Mónica saw a beautiful story reflected from Billy's eyes into the eyes of the audience; she watched the way he held the script in his hands, the way someone might finally give attention to unfinished works. It was good work. Now she observed how he had brought to life something he deeply understood. Each sketch had been drawn on paper, the characters rendered in black and white—still lifeless compared to the animation circles where everything seemed to breathe.
—You have a talent for these things. —Mónica said, watching the simplicity of the film as it ended. Bold in its own way. How nine films a year had become a true shroud of different series calculated every month and eight days—totalitarian in talent and speculation for anyone who had the faintest trace of it.
—You say that over and over. What is it—do you admire me completely? —Billy replied, leaning in closer, his face at her side. It didn't matter; his closeness stole the moment as the credits rolled. He kissed her on the lips, receiving a look of approval—one of his greatest admirers. She watched each film twice in English and Italian, and a second time when she wanted to examine it calmly, savoring every detail. That was why Lux Animation, Pixar, and Lux Series had some of the best dubbing in Europe—particularly in Italian, French, and Spanish, which covered a large portion of the participating population of filmmakers who contributed in every possible way to making everything wonderfully polished.
—We have meetings to attend. —Mónica said.
—They have my phone number. —Billy replied as he handed her the keys to the ʼ97 Lamborghini, while she sighed and took them.
—Where are we going? —Mónica asked.
—We've got an engagement—a party to close a few deals. And of course, I heard you all like electronic music. —Billy answered. He threw a lavish party across the board, took everything available and turned it into a high-society spectacle. He sent out invitations and turned the event into a media show. Thousands of European models walked in throughout the day—businessmen, celebrities, designers, hosts, presenters, actresses, actors, and directors. People came flocking like embers to a fire, and later he held a grand golden-card party; if you didn't have one, you had to pay ten thousand dollars or euros—currency interchangeable.
—Well, I think I like it more now. I want to see just how far you went with this party. —Mónica replied.
—I hired an events company and asked for the best of the best. Booked a few artists who seem promising, and well… I went overboard with the money. Prices are more expensive here than in Los Angeles—embarrassingly so—but I don't think it matters. —Billy answered, taking Mónica's hand and leading her out. A black car waited for them, lined with silver that gleamed under the Parisian lights.
Everything moved forward, perfectly achievable for them.
A grand hall, a fast-paced avenue. From many angles you could see scattered wooden tables where big executives made deals, a large dance floor, a gourmet food area, and a quick-service bar stocked with curated drinks, run by a professional bartender charging 150 euros an hour plus a thousand in cash for his regular appearance.
Mónica saw the neon lights, the event pulsing from a wide wing, people from different angles glimpsing the hall of mirrors, intimate moments, and future guests shouting in their own style.
Billy took the car carefully while Mónica teased him. She delicately stepped inside, took the driver's seat, and followed the black SUV leading them to a grand palace, with Mylène Farmer taking position at the center of the stage.
—I've never understood these parties, —Mónica commented. —Each time you make them bigger, more exclusive, and more expensive in their own way. Some people look forward to them.—
—Networking and publicity, —Billy replied. —It's simple from many angles. People see big celebrities, kids see their idols who play football on the big screen, men look at the models, and businessmen see opportunities. Most of the time that's all people need to close a deal. And when they come wrapped in elegance—thousands gathered, social class displayed, beautiful women, and major celebrities—it all aligns. —Billy answered, happily assured.
—I see, —Mónica whispered.
—It's just another form of marketing, —Billy replied.
She leaned closer to him as she took her seat at yet another meeting. The party was still a couple of hours away, during which he had to play the decorative host.
…
Michael Eisner was there, watching the young man move through thousands of tables, signing agreements, making deals, turning a family event into a recognizable face—not only children watched animation; adults did too, the great figures and everything behind them.
—Billy, —Michael said.
—It's you, Michael… how's everything with Jim Gianopulos? —Billy replied.
—Very well, nothing the corporate world can't smooth out, —Michael responded.
—It's exactly what people want every now and then, —Billy added.
He knew what was coming—a business memory resurfacing.
—It's simple… you're disrupting the animation world, —Michael said. —For months I've realized you're the piece nobody saw coming. What we didn't foresee was your ability to create art.—
—I'll take that as a compliment.—
—It's not all.—
—Shoot.—
—I want the technology, at a price, —Eisner stated.
Billy looked him in the eye, fully aware of Eisner's steady tone. After all, if Eisner could fill Pixar's void with investment, contracts, and collaboration, he wouldn't hesitate.
—Joint venture. That's all. —Billy said.
—Twenty years, and I want a five-year window to build my own team.—
—Done. Send me the paperwork at the San Francisco office. Costs and values run at about seventy million per year; we'll split it fifty–fifty, and I'll provide the proper assets—excluding a few products I'll specify in the contract.—
—How far down are the licenses compared to the parent company? From what I understand, there's distance. —Eisner replied.
—Three years. But the engineers get better every day, and it's likely the work will double. We're about to make a leap. —Billy answered.
—We'll get it done quickly. —Eisner replied.
,,,