I am Hollywood

[Chapter 1079 Cover of Vanity Fair]

As soon as Amy said that, Eric instantly understood.

Being a peripheral spin-off of the spy movie universe, the box office success of the first film in the Fast and Furious series, in the eyes of many, would determine whether MGM could move away from its reliance on three major series and continue the spy movie universe. If this attempt with Fast and Furious failed, there was no doubt that MGM would greatly increase its dependence on those three series. Kevin Costner naturally believed that MGM would no longer be as strong in the salary negotiations for the next Mission: Impossible film as it had been for the previous two.

"It seems that people still don't understand that Hollywood is no longer what it was ten years ago."

Eric said this while gazing past the railing in front of him. The view split by the coastline presented one half as the brilliantly lit Los Angeles city and the other half as the dark, quiet sea, resembling two distinctly different worlds, heaven and hell -- a thin line in between.

Amy noticed the intense focus in Eric's eyes and looked over, realizing something.

The Hollywood of ten years ago had been dominated by Michael Ovitz, the founder of CAA, who stood atop the power rankings of Hollywood. With the global film market's overall recovery, it was also a time when Hollywood stars shone the brightest. The pay for top stars not only kept increasing, but even just an agent could confidently walk into the offices of big studio executives with an air of superiority to negotiate terms.

Over the years, Hollywood had been conquering territories around the world, continuously increasing its market share. However, although star salaries kept rising, the actual standing of stars in Hollywood had been gradually diminishing due to the rise of high-budget special effect films and 3D animated movies, coupled with the intensifying competition among the major Hollywood agencies.

Amy, part of the Hollywood executive generation that grew up when CAA reigned supreme, was inevitably influenced by the long-standing rules and found herself somewhat intimidated and accommodating when faced with the top stars in Hollywood.

At this moment, feeling Eric's strong resolve behind his simple words, and recalling what he had said a few months prior after the release of Charlie's Angels 3 -- "We are the masters of Hollywood" -- Amy felt a slight sense of shame.

Indeed, with the current power of the Firefly system in Hollywood, if they couldn't secure a favorable position with the stars, it would seem quite a failure.

Eric finished the drink in his cup, not hearing a response from Amy. Turning to look at her, he seemed to understand what she was thinking and nodded, saying, "That's right. $20 million, or $10 million with a 10% net profit split. That's the highest pay condition for the Firefly system moving forward. Even if Fast and Furious fails, Kevin Costner will only have these two options, or he can choose to break off with us, and then we can unite the powers of Firefly, Fox, MGM, and Columbia to kick him out of Hollywood. I already made my stance clear two years ago regarding the Bond series, and two years later, I wouldn't mind making that clear again with a billion-dollar blockbuster. Starting now, we set the rules."

Finally coming back to herself, Amy nodded slightly, saying, "Eric, I understand."

"Then it's settled," Eric casually placed the empty cup on the railing. "I'll head back now. See you next time."

After saying this, Eric found Penelope among the crowd, said goodbye to some guests at the party, and left the mansion with Amy and her husband personally seeing him off.

...

The black luxury car glided smoothly along the mountain road. Sensing the feline grace of the woman beside him, Eric lifted Penelope's delicate face for a kiss and suddenly proposed, "Let's call Monica. We'll pick her up and have breakfast together tomorrow."

When Penelope heard this, she froze momentarily.

When she had just entered Hollywood, she had contemplated those thoughts to secure her footing. However, thanks to the Charlie's Angels series, she had become one of the top-tier A-list actresses in Hollywood, and theoretically, she no longer needed to accommodate anyone. To secure her position, she had even thought of sending her sister back to Spain on more than one occasion.

Yet, hearing the man beside her, she realized she found it hard to resist.

Executives at Hollywood studios, even at the top of the seven major companies, were merely working for others; they had to be exceptionally polite and respectful to her. But this man before her was nearly the king of Hollywood; could she really refuse the king?

"Eric."

She called out, her tone pleading. When she saw the resolute expression on his face, Penelope had no choice but to pull out her phone from her handbag and dial her sister's number.

...

Upon waking up in the morning, he was greeted by the sight of the two Spanish sisters embracing one another in sleep. Their long, thick hair appeared a bit disheveled, and their delicate necks, exposed under the thin blanket, bore faint marks, resembling a pair of intertwined roses that had weathered a storm, vibrant yet alluringly tempting.

Perhaps sensing Eric's gaze, Monica Cruz stirred awake, locking eyes with him. Realizing she was hugging her sister, and recalling what had happened last night, her expression turned bashful. Unsure of how to act, she kept her posture and greeted the man softly, "Good morning, Eric."

"Morning," Eric said, lightly tracing her delicate face with his finger before restraining his surging desires and added, "You can sleep a bit longer. I'll go prepare breakfast."

Monica lacked the courage to get up with Eric. She nodded lightly, her bright eyes timidly watching him get dressed.

...

As the week from November 27 to December 3 passed, the Thanksgiving holiday rolled to a close.

The festive atmosphere remained strong, but most people still had to continue to work until Christmas, leading to a brief cooling-off period in the North American box office market over the following two weeks.

In the Nasdaq market, Yahoo's stock price finally ceased its rapid rise after its second week of trading and entered a phase of steady correction, occasionally experiencing slight drops. However, its market value stayed above $100 billion. America Online also started to recover gradually after a tumultuous period.

Meanwhile, the entire Nasdaq index continued its slow climb, buoying the overall tech stock market.

In Hollywood, with the popular first phase of the year winding down, the series of films released during the Thanksgiving holiday had largely settled.

Mission: Impossible 3 led the Thanksgiving weekend box office, while Ted continued its surprising success. Other films like Star Trek: Insurrection, The Faculty, You've Got Mail, and Patch Adams garnered some attention, but they all paled in comparison to the success of Mission: Impossible 3 and Ted.

...

With Thanksgiving behind, the Christmas film lineup entered its final promotional push. However, many believed that there was no suspense for this year's Christmas season.

The upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace had attracted the attention of movie fans across the United States, and indeed the world. Though MGM's spy movie universe glimmered with two blockbuster hits this year, few doubted that once Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace was released, it would effortlessly reclaim its glory.

Yet, even in the face of competition from the Star Wars series, it was clear that Hollywood studios wouldn't pass on the entire season. After all, even if Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace earned $100 million every week for the last two weeks of the year, it would only take home $200 million in total. The entire December box office could reach at least $500 million, meaning other Hollywood films would have a share of the remaining $300 million.

Thus, under the shadow of Star Wars, to capture more attention and gain more box office revenue, everyone pulled out all the stops in promotion.

To avoid Star Wars' brilliance, the release of the first Fast and Furious was set for January 1 of the following year. The official holiday in the U.S. typically lasted until the week after New Year's Day, and the youth demographic had even more extended winter breaks, placing this still within the holiday range.

Although the timing was favorable and backed by the spy movie universe's shine, the marketing for Fast and Furious was relentless.

...

On the morning of December 4, in Eric's office at Firefly Studios, Caroline's foot injury had nearly healed; however, she was forcibly taken back to England by Rachel a few days ago, planning to return after Christmas, which Eric allowed without hesitation. Thus, Merissa Mayer still remained by his side during this period.

"Eric, all the materials you needed to review are here. Also, these are the interview invitations from various major media we received last week, along with some party invitations. Additionally, this is what you wanted -- the resumes of the applicants for the wait staff at the main restaurant on the cruise ship. We have narrowed it down to ten candidates," Merissa said, pausing briefly before continuing, "If there's nothing else, I'll get back to work."

Eric watched his assistant's cold facial expression as she moved to leave and called out to her, tapping his fingers on the table lightly, saying, "Come here."

Merissa Mayer hesitated and moved closer to the edge of the desk. Seeing Eric's unwavering gaze fixed on her, she reluctantly walked around the desk, her eyes beginning to shy away, justifying, "Eric, I still have work to do."

Eric spun around in his chair, took hold of the waist of his assistant, who was dressed in her professional outfit, and pulled her closer, softly saying, "I've always been curious about what Cindy and the others did to you that night."

Standing in front of Eric, feeling the man's presence, Merissa felt strangely like a little rabbit caught beneath a tiger's paws -- weak and vulnerable. She stammered, "N-nothing much."

Eric wasn't about to let her off easily; he prodded, "Did they kiss you?"

Merissa's eyes widened as she recalled certain images from that night and hurriedly shook her head, saying, "Of course, of course not."

"Come on, you're stuttering and saying no?" Eric laughed. "So, how did they kiss you?"

"Really, there was nothing," Merissa whispered, attempting to step back. However, Eric's hands were lightly resting on her waist, and she felt her body weaken completely, making it impossible to escape. She was being truthful; that night, although she saw many intimate moments, the Victoria's Secret Angels didn't reach out with their 'claws' toward her as Eric's close assistant.

"So, what really happened?" Eric replied gently, jokingly adding, "Although the Ice Queen persona is nice, I don't want to feel like I forgot to pay you your salary every day."

"Eric, really, it's nothing. I just... just feel," Merissa hesitated for a moment before mustering, "I just feel too far from your world."

Eric understood the sentiment and chuckled, shaking his head, "Why are you thinking such nonsensical things? This isn't the Merissa Mayer I know, who is sharp, competent, and ambitious."

Upon expressing her feelings, Merissa immediately regretted it and stood feeling at a loss before Eric.

Looking at her expression, Eric applied a little pressure, and Merissa, already weak in body, fell into his arms.

After momentarily kissing her softly on the lips, Eric let her go, looking at the dazed woman in his arms, saying, "Now, the distance between us is zero. If you feel it's still not enough, we can discuss negative distance contact when you have time."

Merissa Mayer felt her thoughts drift, and hearing Eric's last words, she reluctantly squirmed but didn't manage to rise, burying her face in his chest, saying softly, "Eric, you're such a jerk."

"Ah, I've grown used to women complimenting me like this," Eric lightly laughed. "So, do you feel a little better?"

After a moment of silence, Merissa quietly replied affirmatively.

"Then don't do this in the future, or I'll send you off to star as the Snow Queen."

"If I became a star, I wouldn't be your assistant."

"That's not certain. Even if you become a star, if I want you back, you'd have to return to be my assistant."

"No way."

As they continued whispering, the office door was gently knocked on a few times, and Merissa Mayer shot up like a startled rabbit. She quickly turned around, tidying her slightly disheveled clothing.

...

"Mr. Williams," the secretary opened the door and noticed what was happening behind the desk but kept her composure, slightly blocking the door, before saying, "Miss Barrymore and Miss Paltrow are here."

Drew outside felt that the secretary's actions seemed a little strange, but she quickly bypassed her and walked into Eric's office with Gwyneth Paltrow. Noticing Merissa Mayer standing at the side of Eric's desk, busy organizing documents, the girl didn't think much of it. Even if she saw something, she wouldn't care. However, Gwyneth Paltrow couldn't help but glance at Merissa Mayer a couple of times.

Eric shifted back into a seated position, looking at the girl and Gwyneth opposite him, "What brings you here all of a sudden? Is there something you need?"

"Uh," the girl directly took a magazine out of her handbag and pushed it toward Eric with a smile, saying, "The new issue of Vanity Fair. I wanted you to take a look at the cover!"

*****

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