the treadmill wearing a tank top and shorts lightly wave at them before Caroline made a gesture for her to proceed. "Please go ahead, Miss Mayer."

Marissa placed her handbag on a table by the door and walked into the spacious gym, glancing back to see Caroline smiling and nodding at her before turning to leave.

...

Walking up to Eric, Marissa couldn't help but recall the impressive accomplishments of the man before her -- achievements many would aspire to throughout their lives. It made her feel a bit nervous, but she also reminded herself this was an interview, quickly preparing for the potential tricky questions he might throw her way.

Perhaps he would edge her to just stand there for ten minutes to test her patience.

With that thought in mind, Marissa straightened her posture, relaxed her expression, and smiled, attempting to exude confidence.

Eric was evidently not a strict interviewee. Upon noticing Marissa beside him, he nodded and pressed a few buttons on the treadmill, which gradually came to a stop.

Marissa watched as Eric stepped off the treadmill, slick with sweat, and naturally reached over to grab a towel from a rack nearby, extending it to him.

"Thank you."

As Eric accepted the towel, drying his forehead, he appraised the woman before him.

In Eric's previous mental picture, he hadn't had much information about Marissa other than knowing she was a Google executive and Yahoo's CEO. However, that was already impressive enough. In a world dominated by men, a woman managing a Fortune 500 company proved she possessed exceptional abilities to serve as his office assistant.

Having reviewed Marissa's resume the previous day, Eric learned a bit more; she appeared to be a "straight-A" student from a young age. Kelly had provided a glowing evaluation of Marissa during the interview process, highlighting her calm demeanor, persistence, analytical thinking, and communication skills. Eric also noted traits such as a strong need for control and aggression, which certainly were not to be considered flaws.

Wiping his sweat lightly, Eric draped the towel over his neck and nodded at Marissa, who was unabashedly looking at him. "You're beautiful."

Marissa had initially anticipated Eric's probing inquiries, but his unexpected compliment caught her off guard. Without hesitation, she smiled back, saying, "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Williams."

Though she said that, Marissa felt a pang of disappointment. Surely he wasn't hiring her solely for her looks?

That was hardly a good thing; she did not want to be labeled as merely an eye-candy like the petite girl earlier. She had no knowledge of Caroline's capabilities, though she had often been compared to a Barbie doll for her looks. There was no way such a doll-like girl could possess any work competence.

Yet, she resolutely decided that securing the job was paramount.

If it turned out that Eric Williams only valued her appearance and not her skills, she could always leave for another opportunity. Working in Eric Williams's assistant office would still be an impressive experience, ensuring she could land another good job without trouble.

After praising Marissa, Eric walked toward the gym exit, and she proactively followed him out.

Once in the living room, Eric told Marissa, "Sit tight for a moment. I need to take a shower."

Marissa nodded, watching as Eric ascended the stairs to the second floor. She approached the sofa and curiously examined the expansive villa.

...

As the chatter from the kitchen drifted toward her ears, she couldn't quite catch the words; she wasn't overly curious, merely mulling over Eric's earlier demeanor.

This guy, soon to be her boss, seemed easygoing, courteous, and not difficult to interact with. Although most people presented themselves similarly upon first acquaintances, she felt confident in discerning whether someone's behavior was genuine or merely a facade. Therefore, he should be quite manageable. However, his direct compliment had "playboy" written all over it. Still, she couldn't help but notice he had a fantastic physique.

Realizing she was overthinking, she quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

Caroline walked out from the kitchen, and Marissa stood up, gesturing toward the kitchen. "Carly, is there anything I can help with?"

"Thanks, but breakfast is already ready," Caroline glanced around and asked, "Where's Eric?"

Marissa pointed toward the stairs. "He's finishing his workout and headed to take a shower."

"Oh, then let's head to the dining room. I'll introduce you to Melanie; she's also one of Eric's assistants."

...

Having finished his shower and changed, Eric descended the stairs to find the three girls chatting animatedly at the dining table.

"What are you discussing?" he asked with a smile as he sat down at the table.

"Oh, nothing," said Caroline, who was closest to Eric, shaking her head. She and Melanie stood up, one heading to the kitchen to fetch breakfast while the other set today's newspaper in front of Eric.

Marissa was still surprised to learn that Caroline and Melanie were both graduates of Harvard Business School. Seeing them swiftly transform into servants, she promptly stood up and followed Melanie toward the kitchen to help with breakfast, noting Eric's gaze was fixed on the newspaper as he didn't speak.

Carrying a small basket of bread, Marissa emerged alongside Melanie. She observed how the two girls stood on either side of Eric, one pouring milk and the other serving eggs, displaying a "well-coordinated" teamwork, making her suddenly nervous about whether she would be expected to manage these trivial tasks in the future.

Even while considering this, she found herself unconsciously moving closer, grabbing a piece of bread to place on Eric's plate. "Mr. Williams, is one enough?"

As Eric flipped through the San Francisco Chronicle, he heard Marissa's question, looked up at them, and said, "You all sit down; I'll serve myself."

Melanie divided a portion of eggs onto Eric's plate, and upon sensing his remark, she couldn't help but roll her eyes internally at her "hypocritical boss." They had prepared everything, and now he would insist on serving himself? Very little sincerity! However, she didn't dare express these thoughts, especially noticing Caroline's satisfied expression while immersed in her tasks. It only deepened her disdain.

Having quickly skimmed through the San Francisco Chronicle without finding any noteworthy news, Eric set the paper aside, took a sip of milk, and looked towards Marissa. "I saw on your resume that you've been accepted into a graduate program focused on artificial intelligence?"

Since the atmosphere in the dining room felt relaxed apart from the earlier minor details, Marissa felt comfortable responding naturally with a nod. "Yes."

"Then just go ahead and complete it," Eric nodded back, noticing Marissa's disappointment at his initial statement and added with a smile, "I mean, while balancing this job, I hope you can also obtain your master's. Is there an issue with that?"

Most universities accepted part-time graduate students, and while Marissa wasn't overly familiar with Stanford's policies in that regard, she knew that having secured Eric's assistant position, she didn't hesitate to affirm, "Not an issue at all. But, Mr. Williams, do you think I need to continue with graduate studies? I believe I can already handle this upcoming job well."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 921: Based on My Analysis]

Eric nodded, "If it were another field, it might not be necessary, but for artificial intelligence, I truly hope you can accumulate more knowledge in this area."

When one mentions artificial intelligence, the first thing that likely comes to mind is robots. However, that is just one aspect. Artificial intelligence is merely a branch of computer science; among its practical applications, internet search engines are closely tied to everyday life.

Over the past few years, under Eric's special attention, Yahoo never abandoned its development of more intelligent search engine technology. Thanks to Yahoo's outstanding search capabilities, companies like Infoseek, which were supposed to exist at that time, never made an appearance. Even the AOL portal website integrated Yahoo's search engine.

The plan was to gradually transform Yahoo from a comprehensive portal site into a search engine service provider after the year 2000. Now that Marissa Mayer had approached him for an opportunity, Eric certainly wouldn't keep her stuck in his assistant's office; her best future was clearly at Yahoo.

The IT industry differs significantly from the media industry. The media sector places greater emphasis on experience and creativity; one can attain an executive position in a large media group even without a college degree. However, in the IT field, lacking sufficient knowledge makes it nearly impossible to become an executive at a Silicon Valley tech company.

Eric briefly explained his reasons for encouraging her to pursue graduate studies while working, and Marissa had no objections.

...

After finishing breakfast and leaving Eric's mansion in Atherton, Marissa began to feel that everything that morning had seemingly been rather strange. Reflecting on the experience, she couldn't shake the impression that Eric felt as if he already knew her; there was no awkwardness from him, just an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Yet, she was certain she had never met him before; the idea that Eric had known her previously was highly unlikely. Pondering this without resolution, Marissa decided to chalk it up to Eric Williams' unique charm. After all, he had built an enormous economic empire at such a young age, and surely that came with some extraordinary qualities.

...

Eric had instructed that the plane bringing Miranda from Brisbane would divert to San Francisco instead, making it convenient for him to head directly to New York. After breakfast, he received a call informing him that the Boeing 767 was set to land at San Jose International Airport at 8:30 AM. With time running short, he headed out to the airport, accompanied by two women and a bodyguard.

The direct flight from Brisbane to San Francisco took a long fourteen hours, during which Miranda remained exceptionally excited. After the takeoff, she roamed the plane, akin to a kitten marking her territory, exploring the screening room, conference room, study, bathroom, living room, bar... Until she secretly took a small sip of strong whiskey, sleepiness took over, and she dived into the presidential suite's bedroom for a nap.

As the plane landed on the runway at San Jose International amid light turbulence, Miranda's assistant, Claire, knocked a few times on the door. When she received no answer, she barged in with concern, only to see Miranda sprawled on the big bed, sound asleep.

...

Initially, Eric had intended for someone to send Miranda back to Los Angeles. After entering the airport, hearing Claire's report, he decided to go on board and wake the sleepy girl.

Miranda felt someone tapping her and groggily woke up. Upon realizing it was Eric, she smiled sweetly and opened her arms for a hug.

Eric chuckled as he observed the girl clad in only a tank top and hot pants, throwing off the covers and wrapping her long legs around him like a koala. He playfully swatted her on the bottom, saying, "Time to wake up; everyone's watching you."

Only then did Miranda look around to see Claire standing behind Eric, holding her clothes, while two other young women lingered in the doorway. The petite girl, who resembled a doll, instantly triggered a sense of competition in her, and she pointed to Caroline and Melanie, asking, "Eric, who are they?"

Eric introduced them with a smile, "This is Caroline and Melanie; they're my new assistants."

Noticing the disappointment on Caroline's doll-like face when she turned to look their way, Miranda felt a surge of confidence. She looked at Caroline and said, "Caroline, I'm thirsty. Could you please pour me a glass of water?"

Caroline paused, her disappointment more apparent now, and pressed her thin lips together, glancing at Eric with bright, pleading eyes. Eric had brought Caroline on board to let her gradually familiarize herself with his life, hoping to lessen any feelings she might entertain for him. However, spotting her downcast expression stirred sympathy in him. Without hesitation, he gave Miranda a firm swat on the bottom again, emphasizing, "If you want water, ask Claire. You can't boss around my assistants."

The mood in the bedroom shifted as everyone felt Eric's change in demeanor. Claire wasted no time waiting for Eric's confirmation; she dropped the clothes and exited the bedroom. Miranda, however, felt increasingly dissatisfied with Caroline and Melanie but managed to maintain an innocent expression, saying, "Eric, I'm sorry. I won't do it again; that really hurt!"

Ignoring her exaggerated expression, Eric turned to the two girls at the door, saying, "Carly, Mel, why don't you two go take a break? You don't need to stay here."

Melanie nodded and took Caroline's hand, guiding her out of the room.

Eric refocused on Miranda and said, "Okay, change your clothes. It's starting to get cool here in California; be careful not to catch a cold. I had Carter arrange a car to take you back to Los Angeles."

Miranda immediately snuggled closer, wrapping her arms around Eric's waist, "Eric, school doesn't start for another week! Can I come with you to New York? I want to see Fashion Week!"

"I'm going for work; I won't have time to look after you," Eric replied as he picked up the girl's clothes from the table.

"I can manage on my own! I can stay with Gisele and come back after Fashion Week," Miranda pleaded, not accepting the clothes and pressing her slender frame against Eric while gently rubbing against him.

Overcome by her insistence, Eric gave in with a nod, taking a cup of water from Claire and offering it to Miranda. He then instructed Claire to prepare for takeoff before asking Miranda, "Are you close with Gisele?"

Miranda took a few sips, placing the cup on the side table, and with a clever glint in her eye, she replied, "Not really, but if you ask, they wouldn't refuse, right?"

"Do you not fear embarrassing yourself if they're not happy to see you?"

"Not at all! If they treat me badly, I'll tell you on them," Miranda said, confident and unabashed, before fluttering her eyelashes toward Eric, "Eric, can I use this plane often in the future?"

Eric held her waist firmly, struggling with the temptation as he slowly rubbed lower and shook his head, saying, "That won't work. This plane is for everyone's work; you can't just mess around with it. In a couple of years, once I receive the other planes I purchased, you can use them however you like."

Miranda cheered joyfully and leaned in to kiss Eric on the cheek.

...

After refueling, the Boeing 767 took off from San Jose International Airport, heading toward New York.

Once the plane stabilized in the air, in the midsection lounge area, Melanie unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to a somewhat disheartened Caroline, saying, "Alright, Carly, do you get it now? He's just a jerk; being upset over him is absolutely not worth it."

"No, I'm not upset," Caroline shook her head, looking lost. "I just... I just..."

Melanie pulled Caroline up, "Let's go; I spotted a bar on the plane. We should grab a drink."

Caroline followed Melanie, still muttering, "I just..."

"You're not confused about why the Eric shows interest in other girls yet remains indifferent to you, right?"

Caroline's cheeks flushed immediately, lowering her head and not retaliating.

Melanie led her to the bar, helping herself to an expensive bottle of red wine from the cabinet, then sat down beside Caroline. "But seriously, he is genuinely really nice to you -- everyone can see that. Just now, when that little brat tried to boss you around, he immediately shot her down."

Caroline frowned, "Mel, don't be so rude. That's not polite."

Melanie poured two glasses of wine, pushing one toward Caroline, saying, "Alright, fair enough. Let's find a better name for her: how about Little Beach, like a seaside resort?"

Caroline playfully slapped Melanie's arm, "That's hardly any better."

Unfazed by Caroline's little jab, Melanie laughed, "Okay, back to the original topic -- why does he treat you so well but seems uninterested romantically?"

Caroline lifted her face, keen to hear Melanie continue.

Melanie teasingly sipped her wine, then said, "Based on my analysis, there are two possible reasons."

"Huh?"

"First," Melanie raised a finger, "he's gay!"

Caroline shook her head vehemently. "No way!"

Melanie chuckled, pinching Caroline's chin gently. "I know that if Eric Williams were gay, there'd be no such thing as a normal man in this world, so the only other possibility is..."

"Yeah?"

With exaggerated seriousness, Melanie raised her second finger and declared, "He sees you as a daughter."

Caroline's eyes widened in disbelief, her cheeks reddening, "How is that even possible?"

Confident in her theory, Melanie explained, "Look, after spending time together, you know better than I do that Eric's psychological age is far more mature than his physical age. At times, he seems like an old man. Older men tend to prefer younger girls. You're so innocent, petite, and smart -- not to mention, you follow instructions and fit the ideal image of the perfect daughter in an older man's mind."

After blinking in surprise and pausing for a moment, Caroline finally tried to argue, "He has a daughter named Hawaii. I know that."

"No one says a father can only have one daughter," Melanie responded, shaking her head. She was aware Eric had two children, which wasn't a secret in their circles. Quickly, she picked up on a crucial piece of information from Caroline's words, "Wait, did you just say Hawaii -- like, that's his daughter's name?"

Caroline nodded; Eric had mentioned it in passing.

This was the first time Melanie had learned the name of Eric's daughter. After pondering for a moment, she couldn't help but laugh, "He's really something, giving his daughter such a weird name. Caroline is so much nicer!"

Caroline, having just regained her color, felt her cheeks flush again and stood to leave the bar. "I'm not listening to your nonsense anymore."

...

Four hours later, the Boeing 767 arrived on the East Coast -- not at Kennedy International Airport, which is closest to downtown New York City, but at MacArthur Airport in central Long Island. This location was near East Hampton, and Eric planned to spend a few days with the women and children once back in New York.

As the plane landed, it started to rain lightly in Long Island. The East Coast was not as temperate as California; autumn had set in, bringing with it a chill in the air.

"I already spoke with Gisele; you can head directly to their place on Madison Avenue. I won't be going to Manhattan for a couple of days," Eric instructed Miranda as he stood by a car that had arrived to pick them up, seeing her and Claire off in one vehicle.

Once the girls had left, Eric turned to Caroline and Melanie, noticing a peculiar look in Caroline's eyes. He assumed she was still preoccupied with his relationship with Miranda and shrugged it off. However, he couldn't help but notice Caroline was still wearing a thin wool sweater, expressing his concern, "Where's your coat? It's a bit cold; you should put it on."

Caroline instinctively shook her head and took a step back, her gaze avoiding Eric, "I--I'm not cold."

Next to them, Melanie wore a knowing smile, as if to say, "I told you."

"Then let's get in the car," Eric had ABC send over three vehicles. He opened the door of another black Mercedes for Caroline, saying, "Go on."

Caroline hesitated but obediently climbed into the car, still avoiding Eric's gaze.

Eric accepted a set of keys from the driver and handed them to Melanie, saying, "This is the key to my place on Sixth Avenue. You and Caroline can stay there for now as a work benefit. For the next couple of days, you won't be working, so take her sightseeing around Manhattan."

Melanie readily accepted the keys from Eric, "Thank you, Eric. I'll make sure to take good care of Caroline."

Eric, unaware of the underlying emotions at play between the two girls, watched as they drove off, letting out a small sigh. He thought that letting Caroline gradually move past her feelings for him wasn't such a bad thing after all.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 922: Very On-Point]

For several days, the weather on Long Island had been gloomy, with intermittent drizzles. Upon returning to East Hampton, whether due to the family atmosphere or the dreary weather, Eric found himself feeling rather lazy.

Last night, he had read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to three little ones deep into the night. Afterward, he got into bed and rekindled some affection with two women. By the time he fell asleep, it was already past two in the morning. He was groggily awakened by Joanna once, but he had no intention of getting up for breakfast and planned to linger in bed a while longer.

He vaguely heard the sound of a car engine and voices in the front yard. Rolling over, he hoped to sleep a bit longer when the bedroom door was suddenly pushed open.

Half-awake, he glanced over, expecting it to be Joanna, but instead, he heard the sound of boots hitting the floor.

Joanna didn't wear high heels around the house, let alone those hard-soled leather boots. A different scent wafted through, and he sensed a woman squatting by his bed, seemingly searching for something. Eric reached over and grabbed a magazine beside his pillow, tossing it at her.

Ewa Pacula didn't realize Eric was awake; initially, she was in a playful mood, picking up a foundation brush from the vanity, intending to tickle Eric. Startled by the magazine hit, she exclaimed, "Eric, why did you hit me?"

Not holding back, Eric smacked Ewa playfully on the head again, reprimanding her, "What kind of crazy girl barges into her brother-in-law's bedroom so early? Get out!"

"Woo, that's so mean! You're only a year older than me, yet you talk like an old man. And it's ten-thirty now, so it's definitely not early," Ewa retorted, snatching the magazine from Eric's hand and tossing it aside. However, she showed no signs of leaving, perching halfway on the bed's edge with a teasing tone, "Eric, did you really ban the Victoria's Secret Angels from dating Leonardo DiCaprio?"

Eric felt exasperated with his carefree sister-in-law. He was only wearing shorts under the covers, making it inconvenient to throw off the sheets and get up. He replied dismissively, "Well, since you've heard about it, it must be true."

Ewa chuckled wickedly and quipped, "Do you know what they're calling you privately now?"

"No, and I don't want to know."

Ewa originally intended to tease Eric and gauge his interest, but seeing his complete disinterest, she divulged, "They're calling you 'Jealous-Daddy' -- the protective dad who's jealous because his daughter can't date boys, haha!"

"Very on-point. If my daughter were a lesbian, what would she even know about dating?" Eric nodded in satisfaction and tossed the pillow at her again, insisting, "Now, get out."

"Well, I'll tell my sister you want Elia to be a lesbian," Ewa retaliated by grabbing the pillow and hitting Eric a few times before standing up. "And by the way, I came over with Emily and the others; they're all downstairs waiting for you, so hurry up!"

While saying this, Ewa's eyes twinkled with mischief as she suddenly tugged the blanket from Eric, yanking it hard.

However, instead of pulling the blanket off, she ended up being pulled onto the bed by Eric, who had been on guard. In no time, she felt a sharp smack on her backside.

The room echoed with a loud clap. Ewa jumped up from the bed, rubbing her rear while glaring at Eric, about to protest when he cut her off, "If you don't leave, I'll have to tell everyone you tried to assault me."

"Ugh, as if it's you..."

Blushing, Ewa spit out disdainfully and stomped out of the room in her high boots, making a loud racket on the wooden floor.

...

After dressing and washing up, Eric headed downstairs, where Chris and Emily were chatting with Joanna and the others in the living room.

Emily Brighton had only two months left until her due date, but she still hadn't stepped away from managing LTD Group and showed no intention of taking maternity leave.

Exchanging pleasantries, Emily eagerly started discussing this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show preparations with Eric.

This year marked the fourth iteration of the show. After years of development, it had become the Super Bowl of the fashion world. Following the debut's astonishing viewership of 46 million, although the ratings began to decline thereafter, the second and third shows still pulled in over 30 million viewers.

Thanks to the fashion show's success, LTD Group had maintained an annual growth rate of over 20% across all business sectors in recent years.

While such numbers might not be remarkable in emerging IT industries, a 20% annual growth rate was a true miracle in the traditional fashion sector.

On the other hand, the market share of Victoria's Secret had climbed from an initial 10% to 33% as of the second quarter of this year. The overall annual revenue of LTD Group had nearly doubled in three years, soaring from around $3 billion after its acquisitions to nearly $6 billion now. Recently, LTD Group's market value even reached as high as $10.6 billion -- about three times the value post-acquisition.

"Based on your initial suggestion, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show needs several talking points each year for publicity. Next year will be Cindy, Linda, and Christy's final show. We've planned for the millennium dream BRA for the year after, but that's going to be a tough sell. This year, we're focusing the promotion on a few guest performers. Celine Dion, the Backstreet Boys, and Elton John have all accepted our invitations and have begun selecting songs," Emily explained how the preparations were coming along, looking up at Eric. "I heard you're forming a girl group in the UK; will they be ready to perform in November?"

Eric shook his head. "Even if they're ready, they can't perform yet. I want them to develop in Europe first. And about Celine Dion -- do you think she fits the Victoria's Secret stage?"

"Of course," Emily nodded confidently, responding without hesitation. "Using My Heart Will Go On, we've already designed a shipwreck theme. It might not look great live, but with post-production editing, it should turn out beautifully on TV."

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show primarily targeted millions of television viewers, with film scores adapted for visual shots, but aligning visual elements with music, akin to a music video, wouldn't be overly difficult to achieve. After pondering for a moment, Eric agreed that it was feasible to blend My Heart Will Go On into the fashion show's visual presentation using long shots and slow-motion elements.

"In that case, you'd better find a good cinematographer."

"Still Nicole; I've already talked with her," Emily said, jokingly adding, "You, the big director, are making fewer movies now. You wouldn't want your go-to cinematographer to be idle."

Eric was a bit surprised, laughing, "I was actually considering asking her to help me shoot a music video. But, if that's the case, let her focus on the Victoria's Secret show. I can find another cinematographer."

"Ha! Even if you're reluctant, there's no way you can take her from me," Emily said, glancing towards the kitchen where Virginia and the others were preparing lunch. Ignoring Chris, she continued, "Originally, I heard Helena and Leonardo were dating. I wanted to take the opportunity to stir up some news, so what did he do to annoy you?"

Eric shrugged and chuckled, "You must already know, Jealous-Daddy, and that's just how it is."

Chris, clearly out of the loop, asked with confusion, "What are you two talking about?"

Emily shot her husband a glare. "Don't dig into this, or you might get led astray by Eric. I warn you, I'm about to have a baby."

Chris looked innocent, but he had gotten used to Emily's unreasonable mood swings during pregnancy. He shrugged and said, "Fine, I won't ask. You two can continue chatting."

Emily didn't bring it up again, pausing before continuing, "Also, Eric, this year I plan to replace ten Angels all at once and introduce some new faces to keep things fresh."

In the past few years, the models participating in the show had constantly shifted, but that was usually just a few Angels who couldn't participate for various reasons. The thought of even a partial overhaul like that felt significant.

Eric quickly realized why Emily had called him recently to discuss this year's Victoria's Secret show.

While he didn't involve himself in the management of LTD Group, he cared immensely about the fashion show he had helped create. Emily understood this, so any substantial changes to the Angel lineup definitely required Eric's approval.

The fashion show had only been held three times, and Eric didn't believe audiences would lose interest so quickly; people preferred familiar faces. Whether in movies, television, or fashion shows, this held true. Replacing some beloved Angels could even backfire.

"Emily, you should know, overhauling this many people is as risky as changing leads in a film or TV series."

"I know," Emily replied with a hint of resignation on her face. "But I feel we have no choice. Eric, the first three shows saw the highest attention for Victoria's Secret ever, significantly boosting the models' fame and, consequently, their worth. Even without considering the five contracted spokespersons, the remaining models have an average appearance fee exceeding $100,000. That sums up to almost $4 million. Remember the initial compensation you gave them? It was $5,000 -- twenty times less. Furthermore, the salary isn't even the primary issue; as their fame grew, so did their demands. This has made coordinating resources increasingly difficult. Those pretty girls behave like well-behaved daughters around you, but once they're famous, they become considerably more demanding."

Eric heard a hint of quiet resentment in Emily's tone, which didn't come as a surprise. He had seen Cindy ordering the crew around during filming of America's Next Top Model, completely different from her mild demeanor around him. He could only imagine there were other Angels with more outrageous attitudes. Outside of Eric, it wasn't easy for anyone to manage that coterie of beauties.

After considering for a while, Eric still declined Emily's request and said, "Let's not create such a stir; let's only replace five this time. If you think it's necessary, you can replace five more next year."

Emily appeared a bit reluctant but nodded, "Okay, then."

However, Eric noticed a subtle difference in Emily's expression and suddenly asked with a smirk, "You're not just trying to use me as an excuse to rein in the others, were you? You didn't actually intend to swap this many people from the start, did you?"

The Victoria's Secret Angels comprised around forty Angels, which seemed like a lot, but thanks to years of high exposure, each of those beauties had gathered a substantial fan base capable of influencing more people around them, which only deepened the brand recognition of Victoria's Secret.

As a savvy businesswoman, Emily clearly understood the potential implications of a mass overhaul of the Angels much better than Eric did. If he objected to shaking things up, she certainly wouldn't want to do it either.

By proposing such drastic changes, she likely just wanted to obtain a proverbial "royal decree" from Eric to control some of the more troublesome models. If Eric gave her the green light, then anyone who misbehaved might find themselves facing exclusion from Firefly Group.

Emily paused for a moment, then nodded, "I genuinely want to change some of them. If you agree, that's fantastic; if you don't, I'd hope you could still give them a warning to tone it down. But..." With a teasing glance at Eric, Emily added, "I think you'd probably miss them; they are like daughters after all, especially a bunch of stunning daughters."

Chris had been quietly listening. Just as he brought a cup of coffee to his lips, hearing Emily's words and recalling "Jealous-Daddy", everything clicked for him. He suddenly understood something and sputtered, nearly choking on his coffee as he coughed repeatedly.

"What's your problem?" Emily shot a displeased glance at her husband and shifted her body away from him. Eric reached for some tissue from the coffee table and handed it to Chris.

While Chris wiped the coffee stains from his shirt, he sheepishly shook his head, though he couldn't hide a grin, saying, "Sorry, my bad. I need to use the restroom."

Virginia happened to walk out of the kitchen just then, glancing at the scene with curiosity. "What happened?"

"Nothing; Chris just choked on his coffee," Eric explained, then asked, "Is lunch ready?"

"Yeah, let's head to the dining room," Virginia said, coming over to kindly assist Emily.

Emily supported Virginia's arm as she stood up, then turned back to Eric, "While we're at New York Fashion Week, we'll be interviewing a few new Angels. When are you coming to Manhattan? You can help us review some of the themes we've designed."

"I'll head over tomorrow, but I need to stop by White Plains first. Blue Sky Studios is up there; I'm set to watch a new 3D animation script presentation they scheduled with me. The day after tomorrow, I have a high-level meeting with ABC, so I won't have time until then."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 923: I Am Monica]

Eric left Long Island on September 14, first heading to White Plains, north of Manhattan, to discuss the production of Shrek with the team at Blue Sky Studios. After returning to Manhattan, he attended several days of meetings with ABC, listening to reports on the television department's performance in various areas for the first half of the year.

Last year, the company signed an eight-year, $9 billion broadcasting deal with the National Football League, causing concern among the executives that ESPN might suffer losses due to the hefty rights fees. However, by monopolizing the broadcasting rights to the public's favorite football events, ESPN saw a significant increase in both cable television revenue and advertising income this year. In just the first two quarters, net profits had already exceeded $200 million, and the annual total might even reach $500 million, which was one-sixth of the Firefly Group's projected earnings for 1997.

Additionally, the performance of the AE Network, primarily driven by Lifetime Television, had also shown noticeable growth. Hit shows like Sex and the City, America's Next Top Model, and others not only continued to boost Lifetime's prominence but also provided the company with sustained profits. Other cable channels like Disney Channel were also performing robustly.

The only disappointment was ABC's growth being considerably lower than that of its cable channels. With the rise of cable networks, ABC experienced a marked decline in overall ratings. The shift from broadcast to cable television was becoming an overarching trend in the American television industry. Although Eric could provide ABC with outstanding programming, he could not single-handedly reverse the industry's trajectory. Nevertheless, among the four major broadcast networks, ABC still maintained its top position in many metrics. To make itself look more appealing for sale, CBS sought to improve its second-quarter financials, but its revenue and net profit were no match for ABC's.

Thinking about the ongoing tug-of-war between Viacom and CBS, which had seen discussions reach $33 billion, Eric couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude. CBS had a lackluster operational situation, and while CBS had some cable assets, none could compare to the substantial profits that ESPN brought to the Firefly Group -- certainly, CBS's own cable channels couldn't compete either. In contrast, Viacom's cable assets like MTV and Showtime appeared to be the most valuable.

Once the acquisition was finalized, it was clear that Viacom would face challenges in the coming years.

Privately, Eric and Chris discussed the first phase profits from the Firefly investment amid the Southeast Asian economic crisis. Statistics showed that the initially raised $700 million had ballooned to $1.3 billion. Of that, $300 million would be allocated for building up the Korean won, while the remaining $1 billion would gradually be recovered.

With Firefly's investments in companies like Yahoo, AOL, Amazon, Firefly Electronics, and Qualcomm still in heavy spending phases, and with the upcoming acquisition of Apple, the allocation of the $1 billion was easily settled. Although Chris and Emily decided to team up with Eric to buy a plane, they weren't in a rush to spend on that yet.

On another note, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone had been on sale for more than two weeks, and after an impressive first week with worldwide sales of 116,000 copies, the second week saw sales soar to 150,000 copies as the novel's popularity continued to rise. HarperCollins anticipated that by the end of the remaining four months of the year, the book's total sales in the major English-speaking countries could reach 3 million copies.

In prior years, many blockbuster adaptations of popular novels didn't even reach such sales figures, so after the first week's results came in, Katzenberg eagerly called Eric to ask if they could start production on the Harry Potter movie.

However, Eric understood that the Harry Potter series was far from reaching its full potential, and he naturally rejected Katzenberg's proposal, deciding to wait until the second installment was released before officially greenlighting the film project.

...

Having finished up these matters, New York Fashion Week was coming to a close.

In the UK, under Eric's remote direction, Simon Fuller had already selected several girls from the Spice Girls lineup. Yet, Eric couldn't rush over to the UK just yet, as he needed to personally attend several casting calls for Victoria's Secret Angels.

Of course, with most of the important work done, he could finally relax a bit over the next few days.

In an apartment on the Upper East Hydee, it was still afternoon, but the curtains in the bedroom were drawn, allowing only a faint light to seep through.

On the bed, Cindy Crawford had her face buried in her pillow, breathing heavily for a moment before wriggling her body. She could not escape from under the man, so she teasingly complained, "Eric, are Giselle and Alessandra not satisfying you? Why are you bothering me here?"

Eric enjoyed caressing Cindy's skin and replied, "They already went to France. They aren't as leisurely as you."

Paris Fashion Week was set for the end of the month, and after completing their shows in New York, Giselle and Alessandra quickly rushed to Paris. Miranda had also been sent back to Los Angeles by Eric. Due to Fashion Week, both Giselle and Alessandra had become even busier than Eric, and with a few days of pent-up desire, naturally, it was Cindy who would take the heat.

"I just finished with this season of America's Next Top Model and have participated in a few shows. I need to prepare for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show next. I'm hardly leisurely," Cindy said, twisting her body. Finally, like a mermaid, she slipped out from under Eric, grabbed a piece of clothing, which happened to be Eric's shirt, and put it on. Standing on her tiptoes, she walked over to the desk by the window, opened up a laptop on the table, and said, "Since you're here, help me check my stocks. They've been all over the place lately, and it's making me anxious."

Eric turned to watch her fiddling with the laptop. Dragging a network cable back over, he thought about urging Firefly Electronics to speed up their Wi-Fi device development while joking, "The stocks you bought should have gone up a lot, right? Aren't you worried I'll get greedy?"

Cindy placed the laptop on the bedside table, leaned over to Eric with a playful glance, and teased, "Shouldn't it be you who's worried, Mr. Biggest? Aren't you afraid I might get greedy?"

Eric pulled the blanket over both of them, lifting the laptop in front of him while smirked, "Wasn't it Jealous-Daddy you called me? How did it turn into Mr. Biggest?"

"Mr. Biggest is what Candace has been calling you for years now. Jealous-Daddy was just something Linda came up with recently. Speaking of which, Linda's also in Manhattan these days. Why don't you go stir things up with her?"

Since there was a Mr. Big in Sex and the City, Cindy presumably meant the show's lovely author, Candace Bushnell.

Hearing Cindy, Eric replied, "Isn't she dating someone? I'm a gentleman; I wouldn't want to interfere in someone else's relationship."

"That French businessman? They broke up ages ago. Only someone as silly as Linda would think they were getting married."

Eric chuckled, not wanting to get into it any further. Besides a few women he was more closely involved with, he approached his relationships with others in a more carefree way, which was beneficial for all parties involved. He could indulge in the forest while they could lead their own lives without any burdens. Therefore, when he learned that Linda Evangelista had started dating someone, he willingly stepped back, and his attitude toward other women shifted and remained the same.

Cindy also perceived Eric's mindset and said with a smile, "If Joanna or Virginia found boyfriends, would you also let go?"

"They're the mothers of my children; it's different."

Cindy's eyes flickered, "You seem to trust them quite a bit?"

"Of course."

Eric nodded with a smile; he had treated both women like wives over the years, and there was already a tacit understanding among the three of them.

Although Eric only spent two or three months a year in the Hamptons, the two women living together, along with the three kids, made the place never feel empty. Recently, when Eric returned home, Virginia even playfully teased that they didn't need him anymore.

As they chatted casually, Eric absentmindedly browsed Yahoo's homepage, then opened a stock trading app on the laptop. Cindy reached over, unapologetically entering a series of passwords to access her account.

At the end of April, Cindy mentioned that her stocks were worth nearly $50 million. Now, checking again, though she still only had stocks in Microsoft, Cisco, AOL, and Intel, their total value had risen to $76.9 million, more than 50% increase over five months.

With interest, Eric opened detailed graphs for each stock.

Of the four, Microsoft had the highest increase in value, climbing from $120 billion at the beginning of the year to $177.3 billion now. Next was Cisco, which grew from $33 billion to $46.9 billion, meaning Firefly's 26% stake in Cisco had appreciated by $3.6 billion over the past half-year.

AOL's market cap had recently reached $19.3 billion, marking growth of less than 30% from $15 billion at the start of the year. Lastly, Intel's market capitalization surged from $48.3 billion to $113.1 billion between 1996 and 1997; more than double, yet since March, Intel's stock had essentially stagnated, even experiencing declines in the recent two months.

Noticing Eric lingered at the Intel stock data page, Cindy remarked, "That's what I'm worried about -- Intel. I looked it up, and their chip sales have not met expectations this year. Other competitors like AMD, IBM, and Motorola have new chips out, taking market share from Intel. Eric, should I sell all my Intel stocks?"

Later on, many people would only know about Intel and AMD, but in reality, throughout the 90s, there were many manufacturers producing CPU chips. The chips currently used by Apple were made by Motorola. It was just that the Wintel alliance grew increasingly dominant, pushing most other brands out of the market, leaving only AMD barely surviving.

Shaking his head, Eric replied, "Honestly, in my view, Intel's stock is the most valuable among these. Their earnings for the first half of this year reached $2.5 billion, which is actually more than the combined profits of the other three."

"So you mean, hold on to them?"

"Of course," Eric nodded. "Even if you don't sell for ten or twenty years, with these stocks, you'll get at least a few hundred thousand dollars in dividends every year."

Cindy pondered, "I'm not low on money at the moment. According to what you're saying, should I keep all of these stocks?"

"If you're keeping everything, then just follow what I taught you. Wait for Yahoo to go public and sell them all at once; you'll be able to recoup decades of dividends in one shot."

Cindy figured that Eric must know which of those stocks weren't worth holding long-term. However, since Eric hadn't provided many details, she smartly decided not to press further.

As they dabbled with the laptop, evening had unknowingly approached.

The light in the bedroom dimmed, and Cindy picked up the phone from the nightstand to check the time. "It's almost six o'clock; the Fashion Week organizers are hosting the closing party at the Gramercy Hotel tonight. Are you going?"

Eric had no plans for the evening, so he nodded, "Of course. Let's grab dinner first and then head over. You've worn me out this afternoon -- I'm starving."

"You're the one who wore me out."

Cindy shot him a playful glance before turning on the light and sashaying to the wardrobe in Eric's oversized shirt, exuding allure.

...

Women take their time changing; after finding a restaurant for dinner, by the time Eric and Cindy arrived at the Gramercy Hotel, it was already past eight, and the party had begun. More importantly, Cindy had forgotten the invitation at home.

In the elevator, Eric looked at Cindy as she rummaged through her purse, and chuckled, "You think we can get in just with our faces?"

"What if the doorman is face-blind? You'll have to convince them you're Eric Williams."

Cindy shot back with a laugh, fished out her phone, and dialed a number quickly as the elevator doors opened. After a brief chat, they approached the banquet hall's entrance, where a high-ranking executive from the event greeted them warmly, ushering Eric and Cindy into the party.

The spacious banquet hall held about a hundred or two hundred people, and the atmosphere was light and relaxed.

Eric was no stranger to the fashion scene now. While he wasn't an Anna Wintour-level media executive or a top designer, being at the helm of the world's largest media group allowed Eric to wield more influence in this circle than anyone else in the room.

Of course, Eric didn't come to steal the spotlight; after chatting with several interesting guests, he planned to drag Cindy to the dance floor to enjoy some dancing, but just as they reached the edge of the dance floor, a familiar Latin lady approached him with a bright smile.

Surprised to see Penelope here tonight, Eric smiled and extended his hands, "Hey, Penny! So glad to see you here."

The lady's smile faltered for a moment, and as she stepped forward to give Eric a hug, she explained with a slightly melancholy tone, "Eric, I'm not Penny. I'm Monica."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 924: The Next Movie]

A few years ago, the Cruz sisters were distinguishable -- one charming and one fresh-faced.

However, looking at the now twenty-year-old Monica Cruz, Eric found it hard to notice any difference between her and her sister.

"I'm really sorry, Monica, you're even more beautiful than a few years ago," Eric said, sizing up Monica Cruz as he introduced her to Cindy. "Cindy, this is Monica Cruz, Penelope Cruz's sister. See? Don't they look alike?"

"Yeah, I thought it was Penelope just now," Cindy replied politely, shaking Monica's hand with a playful smile as she shot a sidelong glance at Eric. "Well, you two catch up. I happen to have something to discuss with Anna."

After saying this, Cindy discreetly pinched Eric's arm before strolling toward Anna Wintour, who was not too far away.

Now that they were near the dance floor, Eric extended his hand to Monica. "Dance with me?"

"Sure," Monica nodded, stepping forward to link her arm with Eric's as they made their way to the dance floor.

...

As the slow music played, Eric held Monica's waist and began to sway with her. He had noticed that she seemed reluctant to mention Penelope, so he asked about other things. "It's been a few years; what have you been doing lately?"

"I've been taking acting classes and have done a few films," Monica replied, gazing up at Eric with a hint of expectation in her eyes. However, her demeanor lacked the boldness of her sister and was instead a bit shy.

After finishing high school, she started her acting classes. Given her identity as Penelope's sister, landing some roles was fairly easy. However, none were significant since mainstream studios preferred to cast her sister, who had a far greater reputation.

Over the years, Monica had hoped her sister could help her, but living in Hollywood for a while had given her some perspective. Although Penelope had risen to become one of Hollywood's leading ladies thanks to her role in Charlie's Angels, her status as a Latina and being from Spain meant that Penelope had little influence in Hollywood, leaving Monica without much support.

In fact, their similar looks had led Monica to feel that her sister was somewhat guarded around her. For the past six months, Penelope had subtly suggested that Monica consider furthering her career in Spain.

Feeling Monica's eager gaze, Eric smiled and said, "I see. I'll keep an eye out for any movies that might suit you."

The girl's presence in Hollywood was entirely a result of Eric's influence. He didn't know whether there was tension between the sisters, but at that moment, it seemed easy enough to help this girl out. Hollywood was filled with sibling collaborations, and having two Latina beauties together was more than manageable.

Monica Cruz's age and looks were just right for the teen films that had become popular in Hollywood in recent years. This genre was a focus for New Line Cinema and notably wouldn't conflict with the action-packed films or art house styles that Penelope specialized in.

Eric's casual mention sent Monica over the moon. She was well aware of Eric's vast influence in Hollywood. After all, it was Eric who propelled her sister to her current status through his film.

"Eric, are you serious? Don't tease me!"

"Would I lie to you? But I'll give you a chance, and it's up to you to seize it. If you don't deliver in the audition room, you won't land the role."

Monica nodded enthusiastically. After two years of training, she felt confident in her acting skills. Hollywood always emphasized innate talent, but in reality, very few made it purely on that merit; most still attended acting classes diligently.

After a moment's thought, Monica leaned in slightly, whispering, "Eric, I can come over to your place tonight."

Eric had come with Cindy, and it wouldn't be considerate to leave with another woman.

Shaking his head, he smiled. "Maybe some other time. Tonight just won't work."

Monica didn't press the matter. After their dance, she left him her phone number and turned to mingle with others at the party.

...

The next morning, Cindy Crawford awoke to her phone ringing. Blinking her eyes, she noticed Eric was no longer beside her. The ringtone was coming from the balcony.

After a moment of confusion, Cindy slipped on a robe, padded barefoot to the balcony, where she found Eric sitting at the round table, just hanging up from a call.

This apartment overlooked the East River on Manhattan's eastern side. After several gloomy days, New York finally had sunshine streaming down. Still, the fall sun felt a bit pale, giving a weak impression.

Cindy hugged Eric from behind and planted a kiss on his cheek before curiously asking, "Who was that?"

"Gisele," Eric replied, nuzzling his cheek against hers. "She called to pull some strings for a friend she wants to recommend for the Victoria's Secret runway."

"Did you say yes?"

Eric didn't respond directly but instead asked, "What do you think of Qusie Gauff?"

"I know her! She has a doll-like face, very pretty. People in the circle call her 'Lovely-Baby'," Cindy chuckled. "She's quite an ambitious Brazilian girl."

Honestly, Cindy figured she might not even have the audacity to push a friend to walk the Victoria's Secret show. Gisele hadn't even appeared in it yet but was already thinking of building her own circle.

Eric chuckled. "I like ambitious women. Too many mediocre people bring life down."

"So, I should probably show a bit more ambition myself?" Cindy remarked as she noticed the pile of sketches on Eric's lap under a notebook with its pages covered in quick sketches. She picked it up out of curiosity and mentioned, "I almost thought you left with that girl last night. Sisters, huh?"

"Well, too bad the sister wasn't around," Eric laughed, tossing the eyebrow pencil onto the table. "Do you have any sisters?"

"I do. Two, Chris and Danielle," Cindy flirtatiously glanced over at Eric. "But I would never bring them around you. What are these sketches about?"

"Just some camera notes. I plan to create a fun music video."

Cindy couldn't see anything particularly interesting in the sketches, so she pressed further, "What makes it so fun? I don't see it."

"You'll get it once it's shot."

"Guess I'll be waiting for the surprise," Cindy said as she handed the notebook back to Eric. "You keep working; I'll go make some breakfast."

...

Eric took the notebook and picked up the eyebrow pencil, getting back to sketching.

The music video he intended to create was for a song that had shot the Spice Girls to fame: Wannabe. The catchy rhythm certainly had the potential to be an earworm. However, the one-take approach of the music video fascinated Eric as well.

Due to the difficulties of filming, a one-take technique isn't widely used in cinema. To date, the most notable example had been Hitchcock's Rope.

If the handling of the camera wasn't up to par, using a continuous shot method could end disastrously. Still, employing it every now and then would offer a fresh take.

Eric wasn't particularly in favor of the one-take method but greatly appreciated classic long-shot films. He remembered enjoying the fluid long takes in Birdman, which satirized the overwhelming number of superhero films in Hollywood.

As he casually sketched out ideas for Wannabe, Eric couldn't help but recall the shooting techniques used by Emmanuel Lubezki in Birdman. Recently, he had heard that Nicole had agreed to be the photographer for this year's Victoria's Secret show. Although Eric had planned to find another photographer for Wannabe, he suddenly had the itch to pick up the camera himself.

After mulling over Birdman for a while, Eric invigorated his thoughts with another film shot by Emmanuel Lubezki -- Gravity.

The opening long shot of Gravity had been absolutely stunning, and Eric found himself appreciating its artistry, nobly born from an old desire to spark creativity again.

This was going to be his next film.

After Jurassic Park and Casino Royale, Eric had been contemplating what his next project should be. While he could easily list a few films with potential for a billion-dollar box office, those movies didn't particularly excite him.

Suddenly recalling Gravity felt different. This film not only required extensive new special effects technologies, presenting a significant challenge, but it also bore the potential for visual spectacle, marking a pivotal moment in transforming how films were shown.

...

Remembering that by around 2000, the North American film market had become saturated, Eric had long considered the necessity of pushing 3D and IMAX technology to maintain box office stability in Hollywood, aside from merely raising ticket prices.

However, the 3D sensation Avatar presented difficulties during production, making it unlikely at that moment to replicate its successful effects. Gravity didn't have those constraints; it was originally a 2D film converted to 3D and still achieved rave reviews.

Both 3D and IMAX technologies had existed for decades. The absence of widespread adoption hadn't stemmed from technological issues but from the traditional Hollywood film's lack of need for 3D versions.

In recent years, the rise of blockbuster movies opened up a market for higher-level visual experiences, leading to a demand for 3D and IMAX.

Nonetheless, Hollywood remained quite conservative. Historically, before Avatar, attempts to integrate 3D and IMAX technologies were mostly conducted by directors lacking significant decision-making power in Hollywood.

Without evident profit incentives, Hollywood executives maintained a rather lackluster attitude towards promoting 3D and IMAX.

Traditionally, influencing Hollywood's change meant incentivizing profit.

However, now, Eric didn't need to travel that rocky road. He had sufficient control over Hollywood to push this transformation, and the Firefly Group could expect to reap substantial benefits.

With these thoughts, Eric turned a page in the notebook and started drafting his plan.

...

The first issue to tackle was, of course, the cinema aspect.

In recent years, amid Hollywood's global rise, there had been a surge in cinema construction both in the U.S. and Europe.

While the number of screens in North America was nearing saturation, the American economy's growth would increase the cost of entering the cinema industry through Firefly. Nevertheless, the explosion of screens would lead to ruthless internal competition, likely causing some cinemas to struggle, thus providing ample opportunity for Firefly.

Of course, this aspect called for detailed investigation before any decisions were made.

Establishing a chain of high-end 3D or IMAX cinemas under Firefly's control was essential.

Once they had cinemas operating, the next order of business would be sourcing films.

Aiming for an average of one 3D film each month meant needing twelve 3D movies a year. Although that number seemed minor against Hollywood's hundreds of annual releases, meeting that requirement wasn't easy.

After all, low-budget indie films usually weren't worth converting to 3D; no one would willingly spend millions to produce a small film and then spend another fortune to convert it to 3D.

Hence, sourcing material for early 3D promotions would primarily involve selecting from mainstream blockbusters, and not all major productions suited 3D conversion.

Historically, 3D films gained a foothold only after the release of Avatar in 2009. The primary issue stemmed from sourcing films; theaters couldn't invest in high-end cinemas without available content, just as filmmakers were reluctant to produce 3D movies without adequate screening venues.

This created a classic deadlock.

Now, Eric could easily solve that deadlock.

In the coming years, the three Firefly associated companies -- Firefly, MGM, and Fox -- would have an ample supply of potential 3D source material at their disposal.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the 007 series, the Charlie's Angels series, the Spider-Man series, the Iron Man series, plus animated films from Pixar, Disney, and Blue Sky Studios -- all held the potential for 3D conversion.

Thus, the three major studios could easily provide a consistent stream of content for a high-end 3D or IMAX cinema each year.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 925: RealD]

In an office at the ABC headquarters in the Upper West Hydee, the clock had already passed quitting time. Caroline hung up the phone, checked the notes she had just jotted down, and began organizing the various materials she had gathered today with Melanie.

A few days earlier, after receiving a memo from Eric, the two women suddenly became busy, prompting them to request an office from ABC headquarters to work in.

The memo contained Eric's new movie proposal.

It detailed the development plan for a 3D movie projection system.

It also included a feasibility assessment of the Firefly Group's foray into the theater industry.

Even though Eric's memo was only a few pages long, it practically mobilized the entire Firefly Group. After directing two films that each grossed over a billion dollars worldwide, Eric's next project was something many were closely watching and eagerly anticipating. Moreover, this time, Eric's goal wasn't just to chase another billion; he aimed to revolutionize the traditional film exhibition industry.

Though 3D movies had soared in popularity during the 1970s and '80s, they mostly offered audiences a novelty without ever becoming mainstream. As the 1990s rolled on and blockbuster after blockbuster flooded Hollywood, people's initial curiosity began to wane, leading 3D films to hit an unprecedented low over the past few years. In many cities, old-school 3D theaters had even disappeared.

Two years prior, Eric established a dedicated 3D conversion technology research and development department under Firefly's digital effects company, building a screening room in the Firefly cinema for testing conversion effects. Over the past two years, they had accumulated a wealth of experience.

Within the Firefly Group, it was already understood that Eric would eventually push for 3D technology.

Now that the plan was officially underway, although concerns about the declining 3D film industry had arisen, the majority of senior executives at Firefly remained full of expectations due to their blind faith in Eric's abilities, especially since Eric planned to personally oversee the production of a film aimed specifically at promoting 3D cinema.

Caroline organized the materials she needed to take home, stuffing them along with her favorite light blue canvas bag and laptop. She then left the ABC headquarters on 66th Street with Melanie and drove back to the high-rise apartment where Eric lived at the entrance of Sixth Avenue.

...

Once they arrived, Melanie noticed that after Caroline opened the door, she instinctively surveyed the surroundings, revealing a look of disappointment. Unable to suppress a sigh, she felt like a diligent wife who had returned home after a long day's work only to find her idle husband was out fooling around again.

Well, while it was certain that that guy was doing something, Melanie simply couldn't find a more fitting description.

As she helped take Caroline's bag off her shoulder, Melanie comforted her, saying, "You're leaving for the UK tomorrow. He might come back tonight; I can give him a call."

Caroline watched Melanie head straight for the landline in the living room and quickly intervened, "Mel, no need. Eric might be busy with something."

"At this hour, aside from flaunting a pretty trophy at some chaotic party, what could he possibly be busy with?" Melanie recalled the pictures she had seen in magazines just days earlier of Eric attending New York Fashion Week with Cindy Crawford.

Since their rental company managed Eric's numerous properties and was under the control of Eric's assistant's office, Melanie was well aware that Eric preferred this particular high-rise apartment in New York. Since he hadn't returned to stay recently, and hadn't asked them to arrange a different place for him, it was the logical conclusion that he was likely staying over at one of those women's homes.

Thinking about it, he really was fooling around.

Growing somewhat miffed, Melanie pressed Eric's phone number. However, once the call connected and she heard his familiar, slightly magnetic voice, her earlier irritation vanished without a trace. Though her tone wasn't overly formal, she didn't dare infuse it with any emotion.

After the last incident which had left her rattled, she instinctively avoided any odd behaviors in front of Eric. "Eric, it's Melanie... Um, we are heading to the UK tomorrow. I wanted to check if there's anything else you need me to prepare... Oh, right, Caroline and I sorted through more materials today on that space movie, some books, plus a lot of other files from Los Angeles. We're already in the apartment on Sixth Avenue; do you need to see any of it ahead of time? ... Okay, got it. Then, I'll talk to you later. Goodbye."

Hanging up the phone, Melanie wore a dejected expression. She glanced at Caroline, whose lashes were beginning to droop, then suddenly broke into a playful smile, pinching Caroline's cheek. "Eric said he'd be back later. Are you satisfied now?"

Caroline removed Melanie's hand and shot her an unimposing glare before turning toward the kitchen. "I'm going to prepare dinner. What do you want to eat?"

"Whatever. I helped you out a lot, so I'm off kitchen duty tonight," Melanie lazily sank into the sofa, kicked off her heels, grabbed the remote, and then suddenly sat up to place her shoes back neatly beside the couch before settling back comfortably.

...

At the LTD group headquarters in Midtown, many people were still on the clock since it was the final day for auditions for the new Victoria's Secret Angels.

Emily had already scouted a batch of models who had gained notoriety over the past two years before Eric arrived in New York, so picking five out of them was a much simpler process. Eric had also added Gisele's recommendation, the stunning model Qusie Gauff, to the audition list.

On Alessandra's birthday in April, Eric had already met the doll-faced supermodel, and after the auditions, Emily was impressed with Qusie Gauff, making her officially one of the latest Victoria's Secret supermodels.

After ending the call with Melanie, Eric returned to the studio filled with samples of angel outfit designs, where Emily and several executives from LTD were busy discussing upcoming media marketing strategies with the five new supermodels and their agents. As the new angels, it was essential for them to leverage the next couple of months for promotion.

...

Chris arrived at the LTD headquarters after work, planning to pick Emily up after she finished. This was a special request from Emily, and she made no secret of her reasoning: she was pregnant and wanted to keep her husband close at hand, giving him no chances to misbehave. Both Chris and Emily were strong-willed individuals in their careers. However, in their personal life, Chris spoiled Emily, embodying the standard image of a good husband. Virginia often envied Emily for this and would sometimes grumble about her "hardship" in front of Eric.

Chris was idly flipping through a fashion magazine while seated at a large workspace when he saw Eric walk in. He teasingly asked, "So, which beauty called you this time?"

Having wrapped up the day's busy schedule, Eric opted not to return to his previous spot. Instead, he sat beside Chris and leaned in to listen to the conversations of the group gathered around the work table. He quietly explained to Chris, "My assistant, work-related stuff."

Chris nodded and glanced over at his wife, who was still talking, then added, "Aren't you heading to the UK tomorrow? How about we grab dinner together later?"

Eric chuckled and replied, "I think it's best if you take Emily home to rest. It's been seven months, and she needs to be calm. If it were me, I'd have her tied down at home to take it easy."

Chris nodded in agreement but then chuckled as he shook his head, saying, "I don't have your knack for dealing with women. If that's the case, we might as well save dinner for another time. I guess the next time you come to New York will be for Thanksgiving, huh? Little one should be arriving then."

"Aren't you due in early November? I'll do my best to swing by."

...

After chatting quietly with Chris for a bit, the meeting wrapped up quickly. Everyone started to leave, and Eric accompanied Chris and Emily to the parking lot to see them off. Just as they were about to get into their car, Qusie Gauff hopped out of another vehicle, her steps light as she rushed over to Eric. "Hey, Eric!"

Though somewhat surprised, Eric didn't want to be seen by the others. He smiled and sidestepped a bit, saying to Qusie, "Get in the car."

Qusie didn't hesitate; she bent down and hopped into the car. Once Eric was in and had instructed the driver, he asked the girl beside him, "Where do you live? Let me give you a ride back?"

"I'm sharing an apartment with others, and it's messy. I wouldn't want you to think less of it," Qusie replied, unknowingly pushing her shapely legs, which were snugly fitted in her jeans, slightly towards Eric. Her amber, beautiful eyes looked at him, saying, "Eric, I haven't thanked you yet. How about I treat you to dinner?"

Eric glanced at his watch; it was still not even seven o'clock. He figured it wasn't too late to grab a bite before going back, so he said, "How about I treat you instead? What do you want to eat?"

Qusie didn't refuse. She knew a dinner meant little to Eric. "If you're treating, then you choose the place."

Recalling a restaurant Cindy had taken him to, Eric instructed the driver to head there.

...

"So, how was your last outing?" At the restaurant, after ordering dinner, Eric initiated a conversation.

Eric was, of course, referring to the last time he had sent a group of girls on a trip around the world as part of a fun wager.

Thinking back on that experience made Qusie's face light up with excitement. "We went to Tokyo, Paris, London, Venice... So many places! It was the best trip of my life."

As a model, although Qusie Gauff frequently traveled for work, the intent and attitude during a trip were entirely different. Not to mention, having a private jet to command was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Reflecting on their trip, Qusie boldly locked eyes with Eric and asked, "Eric, will you do that kind of thing again?"

Eric winked playfully, answering, "Well, that's not guaranteed."

As they chatted casually, they finished dinner and shared a bottle of red wine, leaving the restaurant. While Eric felt completely sober, Qusie's cheeks flushed a light pink. Despite her bright, clear amber eyes, she leaned against him, looking delicate.

Once they got into the car, Eric instinctively told the driver to head back to the Sixth Avenue apartment; after all, a little lamb had come knocking, and he wasn't inclined to let her walk away.

But he soon realized that Caroline and Melanie were still staying in that apartment.

Thinking about Caroline's wistfully searching eyes, Eric quickly dismissed that idea and asked Qusie, "How about I drop you off instead?"

Qusie Gauff didn't expect this response. With her gaze slightly dreamy, she looked at him and smiled, "Eric, I'd like to see your place. Is that okay?"

"Well, it's mainly because I already have guests, so it wouldn't be very convenient for you to come over."

Qusie looked thoughtful and suggested, "We can go to Gisele's. She isn't in New York right now."

Eric laughed, shaking his head. "That's Gisele and Ale's place. The last time was Ale's birthday; I just snuck in to wait for them to come home. It's not that convenient now."

People place great emphasis on privacy; even though the apartment was his, since he had let Gisele and Ale stay there, Eric wouldn't be too forward in visiting them frequently.

"Then, if you don't mind, you can come over to mine. I live in Greenwich Village."

After a moment's hesitation, Eric thought it might be nice to experience what it felt like to hold Qusie's slim waist. He nodded, asking Qusie Gauff to give the driver the address while he pulled out his phone to inform Melanie that he wouldn't be returning home tonight.

The driver, who had just headed onto Sixth Avenue, turned around and drove toward Greenwich Village.

Manhattan wasn't too huge; even though traffic was a bit congested after nightfall, it only took ten minutes for the car to pull up outside a red-brick apartment building in Greenwich Village.

"I promised my roommate not to bring any guys home," Qusie said as she peered out the car window before turning back to Eric. "The lights aren't on, so that means she isn't back yet. Let's sneak upstairs and just avoid being seen."

Eric had no objections; this sneaky behavior felt delightfully novel to him.

They got out, and Qusie ascended the steps to the apartment door, entered a code beside the iron gate, opened it, and then took Eric's hand as they slipped inside. They made their way up to the third floor with light steps.

Pulling out her key and unlocking it, the living room was pitch black. Eric thought she would turn on the lights, but he only heard the door click shut, and then her soft, delicate body pressed against him.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 926: T-X]

Not long after Qusie Gauff brought Eric Williams through the door, the sound of another key turning in a lock quickly followed.

The lights in the living room flickered on to reveal a tall woman dressed in a black gown, standing at nearly six feet tall. With a healthy sun-kissed complexion and lightly dyed red hair, she radiated a sense of untamed wildness.

After tossing her keys into a large bowl on the shoe rack beside the entrance, the woman was about to sit down and slip off her high heels when she sensed something unusual in the apartment.

Several articles of clothing were scattered carelessly in the living room, and she immediately recognized her roommate's white cotton T-shirt and light blue jeans. But that wasn't the main concern. Besides a pink bra that lay about, she had the shocking discovery of a man's jacket draped over the arm of the sofa.

Seriously? How could she do this? They had agreed beforehand that no one was allowed to bring the opposite sex home!

Fuming, she kicked off her high heels and stormed barefoot to Qusie's door. She initially intended to knock, but as she got closer, she noticed the door was ajar.

Leaning in to listen, she caught the sounds of kissing coming from within, punctuated by soft smacking noises.

This was perfect! They clearly weren't yet serious, and she could interrupt, sending that guy packing. There was no chance she wanted an unknown man spending the night in her apartment.

With resolve, she pushed the door open and barged inside, only to freeze in disbelief.

...

A dim yellow bedside lamp was the only light illuminating the room, where a man lounged comfortably on an inflatable couch by the window. Her roommate knelt gracefully on the carpet in front of him, her flawless, fair-skinned figure accentuated in ways that made her appear even more attractive.

While she maintained a fit, muscular physique -- a rarity in the modeling world -- she couldn't help but envy her roommate's model-like figure. But in that moment, any envy vanished in the wake of the awkward scene before her.

She let out an embarrassed scream, quickly covering her eyes as she backed out of the room, and shouted angrily, "Qusie, get out here!"

After glaring at the door for a moment, she heard soft giggles from within, followed by the definitive sound of the door being shut and locked.

So they weren't going to acknowledge her? This was too much!

After glaring at that door for a moment longer, she angrily kicked it, intent on finding a new place to live by the next day.

Feeling dejected, she turned away and tossed the jacket onto the floor before sinking into the sofa, stewing in her anger.

...

After about ten minutes, she gradually calmed down and realized that the man in her roommate's room seemed somewhat familiar.

The feeling of recognition was strong, yet the dim lights and her brief glance previously prevented her from placing him.

Realizing she was hungry, she shrugged off the thought and made her way to the kitchen to prepare herself a bowl of oatmeal, turning on the TV as she did.

Once her late-night snack was finished and two episodes of a sitcom had concluded, she curled up with a pillow on the sofa, casting another glance at her roommate's door -- which remained unresponsive.

She and Qusie Gauff were introduced by a friend a few months ago and started living together, mainly to share the rent. Though modeling looked glamorous, for most, the income was about the same as working a typical office job, but lacking stability. They worked for the same modeling agency, coexisting smoothly but not particularly intimately.

Yet, now it seemed Qusie Gauff had a boyfriend, implying he would often be in the apartment. She couldn't see herself getting used to that.

Sighing, she realized it was time to search for new housing, unsure if she'd find something as cozy as this place again.

...

As she flicked through TV channels, nothing piqued her interest. With the clock already past ten, she intended to rest when Qusie's bedroom door opened.

Expecting her roommate, she was ready to confront her, but instead, a man stepped out of the room.

If she hadn't recognized him earlier, there was no chance she would mistake him now.

Staring with her mouth slightly agape, she took in the sight of the man, hair still damp, dressed in a slightly snug pink bathrobe.

After a moment of shock, she finally managed to speak. "You... You're Eric Williams?"

Eric nodded, sitting down in a nearby armchair.

Noticing his jacket tossed carelessly on the floor, he started to get up to retrieve it. But before he could, she rushed to pick it up and carefully placed it back on the arm of the sofa, feeling a bit awkward as she offered him a shy smile while adjusting herself in the sofa.

Quietly, Eric observed the woman before him. The moment she barged into Qusie's room, he recognized her, having been cleverly briefed on her through Qusie. The woman in front of him was none other than the actress who portrayed the formidable T-X in Terminator 3, Kristanna Loken.

In an interesting turn of events, Eric hadn't planned on being out tonight in the first place.

Feeling a strange mix of electricity coursing through her, Kristanna couldn't help but think about everything she knew about him. The world's richest man, Hollywood mogul, creator of the Victoria's Secret fashion show, and investor in high-tech companies -- each title made her feel further from reach. Yet here he was, sitting right in front of her.

Out of nowhere, she came up with a random thought of a character named Aladdin -- yeah, the genie, what was his name again?

She quickly shook off the thought, realizing she needed to take the initiative. "Mr. Williams, how did you meet Qusie?"

"At a party," Eric replied, "a rather interesting party. Unfortunately, I didn't see you there."

"I just started renting with Qusie not long ago; we're not too familiar." Almost forgetting her introduction, she added, "By the way, Mr. Williams, I'm Kristanna Loken."

Eric chuckled softly. "That's quite a mouthful."

Darting forward, Kristanna exclaimed, "You can call me Kris, that's my nick name. Mr. Williams, are you... dating Qusie?"

Eric honestly shook his head. "Not exactly."

As soon as she asked, Kristanna felt that her question was pretty naive. Everyone knew Eric Williams was a notorious playboy. She felt a bit flustered and glanced at Eric's bathrobe.

Seeing Kristanna, Eric thought of the MGM project Fast and Furious which was in pre-production. In the original series, Michelle Rodriguez played the girlfriend of Vin Diesel.

He hadn't felt anything toward Michelle Rodriguez at all; her onscreen chemistry with Vin was completely off. It felt so out of place when the storyline turned into a desperate plot of Vin's character crying over Michelle's death in sixth movie, and then resurrected later.

Having previously watched Fast and Furious with a vision of Michelle Rodriguez as an action star, he kept an eye on choices for casting, and he hadn't intended to bring Michelle back. The actresses MGM selected left him unsatisfied as the character Letty called for a more daring, wild woman. Kristanna, with her impressive role as T-X, fit the bill perfectly.

Noticing Eric's gaze lingering on her, Kristanna started to feel an odd sense of discomfort. As this renowned playboy, could Eric have just hooked up with her roommate? Did he want her too?

After a while, Eric shook his head and said, "You know what? You really don't suit wearing dresses."

"Um," Kristanna nodded instinctively, then explained, "Actually, I attended a party, that's why I'm dressed like this."

With a teasing smirk, he replied, "Qusie mentioned you were attending a party -- didn't think you'd be back so soon."

Caught off guard by the awkwardness of the moment, Kristanna instinctively averted her eyes from Eric.

She didn't explain why she was back early; hesitating, she finally asked Eric, "Mr. Williams, is Qusie going to participate in this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded, his smile mischievous. "And conveniently, I have a role that would suit you perfectly. Would you be interested?"

Kristanna blinked in surprise, recalling the earlier thoughts without being able to remember the name of the genie. However, perhaps being called Eric Williams wasn't so bad either.

Lost in these mixed thoughts, Kristanna fiddled nervously with her skirt, determined to ask, "So, Mr. Williams, what do I need to do?"

As she spoke, her eyes flicked down to the wooden floor below.

Why do men always prefer that look?

There was no carpet here, which likely meant she wouldn't be able to wear short skirts for the coming days; hot pants clearly wouldn't cut it either. But since it was autumn, going without such clothing wasn't a big deal. Maybe she could use a pillow for a cushion.

Kristanna had been considering entering show business increasingly, observing that in recent years, there were countless aspiring young men and women vying for the same roles. Finding promotion in this field was no easy task. Now, an opportunity presented itself directly in front of her -- it was unfathomable to turn it down. Besides, Eric Williams surely wasn't one of those old men in their fifties or sixties. Engaging with an attention-grabbing man like him hardly felt inappropriate.

Observing Kristanna's wandering eyes, Eric said with a smile, "No jokes. Just call me Eric. By the way, can you drive?"

"Of course," Kristanna replied, nodding. "I got my license when I was sixteen."

"Great. This role is for a street racer." Eric looked over Kristanna and suddenly changed the subject. "Never mind, you really don't suit wearing a dress, especially not a loose-fitting one. Why don't you go change?"

"Sure!" Kristanna jumped up, then curiously asked, "Eric, what kind of outfit do you like?"

"You've seen Terminator 2, right? The shot of Linda Hamilton holding an AK while smoking a cigarette. Try to replicate her black sleeveless top with leggings look. The character I have in mind probably resembles that."

Kristanna listened intently, nodding, then turned to walk back to her room.

...

Eric switched the TV channel to ABC, landing on The Late Show with David Letterman, which was airing after prime time.

Noticing the current guests included leads from the new fall lineup, Eric recalled that the upcoming series, Dark Angel, would soon air on Fox, replacing The X-Files. Although this apocalyptic sci-fi series hadn't gained much attention, the timing of its launch, coinciding with Cameron's peak fame, coupled with Fox's marketing strategy, would surely garner more viewers compared to its predecessors.

Kristanna emerged from her room quickly, already transformed into a cropped top and black pants, completed with stylish high-heeled boots. While she didn't exude Linda Hamilton's intense aura, there was a new, alluring vibe to her presence.

"Let your ponytail down. I suggest you never tie it up again or put your hair up; your face shape just doesn't suit it. Also, you should go pick up a pair of men's combat boots tomorrow. Change into those during the audition. That'll align with my vision of a street racer."

Following Eric's suggestion, Kristanna let her ponytail down. Under his guidance, she posed a few times until Eric nodded in approval, prompting her to sit back down on the sofa and cautiously ask, "Eric, I just realized -- you must be referring to the Fast and Furious project MGM is working on?"

"Exactly. And I want you to play the lead female role, the main character's girlfriend," he asserted.

While Kristanna didn't lack screen experience, it had mostly been with lower-budget indie films. Hearing Eric mention her possibly playing the lead role in an MGM film left her seemingly in disbelief. "Eric, are you really going to let me be the lead?"

"The script is mine; I think you perfectly embody the image I envision for the lead character. But there's a caveat: you need to pass the audition. I won't shoehorn someone entirely new to movie acting into my film."

"Eric, I have experience in acting. I've even taken training classes."

"Then that's even better! You need to come to LA tomorrow. I'll arrange for your audition," he stated, standing up, sensing there was nothing else to discuss. "It's late, I'm going to bed."

As Kristanna watched him get up to the room where Kristanna would be, she bit her lip and took a couple of steps forward, gently grasping at his bathrobe. When he turned to her, asking with a quizzical expression, she lowered her voice and said, "Mr. Williams, I actually have one of those inflatable couches in my room too."

Surveying her outfit, Eric felt a tinge of concern for his taste aligning with Cameron's.

However, sensing Kristanna's daring glance which held an invitation, he nodded, glanced around the living room, and said, "I think the living room is just fine. Just, turn off the light."

Kristanna eyed the wood floor once more but obediently headed toward the door, and with a soft click, the room was plunged into dimness, with only a few streaks of light filtering in from the balcony.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 927: The Antitrust Issues]

Early in the morning, Eric left the apartment of Kristanna Loken and Qusie Gauff and returned to his place on Sixth Avenue. He was preparing to take his two female assistants with him to the UK. However, probably because he had promised to return last night and then stood the girls up, Eric found that Caroline and Melanie were effectively giving him the silent treatment. They didn't completely ignore him, but their interactions felt noticeably business-like.

Melanie seemed to take it in stride, but it was the first time Caroline displayed this behavior. The look on her young face, trying to maintain a stern expression yet appearing somewhat guilty, intrigued Eric. He decided to play along and put on the facade of a boss.

The private jet took off from MacArthur Airport in the middle of Long Island, entering the clouds to embark on the long journey of over ten hours.

Casually flipping through some documents in the lounge area of the plane with Melanie, Eric waited until after lunch when Caroline finally couldn't hold back and glanced towards the front cabin where the luxurious suite was located.

"Mel, do you think we shouldn't be ignoring Eric? I mean, he is our boss after all."

Melanie shook a thick screenplay in her hand, it was Iron Man: "Carly, you really do seem like Pepper Potts, always standing by your boss's side while he pulls one ridiculous stunt after another, and then you're left cleaning up the mess."

Caroline had also read the Iron Man script, and she sometimes helped Eric run lines. Deep down, she felt Eric had a lot in common with the character in the script. Could it be that his ideal assistant resembled Pepper Potts? However, helping him shake off women after one-night stands was quite an awkward situation to be in.

Seeing the glimmer in Caroline's eyes, Melanie helplessly tapped her thick script against her forehead and said, "Alright, just go check on your boss. You're impossible!"

When Caroline saw Melanie's visibly disappointed expression, she instinctively shook her head. "Then... I won't go."

"Go on, go on," Melanie waved her hand, then stood up with finality. "Let's go, I'll go with you."

"But," Caroline hesitated again, "What excuse do we have to go over?"

"There's been a huge pile of things built up these last few days, we don't need an excuse."

With that, Melanie pulled Caroline to the presidential suite in the front cabin.

...

The space in the aircraft's presidential suite was not big, but the layout was very complete. After searching around, Melanie and Caroline found Eric completely engrossed in drawing something on a sheet of letter-sized paper.

Not wanting to disturb him just yet, the two girls carefully seated themselves on the adjoining sofa. They soon noticed several completed drawings on the coffee table in front of them and couldn't help but lean in with curiosity.

At first glance, these seemed to be concept art for a movie, albeit with an exceptionally refined style. The details of the space station and astronauts were incredibly clear. In fact, thin cables connecting the two astronauts to the fragile space station made the two women feel a sense of concern for the astronauts depicted, who clearly seemed to be in danger.

Taking a moment to appreciate the artwork, Melanie looked up at Eric. She wanted to peel back the top drawing and see what else was depicted, but she worried that the sound of rustling paper might disturb him.

Caroline also lifted her head only to lock eyes with Eric, quickly looking away in embarrassment.

"I was wondering where that girl's perfume was coming from, so it's you two!" Eric joked. Hearing this, Melanie couldn't help but roll her eyes, thinking she had just begun to admire him a bit when he revealed his true colors again.

Caroline, on the other hand, blushed and lowered her head, playing with the edge of her clothes, contemplating whether she should borrow some of Melanie's perfume. She wasn't very accustomed to using it.

Noticing the two girls' silence, Eric set his pencil down and turned his chair toward them. "Alright, I'll apologize first. I shouldn't have agreed to return last night and then stood you both up."

Caroline instinctively shook her head, saying nothing. But Melanie chimed in, "Eric, you really do owe an apology. Carly prepared dinner for you last night."

Melanie didn't go into too much detail, but Eric could imagine Caroline's disappointed expression. He looked at her sincerely and said, "I'm really sorry, Carly. I promise it won't happen again. Tonight's dinner is on me, as compensation for last night."

"It's okay, Eric," Caroline shook her head again, her sorrowful expression from last night fading without her realizing it.

Meanwhile, Melanie's expression turned slightly strange. Due to some preconceived notions, she felt the scene resembled that of a clueless dad trying to placate his naive daughter: "Hey, Daddy won't smoke anymore. Daddy won't drink anymore. Daddy won't go out and fool around anymore."

Melanie did not think this was mere speculation because her father often told her similar things, and it generally didn't pan out.

As Eric conversed with Caroline, he noticed the odd look on Melanie's face and inquired curiously, "Mel, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Melanie quickly collected her thoughts, shaking her head. She then pointed at the drawings on the coffee table and asked, "Eric, are these scenes from Gravity?"

Eric nodded, bringing over the drawing he'd just finished and seated himself on the sofa opposite the two girls. "What do you think?"

Melanie looked at the piece Eric had set down, depicting a woman curled up like a baby inside a space capsule. She could even feel the loneliness and despair emanating from the subject in the drawing.

"Very impressive!" Melanie exclaimed, not holding back anymore, and alongside Caroline, she admired each of Eric's concept drawings, finally adding, "Eric, if you keep drawing more like this, you might really be able to hold an art exhibition!"

"Oh, thank you," Eric chuckled in response.

Melanie continued, "But Eric, do you really think these visuals can perfectly translate to the big screen? Setting aside other issues, just the challenge of depicting zero gravity isn't that straightforward. Based on the concepts in your memo, this film essentially takes place entirely in space. You can't use NASA's zero-gravity simulator like in Apollo 13 two years back. I think if we try using wires, it'll make it even harder to portray these scenes accurately, as actors definitely won't be able to move freely with wires."

For regular audiences, after watching an outstanding film, they mostly judge it based on acting, screenplay, and the storyline. However, directors primarily ponder how such an exceptional film gets made.

As someone who had always aspired to be a film director, Eric was no exception. When he had seen Gravity, he had felt exhilarated and initially considered how the director had executed those exquisitely choreographed long takes and resolved the persistent challenges in space films like zero gravity. In this age of information explosion on the internet, figuring these issues out had become a lot easier.

Upon hearing Melanie's question, Eric confidently explained, "First off, the sensation of weightlessness is basically a feeling of floating without the pull of gravity. Generally, since a cameraman must be grounded during these shots, the only way to achieve that sensation is to suspend actors on wires. Alternatively, like in Apollo 13, we would need to spend heavily to create an actual zero-gravity environment."

Melanie and Caroline still looked a bit puzzled, clearly not grasping the concept entirely, and just waited for Eric to continue.

Eric thought for a moment, then said, "However, human perception can easily be deceived. To create that sensation of weightlessness, we simply need to adjust the relative positioning between the camera and the actors to give the impression of being completely free from the force of gravity. This way, we can simulate a convincing zero-gravity environment."

Both Melanie and Caroline were very clever. Melanie even lifted her hands, demonstrating a few gestures as she nodded, "That makes sense. But Eric, do you think any cinematographer could handle a camera weighing over thirty pounds while making unrestricted adjustments on the lens?"

As she spoke, she raised her right hand, moving around her left hand in various angles.

Eric laughed and shook his head. "Of course not, but I never said the cinematographer would operate the camera personally! Have you two seen an automotive assembly line?"

The two girls shook their heads in unison.

Eric had to explain, "You must have seen snippets of automotive assembly or images from the news, right? I'm talking about those robotic arms. As I understand it, some precision robotic arms, once their motion paths are set, can achieve an error margin of less than 0.1 millimeters. So to simulate relative positioning for zero gravity, all I need are two such precision robotic arms. One would operate the camera, and the other would support the actor's movements during the performance. In post-production, we can simply remove these robotic arms and combine the results with CG backgrounds; it will yield perfect space shots."

Although they still found it hard to fathom this filming method, Caroline and Melanie had little doubt, considering that Eric was the most professional among the three.

Finally, Caroline asked curiously, "Eric, does that mean this movie will be virtually all CG?"

Eric understood why Caroline asked that and nodded with a smile. "Yes, many CG scenes will indeed be expansive. Interestingly, for CG productions, the more distant the shot, the lower the production cost tends to be because they don't need intricate modeling and rendering. So the movie's budget wouldn't be too high; as long as we solve certain technical challenges, controlling the cost around one hundred million dollars should be feasible."

While one hundred million dollars remained a considerable budget for a big Hollywood production in 1997, with only a handful of films each year exceeding that price tag, for Eric -- having recently helmed two billion-dollar blockbusters even without being the owner of Firefly Group -- asking for a two-hundred-million-dollar production budget would find many studios lining up to provide the funds.

Having spent enough time in Hollywood, Caroline and Melanie could recognize many challenges that would need addressing to create Gravity. However, after listening to Eric's explanations, they completely believed he could tackle all these problems, so they decided to drop the topic of this film and shifted to other discussions.

"Eric, these past few days Carly and I reviewed all the information from the major theaters in North America. We believe that if Firefly is just aiming to promote 3D films, it wouldn't be advisable to make a big splash entering the theater industry."

"Hmm, what are your thoughts?" Eric replied, nodding and smiling.

Melanie glanced at Caroline, whose eyes were sparkling. In truth, most of the ideas were ones Caroline had initially introduced. But now, Caroline was too shy to change her demeanor in front of Eric, so Melanie took it upon herself to say, "If Firefly enters the theater industry, small chains definitely wouldn't satisfy the company's appetite. The top three theater chains in North America own over 14,000 screens, mostly high-end cinemas in prime locations. Hence, Firefly can only pursue acquisitions of these three companies. However, once Firefly does this, it will undoubtedly provoke strong backlash from other film companies in Hollywood. They would never allow Firefly to control thousands of prime screens, so regardless of which of the three we target, the possibility of clearing antitrust investigations is quite slim."

Eric thought it over and nodded. "Anything else?"

Melanie continued, "Additionally, when it comes to promoting 3D films, I think we don't need to go through such trouble. Most cinemas under the top three chains have over five screens each. We wouldn't be able to convert all screens to 3D if we were to buy them. Therefore, at least in the domestic market, we can opt for a cooperative approach. We could invest funds in these big chains for a stake, selecting a portion of the best locations to convert into 3D theaters. If we mastered the 3D projection systems and conversion technologies, we wouldn't just promote 3D plans without triggering antitrust issues, but we would also create a flooring monopoly in the 3D film market."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 928: 4200]

Caroline and Melanie brought most of their collected materials onto the plane in recent days. After hearing their suggestions, Eric asked them to present the information. The three delved deeper into discussion.

With the North American film market thriving in recent years, by 1997, the total number of screens in North America had surpassed 36,000, an increase of almost 10,000 from a decade earlier. This significant growth in the number of screens inevitably led to market saturation and intensified competition, resulting in the smaller cinema chains being absorbed and consolidated by the major players.

As of now, the top three North American cinema chains, Regal Entertainment, AMC Theatres, and Cinemark, had expanded over the years and operated over 14,000 screens, making them the most commercially valuable cinema groups in the country. While other smaller, arthouse, or regional chains still had far more screens combined than these top three, they faced various challenges such as inconvenient locations, outdated equipment, and insufficient film resources, making it impossible to compete with these cinema giants.

For Firefly Group, trying to acquire smaller chains instead of targeting the top three would be less viable than starting from scratch to build a chain of cinemas. Even the top three chains faced issues to some extent due to years of over-expansion. Despite Regal Entertainment having over 7,000 screens, it had the worst operating conditions among the top three and faced bankruptcy risks in the coming years.

On the surface, Regal Entertainment seemed to be an ideal acquisition target for Firefly Group. However, if Firefly really pursued that and gathered those 7,000 screens, especially those positioned in prime locations in major North American cities, the rest of Hollywood would be concerned. The other two chains had around 3,000 to 4,000 screens each, but Firefly would still face antitrust issues if they attempted to get involved.

...

In the study, Melanie presented some data to Eric, saying, "Eric, look, the top three cinema entertainment groups all have multiple sub-brands. Take Regal Entertainment; it has three sub-brands: Regal Cinemas, Edwards Theatres, and United Artists Theatres. We could actually adopt this sub-brand operational model and partner with one of the top three chains. I think Regal would be best. A few years ago, after a major merger, it expanded to over 7,000 screens, but due to rising debt and chaotic management, it has suffered losses in recent years. Our goal should be to select some screening rooms from their chain and create a sub-brand dedicated to showing 3D films through investment and shareholding."

Eric's main reason for entering the cinema industry was to promote 3D films in advance and find a new profit growth point for the Firefly system. At the same time, he aimed to lead the promotion of 3D movies.

Historically, the spread of 3D films had been quite chaotic. During the earlier phases of Avatar, numerous Hollywood blockbusters already had 3D versions, but the supply of 3D films remained scarce compared to North America's massive movie market. Without enough 3D content, the number of 3D screens in North America couldn't develop, and the inadequate supply of 3D films further discouraged studios from creating 3D versions of their films.

However, after Avatar, driven by huge profits, major film companies and cinema chains in North America rushed to produce 3D films and adapt cinemas for 3D. This rush naturally led to mixed quality in both the 3D content and theater systems, with many films and venues exhibiting poor quality, leaving viewers increasingly resistant to this format.

Once the quality of 3D films and theater projection systems met the standard, the visual experience of 3D films could be truly breathtaking. Furthermore, it could entice audiences, increasingly inclined to watch films on television or online platforms, to return to theaters.

What Eric wanted to achieve was to set 3D film promotion on a healthy developmental path, rather than allowing it to get misused by cinemas and studios overly focused on profits while using substandard projection systems and subpar conversion sources, which would ultimately doom this new film format.

After patiently discussing with Melanie and Caroline, Eric finally declared, "So, this sub-brand will be called RealD."

Both women looked puzzled. "RealD?"

Eric nodded. RealD was actually the most popular 3D film projection system in the original timeline.

The primary issue with 3D film projection typically revolved around brightness. Unlike 2D films, 3D films would significantly diminish brightness during projection via the 3D projector, large screen, and 3D glasses. The brightness of movie screens is measured in a specific unit called FL (foot-Lamberts). Traditional 2D films, without many attenuation factors, easily maintained a brightness of 14FL, while 3D films typically retained only around 4.5FL after three levels of reduction. Many cinemas even deliberately reduced brightness to prolong the life of their projector bulbs, resulting in even further reduced brightness, which created a terrible viewing experience for audiences.

Confronted with the confusion in the 3D film market, later on, RealD not only developed a dedicated RealD projection system but also established a set of RealD certification standards. The most crucial rule stated that theaters showing 3D films must maintain a brightness of no less than 6FL.

At this moment, Eric planned to establish a comprehensive 3D film certification standard from the very outset. He researched RealD's status and found that the company had not been established yet. Therefore, he took the name without hesitation.

"RealD means 'real 3D,'" Eric clarified to ease the women's confusion. He picked up a nearby pencil and wrote the newly coined term RealD on the blank space of his document. "Not only this sub-brand, but I also hope that the Digital Domain's developed 3D film projection system will use this name. We need to set a 3D film projection standard ahead of time. In the future, cinemas wanting copies of Firefly system's 3D films will have to pass our certification."

Melanie, understanding Eric's point now, nodded enthusiastically and said, "That's a good approach!" She thought Eric's motivation was mainly to monopolize the 3D film market.

Caroline also appeared to believe Eric harbored such ambitions, as evident from the guilty look on her face.

However, Eric did not actually intend to monopolize anything.

During the initial phase of 3D film promotion, by controlling the quality and projection standards, Firefly system could naturally enjoy exclusive profits for quite some time, given its technological edge and cinema resource advantages. But in the highly open movie markets of Europe and America, other companies would rush to catch up once they saw Firefly profiting, so monopolizing the 3D film market was hardly feasible for Firefly.

Moreover, Eric didn't wish for Firefly to permanently hold onto these profits; monopolizing them for too long would surely dampen motivation for progress. Introducing competition was the best way to maintain long-term vitality for the Firefly system.

...

Before they knew it, several hours had passed, and when dinner time arrived, Eric kept his promise to personally prepare the food. Meanwhile, Caroline and Melanie stayed in the study to continue organizing the results of their discussions. Eric planned to discuss the detailed execution plans with the management team in Los Angeles after the plane landed.

Not only did the RealD projection system and certification standards occupy their discussion, but Eric and the women also outlined a plan codenamed "4200."

Eric aimed to establish 2,000 certified 3D screens for Firefly Group in North America and overseas within the next two to three years, representing the 4,000 in "4200." The remaining 200 would involve another IMAX cinema plan.

Currently, there were only 54 IMAX screens across North America, located mainly in museums or science centers in major cities, and worldwide, fewer than 100 IMAX screens existed.

After watching an IMAX documentary at New York's natural history museum two years ago, Eric had contacted IMAX Canada to urge them to accelerate the technical research and development for converting standard 35mm films to IMAX films, as previous IMAX films were limited to about 40-50 minutes in duration.

According to the data Caroline and Melanie obtained from IMAX a few days earlier, the digital mastering technology (DMR) they had been developing would allow for normal-length films to be converted to IMAX films by next year at the latest.

Given that Gravity was set to be produced, Eric certainly would not pass up the opportunity to showcase this space epic's visual grandeur through IMAX projection.

Thus, as he aimed to build 4,000 3D screens, he also planned to establish 200 IMAX theaters in North America and abroad.

...

After landing in London, Eric held a video conference with the Firefly management team on Kensington Gardens Boulevard to discuss the plans for RealD and 4200. Those present in Los Angeles, including Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells, couldn't help but be taken aback by what they heard.

In Eric's plans, the RealD projection system required development in Digital Domain. This meant abandoning the current single-unit 3D projectors for a dual-projector system that could significantly increase brightness while reducing viewer dizziness. This led to potential reconstruction costs of up to $300,000 per 3D screening room. While this cost seemed reasonable for a single screening room, modifying 4,000 screening rooms worldwide would necessitate an overall investment of at least $1.2 billion, not to mention the substantial ongoing operating costs.

Similarly, constructing 200 IMAX theaters from the ground up, even at a cost of $2 million each, would still be an expenditure of $400 million.

In summary, to promote 3D and IMAX, Firefly Group would need to invest no less than $1.6 billion with the additional operating costs expected to be substantial as well.

Though $1.6 billion wouldn't suffice to buy Regal Entertainment, the leading cinema chain in North America, it could easily cover the acquisition of AMC, the second, and the third-ranking Cinemark chain. Eric had intentionally suppressed Firefly Group's expansion for the past two years, which meant those executives like Katzenberg who wanted the company to keep growing were holding onto their frustrations. However, when presented with Eric's ambitious expansion plans, they couldn't help but become apprehensive.

Was investing $1.6 billion in an uncertain market for 3D and IMAX truly worth it?

What if it failed?

Eric understood Katzenberg's concerns perfectly. This mindset was also a major reason why, for many years, 3D and IMAX could not be widely adopted; no company was willing to pour $1.6 billion into a project without a clear market outlook. After all, if the major Hollywood studios did not perform well, their collective profits over several years might not even reach $1.6 billion.

Given that Eric had invested heavily in the Nasdaq market in recent years, Firefly's current surplus was certainly not more than $1.6 billion and might even drop below $1 billion.

To be fair, had he not clearly seen the future, Eric wouldn't dare to rashly risk $1.6 billion on the two plans. Money didn't come easy, and he had never thought about throwing money away.

In the study of his Kensington Gardens villa, Eric sat in his office chair, watching the hesitant and advisory expressions on Katzenberg and the others who were far away in Los Angeles through the video conference. He tapped the table decisively and stated, "Everyone, this is my decision. What you need to do now is to take immediate action. First, within two years, I want to see a complete RealD projection system and better 3D conversion technology developed in Digital Domain.

Second, starting now, negotiate with the major cinema chains across North America and overseas to secure the renovation contracts for 4,000 3D screening rooms I need. Once Digital Domain completes the development of the RealD system and we have the films to provide for the 3D theaters, I want to see these 4,000 screens retrofitted with 3D projection systems worldwide within three months.

Third, continue to push IMAX to accelerate the development of DMR conversion technology. If they need funds, then provide them; if they cannot continue running, we should purchase them. Meanwhile, you all need to acquire land in major cities worldwide so that while completing the renovation of 4,000 3D screens, I also want to see 200 IMAX theaters constructed. Are there any questions?"

After Eric finished speaking, his eyes fixed firmly on the Firefly Group executives hundreds of miles away in Los Angeles through the high-definition camera.

Katzenberg and the others had never regarded Eric as a domineering boss. Yet, this time, despite the distance of thousands of miles and through the video screen, they could still sense his determination.

Exchanging glances, they no longer raised objections and began discussing the substantive issues that needed to be resolved to execute this plan.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 929: A Touch of Dark Humor]

After several remote video conferences, Firefly Group began to methodically execute Eric's proposed 'RealD' and '4200' plans.

The core of the RealD plan was to develop a specialized RealD projection system for 3D films, as well as DMR technology to convert regular movies into IMAX. Achieving this wasn't overly difficult since both 3D movie and IMAX technology had been in development for decades. What Firefly needed to do was to combine existing technologies and further enhance them to meet Eric's demands.

However, implementing the '4200' plan was far more challenging. Eric wanted to ensure that while Firefly could supply sources for both 3D and IMAX films, it would simultaneously complete the transformation of 4,000 3D theaters and the construction of 200 IMAX theaters worldwide. Ultimately, a situation where theaters were built without available films or films produced with nowhere to screen them would be incredibly awkward.

To achieve such synchronization in timing required the plan's executor to possess strong organizational skills. Fortunately, as the world's largest media group, Firefly had no shortage of talented managers with the ability to execute plans effectively. Katzenberg decided to lead the charge personally, responsible for overseeing the progress of the '4200' plan.

Firefly Group's global employee count had already surpassed 120,000. As the boss, Eric made high-level decisions and no longer needed to get involved in the minutiae; he simply had to wait for the outcome. If the thousands of managers and over 100,000 employees within the group could not deliver what he wanted, then there would surely be a major issue within the company. The reality, however, was that Firefly Group operated far better than any other media group in Hollywood.

...

After deploying these two plans, Eric shifted his focus to the creation of the Spice Girls while also beginning to draft the screenplay for Gravity. Since he was over a decade ahead, the original script would clearly no longer serve his purpose.

With Simon Fuller at the helm, all five members of the Spice Girls had been finalized. The original Spice Girls had only remained popular for less than two years before disbanding due to various internal conflicts. Eric was unclear about the complexities involved but had no intention of reinstating the previous members. Simon Fuller also signed the new group members to a much stricter five-year contract, ensuring that the revamped Spice Girls would remain intact for at least that long.

Eric took the time to develop the Spice Girls mainly in preparation for the release of the Fireflyer Player in North America next year. Firefly Electronics had already signed intention contracts with several members of the Spice Girls for brand endorsements. Once the group rose to fame, they would also serve as the brand's representatives in Europe when the Fireflyer Player debuted in that market. Additionally, the Spice Girls could provide a collection of the hottest digital music copyrights for Fireflyer's promotional efforts in Europe.

Although Firefly Electronics had expanded the monthly production capacity of the Fireflyer Player to 450,000 units by July, the device became increasingly popular across North America, rendering that production amount still insufficient to meet market demand. While Amazon steadfastly maintained a sales price of $299, prices at various retail chains remained above $300.

From its launch in April, within less than six months, the Fireflyer Player's sales approached 1.5 million units. Firefly Electronics' management expected that once the Malaysian assembly factory commenced operations, the Fireflyer Player's 1997 sales figures in North America would easily exceed 3 million units.

Even at the original price of $299, that annual sales figure would bring Firefly Electronics' first product's annual revenue to over $900 million. The threshold for the Forbes Fortune 500 was only about $2 billion; thus, if they chose to, Firefly Electronics could easily make the list the following year, achieving a goal that countless companies aspire to but ultimately fail to reach during their existence. However, reaching this milestone would merely serve as a starting point for Firefly Electronics.

...

After spending several days in a villa on Kensington Garden Street in London, finalizing the two plans with the team in Los Angeles, Eric moved to Pinewood Town near Pinewood Studios. He also rented a soundstage within the studio, both for rehearsals of the Wannabe music video and to brainstorm ideas for filming Gravity.

Actually, these two matters closely intertwined. Eric had originally intended to shoot the single-take Wannabe MV purely out of interest but was tempted to abandon this notion due to a busy schedule. However, after considering the production of Gravity, he decided to pick up the camera himself to film this one-shot music video. This would allow him to refine his techniques regarding long take shot composition, framing rules, and other technical specifics to better prepare for directing Gravity.

When it came to choosing a cinematographer for this film, Eric initially thought of Emmanuel Lubezki. However, after watching several of his films, he dismissed that idea. At that early stage in his Hollywood career, Lubezki was still an ordinary cinematographer, having worked on films that showed basic shot standards, far from the mastery he would develop in a decade or two. Finding him now would be less ideal than if Eric just did it himself.

Eric actually considered taking on the task himself, as this aligned with a little dark humor he entertained in his heart. Through his work on The Others and last year's My Heart Will Go On, Eric had already snagged two Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Song, earning him the titles of "Best Screenwriter" and "Best Composer" in directing circles. Given that, continuing onward to secure a title of "Best Cinematographer" was appealing as well.

Eric wasn't particularly obsessed with the Oscars, but playing this "game" was entertaining nonetheless. Apart from the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories -- which he believed were out of reach -- he felt he could contend for most of the other major awards. Being only 27, he didn't intend to put down the directing baton just yet. Setting such a humorously ambitious goal could energize him for the future.

Before Eric came to Europe, he had already handed the song Wannabe over to Simon Fuller, and the Spice Girls had now expertly practiced it. Eric had chosen a club in London for filming the MV, but rehearsals could only take place in the soundstage for fear of being overwhelmed by crowds.

...

Meanwhile, after his visit to the industrial city of Birmingham to tour an automotive assembly line, Eric found himself intrigued by a high-precision assembly robot from the German company KUKA. Upon learning that Eric Williams planned to use their robots for his next film, KUKA expressed great enthusiasm, offering to provide him with two robots free of charge and support the necessary modifications. The only condition was that Eric would need to mention KUKA in the promotional process for his next film.

The robot Eric was interested in cost about $1 million each. Given the complexity of such precise machinery, modifying it independently could be quite difficult. Since KUKA was willing to provide the robots for free and assist with the modifications, Eric naturally accepted the offer. Moreover, when it came to promoting Gravity, the method of filming would definitely become a topic of discussion, and casually mentioning KUKA would be no big deal.

KUKA sent two high-precision robots to Pinewood Studios, and after they were installed in the rented soundstage, Eric spent most of his time in there, preparing the set for the Wannabe MV while simultaneously collaborating with the specially assigned KUKA engineers to analyze and learn about the robot modifications and operational methods.

...

Upon returning to London -- particularly after Eric relocated to Pinewood Studios -- Caroline had been in excellent spirits. Not only could she return home every night, but, notably, Eric had finally settled into work mode and was no longer elusive. She could meet him promptly each day.

As noon approached, Caroline and Melanie left their office at the Pinewood Studios and headed towards a soundstage in the northwest corner, intending to join Eric for lunch and discuss work matters.

This large soundstage, measuring 60 meters long and 50 meters wide, boasted an interior space close to 3,000 square meters, with a ceiling higher than other soundstages, providing a spacious feel.

Inside the soundstage, several crew members were setting up according to the layout of the club chosen by Eric. After surveying the surroundings, Caroline understood that the setups were nearing completion. Eric had mentioned that he planned to spend a week in rehearsal before heading back to central London to start filming. Even if shooting in the city didn't go as planned, the entire process should wrap up within two weeks.

Two weeks -- Caroline wondered how much longer Eric would remain in the UK after that. Deep down, she hoped that the date would extend as much as possible.

As they navigated past the external setups, they quickly entered a designated area of approximately 300 to 400 square meters.

On the ground lay two striking orange-red robots. The sturdy bases were mounted on sliding tracks, with mechanical arms extending over three meters long. One had a small DV camera attached, while the other was intended to support a performer, but modifications had yet to be completed, and it currently held a mannequin.

Eric and Brian Cranston, the engineer sent by KUKA, stood together on the periphery, each controlling a PDA while manually maneuvering the robots at a slow pace.

Caroline and Melanie quietly stood a few paces away from several crew members, waiting for Eric and Brian to finish their operations before approaching from behind Eric, collectively watching the footage captured by the DV camera on the computer screen.

Ignoring the robotic arms, the mannequin's movements appeared almost carefree, lacking confinement in any direction, creating a slight sensation of floating in space, though only minimally. This might have been due to the mannequin's stiff limbs or perhaps due to Eric and Brian's still-developing skills.

"If only we could switch those out for a real person in a spacesuit, the mannequin looks too rigid," Eric mused softly after replaying the footage several times.

Brian Cranston showed a keen interest in the footage on the computer screen and said, "Eric, if you need, I could start on the modifications right away. It would only take two days."

Eric smiled and shook his head, saying, "Thanks, Brian, but I still need to think about how to proceed with the modifications."

"Of course, Eric, there's no rush," Brian nodded with a smile.

Eric rewatched the footage, then turned to Melanie and Caroline, having just noticed that the two girls had arrived.

"You two, find a set of space suits this afternoon; they don't need to be real, just models that can fit over the mannequin," he instructed.

"Sure thing," Melanie nodded, then glanced at her wristwatch and said, "And, Eric, it's lunchtime now."

"Alright, let's head out for some food," Eric replied, giving a sidelong glance at the small box Caroline was holding. He smiled and asked, "You didn't prepare lunch for me, did you?"

"No, I didn't," Caroline shook her head and displayed the box to Eric. "This is a sample of the music phone that Nokia sent over this morning."

Seeing the Nokia logo on the box, Eric nodded, "Let's go to the cafeteria and check it out."

After saying that, he exchanged farewells with a few other crew members before they all headed out for lunch. Brian Cranston did not join them, only offering a quick goodbye as he left with other crew members.

...

Eric, Caroline, and Melanie arrived at a cafeteria inside the studio, ordered their lunch, and then opened the box Caroline brought.

"I've seen the documentation already," Caroline explained as Eric unpacked the sample and started to play around with it. "These two models -- a flash memory-based one -- has a capacity of only 64 megabytes, which can hold about ten songs. This is the current standard capacity for flash memory chips. The other model uses a micro hard drive from Seagate, with a capacity of 2GB. The material from Nokia indicates that they won't mass-produce the flash memory music phones for now; this is just for technological accumulation. Only the micro hard drive music phones will be market-ready. They'll officially launch in January, similar to the second-generation Fireflyer Player plans, with models available in 1GB and 2GB capacities, priced at approximately $600 and $700, respectively."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 930: Who's Kidding with Me?]

Nokia undoubtedly inherited the unique craftsmanship of Europeans. In Eric's hands, the two music phone prototypes were made of plastic, but the silver casing exuded a high-end metallic feel.

Moreover, these two phones did not adopt Nokia's traditional, unchanging classic shape. Instead, they resembled the elongated design of the Nokia Vertu. Due to the technological limitations of the time, the devices appeared wider than the Nokia Vertu, yet the overall design still exuded a sense of style. In addition to basic communication functions, the phones featured buttons that allowed for a much more convenient music playback system compared to the Fireflyer, even enabling simple search operations.

Despite the $600 starting price positioning them firmly as high-end models in the current mobile phone market, Eric remained confident that these devices would attract a significant portion of the young white-collar demographic under thirty.

Putting on the headphones, Eric sampled a piece of music, satisfied as he neatly packed away the two phones.

With people around in the restaurant, Eric could not continue testing whether the phones could conveniently purchase and transfer music from the Yahoo Music Store. However, after a brief trial, he had no doubts about the music transmission capabilities of these phones. Undoubtedly, Nokia's RD prowess was hardly inferior to that of Firefly Electronics.

After chatting a bit more with Caroline and Melanie, Eric finally began his meal. Yet, his mind couldn't help but wander, contemplating when and how he should intervene in or even take over Nokia's management.

Nokia lacked for neither technology nor talent nor channels, yet it had experienced a spectacular decline fifteen years after reaching its peak. This was surely no accident, but rather a long process of transformative collapse, where a seemingly small issue could lead to considerable fallout. Waiting until disaster struck to act would undoubtedly be too late.

Firefly Investment was still firmly in possession of a 51% controlling stake in Nokia. Therefore, as long as Eric wished, he held the absolute power to make the adjustments he desired within Nokia.

Nevertheless, he knew it wouldn't be wise to act on this in the coming years. Nokia had just ascended to the position of the world's leading mobile manufacturer, and the current management team had a very thorough development plan in place. Interfering in the company's management at this stage would definitely create friction between the management and Eric, the major shareholder, and would hinder Nokia's momentum toward further growth.

Even with this music phone, as Eric advanced the project, he sensed some discontent from Nokia's management. High-level executives there remained focused on perfecting simple, easy-to-use function phones, deeming a phone's entertainment functions as frivolous. Until their past decline, they had proudly upheld this belief, ultimately causing this giant in the mobile industry to plummet from greatness at a staggering speed.

Only when Caroline and Melanie finished their lunch did they look over, intrigued by the silence that had enveloped him for a while. Eric snapped back to reality, smiled, and quickened his eating pace.

If he couldn't clarify his thoughts right now, he would simply have to consider them slowly. After all, Nokia had just entered its prime, with plenty of time and opportunities ahead of them. At least he knew that Nokia's CEO, Jorma Ollila, had a contract that wouldn't expire until next year; any actions Eric wished to take must wait until at least after that.

Eric felt a twinge of regret; he could not recall the name of Nokia's last CEO, who had hastened their plunge into decline. If he had, even with opposition from everyone, he would have promptly kicked that guy out of Nokia. After all, someone who could drive a company holding over 40% of the global mobile market to bankruptcy in just a few years was a "talent" who should be swiftly dealt with.

After lunch, Eric instructed the two women, "You need to send a memo to Nokia. Since they intend to implement the first and second generation Fireflyer-like 1G and 2G storage versions, the release date should be postponed from January to April, scheduled for one week after the second-generation Fireflyer is launched. Also, while Nokia's primary markets are in Europe and Asia, this phone's target market should be the United States, since only the U.S. currently has a relatively complete network music store. There's no rush for Europe, and for Asia, let's hold off on promotion for now. While the music copyright regulations aren't strict there, it isn't necessary for us to dive into that yet; it would only be a loss."

Once he confirmed that both women had noted his words, Eric left the restaurant to return to work in the studio.

...

Over the next couple of days, the simple set for the rehearsal of Wannabe was completed, and just as Eric was about to gather the Spice Girls to begin rehearsals, a weighty piece of news arrived from the U.S.

After three long months of protracted negotiations, Viacom finally reached an acquisition agreement with CBS Group, with the final deal valued at $36 billion.

With this, the four major television networks in America -- ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX -- all fell under the umbrella of large conglomerates. Although General Electric, owning NBC, couldn't technically be considered a media group, this still marked a significant milestone in the wave of consolidation within the American media industry.

Canada's Seagram Group was in acquisition talks with Europe's Polygram Records, but this could only be regarded as an extension of the consolidation wave, as neither the success nor failure of this merger would significantly reshape the landscape of the American media industry.

The completion of the media group consolidation indicated that, under such monopolistic conditions, a media company, unless utilizing unconventional merger strategies, would no longer have the possibility of developing into a media group from scratch. The American media industry had once again entered an oligopolistic era.

When Eric heard this news, he was reminded of his conversation with New Line Cinema's CEO, Robert Shaye, a few years prior. Although his influence had stirred up many storms in the following years, the overarching trends of history hadn't fundamentally changed. Luckily, Firefly had successfully completed its own preparations before all this unfolded.

...

Today marked the third day of formal rehearsals for Wannabe.

Over two days, Eric had watched and guided the girls of the Spice Girls as they performed for the entire music video. While the music industry had never lacked female singing groups, it was the Spice Girls that truly brought this girl group format to the world stage.

Thus, originally in history, even though many believed the Spice Girls exuded coolness during their initial rise with both music videos and live performances, with the perspective gained from Eric's over ten years of experience, he found the dance performances in the music videos to be abysmal. Naturally, drawing from his memories, Eric directed the choreographer to design some classic dance moves for the girls.

In the open set at the Pinewood Studios, dozens of curious eyes, including the five girls of the Spice Girls, watched as Eric donned a Steadicam system, their faces etched with expressions of surprise.

Caroline and Melanie helped Eric check a few connections on his gear when Simon Fuller walked over and saw Eric, dressed in a shock-absorbing vest and adjusting a lightweight camera with a counterweight, looking incredulous. "Eric, are you planning to shoot this music video yourself?"

Eric nodded, looking at the astonished Simon Fuller, and smiled, "Is there a problem with me doing it myself?"

"No, oh, sure, of course not," Simon hurriedly shook his head, joking. After all, who would dare say no if Eric Williams wanted to be the cameraman for the music video?

Noticing that Simon was momentarily at a loss, Eric added, "Everyone here is required to have signed a confidentiality agreement, right? Please remind them not to leak this until the music video is completed."

Eric's visit to the UK had frequently made headlines in local media. Under Simon's efforts, the establishment of the Spice Girls had stirred up significant buzz as well. However, the public only vaguely knew that Eric was set to produce the group on a song. Other details had been tightly guarded.

Upon confirming with Eric that he would personally take on the role of cameraman, Simon's first thought was to call a newspaper; this was massive news.

However, hearing Eric's specific request, Simon had to abandon that idea: "Alright, Eric, I'll make sure of it."

"Then let's get started," Eric nodded, moving to the edge of the set and signaling for the music video director, who Simon had invited but would ultimately not find a way to contribute.

As the stage manager's voice rang out, all the extras quickly took their positions.

The five girls of the Spice Girls stood at the starting point. The director, who had effectively lost all authority, looked at Eric, waiting for him to give the "OK" gesture. The accompaniment for Wannabe began playing. To maintain strict confidentiality, only the backing track would be used during rehearsals or formal shooting. Despite everyone having signed confidentiality agreements, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't leak something out of greed; British paparazzi were renowned for their relentless pursuit of news. If any lyrics leaked ahead of time, it would create quite a stir.

As the music played, the five girls entered the frame, laughing and joking. Eric focused on the monitor, slowly moving along with the girls as they danced.

To master long takes, the key lies in quickly establishing focus amidst the constantly shifting chaos of the framing to present the creator's intended visual language.

The script for the Wannabe music video was written by Eric based on his memories, with the storyline revolving around five exuberant girls causing a ruckus in a club.

Perhaps it was because Eric was personally wielding the camera, but within less than a minute of starting the first rehearsal, one of the girls accidentally tripped, forcing a pause in filming. Watching the girl designated as "Baby Spice" glance at him with a nervous, almost tearful expression, Eric felt the need to soothe her himself.

To refine his long-take cinematography techniques, Eric had allotted a full two weeks for filming this music video, so there was no rush. After comforting Baby Spice, he instructed everyone that further shooting should only stop in case of serious issues.

As the music played again, there were indeed minor hiccups throughout, but the shooting proceeded without further pauses. Eric's eyes remained glued to the monitor as he carefully followed the girls' dance steps, rapidly calculating how to shoot a particular scene more cohesively.

Originally thinking this would be an opportunity to achieve the first "one-take," the music ran for about three minutes. This segment ideally involved a romantic couple dancing excitedly with the five girls; however, Eric suddenly recognized that one actress in a pink dress on the left side of the frame looked eerily familiar. Instinctively, he glanced up and was taken aback.

Although she had dyed her hair a light blonde and the pink dress seemed out of place, the slightly darker skin tone, deep eye makeup, and signature aloof expression -- wasn't that Victoria Beckham? Oh no, wait, she was still Victoria Adams for now. Perhaps, she would forever remain Victoria Adams.

WTF!

Who was kidding with him?

Eric felt a strange yet humorous sensation wash over him.

He definitely wouldn't interfere in the casting for the music video; that mattered only to the MV director. It only dawned on him now that, okay, he had another unexpected twist thrown into the mix.

The music continued, and the five girls kept performing, but everyone noticed that Eric had halted next to the girl in the pink dress for several seconds. Victoria Adams sensed this too, as she turned to look at Eric. Her body, which had been dancing atop the chair, abruptly stopped. She wanted to step down but hesitated, unsure if she should.

She had just seen Eric was determined to operate the camera himself, and naturally, she couldn't help but wonder if this significant figure would take notice of her. Yet she knew deep down, it was likely just a fantasy.

Excluding the five Spice Girls, there were several actresses in the MV more attractive than her. So now, when Eric Williams stood still, scrutinizing her for several seconds, Victoria felt her heart race, her body tingling with inexplicable excitement and nervousness.

Only when Eric noticed Victoria Adams had completely halted her movements in his direction did he snap back to attention, naturally adjusting the camera to point elsewhere.

Outside, Melanie noticed this detail and snatched the cup of coffee Caroline had been meticulously cradling, taking an unapologetic sip and saying, "See? I told you."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 931: A Collision of Words]

After the first rehearsal ended, Eric's initial surprise at spotting Victoria Adams among the crowd of MV actors faded away. He just found the situation amusing but didn't feel the urge to interact with Victoria right away as many others expected.

Caroline and Melanie stepped up to help Eric unload the heavy Steadicam equipment. Eric called over the main creative team and the five members of the Spice Girls. A group of them gathered around the workstation in a corner of the studio, rewatching the playback of their first rehearsal while discussing various details that needed improvement.

Since it was the first rehearsal, there were indeed many aspects that required adjustments. They spent about half an hour discussing before everyone dispersed to make the necessary changes.

Once everyone left, Eric stayed behind at the workstation, operating the computer to review the footage, occasionally jotting down his insights about long shots in his notebook.

Caroline placed a cup of warm coffee next to Eric without a word, quietly sitting beside him. She observed him intently studying the footage and making notes, a look of satisfaction on her face.

Not far away, Melanie saw Caroline sitting next to Eric and couldn't help but sigh. After a moment's thought, she walked over to Simon Fuller, who was directing staff to adjust the set. She discreetly asked, "Simon, what was that girl's name?"

Simon Fuller, being perceptive, assumed Melanie was asking on Eric's behalf and lowered his voice, "I just asked. Her name is Victoria Adams. Mel, is it true that Williams wants to take her out to dinner? I can arrange that."

Melanie suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Why did all these men think this way? Quickly shaking her head, she replied, "It's not like that, Simon. What do you think of Caroline?"

Caroline always treated everyone around her sincerely and politely. Despite their limited interaction over the past few days, Simon developed a fondness for Caroline, responding with a hint of respect, "Miss Wilson is a wonderful girl."

Melanie gestured towards Eric and Caroline. "Look, Simon, you can definitely see that Caroline likes Mr. Williams a lot. So, could you do me a favor and make that, um, Victoria Adams disappear?"

Simon followed Melanie's gaze and could easily sense Caroline's affection for Eric. However, Melanie's suggestion also revealed that Eric's assistant was acting on her friend's best interests without really consulting anyone.

After a moment of hesitation, Simon advised, "Mel, if you really care about Miss Wilson, I think you shouldn't do that. It's too obvious. Mr. Williams probably wouldn't appreciate someone trying to meddle in his affairs, and you should have a bit more faith in him; he is very professional."

Finally unable to hold back, Melanie rolled her eyes to herself, thinking that he had never seen Eric when he wasn't professional.

Knowing Simon wouldn't help, Melanie understood that turning to someone else would likely yield the same results, so she let go of the thought of getting rid of Victoria Adams. Still, she couldn't resist sneaking glances at the actress among the crowd. She seriously couldn't see what about that girl attracted Eric. Her skin wasn't fair enough, her face wasn't sweet enough, her height was average -- definitely not aligned with his aesthetic standards. Yet, upon reflection, Melanie realized she couldn't really determine what Eric's aesthetic standards were.

...

Eric, completely unaware of Melanie's unintended plan, would have just laughed it off even if he had known. While Melanie wanted to protect Caroline, Eric felt similarly. Eric had no special feelings for Victoria Adams, who would never transform into Victoria Beckham. Since she happened to appear in the crowd for the Wannabe MV, Eric had gradually started to ignore her presence.

After the crew adjusted the set and actors according to their recent discussions, the rehearsal continued.

The following week, everyone spent their time in repetitive practice, starting every day at nine and wrapping up around five in the afternoon.

By the third day, many felt that the rehearsal worked quite well and was ready for the actual shoot. Yet, since Eric didn't call a halt, no one else suggested it. After all, Eric Williams had already achieved astounding success by the age of thirty, creating a standard that seemed unattainable for everyone else. Still, he dedicated himself daily to practicing over ten times with the nearly 30-pound Steadicam system, exerting more energy than anyone else in the studio.

Given this, everyone involved in the shoot thought to themselves -- if they had billions at their disposal, they wouldn't be willing to undertake such exhausting and monotonous work, preferring to lounge around instead. Hence, for Eric's tedious practice, everyone felt nothing but admiration, with no complaints.

To accumulate more experience with long takes, Eric frequently changed the shooting methods when the MV rehearsals neared completion. Sometimes, he had the actors leave, allowing the five girls to perform alone. Other times, he urged the performers to improvise a scene based on their roles in the MV. During this time, Eric also referenced a scene from Birdman for the actors to enact while he practiced the long-shot techniques used in that film.

...

As the filming of Wannabe progressed, Simon Fuller began hyping the release of the Spice Girls' first single. Ever since July when they grandly recruited members, this girl group, promised to be shaped up under Eric Williams' guidance, had caught everyone's attention.

In recent weeks, although British media speculated wildly about the reasons for Eric's visit to London, most discussions revolved around the Spice Girls, further enhancing the public's curiosity about the group. Consequently, Simon planned to capitalize on this momentum and aim to release the first single as soon as the filming of Wannabe was complete.

When Eric finished a week of rehearsals at Pinewood Studios and transitioned to on-location shooting in the city, the newly established UK branch of Firefly Records officially announced the release date for the Spice Girls' debut single: October 27.

Thanks to the extensive rehearsals in the studio, the on-location shooting went smoothly, completing within two days. By this time, news that Eric himself was the cinematographer for the Wannabe MV had leaked out through the British tabloids, creating quite a stir.

Months passed, but Casino Royale remained in theaters in the UK, with its total box office grossing over $93 million -- though it couldn't quite catch up to the record just set by Titanic, it still ranked highly in the UK box office history. Having surpassed $900 million in global earnings after the second wide release phase in September, Casino Royale was steadily approaching the $1 billion target. Given this, the fact that Eric personally carried the camera for a music MV heightened anticipation among many film and music fans.

...

On October 11, after wrapping up the shooting of Wannabe, Eric handed over all subsequent tasks to Simon Fuller. He didn't rush back to Los Angeles but chose to stay at Pinewood Studios to continue preparations for Gravity.

Since the MV used a single continuous shot, the editing was completed in just a week. Subsequently, on October 20, a week before the single's release, the MV officially launched on major UK television networks.

Perhaps because of excessively high initial expectations, Wannabe didn't quite leave critics and music reviewers in awe.

In the '90s, the mainstream music genre in the UK was still pop-rock. Whether solo artists or ensembles, most were somewhat influenced by rock styles. However, the Spice Girls' Wannabe completely strayed from mainstream music, leaning towards a dance-pop style with no connection to pop-rock.

Additionally, most reviewers felt that compared to Eric's previous, breathtaking songs, Wannabe seemed lacking in substance, more like a mundane earworm song. Some media outlets even targeted the MV, not only calling Eric's single-take shooting technique a gimmick with nothing remarkable but also harshly critiquing the Spice Girls' outfits as reminiscent of "five promiscuous girls."

Just as everyone assumed Eric Williams might have stumbled this time, on October 27, Wannabe was released. Within just four days, the single's sales surged past 100,000 copies, ending the first week with a remarkable total of 160,000 copies sold. It not only topped the UK singles chart effortlessly but even outpaced the second-place song by over 90,000 copies, leading the media and reviewers who had initially doubted the Spice Girls to fall silent, instead eager to understand what had transpired.

Naturally, many immediately suspected Eric might have employed underhanded tactics to inflate the charts, but after some digging, nobody could find any substantial evidence.

Meanwhile, throughout cities and towns in the UK, from bustling urban shopping streets to remote suburban locales, it seemed everyone encountered Wannabe's catchy chorus. Young people would casually shout "zigazig ah" -- a whimsical phrase from the song, inexplicably catching the attention of many and making it sound undeniably cool. The Spice Girls quickly became sex symbols in the eyes of the British youth and the targets of relentless tabloid chasing.

...

Success leads to everything, a undeniable truth in every field.

As WannaBe showcased its mind-blowing infectious power sweeping across the UK, the media's previous disdain for the song and the Spice Girls began to shift. They started praising the group for perfectly blending dance-pop with feminism and injecting a vigorous spirit of female empowerment.

The Spice Girls' success, in fact, had no profound origin; they were indeed a product of an assembly line, as some media reviews suggested.

Yet while many legendary musicians gained countless loyal fans through their rich and profound lyricism, for most ordinary people, music ultimately served as entertainment. The Spice Girls perfectly tapped into the spirit of "entertainment first," quickly winning the hearts of the younger audience with their vibrant personas, catchy melodies, and playful lyrics.

After Wannabe skyrocketed in popularity, Eric transferred his memory of a few other Spice Girls songs to Simon Fuller, relinquishing control of the project.

According to the previously drafted contract, when the second-generation Fireflyer player launched in North America and Europe in April of the following year, the Spice Girls would not only become the European spokesperson for the Fireflyer but also break norms by releasing their debut album simultaneously in physical and online formats to significantly boost the awareness and sales of the Fireflyer in Europe.

...

By November, winter had settled in London, with the countryside feeling even chillier.

Rachel Weisz was still driving her powerful Jaguar XK8, arriving outside Pinewood Studios, where Caroline awaited at the entrance, dressed in a white trench coat. After politely exchanging a few words with the watchman, the barrier raised.

"Rachel, you super star, you finally decided to come see me," Caroline said with a smirk, hopping into the passenger seat.

As Rachel drove through the studio gates, she playfully pinched Caroline's cheek, adopting a mock-gangster tone. "Sweetheart, I not only came to see you, but I also plan to take you home tonight."

Caroline shrank her neck away from Rachel's playful grasp, giggling.

Rachel soon parked the car in the studio's lot and gave Caroline a big hug before asking, "By the way, where's Mel?"

"She's inside; let's go," Caroline replied while pointing toward the parking lot's exit.

Rachel looped her arm through Caroline's as they walked out, asking, "I heard Eric has been living here for a month. What's he secretly working on?"

"His new movie. Hmm, I can't say too much about it. However, it's definitely going to be an impressive film."

Rachel seemed like she wanted to kiss Caroline on the cheek but pulled back when she noticed the girl shyly retreating. "You know, Eric Williams' movie is certainly going to be amazing."

As the two casually chatted, they arrived at the studio where Eric worked.

The set from the Wannabe rehearsals had been completely dismantled. However, in the studio, in addition to the two modified orange robots, there were several bizarre new equipment pieces, the most striking being a towering five-meter tall structure made of square LED screens.

Rachel spotted Eric and a couple of others inside the large box and curiously inquired, "Carly, what's that?"

"It's a light box," Caroline explained. Seeing Rachel still confused, she added, "It simulates space lighting conditions. For Eric's new film, it was difficult to accurately replicate the undiffused space light using traditional lighting methods, so he's planning to use this technique. The LED screens surrounding this light box will play simple space scenes, making it feel like the actors are performing in outer space."

While Caroline was explaining the equipment's purpose to Rachel, Eric approached with Melanie and embraced Rachel in jest, saying, "Rachel, you super star, finally deigned to visit me."

Rachel paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. It seemed she found it amusing and went into a full belly laugh, appearing as if she wanted to crouch down from the hilarity.

Caroline didn't anticipate Eric would say the same thing she had moments ago. Reflecting on their time together, she realized her line was merely a mimicry of Eric's usual joking tone. Aware Rachel might catch on to this similarity, Caroline's face flushed red with embarrassment as she wished for a place to hide.

Eric, unaware of any joke Rachel had found, looked at Caroline's response and guessed it pertained to her, choosing not to pry further. He simply said, "Alright, Rachel, be a bit more ladylike. Watch out or I'll snap a picture of you and sell it to the tabloids."

Rachel took a deep breath, managing to stop laughing. "Eric, you've corrupted Carly."

"Okay, I am guilty," Eric shrugged, gesturing toward the workstation. "Let's sit over there. Honestly, what brings you here today?"

"I came to see Carly and Mel," Rachel said as she took a seat by the workstation, glancing at the stack of space scene images. "Eric, are you planning to shoot a space movie?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded. "It's a space disaster film."

As Rachel surveyed the table, her gaze landed on a well-rendered concept art piece. Picking it up, she recognized it as a realistic simulation based on the sketches Caroline and Melanie had seen on the plane. Feeling the tension illustrated by the lines connecting two astronauts in a precarious situation, Rachel expressed her curiosity, asking Eric, "Eric, is there a role in this film that would suit me?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 932: Can You Help Me Out?]

Eric felt the hopeful gaze of Rachel and shook his head. "If you were a few years older, it might work. This is a female-led movie with no supporting female roles, and I want the lead to be at least thirty."

Rachel Weisz nodded. Though a bit disappointed, she wasn't too bummed out. After Titanic, she wasn't lacking for movie offers. After chatting a bit more about Eric's films, she shifted the topic and joked, "I heard you've been in London for over a month just for that Spice Girls thing. Wannabe sounds really interesting -- I even bought a CD! But what does 'Zigazig-Ah' actually mean?"

"You got me on that one," Eric replied. He actually remembered that 'Zigazig-Ah' was a euphemism for 'shit and cigars,' but he couldn't explain that to Rachel without going into details, so he just vaguely said, "I felt that line needed something catchy after it."

Caroline, sitting next to Rachel, noticed Eric's expression as he spoke and realized he was brushing Rachel off. He knew but didn't want to explain. She glanced at Rachel and Melanie and realized she was the only one aware of this little secret, which made her smile.

Rachel was just casually asking; she didn't have the same burning curiosity about those words as the press and fans did. Since Eric wasn't explaining, she moved on. "With all the things happening at Firefly Group, are you sure it's okay you haven't gone back to Los Angeles in such a long time?"

"I'm the boss! As the boss, if I can't do what I want, then what's the point of living? How about you? What have you been up to lately?"

"I just wrapped a cameo in a movie and got back yesterday. I'm planning to stay through Christmas before heading back to LA," Rachel said, casually wrapping an arm around Caroline. "Also, Eric, how about giving Carly and Mel a day off? I want to take them shopping in the city."

"Sure thing," Eric nodded readily. "But you're a super big star now. Aren't you worried about being mobbed?"

"Ha! Just a little disguise and it's fine. I lost all the paparazzi just today."

"Then go have fun! Come back whenever; I don't have anything pressing going on."

Rachel nodded, about to pull Caroline and Melanie along when suddenly she remembered something. "Hey Eric, how about you join us?"

Eric shook his head. "I'm terrified of being surrounded by people. I'll pass."

"Ha! Didn't you just say that if you can't do what you want, what's the point? Come on, it'll be fun! Don't worry, we won't drag you around as a human credit card."

Caroline chimed in, also feeling tempted. "Yeah, Eric, come out with us!"

British paparazzi are notoriously relentless. However, Rachel's plan was just shopping and eating, not aimlessly wandering around, so after a moment of consideration, Eric agreed. He left Rachel's Jaguar in the Pinewood Studios parking lot, borrowed a couple of discreet Mercedes vans, and, accompanied by a security team, headed off to London with the three women.

Dressed carefully yet remaining low-key while shopping at some brand-name stores, the afternoon passed without much incident, although a few people recognized them.

...

As evening fell, the ladies, with nearly full trunks in both Mercedes, were looking for a restaurant when they passed the famous Harrods department store in Kensington. Rachel got excited and wanted to pick out some cosmetics, so Eric instructed the driver to park on the curb, and they all entered Harrods.

It's interesting to note that Harrods was owned by Dodi Fayed, who had previously dated Princess Diana. Had Eric not intervened, a memorial for both of them would have been set up in that very department store. Now, though, they had parted ways, both leading fulfilling lives. Not long ago, at another charity event at Kensington Palace, Diana was asked about her impression of Eric and bluntly remarked to a reporter, "Eric Williams is quite a rude guy."

Fortunately, the reporter was from News Corp.'s The Sun, so Diana's comments never made it to the paper. However, the interview's recording somehow made its way to Elisabeth, and Eric couldn't escape ridicule for it.

Even on a weekday, Harrods had way more customers than those brand-name stores. Eric didn't want to look too conspicuous hanging around with the three women, so he greeted them and casually strolled through the cosmetics area on the first floor.

...

Suddenly, a woman's voice asked politely nearby, "Sir, would you like to try Armani's new men's fragrance?"

Eric turned and recognized the salesperson in front of him, raising an eyebrow.

What a coincidence! Victoria Adams noticed Eric had stopped and immediately smiled, raising the sample fragrance to spray a bit on him. However, upon seeing the strange expression on his face, she suddenly blinked and asked hesitantly, "You... you're Mr. Williams?"

Eric quickly shushed her with a gesture.

Realizing she had lost her composure, Victoria waved her perfume bottle awkwardly, looking at Eric, who had grown stubble and was sporting a pair of glasses, unsure of what to say.

A little over two weeks ago, when she sensed that Eric was treating her differently while filming the Wannabe MV, Victoria had been secretly thrilled for days. After all, getting noticed by someone like Eric Williams was a huge deal. Yet, despite several nights of dreaming of him, once the MV wrapped, he hadn't made any further attempts to connect with her. Although she longed for some opportunity to be more proactive, she never found a moment to approach him alone, and everyone from the shoot dispersed afterward. Feeling a bit down for a few days, she had to keep auditioning and working as a fragrance promoter.

Now, Eric was curiously looking at Victoria, in her promotional outfit. He noticed she had dyed her hair back to black and remarked, "You look better with black hair. But aren't you an actress? Why are you here working as a promoter?"

Victoria looked a little embarrassed. She graduated from an art school at twenty and had only acted in a few stage plays over the years, struggling to find stable work.

After a brief hesitation, Victoria said, "I... I'm just doing this temporarily. I've been waiting for news from several auditions."

"Oh."

Eric nodded, noticing they didn't have much to discuss, and made to walk away when he heard some noise in the distance and caught voices calling out "Rose" and "Rachel."

Clearly, Rachel and the others had been spotted after all. Eric scanned the crowd surrounding the three women but didn't rush over. Instead, he took out his phone and quickly called his waiting security team outside, giving a few simple instructions. Moments later, four burly bodyguards hurried into the store, parting the crowd around Rachel and escorting them out of Harrods.

Having just instructed the bodyguards to take Rachel and the others away without waiting for him, Eric leaned on the counter in front of Victoria, waiting a bit until he was sure Rachel was far enough away. He gave Victoria a nod of acknowledgment and walked towards the store's exit.

Victoria Adams stood there, bewildered, watching Eric leave. A sudden realization struck her: if she missed this opportunity, it would likely be a long time before she found another.

Setting down the perfume bottle, Victoria dashed out from behind the counter and called softly, "Mr. Williams!"

Eric stopped and turned to see her approaching. "Is there something you need?"

"I--um," Victoria stuttered for a moment, gathering her courage. "Can I buy you dinner?"

"It is work hours, right? Planning to skip out?" Eric joked, glancing around. Seeing the disappointment on her face as she fidgeted, he added, "Alright, but let me treat this time."

Expecting a rejection, Victoria suddenly lifted her head, "Okay, wait here while I change clothes."

Eric smiled and nodded, watching Victoria hurriedly leave, then sat down on a nearby sofa to casually browse through a newspaper.

...

A few minutes later, Victoria returned wearing a black sports jacket and blue jeans, carrying a bag over her shoulder.

Eric stood, put down the newspaper, and accompanied her outside.

Walking next to Eric, Victoria sneakily glanced at his left hand casually tucked into his sweatpants pocket, wanting to take it, but ultimately lacking the courage.

A Mercedes van that had been waiting outside had already left, and upon seeing Eric emerge with an unfamiliar girl, the bodyguard in the front passenger seat quickly got out, opening the door for them.

Victoria looked at Eric a bit nervously, but at his nod, she slid into the car first.

Eric joined her inside and asked, "So, where do you want to eat?"

Victoria Adams shook her head. "I'm fine with anything."

"How about the Royal Garden Hotel?"

After suggesting this, Eric remembered he needed to reserve a table first. The Royal Garden Hotel was right at the Kensington Gardens exit, and Eric had been there multiple times for the premiere of Casino Royale back in June.

However, when he took out his phone, he realized he didn't know any of the restaurant's reservation numbers. This sort of thing was usually handled by an assistant or someone else close by.

Feeling a bit sheepish about not calling Caroline or the others for help, Eric flipped through his contacts. Recently, he had been in touch with Simon Fuller a lot, so he dialed him up to ask for a reservation.

Simon Fuller was undoubtedly one of the most prominent music managers in Britain at the moment. As Victoria watched Eric make calls as if directing his staff, she felt a rush of excitement.

The drive from Harrods to the Royal Garden Hotel took less than ten minutes. Upon entering the hotel, a waiter warmly welcomed them and led them to a window seat overlooking Hyde Park.

"The duck here is excellent, but I don't know if it'll suit your taste. You can try something else too," Eric casually ordered a dinner, handing the menu to the waiter, while recommending to Victoria.

With a smile, she looked up at Eric and obediently ordered the roast duck.

Once the waiter left, seeing Victoria still a bit anxious, Eric took the initiative to break the ice. "Now, let's talk about you. I still don't know much about you."

Eric, being quite the conversationalist, slowly helped Victoria relax, and she began to share about her life.

"After graduating from the Rain Art School, I wanted to be a singer, and I even auditioned for a band. I later found out that the guy leading the band, named Steve, was a stripper. We were rehearsing in a tiny studio north of Royal Park with a bunch of people for months, but after a while, the band didn't take off, and everyone drifted apart. For the last two years, I've been attending various auditions for bands, commercials, movies, and music videos. But my agent isn't really focusing on me, so I haven't had many good opportunities." Victoria rambled on. Even though Eric listened intently, she still worriedly asked, "Eric, do you find all this boring?"

"Not at all," Eric shook his head with a smile. "I'm a director, so I love hearing about other people's lives. One day, you never know when it might inspire a script."

"Oh," Victoria nodded with a sigh of relief. "I can actually feel that filming the Wannabe MV was kind of like preparing for your next movie, right?"

"Yeah, I plan to be the cinematographer next time, so I practiced with this MV."

"You want to be the cinematographer? I think it must be exhausting, just like how heavy those things look that you wear while filming... um, what's it called again..."

"Steadicam."

"Right, that! I think that's unnecessary; you could just hire people to do it."

"If I hired people to do everything, life would become pretty dull," Eric laughed and then asked, "How about you? What do you plan to do in the future?"

Victoria's eyes lit up with anticipation as if she wanted to say something, but she suddenly hesitated. Perhaps from years of drift without purpose, she really hadn't thought about her future. Calling out to Eric back at Harrods was purely instinctual, wanting to seize an opportunity.

After a moment of thought, Victoria responded, "Well, I don't really know what I want to do. But, Eric, what do you think of me becoming a singer?"

Eric shook his head, smiling. "You might have a tough time with that."

When it comes to musical talent, Victoria was always seen as the weakest link in the Spice Girls. Losing the chance to be part of the group, her aspiration to become a star seemed almost impossible. Eric remembered that Victoria garnered some recognition as a designer, but without the Spice Girls and Beckham's fame behind her, it would be quite a challenge for her to carve a place for herself in the fashion world.

Seeing Eric shake his head, Victoria felt disappointed. After a moment of hesitation, she still asked, "Eric, what do you think I'm suited for?"

"Didn't you say your family runs an electronics wholesale business? If it were up to me, I'd say settle down and help your dad with the business. Who knows, you might become a powerful businesswoman someday."

"Actually, I know most of the girls at the art school were stronger than me. But I just can't stand the idea of living quietly like my parents. I want to be famous," Victoria was obviously quite disappointed with Eric's suggestion. Sighing, she added, "Eric, can I ask you one question?"

"Of course."

"That time, during the filming of the Wannabe MV, why did you suddenly stop when you walked past me?"

Eric shook his head and chuckled. "It was nothing, just that you reminded me of someone from my past."

"Oh, she must have been amazing, right?"

"Yeah, you could say she's a real winner in life."

"A real winner? That's an interesting term. Do you think I can become a winner in life too?"

"That's hard to say; it depends on how you define being a winner in life."

"I just told you! I want to be famous," Victoria said, setting down her utensils and looking at Eric with hopeful eyes, a touch of desperation. "Eric, can you help me out?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 933: Opportunities to Strike at Various Targets]

In the expectant gaze of Victoria Adams, Eric paused deliberately for a moment before replying, "Honestly, I'm not too fond of helping others. But lately, I've felt in a good mood, so how do you want me to help you?"

Victoria's eyes immediately lit up. She was about to say something but hesitated again. She didn't expect Eric to agree so readily and hadn't thought about how to ask for his help.

Eric noticed Victoria's flustered state and smiled. "How about this: since you're studying dance, you could be a backup dancer. What do you think about becoming a backup dancer for Madonna? I know her pretty well, so recommending you as her contracted dancer wouldn't be a problem. Just so you know, Jennifer Lopez used to be a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. Many singers in the industry have had similar experiences; this would be a great starting point for you."

Deep down, Victoria wanted to be a signed singer or an actress in Hollywood. She knew that achieving these goals would be easy for Eric. However, since Eric offered his idea, Victoria, being perceptive, didn't refuse. Although Madonna's stardom had been waning in recent years, she was still a global pop sensation. Becoming her backup dancer was indeed a good starting point, at least far better than her current aimless endeavors.

Eric could see Victoria's unwillingness. If she had declined, he wouldn't have offered her any further help.

Victoria's talent was rather average, and pushing her towards Madonna was simply due to Eric's recent good mood. Otherwise, he would likely have chosen to observe from a distance. Since his rebirth, too many destinies had changed because of him; some gained fame while others remained obscure. One more or one less didn't really matter.

Once Victoria agreed, they discussed some details.

After dinner, it was already nine o'clock. They left the restaurant and walked to the parking lot. Victoria slipped into an expensive Mercedes van first. She hadn't forgotten the rumors about Eric being a playboy, and the thought of possibly being taken back to his place filled her with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

However, Eric showed no inclination to get in the car. Instead, he looked at Victoria in the car and said, "If you can make it in time, I can take you with me when I leave England in the next few days. And let the driver know where you live; he'll take you home."

Victoria hurried out of the car, nervously clutching her handbag, and asked, "Eric, um, do you plan to stay in a hotel?"

"I'm not staying in a hotel. I have a place on Garden Street nearby; it's just a short walk from here."

Victoria realized that Garden Street was next to the Royal Garden Hotel, an area filled with mansions. She felt a pang of envy but suddenly also felt reluctant. "Then, can I drop by sometime?"

"Let's talk about it later. Not today," Eric shook his head, refusing. He had no interest in pursuing someone at the moment, especially considering that Victoria Adams was not his type.

After sending Victoria off, Eric turned back to his mansion on Garden Street to rest.

...

After spending a few more days in London, on November 7th, he received a call from Chris in New York. Emily had given birth to a baby boy, so Eric set off from London to New York.

With the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show coming up, it was the busiest time of the year for LTD Group. The day after Emily gave birth, she couldn't wait to return to work, but her family insisted she rest and forced her to stay at a manor in East Hampton, which Chris had recently bought. It was conveniently close to where Eric's women and children lived, making it easier for the families to look after each other.

When Eric returned to East Hampton, Emily eagerly planned to arrange a childhood engagement for her chubby son, whom she had just named Daniel, with Hawaii.

Eric looked down at her scornfully and firmly refused. This cunning woman had never mentioned engagement arrangements before the baby was born, clearly worried about having a daughter who would have to marry his "dumb son." Although Kevin had become much smarter than many children his age under Virginia's careful guidance in the past two years, without comparison, it could be hard to say he was smart in front of the Hawaii.

...

With several years of experience, this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was scheduled for November 27th. The time between the show airing and the actual event had been shortened from one month to just one week, with the broadcast set for December 3rd.

However, Eric couldn't stay in New York until Thanksgiving or the fashion show. He returned to New York on November 9th and spent less than a week in East Hampton before hastily heading back to Los Angeles. As the year drew to a close, his company needed him more frequently for public appearances, especially with the two major hot seasons approaching.

...

For the summer box office, apart from the animated film Finding Nemo, the live-action films released under Firefly Group -- like Con Air, Bad Boys 2, and George of the Jungle were not particularly successful at the North American box office. Fortunately, Con Air and Bad Boys 2 did exceptionally well overseas, which helped Firefly recover costs and turn a profit.

Like the summer box office, the year-end Thanksgiving and Christmas slots were still crowded.

But Firefly Group had three heavyweight films releasing: Jurassic Park 3, Monsters, Inc., and Rush Hour 2. Furthermore, MGM's Night at the Museum 2 was also pushed from the summer slot to Thanksgiving for various reasons. Meanwhile, Fox was banking on Miramax's The English Patient and Good Will Hunting to make a splash at awards.

...

In addition to movie-related matters, after three months of preparation, Firefly Electronics in Malaysia launched the Fireflyer player assembly factory. By the time Eric returned to Los Angeles, the first batch of 100,000 Fireflyer players had arrived in San Francisco and would soon be distributed across North America. In the following month, the overall monthly production capacity of Fireflyer players was expected to approach one million units, essentially meeting the needs of the North American market.

Yet, considering the planned expansion into European and Asian markets next year, Firefly Electronics was still working tirelessly to expand its component supply chain and build new assembly plants.

...

When Eric placed Victoria Adams into Madonna's backup dancer team, he also received news that the long-standing lawsuit between Madonna and Warner Records regarding digital music distribution rights had turned a corner. Given that Madonna had the upper hand in the lawsuit, Warner was concerned that a loss could set a legal precedent and began reaching out privately to seek an out-of-court settlement.

While many second- and third-tier artists still couldn't secure individual digital music distribution rights from their record companies, most first-tier stars began seeking related supplemental agreements to retain control over their digital music rights. Clearly, this also provided many opportunities for Yahoo Music Store to make various moves.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 934: Acquiring IMAX]

In just over a month, the management of Firefly Group had drafted detailed timelines for the RealD and 4200 plans. The start date for Iron Man was confirmed for March of the following year, with a filming period of three months.

The plan was to complete the filming of Iron Man in the first half of the year while also finalizing the pre-production of Gravity, allowing Eric to dive into the production of Gravity in the second half. From the start of filming to the completion of the final 3D and IMAX versions, a year and a half would be more than enough time.

Thus, the completion date for both plans was set for the end of 1999. Additionally, not only Gravity but also the casting for the Lord of the Rings trilogy was completed, and filming was set to begin early the following year. Since it was a trilogy being shot back-to-back, the filming period stretched to a year, followed by another year of post-production. The first installment, The Fellowship of the Ring, also determined its release for the end of 1999. An epic fantasy series like The Lord of the Rings was clearly suited for the visually stunning 3D and IMAX format, and Eric wouldn't let that opportunity slip by.

With Gravity and the first film of The Lord of the Rings in the pipeline, 4000 3D screens and 200 IMAX theaters would have access to two heavyweight blockbuster sources. As for the Spider-Man project led by James Cameron, it was slated for completion by the end of 1999 as well. However, Firefly Group held little hope that Cameron would stick to the timeline, so Eric chose not to include the film in the plans, allowing Cameron to work at his own pace.

According to the established schedule, the first Marvel superhero film, Iron Man, which was set for the summer of 1999, would have to be excluded from the initial 3D-IMAX lineup. The first installment of the Star Wars prequel, distributed by Fox, along with MGM's following three spy universe films, would similarly miss the first wave of the 3D-IMAX craze. For this, Eric could only express regret; after all, not everything could come to fruition immediately.

...

When Eric returned to Los Angeles, Jeffrey Katzenberg had completed the first strategic move of the two plans -- the full acquisition of the Canadian IMAX Corporation. In 1994, Wall Street investor Richard Gelfond made a significant bet on IMAX's future and gained a controlling interest in the company, dedicating all his resources to promoting the commercialization of IMAX technology in theaters.

Unfortunately, the lack of support from Hollywood studios and major North American chains meant Gelfond's plans progressed very little. IMAX technology remained confined to museums for educational films. Eric had previously allocated some funds to IMAX for developing DMR technology to convert regular films for IMAX format, which had shed some light on the company, but it did not lead to any substantial improvements in IMAX's performance.

Before Firefly initiated the acquisition, IMAX was deeply in debt, with a market value of less than $200 million on the NASDAQ while carrying a hefty debt of $150 million, which included the $30 million loaned initially by Firefly. Since Eric intended to bet on IMAX, Firefly wasn't about to let the future profits of IMAX technology slip away, and the management unanimously believed that acquiring the company was the right move. Eric had no objection to the acquisition, which was under $500 million.

After years of struggling without success, IMAX found itself on the brink of bankruptcy. Although Gelfond sensed that the Firefly acquisition would bring revolutionary changes to the company, he had lost control over it.

After several weeks of negotiations, Firefly acquired IMAX for $230 million in cash and took on the company's $150 million debt. With $30 million already owed to Firefly, the actual total cost of the transaction was $350 million.

...

Playa Vista.

Although the expansion plan for Firefly Studios had not yet officially begun, many workers were already doing some initial clearing work on the plots west of Lincoln Avenue. After multiple revisions, the team of visionary engineers responsible for constructing the theme park finally produced a satisfactory design for the sky walkway.

The walkway was set to stretch four kilometers and rise to a height of 20 meters, roughly equivalent to a seven-story building. To prevent onlookers from associating the sky walkway with concrete overpasses, the entire structure would be constructed entirely of steel and glass. While its height might be outdone by many buildings in other major cities, in the area around Playa Vista where housing typically didn't exceed three stories, this walkway would undoubtedly become the most prominent landmark for miles around once completed.

"The conservative estimate is $50 million; this will definitely be the most expensive building in the entire complex. However, I believe anyone who has seen the renderings will think that $50 million is well worth it. From this sky walkway, you can see the ocean to the west, Fox Mountain to the east, LAX to the south, and Santa Monica to the north -- all in clear view," Katzenberg said.

On a still somewhat uneven plot of land, Katzenberg and Eric walked side by side, excitedly discussing the theme park expansion plan.

Eric gazed at the open land awaiting development, imagining what it would look like transformed into the Firefly Studios theme park. Suddenly, he understood why Michael Eisner had escalated the budget for Disneyland Paris from $1 billion to $5 billion. Though Eric was never one to reach for the stars too quickly, listening to Katzenberg describe the expansion made him want to bring that vision to life.

This plot was less than a tenth the size of Disneyland Paris's 2000 hectares. Yet, with just a sky walkway costing $50 million, the total cost for the studio's construction would undoubtedly exceed $1 billion.

The Firefly theme park, the RealD and 4200 plans, the recent acquisition of IMAX, and the intent to thoroughly secure Hasbro... Eric had been thinking of slowing the expansion pace of Firefly Group, but unconsciously, the company continued to grow rapidly.

Kicking a loose stone, Eric said, "Jeffrey, I have no issues with the designs for the attractions based on Jurassic Park and A Nightmare on Elm Street. However, you've seen the sets Peter Jackson designed for The Lord of the Rings, right? I'm very optimistic about this project, so I want to make sure we reserve enough space for the themed areas for The Lord of the Rings."

"Of course, I find that bag end design quite interesting too," Katzenberg nodded. "Speaking of which, didn't you plan for Nicole to play the Elf Queen Galadriel? While you've been away, we weren't sure how to approach her about that."

"Oh, I sorted it out with Nicole a while back. Just have someone go and finalize her contract; we can set her fee at $3 million."

Katzenberg hesitated, asking, "Three films for $3 million each?"

"Yes," Eric nodded.

For Nicole's current status, $3 million for The Lord of the Rings trilogy did seem a bit meager. Yet, her role was practically a cameo, and the $3 million fee was already the highest for all the actors.

While Eric was chatting with Katzenberg, one of Katzenberg's assistants hurried over, saying, "Mr. Williams, Mr. Katzenberg, the representatives from Texas Instruments have arrived. I've shown them to set up the equipment."

...

During this time, the management had been considering how to reasonably reduce the budget for executing the two plans. A significant portion of the $1.6 billion budget would go toward updating the RealD movie projection systems. Fortunately, Texas Instruments was seeking commercial viability for their newly developed digital projectors, so Katzenberg arranged this demonstration.

The two men headed east toward the studio after hearing Katzenberg's assistant.

"I've reviewed the materials; despite the fact that Texas Instruments' digital projector prototype currently only reaches a resolution of 1280x1024, if we give them two years, I believe they can develop devices that match the 1920x1080 resolution of film projectors," Katzenberg stated as they walked.

As they made their way back, Katzenberg started sharing his thoughts.

"Jeffrey, have you thought about this? If we switch to digital projectors, we might face industry-wide backlash."

Hollywood predominantly represented North America, and the yearly industry around film copies reached several billion dollars -- worldwide, that number would be even larger.

Katzenberg chuckled at Eric's question, teasing, "I still remember what you said earlier this year at the Fireflyer player launch."

Eric shrugged, smiling, "Well, I just think now isn't the right time for digital projectors to take off."

Having reviewed the information about Texas Instruments' digital projects, Eric believed that, strictly speaking, Texas Instruments had only developed the core DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology to convert digital signals into light signals for projectors. Many of the digital projectors or office projectors that came later utilized Texas Instruments' DLP chips.

However, much like today's digital cameras, Eric wasn't too optimistic about digital projectors.

Both technologies were still in their early stages, meaning that even if digital projectors or cameras achieved the corresponding resolution, their film image color reproduction would undoubtedly fall short compared to traditional film. Film recorded colors through a chemical process, which while not perfect, far surpassed the still-maturing digital technology.

For instance, in dimly lit environments, film could adeptly capture various scenes, while today's digital cameras struggled with color recognition. If they couldn't perfectly reproduce a specific color, they would automatically compensate with nearby colors, leaving dark areas captured on digital cameras often appearing murky, while film footage remained much clearer.

For that reason, Eric felt that promoting digital film and projector technology would be more suitable at least ten years down the road. In fact, from what he remembered, digital cinema only began to flourish a decade later.

Katzenberg had clearly prepared well; upon hearing Eric's comments, he nodded slightly. "I feel the same, but we need to see things for ourselves. If we really can use digital projection equipment, we could save millions on copy costs for our films in the future, especially with dual-projection 3D copies and IMAX copies where the savings would be even greater."

"But some areas just can't be economized," Eric sighed wistfully.

After implementing the two plans, for at least the next decade, the reliance on film would mean that copying costs remained a significant barrier to converting many films to 3D and IMAX. After all, the dual-projector 3D systems that Eric planned to employ would effectively double the film copy costs.

Nevertheless, this actually had an upside; the high conversion costs could help avoid an influx of subpar 3D films, which was a significant concern for Eric amid the 3D transition. Eric never thought he could monopolize the 3D market for too long, and once 3D films became mainstream, there wouldn't be many companies willing to maintain their integrity for profit.

...

Texas Instruments clearly placed great emphasis on this demonstration, with the VP responsible for DLP technology development personally attending.

Both Eric and Katzenberg knew that it was unlikely for the two plans to adopt digital projection soon, but they were still attentively following the entire demonstration. As Eric had imagined, although a resolution of 1280x1024 was commendable, the color quality of the digital projection prototypes from TI left much to be desired for improvement.

After watching the demonstration and discussing some technical details with the TI VP, the time quickly drew near for the end of the workday.

...

November 20 had arrived, nearing Thanksgiving. Instead of heading back to Liberty City Manor after work, Eric went with Katzenberg to the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The first film produced by Disney Animation Studios after their digital transformation, Monsters, Inc., was set to have its premiere there today, with the official release scheduled for tomorrow.

Though it was just an animated film, Eric and Katzenberg found the premiere venue bustling with people as they arrived.

Katzenberg was personally overseeing Disney Animation Studios, and after the successes of the summer hits The Lion King 2 and Finding Nemo, he felt both excited and anxious about this film. Many people shared complex feelings, waiting eagerly to see what the newly revamped Disney Animation Studios could offer.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 935: The Low Point]

Monsters, Inc. was supposed to be a Pixar project. Eric had sold off Disney's traditional animation department, and after the reorganization of the new Disney Animation Studio, the director and screenwriter of Monsters, Inc., Pete Docter, was brought into Disney Animation. This project followed along, becoming the first film from Disney Animation after its digital transformation.

Paramount had already taken over the traditional animation studio and released Pocahontas and The Lion King II, both of which, despite the skyrocketing costs due to the significant salary increases for traditional animators, found commercial success overall.

Thus, as Disney's first project after abandoning its traditional animation department, if Monsters, Inc. didn't perform satisfactorily at the box office, Eric's move to sell Disney's traditional animation department would be severely criticized and ridiculed again. There could very well be dissent even within Firefly Group.

However, compared to the anticipation and anxiety felt by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was directly responsible for Disney Animation Studio, Eric felt much more relaxed. He loved the wonderful creativity of this animated film and had followed its production closely for the past two years since the project was established, even adding some interesting story details himself. Therefore, Eric felt confident about Monsters, Inc.'s box office performance. Besides, the major profits from animated films typically didn't come from box office earnings; merchandise was where the real money lied.

Speaking of which, fueled by the successes of Titanic at the end of last year and this summer's Finding Nemo, along with the fact that the merchandise rights for the Lion King franchise were still held by Firefly, Firefly Group's merchandise sales had nearly doubled compared to the previous year. In just the first three quarters, merchandise sales had already reached $2.5 billion.

With another brand new 3D animated film, Monsters, Inc., set to premiere at the end of the year, and considering that both Thanksgiving and Christmas were peak shopping seasons, the company projected that in the final quarter, the sales revenue from merchandise could potentially exceed $1 billion.

This meant that Firefly Group's merchandise sales revenue for 1997 would reach $3.5 billion. This sales figure corresponded to nearly 10% of Firefly Group's total annual revenue, compared to only about 5% in previous years.

Moreover, compared to an average net profit margin of about 11% across all of Firefly Group's businesses, the merchandise net profit margin was as high as 25%. Thus, just from merchandise alone, this year would bring Firefly Group over $800 million in profit.

A brief comparison illustrated how extraordinary Firefly Group's merchandise income was. According to publicly available data, in the first three quarters, Time Warner Group's merchandise revenue totaled a mere $370 million, with profits that were quite pathetic; this was despite Warner Bros. releasing Batman Robin, which, although a box office bomb, did contribute somewhat to Batman-related merchandise sales.

Even Viacom, which developed its merchandise business through blockbusters and the Blockbuster retail chain, saw decent box office returns from The Lion King II. However, they lacked the merchandise development rights for the Lion King franchise, and their merchandise revenue for the first three quarters did not exceed $600 million, falling short of Firefly Group's merchandise profits.

...

After attending the premiere of Monsters, Inc. and making a brief appearance at the subsequent party, Eric left early.

By the time he returned to Pointed Liberty City Manor, it was already past 10 PM. When he stepped into the villa's hall, he noticed lights on in the client area to the west of the glass wall.

As he walked over, he saw Jennifer Aniston wrapped in a blanket, curled up on the sofa like a kitten, fast asleep. A white Fireflyer player and headphones lay scattered on the floor beside her, along with an open copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

He carefully picked up the Fireflyer and the book, placing them on the coffee table so as not to wake Aniston, and quietly made his way to the kitchen.

After brewing a pot of coffee, he sat down on the sofa next to Aniston, poured himself a cup, and began going through a thick pile of documents on the coffee table in the client area.

Having spent a month in England, although Firefly Group was running smoothly, the vast scale of the group meant that many issues had gradually built up that Eric needed to handle personally. Documents related to company administrative matters were dealt with in his office, while the pile of projects in front of him mostly comprised film project materials.

Compared to the series of heavyweight productions released this year, Firefly's film release plan for the following year had been considerably scaled back. Aside from Michael Bay's The Day After Tomorrow, there wouldn't be any more heavyweight productions hitting theaters next year.

Originally, there could have been a sequel to The Matrix, but Eric had sold the production rights for The Matrix to Amblin Entertainment, founded by Spielberg and others. Paramount had set the release date for The Matrix 2 for the next summer, but there was still no news about The Matrix 3. One had to wonder if Amblin and Paramount would be as eager as Time Warner was in the original timeline to promote The Matrix 3 by the end of next year.

Since Amblin had fully taken over the Wachowskis' plans for back-to-back shooting and there had been no news of script changes, Eric didn't have high hopes for the two sequels. While the popularity garnered from the first film would surely lead to profit for Amblin and Paramount, he had no regrets about his decision.

The $300 million he made from selling the rights for the sequels had been invested into Clover Fund to buy technology stocks, which had now doubled. Over the next couple of years, doubling it again wouldn't be a problem. In comparison, even if The Matrix sequels were to earn the same $1.2 billion global box office gross as they did in the past, plus all revenue from later video releases, their profit for Amblin and Paramount would definitely not exceed $600 million.

...

Bringing his wandering thoughts back, Eric looked at the document in his hand. It was a proposal for a 3D-IMAX format movie, called Everest. Before Firefly acquired IMAX, the film had already been in the works. With the change of ownership of IMAX, the decision on whether to continue production now rested with Firefly.

The planned runtime was only 45 minutes, with a budget of $15 million. Previously, IMAX had mainly assisted museums in producing IMAX documentaries. Although this film was only slated for 45 minutes, if completed, it would be the first to utilize IMAX format.

Eric flipped through the rough script quickly. It wasn't well-polished, but considering it wasn't aimed at storytelling and was primarily meant to promote and showcase 3D-IMAX technology, it was understandable.

After pondering for a moment, Eric picked up a pen from the coffee table and signed off on the document, approving the film's production. The 4200 plan still had two years to go, and this film could indeed serve as a preliminary showcase for the 3D-IMAX visual effects while allowing IMAX's team to continue developing their technology.

...

He set the folder aside and started turning to other scripts. Due to the lengthy production cycle of special effects blockbusters, Firefly would inevitably experience a brief low point in this area. Since next year had only The Day After Tomorrow as a heavyweight production, Eric intended to scout a few mid to low-budget films with good box office potential to fill the gap.

Currently, a project titled Ted had been established. While it too counted as a special effects film, its production would be significantly simpler than Iron Man or The Lord of the Rings, with a release expected by the end of next year.

Additionally, the task of sending a team to Japan to scout horror film scripts had already yielded results. At present, the scripts for Ring and Ju-on (The Grudge) were both in the stack of documents before him. Eric had chosen them while in England via email from a pile of Japanese horror story pitches. He hadn't had the time to read the detailed scripts yet.

Eric remembered that Ring was released in 1998 and initially thought that Firefly could only obtain the rights to remake it. However, unexpectedly, while scouting horror scripts in Japan, Firefly's staff found that this classic horror film, although it already had a finished script, had not begun filming.

The Japanese team wouldn't know Ring would break the box office records for Japanese horror films; since the script had piqued the interest of a Hollywood giant, they had willingly handed it over, allowing Firefly to easily seize the script. The other film, Ju-on, was directly obtained from the original screenwriter and director Takashi Shimizu without any hitches.

...

Reading through the scripts quietly for a while, Eric looked up and was about to take a sip of coffee when he noticed Jennifer Aniston had woken up at some point, her beautiful eyes wide open as she lay there, staring at him.

Eric smiled and clapped his hands. "Come here, give me a hug."

Upon hearing Eric's playful invitation, Aniston pouted in discontent. However, she quickly kicked her blanket aside, gracefully floated over to him.

As Eric watched Aniston leap into his arms, he hastily set the folder aside and hugged her tightly. He kissed her sweet face and laughed, "I told you to come with me to the premiere. Doesn't it feel lonely staying here by yourself?"

Aniston rested her pointed chin on Eric's shoulder, lazily whispering, "I don't want to go. I don't want people to find out that we're back together."

"Ha! You know, doing that is like a cat closing its eyes tightly while lapping up milk, thinking that if it couldn't see anyone, no one could see it either. After the last dramatic scene, you really thought no one would know?" Eric teased while wrapping his arms around her waist.

Aniston playfully nibbled Eric's shoulder in response, but he was wearing a jacket, so it wasn't too pleasant. Soon after, she released her bite and said, "Well, if you're here, even if they do find out, they'll just have to pretend they don't."

"Hmm, that's true," Eric said with a grin, though his hand on Aniston's waist wasn't content to stay put but slid under her fitted sweater.

"You jerk," Aniston twisted her waist, unsure whether to resist or yield. After a while, feeling Eric's actions becoming bolder, she added, "Not here, let's go to the bedroom."

"Alright," Eric lifted her up, saying, "Let's go take a shower first."

...

The next day, Eric woke up to the sound of pounding at the door.

As soon as he opened his eyes, still in a haze, the bedroom door swung open, and Drew burst in with a mischievous grin, jumping onto the bed. "Hey, chubby girl! Good morning!"

Saying this, she didn't hesitate to reach out with her cold hand toward Aniston.

Aniston, who was also somewhat foggy, instantly snapped to attention upon seeing Drew. Like a cat meeting its rival, she quickly grabbed a pillow and blocked Drew's advance, saying defiantly, "You think I can't take you on?"

"Ha! Come and try!"

"Just wait, don't run!"

With that, the two girls were already tangled up in a playful brawl.

Eric, helpless, finished dressing quickly. As he saw that Aniston and Drew seemed to have no intentions of hitting each other in important areas, recognizing that they understood the boundaries, he decided to let them kittens have their fun.

Walking toward the door to use another bathroom, he spotted the twins waiting outside. He instructed them, "Keep an eye on them. If it gets serious, pull them apart, and if Drew asks you for help, pretend you didn't hear it. No intervening in these kinds of things."

Once he saw the twins nod in understanding, Eric left at ease.

...

After hastily washing up and working out for a while, Eric headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for everyone. Just as he was frying eggs, Aniston and Drew finally appeared in the dining room. Although the two were still at each other's throats verbally, they had ceased any physical fights.

"Now that we're done with our workout, let's get ready to eat," Eric said, jerking his chin toward the already prepared bread. "Take that to the dining room. If you want something else to eat, go find it in the fridge."

With a grinning smile, Drew approached and said, "Eric, there's a movie MGM is preparing that needs a female lead, someone sweet, ideally over thirty."

Aniston jumped in, "Hmph, you're just the right fit then; it would be best if you were the kind of character who gets hung up in the trees within the first five minutes like in Scream."

Eric playfully tapped each of their heads and said, "Alright, today's sparring match ends here. If you want to find a sweetie over thirty, go contact Meg Ryan. If you want someone to star in a horror movie, call me. Now, who will go get today's newspaper for me?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 936: Amazon IPO]

Just then, the twins walked in, one ahead of the other, with one holding a stack of newspapers and placing it on the dining table in the outside dining room. The other handed a cordless phone to Eric, saying, "Master, it's Mr. Hansen on the line."

Eric ignored Jennifer Aniston's strange expression after hearing what the twins called him. He pointed to the frying eggs in the pan, offered his seat to Natasha, and walked out of the kitchen with the phone held to his ear.

Chris had called Eric early in the morning. As it turned out, just yesterday, on November 20, after wreaking havoc across Southeast Asia, international funds finally turned their attention to the richest piece of meat in Southeast Asia outside of Japan: South Korea.

On the very first day, a wave of sell orders led to a 3.1% devaluation of the Korean won in major foreign exchange markets.

With South Korea being 17 hours ahead of the U.S. West Coast, it was now just after 8 a.m. in Los Angeles on the 21st, but in Korea, it was already 1 a.m. on the 22nd. When Chris called Eric, it had already been a day since Korea had faced the onslaught of international speculative attacks. Although the Korean central bank began organizing a counterattack, the won had already fallen 6.5% over the two days.

After the short-selling contracts targeting the Thai baht and Indonesian rupiah were settled, Eric hadn't let Chris focus on other currency targets in Southeast Asia. Instead, he had pushed all $300 million of their funds invested in that region entirely into the Korean won.

Despite the fact that the Southeast Asian financial crisis raised alarm bells across Asian countries, the $300 million principal and the short position that had built up still exceeded $1.1 billion. It could be said this was the last piece of juicy meat that Firefly could scoop up amid this East Asian financial crisis.

After chatting with Chris for a while, Eric returned to the dining room and sat down at the table, flipping through the papers for news related to the Korean won.

In these two days, the exchange rate of the won to the dollar had plummeted from an initial 957:1 down to 1019:1.

Eric remembered that in the original timeline, the lowest point for the won to the dollar exchange rate plummeted below 1700:1, with a devaluation of over 70%. This meant that what was happening now was merely the beginning.

If he could accurately time the delivery of his short contracts when the won hit its lowest devaluation point, the $1.1 billion of short contracts, minus the principal, borrowing interest, and other expenses, could still yield a profit of up to $400 million for Firefly. Of course, this was merely the best-case scenario; in the ever-changing foreign exchange market, maximizing profits was challenging. Eric would be quite satisfied if he could double the $300 million investment.

...

As breakfast was placed in front of him, Eric closed the newspaper he had been reading and intended to eat first. Looking up, he saw that Jennifer Aniston was curiously watching Natasha, who had just walked away from him.

He smiled and asked, "What's up?"

Aniston quickly averted her gaze, shaking her head, "Oh, it's nothing."

Drew, sitting opposite Aniston, glanced at the twins across the table and said with a grin, "They are also Eric's women, you know."

Aniston felt the insinuation in the girl's tone and immediately raised an eyebrow, firing back, "They're much prettier than you."

Eric shot a warning glance at the two girls, "Hey, what did I just say?"

"I didn't mean to start a fight! I just wanted to introduce Jennifer to Natasha and... Natasha," the girl quickly defended.

The little one immediately said, "I plan to not talk to you at all today. This is the last sentence."

At this point, Eric remembered that Aniston still didn't know the twins. He looked at the two identical girls across from him and was about to introduce them when he noticed that both twins were wearing silver necklaces, each with a pendant: one was the letter 'N' and the other was the letter 'Y.'

After examining the necklaces, Eric asked, "Those necklaces are beautiful. The pendants should be the initials of your names, right?"

Natasha, wearing the 'N' necklace, nodded and said, "Yes, Master. This is a birthday gift from Ms. Pacula. She said it would help people distinguish between us sisters."

"Oh, I didn't notice that, sorry. Remind me next time it's your birthday so I can get you a gift too. But it really does help. You're the older sister, Natasha, so she must be the younger sister, Yev... um, Yev genya?"

"Master, just call me Eve," the girl with the 'Y' pendant spoke up, her accent and tone noticeably different from her sister's. Eric realized that it seemed like he had often heard the older sister speaking before, making it hard for him to distinguish between them by voice.

Nodding with a smile, Eric pointed to Aniston and said, "This is Jennifer; you both must know her. Jen, this is Natasha and Eve."

Aniston had been discreetly following what was happening around Eric for the past few years, so she naturally recognized the twins who often appeared alongside Drew. Although she didn't get along with the girl, Aniston greeted the twins politely while still showing curiosity in her eyes.

...

By now, it was November 21. After breakfast, Eric discussed their plans for Thanksgiving a few days later with the two girls, and then he rushed off to work at Playa Vista.

Thanks to its amazing imagination and heartwarming theme, Monsters, Inc. received near-unanimous praise from critics upon its release.

Although some media outlets sourly remarked that Monsters, Inc. had completely lost the Disney animation style and was just another Pixar film, that hardly impeded the fact that the movie grossed $62.57 million in its first three-day weekend.

The box office results shattered the fantasies of many and delighted everyone at Firefly. The success of Monsters, Inc. indicated that the Firefly Group would have two studios capable of producing excellent 3D animated films, or, considering the nearly half stake in Blue Sky Studios, the number would actually be two and a half.

In the coming years, Firefly anticipated producing 3D animated films at a frequency of one per year on average, a feat every Hollywood film company dreamed of achieving.

Perhaps influenced by the success of Monsters, Inc., in the following days, Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing also announced in an interview that Paramount Animation would start testing the waters of 3D animated production.

The Hollywood animated film market was far from saturation, and Eric wasn't too worried about the threat from Paramount. Let's not even mention whether Paramount Animation could genuinely complete the transition to 3D animation under the resistance from hand-drawn animators trying to maintain their industry position. Even if they succeeded, Viacom would inevitably struggle to compete with the Firefly Group in terms of the development of derivatives and theme park interests.

..

In the subsequent days leading up to Thanksgiving, Eric spent time with Drew and Aniston, and on the 27th, the day of the fourth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, he headed to New York.

He wasn't there specifically for the fashion show; rather, after several date adjustments, the IPO date for Amazon was finally confirmed for December 1.

Starting from the second quarter of this year, Amazon's sales results had skyrocketed due to the buzz generated from the Fireflyer player's marketing strategy, with quarterly revenues jumping from $87 million in the first quarter to $310 million in the third quarter. Wall Street anticipated that Amazon's revenue for the last quarter would surpass $400 million and that its total revenue for the year would approach $900 million.

Although Amazon's financial report for this year would inevitably show losses due to its continued high investment strategy, that did not hinder Wall Street's optimism about this rapidly rising e-commerce site.

After months of negotiations, Jeff Bezos and Morgan Stanley, responsible for Amazon's IPO, eventually decided to set Amazon's valuation at $4.5 billion, with a new stock issuance ratio of 10%, aiming to raise $450 million.

In reality, raising $450 million was something Firefly could easily accomplish. However, everyone understood that besides Bezos wanting to avoid losing control and not wanting to sell more shares to Firefly, it was also about making subsequent acquisitions and capital operations more convenient after the IPO.

As the most turbulent period of the Southeast Asian financial crisis gradually receded, a massive amount of hot money started to flow back from various Southeast Asian countries. The U.S. stock market, which had undergone fluctuations for months, began to rise again, showing no signs of downturn. Therefore, almost all media outlets were optimistic about Amazon's IPO, with some individuals even turning their attention to Yahoo, the most crucial internet company within the Firefly system.

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