I Am Hollywood

by Cui Shi yi

1 - 702

37. 1127

I am Hollywood #Chapter 1127: Chapter 1129: The Tail - Read I am Hollywood Chapter 1127: Chapter 1129: The Tail Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

[Chapter 1129: The Tail]

Colin Southgate fell silent for a moment before saying, "Eric, all of this is just your side of the story. I need to see the divestiture plan for Firefly Electronics first. Also, what price are you planning to transfer that equity at?"

Eric replied, "$1.6 billion, approximately a 20 times earnings multiple. That price is fair. Similarly, there's no room for negotiation. I'll just repeat what I said earlier, I don't want to waste too much time negotiating."

"Cash?"

"Of course, I'm not interested in equity swaps."

Colin shook his head. "Polygram can't come up with that much cash. We've already reinvested the $1.2 billion from selling Virgin Records back to shareholders."

"If Polygram announced plans to acquire a stake in Fireflyer Company, I believe any financial institution would be eager to provide financing. Polygram currently only has $830 million in debt, and with this $1.6 billion added, your debt ratio wouldn't exceed 25%. Most companies can handle that kind of risk."

"Alright, Eric, but I have to say, your conditions are too harsh and inflexible. Even if I were willing to agree, the board would struggle to sign off on it in a short time."

"Well, that's not my problem," Eric shrugged, saying, "But you're right about one thing: Firefly Electronics needs to partner with a major record company in the short term. If Polygram hesitates too long and other record companies agree, you will permanently miss out on this opportunity. Even if a partnership happens in the future, Fireflyer won't give up equity anymore."

"Are you not worried about Polygram siding with another digital music player?"

"I don't think any digital music platform can surpass Yahoo Music Store. If you pursue that, you will only be losing out."

After saying this, Eric waved for the waiter to start serving the food.

During the meal, Colin repeatedly asked Eric about some details, and by the time they finished lunch and he saw Colin off, it was already 1:30 PM.

...

The casting work for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone had started in London, and Eric needed to head to the London office of Firefly Group to check on the project's progress. He also had to go to Pinewood Studios, where Bond 19 had started production, and the crew was currently stationed.

Two identical black Land Rover SUVs were waiting outside the Royal Garden Hotel. Merissa Mayer stood by the car holding a stack of documents. When he saw Eric coming with Poppy Delevingne, the driver proactively opened the doors for them.

Originally planning to drop Poppy off at home first, Eric couldn't resist the girl's pleading look. Since the upcoming work wasn't anything too confidential, he decided to take her along.

Since securing the film rights directly, the movie project had only been publicly announced last month, but the company had spent the last two years refining the script for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The director was confirmed as Chris Columbus, the original version director.

Thus, the crew's main focus was casting. If everything went smoothly, filming would start in September, with a release set for the end of next year.

Firefly Group's UK headquarters was located in the Mayfair district, east of Hyde Park, occupying a six-story building with a slightly European classical style, not far from the Royal College of Art.

To build anticipation for the film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ran an open casting call that recruited young actors from across the UK. Since the announcement at the end of last month, this had become one of the hottest topics in the UK, and in just a month, the crew had received over 20,000 applications. Had the application period not ended, that number would have likely increased significantly.

Despite it being the weekend, Eric brought Merissa and the tail-like Poppy Delevingne to the branch headquarters, which was still bustling with activity.

Although the crew publicly stated that there were no restrictions on role selection, in reality, if they viewed all 20,000 applications, the casting team would surely be overwhelmed. Therefore, in the first round of selection, they mainly filtered out candidates who were clearly not a fit or had no acting experience, with some standout children being specially noted.

Casting for adult actors proved to be much smoother, and several roles had already been confirmed.

With the director and script locked down, Eric had no intention of getting involved in the casting process, finding no need to seek original young actors. With J.K. Rowling and Chris Columbus personally overseeing the selection, they were sure to find the most suitable roles for the trio.

After spending over two hours at the branch, Eric hurriedly left for Pinewood Studios on the outskirts of London.

...

Since it was the weekend, the Bond 19 crew wasn't filming, and Barbara Broccoli personally welcomed Eric. They reviewed the shooting progress together, and in the evening, at Barbara's invitation, Eric attended a party she was hosting.

After returning to central London, it was already past 10 PM.

...

Feeling as though she had stumbled upon a completely foreign world, Poppy had spent the entire day faintly excited. Thus, even though it was late at night, she showed no signs of sleepiness.

The car arrived in the Belgravia district where the girl lived, stopping in front of the same house as last time. The driver opened the door from the outside, and Eric handed a bag to the girl, saying, "Alright, go back. Goodnight."

At that moment, Poppy was no longer wearing the long hoodie from the morning but instead had changed into a small dress with a beautiful light yellow Chanel coat over it. Eric had casually instructed someone to bring this outfit earlier, considering London's unbearable weather. He couldn't always have the girl wearing his clothes.

When Poppy took the bag with her hoodie, she tugged at Eric's hand. "Eric, can you come in for a bit?"

Eric smiled and shook his head, "I'm tired, I just want to get home to sleep."

"Don't be like that, Eric," Poppy insisted, pulling him up. "If you keep rejecting girls like this, you'll never find a girlfriend."

...

As she dragged him along, Poppy took Eric up the steps, pressed the doorbell, and held on to him as if afraid he would run away.

The door opened quickly, revealing a thirty-something maid who upon seeing Poppy immediately began to chatter, "Miss, you're finally back! Madam just called asking, and oh, Mr. Williams, good evening!"

Eric nodded at her, "Hello."

"This is Rosie," Poppy introduced casually, pulling Eric inside. After taking a few steps, she turned back to the maid named Rosie and said, "You can go to bed now. Also, don't say anything silly in front of my mom."

"Okay, alright, Miss," Rosie replied with a slightly hesitant tone but still went to her room.

...

Poppy eagerly led Eric to the second floor to a bedroom full of feminine charm, urging him to sit at her vanity. The girl dashed into the adjacent changing room and quickly changed back into the hoodie from the morning. Then she scampered down the stairs, returning a while later with a coffee pot.

Eric sat in the chair, leaning against the vanity while watching the girl bustling about with interest. He took a sip of the coffee she handed him and laughed, saying, "So attentive. Just so you know, you can't come along with me tomorrow."

Poppy sat at the edge of the bed, both hands propped up, her bright eyes sparkling as she looked at Eric. "I wasn't thinking that at all! I had a great time today."

Eric nodded, continuing to sip his coffee.

After a moment of silence, Poppy took the initiative to say, "Eric, why aren't you talking?"

"I'm tired. I'm not in the mood to entertain little girls."

Poppy giggled, saying, "So you were fooling me on purpose during the day?"

"Yeah," Eric lightly tapped on the vanity with his left hand. "That was my 'work' for the day."

"Ha, Mr. Williams, I see right through you."

Eric didn't respond, finishing most of the coffee, then set the cup down. "Well, you should sleep early. I need to head back."

Poppy's eyes flickered, and before Eric could stand up, she leaned in and gently pushed him, sitting directly on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lightly pecked his lips before pulling back, her cheeks flushed but still boldly saying, "Eric, I want to make love with you. Can we do it?"

"Sure," Eric nodded, encircling the girl's small waist to keep her still. "But let's see what you know first?"

The girl's face turned red as an apple, and she complained, "You're such a bad guy. Of course, you have to take the initiative next."

"Okay, but let me ask you a question. What's the most painful experience you've had in your life so far?"

"When I was little, my finger got caught in a car door," the girl said, giggling. "Eric, you're just trying to scare me, right? I'm not afraid. One of my good friends had that happen, and they said it's not as painful as people think."

"I wasn't referring to that," Eric said, gesturing to her small belly. "If we did it, your belly might very well grow. Then, you'd have to carry a big round ball around for ten months. That's the scariest part -- an experience ten times worse than the car door incident, culminating in ten hours of pain before some little guy gets out of you. There's a chance you could even die from the pain during that process."

Poppy's eyes did flash with a hint of fear, but she quickly regained her certainty. "You're just trying to scare me, Eric. You wouldn't let that happen, right?"

"Yeah," Eric stood, effortlessly picking the girl up and placing her on the small bed next to him. "So just sleep well. Come to the premiere of Iron Man the day after tomorrow, and bring your friends."

Poppy, being just a fleeting thought of a young girl, was easily swayed by Eric's diversion and 'scare tactics.' She stopped pushing for now and obediently lay down on the bed, still holding Eric's hand. "Eric, can you wait until I fall asleep before leaving?"

Eric chuckled, "Not very considerate of you, I'm tired too."

"I'm just a girl," Poppy pouted. "Boys should definitely give in to girls."

"Alright then, I'll stay for five more minutes. If you aren't asleep in five minutes, I'm leaving."

"I usually take half an hour to fall asleep."

"Half an hour? What do you think about during that time?"

"Last night, I was wondering whether I should call you after getting up this morning, and if you might forget me. I also thought about what to wear and whether I should put on makeup. I've been learning makeup lately, and everyone says I have a talent for it. I think when I grow up, I might even create my own cosmetics brand."

Eric sat by the bed, letting the girl ramble, and perhaps having played all day, within just ten minutes, she had already fallen asleep.

After tucking her in, Eric quietly left the girl's room.

...

Downstairs, the living room was lit by a wall lamp. As Eric walked down the stairs, the maid appeared before him.

"Mr. Williams, are you leaving?"

"Yeah, Poppy's asleep. And please send my regards to the Delevingne couple."

"Certainly."

The maid nodded, courteously leading Eric to the door, helping him open it, and watching as he got into the car by the curb. She stayed until the two SUVs turned and disappeared down the street before closing the brown-red wooden door of the apartment.

...

Back at his place on Kensington Garden Street, it was already past 11 PM.

However, Eric felt little sleepiness. His female assistant had stayed over at the villa last night and had moved to the Royal Garden Hotel across the street today, leaving Eric all alone in the villa.

Quietly brewing a pot of coffee, Eric went upstairs to his study, sipping coffee while sorting through some legal documents he had recently requested from Edward Lewis, the Chief Legal Counsel of Firefly Group.

After carefully reviewing all the documents, Eric pondered for a moment, then got up to grab a DV from the bookshelf. He set it up beside the study sofa, tested various shooting angles, and began recording a video file.

After more than half an hour, Eric finished recording the video, then pulled out a prepared laptop, transferring the video file to the hard drive, encrypting it with Steve Mitnick's encryption software.

Once this was done, checking the time, it was already 4 AM.

Though London was in a summer season with long daylight due to its high latitude, it remained dark outside the window. Only by looking up could one notice the faint glow permeating the London sky from city lights.

After deleting the original files from the DV, Eric physically destroyed the storage card, ensuring it could not be recovered before locking the newly encrypted laptop securely in the safe. He then quietly left the study.

After taking a shower in the bathroom and lying down on the bed, he suddenly thought of Poppy's half-hour before bedtime.

He began to randomly contemplate what he might think about during that half-hour, but overwhelming fatigue washed over him. His thoughts became scattered without focusing on anything in particular, and before he knew it, he had fallen sound asleep.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1130: Film Reviews]

After a brief exchange with the guard, a silver BMW smoothly drove into Kensington Garden Street, soon arriving at Eric's mansion.

The driver opened the door, and Olivia Wilson stepped out. Waiting beside her was Merissa Mayer, who observed the woman known to favor black clothing and respectfully said, "Ms. Wilson, hello. I'm Marissa Mayer."

"Hello," Olivia replied with a light handshake, her gaze questioning.

Merissa gestured invitingly and explained, "The boss went to the BBC this morning for a recording. He'll be back shortly."

Olivia nodded and followed Merissa into the villa. However, instead of sitting in the living room, she asked, "Did you prepare lunch for him?"

"It's already been reserved at the Garden Hotel restaurant. It will be delivered once he gets home."

"Skip the restaurant; I'll cook," Olivia said, removing her black trench coat and glancing at the girl beside her. "Could you help me?"

Merissa instinctively took the coat, nodding, "Sure."

As Olivia surveyed her surroundings, she walked toward the kitchen and added, "I wonder if there are any ingredients here."

Merissa hung up the coat and, following her like a diligent maid, offered, "What do you need? I can have them deliver it."

"Oh, thank you."

"Not at all, it's what I should do."

...

It wasn't until Eric returned that Merissa Mayer managed to break free from her automatic role as a maid. Despite being a strong-willed woman, she found herself feeling a twinge of inferiority in front of Olivia.

Perhaps it was because this was his mother, she reasoned with herself.

After lunch, the assistant quickly excused herself under the pretext of work.

"She's a nice girl, just a bit too strong-willed. Not as easygoing as Carly," Olivia remarked while sipping coffee on the living room sofa, finally taking a good look at Eric, whom she hadn't seen in a while. "How is your hand?"

Eric raised his right wrist and flexed it. "It's fine now."

"I went to see Carmen's runway show and chatted with her."

"Carmen?"

"Yeah, I was in Japan last month to see the cherry blossoms. She happened to be in Tokyo for a show at the beginning of the month, so I caught her."

Eric nodded but felt a strange discomfort, as if he were a teenager whose shrewd mother secretly knew all his private matters.

Olivia studied Eric with a faint smile. "Carly rarely talks to me about you; it's usually me asking first."

Upon hearing this, the feeling of strangeness intensified for Eric. He tried to shift the conversation. "So, um... how have you been?"

"Really well! I came back a week early; otherwise, I could have seen the premiere of your movie in Tokyo."

"You can still come by tomorrow."

"I just had Marissa prepare an invitation, but I won't see you tomorrow."

Eric nodded, wanting to continue but suddenly unsure of what to say.

Feeling his distant demeanor, Olivia felt a touch of disappointment. After a moment of silence, she smiled and asked, "Eric, did you want me to come over for something in particular?"

"Um, just a moment."

Eric stood up and headed upstairs. After a while, he returned with a laptop bag, sitting down beside Olivia and handing her the bag. He hesitated before saying, "This contains a video file -- just in case, if something unexpected happens, you can take it out."

Olivia stroked the leather surface of the laptop bag, and as she listened, her fingertips trembled slightly. "Eric, are you suggesting... a will?"

Eric found it hard to say words like "will" with the ease; after a pause, he nodded, "Yes."

Olivia reached over to hold Eric's hand. Concern finally surfaced beneath her usually calm demeanor. "Eric, is something going on?"

Feeling the coolness of her palm, Eric held his hand back after a couple of seconds, shaking his head. "No, it's just something everyone does. I have a written will, but you know, unexpected losses and declarations of invalidity have happened before. I just want a little extra insurance."

Olivia paused, looking at her empty palm in surprise. She cautiously reached for him again, patting the back of his hand. "Don't worry; I will help you keep it safe."

"Also, the password for the video is the first 15 digits of pi, each reduced by one."

Olivia pondered for a moment and confirmed, "203048154247868, right?"

"Mm-hmm."

"What about the laptop?"

Eric shook his head. "This password is sufficient."

A Windows password doesn't really make much of a difference in the presence of someone with even basic tech knowledge.

...

The silver BMW left Kensington Garden Street again. After briefly gazing out at the street scenery, Olivia shifted her focus to the driver in the front seat and said, "Take me to Wilson Manor."

The driver, one of Eric's longest-serving bodyguards, was mostly aware of Olivia's status, so he nodded, "Of course, ma'am."

On that Sunday afternoon, the weather, which had been gloomy for days, finally brightened a bit. Mrs. Wilson was sitting on the estate lawn enjoying afternoon tea with her daughter, who had just returned home two days prior. A somewhat elderly servant rushed over, announcing, "Ma'am, Miss Wilson has returned."

Mrs. Wilson glanced at her daughter Caroline, puzzled. Did she have a second daughter? A moment later, she realized and quickly stood up as Olivia approached, carrying a laptop bag.

"Jane, what brings you over today?" Mrs. Wilson smiled and embraced Olivia, reaching out, "Let me take that."

"Thank you, I can manage," Olivia dodged Edith Wilson's hand, hugged Caroline, and pulled her toward the castle. "Carly, I need to ask you something."

"What is it about?" Caroline replied, puzzled, as Olivia held her wrist. She looked at her mother but was pulled into the castle without much resistance.

Edith Wilson stared blankly as the two disappeared through the doorway, then sighed.

The elderly servant beside her asked, "Ma'am, should I inform the master?"

"No need, and don't mention it to James either."

"Understood."

...

The commotion surrounding Eric had no impact on the outside world.

The following day, starting in the morning, media from Europe and North America began gathering at the venue for the Iron Man premiere at Kensington's Royal Albert Hall. By afternoon, street congestion outside the hall had become so serious that the city government had to dispatch officers to maintain order.

At six o'clock, the red carpet ceremony began. Besides the cast and crew of Iron Man, the entire team of Bond 19 came to show support, alongside various celebrities from London, making the red carpet glitter with stars.

Poppy Delevingne and a few friends had even arranged for a stretch limousine to attend the premiere.

However, due to the sudden traffic jam, their vehicle got stuck not far from the music hall. Holding only regular invitations, the girls couldn't access the special lane set up for red carpet guests. After waiting a while with no other option, they got out of the car and walked to the venue.

Excited yet envious, Poppy, squeezed in among the fans, eyed one star after another stepping onto the red carpet. A girl with obvious Asian descent next to her couldn't help but say, "Poppy, you must be kidding, saying you're close with Eric Williams; now we can only watch from here."

Poppy felt a bit down but replied, "Alexa, I've got five invitations, so let's see you snag one."

The girl, named Alexa, stared intently at a glamorous star on the red carpet. "Of course, I can't get one, but I'd love to try walking the red carpet."

"You can do that once you're a supermodel," Poppy replied with a glance at Alexa's slender frame and teased, "But it seems you'll never become one."

Alexa shot back, "Neither will you."

"I never wanted to be a supermodel. I'm going to be a designer."

"Well, I can be a designer too."

"Yeah, right. You'll probably end up accomplishing nothing."

The other girls laughed, and a fair-skinned girl with black hair asked, "Poppy, do you think we'll see Eric Williams later?"

"Maybe; I can't say for sure," Poppy responded hesitantly. "Eric is very busy."

The black-haired girl said, "I heard he recorded a show at the BBC yesterday. What a pity! My dad was there too. I wish I had tagged along."

"It wouldn't help; Rebecca, he doesn't know you."

"But I could at least ask for his autograph."

"Poppy, don't you have Eric Williams' phone number? Why not just give him a call?"

"I just said, Eric's really busy; I don't want to interrupt his work."

"Clearly, that means you two aren't as close as you claim."

"Not true."

"So, have you slept with him? I heard he's a playboy."

"Eric is a gentleman."

"He definitely wouldn't be into your flatness. I heard he has a thing for older women."

"That's just tabloid nonsense. And even if it's true, so what? By the way, it seems you like to bring up your dad a lot -- isn't that an Oedipus complex?"

"That's an inferiority complex; always leaning on my dad."

"I'll hit you."

"Haha."

The girls laughed and, after watching the red carpet event for a while, eagerly entered the music hall and found seats.

...

At seven o'clock, the premiere officially began.

Eric, along with the main creative team, took the stage to interact with the audience for the long-awaited film, finally appearing on the big screen.

In a convoy of Humvees moving through the desert, Eric portrayed Tony Stark, presenting an irreverent attitude while humorously joking with a few soldiers, instantly immersing the audience in a lively atmosphere with a hint of rebellious rock music in the background.

When the punchline about the cover girl of Vanity Fair was delivered, much of the audience couldn't help but chuckle.

...

In a row towards the back of the hall, a few girls continued to whisper amongst themselves.

"That description is completely inappropriate," Alexa giggled and said, "He should be talking about whether he's slept with all the Victoria's Secret Angels."

"Yeah, definitely not just twelve."

"Hey, if you keep talking trash about Eric, I'm not bringing you along next time."

"Anyone notice how Poppy looks a bit jealous? She probably wanted to sleep with Eric Williams and got rejected."

"I did not!"

"That's such an obvious admission."

"Haha."

..

As the girls chatted, the scene on the screen suddenly changed. Amid loud explosions, a Humvee was engulfed in flames, drawing the attention of all the audience members who had just relaxed into a tense state.

The shaky footage quickly transitioned back thirty-six hours prior.

For the next ten minutes, through a series of clips, the film brilliantly crafted the image of Tony Stark as a reckless playboy, with Eric's scenes alongside Natasha Henstridge captivating the audience, impressing some critics surprised by Natasha's performance, far exceeding that of a typical pretty face.

However, what most surprised the critics was how, in just fifteen minutes, the film not only kept audiences riveted but also successfully established the entire story background through clever flashbacks.

Additionally, many years later, Eric's return to the big screen also left critics with no flaws to point out. Some even humorously mused that this might just be Eric Williams' 'natural performance,' considering how similar the real Eric Williams was to Tony Stark, a rare advantage most films couldn't achieve.

As the plot progressed, Tony Stark was captured, and in a makeshift environment crafted the first Iron Man suit, leading into the film's first major climax.

Fighting for his life, Stark announced that Stark Industries would no longer engage in weapon manufacturing, leading to his encounter with Vanity Fair's journalist Christine Everhart, igniting his thirst for vengeance against Dr. Yinsen's village, unlocking his superhero attributes, and gradually transforming his character into a new persona.

Until the ultimate battle with the villain.

As the film wrapped up, critics had to concede that although Iron Man didn't boast a particularly stunning plot structure, it was undeniably a high-quality superhero film with significant entertainment value.

Due to Warner Bros.' Batman Robin receiving poor reviews and box office results, before the premiere, most critics were not optimistic about Iron Man's future, with many labeling it as Eric Williams' mere side project.

However, by the end of the London premiere, film reviews for Iron Man began flooding the internet and traditional media, showcasing an entirely different scene from what everyone had imagined.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1131: Major Exposure]

"Iron Man is absolutely a perfect superhero movie. At the same time, Eric Williams demonstrated once again his 'Pandora's Alien' ability to take everything to the extreme. The character of Tony Stark, shaped by this tycoon himself, exudes a captivating charisma, whether he plays a genius, a jerk, a playboy, a billionaire, or a superhero. It's hard for the audience to take their eyes off him." -- The Times

"The dazzling CGI effects in Iron Man make Batman Robin from two years ago look like a poor B-movie. Perhaps, the powerful special effects will increasingly become a reflection of Hollywood's major film companies' core strength. Compared to the stunning level of effects being displayed in the Digital Domain, there's clearly a significant gap for Warner, Universal, and Paramount to catch up with." -- The New York Times

"In the first fifteen minutes, I was completely captivated by Eric Williams' brilliant performance. This real-life super-rich man turned the character of a self-indulgent jerk into a believable superhero savior." -- Variety

"While Eric Williams' performance in Iron Man received overwhelmingly positive reviews, this young billionaire's net worth continued to astonish the public."

"As the Nasdaq index approached 3,500 points, Eric Williams' personal wealth also soared, nearing the $400 billion mark."

"Perhaps, Eric Williams would become the first trillionaire in the history of the country. If inflation does not severely hit the federal currency in the short term, for many years to come, Eric Williams may be the only billionaire eligible for the title 'Trillionaire.' Before this, we only had billionaires and millionaires. This is indeed a staggering miracle." -- Businessweek

...

At the villa restaurant on Kensington Gardens Street, it was already noon the following day.

Eric browsed through the reviews from various media outlets that Merissa Mayer had been organizing that morning when he read the Businessweek piece. He looked up at his assistant sitting across from him and asked, "Mary, do you think I will become the first Trillionaire?"

Merissa glanced up from the folder on her lap, assessing Eric for a moment before saying, "If it were in another currency, you would already be one."

"Who's going to engage in such a boring activity?"

"Yeah," Merissa replied, then lowered her head again.

It had to be said that she was definitely the woman with the most fluctuating emotions around Eric. Something must have triggered her in the past couple of days.

After studying her for a moment, Eric got up and walked over. Merissa sensed his approach and immediately raised her folder protectively in front of her, saying, "Eric, it's noon."

"If it were Australian time, it would be evening."

Eric mimicked the subtly sarcastic tone Merissa had just used, then sat down on the couch and pulled her delicate figure onto his lap, kissing the sensitive spot on her neck.

After a moment, Merissa melted into his embrace, but Eric suddenly halted all movements.

The instinct to lean in for a kiss made Merissa pause. She looked up to catch Eric's teasing gaze and, with an innocent grin, made a playful bite towards any part of him she could reach.

Eric quickly blocked her, laughing as he picked her up and said, "I just figured we should change places."

"You still have to meet BMG's CEO Leonard Riggio in twenty minutes."

"We have nineteen minutes to wrap it up; we can take the last minute to walk from the villa to the garden hotel restaurant."

...

In the end, they were still a bit late.

Merissa Mayer, tired after their moment, refused to leave the bedroom, so Eric had to go alone to the meeting.

BMG was the parent company of BMG Records, and compared to EMI, BMG's operations accounted for only about a third of the group. Naturally, Eric's agenda with Leonard Riggio revolved around discussing potential collaborations related to Yahoo's music store.

However, the tides had turned -- in light of Eric offering an equity stake in Fireflyer, despite the major record labels not having finalized an agreement, their demeanor had noticeably warmed. Even Universal Records had begun to re-engage with Firefly Electronics.

While all four major record labels, Sony aside, expressed cooperative interest, Eric planned to pass shares to no more than two of them. Thus, the initiative now lay with Firefly Electronics.

...

After a meal with Leonard Riggio, Eric thoughtfully brought back lunch to the villa, finding Merissa already present in the living room, dressed neatly and typing on her laptop.

"Here's lunch," Eric said.

Merissa took it and placed it on the coffee table, handing over another file, "This is the latest box office report for Easter films from Los Angeles."

"Let me see; you should eat first."

Merissa nodded, grabbing her lunch and heading to the dining room.

Eric chuckled helplessly and opened the folder in front of him.

Today was April 27, and from March 26 onwards, the Easter season had neatly spanned four complete weeks, plus an additional weekend.

This Easter, although Firefly's three films -- Enemy of the State, American Pie, and Never Been Kissed -- performed well, the star of the show remained The Blair Witch Project, which premiered before Easter.

As of last week, after eight weeks in the box office, while The Blair Witch Project had faded to weekly earnings of just over a million dollars and was nearing the end of its run, it had accumulated $162.17 million in North America.

This figure placed it just behind The Fast and the Furious at the beginning of the year, ranking as the second highest-grossing film in North America for 1999.

Also, compared to its $60,000 production cost, the return on investment from The Blair Witch Project presented a miracle that would be hard to beat for many years to come.

Outside of The Blair Witch Project, Enemy of the State had accumulated earnings of $82.36 million after three weeks, and its North American box office would likely reach around $100 million as anticipated.

Conversely, the performance of Firefly's trio of Easter films was led by the crude comedy American Pie, which, in its two weeks since April 9, grossed $63.75 million. The final earnings could even surpass Enemy of the State, yet its production cost was only $11 million, merely an eighth of what Enemy of the State cost, and while it did not match The Blair Witch Project, MGM still made a hefty profit.

Moreover, unlike The Blair Witch Project, which would be impossible to create a sequel for in the short term, American Pie would easily be developed into a series.

After last year's wildly successful Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Fox's Never Been Kissed had performed only mediocrely.

This romantic comedy, produced for $25 million and released in the same week as American Pie, grossed only $24.99 million in two weeks, and although it received positive reviews, its final box office would likely be around $50 million, just enough for Fox to break even.

...

Despite Easter films continuing for a few more weeks, the atmosphere of summer releases grew increasingly strong due to Iron Man's massive marketing campaign.

Eric had to record an episode of Late Show with David Letterman on the 29th.

Thus, after staying in London for one extra day, Eric flew back to New York on the 28th.

However, shortly after departure from London Heathrow Airport on the morning of the 28th, Eric received some rather alarming news.

It appeared that just as Iron Man was about to release, news about two little guys suddenly erupted on the media scene, seemingly targeting Eric's movie explicitly.

"Probably around six in the morning on the East Coast, a staff member at Yahoo noticed a site called 'Hollywood Gossip' had posted several articles about three children in quick succession. They promptly reported to Ms. Brown, but within an hour, these articles were picked up by many more prominent media outlets, including AOL and MSN, which featured the news on their homepages."

In the airplane's front room, Eric listened grimly to Merissa Mayer as she detailed the current situation while flipping through a stack of articles about the children.

"Eric Williams' Illegitimate Child Exposed!"

"The Super Tycoon's Absurd Private Life: Twins Born on the Same Day!"

"Emma Roberts Murdoch Barrymore Williams: The Real Firefly 'Little Princess'!"

"Eric Williams Spent Lavishly to Conceal Secret Children's Luxurious Lives, How Disgraceful!"

"..."

"..."

After casually flipping through the articles, Eric picked up the phone to call East Hampton.

Merissa discreetly reminded him, "Eric, Ms. Pacula and Ms. Madsen have already taken the kids onto Ms. Barrymore's plane."

Eric paused for a moment before quickly connecting to the video call from the plane.

...

Moments later, Emma appeared on the screen, her tiny hand playfully waving at the camera, her sweet voice asking, "Daddy, can you see Emma?"

"Of course," Eric responded, his tense demeanor softening into a smile upon seeing Emma's innocent face. He pulled up a chair, speaking gently, "Has Emma been behaving?"

"Yep, Emma's been very good, but I'm sleepy. Auntie Joan said we're going on vacation, and I haven't woken up yet."

"You can sleep on the plane; Aunt Drew's plane is super comfortable."

"Okay," Emma nodded, "Daddy, when are you coming to see us?"

"Soon."

"Don't forget to bring Emma a gift!"

"Of course! Daddy never forgets."

After chatting for a bit, Virginia reluctantly hugged Emma goodbye, who shot Eric an annoyed look before Joanna settled in front of the camera.

"I'm so sorry, Joan," Eric said, looking at the typically calm woman with an apologetic smile. "How are the kids doing?"

"Kevin is still asleep; Vicky rarely lets him sleep in, but Elia is with a tutor reading," Joanna replied with a smile. Turning her head slightly, she added softly, "Eric, Vicky is actually very happy."

Eric chuckled; he understood.

Though he had reassured the women many times that Kevin and Elia were his kids, heirs of the Williams family, Virginia had always worried that Eric might suddenly reject Kevin's paternity.

Now that the news was out, Eric could no longer "deny" it.

Of course, Eric had never thought that way.

For years, he had tried to keep the kids' existence under wraps solely to give them a calm and secure environment to grow up in, and he rarely avoided discussing them with those around him.

However, seeing Virginia and Joanna's reactions now, Eric felt relieved.

The impact of this incident on the women and the children clearly wasn't as severe as he had imagined.

It was quite understandable too -- if this happened to an average person, even a typical millionaire, given such revelations, they'd likely be besieged by media, possibly even leading to a breakdown. But these two women merely needed to take the children onto a private plane to easily evade the chaos, and the kids weren't in any real danger.

"So, where are you headed now?" Eric asked.

"First, we're stopping to refuel in Ventura, then off to Australia. Everyone is preparing to spend the summer there; Liz and Julia already took off from Ventura," Joanna replied in a gentle tone, tinged with mild irritation. "The rest is up to you; we can't handle it."

Australia is where the Murdoch family established its stronghold, and the local media was largely monopolized by them -- bringing the women and children there was certainly fitting.

Eric began to relax, "Of course, I will handle everything. You all enjoy yourselves."

"Mhm," Joanna nodded, then said, "Drew is on the plane too; luckily, she's recently in New York. Should I have her come over?"

"No need, I still need to deal with these matters. It's good just seeing you are alright."

"Then we'll leave it at that," Joanna said, taking a moment to examine Eric before saying, "Eric, don't overexert yourself."

"I know. Goodbye for now."

"Mhm."

After ending the video call, Eric's expression turned cold again. He got up and left the front room, heading into the plane's largest conference room while instructing Caroline and Merissa to connect with Chris, Ian Gurney, and Jeffrey Katzenberg for video calls.

With this sudden unfolding of events, it was clear everyone had received the news. The core executives from the Firefly group soon appeared on the large screens in the conference room.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1132: An Hour of Horror]

Seated at the head of the conference table, Eric scanned the room with a somber expression, his gaze landing on the shared screen of Ian Gurney, Steve Mitnick, and Tina Brown. He asked, "So, Ian, what time is it over there?"

In the video call, Ian Gurney looked at his wristwatch and replied, "It's 8:25."

"Great, that leaves us with one hour and five minutes until the Nasdaq opens," Eric said as he surveyed the room again. "You all know what has been happening. Call those people -- Steve Case, Bill Gates, or any other CEO of tech companies. Tell them to remove all news related to the three kids and block all sites publishing their information. If they can't meet my demands in an hour, the Firefly Group will publicly announce plans to reduce holdings of stocks from publicly traded companies like Yahoo, Cisco, Amazon, Sprint, and Qualcomm. Since they think things are too easy, let's bring down the Nasdaq."

Upon hearing Eric's words, all the executives connected to the conference room looked shocked. Stocks from companies like Yahoo, Cisco, and Amazon were major tech stocks that could sway the Nasdaq's market.

Although the Nasdaq was getting increasingly volatile, it was also teetering on the edge, and any slight wind or disturbance in the capital markets could cause tremors in the index. If Yahoo, Cisco, and Amazon announced sell-off plans simultaneously, it could trigger a panic sell-off, and the Nasdaq could collapse in an instant.

After a brief silence in the conference room, it was Jeffrey Katzenberg -- usually the most impulsive among them -- who spoke up first, saying, "Eric, even if you do this, it won't stay hidden."

"I never intended to hide anything; I am merely teaching some people how to play by the rules," Eric shook his head, adamantly stating, "Now, let's get started. You all have ten minutes. When the calls are done, we'll continue the meeting. No more negotiations with me today; I don't want to bargain with anyone!"

Feeling the undeniable tone in Eric's voice, Tina Brown was the first to grab the phone on the table and walked off-screen. The others quickly followed suit.

...

Eric instructed Caroline to bring over a laptop and connect it to the internet, casually placing it on the conference table. He leaned back in his chair, mindlessly flipping through a document.

Moments later, the sound of a phone ringing echoed in the conference room. Eric glanced at the nearby phone but quickly looked away, showing no intention to answer it.

Soon, Eric, Caroline, and Merissa's cell phones rang as well, with the Boeing Connection Company's exclusive top communication network for this Boeing 747 making communication onboard as seamless as on the ground.

However, this time, Eric didn't lift his head.

Merissa looked at Eric's reaction and placed her ringing phone on the table, making no move to answer it. Caroline hesitated with her small Nokia phone but eventually followed suit.

...

Eric remained indifferent as the urgent rings of the phones echoed. Across North America, as Chris, Katzenberg, Ian Gurney, and Tina Brown made calls, many tech executives gathered in cities like San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, New York, and even Los Angeles were nervously experiencing their own hour of horror.

No one dared to gamble against Eric Williams, wondering if he would actually announce the sell-off plans.

After all, even if Eric Williams' net worth was cut in half, he was still a billionaire tycoon. However, if the Nasdaq collapsed, countless new tech companies that relied on tech stock bubbles to attract funding would face ruin, and many capital newcomers who had made billions by riding the tech wave could plummet into obscurity.

Within just a few minutes, the entire tech industry erupted into chaos.

From the East Coast approaching working hours to the West Coast just brightening up, countless executives at internet companies who had been reveling in the drama were now braced for the communications barrage.

Not just a few executives from the Firefly Group, but also numerous VCs, major shareholders in tech companies, and Wall Street capitalists who had invested heavily in tech stocks started to pressure the entire internet industry after hearing the news, unwilling to let their billion-dollar fortunes go up in smoke over some gossip.

Soon, countless news portals, search engines, news websites, and online forums received forced directives from the highest levels of their companies to start removing any news relating to the three kids.

...

In the Boeing 747's conference room, ten minutes flew by, and everyone gradually returned to the video call screen.

Eric had already instructed Caroline and Merissa to turn off their phones and disconnected the landline.

Chris approached the call screen last and gestured with his Nokia, saying, "Eric, you have a call from the President."

Eric nodded, and Chris put the phone on speaker, placing it in front of the microphone.

"Eric, can you hear me?" Bill Clinton's voice quickly came through, testing the waters. Without waiting for Eric to reply, he continued, "Listen, Eric, you can't do this. Tell me you're not going to do this, right?"

Eric replied bluntly, "Mr. President, the decision does not lie with me."

"They are already handling it, Eric, but you need to calm down."

"I'm very calm, Mr. President."

"Well, good," Clinton paused for a moment before adding, "Eric, I know you're angry, but you can't fight against the whole world."

"Thanks for the advice, Mr. President. But if the whole world is against me, I don't mind trying to take on the world," Eric coldly responded before adding, "Sorry, Mr. President, we're in a meeting."

"Alright then, talk later," Clinton said somewhat awkwardly, hanging up.

Eric looked at the others once again and said, "Now then, regarding television and print media, my bottom line is that they can discuss it, but the names, photos, and addresses of the kids must not appear, not even blurred images. Jeffrey, you're in charge of coordinating this."

"Got it," Katzenberg nodded and hesitated a moment before asking, "Eric, should we issue an official statement?"

"Cancel tomorrow's taping of the Late Show with David Letterman and have ABC prepare. Once I'm in New York, I'll cooperate with a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show to air tomorrow."

"I'll have Robert arrange that right away; it's just..."

Seeing Katzenberg hesitating to voice his concerns, Eric added, "The promotional schedule for Iron Man stays as is. Of course, you can also have Marvel prepare to adjust the movie universe plan. If necessary, Iron Man can be completely taken out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe plans."

Thinking of the overwhelmingly positive media reception Iron Man had received, Katzenberg felt a pang of regret and bit his lip in frustration at the mastermind behind today's incident, saying, "I'll do it."

"Now," Eric redirected his focus to everyone in the room, "I believe you all know about the recent events -- the massive wiretapping scandal and the recent exposure of the three kids. There's an old saying: A tree that stands taller than the others is bound to suffer more from the winds. The Firefly Group is that towering tree. Therefore, incidents like this will continue to happen. To ensure our enemies think twice before acting, I will get to the bottom of this. I won't let anyone -- the ones in front of the stage or those behind the scenes -- get away."

...

Faced with the immense pressure from the Firefly Group, the general public remained blissfully unaware, and the brewing internet storm was quickly quelled.

However, due to the extreme openness of the internet, this incident could not be completely covered up. Although suppressed, the relevant news began to spread among the public, but without the media's guiding narrative, the ensuing uproar was far less than many had anticipated.

...

Manhattan.

As the clock approached 9 a.m.

In Cindy's apartment on East 75th Street, Linda barged in excitedly with her key. Seeing Cindy quietly reading on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, she felt it was a bit odd but quickly adopted a gloating tone and said, "Hey, have you heard?"

Cindy flipped a page of The Thorn Birds and shook her head lightly, "No."

"Hey, what's wrong with you lately? You seem off," Linda muttered as she tossed her bag aside, darting for the study. A moment later, she rushed out holding a laptop. "That guy's in trouble! All the information about the three kids has been exposed online -- I just saw it on AOL. Phew, good thing I wasn't pregnant last time or I'd have to deal with that mess too."

Cindy's expression changed slightly at Linda's words, and she finally closed her book and moved closer.

Seeing that Cindy was finally showing interest, Linda got more excited, quickly opening the browser and typing in AOL's homepage. She pointed and turned to Cindy, "Look, here!"

Cindy glanced at the AOL homepage with a puzzled look, "What am I looking at?"

Linda shifted her gaze back to the screen and quickly scanned it before saying, "Huh? I just saw 'Eric Williams' love child exposed' -- where did it go?"

At this, she refreshed the page a few times, but the link had now turned into an article about the latest biopharmaceutical policy from the Clinton administration.

"Oh right, I remember that article said it was republished from 'Hollywood Gossip'," Linda mumbled, then opened the Google search engine, typed in "Hollywood Gossip," clicked on several search results but found no trace of the website.

Linda wasn't foolish and quickly figured it out. She leaned back against the couch, grabbed a cushion, and hit it a few times in frustration, saying, "I get it; that guy must have pulled some strings."

Cindy, however, didn't believe Linda came over so early just to chatter nonsense. She pulled the laptop over, easily switched between several portals, and researched for a while. Then she opened some of the larger news websites, but there was no news on the three kids.

After a moment's thought, Cindy picked up the remote and turned on the TV, flipping through channels until she finally stopped at CNN.

"According to our internal sources, Eric Williams has issued an ultimatum to senior executives of all portal news sites. If by the time the Nasdaq opens today, they do not remove all news regarding his personal love children, the Firefly Group will publicly announce a significant sell-off of stocks from tech companies like Yahoo, Cisco, and Amazon. In just half an hour, we discovered that all related news articles on mainstream portals like AOL and MSN have been removed, and Yahoo has not had any related news at all."

The host continued, "Bernard, can you explain to everyone why the tech giants in the internet industry capitulated to the pressure from the Firefly Group? And does what the Firefly Group is doing pose a serious threat to press freedom?"

After the host spoke, the camera shifted to a guest seated beside him.

Cindy didn't listen any further and hit the mute button.

Linda had her mouth slightly agape. After a moment, she exclaimed, "So it really was that guy!"

"Or else who?" Cindy shut her laptop and returned to the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Linda turned the volume back up to hear a bit more, but soon felt a bit deflated and switched off the TV. She leaned closer to Cindy and said, "Ugh, I initially thought that guy would really be in trouble, but he managed to suppress it without a peep."

Cindy opened The Thorn Birds and remarked, "Do you want him to be in trouble that badly?"

"Not really," Linda grabbed a pillow beside her, feeling conflicted. "But he, he wanted us both to get pregnant last time -- what a terrible guy!"

"You didn't react that way back then."

"He's a tyrant! If I disagreed, he might have beaten me to a pulp."

Cindy smiled at her reply and said, "Maybe."

Realizing the unconvincing nature of her reasoning, Linda felt a bit embarrassed and stammered, "So, um, have you had breakfast? Let's go downstairs and eat."

"I've already eaten, you go ahead," Cindy replied.

"Why have you suddenly become so boring?" Linda reached for the book, then instinctively made a defensive gesture, only realizing that Cindy wasn't acting like she used to, letting her have it. The confusion grew apparent. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm pregnant."

"Oh," Linda replied, then immediately jumped up in shock, throwing the book away. "What?!"

Cindy shot her an exasperated look as she picked up The Thorn Birds. "Stop bothering me; it's not the weekend. Don't you have work to do?"

"But did you tell him yet?"

"I feel a bit hesitant," Cindy said as she opened the book again. "And the recent event reminded me. Maybe naming this child Crawford wouldn't be too bad; I can afford it now."

"He definitely won't agree to that."

"Let's see how he handles this situation first. It's not over yet. If he can't manage Kevin and Hawaii's issues, I think it's better for my child to bear the Crawford name."

"Yeah, uh-huh," Linda nodded along, then leaned in excitedly to suggest, "When that happens, I'll be the mom."

"What does that make me?"

"With your temperament, you'd definitely be the dad."

"Get lost."

"Aw, you're getting all angry again."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1133: The Shockwaves]

An hour that felt both long and short finally passed.

At 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the Nasdaq Stock Exchange officially opened. The Firefly Group didn't release a sell-off announcement until the very last minute before the market opened, and those who had been anxiously waiting for an hour finally breathed a sigh of relief.

However, due to rumors circulating in just that short hour about the Firefly Group potentially offloading large amounts of stock, some uninformed investors and opportunistic short-sellers still began to sell off shares after the Nasdaq opened.

As a result, shortly after trading began, the Nasdaq index dropped from 3,476 points to 3,435 points. In under ten minutes, the index fell by 1.17%, erasing over $40 billion in wealth.

Faced with this situation, many tech companies and Wall Street capital had no choice but to step in to stabilize stock prices.

Compared to the colossal Firefly Group, which had the power to threaten the entire Nasdaq market, short-selling hedge funds and a handful of reducing investors clearly couldn't compete with the entire new tech industry.

After a brief decline, the Nasdaq index quickly began to rise. Ultimately, after hours of fluctuation, the index not only avoided a drop but also broke records, surpassing the 3,500-point threshold once more.

...

As noon approached, Eric's Boeing 747 finally landed at a private airport on Long Island.

Disembarking from the plane, Eric made his way directly to a VH-60 helicopter bound for Manhattan, along with his assistant and bodyguard, while the crew of Iron Man prepared to fly back to Los Angeles.

Forty minutes later, the helicopter touched down on the rooftop of a building on Sixth Avenue.

After exchanging pleasantries with Robert Iger, who had personally come to greet him, Eric got into a car headed for the Oprah Winfrey Show studio headquarters.

The three black luxury vehicles drove together toward Midtown, and Robert Iger, sitting next to Eric, spoke up, saying, "Eric, I just received a call from Don Valentine at Sequoia Capital. He wants to personally apologize to you over the Hollywood Gossip situation."

"Sequoia Capital, Hollywood Gossip," Eric murmured, still focused on a document in hand, "Is Sequoia in such a state now?"

"It's not like that," Robert Iger explained. "Hollywood Gossip is a website that one of Sequoia's partners, Ronald Hill, invested in independently, and it's not directly related to Sequoia Capital. Don Valentine is merely acting as a go-between."

"Okay, I get it."

Robert Iger was unsure whether Eric was agreeing or refusing the apology. Still, he understood that the boss was clearly angry today and wouldn't say much for an outsider.

After a moment, Eric spoke again, his tone sarcastic, "It's always like this. When things go wrong, some people think they're too big to face repercussions; others feel insignificant and think they won't be affected either. This time, I will let them know that there are exceptions to every rule."

Robert Iger nodded in agreement but felt a chill creeping up from the soles of his feet, unable to suppress a slight shiver.

...

The Oprah Winfrey Show studio headquarters buzzed with activity. Over the years, Oprah had risen from a girl in a poor neighborhood to the queen of daytime talk shows in America, elevating her status in the media industry significantly.

During other times, if someone tried to cut in line and disrupt the production of the show, even a top Hollywood star, Oprah would confidently reject them.

However, the mandate handed down from ABC headquarters today left Oprah with no room to refuse. The more one rose from humble beginnings, the more they understood the immense power at play; Oprah knew she had to ensure that today's show, which had only twenty-four hours of production time, would go off without a hitch.

After announcing to all studio staff that they would be working overnight, Oprah began reviewing the materials related to the scandal, her headache intensifying.

While The Oprah Winfrey Show often tackled sensitive social topics to garner attention and ratings, today's incident was something she couldn't sensationalize. Not only could she not profit from it, but she also realized that the upcoming episode had to handle what was clearly a gossip bombshell with discretion.

As she read over some printed articles provided by ABC, her assistant reminded her, and Oprah quickly stood up to leave her office.

Just outside the studio, Oprah saw Eric and his team exiting the elevator and warmly greeted them, saying, "Mr. Williams, it's so good to see you."

"Hello, Ms. Winfrey," Eric replied, shaking her hand.

After exchanging pleasantries with Robert Iger, everyone headed into a conference room in the studio.

Once seated at the conference table, Oprah took a folder from her assistant, dismissed unrelated people, and got straight to the point, saying, "So, Mr. Williams, can you give us an idea of the scope we can cover in this episode?"

"Regarding today's incident, it involves two women and three children," Eric answered, adding, "You can just call me Eric."

Oprah nodded, feeling a little more relaxed. Her biggest worry was that Eric would shy away from discussing the scandal, forcing a clarification that would likely backfire.

Though she felt somewhat reassured, Oprah cautiously confirmed, "Eric, you mean you plan to publicly acknowledge the identities of the three children?"

"Yes, and I'd also like to share my perspective on this incident. I hope we can discuss everything openly during the show."

Oprah was somewhat taken aback by Eric's candid attitude.

In her view, this was clearly the best strategy to handle the situation.

"That sounds great, Eric. The public is always more open to understanding someone who is honest and upfront."

Eric was aware of the pause in Oprah's voice; she was clearly trying to imply the word "forgiveness."

However, Eric had never considered that adhering to his principles, which often conflicted with public perception, would require him to seek someone's forgiveness -- that seemed rather pointless. He arranged this episode simply to communicate his position on certain matters; he didn't want anyone using this incident as leverage to harm the women and children in his life.

Of course, Eric didn't mind projecting a facade of seeking public forgiveness through the show. After all, public opinion was a very manipulable and powerful tool.

Eric's unexpected demeanor quickly helped Oprah nail down the tone for the episode. After discussing the finer points for over an hour, they all moved to the studio auditorium to begin the official recording of the episode.

...

On the West Coast in San Francisco.

At Sequoia Capital's headquarters, Don Valentine hung up from his call with Robert Iger and told a slender middle-aged man across from him, "Williams simply replied that he understood."

As one of the most influential venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, Sequoia Capital was actually a coalition of over thirty investment funds. The man on the opposite side, Ronald Hill, was the head of one of their larger funds.

Hearing Don Valentine's words, Ronald Hill realized that Eric clearly had no intention of accepting the apology.

Adjusting his tie, Ronald spoke nervously, "What more does he want? In just one morning, to maintain the Nasdaq index, the entire new tech sector has at least poured in 3 billion dollars. Does he think that's not enough?"

Don Valentine placed the phone back onto the receiver, saying, "Ronald, complaining won't help. You should focus on damage control. I still don't understand why you invested in such a troublesome website."

"Adam Wimbrey, the founder of that site, was my classmate in high school. He initially pitched the idea to me, and I thought it was good. Plus, it only required $2 million to secure a 70% stake, so I agreed," Ronald explained with a forced smile.

"Did you know about this in advance?"

"Of course not! If I had known, I would have absolutely prevented that fool from going ahead. This is Eric Williams we're talking about. I'd rather that fool provoke the president."

"So, what you're saying," Don Valentine tapped his fingers on the desk, "is that you're not particularly close with Adam Wimbrey?"

"Right now, I wish I had never met that person."

"That simplifies matters," Don nodded, his tone serious. "Ronald, if you don't want to be implicated, you need to get to the bottom of this. Adam Wimbrey clearly didn't do this for no reason. Also, until this matter is resolved, I hope you can temporarily step down as the manager of the LH fund."

Though Don's tone was mild, Ronald Hill instantly understood that he was being pushed out of Sequoia Capital, which was a hundred times worse than he had imagined. He had worked for eight years to get to where he was today, managing a fund with over a billion dollars under Sequoia Capital. Leaving the firm, Ronald had no idea if he would have the courage to start over.

Suddenly standing up, Ronald Hill stared at the solid wood desk in silence for a moment, his expression shifting emotionally before he finally spoke, some plea in his voice, "Don, it doesn't have to be this way."

"Sorry, Ronald," Don also stood up, turning to pat Ronald Hill on the shoulder, leaning against the desk with an air of regret. "The timing is sensitive. We can't risk even a hint of being targeted by the Firefly Group. You should know this is a behemoth with capital nearing $1 trillion. $1 trillion -- this is equivalent to one-ninth of the North American economy, and no one dares to confront such a capital giant. If Eric Williams had announced a sell-off this morning, we would all be finished. But you just heard, he doesn't plan to let this go."

"But this really has nothing to do with me."

"When children make mistakes, adults often bear the responsibility," Don again placed a hand on Ronald Hill's shoulder, saying, "If I were you, the first thing I would do is shut down that website and investigate everything thoroughly, proactively providing a report to Eric Williams."

"Don, I can do that, but can you please hold off on announcing my departure from the company for now?"

Don shook his head again. "I will have Deborah issue your resignation notice soon. Ronald, stay strong. You already have a net worth exceeding $30 million. Even after leaving Sequoia, you can still pursue your own ventures. However, I believe your top priority should be handling this matter properly. That's all for now; I have another meeting to attend. Take some time to calm down."

With that, Don Valentine left the office without hesitation, leaving Ronald Hill standing there dazed.

...

After the downturn at market open and the fluctuations of the morning, the Nasdaq index slowly rose throughout the afternoon.

By the end of trading, the Nasdaq index had surged to a high of 3,526 points.

Moreover, many investors noticed a rather peculiar phenomenon immediately.

Within the Nasdaq market, in contrast to most tech stocks that barely maintained their prices and hadn't dipped during the morning's fluctuations, the stocks of Firefly Group's companies like Yahoo, Cisco, Amazon, and Qualcomm all saw significant gains.

Among them, Yahoo's stock price skyrocketed by an astonishing 6.1% in one day, with its market value climbing from $132.6 billion at open to $140.7 billion, marking a daily gain of $8.1 billion. Similarly, Cisco's market value reached a new high, ending the day at $295.6 billion, just a step away from the $300 billion mark.

Statistics showed that this single-day increase boosted the total asset size controlled by the Firefly Group by $57 billion, adding more than $11 billion to Eric's personal net worth.

Thus, by the evening, television news programs and internet media across North America were once again commenting on the wave of new technology.

...

On the other hand, although news of Eric Williams' illegitimate children had spread among the public, the response wasn't as intense as one might have expected. Most traditional media, along with the nearly silenced internet platforms, showed a remarkably indifferent attitude towards the situation.

Of course, there were still questioning voices.

CNN, belonging to Time Warner, contrarily produced a late-night talk show segment discussing whether Eric's suppressing of online media had affected freedom of the press.

This was, in fact, a very sensitive topic. For Americans who valued freedom, if this discussion gained traction, Eric's assault on press freedoms would likely spark more backlash than his scandal.

However, despite CNN's ulterior motives, the topic failed to garner widespread media frenzy.

In reality, most news events tend to escalate significantly only when the media draws attention to them. Similarly, without media involvement to fuel the fire, and lacking sufficient public discourse to steer the narrative, the public naturally perceives that the issue isn't significant at all. As a result, CNN's solitary bombshell turned into a dud.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1134: Talk Show Response]

Manhattan.

In the late morning, at a cafe inside the Rockefeller Center.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, Stephanie Seymour finally spotted Cindy Crawford walking in casually dressed with a tote bag. She eagerly stood up and stepped forward, saying, "Hi, Cindy! How have you been?"

"Doing great, how about you?"

Cindy embraced Stephanie and set her bag down as she took a seat in the booth.

"Not too bad," Stephanie nodded and waved over a waiter. Leaning in slightly, she lowered her voice and asked, "Did you hear about it?"

"Just a glass of water for me, thanks," Cindy instructed the waiter, then smiled at Stephanie, asking, "Hear about what?"

"Come on," Stephanie made a vague gesture and quickly laughed, "You must know! So, what's your relationship with him like now?"

"Pretty good, but can you tone down the gossiping?"

Though Cindy's tone was casual, Stephanie clearly detected a hint of satisfaction in it, which stirred a twinge of jealousy within her. She recalled their last encounter and that unapologetic slap, eliciting a grinding of her teeth.

"Honestly, even if you aren't into other guys right now, it wouldn't hurt to be with Linda. Why persist with him? He's just a playboy. Look at what he did yesterday; he made everyone's life miserable trying to hide his own mess. Peter had to hold a meeting just to warn the heads of the company's newspapers and magazines not to provoke him. What a bastard."

The waiter brought over a glass of water, and Cindy took a sip before chuckling, "Alright, stop badmouthing him behind his back. Be careful, or he'll find out and get you."

Stephanie instinctively glanced around, feeling a bit embarrassed about her reaction, then said, "How could he do anything to me now? I'm not a Victoria's Secret Angel anymore."

Cindy placed her glass down and changed the subject, asking, "What have you been busy with lately?"

At this question, Stephanie's expression soured a bit. "What can I do? Looking after the kids, taking on occasional jobs. I'm about to become a house pet."

"I saw your cover shoot for ELLE last month; you've been looking great."

"It caused a huge fight with Peter just to get that cover."

"Oh? So he doesn't want you to work anymore?"

Stephanie didn't understand why Cindy had suddenly asked this but replied, "Isn't that how men are? They'd rather keep us cooped up at home."

Cindy's expression showed some hesitation at Stephanie's words.

But then Stephanie understood. "Cindy, are you here for a specific reason?"

Cindy thought it over and nodded, saying, "I'm looking for a new host for America's Next Top Model."

"Ah?!"

Stephanie's eyes widened in surprise. The one thing she envied Cindy the most was that, even though both had technically reached retirement age, Cindy still held a popular reality gig.

The truth was, America's Next Top Model not only provided Cindy with a lucrative, steady income but also kept her in the public eye, which was crucial. For models, endorsements were the main source of income. But only by maintaining popularity would advertisers consider you for endorsement deals.

Now, Cindy casually mentioning stepping down as the host was shocking to Stephanie.

Although five years had passed, America's Next Top Model was airing its eighth season, and the show remained at its peak in both popularity and ratings. The first few episodes of the latest season pulled in over six million viewers, averaging over five million -- numbers that no other fashion reality shows could come close to.

Many media outlets had predicted that America's Next Top Model could easily make it to at least twenty seasons, becoming one of the longest-running reality shows.

However, instead of pondering why Cindy suddenly wanted to quit hosting, Stephanie instinctively recognized this was a golden opportunity for her.

So, she was surprised for just a second before she immediately said, "Cindy, are you saying you want me to try out for the host position?"

Cindy nodded and smiled, "If your husband agrees."

"He will definitely agree," Stephanie said without hesitation, then added, "So, what should I do?"

"I must confess, Stephanie, you're just one of the candidates. Although I won't be hosting anymore, I'll still be the producer. I don't want to mess up the show, so if you're interested, I'd like you to record a pilot episode to see how it goes."

Stephanie felt a bit let down but also knew she would do the same in her situation. She quickly nodded, "Sure, Cindy! I appreciate you giving me a shot. Can I ask why you're doing this?"

Cindy shook her head, "I can't say right now."

"Oh, well, forget it," Stephanie was more focused on how to seize this chance. After a moment of thought, she asked, "So, Cindy, can you tell me what I should do?"

"Uh, I don't think we can do that today," Cindy glanced at her watch. "I should head home soon."

"Is it that urgent?" Stephanie asked. "Do you have guests?"

"No, I just, uh," Cindy hesitated then smiled, "I want to go home and watch TV."

"I don't get what you're thinking," Stephanie assumed Cindy was joking and said, "Can I come watch with you? I heard you bought a nice apartment. I haven't visited yet."

"Sure, but we have to hurry."

Without hesitation, after the two women settled the bill, they left the cafe in high spirits.

...

Leaving Rockefeller Center, the two women drove two kilometers north along Madison Avenue and arrived outside Cindy's apartment building on 75th Street.

They parked the car and headed up to the top floor of Cindy's apartment via an internal elevator. As soon as they walked in, Stephanie couldn't help but admire her surroundings. "This place is incredible."

After changing her shoes, Cindy led Stephanie to sit in the living room. Grabbing the remote, she turned on the TV. Since they had some time, she moved to the corner bar to prepare a pot of green tea, joking, "Why should you envy me?"

Stephanie's husband, Peter Brant, had a net worth of a billion dollars. While he might not rival the very top billionaires, he belonged to the upper echelon of society, and his mansions were certainly on par with Cindy's.

"Of course I envy you! You earned all this yourself," Stephanie said from the sofa, turning to look at her. "If I could earn money like you, I wouldn't want to rely on a man."

"But I rely on a man too."

"That's not the same," Stephanie thought of a certain someone again but added, "That guy, while annoying at times, is actually better than most men in many ways."

Cindy smiled, "He's obviously better than all men. Show me another billionaire with a $400 billion fortune."

"If I found a second one, I'd definitely hide it," Stephanie joked, then marveled, "But $400 billion? I wouldn't even know how to spend that. Have you ever been on his private jet? I heard he bought three Boeing 747s at once. What a flash!"

"Don't be so salty," Cindy brought over the pot of green tea, pouring herself and Stephanie a cup before glancing at the TV screen. "He seems to have a fear of confined spaces and doesn't like being in small areas for long, so he flies in larger planes. And honestly, for his wealth, a few 747s aren't a big deal. It's like having a net worth of $10 million and casually spending $10,000 on jewelry -- pretty normal."

Stephanie held the green tea Cindy passed to her, feeling it was a bit too hot, and set it down on the coffee table. "Why are you always defending him when he's not even here?"

Cindy chuckled lightly, "It's a matter of perspective. Would you speak badly about Peter in front of others?"

"What do you want me to say? I'll say it to you."

Cindy rolled her eyes, "I could care less to hear."

...

The clock was nearing ten in the morning. Typically, housewives had sent their husbands off to work and their kids to school and were now free to relax in front of the TV for the remainder of the morning.

Hence, The Oprah Winfrey Show premiered at 10 AM.

Of course, unlike TV shows that have a syndication cycle of several years, The Oprah Winfrey Show replayed across dozens of major networks in North America and overseas within just two days of the premiere, a clear indicator of its immense influence.

They continued chatting, and after another break for ads, the signature opening of The Oprah Winfrey Show appeared on the TV screen.

Initially, Stephanie wasn't too engaged, but when Oprah came out and began introducing that day's guests, it hit her. She turned to Cindy and said, "You rushed back just to catch him on the show? Cindy, you're hopeless!"

Cindy's gaze, however, was fixed on the figure appearing in the studio.

Eric was dressed casually in a light blue shirt and white pants, tall and smiling, radiating a calm demeanor intertwined with a hint of the boy-next-door charm. His good looks combined with a series of prestigious identities made him immensely attractive to the opposite sex.

It wasn't just Cindy who was glued to the screen; Stephanie found herself equally entranced. The female audience members in the studio were completely unfazed by the previous day's news, bursting into excited cheers.

...

Eric and Oprah exchanged brief hugs before sitting down on the sofa.

Oprah patiently looked at the cheering women before finally speaking up, "I know everyone is excited, but if this keeps up, we won't be able to proceed with today's show."

Following her light-hearted remark, the audience quickly settled down.

Once things quieted down, Oprah got straight to the point. "As you might know, just yesterday morning, some news about Eric and his three children broke online." She turned to Eric and asked, "Is that true, Eric?"

Eric nodded, "Yes, regarding the three children, it is true."

"Oh..."

With Eric's affirmation, a low sound of disappointment rolled through the audience.

...

In Cindy's living room, Stephanie couldn't help but comment, "He's so honest, just admitting it like that."

Cindy simply smiled, keeping her eyes glued to the screen.

...

On the television, Oprah wore an appropriately surprised expression, but quickly followed up with, "So, Eric, you're not married and so young but already have three kids. What's it like being a father?"

...

Stephanie's expression shifted slightly as she seemed to grasp something with that question.

In fact, this inquiry had been carefully considered.

While children born out of wedlock and illegitimate children essentially held the same meaning, in the minds of many, children resulting from extramarital affairs carried a slightly pejorative connotation of being "illegitimate." Especially in modern society, where lifestyle attitudes have grown more liberal, many couples are having children before they marry. This trend is increasingly accepted, and both kids and parents rarely face discrimination from others.

Thus, Oprah bringing this point to light was also a subtle hint.

Eric had not married and had simply had children with his girlfriend, meaning his situation didn't warrant the moral condemnation often directed toward men who fathered children through affairs.

However, it also shaded the issue somewhat, given that Eric had children with two different women.

...

In the studio, Eric pondered for a moment before answering, "More than anything, it's a responsibility of being a father, oh, I guess it's three-fold. Although I regard Emma as my own daughter, I still want to clarify that Emma is my adopted daughter, not a child of mine and Julia's. If she were, I would definitely acknowledge it, just like Kevin and Elia."

"I'm aware of that," Oprah immediately replied, "Emma is the daughter of Ms. Roberts's brother. I recall seeing the news of Ms. Roberts adopting Emma, but I'm curious, why did she become your adopted daughter?"

"Because Julia's situation wasn't suitable for raising Emma. She has a pretty carefree character and is too busy with work. Once, she even forgot to prepare dinner for Emma, and when I happened to see it, I got really mad. At that time, Kevin and Elia had just been born, and I told her, if you can't take care of her, just let Vicki and Joan take care of this kid," Eric said with a touch of nostalgia, then smiled, "The outcome was great. Vicki and Joan took excellent care of Emma."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1135: Talk Show Response (2)]

Oprah leaned slightly, listening intently. After Eric finished speaking, she exclaimed, "Eric, hearing you talk about this, I can really feel you have a deep love for children."

Eric didn't embellish his words but simply nodded, "Yeah."

"Speaking of Emma," Oprah continued quickly, "doesn't she have a really long name?"

With a smile on his face, Eric replied, "Yeah, Emma Roberts Murdoch Barrymore Williams."

Yesterday, the news about the three kids had been wiped clear from the internet within just an hour. Many audience members hadn't seen any news at all, and hearing Eric say this prompted laughter from the crowd.

"Just listening to the name, one can tell she must be a spoiled little one. I'm a bit envious," Oprah chuckled and asked, "How did that name come about?"

"It started off as a joke, but then Drew really encouraged Julia to register that name for Emma. I thought it was a bit much at the time. But gradually everyone got used to it, and it seemed alright, and Emma really liked it."

After chatting about this for a bit, the atmosphere became more relaxed, allowing Oprah to broach a slightly more sensitive topic.

"So, about Kevin and Elia, Eric, I heard they were born on the same day?"

...

During the initial discussion phase, Eric hadn't wanted to reveal the names of the three kids. However, it would have made the whole interview awkward otherwise. After all, it wouldn't do to refer to the three little ones as A, B, or C. It would have come off as forced and distant.

The eventual decision was to mention Emma and Kevin's names because they were quite common; there were easily hundreds of thousands of people in America with the same names. Excluding Emma's middle name, one could find plenty of others with the same first and last names. As for Hawaii, that name was a bit more unique, so Eric decided to stick with the nickname Elia and not refer to the full name.

In yesterday's internet gossip, the fact that Kevin and Hawaii were born on the same day was a hot topic. Though it had quickly cooled down, if Eric avoided discussing it during today's interview, it would surely be brought up again in the future.

Listening to that question, both the studio audience and those watching at home mostly had one of two reactions. A small portion, who had caught the gossip news or were quick to react, knew that the two kids had different mothers. But most were confused, with some even thinking Kevin and Hawaii were twins.

...

On television, Eric nodded affirmatively, "Yeah, on the same day."

Oprah pressed for more, "Was that a coincidence?"

"I wouldn't really call it that," Eric shook his head, his expression a bit awkward, but he explained, "Vicky had a tough delivery with Kevin, laboring for almost ten hours, almost heading for surgery. Joanna was there too; it was her first pregnancy, so she was already nervous. Seeing Vicky's difficulties triggered her, and her water broke suddenly."

After Eric explained, the audience suddenly understood -- two kids, two mothers, and both pregnant at the same time.

However, even though some audience members began to critique Eric's chaotic private life, due to the relaxed atmosphere both he and Oprah had cultivated, most paid little mind and maintained their focus on Eric, waiting for him to continue.

...

In Cindy's apartment, although she harbored resentment towards Eric, upon hearing about Virginia's difficult delivery alongside the two women giving birth, Stephanie Seymour found herself concerned about the unfolding events, temporarily forgetting her urge to criticize Eric.

...

Then, Oprah displayed a concerned expression, "So, what happened next? Was everything alright?"

"The delivery of Elia was smooth; it lasted just a little over four hours. Kevin was also born naturally in the end," Eric said with a smile, adding, "Vicky had always been worried about this; she thought Kevin would be the older brother, but he turned out to be the younger one."

Everyone chuckled.

Oprah continued, "So, Eric, when Ms. Pacula and Ms. Madsen accidentally got pregnant at the same time, how did you feel then, and how did you handle the situation?"

"I was quite panicked initially. I was just in my early twenties, and I wasn't ready to be a father at all. Joanna was completely at a loss too. But Vicky, she was very strong-willed, even claiming she'd be a single mom regardless of what I did. But I think I matured faster than others; I accepted it quickly and realized I had responsibilities to shoulder. Then, I started making arrangements for them to quit their jobs and focus on their pregnancies. Vicky and Joanna even lived together for company, and their relationship improved; they stayed close after the kids were born, and they still are to this day."

"I wonder if everyone noticed," Oprah glanced at the audience, then turned back to Eric, "you always sound very affectionate when mentioning the two ladies' nicknames. What kind of relationship do you have now?"

"After all these years, we haven't separated. It feels more like family now. Although our relationship is unique, I sometimes feel that this kind of familial bond is actually stronger than any romantic love."

"That being said, Eric, even though you're still quite young," Oprah asked a more sensitive question, "have you thought about marriage?"

Eric shook his head, "Too many complications: Vicky, Joanna, the three kids, and Drew. Everyone knows about my relationship with that lady, so I probably won't be getting married. Besides, being unmarried isn't really an issue. I have my family, my partner, and three little ones. I feel like I have heirs, so I have no regrets."

Oprah nodded in understanding but seemed to catch something suddenly, "Heirs? Eric, do you mean Emma, Kevin, and Elia?"

"Of course, they are my kids, so they are naturally the heirs of the Williams family."

"Wow..."

In the studio, Eric's words sparked a noticeable stir among the audience.

...

It was common knowledge that Eric's fortune had surpassed four hundred billion dollars. Even if it never grew again, dividing four hundred billion dollars among three little ones could easily keep them on the Forbes Rich List.

Of course, whether in the studio or in front of their screens, more women were envious of Virginia and Joanna.

...

In an apartment on 75th Street, Cindy remained focused on the television screen while Stephanie Seymour was left speechless. She had also given birth to a child earlier for her husband Peter Brant, but after years of disputes and struggles, she had only managed to carve out some inheritance rights for herself and her child.

However, Peter Brant had still bequeathed most of his wealth to his ex-wife's children in a pre-arranged will, meaning Stephanie and her child might only receive under fifty million dollars.

At this moment, hearing Eric was just too incredible to bear.

The inheritors of four hundred billion dollars -- these three kids couldn't even be compared to the typical phrase of having been born with a silver spoon.

More importantly, Virginia and Joanna, as the mothers of Eric's biological children, had leverage. If they wanted, they could easily become some of the most influential women in the world without doing anything.

...

Oprah also bore an astonished expression, "Eric, I heard you built a private airport on Long Island so you could see the kids easier, and it seems the little ones are living quite well. Considering they're raised in such affluent surroundings, do you worry about any negative effects it might have on them?"

"Not at all," Eric shook his head, smiling a bit. "Truthfully, I'm quite a doting father, the kind that lacks principles entirely; I give in to their every request. But Vicky and Joanna are quite strict with the kids. They don't allow them to sleep in; they started nurturing their good habits very early. When it comes to education, they are far more dedicated than I am as a dad."

"So," Oprah laughed, "you, as a dad, are the one who spoils the kids. The education stuff? That's all handed off to Ms. Pacula and Ms. Madsen?"

"That's right."

"That means the kids are probably closer to you?"

"Absolutely. Whenever I'm home, Kevin likes to stick by me."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Vicky has the highest expectations for Kevin; she's even tougher than Joanna. Not only does she personally wake Kevin up every morning, but she also hires a bunch of tutors for him. Then, I show up and send all the tutors away, taking him to play however he wants."

Oprah joked, "Sounds like a good cop-bad cop story with Dad playing the good cop."

Eric laughed, "I'm usually pretty busy. I want to bond with the kids more, so I put in some extra effort."

In the studio, laughter erupted again, with many viewers sharing knowing smiles. Although many mothers might not quite agree with Eric's 'no limits' approach to spoiling the kids, they oddly found a new fondness for him.

After the laughter, Oprah asked, "What about Emma and Elia?"

"Emma has one of those personalities that everyone loves; she's naturally close to me. Elia is a bit different."

"Different?"

"Yeah, Elia is incredibly smart -- or rather, too smart."

Oprah complimented, "Just like you, huh?"

"No, I've never considered myself to be that bright," Eric shook his head with a smile, "I remember Steve -- oh, that's Steve Mitnick, the Chief Technology Officer of Yahoo -- he wrote that code in Charlie's Angels that had so many people analyzing it. He's a genius. He used to say he never thought of me as an alien from Pandora, but he really thinks my daughter might be."

"Pandora alien? I know! You guest-starred in Men in Black; that's funny," Oprah nodded and asked curiously, "But why do you say that?"

Eric wasn't trying to brag about his precious daughter; he simply said, "It's because Elia is really smart."

Oprah didn't linger on the topic and quickly shifted gears, "Speaking of which, everyone must be really curious about the kids. Ms. Pacula kindly sent us some pictures. Eric, can you show them to everyone?"

"Sure."

This was, of course, all pre-arranged. During their conversation, they felt that purely verbal dialogues had limited persuasive power. Eric eventually agreed to show a few pictures of Kevin and Hawaii before they turned three, feeling it wouldn't impact the kids negatively now.

After they finished talking, they both turned to the large screen behind them, with Oprah signaling to the audience.

The first image that appeared was a sketch, showing Joanna during her pregnancy, quietly seated on a park bench by the estate path.

Though it was just a charcoal drawing, Eric's great artistic skills and Joanna's beauty and grace, combined with the special maternal aura of pregnancy, made the sketch serene and beautiful. Countless viewers, both present and at home, could feel the woman's happiness and contentment during her pregnancy.

"That's just beautiful," Oprah exclaimed first, "Eric, did you draw this?"

"Yeah, Joanna said she wanted the little one to see what their mom looked like when she carried them, so she asked me to draw it."

"Oh, and what about Ms. Madsen?"

Eric shook his head and laughed, "She was a bit chubby back then and didn't want me to draw her."

Everyone chuckled again.

The screen quickly cut to the next image, showing Eric in a sterile gown, carefully cradling a newborn who was wrapped in blankets and crying.

"This is a picture of Kevin just after he was born," Eric explained. "The little guy really caused his mom a lot of trouble."

The scene switched again, this time to a green grassy lawn where Eric, Joanna, and Virginia sat together on a large picnic blanket, each mother holding one of the little ones, smiling as they snuggled up to Eric.

Eric continued, "This was when they were three months old."

Then there was another image, showing Eric lying on a beach with the two little ones on a small blanket next to him, all three peacefully sleeping while sunlight bathed them in a soft halo of happiness.

"This must have been a candid shot," Eric laughed, "that was during that summer."

The pictures continued to switch, showcasing daily life, festive occasions, and birthday parties for the little ones, eventually with Emma joining in. Although this little family was quite unique, everyone could feel the warmth of love infused in the pictures. Some who still had mixed feelings about Eric having two women pregnant at the same time were gradually shifting their attitudes, becoming more understanding.

After all, from Eric's narratives and those photographs, everyone could sense that as a father and a lover, Eric might just be perfect. Many housewives were even feeling a hint of 'that other family's man' vibe.

After showcasing over ten images, with countless viewers captivated as Eric narrated the stories behind each photo, the screen suddenly stopped changing.

"Okay, let's stop here," Eric said after explaining the last photo with a smile. "It's not convenient to show more."

Although everyone felt a bit unsatisfied, the live audience showed understanding expressions.

Oprah also returned her gaze, offering a few compliments before diving into a more sensitive topic. "Eric, about what happened online yesterday, many media outlets are criticizing you, claiming that some of your strong statements have interfered with press freedom. What do you think about that?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1136: Talk Show Response (3)]

This episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aimed primarily to address the sudden internet gossip event that occurred the day before. However, it wasn't until now that Oprah brought up the key issue, which had been thoroughly discussed as part of the media strategy. Even without the experience acquired in the media industry over the years, Eric understood from a lifetime of experiences that audience emotions needed careful management.

Without any particular skill or technique, Eric's frankness today could very well have backfired. Fortunately, this episode had been meticulously arranged from start to finish. After just over ten minutes of back-and-forth, most viewers had formed a good initial impression of Eric and his family. At this point, mentioning the internet gossip would instinctively put many audience members in Eric's corner.

This bias undoubtedly worked to Eric's advantage. On the television screen, as Oprah posed her question, Eric's expression grew serious, and he shook his head, saying, "I don't think this has anything to do with freedom of the press. Over the years, I have tried to keep Kevin and Elia away from the media spotlight, but it's not because I see anything scandalous; they are my children, and I love them. I also cherish the special relationship I have with Vicky and Joan.

The reason I've done this is simply to provide them with a peaceful living environment. In fact, most people around me know about Kevin and Elia; many of them often come to visit the little ones. Then there was yesterday, when a whole slew of articles about the kids suddenly appeared online. Anyone with even a little bit of critical thinking understands that this is a blatant smear campaign. They not only fabricated malicious fake news but also released sensitive information like the children's photos and addresses. This is a severe invasion of privacy that threatens the safety of the kids. So, I don't accept their so-called accusations. This is just a man protecting his women and children from unwarranted harm."

After Eric's compelling response, the camera panned across the audience, and nearly everyone there wore expressions of empathy and approval. And if emotions could take physical form, the air in the studio would have been filled with stars symbolizing admiration and longing.

The audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show was predominantly female. While more women were starting to pursue independence, no woman would reject the idea of having a strong man around to protect her at any time. After allowing the audience to digest Eric's words, Oprah continued, "Over the years in the media industry, I've been through many similar incidents. I believe that all freedom should have its limits, which is why we have laws to govern behavior that falls outside of the established norms."

Finishing her statement, Oprah turned back to Eric, asking, "What do you think caused such a malicious incident to emerge suddenly?"

"I'm not sure at the moment," Eric replied, shaking his head, "but it could very well be because of Iron Man."

As Eric spoke, he gestured towards the large screen behind him, which instantly displayed a carefully selected solo poster for Iron Man. Eric's character, Tony Stark, was showcased in his red-and-gold Mark III armor with his helmet raised, allowing everyone to see the obvious resemblance between the dark-haired, bearded man and Eric.

The female audience erupted in a mix of astonished and excited screams at the sight of the handsome figure on the movie poster. Once the noise calmed down, Eric continued, "Everyone knows that Iron Man premiered in cities like Tokyo and London, receiving great critical acclaim. Discounting cameos, this is my second leading role in ten years. Perhaps some people don't want to see it succeed, which is why they resorted to these tactics as the release date approaches."

Oprah nodded with understanding but didn't delve further into the connection between Iron Man and the internet gossip. Most of the viewers, being women, were likely uninterested in the cutthroat nature of business rivalries. Therefore, Oprah shifted back to the film, saying, "So Eric, given your wealth, why do you still choose to act in films? You're also working on another project; balancing two major productions at once must be tiring."

"Because that's my job," Eric replied with a smile. "I may have many titles now, but fundamentally, I've always been a director, a screenwriter, and an actor. Most of my focus has been in Hollywood, so as long as I manage my time well, balancing these roles isn't difficult. As for investments outside Hollywood, I prefer to leave that to professionals and avoid getting too involved."

"And as a director, screenwriter, and actor, you've casually stepped into some side ventures, and without realizing it, you've become the first centi-billionaire in U.S. history?" Oprah teased, drawing laughter from the audience.

Eric chuckled, casually waving a hand. "What can I say? There are so many opportunities right in front of you. If you see them and do nothing, that doesn't make sense. So, I usually just go along with it."

"Eric, those words might leave many professional investors feeling embarrassed," Oprah remarked. "But since you can easily spot opportunities, can you offer some investment advice to everyone here?"

"I wouldn't dare to give specific investment advice," Eric said, shaking his head. "But at a broad level, we should recognize that the world is at a pivotal moment in the third industrial revolution. Like the previous two, this will create entirely new industries across human society. Although we have reached a peak with these new technologies, I believe that in the next twenty years, both traditional capital and the average person will find countless opportunities to accumulate wealth from these emerging sectors. Of course, if you miss this chance, you might have to wait another hundred years."

"One hundred years? I doubt any of us could wait that long, so let's cherish this opportunity," Oprah mused, then continued. "Back to the film, Eric, it's said that the character Tony Stark is based on the legendary Howard Hughes, another incredibly wealthy figure. However, it's clear that you have surpassed him in many aspects. Many media sources even claim you share numerous traits with both men. What's your take on that?"

"Honestly, before filming Iron Man, I took the time to read a biography of Howard Hughes."

"And then what?" Oprah prompted.

"I was disappointed."

Everyone in the audience, to varying degrees, had heard something about Howard Hughes and was surprised by Eric's candid remark. Oprah mirrored their surprise: "Eric, are you saying you were disappointed in Howard Hughes?"

"No," Eric countered unexpectedly, shaking his head. "I was disappointed in that biography. The fact that Howard Hughes remains such a remembered figure indicates he was an extraordinary man. Yet the biography largely failed to objectively assess his contributions to our country's aerospace, defense, and film industries, instead spending most of its time sensationalizing his private life. My leisure time is limited, so I could only read the biography briefly. I don't know if other books on Howard Hughes are the same way, but if they are, I'd be even more disappointed."

"Eric, is this a reflection of what happened yesterday?" Oprah asked.

"Not at all. That was my genuine reaction to the biography I read a year ago," Eric replied. "Regarding your earlier question, I find it tough to accurately evaluate Howard Hughes. However, I believe that Tony Stark and I are fundamentally different types of people.

He's a very contradictory character; according to the comics, his life roughly splits into two stages. Before becoming Iron Man, he was a brilliant but hedonistic billionaire; after donning the suit, he began to bear responsibilities typical of a superhero, yet his nature remained unchanged. This makes him a flawed superhero, but those flaws also make him more relatable and human.

So, Howard Hughes, Tony Stark, and myself - I think we're three completely different individuals. In portraying Tony Stark, I didn't channel any of my characteristics at all; I was just playing another person, which is why I chose a completely different look for the role. If I weren't sitting here and just looking at that poster, I doubt anyone would immediately connect it to Eric Williams."

"Hearing you talk about this, I suddenly feel even more eager to see this movie," Oprah said eagerly. "Eric, Iron Man is set to release on May 7, correct?"

"Yes, May 7," Eric confirmed.

"Then I hope everyone will go out to the theaters to support it, as Eric Williams' movies have never let us down," Oprah said. After that, she stood up and embraced Eric one last time, adding, "Thank you for being part of today's program. Now, let's take a look at an exciting trailer for Iron Man."

With Oprah's words, the applause rose as the screen switched to play the trailer for Iron Man.

...

On 75th Street, inside Cindy's apartment.

It wasn't until Eric's figure completely disappeared from the screen that Stephanie Seymour snapped back to reality. Turning to look, she saw Cindy leisurely sipping green tea. Picking up her own cup, Stephanie took a sip only to find it completely cold.

Setting the tea back down, Stephanie eyed Cindy curiously and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Cindy seemed thoughtful but replied lightly, "Oh, nothing."

Stephanie didn't press further. She always felt somewhat intimidated in front of Cindy. Taking a careful sip of her now-cold green tea, she added, "Actually, I always thought he was a little bastard; now I feel he's not as worthless as I thought."

Cindy shot her a quick glance and suddenly asked, "Have you ever tried to flirt with him and got rejected?"

Stephanie's hand shook, almost dropping her teacup, then quickly composed herself, shaking her head, "Of course not."

"Oh, what a pity," Cindy said with a smile, her eyes bright, but she didn't continue to pry. "I used to think he was a bastard too, but he's one of those types that are addictively charming. After spending some time with him, you realize you can't live without him."

Stephanie pretended to be disdainful, "You're such a sap."

"Speaking of which, you're going to need his approval to get that hosting position."

The memory of that slap from him the other night suddenly surged back into Stephanie's mind, causing a shiver to course through her. "He really is a control freak."

"Men are all the same at their core. The difference is whether they are willing to show a little generosity. This is something your Peter definitely falls short in."

Stephanie shifted uncomfortably, her provocative body turning slightly. "Can we not talk about him?"

"Alright," Cindy said, clearly in a good mood. She set down her cup, took the cold green tea from Stephanie, and replaced it with hot tea, smiling, "Let's chat about the show. Actually, I haven't even told Lifetime about my resignation yet. But they've already renewed for Season 10, so it's like I'm secretly preparing to breach my contract."

Stephanie was surprised, "So, what will you do?"

"That's where Eric comes in," Cindy laughed. "If he gives the nod, everything will be sorted. Of course, the person I choose to replace me needs to be capable enough to carry the show. It's already the end of April, with Season 9 starting production in June. I only have May to pin down the new host, so time is short. Let me share some tips I've accumulated over the years."

Stephanie was curious about Cindy's decision to leave her hosting position on America's Next Top Model but quickly set that thought aside as Cindy began to share her experiences. She focused intently on the conversation.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1137: Talk Show Response (4)]

Due to time constraints, the news of Eric's appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show only made it to previews on ABC, Yahoo, and a few newspapers well-connected with Firefly Group.

However, although Eric actually did not wish for the episode to attract too much attention, the final ratings exceeded many people's expectations. In the half-hour interview, including advertisements, the entire show lasted 45 minutes, reaching a peak viewership of 31.3 million and an average of 26.6 million viewers. This was over three times the usual ratings for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which typically only garnered around 8 million for its premiere.

With the airing of this episode, various media outlets seemed to receive a signal to begin discussing the topics Eric had brought up in the talk show. Nevertheless, most media maintained a cautious attitude.

Just yesterday afternoon, renowned Silicon Valley firm Sequoia Capital abruptly announced the departure of its LH Fund manager, Ronald Hill. Soon, some outlets discovered that Ronald Hill was indeed a key investor behind the provocative "Hollywood Gossip" website that had sparked this incident.

Meanwhile, last night, the "Hollywood Gossip" website, which had been down for an entire day, issued a statement announcing its permanent shutdown. As an entertainment news site that had accumulated substantial traffic over its more than two years of operation, given the current frenzy of new technology waves, if this website had gone public, it could have reached a market value of at least $20 to $30 million.

Yet, because it exposed gossip about Eric Williams' children, in a mere day, a fund manager controlling over $1 billion in assets departed, and a website potentially worth tens of millions was shut down entirely.

Although the parties involved kept silent about the reasons, everyone understood that these two incidents were evidently interlinked with Firefly Group. Therefore, despite the hint that discussions were permissible, most media professionals did not want to provoke Eric Williams and risk waking up to the news of their dismissal or the closure of their newspapers, websites, or television stations.

...

"There's no doubt that as a father, Eric Williams is doing an excellent job, especially considering that this super-rich man was only in his early twenties back then, making his willingness to take on such responsibilities even more commendable." -- New York Post

"While Eric Williams has a rather unique relationship with several women, his sincerity, frankness, and willingness to bear responsibility leave little room for criticism. In fact, we feel compelled to remind the world's richest man to be careful; otherwise, he might end up with a lot of children." -- Newsweek

"When I saw Eric Williams displaying those photos one by one, all I felt was envy. Although I didn't agree with his open relationships with a few women, his careful emotional maintenance towards them and his children could provide some inspiration for many families that have become numb in their marriages." -- Yahoo Women

"As a director, screenwriter, and actor, Mr. Williams has effortlessly built a fortune of several hundred billion dollars while managing a few side businesses. This certainly leaves all investors on Wall Street feeling embarrassed. However, his commentary on the Third Industrial Revolution was astutely precise; we are entering a new era of wealth distribution, so seize the opportunity, or you could find yourself waiting another hundred years -- assuming anyone lives that long." -- Wall Street Journal

"Eric Williams' disappointment with the Howard Hughes biography may stem from a general disillusionment with the media's news ethics. In recent years, the media has grown increasingly restless, with many outlets gradually losing their seriousness and diligence as news platforms, merely seeking higher circulation and viewership by focusing on sensational gossip." -- Washington Post

"Engaging in ruthless competition without ethical restraints may bring some temporary benefits to one party, but it undermines the foundation of the entire industry. When everyone abandons the necessary business ethics and habitually resorts to smearing their opponents for advantage, the result will inevitably be a complete collapse in reputation across the industry. People cannot distinguish between good and bad, and they will lump the entire circle into a basket of rotten apples and steer clear." -- Hollywood Reporter

...

Overall, subsequent media evaluations of the entire incident either maintained appreciation, lightly brushed things aside, or changed the subject, with occasional criticisms failing to impact the broader media trend.

Of course, this sudden deference from the media wasn't out of sheer goodwill. The dual influences of Eric's sincere and candid attitude on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the formidable stance of Firefly Group made most media outlets wary.

Influenced by media trends, the general public hadn't even formed biases yet and had subconsciously accepted Eric's relationships with several women, as well as the fact that he was already a father of three children.

Of course, this leniency or indifference was largely attributed to Eric's wealth and status. For a super-rich individual with several hundred billion dollars, most ordinary people assumed his private life should be extremely "colorful." The persona Eric presented to the media seemed very restrained to many.

...

As this nearly uneventful gossip incident quickly subsided, the promotional momentum for Iron Man, which had already been overwhelming, didn't diminish; in fact, it heightened viewer anticipation even further. The most noticeable effect was a significant rise in discussions and search inquiries about Iron Man across portal websites and search engines.

As the opening installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which had already garnered excellent pre-release reviews, if a gossip incident led to a box office loss for the film -- even if Firefly Group could completely absorb the financial loss -- it would critically impact the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe plan.

Now, everything had returned to normal, and everyone could finally breathe easy.

However, privately, many matters were far from over.

When someone throws a punch, if you cannot retaliate decisively enough to prevent them from striking again, further petty actions will surely follow.

...

Long Island, East Hampton.

Due to the rapid resolution of the incident, the women and children had distanced themselves right at the onset. At this moment, East Hampton seemed very tranquil, and there hadn't been any media congregations at all.

However, the two women, still with their children, did not immediately return but planned to spend the remainder of their summer vacation in Australia.

Thus, in the seaside estate in East Hampton, only Eric was at home. After participating in The Oprah Winfrey Show, Eric had arrived here, uncertain about the potential responses from the media and the public, so he opted to avoid them altogether.

The outcome was certainly satisfying. Eric then turned his focus to concluding this matter.

Today's guest, however, was George Soros.

After a long time, the old man still appeared remarkably energetic. Last year, Quantum Fund faced a major setback in the Russian bond and stock markets, losing $3 billion, though it hadn't harmed the core operations.

What impressed Eric was that, known as the boldest hedging fund investor in the eyes of everyone, Soros had, this time, skillfully and cautiously avoided the surging NASDAQ market, much like Warren Buffett. While Quantum Fund had also participated in tech stock investments, the scale was quite small, more like a trial with minimal exposure.

In contrast, the Tiger Fund, which had once been at par with Quantum Fund, had seen its capital scale swiftly drop to $11 billion -- down over half from its peak two years ago -- because founder Julian Robertson continually bet heavily against tech stocks as the NASDAQ index kept rising.

...

As summer approached, a round table was set out on the lush green lawn of the estate.

Eric and Soros sipped coffee while casually chatting about various recent matters.

"Honestly, I'm quite tempted by tech stocks, but the current situation reminds me too much of the madness before the 1987 crash. Moreover, I know very little about the new tech industry; as an old man out of touch with the times, it's probably best for me to keep my distance."

As Soros spoke about the current NASDAQ market, there was a tinge of disappointment over missed opportunities in his tone, but he remained remarkably calm.

Eric rested one hand on the table, leaning slightly while casually crossing his legs as he took in the serene afternoon scenery, "That's my biggest takeaway over the years. True smart investors have never been gamblers. Occasional losses stem from an inability to judge situations accurately, rather than from bad luck."

Soros nodded slightly, setting down his coffee cup, with a smile, "So Eric, your invitation to me today isn't just for a chat, is it? Although I do enjoy our conversations."

"Of course not," Eric replied, taking a sip of coffee beside him. "Recently, I found some listening devices in my home and office."

"Such things happen to everyone," Soros chuckled nonchalantly upon hearing Eric's words. "You'll get used to it."

"Perhaps," Eric smiled in return. "However, we did uncover some things afterward."

"Hmm?"

"Firstly, we found the person who placed the listening devices, then traced it back to the intermediary who commissioned the job. The party's operational funds originated from an anonymous fund in the Cayman Islands. You know, it's quite challenging to investigate from there."

Soros nodded, intrigued, "And then?"

"The personnel employed by Firefly didn't uncover the owners of that fund. However, we did find some cases financed by this fund, including legislation lobbying and travel funding. These cases mainly pointed towards Scott Natural Gas Company in Pennsylvania," Eric said, pulling an envelope from the table and extracting a photo to hand to Soros. "Coincidentally, we found that the CEO of Scott Natural Gas, Milos Scott, has always been an important client of the Tiger Fund, with the Scott family investing around $500 million into that fund. Here, I happen to have a photo of Milos Scott with Julian Robertson."

Soros listened patiently, fully aware that the tracing process Eric described was by no means as understated as it sounded.

After glancing at the photo, Soros quickly set it down and shook his head, "Eric, this doesn't prove anything."

"I'm not trying to prove anything; I don't plan on suing anyone," Eric shook his head as well, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I merely hope you can pass this photo along to Mr. Robertson with my advice: He's free to short any company he wishes, but he should not reach for Firefly. Everybody knows the NASDAQ market could crash at any moment, but Firefly has enough capital to sustain the stock price of any of our companies; if necessary, I could even buy back all the circulating shares of some companies in the market."

"Actually, the operations of the Clover Fund should be something that confuses but simultaneously impresses me, young man. Of course, I know you probably won't disclose anything now, but perhaps when all this settles, you can share some insights with this old man," Soros switched gears in his speech, casually tucking the photo into his suit pocket before nodding, "I will pass it along."

After discussing this matter for a bit longer, Soros bid farewell.

...

Once Soros had left, Eric returned to the lawn, where Merissa Mayer was already waiting. Upon seeing Eric sit down, Merissa couldn't help but ask, "Eric, is that it?"

Eric recalled what Soros had said earlier -- "You'll get used to it" -- and chuckled, "What else could it be?"

The recent large-scale eavesdropping incident clearly couldn't involve just the Tiger Fund alone. Eric had merely been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the Tiger Fund's tail. Since it hadn't caused him any harm, Eric wasn't about to respond as he had during the gossip incident; instead, he would have to implement tighter precautions moving forward.

Noticing the confusion on his assistant's face, Eric continued, "In the coming days, Julian Robertson probably won't attack Firefly again. If he tries, I won't hesitate to strike back. Moreover, he has completely fallen into a gambler's mindset; according to the current trajectory of the Tiger Fund, continuing to short stocks will only lead to bankruptcy. There's no need for us to do anything additional."

Merissa nodded, carefully gathering the tea set from the round table before returning to the villa for a moment and bringing back a fresh pot of coffee. "Eric, Ronald Hill, the investor from 'Hollywood Gossip,' is now in New York. He said he hopes to apologize to you in person. Do you want to meet with him?"

Eric poured himself some more coffee, casually asking, "Is that all?"

"There's a fax too," Merissa handed him a folder he had in the other hand. "The person in charge of that website confessed that Stanley Cohen, the Vice President of Distribution at Paramount Pictures, gave him $300,000, and those press releases were also provided by Paramount."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1138: Reckoning]

Upon hearing the name Paramount Pictures, Eric felt no surprise at all.

From their initial confrontation during the bidding for Disney to the present, the relationship between the Firefly Group and Viacom had never been particularly good. In fact, as the Firefly Group continued to expand, the traditional balance of power among the major Hollywood studios had been disrupted. The Firefly Group increasingly exhibited a monopolistic control over Hollywood. The other three major media conglomerates in Hollywood, feeling increasingly threatened, naturally became more vigilant toward the Firefly Group, ready to retaliate at the slightest opportunity.

Moreover, there was a very direct provocation for this event. Iron Man premiered on May 7, and the following week, on May 14, Paramount's The General's Daughter was set to release.

The General's Daughter was a crime drama directed by Simon West and starred John Travolta.

After Simon West's collaboration with Jerry Bruckheimer on Con Air achieved decent global box office success, Paramount quickly lured him over with a hefty offer. The General's Daughter marked his second directorial effort, also a big-budget film costing $95 million, nearly equivalent to Iron Man's production budget.

However, compared to Iron Man's strong reputation, The General's Daughter had faced consistent negative reviews after several discreet test screenings.

Under usual circumstances, facing the overwhelming popularity of Iron Man, The General's Daughter would have inevitably become collateral damage. To secure more survival chances for The General's Daughter, Paramount couldn't help but entertain some dubious ideas.

Flipping through the folder handed over by Merissa Mayer, Eric noticed an apology letter from Ronald Hill. He merely glanced at it before tossing it aside. His fingers rubbed against the folder's matte cover for a moment, then he casually asked Merissa, "What was the name of that website's head?"

"Adam Wimbrey," Merissa replied, "He's Ronald Hill's high school classmate."

"Have the detective agency look into this person. I want to know everything about him," Eric instructed without elaborating, knowing Merissa would understand. He continued, "Also, compile a list of all the employees from that website. Then leak the information; whether it's Silicon Valley, Hollywood, or any other companies, if someone wants to hire these people, I will make it a problem for them. Have Kelly assign two people to keep an eye on this. Just three years will suffice."

Merissa understood Eric's command regarding the investigation into Adam Wimbrey, but upon hearing Eric's intention to blacklist all employees of the Hollywood Gossip website, he couldn't help but ask, "Eric, is that truly necessary?"

Eric turned his head, examining Merissa's delicate face. "Mary, if what happened a few days ago hadn't been suppressed, do you know what would have occurred?"

Merissa paused, shaking her head slightly.

Eric kept his gaze on the woman's face. "Look at Michael Jackson. Many people knew he was wrongfully accused, but what was the outcome? During the investigation of that 1993 case, MJ was bombarded by countless media for months, nearly leading to his mental breakdown. Six years later, he still struggles with severe mental health issues. Perhaps he'll never escape the shadows of that time. Emma, Kevin, and Elia are still just kids; their lives have barely begun. If this incident hadn't been fortuitously suppressed by me, it could have had very serious repercussions on their lives forever. So, I cannot allow anything to happen to Kevin and the others again."

Merissa quietly retorted, "I doubt they would dare to."

Eric shook his head, his tone cold. "I never place such expectations on human nature. Therefore, I said from the beginning, those who stand in the spotlight, lurking in the shadows, be they big names who believe themselves untouchable or the supposedly inconsequential, I won't let any of them off the hook. I will leave an instinctual mark on them that they wouldn't even dare to imagine."

Merissa slightly lowered her gaze and nodded. "Eric, I understand."

"Well, that's all for now. Please bring me a copy of Viacom's last quarter financial report."

Merissa muttered a small "Okay," yet remained where she stood, her gaze downcast.

Noticing his assistant's demeanor, Eric softened his tone. "Come here."

Merissa took a few small steps closer but still stood rigidly before him.

Eric reached out, wrapping his arm around Merissa's slender waist, and with a slight tug, the assistant reluctantly settled onto Eric's knee, her eyes avoiding contact with his, sulking a bit.

"Okay, Mary, I apologize. My tone may have been a bit harsh, but that wasn't aimed at you."

Merissa squirmed a little within his grasp, sounding slightly wronged. "You are such a tyrant."

"Yeah, my fault. I'll be more mindful."

Merissa continued her critique, "And you play favorites. You sent Carly back to Los Angeles while making me handle all this dirty work."

Eric kissed the soft skin of her neck. "I suddenly find it hard to be without you. How about staying by my side for a few more years?"

Merissa felt a rush of warmth spread from where he kissed her, instinctively maneuvering to create space. "No way, I don't want to be just a little cat by your side."

"I never thought of you that way."

"You do. You just love treating women like cats."

"I don't," Eric firmly denied and countered, "But there are some who are so fickle, hot and cold, always trying to escape no matter how well you treat them. That's exactly like dealing with an untamable cat."

Upon hearing this, Merissa realized she had no rebuttal, her cheeks flushed as she looked away, suddenly lowering her head and playfully biting Eric's shoulder.

Feeling the assistant's gentle bite, Eric caressed her waist, daringly continuing, "See? It's getting more accurate. Even the owner gets bitten when you provoke them."

The little bites intensified briefly before she let go.

Allowing Merissa to rest her head on his shoulder, Eric eventually patted her back. "Alright, that's enough. It's time to get back to work."

"I don't want to work today."

Eric showed no signs of being a hard-nosed boss, nodding without firmness. "Okay then, take a day off."

Merissa shifted slightly in Eric's embrace, settling into a comfortable position, seemingly intent on lounging all day.

However, things rarely went as planned.

Just a moment later, Eric's phone on the desk rang.

Noticing the call but not answering, he reluctantly set the device aside. Despite her reluctance, Merissa stood up. "I'll go and get busy now."

...

After watching the assistant's figure vanish into the villa, Eric finally answered, "Hi, Cindy... No, nothing major, I've just about handled it. How about you? ... Is it something important? ... Alright then, I'll come over in a bit."

Ending the call, Eric dialed the security guard in the front courtyard, asking them to prepare the car before standing up and heading toward the villa.

...

Merissa sat on the couch with a laptop, sending emails. Upon seeing him exit, her expression shifted to one of inquiry.

"I have to head back to Manhattan," Eric explained proactively. "You can stay here tonight."

Merissa shook her head, "I really don't want to stay in such a desolate place by myself."

While there were staff members tasked with managing the estate, Merissa, coming from a wealthier middle-class background, had a much stronger sense of class distinction than Eric. For her, it felt like it was just the two of them at the estate.

"Then let's go back together," Eric remarked casually. "Pack your things; I've already instructed the guards to get the car ready."

It was already May 3rd.

With Iron Man's Los Angeles premiere scheduled for May 5th, Eric planned to return the next day and didn't intend to come back to this side again.

After quickly packing his bags, Eric exchanged a few words with the head housekeeper before leaving East Hampton with Merissa Mayer.

Arriving in Manhattan by 4 PM, since Caroline and Merissa no longer wanted to stay at Eric's penthouse on Sixth Avenue, and given that Eric frequently needed to travel to New York, he had arranged a separate apartment for them as an employee benefit.

Once in Manhattan, Eric first had the driver drop off Merissa near the Rockefeller Center in Midtown, before heading to 75th Street.

...

Riding the private elevator to Cindy's apartment door, just as Eric arrived, Cindy opened the door stepping out into the hallway.

The woman was clearly not wearing makeup today, dressed in a loose pale pink tank top, white relaxed pants, and slippers, looking very much at home, which surprised Eric, as he was accustomed to seeing Cindy meticulously dressed.

After a brief hug with Cindy, another impeccably made-up woman emerged from within. This time it felt more normal but also surprised Eric nonetheless.

"Hi, Stephanie, what are you doing here?"

Releasing Cindy, Eric intended to extend his hand to Stephanie Seymour, but the woman preemptively embraced him, her tone laced with a hint of mild grievance. "Eric, why can't I be here? Cindy and I are good friends."

Eric laughed lightly, entering the apartment with both women and sitting on the bench at the entryway.

...

Stephanie Seymour watched Cindy as she squatted down to help take Eric's slippers, also carefully stowing away his dress shoes. Feeling somewhat awkward and unsure if she should also squat to help, she stood there feeling a bit out of place.

She had spontaneously decided to visit, aiming to get closer to Cindy regarding the host position for America's Next Top Model since personal connections often proved very effective.

Living in the Upper East Hydee made it convenient to see each other. She hadn't expected to run into Eric by chance. It made sense why Cindy had seemed eager to send her away earlier; had Eric arrived later, she would have had to leave on her own.

...

After changing shoes, Eric casually took a seat on the living room sofa.

...

Cindy eyed Stephanie Seymour, who not only remained with them but also didn't hesitate to take a seat next to Eric, raising an eyebrow in slight regret for not having told her to leave sooner. Feeling a twinge of disappointment, she moved to the small drinks area to prepare tea for Eric.

...

On the sofa, Stephanie Seymour reclined with a subtle allure, clearly more adept at striking inviting poses, causing Eric to steal an extra glance or two. He couldn't help but reflect on how most women tended to be petty, yet Stephanie seemed to stand apart from the norm.

It appeared that the slap he had given her butt before hadn't been hard enough.

While lost in thought, his gaze swept over Stephanie's curvy figure, particularly her well-defined waist.

Noticing his stare, Stephanie subtly shifted her position and spoke up, "Eric, I happened to watch that episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show with Cindy the other day."

Eric nodded slightly. "And?"

Stephanie traced her finger along the sofa's backrest, her eyes unwaveringly fixed on Eric. "I suddenly realized you're actually a pretty decent guy."

Eric couldn't help but laugh. "I suppose that's a compliment?"

"Absolutely."

"Oh, thanks."

"Is that all?" Stephanie seemed a bit dissatisfied. "You're really quite dull."

Eric glanced over at the bar area, pretending to whisper, "Can't help it; Cindy's here."

"Eric, I can hear you."

Eric grinned over. "Did I say something?"

Cindy rolled her eyes while opening a small pack of green tea and busying herself, ignoring Eric.

Stephanie Seymour clearly envied the playful interaction between Eric and Cindy, but it was evident that Eric had no intention of engaging in any "interaction" with her, which made her feel a tinge of frustration once again.

Cindy soon returned with a kettle of light green tea, serving all three before noting that she had to sit on a nearby armchair since Stephanie had taken Eric's spot on the sofa.

Looking at the cup of green tea in his hand, Eric felt a bit strange; when did Cindy start drinking tea?

They chatted casually for a bit, and after a while, it became clear that Stephanie had no intention of leaving. Cindy finally initiated the "serious talk," stating, "Eric, I'm planning to resign from my position as the host of America's Next Top Model and wanted to discuss it with you."

Eric paused, suddenly understanding, and glanced at Cindy's midsection, instinctively asking, "What about Linda?"

Cindy couldn't help but roll her eyes, knowing Eric had figured it out, her tone laced with a bit of reproach. "What does Linda have to do with this?"

Seemingly, this time he couldn't kill two birds with one stone, Eric let out a quiet sigh of relief; it certainly would not be a good thing to have both women pregnant at the same time.

"Alright," he casually nodded, looking over at the clearly bewildered Stephanie Seymour beside him. "Stephanie, could you give Cindy and me a moment alone?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1139: Blackberry]

Stephanie Seymour didn't expect Eric to be so blunt in kicking her out. She wore an expression of mild resentment, but she sat up and suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh right, Eric, we're having a gathering at our place tonight. We originally wanted to invite Cindy over. Are you free?"

Eric was currently preoccupied with thoughts of Cindy. He nodded absentmindedly and said, "Sure."

"Great! So, at seven o'clock tonight," Stephanie said, surprised to find Eric so agreeable. A smile broke on her face as she added, "Of course, you and Cindy can come by whenever."

After sending Stephanie off, Eric returned to the sofa and remarked, "Not a very smart woman, and clearly not satisfied with what she has."

Cindy, who had taken Stephanie's previous spot, leaned against Eric and smiled, "Don't men usually hope women are a bit dim?"

"I like smart women now, the smarter, the better."

Cindy rolled her eyes at him. "I'm planning to let her try to take my place."

"America's Next Top Model?"

"Yeah."

Eric remembered the original version of America's Next Top Model and said, "Why not let Tyra give it a try? I think she could do better."

When they were selecting hosts for America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, Eric had indeed considered the original Tyra Banks. However, she was too young back then, and her popularity hadn't yet skyrocketed, which was why the role fell to Cindy.

"I thought about that too, but she's Black," Cindy pointed out.

Eric nodded, immediately understanding.

If the initial host for the show was Black, it might have worked out fine. However, abruptly switching the host from a white woman to a Black woman at the height of its popularity could present too many risks. Although Hollywood portrayed racial diversity in a positive light, the issue of racial discrimination in the country was deeply rooted.

"Since that's the case, you should handle it. I'll talk to Anne Sweeney tomorrow morning," Eric concluded.

After he said this, the two fell into silence.

After a moment, Cindy nervously said, "Eric, do you feel put upon?"

Eric pulled her closer, gently stroking her abdomen, and shook his head. "Not at all. It just adds another layer of responsibility. I've always known I couldn't really call myself a good father."

"You're already doing great," Cindy reassured him, leaning against him. "For Kevin, Elia, and Emma, I don't believe anyone could do better than you."

They embraced lovingly for a moment, and Eric then said, "However, as the mother of my children, you should know that you can't just leave me easily anymore."

"Weren't you always trying to set me up with Linda? I think this recent arrangement isn't too bad. Just be careful, Mr. Williams, because I'm actually less satisfied than Stephanie."

"Smart women can be a little greedy."

"Ha-ha."

Now that he had three little ones, Eric didn't feel as lost in the face of the new life growing inside Cindy as he had when Virginia and Joanna were pregnant. Cindy was indeed a smart woman, and she didn't need any special reminders from Eric. They both accepted the news calmly and with anticipation.

After enjoying a lovely afternoon together at Cindy's apartment, they finally remembered the promise to attend Stephanie Seymour's gathering around dinner time.

Since he had no other commitments that evening, Eric and Cindy headed over together.

...

At another mansion in the Upper East Hydee.

By the time it was past seven-thirty, Peter Brant and Stephanie Seymour were hosting countless guests in the hall, but they could hardly focus on the attendees.

Tonight's gathering was to commemorate Stephanie's release of her beauty book. Top supermodels often penned such books to earn a little extra cash.

Originally, Peter hadn't been too concerned about the event. He had only agreed to host a small gathering due to his wife's insistence. However, when his wife returned that afternoon and mentioned that Eric Williams would also be attending, Peter became instantly enthusiastic.

Although Eric had long since topped the Forbes billionaire list, the contrast between his current wealth and social influence compared to just a few years earlier was dramatic.

For Peter Brant, hosting a celebrity of Eric's caliber at home was a point of pride. In fact, if he ever wrote an autobiography or memoir, it would definitely be a highlight. This wasn't an exaggeration; many celebrity biographies often mentioned hosting prominent politicians and celebrities to display social status and connections.

Thus, to make Eric Williams' presence in his social circle carry even greater weight, Peter quickly expanded the originally small family gathering into a lively soiree, even inviting some hard-to-predict guests who quickly agreed upon hearing Eric would be there.

The party was set to begin at seven o'clock.

Most guests arrived on time, but as the clock struck seven-thirty, Eric Williams had yet to appear.

After finishing a conversation with one guest, Peter glanced at his watch, now reading seven-forty. He couldn't help but tug on his wife's arm, his voice laced with anxiety as he muttered, "Stephanie, are you sure Eric will come tonight?"

If Eric didn't show, the Brant family would surely lose credit.

Stephanie Seymour understood the stakes but hesitated to guarantee anything. "I personally invited him and he said yes. How about waiting five more minutes? If he still hasn't arrived, I'll call and check in."

Peter Brant couldn't tolerate his wife's indecisiveness. Irritated, he insisted, "Call now; don't wait five more minutes."

Stephanie hesitated but began to walk away when a waiter, specially assigned by Peter, appeared at the door. He gestured towards Peter.

Seeing the waiter's signal, Peter's heart finally lightened. Completely ignoring his wife, he hurried towards the door.

Stephanie stood frozen for a moment before springing into action to follow him.

When they reached the entrance, Eric had just gotten out of the car holding Cindy's hand.

...

"Good evening, Eric! I'm so glad you could make it," Peter Brant greeted, his previous impatience completely gone as he warmly extended his hand.

Eric shook Peter's hand and said, "Sorry, Peter, Cindy and I might be a bit late."

"No problem," Peter shook his head quickly, then courteously hugged Cindy, praising, "Miss Crawford, you look absolutely stunning tonight."

"Oh, thank you, Peter," Cindy replied with a hint of playful annoyance. "But why do you call Eric by his first name yet refer to me as Miss Crawford? Are you trying to distance yourself from me?"

"Of course not, it's just a mark of respect for a beautiful lady."

"Ha-ha, you can just call me Cindy," she smiled, also making sure not to neglect Stephanie Seymour beside her, initiating, "Oh, and Stephanie, you look even more beautiful than I do tonight!"

After they exchanged pleasantries, the four entered the Brant mansion together.

By this time, the guests in the hall had already heard of Eric's arrival. Though everyone was aware he was quite late, there were no complaints; instead, people were engaged in thinking of ways to connect and make a good impression when they spoke with him.

To talk about it, Peter Brant had indeed started from scratch. He initially struck gold through his connections with pop art master Andy Warhol and, over the years, built up the Brant Publications, Inc., primarily focusing on newspapers and magazines.

...

West Coast parties mainly served to expand one's network, and Eric had become quite adept at navigating such gatherings.

After Peter introduced him, Eric mingled with several guests, and everyone began conversing in groups of two or three based on common interests.

Thanks to his ties with Andy Warhol, Peter Brant remained closely connected to the art community; inevitably, quite a few artists and art dealers appeared at the soiree.

At that moment, listening to an art dealer subtly pitching some contemporary artists' works, Eric engaged with interest. When the dealer finished, Eric smiled and said, "Tony, I actually prefer classic paintings, especially those by John William Waterhouse. If you ever come across one, feel free to reach out to my assistant's office anytime."

The art dealer, Tony Royce, showed no signs of being taken aback and nodded gracefully, "Mr. Williams, I will certainly keep an eye out for you."

With that, he raised his glass towards Eric and turned to leave.

After Tony departed, Cindy, still linked to Eric's arm, smiled and asked, "Eric, do you really like John William Waterhouse's paintings? I haven't seen you interested in any art pieces before."

"Of course," Eric replied, nodding affirmatively. "If you ever get a chance to see this artist's work, you'll absolutely understand why I like it. However, most of John William Waterhouse's paintings are housed in museums across the UK. If a piece ever surfaces, I wouldn't mind paying a premium for it."

As he spoke, Eric planned to head over to the buffet for some food, but just as he turned, he found himself bumping into a couple who had taken the opportunity to greet him. Seeing the woman in the couple nearly spill her drink on Cindy, he instinctively raised a hand to block it, causing the champagne to splash all over his shirt sleeve.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Williams."

It was clearly an accident, and Eric wasn't upset. He shook his head and chuckled, saying it was fine even amidst the minor disaster. The Brants quickly came over.

"It's nothing," Eric reassured, noticing the concerned looks on everyone's faces. He grabbed a napkin from Cindy to dab at his sleeve and turned to the Brant couple. "Sorry, can I borrow your restroom for a moment?"

"Of course," Peter Brant gestured. "Stephanie, why don't you take Eric to clean up?"

"Eric, follow me," Stephanie Seymour gestured for him to follow her as she led him upstairs to a restroom.

...

Upon reaching the sink, Eric washed his hands and was about to clean his sleeve again when he noticed Stephanie standing at the door, making no indication she wanted to leave; instead, she closed the door behind them.

Eric chuckled, observing the glint of mischief in her eyes. "What's this? Planning something devious?"

"Eric," Stephanie also showed a hint of amusement. "I suddenly understand why Cindy would just up and give up her hosting position on America's Next Top Model."

Eric dabbed some water on his sleeve as he listened to her know-it-all tone. He squinted slightly, "Oh? And why's that?"

Stephanie, picking up on Eric's mood shift, leaned against the door in a defensive posture. "Do you really want me to say it out loud?"

Eric dried his hands, tapping his fingers on the marble counter. "Come here."

Stephanie instinctively took a step forward only to halt immediately, bracing herself. "I won't go over there; you're just going to hit me."

Eric shrugged indifferently. "Fine, then I won't bother."

Seeing Eric make to leave, Stephanie hesitated and tried to negotiate, "If you don't hit me, I'll come over."

"Come on, I won't hit you."

After a moment of deliberation, Stephanie finally walked over, but the instant she was by Eric's side, he pressed her down onto the wash basin.

"You, you bastard, you're not keeping your word," she exclaimed.

Eric unapologetically raised her gown and stated, "I've always kept my word."

"Hey," Stephanie protested, her composure slipping as Eric's rough movements caused her to lean heavily against the sink. Her face turned bright red, but her words remained defiant. "Are you planning on doing this in five minutes? What a useless man."

Eric responded, "We can try a more stimulating approach."

Stephanie blinked, catching sight of Eric grabbing a tube of hand cream from the sink. Realization dawned on her, and she abruptly attempted to stand up, "Bastard, you can't do this!"

Without hesitation, Eric slapped her on the butt, and as her body went limp again, she gasped, feeling a scrap of fabric quickly shoved against her mouth, muffling her cries.

...

The next afternoon, after meeting directly with the president of AE Television Network to talk about America's Next Top Model's future arrangements, Eric boarded a plane back to Los Angeles.

Gazing out at the sprawling view of Manhattan fading into the distance, he couldn't help but smile at the memories of the night before.

Merissa Mayer entered carrying a stack of documents just as Eric was lost in thought, catching sight of the strange grin on his face. With a puzzled look, she set the folder down and said, "Eric, Nokia's analysis report on RIM has come in. Their Blackberry phone prospects look quite promising, but there are various issues within the company as well."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1140: A Two-Pronged Approach]

Due to recent incidents involving cyberattacks and eavesdropping, the Firefly Group had been reestablishing various confidentiality measures to ensure the security of email and mobile communications, which were among the most important issues to address.

Coincidentally, the Canadian company RIM had just signed a partnership with Sprint, a telecom operator in which Firefly had invested. Kelly recommended RIM's later-famous BlackBerry phone to Eric.

RIM launched the BlackBerry in conjunction with Sprint's CDMA network, which perfectly met the confidentiality requirements for both email and mobile communications. Eric decisively decided to promote this phone within the Firefly Group.

At the same time, Eric planned to acquire RIM -- the manufacturer of BlackBerry -- as a sub-brand focused on business security under Nokia.

In comparison to Nokia, whose market value had recently surpassed $100 billion, RIM's share price had also risen significantly, but its market capitalization was only about $260 million. Regardless, buying RIM would undoubtedly be a very wise investment.

Moreover, combining the information at hand with Eric's recollections, he realized that BlackBerry had once faced a situation strikingly similar to that of the MP3 player.

Historically, both products had matured in terms of technical development before gaining widespread traction. However, because they missed the optimal promotion window, after struggling for many years, both products made a brief surge only to be quickly overshadowed by new electronic devices. The MP3 player was overtaken by various music phones, while the BlackBerry fell behind more versatile touchscreen smartphones.

Now that Eric could clearly see the market potential of BlackBerry, he felt there was no need to wait for opportunities like the 9/11 situation when the U.S. government relied on BlackBerry for immediate disaster information. With the powerful distribution channels and resource advantages of the Firefly Group, they could promote BlackBerry ahead of schedule.

If they had ample time to complete the strategic layout for BlackBerry and its related services, even with the early onset of the smartphone era, Eric believed that the high-end business and security-focused BlackBerry could avoid the swift decline it previously experienced.

As Eric flipped through the documents handed to him by Merissa, he casually asked, "What are the main issues?"

"The most critical one is patents," Merissa replied. "During Nokia's assessment of the BlackBerry, they discovered that this phone has infringed on over 20 of the company's patents. Additionally, the core patent for BlackBerry's wireless email push feature is still held by a Virginia-based company called NTP. RIM is currently too small to attract much attention. However, if we acquire BlackBerry, patent holders like NTP will definitely file lawsuits, which could even lead to a federal ban on BlackBerry."

Over the years, Eric had always placed great importance on the patent strategy of the companies under the Firefly Group, influenced by a series of patent wars that he recalled. Among them, the wireless email patent war between RIM and NTP was undeniably the most memorable.

In 2006, after a lengthy six-year legal battle, NTP ultimately extorted over $600 million in patent damages from RIM through a series of wireless email patents.

Considering RIM's current market value of less than $300 million, even without changing history, that $600 million in patent damages would have been a crippling blow to RIM in 2006.

Reflecting back, one must acknowledge that the compensation of $600 million was likely influenced by federal government bias. While RIM's business focus had been in North America as a Canadian company, NTP was an American entity, and the federal government could not be expected to support a foreign competitor. Thus, RIM had no choice but to accept such a significant loss to maintain its business presence in the U.S.

After tapping the table and contemplating for a moment, Eric remarked, "Isn't the email patent in our possession? Didn't Yahoo or Firefly Electronics develop wireless email technology?"

"They did, but not as comprehensively as NTP," Merissa Mayer nodded before continuing, "While wireless email does overlap with email technology, it can't be fully classified as an extension of it. NTP was established in 1992, and their patent registration dates nearly coincide with the email patents held by Yahoo. I've consulted with the patent management departments of Yahoo and Firefly Electronics. They mentioned that, based on the overlap in technology, if a lawsuit were filed, we could confidently obtain all wireless email patent licenses from NTP for free."

Eric asked, "But that would definitely take time?"

"Yes, according to the normal legal process for similar cases, obtaining the license for free would take at least a year. But if Nokia initiates a buyout of BlackBerry at the same time, it would alert NTP, and the process would undoubtedly take longer," Merissa Mayer explained, then paused before stating bluntly, "So, the best option is still to acquire. NTP's patents haven't seen broad application yet, and acquiring that company would likely require around $6 million. However, if we appear too eager, we'd probably have to pay a significant premium, and the final price could range between $8 million and $10 million."

Acquiring NTP for under $10 million was a trivial matter for Eric's current wealth.

However, this wasn't just about simple measurement.

Even without his previous memories, acquiring NTP's patents was crucial for the future positioning of the BlackBerry. Merissa Mayer clearly recognized this point and brought it up specifically to Eric.

"Then let Nokia acquire that company quickly," Eric thought for a moment and quickly decided, "RIM can hold off for a couple months."

With the current surge in tech stocks, the Nasdaq index was estimated to hold out for only another couple of months. When that time came, tech stocks would likely see a significant downturn, and RIM wouldn't escape unscathed either. At that point, initiating a buyout would not only conserve a substantial amount of funds but would also be evidently easier to achieve.

Merissa nodded but quickly added, "It would be best to use a shell company for the acquisition of NTP."

Eric chuckled and said, "I sometimes overlook such details; you can decide how to handle that."

Merissa acknowledged his statement and lowered her head to record the notes in her pocket memo.

As Eric sat at his desk and watched his secretary intently taking notes in her OL suit, he suddenly felt inspired and said gently, "Mary, it's truly great to have you around."

Merissa paused in her writing, and although she didn't look up, a visible blush spread across her face.

After quickly jotting down a few last notes, the assistant shot Eric a playful glare before turning and exiting the room.

...

Four hours later, a Boeing 747 landed at Ventura Airport.

Though it wasn't yet time to leave work, Katzenberg personally arrived to pick up Eric.

After some pleasantries, they got in the car. Despite the ongoing close communication between the two parties during this time, Katzenberg couldn't help but dive into recent developments.

"There were at least three factions involved in this eavesdropping incident, but so far, we've only caught the tail of Tiger Fund. Ian and I have been discussing the company's security issues, including the surveillance system, confidentiality regulations, and security personnel. Eric, aren't you working on getting Carter to form a separate bodyguard team? I was thinking that, rather than leaving Firefly's security to outsiders, we should handle it ourselves -- establish a dedicated security company to cover all these services specifically for the Firefly Group."

Listening to Katzenberg, Eric noted that Carter Moen, driving in the front seat, couldn't hold back a glance at the rear-view mirror and replied, "Carter, what do you think?"

"Boss, while I would love to take on this responsibility, to be honest, I might not be able to manage it if it enlarges."

Eric nodded and addressed Katzenberg, "The key here is to find someone trusting and capable. While we can elevate this company to be responsible directly to me, the specifics still require designated professionals. The Firefly Group's goals are quite lofty, and blindly searching for personnel might leave us vulnerable."

"We could let a recruiting firm look for some candidates, and we can take our time to select," Katzenberg suggested. "Either way, this would certainly be better than handing everything over to outsiders."

"Let's proceed that way, then," Eric agreed. "I'll ask Kelly to draft a proposal outlining what departments need to be established and the budget. If anyone has suggestions, they can bring them directly to me."

"Now, regarding Viacom," after discussing this matter, Katzenberg continued, "Eric, what do you plan to do?"

"I've been reviewing Viacom Group's financial reports over the past few years, and my biggest takeaway is that Viacom has rapidly expanded its business scope, but as a whole, the company is in decline. Just like Blockbuster, Viacom initially bought this rental chain for over $8 billion, yet just a few years later, their market value has plummeted to $3 billion. While the pure VHS market is fading, the home entertainment industry -- gradually being replaced by DVDs -- has grown exponentially, and last year, the entire home entertainment market nearly reached $20 billion, almost triple Hollywood's North American box office. However, Blockbuster's market share has dropped from the peak of 45% to just 25%. Do you know what the problem is?"

Without giving it a second thought, Katzenberg replied, "Summer Redstone?"

"Exactly, Summer Redstone," Eric nodded, continuing, "Redstone is too outdated; he can't keep up with the times. More importantly, he refuses to delegate authority to the managers below him, tightly holding all of Viacom's power in his hands -- that's the fundamental reason for Viacom's decline."

When it came to Hollywood's old guard, Eric thought Murdoch was undoubtedly far superior to Redstone. This disparity in leadership excellence was why, despite the rapid decline of News Corp's print business, Fox continued to thrive.

In contrast, Redstone had become a stubborn tyrant.

In the original timeline, Paramount had fallen out with Cruise over the Mission: Impossible franchise and resorted to undermining him. This reflected not only Paramount's decline but Viacom's overall downfall as well.

A Hollywood giant stooping to squabble with a superstar over a single film's interests, even if that star was A-list, was quite demeaning. Even more humiliating was having to mend ties and collaborate afterward.

Katzenberg seemed to ponder this, but quickly replied, "Eric, I understand you're really angry about this whole situation. However, pushing Redstone out isn't realistic. While his family doesn't hold absolute shares in Viacom, they do control more than half of the voting rights."

"I never thought about that," Eric shook his head, smirking coldly, "Imagine the scene -- an old king clinging desperately to his throne while watching his kingdom crumble step by step. Isn't that tragic enough to have an epic quality?"

Katzenberg felt a chill and instinctively nodded, "So what do you plan to do?"

Eric shook his head, "There's no rush; we'll see after Iron Man is released."

The key to striking at the enemy was to preserve oneself first.

At this moment, the priority was Iron Man -- this film marked the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was critically important for Firefly Pictures. Eric didn't want to complicate matters during such a crucial time, as Iron Man would be hitting theaters soon. Some things just needed to wait a week or two.

...

Returning to the Liberty City estate, it was still only a little past two in the afternoon in Los Angeles. Katzenberg had more work to do and left shortly after.

The villa remained quiet; Drew hadn't returned from Australia yet and was still vacationing with Joanna. However, Elisabeth and Julia had already come back, and Eric had just received a call from her earlier in the car.

After seeing Katzenberg off, Eric returned to the sofa by the glass wall of the villa, casually stretching. After a whirlwind of recent events, he felt a growing sense of exhaustion deep inside. Now back at home, gazing at the blue ocean and sky beyond the glass, he finally felt a bit lighter.

Caroline and Merissa had not left, still helping Eric organize his luggage.

After a while, Caroline walked over with a coffee pot, set it down on the coffee table next to Eric, quietly snuggled up beside him, and said, "Eric, Aunt is planning to come to Los Angeles next week."

Eric raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Oh?"

"Last time, when I was in London, Aunt suddenly showed up and asked me some questions about you."

Eric understood, it must have been the day he handed the laptop to Olivia. He asked, "Did she mention anything specific?"

"She didn't say," Caroline shook her head. "She just told me she would be coming next week."

Eric thought for a moment, still a bit unsure, and just nodded, "Okay, I understand."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1141: Low Opening Midnight Box Office]

The next day, Iron Man premiered in North America. Compared to the premieres in overseas cities like Tokyo and London, the Los Angeles premiere of Iron Man was even more grandiose. Firefly Group had gone all out to prepare for this event, especially after the recent online gossip incident. To handle any potential surprises, they had allocated an additional security budget for the premiere.

Fortunately, the entire event went very smoothly. Thanks to Iron Man's widely recognized positive buzz, the media turned their attention to the star-studded guest list, which heightened the film's excitement even further.

For most fans, the two days from Wednesday's premiere to Thursday night's midnight screening and then Friday's wide release flew by, but Eric's work schedule remained jam-packed.

...

Culver City.

Inside a screening room at Columbia Pictures, Eric was discussing company matters with Columbia Pictures CEO Bill Mechanic while waiting for a representative from Gaumont, the French film company. Last year, Luc Besson directed another high-budget project, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, which cost 390 million francs, nearly 80 million dollars, making it another ambitious outing for Gaumont after The Fifth Element.

Although the number of epic movies had increased significantly in recent years following the success of Braveheart, there were not many successful cases. Major studios gradually recognized the high risks of epic films, leading to a decrease in enthusiasm for investing in such projects. Ridley Scott's Gladiator had been abandoned by Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment under this backdrop and had shifted over to Fox largely due to Eric's influence.

In contrast to Gladiator, which achieved outstanding box office and award success beyond Braveheart, Eric had little recollection of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, only vaguely remembering that the movie's original lead was Milla Jovovich. However, due to shifts in Hollywood history, Jovovich had ended up having no connection with Besson, as the leading roles in both The Fifth Element and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc had been replaced by other actresses.

"Warner Bros. has signed a deal for Woo's Windtalkers, but they're very cautious about it. They'll only assume 30% of the investment, with the other 70% covered by a German film fund."

Eric felt a twinge of disappointment upon hearing Bill Mechanic say this. Once, MGM had fully invested in Windtalkers, taking on all production and distribution costs. After the film's dismal box office failure, MGM found itself teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

However, this disappointment was fleeting; things couldn't simply go according to one's desires. Even if Warner Bros. only held a 30% stake, they would still handle distribution for Windtalkers, which would consume substantial funds and occupy a prime release window. It would amount to considerable losses in both time and money.

If Will Smith's other film, an imitation of Men in Black titled Wild Wild West, flopped as well, it would signal a disaster for Time Warner's film division next year.

Remembering this, Eric asked, "What about Wild Wild West?"

"Wild Wild West is solely produced by Warner without any partners," Bill replied, then added, "Eric, I saw a preview of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc . Honestly, I think this film is terrible -- there's absolutely no selling point."

Eric also had low expectations for The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. "If that's the case, after two consecutive flops, Luc Besson will definitely part ways with Gaumont. He'll be coming here shortly, and your job is to win him over."

Bill Mechanic appeared puzzled. Why would Columbia want to pursue Besson after he had mismanaged two major productions? Eric noticed Bill's thoughts and explained, "Luc Besson is a really talented director, but what I value more is his writing and producing ability in action films. Although the films he directed haven't performed exceptionally well, the ones he wrote and produced like La Femme Nikita and Taxi have been quite successful and relatively low-cost. You could collaborate with him on that front, even adapt those films into American versions."

...

At that moment, the screening room door opened, and Anne Hathaway peeked in timidly. When she spotted Eric, a smile broke out on her face, though she walked in with a shy demeanor.

Anne was wearing a knee-length white fitted dress that showed off her figure.

As she approached, she quietly greeted, "Eric, and Mr. Mechanic."

Eric chuckled, seeing the girl looking all delicate. "Come here. I heard the crew of Girl, Interrupted is shooting at the studio, so I thought you might be here."

Anne glanced at Bill Mechanic, bashfully sitting on Eric's lap, yet affectionately wrapped her arms around his neck. "Eric, I thought you'd forgotten about me."

After meeting at the post-premiere celebration of The Ring the previous year, Anne hadn't seen Eric much since, and while she sometimes felt it might have been inappropriate to accept Eric's card, much of the time, she worried he might forget her.

"Of course not, but you know I've been busy. I heard you landed a role in an adventure drama film called, um, The Other Side of Heaven, shooting in the Bahamas?"

Surprised that Eric knew so much about her situation, Anne quickly accepted it, realizing this man practically controlled half of Hollywood.

Nodding, she replied, "Carl thinks this role is perfect for me. Carl Franco, my agent. Eric, you remember him, right?"

"Sure do," Eric said with a smile. "That's good. Just focus on shooting it. Also, for any help you need with film matters in the future, you can go directly to Bill without going through my assistant's office. They're not really equipped for that."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Anne remembered she had secured the lead role in The Other Side of Heaven. Although it was a low-budget film from an independent production company, securing a part like that had required some external help. She had used the number Eric had given her to call his assistant's office.

Eric's assistant's office was indeed well-equipped to deal with securing film roles.

But calling his office meant that Caroline and Merissa also knew about this, and it left Anne feeling a little resentful.

Understanding this, Bill Mechanic discreetly handed her a business card. "Miss Hathaway, if you need anything in the future, feel free to call me."

While he was the head of one of the weaker studios in the Firefly Group, he was nonetheless a key player, and no one could overlook the influence such an executive had in Hollywood.

Anne accepted the card, tucking it away carefully. "Thank you, Mr. Mechanic."

After addressing this matter, Eric patted her waist. "Alright, I've got some things to handle, so you should get back to your work."

Anne hesitated to leave and planted herself closer to Eric, whispering, "Eric, are you free tonight?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded. "I'll have someone pick you up after work."

...

After sending Anne off, representatives from Gaumont soon arrived, including Luc Besson, who had come specifically to Los Angeles.

After some pleasantries, they started watching the preview of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.

Although Eric already had minimal expectations, he found this film to fall even lower than he had anticipated. Besson seemed utterly out of his element in directing epic films.

While the movie had its share of grand visuals, what overwhelmed Eric was chaos. The larger the scene, the more chaotic it felt, failing to deliver the aesthetic appeal that should come with camera composition.

The new lead, Alice Taglioni, was stunning, but her acting was lackluster. The film didn't convey cultural depth in the way Braveheart's iconic "Freedom" resonated.

An epic film that neither stirred excitement nor prompted contemplation could hardly be described better than a failure.

Had it not been for courtesy and his intentions to woo Besson, Eric likely would've left halfway through.

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc was already scheduled for a staggered release across Europe starting in October, and its hot film slots were pretty much similar to those in North America.

Thus, from the scheduling alone, Eric sensed that Gaumont had little faith in the film as well, and the chilly demeanor between the representatives present and Besson only reaffirmed that impression.

Having seen the film, Eric had little desire for further discussion, focusing instead on communicating with Besson about his aspirations in Hollywood.

Besson was evidently aware of the impending failure of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, dealing with two major flops would not bode well for his next few years in the French film industry. Naturally, he was quite receptive to Eric's direct overtures and promised on the spot to consider them.

...

After a day's work, Eric took Anne to a restaurant in Venice Beach for dinner before returning to Malibu.

Yet, tonight felt somewhat off for Eric.

Tomorrow, Iron Man would have its wide release, and tonight's midnight screening was crucial for the film.

The East Coast had already settled into night, and by just past ten on the West Coast, emails related to Iron Man started flooding Eric's newly replaced BlackBerry.

The specifics of the midnight box office numbers would be tallied throughout the West Coast after midnight.

Though, in relation to his current wealth, Eric didn't need to sweat a film's success or failure, it was hard to let it go because of the habit he'd formed over time.

Moreover, it was clear that many upper executives at Firefly Group were likely struggling to sleep well tonight.

Eric's plans for the Marvel Cinematic Universe were too ambitious. If successful, it could provide Firefly Group with a significant advantage in the film business for the next twenty or even thirty years.

The greater the plan, the more one could worry about it, especially after the expectations set by the success of the MGM's spy universe. Everyone found it hard to calm down without promptly confirming the box office figures for Iron Man.

Women's instincts tended to be the most sensitive, and Anne clearly sensed Eric's distracted mood, becoming even more submissive, acting gracefully and trying her best to please him.

Before they knew it, it was past midnight.

The girl on the big bed was fast asleep, while Eric, having showered, decided to head downstairs.

...

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Eric settled into a sofa beside the glass wall, flipping through some documents to kill time, occasionally glancing out at the pitch-dark night.

Just past one, his BlackBerry and laptop both pinged with incoming emails.

Eric grabbed his laptop, opened up the latest unread email and searched for specific midnight box office figures.

$7.6 million.

His thoughts momentarily became jumbled.

$7.6 million for the midnight box office was absolutely impressive compared to other films.

However, Eric had just been reviewing the midnight box office numbers of major films from recent years.

In comparison, Iron Man's $7.6 million midnight box office was lower than Mission: Impossible 3's $9.2 million, The Matrix Reloaded's $9.95 million, Charlie's Angels's $12.5 million, and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace's $16.5 million.

Of course, Eric was aware that films like Mission: Impossible 3 had built up a considerable fanbase, and the Star Wars franchise had become a cultural phenomenon. These series fans would eagerly rush to theaters at the first opportunity, which created those high midnight box office numbers.

Iron Man, on the other hand, could only be considered Marvel's second-tier superhero; it had far less recognition than characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, or the X-Men. Furthermore, this was merely Iron Man's inaugural film, acting as the opening piece for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though Iron Man had achieved notable visibility thanks to Firefly Group's extensive promotional push, it still hadn't cultivated a core group of dedicated fans who would rush to see it immediately.

As for Eric's own participation, it could indeed boost the film's broader recognition but he also understood that his work lacked a distinct, unified style, which meant he hadn't built up a large, devoted fanbase. Therefore, his involvement wouldn't significantly enhance the midnight box office performance.

Even so, no matter how much reality needed to be confronted, staring at Iron Man's $7.6 million midnight box office figure, Eric still found it hard to feel satisfied.

It was easy to imagine that if this information leaked, some media outlets would certainly exploit it tomorrow, possibly affecting Iron Man's future box office trajectory.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1142: Low Start, High Rise]

Late at night, at the Shell Villa by the glass curtain wall.

Eric carefully read through the midnight screening box office data for Iron Man, and soon received calls from Jeffrey Katzenberg, distribution president Robert Thompson, Marvel Entertainment's CEO Avi Arad, and others.

Thanks to the good word-of-mouth leading up to Iron Man, everyone had high expectations for its midnight screening box office, generally believing it should be around the $10 million mark. Although the company had not released any related predictions externally, most box office estimation agencies had provided similar forecasts.

At this moment, the midnight box office was below expectations, and the reality had to be faced.

The group's opinions were clearly divided into two camps.

One side believed that they should proactively disclose the midnight box office figures to maintain control of the narrative. After all, $7.6 million in revenue, while not reaching expectations, certainly couldn't be termed a failure. The other side hoped to conceal the information temporarily, waiting until the box office numbers for Iron Man's opening three-day weekend were out, then taking appropriate measures based on the actual situation.

Eric did not allow this issue to devolve into a major argument; he decisively chose the former approach.

Hollywood was fixated on Iron Man as the kick-off for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making secrecy virtually impossible. If Firefly Group chose to remain silent about the midnight box office, and the news was leaked by other media, the company would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage.

Having made the decision, the next step was to draft a specific execution plan.

...

As Eric discussed with Robert Thompson, he heard soft footsteps approaching.

Turning his head, he saw Anne Hathaway coming over, wearing only a large men's t-shirt. The t-shirt's hem revealed her delicate, fair legs, which were quite enticing. The girl evidently had just woken up, her expression lazy; upon seeing Eric look at her, she smiled shyly.

Eric continued his conversation with Robert Thompson, signaling for Anne to be quiet and gesturing towards her slippers.

Anne clearly understood Eric's gesture. With a playful smile, she slipped off her slippers and began to walk over, but Eric pointed to the coffee pot on the coffee table and made a gesture towards the kitchen.

There was a small bar in the corner for making coffee. Seeing Eric pointing further toward the kitchen made Anne realize that he wanted to send her away. Although slightly reluctant, she obediently picked up the coffee pot and quietly walked towards the kitchen.

Being considerate, she stayed in the kitchen for about twenty minutes. When she returned with the coffee pot by the curtain wall, Eric had already hung up the phone and was casually checking his emails.

...

Seeing Anne approach, Eric set his laptop aside and asked with concern, "What woke you up?"

"I noticed you weren't around," Anne explained softly, sensing Eric's usual gentle tone had returned. She hesitated slightly until Eric smiled and extended his hand, prompting her to come sit on his lap like a little cat.

Eric wrapped his arms around Anne's waist and said, "You need to learn to proactively avoid certain things; it will be beneficial for you."

The softness of his voice left no room for Anne to feel dissatisfied; instead, she felt it was only right. She nodded obediently, "Uh-huh, I got it."

"Good girl."

Eric complimented softly, lifting the hem of her t-shirt and easily unveiling her youthful, delicate body. Soon, soft, fleeting gasps began to resonate from the sofa by the curtain wall.

...

As expected, early the next morning, some North American media outlets ran stories like "Iron Man's Midnight Screening Disappoints, Opening at $7.6 Million, Far Below Expectations."

Most casual moviegoers wouldn't delve into a deeper analysis of the underlying implications.

Thus, if Firefly Group had previously decided to conceal the midnight box office, they would have surely been thrown off course by the media, which had taken the opportunity to push their narrative. Should this occur, more neutral media outlets might also jump on the bandwagon, further exacerbating the situation.

Given Iron Man's midnight earnings fell short of expectations, audiences subconsciously mght connect this to the film's quality and even think the movie wasn't worth watching.

Fortunately, Eric had not made that decision last night.

With careful preparation, the entire Firefly system demonstrated its robust narrative control capabilities.

In no time, ABC, NBC, and other TV channels, alongside Firefly's allies like The New York Post and The Washington Post, as well as Hearst Corporation and Yahoo -- controlling over 70% of news portal traffic -- simultaneously exerted their influence. It was akin to a military operation, seamlessly commanding the entire narrative landscape.

"Iron Man's midnight box office hit $7.6 million, setting a new record for superhero films."

"Iron Man triumphs in its first outing, successfully launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe."

"Marvel Entertainment's CEO Avi Arad praises Iron Man's midnight box office performance, greatly boosting confidence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe."

"..."

In contrast to the few unfavorable news pieces that lacked the investiture of rigorous effort from media outlets, the organized mouthpiece of the Firefly system effortlessly diffused any potential negative ramifications that Iron Man's underwhelming midnight performance might have had on the film.

The essence of media narrative guidance ultimately hinged on the simple inversion of "Persistent Failures" and "Resilient Comebacks."

...

With Firefly's narrative influence, after a large-scale release, the positive acclaim for Iron Man grew further across the broader media spectrum and audience, reaffirming both the film's high quality and its narrative resilience.

"Before 1999, not many people might have known Iron Man, but after 1999, I think everyone will know Tony Stark."

"A delightful superhero blockbuster."

"Eric Williams perfectly portrayed a flawed but extremely likable superhero, though I couldn't help but feel this may have just been a character close to his own essence."

"..."

Amid the overwhelmingly positive media reviews, even with wide release, Iron Man's overall ratings stayed impressively above 9.

...

On internet platforms, Iron Man quickly amassed a large group of fans.

"Iron Man is so cool! I can't wait to see it for the third time."

"Tony Stark is so handsome -- oh, I mean Eric is so handsome."

"Our billionaire has not just wealth but also acting skills."

"Our billionaire has more acting talent than wealth."

"Agreed."

"Larry Ellison certainly commands the driver's seat, haha."

"The interaction between Tony Stark and the Vanity Fair reporter was breathtaking, and I instantly felt my flirtation skills were uplifted."

"First, you need $10 billion."

"First, you need $400 billion."

"Life is already this tough, so let's not tell him the truth."

"Natasha Henstridge is so beautiful."

"Looking forward to Underworld."

"Looking forward to Iron Man 2."

"Looking forward to Iron Man 3, 4, 5, 6, 7."

"Looking forward to Spider-Man."

"..."

...

With media and audience support overwhelmingly in favor, alongside Firefly Group's backing, Iron Man soon transformed from a 'bomb' film into a 'tentpole' event movie with greater box office potential.

Amidst the accolades, Friday quickly passed.

The following morning, Iron Man's Friday box office data erupted, reigniting another media frenzy.

Opening day: $35.23 million!

Including the midnight screening, within less than thirty hours of its release, Iron Man's cumulative box office had already reached $42.83 million.

While Iron Man was a film Eric starred in, the media naturally considered him the core of the movie, thus drawing comparisons with Eric's previous film, Casino Royale.

Compared to Iron Man's $7.6 million midnight earnings and $35.23 million opening day take, Casino Royale's box office figures were obviously inferior, with respectively $5.3 million and $30.5 million recorded.

Without a doubt, Iron Man was setting new career highs for Eric once again.

As a superhero film, these comparisons became much more striking.

Iron Man's final production budget was $120 million, exceeding the original $100 million budget plan, yet it was still $5 million lower than Warner Bros.' Batman Robin, which had faced many issues just two years prior.

For two films with comparable production costs, their box office performances could not have been more different.

At the time of its release, Batman Robin had not even included midnight figures in its calculations, as it only managed to bring in $16.11 million on its opening day, which was less than half of what Iron Man earned on its debut, while the film's box office for the first weekend stood at merely $42.86 million -- just a mere $30,000 higher than Iron Man's combined debut and midnight earnings.

A simple comparison saw media thoroughly dismiss Batman Robin; evidently, the two films were no longer comparable.

After the opening day, Iron Man's Saturday box office hit another high of $37.35 million.

On Sunday, while there was a 30% drop compared to Saturday's performance, it still raked in an impressive $26.03 million for the day.

In the end, over its opening weekend, Iron Man grossed over $100 million in North America, totaling $106.2 million, becoming Eric's first film to surpass $100 million in its opening weekend. His previous film, Casino Royale, only achieved $91.05 million during its first three days.

...

Despite lacking a core fanbase to boost the midnight numbers, the box office figures for the opening weekend showed the immense strength of Firefly Group's marketing prowess.

In a bold move to open the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Firefly Group unprecedentedly allocated an $80 million marketing budget -- almost 70% of the production costs -- significantly surpassing the average 30% to 50% marketing expense typical in the industry.

Iron Man's partnerships for co-branding marketing also turned out to be unprecedentedly significant.

Given Iron Man's total production and distribution costs approaching $200 million, the film ideally required around $600 million in worldwide box office to recoup its entire budget. That $600 million figure coincidentally matched the global earnings of the original Iron Man.

From the outset, Eric had no intention of profiting from Iron Man's box office, focusing instead on creating profits through post-release DVD sales and merchandise. Even if Iron Man itself didn't yield profits for Firefly Group, as long as it could successfully launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eric would consider it a win.

The current situation, however, exceeded all expectations.

Surpassing $100 million in the opening weekend was tremendous. Although North America had not fully entered summer vacation yet, which limited weekday box office potential to some extent, the film's total box office for the first weekend was at least projected to reach around $130 million.

And while May might not be the most crucial summer release period, gains often lay within losses.

Throughout May, apart from Iron Man, the films that followed in the next three weeks -- Paramount's The General's Daughter, Columbia Pictures' Entrapment, and Universal Pictures' Notting Hill -- clearly posed little threat to Iron Man.

This indicated that throughout May, Iron Man could freely unleash its box office potential without obstruction.

Based on Iron Man's current acclaim, the film was likely to maintain a weekly drop of just 30% to 40% over the next three weeks. It could even cross the $300 million mark in North America within a month, and its total domestic box office could potentially reach the $400 million milestone.

That $400 million in North America should be sufficient for Iron Man to recoup all its production and distribution costs.

Furthermore, due to Eric's elevated profile, the film's overseas box office also outperformed expectations.

Through Firefly Group's vigorous efforts, and with key international markets like the UK, France, and Japan releasing concurrently, Iron Man's opening weekend overseas ticket sales also crossed $100 million, even slightly surpassing North America's early estimates at approximately $126 million.

Within three days, Iron Man's global box office had already achieved $232 million. It was nearly certain that the film would easily exceed the original's global $600 million box office.

In the aftermath of these figures, Eric began to realize that the original Iron Man's global box office potential should far exceed $600 million, largely due to problems inherent with the distributor, Paramount Pictures.

Currently located in Hollywood, Eric noticed without bias the extreme conservative attitude exhibited by Paramount, which had clearly been influenced by the decisions of its leadership, making a mark of shortsightedness in film production and distribution.

The most glaring example happened three months ago with the release of Paramont's Payback, produced by Mel Gibson.

Having not invested in the project, Paramount showed no dedication to its distribution, even releasing the $90 million production into February -- a period considered a graveyard in the film industry -- and unwilling to allocate even a slightly better Easter weekend release.

Despite facing discrimination in distribution, Payback ultimately achieved $80 million in North America.

It's easy to see that had the film been given a better release window -- even just the subsequent Easter holiday -- its box office success in crossing $100 million would have been practically guaranteed, benefitting Paramount significantly. Instead, Paramount reserved the Easter weekend for its own obscure project, the paltry The Mod Squad, which barely scraped past $10 million.

Originally, Iron Man and Iron Man 2 both had Paramount as their distributor, with Marvel serving as the producer. One can imagine how Paramount would treat these two films. In the end, both Iron Man and Iron Man 2 only barely broke even with global grosses around $600 million.

By the time Iron Man 3 rolled around, the distribution fell to Disney. While the film's reception hit a new low for the series, it raked in a staggering $1.2 billion worldwide, nearly equal to the total of the first two entries' global box offices. Clearly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's meteoric rise also contributed to this success. However, it stands abundantly evident that the lower box office performance of the first two films was deeply interwoven with Paramount's conservative standards in distribution.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1143: Detailed Plan]

During its opening weekend, Iron Man grossed a remarkable $232 million worldwide, nearly recouping half of its production and distribution costs. Everyone involved in the film was in high spirits. After the box office numbers were released, Firefly Group quickly announced a celebratory party for the weekend.

Additionally, while the promotional activities for the film continued to intensify, the company swiftly began implementing its already well-planned Marvel Cinematic Universe expansion strategy. Iron Man's success not only opened the door for the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also boosted the popularity of all cast members, big and small. Even Natasha Henstridge, who only had a few scenes as a Victoria's Secret Angel, rapidly gained a dedicated fanbase. The movie featuring the actress, Underworld, quickly became one many looked forward to.

Consequently, with Firefly kicking off series such as Captain America, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk, even though whispers of stringent long-term contracts being signed with superhero actors circulated internally, Hollywood talent agencies engaged more closely. Everyone understood that once the Marvel Cinematic Universe unfolded, it was bound to catapult a slew of new Hollywood stars into the limelight. For many, Firefly's inclination towards using fresh talent meant an incredible opportunity.

After a couple of days filled with high-level meetings discussing the Marvel Cinematic Universe's future development, work was orderly and efficiently set in motion. Once the workweek began, Iron Man's daily box office fell to between $6 million and $7 million, with expectations to accumulate another $25 million to $30 million over the next four workdays, aligning closely with Firefly Group's projections.

...

Wednesday arrived quickly.

At the Burbank headquarters, key executives gathered at nine in the morning in the grand conference room to discuss the implementation progress of the '4200' Plan. It was now May, and only six months remained until the premiere of the first blockbuster, Gravity, which would be released in 3D and IMAX formats in November.

Since last year, following the refinement of the technical details for 3D and IMAX formats, Firefly Group had begun negotiating with North American and international theater chains, planning to establish 200 high-end IMAX theaters exclusive to Firefly Group.

On the large screen in the conference room, a world map dotted with dense numbers was being displayed. Jeffrey Katzenberg stood at the front, personally addressing the group: "We have successfully concluded negotiations with various theater chains across North America regarding 2,000 3D screens. Internationally, we can assure that Gravity will premiere with around 1,550 3D screens in 26 key markets. Although this doesn't meet our initial expectations, if Gravity succeeds at the box office, we can rapidly expand the number of overseas 3D screens to 2,000 or more. Moreover, the construction of 200 IMAX theaters, both local and abroad, is progressing smoothly. We expect all installations and staff training to be completed by October, giving us a month to conduct all required tests and screenings to ensure everything is flawless."

Switching to a map displaying the global distribution of IMAX theaters, Katzenberg returned to his seat and began detailing the specific cooperative plans. The IMAX theaters would be operated solely by Firefly Group, so they wouldn't need to give it too much thought.

...

For the 3D screens, Firefly Group and major theater chains throughout North America and abroad confirmed that a revenue-sharing partnership would be established. In North America, 3D films distributed by Firefly Group would adhere to the same split as traditional 2D films.

In addition, considering the annual average box office revenue from the 2,000 refurbished screens in recent years, Firefly Group would provide a guaranteed annual minimum box office revenue of $300,000 per screen for three years. If, within three years, any screen's annual income fell below $300,000, Firefly Group would make up the difference. This compensation wouldn't count as box office revenue, so the company wouldn't share in the proceeds, allowing theater chains full ownership.

If any screen exceeded the $300,000 mark, the excess would belong to the theater operator's share of the box office, from which Firefly Group would extract 80% to cover the RealD system's equipment costs. Internationally, while some details would differ, the overall cooperation framework remained similar to that of North America.

However, once the 3D screening model succeeded, to facilitate the future promotion of the RealD system, Firefly Group included an option for theater owners to buy the equipment outright. This meant that after films like Gravity premiered with box office successes, if theater operators were optimistic about the prospects of 3D formats, they could buy the equipment in full, effectively severing their profit-sharing tie with Firefly Group. This would ensure that the original 3D theaters competed under the same conditions as new 3D theaters joining the system, rapidly expanding the number of 3D screens and providing more profit for Firefly Group.

On the surface, this cooperation agreement appeared to be a rather unfavorable contract for Firefly Group. Nevertheless, this was a price the company willingly paid to quickly promote the 3D system. Furthermore, once the 3D system was successfully promoted, Firefly Group, as the primary initiator, would secure industry advantages and direct profits that would completely offset the risks they bore themselves.

...

In the preliminary plan, while adjustments would be made based on theater status and screening times, the average ticket price for 3D theaters was determined to be $7.50 -- 50% above the North American average of $5. IMAX screen prices were set at $10, effectively doubling the North American average ticket price.

This ticket price premium would lead to significant profits for Firefly Group, especially as the company monopolized 3D and IMAX film sources and successfully promoted these formats. Additionally, while offering theaters guaranteed box office revenues, Firefly Group gained another potential advantage -- solidifying the standards and authority to promote the RealD system.

In the future, all theaters employing the RealD system would display the RealD logo during movie screenings, and those 3D films produced using Firefly Group's RealD conversion system would feature a distinct RealD prologue. For a long time to come, all mainstream 3D theaters would be required to display the 'Dual D Certified' logo.

As the most advanced 3D projection system and conversion technology, establishing a strong brand image in the audience's perception would hinder other 3D device or conversion manufacturers from competing for RealD's market share, especially if these rivals did not present obvious technological superiority. If certain theaters employed inferior 3D systems, they would inadvertently contribute to RealD's brand image, and subpar 3D systems would be perceived by audiences as 'pseudo-3D', which they would resist.

Therefore, with everything proceeding smoothly, as the monopolistic provider of equipment and technology, the RealD system not only brought direct and substantial profits to Firefly Group but also provided significant competitive advantages for its films in the 3D market. After all, the RealD conversion system would prioritize serving the Firefly Group.

...

The meeting regarding the '4200' plan lasted through the morning.

At lunchtime, Eric and Jeffrey Katzenberg and others headed to the ship's restaurant for their usual meal. Compared to before, this small restaurant on the ship seemed unchanged on the surface. However, following the previous eavesdropping incident, the company's security department had implemented strict security measures for this internal dining area used frequently by upper management.

The restaurant was no longer open to anyone other than senior executives, and 24-hour surveillance systems had been installed in both the restaurant and kitchen. The chefs and servers responsible for the dining area also signed more stringent confidentiality agreements, and the company security would conduct random checks to ensure no eavesdropping occurred.

The high-level executives from the morning meeting entered the restaurant in small groups rather than gathering in one place. Eric sat with Katzenberg and Frank Wells.

Seeing Eric, Amy Adams confidently approached him. The other three girls seemed slightly envious but didn't dare to compete with Amy and instead moved to other tables.

"Wow, Amy, you look beautiful today," Eric said casually, smiling. "I'm fine with my regular order."

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Williams," Amy said, her cheeks dimpled as she turned to Katzenberg and Frank Wells. "Mr. Katzenberg, Mr. Wells, how about you two?"

Katzenberg replied with a smile, "Same as Eric."

Frank Wells, owing to his age, ordered a light meal.

...

After the three of them placed their orders, Eric got straight to the point once Amy left. "We've confirmed the situation with Iron Man, but I intend to follow up on that recent incident; let's have the home entertainment department start with Blockbuster."

During this time, Eric had expressed his intent to investigate the online gossip scandal more than once, and both Katzenberg and Frank Wells had stopped trying to dissuade him.

Among the businesses owned by Viacom -- Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Paramount Animation, and Blockbuster video rental and sales chain -- Blockbuster was undoubtedly the most vulnerable to Firefly Group's influence. In recent years, Eric had gained a deeper understanding of Hollywood and realized that Blockbuster's decline hadn't stemmed from the rise of internet video rental companies. In reality, Netflix had also emerged, but it lay still at a seedling stage and posed no threat to a giant like Blockbuster.

Moreover, while VHS tapes had rapidly been replaced by DVDs in recent years, the scale of the home entertainment market had been steadily increasing. Other traditional video rental chains, such as Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery, ranked just below Blockbuster in the industry, were consistently expanding while large retail chains like Walmart were also ramping up business in the VHS and DVD sectors.

Ultimately, the reason behind Blockbuster's swift decline amid the rise of internet renters lay in Viacom's own significant mismanagement. Thus, even as the home entertainment market thrived, what had once been formidable, Blockbuster rapidly weakened. Its market share, once a peak of 45% during Viacom's acquisition, had dropped below 25%, and its valuation had plummeted to just $3 billion, less than half of what it was at the time of the acquisition.

Firefly Group had no intention of entering the traditional video DVD sales business, so Eric didn't feel the need to analyze exactly where Blockbuster had erred.

However, if Firefly Group aimed to further push Blockbuster into the abyss, accomplishing that proved to be simple -- cease supplying Blockbuster with new film DVDs.

In this regard, Firefly Group could easily cut off Blockbuster's lifeline. After all, last year, seven of the top ten highest-grossing films in North America were from Firefly Group, and as the list extended back further, most blockbuster hits had originated from the Firefly Group.

At this point, last year's films, having completed their half-year distribution window, were about to enter the home entertainment market.

In reality, over 70% of profits for the end-point DVD retailers came from lower-budget films with larger quantities. Since distributors demanded higher sales shares for popular films, profits from those films contributed less than 30% to retailers.

Nevertheless, retailers willingly provided higher sales percentages for hit films, demonstrating the importance of such blockbuster movies.

Simply put, a popular film acted like a signature dish for a restaurant. While a few standout dishes might not yield much profit, they could significantly boost the establishment's advertising.

If Firefly Group severed the supply of films to Blockbuster, it would essentially damage Blockbuster's brand image.

Additionally, not only hit films but Firefly Group's extensive production scale also provided a plethora of quality lower-budget films, outperforming those made by independent studios. This film supply remained crucial for Blockbuster.

...

As they sat in the restaurant, Eric laid out his plan. Although Frank Wells didn't oppose, he remarked, "Eric, cutting off film supply to Blockbuster directly is one thing, but we shouldn't overlook the potential losses for the company. Viacom won't take this lightly; they will definitely pursue us with anti-trust lawsuits."

"Then we'll find a legitimate reason," Eric replied and glanced at Katzenberg. "That should be easy to come by, right?"

What's that saying? If you want to charge someone, you'll never lack a reason.

Katzenberg nodded seriously, "I reviewed a report from the Buena Vista home entertainment division last time, which suggested that Blockbuster might be hiding DVD sales figures for certain films. Perhaps we should audit Blockbuster's sales data and, in the meantime, temporarily suspend our partnership with them. I believe MGM, Columbia, and Fox will likely follow suit; after all, Blockbuster wouldn't just target Firefly Group alone."

Frank Wells looked puzzled. "Such a significant issue, and I had no idea?"

Katzenberg replied earnestly, "The documents aren't ready yet; I'll show them to you once they are."

Frank Wells blinked in surprise but then chuckled. "Fine, you young folks and your plans."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1144: Olivia]

Last week, Olivia asked Caroline to inform Eric that she was arriving in Los Angeles. Her flight was set to land today at 4 PM.

After having lunch with everyone, Eric returned to Playa Vista's Firefly Studios, which was conveniently close to Los Angeles International Airport -- perfect for picking her up.

Though deep down, Eric found it hard to fully accept this relationship with Olivia, he gradually became more open to it. Since he possessed this body, he figured it was time to take responsibility for many things. Each time they spent together, Eric felt Olivia's genuine concern and guilt towards him.

Maybe, if he wanted to find a few people in this world whom he could trust unreservedly, Olivia, as the mother of this body, was undoubtedly one of them. This was also why Eric had given her that laptop last time.

He arrived at Firefly Studios just after 2 PM, well ahead of his trip to the airport. As he settled into the office, Merissa Mayer walked in carrying several folders.

"Eric, PGS submitted an investigation report this morning regarding Adam Wimbury, the founder of the Hollywood Gossip website," Merissa said, placing the folders down and handing one to Eric. "In the last two years, Wimbury misappropriated over $1.2 million in cash from his equity and bond financing. This misconduct is enough to send him to prison. It seems he received funding from Paramount to issue those press releases, likely to cover up his losses."

Eric flipped through the folder casually, asking, "What was that Sequoia Capital investor's name?"

"Ronald Hill."

Eric closed the folder and handed it back to Merissa, saying, "Give him this file. I'm sure he knows what to do."

Throughout the incident, Eric couldn't muster the energy to investigate whether Ronald Hill, a major investor of the Hollywood Gossip website, was innocent or not. But before Firefly Group applied pressure, Sequoia Capital had already fired Ronald Hill. He promptly closed down the Hollywood Gossip website for good and even went to New York to apologize. Eric lost any desire to continue pressing the issue. After all, compared to Viacom, which remained indifferent, Ronald Hill had already paid enough of a price.

However, since he had the materials in hand, Eric didn't mind letting Ronald Hill handle a few more actions. There was really no need for Firefly to go all out against a minor player; maintaining public image was still essential. Having Ronald Hill deliver Adam Wimbury to jail was enough, and even if everyone understood that Firefly Group was behind it, no one could fault them.

Merissa nodded and handed over more documents. "This is Firefly Electronics' latest plan for splitting the Fireflyer player business, as well as the preliminary negotiation results with PolyGram and Universal. If it checks out, Firefly Electronics can officially start the split next week and sign collaboration agreements with PolyGram and Universal."

Given that Firefly Electronics promised to transfer 16% of the shares of Fireflyer to two record companies, all major labels except Sony, which was about to launch its own digital music player, showed interest in collaborating. In the end, it was PolyGram and Universal who agreed first.

Firefly Electronics could have nearly monopolized the massive profits from Fireflyer players. Still, due to future industrial planning, they had to relinquish shares to two record companies. This was already the most Eric could accept. After successfully roping in PolyGram and Universal, they filled the content gap for Yahoo Music Store, temporarily closing the doors on collaboration opportunities for the other two major record companies.

At this point, the mini music store equipment had already begun installing and testing in North America and Europe. Once Firefly Electronics signed the collaboration agreement with PolyGram and Universal, the content from these two major labels would quickly enhance the Yahoo Music Store, which would support the large-scale expansion of the mini music store equipment.

Eric was deeply engrossed in reading the documents and discussing various details with Merissa when Caroline knocked and reminded him it was time to pick her aunt up. He wrapped up his conversation with Merissa, gave a few instructions, and then headed to Los Angeles International Airport with Caroline.

...

It was just under five kilometers from Firefly Studios to the airport.

Just after 4 PM, inside a VIP lounge at the airport, Eric saw Caroline walking in with Olivia and a tall, elderly man with a full head of white hair.

Seeing Eric himself come to greet her, Olivia looked genuinely happy. She embraced him lightly before introducing, "Eric, this is Mr. Robert Cromwell."

As they got closer, Eric felt the elderly man's sharp gaze assessing him. Even with his white hair and clearly past sixty, he stood tall without any sign of a stoop -- he was even taller than Eric when they stood together.

Thinking back to how Caroline seemed familiar with him moments ago, Eric was puzzled but politely extended his hand. "Hello, Mr. Cromwell."

"Hello, Eric. You can call me Bob," he said, shaking Eric's hand with a rough, powerful grip. The elder's voice was robust and cheerful, instantly seeming much friendlier. He shook his head slightly, adding, "I would've never guessed you were her child if Olivia hadn't mentioned it. It's hard to believe!"

Eric glanced at Olivia. While he hadn't intended to hide their relationship, he wondered why Caroline's parents didn't seem to know about it yet, and why she would inform this elderly man.

Noticing Eric's confusion, Robert Cromwell chuckled. "Maybe it's best for Olivia to explain. It's been years since I've been in Los Angeles, and I can't wait to explore. If you're willing, perhaps we could chat sometime."

After exchanging a few more polite words, the group left the airport terminal.

...

Eric, who usually traveled with at least two cars, sent one with the elderly man. Robert accepted without protest, simply thanking Eric and driving off.

With only one vehicle left and two bodyguards in the front seats, Eric didn't call for another car. Instead, he, Olivia, and Caroline all settled into the backseat together.

Eric wanted Caroline to sit in the middle, but the girl clearly preferred to encourage him to bond with Olivia a bit more. She gently nudged him forward to sit first before choosing the opposite side.

The car quickly headed towards the Liberty City.

Though the backseat of the Land Rover SUV was spacious enough, sandwiched between these two remarkable women -- especially sitting so closely to Olivia -- Eric felt increasingly awkward.

Seeing him looking at the front seats, seemingly worried his discomfort wouldn't go unnoticed by the bodyguards, Olivia smiled faintly and broke the silence. "Bob and we've been family friends for years. Carly mentioned you're organizing your own security team; I believe he could assist. Bob worked in the Special Operations Unit at Scotland Yard before his retirement."

Eric wasn't particularly interested in Scotland Yard. However, since this was someone Olivia recommended, he understood that his reliability would likely be greater than anyone Firefly would find on their own. The assistant's office was already preparing for a security company to serve the entire Firefly system, requiring a series of experienced leaders; bringing on one more person wasn't an issue.

He nodded. "Then I'll invite Mr. Cromwell to lunch tomorrow."

Olivia continued, "The Special Operations Unit has always been responsible for royal and VIP security as well as anti-terrorism in the London area. Bob never shared what specific duties he had. But your grandfather mentioned several times that Bob was the best of his generation. He officially retired two years ago; otherwise, it would have been hard to bring him into your security team. It's thanks to my mentioning our connection."

Eric had doubts about what he termed the Special Operations Unit, but upon hearing Olivia's explanation, he realized it was likely similar to the U.S. Secret Service.

...

Upon arriving at Liberty City, the twins were already there waiting in front of the Shell Villa.

The girls had just returned from Australia the day before. They claimed they had come back to help Eric manage household chores. Since Eric was in Los Angeles, the villa would have routine cleaning every Thursday -- something the twins had been overseeing for the past few years.

Yet imagining the twins driving a massive Boeing 747 over 12,000 kilometers just to do housework seemed rather inhumane.

Occasionally, Eric found himself thinking that without the twins, he really wouldn't know how to handle various complicated everyday affairs; even Liberty City could leave him stumped.

It seemed just right for the twins to return just now; otherwise, with Olivia staying over, Eric would have felt even more uncomfortable.

Once settled in, Olivia didn't mention when she would be leaving, and Eric didn't inquire.

But things soon returned to what they had been like when Olivia first arrived here.

...

The next morning, bright and early, after his workout, Olivia had prepared breakfast for Eric. After watching him finish, she kindly reminded him before he headed out to work, as if she were a mother sending her child off to school.

Caroline typically got a break from Eric to spend time with Olivia. The previous night, Olivia had also invited Caroline to stay overnight at the mansion.

Watching Eric leave the house, the girl affectionately wrapped her arm around Olivia's. "Auntie, you really seem to enjoy seeing Eric's embarrassed moments."

Olivia smiled but her gaze seemed a little melancholic.

Having missed the chance years ago, she just wanted to discover some of that maternal feeling.

But sharing such sentiments with this girl beside her was definitely inappropriate.

As they walked back to the villa, Olivia changed the topic, "How has your time with Eric been?"

Feeling Olivia's tone, Caroline blushed slightly, stammering, "It's been great! Eric has always treated me kindly."

Gently touching Caroline's cheek, Olivia couldn't help but shake her head slightly. "Silly girl."

...

After finishing the morning's work, Eric arrived at the restaurant on the ship by 11 AM.

Robert Cromwell was already waiting there by prior invitation.

Through the bits of information Olivia had unfolded yesterday, Eric found himself taking Robert more seriously.

But when he entered the restaurant, seeing the elderly man comfortably seated at the table, operating a laptop, he was a bit surprised.

Robert Cromwell stood up with a smile to shake Eric's hand. Once they sat down, the elderly man cheerfully initiated, "Are you surprised an old fossil like me knows how to use a laptop?"

Eric chuckled, signaling Amy to come over. "What would you like to eat?"

"Just a pot of coffee for now," the elder replied before looking at Eric, "You're probably not in a hurry to eat, right?"

Eric nodded.

Once Amy left, Robert Cromwell scrutinized Eric again before saying, "Actually, I've been keeping an eye on you for quite a while. I just didn't expect you to be Olivia's son -- what an amazing coincidence."

"I only found out a few years ago," Eric said, sizing up the older man. "I heard you used to work for the London Police; can I ask for more specifics?"

"There's only so much I can divulge," Robert shook his head. "I can assure you, I can help you, provided you give me enough trust. I've noticed you have a natural skepticism towards the world, and not many get close to you."

"So, how do you plan to get closer to me?"

Robert Cromwell laughed heartily. "I'm old, Eric. Whether you let me into your world is up to you; I no longer have the energy to pursue it."

Despite saying this, the elder's charming laugh revealed a full set of teeth. If not for his white hair, his rosy complexion and sprightly demeanor made it hard to tell he was aging. His eyes held a glint of shrewdness and cunning.

Amy returned with the coffee. Eric paused to wait until she poured it before continuing. "So what do you plan to do?"

"It's really what you intend to do, Eric," he replied. "However, it's a considerable challenge for me to help you out. I was just reading a finance piece."

While speaking, he turned his laptop screen towards Eric. "This recent report from Businessweek shows that the Firefly Group's total assets have reached $106 billion. That's surpassing last year's 15th-ranked nation's total wealth of $103.2 billion. You are essentially richer than over ninety percent of countries in the world. Even in the U.S., with its $41 trillion national wealth, your share is already at 2.4%. That's unprecedented."

Eric often saw media comparisons of his wealth to national GDPs, but this was the first time he heard related data on national wealth.

However, considering carefully, national wealth is certainly easier to measure than GDP in terms of a country's financial depth.

Listening intently to the elder's points, Eric asked, "And what comes next?"

"Next, let me be clear. The wealth you currently possess exceeds what many can handle. For many years to come, as long as people are not used to seeing the immense economic force of Firefly Group, your personal security will be critically serious -- more so than any head of state. Because if a head of state is assassinated, they can easily find a replacement. But there's only one Eric Williams. If anything were to happen to you, the empire you created would crumble rapidly, quite like Howard Hughes. He wrote a will long before his death, but after his accidental death, not a single will was found. He also lacked a strong heir. Consequently, after his passing, his vast assets were divided among powerful factions."

While Eric was aware of the truth behind this analysis, he had secretly held similar concerns. On the surface, however, he still managed to maintain his composure. "Alright, Bob. What do you think I should do?"

"You've already started, which is why Olivia reached out to me," Robert responded. "I still stand by what I said, Eric. The more trust you extend, the more I can assist you. If you decide to accept me, I can help you create a formidable security team. If you're hesitant, I can serve as your security consultant part-time."

"I want to trust you, Bob, but you aren't disclosing much to me."

"My previous job forbade me from sharing too much," Robert replied while still shaking his head. "I can only say I can provide you with the sharpest spears and the sturdiest shields."

"I don't need sharp spears; just solid shields will do."

"No, Eric. You need sharp spears," Robert said resolutely. "Back in the day, the Rockefeller family had thousands of mercenaries, and the Ford family created a fiercely aggressive inner security department. Your current wealth exceeds theirs, and you may continue to create miracles. If you want to sustain these miracles, you must possess both spears and shields."

"In fact," Eric mused for a moment, "I think, for instance, the Secret Service's shields aren't that sturdy."

"Of course, it's even more severe in Britain," Robert chuckled. "Because times have changed; the strongest players in these countries are often a bunch of politicians weighing the pros and cons. They will sometimes even plan to make confidential information from important intelligence divisions public just to please the voters. So, you can't expect too much from them."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1145: The Flaw]

When Robert Cromwell spoke those words, the atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

After a while, Robert chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Alright, I seem to have revealed too many flaws."

Eric smiled as well and replied, "If it weren't for your complaints about politicians just now, I might not have noticed this. Bob, you actually want this job quite badly. Even though you pretended to be indifferent, you've been trying to persuade me all along. If I'm not mistaken, you envy the intelligence agencies of authoritarian countries. The Firefly system could provide a similar environment for you; while we're not a country, we do have enough economic power. Most importantly, at Firefly, you won't have the constraints of a system. You just need to convince me."

"That's right," Robert nodded, admitting, "Eric, over the years, I've actually wanted to create a perfect security intelligence team. But the fact is, the Special Operations division has always been increasingly restricted, like dancing with shackles. Even some agents in the department who should strictly obey orders have started demanding higher salaries and more relaxed working conditions, but their mistakes on the job have been increasing. Can you imagine? A common thief in a nightclub can easily approach a high-profile figure enjoying themselves and steal their wallet without any trouble. After the incident, the agents responsible for protection argued that they only ensured the safety of the target. It's absurd."

Eric looked at the elderly man's almost indignant expression and couldn't help but ask, "Bob, how do you know the team you create won't have similar issues?"

Robert Cromwell responded, "Eric, no team is perfect. However, I can ensure that the kind of person I just mentioned won't be in my team."

"That sounds challenging," Eric said. "You also mentioned that society has changed; people always try to demand more while wanting to contribute less. Besides, we're not an official agency, so we can't bind a team with certain moral concepts."

"You're mistaken, Eric. As gregarious beings, humans inherently have a tendency to obey groups, leaders, and the strong. We just need to spark that instinct, and we can achieve a highly loyal team, which is not limited to just one country. Any organization, or even an individual, can accomplish this if they have enough strength."

"You mean brainwashing?"

"Yes," Robert nodded, then smiled and said, "Eric, brainwashing is actually not as mysterious as ordinary people think. It's not about setting up a small room, hanging a picture of the Fuhrer, and repeatedly drilling a certain idea into the subject's mind a thousand times. Simply put, every country's populace has its own unique living habits, thinking patterns, and even linguistic emphases. This is the large environment's brainwashing effect on individuals. Therefore, we just need to place our team in a specific environment that facilitates accelerated growth through comparison and reinforcement of their thinking and behavior patterns."

"However, it doesn't seem easy to find such people."

"Eric, you live too comfortably and don't realize that many people in this world are struggling for a chance to change their lives."

"I certainly know that," Eric replied, "but, Bob, to be honest, I need a truly outstanding team. Yet, this creates a paradox: truly exceptional people usually don't have survival issues. They may not be willing to take on a dull, mundane, and high-pressure bodyguard job. Just look at the Secret Service. To be honest, their job capacity aside, the overall quality is hard to commend. Events like soliciting prostitutes, drinking, drug use, and fighting have never really ceased. I would absolutely not tolerate a team like that."

"I personally wouldn't tolerate it either," Robert shook his head and said, "So, Eric, I will implement very strict selection measures from the start and immediately kick out any problematic members. But that's just a short-term plan because I know you need to establish a security team quickly. However, for the long-term plan, I hope we can cultivate our team from the very beginning."

Eric raised an eyebrow slightly, "The very beginning?"

Robert Cromwell frankly confessed, "Eight years old is a very suitable age."

"That sounds a bit like a movie plot."

"Movies have always been inspired by reality."

Eric shook his head and said, "Bob, I don't want Firefly to become a societal enemy."

"Eric, you're taking this too seriously," Robert Cromwell replied. "We are not a criminal organization, nor do we intend to train these children to become professional assassins. On the contrary, we can approach it very formally, with the sole goal of cultivating the talents we need. Moreover, Eric, Firefly is already a world-class conglomerate, so there's no need to restrict our vision to the harsh societal frameworks of North America or Western Europe. We can do this in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, or even Africa."

Eric gently rubbed his coffee cup, contemplating for a moment before asking, "Could you be more specific?"

"First, set up a fund and form a dedicated team to pick suitable 'seeds' from around the world. There are far too many children born with high IQs who end up lost in life and unable to become elites. So, we can easily select a large batch of the best and not pay a heavy price. In poorer regions like Eastern Europe and Latin America, Firefly would only need to pay $1,000 per 'seed' annually to reclaim their lives and train them according to our method. With a scale of 10,000 'seeds,' Firefly would only need to invest $10 million a year. $10 million, Eric, is hardly anything to you, is it?"

Eric nodded.

He remembered that during previous conversations with friends, Chris had calculated that with Eric's wealth, if he wanted to spend it all, he would need to squander $8 million each day.

But now, the figures had become even more shocking.

According to the financial data of various companies within the Firefly system from the previous year, as a major shareholder, Eric could easily take $4.6 billion in dividends from the profitable companies within the Firefly system.

$4.6 billion meant that he would need to spend $12.6 million daily just to burn through that wealth.

And this was just the beginning; in the future, the profits generated by the entire Firefly system could reach hundreds of billions.

In comparison, $10 million was trivial.

But it could easily impact the lives of ten thousand children.

Thinking that way, just as Robert Cromwell was about to continue, Eric interrupted, "Bob, could you please stop using the term 'seeds'?"

Robert paused, a bit taken aback, then smiled and nodded, "Of course, Eric. Well, regarding these, um, children, we certainly don't need ten thousand in the end. I will implement very strict elimination mechanisms over the ten years from ages eight to eighteen, ultimately leaving just 100 people. If we completely follow my vision for their training with a 1% elimination rate, I can guarantee that these individuals will become the most loyal guardians of the Firefly system. Because the interests of Firefly, or rather, the Williams family's interests, would be deeply etched in their instincts throughout this decade of training. Eric, if needed, they would do everything for you, even give their lives. Moreover, if given enough support, the entire training process can be cycled, and you could receive 100 such guardians each year."

"Bob, I have to admit, the prospect you're painting is quite enticing," Eric said, locking his gaze on the elderly man, "But what about you? Why are you doing this?"

Robert Cromwell met Eric's gaze head-on without flinching, replying openly, "Eric, you can think of me as a blacksmith, a craftsman who wishes to forge the sharpest spear and the sturdiest shield. I was born in 1932, during tumultuous times. Although I was fortunate enough to be born into a comparatively decent family, you know that British aristocrats had a significantly higher mortality rate than commoners during those wars. Many aristocrats lost their heirs in the two World Wars, including my father and many relatives. Since I was old enough to understand, I wanted to protect my country, and I have dedicated my life to that. But in reality, I have never been satisfied with the results of my work, just like a blacksmith who never encounters a piece of steel suitable for forging top-tier weapons."

Pausing for a moment with a hint of nostalgia, the elderly man continued slowly, "Now, an opportunity lies in front of me, and I want to fulfill my long-standing wish. A craftsman who creates the finest tools naturally intends for them to serve their proper purpose. Moreover, there's another important point: you are Jane's son. Further back, your great-great-grandmother also had the surname Cromwell. You may not care, but you do indeed carry the blood of the Cromwell family, so you are someone I can trust to handle these 'tools.' Otherwise, Eric, even if this opportunity arose, I wouldn't go to such lengths for an outsider."

Upon hearing Robert's mention of bloodlines, Eric felt slightly uncomfortable and casually took a couple of sips from his coffee.

Robert smiled and, once Eric set down his cup, said, "Eric, I can see that you are somewhat estranged from your mother, but that's an issue for the previous generation. If possible, I still hope you can get closer to your maternal family. James, or rather, Carly's father, your uncle, may have a strict personality, but he has always felt a sense of guilt towards your mother. If you were to connect, even if you are still a penniless kid, he would definitely accept you and do his best to help."

Although Eric had always restrained his curiosity about certain matters, hearing Robert say this made him unable to hold back any longer, "Bob, back then, what exactly happened?"

"Well, that's not something I can tell you," the old man shook his head. "If you want to know, you can ask your mother; she will tell you."

"Forget it, then."

Eric shook his head as well, feeling this was certainly a topic that would make everyone uncomfortable.

Robert chuckled, "Alright then, we can call the waiter to order some food. You can think about what we discussed earlier."

Olivia had shown her trust without reservations, and with the elderly man having already said so much, Eric had basically made his decision in his heart.

However, after a moment of thought, he still said, "Bob, I have one more question. You just mentioned that you're, um, 67 years old?"

"That's right," Robert nodded, not showing any concern about his age. "But I believe I can still work for another ten years."

"But you have to consider who your successor will be, and you also need someone to assist you, right?" Eric said. "By chance, I can recommend two students to you."

Robert assessed Eric for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Female?"

"Twins."

"Ha, if they're willing, bring them to me. Actually, women are often better suited for this profession than men; they are calm, meticulous, and tend to be more obedient. It's just that, usually, people harbor significant bias against women."

"I think so too. And you may already be aware of certain things. Therefore, I hope that at least half of the team you cultivate will be women."

"It seems I've already secured this job," Robert nodded with a smile. "I can promise you that."

"And about that plan you mentioned earlier, the 1% elimination rate is indeed a bit cruel. The fund you hope for should create a global grant foundation. Even if those children are eliminated, I still want them to continue receiving support and have a chance to change their lives."

"Eric, you are a very kind person; that's a good thing," Robert nodded approvingly, adding, "Furthermore, from a professional standpoint, doing so can also serve as a cover for our true plan. But if the entire plan is to be cyclic, a single foundation's goal would be too obvious; it's best to set up scattered different funds in various locations."

"Bob, you can discuss those details with my assistant Kelly Haynes. She is currently drafting relevant plans, and I intend to establish a security company that serves the entire Firefly system. If you are willing, Bob, you can be personally responsible for this company in the future."

"Eric, you might need to find someone else for that," Robert shook his head, "I'll be in charge of selecting and training the team, but I'm not too skilled in the specifics of company management."

Eric had initially intended his comment as a last test, but hearing Robert say this eased any lingering concerns in his heart.

After all, Eric had never planned to hand this security company over to anyone; if anyone was to have absolute control, it would have to be him.

As for the specific operations, Eric intended for Carter Moen, Kelly Haynes, and the elderly man across from him to work together, each responsible for different departments, which was the ideal management structure in Eric's mind.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1146: The Follow-Up]

After returning home in the evening, Olivia couldn't wait to ask about Eric's discussion with Robert Cromwell. Once she received a positive confirmation, she expressed her joy along with several reminders.

Caroline didn't stay over that night. Olivia was the early to bed, early to rise type. After dinner, she watched some TV with Eric before heading upstairs to rest shortly after nine o'clock.

As usual, Eric wasn't feeling sleepy. After seeing Olivia off, he called the twins to his side.

By the glass wall, looking at the girls seated side by side on the couch -- like two beautiful, quiet lotus blossoms -- Eric couldn't help but reflect on the years they had spent together.

In the wave of immigration following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the twins were almost brought to America like cargo, then purchased by their boss as if they were buying female slaves.

When Eric first learned about their background, he found it hard to believe and even suspected that the twins might be Russian spies; the reputation of the KGB "swallows" was too notorious. For this reason, he had privately hired detectives to investigate the girls' backgrounds in Russia not just once but several times.

After five different detective agencies confirmed that the twins' identity was clean, Eric finally felt reassured.

Now, six years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Looking back, those two girls who had just turned eighteen and couldn't even speak English well were brought to North America amidst national turmoil, seeing no future ahead -- it was probably like two chicks freshly hatched from their eggs.

At this time, that remarkable creature named "Boss" appeared, and the two chicks followed her cluelessly, recognizing their identities and refusing to leave thereafter.

Beautiful girls always bring delight. After admiring the twins for a moment, Eric finally asked, "So, what have you been learning recently?"

Over the years, Drew had kept the girls constantly learning a wide array of skills, from flying planes to opening safes, seemingly determined to mold them into extraordinary female agents capable of anything.

Perhaps due to the simple lifestyle and their focused mindset, the twins learned new skills at an astonishing rate. This was also why Eric had suddenly come up with the idea of having them study under Robert.

Instead of aimlessly learning, why not find the best teacher to instruct them?

Although Natasha didn't understand why Eric had suddenly asked about this, she replied, "Skydiving."

Eric couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "What if you both jump out of the plane while piloting it?"

Natasha shook her head earnestly, "That won't happen."

"Alright, it was just a joke," Eric clarified. "As you heard during dinner, I'm planning to hire someone to help Firefly establish its own security company. He's supposed to be a remarkable person, but he's sixty-seven years old, and he can't work for Firefly for much longer. So I want him to teach you two, and you can take over his role in the future."

The twins listened attentively. After Eric finished speaking, Natasha responded, "We will do whatever the master says."

Eric made a gesture and said, "This could greatly impact your futures; I think you should consider it a bit more."

Natasha nodded, "Okay."

So, the room fell silent for a moment.

A few seconds later, Eric waved his hand and said, "Alright, you don't need to think about it. It's settled."

Natasha nodded again, "Mm-hmm."

"Then it's decided. I'll take you to meet Robert tomorrow. He'll definitely appreciate students like you," Eric finished, looking at Natasha's sister Eve beside her. "Eve, you should go rest now. Natasha and I have some things to discuss."

Such words, which even children can't ignore, made both girls blush at once.

Despite that, Eve obediently got up to leave.

...

Once Eve's patient figure disappeared, Eric gently addressed Natasha, who had lowered her gaze, "Come here."

Not expecting much, Natasha stood up and walked over. However, instead of sitting on Eric's lap as he had anticipated, she unexpectedly took his hand and led him upstairs.

But instead of taking him to the master bedroom on the top floor, Natasha brought Eric to another room on the second floor.

This was the twins' living space in the villa.

As some suggestive thoughts just started to arise, Natasha opened the door and simply pushed Eric inside. She then pulled the door shut behind her, giving no indication of wanting to enter.

Suddenly, that thought shattered.

Inside was a suite -- a living room with closed floor-to-ceiling windows leading to a terrace, next to which was a bedroom.

The bedroom door stood open. Once in, Eric immediately saw Eve standing in front of the wardrobe.

Eve clearly spotted Eric right away, and she froze like a little creature trapped in a snare, clutching a nightgown, her face flushed.

Seeing Eve in this state, Eric could only point behind him and say, "Your sister let me in."

After a moment of silence, Eve barely nodded, putting the nightgown back and quietly sitting at the edge of the bed, not daring to look up.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that this situation seemed somewhat familiar but lacked something vital.

So, he walked over.

He closed the bedroom door and approached the girl.

Gently cupping Eve's face, he looked at her rosy, slightly flushed features with closed eyes and fluttering lashes. He suddenly understood; it lacked a bridal veil, or perhaps an entire set of wedding attire.

However, that hardly mattered.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips against Eve's, savoring her timid response. After a while, Eric gently pushed the girl onto the bed.

Then he realized.

Compared to Natasha, Eve exhibited surprising submissiveness.

She complied as Eric unfastened her clothing, allowing him to peel her like a little lamb, eagerly letting him admire her flawless figure under the light.

Caught in a moment of arrogance, he wondered if he would spoil this younger twin even more in the future. He even overlooked the fact that her long legs were wrapped around his waist.

So, tragedy struck once again.

When the sharp cracking sound echoed, resembling broken joints, accompanied by searing pain, Eric only had time to think: indeed, they were sisters.

Then he decided it would be better to faint slowly.

And he truly passed out.

...

Illness.

Taking leave.

Not working anymore.

This time, the situation was even worse than the last. To avoid being the laughingstock of the mind-bending Hollywood natives, he remained at home for the next few days.

Iron Man had already been released, and the busyness had yielded results, allowing Eric to take a little break. Although the entire Firefly system still required his personal attention, sometimes having too many tasks felt like having none at all. A few days of doing nothing wouldn't cause a catastrophe.

However, he soon regretted not leaving the house.

...

The next day, seeing that Eric even walked a bit awkwardly, Olivia was clearly very concerned.

While Eric couldn't possibly disclose what had happened, Olivia nonetheless made her own conclusions. Then came her gentle, soft-spoken admonitions for Eric to take it easy, like a mother cautiously providing sex education to her teen son, creating a level of awkwardness that was beyond measure.

Unable to step out, he invited Robert Cromwell to the estate for a visit.

...

After getting acquainted, Robert expressed great satisfaction with the twins Eric had recommended as students, and the matter was decided right then and there.

...

Due to his back injury, Eric did not attend the Iron Man celebration party on Saturday. For someone else, that wouldn't have been proper, but as a boss, not wanting to participate meant nobody could say anything. Who would dare dock the boss's pay?

However, higher-ups like Katzenberg continued calling, and since Olivia was present, Eric used her as an excuse.

Even though Eric didn't appear at the Iron Man celebration, it didn't affect the film's box office momentum at all.

After breaking the $100 million mark in its first weekend, with four days of weekdays added in, Iron Man's earnings reached a staggering $135.75 million during its first week.

Then came the second weekend.

Compared to its opening weekend, Iron Man saw only a 36% decline during the second weekend's three days, grossing an additional $62.11 million. Over ten days, the cumulative box office reached $197.86 million. Although it was regrettable that it couldn't cross the $200 million mark, this figure still garnered significant attention from all of Hollywood.

In the wake of Iron Man's resounding success, Paramount's poorly reviewed film, The General's Daughter, suffered a dismal box office performance, earning just $15.17 million in its opening weekend.

Based on the film's reputation and opening figures, The General's Daughter would likely end up with around $60 million in North America. Moreover, as a very localized suspense drama, its performance in overseas markets was even less promising. With a production budget of $95 million, its global box office wouldn't likely reach such a level.

The underwhelming box office performance would significantly impact subsequent revenue streams, leading to considerable losses for Paramount on this project.

However, Paramount's misfortune was far from over.

...

On May 17, the new week began, and Firefly Group held a press conference announcing shocking news.

Due to Blockbuster's concealment of rental and sales data for film tapes and DVDs under Viacom, Firefly Group decided to temporarily suspend the supply of tapes and DVDs until Blockbuster accepted Firefly's financial audit and compensated for damages, at which point Firefly would consider resuming collaboration.

In reality, although the North American film industry had a very sophisticated system in place, with stringent regulations governing both the theater market and home entertainment market, the vast interests involved meant that underreporting box office numbers and concealing sales data had always been an ongoing issue.

Hence, this time, Firefly didn't need to cook the books; all they did was have their accounting department conduct a thorough audit of the sales data Blockbuster had provided, easily exposing the loopholes.

Everything thus fell into place.

After Firefly released its statement, MGM, Fox, and Columbia followed suit, simultaneously announcing a halt on collaboration with Blockbuster.

Suddenly, Hollywood was in a flurry.

Usually, when issues arose, film companies only pursued accountability and compensation in small circles for the sake of the bigger picture; this sort of outright ban on a large video rental chain had never happened before.

Therefore, even outsiders could easily understand that Firefly's intentions were far from simple on the surface.

...

Meanwhile, Viacom naturally responded immediately.

Summer Redstone personally condemned the four major film companies, claiming they were undermining market order, engaging in malicious monopolistic behavior. Viacom would not succumb to Firefly's system and would take legal measures to protect its rights.

...

Firefly quickly countered Redstone' remarks on the Yahoo portal.

Firefly wasn't involved in the retail business of video tapes and DVDs, and thus had no direct competitive interests with Blockbuster. Therefore, Mr. Redstone' monopolistic accusations were utterly unfounded. This was entirely Viacom's fault; Blockbuster should address its serious issues and cooperate with Firefly's audits, while providing compensation.

...

The two sides began a media spat, while the major film companies under Firefly showed no hesitation. Their home entertainment distribution departments promptly cut off supplies to Blockbuster.

Soon, this dispute spread to the stock market.

Many rumors in the industry had never been considered secrets. When Firefly suddenly targeted Viacom, most people quickly grasped the reasoning behind it.

Considering Eric Williams' strong stance during the previous online gossip incident, the industry generally held a pessimistic view of Viacom.

Thus, although Blockbuster's market cap of $3 billion was only one-twentieth of Viacom's recent $70 billion valuation, within just a day, Viacom's stock plummeted by 11%. Its market value dropped from $73.1 billion at opening to $65 billion, equivalent to losing two and a half Blockbusters.

Simultaneously, rival video rental chains like Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video saw their stock prices surge significantly.

The very next day, Movie Gallery seized the opportunity to announce that it would secure $1 billion in financing to open 1,000 new locations across North America within a year.

Once the expansion was completed, Movie Gallery's number of stores would reach 2,500. Although that was still a considerable gap compared to Blockbuster's 4,000 plus locations at that time, both chains had clearly reached comparable scales. Furthermore, compared to Blockbuster, which was consistently declining, Movie Gallery's operational condition was far superior.

Consequently, buoyed by this good news and the decisive measures taken by Firefly after its statement, Movie Gallery's stock soared another 17% the next day, reaching a market value of $4.6 billion, and even exceeding industry estimates for Blockbuster by more than 50%. Other competitors' stock prices continued to rise, while Viacom's stock failed to halt its downward trend even after the dramatic first-day plunge.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1147: Change of Tactics]

Los Angeles International Airport.

Olivia had planned to return to London after staying at the Liberty City Manor for ten days. Eric originally wanted to send her back on his private jet, but their relationship had never been made public. Olivia worried that taking Eric's private plane would draw unwanted attention, so she opted for a commercial flight instead.

At 4 PM, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the VIP lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, Eric watched as Olivia's flight rolled down the runway and ascended into the clouds before he turned away and left.

It was already May 21st, another Friday.

Though last week's incident had hurt quite a bit, it fortunately didn't cause any significant injury to the bone, and after resting for three or four days, Eric was mostly okay. Still, he had remained at home to "recuperate" for over a week.

This past week, the release of the Firefly Group's announcement about terminating cooperation with Blockbuster had stirred quite a buzz in Hollywood. Media outlets across North America and around the world were keeping a close eye on the dispute between Firefly and Viacom.

As expected, Sumner Redstone maintained his hardline stance, showing no signs of backing down throughout the week. After making accusations against Firefly on Monday, he left the public-facing work to other executives at Viacom.

[T/N: I just realized I have been using Summer Redstone instead of Sumner Redstone.]

However, despite Redstone's firm attitude, Viacom's stock price did not reflect the same level of confidence. During lunch with Olivia, Eric received a report on Viacom's stock price as of the close of the trading day on the East Coast.

After a significant drop on Monday, Viacom's stock price showed signs of tapering off in the following days, but for the week, the company's stock still suffered an overall decline of 23%, resulting in a staggering loss of $16.8 billion in market value.

As of today, Viacom's market capitalization plummeted to $56.3 billion from $73.1 billion just a week ago.

In a short span of a week, that loss was substantial. While Sumner Redstone himself could withstand such financial blows, other shareholders at Viacom might not share the same tolerance.

Thanks to a dual-class share structure, the Redstone family still controlled 56% of Viacom's voting rights at this time. Under normal circumstances, few could threaten the family's dominance over the company.

Yet, a dual-class structure had its limitations. If a major controlling shareholder could not address the problems facing the company for an extended period, significantly harming the interests of the majority of shareholders, outside shareholders could still convene an emergency meeting to vote on abolishing this structure and restructuring the board and management.

According to U.S. Securities Act regulations, it required a two-thirds majority of shareholders to abolish a dual-class structure.

After acquiring CBS, the Redstone family held only 13.5% of Viacom's stock through National Amusements. The remaining 86.5% was in the hands of institutions and the public. If Redstone persisted on his course of action and lost all support from outside shareholders, it wouldn't be too difficult for the other stakeholders to gather the necessary votes from that 86.5%.

Given that Viacom's market value had fallen by $16.8 billion this week, it had clearly strained the patience of much of its outside shareholders.

...

As Eric left the airport and entered the car with Caroline, who had also come to bid farewell to Olivia, he instructed the driver to head to Firefly Studios. Although it was nearing the end of the workday, he hadn't been to the office in over a week, so he figured it was a good time for a quick visit.

Once they merged onto Lincoln Boulevard outside the airport, Eric asked Caroline, "So, is there anything else I should know today?"

Even though he hadn't been working recently, the assistant's office had been sending him daily memos listing company matters that required his attention. This had always been Eric's management style; he wouldn't meddle in the specific decisions of each Firefly subsidiary, granting management plenty of autonomy while staying well-informed about the company's operations.

"Nokia's shell company reached an $8 million acquisition deal with NTP for their mobile email patent this morning; the contract should be signed next week. The Bourne Identity just finished its preliminary budget plan, with a proposed production cost of $70 million. The London office sent over a progress report for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone this afternoon, which will be in your email by tomorrow morning. Ronald Hill has filed a lawsuit against the founder of Hollywood Gossip, Adam Wimbrey. If he loses, Wimbrey could face at least five years in prison, and even if he relinquishes everything, he would still be liable for millions in damages."

Eric casually rested against his seat, and upon hearing Caroline mention the Hollywood Gossip situation, he interjected, "You can ignore that; just let Mary handle it."

Caroline pouted and blinked, seeming a bit annoyed. "Eric, I'm not a child."

"I know."

"And I'm not a porcelain doll."

"Of course," Eric chuckled, affectionately pinching her cheek. "You're a rag doll."

Caroline hunched her shoulders playfully, her cheeks flushing. "Eric, you're picking on me again."

"Well, sorry, I shouldn't be bullying little Carly," Eric said with false sincerity. "Now, continue."

Caroline desperately wanted to follow Merissa Mayer's suit and ignore Eric for a feigned period of time but ultimately couldn't help saying, "As of today's close, the Nasdaq index reached 3976 points and is expected to break 4000 next week. We've got news that the Tiger Fund has completely ceased its short-selling and is starting to buy tech stocks, but their capital has shrunk down to only $8 billion now."

Due to the recent wiretapping incident, the Firefly office had been closely monitoring the operations of the Tiger Fund since it had been implicated as one of the key culprits.

Compared to its peak two years ago, the Tiger Fund had seen its capital shrink by over half.

Hearing this, Eric couldn't help but shake his head slightly. If Julian Robertson decided to stop now, even with only $8 billion in capital, the Tiger Fund could continue to survive.

But now, it seemed he was following the trend and starting to invest in tech stocks, a clear indication that Robertson was trapped, like a gambler who had lost significant amounts of money and was losing their rationality, only thinking about recouping their losses. This gamble would only lead to disaster.

...

Since mid-March, the Nasdaq had climbed from 3000 points to nearly 4000 within a couple of months. If this trend continued, the index could reach 5000 points, as Eric recalled, at the latest by early August.

Moreover, July and August were the times when public companies began to announce their Q2 financial results for 1999. While these were not annual reports, if a large number of new tech companies reported significant losses, there was a high likelihood of a crash for an already-peaked Nasdaq index.

Of course, Eric couldn't be entirely certain.

The major tech companies that formed the backbone of the Nasdaq, such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Yahoo, were doing exceptionally well.

Microsoft, for example, had reported a net profit of $1.925 billion in the first quarter and was projected to see full-year profits soar to $8 billion -- nearly doubling last year's $4.5 billion earnings.

Cisco was North America's largest router manufacturer and could be considered the cornerstone supplier of the internet industry. While its market capitalization had been chasing Microsoft, its revenue performance was equally impressive.

However, no other tech giants could compete with Yahoo in terms of revenue growth.

To significantly enhance their traffic and visibility quickly, major tech companies had been spending heavily on advertising in recent months. As the world's largest online advertising platform, Yahoo had already significantly benefited from this surge in spending, generating $1.6 billion for the entire year last year.

This year, however, in just the first three months, countless internet companies had carelessly dropped over $700 million on advertising across Yahoo's various channels, holding over 70% of market share. Coupled with Yahoo Music Store, enterprise email services, Yahoopay interface licenses, and other revenue sources, Yahoo's revenue skyrocketed to $937 million in Q1.

It was expected that Yahoo's revenue for just the first two quarters would surpass their entire revenue of the previous year.

Overall, if Yahoo continued to grow as it had in the first quarter, their total revenue for 1999 could reach a staggering $4 billion. With such a massive income, the management could easily produce a net profit report in the hundreds of millions.

Of course, all of this was the most optimistic projection.

If the Nasdaq crashed, then Yahoo's rapid momentum would undoubtedly come to a halt.

Nevertheless, as the purest internet company in the new tech sector, Yahoo's exceptional revenue was likely to provide positive stimulation for the Nasdaq index.

On one hand, there were the rapid growth of the tech giants, and on the other, countless smaller internet companies suffering heavy losses. It was hard to imagine what might transpire in July and August when the Nasdaq index surged past 5000.

Thus, Eric had completely abandoned any predictions of the Nasdaq market for now. He simply planned to methodically sell off the stocks held in his Clover Fund and wait to see how it unfolded.

...

After working in his office at Firefly Studios until after 6 PM, Eric invited his two female assistants to dinner before returning to the Liberty City Manor.

As the black luxury Mercedes rolled through the gates of the estate on that moonlit night, Eric heard the driver relaying information from the estate's security, indicating that Elisabeth was already waiting in the villa.

Once inside, Eric quickly spotted Elisabeth lounging on the sofa against the wall, lazily holding a magazine.

Bending down, he kissed Elisabeth softly on the lips and asked with concern, "Have you eaten?"

"No," Elisabeth replied, sniffing habitually, her expression turning slightly forlorn. "If you hadn't come back tonight, I was just going to starve to death here and talk to you every evening from now on."

Eric chuckled, playfully pinching her chin. "That's just cruel; you didn't even tell me you were coming! What about Julia?"

Elisabeth pushed aside Eric's hand that had ventured towards her neck. "Isn't Erin Brockovich filming? She's been on set for a few days, staying in a town near Nevada."

"Oh, then let's go out for dinner."

"I don't want to go out; you make something for me."

"Alright," Eric nodded, pulling her up. "There's food in the kitchen; if you're too hungry, just grab a bite."

This time, Elisabeth didn't resist. She followed Eric to the kitchen, and together they sorted through the ingredients in the fridge, busy for a moment until she suddenly said, "Daddy wants me to break up with you."

As Eric cracked eggs into a bowl and started to stir, he replied, "You don't need to. Just tell him you and Julia are a couple."

"Do you want to see me get killed?"

"Isn't your brother doing just fine? Besides, your old man can't really take you on."

"You bastard," Elisabeth lightly hit Eric on the shoulder. "Daddy's got a girlfriend set up for Lachlan; they're getting married at the end of the year."

"I know a lot of top modeling agencies; how about I have them set up a bachelor party for Lachlan with a dozen male models? I guarantee they'll be the most stunning."

"Then my dad would really be mad at you," Elisabeth couldn't help but laugh, giving Eric a playful punch, but then she frowned and added, "And don't gloat; you might end up in the same position someday with a bunch of kids. Cindy Crawford is pregnant too, isn't she?"

Eric ignored Elisabeth's last comment, saying, "I actually planned to raise a bunch of unruly little brats and turn this world upside down. But Kevin, Elia, and Emma have all let me down lately; they show no potential for being little rascals," he said, turning to the young woman beside him. "So, I'm now leaving that difficult task to you."

Elisabeth's cheeks flushed as she realized it was pointless to tease him. "Well, if that's the case, I'd rather strangle him now."

"That's cruel. It looks like you're the only one who can bear the consequences."

Elisabeth tossed away the carrot she was holding and glared at Eric. "If you keep talking like that, I'm going to be downright outraged."

Eric paused his stirring, set the bowl down, and enveloped the young woman in a warm embrace, his tone softening. "Alright, I apologize. I know it's not fair to you."

Leaning her chin on Eric's shoulder, Elisabeth savored his hold and let her voice soften: "Finally, you've said something serious."

"I noticed you seemed a bit lost, so I thought I'd lighten the mood. Is it better now?"

"Mm."

"Good," Eric gently patted her back. "But the world is inherently unfair, so facing reality is essential."

"Eric."

"Yes?"

"I suddenly feel like biting someone."

"Oh... Ah!!!"

...

After a long, demanding night, and with Saturday dawn breaking bright, Eric still had no intention of getting out of bed, while Elisabeth cheerfully dashed to prepare breakfast early.

As he drifted in and out of sleep, the bedroom door suddenly swung open, and Elisabeth burst in, energetically patting Eric while switching on the wall-mounted TV with the remote. With a tone of mischief, she announced, "Eric, quickly watch the press conference from Viacom; your plans might be falling through!"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1148: Shedding a Tail to Survive]

The television turned on, revealing that the press conference held by Viacom's headquarters in New York had already concluded.

Elisabeth switched through several channels before finally finding footage on CNN of Viacom co-president Tom Freston pushing past a throng of frenzied reporters, hurrying away from the conference. Despite the chaos, Eric quickly grasped the situation thanks to the CNN anchor's subsequent commentary.

Just recently, Tom Freston announced that to further optimize the company's asset structure and mitigate operating risks, Viacom planned to spin off its Blockbuster chain, which failed to keep pace with the company's overall development, into a separate operating holding company. After the split, Blockbuster's stock would be listed for separate trading, no longer intersecting with Viacom's business interests.

Sitting sideways on the edge of the bed, Elisabeth listened with keen interest to CNN's two anchors debating the topic, before turning to Eric and saying, "Let's see how you handle this."

In theory, Viacom peeling off Blockbuster seemed like a smart move, as it suggested that the Firefly Group's attempts to block Blockbuster would no longer impact the entire Viacom entity. But in reality, this appeared to be wishful thinking on some people's parts.

Eric wrapped an arm around Elisabeth's waist and replied, "Shedding a tail to survive, huh? Smart decision. However, it seems Viacom has miscalculated a bit. They are not the lizards being hunted, and the Firefly Group is not that snake pursuing them from behind. So, this situation has nothing to do with nature's survival instincts."

Leaning against Eric's shoulder, Elisabeth fiddled with the remote control and said, "But it's effective! Viacom is essentially a publicly-held company, with hardly any major shareholders aside from the Redstone family -- most others own less than 5%. Many investors would only judge based on news from the public market; perhaps Viacom's stock might rebound next week."

"It's not that simple," Eric argued. "While Blockbuster has struggled, its biggest advantage as a large retail chain was providing significant cash flow to its parent company, Viacom. That was also Redstone's main reason for acquiring Blockbuster in the first place. However, this means Viacom must untangle the complex financial relationships between Blockbuster and its other businesses before they can pull off a successful split. Just that alone could keep Viacom busy for a month or two."

When Redstone first initiated the acquisition of Paramount, he lacked sufficient funds, so he pursued a roundabout strategy. He first absorbed Blockbuster and then raised significant capital through Blockbuster's cash flow and asset mortgaging to finally complete the acquisition of Paramount.

Now, to split Blockbuster, Viacom had to repay the cash siphoned from Blockbuster over the years and sort out the accounts. This was relatively manageable, as even after the split, the shareholders for both Viacom and Blockbuster would essentially remain the same, especially since control had always stayed in Redstone's hands.

However, once the split was complete, Viacom would no longer enjoy the benefits of Blockbuster's cash flow.

A more troublesome issue was the debt situation. Redstone had mortgaged Blockbuster's assets to acquire Paramount, and in the years since, Viacom had been rapidly expanding without having sufficient funds to repay the lingering debts.

According to the financial data Eric had seen recently, Blockbuster currently bore debts totaling a staggering $2.6 billion. Compared to Blockbuster's market value of over $8 billion a few years ago, this amount was not exaggerated at all. Even now, if distributed across the entire Viacom Group, the $2.6 billion in debt seemed trivial.

But in the event of a split, with Blockbuster's valuation having plummeted to less than $3 billion, that $2.6 billion debt could effectively push the company's debt ratio to nearly 100%.

This raised a critical question: how would they resolve that $2.6 billion in debt?

If left entirely with Blockbuster, Viacom would undoubtedly consent, but the creditors would not. Given Blockbuster's current operational status, who knew whether the chain still possessed the capacity to repay its loans? If it further deteriorated and went bankrupt, who would cover the payments?

On the other hand, if Viacom absorbed it all, Redstone and the other shareholders would also disagree.

The only solution would be to distribute the burden, but determining how to do so would inevitably lead to a stalemate.

...

As Eric and Elisabeth discussed this matter, the phone on the bedside table rang. Noticing it was a call from Katzenberg, Eric answered casually.

After a brief conversation, Eric hung up. As Elisabeth leaned over, eavesdropping, she immediately asked, "Carl Icahn?"

Eric nodded. "He wanted to take me to lunch today. Want to join?"

Elisabeth thought for a moment and asked, "Does he plan to make a move on Viacom?"

"It seems obvious."

Among Wall Street's famous corporate raiders, Carl Icahn had gained far more notoriety than Ron Perlman. Perlman's malicious acquisitions were often limited to companies like Revlon and Marvel, which were worth less than $1 billion. In contrast, Icahn often targeted global giants like Universal and Motorola -- the difference was clear.

After the dawn of the new century, the trend of corporate mergers had cooled significantly, and many once-notable corporate raiders, including Perlman, fell into obscurity. However, Icahn remained very active; Eric vaguely recalled that Icahn later initiated an acquisition of Lionsgate.

...

Not long after Viacom announced the spinoff of Blockbuster, Yahoo's portal quickly published a headline article analyzing the series of tough challenges Viacom would face as a result. It pointedly noted that this move was merely a distraction for investors, as the split plan could not possibly be implemented in the near term.

Media outlets eager for drama followed suit, entering the fray with heated discussions that generally reflected pessimism about Viacom's decision to split.

Those privy to the details understood that the focus was firmly on Viacom as a whole, and the Firefly Group would not back down because of Redstone's desperate measures.

Moreover, Blockbuster's creditors promptly released statements indicating they would closely monitor Viacom's spinoff plan. Some cautious creditors went so far as to issue warnings, demanding that Viacom take creditors' interests into consideration and refrain from making foolish decisions.

...

New York.

At Viacom's headquarters in Rockefeller Center, Manhattan.

On the East Coast, it was already afternoon.

Even though it was Saturday, many employees remained at the headquarters in a frenzied state of busyness.

Since last Monday, amidst the Firefly Group's sudden attacks, the atmosphere at Viacom had turned tumultuous.

While they couldn't see all the intricate details, most employees working in the media industry had a pretty good idea of why Viacom found itself in such a predicament.

Memory of Eric Williams' unforgiving stance during the last gossipy online incident lingered in their minds; followed by the entire internet media sphere falling silent, the "Hollywood Gossip" website being completely shut down, and a crucial partner at Sequoia Capital being forced out -- all these events left most Viacom employees worried about the company's future.

Even though they knew Viacom would surely not collapse like "Hollywood Gossip," observing the chaos within the group had some employees considering switching jobs. After all, if Eric Williams refused to relent, it wouldn't end nicely for Viacom, even if the company didn't come crashing down.

In fact, Blockbuster was already reeling from this incident. With summer approaching -- the peak season for VHS and DVD sales -- this leading home entertainment video rental chain found itself suddenly stripped of content support from more than half of Hollywood's major motion picture companies.

A slew of blockbuster films that should have been released on VHS and DVD in the near future -- like The Day After Tomorrow, Charlie's Angels 3, The Ring, Mission: Impossible 3, and Ted -- would not appear on Blockbuster's shelves.

It was easy to envision how bleak Blockbuster's operational state would be in the coming months.

Moreover, while the Firefly Group abandoned Blockbuster -- their largest retail chain -- they wouldn't be losing too much.

Inevitably, companies like Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video, as well as major retail stores such as Walmart, could readily serve as ample sales channels for the Firefly Group's films. Fans would hardly be troubled by Blockbuster's out-of-stock situation.

Even those accustomed to renting and purchasing DVDs at Blockbuster would only need to shift their patronage to other stores to find what they wanted. Conversely, losing that loyal customer base would spell disaster for Blockbuster.

...

Internally at Viacom, following his public appearance on Monday, the toughened Redstone issued a firm prohibition against any company executives reaching out to the Firefly Group, establishing a stance of total resistance.

However, as stock prices continued slumping throughout the week and subsequent media backlash post-news conference veered toward skepticism, Viacom's upper echelon grew increasingly despondent. A jolt of concern coursed through a few core executives when news arrived that Eric Williams was meeting with Wall Street predator Carl Icahn in Los Angeles.

After some deliberation, Tom Freston, the co-president of Viacom who had overseen the press conference that morning, knocked on Redstone's office door.

Despite it being the weekend, Redstone was still hard at work.

Once allowed in, Freston entered to find Redstone engaged in a conversation with the group's legal advisor, so he waited patiently for the latter to leave, before approaching Redstone.

"Tom, take a seat," Redstone gestured to the couch across from his desk. "I've heard the news."

Unsure if Redstone was referring to Eric Williams' meeting with Carl Icahn, Freston sat down. "Sumner, Williams and Icahn getting together could mean a hostile takeover against Viacom is in the works."

"I just spoke with Fisher," Redstone's expression was equally grave. "If Williams and Icahn genuinely team up, we could file a complaint with the SEC, urging them to investigate the Firefly Group's manipulative actions against Viacom's stock price."

"Williams won't provide us with evidence. His lunch with Icahn doesn't mean anything," Freston shook his head and hesitated, before continuing, "Sumner, we can't continue down this path. The company should strive to reconcile with Williams soon."

Redstone grew stern. "You mean to suggest I apologize to that little bastard?"

"You were completely unaware of the previous incident, Sumner," Freston replied. "If you agree, we'll handle it from here."

"I refuse to use 'unawareness' as a poor excuse to placate others. That would make me appear like a hypocritical joke of a politician."

"I understand, but we still must confront the present situation," Freston insisted. "Since Icahn's been in contact with Williams, he's undoubtedly in the game now. If he secures over 5% of Viacom's stock, he can call for a special shareholders' meeting. Sumner, you must realize this could fundamentally alter the company's equity structure, and we currently lack any strong resistance. Even if the SEC eventually investigates Icahn and Williams, by that point, it might no longer concern us. Given Icahn's reputation, if he gets a hold on Viacom, he'll absolutely tear apart everything you've worked for."

At last, Redstone fell silent.

After a moment, he asked, "Do you think that bastard would be willing to reconcile with us? Look at how he dealt with that Hollywood Gossip website -- he had all their employees blacklisted without mercy."

Freston shared this worry but quickly countered, "But if we do nothing, the situation will only worsen."

Again, Redstone lapsed into silence. Typically a combative figure, he relished a fight against the Firefly Group, even if it resulted in mutual destruction.

But Eric's contact with Icahn genuinely began to unsettle Redstone.

Having long feared losing control over Viacom, he was now 76 years old, and if anyone even attempted to wrest power from him -- be it his children or others -- Redstone would not hesitate to kick them aside.

This fear had created prolonged tension between him and all his children in recent years.

After long hesitation, Redstone finally stated, "Then make a call to Los Angeles and have Sherry initiate contact there."

Freston replied, "I believe it's better for me to fly out personally; that would show more sincerity."

Redstone furrowed his brow but ultimately nodded in agreement.

...

At a restaurant on Venice Beach, Elisabeth eagerly spoke up after Eric and Carl Icahn had concluded their lunch and climbed into the car, "MTV and Showtime -- Carl Icahn is quite generous, and he clearly knows your intentions."

During their lunch, Icahn had proposed that as long as Eric continued to apply pressure on Viacom to drive down its stock prices, once he secured control over Viacom, he would consider selling the two major cable channels under Viacom -- MTV and Showtime -- to the Firefly Group.

Clearly, the other party had astutely noticed Eric's focus on expanding Firefly Group's cable television businesses in recent years, especially given the rapid growth in the cable industry, making his proposal quite enticing.

Firefly Group's four major film companies had already captured over 70% of Hollywood's box office share last year, with profit margins that far surpassed those of the other major three film studios. Because of this, Eric didn't feel a pressing need to continue absorbing Paramount. As long as he could manage those four film companies effectively and grab more box office profits while continuously squeezing the survival space of other companies, Firefly Group was destined to become Hollywood's dominant power, which was far superior to swallowing the entirety of Hollywood indiscriminately.

Thus, concerning Viacom, what excited Eric most were precisely those cable channel assets like MTV and Showtime.

With a smile on his face, Eric replied, "If he doesn't hand over what I want most, how could I help him generate momentum in the Firefly Group? There aren't many fools on Wall Street, especially not Carl Icahn."

Elisabeth cuddled closer, wrapping her arm around Eric's, and asked, "So, what's your plan? You do realize that if we truly align with Carl Icahn to target Viacom, we'll undoubtedly face lawsuits down the line?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1149: The Conditions]

Venice Beach was located right next to Playa Vista, separated only by the Barona Channel.

After leaving the restaurant where he had dined with Carl Icahn, Eric's car quickly arrived at Firefly Studios. Because it was the weekend, the studio wasn't overly crowded. He instructed the driver to stop the car, and as he stepped out with Elisabeth, they casually walked along the concrete main road of the studio. It was then that he addressed her earlier question. "Calculating the time, those who should know about Carl Icahn coming to visit me already do."

Walking side by side with Eric, Elisabeth quickly connected the dots as he spoke. "You let people spread the word?"

To unexpectedly seize control of a company, the first rule was to keep it a secret. Carl Icahn certainly wouldn't want to make his visit to Eric a public spectacle. If Eric intended to cooperate, then not many people would know about their recent lunch together.

Eric smiled noncommittally. "Carl Icahn and Ron Perelman, while they excel in capitalizing on corporate stocks, certainly aren't lacking in business acumen and operational capability. Just look at Ron Perelman; after taking over Revlon with modest means, he's been serving as the chairman for years now, and the performance of that cosmetics company has been quite good. Similarly, if Icahn were to gain control over Viacom, who's to say whether this media conglomerate wouldn't become a threat to the Firefly system? If I had to choose between an older king who values his own power over the company's interests and an ambitious, energetic new lord, I would undoubtedly prefer the former. As for the benefits he's promising now, there's no legal obligation; who knows if he'll follow through later? Besides, why should an outsider come to Hollywood to promise me anything? If I wanted something, I would simply go after it myself."

Elisabeth gazed adoringly at the confident man beside her, feeling her cheeks heat up but still habitually remarked, "It seems like all of Hollywood belongs to you."

"Of course it does," Eric raised his arms, showcasing the tall soundstages lining the road. "In the Hollywood of the future, if I want them to have meat to eat, they can feast. If I don't, they won't even get a sip of broth."

Elisabeth considered arguing but reflected on Eric's series of strategic moves in Hollywood over the years and found that this scenario could very well come to pass.

Firstly, the Firefly system had already taken control of four out of the seven major film companies in Hollywood. Just last year, these four companies accounted for over 70% of Hollywood's box office market share, leaving the other three major studios and numerous smaller production companies to split the remaining 30%. In any other industry, such a drastic disparity in market share would signal the emergence of a monopolistic giant. And that's precisely what the Firefly system had achieved.

Secondly, with CG special effects films gradually becoming mainstream in Hollywood, possessing the capability to produce blockbuster effect-laden films had become increasingly vital for Hollywood studios.

Firefly's Digital Domain not only controlled the industry's cutting-edge CG technology but had also gathered many second- and third-tier effect companies around it through the use of special effects software, technical licensing, and profit bundling. These smaller effect companies, by relying on Firefly's software and technical licenses, primarily worked on projects for Firefly's major film companies, making them effectively subsidiaries; when necessary, they would have to follow Firefly's directives.

As for those visionary firms looking to break away from the Firefly system, without sufficient technical strength or lucrative effect orders, mere survival was a challenge, let alone further development.

Lastly, there was the '4200' plan that Eric was laying out. Once the core technologies of 3D and IMAX movie formats were controlled by the Firefly system and promoted widely, other Hollywood firms would have to look to Firefly for guidance if they wanted a piece of the new cinematic technological revolution.

Though traditional film production had low barriers to entry, there had always been those eager newcomers willing to throw money at Hollywood. However, going forward, building barriers would culminate in a scenario where merely pouring in cash would ultimately result in failure. The power of capital would begin to diminish in its influence over Hollywood. The Firefly system would evolve from a local player that traditional firms might hesitate to compete against into a powerful monolith.

While lost in these thoughts, Elisabeth snapped back to reality when a passing producer greeted them warmly. She nodded in response and turned to Eric, saying, "Speaking of broth, didn't you say Marvel had other projects we could handle? Now that Iron Man has been a success, what about ours?"

"The X-Men universe -- how's that for meat?"

"Mm-hmm." Elisabeth huffed in satisfaction but shot Eric a playful glare. "I thought you might hand that over to MGM or Columbia."

"I considered it," Eric laughed. "In fact, if Fox hadn't so nimbly announced their ban on Paramount, I wouldn't have handed the X-Men universe to you."

Elisabeth immediately felt a spark of irritation and playfully pinched Eric's arm. "You still don't trust me."

"Of course, I trust you," Eric replied. "But I don't trust your old man. I remember he just said he'd hand Fox over to you not long ago, and then he suddenly stuffed his new girlfriend into the TV station."

Elisabeth felt deflated when Eric brought this up.

Truth be told, the ban on Paramount was something Elisabeth had executed impulsively, announcing it before notifying her father, which earned her a deserved scolding.

"Don't even start," she muttered as she leaned against Eric. "Being caught between you two control freaks is quite tough."

Eric comfortingly patted Elisabeth's waist and joked, "What if we staged a coup and kicked your dad out?"

"That might cost him his life," Elisabeth chuckled. "I don't want to be labeled cold-hearted; my dad isn't like Redstone, the type who would cling to power at the cost of turning against his own children. Honestly, if I were a man, my dad would surely support my succession."

"If you were a man, I'd be in trouble."

"You have no shortage of women."

Conversing playfully, they had already crossed the soundstage area. Eric intended to continue on towards the Digital Domain studio to check on the progress of Gravity's production when Elisabeth pulled him over to a bench in the center garden at the crossroads.

Leaning intimately against Eric and surveying the studio grounds, Elisabeth soon added, "But what about giving the X-Men universe to Fox? What about MGM and Columbia? I think Columbia might need this project more than MGM."

"MGM already has a spy film universe; that project can run smoothly for at least ten years. Columbia also has a big series planned; Marvel can divert some projects there. You, however, are at a disadvantage. Fox doesn't even have a major production series. Besides, the tighter we wrap Fox into the Firefly system, the more your dad, even if he's unhappy in his heart, will have to let us run riot in Hollywood, right?"

"I don't want to run riot with you."

"Liz is a good girl; it's me forcing you into this."

"Ugh."

As Eric toyed with a strand of Elisabeth's blonde hair, he smiled and remarked, "Actually, if we want to further expand the film business, Fox has another excellent option."

Elisabeth blurted, "Star Wars?"

"Smart; looks like you've considered this issue too."

"Lucas said once he finished the prequel trilogy, he'd retire. I even thought about buying Lucasfilm when that happened," Elisabeth discussed but hesitated again. "But while the prequel did well at the box office, it wasn't well-received, and the sales of Star Wars merchandise didn't meet expectations. I'm not too sure if people will be interested in the series going forward."

"You're mistaken; the Star Wars brand is definitely solid. The current issues primarily revolve around Lucas himself, and the failures in merchandise sales stemmed from over-licensing by Lucasfilm. As long as we can sideline Lucas, the brand still has immense potential."

"Sideline Lucas? The fanbase will revolt!"

"The impact of the Star Wars series far exceeds that of Lucas himself. Audiences are more interested in seeing the continuation of the series on the big screen rather than who's running it. Besides, there's no need to explicitly push Lucas out; we could conveniently give him a title like executive producer."

Elisabeth mulled over this for a moment before nodding and adding, "You seem to think further ahead than I do."

"Yeah, if Fox doesn't act, Firefly will certainly snatch up Lucasfilm."

Just then, Eric's phone rang. Pulling it out, he didn't recognize the number but didn't think much of it, casually answering, "Hello... oh... I'm off this weekend; let's talk Monday... No need for dinner; just have my assistant schedule a time."

After a brief chat, Eric hung up the phone. Elisabeth didn't lean in this time; she waited for Eric to finish before asking, "Who was that?"

"Tom Freston."

"Oh," Elisabeth nodded, already aware of Tom Freston and understanding his intent with the call. "I heard that Redstone has confirmed Freston as his successor for the Viacom CEO position. He's also one of the executors of the Redstone family trust."

"That's hard to say," Eric replied with a smile. "Even though Redstone is seventy-six, if he suddenly realizes he can still go for another ten years with someone waiting to take his place, he'd likely kick that person to the curb."

"Ten more years and he'd be eighty-six; how is that possible?"

"Power, you see."

"Ha! As if you don't care about power at all."

"Who knows? I once thought about retiring early at forty to enjoy life." Eric tilted his head back to gaze at the clear blue sky over Los Angeles. "But over time, I realized that's not really possible. The pursuit of different things varies across social strata. You could delight a middle-class office worker struggling to make a living by letting him retire early to enjoy life. But asking someone at the pinnacle of power to give up everything at the height of their abilities would be worse than killing them, as power is a real pleasure for them."

"If you can say that, you'll likely do better than Redstone and my dad in the future."

"Not necessarily. Wise young rulers often become obstinate and foolish in old age; predicting the future is tough."

"Eric, you're always so pessimistic," Elisabeth scooted closer, affectionately rubbing her head against Eric's shoulder. "Don't be like that, okay?"

"Yeah, I might have some mental issues. So you all have to treat me well. Otherwise, if I lash out, the results could be unpredictable."

"That's not good enough, you jerk."

Eric chuckled, standing up and taking her hand. "Come on, Gravity wraps up its final cut next month. I'll take you to see the fruits of my labor from the past year."

...

The weekend quickly passed.

Having come to Los Angeles on Saturday, by Tuesday morning, Viacom's co-president Tom Freston finally got to meet with Eric.

Although the announcement to spin off Blockbuster from Viacom had been made over the weekend, the media's largely negative outlook meant that this severance strategy didn't significantly help the situation.

On the first working day, Viacom's stock fell by another 1.7%. Though the decline seemed to be narrowing on the surface, even with this drop, Viacom would likely shed billions in market value over the week.

Additionally, some film funds on Wall Street had reported yesterday afternoon that if Viacom couldn't quickly resolve its looming crisis, these funds might halt their partnerships with Paramount Pictures.

Film funds on Wall Street operated similarly to credit financing agencies; they provided funding to Hollywood without sharing in copyright or production while enjoying substantial profit-sharing based on the box office performance of the films they invested in.

Most of the huge debts accrued by MGM stemmed from continuous losses on invested films, which caused delays in payment to these film funds.

If Wall Street were to cut off financial support and this became public, many projects in production at Paramount would likely come to a halt, and this would be no less than another disaster for Viacom, akin to another ban on Blockbuster.

While it was evident that the Firefly system was behind this predicament, in the face of a string of challenges and the potential threat to control from Carl Icahn lurking behind the scenes, Viacom had no choice but to reconcile quickly with the Firefly system. Redstone was even prepared to accept harsh terms from the Firefly system at this point.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1150: The Profit Chain]

In stark contrast to the vast, monotonous soundstages and the busy administrative areas, the Digital Domain office loft within Firefly Studios, primarily constructed of glass and steel, was undoubtedly the most comforting place to be. The artfully aligned buildings seemed like pieces of artwork nestled under green trees and vines, resembling a separate little world within the studios.

However, as one of the core departments of Firefly Group, not just anyone could access the Digital Domain office area.

With the guidance of Caroline, Tom Freston managed to reach the second floor of an office loft.

As he walked, Tom Freston discreetly observed his surroundings.

What truly attracted Tom Freston, however, was not the exquisitely decorated office loft or the numerous special effects movie models on display but rather the company name itself -- Digital Domain.

As one of the two co-presidents of Viacom, primarily responsible for the film entertainment division, Tom Freston had a profound understanding of all aspects of Digital Domain's operations.

The visual effects company, known as Shadowlight, established by Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal, intended from the start to emulate Digital Domain. However, over the past six months, senior executives from the three companies had to admit it was nearly impossible to catch up to Digital Domain.

This company, part of the Firefly system, had begun its groundwork in CG effects eight years ago and had firmly entrenched itself in Hollywood over that time.

If Shadowlight wanted to chase after them, the traditional method would certainly involve poaching talents from Digital Domain. But that approach no longer worked, as even if Shadowlight managed to lure away technical staff from Digital Domain, they could not access the company's proprietary special effects software. Digital Domain's core special effects software had ceased to be sold outright and instead was now licensed out for rental in collaboration with several small and medium-sized effects companies.

Naturally, Shadowlight was not on the list of authorized licensees from Digital Domain.

Unable to secure the software licenses, Shadowlight could only opt to partner with longtime software vendor Autodesk to develop their exclusive CG effects software.

Autodesk had previously turned down a collaboration with Digital Domain on software development due to their skepticism about the future of CG effects. Now, in an attempt to rectify that previous oversight, they were pouring considerable resources into software development. However, the eight-year technological gap was certainly not something that could be bridged overnight.

Even if Autodesk managed to match Digital Domain's software technology in a few years, they would certainly struggle to penetrate the strong profit chain Digital Domain had established in Hollywood's effects industry.

It is important to note that even with a film that didn't utilize Digital Domain's unique top-tier effects technology, just using commonplace CG shots, effects companies leveraging Digital Domain's software and technical support often enjoyed comprehensive advantages over their competitors, both in terms of effects quality and production costs.

Therefore, even knowing that there was a risk of being choked by the Firefly system at any moment, it remained difficult for other Hollywood film companies to decisively wean themselves off their dependence on Digital Domain and its affiliated effects companies.

...

"Mr. Freston, Eric needs about ten more minutes. Please have a seat," Caroline explained politely as she led Tom Freston to the lounge on the second floor. After instructing the staff to prepare coffee for him, she turned and left.

Having already waited three days, Tom Freston didn't mind the final ten minutes. After thanking the Digital Domain employee who brought him coffee, he quickly sat at the table, reorganizing his thoughts on how to handle Eric Williams. Moments later, he let out a sigh of relief.

His gaze scanned the room again, and he picked up a copy of the Hollywood Reporter from a nearby bookshelf, intending to pass the next few minutes.

The front-page headline happened to announce the box office numbers for Iron Man.

As it entered its third weekend, Iron Man saw a box office decline of only 39%, grossing another $37.88 million over the three-day span.

Meanwhile, this superhero blockbuster had raked in a total of $260.51 million at the North American box office within just two and a half weeks. It was almost a sure thing that it would surpass the $300 million mark within the following week and a half. With over $300 million at the North American box office in four weeks, it was entirely predictable that the film would ultimately reach $400 million without any suspense.

In contrast, the box office for Paramount's competing film, The General's Daughter, was almost painful to look at.

After ten days in theaters, this $95 million large-scale production had managed only $35.13 million at the box office.

Of course, it was not just The General's Daughter. Under Iron Man's overwhelming impact, the film Entrapment, which premiered the previous Friday, only grossed $19.15 million during its opening weekend.

However, Columbia Pictures had kept the production budget for this film -- sustained majorly by the first 007 actor, Sean Connery -- well managed at $60 million.

Even if the North American box office didn't perform as well as hoped, the potential for overseas box office revenue for Entrapment was significantly higher than that for The General's Daughter. Ultimately, a global box office expectation of around $200 million would be sufficient for Columbia to recoup its entire production and distribution cost, leaving them with net profit from the film's future capabilities in VHS and DVD sales, as well as television distribution.

Furthermore, to Tom Freston, the significance of Entrapment for Columbia was not even in its box office performance.

The cost control of $60 million for this film symbolized that after leaving Sony, Columbia had been rapidly integrated into the Firefly system without any significant buffer period, meaning that their movie production no longer indulged in reckless spending without a plan -- a chronic issue that had been difficult to rectify during Sony's control of Columbia for nearly a decade.

In recent years, as financing for Hollywood films had become exceedingly easy outside the Firefly system, spending patterns had grown lavish.

Take The General's Daughter, for example. If Paramount could have earnedestly tightened cost controls, even a budget of $60 million would have been more than feasible instead of the $95 million already overspent. Reducing the budget to $60 million would significantly relieve Paramount's financial pressure.

However, to win over director Simon West, who rose to fame with Con Air, the production department of Paramount chose not to do so and instead inadvertently coddled him during production. Although it raised the production costs by more than 50%, the director, on his second outing with a big production, failed to deliver a satisfactory product.

In contrast, the performance of the Firefly system was much more robust.

In recent years, CAA had once inflated Sean Connery's salary to $20 million, but Columbia stood firm in offering the veteran 007 actor only $12 million with no option for box office revenue sharing.

Though Sean Connery had often threatened to exit the project, he ultimately accepted the terms.

Clearly, Sean Connery understood that without Sony's deep pockets, obtaining $20 million from Columbia was simply impossible; in the eyes of other major Hollywood studios, he was certainly not worth that amount anymore. As for companies like Carolco Pictures that frequently offered exorbitant salaries to Hollywood's veteran stars in the past, following various media group consolidations and the further monopoly of film distribution channels, they had gradually fallen silent after experiencing consecutive losses in recent years.

...

Absently flipping through the newspaper, Tom Freston immediately snapped back to reality upon hearing footsteps nearby. He stood and walked over to Eric as he entered the lounge. "Eric, it's great to see you."

"Hello, Tom. Please, have a seat," Eric replied politely, shaking Tom Freston's hand as he settled into a chair nearby while sizing up the slightly aged middle-aged man before him.

Although Tom Freston was only in his early forties, his graying hair and facial wrinkles made him appear a good ten years older.

Tom Freston took a seat as well, subtly assessing the casually dressed young man who exuded a calm demeanor. He initiated, "Eric, I came here hoping to clear up some misunderstandings we had the other day."

Eric accepted the bottle of water Caroline passed him, casually placing it on the table, and nodded with a flat expression, "Hmm, and then what?"

Tom Freston didn't glean any useful information from Eric's demeanor and pressed on. "Wayne Lewellen will soon be leaving Paramount, and regarding Viacom, we could offer a compensation package to seek a resolution with Firefly Group and similar companies."

Eric raised an eyebrow in confusion, asking, "Who is Wayne Lewellen?"

Given that the young man across from him didn't miss any Hollywood gossip about employee departures, it was hard to believe he wouldn't know Wayne Lewellen.

Nonetheless, playing clueless, Tom Freston had no choice but to explain, "Wayne Lewellen is the vice president of Paramount Pictures, primarily responsible for distribution. The misunderstandings from last time were caused by his unilateral decisions."

"Oh," Eric nodded but continued, "I don't know that person. At Paramount, I only know Sherry Lansing."

Tom Freston paused for a moment, then understood and instinctively shook his head, "Eric, that's not acceptable."

"Whether it's acceptable or not is for you to decide," Eric stated, his casual demeanor shifting as he sat up straight, locking his sharp gaze onto Tom Freston. "In any case, at Paramount, I only know Sherry Lansing, so since there's been a problem, it should fall to Sherry Lansing to be held accountable."

Eric's sudden assertiveness diminished Tom Freston's confidence. "Eric, there's really no need for that. After all, what happened last time didn't impact you much."

If one of the seven major studio heads were to leave due to a wholly uneventful gossip incident, not to mention the potential effects it could have on Paramount's operations, this situation itself would severely damage Viacom's credibility and standing in the media industry.

"But what if it did?" Eric glanced at the newspaper in front of Tom Freston. "Just like Iron Man; if Firefly Group hadn't handled things appropriately, how much box office revenue could this $1 billion global film's final tally have left? $500 million, $300 million, or even less? So, I will not allow this to happen a second time. You have to accept the risks you brought to Firefly Group with the same degree of accountability. Now, if you wish to settle, Sherry Lansing must go."

After a moment of silence, Tom Freston reluctantly nodded, "Alright, I'll convey that to Sumner. Now, regarding Viacom?"

"Speaking of that, Tom, do you know what conditions must be met for a lizard to survive by shedding its tail?" The split of Viacom's subsidiary, Blockbuster, announced just last Saturday, had proven to have little effectiveness.

Upon hearing Eric's words, a flustered expression crossed Tom Freston's face, and he shook his head, "I'm not quite sure about that."

A slight smile appeared on Eric's face, resembling a young teacher suddenly eager to impart knowledge. "It's simple. The portion of the tail that the lizard sheds must attract the attention of the predator. If the predator behind it has no desire to chase that tail, then what's the point?"

Tom Freston nodded helplessly, "That does seem to be the case."

"So, if you're going to do this, you should choose a tail that's attractive enough."

Tom Freston felt an ominous feeling growing in his gut but could only go along with Eric's train of thought. "Eric, what exactly do you want?"

"Showtime," Eric replied directly, "Fire Sherry Lansing, and transfer Showtime -- those are my conditions. Once these two points are addressed, we'll consider the previous matter resolved."

Eric deliberately avoided mentioning Wayne Lewellen again, but it was clear that, regardless, Wayne Lewellen wouldn't be able to remain in Hollywood.

In recent years, with HBO's continuous expansion and the rapid growth of FFM, Viacom had poured more resources into its Showtime network, recognizing the commercial potential of paid cable channels.

Although Showtime's development had not been as swift as FFM, which was supported by multiple companies, it had still become one of Viacom's fastest-growing businesses. Thanks to its relatively low fees and content channel resources, Showtime had accumulated over six million paying subscribers.

"Eric, your demands are excessive; Sumner would never agree to that."

"I'll repeat myself; whether it's feasible or not is for you to determine. Just as you've troubleshot your issues, so must I. Now that I've addressed my problems, you need to deal with yours," Eric added. "Moreover, relative to what others have proposed, my demands are actually quite reasonable."

"We're aware of Carl Icahn's visit to you, Eric; you won't succeed. Even if you do, you'll face a lot of trouble, as your manipulative behavior is illegal."

"Then it's yet another problem for me; it's not your concern," Eric shrugged. "Feel free to let Sumner try to keep his position. Oh, and I want to remind you of something: next week we'll announce a list of upcoming collaboration movies. Although they mainly consist of some non-core projects from MGM and Columbia, film funds on Wall Street would certainly prefer to collaborate with Firefly Group. So, you might want to consider once again if you'll take the plunge and shed your tail, perhaps even spinning off Paramount Pictures."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1151: Settled]

After Tom Freston's meeting with Eric Williams, Viacom remained silent for several days.

Since Redstone still held out hope, Eric didn't hesitate to strike back. Rumors about Paramount Pictures potentially facing a cash flow crisis quickly spread, further damaging Viacom's plummeting stock price.

On the flip side, word also leaked that Wall Street investor Carl Icahn was secretly buying Viacom Group stock, which increased the pressure on the major shareholders and management of Viacom.

During their last lunch, Carl Icahn had realized that Eric did not intend to support him in seizing control of Viacom. However, Icahn still found a way to work with Eric, openly proclaiming that he was acquiring Viacom stock. His goal was to force Redstone into submission. If Viacom reconciled with the Firefly Group, its stock price would definitely rebound quickly, allowing Icahn to make a tidy profit off the low buy-in.

While Viacom's stock price fell against the market trends, the Nasdaq Composite continued to surge without a hint of slowing.

The last day of May happened to fall on a Monday. Just last week, the Nasdaq had broken the 4,000-point mark, and on this day, it opened by hitting a new high of 4,135 points.

...

Thanks to the massive success of Iron Man, and Eric's assets soaring alongside the Nasdaq index, various newspapers began to take real-time interest in his net worth. Websites dedicated to tracking his finances even sprang up online.

By last Friday's market close, Eric's personal wealth had reached a staggering $475 billion -- a figure that dazzled countless people. At that point, Eric himself was somewhat indifferent to this temporarily inflated number. He was more focused on the progress of cashing out the tech stocks held by the Clover Fund.

At Firefly Studios, for the past ten weeks since late March, Caroline had started gathering and summarizing the latest financial data from the Clover Fund early in the morning.

"Last week, our trading desks sold a total of $2.322 billion worth of tech stocks. The cash accumulated by the Clover Fund has reached $21.671 billion. Based on the current stock prices, the remaining tech stocks we hold are valued at $12.855 billion. If the Nasdaq continues its upward trend, we can expect around a 50% appreciation on this leftover stock, meaning the Clover Fund could cash out around $40 billion."

In the office, as Eric listened to Caroline's report, he flipped through more detailed financial statements in his hands.

$40 billion in cash -- this was real capital, as opposed to the paper wealth that seemed inflated. Even after taxes, the leftover funds would be sufficient to support the next steps of expansion for the Firefly Group. Once the upcoming strategies were implemented, Eric's assets would no longer be as fraught with such severe bubbles.

After a moment of contemplation, Eric told Caroline, "We probably have about six weeks left. We need to accelerate the selling process. Draft up a plan for me today."

Caroline nodded and then shifted the conversation to another topic.

...

The production of Gravity was in its final stages, and Eric planned to focus most of his energy on this project in the upcoming weeks.

After the brief work briefing, as Eric prepared to leave the office and head to the post-production center, his personal phone rang.

Glancing at the caller ID, Eric settled back into his chair to take the call. "Good morning, Sumner."

There was a brief silence before Redstone's voice came through: "$1.5 billion, Eric. That's my bottom line. If you don't agree, Viacom can fight Firefly to the end."

$1.5 billion was clearly Redstone's offer for Showtime.

This price was 25% higher than Firefly's $1.2 billion valuation of Showtime, but given the growth prospects of premium cable networks, $1.5 billion was well within Eric's tolerance level.

"Fine," after a moment's pause, Eric replied, then added quickly, "Also, about Sherry Lansing."

"Viacom will announce Sherry's departure this afternoon. Meanwhile, Firefly must immediately lift all measures against Viacom Group."

Eric nodded decisively, "No problem."

As soon as he finished speaking, the line went dead. Eric wasn't bothered by it; he proceeded to call up Jeff Katzenberg and others to inform them of the developments before he stood up, ready to leave the office.

...

At 2 PM, Viacom issued an announcement via its official website that Sherry Lansing, one of the two leading women in Hollywood, was resigning as CEO of Paramount Pictures for personal reasons. This role would temporarily be filled by Viacom's co-president, Tom Freston, until they found a suitable replacement.

Typically, when the head of one of Hollywood's big seven studios left, it would spark a media frenzy. However, upon hearing this news, while many in North America were shocked, the media maintained a notably cautious attitude.

By this time, the industry had largely figured out the reasons behind the Firefly Group and Viacom dispute. Even ordinary folks could easily grasp the gist of the facts through various media insinuations.

Following the revelation that Viacom had orchestrated a gossip website to expose Eric Williams' children's information, the retaliatory backlash from the entire Firefly Group became apparent. As long as such corporate rivalries didn't directly impact the daily lives of average citizens, most people were content to watch from the sidelines.

However, the eventual unfolding of events surprised many.

As public interest in the incident waned, attention began to shift elsewhere. But within the media industry, a profound understanding of the terrifying power the Firefly Group had demonstrated since the gossip incident lingered.

After Viacom's announcement, the Firefly Group quickly declared a reconciliation with Blockbuster, and some investors from Wall Street's movie funds stepped forward to clarify that there were no issues regarding cooperation with Paramount Pictures. Viacom's stock began to stabilize and rapidly rebound along with the overall trend of the Nasdaq index.

Nonetheless, the price Viacom paid for its secretive maneuvers was substantial. Sherry Lansing's forced resignation not only lost respect for Viacom in Hollywood, but it also placed additional strain on what was already a faltering film division. Finding a qualified successor for Paramount would certainly prove challenging following the impact from the Firefly Group.

Subsequently, Viacom announced that they had agreed to sell Showtime for $1.5 billion to the Firefly Group -- a move that significantly impacted Viacom's cable business.

Taking stock of the situation, it became clear that the Firefly Group's counterattack regarding the exposure of Eric Williams' children had been merciless. And this compelled many media outlets that prided themselves on freedom to tread carefully, becoming increasingly cautious in their coverage of news related to Eric, fearing inadvertently provoking this ferocious capital monster.

While many media representatives lamented not being able to report on what would have been an engaging clash of titans, another event quickly diverted everyone's attention.

...

On June 7, after months of scrutiny, the U.S. Department of Justice, along with the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, announced that they had approved the merger between America Online and Time Warner.

With a combined market cap skyrocketing to $277 billion, the merger between the two media giants effortlessly surpassed the Firefly Group and Yahoo, establishing the largest comprehensive media conglomerate in North America.

Steve Case, reveling in the peak of the Internet craze, radiated confidence and even set aside the series of tensions between America Online and the Firefly Group from the previous year. He called Eric, hoping he could attend a celebration banquet at the Plaza Hotel for the successful merger of America Online and Time Warner.

...

Although preoccupied with finalizing Gravity, Eric noted that Showtime's headquarters was also in New York. The Firefly Group had signed the deal, and while there remained much handover work to be completed, he decided to personally travel to New York to discuss matters with the head of Showtime, taking a quick flight amidst his busy schedule.

As he neared the Plaza Hotel by Central Park, the day was still bright, and countless glamorous figures began gathering at the venue.

By the time Eric arrived in Manhattan, it was already 5 PM. After taking a break at Cindy's place, he showed up with the stunning lady on his arm.

After getting out of the car, she affectionately linked arms with Eric, passing through the media area. After signing a photo wall, they headed directly into the hotel's grand ballroom.

As they entered the banquet hall, Steve Case came right over to greet them.

Eric politely extended his hand. "Steve, congratulations."

"Thank you, Eric. I'm glad you could make it tonight," Steve replied with a flawless expression. After chatting briefly with Cindy, he moved on to greet other guests.

After catching up with familiar faces, Eric and Cindy settled down at one of the dining tables.

After taking two glasses of red wine from the server's tray, once he left, Cindy leaned in and whispered to Eric, "I had a check-up last week, and the doctor said it's likely a boy."

Eric took a sip of his wine and asked with a smile, "But it's only been two months -- how can they tell?"

"I hope it's a boy," Cindy replied with anticipation in her gaze. "Maybe the doctor just picked up on my thoughts. Either way, I like hearing it."

"Well, if it's a girl, let's see what you do then."

"Then I'll have another one," Cindy shot back immediately, then looked worriedly at Eric. "Eric, can I have another?"

"Of course, having two would be fine."

Eric's casual response caught Cindy by surprise, and she instinctively said, "I meant your child."

Eric playfully pinched her delicate chin. "If you dare have someone else's child, I'll toss you into the Hudson River."

Realizing she'd misspoken, Cindy shyly retracted her neck, then defiantly placed a hand on her belly. "It's definitely a boy. Boys don't suffer when they grow up."

Chuckling, Eric asked, "Have the arrangements for America's Next Top Model been made?"

"Already set; Stephanie is taking over my job."

"I don't think she's the right fit."

"Exactly," Cindy nodded, rolling her eyes at Eric. "But you have secretly auditioned for her, what else can I do?"

"You could pretend you didn't know."

"I don't want to be a jerk like you. Besides, her personality fits the show perfectly. It's not really about selecting supermodels; grabbing viewers' attention is what matters."

"Oh really? What kind of personality? I didn't notice anything."

"Who knows how you gauge that."

"Hey, that's not good. Be careful our child hears this."

Seeing Eric's awkwardness, Cindy laughed and added, "I asked about how things were with Joan. I've been learning from her, but I mean, I haven't finished even one book yet. I'm planning to hire a couple of Ivy League graduates to be my lifestyle assistants to read them to me."

Though Eric thought this idea seemed pointless, he didn't oppose. "You can call Kelly and let her help pick."

"I'll choose myself, but the bills are getting sent your way."

"Definitely a girl though."

"Hmm, make sure she's not a knockout."

"Don't, they say what a mother sees a lot while pregnant can influence how the child looks."

"I'm not listening to your nonsense; how could my child not be beautiful?"

"If it's a boy, just don't let him be too pretty -- just a bit less than me, alright?"

"Ha ha."

...

Perhaps because they had just mentioned Stephanie Seymour, the model strolled over with her husband.

Eric and Cindy stood to greet her.

With her long-desired return to the spotlight as host of America's Next Top Model, Stephanie Seymour appeared even more radiant. Yet when her gaze fell on Eric, there was an accidental hint of flirtation which made one want to pin this beautiful woman down for a good time.

So, during an intermission to the restroom, Eric quickly pulled the beautiful figure trailing behind him right into the bathroom.

Having not expected Eric to be so forward, Stephanie was relieved there was no one else inside. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known what to do, as Eric pushed her into a stall. Stumbling against the toilet, she finally reacted, her voice shaky yet tinged with thrill: "Eric Williams, you--you can't do this!"

Smack--

Her body immediately relaxed, collapsing against the toilet lid, and with a muffled cry, she complained, "Ugh, you hit me again! Last time we almost got caught."

"Shut up and lie down."

"I won't," she protested, trying to rise, but received another smack that sapped her resistance. She quietly pleaded, "Don't--don't dirty the dress; you need to let me take it off first."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1152: Encounter]

The next day, rain began to fall.

Manhattan, enveloped in rain, seemed infused with a sense of time, a distinct era marked by the weathered touch of years past. Carmen Kass parked her car in front of a towering building at the entrance to Sixth Avenue. Stepping into the fine rain with her high boots, she lifted her petite face to gaze at the gloomy sky before entering the high-rise apartment.

Riding the private elevator to Eric's penthouse, she initially thought she would find him alone. However, upon entering, she discovered three other women in the apartment: Gisele Bundchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, and another familiar yet unfamiliar girl with a doll-like face.

She almost turned to leave, but upon hearing Eric personally ask, "Why didn't you bring an umbrella?" with genuine concern, she decided to stay. She sat dazed on the shoe bench, her gaze instinctively drifting to the three other girls in the living room, their expressions equally surprised.

Silently, she pressed her short lips together, fiddling with the zipper of her high boots, until he returned holding a towel. A bit more alert now, she subconsciously accepted the towel and gently wiped her already damp face.

Blocking her eyes, she thought, 'Cover your eyes so that you can't see the outside world.'

As he began to unzip her boot, she stiffened momentarily. Yet, she complied, lifting her leg slightly, allowing him to help her remove the high boots. She heard him remind her that she shouldn't wear such heavy boots in the summer.

That familiar sensation rushed back to her.

She nodded lightly.

Tears unexpectedly fell from the corner of her eye.

Quickly, she wiped them away.

How could she be so helpless?

Determined, she forced herself to pull the towel aside and offered him a faint smile, though she couldn't find the words to say.

"Gisele and the others just arrived," Eric explained as he stood up and helped her to her feet. "I know you don't always get along, so please do me a favor and keep it civil."

This meant they had made the effort to come, while she had only responded to his call.

A little smug feeling swelled in her heart.

She didn't hold such resentment towards him anymore.

After all, it was not entirely his fault.

Settling down next to the sofa, he asked a few questions before heading to the kitchen to make coffee.

She wanted to join him, but glancing at the three silhouettes by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, she knew that would make her look like a child clinging to adults. So she forced herself to stay put.

As Eric walked into the kitchen, the three girls exchanged glances. Gisele was the first to approach her, extending her hand, "So, shall we reconcile?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected offer, she relaxed a bit. Remembering Eric's earlier words, she didn't want him to think of her as petty, so she reached out and shook Gisele's hand, forcing a smile, "Sure."

Gisele and Carmen Kass shook hands, then comfortably sat beside her. "I was just too upset last time. Your company used me for publicity, which wouldn't have felt good for you either. But, honestly, that's just how agencies are; they don't consider our feelings at all."

Having spent years alone in the industry, she naturally became quite sociable.

Still, she couldn't bring herself to genuinely connect with the other women he was involved with and settled for surface-level chatter.

After chatting for a while, Gisele glanced towards the kitchen and continued, "Eric is actually a great guy."

Recalling all their encounters since they met, she nodded lightly, "Yeah."

"People often think he's too dominant, but that's not true," Gisele added. "I saw him on The Oprah Winfrey Show last time, and I was moved to tears. He's always been a considerate man towards women, totally different from those wealthy types who have kids and then ignore them."

She certainly had seen that Oprah episode and felt a similar way to Gisele. Yet, listening to him discuss his three children made her heart feel empty.

During this time, she had occasionally thought about leaving.

She always hoped to find a complete love in her life.

Now, Gisele's mention of it stirred those feelings again, dulling her gaze.

Oblivious to her mood, Gisele sounded a bit lost as she added, "The thing is, Eric often tells us that if we're unhappy, we can leave him. He's never one to force a woman to stay. But it's really tough to make that decision, so we just end up sticking around. You didn't know this, but the first time I met him, I was only 14 or 15, just like a clueless baby bird, and now so many years have passed."

After saying this, Gisele glanced at the expressions of the other girls nearby, quickly deciding to stop, throwing a quick look at Alessandra and Miranda, who were eavesdropping. She spotted Eric approaching with a pot of coffee and hurried to greet him, "Eric, let me help!"

Noticing Gisele rising to help, Eric handed her the coffee pot and smiled, "What were you all chatting about?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that I apologized to Carmen."

"Oh, Carmen forgave you? She's quite the jealous type."

"Hehe, not really! How could you say that about a girl?"

She had been pondering Gisele's recent comments, and Eric's offhand remark made Carmen glare at him, feeling indignant as she wasn't jealous at all.

Eric joked around, settling down on the sofa.

Alessandra and Miranda joined him, playfully squeezing in from each side.

Feeling Miranda's delicate frame pressing against him, Eric quipped, "Alright, if you keep clinging like this, I might just have to throw you out."

"Eric, we want to go to California for a few days. When are you coming back?"

"I'm busy. I'll be back in Los Angeles this afternoon."

"Can we come along? I want to be your personal flight companion!"

"Sure."

Hearing Eric's agreement, Miranda lit up and leaned in to whisper a few words to him.

After listening, he laughed and playfully patted her waist, "Stop it. If you turn into a fairy on the plane, I'll have to drop you off."

Miranda twisted her waist and teased, "You wouldn't dare!"

Eric took the coffee that Gisele handed him, turning to Carmen. "How did that Dior perfume ad go?"

Noticing Gisele and Miranda snuggled against Eric, she felt a twinge of jealousy but replied, "It aired in France, and it did pretty well."

"It should have been stunning," Gisele said, putting down the coffee pot and sitting next to Carmen. "Karl mentioned the Golden Goddess ad in his interview last month. He's the head of Chanel, so it's rare for him to speak well of Dior."

Karl Lagerfeld's name had become almost a buzzword in the industry, yet it showcased his powerful influence in fashion. His endorsement carried significant weight.

After chatting with the four girls for a while, as eleven o'clock approached, Eric informed Gisele and the others that they could head directly to Long Island Airport. He would take Carmen out for lunch.

...

Following Eric down to the parking lot and settling into his car, she found her mood better now that Gisele and the others were no longer around.

"Do you want to come to Los Angeles this afternoon too?"

A large hand reached out to grasp hers, and Eric's voice came close.

She hesitated, quickly shaking her head, "I have work." Realizing she sounded a bit harsh, she quickly added, "It's a media event for Dior, on Friday."

"Oh, then never mind."

Feeling his hand still holding hers, she wanted to withdraw but felt reluctant.

Gisele's words from the living room echoed in her mind.

Yet, she wasn't a naive girl; she was quite clever, in fact.

With a sudden realization, she understood Gisele's intent behind her previous remarks.

And she was certain Gisele had been quite deliberate.

A hint of anger flared up inside her.

Biting her lip, she glanced at the man beside her, hesitating for a moment before murmuring, "She --Gisele and Alessandra -- they're really lesbians. I saw it with my own eyes in Paris last time."

Eric paused, then suddenly laughed, "Very nice, you've learned to report!"

Her face turned to a bright shade of red as she turned away, forcibly pulling her hand back, feigning anger.

Inside, however, she felt extremely anxious.

He must think she was a gossiping woman.

After all, Gisele had started it.

Eric's arm wrapped around her shoulders with gentle pressure.

She leaned into him, yet dared not look into his eyes.

They stayed like that for a while until she finally broke the silence, her voice soft, "Eric, if I were to leave, would you mind?"

"Of course, I'm a man. How could I not mind?"

"Would you want me to leave?"

"I wouldn't want that. You can only leave when the scar on my arm disappears, I'm not joking."

"Okay."

She nodded, accepting her fate.

Then, she pulled his arm over to examine it.

The bite mark was still there, clear as day.

The car traversed through Manhattan's streets for a while before coming to a stop beside a tall building near Rockefeller Center.

The rain continued to pour outside, showing no signs of letting up.

Eric helped Carmen out of the car, taking an umbrella from the bodyguard and shielding them both as they entered the building, heading inside to a high-end restaurant.

...

Showtime's headquarters was nearby Rockefeller Center.

As a standalone subsidiary of Viacom, Showtime operated almost independently and had its dedicated office space.

After Firefly Group took over, Showtime fell under the cable operations department. However, the company did not plan significant changes to Showtime's office location; it merely took over the lease from Viacom, and only some managers opted to leave. Other employees would remain unaffected for the time being.

Eric was scheduled to meet with Showtime's CEO, Matthew Blank, a former HBO executive who had switched to Showtime in the early '90s and had worked his way up from President of Operations to now the CEO.

Before Viacom's headquarters revamped its cable operations strategy, Showtime's performance was lukewarm at best. Its recent growth wasn't clear whether it was due to Viacom's disentangling or other factors. Eric held high hopes for Showtime and naturally aimed to meet the person responsible without delay.

Upon entering the reserved restaurant, Matthew Blank had already arrived.

As Eric had seen in the materials, Blank was a middle-aged man wearing rimless glasses, appearing far younger than his age -- probably in his forties -- with a clearly fit physique indicative of a strong workout routine.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three of them sat at the dining table.

Seeing that Eric had brought a companion, Matthew assumed he had misunderstood their meeting's intent and promptly apologized for coming alone.

This was a rather formal business meal. Eric had not initially intended to bring Carmen, but it felt unreasonable to leave her in the apartment with Gisele and the other women, prompting his last-minute decision to bring her along.

Having explained himself briefly, Matthew relaxed.

Since there was still some time before ordering, they only requested a few appetizers. Then Matthew ventured, "Eric, can I first understand your vision for Showtime's future? You know, Firefly has FFM. Although it's still behind HBO, it significantly surpasses Showtime in terms of stature."

Eric didn't immediately answer, tossing the question back, "I wouldn't position Showtime in direct competition with FFM. Given that perspective, what are your thoughts?"

Clearly prepared, Matthew replied, "In that case, I think it's possible to follow HBO and its affiliate Cinemax's model. Showtime can take a path of more adult-oriented content. However, Eric, pursuing such a direction might waste the foundation Showtime has built over recent years. After all, Cinemax's softer approach has turned off many paying viewers; they could just subscribe to the Playboy Channel if they wanted that content."

Eric nodded in acknowledgment, "So you're only half right. Showtime will indeed take a more adult-oriented direction but not in the way you think. Rather, it embraces a broader spectrum of sensitive topics -- not just adult themes."

Matthew seemed to grasp that, though he expressed concern, "Eric, this could very well spark controversy. I mean, some topics are better left untouched by a network like us, for instance, racial discrimination. That is definitely a minefield."

"I obviously know that. In fact, what I want to pursue is a greater scope within the framework of political correctness. Furthermore, this scope will starkly differ from FFM's positioning; simplistically put, FFM strives for depth and Emmy Awards, while Showtime's focus will be on breadth -- beyond adult content, it will encompass themes like homosexuality, mental illness, violence, and so forth. Yet these elements won't be depicted without boundaries. It's challenging to explain this merely with a few sentences; it has to manifest through creating television programs. I will take some time to personally select a few projects to illustrate this."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1153: Planning]

In recent years, Showtime had produced one or two original series each year while also increasing the acquisition of film content. However, overall, the channel still hadn't developed the style it was later known for.

As Eric flipped through Showtime's programming schedule, he noticed two original series aired last year: one was the sci-fi show Total Recall 2070, and the other was the African American comedy Linc's. The movie content seemed more like a patchwork of whatever was available.

Yet, despite this, Showtime had already improved significantly compared to the early 90s when it had no original programming at all. However, there was still a considerable gap between what Eric expected and the current state of the network.

In his memory, Showtime gained popularity around the turn of the millennium with the gay-themed series Queer as Folk, but that later pigeonholed the network with the label of a gay channel. While attitudes towards homosexuality became more open in the West, it remained a relatively marginalized group.

A show could feature gay elements, but it wouldn't be a good thing for a network if that element became its core focus, affecting how viewers perceived the channel overall. In reality, many of Showtime's most successful series over the years didn't have much to do with LGBTQ themes.

Now that it was 1999, Eric could easily find the Queer as Folk project if he wanted to, but he didn't plan on taking Showtime down that old path. After all, as a thoroughly straight man, he had no genuine interest in shows targeted toward gay audiences.

With the network's upfront season just wrapping up in May, Showtime had already set its programming plans for the coming year. However, after a deep lunch conversation with Matthew Blank, Eric made the decision to cancel Showtime's original annual plan, scrapping the likes of Total Recall 2070, which didn't align with the channel's intended style, and re-establish a clear vision for the network's programming and identity.

With three months to make adjustments before the fall season in September, Eric felt he had enough time to reshape Showtime.

By the time they left the restaurant, it was already two in the afternoon.

...

As they stepped outside, it had started to rain heavily. Eric accepted the umbrella passed to him by his bodyguard and found himself not wanting to head toward the waiting car. Instead, he turned to the girl next to him and asked, "Where do you live?"

Carmen Kass appeared a bit distracted as she replied, "Upper West Hydee. I just moved recently."

"Is it far?" Eric asked. "What if we just walk over?"

Thinking Eric was going to leave soon, she felt a little empty inside. When he suggested walking, however, she quickly nodded, saying, "Sounds good, it's not far."

Under her guidance, they started heading west from 49th Street. Since it was still working hours, the rain-soaked streets of Manhattan were relatively empty, and Eric kept the umbrella low to avoid being recognized by hurried pedestrians.

Carmen enjoyed walking in the rain with Eric, casually discussing recent happenings. She tried to avoid glancing back at the two cars trailing them, feeling grateful for the man's consideration yet also embarrassed for being a bother.

After walking for a while, they reached Broadway. Carmen pulled him away from the crowded Hell's Kitchen and headed north. Manhattan wasn't too large; within half an hour, they arrived at Carmen's apartment on Ninth Avenue.

...

Carmen's apartment was in a thirty-story red building. Upon opening the door and ushering Eric inside, she took the umbrella from him and hung it in the small closet by the entrance. Turning back, she said, "Eric, it's fine, you don't have to change your shoes."

Looking at the spotless apartment, Eric shook his head with a smile. "Even if you don't mind, I do."

He slipped off his leather shoes and stepped onto the polished floor. Carmen quickly kicked off her high boots, rushing to find some slippers.

She hadn't anticipated him being at her place, so she hadn't prepared any slippers for him. Thinking about it, she found a pair of fluffy pink slippers, the largest size available.

However, upon glancing at Eric, who had already plopped down on the sofa, it was clear those slippers would be too small. Embarrassed, she approached him, intending to sit beside him. A pair of strong hands encircled her slim waist, and she obediently lowered herself onto his lap, avoiding eye contact as her face flushed with color.

Having been caught in the rain, although they had the umbrella, their clothes were still somewhat damp. Eric wasn't used to the feeling, planting a gentle kiss on the soft lips of the girl in his arms. After a moment of warmth, he softly asked, "Shall we take a shower together?"

She nodded, though she hesitated to bring up a certain topic. "When do you have to leave?"

"I definitely have to go back today. I'm busy finishing up my new movie's final cut," he replied.

Feeling a bit disappointed, she stood up, pulling him with her as they headed to shower together, eventually laying down on the big bed in her bedroom.

...

Time seemed to slip away.

The bedroom fell quiet. Though they were on the seventeenth floor, and the sound of rain hitting the ground below wasn't audible, they could hear the gentle patter against the glass windows.

Leaning against Eric's chest, Carmen wished time would stand still.

But things seldom went as planned.

The sudden ring of the doorbell caught both of them off guard.

"You invited guests?"

"No," she shook her head, thinking for a moment before adding, "Maybe it's some of my friends coming over to hang out."

Eric tenderly caressed the girl's smooth back and said with a smile, "What if we pretend no one's home?"

"Yeah."

Just as she had answered, she immediately shook her head. "That won't work; Kora has a key. If I don't open the door, they'll just let themselves in."

Eric jokingly complained, "I don't even have a key to your place."

She merely smiled, hurriedly slipping into a dress. Just as she was about to step out, she remembered something and bent down to plant a kiss on Eric's face. "Could you please stay in?"

Eric stroked her petite face and replied, "You're not going to introduce me to your friends?"

Rubbing her cheek against his hand, she nodded, "I won't act like them."

"Alright," Eric smiled. "I'll take a nap. Call me when you've sent them away."

"Thanks."

Eric could hear the doorbell stop ringing outside. "You should go. They might come in by themselves."

Remembering the leather shoes he had left by the entrance, she jumped off the bed.

However, once she reached the living room, it was obviously too late.

...

Several beautiful girls clustered at the entrance, like they had discovered something shocking. Karolina Kurkova was holding up the expensive custom leather shoes, and the chatter ensued.

"There's no label."

"This must be custom-made."

"There should still be a label."

"But it's definitely a man's."

"It wouldn't be Eric Williams, would it?"

"The chances are slim they are not his, but that would be the worst-case scenario. If he finds out, Carmen is going to be in big trouble."

As one girl remarked, the chatter abruptly fell silent, and all eyes turned to Carmen, who had just stepped out of the bedroom.

Some things were secrets to the outside world, yet everyone in the modeling circle was well aware of them. Like any industry, insiders typically kept quiet about the private affairs of their circle; it was a common unspoken rule.

Of course, these rules were often easier to break, especially in the current situation.

Months earlier, Carmen had suddenly risen to become one of the five Victoria's Secret angels. Amid envy and jealousy, when given the chance, no one would miss an opportunity to pull someone they viewed as above them down a peg, even if it was impossible to replace them.

If news of Carmen dating a man other than Eric Williams spread, not only would she risk losing everything she had just gained, but she could also be completely ostracized from the modeling world.

...

The group was silent for a moment, and Carolina awkwardly set down the shoes she was holding. She mustered up the courage to say, "Carmen, don't worry, we won't say a word."

"But you have to seriously consider how to keep us quiet... Wow, Eugene, you pinched me... uh, sorry."

Carmen couldn't show any particular emotion. She walked over to pick up the leather shoes Carolina had set down and carefully placed them on a nearby shoe rack before asking, "What brought you guys here?"

"Eugene and I had a leak in our apartment. It was awful," Carolina explained, watching Carmen's actions. "So, we rounded everyone up to see if we could crash here for the night. We'll leave soon."

Carmen nodded, "Alright, I can walk you out. Sorry about today; let's hang out tomorrow instead."

The girls sensed Carmen's lack of intent to entertain them, and they all prepared to leave. Although they felt reluctant, a few couldn't help but cast glances toward the bedroom.

Just then, the bedroom door swung open, and a shirt-and-pants-clad Eric appeared, saying, "Carmen, let them stay a while longer before they leave."

Initially, Eric hadn't planned to make an appearance, but after overhearing the girls' chatter from the bedroom, he didn't want Carmen to get into any trouble. So, he stepped out.

Seeing Eric, the girls who were about to exit stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with expressions of surprise, incredulity, and excitement. They quickly turned to Carmen.

Realizing he must have heard the girls' conversation to come out, Carmen felt a warm flutter in her heart and nodded obediently, saying, "Sure, everyone come in and sit."

...

There were six girls in total. Once they composed themselves, despite some inner thoughts, they put on polite smiles, greeted Eric, and upon seeing him and Carmen barefoot, they all took off their shoes to walk into the living room.

As models hand-picked by WM Company, their lack of shoes didn't hinder their impressive heights.

Eric took a seat on a single sofa in the living room, observing the girls. He immediately recognized Karolina Kurkova, but he couldn't place the names of the other five girls.

"Eric, this is Kora, Eugene, Angela, Isla, Erin, and Brigitte," Carmen introduced the girls quickly before saying, "I'll go grab some drinks for everyone. Kora, can you help me?"

"Sure."

Carolina intended to plop down on the couch and had her sights set on the spot nearest to Eric. Hearing Carmen's request, she followed her to the large fridge in the corner.

Although the girls were a bit dissatisfied with Carmen's brief introductions, they didn't feel the need to hold back any longer and settled in.

The girl named Eugene took the seat Carolina had been eyeing, angled her body towards Eric, resting her arms on the couch's armrest, and initiated conversation. "Mr. Williams, what brings you to New York?"

"I'm here for a few things," Eric said casually, picking up on the girl's accent. "Are you Russian?"

"I'm from Kazan," Eugene glanced over at Carmen, knowing she wasn't fond of Russians, and emphasized, "My name is Eugenia Volodina."

She enunciated her full name clearly, but Eric just smiled and replied, "Kazan Psychiatric Hospital, I know that place."

Eugenia chuckled in response, "Actually, it's not as terrifying as everyone says. I went there with friends when I was a kid."

Eric studied her youthful face and asked, "Oh, you don't look that old yourself."

"I'm not, I'm nineteen," she stated confidently.

Her claim opened the floodgates for the other girls to call her out. "You're lying, Eugene. You said you were sixteen last time."

"Wasn't it seventeen?"

"I think it was fifteen?"

Eugenia dismissed their teasing. "What's wrong with looking nineteen?"

Carmen returned with a few cans of drinks alongside Carolina. Seeing Eugenia in her chosen spot stirred her slight frustration; she stuffed a can of Coke into Eugenia's hands. "You don't even look that age -- you're just a kid."

"You were born the same year as me, so what gives you the right to say that?"

As Carolina distributed the Coke cans, she couldn't resist going back and forth with Eugenia. "I'm not trying to pretend I'm nineteen."

Eric characterized the group, noting that most girls were well over 5'7''. If it weren't for that lingering youthful look on their faces, it'd be hard to guess their ages.

Carmen handed Eric a can of Coke and settled beside him on the armrest, her eyes wary as she quietly listened to the girls debate their ages. The concern of inadequacy crept into her mind.

At twenty, she still felt older compared to these beautiful girls who typically began modeling at thirteen or fourteen. New York offered a bit of leniency, but in Europe, the age restrictions for models were even more relaxed.

She recalled Gisele mentioning her first meeting with Eric and felt a wave of anxiety about whether he would find these girls attractive.

Unlike Gisele and her three friends, Carmen didn't possess the outgoing demeanor that would allow her to casually cluster around Eric. If Eric desired that, she would definitely remove herself, even if it angered him.

Maybe, it wasn't an absolute.

Yet, it was something she couldn't bear.

In the living room, the girls exchanged playful banter before quickly turning their focus back to Eric, engaging in animated chatter.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1154: The Future]

After chatting with everyone for a while, Eric checked the time and saw it was already five in the afternoon, so he stood up to say goodbye.

Upon hearing that Eric was leaving today, the girls looked even more disappointed than Carmen Kass. Eugenia Volodina boldly interjected, "Eric, it's already quite late. Why don't you stay until tomorrow?"

"There will be things to do tomorrow," Eric said as he slipped on the shoes Carmen handed him. Standing at the entrance, he smiled at the group of girls who had gathered to see him off, "We can chat again next time. It's raining outside, so you all don't need to come out."

With Eric saying so, the girls obediently stayed in the living room, but Carmen insisted on following him downstairs.

Although summer nights were long, the rain made it feel like dusk outside.

Two cars were already parked by the side of the road. A bodyguard saw Eric and Carmen come out of the apartment and got out to open the car door for them.

As they reached the car, Eric noticed the reluctant expression on the girl's face and gently nudged her waist, saying, "Get in; take me a bit further."

They climbed into the car, and Eric watched as the woman handed the umbrella to the bodyguard. She sat down, feeling a bit anxious; she hoped Eric wouldn't just take her straight to Los Angeles. It seemed like he would take Gisele and the others with him?

That couldn't happen.

Once Eric was settled, he noticed Carmen's eyes flickering and smiled, "I can only take you to the Hudson River; I'm flying from there to Long Island Airport."

With that, she relaxed a little but felt a twinge of disappointment still lingering. If he forcibly took her to Los Angeles, she wouldn't be able to resist.

One of Eric's hands reached over to gently cup her face, prompting her to close her eyes and feel the softness of the kiss he laid on her lips. He let go, whispering, "Don't overthink it, and don't worry too much. I prefer you when you pounce on me to bite."

Her cheeks flushed, and she leaned against him, asking, "When can you come back next time?"

"That's uncertain," Eric replied, wrapping his arm around her waist. "But I will definitely be coming to New York more frequently. Plus, you can visit Los Angeles anytime. There's usually a Gulfstream V at the Long Island airport. Call the number I gave you, and they'll make arrangements. And it's not just Los Angeles; you can go wherever you want. Just keep in mind that private jets rust if they sit idle for too long, so think of it as helping me out."

As she leaned on him and listened to his comforting words, she felt warm inside, unable to hold back a smile.

She had never thought of using his private jet before, even though she understood that to him, those were just like regular cars. However, without him by her side, she was sure she would feel very nervous.

But on the surface, she nodded, "Then I can visit my mom anytime."

"A Gulfstream V can definitely reach Eastern Europe. But if you want to go back, I can lend you the big plane; it's more comfortable for long distances."

"Okay."

Eric leaned in to brush against her soft long hair and added, "I just saw them and suddenly thought about something. Have you thought about the future?"

She repeated in confusion, "The future?"

She had some small plans for her future previously, but too many things had happened recently, leaving her life in disarray. There was hardly any time to think about tomorrow.

"Exactly," Eric faced her lovely face. "As a woman of the Williams family, you can certainly choose not to work for the rest of your life. However, I hope you can still do something."

Hearing the way he referred to her, her body stiffened momentarily before softening again as she replied, "But I don't know what to do?"

"Firefly is going to have plenty of arrangements in Eastern Europe, with a temporary focus on Finland. Estonia is right next to Finland, and since you're there, perhaps you could set up some things over there; when the time comes, you can be in charge of some tasks," Eric suggested, pausing before continuing, "Of course, it might be a bit early for you. How about this -- I'll take some time and talk to Paul Roland about investing in WM and making you a partner in this agency. While you work as a model, you can learn how to manage the company."

"Okay, I'll listen to you," she nodded, hesitating before adding, "Actually, I could invest my own money into WM; the endorsement fees from Victoria's Secret and Dior, plus some others."

After saying that, she glanced at Eric nervously.

Although WM wasn't on the same level as industry giants like Elite and IMG, as a contracted model wanting to take a stake in the company, she would surely be turned away without mercy.

However, with Eric's backing, the situation would definitely be different. The shareholders at WM wouldn't mind the money from a model but would love to connect with the towering Firefly empire.

Eric had merely intended for Carmen to gain some experience and was not interested in small companies like WM. Hearing her say that, he nodded without much thought, "Alright, just don't get upset if you lose money."

The Firefly empire's annual marketing budget was in the billions, with ample funds allocated for models, not to mention the entire Hollywood scene. Even forgetting about all that, simply getting a few more angel slots for Victoria's Secret would be enough to keep WM thriving; how could it possibly incur losses?

Thinking this through, she added, "Maybe you could invest a bit in WM as well."

If the Firefly empire completely withheld investment, it would still feel somewhat unbalanced.

Eric chuckled, "Good idea; you've begun to think strategically. In that case, you should talk to Paul Roland yourself. Tell him Firefly is only looking for 10% equity, and whatever you can negotiate for yourself, it's all up to you and him; I'll just foot the bill in the end."

Hearing this, she felt somewhat bashful but her mind also started to race with ideas.

Model management companies didn't have the same antitrust restrictions as Hollywood management firms, but competition was fierce due to the low entry barrier. Even after the emergence of the Victoria's Secret angels, the commercial value of top supermodels had skyrocketed, yet the multinational agencies like Elite only made around four to five hundred million a year, with even lower profit margins.

In comparison, WM felt like a small fry next to the Firefly empire.

However, it could provide her with a valuable platform beyond just catwalks. She had never been one to accept mediocrity; previously she just hadn't had a chance. Now, with the support of the man beside her, she was feeling more eager than ever to prove herself.

...

Considering future travels between Long Island and Manhattan, Eric had even built a helicopter pad by the Hudson River, right at the end of 66th Street, which directly accessed the ABC headquarters in the Upper West Hydee.

As they talked, the car rolled into the closed private helicopter pad gate. A black VH-60 helicopter was waiting by the river. Just like the East Coast, there were also two VH-60s stationed at Long Island Airport.

The rain showed no signs of stopping today. After getting out of the car, Eric exchanged a few words with Carmen before hurriedly boarding the helicopter with his entourage, flying towards Long Island Airport.

Holding the umbrella, she stood by the pad, tilting her face up. Her gaze followed the large black helicopter as it circled north along the Hudson River before speeding eastward until it disappeared from sight, and then she retreated under the umbrella.

The mixed emotions of parting blended with earlier excitement, leaving her feeling somewhat downcast.

Two black Mercedes cars remained parked nearby, their drivers also part of Firefly's security department. They would take Eric's personal vehicles back to the company garage, where they would be maintained until his next visit.

Following the previous incident involving eavesdropping, security measures around Eric had become even stricter.

Carmen wasn't the type to bother others. After the helicopter's shadow vanished completely, she noticed the two cars waiting for her and quickly walked over.

The driver opened the door, took her umbrella, and then helped her into the car. The two cars left the pad one after the other.

A few minutes later, back at her apartment, opening the door felt like the magical pumpkin carriage's gown disappearing all at once.

Fortunately, he could surely find her without a glass slipper.

The girls had not left. Seeing her return, they rushed over, giggling and asking questions. Although she was about to become one of their bosses, she wasn't in a hurry to reveal this and quickly discussed where they should all have dinner.

...

While driving from Manhattan to Long Island's private airport took at least two hours, the helicopter made it in just half an hour.

Gisele and the three girls had already been waiting at the airport for a few hours. When Eric finally arrived, they couldn't help but complain a bit, but once on the Boeing 747, excitement took over.

Since Carmen had gotten things started, on the way back to Los Angeles, Eric also invited Gisele to his study for a detailed chat.

Among the three girls, he had always valued Gisele the most.

Gisele's contract was still with Elite, and unlike Carmen, Eric didn't want Gisele to take a stake in Elite.

Compared to WM, Elite was already a publicly traded company. Although he could easily buy out Elite based on its market value, Gisele was clearly not at a level ready to participate in Elite's management.

After a discussion, Eric made a call to Cindy on the plane, temporarily arranging for Gisele to work at Cindy's production company.

As for Alessandra and Miranda, Eric didn't have plans for them; they didn't have Gisele's ambition and always needed a few pure "trophies" around.

...

The arrangements for Carmen and Gisele were not whims of Eric's.

With the Firefly empire at its current scale, it certainly needed to pursue global expansion.

It wasn't that Firefly's growth in North America had hit its limits; in fact, aside from the initial Hollywood layout being completed, various technology companies under Firefly were still in the early stages of rapid growth.

However, whether it was Yahoo, Cisco, or Nokia, these companies were destined to become global giants.

If expansion only occurred after North America reached saturation, it would undoubtedly be missing the best timing.

On the other hand, given Firefly's current scale, to smoothly execute overseas expansion, it needed substantial investment arrangements abroad to avoid significant obstacles.

Take Europe; in the coming years, North America would shift from a continuous anti-monopoly investigation of global tech giants like Microsoft to a more laissez-faire attitude of fostering them, while the increasingly expanding European Union would continue to suppress these companies by various means.

Thus, establishing Firefly's influence in Europe ahead of time would greatly reduce future troubles.

Of course, at present, if Firefly aimed to foster allies, it often meant targeting entire countries or even multiple ones, not merely investing in some politicians. After all, only country-level support could provide substantial assistance to the massive Firefly empire.

In reality, with Nokia's significant role in Finland's economy and Firefly holding absolute control over this mobile giant, the empire already had considerable influence in Finland.

As a member of the EU, if the future EU tried to suppress Firefly's interests -- involving not just Nokia but also other companies like Yahoo and Cisco -- Finland would inevitably stand by Firefly.

However, relying only on Finland was clearly insufficient.

Among the major EU member states, fostering ties with Germany and France posed significant challenges. Both countries, having reached peak economic development, were nearly stagnant and were not part of Eric's ideal target.

In contrast, the support from News Corporation could provide great assistance to Eric in the UK, but he couldn't bank on Murdoch, especially since the UK had consistently maintained an ambiguous relationship with the EU.

Thus, self-reliance was the key.

In Europe, the focus would naturally be on the rapidly developing Eastern European nations, perhaps even including Russia.

Pursuing comprehensive economic and political penetration throughout Eastern Europe would not only open a massive market of hundreds of millions of people for the Firefly empire but also ensure that even if the EU later sought to economically confront the U.S., Firefly would not be a casualty caught in the crossfire.

Outside of Eastern Europe, Eric's other target was Latin America.

In the 70s and 80s, Latin America's economy experienced rapid growth, quite similar to that of Southeast Asia in the early 90s.

However, due to various developmental strategy errors and the clear unwillingness of the U.S. to allow a competing economy to emerge in its "backyard," Latin American economies began to decline in the late 80s.

This presented another golden opportunity for Firefly's overseas expansion.

After all, despite its long-term malaise, Latin America was still a vast market with over 500 million people.

Moreover, beyond straightforward expansion, establishing Firefly as a standalone economic entity, independent of any state-level influence, was Eric's ultimate goal.

Therefore, both Carmen Kass and Gisele were regarded as seeds Eric was nurturing.

He didn't expect too much from the two girls, but if they succeeded, as his women, Eric would be more than willing to see them play an important role within the entire Firefly system.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1155: The Crazy Surroundings]

Eric returned to Los Angeles on June 10, just as Firefly Group's second summer film, Cars, finished its first week of screenings.

While Cars maintained Pixar's usual production quality, it was widely regarded by critics as targeting a younger audience, making it less appealing to adult viewers. In its opening week, Cars earned $83.32 million, slightly below the expectations of the distribution department.

However, the toy line developed around Cars saw significant success following the film's release, far exceeding Firefly Group's projections. In just one week, merchandise sales for Cars surpassed $200 million, easily outpacing the merchandise figures from the release of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace at the end of the previous year.

Firefly Group's consumer products division even produced an ambitious report predicting that the overall sales of Cars merchandise during its lifecycle could only be second to the Star Wars franchise. Based on initial sales data, the total merchandise sales from Cars for the year were expected to reach between $2.5 billion to $3 billion. Coupled with the successful merchandise lineup for Iron Man, Firefly Group's consumer products revenue was projected to double, reaching about $6 billion.

With an average net profit margin of about 15%, the $6 billion in merchandise sales would potentially yield $900 million in net profit for Firefly Group. According to first-half financial data, even without considering substantial non-operating profits from the Clover Fund, Firefly Group's net profit for the entire 1999 fiscal year was on track to exceed $4 billion for the first time.

This meant the consumer products division alone would contribute over 20% of the total net profit for Firefly Group, a figure that had usually hovered around just 10% in previous years.

...

Although Firefly Group was quietly raking in profits and showed no inclination to publicly promote the strong sales of Cars merchandise, the media quickly uncovered the story, with some 'in-the-know' outlets even accessing the division's prediction report.

Last year, in an effort to gain more leverage during its merger with America Online, Time Warner had carefully designed its annual financial report, barely exceeding $1.9 billion in profits. Now, Firefly Group's consumer products division was already close to contributing half of that. It was no wonder the entire Hollywood was feeling envious.

Although Pixar Animation Studios had established a technological barrier similar to that found in Digital Domain, key personnel at Pixar quickly became targets for headhunters. Even John Lasseter had been approached, with offers that made Eric himself feel a bit 'tempted.'

To prevent talent attrition, Firefly Group had to initiate another round of salary increases at Pixar.

In the original timeline, Eric had often wondered how studios like Blue Sky Studios and Illumination Entertainment could keep their animation production costs down to around $60 million while Pixar's production budgets routinely reached $200 million.

Now, he fully understood.

The primary expense in animated films was labor costs. With a production team of 500 over two years, a team with an average salary of $100,000 versus another with an average salary of $50,000 could drastically differ in production budgets.

Pixar not only had a much larger animation production team than smaller studios, but its staff's average salaries also exceeded those of competitors, leading to higher production costs.

...

Aside from Cars, Amblin Entertainment's The Matrix 3 chose June 9 for its release date.

In Hollywood, a common unspoken rule was that films releasing on days other than Friday typically indicated a lack of confidence in the film's box office prospects. By spreading the initial release week over more days, producers hoped to achieve higher earnings in the early stages.

The Matrix 3 clearly adhered to this rule, as last year's The Matrix 2 had already depleted much of the fan enthusiasm. Although Amblin chose not to expedite the release of the finale by the end of last year, waiting till summer had made many viewers lose interest in the series after the lengthy year-long wait.

After a wave of negative reviews post-release, The Matrix 3's box office earned a decent $35.15 million after two days but saw a rapid decline afterward. The second week's earnings from June 11 to June 17 fell to just $62.53 million, with the following third week witnessing a staggering drop of 67%. It was expected that the film wouldn't even meet its $150 million production budget in North America.

The failure of The Matrix 3 had become the final straw leading to the unraveling of Amblin Entertainment.

Industry whispers indicated that David Geffen, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas had begun discussing potential splits, and Microsoft had already ceased funding support for the film company, which initially seemed poised to replicate the miracles of Firefly Group and become another major player in Hollywood.

Now, it was clear to many that the future of Hollywood would not see another contender among the current Big Seven.

...

Despite the series of new releases, Iron Man continued to perform steadily at the box office. In its seventh week, it brought in an additional $10.60 million, bringing its North American total to $359.11 million.

Though it would likely dip below the $10 million mark the following week, the approaching $360 million domestic total was already close to Eric's previous directorial work, Casino Royale, which had reached $370 million.

However, based on current trends, the likelihood of Iron Man reaching $400 million in North America seemed slim.

That $400 million mark appeared to be a barrier.

Even so, no one felt particularly disappointed.

At the same time, with increasing box office numbers, Iron Man's overseas earnings effortlessly broke through $500 million. Although it was also nearing its conclusion, it was no stretch to predict that Iron Man's global box office would surpass $1 billion in the coming months, including North America.

Unknowingly, many suddenly realized that although Iron Man was Eric's starring project, along with Jurassic Park and Casino Royale, this was already the third film he had been directly involved in that achieved over $1 billion in global box office.

When a filmmaker managed to create a film that grossed over $1 billion globally, they would immediately be celebrated as a Hollywood superstar.

But when a filmmaker produced three consecutive films surpassing the $1 billion mark, it could only be described as a miracle.

Moreover, with more information about Gravity surfacing, many started to realize that it could likely be another $1 billion box office miracle for Eric Williams.

...

After quickly attending the celebratory dinner for the merger of America Online and Time Warner in New York, Eric returned to Los Angeles and devoted most of his energy to the final editing of Gravity.

Gravity's production was done concurrently with its post-production, with the Digital Domain's 3D conversion studio already working on transforming relevant 2D footage into 3D, including for IMAX-3D.

Eric's approach was a way to continually refine the 3D conversion team during production while optimizing 3D and IMAX technology based on his previous experiences.

Having completed the 3D conversion of Gravity, the Digital Domain's team had begun working on a 3D version of Underworld.

Although the 2D version of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring had already been completed, Eric still hoped the conversion team would have some experience from Underworld before diving into The Lord of the Rings project. The release date for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was set for December 17, allowing ample time.

...

Busy with work, June flew by without notice.

As noon approached, Bill Gates stepped out of his car in the Firefly studio parking lot. Although he had little expectation, seeing only Eric's blonde, tall assistant waiting by the parking lot left him feeling slightly dissatisfied.

"Mr. Gates, hello," Marissa Mayer politely greeted him, seemingly oblivious to his demeanor, shaking his hand and adding, "Please, follow me."

As they walked out of the parking lot together, Gates couldn't help but ask, "Is Eric very busy?"

Merissa Mayer nodded, "Mr. Williams is currently in the final edit of his new movie."

Listening to Merissa Mayer's corporate tone, Gates recalled a recent mishap with a woman and chose not to make things awkward by speaking up. Still, he couldn't help but think Eric Williams had probably encountered far more romantic pitfalls than he had; why had he never faced anything as unfortunate?

Arriving at the Digital Domain's studio, Gates had just settled into the lounge under Merissa Mayer's guidance when Eric entered with a few others, laughing and joking.

Gates hesitated for a moment but stood up nonetheless, smiling as he approached.

"Bill, great to see you again," Eric shook Gates' hand, then introduced the group beside him, "This is Jim, Michael -- you know him for sure -- and Peter, the director of the Lord of the Rings series."

Microsoft had always harbored ambitions of breaking into Hollywood, and despite their recent failure with Amblin, Gates had not abandoned that idea.

At that moment, seeing prominent directors like James Cameron and Michael Bay, he greeted everyone politely, exchanging handshakes and pleasantries before jokingly asking, "Eric, are you planning something big again?"

Eric, settling into his chair, replied, "It's still about 3D movies. Digital Domain has had some new technological breakthroughs, so we wanted to bring everyone in to take a look."

In fact, over the past six months, to further advance 3D-IMAX film technology, a series of directors within the Firefly network had frequently visited Firefly Studios. Eric had even personally approved a budget of $20 million specifically to have these core directors produce 3D short films to familiarize themselves with all aspects of 3D and IMAX technology.

The core technology for 3D and IMAX lay in the hands of Digital Domain, so Eric wasn't worried that these directors would switch to another studio after mastering 3D-IMAX techniques.

After enjoying a coffee and a casual chat for a while, knowing Eric and Bill Gates had business to discuss, Cameron and the others decided to leave.

Eric then led Gates to the big ship's restaurant.

...

After placing their orders, the two quickly transitioned into the day's main topic.

Five years ago, to make Yahoo Browser the default on Microsoft, along with a series of other collaborations, Yahoo and Microsoft signed a long-term equity purchase agreement. The terms stated that after five years, Microsoft could acquire up to 30% of Yahoo's shares.

That agreement's expiration date was next month, followed by a three-month hesitation period for Microsoft to decide whether to exercise this purchase option.

Gates had initially envisioned acquiring 30% of Yahoo's shares first, then gradually increasing that stake through open market strategies, eventually controlling the company.

But now, the situation had evolved far beyond his original expectations.

With the ongoing explosion of tech stocks on NASDAQ, Microsoft's current market value had soared to $560 billion, while Yahoo's recent value had reached $170 billion.

Under the terms of the original agreement, Microsoft had the option to acquire shares through stock swaps or cash payments.

Now, Yahoo's 30% stake was worth over $50 billion, making it impossible for Microsoft to offer that much cash. On the surface, it seemed that Microsoft could simply provide 10% of its shares to get a 30% stake in Yahoo, which could give the impression that Microsoft was getting an excellent deal.

However, many understood that Microsoft's 10% share was inherently worth much more due to its already established monopoly in the industry compared to Yahoo's 30% shares.

Moreover, should a stock swap occur, the Firefly network would instantly become Microsoft's second-largest shareholder and potentially the largest due to Gates' continued sell-offs.

Since Microsoft had not adopted a dual-class stock structure, if the Firefly network were to become Microsoft's largest shareholder, it could threaten Gates' control over Microsoft.

On the other hand, even with a transfer of 30% of Yahoo's shares, the shares directly held by Firefly would still exceed 48%. As long as the Firefly network was willing, it could easily control Yahoo, making it impossible for Microsoft to gradually take control as Gates had originally envisioned regarding Yahoo.

Thus, the current situation was that the once-promising long-term equity purchase agreement had become a bit of a headache for Microsoft.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1156: Bill Gates' Conditions]

Five years ago, Microsoft was eager to partner with Yahoo primarily because it recognized the potential impact of Yahoo's groundbreaking browser software on promoting its new generation of desktop operating systems.

However, after the tremendous success of Windows 95 and Microsoft's dominance in the operating system market, Bill Gates gradually felt that Microsoft had made a significant mistake in its collaboration with Yahoo. The Yahoo browser capitalized on the momentum from Windows 95 to quickly monopolize the graphical interface browser market, while Microsoft only received a promise that could not be fulfilled in the short term.

As a result, Microsoft harbored thoughts of tearing up the contract on more than one occasion. Initially, influenced by the 30% deferred stock purchase rights proposed by Eric, Bill Gates held on to the idea of acquiring Yahoo, hesitating to sever ties with them.

In the ensuing years, with the explosion of the internet wave, Microsoft increasingly realized that the original contract had become a hindrance to its efforts to expand its business on the internet. Although the Yahoo browser was the default browser for Windows, control over the software remained in Yahoo's hands.

Thanks to the traffic directed through the Yahoo browser as a network portal, Yahoo dominated more than 70% of the internet portal market, resulting in a staggering market value exceeding $170 billion. In contrast, Microsoft's MSN portal garnered almost no benefits from the Yahoo browser.

However, by the time Microsoft fully understood this, it was already too late to sever ties with Yahoo. Through a technological alliance and thousands of patent barriers, Yahoo's advantages in the internet business had become deeply entrenched.

Five years prior, had Microsoft refused to partner with Yahoo and developed its own graphical interface browser independently, even if it fell behind Yahoo by a year or so, it could still have leveraged its widely established operating system platform to create a new standard to rival Yahoo.

But now, Yahoo's series of technological standards had been implemented on millions of websites, and Microsoft, no matter how powerful, could not regain the initiative in the internet space where it lagged five years behind.

One could say that the partnership with Yahoo, agreed upon five years ago, constituted the most significant decision-making blunder for Microsoft, which had otherwise been riding high and unchallenged in those years. Even within Microsoft, there were many who criticized Bill Gates for having personally championed that partnership.

Many felt that if Microsoft had developed its graphical interface browser independently, leaning on its monopolistic advantages on the operating system platform, much of what Yahoo enjoyed should have belonged to Microsoft.

...

As they engaged in mutual probing, when Amy Adams brought in their lunch, Bill Gates picked up his utensils, cutting a piece of steak in front of him, gradually revealing his intentions.

Although the 30% deferred stock purchase agreement had become a non-issue, Microsoft was unwilling to give it up without ensuring it could gain sufficient advantages from Yahoo and the Firefly organization.

"Eric, you really don't want to sell Yahoo shares to Microsoft, do you?" Bill Gates inquired.

"Of course not," Eric replied, nodding with a smile. "However, after the deal, whether I receive $50 billion in cash or 10% of Microsoft's shares, it still favors me."

Seeing Eric's smile, Bill Gates suddenly thought back to years ago when he took advantage of a loophole in a contract with Apple and was sharply criticized by Steve Jobs. Though their attitudes were vastly different, the uncomfortable feeling in Gates was remarkably similar. He looked away from the food momentarily but still couldn't find the right words to accurately describe Eric at that moment.

As Bill Gates cut another piece of steak, he raised his head and said, "Eric, Microsoft has a three-month hesitation period. However, given the current situation, the Nasdaq index is unlikely to hold for another three months. Once the Nasdaq crashes, Yahoo's stock price will certainly plummet. By then, Microsoft won't need $50 billion to acquire 30% of Yahoo shares. For Microsoft now, raising $10 to $20 billion in cash is quite easy."

"Even if there is $10 to $20 billion, that's still pretty good," Eric shrugged, momentarily losing his smile, and stated seriously. "Bill, in my view, collaboration between Yahoo and Microsoft is the best win-win model. So, just tell me what you want?"

Bill Gates hesitated but quickly replied, "Eric, Microsoft can give up the stock purchase agreement, but on the condition that Firefly Electronics must cease the development of the YOS system. In compensation, Microsoft can customize an operating system platform specifically for Yahoo's mini music store."

Since 1996, Yahoo had begun developing the YOS system based on initial operating system ideas from Steve Mitnick and the mobile operating system concept proposed by Eric, with Y being the first letter of Yahoo.

Although this project was transferred to Firefly Electronics before Yahoo went public, the system name remained unchanged. After three years of quiet development, combined with concurrent projects like ARM chips and capacitive touchscreens, Firefly Electronics now possessed a very mature set of tablet computer technology.

Due to many details not meeting Eric's satisfaction, Firefly Electronics was in no hurry to release the tablet product, striving for perfection. However, the mini music store based on their series of technology achievements was already being promoted.

In fact, when discussing the mini music store plan, Firefly executives had considered how Microsoft might react to this new operating system. As expected, Microsoft had indeed grown vigilant about YOS, and not just casually.

Moreover, their vigilance was precisely accurate. The YOS system was central to Eric's strategic positioning in the future mobile internet industry. Even if he were to lose 30% of Yahoo's shares and instantly turn against Microsoft, Eric would never halt the development of the YOS system.

At that moment, in the restaurant, Eric only smiled noncommittally and said, "It seems you truly have done your homework in advance."

"Of course," Bill Gates nodded. "Microsoft never underestimates any competitor."

"Given that, Bill, you should know that this is an integrated hardware and software electronic device, and Microsoft can't possibly provide a customized system for Firefly Electronics' mini music store in the short term. We can't afford to wait for Microsoft," Eric continued.

Microsoft had clearly considered this situation. Bill Gates said directly, "Eric, Microsoft can acquire Firefly Electronics' YOS development department, so your mentioned problem wouldn't arise. I suspect Firefly Electronics intended to adopt the integrated hardware and software development model like Apple did, but history proves that such a closed model is fundamentally unworkable."

"I don't agree with Steve's closed model of integrated hardware and software either. However, I also believe that paths are created by people, and your disagreement doesn't mean this business model cannot succeed," Eric replied, steadfastly shaking his head. "So, Bill, Firefly Electronics won't stop work on YOS, nor will we sell the YOS system to Microsoft. I genuinely hope to continue collaborating with Microsoft, but that condition is unacceptable. Perhaps you could consider some other requests."

"What about the Yahoo browser?" Bill Gates focused intently on Eric. "Eric, the restrictive terms in that contract expire next month. Microsoft can launch its own browser at any time, excluding Yahoo's browser from the Windows system."

Eric smiled and said, "Bill, what you mean is that if I agree to transfer YOS, Microsoft will continue to keep Yahoo as the default browser?"

"Absolutely," Bill replied.

Eric raised another question, "You intend to completely abandon MSN then?"

Bill Gates hesitated before answering, "If a new contract is signed, Yahoo's browser will definitely shift traffic toward MSN."

Eric shrugged, "So, that's another matter. Bill, I know Microsoft can launch its own graphical interface browser without hurdles after five years of technical digestion, but it technically cannot compare to Yahoo's browser. Also, Microsoft is already facing enough antitrust lawsuits; I'm sure you wouldn't want to add another lawsuit for browser monopolization. Hence, continuing to collaborate with Yahoo remains the best choice."

Gates finally showed signs of impatience, saying, "Eric, you keep talking about cooperation, but I only see Yahoo's unilateral demands, and your words lack any genuine intent to collaborate."

"That's because you've presented conditions I simply cannot accept. So let's discuss alternatives, such as Yahoo browser. As long as it remains the default browser for Windows, I could agree to Yahoo browser directing traffic to MSN. Moreover, Yahoo can pay Microsoft an annual software pre-installation fee. What do you think?"

Continuing their browser collaboration and charging Yahoo a software pre-installation fee was, after all, within Microsoft's consideration range. But now that Eric proposed it first, it became a cooperation condition proactively offered by Yahoo.

Bill Gates felt increasingly vexed, knowing in his heart that due to past mistakes, Microsoft was now in a passive position. Eric was entirely disregarding the stock purchase agreement in Microsoft's hands; regardless of whether it was executed, Yahoo wouldn't suffer losses.

In his view, the only true bargaining chip Microsoft had was the Windows platform pre-installation rights for the Yahoo browser.

However, internally, Microsoft also had significant divisions about continuing the partnership with Yahoo. Many executives advocated cutting all ties with Yahoo immediately in favor of launching their own browser to fully support their MSN portal business.

Though having maintained control of Microsoft, Bill Gates' control over the software company wasn't as strong as the outside world perceived. The most obvious sign of this was that Microsoft was showing clear signs of "big company syndrome," characterized by bureaucratic slowdowns, sluggish responses, and internal power struggles.

If Bill Gates had maintained absolute control over Microsoft, many of these issues could have been avoided.

"Eric, you need to understand," after a moment of thought, Bill Gates continued, "Windows is Microsoft's platform, and on this platform, how the rules are set is always up to Microsoft to decide."

This was a clear threat. Eric remained poised, nodding softly, "Of course, Bill, I understand, which is why I want to continue our collaborative relationship."

Bill Gates could no longer contain his raised voice, "But you show no genuine readiness to cooperate!"

Hearing Bill Gates' sudden outburst, Eric frowned slightly while glancing at his food. Although he didn't see spit flying, he found his appetite entirely gone, dropping his utensils, "Bill, we're adults, can we not act like children throwing tantrums when they don't get their toys?"

Other executives from Firefly's systems, who were also dining nearby, heard Bill Gates' sudden outburst alongside Eric's instructive tone. Despite their attempts to restrain themselves, some couldn't help but laugh.

Bill Gates instantly felt embarrassed, also setting down his utensils, looking displeased. "Eric, it seems we need not continue this discussion further."

Eric nodded, "Why don't you take a moment to calm down? Perhaps we could reconvene tomorrow?"

Bill Gates grimaced, coldly responding, "I'll be returning to Seattle this afternoon. The remaining matters will be handled by Microsoft's personnel in communication with Yahoo."

Eric was agreeable. "That works too. Feel free to call me anytime; you know my number."

...

Watching Bill Gates storm out, Frank Wells, who had been seated nearby, approached with a cup of coffee and smiled. "That didn't go well?"

Eric contemplated the rectangular dining table for a moment, called Amy over to request a new lunch, then replied to Frank Wells, "Gates has been dominant for so long, trying to leverage insufficient bargaining chips to obtain what Microsoft desires. Do you think I could agree to his terms?"

As a contract that was essentially useless, even should Yahoo decline every condition posed by Microsoft, the odds were still over 90% that Microsoft would proactively abandon it.

Regarding the Yahoo browser, as user habits formed and its inherent advantages persisted, unless Microsoft completely banned it from the Windows platform, even without its default browser status, the Yahoo browser could maintain a market edge for a long time.

In a few years, as Yahoo continued to expand its presence in the internet space, the Yahoo browser's role as a portal would become less critical. Even now, the browser dependency of the Yahoo portal and Google search engine had already significantly diminished.

Though he was the president of Firefly Group, Frank Wells was also aware of the collaboration nuances between Yahoo and Microsoft. "If that's the case, is there a possibility of complications ahead?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1157: A Simple Job]

"That equity subscription agreement isn't going to cause Yahoo any trouble," Eric said, shaking his head. "What worries me more is how Microsoft's response could impact Yahoo's stock price, and even drag down the entire Nasdaq market."

Although Eric only shared half of his concern, Frank Wells immediately understood.

In recent days, the Nasdaq index had skyrocketed to 4,700 points, and the tech stock market was so seriously bloated that even a slight trigger could lead to a full-blown market collapse.

While Firefly Investment's new tech companies had prepared for the bubble to burst, Clover Fund still owned tech stocks that would take at least two weeks to liquidate completely. At current stock prices, the total value of this batch of tech stocks exceeded $6 billion. Even though Clover Fund had successfully cashed in most of its shares, Eric certainly didn't want this massive sum to evaporate due to an early collapse of the index.

Due to Eric's strict confidentiality measures, Frank Wells wasn't fully aware of the specifics surrounding Clover Fund's situation. However, he understood that the longer the Nasdaq index held up, the better it would be for Clover Fund's restructuring efforts.

While he too was curious about Clover Fund's operations, Frank refrained from asking. Instead, he said, "Given that, Eric, you really didn't need to argue with Gates earlier. Even just giving him the runaround for a while would have been better."

"That was my intention," Eric shrugged. "However, Microsoft has been sailing smoothly for years, and it just so happens they've taken a big hit with Yahoo. Gates has probably been bottling up his frustration for a long time, and after his latest demands went unmet, it's no wonder he exploded."

Frank thought for a moment and replied, "I believe Microsoft wouldn't want to see the Nasdaq crash either; they probably won't react too dramatically."

Eric nodded in agreement. "Gates is a smart man. I subtly implied that Yahoo wants to maintain their partnership, and now that he's calmed down, he wouldn't willingly give up that equity subscription agreement without something to show for it. So, this is definitely going to drag on for a while."

Just then, Amy brought another lunch for Eric. Frank picked up his coffee cup and waited for a moment, then continued, "Eric, given the current trends, how far do you think the Nasdaq can really go?"

"The Nasdaq has already hit its limits," Eric replied, picking up his utensils. "What's lacking now is a catalyst to pop the tech stock bubble."

Having said that, Eric suddenly paused. If Yahoo and Microsoft couldn't reach a further cooperation agreement, Yahoo would lose its status as the default browser on Windows systems. This would surely be a major blow for Yahoo and would undoubtedly trigger a decline in its stock price. As the leading stock in the new tech sector, a drop in Yahoo shares could easily lead to a chain reaction of falling tech stocks.

This was one of the potential catalysts Eric wanted to avoid as much as possible today.

Moreover, in the coming July and August, if the second-quarter financial reports released by new tech companies showed widespread losses, that could very well serve as another trigger for the Nasdaq's collapse.

Eric had already prepared for this; Yahoo intended to be the first among most new tech firms to announce its second-quarter financial results before July 15. With Yahoo's strong financial data as backing, the losses of other tech companies wouldn't stand out quite as markedly.

However, Eric suddenly recalled one of the most critical potential triggers for a Nasdaq crash: Microsoft's antitrust case.

...

For the past two years, the U.S. Federal Justice Department had been investigating Microsoft for antitrust violations. By this point, the department had outlined several major charges against Microsoft: illegally erecting barriers to keep competitors out of the market, tying the sale of Windows systems to other Microsoft software, and forcing computer manufacturers to sign exclusive agreements, among others.

Recently, Bill Gates's mistress, Stephanie Jule, had suddenly come forward, claiming that Microsoft incentivized corporate users to exclude competitors through what was being dubbed "reverse bounty." A kinder term for this would be "kickback," but the harsher truth was that it was essentially bribery.

Moreover, the reason Stephanie was able to come forward was that Gates had taken her to a very confidential meeting regarding Microsoft's reverse bounty program. Despite being surrounded by many women, Eric had always carefully positioned women around him like decorative vases, never letting them touch the core secrets of the Firefly system.

So, upon hearing the news, Eric found himself questioning whether Stephanie was arrogant or foolish. The recent North American media even went so far as to put Clinton and Gates side by side, teasing them as the "two unfortunate Bills" who fell due to their lovers.

Stephanie's testimony undoubtedly helped push the Justice Department's investigation of Microsoft forward significantly.

Sorting through his memories, Eric gradually recalled that in the original timeline, one of the key catalysts for the Nasdaq crash was a federal judge, Thomas Jackson, presiding over Microsoft's antitrust case, who, at a critical stalemate moment, suddenly announced he possessed key evidence of Microsoft's monopoly and would soon render a final judgment.

Thus, at that sensitive moment when the Nasdaq index had already soared past 5,000 points, Jackson's statement became the straw that broke the camel's back.

In the wake of Jackson's statement, Microsoft's stock price plummeted, which in turn triggered an overall market crash for the Nasdaq. Subsequently, as new tech companies began releasing a series of massive financial losses in their annual reports, the Nasdaq index continued to decline over the next year, even dipping back to the 1,000-point mark.

Due to the detrimental impact this had on the entire Nasdaq market, Thomas Jackson was eventually removed from his position. For the sake of the greater good, the federal government ultimately announced a settlement with Microsoft, canceling the antitrust investigation, allowing Microsoft to avoid being broken up.

At that moment, Eric began to realize many inconsistencies within the situation. Despite the risk of violating judicial procedure that could end his entire career, Jackson had suddenly leaked details about the Microsoft antitrust case to the media. Soon afterward, Microsoft's stock began to decline, leading to the overall crash of the Nasdaq index.

It seemed like a coincidence at first but was just too coincidental to be dismissed as such.

Even if the federal court issued a judgment to break up Microsoft, the company could appeal. Thus, in order to destroy the entire Nasdaq index, when Judge Jackson released that negative news about Microsoft, there surely had to be a considerable number of sell orders applying pressure to drive Microsoft shares down to achieve that final goal.

Now, with the Nasdaq index approaching the 5,000-point mark, while many investors who had previously been bearish were starting to buy tech stocks, more short-selling funds were still entering the fray, looking to make a profit once the Nasdaq crashed.

According to the nature of capital's pursuit of profit, the prospect of potentially earning billions would definitely drive some to take proactive steps to destroy the Nasdaq index.

In thinking this through, Stephanie Jule's emergence was clearly not an accidental event, much like the Lewinsky scandal.

After all, even if the affections had waned, it's incredibly rare for a lowly employee to risk their career to testify against a former boss without any push from powerful sources or financial incentives.

While Stephanie's testimony did lead to a drop in Microsoft's stock price, it didn't create the outcomes some desired.

So, what next?

...

Thinking quickly, Eric finished his lunch and called Kelly Haynes, asking her to gather information on the Microsoft antitrust case and hurry to Firefly Studios.

A few hours later, Eric was discussing some musical adjustments for Gravity with composer John Williams when there was a knock at the studio door. Kelly, dressed in a light gray business suit, peeked in, greeting Eric in a soft voice.

Eric nodded in response and spoke for a moment with John Williams before stepping out of the studio.

As soon as he exited, Kelly stood up from the sofa in the outer room and walked over to hand Eric a folder, saying, "Eric, time is a bit tight. I don't know if this is enough."

Eric took the folder, replying, "Let's talk in my office."

Kelly nodded and followed Eric out of the post-production center and into his office in the administrative area.

...

Once inside, Eric gestured for Kelly to make herself comfortable, then sat down behind his desk and opened the materials he had in hand.

Kelly didn't mind Eric's casualness; in fact, she found it endearing. She knew that Eric only behaved that way with those closest to him.

After their unforgettable evening together all those years ago, the two maintained a particularly affectionate relationship. And due to the lingering shadow of her previous marriage, Kelly had no intention of seeking another partner, unconsciously channeling her emotional attachments onto the man before her.

Carefully, she brewed a pot of coffee and quietly placed a cup beside the focused Eric before sitting across from him, studying him as he perused the materials.

The information Kelly had gathered in such a short time wasn't extensive, but it was sufficient for Eric to get all the information he needed.

Historically, not much had changed: the judge overseeing the Microsoft antitrust case was still Thomas Jackson, an experienced federal judge. From the materials at hand, he didn't seem to be a hardline advocate for breaking up Microsoft.

Thus, this information undoubtedly confirmed some of Eric's suspicions.

Once he finished reading the last page, Eric looked up and caught Kelly's gaze. He smiled, teasing, "Am I looking handsome again?"

Caught in the act of admiring the man before her, Kelly's face flushed. "I just thought you must have forgotten to shave these past few days."

Eric rubbed his noticeably rough chin, chuckling, "What can I say? The life of a bachelor is awfully lonely. Nobody bothers to look out for me."

"Not much I can do," Kelly replied, giving him a light-hearted glare. "So, what exactly do you need these materials for, Eric?"

Eric picked out Jackson's information and passed it to Kelly, saying, "Have you noticed the recent situation regarding Stephanie Jule?"

"I have. It seems similar to the Lewinsky incident," Kelly said, taking the sheets from Eric. After a moment, she glanced back, her tone teasing yet cautioning, "So, Eric, you'd better be careful about these things."

"Of course, I'd never do something as foolish as Gates did."

"Who knows? You guys are all the same," Kelly said with an amused shrug before lifting the materials again. "So, what's wrong with this person?"

"I'm not sure," Eric replied, shaking his head. "That's why I wanted to see you. I want to find out if there's anything suspicious about this person or if they might cause issues."

Kelly understood Eric's intent but was somewhat puzzled. "Eric, I've been keeping an eye on any potential investigations from the Justice Department and SEC into the Firefly system. So far, nothing unusual has come up. We really shouldn't be intervening in Microsoft's case, should we?"

"We certainly won't be intervening in Microsoft's case," Eric nodded. "I'm just worried that Thomas Jackson might end up being another Stephanie Jule. Just imagine, if in this sensitive period, Thomas Jackson were to suddenly release some negative statements about Microsoft, coupled with some behind-the-scenes cooperation, what kind of results could that lead to?"

Kelly's thoughts whirled around, and she blurted out, "The Nasdaq crashing?"

"Exactly," Eric agreed. "Those who brought Stephanie to light consequently didn't achieve their goals, and they'll likely make another move. I believe this breakthrough point is vital to the Microsoft antitrust case, and Thomas Jackson is indeed a key player in that."

Eric explained plainly without concealing anything. "So, I hope you can arrange a complete monitoring operation on Thomas Jackson. If we can gather useful intel, it could not only prevent an early Nasdaq crash that would harm the Firefly system's interests but also give us a negotiating chip with Microsoft. I really want Yahoo's browser to keep its status as the default browser on Windows."

"Eric, monitoring a government official is highly sensitive. To do it right requires at least a week's preparation. Given your timeline, we might not have that kind of time left."

Eric sensed there was more beneath Kelly's words. "So, what do you propose?"

Kelly responded, "Cromwell recently acquired a batch of listening and counter-listening devices. You should have seen the procurement list. If you trust him, he should find this to be quite a simple job."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1158: Shameless]

From their initial interaction, Eric could sense that Robert Cromwell's identity was certainly more than just an officer from the London Metropolitan Police Service's Special Operations Unit. He likely had experience working in more confidential intelligence agencies such as MI6.

During this time, Eric's investigations had generally confirmed this suspicion. Moreover, Robert had openly expressed his desire to transform Firefly's security department into an integrated agency for both security and intelligence collection. With that in mind, it was clear that he was the best candidate to monitor Thomas Jackson.

After all, if they sought an external private investigation firm, Firefly could only keep itself hidden. Even if an unexpected incident arose, they wouldn't suffer any repercussions. However, outside detective agencies were still not part of their inner circle. If they uncovered any intelligence that could hugely benefit them, who could say they wouldn't be tempted to act otherwise?

After contemplating for a moment, Eric asked Kelly, "You've been in contact with Bob quite a bit lately. Do you think he could handle this matter? This isn't exactly a dignified job?"

Kelly thought for a moment, then nodded seriously, "Bob is one of those very straightforward people. He has his own code of conduct. From the information I've gathered about his past, he wouldn't feel any moral guilt about this kind of work. Plus, Bob has been wanting to involve Firefly Security in intelligence collection, so this task should fall within his domain."

"Given that, why don't you feel him out first?" Eric weighed the options for another moment. "If he's on board, I can make time for a chat with him tomorrow."

Kelly nodded in agreement. After discussing a few more topics, the female assistant took her leave, and Eric returned to the post-production center to focus on the final cut of Gravity.

...

As the workday ended, Kelly called to inform him she had already spoken to Robert about the matter from the afternoon, and he had agreed without any special reservations. Just after Kelly hung up, Robert promptly called Eric's cell phone, and they quickly arranged a meeting for the following morning.

...

The next morning, Eric arrived at Firefly Studios at nine o'clock, where Robert had already arrived ahead of time. As they exchanged pleasantries, the twins, whom he hadn't seen in a while, drove up together as well.

After the awkward incident that night, the shy Eve had been avoiding Eric, and Natasha seemed embarrassed in front of him as well. After Eric had introduced them to Robert Cromwell as his students, aside from occasionally helping manage some personal affairs at Liberty City estate for Eric, the two girls rarely appeared in front of him and usually resided at Trousdale Manor.

Noticing Eve's still flushed cheeks and evasive eyes, combined with Robert's presence, Eric simply greeted the two before leading them all to his office.

Once seated in the meeting area of the office, the twins took the initiative to brew coffee. Instead of rushing into the main topic, Eric chatted with Robert about the establishment of Firefly Security, which was ultimately his primary concern.

...

Since obtaining Olivia's introduction last month and gaining Eric's approval, Robert had thrown himself into the groundwork for Firefly Security. With years of experience from the British security intelligence agency, Robert quickly took on a leading role within the trio that Eric had established comprising him, Kelly, and Carter Moen.

Within just a week, Robert submitted a detailed proposal and swiftly began the practical implementation of the project. Now, under two months later, Firefly Security, which had registered as part of the Firefly system, had already chosen a 1,000-acre land near Palm Valley in Northern Los Angeles to build the company's training base.

In addition to reformulating security regulations for the entire Firefly system and training Eric's bodyguard team, Firefly Security also initiated a discreet recruitment plan. To prevent infiltration by career spies and other external forces, the recruitment process was entirely proactive.

The various companies within the Firefly system first collected personnel data under the guise of talent recruitment from North American universities, headhunting firms, and veteran organizations. From there, they filtered out suitable candidates, and Firefly Security would then proactively invite them to apply.

Firefly Security offered compensation and benefits that far surpassed those of the U.S. Secret Service. Thus, while the selected candidates often felt puzzled about receiving unsolicited job invitations, most proactively contacted Firefly Security, hoping to undergo further interviews.

Eric previously believed that bodyguards should be selected from special forces or similar military professionals. However, following Robert Cromwell's explanation, he realized that this wasn't the reality.

Many everyday individuals were actually better suited to be trained as bodyguards than those locked into rigid behavioral patterns from military training. Furthermore, in North America's education system, which prioritized sports, many elite individuals, like Laura Spencer, an ABC news anchor with a history as a national-level diver, often excelled as athletes. This put them on par physically with professionals, making them capable of undergoing rigorous security training.

...

"The main concern now is manpower," Robert elaborated, "To support the training plan for 2,000 individuals at the Palm Valley training base, we will need at least a team of 100. We can only recruit from various security firms or military training centers, which will likely take about three months. Of course, this time will also allow us to conduct background checks, physical assessments, lie detector tests, and psychological evaluations on the interview participants upfront. I'm proposing a training cycle of a year, with the eventual goal of selecting 200 qualified candidates from those 2,000 individuals. This means, Eric, that you probably won't have a fully operational Firefly security team until the end of next year. As for the future plan, it will continue using these initial 200 individuals as the core, so we must be very cautious in selecting this group. You also need to be patient during this time; I will closely monitor the current state of your security team to ensure that no issues arise."

After listening to Robert's account, Eric said, "Robert, Firefly Security is not just responsible for my personal safety; it also needs to maintain the entire Firefly system. I don't seem to see your plans in this regard?"

"I only handle the training of the core team," Robert Cromwell clarified. "As long as you don't have problems, the entire Firefly system won't have issues. Therefore, Carter can handle the outer team; all I expect from them is that they can provide cover for the core team and make Firefly Security seem ordinary -- nothing too conspicuous."

Eric pondered this for a moment and nodded, "That works for me. So, Robert, what about the issue from yesterday?"

"It's just a minor matter," Robert chuckled and shook his head, glancing over at the twins sitting quietly beside him. "I won't delve into the specifics, but if it's just monitoring one person, the twins can handle it."

Eric frowned, "Them?"

"Eric, Natasha and Eve have more talent than you think. Although they've only been by my side for a little over a month, their learning abilities astonish me. I'm already convinced I have good successors."

"I, of course, believe in Natasha and Eve's capabilities," Eric nodded but then shook his head. "It's just that they're both my women. I don't want them personally involved in these unscrupulous tasks."

At Eric's words, the twins blushed simultaneously. Robert Cromwell, however, didn't react much. He merely joked and then turned serious, "If that's the case, Eric, you should give them enough room to excel instead of having them serve as little maids, folding your blankets all day long. That would be too much of a waste of their potential. Besides, secret monitoring requires the most trusted people around you. With me guiding them, this small task can be ensured without fail. Moreover, even if they get discovered, it's not the end of the world. Didn't you earlier face monitoring that led to some findings which ultimately went nowhere?"

Eric recognized Robert's point and then turned to the twins: "Natasha, Eve, are you willing to do this?"

Natasha nodded, "Of course, Master."

"Eric, I must insist on something here. I really don't want my promising students to refer to someone using such objectifying terms, so they both must use a different title moving forward."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Eric replied, "Alright then, from now on, Natasha and Eve can just call me Eric."

"Then it's settled for now," Robert nodded, satisfied. He stood up and said, "As for the ongoing business, just instruct the two of them. I need to fly to Minnesota shortly; there's a well-established private bodyguard training center near the Canadian border, and I hope to recruit a few reliable people from there."

Eric stood up, accompanying the twins to the parking lot to see Robert off before returning to the office.

...

Pulling out Thomas Jackson's file from the safe, he looked at the two girls before him who were dressed in shirts and pants with ponytails, resembling two slender green onions. Eric hesitated again, "Are you sure you can handle this?"

Natasha nodded once more, "We can do it, Master."

Eric peered discreetly at the door, shaking his head, "You should really change how you address me. If Robert finds out, I'm going to hear it again."

"Got it."

"Now, this is the target you need to monitor. He currently resides in Washington, and your task over the next two weeks is to closely observe everything he does and says, documenting as much as possible." After Eric finished, he reminded them, "And the most vital point: protect yourselves. Make sure not to get discovered. Even if you fail, it's okay as long as you're safe."

Natasha took the file folder without immediately opening it, and, with bright eyes, she looked back and asked, "So, Master... is there anything else?"

Eric rubbed his nose, realizing it would be tough for the twins to change their way of addressing him, and he replied, "That's all for now."

Natasha stood up, "Then we'll get to work."

As Eric stood to send the twins to the door, he thought about how they might be in Washington for the next two weeks. Just before they stepped outside, he gently pulled Natasha back, embracing her and kissing her on the lips.

Natasha's face turned a deep red, momentarily frozen. After a brief moment, she shyly responded but quickly realized her sister was standing right beside her. She pushed Eric away gently, whispering, "Master, I need to prepare some things first. Eve can stay behind."

With that, Natasha departed from Eric's embrace and walked out the door.

Eric watched as Natasha's figure quickly disappeared down the hallway. Turning back, he noticed Eve, who looked trapped like a small animal. He approached and cuped her face with his hands, kissing her gently, saying, "This time, I won't let you squeeze me."

Eve's normally fair face turned a captivating shade of rosy red as she softly murmured, "Master, I didn't do it on purpose."

Seeing the girl's alluring demeanor, Eric can't help it, scooping her up and heading to the lounge next to his office.

...

After their moment of joy, perhaps because it was daytime, Eve secretly slipped away while Eric was showering. When Eric emerged from the bathroom, the air was left with just a hint of the girl's sweet scent.

Back in his office, recalling the work schedule for the day, he picked up the phone and checked with the secretary outside. He learned that Paul Abbott had arrived and had been waiting outside for an hour, so he instructed to let him in.

Paul Abbott was a screenwriter from Britain, and his most notable work in history was the critically acclaimed television series, Shameless, which garnered significant attention in both the UK and the US.

Having secured a deal with Showtime, Eric had been looking into scripts suitable for Showtime's style during this period. The original Shameless, notably, didn't begin production until 2004 in the UK.

However, since this script was based on Paul's childhood experiences, the script had already been drafted for years. Paul Abbott was nearly 40 years old already, and far from being an unknown in the screenwriting industry. With targeted searches, Eric quickly obtained the Shameless script.

...

Upon receiving Eric's notice, a cultured middle-aged man promptly entered Eric's office. After standing up to shake hands with him and engaging in some brief pleasantries, Eric instructed the secretary to prepare coffee for both of them, and then he settled down with Paul Abbott on the couch in the reception area, script in hand.

The work schedule was tight, and Eric didn't waste time chatting. He dove right in: "Paul, I've read the Shameless script. The current issue is you need to change the story's setting from Manchester to an American city within a month, and the details must not vary too much. So, is there any problem with that?"

Paul Abbott received his coffee from the secretary, politely thanked her, and asked, "Mr. Williams, may I ask which American city you intend to set the story in?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1159: The Calm Before the Storm]

Eric posed the question, "Which city do you think is appropriate?"

"Chicago," Paul Abbott replied, clearly prepared. "Like Manchester, Chicago is also an industrial city. However, due to the gradual decline of heavy industries and the rising unemployment rate, there's a severe class divide in this city, leading to a large impoverished population."

"Then Chicago it is," Eric nodded in agreement. He added, "Also, regarding the script, I want this story to have a more intense dramatic conflict, highlighting the stark contrast between morality and reality. You need to emphasize the sharply contrasting personalities of most characters in the script, allowing the audience to feel both disdain and empathy for this group of people, maybe even find them endearing."

What Eric took away from Shameless was the notion that even if life felt like a pile of dog crap, it was still worth persevering. Yet, after that perseverance, life still remained a pile of dog crap.

Speaking of which, most of the shows on Showtime after they matured had given off a similar feeling.

Countless men and women stumbled through scenes of wild and provocative lifestyles, which appeared enviable but always teetered on the edge of collapse. There would be fleeting moments of calm and warmth, hinting that a greater disaster was just around the corner. Throughout this process, viewers experienced a torturous ride, unable to step away.

Despite scrapping the original plan for three shows on Showtime, Eric temporarily intended to have the channel focus solely on Shameless, with other time slots filled with a selected batch of movie content.

The main task for Showtime in the latter half of the year was to reorganize the channel's programming lineup and devise a new marketing plan.

After a detailed discussion with Paul Abbott, the writer of Shameless, the project was officially confirmed.

...

In the following days, the production team from Showtime, together with Paul Abbott, traveled to Chicago to start modifying the script based on on-site investigations and selecting suitable filming locations. Casting for the series also commenced simultaneously in both New York and Los Angeles.

...

On the other hand, although the negotiations with Eric ended poorly, a displeased Bill Gates still refused to give up the equity subscription agreement. Therefore, Microsoft did not immediately cut ties with Yahoo. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's president and destined successor to Gates, quickly took over the negotiations and continued contacting Yahoo.

...

Despite both parties maintaining a low profile, once July rolled around, news about Microsoft's impending acquisition of a 30% stake in Yahoo began to spread rapidly and became one of the hottest topics in the tech industry, which was already in its final frenzy phase.

The industry was unclear about the details of that distant equity subscription agreement, but general guesses were made.

Additionally, a significant number of media outlets focused their attention on whether the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission would approve this acquisition. After all, Microsoft's monopoly in desktop operating systems was glaringly apparent, while Yahoo was the largest firm in the emerging internet sector. If these two industry giants formed a powerful alliance across these two fields, it would undoubtedly create an even stronger monopoly.

...

Soon after, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice announced at a press conference that they would closely monitor any potential transactions between Microsoft and Yahoo and intervene if necessary. However, with the successful merger of AOL and Time Warner as a precedent, and even with Microsoft under a series of antitrust investigations, the industry still generally believed that the deal between Microsoft and Yahoo could very well happen.

Speculation quickly reflected in the stock prices of both giants.

...

Typically, when a corporate merger is rumored, the acquirer's stock price tends to drop, while the target company's stock price skyrockets.

However, due to the tech sector's vivacity, Microsoft's stock price did not drop; it merely slowed its rate of growth, while Yahoo's stock surged.

In the first week of July, from July 5 to July 9, Yahoo's stock rose continuously by 27% over five trading days, pushing its market value from $182.5 billion before the opening on July 5 up and over the $200 billion mark, eventually reaching $231.7 billion.

In contrast, Microsoft saw only a 3.9% rise in its stock price during the same week. Nevertheless, with a final market value of $588 billion, it still outpaced the encroaching Cisco.

...

Meanwhile, by the close of the Nasdaq index on July 9, it had reached a high of 4911 points.

Barring any setbacks, it was set to break the 5000 point barrier the following week.

In the face of the frenzy in the tech stock market, although some savvy investors resisted temptation and began selling off their stakes, it was clear that the majority of investors in the market had completely lost their grip on reality.

After all, just as with the rise in Yahoo's stock price, investing $100 million could yield a 27% increase in just one week, bringing in a hefty $27 million profit -- something that usually takes a year or even several years to achieve. Investors who had fully immersed themselves in the tech stock bubble were certainly not willing to walk away.

The phenomenon even spread beyond professional investors; driven by the allure of gigantic stock profits in the new tech arena, there had been a noticeable trend of amateur stock trading surging to unprecedented levels among ordinary Americans over the past few months, a rare occurrence in North American history.

It's worth noting that while most middle-class Americans might consider themselves investors, their cash holdings were typically limited due to differing spending habits, with their investments usually made indirectly through pensions and the like.

In general, only the wealthy elite, with excess cash in hand, engaged in direct financial investment. However, now, ordinary Americans were finding various ways to raise funds and dove headfirst into the Nasdaq stock market. Many affluent individuals had even begun using investment leverage to maximize their profits, effectively scaling up their capital base.

As trading activity skyrocketed on the Nasdaq, the Clover Fund cashed out a staggering $3.36 billion in the first week of July. Despite the exit of over $3.3 billion from the market, it initially sparked no reaction; the sales from the trading studio were swiftly absorbed by the ever more active demand in the market.

In the cacophony of the bustling world, there were still some who managed to remain quietly absorbed in their small world.

...

Washington, D.C.

On the last day of June, a non-branded Gulfstream V aircraft landed at a private airport in the suburbs of Washington.

Two seemingly ordinary Russian-looking girls, their features well-concealed by makeup, disembarked the plane and personally transferred a complete set of expensive spy equipment from the cabin to a prepared small container truck parked on the runway before quietly driving away.

Throughout this process, no one disturbed the two girls' work, thanks to previous arrangements at the airport. It wasn't until the truck left the airport that a representative from Firefly Group in Washington D.C. arrived with several assistants to tow the Gulfstream V into storage and dispatched two security teams to guard it.

After an hour or so, the truck arrived in the affluent Kalorama area, just northwest of downtown Washington, and drove into a concealed residence surrounded by trees. Kalorama was home to many wealthy politicians, and the Jackson family happened to live nearby.

After carefully checking the estate inside and out, the two girls began to set up various devices. By evening, the listening equipment had already intercepted and recorded the first phone call made by Judge Thomas Jackson from the study on the second floor.

Phone tapping typically uses techniques like built-in listening devices, SIM card cloning, and close-range intercom mode, but the most advanced method directly intercepts the target's phone signals from the communication base station, a common technique among professional espionage organizations.

Of course, this method of interception was completely out of reach for an average person due to the cost of the dozens of thousands of dollars in listening equipment. But for the well-funded Firefly Group, there were no such obstacles.

After Eric had been bugged, he promptly switched to a BlackBerry phone using dual encryption with a much harder-to-crack CDMA network. However, a rather careless middle-aged judge evidently lacked such precaution and continued using a currently popular GSM phone that was quite vulnerable to similar eavesdropping.

Therefore, the twins didn't need to resort to the more dangerous close-range methods; they easily began recording the target's phone communications.

...

Over the next three days, the twins quickly and accurately grasped the daily routines of Judge Thomas Jackson's family.

On the third night, a regular Ford SUV parked in front of another apartment in Kalorama, with two nearby streetlights 'conveniently' out of order, casting shadows over the Jackson home at the beginning of the month without a moon.

Two silent figures expertly unlocked the door and quietly released a vaporized sedative into the bedrooms before beginning their work.

The judge's wristwatch, mobile phone, and other personal items were discreetly swapped out, while hidden cameras were installed in the living room, study, and bedroom. Even the soles of a few pairs of shoes were cut open to implant listening devices.

After modifying the few cars in Jackson's garage, the two figures silently departed.

...

In the ensuing days, every word and action of the Jackson family was meticulously recorded by various electronic devices situated in another room of a residence in Kalorama.

The twins also adeptly operated different vehicles, following Judge Thomas Jackson for over twelve hours each day, quietly eavesdropping as he made impassioned speeches in court, cursed a colleague in the restroom, feigned affection for his wife at home, and flirted on the phone with a lover...

...

Amidst the flood of chaotic information, on the ninth day of eavesdropping, the twins finally caught the information Eric had predicted. The director of a lobbying firm in Washington had, for two consecutive days, probed Judge Thomas Jackson before meeting in a private underground parking lot. The twins had brilliantly captured a sixteen-minute recording of that meeting with a camera hidden in Jackson's car.

...

Concerned about the twins' whereabouts, when Eric reviewed that video, he immediately instructed them to cease their activities.

The twins methodically retrieved all equipment installed around Judge Thomas Jackson, supervised the dismantling and destruction of the vehicles they had used in recent days, before they re-boarded the Gulfstream V. The entire process unfolded as if they had never even arrived in Washington.

...

When the twins returned to Los Angeles, it was July 12, another Monday.

The Gulfstream V landed at Ventura Airport, where Eric stood near the runway, watching the twins disembark from the plane, finally allowing himself to breathe a sigh of relief. He approached them for a hug and joked, "Let's not do anything like this again. It's been two weeks since anyone cleaned the estate, and I found a layer of dust in the kitchen yesterday. It's really unsettling."

Natasha shyly pulled away from Eric's embrace, saying softly, "Master, we'll get right on it."

"Why not take a few days to rest?" Eric shook his head. "I can also work on overcoming my obsession with cleanliness."

"Okay."

After Eric spoke, he took Natasha's hand and said, "Let's go home first."

However, Natasha tugged at Eric's hand, shaking her head. "Master, we need to handle the items on the plane ourselves."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"Mr. Cromwell said it can't."

"Fine," Eric replied reluctantly. "I'll be waiting for you."

And so, another busy round commenced. By the time they returned to Liberty City estate, it was already evening.

As they sat down for dinner prepared by the twins, and while the twins made no effort to inquire about what Eric intended to do with the video they had taken, he felt a strange sensation in his heart.

That night, he thoroughly checked to ensure that the girl in his arms was real and not a machine.

...

Having received the information he desired, in this critical week, Eric made no further arrangements. Instead, he waited patiently for developments to unfold.

On Monday, the Nasdaq index, which closed at 4911 points the previous week, continued to rise. For the following five days, there were no signs of a market crash in the entire Nasdaq market.

Ultimately, on July 16, at the end of the week, the Nasdaq index soared to a high of 5056 points, officially breaking through the 5000-point barrier.

After the market closed that day and real-time statistics were compiled, the market caps of all companies within the Firefly system surged to astonishing levels, leaving many in awe.

Among them, Cisco's market value reached $611.5 billion, surpassing Microsoft to become the top company in market capitalization in both the Nasdaq and the global market.

Following closely was Yahoo, with a market value reaching $257.9 billion.

Nokia, listed in multiple markets across Europe and North America, also crossed the $200 billion threshold, achieving a combined value of $221.7 billion.

Most surprisingly was Qualcomm; two years ago, it only had a market cap of few billion dollars, but at that moment, it had reached an impressive peak of $83.6 billion, astonished everyone and compelled them to admire Eric's investment foresight once again.

Apart from that, tech companies like Amazon and Sprint, in which the Firefly Group had heavily invested, also hit new all-time highs.

Influenced by the skyrocketing stock prices of this series of tech companies, Eric's personal fortune reached an unprecedented $625 billion.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1160: A Dazzling Display of Wealth]

After a week of frenzied activity, the weekend arrived with mainstream media outlets across North America starting to shift their tone regarding the Nasdaq market. The consensus began to question whether the tech industry's bubble had reached an uncontrollable level.

The focal point of this media frenzy naturally zeroed in on Eric's personal wealth, which had recently been estimated at a staggering $625 billion.

What does $625 billion even mean?

In the context of the national wealth statistics from 1998, Denmark ranked 27th, with a total national wealth just exceeding $600 billion as one of Europe's developed countries. This meant that Eric's wealth alone equated to the total wealth of a country ranked within the global top thirty.

Moreover, if one were to broaden the scope to the entire Firefly system, after the Nasdaq Index peaked above 5,000 points on Friday, the total asset scale of companies under the Firefly umbrella reached $1.85 trillion. This was enough to displace Canada, which ranked 8th on the 1998 national wealth list with its own $1.795 trillion.

It's worth mentioning that above Canada were the superpowers of the world economy, including the U.S., Japan, the U.K., and France.

So, while most media outlets that enjoy sensational headlines fawned over Eric's unprecedented personal wealth, some specialized financial publications, like The Wall Street Journal, offered a biting critique. They claimed his personal assets were "like a jar of soap bubbles that couldn't withstand any scrutiny."

The New York Times also reported that Eric's wealth outside of Hollywood was inflated by more than 70%.

...

While closely monitoring the Nasdaq market's movements, Eric finally completed the post-production of Gravity. The day before the index peaked, he flew to Boston to attend a Yahoo executive meeting, laying groundwork for the impending storm.

In fact, since its IPO last year, Yahoo's expansion had been relatively conservative under Eric's influence. Over the past six months, thanks to a significant increase in revenue, the nearly $5.7 billion raised during the IPO had dwindled to $5.1 billion. While the entire internet industry prioritized aggressive expansion, Yahoo's cautious strategy faced multiple criticisms from aggressive Wall Street investors.

However, even with the potential crash of the internet bubble, the development of the internet industry wouldn't come to a halt. In fact, during a time when competition was waning, the coming years presented the perfect opportunity for the internet sector to expand.

With over $5 billion in cash reserves, Yahoo could maintain a robust expansion pace even during an internet capital winter.

...

On July 17, after wrapping up Yahoo's executive meeting, Eric didn't return to Los Angeles but instead flew to New York, intending to witness the impending Nasdaq crash firsthand.

In Midtown, at Cindy and Linda's production company, there was an interview scheduled for the weekend, despite it being a day of rest. During his last visit to New York, Cindy expressed her eagerness to find several assistants to read to her, hoping that her unborn child would grow up as smart as Hawaii. After a month of careful selection, Eric's arrival allowed her to involve him in this final series of interviews.

Though being labeled as assistants, the candidates functioned more like nannies. However, Cindy had specifically chosen only top graduates from leading global universities, and to ensure the child grew up in a multilingual environment, the candidates were expected to know more than three languages.

Scanning through the resumes of these outstanding candidates, Eric couldn't help but say to Cindy, "With this brilliant group, did you really think you'd be able to manage them once you hire them?"

Before Cindy could respond, Linda chimed in with a teasing tone, "Yeah, and they're all so beautiful. Be careful, they might end up stepping on you to climb the ladder."

Upon hearing Linda's remark, Eric flipped through the resumes again and was surprised to see that despite the simple headshots, Cindy's selections were indeed physically attractive, with a few that aligned with his own aesthetic.

Noticing Eric's astonished expression, Cindy shot him a glare and said, "If I had hired a bunch of ugly ones, and something went wrong, I'd be even more embarrassed. If I can't prevent issues anyway, I'd rather find some pretty ones."

Eric laughed at her unexpected wisdom. "When did you become this enlightened?"

"Virginia advised me," Cindy responded, adding, "Haven't you noticed that the maids at the East Hampton estate and Kevin's tutor are quite pretty?"

Eric thought back and had to admit, "I suppose you're right. I should really give Vicki some praise."

After Cindy organized the materials in front of her, she instructed the secretary outside to prepare for the interviews before playfully saying to Eric, "I realized Vicki is quite smart in this regard. You men can be so strange. With a group of beautiful women around, you're often oblivious and instead fixate on the ugly ones. Just look at the president; he could have anyone ten times better than that plain intern, yet he still ended up with her. And there's Schwarzenegger. I can't even grasp how he was interested in such an unattractive maid to the point of fathering a love child."

While the Clinton scandal was in full swing, the Schwarzenegger love child issue had yet to break out publicly, but among the circles, it wasn't a secret.

Linda, who had just sided with Cindy, turned the tables and said, "It's said that this is just the male curiosity."

Raising his hand in exasperation, Eric replied, "I swear to God, I don't have that sort of mentality."

...

The secretary let the first interviewee in. Cindy gave Eric one last glance, not saying anything further, and started the formal interviews.

These young women, having graduated from elite institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Cambridge, didn't lack job opportunities, which is why they were primarily attracted by the exceedingly high salary offered by Cindy.

However, upon spotting Eric Williams sitting behind the desk, most candidates exhibited a clear spark of interest. Even those who initially weren't too keen on the position became particularly engaged during the interviews, with some even bravely initiating conversation with Eric.

The interview session lasted an entire day, with nearly twenty candidates.

...

Later that evening, back at Cindy's apartment on 75th Street, Eric sat with his laptop in the living room checking his emails before dinner while Cindy and Linda quietly discussed things beside him.

A moment later, Cindy picked up a resume and said, "Eric, how about this one, Catherine Neumann? What do you think?"

Looking over the resume and recalling a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed German girl, Eric said, "She seems great. Germans are typically meticulous, so you two pick a few more and I'll sort through them afterward."

Before Cindy could reply, Linda misunderstood his words, asking, "You want to pick too?"

As Eric opened another email from Jeff Bezos, he clarified, "I meant that we should conduct background checks on these girls -- checking for any criminal records, mental health issues, drug addictions, or any personal safety risks. You two didn't think just anyone could be around my child, did you? I'd want to investigate from their elementary school days."

Cindy seemed to agree without further thought, promptly gathering all the resumes and saying, "In that case, Eric, you should proceed with the checks. After they're done, I'll select. It would be a hassle if I picked someone and we ran into problems later."

"That works. I'll set that up for tomorrow, but let them wait a month or so," Eric replied, before adding, "Also, you should inform them about the checks to prevent any misunderstandings. As compensation, let's raise their salaries to double."

Linda gasped, "Doubling that means $500,000! I'd want that job myself!"

While top executives among the Fortune 500 companies often enjoyed million-dollar salaries, this inadvertently created the notion that graduates from prestigious schools had high pay. In truth, only a lucky few reached such financial heights, with hundreds of thousands of graduates typically settling for salaries around $100,000 to $200,000.

Moreover, women generally faced a natural disadvantage in the workforce. For most working women, a salary of $500,000 seemed unattainable.

Eric noticed the look of surprise in Cindy's eyes and stated, "People say money can't buy everything, but I think it can. Offering them higher salaries would sufficiently ensure their loyalty since once they consider doing something inappropriate, they'd think about the consequences of losing that job. Losing a $500,000 job feels drastically different from a $250,000 one."

Sitting next to Eric, Cindy nodded in agreement but suddenly smirked, casting her gaze toward him and teasingly asked, "Is that how you control us?"

"I'm not controlling you," Eric laughed, brushing his fingers over Cindy's delicate features. "I'm more like possessing you."

Watching the interaction between Eric and Cindy made Linda feel a bit envious. Ever since Cindy became pregnant, her lack of visible changes had shifted Linda's demeanor significantly. Unable to hold back, she said, "You two are at it again."

Eric playfully stroked Cindy's neck before turning toward Linda, saying, "So, Cindy mentioned that you bought stock again. How much did you get?"

"I won't tell you," Linda retreated a bit on the sofa glancing nervously. After cashing out her Yahoo stock, Eric had repeatedly warned the two about being greedy in the tech stock market. While Cindy followed his advice, Linda clearly couldn't resist the temptation. After a moment of endurance, she finally confessed, "I put in another $50 million. All in Firefly system stocks -- Yahoo, Cisco, Amazon, and Qualcomm. It's now up to $86 million. Once it doubles, I'll sell immediately, I promise!"

"Well, just hang tight," Eric said with a smirk, relieved that she didn't invest everything she had.

Cindy saw something odd on Eric's face. She hadn't been closely following the Nasdaq market trends lately, but discussions around her about tech stocks were relentless, leaving her no escape.

Recalling how the Nasdaq surpassed 5,000 points last Friday, Cindy asked, "Eric, isn't that a problem?"

Tinkering with his laptop, Eric opened Yahoo's financial news homepage and showcased it to Cindy. As she noticed he wasn't inclined to close up, Linda leaned in, too.

Gazing at the negative news he pulled up regarding the Nasdaq, Linda couldn't help but say, "They've been saying that for a while now without any Nasdaq crash. My stockbroker even mentioned the index could hit 6,000 points, saying it's too early."

Eric remained silent while Cindy chimed in, "Your stockbroker is just saying that to earn your commission! Do you genuinely believe 6,000 points is possible?"

"Many thought 5,000 couldn't happen, yet we reached it, right?"

Listening to the banter between the two women, Eric decided not to engage much longer. He shut the laptop and scooped Linda up into his arms, declaring, "I think it's time for some discipline again."

"Ah, Eric, I promise I won't do it again! Don't hurt me!" Linda squealed half-seriously as Eric carried her into the bedroom and tossed her onto the bed.

...

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Eric's phone rang.

Checking it, he saw a text message from Chris urging him to check his email immediately.

Feeling that something was amiss, Eric quickly dressed and went to his study. Once he logged into his email, he discovered an article from Barron's, a Dow Jones publication, with a glaring title: "Burning Out."

The article provided a financial analysis of over 200 new tech companies on the Nasdaq, concluding that in the next six months, more than 50 of these companies, which had gone public in the last two years, would face the risk of running out of funds. Within a year, this number was set to exceed half.

Moreover, as the Federal Reserve entered a cycle of interest rate hikes, these companies would struggle to secure the next round of funding. Coupled with the lack of effective business models, the inevitable path for many led to bankruptcy.

https//Sayonara816.