Raimon hadn’t settled in the office for a while. He’d been traveling across the try, managing the many Lux Animation satellites spread throughout North America. He was anizing, overseeing everyone, dealing with the purchase of a hotel in New York, handling the Marvel acquisition, the stock issues, and finally s out the merdise reted to trading cards, which was helping break into the bame market and improving Toys and ics. The walls, adorned with books, posters, and some a figures, were Raimon’s dream e true.

  -I’ve set up a dinner with Avi Arad, but I don’t want to travel anymore… I just want to stay here a sweets every day while I handle everything Anne sends me. I’m exhausted from all the traveling around the try, - Raimon said, grabbing the test Hunter X Hunter ics. He’d spent half the day reading ics, getting up to speed with the new plots Billy was ung. The feel of the paper on his fingers was a y, a ritual as he watched the stunning pages e to life with color and form.

  -Tomorrow night. - Raimon nodded. -I’ll make a note of that. Also, I want you to expin what you did with the stocks, what my share is, and what we do with the bulk of the panies. - Billy responded, tinuing his detailed sketches using his usual 1/8 sheet scale, easier for detailing though pricier for c. But that wasn’t his .

  Raimon puffed out his chest. He knew for sure he’d done well over the past few days, doubling Billy’s money.

  -Well, I shorted, leveraging 200%. So far, the rise has earned us a lot of money in some panies. I could’ve made some extra cash in sales through my father’s es. I ahe Marvel acquisition for the bonds, with some corporate gifts. We’ll buy the bonds at 40%, and I’ve iated the possible purchase of the Manhattan hotel, though at a steep price, - Raimon said.

  Billy, intrigued, was eager to review the stock reports. Raimon was as crucial as Anne, perhaps even more so.

  In three months, he’d increased the total stock value by a fifth. A business genius, he’d do out of fear of being reprimanded for overspending on Star Wars collectibles, but after his success, he decided to take a middle ground, make ara push, and switch to lises for a different style and new Dungeons and Dragons games.

  -I heard you had fun selling the Star Wars cards, - Billy ented.

  -Well, hahaha, I just thought they were so beautiful that I doubled the produ, - Raimon replied, downpying it.

  -Yeah, I heard that. But I think we should stop fog on the cards for now. What do you think about creating a Star Wars Metroidvania game? - Billy asked, seeing the potential for a Star Wars game with a Pokémon-like format, remi of Teeant Ninja Turtles. It was a fantastic idea.

  He began pitg the game cept, suggesting a range of fun, multi-character games with different world designs. Both Lucas and ID Software had dedicated time to it, building a great storyline.

  Raimon’s mouth hung open, dumbstruck. He realized how much he loved the idea, and how badly he . He wao create a game version, a visually stunning one, featuring Qui-Gon Jinn as the lead, set just before and during The Phantom Menabsp;He knew fans would relish every inch of it, but what they would truly appreciate was the art. He already had some great workers who were more than eager to make their own game.

  -So...-

  -We’ll exploit that Star Wars lise. Lucas will make a lot of money, but I have a series of expnations about many characters, and I’ve opehe lise so some of them fully expand the Star Wars universe. We have a general guide for the entire series, but we expect the chosen people to solve and expand as much as I’d like… Your work has helped me many stories. I’ve written a few scripts for Darth Vader and the Jedi, - Billy said.

  -So, what’s ? - Raimon asked.

  -Now, we o make enough money off Star Wars so that it pays the bills. With the movies, we’ll make enough to buy Lucasfilm, at least 60% or 70%. We have fifteen years to produce different kinds of series that won’t oversaturate the fahat’s why we’re pnning two simple things: twies, three animated series, two live-a series, and two spin-off films, whether live-a or animated, - Billy expined.

  Raimon adjusted his stocky frame, wiping sweat from his jeans. His shirt, embzoned with Star Wars: A New Hope, featuring Luke Skywalker, g to him as he swallowed hard.

  -You’ll let me be the one pulling the strings… I’ll be the director, - Raimon stammered, almost choking on his words.

  -Of course. I want you tanize most of the series, especially the ones we use to make a lot of money. But before that… help me go over the ats. I trust no o you to hahose tasks, - Billy replied, needing someoo hahe financial matters of Lux Films and Lux Distribution.

  Winona, carrying a multitude of suitcases, wore sungsses and a radiant smile. She was thrilled to be traveling. She cherished privad meetings free of cameras and fshes. The intense beep of her phone alerted her that Monica was already waiting at the exit, her white hat c most of her face as she slipped by unnoticed.

  A gray Toyota van awaited her, with Monica’s familiar greeting partially obscured by the wind blowing her hair around. She smiled, happy to see everything goier than expected.

  -God, you didn’t take long at all, - Monica said.

  -I got lucky, and well… it’s better this way, - Winona replied calmly as she took off her hat, fixing her hair, which had started to grow since her st haircut. Though there were still a few shots to film, she no longer o cut her hair; styling it properly was enough.

  The va off, and the two chatted about how much they ehe freedom. Only a few occasional reporters remained, but the distance allowed them to take this kind of attention in stride. Billy’s refusal to answer questions was enough for reporters to limit their interruptions to more predictable occasions, in pces where paparazzi were less of a nuisance.

  -Are you going to take the role that will take you to Europe? -

  -I am. It’s better that way… Europe alone fills me with excitement for my future roles. Billy supports my decision to head to the Old ti and take the path I feel is best, - Monica said.

  -What you do? I hope it goes well for you. I’m still pnning my scheduled vacation, - the short-haired woman replied.

  -You could e with me and do some sightseeing while I work. I’ll show you the best spots during our free afternoons, - Monica offered.

  -Yeah, well… I think that’d be amazing. Fashion Week is ing up soon, and we’ve got to attend some events. I know Billy usually goes to these things, and sometimes he even joins ier-parties. But I doubt he’ll want to miss out on being part of something bigger with you, - Winona said.

  -Oh, he will! -

  ....