System in Hollywood

Even after the completion of *The Bourne Identity* and receiving the 168 million in system funds, Wayne couldn't simultaneously invest in all his projects. After all, *Resident Evil*, *Mean Girls*, *Taken*, *The Notebook*, and *Wanted* all required significant amounts of money. 

The most important thing was, he still planned to acquire Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)!

Sierra had already begun negotiations with Lucasfilm, and according to a professional evaluation, ILM was currently valued at around $100 million, with promising growth prospects.

If Wayne wanted to acquire ILM, he'd need to offer at least a 20% premium, meaning about $120 million. After careful consideration, he reluctantly decided to put other projects on hold and only invest in *Spider-Man 1*.

However, without the right to choose the lead actress, the 24% priority box office share wasn't enough to satisfy him.

So, after deciding to invest, Wayne immediately contacted Avi Arad, bringing the Marvel team into Sierra's negotiating group to start discussions with Sony-Columbia.

After a week of negotiations, Hemera Pictures finally secured a 21% priority box office share for a $30 million investment, along with the right of first refusal for subsequent sequels and, most importantly, shared rights to Spider-Man.

This meant that Hemera Pictures could now make its own Spider-Man movies and use the character in other films.

When Wayne got the good news on set during *Mean Girls*, he couldn't help but clench his fists in joy.

The box office returns aside, just being able to get Spider-Man's shared rights for such a small price was already a massive win for him!

Once *Spider-Man 1* was released, it wouldn't be a question of $30 million; even $300 million wouldn't make Sony sell it.

Fearing Sony-Columbia might back out, Wayne, despite his financial strain, wired the first $10 million payment the same day.

The remaining $20 million would be split into two payments, to be sent when filming reached 60% and 90% completion, so it didn't have to be paid all at once.

Even so, his system funds were nearly depleted.

**Name: Wayne**

**Remaining film investment funds: $7.7 million**

**Current film projects:**

- *The Bourne Identity 1*: Production budget $56 million, $51 million invested so far

- *Resident Evil 1, 2*: Production budget $65 million, $33.1 million invested so far

- *Mean Girls*: Production budget $20 million, $8.7 million invested so far

- *Taken*: Production budget $35 million, $5.6 million invested so far

- *Ocean's Eleven (18%)*: Estimated investment $15 million, $7 million invested so far

- *Pirates of the Caribbean (16%)*: Estimated investment $20 million, $0 invested so far

- *Spider-Man 1 (22%)*: Estimated investment $30 million, $10 million invested so far

During a break in filming, Wayne opened his system panel, frowned at the remaining $7.7 million.

Honestly, at that moment, he even considered returning the $1.5 million paycheck he'd just received from *Mean Girls*.

To get a threefold return on the $56 million he'd put into *The Bourne Identity*, he'd need to pay the remaining $5 million in director and actor fees before the movie was completed.

So, in reality, his available funds were only $2.7 million.

And according to Doug Liman, *The Bourne Identity* still needed about five more days to finish production.

Although the contract for *Pirates of the Caribbean* had been signed, filming was still far off, so the payments weren't due until all funding had been secured.

*Taken*'s audition dates were set for early March, so no immediate investment was required either.

But even with only *Mean Girls* and *Resident Evil* left, that $2.7 million might not last five days!

"Emmm! It looks like I might have overextended myself a bit. If necessary, I'll have to dip into the company's operational funds," Wayne muttered to himself, closing the system panel.

At that moment, a sugary-sweet voice sounded beside him, followed by the scent of chocolate cookies.

"Hey Wayne, here you are! I made these cookies myself. Want to try some?"

Wayne turned around to see Amanda holding a box of cranberry chocolate chip cookies. He couldn't help but show a wry smile.

Although Amanda was now of legal age, and there wouldn't be any issue even if they got involved, the problem was his schedule was already packed.

With Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rachel Weisz happy to keep him company despite not receiving any roles in return, and Nicole Kidman now a free agent, Wayne barely had time to tend to Charlize Theron and the three women at home.

He had no time to take on someone new.

Even the previously arranged meet-ups with Keri Russell and Isla Fisher had been squeezed in just to keep his word.

But Amanda was persistent, especially after learning that, aside from underage Megan, the other three members of the *Mean Girls* cast were already Wayne's women. She refused to give up.

It was as if she couldn't let anyone else have something she hadn't tried herself.

You couldn't really blame her. Wayne's looks, body, and charisma were all exceptional.

So Amanda didn't care about others' opinions; she would seek out Wayne any time she got a break, even when Martina, Annie, or Scarlett were around, without any concern for what they thought.

This, of course, made Martina and the others very displeased with Amanda.

But from their perspective, they couldn't deny that Amanda was gorgeous.

Big eyes, a small face, round legs, a slim waist, and, most notably, a chest much larger than theirs.

Even though they didn't want to admit it, they knew deep down that Amanda would likely become one of their "sisters" soon, so their frustration remained unspoken.

It just goes to show that women's standards of beauty differ from men's.

"Thanks!" Wayne hesitated but picked up a cookie and took a bite. He politely complimented, "It tastes great."

Only then did Amanda, satisfied, put down the cookie box and start chatting with him aimlessly.

Thankfully, at that moment, his phone rang.

(End of chapter)