March 6, 1996.

  Monica was fixing her hair, exhausted from the grueling week she had endured, a period full of tless tasks. Improving her English had been one of the most difficult and unquantifiable challenges she’d faced. Still, her script readings o be morous. Retly, a modest offer had e her way that gave her a sense nition.

  Jim Waiit presewo quick proposals to her. The first was a ercial film, designed solely to wihe kind nition that would put her on a list of favored actresses—this was Anada, a film that, while not a critical darling, would be widely reized by the Ameri audience.

  The sed portunity to star in a film with araordinary script—Life is Beautiful, a heart-wreng Italian film, more about creating art than gaining fame. Billy had advised her to choose the tter, remindihat while ercial films could be do any time, truly great films were rare. A beautiful piece of art could be deeply satisfying, though the filming process would be long and require her to be away for aended period.

  Two scripts and two flig desires—split between her professional ambitions and her fulfillment. But in her heart, Monica had already made her decision. She would fly to Italy without dey to work on the film. The script was too magnifit to pass up, filled with a grace that was hard to grasp but irresistible. It was the kind of role her mentors, Winona and Billy, had trained her to take seriously—a deep, emotionally demanding role that reflected raw human experience.

  After taking a flight back to San Jose, she arrived wearing her usual chic style. Her high heels clicked with fidence as she stepped off the pne, her long wavy hair meticulously styled with ditioner, wearing a beige coat over a chocote-brower. She looked utterly stunning.

  -Anne, my darling,- Monica greeted, hugging Aightly.

  -Monica,- Anne whispered back.

  -We have to meet tonight. Stay at my pce, we have a guest room now, darling. I bought a lot of clothes—almost our size! You’ll o hem them a bit, but I’ve got more up top, and you’ve got more hips, my dear,- Monica said, eyeing Anne’s figure with a teasing grin.

  Anne nodded, feeling a straension as Monica sized her up. Among all the women in Billy’s circle, Anne was Monica’s closest petitor—Billy’s pilr, the erstone of Lux Animation, and the only one who could truly bring Billy back down to earth. She treated Billy like a wife would.

  Monica, uanding this dynamic, saw the value in keeping Anne as a close friend. It wasn’t an illusion; a woman like her couldn’t afford that. If Billy ever cheated, it had to be with a Anne. Women were expected to uphold a certain dignity, but Billy’s betrayal would mean the end of everything, while Moniew she had to stay silent. She could five anything but betrayal with Anne.

  -We do that. A gss of wine sounds perfect… I’ve been w so much. I found a masseuse who works wonders; my lower bad sciatica have been much better,- Anne ented.

  -That sounds amazing… though you should work less! It’s nearly eight, A’s getting te. Close up shop and e with me,- Monisisted.

  The two women would spend the evening reting their busy weeks—two very different lives, both ambitious and full of satisfa. Anne was anizing her dar for tomorrow’s work—reviewing new pany projects and hiring new services. Unlike Monica, Anne favored shat suited her active lifestyle.

  -I’ve always loved the way your straight hair falls in those yers, -Monica said, casually stretg out.

  -Please, you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen… I feel like I’m ba high school,- Anne joked.

  …

  Do they want to double the lising fee?- Billy asked.

  -Yes, they’re pushing for a-year extension. The first two seasons have smashed audience records, and they’ve sent a very lucrative proposal—better deals with CBS. It’ll help strengthen our retionships and hopefully see the reality show bee even more popur,- expined Jim Gianopulos.

  -Fine, let’s do it. But I don’t want just 8%, I want 9% of the ad revenue, and I want to iate the possibility of acquiring some CBS series wheime is right,- Billy responded.

  They had retly sold some lises tn tries, ing about 500,000 per deal. It art of Billy’s way of seg smaller iments, whether for stru projeanufacturiures, just some of the many items on his ever-growing list.

  -Ahem I’ve got another idea. We keep colborating, but let’s anize a small produ group and maybe hold a called ‘The New Ameri Face,’- Billy said, knowing full well that the lising deal would lead to many creative opportunities.

  -What’s the pn?- Jim asked, intrigued. Billy already had two successful shows under his belt—Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Survivor. Adding a third could only enhaheir portfolio.

  -I’ve got some work to do, but let’s trademark the logister the brand, and foarketing this as an opportunity for the ideal Ameri dreamer—the kind of person who dreams of fame, of being known. It’ll tie in well with our other shows,- Billy said, handing over a five-page dot outlining the cept.

  Jim took the papers and quickly grasped Billy’s vision, but he k wouldn’t be easy.

  -We’ll need some adjustments, but we’ll figure it out. It’s not a simple task, though; we’re going to need a lot of capital. Still, I think CBS would be on board,- Jim said, thinking it through.

  -So, what’s your call?- Billy asked.

  -Let’s go for it,- Jim agreed.

  As they ed up the versation, their venture would be buying a stake in Summit Eai for 40 million to produdie films, sharing both the risks and rewards. Jim felt the workload doubling, but he was eager to move forward.

  They were interrupted by Monica, who ehe room, vibrant and happy, ready to whisk Billy away for dihey would have to get takeout, but Monica was eager to spend time with him.

  -It’s getting te, love. We o go,- Monica said.

  ...