I Am Hollywood

by Cui Shi yi

1 - 702

38. 1159 - 1196

I am Hollywood #Chapter 1159: Chapter 1161: A Dazzling Display of Wealth (2) - Read I am Hollywood Chapter 1159: Chapter 1161: A Dazzling Display of Wealth (2) Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

[Chapter 1161: A Dazzling Display of Wealth (2)]

After finishing the lengthy column that spanned over ten pages, Eric chatted on the phone with Chris for about half an hour. Once he hung up, he sat at his computer, contemplating the possible issues he might face in the coming days, when he heard a knock at the door.

He looked up to see Cindy standing at the door, studying his expression with concern. "Eric, is something wrong?"

Eric leaned back in his chair and spread his hands, prompting Cindy to come in. She smiled and settled into his embrace.

Gently stroking Cindy's slightly rounded belly, Eric leaned his chin on her shoulder, inhaling her enticing fragrance. "Why don't you rest a bit longer?"

"It's already eight," Cindy said, nuzzling his cheek with her face. "Breakfast is ready."

Eric glanced at the time in the lower right corner of his computer screen but didn't get up. "Let's have Linda stay here for a while. She can still help take care of you."

"Actually, she's already moved in," Cindy nodded and stood up, pulling Eric with her. "Let's go eat. I have work to do this morning."

Eric opened his mouth but didn't urge Cindy to stop working. The recording for the new season of America's Next Top Model would finish next month, and then Cindy could take maternity leave until their little one arrived at the end of the year.

After a quick washup, Eric and Cindy went to the dining room, where Linda, dressed in a pale pink long t-shirt that showcased her long legs, was arranging breakfast. Upon seeing Eric and Cindy walk in, she shot Eric a glare over last night's incident, then kindly pulled out a chair for Cindy.

Eric sat at the table, just grabbing his utensils when he remembered something. "I'm going to Australia at the beginning of August. The Firefly Group's executive meeting is going to be held there this year. Would you two like to come?"

"It's winter in Australia now, right?" Linda immediately shook her head. "No way, I hate the cold."

Cindy, however, remembered that Virginia and the others were still in Australia. Eric surely had reasons for scheduling the meeting there. When he said he wanted to bring them along, it was clear he intended to showcase them.

Confirming her identity in front of the core executives of the Firefly Group would be immensely beneficial, both for her and for the baby. After a moment's hesitation, Cindy shook her head as well. "Never mind. It's not ideal for me to fly right now, and Linda and I have a few projects in production that we can't leave."

Eric nodded. "Then that settles it. We'll discuss it next time."

Linda then realized that since Cindy had decided not to go, she shouldn't speak up either. Instead, she quietly rubbed her flat stomach, her eyes revealing a hint of sadness.

...

After breakfast, Eric sent Cindy and Linda to the production company, then headed over to the Firefly Investments headquarters.

By the time Eric arrived at the office area of Firefly Investments at Rockefeller Center's 50th building, it was already past nine o'clock. Following the staff's direction, he pushed open the door to a conference room and found Chris standing by a large conference table, staring intently at a wall-mounted TV.

Upon noticing Eric's arrival, Chris nodded and immediately pointed at the screen.

Eric recognized the middle-aged judge he had seen on video a few days earlier.

Standing beside Chris at the conference table, they both watched as Thomas Jackson appeared on CNN, discussing the evidence he had gathered. "...With the evidence we've collected so far, we can conclude with 100% certainty that Microsoft has been engaging in very serious monopolistic practices. In my opinion, the only way to avoid further hindering fair competition in the industry is to break Microsoft up and impose stricter regulations..."

Listening to the judge confidently address the CNN host, Eric glanced at his watch; it was now 9:15, leaving just 15 minutes until the Nasdaq opened.

Chris noticed Eric's movement. "It's already too late. Even if some people catch on, it won't be possible for them to respond effectively."

Eric nodded in agreement, understanding Chris's point.

According to weekend statistics, the total short futures position against the Nasdaq index worldwide was conservatively estimated at over $60 billion. Such a vast capital force poised to strike made it difficult for any stock market worldwide to withstand.

However, the current total market capitalization of the Nasdaq had reached $9 trillion. Investors certainly wouldn't want such a significant amount of wealth to vanish with a stock market crash. So, if they could foresee the layouts of the short-selling forces in advance, they could respond effectively.

Too many people, however, were still reveling in the Nasdaq index breaking 5,000 points without being vigilant enough regarding recent sentiment shifts.

Eric had anticipated this, but the Firefly Group had no intentions of being the first to act. Moreover, they lacked the strength to do so. The bubble of the Nasdaq index's imminent crash was inevitable; going against the tide would only lead to destruction.

...

While Eric and Chris maintained calm demeanors as they observed the situation from the Firefly Investments conference room, it was clear that it wouldn't be a quiet day in the securities industry.

As Judge Thomas Jackson's comments during his CNN interview spread rapidly, combined with a series of pessimistic opinions about the Nasdaq over the weekend, stock managers across North America and globally quickly noticed a significant uptick in sell orders for tech stocks, regardless of whether it was premeditated or a sensed crisis.

Finally, at 9:30 AM, just as the Nasdaq opened, sell orders exceeding $1 billion caused Microsoft's stock price to drop by more than 3%.

But that was far from the end. In the following hour, major tech stocks on the Nasdaq, like Yahoo, Cisco, Intel, and Amazon, all faced significant sell orders.

As the demand for tech stocks, which far surpassed the ability to absorb the selling, was rapidly negated, heavy sell orders began to pile up, continuously driving down the prices of various tech stocks.

Panic began to spread.

More investors, hearing the news, joined the selling frenzy, quickly creating a terrifying domino effect.

By 4 PM Eastern Time, the Nasdaq index closed at 4,960 points, reflecting a drop of 9%. However, the mainstream tech stocks that faced huge sell-offs incurred severe losses.

Microsoft's stock dropped by 3% in a single day.

Cisco's stock fell by 6%.

Yahoo's stock decreased by 5%.

Intel's stock plummeted by 9%.

Amazon's stock dipped by 6%.

...

This series of declines represented hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth evaporating, only signifying just the beginning.

Meanwhile, in the face of a dismal Nasdaq market, Wall Street once again exhibited its shameless nature.

Just last week, investment bank analysts had been exuberantly predicting that the Nasdaq would reach new highs, pushing towards the 6,000 point mark. Now they practically all reversed their tone, disparaging the investment value of tech stocks.

In the subsequent four trading days, the chain reaction from the stock market crash further fermented, with the Nasdaq index declining by over 100 points each day.

Despite various attempts from the federal government down to start-up tech firms to stabilize the Nasdaq index using different methods, results were minimal.

Many investors, during the Nasdaq's final frenzy, had recklessly used investment leverage to maximize profits, significantly reducing their ability to withstand risk.

The typical leverage of five to ten times meant that investors could only endure a drop of about 10% to 20% in a stock.

Yet, in reality, many stocks frequently dropped beyond 10% within a single day.

As the situation continued to deteriorate, the decision to sell stocks was no longer something investors could control. To avoid losses that became unbearable, many financing institutions that backed leveraged investors had to forcibly liquidate their clients' stocks. The influx of sell orders further perpetuated the vicious cycle of declining stock prices.

...

By July 23rd, the nightmare of a week for the new tech market finally ended, with the Nasdaq index closing at 4,373 points, a drop of 5% compared to last week's peak of 5,056 points, which resulted in over a trillion dollars in wealth vanishing.

The leading tech stocks that had propelled the Nasdaq earlier fell even more drastically than the index itself.

Due to the influence of Judge Thomas Jackson's statements earlier in the week, Microsoft saw a cumulative decline of 7% over five days, plummeting from a peak market value of over $600 billion down to $469.9 billion.

Cisco, having just seized the title of the world's largest market cap, saw its stock plummet by 9% within the week, bringing its value down to $453.1 billion.

Yahoo, which Eric had been closely watching, also recorded a 5% decline over five days, which was still within Eric's threshold. The company's market value remained above $200 billion, reaching $215.5 billion.

Other Firefly Group companies like Amazon, Sprint, and Qualcomm all suffered varying degrees of declines.

In comparison, Nokia, which was simultaneously listed on multiple stock exchanges in North America and Europe, faced the least impact from the Nasdaq crash, and with solid earnings backing, its stock only declined by 9% at the close on Friday.

...

Later that evening, Bill Gates, who had been fraught and distressed all week over Judge Thomas Jackson's comments, hurried to Manhattan and all the way to the penthouse apartment Eric had at Sixth Avenue.

Upon seeing Eric leisurely seated next to the rooftop garden, with his legs crossed, reading the newspaper and sipping coffee, Gates felt a wave of frustration wash over him.

As the owner of immense wealth from Microsoft's success, he should have been one of the proudest people in the world, yet before this young man, he found it hard to feel any superiority.

Sitting unceremoniously in a chair, Gates glanced at Eric's newspaper and said, "Eric, you better give me a reason that satisfies me."

Eric neatly folded the newspaper and placed it in front of him. He poured Gates a cup of coffee, pointed toward the direction of the Hudson River, and said with a smile, "I suddenly thought we should have a fireworks show recently, so I bought a whole boat of fireworks, starting at eight."

Bill Gates didn't touch the coffee in front of him but adjusted his glasses, instinctively responding, "Eric, don't you think that's boring?"

"Alright," Eric feigned a sigh, though he clearly appeared helpless. "Let's talk business. The current situation is dire. Yahoo needs some good news, and so does Microsoft. So, how about we collaborate?"

Gates shot him a scornful glare. "And then?"

Eric handed Gates a folder and opened up his laptop beside him. "I've already drafted the contract. But first, let's look at this. I'm sure you'll be interested. It's a bit long, so let's just watch right here."

As Eric said this, he adjusted the progress bar, turned the laptop screen toward Gates, and pressed play.

A familiar voice immediately filled the speakers -- the voice of someone Gates knew well.

"Making statements in public that resemble courtroom remarks is a serious violation of judicial procedure and could ruin my career. Therefore, $200,000 is simply not enough; if we succeed, you will need to pay me another $300,000."

"Thomas, you're too greedy. $200,000 is already a hefty sum."

"Don't think I'm ignorant, Dean. Given your scale of shorting, if the Nasdaq crashes, you could make billions. So, that's non-negotiable."

After a moment of silence, another voice chimed in, "Alright, I agree to your terms."

Eric watched as William Gates' eyes widened, and with a swift motion, he slapped the laptop shut and pulled it back to his side.

Bill Gates, seemingly jolted from a dream, quickly lifted his head, glaring at Eric before realizing his predicament and dropping his expression. "Eric, that's illegal."

Eric pointed toward the door and shrugged. "If you're not interested, feel free to leave."

Gates gulped hard, maintaining a gaze lock with Eric before finally opening the folder he had just handed over.

He quickly skimmed through the contents and set it down. "I can give up that stock purchase contract, but Yahoo maintaining its original status on the Microsoft platform is absolutely impossible."

"I never expected such a good deal," Eric replied. "You must not have read it carefully; Yahoo can pay Microsoft $1 for every operating system pre-installation fee."

"But that only amounts to less than $50 million annually, Eric. Would you accept that?"

"I certainly wouldn't," Eric tapped on his laptop before proceeding, "so this counts as compensation from Yahoo to Microsoft."

"This video might not even help Microsoft," Gates scoffed. "Once it's out, it could backfire."

"Well, as of now, the number of people who have seen this video, including you, is hardly a handful," Eric pointed out. "Lately, I've been pondering this. From our position, it's challenging to act freely sometimes, and too often, we must compromise. Like this video; my initial thought was to expose it and watch the chaos unfold. Yet, I've realized that not exposing it might yield greater benefits -- at least for Microsoft. The Firefly Group won't use such tactics."

Gates narrowed his eyes. "Eric, are you implying I should threaten the Justice Department?"

"It's just negotiation," Eric shrugged. "Microsoft is currently the victim, even a persecuted one. So, even the President has to compromise. Remember, Clinton cannot withstand another political storm right now. But as it stands, a certain middle-aged judge, for his own selfish interests, has caused the entire Nasdaq market to crash, vaporizing trillions of dollars in wealth. I've heard there have already been reports of investors jumping off buildings due to bankruptcy this week. Once the scandal from the video breaks, Thomas Jackson will surely become a target, and the Clinton administration, which has strongly advocated for an investigation into Microsoft, won't be able to stand aside. Even if a second impeachment doesn't occur, the numerous angry investors suffering massive losses during this stock market crash would be enough to terminate the political careers of Bill and Hillary Clinton, which is precisely what they fear the most."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1162: A Dazzling Display of Wealth (3)]

Bill Gates listened to Eric's words and remained silent for a moment before saying, "Eric, I can't agree to all your conditions. It would put me in a difficult position in front of the board."

Eric shook his head, "Once Microsoft gets broken up, you will lose all fundamental advantages in your business outside the Windows platform. I think that's what you should be most concerned about, rather than the opinions of those board members."

Bill Gates' mind raced as he suddenly realized something. He said, "Eric, if Microsoft gets broken up, you will also lose a strong competitor, which is far better than keeping Yahoo's browser as the default. So, why are you bringing this video out? Or have you realized that given the current situation, the federal government likely won't dare to make a move to forcibly break up Microsoft, further stimulating the new tech market?"

Eric never considered Bill Gates to be a fool, and he wasn't surprised to hear his comments. He replied, "Without this video, even if Microsoft isn't broken up, it will undoubtedly suffer severe damage. Besides, the government has a bad habit of not admitting its mistakes, even when it recognizes them, and perpetuating them instead. So your analysis is just a possibility. As for the benefits to the Firefly Group from Microsoft's breakup, I'm certainly aware of them. However, in the grand scheme of things, once Microsoft is split, the Yahoo companies within the Firefly system may very well face the same fate. I know exactly how to choose between lesser evils."

Bill Gates scanned the folders and his laptop on the table for a moment before saying, "Eric, I can't give you an immediate answer. And regardless, some details in this contract must be renegotiated. At the very least, the Yahoo browser should show some favor towards Microsoft's internet business, and Microsoft should also retain the right to release its browser."

With the advantage clearly shifting to Eric, he wasn't going to make unnecessary concessions. He raised a finger and said, "There is only one condition to negotiate, and that is the pre-installation fee for the Yahoo browser. Bill, the situation has changed; the internet bubble has burst, and Microsoft doesn't need to be distracted by this business anymore. The market share of MSN portal was never high to begin with, and it will just become more insignificant. Ensuring that Microsoft isn't broken up is the only thing you should focus on."

Bill Gates opened the documents in front of him again, searched for a moment, and lifted his head to say, "There's one more condition: Microsoft cannot sign a five-year contract with Yahoo, at most two years."

Eric countered, "Three years."

Bill Gates insisted, "Raise the pre-installation fee for each operating system to $5."

"Five dollars? Bill, do you think that's possible?"

Currently, Microsoft sold about 50 million copies of its operating system each year. If Gates directly increased Eric's offer fivefold, Yahoo would need to pay $250 million annually, which exceeded Yahoo's current annual marketing budget.

However, Gates' tone remained firm, tinged with clear resentment, "Eric, that's what Microsoft deserves. Giving up that stock subscription agreement meant Microsoft received nothing over the past five years, and Yahoo needs to compensate adequately."

Eric, unfazed by Gates' resentment, even felt somewhat amused. He replied, "Our initial partnership was voluntary for both parties, and Microsoft also acquired all the necessary patent licenses related to web browsers. Moreover, if you feel entitled to compensation simply because you feel wronged, how should Microsoft compensate Apple for copying the Mac system to develop Windows?"

Microsoft initially served as an application software supplier for Apple. Gates developed Windows under inspiration from Apple's Mac system, violating the restrictive agreement signed with Apple and plagiarizing many graphic interface patents from the Mac system. Litigation over the patents lingered for over a decade until Steve Jobs returned to Apple two years ago, finally reaching a settlement.

If not for Apple's oversight back then, there wouldn't be a Microsoft today. Similarly, if Gates hadn't overlooked things five years ago, Yahoo's recent development would not have been so smooth. Without their initial partnership, Microsoft would have surely been a roadblock in Yahoo's effort to establish a unified internet technology standard.

Yet, the world is full of "what ifs," and only one outcome remains.

Bill Gates was extremely sensitive to any accusations regarding his history of copying the Mac system. When he heard Eric's words, his expression turned sour: "Eric, I don't want to hear your nonsense. If you want to cooperate, you can only accept my offer."

Eric gestured towards the door, "Suit yourself."

Bill Gates nearly stood up to walk out in a huff. After a moment of restraint, he pointed at Eric's laptop and raised his voice, "If I leave, this worthless video of yours will be useless!"

"You're mistaken, Bill, I can show it to Thomas Jackson, and maybe he will make a final ruling on breaking up Microsoft within a month."

"You won't succeed!"

"Well, let's see."

The atmosphere fell into a deadlock once again.

After a full minute, Eric finally spoke up, "Three dollars, that's my absolute limit."

Bill Gates' eyes flickered, but he didn't press further. He said, "I need to discuss this with Paul, Steve, and the others."

"No problem," Eric nodded, realizing this was just Gates unwilling to give a quick agreement. He didn't say anything more, and gestured toward the west over the Hudson River, "Want to stay and watch the fireworks? We really have a shipful."

Bill Gates glanced at Eric's laptop again, snorted, and without a goodbye, headed for the rooftop door.

...

Eric remained seated, staring at the coffee on the table, suddenly realizing that next time he met with Gates, he should definitely avoid putting any food or drink between them.

With that thought, he chuckled quietly to himself.

He went back downstairs for a fresh pot of hot coffee, returned to the rooftop, and sat down again. The last sliver of sunset on the distant horizon faded away gradually.

As night fell, and nothing could be seen anymore, Eric held a cup of coffee, quietly leaning back in his chair and gazing at the sky to the west.

At eight o'clock, a loud blast erupted from a barge on the Hudson River, followed by the explosion of colorful fireworks filling the Manhattan sky, adding an extra touch of glamour to the vibrant city.

This sudden fireworks display lasted a full hour, drawing countless onlookers from both banks of the Hudson River and sparking discussions in the media and public in the days that followed.

Many naturally connected this strange fireworks show with the recently crashed Nasdaq stock market and even generated various intriguing rumors.

Some claimed it was a hedge fund mogul celebrating billions made by shorting the recently collapsing Nasdaq with this fireworks display.

Others suggested that a billionaire, having lost their entire fortune in the crashed Nasdaq market, used the last of the money on their credit card to pay for the spectacle.

Still, others said this was a mocking gesture by a large company that had always been bearish on the prospects of new technology, laughing at the recently collapsed Nasdaq.

...

Regardless of the rumors, one fact remained -- the Nasdaq market crash showed no signs of stopping as the new week began, and instead worsened.

From July 26 to July 30, for five consecutive days, the Nasdaq index further declined, dropping from the previous week's 4373 points to 3525 points, a total decline of 19%.

Even some tech stocks that had managed to hold steady the week before began to falter, following the overall downward trend.

As of the close on July 30, Microsoft's stock price fell another 17.3% within the week, plummeting its market value from $469.9 billion last Friday to $388.6 billion.

However, in the face of the deep decline in stock price, Microsoft appeared less active this time, clearly having some backup. After meeting with Eric, Bill Gates also had not immediately responded to Eric in the following days.

Everyone understood that since a crash had occurred, the Nasdaq index's decline wouldn't stop until most of the bubble was squeezed out.

Thus, Eric was in no hurry; Microsoft had no other options to resolve its troubles in the short term aside from the leverage he held.

Although Yahoo's stock price also fell 22.6% again in the second week, and other companies in the Firefly system faced heavy losses as well, Eric didn't focus excessively on the Nasdaq market.

Faced with the overwhelming trend of decline, Yahoo didn't immediately release positive news like financial results; doing so now would only backfire.

With a sufficient series of advantages, Eric was confident that Yahoo could maintain a market value around $100 billion once the majority of the bubble dissipated.

Beyond Yahoo, Cisco's stock price plummeted without any controllable factors. Industry estimates suggested that Cisco's stock price might ultimately drop over 80%.

However, the company already had a very stable revenue and profit model; a stock price crash wouldn't be fatal for it. Even with an 80% drop, Cisco's market value would still exceed $100 billion.

Ultimately, while every startup in the Firefly system had serious bubbles, they generally showed clear prospects for development. The capital reserves within the Firefly system were sufficient to support any of these companies to continue growing.

In contrast, as articulated in a detailed analysis two weeks ago in Barron's magazine, most new tech companies in the Nasdaq market would struggle to survive after spending the funds raised during their IPOs, and many of them would inevitably vanish.

Nonetheless, the massive industry propped by hundreds of billions of dollars in speculative capital had too much attractiveness.

Once share prices reached the bottom, the Firefly system would be able to acquire the companies it needed at minimal costs, further expanding its footprint in the new tech field.

With a cool gaze on the spectacular scenes in the Nasdaq market, Eric's focus shifted back to Hollywood.

...

Unlike the series of new tech companies under the Firefly Group that were seeing their stock prices tumble, the group's valuation remained unscathed due to the explosive performance of The Blair Witch Project earlier in the year and merchandise related to Cars recently.

Some media, hearing hints of insider insights about the Clover Fund, even suggested that the Firefly Group's performance this year would create an unprecedented miracle.

In reality, that was indeed the case. Just in the first two quarters of 1999, the net profit from the Firefly Group's main business reached $2.285 billion.

In the second half of the year, supported by the hefty income from Cars merchandise and the upcoming reality show American Idol on ABC, along with the Firefly Productions' "4200" project, featuring both Gravity and The Lord of the Rings, it was foreseeable that the next two quarters would yield even better profit results for the Firefly Group.

Considering the tens of billions in cash that Clover Fund successfully cashed out, the total net profit for the Firefly Group in 1999 would reach $40 billion. If this were exposed, it would undoubtedly become a miraculous annual profit record in the history of American enterprises.

However, over the past two weeks, what truly captured Eric's attention in Hollywood was the recent release of Shrek on July 16.

Blue Sky Studios' new work following Ice Age had received a lot of praise during its small-scale test screenings for its creative anti-fairy tale narrative.

However, the film's opening week box office did not meet expectations, only grossing $56.49 million.

Given that another recent live-action-animation hybrid from Columbia, Stuart Little, had performed poorly, Eric initially thought Shrek wouldn't be able to replicate any previous box office miracles.

Fortunately, Blue Sky Studios was able to control the production costs of Shrek very well at $60 million -- half of that of Cars and 50% lower than the $90 million budget for Stuart Little. Thus, Eric wasn't too worried about Shrek's profitability.

Even with an opening week's revenue of $56.49 million, hitting the $100 million mark at the North American box office seemed inevitable. Adding overseas earnings and merchandise revenue, Shrek was destined to generate significant profits, prompting Blue Sky Studios to consider a sequel right after the first week's earnings come in.

However, unforeseen developments soon unfolded.

In the second week of release, perhaps due to further word-of-mouth buzz, Shrek's box office figures surprisingly soared, ultimately reaching $63.65 million.

In just two weeks, Shrek's total box office crossed $120 million, directly recouping its production costs.

Following this unexpected box office turnaround, Shrek's ultimate earnings wouldn't just stop at two hundred million. According to Fox's distribution department's analysis, as long as the subsequent box office curve remained strong, the film would comfortably break through $250 million, and it might even aim for the $300 million mark.

A 3D animated film with a production cost of only $60 million suddenly revealed its potential as a box office bombshell, sparking considerable discussion once again within Hollywood.

Furthermore, Blue Sky Studios' approach of controlling costs for both Ice Age and Shrek became a focal point of study in Tinseltown. After all, one of the greatest challenges faced by animated films is managing excessive production investments.

Throughout the summer season, despite the box office misfortunes of Stuart Little, which had cost $90 million to produce, Hollywood once again ramped up its attention and investments in 3D animated films, thanks to Cars and Shrek.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1163: WM]

Though it was Saturday, Carmen Kass woke up early because Eric promised he would go check out WM today.

She slipped quietly out of the man's embrace, got dressed, and started preparing breakfast. Recently, after talks with Paul Roland, Carmen successfully bought 30% of WM, becoming a major shareholder of this relatively well-known modeling agency in New York. Eric also privately acquired another 10% stake.

The scale of WM was far from comparable to industry giants like Elite or IMG, but thanks to Paul Roland's years of management, it had built significant foundations. The company boasted a roster of over 300 signed models in North America and Europe, with profits ranging between $5 million and $7 million in recent years.

Considering the potential boost the Firefly System could provide to WM's further development, Paul Roland agreed to Carmen and Eric's investment proposal without hesitation, valuing WM at $60 million at a price-earnings ratio of 10 times.

With a $60 million valuation, the price for a 30% stake was $18 million.

Carmen's current contracts featured a five-year endorsement deal with Victoria's Secret worth $10 million and a five-year endorsement for Dior's J'adore fragrance worth $5 million. For a model like her, who had just begun to rise and hadn't even officially hit the Victoria's Secret runway yet, both contracts were undoubtedly generous.

However, even if those payments all landed, after deducting hefty taxes and her agency's cut, she would only bring home about $8 million.

Clearly, $8 million wasn't enough to cover the cost for 30% of WM. Yet, she had no intention of seeking help from Eric, even though $18 million was inconsequential to him. She still negotiated a staggered payment plan with Paul Roland.

Thus, by signing her name on the equity transfer document, she felt a bit more reassured. Even if he lost interest in her later, both emotionally and materially, she'd still have a safety net. After all, modeling wasn't a career that one could pursue for too long.

She always believed that even if she couldn't receive abundant love, having abundant money was also good.

One shouldn't be too greedy.

While busy in the kitchen, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind. She halted her actions, turning her head to kiss the man and said, "I made ham sandwiches."

Eric rested his chin on her shoulder and replied, "Let me try."

He took a piece of freshly cut ham from her hands.

Eric took a bite, savoring it and said, "Is it just ham?"

She smiled, "Nope."

"Then never mind," he said, appearing easy-going as he kissed her cheek, stepping out of the kitchen without bothering her further.

After a while, she presented the breakfast she'd made. He was already seated in the dining room, reading the newspaper.

He had a hearty breakfast, while she had just a fruit salad, though he poured her a glass of milk.

Arranging both plates, she sat down across from him, watching as he set down the newspaper and began eating. For some reason, she felt a sense of home and gently asked about his work, "Is that tech stock plunging badly lately?"

Eric instinctively took a sip of the milk next to him, nodding as he replied, "Yeah, I only have $450 billion left now. In two weeks, I lost what amounts to Bill Gates and Warren Buffett combined."

She knew who Bill Gates and Warren Buffett were and understood that Eric's worth had plummeted by over $170 billion in just two weeks.

$170 billion was enough to buy Estonia, or more accurately, several Estonias.

Privately, she felt a twinge of sympathy for the sudden loss and imagined how she would spend that much money, but couldn't come up with an answer.

Imitating him, she lifted the milk and took a sip, saying, "That's still a lot of money. You could never spend it all in a lifetime."

While Eric listened to her, he suddenly realized she rarely called him by name directly. Whenever she spoke to him, she either referred to him as "you" or merely looked at him without any terms of endearment.

Noticing the expression in his eyes, she curiously asked, "What's wrong?"

"I just noticed something," Eric chuckled, "What should you call me?"

She misunderstood his meaning, her cheeks flushing as she rifled through familiar terms of endearment, finally stuttering, "Uh, Eric."

Eric nodded, prepared to reply, when he suddenly realized he seemed to have the same dilemma.

It seems in private, he also wasn't keen on calling people by their names or adopting affectionate titles either.

Noticing Eric gently shake his head, she felt a bit anxious and quietly inquired, "Eric, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, I just realized we share this similarity," Eric noted her expression and clarified, then said, "Hurry up and eat. We're heading to WM soon."

...

WM's headquarters was located in the East Village of Downtown Manhattan.

Even though it was the weekend, the WM headquarters appeared much livelier than usual. The other partners of the company, who rarely showed up, were all present today, and the office buzzed with excitement. Paul Roland had gathered all the models of WM he could muster, even those who were abroad had hurried back to New York.

Aside from a few company partners and executives, everyone was still unaware of what was happening. Carmen's investment in WM had not been officially announced yet.

Thus, when Eric and Carmen appeared at WM, it caused a minor commotion.

Upon entering, they bumped into Karolina Kurkova and Eugenia Volodina, a few girls who were close to Carmen, and Eric initiated greetings with them.

The other girls were clueless about the situation, initially appearing reserved. Even though they had heard rumors about Carmen Kass enjoying a boost due to Eric Williams's fame, the presence of this super-rich individual at their company remained hard to fathom.

After watching Eric be so 'down-to-earth' in front of Karolina and the others, they grew bold, seeking autographs, introducing themselves, and some even attempting to flirt, which led to utter chaos.

...

Paul Roland rescued Eric from the frenzy of bewitched girls and ushered everyone into a meeting room. He also ran outside to shoo away nosy girls before returning, apologizing to Eric, "I'm sorry, Mr. Williams. They didn't know you were coming today."

Eric, helplessly glancing at his shirt with a missing button, could only smile and shake his head, telling everyone, "It's fine, please sit down."

Paul Roland then formally introduced Eric to the other partners and executives of WM before they all sat down together.

Carmen quietly sat beside Eric, noticing the slumped sleeves of his shirt, which she found amusing yet worrisome. On every front, he was an extremely attractive man, and compared to him, she didn't feel she had any advantage that would keep him anchored.

Paul Roland, however, was clearly excited. As long as Eric Williams was here, it was a tremendous opportunity for WM.

For a modeling agency to grow, it ultimately boils down to expanding resources and connections.

To promote the models under its wing, they needed resources and connections within the media industry. To find jobs for signed models, they required branding resources and contacts from various businesses.

The Firefly System, in both areas, was undoubtedly a formidable ally.

In terms of model promotion, the media resources within the Firefly System could easily overshadow WM.

Besides the super promotional platform represented by Victoria's Secret -- where a single runway appearance could earn models brand contracts -- the extensive television, internet, and associated print media networks of the Firefly System could make any model WM wanted to promote a household name given a slight opportunity.

On the other hand, the Firefly System could provide WM with countless job opportunities.

Paul Roland had been worried that Eric would seem disinterested because WM was just a small fish compared to the Firefly System. However, upon noticing Eric attentively listening to him outline WM's general situation, Paul became more earnest, even divulging some operational details he initially intended to keep from Eric.

Paul astutely sensed that being candid in front of this young man who controlled a vast empire would elicit greater trust.

However, when Paul mentioned that over a quarter of the 300 signed models under WM lacked work visas and were thus considered 'illegal workers,' a concerned expression appeared on Carmen's face.

Having been in the industry for a while, Carmen knew some of the rules. She just hadn't expected the issue to be so severe at WM, even thinking she might have been deceived.

Noticing the glint of worry in the girl's eyes as she looked at him repeatedly, Eric reassuringly patted her leg and said, "Do you know how many work visas the U.S. issues each year?"

Carmen shook her head. As a special trainee of WM, she received her work visa with their assistance before coming to the U.S., so she wasn't aware of such issues and hadn't paid much mind to her peers' situations.

"Approximately 200,000. Each year, the U.S. only issues around 200,000 work visas to foreign laborers," Eric said, shifting his gaze to Paul Roland, "Isn't that right?"

Upon hearing Eric state this figure, Paul Roland realized that Eric had clearly done his homework regarding WM's situation. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been inquiring about U.S. work visas for no apparent reason.

Relieved by his honesty today, Paul smiled and nodded, then turned to Carmen to explain, "Carmen, that's precisely the case. But that's not the key issue. The U.S. only issues 200,000 work visas each year. However, the total number of non-permanent residents and even illegal immigrants without visas who are residing in the U.S. exceeds 50 million. A significant portion of these individuals needs jobs to support themselves. Thus, the number of illegal workers in the U.S. surpasses the government's officially issued work visas by over 200 times. Moreover, the federal government has tacitly acknowledged this reality, resulting in no significant trouble. Most modeling agencies in the industry, even Elite, are in a similar position to ours."

After hearing Paul Roland's explanation, Carmen turned to Eric. Once she saw him nod in agreement, she felt a bit more reassured.

Illegal labor was indeed a significant issue in American society and had formed an accepted existence that the government tacitly acknowledged.

Relative to the already heavy labor costs for domestic workers, illegal laborers not only didn't add to the burden of America's already substantial social welfare system but also provided a wealth of cheap labor. Many small businesses in the U.S. extensively utilized illegal labor as long as there were no consequences involved.

If the federal government were to seriously confront the issue of illegal labor, it could lead to various sectors lacking sufficient labor, triggering a chain of social problems.

The modeling industry, in particular, was a sector with a significant concentration of illegal labor issues.

Compared to overseas talents with higher education, it was exceedingly challenging for young women possessing only attractive looks to secure work visas. Additionally, the majority of these girls were often too young to qualify for legitimate work visas.

Thus, many models only entered the U.S. on travel visas while launching their careers. Such short-term visas were relatively easy to obtain between Western nations. The catch, however, was that they needed to return to their home country every three months to renew the visa. Even if the Immigration Department uncovered this nuance, they typically turned a blind eye.

While holding a stake in WM might be the most inconspicuous investment in Eric's vast portfolio, he was still thorough in ensuring a detailed inquiry into WM's condition, ensuring there would be no issues with the company.

Since the use of illegal labor was an unspoken rule in the industry, Eric saw no cause for concern. He adhered to the principle that "clear waters do not breed fish." Even if the issue were brought to light by those with ulterior motives, it wouldn't have any repercussions for him.

...

After discussing WM's operational issues, the conversation shifted towards the company's future development.

In the modeling agency business, two operational models typically emerged at the peak of growth. One model persistently focused on maximizing the modeling economy, while the other gradually diversified its operations.

Elite and IMG were the pinnacle representatives of these two models.

Elite held the largest pool of thousands of signed models in the industry, continuously scouting new talent worldwide through events like the Elite Model Look competition. This company had truly taken the single modeling agency business to its zenith, with about 90% of its annual income derived from the commissions of its models.

On the other hand, IMG maintained a relatively small roster of around 300 signed models, which was comparable in size to WM.

However, IMG operated on an elite route, and the overall quality of those 300 models was far beyond what WM could compete with. Furthermore, modeling had become merely a branch of IMG's operations, with that segment comprising only about 10% of the company's overall business.

Beyond the modeling economy, IMG also represented a wide array of sports stars and pop singers. It had IMG Media, which produced hundreds of fashion and sports documentaries annually, as well as IMG Academy, handling numerous events across various universities and corporations worldwide.

This integrated operational model undoubtedly maximized the benefits of the talent teams at their disposal. The reason IMG could pursue the elite route was that it had the abundant channels to offer ample promotion for its diverse array of artists.

When comparing the two models, it was apparent that the latter had a more stable outlook for development, which Eric personally favored.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1164: Who Stole My Button?]

Of course, compared to Elite and IMG, WM was still just a small modeling agency. Growing a management company wasn't something that happened overnight. Eric was eager to see WM reach a level comparable to companies like Elite, but he wouldn't rush it.

As noon approached and the meeting neared its end, Eric heard Paul Roland make a final inquiry about this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. He replied, "The list of most of this year's Angels has already been finalized. So, aside from Carmen, LTD can only provide WM with three more spots, provided the models you send can pass the interview. However, regarding the promotion of models, I've already handed Carmen some business cards; the specifics are up to you."

The slots for Victoria's Secret Angels were increasingly claimed by industry giants like Elite and IMG. Securing four spots in one go for WM was roughly equivalent to one-tenth of the entire Victoria's Secret lineup, which made Paul Roland quite satisfied. Hearing that Eric had already given Carmen Kass some business cards only excited him further.

As the topic wrapped up, Paul Roland planned to invite Eric to a nearby restaurant he had booked. Just then, he noticed figures moving outside the transparent glass door of the meeting room, and asked, "So, Eric, would you like to say a few words?"

Eric also noticed the group of lively figures outside and nodded with a smile, "Sure."

With Eric's affirmative answer, Paul Roland made a gesture to wait and personally headed outside.

...

Moments later, a large group of girls entered the room, quickly filling it to capacity. They looked at Eric by the conference table with expressions of excitement, anticipation, or mischief.

Seeing this, the other WM partners and executives discreetly stood up to clear some space. The girls, familiar with each other, gathered around. Carmen Kass, who had been sitting next to Eric, shyly stood up and moved to the side and slightly behind him.

Leaning back in his chair, Eric appreciated the girls, who had clearly touched up their makeup, and smiled, "I'm sure you've guessed something. You're right. I can now consider myself one of the owners of WM. So, you'll definitely have better opportunities moving forward."

The girls, who had partially expected this, couldn't contain their excitement and cheered.

After waiting for their cheers to subside, Eric continued, "Of course, I won't have much time to focus on things here. So, the day-to-day operations of the company won't change much. You'll simply have more opportunities, but it will require your hard work."

At this point, when he noticed the girls looking more serious, Eric playfully put on a straight face and raised his open cuff, saying, "Now, finally, who stole my button? Turn it in quickly."

The girls froze momentarily. Although they realized Eric was likely joking, no one dared to be completely sure because of his status. They exchanged glances, seemingly actually trying to help Eric find the "thief."

As the topic shifted, they gradually noticed a girl in the crowd wearing an identical light blue shirt as Eric. Even the buttons matched white. The only difference was that the girl's shirt was fitted for women, which made it resemble a couple's outfit next to Eric.

Once the girl realized everyone was looking at her, even Eric Williams, she blushed, opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't decide what to say.

The room fell silent for a moment. After some silent communication among the girls, someone took the lead, and quickly, they surrounded the girl dressed like Eric.

Then laughter echoed, followed by the girl's teasing screams, "Ah, you guys, haha, that tickles, don't, that's too hard, it hurts!"

Standing at the door, Paul Roland and other WM executives exchanged looks of confusion, unsure if they should intervene or let it play out.

Eric was caught off guard too. Hearing the girl's yelps, he was about to speak up to stop it when the girls scattered again.

They playfully displayed their "spoils" in front of Eric, leaving the girl standing awkwardly with her shirt now devoid of buttons, her expression one of embarrassment, with her shirt hanging open, revealing a glimpse of her slim waist and flat stomach.

Looking at the scene, Eric couldn't help but laugh, but quickly said, "That's too much. You can't do that anymore. However, the company should have a fitting room, right? Who can help me find some thread and a needle?"

Modeling agencies typically had well-equipped fitting rooms to make adjustments for models on the spot, so thread and needles were certainly in abundance. Karolina, familiar with Eric, immediately volunteered and ran out.

Eric then turned to the girl still against the wall, golden hair cascading down, tall with high heels clearly making her over six feet, and paired with a gorgeous face that embodied high fashion -- she easily scored an 85 overall in Eric's book.

After sizing her up, Eric curiously asked, "So, what's your name?"

Even though her shoulders were still aching from having her buttons forcibly pulled off, the girl realized this was a rare opportunity. She immediately answered, "Mr. Williams, I'm Amy Hickson."

Eric picked up a button with a smile and said, "Let me borrow one of these. You can get a new shirt, and the company will cover the bill."

Amy Hickson instinctively nodded but then quickly shook her head, "No, it's okay, Mr. Williams."

"We definitely have to pay you for a shirt," Eric replied as Karolina returned with a sewing kit, addressing Amy again, "And remember, pulling buttons off other people's clothes isn't a good habit. You need to change that. Now, that's all for today. Everyone else, go do your thing."

Though hesitant, the girls obediently left the conference room.

Paul Roland and others then stayed behind with Carmen Kass and Karolina to help Eric sew the button on, before he was invited to lunch. With no other plans for the afternoon, Eric accepted the invitation.

...

Being a privately held partnership, the specific shareholding details of Eric's investment in WM weren't disclosed to the public, but word spread quickly within the industry.

Suddenly, companies like Elite and IMG felt a rising sense of urgency. They understood that even if Eric only held a 1% stake in WM, the entire Firefly system backed him, and if he wanted, WM could evolve rapidly into a major force capable of reshaping the industry.

...

As the new week began, the NASDAQ continued to plummet.

With August rolling in, the summer box office tapering off, Eric spent the last few days busy reviewing a series of film projects coming from Firefly Group.

For movies, promotional work had already kicked into high gear for two blockbuster titles set to release at the end of the year: Gravity and The Lord of the Rings.

Spider-Man, directed by Cameron, wouldn't wrap filming for another month, so Eric decided to extend that timeline to two months.

Meanwhile, Michael Bay's Armageddon, which had started filming later than Spider-Man, was already in post-production and scheduled for release next summer, with a confirmed date in May. Spider-Man was also set for next summer, two months later than Armageddon.

Casting for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone had concluded, with filming slated for next month and a release at the end of next year. The finalized cast was entirely different from before, yet they matched the characters perfectly, so Eric chose not to intervene.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's next wave of films was officially set in motion. Due to extensive planning, projects for Captain America, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk were nearly simultaneous, currently undergoing crucial casting calls.

Iron Man 2 also entered pre-production; Joss Whedon was set to return as director. Eric wouldn't back out if the project was a success.

In addition to these key projects, Eric kept a close watch on the animated studios within the Firefly system, especially with the continued success of Cars and Shrek.

Pixar was currently working on The Incredibles following Cars and had several other projects in development. To maximize benefits, Eric chose not to rush the sequel to Cars, instead planning its release seven years down the line.

Animation films usually had a seven-year cycle, allowing for a new crop of young audiences to emerge and support bumper sales for the Cars franchise.

Disney's animated studio was nearing completion of its first 3D animated feature, Tangled, planned for a smooth summer release next year.

Blue Sky Studios was jointly owned by Firefly Group and Fox. Since Ice Age and Shrek were big successes, Eric hadn't prioritized prompting them to start too many new films just yet.

Aside from these prominent projects, over a hundred other films were in various stages of production across the four Firefly companies. Eric had found it increasingly challenging to juggle them all simultaneously, so he tried his best to avoid interfering, to keep things from going awry.

...

Operating out of New York, Eric was also focusing considerable effort on television ventures.

Building on several existing hit shows, ABC's big project for the year was obviously American Idol.

Following the success of the UK version of Pop Idol, ABC was keen on this reality show format. Simon Fuller had even taken a break from his work in England to devote three months to oversee things stateside. Currently, the project had completed initial contestant selections and was set to premiere on ABC in September.

On the cable side, AE's Lifetime had maintained strong growth in recent years. In addition to Sex and the City, Project Runway, and America's Next Top Model, Anne Sweeney had developed a series of other popular new television shows.

After Steve Bernstein's departure, ESPN experienced a brief period of chaos, but it had now stabilized. Eric knew nothing of sports television operations, so he handed all responsibilities over to the company's management team.

Just acquired Showtime was finalizing its new programming schedule and marketing plans, with preparations for Shameless proceeding smoothly. Production for pilot episodes was set to commence this month.

As the Firefly system continued to grow, Eric realized it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to focus on any single task. Even delegating maximum authority among the various companies, the responsibilities that required his personal attention were accumulating rapidly, enough to overload his work schedule.

...

Time flew, and it was now August 6, a Friday.

At ABC's headquarters on West 66th Street, in Eric's temporary office.

As the workday neared its end with tomorrow's flight to Australia approaching, Merissa Mayer briefed Eric on the upcoming Australian trip's itinerary and handed him a document and a package.

Eric recognized the document as the NASDAQ market analysis report for the week, just organized. With the day filled, he figured he would take it home to review later. The package, however, puzzled him. "What's this?"

Merissa glanced at the memo and replied, "It's from Rebecca Wade, deputy editor of The Sun. It's marked for personal delivery to you. You might want to call Ms. Murdoch to ask about it."

Eric had just spoken with Elisabeth that morning and hadn't heard her mention it. He assumed that Rebecca Wade had delivered it privately.

Back in London last December, Rebecca Wade had brought breakfast to Eric at Elisabeth's behest. Eric didn't remember her well but knew her to be quite adept in many social circles.

After pondering it, Eric thought, The Sun, a secret package, and personal delivery. Put together, was it possible that The Sun had some tucked-away news about him? After all, it was arguably the UK's premier gossip tabloid.

Merissa seemed to share the same thoughts, glancing at Eric with a slightly strange expression.

After processing it carefully, Eric noticed Merissa's gaze. He shrugged and said, "I haven't done anything scandalous lately. Why don't we both open it together? Let's call Carly in, too."

Merissa, who had been curious, rolled her eyes at his suggestion, adopting a 'I-care-absolutely-nothing-about-your-drama' attitude and turned to leave the office.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1065: Where Did All the Money Go?]

After Merissa Mayer left, Eric tidied up briefly and headed home to East 75th Street with a folder and package that his assistant had just handed him. Cindy was already home, taking a shower. Answering the door was her recently hired personal assistant, Catherine Neumann.

Considering Cindy needed someone trustworthy by her side, Eric had insisted on a thorough review of a few girls she had shown interest in. In the end, the German girl with the smart bob cut sitting in front of him matched his criteria perfectly. Catherine Neumann hailed from Frankfurt, Germany, a hub of industrial strength, and had just turned 24.

As one might expect from the stereotype of Germans, Eric noticed a meticulousness while looking through Catherine's resume. From the beginning of her education, she consistently earned A grades. After high school, she secured a full scholarship to Harvard and graduated with degrees in Economics, Psychology, and a Master's in Business Administration over six years.

In addition to being fluent in German and English, Catherine also spoke French and Spanish proficiently. Beyond her academic credentials, her manners and interpersonal skills were impeccable.

If there was a single shortcoming, it might have been that she came from a single-parent household. Cindy, however, dismissed it, accusing Eric of bias and pointing out that he himself had grown up in a similar situation.

To be fair, Eric had long felt that the original owner of this body had left him with several personality flaws. However, since Cindy appeared satisfied, he agreed.

Once inside, Eric handed the folder and package to the girl and asked while changing his shoes, "Put the folder in the living room. I'll look at it after my shower. Can the package be sent to my study? Have you started preparing dinner?"

Catherine accepted the items with a nod. "Yes, Mr. Williams. Is there anything special you need?"

Eric had never been particularly particular about food, so he shook his head casually and asked when Linda would be back. He then moved towards the bathroom where Cindy was showering. He knocked lightly on the door, hinting that the woman who loved her long baths shouldn't take too long. He switched to a different bathroom to take a quick rinse.

It was the hottest time of the year in New York. Although he spent most of his time in air-conditioned rooms, by the end of the day, he could still not avoid sweating quite a bit.

...

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Eric emerged fresh and headed to the living room where he began flipping through this week's Nasdaq market analysis report he had brought back.

Three weeks after the crash, as of four o'clock this afternoon, the Nasdaq index had fallen back to 3056 points, a drop of 13.3% from last week.

Though the decline had begun to slow down, in just three weeks, the Nasdaq index had plummeted back to the level it had four months ago. Compared to the peak of 5000 points, the overall decline had reached 40%, wiping out more than $3 trillion in wealth in the entire Nasdaq market.

Focusing specifically on the Firefly Group, Yahoo's stock price continued to drop by 19.1% this week, bringing its market capitalization down to $134.9 billion. Compared to the peak of $257.9 billion, it had nearly been cut in half. It was reasonable to assume that if no action was taken, Yahoo's market cap might fall below $100 billion next week.

In the past few days, with the support of the chips in Eric's hand, Yahoo had reached an agreement with Microsoft.

After next week's high-level meeting, the entire Firefly Group planned to unveil a series of measures to boost the stock prices of its new tech companies, aiming to avoid a chain of unlimited declines for firms like Yahoo.

While reading the document, a whiff of perfume caught Eric's attention. He turned to plant a kiss on Cindy's cheek as she sat down beside him. "It's been so hot these past few days. You don't need to be running around at the set of America's Next Top Model. Our little one is what's important."

"I know, but I feel like staying at home leads to trouble," Cindy said, settling closer to Eric and glancing at the document in his hand. "How much did it drop this week?"

"13.3%. The downward trend is slowing, but the situation is still grim."

Cindy nodded, adjusting her position. "Eric, I want to discuss something with you."

Hearing her serious tone, Eric sat up straight, concern flooding his voice. "What is it?"

"Didn't you just buy that agency for that girl?"

"I just wanted her to learn a bit," Eric explained softly, then chuckled as realization dawned on him. "You want to buy one too, don't you?"

Cindy nodded, responding affirmatively. "IMG."

Eric was a bit surprised. "IMG Models or IMG Group? This company should be doing quite well. Why would they consider selling it to you?"

IMG, which stood for International Management Group, had IMG Models as one of its subsidiaries. Although IMG was more powerful than Elite, it was not a publicly traded company. Even though Eric hadn't kept a close watch, he understood that IMG thrived and that the shareholders wouldn't randomly want to sell.

"Of course, I mean the entire IMG Group. I have no desire to forcibly buy someone else's company; the major shareholder from IMG reached out to me," Cindy responded as she linked her arm with Eric's. "The McCormack family still holds 55% of the company. While Mark McCormack has been chairman, health issues have kept him from engaging with the company's affairs, and his children have no interest in taking over."

"Well, there's no real reason to sell, especially to you," Eric remarked.

"Because of this stock market crash," Cindy said. "Mark McCormack's two sons put up their IMG shares as collateral to buy tech stocks a few months ago and lost over $100 million. The situation has worsened recently, and banks started demanding repayment. I heard old McCormack had even been hospitalized due to the stress but ultimately had to agree to transfer IMG shares, or else they would face forced liquidation by the bank."

Understanding the situation now, Eric realized that countless individuals -- from billionaires to everyday middle-class workers -- had seen their fortunes evaporate due to the Nasdaq crash in recent weeks.

...

The Tiger Fund, which Eric closely monitored, had suffered major losses since Julian Robertson pivoted to shorts and began buying tech stocks when the Nasdaq crashed.

The fund's current capital stood at less than $5 billion, a nearly 80% drop from its peak two years ago.

Facing such significant losses, the Tiger Fund struggled to continue, and Julian Roberts had to start liquidating the nearly defunct hedge fund, returning the remaining capital to investors.

Additionally, Eric had recently received a handwritten letter from Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, requesting that the Firefly Group make a donation to the Los Angeles Disney Concert Hall to ensure the project wasn't halted due to a funding shortfall.

The Disney Concert Hall had been initiated by a $50 million donation from the Disney family, but over the years, costs had escalated, and the Los Angeles County government had even issued bonds to raise funds.

Eric learned from Katzenberg that the Disney family had initially planned to contribute an additional $25 million to the Concert Hall.

However, due to significant losses in the stock market crash, it was difficult for the Disney family to come up with that $25 million in cash, leading them to seek help from the Firefly Group, which held the Disney brand.

Despite often facing criticism regarding brand dilution, Eric had never considered weakening the Disney brand. On the contrary, he wished to diminish the prominence of the Firefly brand, but that was a challenge.

While the Disney Concert Hall was primarily a philanthropic project for the Disney family, it also benefited the Disney brand. For the Firefly Group, $25 million wasn't a huge amount, and the philanthropic donation could offset some taxes, so Eric readily agreed.

The Tiger Fund, the Disney family, and the $50 million Linda had invested in tech stocks were mere reflections of the dismal investment climate following the Nasdaq crash.

It could be said that anyone who jumped into the market during the last few months of the Nasdaq bubble ended up with losses.

After several weeks of market decline, these investors couldn't even sell their stocks at bargain prices, as there was no one willing to take them on. They watched helplessly as once-valuable tech stocks turned to worthless paper.

Of course, some might ask where all that money went with so many people losing it.

Simply put, the bulk of that wealth was captured by the public companies during their IPO processes.

Some might notice that many new stocks experience over 100% gains after listing, suggesting that public companies made more than investors. However, that's incorrect. The profits from stocks post-IPO are spread among many investors; hence no individual investor can gain more than what the public company receives.

Then the game of passing the parcel began. If stock prices kept climbing, everyone who passed the 'parcel' early stood to profit until the last unlucky player came along.

In the current Nasdaq market, there were many with unfortunate outcomes, along with a small group of investors who had managed to avoid the crash and were secretly relieved.

As for the Clover Fund, it was an entirely different story. No stock fund had ever made a move like Eric did, investing hundreds of millions several years in advance.

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that due to recent reckless spending by new tech firms, the substantial funds they gained from IPOs were now being quickly depleted. It was safe to say that aside from the chaotic mess they left for the information industry, there weren't many winners left in this tech bubble.

...

At this moment in the living room, even though Eric understood that the McCormack family was primarily targeting him, he still asked Cindy, "So what price are they asking?"

"$750 million," Cindy knew Eric had figured everything out and didn't bother to hide anything. "IMG has been consistently earning over $100 million in net profit in recent years. On a normal valuation, IMG would sell for at least $1.5 billion. So, the offer from the McCormack family is quite reasonable. I discussed with Linda; she has $100 million, and I have $200 million here. The remaining portion will have to come from you."

$750 million for controlling a top-tier talent agency in the world was certainly tempting for Eric.

Having learned from previous investment lessons with UTA, Eric conducted a detailed legal risk assessment before investing in WM, arriving at a conclusion that the plan was viable.

The law requiring the separation of talent agencies from production companies applied only within Hollywood's film-making realm. This legislation stemmed primarily from lobbying by the two major actor unions in Hollywood.

However, outside of Hollywood, no such powerful group existed in the music or fashion industries, and the federal government wouldn't risk angering capitalists by actively implementing related regulations.

Thus, in the music industry, singers were typically signed artists of record labels.

In terms of the modeling industry, there were even fewer restrictions, as many models were simply employees on fixed salaries under agencies, similar to the early days of Hollywood.

Given that IMG Group was an international talent agency encompassing agent representation, program production, and film distribution, the only distinction was that IMG represented supermodels, sports stars, and pop singers instead of actors.

Cindy was attentively watching Eric's expression, patiently waiting, before softly stating, "Eric, what are you thinking?"

Eric nodded in agreement but added, "$750 million is quite a sum; I'll need to see some information about IMG Group first."

"I have it ready," she said, observing Eric's looser demeanor. She quickly got up and retrieved a thick file from a shelf in the living room. "Here, Linda and I already reviewed it."

Eric ran his fingers over the file, chuckling, "You really got this from IMG? Don't you worry about them trying to deceive you?"

"Not at all," Cindy said, glancing toward the kitchen, unable to spot her short-haired assistant. "We collected the information ourselves, so it shouldn't be a problem."

"Alright, I'll take a look in the next couple of days and let the legal department evaluate it. If everything checks out, you can touch base with the McCormack family next week."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1066: Lifting the Lid]

Perhaps it was some primal sense of territorialism, but Eric found it quite unsettling to have strangers suddenly appear in his personal life.

After dinner, he spent some time chatting with Cindy and Linda. When he spotted Catherine Neumann, who had just finished her housework, appear in the living room with a book in her hand, he decided to make himself scarce and headed toward the study.

On his desk sat a package sent by Rebecca Wade. Eric placed the IMG Group materials nearby, sat down, and casually opened his computer. He grabbed a utility knife and carefully cut open the package.

Inside, he found a simple handwritten letter and a DVD.

Eric opened Rebecca Wade's letter and began to read. In it, she informed him that the DVD contained a preview of an upcoming BBC documentary about the competition scandal involving Elite modeling agency. Once aired, this documentary was likely to have a disruptive impact on the entire modeling industry. Considering some industry ramifications for Firefly Group, she had sent over the preview for Eric to decide if it required his intervention and offered to provide some assistance.

The details revealed in the recent phone tapping scandal showcased News Corporation's extensive 'intelligence-gathering abilities,' so Eric wasn't particularly curious about the provenance of this DVD. Instead, he quickly inserted it into his computer's disc drive and pressed play.

The footage was clearly shot with a mini camera, evident from the fuzzy black borders around the edges. The documentary focused on behind-the-scenes interviews from last month's Elite Model contest held in Nice, France. BBC journalists approached a series of competition officials posing as sponsors and captured them discussing in a vulgar manner their intentions to bed the girls participating in the contest. The documentary even featured a scene where a girl was enticed into using heroin.

Moreover, the documentary emphasized a shocking fact: the average age of contestants in the Elite Model contest held in Nice was under 15, with the youngest girl being only 12. Very few contestants were of legal age.

The chaos in the modeling industry was common knowledge, and anyone could infer from the listless demeanor of some models and the blemishes on their faces that their personal lives were quite indulgent.

However, typically only isolated scandals regarding individual models emerged in the media. A large-scale scandal directly involving an industry giant like Elite had never occurred. This BBC documentary served as a kind of lid-lifting action, exposing the industry's darkest underbelly to the public.

It was easy to imagine that once this documentary aired, the modeling industry would be shaken to its core. Under public pressure, governments worldwide would inevitably revise relevant regulations.

Elite, the largest modeling agency in the world, would also become a pariah, and its decline seemed inevitable.

Eric had never been naive enough to believe that the lovely beauties flanking him truly represented the industry's glamorous facade. Just like with Hollywood, he was well aware of the dark side of the fashion world.

However, as his wealth and power continued to grow, his inner attitude towards this world turned increasingly apathetic. Much like a person who had little interest in the struggles of ants in their world, he would consider it a sign of compassion not to trod on them unnecessarily.

At present, if this documentary's fallout only affected Elite, Eric would remain just a disinterested observer.

What was more concerning than the BBC's uncovering actions was that following the broadcast, much like multiple past scandals, the public's dark associations with the fashion world would materialize and negatively impact the overall public image of the modeling industry.

Eric had just invested in WM, and now Cindy was set to acquire IMG.

If Elite fell into decline, it appeared beneficial to the Firefly network on the surface. But the repercussions of this scandal and the resultant media frenzy could easily drag the entire industry down with it. The top supermodel team Eric had built, the Victoria's Secret angels, might also suffer collateral damage. Each potential impact could cancel out any benefits derived from Elite's fall.

...

After contemplating for a moment, Eric picked up his phone and dialed Merissa Mayer's number.

"Mary, it's me... Can you find the contact information for the head of the BBC? Shoot them an email saying I've seen their program on Elite and hope they can retract it. In return, Firefly could increase our advertising budget directed toward the BBC... Yes, I know about that. Just get it done immediately. Also, call John Casablancas and have him meet me tomorrow morning."

After hanging up with Merissa, Eric glanced at the IMG Group materials for a moment when Linda floated into the room, having changed into an elegant sleep outfit.

"What kind of prenatal education is this? I want to sleep after listening to it," she slouched against Eric, wrapping her arms around his neck and adopting a somewhat sulky tone. "Maybe the little one's already asleep and won't become smart at all; it'll just get drowsy at the sight of books."

Linda always felt overshadowed in front of Cindy. Now that Cindy was pregnant smoothly, her own progress seemed stagnant, leading to some sullen moments lately.

Eric wrapped his arms around her slender waist, somehow reminded of the documentary they had just viewed.

Rebecca Wade sending it over might have had this additional layer of meaning. The Elite president mentioned in the documentary was, after all, Linda's ex-husband. If the scandal broke, he'd surely face public disgrace, but a more famous Linda would inevitably be pulled into the media whirlwind.

Setting those thoughts aside, Eric comfortingly patted her back and teased, "Stop complaining. You'll have your day eventually."

"But I want it now," Linda replied, cuddling closer, her cheeks flushing a bit as she whispered hotly in his ear, "Eric, I consulted with the doctor, learned a few things, and thought we could try it now?"

Eric immediately shook his head with a grin. "Not happening. If you approach it with that mindset, it'll seriously dampen a guy's enthusiasm."

Linda pouted, playfully nibbling Eric's neck, feeling his hand press against her waist more firmly. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she began unbuttoning his shirt, nipping down his collar line.

...

The following morning, after bidding farewell to the two women, Eric took off for the helicopter pad by the Hudson River.

Caroline and Merissa Mayer were already waiting there. As Eric stepped out of the vehicle, Merissa approached with his BlackBerry in hand. "Eric, BBC president Mark Thompson has declined your request."

Eric took the phone, glanced at the screen, and casually asked, "What about John Casablancas?"

"Mr. Casablancas lives in Greenwich. He called just now, saying he'd be here in ten minutes."

Greenwich was over forty kilometers north of Manhattan, already in Connecticut territory. Many affluent Manhattanites and upper-class professionals resided there.

Eric nodded, reading through Mark Thompson's pompous rejection, where he wouldn't defy BBC's own code of conduct for business interests, and handed the phone back to Merissa. "Get Mark Thompson on the line."

Merissa skillfully dialed, exchanged a few words, and then handed the phone to Eric.

Eric held the phone to his ear. "Mark Thompson?"

A middle-aged man with a distinct London accent replied, "Hello, Mr. Williams. While I'm pleased to speak with you, if this is regarding the matter in the email, I'm afraid I can't comply. The BBC has its own sense of social responsibility; we aren't under anyone's influence."

"Well then, let it be," Eric replied nonchalantly. "But speaking of social responsibility, I might just have someone create a more profound documentary. Something like a detailed report on Jimmy Savile; how does that sound?"

Eric hung up without waiting for a response.

The two women watching the exchange were momentarily stunned, not expecting him to end the call so quickly.

Upon hearing Jimmy Savile's name, Caroline opened her mouth as if about to speak, just as Eric's phone rang again.

Placing the phone back to his ear, Eric maintained his calm demeanor, "So?"

This time, Mark Thompson spoke with obvious annoyance. "Mr. Williams, are you threatening the BBC?"

Eric pressed the end-call button without a second thought.

Although the pause before the next call was slightly longer this time, a minute later the phone rang again.

"So?"

Mark Thompson's tone had shifted to a noticeable softness. "Alright, Mr. Williams. I will have that documentary retracted. However, you must ensure that the matter you mentioned will not take place."

Eric nodded. "Of course. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Mark. Goodbye."

As Eric hung up, Caroline finally said, "Eric, what's wrong with Sir Jimmy Savile? He was a great guy; I used to watch his shows all the time when I was a kid."

Jimmy Savile was the BBC's most famous children's and music show host, in his seventies now. During his peak, he received thousands of letters from children every week.

Apart from that, he was also knighted by the Queen of England and was friends with many British politicians, enjoying a very high social status in British society.

Yet, that was merely the facade.

In memory, it wasn't until over a decade later, shortly after Savile's death, that the scandals involving him finally erupted.

It turned out that this seemingly upstanding presenter had abused hundreds of minors over his decades-long career, with the youngest victim being only eight years old.

Moreover, within the BBC, Savile's actions had become an open secret, but out of concern for its own reputation, the BBC had repeatedly chosen to shield him, which inadvertently allowed Savile's crimes to continue unchecked for half a century.

For the BBC, which prided itself on exposing industry issues, the entire situation was deeply ironic.

At this moment, Eric watched Caroline's clear, bright eyes, and, feigning mystery, said softly, "You don't know this, but he was actually gay. Think about it -- a well-liked guy with a stable family behind him suddenly being revealed as a homosexual; people wouldn't take that well."

Caroline scrunched her nose, looking somewhat distressed. "Eric, that's not good; sexuality is a personal matter; you shouldn't use him as a bargaining chip."

Eric nodded earnestly. "Alright, I promise it won't happen again."

Merissa, standing nearby, watched as Eric spoke with Caroline, her eyes darting slightly. Noticing Eric glance her way, she nonchalantly looked away.

...

After a moment, a Cadillac rolled into the helicopter pad.

Although Casablancas thought Eric's attitude was a bit overbearing, he still jogged over with a smile after stepping out of the car. "Sorry, Mr. Williams, the journey was a bit long. Wow, this helicopter is quite something."

Eric shook hands with John Casablancas, exchanging minimal pleasantries before handing him the DVD from yesterday. "This was originally a documentary set to air on the BBC next week, and I've managed to suppress it. But remember, this is a one-time favor; if problems arise again, I'll have ABC take care of it, and Elite will shut down."

Casablancas had no clue what was happening, but Eric's serious tone prompted him to stow his smile immediately while holding the DVD. "Mr. Williams, what's going on?"

"I'm in a hurry; just watch it yourself. Also, I plan to transfer Al's contract to IMG. A lawyer will be in touch with you soon."

Because IMG operated on a high-priority basis, contracts for Cindy, Linda, Gisele, and Miranda had already been placed with IMG's modeling agency, while only Alessandra remained with Elite.

Since Eric had already shown interest in acquiring IMG, and given the circumstances, he decided to transfer Alessandra's contract too. As for the other Elite-affiliated Victoria's Secret angels, he didn't mind too much.

John Casablancas realized the seriousness of the situation and wanted to press further, but Eric waved him off and boarded the helicopter with Caroline, Linda, and a few bodyguards.

...

Watching the black VH-60 roar into the sky, John Casablancas quickly departed for Elite's headquarters. Upon arrival, he hurriedly entered a conference room and eagerly inserted the DVD into the player.

After finishing the half-hour video, John Casablancas was drenched in cold sweat.

Although the content had nothing to do with him directly, he understood well that if this documentary aired, Elite's meticulously crafted modeling contest, operated for over twenty years, would be utterly destroyed. The company would be inundated with lawsuits, and models under contract would flee amidst the scandal.

At that point, Elite's decline was inevitable.

Moreover, and most critically, he would be forced to leave the agency he had founded. Unlike the McCormick family behind IMG, over the years, John Casablancas no longer held much equity in Elite, and with such a grave oversight in management, the board would surely not allow him to remain in the presidency.

Shaking in fury, he smashed everything on the conference table to the floor, then collapsed into a chair. As his thoughts gradually calmed, he began to consider his next steps.

Eric Williams taking Alessandra Ambrosio's contract meant a complete severance from Elite.

At the very least, he couldn't let that happen.

That thought led John Casablancas to contemplate Eric's recent investment in WM...

...

Eric's Boeing 747 took off from Long Island Airport but didn't head directly to Sydney; instead, it planned a brief stop at Ventura Airport.

Microsoft President Steve Ballmer was already waiting there. Yahoo and Microsoft had signed a new agreement, and Eric needed to deliver the recordings to him.

In truth, Steve Ballmer was a hardliner advocating for an immediate cut-off with Yahoo to focus on developing Microsoft's own internet business; obviously, Gates didn't want to see Eric again and had sent Steve over instead.

Eric wanted to keep the number of people who knew about the recording to a minimum. The count on his side was already less than a handful, and ideally, the fewer people at Microsoft who knew, the better. Even when it came to negotiations with the Justice Department, it was best to have knowledge restricted to only a few key figures like the president and the Attorney General.

As a major shareholder and core executive at Microsoft, Steve Ballmer was certainly privy to the situation.

...

"Los Angeles will receive the IMG Group materials today. Shoot an email over to Edward and them, asking them to assess whether my involvement in the IMG acquisition will create legal conflicts with existing enterprises.

On the Clover Fund, have Finance devise a long-term profit allocation plan. I don't want Berkshire Hathaway's and State Street Global Advisors' financial reports to indirectly reveal this year's profit situation of the Firefly Group.

In addition, for Gravity's marketing, we should focus on Jodie Foster and George Clooney. I'll personally take part in those programs. ..."

In the front cabin study of the Boeing 747, after the flight stabilized, Eric started discussing some work matters with Caroline and Merissa.

After chatting for a while, Caroline left with several documents, while Merissa lingered behind, feigning to organize the desk.

...

Flipping through the IMG Group's sports training institute documents, Eric noticed Merissa's actions and smiled. "Mary, is something on your mind?"

Merissa straightened, looking at Eric, "So, what's going on with Jimmy Savile?"

Eric scrutinized Merissa's slightly darting eyes for a moment before pulling her small hand in a gentle grip, maintaining a serious tone. "He's just a homosexual; you know, when such things come to light, it can get very complicated."

Merissa's eyes settled but then quickly pulled her hand away from Eric's hold, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. "Eric, you're not nearly as thoughtful with me as you are with Carly."

"Alright, I promise I'll improve next time. But we'll just manage this for now."

"Okay."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1167: Cancelling the Profit Sharing]

Eric made a brief stop at Ventura Airport to transfer with Steve Ballmer, and the Boeing 747 took off again, heading to Australia.

During the 16-hour journey from the East Coast of the U.S. to Australia, Eric spent most of his time going through the IMG information that Cindy had handed to him the previous night. The more he learned, the more intrigued he became with the comprehensive agency that IMG represented.

It could be said that IMG was a well-oiled talent agency chain, starting from grassroots talent development all the way to the distribution of end products.

IMG initially rose to fame through the representation of sports stars.

In the 1960s, IMG founder Mark McCormack, then a lawyer, managed to meet several prominent golfers due to his love for the sport. It was by chance that he had the idea to establish a professional agency to help these golfers with their business dealings, and thus, IMG was born.

Over the next thirty years, IMG steadily grew and developed.

Although IMG couldn't represent stars from mainstream sports like football, basketball, or soccer, it successfully managed some of the world's top athletes in relatively niche sports like golf and tennis. Even if Eric wasn't particularly interested in golf or tennis, he could recognize stars like Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi, and Anna Kournikova from IMG's roster.

Moreover, IMG established a comprehensive sports academy in Florida covering over 500 acres. By using its brand, IMG not only enrolled students for profit but also tapped into its global network of sports scouts to nurture potential talent.

Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova served as a prime example of IMG's operations. Discovered by an IMG scout at the age of ten, the Russian girl received training at IMG's Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

Under IMG's careful branding, the eighteen-year-old Anna Kournikova, while not the most powerful player on the circuit, had become one of the highest-earning tennis stars, raking in over 10 million dollars a year thanks to her striking looks and IMG's management.

Although it had gotten a later start, IMG's modeling agency still performed strongly in fashion representation. For instance, in recent years, Forbes had begun publishing its supermodel earnings list. Though the Victoria's Secret models dominated the top spots, IMG -- comprising only about 300 models -- managed to place just as many supermodels on the income list as its competitor, Elite.

Unlike Hollywood agencies that typically took a legal 10% commission, IMG's commissions for stars and models could soar up to 30%, significantly boosting its revenue.

The strength of IMG's talent representation business stemmed mainly from IMG Academy, which owned the rights to conduct sporting events and fashion activities. Unlike IMG's sports academy, IMG Academy was unrelated to education but operated as a subsidiary that managed the licensing rights for hundreds of global sports and fashion events.

IMG's close involvement spanned numerous high-profile events like the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, the World Golf Championship, the Miss Universe Pageant, and the Miss America Pageant, alongside countless collegiate league championships.

Through hundreds of varied events held globally each year, IMG not only earned substantial hosting revenues, but also utilized these platforms to promote its sporting, fashion, and even musical stars. This advantage allowed IMG to secure more endorsement contracts from considerable sponsors.

Furthermore, IMG Media produced a wealth of documentaries on sporting and fashion events, further tapping into their commercial potential for maximal profit for IMG.

In both Hollywood and the internet sector, Eric pursued a comprehensive industry chain strategy, a core element of his personal investment philosophy. IMG perfectly aligned with Eric's pursuit of the ultimate corporate model.

As a result, still on the plane, Eric reached out to Cindy in New York to discuss buying IMG in its entirety, in addition to the McCormack family's stake.

...

There was a 14-hour time difference between the East Coast of Australia and the East Coast of the United States. Eric took off from Long Island Airport on the morning of August 7, and after sixteen hours, his private jet landed at Canberra International Airport, where local time was already 4 PM on August 8.

The women and children had been staying in the northern Kensington area of Sydney for more than two months, but while on the plane, Eric learned that they had already headed for the Perisher ski resort in southern Canberra. Consequently, he adjusted his itinerary and decided to land in Canberra.

August was the prime season for skiing in Australia, and the Firefly Group executives were set to gather at a private resort near Perisher. Unlike previous occasions, this time, many executives brought their families, turning the get-together into a vacation as well.

Perisher Ski Resort was just over a hundred kilometers from Canberra, but winding mountain roads delayed Eric's group, causing them to arrive after dark.

The main activities for the gathering were to commence the following day, and most had already arrived. The private resort across the hill from Perisher had been booked by the Firefly Group.

By the time Eric's group arrived, a barbecue party was already underway, and Drew rushed over to give him an enthusiastic series of kisses. Afterward, he picked up his timid son, who had been shyly approaching, and greeted everyone.

With all the key executives of the Firefly Group -- Yahoo, Nokia, Cisco, Qualcomm, and their families -- over a hundred people gathered for the weekend.

Even after the usual pleasantries, it ate up more than ten minutes.

...

After settling in briefly, everyone congregated in the center of the resort for barbecue. Although it was winter, the lodge was surrounded by hills on three sides. With so many people crowded around the multiple bonfires, it didn't feel too cold.

"Take the cable car to the north, and across the mountain is the ski area. Everyone has already been there, Eric, guess who among us is the best skier?"

Seated at a bonfire with Katzenberg and Ian Gurney, Eric still held onto Kevin in his lap with one hand while managing a tray of grilled meat with the other. Without missing a beat, he replied, "It must be Frank, right?"

Though over sixty years old, Frank Wells loved adventure sports. Had Eric -- the 'butterfly' -- not appeared, Frank might have died in a helicopter crash during skiing several years prior.

"That's right! It's surprising to find that us youngsters can't match up to an old guy. Everyone's feeling a bit deflated these past few days," Katzenberg joked, glancing at little Kevin in Eric's hold. He then added with a chuckle, "Kevin, you're already a little man. It's not good to always be clinging to your dad."

When Eric arrived, he noticed Virginia nudging Kevin closer to him, realizing her intentions. He continued to hold onto his son for now.

Because of Joanna, many Jewish upper-echelon individuals from Hollywood had clearly shown a certain affinity towards Hawaii. This tendency of many groups to rally together was quite common, especially among Jews. Eric couldn't change that.

Moreover, due to her exceptional intelligence, Hawaii had unwittingly made a good impression on figures like Jeff Bezos and Steve Mitnick, along with the Chris couple from the Firefly investment group.

It was clear that following this trend, as the heir to the Williams family, Kevin would have little competitive edge in the face of Hawaii, aside from some gender advantage.

Now, Cindy was about to bring another little one to the Williams family, which made Virginia's feelings of insecurity understandable.

Looking not far away at Hawaii, who was in a serious discussion with Jeff Bezos, and at Emma, happily playing with several girls her age, Eric smiled and told his son, "Go find Mommy, and in a few days, Dad will take you skiing after work."

As Kevin walked away, politely saying goodbye to everyone before he left, Ian Gurney smiled and remarked, "He's a thoughtful kid; just a bit too shy."

Eric picked up a skewer of kebabs and said, "He'll grow out of it. I was shy too when I was little."

...

They chatted casually for a while, and after Eric finished his skewers, he got up to head to the grill. Katzenberg followed him, saying, "Eric, I heard you asked Carolyn to draft the profit distribution plan. I think we should completely cancel the profit sharing; that money could perfectly support the group's next expansion plan."

The Carolyn that Katzenberg referred to was Carolyn Elliott, the Chief Financial Officer of the Firefly Group.

Eric placed some food on the grill, fiddling with it as he replied, "I'm feeling a bit undecided too; let's discuss it more in the coming days."

As per the established plan, the primary targets for the Firefly Group's next expansion were focused on telecommunications and cable companies, aimed at bridging the gaps in Firefly's platform across the internet, mobile communications, and cable TV.

However, as the Firefly Group had reached its present scale, it was virtually impossible to continue picking up small bargains.

Both of these planned telecommunications entities required real investments in the tens of billions. Combined, without considering equity buyouts, the capital Firefly would need to mobilize could easily reach into the hundred-billion-dollar territory.

From this perspective, the tens of billions that Clover Fund had recently cashed out from the new tech market wouldn't suffice. After all, to further consolidate its foundation in the internet industry over the coming years, the Firefly Group still needed to continuously inject massive amounts of funds into various tech companies.

Moreover, Eric also began to harbor another concern. The Firefly Group had grown tremendously, and with its internet industry layout still not solidified, further uncontrolled expansion risked complicating the group's structure if they failed to effectively digest the acquired enterprises, possibly plunging the entire organization into chaos.

Therefore, Eric had been contemplating what strategic move would be the safest for the Firefly Group in its next steps.

Katzenberg also selected several skewers to place on the grill, adding, "I've heard some news recently that ATT is now planning to break up and sell off its broadband unit. Comcast has shown interest in expanding its scale as well. If we don't act, ATT might very well sell that unit to Comcast."

Eric had hardly any knowledge about ATT Broadband. Hearing this from Katzenberg, he vaguely recalled that historically, ATT Broadband had been absorbed by Comcast.

Pausing his grilling for a moment, Eric asked, "Has ATT made an official offer yet?"

"Not a formal offer yet," Katzenberg shook his head, saying, "But industry estimates range between 40 to 50 billion dollars. If we get involved in the bidding, the price could likely exceed 50 billion dollars."

Eric remembered that about a year ago, Comcast's market capitalization was only around 30 billion dollars, with its peak just over 60 billion. ATT Broadband was valued slightly less than Comcast but was now being estimated over 40 billion dollars, evidently influenced by the not fully deflating tech bubble.

If they could wait a year or two until the NASDAQ index hit a low, the total market value of Comcast, combined with ATT Broadband, might only reach 60 billion dollars.

However, once the two companies merged, it would become far more challenging for the Firefly Group to initiate an acquisition, both in terms of capital and antitrust considerations.

After a moment of consideration, Eric said, "Let's follow this quietly for now. We shouldn't take any immediate action."

Katzenberg nodded, adding, "Should we keep executing the profit sharing distribution?"

If Comcast intended to initiate a takeover of ATT Broadband, the Firefly Group would need to pre-emptively jump in.

After all, the entire Firefly Group, with its extensive cable television operations -- including the AE Network, FFM, ESPN, Showtime, Bravo, E! Entertainment, and several cable networks from Fox -- necessitated an operational platform to support future growth, lest they face more restrictions down the line.

Conversely, the urgency for the Firefly Group's telecommunications setup felt slightly less pressing.

Of course, this was a relative statement.

Eric was primarily eyeing Sprint, which was also the most feasible acquisition target for the Firefly Group.

The next few years were crucial as the telecom networks transitioned from 2G to 3G.

If they couldn't secure Sprint and commit fully to pursuing the 3G setup, Sprint risked falling behind at the hands of stronger players like ATT and Verizon. Once that critical transition occurred, falling behind would entrap Sprint in a downward spiral, making it increasingly difficult to catch up with competitors.

At the core, while Eric wanted to expand the Firefly Group cautiously, he didn't have the luxury of time in this explosive technological era.

"Let's cancel the profit-sharing plan," he said without hesitation, then added with a smile toward Katzenberg, "But it's up to you to inform the shareholders of this decision."

Though detailed financial information hadn't been released yet, whispers of Clover Fund successfully cashing out a significant sum had already emerged.

Among the small shareholders in the Firefly Group, whether it was Berkshire Hathaway, which was used to extracting dividends for investment, or State Street Global Advisors, which suffered severe losses in this market crash and needed liquidity -- they all expected that the Firefly Group would carry on with the profit sharing plan.

Now, abruptly axing that plan would surely elicit protests from those shareholders.

For refusing others, the assertive Katzenberg was clearly the most suitable person for the job.

"Not a problem," Katzenberg flashed a somewhat mischievous grin, then quickly adopted a serious tone, adding, "Eric, there's something else. I'd like to leave my bonus in the Clover Fund this year to be swapped for company stock during the upcoming acquisition process."

Katzenberg's salary contract was a fixed annual salary of $750,000 plus a 2% profit-sharing plan from the Firefly Group's net profits.

Under this contract, he could expect to take home a massive dividend of around $80 million from this year's $4 billion gross profits, which would establish a new peak for professional managerial salaries.

Now, by voluntarily giving up that payout in exchange for future company stock, Katzenberg was essentially binding his interests to the fate of the Firefly Group.

After all, the Firefly Group was not a publicly traded company; once he chose to invest, extracting cash would become very challenging. If the company's performance dipped, the value of those shares could fall drastically. Plus, Katzenberg's ownership stake would hardly influence Eric's absolute control over the entire Firefly Group.

It could be regarded as being akin to signing a blood oath.

Looking deeply at Katzenberg, Eric asked, "So, you've made your decision?"

"Of course," Katzenberg nodded with a smile, "Unless you have any issues on your end."

"I'm very willing."

As he spoke, Eric raised his left fist and nudged it slightly to the side. Katzenberg understandingly bumped his fist lightly against Eric's.

As he placed the slightly burnt skewers of meat into his dish, Eric continued, "Actually, I came here with another important matter to discuss. I'm thinking of establishing the Williams Trust Fund soon. Although I won't be injecting too many assets into the fund for now, I still want to determine the board members of the fund in advance. Jeffrey, I hope you can join."

Katzenberg, however, was somewhat surprised, even lowering his voice slightly, "Eric, is there a need for this? You're not even thirty yet!"

While there were many forms of living trusts, Katzenberg understood that Eric was likely setting up a testamentary trust. Meaning, if anything were to happen to Eric, his personal assets would directly transfer to this trust fund.

In matters of immense wealth, many millionaires often draft wills, after which disputes among heirs or division of wealth among outsiders can arise. A living trust can minimize the potential for changes in asset succession upon the death of the trustor.

However, typically, only aging wealthy figures like Redstone or Murdoch set up family trusts.

Sensing Katzenberg's concern, Eric remained calm and replied, "Jeffrey, you should understand that my wealth in this world is quite unusual. If no one had any covetous thoughts about it, that would be entirely impossible. Therefore, I want the entire Firefly system to remain intact, even if something unexpected occurs. So, Jeffrey, would you be willing to join the board?"

Katzenberg completely forgot about the skewered meat burning in front of him, nodding gravely, "Eric, I promise you."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1168: A Shot in the Arm]

Given that Eric and his companions arrived in a hurry and needed to rest, the barbecue party didn't last long. Before ten o'clock, the private resort in the valley quickly returned to its peaceful state.

In a villa at the center of the resort, Eric sent the girl, Drew, who wanted to stay with him tonight off to rest. He personally coaxed the three little ones to sleep before heading to Virginia's bedroom.

Virginia was tidying the bed linens and barely glanced at Eric when he walked in, showing no intention of acknowledging him. Eric took off the seashell bracelet that Emma had just tied around his wrist and placed it on the vanity. He said to Virginia, "Next, Firefly is going to set up a batch of educational funds worldwide. I won't go into details; the purpose isn't that simple. But if the outside world learns that I'm donating overseas while ignoring domestic needs, it will certainly lead to criticism. So, we'll set one up locally, which is purely charitable. How about you and Joan manage it together?"

Virginia paused for a moment while changing the pillowcase. Seething a little, she retorted, "Joan and I are very busy. Just let Crawford handle it."

Eric nodded seriously, "That's fine, I'll talk to Cindy next time."

Then a pillow was thrown at him. Eric caught it with a laugh and suggested, "How about we call it the Virginia and Joanna Fund? We'll put your name first. However, we're a bit short on cash lately, so for now, we can only donate $200 million a year. You two can decide on the charitable projects. Of course, if you want to embezzle a little, just be careful not to get caught."

It was common for a husband engaged in business or politics to let his wife manage the family charity fund. By establishing such a charitable fund, Eric placed the two women front and center.

As Eric kept speaking gently, Virginia felt a little embarrassed to continue sulking. She understood better than anyone the significance of this charitable fund for herself and Joanna. By the time Eric finished, she rolled her eyes lightly and said quietly, "Joan is older than me; she should be the one in front. But what about you?"

Eric played with the pillow in his hands, leaning against the vanity with a smile, "I'm fine with it, but if we call it the Eric-Joanna-Virginia Williams Foundation, doesn't that name sound a bit too long?"

Virginia immediately nodded, "Let's go with that name. I don't mind it being long."

"Alright then, let's get some sleep. We've got a lot to do tomorrow." Eric tossed the pillow back onto the bed, unbuttoned his trench coat, and intended to take a shower first.

Virginia got up and walked over, lowering her head to help Eric with his buttons without looking at his expressions. In a soft voice, she asked, "Can we have Kevin shadow you for the next few days?"

Eric handed her his trench coat, "Sure, the little guy should learn how to manage the company. He can come to the meetings with me these few days."

Virginia folded Eric's trench coat in her arms as she listened to his teasing, feeling a bit wronged, "That's not what I meant. Kevin is your son, you..."

Eric loosened his tie and, feigning impatience, playfully smacked Virginia's ample backside, interrupting her. "You talk too much. Go run the bath. Can't you see your man wants to shower?"

Virginia let out a soft cry and shot a glare at Eric before heading to the bathroom.

...

After setting the hot water, Virginia searched for clean undergarments and entered the bathroom, where Eric was comfortably soaking in the tub.

Seeing her set down the clothes and turn to leave, Eric reached out and pulled her, causing Virginia to sit by the edge of the tub.

"I know what you're worried about," he said, feeling Virginia's hand help him scrub. Eric held her hand down, "Elia is indeed more favored by them than Kevin, but have you considered whether someone like Elia would be interested in taking over the business in the future?"

Often, the smarter individuals tended to be indifferent towards wealth, and Hawaii's cleverness exceeded many people's comprehension. Based on Eric's observations of his daughter, the little one might be interested in many things later, but would certainly not compete with Kevin and other siblings for family wealth inheritance.

While planning to pass down his fortune, Eric was also careful not to put his children in a position where they would have to fight over family assets. The purpose of setting up a trust fund in advance was to ensure that the entire family could benefit from it, much like the Rockefellers. To enjoy this wealth and glory for years to come, everyone would have to work together to maintain the family's lineage.

Virginia was also flustered with worry, and as Eric spoke, she slowly began to realize that Elia was more likely to become a brilliant scientist in the future than a businessperson.

Still, she refused to concede outwardly, "The character you played in that movie, Tony Stark, he's a genius."

"You just called it a movie," Eric said, sliding his hand up Virginia's arm and grabbing onto her gratifying softness, "Alright, I'll only advise you this once, and after this, I won't concern myself with your hesitations. Honestly, you should understand that as the eldest son of the Williams family, Kevin is destined to bear more in the future. So, your job is to ensure you raise him well, not to worry about these trivial matters all day long."

...

The next day, the families who had traveled along began to organize various activities. Whenever they had time, the core executives of the Firefly system focused their energies on a series of discussions and meetings.

The theme of this gathering was the exploration of sustainable business models for the new tech industry. The collapse of the NASDAQ was primarily due to a severe bubble and the fact that most new tech companies had not established comprehensive and effective business models.

Thus, just like the analysis article in Barron's, once these companies that only knew how to burn money ran out of funds and failed to develop a revenue model supporting sustainable operations, the outcome could only lead to their demise.

Of course, while this theme was within the core agenda of the gathering, it essentially served as an outward excuse.

Even though the NASDAQ bubble had burst and the assets controlled by the Firefly system had significantly shrunk, the meeting of the core executives of Firefly nonetheless attracted significant attention. Australian Prime Minister John Howard took time on Tuesday afternoon to join everyone for lunch, and media outlets worldwide reached out to the Firefly system companies hoping to secure interviews regarding this gathering.

As a result, in light of such intense scrutiny, discussions regarding sensitive topics like strengthening collaboration between internal Firefly enterprises to eliminate competitors from the industry could not be disclosed.

Furthermore, future development goals for the Firefly system, new businesses soon to be launched by core companies like Yahoo, and significant personnel adjustments between companies were all included in the agenda.

...

Eric also used this opportunity to preliminarily determine the roster of members for the soon-to-be-established Williams Trust Fund Board; essentially all the core executives of the Firefly system were listed.

As a living trust, Eric could adjust the board member list at any time, and if necessary, could completely dissolve the entire trust fund, so he was not concerned about the risks of these executives potentially leaving the Firefly system in the future.

Once the members of the trust fund board were confirmed, if anything unpredictable occurred, they could quickly safeguard the Firefly system. Future changes and replacements of board members would naturally operate according to the trust fund's established rules.

...

While only the Australian-based News Corporation's The Daily Telegraph and Yahoo portal, along with one ABC group media, received limited interview rights for this gathering, the discussion surrounding the "sustainable business model for the new tech industry" generated intense international media buzz.

Stimulated by this topic, the plunging NASDAQ capital market began to stabilize. Following the opening on Monday, the downward trend of the NASDAQ index showed clear signs of slowing down.

Moreover, with the media discussions deepening, and industry analysts becoming optimistic about upcoming quarterly financial reports from companies like Yahoo, Cisco, and Amazon, some new tech firms within the Firefly system even experienced a rebound in share prices.

This continued until August 12th, Thursday.

...

After four days of gatherings, the companies under the Firefly system finally broke the first genuinely positive news. At 9 AM New York time, just after work had begun, Amazon suddenly announced that Firefly Investments would again finance Amazon with $500 million worth of convertible bonds at an annual interest rate of only 2.5%. This funding would be for Amazon's online mall and logistics system further expansion.

Convertible bonds meant that Firefly Investments could opt to convert these bonds into Amazon stocks within a certain period.

With the NASDAQ crash, Amazon was the least favored by the market within the entire Firefly system. Compared to Yahoo, which held over 70% of market share, or Cisco, which had achieved stable profitability, or Qualcomm, which was destined to shine in the emerging 3G mobile communication era, Amazon held no significant advantages across the board.

Consequently, since the crash, Amazon's stock price had dropped over 67%, with its market value sliding from a peak of $35.7 billion to $11.7 billion at the close of last week. Many Wall Street analysts believed the eventual decline in Amazon's stock price could reach 90%.

Moreover, due to Jeff Bezos' aggressive expansion strategy, Amazon's cash flow had nearly run dry, and some media even believed Firefly was likely on the verge of completely abandoning Amazon.

In such a one-sided negative outlook, Firefly Investments unexpectedly announced another $500 million injection into Amazon, enough to overturn many pessimistic industry sentiments.

Even if Amazon's development prospects remained bleak, the fact that the well-capitalized Firefly system not only refrained from abandoning it, but actually intensified its support, led the industry to readjust its expectations toward Amazon, whether voluntarily or under pressure.

Stimulated by this good news, when the NASDAQ stock market opened on Thursday, Amazon's stock price rebounded 5.6%, with the total daily gain reaching 11.3%.

...

As the entire new tech market closely monitored what further benefits the Firefly system's high-level meetings would bring to the NASDAQ market, on Friday, another sudden announcement that caught countless people off guard surfaced.

However, this time, there was no apparent relation to the Firefly system, or at least no one could find any connection on the surface.

On the afternoon of August 13th, one hour before closing, the U.S. Department of Justice held a press conference.

Attorney General Janet Reno announced that in light of Federal Judge Thomas Jackson's breach of judicial protocol by prematurely disclosing Microsoft's antitrust matters to the media, President Clinton personally issued an order to dismiss Thomas Jackson from the role of presiding judge in the Microsoft antitrust case.

Simultaneously, considering Microsoft's cooperation during the antitrust investigation phase, the federal Department of Justice decided to temporarily halt the investigation into Microsoft's antitrust behavior and restart settlement negotiations with Microsoft.

In recent years, Microsoft had been shrouded in the possibility of facing forced breakup.

It was foreseeable that if the Windows operating system were to be separated from the company, Microsoft would lose its advantages across software applications, web business, enterprise services, and more.

Now, the sudden halt of the antitrust investigation, which had been in its final stages, and the recommencement of settlement negotiations equated to a direct abandonment of the decision to break up Microsoft.

After all, the investigation against Microsoft had dragged on intermittently for more than four years since it began in 1995. Once the government department decided to abort such a prolonged investigation, reinitiating it in the future would not be an easy task.

While many people understood that the Department of Justice's compromise likely aimed to avoid further upsetting the persistently plunging NASDAQ market, this strong positive news still delivered an immediate impact.

Right after the press conference ended, the NASDAQ index rose noticeably in the day's late trading session, showing an upward curve in just half an hour, soaring by 39 points.

The capital market realized that with two shots in the arm over two consecutive days, the NASDAQ index, which had been in free fall for nearly a month, finally stabilized, and the panic in the new tech market began to dissipate.

However, this reversal was still far from over.

The following weekend, a series of positive news from the Firefly system brought many Wall Street investment firms to tears. Everyone realized that with this flurry of good news, the NASDAQ index would likely enter a rebound period for some time.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1169: Yahoo's Next Move]

On August 14, Saturday, in the morning on the East Coast of North America, as countless media outlets debated the sudden halt by the federal Justice Department of its antitrust investigation of Microsoft, and what sort of impact that would have on the Nasdaq stock market the following week, Yahoo finally released its financial report for the second quarter.

In the second quarter of 1999, Yahoo's revenue reached $1.0322 billion, a significant increase of 172.5% compared to $399.7 million during the same period last year. At the same time, after reporting losses in the previous year, Yahoo achieved a net profit of $105.3 million in the second quarter.

Beyond its overall revenue, Yahoo's performance in various business segments was impressive.

Due to the substantial increase in online advertising expenditures by new technology companies in the first half of the year, Yahoo's core internet advertising business, including both its own platform and the Yahoo Advertising Network, generated total revenues of $811.3 million, marking an increase of 187.6% year-over-year, surpassing the overall revenue growth of 15.1% for the second quarter.

In the realm of the Yahoo Music Store, as a result of the ongoing success of the Fireflyer music player, the store generated $125.3 million in revenue during the second quarter, an increase of 66% compared to $75.3 million in the same period last year.

Apart from its main advertising and music sales businesses, Yahoo's corporate email and online payment services also achieved a substantial combined revenue of $95.6 million, indicating strong growth year-over-year.

With Yahoo's second-quarter results released, both the company surpassing $1 billion in quarterly revenue and achieving its first net profit exceeding $100 million turned heads within the entire internet industry. Furthermore, the report indicated that while Yahoo's advertising business would face a downturn due to the Nasdaq crash, the company's advertising revenue system, built on the long-tail theory, was expected to rebound quickly and sustain continuous growth.

Additionally, with the global promotion of Yahoo's mini music store devices and the successful integration of millions of songs from major record labels like EMI and Universal, the company forecasted that the music store's revenue over the next two quarters would not only be unaffected by the bursting internet bubble, but could also see a sequential growth exceeding 100%.

Even if the overall revenue situation for the second half of the year was expected to decline, Yahoo's projected annual revenue of about $3.5 billion, after seven years of building up, rekindled hope among many investors who lost faith in new technology industries following the Nasdaq crash.

Many recalled Eric's words from a New York Times interview last year: "In a vast market with a billion premium users, what is impossible?"

By mid-1999, the number of internet users worldwide exceeded 250 million. At the current growth rate, by 2002, that number was expected to reach 500 million, and by 2005, it would hit 1 billion.

It was foreseen that this doubling of user numbers would not only mean a simple doubling of revenues for internet companies. As the internet industry matured further, both individuals and enterprises would significantly increase their average spending on internet platforms.

In conclusion, the new technology industry was set to expand exponentially along with the growth in internet users. If Yahoo could generate around $3.5 billion in revenue this year, then in three years, or even six years later, it could very well exceed those revenue figures in profit alone.

As Yahoo released its financials, investors, having experienced nearly a month of panic, calmed down and began to realize that the new technology industry was undoubtedly more than just a bubble; it could indeed yield tangible revenues.

...

Meanwhile, on Wall Street, heavily impacted by the Nasdaq crash, capital began to seize this opportunity to create a chance for recovery.

Soon, optimistic remarks on the new tech market began circulating in the media, with many prominent Wall Street analysts shifting their viewpoints. They noted that even if the market contained a bubble component, after a month of plummeting, most of the inflation in the Nasdaq index had cleared out. In the coming years, the new technology industry was expected to remain robust.

...

The following day, Yahoo announced once again via its portal site that Microsoft would unconditionally relinquish its right to purchase 30% of Yahoo's shares. However, simultaneously, Yahoo's browser would maintain its position as the default browser on Windows systems by paying Microsoft a pre-installation fee.

In recent years, much discussion suggested that the rapid growth of Yahoo's portal was largely due to the traffic provided by the Yahoo browser, which was pre-installed as part of the Windows operating system.

Since last month, when Yahoo's five-year contract with Microsoft expired, the industry had closely monitored the situation. Now, not only had Yahoo effortlessly shed the burdens of the previous contract, but it also continued to secure the default browser status on the Windows platform. While it would pay a hefty fee to Microsoft, nearly all analysts recognized that Yahoo had benefited greatly from this collaboration.

Consequently, the implications of this news matched the impact of the federal Justice Department's sudden announcement on Friday to drop its antitrust investigation against Microsoft.

Some imaginative media sources even speculated, somewhat accurately, whether there was an inherent connection between these two unforeseen events.

Of course, the truth may never come to light.

And by this time, most people's attention had already shifted to the upcoming week's Nasdaq index.

...

As the week's long gathering approached its end, some executives with tight schedules began to depart.

On Sunday afternoon, Eric and Yahoo CEO Ian Gurney found themselves at a ranch on Tasmania, an island located over 200 kilometers south of the Australian mainland, covering more than 60,000 square kilometers.

During her time in Australia, Eric had asked Drew to purchase some land on this island. At this moment, including the ranch beneath their feet and the nearby mountains, Eric owned over 200 square kilometers of private land on this patch of the world.

Situated in a temperate maritime climate, this ranch in Northwestern Tasmania didn't feel cold despite being in the middle of winter. The surroundings were still vibrant and green.

With his hands in the pockets of his coat, walking alongside Ian Gurney, Eric admired the scenery and remarked, "Ian, do you know what Warren was most passionate about funding after establishing the Buffett Foundation?"

Ian Gurney was unsure if Eric was making a jest. The Buffett Foundation had a reputation for being stingy; over the years, its assets had grown much faster than its donation expenditures. Nevertheless, he smiled and replied, "It should be population control, right?"

"That's in recent years," Eric shook his head and explained, "Before the 90s, Warren was most concerned with preventing nuclear war. He was only generous when it came to projects addressing that issue."

Ian Gurney gazed up at the expansive sky above, "So, are you worried?"

In the event of a global nuclear war, Australia genuinely stood the best chance of staying out of it.

Eric nodded, "There's a theory about nuclear war that states if you were to drop a black pebble on a beach covered with millions of white pebbles, and people were to pick up one pebble each day, eventually, even though the likelihood is slim, one day the black pebble would be picked up, representing a nuclear war. In my perspective, the visibility of the black pebble among the white ones makes it far more likely to be collected than any of the white pebbles."

Ian Gurney contemplated in silence for a moment and then said, "I feel the chances of a large-scale nuclear war are still quite low."

"Who knows? When a nuclear warhead is launched, the attacker is bound to retaliate, then counterattacks will ensue. That leads to a deadlock. Unless God personally intervenes to call for a halt, the outcome can only be destruction. Unlike traditional warfare, there can be no victors in a nuclear war."

"Maybe I should also buy a farm in Australia," Ian Gurney chuckled, feeling the topic had grown heavy and took the initiative to drive the conversation elsewhere. "Eric, honestly, I personally have more confidence in the online gaming business than in cloud computing."

In the past week, Yahoo had reaffirmed its next developmental focus.

...

In Saturday's quarterly earnings report, Yahoo still hadn't separated the revenue contributions from its search engine business. However, in reality, over 30% of the $811.3 million in advertising revenue generated in the second quarter came from Google's search engine, which made all Yahoo executives acutely aware of the tremendous potential in the search engine business.

Consequently, in the next few years, the search engine business was set to become a priority for Yahoo.

After search engines, the next focus would be social networks.

Similar to Google, Eric had quietly ensured that Yahoo registered the domain for Facebook.

Given the explosive growth in global internet users, it was now time to prioritize promoting internet social networks. After several years of operating Yahoo's personal homepage and learning from experiences, the management team had drawn substantial conclusions about the development patterns of social networks.

Eric's basic plan was that in the coming years, Google and Facebook would set up individual subsidiaries, attached to the integrated Yahoo Network group. Meanwhile, Yahoo would go all out to develop its core search engine and social network, even at the cost of sacrificing other businesses.

However, during the proceedings, Eric also brought Yahoo's cloud computing initiatives, which had been in the works for some time, into focus.

In his memory, the rise of cloud computing would probably be a decade away.

But Eric believed that cloud computing businesses would not be restricted by the various stages of internet development. The reason it wouldn't arise until ten years later was that the internet industry at that time would only come to realize the vast potential of cloud computing and gradually understand the commercial operation models associated with it.

Having successfully promoted internet advertising business ahead of time, there shouldn't be any issues with Yahoo taking the lead in cloud computing.

With the burst of the new tech bubble, this presented an ideal opportunity for cloud computing to thrive.

After all, compared to traditional web hosting businesses, adopting a cloud computing model would eliminate the need for complex equipment purchases, website development, and ongoing maintenance. Each of these aspects could result in significant cost savings. In the upcoming years of a tightening capital environment for internet enterprises, cost control would be of utmost importance for survival.

Moreover, unlike Amazon, which had already established large data centers worldwide, Yahoo undeniably held an incomparable edge.

During the early stages of promoting cloud computing, Yahoo wouldn't even need to invest heavily to build brand new data centers. It could simply leverage its existing surplus computing and storage resources to build a framework for cloud computing, thus ensuring full utilization of Yahoo data centers.

Beyond search engines, social networks, and cloud computing, Yahoo would still maintain sufficient focus on its portal site, email, and instant messaging services, but in reality, these services would gradually lean toward the periphery of Yahoo's core business.

His previous life's experiences in the internet sector had proven that while these services could attract a large user base for companies, they were challenging to generate substantial direct profits.

As for the Yahoo Music Store, Eric had always viewed it merely as a supporting service for the Fireflyer player.

Of course, among all mainstream internet businesses, online gaming was undoubtedly one of the most critical components. However, during this meeting, Eric ruled out the proposal from management to focus on developing online gaming next.

...

"Actually, I also have high hopes for the online gaming business," Eric said as Ian Gurney shifted the discussion to that area. "However, based on recent years of trial and error, whether in North America, Europe, or even Japan, players still prefer console games. Certainly, like the story of selling shoes in Africa, the lower number of online gaming users compared to console games actually signifies a huge opportunity. Yet, online gaming is very much like film; as a creative industry, it carries high uncertainty. You can't just hire a random group of programmers to churn out a successful online game. In contrast, cloud computing can develop into a 'must-have' service. Moreover, since we've positioned Yahoo as a tech company, we must make necessary trade-offs across various fronts."

To speak of online gaming, the only title in Eric's memory that would genuinely interest him was Blizzard's World of Warcraft. Unfortunately, since he had not been paying much attention to the gaming industry, by the time he discovered it, Blizzard had already been absorbed into Vivendi's umbrella.

Luckily, the game wouldn't release for another five years.

If Vivendi followed its previous trajectory to acquire Seagram, the company would likely find itself in troubled waters due to overexpansion and the burdens of the entertainment industry in the coming years. Then Firefly might have the opportunity to acquire Blizzard.

However, even if they could rely on Yahoo's internet resources to further promote World of Warcraft in the future, Eric had no intention of diverting Yahoo's focus to online gaming.

After all, for many years after, the dominant gaming industry in Western countries remained console gaming, and Eric had not discovered any of the western internet giants growing through online gaming. Since this was not the correct developmental path, Eric would not let Yahoo waste time exploring this area.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1170: The Unexplained Resentment]

After Ian Gurney left, Eric didn't invite anyone else to Tasmania. Instead, he enjoyed the final holiday with the women and children. Virginia and the others expressed confusion over Eric's decision to buy land in Tasmania, but he kept his somewhat paranoid thoughts to himself.

Deep down, Eric also yearned to possess a piece of land that was solely his -- the kind where he could ride a horse without ever reaching an end. Ideally, it would be remote and undisturbed by outsiders, free from wolves. Thus, Tasmania, located in the southern part of the world, felt just right.

Before he knew it, the end of August had arrived. The summer vacation in the Northern Hemisphere was coming to a close. After spending over a week in Tasmania, Eric flew back to the United States with his family.

...

In New York, the Nasdaq index began to rebound following positive news about new tech companies like Yahoo and Microsoft after opening on Monday, August 16. Many financial institutions rushed to make various enticing market statements to lure investors back into the new tech sector, aiming to create an escape opportunity for previously trapped tech stock holders.

From August 16 to August 20, the Nasdaq surged from last week's low of 2,863 points up to 3,319 points, marking an overall increase of 15.9%. Companies like Microsoft, Yahoo, Cisco, and Amazon saw their stock prices rebound significantly after a steep decline.

However, at this point, any rational investor understood that the current situation for the Nasdaq was merely a dead cat bounce. Even though Microsoft escaped a breakup with the Federal Justice Department, and companies like Yahoo, Cisco, and Amazon had robust support from venture capital, most new tech companies on the Nasdaq lacked the luck and strength of those companies.

In recent months, despite some creative accounting efforts, most tech companies' quarterly financial reports fell far short of those of Microsoft and Yahoo. After a dramatic crash, finance and venture capital firms were certainly not as generous as they had been a few months earlier in injecting funds into the tech industry.

It was easy to imagine that in the coming months, once these new tech companies ran out of cash, the wave of bankruptcies predicted by Barron's would become a reality. By then, the Nasdaq index would plunge, and it might take years before any chance of recovery arose again.

...

At Long Island Airport, it was already August 26, and the East Coast was experiencing evening. As the Boeing 747 came to a stop on the runway, Joanna looked out at the waiting jet bridge with visible anxiety on her face.

Because of what had happened in May, she was still worried about the external reactions. Eric, holding Emma who was asleep in his arms, gently patted Joanna on the shoulder, saying, "Don't worry; no one will be tasteless enough to cause a scene now. If there's a real problem, you and Vickie can just take the kids and move somewhere else."

Virginia, pulling a little one along, also came over and added some comforting words. The cabin door opened, and the golden light of the setting sun flooded in, bringing the heat of a summer evening.

Everyone had returned ahead of schedule, with only Eric, the two women, and three little ones coming back this time. They all disembarked and hurried back to their seaside estate in East Hampton.

The trip went smoothly -- no reporters, no spectators. East Hampton during the summer remained as peaceful and serene as usual, leaving the two women at ease.

...

After being away for more than two weeks, Eric had a pile of matters to attend to. That evening, he needed to rush to Manhattan to attend a cocktail party hosted by David West, president of State Street Global Advisors. Firefly Group had already announced they wouldn't be issuing dividends this year.

Despite having the cover of Katzenberg, Eric knew he couldn't avoid going in person. After settling the women and kids, Eric hurriedly caught a ride to Long Island Airport, where he would transfer to a helicopter bound for Manhattan.

Upon arriving in Manhattan, the business event at the Gramercy Hotel on Lexington Avenue had already begun. Inside the banquet hall, David West, the president of State Street, was listening to a quick-talking young man in his thirties when his assistant whispered something in his ear. David promptly interrupted the young man, saying, "Philip, I need to greet a guest; let's discuss your family's matters later."

The young man wanted to say more, but David waved him off and headed toward the door. Upon exiting the hall, David smiled and lost the previous impatience in his tone as he greeted Eric, "Hey, Eric! Long time no see. How have you been?"

Eric and David exchanged a brief hug, and he replied, "Not bad, and you?"

David let go of Eric and said, "Couldn't be worse."

Despite his words, David's smile remained unchanged. The two men walked towards the banquet hall, sharing laughter when the young man who had just spoken with David approached again, saying, "Mr. West, I... you..."

The young man seemed to lose his words upon seeing Eric walking with David. Though displeased, David paused to introduce them, "Eric, this is Philip Scott, the son of Milos Scott, owner of Scott Natural Gas in Pennsylvania. A good young man."

Hearing the name "Scott Natural Gas," Eric couldn't help but smirk. A few months earlier, during a wiretapping incident, Eric got hold of some dirt on the hedge fund Tiger Fund, traced back to an overseas fund controlled by Scott Natural Gas. After relaying some documents to warn Julian Robertson, that matter was left unexplored. With Tiger Fund now undergoing liquidation due to massive losses from the tech bubble burst, Eric felt less inclined to dig deeper.

After sizing up the young man a bit, Eric remarked, "Scott Natural Gas? I'm aware of it."

Seeing that the young man still hadn't responded, Eric walked straight into the hall. David seemed surprised by Eric's comment and continued walking alongside him, mingling with other guests while explaining, "Scott Natural Gas isn't doing well right now, Eric. Do you have any ties to that company?"

"None," Eric replied while picking up a glass of red wine from a tray of waiters. "What's wrong with them?"

"You know about Tiger Fund going under? The Scott family is a significant client of them. The fallout from Tiger's liquidation put them in a big hole. But that's not all -- during those months when the Nasdaq soared, the Scott family borrowed against their shares in Scott Natural Gas to invest in tech stocks, and they lost everything. The young man came to me hoping I could help delay their loan repayment," David said, shaking his head. "But honestly, it's a mess right now. There's no way anyone can help."

The relationship between State Street and State Street Global Advisors was similar to that of JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley. However, State Street had only recently spun off from State Street Bank to become an independent investment firm, making their relationship still more intimate than those of the already separated Morgan companies.

Eric glanced back toward where Philip Scott had been standing, discovering him staring in their direction, his expression flickering between irritation and anxiety. When Philip noticed Eric looking at him, he quickly averted his gaze.

...

Casually turning his attention back, Eric listened to the tone of grievance in David's voice and cut to the chase, stating, "David, regarding the dividends, there's no way we're doing that this year. Firefly is focusing on its next expansion, and we need the funds. However, there's room for negotiation. If State Street is willing to sell back its shares in Firefly Group, we can arrange dividends right away."

"Eric, you're really putting me in a tight spot here," David answered.

While Firefly was a private company, its expansion and profit margins had been exceptional in recent years. Eric had long considered a stock buyback, but the small shareholders of Firefly hadn't shown any intention to sell their shares.

"Think it over, David. You can relay my message to others. Firefly Group can repurchase shares at a 25x earnings ratio, along with settling this year's dividends."

Based on Firefly's operating profit scale this year, a 25x earnings ratio would put its market value around $100 billion. After the Internet bubble burst, the AOL-Time Warner Group, which just merged a few months ago, has a market value of only more than $160 billion. Hence, while Eric's offer might be slightly lower than the estimates by Forbes and others, it still demonstrated sincerity.

State Street had also suffered significant losses during the recent Nasdaq collapse. As an investment fund that managed client assets, State Street wouldn't face the same dilemmas as the Scott family, but if they wanted to prevent this year's financial reports from looking too grim and keep their investors' confidence, a substantial payout from Firefly or Clover Fund became crucial.

Currently, other than Eric, the shareholders of Firefly Group held a combined 26.3% stake. Berkshire Hathaway and the Tom Murphy family had the highest share, each holding 5%.

As a public company, Firefly had once attracted numerous small shareholders, and State Street's holding percentage didn't compare to Berkshire or Tom Murphy. However, due to the SEC's rule requiring public disclosure once partnerships exceeded 99 people, during the merger process, many small shareholders consolidated their shares to have State Street and some other funds hold those stocks, treating those funds as mere partners.

Thus, aside from Berkshire and Tom Murphy, another seven funds held 14% of Firefly Group, with State Street's stake at 3.3%, the third-largest after Berkshire and Murphy.

Given Firefly's impressive $40 billion net profit this year, a dividend would result in over $1.3 billion for State Street. This amount was equivalent to State Street's total profits from prior years. If received, it would immediately flip their financial status, which looked bleak until then.

As a sharp investor, David West definitely had long-term vision. Firefly's dominance in Hollywood was evident, and holding its shares long-term was undoubtedly worthwhile. However, as a professional manager, David also understood that to maintain his position or advance further, he often needed to sacrifice long-term interests.

Weighing his thoughts, David proposed, "Eric, how about this? Firefly can execute a partial dividend. For the next acquisition, State Street can provide low-interest debt financing equivalent to the dividend amount."

"While I could buy it for formality's sake, David, to be frank, it's still not feasible," Eric shook his head. "You, as a board member, should know Firefly's development plans. With our available funds, we can expand without having to exchange shares. As a result, everyone's interest will not only remain intact but also significantly increase at that point. Doesn't that sound good?"

"I certainly understand, Eric, but our situation is problematic."

"The Nasdaq has crashed, and many have lost money," Eric shrugged, "So, State Street's losses are only to be expected due to the poor overall economy. No one can be blamed for that."

Recognizing Eric's lack of any flexibility, David sighed internally but chose not to press the issue further. He quickly lightened the mood, saying, "Well then, Eric, let me introduce you to some guests. Many people came specifically to meet you tonight."

"It's my honor," Eric replied with a smile, accompanying David around the banquet hall.

It's worth noting that both State Street and State Street Global Advisors were headquartered in Boston. They formed part of one of the ten major business conglomerates in the U.S., the Boston Consortium. The major U.S. conglomerates controlled a myriad of companies nationwide through various mainstream banks, which in turn controlled the American economy.

While Firefly Group was making strides, its reliance on financial support still had a long way to go.

...

After socializing until after ten, Eric finally said his goodbyes to David West. Cindy had finished recording America's Next Top Model and, with her pregnancy becoming evident, had already moved to Martha's Vineyard on the northeast part of Long Island to await the child's arrival.

Once Eric settled in his car at the parking lot, he called Gisele and the others, confirming they were all in Manhattan and prepared to instruct the driver when a silver car approached from a nearby parking space.

The driver had no choice but to halt and wait for the silver vehicle to pass. Eric put away his phone and glanced outside, catching sight of Philip Scott in the silver car, staring in his direction through the window. In that moment, Eric noticed resentfulness in Philip's gaze.

Recalling how Philip had approached David during the cocktail party in an attempt to talk, only to be dismissed by David, it seemed clear that Philip's point this evening had not been met.

But if one were to judge by the looks, it appeared that Philip might be blaming his failures on Eric tonight, or perhaps he believed Eric was behind some obstacles against the Scott family stemming from that past incident.

Casually pondering this, Eric didn't feel particularly affected.

In life, no one could master everything flawlessly. While you might have many friends, you inevitably offended some people along the way, even if the reasons could sometimes seem trivial.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1171: The Two Giants]

In the following days, Eric was primarily busy with the establishment of the Williams Trust and the charitable foundation he was managing for two women.

Though he had already gathered significant information beforehand, the specific implementation required the assistance of Chris and some professional consulting firms based in New York.

Additionally, there were new developments regarding Cindy's mention of the acquisition of IMG. Coincidentally, the US Open was taking place at that time, and IMG's founder and majority shareholder, Mark McCormack, had personally called to invite Eric to watch a match on Saturday and discuss the acquisition.

Time flew by, and before he knew it, Saturday had arrived. Around noon, Eric didn't rush to the National Tennis Center in Queens, but instead met again with John Casablancas, the president of Elite, at a restaurant in Manhattan.

...

Following the last meeting, Eric originally wanted to have Alessandra Ambrosio transfer the contract from Elite to IMG. However, John Casablancas had subsequently not let her go and, through Alessandra, expressed his desire to discuss things face to face with Eric.

"Eric, the four executives mentioned in the last documentary have all left the company," John began after some casual greetings, ordering lunch and waiting for the waiter to leave before getting to the point. "So, I believe Ms. Ambrosio can continue to stay at Elite without any problem."

Eric had already been informed by Alessandra about the situation and could roughly guess John's intentions this time. He smiled, saying, "So, are you just treating me to lunch today?"

John also smiled back, "You probably suspected as much, Eric. Since you're interested in a modeling agency, Elite is clearly a better choice than WM, isn't it?"

John was evidently unaware of Eric's impending acquisition of IMG. He had a stake in WM merely to provide Carmen Kass with a minor platform for development. However, Eric was genuinely interested in Elite. Therefore, he asked directly, "How much of a stake can you transfer to me?"

John replied, "15%, Eric, and the price is quite reasonable. If you become a shareholder in Elite, you can immediately join the board."

Based on Eric's prior research, only 25% of Elite's shares were available for public, while 75% remained in private hands. As the founder, John's shareholding in Elite was now less than 5%, while a Canadian businessman named Nicholas Faure had bought the majority stake in 1990, and still held 37% of the company.

"John, if you want me to invest in Elite, 15% is absolutely unacceptable," Eric shook his head. "To me, Elite is just a very small company, and the issues from last time were clearly just the tip of an internal iceberg. I won't risk getting involved in potential trouble for a mere 15% stake."

John replied, "Eric, I've started restructuring the company during this time, and once you invest, you can join the board and oversee the management directly."

"Even if I were to buy Elite outright, I wouldn't join the board. I'm more comfortable operating from behind the scenes," Eric shook his head again. "Moreover, John, you should be more aware than I am about Elite's issues -- overexpansion, chaotic management, low profit margins, and the content from the BBC documentary is prevalent within other parts of Elite as well. I'm certain that if these problems are not thoroughly resolved, Elite's current facade of prosperity won't last more than five years. I suppose your desire for me to come on board is also to leverage the resources of the Firefly network to solve Elite's issues and facilitate further development, isn't it?"

At this point, John had realized that Eric's interest in Elite was quite serious. Though the board had discussed a stake transfer of more than 15%, he pondered for a moment and directly asked, "Eric, in that case, how much do you think would be appropriate for us to transfer?"

"I just mentioned that Elite is a small company for me, but it comes with substantial risks, so I need absolute control." Eric then revealed his cards, "I've observed Elite's recent stock performance, and you can inform your board that based on the current stock price, I'm willing to pay a 30% premium, offering $1.3 billion to acquire Elite."

Due to the overall market downturn and the disappointing profit situation of Elite in recent years, its total market value was currently around $950 million.

However, hearing Eric's intent to acquire Elite outright caused John's expression to flicker.

As the founder of Elite, John had maintained control over the company because of its relatively dispersed shareholding, with no other suitable manager available to take over. However, if Elite were to be wholly acquired by Eric, this powerful billionaire could easily kick him out of the company.

Eric waited patiently for John to deliberate for a moment before relaxing his tone and saying, "John, if you've followed the companies within the Firefly network, you should know that I'm a boss who is very willing to delegate authority to professional managers. You founded Elite more than twenty years ago and developed it into the world's largest modeling agency; your abilities are unquestionable, so I'd be very willing to let you manage the company. You could even retain your stake. Of course, Elite requires thorough restructuring, like a phoenix rising from the ashes; otherwise, it will only flourish temporarily before declining. So, if I were to acquire this company, I would enhance control to ensure sufficient returns on my investment, while simultaneously avoiding issues similar to those highlighted in the recent BBC documentary."

John hesitated for a moment before saying, "Eric, the modeling industry operates this way; if you can't accept some of the unspoken rules, the resources will only flow to companies that allow these rules to persist."

"But everything should have its limits, unless you want to see this industry go completely downhill. In fact, why has IMG's modeling subsidiary been so successful in recent years? Because it's a latecomer with none of the chronic issues of traditional modeling agencies. It also adheres to the fundamental principles of a commercial company, maximizing the commercial interests of models. If a company only focuses on its scale but neglects the essence of profitability, it is destined to struggle in the long run."

This time, it wasn't until the waiter served the lunch that John finally nodded and said, "Alright, Eric, I'll convey your message to the board."

Eric waved off the attractive waitress who was giving him flirty glances and asked her to bring him a bottle of water, then handed a business card to John. "John, the $1.3 billion is my final offer. I won't waste too much time on Elite. If you decide, call me; if you don't want to accept this acquisition, then don't reach out."

After lunch with John Casablancas, Eric hurriedly set off for Queens.

...

Today marked the fourth round of the US Open, and Eric didn't know much about tennis. He only knew that the match featured Anna Kournikova against another tennis star, Lindsay Davenport. Perhaps it was on purpose by Mark McCormack that both players were signed athletes under IMG.

Close to 2 PM, Eric arrived at the National Tennis Center and realized the match was about to start.

Just as Eric's car parked in a lot, a tall woman in a blouse and black pants approached -- none other than the life assistant named Catherine Neumann whom Cindy had recently hired.

Cindy couldn't make any public appearances right now because she and Linda were involved in the acquisition of IMG. Eric had initially planned for Linda to join him for this meeting, but unexpectedly, it was this German woman who showed up.

Though they hadn't spent much time together, Eric found it hard to adapt to this woman's demeanor.

Catherine had a silent, distant aura akin to that of twins, but they gave off completely different vibes. The silence from twins could feel comforting, whereas Catherine had a commanding presence that made it hard not to look at her, exuding an almost conspiratorial aggressiveness.

As she approached, the woman simply greeted him coolly, "Mr. Williams."

Eric scanned the woman's attire -- her hair was neatly styled into a bun, makeup was minimal, and her blouse and slacks were meticulously pressed. With a lovely face and graceful figure that could be quite appealing, she also unmistakably bore a restrained demeanor. Even when faced with Eric's unabashed scrutiny, her only reaction was a slight blink, which seemed unrelated to his stare.

After a few seconds of standoff, Eric finally remembered something, turned to a nearby bodyguard, and whispered a few instructions before addressing Catherine, "Let's go."

Eric hadn't lowered his voice much when speaking to the bodyguard, yet Catherine remained unflustered, quietly following Eric out of the parking lot alongside him.

...

As soon as they walked out of the parking lot, IMG Group CEO Payne Forstmann came to greet them. After a simple greeting, Eric and Payne Forstmann entered the stadium through the internal passage and went straight to a seat outside the stadium.

Though the crowd had filled over 80% of the arena, there were still empty seats in the higher rows around the outer area where no one else sat.

Mark McCormack was a tall, silver-haired gentleman, using a cane and still having a decent spirit.

After exchanging some small talk, they sat down in their seats.

However, once seated, noticing the various broadcast camera positions within the venue, Eric glanced around and directly told Catherine, "Go check which TV station is broadcasting the match. Tell them not to pan over to us."

Catherine nodded and got up to leave.

Mark McCormack, listening to Eric's words, said, "Eric, being too low-key isn't always a good thing."

Eric smiled, "I just prefer to avoid unnecessary public attention."

Mark nodded, smiling as he gestured towards the two athletes already warming up in the center of the court. "What do you think of them?"

Eric replied, "I'm not very knowledgeable about tennis, but from what I gathered, Anna's career since turning professional in '96 can only be described as mediocre. Last year, her best result was making it to the fourth round of three of the four majors, far from a championship. I don't know much about Davenport."

Mark smiled knowingly, "Davenport has won two Grand Slam titles. You seem to know Anna's record well while not knowing much about Davenport. Eric, you know this reflects IMG's value."

Eric argued, "But tennis ultimately depends on skill."

"Of course," Mark agreed. "Actually, the top players in the world like the Williams sisters, Davenport, and Graf are all signed stars under IMG. However, skill isn't the only deciding factor. Take Anna, for instance; she's undoubtedly mediocre and has a haughty personality, not putting in enough effort in training, yet IMG has managed to make her the highest-earning female star in the sport. Last year, she earned $12 million from endorsements with brands like Adidas and Rolex, and this figure is likely to increase if her performance improves. However, 30% of that income goes to IMG. In comparison, although Davenport facing her today has a stronger skill set, her annual income is less than a third of Anna's, and we only get a 10% cut from her contract."

If not for IMG's well-established commercial operations, Eric wouldn't have been so interested in the company. It was rumored that IMG's methods had even made it into Harvard Business School's case studies, a testament to its successful expenditures.

Hearing Mark's words, Eric showed an appreciative expression, admitting, "That's why I'm sitting here; IMG truly is an outstanding company."

Mark smiled at Eric's compliment but then shook his head with a touch of sadness. "If not for my kids not living up to expectations, I would never consider selling this company."

As the older man reminisced, Eric found it hard to respond and fell into silence.

Mark soon pulled himself back together and said, "I heard you're interested in the whole IMG Group. I could help persuade the other shareholders to sell their stakes, but how much are you planning to offer?"

"$1.5 billion," Eric replied. "Compared to my previous offer, you can get an additional $750 million. If it's just the 55% stake of the McCormack family, my offer is still $750 million."

"$1.5 billion, honestly, IMG is worth that much," Mark nodded. "I will help you secure it."

Eric was surprised to hear Mark say that; he had anticipated some serious negotiations during their meeting.

Noticing the change in Eric's expression, Mark smiled, though with a hint of bitterness. "Eric, more than wanting to sell IMG for a good price, I hope it finds a good home. This company is my life's work, so I just wanted to meet its new owner face to face."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1172: Microsoft's Little Moves]

Eric spoke with Mark McCormack about IMG while keeping an eye on the match.

High hopes were pinned on Anna Kournikova, but she failed to deliver, getting knocked out by veteran Lindsay Davenport in just two straight sets. The whole match lasted only two and a half hours. To avoid the crowds dispersing afterward, Eric and his party left the venue a few minutes early.

The deal had basically been finalized, and Mark McCormack didn't linger. The old man lived in Greenwich Village, so he quickly boarded a yacht at the coastal pier north of the National Tennis Center and left.

After seeing off Mark McCormack, IMG CEO Payne Forstmann enthusiastically asked Eric, "Mr. Williams, would you like to check out our training center? It's right next to the court where Anna and the others will be heading soon."

Hearing the slightly tentative eagerness in Payne's tone, Eric knew he was concerned about his position after IMG's acquisition. From the outside, big company CEOs often appeared glamorous, but in reality, besides a few strong-willed executives, most were simply high-level hired hands, vulnerable to being fired by the board or major shareholders at any time.

While Eric had a whimsical aspect to acquiring IMG, he didn't take it lightly. Payne had been in the CEO role for five years. Eric had looked at IMG's financials from the past few years, and overall, Payne performed exceptionally well.

This acquisition had initially been proposed by Cindy and Linda, but the two women were unlikely to be involved in management anytime soon. Unlike other investors who typically replaced management to reduce the influence of original shareholders post-acquisition, Eric had no such intentions.

Nodding, he invited Payne to join him in his vehicle. Once the car started moving, Eric said, "Payne, for now, I don't plan on making any management changes following the acquisition. If you have no other plans, I would like you to continue as CEO of IMG."

Upon hearing this, Payne, who had been feeling uneasy for days, finally relaxed. He quickly replied, "Mr. Williams, I would be delighted to continue working for you."

Eric nodded but added, "There's one thing I must make clear, Payne. Although IMG is a small company in my eyes, my benchmarks for evaluating a company worth $100 billion and one worth $100 million are entirely the same. Either it has high growth potential, or it brings me direct profits. So, don't feel anxious because IMG is insignificant within the larger Firefly system, but also don't take it lightly. While I won't directly intervene in the management, IMG needs to provide me with detailed operational and financial reports every quarter."

Payne, already aware of the circumstances behind Eric's acquisition of IMG, felt some envy toward Cindy Crawford and had contemplated certain lofty notions. After all, while IMG was a powerful player in the industry, it was just a small skiff next to the massive aircraft carrier that was the Firefly system.

Hearing Eric's unabashed warning made Payne's heart tighten. Even though the young man beside him was twenty years his junior, the youthful tycoon had built a vast business empire in just a decade. Anyone who dared to underestimate him based on age would be a complete fool.

With that thought in mind, Payne quickly responded, "Mr. Williams, I assure you that IMG's future development will be even better than it is now."

"I know IMG has already reached the pinnacle in the industry, and further development won't be easy," Eric said with a satisfied expression. He continued, "Thus, I won't demand quarterly or annual performance increases like those public company shareholders. As long as the reasoning is sound, I can even tolerate a poor financial situation for a time. However, you must maintain sufficient loyalty to Firefly. If you do that, you will have the autonomy you need at IMG. If you fail in this regard, I will have you out of this job in a minute."

The aura of authority Eric had unconsciously developed over the years put significant pressure on Payne. Despite being in an air-conditioned vehicle, the middle-aged man felt a bead of sweat form on his back.

Assuring Eric yet again, Payne also realized that while it seemed simple to keep this position, it was far from easy. Over the years, Eric had increasingly understood that managing the ever-growing assets of the Firefly system ultimately boiled down to human management.

As long as he chose the right executives and ensured they had enough talent while fully executing his vision, the companies they managed typically fared quite well. Many once-renowned businesses fell into decline, often due to an uncontrollable management layer.

...

The pier was less than two kilometers from the National Tennis Center, and Eric's vehicle quickly stopped outside a closed sports arena near the center.

Everyone exited the car, and the bodyguard who had left earlier returned with a box, following Eric's group into the arena.

This sports center in Queens hosted dozens of various tennis events each year, so it wasn't surprising that IMG, the largest sports celebrity management agency in the world, owned a sizable training facility in the area.

After a brief tour of the training center and listening to Payne's introduction, Eric suddenly thought of something and asked, "How much longer does Anna's contract last?"

"Three years," Payne replied smoothly, adding, "The company typically signs players around the age of ten, and professional competition usually begins at fourteen. Anna signed her contract when she was eleven, so it runs for ten years, ending in 2002."

"Given Anna's current state, do you think IMG will still consider her a priority development prospect in three years?"

"That depends on the circumstances," Payne stated. "If Anna's performance remains as mediocre as it is now, and we have better backup options, then IMG will certainly let her go."

Eric nodded, saying, "I remember IMG has been developing backup talent at its sports academy in Florida. Have someone bring me that information."

Payne looked puzzled, asking, "Mr. Williams, do you want it right now?"

Eric glanced at his watch and nodded. "We still have some time today."

Payne quickly instructed his assistant to gather the information. After that was done, he saw Eric sitting on a bench beside the indoor tennis court and walked over.

...

Though the bench had enough space for two, others with Eric remained standing as he showed no inclination to invite anyone to sit. Payne smiled politely and stood beside him, noticing as Eric opened the suitcase handed by the bodyguard, finding an assortment of glasses inside.

Eric took his time selecting several pairs, finally picking up a blue-framed pair, removing the lenses, and handing them to the quietly accompanying Katherine Neumann, saying, "Here, give this a try."

From the start, Payne had sensed a strong presence about Katherine, despite her speaking very little.

As she obediently put on the lensless glasses, Payne felt a twinge of envy. As the head of a company managing hundreds of the world's top models, he had seen plenty of beautiful faces, but Katherine was no mere decoration. He could sense a faint instinctual threat from her, akin to how a female black widow spider might devour a male.

Perhaps only Eric Williams could tame such a naturally fierce woman.

Once Katherine donned the glasses, Eric scrutinized her and shook his head in dissatisfaction. He tried on a few other frames but found none suitable until finally selecting a slightly square black pair to hand to her, stating, "This should be it."

Women, especially working women, often appeared more assertive with black frames. However, just as Eric noted, once Katherine put on those black-framed glasses, her originally imposing demeanor somehow softened significantly. At least the surrounding men, including Eric, all felt she looked much gentler.

That seemed to be a classic case of opposites attracting.

Nodding in satisfaction, Eric closed the suitcase resting on his knees and told Katherine, "You should look like this moving forward. It's so much better -- don't always give off the vibe that makes people want to jump off a bridge. Smile a bit."

Katherine obediently nodded, cracking a very standard smile.

But then everyone felt unsettled.

Waving his hands, Eric said, "Never mind, don't smile. I can now assure you that the serious face you had in the interview was definitely an act. Forget it, today's matters end here. You can go back and tell Cindy I'll come see her once I finish up in a few days."

Katherine bid Eric farewell and turned to leave.

...

It wasn't until the rhythmic sound of her high heels had completely faded that Payne finally snapped to attention, his mouth half-open as if to make a joke but then swallowing his words.

Just as Katherine left, Payne's assistant quickly approached with a thick stack of documents, shattering the odd atmosphere.

Receiving the folder from the assistant to pass it to Eric, Payne then asked, "How come Anna and the others haven't shown up yet?"

The assistant carefully glanced at Eric before answering, "Miss Kournikova just had a disagreement with Mr. Esemberd. He wants her to return to Florida for training, but she wants to take a vacation in the Caribbean. Ms. Davenport sprained her ankle during the match, and since she has another match next week, she was just urgently taken to the medical center following the event."

Payne's expression darkened as he said, "You need to bring Anna over; she must greet Mr. Williams."

The assistant acknowledged him and hurried away from the training ground.

As Eric flipped through the documents in his hand, he heard Payne's exchange with the assistant and simply smiled. Once the two finished speaking, he pointed to the empty space beside him, signaling Payne to sit down.

Payne sat beside Eric, glancing at the materials in Eric's hands. "Our talent scouts recommend many kids every year, but the truth is, very few can become top competitors. Even when they have good potential, most youngsters struggle to endure the monotonous and demanding training over time. So even among the students we sponsor directly, the number that grows into top professionals is very low; getting two or three out of a hundred is considered good. Anna comes from a family of Russian athletes and started playing tennis at five, which explains her current success."

Listening to Payne's words, Eric merely nodded and continued to take his time flipping through the documents.

From what Payne indicated about Anna Kournikova's contract duration, he recalled that another female tennis star began shining just as Anna's contract expired.

Given IMG's stronghold in the industry, along with the timing, Eric was almost certain the other player was also an IMG talent.

Moments later, with the documents barely a third of the way through, Eric stopped, pulled out a specific file from the thick stack, examined it closely, and handed it to Payne.

Payne received the document, puzzled, and glanced at it to find that the girl was also from Russia, named Maria Sharapova.

"Mr. Williams, what is this?"

As Eric flipped through more pages, he casually replied, "Get her the best team. Whether she becomes Anna's successor depends entirely on her own effort. Also, she needs braces; her teeth don't look great right now, and I don't like metal braces. Ideally, she should go for invisalign."

Payne immediately remembered some things about Eric; the girl named Gisele IMG had sent him was now a top supermodel, and later Eric even funneled another girl into IMG through Cindy Crawford.

However, as he thought about it, Payne's face showed no signs of surprise. He earnestly nodded, saying, "I'll make arrangements."

Looking back at the information about the girl named Sharapova, who was just twelve years old and had a few freckles on her face, she was indeed a promising beauty. Surely, if IMG treated her like a little princess, she would soon grow into a true beauty.

Eric offered no explanations; he had no particular fascination with the child. He was just interested in talent development, but some people seemed to have already made certain conclusions. Any explanation would likely complicate matters further.

While discussing with Payne, Eric's mobile phone suddenly rang.

...

Seeing the caller ID was Ian Gurney, the CEO of Yahoo, he picked it up casually, saying, "Ian, it's me."

On the other end, Ian spoke rapidly, and while Eric listened patiently, his expression darkened.

It turned out that during negotiations for a settlement with the Department of Justice, Microsoft had unexpectedly sent word that the Washington office raised concerns regarding the browser pre-install agreement signed with Yahoo, requiring Ian to go to Washington for a consultation to explain the implications of potential monopolistic practices.

Though it was a request from the Department of Justice, Ian's explanation quickly made Eric realize that this might be a small move orchestrated by Microsoft out of dissatisfaction.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1173: Countermeasures]

Listening to Ian Gurney's introduction of the situation, Eric got up and walked to the corner of the indoor court. Payne Forstmann and the others patiently stood in place, seemingly understanding the gravity of the situation.

Even though things happened quite suddenly, Yahoo wasn't completely blindsided. After all, Yahoo's browser held a staggering market share. Due to its monopoly on the core patents for graphical interface browsers and the early advantage from free promotions, Yahoo's browser boasted nearly a 90% market share worldwide. The remaining 10% of various browsers also largely infringed on Yahoo's technical patents. However, since these niche browsers posed no threat to Yahoo, the company preferred not to completely dominate the market, leaving ample room for criticism from antitrust departments around the world, which is why they hadn't taken any substantial action against them.

In fact, during the recent gathering in Australia, everyone had privately discussed potential scenarios they might face and corresponding countermeasures. Therefore, although Eric felt dissatisfied with the slight maneuver from Microsoft, he didn't feel caught off guard. After chatting with Ian Gurney on the phone for a while and reminding him to contact him whenever there were updates, Eric hung up.

As he turned to walk back to his previous position, a blonde girl dressed in a T-shirt and shorts stood beside Payne Forstmann, having just finished competing -- Anna Kournikova.

...

Once Eric approached, Anna Kournikova eagerly stepped forward to greet him, "Mr. Williams, it's great to see you! I'm a fan of yours!"

"Oh, thank you." Eric shook hands with Anna Kournikova while taking in the sight of the girl in front of him.

Anna Kournikova, now eighteen, was in the prime of her youth. With her pretty face, healthy tan skin, and perfectly toned figure, she did exude charm -- even if various titles in the media labeling her the sexiest athlete had apparent traces of IMG's behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Releasing Eric's hand, Anna Kournikova confidently let him appraise her and asked, "Mr. Williams, did you come here specifically to watch me play?"

"Yeah, but you didn't perform too well today."

"I've been a bit worn out lately," the girl replied sheepishly, glancing at Payne Forstmann and another middle-aged man who had just accompanied her. Suddenly, taking a bold step, she hinted, "Mr. Williams, are you heading back to Manhattan next?"

Eric nodded with a smile, "Are you hoping for a ride?"

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble," she said, her eyes sparkling as she leaned in closer and instinctively linked her arm with his.

Noticing the girl's little move, Eric realized she likely wanted to use him as an excuse to escape. He couldn't help but admire her boldness, but still addressed Payne Forstmann, "So, Payne, that's it for today. I need to head back."

Payne Forstmann nodded, politely saying goodbye as he walked out with Eric. However, the middle-aged man who had come with Anna Kournikova displayed a look of discontent and seemed about to speak, but was silenced by a warning glare from Payne Forstmann.

...

Watching Anna Kournikova hop into Eric Williams' car as they departed, the middle-aged man turned to Payne Forstmann with a hint of complaint, "Payne, we can't let Anna keep getting away with this. And Eric Williams, even though he's the wealthiest man in the world, that's of no concern to us. We don't need to be pandering to her. If we don't step up Anna's training, she's going to end up washed up."

The man, named Max Eisenberg, was Anna Kournikova's agent and one of the top sports agents under IMG. The commercial success Anna Kournikova had achieved was largely thanks to Max Eisenberg's efforts.

Payne Forstmann, watching Eric's car disappear around the corner, gestured for Max Eisenberg to follow him back into the training facility. "Max, you should have heard that Mr. McCormack plans to sell IMG."

Max Eisenberg nodded, suddenly understanding. "Eric Williams?"

"During Anna's match, Mr. Williams and Mr. McCormack officially hammered out the deal in the stadium. Within a month, IMG may very well have new owners."

The shareholder changes at IMG wouldn't much impact someone of Max Eisenberg's caliber. He was confident in his abilities to manage a star like Anna Kournikova, generating hefty profits for the company. The change in ownership would only mean he would be even more valued.

Still, thinking about Eric Williams having just taken Anna Kournikova away left Max Eisenberg somewhat gloomy. If IMG ended up with a boss who's merely interested in his personal pursuits, the future of the company might not be so bright.

"Didn't Mr. McCormack previously express a desire for us to expand further into Hollywood?" After pondering for a moment, Max Eisenberg asked, "If Eric Williams becomes the new boss, wouldn't we certainly lose that avenue due to Hollywood's agency restrictions?"

Payne Forstmann shrugged, "Max, you know that's not our call."

Max Eisenberg sighed lightly. Although he was somewhat reluctant, he understood that IMG was valued at over a billion dollars. While this amount might mean nothing to Eric Williams, for those at their level, it was an unattainable fortune.

Payne Forstmann led Max Eisenberg to an office in the training center. After they sat down, noticing Max Eisenberg's concerns, he said, "Actually, Williams just talked to me about Anna."

Max Eisenberg took a cup of coffee from the office secretary and was about to raise it to his lips when he heard this and quickly set it down instead. "What did he say?"

"He's not optimistic about Anna's future. He asked about her contract duration, saying we should start training Anna's successor now," Payne Forstmann said as he got up, returning with the materials Eric had just chosen and handing them to Max Eisenberg. "Here, this is what Williams personally selected."

Max Eisenberg quickly scanned Maria Sharapova's basic information and couldn't help but frown, saying to Payne Forstmann, "Doesn't he think this girl might be just a bit too young?"

"Girls grow up eventually. Over in the modeling world, Gisele Bundchen has become the fastest-rising supermodel in recent years," Payne Forstmann answered.

Max Eisenberg spoke disdainfully, "Those pretty faces can't compare to athletes. Tennis players ultimately need skill."

Payne Forstmann smiled, "You know what, Max? Just a few hours ago, Williams said the same thing as you. So, you really shouldn't worry too much. As for the girl, I wanted to ask if you'd be interested in training her personally. If you're not, I'll find someone else. But if you do decide to train her, you'll have plenty of chances to connect with Eric Williams, which could be great for your career. I assume you don't intend to be just an agent forever, right? If you gain Williams' favor, moving beyond IMG isn't out of reach; the entire Firefly system is much larger than IMG."

Max Eisenberg's face showed a hint of intrigue, but he countered, "What about you, Payne?"

Payne Forstmann shrugged. "I have a good sense of my own abilities. Managing IMG is sufficient for me."

Max Eisenberg hesitated for a moment, glancing down to hurriedly read through the girl's profile again before raising his eyes, "So, what should I do next?"

Payne Forstmann understood what Max Eisenberg was asking, "Williams mentioned this girl needs braces, so you first need to arrange for her to see the best orthodontist. Also, remember she should wear clear aligners. Williams dislikes metal braces."

Max Eisenberg smirked a little, after confirming that Payne Forstmann wasn't joking, he reluctantly nodded.

...

Meanwhile, as Eric's car left the street where the IMG training center was located, Anna Kournikova cautiously turned her head to look back, seemingly confirming no one was following them before she relaxed, patting her puffed-up chest, "Phew, I can finally stop dealing with that tyrant Eisenberg."

Eric, sitting beside her, heard the girl's unfiltered words and laughed, "So, I was just used by you?"

Realizing how blunt her words had been, Anna Kournikova quickly put on a sweet smile, leaning closer like a little kitten, "Mr. Williams, you wouldn't mind, would you?"

Eric shook his head, "That's hard to say. I can be quite petty."

Anna Kournikova recognized Eric was joking, yet she feigned a pitiful look, saying, "How about I treat you to dinner tonight?"

Eric smiled indifferently, "So, Eisenberg is your coach?"

"My agent, the middle-aged man who was just standing next to Payne Forstmann; his name is Max Eisenberg," Anna Kournikova said, as if suddenly recalling her tragic history, "Eisenberg is practically a devil. He has to oversee my every move; I feel like a puppet. He controls everything I can or cannot do. Even during press conferences, what I'm allowed to say has to go through him first. Sometimes, if I accidentally say the wrong thing, I'm in for a scolding."

Listening to the girl complain, Eric inquired, "Well, haven't you thought that the reason you've achieved your current status is largely due to his management?"

"I... I know, of course," Anna Kournikova visibly swallowed some words she nearly blurted out, her eyes darting as she cautiously asked Eric, "Mr. Williams, are you... are you close with Mr. Payne Forstmann?"

Eric shook his head, "Not really. I met him for the first time today."

Anna Kournikova immediately relaxed again, "Mr. Williams, actually, the whole IMG team is just a bunch of vampires. From the owner of this company to the bottom-tier employees, they're all despicable vampires. To them, I am just a money-making tool. Last year, I made $12 million, but do you know how much I actually ended up with?"

Eric listened with a bemused expression. "How much?"

Anna Kournikova held up her long, beautiful fingers, her expression even more pitiful, "Less than $5 million. Out of the total $12 million, IMG took 30% right off the top, and that doesn't even count the $1 million they deducted for various fees. After taxes, I was left with under $5 million."

"I imagine others are probably in the same boat, right?"

Anna Kournikova nodded, "That's why I said IMG is a bunch of vampires. We athletes are just the unfortunate ones they exploit."

"If you're unhappy at IMG, just switch to a different agency."

Anna Kournikova's eyes lit up suddenly, recalling the man beside her, she affectionately linked her arm around Eric's and leaned in a bit, "Mr. Williams, can you help me?"

Eric smiled with newfound intrigue, "So, where do you want to go for a new agency?"

Anna Kournikova fell quiet for a moment, then, feeling somewhat dejected, released Eric's arm, saying, "I think... maybe I'll just stay at IMG."

Eric scrutinized the girl beside him. Although a bit naive and not all that bright, she clearly understood her circumstances.

While the industry was filled with numerous sports agency companies, and even the top three Hollywood agencies dabbled in sports representation, at the end of the day, no agency could rival IMG in the sports sector.

Leaving IMG, it wouldn't be easy for Anna Kournikova to earn even $200,000, let alone $12 million. The fact was that many sponsors were inclined to invest in her because she was a signed sports star under IMG. These sponsors understood that IMG had ample resources and channels to maximize their advertising expenses spent on Anna Kournikova, while other similar agencies simply couldn't provide that.

As they chatted, the car drove through Queens, entering Manhattan. The sun was now setting.

Eric looked at his watch and asked the girl beside him, "So, where do you want to eat?"

Anna Kournikova showed a hint of temporary sadness but soon brightened up, feeling motivated after sharing her thoughts with Eric. She piped up excitedly, "How about Bernardin? The one on 51st Street? I heard their seafood is fantastic! The last time I tried to go with friends, we couldn't get a reservation; it was so frustrating. Mr. Williams, you can surely get us a table, right?"

"About that, I can't be sure."

Eric pulled out his phone and made a call. Moments later, he received a response and casually instructed the driver to head to 51st Street.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1174: If I Get Lost]

The penthouse at the entrance of Sixth Avenue.

Eric had just opened the door when a tipsy Anna Kournikova curiously slipped inside ahead of him.

It was already past nine in the evening. They had dinner at the Bernadine restaurant on 51st Street. Although Anna seemed to want to continue the night, Eric did not entertain any further activities. Instead, he opted to head straight home. Even though tomorrow was Sunday, he still had work to get done.

Anna shuffled her hands behind her back, taking a few steps in the foyer, when suddenly all the lights in the spacious apartment turned on, revealing her alluring, flushed face.

She instinctively squinted at the brightness, then turned around to see Eric smiling behind her. She returned his smile, boldly leaned in, and draped her arms over his shoulders, saying, "Tonight's dinner was nice, Eric. But I really enjoyed that waiter's helplessness regarding my outfit. He clearly disapproved of my choice, haha."

Most upscale restaurants had their dress codes, but in Eric's position of power and wealth, it was unlikely any restaurant would dare to enforce such rules against him. Eric wore a simple shirt and trousers, which wasn't inappropriate, as he was never one to dress flamboyantly. However, Anna had shown up at the Bernadine restaurant in a cropped T-shirt and tiny shorts, and the waitstaff, fully aware of her connection to Eric Williams, chose to ignore the breach in policy.

Perhaps due to the constraints from IMG, Anna seemed akin to a canary that had tasted freedom only briefly, excited yet lacking the courage to fully escape her cage.

As her rosy lips, slightly parted, came closer to Eric, he stepped back a bit, wrapped his arms around her lithe waist, and whispered, "Take off your shoes."

"Uh-huh, Eric, are you in such a rush? I'm all yours tonight," she replied playfully.

Saying this, Anna obediently kicked off her high-heeled sandals. Then, she lifted the hem of her T-shirt, seemingly intending to take it off completely. Eric halted her by stopping her hands, gently pushing her toward the living room, saying, "Alright, go take a shower first."

Push away by Eric, Anna danced barefoot on the cool floor as if twirling, saying, "Eric, your place is so big! If I get lost, don't forget to find me."

As she said this, Anna showed no inclination to ask Eric where the bathroom was. She lightly made her way toward the staircase, shortly after reaching the second floor, flirtatiously glancing back at Eric from the railing before vanishing from sight.

Watching the girl, who had only shared a bottle of red wine with him and seemed slightly crazed, akin to a cat high on catnip, Eric couldn't help but smile. Her low tolerance for alcohol suggested that IMG was indeed strict about such matters, making him quite pleased with their management team.

...

In the kitchen, Eric selected some fruits from the refrigerator, washed and cut them up, arranging a simple platter before returning to the living room.

He turned off the lights and settled on the couch near the floor-to-ceiling windows, casually checking his emails on his laptop, illuminated by the dim glow of Manhattan's skyline.

After an indeterminate time, he caught a faint scent of body wash in the air. Not making any noise, Anna Kournikova peered over his shoulder, a damp strand of hair cascading onto Eric's neck and sending a chill down his spine.

Eric turned his head and kissed her slightly chubby cheek. He gestured toward the fruit platter with a nod, "Here, eat some fruit. It'll help sober you up."

"I'm not drunk," Anna pouted lightly, appearing a bit shy as she came around from behind him and picked up the platter, glancing at where Eric sat on his single sofa. Still unsatisfied, she sat down across from him at the round table.

Intent on eating the fruit like a little mouse, she snuck glances at Eric, unable to resist moving closer and sitting on the armrest of his sofa, holding up a piece of apple to his mouth. "Eric, you eat too."

Eric took a bite of the apple as he watched her suck on the remaining piece, chuckling, "Stop teasing."

Giggling, Anna put the platter back down, closed the laptop he was holding, and picked it up, setting it aside. Only then did she straddle him, leaning down to kiss him.

Feeling the soft, apple-flavored lips of Anna Kournikova, Eric untied her robe, quickly unveiling her beautiful, naked body, his hands wandering over her supple skin.

After sharing a somewhat clumsy kiss, the girl raised her flushed face to meet Eric's gaze and suddenly exclaimed, "Eric, you're nothing like I imagined. You're so gentle, caring, and patient. I think I may have fallen for you."

"That's just your illusion," Eric replied with a smile as he gave her bottom a playful pat. "After tonight, I'm sure you won't love me anymore."

Anna blinked, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink in the soft light, her voice teasingly hopeful, "Eric, do you have any strange preferences? I've heard rumors. I--I'd be willing to play along, but you can't hurt me."

Eric felt a strand of hair fall across his forehead and leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, "Yeah, did you find that room I told you about? I'll just lock you up in there for a week."

"Um, a week definitely won't do. If Eisenberg and the others can't find me after three days, they might go crazy," she replied.

Seeing Anna completely believe him without an ounce of fear, he scooped up her light form and stood, declaring, "Let's go. I'll show you a whole new world."

...

He dreamt of a multitude of cats cuddling around him, their furry softness comforting. Suddenly, those cats transformed into girls dressed in cat-girl uniforms, pouncing on him, escalating the pressure.

At that moment, he opened his eyes.

In the soft morning light, a golden-haired girl adorned with nothing but a smile lay atop him, playfully fiddling with a strand of his hair.

However, feeling Eric's hands instinctively moving down, she giggled and twisted her body, sending a wave of warmth through him, then said, "Eric, let me put the rubber on for you. I'm not a gold digger; I wouldn't dare get pregnant secretly."

Eric hadn't anticipated this girl waking up so early, looking so bright and lively.

He guessed it was an athlete's perk.

With a little force, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him. Eric brushed his lips against her delicate face and stated, "But I don't like it when girls are too forward."

"Mm, mm-hmm," Anna Kournikova nodded willingly, leaving only a series of soft whimpers in the air.

...

They sat alongside the breakfast table, and by now, it was already nine in the morning.

Casually nibbling on breakfast, Anna observed Eric with an unmistakable affection, and after a while, she spoke up, "Eric, I want to go to the Caribbean for a few days. Will you come with me?"

Eric picked up a slice of fried egg, shook his head, and replied, "That won't do. I'm very busy."

"But it's Sunday! You can just come back tomorrow. You have a private jet, right? That Boeing 747? Can I take a ride?"

Eric smiled and nodded, "Sure, if you want to go to the Caribbean, you can use the plane."

Anna's eyes sparkled with excitement, but just as quickly, her expression soured, "You really won't accompany me?"

"Really cannot," Eric said as he set down his utensils, took a sip of milk, and looked back at her, "But have fun for a few days, then you have to come back to Florida for training. No more wild antics."

"Um, why do you sound a bit like Eisenberg now?"

A smile crept upon Eric's lips as he said, "That's the point I wanted to make -- don't talk badly about your company to outsiders because that person might just become your boss."

Anna blinked rapidly, understanding Eric's underlying message. Her eyes widened, "You--you...?"

Eric nodded, "I'm about to buy IMG."

With the memory of her complaints about IMG being full of vampires fresh in her mind, Anna instinctively recoiled, bringing her hand to her face as if wanting to hide completely.

"Don't be like that. I won't bite, now eat your breakfast."

"It's so embarrassing," she stammered, glancing at Eric through her fingers for a moment before lowering her hand, her cheeks flushed red, "Eric, I don't love you anymore. You're such a jerk, um, boss."

After saying this, until Eric escorted her to the helicopter landing pad by the Hudson River, Anna didn't display any of her previous playful demeanor, appearing more like a good girl.

Once they arrived at the helipad and she caught sight of the black helicopter on the field, she glanced at the man beside her, saying, "Eric, perhaps I should just go back to Florida."

"The flight plan has already been set," Eric smiled and replied. "Go on and enjoy yourself, but do keep your focus. It would be wonderful if you could score a Grand Slam for me as the new boss."

"Sure, I," Anna nodded earnestly, but then added timidly, "But I can't guarantee that."

"Just do your best," Eric stated as he noticed the pilot giving him an okay sign. He nudged Anna, urging her forward, "Go."

Anna looked around and cautiously took a step forward. When she saw Eric grinning and opening his arms, she immediately leaped at him, kissing him briefly before escaping his embrace and stepping back toward the helicopter. Suddenly summoning her courage, she exclaimed, "Eric, actually, I still like you."

Saying this, without waiting for Eric's response, she turned on her heel and dashed toward the helicopter, effortlessly leaping aboard without needing any help from the staff.

...

As Eric watched the VH-60 take to the skies, he turned back to his car and instructed the driver to head to the Firefly Investment Company in Midtown.

There were not many employees at Firefly's headquarters that day; only Chris and a few others were present, while Caroline and Merissa Mayer had already arrived early.

Seeing Eric, Chris began updating him on the latest developments concerning the Department of Justice's objections to Yahoo's browser collaborations.

"This morning, news portals such as AOL and Microsoft's MSN published reports that the DOJ might veto Yahoo's pre-installation agreements with Microsoft on their browsers. Even the New York Times and Washington Post mentioned it. The DOJ's inquiry hearing is tomorrow. Eric, are you going to Washington?" Chris asked, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "There are a lot of people there hoping you will show up."

Eric took the documents Merissa passed him and settled into a leather chair in the conference room, understanding Chris's subtly weighted last comment.

In recent months, the upcoming presidential election had officially kicked off in America.

Although many candidates were expected from both parties, it was clear that the final two would undoubtedly be Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George Bush.

As the election year approached, barring any extraordinary changes, the battle for the presidential seat would largely unfold between these two figures.

Eric had kept an eye on this round of presidential elections. Although George Bush emerged victorious, it sparked yet another instance where the winner received fewer popular votes than the runner-up.

Given the current stance of the two candidates, it was evident that the emergence of a significant player like Eric would shift the dynamics considerably.

In the original timeline, the Murdoch family enjoyed a prominent status in Britain until the phone-tapping scandal. No matter which party won the elections, they had to pay homage to old Rupert Murdoch due to his immense control over British media -- from newspapers to television networks -- effectively swaying election results. The later phone-tapping scandal was a backlash that arose from prolonged suppression under the shadow of the media conglomerate by both political parties.

Likewise, the media resources controlled by Firefly could substantially impact the trajectory of the presidential campaigns in the federal election.

While presidential campaigns in the U.S. were complex compared to those in the U.K., the perspective that both candidates stood on equal footing made the control of substantial media resources by the Firefly Group extremely crucial.

Thus, in recent times, Washington had frequently reached out to the Firefly Group, aiming to secure Eric's support.

This also led Eric to conclude that the recent Yahoo browser controversy was an act of sabotage instigated by Microsoft. In critical moments like this, neither political party would be inclined to provoke the Firefly Group lightly.

Of course, while Eric had ample control over Firefly, the situation was not as simple as it appeared, requiring careful deliberation across multiple fronts.

Nodding toward Chris, Eric temporarily set aside these concerns to refocus on the documents in hand.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1175: We Don't Care]

In contrast to yesterday's simple communication with Ian Gurney, the information at hand provided a more detailed analysis of the reasons behind the Justice Department's sudden scrutiny.

The Justice Department's concerns mainly centered on two aspects: whether Yahoo's high market share in the browser space affected the healthy development and technological progress of the internet industry, and whether its partnership with Microsoft regarding pre-installed browsers deprived users of their right to choose software freely.

Of course, typically, no government agency would launch an attack on a company without reason unless that company harmed user interests or the interests of competing businesses.

The "victims" behind this hearing initiated by the Justice Department were several internet companies such as @Home and Excite that had business competition with Yahoo.

Eric had highlighted @Home in the documents, as it was also an internet company operating search engines and portal websites. However, compared to Yahoo's massive scale, @Home's market value was only just over $7 billion. Furthermore, @Home focused more on search engines, with Microsoft's MSN portal utilizing its search engine tools.

In addition, the documents mentioned that Microsoft not only participated in early-stage venture capital investments in @Home, holding 7% of the company's shares, but was also currently in talks with @Home's board to attempt a complete acquisition in order to develop its own search engine business.

While Yahoo maintained a low profile regarding its expansion in the search engine industry, Eric never held the illusion that competitors would remain oblivious forever. Microsoft's attempts to acquire @Home clearly were not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Indeed, the world of search engines had a very clear winner-takes-all dynamic. Due to years of accumulation, Yahoo had advanced into the realm of artificial intelligence in internet search engines, while many competitors were still utilizing rather primitive and inefficient tree search models. With its technological lead, Yahoo was also continuously and wholeheartedly investing in this business, giving Eric enough confidence to guarantee that Yahoo's search operations would ultimately come out on top.

Moreover, the key point was that, due to being a step ahead in technology, Yahoo had accumulated a vast number of patents in search engine technology, which would create a patent barrier against many newcomers.

Now, since @Home had taken the initiative to jump out, even with Microsoft's clear shadow behind it, Eric did not mind striking back hard.

...

With that thought, Eric flipped to today's news reports regarding the Justice Department's inquiries about Yahoo, only to discover that the situation seemed more severe than he had imagined.

Most media outlets were either subtly or aggressively accusing Yahoo of monopolizing the browser market, which significantly impacted their own development. AOL's portal notably stated that web browsers should fall under the category of basic internet services. Therefore, this foundational software should not exhibit any bias; Yahoo setting its default homepage to its own portal site was a clear case of unfair competition.

An article in the New York Times went so far as to demand that Yahoo entirely relinquish its monopoly on internet browser patent technology and share it across the industry to promote the rapid development of the entire internet sector.

NBC's online news site even lamented, imploring the federal Justice Department to immediately initiate an antitrust investigation into Yahoo's browser to curb Yahoo's market invasion through this software and squeeze out other competitors' viability.

All in all, the consensus among these media perspectives was that Yahoo's excessive market share in the browser space had severely affected the growth of the entire internet industry and thus warranted regulation.

It was easy to predict that if this sentiment spread further and the federal Justice Department responded with tangible actions at such a crucial moment, then Yahoo's stock price would inevitably suffer a tumble.

Moreover, due to the media's argument that attacking Yahoo's browser would benefit the entire industry, while Yahoo's stock fell, stocks of other similar tech companies would only rise, meaning they would not impact the recently rebounding NASDAQ index.

...

As Eric reviewed the material, the staff prepared for the video conference call from Yahoo's headquarters in Boston.

Finishing up the materials in haste, Eric looked up to see that Ian Gurney and others on the video screen also wore serious expressions. He put on a relaxed facade, clapped his hands, and said, "So, Ian, why don't you start by telling us how you plan to respond to the Justice Department's two inquiries tomorrow?"

Ian Gurney didn't say much. He glanced at the documents in front of him, organized his thoughts briefly, then stated, "Regarding the first inquiry, our response is that Yahoo's high market share in the browser space has not hindered the growth of the internet industry; on the contrary, it has promoted the progress of the entire field. It was Yahoo that first launched an easy-to-use graphical interface browser that connected the chaotic internet to everyday people's lives. Over the years, all COM companies have benefited directly or indirectly from the technical standards unified by Yahoo's browser. If Yahoo had not ventured forward, and allowed the market to exist with multiple internet format standards, the internet industry would not have developed so rapidly."

Eric nodded and asked, "And the second point?"

Ian Gurney continued, "Firstly, Yahoo's browser is completely free, meaning that having it pre-installed on Windows does not incur any additional costs for users. Secondly, Yahoo's browser can be uninstalled, so we do not deprive users of their right to choose. If they find the Yahoo browser unsatisfactory, they can remove the software themselves. On this point, if a stalemate forms, Yahoo can indeed make some concessions, such as adding an option during the Windows installation phase to ask users whether they want to install Yahoo's browser."

Eric silently tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating for a moment before saying, "Ian, you should understand their aim is to have us permit other companies to introduce similar browsers to create competition against Yahoo. What do you plan to do about that?"

"We will not, and we do not need, to make concessions on this, Eric," Ian Gurney was clearly prepared for this response. "The Yahoo browser has already adequately met user needs. Allowing other companies into this space to compete with Yahoo's browser would only lead those companies to set differential standards, which would damage the internet industry as a whole. It's quite like how the entire country has become accustomed to 110V AC electricity, with all household appliances operating under that standard. Now, if someone were to forcibly promote a 220V AC network from another country, it wouldn't create healthy competition but would instead lead to utterly unnecessary resource waste for the entire society."

After listening to Ian, Eric remarked, "That last example about the voltage standard is great. Make sure to bring it up at the appropriate moment tomorrow."

Ian Gurney smiled slightly, saying, "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Everyone then engaged in a free discussion about many details until the meeting was nearly over, when Eric once again adopted a serious tone, stating, "Since our competitors went to such lengths to initiate this hearing, we must also strike back while we respond; otherwise, Yahoo will only be seen as weak and easily bullied, leading to even more companies jumping into the fray."

The previously relaxed expressions of everyone instantly shifted back to seriousness.

After a short pause, Eric added, "Regarding @Home, while we are all aware that Microsoft is clearly behind it, since it has surfaced, it should be ready for the consequences. I just checked, @Home's main business is an internet search engine. While Yahoo's patent system is primarily defensive, it's robust enough for us to use as a weapon when necessary. I'll give you a week to gather evidence of @Home infringing on Yahoo's technological patents, not just in search engines but in advertising business as well. I'm sure they wouldn't overlook imitating Yahoo's advertising alliance model. We need to file not just for substantial damages but also for them to cease infringing on Yahoo's technology. So, do you all understand?"

Everyone in the two conference rooms expressed their agreement, with Ian Gurney nodding as well but saying, "Eric, is a week really enough time?"

Eric looked at the call screen and replied, "I had every company in the Firefly Group set up additional patent management departments and reminded them several times about the importance of patents for the growth of new tech firms so that you all could always be aware of your own and competitors' patent movements. So, don't tell me you haven't been collecting relevant information during that time. If that's the case, then that's your negligence."

"Of course we have, but the evidence can't be fully complete," Ian Gurney acknowledged. "Moreover, if we're to take legal action, our legal team must formulate a detailed litigation strategy, which takes time."

"You have only a week," Eric insisted. "And it seems I need to conduct a re-examination of the patent management departments in all companies. Carly, make a note of that."

Carolyn nodded earnestly and began jotting down notes in her memo pad.

Meanwhile, in the Boston conference room, Ian Gurney couldn't help but painfully smile internally. He had confidence that Yahoo's patent management department wouldn't make any mistakes, but if other group companies found themselves caught off guard due to Eric's sudden attack and there were issues, he would undoubtedly catch some complaints.

However, Eric ignored Ian Gurney's thoughts and continued, "Furthermore, Microsoft is about to launch its own digital music player, right?"

Everyone nodded, and Tina Brown, sitting next to Ian, spoke up, saying, "Microsoft's player is called Zune, set for release in mid-next month. Yahoo just did a feature on it last week, which I personally reviewed. Zune uses Microsoft's WMA audio format, and it's said that Microsoft will also partner with Warner Records to operate an online music store together."

In reality, in June, Sony had already launched a digital Walkman to compete with the Fireflyer player. That product used Sony's proprietary ATRAC audio format, and their online music store had launched simultaneously.

However, compared to the Fireflyer, Sony's digital Walkman lacked in essential features that had already gone through three generations of technological accumulation found in the Fireflyer. Additionally, the product imposed strict anti-piracy restrictions, meaning users could not obtain any audio content outside of Sony's music store.

Simultaneously, Sony had once again portrayed its inefficiency and lack of coordination, as its record division provided music that was almost all outdated in consideration of its own departmental interests.

Regarding price, Sony's digital Walkman was even slightly more expensive than the Fireflyer player.

Therefore, it was clear what the sales prospects of that product would be.

With Firefly Electronics' partnerships with EMI and Universal Records, and as the Fireflyer player continued to gain traction in North America and Europe, its monthly sales had already exceeded 3 million units, and its annual total for 1999 could possibly reach 35 million units.

By comparison, the Sony digital Walkman had not even broken the 300,000 unit mark in the two months since its release, making its performance utterly dismal, posing no threat to the Fireflyer whatsoever.

To Eric, the primary significance of the Sony digital Walkman's launch lay in breaking the monopoly status of the Fireflyer player. Both the Fireflyer player and Yahoo Music Store now had competitors. Therefore, the forthcoming antitrust accusations against the Firefly Group would lessen significantly.

Compared to last year, this year Firefly Electronics planned to sell 35 million units of the Fireflyer player. With the overall cost further reduced, it would bring approximately $2 billion in excess profits to Firefly Electronics.

Faced with such an enticing market, other tech firms certainly wouldn't want to miss out, and Microsoft had already planned to introduce its own digital music player.

However, unlike Sony, which had secured a full set of digital music player patents from Firefly Electronics in exchange for its mini-camera module patents, Microsoft had not received such benefits. This meant that Microsoft would inevitably not escape the well-crafted patent barriers created by Firefly Electronics.

After Tina Brown finished her explanation, Eric directly told Merissa, "Contact Victor and the others later. Since Gates is playing tricks, I won't hesitate to ensure that Microsoft's Zune can't officially launch. Have them disassemble Zune's prototype quickly for an analysis and gather enough evidence."

After giving instructions to Merissa, Eric looked at everyone and concluded, "Lastly, there's one more thing. You've all probably seen today's news. To those people, it seems Yahoo's browser has become the culprit obstructing the entire internet industry's development. People always sympathize with the weak, so this viewpoint will certainly have traction. If it spreads widely and the Justice Department chooses this moment to hassle us, then Yahoo's stock price will undoubtedly plummet, benefiting other new tech companies instead. The entire NASDAQ market won't be affected, and the Justice Department will act without restraint. Hence, we must ensure they don't get an easy time. Does anyone know what our greatest advantage is?"

Curious looks appeared on everyone's faces.

Without waiting for anyone's opinions, Eric continued, "Whether it's Wall Street or the new technology industry, everyone is worried that the NASDAQ index will start to decline again. But we don't care. Whether it's Yahoo, Cisco, Amazon, or others, what we care about is the long-term development of our companies, not the temporary ups and downs of stock prices. So, since they want to find trouble with Yahoo, let the entire NASDAQ market take a hit along with it. We originally planned to announce strategies such as no layoffs and budget cuts only during the next crisis to maintain stock prices. Now that we no longer have such constraints, it just so happens that I need some cash. So starting tomorrow, the Firefly Group will publicly announce a sell-off!"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1176: Extreme Joy Leads to Sorrow]

The next day, the media chatter about the Federal Justice Department needing to impose restrictions on the Yahoo browser intensified significantly.

Although it was becoming clear that Microsoft had instigated the situation behind the scenes, other internet companies that had felt the pressure from the Firefly system evidently saw this as a golden opportunity. Almost all internet companies believed that if they could force Yahoo to relinquish its monopolistic advantage over browser software, they would surely gain a larger share of the market.

Companies like @Home stepped forward, and naturally, other internet firms were eager to jump on the bandwagon.

Although the Department of Justice had scheduled a hearing on the Yahoo browser for 2 PM Eastern Time, the media frenzy caused Yahoo's stock to plummet 3.3% just after 9:30 AM.

As Eric had anticipated, companies like AOL-Time Warner, @Home, and even Microsoft -- all of which were in competition with Yahoo -- saw their stock prices rise to varying degrees. The entire NASDAQ index also continued to maintain a rebound, following the trend of the past two weeks.

However, at 11 AM, following a notice from Firefly Investment's official website, many executives from the internet companies who had momentarily reveled in the excitement suddenly found themselves in despair.

The announcement stated that to raise funds for its next steps, Firefly Investment would be reducing its holdings in Yahoo, Cisco, Qualcomm, and other companies over the coming week. Although the brief announcement felt somewhat perfunctory, once the data was compiled, many were astonished to discover that this seemingly casual plan to sell off shares represented a total value of a staggering $3 billion.

If this had been several months prior during NASDAQ's peak, cashing out $3 billion in a week wouldn't have significantly affected the NASDAQ index. During the final weeks of Clover Fund's pullback, over $3 billion was cashed out weekly from the NASDAQ market.

Nonetheless, everyone recognized that the current situation was strikingly different from just a few months before. The NASDAQ had just experienced a dramatic crash, leading to significant losses for countless investors. Even though the index had begun to rebound in the last two weeks, those who had weathered the stock market crash were like frightened birds.

Despite the overall uptick of the index, the trading volume in the NASDAQ market was far from the robust activity observed months ago.

At this critical juncture, Firefly Investment -- once a strong supporter of the NASDAQ market -- suddenly announced a plan to sell off $3 billion worth of shares, sending shockwaves throughout the tech industry.

Even with many understanding that this move correlated with the upcoming Department of Justice hearing regarding Yahoo, a wave of panic quickly spread across the NASDAQ market.

If they were to sell off $3 billion in a week, what would happen the following week? Would Firefly Investment continue to sell?

Everyone knew that despite the recent NASDAQ crash, the technology stocks that Firefly Investment controlled still exceeded a value of $200 billion. The $3 billion sell-off was starkly significant -- it equated to the market capitalization of many new tech companies -- yet it wouldn't significantly impact Firefly Investment's proportions in the companies involved.

This suggested that Firefly Investment, following the first week's sell-off, could very well proceed with further cashing out.

With the NASDAQ still fragile from its recent rebound, how could the market endure several rounds of $3 billion sell-offs from Firefly Investment?

Various thoughts raced through investors' minds. In conjunction with Firefly Investment's announcement, a wave of sell orders for tech stocks flooded the market. Many investors instinctively began to follow suit, leading to a swift cessation of the NASDAQ's two-week upward trend.

...

From the moment Firefly Investment released its announcement and began unloading stock at 11 AM, the NASDAQ index plunged from a peak of 3,677 points all the way down to 3,612 points in just over an hour.

The stock prices of Firefly-associated tech companies -- like Yahoo, Cisco, Qualcomm, and Amazon -- fell sharply, with Yahoo's stock drop accumulating to an astounding 13.3% over just two and a half hours since the market opened.

However, this was merely the beginning.

By afternoon, some investors who had originally been on the sidelines sensed trouble and joined the selling frenzy. This inevitably exacerbated the selling wave, causing stock prices for new tech companies outside the Firefly system to also tumble.

...

Watching the NASDAQ index's decline, which appeared to be yanked downward by an invisible hand, the entire new tech industry could hardly remain calm, hastily formulating responses.

Subsequently, internet media platforms including AOL and MSN released statements condemning Firefly Investment's sudden sell-off actions. AOL pointedly stated in its press release that Firefly had accumulated cash reserves of at least $9 billion through previous stock sales of AOL and the transfer of Fireflyer shares, and if profits from Firefly's companies like Nokia and Cisco were included, their cash reserves might even have reached $10 billion.

In addition, AOL exposed that Clover Fund, under Firefly, also held significant cash reserves surpassing even those of Firefly Investment.

Given that the entire Firefly system boasted such substantial cash holdings, and with only a $3 billion acquisition of Sony Pictures as a noteworthy expense over the past year, Firefly Investment had no pressing need to sell its tech stocks.

The reason behind this move seemed malicious; Firefly Investment appeared to be leveraging the entire NASDAQ index to coerce the Federal Justice Department into dropping its investigation into Yahoo's monopolistic browser market share.

...

Although everyone understood that AOL's statements were factual, the forthrightness of AOL's stance revealed the naivety of what was ultimately a young company. At least, the AOL editor who permitted the article's publication certainly seemed uninformed about the political intricacies at play.

There were many things everyone was doing, but some discussions were definitely off the table.

Sure enough, less than ten minutes after AOL's article went live, Firefly's lawyers delivered a cease-and-desist letter to Steve Case.

Firefly also issued a direct rebuttal on Yahoo's portal, asserting that their sell-off plan complied with federal regulations. Furthermore, Firefly had duly notified the Federal Trade Commission of their intentions in advance and alerted shareholders via public announcement, demonstrating Firefly's responsible stance toward its investors.

Thus, AOL's conjecture about Firefly's intentions was deemed nothing more than malicious defamation. Firefly claimed that AOL should retract the related press release immediately and threatened to sue the editor who wrote the piece, as well as AOL, for defamation.

...

As many speculated whether AOL would confront Firefly directly, within half an hour, the article vanished from the AOL portal.

Though AOL did not offer a formal apology, its retreat prompted many smaller news outlets to become more cautious.

Others re-noticed that despite the multiple rounds of significant sell-offs, Firefly Investment maintained its position as a major shareholder in AOL-Time Warner, with over 4.1% of shares post-merger in the first half of the year.

Moreover, as various investment banks continued to reduce their stakes over the year, Firefly Investment's sustained shareholdings allowed it to climb the ranks among AOL-Time Warner's major shareholders.

Inadvertently, Firefly Investment's 4.1% stake had made it the second-largest shareholder of AOL-Time Warner, trailing only behind Ted Turner's 6.5%.

While due to prior circumstances, Firefly did not possess a seat on the AOL-Time Warner board and had even delegated its voting rights to the AOL management during the merger, this incident made it clear to external observers that even as a somewhat detached major shareholder lacking direct control, Firefly Investment's significant stake could not be overlooked by any major corporation.

While Firefly typically made no attempts to influence AOL-Time Warner, allowing for a competitive posture with the Firefly tech companies, the moment they exerted pressure, AOL-Time Warner had to promptly retract critical news within half an hour.

...

As the NASDAQ plummeted in response to Firefly Investment's sell-off plan, the Department of Justice hearing proceeded as scheduled that afternoon.

Following the pre-agreed strategy, Yahoo CEO Ian Gernier faced off fiercely against the Justice Department's inquiries, with Secretary Janet Reno present alongside dozens of reporters.

In response to the department's concerns that Yahoo's dominance in the browser market stifled the development of rival internet companies, Ian Gernier threw down the gauntlet.

He pointed out that outside of its browser, Yahoo had pioneered several internet services, including its portal, email, and search engine, a fact highlighted by many similar companies directly mimicking Yahoo's business models. Some of these imitators had gone so far as to infringe on Yahoo's core patents.

Instead of retaliating against these imitators, Yahoo had taken an open approach, voluntarily licensing numerous patents to foster industry growth, thus illustrating that Yahoo was a company committed to social responsibility.

Throughout the two-hour hearing, Ian Gernier successfully controlled the proceedings through meticulous preparation and quick wit.

Though Janet Reno did not announce a definitive Justice Department resolution at the conclusion, even those somewhat detached from the industry could glean a sense that the Justice Department would not proceed with any substantive action against Yahoo.

After all, as Ian Gernier pointed out during the hearing, unlike the expensive Windows operating system from Microsoft, the Yahoo browser was completely free of charge and did not add expense to users' pockets. Furthermore, its standardized interface benefited users' internet experiences.

Yahoo invested tens of millions annually in its free browser and was fully entitled to the platform profits generated by it. Yahoo had maintained a sufficiently open stance and bore no obligation to cater to companies mimicking its business model.

...

Immediately after the hearing, Yahoo published a full transcript and video recording of the event within moments.

Simultaneously, every media outlet associated with the Firefly system sprang into action to control the narrative. From that afternoon onward, public sentiment began to shift favorably toward Firefly.

Eric ultimately decided against attending the Washington spectacle in person. However, that afternoon, he received a phone call from Janet Reno, the moderate Justice Department Secretary, who mentioned that the department would formally announce the hearing's outcome the next day, while expressing hope that Firefly Investment would retract its selling plan to avoid further aggravating the NASDAQ market.

...

Amid this overwhelmingly one-sided hearing, NASDAQ's performance mirrored this sentiment throughout Monday's trading day, displaying a similarly biased trend.

In just one day, NASDAQ dropped 177 points, with some tech firms plummeting back to two-week lows within six and a half hours.

Despite the Justice Department's position on Yahoo's browser being stated clearly, Eric had no intention of abandoning the planned sell-off.

After all, to backtrack on the sell-off would be tantamount to admitting that Firefly Investment's actions were an attempt to pressure the federal government. This would not only reflect poorly on Firefly, but also embarrass the Department of Justice.

Thus, the next day, even as the Justice Department convened a press conference at 9 AM to announce that they would not interfere with Yahoo's software as long as it maintained its operating strategies, Firefly Investment continued to implement its sell-off.

The NASDAQ index persisted in its downward trend.

A siege against Yahoo that had hardly begun now seemed to unravel, leaving many with a profound sense of defeat.

Throughout Tuesday's trading session, the NASDAQ fell another 97 points.

While today's decline was slower compared to yesterday's drop, it was clear the rebound had halted altogether.

Wall Street's initial hopes for the NASDAQ to recover to 4,000 points faded as it plummeted to 3,403 points, yielding a mixture of despair among investors.

Having recently weathered a crash, Wall Street was navigating this rebound cautiously -- over the course of merely two weeks, they had failed to sufficiently cash out their tech shares.

Now that the situation shifted once more, cashing those stocks would only become more challenging.

Moreover, the previous rebound in NASDAQ had largely stemmed from positive news released by Firefly.

However, after feeling cornered by competitors, Firefly was unlikely to announce any new support for the NASDAQ market.

So, aside from Firefly, who could step up to play that role?

The answer was clear: no one.

The other possible case -- the Microsoft antitrust lawsuit -- had been settled.

And even Microsoft lacked the robust resources to genuinely shift the entire NASDAQ's movement like Firefly Investment could.

If it were another player in the capital arena, Wall Street might be able to exert influence. But against the established Firefly system, Wall Street found itself outmatched.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1177: Collision]

The Firefly Group swiftly delivered a powerful blow, shattering Microsoft and other internet companies' attempts to undermine the Yahoo browser.

However, the situation did not come to a close with the Justice Department's announcement on Tuesday that it was dropping the investigation into the alleged monopolistic behavior of the Yahoo browser.

For the next three days, Firefly Investments continued to follow through with its stock sell-off, as announced on Monday. Although the panic selling in the new technology market eased somewhat, it still severely impacted the fragile Nasdaq stock market.

Following Friday's close, Wall Street media, which had been closely monitoring the Firefly Investment stock reductions, quickly released a series of related data.

In light of this week's sharp decline in the Nasdaq index, the total value of stocks that Firefly Investments planned to sell on Monday, initially valued at $3 billion, had shrunk to $2.37 billion by the time they cashed out. Just from this, Firefly Investments recorded an estimated loss of over $600 million.

However, the new technology market suffered even greater repercussions as the Nasdaq index took another nosedive. By the close on Friday, the Nasdaq index plummeted from Monday's 3,677 points down to 3,255 points, marking an 11.5% decrease -- a downward trend that was dangerously approaching the crash of July. The total paper loss for the Nasdaq stock market due to this downturn amounted to an astounding $370 billion.

After the first weekend of September, despite various capital forces attempting to mediate, the Firefly Group did not come to the rescue of the new technology market as it had the previous month, not even issuing a long-anticipated statement to halt the sell-off.

Not only that, but with the weekend just behind them, the Firefly Group struck again.

...

On Monday morning, Yahoo filed a lawsuit in a Boston district court, accusing @Home's search engine and online advertising distribution services of infringing on a total of 26 of Yahoo's technology patents.

Yahoo demanded that @Home immediately cease operations of the search engine tools and online advertising distribution systems that severely infringed on Yahoo's technology patents, along with a hefty $1 billion in damages.

It's common for companies involved in patent litigation to cite exorbitant compensation amounts. However, Yahoo's $1 billion claim still seemed rather excessive to many, especially considering that @Home's total revenue from the previous year was barely under $100 million.

Yet, the most attention-grabbing aspect of this lawsuit was not Yahoo's huge claim, but rather its demand for @Home to stop its search engine tools and online advertising distribution systems entirely.

Given that @Home's primary business was exactly the internet search engine tools, alongside advertising being the fundamental source of revenue for the company, Yahoo's request aimed to completely gut @Home -- a tactic that not only threatened their operation but suggested they might close their doors for good.

It was easy to see that this lawsuit served as Yahoo's counterattack against @Home, which had publicly challenged Yahoo's browser the previous week.

However, once Yahoo filed the lawsuit, the detailed list of the 26 patents that it accused @Home of infringing, published on Yahoo's official portal, left little room for rebuttal. Among the patents such as "web crawling," "hyperlink analysis," and "intelligent ranking," these were fundamental technologies for smart search engine tools.

Without these technologies, a search engine would revert to basic data retrieval methods -- essentially keyword matching to generate completely unorganized search results. Compared to intelligent search engines that provided more precise results, basic keyword matching was destined for elimination in a competitive market.

After researching the list of infringed patents listed by Yahoo and the similarities between @Home and Yahoo's Google, many realized that unless Yahoo was willing to grant a patent license to @Home, the company would face dire consequences under existing federal patent protection laws. If Yahoo relentlessly pursued, @Home would likely be left with no option but to shut down.

As this realization dawned on more people, the Nasdaq market reacted directly. Within just two short hours after Yahoo announced the lawsuit against @Home, the company's stock price collapsed by over 30%.

Simultaneously, other companies on the Nasdaq involved with search engine services also saw their stock prices tumble.

Thus, the entire Nasdaq stock market continued to decline without any signs of recovery. Many began to recognize that Ian Gurnier's earlier remarks during last week's Justice Department hearing, which claimed Yahoo maintained a sufficiently "open attitude" to promote industry development, were not at all exaggerated.

It was clear from the current lawsuit that, with Yahoo's substantial technological base, it could easily bring down companies like @Home that directly competed with it. Yet previously, Yahoo had refrained from taking such actions.

Now, provoked, Yahoo, usually seen as a mild giant, revealed its teeth, launching a strike directly at its opponent's most vulnerable point.

Seemingly to validate some suspicions, at ten that morning, the Firefly Group retaliated again, this time targeting the industry giant Microsoft.

...

Firefly Electronics filed a lawsuit in a San Francisco district court, alleging that Microsoft's upcoming Zune music player infringed upon a series of core digital music player patents owned by Firefly Electronics, seeking a court order to prevent Microsoft from releasing the product.

As the sales of the Fireflyer player continued to soar, it was becoming increasingly clear that digital music players were set to be the next big trend in portable music devices.

Based on conservative industry forecasts for final annual global sales of digital music players reaching 100 million units, and with an average sales price of $300 each, this would mean a colossal $30 billion market in electronic consumer goods.

In contrast, even though Microsoft had over 80% market share in desktop operating systems and its annual revenue continued to climb -- yet it still was not even reaching $20 billion across all business divisions.

Although Microsoft enjoyed a high market value and profit level thanks to its monopoly advantage, it also needed to expand its business.

The digital music player market, with a potential market size of $30 billion, was clearly a tempting opportunity for Microsoft.

Just as Microsoft arranged its cutlery to dig in, the Firefly Group swung in without mercy, striking down the cup and plate before Microsoft.

For a while now, Microsoft had been privately negotiating to acquire @Home, and this information was no secret within the industry.

In fact, @Home's high valuation of $7.6 billion prior to this event was largely bolstered by the acquisition rumors from Microsoft.

Now, with a series of events adding up, many began to piece together the puzzle.

...

Last month, Yahoo abruptly announced that Microsoft had unconditionally abandoned its stock purchase agreement while still maintaining cooperation with Yahoo regarding browser pre-installations, which came as a huge surprise to the entire new technology industry.

With Microsoft's aggressive style, no one believed it would give up a tremendous opportunity to push Yahoo aside and develop its own internet business for a mere pre-installation fee of just over $100 million.

Some shareholders even openly labeled Microsoft executives' decision as "utterly foolish."

Naturally, many also did not think Microsoft's decision-makers would make such a basic error, instinctively feeling that some backdoor dealings were at play behind the scenes.

Then the week before, @Home and several other firms had called for the federal Justice Department to investigate the allegations of monopoly concerning the Yahoo browser.

At first glance, this appeared disconnected from Microsoft; yet, as Firefly directly targeted @Home and initiated patent lawsuits against Microsoft itself following these incidents, the ties began to reveal themselves.

Following a bit of analysis, it became clear that Microsoft had, for some reason, been compelled to sign an agreement with Yahoo to maintain browser collaboration.

However, no organization would be willing to accept such terms, especially a company with Microsoft's monopolistic standing. So, Microsoft obviously did not intend to fulfill this agreement completely.

But ripping up the contract outright was ill-timed and would severely damage a company's business reputation. Hence, Microsoft sought alternative means, attempting to indirectly force Yahoo into abandoning the pre-install agreement, which was detrimental to its internet business development.

Then, having strong ties with Microsoft, @Home, along with other smaller partners, jumped into the fray.

In an ideal world, everything might work seamlessly, but reality is far more brutal.

Just as Microsoft proceeded with its plan to indirectly void the agreement, the Firefly Group cleanly thwarted the effort.

Not only did Microsoft fail to extricate itself from the Yahoo browser pre-install agreement, but it now faced the dilemma of being stymied by the Firefly Group in both the internet search and digital music player sectors.

While insiders had yet to fully grasp the vast potential for growth in search engine services, it was common knowledge that the digital music player market had a promising outlook.

Confronted with an enormous industry brimming with financial prospects yet impossible to penetrate, curiosity about Microsoft executives' current emotions ran high.

Moreover, it was evident that typically dominant Microsoft appeared to be at a complete disadvantage in this clash with the Firefly Group.

...

@Home's stock price ultimately fell off a cliff, plummeting 46% in the very first working day of the week, leaving a market cap of just $2.7 billion.

Compared to two weeks prior, @Home's stock had dropped by over 65%.

In response to Yahoo's lawsuit, the @Home board and management team fell into a state of collapse similar to their company's stock price, failing to mount any effective response throughout the entire day.

On the other hand, Microsoft quickly issued a statement arguing that the audio format utilized by the Zune player was entirely different from that of the Fireflyer and that the player's operating system employed Microsoft's own software core; thus, it did not acknowledge the Zune's infringement of Firefly Electronics' software patents.

Simultaneously, Microsoft raised questions about the legality and validity of the patents listed by Firefly Electronics for the hardware architecture of digital music players.

Nevertheless, this seemingly coherent and well-supported rebuttal from Microsoft appeared, to informed observers, to be merely a desperate attempt at evasion.

Ultimately, the technical principles of digital music players were fundamentally very simple. Because of their simplicity, they were more easily controlled by comprehensive patents.

It was akin to a formidable stronghold that is easier to defend than to attack; as a pioneer, Firefly Electronics had constructed a robust city defense at this narrow pass.

Therefore, regardless of how powerful Sony or Microsoft might be, as newcomers, they would remain locked out unless Firefly Electronics chose to grant them entry.

...

Due to a series of ongoing events, Eric remained in New York during this time.

The Williams Trust Fund and the charity funds set up for the two women had been completed.

The establishment of the Williams Trust Fund was quite low-key, with no assets included for the time being. Media and the public were obviously more focused on the long-named Eric-Joanna-Virginia Williams Fund.

Although there had been some teasing, after several months, the public had nearly adjusted to the dynamics between Eric and the two women, Joanna and Virginia.

One couldn't help but notice that when a person's power and wealth reach a certain level, the world tends to show considerable tolerance toward them.

Actions that would attract criticism for ordinary individuals often provoke a subconscious sense of entitlement when committed by the wealthy and powerful.

Media outlets even speculated on who would be the next lucky girl to bear a child for the Williams family.

Of course, such speculation was not unfounded.

Cindy Crawford's sudden withdrawal from America's Next Top Model's production, combined with various indicators over the months, had led many media to conclude that the stunning supermodel, who had dominated the Forbes income chart for supermodels for consecutive years, had been fortunate enough to conceive Eric Williams' child.

However, having learned from previous lessons, both traditional media and open internet platforms handled reports of Cindy's pregnancy with extreme caution this time.

Up to this point, no photo sufficiently proving that Cindy was indeed pregnant had surfaced, and most media only tentatively hinted at the subject behind the scenes.

...

As Eric closely followed the Firefly Group's rebuttal against Microsoft, other matters were also steadily advancing.

A week after meeting with the founder of IMG, news arrived that the other shareholders of IMG had agreed to sell their shares.

Though there remained some disagreement regarding aspects of the acquisition, these shareholders accepted Eric's $1.5 billion offer.

At this stage of development, it was impossible to keep such news hidden, and articles announcing Eric's impending acquisition of IMG quickly spread through the media.

However, the most immediate impact of this news was felt by IMG's direct competitor, Elite Models.

John Casablancas contacted Eric immediately upon hearing the news to gauge his intentions and whether he was still interested in acquiring Elite.

Eric was transparent about his interest in both renowned modeling agencies.

Following several meetings, John's message back to Eric soon confirmed that Elite was likewise willing to accept an acquisition from the Firefly Group.

Thus, in an instant, the world was taken aback to discover that the two major modeling agencies housing some of the most stunning beauties were on the verge of being united under the singular name of Eric Williams.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1178: Wrapping Up the Summer Blockbuster Season]

Martha's Vineyard, located about 100 kilometers northeast of Long Island, earned the nickname "Star's Backyard." The island was home to a multitude of billionaires, movie stars, politicians, artists, and various other elite figures of American high society.

Eric decided to purchase a mansion on Martha's Vineyard to ensure that Cindy and her unborn child would be undisturbed by the outside world over the next few months.

In recent days, while the media and the public were buzzing with news surrounding the Firefly Group's series of events, Eric had left Manhattan to spend some time at the island mansion with Cindy.

Even though he could brush off most of his work, there were still some matters from which he couldn't hide.

...

David West, the president of State Street Global Advisors, and Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, got out of their vehicle outside a mansion in the center of the island. They looked at the blonde German lady who came to greet them and couldn't help but envy Eric; they naturally assumed that Catherine Neumann was just a model.

Catherine Neumann welcomed the two guests into the living room of the mansion and served them coffee, saying, "Please wait a moment. Mr. Williams is accompanying Ms. Crawford to a medical check-up and will be back shortly."

David West and Larry Fink had stopped by unexpectedly, nodding to indicate that they didn't mind waiting.

After Catherine finished her explanation, she politely inquired if the two guests needed anything else before quietly exiting the living room.

The two middle-aged men had a brief conversation, and soon sounds from the courtyard indicated Eric's return. They stood up together.

...

Eric entered with a visibly pregnant Cindy, and after some pleasantries, Cindy chose to leave the living room and head upstairs, allowing the three men to sit down again.

Recently, rumors had spread about the Clover Fund under the Firefly Group obtaining substantial funds shortly before a crash on the NASDAQ.

Although the revenue was not reflected in the Firefly Group's second-quarter financial report, Eric knew that even with some financial maneuvers to conceal the Clover Fund's revenue situation for one quarter, next year's final annual report would inevitably disclose these details.

The external shareholders of the Firefly Group were not numerous, but also not insignificant. After trying to cover things up for a while, with increasing related reports in the media, Eric had already lost hope in keeping the revenue details hidden. Now, he just wished to delay it for as long as possible.

After all, by early next year, many people would likely have moved on from the pain of the NASDAQ crash, and the chances of various reactions occurring upon hearing that the Clover Fund had cashed out tens of billions from the NASDAQ stock market would greatly lessen.

However, the drafted plan to withhold dividends remained unchanged.

As many investors lost heavily during the NASDAQ crash and urgently needed capital, Eric had not given up the opportunity to buy back shares of the Firefly Group. During his last meeting with David West, he had indicated that if the small shareholders of Firefly Group were willing to sell their stocks, the company could clear this year's profits simultaneously.

While shareholders like Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway still showed no intention of selling their Firefly Group stocks, a portion of smaller shareholders chose to sell.

David West and another small shareholder representative, Larry Fink, came today to discuss this matter.

Speaking of which, Larry Fink represented the Black Rock Fund. Similar to State Street, this fund also had roots in the well-known American investment company Blackstone.

...

While the men chatted downstairs, Cindy had gone upstairs, entering a second-floor living room where she comfortably lounged on a sofa, idly flipping through a magazine and occasionally glancing at the golden sunshine streaming onto the terrace outside the large windows.

Though it was already early fall, the evening sun still appeared quite intense. However, in this mansion on Martha's Vineyard, which was even more comfortable than Long Island, it did not feel the slightest bit hot.

Cindy heard soft footsteps behind her and looked up to see Catherine Neumann walking in with a small tray. After the lady placed the tray on the coffee table in front of her, Cindy took a small pastry from the china plate and tasted it before gesturing for Catherine to sit beside her.

"Eric said I could also be involved in managing Elite. Can you help me brainstorm ideas these days?"

Catherine Neumann, poised in her seat on the adjacent armchair, shook her head, "Mr. Williams buying Elite isn't a good choice. The company has numerous issues: bureaucratic bloat, over-expansion, financial chaos, and many ethical risks."

"I've worked at Elite before, so I know its problems. In fact, I understand that the root of the issues lies with John Casablancas. Over the years, Elite has reached its peak, and the founder seems to have lost any ambition. The reason IMG's modeling department has quickly caught up with Elite in recent years is that John's management approach is no longer in line with the times," Cindy said. She suddenly shifted the subject, "But you should know that just like those wealthy people who love to buy sports teams, Eric is clearly more interested in modeling agencies."

Catherine Neumann replied, "In that case, John Casablancas should be replaced first to reform Elite and revitalize it."

"No, that won't work. Eric never considered replacing John. You should know his character; he prefers to reform a company gently -- like, um, boiling a frog in warm water."

Catherine Neumann subtly nodded and said nothing more.

Cindy leisurely finished her pastry and turned to gently remove Catherine Neumann's black-framed glasses from her face. She examined the girl with a noticeable shift in demeanor and smiled, "Are you confused about why Eric, who has so many personality flaws, could achieve his current success?"

After Cindy removed the glasses, Catherine brushed her golden hair away from her forehead, her blue eyes looking at her with curiosity but remaining silent.

Cindy toyed with the black frame, "The thing is, after you've been in this circle for a while, you realize that many wealthy people are not nearly as clever as you might think. Some might even be quite foolish, but they still manage to accumulate vast fortunes -- perhaps due to family background, luck, or various other reasons. If you had to find one reason, it can be simply put as this: it's an unfair world."

A thoughtful expression appeared on Catherine Neumann's beautiful face.

Noticing her expression, Cindy chuckled and gently placed the black glasses back on her, concealing Catherine's fierce demeanor with them. "So, even if you're smart -- possibly much smarter than many others -- if you want to stand out, you often need to learn to appear less smart. After all, we are women, and in this patriarchal society, we should understand this even more."

Catherine Neumann frowned slightly, as if recalling some less pleasant memories.

Cindy, feeling more relaxed, shifted her position to recline comfortably on the sofa. She evaluated the girl beside her, saying, "In fact, if I hadn't insisted, you wouldn't have gotten hired at all. You're smart enough to guess some reasons. But you are here with me now, and this is your opportunity. You are an ambitious girl, but to realize that, first, you need to completely forget your ambition and put yourself 100% in your current position."

Catherine Neumann's gaze flickered slightly, but she quickly replied softly, "Ms. Crawford, I understand."

Cindy nodded, quite satisfied, "Now, the first thing you need to do is help me gain more initiative between IMG and Elite. Deep down, Eric has always preferred capable women over pretty faces."

...

Meanwhile, in the living room below, Eric was unaware of the private conversation between the two women. He focused intently on a discussion with David West and Larry Fink, which lasted nearly an hour before they basically finalized things.

According to the proposal brought by David and Larry, completing this acquisition would allow Eric to repurchase about 5% of the Firefly Group's shares.

On the price front, Eric made some concessions; including the dividends he needed to pay, this acquisition would cost him a total of $7.5 billion -- $500 million more than the initial estimate.

After this repurchase, Eric's shareholding in the Firefly Group would rise approximately to 78%.

...

Once the repurchase plan was roughly finalized, Eric sent David West and Larry Fink off before heading to his study in the mansion. He picked up the phone to inform Jeffrey Katzenberg in Los Angeles to follow up on the next steps.

After hanging up, Eric opened his computer to review the recent financial data of both the Firefly Group and Firefly Investments.

As expected from external assessments, before last week's sell-off, the total cash held by Firefly Investments had indeed reached an enormous $10 billion, specifically $13.6 billion -- significantly higher than many Wall Street analysts had estimated. As for the Firefly Group, after reserving taxes, the Clover Fund alone had generated a free cash flow of $36.3 billion for the Firefly Group.

Adding the two, the nearly $50 billion cash reserve seemed immense; however, when considering the projected expenditures for the Firefly system in the near future, this amount still wouldn't be sufficient.

With the NASDAQ index continuing its decline, the Firefly Group and Firefly Investments had already begun discreetly executing their next expansion plans.

...

Firefly Investments aimed to expand its holdings by targeting Sprint next.

Currently, Sprint, the third-largest telecommunications provider in the U.S., had seen its stock price fall from its peak market cap of $109 billion several months ago to now below $40 billion.

Although Sprint's stock still had potential to drop further, Firefly Investments had already started to enter the market, continuously acquiring Sprint shares.

Chris planned to increase their stake in Sprint to 30% before launching a takeover bid for the company.

Considering Sprint's current market cap, Firefly Investments would need an investment between $7 billion to $8 billion to acquire an additional 20% stake, which would account for a significant portion of their cash reserves.

Moreover, once they formally launched the acquisition to buy the remaining 70% of Sprint's stock, they would conservatively need to utilize around $20 billion in cash.

The money at the Firefly Group was already confirmed to stay within Hollywood, meaning that at that point, Firefly Investments would need to externally secure a massive debt financing of up to $20 billion. However, that was just the beginning; completing the acquisition of Sprint would still require the Firefly system to continuously provide financial support for further expansion.

...

Meanwhile, the Firefly Group had also begun acquiring stocks from Comcast and Hasbro simultaneously.

For the smaller Hasbro, the Firefly Group planned to acquire the entire company within the year.

Hasbro's market cap currently hovered between $2 billion to $2.5 billion, and the Firefly Group had set a budget of up to $3 billion. If they could secure Hasbro within this year, the tens of billions of dollars in financial expenditure would also yield significant tax deductions for the Firefly Group.

However, the situation regarding Comcast involved much more consideration.

...

Having survived the cable industry's expansion phase in the 1990s, the company gradually stabilized its operations and increased its profits, leading to its intention to further acquire ATT's cable business for growth, despite the NASDAQ crash making the next few years difficult for the new-tech sector like Comcast.

With the company's growth momentum looking positive, Comcast's shareholders and management team would be less enthusiastic about acquisition offers, and they might even show resistance.

Furthermore, although instances like the AOL-Time Warner merger stood as precedent, given the current scale of the Firefly Group, merging with Comcast still posed significant antitrust challenges that the company had to navigate.

Additionally, Eric was particularly keen on initiating a series of interlinked acquisitions, simultaneously acquiring both Comcast and ATT's telecommunications division, integrating these into a cable television powerhouse. If the plan came to fruition, the seemingly ample cash reserve of the Firefly Group would quickly appear inadequate.

...

Eric sat in his study contemplating these matters. Occasionally, flashes of inspiration would provoke him to place calls to Chris and others until evening fell and Cindy knocked on the door, entering to ask what he wanted for dinner.

After chatting with Cindy for a bit and waiting for her to leave, Eric turned on the lights in his study. Upon hearing the alert tone of a new email on his computer, he opened it out of curiosity.

The email was from Los Angeles, summarizing the box office statistics for the recently concluded summer blockbuster films.

As September rolled in, North America's summer season had wound down. Considering he had recently focused his energies on the NASDAQ market and Firefly Investments, Eric decided to print out a twenty-plus-page report on the summer box office of 1999, briefly binding it before leaving his study to head downstairs, determined to glance over the report before dinner.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1179: Refusal to Reconcile]

Although both movies were the third installments in their respective franchises, the performance of The Matrix Revolutions paled in comparison to the tremendous success of The Mummy 3. The film, handled by Amblin Entertainment after taking over from Firefly Group, only raked in $139 million at the North American box office. Its global earnings barely exceeded $400 million, both figures setting new lows for the series.

With a production and promotion budget exceeding $200 million, the global earnings of $400 million were nowhere near enough for Amblin to recoup its costs. Producers like Steven Spielberg could only hope that subsequent DVD sales and television deals would help mitigate the losses.

On the flip side, during that summer, another mid-budget production from Amblin, American Beauty, with a $15 million budget, achieved remarkable success, earning $130 million in North America and $350 million worldwide. However, Amblin's overall film division still faced severe losses, a situation that hastened the partners' decision to split ways.

Additionally, unexpected successes came from comedy stars Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler with There's Something About Mary and Big Daddy respectively. There's Something About Mary managed to achieve an excellent box office of $170 million with a $23 million production budget, while Big Daddy, costing slightly more at $34 million, still grossed $160 million in North America - both films exemplifying how small investments could yield substantial returns.

The success of these two movies heralded the rise of another two comedy giants in Hollywood following Jim Carrey.

From the box office performances, Firefly Group's Iron Man and Cars grossed over $500 million combined in North America, easily securing the top spot. Following closely were Fox and Universal; Fox's There's Something About Mary and Shrek amassed a total of $430 million, while Universal's Mummy 3 surpassed $300 million in North America. However, their romantic entry Notting Hill only crossed the $100 million mark, resulting in a cumulative North American box office of $420 million, slightly trailing behind Fox.

Warner, MGM, Paramount, and Columbia's films all struggled in the summer, collectively earning less than $300 million at the North American box office. Unlike previous years where independent films occasionally broke into the charts, this year only Amblin's The Matrix Revolutions and American Beauty managed to accumulate $260 million, making them the sole independent films to barely compete with the seven major studios.

This situation could largely be attributed to the tightening overseas capital investment in Hollywood in recent years and the monopolistic hold that the seven major studios had on film promotion and resources after their mergers. It seemed all but inevitable that once Amblin went under, the seven studios would entirely dominate Hollywood, leaving no room for new contenders.

...

As summer came to a close, the year-end season loomed closer. Eric's Gravity was set to debut on November 19, just a little over two months away, with the first eight-second teaser trailer releasing at the end of August.

Renovations on IMAX and 3D theaters around the globe were nearing their final adjustments. Including costs for real estate acquisitions and software updates, Firefly Group had poured over $1.9 billion into its ambitious '4200' plan.

While the group's aim was to promote the 3D and IMAX formats, many viewed it as merely Eric's extravagant maneuver to support his upcoming film. Ultimately, the public remained unaware of the detailed marketing strategy, and the media thrived on sensationalized reports. Given that Gravity only cost $100 million to make, the comparison with such massive expenditures inevitably tainted its actions with notions of recklessness. Thus, outsiders were doubtful of Firefly Group's initiative to promote 3D and IMAX.

However, such immense investment easily attracted attention, making Gravity one of the most anticipated films of 1999.

...

After spending a few days with Cindy on Martha's Vineyard, Eric returned to Manhattan. It was now the second week after the Firefly Group initiated litigation against @Home and Microsoft. The patent evidence provided by the two Firefly companies was indisputable, causing @Home's stock to plummet for over a week, with its initial $7.6 billion market cap dropping to just $2.6 billion.

In response to Yahoo's lawsuit, @Home's board, amid confusion, surprisingly sought help from Microsoft, even leaking news that Microsoft was about to acquire @Home. Yet, Microsoft, which had been in talks with @Home, promptly denied the acquisition rumors. Both parties understood that this dispute was essentially a collision between Microsoft and Firefly; conceding the acquisition would mean shouldering the burden of @Home.

Yahoo demanded $1 billion in compensation from @Home. Despite its multibillion-dollar valuation, even draining @Home wouldn't yield that sum. However, if Microsoft bought @Home at this juncture, it would be like the fat sheep willingly walking into the tiger's mouth -- Microsoft could easily cough up $1 billion.

As for Firefly Electronics' lawsuit against Microsoft's forthcoming Zune player, while the case wouldn't be resolved anytime soon, a week after the lawsuit was filed, the San Francisco district court issued an injunction preventing Microsoft from launching the Zune until the trial concluded. Although Microsoft quickly lodged an objection, it still canceled the planned Zune advertisements set to air on North American television.

Being another company that often relied on patent monopolies to suppress competitors, Microsoft understood that developing its search engine and digital music player businesses meant maneuvering around Firefly's patent barriers. Hence, Microsoft executives quickly reached out to Firefly, hoping for a reconciliation.

Initially, Bill Gates was reluctant to deal with Eric directly, opting for Microsoft President Steve Ballmer to make a few phone calls. However, with no results, Gates flew back to Manhattan once again.

...

In the Upper West Hydee, led by Eric's bodyguard to an unassuming apartment, Gates surveyed the modest building, puzzled as to why Eric would reside there, casting slight disdain in his mind. But when the door opened to reveal an attractive woman in flat sandals, towering over him with a perpetual smile and long legs, any lingering sense of satisfaction he had evaporated instantly.

"Hello, Mr. Gates," the girl said, showing no inclination to introduce herself. She slightly stepped aside and added, "Eric is waiting for you."

Gates was unaware of Carmen Kass's naturally distant demeanor, and after years of flattery, he misinterpreted her attitude as rudeness, transferring his irritation to Eric.

Walking into the apartment, he found Eric leisurely flipping through a magazine on the couch, and the recent pressing matters flooded back, making him want to kick someone. Of course, that was merely a thought; considering maintaining decorum in front of a beautiful woman, and given their age and physical differences, any conflict would only end badly for him.

"Hi, Bill," Eric said, rising to shake Gates' hand, gesturing for him to sit.

As Eric spoke, he noticed Carmen heading toward the kitchen and called out, "Carmen, that's fine; Bill will be leaving soon."

Carmen paused, softly acknowledging, and turned to the bedroom. Gates's expression soured; it seemed like even courtesy was too much to ask for.

Learning from the previous encounters, Eric didn't feel like putting on a facade anymore. After all, he couldn't drink.

With Carmen's figure disappearing, the atmosphere grew tense for a few seconds until Gates broke the silence, "Eric, what do you want?"

Setting down the magazine, Eric looked across, "Bill, I think the question is really what you want. On Microsoft's side, Firefly has shown its goodwill without reservation. I've always wished to maintain a cooperative relationship with Microsoft, but what do I get in return? I help Microsoft solve your biggest headache, and you try to break the contract?"

Gates retorted, "Microsoft didn't break any contracts; every version of Windows still ships with Yahoo! Browser pre-installed."

"That's because Microsoft's attempts failed," Eric shot back. "Are you going to deny that the sudden hearing initiated by the Justice Department has nothing to do with Microsoft?"

Gates hesitated before replying, "That was Steve's doing."

"I don't care about that," Eric shrugged. "So, it doesn't matter who you throw under the bus."

Gates tried to adopt a casual posture but ended up sitting up straighter, conceding, "Fine, Eric. I think we need to discuss how to resolve this matter."

Eric cut straight to the chase, asking, "So, what are Microsoft's terms?"

"Acquisition of relevant patents for @Home and Zune in return," Gates paused, his expression determined. "Microsoft won't pursue the patent infringements that Yahoo's mini music store devices pose on your software patents. We can also grant Yahoo certain patent licenses."

Eric laughed, "So that's all?"

"Eric, you must understand that the tablet devices Yahoo is developing can't avoid infringing on Microsoft's patents either way. This is a win-win situation."

Eric remembered that Microsoft had indeed been charging various patent fees from Android and that its Windows system had amassed a huge software patent pool, making it hard for any software OS to escape Microsoft's patents.

Of course, there were exceptions, primarily involving Apple. Apple's graphical OS predated Microsoft's and accumulated a considerable patent arsenal, alongside a history of controversies surrounding copycatting, which meant Microsoft seldom targeted Apple in patent disputes.

"If that's the case," Eric said, a cold smile creeping onto his lips, "Bill, congratulations, you've effectively drained my last bit of patience. I expected you to show up with substantial goodwill, but all you did was threaten me. Thus, the Firefly system won't seek a reconciliation with Microsoft. You can return to Seattle and get ready to sue over the mini music store. Rest assured, whether in search engines or digital music players, Microsoft can forget about getting involved."

Eric's words ignited Gates's temper, and he raised his voice, "Then Microsoft can equally push for a ban on Firefly Electronics' tablet. Eric, you should consider the repercussions."

"It seems you've overlooked something," Eric replied. "In operating systems, while Windows is dominant, it's not the only one out there. Regardless of how it's painted, Windows ultimately copied Apple's Macintosh. So, without Microsoft, Firefly Electronics can obtain OS patents from Apple. Conveniently, Firefly has also invested a considerable amount in Apple, so if necessary, I could even outright acquire Apple."

"Apple's system is outdated," Gates countered, raising his voice. "You should know why Microsoft keeps that company around. If Firefly acquires Apple, Microsoft can immediately take action against that entity."

"I only need the patents; I don't care if Apple goes under," Eric replied, still maintaining a cool tone with a hint of amusement. "Moreover, if Firefly completely acquires Apple, then Windows would also be required to utilize the Firefly system's patents."

"And what about Jobs? Do you think he would want you to acquire Apple?"

"Jobs had been ousted from Apple before; he can be ousted again. After all these years, it should be clear to everyone that he doesn't hold much weight when it comes to capital. I admire his talent, but when it comes down to it, Firefly would prioritize its interests," Eric concluded, pointing toward the door, "So, Bill, you can leave now."

Gates had never been known for being easy-going. He stood abruptly but hesitated, saying, "Eric, what you're doing doesn't help anyone."

"If I compromise with Microsoft, would that really be beneficial?" Eric scoffed, shooting a glance at Gates. "Your recent attitude has made it crystal clear that Firefly and Microsoft could never have a close partnership. I can no longer hold onto that hope. Even if Firefly reaches a reconciliation with Microsoft this time, what's to stop future conflicts? I genuinely believe that Microsoft is not a company that can be trusted."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1180: American Idol]

After Gates left, Eric and Chris discussed what had just happened over the phone before he stepped into Carmen Kass's bedroom. The girl was sprawled on the bed, flipping through a document. Noticing Eric's entrance, she turned her head and smiled, saying, "It's so loud in here."

"That's just how he is," Eric replied as he lay down beside Carmen, brushing her golden hair back to find a headphone and plug it into his ear. "What are you looking at?"

The headphone cord was a bit short, so Carmen shifted closer to him, saying, "It's the Versace endorsement contract."

With the immense success of the Dior Golden Goddess advertisement, Carmen had quickly risen as one of the fastest-growing supermodels in the past six months. She had even landed the pivotal September cover of the American edition of VOGUE, leading to a flood of endorsement offers.

When Eric heard the name Versace, he asked casually, "Is it women's wear or some other product line?"

"Womenswear," Carmen replied, handing him the contract with a questioning look. "Paul said I could wait a bit longer; I might secure an endorsement from one of the big six. But Versace is also offering pretty good terms."

The "big six" referred to the luxury brands Dior, Prada, Chanel, LV, Gucci, and CK, which were known as the elite in the fashion world. Brands like Versace, Givenchy, and Hermes were somewhat less prestigious.

Eric flipped through a couple of pages of the contract and said, "It really depends on what you're after. If you want prestige, you might earn less; if you want the money, you'll have to let go of that. The more high-end the brand, the stingier they are with endorsement fees."

"Then I'll take it," she replied.

Though she tried to sound casual, Carmen cast a careful glance at him. Deep down, she wanted to earn more money but feared being seen as just another woman who only cared about that.

Unbeknownst to her, she found herself increasingly concerned about his opinion of her.

Eric observed Carmen's expression, smirking knowingly. "Honestly, Versace's style suits you well. Most girls can't pull off that bold design, but I bet you could pick a few pieces to show me."

Feeling vulnerable as if he'd seen through her thoughts, she shyly looked away from his gaze, softly humming in response.

After exchanging playful glances, Eric reached out, cradling Carmen's face and turning it towards him. When he saw her little pout, he said, "So, I guess you already know I'm about to buy IMG and Elite."

He knew she wouldn't have brought it up unless he did first. Carmen's eyes flickered at his words, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Suddenly captivated by her beautiful sapphire eyes, Eric extended his hand to gently brush against her long eyelashes, feeling the softness flutter beneath his fingers.

Feigning discontent, she pouted slightly yet remained still, enjoying his sudden affectionate gesture. After he withdrew his hand, she leaned forward, finally kissing him on the lips.

...

September marked the fashion week season, and with New York Fashion Week concluded, Carmen hurried off to London the next day. They hadn't discussed IMG and Elite further.

In reality, WM was relatively small. Even if Eric acquired both IMG and Elite, it wouldn't impede WM's growth.

On the other hand, industry rivals like Ford and DNA felt the pressure from Eric's simultaneous acquisitions, as these mainstay modeling agencies had always been overshadowed by IMG and Elite. The support from the Firefly system's vast media resources made it even harder for them to compete.

Although the media raised questions about Eric acquiring both agencies, no one openly challenged it by the time he signed the stock transfer agreements with IMG and Elite shareholders.

Of course, to avoid unnecessary disputes down the road, Eric promptly addressed some Hollywood-related contracts after purchasing both agencies.

Many models often had acting representation in Hollywood. For instance, Diane Kruger had gained considerable ground in acting over the past couple of years, overshadowing her modeling career. The two agencies began drafting contracts to manage potential conflicts in representation wisely.

As for Eric, he wasn't particularly worried about these disputes.

After all, unless someone deliberately stirred the pot, he believed no model would risk their career to create trouble. With the Firefly system's current strength, even a supermodel wouldn't be able to vanish from the industry without consequence.

Having secured the two major agencies, Eric wrapped up his affairs in New York and flew back to Hollywood in mid-September.

...

Meanwhile, after negotiations with Eric broke down again, Microsoft quickly retaliated against Firefly, accusing them of infringing on Microsoft patents with the mini music store devices and demanded that Yahoo cease their promotion.

However, compared to the core patents held by Firefly, Microsoft's lawsuit evidence seemed flimsy -- merely involving design features of software rather than anything substantial.

The difference was as significant as comparing the foundation and load-bearing structure of a house to decorative tiling, where without a strong base, a house could never stand but superficial embellishments could be easily replaced.

Consequently, Microsoft's lawsuit posed little threat to Firefly.

In contrast, without access to Firefly's core patents, @Home could only shut down its search engine and ad distribution system, and Microsoft's Zune player was doomed to fail at launch.

Facing Microsoft's lawsuit, Firefly reacted immediately, announcing a $500 million investment to raise its stake in Apple to around 30%.

In recent years, Apple's fortunes had improved since Jobs returned, but overall, they were still underwhelming, with a market cap hovering below $3 billion, which dipped to $2 billion after the recent NASDAQ crash.

When Firefly announced its plans, they easily acquired an additional 7% of stock on the open market, increasing their ownership in Apple to 19%, spending only $150 million for it.

After the news broke, Apple's stock surged, but Jobs, feeling threatened, called Eric to discuss Firefly's intentions, and once again, he threatened to resign if Firefly interfered with Apple's management.

Unless absolutely necessary, Eric had no intentions of meddling in Apple's affairs.

Yet, he didn't hide his motives from Jobs, admitting that the Firefly system needed Apple's patent support for its operating system. Despite his dissatisfaction, Jobs eventually agreed to grant licenses for a series of patents to Firefly.

Eric had considered continuing to support Apple on its original path, but after careful reflection, he abandoned that idea, mainly due to Jobs's disposition.

Jobs was undoubtedly talented, but his stubbornness greatly affected Apple's growth. Historically, he had "left" Apple twice: once by board dismissal and once by death.

Although Jobs laid a solid foundation for Apple both times, the company's profitable breakthroughs always came after he had stepped back.

Take the iPod, for example, which Apple released in 2001. However, Jobs's rigid strategy, allowing the iPod only to run on the Apple operating system, wasted nearly four years.

It wasn't until 2005, when he relented under board pressure, that the iPod opened to Windows and its sales finally exploded. But by then, due to the rise of music phones and portable electronics, the iPod had missed its prime expansion window and began to decline.

As for the later iPhone, it's easy to predict that if Jobs hadn't passed away, his stubbornness would have prevented Apple from adapting flexibly to the clear trend toward larger smartphone screens. The iPhone might have stuck to its 3.5-inch screen model.

In an era of rapid smartphone development, the industry wouldn't grant Apple another four years to shift its mindset. If Apple continued to cling to small screens and Android progressed, the iPhone would ultimately follow the path of other Apple products, gradually becoming a high-end niche electronic device.

At its core, Jobs's character ensured his success but also paved the way for his failures.

...

As Eric returned to Los Angeles, the fall television season of 1999 kicked off.

This autumn, ABC's highlight was the much-anticipated American Idol, which had been meticulously prepared for a year.

Interestingly, although the British version, Pop Idol, had found success, ABC executives were initially uncertain about whether American Idol would suit the North American market. Some even suggested airing its first season in June's summer slot, to mitigate losses if it failed.

Eric understood that traditional public broadcasting networks had become increasingly conservative, primarily due to fears of accountability for low ratings. A failed flagship program often meant two seasons of subpar ratings for the network.

However, Eric wasn't about to accept the network executives' cautious approach; he insisted on placing American Idol in the fall lineup. With him at the helm, opposition voices diminished significantly.

Regardless, if it flopped, the responsibility would fall on Eric. Should a high-ranking executive need to take the blame, many would do so gladly, as long as it meant shielding their boss.

Ultimately, this reality-show talent competition outperformed expectations, even surpassing Eric's hopes.

Debuting on September 16, thanks to extensive pre-show promotion, the audience figures skyrocketed past 19 million right from the start. Surprisingly, the first episode didn't follow the traditional downward trend; instead, it continued to climb.

In the end, American Idol's inaugural episode averaged 22.3 million viewers, peaking at an impressive 26 million near the conclusion.

While it couldn't replicate the miraculous ratings of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire or Survivor, achieving over 20 million viewers for a reality show in an age when cable networks were rapidly expanding was itself a monumental success.

Moreover, American Idol's success effectively filled the popularity gap left by Friends' finale at ABC.

Even as Survivor and ER saw their ratings decline in recent years, the emergence of Everybody Loves Raymond and American Idol was enough to keep ABC among the top four networks.

With American Idol's premiere, the Firefly system's fall lineups of hit shows gradually returned to the air.

Lifetime TV's three flagship shows, America's Next Top Model, Sex and the City, and Project Runway, maintained impressive viewership. MGM-owned networks like Desperate Housewives, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Beverly Girls performed well too, and FFM's The Sopranos set new viewership records after its return for a new season.

Additionally, the highly anticipated new Showtime series, Shameless, finally premiered on September 21.

Shameless garnered 1.7 million viewers for its debut, a satisfactory figure for a paid cable series.

Moreover, Shameless quickly became a topic of debate among critics.

Prior to Shameless, the mainstream North American television shows primarily reflected the lives of middle-class Americans, offering little representation of the lower classes.

The sheer audacity of Shameless in portraying lower-class characters struggling to survive without adhering to traditional morals had a deep impact on many viewers.

Perhaps due to the intensity of its presentation, while critics mainly received the show positively, many expressed openly critical views regarding the values it depicted.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1181: The New Hulk]

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Eric faced the daunting task of casting the main characters for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In recent months, with the massive success of Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had been fully launched as planned. One of the most important tasks was selecting the new members of the Avengers.

Since the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe project had been moved up nearly ten years, many of the characters Eric remembered from past references were no longer suitable.

Of course, there were a few actors who were 'ready-made.' For example, the role of Thor had already been filled by Brad Pitt, whom Eric had secured a few years earlier. After The X-Files concluded, Brad's career in Hollywood faced some obstacles, but when Firefly Group extended the invitation, he quickly agreed and signed a long-term contract for six films.

Additionally, the actor for Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner, was also established in the industry. Born in 1971, he was now 28 years old, making him a suitable choice. Under Eric's direction, this character was promptly confirmed.

Other characters -- such as the Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, and some standout supporting roles -- were still in the casting process.

Firefly Group's plan for the first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe consisted of nine films, covering the span from 1999 to 2004, a total of five years. So far, Iron Man and Spider-Man filled two of the nine slots. Captain America, Thor, and ultimately The Avengers would take up another three slots. The remaining two films were reserved for The Hulk.

On the original timeline, the films The Hulk from 2003 and The Incredible Hulk from 2008 could only be described as failures. There were many reasons for this: the wrong choice of director, arbitrary replacement of actors, creative conflicts between the lead and the director, and so forth.

Additionally, due to the Hulk's unique character design, this comic book character was indeed more challenging to adapt than any other superhero. However, as one of Marvel's most popular superheroes, if done right, the Hulk could certainly achieve unexpected success.

In Eric's view, even though both previous Hulk films were utter failures, each had themes that aligned well with the Hulk's timeline. One told the origin story of the Hulk, while the other focused on Bruce Banner's struggle for control over the Hulk.

The new Marvel Cinematic Universe would still adopt this timeline and, in fact, needed to do so. The original Hulk, after transformation, was incredibly violent and completely irrational, making it impossible for this version of the Hulk to join the Avengers. Therefore, it was crucial to develop a sequel that completed Bruce Banner's journey towards self-control.

In contrast, Captain America would simply need to tell an origin story, and Thor would also only require one introductory film.

Based on these plans, not counting the already licensed X-Men series, The Hulk would become the third member of the Avengers to hit the big screen after Iron Man and Spider-Man.

With Iron Man now a success, Eric did not want to rely on a single actor holding up the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Robert Downey Jr. once did. He hoped that the other superheroes could excel as well.

The Hulk series was the most difficult to film, but if executed well, with the Hulk's destructive power, there was no question this superhero could be as beloved by audiences as Iron Man and Spider-Man.

Because of all these reasons, combined with the previous failures of The Hulk's initial films, Eric was particularly attentive to this superhero's film.

In order to allow the new version of The Hulk to undergo a complete transformation, Eric directly eliminated Eric Bana, Edward Norton, and Mark Ruffalo from consideration to play the Hulk.

The Eric Bana version of The Hulk failed to leave much of an impression on Eric, while Edward Norton's challenging personality in real life meant he was also excluded. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's director would have too little say if they relied on an actor as controlling as Norton.

As for Mark Ruffalo, due to the past success of the Avengers series, he was undoubtedly the most accepted Hulk actor by audiences.

However, the Hulk portrayed by this actor lacked any particular highlights. This was evident from the actor's salary revealed during the Avengers series; as one of Marvel's most popular superheroes, Ruffalo's pay for playing the Hulk was even lower than that of Jeremy Renner, who played Hawkeye.

There was no doubt that if they used Mark Ruffalo, Firefly Group could save a considerable amount on actor salaries, but suppressing pay was never Eric's primary goal. Firefly had always emphasized cost control, but fundamentally desired to keep obvious salaries in a more fair and reasonable range. If the actor playing the Hulk could personally pull in $1 billion at the box office, Eric certainly would not mind paying over $20 million in exorbitant fees. On the flip side, if The Hulk movie failed at the box office, Eric wouldn't agree to have the lead act for free or even pay to perform.

...

At Firefly Studios, Eric spent the last few days personally overseeing the final round of auditions for the Avengers actors.

Today's audition subjects were several candidates for Bruce Banner, and coincidentally, Jeffrey Katzenberg was also available to attend. Along with Joss Whedon, who had also become a creative core of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the audition team today was exceptionally strong.

Due to the success of Iron Man and the perceived importance the Firefly Group attached to the Avengers, virtually every leading male star in Hollywood showed interest in the roles for the Avengers series.

However, Eric wasn't too fond of casting overly famous male stars. He didn't want a situation like in The Incredible Hulk where audiences saw the Hulk and their first thought was of Edward Norton instead of Bruce Banner.

Thus, during the casting selection, the foremost criterion for the creative team was whether the actor fit the role. They didn't place too much importance on star power. This led to almost all Hollywood leading stars interested in the Hulk being eliminated by the time they advanced to the final round of auditions. Recently, this caused quite the stir in Hollywood media, which had been closely following the developments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As dusk approached and the last auditionee left, Eric and the others leaned back in their chairs, somewhat fatigued.

The number of actors auditioning today had been quite small -- only five had made it through various rounds to reach the final stage. However, starting from 9 AM, each candidate had auditioned for nearly two hours, leading to their rather late conclusion.

Although Eric treated each auditionee equally, after a day's auditions, it was clear to everyone that Eric had personal preferences.

...

Taking a few sips of coffee brought by his secretary, Katzenberg, who sat next to Eric, didn't immediately bring up today's auditions but instead shifted to another topic: "The other day at a party, I ran into Richard Parsons. He mentioned Warner Bros. may be rebooting the Batman series first."

Eric relaxed as he flipped through a dossier in front of him, eyeing the prominent name "Christian Bale" on the list with a subtle smile. "I thought it would be Superman. Now isn't the best time for a Batman reboot."

With the successful launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Warner Bros., holding a gold mine in DC, naturally wouldn't fall behind. Eric initially had thoughts of subtly controlling the pace of Warner's DC movie universe development for that reason and had even been instrumental in hiring Nolan for this purpose.

However, due to the altered landscape of Hollywood history, Warner neither secured the rights to The Lord of the Rings nor developed Harry Potter. Thus, to prevent its film business from declining, an early development of the DC franchise became necessary.

"Indeed, it's not a great time. Audiences certainly haven't forgotten the 'deep' impression left by Batman Robin," Katzenberg remarked, savoring the situation. "Warner wants to develop Superman. However, the production rights to Superman are controlled by Jon Peters. Following the major success of Iron Man, and with Warner recently having spoiled Batman's reputation, Peters would naturally be looking for a good deal. Since negotiations with him fell through, Warner had no choice but to refocus its attention on Batman again."

Jon Peters was the former partner to Peter Guber who managed Columbia Pictures for Sony in previous years. However, before that, Guber and Peters had their own production companies affiliated with Warner Bros., similar to Jerry Bruckheimer's setup.

Back then, to lure these two, Sony as sucker, paid a huge amount of breach of contract fees for them. The result showed that these guys were not ordinary, but that was a side matter.

Neither DC nor Marvel had cared much about superhero film rights prior to the 1990s, leading to a lack of stringent protection like seen years later.

During the late 1980s, while operating under Warner Bros., Peters' production company acquired the film rights to Superman and had held onto them ever since.

In the 1990s, as Warner Bros. produced success after success with the Batman series, the value of superhero rights started becoming apparent. However, due to a variety of reasons -- mainly due to tangled interests -- the Superman movie series hadn't launched for years.

Because of unresolved copyright issues, as Eric recalled, after the live-action Superman films starring Christopher Reeve in the '70s and '80s, it wasn't until 2006 that Superman Returns finally hit theaters, a full 20 years after the previous version.

The media often delighted in discussing the 'twists of fate' surrounding Marvel superheroes, yet Clark Kent's story was far more tumultuous.

At the end of last year, Eric handed Nolan's project, Memento, to Columbia. The film was now complete, but Columbia, wanting to focus on building its reputation, planned to release Memento after the upcoming Sundance Film Festival next year, in the Easter timeframe afterward.

This meant Nolan would have to wait until next year even if he wanted to showcase his skills. Moreover, one film wasn't enough to secure him the opportunity to reboot the Batman series. After all, this British director was probably still unfamiliar with Hollywood's production processes, needing to complete one or two more films before getting to handle big-budget productions.

While Eric was eager to support Nolan in replicating the success of the Batman series, he also didn't want to rush things.

After considering, Eric said to Katzenberg, "Can we coordinate to have Warner prioritize starting the Superman series, even if it's with other superheroes? I have other plans for Batman."

Katzenberg pondered for a moment and answered, "Well, it's actually straightforward; we just need to work something out with Jon Peters to reignite the Superman series."

Eric ran his finger over the actor dossier in front of him and asked, "What's Jon Peters currently working on?"

Katzenberg replied, "That film, Wild Wild West. You should be aware of it, right?"

Eric suddenly remembered that last time, Bill Mechanic mentioned to him that Jon Peters was collaborating with Will Smith and Barry Sonnenfeld to create a retro sci-fi film, Wild Wild West, which completely emulated the style of Men in Black. Eric had found the news somewhat jarring and had instructed Bill Mechanic to push the underperforming Wild Wild West into Warner Bros.

Clearly, even though they hadn't agreed on Superman, it hadn't prevented Peters from working with Warner.

Chuckling with resignation, Eric didn't want to say much in front of Joss Whedon and the others, so he merely remarked, "Keep an eye on it when you can. If you can intervene, that would be best. Of course, outwardly we shouldn't interfere too much."

Katzenberg nodded in understanding. The Firefly network had already established a considerable presence in Hollywood, and America Online-Time Warner surely wanted to shed the label of being part of the Firefly system.

Thus, both parties instinctively kept a low profile regarding Firefly's investments in America Online-Time Warner Group, which was a major stakeholder in the latter; outwardly, they even projected a sense of rivalry.

Of course, America Online-Time Warner genuinely wanted to compete with the Firefly system, but the Firefly system merely pretended to make some gestures; Eric had never taken the scattered America Online-Time Warner Group too seriously.

After chatting a bit longer, Katzenberg glanced at the actor dossier in front of Eric and asked, "So, Christian Bale or Jim Caviezel, which one do you prefer?"

Christian Bale was, needless to say, the lead in Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. Jim Caviezel was better known for his role as Jesus in The Passion of the Christ and John Reese in Person of Interest, and currently worked in minor roles in some movies and T.V. series.

Eric hoped that the new Hulk actor, before transformation, resembled a polite, refined college professor rather than the earnestness of Mark Ruffalo or Edward Norton's edginess. It was also true that Eric Bana's version had been a better fit, except the performance left little lasting impression.

Ultimately, among the final five candidates, based on some references from memory and the audition performance, Eric felt most satisfied with Christian Bale and Jim Caviezel.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1182: This Time]

Christian Bale and Jim Caviezel were both exceptional actors capable of completely immersing themselves in their roles, and that was the fundamental reason why Eric valued them.

Eric didn't want the actors playing the superheroes to showcase too much of their own traits. His ideal outcome was for the superhero roles they played to leave a lasting impression on audiences, while the audiences struggled to remember their real names.

However, both actors had their own strengths and weaknesses.

Regarding Jim Caviezel, besides his well-known role in The Passion of the Christ, Eric's most vivid memory of him was from that series. The Passion of the Christ, made with a budget of $30 million, grossed over $600 million worldwide, yielding a staggering return of 20 times the investment. While audiences remembered the box office success created by Mel Gibson, very few noticed that the male lead was named Jim Caviezel.

Yet, Jim Caviezel's acting style tended to be more subdued. This worked fine for the character of Dr. Bruce Banner before his transformation, but it lacked a little explosiveness for the Hulk afterwards. Of course, if Caviezel was chosen to portray the Hulk, that aspect could be compensated with post-production effects. After all, the transformed Bruce Banner would surely be created using CGI.

Then there was Christian Bale. Although Bale was already 25 years old, he had just recently broken the Hollywood child actor curse and hadn't yet started to shine like he would later.

Eric was well aware of Bale's potential, though. He knew Bale could express both states of Bruce Banner -- before and after the transformation -- perfectly. His only downside was that he seemed a little young.

If this discussion had occurred earlier, Eric might have been somewhat conflicted. The advantages of both actors were apparent, and their shortcomings weren't significant enough to hinder their performance. Therefore, Eric held both in high regard.

However, after hearing about some matters from Katzenberg regarding Warner Bros., Eric quickly made his decision.

He made a mark on Christian Bale's file and said to the others, "Let's go with him. Have the production department finalize the contract with Bale's agent as soon as possible."

Once the others realized Eric's inclination, each of them had their own considerations between Christian Bale and Jim Caviezel. Nonetheless, upon hearing Eric's firm decision, none opposed it and they all flipped back to Bale's profile.

Katzenberg seemed surprised and said, "I thought you'd choose Jim Caviezel."

Eric chuckled and replied, "I think he is better suited for another role."

Katzenberg blurted out, "Bruce Wayne."

Eric nodded.

Although Bale's version of Batman would also stand out, Eric had just suddenly realized that Jim Caviezel's restrained performance style was evidently more fitting for Bruce Wayne -- particularly Nolan's melancholic, struggling Batman.

Of course, this was still a matter in its early stages, and Eric didn't elaborate further. They briefly chatted about The Hulk before everyone wrapped up for the day.

...

By late September, it was over seven at night, and the sky in Los Angeles had already darkened.

Instead of heading home, Eric and Katzenberg decided to eat at a restaurant on the ship, talking about company matters.

"Hasbro has caught onto our intentions. Alan Hassenfeld has been calling in the last few days. Though it's a public company, the Hassenfeld family still controls 27% of Hasbro's shares. If we want a smooth acquisition, we'll need to deal with the Hassenfeld family first," Katzenberg said.

In the restaurant, they finished their meals quickly. After filling up, Katzenberg brought up Hasbro again.

Not wanting Amy to bring them coffee, Eric felt the cool breeze from the patio and gestured to Katzenberg, and they both moved to the patio. This area overlooked the nearby Marin del Bay and the lower deck of the ship, which had been converted into an outdoor cafe.

After several years of operation, enthusiasm for Titanic among movie fans gradually faded, shifting the focus of the ship model more toward the dining business.

Back when MGM was still under the control of casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian, many had joked that he was turning MGM into a hotel company.

However, after the Disney acquisition, the restaurant and hotel business became a significant revenue source for Firefly Group. These businesses were mainly integrated under various Disney theme park resorts, achieving a scale much larger than MGM's previous hotel operations, bringing in billions of dollars in revenue for Firefly Group each year.

Leaning against the railing, Eric gazed at the twinkling lights of Marin del Bay and continued the conversation, "What is the Hassenfeld family's stance?"

Katzenberg replied, "Alan Hassenfeld likely understands that Hasbro can't resist our acquisition. So they hope that after the acquisition, Hasbro can maintain its current independent operations."

Eric immediately shook his head, saying, "If that's the case, what's the point of acquiring Hasbro?"

"I told him the same thing," Katzenberg responded.

After pondering briefly, Eric suggested, "Okay, if they are willing to assist Firefly in the acquisition, we could allow Alan Hassenfeld to continue as Hasbro's CEO. In fact, letting the Hassenfeld family run the company might be a good option. Of course, Hasbro's operational strategies must be adjusted to align with Firefly Group's broad interests."

In simple terms, Hasbro, a toy design and sales company, also had its own manufacturing facilities, similar to Hollywood's film production and distribution companies.

The existing peripheral business of Firefly Group, aside from the branding department, mainly consisted of hundreds of Disney stores around the globe, resembling a cinema chain. Naturally, Firefly Group also had its distribution network for peripheral products. After all, the numerous film-related merchandise produced by the company wouldn't be limited to Disney stores but would find shelves in major department stores as well.

As for toy design and production, Firefly Group usually entrusts companies like Hasbro and other toy manufacturers for completion.

Thus, acquiring Hasbro and undertaking a series of integrations would allow Firefly Group to establish a complete industrial chain for toy design, production, and sales, undoubtedly further unlocking the commercial potential of merchandise from Firefly Group's fantastic films.

Of course, Eric's acquisition of Hasbro also carried another intent, which was the rights to the Transformers franchise.

In past negotiations, Hasbro retained a 30% stake in the Transformers franchise, which was a strategic compromise Eric had to make to secure the Transformers film rights while navigating competition from other studios. Given the enormous box office potential of the Transformers movies, reclaiming that 30% stake was essential.

Listening to Eric, Katzenberg nodded in agreement, saying, "As for the price, Alan Hassenfeld quoted $3.5 billion, which is 60% more than Hasbro's current market value. Lately, Hasbro's value has hovered around $2.2 billion, so it's apparent they know Firefly isn't short on cash."

Eric chuckled, "If that's the case, we don't need to agree to any of their terms."

A 60% premium was higher than many hostile takeover bids.

As a public company, even though the Hassenfeld family still held control over Hasbro, according to market rules, if Firefly Group launched a hostile acquisition at a suitable price, the Hassenfeld family would be unable to resist.

After all, while "hostile acquisition" carried a negative connotation, shareholders could earn more under such circumstances.

"So, $3.5 billion definitely won't happen," Katzenberg also remarked. "The final deal price should be kept under $3 billion. The key now is that we need to complete this acquisition before the end of the year to save on taxes."

"You guys handle it. Sometimes, I'm not in favor of companies changing their operational strategies just to avoid taxes; Firefly should maximize profits based on tax rules."

"But this time is definitely appropriate. An expenditure around $3 billion could save the company $500 million to $600 million in taxes, and there's no reason not to save that money."

As they chatted, Eric occasionally gazed down at the lights of Marin del Bay, turned back, and suddenly noticed someone on the deck cafe that caught his eye.

Katzenberg noticed the change in Eric's expression, looked down in the direction of his gaze, and chuckled, saying, "Why don't we wrap it up here for today, Eric? I think I should head back."

Having discussed enough, Eric didn't insist and said, "I'll see you down."

They left the small restaurant on the top deck and arrived at the first-floor lobby of the deck. After saying goodbye, Katzenberg waved to Eric and headed towards the stairs leading into the studio; his car was parked there.

...

It was dinner time, and with the restaurant's growing reputation in recent years, reservations were typically needed a week in advance. As a result, the lobby appeared somewhat crowded.

Upon seeing Eric enter alone, some diners looked on with anticipation, but they all remained composed, not approaching him.

It turned out many guests came to the ship's restaurant hoping to have a chance encounter with a prominent figure in the Firefly system or, at the very least, catch a glimpse of some Hollywood A-listers.

However, Eric didn't take a seat amid the expectant gazes of diners in the lobby. Instead, he walked directly to the outer deck, quickly finding the spot he had just noticed.

At a round table in the corner sat a man and a woman. While Eric was not particularly interested in the dark-skinned Latino man, he couldn't help but admire the woman's impeccably straight posture, her tailored blouse paired with deep blue jeans conveying an air of elegance even while seated, highlighting her exceptional height.

The middle-aged man who faced the lobby had noticed Eric first. When Eric approached and confirmed that this Hollywood mogul was indeed heading towards them, he quickly stood up with a respectful demeanor.

The woman, who had been conversing with the middle-aged man, sensed the change and curiously turned around. Upon seeing Eric, her eyes first lit up with surprise, then flickered with something like regret, before being replaced by indifference.

Eric ignored the man who stood up, smiling as he studied Kathryn Bigelow's seemingly ageless features.

Since their encounter after The Thin Red Line, their meetings had been rare over the years. Eric wasn't sure if Kathryn had been intentionally avoiding him, but he had heard she had returned to San Francisco and hadn't made a film in recent years, only producing a few indie projects.

As Eric's own work became busier, what had once been a close connection from their time in Australia gradually became distant.

"You?"

After a moment of eye contact, Kathryn finally reacted, stammering out a single word.

Eric walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down at the round table. "What are you discussing?"

Noticing Eric had taken a seat without her permission, Kathryn displayed a hint of displeasure on her face, albeit her thoughts drifted. She couldn't help but think that this little guy was just as audacious as ever. Nevertheless, sensing that her thought might seem overly personal, she quickly picked up her coffee cup and took a sip, not responding to Eric.

The middle-aged man, also careful after Eric sat down, extended his hand to Eric and said, "Hello, Mr. Williams. I'm Braulio Mantovani from Brazil. I'm discussing a script with Ms. Bigelow."

"Oh," Eric nodded politely, shook his hand, then turned to the woman and smiled, "So, you're finally planning to make a new film?"

While she wanted to tell him how it wasn't any of his business, she felt saying that would be rude, almost reminiscent of a schoolgirl throwing a tantrum, so she merely nodded, "Uh-huh."

Yet Eric seemed undeterred by her cool demeanor, saying, "What script? Share it with me. Everyone is looking forward to your new film."

Still holding her coffee cup, Kathryn refused to back down. When Eric persisted, she lifted her chin slightly and said, "Let Braulio tell you."

Braulio realized something too and wished to excuse himself, but as Kathryn spoke, Eric Williams turned to him with curiosity. He had no choice but to push on, "Mr. Williams, it's an adaptation of a novel called City of God, depicting the lives of children growing up in the harsh environments of violence and drugs in Rio de Janeiro. I hope this film can draw attention to the degrading living conditions in the slums of Rio for teenagers. Oh, by the way, I have a copy of the original novel here. It might not be the best translation, but if you're interested, you can take a look."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1183: This Film Isn't Suitable for You]

As one of the few outstanding films from Brazil, Eric had seen City of God. The film's greatest impact on him was the sheer sense of helplessness that comes from being born into a life with no choices, struggling to survive in an environment filled with violence.

When he received the book from Braulio Mantovani, Eric didn't even open it. He didn't have much spare time to read such a thick novel of five or six hundred pages. Instead, he directly asked for more details about the film's production.

City of God was a novel completed by Brazilian author Paulo Lins in ten years, reflecting the lives of the impoverished in Brazilian favelas. Two years ago, when the novel was published, it quickly stirred strong reactions and was soon translated into various languages. Subsequently, the French company Vivendi's Studio Canal acquired the film rights and began writing the screenplay. The project eventually landed in Kathryn's hands, leading to the meeting with the screenwriter of City of God.

After chatting for about ten minutes, Braulio Mantovani realized that Eric's thoughts on the film even began to surpass his own, which made him sincerely admire the young Hollywood mogul. However, wanting to be considerate given the earlier incident, he decided to take his leave.

...

After Braulio left, Eric turned to the woman who was still holding her coffee cup, asking, "How have you been?"

Coming back to her senses and feeling she shouldn't appear too passive in front of the man, she hurriedly put down her cup and said, "I've been great! How about you?"

Eric turned slightly to look at the woman in front of him and replied, "I'm doing well, too."

She wanted to tease him about how much he seemed to be everywhere in the media lately, but didn't want him to know she was following such things. Instead, she brought up the film again, asking, "What do you think about City of God?"

"You are right about adopting a documentary-style approach for shooting," he remarked. "However, to take it a step further, it's best to use non-professional actors. For instance, selecting some kids directly from the favelas of Rio and providing them with simple training would give the film a more authentic effect. Also, shooting in Portuguese is essential."

As Eric was saying this, he suddenly added, "So, this film isn't suitable for you. You don't speak Portuguese, do you?"

Kathryn had initially agreed with Eric's points, but upon hearing the last part, she felt a bit defiant. "Actually, I speak a little. Plus, there's always a translator!"

"That's still going to make it hard to communicate smoothly with the actors," Eric insisted, shaking his head. Watching her gaze, he suddenly shrugged and added, "Alright, I know you're probably capable of these things. Honestly, I just don't want you going to Brazil to shoot this film. The favelas in Rio are too dangerous."

Kathryn hadn't expected Eric to say that suddenly, feeling uneasy as she couldn't maintain eye contact. She instinctively picked up her empty coffee cup and said, "I... I should head back."

"Yeah, I should get going too," Eric replied nonchalantly as he stood up. Noticing Kathryn instantly freeze up, he laughed, "Well, I promise not to bully you anymore. You really are like a shy little girl; there's no sense of achievement in that. Hey, it's been a while since we've seen each other. Shall we walk together?"

Feeling his boldness both annoying and confident, she shot him a disapproving look but didn't refuse. After she turned, her steps hesitated slightly.

...

They walked side by side towards the deck, and Kathryn finally took the initiative to ask, "How's the casting for the Marvel Cinematic Universe going?"

"I've been busy with that lately," Eric replied, sensing her hesitance. "Are you recommending someone to me?"

"Sean called me last week," she explained, adding, "Sean Penn. We worked together on The Thin Red Line last time."

Eric immediately caught on, recalling someone he had just met that afternoon. "Jim Caviezel."

Jim Caviezel was also part of The Thin Red Line, and while he wasn't particularly famous, he had delivered a standout performance in the film. Kathryn looked surprised but nodded, saying, "Sean asked me if I could say a few words for Jim. I turned him down, though since I ran into you... Actually, Jim is a great actor, very genuine, he just hasn't had the best opportunities."

Eric had gotten a sense of Jim Caviezel's character during the auditions earlier that day. "I didn't expect he and Sean Penn were such good friends."

Kathryn smiled a bit. "Jim is also good friends with Kevin Costner. He knows a lot of people but hardly ever asks for favors, which could be why so many people want to be friends with him. You don't find many in Hollywood who engage with others without ulterior motives. When Sean called me, Jim probably had no idea."

Hollywood had its fair share of stars who fell from grace for various reasons. Still, many, like Sean Penn, had widespread connections. Though quick-tempered with paparazzi, Sean was undoubtedly a man of his word in the industry.

Thinking about this, Eric said, "Caviezel's audition for The Hulk was just confirmed this afternoon. To be honest, he was one of the final two candidates. I just felt the other guy was a better fit."

Kathryn simply responded with an "mmm," and they continued talking until they reached the parking lot outside the studio.

As Kathryn found her car, she opened the door to her white BMW, noticing Eric still standing nearby. "You?"

"You're still living in Cold Water Canyon, right?" Eric asked innocently. "I happen to be heading to Trousdale Manor. Mind if I get a ride?"

Kathryn's movements hesitated, her tone betraying a hint of trepidation and resentment as she glanced at him. "You just said -- what about that?"

"Okay," Eric said, unable to stand her gaze. He raised his hand. "That was just a joke. Besides, regarding City of God, I really don't advise you to do it yourself. You can take on a producer role, find a local director in Brazil. It could work just as well."

"Yeah, I'll think about it."

Kathryn acknowledged, sitting in the driver's seat. Sensing that the little man beside her had no intention of barging in, she felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Still, she said goodbye and slowly started the car.

Although he enjoyed teasing Kathryn and watching her get flustered, Eric never pushed if she truly resisted. He understood why Kathryn was in this state; after all, the age gap between them was quite significant.

...

After their encounter that evening, Eric continued to follow the developments of City of God.

Given Vivendi's investment in MGM, the film would see collaboration between MGM and Studio Canal. However, Kathryn showed no signs of giving up on the project, and Eric understood her little obstinacies, opting not to push her. Even if she ended up going to shoot in the favelas of Rio, her safety would undoubtedly be well protected. After all, the Brazilian government wouldn't allow an Oscar-winning director to face any mishap while filming in their country.

...

Meanwhile, the casting for the Marvel Cinematic Universe progressed steadily.

Once Christian Bale was confirmed as the lead for The Hulk, the media inevitably sparked some controversy. However, this was common for superhero casting. Many actors faced skepticism upon landing their roles -- a trend that often shifted once the film was released, provided the actors met expectations.

With The Hulk's actor confirmed, other major roles followed suit. Since Chris Evans had just turned eighteen, he wouldn't be taking on Captain America. After thorough vetting, the role was finally given to Josh Duhamel, known for his role as Captain Lennox in Transformers. Josh Duhamel was now 26, roughly the same age Chris Evans had been when he landed the role.

Moreover, Josh Duhamel's American soldier persona from the Transformers series was well-remembered. At its core, Captain America was indeed a soldier, so the casting resembled the quintessential strong and righteous leading man for patriotic films.

With Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, and The Hulk confirmed, the foundation for Marvel's cinematic universe was starting to take shape.

Of course, there remained a critical role: Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, for which Eric still didn't have a suitable candidate.

However, after months of auditions, the final candidates were down to two: Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich.

...

From a purely rational standpoint, both women were undoubtedly fitting for the Black Widow role. However, each had their own set of challenges.

Angelina's issues were the gravest; she had struggled with addiction for years, showing no signs of recovery. Without her family's Hollywood connections, she wouldn't have landed any roles in recent years. The reason she reached the final audition was as much due to her suitability for the role as her father Jon Voight's intervention -- she hadn't yet severed ties with him.

Even if Angelina could successfully overcome her addiction, her headstrong nature didn't fit the typical portrayal needed for a character in the Marvel cinematic universe.

Ultimately, Eric needed an actress who could follow direction more readily.

As for Milla Jovovich, Eric had never been particularly keen on her. During the auditions for The Fifth Element, he had sent her away due to a bad mood that day.

"This is a role that requires a commitment of at least five years and involves nine major films. We have to ensure the role is secure," Eric stated candidly while gazing at the thick-lipped actress sitting across from him in the Firefly Studios audition room. "So, how can you guarantee that you won't touch any illicit substances during that time?"

Upon hearing Eric's question, Jolie became visibly anxious yet tried to maintain a respectful tone. "Mr. Williams, my agent has already discussed this with Firefly. You can carry out drug tests on me at any point during this process."

"Of course, we can, but everyone knows the real responsibility lies with you. If you continue to indulge in those substances, we can't monitor your every move. Moreover, if something goes wrong, the entire film plan from Firefly could be compromised. If that happens, even if we take legal action against you, it won't help. We might even have to cover for you. Have you thought about this, Jolie?"

Angelina Jolie's eyes flickered. She didn't directly answer Eric's inquiry, realizing she might not land the role. With a resigned tone, she said, "So, Mr. Williams, you are saying I've been eliminated, right?"

"If you think that," Eric pointed toward the door, "you can leave right now."

Angelina instinctively considered standing up but hesitated, ultimately settling back into her chair.

Pleased, Eric nodded and continued, "Now for another issue; the contract for this role under Firefly is very strict. If you take on this character, you can only play Black Widow, and aside from that, you can only appear in one other film per year until the contract is fulfilled. The budget cannot exceed $50 million. Are you willing to accept this?"

The major film series in Hollywood didn't start booming until after 2000, and the rules Eric mentioned were more commonly seen in television than in film at that time.

Therefore, Jolie appeared somewhat hesitant at first, but after a moment, she nodded, saying, "Okay."

"Good, then this concludes today's meeting," Eric announced. "You can wait for our response now."

Upon hearing Eric, Angelina stood up, politely said goodbye to everyone, then left.

...

Eric turned to Joss Whedon beside him, asking, "So, what do you think?"

This was the third audition this week for the final candidates. Just before Angelina, Milla Jovovich had also just walked out.

Joss Whedon was a bit puzzled as to why Eric was going to such lengths for the Black Widow role. However, considering the iconic female characters Eric had created since his debut, Joss was less questioning about Eric's high standards and commented professionally, "If you disregard all other factors, both are great choices. However, if I were to choose, I would pick Milla. She seems more reliable. Eric, you appear to prefer Angelina, don't you?"

Eric nodded in agreement, "If it weren't for her drug issues and if her temperament were more compliant, that role could have already been hers."

"This is Hollywood, after all," Joss laughed lightly. "There aren't many 'good kids' here. Your expectations are somewhat unrealistic from the start."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1184: The Last Chance]

From the early golden age of Hollywood to the rise of blockbuster films in the new century, there have been only a handful of female stars who could draw in box office by themselves, and Angelina Jolie was undoubtedly one of them.

Although she was long surrounded by various controversies, there was no doubt that Jolie's life was a legendary story worth narrating. Thanks to Eric, a major player in Hollywood, the industry had experienced many changes, yet he still held a strong belief in Jolie's potential. However, Jolie, who is 24 years old this year, was still immersed in the state of being on the verge of collapse for a long time, leaving no one able to guarantee that such a vibrant flower, blooming like a poppy, wouldn't suddenly wilt at any moment.

Eric was never the type to rescue others. In his two lives, he had become accustomed to watching from the sidelines. However, after careful consideration, he had made up his mind.

...

Beverly Hills.

A party was taking place at the mansion owned by Elisabeth and Julia, which was practically occupied by Drew. In May, Drew had spent three months in Australia with Virginia and the others. Under the management of executives like Amy Pascal, MGM's operations had not been affected at all.

Even though MGM hadn't released any major films this summer, the early-year hits The Fast and the Furious and the Easter release of American Pie had brought in substantial box office success, more than enough to sustain MGM's film operations for the year. The Fast and the Furious even launched a new spin-off series in MGM's spy film universe.

Moreover, although there weren't any blockbuster films, the medium-budget productions like Resident Evil 3 and The Thomas Crown Affair performed quite well at the box office during the summer. With a production cost of $50 million, Resident Evil 3 exceeded expectations with North American box office earnings reaching $82 million and global earnings surpassing $200 million, making it a solid medium-budget series for MGM over the long term.

The style of The Thomas Crown Affair is similar to Columbia's Entrapment, both of which are treasure-hunting action films. The original director had hoped to cast Pierce Brosnan as the lead, but for various reasons, that plan fell through. The actors ultimately signed couldn't compare to those of Entrapment, with the production budget at only $40 million.

Since its release in early August, The Thomas Crown Affair had accumulated $69 million in North American box office and $120 million worldwide, breaking even in terms of costs and promising profits moving forward.

Aside from that, projects like Bond 19 and The Bourne Identity were also progressing smoothly for MGM. With MGM's television business thriving as television stations began airing their fall lineups in September, the party was a way to thank MGM's management for their efforts, as well as to foster camaraderie among them.

...

When Angelina Jolie arrived at the Trousdale mansion, Eric was engaged in a lively conversation with Jean-Marie Messier, the CEO of Vivendi, but he was a little bit amused in his heart.

Vivendi had been pursuing development in Hollywood in recent years, and he recalled that their next step would be an expansion into Seagram. However, Messier had specifically come from the U.S. with hopes of acquiring MGM to complete his strategy in Hollywood.

After a major consolidation a few years ago, Vivendi held 16.78% of MGM's shares, making it the second-largest shareholder after Drew herself. Messier was evidently aware of this factor, and given Vivendi's fast growth in recent years, he seemed keen on making an offer.

Though MGM's stock had taken a hit due to the Nasdaq crash, its market value still hovered around $26 billion, buoyed by optimism about the future of MGM's television business and the profitability of its spy film universe. Additionally, MGM's debt was only $3.7 billion, indicating a healthy overall development and financial status.

Consequently, as Messier eloquently painted a picture of the promising collaboration with the Firefly Group following a Vivendi acquisition of MGM, along with a hefty offer of $30 billion, Eric showed no inclination to sell the company.

"Jean, I think you should consider other media companies, like Seagram. That company has been doing quite well lately. Of course, Vivendi probably wouldn't want to split its focus between MGM and Seagram, so Firefly could just buy back the shares Vivendi holds at a later time," Eric said, raising his glass after delivering his perspective to Messier.

Noticing that Angelina Jolie was standing nearby with Natasha, he decided not to entertain Messier any longer and made his way over to Jolie.

Together, Drew and LTD's holdings in MGM exceeded 41%. Along with control over management, the Firefly Group had a firm grip on MGM, allowing Eric to reject any idea of malicious acquisitions by Vivendi without concern.

...

"Hey, Angelina, you look stunning tonight," Eric said, approaching Angelina Jolie, admiring her in a light yellow deep-V gown, her brown hair cascading down. He shook her hand and added, "Let's go next door and talk."

Angelina Jolie politely greeted Eric and, upon hearing his next words, paused briefly before a clearly flirtatious smile broke across her face as she nonchalantly nodded, "Sure."

With that, she stepped closer, wrapping her arm around Eric's, then boldly scanned the room as if showing off her newfound catch.

Eric merely smiled and allowed Angelina Jolie her playful gestures, recalling a time many years ago when a rebellious girl with an innocent-looking face auditioned for a role in 17 Again. Life truly was interesting; as the saying goes, Hollywood is a small world.

They crossed the outdoor lawn of the mansion and passed through a small door that had only recently opened to the neighboring mansion. As soon as they arrived, Jolie immediately released Eric's arm but continued to curiously gaze around.

On the other side, the party was lively, while this side retained a certain quietness amidst the bright lights.

When Eric stopped by a chair near the pool, Jolie also paused, standing a few feet away from him, and asked bluntly, "So, Mr. Williams, where do you want to go? The pool? The lawn? Or the bedroom?"

"I've done it all; there's nothing new left," Eric replied, pulling out a chair to sit, but then smiled, surveying the area, and continued, "However, hmm, I haven't tried the rooftop yet. If you don't mind, I can have someone bring a ladder right now."

Jolie instinctively glanced at the villa roof covered in red tiles, realizing Eric had already sat down at a round table and was pointing across to a seat, only to realize he had simply been joking. She stood there, feeling a bit miffed, but eventually walked over to sit across from him.

As she took a seat across from Eric, she noticed him flipping open a blue folder on the table, seemingly ignoring her presence. Jolie felt he must have summoned her for a specific reason.

It wasn't until Eve approached with a coffee pot that Jolie was snapped out of the awkward tension. She remembered a girl from earlier must have stayed across the table, thus the one before her must be the other twin. Everyone knew Drew Barrymore had a lovely set of twins.

After politely thanking Eve and watching her pour coffee for both of them before quietly leaving, Jolie found herself oddly envious of the peaceful aura those two girls emitted. She couldn't help but wonder if Eric Williams had been with them. The answer felt almost certain.

...

After receiving a call from her agent in the afternoon telling her that Eric Williams wanted her to come to the party that night, Jolie instinctively took it as some sort of insinuation and almost reflexively considered rejecting the invite.

With her family's connections in Hollywood, the unspoken rules within the industry held little power over her. Jolie had never envisioned she would one day need to face such circumstances.

Nonetheless, after a moment's hesitation, she resolved to come, almost with a mindset of throwing caution to the wind.

She knew that the Voight family's connections in Hollywood would hold little weight before Eric Williams. On the other hand, if Eric wasn't pleased, the Voight family's influence could vanish entirely in Hollywood, leaving her with no opportunities for future roles.

Jolie had started attending acting school right after middle school and even took some classes in the drama department at New York University a few years ago. However, due to well-known reasons, she had dropped out along the way. In truth, aside from acting, she could hardly imagine doing anything else.

Furthermore, although she had received numerous offers over the past few years, her drug addiction and mental health issues meant that mainstream commercial films had largely eluded her. If this situation persisted for a few more years, Hollywood might completely shut its doors on her.

Occasionally, in the stillness of the night, Jolie would find herself fantasizing about whether she would one day become completely lost, cast aside by Hollywood, abandoned by her family, and end up lifeless in some filthy alley filled with garbage, unwittingly overdosed with needles in her arm. Such tragedies weren't unheard of; she had even played a girl named Gia Carangi last year, who had once been a supermodel at the height of her fame, falling into similar issues and crashing down to earth by the age of 26.

Each time she thought of these scenarios, a deep-seated fear washed over her.

...

Before long, a voice broke the silence, "What's on your mind?"

Jolie looked up, teasingly tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she answered, "So, Mr. Williams, if you don't want to sleep with me, then why did you ask me to come?"

"I still want to sleep with you," Eric replied with a smile. "I'm just worried you might suddenly bite me or something; I have a phobia about that."

Jolie seemed intrigued, her tone laced with evident teasing, "You've been bitten by a woman?"

Eric nodded candidly, "Yeah."

Jolie playfully licked the corner of her lip, "Mr. Williams, I promise I won't bite you."

"You won't get the chance," Eric replied, assessing the beautiful woman across from him. "If I were to sleep with you, I would definitely have to tie you up first."

Jolie scoffed, "Big shots are always so twisted."

Eric chuckled softly, choosing not to engage further in light banter. Instead, he picked up the file before him and said, "Okay, let's talk about you."

Angelina Jolie was definitely not lacking in emotional intelligence; on the contrary, she was quite perceptive. Upon hearing Eric's words, she readied herself and sat up straight, adopting a serious demeanor.

"You previously auditioned for a Columbia film, Girl, Interrupted, right?"

Jolie nodded in acknowledgment.

"I gave that role to Charlize. Otherwise, you would have been a perfect fit," Eric mentioned.

Jolie pouted slightly but didn't voice any complaint.

Eric looked her over again before returning his gaze to the folder. "Borderline personality disorder comes with an impulsive behavioral pattern, creating a series of intense instability in relationships and behaviors. One clear trait is that in the early stages of interactions, individuals idealize those they meet, but those fantasies often shatter over time, leading to broken relationships and perhaps even bitter foes."

As Eric slowly outlined these observations, Jolie's expression noticeably shifted, and she instinctively rubbed her arm where a tattoo had been recently covered up.

Eric glanced back at Jolie. Setting aside the past, it was well-known that she had married her first husband, Johnny Lee Miller, in a passionate whirlwind -- each had tattooed the other's name on their bodies. At their wedding, she famously wore a T-shirt bearing the words "My Husband Johnny Lee Miller" instead of a traditional gown, echoing their vows.

However, within two years, this couple who once promised each other the world ended up as bitter enemies, culminating in a knife fight in their apartment; it was all incredibly tragic.

Eric's earlier fears about Jolie potentially biting him were no exaggeration.

After a moment of silence, Jolie finally spoke up, "Mr. Williams, I'd be honored if you could give me the role of Black Widow, and I'll do my best to portray it well. However, I don't need a psychologist."

"I have no intentions of being your psychologist," Eric shrugged. "Moreover, you couldn't afford someone like me. I'm just trying to figure out how to solve your problems. Truthfully, as long as you fulfill your contract successfully in the future, I won't concern myself with your personal affairs at all."

Jolie focused on the file in front of Eric, asking, "Then why?"

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1185: The Arrangement]

"You're perfect for the role of Black Widow, but I need to make sure you won't encounter any issues while portraying this character. That's why I had a psychiatrist evaluate you," Eric leaned back in his chair, seemingly oblivious to the defensive posture of the woman before him, who was bristling like a porcupine. "After being crazy for so many years, you want to break free from your current state, right?"

Jolie didn't respond to Eric's question; she only appeared more guarded.

Seeing her silence, Eric continued, "Last year you filmed Gia, and this year you want to take on Girl, Interrupted. The roles in these biographical films have many similarities to your own life. It's clear you wish to examine yourself through them. Now, you're also vying for a major role in a mainstream blockbuster, which means you're planning to change yourself and live a different life. So, I decided to give you a shot, but it's the only chance you're going to get."

Although she really wanted the role Black Widow, Jolie instinctively resisted the feeling of being completely exposed in front of Eric. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke up, "Mr. Williams, I don't need this handout of an opportunity."

Eric glanced at the woman across from him and couldn't help but chuckle, "What makes you think you deserve my charity?"

Jolie's lips moved as if to form a response but faltered, suddenly finding the grin on his face quite annoying, so she shot him a defiant glare in retaliation.

"In fact, I am a person who advocates that there is a reward for hard work, and I rarely do things like charity. You're getting this chance solely because you're suited for the character and not for any other reason. And wanting this role doesn't mean that mere assurances and oversight will suffice; you'll need to do more." Eric added, "Of course, I never force anyone to do anything. If you're unwilling, you can leave right now. But if you want this chance, we can continue our conversation."

Jolie's expression showed struggle; she clearly understood that rejecting this opportunity would mean firmly closing the door on several major studios under the Firefly Group. As for the others, influenced by the Firefly Group, her chances of securing roles in the future would be minimal.

The choice Eric Williams offered was effectively whether she wanted to continue as an actress. But quitting acting meant losing her only direction in life.

After a long deliberation, Jolie finally made her decision. She looked up at the man across from her, her expression again marked by a habitual rebelliousness, mixed with a hint of nonchalance as she said, "Alright, Mr. Williams, what should I do next?"

Eric pulled a few pages from the folder in front of him and handed them over. "UNICEF is currently running a medical assistance project in Southeast Asia, primarily providing free vaccinations, check-ups, and health consultations for underprivileged children in countries like Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. I need you to volunteer for three months. When you return, you can have this role. But, for the duration of your contract, you'll have to volunteer for three months every year."

Upon hearing Eric's somewhat baffling request, Jolie's earlier defiance vanished as her brow furrowed while she flipped through the pages. She looked up, "Mr. Williams, I don't quite understand."

"You don't need to understand; you just need to answer whether you're willing," Eric shook his head, unwilling to explain further.

In Jolie's past, an essential turning point came while shooting Tomb Raider in Cambodia.

During filming, the poverty and underdevelopment in Cambodia struck her deeply. In a later interview, she stated that after witnessing the struggles for survival in Africa and Southeast Asia, her teenage troubles seemed trivial in comparison.

Many often questioned her acts of adoption and charity as mere stunts, but to Eric, these actions emerged from Jolie's genuine compassion.

A woman who would exchange vials of blood with her lover while hoping for everlasting love was fundamentally a naive child still with many hopeful expectations of the world. There was no way such a child could lack a kind side.

Jolie gave the materials another glance. Her tone showed less resistance as she remarked, "But I'm not a doctor."

"Volunteers don't need to be doctors. Once you're there, they will assign you tasks suited to your capabilities," Eric replied. "If you agree, you can fly to Laos next week; the foundation's team has already started work."

"Okay, I agree." Jolie nodded. Compared to her initial expectations for this meeting, being sent to Southeast Asia to volunteer for a few months was relatively acceptable. Her life lacked purpose; besides acting, she often squandered time on various trivial indulgences, so she even looked forward to this different experience.

"Then you can go next door to grab a bite," Eric pointed toward the small door, getting up. "In the coming months, you'll definitely miss life in Los Angeles."

Volunteering in Southeast Asia was hardly a vacation. Although Eric had never experienced it firsthand, he had a friend who participated in educational support in the Southwest. He had gone in with high hopes, believing it would be a fascinating life experience. A year later, he returned, having gained twenty pounds from eating whatever he could find, and whenever he reminisced about that experience, he would tear up, sounding like a character from a film lamenting their fate.

Jolie, having no clear understanding of what lay ahead, sat still upon hearing Eric's words, shooting him a questioning glance. "So, Mr. Williams, is that it?"

Although she wasn't used to accepting kindness, Jolie recognized that Eric's arrangements were likely attempts to help her move past her current state. She also wasn't one to express gratitude readily but suddenly found the idea of something unfolding between her and this man to be quite appealing.

Planning to head next door, Eric paused, walked to the woman, and gently lifted her beautiful face. Although he had a penchant for thin-lipped women, he had to admit Jolie's full lips possessed a tempting allure.

Jolie was clearly unaccustomed to Eric's dominating demeanor; after a brief pause, she suddenly turned her head, biting down lightly on one of Eric's fingers, her eyes sparkling with provocation.

Eric smiled as he slowly withdrew his finger from her luscious lips, leaving a wet streak on her cheek. "Let's go. I mentioned earlier that if I were to sleep with you, I would tie you up first. Right now, I don't have that kind of time."

...

Two days later, Jolie flew to Southeast Asia while casting calls for the Marvel Cinematic Universe had mostly wrapped up. As for Fox's X-Men series, it remained in pre-production and wouldn't officially kick off until early the following year.

Time flew, and by mid-October, with just a month until Gravity's release, the film's promotional campaign entered its final sprint.

The promotion for Gravity was closely linked to its 3D and IMAX viewing formats, favoring showcasing these innovative presentations. The Firefly Group planned to open small-scale preview screenings over the next month, inviting industry critics and movie enthusiasts to experience the film early, laying the groundwork for promoting these new screening formats.

...

On the Nasdaq market, last month's rebound was cut short after the collision between Microsoft and the Firefly Group. While the Firefly Group showed no signs of slowing down, market conditions gradually stabilized. Amidst Wall Street's speculations, the Nasdaq index began to rise steadily.

Investors generally understood that once Wall Street capital fully cashed out, the tech sector's winter would also arrive. Consequently, frequent integration and trading began to emerge in the internet industry.

While firmly holding onto the two major segments Microsoft sought to penetrate, the Firefly Group's expansion remained completely unaffected.

Aside from a few firm mergers, the Firefly Group's next strategic goal was to take advantage of this stock market crash and use its substantial capital resources to increase its stake in core enterprises, expanding its influence.

The convertible bond investments in Amazon and the roughly 5% stake the Firefly Group had begun to retrieve were part of its broader strategy.

The Firefly Group's operations in the open market weren't particularly secretive. Furthermore, the entire capital market closely monitored the Firefly Group's actions.

As a result, the Firefly Group's significant acquisition of Sprint and Comcast, two fundamental operators, quickly became public knowledge.

Earlier in the year, after releasing the new Forbes Billionaires list, the financial analyst Howard Glassman, who had penned an insightful analysis of Eric's personal investment strategies for the Washington Post, revisited the topic following his predictions about the Firefly Group's expansion into the basic operator sector, which addressed its missing vertical integration. He again published a lengthy 5,000-word article, proudly tooting his own horn, while urging the federal government to curb the Firefly Group's expansion.

Though this article inevitably sparked media discussions, it more importantly provided a positive stimulus to the Nasdaq stock market.

Wall Street vigorously promoted that if the Firefly Group maintained its optimism about the new tech industry's prospects, investors had no reason to worry excessively about the tech sector.

In recent years, the federal government had relaxed restrictions on large corporate expansions.

In Eric's memory, over the next decade, U.S. economic policies would increasingly mirror that of industry oligarchs. Several consecutive presidents would primarily serve as representatives for various industry leaders, so he wasn't concerned about the Firefly Group's expansion facing administrative obstacles.

Of course, as news of the Firefly Group's further expansion gradually broke, responses from various sectors began to emerge.

...

While Eric busied himself with promoting Gravity, Steve Bernstein, who had transitioned to Comcast as COO the previous year, flew in from Comcast's headquarters in Philadelphia.

In Santa Monica, Steve Bernstein stepped out of the car and surveyed the music hall-like building in front of him, along with the enormous 16 by 22-meter IMAX poster for Gravity, feeling a sense of awe.

"Mr. Bernstein, please follow me," Caroline patiently waited for Steve Bernstein to take in the poster before politely gesturing for him to proceed.

Steve Bernstein nodded and followed Caroline into the IMAX auditorium.

Inside the spacious auditorium, Eric was the only one seated up front after staff members, who had just finished a discussion with him, had left.

After exchanging pleasantries, Eric gestured for Steve Bernstein to sit beside him, indicating the IMAX screen in front of them, and smiled, "How does it feel?"

Steve Bernstein replied with a smile, "It's utterly breathtaking."

"Too bad there are some technical issues; otherwise, I would have invited you to watch a movie," Eric gestured around. "With a standard of 455 seats and a carefully designed fan-shaped layout, all those bad seats have been removed to ensure that every spot offers the most stunning experience for viewers. The 100 IMAX theaters in North America essentially adhere to a unified standard; Firefly didn't waver due to location issues and even built a whole new set of venues when they couldn't find suitable locations. So, the '4200' plan absolutely leaves no room for failure."

Listening to Eric's words, Steve Bernstein sincerely stated, "It will definitely succeed."

"Of course, I'm confident. Actually, succeeding in the film industry is relatively easy. You just need to put in a bit more effort. However, many failed film projects aren't due to a lack of dedication from creators; they often face too many constraints."

Steve Bernstein replied, "Like Warner Bros., for instance?"

Eric smiled and nodded, "Exactly like Warner Bros."

Steve Bernstein followed this lead, "Eric, the reason Time Warner has issues is that the company has grown too bloated. The Firefly Group's current strength far surpasses that of Time Warner. Don't you have any concerns about that?"

"You're mistaken, Steve," Eric shook his head. "In terms of scale, General Electric, at its peak, had hundreds of subsidiaries, but it continued to thrive over the years. Although companies like Cisco and Microsoft saw their market caps exceed General Electric's for a time, the $500 billion valuation of General Electric is well-deserved. Jack Welch is about to retire; I've actually been in touch lately, hoping he would join the board of some Firefly companies."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1186: Ambition]

As the former CEO of Firefly Group's ESPN, Steve Bernstein witnessed the rise of Firefly Group and the entire Firefly system firsthand. Therefore, he had no doubt about the ambition Eric expressed, one that was comparable to General Electric's.

In reality, General Electric had already reached its peak, and further large-scale expansion was unlikely. With the retirement of the legendary leader Jack Welch, the future of this industrial giant was more likely to decline after such heights.

However, the Firefly system was different. Eric was in his prime, with enough time and energy to lead this conglomerate's continued expansion.

Moreover, when it came to reported assets, the Firefly system had already surpassed General Electric.

In the upcoming years, as long as the company could successfully manage the severe bubbles embedded in its new technology sector and further consolidate its foundation in the core fields of networking and media, the Firefly system could truly grow into a megacorporation with significant influence over the American economy.

Although many believed the Firefly system had already hit a bottleneck in the new technology and media sectors, with future expansion increasingly limited by U.S. antitrust laws and other competitive capital forces, Steve Bernstein keenly noted that most of the core enterprises in the Firefly system were still based domestically.

This meant that the Firefly system still had vast potential for global development.

Taking Nokia as a successful overseas investment case, it was clear that Eric was not lacking in vision for global expansion, nor did the Firefly system lack the capital strength for it.

Thinking of all this, Steve Bernstein found himself needing to address the pressing issue at hand.

Over the past month or so, Firefly Group had been quietly accumulating shares of Comcast.

Initially, Comcast's senior management felt excited about Firefly Group's buying spree, as Comcast's stock price had already risen over 17% during this time.

However, once Firefly Group submitted their filing to the SEC declaring they held 6.5% of Comcast, Comcast's board and management suddenly woke up. When Howard Glassman, a finance columnist for The Washington Post, published another analytical article about the Firefly system, Firefly Group's intent to acquire Comcast became glaringly obvious.

In fact, from the moment Firefly Group began purchasing Comcast shares, Steve Bernstein had already had a hunch about the potential buyer. After all, while it might not have originally been considered a core part of the Firefly system, his involvement had given him deep insight into the company's expansion strategies.

However, Steve Bernstein's judgments were merely guesses. As much as he wanted to call up people like Katzenberg to test the waters, he knew that he had distanced himself from the Firefly system and that Katzenberg and others would not disclose any details to him.

Deep down, Steve Bernstein did not harbor much wariness towards the Firefly system, and he hadn't even reported his suspicions to Comcast's controllers, the Roberts family.

Now, not only did Firefly Group hold 6.5% of Comcast's shares, but they were also continuing to buy up more. Their intent to merge with Comcast was unmistakable.

Since basic operators fell within the realm of capital-intensive industries, where each step of growth required significant cash support, the Roberts family's ownership had dwindled to just 3.1% over the years due to continuous financing dilution.

While the Roberts family had up to 33% voting power through authorization agreements, they knew that if Firefly Group offered an appropriate price, the voting power they held would be insufficient to fend off Firefly Group's acquisition.

Realizing the crisis, the Roberts family summoned the board and senior management for some deliberation before quickly dispatching Steve Bernstein.

...

In the spacious IMAX auditorium, after a casual chat, Steve Bernstein shifted to the matter at hand, saying, "Eric, do you know how Berkshire became the major shareholder of ABC?"

Eric shook his head; he understood perfectly why Steve Bernstein was there today but chose not to say anything, simply smiling and waiting for him to continue.

Steve Bernstein didn't wait for Eric to respond and continued, "Buffett has always been very interested in the media industry. In 1985, when Tom Murphy expressed intentions to acquire ABC, Berkshire made a $500 million investment in Capital Cities, becoming the largest shareholder of the company. Then, with this $500 million as leverage, Tom Murphy utilized both cash and shares to acquire what was then ABC."

ESPN had long been a subsidiary of ABC, and since ESPN's inception, Steve Bernstein had worked at the network. Thus, his familiarity with the process of Capital Cities' acquisition of ABC wasn't surprising.

Eric immediately grasped the subtext of Steve Bernstein's words.

The intent for Firefly Group to acquire Comcast was already widely known. Likewise, Comcast's secret efforts to engage with ATT in hopes of acquiring their cable division were not a secret within the industry.

What Steve Bernstein suggested, or rather what Comcast was hinting, was clearly that they hoped Firefly Group could act like Berkshire Hathaway did back then, providing funds to assist Comcast in successfully merging with the ATT side, while also allowing Firefly Group to become a major shareholder of Comcast in the process.

Of course, the underlying message was also that Comcast did not want Firefly Group to meddle in its management but rather to hold stock in the company purely as an investor, just like Berkshire Hathaway had.

While Comcast's proposal aligned somewhat with Eric's vision of simultaneously acquiring both Comcast and ATT Broadband side, the final outcome was not what Eric desired.

After Steve Bernstein finished speaking, Eric replied directly, "Steve, you should know that I want control of Comcast, not just a simple investment. If it were just an investment, I could find targets with higher returns and definitely wouldn't choose Comcast."

"Eric, this isn't easy," Steve Bernstein shook his head and said. "Although the Roberts family's stake in Comcast is low, they still possess a strong 33% voting power. Plus, with Comcast's stock price on the rise, if there's no proactive cooperation from Comcast, even if Firefly Group can amass enough stock through public markets, the cost would be steep. Based on my guess, you certainly want to reconcile both Comcast and ATT Broadband companies, right? But without Comcast's cooperation, that's also quite difficult. The federal agencies will not easily approve Firefly acquiring both companies at once. Therefore, participating in an investment to support Comcast's acquisition of ATT Broadband and becoming a major stakeholder in the new company is a very good option for Firefly."

"I know that this choice makes it much easier for Firefly Group to enter the cable operator field. However, if we always choose the easier development path, the Firefly system could never have reached its current scale. More often than not, we must select the harder path," Eric said, turning to look at Steve Bernstein, then abruptly asked, "Steve, do you want to become the head of Comcast and run this company on your own?"

Steve Bernstein's eyes flickered at Eric's words, and he actively avoided Eric's gaze, saying, "Eric, I'm currently an executive at Comcast. I will adhere strictly to my professional ethics and will not engage in behavior damaging to my employer."

"Of course, one of my most important requirements for professional managers within the Firefly system is loyalty," Eric said candidly. "If you were to do something harmful, even if you ultimately secured Comcast, I'd find a reason to kick you out. I don't expect you to do anything detrimental to Comcast. In fact, during the forthcoming acquisition process, you can completely avoid the matter. However, once the Firefly Group secures Comcast, I need you to take on the burden of managing this company. So, do you think you could handle it?"

Steve Bernstein hesitated for a moment before saying, "Eric, I can't answer that question right now. Moreover, to be fair, I believe the Roberts family has more extensive experience in cable operations than I do. Even if Firefly Group successfully acquires Comcast, keeping them in their positions would be very beneficial for the company. This is also in line with the Firefly system's usual style, isn't it?"

Whether it was the early acquisitions of companies like Nokia and America Online or the current negotiations with Hasbro, Eric had grown accustomed to retaining the management of these companies.

However, this time, Eric shook his head. "I typically do this because I can't find more suitable managers. Moreover, the premise is that the Firefly system should still have absolute control over these companies; if I wanted, I could replace them at any time. But this time is different. Even if you can't manage Comcast in the future, the Firefly Group also has talents suited to run this company. Plus, I don't want Comcast to operate independently; this company must serve the overall interests of the Firefly system."

Yet this was sure to conflict with the Roberts family's vision, as the founders of Comcast, they would inherently seek more power, and coincidentally, they had that advantage.

Eric continued, pausing briefly before adding, "In short, Comcast's vast scale absolutely doesn't allow for two voices within its management system. Otherwise, this multi-billion-dollar company would descend into chaos, unable to support the growth of the Firefly Group, potentially even becoming a liability.

I'm someone who is very willing to delegate authority to professional managers, but I will never let the Firefly Group fall into the scenario that befell America Online and Time Warner, where multiple factions collide. Fundamentally, the Firefly Group, and indeed the entire Firefly system, can only have one voice, and that voice is mine."

Steve Bernstein realized he had unknowingly wandered off the original discussion. The dialogue had shifted completely away from the purpose of his visit today.

The Roberts family had sent him in hopes that he could persuade Eric to give up the chase for control of Comcast.

However, at this moment, Steve Bernstein also recognized that this decision by the Roberts family was clearly wrong.

As a former executive of the Firefly system, he had spent far more time working at ESPN than at Comcast. Their conversation, even if unwittingly, had begun to feel more like a discussion among "insiders" regarding the company's development.

With a wry smile, Steve Bernstein sought to gather his thoughts but found he had nothing left to say.

After all, Eric's attitude was very resolute; from what he had learned about his former boss, it was clear that once Eric made up his mind, he wouldn't easily entertain compromise.

"Eric, I suddenly realize that I shouldn't continue this discussion with you. Maybe I should fly back to Philadelphia right now and have Ralph send someone else over."

Eric also recognized a similar issue, or perhaps he was somewhat intentional about it. With a smile, he looked at his watch and stood up. "It's almost noon; let me treat you to lunch. You can head back after lunch."

...

Steve Bernstein flew back to Comcast's headquarters in Philadelphia that afternoon.

After relaying Eric's message, the Roberts family realized the matter was unresolvable and decisively prepared countermeasures.

The next day, a local Philadelphia newspaper reported on the meeting between Steve Bernstein and Eric Williams. This was clearly a signal released proactively by Comcast, and the capital market indeed reacted as Comcast's senior management had anticipated, erroneously judging that Firefly Group and Comcast Group had begun merger negotiations.

Thus, as soon as the stock market opened that day, Comcast's share price soared, seeing an increase of over 13% throughout the day, pushing its market value back over $40 billion.

Moreover, according to Wall Street forecasts, Comcast's market value could potentially surpass $50 billion in the near future. This undoubtedly made the acquisition by Firefly Group much more difficult.

Following this, the Roberts family immediately began increasingly frequent contact with Comcast's other shareholders, intent on securing more voting rights.

If the Roberts family's voting shares exceeded 40%, Firefly Group would find it practically impossible to threaten the Roberts family's control over Comcast through open market stocks.

Yet this time, the Roberts family's persuading efforts did not go as smoothly.

After all, from the perspective of many shareholders, maintaining a connection with Firefly Group or acquiescing to a merger with the Firefly system would clearly provide more benefits than allowing the Roberts family to gain complete control. If the Roberts family managed to take full control of Comcast, the stock price's upward momentum would certainly come to a sudden halt.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1187: Twisted Hands]

With the explosive rise in Comcast's stock prices, Firefly Group decisively halted its buying operations, ultimately reaching a 7.1% stake in the company. Since Comcast was already a widely held public company with a very dispersed ownership structure -- no single shareholder held more than 10% -- Firefly Group's 7.1% stake made it the largest shareholder of Comcast.

The whole process seemed effortless, but in reality, Firefly Group had invested over $2.5 billion in just over a month for that 7.1% stake. Amidst a cooling North American economy due to the Nasdaq market crash, many corporate giants were trimming their operations and conserving funds. Very few companies had the means to easily dedicate billions in cash for acquisitions like Firefly Group.

Now that the merger drama had begun, Firefly Group no longer hid its intentions. Although they ceased buying more shares, Jeffrey Katzenberg quickly requested a seat on Comcast's board of directors.

The Roberts family realized that agreeing to Katzenberg's request would mean that the operations of the company would no longer have any secrets from Firefly Group. Furthermore, the strong influence of the Firefly system could lead Comcast's shareholders to gradually align with Firefly executives once they joined the board.

Therefore, Comcast chairman Ralph Roberts immediately rejected Katzenberg's request, citing that board members were not due for reelection. Typically, a public company would address changes to its board during the annual shareholders' meeting each year. Though Firefly Group's stake wasn't enough to initiate a special shareholders' meeting, Comcast held its annual meeting every January. Unless Ralph Roberts dared to defy the will of Comcast's shareholders and cancel the annual meeting, it would only be delayed by a maximum of three months, so Firefly Group didn't appear overly anxious.

At the same time, as both sides played their cards, Firefly Group began engaging with ATT, signaling its intent to acquire ATT's boradband operations to create an illusion of shifting gears should Comcast not pan out.

ATT naturally aimed to sell its assets at a good price and responded positively. Thus, back and forth, time unknowingly moved into November.

...

Despite the apparent flurry of activity, Eric had ultimately given up on securing Comcast or ATT Broadband in the short term. The posturing against Comcast and talks with ATT were merely to stymie negotiations with both companies. The capital winter in the new tech sector was just beginning, and the impending decline of the internet industry would also affect the foundational operators. Delaying time would only benefit Firefly Group.

Influenced by Eric's thought process, Firefly Group's upper management shifted their focus toward acquisition negotiations with Hasbro, successfully reaching a final agreement in early November. After negotiations, Firefly Group acquired Hasbro Toys for $2.86 billion. Hasbro's founding family heir, Alan Hassenfeld, would continue in his role as CEO, while Firefly Group would integrate it with its in-house toy division over the next few months.

...

On November 1, Eric flew with Katzenberg and several other executives to Providence, Rhode Island. Rhode Island was a very small coastal state situated between Massachusetts and Connecticut, spanning just over 3,000 square kilometers, separated from Long Island by a bay of about twenty to thirty kilometers.

After signing ceremonies at Hasbro's headquarters, touring the toy design department, and visiting a toy factory in the suburbs of Providence, Katzenberg stayed behind to discuss integration matters with Hasbro's top brass, while Eric took a helicopter from Long Island Airport directly to Martha's Vineyard.

At the same time, New Line Cinema's Final Destination 3 and Universal Pictures' The Bone Collector premiered in line with Halloween, marking the arrival of the year-end box office season.

With less than three weeks until Gravity's release, a film symbolizing Firefly Group's ambition to usher in a new era of cinema was intensifying its promotional campaign. Television teasers, theater posters, and online marketing bombarded audiences at an unprecedented rate.

The global premiere of the film was scheduled for November 12 at an IMAX theater in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. Following several internal screenings, the Firefly Group had absolute confidence in Gravity's quality. The distribution department planned small-scale preview screenings on the weekend of November 6, 7, and November 13, 14 to build word-of-mouth before the film's release.

Even with everything progressing rapidly, the promotional campaign for Gravity centered heavily on stars Jodie Foster and George Clooney, emphasizing the new 3D and IMAX viewing experience. Aside from the global premiere on November 12, Eric didn't schedule any additional media appearances for himself.

...

After a brief stay in Martha's Vineyard and East Hampton, Eric headed to Manhattan. Previously, he had purchased the IMG and Elite modeling agencies under a private name and had completed initial adjustments. However, some matters required his direct communication with the heads of both agencies.

The situation at IMG was manageable, as it had established a robust business operation system. Although Mark McCormack had stepped down as chairman post-acquisition, CEO Payn Forstmann was highly capable and could propel IMG further.

Additionally, Cindy and Linda, who had co-invested $300 million in IMG for a 20% stake, had joined IMG's board of directors. They were quite cautious about not intervening in IMG's management per Eric's advice, but having them overseeing things significantly deterred the management from any misconduct.

However, problems lay with Elite. Before the acquisition, Eric had suggested that founder John Casablancas retain some equity, yet during the transaction, Casablancas chose to cash out his sub-5% stake. Thus, Eric became the full owner of the company, with Casablancas only serving as a professional manager without any ownership responsibility.

The serious issues within this largest modeling agency, following the BBC documentary incident, were hard to overlook. After taking on Elite, Eric promptly dissolved the existing board, which effectively removed any oversight of Casablancas. Except for Eric as the owner, Casablancas no longer had to answer to anyone.

Of course, Eric knew better than to make blatant management errors. Due to a series of changes prompted by the BBC documentary's fallout, several important positions, including the President of Elite Europe, remained unfilled. Although immediately post-acquisition, Casablancas provided Eric with potential candidates, Eric decided not to take him up on it and instead opted for recommendations from Cindy and Linda, who offered other executives from the fashion industry to fill those gaps. After years of navigating the industry, they were just as savvy as Casablancas and recommended far more reliable candidates.

Moreover, Eric dispatched personnel from Firefly Group to manage Elite's finance department and began a thorough audit of the company's financial status.

In this month alone, Eric had substantially cemented his control over Elite through various personnel adjustments. Unsurprisingly, these power-stripping measures led to rising dissatisfaction from Casablancas.

During this period, Eric had received several complaints from Casablancas about financial audits affecting the company's operations, subtly hinting that Eric wasn't keeping his promise to leave Elite in Casablancas's hands.

...

In Manhattan, at the Lexington Avenue Armory, Casablancas entered the hall of the armory guided by Eric's security, where rehearsal work for the upcoming Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was underway.

The hall was dim, illuminated only near the runway; Eric lounged in a corner, casually observing the rehearsal while occasionally exchanging a few words with Edward Razek. This year marked the sixth installment of the fashion show, whose timing just shy of the new millennium imbued it with special significance, as LTD would officially unveil its first extravagant Dream BRA at the event.

While in Long Island, Emily had called to invite him to check on the show's preparations personally and provide input.

Over the years, the Victoria's Secret Show had refined its operational processes, and Eric actually didn't feel there were any areas to interfere. Thus, he simply slipped in quietly to observe for a while. At the Armory, aside from the show's director and accompanying LTD Group Vice President Edward Razek, no one else knew of his presence.

With Eric's lack of involvement, the Victoria's Secret production team naturally wouldn't gather every supermodel for rehearsals, instead opting for thematic segments.

Today's themed rehearsal focused on Dream Wings, inspired primarily by butterflies and similar insects, making it a theme rich in wings.

The opening was performed by Qusie Gauff, one of the new five Victoria's Secret representatives. With her youthful, doll-like features, Qusie Gauff was also the face of the VS Pink brand. The other four representatives included seasoned models Tyra Banks and Diane Kruger, along with recent sensations Gisele Bundchen and Carmen Kass. While Alessandra Ambrosio had just turned eighteen, Eric wasn't rushing to push her into the spotlight.

Casablancas approached Eric, greeting both him and Edward Razek before sitting down beside Eric. The girls on the runway practiced their routines to music, and without Eric breaking the silence, Casablancas waited in quiet anticipation. Despite expressing complaints over the phone to this young man, sitting next to Eric now, he couldn't help but feel an innate sense of pressure.

This past year, Casablancas had also ventured into technology stock investments, feeling relatively fortunate to sell most of his shares before the market crashed. Following the Nasdaq collapse, while he was mostly trapped with tech stocks, Casablancas didn't suffer the immense losses many others faced; rather, he had managed to come out ahead.

Because of his attention on the tech stocks, Casablancas could easily perceive the potent influence Firefly Group wielded over the new tech and media fields. As the leader of this economic empire, Eric, despite being over twenty years younger, possessed vast power and wealth beyond anything Casablancas could ever hope to reach.

When the models completed a round of walking, the music faded, and Eric said to Razek, "The sixth girl who walks out, the one with transparent wings. Have her come over. I want to chat with John for a bit."

Razek nodded respectfully while acknowledging Casablancas and got up to leave.

Casablancas instinctively recalled the girl Eric mentioned. He couldn't remember the order of the models but figured the one with transparent wings likely had a stunning, flawless face and a slightly aloof aura, exuding an alluring gaze typical of a Victoria's Secret Angel with an impeccable figure.

Although Casablancas knew everything about each supermodel under Elite, he didn't recognize this girl as she likely belonged to another agency.

Despite looking a bit stiff on the runway, his keen, seasoned eye discerned her potential instantly, clearly another promising supermodel in the making. Perhaps she had just begun to emerge in the industry, and he was simply unaware.

With this thought, Casablancas found himself feeling a sense of envy. Only someone like Eric Williams could casually express desires for those beautiful creatures, implying, "I want her."

Although the head of Elite, Casablancas had little sway over the supermodels under his agency; sometimes it felt like he was catering to them like a servant to a princess.

Once Edward Razek left, Eric didn't explain his previous instruction; he suddenly felt motivated to revive the once 'Twisted Hands.'

...

Glancing at the shifting expression of Casablancas beside him, Eric took the lead in the conversation, "So, John, how have you been lately?"

Casablancas instinctively turned slightly towards Eric and replied, "Not bad, just busier than usual."

Though Eric hadn't inserted himself directly into Elite's management, the executives he appointed had displayed a rather aggressive attitude from the get-go. To avoid further diminishing his own power, a somewhat complacent Casablancas found himself needing to re-engage.

"If you feel overwhelmed, I can help you find someone," Eric said with a smile, "How about we make you the CEO of Elite and bring in a president to support you?"

Casablancas felt a familiar pang of protest in his heart; after just subtle complaints, Eric was once again looking to strip away his authority.

He quickly shook his head, "No, Eric, I think I can handle it."

"Actually, I understand what you've been trying to express during our calls," Eric dropped his smile, his expression turning serious, "But you also need to recognize, John, I'm now the owner of Elite. I respect the accomplishments you've made in the modeling agency, but that doesn't mean I'll leave Elite unchecked."

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1188: Twisted Hands (2)]

Eric adopted a strong attitude, causing John Casablancas's tone to weaken slightly. Yet he couldn't help but say, "Eric, in my view, those new executives aren't particularly suited for their current positions. Take Levin Hills for instance; he didn't even know many of the basic rules of the modeling agency industry, yet he nitpicked over minor discrepancies in the company accounts."

Levin Hills was the financial director that Eric had dispatched from Firefly Group to Elite.

During this time, John Casablancas had been having quite an unpleasant experience with new financial director Levin Hills, who was strict with the audits at Elite. Even though he knew that Hills was acting on Eric's direct orders, John still couldn't help but direct his frustrations towards him.

Although John Casablancas was the founder of Elite, he had long since ceased to be the majority shareholder of the company.

On the other hand, John still wielded significant control over Elite, which inevitably led to conflicts of interest between the shareholders and management. Therefore, before Eric took over, it was almost unavoidable that management was lining their own pockets. This was why John reacted so strongly to Hills's financial audits.

In fact, on the second day of Levin Hills's employment, he informed Eric in an email that Elite's financial state could only be characterized as extremely chaotic. It was quite apparent that the financial data had been manipulated during Eric's recent acquisition.

However, when Eric read Levin Hills's email, he wasn't surprised at all.

In murky waters, one can catch fish; had Elite's financial data been as clear as crystal, John Casablancas and the other management wouldn't have had any room to maneuver.

Due to his relationships with Cindy, Linda, and other women, Eric was well aware of many internal issues within modeling agencies without even having to look at Elite's financial statements.

For instance, most modeling agencies would additionally deduct transportation fees, makeup expenses, photography costs, and many other miscellaneous charges from the models' earnings. Some were even so stringent that every little action by a model would incur a bill. Yet, many of these charges should be classified under commissions, as the agency was responsible for providing these basic services to the models.

Thus, the result was that while the agency collected substantial extra fees from the models, most of it flowed directly into the management's pockets. Simultaneously, they designated a portion of the models' commissions as company administrative expenses, further reducing the profits that should have belonged to the shareholders.

At this point, Eric already had several audit reports submitted by Levin Hills. Should he choose to, these reports could lead him to file lawsuits against John Casablancas and other Elite management, yet he showed no intention of doing so.

On one hand, what John and his peers siphoned off merely regarded the original shareholders of Elite, not Eric. On the other hand, just as John had subtly implied, some matters had indeed become unspoken rules within the industry; a clear water would not yield fish, and rooting them out completely was simply impossible.

Moreover, even if Eric wished to reform the industry, he leaned more towards gradual change rather than exposing all the issues at once, creating an uproar.

"John, I'm not inclined to pursue past matters. This audit is merely for me to gain a true understanding of Elite's balance sheet," Eric stated. After noticing that John Casablancas's expression visibly relaxed, he continued, "However, in the future, Elite will definitely implement more rigorous financial systems. As Elite progresses, I will not withhold your salaries and bonuses, but some money you'll definitely not be seeing anymore. You can pass my words onto all members of Elite's management. If they wish to leave now, I won't stop them, but if they partake in any violations in the future, it won't simply be a matter of termination."

John Casablancas initially wanted to argue a bit but ultimately nodded obediently under Eric's sharp gaze.

After reprimanding John Casablancas, Eric noticed that Edward Razek was standing not far away with a girl beside him, so he had no intention of continuing the conversation. "Well then, we're done for today, John. You can head back. You can reach out to me anytime if needed."

...

Once John Casablancas left, Edward Razek walked over with the girl.

Though the girl had been mentally preparing for some time, now that she was in front of Eric Williams, she found herself at a loss for words, her demeanor awkward as she stood before him, feeling a little voice in her head urging her to speak. "Say something, you idiot!"

Eric eyed the girl, who was dressed in a pink Victoria's Secret nightgown. Seeing her silent, he smiled and asked, "So, what's your name?"

"Angela Lindvall," the girl finally reacted upon hearing Eric's inquiry, hesitating a moment before boldly extending her small hand. "Hello, Mr. Williams."

At that moment, the music in the hall started playing again. Eric realized the next rehearsal was beginning, signaled for Angela to take a seat beside him, and said to Edward Razek, "Edward, that's enough for today. After this, let's let them wrap up."

Edward Razek nodded and turned to leave.

Angela Lindvall obediently sat next to Eric, glancing sideways to secretly observe the man's profile. Feeling the subtle aura radiating from him, her cheeks turned a bit warm, and her thoughts began to whirl -- excited, hopeful, and a little anxious.

As a signed model under IMG, Angela Lindvall had actually debuted in 1993.

IMG initially saw great potential in her, and per the established training regimen of top modeling agencies, Angela was supposed to catch her break around the age of sixteen and officially enter the frontlines at eighteen, earning endorsements from top brands.

However, the rise of the Victoria's Secret Angels completely disrupted the established rules of the modeling industry.

A slew of supermodels gained fame via the Victoria's Secret Fashion shows, instantly becoming the darlings of brands worldwide. Regardless of whether a brand was a high-end luxury label or a second or third-tier fast-moving consumer good, the most critical factor in selecting a spokesperson was the model's popularity. Within the fashion circle, the clout of the Victoria's Secret Angels was indisputable.

While the Victoria's Secret team was feverishly snagging brand endorsements and dominating the top runways, they inadvertently blocked the ascent of many newcomers. Although modeling agencies were frustrated, they had no choice but to shift away from traditional training strategies and direct more energy toward the Victoria's Secret shows.

Consequently, though many fashion moguls often disparaged the lowbrow nature of the Victoria's Secret show, an undeniable fact was that in recent years, nearly every high-street model competed fiercely for casting opportunities as a Victoria's Secret Angel, with runway spots being so sought after that they saw fierce competition.

Under these circumstances, Angela Lindvall spent six years at IMG before finally earning a spot on this year's Victoria's Secret runway.

Now, Angela felt like this year was simply her lucky year.

The man next to her? That was Eric Williams.

Even when Angela was still an unknown model, she had heard countless rumors about Eric Williams, not just regarding his wealth or status in Hollywood. Even set aside these, in the fashion world, Eric Williams was an exceptionally transcendent figure.

Mr. Biggest, Jealous Daddy.

While it might sound all too suggestive, the top supermodels in the industry privately referred to Eric Williams with these nicknames, a privilege that girls like Angela didn't have. If she dared to say them, she would likely be mocked for being oblivious.

Now, seated beside Eric Williams, Angela quietly watched the girls rehearsing on the runway from a distance, feeling a hint of superiority -- almost as if she had tapped into the man's dominating aura.

Suddenly, the music on stage stopped again, and seeing the girls cheer upon hearing that they could wrap up early, Angela recalled what Eric had just said.

Everyone else was finishing early, what about her?

There seemed to be no suspense about it. She wasn't a naive little girl and certainly knew why Eric Williams wanted her to stay back.

With that thought, Angela felt no resistance. Instead, she found herself unconsciously inching closer to Eric Williams.

After all, something happening with the man beside her was a dream come true for many girls in the industry. In fact, becoming this super tycoon's girlfriend, or one of them, would be a leap into the heavens for girls like her.

...

The hall gradually quieted down, and again, Eric Williams's voice broke the silence. "So, how old are you this year?"

Angela did not feel any specific emotion when Eric asked her age. She obediently responded, "20 years old, Mr. Williams. I'm 20."

Eric replied, "Seeing how tense you were on the runway, I thought you were only just turning 18."

Eighteen was the minimum age requirement to become a Victoria's Secret Angel, and LTD wouldn't sign models that were minors.

When Angela heard that, she felt a bit anxious, thinking that Eric might think poorly of her performance. She quickly clarified, "Mr. Williams, I--I was just too nervous. After all, this is such a rare opportunity."

"Of course, there's no better platform to showcase yourself than Victoria's Secret, so you should let loose a little."

Angela nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at rice. "I will!"

Eric looked at the girl, unable to hold back a laugh. "Don't nod like that; it doesn't suit your temperament at all."

Angela instinctively wanted to nod again but stopped herself and shyly smiled. "Got it, Mr. Williams."

"Well then, are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together."

Angela feigned shyness as she avoided Eric's gaze but answered without hesitation, "Sure."

...

As they chatted, Edward Razek and the director of the upcoming Victoria's Secret show, Andrew Niccol, approached.

The time had just passed four in the afternoon, and Eric had no intention of leaving early. He stood up, instructing the group, "Let's have the sound engineer get ready. Angela, go change into the outfit you had on and come back on stage."

Angela was momentarily stunned by his words but quickly snapped back to reality and obediently headed backstage.

Eric and Edward Razek moved to the front rows, chatting about the preparations for Victoria's Secret while waiting for Angela to change.

After a moment, Angela reappeared on stage, clad in the lovely, translucent feathery attire she had practiced in.

Eric approached the edge of the runway. Noticing the girl wanted to crouch down to hear him, he quickly waved his hand to stop her. "Those long gloves of yours are beautiful! So, when you walk, keep your hands up like you're dancing in a nightclub. Oh, but don't raise them above your head; most importantly, be seductive and slow. Also, take long strides. Alright, go prepare over there and give me a wave."

Angela attentively listened, nodding as she returned to the entrance of the runway.

After a moment's thought, she turned back to give a nod in his direction.

Eric snapped his fingers, instructing the sound engineer standing nearby, "Music."

The music started playing.

Angela patiently waited a while, catching the rhythm while stepping out, her arms moving a bit awkwardly.

The way she walked was quite visually appealing, carrying an obvious personal style. As she walked, her presence transformed starkly from the rehearsal just moments before. However, her once-superb model walk seemed overly practiced now, lacking the previous essence of a mystical jungle witch casting spells.

Eric was never one to lack patience. After Angela completed her first round, he called her over again, meticulously pointing out her earlier shortcomings, even demonstrating a few moves from his memory.

A supermodel's runway style is not something that can be honed overnight. Eric was patient enough, and naturally, no one else complained. For well over an hour, they practiced until Angela finally regained some of that "unstoppable model" aura.

At the very least, while love and admiration played into it, both Edward Razek and Andrew Niccol genuinely felt that Angela's style had become even more charming after this transformation. A unique supermodel was destined to emerge from the Victoria's Secret runway.

Before anyone realized, it was already quitting time, and Eric, without delaying anyone's break, said goodbye to Edward Razek and the others, leaving with Angela Lindvall from the Lexington Avenue warehouse.

Initially intending to pick a restaurant for dinner, Eric received an invitation call and led the girl to the Upper East Hydee to attend a business gathering hosted by Goldman Sachs CEO, Henry Paulson.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1189: Response to the Sneak Preview]

Just after 10 PM, Eric bid farewell to Henry Paulson and left the Upper East Hydee with Angela Lindvall.

As their luxury car set off, Angela sat quietly next to Eric, reminiscing about the afternoon's events, her face still flushed with excitement.

Glancing at the man beside her, Eric was toying with a business card, a thoughtful expression on his face. This made Angela recall how, at the cocktail party, Henry Paulson's wife had invited her to a lounge to chat with the other women. The girl was clever and understood that the big shots had something to discuss and wanted her out of the way.

Though curiosity inevitably bubbled up inside her, she restrained herself from probing into the contents of the business card in Eric's hands.

The card belonged to Donald Evans, who was listed as the Chairman and CEO of Tom Brown Inc. in Texas. Yet Eric was well aware that Donald Evans held another title: Chairman of George W. Bush's campaign committee.

In fact, from 1988 to that moment, Eric had experienced three U.S. presidential elections. However, due to his consistent avoidance of politics and the fact that the Firefly system hadn't yet ballooned into the monstrous scale it was to become, the previous elections had little to do with him.

Now, on one hand, the overall scale of the Firefly system had grown massive, making it increasingly susceptible to federal macroeconomic policies. The formulation of these policies was largely in the hands of each presidential administration. On the other hand, the vast media resources controlled by the Firefly system could greatly influence the course of elections in North America.

Thus, whether actively or passively, the Firefly system was fated to be entangled in future presidential elections.

Given Eric's identity as a capital nouveau riche from Hollywood, his links to the tech industry, and California, it typically implied that he would lean toward the Democratic Party. After all, most people connected to him shared those same affiliations. Under the tide of circumstances, it would be impossible for Eric to deviate from this crowd.

However, Eric's situation was rather unique. After all, there had never been a billionaire like him in North America, and his vast wealth meant he couldn't fully favor one party. Betting on both sides had become the norm for top-tier billionaires in North America. Furthermore, Eric had never publicly disclosed his political leanings, which had facilitated this tentative approach from Bush's team.

After receiving Henry Paulson's subtle hint, Eric chose to attend tonight's cocktail party. Although he didn't commit to anything, he exchanged business cards with Donald Evans and engaged in some casual conversation, which was already a positive response.

...

The distance from Henry Paulson's mansion on Madison Avenue to Eric's high-rise apartment near Sixth Avenue was less than two kilometers. As Eric pondered this, the car had already entered the building's underground parking garage.

Noticing that Angela seemed slightly tense due to his silence, Eric shook off his chaotic thoughts and smiled, asking, "Are you hungry? Should I take you to grab a bite to eat?"

To maintain decorum, Angela hadn't eaten much at the cocktail party, but being able to endure hunger was a fundamental trait of models, so she shook her head, saying, "Eric, I'm not hungry."

After the bodyguard opened the car door, Eric got out but still instructed someone to send a late-night snack, then took Angela into the elevator, leading them up to the top-floor apartment.

Angela followed closely behind Eric, curiously admiring the spacious living room with its sleek, expensive decor, a subtle yearning gleaming in her eyes.

After casting a glance, she noticed Eric standing at the entryway, unbuttoning his trench coat. The girl, ever attentive, stepped forward to help, taking his coat to hang it up. Only then did she remove her own women's coat and high heels, feeling the cool floor beneath her bare feet.

Eric observed Angela's rather conservative Chanel turtleneck dress, saying, "The late-night snack won't arrive for another twenty minutes; you can take a shower first."

Angela nodded, though her eyes scanned the surroundings with curiosity.

Eric smiled, saying, "Follow me."

He led her to a bathroom on the second floor, then casually selected a shirt from his bedroom to hand to her before heading downstairs.

...

About half an hour later, Angela returned to the living room after her shower. Eric sat on the sofa, casually flipping through some documents. The girl wore nothing but a large men's shirt, the hem revealing her long, slim legs as she lightly tiptoed to the man's side, kneeling on the carpet next to the sofa and leaning on the armrest, glancing at the plates on the coffee table.

"Eric, this scene feels a bit familiar," she remarked.

With a smile, Eric replied, "Looks like I've gained another fan."

Angela laughed softly and continued, "Eric, I heard there's a sequel to Pretty Woman. What happened to Vivian and Edward afterward?"

"There's no sequel," Eric shook his head. "The prince and princess lived happily ever after. That's how fairy tales end. Now, let's eat something."

Angela obediently got up but then brought the plates over, saying, "Eric, there's so much. Can we eat together?"

Eric didn't refuse, setting aside his documents as they shared some food. When Angela returned after clearing the empty plates, Eric had turned off most of the lights in the living room, leaving only a soft yellow wall lamp on.

With Eric's silent nod, Angela shyly smiled before quickly moving over, playfully settling on the man's lap.

Eric lifted the shirt's hem like it was a T-shirt, revealing a perfect figure clad only in white panties. The girl was actually quite tall at over six feet, but her slender body pressed against him in such a way that made her even more irresistible.

As he savored Angela in his embrace, the living room soon filled with soft, delicate breaths.

...

Winter sunlight often carried a peculiar pallor, yet Eric strangely reveled in this feeling of despondency.

Having forgotten to close the curtains the night before, he woke up bathed in the morning light, unusually reluctant to get out of bed, enjoying the gentle white light spilling around him.

Next to him, Angela remained undisturbed, her sleeping posture a bit messy. She sprawled lazily on the pillow, her elegant head tilted, her beautiful golden hair splayed out. One pale arm peeked out from the comforter, gripping tightly onto the other side of the sheet, seemingly fighting to block sleep's demons from dragging her into an abyss.

It seemed that time had slipped by unnoticed when suddenly, the girl's head jerked against the pillow, awakening her bright blue eyes.

Noticing Eric was gazing at her with interest, Angela quickly shook off her drowsiness and smiled, lazily saying, "Eric, good morning."

"Morning," Eric chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Angela felt a bit embarrassed, saying, "I dreamed about racing bikes with my sister on the farm when I was little. We were going too fast and fell."

"Oh, looks like someone wasn't a good girl when she was younger."

Angela gave a slightly embarrassed smile, awkwardly changing the subject, "Eric, isn't your new movie premiering today? Can I go see it?"

"Of course, I'll have some tickets arranged for you."

"I meant, today is Saturday, can you go with me?"

"About that..." Eric thought for a moment, nodding under Angela's eager gaze. "Alright, I just happen to be free today."

Angela let out a small cheer but suddenly remembered something, looking a bit disappointed. "But I heard the preview today is just the 3D version, and they won't have it in IMAX until next week? I saw the IMAX poster for Gravity last time, it was huge."

In order to create a gradual promotional effect, the sneak previews that weekend were indeed only in 3D. The Firefly Group would release a more impressive 3D-IMAX preview the following week after gauging the 3D cinema's reception.

Seeing the anticipation on Angela's face, Eric traced a finger along her pretty cheek, saying, "I'll arrange for an IMAX screening, just the two of us."

"Really? Won't that be a hassle?"

"Not at all."

Eric shook his head; he was curious to see the IMAX screening room in Manhattan himself. Although moving the hefty 500-kilogram 3D-IMAX reel from the vault for one screening wasn't exactly straightforward, it was something Eric could manage with a casual order.

...

As Eric made this offhand decision that morning, media and movie fans across North America eagerly awaited the unique 3D screening of Gravity at 8 PM that night.

From the initial whispers of Firefly Group's '4200' project to this point, where the first film in 3D and IMAX formats was about to premiere, film enthusiasts had been looking forward to this for two years. Coupled with the Firefly Group's relentless promotion of Gravity during this time, the anticipation hit a peak.

Gravity was only scheduled for a total of 50 preview cinemas in North America that weekend, with around 10,000 tickets, which was virtually a drop in the bucket for the entire North American film market. As a result, tickets for the sneak preview of Gravity were being resold for as much as $300.

Some eager viewers, unable to snag tickets for the Gravity preview, turned to traditional red-blue 3D screening rooms out of curiosity, only to be left disappointed, leading to media criticisms regarding the 3D effects of Gravity.

...

Taking a rare day off, Eric spent much of the day finishing up in his apartment on Sixth Avenue.

By 7 PM, he finally took Angela out for dinner before heading to the IMAX theater.

Even though she had passed by the six-story tall IMAX poster many times before, Angela still gazed curiously through the car window, as many had flocked to see the oversized advertisement during this time.

After arriving in the parking lot next to the theater, she linked her arm with Eric's as they were guided inside by the staff. Until the moment they entered the screening room, curious thoughts lingered in Angela's mind: Could it really be that big?

As she stepped into the screening room, her only thought was, "This is unbelievable."

The six-story tall giant screen took up most of her field of vision, and the standard theater, with 455 seats, boasted an atmosphere that felt quite rare. Over the years, North American theaters had increasingly favored smaller viewing rooms, with large auditoriums featuring hundreds of seats becoming less common.

"Send some popcorn and soda over, just have them ready for the screening," Eric casually instructed the cinema manager beside him as he led Angela to a central spot. "Let's sit here; the view is the best from this vantage point."

Angela nodded and stepped inside, once seated, she shyly asked, "Eric, it's really just going to be us? Isn't that too wasteful?"

Eric chuckled, "I can't really find enough audience to fill this place up right now."

Angela understood perfectly well that it would be easy for Eric to fill the theater; she simply smiled and began to take in her surroundings.

Soon, the cinema manager arrived with popcorn, soda, and two pairs of 3D glasses.

Putting on their glasses, Eric and Angela watched as the lights in the theater quickly dimmed.

...

Moments later, two beams of light shot from the back of the theater onto the huge IMAX screen. As they beheld the whimsical 3D Firefly logo fluttering across the screen, the immersive surround sound enveloping them, Angela couldn't help but let out a small gasp.

After the opening credits, brief segments of subtitles introduced the film, and the image of Earth suddenly appeared before them, accompanied by faint electronic sounds as the camera zoomed toward the space station.

Though Angela didn't completely grasp the meaning behind the super long shots showcasing such unique angles, the breathtaking 3D visual experience stirred a strong sense of viewing pleasure, keeping her eyes locked on the IMAX screen.

...

Meanwhile, in the other 50 3D preview theaters across North America, seasoned moviegoers and film critics may not have been able to appreciate the visual impact of the giant IMAX screen, yet they remained captivated by the RealD 3D effects and the stunning opening shot of Gravity.

However, the opening excitement was just the beginning; as the impending crisis hit, with scenes of thrilling moments in space and more immersive 3D effects, many fans and critics found themselves experiencing the sensation of "I've lived a full life" during the relatively short 90-minute screening.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1190: Response to the Sneak Preview (2)]

Los Angeles.

At a movie theater in Beverly Hills, the audience buzzed with excitement and admiration for the stunning 90 minutes they had just experienced. It wasn't until the last of the viewers had left the screening room that Michael Eisner and Richard Parsons, who had been sitting inconspicuously in the back row, finally stood up and made their way out.

Outside the screening of Gravity, reporters from various outlets were eagerly awaiting comments. Instead of exiting through the front, Michael Eisner and Richard Parsons left through an internal corridor and climbed into a luxury sedan parked at the curb. Once settled inside, Michael turned to Richard and asked, "So, what did you think?"

Richard Parsons, the African American CEO of Warner Bros., removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. While the design of the 3D glasses was reasonably accommodating for someone with his vision issues, he still felt a bit uncomfortable. He understood that this discomfort was likely more psychological than anything else.

Putting his glasses back on, Richard managed a rueful smile as he replied, "At least there's only one Eric Williams in Hollywood."

"One, huh?" Michael paused, a sense of nostalgia crossing his features. He voiced his acknowledgment with a hint of resignation and admiration, "It's good to have at least one guy like that in any era."

Richard directed the driver to head to a nearby restaurant and added, "Wasn't Shadowlight always following up on 3D movie developments? Polarized 3D technology isn't too complex; maybe we can launch our own 3D movie next summer."

Michael shook his head, "You're underestimating things."

More attuned than anyone else at Universal, Warner, and Paramount to the challenges posed by Digital Domain -- especially as part of Shadowlight, which had formed to combat it -- Michael knew that, since its formation, Shadowlight had focused its primary efforts on CG effects. The team working on the 3D technology that was supposedly aligned with Firefly Group's RealD initiative was just a small crew of fewer than ten people, far below the hundreds that RealD employed.

Besides, even if Shadowlight reached the technical standards of digital 3D technology, Firefly Group had invested nearly $2 billion over the past two years into their 'RealD' and '4200' plans. The cake had just been baked; there was no way they'd let the other three companies get a share of that pie so easily.

Understanding this, Richard quickly gathered his thoughts and, after a brief silence, remarked, "Even if Williams wanted to monopolize the market, the theaters wouldn't agree; a wider range of content is beneficial for them."

"But we're still lagging too far behind," Michael replied. "We should probably call a meeting with the heads of Shadowlight tomorrow."

Richard nodded. "Give me a call then, and I'll come along."

As they chatted, being from different companies meant that some things remained unsaid, but the weight of their words hung heavy in the air.

Digital Domain's absolute advantage in CG effects had already made it difficult for Universal and the other companies to keep pace. Now, with the new movie-screening model they've established, it was hard to envision how Hollywood's landscape would shift next.

If 3D represented a colossal transformation akin to sound versus silence or color versus black and white, then under Digital Domain's current lead, the status quo of the seven major film studios could very well evolve into six, five, or even four in the near future.

After all, major Hollywood studios were not invincible; once prominent studios like RKO and United Artists had vanished without a trace over the years. Now, due to Firefly's rise, the Disney brand had already been swallowed up. Had it not been for Firefly's support, MGM might have faced a similar fate.

With these concerns preoccupying their minds, neither Michael nor Richard had much appetite for a late-night snack. Arriving at a nearby restaurant, they merely sipped some coffee and exchanged casual conversation before parting ways for the night.

...

Following his heart surgery a few years earlier, Michael had been focusing on getting adequate rest. Yet, the next morning, he surprisingly awoke just before six.

Having received some prior notice, his assistant had already faxed him reviews from mainstream North American newspapers about Gravity. Sitting on the terrace just outside his morning study, Michael flipped through the pages, and the last shred of hope in his heart evaporated. The major papers overwhelmingly praised Gravity, with some reviews even carrying a hint of flattery.

"Spectacularly bold visuals, dazzling shot compositions, and groundbreaking 3D presentation gave us an unprecedented visual adventure." -- The New York Times

"Be it the revolutionary special effects, the 3D presentation, or the performances, I can only describe it as breathtaking. Eric Williams has created a visual miracle." -- The Los Angeles Times

"Gravity reminded me of Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, yet this film provided an even more overwhelming viewing experience; the new 3D presentation yielded a profoundly immersive sensation." -- The Hollywood Reporter

"Rather than calling Gravity a movie, it's more apt to say it's a stunning visual experience that amalgamates all the most advanced film technologies." -- The Washington Post

"Hollywood is set to witness another major upheaval." -- Variety

"..."

"..."

Most reviews evidently did not comment extensively on the film's plot, which was indeed a conventional high-concept survival film. However, Gravity innovatively transcended a genre often seen by audiences into a great film through its CG effects, shot styles, and 3D format.

As he sat quietly on the terrace, digesting the reviews, Michael hesitated for a long moment before pulling out his phone and dialing Katzenberg's number.

In the latter half of the year, with the Nasdaq stock market crash, the Seagram Group faced increasing struggles under its heavy debt load. This situation remained unchanged even after Universal Music obtained an 8% stake in Fireflyer through profit exchanges.

Michael understood that Universal Pictures might inevitably change hands again. While he had been performing well as CEO during the years, he was aware that to maintain his standing in Hollywood throughout this transition, Universal needed to stay ahead of the 3D movie trend.

...

With the Saturday night preview screenings, traditional print media was full of praise, while online movie fan communities buzzed even more fervently about Gravity.

On platforms like Yahoo Movies, IMDb, AOL Movie Community, and other film-related websites or forums, the film's popularity skyrocketed to the top in just one day. Viewers fortunate enough to attend the preview screenings openly expressed their admiration for the movie.

...

"One wonders what the ultimate effect of a long take is. In my opinion, it's when you completely forget that you're watching a long take. The opening shot of Gravity, which lasts over ten minutes, achieves precisely this. The flawless visual effects, majestic space scenes, witty dialogue between the characters, and the heart-stopping moments when danger strikes -- all these elements captivated me entirely. It wasn't until Ryan was hurled into the cosmic abyss and the camera suddenly cut that I realized I had just witnessed an extraordinary long take. Yes, at that moment, the only word I could think of was greatness."

...

"Do you want spoilers? Here's the deal: Judy this time takes on the role of a medical doctor, goes to space to repair the Hubble Telescope, encounters danger, and after enduring countless trials in space, finally returns to Earth. That's it. So, it's a very simple story. But it is undeniably an outstanding movie -- so outstanding that I'm not afraid to spoil it. Because in this simple story, I found so many things that words cannot express. If you don't watch it in a theater, you'll miss out on one of the greatest films in Hollywood history."

...

"This will undoubtedly become Eric Williams' fourth movie to gross over $1 billion at the box office."

...

"As a superfan of Elton John, the inclusion of Rocket Man in the soundtrack was an absolute masterstroke. When Kowalski plays the song while they're drifting in space, I honestly teared up a little."

"I feel the same way. But to me, the entire movie is like a divine intervention in Hollywood. I have this strong feeling that Eric Williams is just like Kubrick -- bringing a movie to us now that might not have appeared for another ten or twenty years."

...

"Did anyone notice the little girl hugging a doll? Haha, I saw it! Eric Williams, you lolicon, don't even try to deny it!"

"Shh! No spoilers, leave some surprises for everyone."

"Exactly! But when you see the Challenger space station interiors, keep your eyes wide open."

"Haha, I was scared, but then I found it adorable."

"That floating figurine! Too bad it wasn't a real person, but it was so cute. I wonder if they'll release merchandise of it."

"Darn you spoilers! Restrain yourselves or face the wrath!'

...

"Ahhh, two more weeks! I can't wait any longer. High prices offered for preview tickets, as long as it's in Seattle."

"To buy tickets, join the YCR group: 714311997."

"That's a scam. I have tickets, $600 on eBay. DM me if interested."

"I think I'll just talk to the scammer instead."

...

After spending a pleasant weekend with Angela Lindvall, Eric returned to Los Angeles to prepare for Gravity's global premiere on Friday, November 12th.

Firefly Studios.

The day after returning to Los Angeles, Eric watched a rough cut of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in the IMAX screening room at the studio. After lunch with Peter Jackson and others, he and Jeffrey Katzenberg strolled along a concrete path in the studio, discussing the promotional strategies for Gravity.

With the Saturday night screening generating massive acclaim, two years of hard work had finally borne fruit, and the results were even more bountiful than expected. The atmosphere within Firefly Group was currently one of exhilaration.

"Michael called me on Sunday and we talked over lunch. He hopes for the Mummy universe to do a 3D version; there's a Scorpion King 2 coming out this summer. He also inquired about our upcoming plans," Katzenberg stated.

Eric could feel the joy in Katzenberg's tone. After all, Michael Eisner was his former boss. With a smile, Eric replied, "Did you tell him yes?"

"Of course not," Katzenberg shook his head, "but I didn't outright refuse either. It would depend on our situation. If we need content, a Mummy universe series could be a solid option."

Eric nodded in agreement.

According to the plan, once 3D and IMAX take off, the number of 3D and IMAX screens across North America and abroad would certainly rise dramatically. The exact figures for how much they would increase, however, still lacked detailed projections.

Yet, Firefly Group already had a clear mindset: better to be selective than to oversaturate.

The 3D film market, especially in the West, enjoyed a boom following Avatar's success. However, within just a few years, producers unleashed a flood of 3D versions in their relentless pursuit of profit, alienating audiences with subpar 3D features and leading to a swift return to 2D screens.

This time, with their grip on much of Hollywood, Eric would not allow that situation to recur.

And despite the unpredictable nature of business greed, Firefly's system could now establish multiple barriers to ensure the healthy development of 3D films.

First among them was cost.

Gravity, despite its 90-minute runtime, had a substantial production cost due to its dual-3D filming setup, with a single regular film costing upwards of $3,000. Upon securing 2,000 3D screens in North America, the copying costs would reach $6 million. Furthermore, the IMAX-3D version's copying costs could skyrocket to $30,000. If 100 screens were dedicated to the IMAX-3D model, that would amount to another $3 million in costs.

Just this one line item -- the $9 million necessary for standard copies -- was enough to produce a decent independent film. Moreover, overseas, this same distribution scale could nearly double costs if completely new copies were utilized, reaching $18 million.

Due to the initially steep copying costs, one executive even suggested delaying some international market releases to allow for reusing North American copies.

Eric actually agreed with that executive's suggestion. However, Gravity's overseas release dates were already fixed; most synchronized markets could not be altered at this point, and this expenditure was unlikely to be recouped.

Now still residing in the film era, this situation wouldn't change for the next decade. Therefore, the costly dual-3D film copies would inherently filter out many lower-quality films.

The copy costs were merely the first barrier erected by the Firefly system.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1191: This River is Mine]

Although Eric had consistently leaned towards the interests of the Firefly Group, he indeed had no ambition to completely monopolize the 3D market, which was impossible anyway. After all, polarized 3D technology wasn't too difficult, and besides IMAX, there were other large-screen formats in the industry. If the Firefly Group attempted to monopolize, it would only result in the emergence of other 3D and large-screen formats. The competition from different standards would undoubtedly drain resources from all of Hollywood, similarly hindering the healthy development of 3D and large-screen films.

During this time, the Firefly Group had already begun preliminary pricing for making 3D and IMAX conversion services available to other production companies. To raise industry standards and filter out low-quality films as much as possible, RealD set a charge of $30,000 per minute for converting regular 2D films to 3D. On the IMAX side, converting a 2D film to IMAX would cost $10,000 per minute, while 3D version conversions would be doubled to $20,000 per minute.

This meant that, based on the average two-hour length of a Hollywood film, the upfront conversion fees for releasing 3D and IMAX-3D versions would reach a staggering $6 million. Although in the future, film companies could significantly reduce expenses on costly 3D and IMAX film copies by reducing screening scales and reusing international copies, the initial conversion fees were unavoidable.

Moreover, due to the potential barriers of dual-D certification, it would be quite difficult for other 3D production companies to penetrate the film source conversion market. The Firefly Group would, in fact, be able to control the entire trajectory of the 3D and IMAX film industry from the source.

...

Katzenberg had to head back to the Burbank headquarters, and after a brief exchange, the two parted ways in the corridor between the administrative area and studio area. Eric turned back to his office in the administrative area.

He opened his computer, sat down behind his desk, and flipped through the year-end box office prospect assessment report compiled by the company's distribution department. The films for the Thanksgiving and Christmas prime release periods had already been determined; it was just that, with recent previews and audience reviews gradually being disclosed, the distribution department had finally brought out the report.

It was already November 9. Before this, New Line Cinema's Final Destination 3 and Universal Pictures' The Bone Collector had been released on October 29 and November 5, respectively, right around Halloween.

As a classic horror brand of New Line, Final Destination 3 maintained the series' usual style and quality, resulting in stable box office performance. With a production cost of $25 million, the film earned $25.71 million in its opening week, and it was projected that the total North American box office would exceed $50 million, with global ticket sales likely surpassing the $100 million mark without much doubt.

In contrast, Universal Pictures' The Bone Collector, starring Denzel Washington, had a hefty production budget of $73 million. However, it only made $16.72 million over the first weekend from November 5 to November 7, and the projected first-week box office was about $23 million, roughly $2 million less than Final Destination 3.

As Eric reviewed the documents in his hands, he noticed that from The Bone Collector through to December 29, when The Hurricane was set for its release, Universal was slated to roll out five films. The Hurricane also starred Denzel Washington, and while the title suggested a disaster film, it was actually a biopic that cost $38 million to make. Universal positioned this film as an awards contender, but based on early responses from other film festivals, the quality of The Hurricane didn't seem up to par, and Eric couldn't recall many awards related to it.

Besides The Bone Collector and The Hurricane, Universal was also going to release End of Days starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Man on the Moon featuring Jim Carrey, and Snow Falling on Cedars with Ethan Hawke.

Combining these recent movements from Seagram, it seemed clear that Michael Eisner had organized such an intensive release schedule to maximize Universal's performance for 1999, bolstering his position amidst the ongoing sale of Universal Pictures.

However, based on Eric's own recollections and assessments from the Firefly distribution department, none of these five films appeared to have much potential for box office success. Furthermore, with the production costs of The Bone Collector at $73 million and The Hurricane at $38 million, it was evident that Michael Eisner was trying to control costs, yet the results were far from ideal.

Among them, Schwarzenegger's End of Days had a budget that had soared to $100 million, while Jim Carrey's Man on the Moon clocked in at $82 million. The legal drama Snow Falling on Cedars, starring Ethan Hawke, which Eric had never even heard of before, had a budget of $35 million that felt a bit excessive.

A few months prior, Universal had nearly matched Fox's box office share thanks to the success of The Mummy 3 and Notting Hill, coming in second only to the Firefly Group. But clearly, these five films felt a bit hasty and could well drag down Universal's overall performance that year.

This situation was closely tied to the Firefly Group's influence. Superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Carrey, and Denzel Washington were undoubtedly some of the least cost-effective superstars in Hollywood. In recent years, due to the Firefly Group's aggressive cost-cutting strategies on star salaries, many high-profile A-list stars had found themselves unable to secure collaborations with the Firefly Group, Fox, MGM, or Columbia Pictures, diverting their energies toward Warner, Universal, and Paramount, along with several independent production companies with ample financial backing.

The long-standing core star system in Hollywood couldn't change overnight, and the boom in Hollywood had made film financing seem incredibly easy. Thus, the other major studios and some new capital entering Hollywood continued to absorb these stars, providing them with substantial salaries while producing a slew of movies of varying quality at high costs.

Apart from Universal's slate of films, Eric was also aware that due to the remarkable box office success of summer's Big Daddy, Warner had directly offered Adam Sandler a whopping $20 million plus box office shares for his new film Little Nicky, with an $85 million production budget. Will Smith's collaboration with Warner on Wild Wild West was also going over budget, while Tom Cruise had retained his position as having the highest salary at Paramount for the past few years.

Historically, many years later, the numerous cases had convincingly shown that exorbitantly paid superstars were not indispensable. Yet Hollywood hadn't completely shifted its outlook on pursuing stars at all costs.

...

As Eric mused over these issues while leafing through the documents, there was a knock on the office door. When he acknowledged, Merissa Mayer stepped in carrying a file.

Handing over a blue folder to Eric, Merissa said, "Eric, we received news from Canada that the Nokia team has officially finalized the acquisition agreement with RIM for $260 million. The price is comparable to the beginning of this year, but it's 27% higher than RIM's current market value."

RIM, of course, was the brand holding company for BlackBerry phones, and Eric remembered that it wasn't until many years later that RIM merged its company name with that of BlackBerry.

Recently, the Firefly Group had been active in a buy-and-hold strategy; given the acquisition of RIM for under $300 million, it hardly seemed significant to the group's expansion plan. However, due to Eric's own emphasis on BlackBerry, Nokia had been quite focused on this acquisition. After Jorma Ollila's departure last year, Eric had been working on tightening control over Nokia to prevent it from repeating the same mistakes of the past.

As he opened the file, Eric read through the terms of the transaction between Nokia and BlackBerry. Noticing Merissa's poised figure across the desk, he looked up at her and said, "So, are you really not considering staying with me any longer?"

Merissa gazed at Eric, her eyes reflecting a trace of reluctance. With the rave reviews for Gravity's release, Eric had once again become the focal point of many media discussions. Perhaps this man had always been that dazzling, like the sun; most people wouldn't usually look up at the sky, but every now and then, they would pay attention to that shining light.

After a moment of silence, Merissa finally replied, "I've already discussed it with Mr. McNally. I'll first move to the YOS system development department to work as a software engineer for a while to reacquaint myself with various technical details, then transition to the hardware department after three months."

Listening to Merissa's clear career plan, Eric understood her decision and ceased to persuade her, but he still smiled and said, "I can't help but feel a bit regretful; I really want to keep you by my side."

"You," Merissa paused, then said, "you can find someone else."

"Nope, no more," Eric shook his head and replied with a smile, "I'm quite nostalgic, after all. From now on, I'll let Carly stay with me alone. Of course, anytime you want to come back, just let me know."

Merissa hesitated a moment, lightly nodding her head, yet she didn't say anything further.

Eric had already detailed the arrangements for RIM with Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo several times, even discussing how to rename RIM directly to BlackBerry.

So, after carefully reading through Nokia's acquisition agreement with BlackBerry and signing with his name, Eric decided to temporarily set that matter aside. Nokia would naturally execute the BlackBerry phone layout according to the prearranged plans.

...

Elisabeth had called earlier to inform Eric that the design draft for his mansion in Tasmania had been completed. After work, he rushed over to Elisabeth and Julia's mansion in Beverly Hills.

Although Eric and the girls had returned to Los Angeles, his agent in Australia had been actively working on the acquisition of Tasmanian land for him. Given Eric's financial condition, the Australian land's economic value was incredibly low. He had previously bought about 200 square kilometers, or roughly 50,000 acres, at a total cost of less than $60 million.

After months of continuous acquisition, Eric's land holdings in Tasmania had exceeded 1,000 square kilometers. However, outside a small portion of farmland, most of the land was native forest, with some areas resembling a primeval forest. It's said that there were wild platypuses in those woods. While this egg-laying mammal holds considerable biological research value, it is not considered an endangered species and is still relatively widespread in Australia.

With so much land acquired, it would be impossible not to carry out any development or improvement plans. Many held the belief that Australia had strict requirements for environmental protection; in fact, it was quite the opposite.

If not for Eric's purchase, the vast areas of native forest adjacent to the plots Eric had acquired would have already been slated for logging. In contrast, Eric, who preferred to preserve a complete primeval forest, would seem more like an environmentalist, and in truth, he was at heart, though not extreme about it.

While he wasn't planning on a large-scale transformation of that land, after discussing with the women, Eric decided to build a holiday estate for the Williams family in the area. As a big player in Australia, Eric didn't hesitate to entrust this responsibility to Elisabeth, having her arrange for designers and engineering teams locally.

"Look, they've chosen this location right here; to the south is Arthur HB and a hill, and the interstate highway is just two kilometers to the west. Here are some photos of the surroundings, as well as a few design drafts," after returning to Elisabeth's home, while Julia prepared dinner, Eric and the lady went through a large stack of materials that had come from Australia. After giving a general overview, Elisabeth said, "Honestly, if you're looking to buy more land, Queensland would be the best choice. Even Victoria is not too bad; why are you picking Tasmania? There aren't many people there at all!"

"Well, isn't there hardly anyone in all of Australia?" Eric replied while flipping through the estate sketches from the designer. "Besides, I actually want a place with fewer people; the more open, the better."

Elisabeth shot Eric an eye roll and said, "If you really live there for a while, you definitely won't think that way."

"Who said anything about living there permanently? As long as that land belongs to me, that's all that matters. You're welcome to visit anytime."

Feigning disinterest, Elisabeth huffed, "What's so interesting about it?"

Eric thought for a moment and pointed to a map on the coffee table, smiling, "See here, this river is mine. Hmm, I plan to buy that mountain to the east as well. Compared to your family's Lanai Island, this island is mine, that mountain is mine; tell me, which sounds more impressive?"

Elisabeth playfully hit Eric, grinning, "You know, Dad doesn't care about that island much anymore. He hardly goes there once in a few years."

Recalling some later events, Eric replied, "Well then, sell it! But I certainly wouldn't buy it. I have zero interest in small islands; I'd consider it if it were Tasmania."

The news of Lanai Island being purchased by Larry Ellison had sparked a lot of hype in the media in his previous life. Interestingly, Lanai Island originally belonged to the Murdoch family. Considering the company affiliations between News Corporation and Oracle, the stark contrast between the Murdoch family's discretion and Larry Ellison's flamboyance was quite fascinating.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1192: The Debt of a Bet]

"The entire island of Tasmania is just 15 million acres, and you think the Australian government would sell it to you? Ted Turner only owned 2 million acres," Elisabeth said, hearing Julia call them for dinner. She tidied up the scattered papers in front of her and walked to the dining room with Eric, casually shifting the topic. "How much do you think Gravity will make at the box office?"

Eric replied, "It depends on the market reaction, but breaking 100 million in the opening week shouldn't be a problem."

Elisabeth raised an eyebrow at Eric's cautious tone. "Isn't it a problem if it doesn't break 100 million? There's so much hype around it now."

Entering the kitchen, Eric washed his hands and helped Julia serve dinner. He turned to Elisabeth and said, "Haven't you looked at the data? Although 3D ticket prices increased by 50%, to ensure visual quality, our 3D screening rooms have a seating capacity of around 100. There are no large halls with two or three hundred seats. Calculating that, the daily box office limit for 2,000 3D screens is only about $25 million. Additionally, with 100 IMAX screening rooms, the daily box office limit is $3.64 million. So, the maximum daily box office for the film is a bit over $28 million; it's definitely going to be a long-term run."

"I remember Iron Man made over $35 million on its opening day," Elisabeth said, taking her dinner into the dining room and sitting down. "If you don't plan on increasing the number of 3D screens during the release, following normal film drop rates, it's certain that Gravity won't match Iron Man's box office, and achieving a global total of $1 billion will be much harder."

At that moment, Julia walked into the dining room and sat next to Eric. Hearing Elisabeth's comments, she countered, "Eric's movie will definitely hit $1 billion."

Although Elisabeth had gotten used to Julia always sitting next to Eric, seeing her cling to him still made her feel a bit annoyed. "You have so much confidence in him; why don't we place a bet?" she said.

"I'm not betting with you," Julia intentionally took a sip of Eric's juice, glancing smugly at Elisabeth. "You still haven't paid off the bet you lost to me and Eric on The Blair Witch Project."

"How can the person involved not know when someone else places a bet?" Elisabeth rolled her eyes, ignoring Julia and turning back to Eric. "By the way, this year's Sundance Film Festival is heating up. There are still over two months to go, and the number of films registered to participate is already double last year's. A lot of celebrities will be heading to Park City this year."

Eric nodded. "The growth of another film trading market will definitely be beneficial for Hollywood. However, it's going to be very hard to see a second Blair Witch Project in the next ten years."

From the beginning of the year up until now, The Blair Witch Project had almost already finished screening worldwide, with a total global box office reaching $255 million. Compared to its production cost of $60,000, the insane return on investment was enough to drive people crazy.

As the Sundance Film Festival in January approached, almost all film companies in Hollywood had started gearing up, hoping to strike gold again with a similar phenomenon to The Blair Witch Project.

However, the success of The Blair Witch Project fundamentally came from marketing, and that kind of nearly deceptive viral marketing would be hard to replicate in the short term. Although there would be increased focus on the Sundance Film Festival, Eric certainly wouldn't have overly high expectations. Firefly Group's business focus would always be on legitimate commercial films.

...

Time flew by quickly, and soon it was November 12; Gravity's global premiere officially took place at the IMAX theater in Santa Monica, Los Angeles.

In the days leading up to it, after the off-the-charts buzz from the film's advance screenings had settled down, many media outlets began to address the issues that Eric and Elisabeth mentioned on Tuesday night.

While the rave reviews for Gravity guaranteed its success, the limitations of 3D and IMAX screenings meant that, unless Firefly Group urgently increased the number of 3D theaters, achieving a global box office of $1 billion was not going to be an easy feat.

However, in various interviews with Firefly Group's higher-ups, it was revealed that there were no plans to increase the number of 3D and IMAX theaters in the short term. Many media outlets started to eagerly speculate on Gravity's box office prospects.

Iron Man, which released in the summer, recorded a peak daily box office of $37.35 million in its first week, breaking the record for the highest daily box office in Hollywood, yet its overall occupancy rate barely surpassed 70%. That was already a miraculous figure.

This led to a need to clarify the concept of occupancy rate.

Many people intuitively thought that occupancy rate only reflected how many people were in a theater, but in actuality, the occupancy rate is calculated based on the total audience number over all screenings in a given theater compared to the total number of seats.

For instance, in a theater with 100 seats, if there were only two screenings, with 10 people attending the early morning showing and 90 attending the prime-time screening, that theater's daily occupancy rate would be 50%.

The daily occupancy rate of a film is determined by averaging the rate across all its screening locations.

Usually, even for very popular films, prime-time screenings are in high demand, but due to viewing habits and weekdays, daytime screenings rarely fill up and can be quite barren.

Therefore, for Gravity, with a maximum daily box office limit of only $28 million, even if occupancy rates improved by 10% compared to Iron Man's peak, its first-week earnings would only be around $100 million.

Starting from $100 million in the first week, given Gravity's favorable reviews and assuming a 30% box office drop week-over-week, the film's total North American box office would likely remain below $300 million.

The planned international release scale for Gravity was comparable to North America, so Eric Williams' new movie might only achieve a global box office of $600 million.

While Gravity's production cost was just over $100 million, accounting for post-production, prints, and advertising costs, the total cost had crept up to nearly $200 million. A global box office of $600 million would merely allow Firefly Group to recoup its investment.

As more and more similar opinions emerged, and with Gravity's reviews no longer in doubt, North American media outlets, eager to grab attention and boost sales, naturally turned their focus to this issue, once again questioning the feasibility of Firefly Group's '4200' plan.

After all, if even a film by Eric Williams could barely break even, what about everyone else?

The outside world generally estimated that Firefly Group had invested nearly $2 billion in its '4200' plan, and given the current situation, recouping that investment seemed nearly impossible.

Although many of these discussions had potential issues with shifting concepts, there was no denying that these views gained traction among media and the public, with many even beginning to relish the prospect of watching Firefly Group fail.

...

In an atmosphere where the film received glowing reviews while its commercial prospects were under scrutiny, the global premiere of Gravity unfurled successfully without incident, attended by over 400 guests who represented the creme de la creme of Hollywood. Many fans even traveled from neighboring states just to witness the red carpet event for Gravity's premiere.

The IMAX premiere and subsequent IMAX screenings over that weekend reignited the media and public admiration for the film's visual effects, but simultaneously, criticism began to swell even more.

After all, the costs associated with IMAX films were extraordinarily high, with both the projection equipment and film prints costing over ten times that of traditional films, yet ticket prices were only double. Although IMAX theaters boasted more seating, that advantage was not clearly apparent when compared.

...

Amidst this mixture of accolades, doubts, anticipation, and debate, Gravity officially premiered on December 19 across 2,000 3D theaters and 100 IMAX theaters in North America.

However, early on December 19, the North American media erupted in response to Gravity's midnight showing box office numbers -- not because of their impressive peak, but because they were disappointingly low.

$3.57 million.

That was the midnight showing box office for Gravity.

Not to mention that when compared to the record-breaking $16.5 million for The Phantom Menace, even Eric's previous summer blockbuster Iron Man had earned $7.6 million at the midnight showing -- over twice what Gravity earned.

...

Firefly Studios.

On the small restaurant terrace of a large boat, Eric had recently added two seating arrangements with a great view.

At that moment, Jodie Foster showed little interest in the scenic views from her high vantage point. She glanced over at Eric, who was calmly reviewing a manuscript. After a moment of silence, she asked, "You don't seem worried at all, do you?"

Eric flipped through the pages of the manuscript, which was Jodie's own novel based on Gravity. He had read the first draft last year, but over the past year and more, she had been revising it repeatedly, and the current version was noticeably different from the initial draft.

To coincide with the marketing phase for Gravity, the book was set to officially launch next month through HarperCollins, a subsidiary of News Corporation, in multiple countries.

When they discussed this topic at last week's premiere, they had agreed to chat about the novel again this Saturday.

Hearing Jodie's comment, Eric looked up at her and said with a smile, "Come on, Schwarzenegger's End of Days only made $3.96 million on its opening day. What do I have to worry about?"

Two days before Gravity's release, on November 17, Universal Pictures released Arnold Schwarzenegger's action film End of Days on a Wednesday to avoid competing with Gravity.

This big-budget film, which left no impression in Eric's memory, predictably flopped, only managing to bring in $3.96 million on its first day. After three days, it had barely reached $11.53 million. While box office numbers might see an uptick over the weekend, the film's total box office after the first two days plus the weekend was likely to come in just over $20 million.

Jodie was quite displeased with Eric's nonchalant attitude, narrowing her beautiful eyes as she teased, "Have you fallen to the point where you have to compare yourself to Schwarzenegger?"

"Well, that depends on what we're comparing," Eric replied with a chuckle, knowing she was worried about him, and adjusted his tone to a more serious note. "You see, the media is always like this; they love to hype up the drama of someone falling from a height, no matter if that person is a superhero who isn't afraid of a fall."

Listening to Eric's confident tone, Jodie leaned slightly forward, propping her chin on one hand, and said, "But $3.57 million still seems a bit too low."

Eric examined the hints of femininity that had crept into Jodie's demeanor, and replied, "That's mainly because you're thinking like most people do, without realizing that Gravity's screening model is completely different from the traditional 2D films. Do you know what the occupancy rate was for last night's midnight showing?"

Jodie shook her head, her curiosity piqued.

Flipping through the manuscript, Eric continued, "Out of 2,000 3D theaters, the occupancy rate exceeded 95%. The 100 IMAX theaters were completely sold out. We selected smaller theaters to enhance the visual experience of 3D; thus, given the seating limitations, even with the increased ticket prices, the midnight box office still yields relatively low numbers."

Interestingly, Eric recalled that when James Cameron's Avatar broke box office records, its midnight showing also only brought in $3.5 million -- a fascinating coincidence.

Moreover, taking into account factors like ticket price inflation over a decade and the differences in screening scales, the midnight showing for Gravity should actually exceed that of Avatar's.

Yet, Avatar followed a pattern of cold reviews early on, followed by explosive success later, much like Titanic. Gravity, however, had been receiving outstanding reviews since the private screenings, and the first week's popularity would likely squeeze its box office potential, possibly leading to a normal commercial film drop-off afterward.

On the other hand, with only a total of 2,100 theaters screening the film, compared to the audience's initial appetite for experiencing 3D and IMAX formats, it might lead to some effects of scarcity marketing.

Considering the combination of all these somewhat conflicting influences, even Eric couldn't predict the direction Gravity's box office would take.

Jodie listened intently to Eric's explanation, appearing contemplative, then asked, "Why don't you quickly increase the number of 3D screens? Given the current situation, that should be quite simple."

"Because there aren't enough source films. From now until next summer, the Firefly system only has plans for five 3D-IMAX films: Gravity, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Underworld, Sleepy Hollow, and with IMAX, Jurassic Park: Return to the Cretaceous. To be precise, Jurassic Park is only considered 'half a movie.' So, with 2,000 screens, at the rate of one film per month, we're perfectly set up until next summer," Eric elaborated, admiring Jodie's lovely blue eyes. "Now, let's not dwell on that. The other day, I suddenly remembered something. You remember last year's Oscars? I think I still owe you a bet."

https//Sayonara816.

---

I am Hollywood #Chapter 1191: Chapter 1193: Opening Weekend Box Office - Read I am Hollywood Chapter 1191: Chapter 1193: Opening Weekend Box Office Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

[Chapter 1193: Opening Weekend Box Office]

"Do you remember this?"

Jodie glanced at Eric with her beautiful, bright eyes, feeling a mix of emotions. She vividly recalled a meeting last year when she had unceremoniously rejected Eric's invitation for dinner, made under the pretext of wanting to settle a bet. Who would have thought that a year later, she still couldn't escape from his grasp?

"Of course," Eric nodded, adopting a righteous expression. "How could an upstanding person like me possibly owe anyone anything? So, how about dinner tonight?"

"You're so unoriginal," Jodie teased lightly. "Just dinner?"

"How about we eat at the Liberty City Manor?" Eric smiled, "After dinner, whatever you want to do, I can't possibly say no."

Jodie snorted softly, neither accepting nor rejecting the invitation. "Let's not be so frivolous. Let's talk about the novel. It's getting published next month."

Eric wiped the smile off his face and turned his focus back to the manuscript in front of him. "The idea of an open ending is great, but ending with Ryan successfully returning to Earth feels a bit off. It would be better to add a bit more drama to wrap it up. It doesn't need to be long, but it should give readers more room for imagination."

As they chatted, the afternoon slipped away unnoticed.

In the evening, Eric brought up the dinner invitation again. After a brief moment of hesitation, Jodie agreed to return to Liberty City Manor with him.

...

The next morning, Jodie woke up to find Eric no longer beside her. Yet, she didn't feel any of the typical insecurities a woman might feel.

Ever since she had taken an interest in the Shell Villa, a now-iconic Los Angeles building, she quickly dressed, washed up, and began wandering the extravagant home out of curiosity.

Occasionally, she stopped to admire the art pieces on the walls. While she didn't know much about art, she recognized some of it was painted by Eric himself, displayed alongside those from famous artists.

She chuckled to herself, then realized he had indeed earned that right. She had carefully saved his script for Gravity.

Her thoughts drifted back to the little man, and she inexplicably recalled his mention of their bet and recent plans.

She had been thinking about wanting a child for a while now, but the Gravity project had delayed her for a year.

Perhaps.

She recalled they hadn't taken any special precautions last night. She had even misled him by saying she was in her safe period. Thinking back, there was a part of her that might have hoped for this.

After all, while she had several male friends, she felt a unique connection with only him.

However, she still had doubts about his identity. She had no desire for anyone to speculate that she had ulterior motives regarding his vast fortune. Deep down, she hoped her child would remain distanced from that world.

Having gained fame as a young woman, she had never worried about her livelihood and therefore viewed money rather lightly.

If she were to conceive, she could leverage Eric's outstanding debt to her to claim sole custody of the child. He had enough women in his life already, with three kids, so he likely wouldn't protest.

Lost in these thoughts, she wandered into the kitchen downstairs.

...

There he was, busy at the counter, wearing a light gray turtleneck sweater with sleeves rolled up, paired with khaki casual pants. His tall stature and sharp profile caught her eye, eliciting a flutter of feelings.

When he noticed her, he smiled and continued chopping an apple. Jodie then spotted the bite mark on his right arm.

That bite looked off.

She couldn't help but laugh at the thought that popped into her head.

Eric turned to her, asking, "What's got you smiling?"

"Nothing," Jodie pointed at his right arm. "What happened there?"

Eric raised his right hand to check his watch, puzzled as if he had only just noticed. "Did you sneakily bite me last night?"

Jodie rolled her eyes, unimpressed by his attempt at humor.

Eric was only joking, placing the chopped apple into a glass bowl and mixing it with salad dressing. He laughed, "I came across a girl who thought I was picking on her, so she lunged at me and bit me."

Jodie looked skeptical, catching one particular word: "Thought?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded, "I hadn't met her before; we were strangers at first sight, and then that was that."

Realizing Eric was indeed telling the truth, she wanted to ridicule him but was sidetracked by another question. "What happened next?"

"Next? The prince and the princess lived happily ever after. See, I'm such a good guy that even the worst stories turn into fairytales in my hands."

"I've never seen someone so keen on praising themselves."

Jodie rolled her eyes again, not wanting him to think she cared too much about his personal life, so she dropped the subject and helped prepare breakfast.

Soon, they moved to the dining room.

...

On the table sat a laptop with an email full of data opened. Curiously, Jodie glanced at it, deducing it was movie box office information.

Not wanting to pry, she took a seat and munched on a fruit salad, asking Eric across the table, "How did the first-day box office turn out?"

Eric passed her a glass of milk and then sat down. "It was $24.29 million."

Jodie paused for a moment. Even though Eric had explained some things to her the day before, she still couldn't help but ask, "Isn't that a bit low?"

If it were any other film, $24.29 million on the first day could easily be considered a success. But for Eric, it clearly fell short.

Eric shook his head and elaborated, "Two thousand 3D screens, with an 82% occupancy rate, brought in $20.65 million. One hundred IMAX screens were fully booked, totaling $3.64 million. In sum, $24.29 million -- so do you still think it's low?"

Having grown up in Hollywood, Jodie immediately understood the implications of Eric's explanation.

She wasn't particularly surprised by the nearly full midnight screening he had mentioned yesterday; many blockbuster movies achieve that. But maintaining over 80% capacity throughout the day was impressive.

"That high? If only there had been more screening rooms..."

...

As they discussed this over breakfast at Liberty City Manor, the buzz about Gravity's first-day performance had already spread across media channels.

Despite the remarkable occupancy rates capturing the media's attention, the overall single-day box office of under $30 million still felt unimpressive for Eric.

Consequently, mocking opinions sprouted throughout the media landscape.

Of course, there were also those who understood the situation.

The Los Angeles Times remarked that if Gravity could maintain its box office performance next week without a dip, Eric's new film still had a chance to breach $300 million in North America.

However, to reach that goal, they needed to increase the number of 3D and IMAX screens. With Firefly Group lacking any such plans, it seemed unlikely in the short term.

Moreover, due to the limited availability of 3D films, even theaters didn't naively expand their 3D screen count.

With merely two thousand screens among the total of thirty-six thousand in North America, Firefly Group's reach was only about 5.5%.

While they did their best for national coverage, they could only focus on the mainstream box office cities, which naturally left many fans unable to watch the film.

Soon, complaints circulated online, and traditional media picked it up quickly, framing the issue as a major misstep in Firefly Group's distribution strategy.

Following this, some media suggested that the Firefly Group release a 2D version of Gravity, a sentiment echoed by some of Firefly's executives.

Even if the 2D version of Gravity would undoubtedly still be a classic, it couldn't match the immersive experience of a 3D film.

Since Eric produced Gravity mainly to promote the 3D and IMAX formats, he naturally dismissed those suggestions without hesitation.

...

Over the weekend, Gravity grossed $22.35 million and $19.36 million from 3D cinemas, while IMAX theaters remained completely sold out.

In fact, the hundred IMAX theaters in North America had nearly sold out all tickets within a week, with ticket scalpers already capitalizing on high demand.

In total, Gravity accumulated $76.78 million in its opening weekend.

Between Eric's previous hits like Jurassic Park, Casino Royale, and Iron Man, this figure was just slightly higher than the $71 million Jurassic Park earned during its opening weekend six years prior.

When adjusting for inflation, Gravity's opening weekend box office was the lowest among those films.

Although Thanksgiving was just around the corner, many people worked until the 24th to enjoy a four-day holiday.

So, November 22nd marked the coming of the workweek.

Based on usual trends, box office revenue on weekdays tends to decrease by 60% to 70% compared to the weekends, meaning that four weekdays would typically generate only about 30% of the weekend's revenue.

Using this ratio, Gravity's theoretical box office for those four weekdays would likely only be $23.03 million, bringing its first-week total to around $99.81 million -- barely close to the $100 million mark.

While Gravity's reception suggested a lower drop-off, the outside world generally believed it would not surpass typical box office decline limits.

Furthermore, the media had solid facts backing their expectations for a possible weekday drop-off for Gravity.

The concentration of 2,000 3D theaters limited accessibility, primarily located in mainstream cities and insufficient numbers. Since the distribution was controlled by cinemas, Firefly could not flexibly adjust the 3D theater locations in response to audience numbers.

This had already excluded a significant number of remote viewers.

During the weekend, many audience members might be willing to drive to a nearby city for the 3D experience, but that commitment waned as weekdays reopened.

However, subsequent events revealed that many had underestimated Gravity's box office draw and the new allure of 3D and IMAX films.

...

On the morning of November 23rd, Gravity's weekday box office on its first day astounded everyone.

On Monday, Gravity brought in $14.13 million in 2,000 3D theaters, a mere 27% drop from Sunday's $19.36 million.

Meanwhile, IMAX continued to operate at full capacity.

Consequently, even media outlets previously optimistic about Gravity's performance found themselves in disbelief.

Amid this shock and awe, Gravity's box office momentum remained unbroken in the following days.

On Tuesday, 3D theaters raked in $13.99 million, and IMAX didn't disappoint with full houses.

Wednesday saw 3D box office numbers at $14.53 million, once again reporting full IMAX theaters.

On Thursday, the 3D theaters made $12.27 million, with IMAX outlets staying at max capacity.

Throughout those four days, apart from a noticeable dip on Thanksgiving Day, Gravity recorded occupancy rates exceeding 50% in the North America's 2,000 3D theaters.

Ultimately, Gravity grossed $120.33 million in its first week from those 2,000 3D locations, contributing another $25.74 million from 100 IMAX theaters, which had commenced screenings at midnight the previous week.

In total, Gravity's opening week box office reached $146.07 million, significantly surpassing all forecasts, including those from the Firefly Group's distribution division.

Without a doubt, Gravity had ignited a viewing frenzy that transcended the phenomenon created by Eric's previous three films.

...

When Gravity's final box office numbers came in, all previously cautious parties could no longer stay put.

Even on weekdays, with an occupancy rate over 50%, the future of 3D films looked remarkably bright.

Major North American theater chains abandoned the 3D theater promotion plan initially laid out by the Firefly Group, quickly reaching out to higher-ups at Firefly, eager to expand the number of 3D theaters immediately.

Conversely, IMAX's stellar performance in the market also drew attention from cinemas and Hollywood, and this focus had even overtaken the interest in 3D.

After all, just the hundred IMAX theaters in North America generated $25.74 million for Gravity within a week.

This indicated that under ideal circumstances, just these 100 IMAX theaters could amass over $1 billion in annual box office. That alone would account for a staggering seventh of the total North American annual box office.

However, those 100 IMAX theaters only represented about 0.3% of the total 36,000 screens across North America.

Clearly, no one realistically expected IMAX screens to maintain a 100% occupancy rate indefinitely, but even if their typical fill rate decreased to 70%, the returns from expanding IMAX facilities would still be exceedingly lucrative in proportion to their share of the overall market.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1194: The Release Schedule Dilemma]

The opening weekend box office for Gravity had already surprised everyone, but when the second week's numbers were released, both North America and overseas, the entire film industry could no longer remain calm.

From November 26 to December 2, Gravity's second week saw a remarkably low drop of just 5.1%, bringing in $138.63 million. In just half a month, Gravity had already made a staggering $284.69 million at the North American box office.

As of December 2, the only films from 1999 that grossed over $280 million in North America were Iron Man and The Mummy 3. Gravity had swiftly secured the third spot on the North American annual box office chart after just two weeks.

Moreover, with Gravity's unstoppable box office trend, which had crushed Iron Man and The Mummy 3, it was only a matter of time before it claimed the title of annual box office champion.

Simultaneously, the overseas markets where Gravity had recently opened were also reporting impressive figures.

Being the first major release in 3D and IMAX formats, many overseas theater operators had adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Firefly Group managed to open 1,630 3D screens and 63 IMAX screens simultaneously overseas.

Although 100 standalone IMAX theaters had already been established, 37 additional IMAX locations were temporarily closed to align with varying market schedules.

Nevertheless, the fewer than 1,700 overseas screens that opened in tandem brought Firefly Group $97.3 million in their first week.

Additionally, as the positive word-of-mouth spread, Gravity's overseas box office enjoyed a reverse drop of 8.3% in its second week, adding another $100.53 million.

In just two weeks, Gravity's overseas total reached $202.67 million, with a combined global total of $487.36 million!

In half a month, $487.36 million made all noteworthy box office records in Hollywood appear insignificant next to Gravity. Even Titanic, just three years prior, hadn't seen such a feverish box office performance.

Many media outlets had already begun speculating whether Gravity could surpass Titanic's all-time global box office record of more than $2 billion and become the ultimate box office champion.

In light of Gravity's success, no one in the industry could question the commercial prospects of 3D and IMAX films anymore.

As the year came to a close, a large number of executives from production companies across North America and overseas, along with cinema managers and even the lower-level suppliers of film projection equipment, began congregating in Los Angeles, eager to stake their claim in this new transformation of the film industry.

However, as the movie industry began to prioritize 3D and IMAX films like never before, many started to realize that Firefly Group had gained absolute control over this industry revolution, from lower-tier projection equipment to top cinema chains.

...

In Burbank, inside a screening room at Warner Bros., over a dozen executives from Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, and other industry players were watching a 3D film segment.

The sample was a clip of under three minutes from Universal's The Mummy 2, converted by the Shadowlight's 3D team, and presented on equipment that Shadowlight had assembled, utilizing dual-machine polarized 3D technology.

However, once the clip ended and the lights came up, the expressions on the faces of several industry leaders in the room were nearly devoid of emotion, and the overall atmosphere felt quite oppressive.

Polarized 3D technology wasn't exactly groundbreaking; similar attempts had been made in the industry as far back as 1922.

Yet just like comparing a five-star chef to an ordinary person who couldn't cook, the results were vastly different. In contrast to the dazzling visuals produced by Firefly Group's RealD technology, the three-minute sample had to be described as trash.

Richard Parsons removed his 3D glasses and adjusted the regular glasses he had put on over them. Though he'd worn them for only three minutes, he felt unusually uncomfortable.

Recalling how a month prior, he and Michael Eisner attended a screening of Gravity, where they experienced wonderfully crafted 3D glasses that were friendly to the near-sighted, Richard Parsons realized just how far ahead Firefly Group had left them.

After a moment of silence, Richard Parsons, as the host, spoke first, waving to dismiss the unnecessary attendees.

Soon, only a few individuals remained in the room, including Michael Eisner, Tom Freston, and Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz.

After assessing the expressions of the remaining attendees, it was clear that Michael Eisner seemed distracted, while Tom Freston appeared to be deep in thought. Richard Parsons turned to Carol Bartz, asking the pressing question on his mind, "Bartz, given our current foundation, how long do you think Autodesk will take to develop conversion software that rivals Firefly Group's 3D effects?"

Carol Bartz, a middle-aged woman with sharp hair exuding a competent aura, answered without hesitation, "If it's just the software, Autodesk can get it done in six months. But Richard, you need to understand that you're facing more than just a software issue. Firefly Group has built an entire ecological system around 3D films. If you can't unite to break through each other's ecological barriers, Hollywood will only be left to Firefly's terms."

Since the incident in May, Sherry Lansing had been forced out, and Tom Freston, acting as Co-President of Viacom, had become the temporary CEO of Paramount Pictures. Surprisingly, that arrangement had continued for over six months.

During that time, Paramount had been searching for a suitable CEO for their studio due to well-known reasons.

Transitioning from group president to subsidiary CEO had significantly diluted Tom Freston's authority, which had only intensified his resentment towards Firefly Group.

Upon hearing Carol Bartz's remarks, Tom Freston couldn't help but retort, "While we've fallen behind a bit, we all possess the resources that Firefly Group has, and I don't believe it's as dire as you've suggested."

Listening to Tom Freston's obviously emotional response, Carol Bartz countered, "If Firefly Group were to invite Paramount to join the RealD and IMAX repository of films, would you decline?"

Tom Freston hesitated briefly before shaking his head. "No, we wouldn't."

Carol Bartz continued, "Then conversely, if Warner, Universal, and Paramount teamed up to launch a brand-new 3D screening system, do you believe that Firefly Group would refuse to provide you with content?"

Tom Freston's lips moved, but he didn't respond.

However, the answer was evidently clear.

To preserve its own interests in RealD and IMAX systems, Firefly would absolutely refuse to supply content for any new systems launched by Warner and the other studios.

Thus, the situation became increasingly one-sided.

Warner, along with other Hollywood producers, wanting to share the profits from 3D and IMAX films, would have to succumb to the Firefly system. In contrast, having already secured a significant advantage, the Firefly system wouldn't permit the emergence of any competing standards in 3D and IMAX.

Noticing the expressions of the three men beside her, Carol Bartz suddenly felt a twinge of regret. She had hoped to encourage these Hollywood moguls but had inadvertently quashed their enthusiasm instead.

As the top-tier design software company in the industry, Autodesk's biggest strategic misstep in recent years had been their initial refusal to collaborate with Firefly Group on developing CG software.

Due to that oversight, the sectors of film visual effects related to CG production, image rendering, and solutions had essentially been monopolized by Digital Domain under Firefly Group.

Years ago, Firefly Group even established Firefly Software Company to attempt to commercialize their in-house software.

However, as the market for design software is inherently limited and cannot compare with the vast sphere of essential operating systems, even Autodesk, the world's largest design software company, barely earned $2 billion in annual revenue, with net profits often under $500 million.

Firefly Group's film visual effects software would only see significantly lower profits from commercial operations. Yet controlling Hollywood's entire visual effects production chain could yield tremendous potential advantages for Firefly Group.

Consequently, Firefly opted to abandon their original strategy, shifting towards a relatively closed commercial licensing model, inadvertently gaining control over a considerable portion of Hollywood's visual effects production, making the potential benefits far surpass simple software sales gains.

The end result was that, from the stunning Mercury Man in Terminator 2 to the present day, nearly all of Hollywood's best CG effects films came from a few companies under Firefly Group.

Nonetheless, now that they had come to this realization, Autodesk had no intention of simply relinquishing this market.

Gathering her thoughts, Carol Bartz addressed Freston and the others again, "While the ecological barriers erected by the Firefly system are formidable, I believe you must breach them. Otherwise, Warner, Universal, and Paramount will forever watch as the Firefly system continues to capture the most lucrative segments of Hollywood's film industry.

To my knowledge, last week's North American box office totaled $196 million, but Gravity alone had divided $138 million of that, accounting for 70%. That's already a very alarming signal."

Finishing her point, none of the three showed the upbeat response that Carol had hoped for. Clearly, those holding high positions in Hollywood's major companies were not easily swayed.

Richard Parsons stated, "Bartz, I think we should focus directly on the specific measures we need to take."

Carol Bartz replied, "It's straightforward. First, the three of you must abandon short-term profit and loss considerations and shake off as much influence and control from Firefly as possible."

"We've always been trying to do that," Tom Freston said. "Otherwise, we wouldn't all be gathered here today."

"But you can actually do a lot more. For instance, in the case of visual effects, Autodesk's software is already incredibly adept; if you can entirely break away from technical dependency on Digital Domain, more opportunities for technical advancements and optimizations would open up, freeing you from the limitations imposed by the Firefly system in terms of effects."

Richard Parsons interrupted Carol Bartz, saying, "Bartz, we really should discuss the issues regarding 3D films today."

"The reasoning is the same, isn't it?"

...

Michael Eisner listened to the discussions, arguments, and negotiations among the three and suddenly felt a sense of disinterest.

The strength of the Firefly system lay in Eric Williams' absolute control over the companies within it.

Even 20th Century Fox had followed Firefly Group's interests almost without question. When Eric Williams announced a ban on Blockbuster, a subsidiary of Paramount, 20th Century Fox quickly issued a statement in alignment with the decision.

However, for Warner, Universal, and Paramount, fully uniting to counter the Firefly system was almost impossible.

They spent the entire morning deliberating and, although they put forth some proposals, they ultimately made no decisions, as Michael Eisner was not in a position to call the shots.

After having lunch together, Michael Eisner said his goodbyes and climbed into his car.

As soon as his vehicle left Warner Bros., Michael Eisner dialed Jeffrey Katzenberg's number.

Instead of spending time with a few superficial allies, he preferred to reach out to those who could genuinely offer him benefits.

Yet Katzenberg was not at the Firefly Group headquarters in Burbank, but rather at the Playa Vista Firefly Film Studio.

...

With the tremendous success of the 3D and IMAX cinemas, Katzenberg had been remarkably busy in recent days.

After having lunch with Richard Gelfond, head of IMAX, just earlier, they were discussing business affairs while taking a walk around the studio when Katzenberg received the call from Michael Eisner.

Following a brief chat with Eisner, during which they planned to meet for dinner the next evening, Katzenberg then turned to Richard Gelfond and said, "You can let those IMAX theater operators know that there's definitely no copy of Gravity available right now, and making the 2D-IMAX version won't be feasible in time. However, next month, the company can provide 2D-IMAX copies of The Lord of the Rings, but the split has to be 70% for Firefly; that's non-negotiable."

With Gravity's box office explosion, IMAX theaters in museums and science centers across North America and overseas began to express interest in sharing in those profits.

However, aside from the brand-new IMAX theaters owned by Firefly Group, which could choose to show either 2D or 3D formats, most existing IMAX screens still only showed 2D films. Moreover, many institutions with IMAX screens were not primarily profit-seeking, and the initial distribution plan had led Firefly Group to exclude these IMAX theaters.

Now, however, given the strict demand for tickets at Firefly Group's IMAX theaters, the company had to reconsider these resources.

Nonetheless, this was not about Gravity; it was about next month's upcoming release of The Lord of the Rings.

Given Gravity's strong box office trajectory, it wouldn't be possible to free up many 3D and IMAX theaters in the short term, and the first installment of The Lord of the Rings was facing serious scheduling issues ahead of its release.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1195: The Little Guy's Name]

In the original plan, the first installment of the Lord of the Rings was set to be released in 2D, 3D, and IMAX formats simultaneously. The release date for the first film was December 17, exactly four weeks after the opening of Gravity. Based on the usual box office trends for most films, it would have been expected that Gravity would be willing to relinquish some of its 3D and IMAX screens after four weeks.

However, with Gravity's strong box office performance, the film was able to sustain its current screen count for over eight weeks. Moreover, from a purely commercial standpoint, even if Gravity suffered some degree of box office decline, theaters would likely hesitate to give up too many screens to Lord of the Rings.

This was largely due to the film's duration, which was nearly 180 minutes long, limiting the number of screenings to just five per day per theater. While North American ticket prices might adjust according to showtimes, they wouldn't change significantly based on the length of the film. In contrast, Gravity, which was half the length of Lord of the Rings, could accommodate up to nine showings per day at the same theater -- potentially generating almost double the box office revenue from the same occupancy rate.

Initially, during the distribution phase, Firefly Group was already aware of the situation. Therefore, the primary focus of the first Lord of the Rings release was on 2D formats, with the company preparing 2,800 screens for 2D, while only supplementing with 3D and IMAX showings to save substantially on print costs.

Yet now, since advertisements had already announced simultaneous releases in 2D, 3D, and IMAX, and given the overwhelming positive response for 3D and IMAX, if they suddenly canceled those formats, it would undoubtedly frustrate eager fans.

Confronted with the current demand and strong requests from theaters, Firefly Group eventually decided to increase the number of 3D screens. After discussions with company executives, Eric approved this change. However, to ensure optimal viewing quality for the additional 3D theaters, Firefly agreed to supply 500 RealD projection systems, overseeing the selection of venues, equipment installation, and staff training.

In light of the theaters invoking buyout clauses from earlier contracts, the transaction for these 500 RealD systems did not include any profit-sharing agreements. Nonetheless, Firefly was firm with a price tag of $500,000, which was more than double the manufacturing cost of the entire set of equipment and five times the approximately $100,000 price of traditional film projectors in the market. Here, Firefly stood to gain over 100% gross profit.

Additionally, the contract specified that future supplies like replacement bulbs, 3D glasses, and other consumable components had to be purchased from Firefly's RealD division, which would also ensure a steady stream of considerable profits.

Though exhibitors winced at Firefly's hefty demands, they ultimately accepted the offer. For context, Gravity had an average revenue of $60,000 per 3D cinema in its first week, meaning the theaters could recoup their $500,000 investment in equipment in about a year. Ordinary 2D theaters, on the other hand, often took two to three years to recover comparable initial costs.

Due to Firefly's strict requirements, it would take at least a month to upgrade the additional 500 theaters for 3D. Transforming IMAX theaters was an even more complex task, and Firefly had little hope of increasing the number of IMAX screens before the summer blockbuster season, thus opting to utilize the existing locations across various museums and science centers worldwide.

...

As Jeffrey Katzenberg and Richard Gelford discussed collaboration agreements and the expansion of IMAX theaters, one of Katzenberg's assistants walked over and whispered something.

"Well, let's keep it at that for now," Katzenberg said, nodding after hearing the news. "The CEO of Sony Pictures America, Hirai Kazuo, has arrived."

Upon hearing that name, Gelford immediately understood Sony's interest. The core and most expensive component of the RealD projection system was two custom film projectors, for which RealD had opted to use Sony projectors for various reasons. The order for 4,000 RealD systems, amounting to 8,000 projectors, had already netted Sony substantial profits, and it was one of the factors that led Sony to yield to Firefly's pressures last year when Columbia Pictures was once again sold.

With the future of 3D films becoming clearer, the global film industry was poised for a wave of equipment upgrades. Currently, the number of film screens worldwide had surpassed 100,000 and was still rapidly increasing. If a mere 30% of these screens transitioned to 3D, it would result in a demand for 60,000 new projectors.

Similar to the automobile industry, film projection equipment was also characterized by the significant profits from ongoing consumable repairs, which equaled or surpassed the initial equipment sales. Thus, those 60,000 projectors, along with their consumable parts and maintenance, promised to contribute billions in revenue for equipment manufacturers.

This lucrative opportunity made film device manufacturers reluctant to see their market share constrained by Firefly Group. However, with Firefly's RealD system having taken the lead, traditional equipment manufacturers needed at least six months to completely catch up in the 3D projection technology. That six-month timeframe could be sufficient for RealD's standards to set a dominant footing in the industry.

Moreover, any promotional efforts without the support of Hollywood's film sources would likely fail. Therefore, short-term, these equipment manufacturers seeking a share of the profits had no choice but to become core suppliers of the RealD systems.

Although a significant portion of the profits would go to Firefly Group, at least this route could secure their market share. Even if Firefly took a cut from maintenance and consumables, it would still be far better than for those manufacturers excluded from the 3D market.

As a result, in recent days, nearly all mainstream film equipment manufacturers were closely engaging with Firefly Group, hoping to secure orders for RealD projection systems. Given their position with Firefly and in light of other manufacturers' frequent actions, Sony was swiftly losing its desire to remain aloof. If they lost their position as a supplier of RealD projectors while already enjoying a competitive advantage, Sony would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the industry.

After a few more exchanges, Katzenberg sent Gelford on his way and returned to his office in the studio.

...

Sony Pictures America CEO Hirai Kazuo stood tall, a rarity among the Japanese, yet had small eyes.

Upon meeting Katzenberg in the lounge, Hirai performed a customary bow and extended his right hand to the powerful head of Firefly Group. "Mr. Katzenberg, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Hirai Kazuo."

Katzenberg shook his hand. "Hello, Hirai. It's great to have you here in Los Angeles."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two entered Katzenberg's office and sat down in the meeting area. As the secretary brought in coffee for both of them, Hirai brought up another subject. "Mr. Katzenberg, I reached out to Mr. Williams's assistant's office hoping to meet with him or drop by for a visit while I'm in Los Angeles, but was turned down. I wonder if you could convey my sincerity to Mr. Williams?"

"Well, I'm afraid you might not get that chance this time," Katzenberg said, shaking his head. "Eric is currently on vacation and isn't in Los Angeles."

"Is he in New York?" Hirai asked. "If so, I could visit him when I return."

"Not really," Katzenberg replied, shaking his head again. "I spoke with him yesterday, and he's in Florida, and he doesn't want to be disturbed right now."

"Oh, that's quite unfortunate."

Katzenberg took a sip from the coffee his secretary had brought him, setting the cup down, he remarked, "Let's talk about the RealD system. Hirai, I must regrettably inform you that Sony's desire for exclusive supply of the RealD projection equipment is no longer possible."

...

Meanwhile, while Katzenberg was busy in Los Angeles, Eric relaxed alongside a tennis court at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, watching a tall, youthful girl practice tennis with Emma and Kevin.

Sitting next to him was his daughter Hawaii, who, although dressed in a lovely tennis outfit, wasn't interested in playing. Beside him was IMG's CEO, Payne Forstmann, and IMG's top agent, Max Eisenberg, who were also in Florida.

With Cindy nearing her due date, Eric had rushed back to New York just days after Gravity was released.

During Thanksgiving, he spent time in the Martha's Vineyard estate with Virginia and the three kids.

Though the women couldn't fully accept one another, they managed to maintain a friendly facade. Joanna even offered to stay at Martha's Vineyard for a while to look after Cindy until the baby was born.

However, with a group of women gathering to be part of the action, the Martha's Vineyard estate took on a somewhat matriarchal vibe.

Thus, Eric felt out of place amidst it all; complaints inevitably arose. Just under a week later, he found himself sent away.

Of course, that description may sound exaggerated, but it was essentially true. Virginia used Eric's lack of time spent with the kids as an excuse to have him take the three of them out. Emma was the first to shout about going to Disneyland, so Eric took the kids on a flight to Orlando.

Being in a tropical region, Florida was at peak tourist season, and the lines at Disney World were long. Considering safety, Eric couldn't take the kids into the throngs of visitors.

Thus, for three consecutive days, certain attractions at Disney World were reported as "under maintenance." Local tabloids boldly uncovered that a big player had rented out venues for their own children to play, which led to widespread outcry among visitors.

After all, it was an enterprise under his group; he had to be mindful of the impact. Eric had no choice but to escape with the kids in tow.

Speaking of which, Firefly had several enterprises operating in Florida.

The Orlando Disney World, encompassing over 20 square kilometers, was just the beginning; Digital Domain had a branch in Florida and developed the world's largest rendering farm near the nuclear power plant in South Florida. ABC Group and MGM's Rainbow Media also owned several local television stations in Florida.

Moreover, Eric had recently acquired IMG Group, which was headquartered in New York but had an impressive 500-acre IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Many sports stars trained frequently at IMG Academy, and thus they naturally resided in Florida, with IMG hosting various tennis and golf events annually in the state.

Bradenton was located on Florida's west coast, just over 100 kilometers from Orlando.

Since it was no longer feasible to continue enjoying Orlando's Disney World, Eric took the kids to IMG Academy in Bradenton.

...

"Maria was initially trained by her father, who lacked a systematic scientific training approach and only knew how to exhaust the girl's potential. During the last physical examination, we even found hidden injuries on her shoulder, which could lead to serious long-term issues. Now, Maria's training is fully overseen by Mr. Politini, and she's putting in significant effort, so her future accomplishments will undoubtedly surpass Anna's by a wide margin."

At the edge of the tennis court, Payne Forstmann personally updated Eric about Maria Sharapova's training status. Just then, Emma came running over, and Eric took the tennis racket from her hand, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Are you tired?"

Emma tugged on Eric's hand, wanting him to join the game. "Maria is so amazing! Daddy, can you play with her?"

"Daddy doesn't know how," Eric replied, observing Kevin, who was now in Emma's place under Natasha's watch. He smiled, "Maria is older than you, of course, she's amazing. Now, go have fun! I'll take you out to eat something delicious later."

Emma, however, didn't leave. She leaned on Eric's knees and looked up. "Daddy, Auntie Cindy's baby is coming soon! Can we go back to New York? I want to see the baby!"

While he was eager to be by Cindy's side to witness the birth, he was reassured seeing her surrounded by women. Besides, there weren't any internal fights; Eric felt relaxed about it.

Handing the tennis racket back to Emma, he said, "Let's play for another couple of days before we go back. Kevin wants to go to the Bahamas; thinking only of yourself isn't good."

Emma earnestly nodded but still stayed, saying, "Daddy, I thought of a name for the baby!"

Eric chuckled, "What is it?"

"Tony! Tony Williams," Emma beamed. "Just like your name in Iron Man. What do you think?"

"That's something you can tell Auntie Cindy when we get back. If she likes it, then it's up to her."

Lately, the subject of the baby's name had attracted considerable interest, as they already knew it was a boy, and the women offered varied suggestions.

During Thanksgiving, Drew decided on "Manhattan" based on Hawaii's naming rules, prompting Eric to picturize a certain blue-skinned, naked character from DC Comics, after which he playfully knocked her on the head.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1196: The Invitation from the Local Boss]

Eric was chatting with Emma when Payne Forstmann's phone suddenly rang.

Giving Eric an apologetic glance, Payne got up and walked nearby to take the call. A moment later, he returned and leaned close to Eric, whispering, "Eric, the governor just called and asked if he could invite you over to his house?"

Eric glanced over at the three kids playing on the court and, still wanting to accompany them, softly declined, "I have to stay with the kids, so I'll pass."

The governor in question was obviously Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida and younger son of former President George Bush Sr.. Having just been elected last year, this invitation was undoubtedly a part of Jeb's presidential campaign efforts.

Even though Eric had had some exploratory contact with a representative from the Bush family in New York, he had no intention of meeting any core family members directly. The Bush family would not expect Eric to make any immediate commitments.

Payne Forstmann was simply a messenger; he knew he had no authority to influence Eric's decision. Nodding in understanding, he got up again to respond to the person who had just called.

...

On the tennis court, the three little ones continued playing for over an hour. Realizing it was getting late, Eric decided to call it a day.

Payne observed as Eric carefully wiped the sweat off the kids and adjusted their clothing. Just as he seemed ready to leave, he couldn't help but take a couple steps forward.

However, seeing the kids looking at him curiously, Payne swallowed his words and kept quiet.

Noticing Payne holding back, Eric turned to look at the girl standing nearby with Max Eisenberg. He playfully said, "Keep an eye on her for me."

With that, Eric took the three kids and the twins outside the tennis court, and the few bodyguards who had been scattered around quickly gathered to protect them as they climbed into two SUVs.

Payne stood at the entrance of the court, watching the SUVs drive away, while Max Eisenberg walked over with Maria Sharapova.

Looking at the departing SUVs, Max asked, "What did Mr. Williams say?"

Payne didn't respond but turned to Maria, "You should head back to the dorm now."

The tall girl, just under thirteen and already close to five-foot-seven, nodded obediently and politely said goodbye to the two men before turning to leave.

...

As she walked to an intersection, Sharapova glanced back at the two middle-aged men, her heart racing when she noticed they were looking her way. She quickly averted her eyes.

Walking into a small path separated by greenery, she finally relaxed when she confirmed they couldn't see her. However, she couldn't help but press her fingers against her lips, feeling the nearly undetectable invisible braces, and her thoughts drifted back to the events of the afternoon.

Though she hadn't managed to speak even a word to Eric Williams, the recent events had unveiled many truths for her.

At seven, she had left Russia for America with her father, leaving everything behind for a seemingly futile dream of success. Five years had passed in the blink of an eye. Although she was still under thirteen, Sharapova had already experienced hardships that would take many a lifetime to understand, and she was far more mature than most girls her age.

Sharapova clearly remembered the disdainful looks her father and she received just to enter IMG Academy, begging countless people and signing harsh contracts, all just to qualify for a sponsorship.

IMG Academy was known for its elite sports education, with tuition fees exceeding that of most private schools. Without the sponsorship, she and her father, armed with little more than a few hundred dollars, would never have been able to afford the annual tens of thousands in tuition fees.

During her time there, her life revolved around tennis, barely having any exposure to normal academic courses. IMG cared little about her performance outside tennis, viewing her merely as a potential investment.

Then, everything changed just a few months ago.

She knew that IMG had been bought by Eric Williams. Initially, she hadn't thought it affected her, but suddenly IMG began to treat her with immense importance. Not only was she assigned the best agent, but she also got a new coach, and her living arrangements became meticulously attended to. She even had her very own dorm.

At first, Sharapova thought it was because of her tennis performance that IMG was focusing on her. But when she had dental work done recently, she realized something was different.

Typically, regular braces cost only hundreds of dollars, but IMG had opted for a top-of-the-line $8,000 invisible brace. Including other costs, just that one dental adjustment cost over ten thousand dollars.

With everything she knew about IMG's operations, she understood that they wouldn't spend this much unless there was some other reason at play!

Moreover, her agent, Max, had hinted at some things. After meeting Eric Williams that day, everything came together for her.

As the world's richest man, it was impossible not to hear plenty about him, even if one didn't pay much attention.

It was well known that he was a playboy, a fact that was almost common knowledge.

In that moment, Sharapova realized that she had caught his eye.

Mixed feelings stirred in her. Reflecting upon her life changes, she didn't feel much resistance toward this development. Recently, with IMG's assistance, her mother had moved to America, and their family was finally together again.

Clearly, if it weren't for this man, IMG wouldn't have bothered with any of those efforts.

However...

Although she had played tennis with his kids all afternoon, he hadn't said a single word to her.

As that realization settled, an inexplicable worry crept in. Was he not satisfied with her?

As she thought this, returning to her dorm, she rushed to the mirror to peer at the girl in the white tennis outfit.

Aside from her height, she felt as if there was nothing particularly special about her.

This led her to feel anxious. If he was dissatisfied with her, would she need to return to the life she had just a few months ago?

She wasn't sure how much time passed when a knock at the door broke her thoughts.

...

Hastily, she opened the door to find Max Eisenberg standing there.

Remembering her earlier thoughts, a pang of panic shot through her. She instinctively averted her eyes from Max's expression, lowering her head and softly saying, "Mr. Eisenberg, is there something I can do for you?" As she realized, she immediately stepped aside and said, "Please come in."

But Max didn't enter. Looking her over, he reminded her, "Didn't I say just to call me Max?"

"Okay," Sharapova quickly nodded, hesitating before asking, "Max, will Mr. Williams be coming back tomorrow?"

"No, Mr. Williams should be leaving Bradenton tomorrow," Max replied. He studied her appearance for a moment; although he understood the world well, he wasn't good at interpreting a young girl's feelings. At that moment, he saw her reaction as reluctance and his expression turned a tad serious. "Maria, I know you're a smart girl, so you should already understand how you've come to live the way you do now."

The realization struck her like a ton of bricks.

Feeling deflated inside, Sharapova could only manage a low, barely audible, "Mm."

Max interpreted her reaction incorrectly and spoke with a hint of severity, "So, you know, with all you've received, you must know that you have to pay a corresponding price. I assume neither you nor your family would want to return to Russia, right?"

Just as Sharapova was about to nod like a puppet, she suddenly realized, raising her head to look at Max, shaking her head, "Max, no, that's not it, I--" Lost for words, she paused before clarifying, "I really look forward to seeing Mr. Williams again."

Hearing her say that shocked Max momentarily. However, he quickly understood where he had misread her. His expression relaxed as he assessed her state, and satisfied, he nodded, "Okay. I just came to chat with you, and by the way, you can take a day off tomorrow."

Sharapova nodded, and as Max turned to leave, she stepped forward, "Max, I--I'd like to go see Mr. Williams' Gravity with my parents this weekend. Could you help me get three tickets?"

Bradenton was just a small town with a population of about fifty thousand. While it had its share of theaters, there was only one 3D screen and no possibility of an IMAX showing.

Recently, with Gravity's popularity soaring, the small 3D theater, only seating a little over a hundred, faced overwhelming demand. This scarcity highlighted the uneven distribution of the 2,000 3D screens. It was reported that many people, especially those wanting to see the IMAX version, had to drive over a hundred miles to Orlando.

Max halted as he caught the girl's hopeful expression and understood that asking for tickets wasn't merely about seeing a movie; it was more about making a statement. He smiled and nodded, "Sure, I'll arrange to have the tickets delivered to you tomorrow."

...

Although it was vacation time, he couldn't set aside all work.

After dinner, Eric returned to a mansion in Bradenton's gated community, leaving the kids in the care of the twins, and went to his makeshift office.

"Sony agreed to lower the price of its projector equipment by 11% and retain a 40% supply share of the RealD system. Belgium's Barco company and another company from Japan, NEC, will split the remaining 60% share. However, their equipment will need to undergo technical modifications to fit the RealD system, which will take about two months," Katzenberg stated via video call, updating Eric on recent work. He added, "Following the established plan, by next summer, North America will have 6,000 RealD systems, and overseas, the number will be even higher at 8,000. Once this layout is complete, there will be very few competing 3D projection systems in the market."

Eric leaned back in a leather chair behind his desk, nodded in satisfaction after hearing Katzenberg wrap up, then asked, "How is the negotiation on the buyout agreement with the theaters going?"

Initially, to promote 3D movies, Firefly Group signed a guarantee agreement with the theaters promising a box office minimum of $300,000 per screen annually. This agreement was heavily skewed in favor of the theatres, as the current average annual revenue per screen in North America was only around $200,000.

The detailed agreement stated that if a screen's annual earnings fell below $300,000, the Firefly Group would make up the difference.

However, any income exceeding that would see 80% of the excess revenue classified as RealD equipment costs, belonging to Firefly Group over a three-year term.

Additionally, beyond the agreement, Firefly Group also consented that once 3D film promotions succeeded, to create fair competitive conditions for the initial 2,000 screens against later entrants, the theaters could propose a one-time buyout, forgoing the original minimum guarantee.

Calculating with the estimated $250,000 cost of RealD systems, each 3D screen would need approximately $500,000 box office revenue for Firefly Group to recoup their equipment expenses.

Initially, even within Firefly Group, there was skepticism about whether this would be possible. The company merely hoped to avoid significant losses from this collaboration.

However, the reality far surpassed all predictions.

With Gravity's box office momentum, it was anticipated that it alone could exceed $600 million in North America, leaving little doubt that it would surpass Titanic's record.

Given the impressive performance of IMAX theaters being fully booked for two weeks, the 100 IMAX theaters in North America were projected to generate $200 million in ticket sales, leaving another $400 million for the standard 3D screens.

With a total of $400 million in ticket revenue, averaging across 2,000 screens, that equated to $200,000 per screen, and this was within a mere two-month period.

But a year had twelve months, and considering that virtually all films capable of being adapted to 3D had the potential to be blockbuster hits, it was clear that in the initial years of 3D films' popularity, the earnings from a single 3D screen would greatly exceed Firefly Group's projected $500,000 recoup costs.

Consequently, to prevent Firefly Group from continuously reaping profits, the major theater chains had started to call for the execution of that buyout agreement.

When Eric brought up this matter, Katzenberg displayed a hint of pride, "A few chains are suggesting to execute the buyout agreement at our $500,000 equipment price point. Since we initially took the risk, we naturally deserve compensation now. RealD is currently negotiating with the theaters, and the final buyout price should be around $600,000. We now completely hold the initiative in 3D films, and the theaters have to concede to us."

A smile appeared on Eric's face as he calculated; at a $600,000 price point for each of the 2,000 3D screens in North America, Firefly Group would recoup $1.2 billion. This far exceeded the initial investment made for promoting 3D and IMAX films.

The overseas market was more complex, with varying cooperation models in different box office countries. However, as long as they could recover all costs of the 1,600 installed RealD systems overseas, even if it didn't reach North America's $600,000 high price, it would be enough for Firefly Group to recover all its initial investment.

The remaining 200 more profitable IMAX theaters, along with some IMAX properties, would essentially be pure profit.

One could say that just from this single initiative, the resources and efforts Firefly Group invested in promoting 3D and IMAX over the past few years had already yielded significant returns. The company had not only penetrated the foundational projection equipment market but fully seized the promotional initiative for 3D and IMAX films, and the potential profits from this were even more immense.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1197: Which One?]

While Eric took the kids on vacation, the release of Gravity entered its third week. Compared to the second week, the box office for Gravity finally showed a relatively significant drop of 33% in its third week, bringing in an additional $92.87 million by December 9, quickly pushing its North American total to $377.56 million.

Though Firefly Group did not release detailed breakdowns, the media soon discovered that, of that $92.87 million in the third week, $23.96 million came from IMAX theaters. This indicated that the 100 IMAX theaters in North America had shown nearly full capacity for three consecutive weeks.

To put it into context, the box office from just those 100 IMAX theaters exceeded that of many films that played in over 2,000 screens. This impressive cash-generating ability made all the North American theater chains envious, leading them to consider entering the large-format cinema market.

The largest theater chain in North America, Regal Entertainment Group, even directly sent a high-priced acquisition offer to Firefly Group for their IMAX theaters, which was naturally declined without hesitation. Firefly Group had always struggled with a lack of its own theater resources, and now that they finally possessed a premium chain, the company wasn't about to let it go easily.

However, to prevent competition from emerging giant formats, Firefly Group didn't reject requests from other theater chains to purchase IMAX projection systems. Currently, the number of IMAX screens globally was still far from market saturation, so Firefly Group was not worried about other chains having IMAX screens creating competition.

Moreover, the increase in the number of IMAX screens not only expanded projection system revenue, but IMAX also profited from post-production conversions, camera rentals, and maintenance of system supplies.

...

After playing with the three little ones for over a week, Eric received a call from Joanna on December 11 from Martha's Vineyard, and hurriedly set off from the Bahama capital, Nassau, back to New York.

By evening, Eric arrived at the mansion on Martha's Vineyard, where Cindy had successfully given birth to a baby boy and was surrounded by women, looking a bit weak in bed. Seeing Eric, a slightly tired Cindy gently raised her arm to show the little one nestled in her bend.

Eric sat by the bed, took Cindy's hand, and looked closely at the little one before softly asking, "Is everything okay?"

Cindy nodded, "Uh-huh."

Kevin and Hawaii walked to their mothers, while Emma, not shy at all, curious about the baby leaned over the bed and sweetly asked, "Aunt Cindy, can I see the baby?"

With a smile, Cindy replied softly, "Of course."

Eric helped Emma climb onto the bed, and she moved closer to Cindy, gazing curiously at the baby boy. After a moment, she could not resist reaching out her hand. However, understanding, she just widened her big eyes and said, "Aunt Cindy, he's so cute."

"Oh, thank you."

"Does he have a name?" Emma immediately asked. "I've thought of lots of names for the baby over the past few days. But Dad says it's best if the baby's name comes from Mom."

Cindy glanced at Eric and said, "Not yet."

After talking for a while, Joanna sensed that both Eric and Cindy wanted some alone time. She came over, called Emma to get down from the bed, and leaned closer to Eric, whispering, "Eric, everything here is fine now. Vicky and I are heading back to Long Island."

Eric nodded. As soon as he entered, he realized the room was left with only Joanna and Virginia, as the others had long vanished. Linda was also absent; Eric found out through a call a few days prior that she recently got a new endorsement and needed to fly to Paris.

Although the women didn't mention it, they were still somewhat affected by Cindy having a baby.

...

After seeing the women and children off at the door and instructing the twins to personally fly them back to East Hampton, Eric returned to Cindy's side. Cindy's assistant, Catherine Neumann, had already taken the nurses and babysitters out of the room.

With everyone else gone, Cindy handed the baby to Eric, who quickly and carefully cradled him, looking at the little one still with closed eyes and asking, "Have you thought of a name?"

Cindy opened her mouth as if to say something but then hesitated, asking him back, "What about you?"

Eric chuckled, "You know I'm not very good at naming things. Elia might end up resenting me when she grows up."

"Elia's name sounds nice," Cindy remarked, pausing before adding quietly, "Do you think it could be the same as yours? Eric, Little Eric Williams."

"I just feel like a kid named after their father might not amount to much when they grow up," Eric laughed, honestly looking at her.

Cindy, deep down, didn't have high hopes either. Hearing this, she softly replied, "Then forget it. I wouldn't want that either."

The atmosphere fell quiet for a moment.

Eric understood that without marriage, the women were concerned about the identities of the little ones.

Kevin and Hawaii had only been exposed earlier in the year due to some antics by Paramount. Despite outwardly disapproving of Paramount's actions, Eric knew that Virginia and Joanna were inwardly pleased about it.

Thinking this through, Eric quickly made a decision, looking at Cindy, who showed visible disappointment, and said, "How about we contact a magazine soon and take a cover photo together?"

Cindy's previously disappointed expression brightened. She didn't want her child to be like Kevin and Hawaii, only recognized by the public years later. If she could gain Eric's public acknowledgment, then names wouldn't matter at all.

However, after a moment's hesitation, she asked, "But would that be too much hassle?"

"The first batch of bodyguards that Robert trained will be ready for use next year. I'll get you a few more, and they'll definitely be female," Eric reassured her. Noticing Cindy rolling her eyes lightly, he continued with a smile, "As long as you and the baby are safe, everything else is secondary. By the way, have you informed your family about this?"

"My parents will be over tomorrow, along with Chris and Dani," Cindy said, casting a sideways glance at Eric. "Mom's excited to see her grandbaby, but if Dad tries to hit you, I won't stop him."

Eric laughed, "I promise not to hit back."

Cindy reached over and took the little one back, stating, "Let's name him Peter then, but I'd like to add my surname -- Peter Crawford Williams."

"Sounds good," Eric nodded before adding, "I thought you might pick a more unique name."

Cindy asked curiously, "Why would you say that?"

"Just a feeling," Eric shrugged nonchalantly.

Cindy didn't think too much of it and refocused on her son, saying, "Our little guy will certainly be amazing when he grows up, so a simple name will be fine."

Eric simply nodded in agreement.

Cindy brushed her fingers through Peter's soft golden hair and looked up, saying, "Eric, we don't even need to contact a magazine. We can announce it right now through my Facebook."

Unlike Google, which maintained low-key expansion, Yahoo had begun aggressively promoting its revamped social media tool, Facebook, starting in September. This effort captured two future leading internet brands ahead of time.

Over a few months, fueled by Yahoo's relentless promotion, Facebook had amassed over 80 million registered users globally, which was an impressive figure in the current internet environment.

While the Nasdaq index continued to decline, Yahoo's stock price remained steady around $100 billion, buoyed by Facebook's rapid user growth.

Cindy, a star user since the blog era, had even been invited to ring the bell at Yahoo's IPO ceremony the previous year. Although there were changes, Cindy was still one of the most followed supermodels on Facebook, boasting a fan base that rivaled many more mainstream pop stars.

Feeling Cindy's hopeful gaze, Eric nodded, "If you think that's not too informal, then it's absolutely fine."

After discussing a bit more, seeing Cindy was determined, Eric went to get a laptop and digital camera, calling Catherine Neumann for help, and soon they captured several group photos.

Before sending out the news, Eric made a few calls to some Yahoo executives, carefully briefing them. While he wasn't too concerned about public discourse, he wouldn't allow any negative online bullying or disappointing incidents for the newborn.

After hanging up, Cindy, with Catherine's assistance, selected a worthy photo to show Eric, saying, "Eric, how about this one?"

All the recently taken photos featured the three of them together, with Eric and Cindy cradling the baby in the center. Eric glanced, deeming it nice, and nodded in approval.

Cindy then had Catherine pass the laptop to Eric, stating, "My account is already logged in. You can post it."

Eric accepted the laptop, opened Cindy's Facebook page, skillfully loaded the photo, typed a line of text, and turned the screen to her, asking, "How does this look?"

Cindy glanced over, laughing, "If you write it like that, Emma might feel sad. It should be the fourth, not the third."

After pondering, Eric agreed. Although not his biological child, he had always treated Emma like a daughter. He made the adjustment, confirmed it was correct, and casually hit send.

...

Although it was still a while until the West Coast's office hours ended, dusk had already descended on the East Coast.

Many people, either finishing their last tasks of the day or preparing dinner, quickly heard the explosive news that spread like wildfire in just an hour.

"The fourth child of the Williams family has been born."

To mention, the news of Cindy's pregnancy wasn't much of a secret in their circle; it was almost a semi-public matter.

However, out of respect for Eric's power, the media mostly refrained from reporting, with only a few bold outlets hinting at it.

Now that Eric and Cindy suddenly took the initiative to announce the news, along with unreservedly sharing photos, the discussions quickly heated up.

After all, if it were just children of other celebrities, there might be some buzz, but ultimately they were just celebrities' children. Fans cared, offered congratulations, and magazines seized this chance for covers to boost sales -- things would eventually fade away.

But Eric Williams' child meant so much more.

Despite the Nasdaq crash dramatically reducing Eric's wealth from previous heights above $600 billion, due to the sustained aggressive expansion of the whole Firefly system and the remarkable operational performances of its subsidiaries, Eric's personal wealth still reached a staggering figure that everyone coveted.

Exactly how much? Prior to the birth announcement, the topic hadn't peaked in interest.

However, once news of the baby's arrival circulated, related statistics surfaced on various websites almost immediately.

Despite being briefly surpassed by a few other companies in the Firefly system mid-year, Firefly Group had consistently remained Eric's core asset. Without the continuous cash flow from Firefly Group, the entirety of the Firefly system wouldn't have reached its current scale.

Through stock buybacks in the latter half of the year, Eric ultimately regained 5.6% of Firefly Group shares, boosting his stake to 79.3%.

Additionally, following recent successful promotions of 3D and IMAX films led by Firefly Group, as well as the acquisition of Hasbro, industry valuations of Firefly Group surged to a new high, currently reaching $160 billion.

This alone added over $120 billion to Eric's personal fortune.

Although the Nasdaq crash diminished the value of many technology stocks he owned, Yahoo, in which he held over 78% of shares, had maintained a market value around $100 billion for the past six months, bringing Eric nearly another $80 billion in wealth.

Firefly Investments' 51% control of Nokia, now valued at $117 billion, and Cisco, which he held 26% of, though having dropped from its peak of $600 billion, still stood at $159.3 billion.

Therefore, the assets of just Firefly Group, Yahoo, Nokia, and Cisco brought Eric's wealth total to $300 billion.

Beyond that, thanks to the continued popularity of the Fireflyer player, the overall valuation of Firefly Electronics surpassed $50 billion. Plus, Eric's substantial holdings in Qualcomm, LTD, Sprint, Amazon, Apple, and other assets further increased his wealth by around $70 billion.

Combining everything, Eric's net worth still surpassed $370 billion.

While this marked a nearly 50% decline from the over $600 billion peak earlier in the year, and despite seeing his fortune listed at $315.5 billion on the Forbes Billionaires list at the start of the year, Eric's personal wealth had still increased by over $50 billion during the year.

This amount alone equaled the entire fortunes of several tycoons in the Forbes top ten.

Thus, with the birth of this little one, told through a series of headlines, he became an heir to tens of billions of wealth, a status that couldn't even simply be described as being born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

https//Sayonara816.

[Chapter 1198: Those Flowers (Finale)]

By mid-December, the arrival of the new millennium was drawing near.

Despite the fears surrounding the Y2K bug, which even caused fluctuations in the Nasdaq tech market, much of the media and public attention was captured by Eric Williams, the young billionaire, especially with the announcement of the birth of the fourth child in the Williams family and the continuing box office success of Gravity.

From December 10 to December 16, during its fourth week in theaters, Gravity raked in $190 million globally, pushing its total box office to a staggering $850 million.

The impressive box office numbers led many media outlets to predict that Gravity would likely hit the $1 billion mark before December 20, marking the successive fourth film led by Eric Williams to achieve this feat. Moreover, the film's strong performance indicated it could challenge the box office record set by Titanic previously.

...

While the entire film industry was geared up for opportunities brought by 3D and IMAX, Eric remained at his estate on Martha's Vineyard during this busy time of year.

With the announcement of the baby's birth, the Martha's Vineyard estate was particularly lively. Cindy's parents and two sisters arrived in the following days. Although Eric preferred to keep Cindy and the baby from being overly disturbed, many executives, business partners, and friends visited under the guise of checking in on them.

The birth of a child was a joyous occasion, and Eric couldn't refuse too sternly; he just greeted everyone with a smile.

After a week of joy and commotion at the estate, things quieted down. Cindy's parents stayed for less than a week before heading back home. Apart from the title of marriage, the couple realized that there was truly nothing to pick apart regarding the man their daughter had chosen, though Cindy's sisters lingered under the pretense of keeping her company.

...

In the lead-up to Christmas, life gradually returned to a semblance of calm.

Even though global data reporting was delayed, on December 22, Gravity officially announced that it had surpassed the $1 billion mark in global box office receipts.

A celebratory banquet was, of course, in order.

When the Los Angeles team asked Eric about hosting the event in New York instead, since a majority of the crew resided in LA, Eric decided against causing a commute just for his convenience. He instructed them to arrange the celebration aboard the Firefly Group's yacht as usual and planned to return that day.

...

Christmas fell on a Saturday that year, and starting from December 20, the entire North America had already entered the holiday season.

After returning to Long Island, on Christmas Eve, Joanna and Virginia brought the children back to Martha's Vineyard, with Drew flying in from who knows where, adding even more feminine charm to the estate.

After a lively Christmas Eve, the first snow of the winter fell on December 26. The snow poured down all day, blanketing Martha's Vineyard in white and enhancing the New Year's spirit.

The snowfall finally lightened up by the 27th.

After breakfast, Virginia gathered a few women to shop in the island's small town for New Year's supplies. Eric relaxed on a bench beneath the villa's porch, quietly watching Drew, Emma, and Kevin play in the snow. Hawaii sat beside him, engrossed in a thick book, her tender young face focused.

Joanna approached, balancing a tray, and set it on a nearby table. She poured Eric a cup of hot cocoa, then sat down next to him, gently stroking their daughter's head while observing Eric's expression.

"You've always liked snowy days," she remarked softly.

"I just enjoy the feeling," Eric said, taking a sip from his cup and glancing up at the endless gray sky. He smiled and added, "I'm actually afraid of the cold."

Hawaii, feeling the warmth of her mother's touch, slightly tilted her head and, with rare candor, recited, "Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow."

The sudden recitation of the poem caught both Joanna and Eric off guard.

Joanna, and Eric were surprised, as he had been thinking of Robert Frost's poem at that very moment. Although the poem's essence didn't perfectly match the scene, the solitude of a lone house in the vastness of nature brought Eric unexpected comfort.

After a moment of silence, Joanna snapped back to reality, not at all perplexed by her daughter's words. Hawaii's talent had already amazed many, and with a gentle tone, Joanna asked, "So, sweetheart, is that a poem?"

The little girl didn't answer her mother but turned to her father with inquiring eyes, "Maybe Daddy knows?"

Joanna looked over in confusion.

Eric met his daughter's bright gaze, and after many years of personal growth, he felt unfazed by what would have once shocked him. With a smile, he calmly explained, "That's an old peom Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. Such profound stuff is better left to you to explain to Mommy."

Hawaii blinked her pretty blue eyes a few times. After glancing at her mother, who smiled but appeared puzzled, she set the thick book down and jumped off the bench, pattering towards the villa in her little boots.

Joanna, baffled by the father-daughter interaction but not pursuing it further, picked up the book left behind, stroking it as she said, "I'm starting to worry more and more about what Hawaii will be like in the future. This book, well, I can't understand any of it, can you?"

Eric glanced at the book in Joanna's hands and felt a sudden clarity. He took the book, flipped through it, and said, "I don't understand either. I only know it discusses Bayesian theory. In fact, I especially researched it just to have some conversations with our clever daughter."

Joanna laughed and waited for Eric to continue.

Eric flipped through the pages, "In simpler terms, Bayesian theory is about deriving unknown conclusions from known conditions."

Curiously, Joanna asked, "What's the use of that?"

"Actually, we're always using this theory in our lives, but people just don't know it," Eric calmly explained. "A simple example: if someone has a fever, coughs, has a sore throat, and has a runny nose, you can generally conclude that they have a cold based on these symptoms."

Joanna nodded thoughtfully, her face lighting up with realization. She pointed to the thick book in Eric's hands and said, "But does it really require such a thick book to explain that?"

"Of course, what I just mentioned was just the surface understanding of Bayesian theory. As for its more complex applications, that's another story. Internet search engines and artificial intelligence all rely on that kind of knowledge."

As he spoke, Eric couldn't help but remember the poem Hawaii had just recited. Perhaps it could also relate to him.

Eric would never admit the fact that his exceptionally smart daughter might have glimpsed part of the truth. He thought as long as he didn't admit it, no one would be able to present any evidence.

Or.

At worst, he could always confess to his daughter that he was an alien one day. After all, if dad was an alien, then so could his darling girl be. To avoid the whole family being dragged off to a research institute, surely their adorable Hawaii would help keep that secret.

Of course, Joanna couldn't know Eric's thoughts. She transitioned the conversation, asking, "You're heading back to Los Angeles tomorrow; when will you return?"

The celebration for Gravity was scheduled for the next evening. For an ordinary person, traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast might be a hassle, but for Eric, it was just a matter of a few hours in the air.

"If nothing else comes up, the day after tomorrow. I definitely want to spend New Year's with everyone."

Just then, the kids playing in the yard probably got tired. Emma was the first to run over to Eric, holding a small snowball, followed closely by Kevin and Drew, who carefully protected the children, preventing them from falling.

Seeing the kids approaching, Joanna stood up, saying, "Go play with the kids. I'll check up front; Vicky should be back soon."

...

Eric nodded and watched Joanna leave. Emma ran up and proudly presented her little snowball, saying, "Daddy, Daddy, look at my snowman!"

"Very cute."

Eric smiled and took it from her, praising her, and when Kevin offered his little snowman too, he whispered compliments and began discussing names for their snowman with the two kids at his knees.

Drew came over, giggling, and sat beside Eric, listening to him and the little ones chat for quite a while without acknowledging her presence. Feeling a bit neglected, she hugged Eric's arm and pointed to the big snowman in the yard, mimicking Emma's excitement, "Daddy, Daddy, look at my big snowman!"

Eric, amused by her antics, playfully tapped her forehead. After all these years, he had grown accustomed to it; Drew made some little pouting sounds like a young girl and then leaned close to Eric again.

However, Emma, having heard Hawaii, looked puzzled and asked, "Auntie Drew, why do you call him Daddy?"

Drew giggled and pinched Emma's cheek, wearing an expression that said 'it's obvious', "If I'm not calling him Daddy, why would I call him Mommy?"

Emma tilted her head slightly.

Although it felt off, it strangely made sense.

Eric shot Drew a glare. To prevent her from skewing Emma's worldview further, he decided to send the two kids off and signaled for the twins to follow, then turned to Drew and said, "I haven't asked you yet, where have you been goofing off recently?"

"I was in New York," Drew tightened her grip on Eric's arm now that no one else was around and rested her head against his shoulder. "I went to see the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show; this year's was really impressive! The Dream Bra was stunning. But the songs, in German, French, and all, I couldn't understand them."

To fit the mood of the new millennium, the sixth Victoria's Secret show was again held on December 17, with the television broadcast scheduled for December 28, the next evening.

Compared to the earlier slow expansion of Victoria's Secret, under Emily's leadership, the brand was set to make significant strides in the global market.

To support the subsequent promotional plans, and with the millennium in mind, this year's show featured six themes, each accompanied by different languages, embodying a message of "we're all living together on this Earth village".

Although Eric had stepped back from organizing the fashion show, he had handpicked a song to be included back at the plan's inception.

It was a song he had once loved dearly, but so many years had passed. Initially, he thought he might have lost track of that song, but earlier this year, it had resurfaced in its related album.

Still, due to little Peter's birth, Eric had missed attending Victoria's Secret Fashion Show live in New York this year and wondered how it turned out.

Resting on Eric's shoulder, Drew sensed he had slipped back into a strange mood.

When Eric was in this kind of mood, he brought a feeling of distance for those around him. Drew didn't like the feeling, even feeling a bit unsettled. She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and gently interrupted, "Eric, the other day when I was in Manhattan, I passed through Hell's Kitchen."

Being pulled from his sudden thoughts, Eric chuckled and responded in line with her tone, "Oh really?"

"I remembered a song you sang many years ago and then realized Hell's Kitchen is a district in Manhattan; I never paid attention before."

Eric's memories from long ago felt a bit fuzzy as he asked, "What song? I don't recall."

"How can you not remember? I can recall it perfectly! That night at your house in Beverly Hills, we talked so much."

Drew seemed slightly miffed. As she said this, she hummed softly, though the melody felt a bit scattered.

Eric listened, beginning to recall, then nodded, "I think I remember now."

Drew leaned forward slightly, looking at Eric and asked, "Can you sing it again for me?"

Eric felt as if the falling snow had picked up once more. He raised his hand to catch a snowflake landing on the porch, feeling its faint coolness, and shook his head with a smile, "It feels a bit strange. We're not old yet; why should we reminisce about the past?"

"I want to hear it," she insisted, an air of grievance creeping into her voice as she sighed self-pityingly, "Now that you have another child, you definitely won't pay as much attention to little Drew."

"Alright, alright, let me think."

With a laugh, Eric started rummaging through memories for some melodies.

He had thought after all these years he might have forgotten the whole song, but upon careful recollection, it came flooding back to him, and he began to softly hum.

I saw your weeping eyes reflected in the window of a Boeing 727

You looked down at the city

Saw it slowly growing tiny

As the sunset turned hell's kitchen into heaven

You turned your face to me and I tucked your hair behind your ears

Said nothing can go wrong

So long as we are together

So long as we are

So long

So long

...

Deep in his distant memories, the first time he heard that song was from a television show called Californication during its sixth season finale.

Tim Minchin, So long.

However, if one didn't watch the entire show, it was hard to truly appreciate the sense of yearning it evoked. Much like many stories, if someone only saw the beginning and the end, it often had no significance.

Beneath the porch, the humming came to a close. After what felt like ages, Drew softly said, "Eric."

"Hmm?"

"We'll always be together."

"Yeah!"

...

The next day, the weather in New York finally cleared up. Eric didn't fly to Los Angeles until 4:30 PM. Due to time differences, he arrived at Firefly Group around 6 PM West Coast time.

The celebration for Gravity began at 7 PM, but guests had already started arriving.

After discussing some business with Katzenberg in an office within the studio, as the celebration drew near, the two made their way to the banquet hall on board the yacht.

As a new week began, although The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring premiered, some of Gravity's screen resources were redistributed, the film continued dominating the box office with another $165 million, pushing its total earnings to $1.183 billion.

Meanwhile, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring's first-week box office also reached $98 million. Considering the film's nearly double running time compared to many others, which severely limited screening times, the $98 million opening weekend gross surprised everyone and hinted that Firefly Group had yet another blockbuster franchise in the making.

Of course, the series of twists and turns that had seen the Lord of the Rings franchise transfer from MGM to the Firefly Group inevitably sparked some media discussion. MGM's stock even took a hit recently, but that certainly didn't affect the strength of the Firefly system.

...

"So, you're quite bold, Eric," Jodie Foster said after some mingling in the yacht's banquet hall, catching Eric slightly off guard.

"So," emulating Jodie's tone, Eric smiled and replied, "What devilish deed have I done this time?"

Jodie shot him a sideways glance, her eyes sparkling with playful meaning. "I mean, the fourth child in the Williams family was born."

"Oh, that," Eric nodded nonchalantly. "I find your 'bold' appraisal interesting, as if you and 'Eric Williams' are somehow completely unrelated. That makes me a bit sad, thinking that."

Jodie rolled her eyes, "You certainly don't look sad at all."

With so many people watching, Eric didn't want to tease Jodie further and quickly shifted his tone, raising his champagne glass, "On a serious note, congratulations to you for being the lead in a billion-dollar film. Is that juice you have?"

Jodie raised her glass of orange juice, saying, "Clearly."

"Grab some champagne; tonight is not a night for juice."

Seeing Eric calling over a waiter, Jodie shook her head, but her voice suddenly stuttered, "I-I don't want to drink tonight."

Eric eyed Jodie curiously, a hint of understanding dawning on him. He nodded and said, "Okay, if you're not feeling well, why don't we head to the little restaurant upstairs and rest for a bit?"

But Jodie realized Eric misunderstood her intention; she rolled her eyes at him, her tone teasing, "You seem to be quite perceptive. But I'm a bit hungry; I would love to have something from your private restaurant."

As they spoke, they left the banquet hall and headed to the company's internal restaurant on the upper deck.

By this point in the evening, Eric's hunger had grown.

He ordered dinner for the two of them from Amy Adams, the waitress on duty, and suddenly remembered something; he had them turn on the wall-mounted TV in the restaurant and tune to ABC.

On the screen, the millennial Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was airing, catching a performance in between segments.

Eric pondered whether he might miss the song he had handpicked, when the scene changed, and the runway appeared again.

Under soft lighting, a plain-looking young man with black hair settled onto a small stage at the runway's start with a guitar, gently plucking the strings.

A distant yet familiar prelude began to play.

Accompanied by the angels in their fabulous floral-themed fashion, the young man softly started to sing.

...

That laughter brings to mind my flowers of old,

Quietly blooming in every corner, for me, untold.

I once believed I'd stay forever by her side,

But now, we've drifted apart, lost in the tide.

...

Eric watched the television screen, and memories flooded in. Those still by his side, those who had left, the memories retained, and the gradually forgotten. So many people, so many events that flashed like scenes from a movie across his mind, stirring endless emotions that soon faded into tranquility.

Perhaps all breathtaking moments would eventually transform into beautiful ordinariness.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed.

Eric picked it up to see it was from Caroline. He smiled at Jodie and stepped out onto the restaurant's balcony.

Once connected, the distinctive static of an international call accompanied Caroline's small voice. "Eric, I'm listening to a song now from the Victoria's Secret show. It's beautiful."

"How coincidental, I'm listening too."

Eric spoke softly, peeking back into the restaurant to share the moment of the song's light melodies with Caroline.

...

They've been carried by the wind, scattered far and wide,

Some stories left untold, best forgotten with time.

The emotions once felt are now hard to discern,

And now, where wild grasses grow, no flowers return.

But still, I hold dear the seasons we shared —

Your spring, your autumn, your summer, so rare.

...

After listening for a while, Eric returned the phone to his ear.

Caroline's voice came through again, tinged with a hint of yearning, "I suddenly miss you."

"Yeah," Eric nodded, "I miss you too."

There was a brief pause from the other end. Finally, Caroline spoke again, "Actually, Eric, I-I ran away from home again. I fought with Dad; he says he doesn't want me returning to America to work with you."

Eric felt a pang of concern and asked, "Where are you now, at Rachel's? Give me the phone; I'd like to speak with her."

Caroline's tone held a note of displeasure, "Eric, I'm not a kid anymore."

"Of course, and I'm sorry, Carly," Eric continued, "How about I talk to your dad?"

"Don't," Caroline said hesitantly before adding, "Eric, I just miss you. I know this is selfish, but I really want to see you."

Listening to the girl's quiet longing across the miles, Eric felt an overwhelming tenderness rise within him. Without hesitation, he replied, "Okay, I'll come over. Wait for me for eight hours, alright?"

"Okay," came the warm response on the line, followed by her adding, "Eric, I like you."

"I like you too."

"Then I'll wait for you."

"See you soon."

"Yeah, see... see you soon."

After hanging up, Eric returned to the restaurant. Just as he was about to explain to Jodie, she noticed his expression and waved her hand, saying, "I can eat alone; I can finish two servings tonight."

Gratefully, Eric nodded in appreciation and gently kissed Jodie's lips, hurrying towards the restaurant's exit.

Jodie watched him leave, momentarily lost in thought before refocusing on the TV screen.

The performance on the runway was nearing its end.

...

La la la...

I think of her still,

La la la...

Is she blooming, beneath the sky so still?

La la la...

Go, go,

They've been carried by the wind, scattered far below.

...

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