July 7.

  "Inprehensible," were the words Monica used when speaking to Billy, saying these moments were the most important in the history of ema. The way she spoke, Monily wished he would be with her, to take her as his lover, his woman, his wife. She wao be loved in the same way he longed for the peace of tinuing his days as they always had, without fog too mu events beyond Billy’s trol or reach.

  –Honey, I see you’re busy, but try not to go overboard. It’s good to rest. Go for a massage, exercise, and be careful with women—use prote. – Monica murmured the st part. She knew he had a lover; it was so obvious. But that didn’t matter. Over time, she had learo deduce the details, his nervous words. He en book, but he spoke no more, only dedig himself t for her, sh her with gifts, and seeking her pany—at least most of the time.

  –I leave, but not too far, honey. However, Anne has everything arranged. I ahe dots for your trip with her. Take care, and I hope you e back as soon as possible. – Billy ented over the phone. He was somewhat eager to see her—Monica, as beautiful as ever, with her deep bck eyes. Eyes that always seemed on the verge of breaking into sadness when she fell silent. Two perfect eyes to pamper. They were dark and open, a gaze made of entment, a secret charm marveling in its shy, feminine way of : the way a woman looks, with a sensitivity made for love, every sh fluttering with pure curiosity, capable of captivating anyone.

  –I’m afraid we’re having a great time here without you. – Monica replied. The best hotels, the fi food, a day with no schedules, and nothing but rest. Living like that wasn’t bad. After much work, five days of rest were enough for Ao fun like clockwain. But by the eighth day, she surreo sleeping in, taking long naps, resting as much as possible, eating in bed, and indulging ihy bubble baths that brought her the rexation she needed.

  –I have to hang up; I o attend a meeting. – The man responded, stretg in the back seat of the car. He was ile, where all the Miagic happened. For now, he has had a long discussion with the executives about Microsoft Games. After his success with The English Patient and the potential release of Toy Story, success seemed to follow him like a shadow.

  –I hope you surprise me here in Italy. If you mao do so, I might sider that thing you once asked for. Even if you deny it, I know you want to see me pletely under your trol. It’s a mase impulse, seeing me uied, and ready for you. – Monica teased, her Italian at provocatively stirring a feeling of excitement in Billy.

  She ughed and hung up the phone, leaving behind the thought that tryihings might not be entirely bad. But she doubted it would be as expected—things teo lose their charm when faced directly.

  Raimon took his time, carving out space to enjoy the ar Wars sagas while strengthening his patience. Meanwhile, he pyed with iments and acquired properties in Billy’s er sg them for rental arras.

  –So now you finally have work to do. – Rachel ented so Raimon, irritated by his strutting through the halls as if he could do whatever he pleased.

  –I’m the most productive in the pany. Did you see my success in the video game division? I did my job fwlessly; I might as well call myself the best. I multiplied revenue, iated tracts, and expahe hotel by two new properties. Plus, I increased produ lines for trading card panies. – Raimon said, brimming with self-satisfa.

  Rachel spped him on the bad walked on. –Big words. I stabilized those panies, reviewed the ats, and adjusted tracts to our advahings others couldn’t do. My skills are what stabilized the pany. –

  –Anne’s skills. –

  –You’re insufferable. – Rachel shouted, st off to her desk, pletely out of patiehe pany was in full swing now that Anne had left her position. Everyone was regrouping—new operators, new employees, new divisions for every enterprise. The strategy from the start was different: create a rapid of panies, a parent pany to handle administration, and another pany on top of that to manage trol. That’s what they had dohe step was acquiring a legal and ating firm, buying 39% of it, and dedig it solely to handling their business.

  It was an initiative from both Raimon and Rachel, for simir yet differing reasons. They wanted better fiscal trol. The firm would ahe pany’s resources theoretically, while the treasury wouldn’t move funds without the firm’s approval and the directors’ sent.

  ***

  With Microsoft Games, things were going exceptionally well, thanks to Steve’s friendship with Bill Gates. At least on paper, Apple had mao bas books and produce the microchips needed faming soles.

  –Mr. Carson, we’ve been expeg you. – Braim Chard, Microsoft’s Vice President, greeted Billy. Alongside COO John Frotman, he would hahe finer details regarding Microsoft Games, which was a massive enterprise.

  –A pleasure. – Billy replied, havihrough all the tracts and identified potential loopholes beforehand. At least two were evident: issues with iment ma and patent utilization. But both could be leveraged to his advantage.

  –So, we’re deg the pany’s future in this meeting. – Billy joked, causing a faint smirk. They didn’t enjoy dealing with the owhey preferred Anne, who was more reasohis one was more like a guard dog.

  –I suppose your atants have already approved the financial statements and adjustments. – Braim said.

  –They have. As I promised, the iment will be 300 million. – Billy replied, tapping his fingers against the gss.

  –Wait, that’s not what we asked for. –

  –It is. You said you needed funds to address specific issues. My atants identified the problems from multiple angles. For example, I addressed game troller development, graphic processors, ectivity systems, and teological deys all. Now, I believe the amount is 300 million, distributed accly. – Billy expined. Microsoft had used the funds to enhance processors, CPUs, and software cores but had ed the rest. Billy simply amplified and fihe remainder.

  –We thought you were hesitant about the patents. – Braim noted.

  –We are, but this business is worth it. I’ll ensure further deposits by year-end. – Billy responded, aiming to double his equity stake. After all, he only he tacts and maery—the rest was about iing capital to adjust things to his be.

  –Let’s finalize the details. – Braim suggested.

  Billy didn’t mind taking o for something as signifit as dominating the video game market. Teology would propel his pany to greater heights. His ret successes in movies and series were merely the ig on the cake.

  To summarize: Star Wars, The Musi, and The English Patient have been his ret triumphs. Meanwhile, he anticipated the success of Toy Story 2, fident it would allow him to keep pying for another year.

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