August 16th.

  In a high-eaurant, Steve Jobs adjusted his attire to fit the setting. Not a fan of ties, he wore jeans and a cotton shirt. Would they dery to a businessman? Probably not. Billy walked in with his typical suit, stretg his arms. The days as Jerry Maguire had ended with the recs in Arizona, and now he only focused on managing his businesses and tinuing to draw. The purchase of Panini and the ever-growing business bance were encing.

  -Sorry for the dey; the meeting with the video game guild sted lohan expected, - Billy said, shaking Steve Jobs' hand.

  -I didn't wait long. Your call was timely; I decided to e early and rex. A gss of wine always helps clear the thoughts that accumute after the office, - Jobs replied.

  -That's true. For now, I keep my thoughts sober, but I hope to take a trip to some secluded isnd to find the pead tranquility I need after all the workload. I've heard that has been developing high-quality software, - Billy ented.

  -It's a design for now. We have microprocessors and some... I call them SPARC. But nothing outstanding. Nothing is like the first time, nothing is like what you wish to aplish, - Jobs said.

  -A true reason, - Billy ented.

  -I've read about the success of your movies as a producer, swriter, and animator. People hold your animation work in high regard. Your st movie was captivating, - Jobs mentioned.

  -They haven't seen anythihe projects for December e in pairs, a year we'll deliver at least three movies. Although, if we pn it out, my idea is to deliver five movies a year, - Billy said.

  -A risky bet, - Jobs said, calg the costs. If Billy made five movies a year, that meant at least 150 million dolrs in expenses.

  -Our movies have been particurly profitable. I believe that if the pace of releases and our teological advas tio increase, we implement low-ovies for some indepe filmmakers to try at Pixar Europe, - Billy expined.

  The idea was simple: they required good work, but above all, many people were willing to create true works of art. Art had to be ceptualized in movies. However, it was an idea for five years into the future.

  -Is it profitable? - Jobs asked.

  -It is, very profitable. Think about it... How many movies are released in a year? And of all those releases, how many make a profit? At least 40%. However, with the sales of products, peripherals, and lises, you mao cover all costs, as long as you have the maery, which we are building. But, among that 40%, there is about 5% that mao surpass and exceed the average. A good movie help our ine, - Billy expined.

  Like having a library in his head, using it to his advantage, and densing several excellent movies.

  -A particurly risky business, but I see that when you have the talent, it's easy. It's like me; at a certain point, I found a way to guide pao a chose. What do you think is the biggest lesson I've learned in all my years? - Jobs mentioaking the wine he held in his gss with more than nostalgia. Something he hadn't seen the first time in Jobs, now he observed with attention.

  -What? I'm curious, - Billy ented.

  -If you want to hire wonderful people, you have to let them act as they wish. It doesn't matter. If you learn to unicate with people who want to excel, you must let them be free. When we have ahat's when people aim in the right dire," Jobs said, much calmer and more peaceful. His posture rexed, still a strong character, but his way of expressing it was so deep that it left Billy breathless with the depth of his words. He uood a little, but surely Jobs' thinki hand in hand with certain behaviors that were not easy to learn.

  -It sounds like something that took you time to learn, - Billy ented.

  -Don't even ask. Now I uand a lot of what I failed at, - Jobs ented.

  -I also uand many things. At the time, I made many rash decisions, and the mistakes came in a way that I paid for, both in money, hours of sleep, retionships, and es, - Billy ented.

  The waiter brought their dishes to the table, and both men proceeded to dine calmly, talking like old friends. In the background, Billy needed Jobs, as wonderful people create wonderful sarios. However, that wonder is overshadowed by the idea that Steve Jobs needs him, and Billy knows it's better to let others make an offer, question that offer, lower the price, and see what bes he reap. A crude way to look at things, but it’s how business works.

  -I see we've run out of small talk. Let's get to what I need, - Jobs said.

  Billy fell silent, looking directly at Jobs.

  -In most matters, I find many words to say it, but I want Apple ae, for a price, of course, - Jobs said.

  -What’s in it for me? - Billy replied.

  -Ah, a familiar phrase in the business world. My idea is for you to acquire my pany as the majority shareholder. If you i capital, it’s time for both of us to have a position. I uand Gil Amelio isn’t very bright, giving away our hardware to ese panies. He’s made a mess to make quick money, and the pany’s dee is starting to show. I have 5% in shares, and I have members who want to see Gil out. If we merge our panies, we’ll have the majority vote, - Jobs said carefully. - We’ll double the value, and you put money oable to acquire a 49% stake, no more, no less. -

  -I want Apple to be a private pany, - Billy said.

  -What? That’s not possible! - Jobs excimed.

  -It is. I’ve already iated with the board. I buy 19% of the pany. With the 35% of shares in my hands, I have 54% of the pany by week. Let’s put it this way, we’ll buy as an acquisition for 290 million. I’ll name you CEO, and give you a lucrative tract, but I want you to solve Apple’s problems. I have an idea; however, I pn to acquire some other panies and merge them with Apple, - Billy expined.

  The turn of events left Steve surprised.

  -You’ve outpyed me again. How long have you known I’d try to rejoin Apple? - Jobs asked.

  -Sihe moment you sold me Pixar. Nht then, but I’ve been waiting for a move for two years. We’ll settle the participation ter, but I don’t want too many owners of the pany, just you and me, - Billy said.

  -Let’s do it, - Steve Jobs agreed.

  Why did he accept the offer? It wasn’t the price; it was being part of Apple. His only option was to agree with Billy Carson, knowing the money would multiply with Billy and him at the helm. Five years ago, he saw a kid. Now he sees a partner.

  If Steve joined a year ter, he would decre a forced acquisition, spending most of Apple’s budget, and they would end up c with loans of 150 million or more.

  Lux Animation’s finances were thriving. The profits from "The Iron Giant" and "A Bug's Life" were enough to buy Panini. Even now, Billy had surplus money and po buy Discovery el, create the Discovery Kids el, stabilize Apple, buy Variety magazine, purchase sports teams, and take over Marvel.

  He had a 300 millio with Ameri Bank, 300 million with City Bank, and a credit capacity of 1 billion. Two movies were ied, 100% in "The English Patient," and 50% in "Jerry Maguire," "Star Wars," and the uping releases of "Ice Age" and "Lilo & Stitch." He had bought 60 million in tech stocks, redug pertages in AOL for obvious reasons.

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