When Billy decided to make his comics more complex, he ran into a dead end. His latest acquisitions were tied up in material that was completely scattered, and he continued weighing how effective and bold it was for everyone to keep writing and creating without rest, a very rudimentary machine from the beginning that kept growing without measure and becoming more ambitious in scale with each passing day. Over the next ten years, the series would no longer be produced as mass-market products. Netflix would become a famous and recognized library known by anyone in the world, using that money to buy major companies. Beginning with its enemies, he would tear them apart and take them over.
-Conquer. - 15 points.
-Kenichi. - 20 points.
-Kengan Ashura. - 30 points.
-Locke & Key. 2008. 30 points.
-The Umbrella Academy. 2007. 35 points.
-Kick-Ass. 2008. 25 points.
-Kingsman. 2012. 20 points.
-The Boys. - 20 points.
-Halo. 2001. 70 points.
-Gears of War. 2006. 35 points.
-Assassin's Creed. 2007. 45 points.
-Borderlands. 2009. 25 points.
-Dragon Age. 2009. 30 points.
-Danny Phantom. 2004. 30 points.
-Teen Titans. 2003. 40 points.
-Samurai Champloo. 2004. 25 points.
-Avatar: The Last Airbender. 2005. 60 points.
-Generator Rex. 2010. 20 points.
-Everything is ready; we have everything we need for the series to keep running. I'll devote the next few months to writing the scripts for Real, and in July I'll begin producing the next thirty chapters. - Billy commented.
Anne carried herself with a determined air. Her hair was loose, and she looked younger. The gloss on her lips stood out. Billy had always found her beautiful, even if she was not exactly a model, even if she was not precisely like the people he usually knew. With Anne, beauty and intelligence stood out, that graceful way, that eloquent way of growing, which over the years left an impact.
-I've done it. - Anne commented.
-What have you done? - Billy asked.
-Nothing you need to know... I'll receive all the data. I'll make sure everyone works hard enough so that this year, we publish the twelve series we currently have in production. - Anne commented.
-I'm glad for the help, and I think we'll publish a seven-volume series. - Billy commented, thinking about how to begin handling Halo, which already had a place in the video game world, but they wanted it to bring life to the games as well.
-I'm looking forward to the new series you'll bring. - Anne commented.
Anne seemed intoxicated with excitement, distracted, and her expression openly revealed a judgment filled with reproach.
Billy accompanied her to her meeting. They ordered a glass of wine. The recording session was forgotten. There was something he needed to know, and perhaps the message he had sent Cameron was enough. Music began to play, and she moved her restless legs. She paused and looked at Billy. The situation seemed charged with excitement. She adjusted her hair, completely flushed, revealing how her reddened cheeks glowed. The recording studio was two hours away, but everything now seemed very distant.
-I have an excuse, and I want you to play along. - Anne commented.
She handed over a contract.
-I don't think that's a good idea, Anne. - Billy commented.
For some time now, their game of manipulation had gotten out of hand. It had all begun because Anne had job offers, the drinks, and perhaps a measure of mutual help had led them into a contractual romance. She gave everything to him and demanded nothing in return, but the way things unfolded frightened him, and perhaps it was because of what it could represent in the future.
-I've never asked you for anything, and I've given you everything. Just do it, do it wholeheartedly. I want you to do it, and I swear there will be nothing from me in return. I'll never make a complaint. Everything is written in the agreement that's there. Now, if you'll allow me, I want it to be done with love. - Anne commented.
-I'm afraid it's not that simple. - Billy commented.
-It's not a matter of whether it's simple or not. - Anne whispered, moving closer to him.
She walked past him and locked the door. It had all been planned. Everyone had tasks to complete for the delivery scheduled for noon the next day. Some of them were traveling, and others were buried under thousands of projects. Jim Gianopulos was in New Zealand, and his right-hand assistant, Anna, was with HIT Productions, organizing children's channels while carrying out capitalization efforts. Acquiring one hundred percent ownership had never been easier.
She knelt in front of him and rested her head against his knees.
-Sign, and I'll be yours. - Anne commented. -I'll take care of your companies, I'll take care of everything you want, and when I do, you'll have fewer burdens.-
-Anne, that's exactly why I can't sign it. I don't think it's right for me to treat you that way. - Billy commented.
-Do it. There's nothing more to say. - Anne commented.
Billy let out a long sigh, thinking that women were crazy. What was he supposed to do if rejection was not an option? What would he do in the coming months when everything came to light? But Anne had a case, and that case lived in her mind. Money was the solution to everything. And trust was more than enough, and he needed both now that William Dommer's hand rested over him.
-I don't think I can do it this way. - Billy whispered, taking her cheek.
She stood up and settled onto his lap. Billy was no longer a child, Anne noticed, and manipulation was different from merely spending time together; now it was frightening... perhaps.
-We'll do something. I'll sign the contract and give you one million dollars in trust, in shares for 2002, when certain events take place that I want to set in motion. But I need your signature, and I need you to create a shell company in the Bahamas and begin making some purchases of art and antiques on credit. - Billy commented.
She was surprised.
-Why? -She asked.
-Remember, Anne, Autodesk will go public in June. We have a valuation of one hundred and forty dollars per share, with two billion shares. We are what people call a dinosaur, and I'll liquidate forty percent of it. That will give me enough money to buy the companies we want and make investments that the rich won't like. - Billy commented.
-You can always count on me. - Anne commented.
He smiled and kissed her.
-It's simple. Autodesk sits at the head of the trust's assets. I personally hold twenty percent. I'll use that twenty percent to buy some companies, invest in the stock market, and bid on a film company much larger than the empty shell that MGM has become. - Billy commented.
The estimated value of that twenty percent was close to thirty billion dollars, enough to buy AOL, enough to acquire Volvo, enough to play the dot-com market, enough to acquire Gucci, and enough to capitalize the video game company alongside Microsoft at a ten-to-one ratio, while taking options against Microsoft and driving them into the ground.
-We need a senior-level accounting firm, a tax specialist, and perhaps two law firms with high-percentage fee structures. - Anne commented.
-Pay them. - Billy commented.
-It sounds like you're going to get into trouble, Billy. - Anne whispered.
-Nothing that money can't buy. - he replied.
Anne rested her head against him. Her heart pounded, and she could feel Billy's hands around her waist. She moved closer, and her large eyes only wanted him to devote a deep gaze to her.
-I'm afraid it will be a bold move.-
She said it while Billy unbuttoned her shirt.
-Even if we do a great job, there will still be records left behind.-
Billy kissed her neck, and everything fell silent.