April 24.

  Anne hadn't slept well in days, struggliween the joint block of Raimon and Steve Parks. For Ahe challenge y in fulfilling her responsibilities, including the task of buying for her boss, Billy Carson, at Lucasfilm, or at least establishing a mutually supportive retionship between two parties willing to work as a solidated group.

  Now she had to face Raimon and Steve despite their refusals.

  -Rachel, e on, follow me. We o attend an official meeting for the director of Lux el, - Anne said.

  -Yes, ma'am, - replied Rachel, clumsily tidying up her desk before her boss.

  -Where is Raimon? -- Anne asked with a hint of indignation. -- I thought I had banned him from pying video games until he resolved the issue with Lucasfilm. -

  Walking to the game room, which wasn't particurly empty, she went up to the third floor, her high heels tapping, creating a silehat made everyoop and tih their tasks. After all, CEO Anne was the one holding the highest position in the pany, being the ultimate authority.

  -Where's Raimon? - she asked the animators whoing about their daily tasks.

  -He hasn't e up here since yesterday, Miss Anne. I see why you're asking for him, but he hasn't e to the third floor today, - said Craig McCraig.

  Aopped to look for any sign of falsehood, but Craig's bck eyes, like two bck holes, and the thick bck circles under his eyes only emphasized his already tired appearance.

  -All right, everyone tih their work. Don't fet to fill out the annex Mr. Gorma at the entrance for the collective holidays. You'll enjoy a trip to the Hawaiian isnds with a paid hotel, paid travel, and fast-food bonuses like pizza boxes and T-Box Burgers. Those who don't fill out the form fust and submit the papers won't be able to go, so it's better to do it. There's no pensation for those who don't go, other than the vacation days, - Anne said, nodding as she saw everyone ready for her words.

  An downstairs and checked the sed floor. She found him in a heated discussion with Steve Parks about something. She approached as closely as she could, but couldn't hear anything through the gss. When they noticed Anne approag, both stopped their iing versation.

  -What do you have to tell me? - Anne said from the open gss door.

  -Uhhh... -Raimon tried tue.

  -What my colleague is trying tue is that we o revamp our strategies. Mr. Lucas is once again indecisive, and we pn to lure our beloved fish out of the sea. Although Raimon acted skillfully, it was a bit hasty not to leave our proposal at the reception, but it's a mistake of which he's now aware. So, in the ing days, we must target the strong points, - said Steve Parks.

  -Get to the point, - Anne said.

  Both held their groue the insistence.

  -You see, Anne, I've already sent offers to the Paramouwork for Stark Trek. If we're lucky, they'll spread the word and raise the offer based on an intrigued and tangled web of pns that televisioives often ceive, - said Steve Parks.

  -Did you send an offer? - Anne asked.

  -Formally, yes. We sent an offer with all the bes we proposed tee Lucas. After all, in the ing months, greed alrevails over people, above the love Gee Lucas has for his film series. This man is more eager for money; he wao take as much money as possible and reap all the bes while growing his pany, - said Steve Parks.

  -Why do you know this? I thought the perspective was different. What ged? - Anne asked.

  -The first time, iiation, the money was little, but the franchise's growth was substantial, from museums, films, series, and books. We proposed many things for the growth of his favorite series, but he closed the deal and offered us a strong lise with a 15% share in the box office, museums, and marketing, as well as trol and a sary set as the official producer, - said Steve Parks.

  -Yes, he even dared to offer us Lucasfilm 100 million for a 10% stake in his pany, plus an iment of han 300 million to make the films. Ahis man was iating even when I called to firm my non-attendance. He's very astute and loves money, - said Raimon.

  -But Billy wants this series for his pns. What should we do? I know that if we want to make a purchase, we have to i a lot of money. But acc to the ats, it's quite unnecessary to i so much money, and it's better tthen our pahan fill the pockets of a man who doesn't appreciate our enterprises, - said Anne.

  Thoughtful about what Billy would say about the failure to buy Lucasfilm, or at least obtain a lise. The challenges involved in growing the pany at an outstanding pace.

  -Go for other franchises. Besides, I'll present my perspectives on Gee Lucas's business, and I'll add that it's better to embark on a new business vehat isn't Lucasfilm, which is impractical for our pany's growth. The flies will e to the hohemselves. I believe that the appeal of our pany lies in our talent, and Billy's talent is enough to overshadow, - said Steve Parks.

  Anne walked to the middle of the room. Kevin looked up and focused on his tasks, Anne's furrowed brow as she pted, with a few stray rebellious hairs fluttering around her chubby cheeks.

  -Do you have a clear pn? - Anne asked.

  -As you see, to pursue our is, we start by signing various writing authors. With Raimon, we've outlined a detailed pn to solidify our writing empire, leading to the acquisition of Tor Books, which is a done deal. We'll be signing new sce fi and fantasy writers. I've personally spoken to four authors, and two have accepted, - said Steve Parks, handing over a bibliographic profile resembling a resume.

  The names of R.A. Salvatore and Tad Williams will be the first to join the United Writers Society. A society that financially supports writers, hiring them for bes over their created works, providing favorable terms for book editing, and exclusive rights to Lux Animation feing series and movies.

  -As for the purchase of nds in the surrounding areas, I've already spoken to the real estate advisor to iate the purchase of nds in specific areas of San Jose, San Francisco, and Sacramento, - said Steve Parks.

  The cheapest prices are in San Jose and Sacramento, unlike San Francisco, which, though more affordable, has experienced rapid growth, and its eic value has increased over the years. However, the pn is to buy several plots of nd, with preferences for Oaknd, Rid, and Dale City.

  -That would divert us from our main goal, which is to acquire Lucasfilm, - said Anne.

  -We have time; for now, rowth is important. I have outlined some of the pns, but that be sidered as an appetizer to the final pns the pany expects. Meanwhile, let's fish a little, - said Steve Parks calmly.

  The animation battle has only just begun.

  -I'll inform Billy of the pns. Only with his approval will we start this crusade of his, something he ptes as distant, - said Anne, walking to her office, visibly upset by the ge of pns. However, the fact that Gee Lucas's position is to demand more money as iations progress only shows his ck of i.

  The office was quiet, except for some movements in the industrial printers and some shouts from people on the first floor.

  -Mr. Gorman, do you have the iation tracts we made with Tactical Studies Rules and Workshop Games, especially tharding the hiring of paid writers? - Anne asked.

  -Give me a sed, - said Gorman, cheg the toy store files, Workshop Games, and Tactical Studies Rules.

  A her lip, a habit she had whenever something was on her mind.

  -Are you okay, Anne? - Gorman asked.

  -Yes, do you have the tracts? - Anne said.

  Gorman handed over the tracts and some other information, knowing Anne's strict temperament, he overlooked it and began to review and anize all the deliveries made by Billy so far, while pilis on statistid best-selling volumes, with additional insights.

  ...