I Am Hollywood

by Cui Shi yi

1 - 702

34. 1031

I am Hollywood #Chapter 1031: Chapter 1033: Mental Constraints - Read I am Hollywood Chapter 1031: Chapter 1033: Mental Constraints Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

[Chapter 1033: Mental Constraints]

Ever since receiving a phone call from Firefly Group yesterday evening, Ted Elliott found himself in a state of uncontrollable excitement.

He woke up early that morning and, after just a brief word with his wife, hurriedly got ready and drove to a nearby cafe. Terry Rossio and their agent, Matt Gilson, were already waiting for him there. The moment Ted walked into the cafe and sat down across from them, Matt spoke up, "Ted, there's been a change of plans."

Ted's heart skipped a beat, but before he could reveal any concern, Matt quickly added, "It's not what you think. I just received a call; Firefly has informed us that the meeting place has been changed to Culver City, and the time is now pushed back to 11 AM."

Ted instantly sighed in relief. As long as Eric Williams was going to meet them, he was fine with going to Culver City, or even flying to the East Coast if necessary.

Without questioning why the meeting location was changed at the last minute, Ted ordered breakfast from the waiter who walked by, then turned to Terry and Matt, "Terry, Matt, I thought about this all night long, and I believe we should seize the opportunity to collaborate with Eric Williams rather than just focusing on how much we can sell this script for."

Terry and Matt were not shortsighted either. Otherwise, the three of them wouldn't have been able to withstand the financial pressures from major Hollywood studios during this time.

Hearing his friend's words, Terry nodded, "Ted, I just discussed this with Matt. Since this script caught Eric Williams' attention, although I hate to admit it, he likely has ideas on how the film should be produced, if the script needs changes, and which directors and actors should be chosen. Selling the script to another studio might get us a quick payday, but if the movie ends up underperforming at the box office, it won't help our careers."

Matt chimed in, "Also, we'd be better off asking Eric to direct this script himself. If Pirates of the Caribbean can be a blockbuster making a billion dollars worldwide, you'd both instantly rise to the top tier of Hollywood screenwriters."

Their comments let Ted relax. He nodded while adding a joke based on Matt's words, "And you could also become the agent for two top-notch screenwriters."

...

In the first half of the 20th century, American politics had seen two notable "Hoovers."

Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, had a rather unfortunate presidency, coinciding with the Great Depression, the most renowned economic downturn in American history.

John Edgar Hoover, the founder of the FBI, in comparison, had a life that could only be described as tumultuous and influential. Serving as the first Director of the FBI for 48 years, he witnessed the tenure of eight presidents. Yet, due to his intrusive surveillance of North America's political figures, driven by the fear that his own vulnerabilities might be exposed, none of these presidents dared to propose removing him from his position. Those who opposed John Edgar Hoover invariably faced disgrace or imprisonment.

In essence, John Edgar Hoover amassed unprecedented power through his extensive intelligence network, making him an unchallengeable force in American politics for 48 years.

It wasn't until Hoover passed away in 1972 that someone finally dared to declare, "A sad and dangerous era has finally passed."

Immediately after Hoover's death, Congress acted by limiting the tenure of future FBI Directors to a maximum of ten years, a rule that soon applied to heads of other intelligence agencies as well.

However, while John Edgar Hoover, the unwitting kingpin, had died, he left behind a political legacy that proved irresistible to future politicians: surveillance.

The robust intelligence network he built with the FBI instilled both fear and awareness among subsequent political leaders. They realized that if they too possessed such a network, monitoring competitors and even partners, they could maintain an insurmountable advantage in political struggles.

Thus, over the years, there were Watergate, the Zippergate, Prismgate, and many more sprawling tales of covert eyes watching the world without the knowledge of ordinary citizens.

Although everyone knew that the federal government was constantly engaged in monitoring, practically all government departments avoided discussing it openly. Hollywood, however, never hesitated to explore these themes.

Enemy of the State delved into the repercussions of America's pervasive surveillance systems on society.

Robert Dean, a successful attorney in Los Angeles, was involved in a mob extortion case while preparing for the upcoming Christmas holiday. He managed to acquire a video of the mob boss from a friend and former lover, leveraging it to pressure the defendant into yielding in the case. On a shopping trip for Christmas gifts, he unexpectedly encountered an old acquaintance who discreetly slipped a box of tapes into his bag before hastily leaving.

Unbeknownst to Robert, this friend's actions would plunge his life into chaos.

After feeling a moment of sorrow for this friend, Robert quickly realized that trouble was brewing as his apartment was burglarized, his private moments with the former lover were leaked to the media, and he faced impending family collapse. He was dismissed from his job, his credit card was canceled, and soon, dark figures began pursuing him.

Caught with nowhere to turn, horror filled him as he discovered that the watch, pen, shoes, and even the buttons on his coat carried hidden listening devices. His every move was under constant surveillance.

All of this due to that accidentally recorded tape capturing a monumental assassination scandal.

...

Eric had planned a restful Saturday at home but changed his mind upon learning that the crew of Enemy of the State would be filming in Culver City that day.

The team was capturing some outdoor chase scenes, requiring the closure of two streets in Culver City for three days, and today was the third day. Shooting on closed streets in Los Angeles was no easy task. Thus, despite it being Saturday, the Enemy of the State crew was determined to pay sky-high overtime fees to keep filming.

In the designated break area for the crew, producer Jerry Bruckheimer was briefing Eric on the film's progress, "We've completed about half of the shoot. At this rate, we should wrap by the end of October. With three months for post-production, although it's tight, we shouldn't miss the Easter release next year. We'll overlap the marketing and production, so there will be plenty of promotion time."

Since the film was set to release next Easter, Enemy of the State was one of Firefly Group's mega green-light projects, further expedited by years of preparatory work.

Eric wasn't entirely satisfied with the script. There were too many subplots, and it was more suited for a series than a Hollywood blockbuster.

However, on the other hand, the story's completeness was impressive. Despite its messy subplots, everything connected, with very few redundant details. In Hollywood, scripts of such high quality were rare, which is why he had initially green-lighted the project.

Although Jerry Bruckheimer's films tended to be extravagant, they generally assured quality under normal circumstances.

After assessing the shooting setup down the street and listening to Jerry's brief overview, Eric said, "Next year's Easter release is crucial for Firefly Group's pre-marketing. So if any issues arise, feel free to reach out to me or Jeffrey. Also, Jerry, did you get a chance to read that pirate script I sent you?"

"Of course, I had actually read it before you sent it to me," Jerry responded with a chuckle. "With all the buzz lately, how could I miss it? I was just about to ask you what's going on with that project. But from my perspective, I think the risks for an old-fashioned pirate film might be a bit high."

"Let's not talk about the risks," Eric adjusted his position in the folding chair to face Jerry. "Are you interested in this project?"

Jerry didn't respond immediately, instead, he shot back, "Did you get the script already?"

"The screenwriter will be arriving shortly," Eric replied. "It shouldn't be too hard to get the script. But I want you to take charge of the movie."

Jerry's expression turned serious as he recalled what he had read of the script. "There are some highlights, but overall, it still feels somewhat mediocre."

"I'm mainly focused on the fantastical elements in it," Eric said. "I will personally handle the major revisions to the script."

Jerry crossed his legs and tapped his fingers on his knees for a moment before saying, "In that case, what about Michael? If his next project clashes with this film, I'm worried he'll have trouble managing both."

"Not for a while," Eric shook his head. "This project should take about a year to prep, and we won't officially start filming until next year, so the timelines should work out."

Jerry nodded with a smile, "Then I'm on board. By the way, Michael's currently discussing an idea with some writers about a comet colliding with Earth."

Eric recognized this as Michael Bay's upcoming Armageddon.

Finally, American oil workers would be stepping up to save the world.

Noticing the odd look on Eric's face, Jerry explained, "I know this idea overlaps somewhat with Firefly's earlier film Deep Impact, but Michael claims he intends to use a different filmmaking style and perspective. In fact, we've provided him with a bunch of scripts to choose from, and he hasn't liked any of them. So, Eric, if you don't want to green-light this script, he might just take it elsewhere."

After completing the three-film contract he signed with Firefly following The Day After Tomorrow, Michael Bay had ascended to become a top director in Hollywood. Their ongoing collaboration had been built on the momentum generated by previous successful films, so any project Michael had was still perceived as significant.

If Firefly were to veto Michael's project, given his recent successful streak, other studios would undoubtedly line up to scoop it up.

"If the script is suitable, then let's go for it," Eric finally decided after some thought. "Hollywood can't possibly only have one disaster film involving a comet colliding with Earth."

"I think so too," Jerry nodded. "Plus, it has been five years since Deep Impact's release, and for Hollywood, five years is enough time to mitigate the impact of a similar genre.

Speaking of which, Eric, there's actually something else. Recently, a German film company reached out to me for help connecting them, inquiring about the potential to acquire the rights to produce a Terminator sequel."

Eric didn't refuse outright. Instead, he asked, "Do they have any ideas for the script?"

"Not yet," Jerry replied. "They probably don't have high hopes. After all, Cameron has publicly stated that the Terminator series is over. And even if it were to be rebooted, I can't imagine you'd allow anyone else to invest in it, would you?"

For box office hits in Hollywood, declaring a series over was often seen as a joke. As long as there was profit to be made, Hollywood would have no qualms about making a hundred sequels.

However, unless a refreshing script emerged that captured Eric's attention, he certainly didn't plan to reboot the Terminator series anytime soon.

Once Cameron directed the first two films of the original Terminator series, it fell into a repetitive cycle of traversing time to rescue people -- saving Sarah Connor, John Connor, and then, having saved young John, coming back to save adult John. The first two films directed by Cameron were adequate, but the subsequent sequels constantly tried to replicate his formula without his expertise, ultimately resulting in mediocrity.

Additionally, costs posed a significant problem.

From what he recalled, Schwarzenegger earned a fixed salary of $30 million for Terminator 3, reportedly with backend profits. The film's total cost ballooned to a staggering $200 million, but Terminator 3 barely grossed just over $400 million worldwide. The production company incurred absolutely heavy losses at the box office, and could only marginally recover costs from subsequent video and merchandise sales, making it a laborious effort to merely break even.

One could say that Terminator 3 exemplified how movie studios often found themselves working for Hollywood heavyweights.

Given Firefly's own plethora of high-quality projects that were struggling to be developed, Eric certainly had no inclination to become a fool for such ventures.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1034: Do You Think I Should Tell You?]

Eric was chatting with Jerry Bruckheimer when the crew announced a short break after about half an hour. The film's director, Tony Scott, approached Eric to say hello along with several key creative team members on set.

Tony Scott was a prominent Hollywood director and the brother of another iconic filmmaker, Ridley Scott. He had directed the film that rocketed Tom Cruise to fame in the '80s, Top Gun, which stood out as one of his signature works. However, unlike his brother, who seemed to grow stronger with age, Tony was already in his fifties and had passed his career peak. The film Enemy of the State was likely his last major work with global impact.

Eric enjoyed a lively conversation with Tony Scott, Will Smith, and several other supporting cast members for quite a while. The next scenes appeared to focus mainly on the supporting actors. Will nodded at Eric, then headed off to his luxury trailer for a break, and the other cast members dispersed to prepare for their next scenes.

Eric, Bruckheimer, and Tony Scott remained seated in the simple folding chairs of the break area. Eric spoke up, "Tony, how's Ridley doing? I haven't heard any news about his recent projects since G.I. Jane."

He recalled that G.I. Jane starred Demi Moore as the lead. In this case, however, the female protagonist was another tough Hollywood star, Geena Davis. Unfortunately, the film that portrayed the training details of American female soldiers also ended up underperforming at the box office.

While not as tightly knit as the Wachowski or Coen brothers, Tony and Ridley had a good relationship and often collaborated as producers on each other's films.

"He's been prepping a historical war film set in ancient Rome, similar to Braveheart from a few years ago," Tony said, looking at Eric and suddenly realizing this could be a great opportunity. "Speaking of which, Eric, this really is a fantastic story. I believe it won't be much less impressive than Braveheart. You might be interested in this project."

Eric instantly thought of Ridley's Gladiator, which ranked even higher than Braveheart among Hollywood's epic films in his mind. Although it lacked Braveheart's Oscar achievements, Gladiator's box office numbers had significantly outpaced those of Braveheart.

"Even though G.I. Jane didn't perform very well, that was expected given the subject matter," Eric mused internally, while outwardly maintaining a calm demeanor. "And shouldn't Ridley have no shortage of investors for his project?"

Tony misunderstood Eric's comments to imply reluctance. After the success of Braveheart, most recent epic films in Hollywood had flopped. Once the initial hype fizzled, generating renewed interest in this genre was challenging without a breakout success. Plus, everyone knew that investing in epic films came with high risks, leading to more careful funding decisions.

"Well, originally, Steven's Amblin Entertainment had promised to invest. However, they recently informed us that Amblin was facing cash flow issues and would have to cancel the project," Tony explained, then suddenly smiled, jokingly adding, "Eric, if you agree to invest, I can give Ridley the green light right now. We certainly won't be like some of those clueless kids who are hard to please."

Tony clearly alluded to the recent drama surrounding the Pirates of the Caribbean script.

Eric smiled in response. "Well, I at least need to see the script first."

Tony had assumed that Eric wasn't interested when he made his previous joke. But Eric was right; even if Amblin backtracked, it wouldn't be hard for the brothers to find financing in Hollywood if they waited a little longer. Hearing Eric mention the script now made Tony realize he had misunderstood; he readily nodded. "No problem. If you have time, I can call him right now and have someone bring over a copy of the script."

"There's no need to rush; I can't guarantee I'll invest," Eric waved his hand, chuckling. "I think you should focus on getting this movie done first. Let's have lunch together later."

"Then I'll get back to it," Tony said, glancing at his watch. "You and Jerry can chat for a bit. I'll send a copy of the script over to Firefly this afternoon."

With that, Tony stood up and headed towards the street where preparations were nearly complete for the next set of shots.

...

After Tony left, Bruckheimer leaned over and said, "Eric, I have actually seen the script Ridley's working on. It's a take on Hamlet, telling the story of a Roman general who disguises himself as a gladiator to get close enough to assassinate the Roman emperor to avenge his family."

Hamlet was indeed one of Shakespeare's four great tragedies.

"Speaking of Hamlet, it reminds me of The Lion King. The Lion King also used a Hamlet template. A classic story template is always timeless. With Ridley's directing skills, this could be a really fantastic project," Eric remarked.

As they talked, Eric noticed a Latina woman wearing a white tank top, black leather jacket, and shiny black fitted pants standing not far away, looking both eager and shy.

After recalling the awkwardness of her name, Eric smiled and waved her over.

Fernanda Tavares had been standing at the periphery of the crowd for a while. Since last year's birthday party for Alessandra, she had maintained a good relationship with Gisele and Alessandra. Leveraging their connections and her own remarkable talent, she had successfully earned a spot in the Victoria's Secret Angel lineup and was set to participate in this year's fifth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

There was a scene in Enemy of the State where the lead character, Robert Dean, selected lingerie for his wife as a Christmas gift. The original script included a fictional brand called Ruby. However, since this project was produced by Firefly Group, that brand naturally transformed into Victoria's Secret.

This scene required a lingerie store saleswoman, and as per the norm, they naturally chose one from the Victoria's Secret Angels.

Eric had previously called Gisele to discuss this, but both girls seemed to have grown too confident for such a fleeting role, and Eric ultimately left it to LTD to handle.

It seemed that the role fell to Fernanda Tavares, thanks likely to Gisele's influence. Since last year, Eric had felt that Gisele was building her own little network, a move he supported wholeheartedly.

Having not seen Fernanda in over a year, she assumed Eric had forgotten her, which was why she was hesitant to approach. But when she saw Eric waving, she quickly hurried over.

...

Once close, Fernanda suddenly felt shy again, politely bowing her head slightly. "Good morning, Mr. Williams. Good morning, Mr. Bruckheimer."

At Alessandra's birthday party last year, everyone had worn casual clothes, and it had ended up being somewhat of a ridiculous sans-clothing party, surrounded by a group of youthful, attractive girls.

But now, in her fitted black jacket, shiny pants, and hard-soled boots, Fernanda appeared like a wild little lioness. Standing over six feet tall, her youthful aura had vanished, replaced by the fierce spirit found in Latin women. If she could exude any more confidence, her presence would have been even more remarkable.

Eric casually patted the chair beside him and laughed, "I almost didn't recognize you! So, does this mean you're the one playing the saleswoman?"

Fernanda sat down beside Eric. "Yes, I just finished my final scene with Mr. Smith."

Eric replied, "This character is indeed a bit small, but it will help raise your profile. Since you're done filming, are you planning to go back to New York?"

Fernanda regarded Eric with hopeful eyes. "I plan to stay in Los Angeles for a few more days. My agency told me to focus on this role, and there's nothing lined up right now, so I'm in no rush to return."

"Oh," Eric nodded, glancing at his watch.

He had arrived at the set just after nine and was scheduled to meet with the screenwriters for Pirates of the Caribbean, Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott, at eleven. It was now nearly ten fifty-five, and they should be arriving soon.

Fernanda didn't understand why Eric suddenly looked at his watch; she silently sat beside him.

As Eric lifted his head to say something, a production assistant approached from beyond the perimeter with three individuals in tow, prompting him to stand. Jerry Bruckheimer recognized it was the screenwriters for Pirates of the Caribbean, and he curiously stood up as well, with Fernanda eagerly following suit.

...

As they approached, Ted Elliott politely extended his hand to Eric. "Hello, Mr. Williams. I'm Ted Elliott."

Eric smiled as they shook hands. "Hello, Ted."

Terry Rossio and Matt Gilson introduced themselves as well, and everyone took a seat around a makeshift folding table. Eric turned to Fernanda. "Fern, can you go help get some coffee for everyone from logistics?"

His casual term of endearment put Fernanda at ease; she understood Eric was politely asking her to step away, and she wasn't upset. She stood up, saying, "Of course."

Having said that, Fernanda headed toward a nearby logistics trailer.

As they watched the fierce, tall Latina walk away, the atmosphere shifted slightly.

During their introductions, Terry and the others had noticed Eric's welcoming demeanor. However, the more cordial Eric was, the more awkward they felt.

After all, they had recently employed some questionable tactics to create the current situation, which could have bordered on malicious deception had Eric not genuinely been interested in the Pirates of the Caribbean script.

Eric displayed no hint of displeasure, nor did he offer any veiled warnings or threats, making the trio feel small and powerless in the presence of this Hollywood mogul. It was as if a lion on the plains disregarded the buzzing of a few pesky flies.

As they weren't familiar with one another, and due to recent events, Eric opted against excessive politeness and quickly stated the point: "I truly value the Pirates of the Caribbean script. When I tasked Jeffrey with handling this, I specifically asked him to bring both of you on board because it requires extensive alterations. I plan to turn it into a series, but I don't have the time to oversee it myself, so I must hand it over to the two of you. My intention hasn't changed: I hope you both will join Firefly and take charge of developing the Pirates of the Caribbean series. That said, if you insist on trying to sell this script for an unrealistic price, Firefly will participate in the bidding, but we likely won't collaborate again after that. By the way, my offer is $1 million; consider it."

Terry and the others were taken aback by Eric's directness, exchanging glances. Ted commented, "Mr. Williams, we genuinely hope to collaborate with Firefly. However, we also want you to direct this film personally."

"Oh, I'm afraid not," Eric immediately shook his head. "I've already got a solid vision for the creative team behind this script, and I won't be directing this movie. I just discussed this with Jerry; he can take on the role of producer for this project."

The three of them visibly deflated at this news.

Matt hesitated before asking, "Mr. Williams, can you share who you're planning to have as director and lead actor?"

Eric shook his head with a smile, replying, "Do you think I should tell you?"

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[Chapter 1035: The Price Tag]

This question felt somewhat inappropriate.

Matt Gilson sensed Eric's provocative response and his expression became awkward immediately. Everything remained undecided, and Eric didn't seem interested in chatting with the three of them for too long. He simply outlined his conditions and sent them on their way.

As they watched the three leave, Jerry Bruckheimer remarked, "Eric, a lot of people saw you meeting with those three. Things might get lively from here. Are you sure they'll agree to part with the script for $1 million? Warner Bros. already offered $3 million."

"Let's say you're an actor just starting out with no reputation. Would you rather take $1 million to join my movie, or $3 million to work on some unknown director's film?" replied Eric.

Bruckheimer chuckled, "Of course your movie, but writers and actors are a bit different."

"It's practically the same logic," Eric said, taking a cup of coffee from Fernanda Tavares as she returned. "What I'm offering them is not just money, but an opportunity -- the chance to become a top-tier screenwriter. Everyone knows that in Hollywood, opportunity is what truly matters."

...

Outside, after leaving the street cordoned off by the Enemy of the State film crew, the three of them silently got into a car. As Terry Rossio fastened his seatbelt in the passenger seat, he finally spoke up, "$1 million is a bit low."

Ted Elliott started the engine, saying, "If Eric Williams really wants to turn this script into a blockbuster series, then $1 million is still quite a deal. After all, just a week ago, we hadn't even thought we could sell this script."

Matt Gilson sat in the back seat, contemplating how to quickly spread the word about their meeting with Eric Williams. He added, "Didn't Eric mention that if we auction this script, Firefly would bid as well?"

Ted Elliott responded, "But if we do that, we won't be able to participate in the project's subsequent development."

Terry Rossio played with the seatbelt he had fastened, thinking aloud, "I feel that based on what Eric said, Firefly will undoubtedly go all out for this script. As long as this project succeeds, we'll still be among the most renowned screenwriters in Hollywood, won't we? Warner's bid has already reached $3 million. If we auction it, we might pull in $5 million. Even if Firefly turns Pirates of the Caribbean into a trilogy, the total we could likely get wouldn't be too much higher than that. Either way, we gain fame. If we can't join in on the subsequent project development, we can focus our energy on writing other scripts instead."

At Ted Elliott's and Matt Gilson's words, silence fell over the car. After a moment, Matt Gilson finally spoke again, "How about this? I'll get the word out and see how the other major studios respond."

...

News of Eric meeting with the three Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriters quickly spread through Hollywood. Of course, all three decided to keep quiet about Eric's detailed plans for the project and the significant revisions he intended to make.

However, the mere fact that Eric had expressed interest in turning Pirates of the Caribbean into a series created a much greater stir than they had anticipated.

In all of Hollywood, aside from Firefly, other major studios, including MGM and Fox, were eager to develop more large-scale franchise films. After all, once a big franchise succeeded, it could keep a major movie company in high profit for years. Hollywood certainly did not lack scripts for large productions, but it needed the sharp insight to recognize these projects due to the extreme uncertainty of the film industry. Even the biggest directors and producers hesitated to guarantee success on a particular project. However, over the years, Eric Williams had clearly broken this mold.

Almost immediately, the major studios that received the news reached out to Ted Elliott and the others to increase their bids.

...

Following the disappointing performance of Godzilla last year, Sony found itself in an increasingly difficult situation.

This summer, Sony Pictures' release, The Patriot, struggled to reach just over $100 million at the North American box office. Its niche war theme made it a tough sell abroad, and while pulling in $200 million globally would be respectable, the production cost alone was $110 million. Although Sony kept its marketing costs down to $40 million, it still faced a loss of about $60 million, relying on future income from home video and TV broadcast rights to recover.

Learning from the lessons brought by Peter Guber and Jon Peters, Sony's headquarters had since become overly strict in its control over Sony Pictures.

Any slightly higher-budget film projects at Sony now required rigorous review from headquarters before they were approved, leading to a problematic situation where outsiders dictated to insiders. Consequently, aside from The Patriot, other major productions in development seemed to have a very unclear box office outlook.

When Sony purchased Columbia Pictures, the idea was originally to promote its own VCRs. But with the rapid proliferation of DVDs, that plan had become impractical, and some board members even began considering divesting from the film business altogether.

...

On a Sunday morning at Sony Pictures' headquarters in Culver City, Howard Stringer flipped through the script for Pirates of the Caribbean while Bill Mechanic sat across from him, detailing the current situation. "Yesterday, Williams personally met with the screenwriters and confirmed he values this script. By the afternoon, Warner Bros. reportedly increased their bid to $4 million, and several other studios have raised their offers, indicating the start of a bidding war."

Howard Stringer didn't look up and asked, "What about Men in Black?"

"Will Smith is currently filming Firefly's Enemy of the State, and the situation hasn't changed. As long as he and Tommy Lee Jones maintain their $20 million payout plus profit-sharing conditions, Firefly isn't planning to budge."

Howard Stringer's page-turning motion paused for a moment as he frowned. As CEO of Sony America, most of his authority revolved around Sony's film and music businesses.

Earlier this year, due to the impact of internet piracy on music, Sony's record division saw a severe drop in revenue and profits. Now, Sony Pictures was also mired in a quagmire, with whispers coming from headquarters about potentially selling off the studio. This left Howard Stringer's position at Sony increasingly unstable. If things continued this way, he might not only lose out on competing for the top non-Japanese CEO position, but might also find his current job at risk.

Given the rampant piracy in the music industry, turning around the record division's fortunes would be challenging in the short term. Howard Stringer felt he could do little but hope to bolster the film division.

The only viable project Sony Pictures had that could significantly boost company performance in the short term was the Men in Black series. However, the initiative was firmly in Firefly Group's hands.

Firefly was thriving, and even expectations of a temporary downturn during the summer season were proven wrong with blockbusters like The Day After Tomorrow. This led to surging success for films like The Ring, keeping Firefly at the forefront of North America's box office.

Eric Williams' new film, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Enemy of the State, and others...

Not to mention the blockbuster-level scale of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, and New Line's mid-budget films that boasted surprise hits like The Ring, Howard Stringer felt both envious and somewhat disheartened.

Compared to Firefly Group, Sony Pictures was falling significantly behind.

After carefully reviewing the script in his hands, Howard Stringer, though uninterested in pirate films, weighed his options for a moment, then quickly resolved to tell Bill Mechanic, "Bill, we have to do whatever it takes to secure this script. Contact them immediately and offer $5 million."

Bill Mechanic was slightly taken aback by Howard Stringer's command. Unlike the somewhat scattered Howard Stringer, he had been navigating Hollywood from day one and had a good grasp of the current script market there. He knew what it meant to offer $5 million for a single script.

In recent years, with more speculative international money flooding into the film industry, prices for top-tier Hollywood screenwriters had skyrocketed.

Without a doubt, Eric Williams was the highest-paid screenwriter, but his unique situation made his work priceless. Other studios outside of the Firefly system couldn't even access his scripts.

Following Eric, other major top-tier screenwriters also saw their prices soar. The average script price in Hollywood hovered around $100,000, but top-tier writers frequently sold their scripts for over a million dollars. Just three years prior, Shane Black's script had sold for more than $4 million, setting a record for the highest price paid for an original screenplay in Hollywood history.

Now, Howard Stringer's offer effectively reset the record for screenplay prices in Hollywood.

But even though a $5 million bid shattered the record, Bill Mechanic pragmatically pointed out, "Howard, honestly, our $5 million offer isn't guaranteed to land us this script. Warner's bid has already reached $4 million, which probably isn't their limit. Their bottom line might also be around $5 million. I believe that's likely the ceiling, considering this is just a screenplay. Going forward, the game will be about the other auxiliary conditions, such as budget, director selection, cast, or even marketing, which can influence the film's ultimate success -- and we don't have any advantages there."

Bill Mechanic's analysis made sense, and after a moment of silence, Howard Stringer made up his mind again. "Then let's go with $7 million."

Bill Mechanic gasped at that.

$7 million was seventy times the average screenplay price in Hollywood, enough for a small company to produce a decent low-budget film. A-list actors in Hollywood typically commanded around $7 million for non-sequel projects.

"Howard, that price is getting a bit... outrageous," Bill Mechanic initially intended to say "ridiculous," but changed his tone and added, "Furthermore, will headquarters even approve this?"

"Let's secure the script first, then we'll notify headquarters. I still have this degree of authority."

Internally, Howard Stringer felt uncertain about his own offer. However, he quickly resolved not to waver.

If he didn't turn around Sony Pictures' struggling situation, he might not even remain in power himself. Thus, he had to take the risk to keep developing big productions, aiming to seize a script approved by Eric Williams, which would greatly bolster their chances of success.

"But," Bill Mechanic paused, "this script is of interest to Eric Williams. Our high offer might upset Firefly's people quite a bit."

"Everyone is competing fairly. If Firefly isn't willing to pay up, they can't complain about our high offer." Howard Stringer recalled how Firefly had refused to greenlight a Men in Black sequel over a pay dispute, and his mood shifted, slamming the script onto the table, glaring at the hesitant Bill Mechanic, he emphasized, "Bill, you need to understand. If our situation here doesn't change, we both might lose our jobs."

Due to the stringent controls from Sony headquarters, coupled with Howard Stringer frequently overseeing operations and dictating orders, Bill Mechanic felt like the most underappreciated leader in Hollywood. If it weren't for Sony's lucrative salary offer, he would be unwilling to stay in that position any longer.

In all honesty, he didn't particularly care about losing his job. Sony's upper management couldn't pin the blame for Sony Pictures' dismal performance entirely on him, and as long as he didn't make any major mistakes, it would cost Sony a fortune in severance pay to break their contract with him.

He had given his warning where it mattered. With Howard Stringer's firm attitude, Bill Mechanic nodded. "Alright, I'll reach out to Ted Elliott and the others right away."

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[Chapter 1036: So That's It]

Hollywood placed a greater emphasis on the fundamental development of scripts than any other film industry in the world. Whether it was one of the big seven studios or a small independent film company, they allocated 5% to 10% of their production budgets each year to purchasing, writing, and adapting scripts.

However, this didn't mean that the script development costs for every movie stayed above 5% of the production budget. In reality, fewer than one in thousand of the screenplays hoarded by Hollywood studios ever made it to the big screen. This meant that the spending on scripts for a single Hollywood film would typically not exceed 1% of the total production budget.

In essence, scripts were just like seeds; most people wouldn't pay the price of a harvest for just a seed.

Of course, nothing was absolute.

When they heard that Sony Pictures had made a $7 million offer, the writers of Pirates of the Caribbean, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, along with their agent, Matt Gilson, found it hard to believe. Matt made sure it wasn't a joke by confirming with Bill Mechanic, the CEO of Columbia Pictures, who called personally. Once he hung up, he looked across the table at Ted and Terry.

It was already Sunday noon.

The three were gathered at a restaurant in West Hollywood, discussing how to initiate the auction bids for Pirates of the Caribbean. After Warner Bros. offered $4 million along with some conditions, the trio ultimately couldn't resist the allure of the money. After all, compared to the offers from other studios, Eric's $1 million proposal seemed downright paltry.

As Jerry Bruckheimer had told Eric, writers and actors operated on different levels. An unknown actor appearing in a blockbuster movie, even if it didn't succeed, could instantly become famous and might find studios lining up to offer roles in future films. But once a writer became known for a screenplay, their future income depended on the scripts they wrote, not just on their name recognition like an actor's could.

If they missed this golden opportunity, who could guarantee that their next screenplay would be a hit? And who could really promise that the script they had now would definitely succeed?

As such, the trio had made up their minds even before Bill Mechanic's call came.

To leave themselves some room for negotiation, they planned to use a sealed bid approach, inviting various studios to submit their offers privately, so they could choose a partner based on the best terms.

As long as Firefly Group placed a competitive offer, they would still consider selling the script to them. Even if they weren't involved in the film's further development, as long as the screenplay thrived in Eric Williams' hands, no one could deny their contributions as writers. They could still make their mark as leading screenwriters in Hollywood.

However, Bill Mechanic's call completely disrupted their discussed plans.

After exchanging glances, even though they had just had lunch, Terry Rossio swallowed hard and said, "Matt, maybe I--uh... are you sure it's $7 million?"

Matt nodded, saying, "Yes, Bill Mechanic said that if we agree, we can sign this afternoon."

"$7 million, huh?"

Even the most rational of the three, Ted Elliott, couldn't help but exclaim this.

Eric Williams' offer was $1 million. Even if Firefly Group could turn Pirates of the Caribbean into a very successful trilogy, they would probably earn no more than $300,000 for each of the remaining scripts. In essence, Sony was paying the total script price for the trilogy in an ideal scenario all at once.

Seeing the spark of interest in his clients' faces, Matt Gilson had already begun to calculate how to spend this upcoming commission, but he remained calm on the surface, asking, "So, what do we do now?"

Looking at his friends, Terry Rossio said, "Ted, we have no reason to refuse. Let's sell it?"

Ted Elliott's lips moved as he glanced at Matt Gilson for reassurance.

"Sony's asking this sky-high price because they want to avoid all competition for the script; they're not going to raise their offer again, and it's unlikely other studios will continue bidding." Matt understood their intentions, shook his head hesitantly, and although he didn't hold out much hope, he suggested, "Bill Mechanic didn't ask us to keep it confidential. How about I leak this information and see how other studios react? If no one else ups their offer, we can agree."

With Terry Rossio watching expectantly, Ted Elliott nodded, "So that's it."

...

Last time he was invited to dinner, Goldie Hawn's husband Kurt Russell asked Eric if he had any interest in going hunting. Kurt Russell was a passionate gun enthusiast who had shown Eric his impressive firearms collection, and naturally, Eric was intrigued.

After a busy Saturday, Eric received a call from Kurt Russell, and early on Sunday morning, he took Fernanda Tavares from the set of Enemy of the State and flew with Kurt Russell and Ron Howard from Los Angeles to Fresno, about 300 kilometers north. Upon arrival, they borrowed three SUVs and a few greyhounds from a local hunting club and headed for the nearby mountainous hunting grounds.

While much of California was evergreen year-round, summer remained the least suitable hunting season, as prey generally hid deep in dense foliage. It was only during the winter drought that wild boars and similar beasts ventured out to search for water, becoming a huge nuisance for local farmland.

But Eric and the others were solely there for entertainment, so they didn't mind at all.

All the firearms they carried were part of Kurt Russell's personal collection. Eric had little interest in old-fashioned double-barreled shotguns and instead chose an M21. Even with the fiery Latina Fernanda trying her hand at a traditional shotgun, Eric's use of a sniper rifle drew teasing from the old-timers, though he was having a blast regardless.

Though it wasn't the best time for hunting, with the help of a few hounds, they managed to catch a decent amount in the morning.

Of course, being his first time, despite holding the sniper rifle and having fired several boxes of ammo, Eric still had zero personal success.

At noon, they set up camp by a small creek, grilling their catch over an improvised fire.

The group consisted of twelve people, including Eric and his four companions, four bodyguards, and two local guides from the hunting club, along with Ron Howard's go-to producer Brian Grazer and another Hollywood star, Dennis Quaid. Dennis was also a close friend of Kurt Russell's and was married to Meg Ryan. However, the couple had been separated since 1992 for reasons unknown and had never finalized their divorce, a topic Robert Altman had playfully addressed in one of his films a few years back.

...

At the creek, the bodyguards and local guides formed one group while Eric's group of six formed another, gathered around a grill.

Initially thinking it would be a boys' weekend outing, the others hadn't brought any family, but Eric brought Fernanda Tavares, and no one seemed to mind.

The tall Latina beauty, clad in denim and hiking boots, shouldered a rifle, exuding a wild beauty. As Eric brought her, she certainly caught everyone's eye, and as Ron Howard jokingly said, he could almost envision a Western film in the making.

"Right now, using a shotgun is the best for hunting, since there aren't many large beasts," Kurt Russell said skillfully flipping a rabbit on the grill, "Like this little guy, if the M21 hit it, it would just be a pile of mush."

After a morning spent traversing the hills, Eric was feeling quite hungry, his previous pickiness about cleanliness fading. As he noticed the game hens roasting nicely, he tore off a piece and chewed, stating, "A man should definitely use a big gun; what's the point of a shotgun?"

"Haha..."

The other men burst into a hearty laugh, while a slightly flushed Fernanda shot Eric a disapproving look and resumed grilling her own food.

While they were eating and chatting, Eric's phone suddenly rang.

He pulled out his phone to check the caller ID and saw it was a call from Jeffrey Katzenberg. ...

Signaling for Fernanda to keep an eye on the grill, Eric stepped aside to answer, "Jeffrey, it's me... I'm out hunting with Kurt Russell and the crew in Fresno; what's up in Los Angeles... What, $7 million?"

Eric lifted his voice, causing Kurt Russell and the others to look over.

Regaining his composure, Eric patiently listened to Katzenberg explain the situation, his tone calming down as he said, "I understand, Jeffrey. Let's hang up; I'll call Bill Mechanic right away."

...

After ending the call, Eric scrolled through his contacts while pacing.

He quickly dialed a number, placing the phone to his ear. Once it connected, he cut to the chase, "Bill, do you know what you're doing?"

At a restaurant in Calabasas, Bill Mechanic was dining with Howard Stringer when he heard Eric's cold tone over the line. He glanced at Howard, realizing that the offer from Sony was bound to cause a backlash from Firefly, but he hadn't expected Eric to personally call to confront him.

Considering that he would likely remain in Hollywood even after leaving Sony, Bill Mechanic didn't want to offend Eric Williams by any means. He hastily pointed out, "Eric, I'm currently dining with Mr. Stringer."

Word of Sony's struggles was well-known in Hollywood, and Bill believed Eric would understand this decision wasn't solely his.

On the other end, Eric hesitated for a moment, commanding, "Hand your phone to Stringer."

Though they were speaking over the phone, Bill Mechanic couldn't help but nod. He passed the phone to Howard Stringer, saying, "Howard, it's Williams."

Years of experience in the business had made Howard Stringer acutely aware of the tone in Bill Mechanic's voice. He instinctively felt that this was perhaps not the best time to speak with Eric Williams.

Nevertheless, with Bill handing the phone over, Howard had no choice but to take it, brightening up his tone, "Hey, Eric, long time no see."

However, Eric had no intention of making small talk with Howard Stringer. He went straight to the point, "Howard, Sony has already inflated Hollywood stars' salaries to $20 million; how much do you intend to raise script prices to now? $10 million? I don't care how you're thinking; you better roll back that foolish decision right now."

Howard Stringer, caught off guard by Eric's swift reprimand, knew that Bill couldn't hear their exchange. Though a bit embarrassed, he retorted, "Eric, how much Sony offers is our business. We're all competing fairly; you have no right to demand we lower our asking price. That's absurd."

"Don't give me that nonsense about fair competition. You're undermining Hollywood's established rules time and again. So, take back your decision, immediately; otherwise, don't blame me." Eric said before hanging up before Howard could respond.

...

Though feeling emotional, Eric's veiled threat sent a shiver down Howard Stringer's spine. As he listened to the dial tone, his initial fear quickly morphed into anger. Forgetting he was in a public restaurant, Howard slammed his phone against the wall, muttering angrily, "Who does he think he is..."

After repeating this a few times, Howard suddenly shot a glare at Bill Mechanic, declaring, "Call those two back right now. We're buying the script. We'll sign today. I want to see what Eric Williams will do; who does he think he is, suddenly declaring himself the king of Hollywood?"

Bill Mechanic pulled out a credit card and motioned to the passing waiter to settle the bill. Bending down, he picked up the Nokia phone that had fallen and, seeing the still-bright screen, slipped it into his pocket. He soothed, "Let's head back to the office, Howard; this isn't the place to be making decisions."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1037: Not Over Yet]

In the afternoon, Howard Stringer raised the offer to $7.5 million, and Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio wasted no time selling the script for Pirates of the Caribbean to Sony Pictures.

Following their initial offering of $20 million for a Hollywood star's fee, deep-pocketed Sony Pictures set another record for a Hollywood script deal. The $20 million was deemed 'reasonable' since many Hollywood stars' salaries had already approached that level. Some had even secured contracts that exceeded $20 million through profit-sharing agreements. However, this time, Sony's $7.5 million bid nearly doubled the previous record for an original Hollywood script price and was more than three times the average price for a top-tier screenwriter in Hollywood.

Once the news broke, Hollywood exploded with excitement, and media outlets across North America and overseas hurried to prepare press releases related to the event.

...

At Liberty City Manor, it was already past eleven at night. Fernanda Tavares, dressed in a light tank top and shorts, walked barefoot and silently from the kitchen, carrying a pot of freshly brewed coffee. She had already learned what had transpired from Eric and Ron Howard earlier that afternoon, and she could sense the extreme shock among those around her.

However, as an outsider, she couldn't understand the deeper implications of Sony Pictures paying $7.5 million for a script. She worried that Eric, who she felt was angry, might take it out on her. Fortunately, that didn't happen. Aside from a brief outburst of anger during her first phone call with Howard Stringer, Eric had been calm since the afternoon. Upon returning to Liberty City Manor that evening, he had been making phone calls non-stop. While she catch snippets of conversation, she smartly curbed her curiosity.

At a long table near the glass wall, papers were scattered all around. Eric sat with his chin on his hand, staring intently at his laptop. The villa was quiet, and the sky outside the glass wall was dark.

As she quietly filled Eric's cup, Fernanda reached for the coffee pot to set it aside, but felt a hand wrap around her waist. She instinctively settled onto Eric's lap.

His hand casually wandered under her tank top for a moment, and as he listened to her soft breaths, Eric felt his fatigue dissipate significantly. Leaning down, he kissed Fernanda's cheek and said, "I'll be busy during the weekdays, but I'll take you back to New York tomorrow."

After spending two days together, Fernanda noticed that Eric treated her like a pet -- or perhaps more accurately, like a cat. He enjoyed watching her walk barefoot around the villa, loved seeing her lounging on the couch watching TV, and cherished moments like this when he would hold and caress her, displaying the typical affection of a pet owner.

Fernanda, like Gisele, had left Brazil at 14 to fight for her career. To protect herself better, she exhibited a fiery personality. If someone else dared to treat her this way, she would certainly react fiercely. But having faced the world too soon, she came to understand the power and strength wealth represented. Thus, in front of this man who stood atop the world of power and riches, she felt a peculiar lack of resistance, often unconsciously stepping into the role he preferred.

"Sure," Fernanda replied, nodding, sensing that although Eric withdrew his hand from under her clothing, he tenderly wrapped his arms around her. She felt a pang of disappointment. This man often displayed such gentleness, sparking some unrealistic fantasies, but she knew this tenderness carried little romantic undertones. "Are you coming to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show this year?"

"I should be able to make it once I finish filming," Eric said, patting her slender waist. "You can go rest; I still have some calls to make."

"Actually, I'm a night owl too. I'm not sleepy at all. How about I whip up a late-night snack for you?"

"I don't like to eat at this hour. If you're hungry, you can make something," Eric suggested.

"I won't eat either," Fernanda shook her head, smiling. "I might gain weight."

Eric's foot nudged the ground, spinning his chair slightly, and he gestured towards the TV in the distance. "Then go watch some TV."

Fernanda got up and moved to the egg-shaped chairs by the other side of the glass wall. She picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned on the wall-mounted TV, then lazily curled up in the space-age chair. Looking back, she saw Eric had returned his focus to his laptop, making her feel a bit disappointed. Clutching a nearby pillow, she distractedly began to flip through the TV channels.

...

Earlier that afternoon, Eric had been straightforward with Howard Stringer, practically scolding him. He anticipated that in light of his strong stance, Stringer would either yield and abandon his outrageous offer for Pirates of the Caribbean or become more determined to secure the script.

Stringer ultimately chose the latter -- but Eric wasn't too surprised. He had sensed it was a more likely outcome.

Regardless, Eric intended to leverage this opportunity to launch some of his planned initiatives sooner.

In recent years, Firefly Group had not engaged in the kind of rapid expansions that had previously seen them absorb Disney and ABC. However, the overall strength of the company continues to grow swiftly.

While Hollywood's film market had been climbing at nearly 10% yearly, the power of Firefly Group would inevitably lead to other companies losing market share. In fact, their operation style resembled that of a steadily growing elephant rather than an aggressive wolf. Owing to Eric's personality, the company rarely displayed an intimidating demeanor to competitors.

Howard Stringer's recent actions illustrated this. Although everyone felt the strength of Firefly Group, no company truly feared it. In such a climate, if the Firefly Group continued to capture more of the media market, it was inevitable that the lack of reverence would lead some parties to resort to troublesome underhanded tactics.

Given this, perhaps it was time for Firefly Group to showcase its claws and fangs to the outside world.

After carefully reviewing his plans, Eric sent out a few more emails. Peering at the time, it was almost 1 AM, and he finally shut down his laptop.

...

Turning off the desk lamp, Eric walked to the other side of the glass wall, where a late-night TV show played at a very low volume. Fernanda curled up in the space-age chair had already fallen asleep.

The oval shape of the chair wasn't huge, and the nearly six-foot tall Fernanda inside made her appear even more striking with her slim waist and long legs.

Eric admired the sleeping beauty in front of him and gently pushed the chair. Maybe sensing the movement, Fernanda quickly opened her eyes.

Dazed for a moment, she realized it was Eric standing there, and she smiled, saying, "Eric, are you done?"

"Yeah, as much as I didn't want to interrupt, this isn't a place for sleeping."

Fernanda stretched her long body, lightly bouncing on her feet. "I think it's quite pleasant. I might even install one in my own apartment one day."

Eric took her hand, and together they walked toward the stairs. "Why wait? You can install one when you get back to New York."

Fernanda recalled the luxurious penthouse she shared with Gisele in Manhattan and spoke with a hint of self-pity, "But I don't even have my own apartment yet."

A smile crept onto Eric's lips as he casually responded, "Oh, then how about this: You choose between an apartment or a space-age chair, and I'll get it for you."

Fernanda felt her heartbeat race. Remembering how Eric had once casually signed a check for a million dollars allowing her and her friends to travel the world, she knew he wasn't joking. With his immense wealth, even the top-floor penthouse they lived in didn't seem outrageous to him.

However, she contained her excitement, responding, "Then I'll take the space-age chair. I'll probably receive some endorsement contracts next year. With that, I can buy my own place in Manhattan."

Thanks to the foundation she'd built in fashion over recent years, along with the boost from this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and her role in Enemy of the State, Fernanda was poised to land among the top supermodels. While she may not rival the likes of Cindy Crawford at the pinnacle, she expected to secure multiple endorsement contracts worth millions of dollars next year with ease.

"Let me know when you buy your place, and I'll arrange for it to be sent over as a housewarming gift," Eric remarked casually, not explaining too deeply, intending it as a small surprise for the girl next to him. And should she overlook it, it would become a delightful surprise instead.

This space-age chair had been a little project of his. Although Eric hadn't closely monitored its specific cost, among a bunch of expensive furniture items that went for tens of thousands of dollars, this art piece of a chair clearly didn't come cheaply.

...

As the new week began, North American media erupted with excitement over Sony Pictures' $7.5 million acquisition of the Pirates of the Caribbean script.

Some were awed by Sony's bold move, while others speculated that the executives making such a decision had lost their minds. Some experts even analyzed it as a sign of severe bubbling in Hollywood akin to the IT industry.

In recent years, speculative capital had poured into Hollywood like never before, with total film production budgets nearing $13 billion this year. Notably, more than $2.5 billion came from tax-haven money from countries like Germany and the UK -- almost 20% of the total. Furthermore, following the Southeast Asian financial crisis, international hot money that had been pulled from the region found substantial channels into the booming film industry.

Despite Sony Pictures' backing, they largely adhered to traditional Hollywood financing methods, resorting to short-term debt financing from various investment funds and banks. This influx of speculative capital was essentially what allowed Sony to offer such an eye-popping $7.5 million.

Of course, this approach bore risks; should a film project fail, a company's debt ratio would rise markedly. MGM had faced a similar spiral of debt that almost equaled its market value. However, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group, Sony Pictures' debts ultimately reflected on Sony's broader financial framework.

Within Hollywood, the Pirates of the Caribbean script was known to be Eric's focus, and everyone recognized it as another script chosen by Eric Williams. While unsure whether this matched the trap set similar to Cutthroat Island, many took a schadenfreude approach towards Firefly's rumored 'blunder,' despite feeling dissatisfaction over Sony's reckless disruption of industry norms.

On the flip side, fueled by the buzz surrounding the Pirates of the Caribbean script and the steady box office revenue from The Ring, the script procurement department at Firefly Group began closely monitoring almost every script they engaged with. Some writers attempted to replicate the style of Pirates and made generous offers to Firefly Group, hoping to cash in on the suddenly hot market.

With Sony brutally snatching away the sought-after script, spectators were eager to see if Firefly Group would launch any countermeasures.

...

After acquiring the Pirates of the Caribbean script, Howard Stringer intentionally flaunted the move by holding a press conference. However, he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. After spending three days in Los Angeles confirming that Firefly hadn't launched any further actions, he finally returned to Sony's headquarters in New York.

On the surface, the Firefly Group appeared unfazed over losing Pirates of the Caribbean, but all senior executives within the Firefly system could clearly sense changes within the atmosphere in recent days. Most notably, Eric's assistant's office had been increasingly busy with requests for data retrieval and document reviews from various companies in the Firefly network.

This continued until Wednesday when executives from various companies in and out of Hollywood received notice that they were all required to attend a core high-level meeting within the Firefly system on Friday morning. Executives unable to reach Los Angeles were also required to participate via video conference.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1038: A Decade]

At the headquarters of Firefly Group in Burbank, Elisabeth stepped out of the car with her assistant and headed straight into the building. Compared to usual days, the Firefly headquarters was noticeably busier today. The first-floor lobby was bustling with people, as well-dressed men and women gathered in small groups, engaged in conversation.

Elisabeth recognized these were mainly high-level executives and their aides from the Firefly network arriving for meetings. She left her assistant behind and went straight toward the VIP elevator.

Upon reaching Eric's office on the top floor, she greeted the secretary outside and pushed the door open.

Inside the office, Elisabeth was momentarily taken aback. Eric was standing by the window, chin raised, while Kelly Haynes meticulously adjusted his tie.

When Kelly noticed Elisabeth enter, she paused for a moment before smiling and saying, "Good morning, Liz! You're just in time. I still have work to do, so you might as well help Eric with his tie."

After saying this, Kelly released her grip on the tie, picked up some documents from Eric's desk, nodded at Elisabeth, and left the office.

Once Kelly had exited, Eric held onto his half-tied tie and looked at Elisabeth with a grin, "What are you staring at? Come over here and help me with this."

Elisabeth pursed her lips as she approached, took the tie from him, and couldn't help but tug on it as she replied, "Aren't you worried I might strangle you? There's a crowd waiting outside, and you're being so reckless."

"Well, I know you wouldn't believe my explanation anyway," Eric joked.

Ignoring him, Elisabeth leaned in and sniffed him a few times, then gave him a playful look, "You made such a fuss over this, what do you really intend to do?"

Eric shook his head, "Nothing much, just thought it would be nice for everyone to get together. Of course, I'm handling a few small matters at the same time."

Elisabeth frowned, "Hmph! You'd better be careful keeping secrets from me, or Fox might not cooperate."

"Not a problem. If Fox dares not to cooperate, I'll go handle the boss's daughter tonight," Eric replied.

Elisabeth's eyes widened, and she tugged at his arm again, "You jerk!"

"Easy there, you'll actually strangle me at this rate," he chuckled, grabbing her small hand. "Now, come on and tie this up for me. I've got something good for you."

Elisabeth increased her pace as she tied the tie, curiosity bubbling up, "What is it?"

Eric smiled but didn't answer. As soon as Elisabeth finished tying the tie, he pulled out a script from a drawer under his desk and handed it to her, "Here, this is for you."

"You wrote a script?" Elisabeth asked, glancing at it before exclaiming, "Gladiator? That's Ridley Scott's project, isn't it? I thought it was a done deal with Amblin Entertainment?"

Projects from Hollywood's top directors usually made it on the radar of studio executives, so it didn't surprise anyone that Elisabeth mentioned Gladiator's details.

Eric explained, "Amblin ran into some funding issues, and maybe they were just not confident in the project, so they scrapped it. I happened to bump into Tony Scott last Saturday, learned about this, looked at the script, and thought it was really good. However, our major projects are scheduled three years out, so I'm letting you guys handle it."

Flipping through a few pages, Elisabeth hesitated, "An epic film? Everyone knows epics come with high risks. Even that Braveheart from a few years ago wasn't a big hit."

Eric replied, "The script for Gladiator has broader appeal than Braveheart, and Ridley Scott's directing skills are reliable."

"Alright, I'll head back and discuss it with everyone," Elisabeth nodded, fully trusting Eric's judgment.

Just then, the office door swung open again, and Drew, dressed unusually formal in a little shirt and white trousers, smiled widely as she bounded over to Eric, wrapping her legs around his waist in a playful manner. She didn't hold a candle to Natasha's 'impact.'

Eric hugged the girl and playfully patted her on the backside, shaking his head, "No fooling around, Liz is here."

The girl giggled and planted a kiss on Eric's cheek, then stood upright and suddenly reached out to snatch the script from Elisabeth's hands.

However, Elisabeth was ready. She dodged effortlessly and shot back, "Little brat!"

The girl withdrew her hand, clinging to Eric's arm with a pouting face, "Eric, she called me names!"

Eric separated the two squabbling women, declaring, "Alright, no fighting! Let's head to the conference room. Everyone is almost here."

...

In the largest conference room at the Firefly Group headquarters, it was already packed with people. Eric, accompanied by Elisabeth and Drew, headed to the door just as Kelly emerged.

Eric paused and asked, "Are we all set?"

Kelly replied, "There were some connection issues with Nokia, but it's all sorted now."

Nodding, Eric opened the door and walked in.

As he entered, the chatter immediately ceased, and all eyes turned toward him as everyone rose from their seats.

At this gathering, alongside Eric were executives from the Firefly Group, Fox, and MGM in Los Angeles, as well as top brass from Firefly Electronics in San Francisco and Qualcomm's key executives from San Diego. Others connected via video were displayed on ten 32-inch wall-mounted screens lined up along both sides of the conference room.

Eric took his place at the head of the table, receiving a folder from Caroline while nodding at the attendees, "Please, have a seat."

As everyone settled, Eric remained standing; there wasn't a chair prepared for him at his spot today.

In the conference room, Hollywood luminaries including Katzenberg, Frank Wells, Drew, Elisabeth, Amy Pascal, John Calley, Joe Roth, and Victor McNally from Firefly Electronics, as well as Qualcomm's CEO Irwin Jacobs, were seated around the expansive table. The ten 32-inch screens displayed executives from ABC in New York, including Robert Iger, Chris from Firefly Investments, Emily from Brighton-LTD, John Chambers from Cisco, Ian Gurney from Yahoo, and others from leading firms like Apple, Sprint, and Amazon.

Scoping the room and feeling the eyes of dozens focused on him, Eric felt a kind of triumphant determination wash over him.

This was his business empire.

The Firefly Empire.

Such was Eric's feeling, and it mirrored the astonishing surprise shared by all in attendance, both in-person and via video link.

Unknowingly, they all found themselves enveloped within such a colossal business foundation.

At that moment, the combined market value of the Firefly network had exceeded $400 billion, with Cisco alone having surpassed $100 billion. Even though AOL had been pushed out of the Firefly framework yet still held over 15% of shares, it had surpassed a $50 billion market cap.

Other major players like Yahoo, Nokia, Firefly Electronics, and LTD also reached impressive valuations of tens or hundreds of billions each.

According to the latest global statistics, India, in 13th place, had a GDP of $429 billion, while Australia, in 14th, stood at $380 billion.

Drawing comparisons, the Firefly network could be equated to controlling an economic entity equivalent to the 14th-ranked nation on the planet, indeed a financial force to be reckoned with.

...

After a brief silence, Eric clapped his hands together to regain everyone's attention, smiling, "At the Yahoo annual meeting two years ago and last year at Chris's wedding, we all gathered together. I had hoped for these kinds of gatherings to happen every year. However, with eight months of this year already gone, all of us -- myself included -- have been quite busy. It seems this year's real gathering may not happen, which is why I chose this format to connect instead. Starting next year, I hope to formalize these gatherings and plan ahead."

As nods of agreement rippled through the crowd, Eric took a few steps around the room before continuing, "Of course, many of you might have noticed that one of our partners is missing from today's meeting. That's regrettable, as I had envisioned every company within the Firefly network as essential. AOL's departure makes me aware that many situations in this world just don't go as planned. However, I hope we can find a way to fill the gap left by AOL in the coming years."

Pausing, Eric scanned the room again and smiled, "Well, I'm sure you've all heard what's been happening lately. It's been quite lively. I've suddenly come to feel that even if I had to rely on script assessments or whatnot, I'd still manage just fine. After all, just my endorsement could elevate the value of a $100,000 script to $7.5 million."

With a chuckle escaping the crowd, Eric clapped his hands again and continued, "Let's save that conversation for later. Looking at all of you gathered here in person and via video, I still struggle to believe that this is all real."

As he spoke, Eric casually rolled up his shirt sleeves and shared his thoughts, "Thinking back to ten years ago -- wow, exactly ten years. It was 1988, probably around this time, and I was working as a waiter in an Italian restaurant. Due to some life changes, I suddenly found myself all alone in the world. When I wasn't serving tables, I spent my days daydreaming about my life and future. I realized I couldn't just drift along aimlessly; I needed to do something to prove I truly existed. So, I wrote my first novel, my first script, appeared in my first movie, and even directed my first film. Looking back, I realize how lucky I was. Along the way, I always encountered people willing to help me.

After establishing my footing in Hollywood and founding Firefly Group, I soon wished to do more. I admit that in the beginning, I was holding onto a very naive, speculative mindset with my ventures -- like investing in AOL, Cisco, and even Nokia. I thought I could sell my investments for a lucrative profit once these companies took off."

As laughter echoed throughout the room once more, Eric chuckled too and added, "But now, I've left all speculation behind. Even with AOL, which is about to part ways with our family, I'm sure you all understand, it's not financially driven. The divergence was simply due to differing visions for the future, leading to the split. In fact, if it were possible, I would prefer we could all walk this road together indefinitely. Because, as I said earlier, every team within the Firefly network is indispensable to me."

With that, Eric gestured towards Caroline, who had been quietly sitting nearby. He took a prototype tablet model from her and displayed it to the audience, "You might think my words were polite rhetoric, but they're absolutely sincere. In simple terms, the future of the Firefly network can essentially be encapsulated in this small device. As you know, this is the tablet that Firefly Electronics is collaborating with Yahoo to develop. You might wonder how this concerns me -- well, it absolutely does.

In my vision, this device can link the entire Firefly network together..."

For the next half hour, Eric elaborated on the planned tablet and further smartphones, aiming to interconnect all internet devices, content, service providers, communications firms, foundational tech startups, and even Hollywood media's content production into a grand and cohesive information age landscape.

Since Monday, Eric had been preparing for today's speech, combining insights about the future of the information industry with his years of experience. Eric's vision for the future of the Firefly network captivated everyone's hearts.

To put it bluntly, if Eric's vision came to fruition, the 21st century could very well become the era of the Firefly network, much like how the Morgans and Rockefellers once controlled the globe through energy, automotive, and finance in the 20th century.

Originally, the workplace elites in attendance, who had overlooked Eric due to his youth, felt a newfound respect wash over them. This young man might not have attended Ivy League schools or amassed the years of experience they possessed, but his demonstrated foresight could very well explain how he managed to lead the Firefly network to its current height in just a decade.

After all, the world has never lacked talent or even genius. What it lacks is individuals maintaining a clear vision, steadfastly walking down the right path.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1039: The Future]

"Indeed, while the rapid growth of the information industry in recent years has amazed everyone, we cannot deny that this industry is still in a very fragile, seedling stage. There's a huge investment, yet the output is minimal, leading many to feel extremely pessimistic about the prospects of the new technology sector.

However, if we look back a hundred years, we would find that when generators and internal combustion engines first emerged, very few predicted that electricity would become one of the most crucial energy sources in modern life. Nobody could foresee that a hundred years later, the global number of cars would reach 500 million -- almost one car for every ten people on Earth. Therefore, in this era where technological development and promotion far exceeded that of a century ago, we have reason to believe that in the near future, all areas related to the information industry will become as essential to ordinary people's lives as food, clothing, and shelter. Thus, while outsiders may view the development of the Firefly system as having reached its peak, I see it merely as a beginning."

In the main conference room of Firefly's Burbank headquarters, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Eric looked around with a confident smile and continued, "Perhaps some may wonder, 'Eric, by openly sharing your vision for the future of the Firefly system, are you not worried about being copied?'"

Amid the light chuckles from the audience, Eric quickly shook his head. "Honestly, I'm not worried at all because companies like Yahoo, Cisco, and Nokia have already laid a very solid foundation for our future. Many of our competitors are still in a state of confusion. Furthermore, in this world, a business plan is actually a very cheap commodity. I believe everyone present could easily come up with a more reasonable and detailed business development strategy than the one I just described.

However, turning a business plan into reality requires an immense amount of investment. Throughout this process, a company often encounters technological limitations, capital interference, and the constraints of insufficient team execution. Each of these factors could cause a creative company to falter midway. But at Firefly, as long as we share a common philosophy and goal, you can fully unleash your talents, and I will do everything in my power to help eliminate all your worries. Over the years, I believe I have proven this to everyone."

"Finally," Eric said, his expression growing more serious as he stepped back slightly to address everyone, "though we may not have drinks to raise our glasses, I still wish for us to move forward together."

Applause erupted, synchronized and enthusiastic, echoing in the conference room and through the speakers of remote displays.

Following Eric's speech, executives from various Firefly system companies began to summarize the development status of their respective companies over the past year, leading into discussions on various future development topics concerning the Firefly system.

The meeting started at 10 AM PST in Los Angeles and, due to intense focus, it continued until 8 PM that evening, with no one mentioning lunch or breaks.

It wasn't until the night fully descended that, after the last discussion on mobile communication networks, Eric wrapped up in a state of eager anticipation. "Although it was brief, I must announce that today's meeting is concluded. I'm sure everyone has gained insights and benefits. I will arrange for detailed minutes of today's meeting to be sent out soon. Lastly, there is one more small matter I hope everyone can cooperate with."

...

Firefly did not hide the news of this high-level gathering from the public. However, before the media could dig into the detailed contents of this meeting, a series of sensational news stories began to emerge from various Firefly system companies.

The day after the meeting, Qualcomm's management held a press conference to announce their decision to withdraw investment from the CDMA mobile phone manufacturing plant jointly established with Sony Corporation. The two companies would no longer cooperate on mobile phone production in the future.

While Qualcomm stated that the decision was due to plans to abandon terminal products in favor of focusing on technology licensing and chip development, the timing was suspicious, especially given the recent issues surrounding the Pirates of the Caribbean script, which many noted felt pointedly targeted.

As is well known, Sony, one of the giants in the global electronics industry, had not given up on entering the mobile phone manufacturing field since the dawn of the digital age. Even when their phone business ended in failure after multiple attempts, they remained one of the most important suppliers of high-end mobile phone components, leveraging their technological advantages.

Qualcomm's collaboration with Sony on mobile phone manufacturing actually predated Firefly's investment, becoming Qualcomm's largest shareholder.

After this, due to their affiliation with Firefly, Qualcomm's relationship with Nokia deepened while their cooperation with Sony gradually faded.

At this crucial moment when all electronic manufacturers were striving to expand their mobile phone businesses, Qualcomm, which nearly monopolized CDMA technology patents, decisively kicked Sony to the curb. This was undoubtedly a severe blow to Sony's plans in the mobile phone industry.

If the termination of Qualcomm's partnership with Sony in mobile business was merely a warning, the subsequent shocking news circulating throughout Hollywood proved to be even more impactful.

In the following days, several messages leaked from within Firefly Group. It was said that the Firefly Group's core members announced that from the day Sony Pictures acquired the Pirates of the Caribbean script, all media platforms under the Firefly system -- including public television networks, cable TV, radio stations, and online portals -- would no longer accept any advertising orders for movies produced by Sony Pictures.

The severity of this news's impact on Sony Pictures could be gleaned from the breakdown of Hollywood movie marketing budgets. Typically, only 20% of a film's advertising budget is allocated to non-media channels like outdoor billboards and cinema ads, while the remaining 80% is spent on public television networks, cable, newspapers, and radio stations.

It could be said that if this news were true, even if it did not amount to being completely blacklisted, Sony Pictures would certainly struggle to distribute their films in the near future.

Moreover, it did not stop there. Not long after this news broke, major talent agencies in Hollywood began receiving notifications that, effective from the date Sony Pictures acquired the Pirates of the Caribbean script, all directors, actors, producers, and other key contributors involved with Sony Pictures films would not engage in any form of collaboration with Firefly system movie companies for the next five years.

This news undoubtedly sent shockwaves through Hollywood.

...

In recent years, Firefly's dominance in the film business meant that they held a substantial share of the most valuable opportunities for Hollywood filmmakers. If these filmmakers found themselves deprived of any directing or acting opportunities with Firefly's companies for an entire five years due to their cooperation with Sony Pictures, compounded by the marketing blockade, many promising talents could easily fade into obscurity.

Thus, the release of these two news reports sent Hollywood into a frenzy.

In a moment, all executives from Firefly Group, MGM, and Fox became targets of the media's relentless pursuit for verification of these two stories. Media from North America, Europe, and even the Far East closely followed the developments.

While no one anticipated that Firefly would react so fiercely over a script dispute, not many dared to risk personally verifying the truth of these reports.

Within just a few days, all of Sony Pictures' film projects in the early stages of preparation became stalled, as directors and actors who were previously in discussions announced their withdrawals or adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

The status of films already in production was even more dire; cast and crew alike, from directors to actors, showed little interest in continuing work.

Many leading actors began discussing whether they could terminate their contracts with Sony Pictures, while minor roles freely sought any excuse to withdraw from their projects, even offering to pay compensation if necessary, hoping to have their already filmed scenes cut from the final product.

...

Faced with such a troubling situation, Sony quickly turned chaotic following a brief initial confusion.

Howard Stringer was one of the first to react, angrily accusing Firefly Group of engaging in unfair and malicious competition, claiming that Sony Pictures would not hesitate to pursue litigation against such monopolistic practices.

However, such threats proved ineffective.

Though Firefly Group's tactics were indeed aggressive, pursuing a lawsuit over these matters was no straightforward task. The clearest loophole lay in the fact that Firefly had never confirmed the authenticity of these news reports through official channels.

Moreover, if a lawsuit were initiated, it could drag on for three to five years, and under Firefly's comprehensive suppression, Sony Pictures' ability to survive through such disputes remained uncertain.

With the senior management in Sony America reacting outrageously with no response, it didn't take long for Sony's headquarters in Japan to become restless.

This turmoil was further aggravated when Qualcomm announced its halt on collaboration with Sony regarding mobile phone production, while the Firefly Group simultaneously ceased negotiations for a contract involving the procurement of 4,000 3D projection machines from Sony. This too, was a severe blow to Sony.

RealD, a Firefly subsidiary, had originally intended to source the primary projection equipment for their 3D dual-machine system from Sony.

Sony's projection equipment, like its other electronic products, followed a high-end route. Its high prices only meant that their market share was relatively low.

Landing an order from the Firefly Group could significantly improve Sony's market share. Just by securing 2,000 units of projectors -- out of the over 30,000 movie screens across North America -- they could easily boost their share by more than 10 percentage points. Furthermore, if Firefly's '4200' project succeeded and 3D projection methods became widespread, as the main equipment supplier of the RealD system, Sony's film projection business would undoubtedly experience substantial growth.

Now, just because Sony Pictures snatched a script from Firefly Group, they faced setbacks in their mobile industry endeavors, and their opportunity for a substantial turnaround in projection equipment market share was also slipping away, let alone Sony Pictures' already chaotic status in North America. The upper management of Sony headquarters could not keep their composure any longer.

...

Playa Vista.

In the restaurant on the Titanic ship,

Kepler Hyde ordered lunch from the waiter, then looked across at Eric and said, "Is it really necessary to make such a big deal over a script?"

Eric handed the menu to the pretty blonde waitress, waiting for her to leave before grinning, "Did someone send you as a negotiator?"

Kepler shook his head, "Of course not. I know you've been dealing with a lot lately. I'm just looking out for my actors who are worried about their jobs. So, we really can't collaborate with Sony Pictures any longer?"

"Not for now," Eric replied with a smile. "You can't put me on the spot, I'll be able to resolve this in due time."

"Due time?"

Eric shrugged, "Killing Sony Pictures doesn't benefit me at all. You know, Firefly Investments just secured a large sum of cash, and if I can quickly spend some, I can avoid a lot of taxes."

Although Kepler had guessed most of it already, he still was surprised. "You plan to buy Sony Pictures?"

"Not Sony Pictures, but Columbia Pictures. I'm not interested in that unfortunate name of Sony."

"Wow, if that's the case, you'll control four out of the seven!" Kepler exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "So, all this commotion has just been a bluff?"

"Of course not. The termination of Qualcomm's deal with Sony is real," Eric said. "If we don't hit Sony with a stick first, how can we make the Japanese yield? If they continue to resist, I might need to strike a few more times. Speaking of which, Sony has quite a few collaborative projects with my companies."

Kepler found himself at a loss for words, ultimately saying, "Then you still need to be cautious. It would be best not to end up losing more than you gain in the end."

"That will certainly not happen," Eric replied, shaking his head confidently.

Take Qualcomm, for instance. Both Eric himself and Qualcomm's management team had hoped to shed their terminal equipment manufacturing in favor of focusing on technology licensing and chip development.

Now, terminating the partnership with Sony for terminal devices was somewhat premature, but it aligned with Qualcomm's established development plans. Conversely, losing Qualcomm's powerful technological support in mobile communications was like a heavy blow to Sony, which was eager to break into the mobile manufacturing industry.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1040: Such a Long Number]

Near the headquarters of Sony Pictures in Culver City, a restaurant stood.

Richard Lovett, the president of CAA, exited the restaurant alongside Bill Mechanic.

As they approached his BMW parked by the curb, Lovett extended his hand to shake Mechanic's firmly, looking somewhat regretful. It seemed like that wasn't genuine enough for him, so he embraced Mechanic as well. With a sigh, he said, "I'm sorry, Bill. Even though Firefly's actions are infuriating, I still have to think about my clients."

Bill Mechanic nodded in understanding. "It's alright. I hope we can collaborate again in the future."

Lovett responded affirmatively, "Absolutely. In fact, if this situation gets resolved, feel free to call me anytime."

After exchanging a few more words, Richard Lovett got into his car and drove away.

Watching the BMW disappear at the street corner, Bill Mechanic turned his gaze toward the Sony Pictures headquarters not far away. A sudden thought struck him -- this 30-acre film studio that once belonged to Columbia Pictures might now be the most valuable asset Sony had, aside from their library of thousands of film rights.

Just moments before, for over a week, the Sony Group had failed to effectively counter Firefly's blockade, causing a film project they had nearly finalized with CAA, titled Entrapment, to fall apart.

Apart from this Sean Connery's new movie, nearly all projects under Sony Pictures were in disarray.

The most frustrating aspect for Bill Mechanic was that after the fallout, Sony headquarters did not send anyone with real authority to manage the situation. Instead, Howard Stringer was summoned to Japan for a report. Ironically, as Sony Pictures' vice-chairman and CEO of Columbia Pictures, he had very limited power and could only do his best to keep basic operations running.

...

After standing by the street for a moment, just as Bill Mechanic was about to stroll back to the office, a young man with a camera hanging around his neck jumped out of a recently parked Chrysler. Upon noticing Mechanic, the young man paused for a moment before raising his camera and quickly clicking the shutter, then hurried over to join a female companion who had just exited the vehicle.

"Mr. Mechanic, we're reporters from The Hollywood Reporter. Can we have a few moments of your time?"

Bill Mechanic raised his hand to block the camera lens and quickened his pace. "I'm sorry, if you want an interview, please call my assistant to schedule an appointment."

"We've been trying to schedule for a week, Mr. Mechanic. It's just a few simple questions," the young man interrupted, snatching a recorder from the somewhat inexperienced girl beside him to chase alongside Mechanic. "Mr. Mechanic, we've heard many of the film crews at Sony Pictures are paralyzed right now. Is this true?"

Mechanic picked up his pace even more, replying curtly, "Sorry, no comment."

Undeterred, the reporter pressed on, "Mr. Mechanic, why at such a crucial time did Mr. Stringer fly to Japan instead of coming to Los Angeles to handle this issue?"

A twitch at the corner of Mechanic's mouth betrayed his frustration as he started to jog. "Sorry, no comment," he repeated robotically.

The reporter continued the pursuit relentlessly. "Mr. Mechanic, this crisis was sparked by the script for Pirates of the Caribbean. Will Sony Pictures transfer the script to Firefly to defuse the situation?"

Mechanic felt an urge to say, "Do you think turning over the script would resolve this right now?" However, he knew all too well that at this sensitive moment, it was best for him to say nothing.

...

Feeling somewhat ragged, he finally made it to the Sony Pictures headquarters, and as he saw the reporters held back by security outside, he let out a sigh of relief. His assistant rushed over with a phone in hand. "Mr. Mechanic, Mr. Stringer is on the line. You left your phone in the office."

Taking the phone from his assistant, Mechanic walked toward the office as he spoke. "Hello, Mr. Stringer... The situation here is a bit dire, but I'm doing my best... Yes, I'll take care of that. Goodbye."

After a brief conversation, the call ended, and Mechanic walked into his office, finally allowing himself to relax a little as he sank into a leather chair.

To be honest, if he weren't harboring some personal, unspeakable hopes, he would have already submitted his resignation to Sony.

Over the past week, he had discovered that he could hardly do anything, yet he was under immense pressure from all sides. Even the prospect of a film company's looming bankruptcy due to failed projects did not feel as distressing as the current situation.

His assistant brought in a cup of coffee, stealing a glance at him slumped in the chair, wanting to say something but ultimately holding back. Just as she was about to quietly leave the office, Mechanic finally spoke up. "Can you please find the phone number for Mr. Williams' assistant?"

After a week, Sony Group Chairman Stringer finally decided to come to America personally to handle the dispute between Sony and Firefly. The earlier call was a directive to Mechanic to set up an appointment for him and Eric Williams.

Bill Mechanic did have Jeffrey Katzenberg's phone number, but he didn't feel he could request Eric Williams' private contact information from him. For now, he would have to go through the assistant's office for indirect contact.

...

Despite being disrupted by the Pirates of the Caribbean script incident, the filming of Gravity continued smoothly. After spending half an hour catching up over lunch with Kepler Hyde, Eric quickly dove back into work.

When Caroline entered the soundstage, Eric was huddled with several key creatives discussing the character movements and shot compositions for Ryan Stone's second collision with the satellite debris.

Jodie Foster was also among the group, leaning on the large work table as she listened to Eric reference his hand-drawn storyboard sketches to illustrate his ideas. Perhaps it was a woman's special sixth sense, but she was the first to notice Caroline approaching, turning to catch a glimpse of the girl.

Caroline politely smiled at Jodie while holding a folder in front of her, quietly standing by and not interrupting Eric and the team's discussion in any way.

Jodie nodded back at Caroline and, almost instinctively, returned her gaze before finding her thoughts drifting.

Remembering how she felt when she saw Eric let the girl kiss him last week, Jodie couldn't help but sneak a glance at Eric's profile as he focused on detailing the shot setup. She felt a strange pang of regret over her previous reaction.

He was an infuriating playboy, so why did it matter to her?

Yet, looking at the thick stack of storyboards before Eric, she suddenly had the thought that it would be nice to collect them at home.

Despite his reckless nature, Eric's drawing skills were impressive. At least she thought any of those sketches were far superior to the incomprehensible works of those "artistic" types. If collected and published, they would surely attract many buyers.

Watching Eric nonchalantly sketch out movement lines on the storyboard pages with his pencil, Jodie even entertained an absurd impulse to snatch the pencil from him and throw it away -- what a waste to mar such good drawings.

...

After discussing for a few more minutes, Eric turned to Nicole, Robert Byer, and the others, saying, "Okay, that's how the shot will look. I'll give you twenty minutes to prepare. We'll run a test. And Jodie, hey, Jodie?"

Hearing Eric suddenly call her name, Jodie snapped back to reality. "What's up?"

"I was just saying," Eric started, then waved dismissively at Nicole and the others, "You guys go ahead and get ready. There's no rush with Jodie; I'll explain it to her again."

Watching Jodie's somewhat flustered expression, everyone chuckled as they dispersed. Just as Eric was about to say something, he noticed Caroline still standing close by, straightening up and asking, "Caroline, is there something you need?"

Nodding, Caroline approached and politely greeted Jodie before saying, "Eric, Bill Mechanic from Sony Pictures just called. Mr. Stringer will be arriving in Los Angeles tomorrow, and he wants to schedule a time to talk with you."

"I thought Sony could hold out for another week," Eric laughed, pondering for a moment as he found a blank page and quickly wrote down a long string of numbers with his pencil, passing it to Caroline. "Give this to them at Sony and tell Mr. Stringer that if he wants to talk, then we can talk."

Caroline carefully tucked the paper away after a glance, bid farewell to Eric and Jodie, and left the soundstage.

Meanwhile, Jodie stood in confusion. She had seen the long string of numbers on that paper.

2,992,500,000.00.

That's quite a long number, almost three billion. What does it mean?

Suddenly, a sharp snap echoed in her ears. Realigning her focus, she shot a glare at Eric.

Eric pulled back his hand, hesitated for a moment as he looked at Jodie's expression, and asked, "Um, are you not feeling well these days?"

"What do you mean?" Jodie answered instinctively.

"Just, uh, you know, those few days every month when you seem a bit out of it?"

Realizing what he was referring to, Jodie glared at Eric. "Of course, I'm not."

"Okay, but why are you getting so worked up? You know, it's a normal thing for women."

"Do you enjoy discussing such issues with women?"

"Not really," Eric shook his head, then added, "Anyway, let's go over that shot again. Don't zone out this time."

Jodie joined Eric in bending down again, sensing that when she took a firm stance, he tended to be more agreeable. Watching him reach for his pencil again to mark up the storyboard, she finally couldn't help but say, "Could you please stop scribbling all over those drawings?"

Eric paused, put down his pencil, and nodded. "Alright, I hear you. Next up, this shot isn't too hard, but I need you to focus on your emotional expression..."

Jodie listened intently, a small smile creeping onto her lips as she felt like this headstrong attitude somehow felt quite nice.

...

Tokyo, Haneda Airport.

Sony Group's private jet prepared for takeoff, with Howard Stringer and Nobuyuki Idei alongside a few attendants waiting in the VIP lounge.

After a week in Japan, Howard Stringer looked utterly disheveled.

Since Akio Morita's retirement, Sony had been rife with internal conflicts. Departments lacked coordination, and it had deteriorated to the point of undermining each other. With such a huge incident happening in the U.S., Howard had inevitably become the target of blame as he was Nobuyuki Idei's confidant, which led to some cracks in the relationship during the board meetings.

At that moment, the two sat across from each other, lacking much interest in casual conversation. Nobuyuki Idei read a newspaper while quietly waiting for their flight.

Just as Howard was about to ask again how long it would be until the private plane was ready, Nobuyuki Idei's assistant rushed in looking flustered.

"Mr. Idei, we just received a fax from Los Angeles," the assistant said, handing a page of fax paper to Nobuyuki Idei with a respectful bow. "Mr. Mechanic said over the phone that this is personally written by Eric Williams, and he has not agreed to your meeting request. The exact words were that negotiations could only continue if you were willing."

Nobuyuki Idei took the fax and examined the long string of handwritten numbers. After a moment of contemplation, he frowned slightly and silently handed it over to Howard Stringer, who looked curious.

Stringer glanced at the fax.

2,992,500,000.00.

After a brief moment of confusion, Howard quickly understood, exclaiming, "Firefly wants our film company!"

Two billion nine hundred ninety-two million five hundred thousand.

That's clearly a quote.

What's more, it was a very precise offer.

If you added the 7.5 million dollars Sony had spent on buying the Pirates of the Caribbean script, it exactly totaled 3 billion!

With his weary demeanor, Nobuyuki Idei leaned back against the couch and watched Howard Stringer, who seemed a bit flustered. He spoke slowly, "Years ago, we spent 5.5 billion to acquire Columbia Pictures. Of that, aside from 1.6 billion in debt, Sony paid 3.9 billion in cash. Now, Firefly only wants to offer 3 billion -- oh no, 2.9925 billion -- for the film company back."

Howard Stringer's lips twitched. "Nobuyuki, we absolutely cannot sell."

Nobuyuki Idei's expression darkened. "Howard, do you think we still have a choice?"

"At the very least," Howard hesitated for a moment, "we cannot sell Sony Pictures for such a low price. We can explore other buyers."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1041: Authorization]

"From where things stand now, it's unlikely any other buyers would be willing to take over our film company in the short term," Nobuyuki Idei shook his head, dismissing Howard Stringer's proposal. "Moreover, this would completely sever ties between Sony and Firefly."

Howard Stringer fell silent. The series of counterattacks from the Firefly system had made him fully aware of their strength. It wasn't just that their media business was powerless against Firefly; despite Sony's strong technical foundation in electronics, in sectors like portable music players and mobile phone manufacturing, both areas where Sony was trying to strengthen its position, companies within the Firefly system had taken a clear stance of dominance.

Additionally, while Firefly Group had only hinted at a marketing ban on Sony Pictures' films, it became clear that Sony's electronics products couldn't achieve good promotion in North America without significant advertising. Firefly had already seized nearly half of the television media resources in North America -- a fact that Sony couldn't ignore. Any multinational corporation would be foolish to overlook such a massive market.

Recalling how, during the last call from Eric Williams, he thought the man was too young and arrogant, Howard Stringer felt a wave of self-mockery and regret wash over him. If he could turn back time, he would never have crossed Eric Williams over a mere script.

Now, to avoid a complete deterioration of their relationship, it was almost inevitable for Sony to compromise with Firefly. After a week of discussions, the Sony board had basically decided to abandon their film business. But someone had to take responsibility for this decision, and there was no doubt about who that would be.

Noticing Howard Stringer's dejected expression, Nobuyuki Idei sighed. He had always admired Howard's management philosophy and even hoped he could one day become his successor. However, that was clearly off the table now.

After a brief pause, Idei addressed his assistant, who had been waiting for instructions: "Tell Eric Williams to set it for this Saturday at noon. I'll treat him to lunch in Los Angeles; make arrangements on your end."

...

As September rolled in, the summer movie season was winding down, and the fall television season was approaching. Meanwhile, major studios had nearly completed the films scheduled for the year-end release, and promotional campaigns were about to kick off.

On Saturday morning, Eric, Katzenberg, and other senior executives from Firefly gathered in one of the screening rooms at Firefly Studios to watch a screening of Ted. This film, which combined motion capture technology with live action, was set to be released over the Thanksgiving holiday on November 13, a week ahead of MGM's Mission: Impossible 3.

The teddy bear had a long history, having first appeared over a century ago. This meant that even executives in their forties and fifties seated in the room might have some childhood memories associated with it. Thus, despite having read the script, as they watched the plush bear comically disregard its moral standards on the big screen, they couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and shock.

After the ninety-minute film ended, the lights came on, and the expressions of the other executives, apart from Eric, reflected an awkwardness as they tried to suppress their smiles, likely feeling that such reactions were inappropriate for the setting.

Eric, however, was pleased with the final cut. He had made some adjustments to the overly local details in the script compared to the original, aiming to make it more appealing to an overseas audience.

Relaxing with his legs crossed, Eric looked at the other attendees and asked, "So, what did you all think?"

No one spoke at first. Finally, Robert Thompson, the president of Firefly's distribution division, was the first to break the silence. "Eric, don't you think the film might be pushing the envelope just a bit too far?"

"R-rated shouldn't be a problem, right?" Eric smiled, countering. "Besides, the overall theme of the film remains positive."

"I mean," Robert continued, "the portrayal of the teddy bear seems a bit too raunchy. Audiences might not accept that; after all, it is a beloved stuffed toy."

Eric replied, "Bob, I believe you're implying that the film could negatively influence children, but the target audience isn't kids; it's adults. So as long as we clearly explain the content and positioning during the promotional phase, we needn't concern ourselves with that. Besides, any criticism we might face could actually generate buzz for the film."

Frank Wells nodded slightly, but followed up quickly, "Eric, we absolutely cannot let this film be associated with the Disney brand."

Eric agreed, "That's a given."

After a thorough discussion, they roughly solidified a release strategy. The group started leaving the screening room, and since it was the weekend, most opted to head home and rest.

It was only Eric and Katzenberg who remained in the theater as they left the office building, strolling along a tree-lined sidewalk in the park.

...

Casually chatting about some recent company matters, Eric mentioned, "Jeffrey, I've already set lunch plans with Nobuyuki Idei for noon. This should finally secure Columbia Pictures. However, I'm leaning towards having Firefly's investment fund handle the acquisition on its own, allowing Columbia to maintain its independent operational strategy."

Katzenberg's expression flickered with disappointment at that, yet it was somewhat expected. The size of Firefly Group was already quite substantial; integrating Columbia into the group would inevitably require restructuring, which could sap Columbia's remaining vitality and diminish it to an expendable part of the Firefly conglomerate.

By keeping Columbia operating independently, they could continue to hold their ground as one of the seven major film companies in Hollywood and potentially rise again like MGM.

"That actually sounds good. If we added Columbia into our mix, we'd likely become unwieldy. Keeping them independent would allow the Firefly system to gain more market share overall."

"I'm glad you understand," Eric nodded with a smile.

Although he relied heavily on Katzenberg, he wouldn't allow too much power to concentrate in the hands of any one executive, as it wouldn't benefit either side.

As they continued talking, they arrived at the office area for Digital Domain, where, despite it being the weekend, many employees were still hard at work.

After about an hour in the Digital Domain office reviewing some post-production effects for Iron Man, Eric checked the time and said goodbye to Katzenberg as they left Firefly Studios and drove towards Culver City.

...

Half an hour later, outside an upscale restaurant in Culver City, despite feeling quite frustrated, Howard Stringer managed to put on a smile as he saw Eric get out of the car. He quickly approached, saying, "Eric, good afternoon."

"Hello, Howard," Eric replied politely, shaking hands with him. He then turned to Bill Mechanic, standing beside Stringer, and greeted, "Bill, good to see you."

Bill Mechanic spoke with a respectful tone as he shook Eric's hand. "Hello, Mr. Williams."

After the pleasantries, Howard gestured for Eric, "Let's head inside. Nobuyuki is already waiting for you."

Eric didn't mind Idei's formalities as he walked into the restaurant with Howard.

Inside a private dining room, more small talk followed. Eric had actually hoped that Chris would make it today, but the stock distribution plan for America Online managed by Morgan Stanley was at a crucial stage.

Next Monday, the 15% of America Online stock that Firefly had tasked Morgan Stanley with distributing would officially go on sale. Although most of it had already been subscribed before, Chris had many details to iron out with Morgan Stanley over the weekend, so he couldn't come to Los Angeles.

After they ordered lunch and sent the waiter away, there were only four of them left in the dining room.

...

As soon as Idei ordered the waiter to delay serving the meal, he got straight to the point. "Eric, Sony is willing to divest its movie division, but your offer simply won't do. Given the current valuation of Sony Pictures, Firefly will need to pay at least 5 billion dollars and also assume Sony Pictures' existing debts."

Eric smiled but didn't respond directly to Idei's point. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "Nobuyuki, if I'm not mistaken, Sony is about to launch a fully digital MD player, isn't it?"

Idei was taken aback for a moment but nodded in acknowledgment. Since Eric had brought it up, there was no need to hide the truth any longer.

From the time Firefly launched the original Fireflyer player, Sony had already initiated the development of a digital music player. With Sony's technical capabilities, they could develop a similar digital music player in under six months.

So far, Firefly Electronics' second-generation player had been consistently shipping over 2 million units globally each month, with last month's shipments even surpassing 2.5 million units. Although the big five record companies had been trying various means to halt the spread of digital piracy in recent months, everyone knew that music digitization was an unstoppable trend.

Therefore, Sony had decided to swiftly release its own digital music player -- the MD player Eric had mentioned. This player used mini discs as its playback medium. Since it also targeted the compact player market, Sony chose not to change the name but to keep its digital music player under the same branding.

Compared to Fireflyer's player, Sony's MD would employ its unique ATRAC audio format, which not only had stringent restrictions against piracy but was also exclusive to Sony Pictures.

After getting Nobuyuki Idei's confirmation, Eric continued with a smile on his face, "Idei, you should know that Firefly Electronics applied for a complete set of patents related to digital music players a long time ago. Although your MD player uses an audio format exclusive to Sony and can sidestep some of Firefly's audio decoding patents, there are still other areas like system control chips, micro hard disk storage technology, and software operating systems where Sony would find it impossible to circumvent Firefly's patent walls to achieve the necessary functions for a digital music player."

Idei had yet to speak when Howard Stringer interjected, unable to restrain himself, "Eric, this is monopolistic behavior; it's illegal."

Ignoring Stringer's comment, Eric kept his gaze fixed on Idei.

Idei was clearly much calmer than Stringer. "Eric, since you brought this up, does that imply Firefly is willing to license those patents to Sony?"

Eric leaned back in his chair slightly and nodded, "As long as Sony can offer a sufficient price, of course, we can."

Howard Stringer, who had just moments ago appeared furious, now bore a look of incredulity, unable to believe that Firefly Electronics would be willing to transfer their digital music player patents.

Idei's expression began to waver as well.

It had been over a year since Firefly Electronics released the Fireflyer player. As a technology-wise simplistic electronic product, if it hadn't been for strict patent regulations, major electronics companies would have already rushed to release competing products in the rapidly evolving MP3 player market.

With the Firefly system tightly controlling the full set of MP3 player technology patents, no other company aside from Nokia had acquired relevant patent licensing, which led to the current near-monopoly of the Fireflyer player.

Sony's MD digital player indeed could not escape the patent barriers set by Firefly Electronics, as Eric had mentioned.

Initially, Sony had prepared to engage in a drawn-out legal battle with Firefly Electronics, similar to the legal wrangling that had occurred between Apple and Samsung over smartphones. While Samsung eventually skirted closure in the American market, HTC phones, which had risen earlier and surpassed Apple in market share, were effectively ousted from North America due to legal pressures, leading to its sharp decline and relegation to a third-tier smartphone brand.

Thus, the possibility of Sony losing in a legal battle against Firefly Electronics was very high.

At this moment, knowing they could acquire digital music player patents from Firefly Electronics, Idei could no longer contain his excitement.

After all, just with Fireflyer's current monthly shipment of 2.5 million units, they garnered over 800 million dollars in sales revenue every month. The forecast was that in the coming years, the annual market scale for digital music players would easily reach hundreds of billions of dollars -- a market that no electronics manufacturer would overlook.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1042: Here is Hollywood]

After a moment to gather his thoughts, Nobuyuki Idei finally spoke, "Eric, are you saying that as long as Sony is willing to sell its movie division to Firefly at your quoted price, Firefly Electronics can authorize Sony to use the relevant patents for digital players?"

Although Sony was not satisfied with Eric's offer of $2,992,500,000, Nobuyuki understood that considering Sony Pictures' current state, Eric's offer was still relatively reasonable.

Even if Sony tried to negotiate, they wouldn't be able to increase it by much. If they could sell Sony Pictures while gaining access to the technology for digital music players, Nobuyuki believed this deal would be worth it.

Eric nodded and said, "That's about it. However, Firefly Electronics does not intend to unilaterally authorize this; Sony needs to exchange its existing technology patents."

Nobuyuki immediately felt a surge of caution. "Eric, what specific technology from Sony is Firefly Electronics interested in?"

Eric replied, "Digital cameras."

Nobuyuki instinctively retorted, "That's impossible."

Cameras and camcorders had always been among Sony's most important products. While the industry was still in the film era, most could see the future development trends of digital camera technology. In this respect, Sony had already accumulated a wealth of technology.

Although Sony was envious of Firefly Electronics' technology for digital music players, Nobuyuki firmly believed that the patents for digital music players simply couldn't compare to Sony's digital camera technology. He was also aware that the Sony board shared this view and would never approve an exchange involving Sony's digital camera technology so easily.

Eric seemed shocked by Nobuyuki's vehement reaction and shrugged innocently, saying, "Okay, Nobuyuki, maybe I didn't explain it clearly. Firefly Electronics is not looking for all of Sony's digital camera technology. We are only interested in the micro-camera module that Sony is developing for use in mobile devices like phones. Firefly Electronics has no intention of entering the digital camera market."

Nobuyuki relaxed slightly but quickly stated, "In that case, Eric, this is actually a separate matter from what we are supposed to discuss today. I think we should return to the topic of the movie studio."

"If that's how you feel, that's fine," Eric replied. "However, while I'm the boss, I can't just do whatever I want. It took a lot of effort to convince Firefly Electronics' higher-ups to agree to a technology exchange with Sony. If we miss this opportunity, I can't guarantee they'll be on board next time. Furthermore, Firefly Electronics will not be lenient regarding Sony's MD players."

"Eric, you're like that, and so am I. If Firefly Electronics is intent on a technology exchange with Sony, we can always discuss it later. For now, let's talk about the movie studio. As I mentioned earlier, given the current economic climate in North America, the price of Sony Pictures is at least $5 billion, so your $3 billion offer is simply too low."

Eric corrected him seriously, "It's $2,992,500,000."

Nobuyuki glanced at the visibly distressed and angry Howard Stringer. "Alright, if you insist, but Sony will definitely not agree to that price. Moreover, Firefly Group's actions have severely violated U.S. antitrust laws, and if Sony wishes, we can file a lawsuit in federal court at any time."

"First of all, everyone knows the Nasdaq market is currently filled with bubbles, so valuing based on the current market situation won't work at all. I've already made a very sincere offer," Eric rebutted and continued, "Secondly, Firefly Group does not intend to block Sony Pictures. What you heard are merely rumors spread by some people with ulterior motives, and this situation has seriously damaged Firefly Group's reputation. We are currently investigating this matter, and once we find the source of the rumors, we will also file a lawsuit to make them pay the price."

Eric's words nearly caused Howard Stringer to jump out of frustration; it was utterly shameless.

Nobuyuki smiled in anger.

Only Bill Mechanick twitched his lips slightly, barely managing to maintain a calm demeanor.

As tensions rose, a restaurant waiter timely knocked on the private room door, asking if they could serve the food. Nobuyuki waved his hand to indicate consent.

Once everyone's lunch was served and the waiter left, the atmosphere slightly eased.

However, after taking a few uneventful bites, Howard Stringer could no longer contain himself. "Eric, since you say Firefly is not targeting Sony, why did Qualcomm suddenly stop collaborating with Sony? And what about the negotiations regarding Firefly Group's RealD system projector purchases?"

Eric explained earnestly, "Qualcomm has its arrangements, and I rarely get involved in Qualcomm's management. As for the RealD system projector purchases, I believe the prices Sony is asking for their projectors are simply too high. If Sony is willing to offer a suitable discount, then the deal can continue. So, Howard, Firefly has never taken any action against Sony; this is strictly business."

"Then," Howard Stringer faltered, "what about the $2,992,500,000? Isn't that clearly a targeted move?"

"Of course it is," Eric nodded, watching Howard Stringer's expression. He continued, "However, this is merely targeted at you personally and not related to the two companies. Howard, do you have any idea how much impact it would have on Hollywood to purchase a script for $7.5 million? In recent years, the cost control of Hollywood films has been nearly out of control, and your behavior will further drive up the overall script prices in Hollywood, which is detrimental to the entire film industry."

"That's just your opinion," Howard Stringer immediately retorted. "Moreover, as far as I know, your earnings as a screenwriter from many films far exceed $7.5 million."

As soon as Howard finished speaking, Bill Mechanick felt an unbearable sense of discomfort; didn't he just serve himself up for a beating?

Sure enough, Eric scoffed, "If my earnings exceeded $7.5 million, it was because the films I produced grossed over $1 billion worldwide. While recent years have seen box office records broken in Hollywood, everyone knows that only one or two films each year reach that $1 billion global box office milestone. Besides, most of those earnings came from profit-sharing, meaning that I shared the risks with the films I produced. If those films failed, I would receive a script fee similar to that of ordinary top-tier screenwriters. So my personal returns still followed the principle of earning more for working more, while you are disrupting the proper order of Hollywood."

Howard Stringer felt flushed from Eric's rebuttal, momentarily at a loss for words.

Nobuyuki had to take the initiative again, "Eric, since both sides are interested in this deal, let's return to the pricing negotiation."

"Of course," Eric readily softened his initially confrontational stance. He stated, "Nobuyuki, my position is clear: $2,992,500,000 is the highest price I can offer."

Nobuyuki replied, "I had someone calculate it -- Sony Pictures currently has debts of approximately $1.9 billion. Without even getting into our transaction prices, Sony's condition is that Firefly must fully assume these debts."

"Nobuyuki, don't forget this is Hollywood; no one knows the conditions of the major film companies better than we do. Sony Pictures' overall debt is definitely more than $1.9 billion. Including some hidden debts, that figure could be close to $2.5 billion," Eric shook his head and said. "Firefly is not opposed to taking on some portion of Sony Pictures' leftover debts, but the upper limit is $1 billion. For the rest, Sony Group had better find a way to handle it themselves."

Upon hearing this, Nobuyuki instinctively glanced at the evasive Howard Stringer beside him, feeling a surge of anger.

With the U.S. stock market thriving, Sony Group's overall market value had surpassed $100 billion. Therefore, Nobuyuki did not care whether Sony Pictures' debt was $1.9 billion or $2.5 billion. What infuriated him was that despite being the chairman, he couldn't even ascertain Sony Pictures' true operating status at this point.

With some shameful family matters in mind, Nobuyuki quickly withdrew his gaze after a brief glance.

However, feeling disappointed, he lost the will to negotiate further with Eric and just wanted to quickly unload Sony Pictures.

One side wanted to buy, and the other wanted to sell. Therefore, after a lunch, they basically agreed on a preliminary transaction price.

The price of $2,992,500,000 was indeed too sensitive, but ultimately, Sony made some concessions, dropping a point to settle on $2,990,000,000. Meanwhile, the acquiring Firefly Investments would assume $1 billion of Sony Pictures' debts, while the remaining portion would be borne by Sony Group.

"Well, I'm glad we reached this deal. And if Sony wants to collaborate with Hollywood on movies in the future, Firefly will definitely cooperate as much as possible," Eric said politely as he shook hands with Nobuyuki, Howard Stringer, and Bill Mechanick in the parking lot outside the restaurant before turning to get into his car, instructing the driver to leave.

...

Watching Eric's luxury vehicle depart, Howard Stringer instructed Bill Mechanick beside him, "Bill, you head back to the studio first. I still have a few matters to discuss with Mr. Idei."

"Okay," Bill Mechanick nodded, recalling the meaningful look Eric had given him when they shook hands. Once Howard Stringer and Nobuyuki got into a car and left, Bill Mechanick quickly jumped into his car and followed the direction Eric's vehicle had just gone.

...

Meanwhile, in the black Mercedes-Benz that Nobuyuki and Howard Stringer were riding in, after the vehicle stabilized, Howard Stringer took out a pocket-sized recorder from his suit pocket but didn't press the play button, simply tossing it aside.

Although he had made the decision to transfer Sony Pictures reluctantly, Howard Stringer didn't intend to go down without a fight. The methods Firefly had employed were too disgraceful, clearly violating federal antitrust laws. However, Howard understood that if it came to a lawsuit, Sony would be left with no evidence.

While rumors circulating in Hollywood had already had a tangible impact on Sony Pictures, they couldn't possibly serve as court evidence. To win a lawsuit, Sony would either need to acquire business contracts evidencing Firefly's intent to oust Sony Pictures or wait for Firefly to actually take action against Sony Pictures in the future.

Both scenarios were obviously unrealistic; in Hollywood's unique business environment, Firefly didn't need to sign any similar non-compete contracts to exclude Sony Pictures. Furthermore, regarding the marketing channel blockade of Sony Pictures' films, if Firefly made a few subtle moves -- like randomly providing limited advertising resources for Sony's produced films -- they could dispel these "rumors." In fact, Firefly could even turn the tables and accuse Sony of intentionally withholding advertising from Firefly's media channels.

Given that these two approaches were unviable, if they could record Eric Williams explicitly intending to block Sony Pictures, although such wiretapping might not be entirely legal, in light of Firefly's recent actions, Sony would still be able to file a lawsuit publicly, at least putting Eric Williams in a very awkward position.

However.

Neither Howard Stringer nor Nobuyuki anticipated the depths of some people's shamelessness. Even in a private setting like this meal, the other party could still speak nonsense with complete seriousness, displaying none of the youthful arrogance one might expect but instead resembling a seasoned business veteran.

Nobuyuki glanced at Howard Stringer's actions, recalling Eric's revelation about Sony Pictures' detailed debt scale, and said, "Howard, by the end of the year, you might as well proactively submit your resignation to the board."

Howard Stringer's lips moved, he sighed, and with a defeated expression, he nodded.

For the sake of its image, Sony, although willing to lower the price, still did not accept the offer of $2,992,500,000. Yet he also knew that Eric Williams had only poured more fuel on Sony Pictures' debt issues, making it impossible to brush this matter under the rug.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1043: Of Course, You'll Play the Villain]

Eric did not know about Howard Stringer's underhanded maneuvers. His response was shaped by years of adapting to the surrounding environment and following the 'politically correct' rules of American conduct.

In a society like North America, issues extend beyond racial discrimination. There are plenty of things one can do but never say. Those who voice their true thoughts were either drunk or foolish. Moreover, even if one acted on those thoughts, they would never admit to it.

Clinton, still beleaguered by the zipper scandal, was undoubtedly a master of this avoidance, though he was unlucky enough to have people hold evidence against him.

After bidding farewell to Nobuyuki Idei, Eric did not go far. After turning a corner, he instructed his driver to stop.

...

A moment later, Bill Machanick followed in a car, parking not far behind Eric. He hopped out and jogged over.

The driver exited and opened the door for him. Bill Machanick carefully settled inside and respectfully greeted, "Mr. Williams?"

"Just call me Eric," he said with a smile. Bill Machanick was about the same age as Katzenberg. However, due to his growing influence and personal factors, Eric didn't feel anything awkward about being respectful to someone like Bill. He got straight to the point. "After the deal is done, do you plan on staying?"

Bill Machanick quickly nodded. "Of course, if that's possible."

"I've looked over your work history from your time at Disney. You were directly involved in the distribution of their animation film tapes. Jeffrey also believes you could continue to lead Columbia Pictures. So, during this time, take a good think about the future direction of Columbia. The studio will continue to operate independently. I hope you can get it on the right track as soon as the deal is completed."

Bill Machanick felt a rush of excitement. With his understanding of Eric from Hollywood, if Eric didn't intend to merge Columbia into Firefly Group, his future power would significantly rise. As long as Columbia could resurge, he would undoubtedly become one of the significant figures in the major studios.

Trying to maintain calm, Bill Machanick asked, "So, Eric, what's going on with all these recent events?"

Eric thought for a moment and replied, "The news about Firefly acquiring Sony Pictures should be announced soon. However, projects that have already been produced will proceed as per the usual marketing process. Everything else, including films that have begun shooting or are in preparation, will be put on hold. Please compile a list for me when you go back."

Recently, it was crucial for Sony Pictures to finalize its production and distribution plans for the next year.

However, Bill Machanick also understood what attitude he should display at this moment. Furthermore, in terms of business scope, Sony Pictures was minuscule when compared to the other studios under Firefly. Even a complete halt wouldn't incur significant losses.

As long as he received resources from Firefly, Bill Machanick felt very confident he could revitalize Columbia Pictures. Thus, he nodded eagerly, "I'll get on it right away."

Eric was very pleased with Bill Machanick's attitude and handed him a business card, saying, "For now, here's my card. If anything comes up, feel free to call me."

Bill Machanick took the card and tucked it away. Seeing that Eric had no further instructions, he took his leave.

...

The news of Firefly's acquisition of Sony's film business was officially announced the following Wednesday.

Almost ten years had passed, yet Americans still held a grudge about the Japanese companies aggressively entering North America back then. The Los Angeles Times boldly titled it "Hollywood Regains Lost Ground," suggesting that Americans had once again seized control of the entire Hollywood landscape.

However, while part of the populace rejoiced, another segment realized that with Firefly successfully acquiring Sony's film business, it would now control four of the seven major studios in Hollywood. Such a situation had never arisen in the history of Hollywood, and given the strong stance Eric had shown towards Sony's film division over just one screenplay, various parties in Hollywood inevitably began to worry.

As a result, media discussions regarding the potential monopoly that Firefly could form in Hollywood started to intensify.

Uncertain whether it was genuine pressure from public opinion or someone intentionally meddling, one week after the announcement, when Firefly submitted a transaction application to the U.S. Department of Justice for the acquisition of Sony Pictures, they soon received a subpoena from the Antitrust Division, requiring Firefly's executives to attend a related hearing to explain the potential monopoly issues arising from the acquisition.

...

Firefly Studios.

In the Gravity set, while other crew members hustled to prepare for the next shot, Eric sat at the control panel, perusing the subpoena delivered by the Justice Department to Chris, who had just arrived from New York. He remarked, "So our president seems to think he doesn't have enough troubles, or does he believe he's about to be impeached and wants to indulge a little before it happens?"

The zipper scandal, which erupted earlier in the year, showed no signs of calming down. In fact, it seemed to intensify.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives had initiated the impeachment voting process against Clinton, intending to charge him with obstruction of justice and perjury. If the vote succeeded, Clinton would become the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.

At such a critical moment, Clinton desperately needed media support. He had no reason to offend Firefly Group, making the subpoena particularly perplexing.

Chris, wearing a slight smile, replied, "Before I came here, I spoke with Janet Reno over the phone. She suggested that the Antitrust Division received anonymous materials and that some pressure was coming from the Republicans, forcing them to take action. Yet this hearing is likely just a formality. If the Clinton administration wanted to target Firefly, the subpoena would have gone to you and not me."

Hearing Chris's explanation, Eric decided not to pry further. Many political matters became convoluted and messy. Besides, acquiring Sony Pictures meant that Firefly's market share in Hollywood did not reach the levels of ExxonMobil in the energy sector or ATT in telecommunications. Even if someone were to stir the pot and introduce complications to the acquisition, the final outcome would remain unchanged.

Returning the subpoena to Chris, Eric recalled his earlier question with curiosity. "By the way, who is Janet Reno?"

Chris accepted the subpoena, slid it into a notebook, and placed it into his briefcase while explaining, "She's the Attorney General. She hopes you can attend the hearing in Washington next Tuesday."

Eric immediately shook his head. "I can't stand those kinds of occasions. You can go without me."

Chris chuckled. "Then I'll go alone. Also, Yahoo's latest IPO plan has been finalized. The company's original stock was split five-for-one, bringing the total shares to 1,082,500,000. The issuance of new shares will be 150 million, with the issuance price temporarily set at $33. Based on this price, Morgan Stanley values Yahoo at about $35.7 billion. The new stock issuance accounts for approximately 13.85% of total shares, raising $4.905 billion in funds. I've already sent the detailed proposal to Ms. Haines; you should take a look when you have the chance."

Firefly had started discussion with Morgan Stanley about Yahoo's IPO plan earlier that year. However, as the Nasdaq market continued to shift, the initial concept had long been abandoned. Yahoo's eventual listing date was set for late November, roughly two months from now, so this plan was essentially the final version.

Digesting the information Chris had just relayed, Eric suddenly sighed. "Another roughly $5 billion, huh?"

Chris laughed and asked, "What, are you starting to lose faith?"

Eric honestly nodded. The more he understood the stock market, the more anxious he became about Yahoo's IPO prospects.

From his perspective, America Online was fortunate to have capitalized on the right moment.

The Nasdaq index had smoothly broken the 2000-point mark, and with Morgan Stanley's optimistic outlook on the Nasdaq, alongside the need for investment opportunities as capital flowed back from Southeast Asia and Russia, Firefly Investment had successfully reduced its stake in America Online's shares.

However, given the increasingly aggressive growth of the Nasdaq, it was very likely the index would breach the 2500-point mark quickly by the end of the year.

Selling America Online stock between 2000 and 2500 points was reasonable, but as the tech stock bubble continued to inflate, should the Nasdaq index hit the 2500 to 3000 point range, Wall Street investors would once again raise their vigilance and concerns about a stock market crash.

In this situation, Yahoo's chances of smoothly going public faced many uncontrollable factors.

Eric even worried that Yahoo's IPO could truly become the final straw that broke the back of the tech stock bubble, as some media outlets claimed. Although Yahoo's $35.7 billion valuation fell short of his expectations, it still showed significant bubble components from various perspectives.

With the successful reduction of shares in America Online, Eric increasingly realized that any high market value was insubstantial; only cash in hand truly mattered.

Chris could likely guess Eric's thoughts and reassured him. "During this time, my team has also worked with Morgan Stanley on a few investigations into the risks surrounding Yahoo's IPO. From the market feedback, as long as the overall Nasdaq does not face significant changes, the chances of Yahoo's IPO failing are low."

"What I worry about now is whether Yahoo itself may become a 'change' affecting the Nasdaq index's trajectory."

Chris clearly shared this concern, hesitating for a moment before stating, "In fact, if Yahoo's IPO were to fail, it wouldn't be the end of the world. We've already secured $10 billion from our divestment in America Online. After accounting for the expenditure on acquiring Sony Pictures, the remaining funds would still be sufficient to support Yahoo's expansion for several years."

Eric also felt he might be overthinking things. Considering his history of success, failing once didn't seem significant.

They chatted for a little longer when Nicole Frank signaled to Eric that the next shot was ready. Chris then rose, saying, "I'll head over to Culver City now; I have a meeting with the representatives from Sony."

Recently, Firefly's team had been auditing Sony Pictures' assets and liabilities, which was why Chris came to Los Angeles.

Eric stood up and accompanied Chris toward the exit of the studio, half-jokingly suggesting, "How about I take you out to some parties tonight to relax?"

"Ha, let's pass," Chris shook his head. "I'll likely fly to San Francisco early tonight anyway; Firefly Electronics is holding a board meeting tomorrow."

"Speaking of which, Sony should have contacted them to discuss the patent exchange. Be sure to tell Victor that we absolutely need to secure the mini camera module technology. Last time, Victor returned from Japan empty-handed, and if they mess up again this time, I won't hesitate to knock their heads together."

Chris pondered for a moment and responded, "Honestly, I'm a bit reluctant, too. If Sony acquires the technology for digital music players, their MD could pose the biggest threat to the Fireflyer player."

The two of them reached the studio entrance where many people were waiting. Eric had no intention of personally escorting Chris to the parking lot. He paused and continued, "As long as we restrict Sony to using only their ATRAC audio format. Given their internal troubles, I doubt they can independently promote an audio format, especially one with stringent copyright limitations. Just so you know, it took us five years from acquiring the MP2 patent to developing the Fireflyer player. Moreover, Firefly Electronics also needs a competitor. If they're at a disadvantage and still get surpassed by Sony, I'll just resign myself to it and fire all those guys."

Chris recognized Eric's firm stance and refrained from arguing further, wearing a slight smile. "Should I relay your exact words to them?"

"I'm the boss; I need to ensure I maintain my approachable image," Eric immediately shook his head, feigning righteousness. "Of course, you'll play the villain here."

Chris realized Eric was joking and nodded, smiling in return. "Alright, I'll be the bad cop."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1044: This Should Be a Compliment]

In recent days, the filming had primarily relied on motion capture, focusing on a scene where the female lead, Ryan, tried to use the space station's landing module to reach her next destination. However, a parachute snagged on her, and she had to exit the module to untangle it.

After sending Chris off, Eric returned to the studio. Judy had already changed into a simple space suit covered in sensors, standing in front of a green screen. The complexity of the scene made it impossible to shoot with live actors, so they turned to motion capture to create pure CG environments.

Waving to signal everyone to begin, Eric took his seat in the director's chair. The monitor displayed Judy's general outline, showing how this footage would be processed and rendered into realistic 3D graphics, ensuring the movements appeared lifelike.

Eric flipped through his director's script, reviewing the storyboard sketches and notes, quickly getting into work mode. He instructed Judy to test out a few movements for the visual effects, marking the official start of filming.

While blockbuster films typically offered unparalleled viewing experiences, the actual shooting process could be extremely monotonous. The making of Gravity was especially so, with hardly any outdoor scenes. Although the studio was spacious, much of it was dimly lit to create artificial lighting simulations. After months of interior shooting, a slight claustrophobia began to set in.

...

After a busy afternoon, Eric announced at five o'clock that they could wrap for the day.

Looking at Judy, who was tiredly resting beside her workstation after hastily removing her sensors, Eric handed her a bottle of water and asked, "You alright?"

Judy unscrewed the cap and gulped down about half the bottle, releasing a long sigh. "If it weren't for another month of shooting, I'd be feeling great right now."

Having started filming in early July, about two and a half months had passed. Numerous issues had cropped up during shooting, along with Eric's desire to implement some cutting-edge filming techniques, so what was originally a three-month timeline had extended to four. If everything went smoothly, wrapping up the film would be at least by the end of October.

Understanding her plight, Eric said, "Just hang in there for one more month. Our last set of outdoor shots is scheduled at the Colorado River Basin in Arizona. We could stay there for a while for a little vacation -- it's beautiful out there."

After spending more than two months in the studio, Judy found herself looking forward to the trip Eric described.

Setting the half-empty bottle down, Judy turned to Eric, who was several years her junior but exuded a mature composure that seemed seasoned by life. "Eric, aren't you tired? I've been hearing a lot of buzz about Firefly lately."

"Probably just busy enough to not realize how fatigued I am," Eric replied while thinking, then asked, "What have you heard about me?"

"Like how you bought the whole Sony Pictures just for a script," Judy rested her arms on the table, smirking and adding, "Everyone says you want to be the king of Hollywood now."

Eric nodded seriously. "That should be a compliment."

With a playful smile, Judy nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes."

Eric showed an understanding expression. "That's more like sarcasm; I should consider giving my leading lady a hard time."

Judy chuckled lightly. "Honestly, a lot of friends wanted me to find out your intentions the other day. But knowing you, you're annoying yet not the type to actually do those things, so I told them everything was fine."

With a quirky smile, Eric nodded and scrutinized the woman beside him, speaking with a hint of intrigue, "Judy, do you know what happens when a woman subconsciously learns about another man?"

Judy's eyes flickered, her expression turned slightly flustered, and then she narrowed her eyes at Eric, rising to her feet with a tinge of royal demeanor, stating coolly, "I think I need to go take off my makeup."

Watching her rush off, Eric chuckled and opened his laptop to start writing the day's work log.

...

It wasn't until six o'clock that Eric finally left Firefly Studios, heading toward the Beverly Hills Trousdale estate.

Today was September 17, a Thursday.

Brvao's Desperate Housewives Season Two paired with the new reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was set to premiere simultaneously. With a strong fanbase, Desperate Housewives would serve as a lead-in for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, airing its first episode before shifting to a Wednesday primetime slot the following week.

After the Season One finale hit a staggering 7.07 million cable viewers, Desperate Housewives had been the talk of the media for months. Many speculated that Firefly Group might move Desperate Housewives to a public network like ABC.

In recent years, with the rise of cable channels, public television ratings had significantly declined. This led Katzenberg to formally discuss with Eric the possibility of transitioning Desperate Housewives, and even Drew had mentioned she didn't mind.

Initially, Eric was tempted; moving Desperate Housewives to ABC would mean they would once again host a show with over 20 million viewers, significantly increasing revenue.

However, upon deeper reflection, Eric dismissed the thought. Transitioning Desperate Housewives to ABC might turn it into another 'women's network.'

At the same time, Firefly's system already owned two successful women's networks: Lifetime and Brvao -- one targeting urban elite women and the other catering to a broader demographic of North American housewives. If ABC also became a women-focused network, it might not bode well for Firefly's television business overall.

Traffic was congested during the commute home, so the driver took a detour, and they reached Trousdale estate just before seven.

...

As they pulled up to the glamorous entrance, Eric noticed the neighboring mansion -- once home to Elisabeth and Julia -- was bustling with activity. Drew quickly ran over, linking her arm with Eric's as they entered her home.

She subtly lifted her chin toward the commotion next door and asked, "What's going on over there?"

"I borrowed the yard for a party. They're setting up for a start at 7:30."

Initially, Elisabeth and Drew had purchased these two adjoining mansions together, but after Elisabeth and Julia moved to the mountaintop, this one had remained vacant.

Eric imagined how the girl might sneakily borrow things from Elisabeth and raised an eyebrow. "You're not using it without permission, are you? Be careful Liz doesn't get into a fight with you -- I won't help."

The girl laughed, "Of course not! We're best friends -- it's no big deal to borrow a few things."

"Alright, so it looks like I need to redefine what 'best friends' means."

"Ha ha," the girl laughed as they entered the villa, sitting on the couch together. "Tonight's going to be lively -- main cast members from Desperate Housewives and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will be here. You can pick and choose."

Eric pinched her cheek playfully, "Only you, then."

"Hey," she twisted her face away, opening her mouth around Eric's finger and playfully biting it before letting it go.

He gently tapped her forehead, retracting his hand. "Have Natasha prepare some snacks for me. I'm going to take a shower. And I won't be joining you guys over there tonight; have fun."

Knowing Eric fundamentally disliked such noisy parties, especially after being busy, she didn't press him, playfully suggesting, "Do you want me to keep you company in the shower? I just learned about massages."

Eric shook his head, standing up with a smile. "Who taught you that?"

"Natasha."

Eric halted, "Then never mind."

"Ha ha," the girl laughed, watching Eric walk to the stairs. "Oh, by the way, what do you want to eat?"

"Just make whatever."

...

After showering and eating dinner, it was dark outside, and the commotion next door intensified.

Eric didn't make an appearance, and the guests came to the party unaware he was there, so no one greeted him, and he was glad for the peace.

In September, Los Angeles nights cooled to a perfect 20 degrees Celsius.

Eric had no intentions of engaging with work again that evening. He swam briefly in the pool, then lounged in a beach chair, casually flipping through one of the girl's Vogue magazines.

Natasha silently approached, placing a glass of orange juice on the small table next to Eric. Since that night, she had remained quite shy around him.

He set the magazine aside, sitting up and waving to her with a smile. Natasha moved a little closer, her face reddening, her rigid body resembling a small animal caught in a trap.

Eric assessed the girl before him, tall and clad in a white blouse and white pants, her fair skin peeking through. He knew she was naturally conservative, disallowing any forward moves. He merely took her small hand, giving it a gentle kiss, and said, "Natasha, you can go play over there now; you don't have to sit with me."

But Natasha shook her head, whispering, "The boss told me to stay here and keep you company."

Eric laughed. "Between the boss and the master, of course, you should listen to the master."

A deeper shade of red washed over Natasha's cheeks, yet she still shook her head.

Eric pointed to a nearby lounge chair. "Then just sit here and talk to me."

Natasha nodded and stepped back, sitting at the edge of the chair, her back straight, legs together, quietly gazing at the man relaxed across from her, a hint of contentment in her eyes.

After all these years, while the twins generally maintained a quiet presence, in truth, they had grown very familiar with each other.

Conversing little, Eric occasionally said something, and the girl would softly reply with a hum. Most of the sounds in the yard were just Eric flipping through the magazine.

...

Time passed, and cheers erupted from the neighboring mansion.

Judging by the timing, the preliminary viewing data from the East Coast on Desperate Housewives Season Two and the first episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills should have been released. Based on the samples from the East Coast, the overall ratings for North America were mostly set.

Having already created a cable viewership miracle in its first season and remained a hot topic for months, Eric wasn't at all concerned about Desperate Housewives' second season ratings. His curiosity and anticipation were more focused on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' performance.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' success would shape the future of Brvao channel's entire wives series. If this reality show successfully gained traction, the entire channel's ratings for the next five years would be significantly secured.

Following Eric's gaze, Natasha peered over and softly asked, "Master, do you need me to check on anything over there?"

"No need," Eric shook his head. "The data will be there; we will find out eventually."

Natasha nodded, already cherishing this chance to spend time alone with Eric.

Just as Eric restrained Natasha from checking, someone else approached.

"Eric, if it weren't for Drew, we'd still be in the dark about you being here tonight."

Kris Jenner, dressed in a sleek black gown with a plunging neckline, encapsulating a glamorous image of a captivating woman.

Inside, Eric felt a sense of resignation; despite her cheerful demeanor, the girl would eventually get jealous. Kris Jenner was clearly sent over to disrupt his connection with Natasha.

As she arrived, Natasha promptly stood up, courteously offering Kris a cup of coffee, before retreating into the villa.

Eric didn't feel like standing either. Gazing at the alluring figure of Kris Jenner sitting across from him, he asked, "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' first episode ratings should be out now, right? How did it go?"

Kris beamed with excitement. "Data just came in from New York, about 3.5 million viewers, with around a 2.0 rating among the 18-49 age group. Preliminary statistics suggest it should rank among the top five cable shows for the timeslot tonight. Tomorrow's detailed data will provide more clarity. Plus, moving it to 8 PM on Wednesdays next week should boost the ratings even higher."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1045: Teaching You One Thing]

Although it had the advantage of being associated with Desperate Housewives, the series premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reached an impressive 3.5 million viewers, making it an undeniable success. With this momentum, the subsequent plans could roll out smoothly, which explained the jubilant celebration sounds coming from next door.

After chatting about The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for a bit, Eric finally inquired about the viewership of Desperate Housewives. With the first season concluding with over 7 million viewers, the second season premiere also enjoyed a strong opening.

Preliminary statistics from the East Coast sampling indicated that the first episode of the second season of Desperate Housewives averaged about 7.35 million viewers, with the key demographic of ages 18 to 49 hitting nearly a 5.0 rating.

In North America, each ratings point typically equated to around 1.2 million core viewers. Therefore, out of those 7.35 million viewers for the second season premiere of Desperate Housewives, nearly 6 million fell into the coveted 18 to 49 age group -- this ratio far exceeded that of typical public network shows with similar viewership numbers. To attract 6 million core viewers on a public network, the total audience would need to exceed 10 million.

While it wasn't transferred to a public network, the nearly 5.0 rating allowed Desperate Housewives to generate advertising revenues surpassing most public television shows. Moreover, being on a cable network meant that the high ratings could also lead Bravo to see more revenue sharing from cable operators, a part of income that public networks simply didn't receive.

Eric hadn't planned on working that night, but he found himself chatting with Kris Jenner for quite a while.

Upon hearing the boisterous sounds from next door again, Eric turned to Kris Jenner and chuckled, "Well, you should head back to the party."

Kris noticed Eric's noticeably good mood and remarked with cleverness in her eyes, "Eric, actually, there's one more thing."

Eric responded with an "uh-huh," gesturing for her to continue.

Kris carefully gauged Eric's reaction as she said, "I want to create a dedicated website for the cast members of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Beverly Girls. That way, we can better promote their popularity."

Eric waved his hand dismissively. "You should discuss that with Amy and the others. I really don't have the time for this."

Kris remembered when John Calley from MGM Television had initially been unsatisfied with her signing a few reality show actors. However, after some inquiries, she discovered that Eric had said it was fine. This time, Kris had similar thoughts in mind, and if she couldn't get Eric's approval beforehand, MGM certainly wouldn't agree.

Thus, with a slightly flattering tone, Kris said, "Eric, MGM is yours; I believe discussing this with you would be more convenient. Otherwise, we're talking about a marathon of endless meetings just to settle this."

Eric genuinely didn't care about such trivial matters. He was about to casually agree, but then suddenly realized what Kris was up to; she wanted to carve out a slice of the profits from these reality shows' merchandise.

Though both The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Beverly Girls were reality shows, they still had a wealth of potential merchandise to exploit. From the cast's matching outfits, jewelry, and shoes to their daily recipes and collectible photo albums, there was plenty to cash in on.

In recent years, with the rise of internet e-commerce, many celebrities and companies with recognized film projects were pleased to establish similar themed websites and sell products through Yahoo's YahooPay payment interface. This low-cost operation turned out to be significantly profitable.

Kris Jenner initially mentioned she wanted to build a temporary themed site for the actors rather than a site tied to both reality shows. It was clear she aimed to stake her claim on these sites, intending to draw some peripheral revenue from the two shows.

Given the popularity exhibited by the two shows, even if Kris didn't want to be overly explicit, a yearly profit in the range of several million dollars seemed likely.

As Eric rolled up the magazine in his hand and turned to the hopeful-looking woman, a smirk played on his face as he kicked back in his chair, "Come over here."

Kris felt confused by his abrupt statement, but the commanding tone coming from the man made her unconsciously rise.

Slowly moving over to the edge of the pool, Kris couldn't understand what game Eric was suddenly playing. "Eric, I don't think this is a good idea."

Eric suddenly shared the feeling, saying, "Take off your evening gown; don't get it wet."

Kris felt a flush rise in her cheeks under Eric's gaze and found she didn't possess the courage to resist.

Given the recent events -- whether discussing the stock sell-off of America Online or the acquisition deal with Sony Pictures -- Kris had increasingly recognized the immense wealth and power this little man possessed.

Reaching around to unzip her gown, Kris soon slipped it off and neatly folded it onto a nearby lounge chair.

The wealthy housewives of America typically kept in great shape, and Kris was no exception.

Eric enjoyed the view for a moment before nonchalantly kicking her in.

With a splash, her surprised gasp filled the air.

Eric remained unfazed, reclined on his lounge chair, only getting up once he sensed Kris resurfacing from the water.

Kris, now flustered and coughing at the pool's edge, saw Eric looking down at her and realized her little schemes had probably been spotted by him, lending meaning to her predicament.

Daring not to resent Eric, she tried for a pitiful expression and said, "Eric, cough, you are so mean!"

Eric ignored her faux pity, lifting his magazine to tap her chin and remarked, "Here's a lesson: I'm always generous to those who work for me. If you want something, just tell me directly. If I think it's reasonable, I'll give it to you. If not, then I won't. But don't think you can outsmart me. Even if you trick me, you may manage to fool everyone around me, but if I find out, then you can just go back to being a housewife. This time, it's just a small punishment, but next time, I might not be so forgiving, got it?"

Kris dared not show even a hint of displeasure and nodded obediently, still keeping her voice pathetic, "Eric, I understand; I won't dare again."

"Good. Now climb back up and go back to the party."

Kris clambered out of the pool in disarray, momentarily at a loss over how she could return to the party in her current state.

As Eric settled back down, he pointed to a large towel on the chair beside him. "Go find a bathroom and clean yourself up."

Kris felt like she'd been given a reprieve. She quickly grabbed the towel to wrap her body, holding her gown as she walked toward the villa.

...

As soon as Kris disappeared, Natasha emerged from the bathroom and quietly returned to her spot.

Seeing Natasha seemingly unaffected, Eric smiled and asked, "Why aren't you speaking, Natasha?"

Natasha looked at Eric seriously, "Will the master kick me like that someday?"

"Not a chance," Eric shook his head, "Definitely not."

"Okay."

"Now, let's say, Natasha, hypothetically speaking, what if I did that? What would happen?"

A hint of hesitation colored Natasha's delicate face before she replied, "I don't know, but Eve would probably be nicer."

Eric found her suggestion amusing and replied, "What a good sister. But you mean Eve would only manage to beat me half to death, right?"

Natasha solemnly nodded. "Yes."

Eric felt pleased, "Looks like Natasha really cares about me. She's only willing to beat me half to death."

"Yeah."

"Alright, since Natasha is only willing to beat me half to death," Eric stood up and took her hand, "I'm taking you out tonight."

Natasha obediently got up, her cheeks slightly flushed as she softly asked, "Master, do we need to tell the boss?"

"Of course not. That girl intentionally sent someone to disturb us; I'd be fine not to spank her little butt," Eric joked as he led Natasha toward the garage, adding, "Don't worry, when she sees we're gone, she'll figure it out without us saying anything."

...

Kris Jenner came out from the bathroom, restoring her glamorous look just in time to see Eric driving away with that pretty Russian twin girl. A pang of envy hit her.

However, when she returned to the party, surrounded by guests eager to chat with her, Kris's earlier frustrations quickly faded.

With the tremendous success of the twin reality shows, she had become one of Hollywood's hottest producers of reality TV. No matter where she went, she garnered much attention and flattery, a lifestyle that was pure heaven for someone like her, who relished in fame and fortune.

While chatting with her husband and another wealthy couple who had participated in filming The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Kris caught sight of her daughter Kim Kardashian trying to sneak by with a plate of mini cakes. She shot her a sharp glare.

Kim, caught in the act, had no choice but to approach with politeness and greet everyone.

Kris recalled how Eric had initially contacted her through her middle daughter but then went silent. Now seeing the high-calorie treats in Kim's hand, she couldn't help but feel a mix of disappointment and frustration.

After exchanging pleasantries with her husband and the couple, Kris pulled Kim aside, her tone strict, "No more eating. And starting tomorrow, you're going on a diet. If you don't lose weight below 90 pounds in a month, I'll be seriously angry with you."

Kim almost dropped her mini cake in fright, nodding vigorously in compliance.

In such a setting, Kris didn't want her scolding to affect her image; she quickly gathered herself and asked, "By the way, where are Kourtney and Khloe?"

"They're chatting with Drew," Kim replied hurriedly.

Hearing this, Kris felt satisfied before quickly turning displeased, "Then why are you still here? Go over to them!"

Kim nodded nervously, tossing the mini cake and hurriedly departing.

...

As the second season of Desperate Housewives and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premiered, the quality shows under the Firefly Group's various networks also started rolling out.

On another front, Firefly's acquisition talks with Sony Pictures were also progressing swiftly.

Following the hearings in the second week, Firefly received its transaction approval for the acquisition of Sony Film's business from the Department of Justice, and the audit of Sony Pictures' balance sheet was mainly completed within half a month.

After several rounds of negotiation, both parties resolved various details, and by the end of September, Firefly and Sony Group jointly signed the transaction agreement at Sony Pictures' headquarters in Los Angeles.

Firefly invested $2.99 billion and took on $1 billion in debts left by Sony Pictures, successfully adding another Hollywood studio to their portfolio.

Once the acquisition was completed, Firefly had no reservations and announced at the signing ceremony that Sony Pictures would be rebranded as Columbia Pictures.

...

Despite still being busy filming Gravity, Eric carved out half a day to personally attend this signing event.

In Culver City, the signing ceremony reception took place in Columbia Pictures' headquarters restaurant.

Neither Nobuyuki Idei nor Howard Stringer made it to the event, leaving only one vice president from Sony at the signing ceremony. After the ceremony, the representative stayed for barely ten minutes before making excuses to leave, at which point no one cared about Sony's reaction.

After mingling at the reception, Eric called Bill Mechanic over to the side, and they sat on a sofa in a corner. Eric began, "I've gone through the project documents you sent me last time, and there are a lot of issues. If we hadn't already invested so many resources and energy, I would consider cutting all these projects."

Patiently, Bill listened, not defending himself; he believed Eric understood that while he was nominally in charge of Sony Pictures at that point, he actually had little decision-making power.

Eric had no intention of inviting Bill to explain anything. He continued, "When we have more time, we'll discuss the details this weekend. For now, I need you to handle three projects. First, get back that CAA project, Entrapment. I've reviewed the script; it can be wrapped within five months, making it a key feature for Columbia Pictures' summer lineup next year. Additionally, I don't like the female lead CAA recommended; she's out. We'll choose someone else ourselves."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1046: Girl, Interrupted]

The original version of Entrapment starred Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. This time, while CAA was still bringing in Sean Connery for the male lead, the female lead was a less well-known actress under CAA named Angie Everhart.

Though Angie Everhart was quite beautiful, Eric naturally felt that sticking with the original lead, Catherine Zeta-Jones, was a better choice. After all, her charisma was perfectly suited to star alongside an older man.

Bill Mechanic nodded, noting it down, then Eric continued, "Also, what's the deal with the $40 million budget for Girl, Interrupted?"

Girl, Interrupted told the story of a girl suffering from borderline personality disorder who was sent to a mental hospital for treatment; the script was adapted from a true-life biography.

Eric had seen the film once; the two lead actors were Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie. Winona Ryder's performance was average, yet Angelina Jolie won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a character with anti-social personality disorder.

Eric had simply not anticipated that the film's budget could reach $40 million.

Although the script and the film he remembered were outstanding, any film with a budget over $40 million would struggle to break even unless it was able to snag some heavyweight Oscars.

Bill Mechanic, clearly prepared, explained, "This is a script that Miss Winona Ryder really likes, and the director, James Mangold, was personally brought in by her. Howard is also quite optimistic about the film's Oscars potential, which is why he set such a relaxed budget."

Eric smirked slightly; Howard Stringer really was out of his depth.

Oscar-winning biopics either tell a redemptive story, like Schindler's List, or showcase some sort of spirit, like My Left Foot. Generally speaking, these films must convey positive themes that align with mainstream values.

A film like Girl, Interrupted, with its dark and pessimistic ending, would have trouble even getting nominated, let alone winning an Oscar. Designating it as an Oscar contender meant that Columbia's only hope lay in Winona Ryder successfully vying for the Best Actress award. But in Eric's opinion, even without his previous memories, he could see that Winona Ryder's character offered limited performing space, giving no hope of snagging an Oscar.

After a moment of consideration, Eric said, "We need to completely overhaul this project, cutting the budget to under $20 million. If Winona Ryder and her team think $20 million isn't enough to make it work, then we drop the project altogether. Also, send a copy of the script to Charlize Theron."

As a veteran Hollywood executive, Bill Mechanic knew that a $20 million budget was already more than sufficient for this film.

He was about to nod in agreement when he heard Eric's last sentence and was taken aback. "Charlize Theron? Eric, you mean, the part of Charlie's Angels?"

The Charlie's Angels trio had been the hottest new Hollywood stars in recent years. If Girl, Interrupted could land Charlize Theron, the film's previously non-existent box office appeal would instantly improve.

Eric nodded; he had promised Charlize that he would keep an eye out for any scripts that would really challenge her acting chops, and this role that once belonged to Angelina Jolie was just right for her. As for Angelina Jolie, she was not even on Eric's radar.

Bill Mechanic, having received Eric's confirmation, hesitated slightly. "But what about Miss Theron's fee? And would she even be willing to take on a role with such an anti-social character? Keep in mind, her image in Charlie's Angels has always been very positive. Even if she agrees, I think her agent would try to dissuade her."

"Her fee won't be an issue; I'm sure Charlize knows what kind of offer to make. As for the image problem, we needn't worry. We adults might see a character with anti-social traits as inappropriate, but to teenagers in their rebellious years, such a role is not only acceptable; they'll likely find it cool."

Seeing Eric's confidence eased Bill Mechanic's concerns momentarily, but he began to spiral back into his worries about the $20 million budget.

Winona Ryder's base salary was $7 million. If she was the only Oscar-level actress on the project, $20 million would be more than enough. However, adding someone like Charlize Theron, with her strong box office draw, signaled that they would at least need to raise the budget to $30 million to accommodate both actresses' star power.

After all, while Charlize Theron may not yet have an Oscar, her salary was likely higher than Winona Ryder's, even if she were willing to take a pay cut. Still, her fee would need to be around $5 million. The two leading ladies would take up $12 million of the budget, leaving a mere $8 million for supporting actors and production costs, which was clearly tight.

After sharing his analysis, Bill Mechanic suggested, "Eric, could we sign two profit-sharing contracts, or should we boost the budget to $30 million?"

Eric considered this for a moment and replied, "Let's lower Winona's salary to $5 million. For Charlize, let's offer her $3 million, plus set aside 10% of the North American box office for each of them. The remaining $12 million should suffice."

Bill Mechanic began to do the math in his head. Even though Eric's fixed salaries sounded low, this was quite normal for a niche project.

The 10% of the North American box office would be taken from what Columbia would earn from the film's box office revenue.

If Girl, Interrupted could gross $50 million at the North American box office, the earnings from their shares along with their fixed salaries would amount to about the figures Bill Mechanic had initially estimated. Meanwhile, Columbia could anticipate recouping its costs from this box office number.

If the box office went further up, the actresses would earn more, and Columbia would start to turn a profit as well. However, if the film made less than $50 million, there wouldn't be much else to say.

Considering all this, Bill Mechanic admired how Eric managed to make such precise adjustments to the film's budget so efficiently, while also spreading the financial risks fairly between the two leads. This type of pay structure meant that the actors wouldn't be receiving the kind of exorbitant salaries that Jack Nicholson did for Batman, but if the film performed well, the leads would still receive substantial compensation.

Of course, Bill Mechanic was aware that in recent years, a flood of capital had led Hollywood studios to spend extravagantly while also raising the stakes for star salaries. Most celebrities would undoubtedly resist sharing the "risk" with studios.

This ideal pay model may be within reach for many producers in Hollywood, but getting stars to accept it was another matter entirely.

Eric could see Bill Mechanic's thoughts, saying, "Bill, since you've joined the Firefly system, you should be firm on one thing: we are the masters of Hollywood. Stars wanting unreasonable pay, we cannot stop, but they should not expect to get these from the Firefly system. If Hollywood stars refuse to participate in our projects, we can, just like in the days of the major studios, create our own stars. Firefly, MGM, Fox, and now Columbia -- the four major studios combined allow us not only to set the rules but also to punish those who try to break them."

While it was true that controlling film projects had become more feasible for Hollywood studios since the onset of big-budget films, the studios still had to placate the stars who brought box office power.

Hearing Eric speak this way filled Bill Mechanic's heart with a sense of empowerment, feeling somewhat inspired.

Yes, they truly were the masters of Hollywood.

Stars were ultimately built by studios through a succession of films, and with control over the major studios, along with Hollywood's powerful film industry, they could create stars at any level.

After a moment of simmering emotions, Bill Mechanic returned to business, saying, "Didn't you mention three projects? What about the last one?"

"The last one is the animated feature Final Fantasy produced in collaboration with Square in Japan," Eric stated decisively, "Scrap it. We won't invest nor seek the distribution rights; let the Japanese find whoever they want. We aren't getting involved in this project."

Bill Mechanic was caught off guard when Eric suddenly targeted Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

He remembered that this animated film, with over $100 million in production costs, had flopped dramatically at the North American box office. This failure nearly brought Square, which had produced the eight classic Final Fantasy games, to the brink of bankruptcy, leading to a complete management overhaul and their subsequent acquisition by Enix. Columbia Pictures, which was involved in the production and distribution, also suffered significant losses.

Bill Mechanic hadn't expected Eric to be so forceful about Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. In recent years, 3D animated films had gained popularity in the market, and Sony Pictures wouldn't want to miss out on that slice of the pie. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy was a beloved game franchise in Japan, and Sony's higher-ups were excited about the animated adaptation of this game.

However, without further probing, Bill Mechanic nodded in agreement.

After all, when it came to 3D animated films, no one in Hollywood could claim second place to Firefly.

Only Firefly had two successful 3D animation studios. Regardless of Eric's motives for making this decision, Bill Mechanic felt no need to question his judgment.

Confirming this, Bill Mechanic then asked, "Eric, what should we do next about the script for Pirates of the Caribbean?"

Bill Mechanic's tone was somewhat guilty; recalling everything that had occurred in recent times, he felt this script was likely just bait tossed out by Eric. Sony had bitten on it, and now they would be losing their film division.

"Let's put it on hold for now. We'll reconnect on this film once Columbia has regained its strength in a couple of years."

Having already secured Columbia Pictures, Eric no longer planned to bring Pirates of the Caribbean back to Firefly, as Columbia needed a flagship project.

As for Firefly, in the original timeline, the project had been conceived to promote the Disneyland attraction related to Pirates of the Caribbean.

However, at this point, even Disneyland hadn't yet created the Pirates of the Caribbean tour. Eric discovered the concept for this attraction in a blueprint for the California Disneyland Adventure Park, but with the adult-oriented Firefly theme park already under construction, the Disneyland Adventure Park project was scrapped to avoid overlap.

Eric had already submitted the design plan for the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction to the design team for Firefly's theme park, as this project seemed to fit better with the adult-oriented concept that Firefly was working to integrate into its brand.

Hearing Eric's response, Bill Mechanic knew he had stumbled onto a no-win situation and nodded before asking, "Also, Eric, shall we put the salary negotiations for Men in Black 3 with Will Smith and the others on hold as well?"

"That can proceed, but as for salaries, we won't make any concessions. Additionally, after the completion of Enemy of the State, unless both sides can come to an agreement on Men in Black 3, the Firefly system won't collaborate with Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones again."

Eric had given Will Smith the lead role in Enemy of the State solely due to production time constraints. After this film, it was time for the Firefly system to flex its muscles.

Bill Mechanic began to envision the scene Eric had painted as he considered the consequences. If Will Smith and the others refused to compromise, they would find themselves collaborating only with studios outside the Firefly system.

Simultaneously, the Firefly system would adopt the same stance towards other A-list stars. If these stars, who insisted on high salaries, all turned to Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Paramount, perhaps the other three would enjoy some short-term glee, but in the long run, whether they could continue to pay such high salaries was uncertain.

They didn't have enough resources for all those A-list stars to share. Eventually, some stars would find themselves without roles for a prolonged period, facing the threat of declining popularity that would force them to relent and negotiate with the Firefly system.

With time, seeing the benefits of the balanced cost control within Firefly, the other major studios would also begin to follow suit.

Within the Firefly system, frankly, whether it was animated films or high-concept blockbusters, the dependency on big stars was minimal. Moreover, pooling resources from the four studios meant they could easily craft a new generation of obedient stars, just like in the heyday of blockbusters.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1047: Aftermath]

Although the deal was signed, the various intricate and tedious asset and business turnovers between Firefly Investments and Sony Pictures would still take a couple of months to finalize.

However, through Bill Mechanic, Eric swiftly took control of Columbia Pictures. Within a week, Columbia was basically back to normal operations.

After being tossed around by the Japanese for so many years, Eric did not expect Columbia to show many noticeable changes in the short term. He just hoped that within the next year or two, the studio could restore itself to the production and distribution scale a major film company ought to have.

To be fair, as long as one didn't stir the pot and focused on making quality films, it wouldn't be too hard for a major studio like Columbia to avoid losses in Hollywood.

Sony had long struggled to understand the operational rules of Hollywood, making a series of decisions that could only be described as foolish. This, coupled with the natural resistance from local talent, had contributed to the increasingly dire situation at Sony Pictures.

In reality, if Sony Pictures were given a few more years, they could gradually adapt even without a blockbuster like Spider-Man.

Now, of course, Sony would never have that opportunity again.

With the acquisition of Sony Pictures complete, the Firefly system encompassed more than half of the major film studios in Hollywood. The remaining three studios, although they did not outwardly express any concern, were not calm behind closed doors about the situation.

The first week of October marked the 11th week since the release of The Ring -- a horror film that unexpectedly created a phenomenon at the box office. This week, it grossed another $6.74 million with a barely noticeable drop of 16.9%.

Even more astonishing was that while continuing its miraculous box office trajectory, The Ring's total North American gross had reached $251 million, successfully crossing the $250 million mark, making it the third highest-grossing film of 1998 so far.

In addition to The Ring, Charlie's Angels 3 had become the only other film this year to surpass $300 million at the North American box office, raking in a total of $322 million.

Next in line, The Day After Tomorrow had a North American box office total of $256 million at that moment.

However, compared to The Ring's consistently impressive weekly revenue, both Charlie's Angels 3 and The Day After Tomorrow were in the dwindling phase, with weekly earnings falling to just a few hundred thousand dollars, and their North American total box office figures were unlikely to see significant changes.

It wasn't hard to imagine that within the next week, The Ring's North American total could surpass that of The Day After Tomorrow. Before the heavyweight releases of Star Wars: Episode I and Mission: Impossible 3 at the end of the year, this horror film would hold onto second place in the box office charts for quite some time.

On the other hand, with a production budget of only $30 million, the return on investment for The Ring was astonishing.

...

On a typical sunny California weekend, Michael Eisner, Edgar Bronfman, Summer Redstone, and Gerald Levin found themselves gathered on a yacht off the coast of Los Angeles. They casually sat around a round table on the deck playing bridge. After some time, Gerald suddenly spoke up, "I heard Firefly is throwing a second celebration for The Ring tonight."

Redstone, counting his cards, replied nonchalantly, "Well, they should. If Paramount could put out a movie like this, I'd throw ten celebrations."

Even though AOL and Time Warner had officially started acquisition talks, Gerald naturally still viewed Warner Bros. as his own turf. After pausing, he added, "I just want to say, we can't continue like this."

Edgar set down his cards and turned seriously to the group, suggesting, "Maybe we can form an alliance, like those four companies."

Redstone glanced at Edgar and replied, "What advantage would that bring us? What benefits would we gain from an alliance?"

The strength of the Firefly system stemmed from Eric's personal keen eye for films and his strong control over several companies as if they were extensions of his own arm.

Even if there were talents in the three remaining companies that could rival Eric, they would never be able to put power into one person's hands. Therefore, forming an alliance didn't hold much significance.

Gerald shook his head, laughing self-deprecatingly, "None of us can match Eric Williams."

Edgar nodded, perhaps intentionally or unintentionally murmuring, "If only they didn't have Eric Williams over there."

The table fell silent.

After a moment of awkwardness, the oldest among them, Summer Redstone, shot Edgar a stern look and warned, "Edgar, out of respect for my relationship with your father, let me give you some advice as an elder: this is a world with rules. Never let such thoughts cross your mind again. If we could potentially do without Eric Williams, we could also do without you, and without me. Anyone could simply vanish, and the world would descend into chaos."

Edgar wasn't a naive youth; he regretted his earlier comment and replied seriously, "Thank you, Summer. I'll remember that."

Redstone nodded in satisfaction and turned to the quiet Michael Eisner, saying, "Michael, how about you share your thoughts?"

Michael replied, "Acquiring Sony Pictures has pushed Firefly's expansion to its limits. None of the three of us could possibly be absorbed by them now. The federal government wouldn't easily allow Eric to do that anymore. Therefore, we need to focus on how each of us can maintain our market positions in Hollywood amidst the upcoming competition."

Redstone realized that Michael had formulated his own thoughts on the matter and probed, "Elaborate on that."

Michael smiled, "Honestly, it's not that difficult. Because the template for Firefly's system is already laid out. Since Eric Williams has proven his vision over the past decade, we can simply follow whatever Firefly does. For instance, I've already scouted several scripts for films similar to The Ring and its Japanese horror theme."

Gerald noted, "But if we simply follow behind Firefly... we've all kind of been doing that for years."

"Exactly. We need to be more proactive. Once Firefly starts a project, we shouldn't wait for results but follow up as quickly as possible to avoid being left behind," Michael continued. "Additionally, we must increase our investment in high-effects films. Although an alliance between us three may not offer any advantages, if we combine our resources to create a special effects company similar to Industrial Light Magic, we could offset our shortcomings in visual effects technology. This has been a weakness for us and has limited our scale in producing special effects films. As everyone should notice, only Firefly still has several special effects projects yet to be released, like the massive Lord of the Rings trilogy, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Sleepy Hollow, alongside medium-budget projects like Ted, Underworld, and Resident Evil sequels. All combined, they exceed the total of our special effects films."

Redstone agreed with a nod after hearing Michael speak, "Perhaps we could enhance support for Industrial Light Magic."

Michael immediately shook his head, "We can't prop up Industrial Light Magic. They've fallen too far behind the Digital Domain, and Lucas has lost his ambition in filmmaking. In fact, for the recent Star Wars: Episode I, many of the CGI effects were commissioned to Digital Domain. Looking at Digital Domain, they have branches in North America, California, and New Zealand, and I've heard they might establish another branch in Canada within the next couple of years. So we'd better act quickly to consolidate the visual effects resources from our three companies."

Stimulated by Digital Domain, although on a smaller scale, several major Hollywood studios had established their own visual effects departments in recent years.

While it may be impossible to centralize power from the three major studios under one individual, reaching an agreement on a visual effects department would be much easier for everyone involved.

After a brief discussion, the group settled on an idea, and Gerald added, "What about Firefly's '4200' initiative? What are your thoughts? Do we need to follow up on that?"

After a moment of silence, Redstone was the first to speak up again, "The investment is too high, and the risk is too great."

Michael said, "I attended a demonstration of the RealD system at Firefly Studios last time, and it was truly impressive. However, not to mention the initial investment, just the cost of prints for each 3D film will double, and the IMAX format will be even higher, about ten times the cost of standard prints. Based on a rollout of 2,000 screens, a film that originally required a $4 million print cost, if released in 3D and 3D-IMAX formats, would see its print costs soar to $12 million for 2,000 3D screens and 100 3D-IMAX screens."

The others gasped; during the film era, one of the main factors limiting independent filmmakers' distribution was the cost of prints.

The production costs of films are highly variable. Independent studios could often produce a film for a few hundred thousand or even tens of thousands. However, even to exhibit in 100 theaters, with an average print cost of $2,000, they would need $200,000. In reality, a distribution scale of 100 screens would yield little profitability for a movie.

Even for majors, film print costs were still a considerable expense.

A film costing $12 million simply for prints meant that all medium and low-budget films would be excluded. Even for big-budget films, if the print cost exceeded 10% of the production budget, studios would need to carefully weigh the film's box office prospects before opting for these costly distribution methods.

"Perhaps that's also the reason Eric Williams was determined to acquire Sony Pictures. After all, finding suitable films worthy of 3D and IMAX distribution is a major problem," Edgar mused, remembering Michael's previous suggestion. He turned to Michael and asked, "So, Michael, do you think we should follow up on that?"

"If Firefly allows us to join this plan, I believe we must follow up. The key is that since Eric has already invested so much upfront, he wouldn't likely allow us to jump in and share the profits immediately."

"I think for the 2,100 3D and IMAX screens in North America, it's most reasonable to have an average of one new source every month, but it shouldn't be lower than one every two months. Firefly, even with its four major studios, cannot issue all movies in this way. We definitely still hold sources that Firefly would need."

"Let's put that issue aside for now," Redstone suddenly said. "Michael, when you return, you can discuss with Sherri, and also Richard over at Warner, about integrating the visual effects departments we each have. As for Firefly's '4200' initiative, if they succeed next year, theater chains will naturally increase the number of 3D screens, and if they fail, we won't have to worry about it anymore."

Once Redstone said this, everyone remembered that the Redstone family had made their fortune through running theater chains, and no one in the room was more experienced with exhibition business than him.

After reflecting for a moment, they all understood that if Firefly's '4200' initiative succeeded, the demand in the market would lead to a rapid increase in the number of 3D screens.

At that point, even if Firefly managed to monopolize most of the 3D screen resources, there would undoubtedly still be surplus 3D screens available for films from the other three studios. Conversely, if Firefly's promotional efforts fell flat, major theater chains would likely avoid Firefly's 3D screening systems, meaning there would be less necessity for them to focus on this issue.

The only hassle was the IMAX theaters, as Firefly had acquired the Canadian IMAX company entirely and planned to build their theater chain.

However, this hardly posed a significant problem; after all, with over 30,000 screens in North America, 100 IMAX screens seemed inconsequential.

...

At the same time, at the Firefly Studios.

Inside the Gravity filming studio, even though it was Saturday, Eric had arrived early to address some technical issues, collaborating with Robert Byer and others to explore solutions.

As October rolled around, filming for Gravity was finally nearing its end. Based on the current pace, in about ten days, after October 20, the crew would head to Arizona to film the few outdoor scenes left, allowing everyone to relax after that.

During morning busyness, Eric received a phone call from ICM. Before long, the agency's top female agent, Michelle Simmons, arrived with Charlize Theron. They were there to discuss the film Girl, Interrupted.

As they stepped into what was reportedly the most advanced studio in Hollywood, Michelle and Charlize curiously surveyed their surroundings. When they spotted Eric waving them over, they hurried to him.

"Hey, Eric, long time no see," Michelle exclaimed, warmly hugging Eric, with Charlize following suit.

After greetings, Michelle complimented, "Eric, maybe only you could think of such incredible ideas in all of Hollywood."

Eric sent a staff member to get coffee for the two women, smilingly nodding, "Thanks, Michelle. And Charlize, come sit down."

He gestured for them to take a seat next to a large workbench, while he sat down as well, getting straight to the point. "So, have you read the script for Girl, Interrupted?"

Due to Eric's previous reprimanding of Kate, Charlize couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive in his presence.

Noticing Charlize's hesitance, Michelle had to step in and answer, "Yes, it's a great script. Charlize and I both think it's awesome."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1048: Finally, Going Crazy]

Eric heard Michelle Simmons' words and laughed, saying, "Usually, there's a 'but' at the end of such lines. So, what's the 'but'?"

"Eric, this is just a supporting role. I'm currently negotiating several leads for Charlize," Michelle Simmons replied, pulling two scripts from her bag and handing them over. "These are what Charlize and I have picked out from those offers. One is Woody Allen's new film. You know, Woody Allen is great at crafting roles for actresses, and his films could likely bring Charlize some awards or nominations. The other is from Miramax, called The Cider House Rules. Both scripts are excellent and, compared to Girl, Interrupted, the themes cater more to the taste of Oscar voters."

Even though the trio had re-signed with MGM for two agent-verse films, with the overall momentum of the agent-verse slowing down, the three girls found themselves with more time to delve into other projects.

Listening to Michelle introduce the two scripts, Eric understood that Charlize had decided during this two-year hiatus to pursue some art films to garner more acclaim for her acting skills.

He took the two scripts but didn't flip through them, casually placing them under his arm as he looked at the two of them and said, "I don't have time to read these. Let's talk about Girl, Interrupted. Honestly, Charlize isn't the best choice for this role. If you set aside all subjective factors, I'd cast Angelina Jolie as Lisa." Remembering that Angelina Jolie probably hadn't fallen out with her father over her last name yet, Eric added, "I mean Angelina Jolie Voight, Jon Voight's daughter. Do you know her?"

Charlize showed a puzzled expression, but Michelle nodded. "I've heard some things about that girl. She seems quite rebellious."

Eric shook his head. "Rebellious is a compliment for her. In reality, Jolie is more hysterical than the antisocial Lisa. You can see that in how she handles romance; when in love, she easily writes her partner's name in blood on her clothes, and when she's angry, she could just as quickly wield a knife and make it bloody. If she played Lisa, she wouldn't even need to act; she could easily embody the role and even walk away with an Oscar. That's something Charlize couldn't do."

Charlize felt that Eric wasn't exactly praising Jolie, but she was slightly offended by the last remark, whispering, "Eric, why can't I do it?"

Eric smiled, "Because our little Charlize is a good girl."

That was probably meant as a compliment, but it had a teasing undertone, causing Charlize's face to redden as she looked away from Eric.

Eric admired Charlize's charming demeanor and continued, "It's because you're just too beautiful and too young. To catch the attention of critics and award voters, you need to play roles that allow people to overlook your looks. Overly attempting to play down your beauty isn't suitable for you just yet, and I don't like that either. Therefore, a character like Lisa fits you perfectly. You should know, this role isn't merely about being a crazy person. She's fierce, volatile, indifferent, and controlling, yet at the same time, she possesses a tremendous charm that makes all her patients see her as a leader. Although the film won't start shooting until early next year, you need to begin preparing for this role now."

Charlize thought she hadn't truly agreed to anything, but someone had already made the decision for her, making her glance at Michelle, hoping she might interject.

At the very least, she didn't want to agree so blindly.

She had to struggle a bit.

However, Michelle seemed fully engrossed in Eric's analysis, completely oblivious to Charlize's silent cues.

After finishing his thoughts, Eric looked at his watch and said, "That's it, Charlize. If your performance in this movie is remarkable, I could help you secure an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. While the Best Supporting Actress award has a higher chance of winning, getting nominated for Best Actress will serve you better for your future. I really hope you'll be the first among your generation of actresses to snag an Oscar for Best Actress. So, any other questions?"

Despite a tiny spark of rebellion against some Hollywood tyrant rising in her heart, Charlize found herself nodding in agreement.

Eric nodded in satisfaction. "Great, by the way, the party for The Ring is at the big ship's restaurant tonight. Do you want to join?"

"I already have an appointment tonight," Charlize said with a hint of challenge but then added unexpectedly, "It's a birthday party for a good friend of Kate's."

Eric chuckled and stood up. "Then never mind, I'll take you two out."

...

Charlize and Michelle stood up together, chatting and joking with Eric as they left the Gravity set. It wasn't until they turned a corner, ensuring that Eric could no longer see them, that Charlize shot a frustrated glance at Michelle. "Now what?"

Michelle suddenly laughed, eyeing Charlize's guilty expression. "You still like him, don't you?"

Charlize immediately turned her head away, pretending she didn't want to hear Michelle's nonsense as she quickened her pace.

Michelle, however, had to keep up, her smile still evident.

In truth, Charlize had initiated today's meeting, although her excuse of not wanting to play a supporting role like Lisa seemed more like a cover story to Michelle.

Being a seasoned Hollywood agent, Michelle knew perfectly well that the character of Lisa in Girl, Interrupted was actually a better fit for Charlize. Although she had some initial reservations about the salary Eric offered, the moment Eric expressed a desire for Charlize to be the first among this generation of actresses to win the Oscar for Best Actress, all of Michelle's discontent disappeared.

Given Eric's current standing in Hollywood, if he hoped for Charlize to be the first one among her peers to snag an Oscar, then she had a good chance of becoming that lucky girl.

During this time, ICM had renegotiated agent contracts with the trio. After receiving a scolding from Eric, Kate and Penelope hadn't left ICM but merely switched to a dedicated independent agency team. Michelle, during this process, wisely chose to keep Charlize as her client, and she was now able to appreciate the correctness of that decision even more.

While still under the same agency, the dynamics between them were markedly different.

After what had happened last time, it was evident that Eric now favored Charlize more than the others among the trio. If Charlize could become the first to win the Oscar for Best Actress among them, Michelle Simmons, as her agent, would undeniably elevate her status in Hollywood.

The two arrived at the parking lot and got into the car. As Michelle buckled her seatbelt, she glanced over at Charlize in the passenger seat and remarked, "If you really don't want to act, I can talk to Eric."

"Forget it; I don't want to be scolded by him again."

Michelle teased, "Really don't want to?"

Charlize shot her agent a glare. "Michelle, if you keep talking like that, I will get angry."

"Okay, okay," Michelle surrendered, starting the engine as she drove out of the parking lot, her expression turning slightly serious. "Actually, among the three of you, Eric clearly has the highest expectations for you."

Charlize hadn't intended to speak, but after a moment, she couldn't help but say, "I can't see it at all! He's so focused on Penny and Kate..."

She trailed off suddenly.

Michelle didn't respond but understood completely.

All three girls must have had close encounters with Eric.

Though Charlize seemed to have the most independent personality among them, she was actually the most sensitive. Because of her background and the fact that she had wandered alone in a foreign land, she had a habit of wrapping herself in layers of protection, not letting people in easily.

However, if someone managed to break through that protective layer without realizing it, it would be challenging for them to leave.

Eric had single-handedly elevated the once-obscure Charlize to her current status, which meant so much to her. Paired with Eric's power and standing in Hollywood and his assertive personality, he could provide the kind of security that Charlize had long lacked as a child. Thus, he had become the most likely person to break into her heart.

Just like last time, when Charlize was the first among the trio to accept the compensation conditions presented by Firefly, it wasn't hard to understand that Eric had played a significant role in her decision.

Otherwise, if the three girls had formed a united front, even Eric would likely have to make some compromises in the end.

"It's a pity he's such a dazzling person," as the car drove out of Firefly Studios, Michelle sighed regretfully and then glanced at Charlize. "But you could take the initiative; should I help you find an invitation for tonight's The Ring party?"

Charlize didn't rush to deny it this time. After a moment of silence, she said, "Michelle, do you think that would lead to any results?"

Michelle looked at the road ahead. "Well, that depends on what kind of result you want. You know, I've heard he has a very, very smart daughter. Remember Eric's cameo in Men in Black? Kepler said he thinks that girl is like a little Pandora," saying this, Michelle suddenly realized she might have overshared and quickly cautioned, "Just listen, but don't spread it everywhere."

Charlize knew about the rumors that Eric had two children, but she suddenly recalled that one evening a few years ago, he had taken her to see Men in Black. She couldn't help but chuckle and said, "I don't want that; it would just make me seem like a gold digger."

"Ha! If you can strike gold with Eric Williams, I assure you everyone would envy you." Michelle said, "So, do you want that invitation or not? I could still get one if I call now; otherwise, it might be too late."

"Let's skip it," Charlize shook her head. "I just turned him down."

"Then you'll have to seize your own opportunity."

Charlize realized that she seemed to have been led off track by Michelle. "When did I say I wanted to seek that opportunity?"

"That's on you," Michelle replied, passing the buck. "Let's discuss Girl, Interrupted; this is indeed a role that needs careful preparation. If you manage to outshine Winona Ryder, you'll definitely attract critics' attention, even without Eric's help."

"I think, given Lisa's character, it should be easy." Charlize decisively dropped the previous topic and merely said this, casting a worried glance toward Michelle. She was worried that she would be exposed by Michelle for having carefully thought about the script beforehand. She had said that she didn't like this movie, and today they came together to meet Eric.

Michelle didn't seem to catch on. "Winona already has two Oscar nominations. If you think you could just shallowly act like a manic and steal her spotlight, you're being naive. Eric's analysis was spot on; beneath the crazy exterior, Lisa has a very complex array of character traits -- fierceness, volatility, indifference, controlling behavior, and that leadership charm. You must thoroughly understand and perfectly portray all of these to actually outshine Winona. See? That's where the gap between you and Eric lies."

"Alright, Michelle, what should I do?"

Michelle thought for a moment and suggested, "Maybe you could spend some time in a mental facility?"

Charlize shivered but considered it and gritted her teeth. "If necessary, I might agree."

"Just kidding," Michelle shook her head. "Some actors have tried that route, and they really went crazy in the end. So, even if you were willing, I'd stop you. How about this? I'll reach out to a few psychiatrists in the coming days to help you deepen your foundational knowledge. I will also find some videotapes of antisocial personality disorder patients."

Charlize wasn't entirely satisfied. "Don't I need to interact with these people?"

Michelle replied, "Not at all! What you need to experience is the character of Lisa, not to imitate someone with a true antisocial personality. To understand Lisa, you should delve into Susanna's original biography and the script we have, supplemented with some professional psychological theories; that should be sufficient."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1049: Grand Party]

Tonight's party was not only a celebration for the success of The Ring, which crossed $250 million at the box office, but also a celebration for Firefly Group's summer blockbuster season. Additionally, with Firefly's recent takeover of Sony Pictures' film operations, the scale and excitement of the event drew attention from all over Hollywood.

Preparations for the party began early in the afternoon, as the gigantic Titanic model in the northeast corner of the studio was cleared for the evening's festivities. The word had already spread, and Hollywood stars and executives were expected to attend. Many aspiring actors were doing their best to secure invitations or connect with those who had them.

Some who knew they wouldn't receive an invite had even chosen to hide away in various corners of the ship. During the cleaning phase, staff caught more than a dozen men and women attempting to sneak in, which made the park manager responsible for the evening's events quite nervous and annoyed. They regretted not having closed the Titanic attraction earlier in the day and ordered a second sweep, which uncovered even more intruders.

Eric had been busy all day at the Gravity set and arrived at the top-level restaurant on the ship shortly after 6 PM for dinner. Since he had made a habit of dining there during the filming of Gravity, he ended up creating an exclusive dining area on the ship. It was small, with only eight tables, but the location and food were exquisitely arranged, serving as a perk for Firefly executives. Group managers and above could dine there while working at the studio.

...

Katzenberg was also in the studio today, and just as Eric sat down, he arrived at the restaurant.

"Based on current ticket sales, The Ring's North American box office should reach around $290 million before leaving theaters, making it comparable to The Exorcist. Plus, its overseas box office is performing even better; Japan alone could exceed $100 million. The international total could surpass $400 million, with a worldwide gross reaching $700 million and a return on investment exceeding 2300%. It's definitely the highest-grossing horror film globally; everyone's going crazy looking for Japanese horror scripts."

While the staff was still putting the final touches on the party, Eric and Katzenberg's conversation naturally gravitated back to The Ring.

Seeing Katzenberg's excited expression, Eric laughed as he took a bottle of mineral water from the waiter. He twisted off the cap and took a sip, saying, "If this is the case, the next two years are going to see an influx of horror films. Let's put the sequel to The Ring and that Ju-on on hold for now and wait for this trend to pass."

Katzenberg nodded in agreement. "I'll find a moment to talk to Kenneth. By the way, have you seen Michael Bay's script for the disaster film about a comet hitting Earth?"

"I skimmed it a bit; it's decent, but the $140 million budget seems a bit high," Eric replied. "Talk to Jerry about it; we should ideally get it under $120 million. He can't continue like this without limits."

Katzenberg said, "Actually, Michael has mentioned to me that he wants to serve as the producer himself."

Eric recalled Michael's good reputation for managing production costs and felt tempted. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Let's hold off for now. He can co-produce with Jerry, but the creative control should remain in Jerry's hands. If we have a chance to collaborate again, we can let him take the lead then."

Most projects in Hollywood are producer-driven, meaning producers hold significant power, which also implies that their work isn't any less strenuous than that of directors. So far, Michael had only completed three films, and Eric doubted he could manage the responsibilities of both directing and producing simultaneously.

However, remembering that Michael previously produced a series of low-budget horror films that performed well at the box office, Eric added, "Also, if he's interested, perhaps he could connect with Kenneth and try producing one or two low-budget films first as an opportunity for growth."

...

As Eric and Katzenberg continued their dinner conversation, the sky gradually darkened, and the ship's grand lights began to illuminate, with more and more chatter coming from outside.

Setting down his utensils, Eric checked his watch and saw it was a quarter past seven. He stood with Katzenberg and walked out to the restaurant's terrace to look down.

They were on the top level of the Titanic model, where the small deck terrace connected to Eric's exclusive dining area. Facing north, the view was great, giving them a look at the Titanic-themed exhibition park below, along with the broad city skyline in the distance. They could also see the hills to the east and the Marian Del Bay to the west.

Standing on the terrace, soaking in the atmosphere, Eric and Katzenberg resumed their earlier conversation. Suddenly, they heard the sound of high heels clicking rapidly behind them. Turning, they saw Drew coming over with a big smile, followed by the quiet twins.

She affectionately hugged Eric and politely said hello to Katzenberg before wrapping her arm around Eric's. "Eric, guess what I just saw?"

"Aliens?"

"Heh, no, I saw the fat girl wandering around below! You didn't bring your phone, did you?"

Eric paused, remembering that the fat girl referred to Jennifer Aniston, and pretended to be annoyed as he tapped the girl on the forehead. Eric checked his pocket and realized his phone was dead for some reason. He waved to the twins, asking one of them to retrieve his phone and to call Jenny, just telling her he was there.

Katzenberg noticed the lively crowd gathering around Eric, smiled cheekily at him, and said his goodbyes.

After a while, Natasha arrived, bringing Jennifer with her.

Jennifer wore a simple light-colored knee-length dress, looking sweet and lovely as ever.

However, as she approached, before Eric could say anything, she rushed straight to the girl, fuming, "It's definitely your fault for making me believe Eric was at the studio, you little brat! I had to run all the way over here."

The girl immediately circled around Eric, defiantly shooting back, "I wouldn't do something so boring, fat girl! You're slandering me."

Jennifer was even angrier; she reached out her petite hand without reservation, "Stop calling me fat!"

Eric, caught in the middle, couldn't help but think about how Elisabeth and Julia might show up later, along with Nicole, and Famke as well.

Considering this, he suddenly felt a mix of whether to escape now or just stick around.

After a moment of playful tussling, both girls were evenly matched, making Eric's shirt a wrinkled mess. He scooped one in each arm, kissed them both to calm his rambunctious "kittens," and pointed to the button that had been snagged loose on his shirt collar. "Look! You two have torn my shirt apart; let's stop this."

The girl immediately pointed at Jennifer, "I saw her doing it!"

"Oh..." Jennifer retorted, glaring at her, her eyes shifting, "I'll sew!"

...

When Nicole walked into the restaurant with a petite blonde woman, she found Eric sitting in a chair, Jennifer awkwardly straddling his lap with a needle and thread, trying to fix a button, while Drew sat nearby, taking in the scene with a wry look.

Seeing Jennifer, Nicole hesitated for a moment but still approached them, greeting, "Jenny, long time no see."

Jennifer, recognizing Nicole's arrival, glanced at the woman by her side, who seemed poised to watch the drama unfold. She lightly huffed, carelessly sticking the sewing needle into Eric's shirt and shot Nicole a sidelong glance. "You can help this jerk sew instead."

Nicole noticed Eric flinching as he got poked and saw Jennifer lingering with a sulky expression beside him. She felt a sigh of relief for some reason, having little sympathy for that guy. Unlike Jennifer, she didn't straddle Eric's lap but walked over, bending down carefully to help him stitch the button back on, all while introducing her companion, "Eric, this is Naomi Watts. I mentioned her last time, my good... friend."

"Hello, Miss Watts," Eric recognized Naomi right away but kept his demeanor casual, not wanting to betray any interest.

"Hello, Mr. Williams," Naomi said, nervously clutching her handbag in front of her, greeting Eric politely, wishing she could escape the awkward situation but unsure how to excuse herself.

Nicole clearly had better sewing skills than Jennifer, promptly stitching the button onto Eric's shirt and organizing the sewing supplies in a small box on the table. "Well, Eric, I should get going."

Eric pulled Nicole back, "Why not grab something to eat? We won't have another chance tonight."

Nicole glanced at Drew and Jennifer with bright eyes, smiled, and nodded, "Sure."

Eric called over the restaurant manager to take the sewing kit away, indicating that Nicole and the others should freely order whatever they liked.

The manager could see too well what kind of situation the boss was in. He felt both envious and a bit gleeful in his own way. After the three women ordered their meals one by one, the manager turned to Naomi, who was sitting beside Nicole, wanting to fade into obscurity. "And this lady?"

Naomi Watts realized the manager clearly misunderstood her relationship with Eric; God knows, this was her first time meeting her good friend's rumored lover.

However, given the current situation, while the guy was indeed rather flirtatious, he genuinely seemed nice to his women...

Power and wealth often made people more willing to accept things that ordinary folks would find unacceptable. Naomi was completely unaware of her own mindset.

When the manager inquired, everyone's eyes turned to her, and Naomi suddenly felt a little embarrassed and unaccountably guilty. "No, it's not like that. I'm just..."

The manager looked confused, while Nicole gazed at her best friend's blunder with an amused smile, finally telling the manager, "Anything is fine for Naomi, just like me."

The manager, having no idea what was going on, took Nicole's word for it and hurried away to prepare.

Even though it felt satisfying to eavesdrop on the boss's potential romantic escapades, it seemed risky; who knew if the big boss harbored thoughts of retribution that would make things difficult for the manager?

...

Once the manager left, the atmosphere in the small restaurant grew awkward.

The women fell silent, each absorbed in their own menus, flipping through them.

When Naomi realized she was unknowingly mimicking the other three, she quickly set down the menu. But afterward, she found herself at a loss for where to look.

As if on cue, she noticed Eric glancing in her direction, making her feel more flustered and regretful for not leaving immediately, even if it might have seemed rude.

"So, Nicole said you've been in Japan for the past few years?" Eric finally broke the silence.

Naomi nodded eagerly, "Yeah."

Eric continued, "What were you doing in Japan, modeling?"

Naomi sensed the sudden shift in Drew Barrymore's and Jennifer's expressions, with both of them looking at her with newfound caution.

However, she gathered her composure and replied, "Not exactly, well, sort of. I went there wanting to model, but ended up getting a job at a fashion magazine as an English translator."

Eric felt like Naomi was his saving grace in that moment and continued, "So what made you decide to come to Hollywood?"

"I... I wanted a change of life," Naomi hesitated, feeling that her reason sounded overly grandiose. She added, "Actually, I've always wanted to be an actress -- that way, I might have a better life."

As they spoke, Drew who had mostly stayed quiet suddenly chimed in, "Naomi Watts, well, maybe you could come to MGM; I have quite a few roles that would suit you."

Upon hearing her, Jennifer and Nicole shot wary glances at each other while Eric shot the girl a warning look to signal her to cut it out.

The girl pouted, lowering her head, and began absentmindedly folding a napkin.

Naomi caught on to everyone's reactions and became unsure about how to respond to the girl's comment. It was only when Eric said to ignore her that she finally relaxed, realizing as she did that perhaps only Eric Williams didn't have any reservations about her.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1050: Famke's Inner Circle]

During dinner, Eric felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. Luckily, the upcoming party meant that the women ate very little. Drew was as dependable as ever, quickly declaring herself full and giving Eric a warm hug before she excused herself from the restaurant.

Seeing her so considerate, Aniston, perhaps feeling a mischievous competitive spirit, decided to leave as well.

The restaurant was left with just Nicole and Naomi. Eric relaxed and took a big swig from a bottle of mineral water on the table.

Watching Eric's demeanor, Nicole couldn't help but laugh. "Aren't you a bit relieved that Liz, Julia, and Famke didn't show up?"

Eric nodded seriously, with a hint of relief. "Yeah."

Nicole, smiling and resting her chin on her hand, leaned on the table and asked, "Seriously, if a fight broke out, whose side would you take?"

Eric pointed to a recently sewn button on his shirt. "You saw it, right? You guys can hit me."

"Hehe," Nicole chuckled, noticing her close friend's awkwardness beside her. She then said, "Well, Naomi and I will head out. I'm taking her to meet a few directors."

Eric feigned modesty. "Actually, I'm a director too."

"Haven't we met already?" Nicole replied, leaning in to kiss Eric lightly. She picked up her bag and stood up. "We're leaving now."

Eric got up to walk the two women out. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Of course, I won't be polite," Nicole said as she and Naomi reached the restaurant door. After hugging Eric again, they left.

...

Eric returned to his seat, considering a moment before picking up his freshly charged phone and dialing Elisabeth's number. Both Elisabeth and Julia surely had invitations to the evening's party, but Elisabeth hadn't mentioned if she would come when they talked the night before.

The call connected quickly, and he heard Elisabeth's somewhat lazy voice. "Eric."

Eric sounded puzzled. "Why are you in bed so early?"

"It's almost eleven here," Elisabeth replied, then added, "Julia and I are in New York; we flew over this afternoon."

Eric sighed with relief but was suddenly curious. "You didn't mention going to New York today?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by some rustling sounds, and then Julia's soft giggle came through. "Eric, Liz said she wanted you to be anxious; the party must have started over there, right?"

Eric sighed. "Yeah, I just lost a button, and thankfully I didn't get hurt."

"Hehe."

Both women erupted in gleeful laughter, teasing Eric mercilessly before hanging up.

...

Hearing the beeping sound, Eric smiled to himself and thought for a moment before dialing Famke Janssen's number. Among the women still around him who owned a set of rings, Famke was definitely the most aloof one. This didn't mean they had grown distant; if that were the case, Eric would have let go. He had started taking a more casual approach towards relationships, no longer wanting to force any woman into a confined role, as it benefited neither party.

Famke had a strong independent streak; she didn't rely on him much. Besides making periodic visits to his estate, she had a full and busy life, spending very little time in Los Angeles.

For the moment, she was in Los Angeles because of the summer release of The X-Files movie, having spent several days at the estate recently.

When the call connected, Eric could hear some background noise, immediately realizing Famke must be at the party.

They exchanged a few brief words as Eric left the restaurant and headed toward the lower deck.

It was nearly eight o'clock in Los Angeles, and the lavish ship was filled with guests spilling into every public area, including the exhibition hall below.

Just stepping out near the banquet hall adjacent to the restaurant, Eric was quickly surrounded by a variety of people.

"Hey, Eric! Long time no see, how have you been..."

"Eric, Finch has a new script out, but the budget might be higher; I sent it to your assistant's office..."

"Mr. Williams, hello! I have a script here..."

"Eric, I watched the samples of The Lord of the Rings in the afternoon, and I can't help but admire your eye for directors; Peter Jackson is a genius..."

"Mr. Williams, here's my number. I'm Anne, Anne Hathaway, call me..."

"Eric, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Miyamoto, the president of Toyota North America; he wants to secure some product placement in Spider-Man..."

"..."

"..."

...

After what felt like nearly an hour of mingling, Eric finally made it down from the top of the ship to the exhibition area below, where several key props from Titanic were displayed.

Near a buffet table, he finally spotted Famke Janssen, holding a glass of red wine and chatting with a group of people.

"Hey, Famke," Eric said as he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her lightly, then turned to the now slightly reserved crowd.

To his surprise, he recognized most of the eight people in this small circle.

Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Sam Rockwell, Kelly Lynch, Heather Graham, Katie Holmes.

What an interesting mix this was. It seemed Hollywood really was a small world after all.

As for Jon Favreau, his recognition spoke for itself.

Vince Vaughn was known for his role as Brad Pitt's buddy in Mr. Mrs. Smith, but he had also played many supporting roles in Hollywood films, making him a standard second-tier male star.

Sam Rockwell almost landed the part of Tony Stark in Iron Man; after that fell through, he ended up playing the villain in the sequel. Seeing him standing with Jon made everything clear.

Kelly Lynch was a seasoned action star in Hollywood, having played a villain in the original Charlie's Angels.

Heather Graham was the leading lady in the latest Species and one of Hollywood's rare beauties.

As for Katie Holmes, her presence in this circle felt even stranger. Aside from being Tom Cruise's third wife, her identity was hardly noticeable. Calculating her age, Katie was only a few years older than Anne Hathaway, so Eric wondered what she was doing in this crowd.

After surveying the group, Eric's gaze landed on the one disheveled, middle-aged man and his hunches began shaping up. He turned to Famke and asked, "So, when are you going to introduce me to everyone?"

Famke began to introduce each person to Eric. When it was the disheveled man's turn, Famke's identification confirmed Eric's suspicion: "Eric, this is Doug Liman, a talented new director. His first feature, Swingers, made with just $200,000 two years ago, won a lot of awards. I personally invested $100,000 into that, with the remaining $100,000 coming from Jeffrey's newcomer fund. Harvey sold the film for over $4.5 million in North America, and we all profited quite a bit. Vince and Heather are the leads in that film, and we're discussing Doug's new project. Miramax has greenlit it, and this is one of the actresses he's considering for the lead, named Katie, Katie Holmes. What do you think?"

As Famke spoke, she affectionately pulled Katie Holmes close. It was evident she knew Katie wouldn't meet Eric's usual taste, looking quite at ease.

Eric merely exchanged pleasantries with Katie before turning his attention back to Doug Liman, inquiring about his new film.

Though Eric had instructed ICM to scout male leads for the Bourne series, the specifics of the filming schedule were yet to be determined, so he hadn't paid much attention to Doug's situation.

Since he happened to encounter Doug today, Eric was inclined to make that connection.

"Go was inspired by Quentin Tarantino's story structure from Pulp Fiction. It tells various interesting narratives surrounding three unrelated groups of characters involved in a drug deal."

Doug Liman outlined his project with clarity, concluding, "Even though the storytelling borrows from Pulp Fiction, I hope to try a more complex multi-threaded narrative structure, allowing three stories to intertwine interestingly while ultimately converging into a perfect loop."

Eric had no recollection of a film called Go, unsure whether it was a potential new release due to the butterfly effect or if it simply existed in an alternate scenario. However, listening to Doug's fervent descriptions reminded Eric of another complex, multi-thread narrative film -- Guy Ritchie's Snatch.

Nonetheless, according to Eric's previous timeline, Snatch should have released in the UK and caused a stir by now, yet he hadn't heard anything about it. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to investigate; a film like that would be a shame to miss if it had vanished.

The thought of Snatch flitted through his mind before Eric returned most of his focus to Doug Liman. Once Doug finished, Eric offered a brief critique of Go, quickly steering the conversation towards MGM's spy movie universe.

While many thought Doug Liman's first Bourne film didn't resonate as classically as the second and third, if it weren't for the groundwork laid by the first, the latter films wouldn't have come together so flawlessly. Doug had been an essential producer in the Bourne series, significantly contributing to its success.

Eric didn't rush into extending any opportunity to this newly minted director with a budget at just $200,000, but after a delightful chat, he subtly hinted that he leaned toward selecting more inventive rookie directors for the Bourne series.

As long as Doug Liman had enough confidence and ambition, Eric believed this nudge would prompt him to actively pursue the opportunity.

Doug did not disappoint him. After discussing Bourne for a while, Eric noticed a spark of eagerness in Doug's eyes.

Before long, Eric didn't linger in the small group for too long. After about ten minutes, he whispered to Famke, "Let's go socialize with other guests."

Famke didn't shy away from the group. She affectionately pressed her cheek against Eric's but shook her head with a smile. "I'm not joining you tonight; I'll get killed with looks. You can find whoever you want."

Eric felt helpless, as Famke clearly knew others were also attending. He leaned closer and whispered, "Let's go back to Malibu together at the end."

"But, I promised Kelly I would stay at her place tonight."

Eric glanced at the now-curious Kelly Lynch, then leaned back in to Famke and whispered, "What could you possibly do with her? She looks rather lesbian; she probably has ulterior motives."

"Oh, stop it," Famke lightly smacked Eric's arm. "In any case, I can't tonight."

"Then I'll call you," Eric said, making a phone gesture. He said goodbye to the group and returned upstairs.

...

Following a server's guidance, Eric walked toward where the crew of The Ring had gathered. Director Gore Verbinski with leading lady Vera Farmiga and the main crew were present. The male lead, Depp, was filming Sleepy Hollow in England, so he was absent from the party.

Due to The Ring's phenomenal success, despite being just a horror film, Gore, also a former music video director, enjoyed a stronger trajectory in Hollywood than Michael Bay did when he first burst onto the scene with Bad Boys, exuding confidence and flair.

Firefly had signed Gore to the same three-film deal as they did with Michael Bay, and now the script for Pirates of the Caribbean was firmly in his grasp.

However, Eric wasn't considering launching the Pirates series just yet. Not only did Depp's schedule push the timeline back at least a year, but Gore's current inflated ego made him an unsuitable candidate to take charge of a production costing over $100 million at the moment, as he would struggle to execute Eric's production vision to its fullest.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1051: It Seemed Like Something Had Been Forgotten]

"Actually, during the shooting of the film, we really encountered some supernatural events, you know, that maple tree, Gore, do you remember?"

"Of course! It was in the second week of shooting when we created a prop maple tree using steel pipes and silk materials. Every time we set it up, the camera hadn't even started rolling before it got knocked over by the wind. This happened three times in a row, and everyone felt quite spooked. I had to leave that shot for the studio, but even there, it mysteriously fell over once again. The assistant director privately suggested that I shouldn't shoot that scene; thankfully, we completed it in the end."

On the spacious main deck of the ship, Eric and Gore Verbinski, along with the main creative team of The Ring, casually chatted about some amusing incidents during the film's shoot.

...

After a while, Bill Mechanic approached, jokingly engaging with the group. Once he confirmed that Eric and the others were not discussing any serious business, he leaned in and said quietly, "Eric, Richard Lovett from CAA is over there. We just finalized the production plan for Entrapment, and he wants to say hello."

Eric turned to look in the direction Bill pointed out, spotting Richard Lovett standing among a few guests. Despite his shorter stature, Lovett radiated a shrewd and capable aura as he cheerfully raised his glass towards Eric.

The current structure of Hollywood's industry dictated that movie companies could not escape their interdependent relationship with talent agencies. While Eric had a close relationship with ICM, he understood that maintaining a competitive balance among ICM, CAA, and WMA served the interests of the film companies better. Given Eric's mindset and standing at that time, he didn't dwell on the minor frictions between Firefly and CAA over the years. He nodded in acknowledgment towards Lovett and turned back to Gore Verbinski and the others, saying, "You guys continue chatting. I'll just step away for a moment."

...

After exchanging pleasantries, Eric walked with Bill Mechanic towards Richard Lovett.

However, just a few steps in, Eric caught sight of a brown-haired girl in a little black dress barreling toward him like a rabbit darting towards a tree stump, moving so fast that he didn't have time to dodge.

With a light yelp from the girl, their bodies collided, and as they did, a good portion of champagne splashed onto Eric's white shirt. The left sleeve and part of his shoulder were completely soaked.

Stumbling back a step to steady himself, he gazed at the fresh-faced girl with her signature full lips, inwardly lamenting, "What a typical overzealous Anne Hathaway." Hadn't she just handed him her business card? Why was she here again?

As a central figure of Hollywood, Eric's every move at this party had people watching closely.

Some guests, who had been racking their brains for ways to connect with Eric, swiftly converged when this mishap occurred. The closest ladies from The Ring crew quickly pulled out tissues from their handbags to help dab the champagne stains from Eric's shirt. Others voiced their concern, asking Eric if he was okay.

In the blink of an eye, the girl responsible for the commotion found herself pushed to the periphery of the crowd.

...

Still clutching an empty glass, Anne Hathaway stood in shock at the unexpected turn of events. Taking a half-step forward out of instinct, she then realized that two burly security guards had materialized in front of her at some point, their eyes scrutinizing her cautiously.

Realizing she likely wouldn't get another chance to approach Eric Williams, Anne forced a somewhat unnatural smile at the security guards and turned to escape. But before she could make a move, a middle-aged man in a black suit politely blocked her path -- it was Jonas Heyman, the manager of the Titanic exhibition area, who happened to be patrolling nearby.

Jonas examined Anne for a moment, recalling an encounter with a group of individuals trying to sneak in during the afternoon preparations. He couldn't help but sigh internally; here was another one.

While he knew that ignoring the incident and treating it as a simple accident was the best course of action, Jonas dutifully asked, "Miss, may I see your invitation?"

Anne calmly shook her head. "I came with Mr. Robert; the invitation is with him. And that was just an accident. I'm really sorry."

Jonas maintained his gentle tone, "Miss, may I ask which Mr. Robert? I need to confirm."

"Robert, Robert De... De Niro, oh no, it's Robert De Niro... no, wait, that's not it," Anne stammered, realizing her mistake and that she had accidentally revealed herself.

Feeling her legs frail and her eyes darting anxiously, Anne quickly adopted a look of innocent pleading. "I'm sorry, sir. That truly was an accident. I didn't mean to bump into Mr. Williams. I... I'll leave now."

Jonas chuckled softly and shook his head. He had initially thought about having Anne Hathaway escorted out but upon seeing the chaotic crowd nearby, he felt obligated to inform Eric about the situation. He glanced at his two attendants to ensure they monitored Anne Hathaway and turned his attention back to Eric.

...

"It's really nothing; everyone, please continue enjoying the party. You don't have to hover around me," Eric said after quickly dealing with the champagne stains on his shirt.

Seeing that Eric was fine, the guests realized that there were too many people around to make any real connections and started to disperse.

"I'm sorry, Bill, and Richard. I need to change my shirt."

Although Eric had hastily cleaned up, he couldn't attend the party still wearing that stained shirt. He bid farewell to Bill Mechanic and Richard Lovett, intending to stop by his office in the adjacent administrative area, where he had some spare clothing.

Just as he was about to leave the large ship for next door, Jonas Heyman followed him. "Mr. Williams, I'm truly sorry; that girl slipped in here. That was my oversight."

While Jonas's rank in the Firefly Group wasn't particularly high, Eric knew him due to his position. Hearing his explanation, Eric didn't particularly mind and simply asked, "Jonas, where is she?"

Jonas pointed to Anne Hathaway, who was being guarded by two staff members not far away. "Over there."

Eric took a glance at her, feeling the clingy sensation of champagne still on him, and hurried to change clothes, saying casually, "You take care of that. I'll go change."

Since his rebirth, Eric had seen so many stars from his past that he had grown indifferent to such occurrences. He intended for Jonas to handle the situation as he wished. However, Jonas misunderstood, thinking Eric wanted to see the girl later, so he told his attendants to take Anne Hathaway to an office on the ship.

...

As Eric reached his office in the administrative wing, he took off his shirt, considered showering briefly, and once he was done, he noticed commotion outside. He peeked out and saw Nicole sitting at his desk casually flipping through a document.

Wringing his hair with a towel, Eric emerged and said, "You know, you could get arrested as a corporate spy looking like that."

Nicole threw him a glance, approaching him as she asked, "What happened back there?"

"It was an attempted assassination!" Eric joked, then reached out to wrap his arms around Nicole. "You still love me the most, huh? Those two girls? I wasted my affection on them; they didn't even show up. And what about Famke? After all that happened, she didn't come by to check on me either."

Nicole playfully dodged Eric's embrace, sizing him up. She could tell he was joking. Taking the towel from Eric's hands, she began to help dry his hair attentively. "Jansen should have left by now. As for those two girls, well, they are definitely your favorites, and they're over there guzzling drinks, each with a whole entourage. It's pretty lively. I'm guessing if you really got assassinated, they wouldn't even know."

Eric pulled Nicole closer, inhaling the enticing scent of her perfume along her neck. "Whatever. The kid's grown up."

"Haha, it's obvious you're not a good dad."

"I'm a total failure; Vicki often says the same." Eric sounded disheartened. "But you all will be good mothers someday, and also make sure to keep an eye on me."

Nicole lightly swatted him. "You're starting to sound ridiculous again. By the way..." Her tone softened slightly, as if she had been holding back. She had actually heard the news some time ago but couldn't help but bring it up now. "That... Olivia?"

Eric nodded, tightening his grip around her. "That's her."

Nicole hung the towel around Eric's neck and hugged him back, her tone filled with a teasing laugh. "So, Carly is really your cousin then."

"Yeah."

"Is she going to be heartbroken?"

"Not at all."

Eric shook his head, recalling Caroline's words from that night...

In the UK, it was not prohibited. In California, it was also not prohibited.

Nicole was curious, but seeing Eric's casual expression made her refrain from pressing further. They changed the subject.

After a moment of tenderness, Eric changed into a new shirt, and he and Nicole left the administrative building to head back onto the ship.

...

Before they knew it, it was nearing 10 p.m. After confirming that the earlier incident was just a minor accident, Nicole didn't linger when they returned to the ship. She said goodbye to Eric and left with Naomi to rest after the party.

Eric chatted with Richard Lovett from CAA for a bit and entertained a few other guests until Matthew Perry rushed over to Eric, saying a few words. Eric found himself bemused as he made his way to a bar within the ship.

Compared to the crowded yet orderly atmosphere outside, the bar was loud and chaotic. A group of men and women had clearly split into two factions. On one side were Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson with their friends, clearly overpowering the other faction led by Jennifer Aniston and her group from Friends.

As Eric entered the bar, he heard everyone rhythmically shout, "GO! GO! GO! GO!"

At a long table, Kate Hudson was downing a beer while over at Jennifer Aniston's side, a blonde girl who exuded a tomboyish vibe was also chugging from a bottle of dark ale. The table was already littered with empty bottles.

The girls cheering on their "team" were obviously a bit tipsy, their faces flushed as they cheered for their companions.

Eric, helplessly surveying the scene, asked Matthew Perry beside him, "How much have they had?"

Matthew hesitated, mumbling, "Um, maybe five or six bottles."

Eric nodded and waited for the two girls to finish their beers. He clapped his hands loudly and called out, "Okay, that's it for tonight! Everybody go out and have fun. And don't drive when you head back!"

Upon seeing Eric, aside from Drew and Jennifer, the others quickly quieted down, greeting him as they made their way out of the bar.

However, seeing everyone leaving, Drew and Jennifer were unhappy.

"No, you can't leave! Kate, come back! Don't listen to him!"

"Matthew, you traitor! Why did you call Eric over here? Traitor! I'm going to, uh, unfriend you."

Eric stepped over and put his arm around the swaying Drew, eyeing Jennifer Aniston, who immediately pouted. He reached over the table to take the girl's hand. "Alright, it's time to go home."

Although Drew swayed a bit, her mind was clearly intact, and hearing Eric say that, she immediately beamed, "Yes, home! Eric, let's go back to Trousdale Manor."

"No, we're not going to Trousdale Manor; we're going to my place in Santa Monica. Ugh, Eric, you're biased! I want a villa in Trousdale too!"

Eric half-hugged Drew while turning to wrap his other arm around Jennifer, signaling the bodyguards outside to prepare the car for him as he led the rowdy girls out.

Although the party still had some time to go, Eric didn't feel like sticking around with two unruly girls.

...

Once outside the ship, Eric comfortably settled the two into his vehicle in the parking lot, sighed, and instructed the driver to head to Malibu.

However, once in the car, the two girls grew restless and began to party even more, leading Eric to keep an eye on them during the ride as they laughed and played around until they arrived at Liberty City Manor.

Though he occasionally thought about whether he had forgotten something important during the drive, his focus remained on the two girls beside him. Those fleeting thoughts slipped away completely, as Eric set them aside entirely.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1052: This Is No Cinderella Fairytale]

The next morning, Eric woke up right on time at seven o'clock.

At last night's party, he had only sipped a few glasses of champagne and left early due to a couple of feisty girls. As a result, he felt no fatigue from a hangover.

After getting ready, he left his bedroom and peeked into the rooms of the girls. The two restless little kittens from last night were now soundly asleep on their respective large beds. Not wanting to disturb them, Eric tiptoed out.

The twins were also up early. As he went downstairs, he found the twins in sport tank tops and shorts coming out of the gym after finishing their morning workout.

"Good morning, Master," the twins greeted him, stopping in their tracks.

"Good morning," Eric replied, about to head to the gym when he suddenly remembered. He called out to them, "By the way, the Gulfstream company should be delivering those two Gulfstream Vs to Ventura Airport this morning, right?"

After more than a year, Eric had completed construction on two private airports on the East and West Coasts and had formed a basic operations team. Initially, he had customized four private jets; the two Boeing 747-400s would take another six months to finish, but the two smaller Gulfstream Vs were scheduled for delivery today.

Drew was much more invested in the private jet situation, and the twins were well-versed in this kind of stuff.

"That's right, Master. The boss told us yesterday to wake her up this morning. Are you heading over there too?" Natasha nodded in response.

Eric shook his head. "I have other things to take care of today. You girls can go. I'll check in on things in Ventura later when I have more time."

Natasha nodded again and, seeing that Eric had no further instructions, she took her sister and left.

...

Drew did not wake up until nearly nine o'clock, when Eric personally woke her. She sleepily went through her morning routine, finally becoming awake.

Eric and the twins had already eaten breakfast. On a normal day, he would have rushed off to Firefly Studios, but since both girls were here, he couldn't leave just yet; at least one of them had to be preoccupied to ease his mind. After all, when the two girls were together, they could be a handful, and he worried they might get hurt in their antics.

After urging Drew to eat a bit more of her breakfast, Eric left the villa with her.

...

On the helipad, the twins had readied a VH-60 helicopter. They didn't summon the pilot in; instead, they took the pilot's seats themselves. The girls had long since obtained their helicopter licenses. After watching them handle the aircraft a few times, Eric felt gradually reassured.

He wrapped his arms around Drew's waist and playfully helped her into the cabin. After giving the twins a few reminders, he stepped back to a safe distance and watched as the massive black body of the VH-60 slowly lifted off and flew north.

With the girl sent off, Eric left a note for a still-sleeping Aniston before heading to Firefly Studios.

...

Upon arriving at the Gravity set, the film's cinematographer, Nicole Frank, and visual effects supervisor Robert Byer were busy beside a large glass water tank. Aside from some trivial space scenes, most of the remaining principal photography for Gravity would revolve around this water tank. They planned to film the scenes where Ryan successfully exited his ill-fated capsule and painstakingly swam out from the lake's depths.

After greeting everyone, Eric climbed the ladder to the edge of the tank. Just as he steadied himself on the edge, a crew member wearing a wetsuit emerged from the water, carrying an underwater camera.

Taking the camera from the staff member, Nicole excitedly told Eric, "Eric, I thought of a new improvement for underwater shooting last night. Look at this lens -- I built this protective layer this morning, and it won't detract from the underwater shooting effects. We might even apply for a small patent! Come on, let's go see how the recent footage looks."

Underwater photography had always been a challenge in filmmaking, primarily due to the camera equipment. Even with impeccable waterproof capabilities, most cameras couldn't deliver the demanding visuals required for film.

Listening carefully to Nicole's explanation, Eric, alongside Robert Byer, hopped into the tank with her.

...

After an hour, Eric changed into a wetsuit, ready to conduct some tests himself when a studio guard walked in with an envelope, saying it was from Jonas Hayman, the manager of the Titanic Exhibition.

Confused, Eric took the envelope and opened it. Inside was just a note asking how he wanted to handle the girl from last night.

It took him a moment to realize that Jonas must be referring to Anne Hathaway. He remembered instructing the person last night to send her home. However, recalling the situation made it clear the issue was still on his end. It wasn't surprising that he had felt like he forgot something last night.

Chuckling, Eric casually folded the note and told the guard, "Tell whoever sent the message I'll be available in the afternoon. We can discuss it then."

...

After sending the visibly puzzled guard on his way, Eric donned his goggles and climbed back up to the top of the tank.

He had only planned morning work for the day. Around twelve-thirty, after wrapping up various adjustments for the underwater scenes, Nicole and Robert declined Eric's lunch invitation. They, along with a few other crew members, hastily left, eager to enjoy the last moments of their weekend.

Eric headed alone to the restaurant on the adjacent ship.

...

Ordering lunch, he thought about Anne Hathaway. Since Nicole and Robert weren't joining him, he asked the restaurant staff to summon her.

After being taken to an office last night, Anne Hathaway realized no one was minding her afterward. If it hadn't been for the seemingly courteous park manager saying that Eric Williams wanted to see her, she might have considered calling the police. The studio staff even locked the office door to prevent her from escaping.

Unable to wait any longer, she eventually lay on the couch and fell asleep for the night, only waking in the morning due to hunger. She hadn't eaten anything since managing to sneak into the party the previous afternoon.

Most of the park staff were busy cleaning up after last night's event, even Jonas Hayman had forgotten about her.

The office door remained locked. Anne Hathaway knocked for a while, but no one answered. She contemplated using the desk phone to call 911 but decided to wait patiently for regular office hours instead. Finally, someone heard her knocking and let her out.

It was a long, tiresome morning.

...

When Anne Hathaway entered the restaurant, she noticed that the food on Eric's plate was infinitely more appealing than the Hollywood mogul himself.

Heaven knows no one had thought to get her something to eat all morning.

Perhaps those around her thought women didn't need to eat.

Watching the girl, who appeared faint and starry-eyed-come over, Eric quickly understood what was going on. Amused, he pushed his lunch across the table to her. "If you don't mind, feel free to eat mine. I'll order another."

"Thank you, Mr. Williams."

The scent of the food activated her growling stomach, and she didn't hesitate to take him up on his offer. Gratefully, she started cutting a generous piece of muffin and eagerly stuffed it into her mouth.

Only after swallowing a mouthful did she stretch her neck comfortably and notice the man across from her smiling. That was when she suddenly realized she should probably be a bit more dignified. She discreetly adjusted her sitting posture and smiled politely at Eric, saying, "I apologize, Mr. Williams. I was just so hungry."

Eric instructed the waiter who had just arrived to prepare another meal for him while saying to Anne Hathaway, "No worries. If that's not enough, I can order you another."

Anne Hathaway quickly shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary; this is already plenty."

Eric picked up a bottle of water and twisted off the cap before handing it to her. "So, your name is Anne Hathaway?"

Taking the bottle, she took a small sip and replied, "Yes, actually I share the same name as Shakespeare's wife."

"That's interesting," Eric chuckled, "Do you know what Shakespeare named his son?"

Anne Hathaway blinked in surprise, then shook her head. "Sorry, Mr. Williams, I don't know."

Eric shrugged. "Neither do I."

Anne Hathaway seemed to find some humor in Eric's response, letting out a few giggles.

Eric thought the girl was a bit naive, and looking at her youthful face reminded him to ask, "By the way, how old are you?"

Pausing her eating, Anne Hathaway quickly steadied herself and smiled at Eric. "Mr. Williams, asking a girl's age is rather impolite."

Unfazed, Eric said, "What if I really want to know?"

There was a hint of petulance in Anne Hathaway's eyes, but she soon replied, "I'm twenty-one."

Eric observed her performance and opted not to call her out on it. He distinctly remembered her being eighteen during The Princess Diaries, a very famous Disney film from 2001. At the moment, the book version of The Princess Diaries hadn't even appeared yet.

Though he didn't wish to expose her, Eric shook his head, feigning disappointment. "What a shame. Disney happens to have a teen movie that needs a female lead. Your looks fit the bill, but your age is just a bit off. The role requires someone below eighteen."

Anne Hathaway's eyes widened, hesitation shadowing her face. "Um, Mr. Williams, actually I can play a girl under eighteen."

"But you're already twenty-one, so you've lost that youthful feel," Eric replied, shrugging. "I'll search for someone else instead."

Anne Hathaway's grip on her utensils stiffened for a moment. Biting her lip, she said, "Actually, Mr. Williams, I just lied."

"Oh?"

"My birthday is November 12th. I still have over a month until I turn eighteen. I just didn't want people to see me as a child. I apologize."

Eric couldn't help but smile. "Oh, that's fine. I also just lied; Disney doesn't actually have a film requiring a female lead under eighteen. What we need is someone under sixteen."

Even Anne Hathaway, though naive, realized Eric was just teasing her. Beneath her surface disappointment, she made no protest, simply smiled again at Eric.

Moments later, a waiter brought out Eric's lunch. As he leisurely picked up his utensils, Eric broke the silence again, watching Anne Hathaway, who had slowed down her eating once more. "So, how did you end up at the party last night?"

Suddenly embarrassed, Anne Hathaway looked down and said, "I waited outside the door for a long time, and then a single gentleman brought me in."

"Oh, he must have been a real good Samaritan."

"Yeah, but unfortunately, I accidentally lost him in the crowd yesterday, which caused the misunderstanding."

Eric casually enjoyed his meal while listening to the girl's whimsical tale, finding it quite entertaining.

...

After lunch, Eric stepped out of the restaurant, with Anne Hathaway trailing closely behind him as they headed over to the studio grounds.

Walking along the concrete pathway of the administration area, gazing at the immense shadows of the soundstages nearby, Anne Hathaway felt a surge of anticipation.

She came from a decent background, unlike many young men and women who arrived in Hollywood with nothing. Though she still had two months until she turned sixteen, with her father's help, she already had her professional agent. While it wasn't a big agency like ICM, it was enough to provide her with auditions that many young people dreamed of.

But standing beside Eric Williams now, she felt an even deeper sense of hope.

He was the richest man in the world, with a fortune of over a hundred billion. Anne Hathaway had no idea what that really meant, but she understood it was enough to afford anything one could desire. While she grew up in a comfortably middle-class family, it paled in comparison to the truly wealthy elite in America. Her childhood experiences attending wealthy gatherings with her father had left her longing for such a luxurious lifestyle.

Without a doubt, the man beside her could help her realize everything she wanted with just a wave of his hand.

...

The morning work for Gravity was already done. Eric didn't head to the soundstage again but made his way to his office, intending to take care of some accumulated emails in the afternoon.

In his office, Eric casually settled into his chair behind the desk and opened his computer. He also allowed Anne Hathaway the freedom to move around the office as she pleased, unconcerned about the girl whose fate he had already planned.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1053: This is Good]

As Eric opened his email, he noticed a message from Chris that had just arrived at noon and clicked to open it.

The email contained the latest list of major shareholders and their respective shareholdings in America Online. Although Firefly had given up its seat on the America Online board and ceased to interfere with its management entirely, it had not completely disregarded the company. After several months of operations, Firefly Investment had successfully reduced its stake in America Online by 25%, cashing out a staggering $10 billion.

During the first phase of the 10% stock reduction, to ensure enough returns on its investment, the organizations connected to America Online also jumped into the spotlight, joining Morgan Stanley in promoting technology stock investment prospects. This led to America Online's actual stock price gradually soaring well beyond the price at which Firefly had reduced its stake.

In the subsequent sale of 15% of shares, Morgan Stanley not only invested heavily but also strategically employed a bit of hunger marketing to attract more Wall Street capital to America Online stock. Ultimately, when the official distribution date arrived, the part of the stock under Morgan Stanley's underwriting had already been fully subscribed.

According to the latest stock price information, America Online's market value had reached $53.6 billion. Calculating based on this market value meant that Firefly Investment had suffered a loss of $3.4 billion during this stock reduction. However, given Eric's more pessimistic view on America Online's future compared to most media and investment institutions, securing this $10 billion investment left Firefly in a significantly profitable position, even if the remaining 10.6% of their shares became worthless.

...

Suddenly, the sound of high heels clicked through the air, pulling Eric from his thoughts as he turned to see Anne Hathaway carefully placing a freshly brewed cup of hot coffee beside him.

"Thanks," Eric said, moving the coffee cup to his preferred spot, then turning to look at Anne Hathaway and said, "By the way, take off your high heels."

His tone was casual, and after speaking, he focused back on the computer screen, but Anne Hathaway's heart raced at his words. That was happening much too quickly.

As Eric scrolled through the email, he felt the girl next to him go quiet, and he turned to ask, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," she quickly shook her head, hesitating slightly before biting her lip. She took off her high heels, rolled down her strap, and peeled off her black dress.

Sensing something different, Eric glanced back and noticed Anne Hathaway only in her undergarments, her figure noticeably attractive.

"Ha, you really know how to make a leap," Eric couldn't help but chuckle.

Though surrounded by many women, Eric had become increasingly restrained about intimate matters over the years. He could go weeks without seeing any women when busy. After taking care of two little drunks like a babysitter late into the night, he had built up some tension, and upon seeing the current situation, he didn't ask her to put her clothes back on. Instead, he switched off the monitor, leaned back in his office chair, and pushed a little away from the desk. "Come here."

...

Later that evening, Eric took Anne Hathaway back onto the yacht, but this time, they didn't head to the small restaurant. Instead, he reserved a nice table in the main dining area, which was open for business. With no one else around on a Sunday night in the small restaurant, dining together would have felt a little silly.

The yacht's restaurant had long become one of the finest in Los Angeles, where reservations filled up early on weekends. But for Eric, this posed no issue at all.

Seated by a window with a beautiful view of Santa Monica's twinkling lights, Anne Hathaway wore a soft, slightly vulnerable expression. She quietly ordered a steak from the waiter, stealing a cautious glance at the man across from her, her heart swelling with a bit of pride as she thought back to the afternoon.

When Eric had called her over and made her kneel, she had felt terribly wronged. From childhood, she had been treated like a princess at home and school. Although she had boyfriends, her high standards meant she had never even shared her first kiss. Yet, now she found herself in a position with Eric where such expectations felt almost natural.

Now, when she saw Eric, who although looking troubled appeared much kinder than before, Anne Hathaway felt confident her efforts wouldn't go unrewarded.

She just wondered if she could become his girlfriend. Or one of his girlfriends -- though that felt like an acceptable situation. After all, this was Eric Williams.

Initially thinking it was just a one-night stand, she realized that things were more complicated than anticipated. Eric was equally frustrated, feeling a mix of dissatisfaction and entanglement.

Reflecting on his caution throughout, Eric had always made sure to take precautions in matters like this.

This is good.

Since the two little ones were born, Eric had taken matters of this kind seriously. It wasn't that he feared an unexpected child could stir financial demands -- money had become a minor concern for him. He simply didn't want to bring a child into the world without being prepared; he was not an irresponsible guy, but neither did he feel fitted to be a committed father. Judging by how women reacted, he rightly sensed that he might not even be the best partner or lover.

What a failure!

Yet when he glanced at Anne Hathaway across the table; this situation didn't seem so bad.

Seeing Eric looking over, Anne Hathaway blushed and fluttered her eyelashes. "Eric, um, can I go see the Liberty City Mansion tonight?"

Before dinner, Eric had called ahead. Drew had flown to the East Coast in her brand-new Gulfstream V with the twins and was already with Joanna. She wouldn't be returning to Liberty City Mansion that night.

Looking into the hopeful eyes of the girl before him, Eric hesitated but finally nodded. "Sure, but Anne, I must clarify -- don't expect too much from our relationship."

Anne Hathaway's expression fell, but she nodded obediently. "I understand."

Eric took a sip of his juice and asked, "What about you? Do you have an agency now?"

"Yeah," Anne Hathaway confirmed, "I signed with Elite Talent Agency a few months ago."

Eric suddenly recalled something, unsure, "That's the one representing the script for Pirates of the Caribbean?"

"Yes," Anne Hathaway smiled slightly, but realizing what this man had done to acquire a film company for a script gave her pause. "Actually, I nearly signed with Matt Gilson, but he already had several artists under him, so I missed out. My current agent is Carl Franco, introduced by my dad."

Having finalized the acquisition of Sony's film business, Eric remembered the contract Sony had signed with the Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriters and hadn't followed up with Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott. After paying $7.5 million, Sony wouldn't agree to any more terms, and the screenwriters had left with a hefty sum, settling everything amicably.

Even if Eric had been in their position, he guessed he would have likely sold the script outright, and naturally, he could not hand over adaptation rights to those two now.

Hearing that Anne Hathaway was with the same agency as the screenwriters sparked no unusual thoughts from Eric; he merely made a sound of acknowledgment and moved on from the topic.

Anne Hathaway, sensing Eric's lack of interest in the conversation, worried that the subject might have upset him. The recent buzz over the Pirates of the Caribbean script had initially brought her pride, but now as her perspective shifted, she feared she had struck a nerve.

After a moment's hesitation, she thought to remedy her earlier discussion. "Well, Eric, should I consider switching agencies?"

"Are there any famous actors in the agency?" Eric raised an eyebrow, looking up.

"Andy Garcia," Anne Hathaway replied, "He was in The Godfather Part III and even got a Best Supporting Actor nomination."

Sharing the biggest name from her agency, Anne Hathaway smiled awkwardly when Eric showed confusion. "Also, I heard Michelle Pfeiffer was with us for a while before she quickly jumped to WMA after gaining fame. Besides Andy Garcia, we have a few TV stars; Morgan Fairchild, she had a cameo as Chandler's mom on your show Friends. Apparently, she's 48 now but looks like she's in her thirties! If I could maintain that look, I'd be thrilled."

As Anne Hathaway rambled on, Eric chuckled and said, "You might as well stay at this agency; who knows, in a few years, you might become the top dog! Switching to a new agency might make you feel like just another little fish."

Anne Hathaway's eyes sparkled as she nodded quickly. "Yes, Eric, I'll do whatever you say."

"Great! I like obedient girls," Eric nodded with satisfaction.

...

The next morning, in the spacious master bedroom at Liberty City Mansion, Anne Hathaway, feeling Eric's movements beside her, sleepily opened her eyes. She looked around, quickly snapping awake.

Watching Eric head for the bathroom, she got up from bed, full of energy.

However, looking around made her realize all her clothes had been taken away to be cleaned, leaving her with nothing. The bathroom had solid soundproofing, and after listening for a moment, hearing nothing, she hesitated, wrapped a bedsheet around herself, and barefoot, tiptoed to the window.

It was still before seven in the morning, and in October, the sun hadn't yet risen over Los Angeles.

Yet standing by the circular bay window with the breathtaking view where the sky met the sea, Anne Hathaway felt a rush of tranquility that was hard to shake.

If only she could live here forever.

This thought sprouted, and suddenly Anne Hathaway considered pretending to collapse back onto the bed, making a show of being overwhelmed, surely that would keep her here for a few more days.

Reluctantly circling the spacious bedroom, much like a princess surveying her castle, she took in everything around Malibu. After a while, just as she was about to commit to leaving when the bathroom door swung open.

Eric strolled out in a bathrobe, towel drying his damp hair. Spotting the girl wrapped in a sheet gazing out at the window, he laughed, "You're awake?"

"Ah, yeah, good morning, Eric," she said, feeling a bit regretful that her act had been compromised.

Eric approached the edge of the bed, dressed himself, and seeing Anne still obliviously standing there, he took a shirt from his closet. "Go wash up. I've got a new toothbrush ready for you. Wear my shirt for now; you can skip the pants. They won't fit."

Anne Hathaway nodded, smiling modestly as she walked toward the bathroom.

After washing up and slipping on Eric's oversized shirt, she couldn't help but lean in to catch a whiff of its lemony scent. Unwilling to hurry out of the spacious bedroom, she took her time before finally heading down the stairs, peeking around curiously.

It was so big!

Even more remarkably, it was incredibly clean. Walking barefoot downstairs, she didn't feel any dirt touch her feet, questioning how they managed such thorough cleaning.

Thoughts whirled in her head as she wandered around the mansion until she found the kitchen. Eric was there, rolling up his sleeves, holding a frying pan and making scrambled eggs. Though this scene felt slightly surreal, she stepped forward and asked, "Eric, is there anything I can help with?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1054: Pseudologia Fantastica]

"If you could," Eric handed the frying pan to Anne Hathaway, "I'll go grab your clothes, they should be done washing by now."

Despite having grown up in privilege, Anne Hathaway had spent a few months living alone in Los Angeles and had naturally picked up the necessary life skills during that time.

Eric entrusted the task of making breakfast to the girl before leaving the kitchen.

...

Twenty minutes later, when Anne Hathaway brought the finished breakfast to the dining room, Eric was sitting at the table scrolling through emails on his laptop. Upon noticing her arrival, he pointed to a bag filled with clothes resting on a nearby chair.

Anne nodded, placing the plate of fried eggs, salad, and muffins in front of Eric. She eagerly set the utensils and took a seat beside him, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. "Eric, how does my cooking taste?"

Eric picked up a muffin, took a bite, and nodded. "Not bad."

"Well, I didn't make this -- just took it from the fridge," she confessed.

"It's still yours," Eric smiled, glancing at the girl beside him. "Aren't you having breakfast?"

"Oh, mine's in the kitchen," Anne replied, standing again. "Eric, do you need anything else?"

"Just pour me a glass of milk."

"Sure thing," Anne nodded, dutifully walking back to the kitchen.

Anne ate slowly, and by the time Eric set down his utensils, she was still delicately working through her salad.

As he observed her, though her face seemed a bit youthful and her mouth slightly large, he had to admit that her eyes were incredibly beautiful.

After admiring her for a moment, Eric said, "By the way, I scheduled an audition for you. You just need to go to the Columbia Pictures headquarters in Culver City tomorrow."

Seeing the excitement in her big eyes, Eric chuckled a bit, tempering her enthusiasm. "But don't get your hopes up too much; it's just a small role. You're currently in that awkward age range for Hollywood actors, so you might just want to take on some minor roles in films for a couple of years to hone your craft. Also, if you want to go further in this industry, consider signing up for an acting workshop. No one has natural talent; even Meryl Streep graduated from Yale's drama program."

Anne listened intently, nodding her head, but her focus remained on the role Eric just mentioned. "Eric, what am I playing?"

"It's a biopic about a girl with borderline personality disorder undergoing treatment at a rehab facility. The two leads are Winona Ryder and Charlize Theron, and you'll play a girl suffering from pseudologia fantastica."

Hearing she'd be acting alongside two of Hollywood's youngest leading ladies, Anne felt her previous disappointment diminish. If this man could help her succeed, she believed that one day her fame would rival theirs.

With these thoughts racing in her mind, her tone softened, reminiscent of a curious kitten. "Eric, what is pseudologia fantastica?"

"Simply put," Eric replied with a smile at the corner of his mouth, "it means a habitual tendency to lie."

"Ah!"

Anne noticed the slightly mischievous smile on Eric's face and immediately understood that he had somehow caught wind of her little fibs from the day before.

Blinking her big, expressive eyes, she seemed to want to express her vulnerability but wisely chose not to defend herself this time.

Seeing that she was nearly done eating, Eric smiled, pushed his plate to the center of the table, and patted the spot in front of him. "Come here."

Anne walked over, following Eric's gesture to sit down at the table in front of him, her little feet resting on his lap. She was still just wearing a shirt, and in this position, she instinctively pressed down on its hem, feeling a little shy. After a moment of contemplation, she parted her legs slightly.

Eric simply wrapped his arms around the girl's slender waist as he set her atop the table, not pursuing anything further. Though the tempting young beauty before him was alluring, he had work to do today and didn't have time for distractions. He continued, "From now on, don't play any tricks in front of me, or I might really send you to a psychiatric hospital."

Anne drew her neck in like a startled rabbit, nodding obediently.

Eric moved on, continuing his previous train of thought. "Actually, this role is quite interesting. In the script, you'll have a dialogue with Winona about a girl who has been disfigured. Your character seriously recounts the story of how that girl became disfigured. Winona listens with profound empathy and sympathy and then asks you how you ended up in the rehab facility. You reply: 'Pseudologia fantastica.'"

Noticing the confused expression on Anne's face, Eric raised his hand and gently pinched her chin, smiling as he added, "When you get the script, make sure to study that scene carefully. If you can nail that performance, the audience will remember you through that character."

In the original version of Girl, Interrupted, the character with pseudologia fantastica was played by Clea DuVall, who often appeared in teen films during the late '90s.

While Eric believed that the actress's performance in the role was somewhat underwhelming, that intriguing and dramatically contrasting dialogue still left an impression on him. It felt as if one were wandering through an old, eerie house and suddenly realizing that the seemingly harmless old man narrating ghost stories was likely to be the "protagonist" of the tale.

Looking into Anne's innocent and lively eyes, Eric couldn't help but think that if she were to take on that role, the contrast would be significantly more intense. As long as she put enough effort into that character, audiences would undoubtedly remember the girl named Anne Hathaway while enjoying Winona and Charlize's performances.

In Hollywood, it didn't matter whether you were acting in a great film or a terrible one; as long as the audience remembered you, then you were deemed a success.

However, Eric didn't explain too much further to her. The opportunity had been provided; if she couldn't seize it, then it was just remaining mediocre for her.

Having finished his thoughts, Eric took a credit card from his wallet and said, "Oh, here's something for you."

When Anne saw the black card presented by Eric, her fingers twitched. She understood what the Citibank black card implied, but after hesitating, she resisted the temptation and shook her head. "Eric, I can't take this."

Eric, however, simply shoved the card into her hand. "Isn't your birthday next month? You could use it to buy yourself a house or a car as a birthday gift from me. Whatever you want, it's up to you; girls generally have a knack for spending more money than us guys anyway."

Feeling the texture of the card in her hand, Anne hesitated but eventually nodded slightly.

"Now, one last thing," Eric's expression turned serious. "Remember, with this card, you're mine. But I'm not someone who forces relationships; whenever you feel like leaving your current life behind, just call to have this card canceled and you'll be free. But until then, remember that you belong to me, and don't do anything you shouldn't. Understand?"

Anne certainly understood Eric's implication. For a moment, she considered returning the credit card to him, wanting to avoid becoming a living trophy. But after a moment of hesitation, the temptation outweighed her rational thoughts. She nodded gently, then couldn't help but ask quietly, "Eric, what if this card..."

Eric reached out and pinched her cheek again, smiling. "If you can max it out, then you're something else. But remember, the more you gain, the more you have to give back. Don't ever think I'm a fool."

"Uh, I understand."

"Good," Eric said, handing over two business cards. "One is mine, and one is my assistant's office. If you have any issues, you can call me. For other things, like buying a house, just contact my assistant's office. They'll help arrange it. You'll get eaten alive if you try to do it alone. Now, go change your clothes. I've sent your agent over to Firefly Group; I'll have a word with him shortly."

...

An hour later, Anne Hathaway sat in her agent Carl Franco's car, reflecting on everything that had happened over the past two days. It felt as if she had been in a long dream.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice Carl's hesitations until he was about to speak a few times. She finally perked up and turned to him seriously. "Uncle Carl, please don't tell my parents about this, okay?"

Carl Franco was a man in his forties. He initially signed on Anne because of a friend's referral, and he didn't have any specific expectations from her.

When he received the call saying Eric Williams wanted to meet, he thought someone was joking with him until the call reached the owner of his agent company, who then redirected it to him. He hurriedly drove to Firefly Group.

Thinking about Eric Williams' instructions lingered in his mind, imagining he might soon have a top-tier Hollywood actress under his wing filled Carl Franco with anticipation for the future.

Upon hearing Anne's words, Carl quickly nodded without a second thought. He obviously knew how to handle the situation to his advantage. "Anne, are you settling into the shared living arrangement with Kristen and the others okay? If not, I can help you find a new place. Don't worry; the rental company can temporarily cover the costs."

Anne had been living with a few girls from the agency in a shared apartment in West Hollywood. Though the building was recommended by the agency, the rent was quite high, and the girls were the ones actually paying it.

The other girls, being older and having their own income, had no trouble, but Anne, being the youngest and new to Hollywood, sent the bills to her parents -- much like how Rachel had relied on her father's credit card in the early episodes of Friends.

Anne didn't like the idea of sharing a place with others, but upon hearing Carl's suggestion, she also thought of the credit card tucked in her purse. Glancing around, she pointed to a nearby bank. "Uncle Carl, can we stop there?"

Seeing Anne had disregarded his earlier proposal about housing, Carl nodded and soon pulled over.

"Uncle Carl, just wait a moment; I'll be right back."

...

After the car stopped and she got out, Anne walked over to the bank's ATM. Feeling a bit nervous, she quickly glanced around before pulling out the black card and inserting it into the machine, letting out a soft breath.

How much could it be?

At least... it had to be over a million, right? There was no way less would suffice for a decent home in Los Angeles.

She had been paying attention; the shared apartment she was in was going for over thirty thousand dollars, and the property prices had rapidly increased over the years. If she could buy her own house, she hoped it would be in Santa Monica for a better environment, though Beverly Hills was wishful thinking for now.

With these thoughts in mind, she entered the page, took another deep breath, and pressed the button for balance inquiry.

The screen lit up with numbers that made her blink in disbelief; the balance didn't show a round number but a long string of irregular figures -- likely from his personal credit card usage.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Even though the commas made the digits easier to discern, she still counted them a few times to be sure.

Yes, it was eight figures before the decimal point.

Scanning the numbers one last time, she read: 36,561,975.33.

Thirty-six million five hundred sixty-one thousand nine hundred seventy-five dollars and thirty-three cents.

Internally screaming with excitement and a tinge of fear, Anne Hathaway felt all the energy drain from her, leaning weakly against the ATM for what felt like an eternity, barely managing to avoid collapsing onto the ground.

After gathering herself, she glanced at the overwhelming credit limit, and the first thought that zipped through her mind was nothing less than: Oh my God, how am I supposed to spend this!

...

For the next few days, Eric received several calls from Anne, each with reasons both trivial and serious. During the final filming of Gravity, he found it challenging to focus on her, eventually warning her that unless it was something significant, she should limit her calls to once a week. Finally, his ears found some much-needed peace.

After the last week of studio shooting, on October 21, the crew officially set out, leaving Los Angeles for nearby Arizona, where the final outdoor scenes would be filmed by a large lake in the Phoenix area.

At the same time, Eric intended to let the entire crew unwind. After months of continuous shooting, everyone was exhausted. Although Eric was at an age full of energy, the past few months had not been easy.

On the highway to Arizona, a convoy of over twenty vehicles made a grand sight, and two helicopters trailing behind them made it even more distinct.

Helicopters were not uncommon, but these two helicopters, each over twenty meters long, looked like the difference between a falcon and a dove when compared to ordinary civilian helicopters. Their all-black, ostentatious design was much more eye-catching and cooler than most, drawing the attention of countless passersby and prompting some drivers to pull over to snap photos.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1055: Covert Control]

In a convoy, Jodie Foster sat next to Eric Williams in a Land Rover SUV, a thick stack of Gravity storyboards resting on her lap. With filming nearing its end, she had finally acquired the complete set of hand-drawn storyboards from Eric, intending to keep them as part of her collection.

Her gaze drifted from the two helicopters flying outside the window back to Eric, who was wearing headphones and watching a video on his laptop. "Eric, with such a showy display, aren't you worried we'll be swarmed tomorrow?"

Eric paused the video and removed his headphones, looking puzzled. "What?"

Jodie rolled her eyes slightly and repeated her earlier comment. "Last time we filmed a scene for Contact in New Mexico, Robert was completely frazzled trying to prevent the reporters from getting any behind-the-scenes shots. I imagine the North American press is even hungrier for news about Gravity now, right?"

Since Gravity had been announced, the only official information had come from Firefly Group. The media had received almost no other information regarding the film. With Eric's status as a billionaire and his track record of two back-to-back billion-dollar blockbusters, North American media outlets were eager to dig up more news about Gravity. Unfortunately, most of the film had been shot in a heavily guarded studio, leaving paparazzi with no leads to follow.

At this moment, with the entire Gravity crew on the move, it was easy to predict that a swarm of journalists would soon be descending upon them.

In fact, several media vehicles had already started following the convoy. Although they were close to wrapping up filming, the movie wouldn't hit theaters for another year. To maintain interest, it wasn't the right time to release too much news about the film. Having been in the industry for some time, Jodie understood this quite well, hence her earlier concern.

"Don't worry; they won't get anything," Eric said with a relaxed smile.

Jodie's eyes flickered as she recalled the convoy's destination and some hints Eric had dropped earlier. Suddenly, she asked, "You mean we're not actually going to the real shooting location?"

"Sort of, but not really," Eric explained with a chuckle. "For the overhead shot of the capsule descending from space, I hope to use footage of Pleasant Lake in North Phoenix. However, we'll be shooting the landing scenes in the northern Colorado River basin."

Winking at Jodie, he added, "Keep it under wraps -- not many people know this yet."

"I'm the leading actress, and you're just now telling me!" Jodie shot Eric a playful glare. She then glanced at the laptop screen resting on his knee, curiosity piqued. "What are you watching? Is that Michael Eisner?"

Eric removed the headphones and resumed the video, Michael Eisner's voice emanating from the laptop.

...

"...While dedicating efforts to the development of CG visual effects software and technology, Shadowlight Studios will also invest in the research of new 3D movie projection technology. 3D movies have been around for nearly a century, and although the relevant technology has developed slowly, with the advent of the effects era in film, we have reason to believe that 3D movies could become another new trend in film industry development, following sound and color films. Universal, Warner Bros., and Paramount all have high expectations for the future of 3D films..."

After leaning over to watch the second half of the video with Eric, Jodie remarked, "Is this a press conference?"

Eric nodded. "It's a news conference for a film effects company formed by Universal, Warner Bros., and Paramount, which I just mentioned -- Shadowlight Studios."

"Looks like there's finally some competition to Digital Domain. And now they want to catch up with 3D films too," Jodie replied.

"Maybe," Eric grinned. "But competition leads to progress. I've always thought that neither people nor companies can thrive without rivals."

...

Despite his words, the newly formed Shadowlight Studios didn't pose much of a threat to Eric. He understood this situation was simply a reaction from those companies to Firefly's recent acquisition of Columbia Pictures.

It wasn't arrogance; developing an effects company required strong film projects. Eric could confidently say the film projects in the hands of those three companies were nowhere near sufficient to support their ambitions to compete with Digital Domain.

Moreover, typically, a film needed to outline various visual effects requirements before the effects company would begin targeted technological development. However, in the years prior, Eric had been pushing Digital Domain to establish archives of various effects technology for reuse, yielding impressive results.

For common CG effects like storms, explosions, motion capture, and large-scale battle scenes, Digital Domain already had mature technological solutions. Although Digital Domain had taken on very few projects outside of Firefly's array in recent years, they had been very open about licensing these universal solutions.

Under this unique business strategy employed by Digital Domain, Hollywood had witnessed an explosion of small effects studios springing up in recent years. These smaller studios or companies typically lacked independent technological development departments and would purchase finished effects software and solutions from Digital Domain instead.

For instance, rather than spending months to develop a storm effect from scratch, studios could simply buy a fully developed solution for just a few thousand dollars from Digital Domain. This was far more cost-effective, saving time and yielding better effects compared to in-house development. It was a no-brainer: everyone understood what choice they needed to make.

On the other hand, the projects these effects studios received were usually outsourced shots from the 'Big Seven' studios in Hollywood, and most of them came from Firefly itself.

By controlling the project outsourcing direction, Firefly could indirectly influence, even control, the development of these small effects studios, effectively turning them into extensions of Digital Domain. While these smaller studios could survive comfortably, they would never pose a genuine threat to Digital Domain.

Moreover, should the effects industry face hard times, tightening the outsourcing strategy could easily sacrifice these subordinate studios, helping Digital Domain mitigate risks.

As for the just-formed Shadowlight Studios, they might initially invest money into RD. However, once they realized that the costs of developing technology for most effects shots far outweighed those incurred by smaller effects studios, and that the human resources needed for subsequent CG rendering were similarly high, they would struggle to generate additional revenue through software and technical solutions like Digital Domain.

Eventually, after a few years, the higher-ups of those three companies would likely abandon their full support for Shadowlight Studios, continuing to fall under the covert control of Digital Domain. Shadowlight would eventually become a redundant venture, especially as they failed to improve basic effects technology, making any further advancement in the specialized effects domain impossible.

Historically, the most advanced effects technology had consistently been in the hands of only a few companies, like Industrial Light Magic. The best special effects films had always come from these giants, whereas the newly emerging effects companies, regardless of their size, frequently needed to develop completely new solutions based on foundational industry software, facing client-specific demands.

This repetition of resources not only greatly increased operational costs across the industry but also left smaller studios without any dependency on the giants like Digital Domain. When the winter of the effects industry arrived, all effects companies would suffer, leading many to continuously relocate to rebate areas to cut costs and engage in price wars, effectively worsening the situation in a vicious cycle.

The mention of developing 3D film technology by Michael Eisner during the video also raised Eric's alarm. If the industry were to face two completely different 3D projection standards in the future, it could spell trouble.

However, these things couldn't be resolved overnight, and Eric could only wait and see what unfolded.

...

Jodie could think of publicity issues, and of course, the seasoned Gravity production team had already considered them too.

Thus, despite the convoy arriving in Phoenix, Arizona, with great fanfare, once in the city, the crew quickly drove into a secluded private resort in the north. A throng of journalists, barred from entering the resort, watched the convoy disappear, jumping up and down in disappointment as they snapped unrelated photos of the retreating vehicles. As for the core crew members they had hoped to see, they didn't catch even a glimpse.

The six to seven-hour drive from Los Angeles to Phoenix left everyone exhausted; naturally, there wasn't much work planned for that day.

After settling everyone in, Eric returned to his accommodations, took a shower, and emerged from the bathroom at five o'clock in the afternoon.

...

When a knock sounded on the door, Eric went over and opened it.

Caroline saw Eric in his bathrobe and blushed slightly. "Eric, Mr. Stewart has returned from Lake Powell."

Lake Powell was chosen as a filming location for several landing scenes, situated on the northern Colorado River, approximately two hundred kilometers from Phoenix.

As for Pleasant Lake, about ten kilometers north of Phoenix, it served as the city's drinking water reservoir. Eric chose not to film the landing sequences there, both to throw the media off their trail and because the city of Phoenix, due to environmental concerns, didn't approve the Gravity crew's filming permit.

As the producer for Gravity, William Stewart had gone back three days earlier with a few assistants to scout the Lake Powell location, ensuring that filming would proceed smoothly in the coming days.

"It's almost dinner time. Let's send William to the restaurant; I'll join him shortly," Eric nodded. Looking at Caroline's shy demeanor, he added, "You should come along too."

"Okay, I'll notify Mr. Stewart," Caroline responded, her cheeks tinged with red as she hurried away.

...

The presence of the Gravity crew had attracted journalists from across North America, with many local Arizona TV stations running reports about the event.

Consequently, every move the crew made was impossible to conceal under the scrutiny of numerous eyes. However, it seemed the Gravity crew didn't mind being followed. After a night of rest, the next day, the crew boldly departed the resort and headed towards Pleasant Lake.

Though the journalists were kept outside the crew's encampment, they finally caught sight of Eric Williams, Jodie, and other creative team members out in the unshielded outdoors.

However, after half a day passed, many people realized that other than the conspicuous VH-60 helicopter taking off and landing several times -- sometimes flying over a kilometer high -- they hadn't received much useful information related to the film's content.

Of course, it wasn't a complete loss. At least Eric Williams and the crew's cinematographer, Nicole Frank, boarded the helicopter, seemingly capturing aerial footage. However, these simple aerial shots provided little insight into the actual film content.

Fortunately, the reporters were patient. Since the entire Gravity crew had come all the way there, they surely had more than just a few simple aerial shots planned. Otherwise, Eric Williams wouldn't have needed to be present. Clearly, there were substantive scenes set to be filmed in the coming days.

With anticipation brewing, the following morning, just as dawn broke, journalists received tips from pre-arranged resort staff members and rallied energetically.

Yet, when they witnessed two helicopters take off from the resort, flying over Pleasant Lake without any intention of landing, continuing instead at speeds over two hundred kilometers towards the northern mountains, everyone was left dumbstruck.

Some reporters reluctantly got into vehicles to chase after the helicopters, but they all understood that car wheels could never catch up to helicopters, especially not in the mountains where helicopters could fly directly while cars needed to navigate winding roads.

Fortunately, one of the helicopters bore a large item suspended beneath it, resembling a tent. News-savvy reporters quickly identified it as a spacecraft return capsule after snapping some photos.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1056: So Small]

Before eight-thirty, the cast and crew of Gravity arrived at Lake Powell, which was over 200 kilometers northwest of Phoenix, near the Colorado River.

There were only two scenes left for the day: one was the live shot of the capsule dropping from a great height and landing on the lake's surface, and the other was Judy's character, Ryan Stone, swimming from the lake towards the shore. The interior shots of the capsule and underwater scenes had already been completed at a studio in Los Angeles. Thus, Eric hoped to finish everything in one day so that everyone could enjoy some free time in the coming days.

On the spacious area by Lake Powell, everyone gathered around Eric to discuss the upcoming filming plan because Nicole had just uncovered a significant issue that needed to be addressed.

"The weather is great today, perfect for the landing scene. However, because the weather is so calm with no wind, the capsule might get covered by the parachute after it drops, which could interfere with the shots. Thus, we need to generate some wind to blow the parachute clear," Nicole explained.

After this, several of the crew members raised their eyebrows in concern. If this had been any other day, it would have been a minor issue -- just bringing in a blower would suffice. Even if they needed to inflate a parachute that spanned over a square kilometer, Hollywood could provide a powerful enough blower. When Eric filmed Twister, he even used Boeing airplane engines to create hurricane-like winds.

However, today's situation was different. Phoenix certainly didn't have the heavy-duty blowers the crew required, necessitating a transport from Los Angeles. Even if they used a helicopter for the delivery, it would likely arrive around noon. After installation and testing, they might not have enough time to finish filming the shots.

If they waited until tomorrow, with the crowd of media reporters gathering in Phoenix, there would probably be hundreds of people showing up to 'witness' the capsule's landing. That would be quite a spectacle.

While everyone was brainstorming solutions, a voice interruptingly said, "Mr. Williams, blowing the parachute clear is actually quite simple."

The group paused in their discussions, turning their attention to a tall man nearly two meters high standing at the edge of the crowd.

It was Mark Biermann, one of the helicopter pilots from the VH-60 flight team. A former U.S. Marine Corps member in his forties, Mark had over ten years of helicopter pilot experience. He had even participated in military assistance to Afghanistan during the 1980s. After retiring, he worked at a helicopter rental company in Los Angeles and started flying helicopters for Eric six years prior. Eventually, Eric hired him at a high salary to work exclusively for him, making Mark the lead pilot among the four flying for the estate.

After realizing everyone was looking at him, Mark smiled a bit sheepishly and pointed to the two VH-60 helicopters parked nearby. "The wind from the helicopter's rotor blades is much stronger than a blower."

Hearing this, everyone's gaze shifted to the helicopters. William Stewart glanced over and said, "Shouldn't the wind from the helicopter be blowing downward?"

Mark replied, "It can be angled sideways."

Eric twirled a pencil in his fingers thoughtfully, and without much hesitation, pointed toward the open lake area ahead. "Mark, I need the wind to blow from west to east. Can you give me a demonstration?"

Mark nodded but then tapped the shoulder of another younger pilot beside him. "Let Tim handle it; he's more experienced."

Eric glanced at Tim Torres, the pilot Mark just mentioned, and nodded in agreement without objection.

...

A few minutes later, the VH-60 helicopter took off from the shore, turned toward the center of Lake Powell, and hovered at about seven or eight meters above the water. It then tilted upward, and in an instant, the helicopter's massive body, over twenty meters long, climbed into the air like a gecko. Even though the helicopter was more than ten meters above the lake surface, the strong wind from its rotor blades created distinct ripples on the eastern side of the lake.

Seeing this, Eric made up his mind and felt reaffirmed that the high salaries he offered the pilots were worth it. However, the aerial performance was not yet complete. The helicopter began to climb a bit more before performing a slow yet agile flip, creating a graceful 180-degree arc maneuver in the air like a fish leaping above the water.

Witnessing this aerial stunt, everyone erupted in applause, and Eric clapped along too.

Tim Torres seemed to sense the crowd's enthusiasm and executed a few more difficult maneuvers before flying the helicopter back to the shore. As Eric watched the helicopter land, he jokingly told Mark, "You should tell Tim that if he flies like that while I'm on board, I'll fire him on the spot."

Amid laughter, Mark shook his head and said, "Of course not."

...

After discussing the specifics and resolving the parachute issue, the crew began the formal preparation for filming the capsule landing scene.

One VH-60, with the capsule and props crew onboard, slowly ascended into the air. Eric and Nicole formed two separate filming teams, each taking one of the two speedboats they had prepared to glide along the lake, waiting to capture the landing of the capsule.

Through the intercom, once the VH-60 reached the predetermined altitude and all departments were ready, Eric issued the command to start filming.

The capsule model was dropped from 1,500 meters above, and the props crew remotely controlled it to open the parachute accurately. On the ground, another props team was ready to activate the capsule door. As for the retro rockets near the ground, those were authentic; Eric had them custom-built from Russia to automatically ignite precisely one meter above the surface.

Like a giant, unusual mushroom, the parachute unfolded in the sky, and another VH-60, hovering close by, began preparing to blow the parachute clear once the capsule landed on the lake.

After a few seconds, the capsule and parachute rushed toward the lake at over ten meters per second, and then, remarkably close to the surface, the bottom of the capsule suddenly exploded open.

The scene surprised many; they had underestimated the explosive power of the retro rockets. In that instant, the lake erupted like it had been bombed, sending a towering wave five or six meters high shooting outwards.

Despite continuously adjusting their distance, the two boats couldn't position accurately within the limited time. One of the boats was only seven or eight meters away from the capsule's landing site when the wave generated by the retro rockets surged, resembling a monstrous tongue reaching out from beneath the water, sweeping towards the boat.

With a loud splash, several people on the speedboat were thrown over by the rushing waves.

This all happened within just two or three seconds.

...

Caroline, standing on the lake holding Eric's script, blinked rapidly as she registered the situation. That boat being hit by the waves was Eric's, and her heart raced. She instinctively rushed toward the lake's edge. Others, noticing her panicked run, also hurried towards the shoreline.

In her anxious state, Caroline wasn't paying attention to where she was stepping and accidentally stumbled over something, almost losing her balance. She felt Mayer grab her to steady her, but she wasn't stopping; she kept running forward.

"I'm alright over here, everyone else is fine too. Keep going, departments. Tim, blow the parachute clear, and remember to direct it towards the north. Props team, prepare to pop the capsule door. Nicole, you'll film the door opening; by the way, how's it going over there? Is my shot wasted?"

Moments later, Eric's voice came through the intercoms, prompting everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Caroline suddenly found herself standing knee-deep in the lake, feeling significantly relieved while watching Eric stand up again on the boat. She then let out a huge sigh of relief. At the same time, she felt a slight sting in her soaked right ankle. Caught up in her worries about Eric, she thought she had only twisted it a little, so she didn't pay it much mind.

"Carly, get up here! Your pants are soaked!"

Hearing Mayer yell at her from behind, Caroline realized she had unwittingly walked ahead of everyone, alone in the water. Her cheeks flushed as she shyly dodged the teasing gazes of the others. Clutching Eric's script closer to her chest, she hung her head and walked out of the water.

"You're something else. But we don't have spare shoes for you here," Mayer said while helping Caroline out of the muddy water. She noticed her unsteady steps and asked with concern, "Are you hurt?"

Despite the slight pain in her ankle as she walked, Caroline didn't want to worry everyone and shook her head. "I'm fine, just a little muddy."

"Oh, let's clean you up there," Mayer said, not suspecting anything was wrong, and helped Caroline toward the crew's temporary resting area.

...

The unexpected incident spoiled the camera angles Eric was trying to capture. Fortunately, Nicole's filming went off without a hitch. More than ten minutes later, everyone on the two speedboats was back on shore. The props crew then boarded the speedboat to retrieve the sunken capsule from the lake. While the crew didn't care about the little money they could recoup from the capsule as scrap, leaving the model in the lake could later lead to it being exposed by media reporters or create trouble with environmental organizations.

After Eric got ashore, he was drenched, but since the crew hadn't anticipated this, he could only shrug off his wet jacket, quickly wipe the water off, and check Nicole's footage. Confirming that their work had not been in vain, he joined the other crew members who were also soaked, standing by the small fire they'd set up for warmth.

As they teased each other amid the laughter, Eric noticed Caroline standing next to him with her wet pants and asked with concern, "Did you step in the water?"

"Yeah," Caroline nodded, feeling embarrassed and useless, not being able to contribute and needing Eric's concern instead.

"Well, just dry off by the fire. Since we weren't prepared for this, we'll just have to change clothes when we get back this afternoon."

"It's okay," she replied.

Noticing a strand of hair fall down across Caroline's face as she shook her head, Eric gently tucked it behind her ear. When he saw her shyly retract, he playfully wiped his hand across her small nose.

Caroline instinctively wanted to protest, as usual, but this time she held her tongue, cherishing the sweetness of the moment. Her gaze darted away, avoiding looking at the others around them.

...

After another hour of busy work, they successfully retrieved the capsule model, repacked it, and hung it beneath the helicopter for transportation back later. Checking their watches, they realized that they'd only completed one set of shots. It was now past eleven-thirty, so the crew decided not to continue filming, opting instead to eat the simple lunch they had brought along.

Including a few who had been staying by Lake Powell, there were only twenty-seven people in the entire crew. While Hollywood's unions enforced strict filming period provisions, everyone had a casual attitude about lunch, especially with the lavish wrap party that had been scheduled at the resort in Phoenix for later. If they could finish up today, everyone would be able to enjoy it.

"Eric, I just noticed something," Judy said eagerly after lunch, now dressed in a tank top and shorts as filming approached.

Eric, who had been jotting down modifications needed for the morning's shots on his director's script, looked up and asked, "What is it?"

Judy opened a stack of sketches Eric had given her and sequentially showed him a few storyboards. "The capsule drops from the sky, Ryan sinks to the lake bottom, rises to the surface, crawls onto the shore, and finally stands up. This seems to symbolize the evolutionary process of life: aquatic, amphibian, terrestrial, and eventually achieving humanity. However, initially, it seems you agreed with the viewpoint that Earth's life actually came from outer space, right?"

Eric was surprised at Judy's keen insight, chuckling, "You could interpret it that way."

"So, does that mean the initial shot of the space capsule with the baby in its mother's womb also represent the idea that life originated from outer space?"

"That's not exactly it," Eric shook his head. "I wanted to express a raw, instinctual state of being in moments of loneliness and helplessness. At that moment, who is the first person you think of?"

Judy recalled her mindset during that shot and instinctively replied, "Mom."

"Exactly." Eric nodded. "Although a person is influenced by their environment, in the moments of utmost loneliness and helplessness, one often longs to return to their mother's embrace."

Judy nodded seriously, suddenly remembering some rumors about Eric's potential mother complex, her expression turning odd.

Sensing Judy's peculiar gaze, Eric didn't fully understand what was on her mind. It was evidently something less than pleasant, so he quickly adopted a serious director's demeanor and said, "Alright, we're preparing to shoot, so go get ready."

Judy rolled her eyes at Eric, a smile creeping onto her face. "You're something else."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1057: My Own Trouble]

After going through countless trials and tribulations, Ryan finally felt the solid ground beneath her feet. She scooped up some dirt beside her, relishing the moment of relief after surviving the ordeal. As she tried to stand, she suddenly felt weak and fell back down. Laughing at herself, she wasted no time trying again. This time, she succeeded, albeit a bit wobbly, but she managed to finally stand amidst the vastness of the earth.

Captured from a unique upward angle, the woman in the frame appeared like an ancient and mysterious totem.

...

Once the shot ended, Eric, seated behind the director's monitor, reviewed the playback several times. Under the expectant gazes of the crew, he raised his left hand, signaling an "OK" to everyone.

Applause erupted.

The excitement was palpable as everyone cheered. Eric stood up, embracing and shaking hands with everyone around him. After a brief moment of celebration, the crew began to clean up the set. Eric chatted with William Stewart about the schedule for the coming days. He realized he needed to call the team back in Los Angeles and patted his pockets, only to remember that he had left his phone with Caroline to avoid it getting wet from the lake earlier that morning.

He turned around and asked Caroline, who had been quietly following him, for his phone. Noticing her unusual steps as she approached, Eric asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Caroline, wanting to avoid troubling Eric, handed over the phone and shook her head, saying, "It's nothing."

But Eric took her hand gently, saying, "Come on, let me take a look."

"Eric, really, it's nothing," Caroline insisted, albeit lightly trying to free herself from his grip. As she stumbled a bit, Eric felt a wave of guilt for not noticing sooner. Without another word, he scooped Caroline off her feet and started walking toward his director's chair.

Caroline didn't mind being held so assertively by Eric; in fact, she felt a sweetness from his care. However, considering the number of people around them, she shyly closed her eyes and rested her head against Eric's chest.

...

This unexpected situation drew everyone's attention. No one believed that Mr. Director was acting out of impatience; they all knew something must have happened. As they gathered around, Mayer stepped in to offer an explanation.

Eric set Caroline down on a makeshift folding chair, crouched down beside her, and gently unfastened the shoelaces of her muddy flat shoes. Her light blue socks had also picked up some dirt from stepping in water earlier. Nonetheless, Eric didn't seem to mind. Holding her tiny foot tenderly, his first thought was, Wow, that's so small.

That thought flashed through his mind as he continued to remove her sock, revealing a foot that could only be described as delicately beautiful -- smaller than his palm and likely a size 9 (UK size 7) at most. Her unpainted toes were smooth and round, resembling pearls, and showed no signs of calluses, just a hint of redness from the soaking, with the rest of her foot resembling the rest of her body -- fair and flawless.

However, the outer area of her ankle had turned red and swollen, which made him feel protective. Eric took a brief glance before subtly sliding the slightly damp sock back onto Caroline's foot. He turned to the crowd and ordered, "William, contact a hospital in Phoenix immediately. Mark, get the helicopter ready. I'm taking Caroline back."

Without waiting for a response, Eric picked Caroline back up and headed toward the VH-60 helicopter parked nearby.

Most of the men around were still lost in a daze from the sight of her delicate foot, while several female crew members had dreamy expressions, thinking how wonderful it would be if someone like Eric Williams were to care for them that way -- if they could even die happy in that moment.

William Stewart quickly snapped back to reality, commanding the crew, "Mark, Mary, and Carter, you follow them. Everyone else, get back to work. Come on, let's move!"

At William's command, the crew sprang into action. The helicopter pilot, Mark Biermann, called for his co-pilot, racing toward the helicopter with Marissa Mayer and several of Eric's bodyguards. The others began to scatter, readying the equipment for filming, while William pulled out his phone to call Phoenix.

...

As everyone was occupied with their tasks, Judy watched the VH-60 ascend into the sky and suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy thinking about her time with Eric over the past few months. In a fit of frustration, she kicked a small stone away from her path.

After calming her sudden emotions, Judy decided to find something else to do to distract herself from her earlier feelings.

Turning around, she noticed her young assistant gazing dreamily at the departing helicopter. Judy asked, somewhat annoyed, "What are you thinking about?"

Lost in her fantasies, the assistant blurted out, "I wish I could be Eric Williams' assistant!"

Judy rolled her eyes back at her, "What, do you want me to recommend you?"

The assistant's eyes lit up with hope, "Really?"

"Just kidding," Judy replied.

The assistant's face fell, and she admonished, "Judy, how could you do that?"

Having gotten to know the two assistants who frequently followed Eric over the past few months, Judy said, "Caroline and Marissa -- one graduated from Cambridge and Harvard, the other from Stanford. What about you?"

The assistant hung her head shamefully, "Compton Community College."

Judy squinted her sharp eyes, chuckling mischievously, "You know, I'm suddenly thinking of changing my assistant."

It seemed the assistant was coming back to reality, following Judy closely as she pleaded, "Judy, don't fire me."

Rolling her eyes again at her assistant behind her, Judy said, "Alright, enough of that. Get me a glass of water."

The assistant perked up at once, urgency in her smile, as she rushed off to get Judy some water.

...

California had an area of more than 400,000 square kilometers and a population of over 80 million. In comparison, Arizona stretched over nearly 300,000 square kilometers, housing only about 4.5 million people, showcasing the vastness and sparse population density of the state.

In other densely populated regions, the crew's sudden actions early in the morning might have caught the media in Phoenix off guard, but residents would have likely noticed and tipped off the press. However, Powell Lake was surrounded by vast, pre-arranged farmland.

By noon, Phoenix reporters had yet to receive any credible information. But shortly after four o'clock, those searching for the Gravity crew on the northern highway of Phoenix spotted a black helicopter speeding toward the city. With only one helicopter in the sky so close to rush hour, the reporters' instincts kicked in, prompting them to jump in their cars to chase the chopper while frantically calling their companions still stationed in Phoenix.

When the VH-60 finally touched down at a private hospital in Phoenix, the city's reporters erupted into a frenzy.

In less than five minutes, sensational headlines like "Major Safety Incident with the Gravity Crew" accompanied photos of the helicopter landing at the hospital began flooding major news websites. Television stations soon connected with the reporters stationed outside the private Carlson Hospital, urgently inquiring about the situation.

Banned from entering the private hospital, some irresponsible media outlets online began spinning various absurd stories. In less than an hour, the entire North American media landscape was aware of the safety incident surrounding the Gravity crew. A surge of calls began flooding into the Firefly Group's various departments, and nearly everyone associated with the Gravity crew started receiving calls from all directions.

...

After hanging up from Jeffrey Katzenberg's call, Eric simply turned off his phone and told Mayer beside him, "We need to avoid any wild speculation. Go out and give a brief update."

Remembering the reporters that seemed eager to break in, Eric directed his bodyguard Carter Moen, "Carter, you and Marissa go out as well."

Mayer nodded and headed outside with the group.

Moments later, a nurse wheeled Caroline out of a nearby CT room. Eric stepped forward to grasp the armrest of Caroline's wheelchair, querying the nurse, "How is she?"

The curvy, Latina nurse answered respectfully, "Mr. Williams, we just need to wait five more minutes. Dr. Brown will come to explain everything shortly; let me take you to his office."

"Okay," Eric nodded, following the nurse as he pushed Caroline toward the doctor's office.

...

After a short wait, when the so-called Dr. Brown had yet to arrive, Mayer returned with Carter appearing slightly flustered, saying, "Eric, they... they don't believe us."

"Then forget it," Eric sighed, knowing it was hard for the media to imagine someone simply twisting an ankle. "What's happening outside? Has anyone made a scene?"

Mayer responded, "No, the city sent a patrol unit to help maintain order; the reporters are currently being held outside."

Eric thought for a moment and said, "Tell Mark and the others to hold off on picking anyone up for now. We'll return to the resort once everything here is settled."

Mayer nodded and hurried off again.

...

After waiting a while longer, a short, slightly stout middle-aged doctor wearing glasses entered the office with a nurse. Eric immediately stood up.

The doctor extended his hand warmly, "Hello, Mr. Williams, I'm Dr. Dax Brown."

Eric politely shook his hand. "Hello, Dr. Brown. What are the results?"

Dr. Brown took a CT scan from the nurse and placed it on the light board on the desk. "Don't worry, Mr. Williams, she has no fractures or serious symptoms. However, it appears there was a mild dislocation, likely because she didn't rest immediately after twisting it, but continued to move, which strained the joint -- right here."

Eric observed carefully at Dr. Brown's direction, feeling relieved. "What's the procedure? Does she need a cast?"

Shaking his head with a smile, Dr. Brown said, "No need for that. We can just reset the joint and secure it with a splint."

Though Eric felt a cast would be more secure, he knew enough about medical practices, so he nodded, "Thanks for the help."

"That's what I'm here for," Dr. Brown replied courteously. "Mr. Williams, can you help lift her onto that bed over there?"

"Of course," Eric nodded and followed the doctor's guidance, lifting Caroline and placing her on the nearby black examination table.

...

After about an hour of managing her care, Eric finally took Caroline from the hospital, boarding the helicopter while fluorescent lights flashed around them to return to the resort where the crew had been staying in North Phoenix.

The clock struck five in the afternoon. As the sun began to set on this October day, Eric stepped off the helicopter carrying Caroline, noticing that part of the crew had already returned while another helicopter was parked on the resort's lawn.

William Stewart approached with the others to greet Eric, glancing at Caroline seated in the wheelchair, slightly embarrassed. He asked Eric, "Eric, how is she? Is everything alright?"

"She's fine, just a sprain. A couple of weeks of rest will do," Eric replied, shaking his head. "No need for everyone to fuss over us. William, get things ready for tonight's party. By the way, how many stayed at Powell Lake? We should send Mark to pick them up."

"No need," William replied. "The remaining crew borrowed a truck from a nearby farm and should be close to Phoenix by now."

Eric nodded, and after a brief chat, William led the others to disperse.

...

Pushing Caroline toward her quarters, Eric placed her on the living room sofa of her suite and asked, "Carly, how do you feel?"

"I'm fine; it doesn't hurt anymore," Caroline said, shaking her head, her cheeks tinged with pink hue as she shyly added, "Eric, I... I must have caused everyone a lot of trouble."

"Don't dwell on things that don't matter," Eric said gently, squatting in front of her to brush her golden hair back. "If it's a trouble, it's just mine alone. I wouldn't let anyone else take it away from me."

Caroline nodded, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade as she hesitated, then slowly reached out to touch Eric's cheek softly before quickly retreating.

Eric caught her retreating hand and pressed it against his cheek, rubbing against it, saying, "You should rest now. I'll go make you something to eat."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1058: This is Uncomfortable]

Before she knew it, the time had edged close to seven o'clock, and the sky was gradually darkening.

Caroline sat on the living room sofa, absentmindedly picking up the remote and switching TV channels. In the distance, she faintly heard the sounds of music coming from the resort's banquet hall, prompting her to glance again toward the door. Eric had said he was going to prepare something to eat for her, but over an hour had passed. Although she knew Eric would never deceive her, the girl felt a flicker of anxiety. She wondered if something had come up unexpectedly; otherwise, there was no reason for Eric to be gone this long.

Mayer walked in from the kitchen, carrying a pot of freshly boiled water, and noticed Caroline's gaze. She smiled and said, "Carly, should I call and check on him?"

Caroline hurriedly shook her head, "No need, I'm not hungry."

Mayer poured herself and Caroline each a glass of water, added some ice, and handed one glass to Caroline, saying, "Maybe the boss is personally cooking something for you, which is why it's taking so long."

Caroline took a small sip from the glass, saying, "Mary, the party over there should have already started. You could go ahead."

"I'm not in a rush," Mayer replied, shaking her head as she sat on the sofa. "If the boss comes back and finds I've left you here alone, I'll be in trouble."

Caroline reassured her, "That won't happen. Eric is really good to us."

Remembering their experiences since she started working there, Mayer fully agreed with Caroline. Eric treated everyone around him exceptionally well. Even when Mayer made occasional minor mistakes, he merely smiled it off. Mayer felt that aside from being a bit of a flirt, there was nothing to complain about with him. Deep down, there was a small resentment inside her, one she wasn't even willing to admit: This guy flirted with so many women but seemed to overlook her completely.

But when she recalled that night at the villa on Kensington Gardens in London, it wasn't entirely true that he had overlooked her. Perhaps she simply missed her opportunity. Every time she thought about it, she regretted not being more proactive back then.

...

The two women chatted casually. After a while, the sound of a car finally came from outside.

Eric carefully walked in, carrying a plastic container lined with layers of cotton cloth, with a white ceramic casserole atop it.

As soon as Eric stepped into the living room, Caroline and Mayer immediately caught the rich aroma of meat, mixed with a hint of sweet corn.

After greeting the two women, Eric walked over to the coffee table, gently placed the casserole on it, and instructed, "Mayer, could you grab some utensils from the kitchen?"

Mayer hadn't eaten anything yet and couldn't resist swallowing at the aromatic scent that filled the air. Nodding, she got up and headed to the kitchen.

Eric lifted the lid, and the fragrance intensified in the living room. Turning to Caroline, who looked curious, he said, "Corn rib soup. The chef at the resort couldn't make it right, so I had someone find a chef from outside. The first time, they added cream, which completely drowned out the flavor of the ribs and corn. I had him redo it. I could have made it myself, but I can't seem to handle the fishy smell; if I did it wrong, it could end up tasting worse. Hey, your foot is hurt, and drinking more bone soup will be beneficial. Once we get back to Los Angeles, I'll find a chef to make it for you every day."

Caroline listened to Eric chatter away and felt a bit of sweetness bloom in her heart. She quickly replied, "There's no need, Eric, and eating too much of this could make me gain weight."

Eric laughed and said, "Don't worry, I asked specifically; rib soup is nutritious but actually low in calories."

Mayer quickly returned from the kitchen with two sets of utensils. Seeing this, Caroline said, "Eric, there's a lot of soup. Mayer can eat some too."

"I'll pass," Mayer declined, shaking her head. "I can just go eat over there."

"Mayer, stay and eat with us," Eric persisted as he took a small bowl and filled it with soup for Caroline. Hearing Caroline's suggestion, he added, "There's enough for all three of us. Go grab another set of utensils."

Mayer hesitated but eventually couldn't resist the allure of the food and ran back to the kitchen.

Eric finished serving Caroline and carefully selected a few rib pieces, checking the bowl's exterior temperature with his palm; it wasn't too hot. He handed it to her, saying, "Give it a try."

Caroline carefully cradled the bowl in her hands, using a spoon to pick up a piece of rib and daintily taking a bite. The meat was tender and flavorful, and although not heavily spiced, the taste was just right: "Eric, it's delicious."

Eric smiled and replied, "Then eat some more."

"Yeah, Eric, you should eat too."

Eric nodded and served himself a bowl as Mayer returned to start eating with them.

Though she realized she was being a third wheel, Mayer happily finished the last bowl of rib soup, feeling satisfied with her role.

After the three finished the entire pot of rib soup, Mayer eagerly cleared the dishes and tactfully left the room.

...

With only Eric and Caroline remaining, Eric took a moment to examine the splint on Caroline's foot. Knowing that the alluring aroma in the room would linger for a while, he suggested, "How about I take you for a walk outside?"

Caroline nodded. As long as she could be with Eric, she was happy to do anything.

Eric lifted her into the wheelchair and pushed her outside. Because the resort was spacious with few people around, they strolled along the cement path, enjoying the cool night breeze. Although the music from the banquet hall was now more pronounced, Eric had no intentions of joining the festivities.

They stopped by a cluster of the saguaro cacti common in Arizona. Eric said, "By the way, I've made arrangements for us to return to Los Angeles tomorrow. For the next month, I'll have Mayer take care of you."

"Eric, that doctor said I just needed to rest for half a month. Honestly, my foot doesn't hurt as much anymore," Caroline replied.

"That won't do. An ankle sprain can leave lingering issues if you're not careful, so you have to ensure you're a hundred percent healed." Eric insisted, then smiled, adding, "Don't worry; since this is a work injury, you won't have to work, and your salary will keep coming."

Feeling reassured by Eric's tone, Caroline didn't press further. Instead, she asked, "Eric, this afternoon, will those reporters be a bother?"

Eric replied casually, "Of course not, but they will be disappointed. However, we aren't obligated to give them any big news."

...

After taking a stroll around the resort, Eric pushed Caroline back to their place. The aroma of rib soup had dissipated by now. Glancing at the time, which was already past eight, Eric carefully lifted Caroline back onto the sofa. "Why don't we turn in early tonight? We'll head back in the morning."

Caroline nodded, though her gaze drifted toward her foot in the splint, and she slightly lowered her head, not saying anything.

Eric sensed the tension and felt a bit awkward about the situation.

At that moment, Caroline was still wearing her daytime clothes -- a khaki-colored coat on top and snug jeans below. The right foot was fixed with a splint while the left foot sported a pink sock that managed to wrap around her delicate little foot.

Clearly, she wouldn't be able to rest like that.

Realizing the situation, Eric stood up, saying, "Wait here, I'll go get Mayer."

As he began to rise, he felt Caroline tug gently at his shirt. She timidly asked, "Eric, can you stay with me a little longer?"

Eric reluctantly sat back down, "Alright, then how about we watch a little more TV?"

Caroline's voice dropped to a whisper, "I'm actually sleepy, Eric. Can you carry me to the bedroom?"

After a moment of hesitation, he saw the hopeful look in Caroline's eyes and nodded. He carefully lifted her up, asking, "Which room is yours?"

This apartment belonged to both Caroline and Mayer, so she pointed to one of the doors and said, "The one on the left."

...

Eric carried the lightweight girl over, opened the door, placing her on the bed first, then walked over to turn the light on. He casually closed the bedroom door and returned to the bedside, pulling up the blanket to cover Caroline before sitting down on a chair next to her.

Caroline quietly watched Eric do all of this. When he sat beside her, she cautiously turned on her side, resting her head on the pillow, and looked at Eric with sparkling eyes. With a hint of playfulness in her voice, she said, "Eric, I don't feel sleepy anymore."

"Then just lie down," Eric smiled, gently brushing aside some stray golden hair from Caroline's face. "Do you want to hear a bedtime story?"

"Sure," Caroline replied softly but seemed a bit nostalgic, saying, "My mom used to tell me bedtime stories when I was little. But since I always remembered the stories from the books I read, I couldn't help but argue with my mom when her telling was different. Eventually, she stopped telling me stories."

"Ha, then I better not risk telling you one; I could never remember the stories in the books."

"You could tell me one I haven't heard before."

"Let me think," Eric said with a smile as he pretended to ponder. After a moment, he began, "Once upon a time, there was a mountain, and in that mountain, there was a temple. Inside the temple, there was an old monk and a young monk. The old monk said to the young monk, 'Once upon a time, there was a mountain, and in that mountain, there was a temple.'"

At this point, Eric stopped, and Caroline blinked, a smile creeping onto her face as if urging him to continue.

Eric felt her gaze on him, and after a moment, he shrugged and said with a laugh, "Well, it seems I'm out of inspiration today and can't find a good story."

"Can you sing for me instead?"

"That..." Eric thought for a moment, recalling a song he had wanted to use as a soundtrack for Gravity. He nodded, saying, "Sure."

After taking a moment to gather himself, Eric began to sing softly, the melody of Elton John's Rocket Man filling the air.

She packed my bags last night, pre-flightZero hour, 9 a.m.And I'm gonna be high as a kite by thenI miss the Earth so much, I miss my wifeIt's lonely out in spaceOn such a timeless flight...

Eric had always enjoyed the whimsical feel of this song.

While the version in Gravity didn't include this particular track, Eric decided to have it playing during a moment when Ryan and Matt made their escape, heading to the space station.

Of course, to fit the movie's ambiance, the song would need to be reworked appropriately.

Caroline listened quietly until Eric finished, then softly said, "Eric, I find you a lot like Kowalsky."

Eric shook his head, "I can't be as carefree as he is."

But Caroline suddenly insisted, "No, you are."

"Maybe that's because I already have a lot of things," Eric replied thoughtfully. "It's like how attractive people always say looks aren't everything, or rich people say money isn't everything. If they had nothing, they wouldn't be able to say that."

"No, that's not it," Caroline shook her head again. "I feel like you're different from everyone else in the world."

"Alright, maybe you've caught my secret," Eric whispered playfully, adding a touch of theatrics to his voice. "Actually, I come from the Alpha Centauri system. Do you remember the Tunguska event ninety years ago? My spaceship crashed to Earth back then."

Caroline grasped the blanket's edge, her delicate face carrying a hint of innocence. She blinked her bright eyes and asked, "And then what?"

Eric resumed his serious demeanor and said, "Earthling, you already know too much."

"Haha," Caroline chuckled softly, then paused before saying, "Eric, this is uncomfortable."

Eric asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Caroline's cheeks flushed a bit, but she bravely continued, "Wearing clothes to sleep is uncomfortable."

Eric reached over and gently tapped her nose, teasingly saying, "Already thinking bad thoughts with an injury, looks like you've learned from me."

"I learned it from you."

"I'm supposed to charge tuition."

Caroline's cheeks grew even pinker; perhaps being wrapped in the blanket gave her a bit more courage. She continued, "I don't have any money; I only have... myself."

"Well then," Eric sighed with a smile, getting up and walking over to the closet. "You can take off your top; I'll get you a nightgown. Just keep your pants on tonight; deal with it for one night, and tomorrow, let the nurse come and temporarily remove the splint. After that, you can wear skirts for the month."

While saying this, Eric opened the closet and rummaged through Caroline's neatly hung clothes. He found a light pink silk nightgown and walked back to the bedside, handing it to the girl who had tossed her coat and sweater aside. "Here, put this on."

Caroline bashfully accepted the nightgown and rustled beneath the blanket, taking her time. After a while, she likely finished changing, returning to her previous position. She carefully peeked out from the covers, her little foot wearing pink cotton socks slowly reaching out and nudging against Eric: "I still have socks."

Eric caught Caroline's little leg and helped her remove the socks, giving the sole of her foot a gentle tickle as he said, "Alright, stop messing around. Be careful of your splint."

Caroline giggled and shifted her position because of Eric's tickling, inadvertently finding herself lying face down on the bed, her little face buried in the pillow. Moments later, her little leg re-emerged, the translucent toes playfully wiggling, seemingly trying to grab Eric's attention. Meanwhile, her faint voice wafted through the air, clear yet soft. "Eric, these jeans are really uncomfortable. Could we... could we cut them?"

Well then.

Eric's mind flashed and suddenly understood her intention for the evening. Caroline had certainly taken a bold turn tonight.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1059: Not Professional]

After patiently soothing for a long time, Caroline finally fell asleep.

Eric quietly left the girl's bedroom, closed the door, and returned the pair of scissors he had found in the kitchen before stepping out of the apartment.

Perhaps it was late at night, but the streetlights lining the resort seemed a bit dim, and the air carried a chill. The noise from the banquet hall had quieted down significantly, as some people may have already started to rest. Eric had no intention of making an appearance. Instead, he headed back to his accommodation.

The resort was divided into three sections. The main building area was separated by a wide concrete pathway running north and south. The eastern side was for accommodations, while the western side was for activities, including the banquet hall. On the opposite side of the accommodation area was a golf course. Eric's place was behind the row of apartments where Caroline stayed -- a single-story building identical to the other apartments in the resort. The house felt rather low, as one could easily reach up and touch the eaves. Due to the surrounding desert areas around Phoenix, this was a common architectural style to withstand sandstorms.

The film crew initially planned to stay in Phoenix for just a week, so Eric didn't have any special requests for his accommodations. The only thing he appreciated was that these buildings were brick and stone structures, not the wooden houses. Although Eric seldom had the opportunity to stay in wooden houses now, he always felt uneasy just thinking about it.

...

As Eric turned to the back row of apartments, he walked while rummaging in his pocket for the keys. As he looked up, he noticed a small red dot flashing from the eaves of the neighboring apartment.

Upon closer inspection, he found Jodie Foster sitting alone in a wicker chair under the eaves, wearing a black jacket and loose men's washed jeans, with her legs crossed and a cigarette between her fingers, casually watching him.

Eric walked over and sat down in another wicker chair beside her, greeting her. "Why are you sitting here all alone? Where's your assistant?"

"Some guy tricked her away at the party," Jodie said lightly. Seeing Eric sit down opposite her, she asked, "What about you? How's Caroline?"

"She's already asleep," Eric replied. "By the way, about this -- I need to take Caroline back to Los Angeles tomorrow, so we won't be able to hang out here in Arizona with everyone."

To reward all the crew members who had worked for months in a dimly lit studio, he gave a few days off for everyone.

"Aren't there really any fun activities in Arizona? I heard at the party that they're planning to head to Mexico or Las Vegas," said Jodie, bringing the cigarette to her lips for another puff, then offered the pack sitting on the small table beside her. "Want one?"

Eric sensed that Jodie's mood was a little strange -- not quite down, but definitely not enthusiastic, and her attitude toward him was rather indifferent. He smiled and took a cigarette from the pack, lighting it before asking, "What's wrong with you?"

Jodie shot back, "What do you mean?"

"I feel like something's off with your mood. Are you still struggling with your character?"

"No, I'm just thinking about men."

"Uh, what?" Eric coughed out a puff of smoke he had just inhaled, astonished he looked at Jodie next to him. "You're... thinking about men?"

Jodie shot him a disdainful glance. "I'm just pondering some things about men."

"Oh, I got it," Eric nodded. "So did you figure it out?"

Jodie shook her head. "Not yet."

"Maybe you could share it with me, and I can help you think it through. As a man, I obviously have a bit more experience."

"Alright," Jodie said, glancing sidelong at Eric. "Why do men have such a penchant for being indecisive, and even while pursuing one woman, they suddenly switch to another without warning?"

Eric pondered seriously for a moment, holding the cigarette. "From a psychological standpoint, a man might do it to provoke a woman's jealousy for his own secretive reasons; from a biological standpoint, it's instinctual for men to pass on their genes. Statistically, it might simply be a way to increase their chances of success in attracting women; from a physics perspective..."

Eric was about to continue rambling, but he suddenly felt a small hand grabbing his collar and pulling him forward.

With cool lips that carried a hint of smoke, Jodie pressed against him. Eric froze for a moment, adjusting his position, ready to take the lead, but the hand pulling at his collar suddenly let go.

Watching Jodie casually sit back as if nothing had happened, Eric weakly said, "Um, does this count as me being assaulted?"

Jodie nodded. "Yes, little man, you can cry and run back to your place now."

"Jodie, that's not cool; it's very unprofessional."

"What should being professional look like?"

"It should be like this," Eric said as he stood up, marched over and snatched the burning cigarette from Jodie's hands and tossed it aside. He then lifted her lightweight body off the ground, pushing through the door behind them.

Hauled over Eric's shoulder, Jodie seemed taken aback for a moment, then leaned over to coolly ask from his shoulder, "Eric, what are you planning to do?"

"Shut up. Where's your bedroom?"

"..."

"Hmm?"

Jodie's tone turned slightly petulant. "You told me to shut up."

Eric tossed Jodie onto the living room sofa and turned off the lights. "Since you said that, let's do it here."

Leaning back on the sofa, Jodie instinctively grabbed a nearby cushion, looking at the shadowy figure approaching, her voice trembling slightly with a hint of expectation as she whispered, "Eric Williams, you really are a jerk."

...

The next morning, Eric still woke up in his own bedroom.

Though she had a look of satisfaction from their earlier encounter, the woman claimed she could hardly imagine waking up next to a man, and without hesitation, she sent him packing.

After getting up, Eric checked on Caroline, then took her to the dining room for breakfast. Returning to his apartment afterward, he found Jodie again sitting in the wicker chair under the eaves, legs crossed, holding a book, looking quite relaxed. There was an empty dish on the small table beside her, clearly she had just eaten breakfast.

Eric walked over again, sitting down on the other side. "Good morning."

Jodie looked up from her book, seemingly acting as if nothing had happened, and smiled back, "Morning."

"What book are you reading?"

"Gone with the Wind."

"Oh, that's an interesting book."

"You've read it?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded. "I often think how fortunate Americans have been, having only endured a large-scale war -- the Civil War -- since the founding of the nation, and then getting to bully others at will afterward."

"You certainly have a unique perspective," Jodie smiled. "I thought you would comment on the women in the book."

"Well, honestly, there's not much to comment on; just a group of girls who elicit pity."

"Pity?" Jodie's expression clearly showed her disagreement, and she pressed on, "Do you think Scarlett O'Hara deserves pity?"

Eric stared into Jodie's slightly spirited eyes and asked, "Do you know how old Scarlett is at the end of the book?"

Though she had read it a few times, Jodie didn't have the same photographic memory as Caroline, and thus hadn't paid attention to this detail. She instinctively thought about flipping through the book but shook her head at Eric's probing look. "I don't know."

"She's 28," Eric said. "For today's women, 28 is practically the pinnacle of youth. One might have just become a happy little housewife or be ambitious to become a career woman, or maybe some are still enjoying their campus life. But by 28, Scarlett had already gone through more ups and downs than most people experience in their entire lives. That's why I dislike Rhett Butler. He always fancied himself the one who understands Scarlett best, but all along, he merely stood over her, judging Scarlett's so-called selfishness and greed, giving her 'love' from a position of superiority. He doesn't understand that when they first met, she was just a spoiled girl, and being a bit capricious was unavoidable. When they met again, she was a young woman who had to carry the weight of life on her shoulders, desperately craving the security she had lost."

Jodie had always loved the book she was holding, and like many others, she admired Scarlett's strength but despised her selfishness. For the first time, she heard an alternative understanding from Eric.

Suddenly, she thought about herself; having faced the camera since she was three and despite only being 36 this year, she had a career possibly longer than most Hollywood actors. She had certainly experienced more than enough herself.

Could this man be hinting at something about her? Ugh, she refused to be charmed by his nonsensical words.

Feeling Eric's gaze still on her, Jodie turned her face away to avoid his eyes, pouting a bit as she grumbled, "No wonder you're so good at charming women."

Eric looked at Jodie, her demeanor somewhat flustered, smiled, and leaned over the side table, saying, "Um, I need to leave soon."

"Right, to send your darling little assistant back to Los Angeles. I know."

"So, a farewell kiss wouldn't be too much, would it?"

Jodie was about to scoff at the ridiculousness of it but, seeing the expectant look on the little man beside her, she hesitated, feeling somewhat unable to refuse. She glanced around conspiratorially before reluctantly leaning in. The moment their lips brushed, she felt a powerful arm wrap around her body. She instinctively struggled a bit but soon softened, her eyes squinting as she felt the man's unwarranted advance.

Soon, the door behind them swung open, and Jodie's assistant came out with a coffee pot. Seeing the scene before her, she gasped in shock, her eyes widening, and the tray slipped from her hands, coffee pot, mug, sugar bowl, and all scattering onto the floor. Recovering, the assistant dashed to cover her face, exclaiming, "Oh my God! My eyes! What's going on here?"

Eric had no choice but to release Jodie, who was now slightly dazed, and helplessly looked at the shocked assistant. "I won't have to take responsibility for her eyes, will I?"

Jodie came to her senses, recalling Eric's earlier roughness, and shot him an angry glare, though her tone softened slightly. "You should go. I won't be seeing you off."

...

To avoid bumpy roads, Eric took Caroline back to Los Angeles by helicopter.

Around eleven in the morning, the VH-60 landed at the helipad of Liberty City Estate, where many people had gathered. The news of yesterday's incident with the crew was still circulating in the media. Even though everyone had already learned the details, they needed to see it for themselves to feel reassured.

Eric exchanged greetings with Jeffrey Katzenberg, Amy Pascal, Bill Mechanic, and other executives from Firefly, accommodating them in the villa for some rest, and instructed the maid to prepare lunch for the group before turning toward Rachel Weisz and Melanie Gleason, who were chatting quietly with Caroline. "What brings you two here?"

Rachel was crouched beside Caroline's wheelchair, pointing to the girl's injured ankle. "How can you even ask that?"

Before Eric could respond, Caroline piped up, "Rachel, it was just an accident."

Rachel affectionately touched Caroline's pretty little face. "Come to my place this afternoon. I'll be in Los Angeles until the end of the year, so I can take care of you." Turning back to Eric, she added, "So, capitalist, Caroline shouldn't have to be exploited by you anymore, right?"

Feeling somewhat guilty, Eric nodded. "She can rest for as long as she wants."

Satisfied with Eric's reply, Rachel stood and pushed Caroline's wheelchair toward the villa.

Eric and Melanie followed behind, asking, "How's it going at Firefly Electronics?"

"It's not bad," Melanie replied. "But I have to travel quite a bit."

Though he hadn't paid much attention, Eric had heard from Caroline that due to work, Melanie had broken up with her fiance whom she was about to marry. Unsure whether to offer comfort, Eric said, "Things should stabilize in Europe in a year or two. When that happens, if you want to switch positions, just let me know."

Melanie smiled in response. She was very satisfied with her current job. The sacrifices she had made in her personal life for this career were worth it in her eyes, especially considering that she was already vice president of a promising big company so early in her career -- a height that most career women could only dream of. In her case, it was just the beginning. To gain something, one must also give.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1060: Terms of Reconciliation]

By the end of October, there were less than ten days left until the premiere of the first film from Firefly Group's year-end lineup.

Firefly planned to release three films this year: Ted on Thanksgiving weekend, November 13; Elizabeth on December 4; and The Waterboy on December 11.

Ted was a project closely monitored by Eric himself, needless to say.

Elizabeth was a biopic about Queen Elizabeth I, produced in collaboration with the British company Working Title Films, starring Cate Blanchett. It primarily aimed for this year's Academy Awards. Although Working Title, controlled by Polygram due to Seagram's acquisition of Polygram, became a company tightly knit with Universal Pictures, Julia initially turned down the role in Working Title's Notting Hill for this reason. Fortunately, the production and distribution rights for Elizabeth were finalized before Seagram's acquisition of Polygram, so the collaboration went unaffected.

Finally, The Waterboy was another comedy from Adam Sandler, following the success of The Wedding Singer during last Easter. Coincidentally, December 11 fell between a period that was typically slow for film releases during Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, with a production budget of only $23 million, the film faced minimal pressure to turn a profit.

Aside from Firefly's trio of films, MGM had Mission: Impossible 3 scheduled for November 20 and The Fast and the Furious set for January 1 of the following year; Fox planned to release The Horse Whisperer on November 6 and Star Wars: Episode I on December 18; while Columbia had the thriller Urban Legend on November 13 and the romantic comedy Stepmom airing on December 25. Given just these nine films from Firefly's slate, the year-end release schedule was already packed.

The other three major studios were also in the mix -- with Universal releasing two movies: Patch Adams and The Sixth Sense, and Paramount with two films as well: Star Trek IX: Insurrection and the animated classic Mulan. Warner Bros. was only set to release a romantic comedy titled You've Got Mail, leaving them rather overlooked.

As for independent films from the second or third-tier companies, those largely went unnoticed by the big seven studios.

...

With the tide of media conglomeration underway, several second and third-tier film companies that had emerged in the '80s, like New Line, Miramax, Orion, and Carolco, either got absorbed by major studios or faced imminent bankruptcy. Any new independent film companies gaining the attention of the big seven, such as the once-prominent Lionsgate or Summit Entertainment, still had yet to pose any real threat to the major studios.

At the same time, while traditional media giants were completing their consolidation, new online media was rapidly emerging. These past few years had undoubtedly been the peak for media power in Hollywood. Furthermore, there was no doubt that the Firefly Group, controlling a significant portion of Hollywood, had become the undisputed media titan in North America.

As the absolute controller of Firefly, following the acquisition with Columbia Pictures, Eric had been in the spotlight lately, attracting significant media attention.

Eric, however, had little time to care about all that. Once back in Los Angeles, he dove into the post-production studio at Firefly Studios, focusing intently on the initial editing of footage for Gravity.

But even without direct access to Eric, media outlets quickly discovered another sensational story: Caroline had injured her foot.

The once-shy tour guide had transformed into Eric Williams' "Pepper," possessing an impressive education from Cambridge and Harvard, along with a noble lineage and a stunning appearance. She practically seemed like the perfect candidate for the queen of the Firefly empire.

With discussions ramping up, the media resumed their scrutiny of the women around Eric. It was all the talk, with a mix of gossip and hearsay, and some tabloids even dragged his two little ones into the story.

Over the years, Eric never deliberately concealed the fact that he had two children. Anyone paying a little attention would find out. However, out of concern for their safety, Eric had set a firm boundary for the media: absolutely no revealing photos, names, or addresses of the kids.

Even though Eric was a public figure, he was also a massively influential billionaire. In a society like the United States, crossing the wealthy usually bore greater consequences than offending the powerful. Numerous politicians and even presidents had been embroiled in scandals, yet you rarely heard of individuals from the Forbes list facing media scrutiny in the same way.

Thus far, everyone had respected the boundaries Eric laid down. The latest chatter surrounding his kids inevitably led back to discussions about Eric's wealth inheritance. While there were still six months to go until the next Forbes billionaire list was released, media analytics regarding the assets of the wealthy were constantly being updated.

Many speculated that once Yahoo went public, combined with Eric's wealth growth over the last year, his fortune could soar to an unprecedented $200 billion.

Such a staggering sum of wealth would inevitably mean hefty inheritance taxes, likely reaching into the hundreds of billions if he were to pass on his fortune, even if such matters were beyond his personal concern. Nonetheless, the topic sparked enthusiastic conversations among the public, as the thought of a single tax payment exceeding $100 billion left many stunned.

In the end, some media outlets and politicians advocating for inheritance tax reductions seized the opportunity to insert themselves into the discussion.

...

At Firefly Studios, with Yahoo's IPO date approaching, Eric remained occupied with discussions alongside Yahoo's executives and Chris to go over the details of the IPO.

In the Digital Domain's office loft, seated in a lounge area near the glass walls, light conversation inevitably drifted towards the recent buzz surrounding Eric.

Holding a cup of coffee, leaning back in his chair, Eric said to Chris, Ian Gurney, and others, "Honestly, I think if I can spend all my money before I die, that's the best scenario. Not leaving a dime for the IRS. And as for the kids, I'd rather they fend for themselves."

"That's a tall order," Chris chuckled. "Even without factoring in the annual returns, with a fixed asset total of $200 billion, if you live to be a hundred, you'd have to spend $8 million a day from now on."

"$8 million, huh?" Eric turned to the only woman at the table. "Tina, you ladies seem to know how to spend money. Help me figure out how I can get through $8 million a day."

After Jeff Locke's departure, Eric's personal pick, Tina Brown, had elevated to become one of Yahoo's new trio of executives, ranking alongside Ian Gurney and Steve Mitnick.

Hearing Eric's question, Tina pretended to think and, after a moment, chuckled, "Well, you'll have to let me try first."

Eric immediately displayed an exaggeratedly wary expression. "In that case, I'll just ask someone else."

Everyone burst out laughing.

After a few jokes, they finally got down to business.

Yahoo faced a complicating issue regarding a lawsuit concerning digital music copyrights with the big five record companies.

Earlier in the year, the surge of digital music piracy's impact on the physical record industry had erupted, coupled with the rise of the Fireflyer music player. The big five record companies initiated a nationwide crackdown on internet piracy, making Yahoo a target in the lawsuit.

Perhaps targeting Yahoo's vulnerability before the IPO, the record companies were quite rigid about reaching an out-of-court settlement with them.

"The big five still insist on three main conditions," Ian Gurney explained. "First, strengthen filtering or even banning pirated music on the portal and search engine. Second, we must allow five major record companies to open their own digital music store targeted at the Fireflyer player. The final condition is compensation; although they have lowered the sum, they are still insisting on $20 million in cash."

Eric asked in confusion, "If they achieve the first two terms, shouldn't they be satisfied? Why continue to insist on the $20 million in damages? That may be a fortune for an individual, but for the big five record companies, it seems like pocket change, doesn't it?"

Chris responded, "This seems to come down to their lawyers' insistence."

Eric immediately understood.

The American legal profession held its high status largely due to its profitability. The saying "economic foundations determine superstructure" was absolutely true. In cases involving major corporations, discussing fixed legal fees that reached millions was commonplace. Once a lucrative settlement was won, lawyers would take 30% or even more as their share.

Smoothing his coffee cup's surface, Eric inquired, "So, what's our stance now?"

"We discussed thoroughly," Ian Gurney replied. "Initially, we were too focused on the potential impact of this lawsuit on Yahoo's IPO. However, if we concede to the big five's conditions, not only would we severely harm our potential profits in digital music sales, but compromising goes against the very spirit of an open and shared internet platform. Thus, we've decided against settlement and will instead promote the concept of internet openness and sharing as Yahoo approaches its IPO, guiding media and public discourse. If the IPO succeeds, the big five won't have any leverage against Yahoo."

Ian's stance struck a noble chord.

However, upon reflection, if they could indeed sway public opinion, Yahoo could quickly change from a shameful copyright infringer into a crusader against conservative copyright holders, seeking justice for public access. Admittedly, that argument could be seen as hypocritical but would certainly align with mainstream internet values.

The key to this plan remained a matter of public relations.

Although Firefly's grasp over traditional print media was rather modest, their influence on television media was unparalleled, outmatching any other media power. As for emerging internet media, the Yahoo portal, which commanded 70% of North American website traffic, was effectively a Firefly stronghold.

Clearly, Ian and the others had crafted a detailed public relations strategy, and there certainly was no obstruction from the group's end in collaboration. After an extensive discussion on the scheme, Eric even made a call to Rupert Murdoch, hoping the mainstream newspapers under News Corporation could assist in their efforts.

It was worth noting that only the Twentieth Century Fox films, recently passed to Elisabeth under Murdoch's direction, could be considered a part of the Firefly Group. The FOX network merely existed in close alliance with Firefly. The larger portion, including extensive print media in the UK, Australia, and North America, as well as television networks in the UK and Asia, remained firmly under Rupert's personal control.

After a lifetime of effort, Murdoch wasn't about to relinquish that power, and Eric wasn't about to count on any favors.

However, Firefly now commanded asset levels tenfold compared to News Corporation. Murdoch understood the benefits of maintaining a cooperative relationship with Firefly. Hearing Eric's request over the phone, he promptly agreed.

...

After securing that commitment, they discussed the final details of the last stock incentive plan before the IPO. Ian Gurney, Steve Mitnick, and Tina Brown hurriedly took off -- one for New York to discuss specific public relations detail with ABC and FOX executives, another heading to San Francisco to review Yahoo's Silicon Valley branch, and Tina returned to Boston to supervise operations. With less than a month before the IPO, all three were in a whirlwind of activity.

After concluding their discussions, it was already evening. As Chris saw Ian Gurney and the others off in the parking lot, he didn't rush to leave but strolled along the studio pathways with Eric.

"Actually, regarding wealth inheritance, Eric, your asset scale is incredibly vast -- planning should start now. You don't really intend to hand half your fortune to the federal government someday, do you? Especially not if Elia and Kevin can't even inherit half of it."

To be fair, Eric didn't want that. He certainly didn't have a strong sense of social responsibility of hundreds of billions of dollars.

If possible, his joking remarks with Chris about spending all his money before he died reflected his true feelings. He maintained a rather pessimistic view on wealth inheritance. After all, he had been conditioned to think that wealth seldom survives more than three generations, making it hard for him to guarantee that there wouldn't be any wastrels among his descendants.

Eric wasn't hiding anything from Chris and candidly expressed his worries.

"That's not an insurmountable challenge," Chris laughed. "Just look at the Morgan family and the Rockefeller family -- they've survived a century. While they've stepped into the background, they still remain influential. It's not because their heirs are particularly outstanding, you know why?"

"Hmm?"

"Because these families have all used foundations or trusts for their wealth inheritance. Even if the founders of these families passed away many years ago, their wealth still follows the stringent rules of the family trust set up from the start. No heir can alter that. Moreover, as long as talented individuals emerge from these families, they can thrive anew on the deep-rooted foundation laid by their ancestors. You can ask Caroline and the others to help gather some information on that."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1061: What Does Your Family Plan to Do?]

In the evening, a black stretch Cadillac slowly came to a stop within the 20th Century Fox lot. The car had a peculiar design, resembling a sleek sedan at the front, extending in the middle, and ending with a square-shaped back that gave off the impression of a lizard with a broken tail. The driver got out and opened the door. Only then did Elisabeth, who stood outside the office building explaining something to her assistant, realize it was Eric's ride. She quickly walked over and hopped inside the car.

Once the driver closed the door, Elisabeth remarked, "Why are you suddenly driving this car? It looks so ugly!"

Eric pressed a stack of papers onto his knees and replied, "It's Drew's choice. She said it was a birthday gift for me. You have to take a limo to a premiere, right? So I guess this is the only option I had."

As the car slowly started up, Elisabeth, a bit dazed, asked, "Is your birthday this month?"

Eric shook his head. "No, it's not."

Elisabeth pressed on, "Then what birthday gift did she give you?"

Eric shrugged. "How would I know? Based on the frequency with which she gives me birthday gifts, I should be about 280 years old by now."

Elisabeth burst out laughing and teased, "It's all your fault. You spoil her, letting her run wild and have such terrible taste to buy such an ugly car."

Eric laughed, "Don't let its looks fool you. It's worth quite a bit. I heard it's the next-generation presidential vehicle designed exclusively for the White House, and Clinton hasn't even gotten to use one yet."

"Still ugly," Elisabeth said, her smile still bright as she caught sight of the papers in Eric's hand. She curiously leaned closer and asked, "What's this? Hmm, Ford Foundation?"

Eric passed the papers to her, saying, "I've been looking into some family foundations recently."

Elisabeth flipped through the pages casually, a teasing smile creeping onto her face as she said, "So, you're beginning to plan for the future?"

"Yeah," Eric leaned back in his seat, crossing his legs. "I've recently come to realize that some things can't be ignored. I used to be pretty opposed to the idea of foundations, but now I see that it's truly the best way to pass down family wealth."

After reading a series of documents over the past few days, Eric realized that family foundations operated very differently from how he originally perceived them.

Take the Ford Foundation, for example. When it was first established, the Ford Foundation had only $25,000 in registered funds. Even after Henry Ford passed and his entire estate was poured into the foundation, the asset scale didn't exceed $2 billion. Yet now, the Ford Foundation's asset scale has reached $9 billion.

If inflation is disregarded, this essentially means that the Ford family's assets have been consistently on the rise. Moreover, the family's legacy model can largely avoid the inheritance tax issues their descendants would otherwise face.

Even more astonishing is that even after a century, the Ford family still controls the Ford Motor Company, valued in the hundreds of billions, thanks to their remaining 2% stake in it under the dual-class share structure. This control allows the Ford family to maintain a significant, albeit subtle, influence on society.

Beyond the Ford family, both the Carnegie Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation have similarly outperformed the initial legacies left by their founders in terms of asset control. Though their immense wealth might not rank them on the Forbes rich list, it sufficed to uphold their ancestors' legacies and societal standing.

As for Eric's initial concern about control, that wasn't an issue either.

In all the family foundations Eric reviewed, control remained firmly in the hands of the founding family. Although they labeled themselves as nonprofit public foundations, they still had to donate a certain amount of assets each year. However, the operation of these donations was quite intricate.

Suppose a foundation had to donate $100 million each year; it might seem like a significant outflow of cash. In reality, how that money was spent was still up to the founding family that controlled the foundation.

Whether it's the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, or Rockefeller Foundation, their stated mission upon establishment was to promote developments in education, technology, and healthcare. This essentially meant they had made no binding commitments, providing the foundations with ample flexibility.

For instance, if a family business sought favorable policies from the government, they could allocate funds from their foundation to sponsor a voting-representative congressman on certain "beneficial tech industry" exploratory projects. A family trip to Hawaii or the Bahamas could conveniently fit into that narrative. And even if anyone spotted the ruse, there was no way to accuse the foundation of wrongdoing since it was a nonprofit endeavor entirely compliant with federal law.

Conversely, if family heirs struggled academically and couldn't gain admission to elite schools like Harvard or Yale -- schools that meant more to them than merely gaining knowledge -- then they wouldn't stand a chance. Thus, the family could pull funds from the foundation to make donations to these institutions, promoting "the development of the education sector." Along the way, it would be a dilemma for their children when it came to college; do you accept it or not?

These examples were, in fact, only the more ceremonial methods of operation, while many other private maneuvers were even more elaborate.

Overall, the donations made by these foundations carried strong ulterior purposes, primarily for the benefit of their controlling family. Genuine philanthropic acts were remarkably rare.

Take, for instance, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which everyone recognized from the original timeline. While everyone saw their net worth skyrocketing, aside from contributing a million dollars to develop the new contraceptives for "human population control," no other well-known philanthropic initiatives came to light.

Most importantly, utilizing the foundation model for family wealth transfer maximized family cohesion. To enjoy the foundation's support in the long term, the younger generation needed to exert some effort to promote the foundation's growth, which fundamentally explained why families like the Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Fords successfully maintained their legacies for over a century.

In contrast, if they opted for conventional property inheritance modes, not only would high estate taxes inevitably damage the family's essence, even if the second generation managed to maintain prosperity, the third or fourth generation might not share the same capabilities or might face uneven distribution or other reasons. So, the family would inevitably find itself on a path toward disintegration and decline.

Inside the car, Elisabeth listened to Eric's remarks, her face revealing a mischievous yet slightly resentful expression. "So, Mr. Williams, while considering these matters, have you thought about where your family stands?"

Eric coughed awkwardly to divert the topic, "So, what does your family plan to do?"

Elisabeth shrugged but replied, "My dad plans to use a trust fund."

Eric recalled the materials he had recently read. "Well, there should still be taxes to pay, right?"

Elisabeth nodded. "Yeah, but it should be manageable around 15%. By then, with some adjustments within News Corp, we probably won't need to sell stocks to cover the taxes; we're not as big as yours. Speaking of which, with your personal wealth being so substantial, the IRS is surely going to keep a close watch on you. It will be quite a challenge to smoothly transfer your assets without paying taxes like other families do."

Eric replied lightly, "The IRS is still human-controlled. As long as they're not machines, it should be manageable."

As they talked, the car started for Hollywood's Santa Monica Boulevard.

...

Today marked the premiere of The Horse Whisperer, produced by Miramax. The film was set to hit theaters on November 6, just two days away.

As Miramax's largest investment to date, the Weinsteins placed considerable emphasis on this project. However, selecting the November 6 release date was part of their usual distribution strategy as well as a concession to circumstance.

"Starting next week, two new films will be released on average every week, not to mention heavy-hitters like Mission: Impossible 3 and Star Wars: Episode I," Elisabeth explained. "Harvey had no choice but to pick this date. While there's risk involved, it's also the safest distribution strategy."

Speaking of which, Elisabeth added, "Columbia's two films have an interesting release schedule. Urban Legend opens on November 13, right alongside Ted and Star Trek: Insurrection. Julia's movie, Stepmom, is scheduled right after Star Wars: Episode I, and everybody can see that the box office for Star Wars: Episode I in the first two weeks is destined to be phenomenal. Even The Fast and The Furious has been pushed to January 1 next year while Stepmom stubbornly stays on Christmas Day. I can already visualize a tank crushing a bicycle."

Eric sighed, "There's not much I could do. By the time I got Columbia involved, their schedule was already set. Plus, the costs of these two films are infuriating; Urban Legend cost $30 million, and Stepmom cost $50 million. I can't help but think both budgets could be halved. I was almost tempted to drag Julia over and demand she return half of her $20 million paycheck for this family-friendly comedy featuring two female leads. It's highway robbery!"

"She's returning from Paris the day after tomorrow. When she's back, you can just hold her down and give her a punch," Elisabeth quipped.

"That would be too kind," Eric joked, cracking his knuckles in mock intensity. "I'd say at least two punches!"

With a laugh, Elisabeth recalled another topic and asked, "When do you plan to head to London?"

The fifth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was approaching, and to promote the brand in Europe, this year's show was set to take place in London. Because this was a relatively important show, Eric had confirmed his attendance.

"Probably on the 10th," Eric replied. "The show is on the 12th, so I'll be there two days early, but I have to return early since there's still so much going on here."

"Hmph," Elisabeth suddenly scoffed playfully. "You can't wait to get back, huh, jealous daddy? With so many beautiful daughters around."

Eric chuckled and lifted Elisabeth's chin to plant a kiss on her lips. "How about you come along with me, and I can let them call you jealous mommy?"

Elisabeth pushed Eric's hand away, her face flushing. "Ah!"

...

The car arrived in front of a theater on Santa Monica Boulevard, where the premiere of The Horse Whisperer was taking place at a flagship cinema owned by the largest North American theater chain, Regal Entertainment.

At the moment, the area on either side of the red carpet was already packed with reporters and fans. It was likely that some heavyweight guests were currently walking down the red carpet since cheers erupted even before they entered the venue.

Under the guidance of the staff, the Cadillac paused briefly before entering the red carpet's entrance. Eric was the first to step out, moving around to link arms with Elisabeth, and together they stepped onto the red carpet.

Compared to the glamorous attire of other stars, both Eric and Elisabeth looked quite casual. Eric wore a standard black suit, while Elisabeth donned a simple water-blue form-fitting gown. However, their appearance attracted more excitement than any other guest present.

Due to the ongoing discussions about Eric, the audience's cheer was deafening, and not only were the fans shouting, but the reporters on either side of the carpet appeared incredibly energized, wildly clicking their cameras while shouting questions. If it weren't for the security managing to maintain order, the reporters would have charged straight through the barriers to reach them.

Unfazed, Eric and Elisabeth strolled past the red carpet and entered the theater.

In recent years, Eric had been intentionally bringing different women into the public eye with him. Although he never officially explained anything, many people gradually accepted the fact that he had multiple girlfriends, which was precisely the result he aimed to achieve.

...

The Weinsteins had a considerable network built over the years. As they reached the theater lobby, it was already brimming with guests from every direction, all engaged in lively discussions. When Eric and Elisabeth appeared, they were immediately surrounded.

After exchanging pleasantries, Elisabeth was pulled aside by Harvey Weinstein to discuss matters. Eric briefly chatted with the film's director, Robert Redford, and was just about to walk over to Elisabeth when a blonde girl in a white dress approached him. "Mr. Williams, it's so lovely to see you again! Do you remember me?"

"Of course," Eric replied with a smile, nodding. "You're that friend of Miranda's, Scarlett Johansson, right? You look stunning today."

"Thanks," Scarlett said bashfully. "Mr. Williams, I also want to thank you for helping me get that role."

Eric shook his head. "No need for that. Honestly, I didn't do much; it's really all on your impressive performance."

Scarlett was thrilled to finally have a chance to chat with Eric, but just as she was about to say more, Elisabeth and Harvey walked back toward Eric. She had to abandon the topic, politely greeting both before regretfully walking away.

"Talented young lady," Harvey commented as he watched Scarlett leave, then turned to Eric, "Come on, let's head in. The premiere is about to start."

Eric nodded, feeling Elisabeth naturally link her arm with his, though he also felt a flash of pain shooting through his arm. He helplessly remarked, "I didn't do anything. It was just to help the little girl."

Elisabeth shot him a disdainful look. "You clearly like young girls."

"That's slander," Eric replied.

"What did Drew say?"

"Fine, I give up. Let's change the subject."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1062: Safety First]

The running time of The Horse Whisperer was 2 hours and 50 minutes, and considering its length, the premiere had started quite early.

Around nine o'clock, as the end credits rolled and the lights came up, a polite round of applause filled the theater. Eric felt a bit stiff, but he patiently stayed seated and didn't rush to get up.

Overall, Eric had a positive impression of The Horse Whisperer. The story flowed beautifully, blending warmth with inspiration and tinged with a hint of melancholy. The scenic views of Montana were simply breathtaking. However, Robert Redford suffered from the common ailment of seasoned Hollywood filmmakers: a slow pacing. With nearly three hours of run-time, it truly tested the audience's patience. This slow rhythm also led to a somewhat aimless emotional expression that lacked a compelling force to resonate deeply with viewers.

As the applause died down, the filmmakers started taking the stage to give speeches. Elisabeth leaned in close to Eric and whispered, "What did you think?"

Eric pondered for a moment before responding, "It really depends on how Harvey operates."

If he were to give it a score, Eric would rate the film a solid 7.5. It wasn't quite deserving of an 8 or higher, but far exceeded passing marks. Yet, this score wouldn't ignite much desire in viewers to rush to theaters. To achieve that, the Weinstein brothers would have to work their marketing magic to elevate the film's reputation to above 8.

Elisabeth had a similar assessment. Hearing Eric's expected response, she felt a bit deflated but accepted it.

...

After the screening, the after-party hosted by Miramax took place at a nearby hotel. With still some time before the festivities, Eric and Elisabeth didn't rush back to rest and decided to head to the party together.

"Maybe it's because he directed and acted in it, but I feel like Redford didn't infuse enough passion into the story," critic Ruth Stein from the San Francisco Chronicle unabashedly shared his thoughts with Eric, Elisabeth, and Harvey. "He was a bit out of place, just like Scott Thomas. It was really disappointing."

Elisabeth frowned slightly at Ruth's words while Eric remained composed beside her. Harvey, on the other hand, grinned as he listened. After Ruth finished, Harvey affectionately draped an arm around Ruth's shoulders and said, "Ruth, I have to admit, you're right -- those are indeed some minor flaws in the film. But let's be honest, there's no such thing as a perfect film. We should allow for some shortcomings. Moreover, apart from the performances, the film has plenty of strengths. How about we discuss it more over there?"

"Of course," Ruth nodded slightly, casting a glance at Eric and Elisabeth as he diplomatically clarified, "Mr. Williams, Miss Murdoch, I absolutely don't mean to take a jab at this film; I'm just calling it like I see it."

Harvey kept his arm around Ruth's shoulder, applying just a bit more pressure as he replied, "Eric and Liz wouldn't mind, ha ha. Let's move along now. Oh, Eric and Liz, feel free to enjoy yourselves."

Once Harvey led the critic away, Eric wrapped an arm around Elisabeth's waist and smiled, "What's there to take offense at? You've been a little princess for too long. Just think back to when Michael Ovitz faced all those clients' sarcasm. Instead of getting angry, he tap danced right on the table to win their trust. He ended up becoming one of the most powerful people in Hollywood."

"I'm not bothered by it. That guy clearly only said that to get our attention as we walked by," Elisabeth retorted, glancing at Harvey and Ruth as they chatted animatedly. Then she picked up on Eric's words, "But the most powerful person in Hollywood right now is you. Would you dance for a client?"

"Well, if it were necessary," Eric replied, "I'd have Jeffrey do the dancing."

"You sly dog," Elisabeth laughed but pressed on, "But what if the client insisted that you dance yourself?"

Eric confidently shook his head, "That scenario doesn't hold water. No one in the world is qualified to require me to dance for them."

"Hmm," Elisabeth emulated a playful grunt, "But what if I told you to dance?"

Eric, as if he had completely forgotten his previous comments, eagerly nodded, "No problem, I'll dance for you when we get home."

Elisabeth's smirk reflected her disdain, "Lame! I couldn't care less to see you do a tap dance."

Eric immediately countered, "Not happening! I keep my promises. You'll just have to watch me dance for half an hour when we get back."

Having shared a laugh, they made their way to an empty table near the banquet hall, noticing that Harvey was already deep in conversation with another critic not far away. Elisabeth raised her chin, signaling to Eric, and remarked, "Given how things are going, the film's reputation should be just fine, right?"

Eric could tell that Harvey was genuinely invested in The Horse Whisperer. This was easy to understand; it was the biggest investment Miramax had made in a dramatic film so far. The Weinstein brothers were already displeased with Fox's imposed $50 million cap on investments for Miramax, and the box office success of The Horse Whisperer directly impacted whether they could break this barrier.

If The Horse Whisperer could achieve box office numbers akin to a typical commercial film, Fox would likely lift this limit for future projects. But if the film was a failure, Miramax wouldn't be able to risk funding high-budget art films again.

"The film's reputation should be no issue," Eric nodded and stated. "But ultimately, it depends on whether audiences buy into it. With a run-time of nearly three hours, many impatient viewers might just skip it."

Yet, Elisabeth didn't wholly agree, "Remember that film you coerced me into buying, Dances with Wolves? That was four hours long, but it grossed over $180 million in North America and $420 million worldwide, with just a budget over $20 million. I see a lot of similarities between these two films. They're both adaptations of novels, directed and starred in by the main creators, and feature spectacular settings."

"But you have to admit," Eric interjected, "The Horse Whisperer's political themes and emotional depth don't compare to Dances with Wolves. On the bright side, the original novel's profile is significantly higher than that lesser-known Dances with Wolves. Still, with your point in mind, I think I should remind Harvey to link The Horse Whisperer with Dances with Wolves in the media. It might yield some unexpected results."

...

The secret behind the Weinstein brothers' Oscar strategy was actually quite simple: through powerful media and jury public relations, they created undeniable acclaim and a significant number of award nominations for Miramax films.

Of course, the specifics of their strategies were intricate and complex.

Due to the financial pressure from the $50 million investment in The Horse Whisperer, the Weinstein brothers opted against the gradual accumulation of box office and reputation through limited releases this time. However, their years of accumulated media marketing techniques still played a significant role for the film.

After the premiere, Miramax immediately launched a robust PR campaign. The next day, almost all major North American print media published positive reviews of The Horse Whisperer. Even the few critics who were not fond of the film offered milder critiques than expected.

Initial assessments from critics showed that The Horse Whisperer successfully crossed the 8-point threshold, achieving an average score of 8.2, significantly higher than Eric's personal rating of 7.5.

The Horse Whisperer was published in 1995, meaning it was only three years old. Though the novel enjoyed worldwide popularity and many viewers appreciated the film's adaptation, it had a clear drawback -- a lack of discussion-worthy topics.

Often, the buzz around a film can be even more important than its score.

In this regard, the spark that happened between Eric and Elisabeth during the after-party significantly influenced the narrative. Following their reminder, the Weinstein brothers swiftly connected The Horse Whisperer with Dances with Wolves in their marketing efforts.

Although it had been seven years since Dances with Wolves came out, this long interval had solidified its status as an irrefutable classic that had once won numerous prestigious awards including Best Picture and Best Director.

...

Seeing certain media outlets draw parallels between The Horse Whisperer and their cherished classic stirred discontent among Dances with Wolves fans. In just a few short days, discussions erupted across major North American media outlets, debating the superiority of The Horse Whisperer versus Dances with Wolves.

Supporters of Dances with Wolves were many, but with The Horse Whisperer selling over 10 million copies of the original novel worldwide, its fanbase was similarly significant.

As a result, the back-and-forth argument intensified, capturing attention and boosting ticket sales for The Horse Whisperer, while also creating a resurgence in Dances with Wolves videotape and DVD sales. What many didn't realize was that the rights to Dances with Wolves also belonged to the Firefly Group.

Amidst this high-profile debate, The Horse Whisperer ended up grossing $32.15 million over its first weekend. While that performance couldn't compare to blockbuster hits, it was still deemed very satisfactory by many.

With a first-weekend gross of $32.15 million, the film was expected to reach around $45 million by the end of its opening week.

Based on the positive reputation The Horse Whisperer had established, even with competition from other new releases in the following weeks, a predicted drop of around 30% in box office revenue seemed quite manageable.

As long as it maintained a low decline rate, The Horse Whisperer was on track to cross the $100 million mark at the North American box office.

With a budget of $50 million and projected box office returns exceeding $100 million in North America, not to mention overseas revenue, this project would yield substantial profits for Miramax and its parent company, Fox.

Moreover, leveraging the Weinstein brothers' Oscar campaign expertise, as long as The Horse Whisperer secured some wins at this year's Oscars, its subsequent merchandise release profits would skyrocket even more.

...

In Ventura, north of Los Angeles, this was the first time Eric had visited since the private airport was officially opened.

Compared to the expansive agricultural fields of the past, this 1,500-acre site was now fenced in with tall barbed wire. Inside the airport were two intersecting runways, a navigation and monitoring center, and six large hangars. However, at that moment, only two Gulfstream V jets were housed in one of the hangars.

It was now November 10th, and Eric arrived in the morning, planning to board a Gulfstream V that had just recently been acquired and fly directly to London.

The Gulfstream V was the first ultra-long-range business jet from Gulfstream Aerospace, capable of a range of 7,500 miles, making trans-Pacific flights feasible between Los Angeles and London a mere breeze.

However, after touring the Gulfstream V cockpit, Eric quickly dismissed the idea of flying to London in it.

The reason was simple and blunt.

It was too cramped.

Compared to the Boeing 767 he frequently flew in two years prior, which featured luxurious suites and ample space, the Gulfstream V's cabin width was only a bit over two meters. With couches and chairs lining both sides, there was hardly any spare room to move around. Eric found it hard to imagine spending over ten hours, flying more than 8,000 kilometers to London in such a small aircraft. He always suspected he might have some form of claustrophobia.

"Let's reserve this small jet for short-haul flights," Eric suggested to Drew who had come to see him off, "By the way, how is the construction progress on those two 747s?"

"It should take about six more months," the girl replied, "But I can follow up with Boeing on it."

Eric chuckled and shook his head, "No need to rush on those kinds of things. Safety first."

"Alright, I won't push them," she said, glancing at her watch. "The Boeing 767 won't be here for at least another hour. How about we take a walk instead?"

Having abandoned the idea of flying overseas on the Gulfstream V, Eric opted to call back the Boeing 767 he initially planned to use.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1063: If It Doesn't Taste Good]

Due to a last-minute change of aircraft, Eric had lunch with the crew in Ventura before officially taking off. The Boeing 767 smoothly ascended into the stratosphere as Mayer unbuckled his seatbelt. Caroline was still recuperating from a foot injury, so for this trip, she was the only one following Eric to London, aside from the usual security detail.

After carefully reviewing Eric's schedule for the next few days, Mayer saw a flight attendant approaching with coffee. She stood up to intercept her, smiling, "I'll take care of that."

The flight attendant was a temporary staff member from the aircraft rental company, tall and elegant, fitting the industry's standards. As she was there to serve Eric Williams, this flight assignment had been highly sought after, and she had finally managed to snag a spot. Just hearing that Eric Williams needed coffee, she had made a point to dress up. Ambitious women never lacked for aspirations; getting close to Eric could mean a swift rise in her career.

Feeling thwarted by Mayer, the flight attendant maintained her smile, albeit with irritation beneath, saying, "Miss Mayer, I can manage it."

"I happen to have work to discuss with Eric," Mayer said, reaching out to take the tray from her hand, her smile fading into a command as she added, "You can head back."

The flight attendant, not wanting to offend Eric's personal assistant, grumbled under her breath but had no choice but to retreat.

Once the flight attendant's figure vanished at the entrance to the lounge, Mayer sighed in relief, feeling a small thrill from the small act of authority she had just wielded. Then, with a tinge of guilt, she stuck out her tongue before heading to the private office at the front of the plane.

...

Eric was leaning back in an office chair, engrossed in reading a screenplay. At the sound of a knock, he didn't look up but quietly responded.

Mayer tiptoed to the desk, poured a cup of coffee for Eric, and placed the pot beside him. Watching the focused man in front of her, she suddenly recalled the events from the morning.

Those two Gulfstream Vs? It seemed he wouldn't be flying them again. What a capricious guy, tossing aside two $36 million private jets like it's nothing! There's probably only this man who could dare to do such a thing without a second thought.

Consider this: the price of the two Gulfstream Vs was merely a starting point. The annual maintenance and operational costs alone amounted to at least 10% of the aircraft's price; that's a long-term investment many wealthy individuals chose to avoid by opting for long-term rentals.

Eric turned a page of the Fight Club script and, sensing someone hadn't left, looked up with a smile to interrupt Mayer's daydream, "Mary, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing," Mayer shook her head quickly, realizing she spaced out. She sought a way out of her embarrassment, saying, "I just noticed you were reading this script, and when I was organizing materials for you, I happened to skim through it, but I didn't quite grasp what Fincher was trying to express this time."

"It's simple," Eric replied with a smirk, "Fincher wants to tell everyone that mental illness needs to be addressed early; one shouldn't avoid treatment, or it could hurt both themselves and others."

Mayer paused, realizing Eric was joking, and burst out laughing.

Eric appraised Mayer, who was hiding her mouth behind her hands, wearing a light grey business suit. "If you're interested in this story, you could check out Chuck Palahniuk's original novel. It's about a modern man struggling and rebelling through confusion until he collapses. As for this script, I think even Fincher hasn't quite figured out what he wants to convey, so if mishandled, this project could turn into a disaster."

Mayer listened attentively and asked, "So, are you planning to approve this project?"

"Absolutely," Eric nodded. "It's actually quite an intriguing script. With some effort during the distribution and marketing stages, this film could even become a cult classic."

Historically, Fight Club initially had lackluster box office performance, only to later transform into a classic through fan interpretations.

Currently, New Line's budget was set at $50 million, which Eric found insufficient. As he just mentioned, Fincher might still be grappling with his ideas, potentially leading to confusion during filming and budget overruns.

However, Eric didn't want New Line to miss out on this film. Firefly Group already had plenty of commercially successful films; producing a few unique quality films to enhance the company's library was essential. Over the years, aside from mainstream commercial films, Firefly's labels had been collaborating continuously with unique directors like David Fincher and Quentin Tarantino.

Regarding Fight Club, while there were risks involved, as long as New Line crafted a specialized marketing plan to help audiences grasp the film ahead of time, if nothing else, they might make viewers who don't understand it feel it's an extraordinary movie, thus paving the way for commercial success.

After chatting for a bit, successfully easing the awkwardness of her earlier spacing out, Mayer turned and left the office.

...

Eric returned his focus to the Fight Club screenplay. Honestly, he hadn't fully grasped the film either, but there were plenty of classic lines worth contemplating.

After reading through the script, Eric opened his laptop and drafted an email based on his thoughts for the film. He intended to save it in the drafts to send to Kenneth Horne at New Line once they reached London. Picking up another document from his desk, he prepared for the subsequent flight.

Dinner was served on the plane, and after a few hours of rest, Eric woke up to find the Boeing 767 already at cruising altitude over London.

...

Leaving Ventura Airport on the West Coast at 1 PM, after ten hours of flying and accounting for the time difference, it was now 7 AM on November 11 in London.

Upon arriving at Heathrow Airport, Eric was quickly whisked away by Emily and Edward Razek to the venue for tomorrow's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre in West London.

In contrast to the quaint confines of the Lexington Avenue arsenal in Manhattan, the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre, covering over 40,000 square meters, felt remarkably grand.

As Eric's group arrived, the entrance of Earl's Court was plastered with gigantic posters showcasing Victoria's Secret brand, with many media reporters lined up, cameras ready, descending upon Eric's cars, though they ultimately couldn't catch a glimpse of the interior occupants.

Compared to the warm spring in Los Angeles, London in November was already significantly colder, with snow possible at any moment.

After disembarking in the exhibition center's parking lot, Eric instinctively stuffed his hands into the pockets of the newly donned trench coat. Glancing up at the persistently gloomy sky, he said to Emily, "I mean, shouldn't you at least let me grab breakfast first?"

Emily raised her wrist to check her watch, unimpressed. "If I remember correctly, you were supposed to arrive in London around 5 AM. Do you know how long everyone has been waiting for you at Heathrow?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Eric replied, "I'm really sorry, there was a last-minute aircraft change that delayed me a few hours."

"Then why didn't you have someone notify us?" Emily complained but didn't press further. Sensing she had the upper hand, she said, "Let's go check on how everything is set up."

This year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show felt a bit like a farewell concert.

Classic angels like Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista would be stepping down from the Victoria's Secret endorsement team after this show. Originally, only Diane Kruger and Tyra Banks would remain from the original five-member group. Diane intended to delve deeper into Hollywood, while Tyra planned to return to television like before.

Meanwhile, the forty-some angels would also be undergoing a significant turnover in the coming years.

Though Cindy and Linda might return for a guest appearance in the future, LTD refrained from revealing this in their promotions, implying that this could be the last show for this popular set of supermodels. This strategy worked effectively -- some loyal fans reportedly flew from North America just to witness this show.

Given the venue's larger size compared to Lexington Avenue Armory, LTD issued a total of 6,000 tickets, marking it the grandest Victoria's Secret show yet.

With the strong expansion of the Victoria's Secret brand, LTD placed increasingly significant emphasis on organizing the show.

In addition to focused promotions targeting the angel team, the roster of performing guests was unprecedentedly robust. In addition to the Spice Girls, the Backstreet Boys, and Madonna, LTD had also managed to secure Michael Jackson. Years later, he had finally emerged from the shadows and regained his former superstar glory.

However, having learned the operational dynamics of the Victoria's Secret show over the years, LTD refrained from spending big on a high-profile director. Instead, high-ups like Edward Razek took charge as producers, directly overseeing the entire production.

...

Though it was late at night back in Los Angeles, after a few hours of rest on the plane and being in an energetic age, Eric felt energized as Emily guided him through the morning's preparations.

It wasn't until noon that the group departed the Earl's Court internal stage and headed to the Kensington NH Hotel, where the angels were staying.

In fact, the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre was less than two kilometers from Kensington Gardens Street, so Eric would still have an easy commute between the two in the next couple of days.

Arriving at the NH Hotel just in time for lunch, the group headed straight to the hotel restaurant.

With the Victoria's Secret fashion show taking place the next day, although some angels were out shopping, most stayed at the hotel, turning the lunch hour into a gathering ground for beautiful women.

Upon seeing Eric, every Victoria's Secret angel dining in the restaurant stood up, enthusiastically coming over to him.

After embracing a large group of dazzling ladies, they naturally dispersed, but Cindy, Linda, and Gisele -- who was making her debut at the Victoria's Secret show -- stayed behind. Everyone knew that while many angels were close to Eric, these three shared the closest relationships. Alessandra and Miranda didn't make it to London but remained behind in New York.

Mayer had rushed ahead to Kensington Gardens Street to prepare Eric's accommodations, so she wasn't present. Other senior LTD executives also cleverly made themselves scarce, taking seats elsewhere. Only Emily and Eric remained, joined by the three girls at a round table.

Once seated, Eric turned to Gisele across from him, smiling, "So how does it feel now?"

Cindy and Linda naturally occupied two spots next to Eric while Gisele felt a slight pang of jealousy, yet replied, "It's great; everyone has been really supportive."

Cindy took the menu from the waiter and handed it to Eric, saying, "Gisele's runway walk is truly impressive; I feel a bit overshadowed. Oh Eric, you have to try the steak here; it's really good."

"Then why don't you order me one?" Eric replied with a smirk, handing the menu back to Cindy. "If it doesn't taste good, I'll be holding you accountable."

"Sure," Cindy laughed lightly, unfazed by all the gazes directed their way. She leaned in close to Eric, whispering, "If it's not good, then you can eat me instead."

The alluring scent of her femininity wafted closer, and Eric leaned in, replying in a strange tone, "Actually, women aren't very tasty; too much fat. I prefer men; little boys are the best, very tender."

Cindy was visibly taken aback, instinctively distancing herself a bit. Upon seeing Eric's sudden return to an expression of nonchalance, she shot him a playful glare before ordering several dishes from the waiter nearby.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1064: Somewhat Aggrieved]

During lunch, Simon Fuller, the president of Virgin Records, rushed over.

For the past six months, while managing the operations of Virgin Records, Simon had put a significant amount of his energy into running the reality show Pop Idol. Following the success of the Spice Girls, this public audition organized by Virgin Records in conjunction with Sky Television attracted over 200,000 applicants just in the UK.

This led to immense attention for Pop Idol right from its inception. After months of buildup, by September, the show had premiered to over 5.24 million viewers, and its latest episode averaged 7.91 million viewers. While such ratings might not seem remarkable in North America, in the UK -- home to only a fifth of North America's population -- those numbers were phenomenal.

Consequently, even with several months left in its first season, television networks in numerous countries and regions had already begun contacting the producers of Pop Idol to secure production rights for the show. Over in North America, Eric had already confirmed that the production rights would go to ABC.

Elisabeth had some thoughts of her own, but seeing the phenomenal success of Pop Idol made her realize it was impossible to bring the show to FOX. After all, Eric also had to consider the wishes of ABC's executives. However, she unapologetically took the production rights for Australia.

After lunching with everyone, Eric and Simon Fuller headed over to the recording studio for Pop Idol to check in and learn about the operations at Virgin Records.

...

To adjust to the time difference, Eric returned to the villa on Kensington Garden Street early that evening to rest. The following morning, he flew to Dublin, the capital of Ireland.

As a European tax haven, the European headquarters for Firefly Electronics was also located in Ireland.

After a morning work meeting with the executives at Firefly Electronics' European branch, Eric took a tour of a recently opened Fireflyer components factory near Dublin. In the afternoon, he returned to the UK and rushed to Pinewood Studios to meet with Tim Burton and others, who were busy working on Sleepy Hollow.

After two full days of non-stop busyness, Eric finally completed most of his agenda for this trip to the UK.

...

As dusk fell, Eric drove back into central London.

Inside the black Mercedes, Mayer sat beside Eric quietly jotting down notes for the day's work.

Suddenly, the car hit a bump, causing Eric, who had been resting with his eyes closed, to straighten up and glance outside at the streetlights coming on. He asked Mayer, "Where are we now?"

Mayer looked up, noticing Eric's somewhat tired face, and said, "We're almost at Kensington Street, Eric. Do you want to eat dinner before we head over?"

Eric checked his watch and saw it was a quarter past seven, with less than an hour until the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show began. While he felt a little hungry, after hesitating, Eric decided, "Let's just go straight to the Earl's Court."

Mayer nodded and glanced at her notes, saying, "Also, Eric, I organized the scripts and novels you had the UK branch collect yesterday afternoon. They're in the study."

Eric paused, then remembered.

At the wrap party for The Ring, he had inadvertently thought of Snatch, a film that should have already premiered but had yet to make its debut. He felt it would be a shame if such an interesting movie faded away. The next day, he casually asked Caroline and Mayer to gather some of the latest novels and scripts before his trip to the UK.

Over the years, Eric had frequently prompted such tasks on a whim, and many projects within the Firefly system came from his choices, most of which had turned out quite well. So even though he had only mentioned it offhandedly and had almost forgotten, Caroline and Mayer considered it very important.

Leaning back comfortably in his seat, Eric said, "Well, I can look at them when I have time; if not, I can skip it."

After all, who cared about a former husband of the Queen of Pop? He wasn't a savior; he did not have to manage every little thing.

Mayer chuckled a bit, glanced at her notes, and noticed there were a few more items she wanted to report to Eric but then saw his scattered attention and decided to close her notebook.

...

As the night in London grew colder, the Earl's Court buzzed with excitement.

Eric entered the backstage area of the show through the internal passage, greeting the girls clad in pink pajamas or the already donned outfits, waiting nervously for their turn. He quickly found the rows of makeup stations. For each annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, they routinely prepared various energy snacks for the girls who had been dieting for days -- a rule personally set by Eric.

After a long day, Eric felt like he was the one in need of an energy boost.

Noticing Eric sitting at the edge of a row of makeup stations, Qusie Gauff, who had been getting her hair done, paused and beckoned him over, while the other girls still in the makeup area -- seeing Qusie seize the opportunity -- reluctantly returned to their seats, greeting Eric from near and far.

Responding to the greetings from the girls, Eric pulled a box of nuts closer, turning to the doll-faced girl next to him and nodding with a smile, "Qusie, you look absolutely stunning tonight."

"Thank you," Qusie waved away her stylist and smiled sweetly, saying, "Eric, will you be attending the premiere of Fast Furious next month?"

Curious, Eric asked, "Why the sudden interest?"

"Kristanna invited me to come to Los Angeles next month to support her," Qusie Gauff propped her chin on one hand, looking adorable, "If you're going too, we could meet up."

Eric recalled that somewhat wild night in New York and laughed, "Kristanna Loken?"

At the time, Eric believed that Kristanna Loken, who had once played T-X the Terminator, was more suitable for the role of Letty, the fierce female driver, than Michelle Rodriguez. He arranged for her to audition in Los Angeles. Because the auditions went well and Eric personally recommended her, she ended up landing the role.

"Yes," Qusie Gauff nodded, her face turning slightly pink, possibly recalling that night in New York.

"Well, we'll have to see if I have time. But even if I can't make it, you can come visit me at the Liberty City when you're in Los Angeles."

Qusie Gauff perked up excitedly, "Really?"

"Of course," Eric smiled. "You can come along with Kristanna."

Qusie Gauff immediately misunderstood Eric's intention and lightly glared at him playfully, "Eric, you're so bad."

"You reminding me makes me want to do something mischievous," Eric replied with a grin, glancing at the sweetly innocent girl, thinking of Kristanna Loken's wild persona -- a strong top and a delicate bottom, a beautiful lesbian couple that straight men love to see.

Noticing Eric's mischievous smile, Qusie Gauff playfully shrank her neck, making one want to pinch her doll-like face.

However, this charming atmosphere was soon disrupted: "Eric, why are you just getting here now? You can't stay backstage and distract the girls getting ready for the show. Get up; I've arranged a seat for you in front."

Eric glanced at Emily, who was animatedly bustling about, and raised the nut container before him, "Emily, I haven't eaten anything yet."

"My girls haven't eaten for three months," Emily shot him a look. "Get up, let's go."

Eric made a gesture to Qusie Gauff indicating they'd talk later, picked up the box of nuts, and stood.

Emily tried to grab the box from him, but Eric easily sidestepped her, saying, "Alright, but Eric, you need to keep a low profile these days. The paparazzi here in London are crazier than in New York. I don't want any messy tabloid headlines popping up."

Eric felt somewhat aggrieved. While outsiders might think he was soaking up the atmosphere at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in London, the reality was that he hadn't paused his hectic schedule for even a moment. Over the years, Eric had gradually realized that the lifestyles of many tycoons were definitely not as lavish and carefree as ordinary people imagined; instead, they were often busier than ever.

"Emily, even if I wanted some tabloid headlines, I wouldn't have the time!"

Emily clearly understood Eric's packed schedule, clicking her heels as she strode ahead, turning back without missing a beat, "I know this, but others don't. Just be mindful."

...

At that moment, the front row for the show was already filled with guests. As the opening approached, the atmosphere became exceptionally lively.

Emily led Eric to an empty seat in the front row on the left side of the stage. The guests, who had been conversing, all stood upon seeing Eric.

Due to their families' close ties, Emily often presented herself as an older sister figure in front of Eric, and Eric valued this closeness, never trying to assert dominance in front of her.

However, that did not mean others could act too casually around Eric. Almost everyone seated in the front row for the show were influential figures from various walks of life in the UK, and upon seeing Eric, they all eagerly sought to engage with him.

Emily also introduced him, "Eric, this is Mr. Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, one of our partners for this fashion show."

Eric knew who Richard Branson was -- Virgin Records was once a subsidiary of the Virgin Group -- and he reached out to shake his hand.

After Eric greeted Richard Branson, Emily continued introducing others, "And Eric, this is Mr. Charles Delevingne, a successful real estate entrepreneur, and this is his wife, Mrs. Pandora Stevens, who is the Buying Director for Selfridges."

When Emily emphasized Mrs. Pandora Stevens, she shot Eric a knowing glance, indicating Emily wanted him to engage with her more.

Eric understood her intention; while Victoria's Secret would set up flagship stores in major European cities like London and Paris, other apparel brands under the LTD Group needed to penetrate department store counters. Selfridges, ranking second in the UK only to Harrods with its luxury brands, was a prime target for LTD's clothing lines.

After a few more introductions, everyone settled down, and Emily rushed back backstage to direct operations.

...

Sitting between Richard Branson and the Delevingne couple, with over ten minutes before the show began, everyone was quite chatty, and they naturally found plenty to discuss.

Not long into the conversation, Eric noticed a girl around twelve or thirteen, already with an elegant presence, running over from behind. She shyly hugged the Delevingne couple and then leaned against Charles Delevingne, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Eric.

"Eric," Charles Delevingne chuckled, pushing the girl off himself a bit, "This is my daughter, Poppy. She's a big fan of yours."

Eric smiled and extended his hand, saying, "Hello, Miss Delevingne."

The girl politely shook Eric's hand, saying, "Mr. Williams, you can call me Poppy."

"Oh, then you can call me Eric."

Feeling Eric's friendly demeanor, Poppy relaxed considerably. After nuzzling against her father a bit, the Delevingne couple stepped aside with smiles, and noticing the girl's intent, Eric and Richard Branson subtly shifted positions to offer her space.

Sitting down next to Eric, Poppy pulled out a sleek Prada notebook from her handbag and handed it over. "Eric, can I have your autograph?"

"Of course," Eric replied, nodding with a smile as he took the notebook and a pen, swiftly signing his name along with a short message, then handed it back to the girl.

"And another one," Poppy said, retrieving the notebook but then handing over a pink notebook, "This is for my sister. She's not here today, but she wants your autograph too."

Eric took the pink notebook, laid it on his lap, and asked, "What's your sister's name?"

"Kara," Poppy answered. "Kara Delevingne."

Eric nodded, smiled again as he signed the notebook, but couldn't help but internally comment on the names: Poppy Delevingne, Kara Delevingne.

Poppy, Kara, Poppy, Kara...

If they were unrelated people, repeating those names in his mind would definitely conjure up visions of two innocent-looking Chihuahuas with big ears.

What a pair of unthoughtful parents, he mused. Couldn't they have picked better names for their children?

Hawaii sounded great!

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