May 3.

  As time passed, March went by without muotice. The Lion King's victory over the Disney movie at the Golden Globes mao create a silent triumph at Lux Animation. The small petition was enough to show some dignity, much like the victory for best soundtrack at both awards. Its overwhelming future at the awards was undeniable to Anne.

  She used the rest of her time to work oing id pitg different ideas. Some of these ideas started to take shape more intelligently, such as the series Survivor, which icked up and rebranded by some writers who quickly developed a script. Beyond that, Lux Animation began to extend its reato children's animation and adult animation, drawing the industry's attention. It was a rare tactice very few people ied in television so opportunely.

  Starting with an animated program, the petition was minimal, and many els had yet to bee petitive. In the '90s, some were toying with the idea of animation, while others believed the market was too expensive for creating series. Now, people take Lux Animation's success seriously. Even major panies approached Waro inquire about issues with Lux Animation, whose rise was meteoric. Steven Spielberg watched from afar with delight.

  -It's something big,- Anthony Dals said, hyperventiting. The offer for the Hotmail application had arrived—50 million for an idea ceived less than five days ago. It was the opposite of what they had anticipated; the idea was genius, but they didn't uand the strength behind it.

  It's pretty big. It’s insane. Billy mentiohe idea would sell, but I didn't think people would be to buy the pany within two months. It's crazy,- Terry said.

  -e on, it's just the beginning. We o keep improving the system and soon unch a new anization,- Anthony Dals added.

  -It's so much money, it amazes me,- Terry said.

  -I want to this up as soon as possible. I posted oice board that we would solve all issues by May. We're not do, and ung it in Europe plicates my potential June vacation,- Anthony said.

  -If we sell the pany, we'll get a ission. I already dream of buying that new Porsche vertible, a great car, in emerald green, shining like a firefly on the highways of Los Ahe dream of every man,- Terry said.

  The offer went public, triggering arms in many panies within days.

  ***

  -It's ridiculous to sider selling for 50 million,- Billy said to Anne, who was sipping a cup of green tea. Without wasting time, they both reviewed the offer. It was a quick game.

  -It's likely we'll receive new offers in the ing months. I might have mentioned we wao sell the pany at a good price, but it’s still not there yet,- Anne said.

  They were having a small private meeting. The tepany requested the email application and the website, which started to unicate with various panies, both academid legal, as well as administrative.

  Slowly, the email service between panies, equipped with a series of tools that enhanced business operations, attats, page design, and anizational features, gairength due to its free and secure service. Its inality iation and soft palettes stood out as few panies ied in such fine design.

  - es the aggressive marketing campaign. We o attract everyday ts,- Billy said.

  -We have some time, but the fact that it’s free is a guarantee in itself. That's where we find the selling price for our ptform,- Anne said, following Billy’s pns step by step. It was a good offer, which began to be broken down into an attractive sales pn. The money earned from the email service was used to advertise, and provide free email to uies, and the delivery format was desigo reach a rger audience.

  -So we have this giant sales app, with an audience of at least 5 million people. This service will be well-received in cities and other states, making unication easier everywhere. In a few months, the 50 million will double or triple, - Billy said.

  -It's uhe situation is even bigger than you think. We're expeg double the number of people and at least a traffic of thousands per day, - Anne ented, smiling at the fact that even Billy uimated her idea and calcutions, tripling their performance expectations.

  I doubt it will be tough. Not many people have i access, and accessing the service is quite challenging for these kinds of activities, - Billy remarked.

  -We've already ched the numbers. Thankfully, the idea of cooperation opees to thousands of students, teachers, and office workers, and we're even targeting Wall Street, - Anne ented.

  -You guys are quite bold, - Billy said, totally surprised.

  -From Microsoft, they gratute us on the game we delivered and say they're on board with creating a gaming pany together, - Anne eaking another note. Billy had been lost for two weeks in a Spartan schedule of drawing aings with Gee Lucas, as they were still w on the script for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, with full force.

  -What did they say? - Billy inquired.

  -Specifically... -

  -Yes? -

  -They took the opportunity to point out that Nintendo hasn't released a sole and doesn't seem worth following for a dull market. But they mentiohey would open a small branch if you're ied in expl that, - Anne said.

  -I don't care. Let's wait for the new soles. I've already fulfilled my obligations to PyStatio's create a small pany when we have the money on our own, and I'll make suggestions fwigs to join us. Once you have gold in your hands, everyone wants to grab a piece, - Billy said.

  Taking a pen in hand, Billy's office remained alive and vibrant with various awards, along with a diverse library of graphiovels, ics, and other things that would widen children's eyes. Not far away, the entrance door opened, Erwin poio the clock as Anne handed him a five-page report, summarizing the progress.

  -I'll be in your office ter, - Billy said, waiting for Ao leave.

  Leaving the office, it was noon and marked the importaing. Paul Allen was there, one of the pioneers of Microsoft, dressed formally in a yellow cashmere sweater and a vibrant blue shirt, leaning towards white, giving him a colorful yet elegant look, unlike Bill Gates, who preferred suits and formality in his attire.

  The meeting room only aodated four people.

  -Thank you for seeing us so promptly, -Paul Allen said.

  -We're partners; we must sider it. I'm also ied in the gaming pany, - Billy said, subtly stroking Microsoft's ego. They desired anything but starting a gaming pany, but with another pany, the situation wouldn't be as profitable. It wasn't about Microsoft; it was about its leaders who had a strong belief in the market's potential and could see how it could develop.

  -Ah, gaming. Let's hope that the much-uded sole goes into produ. For now, the promise is more than enough for us, - Paul Allen ented.

  -In that case, it doesn't matter, - Billy said, adopting an indifferent posture.

  -Retly, we saw your new email system. You've done a wonderful job. Knowing you're a man of firm points, we wish to have a stake in the email, Hotmail, - Paul Allen said.

  -We're not giving out stakes. In a few months, Hotmail, which you created, will be in most panies, uies, and academiuhen it will move on to office workers and personal use, - Billy said.

  Paul Allen sighed, always so astute, highlighting the good things about his pao create a policy of profit and triumph over people. It was a fantasy that made ohink the value of panies exceeded the current value of any pany.

  -Yes, yes, but you must know that in our pany, an alliance is most reended. We have many els that would ehe growth of our pany. From MSN, we buhe i. A stake on both sides is most necessary, - Paul Allen said.

  Retly, Microsoft had been in a silent war with Napster, and some people had bee aware of the dishonorable behavior the pany exhibited—copying models from other panies or buying them. The aggressive acquisition of at least nine panies i years was just a glimpse into hoitalism works at its maximum expression.

  -We'll sider reag a structive agreement, - Paul Allen said.

  -That's true, but I have faith in my pany's pn, - Billy said.

  -You're not willing to iate. We take this as a strain oions. Even the gaming pn be sidered, - Paul Allen said.

  -Sir, in ten years, gaming will be such a profitable market that it will tell people you always thought about the future of gaming. Long ago, you saw that the gaming business was growing. If you just satisfy the idea of acquiring Hotmail, it's a bad idea, - Billy ented.

  -You're mistaken. -

  -How much money my pany is worth, 350 million, - Billy said.

  ...