I Am Hollywood

by Cui Shi yi

1 - 702

32. 967

I am Hollywood #Chapter 967: Chapter 969: Easter Movie Package - Read I am Hollywood Chapter 967: Chapter 969: Easter Movie Package Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

[Chapter 969: Easter Movie Package]

Eric quickly found a short story collection signed by Nancy Collins on Amazon. After reading the summary, he realized that the concept for Underworld clearly came from a story titled Monster's Love within the collection.

Natasha hadn't returned yet, so Eric dialed the girl's phone, asking her to swing by the bookstore and pick up the collection for him.

"Eric, is this the book?" After another half hour, Natasha handed him a not too thick book, saying, "I found it after checking three stores."

Eric glanced at the cover and nodded, "That's it. Did you manage to get the leather outfit? Put it on so I can see."

Natasha shook several shopping bags in her hand and walked towards the bedroom.

After she left, Eric leaned back on the sofa and began reading the seven or eight-page story, Monster's Love. It was yet another tale akin to Romeo and Juliet -- a love story between a werewolf and a vampire. But due to the ancient feud between their two species, their families' objections ultimately kept them apart, leading to a tragic double suicide.

As he finished reading the story, Eric was about to write an email instructing the Firefly copyright department to acquire the adaptation rights when he heard the sound of boots thumping against the floor.

Looking up, he saw Natasha Henstridge entering in a black leather outfit, completed with matching black hiking boots. The snug leather accentuated her already perfect curves, and the simple ponytail paired with high-topped boots gave her an added air of confidence.

But.

Eric noticed the black leather belt in her hand with a slight sense of apprehension. "What are you planning to do with that?"

Natasha held the belt up and playfully smacked it against her palm twice, sporting a cold, queenly demeanor as she approached him, pushing him back against the chair. She then straddled him, leaning in.

Feeling a warm tongue slowly slide across his neck, Eric gasped sharply, "Stop!"

Natasha Henstridge paused, assessing Eric with playful eyes before bursting into laughter. "I thought you'd like this."

Eric shook his head firmly, "No, not at all. If you keep this up, I'll throw you out. Now, let's get rid of that ponytail."

Natasha remained on Eric, making a silly face before tossing aside the belt and undoing her ponytail. Shaking her head, her golden hair cascaded down, the soft allure instantly dissipating her previously androgynous vibe. "Is this better?"

"Yes, perfect," Eric nodded, admiring the beauty so close to him. "I just called the restaurant at the club and made a reservation for lunch. Let's go eat and I'll tell you about the movie."

Excitement lit up Natasha's face as she wrapped her arms around Eric's neck. "So, does this mean I passed the audition?"

Eric nodded, "Once you change your hair color, you'll look the part, and your acting skills are good too. As long as you're willing to work hard, this movie is yours."

"Why will it be hard? Is it loaded with action, like Charlie's Angels?"

"Pretty much. You're the only female lead, so your action scenes will likely exceed those of the three girls combined. I'll need you to undergo a few months of physical training beforehand."

"That's no problem," Natasha quickly affirmed, pretending to stand. "I'll go change."

Eric smiled, holding her back. "No need; you can wear that to the restaurant."

"Hehe, I thought you didn't like it?"

"If I didn't like it, would I have let you buy that outfit?"

"Well then..."

"No more questions."

"Oh."

...

After finishing three days of work starting Monday, the crew returned to Los Angeles that afternoon. Next, they had nighttime shoots at the Los Angeles Disney Studio. Since there was no work scheduled for Thursday during the day, Eric only returned to Los Angeles with Natasha Henstridge the following morning.

After a week of work, the crew surprisingly did not have to work overtime that weekend.

The following Monday, March 23, would be the 70th Academy Awards ceremony.

Eric had received a personal invitation call from the president of the Academy two months prior, and with the Oscar's 70th anniversary approaching, it was inappropriate for him to miss the event again. So, he agreed to attend and even consented to present the award for Best Original Screenplay.

However, while filming Iron Man, Eric's primary focus was on the upcoming Easter release window.

It was already late March, and this year Easter fell on April 12. Typically, films released during Easter would premiere a week earlier -- April 3.

The joint marketing plans by Firefly, MGM, and Fox were in their final stages. At this point, movie posters and trailers for The Wedding Singer, Species, and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery could be seen frequently on cinema facades and street advertisements, as well as during prime advertising slots on major networks.

The three studios were bundling all three films together, investing $50 million solely into marketing.

This budget exceeded that of a high-profile blockbuster film with a production cost over $100 million since most blockbusters involved marketing and distribution budgets of less than $50 million, while the combined budget of the three films amounted to only $83 million.

Originally, there was another movie that had a chance to be included in this Easter package: City of Angels produced by Warner Bros.

This fantasy romance film, starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, had a production budget of $55 million thanks to the involvement of two major stars, and Warner was highly confident it could become an Easter hit.

When Firefly proposed a bundled promotion, the Warner management team was interested in collaborating. However, given that City of Angels had both a more substantial cast and budget, they inevitably outlined a series of conditions favoring their film.

Due to the internal strife within Warner, their efficiency dropped to worrying levels.

Eric thought that if they truly waited for these conditions to be hashed out, Easter might pass them by entirely, so he decided to drop the negotiations and allow both sides to pursue their paths independently.

Even among the three companies, there were individual concerns regarding the collaboration. The most significant disagreement revolved around splitting the $50 million marketing budget. Some wanted an equal split, while others felt it should be divided according to the production budgets.

Eric didn't want these disputes to interfere with the collaboration, so he took matters into his own hands and firmly declared: "We'll divide based on the final North American box office receipts. The higher the receipts, the larger the share; the lower the receipts, the smaller the share. This way, nobody will feel cheated."

The Wedding Singer, Species, and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery each focused on promoting warm romance, sci-fi thrills, and crude comedy, respectively, and they specifically offered discounted holiday packages.

With the $50 million marketing budget splashed out, the fresh buzz and extensive publicity resulted in noticeable effects.

Surveys indicated that a majority of the potential audience was aware of the existence of these three films. Over 80 percent of surveyed moviegoers claimed they would likely choose one or more of the films to watch in theaters based on the situation.

In contrast, Warner's City of Angels also invested $25 million in marketing, but its impact could not compare to Firefly's Easter movie package.

While Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan were undoubtedly box office draws, the Firefly team boasted stars like Mike Myers from Austin Powers and Ben Stiller from The Wedding Singer, both of whom made their mark on Saturday Night Live and were household names in America.

Additionally, Jennifer Aniston, the lead actress in The Wedding Singer, had established her status as America's Sweetheart after nearly a decade and 200 episodes of Friends. Even Heather Graham, the star of Species, known as a sexy icon since her debut in the '80s, resonated strongly with audiences.

The collective star power of these four far matched that of Cage and Ryan.

Moreover, in terms of promotional efforts, their advantages predominantly outshone those of Cage and Ryan. When it came to TV promotion, Cage and Ryan could only participate in a few relatively popular talk shows as per Warner's arrangements.

In contrast, the quartet had more leeway to appear on multiple shows. Saturday Night Live was a must, and all four would take turns to be featured.

Shows like Late Show with David Letterman or The Jay Leno Show could easily welcome them due to their connections in the television circle, even without Firefly's arrangement. Additionally, since Friends had recently resumed after its winter hiatus, an episode had been specifically scheduled to cross-promote with the films, featuring guest appearances by Mike Myers, Ben Stiller, and Heather Graham.

Upon detailed consideration, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery would release on April 3, alongside Warner's City of Angels, while Species and The Wedding Singer would follow on April 10, Easter week.

Thanks to the grand promotional campaign, while none of the three movies were major blockbusters, the North American theater chains were eager to screen them.

Each of the three films would premiere on around 3,000 screens, a privilege typically reserved for major productions. Of course, this number was also feasible because Easter was not yet considered a highly competitive release window.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 970: I Forgive You]

Most of the Iron Man crew was enjoying their weekend break, but Eric couldn't find a moment to relax. The only blockbuster that Firefly had for the summer was The Day After Tomorrow. Although a teaser had been released during the Super Bowl back in January, the film had only recently completed final editing. It was now set for review and ready to release TV trailers, so Eric made it a point to watch the screening with Jeffrey Katzenberg and the others.

Additionally, he checked in on the production progress of several projects, including The Ring, Ted, Sleepy Hollow, and even the filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy way down in New Zealand. The Ring had already begun shooting and was on track for a summer release. The casting for Ted was wrapped up, and they were testing motion capture technology, which would be heavily used. Sleepy Hollow had just completed its budget plan and was about to enter the casting and location scouting phases.

Ever since the success of Monsters, Inc. late last year, Disney's animation department had been busy preparing new story scripts. Some of the old Disney company veterans hoped to continue the tradition of Disney fairy tales. Eric, too, wanted to ensure Disney Animation Studios didn't turn into just another version of Pixar. After all, Disney had already proven in the original timeline that this path worked, so he naturally supported Katzenberg and the others' proposals.

Thus, after discussing several ideas provided by the studio management, Eric and Katzenberg selected Tangled. As for the mega-hit Frozen, Eric hoped that the studio would continue refining their projects before officially launching it.

The original version of Tangled had its project spiral out of control due to script changes and high-level turbulence, taking a full six years to produce and burning through $260 million, which made it the most expensive 3D animated film in history. To avoid making the same mistakes, even though Disney Animation Studios had turned in a thorough story script, Eric insisted on allowing them an extra three months to refine the script, ensuring that when the project officially started, they wouldn't face a repeat of past difficulties.

For the Lord of the Rings trilogy being filmed in New Zealand, Eric could only watch a batch of sample clips sent over by the crew and held a remote video conference with Peter Jackson. Katzenberg had already flown to New Zealand twice in recent months, and a vice president from Firefly was even on-site, serving as one of the producers for the trilogy. With Peter Jackson's dedicated focus on the series, Eric felt very reassured about the project.

...

After putting in two grueling days of work, slicing his time down to the minute, Eric began to regret taking on the role of Iron Man himself. Much of this work could have been spread out over the weekdays but had all fallen onto the weekend instead. And this was all while Eric had taken a hands-off approach to many things.

This year, the only movies that Eric personally approved and would be released within the year were The Day After Tomorrow, Ted, and The Ring. The vast film production-distribution system of Firefly naturally could not be limited to just these three films. Excluding the lengthy production cycles of the animation studios, Firefly Pictures, Disney, and New Line as the main production labels within Firefly were all slated to release more than 20 films this year.

While Eric had rarely intervened directly in these projects' production before, he had a good understanding of most of them. Even low-budget films with budgets of two or three million often had their genre, budget, cast, schedule, and box office predictions well within his knowledge.

However, with Iron Man in the first half of the year and Gravity in the second half, both films would consume most of his focus, leaving Eric unable to manage those projects effectively. He had little energy left for other aspects of the company as well. As for films from MGM or Fox, he had even less inclination to oversee them.

Regarding investments, Eric had only paid a little attention to Yahoo; everything else was left fully to Chris.

...

"Eric, I just received the first draft of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets from the UK," Caroline entered Firefly's Burbank headquarters on a Sunday afternoon, placing a sample copy on his desk. The HarperCollins Publishing House hoped to launch the second volume during the summer.

After signing off on a budget document for Firefly's theme park, Eric looked up and took the book, casually glancing at Caroline, who immediately displayed a startled expression, quickly stepping aside.

"Have you done anything lately that you might regret?" Eric asked, as he opened the novel's table of contents without looking up.

For some reason, Caroline seemed a bit flustered whenever she saw him these days. Hearing Eric's sudden question, Caroline instinctively took a step back and shook her head, "No, no."

"It's fine if you have; I forgive you. Just focus on your work, or I might have to dock your pay."

Listening to Eric's playful yet gentle tone, Caroline quickly blinked her bright eyes, suppressing the urge to nod in acknowledgment. Seeing Eric still not looking at her, she didn't flee out of embarrassment.

After flipping a few pages, Eric closed the book and looked back at Caroline, asking, "What were the sales figures for the first book?"

Without a second thought, Caroline answered accurately, "The sales figures from last week showed 13.5 million copies sold worldwide."

Satisfied, Eric nodded. The Harry Potter series hadn't yet reached its peak status, but under the push from Firefly, since the first book was released last September, total sales had reached 13.5 million globally. This was undoubtedly remarkable.

"Let HarperCollins decide when to release the second book. As long as they maintain an annual release pace, that's fine," Eric passed the novel draft back to Caroline. "Also, make three copies of this book and send them to East Hampton. The little ones really enjoyed the story."

"Sure," Caroline nodded, picking up the draft and hugging it to her chest. She added, "Oh, New Line just emailed me. They've finalized the pay with Chris Tucker for Rush Hour 3 -- $20 million. Jackie Chan is still hoping to negotiate for a share of the profits."

Eric waved his hand dismissively, "I'll leave that to them. They want a cut; the base salary can't exceed $10 million -- that's Firefly's rule. If they can't agree, then don't make the film."

"Uh-huh," Caroline nodded again, continuing, "The rights for the short story Monster Love have been discussed with Nancy Collins' agent, and they are willing to sell. However, we can only acquire the film adaptation rights; they've already sold the game adaptation rights to White Wolf Game Company. The rights department emailed asking if we want to try to buy back the game adaptation rights as well. White Wolf hasn't started development on the game yet, so if the price is right, they should be willing to hand it over."

Since 1993, the global video game industry had rivaled that of the film industry in annual sales. Film adaptations of games were increasingly gaining attention from major film studios. Firefly also had an entertainment interactive department that produced video games, but Eric wasn't optimistic about their prospects.

The production of video games shared many similarities with films -- they thrived on creativity. A brilliant video game would undoubtedly rely on a core team filled with creative minds, much like film directors and producers. Hiring a batch of programmers to develop games without a creative vision was like assigning purely technical staff such as cinematographers and gaffers to create a film; the chances of producing something remarkable were quite low.

Therefore, before the arrival of online gaming, Eric didn't plan to get too involved in the gaming field. Even when online games emerged in the following years, Eric preferred utilizing Yahoo's massive user base for game distribution. When it came to game development, the studio model remained the best approach. Of course, Yahoo could also invest in or acquire studios to gain actual control of these operations.

Thinking over these points, Eric shook his head, "No need; just the film adaptation rights are fine. Is there anything else?"

Melanie had urged her more than once in recent days to invite Eric out for dinner, but Caroline was well aware of how busy Eric had been, making it clear that this wasn't an appropriate time. Furthermore, Eric already had plans for the evening.

Finding a convenient excuse in her mind, Caroline hesitated briefly before shaking her head, "No, that's all."

Eric looked at his watch, "Then you and Melanie should head out early to rest. It's the weekend, and you can enjoy some time tonight. I need to finish up and then I'll head out too."

Tomorrow was the Oscars, and although the filming of Iron Man would continue, Eric didn't have any scenes scheduled, meaning he could still put in some working hours during the day.

...

After leaving the Burbank headquarters, Eric drove along the winding road to Elisabeth and Julia's mansion in Beverly Hills. Julia had gone to Paris to shoot an advertisement and wouldn't be attending the Oscars, so only Elisabeth was there, getting into her gown with the help of two stylists.

As Eric stepped into the villa and observed the busy trio in the living room, he simply nodded before comfortably leaning back on the sofa.

"Eric, how does this gown look?" After a while, Elisabeth came over, holding the hem of a big red one-shoulder dress, doing a slight twirl as she asked.

Eric had always preferred one-shoulder dresses; he felt they embodied a certain playful sensuality, and it appeared the women around him were starting to notice his preference.

After sizing her up, Eric nodded, though he glanced at the nearly floor-length hem and said, "It's beautiful, but since it's a party tonight and not an awards ceremony, aren't you worried about tripping over it?"

"I haven't put on high heels yet. When I do, it shouldn't be like this," Elisabeth replied, lifting her hem to reveal her fair little feet before pointing to two large boxes on the coffee table. "By the way, I also ordered a suit for you, along with shoes. Hurry up and try them on. Lisa is here, so if anything doesn't fit, we can adjust it on the spot."

"Too exhausting; I don't want to change. I plan to wear this," Eric leaned back on the sofa. He didn't want to be bothered and added, "And I'm starving. If I don't eat something, I'll pass out from low blood sugar. You figure it out."

Seeing Eric act a bit petulant, Elisabeth playfully kicked his leg lightly and bent down to tug off his boots, tossing them aside. "Change quickly; if it weren't for you, I wouldn't even dress this formally."

Eric lifted a leg, "How about you help me get dressed?"

"Not a chance!" Elisabeth shot him an eye roll before returning to the stylists who were trying hard to pretend they weren't watching.

Feeling the weight of Elisabeth's steely gaze, Eric reluctantly stood up, grabbing the two boxes with the suit and shoes, and headed upstairs to the bedroom.

Once dressed and heading downstairs, he found the stylists had begun working on Elisabeth's hairstyle.

It generally took a couple of hours for a woman to get ready, and by 6:30, they finally left the Beverly Hills mansion.

Although Elisabeth didn't plan to have dinner, she didn't intend for Eric to go hungry either. They stopped by a restaurant first, where she accompanied him while he ate a little something before they set off at 7:00 for the Oscars pre-party.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 971: Have You Thought About What You Want to Do Later?]

The car stopped outside the Hilton Hotel as Eric and Elisabeth quickly made their way inside, dodging the myriad of flashing lights, flanked by bodyguards and hotel security.

As soon as they entered the hotel lobby, Eric heard a friendly voice call out, "Eric, I didn't expect to see you here tonight!"

Looking over, he spotted Nicolas Cage, who was accompanied by Meg Ryan and a tall African American man. It seemed the three had been chatting just before Eric arrived.

As the tall man turned, Eric recognized him as Richard Parsons, one of the rare African American executives in Hollywood, who at the time served as the Vice President of Time Warner and the CEO of Warner Bros.

Seeing the trio approach, Eric greeted them with Elisabeth by his side, saying, "Good evening, Nick, Rich, oh, and Ms. Ryan, you look absolutely stunning tonight."

Aside from his close friendship with Cage, Eric and the other two could only be described as acquaintances. Elisabeth exchanged pleasantries with them before Eric asked, "So, what were you all just talking about?"

"We just got here too," Cage replied, pausing momentarily before smiling knowingly at Richard Parsons, not elaborating further.

Given that Cage, Meg Ryan, and the head of Warner Bros. were congregating at that moment, the topic of their conversation was clearly the upcoming film City of Angels, slated for Easter release.

Richard Parsons, however, showed no sign of shying away from the subject. With a hearty laugh, he said, "We were just discussing the company's City of Angels. Eric, it's a shame we couldn't partner with Firefly on the marketing, but you know, in Warner, those decisions aren't just up to me."

"That's alright, there will be opportunities to collaborate in the future," Eric replied, wearing a look of regret as he shook his head.

After some casual chatter, Eric and Elisabeth made their way towards the elevator. Richard Parsons, citing some unfinished business in the lobby, gave a lingering glance at Eric and Elisabeth as they departed, before turning back to engage with Cage and Meg Ryan once more.

...

As the elevator doors began to close, Elisabeth leaned in curiously, "Eric, do you think Terry Semel will keep his CEO position after his contract ends next year?"

Eric, lost in thought, shook his head in response to Elisabeth's question. "I don't think it's very likely."

Over the years, internal power struggles at Time Warner had seen factions emerge: one faction led by the old guard from Steve Ross, the group's founder, led by Terry Semel; another from early executive Gerald Levin; the third loyalists to Ted Turner from Turner Broadcasting; and a multitude of heavyweight shareholders who had entered during the group's expansion. The company resembled a battleground for various interests.

As one of Steve Ross's designated heirs, Terry Semel had to fight for his position as Chairman and CEO. However, with Time Warner's performance languishing and Steve Ross's influence waning, it seemed improbable for Semel to retain control beyond his current term.

After seeing Richard Parsons, Eric recalled the numerous times his name appeared in news reports regarding the sensational Time Warner-AOL merger. Given what Eric knew, Parsons was likely a key player aligned with Levin's faction.

Although Eric had met Steve Case a few times, Case remained determined to morph AOL into an Internet media empire. Meanwhile, Chris had begun strategizing to capture control of AOL.

On the other hand, AOL could not acquire Time Warner single-handedly; it was evident that there were internal forces at Time Warner actively supporting the merger. With this in mind, seeing Richard Parsons provided Eric some clarity about where support for the merger might originate.

Once Semel vacated his position, any lingering influence Steve Ross had over Time Warner would dissipate.

This meant that Ted Turner's faction, which controlled Time Warner's most profitable cable division, could become the dominant force within the company. Although Turner had stepped back into a semi-retirement, he still had clout to support someone aligned with him as the new Chairman and CEO.

Conversely, Levin's faction had little chance of seizing control unless they sought an alternate route. Facilitating the merger between AOL and Time Warner would undoubtedly boost their influence within Time Warner in the short term, while simultaneously garnering substantial support from smaller shareholders with voting power.

Of course, at that moment, Steve Case was likely still covertly searching for merger candidates. Perhaps he could create some obstacles for them in that regard.

The elevator's arrival chime pulled Eric from his contemplation. He smiled at Elisabeth, raising his arm for her to link with, as they made their way toward the banquet hall.

This whole situation definitely required further calculation.

However, with the upcoming Easter holiday, Eric planned to strategize for potential leverage against Levin's faction within Time Warner.

After all, while the missed collaboration with Firefly stemmed from internal strife, the blame would be laid squarely on the shoulders of whoever had the most power. As the head on Warner Bros. side, Richard Parsons was certainly the prime candidate to take the fall.

To achieve this, one crucial factor remained: that Firefly's Easter film package must significantly outperform Time Warner's City of Angels at the box office.

As this thought crossed his mind, Eric again felt a twinge of regret. Despite the exhaustive marketing efforts from all three companies, neither Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Species, nor The Wedding Singer seemed poised for a breakout success -- at least not to Eric's recollection of box office figures.

It appeared he would have to devise alternative strategies.

...

Declining to step into the media area for photos and interviews, Eric led Elisabeth directly into the banquet hall. They arrived relatively late, and the venue was already bustling with people, leading to some obligatory socializing.

However, since they were not the hosts, after exchanging greetings with several guests who approached them, the duo moved toward the Weinsteins.

"Eric, let me introduce you to a few people," Harvey Weinstein interjected after a brief exchange of pleasantries, making sure to connect Eric with those around him.

These included the creatives behind The English Patient and Good Will Hunting: The English Patient's director Anthony Minghella, lead actor Ralph Fiennes, female leads Kristin Scott Thomas and Juliette Binoche, along with the best friends Matt Damon, Ben Affleck of the creative team behind Good Will Hunting.

Eric was naturally well-acquainted with these individuals, although he met most for the first time.

The group chatted for a while, but as they sensed Eric and Harvey might need to discuss serious matters, they soon dispersed.

When the others left, Elisabeth chatted with a friend who had also made an appearance as Eric took a sip of his red wine and refrained from diving into discussions about FFM TV at that moment. Instead, he casually asked, "Harvey, how's the preparation for The Horse Whisperer going?"

Upon hearing this subject brought up, Harvey's expression turned slightly peculiar.

Elisabeth had already shared with him Fox's strategy to keep Miramax's art film budgets capped at $50 million.

Deep down, as a businessman, while he recognized the logic, Harvey still bristled at this decision. After all, Miramax had contributed nearly half of Fox's film profits over the years, and he certainly harbored ambitions to continue growing Miramax.

"Robert is directing and starring, and the leading lady is already cast -- it's Kristin from earlier. Other roles are currently being auditioned, and we expect to start filming in May."

With the lead roles unchanged, Eric smiled at the thought of their previous encounter, wondering if the daughter's part would still go to Scarlett Johansson. He had no intentions of interfering in this matter and shifted the conversation to discuss the next steps for FFM TV.

Still, while Eric was adamant about not meddling in The Horse Whisperer's casting, circumstances often had a way of coming to him.

...

In the afternoon, at Firefly Studios.

Amidst filming for Iron Man, Eric diligently continued to prepare for Gravity. He had maintained consistent communication with the film's stars, Jodie Foster and George Clooney.

That evening, they would attend the Oscars, where the Academy had invited Jodie and Eric to present the award for Best Screenplay, prompting them to meet earlier that day to discuss filming details at Firefly Studios.

George Clooney, focused on this opportunity after the dismal performance of Batman Robin the previous year, was equally invested. Upon hearing news about the presentation, he quickly arrived at the studio.

As the three discussed the techniques for an opening long take, Melanie entered to announce that Miranda Kerr had brought a friend to the studio.

After greeting Jodie and George, Eric stepped out of the shooting stage and saw Miranda hurrying towards him, accompanied by Scarlett Johansson. Eric playfully put his hand on the small of Miranda's back, adopting a mock-serious expression, "Alright, explain to me, what day is it today? Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"Scarlett is auditioning for a movie today, and I came along with her for support," Miranda said with a cheeky grin, leaning against him, unfazed by Eric's feigned sternness. "And don't think I don't know, Drew used to skip school all the time, and you didn't bat an eye."

Eric shook his head in exasperation. He realized he wasn't the most attentive 'parent' in these matters, clearly indifferent to the issue of kids skipping school.

Not bringing the girls into the Gravity studio, Eric pointed toward the administrative area. "Follow me; we need to discuss why you're interrupting me right now."

Miranda glanced at Scarlett, who wore a reserved expression, then she spoke, clutching Eric's arm. "Eric, can you help Scarlett with Harvey Weinstein? She's really hoping for a role in The Horse Whisperer."

Eric frowned thoughtfully, looking to Scarlett. He was unsure who'd initiated this idea. "Who helped you with the audition, and how did it go?"

"Today's auditions were run by Mr. Weinstein and Robert Redford, and, well, they said my performance was outstanding."

Eric probed further, "And who else auditioned?"

"There were others, but I don't know them very well," Scarlett replied, shaking her head. "But there was Kirsten Dunst; she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress a few years back."

Eric nodded, having grasped the situation.

According to Harvey's production strategy, he would naturally lean towards the more established actress, Kirsten Dunst. That would significantly reduce Scarlett's chances of landing the role.

Eric chose not to comment further and escorted the two girls to his office. He had his secretary prepare coffee as he leaned back in his chair and studied the two increasingly self-conscious girls.

While Eric was generally indulgent with the women in his life, his generosity was not without limits.

Among women, he spoiled Drew the most; though it could come across as improper, he treated her almost like his daughter. Fortunately, she was smart enough to know what was appropriate and what was not. However, Miranda's behavior did not seem mature enough to handle things correctly. Eric was capable of providing everything she desired, but that didn't mean he would tolerate her unrestrained demands.

If he weren't already acquainted with Scarlett Johansson, Miranda would have put a complete stranger before him. While he didn't delve into whether she was using this to her advantage, he certainly wouldn't allow these developments to continue unchecked.

After tapping his fingers on the desk, Eric looked up at Miranda. "So, I imagine school isn't interesting to you anymore. Have you thought about what you want to do later?"

Scarlett had been following Eric's expression, and hearing the question, she stole a glance at Miranda.

Miranda sensed Eric's unusual tone but acted cleverly this time. "Eric, I'll do whatever you ask."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 972: Going to New York]

Eric thought for a moment and said, "Since that's the case, let's have you model and go to New York. I'll have Cindy take you personally."

Miranda Kerr was taken aback and quickly shook her head. "Eric, I'm not going to New York. I haven't even graduated high school yet."

"Gisele and Ale started making it on their own at fourteen, and you're two years older than they were."

Miranda finally realized that Eric wanted to send her away. She wasn't naive, so it didn't take her long to understand his intentions. With some resentment, she shot a glance at Scarlett Johansson beside her. Then, she got up, walked around the desk, and wanted to jump into Eric's arms to act cute. But Eric blocked her.

Eric prevented the girl from throwing herself at him. He gently lifted her by the waist and set her down on his large desk, his demeanor firm. "Or you can return to Australia and continue high school. I can send you back right now; your parents would surely want you home."

Having just kicked off her shoes, Miranda had initially intended to playfully tease Eric by elevating her feet for him, hoping he would overlook her small mistake today. But when she heard Eric say that, her heart began to race. If she really went back to Australia, who knew if Eric would care about her again? She might never have a chance to live this kind of life again.

Looking at Eric with a pitiful expression for a while, seeing he had no intention of backing down, Miranda finally said, "Then I'll go to New York. But, Eric, what about my parents?"

"That's something you have to convince them about. If they don't agree, I'll have to send you back to Australia."

Miranda's parents were the soft-hearted kind; Eric didn't believe this would stand in the way of what the girl wanted to do.

When Miranda saw that using her parents as a shield wasn't effective, she took advantage of Eric's momentary distraction, jumped off the desk, and implored him like a small kitten, "Eric, please forgive me this once. I promise I'll behave and won't randomly bring strangers to you again."

"Cut it out. I'll have Mel arrange things for you. Once you get to New York, you can stay with Gisele and Ale. Didn't you always love that house?"

"Eric..."

"I just remembered, you're still using that Citibank black card, right? Once you start earning your own money, maybe you won't need it anymore."

Hearing this, Miranda stopped her antics and hurriedly said, "No, Eric, I'll listen to you. I'll go to New York."

Eric patted her on the waist and smiled. "That's my little darling. Now put your shoes on, and you can head back."

Miranda took her time putting on her shoes and then leaned in to peck Eric on the cheek before walking towards the door, not even glancing at Scarlett again. Although she initially approached Eric to flaunt her close relationship with him, at this moment, she naturally transferred all the blame onto Scarlett.

Watching Miranda leave the office, Eric picked up the phone's receiver and explained the situation to Melanie. Then he looked at Scarlett Johansson, who sat across from him, unsure what to do.

...

Scarlett, looking about fourteen, in stark contrast to the fourteen-year-old Miranda who had already seemed like a little pixie, was still shy and awkward. At that moment, she was neither childlike enough to be a true child star nor mature enough to be an adult actress.

Noticing Eric's gaze on her, Scarlett busied herself with the computer on the desk, unsure if she should leave or stay.

After hesitating for a moment, she remained, patiently waiting for Eric's reaction. After the earlier incident, her friendship with Miranda seemed to have completely soured. If she left now, she probably wouldn't get another chance to see this Hollywood mogul again.

With thoughts of this 28-year-old man's impressive stature floating in her mind, Scarlett couldn't help but sneak glances at Eric, who was focused on his work. In the midst of her budding teenage fantasies, she thought, How nice would it be to have a boyfriend like him?

She recalled hearing that Drew was younger than her when she was with him; he seemed to like younger girls.

"I checked on it," after some time, Eric switched off a casting packet for The Horse Whisperer sent from Fox, looked up, and noticed Scarlett shyly avoiding his gaze. He smiled and continued, "The character of Grace in The Horse Whisperer is supposed to be thirteen. Kirsten's acting is good, but she's too tall now; she's already close to 170 cm, so it wouldn't make sense for her to play a thirteen-year-old girl. Originally, Harvey really wanted Natalie Portman for the role. Although she's a year older than Kirsten, she's petite enough to play a thirteen-year-old girl. However, since she has The Phantom Menace coming out at the end of the year, among the remaining younger actresses, your audition experience and performance are the best, so you have a good chance at this role."

If Eric wanted Scarlett to land this role, he could simply have a word with Harvey.

But he didn't pursue that route, not because he didn't want to owe Harvey a favor -- the back-and-forth of favors usually strengthened relationships -- but mainly because Eric didn't want to get too involved with this project. A $50 million art film had a high potential for loss. Miramax had just been shackled by their parent company, limiting their productions to under $50 million, and if Eric intervened in this project and it flopped, he'd likely get blamed, which was something people habitually did.

Scarlett nodded obediently. Eric talking to her this much was far beyond her expectations, and she didn't dare hope for anything more.

Thinking for a moment, she found a rather interesting topic. "Mr. Williams, I heard that Natalie Portman was found by you on the street?"

Eric nodded jokingly, saying, "Pretty much. I usually pick girls off the street; it's the first time I've encountered someone who comes to me willingly like you."

Scarlett immediately felt shy and lowered her head. "Um, Miranda said that you, you'd be willing to help us, so we came together. Mr. Williams, please don't be mad at Miranda, okay?"

"Sure," Eric responded with a smile, shutting down the computer and standing up. "Let's go. I have to get back to work. You just wait home for good news."

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Williams," Scarlett stood up and followed Eric out of the office.

Once outside the building, Scarlett followed obediently beside Eric, watching the occasionally passing studio staff greet him respectfully. She couldn't help feeling a bit envious and yearning.

After exiting the administrative area, Eric stopped at the entrance to the film set and turned to the girl beside him. "Well, this is where we part ways. Do you want me to have someone take you home?"

"No, no need," Scarlett shook her head, her toes rolling against the ground. After a moment of hesitation, she looked up at Eric and asked, "Mr. Williams, will I still be able to see you in the future?"

"Of course! As long as you're in Hollywood, there'll always be a chance."

"I mean...," Scarlett's gaze flickered, and she went on, "Mr. Williams, can I leave you my number so you can call me anytime?"

Eric was a bit surprised. He studied her a few times and smiled as he took out his phone from his pocket. "Here, put your number in."

Scarlett hadn't expected Eric to agree and excitedly added her home phone number to his contacts. She then said, "Mr. Williams, if I'm not filming, I'm usually home at night, so you can call me then."

"Sounds good," Eric nodded, took the phone from her hands, and put it back in his pocket. "Goodbye for now."

"Goodbye," Scarlett replied. Although she said that, she took a small step closer, and when she noticed Eric didn't move, she disappointmently waved goodbye and turned towards the exit of the studio.

...

With Firefly Group growing stronger in Hollywood, the Playa Vista area gradually became more prosperous. Scarlett easily hailed a cab outside the studio and instructed the driver to take her to Beverly Hills. She leaned back in her seat, replaying everything that had just happened, and occasionally broke into a small smile.

Scarlett Johansson lived in a residential area near the Los Angeles Country Club at the base of Beverly Hills. Although it was an affluent area, it paled in comparison to the truly wealthy who resided up in the hills. Scarlett's father, Karsten Johansson, was a fairly successful architect and was essentially the main breadwinner of the family. Her mother, Melanie Sloan, held the title of producer, but as the saying goes in Los Angeles, even a billboard falling could hit a few producers; Melanie rarely landed significant work and mostly served as a full-time housewife.

As soon as Scarlett entered the door, Melanie greeted her eagerly. "Honey, did you see Eric Williams?"

Excitedly nodding, Scarlett bit into an apple she had taken from the coffee table in the living room, comfortably hugging a cushion as she sat on the couch. "Yes, Mom! Mr. Williams said I have a good chance of landing this role."

Seeing her daughter so thrilled, Melanie initially thought this meant the job was as good as done. However, hearing her daughter's words, she frowned; Scarlett's retelling sounded like a rehearsed formality.

Noticing the expression on her mother's face, Scarlett knew exactly what she was thinking. As a girl who had begun valuing her privacy, she wasn't inclined to share every detail of today's encounters with her mother. Nonetheless, she reassured her again, "Don't worry, Mom. Unless something changes, I practically have the job."

"Sweetie," Melanie said with a helpless smile as she sat beside her daughter. "Tell me all the details about how your meeting with Mr. Williams went so I can analyze it for you."

"Oh no, I'm not telling you," Scarlett said, evading her mother's questions. She picked up the cushion and dashed upstairs to her room.

...

Once inside her room, Scarlett locked the door behind her and flopped onto her bed. After tumbling around for a bit, she paused to glance at the little phone on her desk.

She wondered when he might call and what might happen when he did.

Lost in thought for a while, she suddenly jumped up and went to the bathroom. She posed in front of the mirror for a second, then finally took off her clothes to examine her figure more closely.

Though her body wasn't as good as Miranda's, and she wasn't as tall as her, Scarlett felt quite pleased adjusting her bra; her chest was definitely larger than that flat-chested girl's.

...

After several hours of lounging in her room, Scarlett remembered that it was Oscars night and hurried downstairs to turn on the TV.

The Oscar red carpet ceremony had already begun, but Scarlett wasn't in the mood to admire the glamorous dresses worn by the starlets. Instead, she anxiously awaited the appearance of one particular figure. As the evening unfolded, with her father getting home, her sister Vanessa and younger twin brother Hunter also gradually returned, and the house quickly grew lively.

Although Karsten Johansson hadn't chosen a path into Hollywood, due to her grandfather and her mother's family ties, their family had numerous connections in the industry. Scarlett was born in New York, but for the sake of their children's careers in Hollywood, the Johnsons had moved to Los Angeles a few years prior. Now, aside from Scarlett, her brother and sister were both working as actors in Hollywood.

Thus, as the television screen displayed the lively Oscar red carpet event, the family couldn't help but discuss movies and began asking about Scarlett's audition for The Horse Whisperer.

They all knew that landing this role meant Scarlett could establish her footing in Hollywood without relying on family connections. While they had advantages compared to the average person, their connections would hold little weight for a project like The Horse Whisperer; in the end, it all depended on skill and luck.

Melanie hadn't told her husband or the other kids about sending their daughter to Firefly Studios, but when Eric appeared on screen just after the red carpet ceremony started winding down, the conversation quickly turned toward him. Listening to her father and siblings speculate and gush about Eric, Scarlett felt like a small fox hiding its prize, her gaze growing more focused on the screen as she eagerly awaited each of Eric's appearances.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 973: Take a Gamble]

Although the buzz that Titanic once brought was missing this time, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences definitely put in a significant effort to celebrate its 70th anniversary. For instance, after all these years, the Oscars finally had its own theme song.

Eric found himself seated in the second row of the left section, right by the aisle. Despite the presence of several starlets he had previously shared a few ambiguous moments with, his companion for the evening was Judy Foster, his co-presenter for the night.

This was a specific request from Eric as the few women still in his life didn't attend this year for various reasons. Time had moved on for everyone, and they all had their own lives now; at least in public, it wasn't convenient for them to act overly intimate.

As the guests on stage and the ever-present cameras came into play, Eric engaged in a few casual conversations with Judy about Gravity, making the time pass swiftly.

Eric was there to present two awards: Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay. Typically, these awards were given by a set of presenters. The awards for Best Screenplay were scheduled towards the end of the ceremony, which started at six and continued until about eight-thirty, when the event staff came to remind Eric and Judy that it was almost their turn.

...

They made their way backstage, picked up two envelopes from the accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and waited for the performers on stage to finish singing a song from Good Will Hunting.

Listening to the performance, Judy asked, "Eric, do you think this movie has a chance to win?"

"If it's the award we hold, it's quite likely," Eric nodded, and added, "But the rest, forget about it."

By that point in the ceremony, most awards had already been decided. Good Will Hunting, which received nine nominations, had only seen Robin Williams win Best Supporting Actor so far, with everything else falling short. Miramax's heavily campaigned The English Patient had already scooped up seven awards. The most crucial ones left, Best Director and Best Picture, were obviously set to be won by The English Patient as well.

Miramax had chosen to abandon Good Will Hunting in favor of focusing their campaign efforts on The English Patient, which seemed to please the judges more.

However, for the upcoming Best Screenplay award, Good Will Hunting still had a strong chance. If the two young screenwriters, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, managed to win, it wouldn't match the prestige of Best Director or Best Picture, but it could significantly boost the attention and buzz around Good Will Hunting, which could translate into actual profits. The Weinstein brothers' ultimate aim for their Oscar campaign was essentially for profit.

With thoughts racing through his mind, the performance on stage ended. Following the host's introduction, Eric and Judy stepped up to the microphone.

...

Once the applause died down, Eric cleared his throat, scanned the audience, and smiled. "Now, I can see those eager eyes looking back at me, but, this time, it won't be pure gold!"

A soft wave of laughter erupted from the crowd.

Years ago, when Eric first took the Oscar stage as a presenter, he made this joke. Many in attendance frequently attended the ceremony. Add to that, this year, Eric had risen to become the world's first centi-billionaire, so even if they hadn't seen that Oscars ceremony years ago, everyone easily understood the reference.

Once laughter subsided, Eric got straight to the point. "Now, let's see which films are nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay."

As his voice faded, clips from several movies started playing on the big screen.

"The nominees for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay are: Good Will Hunting by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck; As Good as It Gets by Mark Andrews and James L. Brooks; The Full Monty by Simon Beaufoy; Deconstructing Harry by Woody Allen; and Boogie Nights by Paul Thomas Anderson."

Once the big screen finished introducing the films, Eric confidently opened the envelope in his hand, took a quick glance, and showed it to Judy.

Without any hesitation, Judy smiled and announced, "The Oscar goes to Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck."

As thunderous applause erupted, Matt Damon excitedly embraced his mother, taking his time until he stood up, hugging everyone he could along the way while trying to maintain an air of calmness that Ben felt was somewhat awkward.

As they reached the stage, just as Eric was about to hand over the little golden statue to Matt, he got caught up in a hug. Eric, left without much choice, patted Matt on the back resignedly before handing him the award. He then stepped aside with Judy.

The duo stood at the microphone, Matt visibly shaken with emotions, giggling and swaying in front of it. Ben stepped up to the mic to give their acceptance speech. "While it's disheartening that Matt didn't win Best Actor, if he had, that would've been terrifying -- really terrifying! I can't thank everyone in twenty seconds, so let's start with the director..."

Ben rambled off a series of thank-yous while Matt, jiggling with excitement, finally chimed in, "And your brother!"

Ben nodded eagerly. "Oh, my brother!"

"Cole Hauser."

"Oh, Cole Hauser!"

"And mom!"

The two started animatedly gesturing toward the audience. "Those two beautiful ladies sitting right over there!"

"My dad's in the back."

"And Boston!"

"Thank you, Boston!"

As the applause and laughter rolled on, the pair of excited friends finally wrapped up their rambling acceptance speech.

...

Once they disappeared backstage, Eric and Judy returned to the microphone.

With his hands behind his back, Eric glanced in the direction of the two who had just left, half-jokingly remarking, "You know, I suddenly feel like saying, being young is fantastic!"

The laughter from the audience started again.

However, looking at the composed Eric on stage and remembering the two excitable youngsters who had just left, many were surprised to realize that Eric and Matt Damon were actually the same age, both born in 1970 and turning 28 that year. Even Ben Affleck was just two years younger.

Realizing this, many inevitably began reflecting on the various sentiments it incited.

While many had gradually caught onto the Weinstein brothers' aggressive PR tactics, Harvey seemed to know the boundaries as well.

The following award for Best Adapted Screenplay went to LA Confidential, despite The English Patient being nominated.

...

As the last two winning writers walked backstage, Judy looked curiously at Eric and asked, "Eric, why do I get the feeling your earlier remark was sincere?"

Not immediately feeling like heading back to the stage, Eric found a seat in the backstage area and sat down next to Judy. "It was sincere," he replied.

"But you're only, uh, 28," Judy said, chuckling, "That must be disheartening for a lot of people."

"Well, I think it's more about mental age -- and you're only, hmm, how old? But you started acting at a young age. In front of those actors who might be around your age but are just starting out, don't you feel that sense of being older?"

Judy tilted her head slightly, thinking before shaking her head, "Nope, I just see it as a pretty unique growth experience."

"Is it like those lines in Taxi Driver?"

Hearing Eric reference her movie from over twenty years ago, Judy pondered for a moment before asking, "What lines?"

Eric had thought of the line just suddenly but, upon hearing Judy's follow-up, threw his hands up, "I can't remember, but you were stunning in that film."

Judy leaned back in mock defensiveness, bemusedly glaring at Eric, "I was only thirteen then!"

"So, you people just think too dirty," Eric shot back playfully.

Judy rolled her eyes at him. She was just joking and didn't actually harbor any anger.

As they spent time together, she felt like she was getting to know Eric better. She sensed that he had a habitual way of seducing the women around him -- that was the word she thought was most fitting.

However, if a woman didn't reciprocate, Eric didn't push it either. So, with the time spent working on Gravity, Judy found herself unintentionally bringing Eric into her circle of friends.

After a brief exchange of jokes, Judy leaned to listen to the commotion in the auditorium. "The Best Actress award is coming up soon. Are you going out?"

Eric shook his head. "Nah, we've been sitting out for over two hours. Let's rest for a while. How about a bet, though? I bet the Best Actress will go to Helen Hunt."

"I think that's unlikely. Helen Hunt has mostly been a television actress, and the Oscars rarely award actresses who come from that background. Besides, I think the other nominees have stronger credentials than Helen Hunt." Judy analyzed her perspective and then added, "And As Good as It Gets is a Sony film. Shouldn't you be betting on Miramax's The English Patient, particularly for Kristin Scott Thomas?"

Eric said, "If I bet on Best Actress for The English Patient, would you follow?"

"I'm not following you. You bet on Helen Hunt, and I'm sticking to my guns," Judy laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not falling for that."

Eric encouraged her, "It's not good for a woman to be so conventional. How about a gamble?"

After thinking it over, Judy realized that regarding this round of five Best Actress nominations, even without considering the Weinstein support's Kristin Scott Thomas, the likelihood of winning for Helena Bonham Carter, Judi Dench, or Julie Christie seemed much higher than Helen Hunt.

In fact, it was clear Helen Hunt was the one with the least chance of winning at this year's Oscars.

Seeing Judy being slightly swayed, Eric chimed in again. "The results are about to be announced. Want to bet? Last chance!"

Judy thought hard and looked at Eric. "You go first. What's the wager?"

"The nominees for Best Actress are being introduced, so we'll discuss the bet later. Oh, who are you betting on?"

Judy rolled her eyes at Eric again, not wanting to linger, and said, "Okay, I bet Kristin Scott Thomas."

Just as they settled the wager, the music announcing the nominated actresses was playing, and both leaned in to listen. On the other side, last year's Oscar Best Actor winner, Geoffrey Rush, slowly read out a name, "The Oscar goes to The English Patient's Kristin Scott Thomas. Congratulations!"

As the applause rang out, Eric slightly froze, but Judy burst into a triumphant smile, "Eric, you lost! What are you planning to give me?"

In the earlier race for Best Actor, Ralph Fiennes from The English Patient lost to Jack Nicholson from As Good as It Gets, marking Jack's third Oscar win for Best Actor. His nominations were countless. Thus, Jack's win had completely taken many by surprise.

Eric had thought the Best Actress award could still yield a surprise win for Helen Hunt, who had a very low chance.

After all, As Good as It Gets was one of the highest-grossing films nominated for Best Picture this year, and as the only highlight after a complete year of disappointments, Sony was clearly not going to go easy on the PR expenses to help As Good as It Gets secure more awards.

But the results were surprisingly clear now; even having lost in the Best Actor category, Sony's PR methods still lagged far behind the Weinstein brothers, resulting in the Best Actress nominations returning to 'normal,' with Helen Hunt not being an unexpected winner like in the past.

Their spontaneous bet had come up just in the moment, and looking at Judy's triumphant expression, Eric chuckled. "Well, you think up the wager as long as it's not money. That's too cliche."

"Ha! You know, I actually want you to give me a blank check," she teased.

"Ugh, such a materialistic woman!"

"Hmph! Stingy man!"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 974: Let's Place Another Bet]

After some light banter, Eric heard the announcement of the next Best Cinematography award in the hall. Following that would be the Best Director and Best Picture awards. He turned to Judy and said, "I bet you can't think of a suitable wager tonight. So take your time; we should head outside."

Judy Foster nodded. Just as she stood up with Eric, a tall woman walked over from the crowd near the stage exit. It was Brooke Shields, who had just presented the Best Cinematography award.

"Since you found your muse, I'll take my leave," Judy winked at Eric and nodded at Brooke Shields before walking away. Truth be told, Judy was just around 5 feet 3 inches tall, and although she didn't mind her height, facing a woman who was already 5 feet 11 inches tall and wearing high heels like Brooke Shields made her feel a bit pressured. She didn't want to linger around any longer.

"Good evening, Eric," Brooke said, smiling as she gave Eric a light hug. She then looked in the direction of Judy's departure and added, "I saw you here and thought I'd come say hello. I hope I'm not interrupting you."

"Not at all. We were just chatting," Eric replied, shaking his head as he gestured to the sofa beside them, allowing them to sit again.

Eric wasn't really the social type, and since their standing had drifted apart over time, he hadn't seen Brooke Shields much since they wrapped up work on the film Running Out of Time.

...

This chance encounter wasn't just a coincidence. Brooke Shields, who was presenting the Best Cinematography award tonight, was also promoting her upcoming film, Austin Powers 2, which was set for an Easter release. She was the movie's female lead.

At the Oscars, the core guests typically numbered between two to three hundred, most of them award nominees, while a small subset consisted of special or presenting guests. The latter usually didn't attend the Oscars purely for the love of the art; rather, they often had new films hitting screens that year. Brooke Shields was, therefore, a prime example of this latter group.

Ultimately, the Oscars were an event entangled in economic interests.

After the success of Running Out of Time, Brooke Shields had landed several films, briefly igniting her career. However, her talent had been somewhat limited, and in recent years, her star had begun to wane. The roles she managed to get were often those of glamorous eye-candy.

Not long ago, when she had entered backstage for the awards, she had noticed Eric and Judy chatting. After presenting the award, and seeing that they were still there, she felt compelled to greet Eric.

Even as she sat across from Eric, who radiated a calm charm, Brooke Shields couldn't shake the recognition that Eric had transformed dramatically since they first met; he was no longer the young director just making a splash in Hollywood. He was now a figure on top of the Hollywood pyramid.

...

Eric admired the exquisite aquamarine evening gown Brooke Shields wore and sensed her initial hesitation about what to say. Being thoughtful, he initiated a topic: "You look stunning tonight. Which brand is that gown from?"

"Thanks," Brooke Shields sighed, relieved that the conversation moved forward, "It's Givenchy's Haute Couture from the spring-summer 1997 collection."

"Oh, I wouldn't recognize that. I'm not sure how those guests and hosts can name off brands on sight. What's the secret?"

"There is one," Brooke Shields replied, loosening up and adding a playful tone, "It's all about rehearsing your lines with them in advance."

"..."

Eric chuckled at the realization of how those presenters seemed to know just what to say -- those lines were all basically advertisements. Eric had moved up too quickly in Hollywood, and as a director, he had long since disengaged from brand collaborations, so it was only now he learned that "secret."

"Haha," Brooke laughed lightly and tried to engage him further, "So, Eric, what were you just discussing with Miss Foster?"

Hearing the announcement of the Best Director award in the hall, Eric decided against going outside and shrugged casually, "We had a little bet, which I lost."

Brooke Shields looked intrigued. "What were you betting on?"

"Well, being here, it was obviously about the Oscar results."

"No, I meant," Brooke gestured slightly, her voice dipped with curiosity, "What was your, um, wager?"

Sensing her curiosity, Eric's expression shifted. "Do you really want to know?"

Noticing the mischievous glint in Eric's smile and feeling her heart race a little, Brooke nodded, a mix of apprehension and excitement in her demeanor.

Eric paused dramatically before revealing, "The thing is, I forgot to set the stakes with Judy. Thus, right now, I've effectively lost her a blank check."

This certainly wasn't what Brooke Shields had expected, but Eric's answer surprised her even more, her eyes widening in envy as she exclaimed, "Wow."

In the hall, there was no suspense when Anthony Minghella won Best Director for The English Patient, and after he finished his thank-you speech, Eric noticed Brooke's envious expression. He added playfully, "So, the Best Picture is about to be announced. Want to place a bet of your own?"

Brooke Shields's eyes sparkled at the suggestion, but she wasn't completely oblivious to the Oscar scene and responded, "But it's pretty clear who's winning now."

"Higher risks lead to higher rewards. Look, I'm betting Best Picture will be The English Patient. Do you want to bet on another film for a surprise win? A blank check, mind you; I rarely make such promises to anyone."

When Brooke Shields heard the Best Picture presenter had begun to speak, she hesitated for just two seconds before asking, "Eric, what if I lose?"

"I'd take a blank check as well -- that's fair."

"That's not fair at all! You have the upper hand," she retorted.

"Do you think the odds of winning $500 million and $5 on a lottery ticket are remotely equal?"

"Well," after contemplating for a moment, and hearing the introduction for Best Picture commencing, Brooke Shields nodded decisively, "Okay, I'm in."

With those words, the award ceremony was approaching its climax, and while Brooke Shields slightly turned her head to the hall outside, Eric picked up a chocolate from the coffee table and relaxed back against the armchair.

..

"While it's unfortunate for four films not to win tonight, there's no denying they were all outstanding movies. Now, let's see who the last lucky one of the night will be," Francis Ford Coppola's voice echoed, pausing for a moment before saying again, "The Oscar goes to The English Patient, Saul Zaentz -- congratulations."

...

Applause erupted, and with their expectations dashed, Brooke Shields took a glimmering look at Eric, her mind swirling with thoughts.

Eric stood up immediately, "Come with me."

"Huh?" Brooke Shields jumped, surprised by the abruptness.

Not yet clear if she didn't want to refuse, didn't wish to, or was simply too timid to decline, Brooke Shields found herself standing up from the sofa, walking a few steps after Eric before mustering up the courage to ask softly, "Eric, are we going to the Vanity Fair party?"

Eric shook his head. "No, I'm tired. I plan to head home early."

Countless reporters were waiting outside the Grand Civic Hall, hoping to catch the winners for immediate interviews -- it was the liveliest moment of the event. Yet, Eric didn't join in, instead leading Brooke Shields straight out of the hall, where they hopped into a luxury car and departed.

...

The black Rolls-Royce merged into the not-so-crowded traffic of Los Angeles at night. Eric glanced at Brooke Shields, who seemed like a little lamb under the weight of a lion, and joked, "Alright, I was only teasing you. I just instructed the driver to take a detour by the art center. I can drop you off there."

Brooke Shields stared, momentarily confused, glancing out the window.

The Rolls-Royce headed north, and tonight's Vanity Fair party was held at Beverly Arts Center, conveniently on that route. If Eric intended to return home to Malibu directly, they should have been headed west on the LA 10 Freeway.

She had recently thought Eric was going to take her home directly. While she didn't have much resistance towards that idea, she still felt uncomfortable. Nevertheless, she began to feel a hint of uncertainty: "Eric, you aren't really planning to head straight home, right?"

Eric shook his head, "No, I genuinely plan to go home early for some rest."

"Well," still fiddling with her purse, Brooke Shields stammered quietly, "maybe we don't need to take the detour."

...

A little over half an hour later, they arrived at the shell villa.

As Eric guided Brooke Shields into the vast circular hall, brightly lit, she couldn't help but comment, "This place is enormous, but..."

Eric led Brooke to the sitting area by the glass wall, inviting her to sit at her leisure. He then went to the small bar to pour two glasses of juice, returning to hand Brooke one and asking, "But what?"

"It's just too big and also too empty," Brooke replied after accepting the juice. "Eric, don't you feel that way?"

Eric shook his head, "Not at all. I enjoy spacious places. If a space feels cramped, I feel a bit uneasy. Perhaps it's a psychological hang-up from the past."

Brooke Shields took a small sip of her juice but found herself intrigued, "Do you still have psychological hang-ups?"

"Well, I believe everyone should have at least a little bit of a psychological hang-up. Don't you?"

Brooke pondered for a moment, and though it seemed she was on the brink of recalling something, she simply smiled and shook her head, putting her cup down and adjusting her dress. After looking around hesitantly, she added, "Eric, could you help me find something to change into? I need to return this dress tomorrow."

"Wearing my clothes should be fine," Eric nodded, standing up. "Follow me."

Brooke Shields got up but noticed Eric wasn't heading upstairs or into any of the other rooms downstairs. Instead, he was moving toward the entrance of the outdoor swimming pool.

...

"Eric, what are we doing here?" Once outside through the side door leading to the pool, Brooke Shields surveyed the area and involuntarily walked to the railing, leaning over to gaze into the dark ocean under the night sky.

Eric followed her over, explaining, "There are some of my clothes in the changing room behind, and you can choose whatever you like. Or, do you want to swim? There are swimsuits in there too, and I can also heat the water for you."

"Haha, sure," Brooke nodded but didn't immediately leave. She pointed at the low cliff under their feet and asked, "Eric, aren't you worried someone might climb up here?"

"Sure, I am, and more than once people have tried climbing up," Eric nodded. "But they never succeeded."

"Why's that?"

Eric didn't reply right away but pointed below, "Take a closer look."

Peering down, Brooke Shields couldn't see anything particularly noteworthy due to the lighting.

Eric glanced down where she was looking, seeing nothing special either, before offering an explanation, "There are alarm systems and cameras down there. If anyone gets too close, even from underwater, they'll be spotted quickly."

"Oh," Brooke nodded, feeling content with his explanation, setting aside any further inquiry on such a private security matter. She wouldn't harbor any ill intentions, but she understood it was wise to avoid any suspicion. "Alright, I'll go change then."

Watching Brooke Shields walk toward the changing room, Eric suddenly recalled a thought he had long forgotten. Her perfect figure and face made him picture the beauty wearing a mermaid tail, gliding through the pool -- such an image felt stunningly lovely in his mind.

March in Los Angeles isn't cold exactly, but it's not particularly warm either. With these thoughts lingering, Eric moved away from the railing and headed toward the pool's smart control panel, starting to adjust the water temperature.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 975: The Consequences Are Serious]

After hesitating in the changing room for a moment, Brooke Shields finally changed into a two-piece bikini and threw on a bathrobe before stepping outside.

The temperature of the pool was set just right, with the emerald green water shrouded in a light mist that created a dreamy atmosphere under the surrounding lights.

Eric wasn't on the terrace; he must have gone into the villa. Brooke Shields peeked through the glass door a few times but didn't see Eric's figure. So, she sat down by the pool, tested the water temperature, found it warm, and then loosened her bathrobe, slowly sliding into the water.

The pool was huge, and Brooke swam a joyful lap before returning to the spot where she had entered. She popped her head out of the water and saw Eric standing at the edge of the pool, gazing at her with an appreciative look. Next to him on a round table sat a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses.

...

In her early thirties, Brooke Shields had long lost the innocence showcased in 10. Her mixed heritage brought her a perfect face, a mature waistline, and long, straight legs that exuded the most enticing allure of femininity.

Over the years, Eric had rarely shown urgency with women. He preferred to take his time, savoring the moment.

As he watched the wet woman leaning over the pool's edge looking at him, Eric smiled slightly, picked up a wine glass from the table, poured some red wine, squatted down, and handed it to her. "Here, have a taste."

"Thank you," Brooke Shields whispered, taking the glass and sipping it, savoring the flavor. Nodding, she said, "It's great." She placed the glass on the side, looked up at the man who had only removed his jacket but was still dressed in a button-down shirt, slacks, and shoes, and gave him a teasing look. "Eric, don't you plan to join me?"

Eric gazed into Brooke's pale green eyes, gently traced his finger across her perfect face, and finally lifted her chin. Using his fingertips, he felt the beauty before him and said, "I'd rather enjoy the view from here, and besides, we still have plenty of time tonight, don't we?"

Brooke Shields dutifully played along with Eric's actions, slightly raising her chin and locking eyes with him for a moment before her gaze inevitably flickered away.

Feeling a bit unwilling to appear too compliant, she leaned back slightly, opened her mouth as if to bite Eric's lightly resting finger, but he didn't pull away, allowing her to grasp his finger.

They held that position for less than half a second before Brooke Shields gave in again. Her tongue lightly brushed against his finger in a suggestive manner before she released it.

Watching the smile on Eric's face, as if he were in full command of the situation, Brooke Shields's gaze drifted downward and caught sight of Eric's collar. She raised her hand to tease him a bit more, saying provocatively, "Eric, what would happen if I dragged you into the pool right now?"

"You could try," Eric said with an encouraging glint in his eyes, smiling. "But, in the spirit of your warning, I'll remind you that the consequences are serious."

Brooke Shields stared into Eric's eyes for a few seconds. Like a curious cat, she reached out her hand to see that Eric showed no intention of dodging her, prompting her to grasp his hand once again and pull him in forcefully.

Splash!

The sound of water erupted, followed by the sound of laughter and shrieks. Then, Brooke Shields realized the consequences were indeed serious.

...

When Brooke Shields woke up again, she had no idea how much time had passed. Eric was already gone from the other side of the king-sized bed. The white light streaming through the curtains hinted that it might be close to noon.

Her body was bare under the thin sheets, and she was sprawled across the bed, clutching a pillow. She moved her waist slightly, still able to feel a lingering discomfort beneath her. She bit the pillow out of frustration, unwilling to move.

After an indeterminate amount of time, feeling that she couldn't laze about any longer, Brooke Shields wrapped herself in the sheets and got out of bed. Stepping onto the cool floor, she walked to the window and glanced around. Unsure how to open the curtains, she reached out to grab the edge and pulled. This action seemed to trigger a switch, resulting in gentle sounds as the curtains slowly opened, allowing the brilliant sunlight of spring to flood the room.

Brooke Shields squinted and retreated a step, and when she opened her eyes again, she was greeted by the breathtaking blue scenery outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, where the sky met the sea.

She stood there for a while, reluctantly pulling her gaze away, realizing she would likely never own such a magnificent house in her lifetime. In fact, most people in the world wouldn't have that chance either.

As she returned to the bed, Brooke Shields noticed a neatly folded set of clothes and a pair of shoes on the nightstand. Although simple, it was complete -- a white Victoria's Secret underwear set, a white blouse with the tags carefully cut off, a pair of CK jeans that she had once endorsed, and a popular pair of black Manolo Blahnik heels from Sex and the City.

She lifted the Victoria's Secret underwear and checked the size, unable to suppress a smile. That guy certainly knew a thing or two about women's bodies.

The digital clock beside the clothes showed it was already 10:55 AM. She quickly dressed and stepped out of the master bedroom.

...

The villa's lighting was noticeably excellent; the circular corridor on the second floor remained bright even without lights. Exiting the short hallway leading to the master bedroom, she saw two maids carefully dusting the frames of the artwork on the walls.

Unlike the Mexican or Filipino maids often employed by wealthy Americans, these two maids were clearly white, appearing to be in their early twenties. Though they looked ordinary, they had nice figures. Brooke Shields even noticed that the two maids seemed to be the same height.

Perhaps alerted by the sound of Brooke Shields's heels, the two maids turned to her, and the three exchanged a polite glance. Brooke Shields felt a bit awkward; it was clear they recognized her, but their expressions remained composed as they nodded respectfully. One of them courteously said, "Good morning, Miss Shields."

"Hello," Brooke Shields nodded in return, wanting to walk away but stopping short to ask, "Um, is Eric at home?"

"Mr. Williams left for work this morning. You can go downstairs; Miss Sokolov is waiting for you below," one of the maids replied.

Brooke Shields nodded, finding the surname 'Sokolov' a bit peculiar, as it sounded Russian. She didn't inquire further and headed downstairs.

...

It seemed today was the day for a deep cleaning of the villa. Upon reaching downstairs, Brooke Shields saw five or six maids busily working around the house, confirming her earlier observation that they were indeed all the same height. It seemed their employer had a certain perfectionist streak.

She was surprised to find so many people in the estate. Recalling her remarks to Eric about the villa being too empty last night, Brooke couldn't help but chuckle at herself.

As she had inquired with a nearby maid, Brooke made her way to the kitchen where she finally found the Miss Sokolov mentioned earlier, or rather, two identical Miss Sokolovs.

The twins wore matching black blazers, one holding a clipboard while the other busied themselves sorting the recently cleaned silverware with a maid.

Seeing Brooke Shields enter, the older sister, Natasha, put down her clipboard and walked over. "Miss Shields, you're awake."

"Hello," Brooke Shields said, feeling a bit out of place as if she had stumbled into a world where she had no business being. "Um, is Eric around?"

Though she already knew Eric was at work, Brooke asked anyway, as if Eric were a comforting presence in her mind.

"The master has left for work. He instructed that if you were free around noon, he would love to take you to lunch at Firefly Studios. If you have other plans, the driver can take you wherever you'd like," Natasha said, glancing at her watch and then back at Brooke Shields. "The master will have his midday break at twelve o'clock. What are your thoughts, Miss Shields?"

"Um, I...," hearing Natasha casually refer to Eric with a title made Brooke feel even more uneasy. She raised her hand in a vague gesture and said, "I'll go to Firefly Studios."

Natasha nodded. "Please follow me, Miss Shields. I'll have the driver take you there."

As Brooke Shields followed Natasha for a few steps, she remembered another thing and hurriedly asked, "Um, Miss Sokolov."

Natasha paused again. "You can just call me Natasha, Miss Shields. Is there anything else?"

Brooke Shields replied, "The dress I wore last night, I need to take it with me."

After speaking, Brooke felt a bit embarrassed. If it had been any other ordinary clothing, she probably wouldn't have mentioned it. She wouldn't have cared if someone tossed it away.

But that Givenchy haute couture she wore to the Oscars was rented, and a women's couture gown was far more expensive than a men's tailored suit. Haute couture could cost tens of thousands of dollars, and even A-list actresses wouldn't easily purchase them.

Natasha nodded slightly. "It's already been arranged for you, and your bag is outside."

...

As noon approached, the road from Malibu to downtown Los Angeles was congested. After leaving the Liberty City, it wasn't until nearly twelve o'clock that Brooke Shields arrived at Firefly Studios in Playa Vista.

The lunch venue was chosen in the Titanic exhibition hall restaurant inside the studio.

Brooke Shields, led by Melanie, found Eric. The lingering emotions she had felt since getting out of bed vanished inexplicably as she saw Eric. His disheveled hair, wearing a black T-shirt and khaki pants with some dust stains, actually made him look a bit amusing.

As they walked along the corridor leading to the Titanic exhibition hall, feeling Brooke Shields's bemused gaze, Eric smiled and explained, "This is a costume. I didn't have time to change since lunch is so short. But don't worry; there's no dress code for the restaurant onboard the ship."

With the filming of Tony Stark developing the Iron Man armor underway, Eric's appearance looked quite unkempt.

Brooke Shields was well aware that Eric was starring in Iron Man, a fact hardly anyone in the industry didn't know. Not masking her amusement any longer, she said, "I really didn't expect you would still act yourself now."

Eric self-deprecatingly replied, "They all say I've saved the film a million dollars on marketing costs. Quite a bargain, right?"

Brooke Shields tilted her head and asked, "Do you still care about a million dollars?"

"Of course," Eric nodded and tugged at his T-shirt. "Have you seen how hard I'm working?"

"Ha ha."

As they exchanged banter, they entered the exhibition area and boarded the ship, guided by the server to a booth in the restaurant inside.

...

After ordering, and once the server had left, Brooke Shields carefully shifted her position in her seat to find a more comfortable way to sit.

Looking up, she noticed Eric smiling at her, which made her recall the wild night they had together. She threw him a playful eye roll. Last night, Eric had said he wanted to punish her, and in the haze, she hadn't really resisted. While he was generally gentle and hadn't hurt her, such experiences usually only stimulated the man.

Lifting her glass of soda water, she took a sip, and Eric continued the conversation. "So besides the promotion for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, what else have you been busy with lately?"

"Nothing much," Brooke Shields shook her head, then asked with some anticipation, "What do you think about the box office potential of the movie?"

"It's hard to say," Eric replied. "These kinds of raunchy comedies have unstable sequel box office returns. Some do really well, while others flop entirely. Take Mike Myers' earlier work, for example. His 1992 film Wayne's World earned $120 million in North America and $180 million globally. But the following year's sequel only brought in about $48 million in North America, and Paramount didn't even bother with overseas distribution."

Although Brooke Shields was merely the eyee-candy lead in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, she wouldn't bear any responsibility if it failed. Still, she felt concerned, asking, "Does that mean you don't have much faith in Austin Powers sequel?"

"No one seems overly optimistic," Eric agreed, adding, "However, I've watched the film, and compared to the first one, it's still very funny. Plus, with this round of large-scale promotion, I don't think matching the first's box office should be too much of an issue."

Eric and Fox's primary expectation was to achieve a box office performance around $60 million, similar to the first film. That way, Fox would nearly recoup its costs, and future DVD sales and television rights could still generate good profits.

As for international markets, they held little hope; Mike Myers' recognition was mainly limited to North America, and such crude comedies were closely tied to local culture, with many jokes falling flat outside the continent.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 976: Watching Movies]

For movie executives, maintaining a positive mindset and preparing for the worst in every film project was crucial. If they didn't, after a few films, they might just lose their minds. After all, investments often reached tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of dollars, and losing it all in the blink of an eye could really stress a person's nerves.

Whether or not they believed in the success of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, as Easter approached, the final marketing push from the three companies remained intense.

The film's television trailers began airing more frequently, and news about Easter movie packages kept flooding in. Even films not associated with the Firefly Group sought to gain attention by associating with the Easter movie package gimmick.

However, films like Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Wedding Singer, and Species were obviously not likely to please critics. Therefore, none of the three companies held media screening events for these films prior to their official release.

With no chance to see the films early, the media began speculating based on their biases. The Wedding Singer and Species featured brand new scripts with no prior installments to draw from, so all eyes turned to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, which had already released one film and was leading the charge in the Easter release window.

While the first Austin Powers film grossed over $60 million -- nearly doubling its production cost with North American box office earnings -- the film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from the media. Coupled with the usual box office performance of similar spoof films like Hot Shots! and Spy Hard, most media outlets weren't optimistic about Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me's box office prospects. Some even stated that Fox's reluctance to host a screening fostered speculation that the film was just too terrible.

Thus, the media concluded that the other two films would likely fare poorly as well. It had to be noted that this sentiment received substantial backing among critics.

In contrast, the only major production for the Easter release, City of Angels, held a spirited media screening in Los Angeles just a week after the Oscars. Although the subsequent media reviews carried some semblance of Warner's public relations strategies, the overall reception was decent. The media in attendance generally rated it above seven out of ten, which was not outstanding but certainly met a standard of being worth watching. With the box office appeal of Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, Warner Brothers felt quite confident.

...

On April 1st, due to the parody nature of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Fox chose to host a smaller yet amusing premiere on April Fool's Day at a theater in Los Angeles, inviting media from the three companies and a select group of lucky audience members.

City of Angels' premiere was scheduled for the following day at the Chinese Theatre, a well-known venue for Hollywood premieres.

On April 3rd, the Easter window officially opened, with Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me launching on 3,091 screens across North America. Perhaps out of caution, Warner Brothers only opted for slightly over 2,700 screens for City of Angels.

This was understandable; during the age of film, launching a widely released film involved substantial costs just for prints.

City of Angels had a runtime of nearly two hours. With an average production cost of around $1,500 per print, 2,700 prints meant an expenditure exceeding $4 million -- enough to fund a small indie movie. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me lasted about ninety minutes, and while individual prints were somewhat cheaper, producing over 3,000 prints still brought costs to over $3 million.

...

At Firefly Studios,

Eric had already constructed Liberty City, which meant Tony Stark's mansion from Iron Man had to be redesigned.

The planned Iron Man mansion, situated in Beverly Hills, conveyed a distinctly mechanical vibe in its design, aligning more with Tony Stark's persona as a genius engineer.

While overseeing production, Larry Ellison saw the new mansion design concepts and momentarily got excited about making it a reality, eager to outshine Eric's estate in Malibu, a property he had coveted for quite some time. However, calculating the construction cost quickly led Larry to abandon the idea.

To recreate the luxurious Iron Man estate in Beverly Hills would require at least $100 million.

Though that amount seemed inconsequential next to his multi-billion-dollar fortune, over ninety percent of Larry's personal wealth was tied up in stocks. Keeping a controlling interest in Oracle meant he could not easily sell any shares, and his other assets mainly comprised real estate, leaving him with just $10-20 million in liquid capital.

Larry had once splurged on yachts and islands, but that was years later, after Oracle firmly established its dominance in the database software industry and began generating considerable dividends. Right now, Oracle was battling several peers in a tight market position; even if the company had profits, they were entirely reinvested in growth, leaving no room for shareholder dividends.

Therefore, despite not voicing it, Larry, who naturally loved the high life, couldn't help but envy Eric during the shoot. After completing his role as Happy Hogan, he cheekily borrowed a VH-60 helicopter from Eric, flauntingly flying back to San Francisco, showing no intention of returning it.

Although the conceptual mansion stood in Beverly Hills, the interior scenes were still being constructively shot in the studio.

...

Today marked the end of the week, and on set, Bridget Fonda and Natasha Henstridge were rehearsing the intense dialogue exchange between Pepper Potts and the Vanity Fair reporter Christine from the original Iron Man.

After another successful take, Joss Whedon loudly exclaimed, "Good!" before adding, "Great job, everyone. This will be Natasha Henstridge's last scene with us. Let's all thank her for her contributions over this time, thank you."

With that, Joss started clapping, and all crew members paused their work to join in the applause. Initially, there were concerns that Natasha got the role due to Eric's influence. However, her outstanding performance over these shoots earned unanimous recognition.

Feeling a mix of excitement and slight melancholy, Natasha stood and gracefully bowed to everyone, saying, "Thank you, thank you all. I'm so happy to have worked with all of you."

With pleasantries exchanged, Natasha was led away by the crew into the dressing room. Wearing just a shirt that draped down past her bottom, she might have unintentionally offered a little too much visual distraction for the men on set.

As Natasha left, everyone resumed their busy schedules. With her final scene concluded, the interior shots for Tony Stark's mansion now wrapped up. The crew faced a lengthy and challenging journey ahead with outdoor filming.

...

At this moment, Joss released a sigh of relief, instructing his assistant director to closely oversee a few workers who had come specifically to pack and transport the furniture surrounding the set back to the Malibu estate.

Joss couldn't comprehend how a simple coffee table could be valued at $60,000. Still, the crew had secured insurance for these items, and after an evaluation, the insurance company validated their worth.

Busy with this, Eric and Jeff Bridges walked in from outside. Their scenes had wrapped up earlier, just before Bridget and Natasha's final scenes, so both had finished their makeup removals and changed into everyday clothes.

After discussing next week's filming schedule with Joss, Bridget and Natasha happily approached to greet them.

Having wrapped up the formal discussions, Jeff Bridges headed out. Joss had other matters to attend to as well, leaving Bridget and Natasha behind. Finally finding an opportunity, Bridget asked Eric, "Eric, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

Noticing Bridget looking quite formal, Eric nodded, "What's up?"

"Tomorrow evening, the Coppola family is hosting a party. Sofia, you remember her, right? She's just finished her first directing project, and she mentioned that you were a great encouragement to try out new endeavors. So, if you have the time, she'd love for you to come and check out her work."

Eric chuckled, "Tomorrow evening, huh? Am I going to a party or a movie?"

Realizing she hadn't been clear, Bridget clarified, "If you're free, then watch the movie tomorrow afternoon, and stay for the party at the Coppola estate in the evening."

"I've planned to review the footage from the recent shooting with Joss tomorrow," Eric regretfully shook his head and said, "I'll see if I can make it later in the evening."

"Alright, then," Bridget said, just relaying the invitation and not wanting to appear too eager. She gave Eric a quick hug and greeted Natasha Henstridge before leaving.

Eric looked around and suggested to Natasha, "Shall we head out?"

Natasha nodded, following Eric out of the sound stage.

...

By just past five in the afternoon, daylight in Los Angeles was gradually stretching longer. The two walked along a pathway bathed in orange sunlight, quickly arriving at a less crowded administrative area.

"The rights for Underworld have been secured, but the script will take a few months to complete. Filming probably won't start until September," Eric remarked casually, then suddenly recalled, "That means you might miss this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show."

"No worries," Natasha shook her head, "I've been thinking quite a bit about focusing my career on acting. Eric, what do you think?"

In recent years, the Victoria's Secret lineup had accelerated its rotation of models. At just 24, even though Natasha was considerably younger than the likes of Cindy and others, she realized she wasn't among the few top models being heavily promoted by Victoria's Secret and wouldn't be able to remain on their runway forever.

Moreover, the earnings and career longevity of models simply paled in comparison to those of film stars.

Eric nodded, "Absolutely. With Iron Man set to release next year, you'll have one foot in Hollywood. If Underworld does well, you could find yourself in a solid second-tier position. Ascending to lead Hollywood star status requires a bit of luck, but as long as you secure your spot in the second tier, you won't lack for film offers in the future. I mean, Hollywood's demand for eye candy is still exceptionally strong, especially for someone as stunning as you."

Natasha smiled, not at all offended by Eric's joking reference to her as a "pretty face." She was aware of her abilities. While Hollywood had beautiful leading ladies like Nicole Kidman, their acting prowess far outstripped hers.

As long as she could establish herself in Hollywood, Natasha would be satisfied.

"Eric, actually, I was hoping to collaborate with you someday."

Eric gestured toward the studio area behind him, "Are we not working together recently?"

"I meant acting in your movie," Natasha voiced hesitantly, second-guessing herself, "Am I being too unrealistic?"

"Of course not," Eric shook his head with a smile, "If the opportunity arises, I would definitely invite you. This is no mere flattery; it really depends on finding the right role. Moreover, we have substantial chances for future collaborations; everyone knows I've been focusing on commercial films, which don't demand extreme skill in acting."

Even knowing Eric's words might not translate to many future opportunities, Natasha felt elated. "I'll hold you to that! By the way, do you have any plans tonight?"

"I'm watching a movie; I booked a luxury screening room," Eric replied, then looked at Natasha, "So, Miss Henstridge, may I have the honor of inviting you to join me?"

Without even asking what film it was, Natasha readily nodded, "Of course!"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 977: Opening Day Box Office]

Since City of Angels and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me premiered on the same day, Elisabeth hoped two days prior that Eric would accompany her to see the film. Eric arranged for a screening room at a theater in downtown Santa Monica.

However, Elisabeth called Eric in the morning and flew to New York without saying anything. Although Elisabeth didn't say it outright, Eric pretty much guessed what happened. Earlier in the year, Murdoch returned from a visit to Asia with a woman, and now it seemed that crisis had struck.

Eric wouldn't interfere in such personal matters. Elisabeth went back to New York, but he didn't cancel the reservation for the screening room.

Warner Bros. had been subtly promoting City of Angels as another ghost-themed romance like Ghost. Eric hadn't seen the film before, and he wanted to assess its quality himself, so he decided to bring Natasha Henstridge along as a way to relax after a week's work.

After leaving the Firefly Theatre, the two had dinner nearby at Venice Beach before heading to the cinema.

Led by a staff member, Natasha, holding popcorn and drinks, followed Eric into a luxurious screening room with only about ten seats. Spotting Eric hesitating beside the couch, Natasha asked, "Eric, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Eric shook his head and walked over, sitting down on the couch.

Natasha sat down as well, and Eric nodded toward the staff member, saying, "Let's get started."

The staff member politely responded and exited the screening room.

...

The lights in the screening room quickly dimmed, and when the Warner Bros. logo appeared on screen, Natasha inquired, "Eric, is this a Warner film?"

"Yeah, you don't think I only watch my own movies, do you?" Eric laughed, shaking his head. He explained, "This is City of Angels, starring Cage and Meg."

"Oh, I saw the poster for it," Natasha laughed shyly. "I thought you'd take me to see Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me instead."

"Why would you think that?"

Natasha thought for a moment. She felt like she'd been seeing Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me everywhere on TV and various billboards, and said, "It seemed like that movie was much more popular."

On the big screen, after the Warner intro, Cage's character, the angel Seth, guided a little girl's soul into heaven. It was followed by a conversation between two angels about touch: angels cannot sense mortals, just as mortals cannot feel the angels' touch; the two exist in the same space but seem like two worlds apart.

Having spent a long time in Hollywood, Eric found it difficult to simply enjoy a movie as an audience member anymore; while sitting in front of the big screen, he instinctively began to analyze the film's quality.

At first, the beginning of City of Angels struck Eric as rather mundane, and the subsequent soundtrack felt rather jarring.

Moreover, despite being decent friends with Cage, Eric couldn't help but secretly complain that Cage's portrayal of an angel seemed quite incongruous. The guy had passed his prime; his hairline was receding, completely devoid of the handsome appeal that made girls swoon a decade ago in Moonstruck.

As the film's plot and narrative pace appeared somewhat chaotic and rushed, Eric felt relieved after watching just over twenty minutes. At least City of Angels wouldn't pose any threat to the three films from the Firefly group.

...

While Eric and Natasha watched City of Angels, in the Midwest, Michael Wilmington, the resident film critic for the Chicago Tribune, bought a ticket for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Had it not been for his obligation to submit a review to the Chicago Tribune, Michael would have never purchased a ticket for such a parody film; he preferred art films.

Today, however, Michael's mood wasn't great. He had watched City of Angels with high hopes earlier in the day, only to be left disappointed.

During the initial promotional phase, Warner Bros. aimed to create yet another Ghost-like romance, but after viewing City of Angels, Michael could only describe the film with one word: mediocre.

Both the bland script and the contrived tragic ending felt very discomforting to him. As for the concept of angels and mortals, after Ghost, such ideas in Hollywood could hardly be considered innovative.

Once upon a time, Cage in Ghost and Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally... were simply stunning.

But Michael felt that City of Angels failed to showcase the allure of these two Hollywood A-listers, which he considered a massive waste.

He didn't buy popcorn or other snacks and didn't bring a notebook. He casually found a position in the screening room, and with his preconceived bias, he didn't intend to take Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me seriously. As for the review he had to submit, he thought he would jot something down later.

Before the lights went out, Michael looked around. Although he was in the bustling downtown Chicago, he was slightly surprised to see that the theater, which could seat around two hundred, had over eighty percent occupancy.

Considering the large-scale promotional efforts of Firefly, Fox, and MGM, Michael quickly accepted the situation.

As a film critic, he was well aware of the movie industry dynamics. Advertising and marketing had become increasingly vital, leading to shorter release cycles -- to the point where most commercial films recouped more than seventy percent of their North American box office in the first four weeks.

Given this change, cases where box office miracles were created solely by word of mouth had become quite rare in recent years. The bar for producing films in Hollywood had reached new heights; many believed that this trend would ultimately stifle the recently rejuvenated film industry. However, such industry trends were not easily shifted by any one person.

As he pondered these matters, the screening of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me had begun.

...

The first film's sultry lead, Elizabeth Hurley, made a cameo, playing a female robot who kicked Mike Myers out of a hotel room while he was completely naked. The movie continued to employ the humorously playful method of the first film, employing a variety of risque positions that had the audience bursting into laughter.

As a seasoned critic, Michael was familiar with the various gags in the film, but his instinctive distaste made it hard for him to feel anything about it.

After patiently watching for several minutes, Michael considered whether to leave early; just then, a segment featuring the female lead pulling a series of gimmicky items from various places on the male lead sparked peals of laughter from the audience.

Michael scanned the room, recalling the past several minutes. It seemed the audience erupted in laughter roughly every two or three minutes.

Suddenly, he dismissed the notion of leaving early, settling back into his seat, but his attention shifted from the screen to the surrounding audience.

...

The laughter continued for a solid ninety minutes, and even when the credits rolled, the audience didn't immediately get up, as the bloopers accompanying the end credits kept them in stitches.

"Ha! That was hilarious; maybe we should come back and watch it again!"

"Elizabeth Hurley is still so hot!"

"It was definitely a mistake for Peter and the guys not to come see this movie."

"That naked scene was outrageous -- wonder if they really showed everything in the shoot."

"Mike Myers is such a genius."

"..."

"..."

...

As he joined the crowd exiting the screening room, soaking in the frenzied discussions around him, Michael Wilmington seemed contemplative.

He still found it difficult to give this film a positive review -- compared to the first installment, this was just another compilation of overused gags. However, being able to make the audience laugh was at least a sign of superiority over the cringe-worthy City of Angels.

Upon returning home, Michael Wilmington turned on his laptop, ready to write a review for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Remembering something, he closed the document, opened his browser, and logged onto the Yahoo Movie section.

He located the page for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and skimmed through the film's general ratings.

Yahoo Movies' evaluation system seemed rather innovative to many, featuring both professional critic scores and average audience scores. Everyone knew that Yahoo was essentially the online media platform for the Firefly group, which led to ongoing questions about the site's impartiality.

The critic score for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was only 5.1, which Michael Wilmington thought might still be a tad generous.

Being a relatively young medium, many well-known critics had yet to join Yahoo Movies. Though he had received an invitation from Yahoo in the past, he had declined like many others. The critics on Yahoo Movies were either part of the Firefly group or lacked significant renown. In Wilmington's view, there was no way they could rate a film without bias.

He glanced next at the audience score, labeled the "Popcorn Index" by Yahoo, which stood at a staggering 7.6.

Even though he had anticipated this somewhat in the screening room, Michael was still taken aback by how high that number was. If he had to score, he would give the film a 3 for professional rating, while for the so-called Popcorn Index, he would only assign a passing score of 6.

Looking at City of Angels' ratings, its critic score was currently 6.3, barely passing. Meanwhile, its Popcorn Index was even lower than that of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, at only 7.3.

Although he also disliked City of Angels, Michael felt that its Popcorn Index should theoretically not be lower than that of such a crass parody film as Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

While he questioned Yahoo's site impartiality, Wilmington didn't think his own bias was out of line.

Thus, he searched several other film critique sites. Though the scores varied, the general trends in reviews were markedly consistent. Critics disliked Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me but grudgingly acknowledged City of Angels, while the average audience clearly favored Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and showed little enthusiasm for City of Angels.

Since films emerged, the dominance of critics in shaping a movie's reputation in North America had never changed. This lent an air of superiority to Michael Wilmington as he approached Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

However, after browsing several movie sites, he suddenly felt a slight sense of threat.

How could regular people lead a film's reputation? That would completely undermine the traditional critics' livelihoods!

With this instinctive aversion and vigilance, his initial recognition of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me evaporated.

He reopened the document and began typing his review: it seemed that Mike Myers would never escape the shadow of Saturday Night Live. Not to put too fine a point on it, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is just another compilation of various tired cliches...

...

Neither City of Angels nor Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was a blockbuster; although both studios organized premieres to compete or promote, neither produced midnight shows.

As a result, the reviews for both films began to spread widely only by Saturday morning.

In contrast with the initial ratings above 7, after Friday's large-scale release, the reviews for City of Angels noticeably declined, barely holding above a 6 overall.

On the other hand, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me experienced a 'decisive' plunge, where media reviews fell directly to the 5 level of terrible films.

Yet, while the North American media largely rejected both films, the opening day box office numbers for both films astounded everyone, particularly the data for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

In Beverly Hills, Joe Roth, the president of 20th Century Fox, was jolted awake by the ringing of his phone early in the morning. When he heard his assistant report the opening day box office for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, he almost thought he was dreaming. After confirming it several times, Joe Roth finally accepted it and quickly spread the news.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 978: Marketing Strategy]

The promotional campaign was executed to the standards of a blockbuster film, with an advertising budget set at $50 million. Even by bundling promotions for three films, the studios remained quite confident about the opening box office of the movies.

No one expected that the first-day box office for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me would turn out to be such a surprise.

A first day gross of $15.37 million solidly landed it at the top of the daily box office chart, even breaking the Easter opening box office record in Hollywood.

At this rate, by the end of its first weekend, the box office could reach around $45 million. If the box office trend remained stable, the film could potentially approach $70 million in its opening week.

$70 million for the first week was already on par with the opening box office for some of the biggest summer blockbusters.

Prior to this, internal expectations at Fox for the first-week box office of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me had only been around $30 million. With that $30 million opening, the film would have been expected to reach around $60 million during the entire Easter frame, allowing Fox to recoup its production costs.

However, it appeared that they could reach Fox's original target in just two days of the weekend. Even if Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me's box office trend flattened out afterward, its remarkable beginning meant that recovering the production costs during the first week was almost a given.

In comparison, Warner Bros.' City of Angels garnered just $5.51 million on Friday, less than a third of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me's earnings.

...

Despite the stark contrast in first-day box office numbers, City of Angels wasn't too far off Warner's box office expectations. The first day's take of $5.51 million indicated that the film would likely earn around $15 million during its first three days and could total around $25 million in its opening week.

As a romance film with a more artistic flair, especially featuring box office draws like Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, Warner Bros. had initially been optimistic that City of Angels would maintain a decline of only 20-30% in subsequent weeks, which could bring its North American total to around $70 million.

Combining Cage and Ryan's overseas box office appeal, Warner Bros. anticipated it would recoup costs and make a profit through international distribution.

That was also Warner Bros.' internal expectation for City of Angels.

However, with Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me's blockbuster opening, Warner's confidence shifted instantly.

It was clear that if Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me could pull in such incredible first-day earnings, then along with the simultaneous release of Species and The Wedding Singer the following week, City of Angels wouldn't fare too well amidst the pressure.

Moreover, the film faced harsh criticism from the media and film critics, who seemingly united against it, casting a shadow over the "Easter Movie Package" launched by the three companies involved.

Although the three companies were media groups in themselves and controlled two of the four major television networks in North America, they found it challenging to control another traditional channel -- newspapers, which played a significant role in determining a movie's reputation.

Each city, from a massive metropolis like New York to small towns with populations in the tens of thousands, had its local newspapers. While the media group owned several influential print outlets, it couldn't sway the thousands of newspapers across North America. Each one impacted its local readership.

Given that Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was a raunchy comedy, it would never gain the approval of traditional print critics, leading to predictable negative reviews.

Still, with $15.37 million on the first day, neither Fox nor Firefly could allow traditional media's poor reviews to derail the ongoing box office trajectory.

...

Due to family issues, Elisabeth, who had gradually taken over all filming operations under 20th Century Fox, had returned to New York. Joe Roth, the president of the group, was no slouch either. Upon seeing the first-day earnings Saturday morning, he quickly gathered the Fox distribution department executives to discuss the marketing strategy going forward for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Of course, he wouldn't forget to invite Eric. However, despite it being the weekend, Eric had too much work to manage to fit in that meeting.

It was a consensus that without Firefly's initiative in the Easter Movie Package, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me wouldn't have shone as brightly.

Given his position in Hollywood and his relationship with Elisabeth, Joe Roth couldn't afford to overlook Eric. In lieu of the marketing meeting, Roth took a trip from Century City's Fox headquarters to Firefly Cinemas to have lunch and carefully review the upcoming plans.

So, beginning Saturday afternoon, the media controlled by the three companies started staging a counterattack against the negative reviews that Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me had received.

Of course, both Fox and Firefly had no intention of defending the film against traditional media criticism. Instead, they took a different approach, using the stark contrast of its popular reception among audiences against the harsh treatment from critics to aggressively slam the traditional film reviewers for being overly critical, old-fashioned, and lackluster in their entertainment appreciation.

"Movies are ultimately a form of entertainment for the masses, not a means to please a few critics. If Hollywood were only about satisfying film critics' preferences, it wouldn't be as strong as it is today; rather, it would face the same fate as European cinema, growing increasingly niche."

"Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me took in $15.37 million on the first day, which already proves its popularity with audiences. Most people head to the theater after a busy week not for a lecture or to learn philosophy; they want a chance to forget their troubles and simply enjoy a good laugh."

...

Firefly and Fox's defense of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me naturally stirred a backlash from traditional media and critics.

However, in contrast to the initially one-sided negative reviews, through a coordinated effort across print, television, and major websites, the three companies quickly regained the upper hand.

Suddenly, with the rhetoric of "Movies are just entertainment; audiences shouldn't be swayed by critics" spreading rapidly, the emerging internet media platforms received a renewed surge of attention.

Everyone has a tendency to follow trends, especially with rhetoric that challenges conventional thinking. Driven by this narrative, many individuals felt compelled to jump into the fray and create a stir online, scoring Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me on movie review platforms.

Of course, there were negative consequences as well. Some well-known traditional film critics who had previously made their mark on sites like Yahoo Movies and IMDb protested against the marketing strategies of the three companies by withdrawing from the online platforms.

However, in the grand scheme, their actions didn't have much of a substantial impact.

...

Following this wave of marketing momentum, the box office trend for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me remained unaffected by the overwhelmingly negative media reviews. In fact, these critiques appeared to backfire somewhat.

After earning $15.37 million on Friday, the movie grossed $17.65 million and $13.97 million on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Ultimately, the film's three-day opening weekend box office totaled $46.99 million.

In stark contrast to the rising momentum of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, City of Angels seemed to fade into near obscurity, ending its opening weekend with a mere $15.16 million -- less than a third of what Austin Powers brought in.

...

Despite having Natasha Henstridge, who had just finished filming for Iron Man alongside him, Eric remained incredibly busy over the weekend.

On Saturday, he watched recent footage from Iron Man with Joss Whedon and took part in determining the follow-up promotional strategies for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

On Saturday night, Eric attended a party hosted by the Coppola family and caught some scenes from Sofia Coppola's directorial debut, The Virgin Suicides.

And Sunday was just as hectic.

As the new week rolled in, Eric's first order of business was to tackle the releases of the second-generation Fireflyer MP3 player from Firefly Electronics and Nokia's first music phone, the M-100.

The launch events for both products were scheduled for 2 PM in San Francisco, but filming for Iron Man wouldn't pause for that. After completing morning shoots, Eric hurried off to San Francisco for the product launch.

...

After a significant six-month ramp-up in production capacity, Firefly Electronics had boosted its output for the Fireflyer series music players to 2 million units each month. This event was essentially the global launch for the Fireflyer 2 and Nokia's M-100 music phone.

The upcoming Easter weekend would see the Fireflyer 2 hitting both the North American and major European markets simultaneously. Additionally, the Yahoo Music Store would open across several major European countries, while the Nokia M-100 music phone would first test the waters in North America, establishing a connection with Yahoo Music Store there.

The venue for the product launch remained at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco.

Eric took off from Los Angeles at noon, arriving at the Marriott about half an hour before the launch event began.

This time, Eric planned to just attend as an audience member to show his support for the product launch. Thanks to the detailed preparations from the high-level executives at Firefly Electronics, there was certainty that this event wouldn't encounter any mishaps, like a performer being unable to attend.

As the event drew near, the main ballroom was packed with guests and media from various outlets. The scale of this press event for Firefly Electronics was significantly larger than when the first-generation Fireflyer was launched.

In addition to invited media, many uninvited reporters had gathered outside the Marriott, eager to cover the event but unable to gain entry -- a situation that hadn't occurred during the initial Fireflyer launch.

...

Inside the Marriott, Eric felt relaxed as he sat in a large conference room that was specifically allocated by the hotel for the event. He had been in regular contact with several high-ranking executives from Firefly Electronics lately and was well aware of the event's preparation progress, and therefore had no worries about any unexpected issues arising.

At the conference table, he chatted briefly with a few executives before signaling for Christina Aguilera, who was the guest performer for the event, to come sit beside him. "So, you're releasing your first album by the end of the year?"

Christina still bore that petite demeanor as she seated herself obediently next to Eric. "Yeah, I've already released two singles as trial balloons, and they've both performed well, so the label has started choosing songs for me."

As she finished speaking, the girl looked at Eric with wide, shimmering eyes, like a little kitten asking for food.

Given Eric's fondness for Christina, Firefly Records was leaning even more toward her. Although Christina was an impressive vocalist, this time, Firefly Records did not plan for her to take the vocal explosion route but rather a standard teenage pop style.

Initially, Christina had also started with a teen pop approach, and her best-selling album was one that featured the title track Genie in a Bottle.

However, that market had already been captured by Britney Spears. As Britney rose to prominence, Christina's popularity waned in comparison, leading her to pivot toward a more powerhouse vocal direction. Although Christina later earned numerous Grammy awards due to her exceptional singing talent, her career couldn't quite match up to Britney's.

Recollecting these thoughts, Eric didn't immediately satisfy the expectant kitten beside him. Instead, he asked, "By the way, what's Britney been up to lately?"

"She's starting to prepare her own single," Christina sounded a little cautious at Eric's mention of Britney, but still responded dutifully. "The label is still following the path you set for us."

"I, I said what?"

Eric paused, trying to recall; he had said too many things over the years.

Seeing Eric's puzzled expression, Christina smiled and offered a gentle reminder: "You know, that I'm supposed to have a slightly rebellious image while Britney goes for that sweet girl-next-door vibe."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 979: Two Hundred Percent Likelihood]

With Christina's reminder, Eric recalled that he had indeed thought about that before. However, he just didn't have the energy to concern himself with such matters now.

The two were engaged in a quiet conversation when a staff member approached to inform Eric that the press conference would start in just five minutes, and he could head inside.

Eric nodded and stood to make his way into the conference hall, with Christina following closely beside him. She asked, "Are you heading back to Los Angeles today, Eric?"

"No, I'm flying directly to Lone Pine in Eastern California tomorrow. I'll spend the night in San Francisco," Eric replied, shaking his head. He added for her to join him later at his place.

Christina blushed slightly. Although she initially planned to return to Los Angeles after the conference, she didn't argue with Eric and nodded obediently.

Upon entering the conference hall, they parted ways to take their respective seats.

...

At precisely 2 PM, Victor McNally, CEO of Firefly Electronics, stepped onto the stage with a smile. After a brief address, he announced the official start of the press conference.

Next, Bill Olsen, president of Firefly Electronics, took the stage to review the sales performance of the Fireflyer player since its launch last year.

When the large screen displayed the total shipment figures for the first generation Fireflyer, murmurs swept through the audience of guests and media reporters below.

The first-generation Fireflyer gradually ceased production in early March as Firefly Electronics' major production lines began prepping for the Fireflyer 2. By the time production ended, the total shipments of the first-generation MP3 player had reached 8 million units.

This figure sparked discussion among the attendees, as according to information released by Firefly Electronics earlier in the year, the first generation had only shipped 3.95 million units in the previous year.

And in just the first quarter of this year, the Fireflyer had exceeded last year's total with 4.05 million units shipped. Although this surge could be attributed to production limitations on the Fireflyer from the previous year, the astonishing growth rate left everyone in awe.

Based on the shipment data, Firefly Electronics was projected to easily surpass 20 million units for the year.

Currently, the portable music player market in North America was around 30 million units, while the global market capacity for portable players was only 80 million. Clearly, only two years post-launch, the Fireflyer was poised to capture 25% of the global market share for portable music players.

More importantly, if the current trend continued, the Fireflyer was bound to bring about a fundamental transformation in the portable music player market.

As Bill Olsen continued to showcase how the Fireflyer player had promoted the software and hardware industries, including USB interfaces, CD drives, and online payment systems, a series of questions began swirling in the minds of the attendees, particularly the media reporters.

Would Firefly Electronics maintain exclusive rights to the entire suite of MP3 player patents?

How would Firefly Electronics tackle any potential monopoly issues?

Had Firefly Electronics considered the impact of the Fireflyer player on the traditional music industry?

However, based on earlier reports, the conference had not scheduled a QA session for the media.

With this in mind, some reporters, seizing the moment while Bill Olsen finished speaking and the Backstreet Boys performed a new song, began contacting their superiors via mobile phones, trying to secure private interviews with Firefly Electronics executives.

The following segments saw Victor McNally and several executives from Yahoo and Nokia take turns on stage to unveil the second-generation Fireflyer player, the latest Yahoo Music Box software, and the Nokia M-100 music phone among other products, interspersed with a few more performances.

Two hours later, Victor McNally and a vice president from Nokia returned to the stage to announce the much-anticipated pricing information for several key products, concluding the press conference.

...

Afterward, having networked with some significant high-profile guests, Eric intended to return to his place in Atherton, Palo Alto but was pulled to the Firefly Electronics headquarters by Victor McNally and others.

In a small conference room at the Firefly headquarters, as a secretary served coffee to everyone, Victor McNally asked, "Eric, have you been keeping an eye on Microsoft's antitrust case?"

For the past few years, the media had not ceased reporting on Microsoft's antitrust investigation. Over time, as long as it didn't involve personal interests, few paid it any special attention.

Eric shook his head honestly, realizing he hadn't felt inclined to follow such matters lately.

Victor McNally got straight to the point: "The Federal Department of Justice filed charges against Microsoft last week for bundling the Windows operating system with software like the video player and Office. The investigation may also involve the Yahoo browser, as its version and features on the Windows system consistently came before other operating systems. The Department indicated that such behavior constitutes unfair competition."

In reality, Microsoft's monopolistic practices extended far beyond merely bundling software. It also comprised exclusive agreements with PC manufacturers to eliminate competing operating systems; using kickbacks to aggressively promote its software; and forming an alliance with hardware manufacturers like Intel to sideline competitors.

These actions were arguably more severe than just bundling software, yet Microsoft had continuously managed to circumvent the consequences and faced minimal penalties. As a naturally monopolistic operating system, there was no straightforward solution for these issues.

Therefore, about Victor McNally's mention of the potential investigation regarding the Yahoo browser, Eric had no worries as Chris and the Yahoo management had not even informed him of this, clearly showing they weren't concerned.

At the agreement signing, both parties had already thought through justifications in advance: this fell under product RD progress. Yahoo had no obligation to release the latest products across all operating systems simultaneously; they could only favor those with higher market shares.

Chuckling, Eric shook his head, glancing at Victor McNally and the others. "You all know this won't really affect us. So, let's get straight to your thoughts."

Victor McNally felt a bit embarrassed that Eric had called them out. Bill Olsen then continued, "Eric, have you considered that if Yahoo were to release the YOS mobile operating system in the future, along with various mobile applications, they would likely face an even more serious software bundling monopoly than Microsoft does now?"

Eric immediately understood: "It sounds like you all want to regain the development rights for that operating system?"

Bill Olsen nodded: "Yes, Eric, we believe that would be more beneficial for the development of tablet products."

"This project has always been handled personally by Steve, and he developed the core of the system himself. Have you considered who would replace him for the next phase of system development if this project were to shift to Firefly Electronics?"

Bill Olsen realized Eric didn't seem too opposed to this idea. He exchanged a glance with Victor McNally and then said, "Eric, we think that if this project transitioned to Firefly Electronics, Steve could still serve as a technical advisor for the operating system. As for the project's actual operations, you should know that Silicon Valley is plentiful with talented software professionals. We've already identified a few suitable leaders through a headhunting firm."

Eric tapped his fingers on the conference table, contemplating for a moment. "Alright, if you can persuade Yahoo to transfer the project, then that could work."

Seeing Eric's nod, Victor McNally and Bill Olsen broke into smiles. Bill Olsen then added, "Actually, Eric, Yahoo isn't too keen on keeping this project."

Eric replied, confused, "Why not?"

"The development budget for this project exceeded 30 million dollars last year. In the coming years, it will only increase, but who knows when it might start generating profits. Once Yahoo goes public, such a project, which only consumes funds without turning profits, will definitely weigh down Yahoo's stock price."

Yahoo's scale wasn't comparable to Google's established dominance years later. Even Google's various forward-thinking projects faced criticism from investors, forcing its upper management to cut those budgets. Given the current situation, Yahoo's extra expenditure of tens of millions of dollars annually could easily attract criticism.

The principal reason Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple's board was his stubbornness in pursuing projects not favored by the board. Many corporate giants faltered due to a failure to adapt to changing times -- often, it wasn't a lack of visionary talent; rather, those talents couldn't compete against capital focused on immediate profits.

Even if Yahoo goes public, true control would still rest with Eric. Yet, upon entering the capital market, Eric couldn't be overly defiant; he would have to adapt to the game rules.

With these thoughts in mind, Eric softened his stance. Placing the mobile operating system under completely private ownership at Firefly Electronics appeared favorable.

...

In Atherton's wealthy neighborhood in Palo Alto.

By evening, Melanie forcibly dragged Caroline into the bedroom to dress her up. Looking at the girl in a light pink tracksuit, resembling a doll, Melanie nodded with satisfaction and said, "Now, I just don't believe some guy won't take the bait."

Caroline's face flushed red as she meekly responded, "Eric isn't into that sort of thing."

"Uh-huh, your word is law. Let's go prepare dinner; he said he'd be back tonight."

Caroline nervously followed Melanie, contemplating aloud, "Mel, could you maybe sleep outside tonight?"

"Of course, I've already called an old friend of mine from San Francisco," Melanie quickly nodded, noticing Caroline's expression relaxing, then added, "However, upon further thought, I decided against it." She reached out to pinch Caroline's delicate cheek, grinning as she said, "I think if I hide away, you'd have a two hundred percent chance of backing out and missing out tonight."

Caroline had no confidence to refute: "N-no, that wouldn't happen."

"Regardless, I'll be keeping an eye on you tonight. If you chicken out, I'll strip your clothes off and toss you in his room."

Caroline blinked, her cheeks flushing again at Melanie's vivid imagery.

The two women had just spent a while busy in the kitchen when the sound of a car resonated from the yard.

Seeing Caroline almost throw a carrot in her hand, Melanie sighed and set down her knife. "Let's go welcome the boss home together."

...

Once they stepped out of the kitchen, they saw Eric walking in, laughing with Christina, who was adorably linked to his arm. Upon noticing Melanie and Caroline, she politely greeted, "Hey, Mel, Carly!"

Melanie felt disheartened; it clearly looked like there would be no chance tonight.

Caroline's eyes initially exhibited disappointment but soon relaxed as she courteously replied, "Hi, Christina."

Eric nodded at the two women, observing them exit the kitchen. "You two keep doing what you were. I'm going to take a shower first."

As he said that, noting Christina was about to let go of him, he leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Christina shyly recoiled while glancing at Melanie and Caroline, then followed Eric upstairs.

Just as they reached the staircase, Eric suddenly recalled something and turned back to Melanie. "Mel, could you prepare a casual outfit for me? I'd like to change clothes after my shower."

"Sure thing, Eric," Melanie smiled and nodded. Once Eric's figure disappeared, she sighed, complaining, "Okay, okay, I guess that's just the life of a maid."

Caroline immediately offered, "How about I do it?"

"Forget it; I don't want to run the risk of upsetting him," Melanie sighed, glancing at Caroline beside her. "Looks like no luck again tonight. But hasn't he thought about Christina's age at all?"

Caroline peered at the staircase and paused before replying, "Eric, well, after all, she's a willing participant."

Melanie pouted, saying, "I feel like no matter what, if he committed murder, you'd excuse him somehow."

Caroline retorted seriously, "Eric would never kill anyone."

"I meant -- what if?"

Caroline scrunched her small nose, stammering, "Then, there would definitely be a reason."

Melanie instantly feigned an expression of knowing it would be just that and slapped her forehead. "Fine, I'll prepare the clothes for him. However, we might be stuck in Lone Pine for over half a month. Hmm, I refuse to believe there won't be a chance to shove you into his bed by then."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 980: Warner's Calculations]

After attending the product launch event for Firefly Electronics, the next day, Eric flew to a small town called Lone Pine, located over 200 kilometers east of Los Angeles, on the VH-60N helicopter he retrieved from Larry Ellison. He continued filming outdoor scenes for Iron Man.

At the same time, with the buzz generated by the collaboration of three companies, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me continued to rake in over $6 million a day at the box office. After a weekend opening gross of $46.99 million, the total box office for Austin Powers in its first week reached $73.6 million. This amount set a record that many blockbuster films found hard to achieve.

In comparison, the originally anticipated film City of Angels only earned $23.96 million during its first week, falling well behind Austin Powers. The movie quality of City of Angels wasn't particularly bad, and Warner's marketing efforts were commendable. However, with Firefly, Fox, and MGM's cunning marketing strategies drawing the audience's attention, City of Angels had almost fallen into a state of forgetfulness. Despite Warner's efforts to recover the situation, they still failed to seize any substantial attention from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

The facts revealed that a film lacking in attention often performed worse at the box office than a movie that had been widely criticized. Notably, Austin Powers, although labeled as a bad film by many critics, enjoyed a decent reputation among general audiences.

...

Entering the week of Easter, The Wedding Singer and Species both opened widely. Inspired by the excellent box office results of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, the marketing departments of the three companies stepped up their game, flexibly changing their promotion strategies and hitting the theme of "more choices" to promote the Easter movie package.

While Austin Powers had tremendous buzz, a significant portion of the audience still didn't appreciate such raunchy films. The release of The Wedding Singer and Species provided these viewers with a fresh alternative. The marketing tactics of the three companies effectively concentrated on this point.

Consequently, many theater operators noticed a significant increase in the number of patrons heading to the cinemas compared to previous years during the Easter weekend.

This trend continued until Monday, April 13.

...

Richard Parsons, the CEO of Warner Bros, rushed to the Warner Bros headquarters in Burbank early in the morning. His secretary had already placed the Easter weekend box office data on his desk.

In addition to New Line and MGM's two new films, there were several other low-budget films that opened last Friday. However, looking at the box office figures in his hands, Richard Parsons frowned slightly; the three films from Firefly's system were undoubtedly occupying the top three positions on that weekend's box office chart.

With increased competition, there was no repeat of the previous week's dominant performance by Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. New Line's The Wedding Singer, a warm romantic comedy appealing to a wide audience, grossed $31.7 million in its opening three days, landing firmly at the top of the Easter weekend box office rankings.

Following closely was Austin Powers, which saw a very respectable 45% drop from its opening weekend, bringing in another $25.85 million, securing the second position on the box office list. It was worth mentioning that in just ten days, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me had accumulated a total of $99.45 million at the North American box office, just shy of the $100 million mark by a mere $550,000.

In contrast, the sci-fi thriller Species performed somewhat more sluggishly, with an opening weekend three-day gross of just $21.77 million. Of course, this sluggish performance was only in comparison to the two other Firefly films, as Universal's new release, Playing Hard to Get, ranked fourth with a mere $13.12 million, trailing Species by nearly $9 million.

[T/N: I did not find any reference to the Universal's movie. Original text was 欲擒故纵. You can assume this is a Butterfly-ed movie.]

At fifth place was Warner Bros' City of Angels. Being squeezed by this series of films, City of Angels faced a staggering 46% drop in its second week, bringing its second weekend box office down to just $8.19 million, with a cumulative total of $32.15 million over ten days, still just one-third of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me's earnings.

One could say that Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was undoubtedly the biggest winner in this year's Easter season.

...

Setting aside the box office data report, Richard Parsons rubbed his temples, reflecting with a sense of dark humor that if the Firefly system's companies launched another Easter movie package next year, there would surely be internal disputes over who got to lead the charge, making for quite the lively affair.

Considering the current situation, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me had nearly hit the $100 million mark in just ten days, and with another two weeks of concentrated box office earnings still to come, it could potentially amass an additional $60 million or so, indicating that if it maintained a slight uptick, its total North American box office could range between $180 million to $200 million.

In contrast, whether it was The Wedding Singer or Species, the maximum potential for North American box office earnings, given their current openings, was only around $100 million, and the likelihood of that happening was very low. The Wedding Singer might just scrape through to the $100 million threshold, but Species clearly did not stand a chance.

Achieving $100 million at the North American box office during Easter, even if it ended up earning just $70 or $80 million, was still an exhilarating success given the mid-range production budgets of the two films. However, compared to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, such success would inevitably seem vastly inferior.

Faced with the over $100 million earnings gap, Richard Parsons did not believe that the current close cooperation among the three companies could continue.

After some self-soothing thoughts, he suddenly regretted not doing everything possible to facilitate Warner Bros' collaboration with the three Firefly companies in the "Easter Movie Package."

It was clear to everyone that the three films launched by the Firefly system could not be regarded as top-notch in terms of quality. Their box office success was primarily due to an exhaustive marketing campaign by the three companies.

Warner had a significant opportunity to be part of this initiative, as it was Firefly that had initially proposed the collaboration. However, due to delays from the specific executors in the distribution department, Warner missed out on this chance.

City of Angels had a production cost of $55 million and a marketing budget of $25 million, making its total budget around $80 million.

Now, looking at the box office figures for City of Angels, it seemed this film only stood to earn approximately $50 million at the North American box office. Warner's distribution department was even considering canceling its overseas release, opting instead to focus on recovering costs through outright sales of the rights, which would likely only yield around $10 million.

Therefore, the total revenue that Warner could recover from City of Angels would total less than $40 million. Given the lengthy cycle for DVD releases and broadcast rights, which were not a current consideration, it implied that in the short term, Warner's losses on this project would exceed $40 million.

While Time Warner was a large corporation, a $40 million loss could not be classified as a small sum.

Although the failure to secure this collaboration partnership did not fall squarely on Richard Parsons, someone had already brought the matter up against him during last week's executive meeting. He also regretted not compelling the collaboration; as the CEO of Warner Bros, he could have enforced the smaller partnership without anyone being able to stop him.

However, despite his position, the political factions within the film division at the group were heavily intertwined. Concerned about potentially igniting internal discord, Richard Parsons refrained from taking such actions and hence, what could have been a straightforward achievement turned into a regrettable decision.

...

As Richard Parsons contemplated how to mitigate the potential impacts of this incident on his future, there was a knock at the office door. His secretary entered and announced, "Mr. Parsons, Mr. Levin is here."

As the secretary spoke, a tall man with somewhat graying hair stepped into the office; it was Gerald Levin, the current vice chairman of Time Warner. Besides his role at Warner, Levin was also one of the significant personal shareholders in Time Warner.

Richard Parsons had risen to his current position with the backing of Gerald Levin, and he could be considered among Levin's most trusted aides. Seeing Levin enter the office, Parsons quickly stood to greet him.

The two embraced warmly, and Parsons instructed his secretary to prepare coffee. He led Gerald Levin to the sofa in the reception area and said, "Jerry, what brings you here at this time?"

"I just met with Steve Case over the weekend. I have a few things I'd like to discuss with you," Levin replied, noticing the lingering worry etched on Parsons' face. "What's wrong?"

Parsons managed a wry smile, rose from his seat, walked to his desk, retrieved the document he had been reviewing, and handed it to Levin. "It's about the Easter weekend box office."

Levin took a glance at the document, tossed it aside casually, and said cheerfully, "Don't worry, as long as we handle the upcoming matters, these little issues won't affect you at all. Plus, Fred who is in charge of distribution is a Semel person; you can easily pin this slip-up on them."

As they were talking, Parsons' secretary brought the two men their coffees, pausing their conversation momentarily until the elegant blonde left the room and they resumed their discussion.

"I've had a detailed conversation with Steve Case. As long as we can jointly facilitate the merger between AOL and Time Warner, he's willing to work alongside us in running the future company. By then, Time Warner will continue to hold authority," Levin explained.

Since last year, Levin had started negotiating secretly with AOL's CEO Steve Case regarding the merger of their two companies. As one of Levin's key insiders, Parsons had been in the loop regarding these discussions.

Just as he took a sip from his coffee cup, Parsons sounded slightly confused by Levin's statement, "Jerry, are you saying this merger will be led by AOL?"

Levin nodded, "Theoretically, that is correct. AOL is initiating an acquisition of Time Warner, and we will respond accordingly."

Parsons furrowed his brow slightly; in recent months, the Asian financial crisis had led to a substantial influx of hot money back to the U.S., and the NASDAQ index had begun to rise rapidly again. AOL, as one of the foremost tech stocks, had already surpassed a market capitalization of $30 billion.

However, Time Warner's market value was nearly $50 billion, and that was merely the difference in stock value.

When it came to fundamental strength, Time Warner had the upper hand over AOL by a considerable margin. To say nothing else, Time Warner's annual revenue was five times that of AOL.

Thus, Parsons found it hard to accept that this acquisition would be led by AOL; he didn't think a company like AOL, bloated by the tech boom, had the qualifications to acquire an established media giant like Time Warner.

Yet acceptance was one thing; Parsons quickly realized that putting the reins in AOL's hands was the only way to ensure they maintained influence over the newly merged company. If Time Warner led the acquisition, the internal faction aligned with Levin would most likely not gain control over the merger transaction.

Over the years, Time Warner had essentially become a publicly traded company, and key individual shareholders like Gerald Levin maintained their stakes at merely single-digit percentages.

With shareholder power being so diffuse, no single party had decisive influence, meaning the management of Time Warner had well-established control over the media giant. As long as they secured control over Time Warner, Levin was willing to make certain sacrifices, even if it affected his own interests as a shareholder, let alone those of other shareholders in the group.

Thus, after receiving reassurances from Steve Case, Levin had unhesitatingly relinquished the lead role in this acquisition.

As Parsons swiftly pieced together these details, he drank from his coffee cup, set it down, and said, "So, Jerry, the most important question is, what's Firefly's stance? After all, they are the largest shareholder in AOL."

"Chris Hansen, the head of Firefly Investments, had made it clear that they didn't want AOL moving toward becoming a comprehensive media group. This was likely also in line with Eric Williams' intentions; they did not want AOL to venture into the media sector, preferring instead for it to focus purely on being an internet service provider," Levin explained. "However, Firefly's stake in AOL is only about 30%. Steve Case is currently lobbying the other AOL shareholders to support him. He assured me I shouldn't worry; we only need to resolve the issues on the Time Warner side."

Parsons nodded, "What is it you need me to do?"

"I also need to lobby Time Warner's board and shareholders during this period. You need to dive into the merger details with Steve Case, and I hope we can reach a preliminary merger agreement by the end of the year."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 981: Silly Girl]

Lone Pine was nestled in a wide valley within the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, embodying the quintessential American Western town, surrounded by barren land, hills, deserts, and towering mountains. The natural scenery was breathtaking. Since the emergence of Hollywood in the early 20th century, Lone Pine had served as a backdrop for many films, particularly Westerns. As a result, there was a small movie museum in Lone Pine dedicated to documenting the films shot in the area.

The opening of Iron Man featured scenes in which Tony Stark was attacked, the dramatic escape from a cave, and the test firing of the Jericho missile, all filmed around Lone Pine.

On a gentle slope in the Alabama Hills to the west of Lone Pine, Caroline and Melanie stood on the outskirts of the crew, watching as Eric faced the snow-capped mountains in the distance, delivering an impromptu pitch for the Jericho missile.

After Eric confidently delivered his lines, he spread his arms wide, and a loud thud rang out from the high-pressure wind cannon positioned not far behind him, sending up a cloud of dust that pushed Eric forward a step.

This was already the fifth take. The crew intended to create a scene where Tony Stark stood immovably in the missile's shockwave, embodying confidence. Naturally, they couldn't actually fire any missiles; the shockwave effect was purely artificial.

However, the effect was proving to be a bit too intense. After several attempts, Eric couldn't maintain his balance. Moving the wind cannon back would diminish the "explosion" effect of the Jericho missile.

"Looks like it won't work like this," Caroline commented with a smile, "you can't stand still at all."

"I think this effect is actually pretty good," Melanie responded, grinning as well. "Did you see Eric just now? He stumbled from the shockwave, and even though it was embarrassing, he acted like nothing happened. That's way better than just standing there."

"It is kind of funny," Caroline nodded, her tone slightly corrective, "Eric is really something else."

Hearing this, Melanie rolled her eyes slightly.

...

In the filming area, Eric and Joss Whedon reviewed the footage from that particular shot several times. After discussing it, they agreed that the effect was good and decided against retaking it.

This marked the second week of the crew's filming in Lone Pine. Only one scene remained, where Eric escapes from the cave and is rescued in the desert. Once that was completed, the crew's outdoor filming would be largely finished, leaving only a series of smaller interior scenes that would all be shot back in Los Angeles.

Noticing that it was past 4:30 PM, Joss Whedon announced that shooting was wrapped for the day. The crew began methodically organizing their equipment, preparing to return to their lodgings in Lone Pine.

...

Eric, of course, didn't have to concern himself with such details. After taking a bottle of water from Caroline and finishing it in one breath, he led the two women into an SUV, setting off for Lone Pine first.

In the front seats of the SUV were two bodyguards. Caroline and Melanie squeezed into the backseat next to Eric. As Caroline pulled out a thick stack of folders from her satchel, Eric chuckled and asked, "Any good news today?"

Caroline nodded and, without opening the folders, answered adeptly, "This morning, we received the box office data for the new week from Los Angeles. The box office drop for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me in its third week has narrowed to 36%, bringing in $26.67 million, with a total of $141.9 million over three weeks. The Wedding Singer saw a 41% drop in its second week, earning $26.71 million, totaling $71.99 million over two weeks. Species dropped 39% in its second week, with earnings of $18.91 million, accumulating $50.01 million. In three weeks, the total box office for these three films reached $260 million, meaning we have already recouped all production and distribution costs, based on a 55% average revenue share."

The production budgets were $30 million for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, $18 million for The Wedding Singer, and $35 million for Species, with another $50 million for marketing. Adding about $3 million to $5 million for distribution expenses across the three companies, they cumulatively spent just over $140 million.

With a total Easter box office of $260 million, based on a 55% average revenue share, the three companies would collectively recover about $143 million in box office shares, meaning Firefly, Fox, and MGM had indeed recouped all costs.

However, breaking it down to individual films, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was a large profit earner, while Species needed a few more weeks to break even, and The Wedding Singer had the highest return on investment.

From the specific data, all three films' weekly box office figures had dropped to around $20 million, and in the coming weeks, as the Easter atmosphere faded, recovering an additional $100 million in box office would be considered good.

After Caroline spoke, Eric pondered for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. She blinked but didn't elaborate further.

Eric had been so engrossed in the filming of Iron Man over the past half month in Lone Pine that he had no idea how significant the box office results of the three films had been in Hollywood.

The combined expenditure of $140 million for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Wedding Singer, and Species was roughly equivalent to the budget of a major blockbuster.

However, with their current box office trajectory, these three films might recover as much as $360 million in North America alone, which would indeed be miraculous.

To put it in perspective, last year's North American box office champion, Casino Royale, which Eric directed, brought in $370 million. If the $360 million from the three films was considered as a single movie, it had a 90% chance of being booked as this year's North American box office champion.

This Easter season had seen a surge in box office performance due to the successful marketing by the three companies. In just three weeks, all weekly box office figures had surpassed $100 million, compared to the previous years when weekly box office totals barely reached $70-80 million.

As a result, nearly all film companies in Hollywood were studying the "Easter Movie Package" strategy employed by the three companies to seize the opportunity and replicate this box office miracle.

Caroline remained silent, leaning against the opposite door while Melanie noted Eric's relaxed demeanor and said, "Eric, the projected North American total for the three films could reach $360 million. If that were for one movie, it might win the North American box office champion."

Eric understood Melanie's meaning and chuckled, "But they are, after all, lower to mid-budget productions. Though they can succeed in North America, they aren't eligible for large-scale global distribution. Even if they achieve $360 million in North America, their combined overseas box office will be lucky to reach $200 million, totaling around $500-600 million globally. In contrast, big-budget productions, like the Jurassic Park series, Men in Black series, or MGM's spy movie universe, can easily reach $700 million or more globally, with the profitability of their merchandise far outstripping that of these lower-budget productions."

Melanie countered, "But big productions are more prone to losses; one flop could lead to bankruptcy for a company."

"That's undeniable, but Hollywood's future is dominated by blockbusters, and that's an irreversible trend. If we keep thinking we can achieve big things with small investments, it's like trying to win a battle with fewer troops -- it's a very low probability."

Melanie nodded slightly, pretending to be convinced, and stopped arguing with Eric, knowing she wouldn't win against him.

Caroline, sandwiched between the two, listened to their conversation. After glancing at Melanie's expression, she knew what her friend was thinking.

She blinked again, intending to say something, but the vehicle had already entered Lone Pine and quickly arrived at the hotel where the crew was staying.

...

Watching Eric get out and walk toward his room, both women were aware of his habits. They knew Eric would likely head straight to shower. To avoid interrupting him, they would usually back off at this point, but this time, Melanie insisted on following Eric into his suite.

Although Eric was vehemently against staying in hotel-like places, Lone Pine, with only 2,000 residents, obviously couldn't offer him anything better. He didn't want his cleanliness to turn into something pathological, so he opted to stay in a hotel with the crew, just swapping out the bedding for new ones.

As they walked into the room and noticed Melanie unexpectedly dragging Caroline along, Eric asked in confusion, "Is there something else?"

"Of course -- work," Melanie replied with feigned conviction. "Eric, there are a few documents that need your personal signature today."

"Sure, but can it wait until after I shower?"

"You can shower again before going to bed."

As she said this, Melanie pulled Caroline into the room, sitting on the couch and seriously flipping through the stack of documents Caroline had just taken out.

However, no matter how clever one might be, they couldn't escape the negative influences of unhelpful allies.

Seeing Caroline sitting next to Melanie with a guilty look, Eric realized something was wrong. Chuckling as he sat across from them, he said, "Now, don't use work as an excuse. Is there something you need my help with?"

Melanie shook her head seriously, "No."

Eric turned to Caroline, "Carly, you say something."

Caroline quickly blinked a few times and shook her head, "No, nothing."

Melanie had already given up hoping for any help from Caroline, as long as she didn't accidentally expose anything.

Seeing that Caroline managed to hold up in a critical moment, Melanie felt relieved. She had figured out Eric's personality by now -- if they didn't confess, he wouldn't kick them out of the room.

Handing a folder to Eric, Melanie said, "Eric, this is a copy of Firefly's acquisition contract for Virgin Records. You need to read and sign it; we need to send it back to Los Angeles tomorrow."

Eric grinned at the two women and decided not to press further. Accepting the file, he flipped through it casually and asked, "How are sales for Fireflyer2 this week?"

Today was already April 24, and Fireflyer2 had launched for sales on the Easter weekend of April 11. Its first week had seen sales of 670,000 units in North America and Europe. If it maintained this momentum, Fireflyer2's global sales could exceed 22 million units over the remaining eight months of the year.

However, no one could quite predict Fireflyer2's sales outlook. Some believed the initial 670,000 units sold were a result of the buzz surrounding its launch and promotions, potentially leading to a sales decline later on. Others felt that with the further expansion of the Internet, Fireflyer's market capacity would continue to grow, with sales possibly reaching 30 million by the end of the year.

Thus, to understand the demand for Fireflyer2 following its first week, the sales data over the next few weeks remained crucial.

"The figures aren't tallied yet," Melanie shook her head. "It's just the second week of Fireflyer2's sales, so we still need a few more days to get a sense of the numbers. However, feedback from San Francisco suggests sales should stay above 600,000 units this week, as users have responded positively to the new product."

Compared to the first generation, Fireflyer2 didn't just enhance storage capacity; Firefly Electronics had made significant improvements in battery life, usability, and design. Though the price had risen considerably, it still offered excellent value compared to its predecessor.

Eric flipped a page in the folder and continued, "What about the Nokia M-100?"

Melanie didn't have the same photographic memory as Caroline. Hearing Eric's question, she shuffled through the materials before finding a data report. After a moment, she glanced at it and said, "Data from ATT, Verizon, and Sprint haven't come in yet, but sales of the unlocked phone on Amazon have exceeded 11,000 units in these two weeks."

Since the beginning of the analog signal era, North America's mobile phone market had been dominated by major telecom operators, with carrier-subsidized phones accounting for over 90% of mobile sales. This trend slightly shifted only after the emergence of the iPhone.

Due to consumer habits, North American mobile users seldom purchased unlocked phones.

The Nokia M-100 was being sold exclusively on Amazon's online platform without arrangements for its sale in physical stores outside of the carriers.

Using a nine-to-one sales ratio, if Amazon's music phone sold 11,000 units, the total sales of the Nokia M-100 could be estimated at around 110,000 units -- less than a tenth of Fireflyer2's two-week sales.

Eric remembered that Nokia had only prepared 50,000 units initially. The only thing he was satisfied with was not hearing any reports of shortages, a testament to Nokia's incredibly strong supply chain compared to Firefly Electronics. However, an average weekly sales figure of around 50,000 units was far from meeting Eric's expectations; if Nokia had tried a bit harder, the M-100's sales would surely have exceeded this number.

Still, Eric had no time to dwell on that. After reviewing the contract for Firefly's acquisition of Virgin Records and signing his name, he dealt with several other documents due to Melanie's persistence. It wasn't until nightfall that Melanie dragged Eric out for dinner.

It was only past nine when Eric returned to his room again.

After closing the door and lightly shrugging, Eric walked to the bathroom, planning to shower before hitting the sack.

...

Melanie and Caroline were in the room next door. Inside, Melanie quietly pressed her ear against the wall for a moment, detecting the sound of running water, before dragging Caroline out of the room. Using the spare keycard for Eric's suite, she stealthily opened the door and tiptoed into his bedroom with a reluctant Caroline in tow.

Caroline's face turned apple-red, and she tried to free herself from Melanie's grip, quietly saying, "Mel, I think, I think maybe we shouldn't do this?"

"I knew you'd say that," Melanie shot her a look, no longer bothering with pleasantries. She pushed Caroline down onto Eric's bed and, in a few swift movements, removed all but the girl's inner clothing. Pulling the blanket over Caroline, Melanie leaned down and kissed her on the blushing girl's cheek, saying, "This is all I can help you with."

With that, she picked up Caroline's clothes and, on tiptoe, slipped out of the room.

Seeing her friend take her clothes away, Caroline lost her motivation to escape and curled up in the blankets. With a little sniffle, she felt Eric's commanding presence, and her cheeks blushed even deeper.

After a comfortable hot shower, Eric emerged in a robe, towel drying his hair, when he froze at the sight of Caroline curled up on the bed.

She looked like a little kitten, and when their eyes met, she gasped and ducked back under the covers.

Eric blinked in surprise for a moment, finally understanding why the two girls had acted so strangely today. Perhaps Caroline had been acting this way for a while.

Chuckling to himself, Eric sat at the edge of the bed and gently tugged at the blanket. Caroline's little hands clutched the covers tightly for a moment but soon let go, revealing her flushed face, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Gently pinching Caroline's delicate cheek, Eric sighed softly, "Silly girl."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 982: So What?]

Feeling Eric's movement, Caroline's long eyelashes fluttered as she cautiously opened her eyes. Gaining a bit of courage, she locked gazes with Eric for a second. Her small hand stretched out to grasp his larger one, and she rubbed it against her cheek as she murmured, "Eric, I, I really like you."

"I know," Eric replied gently, not pulling away his hand as he felt the soft texture of the girl's skin. He added, "You know, the weather is nice tonight. How about I take you for a drive? We could head back to Los Angeles or maybe Las Vegas."

Caroline paused for a moment, her eyes opening wide again as she looked at Eric with a yearning gaze. Still holding his hand, she silently pulled deeper under the covers.

After lingering in silence for a while, Eric softly coaxed, "Carly, I like you too, but we can't do this."

In another brief moment of silence, Caroline finally lifted her small face and whispered, "Eric, I'm already twenty-seven."

Realizing that she had loosened her grip on his hand, Eric withdrew it, gently stroking Caroline's soft golden hair, laughing as he said, "Yeah, time flies, but little Carly is still so young. Maybe you should find a... um, girlfriend. I would prefer it if you found a girlfriend; girls can be more thoughtful."

Upon hearing Eric say this, Caroline quickly blinked a few times, her lips curving into a smile as she reclaimed Eric's larger hand, resting her small head on his arm. She whispered, "Eric, you're really bad."

Eric nodded, justifying himself, "Actually, I'm not that bad. I'm being a gentleman right now."

"You," Caroline paused, avoiding Eric's gaze for a moment. After a brief hesitation, she said, "I just mentioned that I am twenty-seven. You can't treat me like your daughter."

Eric was taken aback and laughed, saying, "Where did you get that strange idea?"

"I..." Caroline started to say something, only to find she couldn't articulate her thoughts, given that it was Melanie who had 'analyzed' that situation for her.

Eric sensed what was happening and chuckled, "Looks like I really need to discipline Melanie this time."

"You wouldn't dare," Caroline retorted, then added, "Then why, if you don't think of me that way, are you being so nice to me?"

"Because I see you as a sister. Isn't it normal for a brother to care for his sister?"

Caroline's mind turned over that reasoning, finding it quite reasonable. She no longer felt troubled by the earlier thought planted in her heart by Melanie. Instead, her thoughts shifted back to tonight's events. After a moment, her face turned slightly red as she carefully took Eric's hand, attempting to bring it toward her chest.

Feeling her intentions, Eric gently resisted and easily pulled his hand out of Caroline's hold.

The room fell silent once again. In the wake of Eric's rejection, Caroline slowly withdrew into the blankets.

Eric sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed, watching the girl's movements. Noticing she stayed still for a long time, he worriedly reached out to pull back some of the covers. Caroline was curled up like a kitten, her small face stained with tears. Although she didn't sob out loud, large droplets of tears streamed from the corners of her eyes.

"Carly, I really like you too," Eric said, pulling several tissues from the box at the bedside. Feeling sorry, he helped Caroline wipe her tears, whispering, "But we really can't do this."

Caroline still hadn't cried aloud; she quietly let Eric wipe away her tears. Then, she softly asked, her voice thick with emotion, "Why not? You clearly really like women."

Eric replied, "I just mentioned that I see you as a sister."

Caroline's voice remained soft, but this time she immediately retorted, "I don't want to be your sister."

With that, she finally couldn't hold back and began to sob, her tears flowing more freely as she turned her head away from Eric's attempts to wipe her eyes.

Watching Caroline tremble slightly from her sobs, Eric sighed again. After a brief hesitation, he got up and found his phone, slowly dialing a long string of numbers as he sat back down on the bed.

...

After getting help from Katzenberg for that DNA test, Eric was unable to suppress his curiosity. He secretly hired a private detective to search for information about that woman. Initially, he thought he would gradually forget about this, but today he found himself having to confront it.

The room was quiet. Although her back was turned to Eric, Caroline could still clearly hear the beeping of the phone in his hand. Soon after, a somewhat puzzled female voice replied, "Hello, this is Olivia. Who is this?"

Hearing her aunt's familiar voice, Caroline halted her tears, realizing that she was currently in a standoff with Eric, which helped her resist the urge to turn around.

Ultimately, inheriting all the memories of this body, Eric still felt some complex emotions swell within him. Taking a gentle breath, he said, "I'm Eric Williams, and Carly is next to me. Can you explain this situation to her?"

Delivering his statement all at once, Eric directly handed the phone to Caroline and stood up, walking out of his suite toward the terrace at the end of the second-floor hallway.

Somebody had left a chair there, prompting Eric to take a seat and gaze thoughtfully at the dim mountains under the faint starlight.

Perhaps due to having lived two lives, Eric carried a natural detachment and indifference toward this world. This could also explain why, after his rebirth, he had encountered many women, yet only a few remained by his side. From the beginning, he never cared much about uncovering the nature of his relationship with Caroline and a few others; he just didn't want too many people involved in his life.

Yet now, perhaps it wasn't so bad to suddenly gain a little cousin.

Wearing a bathrobe and finding no cigarettes, Eric sat still for a moment, confirming that the phone call must have nearly finished, before heading back to his room.

...

Reaching the door, he remembered he forgot to take his key card. Raising his hand to knock, he reconsidered and walked to the door where Melanie and Caroline stayed. The two women were responsible for his daily life, so they also had a spare key card.

After knocking twice, the door swung open.

Melanie had thought Caroline had returned. But seeing Eric standing at the door in a bathrobe, she shrank back slightly, nervously asking, "E-Eric, is there something wrong?"

Eric extended his hand, "Give me the key card."

"Uh? Oh!" Melanie quickly fished out a key card from her pocket and handed it to Eric. She had just begun to muster the courage to ask something when Eric shot her a look that suggested they could deal with that later and turned to leave.

Opening the door, Eric quietly stepped into the bedroom only to find Caroline still lying on his bed, still on the phone.

Seeing Eric at the door, Caroline softly said, "Auntie, he's back. I'll hang up now... um, bye."

Once Caroline ended the call and set the phone aside, Eric sat down beside her on the bed, quietly watching the girl still curled up in her blanket without speaking first.

Caroline's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Eric. After a moment, it seemed she gained some courage and emerged from under the covers.

Eric blinked, taken aback as the girl, dressed in only a small shirt, nestled closer. He found his body stiffening.

This situation felt wrong. Had that woman not told her the truth?

Looking around, Eric leaned in slightly, pulling the covers tightly around Caroline's small body. He asked, "What did your aunt tell you?"

Caroline allowed Eric to wrap her tighter in the blanket, softly responding, "Auntie wanted me to apologize to you for her. She also asked if she could come to Los Angeles to see you."

However, Eric was more concerned about something else and pressed further, "What else?"

Caroline's courage seemed to fade now that she was cuddled up against Eric but didn't dare move too much. She cautiously held onto his arm, blinking slowly as she said, "I-I didn't know you would be my cousin. No wonder you're so nice to me. And you all think of me as a child and don't tell me anything."

By the end of her statement, her tone had taken on a playful note of complaint.

Sensing something was still off, Eric gently moved his arm that Caroline was holding, asking, "Do you know what you're doing right now?"

"Mm." Caroline nodded slightly, and as she noticed Eric's movement, she felt shy but didn't loosen her hold.

"That, Carly, don't you think you should return to your own room?"

"I don't want to go back."

"But, I'm your cousin!"

Caroline thoughtfully replied, "So what?"

"..."

Eric suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Feeling Eric's uncertainty, Caroline quickly added, "Eric, my aunt wishes for me to marry you. But I know you probably won't want that. I just want to stay by your side, okay?"

"Um, okay, wait, what did you just say?"

From Eric's reaction before reaching out to his aunt, Caroline clearly understood his concerns. Watching Eric's current flustered expression, she softly remarked, "In England, cousins can marry too. The royal couple are cousins."

Eric countered, "But we're in California."

Caroline blinked innocently, "California seems to allow it too."

"..."

Finally understanding why he had always treated her especially but still kept a distance, Caroline felt very happy at this moment.

The girl, simple-minded, hadn't connected these thoughts to family history but believed her parents and aunt knew yet purposely kept it from her out of kindness.

Although Eric seemed to struggle with getting too close, she felt reassured that as long as she took the initiative, everything would be fine.

He was such a bad guy.

With those thoughts, Caroline delicately shifted, tentatively calling out, "Cousin."

Eric immediately felt a chill run down his spine and quickly said, "Don't call me that."

Caroline smiled, nodding obediently, "Then I'll just call you Eric."

Finally breaking free from his thoughts, Eric came to himself, feeling a heavy responsibility ahead. He replied, "That's fine, Carly. It's getting late. How about you head back to your room tonight?"

Caroline knew nothing would happen between them tonight. She released Eric, clutching the edge of the blanket, her voice laced with a little playfulness, "Mel took all my clothes! Eric, will you carry me back?"

Though some petty thoughts crossed Eric's mind about docking her pay, he stood up and gently picked up the blanket-wrapped girl, heading toward the exit.

With only her head poking out from the blanket, Caroline gazed up at Eric with bright eyes. After stepping out of the bedroom, she suddenly asked, "Oh, Eric, can I tell Mel about this?"

Eric, feeling a bit "defeated," replied, "Go ahead."

But Caroline quickly added, "If you don't like it, I'll keep it from Mel."

"It's fine; anyway..." Eric shrugged and stated, "As long as you don't use the excuse of being Eric Williams' cousin to do bad things."

"Ha! I wouldn't do that."

Exiting the room, they took a few steps to the door of the two women's room. Eric, holding Caroline, lightly kicked the door with his foot.

"Eric, that's very rude," Caroline commented instinctively upon feeling Eric's actions. Then, she stretched out a fair little arm from the blanket and knocked a few times on the door.

This time, whether Melanie had fallen asleep or not, it took quite a while before she opened the door.

Waiting at the door in such an odd posture, Caroline knocked a few more times. Then she suddenly recalled something, "Oh, Eric, I just mentioned that Auntie wants to come see you in Los Angeles!"

Eric nodded, "That's fine."

Caroline sensed a hint of coldness in his tone. After hesitating a moment, she asked, "So, Eric, will you call her 'Mom'?"

"Um, probably not," Eric shook his head, looking down at the girl in his arms. "I don't think she'd mind."

Caroline shook her head in response, "She definitely would mind. Auntie has been keeping an eye on you. I now understand why I suddenly received that letter from Auntie from Greece. She even said she missed me, her niece. Huh, Auntie must really want to know how you're doing." Although she slightly scrunched her nose, this kind-hearted girl didn't seem to take it hard. She reiterated, "She definitely cares."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 983: Reunion]

After breaking the awkward relationship with Caroline, the only noticeable changes were that the younger cousin acted more naturally and affectionately around Eric, rarely blushing anymore, and Melanie continuing to exclaim "Oh my God" in a lengthy stream. Everything else seemed pretty normal.

After wrapping up filming in Pinewood, the crew returned to Los Angeles to finish up some interior shots. As May rolled in, the filming schedule indicated that Iron Man would wrap by the end of the month, entering a lengthy post-production phase. With the end of filming, Eric found himself less busy than in the previous two months and began having more time to manage other company matters.

This summer season, Firefly Group only had one blockbuster, The Day After Tomorrow, while several others, such as New Line Cinema's The Ring and Disney's The Parent Trap, could only be considered mid-range budget films.

Nonetheless, the film lineup that Hollywood was set to release was still impressive. Besides The Day After Tomorrow, major productions included MGM's Charlie's Angels 3, Warner Bros.' Lethal Weapon 4, Sony's Patriot, Universal's Scorpion King, Amblin's The Matrix 2, Fox's The X-Files movie, and Paramount's The Truman Show, among others.

Eric's presence may have thrown many well-known Hollywood projects into chaos, but the overall trend toward big investments and large productions in Hollywood had not changed at all. The eight major productions all had an average budget exceeding $100 million. Facing substantial cost pressures, several major studios were wisely beginning to stagger their release dates instead of piling everything into June and July like last year.

Starting the second week of May, summer blockbuster films began hitting theaters. Meanwhile, the Easter release period was also coming to an end, with Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Wedding Singer, and Species rapidly scaling back their release sizes.

...

At Firefly Studios, looking at the twins who stood quietly before him, Eric asked, "Why are only the two of you back?"

Natasha replied, "The boss said she was going to to Berlin to visit the Mission: Impossible 3 set."

Eric sighed helplessly. After that phone call, there had been no news for about half a month, and he thought the matter would pass. However, just two days ago, Caroline had suddenly informed him that her aunt would be arriving today.

After some consideration, Eric called the girl who had gone to New York for the Met Gala to come back and take care of hosting, but only the twins returned.

It was easy to understand. Given Drew's upbringing, it was quite difficult for her to feel anything good toward her parents. The only connection she had with her mother was sending each other a check annually. As for her unreliable father, she had officially announced their estranged father-daughter relationship.

Naturally, Eric did not intend to hide the recent encounter with Caroline from Drew. She had always thought she was the closest woman to Eric, and suddenly discovering that the assistant she occasionally teased was actually his cousin inevitably made her feel some apprehension and resistance.

As for his cousin's aunt, well, that feeling of apprehension and resistance was even stronger. Since she expressed her reluctance, Eric didn't push it and said to the twins, "Alright then. She, um, will likely arrive this afternoon. Carly and Mel might also be staying at the estate tonight, so you both go prepare the guest room and dinner."

Natasha nodded and then asked, "Master, do we need to pick her up from the airport?"

"No need. Carly and Mel will pick her up. You just wait at the estate."

"Okay," Natasha nodded again, and seeing that Eric had no further instructions, she left with her sister.

...

After the twins left, Eric absentmindedly flipped through some documents in front of him when he heard the secretary knock on the door. "Mr. Williams, they have arrived."

"Alright, I'll be right there," Eric replied as he closed the folder and headed outside.

Today was May 11th, a Monday, and counting from April 3rd, this had already been the sixth week of the Easter release period.

According to last Friday's data, Firefly's three films from the Easter release period, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me had grossed a cumulative of $168 million after five weeks, The Wedding Singer had reached $101 million, and while Species performed slightly worse, it had still brought in $69.63 million, which meant they had recouped their production costs.

Although all three films had entered the tail end of their weekly grosses under $10 million, collectively, they had brought in $338 million at the box office. With a total investment of $140 million, the three films had generated over $40 million in pure profit for several companies. The upcoming income from overseas releases, DVD sales, and television broadcast rights would undoubtedly yield even greater profits than just the North American box office alone.

Therefore, the heads of the three companies suggested throwing a celebratory party this weekend. However, given the long production duration for films, everyone had already begun preparing for next year's Easter film package during that time.

The meeting Eric was about to attend was for this very purpose.

...

He entered a conference room where Fox's Joe Roth, MGM's Amy Pascal, and Jeffrey Katzenberg were already seated at the table, along with several other high-ranking executives from various production departments.

Taking a seat next to Katzenberg, Eric attempted to clear his mind of other thoughts, glanced at everyone, and said, "Let's get started. Amy, why don't you kick things off with the projects on your end?"

This Easter, MGM's Species boasted the highest investment but had the lowest box office performance, leading Eric to naturally lean slightly toward MGM. Fox was already reaping significant rewards with Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Firefly certainly didn't consider MGM as an outsider, so both companies felt Eric's inclination without any displeasure.

In fact, internally, MGM had estimated Species' North American box office at only around $60 million, though now the film appeared poised to surpass $80 million. Despite envying the performance of the other two films, Amy Pascal felt no significant disappointment.

However, being a strong-willed woman at heart, Amy had devoted considerable thought into today's meeting. Upon hearing Eric's words, she gestured to a high-ranking executive in MGM's production department beside her. The executive stood and addressed everyone, "Mr. Williams, everyone, Easter is traditionally the spring break for high school and college students. Clearly, none of our three films this year have specifically targeted this demographic. Thus, MGM is preparing a coming-of-age teen sex-comedy for next year. The story revolves around a group of soon-to-be high school graduates who agree to help each other find dates for the prom..."

As the executive spoke, the secretary in the conference room distributed the project's summary materials to everyone.

Eric caught sight of the script title that nearly made him laugh out loud.

Well, it was the outrageous American Pie.

Why outrageous? Because Eric had an indelible memory of the scene in which the male lead Jim "violated" an apple pie.

Clearly, Amy and her team saw the success of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and wanted to output a similarly raunchy comedy next Easter, one even closer to the holiday's themes for teens.

After flipping through the project materials, Eric went over the basic premise, and the executive finished explaining American Pie before sitting down again.

Eric lifted his head and said, "So, does anyone have opinions?"

Joe Roth, sitting across from him, closed his folder and replied, "Amy, first, I must clarify that the projects Fox is planning for next year is also a similar raunchy comedy like Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, but I still have to say that since this is a story about graduation season, perhaps it would be better suited for the summer release."

Amy Pascal smiled and shook her head, "Joe, I know what you are concerned about. However, even if MGM chooses to withdraw, several other companies will still release raunchy comedies next Easter to compete with Fox. As for the story itself, we cannot only cater to the small demographic of twelfth graders about to graduate. We are targeting the broader teenage audience who all have their own expectations and memories, so the release timing isn't an issue."

Sensing a bit of tension brewing between the two, Eric quickly interrupted, "Joe, let's just take a look at your script."

Joe Roth signaled the secretary to distribute the materials and personally explained, "This is a, uh, script related to teenage memories. At a high school prom, a mortifying incident causes Ted to miss his chance with the girl he has a crush on, and years later..."

Just hearing Joe Roth begin his tale, Eric could roughly guess the name of the script and thought to himself, perhaps truly great scripts simply can't hide away.

Opening the folder, Eric saw the project cover printed with a lengthy title: There's Something About Mary.

Once Joe Roth finished, Eric couldn't help glancing toward Katzenberg: "Jeffrey, we aren't also preparing a raunchy comedy, are we?"

"To be honest, there is one," Katzenberg shrugged slightly and retrieved a script from his assistant, handing it to Eric. "This is a script personally written by Adam Sandler. He signed a two-film deal with us, and this will be his second film after The Wedding Singer. The plot follows a similar structure to The Wedding Singer while featuring a male lead reminiscent of Forrest Gump."

Eric looked at the script titled The Waterboy, which he hadn't heard of before. After a quick glance at the story summary, he understood why it hadn't crossed his radar; it was a tale about football. Seeing Eric's helpless expression, Katzenberg grinned widely, "I suspected this situation might arise, and New Line plans to strike while the iron is hot and release this film by the year's end. So, it certainly won't be our film for next Easter. You mentioned wanting to launch a big production for Easter? The project that Jerry has been brewing for a while may fit perfectly. They've already singled out the lead, that's Will Smith, and he is interested in joining."

Eric naturally knew of the projects under Firefly. Hearing this, he responded, "You mean Enemy of the State?"

Enemy of the State was a project Jerry Bruckheimer had been developing for years, telling the story of a lawyer who found himself unintentionally caught up in a murder case and doing everything possible to clear his name. The entire script feels like a blend of The Fugitive and The Bourne Identity. However, due to various reasons, the project had progressed very slowly.

Additionally, prior to this, Bruckheimer had been busy working on The Day After Tomorrow with Michael Bay, so Eric hadn't heard any news about this film in a long time.

Katzenberg nodded, "I've already spoken with Jerry about this. This project has been brewing for so long, once it begins shooting, we should be able to complete production before next Easter. However, Will Smith's casting will require your personal approval, as they want to sign a bundled deal for Men in Black 3 and Enemy of the State. Bill Mechanic at Sony has also contacted me several times. Eric, Sony stated that if we continue to delay, they would likely press charges."

"Then let's go with Enemy of the State. We can discuss the other matters later," Eric agreed, nodding. He glanced at Joe Roth and Amy Pascal while tearing a corner off the paper in front of him, scribbling something down as he said, "Now, there can't be two raunchy comedies in the Easter film package, so you two should draw lots. Those with words go, while those without should switch genres. I know you both have prepared alternate projects. As for the original scripts, both of these stories look promising and have great potential for the summer season."

After speaking, Eric crumbled the paper he had in hand into two balls and handed one to Amy Pascal.

Amy hesitated but eventually took one of the little balls from Eric's palms, leaving the other one for Joe Roth.

The two slowly unwrapped their paper balls. Ultimately, Amy's paper read 'YES,' so that settled it. Although Joe Roth felt somewhat reluctant, he made no further comments. He didn't dare challenge Eric's authority, so accepting his fate, he pulled out Fox's second option, a romantic comedy named Never Been Kissed.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 984: Package Deal]

Plans for next year's three Easter films were set, and everyone roughly outlined the distribution strategy for next year based on the experiences from this year's Easter Movie Package plan. Before they knew it, lunchtime had arrived.

After lunch, Amy Pascal and Joe Roth returned to their respective companies. Meanwhile, Eric and Katzenberg strolled down the studio walkway discussing the morning's talk about Enemy of the State and Men in Black 3.

"Bill Mechanic has been hounding me lately, and Howard Stringer has called me a few times personally. Sony's position is firm; they absolutely won't give up the Men in Black series rights. If Firefly continues to delay the sequel over star salary issues, they might sue or mimic what Constantin Film did with the Fantastic Four rights, spending a few million to produce a low-budget B-movie sequel."

With one hand in his pocket, Eric glanced at the sky. A flight arriving from London was due to land at Los Angeles International Airport at 2 PM, and there were only about half an hour left before it arrived. Caroline and Melanie had already headed to the airport.

Shaking his head lightly to rid himself of such thoughts, Eric asked, "Wasn't Will Smith interested in signing a package deal? What's their offer?"

Katzenberg noticed Eric seemed a bit distracted today and replied, "For Enemy of the State and Men in Black 3, it's $40 million."

Eric immediately shook his head. "That's impossible."

Although Will Smith had rapidly risen to fame with Independence Day and Men in Black, recent years saw him struggling to generate the same level of excitement due to changes in Hollywood. The films he starred in hadn't made a big splash, and after the unexpected $200 million North American box office for Rush Hour 2 at the end of last year, there were signs that Chris Tucker was overshadowing him.

While the Men in Black series had become a blockbuster franchise, the offer of $20 million per film didn't surprise Eric, and he could accept it. However, for other commercial films, Will Smith's worth was only around $10 million now.

The contract technically quoted a $20 million salary per film, but realistically, Men in Black 3 would account for $30 million; if this went through, it would once again break Hollywood's salary records.

Katzenberg anticipated Eric's reaction and wasn't shocked. He continued, "Eric, this is already the result of bargaining with Will Smith's team. They're unlikely to back off."

Eric, however, had no intention to relent either. With a casual shrug, he replied, "Let's keep dragging this out. Since Will Smith is thinking about a package deal, it means he knows how important the Men in Black series is to him."

Men in Black was to Will Smith what Terminator was to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Arnold Schwarzenegger maintained his A-list status in Hollywood through his appeal from the two Terminator films in the '80s and '90s. Now, after Independence Day and two Men in Black films, Will Smith's other projects had failed to make a significant impact. His popularity had started to decline, and if he completely parted ways with Men in Black, his Hollywood career would face an uncertain future.

After a moment, Eric said, "If he wants a package, then it's $30 million. As for Sony, if they wish to extend the rights, then let them; we'll sign a supplementary contract to extend the rights period without having to make any B-movies. Everything else, you can tell Howard Stringer, it's all on us."

Katzenberg replied, "Eric, if we do this, Sony will definitely ask to sign an extension for the rights to other films. They were planning to abandon those, and we could have reclaimed all the rights."

"Then let's negotiate that as a condition. We can't just sign an extension for the Men in Black rights without getting 40% of the rights for the other films in return."

Katzenberg understood immediately and nodded with a smile, "That's indeed a good idea. However, if we reject Will Smith's package deal, production for Enemy of the State may encounter issues again."

Eric asked, "Can't we approach Cage? He hasn't taken on any other roles since City of Angels."

"It seems that Jerry showed him the script ages ago, and Cage wasn't interested. Otherwise, they would have struck a deal by now."

Eric pondered for a moment and said, "Have Jerry negotiate with Will Smith for a standalone film deal. I'll take some time to speak with Cage. He should give me some credit."

As they chatted, they unknowingly reached the studio parking lot. Katzenberg saw Eric's bodyguard opening the car door for him and couldn't help but ask, "I noticed you seem a bit distracted today. Is there something going on?"

Eric nodded and vaguely replied, "Yeah, a few personal matters, but it's nothing major."

Katzenberg didn't press for more details, simply gesturing with concern. "If you need any help, just give me a call."

"I will," Eric chuckled, said his goodbyes, and got into his car.

...

As Eric drove out of the studio parking lot, he couldn't shake off the unease about what lay ahead. Just as the car was about to exit the studio gates, he told the bodyguard in the front seat, "Let's not head back just yet. Go to the other side; let's check out the set of Desperate Housewives."

The theme park across Lincoln Boulevard from the studio had been fenced off, and many of the attractions were still in the planning phase, but some initial construction had already begun.

The Wisteria Lane set for Desperate Housewives couldn't be built in the soundstage since there was no extra space left in the eastern part of the studio. Instead, it was set up within the theme park. If, in the coming years, Desperate Housewives could achieve enough influence, the expensive physical set would remain as a feature of the studio.

The set for Desperate Housewives was situated in the southeastern corner of the new park. The luxury car drove across Lincoln Boulevard and made a left turn inside the new zone, heading straight towards the area enclosed by high drapes for the Wisteria Lane set.

Through the car window, Eric could see plenty of workers busy at work. However, because this was a theme park and the nature of the construction was different, it wasn't chaotic or noisy like other construction sites. Instead, it felt somewhat peaceful.

As for the planned aerial walkway, that wouldn't get underway until next year, and the official opening of the park would absolutely be after 2000. Disneyland Paris took from 1984 to 1992, eight years in total, from concept to opening. Although the Firefly theme park was much smaller than Disneyland Paris, the entire construction process would still take two to three years.

To mitigate risks, Desperate Housewives opted for a traditional filming model, shooting and airing simultaneously.

The first season was planned for 13 episodes, debuting on February 26 and concluding on May 14. So far, 12 episodes had aired, and the show's popularity steadily increased. The viewership had grown from 4.16 million at the premiere to 6.35 million for the most recent episode.

MGM anticipated that by this Thursday, when the first season ended, the viewership for Desperate Housewives could surpass 7 million.

A single episode drawing 7 million viewers was already considered peak viewership for cable TV programs at that time. However, based on the current popularity and the rapid expansion of cable networks in the U.S. in recent years, reaching over 10 million viewers was merely a matter of time.

If a cable program could surpass the 10 million viewership mark, it would undoubtedly leave a significant mark in American TV history, akin to the original timeline's The Sopranos and The Walking Dead.

Additionally, E! Entertainment's reality show, Beverly Girls, didn't boast the same high viewership that Desperate Housewives had at its premiere -- averaging only over one million for its first episode. Yet, this reality show saw tremendous growth in its viewership trajectory.

Drawing on the immense media resources of the Firefly network, Kris Jenner consistently employed various promotional tactics. The reality stars from Beverly Girls became some of the most famous in the U.S. within just a few months.

Correspondingly, the viewership data for Beverly Girls surged. Initially, the average viewership for the first episode was only 1.12 million, but by the end of the eighth episode, the average viewership skyrocketed to an astonishing 4.57 million.

The only regret for the reality show was that it hadn't been produced to a standard of 13 or even 26 episodes initially. If it had, the first season's ratings would certainly have been even more breathtaking.

Achieving a 400% increase in viewership by the first season was a rare feat in TV history. If history remained unchanged, only a few years later would MTV's similar reality show, Jersey Shore, realize such an accomplishment.

Due to Beverly Girls' exceptional viewership performance, preparations for its second season and Eric's proposed series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills had already begun.

...

Perhaps because this was the final episode of the first season being filmed, Eric entered the set and found MGM's Vice President John Calley also present. John Calley was primarily responsible for MGM's television business.

Upon being notified by the guard at the door, John Calley greeted Eric along with Marc Cherry, the show's writer, and the lead actress Teri Hatcher.

After exchanging greetings, Eric remarked, "I just came to take a look. If you have work to do, go on with it."

John Calley walked alongside Eric and smiled, saying, "Elizabeth and the others are currently filming. We just happen to be on break. Eric, how is shooting for Iron Man going?"

"Of course, we'll likely wrap it up by the end of this month," Eric said, nodding to the chubby, bespectacled Marc Cherry. "Marc, I've seen your outline for the second season. Honestly, it's even better than the first season."

"Oh, thank you for your praise, Eric," Marc Cherry said respectfully, bowing slightly and sounding somewhat ingratiating. "But without your creative input, I definitely wouldn't have written this story."

Observing from the periphery, Teri Hatcher could not help but curl her lips at Marc Cherry's overly respectful demeanor toward Eric.

Having spent months filming, everyone knew Marc Cherry's background well enough. Originally a struggling screenwriter on the brink of bankruptcy in Hollywood, he had been bestowed the task of helping Eric complete the script for Desperate Housewives, like a stroke of luck. With the show's rising influence, Marc Cherry seemed to have developed an air of arrogance, a stark contrast to the timid individual he was at the series' inception. His temper had only gotten worse in front of the cast and crew.

Just moments ago, even in front of MGM Vice President John Calley, Marc Cherry exhibited a tone of condescension. Teri Hatcher initially believed they would never again witness Marc Cherry's humility.

The crew was currently filming a scene where Elizabeth Perkins portrayed perfect housewife Bree Van de Kamp. As everyone walked along the asphalt road of Wisteria Lane to the house set, they found crew members bustling around in the middle of the action.

Eric had no intention of interrupting and sat down with John Calley and the others in a relaxation area while watching the filming from a distance.

After chatting casually about the show's production, Eric asked John Calley, "By the way, how is the preparation for the second season of Beverly Girls and the first season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills going?"

John Calley replied, "Kris wants Beverly Girls to shoot and air during the summer season, but we rejected that rather ambitious plan. The second season will start shooting in June, aiming for a September release in the fall season. Everyone felt that 26 episodes might be too long, so the second season's length was set to 13 episodes. But going forward, we could produce two seasons a year, like America's Next Top Model. As for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Kris is still scouting for the housewives but expects to make it for the fall season as well."

Eric gazed at the crew filming, still somewhat distracted. After John Calley's explanation, he merely nodded lightly.

John Calley paused, then said, "Eric, there's one more thing."

Eric turned his head glancing at John Calley, curious. "What's that?"

"Kris has signed management contracts with a few of the main stars from Beverly Girls. She also mentioned wanting to establish a production company to delve deeper into the productions of these two reality series."

"That's fine. As long as she ensures the quality of these two reality shows, MGM can afford to pay her a little extra; we can't just take all the profits for ourselves," Eric chuckled, not too concerned about it.

Eric had somewhat expected Kris Jenner to sign management contracts with the Beverly Girls stars. He understood the nature of the arrangement: as long as she was smart enough, she wouldn't think about taking too much profit from the reality stars' paychecks. It was likely she was more focused on gaining revenues from their commercial activities outside the reality show, like endorsements. The Kardashian family's main income source was never just from that reality show but from the commercial activities and endorsements that a popular show provided.

As for establishing a production company, this was quite commonplace in Hollywood.

The copyrights for both Beverly Girls and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills were held by MGM; Kris Jenner establishing a production company could not detach her from the Firefly network, nor would she have any actual leverage. This was fundamentally determined by strength; without the media resources of the Firefly network supporting her, Beverly Girls would never have achieved the current level of success.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 985: Subtle Moves]

During some casual chatter, the filming of a scene featuring Elizabeth Perkins as Bree Van De Kamp wrapped up, and the director announced a ten-minute break for the crew.

Having spotted Eric's arrival, Elizabeth Perkins smiled as she walked over to greet him. Eric got up and embraced her, taking in her meticulously tailored skirt suit. He said, "Liz, you look absolutely beautiful today."

"Thank you, Eric," Elizabeth replied, nodding. She took a chair from the stagehand and sat down next to him. "What brings you by today?"

The others had casually scattered, maintaining some distance, but seeing Elizabeth Perkins sit next to Eric, their expressions displayed subtle shifts.

Eric raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "I just happened to have a break this afternoon, so I came to check things out."

Elizabeth picked up on the nonchalance in Eric's tone, her eyes reflecting a hint of mischief. She teased, "You sure seem to have a lot of free time; it's Monday, you know."

Feigning displeasure, Eric replied, "Women shouldn't be so smart; be careful or I might just put you in your place."

"Ha ha," Elizabeth was unfazed by Eric's playful threat, laughing lightly.

Even the most oblivious person could sense the unusual comfort between them. John Calley, being perceptive, rose up and said, "Eric, I've got work to handle back at the company. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Oh, see you later," Eric stood and shook hands again with John Calley.

John Calley waved off Eric's offer to walk him out, taking his assistant and heading outside. With John Calley gone, Marc Cherry and others also took the hint and left. In no time, Eric noticed that only he and Elizabeth Perkins remained in the break area, along with another actress, Terri Hatcher, who played a housewife.

Feeling a mix of jealousy and unwillingness under the gaze of Eric and Elizabeth Perkins, Terri Hatcher smiled and said, "I need to touch up my makeup, Eric, and Liz, see you in a bit."

As the crew busying themselves in another house nearby seemed to purposely distance themselves, Eric turned to the woman beside him and asked, "So, care to explain what's going on?"

Elizabeth Perkins nervously adjusted the hem of her blazer, admitting, "I didn't expect them to react that way. I just thought it would make things easier down the line."

From what he had observed when Terri Hatcher left, Eric guessed that there could be underlying tensions within the Desperate Housewives crew. He was initially a bit miffed, but seeing the almost guilty demeanor of Elizabeth Perkins made his irritation fade. He had already slept with her; a bit of playful intimidation hardly mattered.

After a pause, Eric softened his tone and asked, "Did someone, um, bully you?"

"No, no, everyone is pretty good," Elizabeth Perkins quickly shook her head. She regretted being so friendly with Eric, realizing that such situations could backfire. The inner workings of the crew weren't hard to understand if Eric paid a little attention, but Elizabeth Perkins had no intention of divulging any information; she was well aware that no man liked a woman who gossiped.

Eric, disinterested in such trivial matters, thought no one would dare to cause trouble knowing the situation he just witnessed. With Firefly working on multiple projects simultaneously, he couldn't spend his entire day dealing with petty internal disputes.

Since everyone had left, Eric didn't want to stay idle, so he said to Elizabeth Perkins, "Since we're here, why don't you show me the set? I'd love to see your home."

Elizabeth Perkins blinked for a moment but quickly nodded, smiling, "Sure!"

...

Even though it was just a soap opera, the crew had put considerable effort into the set design.

The cul-de-sac was meticulously set up to represent a typical American middle-class neighborhood, complete with life-sized houses, transplanted trees and flowers, and a fully paved road -- costing over ten million dollars, nearly half the show's production budget.

Of course, since Desperate Housewives was already a success and next season was all but confirmed, the initial set cost would eventually seem more justified.

The layout of the typical middle-class American home usually consisted of a front yard lawn, the main house, and a backyard with a swimming pool. Due to limited space at the studio, the housewives' residences didn't have backyards, and such settings were hardly seen in Desperate Housewives either.

Bree's house reflected her meticulous nature, impeccably tidy and flawless.

Eric and Elizabeth Perkins walked into the house and casually strolled around before settling down on the living room sofa.

"The fridge has beer and juice. Eric, do you want some?"

Eric nodded, replying, "Sure, juice sounds good."

As Elizabeth Perkins headed to the kitchen, she teased, "I thought you'd want beer."

Eric admired her graceful figure and asked, "Why would you say that?"

"Well, you're a man; how can you choose something other than alcohol?"

"Sounds reasonable, but I usually don't drink to prove anything."

"That does seem to be true," Elizabeth Perkins chuckled, returning with two cartons of apple juice. She handed one to him and settled down on the opposite sofa. "I heard you're a bit of a neat freak, so I figured I wouldn't use the glasses here."

Eric casually inserted the straw and took a sip. "How did you know that?"

"I read it in a newspaper," Elizabeth Perkins thought for a moment and then shook her head, saying, "I forget which one, though."

Not wanting to linger on that topic, Eric shifted to another question. "How's it feel to shoot this series?"

"It's interesting. I think Bree is like a demon, relentlessly tormenting everyone around her with her extreme perfectionism until they all go crazy. Thankfully, I'm not like that; we don't share much in common, or I might even lose my mind getting too deep into the role." Elizabeth Perkins smoothed her blazer and added, "Like my outfit -- there's hardly a housewife who dresses this formally in daily life; I definitely wouldn't."

"I actually think it's beautiful," Eric said, looking at the woman across from him. He patted the space beside him. "Come sit here."

Elizabeth Perkins instinctively glanced at the doorway before giving Eric a skeptical look. "Eric, this is the set."

"I doubt anyone would dare come over right now."

Seeing Eric's persistent attitude, Elizabeth Perkins reluctantly stood and moved to sit beside him, reminding him, "Eric, this is designer wear by Chanel -- can't let it get wrinkled. Maybe we can grab dinner after we wrap."

Eric didn't respond, letting the juice carton slip from his hand as he leaned onto her lap, savoring her lovely scent as he found a cozy position and closed his eyes. "Wake me at five."

It was just a little past two...

She still had more filming to do...

This was going to be hard to explain...

Her legs were going to go numb...

This little nuisance...

A train of thoughts raced through Elizabeth Perkins' mind, but all she could do was shift a bit, leaning backward as she looked down at Eric resting on her lap. She noticed a stray fiber sticking to the back of his head and carefully plucked it away, finding herself in a daze.

After a moment, she gently leaned forward, noticing Eric had closed his eyes, his breathing calm. With a woman's intuition, she thought Eric resembled a young boy who had done something wrong and was hiding at his friend's place, afraid to go home and face his parents.

Hmm, what a strange feeling.

She shook her head at her own absurd thoughts.

Glancing toward the doorway, rays of sunlight streamed through the windows into the living room, and the surrounding area felt eerily quiet. Timing her thoughts, the next scene should start preparing soon, but outside, there wasn't a sound. Clearly, just as Eric said, no one dared to interrupt them.

With that realization, she relaxed. After all, she was a single woman -- not worried about what others might say.

Even if she was slightly older than him, it only demonstrated her charm. Remembering Terri Hatcher's envious looks earlier, Elizabeth Perkins couldn't help but feel a glimmer of pride.

Since the show began airing, her character Bree and Terri Hatcher's Susan were considered the most popular housewives among the four leads. Discussions about who was the "first housewife" between the two swirled among audiences and media alike.

Elizabeth Perkins had no desire to engage in such debates, but Terri Hatcher clearly didn't feel the same way. The other actress's disposition wasn't very likable, which kept their relationship somewhat strained.

As her mood gradually lightened, she stopped overthinking and glanced around cautiously, extending her hand to grab a magazine from the small table beside the sofa. She started flipping through it quietly.

...

Though everyone had kept their distance, quite a few people secretly observed Eric, the boss, as he led Elizabeth Perkins into Bree's house. Most couldn't help but conjure up some romantic notions.

Then thirty minutes passed -- no one came out. An hour went by, and still, no one emerged. Two hours elapsed, and it was still the same.

No one dared to mention the filming schedule for the afternoon; they merely stayed clear of that house.

The production manager David Grossman had already issued a private warning. It was straightforward and severe: "Whoever spills today's events can forget about making it in Hollywood for the rest of their lives."

In truth, even without that warning, no one would dare to gossip about it. There were simply too many secrets in Hollywood that no one discussed openly, and everyone understood how the game was played.

Even though the scheduled wrap-up time was five o'clock, crews usually began wrapping up by four-thirty. But today, four-thirty had passed, and a few of the heads of production saw that Eric and Elizabeth Perkins had yet to come out of the house. After a brief discussion, they decided to continue filming until the big boss left.

What other option was there? They couldn't just abandon the two and leave.

Send everyone else off early while they stayed outside? That was even more ridiculous.

Asking someone to shout in? Well, that seemed too bold.

Thankfully, just as the clock struck five, Eric and Elizabeth Perkins walked out of the house.

...

Looking at the crew still going about their business nonchalantly, Eric wondered, "Did the crew schedule overtime for today?"

Elizabeth Perkins smiled slightly, nodding, "Yes, it's the last episode, and things are a bit rushed."

Eric, not one to be fooled, quickly connected the dots and chuckled, "I won't go over to greet them. I have things to do today; let's plan for dinner another time."

Not questioning him, Elizabeth Perkins nodded, "I'll walk you out."

As they approached his vehicle, Eric suggested, "Why not let me drop you off at home first?"

Elizabeth Perkins shook her head, responding, "Not right now; I need to remove my makeup and change out of this costume."

Next to his luxurious car, Eric gently embraced her again, saying, "Okay, then I'll be off. Oh, here's my business card; if you need anything, feel free to call."

He pulled out a professional card and handed it over. Elizabeth Perkins cautiously accepted it, saying, "I don't have any cards on me. Can you jot my number down?"

"No need," Eric shook his head. "Finding you won't be a problem."

They exchanged goodbyes, and Eric climbed into his car.

...

As Elizabeth Perkins watched him leave, she turned back toward the set.

The production manager David Grossman and writer Marc Cherry approached Elizabeth Perkins as she walked by. Aside from executives from MGM, these two were by far the most powerful figures in the crew.

David Grossman, glancing back at the recently departed black luxury car, offered a friendly smile. "Liz, does Mr. Williams need anything?"

Elizabeth Perkins shook her head, smiling, "Eric asked me to say goodbye. He had to leave early."

"Oh, of course," David Grossman acknowledged. "We're finished for the day, so hurry and take off that makeup. By the way, your scenes tomorrow are a bit rushed, so I hope you can arrive early."

Elizabeth Perkins nodded, "Of course, I won't delay the shooting."

Marc Cherry chimed in to flatter her, "Liz, if you have any suggestions regarding the script for the second season, feel free to reach out."

"Oh, thank you, Marc, but I think your script is wonderful as is," Elizabeth Perkins politely responded. While Marc Cherry made his offer, she didn't intend to push for any revisions just for her sake. She merely hoped this somewhat petty writer wouldn't give her any trouble in the future; peaceful relations would be ideal.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 986: Hello]

The California coastal highway was naturally a bit congested during rush hour, but Eric's car made it to Liberty City before six o'clock.

As he watched the Shell Villa come into view, regret washed over Eric for so easily agreeing to this meeting in the first place. Now that he was about to face it, he felt the awkwardness and strangeness of the situation. Although he inherited the memories and even certain emotions of this body, he could never truly connect with a mother he had never met.

The car came to a gentle stop in front of the mansion, and Carter Moen, who had personally driven Eric, glanced at him in the rearview mirror without urging him on. After a few years, he had become Eric's confidant and was well aware of today's significance.

After a brief period of silence, the mansion's door opened, and several women stepped outside. With no choice left, Eric got out of the car to greet them.

...

Walking between Caroline and Melanie was Olivia Wilson, the very woman Eric had seen at the London premiere of Casino Royale, wearing a black shirt. Today, she was dressed in a well-tailored black shirt paired with light gray pants. Remembering how he had even offered her an autograph on a bill back then, Eric felt even stranger.

As he approached, Eric found himself momentarily at a loss for words. The woman looked at him with an expression of mild shock, the same as when they first met.

Melanie stood slightly behind her, trying to make herself invisible, while Caroline hooked her arm around her aunt's, seeing the two of them silent. She took the initiative to break the ice, saying, "Eric, this, this is my aunt."

Eric hesitated for a moment and then extended his hand. "Hello, uh, ma'am."

The woman looked at Eric's outstretched hand, and her initial anxiety eased. She was a strong woman but still feared her child would question her, bombarding her with a slew of "why's" during their first meeting. The situation was far better than she had imagined. She didn't expect Eric to address her by any title on their first encounter, but with a forced smile, she shook his hand and said, "Eric, you can call me Jane."

Jane was the woman's middle name, of which Eric was well aware.

Nodding vaguely, Eric replied, "Then let's go inside."

...

They all headed towards the mansion together. As Eric walked side by side with the woman, he attempted to break the silence, asking, "So, what's for dinner?"

"Eric, Auntie personally prepared dinner; it should be ready soon," Caroline chimed in. She had hesitated to walk between her aunt and Eric but ultimately decided to cling to her aunt on the other side, peeking her head out as if trying to take credit.

"Oh, thank you."

As Olivia Wilson listened to their conversation, she caught a waft of light floral perfume emanating from Eric and suddenly felt it must be from a, hmm, mature woman.

Since Eric first emerged in Hollywood, Olivia Wilson had recognized him as her son. Over the years, she had quietly observed everything about him and had, of course, read about some of the more scandalous rumors in magazines.

Reflecting on these thoughts, a wave of bittersweet emotion and guilt washed over Olivia Wilson.

The twins pulled open the glass door to the villa and stepped into the grand foyer. Olivia paused and softly said, "Eric, you've had a long day; you must be tired. Why don't you take a shower first?"

"Uh, sure," Eric nodded instinctively, eager to escape the awkwardness, even if just for a little while. "I'll see you in a bit."

Afterward, Eric nodded to the women and turned to head upstairs.

...

Watching the tall figure of the young man retreat, almost in a rush, Olivia chuckled and instructed the twins, "Natasha, Eve, go help Eric get a set of clothes. We'll manage in the kitchen."

"Sure, ma'am," the twins agreed and obediently ascended the stairs.

Once Eric and the twins were out of sight, Olivia Wilson tugged on Caroline, who was gazing stupidly after them. "Come on, Carly, you ought to trust your cousin a little more."

Caroline pouted and playfully shook her aunt's arm, saying, "Auntie, you're already taking his side. He's really not that great."

"Ha! He's treated you well over the years, hasn't he? Otherwise, why would you stick around him so devotedly?"

After Olivia made this statement, Melanie, who had remained silent until now, nodded in agreement, feeling a tinge of grievance. She silently thought, This is just fantastic, but how pitiful for me!

"He," Caroline frowned and said, "he's known I'm his cousin all along."

Olivia Wilson paused for a moment, affectionately stroking Caroline's face. "Silly girl, if this were anyone else, they might treat you terribly. They wouldn't genuinely consider you a sister."

Though simple-minded, Caroline was definitely no fool. In fact, she was much smarter than most. However, her kind nature prevented her from thinking the worst of people or situations. Still, that didn't mean she was oblivious. With her aunt saying that, she quickly pieced it all together.

As they walked towards the kitchen with her aunt, Caroline hesitated and asked cautiously, "Auntie, why did you leave back then?"

Olivia Wilson halted momentarily before recovering her composure. She didn't answer Caroline's question and only gently advised, "Auntie is a weak woman, Carly. You should never be like me. If there's a boy you like, hold on to him tightly and don't care about anyone else's opinions."

"Alright," Caroline nodded, resting her head on Olivia's shoulder. "Auntie, I like Eric."

...

Having soaked in the tub for a comfortable while, Eric, realizing he couldn't hide forever, finally planned to rise when he heard a soft knock on the door.

His heart skipped a beat as he asked, "Who is it?"

"It's us, master."

Relaxing, Eric drew back into the bubble-filled tub and replied, "Come in."

The twins entered, one after the other. Natasha carried a full set of clothes, while Eve held a small basket to gather the clothes Eric had changed out of.

Observing their actions, Eric furrowed his brow. "I didn't say anything about changing clothes, did I?"

Natasha replied softly, "It's what the lady instructed."

Eric was still slightly perplexed but smiled, asking, "You two are really getting into character! By the way, how did Drew react to the news?"

"Boss," Natasha paused and replied, "she was angry."

Natasha's nonchalant tone amused Eric, who could easily picture the girl's frantic reaction. He chuckled but said nothing more. Once the twins left, he emerged from the bath, rinsed off, and dressed before heading downstairs.

...

Having spent a little too long in the bath, the villa's lights were already on by the time he made it downstairs, and dinner was prepared.

Noticing Eric's mild discomfort and lack of resentment typical of a long-separated mother-son pair, Olivia Wilson felt a wave of relief pass over her. During dinner, they chatted casually, and the atmosphere remained congenial.

After dinner, Eric suggested the twins could entertain the women for the night while he hid away in his study under the pretext of work.

...

Perhaps because he had managed to catch a proper nap at the Desperate Housewives set that afternoon, Eric didn't feel tired until the early morning. He woke again before six o'clock the next day.

The filming of Iron Man continued, but Eric didn't have to rush for his scenes until the afternoon.

After getting up and washing up, he changed into a tracksuit and headed to the gym, only to find someone already there.

Still adjusting to staying at the Liberty City Manor, Melanie had also woken early. Uncertain of how she ended up there, she was mindlessly jogging on a treadmill and swiftly stopped upon seeing Eric.

"Good morning, you can continue," Eric smiled at Melanie and stepped onto the treadmill beside hers. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Really well," Melanie nodded, hesitating before saying, "Eric, I think I should leave."

Eric looked puzzled. "Huh?"

"I mean," Melanie gathered her thoughts, "Carly is your cousin. In the past, I was always worried about her being bullied. Now I don't have to worry, I guess -- even if you were to bully her, she'd be willing to endure it. So I think I want to change jobs."

Eric considered this a moment before nodding. "No problem! Where do you want to go? I can help you set it up."

Melanie replied, "My boyfriend moved to San Francisco earlier this year, and I want to go there as well."

"Great, you can head to Firefly Electronics. I'll chat with Victor and see what positions they have for you," Eric replied, chuckling, "I didn't realize you had a boyfriend!"

Melanie shot him a look. "Of course. If it hadn't been for me needing to take care of Carly, we would probably be getting married. I'm several years older than Carly!"

"Yeah, you've had a tough time over the years," Eric said. "Once you get married, I'll prepare a special wedding gift."

Melanie laughed, "What is it?"

Eric thought for a moment and answered, "How about a house? In San Francisco. You can pick one out!"

"I don't want that; otherwise, we'd probably end up splitting up! He might throw a fit," Melanie shook her head in refusal.

After chatting for a while, Melanie left the gym, saying she would go wake Caroline.

...

Olivia Wilson didn't mention when she would leave, so Eric didn't ask. After breakfast, he took Melanie with him to work, leaving Caroline at home with her aunt.

While he buried himself in paperwork that morning, Elisabeth, who had been in New York for a while, unexpectedly showed up looking disheveled, clearly worn out from whatever had transpired there.

Seeing her leaning awkwardly on the sofa in the meeting area, Eric laughed and went to make her some coffee, bringing it to her and asking, "So how did things go over there?"

"What do you think?!" Elisabeth's tone was thick with resentment as she sipped the coffee and shot Eric an annoyed glare. "Nothing I said could convince him. It just is what it is."

Eric smirked, enjoying her misery as he teased, "Oh, when are the two planning to get married? I'll send a gift over!"

Elisabeth put the coffee cup down on the table and playfully clawed at Eric, before collapsing back into him, resting quietly.

Eric wrapped his arm around her waist, gently stroking her, "Alright, don't be mad. Just stay in Los Angeles from now on. You don't have to go back."

"Hmph! I didn't want to go back in the first place," Elisabeth protested with a small huff before playfully pinching Eric. "You men are awful!"

"Hey, this isn't my fault!" Eric exclaimed defensively.

"It's the same," Elisabeth lightly turned to find a more comfortable position against Eric.

With Elisabeth snuggled against him, Eric tried to steer the conversation to a lighter topic. "Have you heard about the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me? It's on track to earn over $180 million at the North American box office! That's $180 million! You guys are going to rake it in. Do you still want us to trade it back?"

"Ugh," Elisabeth groaned again. "There's nothing to be happy about. If things don't get sorted out over there, I wouldn't even care if Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me made zero dollars in the box office."

"Such things can't be prevented," Eric chuckled. "By the way, what benefits have you gotten lately? Don't forget about your dowry; I'm curious!"

"Are you just trying to get me riled up?" Elisabeth playfully pinched him again before eventually continuing, "Mom had Dad draw up a will early, so from now on, I'll probably take charge of things here. For Australia and the UK, Dad is leaving it to Lachlan and James. Are you happy now?"

Eric chuckled, "I just wonder if those two will kick up a fuss with you about it. Anyone can see that print media might be on the decline."

"It's not that serious; only you keep saying it," Elisabeth brushed it off. "Besides, there's also Sky Media, which is hundreds of TV stations across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Dad actually hopes James and the others will take over. That's pretty clearly biased in their favor."

"Let him be biased. Even if you end up with nothing, it's no big deal," Eric replied. In the past, News Corp had seemed like a colossal entity in Eric's eyes; however, under the Firefly umbrella, it had shrunk to almost irrelevant size. The entire Firefly system now equated to at least ten times the scale of News Corp.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 987 I'm Not a Horse]

Upon hearing Eric's words, Elisabeth felt a little sweet inside, but she didn't hesitate to press down Eric's creeping hands trying to reach under her shirt. She shot him an annoyed glance and asked, "Hey, what's going on with you?"

Eric paused his actions and replied, "What do you mean 'what's going on'?"

"I mean, your mom," Elisabeth said with a curious expression. "Drew called me yesterday and told me to keep an eye on you, saying there might be bad women after your money."

Eric chuckled, knowing that she was just venting. If she genuinely suspected Caroline and Olivia, Elisabeth would have stormed back rather than taking a trip to Europe. "I wasn't going to mention this, but it slipped out. She just wanted to come to see me, that's all. But how did Drew manage to call you? Have you two reconciled?"

"I have no intention of reconciling with her," Elisabeth pouted. "So what do you plan to do now?"

"Probably just keep things as they are. She should be heading back in a while."

"I don't think so," Elisabeth rolled over in Eric's arms and added, "By the way, I did some digging into the Wilson family. They have quite the influence in the UK. I never imagined you had noble blood."

Eric was not interested in the obsession with lineage. He shook his head and laughed, "I'm not a horse; I don't need any bloodlines."

"Many people wouldn't agree with you," Elisabeth shook her head and added, "Speaking of horses, weren't you interested in auditions for The Horse Whisperer not long ago?"

Eric replied casually, "Yeah, someone asked me to keep an eye on the casting. I took a quick look."

The cast for The Horse Whisperer had already been finalized, with filming set to begin next month. Although Eric didn't get involved, the role of the daughter still went to Scarlett Johansson.

Elisabeth merely mentioned it casually; such things were common in Hollywood, so she didn't pry further, just saying, "Honestly, you just needed to mention it to Harvey."

"I don't know him well enough for that," Eric chuckled, shaking his head. He leaned down and kissed Elisabeth's cheek, his hand around her waist starting to roam again. "Forget about all this boring stuff. Have you missed me during this time?"

Elisabeth's face turned a shade of red, and she stopped resisting Eric's touch, though she refused to give in verbally, saying, "I've been too busy, how could I have time to think about you, you jerk?"

"All right, since you didn't think about me, I guess it's time for a good lesson," Eric stood up, lifting her in his arms as he headed towards the living room. "I've got a dinner scheduled with Cage at twelve, so we need to hurry. There's not much time."

Elisabeth jokingly hit Eric's arm, saying, "It's only ten o'clock!"

...

Eric had arranged to meet Cage for lunch earlier that day regarding the lead in Enemy of the State. However, Jerry Bruckheimer was still in talks with Will Smith, and Eric didn't want to completely derail Bruckheimer's original plans. He simply made a few subtle remarks to have Cage's cooperation. If Bruckheimer couldn't finalize the deal with Smith, Cage would step in.

On another note, although negotiations were ongoing, news soon circulated that Firefly and Sony were about to sign a supplementary agreement concerning the rights to the Men in Black series.

Once the clause for automatic rights to sequels reverting to Firefly Group after five years was removed, Sony Pictures was inevitably less eager than before, meaning they wouldn't have to lean toward Will Smith when it came to salary.

Perhaps influenced by all this, a few days later, Jerry Bruckheimer called Eric to say that Will Smith had agreed to sign on for Enemy of the State, with a salary of $11 million. While this figure was slightly higher than Eric's initial demand, he didn't insist too hard to ensure the film could be released in the Easter slot the following year.

However, as for Men in Black 3, Will Smith was still showing no signs of budging, and Eric certainly wouldn't give in easily either.

...

The following Thursday, Bravo's Desperate Housewives finally aired its first-season finale, reaching a peak audience of 7.07 million. Just as expected, it surpassed the 7 million mark, with an average viewership of 6.81 million, and a rating of 4.6, ranking thirteenth in that time slot -- indeed a small miracle, as it was the only cable program that made it into the top fifteen during that period.

The end of Desperate Housewives' first season also marked the wrapping up of the spring TV season.

...

The next day, May 15, the first blockbuster of the summer season, Lethal Weapon 4, officially premiered on more than 3,100 screens across North America.

Although it was one of the most popular cop series from the late '80s, there had been a full six-year gap since Lethal Weapon 3, and many fans had lost interest in the series by then.

Thus, despite Mel Gibson bringing a sense of closure and catering to mainstream family values, the film was not as well-received by critics or fans. Media ratings averaged around 5 out of 10, barely passing.

On its opening day, Lethal Weapon 4 only managed $11.28 million -- a figure even lower than the Easter release of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Many recalled that a month prior, Austin Powers had over $15 million on its first day.

The discrepancy between the two films was most glaring in terms of budget; Lethal Weapon 4 had a whopping production cost of $140 million -- nearly five times that of Austin Powers.

With a first-day box office of $11.28 million, it suggested Lethal Weapon 4 would likely earn around $50 million in its first week. With mediocre reviews and a crowded summer movie slate, it was unlikely to generate a successful box office trajectory, with a total North American gross likely just around $100 million.

Without a doubt, the summer slate for Warner Bros. still faced dire challenges.

...

After spending two days at the Liberty City Manor, Caroline returned to the apartment she shared with Melanie. Olivia Wilson naturally stayed behind but didn't overly intrude into Eric's life. Their conversations remained limited; she only prepared breakfast every morning, ate with him, and in the evenings, if Eric returned to the manor, they would share dinner.

While it felt a bit strange, Eric gradually grew accustomed to it.

The celebration for the three movies -- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Wedding Singer, and Species -- was set for Saturday night. Eric hadn't taken a break during the day and returned to Liberty City Manor only to change clothes before heading out to the party.

At the villa, after changing downstairs, Olivia came forward to help him adjust his tie and stepped back to admire him, softly saying, "Go on, but don't drink too much."

Eric nodded, hesitating for a moment before suggesting, "Why don't you come with me?"

Olivia shook her head. "How do you plan to introduce me to others?"

Eric paused, momentarily speechless.

Olivia just giggled and added, "I already bought my ticket for the noon flight tomorrow. If you ever visit the UK, feel free to drop by. And take good care of Carly."

"I will," Eric replied. "See you."

"Goodbye," Olivia waved, watching Eric's silhouette leave the villa, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

...

The celebration party took place at a hotel in Beverly Hills. Aniston had bought a villa in the upscale area north of Santa Monica, and Eric first drove through Santa Monica to pick her up before heading to the party together.

Since reuniting at the end of last year, this was the first time they publicly attended a party together. Aniston was quite excited and had even prepared an evening gown.

However, Eric seemed somewhat distracted; all the while, he struggled with the thought that giving his parting hug didn't have to be a big deal.

As they walked into the hotel and entered the elevator, Aniston clung to Eric's arm, playfully asking, "Eric, if we run into her, who will you help if we get into a fight?"

Eric snapped back to the moment. "Who are you talking about?"

Aniston shot him an incredulous look. "Don't think I don't know anything!"

Eric laughed, explaining, "If you two got into it, I'd just sit back and watch the show. But Drew's in Europe and won't be coming tonight."

"And her?" Aniston pressed.

Eric didn't pretend not to understand and explained, "Her dad and mom are in the middle of a divorce, and she flew to New York yesterday. So, tonight, you're the only leading lady."

Aniston's concerns dissipated in an instant; she had been nervous all along, hardly noticing Eric's mood. Yet, she still couldn't help but challenge, "Who knows if you're involved with other women at the party."

Eric thought about it honestly and nodded, "Yeah, there's likely still something going on."

"You jerk! You'd better not talk to any other women tonight."

"I promise," Eric said earnestly.

Just then, the elevator doors opened. As they stepped out, they spotted Amy Pascal and her husband, Bernard Weinraub, walking towards them from the opposite hallway.

Eric stopped, smiling and shaking hands with Bernard, saying, "Good evening, Bernard. Oh, please say hi to Amy for me. My girlfriend won't let me speak with any other women tonight."

As soon as Eric finished speaking, both Amy and Bernard paused in surprise before bursting into laughter. Aniston's face turned beet red, and in a fit of irritation, she pinched Eric's arm hard.

After sharing a laugh, Amy playfully winked at Aniston, saying, "In that case, Jen, do send my regards to Mr. Williams."

"Not going to happen! He did that on purpose!" Aniston flustered, quickly explaining while giving Eric another discreet pinch with a sigh, "Okay, okay, you can talk now."

After some light banter, they finally entered the banquet hall together.

...

Those attending the celebration party mainly included the cast and crew of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Wedding Singer, and Species, along with some executives from various companies. With all three films nearing their end of release, they hadn't invited the media; however, a few affiliated companies were sure to issue regular press releases the next day.

As it stood, the North American box office for the three films had already crossed $350 million, and it was estimated to reach the anticipated $360 million before they left the theaters.

Considering the promotional budget and the total investment of $140 million, acquiring $360 million at the North American box office, although the overall revenue of the three films might not match that of Jurassic Park or Casino Royale, the marketing strategy for the "Easter Movie Combo" was undoubtedly one of Hollywood's most classic commercial operations in recent years.

Beyond the Firefly Group, other Hollywood companies had begun reaching out to one another lately, hoping to position themselves for next year's Easter. Naturally, many sought direct collaboration with the Firefly Group, but since the three companies had already proven the feasibility of such collaboration, they were no longer interested in bringing in additional partners.

...

The lively party continued late into the night before Eric finally left with Aniston. It was too late to return to Liberty City Manor, so they stayed at Aniston's villa in Santa Monica.

Perhaps due to drinking a bit too much the previous night or the late hours spent with Aniston, Eric woke up the next morning to find golden sunlight streaming into his bedroom.

Rubbing his temples, he paused for a moment before looking around, noticing the exquisite clock on the bedside table displayed the time -- 11:40 am.

Remembering that Olivia had mentioned her noon flight, Eric quickly grabbed his phone and dialed back to Liberty City Manor.

No one answered, so he called the twins, and this time it connected. Olivia was already at the airport, and without thinking twice, Eric hurriedly got dressed and dashed out of the room.

Aniston was humming in the kitchen, and upon seeing Eric rush downstairs, she immediately came out. "Eric, are you leaving already?"

"Yeah, I have an urgent matter," Eric explained, noticing Aniston's discontented expression. He took her hand and led her outside. "Come with me."

...

Fortunately, Santa Monica wasn't too far from Los Angeles International Airport. Ten minutes later, they got out of the car, and the twins guided them to the terminal.

Olivia was holding a suitcase, whispering with Caroline. Upon seeing Eric, a gentle smile appeared on her face. "Eric, you're here."

"Yeah, sorry, I overdid it on drinks last night," Eric explained. Hearing the boarding announcement for their flight to London, he hesitated for a moment before walking over to Olivia and reaching out.

Olivia paused, then stepped forward to hug Eric, a single tear escaping from the corner of her eye.

It wasn't until Olivia's figure disappeared at the gate that Aniston turned to Eric with a puzzled expression.

After some shifting, Eric explained, "She, um, I guess she's my mom."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 988: Wrap Party]

At Firefly Studios, the lower-level lobby of an office building in the administrative district was temporarily converted into a press conference room for Stark Industries.

Surrounded by several cameras, Eric stood at the podium, confidently delivering his final lines before wrapping up the film: "Well, good, because that would be outlandish and fantastic. I'm just not the hero type, clearly, with this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I've made, largely public --"

Don Cheadle, who played Colonel Rhodes, leaned in with a helpless expression and whispered, "Just stick to the cards."

Eric nodded in understanding, looked down at the cue card in his hand, scanned the audience briefly, and slowly continued, "The truth is, I am Iron Man."

The media guests shifted in surprise, then erupted into applause, raising their cameras and tape recorders.

In the front row, Natasha Henstridge lowered her slender legs and transformed her initially skeptical expression into one of perfectly timed shock.

...

Outside, behind the monitor, Joss Whedon called for a stop at the right moment, "OK, good!"

Eric stepped down from the stage and joined Joss Whedon to review the footage they had just captured.

This moment marked the seventh take of the scene, and as they approached the conclusion, the creative team remained committed to ensuring the film's quality. From Eric's tiniest expressions to Natasha Henstridge's reactions upon hearing the "I am Iron Man" line, every detail had been extensively discussed and refined to achieve the satisfactory result they had now reached.

Once everything was confirmed, Joss Whedon stood up and announced loudly, "I declare that Iron Man has officially wrapped!"

Applause erupted throughout the lobby, as everyone on the crew celebrated.

After three busy months, Eric didn't hesitate to follow up by announcing a wrap party that would take place tonight in the banquet hall aboard the Titanic, which brought on another wave of cheers.

While the crew managed the final touches under the direction of Joss Whedon and others, Eric exchanged pleasantries with several key players before heading to remove his makeup. Although it was already afternoon, he still had other matters to attend to.

...

Today was Wednesday, May 27.

Last week, Lethal Weapon 4 had a disappointing opening weekend with a final box office of only $49.15 million. This weekend, Sony Pictures' The Patriot premiered, inevitably impacting Lethal Weapon 4's earnings. The following weekend saw a drop of 46% from its opening, with weekend earnings dwindling to $18.38 million compared to the $34.05 million of its first weekend. The film's total in ten days was $67.53 million, falling short even to the opening weekend earnings of last month's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

On the flip side, if there was any competitive edge The Patriot had over Lethal Weapon 4, it was its production cost of $110 million.

Originally, the leading role should have been played by Mel Gibson, but due to his commitments to Lethal Weapon 4, Kevin Costner stepped in as the new lead.

The opening weekend for The Patriot also reached just $32.19 million, failing to exhibit the blockbuster churn expected from such a significant release.

These two summer blockbusters' box office results indirectly served as a reminder of how remarkable the total North American gross of $360 million achieved by the three films released during Easter was. With Lethal Weapon 4 having a production cost of $140 million, it equated to the total investment of all three films combined. To add to that, Warner Bros. had invested heavily in Lethal Weapon 4's marketing, yet its box office potential barely exceeded that of The Wedding Singer from Easter.

However, the lackluster performance of these two heavyweights did nothing to dampen fans' anticipation for the summer release season.

Most people's focus had shifted away from these two films. The big studio's sci-fi blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow from Firefly Studios, MGM's Charlie's Angels 3, Universal's The Scorpion King, and Amblin's The Matrix 2 became the summer's main attractions.

These four films, with the exception of Charlie's Angels 3, all focused on special effects-driven spectacles. This was also part of the reason many fans were eagerly awaiting their releases since the special effects market, having only recently taken off, had yet to reach saturation.

Nonetheless, with the crossover of the spy film universe resulting in this being the first sequel after last year's Casino Royale, which grossed over $1 billion globally, Charlie's Angels 3 without a doubt garnered the most attention this summer. Audience expectations even outstripped those for The Matrix 2. Many media sources predicted that if a film were to break the billion-dollar threshold this summer, Charlie's Angels 3 would be the frontrunner.

...

Once Eric finished removing his makeup, he stepped out of the dressing room to find Natasha Henstridge, now dressed casually in a T-shirt and long pants, elegantly waiting outside.

She waved when she saw Eric come out, "Hi, Eric."

Eric smiled back, "Is there something up?"

As Natasha walked alongside him, she answered, "Not really. I just found a nice apartment in Santa Monica and was about to head home. Can you give me a ride?"

Under normal circumstances, Eric would not hesitate to accept such an invitation. However, at that moment, he couldn't help but shake his head, "Sorry, Natasha, I still have work to do."

"No worries," Natasha said pleasantly, "You're coming to the party tonight, right?"

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it," Eric nodded. As they walked out of the office building and onto the parkway, he asked, "Do you have plans for the rest of the afternoon?"

Natasha's eyes lit up, "No, I don't."

Eric suggested, "How about joining me for a movie? It's a private screening of a horror film."

"Sure!"

"However," Eric added playfully, "this horror film might be a bit different. It's, um, very scary, so you'd better be prepared."

Natasha mischievously blinked, "If I get scared, can I hide in your arms?"

"Uh," Eric joked with an exaggerated glance upwards, "you're all grown up now! Hiding in a man's arms is not cute at all."

As they laughed, they entered another nearby office building.

...

New Line Cinema CEO Kenneth Horne and director Gore Verbinski of The Ring were already waiting inside. They quickly approached Eric and Natasha as they walked in together.

Eric was set to view the new version of The Ring today.

Preparations for The Ring had begun last year. In fact, by mid-April, it was mostly complete. However, Eric was dissatisfied with the current cut and had urged Gore Verbinski to make revisions, even reshooting some scenes.

The release date was scheduled for July 24, which wasn't too far into the crowded summer schedule.

Despite continuous changes, promotional efforts had ramped up since last month. With Johnny Depp's involvement, this horror film had generated significant buzz, even though Depp had not yet become a box office star before his work in Pirates of the Caribbean. His combined pay for The Ring and Sleepy Hollow was just $14 million, averaging $7 million per film.

Initially, Eric loosened the budget for The Ring at Gore's insistence, but since Depp's fee wasn't overly high, the final budget for this horror movie was around $30 million -- much less than Gore's initial estimate.

This screening was particularly important for Eric, so with Natasha he had only four individuals attending.

Once they settled into the small screening room within the office building, Kenneth Horne told the staff to begin prepping the film. The four of them took their seats in the screening area.

While waiting, Eric turned to Gore Verbinski, recalling Johnny Depp, and asked, "Gore, how's it been working with Johnny?"

With all of Eric's continuous requested changes, Gore had been feeling a bit frantic lately. Still, everyone was quite satisfied with the current film's result, and he couldn't help but admire Eric's keen insight in this area.

As Gore was about to respond to Eric's question, Kenneth Horne smoothly interjected, "Gore, come sit over here. It'll be more convenient for you to discuss the film with Eric."

Eric smiled as he watched the two switch seats graciously, internally praising Kenneth Horne for managing New Line Cinema so successfully in recent years. It was not surprising, as he evidently recognized Gore Verbinski's potential and wanted to bring him onboard.

Once Gore sat beside Eric, he expressed his gratitude to Kenneth Horne with a nod, then turned towards Eric, unsure of what Eric wanted to know. He said generally, "Depp is a fantastic actor, full of ideas, and very proactive in his performances."

Eric nodded and asked, "How's your relationship with him? Any plans for collaborations again?"

Gore sensed the implication and replied, "If the opportunity arises, absolutely."

After some small talk, the screening officially began.

...

The storyline opened with the mysterious deaths of four girls. One mother believed her daughter's death was too peculiar and hired her reporter sister, Keller, to investigate the truth. Keller, following clues, soon found a tape in a cabin where the girls had once stayed.

The original American version of The Ring leaned more towards thriller and mystery genres, focusing primarily on the protagonist's journey to uncover the truth behind the girls' deaths.

The rationale behind this approach was the psychological horror employed to perfection in the Japanese version of The Ring; it wouldn't be reasonable to directly replicate it. So while the American version excelled in various details, it could never match the terror of its Japanese counterpart.

Having captured the rights to the Japanese version before it had even started filming, Eric felt free to diverge from common filming techniques. This time, he incorporated elements from both the Japanese and American versions. Specifically, this version leaned heavily towards the Japanese style, both visually and in terms of musical scores, with a clear intent: to scare and terrify people. Thus, he revisited one of the most iconic scenes from the original Japanese film -- the moment Sadako crawled out of the TV. Eric certainly wouldn't let that slip by again.

What had initially dissatisfied Eric in Gore Verbinski's first cut was the establishment of the horror atmosphere, a point he had repeatedly insisted on modifying throughout the past month.

Now, the effect was undeniably immediate.

As the ghost named Samara crawled slowly from the TV screen, it sent chills down Eric's spine. Natasha Henstridge, sitting beside him, was so terrified that she closed her eyes tightly and reached over in distress to clutch Eric's arm.

...

Until the screening concluded and the lights came on, Natasha's face remained pale and ghostly.

Eric comfortingly patted the back of her hand, glancing at the other two. Although he had directed the film himself, Gore Verbinski's expression was not any better. Kenneth Horne remarked, "The current cut is indeed much better than the initial one, and although there are no traditional bloody scenes, the sheer horror of it even reminded me of The Exorcist. Gore, congratulations; this film is destined to become another horror classic in Hollywood."

"Thank you," Gore Verbinski nodded towards Kenneth Horne before looking at Eric, who also turned to him.

Eric nodded, "Great. It's ready to be submitted for rating by the film association. By the way, have you set the promotional strategy for the next two months?"

"Yes, in terms of popularity, we're highlighting Depp, primarily targeting the audience under 26. Eric, we have two different trailers ready, and they're scheduled to air on television and in theaters. Would you like to take a look?"

"No need," Eric shook his head, "You all can handle that. The only thing I insist on is adding a disclaimer to the movie trailer and posters: 'Viewers with heart conditions should watch with caution.'"

Before Gore Verbinski could digest that, Kenneth Horne, who was well-versed in film marketing and distribution, nodded vigorously, "That's a fantastic marketing angle! The more it's prohibited, the more it intrigues the audience. However, this approach may only work once in the short term, which is disappointing."

Eric nodded in agreement and then shook his head, "Ken, I'm not giving you a marketing suggestion; I'm being serious."

The previous installment of The Ring had genuinely frightened audiences. Adding that disclaimer ahead of time would serve as a sort of liability waiver. Should anything untoward happen later, it could minimize future complications. Simultaneously, on the other hand, including that notice could effectively amplify the marketing appeal.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 989: June Schedule]

Last week, when Eric received the internal email informing him that his second assistant, Melanie Gleason, would be leaving to become the Vice President of Overseas Market Operations at Firefly Electronics, most people in Eric's assistant office found themselves in a state of confusion and excitement.

People were puzzled because Melanie was leaving, yet the first assistant, Caroline Wilson, was not departing at the same time, which took many by surprise.

The excitement stemmed from the fact that even though Caroline wasn't leaving, there was still a strong possibility that Eric would select a new personal assistant. Just looking at Melanie's new position indicated that even a second assistant role alongside Eric could lead to an incredible future.

Kelly Haynes, the head of the assistant office, soon announced the new candidate for Eric's second assistant position. The outcome was even more unexpected; this coveted role went to Marissa Mayer, who had only been with the office for a year.

Counting the recently departed Melanie, there were a total of sixteen employees in Eric's assistant office. However, among this group, Marissa was the only one without a master's degree. The others were either Ivy League graduates or had MBA degrees from well-known business schools, many of whom had extensive work experience prior to joining.

The elites who had the qualifications to secure offers from any renowned company wanted to work as Eric's office assistant primarily because of the vast career advancement opportunities the position offered.

So, when everyone learned of this surprising personnel change, their reactions ranged from shock to dissatisfaction. If the boss was no longer selecting personal assistants based on competence but rather on looks or other superficial factors, then was there any need for them to continue their current jobs?

However, the following personnel announcements quickly dispelled everyone's concerns.

After Melanie's departure, Kelly selected the three best-performing assistant candidates to present to Eric. Although these three did not receive the personal assistant position, they were assigned to managerial roles at Firefly Group, Nokia, and Yahoo, respectively. While these positions were a notch lower than Melanie's level of Vice President in a major department, the starting point was still something many professionals enviably coveted.

In fact, the core of this personnel adjustment within Eric's assistant office revolved around the appointments of those three assistants. With the ever-expanding Firefly system, Eric accelerated the speed of placing loyal candidates in various companies across his empire.

Alongside this announcement, the office also began recruiting new office assistants. The hiring standards were raised, and even executive search firms were involved. This was because, in the future, Eric intended to hold similar personnel adjustments annually, increasing the number of transfers accordingly, slowly creating a network of 'agent Smith' from Eric's assistant office that would permeate the entire Firefly system's 'matrix'.

...

After a few years of experience, Caroline was more than capable of handling all the responsibilities expected of Eric's personal assistant. Strictly speaking, Eric didn't actually need a second assistant, so Marissa Mayer's appointment was truly born out of Eric's personal preference.

Since the announcement, Marissa had felt a bit dazed. Although she was a confident person, she never imagined that she could reach the position of Eric Williams' personal assistant in just a year; anyone else in the office was far more qualified than she was.

Considering her boss's flirtatious reputation, Marissa's first thought was that Eric might have other intentions regarding her.

However, despite her musings, she never showed any inclination to refuse the position. 'Come on, only a fool would turn that down.'

After receiving confirmation from her direct supervisor, Kelly Haynes, Marissa promptly accepted the position.

The tedious onboarding process started on Tuesday and lasted a full three days. Just reading through six thick confidentiality documents consumed most of her time.

"Finally, here are the keys to two apartments; one is in Beverly Hills, and the other is in Malibu. The documents include information about these two apartments. You need to choose to live in the one that is closest to Eric. You can opt not to live in either, but you absolutely cannot rent them out to others," said Kelly as she handed Marissa various items at the Burbank Firefly headquarters. "You also get a car; here are the keys and two mobile phones. Remember to keep them on twenty-four-seven. All expenses for the apartments, car, and phones will be fully reimbursed by the company. You don't need to worry about that -- just focus on doing your job."

Marissa listened intently, carefully stowing away everything Kelly handed her. Finally, she hesitated and asked, "Kelly, does that mean I can't have anyone else over at the apartments?"

"Of course not. Privately, you can host parties or entertain friends, and that's no problem. You just can't rent the house out or let others live there long-term," Kelly replied, shaking her head. "Carly should be here by now; let's go. I'll treat you both to dinner so we can get to know each other better. Today marks the wrap of Iron Man, and you'll soon be traveling everywhere with Eric, so you need to get into work mode quickly."

Marissa followed Kelly outside and asked, "Kelly, is Mr. Williams going on a business trip soon?"

"Not exactly a business trip, but it is work-related," Kelly explained as they walked. "In the upcoming June, Eric is likely first heading to New York, where he will stay for about two weeks, then fly to Europe for a week. Nokia's CEO, Jorma Ollila, needs to address some management changes following a contract expiration, and there's also the recent acquisition of Virgin Records in London. His last stop will be Australia, as you know, the Lord of the Rings trilogy has been in production for six months, and he needs to see it for himself. The detailed schedule still needs your and Carly's help to arrange."

Marissa laughed and said, "I didn't think I'd be traveling the world so soon."

"Yeah, honestly, it's pretty easy following him. He's a great boss -- not strict, not demanding, and certainly doesn't work you to the bone like some do."

Marissa discreetly observed Kelly's slightly nostalgic expression and paused before asking cautiously, "Kelly, may I ask why it's me?"

Kelly chuckled at Marissa's careworn demeanor and said, "What I'm about to say falls under confidentiality, but do you know about Carly and Eric's relationship?"

Marissa looked somewhat taken aback, her face reddening as she nodded.

Kelly shook her head, unable to stifle her amusement, "No, you misunderstood. Actually, Carly is Eric's cousin."

Marissa looked up in surprise, "Huh?"

Marissa had always heard that aside from his father who passed away years ago, Eric had no other relatives. Plus, the rumor was that Caroline Wilson was quite fond of the boss -- if they shared that kind of relationship, could feelings develop between them?

Noticing the confusion in Marissa's eyes, Kelly clarified, "Carly's father and Eric's mother are siblings. And yes, Carly genuinely likes Eric; it's true, and this kind of relationship isn't considered taboo in the UK. Since you'll be working closely with Eric, you need to understand this, but remember to focus only on your job; don't concern yourself with anything else."

Marissa processed the information she had just heard and nodded. Then she asked, "But what does that have to do with my hiring?"

Kelly explained, "You've met Carly; she's an exceptionally talented girl who can certainly handle this job on her own. So, the title of 'second assistant' ended up falling to you. As for Eric, I can't say for sure if he has any other intentions."

Suddenly realizing that she might just be a 'nice-to-have' who could merely serve as a pretty trophy for Eric to enjoy at whim, Marissa felt a twinge of discomfort. Her gaze flickered, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Watching Marissa's fluctuating expression, Kelly hesitated before quietly advising, "I just mentioned that Eric is quite a thoughtful man. So if you're not comfortable with something, just be clear in refusing, and he won't push. Besides, things may not be as you imagined."

Marissa nodded but couldn't help worrying if her refusal would jeopardize her job.

...

While the idea of liking her cousin felt a bit strange, Carly's genuine nature quickly made Marissa feel a sense of kinship towards the petite girl.

The three of them had a great time chatting during dinner. The next morning, Caroline personally drove to Burbank to pick up Marissa and take her to the Firefly studio. Today marked Marissa's first day at work, and due to job demands, her rented apartment in Burbank couldn't be moved until the weekend.

After a brief interaction, Marissa started pondering the idea of cohabitating with Caroline, much like Melanie had before. However, since the company had already provided her with two apartments, she hesitated to bring it up.

On their way to the Firefly studio, Caroline handed Marissa a folder and said, while steering the car, "This morning, we'll get to see the display effects of the first RealD system with Eric. I heard it's amazing, and here's the information; you can read through it. In the afternoon, we have to help Eric prepare his schedule, coordinating flight routes, layover airports, meeting appointments, lodging arrangements, and much more. We'll have the weekend off, and I'll help you move. Next Monday, we'll be flying to New York with Eric; it's likely we won't return for a while, so make sure you have everything ready."

Marissa nodded, flipping open the folder Caroline had handed her. It contained basic information about the RealD dual 3D film projection system, developed by Digital Domain. After reading for a while, she asked, "The RealD system -- is that the '4200' project?"

In her year of employment, Marissa had primarily handled work related to several tech companies and wasn't too familiar with Firefly Group, but she knew about the '4200' project.

Caroline nodded, "Yes, when we get to the office, you can find detailed information on our dedicated server."

...

The two women arrived at Firefly studio at 8:45 AM. Upon parking, they spotted Eric exiting from another black luxury car in the lot, accompanied by a tall blonde woman. Marissa recognized the woman as Natasha Henstridge, the Victoria's Secret model who had recently appeared in Iron Man.

Watching the playful interaction between the two from a distance and considering the implications of Eric's choice to bring her on board, Marissa felt a hint of jealousy when Eric playfully patted the model's backside. She quickly glanced at Caroline, concerned about her reaction.

Caroline stood nearby holding a folder, her thin lips pursed slightly, her gaze toward the pair tinged with a hint of longing, as if she was debating whether to approach them.

Eric soon noticed them and walked over with Natasha. "Good morning, Carly, and Mary. This is Natasha; you both should know her."

After a brief introduction, Natasha politely excused herself, saying, "Eric, I'll take my leave now; you've got work to do."

Natasha was there to formalize contract discussions for Underworld, which didn't require Eric to be present.

"Alright, see you later; I'll call you," Eric said, giving the model a hug before watching her join her waiting manager outside the parking lot, then turned back to the two women with a grin, "Let's go; Stan should have everything ready by now."

As Eric spoke, he observed Caroline still slightly pursing her lips, chuckled, and lifted her chin, leaning down to peck her cheek, adorably coloring her pale complexion a rosy red. "Okay, I won't allow you to pretend to be sulky to skip work."

Caroline blinked several times, quickly following Eric toward the digital development office, expressing her discontent, "I'm not sulking! Eric, you owe me an apology; that was so inappropriate of you!"

Eric replied earnestly, "Alright, I apologize."

Caroline immediately forgave Eric for what seemed like the nth time.

Marissa silently trailed behind them, suddenly realizing the meaning behind Kelly's earlier advice and instinctively pretended she was invisible.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 990: Collaboration Plan with Theaters]

Digital Domain's office area was unusually lively that day. Eric arrived on the scene with Caroline and Marissa, where many high-level executives from the group had already gathered. In a hall inside the Digital Domain Loft, Stan Winston was introducing the RealD dual-projection 3D movie system to people like Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells.

After the plan was finalized last fall, both the "4200" and "RealD" projects had been swiftly moving forward within the Firefly Group. Over the past six months, to advance these plans, the company first bought Canada's IMAX Corporation and sped up the research and development of DMR technology for converting standard 35MM films to IMAX format.

Due to being overlooked by Hollywood distributors for a long time, IMAX had struggled to commercialize its technology, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy multiple times. However, now, with the relentless support of the Firefly Group, thanks to years of technical accumulation, IMAX's research and development team had produced an outstanding DMR conversion plan in just six months. They were currently working on resolving the film length limitations of DMR technology and anticipated that by the end of the year, all issues would be resolved, allowing IMAX to commercialize seamlessly.

Next, in Digital Domain, a subsidiary named "RealD" was established specifically to develop the dual-projection 3D movie system. Digital Domain was also tasked with creating 3D conversion software and training a 3D conversion team. In fact, these initiatives had already gradually begun a few years back, but only after last fall, when the two plans were confirmed, did they really take off.

Today was essentially a day for evaluating the technical achievements of the Digital Domain.

...

After greeting everyone, Eric put on a pair of polarized 3D glasses from the workbench to try them out. Noticing that Stan Winston wanted to say something, Eric spoke first, "Stan, don't you understand? Facts are more persuasive than any rhetoric. Let's head straight to the screening room."

"Ha ha, of course," Stan nodded but picked up a 3D glasses to fondle. "However, we put a lot of thought into this, and I hope everyone can appreciate it a bit deeper. Eric, I assure you, you're going to be amazed."

"I'm certainly looking forward to it," Eric replied with a smile.

With some light banter, the group exited the Digital Domain's office Loft and walked towards the nearby cinema's screening room.

...

Marissa Meyer followed behind a group of big shots with Caroline, listening as Eric expertly discussed various technical issues related to 3D movies with Stan Winston and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Noticing how intently Caroline was listening, she secretly resolved to quickly brush up on the related knowledge this weekend.

As an assistant, it would be terrible if she didn't understand what her boss was saying. She certainly didn't want to be seen as just a pretty face.

Entering the screening room, Marissa and Caroline received the 3D glasses handed to them by staff, took their seats, and Marissa examined the 3D glasses in her hands with curiosity.

They featured black frames with light gray lenses; when worn, everything appeared dimmer, but there was nothing particularly special about them.

The big shots in the front row chatted for a bit, and as the lights dimmed in the screening room, Marissa instinctively turned her attention to the screen.

When the hard metal screen lit up, Marissa hadn't fully processed it yet, and with the excellent sound effects in the theater, a roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex suddenly lunged at her with its jaws wide open.

"Ah--!"

Caught completely off guard, Marissa leaned back against her chair, forgetting the occasion entirely, and screamed as she tore off the 3D glasses.

Although everyone was startled by Stan Winston's trick, hearing a woman's scream caused the executives in the front row to remove their glasses and glance back in her direction.

In the dim light, feeling a dozen pairs of eyes suddenly focused on her, Marissa felt embarrassed beyond measure. "Uh, sorry, everyone."

Seeing she was alright, the others quickly returned their attention to the big screen.

...

To test the digital domain team's technical achievements, Eric had specifically chosen a scene from Jurassic Park where the main characters encountered the T-Rex on a rain-soaked bridge for 3D conversion.

Night shots and rain scenes were both technical challenges for 3D conversion. Given the triple brightness attenuation from the projector, screen, and glasses, 3D movies often suffered from a common problem of dim visuals; if the night scene conversion wasn't well done, it could end up being just a dark blob on screen.

However, judging by Marissa's reaction, the Digital Domain team's conversion effect was undoubtedly outstanding.

They watched the ten-minute converted segment three times before the lights in the screening room were turned back on.

...

Eric didn't lead the high-ranking executives out; instead, he remained seated in the screening room and began discussing the results.

Unable to find any faults with the 3D visuals they had just witnessed, Eric asked about the timeline for converting a complete film. "Stan, based on what we just saw, how long would it take to complete the conversion of a full-length movie?"

Sitting beside Eric, Stan thought for a bit and replied, "For a two-hour movie, the full conversion would take about three months."

Three months for converting one film meant only four 3D films could be produced in a year. While Eric believed in the mantra of quality over quantity in the early stages of promoting 3D movies, four films weren't enough to sustain year-round screenings. This number needed to at least double.

After considering it for a moment, Eric said, "Keep hiring. We need to double the size of the conversion team. I need you to deliver at least eight films a year."

After hearing Eric speak with Stan Winston, Katzenberg inquired, "So, Eric, now that all the technical issues are basically resolved, are you sure we want to move forward with the next steps?"

Katzenberg's sudden question came with reasoning. Whether it was the IMAX DMR conversion technology or the RealD projection system development, the invested capital was merely in the tens of millions of dollars.

However, once the plans related to actual theater collaboration officially commenced, it wouldn't be a matter of just a few tens of millions anymore.

The RealD projection system being developed included two custom film projectors, a hard metal screen, and 3D polarized glasses -- all three components. Without considering the profit potential of the system itself, the equipment cost totaled $250,000. Converting traditional 2D theaters to dual-projector 3D theaters would require a budget of at least $300,000 for each screening room.

While the unit price for the entire set of equipment was insignificant for Firefly, the cost for transforming 4,000 3D screening rooms worldwide would soar to $1.2 billion; this was a very conservative estimate.

Adding in the planned 200 IMAX cinemas, with an average construction cost of $2 million each, that was another $400 million expenditure.

All in all, a project budget of $1.6 billion was substantial even for Firefly Group, and even if they suffered a complete loss, it wouldn't cripple them. However, completing the modification of 4,000 3D screening rooms and the construction of 200 IMAX theaters was merely the beginning.

The entire plan aimed to establish an entirely new 3D film industry chain. If successful, the Firefly Group's strength would undoubtedly undergo another transformation. But if it failed, the consequences would not be as simple as losing $1.6 billion.

After making such a massive industry move, if moviegoers didn't respond positively, failure could result in more than just wasted investment; the subsequent handling of those 4,000 3D screening rooms would be a headache enough to leave Firefly in disarray. And that didn't even take into account the series of technical teams Firefly had created specifically to push this initiative.

Thus, pausing the plan at this point would not cost Firefly anything; the initial investments could be considered worthwhile for the technical results achieved. Even if they wanted to unload the acquired IMAX Corporation to relieve their burden, they could.

However, once the plan moved into the next stage, there would be no turning back.

They would either become leaders of a new film industry revolution or become the laughingstock of Hollywood, leaving behind a potential domino effect of chaos.

The screening room fell into a brief silence. To be honest, Eric felt a moment of hesitation. However, glancing around at the group of executives, he quickly smiled casually and said to Katzenberg, "Jeffrey, why don't you share the results of your discussions with a few major theater chains?"

Knowing Eric had made up his mind, Katzenberg ceased any futile discussions. "I've talked with the management of several major North American theater chains recently. Overall, they showed great interest in our plan, but they also believe the risks are too high."

Eric pointed to the metal hard screen in front of the screening room. "Perhaps next, you can bring them here and persuade them further."

"Of course, that was exactly what I was thinking," Katzenberg nodded with a smile. "But even if they recognize the visual effects of this sample footage, we will still struggle to find much leverage in future collaborations. My idea is to establish a subsidiary and collaborate with these major theater chains. We'll fund the transformation of 3D screening rooms, taking on the risks ourselves, and then share a percentage of the box office revenue from these theaters. While it might take a while to recoup costs, if we succeed, it will lead to significant and consistent income. As for the 200 IMAX theaters, we will completely control that process without needing to indulge too much."

The main difficulty in transforming 3D screening rooms still stemmed from the fact that most major North American theater chains operated multiplexes, which was exactly why Firefly couldn't venture into this alone. After all, even if they forcibly acquired a single chain, it would be impossible for Firefly to convert a cinema with five, six, or even more than ten screening rooms into 3D mode. Moreover, given the different regional theater chains, acquiring one chain or partnering with one would make it hard to cover all of North America.

Therefore, Katzenberg's plan was undoubtedly the most viable option. IMAX had used a similar model in its commercialization process in the past.

However, this would significantly limit Firefly's control over this batch of 3D screening rooms.

Fortunately, Eric's primary goal was not to enter the theater industry but to promote 3D movies.

Of course, with limited control over the final cinemas, to ensure Firefly held the initiative in promoting 3D films, becoming the standard-setter was a must.

After discussions, Eric decided to establish a dual certification system. One for screening rooms equipped with the RealD projection system and another for films employing the Digital Domain's 3D conversion technology.

As long as they could create an idea among audiences that only 3D films certified by the Digital Domain were the most authentic 3D movies when screened in RealD theaters, then even if the 3D film market became chaotic again in the future, at least Firefly's brand of 3D films would not be severely affected.

Moreover, after the chaos, other companies -- whether they liked it or not -- would gradually align with Firefly's standards due to commercial considerations.

The group discussed in the screening room all morning and then had dinner together before returning to their respective jobs to resume their busy schedules.

...

Eric returned to his office in the cinema, finally having time to chat with his new assistant.

"So, how are you feeling now?" he asked while lazily leaning back in his chair, flipping through some materials just delivered by his secretary, as Marissa Meyer sat across from him with a cup of coffee.

Marissa set her coffee down and nodded, "It's going okay; I just suddenly feel that there's so much more to learn."

Eric nodded in approval. "That's great to hear. Too many people think they no longer need to learn."

Marissa merely smiled without saying anything further.

Eric paused for a moment before saying, "Kelly must have told you everything I should tell you."

Marissa understood immediately what Eric meant. "Yes."

"Carly is a great girl; you two will get along just fine," Eric said. Seeing that Marissa didn't seem to catch on, he thought for a moment and added, "You should chat with Melanie; she can help you adapt to this job quickly."

Marissa finally caught on; Caroline was in the office next door. If it was work-related, it would be much more convenient to talk to her than reach out to Melanie Gleason in San Francisco.

"Got it, Eric." Marissa smartly didn't ask further and just nodded earnestly.

Eric didn't elaborate either. "Alright then, get back to work."

Watching Marissa leave the office, Eric shifted his gaze back to the material he was holding, which happened to be the performance evaluation report Kelly had prepared for Marissa.

Unlike the initial interview report, this one was far more detailed.

Kelly's evaluation of Marissa was still quite high, but Eric noticed a shadow of another individual in the adjectives like 'perfectionist,' 'detail-oriented,' and 'controlling.' Eric certainly wouldn't allow Marissa to manage Yahoo again like she did in the past. However, assigning her to oversee the development of a specific product was an excellent idea.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 991: A Strong Start]

At the end of May, the last major release was The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey and produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Following that was Firefly Group's The Day After Tomorrow, so Eric was keenly interested in this movie due to Jim's involvement.

Despite the failure of The Cable Guy, Jim Carrey had remained firmly at the top tier in Hollywood over the recent years. Even with the more artsy angle of The Truman Show, Jim still commanded a salary of $12 million, setting the bar high and making The Truman Show a $60 million production.

On Monday, Eric relaxed on a flight to New York, looking over last weekend's box office report in his hands.

The Truman Show made $31.19 million in its opening weekend, matching the performances of the previous two weeks' releases, Lethal Weapon 4 and The Patriot, and estimates suggested it could reach around $50 million in its first week.

As long as it maintained a solid box office trend, Paramount would still see a tidy profit. As for Lethal Weapon 4 and The Patriot, they had already suffered weekly drops of around 40%, posing no real threat to the upcoming release of The Day After Tomorrow on Friday.

The new version of The Day After Tomorrow was directed by Michael Bay. Eric had already seen the finished product and, since he had written the script himself, it was no longer as drawn-out as Roland Emmerich's version. Furthermore, Bay's knack for bursting with visual effects made the imagery of North America being covered in ice more striking. This also marked Firefly Group's sole major summer blockbuster of the year, garnering most of the company's marketing resources, leaving no doubt that this effects-laden giant would be the highlight of the summer.

...

At 4 PM, Eric's Boeing 767 landed at MacArthur Airport in central Long Island. As usual, he sent Caroline and Meyer off to Manhattan while he headed to East Hampton. He planned to spend two weeks in New York -- one week for business and the other for some quality time with the women and kids.

However, although he wanted to take a break, Chris rushed over from Manhattan the following day.

...

On the lawn in the mansion, the weather was quite nice.

Chris was led to the backyard lawn by Joanna, where he spotted Eric with three kids making insect specimens. Kevin and Emma were joyfully engaged, while Hawaii was noticeably distracted. When she saw her mother arrive with Chris, Hawaii quickly stood up and sweetly greeted, "Good morning, Uncle Chris! Are you going to talk business with Dad?"

The little girl blinked her big eyes, almost saying, "Please take my dad away!"

Chris smiled and shook his head seriously, "No, I came to join you in making insect specimens."

At this response, Hawaii frowned in annoyance. How could these adults be so boring? Even worse, they wanted to drag her into it.

Eric put down his tools and stood up, giving Chris a hug. He said to Joanna, "Joan, why don't you play with them for a while?"

Joanna nodded and, watching Eric leave with Chris, sat down at the spot he just vacated, affectionately rubbing her restless daughter's back. "Elia, you promised Mommy you would get along with Daddy and not act so impatient all the time."

"But, Mom, this is really boring. Can I go back and read now?"

Joanna shook her head. "No, you can't. I spoke with Manny; she won't be coming to help you with lessons this week. I've put away your books, along with the little keyboard Steve sent you. You've already scared your dad enough, so at least this week, be good."

"Mmm."

The five-year-old girl, with her beautiful big eyes, sighed in frustration and lazily laid her head on the table piled with crafting supplies, finding life rather dull.

...

Meanwhile, Chris followed Eric back to the living room of the villa. Once seated on the couch, he smiled and asked, "Did you get another big surprise this time?"

"If you're talking about seeing a five-year-old girl engrossed in a book on Differential Topology," Eric shrugged and forced a smile. "Absolutely, if it weren't for Elia's tutor explaining what Differential Topology is, I wouldn't have had a clue what my daughter was studying. Although, fine, even with that explanation, I still don't really understand what it is."

"Ha ha," Chris burst into laughter, then after a moment added, "I'm really looking forward to seeing what Elia will be like when she grows up. Maybe I should start letting Daniel spend more time with her; he could marry her someday."

Eric smiled helplessly. He certainly hoped his child would be very smart, but this felt a bit excessive.

After sharing a few laughs, the two quickly turned to business.

"Counting our initial stock holdings and the purchases made by Firefly Investment and Clover Fund in the first half of the year, we currently hold a total of 35.7% of AOL's shares. The free-floating shares of AOL have basically been swept up by various investment funds, and our holdings will not increase. During this time, I've been in touch with the other AOL shareholders, but the results haven't been great. The achievements of Steve Case are evident to all, and most shareholders prefer the current management's development strategy."

Since its inception, AOL had been raising funds from various investment companies. It wasn't until Firefly Investment stepped in that AOL's stock structure stabilized. The situation now was that the combined stock holdings of AOL's management, including Steve Case, was less than 10%. Outside of Firefly being a major shareholder, the remaining ownership was concentrated in a handful of investment funds.

Based on yesterday's closing price, AOL's market value had reached $39.6 billion, up 1.77 times from the start of the year. This means that right now, 1% of AOL's shares was worth nearly $400 million. Even if the investment funds were willing to offload more shares, Firefly couldn't muster enough funds to make large-scale purchases.

Gently tapping his fingers on the couch armrest, Eric pondered for a moment and asked, "If we go all in now, how likely are we to take control of AOL?"

Chris thought it over and answered, "About 50%. There are already rumors about AOL merging with Time Warner. If that news gets confirmed, our chances of losing are greater since many people would be very eager to see AOL merge with Time Warner."

Although Firefly was AOL's largest shareholder, controlling 35.7% of the stock, under the current favorable circumstances for AOL, the chance of ousting the existing management via a shareholder vote was quite slim. Most of AOL's shareholders were institutional investors, and there weren't many. Gathering a united front against Firefly, the major shareholder, would be relatively easy.

Of course, Firefly had its trump card as well -- threatening to sell off stocks to persuade other shareholders to side with them. If Firefly significantly sold off its holdings in AOL, it could potentially crash AOL's stock price.

However, Eric was definitely against using that method unless it was absolutely necessary. Such an act would harm everyone involved and could set off a chain reaction impacting the entire Nasdaq market.

The Nasdaq index was now nearing 2000 points. While this seemed far from the once lofty heights of 5000, the stock index was filled with bubbles.

Take Microsoft as an example: back in 1995, when the Nasdaq hovered around 1000 points, Microsoft's market value was only around $40 billion. Now, as the index hit 2000 points, Microsoft's market cap had surpassed $250 billion -- more than six times what it was three years ago.

If Firefly Investment were to try to break down AOL shares to make AOL shareholders yield, Eric worried that a drop in AOL's stock price could serve as a trigger for the entire Nasdaq market's collapse. If that happened, Firefly would be facing the hostility of Wall Street.

As for why he insisted on having AOL follow a path as an Internet service provider, Eric had already gone over the details with Chris.

AOL's user growth had surged in recent years, and it was expected that by around 2000, AOL would have 20 million broadband users -- far exceeding traditional telecom operators like ATT and Verizon.

This was the essential foundation of AOL's operations. As long as they could secure 20 million users, with an average monthly fee of $30, these users would bring $7.2 billion in stable annual revenue.

Under such favorable conditions, further consolidating their position by merging with a traditional telecom operator could expand their service offerings. Even if the Internet bubble burst in the future, AOL could remain stable.

However, Steve Case's vision of transforming AOL into the biggest Internet media giant was essentially sacrificing the core for the sake of a less relevant goal.

History had proven this time and again; when the Internet bubble burst, AOL's media empire quickly fell apart. The fallout led to a myriad of personnel and financial crises. The disregard for core network services, along with a coalition of major traditional players vying to eliminate AOL, caused AOL's 20 million-plus users to swiftly migrate to competitors. Eventually, when Time Warner sold AOL again, the internet giant, which once had a peak market value of $180 billion, could only fetch a paltry $4 billion.

Eric believed that AOL shareholders had been quite lucky during that previous transaction; at the peak of the company's stock price, they exchanged their shares for 'AOL-Time Warner' stock. So when AOL vanished, they still held stakes in Time Warner, leaving them not totally empty-handed. As for the original Time Warner shareholders, well, that was a different story.

If this time around the acquisition of Time Warner by AOL went through, even at a 50-50 split, Firefly Investment's stake in Time Warner would eventually be close to 18%. That would surely position them as the largest shareholder of the new 'AOL-Time Warner', aligning perfectly with Eric's ambition to expand in Hollywood.

Nevertheless, passing up the chance to become America's leading Internet service provider in exchange for an 18% stake in Time Warner seemed like a major miscalculation. Eric was determined to avoid such a misstep.

"50% it is then," Eric finally said. "Time Warner has already been in frequent contact with AOL's upper management, so we need to make a decision quickly. We can't keep dragging this out indefinitely."

Chris nodded and added, "Well, Eric, succeeding would be great, but if it doesn't work out, what do you plan to do?"

This time, Eric didn't hesitate much. "If we fail, we'll start gradually pulling out from now on. We'll sell as many shares as we can."

Chris understood the implication; the Nasdaq market would inevitably crash one day. As soon as that came, AOL -- an avant-garde star stock on the Nasdaq -- would be hit first. Firefly could only liquidate as much stock as possible before that day came.

As for becoming a shareholder of the new AOL-Time Warner, Eric was not interested at all.

Once the Nasdaq market crumbled, Time Warner would become a complete quagmire. Even if Time Warner's valuation was calculated at $50 billion, holding an 18% stake would only be worth about $9 billion. Even now, Firefly's share in AOL at 35.7% already greatly surpassed that value, let alone the 18% not enough to seize control of Time Warner.

...

Unconsciously, the two chatted away the morning. After lunch, Chris hurried off to prepare for the showdown planned for the end of the month, at which point Eric might come back to New York.

As Eric stayed in East Hampton, hoping to prevent his daughter from becoming a problem, a workweek quickly passed.

On June 5, Friday, the first big effects-heavy film of the summer, The Day After Tomorrow, officially premiered across 3,370 screens in North America.

The film took in $23.5 million on its opening day. Eric's well-crafted script, combined with Michael Bay's expertise in visual effects, led to a positive reception, with most media giving it an 8 out of 10 -- far exceeding Roland Emmerich's previous version.

After the successful opening day of $23.5 million, the film would gross a total of $73.75 million over its opening weekend, becoming the first smash hit of the summer season. Based on the weekend box office performance data, Michael Bay would undoubtedly achieve his first film to cross $100 million in its opening week.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 992: ABC's Adjustments]

Manhattan.

Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio got out of the taxi, walking hand in hand into their apartment building. They were joking and laughing as they reached their penthouse, only to find Miranda Kerr already home, happily preparing something in the kitchen.

Switching out of their high heels, Gisele glanced at the figure in the kitchen and couldn't help but snicker. It really was a rare sight. Alessandra chimed in, "Is she making anything edible?"

...

"Hey, you're back!" Miranda called out cheerfully when she heard the commotion from the living room.

The two girls responded with a nonchalant murmur, but Miranda didn't mind. She turned back to her cooking.

Today, Eric was coming over, and she had made up her mind to impress him, hoping to persuade him to let her go back to Los Angeles.

After being sent to New York by Eric in March, Miranda initially felt a bit sulky about it. She didn't want to live with Gisele and Alessandra, nor did she want to be watched like a child by Cindy Crawford, who was assigned to look after her by Eric.

However, soon after, despite knowing that Cindy or perhaps Eric might have had a hand in it, she found herself startled.

Since Miranda was reluctant to live with Gisele and Alessandra, Cindy offered her a place in her own apartment and took good care of her. But, she thought, as a model, she couldn't just sit around.

Therefore, Cindy took her to an interview at Elite Model Management, along with dozens of other girls scouted from all over North America.

Cindy personally escorting her gave Miranda a bit of confidence. Watching those dozens of girls look at Cindy like she was a queen made her feel somewhat smug. Surely, she thought, she could easily reach Cindy's status herself one day.

Because of Cindy's reputation, while waiting, several girls intentionally chatted with her. Some recognized her as one of the four tennis girls in Casino Royale and from her appearances on Disney Channel shows, asking why she was attending the Elite model auditions.

Miranda couldn't very well say she was sent to New York because she annoyed Eric, so she puffed up with pride, remarking that she wasn't interested in acting and wanted to try modeling instead.

That statement drew some looks from the girls, making one of them half-jokingly say, "I've only heard of models trying to find a way into acting!"

Miranda understood the underlying meaning but couldn't let it show on her face. Deep down, she felt frustrated.

After spending half the day taking photos and walking the runway with a group of girls, she eventually received some 'special' feedback. A manager from Elite personally explained the outcome of her audition: slightly short, lacking definition in her features, an ordinary walk, no professional training, and overall, completely lacking the potential to be a high-fashion model; she could only pursue commercial modeling.

Before the big Victoria's Secret show, a model aiming for supermodel status needed endorsements from high-fashion brands like Prada, Tiffany Co., and Chanel. Only by securing collaborations with these brands could one elevate their status and gradually gain recognition within the fashion world, and eventually ascend to the coveted supermodel status.

But Miranda's looks and height virtually ruled out any high-fashion opportunities.

This meant that without any advantageous connections, she could never become a supermodel, destined instead to be a commercial model -- that is, one who could do clothing displays, print ads, car show promotions, and other gigs that had little chance of leading anywhere significant. Of course, a commercial model could also excel, as Cindy had, but in the original timeline, despite a twenty-year gap, Cindy's and Miranda's paths to success were almost identical.

Given Miranda's situation, Elite offered her a training contract similar to an internship. The company would provide housing and a fixed monthly salary of $1,000, and she had to undergo regular training with Elite and complete tasks assigned by the company.

This only made Miranda angrier, realizing it might have been a power play by Cindy or Eric, and she felt a surge of rebelliousness.

Fine, she thought, "If that's how it is, then so be it."

She signed the contract willingly, and then Cindy, along with an Elite agent, took her on a tour of where she might work -- a day at the car show, changing through dozens of outfits at a tear-filled fitting site, being treated like a living prop on the set of the new season of Project Runway.

By evening, when Cindy and the Elite agent brought Miranda to the West Village in Manhattan, seeing she would be living with seven other girls who didn't look much worse than her in a cramped old apartment of under sixty square meters, Miranda finally broke down.

After spending the night at Cindy's, when Miranda woke up the next day, she hadn't mentioned working with Elite again, nor did Cindy, as if nothing had ever happened.

After breakfast, Cindy took Miranda to her agency, IMG Models, pulled out a pre-prepared contract, and signed Miranda under the same agent. Then they moved her into Gisele and Alessandra's apartment.

Due to her age restrictions, Miranda wasn't getting much work at the moment. For the past few months, Cindy had treated her like an adult, regularly bringing her along. The more she saw and heard, the more Miranda realized that those girls had been right about her during the waiting period at the audition. If possible, she would have wished she could look at herself with that same idiotic gaze.

Thus, when she heard from Cindy that Eric was coming over today, she hurried back to the apartment, eager to impress Eric to get herself back to Los Angeles. After all, she had lost all interest in being a model.

...

After resting for a week in East Hampton, Eric found himself facing internal personnel issues at ABC Group upon arriving in Manhattan.

This issue wasn't related to infighting or layoffs, but it was still quite tricky. Over the past few years, ABC Group had become increasingly powerful, leading other companies to take an interest in its management. After all, even if Eric could come up with countless brilliant ideas, the Firefly Group could not develop so rapidly without an exceptional management team to execute those ideas.

The party looking to poach talent was Comcast, targeting ESPN's CEO, Steve Bernstein.

When ESPN signed a massive broadcasting rights deal with the NFL worth $9 billion, the network's business only flourished. With the increases in cable division revenue and advertisement income, ESPN alone contributed over $500 million in net profit to the group that year.

Steve Bernstein had been at the helm of ESPN for over a decade, transforming what was once a small station with fewer than 300,000 subscribers into North America's leading basic cable provider with over 90 million subscribers.

In any company, achieving such outstanding results warranted a promotion. Eric wouldn't let the company talent slip away just like that.

However, the stability of the Firefly Group's current situation was strong.

Under Eric, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Frank Wells managed the Firefly Group, primarily overseeing its film and entertainment business. After Tom Murphy's retirement, Robert Iger and veteran Stephen Burke from ABC were appointed CEO and President of ABC Group, respectively, in charge of Firefly's television business. Under them were the heads of various subsidiaries, such as Kenneth Horne from New Line Cinema, Robert Thompson of Buena Vista Distribution, Stan Winston in Digital Domain, Anne Sweeney from AE Networks, Steve Bernstein from ESPN, Barry Weiss from Firefly Records, and so on.

The top executives of these companies oversaw various divisions and subsidiaries, collectively managing a workforce of over 120,000 employees globally within the Firefly Group.

Putting aside other matters, with Steve Bernstein's accomplishments and his current level, a promotion would require at least reaching the position of ABC's president. However, there was no deadweight among those above him; all his superiors were capable, and nobody was expected to leave or retire anytime soon, putting Eric in a tough spot.

Eric was no king; he couldn't merely promote someone to a new title. For someone like Steve Bernstein, seeking more room for his role, a simple salary increase wouldn't suffice as motivation to stay.

On the other hand, the position Comcast offered Steve Bernstein was very tempting -- the Chief Operating Officer.

Comcast was still under the control of founder Ralph Roberts and his son, both serving as chairman and CEO, respectively.

The role of Chief Operating Officer placed Steve Bernstein on equal footing with Comcast's president, directly responsible to the Roberts, managing the entire Comcast cable network's operations. Though it wasn't absolute power, Comcast, which was in a rapid growth phase, offered much more room for maneuver compared to the already fully realized operations of ESPN.

Firefly didn't have a Chief Operating Officer position; the responsibilities were split between Katzenberg and Frank Wells.

Eric also couldn't just create a similar position out of nowhere to retain Steve Bernstein. The stability of Firefly Group's management structure represented a harmonious balance of power distribution; stripping power from one manager to give it to a new one would imbalance this management system.

However, if Eric expanded his view to the larger Firefly system, there was a position that was about to become vacant that might suit Steve Bernstein perfectly -- AOL. Given Steve Bernstein's demonstrated talents in management, he would be competent in stepping into the CEO role at AOL, given the many similarities between the two companies.

In fact, most executives at America's giant companies couldn't be considered "professionals" in their specific field. Once a business reached a great scale, the requirements for management shifted from technical skills to a person's management philosophy.

Of course, nothing had been settled yet. Whether they could reclaim control of AOL from Steve Case's team remained uncertain. But to avoid losing Steve Bernstein, Eric needed to stabilize him in advance.

...

At the ABC headquarters on the Upper West Hydee, it was nearing the end of the workday. Eric had spent the afternoon discussing with Steve Bernstein, who had purposefully come from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.

Steve was tempted by the role Comcast offered, but he was also intrigued about the prospect of taking charge of the rapidly growing new internet technology company, AOL. Their discussions were in-depth, and Eric's proposed future direction for AOL received Steve's endorsement.

Finally, Steve said, "Eric, if that's the case, I can wait a month before responding to Comcast. But if you can't regain control of AOL, I fear I'll have to formally submit my resignation."

Eric nodded; he felt they had said all they could. If they couldn't keep Steve, there wasn't much to be done. Still, he couldn't help saying, "Actually, Steve, even if this doesn't work out, if you're willing to wait another two years, I can guarantee Firefly will undoubtedly acquire another telecom operator, which I would still hand over to you to manage."

Steve smiled and gently shook his head. "Eric, I appreciate your confidence in me. I know you will succeed in the future. However, I can't afford to pass up this opportunity for an uncertain promise."

Eric felt regretful; with Jorma Ollila's departure from Nokia, there was indeed another position available at Nokia that could be given to Steve Bernstein.

However, the leap between media and telecommunications was too vast. After the lesson of how Apple had faltered when it hired John Sculley from the beverage industry as CEO, Eric refrained from suggesting it. Moreover, Nokia's headquarters were in Northern Europe, making it unlikely that Steve would accept such an offer.

After wrapping up their discussions, Eric stood up and extended his hand to Steve Bernstein. "Well then, how about we grab dinner? I've already made a reservation."

"Of course," Steve replied, shaking Eric's hand firmly.

The two of them greeted a few other senior executives at the headquarters before leaving ABC, heading to a top restaurant in Rockefeller Center for dinner.

After the meal, Eric personally arranged for the driver to take Steve Bernstein back to his hotel, the Plaza, before finally returning to the penthouse apartment on Madison Avenue where the three girls were waiting.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 993: This Is What I Did]

It was 8 PM when Gisele and Alessandra stepped down from upstairs after taking a bath together. They found Miranda curled up on the sofa, bored and flipping through channels. Gisele joked, "Maybe Eric isn't coming over tonight because you're here."

Alessandra chimed in, "Maybe he's with Cindy instead."

Though Miranda often acted a bit spoiled around Eric, she was emotionally intelligent. The three girls generally got along well. Hearing Gisele and Alessandra's teasing, Miranda rolled her eyes and said, "Don't you want him to come over?"

Alessandra didn't answer, but Gisele shrugged indifferently, "No, not really."

Miranda immediately shot a mock-threatening look, saying, "I'm going to tell Eric what you just said."

No sooner had she spoken than the doorbell rang.

Miranda's expression brightened even more, and she shot Gisele a "please beg me" look before jumping barefoot off the couch and sprinting toward the door.

...

Gisele and Alessandra, who had just settled on the sofa, stood up and followed. At the entrance, they saw Miranda wrapped around Eric like a little koala. Eric was laughing, holding her slender waist as he walked in. "First off, I want to clarify that there's no way you are going back to Los Angeles."

'Definitely Cindy, it must be her,' Miranda immediately looked disappointed, gazing at Eric with big puppy eyes as she planted a kiss near his mouth. "Eric, I was wrong. I'll be good from now on. Can I please go back to Los Angeles?"

Despite standing over 5'7", Miranda was surprisingly light. Eric reached the entrance, holding the girl as he kicked off his shoes against the wall. Gisele kindly handed him a pair of slippers.

He flashed a smile at Gisele and Alessandra as he slipped on the slippers and headed to the living room, tossing Miranda onto the couch. "You can't go back to Los Angeles. I'm heading to Australia at the end of the month. Why not come back with me?"

"Ugh..."

Miranda curled up, burying her face in a cushion and pretended to cry.

Gisele and Alessandra stepped forward to hug Eric for a moment. Feeling the scent of alcohol on him, Gisele asked, "Eric, would you like some tea? I can get that for you."

"Yeah, thanks," Eric nodded as he watched Gisele and Alessandra head to the kitchen. He settled in a corner of the couch where Miranda lay, playfully tapping her pert backside and smiling, "Well, Cindy said you've been quite good lately. I was actually going to praise you."

Miranda flipped over and lay like a kitten across Eric's lap, saying, "Eric, being a model is no fun. I want to go back to Los Angeles."

"There's no such thing as an easy job in this world," Eric said as he smoothened her hair while she rested her head on his lap. "And I don't like quitters. If you really don't want to stay in New York, I'll take you back to Australia."

Noticing there was no room for negotiation in Eric's tone, Miranda had no choice but to relent, "Fine, fine."

Just then, Alessandra emerged from the kitchen, holding a plate. "Eric, try this apple pie. It's pretty good."

As Eric picked up the fork, Miranda jumped up, unhappy and exclaimed, "Hey, that's my apple pie! I spent all afternoon making it!"

"I never said it wasn't yours," Alessandra said while sitting across Eric, holding the plate. After Eric took a piece, he also took a bite and added, "I just warmed it up and added some honey. What do you think, Eric?"

"Good. Really sweet," Eric replied.

Miranda felt even more aggrieved and repeated, "I made it."

"I know, I know," Eric chuckled. "Next time, remember to drizzle a bit of honey on top. You should try it too, see if it's better than your version."

Seeing the fork missing from the plate, Miranda pinched off a piece and popped it into her mouth, fully aware that Eric and Alessandra were teasing her. She still repeated, "It was my idea."

Eric and Alessandra just nodded, continuing to share the food on the plate.

The plate of apple pie wasn't very big. Gisele came back from the kitchen with some freshly brewed tea, only to find the three of them had already demolished the entire pie.

As Miranda wiped honey off her fingers with a napkin, she decided to "complain" to Eric, "Eric, Gisele just said she didn't want you to come over at all."

Eric took the tea Gisele handed him, smiling as he looked at her. "Why's that?"

Gisele poured three more cups of tea on the coffee table and settled down beside Alessandra, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. She leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, saying, "Because I already have Al."

The moment Miranda saw Gisele kiss Alessandra, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise. Since moving into the apartment, she had sensed a deeper intimacy between Gisele and Alessandra. Initially, she had thought they were just really close friends, but now it seemed something else was amiss.

Especially noticing the two of them wearing the same style of light pink long T-shirts after their earlier bath, she should've figured it out by now.

Seeing the exchange between the two girls, Eric nodded approvingly. "That's great! I can take a set of photos for you two when I have time. They will definitely be beautiful."

Alessandra leaned closer, naturally linking his arm with Eric's, playfully pouting a bit. "Eric, aren't you busy these days?"

"Well, relatively, I'll be in Manhattan for a week. But there aren't really any great places in New York for a photoshoot; we'd get too much attention shooting on the street," Eric replied, shaking his head. "Next vacation, I'll take you somewhere less crowded."

Miranda piped in with a teasing tone, "Yeah, yeah! Maybe a place with lions and tigers, and carry them both away."

Eric laughed while playfully patting Miranda's waist. "Would you feel even more proud if they took me away too?"

Miranda squirmed a bit, giggling playfully, "No way."

Eric released her and turned toward Gisele. "So, what have you been up to lately?"

"My agent has started reaching out for endorsements, aside from Victoria's Secret; Dior, Dolce Gabbana, and Givenchy are all interested in collaborating with me next year." Gisele's excitement bubbled over when Eric mentioned it.

...

Since meeting Eric three years ago, Gisele felt like she had stepped into paradise.

Two years ago, after gaining fame as the cover girl for the U.S. version of VOGUE, she was given a 'healthy' and 'sunny' development direction thanks to Eric's influence. The fashion industry had worshiped sickly beauty for nearly a decade, and perhaps the whole industry had grown somewhat weary, which made Gisele's healthy beauty highly sought after.

Recently, Gisele received numerous invitations from luxury brands for runway shows at every fashion week. In terms of magazine covers that gauge a model's popularity, Gisele had graced over twenty covers in the past two years, appearing in influential fashion magazines around the world almost monthly.

Now, she not only had secured the Victoria's Secret Angel endorsement but also garnered interest from many various fashion brands.

Occasionally thinking about those endorsement contracts worth millions, Gisele couldn't help but feel thrilled. Even after meeting Eric three years ago, she never imagined she'd rise this quickly.

Gisele understood perfectly that without Eric's support, even if she had achieved her current height, it wouldn't have been so effortless.

The fashion industry was harsh and ruthless. To rise to the status of a supermodel, she would need to give, give, and keep giving.

To become well-known, you had to appear on magazine covers and brand runways, which meant charming magazine editors and brand designers. To land top-tier photoshoots, you must please famous photographers. Even if you achieved slight fame, you would still need to court your agent and company executives for opportunities; otherwise, with so many beautiful girls around, why should anyone choose you? Once an opportunity was granted, it wasn't enough merely to obtain it; you had to win over clients to keep it.

So, for a girl with no capital, aside from her body, what could she use to please others?

Three years ago, when Eric merely greeted her, Elite and IMG modeling agencies hurriedly presented her and Alessandra before Eric, making Gisele understand this reality.

Fortunately, Gisele realized she was fortunate.

Since becoming Eric's exclusive, she and Alessandra were safely shielded from the darker side of the fashion world. They didn't need to compete desperately like so many girls who had completely lost their way. Instead, they effortlessly obtained the best resources in the industry, whether it was the cover of U.S. VOGUE or being lead and closing models for luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, and Givenchy.

Many girls who spent their entire youth in the fashion industry might never get such an opportunity, yet she had acquired it all with ease.

When Miranda asked them if they wanted Eric over, Gisele knew that Alessandra, who harbored a secret crush on Eric, truly hoped he would come, but Gisele was speaking her genuine feelings; she had never given it too much thought.

Being a mature girl, how could she possibly give it thought for a man she didn't see often?

However, her feelings for Eric were filled with absolute gratitude, admiration, and respect.

She had often come across news about him and made it a point to pay attention to all of Eric's information. Gisele knew this man was powerful -- wealthy beyond measure. When she saw Eric's net worth on Forbes magazine in March of that year, she secretly calculated that even if she earned $100 million a year, it would take her 1,300 years to catch up to him. Who had 1,300 years? And which supermodel could make $100 million in a single year?

Thus, for Eric treating her and Alessandra as his exclusive, she gradually ceased to resist it and even smartly grasped Eric's intentions, growing closer with Alessandra.

...

After a long day, Eric chatted with the three girls for a while and decided to head off to rest.

Miranda, who was great at reading the room, noticed Eric's demeanor and immediately snuggled his arm, sweetly saying, "Eric, can we sleep together tonight?"

"Well, that would need Gisele and Alessandra's approval," Eric replied, looking at the two women.

Gisele and Alessandra didn't answer but simply nestled closer and exchanged a kiss.

Eric held up his hands laughing, telling Miranda, "See, your disadvantage is all too clear."

Miranda had low expectations from the start, feeling a bit dejected as she stood up and made her way upstairs, not forgetting to throw out, "You better watch out, or they might drain you dry."

...

Not long after, in the upstairs bedroom.

Eric had just taken a shower, his hair still damp, clad in a bathrobe, leaning back against the headboard, enjoying the sight of two girls in fitted lingerie kissing tenderly on the other side of the king-sized bed before finally inching closer together.

After a while, Gisele gently pulled away from Eric's embrace and whispered something in Alessandra's ear. Alessandra's face flushed as she stood up and walked out, leaving Eric puzzled.

Once the door clicked shut after Alessandra left, Gisele straddled Eric, feeling something hard, her face turning even redder as she reached for the knot of his robe. Leaning in, she softly said, "Eric, can I keep you company tonight?"

Eric nodded, pulling Gisele's slim waist tightly against himself, flipping her beneath him easily. "Sure, but sometimes, I don't like girls being too proactive."

...

In the morning, through several large glass windows flooding the living room with sunlight, Alessandra and Miranda sat on bar stools at the corner of the small kitchenette, half-heartedly eating freshly cooked oatmeal, glancing occasionally at the staircase in the distance.

After a moment of hesitation, Miranda asked Alessandra softly, "So, um, what does it feel like the first time?"

Alessandra instinctively shook her head, pausing before saying, "It should be... pretty painful."

Miranda blinked, a bit skeptical. "Should it?"

Alessandra felt a little embarrassed by Miranda's look, so he could only perfunctorily say, "You will know it soon."

Just as Miranda was about to say something else, she recalled her own inexperience and wisely closed her mouth.

At that moment, steady footsteps finally echoed down the stairs.

When they saw Gisele wrapped in Eric's arms walking down, Alessandra and Miranda exchanged worried glances, both feeling a quiver in their hearts, thinking the same thing: it had to hurt a lot.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 994: Why Are You Looking at Me Like That?]

Seeing Alessandra and Miranda sitting at the small bar in the living room eating breakfast, Eric didn't head to the dining room; instead, he placed the bashful Gisele next to Alessandra and said, "Here, you sit here, and I'll go get breakfast."

The atmosphere felt a bit awkward to Alessandra. As Eric walked toward the kitchen, she quickly got up to follow him, saying, "Eric, let me help you."

As the smell of oatmeal wafted through the air, Gisele, who had already exerted herself quite a bit the night before, suddenly felt a strong wave of hunger. Without waiting for Eric and Alessandra to return, she picked up the small bowl of oatmeal next to Alessandra and started eating with a spoon.

After a few swift bites, Gisele cleared Alessandra's bowl, which had only a little oatmeal left, and looked up to see Miranda staring at her with wide eyes. "What are you looking at? You'll have your day too."

Miranda merely clicked her tongue and replied, "I'm just surprised."

Gisele knew exactly what Miranda was surprised about. In the modeling world, very few girls managed to hold on to their innocence for long. If it weren't for her and Alessandra being picked by Eric right as they entered that circle, the two girls would've undoubtedly fallen into the trap like many others over the years.

Even though she still felt a bit under the weather, Gisele couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of gratitude towards Eric. After all, regardless of how open-minded one might be, no girl would willingly trade their body for a step up the ladder.

Soon, Eric and Alessandra returned from the kitchen, each holding a tray. Sitting across from Gisele, Eric placed a bowl of oatmeal and a fruit salad in front of her before serving himself. While eating, he said, "Rest at home during the day. I have a party to attend tonight, and I'll take you with me."

Gisele's face lit up at the thought of attending the party with Eric. She was eager to spend more time with him; he was her first man, and perhaps even her last.

However, remembering something, Gisele shook her head. "Eric, I have a photoshoot for the cover of next month's BAZAAR magazine today, and I've already booked the photographer."

Eric took the milk that Alessandra handed him, took a sip, and replied, "Then we'll push it to tomorrow. I'll call your agent and let them know you're spending the day with me."

"Okay," Gisele nodded quietly, not saying anything more.

After waiting for the two to finish their conversation, Miranda tugged at Eric's sleeve with a sad look. "Eric, I want to go to the party too."

Eric shook his head. "Not this time. Next time, when the party is more relaxed, I'll take you both along."

...

While Gisele could afford the day off, Eric certainly couldn't. Before heading to Manhattan, his schedule for the following week had already been packed tight.

The new television program pitch season for May had just wrapped up, and all the local stations under ABC had basically confirmed their lineup for the coming year.

In the next couple of days, Eric had to watch presentations of new projects from several TV networks. Classic television shows were always hard to come by, and even if he couldn't see any familiar high-rating programs from his memory, he felt it necessary to stay informed about the new shows that his major stations would be launching.

...

After a busy day, Eric returned to the apartment on Madison Avenue in the evening, quickly grabbed a bite, and headed to the Upper East Hydee with Gisele.

The party was hosted by John Mack, the president of Morgan Stanley. Last week, Chris had brought the invitation when they went out to East Hampton. The IPO process for Yahoo had been steadily advancing under Morgan Stanley's operation, and building a good relationship with them could only be beneficial, so Eric accepted the invite.

As their car stopped in front of an apartment on East 95th Street, Eric took Gisele's small hand and got out, only to see John Mack and Chris waiting to greet them.

John Mack was in his fifties, with a bit of gray in his hair, and slightly shorter in stature. Dressed in a gray suit, the moment he saw Eric step out, a warm smile spread across his face as he stepped forward to shake Eric's hand.

"Good evening, Eric," John said, shaking Eric's hand and glancing at Gisele beside him.

"This is Gisele Bundchen, my girlfriend," Eric introduced, and then turned to Gisele. "Gisele, this is Mr. John Mack, the president of Morgan Stanley."

"Hello, Mr. Mack. It's a pleasure to meet you," Gisele said, smiling as she extended her right hand.

John Mack gentlemanly shook Gisele's hand, saying, "Hello, Ms. Bundchen, it's a pleasure to meet you as well."

After a bit of small talk, Eric exchanged greetings with Chris and Emily, and the group walked into the apartment together.

Due to real estate being at such a premium, Manhattan's buildings often appeared narrow and crowded from the outside. The unassuming red-brick apartment looked the same, but inside, it was surprisingly spacious. The hall was filled with two or three dozen guests standing or sitting, yet it didn't feel cramped at all.

Upon Eric's arrival, the guests in the hall stood up and gathered around.

If just a few years prior, the traditional elites of Manhattan -- who prided themselves on their status and demeanor -- could maintain some superiority over a wealth newcomer like Eric, his burgeoning personal wealth now made it nearly impossible for them to keep up such airs.

"Eric, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Anson Pearld, a director at our company. He and Mr. Gilbert have been good friends since childhood... and over here is Julian Robertson, the founder of Tiger Fund. Last year's Tiger Fund and George Soros's Quantum Fund targeting Southeast Asian currencies was truly astonishing... oh, and the next person is..."

John Mack had a wide social circle, and among the guests were not only top executives from Morgan Stanley and other Wall Street magnates but also some elite figures from real estate, media, and even politics. Eric was pleasantly surprised to see another Victoria's Secret Angel, Stephanie Seymour, who attended the party with her publishing tycoon husband, Peter Brandt.

As John Mack introduced people, Eric greeted each guest in turn.

After a round of introductions, John's assistant came over and whispered in his ear. John then gave Eric an apologetic look and said, "Eric, just a moment, Mr. Gilbert has arrived."

Seymour Gilbert was the former chairman of Morgan Stanley and a protege of the founder of the Morgan consortium, Henry Morgan. He joined the firm in 1960 and played a key role in its rise on Wall Street. Although he had since retired, he still held significant influence within Morgan Stanley.

...

Once John Mack stepped out to greet Seymour Gilbert, Eric finally found a moment to exchange glances with Chris. He felt that John was overly enthusiastic tonight. They had only briefly encountered each other a few times, and logically, John shouldn't be acting so familiar and even somewhat courteous.

Chris, taking Eric to a quiet corner by the self-service buffet table, poured himself a glass of red wine and said, "You must know about the merger between Morgan Stanley and Dean Witter last year?"

Eric nodded; Dean Witter was also a powerful stock brokerage and securities firm on Wall Street, largely involved in retail stock trading. In the original timeline, the protagonist in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, played by Will Smith, was a stock trader who was laid off by Dean Witter.

Given the involvement with Yahoo's IPO, Eric had followed the Morgan Stanley and Dean Witter merger closely since last year.

Seeing Eric nod, Chris continued, "Last month, the new Morgan Stanley board made the decision to appoint former Dean Witter CEO Philip Purcell as chairman and CEO. Philip immediately put his people into key positions within Morgan Stanley. The previous Morgan upper management barely managed to retain John Mack's position as president."

Upon hearing Chris's explanation, Eric pieced together the situation: the original Morgan Stanley management had failed in their power struggle for control of the company after the merger. However, it was evident that John Mack and his allies weren't ready to accept that defeat.

Eric wasn't particularly interested in Morgan Stanley's internal conflicts but simply asked, "Will this affect Yahoo's IPO?"

"Of course not. It's two separate matters. Even if they end up fighting tooth and nail, they wouldn't jeopardize Yahoo's IPO. If this pushed us over to another investment bank, Wall Street would be laughing at Morgan Stanley," Chris replied lightheartedly. "They just want to win you over."

Now Eric understood.

In the past six months, with the continuing rise of the NASDAQ index, the assets of the ten or so companies controlled by the Firefly system had exceeded $300 billion.

Any of these companies were clients that the major investment banks needed to pursue tenaciously. Even if not for an IPO, these companies often required the participation of investment banks for bond issuance, corporate mergers, and targeted financing.

...

While Eric and Chris were quietly talking, John Mack returned, ushering Seymour Gilbert with him, and more warm greetings ensued.

After chatting with Gilbert and a few others for about ten minutes, the group separated. Emily and Gisele, who had just given the men some time to talk, returned, accompanied by Stephanie Seymour.

Dressed in a sexy black deep V evening gown, Stephanie approached and greeted, "Hi, Eric. I heard you played a role in Iron Man. How's the film coming along?"

"It's in post-production now. Everyone will see it next summer," Eric replied, and politely asked, "What about you, Stephanie? What have you been working on lately?"

Stephanie displayed a half-mock, half-sincere look, glancing enviously at Gisele, who was affectionately linked to Eric's arm. "I can only be a housewife now. The fashion industry is pretty much Gisele's domain now."

Once upon a time, Stephanie Seymour held a status in the fashion world that rivaled Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista. However, considering she had surpassed the supermodel age, she chose to marry the publishing mogul Peter Brandt.

What she thought would be her happy ending became a bit bittersweet as, with the emergence of the Victoria's Secret shows, stars like Cindy and Linda had second chances in their careers, reaching a level of fame that even eclipsed their glory days, while Stephanie herself was left with only a generic Victoria's Secret Angel title.

Despite earning much higher show rates than other second-tier angels and benefiting from her high exposure as a Victoria's Secret Angel, she found herself drifting further away from the fashion world.

With the gradual turnover in the Victoria's Secret ranks, the previous year marked Stephanie's last runway show for them, where she had hoped to land a role on Desperate Housewives but was rejected by Eric for not meeting the criteria.

At this moment, hearing Stephanie's comment, Eric just chuckled, "Well, that's not so bad. After all, women are meant to return home."

Seeing Eric unaffected by her words, Stephanie dropped her sorrowful expression and flirtatiously winked at him, saying, "Eric, that sounds a bit sexist."

"Not at all; what I meant was," Eric shrugged, "Okay, even men need to return home too."

"Ha-ha," the three women laughed.

Just then, Peter Brandt strolled over, wrapping an arm around his wife's waist. "What are you all talking about?"

Noticing Peter's gesture, Stephanie's expression briefly stiffened, before she smiled again.

Eric didn't mind the little dynamics between the couple and joked, "We were discussing the political correctness in Hollywood movies, like the idea of going back to family values."

"That's an interesting topic, with a lot of depth to explore," Peter replied. "Eric, how about featuring this topic in an edition of my Interview magazine?"

Interview was the key magazine under Brandt Publishing Group, originally founded by the famous Andy Warhol in 1969, focusing mainly on professional interviews with filmmakers, artists, musicians, and similar figures.

Eric thought that Peter was keen on seizing opportunities but merely shook his head in refusal. "It's just casual talk; I don't think I have the time for that."

"What a pity," Peter sighed, not pushing the matter further, and shifted toward his wife. "Fanny, let's go say hi to Mr. Gilbert."

With that, Peter Brandt nodded to Eric and the others before leaving with Stephanie Seymour.

Watching the couple walk away, Eric turned his gaze back, only to find that Chris and Emily were looking at him oddly, and even Gisele blinked an eye at him.

"Um, why are you all looking at me like that?" Eric asked helplessly. "I didn't do anything."

Emily wore a teasing smile, saying, "Is this you confessing to something?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 995: Sudden Provocation]

"Of course not, that's just slander! According to the tropes of cinema, I could sue you," Eric joked, quickly shifting the topic. "The preparations for this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show must be in full swing now, right?"

"Yeah, we've started picking themes," Emily replied, not lingering on the previous topic. "Earlier this year, we opened a Victoria's Secret store in Europe, and this year's show is set to take place in London."

Eric had mostly stopped paying attention to the finer details of the fashion show. At the mention of Gisele, he wrapped an arm around her waist, saying, "Just remember to give Gisele the opening."

Emily nodded. "Of course, and she'll have wings! Besides, this year, aside from Cindy and the others, only Gisele can take the lead on the theme opening."

Though Emily had a good relationship with Joanna and Virginia, even bringing Joanna's sister, Ewa, on as her assistant, she had come to terms with Eric's flirtatious ways. Out of a sense of solidarity among women, she didn't harbor any biases against Cindy, Gisele, or the like just because of her power duo connection. Instead, she would habitually tease Eric a little.

This year marked the fifth anniversary of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The original five models -- Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Diane Kruger, and Tyra Banks -- had signed a five-year contract with Victoria's Secret.

After this year, both Cindy and Linda would step down from the modeling roster to focus on their television programs. Christy had already gotten married and would likely opt for the stay-at-home life, leaving only Diane and Tyra from the original group.

Gisele was simply participating in the show this year, with a formal contract to follow next year.

...

As they chatted, the host of tonight's party, John Mark, approached them again. After greetings, he asked Eric, "Eric, can we talk privately?"

Eric felt a little puzzled but didn't decline. "Sure."

John gestured for him to follow, and they made their way through the crowd in the hall, up the spiral staircase to a lounge on the second floor.

After suggesting that Eric make himself comfortable on the couch, John walked to a wall-side bar, poured two glasses of whiskey from a bottle, added some ice, and approached Eric, handing him one. "Try this Johnnie Walker from my collection. While older whiskey isn't necessarily better, this 50-year-old Johnnie Walker is a rarity worldwide."

As Eric brought the glass to his lips, he noted a rich aroma, accompanied by that distinct peaty scent typical of Scottish whiskey. Taking a small sip, he nodded, "This is great, but I'm not really an expert."

John settled into a chair across from Eric, a gentle smile on his face. "Looks like you're not much of a drinker, which is actually a good habit."

"I just prefer to stay sharp," Eric replied, lightly swirling the whiskey in his glass and looking at John, anticipating his intentions.

John took a few sips of his drink before saying, "Eric, have you considered speeding up Yahoo's IPO process?"

"That's usually Chris's area," Eric replied nonchalantly while pondering why John had suddenly brought this up. Chris hadn't mentioned it to him, so it seemed this was an unexpected move from John. Compared to the more professional Chris, John might view Eric as an easier target to sway.

Recalling what Chris had mentioned about the former Morgan executives' power struggles following their merger with Dean Witter, Eric speculated that John and his cohorts wanted to use Yahoo's IPO to recover from their losses in that contest.

...

Yahoo's IPO strategy had been continuously adjusted. Initially, Eric hoped they could time the IPO release at the end of this year or early next year when the Nasdaq was performing favorably, offering about 30% of the total shares in a single push. This would have provided enough capital to support Yahoo's growth for the next five to ten years.

However, as Eric learned more about IPO processes, he recognized the impracticality of such expectations.

Yahoo's valuation had reached $15 billion at the start of the year, and based on the average growth of tech stocks over the past six months, Yahoo's valuation should now be around $25 billion. As long as there wasn't an early Nasdaq crash, it could potentially hit nearly $50 billion by year-end.

If they managed to issue 30% of shares at that point, the financing could theoretically grandly reach $15 billion -- breaking the historical records for any U.S. IPO prior to 1998. Before this, Deutsche Telekom's IPO raised $13 billion in 1996.

Deutsche Telekom's standing in Germany paralleled that of ATT in the U.S.; neither its net worth nor revenue could be compared to Yahoo's current metrics. Eric held immense confidence in Yahoo's future, yet not everyone shared that certainty. The capital bubble sparked by the new tech wave had gathered more scrutiny.

Even with Yahoo's rapid growth in recent years, its revenue last year had barely surpassed $600 million. If this year's earnings broke $1 billion, that still wouldn't support a $50 billion market cap.

The overheated Nasdaq index was an open secret. If Yahoo displayed too aggressive an appetite during the IPO, compounded by investor fear of a market crash, it could lead to a failed IPO.

Thus, Eric planned to issue only about 10% to 15% of shares for the IPO. He didn't hold high expectations for Yahoo's valuation; he would be satisfied as long as it exceeded $30 billion at the eventual offering price.

Regardless, even at those figures, Yahoo could still raise between $3 billion to $5 billion, ample to sustain its growth for the next three to five years and navigate the aftermath of the web sector's 'winter' following the bubble burst.

While the $3 billion to $5 billion raised wouldn't rival Deutsche Telekom's record, it would still mark one of the most substantial IPOs in recent years. If successful, Morgan Stanley, handling the underwriting, would earn significant commissions and enhance its clout on Wall Street, attracting more companies looking to go public.

Naturally, the original Morgan team operating Yahoo's IPO could gain more influence within the new company.

...

Hearing Eric mention Chris, John remarked, "Eric, you are the owner of Firefly Investments, and I believe it would be more fitting to discuss this directly with you."

John's underlying provocation irked Eric slightly, but he simply smiled and said, "I prefer to leave professional matters to professionals; that's also a big reason why Firefly has achieved its current scale."

John's emphasis on Eric as Firefly's 'owner' was his attempt to provoke Eric's need for control, hoping to persuade him to make a decision that aligned with his agenda.

Noticing that tactic wasn't working on Eric, John switched gears. "Eric, many investment firms on Wall Street believe the Nasdaq is currently in a serious bubble. Look at America Online; when it went public in 1995, it was valued at $5 billion. Now, just two and a half years later, its market value has exploded past $40 billion, an 800% increase. Then there's Microsoft, with its valuation skyrocketing over six times since 1995. Other tech companies like Cisco, Oracle, and Intel have also experienced outrageous price surges. So, the next few months seem to be the last and best window for Yahoo's IPO. We're well prepared; if we can get started, we could complete the IPO plan before September. Waiting until the year-end or early next year -- even if the bubble doesn't burst -- investors will be very hesitant about tech stocks, which would hurt Yahoo's IPO prospects."

John's argument had its persuasion; had Eric not possessed a rare understanding of Nasdaq trends, his caution might have led him to agree.

However, after patiently listening, Eric shook his head and replied with a smile, "John, I understand what you're aiming for, but I have my plans too. Yahoo's current valuation hasn't reached my ideal, so the year-end IPO plan remains unchanged. Moreover, while I genuinely hope Yahoo successfully goes public, I'm also not frightened off by the idea of a failed IPO. Even if Yahoo doesn't go public, Firefly can provide ample support for its growth."

John paused, uncertain if Eric's "I understand your thoughts" meant he recognized John's desire to leverage Yahoo's IPO for leverage, or if it represented genuine concern over the IPO's potential failure.

Nonetheless, John's face remained unchanged. "Eric, what about Microsoft's 30% purchase option? If Yahoo fails its IPO, trading equity with Microsoft in a non-public state could place Yahoo at a disadvantage. As it stands, Microsoft's valuation is nearly ten times that of Yahoo; with just 3% of its shares, they would effectively seize 30% of Yahoo's. I'm sure you wouldn't want to see that happen. I believe if Yahoo were publicly traded, its valuation could at least touch that of America Online."

Eric kept a relaxed demeanor. "John, Microsoft can exercise its purchase option after next July. According to your logic, if the Nasdaq bubble bursts by year-end, Yahoo wouldn't smoothly IPO, but the same would mean Microsoft wouldn't retain such a high stock price either. Even if Yahoo and Microsoft traded right now, I'd be frustrated but selling Microsoft's 3% shares could still yield $6 to $7 billion for Yahoo, while Firefly maintains complete control of Yahoo."

Initially, Eric had envisioned that once both sides fulfilled the stock purchase agreement, if Microsoft peaked at a $600 billion valuation, Yahoo would be close to $200 billion.

At that point, Microsoft could never muster the cash needed for that 30% interest, forcing them into a stock-swapping acquisition route. However, this approach would require them to hand over around 10% in equities, making Firefly a substantial shareholder in Microsoft -- a situation likely prompting Microsoft to forfeit the purchase option altogether.

However, should John's scenario emerge, promptly offloading Microsoft shares wouldn't lead to losses for Firefly; the only downside would be missing out on becoming a major shareholder.

Having frequently interacted with Chris Hansen, John was aware of Chris's clearly outlined strategy for Yahoo's IPO, making it incredibly challenging to sway his position. That's why he sought to find a breakthrough point through Eric tonight.

Seeing Eric's resolve only intensify, John soon relinquished any hopes of persuasion.

His intent in inviting Eric had always been about fostering good relations, so he would never allow the conversation to become strained.

Abandoning his attempt to persuade Eric, John swiftly changed the subject. They chatted for a short while before leaving the lounge together.

...

Eric didn't accompany John back down to the main hall. Guided by John, he ventured to a washroom at the corridor's end. After reemerging, he noticed a staircase leading up to the terrace. After a moment's thought, Eric ascended to get some fresh air; it was quite taxing engaging with clever individuals like John Mark.

Pushing open the terrace's slightly ajar iron door, Eric stepped outside and spotted a slender figure at the northwest corner of the terrace, seemingly gazing over at Central Park shrouded in nighttime darkness.

Upon hearing footsteps behind her, the figure turned around. It was Stephanie Seymour.

Stephanie appeared somewhat surprised, a teasing tone in her voice as she asked, "Eric, you didn't follow me here on purpose, did you?"

Though framed as a question, her slightly smug smile suggested she felt certain of her conclusion.

"I could say otherwise, and you still wouldn't believe it," Eric shrugged nonchalantly as he joined her at the railing, looking across to Fifth Avenue's illuminated traffic and the more distant Central Park. "What are you looking at?"

Stephanie shook her head, resting her arms on the railing. "Oh, nothing, just trying to get some air -- it's stuffy down there."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 996: Be More Content]

As it was late at night near Central Park, the so-called 'lungs of Manhattan,' the surrounding air felt exceptionally fresh, free from the grime of the bustling metropolis. Eric responded with a nod, allowing the precious quiet of the night to wash over him.

Stephanie Seymour, one of the most famous supermodels of the '90s, had seen countless men trying to get close to her over the years. Naturally, she carried an air of pride common among beautiful women. During her few encounters with Eric, his unflustered demeanor felt like a challenge to her charms, almost a setback.

Eric's appearance filled Stephanie with renewed confidence. She was convinced that Eric had followed her here. Although she was married, Stephanie was never one to settle for ordinariness. She enjoyed the feeling of being a celebrity, relishing the life cloaked in lights and attention. At thirty, the age traditionally associated with a woman's peak allure, the modeling industry, with its rules, insisted this was her retirement age.

However, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and various recent events had changed the game. If Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista, who were older, could maintain their influence in the fashion world through their connections and television programs, then Stephanie was determined she could too.

Of course, this required that she first get an opportunity.

Thinking about this made Stephanie a bit resentful. After the launch of America's Next Top Model and the popularity of Project Runway, her efforts to participate in both had been mercilessly rejected by the man beside her.

Now, she felt like a cat yearning to misbehave.

She smirked to herself in delight but, after a minute passed, followed by two and then five, she couldn't hold back any longer. She glanced over at Eric, who was focused on the streetlights below, wearing a look of complete relaxation, and felt frustration boiling within her.

With a forced patience, Stephanie spoke first. "Eric, don't you think this is a bit boring?"

"Nope," Eric replied, pulling himself from his thoughts to appraise the woman beside him. After several encounters, he understood Stephanie's intentions and grinned. "You smell lovely. As long as I have a beautiful, fragrant woman beside me, boredom is off the table."

Stephanie pursed her lips playfully. "Are you complimenting me, or is that flirtation?"

Eric answered seriously, "In normal circumstances, it would be flirting, but you can understand it as a compliment."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback. "I really don't know if I should admire your boldness or condemn your cowardice."

Eric squinted playfully, his smile teasing. "Actually, I'm quite bold."

Seemingly oblivious to the 'danger,' Stephanie continued to provoke him. "Oh? Then show me!"

"Sure thing," Eric nodded, slightly shifting to the side, his hand reaching out.

Standing at the corner of the rooftop railing, Eric wrapped his arm around her waist, somewhat abruptly turning her body to push against the other rail. Stephanie didn't expect him to be so 'direct.' Her mind momentarily hazed, she leaned into the left railing, awkwardly adopting a somewhat shameful position.

Just as she started to regain awareness, she felt Eric slide closely behind her, his breath tickling her ear as he playfully reprimanded her like a mischievous child. "Women need to learn to behave themselves sometimes."

"You--"

Realizing she had been played, Stephanie flushed in embarrassment and anger, about to retort when Eric swiftly sidestepped. The quiet rooftop echoed with a sharp 'smack,' and the sting on her backside made her legs buckle slightly, almost causing her to collapse.

"Eric Williams, you jerk!"

...

In the stairwell, Eric shrugged at the exasperated voice trailing behind him as he continued his descent down the stairs.

Upon returning to the party hall, he found a guest playing the piano for everyone. Eric poured himself a glass of red wine and wrapped his arm around Giselle as she approached, joining Chris and Emily.

Once the guest finished, everyone clapped in unison, and the lively atmosphere returned to the hall.

Chris turned to Eric and asked, "What took you so long?"

"I was enjoying the breeze on the rooftop," Eric explained. "Also, John Mack just wanted us to expedite Yahoo's IPO process."

Chris nodded, not surprised. He could guess Eric's response and didn't press the matter further. Instead, he smiled, "Looks like John and the team are under a lot of pressure."

"I'm not planning to get involved in that," Eric chuckled. "We just need to maintain our own pace."

While the collaboration with Firefly and Morgan Stanley was smoothly progressing, their relationship hadn't reached a level where Eric would alter Yahoo's IPO strategies. Chris, despite working at Morgan Stanley, only had a business relationship with their management.

After being slapped by Eric on the rooftop, Stephanie didn't come back to pursue him but shot him a resentful glance from a distance instead.

The party went on until midnight, and Eric finally left with Giselle.

...

After two days of watching the ABC group's annual television show presentations, it was already Friday.

The Day After Tomorrow, after a weekend debut grossing $73.75 million, raked in an additional $37.99 million over the next four weekdays.

Ultimately, this sci-fi blockbuster achieved a staggering first-week box office total of $111.74 million, becoming the first film of the summer to break $100 million in its opening week.

In contrast, the $140 million production, Lethal Weapon 4, only crossed the $100 million mark in its fourth week, standing at $101.5 million. Facing the formidable challenge from The Day After Tomorrow, its weekly gross had plummeted to $6.8 million, and over the next two weeks, it could barely push its total earnings to the $110 million range, barely matching The Day After Tomorrow's opening weekend.

Moreover, the third-week earnings of The Patriot and the second-week earnings of The Truman Show were similarly impacted by The Day After Tomorrow, showing significant declines.

...

With two successive hits from Bad Boys, and his third film breaking the $100 million barrier in its opening week, Michael Bay was enjoying a remarkable wave of success.

On the other hand, Roland Emmerich, the director of The Patriot, found himself in a rather embarrassing position.

Everyone knew that The Day After Tomorrow was originally supposed to be Roland's project, but he had given it up in favor of directing Sony's Godzilla under the lure of a massive director's fee.

The underwhelming performance of Godzilla severely tarnished the director's reputation that Roland had just begun to establish, and now, The Patriot's reception only added to his woes.

With three weeks at the box office, The Patriot, with a production cost of $110 million, only managed to earn a meager $87 million, trailing behind even Lethal Weapon 4.

After being bombarded by paparazzi asking for his thoughts on the box office discrepancies between The Patriot and The Day After Tomorrow, Roland simply vanished, claiming a vacation and leaving Los Angeles without a trace.

Historically, Roland Emmerich peaked with Independence Day. Since the failure of Godzilla, he seemed to have spiraled downward.

Years later, he made a half-hearted comeback with The Day After Tomorrow, but that too crumbled with the dismal performance of 10,000 BC. Even his subsequent project, 2012, while achieving good global box office numbers, primarily relied on apocalyptic marketing and boasted poor reviews. After 2012, Roland's works seemed to merely serve as retirement funds.

In comparison, Michael Bay's films had a consistent commercial performance, and Eric aimed to keep him as part of the Firefly family. Therefore, even though The Day After Tomorrow had just released, over in Los Angeles, Jerry Bruckheimer had already started discussions with Michael Bay about new film plans.

...

June 12 marked the start of a new week, with the follow-up to The Day After Tomorrow being a period piece called The Mask of Zorro. Eric had never been interested in period films, but he knew this one because it starred Catherine Zeta-Jones.

If memory served right, The Mask of Zorro was produced under Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, but now Universal Pictures had taken the helm.

Universal's main focus this year was The Scorpion King, scheduled for July 17. The Mask of Zorro slotted into mid-June, seeming to have a hotter schedule than The Scorpion King yet awkwardly positioned between The Day After Tomorrow and the sequel to The Matrix.

However, due to historical changes, the production cost for this film was only $40 million, and Universal seemed to be gambling -- hoping that if the two massive blockbusters underperformed, The Mask of Zorro could pick up the slack.

Clearly, from The Day After Tomorrow's box office results, that scenario didn't occur, and given the high expectations from fans, the likelihood of The Matrix 2 failing was slim.

Eric had taken an interest in this film mainly because he had casually pushed Catherine Zeta-Jones into the lead role.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 997: Is He That Kind of Person?]

It was already mid-summer, and it wasn't even 8 AM yet, but the sunlight streaming in through the window already carried a hint of warmth.

Marissa Mayer brought two breakfast plates into the living room, setting the tray down on the round table by the floor-to-ceiling windows, and glanced outside unconsciously.

This apartment was Eric's top-floor penthouse located at the entrance of Sixth Avenue. He hadn't returned to stay there this week, so the apartment had become the 'employee benefit' for his two female assistants.

From the lofty height of over 200 meters, the sun had risen high, like a blazing mercury lamp hanging in the azure sky. Below stretched much of New York City surrounded by water, and close by, Central Park unfolded in her view, looking unusually spacious surrounded by the towering buildings.

Gazing at the scenery, Mayer took a deep breath, daydreaming just a little about when she could buy a similar apartment for herself one day.

After a brief moment of dazed thinking, Mayer left the window and moved to the study on the upper floor, where Caroline was busy organizing files, with the fax machine and printer buzzing away.

It was June 15th, a Monday.

Eric was scheduled to fly to Helsinki, the capital of Finland, that morning. It was the start of a new week, and many things needed Eric's attention. Caroline and Mayer were therefore faced with a mountain of work.

Mayer greeted Caroline, finished binding a document that had just printed, and placed it into a folder. She then looked over a page of forms just faxed over, and remarked, "Second weekend at $42.03 million, a 43% drop -- pretty good. The cumulative box office has already reached $153 million in ten days."

Caroline knew Mayer was referring to the second weekend box office information for The Day After Tomorrow. She moved her mouse around on her laptop and printed another document while confirming, "Of course, that's a script written by Eric himself. Mary, could you pass me that gray folder?"

Hearing the admiration in Caroline's voice, Mayer smiled, handing over a folder. "But I've always been curious why Eric decided to sell the rights for the The Matrix sequel. With just five days to go until The Matrix Reloaded premieres, pre-sales for the midnight shows are already nearing $5 million. The global box office for this sequel could likely surpass the first one."

Caroline explained, "Eric didn't like the Wachowskis' sequel script, and there were some other reasons too. If you were paying attention back then, you'd know it was, well, complicated."

Mayer was aware of the conflicts between the two creators and Firefly and the protests from fans about the interference with the Wachowskis' creative process that followed the release of The Matrix. "If it were me, I wouldn't sell it for anything. The impact of The Matrix has extended beyond just the film itself. Keeping control of that series could even elevate a studio's overall strength."

Caroline, who had entered Eric's assistant office when Firefly sold the rights for the sequel, was quite clear on the situation, as Eric had discussed it with her previously. If it were any other studio facing a franchise as iconic as The Matrix, they surely wouldn't sell so easily. However, Firefly didn't lack blockbuster franchises to represent its image.

Still, Caroline had no intention of forcing Mayer to agree with her. Eric had once mentioned that trying to convince others to agree with him over trivial matters was quite boring. Though Caroline thought Eric was just lazy, over time, she gradually adopted some of his lifestyle habits. "Mary, let's hurry up and organize things; we have to go to the airport soon."

Mayer nodded, not pushing further, and started to help Caroline busy herself. She knew that her relationship with Caroline couldn't be as close as it was with Melanie. As she took another document from the printer and bound it, Mayer still voiced her thoughts, "I wonder what Eric's doing right now?"

Caroline hesitated momentarily, a look of mild distress crossed her face, and she attempted to appear nonchalant as she replied, "Who cares? He's a bad guy."

...

At that moment, Eric was in Greenwich Village, in the XC district.

Compared to the high-rise apartment at the entrance of Sixth Avenue, the red-brick apartment nestled among a few trees had the morning light just right in its second-floor dining area.

Most fall dramas were in the preparatory stages, but reality shows had already begun early production. Eric had taken time yesterday to check the progress of the new season of America's Next Top Model and Project Runway. He had dinner with Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista the night before, and now he was here.

This was the apartment Linda bought a few years back for $2.8 million. On the outside, it seemed like an ordinary three-story red-brick building, but the inside was a spacious duplex with exquisite decor, featuring a small rooftop garden. In recent years, as the American real estate market quickly revived, the value of this apartment had reportedly doubled.

At the dining table, Eric quietly watched Linda, who was excitedly flipping through a copy of VOGUE magazine while eating breakfast. Suddenly, Linda, with slight indignation, remarked, "I think I can never let you in again. You always drag me and Cindy into your shenanigans. It's gotten out of hand."

Without looking up, Eric nodded slowly, a broad gesture that lacked sincerity as he agreed.

Linda waved her spoon in exasperation but did not throw it. Instead, she turned to Cindy, seemingly trying to get her on her side.

Cindy, elegantly tearing a piece of bread and taking a small bite, shot her a disdainful glance. "Eric and I didn't even want to come here. Don't tell me you don't remember what happened last night."

Linda's expression grew awkward. She could only recall fragmented images, muttering, "That's the problem. I rarely got drunk before; he must have been up to something."

"You mean he got you drunk on purpose to get you into bed?" Cindy pointed at Eric with a grin, "Do you really think he's that kind of person?"

"Do you still think he's a good guy?"

"Of course not, I mean, he wouldn't go to such trouble."

Eric finally lifted his head, exasperated. "Shouldn't you discuss this privately behind my back?"

Linda glanced over. "Oh, so you know it's embarrassing?"

"Yeah, I'm utterly ashamed."

"Hmm," Linda let out a light snort, realizing that continuing this topic in front of Eric would lead nowhere. "Hey, are you leaving New York today?"

Eric nodded. "The noon flight."

Hearing Eric mention the flight, Linda suddenly remembered something. "Last time I went to Long Island, I saw your private airport under construction. Can I borrow your private jet sometime?"

"Sure," Eric replied readily, "but there's one condition."

"Hmm?"

Eric said earnestly, "Any woman wanting to use my private jet must either be my woman or part of the lace club. You get to pick."

"I choose the lace club," Linda decisively proclaimed, leaning toward Cindy, "Cindy honey, let's share a kiss."

Cindy didn't mind, skillfully kissing Linda's red lips as she continued eating.

The sight of the two stunning women kissing, albeit a casual brief moment, was still quite pleasing. Eric couldn't help but nod and chuckle, "Alright, keep it up."

Linda giggled a couple of times, carefree, while Cindy merely rolled her eyes at Eric.

The two women had work to do, so after enjoying their breakfast filled with laughter, the three left Linda's apartment together.

...

Eric wasn't in a hurry; he kindly dropped the two women off at their workplaces before heading to Long Island MacArthur Airport.

MacArthur Airport sat in central Long Island, about seventy kilometers from Manhattan. It was a typically congested Monday morning, and by the time Eric reached the airport, it was nearing noon. Caroline and Melanie had already arrived early.

After a simple lunch at a nearby restaurant, Eric boarded the Boeing 767. This journey was a direct flight to Helsinki, where he would handle business with Nokia before heading to London.

The distance from New York to Helsinki was nearly 7,000 kilometers, and at the cruising speed of the 767, the flight would take about ten hours. With the time difference, they would arrive in Helsinki at six in the morning. Although it was early, Finland, being close to the Arctic Circle, was in its longest daylight season.

"Eric, here's the box office information from the past weekend; this is the final character list for Sleepy Hollow; the set in the little town of Sleepy Hollow in the UK has nearly been completed, and Mr. Burton will be flying to the UK on Wednesday for pre-production; and this is the last batch of stock transaction reports for Clover Fund; oh, and this is the recently drafted financing plan from Los Angeles..."

Once the private jet was smoothly flying, Caroline laid out a pile of documents in front of Eric.

However, seeing the tense look on Mayer's face and hearing Caroline's serious tone, Eric realized that possibly not returning to his apartment all week had upset her. It seemed his little cousin was a bit unhappy and moody.

Pressing the latest script of Enemy of the State under his arm that Caroline handed him, Eric looked at her and coaxed, "Hey, when we get to Finland, I'll take you to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights, how about that?"

Caroline blinked back, "Right now, it's the midnight sun in the Arctic. No Northern Lights."

Eric slapped his forehead. "Oh, I forgot about that. Then we'll explore Helsinki; you can play tour guide for me."

Caroline rarely turned him down, saying, "No, I still have work to do."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 998: Parting Ways]

"Your job is to meet my needs, and that's that," Eric snapped his fingers and gestured for the two women. "You can take a break; I can handle this myself."

Before they recognized each other, Caroline never showed such little emotions in front of Eric.

But with their newfound connection, the innocent Caroline directly regarded Eric as family. She no longer kept everything bottled up like she used to.

She had expressed her discontent in a small way, but hearing Eric's words left her at a loss for a retort.

Seeing the stack of folders she had deliberately piled up in front of Eric moments before, Caroline suddenly felt she had gone a bit too far. She shifted her toes in her little high heels on the carpet and lowered her voice, avoiding Eric's gaze, saying, "So, uh, Eric, do you want some coffee?"

Mayer, standing by, rolled her eyes at Caroline's comment.

"Come on, Carly, remember you were just sulking."

Eric couldn't help but smile, almost wanting to pinch Caroline's cheeks, but he refrained. Otherwise, she would probably chase him down for an apology. "Uh, just some bottled water will suffice."

Noticing the reactions of the two beside her, Caroline felt even more embarrassed and hung her head before escaping from the study.

As Eric watched Caroline flee, he suddenly remembered something. He called Mayer, who was about to leave too, signaling for her to sit down on the opposite sofa and asked, "How's the preparation on the Nokia RD center project documents going that I asked you to compile?"

Mayer sat down on the sofa. "Last week, Carly and I got in touch with Nokia. However, they currently have 17 tech RD centers globally with various projects totaling over a hundred. They said it would take about a week to organize the project documents, which should be ready around Thursday of this week."

Eric nodded, feeling a twinge of nostalgia.

Nokia, even without reaching its peak, already had 17 tech RD centers. It was easy to imagine how formidable their technical prowess was during its glory days. For such a colossal industry giant to collapse so suddenly just a few years later could not merely be attributed to technical issues.

After a brief reflection, Eric looked at Mayer and asked, "Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"

As soon as Eric asked that, an image of Melanie, who had just joined Firefly Electronics, immediately popped into Mayer's head.

This year, Firefly Electronics' focus was on overseas business. Melanie left Eric and was directly placed in a vice president position in the newly established overseas operations department, effectively achieving in one step what many needed ten years to reach in their careers.

Although Eric had suddenly transferred Mayer to his side, she had been puzzled. Still, she began to realize that the opportunities before her might not be too far behind Melanie's.

As she subtly played with the hem of her pencil skirt, Mayer's thoughts became clear. "Eric, I've recently started working on my graduate thesis in artificial intelligence, focusing on the new 'Google' search engine just launched by Yahoo. I think I'm better suited for technical development in this area in the future."

"I was planning to send you to Yahoo," Eric replied with a smile, "but many of their operations are already running smoothly. While technical development never stops, the basic roadmap has been laid out. Yahoo will primarily focus on expansion and even globalization in the future. If you went there, your opportunities would be somewhat limited. So, I want to send you to Nokia instead."

Surprised by Eric's sudden future planning discussion, Mayer had a hint of expectation and hesitation as she responded, "Eric, I... I hadn't thought about working in Finland."

"No, no," Eric shook his head. Seeing Caroline return with a glass of water, he paused to accept the cup and gestured for her to sit down too before continuing, "You will only need to work in the U.S. The location will likely be in Silicon Valley. I want you to combine the technological resources from Nokia, Yahoo, Qualcomm, and Firefly Electronics to develop a smartphone. You know what a smartphone is, right?"

"Yeah, during my year in the assistant office, I came across related materials but didn't delve too deeply."

Mayer nodded excitedly. Combining the technical strengths of several leading tech companies under Firefly's investment to develop a product would place that product in a crucial position in Eric's vision. Just think of the current Fireflyer player; if this product succeeded, her standing in the Firefly hierarchy would likely rival that of the top executives at Firefly Electronics.

"I'll gradually provide you with detailed information. Your first task is to familiarize yourself thoroughly with Nokia. The documents I've asked you to gather on Nokia's RD center projects are for me to review. However, I also expect you to digest them, understanding them inside and out over time."

Mayer promised, "I will, Eric."

As they wrapped up the conversation, Eric was about to send the two women away when he sensed Mayer's excitement and added, "Oh, and there's one more thing. The development of the smartphone I have in mind won't just rely on Nokia; Firefly Electronics will simultaneously start this project. I haven't planned to put all our eggs in one basket. If you don't perform well in the future, the outcomes might not be significant. However, if you succeed, your advantages will be clear. Nokia already has a very powerful global mobile sales network, making it easier for your product to capture the market."

Mayer felt a bit disappointed but quickly reassured herself.

It was already rare for Eric to entrust such significant responsibilities to her. If he placed all his bets on her, that would have been abnormal.

...

After finishing the discussion, Eric turned his attention to the pile of documents before him and first concentrated on the box office information from the previous week.

The Day After Tomorrow continued its box office dominance. For a commercial blockbuster with a high premiere, a 42% drop in the next weekend's box office was still impressive.

The Mask of Zorro, despite favorable media reviews, only grossed around 18 million dollars over its opening weekend, doing nothing to threaten The Day After Tomorrow. Other films like The Truman Show, The Patriot, and Lethal Weapon 4 were far behind.

After skimming through the box office data, Eric set the table aside, skipping over essential documents such as the cast list from Sleepy Hollow, and opened a financing proposal from the group.

...

The Nasdaq index was nearing the 2000-point mark. According to Eric's plan, when the index reached 2000, the Clover Fund would completely halt buying tech stocks.

Over the past six months, the Clover Fund had withdrawn $2 billion for tech stock purchases. In three years, the total investment in Nasdaq stock reached $7 billion, exceeding his original plan by $1 billion.

In three years of withdrawing $7 billion to invest in stocks, even though the Firefly Group's financial capacity was much higher than other media companies in Hollywood, the ongoing costs of internal projects such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe launch, the Lord of the Rings trilogy production, the '4200' project, and the construction of the Firefly theme park began to strain the group's cash flow.

Despite investing $7 billion, the total value of all stocks held by the Clover Fund reached $16 billion, which meant the return rate exceeded 100%. Even selling just a portion of these stocks could alleviate the Firefly Group's cash flow issues almost immediately.

However, Eric planned not to do that. Instead, he opted for a common financing method many companies used when facing cash shortages: issuing bonds.

By the end of May, the management team had drafted a financing proposal, which was now nearly finalized.

Firefly would issue $2 billion in five-year corporate bonds in early July.

The group's corporate credit rating had reached the highest level of AAA, so the annual interest rate for this bond issuance was only 4.2%, which was a full 1.3 percentage points lower than when Firefly issued bonds to acquire the ABC Group.

Though this figure seemed insignificant, it would save Firefly $26 million in annual interest payments, totaling $130 million over five years.

Despite the low annual interest rate, the bonds were still in high demand. Documents in hand indicated that Morgan Stanley, responsible for the bond issuance, had already secured over 50% of the distribution share.

The reasons for this, aside from the security and profitability of Firefly's bonds, also included a significant interest from many investment institutions on Wall Street wanting to become Firefly's creditors.

As a private company, Wall Street capital's only opportunity to intervene with Firefly was to purchase its bonds.

This way, should Firefly encounter operational difficulties in the future, the creditors from Wall Street would have room to maneuver.

Of course, while Firefly's film business might not be as dazzling as before this year, Eric wouldn't easily give some individuals opportunities.

Even excluding the Clover Fund's stock holdings, the company's television business, theme parks, toys, and increasingly strong digital sphere were performing exceptionally well with stable profitability. Furthermore, after a brief slump, Firefly's film business would remain very robust starting next year.

...

The two Boeing 747-400s ordered by Eric would be equipped with communication systems, but the current Boeing 767 did not have such configurations.

After spending a few hours processing the documents in front of him, Eric still had some doubts but couldn't immediately discuss them over the phone with Los Angeles. He had to wait until he arrived in Helsinki.

Although the private jet flew from west to east, it was heading toward the polar circle, which was experiencing an extended day. After a brief night, daylight streamed through the windows again.

Eric, Caroline, and Mayer enjoyed a special "dinner" on the plane, rested for a few hours, and when they woke up again, the Boeing 767 had arrived over Helsinki, Finland.

...

Looking out the window, Eric noticed Helsinki's Vantaa Airport was prominently situated, taking up a sizable area in the northern part of the city.

At first, he felt a little puzzled, but soon realized that it wasn't that Vantaa Airport was too large; it was that Helsinki was too small.

Finland's area was not much different from California's, but California's total population was nearly 40 million, while Finland had fewer than 5 million. As the capital, Helsinki only had a little over 500,000 residents.

As the Boeing 767 flew directly over Helsinki, the city appeared even more spacious. Even in the city center, many areas were large expanses of forest land.

As Eric disembarked, Nokia CEO Jorma Ollila eagerly greeted him with a few other people. "Eric, welcome to Finland," Jorma warmly embraced Eric before introducing the Nokia executives who accompanied him in English.

Eric shook hands with each of them, and the one he was most familiar with was the current Nokia CFO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.

Olli Kallasvuo was the next CEO candidate Jorma recommended to Eric. As for Jorma, he was set to remain on Nokia's board of directors after stepping down. However, he wouldn't hold any practical positions at Nokia anymore, as it was rumored he intended to run for President of Finland, but Eric wasn't entirely sure of the details.

In truth, if they wanted to keep him, Firefly still could have made arrangements to retain Jorma at Nokia. However, Eric didn't choose to go that route.

Accelerating the management transition at Nokia would benefit Firefly in quickly gaining control of the company. If Jorma continued to stay, his influence at Nokia would only deepen, making it increasingly challenging for Firefly to reclaim management rights.

Of course, although Jorma would leave office next year, both parties still managed an amicable parting.

Eric didn't want Jorma to remain as Nokia's CEO but would never deny the contributions Jorma made to Nokia over the years.

If it wasn't for Jorma discovering and vigorously promoting Nokia's leading GSM communication technology, this small company from a remote part of Northern Europe wouldn't have transformed into the international giant it had become in mobile communications.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 999: Family Trust]

The headquarters of Nokia was located in Espoo, just west of Helsinki. The drive from Vantaa Airport to their destination took the group a little over twenty minutes.

Eric planned to stay in Finland for only three days and didn't intend to make it a frequent trip, so he chose not to fuss much about accommodations. Instead, he opted to stay at a hotel near Nokia's headquarters.

Jorma Ollila and the others dropped Eric off at the hotel, agreeing to meet for a welcome lunch at noon before taking their leave.

Once they were gone, Eric returned to his room to find Caroline and Mayer unpacking fresh bed linens from suitcases to arrange his bedroom. Considering the time difference, it was midnight back in the United States. After a ten-hour flight, Eric felt a bit weary. He took a seat on the sofa in the living room with the script of Enemy of the State, reading it for a while before heading to the bedroom as Caroline and Mayer finished arranging things.

...

Caroline entered the bedroom holding a pillow. Upon seeing Eric lounging on the bed in his socks, she placed the pillow at the head of the bed and asked, "Eric, are you going to take a nap?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded. He had planned to ask Caroline to wake him up at noon, but as he noticed her standing there so gracefully by the bedside, he felt a bit tempted. He stretched out his hand, saying, "Come here, give me a hug."

Caroline's cheeks flushed immediately. Since that night in Solna, she had found it hard to muster the courage to get close to Eric again. She glanced back nervously and shook her head, "No, we can't. Mary is still here."

As soon as Caroline finished speaking, Mayer's voice rang out from outside, sounding distinctly deliberate: "Eric, since there's nothing else, I'm heading back to my room."

Hearing the door open, Caroline blinked rapidly, her face becoming even redder. Eric, looking at Caroline's shy demeanor, finally spoke up, "Okay, no hugs. Just sit down and keep me company while we chat."

Caroline elegantly sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes sparkling as she asked, "Eric, will you visit my aunt in London this weekend?"

Eric hesitated for a moment, sensing Caroline's hopeful gaze. "Sure, does she live in London now?"

"Yeah, she moved back. She lives in Paddington."

During Olivia's few days in Los Angeles, they hadn't communicated much. Curious, Eric asked, "What did your aunt do in Greece?"

Caroline paused for a moment before recalling, "My aunt mentioned in her letters that she had a little shop on Mykonos Island in the Aegean Sea, where she sold clothes she made by hand. Mykonos is beautiful; some say it's the closest place to paradise. She mostly lived on that island. But later, she felt the tourists who came to buy clothes were too vulgar, so she closed the shop. Otherwise, she loved to travel, carrying a canvas for painting. She graduated from Cambridge School of Art, and now she has a gallery in London. We can visit her and see her paintings in a few days."

Listening to Caroline's account, Eric felt like he was hearing the daily life of a proud and carefree socialite.

"Does she not need to earn a living?" he asked.

Caroline blinked, a smile curving her lips. "Nope, there's a family trust that my grandfather left for her."

"Ah, life isn't fair," Eric waved his hand, saying, "Get away from me! I want to distance myself from you decadent aristocrats."

Caroline chuckled softly, bravely reaching over to give Eric's hand a quick squeeze before shyly letting go, murmuring, "My aunt told me privately that although you wouldn't care, she plans to leave this trust fund to you someday."

Feigning excitement, Eric asked, "How much are we talking about?"

"I'm not too sure," Caroline shook her head, thinking. "Maybe around one hundred million pounds."

Most ordinary people would be thrilled to hear they inherited such a fortune; however, Eric wasn't overly concerned. Still, he was surprised by the wealth of the Wilson family. "By that standard, I guess I'd better treat little Carly well, or you might just fire your boss without a second thought."

Caroline's smile grew, her expression slightly teasing. "I've thought that for a while now."

"Alright, it's about time. You should go back to your room and rest. We'll attend the banquet together at noon."

"Yeah," Caroline nodded, fluttering her eyelashes. Summoning her courage, she leaned over and kissed Eric on the cheek before leaving, her face flushed.

...

In a broader sense, Nokia had long been more than just a Finnish company. However, with its registered location, global headquarters, tax settlements, major management teams, and most of its industrial chain concentrated in Finland, it remained fundamentally a Finnish enterprise. The Bank of Finland was also Nokia's second-largest shareholder after Firefly Investment.

In recent years, with the rise of Nokia's telecommunications equipment and mobile phone business, the company became increasingly significant to Finland as a whole. Thus, Eric, as the de facto controller of Nokia, caused quite a stir during his visit.

The luncheon reception featured not only most of Nokia's management but also a number of Finnish government officials and representatives from the city of Espoo. Several Finnish TV stations even covered the event.

Over the next two days, under Jorma Ollila's guidance, Eric toured Nokia's headquarters in Espoo and participated in board meetings to finalize the company's next management candidates.

...

After being engaged all week, Eric finally found some free time on Friday morning, allowing him to take Caroline around Espoo and Helsinki.

Both cities struck Eric as relaxed; their streets seemed to have little sense of planning, meandering in all directions. Along the way, an assorted mix of trees and shrubs lined the roads, while a variety of homes and office buildings appeared to lack any clear direction, facing every which way. The entire city silently conveyed an underlying message that seemed to say: "Just muddle through."

The few cathedrals worth seeing in Helsinki did not appeal much to Eric, who lacked religious conviction.

In short, Finland wasn't exactly a prime tourist destination.

After half a day's stroll, Eric completely lost interest. Caroline seemed perfectly content to be alone with Eric, but sensing his lack of enthusiasm, she suggested returning to the hotel.

...

Following lunch, Eric bade farewell to Jorma Ollila.

By 2 PM in Helsinki, he and his entourage boarded a private jet headed for London.

Just after takeoff, Mayer, who hadn't joined Eric on his sightseeing in Helsinki earlier that day, informed Eric that Steve Case, the CEO of America Online, had called the hotel. He had already arrived in London, wanting to meet Eric privately.

In recent days, Firefly Investment had been engaged in a behind-the-scenes tussle with AOL management, and the situation had finally reached the point of confrontation. Eric hadn't expected Steve Case to seek him out so directly.

Settling into the onboard study, Eric asked, "Did he mention anything else apart from wanting to meet?"

Mayer shook his head, "No, Mr. Case just expressed his desire to talk to you in person."

"Let's meet tomorrow morning, then."

After considering for a moment, Eric nodded in agreement. He looked at a pile of documents on the desk in front of him. These were the development project materials from various research centers that Eric had requested Nokia to prepare, and that was only the non-confidential stuff. The projects still under wraps had only been briefly introduced verbally by Nokia's senior executives to Eric and Caroline the previous day, and they had signed several non-disclosure agreements for that.

Nokia currently had a workforce of around sixty thousand globally, a third of whom were involved in technology and development.

With seventeen research centers under its name, Nokia boasted over 120 project teams, focusing on everything from GPRS data transmission standards to indicators that change color when lithium batteries are fully charged. The technologies familiar to mobile phone users worldwide, such as the Symbian OS, Bluetooth, wireless application protocol, and mobile chipset architecture, were all areas that Nokia had begun to explore.

It could be said that Nokia had started technical reserves in the fields needed for the smartphone era as early as the late 90s. Compared to that, the newly developed Firefly Electronics barely qualified as a toddler.

However, a quick reflection on Nokia's historically unimpressive string of phone releases made Eric realize that over ninety percent of the technologies for which they had spent enormous sums on RD had not made it into any of their new products.

Flipping through a GPRS data transmission standard introduction, Eric felt a sense of disinterest wash over him as he pushed the stack of documents across the desk to Mayer. "Here, take a look at this. After you're done, write me a report. Talk about which technologies need to be pursued further for smartphone development and which projects can be scrapped."

Over the past few days of visiting Nokia, Eric had briefly shared his vision for smartphone RD with Mayer.

Mayer hesitated, "Eric, my understanding of Nokia is still limited. It might not be appropriate for me to judge these."

Eric laughed, "Just write down your thoughts. I'm merely interested in your insight. You didn't think I'd go ahead and implement your ideas, did you?"

Mayer shyly smiled and nodded, "Alright then."

...

Three hours later, the private jet landed at London Heathrow International Airport. The time difference between London and Helsinki was only two hours, placing it just past three in the afternoon.

A car sent from the British subsidiary took them into downtown London, and Eric felt a wave of comfort wash over him as he looked at the buildings lining the streets. Although the architectural styles varied by street, many of the houses along the roads appeared uniform in design and color, presenting a perfect haven for perfectionists.

Perhaps due to municipal regulations, there weren't the large billboards that cluttered the streets of New York or Los Angeles. However, as their car passed by a movie theater, Eric's attention was drawn to a moderately sized poster for The Matrix 2. Despite it still being afternoon, a long queue had formed in front of the theater, and Eric even spotted a few young people dressed up in trench coats and sunglasses, mimicking Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.

Today was the premiere of The Matrix 2.

Produced by Anberlin Pictures but distributed in collaboration with Paramount Pictures, Anberlin aimed to leverage The Matrix franchise to expand its distribution channels, though their capacity for sole distribution was limited to the U.S. market, while most overseas markets still relied on Paramount's distribution.

From what he could see, Paramount seemed to be handling simultaneous overseas releases quite well.

Given the time difference, morning screenings should just be beginning on the U.S. East Coast, and ticket sales information from the midnight show would likely already be in circulation.

However, since the news was already out, Eric didn't concern himself too much about The Matrix 2. As long as the Wachowski brothers' script was respected, fans would likely remain supportive, and Eric had no objections.

Instead, he anticipated that by now, the box office results from the second week of The Day After Tomorrow would have landed in his work inbox.

...

Upon arriving at the mansion on Kensington Garden Street, Eric got out of the car and turned to Caroline, who had exited with him. "I'll have Carter take you home. I'll finish what I need to do tomorrow, and we can go visit your aunt on Sunday, okay?"

"Yeah," Caroline nodded, saying her goodbyes to Eric before getting back into the car.

Eric exchanged a few words with Carter Moen, watching him drive Caroline away, then dismissed the other three bodyguards. Kensington Garden Street was one of the most secure neighborhoods in London, not requiring bodyguards to stay close at hand.

Once everyone else was gone, Eric noticed Mayer standing beside him.

"I almost forgot about you," he chuckled, saying, "There's no need to find a hotel now; you can stay here tonight. This apartment is quite spacious."

Mayer's heart raced for a moment, feeling her cheeks flush, but she obediently nodded.

Since Eric was coming, the mansion had just been cleaned yesterday and was spotless.

Eric opened the door and, along with Mayer, brought in a few simple pieces of luggage before leading Mayer upstairs to arrange a guest room for her.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1000: Good News]

Eric led Mayer to the second floor, opening the door to a guest room. He turned to her and said, "Here, you can stay here for the next couple of days. There should be new toiletries in the bathroom cabinet. If you need anything else, you'll have to buy it yourself."

Mayer pulled her suitcase into the room and took a few steps inside. It was a very spacious bedroom, decorated in bright white with a private patio and bathroom. The large bed, wardrobe, and desk were all styled very simply but exuded an unmistakable air of elegance and luxury. On the desk sat a rare 21-inch LCD computer monitor that was quite uncommon at the time.

After looking around, Mayer turned to see Eric standing at the doorway, clearly not intending to come in. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Noticing the shift in Mayer's expression, Eric smiled and said, "Well, I'm heading to my study upstairs. Feel free to make yourself at home. The first floor has a library and a game room, and the basement has a home theater. If you feel like going out, you can take the car that Carter and the others left behind."

When Mayer realized that Eric was about to leave, she found something to say, "Eric, do you need me to help prepare dinner?"

"Oh, there's a restaurant at the corner. Just give them a call for a reservation, and we can go there for dinner tonight."

Mayer didn't know the restaurant's phone number but didn't ask further, figuring she could handle the small matter. She nodded in response.

Watching Eric leave as his figure disappeared at the top of the stairs, Mayer eventually closed the door and stood still for a moment before opening her suitcase to begin unpacking.

...

Eric didn't have to organize any belongings; Drew had arranged everything perfectly in his absence. This mansion contained all his life essentials, even the pencils on his study desk were neatly placed according to his personal habits. It was almost like his second home.

After settling Mayer in, Eric headed to his study on the third floor.

He booted up the computer and clicked on the Yahoo browser icon on the desktop. With practiced ease, he typed Google's search engine address into the URL bar.

The familiar search engine page popped up immediately. Besides web searches, there were links for images, email, maps, and a shortcut to Yahoo's homepage. Compared to the earlier beta version, the official Google search engine had seen some minor adjustments, but overall, not much had changed.

Yahoo's main focus at that time remained on its portal services, even though the company had internally decided to prioritize search engines in the coming years. However, Yahoo hadn't aggressively marketed the standalone Google search engine yet. After all, they were preparing for an upcoming IPO, and the emphasis was still on the concept of an internet media company.

After clicking a few buttons above the search box, Eric logged directly into his work email and found the box office report for the new week.

...

From June 12 to June 18, in its second week of release, The Day After Tomorrow had a 43% drop in earnings compared to its opening week, making $63.69 million for the week and totaling $175 million. It held the second place on the North American box office chart for 1998, falling behind the Easter release of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, which ended up making $186 million.

Additionally, since it achieved near-simultaneous release in most overseas markets, The Day After Tomorrow accumulated $226 million in overseas sales during those two weeks. There was no doubt that The Day After Tomorrow would be another Hollywood blockbuster with significant overseas profits.

Based on the box office data from the last two weeks, the Firefly distribution department projected North American earnings for The Day After Tomorrow to be between $230 million and $250 million, with overseas earnings expected to range from $400 million to $500 million, leading to an overall global box office expectation of around $600 million to $700 million.

While not enough to be deemed a phenomenon, The Day After Tomorrow undoubtedly had global selling power. Considering a production budget of $120 million and a distribution budget of $50 million, the film was set to net over $100 million in profit solely from the global box office.

...

After glancing at the box office information for other films in the report, Eric's attention shifted to The Matrix 2, which was officially releasing today.

Despite selling the rights to produce the Matrix sequel, Firefly retained the rights to develop merchandise related to the Matrix series.

Compared to the lengthy processes for VHS and television broadcast rights, revenue from film-related merchandise was almost immediate upon the film's release.

The opening of The Matrix 2 would surely boost sales of related products, even though the Matrix merchandise wasn't as lucrative as those of animated films or Jurassic Park. That said, Firefly had found it easy to generate income in this field with almost no marketing resources needed.

Even though Eric hadn't given specific instructions, the assistant's office still sent the organized information about The Matrix 2 to his email.

Opening the email, the first thing that caught Eric's eye was the midnight showing revenue of $9.95 million for The Matrix 2.

The near $10 million midnight gross set a new record for North American midnight box office sales. Just last year, Eric's own film Casino Royale had only earned $5 million in midnight showings.

However, Eric wasn't entirely surprised; the 007 series had become a cultural phenomenon. Though well-known, it didn't have many die-hard fans, meaning not many viewers were willing to stay up for midnight showings.

The Matrix series was different; the stunning first film had propelled the series to icon status, gathering a large number of devoted fans, making high midnight show earnings understandable.

Of course, the record-breaking midnight gross of The Matrix 2 also stemmed from natural growth in the North American film market. Arguments could be made even for upcoming films like Star Wars: Episode I and the recent Charlie's Angels 3 likely set to refresh that record.

After noting the comments attached below the midnight box office data, Eric turned to the film reviews, as that was what truly interested him.

The email first listed the positive reviews for The Matrix 2.

"I enjoyed this film; I sincerely recommend it to everyone. However, it lacks some of the elements that moved me in the first installment." -- The New York Observer.

"Compared to the first, the Wachowski brothers have matured in their skills." -- Salon.

"You don't need to grasp the deeper meanings of the Matrix series to enjoy this film comfortably." -- The Hollywood Reporter.

"While it introduced some new elements, the film no longer captivates and excites like the first." -- Variety.

Although these reviews were positive, Eric could clearly sense that many media outlets and critics considered their reviews of The Matrix 2 merely as recognition. This was certainly not the universal acclaim that the first film had received. This sentiment matched Eric's own memories of the earlier version, as well as the feelings he had after reading the Wachowski brothers' two sequel scripts.

After reading the positive feedback, Eric skimmed past a series of brief negative reviews to find a longer critique, reading carefully.

...

"Given how strong the opening of the Matrix series was, you'd naturally maintain high expectations for the sequel, right?

However, many are bound to be disappointed; at least I personally feel that way. In this sequel, many of the excellent ideas and highlights from the first film have been diluted, and I could even say that it left a disappointing portion behind. While the film still seems stylish on the surface, it undeniably falls short of the first, and the vague philosophical musings that the Wachowski brothers deliberately included felt like mere posturing to me. I really felt let down by everything in this film; it seemed like all coherence was lost, leaving just repetitive so-called thrilling action scenes.

The first film will always be a milestone in cinematic special effects; it forever changed the landscape of the special effects film and provided us with a philosophical proposition about reality versus illusion that we can ponder for years. However, this sequel distinctly veered into the banal, and considering that it's a two-part series, it's hard to imagine what the third part might look like. It might give us an even worse conclusion. If you are a fan of the Matrix series, you certainly wouldn't want to see such a scenario unfold. Still, thinking back to how Firefly Group avoided filming according to the Wachowski brothers' pre-set scripts for the two sequels, even going as far as selling production rights, it's difficult for me to hold on to any expectations for the third part."

...

North American film critics were reputable in that they typically avoided spoilers for their audience.

After finishing the review, while Eric didn't see a narrative analysis from the critic, he could imagine the reviewer's feelings based on his own impressions when he first read the Wachowski brothers' scripts.

At the end of the email, the statistics showed that The Matrix 2 had an overall rating of only 7.3, which was significantly lower than the first film's 8.7.

Compared to the fantastic reception generated by the first film, the 7.3 rating could only be deemed barely passing.

After completing the email's review, Eric pushed the matter of The Matrix 2 to the back of his mind. After all, once it's spilled, there's no picking it back up.

The $300 million income he received from selling the rights to The Matrix sequels had been directly invested into the Clover Fund, which, based on the fund's entire value of $16 billion, meant that money had already more than doubled. With stock sales next year, the returns from that $300 million could exceed $1 billion.

Amblin Entertainment had already invested over $600 million into the two Matrix sequels. Even if The Matrix 2's global box office reached $1 billion and The Matrix 3 performed well, the enormous upfront investment meant that profits from the two sequels wouldn't approach $1 billion.

...

Closing the email page for The Matrix 2, Eric continued checking his unread work emails, soon spotting a promising message sent personally by Katzenberg.

After a year of waiting, Cameron was finally ready to start production on Spider-Man.

Katzenberg noted in his email that he had just discussed the main details with Cameron and Jon Landau yesterday afternoon, before jokingly asking Eric if he wanted to personally select the lead actress for Spider-Man.

Though he was far from Los Angeles, Eric had been following the rough cut progress of Iron Man. He had nearly daily phone conversations or emails with Joss Whedon to discuss editing specifics. Eric anticipated that when he returned to Los Angeles, the first rough cut of Iron Man would be completed, soon entering the crucial visual effects production phase.

In comparison, the progress of the Spider-Man project had been frustratingly slow. If Cameron delayed much longer, Eric would have to consider changing directors; he couldn't let Spider-Man stall the entire Marvel cinematic universe.

Fortunately, Cameron was finally ready to jump into the production phase.

As long as the project moved into substantial production, even if Cameron were to delay further, it couldn't lag too much.

With those thoughts in mind, Eric picked up his phone and directly called Cameron, who was at Firefly Studios in Los Angeles.

The call connected quickly, and after exchanging pleasantries, they discussed Spider-Man for about an hour, covering everything from the script to special effects and casting.

When Eric hung up, Cameron outlined a plan: casting and pre-production for Spider-Man would be completed in the second half of the year, and filming could begin early next year, aiming for a summer 2000 release, which was still within Eric's acceptable timeline.

...

After finishing the call with Cameron, he handled a couple more work emails when he noticed that the sky outside had darkened without him realizing it.

After flying around for more than half a month, Eric's biological clock began to feel a bit out of sync. Noticing the time, it had already passed seven in the evening.

Turning off the computer, Eric left the room. The mansion, now dimly lit, felt quiet. Descending from the third floor to the second-floor circular hallway, he saw the light on in the living room below. As he walked down the stairs, he found Mayer sitting on the couch, looking somewhat distracted while watching TV.

The TV volume was low, so Eric could tread quietly. Mayer soon sensed someone approaching, turned her head, and shyly smiled, saying, "Eric, I was just thinking about when would be a good time to call you."

"Are you hungry? Let's go," Eric said. He waited for her to stand up, noticing she still wore her light gray business suit. "Do you want to change into something else?"

"Sure," Mayer nodded, saying, "Just give me a moment."

Eric settled onto the sofa in the small living room, patiently waiting for five or six minutes before Mayer came back down wearing a stunning bright red knee-length dress.

Most women struggle to pull off red clothing, but this outfit on Mayer transformed her from a somewhat innocent girl into a professional powerhouse.

Eric couldn't help but look at her a few times and remarked, "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," Mayer replied, feeling more relaxed upon hearing Eric's compliment, "Shall we go?"

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