I’m in Hollywood

In Firefly Studios, sitting in the rest area beside the tempered glass curtain wall on the second floor of the digital domain office loft, AOL President Robert Pittman looked at the burning clouds that were gradually dyed red, but he did not see the joy of this magnificent sunset scene in his heart. .

Eric's article interviewed by the New York Times a few days ago caused heated discussions in countless media around the world, but also injected a shot in the arm into the already severely frothy new technology industry. Even though more than a week has passed, the influence of this interview has not dissipated. However, as one of Nasdaq's most important new technology companies, America Online, which should have benefited from this interview, was tossed around because of some of Eric's comments in the interview.

On the day Yahoo went public, AOL's stock price fell. In the past week, affected by the interview, Yahoo's market value has successfully exceeded 100 billion US dollars, but AOL's market value has dropped from the peak of 66.7 billion US dollars, and has now slipped to the edge of 60 billion US dollars.

However, this is not the worst.

In an exclusive interview, Eric suddenly revealed that the Clover Fund, a subsidiary of Firefly Group, still holds as much as 3.1% of AOL's stock. This incident made the entire AOL management and other shareholders feel on the verge of being on the verge of being on the verge of being on the hook. tense merger talks.

Therefore, although the heart is angry, but the AOL executives still have to face this problem.

However, when Steve Case made up his mind to contact Eric, Eric suddenly disappeared from the media's field of vision. He not only left Manhattan, but also did not return to Los Angeles, and there was no other person in London. Steve Case personally called Firefly and got a completely business-like response, 'Mr. Williams is on vacation and doesn't want to be disturbed', which never happened when AOL was still in Firefly over this situation.

In desperation, Steve Case had to have the cheek to ask Yahoo CEO Ian Grenier. Although he got the news that Eric was in Maryland, he was also reminded not to disturb the other party, Steve F. Case had to do as he did. Just at the first moment of hearing the news of Eric returning to Los Angeles, he sent his deputy Robert Pittman to fly over overnight.

The orange-red burning cloud gradually turned dark red. Robert Pittman looked at his watch and was about to ask the staff again when Eric Williams got off work. Just when he got up, he saw Eric and another A casually dressed middle-aged man came out of an office at the end of the corridor, and Robert Pittman hurriedly greeted him.

Good afternoon, Mr. Williams, Robert Pittman greeted Eric patiently and politely despite his anxiety.

Bob, you'd better call me Eric, Eric smiled and shook hands with Robert Pittman, then introduced, This is Robert Byron, my special effects supervisor for this film.

Robert Pittman greeted Robert Byron again, before he said again: W... Eric, I have reserved a seat at a nearby restaurant, would you like to have dinner together?

Robert Byron knew that Eric and Robert Pittman had something to talk about and took the initiative to leave.

Eric waited for Robert Byron to walk away, and said to Robert Pittman: I have a cocktail party later, let's eat on the big boat next door.

Robert Pittman just wanted a chance to negotiate with Eric, and naturally he wouldn't object.

The two rushed to the restaurant on the big ship next door, and as soon as they sat down, Robert Pittman couldn't wait to say: Eric, AOL wants to buy back the 3.1% shares in the Clover Fund, how much do you think is a suitable offer?

Eric didn't answer Robert Pittman's words, and saw another beautiful waitress who was completely unfamiliar approaching, completely ignoring the opposite Robbit Pittman,

His eyes asked eagerly what he wanted to eat. Frowning slightly, Eric said to the waitress, Let George come over, I have something to tell him.

The waitress was stunned for a moment, only to realize that the George Eric said should be George Watling, the manager in charge of several restaurants on the ship. Although she was puzzled, she nodded and turned to leave.

After a while, George Valint, who was notified, hurried over and said respectfully, Mr. Williams, are you looking for me?

Eric pointed to the waitress who was standing not far away, and said, Don't change any more, or I'll replace you.

When George Valint heard this, a cold sweat broke out.

Because of the frequent contact with some important people in Hollywood, several restaurants, bars and banquet halls on the Titanic, especially the waiter positions in this in-house restaurant dedicated to the high-level firefly group, are definitely countless dreams in Hollywood. The shortcut to the top that men and women dream of. In the past few years, although Eric himself has not had any thoughts about the waiters in the restaurant, there are indeed many lucky people who are valued by Hollywood bigwigs.

Therefore, although he is only an ordinary manager of the catering and entertainment department at the bottom of the Firefly Group, because he has the power of personnel appointment and removal of the waiter team on the big ship, George Valint has naturally become the object of many people's flattery.

What Hollywood lacks most are beautiful girls with beautiful faces and hot bodies. You want to be a waiter on a big ship, but you don't want to pay extra, so why? In recent years, although he did not dare to be too blatant, George Valint has really enjoyed several very high-quality beauties. With the help of some people in the circle, he even secretly invested in a Hollywood brokerage company. The waiters in the in-house restaurant all signed agency contracts with that agency.

George Valint has always wondered why Eric, who often comes to the restaurant to eat, has never been interested in the waiters in the restaurant. This is not in line with the character of the big boss. At this time, Eric casually clicked, and he finally understood. There are no fools in Hollywood, let alone the young people in front of them.

What to say now.

Do you want to assure the big boss that you've never touched any of the waitresses in this in-house restaurant?

He really didn't touch it either.

To land such an important position, George Valint is not lacking in shrewdness. If Eric or some other senior management of the group took a fancy to a certain girl, and later realized that the girl had been signed by his agency, he might just laugh. But if these bosses find out that the girl they are looking for is actually a 'second-hand product' that has been enjoyed in advance, then his end will definitely be very miserable.

Hollywood is full of too many deals and desires, and Eric has no morals, just beating George Valente casually. He didn't even think about replacing the other party, the big ship exhibition hall was right under his nose, and Eric could still see that the catering department on the ship was still very well taken care of. What's more, if you change someone, things won't necessarily change.

Looking at the pale-faced George Valint in front of him, Eric waved his hand impatiently to signal him to leave, but immediately stopped him and said, Contact Ms. Kelly Haynes and let her be personally responsible for the There are several waiters in this restaurant, I don't care about other places, but don't let me hear any messy things coming out.

George Valint nodded quickly, but there was an embarrassed expression on his face. His level was far from being able to contact Eric Assistant Chief of Staff.

However, seeing that Eric was running out of patience, he didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he said goodbye and left. If I can't get in touch by myself, the person in charge of the exhibition hall park, or the head of the theme park operation department of the upper-level group can always get in touch, but I have to be tossed off a layer of skin.

After sending George Valint away, Eric and Robert Pittman ordered a dinner before Eric continued: Where did we just talk about, oh, do you want to buy back the shares in the Clover Fund?

Robert Pittman tried his best to forget the episode just now, and he didn't dare to be unhappy, and replied, Yes, Eric.

What's the reason? Eric asked, and added: AOL's stock price still has a lot of room to rise, and I don't want to sell it now.

Robert Pittman hesitated for a while, but he still explained: Time Warner does not want Firefly Group to directly hold shares in the new company after the merger of our two parties.

Eric nodded, seemingly agreeing with this reason, and said, How is the negotiation progress on your side?

Robert Pittman knew that there was no need to hide in front of Eric, and quickly said: We have begun to discuss the ownership of the management after the merger of the two parties, and the audit of the balance sheet has also started. Probably, at the latest in February next year, the merger will be completed. The case can be submitted to the SEC (Federal Exchange Commission) for review. Eric, if the Firefly Group insists on holding the 3.1% stake, it will likely affect the attitude of the SEC side.”

Eric recalled carefully, according to the merger progress given by Robert Pittman, compared with the original time and space, the merger of America Online and Time Warner is exactly one year ahead of schedule.

At the same time, although the specific details are not clear, Eric is also certain that the Nasdaq index, which has broken through 2600 at this time, is much higher than the same period in the original time and space. That is to say, the history of Nasdaq has now undergone a very obvious deviation because of the appearance of Eric. This deviation has also been destined to make it impossible for the Nasdaq to come out of the previous curve.

In the sporadic memory, the Nasdaq index, which had been in a frenzy around 2000, rushed from 3,000 points to 5,000 points in only four months, and the rate of increase was faster than the previous four years.

Then, at the current rate of increase from 2600 to 3000, even if it takes one month to calculate every 100 points, from 2600 to 3000, and then from 3000 to 5000, there are only eight left. month time.

Eight months from now, just to July next year, which is the deadline for the performance of the 30% forward equity transaction contract agreed by Yahoo and Microsoft. However, Microsoft still has a three-month hesitation period to decide whether to perform the contract and to what extent.

This is not a good thing.

Once the Nasdaq crashes, Yahoo's stock price will definitely fall far more than Microsoft.

Although I know that the specific Nasdaq index trend cannot be as simple and clear as I imagined, at least the possibility of the Nasdaq's early collapse next year is very high. October next year.

But no one can guarantee this kind of thing.

In the past, one of the triggers for the collapse of the Nasdaq was the defeat of Microsoft's antitrust case. Eric spoke well for Microsoft in an exclusive interview with The New York Times. It was not just a whim. The investigation of the antitrust case can be dragged on for a longer period of time.

If you think about it carefully, if there is no fuse for the defeat of Microsoft's anti-monopoly case, perhaps, with the madness of the Nasdaq in the future, since it can rush to 5,000 points, it will continue to rush to 6,000 points, or even higher. possible.

Of course, if the Nasdaq was 'stimulated' by other fuses in advance and collapsed before 5,000 points, it would not be too surprising.

The current AOL is actually a very unstable factor.

Although he gave up his seat on AOL's board of directors and no longer intervenes in AOL's management, Eric would not be too laissez-faire for AOL since he had such concerns in his heart.

Quickly combing through the information in his mind, Eric said to Robert Pittman after a brief trance: I said before, I will not do anything bad for AOL, because it will also harm Firefly. Interest. Although Firefly has sold most of AOL's shares, you can also see that our shareholding ratio is still 10.7%. So, my original promise is still valid. As for the shares in the hands of the Clover Fund, you want, I can agree, but not now.

Robert Pittman's expression was sad, and his tone was somewhat pleasing: Eric, you should also understand our difficulties. Now is the most critical stage of the negotiation between AOL and Time Warner.

Didn't you say that submitting the sec review will have to wait until February next year? Eric was unmoved and said, You can reply to Steve and Time Warner. In February next year, if you still insist on withdrawing this Some of the shares, I can sell to you, of course, the price must be calculated according to the stock price at that time.

Although the stock price fluctuated during this period, everyone also understands that this is only temporary.

Starting this week's trading day, with the gradual cooling of the media trend last week, Yahoo's stock price has shown obvious signs of correction. Relatively speaking, AOL's stock price, which is the leader in the field of Internet service providers in North America, will definitely show an upward trend. attitude.

In February next year, AOL will undoubtedly have to pay a higher price to buy back the shares in the Clover Fund.

But seeing that Eric had no intention of giving in at all, Robert Pittman could only accept the reality. The two sides chatted about some details while dining. In order to reassure AOL, Eric also agreed to draw up a letter of intent for equity transfer in advance.

After dinner, Robert Pittman left in a hurry, and Eric also rushed to the mansion of Amy Pascal's family halfway up the mountain north of Santa Monica to attend the cocktail party held by the other party.