Bill took a breath when the awards finally became real. For more than twenty days now, he had carried two nominations: the first, for Fight Club, earned a Golden Globe nomination—a solid bid for a film that had been canceled across much of Europe. It had received two nominations, one for the film itself and another for him as Supporting Actor, as well as Lead Actor for Titanic. Although, to be fair, it should be said that he failed to secure either nomination at the Oscars and ended up holding onto a mere token for the ceremony.
-You have a third nomination. – Jim Waiit whispered, the man who had been accompanying him at work. For some time now, conversations about awards had been tainted by media maneuvering, and this was largely due to Billy's lack of participation. He had little interest in awards from the very beginning; he was merely an occasional presence, someone who never pushed his career into the awards race.
-You came to London to warn me to keep a good relationship with the Golden Globes. – Billy sighed.
-It's important, and I brought my wife along for a vacation in England. The company pays for my ticket, and I pay for hers. I'm staying ten days, and no one really pressures me about what to do or not to do. Easy. – The man commented gently, as he arranged the scripts he had brought for Billy, films that by 1999 would truly find their place. The plotlines remained suspended by Billy's availability, and it had been clear for months that there were roles Billy chose purely by instinct. He loved choosing; he never wanted to turn down a role that carried that spark, one that only Billy could understand. Roles with storylines that would be popular in any given moment, and Billy would add them to his acting résumé—films that would surely gain recognition over time, at least in Jim Wait's view, who had a certain standing with the Academy, and that was enough.
-Well, I'll take you out to dinner tonight. – Billy replied, ending the conversation as drowsiness settled on Jim's face. The European schedule completely disrupted his rest. Nearly dawn, his eyes burned in a way that was hard to ignore. That was why his face showed such exhaustion—those eyes that only wanted to rest and find relief were painfully honest. What else could he do?
-Actually, I'm a bit worn out. – Jim replied.
-Nothing a long day of shopping can't fix. However, commerce is definitely different here. – Billy answered, well aware that the organization belonged to a lineage far older than the traditional mall layouts commonly seen across the United States, except for a few cities that were ancient in their own fascinating way of doing things.
-We'll see each other shortly. – Jim Wait replied.
It was surprising how the media moved on, cleaned up, and left Billy's operations behind. With no press pressure, there was only silence and a few conspiracies from people trying to meddle in everything—from bidding processes to land use, ecosystems, and each of them represented a form of social groundwork that irritated him. The work itself was simple: for just over twenty months, he had been making aggressive land purchases all around, aiming to build one of the largest citadels in the world.
Who could deny it outright? Billy was highly skilled. Whenever he needed to add an extra page to a tax declaration, he made a small land investment. For months now, he had been running a construction company operating at a total loss, one that would later be transferred to Lux Parques, an associated company that would carry massive debt through a parking trust. Billy would do everything based on debt that had already risen to four hundred million dollars, along with the liabilities held by his many companies. Therefore, even when he settled one debt with the state, another would remain—with the British government, with Billy's own companies, and with the banks. The powerful financial system. One he would eventually overcome entirely when he began requesting permits and organizing all the infrastructure for its proper unveiling. No fewer than ten workers would remain on site, carrying out daily maintenance across the entire property, which already employed two gardeners, three security guards, and five staff members responsible for every small detail.
The letter, sealed in gold, lingered on.
-I like that about it. – Billy replied cautiously, speaking of awards. They were very difficult for him.
…
Billy stepped out of the car, holding the projects in his hands. For months now, he had already taken a quick look at the design of the entire Harry Potter citadel—a small city within a world of its own.
-From points K, G, and L, we may have some of the best locations to conduct a full study of the lake and reorganize the entire structure. – Wallace replied. The project's architect, who had been developing the pilot plan for nine months, was the one who gave life to the whole series of works.
-Attractions on the water. – Billy commented.
-We'll only leave pre-established installations, ones that can reach a consensus. Many of the tests are integrated at these points. – Wallace replied, fully aware of the difficulty of executing such a project. The expansion was, with good reason, one of the largest ever; everything had to be considered differently. For Billy, the trick lay in dividing everything into two sections: one for long takes, and another for green-screen filming. For Wallace, it meant five spaces—the museums, as he called the enclosed buildings; the hotel, which he referred to as the castle, a largely Victorian place with its own needs and fixed themes for each occasion.
These were followed by open amusement park areas, restaurant zones, and shopping districts, which, with the support of major brands, would bring together a vast and vibrant destination.
-Let's prioritize the films. – Billy replied, thinking of 2010 as the deadline to complete all the movies, a limit that worked in his favor.
-That's exactly what we're doing. – Wallace replied.
It was a fact that Billy already had up to book four in his hands, in draft form, as Rowling still had many things to weigh while working with Billy—someone so demanding in every possible way. The timeline suggested that by 2005, the entire saga might already be complete, later giving rise to new series they would film. Three to four series were already planned for Harry Potter, at least in Billy's mind.