-Billy was doing his special job anizing the ics that Raimon had picked up earlier to read. It was on for the boy to take all his books ahem; by disanizing them, he would have to attend a meeting soon. Avi Arad was w in Santa Monica, dug studies for Ronald Perelman to acquire the produ studio temporarily moved to San Jose, where he had a meeting with Billy about crucial matters. He was trying to decide whether to tih Ronald, abandon him, and who he would leave for.

  Billy failed to meet Karl Ikam, the person looking to buy the bonds. He only discovered the information during a night of drinking with Ronald, who drunkenly shared all the details. Along with other partners, he saw the potential and decided to make a purchase, but he failed in tects. The first mistake Ronald made was auing the shares; the sed was that his shares were overshadowed by a ical failure because he wanted extra money—much extra money—for his various schemes.

  Sedly, he pletely offehe artists and reized members who had been w at Marvel for their entire lives.

  "The data from the musi's first week has arrived," Anne ehe pany was doing remarkably well. The blonde was refreshed; her shoulders were rexed, her hair shone, and she looked simply stunning, like a hot woman who made her appear brand new.

  "Leave them with Raimon. I have a meeting with Avi Arad. We’ll o allocate funds; we may have Marvel by Juhis year ust," Billy ented.

  Anne frowned.

  "I have a relevant issue. We’ve sighe agreement with the football team. If you keep buying like this, no wallet will withstand it. Last year, we anized our finances with the lucky break from the Ice Age. We have debt and have taken on even more debt than we already have," Aated.

  Billy smiled at her while sighing indifferently; he was fident in the success of the animated films, at least. Many of the others were in a strange pce; Jerry Maguire barely hit 200 million.

  But buying the hockey team was the st of the Ice Age expenses after paying off debts, even though Lilo & Stitch was a success; numerous iments ed money quickly. At the same time, for the San Francisco 49ers, he needed 290 million for payment.

  With many iments piling up, many of them felt trapped because everyone needed funding or payments. ID Software mao maintain its budget; however, many gaming satellites were barely rep and required money every month. Like the food pany that opehree brahey were overwhelmed, and An money daily.

  Meanwhile, the rest of the purchases were going to television produ els—Japanese, Ameri, and Korean—which were the rgest water filters. Generally, Billy divided the money among these panies into the first instances and the majeneral issues, like the Discovery el, which, despite not losing subscribers, was still affected by many premieres that were up in the air.

  All the revenue from the musi would go to Discovery uhey earhree times what was expected. For now, they anticipated 130 million dolrs with a base iment of 28 million; the cost covered was 50, and the remaining 80 million was allocated to Discovery. Everything earned above that would be used for remaining produs in Korea and Japan.

  -We will make money, Raimon. He has mao grow our funds with Poco; profits have already begun to show in the card factory, and it’s possible that with Autodesk going public, we will recover more mohan we already have. For now, the sale shares are at 37 dolrs. Acc to our calcutions, our ine from st year was reported to be 800 million, and all of that was ied. By the time they see our financial stability, we’ll go public. Many lises expire February; we’ll see the updates, - Billy ented.

  -Are you betting again? - Anne asked, to which he vehemently denied, looking somewhat iive and lost as he nodded, filled with pns to make calcutions at home.

  -Actually, yes. This year, we have a bet on Michael Jordan’s success in his return; I bet on his victory at several os, but with my saries, I think we’ll earn enough to take advantage and cover some of the expenses, - Billy replied.

  -I told you to stop gambling! It’s not funny! Not a game! - Anne shouted, with total disdain.

  -Monica is in San Jose. You’ll e with me to dinner; I want you to measure up Avi Arad; I trust your instincts, - Billy said.

  An naked for the first time; she had a nagging idea that Monica would find ht away because she always seemed to have X-ray vision. But seeing Billy’s icism about what they had done— “it’s just a tract”—she told herself as she looked at the guy. She sighed deeply and stepped forward to deliver the new ics.

  -What about Monica? - Anne asked.

  -We have a tract, Anne. - Those were the words she didn’t want to hear but which reassured her that everything would be fine.

  -Yes, I see, - Anne said, disappointed.

  -e here. -

  She approached, somewhat hesitantly, but she did and took a seat o him, filled with doubt about how everything had transpired, a punished.

  -There are two of us, Ahe tract is our difference; when the tract is not active, you are just Anne Hall, and when it’s active, you are my wife, mio possess, - Billy stated, gripping her jaw and trag his lips. She couldn’t help but suck her finger.

  -Who am I now? - she asked in a whisper.

  -You’re Anne Hall, and until Sunday night, you will be my wife until Monday m, Anne, - Billy said, reizing the challenges he faced. -For now, you know we have meetings, and agendas to attend to, and of course, I’ll hahe issues with Apple. I know someone who lend me mo a low i rate. -

  That was the only at that troubled Billy. Many friends with a lot of money but no desire to lend it. He was sure the most important person on his tact list was now...

  ***

  -I have a dio attend with a potential partner; you join me or wait at a nearby table, - Billy stated.

  -You’re not giving me a choice! You’re being domineering again! That doesn’t matter; I’ll wear that Prada dress that y entire allowance. You should know you’ll have another panion, a friend who will spend the weekend with us. I think we go to the nature park tomorrow afternoon, so don’t schedule much, - Monica replied on the phone while Winona prepared a Spanish tortil in the oven, which she had learo make a few days ago.

  -Very well; it’s better this way, - Billy responded. It was already seven, and they were still in the offiight would fall te, and normally the clear sky would give a little sun that faded into the horizon. It was a tradition to see the horizon that y before them; Billy finished anizing the ics while Anne reviewed the ats, with another loan in hand. The debt would grow signifitly, and it ossible that if Star Wars didn’t succeed, their red numbers would be lurking.

  But if Billy could secure an iment, the exge spectrum could ge. What friend of his would be willing to i in them? Who would provide money without being bothered by other matters? He doubted anyone was that generous.

  -Sir, we o leave; the car is ready, - said Erwin Kyle, the head of security.

  -Very well; let’s meet up with Anne. -

  ***

  Avi Arad waited at the table, smoking a cigarette. He was seated and exhausted from all the errands he had been running, so his position had been reduced to a strange ce of w at Marvel, which he had wao do for a long time.

  The guy was followed by a retinue of three women, all beautiful in their way. One of them was elegant aive, another was casual ahereal, and the st was strieat, and hot... that st adjective had been hanging around Anne all week.

  Somewhat liberated, he roached by the women, a gnce, and that distinguishing something was already alive.

  -Good evening, Mr. Arad. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long, - Billy ented, shaking hands and taking the three women with him. -This here is Ahe CEO of Lux Animation, and the one we’ll be meeting with from now on. She will be the direct tact. Oher hand, these two women here are our delightful panions, Monid Winona.-

  -It’s a pleasure,- Avi Arad ented, his thoughts bnk. He showed no signs of his feelings; he was a calm man. The only thing that truly moved him was Marvel and money, but he khat the two were not very well ected. Still, he did his best to correct those mistakes.

  The women wore their charming dresses, unlike Anne, who wore an office suit, slightly casual due to its pastel tones, different from the dark colors she usually wore. The women whispered among themselves, even if it was only through gnces, which surprised Anne in any different and obtuse mahey ordered sumptuous food while Avi extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray. They ate like friends, exging responses.

  My offer is for me to acquire 100% of the pany, including Marvel ics, Marvel Animation, Marvel Designs, and Marvel Games, 95% of Marvel Films, and 80% of Marvel Toys, -- Billy stated, taking notes. --In exge, I promise an iment of 1 billion dolrs spread across all branches and an iment of 480 million for three films. I believe we should start with two series: Spider-Man and X-Men. But as long as we have a solid script, we sign different movies, -- he added.

  -That's a bit harsh, assuming you’d take over the toy division, - Avi Arad replied, reviewing the overall terms. But Billy interrupted.

  -I think you’re mistaken; that's just the beginning. It only covers films, but my goal is to create animated movies and series. And of course, to wait for the right moment to ensure my teology has the necessary special effects. I promise to i 1 billion in a project just for the film, but we’ll have to wait at least until 2005. However, I have faith; you’ve seen my successes, - Billy tinued.

  The tract was all on paper, and success was just a moment away. Avi Arad reoccupied with thoughts; he currently held 10% of Marvel's total revenue, and the full trol of the video game division was secure and impressive. He was already thinking about the iment.

  There was a debate going on in his mind—would 5% be signifit if the iment doubled? What had he offered Stao get him on board? How much money had he id oable? Just how important was Marvel to the guy sittio him?

  ...