June 24.

  Anne was reviewing all the ats. The battle for the acquisition was reag its peak. The offer was now avaible to AOL and its petitors, attrag many eager to pete for the purchase of Hotmail. The acquisition was still alive, as everyone wanted a piece of Hotmail.

  Everything was set for AOL to take the prize, with payment terms aiations varyiween offers. AOL was willing to pay 530 million in different installments over oo two years. Microsoft, oher hand, preferred to offer 130 million in pany shares, with the remainder in a firm check. This method would finalize the purchase. Other panies had simir iations, but the sale agreement was to be settled by July 10, ten days after results from Europe came through. These results would be crucial for the acquisition.

  -Has Billy not answered? - Anne Hall asked.

  -No, it must be three iernoon there; here, it’s nine in the m, - Raimon replied, notig a new offer from a pany. Although the decision wasn’t 100% Billy’s, it was crucial to have his input.

  -He’s probably filming. We wait for him to call back ter. I think the offer is perfect for us. The 5% in shares along with the payment helps us iate. However, the bes of partnering with panies include retionships and tacts. Microsoft is a major pany that offers more than just mohe additional 8% in shares they offer could be sold ter, and we could strike extra deals, whiterests Billy, - Raimon expined.

  Hotmail's price tio rise due to Billy’s ongoing campaign. His marketing strategies went viral, using 21st-tury tactics that were remarkable. First, Hotmail was advertised on most web pages that didn’t yet have ad services. Sed, word of mouth was employed, with ads in bars near offices and physical ads. More costly ercials were run in emas, leveraging tacts to broadcast these ads before films, spreading across North Ameri just two weeks.

  -We’ll discuss it thhly once he calls for the briefing sessions. We have five to ten days to respond to these offers. I sent a note about the sale happening on July 10. The public reements should e through ohat day, - Anne said.

  ***

  Later that day, Billy had finished most ses at the hotel, with some extra takes. The tanned brue woman was a fiery presence, captivating the men around her.

  -Are you ing to the meeting? We’re having a little party iel penthouse. It was useful, - Winona remarked lightly.

  -I have to work. I’m sorry I ’t attend, - Billy deed, seeing the bck-haired woman as a tig time bomb amidst the turbulence.

  -I don’t think you uand. It’s a meeting, and besides, I think you owe me some favors, Mr. Ior. As your friend, rejeg people isn’t good. Even if you have work, attend for half an hreet everyone, chat a bit, and then excuse yourself, - Winona advised.

  Billy Winona’s advice, realizing another of his signifit mistakes, and uood the importance of retionships, not without noting the brue’s sensuality in every step.

  Winona walked towards Monica Bellucci. The two womehe sed-floor room, which was more like a remote produ studio in Tunisia, a ten-minute drive from the hotel.

  -How did you get to Tunisia so quickly? - Winona asked, greeting her with a kiss.

  -I have a little businessman who’s willing to do anything for me. He lent me his private jet. From Italy to Tunisia, it’s just a short trip, - Monica replied with a smile that brightehe darkness.

  -Oh, it’s so good to have you here. We go to the vil. I miss our time in Italy, - Winona said, hooking her arm with Monica’s. Though they seemed close, they saw each other occasionally, havi o of Dracu, where Monica transitioned from a sedary character to a symbol of beauty.

  -Me too. It’s always o have a sexy girl divert some attention from me,” Monica teased, making Winona blush. Unlike Winona, Monica was fully aware of her beauty and knew how to navigate the world with it. In an interview, Monice said, “Beauty is a gift and a burden. It open doors, but it also be a trap. - This phrase encapsutes her persuasive outlook and tranquility.

  -We'll do our best, - said Winona.

  Billy desded the stairs. From a distance, he could see that most of the time, the women around him always advised on how to rete to others. This time, he took the initiative. First, he went to his room and took a long shower, then he went to the hotel restaurant, asking two things about the witles and room service. Two bottles of '74 vintage, each costing 64,800 dinars, almost 37,000 euros. It was a key move, as the reendation was sensational.

  He paid and requested the bottles be sent to Mrs. Winona's penthouse, along with some traditional food.

  He also ordered his suit and called to get updated ohing happening in the pany.

  -What are you talking about? - Billy asked Anne Hall.

  -We received a very positive offer that would give us more money. However, I decided to postpone and wait until July 10th as we presented. Also, the Messenger initiative, an online chat, is partially agreed upoill then our i in the use of email, -said Anne.

  Getting ahead of much of the work Billy was waiting for, the o make money was key. He didn't quite know how to guarantee success since, most of the time, with films, success was uain. His produ panies needed funds, especially with the ret expansion. But the Messenger chat model was an offer even other panies besides Microsoft couldn't resist.

  -How secure is the offer? - asked Billy.

  -TPG Capital (formerly Texas Pacific Group) offered to buy Hotmail for 800 million. Along with that es 5% of Apple's shares, meaning most of the time we'd have enough budget to keep iing in Pixar, Lux Films, and a special effects pany, - expined Anne.

  -100% secure. Somehow, they discovered our online chat. The only dition is that you act as a creative advisor and assess options, denying any work or secrets to another pany, - said Anne.

  ***

  It was seven o'clo the evening, Tunisian time, and Billy was still handling business. Alongside Winona were Monica Bellucd Juliette Binoche, who had arrived a week ago to see the produ. The three women were ughing, while the English prince looked ered by the three women whispering.

  The door knocked.

  -Ohhhh, it must be the blond young man, - said Monica cheerfully, seeing Cate going to open the door.

  A young hotel bellboy opehe door, a bit nervous. The 200-dinar tip, along with the bill of almost 70,000 dinars, was a clear sign that one of the hotel bosses was involved and couldn't be offended.

  -Excuse me, miss, but Mr. Billy Carson sends his regards, - said the bellboy, blushing upon seeing the hotel stars. He had heard that most of the time, these people had a terrible temper, so it was better to aally.

  -Ohhhh, - murmured Juliette. The three women approached the intimidated bellboy, and they saw the delivery of two bottles of wine along with numerous dishes. Their eyes widened.

  -I think we'll keep it,- said Monica, accepting it before Winona could reject it out of pride.

  -You haven't tipped, - murmured Winona, reag for her purse.

  -It's not necessary, miss. I've already been tipped, - said the young man respectfully, knowing that Ameris usually give rge tips.

  -I don't think Mr. Carson is ing, - said Firth. His British at sounded more respectful than anything else.

  -Mr. Carso us a great wine. Oh, what a delight! I taste it on my lips just by looking at this kind of wine, - ented Monica, still in a blue dress. Her tanned skin and brown hair, along with her nee, were an irresistible charm.

  -I have no idea about wines, - responded Juliette Binoche, her bck hair tied up. She was dressed all in white but had a more elegant posture, more for busihan anything else.

  They had a couple of beers iel fridge, but wine was not on. So they saw many basic things: first, Firth didn't drink much. A few sips of wine and beer loosened his tongue, something unusual for an Englishman. Sed, the three women were experts in drinking wine.

  's dance was the fuhing to see

  ...