The meeting lasted until five o'clock, and everyone went home from work.
Simon, carrying the record company data compiled by Jennifer, walked from the side door of the office building to the parking lot, only to see the female assistant standing in front of her car, the hood open, and Neil Bennett leaning over to inspect something for her.
Simon walked over, glanced at the car engine a few times, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Neil Bennett withdrew his hand from the engine and said to Simon, "It won't start. It should be an issue with the electronic control system".
Simon listened to Neil Bennett's explanation, glanced at the engine again, and feeling Jennifer's hopeful gaze, he smiled at the female assistant and said, "You don't think I can fix cars, do you?"
Jennifer, feeling Simon's close gaze, shyly drew back her neck slightly, yet said, "You should be able to do everything".
Simon nodded in agreement and said, "It seems I can do a little. However, if I fix your car at this moment, wouldn't my emotional intelligence be a bit too low?"
Jennifer was puzzled: "Huh?"
Simon pointed to his car and said, "Let's go, I'll drive you home. You can send your car to the repair shop tomorrow".
Jennifer's fair cheeks immediately flushed, and she couldn't help but glance outside the parking lot, where paparazzi were already holding cameras and taking pictures in their direction. Feeling dizzy, she unknowingly got into his SUV, and it wasn't until his voice asked where she lived that she came to her senses, quickly saying, "I'm still staying at my uncle's house for now".
Simon smiled and said, "George's house, I don't think I've ever been there".
So she told him her uncle's address, and then, realizing, quickly explained to Neil Bennett in the front seat.
Like a nervous fawn caught in a trap.
Noticing the man beside her with a smile on his lips, clearly enjoying her flustered state, she felt a slight, fleeting annoyance and wanted to reach out and pinch him.
After an awkward moment, or perhaps only she felt it was awkward, she saw him lower his head and open the documents in his hand, and then randomly found another topic: "How is Miss Johnston doing lately?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she immediately felt like she had truly acted foolishly.
She knew the answer. And, that was a truly stupid question.
Simon didn't turn his head, his gaze still on the documents in front of him, and said, "She's still in New York. I'll be going there next week to spend Christmas with her. By the way, we can go together then. You'll be going back to New York too, won't you?"
She nodded, quickly changing the subject, glancing at the record company data she had organized over the past few days in his hand, and asked, "Are you planning to start a record company?"
Simon shook his head and said, "I'll see, but it's best to buy one. Starting from scratch is too much trouble".
Thinking of this matter, it was actually because of the song he wrote for Madonna.
Although it was an additional condition to persuade Madonna to star in 'Pulp Fiction', the song naturally couldn't be written for free.
The specific contract was negotiated by Jonathan and Madonna's production company, with a basic salary of $100,000, which was nothing to Simon. However, after the album became a bestseller, Simon's personal income from the song immediately doubled.
Due to the immense popularity of 'Celebration', Madonna's current album is expected to sell over 10 million copies worldwide.
As the lyricist and composer of 'Celebration', Simon's personal positioning is similar to that of a screenwriter in Hollywood films. According to the regulations of the American Recording Industry Association, lyricists and composers can receive a certain percentage of income from each album sold. This rule has been in effect since the early twentieth century, much earlier than the video tape revenue sharing clause of the Writers Guild. The initial share for lyricists and composers was 2 cents per record, and after more than half a century of repeated negotiations and revisions, it has now risen to 7.5 cents.
So. based on the 10 million global sales of "You Can Dance," Simon is expected to receive a share amounting to $750,000.
Similar to movie screenwriters' shares from TV broadcast rights and other sources beyond video tape revenue, in addition to album sales royalties, Simon will continue to earn from 'Celebration' through television and radio broadcasts, concert performances, synchronization licensing for film and television, and other channels.
According to industry statistics, this portion of income should at least be on par with album sales royalties.
Overall, just one song on one album could bring Simon approximately $1.6 million in income over the next few years.
$1.6 million is a drop in the ocean for Simon's current net worth, but it made Simon realize how immense a fortune the countless songs from the memories of all thirteen people in his mind over the next thirty years would be.
Take 'You Can Dance' for example; just from record sales, at an average price of $20, 10 million global sales would mean a total revenue of $200 million.
As a lyricist and composer, Simon might only receive $750,000 in album sales royalties, but if he became a record company owner, just as he transformed from a screenwriter to the owner of Daenerys Entertainment, his corresponding earnings would far exceed $750,000.
Of course, albums with global sales exceeding 10 million copies are by no means easy to create; otherwise, Madonna wouldn't be Madonna.
In fact, among all the records released by major record companies in North America, even platinum records that achieve million-level sales are less than 5%, with over 95% ending in failure. However, for Simon, who lacks neither fame nor strength and is well-versed in the trends of the European and American music industry for the next thirty years, creating several top pop singers and releasing some best-selling albums with the countless hit singles in his mind is definitely not too difficult a task.
Simon casually chatted with Jennifer while flipping through the documents in his hand.
The SUV unknowingly turned onto the Bel Air community mountain road, and seeing that they were almost home, Jennifer paused and said, "Simon, there's one more thing".
Simon sensed Jennifer's sudden cautiousness, looked up and said, "What is it?"
After a moment of hesitation, Jennifer took out a newspaper from her handbag, unfolded it, and handed it over, saying, "I think you should see this".
Simon took the newspaper Jennifer handed him, and more than half of the front page was a notice for finding relatives.
A couple in San Diego, Southern California, lost a boy around four years old in 1972. The newspaper provided a photo of a young boy from that year, his name, date of birth, case records, missing person notices, and other information. The couple believed Simon was their long-lost son and, after unsuccessful private contact, publicly hoped through the newspaper that Simon would respond to them.
After just a quick glance at the newspaper's content, Simon shook his head and said, "Fake".
Jennifer whispered, "The little boy in the newspaper looks a lot like the photo released by the orphanage you were in".
"Perhaps, but they certainly aren't my parents," Simon closed the newspaper, felt Jennifer's inquiring gaze, frowned slightly and thought for a while, a certain emotion once again washing over him, until he felt a little dizzy, then he gave up trying to recall his memories from that year. However, over a year and a half, he had accumulated some vague fragments, and now he said, "Jenny, you know, I was 5 then, and I already had some memories. Although they're a bit blurry now, I vaguely remember that my parents, well, they shouldn't have been Americans. So, any of these people trying to claim me, if they're from North America, they're definitely fake".
Jennifer listened to Simon speak intermittently and casually, but she suddenly felt a strong sense of pity, because she was surprised to see tears unconsciously flowing from his eyes as he spoke.
So he cries too, this boy, so powerful he seemed capable of conquering the world.
Only, why did she feel so distressed seeing him cry?
She instinctively raised her hand, wanting to wipe away his tears, but Simon had already noticed, reached up and wiped his face, realizing he had just shed tears again, and just smiled awkwardly at Jennifer, saying, "Sorry, I don't know what's going on".
She pulled a tissue from her handbag and handed it to him, saying apologetically, "It's my fault, Simon, I shouldn't have shown you this newspaper".
Watching him wipe away the tears from his face, she couldn't help but recall the things mentioned in the newspaper.
He preferred to be self-reliant from the age of thirteen rather than accept adoption, clearly having an instinctive aversion to family. In that case, his biological parents might not have left him even a single warm memory. If so, there seemed to be no need to search for those two people anymore.
She secretly made up her mind never to bring up this matter in front of him again.
Entering the Bel Air community, the SUV quickly stopped in front of a villa. Simon glanced out the car window and said, "I won't get out. See you tomorrow, and say hello to George for me".
Neil Bennett got out of the car, went around to the other side, and opened the car door.
She really wanted to hug him, but seeing the paparazzi who had already gathered, taking pictures of the SUV's front window, she could only nod and say, "See you tomorrow".