March 4, 1996.

  Raimon, after some time, with his knack for calcutions and finances, was stationed in New York. He was searg for a building to house an animation studio, and sidering purchasing a distant property. Beyond that, he wandered around Bank of America, talking with his father, while taking note of Billy's as—buying properties, hotels, restaurants, and more.

  -I believe we buy the bonds... However, there’s a hindrahere’s a sed iator on the se, behind the curtains two people are ing into py that we didn’t expect to be actors in this deal, - Raimon remarked over the phoime wasn’t on their side, but they still wao buy the bonds.

  -It doesn't matter what or how, pay 40% of the bond’s value, - Billy responded, desperate. - Aion that we might fe a closer retionship. I’ll send you 10 million to buy shares in Microsoft and AOL. -

  They needed Marvel for their pns—it would be the final touch, the cherry on top that would help them stand out. Beyond that, they didn’t need anything else. It would expand its budding animation system, hire freencers at sustaies, and pay issions to feed the egos of those who would support it. He had been bag the sector with everything he had.

  -Sure, and I’ve found a few good buildings, a bit remote, in Brooklyn. If we make the right purchases, they’ll appreciate down the road. And of course, you always see some acts here and there. Lastly, there’s a major hotel, but not many are up for sale. iatioricky right now, so I suggest we wait for an offer. My alternative is to buy buildings and remodel them to suit our best is. It could be expensive due to lising, but with a solid iment, we could create a building that serves as a cultural, administrative, and operational hub, - Raimon added.

  Billy hough his mind was still focused on who could buy Marvel’s shares. He could partner with one of them, but knowing from Stan Lee how crucial it was, his moves had to be made with caution.

  -Talk to Avi Arad. Let’s make some cessions and deals that might be relevant to our business... be careful with the people iween, - Billy advised.

  -iating with the enemy? - Raimon asked, utterly perplexed.

  -More than that, Marvel has to be mine, 100%. Tell him I’m willing to make some ventions, as long as he uands the premise. I’ve heard he wants to make movies. That’s easy enough—talk to him. If you think he’s willing, we’ll arrange a call aiate, - Billy instructed.

  -Oh my God, how long have you been pnning this Marvel thing? You’re starting to sound out of touch, like Robert Redford in All the President's Men. I’m a little stunned, - Raimon replied.

  -Well, speak to real estate. We’re going to take over New York. You’ll be heading to London soon to take over there too, and we’ll move some operations there… just as we will in Irend, - Billy stated.

  ...

  Billy desded the stairs, still questioning whether, in the ing months, all of his efforts should be devoted to a fmboyant expansion of acquisitions and mainte felt like a deep task with multiple yers. They had to succeed in all the films to e, and do so in an almost insidious way.

  The different angles involved Resident Evil 2, along with some other necessary redesigns to improve the tent, pushing past the norm, particurly the Dark Souls series. But right now, they were mere flickers of light, through the studio that bought and lised the game. The graphigine, which was now improving daily at Epic Games, was being made avaible for free, as long as the developers provided 4% of their game profits.

  The pile of ideas waiting to be reviewed, and the other pile of ic work that needed pletion—Real had a total of 98 chapters. With his revisions and additions, he believed the story would clude at 108 chapters—ten more. But at one chapter per month, that’s 108 months. Still, the story remained plex to create, and it had bee the best-selling title at Lux Animation, with 8 million copies sold per month. So, he decided to publish two volumes a month. They were currently on volume four; the fifth would be released oh, and the sixth on March 30th. He had just finished volume five, and though he didn’t think he could adjust the schedule in the ing months, he would try.

  -Margot, call Dave Anns, - Billy instructed. They were people of information, handling analysis, archiving, and dotation with Mr. Gorman. Due to his ck of time, Billy would have to rearrange his schedule.

  -Also, call Sarah Robles, -

  -And Franz and Francis Scott, - Billy added.

  Would he use his directors to filter the 28 projects on his table? He didn’t call it that, but doubt arose. His boss wasn’t oo frequently call people, and usually only spoke with Raimon, Jim, and Anne. His circle of versations was small.

  In doubt, each of them came to address the s. Monica was noticeably absent, but she was in L.A. w on the Liar Liar projed would return by Friday night or Saturday m.

  -Sir, - Dave Anns said from the doorway, being the first to arrive. Billy gestured for him to sit. He looked unfortable.

  -Take a seat, a’s wait for the others to arrive, - Billy said.

  One by ohey followed the same pattern. This activity was born not only out of curiosity about how people viewed the work but also from the perspective of individuals who weren’t sidered experts.

  He took the storyboards ahem at his desk while they waited.

  -I believe we’re all here now, - Billy said, standing up and stretg.

  -I just finished a reading that took me three days. I’ve gohrough a total of 30 new proposals, but I feel like I’ve gotten carried away by the fever of reading, and I believe my judgment is clouded. So I want to give these a sed ce, here and there, - Billy expined.

  -So, you want us to...? - Sarah Robles asked, unsure how to tihe head of the pany, the legend of San Jose, was very intense.

  -Simple. Four scripts for each of you. It’ll take one or two hours at most because they’re just proposals, nothing more. If you like one or think it’s worth it, put a smiley fa it. If you think it’s both worthwhile and feasible, give it a green stamp. And if you think we make money off it, add a post-it note expining why, - Billy instructed as he hahem the scripts.

  -Before you ask, we sell stories—whether ics, books, films, or toys. I don’t think you’re all too busy for this, - Billy added.

  The rest were dismissed ht. If three out of the 16 scripts made it through, it was enough for him. There were many untapped stories, and he had a strict system.

  ***

  Monica was smoking a cigarette while waiting for the act. Her body was made to be eye-catg—a leopard-print corset, paired with tight leggings that highlighted her underwear.

  -It’s incredible how people move in this industry, - Winona ented from beside her. She was still filming Alien. Monica’s character had died halfway through, but it wasn’t a bad thing. A few extra ses and the experience were enough for her.

  -You never get used to it, even after all this time, - Monica replied.

  Jim Carrey was crag jokes o, in every possible way, ridig and trying to make people ugh. He wouldn’t stop, always trying to get a ugh from ah his endearing antics. Lately, he’d been arriving o imitating Ace Ventura, with his walk, gestures, and all.

  -Ladies, - the maed, rolling his eyes ically as he struck a ridiculous pose. It always made Monica smile. He was funny.

  -Ohhh Jim, stop being a pest, - Winona ughed.

  -Inappropriate, mwahaha, - he replied in his signature way. - I do what o be done, even if you don’t like it. -

  -I think he’s sweet, - Monica remarked.

  -Ding, ding, we have a winner, - he shouted, jumping from side to side. - This calls for a dinner for two! -

  -Make that three. I’m having dinner with Winona tonight, and I’ll be traveling tomorrow, - Monica added.

  The face he made afterward was even funnier. He sched his ned gave a goofy smile, as if straight out of Dumb and Dumber.

  -I hah, - Carrey said.

  -Hahaha, Winona’s a bit dangerous, - Monica teased.

  -Ahhh, somebody calls a firefighter for this bze, - he joked, motioning to his crotch.

  Winona rolled her eyes, but it was amusing to watch the man make a fool of himself with such fidence. People just watched him curiously, marveling at his unique way of doing things.

  -I spoke to Lauren. She said we o bowl you over every time you try to make us ugh, - Monica added.

  -God, Lauren again. My life is over. She’s omnipotent, - Carrey groaned.

  She was Carrey’s fiancée. Ially, she was also a close friend of Monid the

  ...